I love and adore Cesar Millan and one of his basic principles of dog training is that the human establish themselves as pack leader. This is important on all levels for the safety and happiness of both.

When you’re trying to train your dog, it’s important to understand how your dog thinks.  Dogs are pack animals, first and foremost, and that’s something you need to understand to have the best possible relationship you can with your pet. If you understand this basic concept, it’ll be easier to train your dog.

Dogs are happy to be around humans and make excellent companions when puppies and adults.  They naturally take to people and families because their instinct for packs makes it easy for them to find a place in a group. Pack animals separate their pack into levels, with the leader of the pack at the top. This leader sets the direction for the pack.

The next level is like the second in command, and each one down has less dominance in the group until you reach the bottom.  When in a pack, dogs understand where each animal in the group sits on that pyramid, and they fall into those roles naturally. Because it’s their instinct, dogs will also naturally want to be part of a pack, or group, and that’s what makes them fall so easily in a family group of people. Watch Cesar give lesson here:

When you bring a puppy or even an adult dog home, it automatically views everyone in the household as part of a pack.  And by instinct it needs to immediately determine where it falls into the family pack; it needs to understand what level it belongs in.  Your dog will need to understand who leads and who follows.

Problems arise when no one seems to be the clear leader.  If you don’t establish yourself as head of the pack right away, your dog will be uncomfortable that there is no leader.  And your dog’s instinct will be to become the leader, to ensure that the pack is strong. Even a puppy will attempt to fill the leader role, because it knows that there must be one.

If you establish yourself as the leader right away, though, your dog will fall into its spot on the pack pyramid and happily view you as the one in charge.  There are several important things you can do to make sure your dog knows that you’re the boss.

• Physical contact. It’s important that you pet and groom your dog.  Even if your pet doesn’t like being brushed or having his nails clipped, don’t show that you’ll defer to his wishes.
• Ground rules.  Don’t let her chew on your shoes because you think it’s cute, unless you want her to chew on your shoes forever. You’ll confuse her later for punishing her for doing the same thing.
• Be consistent. If you don’t want your dog to something, stop him every time and don’t ever let it go.  Be consistent with your praise, and do praise your dog when he does things right.

Following these basic rules to establish yourself as in charge will save you a great deal of frustration as your puppy grows.

First aid for dogs is a very important for owners to be prepared for. As a dog owner, you may find yourself needing to give your dog first aid. Dogs are curious creatures and sometimes get into dangerous situations. When they get into trouble, it will be your job to help.  Many of the problems a dog faces are similar to those of our own. Until you can get your dog to a vet, he will depend on you. Having the supplies you need on hand will really help you to be effective.

Rolls of gauze and tape are handy to slow or stop bleeding and are necessary in your doggie first aid kit. You can also find some great blood-clotting topical products too. Hydrogen peroxide is important for cleaning wounds. An old clean blanket is essential for wrapping a dog in shock. A first aid kit for dogs  should also include an antihistamine for bee or wasp stings, an antibiotic gel and an eye wash. Also, absorbent cotton, gauze rolls or pads, scissors (preferably with rounded tips), tweezers, a rectal thermometer; syringes (without the needle) for giving oral medications, elastic bandages.

You can get a wonderful list at PetFinder website print it out and make copies for your friends.

Take time to learn the basics of first aid. Keep your vet’s phone number handy in case you need him. If you think your dog may need professional care in the middle of the night or on a weekend, consider calling your vet and advising him. He may have some good advice or instructions to help you reach him.  Many cities now have pet emergency centers.  It is advisable to keep their number in your first aid kit as well.

Here is a video that you can get a few tips from:

Keep in mind that an injured dog is scared and may bite.  If you feel this is possible, a muzzle is another addition to your kit.  Avoid giving your dog Tylenol.  Ask your vet before it is necessary what kind of pain medication is okay and keep some of that with the rest.

