New Puppy
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 | Housebreaking a Puppy
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| | Housebreaking a puppy - Although there are many different methods of housetraining or house breaking your dog, it is an essential task that should be addressed early on in the development of the puppy. This article contains many housebreaking tips for puppies. (continue...)
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| | Puppy Proofing Your Home
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| | The simplest technique for puppy-proofing your home is to go about it the same way you would make your home safe for a young child, except pay closer attention to items that a puppy can chew or scratch. Consider anything left on the floor or within reach of the puppy “fair game”. (continue...)
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| | Rules to Live by when Crate Training
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| | - Never use the crate as punishment!
- Never open the door while he is crying, even if you have to wait hours for a 10 second pause in the crying before letting him out.
- Select the proper size crate for your dog. If you buy a crate that is large enough to accommodate him when he is full-sized, block off an area inside the crate to make it just large enough for him to stand up and turn around. Making it too large will allow him to soil one area and live in the other.
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| | Dealing with a Crying Puppy at Night
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| | Dealing with a crying puppy is often the first problem a new puppy owner must face. During the first night a puppy is separated from the rest of the litter he will often whine and fuss. This behavior is a very natural survival skill learned early in life. Whether its in the whelping box or in the wild, a puppy learns very quickly that when separated from the pack, calls for help will allow other members of the pack to quickly located him, thus reuniting him with his peers. To that extent, many animal behaviorists recommend allowing a new puppy to sleep in the same room with you to reduce this separation anxiety. (continue...)
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| | Canine Identification
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| | Each year nearly 4 million lost dogs are brought to animal shelters throughout the United States, less than 17% will be reunited with there owners. Here are some identification measures all dog owners should consider to improve the odds of getting your dog back. (continue...)
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Miscellaneous
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| | The Commandments of Firearms (or Gun) Safety
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| | Firearm safety is up to you, make a habit of reviewing ’The Commandments of Firearms (or Gun) Safety’, that we were all taught when introduced to the sport, and practicing them each time you go afield.
1). Treat every gun as if it were loaded and ready to fire!
Always keep your finger off of the trigger and out of the trigger guard unless you intend on actually firing the gun. Always keep the gun’s muzzle pointed in a safe direction. A safe direction is one in which an accidental discharge would not result in injury to you or anyone else. Both visually and mechanically (work the gun’s action while keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction and keeping your finger out of the trigger guard) inspect the firearm to ensure it is unloaded before assuming so!
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| | Tips for Preventing a Lost Dog
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| | Here are some tips for reducing the chances of losing your pet or hunting dog:
- While outdoors at home, never leave your dog unattended for long periods of time.
- If you keep your dog in an outdoor kennel or fenced in yard, make sure it is secure. Regularly check for loose posts, wire or holes your dog has dug.
- While traveling, always keep your dog in a plastic travel type kennel.
- While traveling, never allow your dog to be loose in an open pickup bed.
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| | Tips for Finding Your Lost Dog
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| | All dog owners fear losing a pet or hunting dog. Dogs can become lost due to a variety of reasons including being in a strange place, running away or theft. Older dogs can become disoriented due to physical factors such as loss of hearing or diminished sight. Here are some proven methods of increasing the chances of getting a lost dog back:
- Call your local Police Department or Sheriff’s Office, if your municipality has an Animal Control Officer, notify him directly and report the dog missing. If hunting on state or federal lands, notify the Park Rangers and Fish and Game officials.
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| | Submissive Urination
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| | Submissive or nervous urination is a spontaneous reaction to excitement or to another more dominant figure. Usually submissive urination occurs when a young dog becomes excited, such as when greeting a master, family member or another dog, which is considered to be dominant. The pup will spontaneously urinate and usually will exhibit a submissive posture, such as exposing his abdomen, lowering his head and crouching or belly crawling. (continue...)
