Pet Care Advice

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Posted via email from Pamper Pet Care

Help for Clipping Your Dogs Nails

12 Mar 2010

Hello Everyone,

Today, We are going to look at nail clipping for your dog.

This topic comes up regularly.

So… How do you clip your dog’s nails?
==============================

Your dog’s toenails require regular care.

Clipping their nails every month or two is a great habit to get
into.

It’s true that some dogs need their nails clipped less frequently
as they wear them down naturally from walking on hard surfaces.

Regular clipping is more for smaller dogs that get only a little
exercise.

THE FIRST STEP involves selecting a nail trimming tool for dogs
(see you local pet shop).

Get your dog used to having their feet and toes handled. For
example, while relaxing, hold and manipulate your dog’s paws.

Familiarize your dog with the nail trimmer before attempting to
clip the nails.

Try gently tapping the trimmer on the nails, and holding the
trimmer while holding your dog.

While familiarizing your dog with the nail trimmer, offer praise
and treats to build a positive association.

Continue this familiarization process on a daily basis until your
dog gets completely comfortable with the nail clipping tool; this
is a vital step, as it will undo any negative associations the dog
may hold as a result of bad nail clipping experiences in the past.

WHEN READY.. clip one nail to start. Then clip two nails at a time.

A few days later, clip three nails at a time. Do not try to clip
all the dog’s nails at once the first time you do it, or this will
cause fear and a struggle during nail clipping.

Continue to reward your dog during and after nail cuttings.

It helps greatly to have a helper.

If you accidentally “quick” the dog’s nail (cut the dog’s nail too
short), causing bleeding – apply styptic powder or corn starch to
stop the bleeding. Do not react with fright or concern – keep your
tone light and happy.

If your dog appears uncomfortable or starts to resist nail
trimmings, back off and resume the familiarization process.

NEVER hold a dog down to clip his nails.

Never try to trim a dog’s nails while they are asleep either. This
will cause your dog to become fearful and the bad experience will
cause the dog to develop a negative association with nail trimming.

This negative association is what causes feelings of fear to arise
in the dog, resulting in resistance and struggles during nail
trimmings.

In short, you can can get your dog to tolerate nail trimmings by
conditioning the dog to associate nail trimmings with good,
positive experiences (i.e. treats, attention and praise.)

For Health Pet Care please visit

Best Pet Vitamins

Posted via email from Pamper Pet Care

Pet Grooming Tools

04 Mar 2010

Every single owner should have a basic working knowledge of how to
groom their dogs because it makes an awful lot of difference to not
only how a dog looks but also to how he or she feels.

You may think that soap, brush and a towel will be enough for the
job but, did you know that you need at least the basics for
grooming your dog? This means a brush, comb, scissors and nail
clippers.

The choice of tools will be determined by your dog’s type of coat.

So, today I will discuss;

=============================================

10 OF THE 30 TOOLS USED TO GROOM YOUR DOG

=============================================

Don’t worry, you don’t need all thirty

———————-
BOAR’S BRISTLE BRUSH
———————-

A boar’s bristle brush is not necessarily something that most
owners have heard of but is generally used for removing the
undercoat during shedding and when there are loose hairs.

It can really help to remove matting and is generally associated
with the grooming of long coated breeds.

—————
BRISTLE BRUSH
—————

Available in soft, medium, and stiff formats, bristle brushes are
ideal for use with short coats. However, they can also be used on
the undercoat of long coated breeds as well.

Bristle brushes are ideal for regular brushing as they will not
damage the skin.

————–
RUBBER BRUSH
————–

The rubber brush is gentle on the skin and is not designed for
coats with tangles. As such, it is designed for smooth and medium
coated breeds.

——-
COMB
——-

Unlike the brushes available, there are very few combs to choose
from and many experts simply recommend a regulation size steel
comb.

The comb should ideally have both fine and medium teeth for
removing tangles and removing stray hairs that the brush has left
behind.

This comb is ideal for use with all coat types and thus all breeds.

