Private Dog Training

Private Dog Obedience Training Instruction Located in Carroll County Maryland

Private Maryland Dog Obedience Training Instruction

PRIVATE TRAINING

EXCEL-erated Private Dog Obedience Training School:

Coeur d'Lion's personalized, private dog training programs featuring EXCEL-erated Training are custom designed to address the dog behavior problems you may be experiencing on a ONE-ON-ONE basis. This type of training provides you with individual, private dog obedience training instruction that you may not receive in a group class environment.

Our Private EXCEL-erated Dog Obedience Training program covers the 6 Basic Obedience commands essential to establishing leadership and control of your dog in any environment. Behavior problems are addressed in depth during these Personalized dog obedience training sessions while you are instructed how to teach your dog to be a calm, controlled companion. You will learn how to effectively control your dog ON AND OFF LEAD under any number of distractions including the presence of other dogs, automobiles, strangers and other triggers that may elicit inappropriate behavior in your dog.

The premier EXCEL-erated Private Dog Obedience Training Program provides all of the above in a reasonable time frame, is comprehensive for both owners and dogs and affords an ease of use that enables owners to enjoy their dogs in a way that nature intended, off leash or on. QUICKLY! Stress free training that is unequaled in it's ability to communicate HUMANELY and EFFECTIVELY in half the time it takes for any other form of training.

The cost of training your dog with the EXCEL-erated Private Dog Obedience Training program located in Carroll County Maryland:

*Behavior problems identified prior to the beginning of EXEL-erated Private Dog Obedience training may be contracted for different lengths of time depending on the nature and severity of the behavior. Certain restrictions apply. Assessment must be conducted by Coeur d'Lion prior to any agreement and may affect the fees listed for these services.

Dog Behavior

Dog Behavior and Why Dogs Bite

As the old adage goes, “Dogs are man’s best friend.” However, there are times when people just can’t understand why their beloved dogs behave in a different manner. Hence, it is extremely important to know the underlying reasons why dogs sometimes behave differently.

You can teach your dog appropriate behavior. Experts say that dog behaviors can be controlled through proper training.

Dog behavior are actually responses that are mostly triggered by environmental and social factors. Hence, to control these responses, the owner should teach his dogs the proper way to respond to such elements. Let’s explore a few of the methods:

The Dog Bite:

If you are living in the U.S, statistics have show that every year almost 6 million people are victims of dog bites. That is a shocking 2% of the total U.S population. It is no surprise that dog bites rank as the second most common cause of hospital emergencies cases.

The question is, Why do dogs bite?

According to the animal experts, the main reasons why a dog bite are:

1). Excitement

When somebody plays with their dog, the tendency of their dog getting excited is almost certain, and because dogs don’t have hands to use when playing, they use their mouth to grasp things. When this happens, that over thrilled ‘excitedness’ get to him and very often, the dog might accidentally hurt people unintentionally.

2). Protection

Dogs are creatures of possessiveness, so, whenever he wants to protect something that belongs to him, his animal instincts take over rapidly and he will bite whoever threatens to take away his belongings. Never take away a dogs belongings if you don’t know him well enough.

3). Pain

When the dog is not feeling well, he does not understand why he is feeling that way. Therefore, when a person, even if it’s his master, touches him, he may think that it’s the person who causes the pain and so his tendency is to fight back by biting.

4). Fear

Dogs are sometimes afraid just like humans. That is why when somebody startles him, the dog’s only known protection for itself is to bite back.

The best thing is to avoid these situations and leave the dog alone. Although dogs may be cute and nice to play with, the problem with so many people especially strangers is they never leave the dog alone. A dog with a wagging tail may not always be friendly. If you are a stranger, always ask the owner if you can play with his dog if you are in doubt.

Like humans, dogs have feelings too. When these feelings are all mixed up, their only known protection for themselves is to bite back because they cannot understand and process these situation in a logical manner.

