The more appropriate question, however, is “My dog, my dog, WHY do you do what you do?” The answer to that question is not a simple one. Entire books have been written concerning “bad dog behavior.” And the truth is that every dog is different, and therefore, there is no “pat answer” for every situation. However, a basic understanding of “Who dogs are, and How they behave” will lead us to some appropriate suggestions on how to handle difficult and domineering dogs. If you suffer from “Bad Dog Syndrome,” this article will help you understand who your dog is (Alpha Dog Mentality), and teach you how to “reprogram” and your misbehaving dog. Soon you’ll be saying “Good Dog, Good Dog, Oh how I love you!” You can find the follow-up article “Bad Dog, Bad Dog” Part 2, in the Feature Articles section at K-9 Outfitters, A Division of Damascus Road Enterprises.

But before we proceed, if you suffer from “bad dog syndrome” with your family pet, make sure there isn’t an underlying medical condition. Take your dog to the vet, explain your problem, and ensure he/she is healthy, and doesn’t suffer from dental, intestinal, digestion, parasitic, or other problems. Once you find that your dog is healthy, the following information should prove helpful.

Dogs are, by nature, pack animals. Pack animal behavior is instinctive from before dogs were domesticated and lived in the wild. Every pack has a hierarchy, and every animal in the pack has duties, responsibilities, and expectations. Since your dog doesn’t live in the wild, he/she assumes you, your family, and other household pets make up the “pack.” Many times, “bad dog behavior” is a result of confusion over “Alpha Dog Status” or “Alpha Dog Mentality.” You must establish that you are the “Alpha” dog in the pack. You must also establish that other family members, to include the children, all rank higher in the pack than your dog does. There are many ways to effectively put your dog in his proper pack ranking. Here are a few suggestions, or rules, for handling domineering dogs, and establishing pack rankings:

1. When you enter the house, make sure your dog enters last, even if you must put her on a leash. This shows her where she ranks in the family “pack.”

2. Alpha dogs want the run of the entire house. Make sure certain areas of the home are out of bounds for the dog. That may include certain bedrooms, the laundry room, bathrooms, or the den. This helps the dog know you are master of the house, not him.

3. Alpha dogs occupy high traffic areas, like hallways and entryways. Don’t step over or go around the dog, nudge the dog and tell her to move out of your way, and make sure she does so. This lets her know who owns the space and who is in charge.

4. Don’t allow your dog to DEMAND your attention. Dogs usually do this by climbing on your lap, or by nudging your hand or arm. Make the dog sit, lie down, etc., and then give lavish praise and attention. Remember, you control when you give your dog attention, affection, and praise.

5. Exercise control over your dog’s possessions. Take away all her toys, then give her a command, and when she obeys, give her the toy as a treat. After she plays with it for awhile, take it away again.

6. When you come home, make your dog greet you first. Ignore him until he does. He must be submissive to you, not the other way around.

7. Establish dog eating times. In the pack, the Alpha dog always eats first, and then the other dogs eat. Make sure the family eats first, followed by the dog. If you must feed the dog first, pretend to eat something first, then feed your dog. Leave the dog’s food out for 10-15 minutes, then take it up, whether the dog is finished or not. She will learn quickly to eat when fed.

8. Always stroke (pet) your dog around the head, neck, and shoulders. These are vulnerable areas for the dog, and shows that you are superior. Be careful not to stroke your dog around the chest, because this puts him in the dominating position and undermines your authority as alpha dog.

9. Don’t allow your dog to sleep in your bed! I know that’s a tough one for some folks, but believe me, it’s best for all concerned. The best thing to do is provide the dog with her own cage, crate, or bed. Put it in your bedroom if that helps you, but do it. Dogs “Kennel” by nature. They like a safe, snug place they can call their own.

Your dog is your pet. Ultimately, all he/she really wants is your love and affection (i.e. time together). Hopefully, these ideas and suggestions, along with a better understanding of who your dog is and the role he plays in the family relationship, will soon move you from saying “Bad Dog, Bad Dog, Whatcha Gonna Do?” to saying, “Good Dog, Good Dog, Oh How I Love You!”

By the way, the “Destructive Dog” video did not win a prize on AFV, although I’m sure the family could have used the money for repairs. Following our guidelines would prove a lot less expensive and would make for a much more harmonious family and pet relationship.

Danny Presswood, 2006 All Rights Reserved.

Danny Presswood is a retired US Army Combat (Airborne) Chaplain. He and his wife Cheri live in the wooded Ozarks hills of SW MO. Presently working on his Doctorate, Danny writes the Feature Articles for K-9 Outfitters, A Division of Damascus Road Enterprises, http://www.Damascus-Road-Enterprises.com K-9 Outfitters offers a plethora of discount, luxury, unique, and handmade in the USA dog supplies.

Author: Danny Presswood
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Bad Dog, Bad Dog, Whatcha Gonna Do? Part 1 is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers

If you get weeds in your yard or garden, how do you remove them? There are three ways, and the effectiveness of each method directly correlates with how you tackle your dog’s health issues…

1. Cut them

Cutting weeds at the stem is similar to only addressing your dog’s symptoms (like applying cream to a rash). On the surface, the problem will go away, but the underlying root will eventually cause the weed to grow back.

2. Spray them with weed killer

Spraying weeds is like giving your dog manmade medicine to fix a problem. The weeds don’t like it and will probably die, but the weed killer will also affect the surrounding healthy lawn. And after all of the weed killer washes away, the weeds will likely return.

3. Pull out the entire weed and its roots

This is the only sure way to completely get rid of a weed, just as going after the root cause of a health issue is the only completely effective way to treat it.

So how do you address the “root problems” of your dog’s health issues?