In our previous post we talked about Boston Terriers, I must have seen at least two this past week! It’s like when you talk about orange cars, suddenly they are everywhere! Have you considered getting a Boston Terrier?

There are several ways to go about this. People think that finding Boston terrier dogs for sale should be a very easy task. However, people need to know that there’s more to finding Boston terrier dogs for sale than looking in the phone book or in the classified ads. For one thing, the breeder often reflects the quality of the pet.

Today, many of the Boston terrier dogs for sale are bred by “puppy farms” which exist solely to breed and sell pet dogs. These “puppy farms” are profit-oriented and are therefore natural breeding grounds for animal cruelty. It is often the case that the puppies born in these farms are taken away from their mothers as soon as they are big enough to sell. They are often malnourished as a result of the cost-cutting methods of these farms.

When you are trying to find Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to look for a breeder who genuinely cares for the animals. This will assure you that the animal is well taken care of and will survive more than a few weeks in your care.

Another reason to look for this type of Boston terrier dogs for sale is genetics. When you buy from a puppy farm, all the owner cares about is the profits. As long as a puppy looks good enough to be sold, it is sold. A great dog breeder, however, knows that breeding goes far beyond determining the appearance of a dog. When you are looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to look for a breeder who knows that breeding also determines the temperament of a dog.

When you go looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to find a pet that would suit your temperament. While a low-class breeder would tell you to buy a dog because the puppy looks cute, a great dog breeder would tell you to buy a specific dog because it fits your personality.

When looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to find a seller who does not ask you how much you are willing to pay but asks you what your qualifications are. When you are looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to find a breeder who will not push the dog towards you but will truly take the time to know if you are fit to own a dog.

When you are looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale, you need to look for a seller who would be willing to take back the dog if you somehow neglect it. Do not go for sellers who will exchange the puppy for cash and then walk away. A great breeder will leave you with a way to contact him or her in case you change your mind.

Another way to find the best kinds of Boston terrier dogs for sale is to look for the proper documentation. Often, true breeders will be able to provide pedigrees that can trace back the lineage of a puppy. Through this, you know that you are buying the best.

Looking for Boston terrier dogs for sale may seem like a daunting task at first, but with the right attitude and information, you should be able to get the best puppy for you and your family. By following the tips in this article, you can make hunting for Boston terrier dogs for sale the best thing you have ever done.

Finally, the very best solution to getting a Boston Terrier is to rescue one!  This helps with over breeding which leads to incredible cruelty. There are many Boston Terrier rescues all over the country such as Southern California Boston Terrier Rescue and Boston Terrier Rescue of Greater Houston.

You can find also pure breeds in shelters, believe it or not. Be sure to check them out in addition.

The Boston terrier is a well-muscled and compact breed. This is not really surprising since the Boston terrier was first bred by people who wanted to use them in dog fights. Now some people may read all sorts of implications from such a violent past. Some people might think that the Boston terrier dog would make a bad pet because of its aggressive nature. However, you should know that as a pet, the Boston terrier can actually be pretty mild mannered.

The temperament of the Boston terrier can be described as enthusiastic as it often loves to play. Most people comment that the Boston terrier actually has a great sense of humor. Another characteristic that people find delightful with this breed is the fact that they are intelligent and are very much easily trained. This fact is also enhanced by the dog’s natural curiosity and love for learning.

Of course, people who own pets know the importance of training. Having a well-behaved pet increases the enjoyment for you both. Having a well-behaved pet means that you can have more fun with that pet.

One thing that owners have noticed with a Boston terrier is the fact that it can be very sensitive to the tone of a person’s voice. This may be described as a sort of emotion detector. Because of this sensitivity to the tone, a Boston terrier will be able to respond to how you are feeling when you are talking. This means, however, that you need to take care when training your dog. You need to make sure that anger and frustration do not find their way into your voice.

