Jumping Dogs

Have you ever had muddy paw prints on your clean clothes? Or been knocked down by your big loveable pet?
When training your pet this is one of the things you have to consider. All dogs will jump up on you , excited to see you ,licking , happy. Its wonderful when he's a puppy ,it makes you feel good. But what happens when he's grown especially if he's a large breed. What happens when Grandma comes over and spot knocks her on the ground to say hello. These are the things you need to consider.
If this is something you think you don't want your dog to do then you need to teach your dog while he's a puppy to sit down and greet people not jump.
First do not encourage your puppy to jump when he's small .
Next teach him to greet people sitting down being calm when a friend approaches and to give love calmly so Grandma won't get knocked down If the dog is calm and sits when it greets people everyone will want to pet spot , but if spot jumps and acts wild others will shy away from spot and spot won't understand why no one wants to pet him.
Praise him every time he sits and does the right thing give him a treat and pet him. When he jumps turn around and ignore him no treats no petting until he sits down he will learn quickly to do what he is supposed to do.
Training your puppy takes time, persistants and patience but in the end it will be well worth that time and effort because he will be a good dog.

OH-OH DIGGING

Isn't he magnificent !! This was found on the web and I just wanted to share it with all you dog lovers. What a wonderful fella.

Now for the subject of today digging. Every dog does it sooner or later and most of us don't want to walk into the yard and twist our ankles in holes or find our newly planted flowers dug up. So why do dogs dig and what can we do.

Dogs dig for different reasons. Some dig to make a cool bed when its hot. Some dig just for the joy of digging. But it seems the trainers consensus is that your dog is bored and lonely.

Well then the first step is alleviate bored and lonely. If you have to be away for most of the day maybe pay a neighbor to come over and play with him for a little while or take him for a walk change of scenery will help. A pet-sitter will do this also. Make sure your dog has plenty of toys to keep him occupied Things to chew on and toss around.

I found my Rottweilers love to go to the park and dig in the sand. My Rock Boy just loves doing this and its good for him he really gets a work out moving that sand and boy does he sleep good. Also you can create a sand box at home for them in the back yard to dig in To get them started bury some of their toys with treats in them just shallow at first creating a hide and seek game Once they get the idea bury the toys a little deeper Soon your dog will be busy digging in the right spot. Always praise him when he's doing the right thing and remind him this is spot's place to dig. It will give him joy and you alot less dug up flowers.

Positive praise, consistent training and reminding will give your dog happy things to do while your gone and make your life easier.

CHEWING PUPPIES

Talk about your dog and owner look alikes.

Ok the last few blogs have been important health issues but lets lighten up a bit for now and then I'll dig back into the rest of the series on parasites.

Lets talk about puppies and their chewing habits.

Because of new teeth developing in his jaws' your puppy has a strong urge to chew on every thing. Fact is he needs to chew. Just like human babies when they teeth chewing on things , your puppy will do the same. Its to help the new teeth to push through the gums.

Its not good to punish your puppy repeatedly for chewing on things he's finding around the house, rather give him plenty of things he's supposed to chew on and praise him when he's chewing on his things and not your things. Hard nylon chew toys are good. avoid rawhide chews, pieces can be swallowed and cause severe digestive problems. Some good toys are the ones where you hide treats in them and your puppy must work to get them out. Keeps them busy and happy. I know a company called Kong toys makes those. Our Rottweilers love those .

If puppy does chew things like socks shoes cords just take them away say no and replace them with your puppies toys saying "spots toy" or whatever your dogs name is so they begin to understand which things are theirs to chew . Gentle , persistant, repetition will teach your puppy.

Its also a good idea to put up things that are tempting like cords , shoes, papers, to not tempt your baby until he understands whats his.

http://www.ambassedorrottweilers.com/

www.myspace.com/ambassedorrottweilers

Flea Products

I've been doing some searching for natural flea control were not far away from flea season so I wanted to share these with you.

Some of the products I tell you about I've used and some I haven't but I figure you can look and decide what you feel is best for you and your dog.

The first one is Kleen Green Enzyme

Its non-toxic

Insects are made of a high concentration of protein. When Kleen Green is introduce to the insect the enzymes causes the insect to molt prematurely and kills it.

Kleen Grenn can be diluted to clean your carpets,spray your yard ,bathe your pet ,wash dog bedding, spray on your pet or put on a comb and deflea your dog it kills fleas on contact.

This can also be applied to kittens and puppies safely.

This product is also used for numerous other kinds of offensive critters like cock roaches,head lice, bed bugs,

You can use it for your chickens to keep them free of parasites and their enclosures. also horses and dog kennels.