BioDeodorizer

BioDeodorizer Refill: 32 oz Bottle

BioDeodorizer gets rid of odors by digesting their sources. Safe for use on tile and carpet, trash receptacles, recycle bins, hampers, even drain lines! Eliminates odors from pet beds and pet accidents on carpet and grout, and freshens litter boxes. BioDeodorizer is non-toxic, fully biodegradable, has a neutral pH and contains no harmful phosphates. The refill contains a 32 oz. bottle; simply re-use your existing heavy-duty sprayer!

Diet for Long-Term Health

Fortifying the Diet for Long-Term Health
Fortifying the Diet for Long-Term Health

You want to ensure the well-being of your canine companion. But it may not be a simple matter to determine which nutrients are required for optimal health.

You see, no two dogs are the same, due to a variety of factors, including differences in breed, life stage, health needs, personality, living environment and level of activity. In part, it is due to your dog’s unique health requirements that adding a dietary supplement to their daily nutritional intake is more important than you might think.

While feeding a wholesome, nutritious food like Life’s Abundance can make an enormous impact on the health of your dog, supplements are a necessary component in fulfilling the individual dietary requirements of your pup.

Working with our veterinarian product formulator, Dr. Jane Bicks, we have developed three unique formulas to target specific needs: Agility for healthy joints, Skin & Coat for healthy skin and a glossy coat, and Advanced Daily Supplement for an improved immune system.

To find out more about these health-promoting supplements, click on any of the links below.

Agility	Skin & Coat	Daily Supplement

Water Ski Dog Leash

Water Ski Dog Leash

Product Summary:
493211 Water Ski Dog Leash

Sure to be the coolest leash on the dock, this water-ski style lead by Paws Aboard™ is outfitted with an authentic ski rope handle and sturdy cord.

Features:

· Heavy-duty steel clip

· Water ski handle offers excellent comfort and control

· Super strength cord is durable and lightweight

Item Specifications:

Dimensions:

4½’ (cord), plus handle 6x7x3

Pet Saver Life Jacket

Kyjen Pet Saver Life Jacket

Product Summary:

High performance dog floatation device for boating, water sport adventures and other outdoor activities with dogs. Provides flotation and ultimate buoyancy with bright orange color for easy visibility. Features quick release buckles, adjustable straps and a convenient top grab handle. Water repellent Neoprene and Cordura materials provide warmth and protection from abrasion.

Size:

X-Small (Up to 18 lbs/15-19" Girth)

Small (15-25 lbs/19-24" Girth)

Medium (20-30 lbs/22-29" Girth)

Large (40-70 lbs/26-35" Girth)

X-Large (Over 70 lbs/31-42" Girth)

Plastic Dog Crate

Petmate Vari-Kennel Ultra Plastic Dog Crate

Product Summary:

Petmate® Vari-Kennel® Ultra Plastic Dog Crate

Have crate, will travel. The Petmate® Vari-Kennel® Ultra is all about comfort, sturdiness and value. It’s also the most affordable option of this caliber. It offers your dog all of the comforts and roominess of a traditional steel crate, in a tough style that’s ready and appropriate for travel, air or otherwise. Whether you’re on the road to grandma’s, overseas, or just setting up camp in your backyard, the Vari-Kennel® is the best way to take “home” with you.

Features:

· Lightweight, high-density copolymer construction

· Bottom half is comfortable enough to use for bed or whelping box

· Simple to assemble – no tools required

· Non-corrosive wing nut connections

· Vents provide open airflow for maximum comfort

· High carbon steel door with door guards

· Squeeze latch offers superior security and one-handed operation

· Flat floor with moat for a dry dog and easy cleanup

· Molded rim improves gripping

· Approved for international air travel with purchase of water cup and label

· Tie down strap holes at each corner

· Interlocking stacking lugs allow stacking of multiple crates

· Easy to clean

· Fits pets 19” to 28” tall

Item Specifications:

Sizes:

Medium: 28”L x 20.5”W x 21.5”H (equipped with carry handle)