Incorporate the right combination of holistic and conventional treatments into your dog’s care.

Think about it…

If you only treat your dog with conventional methods, you only address the symptoms and not the cause of the symptoms. Here are some examples of how conventional medicine and techniques only address the symptoms and not the underlying cause…

• Warts. Cut them off. They grow back.
• Allergies. Give them a pill. The pills stop, the allergies come back.
• Skin problems. Apply a cream. The problem goes away, then months later it returns.

Treating your dog holistically addresses the root cause of problems. It gives your dog’s body the ability fight all health problems forever, not just one problem at a time as they come up. Caring for your dog in this way includes…

• A different approach to vaccinations
• A healthier diet
• Appropriate exercise
• Natural treatments for acute issues (medicines whose chemical compositions have not been changed by humans)
• Natural treatments in concert with conventional treatments when appropriate (sometimes the “best of both worlds” is the most effective)

The downside of a holistic approach is that it requires patience. But your dog will thank you for it!

Dog illnesses usually do not develop overnight. While the physical manifestation of a problem (like a rash or wart) may just “show up” one day, it is likely that the problem has been brewing in your dog’s system for some time.

To reverse your dog’s ailment, a similar amount of time may be needed. Your dog’s immune system will be learning how to fight off the issue (and keep it away) on its own for the long-run, and this doesn’t usually happen right away.

Generally speaking, the longer a problem has taken to develop, the longer it will take to treat holistically.

All the way from diarrhea to cancer, the 20 most common problems can all be treated more effectively through the right combination of holistic and conventional care, including …

• Allergies
• Constipation
• Cancer
• Diarrhea
• Ear problems
• Epilepsy
• Eye problems
• Flatulence
• Fleas
• Incontinence
• Lice
• Mange
• Pink Eye
• Skin conditions
• Ticks
• Urination problems
• Vomiting
• Warts
• Worms
• Yeast Infections

Symptoms Should Get Worse Before They Get Better

Interestingly, when you treat your dog holistically their symptoms may actually appear to get a little worse before they get better. This is what you want! It means that your dog’s body is tackling the problem on its own.

And while the main symptom may get a little worse before it gets better, you’ll usually notice the rest of your dog’s health and mood start to improve right away.

You’ll know the treatment is working if you see your dog’s symptoms do any of the following…

• Stop migrating to other parts of the body
• Stay on the skin (or move there) and out of the internal organs
• Move away from the head and vital organs and towards the outer extremities and lower body
• Stop effecting the mind, including mood swings or fatigue (in the wild, this allows dogs to keep their survival instincts at their peak)

For instance, if your dog’s health problem effects the internal organs, before the holistic treatment you may not see any issue on the outside of the body. After treatment, the body may push the disease away from their organs and head, so you may see a rash develop on their feet or towards the back of their body. This usually means that your dog’s body is doing the right thing and is on the road to recovery.

For a complete list of health problems and the best combination of holistic and conventional treatments, see Organic Pet Digest’s Common Dog Health Problems page which can be found at http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/common-dog-health-problems.html.

Organic Pet Digest is your complete adviser for the right combination of conventional and holistic dog care. Ensure a long and happy life for your dog by choosing the best dog food, applying a holistic approach to wellness, incorporating natural remedies and using safe supplies from environmentally-friendly and ethical manufacturers. They can be found at http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/index.html.

Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact.

Author: Lauren Quinlan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Common Dog Health Problems – The 20 Most Common & How to Treat Them is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers

If you get weeds in your yard or garden, how do you remove them? There are three ways, and the effectiveness of each method directly correlates with how you tackle your dog’s health issues…

1. Cut them

Cutting weeds at the stem is similar to only addressing your dog’s symptoms (like applying cream to a rash). On the surface, the problem will go away, but the underlying root will eventually cause the weed to grow back.

2. Spray them with weed killer

Spraying weeds is like giving your dog manmade medicine to fix a problem. The weeds don’t like it and will probably die, but the weed killer will also affect the surrounding healthy lawn. And after all of the weed killer washes away, the weeds will likely return.

3. Pull out the entire weed and its roots

This is the only sure way to completely get rid of a weed, just as going after the root cause of a health issue is the only completely effective way to treat it.

So how do you address the “root problems” of your dog’s health issues?

Incorporate the right combination of holistic and conventional treatments into your dog’s care.

Think about it…

If you only treat your dog with conventional methods, you only address the symptoms and not the cause of the symptoms. Here are some examples of how conventional medicine and techniques only address the symptoms and not the underlying cause…

• Warts. Cut them off. They grow back.
• Allergies. Give them a pill. The pills stop, the allergies come back.
• Skin problems. Apply a cream. The problem goes away, then months later it returns.

Treating your dog holistically addresses the root cause of problems. It gives your dog’s body the ability fight all health problems forever, not just one problem at a time as they come up. Caring for your dog in this way includes…

• A different approach to vaccinations
• A healthier diet
• Appropriate exercise
• Natural treatments for acute issues (medicines whose chemical compositions have not been changed by humans)
• Natural treatments in concert with conventional treatments when appropriate (sometimes the “best of both worlds” is the most effective)

The downside of a holistic approach is that it requires patience. But your dog will thank you for it!

Dog illnesses usually do not develop overnight. While the physical manifestation of a problem (like a rash or wart) may just “show up” one day, it is likely that the problem has been brewing in your dog’s system for some time.

To reverse your dog’s ailment, a similar amount of time may be needed. Your dog’s immune system will be learning how to fight off the issue (and keep it away) on its own for the long-run, and this doesn’t usually happen right away.

Generally speaking, the longer a problem has taken to develop, the longer it will take to treat holistically.