————
CAGE DRYER
————

A cage dryer is just what the name suggests. It is a tool that is
attached to a cage if you choose that method of drying for your
dog. It can easily be used at home to ensure that your dog can dry
in comfort in his or her cage.

If you invest in quality grooming tools then they will last longer
and work much better than the cheaper ones. Furthermore, if you
take the time to look after them properly then they will take care
of your dog.

————————–
ELECTRIC CLIPPER BLADES
————————–

Electric clipper blades are effectively those made for clippers
that are classified as A5 and A2. The blades are individually
numbered for your reference with the higher numbers being
designated as closer cuts and thus shorter hair.

—————————–
ELECTRIC CLIPPER SPRAY LUBE
—————————–

As essential when grooming using clippers, this spray is a coolant
that can help to lubricate the blades and cool then down when you
want to prevent burning your dog.

It is a fast and effective way of cooling the blade so that your
grooming session can resume uninterrupted.

—————————
HOUND GLOVE OR HOUND MITT
—————————

This glove is designed to help cleanse and brush the coats of
smooth coated dogs and can also be used on some medium coated dogs.
It is ideal for quick grooming and is highly effective.

———-
SCISSORS
———-

There are scissors that are designed for various sizes of dogs but
they are pretty standard issue. They all have sharp blades and so
you should buy them with the size of your own dog in mind in
addition to considering left-handed scissors if you need them.

—————
NAIL CLIPPERS
—————

This is an essential piece of equipment for grooming your dog.
There are three different sizes of nail clippers available; small,
medium and large.

Each type corresponds with the size of the dog you are grooming.
You can choose the scissors clippers, which are suitable primarily
for small dogs.

So, there you go; I hope that this newsletter opened your eyes to
the numerous tools that are available for your dog.

Hope this helps,

For pet grooming tools please visit our Pet Store at Pamper Pet Care.

Pet Grooming Tools

04 Mar 2010

Every single owner should have a basic working knowledge of how to
groom their dogs because it makes an awful lot of difference to not
only how a dog looks but also to how he or she feels.

You may think that soap, brush and a towel will be enough for the
job but, did you know that you need at least the basics for
grooming your dog? This means a brush, comb, scissors and nail
clippers.

The choice of tools will be determined by your dog’s type of coat.

So, today I will discuss;

=============================================

10 OF THE 30 TOOLS USED TO GROOM YOUR DOG

=============================================

Don’t worry, you don’t need all thirty

———————-
BOAR’S BRISTLE BRUSH
———————-

A boar’s bristle brush is not necessarily something that most
owners have heard of but is generally used for removing the
undercoat during shedding and when there are loose hairs.

It can really help to remove matting and is generally associated
with the grooming of long coated breeds.

—————
BRISTLE BRUSH
—————

Available in soft, medium, and stiff formats, bristle brushes are
ideal for use with short coats. However, they can also be used on
the undercoat of long coated breeds as well.

Bristle brushes are ideal for regular brushing as they will not
damage the skin.

————–
RUBBER BRUSH
————–

The rubber brush is gentle on the skin and is not designed for
coats with tangles. As such, it is designed for smooth and medium
coated breeds.

——-
COMB
——-

Unlike the brushes available, there are very few combs to choose
from and many experts simply recommend a regulation size steel
comb.

The comb should ideally have both fine and medium teeth for
removing tangles and removing stray hairs that the brush has left
behind.

This comb is ideal for use with all coat types and thus all breeds.

————
CAGE DRYER
————

————————–
ELECTRIC CLIPPER BLADES
————————–

—————————–
ELECTRIC CLIPPER SPRAY LUBE
—————————–

As essential when grooming using clippers, this spray is a coolant
that can help to lubricate the blades and cool then down when you
want to prevent burning your dog.

It is a fast and effective way of cooling the blade so that your
grooming session can resume uninterrupted.

—————————
HOUND GLOVE OR HOUND MITT
—————————

This glove is designed to help cleanse and brush the coats of
smooth coated dogs and can also be used on some medium coated dogs.
It is ideal for quick grooming and is highly effective.

