Off Leash Too Soon

Dear Adam:

Thank you for you book and tapes. They have been invaluable in training Maggie my 5 month old Rat Terrier. I got her at 7 weeks and have been working with her ever since. She does very well and masters most things usually within a day. Or at least understands what is expected. She is very good at the down/stay or sit/stay in most cases. If there is a lot of activity in the park or something new going on she doesn't always listen. I use a 50 ft lead and occasionally let her off.

Most times she will listen to my commands however periodically she decides to run at this freedom. When I catch her I correct her and she knows she has done wrong. My main question I guess is to get her to down/stay from a distance. Very rarely will she do this if I give the command from a distance. My goal is that if she were loose and for some reason I needed her to stay put (i.e. Danger to her) I want her to know and respond to this command. I think for being only 5 months she has done very well, but I know that we must continue to work at all the things that will make her an even bigger joy than she already is. Maybe I am expecting too much at this age? Keep up the terrific work and thank you for your time.

K. Fletcher

Dear K:

A big emphasis in all of my material is the understanding that you cannot EVER let the dog be in a situation where you might give a command and she MIGHT NOT respond, until she has already proven to you that she is 100% responsive.

In other words, if she's not 100% responsive, then you're letting her off the long line too soon.

Furthermore, as she's still an adolescent, I probably wouldn't take the long line off in a park setting until she is BOTH 100% and at least a year old. At her current age, she's really just an adolescent.

You may choose to let her off the leash (although I wouldn't) ... but if you do this, please recognize that if you give her a command and she chooses not to reply... THEN YOU'VE HUST TAUGHT HER TO BE LEASH-SMART.

Make sense?

That's all for now, folks!
Adam

Dog Dental Heath Care For Your American Pit Bull Terrier

One of the most often overlooked areas in care of Pit Bulls involves dental health. It is important not only in caring for his teeth, but in also protecting his overall well being. Being able to chew food properly affects digestion, which can lead to all kinds of health problems for your Pit Bull. Learning how to care for your Pit Bull’s dental health needs at home can save you a lot of out of pocket expense over your Pit Bull’s lifetime.
Believe it or not, you should try to brush your dog’s teeth at least once everyday. Just like you, your Pit Bull will have plaque and tartar that can destroy his teeth or lead to gum disease. It could result in your Pit Bull losing his teeth, or developing an infection.

If you haven’t already developed a dental hygiene routine for your Pit Bull, you may need to take it slow and easy to get him used to the idea. Begin by getting him used to you holding him and looking inside his mouth. If you have an older Pit Bull, just holding the dog long enough to look in his mouth may be a challenge at first. Once you get him comfortable with you holding him and looking inside his mouth, start lifting up his lips and moving his tongue around so you can actually see his teeth. These first couple steps may take your Pit Bull some time to get used to, so be patient.

Once he is comfortable with you messing with his mouth, see your veterinarian to get a toothpaste recommended for him. Start by using the toothpaste on your finger for a few days, to get him used to the taste and feeling of you rubbing his teeth. Your Pit Bull will probably enjoy this, especially if he gets flavored toothpaste. He will definitely love the extra attention.
Eventually, your Pit Bull will let you brush his teeth, which will help protect his teeth and health. Dental problems in Pit Bulls can be very painful for them, and can often be hard to treat successfully.

If by some chance you have a Pit Bull that absolutely will not let you near his mouth, let alone brush his teeth, there are some alternative ways to ensure his dental health. Your veterinarian can recommend a good dental rinse that can be added to your Pit Bull’s water bowl to help rid the teeth of debris. Chew toys will also help clean the teeth and keep his bones strong and healthy. Be careful when buying chew toys for your Pit Bull to make certain the toy isn’t hard enough to damage his teeth, and is large enough so he can’t get choked on it.

There are some dog foods now available that are supposed to provide dental care, which actually means that the food sticks to plaque and tartar as the dog chews, therefore getting it off the teeth.

Remember, that to provide proper care for your Pit Bull, you cannot omit his dental health. By taking the time to provide dental care when your Pit Bull is a puppy, you can start ensuring his dental health in the beginning, which will save you a lot of costly vet bills as time goes by.