Intermediate: 32”L x 22.5”W x 24”H

Large: 36”L x 25”W x 27”H

Extra Large: 39”L x 26”W x 30”H

Giant: 48”L X 32”w x 35”H

Colors:

Traditional Bleached Linen

Related search - 380105

Dog Breeder

How to Become a Top Dog Breeder

Many people want to become good dog breeders. Dog breeding and doing it properly is an expensive hobby. There is the picking up of a good bitch, waiting for her to become old enough before breeding, choosing the best dog for her to mate with, and undertaking all the health checks she needs, and ensure that the dog you need also passes through the same health checks. There are potential extra expenses during pregnancy, you have to pay a stud fee (or return a puppy), you have the time at your disposal, and can incur the expense of whelping. The puppies are to be kept for a minimum of 8 weeks before sending them to their homes.

There is the need to advertise and look for good homes before sending them to their homes. As a breeder, you also need to see that the dogs have had their shots before going. You may be and ardent dog lover and want to better a particular breed of dogs. You may devote your time and energy to bettering a particular breed of dogs. Often this requires breeding dogs of a particular bloodline, thus creating particular traits that will be passed down through future generations. There is the requirement to have one or two un-neutered female dogs. If you have two or three adult dogs, you may not even need to register your kennel.

A good dog breeder does not want to use dogs with major blemishes. The breeder may show the dogs to endeavor to have a championship before breeding them. This increases the value of the dog’s future puppies. It also leads to the breeder networking with the people who know the most about the breed. The dog may not get a championship but a few wins and the dog exhibitors will take you more seriously. If one of the exhibitors has a dog with characteristics that will even out any of the flaws that your dog has, then you can breed show quality puppies.

If, as a dog breeder, you want to breed dogs for many years, you may want to choose a kennel name. The kennel name has to be registered with the corresponding Kennel Club. It may be a good idea to get a kennel permit. The permit will eventually be needed as you may require a few puppies to continue the bloodline. There is the requirement to get the permit before you are attached to your puppies. When you are breeding your dog for the first time, you should seek out a male dog that belongs to a practiced dog breeder. When the dog has bred, you need to take it to the veterinarian. You need to ask the vet about the birthing procedure. When the delivery time comes near prepare a quiet spot for your dog to deliver. These steps ensure that you are a successful dog breeder and you take care of your dog and ensure that the best dogs only breed to carry on the bloodline.

Frog Tadpoles

Hundreds Of Rare Golden Frog Tadpoles Have Been Hatched

Hundreds of golden frog tadpoles hatched at Hotel Campestre in El Valle earlier this month, product of the Golden Frog Project that started in 2001. The Project aims to serve as Noah's Ark until a solution to control a fungus is found.

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Principal investigator Edgardo Griffith, STRI visiting scientist from Southern Illinois University and research assistant Heidi Ross were surprised at the event “We didn't expect that the conditions for reproduction were already there.”

The new facilities of Hotel Campestre include at least one 100 gal aquarium irrigated with tap water filtered with activated charcoal to insure purity. River stones with emerging algae, tropical plants and petri dishes containing tadpole food based on algae are also contained in the aquarium, providing a simple but effective ecosystem for the new golden frogs. These frogs are the survivors of many highland species in Panama, victims to a chitrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Along with habitat loss, soils use change, and commercial overexploitation, Bd is responsible for the decimation of populations and extinction of many species of amphibians. No wild golden frogs are found in El Valle.

The new tadpoles are the offsprings of two resident couples of golden frogs of the Hotel. In normal conditions in the wild, without the fungus, maybe only 25% of the tadpoles would survive, but given the conditions provided by the project all 100% of tadpoles may reach adulthood.

The efforts to conserve the golden frog and many other species of amphibians is shared by ANAM, the Houston Zoo, the World Association for Zoos and Aquaria, World of Conservation, Zoo Atlanta, etc.

