Herbal DogTips & Products for Your Herbal Dog

Keeping your dog healthy is a vital part of your dog’s happy life. Your dog needs more than exercise and nutrition, she also needs to know that she’s a member of your family. In this article, we will discuss how to control your dog using positive reinforcement as well as the importance of giving your dog a job.

Dog’s have been man’s best friend for as long as we can remember. They provide us with compassionate acceptance and non-judgment and they love without reserve. Your dog wears its heart on its paw, so to speak. The smile on
their faces as you head out for a walk or when its playtime is your dog’s way of saying, “thanks!”

Proper care is important for your dog including nutritious food rich in proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals to ensure a healthy body. Dogs need a diet that fits their lifestyle, size and weight.

Dogs love to exercise and need to be active to stay healthy and happy. You can teach your dog to fetch a ball across the yard, or play tug-of-war with a rope toy. Just like a little kid, your dog needs to be able to burn off excess energy so they don’t get into mischief or become destructive.

When your dog isn’t getting enough exercise, it may seem like he’s bouncing off the walls! When this happens, a long walk is in order.

Your dog needs guidance and training so that they can be a productive member of the family. Dogs love to be useful and will naturally take on jobs of their own such as guarding the house, barking at the mailman, or carefully watching the kids playing outside.

Your dog wants to feel important and a good way to accomplish this is to have them wear a small saddle pack Dog Backpack Saddle Gear Bag Easy Fit for Dogs New (colors vary) when you go for a walk or hike. Don’t it load it down with too much weight however. Try a portable, light-weight water bowl and a bottle of water in the pack for a medium size dog. Small dogs shouldn’t have any weight on them except for a portable bowl and some light weight treats or your keys.

When your dog goes outside it’s also important to have them treated for fleas. Try using an herbal or natural flea remedy. Some dogs like to wear dog shoes to protect their feet and this is especially important in harsh winter conditions or when the pavement is very hot during the summer.

Having an animal companion is a lot of work and responsibility; it is also very rewarding. More than routine care, your dog needs the proper nutrition, exercise and attention. Just as important, your dog wants to be a valued, contributing member of the family and know that they are important to you. Not providing these needs for your dog can result in bad behavior and misunderstanding with your furry friend.

Whether you hire a professional dog trainer, or decide to train your dog yourself, you’ll love hearing about clicker training for dogs.

According to Karen Pryor, clicker training is an animal training method based on behavioral psychology that relies on  marking desirable behavior and rewarding it.

The clicker, which is a small mechanical device that fits in your hand and makes a “click” sound, tells your dog when he’s doing the right thing. Combined with positive reinforcement, it is a humane and safe way to teach your dog or other animal companion good behavior.

The concept of clicker training is 70 years old, but it wasn’t introduced to the United States until the late 1980’s by Karen Pryor and her dog trainer, Gary Wilkes (and some of their friends).

Karen is the official clicker trainer and best resource for learning about this gentle and compassionate way to train your dog.

To learn more about the training programs or to purchase a training kit, visit Karen Pryor’s site.

Roxy Looking Up

Dogs accustomed to their owners being home all day can experience dog separation anxiety when left alone. Your dog can become destructive by chewing or tearing up things in the house; barking and howling; or peeing in the house (even though they normally never do).

Anxiety in dogs can take many forms and typically will begin soon after you leave them alone. When you do get home, your dog may follow you from room to room or display frantic behavior when you arrive. Your dog may even refuse to eat when you’re away or when you get home due to stress.

Separation anxiety can be caused by other factors as well such as a traumatic experience (from your dog’s point of view) such as being placed in boarding while you’re on vacation; moving to a new house; or a change in the family such as the loss of a companion animal or family member.

It’s important to remember that your dog isn’t doing this on purpose and that punishment, getting another dog or crating are not solutions to your dog’s separation anxiety.

Instead, try some of these methods recommended by the Humane Society:

• Don’t make a big deal out of arrivals and departures.
• Leave your dog with an article of clothing that smells like you, such as an old T-shirt that you’ve slept in recently.
• Establish a safety cue – a word or action that you use every time you leave that tells your dog you’ll be back.
• Consider an over-the-counter calming product that may reduce fearfulness in dogs.

Your pet sitter, dog behavior professionals, or veterinarian can help you with questions and concerns about your dog’s anxiety.

Thanks for stopping by today and for the loving care you give to your  herbal dog.

Playtime with Roxy

Can you really control your dog or does he control you? Instead of thinking about this in terms of who’s in control, let’s take a different approach. Your dog is a member of the family and is just like a kid. They’re job in life, besides being your very best friend, is to learn how to manipulate the situation.

My dog Pretzel, was a master mind at getting treats when she had to take dog medicine. How can you really control giving your dog medicine anyways! First, I’d start out with the pill in a piece of cheese. She saw right through it, eagerly took the cheese and spit the pill back out. Next, the pill in some peanut butter with the same results, then a piece of meat. Next try the old method of opening her mouth and putting it on the back of her tongue. She had jaws of steel – still the pill landed on the floor. By the time we were through she had a full belly which was her plan in the first place.

Solution – Greenies Pill Pockets to the rescue. Worked every time. Greenies are soft and saturated with flavors like beef and chicken. Put the pill in the middle of the Greenie and your dog will wolf it down. Since my dog was an expert, I gave her a little piece of the Greenie first, then the piece with the pill in it, and last another little piece just for good measure.

Kidding aside, there are situations where your dogs does need to be under control. When you’re on a walk, you don’t want your dog biting people or animals. And your dog needs to be on a leash when outside your fenced yard to avoid accidents. Viciously barking at the neighbors is certainly cause for concern from a liability standpoint.

If your dog is having behavioral problems it’s best to consult a professional dog trainer for help. If you have a new puppy, be sure to invest in puppy training school which is also a lot of fun for both you and your dog.

Whatever you do, enjoy your animal companion as a member of your family. Your dog is a sentient being who will love you unconditionally and without judgment in return for your loving care.