5 Things to Consider Before Purchasing a Pet Urn

If you are like most pet owners, you’ve come to see your pet as a best friend or even part of the family. He has been there by your side through the good times and bad, and never held a grudge when you scolded him for doing something wrong. Through the years, your pet has offered you unconditional love, and that’s why it’s important to provide him with the proper memorial when he passes on. If you choose to cremate your dog, cat, bird or other animal, pet urns are a wonderful way to remember your beloved friend. Urns come in an enormous array of shapes, sizes, and colors. But before you go out and purchase one, here are 5 things to consider before purchasing a pet urn.

1. What is your budget? Pet urn prices are just as diverse ad their selection. They can range from under one hundred dollars to over a three hundred. It goes without saying that the more ornate and personalized you want your urn to be, the more expensive it will get.

2. What will the pet urn be used for? If you will be burying the urn, a nice yet simple container will suffice. If you plan to display the urn, you may opt for a more ornate and personal design.

3. What type of urn should you buy? It all comes down to your personal preference and budget. There are urns for all types of tastes and personalities: standard vase-type urns, life-size figurine urns that look just like your pet, simple box type urns, photo urns, hollow rock-like urns that can be placed outdoors, and even burial markers with built-in urns that can be placed in your home garden.

4. How will you personalize your pet urn? There are a number of options from which you can choose to personalize the urn, but it ultimately depends on the type of urn you select. Most urns can be purchased with an etched brass plate that can be engraved with your pet’s name and a quote. Other urns have special sides which allow you to insert pictures. Some urns can be laser engraved depending on the urns material.

5. While it may be convenient to purchase a pet urn from your veterinary clinic, be aware that there are fees added into the purchase price that include transportation of the ashes and markup costs. It may be a better idea to purchase the urn directly from the pet crematory.

Selecting a cremation pet urn can be a difficult and personal experience, but it is a wonderful way to ensure the loving memory of your pet is preserved for years to come.

Dog Obedience Training Tips Reveals !

When it comes to dog obedience training, the "recall" command is quite important. In fact, some dog trainers would argue that it is the most important of all the commands. This is the process by which the owner calls back the dog, and asks the dog to return to them. Now, if you're training the dog for the first time, it is likely that the dog will not respond. When this happens, the owner should not become upset or punish the dog. The thing the owner must perform is a correction. The owner should always approach the dog, and they should not punish the dog under any circumstances.

The correction process is another important part of the dog training method. Under no circumstances should this process involve physically abusing the dog. The use of force in dog training has been the subject of a great deal of controversy. Even if the owner can stop the dog's bad behavior by striking them, this will cause stress to the dog, and the dog will naturally lose the necessary enthusiasm to continue with the task. The dog may also become aggressive. Ultimately, it is up to the person training the dog to decide how much force they should use, but many experts agree that the dog should never be hit.

One technique that is sometimes used to stop bad behavior is to quickly pull on the dog's leash and lead the dog as a result for not following through on a specific command. Another method that is used to correct bad behavior is isolation. When a dog does something wrong, the owner/handler can simply take the dog to an area and leave it there alone for a set period of time, where it will be isolated from anyone it wants to interact with. The process of teaching puppies is also a prominent part of dog obedience training.

While the puppy prenatal phase has been traditionally overlooked by dog trainers, many experts are now taking a second look at it. A puppy will react to the touch of the mother's abdomen. Some do trainers believe that the dog's sense of touch can be developed before the dog is even born. The process of dog training can sometimes be tedious, but in the end, it can also be quite rewarding. There are a number of useful guides and books which can assist you in the dog training process.

Treats For Your Canine Friends

Should dogs have treats? Will they make your older dog overweight? Are any dog treats really healthy? Are there dog snacks that are dangerous? Where can you find these treats? Could you make your own dog snacks? These are questions you may be asking yourself if you own a dog or are considering a gift of treats for a favorite canine.

There are tons of treats that are especially made for dogs. If your dog eats a healthy, balanced diet there is no reason that your dog can not enjoy a snack or two from time to time. Some dogs have medical issues and should avoid snacking but this is something you can discuss with your vet.

