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Why Exercise & Training Your Adopted Dog is Important

When people adopt a dog, many people don’t realize the importance that spending time training your dog can have on keeping you and your dog happy. Dog training gives you a reason to spend quality time with your dog while training him or her. Your dog will get the pleasure of learning how to work well in your home, and will even get a reward for their efforts!

Training your dog is also about training you and your family on how to communicate with your dog in a loving and clear way. It’s really just communicating clearly to your dog what the rules of your home are, and since dogs are eager to please, once they know the rules, they are happy to get with the program. This is especially true with a rescue dog who is so appreciative of the love you are giving, and who may not have been given the chance to learn how to work well with people in his or her previous home. When you, your family and your dog know what is to be expected in terms of behavior, everyone is happy! Click here to check out this article on training your dog to do sports on Petcentric.com

Why Is My Dog Whining For No Reason?

If your dog is whining, there likely is a reason—even if you’re having a hard time figuring out what that reason is. Puppies and dogs use whining as a form of communication, so the whining could be because he’s trying to alert you to something, he’s hurt or sick, or to let you know he wants something. In most cases, whining isn’t an issue, but if it’s excessive, you may need the help of an animal trainer to curb the behavior.

Is Your Dog Sick?

One thing that is important to rule out is a medical condition. Sometimes it’s easy to tell when the whining is due to pain, but other times it’s not. If it started suddenly and occurs at random times, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your vet to make sure nothing is medically wrong.

Is Your Dog Alerting You?

If your dog is whining and running to the same spot or staring out the window, it’s likely that he’s trying to alert you to something. This could be anything from a stranger in the yard to a stray plastic bag stuck in a bush, but it’s always a good idea to check things out. Once your dog sees that you’ve given the all clear, he’ll likely stop whining. Be sure to praise him, so that he’ll know that alerting you to potential danger is the right thing to do.

Is Your Dog Looking For Attention?

Some dogs will whine for extra food, more treats, or additional playtime. While you want to supply your dog’s needs, you also want to be careful not to teach your dog that whining = getting what you want.

If your dog whines to get certain things, only supply that thing once the whining has stopped. This will reward silence rather than whining.

Whining rarely happens for no reason, so try to pinpoint the cause so you can stop the behavior.

Worlds of Wonder contest

wowImg3 We wanted to let you know about the Worlds of Wonder contest being put on by Friskies. The four grand prizes are valued at $8,500 to $10,000. If you win, you’ll choose one of four adventures: Signature Blend Mountain Ranch Adventure (at the pet-friendly Triple Creek Ranch in Montana), Seafood Sensations Paradise Island Adventure (at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas), Indoor Delights Tree House Adventure (at The Tree House Lodge in Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge in Costa Rica) or the Feline Favorites Build-Your-Own Adventure (Awarded in the form of a $10,000 gift certificate to Carlson Travel). There are also two types of online instant-win prizes: A coupon for Friskies 3.15-lb dry cat food up to $4.97 each (6,624 total, 24 available per day) or a very cute Friskies-Branded Cat Food Bowl, Average Retail Value $17.50 each (2,760 total, 10 available per day). We like those kind of odds of winning! To enter the contest read on…

To Enter the Contest: First you need a Game code. Game codes are inside specially-marked 3.15 lb bags of Friskies dry cat food, and available via mail for free. (Details at http://www.friskies.com/Worlds-of-Wonder/Faqs/Default.aspx#sweeps). Then you have to join their free club for cat-lovers. All fields are required, and you’ll need to choose a unique user name. Then, you have to play four times to be entered to win one of the four grand prizes. You have from now until 1/31/10 to play.

Got your code and you’re ready? Enter on their website at http://friskies.com/Worlds-of-Wonder/Default.aspx.

Will A Dog Eat Itself To Death?

It would be highly unusual for a dog to eat himself to death, but some dogs will certainly overeat if given the chance. Free feeding is a common practice among pet owners, and it may work for some dogs who will stop eating when satisfied. Other dogs, however, will continue to eat until they make themselves sick. Fatalities from gorging are extremely rare. That being said, bloat is a serious condition that can be caused by eating too much too quickly and can be fatal if not treated immediately.

Problems With Overeating

While your dog isn’t likely to eat himself to death in one sitting, long-term overeating can certainly shorten his life and lead to a myriad of medical conditions including:

Diabetes
Heart Disease
Arthritis

As is the case with humans, ensuring your dog eats a proper balanced diet is important to his good health. If your dog tends to overeat, then free feeding is not the way to go. Instead, you’ll want to put out measured amounts of food two or three times a day.

Why Do Some Dogs Overeat?