All the way from diarrhea to cancer, the 20 most common problems can all be treated more effectively through the right combination of holistic and conventional care, including …

• Allergies
• Constipation
• Cancer
• Diarrhea
• Ear problems
• Epilepsy
• Eye problems
• Flatulence
• Fleas
• Incontinence
• Lice
• Mange
• Pink Eye
• Skin conditions
• Ticks
• Urination problems
• Vomiting
• Warts
• Worms
• Yeast Infections

Symptoms Should Get Worse Before They Get Better

Interestingly, when you treat your dog holistically their symptoms may actually appear to get a little worse before they get better. This is what you want! It means that your dog’s body is tackling the problem on its own.

And while the main symptom may get a little worse before it gets better, you’ll usually notice the rest of your dog’s health and mood start to improve right away.

You’ll know the treatment is working if you see your dog’s symptoms do any of the following…

• Stop migrating to other parts of the body
• Stay on the skin (or move there) and out of the internal organs
• Move away from the head and vital organs and towards the outer extremities and lower body
• Stop effecting the mind, including mood swings or fatigue (in the wild, this allows dogs to keep their survival instincts at their peak)

For instance, if your dog’s health problem effects the internal organs, before the holistic treatment you may not see any issue on the outside of the body. After treatment, the body may push the disease away from their organs and head, so you may see a rash develop on their feet or towards the back of their body. This usually means that your dog’s body is doing the right thing and is on the road to recovery.

For a complete list of health problems and the best combination of holistic and conventional treatments, see Organic Pet Digest’s Common Dog Health Problems page which can be found at http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/common-dog-health-problems.html.

Organic Pet Digest is your complete adviser for the right combination of conventional and holistic dog care. Ensure a long and happy life for your dog by choosing the best dog food, applying a holistic approach to wellness, incorporating natural remedies and using safe supplies from environmentally-friendly and ethical manufacturers. They can be found at http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/index.html.

Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact.

Author: Lauren Quinlan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
US State tax list

Common Dog Health Problems – The 20 Most Common & How to Treat Them is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers

GSD history began in just this way. Using a variety of German sheep dogs as his foundation stock, Max von Stephanitz developed a new and distinctive working dog breed, the German Shepherd Dog.

He greatly admired the herding dogs of his native Germany, and believed they had the full potential to be the total all-purpose working dog. Max von Stephanitz was very aware of the historically declining need for herding dogs and believed that the working abilities of the breed would decline unless they were put to other uses.

An idealist with both strong intellect and the financial capabilities to support his ideas, Max von Stephanitz also possessed the determination, drive, and dedication to put his ideas into practice. His perception of a herding dog was of an extremely intelligent, vigorous dog, of stable character and with many of the physical attributes belonging to the wild dog- fleet of foot, long of wind, and untouched by the extremes of other breeds. He was well on his way to beginning the GSD history.

He saw no beauty in a non-functional dog and was ruthless in discarding what he considered weak. Tireless and determined, he laid the foundations of the GSD history that were later to make the breed the greatest all-round working dog in the world.

Until Horand, herding dogs came in a variety of shapes, sizes, types and abilities. Shepherds in Germany like elsewhere in the world, chose their dogs for their fitness, mental and physical, and for work only, and cared little for the dogs appearance. Max von Stephanitz had very positive ideas about the mental, anatomical, and bio- mechanical characteristics required of a herding dog. He had a great understanding of the mental and anatomical requirements of a working shepherd dog.

Very possibly by chance, the beginning of the GSD history started at a dog show in Germany. While at the dog show, a medium-sized yellow-and-gray wolflike dog caught the attention of von Stephanitz, attending the show with his friend Artur Meyer. This dog, Hektor Linksrheim, was immediately purchased by von Stephanitz and renamed Horand von Grafrath. Horand became the first registered German Shepherd Dog, with the number SV1.

Only weeks later von Stephanitz and his friend Artur Meyer founded the Verein für Deutsche Schaferhunde, or SV (German Shepherd Dog Club), along with the help of a few other co-founders. The dog club, the Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV), was to become the largest and most powerful dog breed club in the world and a major step in GSD history.

A standard for the GSD breed was soon developed based on mental stability and utility. The captain’s motto was “Utility and intelligence”. To him beauty was secondary, and considered a dog worthless if it lacked the intelligence, temperament, and structural efficiency that would make it a good servant of man.

The German Shepherd Dog breed standard was developed as a blueprint listing the exact function and relationship of every aspect of structure, gait, and inherent attitude, combined with a comprehensive breeding regulation, which required that dogs used for breeding had first to prove their worth physically and mentally.

Later, using the co-operation of local police and working dog clubs, a set of specific dog tests were developed in tracking, formal obedience, and protection work. This developed into present day Schutzhund dog trials – another important part of the GSD history. The authorities were persuaded to utilize the German Shepherd Dog in many branches of government service and served during the war as supply carriers, sentinels, Red Cross dogs, messenger dogs, tracking and guard dogs, to name a few.

The GSD historically was just gaining notice in the United States when World War I broke out. In 1917, when America entered World War I, all things German became tabu. The AKC changed the name of the dog breed to the Shepherd Dog and the German Shepherd Dog Club of America became the Shepherd Dog Club of America. In England, the name of the German Shepherd Dog breed was changed to the Alsatian.

After WWI, British and American soldiers, impressed by the abilities of the German Shepherd Dog, brought home examples of their own to breed. The dog breed instantly become popular, both as a family pet and as a working dog. After the war the movie star Rin-Tin-Tin and Strongheart stimulated interest in the GSD history and dog breed again.