I like this product and it goes a long way for alot of uses and is natural.

You find this at http://www.naturalginesis.com/ Its made in Franklin Tennessee

Next site is http://www.planetnatural.com/

This web site has so many natural products I'm sure you'd like to check it out They carry orange guard which is a flea repellent and all natural pet shampoos Its a good site to visit.

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/ has all in one flea remedy that safely eliminates fleas on your pet and in your home completely non-toxic and odorless

Last but not least is a site that carries a natural flea and tick killer called Triple Sure at www.dailysure.com sounded very promising . It kills fleas. ticls, mosquitos,and flies

Retards new insect infestation and they have a buy one get one free

Perhaps some of you have tryed these products and can tell the rest of us how you did or did not like them I appreciate your input in helping all of us have healthier and happier dogs

PARVO the Killer continued

Ok lets continue with this look at Parvo only this time lets look at all natural preventatives and cures. Also I found other alternatives to Bleach to clean I'm allergic to bleach it gives me terrible sinus infections and I've been looking for alternatives. One of the parvo helpers is called Parvo-K It is a product carried at http://www.petalive.com/ and also at http://www.mindbodyand/ paw.com It is a blend of herbal homopathic ingredients easily dissolved. Lactose granules. One bottle lasts 1-4 weeks Theres a list of ingredients on http://www.mindbodyandpaw.com/ that tells you what each ingredient does and how it helps a bottle os 34.95 plus shipping and handling

Next is Parvaid You will find this at http://www.ambertech.com/ This is an all natural product helping to ease the stomach of vomiting and diarrhea. Parvaid calms the stomach promotes the appetite and allows fluids to pass into the intestinal track. Made in an alcohol base in order to get medicinal properties into the bloodstream quickly. There is an e-book to download there about parvo and how to help your dog to overcome it. That is a good informational tool

The last one sounded real good to me its called Parvoguard

You can find this product at http://www.parvoguard.com/ Made of natural herbs it sattacks the parvo virus within 10 minutes of entering the body. It gives your dogs body the stength it needs to deal with the virus. It provides vital support and protection for your dogs immune system It eliminates your dogs pain and suffering ends his vomiting and diarrhea. You can order it by phone at 1-800-805-1592 or on the site for 37.00 theres alot of information there thats helpful

I think I would like to keep these products on hand just in case since we raise Rottweilers Always better safe than sorry and these could be used before you can get your babies shots at 4 weeks or 6 weeks just as a preventative

Now I found several products to clean that kills parvo virus Of course theres bleach which isn't natural but we know it kills parvo. You mix 1 ounce to one quart water and clean

Next is a product you find at http://www.htproducts.com/ Its a germicide and has a more pleasant scent than bleach

Third is a product by www.lyndist.com/disinfectant They have a list of products for different cleaning needs but the ninth one down is called Spray Fresh RTU with dye and fragrance If used as directed this product kills canine parvo

The last one is from www.entireltpets.com

It kills 99.99% of viruses, bacteria,and fungi. It is biodegradable safe, and pleasant smelling. citrus scented. A ten pound pail makes 123 gallons of cleaning solution It is called Tomlyn Trifectant Disinfectant

This is the best I have found so far If I come across anything else I will let you know .

In the mean time may all our friends stay safe and healthy.

PARVO a Killer

I'm writing this blog today with a heavy heart . For I have been dealing with this killer. We have a litter of puppies that have come down with parvo and it has been traced back to a neighbor that probably brought it in on his shoes into our yard and then our female brought it into her babies. So while I am struggling to maybe keep some alive I sadly see others be put to sleep.So my mission today is to bring to you information on this killer and what it does and what we can do to avoid it or what we can do if our little ones get it. So maybe you won't have to cry like me.

PARVO

Is a viral disease. It effects our puppies. The virus grows very rapidly dividing cells in the intestinal lining This is where the biggest concentration is. The virus attacks killing good cells causing diarrhea and bleeding.The depression and suppression of white blood cells can infect the heart muscle and lead to sudden death.

Parvo is not an airborne virus.It is carried by infected dogs without showing signs The virus is shed in diarrhea and can live for 9 months in the environment Its highly contagious. A human or a dog ,bird ect. steps in the excrement and contamination occurs It can be brought home on shoes, hands, even tires of a car. It can live on a dog outside its body for many months.

Parvo is extremely hardy withstanding a wide temperature fluctuation and resists most cleaning agents. However chlorine bleach is the most effective and inexpensive

Once parvo has been introduced into your puppies environment and he has contracted it It will take 7-10 days for symptoms to start showing. It begins with a high fever,lethargy, depression, loss of appetite, Then diarrhea with blood in it, vomiting. It ends with dehydration, shock and death.