———-
SCISSORS
———-

—————
NAIL CLIPPERS
—————

This is an essential piece of equipment for grooming your dog.
There are three different sizes of nail clippers available; small,
medium and large.

Each type corresponds with the size of the dog you are grooming.
You can choose the scissors clippers, which are suitable primarily
for small dogs.

So, there you go; I hope that this newsletter opened your eyes to
the numerous tools that are available for your dog.

Hope this helps,

For pet grooming tools please visit our Pet Store at Pamper Pet Care.

Dog Grooming Vs Professional Grooming

03 Mar 2010

I have heard a lot of dog owners asking if home grooming is better
than professional grooming.

Dog grooming is effectively the cleaning of a dog and there are
two persons who can groom your dog; a professional dog groomer and
yourself.

Your decision to groom your dog yourself or get a professional to
do so actively impacts upon your dog’s happiness. It is worth
taking the time to think long and hard about it all.

I will be answering your questions with a two part newsletter. So,
today we will be discussing the advantages of dog grooming at home.

Before you send spot to a professional dog groomer or groom him at
home;

===============================================================

HERE ARE 3 OF THE 5 ADVANTAGES TO GROOMING YOUR DOG AT HOME

===============================================================

———————————-
YOU CAN CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENT
———————————-

If you groom your dog then you will be doing so at home in a
comfortable environment that your dog feels at home in.

You can therefore control the way that he or she feels by using the
safety and comfort of the environment.

You can control the grooming experience as well so if your dog does
not respond well to something the first time then you can introduce
it slowly.

A professional groomer WILL NOT necessarily do that because they
will be intent on providing exactly what you asked for.

—————
IT IS CHEAPER
—————

It can be much cheaper to groom your dog yourself because you are
paying for the equipment, time and effort of a professional dog
groomer and yet will only pay for the former if you are doing it
yourself.

This can be a major expense saver that comes with so many other
benefits that it really is value for money.

——————-
ENHANCING BONDING
——————-

This is the main advantage of grooming your dog yourself. You can
actively look to form a bond with your dog that goes above and
beyond any other bond.

The close personal attention that your dog gets does not come in
any other form and the shared experience can really make you feel a
connection to your dog that is founded on that.

There are also some disadvantages as well;

==================================================================
HERE IS 1 OF THE 3 DISADVANTAGES OF GROOMING YOUR DOG AT HOME:
==================================================================

———————–
HAVE TO BUY THE TOOLS
———————–

The tools for grooming your dog do cost a bit to start with so
there is an initial outlay.

There are also ongoing costs that may be more or less depending on
exactly what you need, what breed of dog you have and the wear and
tear on your grooming tools.

You have no way of knowing what your costs will be but here is a
tip if you do decide to go for home grooming invest in quality
tools because they will last you longer and save you money in the
long term. They are worth every penny.

That’s it for now.

Next time, I will show the advantages disadvantages to sending your
dog to a professional dog groomer.

Yours truly,

Troy,thepetguy

Pamper Pet Care Newsletter and Free Ebook

**For DOG FOOD and NUTRITION HELP**
**************************************

Please visit the link below for all your Dog
Food and Nutrition needs;

Ultimate Dog Supplement

Posted via web from Pamper Pet Care

Choosing The Right Dog Groomer

03 Mar 2010

Sometimes we dog owners tend to be busy or just plain lazy when it
comes to grooming their dog because of this we will try to hire or
send our dog to a professional groomer.

But let me ask you, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE SURE IF HE/SHE IS IN
THE RIGHT HANDS?

Today, I will be giving you tips in choosing a professional groomer
that is right for your dog.

Although professional dog groomers do have vital experience that
you may want to take advantage of, they cannot perform miracles or
exceed expectations that are already too high.

As such, you need to be realistic in relation to what you expect
the groomer you choose to do and also take responsibility for your
own pet’s needs whether you can perform the grooming or not.

Well, there are a number of elements that you need to consider when
finding the best possible dog groomer for you and your dog.