The striking good looks of this breed, combined with its remarkable intelligence and loyalty, have made it a favorite working and companion dog. Puppy factories soon flourished to meet the huge demand, flooding the American market with poor quality “German police dogs”, resulting in a down-turn in popularity of the breed.

Later during World War II, the German Shepherd Dog was widely sought after and employed by both Allied and Axis forces. These dogs performed various duties such as mine detectors, sentinels, guard work, and messengers. In America, Dogs for Defense was formed, providing thousands of dogs to the army.

In GSD history the paths of German and American German Shepherds diverged after World War II. Many German Shepherd Dogs had been killed or destroyed due to lack of food. Later on the breeders again had individual dogs dominant in the desired virtues of the breed. By about 1949 quality GSD specimens again began to appear at German dog shows. In the 1950′s American breeders recognized the need for some infusion of outcross blood and Troll von Richterback, 1957 Grand Victor, was dominant in his day.

In the 1960′s there was an emergence of several strong families of stud dogs. This was an important part in rebuilding the GSD historically speaking. While the SV was in control of German bred German Shepherds, American GSD breeders were open to follow their own preferences. American and Canadian Grand Victor, Lance of Fran- Jo, represented a new era in American shepherds and was widely used during the 1960′s. Lance produced many GSD puppies which in turn became historical pillars of the breed in America.

In Germany, GSD history reveals that a very active market soon developed for German Shepherd Dogs and puppies sought in countries such as South America, Japan, Italy, many Scandinavian countries, and France. Additionally, the SV began to place more and more importance on dog training degrees. Temperament and courage tests became much more demanding, and the SV forced breeders to concentrate on puppy and dog problem areas such as missing teeth, poor croups, etc.

Starting with a common base, the German Shepherd breed in Germany and America have taken a separate course. The Americans and the Germans have both evolved closely-bred dogs. They differ in looks, movement, style, and structure and have developed both desirable and undesirable characteristics into the breed.

The Americans have a broader option to pursue their own views and choose their own bloodlines whether from within or outside their own country. The Germans, controlled by the SV, will likely continue to look within themselves to further develop the breed. Today the German Shepherd Dog is still considered one of the most intelligent and versatile breeds in existence and the future will indeed be very interesting for the breed. Indeed, the GSD history has been nothing short of intense so far.

German Shepherds are really incredible dogs. But they’re not for everyone – and if you’re thinking of getting one I highly encourage you to do all the research you can about them ahead of time. One place you can learn about them is at: Total German Shepherd

And if you love to read, why not check out my book, “Your Total German Shepherd Dog” now too? Filled with over 200 pages of “German Shepherd goodness”.

Author: Debbie Ray
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The GSD History is of a Very Well Respected and Admired Dog Throughout the World is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers

The finer levels of obedience training and puppy potty training commence after this period. For instance, during the first 3 weeks little is learned by puppies in general. They are in survival mode only. Their priorities are breathing, snoozing, ensuring they know where mom is and of course suckling. In the forth (approximately) week your puppy will begin to notice things very astutely and their ability to absorb images and regular objects and occurrences becomes exceptional. Of course, this is the period where the litter box becomes boring because there is so much to explore and learn. This is a profound learning period in the puppy’s life. Whether the experience is good or bad, any experiences here will set the behaviour platform for later. This is when you can work with the breeder to enhance the outcome of a well behaved and happy dog – circumstance allowing.

As you puppy is now learning to leave its waste in different corners of the home, this is a good time to introduce crate training and some other areas of behavioural training. You can use a wire crate or dog basket and place this in the whelping box or in a similar but easily accessed location. Line the crate with soft material like towels or old blankets for sleeping comfort. Organize some newspaper or similar around the crate. Usually when the puppies continue their exploring and sniffing, they will do their droppings on the paper and sleep only in the crate or basket.

Four weeks is also a good time to continue grouping the pups and this can include handling as well. You can address the puppies as a group and you can hold them gently in position (individually) and practice the ‘stay’ command every so often – not too much! Hold them upright gently as you do this and make sure it’s a game and enjoyable for both you and the pup. Don’t be too disciplined or tough. Remember, they have just entered the world and you want friendship for the best obedience outcomes, not fear. This can be the introduction to the ‘come here’ command and other basic commands. This preparation will be well worthwhile which you will appreciate later. It will also save some frustrating issues.

Canine Independent Thinking

Try not to do the work for the pup. In almost all circumstances the puppy will take an easy way, especially if it can sense that you will do most of its tasks for it and still get a reward. Praising must continue but treats can slowly be removed over time. Physically pushing or pulling the pup doesn’t help the training procedure and can undo a lot of the good training you’ve accomplished.

Avoid Penalizing the Puppy

You want the puppy to be keen to obey simply just to please you – not because it fears you. You will experience excitement from the pup at this stage and that will come from treats and encouragement you can use for rewards. Try not use any negative style gestures except of course the word ‘No’ and one flat raised hand for visual affect from a distance when there is something that you don’t want the pup to do. If and when the pup stops when you make these commands, it should also be rewarded with a treat or praise. Physical punishment simply won’t work medium to long term and can cause other misbehaviour issues you simply don’t want.

Continuity of Training & Frequency

When you are house training your puppy, ensure you continue to use the same gesture all the time. Also ensure that others in your household use the same training gestures and commands. Continuity breeds continuity! Behavioural training is based around this parameter and allows the pup to understand when a correction is taking place. With help from someone else, you can even have your puppy learn to sit at the command of your voice even though it can’t see you. This is undertaken with a helper in another area close by but not within visual range. The puppy is assisted to a sitting or squatting position each time you use the command ‘sit’. Accordingly the puppy is praised for doing so each and every time and can also receive a reward.