The first thing I noticed with my little ones was not eating and just sitting in a corner quietly not playing. They also wanted to be held like they didn't feel good.

What the virus does is it causes the body not to be able to absorb nutrients and liquids and the rest takes over.

Also the diarrhea will smell foul like nothing you've smelled before.

Now you have your puppy at the vet what can they do for it?

The only thing they can do is keep it hydrated by IV and watch it The virus has to take its coarse They can make it through it but its very difficult there is no cure only PREVENTION A parvo shot can be given as early as 4 weeks paticularly if parvo has been in your area otherwise the recommended time is 6 weeks old.

Also a puppy that has survived parvo can get it again.

Keeping the puppies area clean is vital Keeping feces away from puppies is vital. You can clean the area with bleach. Our vet told us also you can wash your female with mild water and bleach and rinse really good making sure her feet are cleaned with bleach and water and rinsed and her nipples where your puppies suck. cleaniness is the most important part and puppies parvo shot as soon as possible.

In my next blog I will be writing about the natural cures and prevention I have found researching trying to understand this killer and how to eliminate it.

Thank-you to www.drfostersmith.com

www.nativeremedies.com

www.petalive.com

and my own vet for information on this subject and numerous other books and articles that I've read.

DOG ARTHRITIS

I found something interesting a checklist for arthritis for dogs Sometimes we don't know what to look for and this might help
ARTHRITIS CHECKLIST

Does your pet limp after excercise

Is your pet reluctant to jump up into the car

Doesn't want to go for a walk or gets tired easily on walks when he or she never did before

stiff after sitting for awhile

rests more than before

is in pain in cold weather

doesn't want to climb stairs

won't jump on sofa or bed anymore

has lost interest in food

does not want to sit or stand would rather lay down

bites at certain joints on leg

seems depressed

has decrease in muscle mass

is uncomfortable when touched on hips or tail

is not comfortable when squatting to eliminate

I did find a natural solution I have not tryed it on my dogs and I do have a female I believe is starting to have trouble
It is

Muscle and Joint support
It treats symtoms of existing arthritis
improves ease of movement
reduces stiffness and pain fo swollen joints
reduce toxins and acid buildup
ensure healthy strong muscles, tendons, cartilage, and bone
cleanse and purify system

I know I keep mentioning http://www.petalive.com/
its because they have so many great products for dogs and alot of research has gone into their site
In future blogs I will be researching more natural remedies and places to go for help other places to look
In the mean time lets keep our pets healthy
Thanks

http://www.ambassedorrottweilers.com/
http://www.petalive.com/
http://www.nativeremedies.com/
http://www.vonsederhausrotts.com/
http://www.petsbynature.com/
www.drfostersmith.com

NATURAL REMEDIES

Just a quick blog to give you a heads up on some really good natural products

To the right is Flea Derm

It soothes flea inflammation speeds healing

relieves itching

prevents allergic reactions

Now obviously we'd prefer to prevent fleas but some times thats impossible so here's a product that will help the irritable symtoms

Anal Glandz

This product is for alot of dogs that get impacted anal glands

This encourages natural emptying of anal glands

cleanse anal area and prevent infection

pain and inflamation relief

Parasite Dr. capsules

This is my favorite

it expels worms like heartworm, roundworm, tapeworm

restores digestive health after parasites

calm and soothe digestive system

cleanse and detox system

reduce flatulence

reduce yeast overgrowth

These all can be seen at

http://www.petsalive.com/

an all natural website for pets I found They have all kinds of information and products for our pets that won't hurt them. Check it out and see if you like them

http://www.ambassedorrottweilers.com/

http://www.nativeremedies.com/

http://www.vonsederhausrotts.com/

http://www.petsbynature.com/

Good places to go and look

Thanks

Round worms

Ok I know YUCK! But we have to deal with them for our dogs But theres something else you need to know

PARASITE FACTS

Thousands of people become infected with roundworms in the United States every year. How do people become infected you ask? Large numbers of eggs can accumulate in the soil where dogs are allowed to defecate. The eggs are sticky and collect on objects, the hands and under fingernails of people. Children and others who may not have good hygiene are most prone to becoming infected.

So wash your hands wash your hands wash your HANDS. wear shoes and keep the kids clean.

Now that were done with that tidbit lets go on to how our dogs get them and how to prevent it and eliminate it.