Calf coccidiosis

Headquarter of Bayer Animal Health in Monheim, Germany

The infectious disease coccidiosis poses a massive problem for cattle herds all over the world. This parasitic disease is wide-spread. Unless it is treated early and appropriately it causes severe diarrhea in calves. The consequences are developmental disorders, organ damage and underperformance in animals as well as heavy economic losses for farmers. This is why the early recognition, prevention and effective treatment of calf coccidiosis is the major focus of interest at today’s press conference held by Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division at the XXVth World Buiatrics Congress (WBC) in Budapest, Hungary.

Lykele van der Broek, Head of the Animal Health Division, underlines Bayer’s role as a research-based company which responds to changes on the global cattle market and supports veterinarians and farmers with new product solutions. With sales of €956 million in 2007, Bayer Animal Health is one of the leading manufacturers of animal health products worldwide. The Division produces and distributes over 100 different medicines and care products for farm livestock and domestic pets.

“The long-term future of our business is safeguarded by innovations,” says van der Broek. Bayer Animal Health therefore invests approximately ten percent of its yearly turnover in the research and development of new compounds and the advancement of existing products. Special attention is paid to the livestock sector, states van der Broek. “The continued growth in world population, the rising incomes in emerging countries and the associated increase in the demand for animal-derived foods make innovative, effective and user-friendly high-quality products for farm livestock a major priority.” Cattle are still the most important farm species for the animal health industry.

Professor Arwid Daugschies, Director of the Institute of Parasitology at the Veterinary Faculty of Leipzig University, and Dr. Klemens Krieger, head of the research and development department working on parasite control products at Bayer Animal Health – both renowned experts in the field of coccidiosis – presented the latest scientific findings and insights into practical research at the press conference.

Surveys among European veterinarians show that coccidiosis often remains undiagnosed in practice. Initial symptoms in calves, such as reduced feed intake, poor growth or diarrhea, are frequently misdiagnosed as bacterial or viral infections, reports Daugschies. All too often this results in inappropriate treatment with antibiotics, which leads to therapeutic failure. The Leipzig-based scientist therefore advocates extensive differential diagnosis in order to identify a coccidial infection at the earliest possible time. He explains that the intestines of infected animals sustain massive and lasting damage even before the onset of symptoms. As a result, food intake is permanently reduced and immunity weakened. In order to prevent a disease outbreak and avert the subsequent loss of performance, treatment should preferably be given before the first onset of diarrhea, Daugschies says.

Toltrazuril, the active compound developed by Bayer Animal Health, is one of the most efficient remedies against coccidia in various animal species. Recent field studies in cattle have also demonstrated the high efficacy of the compound against these parasites, reports Krieger. “Toltrazuril inhibits the intracellular development of the infectious agents and controls them at all stages of their life cycle. Providing an early and appropriate treatment it has the added benefit of greatly reducing the use of antibiotics as the risk of secondary infections is much lower.”

About Bayer HealthCare

Bayer HealthCare, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry. The company combines the activities of the Animal Health, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover, develop, manufacture and market products that will improve human and animal health worldwide.

With sales of €956 million (2007), the Animal Health Division is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of veterinary drugs. The division produces and markets approximately 100 different animal health and care products worldwide for livestock and companion animals.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those described in Bayer’s published reports, These reports are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

Lykele van der Broek

Cattle at the stable

Cattle

Coccidiosis: Healthy intestinal mucous membrane

Coccidiosis: Attacked intestinal mucous membrane

Coccidiosis: Oocyst Cycle

Coccidiosis: Oocyst Cycle (German)

Marine Animals

Protecting Rare Marine Animals

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is home to over 16,000 different varieties of animals, so that in one day visitors can travel around the One of the most toxic animals in the world -- the poison dart frog -- lives here. The National Aquarium in Baltimore is part of a renowned poison dart frog breeding program, with herpetologists supplying frogs to other zoos and aquariums. The Aquarium also has one of the most extensive turtle collections in the country.