Praise and Relevant Rewards
I have used the term reward a number of times above and there is a method behind this which is paramount to your success and the end result. Treats and small relevant snacks are what you should use to assist you in gaining ground with your training. The reward must be immediate following the puppy’s correct response to your command. Emphasis on the word immediate! Then your pup knows what it did correctly. You should not keep this up for along time either because you puppy will get fat and can become disinterested too.

Don’t Overdo It!

When training your puppy dog, ensure you don’t exceed say 15 minutes and no less than five minutes. Like some people, puppies have short attention ability. Intervals of 3 – 4 times a day should do it. The training will be more affective this way.

Repeat the task

When you have decided on a command you would like to teach your pup, make sure you continue the exercise until you have achieved success before you stop training. Once you have finished, reward the puppy and come to a halt. Your appreciative puppy will learn to do things expediently and save you time as well.

The Patient and Confident Trainer

Your patience in this exercise of training is paramount. If you’re impatient as a person then that’s not the pups fault. Learn to be patient during the training process or suffer disappointment. Equally important is your level of confidence. It is a well known fact that animals can sense when their master or handler is lacking confidence. You can gain some tips from the breeder in this area or have them present for the first bout of training to help boost your confidence. Fortunately confidence in animal training comes quickly.

Canine Training Simplicity

Always start your puppy training with the easiest puppy training techniques first. Just do a one a day to begin with. Sophisticated commands can come later and require a little more reading and practice by the trainer than this article permits. Just keep it simple for now with the knowledge that you are setting the ‘doggy’ ground rules for now.

Communicate

The tone of your voice is essential for long term master dog obedience and will ensure that your voice will always remain the more dominate in confusing environments. You will notice that when you’re present the puppy will observe your facial expressions – which is good but you also want your commands followed when you are not visible. Be pleasant when you communicate

Time to Keep Your Distance

Up until the end of a three month period the puppy will need some type of reassurance when undergoing training. Patting and praising will be the main elements during this period. This will build a relationship and a comfort zone with you and your puppy. As time moves on through the training process, introduce more and more obedience methods without touching your dog or pup. Your control must eventually be voice based without a leash or physical assistance of any kind.

I hope you use these tips in the best interest of your relationship with your puppy or puppies as the case may be. Remember that punishment rarely works and is frowned upon by the best and most well known and successful trainers. The sky is the limit to what behavioural outcomes you can achieve if you use all of the above and learn more. You will soon see what I mean. All dogs, pedigree and mongrels can be trained – remember that too! Some people will try to tell you different but that has been my experience.
Don’t refrain from improving your knowledge with guides and books either because what I have told you is simply the tip of the iceberg – there is much more canine training knowledge that will make your relationship with your pup continue to grow.

Article supplied courtesy of Kay Nynephun. Kay has given you instant access to more details on training a puppy here. If this previous link is inactive, paste this link into your browser, http://easy-puppy-training-tips.com Or try some of Kays free puppy training tips.

Author: Kay Nynephun
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Training A Puppy – Fundamental Facts is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers

It took the joint actions of Christopher Columbus and Hernando Cortez, to bring horses back to North America. In 1493, Christopher Columbus brought horses from Spain to the West Indies, during his second voyage to the Americas. In 1519, the Spanish conquistador Cortez brought horses to the mainland, as the captain of the third Spanish expedition.

Horses arrived in North America, by way of Mexico and Florida, as a tool of the Spanish conquistadors and were used to great effect by Cortez in the defeat of the Aztec empire.

Many horses went wild after their riders were killed. Other horses escaped from their corrals, and many more horses were integrated into Native American societies. Within just a few decades, horses had migrated from Mexico and Florida and entered into the North American interior.

The History of American Horse Breeds

Nearly all of the horses currently running wild in the ranges of the Western United States hailed from the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe, in a region defined by modern day Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations suggests that there are 17 individual horse breeds that can be defined as “Iberian horses”. Three of the breeds hail from Portugal and the remaining 14 originated in Spain. Most of the Iberian horse breeds are considered to be Baroque horses, comprised mostly of horses of Andalusian, Arabian and Barb ancestry.

Many of the Native American tribes became master horse breeders, most importantly, the Comanche, the Shoshoni, and the Nez Perce nations. Through selective breeding by the Native American tribes, the first truly American horse breed was the Appaloosa.

The wild horses of the Western United States are actually more accurately referred to as horses that have gone “feral”, or horses that were once domesticated and now are wild. Just as there is a huge population of feral dogs near the big cities of America, most notably near Miami, Florida, there is also a substantial population of feral horses in America.

Free-Roaming Horses Eventually Required Protection From Congress

In 1900, it was estimated that there were as many as two million free-roaming horses in the United States. During the early years of the twentieth century, the free-roaming horse population was severely diminished through a combination of factors including the capture of horses for use in the military, and more revoltingly, by companies who killed the horses to make dog food.

By the 1970′s, the plight of wild horses in the United States had attracted the attention of the U.S. Federal Government. This newly focused attention eventually led to the passage of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971.

In recent years, it has been estimated by the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management that there are as many as 29,000 feral horses and burros on BLM-managed lands in ten western states. The ten Western U.S. states that have feral horses running wild includes: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming.

It is estimated that more than half of the wild horse population resides in Nevada, and Montana and Oregon are the other states with significant wild horse population numbers. There is another few hundred head of wild horses free-roaming in Alberta and British Columbia, in Canada.

Through the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971, the Bureau of Land Management has the responsibility of managing the numbers of wild horses and burros, to ensure that healthy herds thrive on healthy rangelands. Within the mandate of the BLM, they are responsible to manage the herd numbers of wild horses and burros that roam the American West.