Of the three types of roundworms affecting dogs T. canis has the most complex life. It begins when the worms eggs pass out in the dogs infected feces. These eggs survive in the environment and are later ingested by other dogs. The larvae are released from the eggs and enter the wall of the new host small intestine and eventually migrate through the circulatory system or to other organs and tissues. They finally re-enter the intestines where they mature and mate, and eggs are passed again through dog feces.

Round worms live in the hosts intestines and can cause malnutrition, diarrhea, vomiting, and pot-bellied appearance Heavy infestation can lead to pneumonia and obstruction of the intestines.

It is recommended to have your vet check for worms on a scheduled basis. If worms are found de-worming products which are used is prowormer-2, or safe guard granules These treatments anesthetize the mature woms allowing them to exit with feces Two or three treatments are required 2-4 weeks apart to rid the dog completely of worms as they mature.

You must remove and dispose of stool in order to control the spread of roundworms Also watch your dog so they don't pick up dead rodents or infected things to eat.

Now those are vet medications for worms there is always natural remedies one is again parasite dr from www.nativeremedies.com Alot of prevention is keeping your dogs are clean

When I'm done with the parasite series I'm going to get all the natural remedies together and write a blog on those and places to find them

But for now keep yourself clean and your dog for pevention

Heart worm

The picture to the left is a little difficult to read but it gives you an idea of what these worms look like in the heart . Makes me feel sick just looking at them. To even think my dog could have that in her. So lets go on to how they get these.

Heartworm is transmitted by many species of mosquitos. The transmission occurs when a mosquito bites on an animal that is infected with heartworm and then goes and bites another animal thus tranmitting the larvae.

The mature larvae stage of the worm is deposited into the dog's skin by an infected mosquito. These larvae enter the dog through the bite wound of the mosquito.Then in 2 months the juvenile worm migrates through the bloodstream to the right side of the heart. There they grow into an adult worm. Some can grow up tp 12 inches long. The female then begins to produce off spring called microfilariae. She may produce as many as a 1000 of these offspring. Then they grow 1/2" to 3/4" in length and are fed by the blood of the infected dog This process takes about 6 months. As they grow the heartworms lodge in the heart and the large blood vessels going from the heart to the lungs. Adult worms can live up to 7 years in the dog's body. If left untreated the dog will die of heart failure.

Not a very pretty picture and I'm sure like me you hate to even think about those nasty critters but we need to understand them so we can keep our dogs healthy

Now lets look at the signs of heartworm so we can recognize them in a dog.

The first outward signs of heartworm may not show up until a year after the infection has started and it may begin as a soft cough. The severity of the desease depends on how many worms are present As it progresses the dog will have difficulty breathing He will not want to excercise, and he may show a decrease in appetite and weight loss

By that time your looking at a pretty infected dog so it seems to me prevention is really important. Lets see about prevention

Heartworm desease is easy to prevent.

1. Regular blood tests

This gives you peace of mind your dog is free of heartworms before you start him on a preventitive program Your vet will help you about how often your dog should have this test.

2. Now were ready for prevention This will include giving your dog once a month orally a medication . Now theres heartguard, tri-heart plus advantage multi heartgard interceptor and a few more I'm sure your vet will advise you Theres also natural things like Parasite Dr. like I mentioned before

You must decide what you want your dog to have but I wouldn't let it slide we can't eliminate all mosquitos and theres always that chance

We also need to look at reducing exposure to these nasty critters and that means checking our dogs environment. The places outside where mosquitos will live and hatch. What about that pale of water thats been sitting outside for awhile or the kids pool left unattended or a water barrel or any small container that will hold water and don't forget that pond you put in the yard Anything that will hold water is a breeding place for mosquitos. Search your yard and empty these things or use the tablets you can get at your local home depot or hardware store that you put in these watering places They kill the mosquitos before they can get going

A little time and prevention can go along way and may save your best friends life.

Places to go for information

www.ambassedorrottweilers.com

www.drsfostersmith.com

www.petalive.com

www.nativeremedies.com

Hook worms

My Pandora loves flowers and smelling them just like me.

I'd like to do a series on the parasites that our dogs get. Many of us become aware of them as our dog gets them and must take them to the vet. But many of us do not know how our friend got them or from where. Perhaps if we understand where they come from and how our dog got them we can take precautions to hopefully avoid these unpleasant invaders and be able to recognize them if your dog does get them and how to eliminate them quickly

Today is Hookworm which can be a killer.

There are three ways your pet can get hookworm.

1. Through the skin

Larvae entering through the skin migrate through the bloodstream to the lungs and trachea, and are coughed up and swallowed.They attach themselves to the intestinal wall and suck blood from tiny vessels of the wall and it completes its life cycle.