Like humans, some dogs tend to eat until satisfied while others overeat anytime they have the chance. There is no one simple answer as to why some dogs overeat, but potential causes include:

Boredom
Anxiety
Former food deprivation
Hormone imbalances

No matter the reason, curbing your pet’s overeating is important in order to help him maintain optimal health. Free feeding may be convenient, but if your dog doesn’t know when to stop, then it’s detrimental to his health.

Even though your dog isn’t likely to eat himself to death in one sitting, long-term overeating could lead to serious health consequences. If you’re not sure how much or how often your pet should be eating, talk to your vet for advice specific to your dog.

Why is Obesity so Dangerous for Pets?

Obesity is just as dangerous for pets as it is for humans. The extra pounds weigh on an animal’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems, exacerbating existing problems and causing new ones. Fat cats and dogs are also prone to injury, more at risk in surgery, and predisposed to conditions such as diabetes. And the laundry list of problems doesn’t end there. Decreased stamina, diminished immune function, and digestive disorders are all potential consequences of obesity.

Being severely overweight can significantly diminish your cat or dog’s quality of life. So when your porky pet pleads with you for an extra treat, remember that saying no may be the kindest response.

Why Is My Dog Peeing Everywhere?

Some reasons your dog may be peeing everywhere include medical conditions, improper training, fear, or infrequent walks. If the pet is a puppy or a dog that is new to your home, you’ll need to exercise some patience as some dogs take longer to train than others. If a housebroken pet has started peeing everywhere, you’ll need to try to pinpoint a reason.

Common Reasons For Inappropriate Urination

Once your dog is properly housebroken, he shouldn’t start urinating in the house unless there is an underlying reason. These may include:

Medical Conditions

This is a common cause of a trained dog to start peeing throughout the house. Medical conditions that can cause this behavior include urinary tract infections, kidney issues, bladder stones, diabetes, and certain injuries. In many cases, dogs will show no other symptoms, so you should make a vet appointment as soon as you notice that the dog is urinating in the house.

Submission

This is most common in puppies, but it can occur at any age. If someone startles the dog, reaches for, or scolds the dog, he may urinate out of fear or to show his submission.

Marking

You can recognize marking as it tends to be very small amounts of urine in certain places. Spaying or neutering can help, and the earlier you fix your pet, the less likely they are to mark.

Infrequent Walks

An easy-to-fix issue is that your dog simply isn’t being let out enough. If you’re gone for 8+ hours a day, your dog may not always be able to hold it until you return home. If putting in a doggy door is not a feasible solution, consider hiring a dog walker to stop by each day.
Until you can figure out and address the reason, you’ll want to be sure to use an enzymatic cleaner to fully eliminate the odor left behind by the urine. If you don’t, the dog will be attracted to urinate in that spot again—as may other of your household pets.

The good news is that the behavior can usually be successfully addressed either by the owner, the vet, or, in some cases, an animal behaviorist.

Why is Flea and Tick Control So Important?

Fleas and ticks are tiny pests that can cause big problems, and the damage isn’t just skin deep. Animals can ingest fleas containing tapeworm eggs, which then hatch in their intestines. In a flea-ridden area, the same thing can happen to a child.

Ticks can also carry a variety of diseases, including Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Ehrlichiosis.

Risks vary by region, but Mike Paul, Executive Director of the Companion Animal Parasite Council says no risk is acceptable, so pet owners should be vigilant about flea and tick control.

Paul states, “what we’re trying to do is to get people to say, ‘well, not in my back yard,’ you know, and to keep their pets clean and their yards clean and make sure that their kids stay healthy.”

Why Does My Dog Yawn so Much?

If you’ve ever wondered why your dog yawns so much, even when he’s well-rested, the answer may surprise you. When your dog yawns a lot, it could be a sign that he’s nervous and trying to relax himself. Yawning is one way that dogs communicate. So just as you might bite your fingernails when you’re nervous, a dog might yawn to calm himself down.

Owners can use this behavior to their advantage. By smacking their own lips and yawning, owners can signal to their pets that everything is okay. Try it sometime if your dog appears stressed. Get his attention, smack your lips, and show your dog a nice, big yawn. It may help calm your pooch down.

Why Does My Dog Have Such Bad Breath?

Your pet’s bad breath can be a real turn-off. It can also be a sign of a harmful condition. Dental and periodontal diseases are the most common reasons for stinky breath, so brush your dog’s teeth regularly to help prevent bacterial infections and inflamed gums.

There can also be more serious reasons for bad breath. For example, if it smells like urine, your dog could have kidney disease. Liver disease can also cause halitosis. So if your pup has dragon breath, make sure he doesn’t lose his appetite, vomit, or develop yellow eyes or gums.

Pay attention to excessively sweet breath, too. Coupled with excessive thirst or urination, it can be a sign of diabetes. So no matter how much you want to stay away, keep a close eye on a dog with bad breath.