========================================================

HERE ARE 3 OF THE 6 TIPS IN CHOOSING A DOG GROOMER

========================================================

—————–
RECOMMENDATIONS
—————–

Always seek recommendations when you look for a professional dog
groomer because you have feedback in advance that will put your
mind at rest and this will help the trust process.

Similarly, you will know exactly what to expect. You can ask any
number of people who to go to but veterinarians, boarding kennels,
dog trainers, animal shelters and friends give the best
recommendations.

If this does not offer much then you could always try the local
phone book or search the Internet. However, be sure to Google your
potential groomer to find out what feedback is out there about them.

—————–
QUALIFICATIONS
—————–

All good professional dog groomers will be fully qualified and
prepared to show you their certificates and accolades. However,
there are no licenses or general bodies that regulate dog groomers
at the moment.

As such, grooming associations and schools offer the qualifications
but always check out online whether those presented to you are
legitimate or not.

Most groomers out there will offer you a full run down of costs,
services and their backgrounds when you call them too so check them
out from all angles.

Furthermore, ask to speak to current clients to complete your
initial evaluation.

———————
FACILITY EVALUATION
———————

When you have narrowed down your search for a professional dog
groomer to one or a handful of grooming services then it is time to
visit them to get a feel for the place and compare.

You should check a number of factors that include the level of
lighting,cleanliness and size of the facilities.

Dog grooming parlors should always be well lit, incredibly clean in
look and odor, and have good sized cages o accommodate your dog.

The groomer should also monitor the dogs to ensure that no injuries
or overheating occurs during drying and be able to answer all your
questions knowledgeably.

Their manner with the pets should be gentle and caring and they
should always keep complete records that include contact numbers,
vaccination records, medical history and grooming information.

That’s it for now.

I hope you choose wisely.

Troy,the petguy

Dog Grooming Pros and Cons Part 2

02 Mar 2010

So, last time we discussed the advantages of grooming your dog at
home. Today we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of
sending your dog to a professional dog groomer.

A professional dog groomer is obviously an individual that is
experienced in grooming dogs and an expert to the point at which he
or she can make a very good living as a result of that.

A professional dog groomer may have a shop from which he or she
works but many actually go to the dogs these days.

It is easy to find reputable and experienced dog groomers out there
at the moment thanks to the Internet. Many groomers offer their
services online and are available at a reasonable rate.

The Internet will also provide you with reviews from customers so
you can decide for yourself whether or not you wish to hire them.

===================================================================

HERE ARE 2 OF THE 4 ADVANTAGES THAT A PROFESSIONAL GROOMER CAN
PROVIDE YOU AND YOUR DOG WITH

===================================================================

————————–
FULLY QUALIFIED GROOMING
————————–

All of the best professional dog groomers are fully qualified in a
number of areas and should have various certificates to prove it.

They should undertake training in order to practice so that they
can provide the best services of the highest quality.

Of course, you will not have those qualifications but some dog
trainers do offer short courses to help you out. Obviously,
professionals will have undertaken more training and that could
give you better peace of mind.

—————-
A FLAT EXPENSE
—————-

If you undertake grooming yourself then you will have to pay for
shampoos, brushes and so on.

However, if you choose to go to a professional dog groomer then the
likelihood is that you will have to pay a flat fee for the services
and will know exactly where you stand financially, which always
helps!

However, in spite of some of the above advantages, there are some
major disadvantages to hiring someone to groom your dog for you.

================================================================
HERE ARE 2 OF THE 4 DISADVANTAGES OF PROFESSIONAL GROOMING:
================================================================

—————————
GROOMING CAN BE EXPENSIVE
—————————

It can cost you a lot more to have your dog groomed than you may be
prepared to pay or at least able to afford.

Many households do struggle to find extra cash so expenses like
grooming may be too much, especially when you can do it yourself
with a little bit of effort.

The basics do not cost as much to begin with as a professional
groomer does and with a little practice your dog can look just as
good if you do it.

———————–
MAY USE TRANQUILIZERS
———————–

Some professional groomers actually use tranquilizers to calm dogs
down and this may not be what you want for your dog.