They also make excellent watchdogs as they do not bark indiscriminately. This means that you won’t wake up in the middle of the night because your Boston terrier saw a butterfly. There are some cases, though, when a Boston terrier will not bark at all.

Regarding the living conditions, Boston terriers can do well enough without a yard as long as they get regular exercise. This means that they are suitable for apartment living. However, you should also know that they are very sensitive to the extremes of weather. This means that you should keep it in a place that’s neither too hot nor too cold.

Unlike other terrier breeds, the Boston terrier is an average shedder. This means that you should be wary of keeping it indoors as it can shed fur over your floor. We all know how much of a fiasco that can be.

Bostons have a variety of common health problems. They easily get overheated when they are pushed too hard. As said before, they can also be sensitive to extreme weather and any weather that’s too hot or too cold can leave them with breathing difficulties. Skin tumors and heart tumors are very common with this breed. So you need to bring the dog to a vet regularly.

Another disorder you should watch out for is a skull defect. If a Boston terrier is badly bred, it often develops a bone defect that prevents the brain from growing. This, naturally, will lead to a mentally challenged dog. On a less serious note, Bostons tend to snore due to their tiny nostrils. Oh well, grab some ear plugs!

We have an excellent book on training and obedience of Boston Terriers in our eBay store.

The first time I took my dog to the Vet to have her teeth cleaned, which my vet strongly advocated, they gave me a very long tooth brush and tooth paste! I thought they were crazy, there was no way my dog was going to let me come at her with that thing. Well there is more than one way to skin a cat, pardon the phrase.

Teeth cleaning for dogs is very important.  Every single time you walk through the door your dog is so happy to see you that he wags his tail and practically smiles at you.  How can you show your pet how much they mean to you?  Well, one way is to take care of that smile for your pet.  Did you know that your dog’s diet can influence their oral health?

Humans need to brush and floss their teeth regularly to keep their teeth, tongue, and gums in good condition.  Research has recently shown a link between good oral health in humans and a lower risk of heart disease.  If good oral health can have such a profound affect on people, then it only makes sense to consider the impact it can have on man’s best friend.

It is important to brush your dog’s teeth frequently to keep plaque and tartar from becoming an issue.  Even wiping his gums with a clean, damp cloth can be beneficial.

Your dog’s diet also plays a role in your pet’s oral health.  Do you typically feed your dog canned or dry dog food?  What kind of treats and toys do you provide for your pet?  All of these things can affect the likelihood of trouble with your pet’s teeth.

When your dog’s diet is nutritionally sound, containing essential vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes, your pet’s oral health will be at its very best.  Feeding dry dog food rather than a moist canned variety is best for your dog.  The tiny kibbles’ hard surface rubs against the teeth to remove and reduce plaque.  The simple act of moistening the dry dog food with water or gravy eliminates this property from dry dog food.

The treats you give your pet are part of your dog’s diet just like snacks are part of a person’s diet.  As humans, we tend to want to overlook our snacking habits, so it can be easy to overlook the treats you give your dog.  This is not a good idea.  Carefully consider any and all items your dog will consume.

Do you give your dog bones, rawhides, jerky treats, or dog biscuits?  Maybe your pet prefers greenies or corn starch chews.  You may not have considered it, but tossing Spot a rawhide chew is like giving him a candy bar!  The rawhide, for example, contains calories and is often provided between meals.

Many of the treats and snacks you provide in your dog’s diet can be just empty wasted calories.  Some treats, alternatively, provide excellent opportunity to improve oral health.  Greenies, rawhides, bones, and hard dog biscuits all help to keep tartar at bay.  The softer snacks, such as jerky treats, do not provide much relief from plaque.  The healthy treat, on occasion, will also prevent your dog from having bad breath.

Your dog’s diet must be healthy to ensure excellent oral health and prevent your dog having bad teeth.  Dry dog food is best whenever possible.  Don’t forget to select treats for your pet that will enhance your dog’s diet.  Consciously monitoring your dog’s diet will positively influence your  best friend’s oral health.

