Problems with Commercial Flea Killers & Traditional

Flea Bite Treatments

***Chemicals that act as poisons are strong enough to

kill fleas, but the long term effects on pets are

unknown, although they are probably not safe to

use. (Employees manufacturing these products must

wear protective clothing and use respirators.

Plus, the product labels warn against skin contact.

So,if the chemicals are potentially harmful to

humans,they are probably not the most healthy

product for pets. )

***Prednisone & other corticosteroid drugs used to

give relief from flea bites help to stop itching &

inflammation. But, they also suppress a pet’s

immune system and have possible long-term side

effects: water retention, liver or thyroid damage,

hypertension, obesity, & heart attack.

Healthy Alternatives

***Strengthen your pet’s immune system:

Eliminate food allergens from the diet, and

supplement the diet with a well-balanced

essential fatty acid (EFA), probiotics (bifidus

& acidophilus) & digestive enzyme supplements.

EFAs help to make your pet less attractive to

fleas, and digestive supplements carry nutrients

throughout the body & help to breakdown & remove

waste materials that may lead to food allergies.

***Herbs

-Add a pinch of garlic powder to food.

-Add apple cider vinegar to your pet’s water.

-Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon dried Nettle onto your

pet’s food (helps to reduce allergic response).

-Add to food or squirt into pet’s mouth a low-

alcohol liquid tincture of Dandelion Root,

Burdock Root, or Red Clover (helps eliminate

wastes & supports immune system).

-For severe flea bite allergies (red, inflamed,

itchy skin), licorice serves as an anti-

infammatory. Also, an aloe juice can help to

heal & to relieve itching. Directions: Add

one cup aloe juice to 4 parts water. Pour the

cool liquid onto affected areas of your pet’s

coat.

***Environment Treatment

Since fleas spend 80% of their time in the

pet’s environment, not on the pet, apply herbal

products to your pet’s environmental areas

(bedding, etc.). Look for products that contain

extracts and/or oils of eucalyptus, citronella,

juniper, cedar, citrus oil, or Canadian fleabane.

(Citrus oil & Canadian fleabane contain d-

Limonine which can kill fleas.)

***Bathing

Bathe with a good, mild herbal pet shampoo

formulated to bring relief and remove fleas and

body wastes from the skin.

Only use shampoos meant for pets, not humans.

(Human shampoos are often too harsh and may

contain allergens that worsen a pet’s allergic

condition.)

Also, don’t shampoo too often or irritation &

dryness may occur.

Deena Caruso, author, teacher, & distributor of natural pet products
Helps pet owners create healthy, happy pets.
To receive FREE “Pet Pointers” Newsletter, go to:
healthyfoodforpets.com healthyfoodforpets.com mailto:deecaruso@cox.net deecaruso@cox.net
Ph: 760/758-7963, 877/877-0665

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If you currently own a dog that seems a bit hard to train then you might be considering buying an electronic dog training collar. While the idea of using an electronic collar may be appealing it is important to understand that it is just another method of training your dog. It is not the be all and end all of dog training, but used properly it can deliver very good results when other training methods just don’t seem to work.

When you go to buy an electronic dog training collar be aware that you will find several different types that have differences in how they work. The type most people are familiar with is the electronic shock collar, which emits a low voltage charge that gets the dog attention. There are two other types of electric dog collars, one that works by emitting a high pitched sound that the dog finds extremely annoying and the other choice is a citronella collar that works by squirting citronella in front of the dog’s nose. Dogs do not particularly like the smell of citronella. No matter which version you choose they all work by getting your dogs attention and annoying it in an unpleasant way. Dogs, much like humans, will do whatever is necessary to avoid these annoyances even if it means obeying their owner.

Using an electronic dog training collar is rather straightforward, but remember, it is only a tool to help you achieve the results you want with your dog. The collar won’t train your dog for you; it is a tool that you use to reprimand your dog when it does not obey your commands. For instance when training your dog to sit give the command “sit”, push gently but firmly on the lower back which makes your dog assume the sitting position. You must do this several times so the dog understands what you are asking it to do. Only after demonstrating to the dog several times what he is to do with a certain command do you try and give the command without any human intervention, ie pushing his but down. A dog that catches on quick and obeys should be praised and rewarded with a treat. If the dog refuses to obey this is the time to use the electronic collar. After getting your dogs attention with the collar start over by giving the command and pushing his hind end down into the sitting position and repeat the whole process over.

One of the more popular uses for an electronic dog training collar is the invisible fence. By running a thin wire around the outside of your yard the dog that sets off a beeping alarm whenever your dog approaches the property boundaries the dog learns to stay on your property and not wander off. If the dog ignores the beeping and continues to approach the boundary the collar will give a low grade shock that gets his attention. Soon the dog learns to recognize the beeping and what ignoring the warning means. It should be mentioned that while this method works with the majority of dogs if your dog is overly aggressive no amount of beeping, citronella, or electrical shock will keep him from running through an invisible fence boundary.

Using an electronic dog training collar is a good alternative to training a hard to train dog as long as it is used for its intended purpose. This type of dog collar should be used as a training tool that helps modify a dog’s behavior. It should never be used as a way to punish or in any way inflict needless pain on a dog. Used correctly chances are you will only need to use it sparingly and before long your dog will learn to obey your commands without it.