Tranquilizers should not be given to any dog unless prescribed and
they can have nasty side effects, such as seizures, heatstroke or
hypothermia.

You would probably not use them on your own dog unless prescribed
so a groomer should not either.

So, today I have given you the advantages of professional grooming
and as you can see, many of the advantages and disadvantages double
up as an advantage for one and disadvantage for the other and vice
versa but this information is most definitely worth stressing.

Hope these points help you.

Until next time,

Troy, thepetguy

Home Grooming Vs Professional Grooming Your Pets

02 Mar 2010

I have heard a lot of dog owners asking if home grooming is better
than professional grooming.

Dog grooming is effectively the cleaning of a dog and there are
two persons who can groom your dog; a professional dog groomer and
yourself.

Your decision to groom your dog yourself or get a professional to
do so actively impacts upon your dog’s happiness. It is worth
taking the time to think long and hard about it all.

I will be answering your questions with a two part newsletter. So,
today we will be discussing the advantages of dog grooming at home.

Before you send spot to a professional dog groomer or groom him at
home;

===============================================================

HERE ARE 3 OF THE 5 ADVANTAGES TO GROOMING YOUR DOG AT HOME

===============================================================

———————————-
YOU CAN CONTROL THE ENVIRONMENT
———————————-

If you groom your dog then you will be doing so at home in a
comfortable environment that your dog feels at home in.

You can therefore control the way that he or she feels by using the
safety and comfort of the environment.

You can control the grooming experience as well so if your dog does
not respond well to something the first time then you can introduce
it slowly.

A professional groomer WILL NOT necessarily do that because they
will be intent on providing exactly what you asked for.

—————
IT IS CHEAPER
—————

This can be a major expense saver that comes with so many other
benefits that it really is value for money.

——————-
ENHANCING BONDING
——————-

This is the main advantage of grooming your dog yourself. You can
actively look to form a bond with your dog that goes above and
beyond any other bond.

The close personal attention that your dog gets does not come in
any other form and the shared experience can really make you feel a
connection to your dog that is founded on that.

There are also some disadvantages as well;

==================================================================
HERE IS 1 OF THE 3 DISADVANTAGES OF GROOMING YOUR DOG AT HOME:
==================================================================

———————–
HAVE TO BUY THE TOOLS
———————–

The tools for grooming your dog do cost a bit to start with so
there is an initial outlay.

There are also ongoing costs that may be more or less depending on
exactly what you need, what breed of dog you have and the wear and
tear on your grooming tools.

That’s it for now.

Next time, I will show the advantages disadvantages to sending your
dog to a professional dog groomer.

Yours truly,

Troy,thepetguy

Pamper Pet Care Newsletter and Free Ebook

**For DOG FOOD and NUTRITION HELP**
**************************************

Please visit the link below for all your Dog
Food and Nutrition needs;

Ultimate Dog Supplement

Posted via web from Pamper Pet Care

Untitled

01 Mar 2010

Today’s article is controversial, but does make
ONE big point- Think OUTSIDE the box.

FACT: The incidence of serious diseases, such as
Cancer is far TOO high. 50% of dogs over the age of 7
will get some form of Cancer.

Clearly we are doing many things WRONG for this to
happen.

So perhaps Conventional medicine doesn’t have ALL
the answers..

—————
WHY?
—————

Well I have put a lot of thought into WHY we have a
nation of seemingly sicker pets, and I do believe that it is
multifaceted.

Diet- TOO much packaged nutritionally inadequate kibble.

Insufficient protein and moisture, with an over emphasis on
Carbohydrates- especially Corn and Wheat.

Environment- Our pets today are exposed to WAY to
many toxins- in the lawn, the air, the home and their food.

Vaccines- I believe that we have given TOO many vaccines TOO often-
damaging our pets immune systems.

Give ONLY what is needed as infrequently as often.

Conventional Medications. Once again I think that we
have come to rely on Drug Companies to supply a quick fix pill for
every ill- at out pet’s detriment.

YES Prednisone is effective at stopping itching, and as a
Veterinarian I like to QUICKLY stop whatever is ailing a pet,
BUT it can have LONG term consequences.