You may have a dog who is allergic to some foods. If this is the case you may still be able to find a treat that will not trigger problems for Fido. Be sure to ask about any health or allergy concerns if you are thinking of presenting a sack or box of treats to a dog that you do not own.

As an owner of an older dog or a dog who is not exercised on a regular basis you may need to limit the treats to special occasions or use them as a reward. When canines age they can experience weight gain just like their adoring owners.

One good place to shop for dog treats is online. You will be able to find sites that feature all kinds of special treats for that wonderful dog in your life. You will want to check out the ingredients of any dog snacks you plan to purchase.

As you may already know, the dog biscuit is a favorite treat of many dogs. Not only can you buy dog biscuits in many sizes you can also find them in lots of various flavors.

If you are looking for something a little more extravagant than the regular dog biscuit you may want to start shopping around for gourmet treats. These treats are made in fun shapes like fire hydrants, cats, hearts and bones. Some even come frosted or with sprinkles.

You will also be able to find cupcakes made just for man's/woman's best friend and while you are at it don't miss the doggy doughnuts, tarts and cookies. There are even muffins, sushi rolls and steak bites. For those vegetarian types you can stock up on veggie treats, too.

Those in the mood for baking their own doggie treats are in luck. Recipes abound and you will be able to make treats that have liver, peanut butter, cheese, chicken, oatmeal, or a tasty combination.

Dog treats are made for the most discerning of dogs. Give your dog the gift of a special treat today and watch those eyes light up and that tail wag!

Got A Cat As A Pet? Here’s How To Keep Them Healthy…

Our pet cats are often as close to us as members of our family. In fact, they virtually are members of our family! That’s why cat owners should know as much as they can about cat health. Here are the major things to know about caring for your pet cat in a loving way:

GROOMING: Long-haired cats should be groomed regularly for optimum cat health. Use a pet brush and groom no less frequently than once a week.

DIET: Cat health is strongly affected by what your cat eats. Obesity is a major factor in heart disease particularly as your cat gets older. Choose a pet food for your cat that is right for it’s age but feed it regularly. Consistency is the key to a well-fed cat.

OLDER CATS: Some diseases occur simply because your cat is getting older. These can be labeled elderly cat health problems. As cats age their kidneys and eyesight fail and they may need special diets.

LITTER: The litter box can be dangerous to both cat health and human health if it isn’t cleaned regularly. Change your pet’s litter no less than once every four days and keep a small dish of baking soda near the litter area.

SCRATCHING: Scratching is a major cat health concern because if a cat scratches regularly it is often a sign of other problems. If your cat is scratching a particular area often try a delousing product and then take your pet to the vet.

DECLAWING: Declawing your cat can be a major factor in Cat health. If you choose to declaw your pet it is important to remember to keep them inside at all times.

BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS: Many cat health problems relate to difficult or uncommon behavior. Listlessness can be a symptom of depression. Strange aggression is sometimes caused by hormone imbalances.

STRESS: Your cat can easily get stressed out. Stressful situations like moving, travelling, natural disasters or even changes in the family can affect cat health. To minimize the effects of stress on your pet, buy a tranquilizer for distance travelling and have a place in your home where your cat can escape if there are busy changes in the house.

POISON: Make sure dangerous poisons like antifreeze cannot be reached by your pet. Some plants are fatal to cats so make sure to raise your plants and lock your toxins.

PARASITES: Parasites such as ringworms, heart worms and rabies can greatly affect cat health. Blood in a cat’s stool or uncommon appetite are common signs of parasites.

MOUTH: Cats often have mouth diseases and this can influence cat health. Cats are just as prone to gingivitis as humans. For problems like rodents ulcer or bad breath, brush your cat’s teeth with a small child’s toothbrush.

INDOORS/OUTDOORS: One of the greatest factors in determining cat health is whether your pet goes outdoors. Cars, children, other animals and toxins are all dangerous and should be avoided by keeping your cat indoors.

Taking care of your cat is critical to your cats health. Hopefully this article has provided you with information that will make your pet’s life much safer, healthier, happier and longer.

Aquarium lighting for reef tanks

A topic that is not discussed very often is aquarium lighting for reef tanks. Although this topic is not discussed very much it is very important within a salt water reef tank.

