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
2008年9月17日星期三
2008年9月5日星期五
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.
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.
2008年9月2日星期二
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.
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.
订阅：
博文 (Atom)