———————-
What should you do?
———————

Vary your pets diet- some Kibble, Some Home Diets, some Raw Food.
Preferably feed a ‘Natural’ Kibble.

Minimize toxin exposure- less kibble and canned food, pet beds that
DON’T contain toxic fire retardants, less toxic pet toys, less
exposure to plastic leaching toxins, and minimizing the use of
Insecticides, Herbicides, and Toxic cleaning products.

Vaccines- Pets only need to be vaccinated for 2-3 core viruses.
Puppies and Kittens need to be given ONLY 2 boosters, then
vaccines are given ONLY every 3 years.

Conventional Medication- use it as needed, BUT ask
about and try and use safer alternatives when possible. A classic
example is treatment for the Arthritic dog. A Glucosamine/Chondroin
/MSM supplement should ALWAYS be tried first before going to the
Anti-inflammatories. Consider learning about Acupressure or Massage
as options.

Supplement your pet on a daily basis. Clearly there
are things happening beyond our control. The issue
of genetics- some diseases such as Osteosarcoma are
far more prevalent in the larger breeds.

Here is my Complete Health Formula – it comes with
glowing reviews. Thousands of Dog owners have tried their dogs
with it and HUNDREDS have left ecstatic unsolicited testimonials.
Thanks if that was you by the way

You can see if this is right for your dog by going
here: Ultimate Dog Supplement

Free ebook “Heal Your Pet At Home”
at Pamper Pet Care

Posted via email from thepetguy’s posterous

Classical Training for Pets

25 Feb 2010

The science of associating something with an activity is known as classical conditioning. The best example is the experiment conducted by Pavlov. Whenever he served food to his dog, he used to ring a bell.

In the beginning, the dog used to salivate by looking at the food. Later he began associating the bell with the food and at a point of time, he used to salivate at the sound of the bell. This doesn’t mean that the actual noise of the ringing bell made him salivate. The dog associated the ringing of the bell with the food and that food or even the thought of it made him salivate.

Classical conditioning cannot actually make the dog to sit or jump at the command, but it does change the way the pet feels about a particular situation in which it is right now.

Classical conditioning gives explanation about the behavior relating to a particular place, object or event. It explains how the emotional response is developed.

The responses can be developed in the animal either wontedly or by chance. Also the trainer must remember that the change in the behavior is irreversible most of the times.

One of the most common behaviors dealt with in conditioned emotional response is fear. The fear can be instinctive, learned or unknown. For example, if a cat gets scared upon seeing a dog, this is instinctive fear.

If the cat backs off upon seeing a raised hand, this is learned fear. This can happen in the case of an abused cat. If there is fear because of lack of exposure to a particular situation before, this is known as fear of unknown.

The conditioned emotional responses, which are dislike-able, can be reduced with the help of classical conditioning. Classical conditioning further has two concepts namely desensitization and counter-conditioning. Desensitization is reducing the sensitivity of the animal towards a particular unavoidable situation.

The bad situation is created again and again until the animal becomes insensitive or doesn’t feel about it any more. For example, if the animal is given crate training, it is locked inside the crate again and again, till he gets used to staying locked inside the cage.

In counter-conditioning the animal is exposed to a lower degree of extremity. The intensity is less and as well a positive thing is presented to the animal. By doing this pet begins to like the nasty situation. The pet is made to respond in such a way, which contradicts the current or previous reaction.

For example, a pet doesn’t like to be locked up in the crate all the time. But this undesirable situation can be made to look pleasant if the pet is fed with a treat from time to time as long as it stays calmly inside the cage.

Negative counter conditioning is another technique, but it is used very rarely. For example, if the cat likes to bite the hand of the owner very frequently, the person can rub something distasteful on the hand.

When the animal bites the hand, it will taste the distasteful substance and then associate the bad taste with the hand and will not bite again, if done repeatedly.

Classical conditioning is used to alter the way of reaction of the animal in a particular situation. With classical conditioning it can be made to like an unpleasant situation and even dislike a pleasant condition.