DOG CARE - Dog breeds (7 categories)
Dog Calendar 2025 available here
Introduction The first task in adopting a new dog is to decide what dog breed best fits your lifestyle, and determine the amount of care that you are able to provide your dog including nutrition, grooming, walking, and general care. According to the Canadian Kennel Club, there are 187 dog breeds, which can be classified into 7 categories:  1. Herding dogs Herding dogs were initially bred to oversee livestock like herds of sheep, cows, and other livestock. These agile dogs are high energy dogs and need plenty of activity to keep them happy. They are obedient by nature. Herding dogs include:
2. Hound dogs Hound dogs are divided into two groups: the long-limbed dogs that can hunt based on their visual skills, and the scent dogs who hunt based on the scent of the preys that they are hunting in the wild (i.e., rabbits). These dogs will sometimes put aside all their training commands if involved in an exciting chase (i.e., chasing squirrels). Training hound dogs thus requires persistence for best results. Hound dogs include:
3. Non-sporting dogs Non-sporting dogs include a wide variety of dogs who do not fit into the other groups listed here. Non-sporting dogs include:
4. Sporting dogs Sporting dogs have been used for many centuries to hunt game birds. This group includes retrievers, pointers, setters and spaniels. These breeds respond well to training. Sporting dogs include:
5. Terriers Terrier dogs enjoy digging the earth to find vermin and other small game. Training can be successful if the dog is provided with stimulating challenges. Terrier dogs include:
6. Toy dogs Toy dogs were initially bred to go after rodents. Because of their small size, they make great lap dogs. These breeds respond well to training, as they aim to please their owners. Toy dogs include:
7. Working dogs Working dogs are employed to perform specific tasks such as guarding homes, businesses or other places. These breeds are loyal by nature and do well in training. Working dogs include:
For more information on dog breeds: ___________________________________________ © 2024 DogCareResources.com. All Rights Reserved. |
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
DOG CARE – Why Do Dogs Eat Grass?
There are various reasons why dogs eat grass (see part 1 below).
And there are several methods dog owners can use to modify this behavior (see part 2 below).
Part 1: Reasons Dogs Eat Grass
1. Ancestral Behavior
Many dogs eat grass as a result of behaviors passed down from wild ancestors in their genes who grazed on various plants during their lifetime, including grass.
2. Dog Diet lacks Certain Nutrients
Dogs who eat grass may be looking for certain nutrients missing from their current diet, especially if their diet does not provide them with enough fiber.
3. Nausea Relief
Some dogs eat grass to induce vomiting while trying to overcome an illness. The grass eating may help dogs clear their stomachs of discomfort.
4. Boredom or Anxiety
Dogs may chew on grass out of boredom or as a way to cope with stress. Grass chewing can also be entertaining to some dogs.
5. Taste and Texture
Some dogs simply enjoy chewing grass because they find the taste and texture appealing to them.
6. Attention-Seeking Behavior
Dogs might eat grass to get attention from the people around them. This behavior could get worse if the dog owner shows a negative reaction when catching their dog eating grass.
Part 2: Best Methods to Resolve Dogs Eating Grass
1. Take a Look at Your Dog’s Diet
Is your dog’s diet balanced with all the nutrients required for good health? Always research your dog food to ensure that it provides your dog with all essential nutrients. Consider adding fiber supplements to your dog’s diet (with your veterinarian’s approval).
When introducing high-fiber foods or other dog food, follow these steps:
-Introduce the new food gradually (in small amounts) to avoid indigestion.
-Evaluate how your dog responds to their new diet. Make adjustments, if needed.
2. Monitor your Dog’s Health
If your dog persists in chewing grass despite all your efforts, talk with your veterinarian to rule out any disease that your dog may be carrying without your knowledge. It is also important to protect your dog against parasites that they could pick up from eating grass. (Your veterinarian can test your dog for parasites and provide the best treatments).
3. Increase Dog Exercise and Stimulation
Provide your dog with various physical and mental activities to prevent boredom.
When planning your dog’s daily schedule, make sure that you include plenty of playtime, dog walks, and access to toys that are entertaining to your dog.
4. Always use Positive Reinforcement
Avoid scolding your dog for eating grass, as this can increase their anxiety. Instead, refocus your dog’s attention in a positive way. Always reward your dog with treats or affection when they stay off the grass.
5. Train your Dog to follow the “Leave it” Command
Train your dog to obey the “Leave it” command (see video posted on this blog). Reward your dog with their preferred treats or gestures of affection when they stay off the grass.
6. Create a Calm Environment at Home
Create a calm and safe home surrounded with objects loved by your dog.
7. Grow your Own Safe Dog Grass at Home
If your dog insists on eating grass (even after ruling out health problems and training your dog to follow the “Leave it” command), then you can limit access to grass areas, especially public places that are often treated with harsh chemicals.