Five Simple Guidelines

There are a number of important guidelines that you need to keep in mind when teaching your puppy the basics about good behavior. Exercising the right training techniques is what will make or break your training regimen with your dog. Follow these five important guidelines and teaching your puppy will be easier than ever.

1 - Be Gentle – Your new puppy is going to be extremely sensitive at first, and as a result will not be able to handle anything that is too stressful on both an emotional and a physical level. Although learning generally quickly takes place, now is the time where your puppy will react poorly to stress or being trained too rough. If fears are picked up too easily during the training process, then it may inhibit the puppy’s ability to learn, so make sure to be gentle but firm in your training.

2 – Keep Things Brief – Puppies have even shorter attention spans than children. Your puppy is only going to learn when his or her attention is on you, and you will not see the results that you are looking for when your puppy is tired physically or mentally. Make sure to be brief when putting your puppy through training activities, and then you can move on.

3 – Exercise Patience - Expecting overnight results is only going to frustrate you and cause your training regimen to lose its focus. Relax, and understand that things like this will take time, and puppies learn in spurts. Puppies also do go through brief memory lapses so do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed if your puppy seems to forget some of its training from one day to the next. Exercise patience when it comes to training and you will be just fine.

4 – Keep It Simple - Teaching your puppy should be done in a step by step process if you want to attain the best results. This is the best way that your puppy will learn. Exercise a simple, step by step approach and your puppy will learn more quickly and will enjoy the process more thoroughly than if you were to employ a more intensive training regimen.

5 – Build Confidence – Confidence is the core of every healthy adult dog, and confidence begins with building confidence in a young puppy. Building confidence in your puppy is not hard at all to do; all you need to do is spend positive time with your puppy as often as you possibly can. This will help to build self confidence in your puppy. You should not always be in training mode when you first get your puppy, but instead sometimes you should step back and play with your dog, having fun with him or her in the process. Training is important, but above all else your dog needs to know that you are friends.

These five fundamental training foundations are vital in preparing your puppy for further training programs and will get better results when properly integrated into all  your step by step puppy training process.

What you really want is a well behaved dog that you can take  anywhere as a companion and is a joy to have in your life, right?

We carry products for that very critical stage of puppy training, dog potty training along with clean up items like pooper scoopers in our eBay store.

It doesn’t matter if you have already decided to purchase health insurance for the family pet or if you are still researching. When you are comparing the quote of one health insurance quote to another remember that the base dollar amount is not the only number you have to consider. In addition to the monthly payment make sure you also check out exactly what type of veterinary care and treatments are covered (some basic insurance plans do not include cancer treatment), what kind of deductible you, the pet owner, will be expected to pay, is there a yearly cap on medical expenses, and what type of discounts are available.

At the moment there are only a handful of companies that offer pet health insurance. Five of the most popular companies are Pets Best Pet Insurance, Veterinary Pet Insurance, ShelterCare, Pets Health and PetCare.

An insurance plan through Pets Best Pet Insurance will cost approximately $32.00 a month ($384.00 annually). Pets Best will cover pet sterilization provided the pet owner purchases an additional wellness plan. Pets Best does not cover pre-existing medical conditions a pet has so its best to insure them early in life before problems develop. Pets Best has a life time limit of $99,750 dollars per pet. Pets Best health insurance plans come with a $75.00 deductible. Multiple pet discounts are available. Pet’s Best pet health insurance does cover cancer.

Veterinary Pet Insurance is a company that offers pet owner a $14,000 a year cap on an insurance plan that only costs approximately $20.00 dollars a month. Veterinary Pet Insurance offers plans with a $50.00 deductible (after the deductible they pay ninety percent of the bill) on plans that include pet sterilization and cancer coverage. Veterinary Pet Insurance does not accept pre-existing conditions and does not offer multi-pet discounts.