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Health / Nutrition
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| | Ear Infections
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| | A canine’s ear canal is an elongated "L"-shaped passage. The elbow of the "L" acts as a trap collecting foreign debris, but can also be a collecting point for various organisms. This dark damp environment is also a perfect breeding ground for a variety of microbes. Parasites, especially mites, bacterial, fungal and yeast are the most common causes of ear infections in dogs. (continue...)
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| | Vaccinations for Dogs
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| | A routine vaccination regiment will significantly increase your dog’s chances of living a normal, healthy life. Some, once life threatening, canine diseases have all but been eliminated due to scientific advances and medical research. Keeping your dog’s vaccinations current and following your veterinarian’s advice can help to eliminate the risk of contracting most canine diseases. Annual booster shots, monthly Heartworm pills and applications of flea and tick repellants will also help to reduce the chances of your dog contracting a more serious disease. Below is a list of the most common diseases to vaccinate against. (continue...)
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| | Skin Problems
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| | Dry skin is a common problem for canines. However, identifying the cause can be difficult as more than one condition can cause dry skin, flakes (pet dander) or a dull flat coat. Dry skin may actually be a secondary condition caused by skin allergies such as a contact dermatitis, internal parasitic worms or an allergy to several types of skin mites. (continue...)
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| | Ringworm
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| | Ringworm is a highly contagious fungal infection caused by either the Microsporum cainis or Microsporum gypseum organisms. It is not a worm at all, but rather a fungus that affects both animals and humans, alike. (continue...)
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| | Internal Parasites
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| | There are many different internal parasites that may infest your dog. The most common are four parasitic worms that invade a canine’s gastrointestinal system (stomach, large and small intestine). They include roundworms (Toxocara canis and Toxiascaris leonina), whipworms (Trichuris vulpis), hookworms (Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma brazilians and Uncinaria stenocephala) and tapeworms (Taenia). With the exception of tapeworms, most parasitic worms must be diagnosed by microscopic or laboratory examination of the dog’s stool. However, some of the larger roundworms and their eggs may be visible in the dog’s stool. (continue...)
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| | Giardia
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| | Giardia (gee-ar-dee-ah) is a microscopic parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Giardia was discovered in the 19th century, but was not classified as a pathogen (an organism capable of causing disease) until 1981 by the World Health Organization. (continue...)
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| | Canine Dental Hygiene
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| | Although dogs do not get cavities, they do benefit from a regular oral hygiene regiment. It is important to keep your dog’s mouth as clean and bacteria free as possible. A healthy mouth includes regular brushing and cleaning to prevent the build-up of plaque and calculus on the teeth. Plaque is a combination of food particles, enzymes found in the saliva, and bacterial growth. Calculus is a hardening of plaque deposits, which over time have built up forming a hard sticky black, brown or yellowish-gray deposit. Calculus build-up is the major cause of periodontal disease in dogs. It causes the gums to become inflamed, which may also cause bleeding, and if left untreated could eventually lead to infection and tooth loss. A professional with the use of a dental tooth scaler or ultrasonic cleaner must remove built-up calculus. (continue...)
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| | Canine Tooth Loss
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| | A dog’s age, physical condition, health, nutritional intake and the amount of dental hygiene it receives can all contribute to tooth loss. Physical activities and aggressive chewing on hard objects, such as bones, rocks or fencing can also lead to a cracked or broken tooth.
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| | Hot Weather Tips
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| | The experts agree that preconditioning and preventative measures are the safest way to keep your gun dog from experiencing a heat-related illness. Here are a few more tips on avoiding problems by being proactive: (continue...)
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| | Cold Weather Tips
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| | Experts agree that preventative measures are the safest way to keep your gun dog from experiencing a cold weather illness or injury. Here are a few tips to keep your gun dog warm in the fowl weather: (continue...)