You can also grow your own dog-friendly grass inside your home to ensure that your dog only eats unpolluted and safe grass at all times.
As well, you can offer your dog safe plants to chew on or safe chew toys to satisfy their need to chew.
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DOG GROOMING
(VIDEOS)
Introduction
Dogs require regular grooming (i.e., baths, nail trimming) to maintain a healthy appearance, especially after a visit to the park or the beach where a dog can quickly get their paws and their fur dirty. Taking your dog to a dog groomer can become costly in the long term.
What if you could groom your dog in the comfort of your own home? There is an online collection of videos where you can learn how to bathe your dog, trim your dog’s nails, and even learn how to do a full dog grooming (yes, with scissors and shavers). This online collection of dog grooming videos is organized as follows:
1 1. You can search using skill Categories:
o Core grooming skills/techniques
o Creative styling
o Grooming/styling
o Products/equipment/supplies
o Techniques
2 2. Search using dog groomer Skill level:
o Advanced stylist
o Beginner
o Core skills
o Stylist
3. 3. Search using dog grooming Techniques:
o Airbrushing
o Bathing
o Blending
o Body contour
o Clipping
o Combing
o Drying
o Hand-scissoring
o Nail trimming
o Pet handling
o Striping
o Trimming
4. 4. Search using dog Breeding groups:
o Herding group
o Hound group
o Non-sporting group
o Sporting group
o Terrier group
o Toy group
o Working group
Cost:
Their monthly membership starts at $39.95 US per month, which gives you unlimited access to over 900+ dog grooming videos that you can watch at your own pace.
Payment types:
They accept PayPal and credit cards.
Contact information:
Learn2groomdogs.com
Telephone: 1-888-344-8658 (based in the USA)
Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm EST
(New York time zone)
Location: Jenison, Michigan (USA)
Take a look at these dog grooming videos:
© 2024 Dog CareResources.com. All Rights Reserved.
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Introduction
Much like humans, dogs appreciate a good massage, as it is relaxing and beneficial for their well-being. Petting your dog or giving your dog a massage creates a deep bond of trust between you and your dog.
Consider regular therapeutic dog massages using a hand held device known as a pet massager.
Watch the video below where veterinarians talk about the wonders of the Paw Wave pet massager.
1. Paw Wave pet massager (video):
2. Purchase the Paw Wave pet massager below:
The Paw Wave pet massager is shipped by Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, this website earns small commissions from qualifying purchases.
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DOG NAILS TRIMMING
(Video demo)
Introduction
Both dog owners and their dogs dread the “nail trimming” sessions, as this grooming process can make dogs feel extremely nervous. Once a dog has experienced any pain or trauma related to nail trimming (i.e., nails bleeding because they were cut too short), the dog will remember these painful events for life.
In this 9-minute video, Dr. Karen Becker goes into great details about the best way for you to trim your dog’s nails to minimize the trauma for your dog, and to make nail trimming a pleasant experience for both you and your dog. She shares the following tips with dog owners:
1. Avoid cutting your dog’s nails too far back, as this can cause extreme pain and unnecessary stress for your dog.
2. Get your dog treats ready, which will ensure that your dog connects the nail trimming experience with a positive reward (food).
3. Make sure that you get into the habit of touching and petting your dog on a regular basis because if you only touch your dog during nail trimming (by holding their paws), this will make your dog associate the paw holding with the dreaded nail trim.
4. When it comes down to cutting the nail, it is always best to cut very little at a time to avoid cutting too much of the nail.
5. There are 2 types of nail cutting devices: one device that vibrates, as it trims away your dog’s nails. The other nail trimming device looks like a human nail clipper (but is much larger). Try both devices.
6. Dogs have white nails and black nails. Be careful with your dog’s black nails because you won’t be able to see the nail’s quick as clearly. (The quick is a blood vessel located inside your dog’s nails that nourishes the nails. Stay away from this blood vessel, as it is a very sensitive area).
7. Trim the extra white part of your dog’s nails (that have grown since the last nail trim). Only cut tiny bits of your dog’s nails at a time.
8. Reward your dog with treats (and petting) during every nail trim session.
Dog nails trimming session (9 minutes)
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DOG VACCINES – Core vaccines & Non-core vaccines
I have created a “My Dog Health Record” with fillable (PDF boxes) for dog owners to keep track of their dog vaccines and other important health information. Download it below:
DOG HEALTH RECORD - CLICK HERE
Part 1 - Core Vaccines (for Dogs)
*Core vaccines are considered essential for all dogs regardless of their lifestyle or location in the world.