ShelterCare is a pet insurance that cost pet’s owners approximately $29.95. For that $29.95 there is absolutely no deductible and cancer treatments are covered. ShelterCare will not pay for pet sterilization nor will they cover any pre-existing conditions. ShelterCare does not have a benefit cap. ShelterCare offers premium discounts for multi-pet plans, medical service, and micro-chips.

A pet health insurance policy through PetsHealth insurance company will cost the pet owner approximately $37.17 dollars per month. PetsHealth covers 80% of the pets vet bill after the $100.00 dollar deductible is paid. PetsHealth has a $13,000 dollar cap on each per year. PetHealth does insure pre-existing conditions after ninety days. Multi-pet discounts are available through PetHealth. PetsHealth does offer pet health insurance plans that cover cancer on a case by case basis.

PetCare is a pet health insurance company that estimates the average cost for a policy for a pet is $29.95 a month. This plan includes a fifty dollar deductible. While PetCare is happy to cover the cost your pet’s cancer treatments they will not pay for any pre-existing conditions nor will they pay for pet sterilization. PetCare offers discounts for multi-pet plans and medical service.

None of the estimated monthly prices for these insurance companies include any extra insurances riders.

Any one or all of these companies can change their policies between now and the time you purchase a pet health insurance plan.

Remember to read the fine print before you sign up for a pet health insurance plan.

All five of these pet health insurance companies have their own websites where you can go to get up to date pet health insurance quotes.

There are other pet health insurance companies with different prices, discounts, stipulations, and benefit caps if you are not content with the previous five comparisons.

Any pet owner who has experienced a sick cat or dog knows how quickly the costs add up! As you see, pre-conditions are usually not covered, so while your pet is healthy is the best time to get coverage.

Get a Free Pet Emergency Preparedness Report at www.WhiskerFeathers.com

Just because you are dealing with a disability does not mean you can’t have a dog in your life.  Studies indicate doing so will not only benefit you but the dog also! There are some things you can do to make the experience easier.

If you need help giving your dog medicine, fluids, or shots, ask your veterinarian if he or she knows of anyone who will make home visits. If not, contact local pet-sitters to find ones who will assist you. Many pet-sitters are trained to perform these functions for the sick pet for owners who cannot perform them for themselves or for owners when they are away.

To play with your dog, use flashlights or laser pointers. Dogs love chasing the light, and you won’t have to make a move.  An alternative is a remote control car for him to chase.  He gets exercise and you do not get over-exhausted.

If you have difficulty performing basic functions for yourself, investigate the use of a service or assistance dog. Assistance dogs are trained to help people with physical limitations perform their everyday functions. Assistance dogs are accepted in public places just as guide dogs and hearing dogs are.

Here is a very practical idea, divide large bags of food into smaller containers to help with lifting and filling dishes.  If you get large dishes, you will spend less time and energy filling them. There are dog food stands that raise the bowls above floor  so you won’t have to bend as much when you fill them.

Walking a dog when you are disabled can be difficult.  Consider hiring a neighborhood teen or professional dog walker to do this or have a pet sitter come in and walk your dog each day.  Fenced-in yards are another alternative to consider.

Having a disability doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the companionship of a dog.  It takes just a little more thought and planning for you both to be safe and happy.

I live in what is probably the plastic surgery capital of the world, Los Angeles California. People seek perfection and sometimes go way overboard in the process if you ask me. This has to do with the demands of Hollywood, if you want to be a star you have to look the part. It is really up to the individual and their ambitions, we do after all have freedom of choice. When it comes to our pets, that’s another thing.

I recently read an article about Banfield, The Pet Hospital’s decision to stop performing ear cropping and tail docking. Banfield is the exclusive provider of veterinary services for the Petsmart pet supply chain. The Portland, Oregon based company has 730 hospitals and 2,000 veterinarians nationwide, so this is making quite a statement.