If you are having trouble training your dog and are thinking of buying an

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A badly behaved cat may have a medical condition

If your cat is not behaving correctly then he may have a medical condition - this will need attention. You may not be aware of this, but many cats who display behavior problems are often suffering from some type of illness. For example, a cat who has had diabetes for a while will drink lots of water and urinate almost constantly all over the place. Though this may seem like a behavior problem to a pet owner who is not aware of his cats medical issue, it is a serious occurrence that the cat cannot help unless he is properly treated.

Use spray water bottles to help train your cat

This is good technique. However, do not get too trigger-happy. Your only goal is to give a light squirt to your cat whenever you see him doing something wrong. Although you are the one shooting the water, he doesn’t realize that. All your cat knows is that whenever he approaches the couch he feels shocking spurts of water hit the side of his head or body.

Neuter your cat for better behaviour

The truth is that cats whom fight a lot are that way simply because they have not been neutered. When females are not pregnant, they are in heat virtually nonstop. Males on the other hand, are constantly seeking a mate. These two combinations will undoubtedly cause a lot of friction and fighting. However, once a feral cat has been taken in and neutered, this fighting stops.

Eric Hartwell oversees “The World’s Best Homepage” intended to be a user-generated resource where YOUR opinion counts. Anybody can contribute and all are welcomed. Visit us to read, comment upon or share opinions at theworldsbesthomepage.com the worlds best homepage or submit or use content at free-content-resource.com free content resource

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Without a doubt one of the most annoying issues for owners is a dog that is a chronic barker. These dogs seem to bark at anything and everything and do not stop barking even when the threat or event is over. While chronic or excessive barking is often associated with small dogs all sizes and breeds of dogs may become chronic barkers under the right set of conditions.

What makes a dog bark?

Initially puppies and dogs bark to attract attention, notify owners of a stranger or unusual event, or to defend themselves and their property. Most owners appreciate a dog that barks to notify them when a stranger approaches or there is a knock at the door. The problems start to happen when the dog does not disengage from the barking activity, even if corrected. Some chronic barkers will not stop even if removed from the room and will continue to bark even if placed outside.

Usually dogs that have a problem with barking started this behavior because they were bored or received attention for barking. Remember that to a dog all attention is good, even if it is negative. Therefore when a dog is bored, lacks attention and then barks and gets yelled at, he or she quickly learns that barking gets human attention, which is just what he or she wants. Once this pattern has been established it is more difficult to correct than catching it early and stopping it as it develops.

Working With A Puppy or Dog

Puppies are often very cute when they bark and owners do little to correct the barking. Once they become a bit older the problem becomes more annoying, but by then the behavior is established. If you want to have a watchdog consider using the following method:

When the stranger comes to the house or yard and the puppy or dog barks, immediately praise the puppy. After one or two barks say “Enough” or “Stop” and then immediately give them a toy or chew item to distract them from barking. As soon as they take the toy praise them for stopping and provide attention for quiet behavior.

If the puppy or dog continues to bark and doesn’t take a toy consider giving them a food treat. Again praise as soon as the dog is quiet after you have given the verbal command.

Spend time playing with the puppy and provide attention when they are quiet.

Never yell at the puppy or hit the dog to make it stop barking. This will only raise the puppies anxiety level and lead to more barking or even more aggressive behaviors such as biting or running away.

A squirt bottle filled with tap water can also be used to stop the puppy from barking, although this should only be used if other methods fail. Again, the word “Enough” or “Stop” should be used prior to the water bottle, and the puppy should immediately be praised when he or she sits or stands quietly beside you.

For dogs or puppies that bark chronically when the owner is away consider providing more toys and activities for the dog. In addition take them for a long walk or play games with them to provide more stimulation before you leave them alone. Try to make the times away from home as short as possible and praise the dog when you get home and all is quiet.

Be as consistent as possible if you are trying to train or correct a barking dog. Always respond the same way to barking. Dogs become very confused if one day they are allowed to bark and other days they given negative attention for barking. Always pay attention to the dog when it is quiet or behaving appropriately and spend extra time exercising and playing with the dog or puppy to ensure that they will be tired and relaxed when you are away from home.

Find hundreds more articles like this at ohmydogsupplies.com www.ohmydogsupplies.com, where you can also find ohmydogsupplies.com/dog-supplies/dog-beds/ unique dog beds, dog supplies, and pet furniture that you’ll never find at your local pet store. In fact, if you later find your order being sold at your local Petco, we’ll refund your purchase plus an extra $20!

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Have you tossed and turned in bed at night because the sound of a barking dog is keeping you awake? How about the dog that barks off and on throughout the night? Just when things have quieted down and you have finally fallen asleep, you are jolted awake because your neighbor’s dog has wound back up and started her barking, again. Individuals who live next to a “barker” may find their nerves at the breaking point, especially if the dog barks around the clock.