2. Larvae may be ingested through contaminated food or water, from moist surfaces or prey animals.Most larvae that are ingested pass down to the intestines where they stay. A few however, may migrate through the body and to the trachea where they coughed up and swallowed. Some will stop migration midway and embed in muscles.

3. Through the uterus or milk

Larvae that embed in the muscle can migrate to the uterus of a pregnant dog and infect the fetuses. They can also move to the mammary glands of the lactating female and infect the young.

By feeding on the blood of the dog hookworms can cause anemia. The lining of the mouth and gums will turn very pale in colour until almost white. The dog can become weak and sometimes the stool will become black and like tar. Young pups can be stunted and their hair will be dull and dry. small puppies can can actually die quite quickly from infestation.

Your vet will look in the feces for eggs and in the young desease may be present even before adult worms are present

Now treatment vary and you must decide whats best I myself prefer prevention as much as possible.

Your vet may give you heartgard plus, tri-heart plus, interceptor, and revolution. These all will kill hookworms too. Sometimes treatment is needed if worms are bad enough to the point of transfusions. Also thers over the counter products like pro-wormer 2, nenex-2 I tend to stay away from these as in a previous blog about fleas many over counter products have things like concentrated insecticides that do kill the critters but also can be very dangerous for your dogs.

I also found a product I likwe to use because its natural and won't hurt my dogs and its a preventative. Its called " Parasite Dr." You can find this product at http://www.petalive.com/ they carry alot of good natural remedies that you may want to look at.

Next time I'll cover heartworms.

Mean time lets keep our pets happy and healthy

Thank-you

Itching

Have you ever seen your dog sit down and scoot his butt along the ground? Or trying real hard to chew his butt.
Well theres several reasons why that might be happening.
Dogs have glands just inside their anus opening that can fill full of fluids and become impacted if not emptied or relieved.
Wild dogs normally emptied these glands by marking their territory and roaming. But our dogs have become house dogs and many don't mark or roam. So their marking glands can fill full and create all kinds of problems .They itch and burn hence the scooting trying to at least give them temporary relief.
You can help them yourself by putting on a surgical rubber glove and inserting your finger to "milk the glands on each side. Which by the way smell really obnoxious or take him to the vet and let them milk them and aleveate the problem.
In reading about this I also found a really good product to use called "anal glandz" made by pet alive . It will take away the itching and break up impacted glands. I'm not saying not to take your dog to the vet don't let him suffer but this product can help and perhaps you won't have to take your dog to the vet for this problem as often.
Another reason anal itching ocurrs is worms always have the vet check for worms they need to be eliminated as soon as possible. tapeworms , and others can cause these symtoms.
Also yeast infection can cause itching I feed our dogs yogurt the plain kind with no fruit or sugar, natural it balances the friendly bacteria in the intestines and creates a healthy environment. Just like for humans I find my dogs love it
You can find the "anal glandz" at http://www.petalive.com/ it doesn't take much and your poor itchy friend will feel better

WARNING Garlic can be hazardous to your dog

This is Rusty and Peanut our little min-pins They think their big just like our Rottweilers

I've given my dogs powdered garlic for years and fresh garlic in their food to enhance their health and deter fleas and its worked most of the time. I always thought I was doing good for them until now when I found an article on www.petsbynature.com by Laura Murphy about the dangers of garlic. So I went on line and found more articles about garlic and studies that made me think. So I want to share this with you and let you decide what you think is best for your dog.

Its been thought for a long time that garlic provides many healthy benefits. When fed regularly it stimulates white blood cells, prevents tumors,decrease blood cholesterol. Vets have suggested to us for years to use garlic as treatment for allergies, asthma, diabetes, cancer,infections, intestinal parasites, and kidney desease also for natural control of fleas and parasite repellent. Now with that kind of review wouldn't you add it to you pets diet? Of course you would.

Now lets look at the new studies on garlic.

Garlic is part of the onion family along with leeks and shallots. research indicates onions can be harmful, if not deadly to our pets. More and more studies are being done on garlic and all indicate that it to can pose serious health risks when fed to cats and dogs. It is indicated that its toxic when given in excessive amounts. The problem is what is excessive amounts how do you judge that. Unfortunately no one knows what excessive amounts really is.

Garlic is used as flavor enhancers in food. This enhancer can cause Heinz body anemia, resulting in a break down of the red blood cells and anemia, studies indicate garlic shouldn't be fed to dogs.

The effects of garlic include vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, tachycardia "irregular heart beat" weakness, liver damage, allergic reactions,asthmatic attacks, contact dermatitis, and gastrointestinal damage.

