One of the most important things that every dog needs is proper training. Of course, hiring a professional dog trainer or an animal behaviorist can be very expensive. And browsing the training aids in the aisles of a pet supply store may leave you reeling from sticker shock. Not to worry! You don’t have to spend a ton of money to have a well-behaved dog. Consider Clicker Training Clicker training is a method of positive reinforcement dog training....
Calming Your Older Cat Get Your Home Ready Preparations Introductions Encourage Time Together Allow For Hierarchy Problems & Proofing Behavior Some planning must go into the process of introducing a kitten to an older cat. Friendly, single adult cats can have trouble adjusting to living with a new kitten. Often times the older cats will appear sad, reclusive, hiss a lot, and sometimes even stop eating or start urinating in strange places if it isn’t adjusting well to the new member of the family....
Train Early Contact Obstacles Jumps Tunnels Weave Poles The Pause Table Sequencing Problems and Proofing Behavior Agility is a competitive sport for dogs. Popular among owners of high-energy breeds, agility training can challenge a dog’s body and mind at the same time. Dogs and handlers work as teams, with the handler helping the dog navigate the obstacles in the correct order. Some people do agility training just for fun, while others enjoy competing in agility trials....
The need for grounding an aquarium has been described by any number of experts. Discussion groups hash over the best methods for doing it. While shocks can, and do, happen when working with aquarium equipment, grounding may not be the best way to address the issue. Here’s why. Grounding Probes A popular ‘solution’ to preventing aquarium shocks is to drop a grounding probe in the water, and place the other end on a metal water pipe or a grounded electrical outlet....
Of all the fish in the ocean, the Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus) is among the most beautiful. Unfortunately, it is also among the most difficult for a novice aquarist to keep in an aquarium. However, given the proper attention to detail and an environment that caters to the Regal’s specific needs, it can thrive in an aquarium for many years. Characteristics Breed Overview Common Names: Regal Angelfish, Royal Angelfish, Empress Angelfish, Blue-Banded Angelfish...
Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research The Spinone Italiano is a large sporting dog breed from Italy with a medium-length, wiry coat that features longer hair forming eyebrows and a beard. Overall, it has a muscular, square build that suits it as an all-terrain hunting dog with excellent endurance. But its sweet, expressive eyes convey that this is also a very companionable breed that adores its family....
Picking the right toy for your chinchilla can improve their mood and their health. Chinchilla teeth never stop growing, making maintenance tooth trims a common feature of this unique pet’s care routine. But providing the right toys for your pet chinchilla 429 can help keep their teeth active while also improving their mood and managing their stress levels. Our favorite overall chinchilla toy is the Chin Spin 15" Chinchilla Wheel from Quality Cage Crafters exercise wheel....
House and Crate Training Leash Training Socializing Clicker Training Basic Commands Proofing Behaviors Advanced Training Frequently Asked Questions Are you ready to start training your dog or puppy? Proper training and socialization are among your dog’s basic needs. It’s important to start training your dog as soon as possible to sit, stay, come, go to their crate, and to go potty outside. And believe it or not, it’s something you can do yourself as a beginner....
Characteristics Breed History Training and Care Health Problems Diet and Nutrition Where to Adopt or Buy Breed Overview Further Research Frequently Asked Questions The goldendoodle (groodle) is a crossbreed between a golden retriever and a poodle, resulting in a “designer” mix that was originally bred in the late 1960s as a guide dog. Goldendoodles vary in size, depending on the size of their parents, because poodles can be miniature or medium-sized....
While we love our pets, we don’t always love the way they smell. And despite our best efforts to make bath time fun, our pets don’t always love to hop in the tub. Luckily, The Spruce’s Waterless Pet Wash makes cleaning your pet hassle-free. What Is Waterless Pet Wash? Waterless Pet Wash is a pet care product designed for use between grooming appointments or your pet’s regular baths. Our product is specially formulated to be no-rinse, so it’s perfect for dogs or other pets that aren’t enthusiastic about time in the tub....