The yipping can grate on your nerves to the point where you are grinding your teeth and plotting ways to get rid of your neighbor’s dog. Visions of a full nights sleep or a peaceful backyard cookout dance in your head, yet your daydreams are interrupted (yet again) when “Fluffy”decides it’s time to start her barking back up. What can possibly be worse than this? Well, being the owner of this noisy canine is far worse.

Dog owners, who have a pooch that is constantly barking, are very much aware that their neighbors are upset. They are used to seeing their neighbors with bloodshot eyes and unfriendly expressions. Many of these dog owners may even have “run ins” with their neighbors over the annoying behavior of their dog. Others may have received citations or fines for being in breech of some noise ordinances in their town or neighborhood. What is a dog owner to do when they have a dog that has annoying (or down right disturbing) barking tendencies? They love their pet, yet they know their pet’s barking is out of control. They also know their pet is tearing down their standing in the neighborhood.

The first step is to try to uncover the reason behind the continual barking. If you have had your dog for years and she has never displayed a tendency for barking before, you should have her evaluated at the vet’s office. Older dogs may start barking if they are experiencing changes in their body. A dog that is suddenly losing her hearing or sight may be frightened. She may simply be trying to tell you that something is wrong with her. Older dogs who are experiencing arthritis–or other disease or disorder– may also start barking.

Countless barkers are simply having separation anxiety. The signs of separation anxiety in a dog can include these symptoms:
Your inside dog is your shadow. She follows you from room to room and doesn’t seem to have “interests” that do not include you.
Your inside or outside dog is aware when you are preparing to leave–and she becomes mournful or agitated. She may also do things for your attention and act excited in an attempt to get you to take her along.
Your inside or outside dog barks nonstop when you are away. (You can have a neighbor monitor your dog’s behavior or set up a video or tape recorder.)
Your dog greets you with much enthusiasm, jumping . . . or even a weak bladder.
Inside dogs do not like being placed outside and will stand at the door and bark to get back inside.
Outside dogs will bark nonstop when you are away from home. They will also bark when you are indoors and they do not see you.

The last thing that dogs with separation anxiety need is punishment. They simply do not understand what they are being disciplined for. The best thing you can do is to teach your dog that she is going to be all-right while you are away. You can do this by going through the “motions” of leaving your home without actually doing so. This means you can put on your coat, gather your things, and pretend that you are leaving. Then don’t. Repeat this, but next time go outside for a few minutes and then return. As you repeat this process, stay outside for a few minutes longer. This will gradually work up the amount of time your dog is alone and she realizes that she is going to be okay. You can also leave a special treat or chew toy behind to distract her from your leaving.

You can do this with an outside dog, too. Simply go outside like you are preparing to leave. Open your car door. Stand there a few minutes, then shut your car door and go back inside. Next time, go back outside and sit in your car for a few moments. Extend the amount of time you are in your car. You can work this up to driving down the block, then around the block twice, etc. You can have a neighbor or family member secretly monitor how long your dog stays quiet.

One of the important things to remember when you have a dog with separation anxiety barking is to make your arrivals and departures very low key. Do not overly greet them, or sadly tell them good-bye. This will only aggravate them. While some individuals would never dream of leaving home without telling their pets good-bye, it usually only upsets a dog with separation anxiety disorder.

Another thing you can do if you have an outside dog with separation anxiety is to evaluate if they are being socially neglected. Most dogs have a pack mentality, and they need to feel as if they belong. Make sure you are spending adequate time with your dog. Ensure that her area is full of toys and playthings that will keep her entertained while you are away. There are many families who found their dog quieted once they got her a playmate. If this does not help, there are anxiety medications which you can get from your vet. These will usually keep your dog calm and relaxed while you are away.

If your dog has been checked by a vet and she is healthy, and if you are certain your dog does not have separation anxiety . . . you may just have a dog with a major “quirk.” After you try the many techniques to get your dog not to bark, you may have to try a new approach. This can include squirting them with a water hose/water bottle or placing a barking collar on them.

There are some pet owners who assume that all barking collars are “shock collars.” This is not true. There is a bark collar which will squirt liquid on your dog when she barks. If you know your dog will hush when she is squirted with a hose, this collar can work for you while you are away, or at night. Check out the various barking collars on the market and find one you are comfortable with. But, keep in mind that there are some canines who will bark, despite the barking collar they are wearing.

As a last resort some dog owners (who find there is nothing to keep their dog from barking) will sometimes have their dog’s “bark” removed. This concept is quite shocking to a dog owner who has never experienced the problem of having a severe barker in their family. However, this doesn’t mean a dog will not be able to bark. This surgery just brings a dogs bark down to a quieter and softer level. It should be noted that many dogs which are in dog shelters are put to sleep on a regular basis because of their incessant barking. If your dog has a severe barking problem, this option is certainly preferred over euthanasia or moving to a secluded island.

Copyright © 2005, Ian White

Author Ian White is founder of http: pet-Sitters.biz pet-Sitters.biz
Pet-Sitters.biz specializes in helping pet sitters and pet owners connect to each other. Find and screen a sitter for your pet or advertise your pet care business.
Pet-Sitters.biz Pet sitting the pet friendly alternative to boarding. Your pets will miss you but their environment remains intact.

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