Canine obsessive compulsive disorder how to spot it and how to treat it

Does your dog exhibit repetitive and quirky behaviour such as chasing its tail, biting the air, or licking parts of it’s body constantly? If the answer is yes, then your dogs behaviour may be a result of an anxiety condition known as Canine Compulsive Disorder. This article looks at the condition known as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in relation to dogs, how to detect it and, how best to help your dog overcome this potentially debilitating behaviour. Read more »

Depend on your nose to tell you when to trot out the pet shampoo

The best way to decide when to wash the dog is to take a big whiff of air.

My research indicates the frequency of bathing a dog can be left very nicely to your olfactory organs — i.e. you can smell when it is time.

You bathe him when he smells like he needs it. Consensus among the ‘experts’ seems to be any where from four times a month to six times a year and any other time when he has been down rolling in ‘the you what’.

In the absence of any other measure that works for all instances I will suggest YOU LET YOUR NOSE DO THE WALKING Read more »

Having recently moved with my five large dogs, I can tell you that moving with your pets is really an adventure. I knew that I could not leave these members of my family behind, so we decided to use a truck rental to move. Throughout the process we learned so much, and I quickly decided that we should share everything that we learned.

Planning

The first thing we learned was that no one can move themselves, let alone pets, without a well organized plan. The best place to start is by looking at the options that are open. Moving options include hiring professionals, renting a truck rental, or using a portable crate. Dog owners know that strange smells are something that dogs really do not like. Read more »

Want your dog to wear the latest Designer Dog Clothes? – Here’s how

Dogs truly are man’s (and woman’s) best friend. They are an integral part of the family and a huge part of our lives.

So, if you are a bit of a fashion diva yourself you’ll almost certainly want your dog to be dressed likewise. This means one thing for your dog – Designer Dog Clothes!

Some dogs may be a little reluctant the first time you attempt to turn him or her into a fashion diva. If your dog is one of these then you have to exercise a little patience and a little nous. Read more »

Understanding the Many Moods of Your Puppy

Your puppy communicates in more ways than you might think. There is much more to a puppy’s communication skills than just barking or wagging his tail. Your puppy has a variety of ways to express all of his moods. Your puppy can communicate with all parts of his body, and understanding some of what he is trying to say makes for a much happier relationship with your puppy.

The following is a helpful list of guidelines you can follow to determine the mood and body language of your puppy: A dominant dog will have his ears pricked up or leaning more to the front, its mouth usually a bit open, eyes wide and staring, body rigid, tail either rigid or puffed up, and will usually display a very low, aggressive sounding growl or bark. Read more »

For years I have been trying different methods to persuade my dog to take medicine – usually in the form of Sentinel tablets. With Kev I am afraid I did not perfect the technique, to my lasting regret. He needed a lot of medication and I made huge efforts to conceal the tablets inside morsels of food but he always discovered them. Kevin could eat the food and then spit out the tablet afterwards.

Since losing Kev I have cared for a number of other dogs, and some of these also needed to take daily tablets. For example. Sadie has to take heart medication every day. The method I have adopted is to push the tablet between the upper and lower teeth, then hold the jaws together while rubbing the throat gently. Even Sadie, who is as bright as a button, then seems to understand that she should actually swallow her tablet.