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| | Ear Care
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| | Canine ear care is an area of hygiene that many dog owners usually ignore until there is a problem. Depending on several factors, including the geographical climate, breed of dog and the dog’s acceptance to an ear cleaning regiment, common ear problems can almost always be prevented. As mentioned, some dogs, especially the pendant or "floppy eared" breeds, are more susceptible to ear problems. Geographic climates such as warm, humid areas of the country can also help to increase a dog’s chance of developing ear problems. The dark, moist environment of the canine ear canal is the perfect breeding ground for many bacteria, funguses and parasites that can cause infections. (continue...)
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| | Ear Mites
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| | Ear mites (Otodectes) are in the arachnid family as are spiders. Ear mites feed off of small capillaries (blood vessels) in the inner ear canal causing severe discomfort to the animal, which results in constant itching. The dog may scratch at the ears intensely and constantly shake his head. Head shaking can be so intense that an affected dog may actually eject mites into the environment, which can then infect other animals. Ear mites are very contagious, and can spread between both dogs and cats very easily.
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| | "Foxtails"
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| | Foxtails are small tufted bristly seed heads that resemble a fox’s tail. Certain types of native grasses contain these hard seed-bearing structures often called "foxtails". The bristles contain tiny barbs, which allow the seed head to travel through the animal’s fur and eventually penetrate the skin. Foxtails can pose as a serious hazard for dogs. (continue...)
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Breeding
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| | Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
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| | The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), established in 1966, is a non-profit organization established to assist breeders in identifying canines with hip dysplasia. Since its inception, the OFA’s focus has expanded to include numerous additional hereditary concerns (i.e. craniomandibular osteopathy, elbow and patella deformities, etc.). (continue...)
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| | Frequently Used Sire (FUS) DNA Program
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| | The American Kennel Club (AKC) passed a "Frequently Used Sire (FUS) DNA Program" on January 10th 2000. The FUS DNA Program now requires stud dogs with six or more registered litters or stud dogs siring three or more litters in a single calendar year to submit a DNA sample to the AKC’s DNA Operations Center, which will become part of his permanent AKC record. Thereafter, all subsequent Registration Certificates and Pedigrees will include the DNA Profile Number for that sire. This requirement is effective for all litters whelped as of July 1, 2000. Stud dog owners must obtain a DNA Testing Kit from the AKC Fulfillment Department and return it with a cheek swab DNA sample to the AKC DNA Operations Center. (continue...)
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| | Canine Phosphofructokinase (PFK) Deficiency
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| | Canine Phosphofructokinase (PFK) Deficiency is an autosomal recessive genetic disease that inhibits a spaniel’s ability to convert sugar into energy. Spaniels affected by PFK will often exhibit signs of exercise intolerance. Additionally, PFK destroys the red blood cells that deliver oxygen and remove waste throughout the spaniel’s body. This destruction of red blood cells causes the dog to become mildly or moderately anemic and also shows signs of exercise intolerance. (continue...)
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| | Guidelines for Selecting a Breeder
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| | The following are a few guidelines to follow when buying a gun dog and selecting a suitable breeder:
- Do not buy on impulse. Do your homework and find a reputable breeder.
- Reputable breeders should ensure all dogs within his/her foundation breeding stock are of sound temperament and free of any genetic disorders before making breeding decisions. Organizations such at the Orthopedic Foundation Association (O.F.A.) and Canine Eye Registration Foundation (C.E.R.F.) are established to assist breeders in identifying inherited disorders in breeding stock.
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| | Canine Eye Registration Foundation (C.E.R.F.)
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| | The Canine Eye Registration Foundation (C.E.R.F.) established in 1974, is an organization dedicated to the elimination of heritable eye disease in purebred dogs through registration and research.
The C.E.R.F. registry is a national repository of information collected on both dogs certified free of heritable eye disease, as well as all dogs examined by American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (A.C.V.O.) diplomates. By compiling data from their registry, C.E.R.F. is able to provide a variety of reports on the frequency of eye diseases in certain breeds. Responsible breeders and dog owners often find the C.E.R.F. registry useful when researching breeding stock and identifying eye problems specific to their breed specialty. (continue...)
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