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Enter an aquarium and an underwater zoo comes alive with fish of all shapes and sizes. But if you want more than just a fish-tank view, the National Aquarium in Baltimore is home to over 16,000 different varieties of animals, for a rare visitor experience.

"In one day you can really travel around the world and see a frog that's only found in one little remote part," the aquarium's General Curator, Jack Cover, tells DBIS.

One of the most toxic animals in the world -- the poison dart frog -- lives here. Its bright colors warn predators to keep away, but herpetologists learned they aren't very dangerous living inside the aquarium. In fact, Cover says dart frogs born and raised in captivity are completely non-toxic.

And if frogs aren't your thing, "Turtles are really interesting animals," says Cover. "They first appeared on the planet about 300 million years ago." The National Aquarium in Baltimore has one of the most extensive turtle collections in the country, helping keep some of these slow movers from their biggest threat -- cars! According to Cover, what's the best feature of this "ZooArium?" Getting an up close experience inside, without outside hassles.

"You're gonna see a lot of diversity and the best thing, you get to see them without the extreme heat and the mosquitoes that would normally be chewing you up if you were out in the wild," he says -- a wildly fun experience.

The National Aquarium in Baltimore is part of a renowned poison dart frog breeding program, supplying frogs to other zoos and aquariums. Cover says the best time of year to visit the aquarium is in the winter, and ticket prices range from about $14 to $24 depending on age.

BACKGROUND: The National Aquarium in Baltimore features hundreds of exhibits and has more than 16,500 animals. It measures 115,000 square feet and holds more than one million gallons of water. Among the top exhibits today are an environment of Australian animals, a dolphin exhibit, and an exhibit about frogs, the most populous amphibian.

AUSTRALIAN ANIMALS: The Aquarium's Australian exhibit, Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes, depicts stories of animal survival in Australia's dry environment. The highly adaptive animals in wild Australia have survived over millions of years in a land of drought, fire, and flood. Australia, roughly the same size as the United States, is the worldýs largest island. Separated by ocean from the rest of the world, Australia has a higher percentage of native animals than any other continent on earth, meaning that many of its species are not naturally found outside the country. These animals -- living creatures that are as close to prehistoric as can be found on earth -- developed over millions of years in solitude.

MARSUPIAL MAMMALS: Australia is famous for its marsupial mammals, which carry their developing young around in a pouch. The mother delivers the babies, still in the embryo stage, when they cannot live by themselves, from inside her body into this pouch. The embryo crawls up and attaches itself to the mothers nipples, located inside the pouch. It continues to develop there, and eventually starts leaving and returning to the pouch in later stages of its development. Over 200 of the 334 species of marsupials are native to Australia, but just one species native to the US, the Virginia Opossum.

Animal Health Product

new animal health product in New Zealand

Experts Conquer Parasites Just as Sir Edmund Hillary Once Conquered Mount Everest

In Kiel the team is working with full speed to deliver the new dewormer for cats in time in europe.