The BLM Wild Horse and Burro Adoption and Sale Program

Wild horses left to their own wits can literally double their population within four short years, provided that drought and wildfires do not diminish their numbers naturally. Horses do not have natural predators within the rangelands of North America, so their numbers will generally run unchecked without BLM intervention.

The beauty of the 1971 law is that as the BLM culls horses and burros from the wild population, those horses and burros will become available for adoption and sale through the BLM program to individuals and groups willing and able to provide humane, long-term care to these beautiful animals.

To learn more about the adoption of purchase of horses or burros, you can visit the Bureau of Land Management website at: blm.gov or give them a call at: (866) 4MUSTANGS. You can actually adopt and purchase feral horses through the BLM program in states on both sides of the Mississippi River. Sales are held yearly throughout the South, the West and even in Illinois.

If you are looking for domesticated mustang horses, you can also check local or internet horse classifieds.

Philipe Wiskell is a writer for HorseClicks.com, popular classifieds of horses for sale, horse trailers, farms for sale.

Author: Philip Wiskell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Wild Mustang Horses in the American West is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers

A cat has the same five senses that we have, they hear, smell, taste, see, and touch things just as humans do. However, though all five senses are important, touch to a cat is probably the most important.

It uses its sense of touch to “read” its environment. Now, what do I mean by that? There are many cell receptors in a cat’s skin that changes mechanical (moving) stimuli into information that the nervous system uses to help produce a cat’s rapid reaction time to things.

When you see Miss Puss lying down or standing with her four feet planted firmly on the floor looking into space, she is not daydreaming. Miss Puss is picking up information from her surrounding environment. She can determine whether or not to stay where she is, or flee.

Cats not only pick up information by the sense of touch; they can leave information also. When a cat stretches up to claw a tree (or the couch) she is leaving a message that she was there. A calling card in fact for the next cat to smell and “read.”

These receptors not only detect movement or pressure they also detect pain, temperatures and save cats from harm and injury. They attune the cat to its environment, making them aware of what is going on around them, and if it is safe for them to be where they are.

They also possess an extreme understanding of their bodies and of its capabilities. They have what is known as kinetic energy which is energy associated with motion. Cats are very good at being cats.

Cats use their whiskers and paws to hunt with. These are two of the most sensitive areas on a cat; they contain the most number of nerve cells. A cat can use its whiskers, just as a blind person would use a cane. By using its paws and whiskers a cat can determine an object’s size, shape and texture.

There are about a dozen whiskers on each upper lip, along with some small ones on their cheeks, a few on the chin, several above each eye and believe it or not some on the underside of each paw. The whiskers are thicker and stiffer and have been implanted with a special follicle that is sealed within the whisker. Whiskers are connected to a muscle and can be moved back and forth. Never cut a cat’s whiskers.

Cats use their whiskers to get in and out of tight places; they can use them to convey their mood. Forward and fanned out means I am in a good mood, pushed back toward its head means, watch out, I am mad.

The average cat does not see any better at night than most humans, but their whiskers give them an extra edge as they can detect air currents deflected by objects, as the cat walks by.

A cat’s hearing is better then a dog’s, it can hear things moving silently inside of a wall. Did you know that a “whole tone” (like in music) that we can hear, a cat hears it as 10 separate tones. A cat can hear ultrasonic sounds (high pitched) that we cannot even imagine.

Smell is the next important sense in a cat’s life; a blind or deaf cat can lead a fairly normal life as long as its nose is in working order.

From the very moment a kitten is born, smell becomes the most important part of its life. A newborn can find mommy and its favorite nursing nipple just by smelling. A cat has 100 million smelling receptors, while the lowly human has only 20 million. Cats use their sense of smell to “see” their world. A cat generally will not eat unless is can smell its food and decide whether or not it is acceptable to eat. A cat that cannot smell its food will not eat it.

When it comes to taste, cats are carnivores, which means they are meat eaters. Unfortunately cats do not have a sweet tooth; they are about the only mammal that does not have one, as they lack a receptor for sweetness.

One thing that cats do like the most is petting. Cats receive comfort from petting and most cats prefer to be stroked from the head down, following the line of their fur growth. Cats do not like to have their fur stroked backward.

My cat Boots loves to have his face and ears stroked very gently, he will let me do this for a long time. I think, since he is a feral cat, that I remind him of the days when he was with mom. He is also one of the few cats that loves to have his tummy rubbed.

Cats are unique and many have strange behaviors, but no matter what their likes and dislikes are, cats like humans and enjoy human contact.

Living in a cat’s world is much different than living in a dog’s world. Dog’s have masters, cats have staff! Cats were treated as royalty back in the days of the Romans and have never forgotten that. Dogs have been bred through the years to conform to certain standards and behaviors. A cat has always been a cat, no one has been able to breed a cat to chase only yellow yarn balls or to herd mice.

If this article has been of benefit, or you are looking for a new insight into the world of cats and dogs please visit my web site and Sadie Dog’s Blog at http://www.cats-and-dogs-on-the-web.com

Author: Audrey Frederick
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Living in a Cat’s World is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers

Before you buy a present for the cat lover on your list, consider the following:

What type of cat breed does the prospective recipient most like or own? Many potential offerings to cat lovers are also breed specific. If possible, get a gift that reminds the recipient of their favorite feline.

If you are buying a gift for someone who currently owns a cat, find out the cat’s gender. Many cat-themed gifts are gender-specific, so you will want to know what sex your recipient’s cat is.

Does your recipient like to dress up your cat? If you are getting a gift for a person who likes to dress their cats in sweaters or other types of apparel, your search for an appropriate gift will be much easier. Don’t assume that the recipient dresses their cat, however.

Now that you’ve taken a few moments to think of your recipient’s cat, here are the top 6 gifts that any cat lover would be happy to be given.