“After thoughtful consideration and reviewing medical research, we have determined it is in the best interest of the pets we treat, as well as the overall practice, to discontinue performing these unnecessary cosmetic procedures,” said Karen Faunt DVM, MS, DACVIM, vice president for medical quality advancement for Banfield. “It is our hope that this new medical protocol will help reduce, and eventually eliminate, these cosmetic procedures altogether.”

Ear cropping is a surgical procedure where a portion of the ear is removed. It is done to produce ears that stand erect. Ear cropping is performed on puppies around 8-12 weeks of age and is common on Great Danes, Boxers, Dobermans and more.Here is a picture of two Boxers, one with cropped ears and the other one without:

The surgery is also used on Pit bulls to shorten the length of their ears and is most often seen in dogs used for fighting.

Tail docking is the surgical removal of part of the tail of a dog. It is performed on healthy puppies when they are between 2 – 5 days old. It is commonly performed on breeds such as Boxers, Schnauzers, Doberman Pinschers and Rottweilers.

These surgeries are principally done just so that the dogs will comply with a certain standard of looks for the breed. When I first came to understand this fact I was horrified! By my own ignorance I thought that a Boxers ears just stood up like that naturally or my Silky’s  stump of a tail was as long as it grew.

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals- Angell Animal Medical Center of Boston was founded in 1868. It is the oldest society for the prevention of cruelty to animals in the United States. In their statement of beliefs they clearly list tail docking and ear cropping among one of the procedures they find as cruel. Cat declawing is another practice they find is neither minor or painless.

I say congratulations to Banfield in their stand on the behalf of pets. Our cats and dogs are beautiful just the way our Creator made them.

There are a few smells that bring back happy memories such as fresh brewed coffee, fresh cut grass, cookies right out of the oven and a clean, newly groomed dog!

It’s summertime and the livein is easy! Now is the time to grab your dog, head out to the backyard, turn on the hose and have some fun! You will not only save money by giving your dog a bath, but it’s a great time to have some fun with your dog.

As with many things, it’s always best to start giving your dog a bath while it’s still a puppy if possible. Make sure that it’s a positive experience so that your dog will come to look forward to bath time.

Bathing a dog is like taking a shower yourself, do it too much and it will dry your skin out. Frequency of bathing actually depends on the breed of the dog. If the dog is of a hairy type like the Cocker Spaniel, then the bathing is to be carried out once in six to eight weeks. Short haired dogs of course are quicker and easier to bathe.

Be sure to us use soaps and conditioners made especially for dogs. The soap materials used for human beings are not suitable for dogs. At WhiskerFeathers.com we have shampoos made with Oatmeal for dogs with sensitive skin and shampoos with Tea Tree Oil that alleviates hot spots and itchy skin.

Bathing a dog is often a wet and messy process, even if the dog is cooperative so prepare the area if you’re bathing indoors. Bathing a dog is a bit like washing a car; this first wash with dilute shampoo will remove grit and dirt and leave the coat ready for a thorough shampoo. Bathing a dog is much easier if you have first combed the entire coat, removing all loose hairs and mats.

The first step in bathing a dog is the same as the first step in grooming teach him to stand and to accept hands all over his body. Make sure you have gathered all your materials together before you begin. Once you start, you’ll have a wet dog on your hands and you can’t just walk away. Have yourself water source, whether it’s a bath tub outside with a hose or if you’re bathing your dog inside, the sink. You will need shampoo and conditioner, towels, preferably old ones that you no longer use, and a brush or comb. Be careful of their eyes and ears not to get soap in them. Wash the out side of their ears with a wash cloth.

It can be a fun time as in this video:

Bathing a dog is only a small part of the grooming process and with that, some pet owners think they need special training and skills but what it really takes his practice, practice, practice. Bathing a dog is quite simple if they are accustomed to the routine. Of course, for a very special occasion, a professional groomer can give them a spa experience!