Baby Teeth Permanent Teeth Wolf and Canine Teeth Incisors Premolars and Molars Tooth Types and Uses Common Dental Problems Dental Care Take a look in your horse’s mouth and you’ll see a lot of teeth in there. On average, horses have between 36 and 42 teeth. The number is dependent on the sex of the horse, and whether or not the horse develops extra teeth along the bars of its mouth—the empty space between the front teeth and rear teeth where the bit sits....
What Is Rectal Prolapse? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Rectal prolapse can occur in any breed of dog, as well as most other mammals, regardless of sex or age. As the name implies, this condition involves the rectum, which protrudes from the anal opening. Initially, the prolapse might happen only while your dog is passing stool, but over time, the relapse can become severe enough to remain constantly protruding from the anus....
If you live in an apartment or condo and you live in a pet-friendly unit, you might debate getting a dog. Many dogs can thrive in small homes, particularly small to medium breeds, although certain large breeds aren’t out of the question. Breed Characteristics Dogs that make the best apartment or condo dwellers are breeds that are generally quiet and have low to medium energy. Smaller dogs tend to fit better in these homes, although some toy breeds tend to be yippy breeds and are too noisy for homes that have close neighbors....
Your healthy puppy bounces around with great energy and has a clean bill of health from the vet, so why worry about treatment for eyes, ears, skin or pilling? Even healthy puppies require quite a bit of preventive care, including puppy pills for intestinal parasites and medications to prevent fleas, ticks and heartworm. And let’s face it, puppies can be roughnecks who injure themselves during play. During his first year, my German shepherd Magic needed antibiotics twice—the first when he tackled a rock and needed stitches on one paw and the second time after he snagged and tore off a dew claw....
There’s a chill in the air, the grocery store is out of canned pumpkin, and Spirit Halloween has replaced the abandoned big-box store: Spooky season is here! As you prepare to host a Halloween party, take your kids trick-or-treating, or cover your house in spiderwebs, it’s important to think about how the holiday might affect your pets. From constant doorbell ringing to candy-covered floors, Halloween can be overstimulating, anxiety-inducing, and even dangerous for dogs and cats....
When it comes to sense of smell, dogs definitely have a leg up on us humans. So it’s no surprise that our four-legged friends are often relied upon to use their nose to complete important, and even life-saving, tasks—from serving as military dogs that can sniff out the presence of bombs or weapons to training as service dogs that can alert their epileptic owner to an oncoming seizure or a diabetic when their blood sugar is dipping too low....
Jam-packed with nutrients like calcium and protein, as well as probiotics that help support digestive health, yogurt is a nutritious food that has been consumed by humans for hundreds of years. It’s believed to provide health benefits ranging from the prevention of diseases like heart disease and osteoporosis to boosting the immune system and aiding in weight control. But is it safe (and healthy) for our pets? Generally speaking, yes, yogurt if done with certain precautions can be safe to share with your favorite four-legged friend—but veterinarians warn that just because its safe doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for every dog....
Ivermectin is one of the most commonly used heartworm prevention medications used for dogs. It is present in many different heartworm products, including Heartgard Plus®, Iverhart Plus®, Iverhart Max®, Tri-Heart® and others. Ivermectin is an antiparasitic drug used to treat many different parasites in dogs including skin mites and heartworms. Collies and other herding breeds such as border collies, Old English sheepdogs, and Shetland sheepdogs are more likely to have the MDR1 gene mutation, putting them at higher risk for toxic effects if given Ivermectin, as well as certain other drugs....
What Is Coccidiosis? Symptoms Causes Diagnosing Treatment Prognosis Prevention Is Coccidiosis Contagious to Humans? Like humans and other animals, dogs and puppies can contract parasitic infections that lead to other diseases. Coccidia is a common parasite in the canine world, often occurring in puppies and leading to a condition called coccidiosis. Certain puppies are at a higher risk for contracting the parasites that cause coccidiosis, including those who are stressed by other illnesses....
Walk down any cat toy or cat bed aisle in any pet supply store and you will see that cat toys and beds come in all sorts of colors. Not only that, cat toys, bedding, and blankets can come in a variety of hues and shades, ranging from pastels to neons. This begs the question: Can cats see colors? Or are cats color blind? What Is Color Blindness in Cats? Color blindness is the lack of ability to discern certain colors from one another....