1. A cat-themed picture frame. What better way to show your love for your animal than putting the feline’s picture on display? People looking for gifts for them would be pleased to receive a lovely picture frame to show their favorite pet. You may desire to ensure your intended recipient doesn’t already own a stockpile of cat picture frames. This is a popular gift to give and to receive, so it is common for avid cat lovers to own more than one cat picture frame.

2. Feline-themed jewelry. It may be common to run across a lovely cat broach, pin, charm bracelet, necklace, or other piece of jewelry. Nothing could be more personal or intimate than a nice piece of jewelry. If you have a personal acquaintance who you think would relish this type of gift, you will find many online retail websites dedicated to offerings for cat fanciers that carry a wonderful selection of feline-related jewelry. For an even more personal effect, you can often have these type of gifts engraved with a message as well.

3. Cat-related stationary, desk calendar, engagement calendar, diary, or books. Every New Year, hundreds of beautifully-designed calendars are put on the market for purchase. The selection can be incredible with hundreds of breeds and cat themes represented. This is an outstanding choice that any cat lover would enjoy receiving, typically if you can find a calendar that represents the recipient’s favorite breed. If you hope to go beyond the ever-popular cat calendar, you can also purchase lovely cat-related stationary for your recipient. Another superior choice is to get a nice cat-themed diary for your recipient.

Gifts for cat lovers may include a cat calendar, stationary set, or diary that you like. Consider buying the cat lover on your list a beautiful cat-themed coffee table book. Most will delight in feasting on the gorgeous photography and text of a good cat coffee table book.

4. Feline themed clothes and coffee mugs. Cat lovers will enjoy receiving cat-themed T-shirts and sweaters. You can generally find funny cat-themed coffee mugs too.

5. A work of kitty art. They abound nowadays, so it easy to find works of art that is cat related. For the true cat lover, a lovely feline sculpture can be a wonderful and whimsical gift. You can easily find all sorts of cat-related ceramic pieces, wooden sculptures, planter, fountain, or other types of cat art. For the truly dedicated cat lover, you can even commission a local artist to paint a portrait of your friend’s cat!

6. A gift subscription to Cat Fancy magazine! For people looking for gifts for cat lovers, the die-hard cat fanatic will love a subscription to a cat themed magazine. If you can’t get cat-related magazines at your local newsstand, see your local pet supplies store. You’ll find other magazines besides Cat Fancy that your recipient can be happy to be receiving for many issues to come.

For more info, see Best Gifts For Cats and The Best Gifts For Cats. Ron King is a web developer; visit his website Cat Fanciers.

Copyright 2007 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact and the links live.

Author: Ron King
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Best Gifts For Cats – What To Get Them is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers

If you get weeds in your yard or garden, how do you remove them? There are three ways, and the effectiveness of each method directly correlates with how you tackle your dog’s health issues…

1. Cut them

Cutting weeds at the stem is similar to only addressing your dog’s symptoms (like applying cream to a rash). On the surface, the problem will go away, but the underlying root will eventually cause the weed to grow back.

2. Spray them with weed killer

Spraying weeds is like giving your dog manmade medicine to fix a problem. The weeds don’t like it and will probably die, but the weed killer will also affect the surrounding healthy lawn. And after all of the weed killer washes away, the weeds will likely return.

3. Pull out the entire weed and its roots

This is the only sure way to completely get rid of a weed, just as going after the root cause of a health issue is the only completely effective way to treat it.

So how do you address the “root problems” of your dog’s health issues?

Incorporate the right combination of holistic and conventional treatments into your dog’s care.

Think about it…

If you only treat your dog with conventional methods, you only address the symptoms and not the cause of the symptoms. Here are some examples of how conventional medicine and techniques only address the symptoms and not the underlying cause…

• Warts. Cut them off. They grow back.
• Allergies. Give them a pill. The pills stop, the allergies come back.
• Skin problems. Apply a cream. The problem goes away, then months later it returns.

Treating your dog holistically addresses the root cause of problems. It gives your dog’s body the ability fight all health problems forever, not just one problem at a time as they come up. Caring for your dog in this way includes…

• A different approach to vaccinations
• A healthier diet
• Appropriate exercise
• Natural treatments for acute issues (medicines whose chemical compositions have not been changed by humans)
• Natural treatments in concert with conventional treatments when appropriate (sometimes the “best of both worlds” is the most effective)

The downside of a holistic approach is that it requires patience. But your dog will thank you for it!

Dog illnesses usually do not develop overnight. While the physical manifestation of a problem (like a rash or wart) may just “show up” one day, it is likely that the problem has been brewing in your dog’s system for some time.

To reverse your dog’s ailment, a similar amount of time may be needed. Your dog’s immune system will be learning how to fight off the issue (and keep it away) on its own for the long-run, and this doesn’t usually happen right away.

Generally speaking, the longer a problem has taken to develop, the longer it will take to treat holistically.

All the way from diarrhea to cancer, the 20 most common problems can all be treated more effectively through the right combination of holistic and conventional care, including …

• Allergies
• Constipation
• Cancer
• Diarrhea
• Ear problems
• Epilepsy
• Eye problems
• Flatulence
• Fleas
• Incontinence
• Lice
• Mange
• Pink Eye
• Skin conditions
• Ticks
• Urination problems
• Vomiting
• Warts
• Worms
• Yeast Infections

Symptoms Should Get Worse Before They Get Better

Interestingly, when you treat your dog holistically their symptoms may actually appear to get a little worse before they get better. This is what you want! It means that your dog’s body is tackling the problem on its own.

And while the main symptom may get a little worse before it gets better, you’ll usually notice the rest of your dog’s health and mood start to improve right away.