Core vaccines protect against:
1. Rabies virus
2. Canine Distemper (DAP)
3. Canine Parvovirus
4. Canine Hepatitis (Adenovirus)
The Core Vaccines listed below are considered essential to all dogs
1. Rabies virus
This dog vaccine protects against rabies virus (a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system of dogs, and which is fatal).
Dosage Frequency:
1rst dose at 12-16 weeks (3 to 4 months old puppy) followed by a booster every 1 year. This vaccine is then administered every 1 to 3 years (depending on laws in your area).
2. Canine Distemper (DAP)
This vaccine prevents canine distemper virus, a contagious viral disease that affects the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems of dogs.
Dosage Frequency:
1rst dose at 6-8 weeks of age (2 month old puppy) followed with a booster every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age (4 month old puppy). This is then followed by a booster at 1 year old, and then every 3 years.
3. Canine Parvovirus
This vaccine protects against a highly contagious virus that causes severe gastrointestinal disease in dogs.
Dosage Frequency:
1rst dose at 6-8 weeks (2 month old puppy) followed with a booster every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks (4 month old puppy) with another booster at 1 year old. This dog vaccine is then administered every 3 years.
4. Canine Hepatitis (Adenovirus)
This vaccine protects your dog against canine hepatitis, a virus that can cause severe liver damage.
Dosage Frequency:
1rst dose at 6-8 weeks (2 month old puppy) followed with a booster every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks (4 month old puppy) and a booster at 1 year old.
This dog vaccine is then administered every 3 years.
Part 2 - Non Core Vaccines (for Dogs)
*Non-core vaccines are given to certain dogs based on their lifestyle, health status, and environment.
*These vaccines protect against diseases that may be less common or less severe for dogs.
*Non-core dogs vaccines are generally not required by law, but may be recommended or required in specific situations (i.e., a dog boarding facility may require specific dog vaccines to meet their own business requirements).
Non-core vaccines protect against:
1. Bordetella (Kennel cough)
2. Leptospirosis
3. Heartworm
4. Lyme disease
5. Canine Influenza
The Non-Core Vaccines listed below are considered optional for dogs
(Your veterinarian is the best guide in selecting vaccines specific to your dog)
1. Bordetella Bronchiseptica (Kennel cough)
This vaccine protects against kennel cough, a contagious respiratory infection in dogs. (This vaccine is crucial if your dog is boarding at a kennel or visiting other dogs who are showing signs of kennel cough).
Dosage Frequency:
1rst dose at 6-8 weeks (2 month old puppy) followed with a booster 2 to 4 weeks later (1 month puppy), then a booster every 6 months (for high-risk dogs) to 12 months (1 year) depending on exposure risk and the health of your dog.
2. Canine Influenza (H3N8 and H3N2 strains of canine flu)
This vaccine protects dogs against canine influenza virus, which can cause severe respiratory illness. (This vaccine is crucial if your dog is boarding at a kennel or visiting other dogs).
Dosage Frequency:
1rst dose at 6-8 weeks (2 month old puppy) followed with a booster 2-4 weeks later. This dog vaccine is then administered every 1 year.
3. Heartworm
Heartworm prevention is considered a non-core treatment and is given to a puppy or adult dog on a monthly basis for life. You can ask your veterinarian to perform a routine heartworm test to determine if your dog has heartworm. If Heartworm is detected, your veterinarian would advise on the best treatment for your dog.
4. Leptospirosis
This vaccine protects dogs against a bacterial infection that can cause liver and kidney damage. This is a zoonotic disease (meaning that it can infect humans).
Dosage Frequency:
1rst dose at 12 weeks (3 month old puppy) followed with a booster 2 to 4 weeks later. This dog vaccine is then administered every 1 year.
5. Lyme Disease
This dog vaccine prevents tick-born illness like Lyme disease, which is transmitted by ticks (who carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria).
Dosage Frequency:
1rst dose at 12 weeks (3 month old puppy) followed with a booster every 2-4 weeks. This dog vaccine is then administered every 1 year (before tick season).
5. Parainfluenza
This vaccine prevents a respiratory infection that contributes to kennel cough.
(This vaccine is crucial if your dog is boarding at a kennel or visiting other dogs).
Dosage Frequency (similar to Bordetella):
1rst dose at 6-8 weeks (2 month old puppy) followed with a booster every 6 months to 12 months (1 year old), depending on exposure risk.
(This vaccine is often included in combination vaccines).
*It is important to note that dog vaccination needs can vary based on a dog's age, health status, lifestyle, and geographic location.
*Always consult with a veterinarian to determine the most appropriate vaccination schedule for your dog.
I have created a “My Dog Health Record” with fillable (PDF boxes) for dog owners to keep track of their dog vaccines and other important health information. Download it below:
© 2024 DogCareResources.com. All Rights Reserved.
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