There are many forms of garlic fresh raw, cooked,dryed, oil of garlic all are a serious risk.The bulbs, bublets, flowers, and stems are all poisonous

Many over the counter dog foods have garlic in them If you feel you don't want to feed your dog garlic you will have to check ingredient labels before purchasing.

The entire article can be viewed at www.petsbynature.com and thank-you Laura for allowing me to use parts of your article in my blog.

I don't know about you but I've decided to quit using garlic for my dogs because no one knows exact amounts that will cause illness to my dogs Its not worth the risk for me to possibly harm my dogs What do you think?

Grooming a good way to Bond

The bond between people and puppies is strengthened in many ways. From meal time, to play time,to grooming. The puppies body is like a map to its well being, and by becoming familiar with its body through regular brushing, combing, eye, ear, and dental care you will find its easier to keep tabs on whats happening to your puppies body.

By establishing a regular grooming routine in early puppyhood, you will quickly learn what's normal for your dog. Anything unusual will stand out Allowing you to catch problems early like ear infections, skin disease, parasites, and tumors before they become serious.

Grooming has other benefits. A dog that is groomed regularly is more likely to be comfortable being handled by a vet , a professional groomer, or a dog judge. A grooming session can be relaxing to a dog and your dog will just feel better when clean.

Short haired dogs can usually be groomed once a week while long haired dogs will be more frequently.

The grooming session will be something your puppy will come to enjoy. At first, keep grooming sessions short and fun. Teach your puppy to open his mouth so you can look at its teeth, offer plenty of praise when he complies. Fondle his ears and paws getting him use to them being touched.They need to learn that being handled can be pleasureable. Its a great way to establish trust.

Establish a weekly routine so the puppy comes to expect grooming at a certain time. Have everything you need already assembled so you don't have to interrupt your grooming session . Grooming is best done before the puppy eats so his tummy isn't full. Make sure you sit him on a non skid surface so he won't slip or fall scaring him or possibly hurting himself.

The foundation of good grooming is brushing and combing, which will loosen and remove dirt, dead hair, and skin cells. It will also distibute natural oils and prevent tangles. During shedding season you may want to brush more often to keep loose hair under control.

A hound mitt that fits over your hand works well for short haired dogs.A brush with natural bristles for dogs with medium length hair and a gentle wire slicker brush for longer haired dogs. A sturdy metalcomb comes in handy to remove tangles.Be sure to brush down to the skin and not just brush the suface. Don't skip the stomach area, sometimes your puppy might resist but persist with gentle insistence and he will learn to enjoy it as times goes on.

While combing look for fleas You may not see any but you may see dark flecks falling onto the surface your puppy is on or perhaps on your comb or brush. Wet these and if they turn red your dogs has hidden fleas and you know you need to treat him.

If you find a tick remove it carefully with tweezers, grasping by the head close to the skin and pull firmly until the tick lets go. I also have found that if you put some dawn dish washing liquid on a cotton ball and put it over the tick it will smother and let go without all that pulling and the tick stays stuck to the soap on the cotton ball and you can flush him away without ever having to touch it.

After you've brushed his coat, move on to the ears and eyes. Look inside the ears check for dirt, scratches and foxtails check for parasites or discharge.Moisten a cottonball with mineral oil and gently wipe out the ear making sure their clean. Make sure to keep the ears dry and clean or your dog may experience recurrent ear infections.

Check the eyes for redness or signs of irratation. Healthy eyes are bright and clear and the eyeball is white. Clean with warm water and a cottonball if needed.

Dental care is something alot of us don't always think of. Food particles and saliva cause buildup of soft plaque,which hardens into tartar. The bacteria in the the plaque contributes to bad breath and will develop into gingivitis. By brushing your puppies teeth on a regular basis you can prevent or at least decrease the need for your vet to clean your dogs teeth which will include anesthetizing.

Begin by gently scrubbing the teeth with a finger brush or gauze pad. Later you can introduce a toothbrush. Always use dog tooth paste human toothpaste can cause upset stomach if puppy swallows it.

MAN ALL THAT GROOMING WORE ME OUT!!!

Nail trimming often involves alot of howling and flinching on the part of the owner. With care and persistance you will accomplish trimming nails and after awhile your puppy will just lay still like it happens every day. Clip only the tip and avoid clipping past the curve of the nail or you risk hitting what is called the quick, which is painful and will cause alot of bleeding. If nails grow to long it can impair the dog's ability to walk properly. While clipping nails inspect the dogs pads for foreign objects cuts or scrapes.

End each grooming session with a relaxing massage. and a treat and a whole lot of praise.