Christchurch (New Zealand) / Leverkusen – Sir Edmund Hillary was the first person to conquer Mount Everest. What does it take to accomplish such a feat? In addition to good physical fitness and a high level of motivation one needs a clear goal, which is exactly what the experts from Bayer HealthCare had when they began working on a new deworming product for cats. Never losing sight of the goal, their long march ultimately led to the development of a new animal health care product on the basis of two active ingredients. One of these is new, and Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division has become the first company to use it in an animal health product: Profender^®. From now on the new dewormer will be launched in Europe within the next six months. At the International Conference of the World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) in Christchurch, New Zealand, the scientists Dr. Christian Epe (Hanover Veterinary College, Germany) and Craigh Reinemeyer, Ph.D. (East Tennessee Clinical Research, U.S.A.) presented test results and field studies affirming the impressive performance of this product to over 600 of their colleagues from all over the world at one of the conference symposiums. The company is heralding a new era in deworming with this innovative animal health product. After more than 20 years, Bayer has thus succeeded in developing a new anthelmintic from a new class of chemical compounds. Designed as a spot-on preparation with two active ingredients, Profender^® is the first prescription-only product for topical application providing comprehensive deworming of all relevant endoparasites in just one treatment step. This new product underscores Bayer HealthCare’s status as an inventor company. The active ingredient praziquantel, the effectiveness of which has been recognized around the world for the past 30 years, has already set standards in the fight against parasites in companion animals and agricultural livestock and even in human beings. The second active ingredient, emodepside, comes from a new class of active substances. Discovered in Japan, its full potential was first recognized and tapped for the development of an animal health product by Bayer’s Animal Health Division. The inventor of the drug, Professor Achim Harder from the Research&Development department of Bayer HealthCare’s Animal Health Division, explained the novel mode of action and the long path to approval at the WAAVP Profender^® symposium. The succinct and somewhat unscientific objective for the researchers working on this project was: Make it stress-free and easy to use! The new deworming product for cats is an especially good example of how our products help animals and benefit our customers. As an alternative to deworming tablets, we have now developed an easy, stress-free and efficient treatment method which is quick and convenient to administer for both veterinarians and animal owners. This is true ‘Science For A Better Life,’ commented Dr. Norbert Mencke, Head of Technical Service for Companion Animals at Bayer HealthCare. Sir Edmund Hillary who conquered Mount Everest, and later the South Pole, the most famous living New Zealand adventure hero, gave a welcome speech at the Bayer Reception following the WAAVP Profender Symposium. In his book View from the summit he expressed his ambitious goal with the words: For the first time on the whole expedition I had the confidence that we were going to get to the top. And as we all know, he made it! Leverkusen / Christchurch, October 20, 2005
hb (2005-10-599)

About Bayer HealthCare AG:

Bayer HealthCare AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is one of the world’s leading, innovative companies in the health care and medical products industry. In 2004, the Bayer HealthCare subgroup generated sales amounting to some €8.5 billion.

The company combines the global activities of the divisions Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care, Diabetes Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals. 35,300 people were employed by Bayer HealthCare worldwide in 2004. Bayer HealthCare’s aim is to discover and manufacture innovative products that will improve human and animal health worldwide. The products enhance well-being and quality of life by diagnosing, preventing and treating disease.

Choosing the Right Dog Training Book

There is a wide variety of dog training books on the market, and this great variety can become very confusing when you are shopping for the perfect book for you and your dog. Luckily, there are some tips that can help you choose the right book for training your particular dog. Here are some suggestions to aid you in selecting the best program for you.



When analyzing all of your dog training book options, you must first think about what you and your pet are trying to accomplish. What you many not realize is that the true goal of dog training is forming a stronger bond between you and your dog, and a great dog training book will focus towards achieving that goal, not simply on training your pet.

It's really important that you be aware of what "method" that each of the various dog training books use before you decide to purchase it. Obviously, some dog training techniques are simply ineffective. When you are choosing a method for yourself and your dog there are a variety of factors to look at. There are some basic questions to ask yourself as you figure out the type of method you want to use:

1.Has this method been successful for anyone?
2.How difficult is this method to understand and, therefore, implement?
3.Do you believe you will be able to use these techniques yourself?
4.Does your dog acknowledge this method in a positive manner?
5.What incentives do they require you to offer to your pet?
6.Do they continually use treats and praise incentives, or do they include affirmative reinforcement techniques?
7.Are there other devices, like a clicker, that you will be required to buy to accompany the written material?

Not all dog training books are written for novices, and so you should also take into account your dog's experience level. You will want to buy a dog training book that is aimed toward younger pets if you are trying to train a puppy. If your pet is an expert on the fundamental commands, you might think about a book that offers a higher level of training. Be sure to think about the level of training you have as well as that of your pet. There are more complicated methods and trick techniques that may be confusing for owners that are new to dog training themselves.