After water quality the next most important thing is aquarium lighting for reef tanks, followed closely by water movement.

Water quality gives the tank stability as well as providing the corals with the essential elements. Aquarium lighting provides the corals with energy which they then use to grow. Water movement allows nutrients to be delivered to the corals for them to feed upon, as well as washing away waste. Water movement is also essential when natural filtration is used in the reef tank.

Inside all corals are millions upon millions of what is called symbiotic algae. The only exceptions are those corals which are classified as non-photosynthetic. These obtain their energy from feeding rather than from light itself. Photosynthetic corals obtain their primary source of energy from light and then also actively feed to obtain more energy. The symbiotic algae within the corals obtain energy from the light and then pass this energy on to the coral itself – a match made in heaven!

Different corals have different lighting requirements. For example, short polyp stony corals require much more intense lighting than soft corals do.

When choosing aquarium lighting for reef tanks you need to check two things in your reef tank. The first is the corals themselves, so that you can ascertain their requirements, and the other is the depth of the aquarium itself. Checking the depth is important as light can only penetrate so far into water before the colour is removed. It is amazing how quickly water can remove colour from light.

The depth of your aquarium as well as the corals you keep will determine which type of lighting you require. For example, if you keep soft corals then you could possibly just use fluorescent tubes. However, if you keep short polyp stony corals then metal halide lighting will be required. The depth needs to be checked because if you have a deep aquarium then the colour might not penetrate to the bottom of the aquarium. Water has the ability to be able to strip out colour at an amazing rate, therefore if you have a deep aquarium you will need lighting of enough power to be able to push the light to the bottom of the aquarium.

Another component of aquarium lighting for reef tanks which needs to be considered is that of Kelvin. Kelvin is the colour output and the higher the rating in the Kelvin scale the bluer the light will be. At the other end of the scale the lower the rating the more yellow/red it will be. Normally in a reef aquarium a Kelvin rating of 10,000K to 13,000K is utilised. This is a white/blue colour which replicates life on the reef at a depth of about 30m.

When placing corals into your reef aquarium you will need to first check what their lighting requirements are and then place them at the bottom of the reef tank and slowly move them up over time until they are in their final position.

Some Of The Reasons Why You Should Consider Having Fish As Pets

It's common for children to beg their parents for a pet. When most people think of pets, they think of dogs or cats and mice or hamsters. They may overlook some the greatest pets to own; fish.

Few things are as mesmerizing as watching brightly colored fish swim around their aquariums. Their vivid colors seem to glow under the aquarium lights and they continuously swim and circle around their own little environments. You can buy accessories for your aquarium that make it look like a tiny underwater paradise. There are beautifully colored rocks and gravel that you can adorn the bottom of the tank with, as well as little statues of mermaids or the ever popular treasure chest that seems filled with gems and pearls.

You don't have to stick with one type of fish but instead can enjoy a variety all in one tank. Some people add snails and even frogs to their fish tanks creating a both an entertaining and educational environment. Because fish are always in motion, they are never boring to watch. You can watch them chase each other around the tank almost as if they were playing a game of underwater tag. Children can watch them as they interact and get a lesson in science that's better than any undersea documentary on television while being much more enjoyable to watch.

There is also a lot of ease that comes with caring for fish. Unlike dogs that have to be walked and constantly entertained, your fish get their own exercise without any help from you. There's no annoying fur that has to be vacuumed from the floor and furniture and you don't have to worry about having the dreaded pet odor permeate your home.

They only need to be fed twice a day and if you have to go out of town you can get automatic feeders. You won't have to go through the trouble and expense of finding a kennel for the dog or someone to come and feed the cat.

The important thing to remember is to make sure that the tank is outfitted properly. Fish need oxygen just like mammals do so you should put some plants in the tank that are designed for underwater living. Make sure that you install a light in the tank so that the plants can flourish. You will also need to have a thermometer to make sure that the temperature remains at a healthy level and a filter to keep the water free of toxins. It's also important to clean the tank on a regular basis. When filling your fish tank you should use distilled water. Don't dismay if your fish becomes ill. Talk to your vet about it but usually just raising the temperature of the water that it's in will help the fish to become healthy again.