You brush your hair every day and wash your face Your dog will appreciate being clean too and it enhance your bond and trust.

Places to look for information and dogs

www.ambassedorrottweilers.com

www.petsbynature.com

www.vonsederhausrotts.com

www.akc.org

Citizen Canine

One of the things as a dog owner we face is responsibility to our pet.

Our dogs need to be socialized to give them a secure feeling of being around other people. Of being able to be calm in social situations. Well behaved confident and secure. When we teach dogs these social manners It shows people what dogs can be. People that were fearful of dogs learn that dogs aren't unruly monsters. Children learn that dogs are gentle and kind.

We have an obligation to our dogs and ourselves and society to give them this training.

One of the things you can do is get your pet its Good Citizen award. Called CGC in AKC terms.

In the United States, about 30,000 dogs take th CGC test each year. Since 1989 more than 1.5 million dogs have recieved certification. The CGC program encourages responsible dog ownership and raises awareness of the importance of socialization and basic training for our dogs.

A dog must be 6 months old and pass a 10 step test. The test demonstrates that the dogs have training and demeanor to act mannerly in the home and in public places, and in the presence of other dogs.

The test requires a dog to calmly allow a stranger to approach and converse with its handler, to allow a stranger to pet it, and to permit the stranger to brush or comb it. The dog must heel on a loose leash and show that it can move politely in pedestrian traffic. It must sit, and lie down on command, stay, and come when called.

The CGC test is a good gauge of temperament and stability. In fact , Therapy Dogs International, a group that provides dog therapy to the aging and infirm, uses the CGC test to screen potential dogs for its programs.

Owners can find CGC training and testing sponsored in their community by dog clubs, dog training schools, and other groups such as community colleges, 4-H clubs, and scout troops.

A 10-STEP PROGRAM

The purpose of the CGC program is to ensure that our favorite companion, the dog, can be a respected member of the community. All dogs who pass the CGC test receive a certificate from the AKC and are automatically recorded in the canine Good Citizen Archive. The Canine Good Citizen Test includes the following:

Test 1 : Accepting a friendly stranger

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting

Test 3: Appearance and grooming

Test 4: Walking on a loose lead

Test 5: Walking through a crowd

Test 6: Sit and down on command;staying in place

Test 7 : Coming when called

Test 8: Reaction to another dog

Test9: Reactions to distractions

Test10: Supervised separation

For more information on, or to get a brochure about, the AKC Canine Good Citizen program, call 1-850-877-2901 or e-mail cgc@akc.org

Being responsible with your dog is a necessity for the safety of your dog and a curtisy to others It also sets a good example to other dog owners and those that don't own dogs.

AKC help

Here's one of our puppies from a litter that was really nice. Looks like he means business.

I thought this information might be helpful for people just getting their dog and needing information and places with people to answer questions.

The American Kennel Club is very helpful in so many ways and many of us don't realize that Listed below are places to e-mail for information and if you don't have e-mail heres a number to call

919-233-9767 customer service

General info: info@akc.org.

Agility: agility@akc.org.

Canine Good Citizen Program: cgc@akc.org.

AKC Canine Health Foundation: akcchf@aol.com

Canine Legislation Issues: doglaw@akc.org

AKC Companion Animal Recovery: To enroll a dog in CAR, call 1-800-252-7894 To report a lost dog call the 800 number or e-mail found@akc.org

DNA Certification: dna@akc.org

Foreign Registration: foreign@akc.org

Junior Showmanship: juniors@akc.org

Library: library@akc.org

AKC Museum of the Dog: dogarts@aol.com 1-314-821-3647

Obedience: obedience@akc.org

Order Desk: orderdesk@akc.org

Performance Events:

Coonhound Events: coonhound@akc.org

Earthdog Events: earthdog@akc.org

Field Trials: fieldtrials@akc.org

Herding Events: herding@akc.org

Hunting Tests: huntingtests@akc.org

Lure Course Events: coursing@akc.org

Tracking Events: tracking@akc.org

AKC Public Education: publiced@akc.org or 1-919-233-3718

If you have questions on something that is not covered here call customer service or visit AKC customer service on line at http://www.akc.org/ to learn more