It's also important to take your dog's breed into account as that will be a key factor in which dog training book you should choose. Purebred dogs will sometimes have certain quirks that are specific to each of the breeds. Fortunately, you can find specialized books that will help you to address any quirks your dog has as a result of breeding. However, you'll notice that purebreds are not the only dogs that have specialized books about them. There are also dog training books that are geared specifically toward some mixed breeds. It's important to know that mixed breeds, or those with questionable parentage, are not shut out of the loop.

It is also helpful to look at the customer reviews of dog training books when making your decision. Customers who have already purchased and tried the methods offered in the book are a good source of information. They can give you invaluable information on what works or not, and how worthwhile the advice on dog training really was. These comments are completely based upon the user's personal experience, so you can figure out which techniques are better than others simply by reading quite a few reviews.

The last suggestion is to talk to people you know. Locate some dog owners and find out which dog training books they suggest. If nothing else, this information may give you either a starting point for choosing your dog training book, or may help you narrow down a list that is too extensive. It's also a good idea to ask what methods they used and found successful, as this can help you to decide which methods to try or avoid. Finally, keep in mind that the training should be appropriate for both of you to be successful.

Helping Your Dog Lose Weight

There are a number of different factors that can cause a dog to become overweight. Overindulgence on the part of the owner plays a large part in pet obesity. We all want our pets to be happy, and sometimes an extra handful of kibble does the trick. Certain breeds of dogs are also more likely to eat quickly and/or become overweight. Additionally, basic poor eating habits and a lack of exercise will result in an overweight dog.



Why Worry About Dog Obesity?
Like humans, excessive weight in dogs can lead to health problems like diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Studies show that 25% of overweight dogs suffer from severe joint problems which ultimately lead to decreased activity, further contributing to a long-list of other health problems. Obese dogs are found to have significantly shorter life expectancies than healthier dogs. It is therefore very important to take control of a pet’s weight problem before it becomes out of control.

How Can I Tell?
To understanding whether your dog is overweight, look at its ribs. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs when they are standing, and, depending on the breed, see the ribs during exercise. If you are still unsure whether your dog is overweight, ask your veterinarian to provide you with a good weight range for your dog and an assessment of their overall health.

Over 40% of American dog owners have an overweight pet. That is a large number but happily there are some easy to follow, basic steps you can take to bring down Fido’s weight in a healthy and easy manner.

1. Visit The Vet
Before making any changes to your pet’s diet, schedule a veterinarian appointment so that an overall assessment of your dog’s health can be taken. Keep a simple record of your dog’s sleeping, eating, and playing habits before you go to help your vet assess what may be causing any weight gain.

2. Re-evaluate Your Dog’s Diet
Reducing the amount of food your dog eats may be the key to reducing their weight. Dog owners should measure how much food they feed their dog regularly and then set a goal for reducing that amount by a certain date. You should check with your veterinarian to determine how much food your dog needs daily and slowly reduce the amount of food over an appropriate amount of time. Dog bowls that restrict the open space in the dog bowl, such as the DogPause Bowl, are useful both for slowing down dogs who eat their food quickly and for clearly showing how much food is in the bowl.

Your vet may also recommend a weight reduction dog food. These dog foods are usually low in fat, but high in fiber, allowing your dog to feel full while taking in fewer calories. When shopping for low-calorie dog food, look for one containing at least 25% crude protein. This will ensure your dog’s muscle mass remains intact throughout weight loss.

3. Set Feeding Times
Dogs like consistency and predictability. They may have become accustomed to getting food whenever you come home. In this case, they have associated your attention with getting food. To help your dog lose weight, try setting out two feeding times, one in the morning and another in the evening. This will help them eat slower twice a day.

4. Don’t Reward With Food Alone
As you cut down on the amount you feed your dog, your dog may start to beg or become irritable. Distract your dog by taking him or her for a walk or playing fetch rather than giving into their begging. This will help teach them that food doesn’t equate with love. Plus, all overweight dogs can use some extra play time.