You’ll know the treatment is working if you see your dog’s symptoms do any of the following…

• Stop migrating to other parts of the body
• Stay on the skin (or move there) and out of the internal organs
• Move away from the head and vital organs and towards the outer extremities and lower body
• Stop effecting the mind, including mood swings or fatigue (in the wild, this allows dogs to keep their survival instincts at their peak)

For instance, if your dog’s health problem effects the internal organs, before the holistic treatment you may not see any issue on the outside of the body. After treatment, the body may push the disease away from their organs and head, so you may see a rash develop on their feet or towards the back of their body. This usually means that your dog’s body is doing the right thing and is on the road to recovery.

For a complete list of health problems and the best combination of holistic and conventional treatments, see Organic Pet Digest’s Common Dog Health Problems page which can be found at http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/common-dog-health-problems.html.

Organic Pet Digest is your complete adviser for the right combination of conventional and holistic dog care. Ensure a long and happy life for your dog by choosing the best dog food, applying a holistic approach to wellness, incorporating natural remedies and using safe supplies from environmentally-friendly and ethical manufacturers. They can be found at http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/index.html.

Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact.

Author: Lauren Quinlan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Common Dog Health Problems – The 20 Most Common & How to Treat Them is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers

If you get weeds in your yard or garden, how do you remove them? There are three ways, and the effectiveness of each method directly correlates with how you tackle your dog’s health issues…

1. Cut them

Cutting weeds at the stem is similar to only addressing your dog’s symptoms (like applying cream to a rash). On the surface, the problem will go away, but the underlying root will eventually cause the weed to grow back.

2. Spray them with weed killer

Spraying weeds is like giving your dog manmade medicine to fix a problem. The weeds don’t like it and will probably die, but the weed killer will also affect the surrounding healthy lawn. And after all of the weed killer washes away, the weeds will likely return.

3. Pull out the entire weed and its roots

This is the only sure way to completely get rid of a weed, just as going after the root cause of a health issue is the only completely effective way to treat it.

So how do you address the “root problems” of your dog’s health issues?

Incorporate the right combination of holistic and conventional treatments into your dog’s care.

Think about it…

If you only treat your dog with conventional methods, you only address the symptoms and not the cause of the symptoms. Here are some examples of how conventional medicine and techniques only address the symptoms and not the underlying cause…

• Warts. Cut them off. They grow back.
• Allergies. Give them a pill. The pills stop, the allergies come back.
• Skin problems. Apply a cream. The problem goes away, then months later it returns.

Treating your dog holistically addresses the root cause of problems. It gives your dog’s body the ability fight all health problems forever, not just one problem at a time as they come up. Caring for your dog in this way includes…

• A different approach to vaccinations
• A healthier diet
• Appropriate exercise
• Natural treatments for acute issues (medicines whose chemical compositions have not been changed by humans)
• Natural treatments in concert with conventional treatments when appropriate (sometimes the “best of both worlds” is the most effective)

The downside of a holistic approach is that it requires patience. But your dog will thank you for it!

Dog illnesses usually do not develop overnight. While the physical manifestation of a problem (like a rash or wart) may just “show up” one day, it is likely that the problem has been brewing in your dog’s system for some time.

To reverse your dog’s ailment, a similar amount of time may be needed. Your dog’s immune system will be learning how to fight off the issue (and keep it away) on its own for the long-run, and this doesn’t usually happen right away.

Generally speaking, the longer a problem has taken to develop, the longer it will take to treat holistically.

All the way from diarrhea to cancer, the 20 most common problems can all be treated more effectively through the right combination of holistic and conventional care, including …

• Allergies
• Constipation
• Cancer
• Diarrhea
• Ear problems
• Epilepsy
• Eye problems
• Flatulence
• Fleas
• Incontinence
• Lice
• Mange
• Pink Eye
• Skin conditions
• Ticks
• Urination problems
• Vomiting
• Warts
• Worms
• Yeast Infections

Symptoms Should Get Worse Before They Get Better

Interestingly, when you treat your dog holistically their symptoms may actually appear to get a little worse before they get better. This is what you want! It means that your dog’s body is tackling the problem on its own.

And while the main symptom may get a little worse before it gets better, you’ll usually notice the rest of your dog’s health and mood start to improve right away.

You’ll know the treatment is working if you see your dog’s symptoms do any of the following…

• Stop migrating to other parts of the body
• Stay on the skin (or move there) and out of the internal organs
• Move away from the head and vital organs and towards the outer extremities and lower body
• Stop effecting the mind, including mood swings or fatigue (in the wild, this allows dogs to keep their survival instincts at their peak)

For instance, if your dog’s health problem effects the internal organs, before the holistic treatment you may not see any issue on the outside of the body. After treatment, the body may push the disease away from their organs and head, so you may see a rash develop on their feet or towards the back of their body. This usually means that your dog’s body is doing the right thing and is on the road to recovery.

For a complete list of health problems and the best combination of holistic and conventional treatments, see Organic Pet Digest’s Common Dog Health Problems page which can be found at http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/common-dog-health-problems.html.

Organic Pet Digest is your complete adviser for the right combination of conventional and holistic dog care. Ensure a long and happy life for your dog by choosing the best dog food, applying a holistic approach to wellness, incorporating natural remedies and using safe supplies from environmentally-friendly and ethical manufacturers. They can be found at http://www.organic-pet-digest.com/index.html.

Copyright: you may freely republish this article, provided the text, author credit, the active links and this copyright notice remain intact.

Author: Lauren Quinlan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Common Dog Health Problems – The 20 Most Common & How to Treat Them is a post from: Pet Amours - Pet Resources For Pet Lovers