Warning Flea Control can be Dangerous

I don't know about you but I've tryed all kinds of flea control from store bought to vet bought to natural control to spraying my yard. Fleas and ticks are an on going battle.
What I didn't know was theres a difference in store over the counter flea control and what your vet sells you.
Products like advantage and Frontline are topical flea control products sold by vets.
Pet supply stores and grocery stores sell numerous"look alike"products.
Each product is sold in packages of several tubes that contain indivitual doses to be applied to the dog's skin. It is reapplied every one to three months. Although the packaging and labeling is similiar the products are definitely different.
Advantage and Frontline contain a solution that remains topical and kills fleas that contact the skin. These two products interrupt nerve transmission in the fleas "short circuiting" their nervous system, causing death. The nervous system of the animal is not effected.
The products sold at pet-supply and grocery stores contain concentrated doses of insecticides similiar to those found in many flea sprays, dips, and shampoos. These insecticides not only kill fleas but also affect the nervous systems of our pets, our children and ourselves. Toxic reactions to these products can be serious.
I watch children and have for 25 years and I've always had dogs .It worries me that I may have used products on my dogs that could have hurt those children. Because the kids were always hugging and wrestling with my dogs. They could have been affected.
If you have children or even for yourself its something to think about.
I have found some all natural flea controls and will share them with you in up coming blogs

Good sites for dogs and information
www.ambassedorrottweilers.com
www.petsbynature.com
www.vonsederhausrotts.com
www.thedogfoodconspiracy.org

POISONED PET FOODS ?????

Many of us are unaware of the risk factors of feeding our beloved dogs over the counter processed dog food. If we were aware most of us would be sick and look to alternatives.
Heres something I dug up while doing some research and it scared the fire out of me. So I wanted to pass this on.
Mycotoxins are metabolic by products of fungi which are toxic to both humans and animals.
Mycotoxins contamination is most often in wheat,wheat products, corn, corn products, soybean meal and hulls,barley and oats. The toxins can develop prior to harvest, between harvesting and drying or during storage. Once produced the toxins cannot readily be extracted.
Health problems resulting from these toxins can be cancer, liver desease, desease to the immune system, reproductive problems, and they can adversely effect fetal development.
Even if the processed food we buy is not contaminated when we buy it. It can be contaminated after we open it. Every time we open our dog food we allow oxygen to get in. Oxidation of fats has been shown to cause cancer and other health problems. Warm moist air causes mold to grow on food and Mycotoxins are a by product of mold.

Now we know what the toxin is and where it comes from and hopefully we won't buy a bag thats contaminated but what can we do to keep from contaminating what we open. I did the research and this is what I found.

When you look for your bag of dog food make sure of the date and thats its not opened. All cans and bags of dog food should be labeled with an appropriate shelf life. All expired food should not be used. Once can and bags are opened they should be used within a reasonable time to prevent spoilage by mold, oxygen, bugs, moisture and uv light. Poorly stored pet food will become contaminated with mycotoxins and infestation of bugs, and mites. These contaminates use up the nutrients in the infested food. To limit the exposure to our dogs of mycotoxins we should purchase dog food in sufficient amounts for one week of feeding and the shelf life and manufacturing dates should always be checked.

Dog food should be kept in a cool dry environment and larger bags stored in the refrigerator or freezer. Opened cans of food should always be refrigerated.

Always look at the quality of the food before feeding. Never use off colour food rancid, moldy. or off flavored food

If your pet suddenly doesn't want to eat what you have given him or her trust them and discard the food your pet has a good nose.

They know when something isn't right. We have many other alternatives to this bagged over the counter dog food and I'll be writing other blogs with recipes and ideas among other subjects . In the mean time I don't know about you but I think its " move over bacon " time in my refrigerator the dog foods coming in!

I would like to thank Laura Murphy from www.petsbynature.com for giving me her permission to use some information from her articles on poisoned pet food. I appreciate her kindness Laura has many good articles that she writes and she also makes her own fresh dog food for herself and others. I'm sure she will continue her good work.

Other places to find information and great dogs

www.ambassedorrottweilers.com

www.vonsederhausrotts.com

www.petsbynature.com

Introduction

The picture to the left is my Pandora . She is my baby ( my children are grown) My pride and joy. As is any one who has a dog knows how I feel. She's my buddy and constant companion. As my beloved friend I want her to be as healthy and live as long as she can to be by my side as long as possible. Which is what started my journey into the health of dogs and the natural and healthy way for a dog.

I want to share these discoverys with every one so they can judge for themselves whats good for their friend. So thus begins this blog.

I want to cover regular health issues, feeding, and taking care of dogs. Perhaps we can help each other discover better ways to help our companions and thus bring our lives greater joy also with their company

We raise rottweilers and show them and have a passion for these loving faithful dogs. So you will see often pictures of our babies. But I love all dogs and animals and would like to share with all dog owners. These health issues are concerns for all pet owners

So thank-you ahead of time for reading these blogs and sharing things that you know. I look forward to this adventure