It's Tick Season In The Northeast - Is Your Dog Protected?

Just before the recent week of major rain every day, it was clear that tick season was in full swing in the Northeast; well at least along the Connecticut shoreline . . .

** The groomer removed a tick from Simon's belly.

** I removed a tick from Simon's muzzle.

** I found a tick in my hair (I was outside staining the deck)

Okay - they were all large, brown, and visible and we cut them up with scissors (the only way to kill them according to the groomer).

Deer ticks, the ones that cause Lyme Disease, are small. That means we killed common ticks. Unfortunately, because we're in CT, deer ticks carrying Lyme disease are still a threat. Simon and Alvin are protected against ticks year round with Frontline, whick kills ticks within 48 hours (and diables them as soon as they find the animal).

Make sure you protect your dog against ticks (and fleas):

Small Dogs Up To 22 pounds (Alvin)

Medium Dogs From 23 To 44 pounds (Simon)

Large Dogs From 45 To 88 Pounds

Secrets To Dog Training - "Hot Tips For The Bedroom"

Kingdom of Pets, the dog training experts who author Secrets To Dog Training, the dog owner's bible, issue a periodic newsletter. I found an article entitled "Hot Tips For The Bedroom" - a discussion of issues you might not be aware of when you let your dog sleep with you. Since roughly half the people who own dogs sleep with them, it pays to read this article.

Here are the tips in a nutshell:

#1 You should not let puppies or untrained dogs ON the bed, let alone sleeping on it. Their early training is the time when you establish your dominance and their boundaries. Only adult dogs should earn this privilege.

This one is not that obvious, but what is obvious is that an untrained dog can make a big mess in your bed or fall off the bed. Ready for a trip to the laundry or to the vet for broken bones?

#2 For dominant and Alpha dogs, avoid letting them sleep in your "spot" (with you in it or not). This suggests to them that they are in direct competition with you as pack leader.

#3 Don’t ever let your dog on your bed without inviting them first. This is often communicated more with body language, such as a quick succession of pats on the area of the bed you’re asking them to go to.

#4 Have a command for them to get off the bed too (if they are being restless and disruptive this can save a good night’s sleep, and it beats shoving them off). If your dog ignores you when you ask them to get "Off," you’ve got a bit of obedience work to do. If your dog growls at you at all, even when you attempt to adjust their position, then you’ve got some work to do (NOTE: don’t confuse a tired moan with a growl. It can sound similar, but a moan will occur without any aggressive posturing, for example, their mouth will be shut and lips not curled, and they won’t be making eye contact - their eyes might even be closed!)

#5 It’s best to allow your dog to sleep at the bottom end of the bed, and above the blankets.

Some dogs like to burrow under the blankets, which is a risk not only because they can get squished, especially if they’re smaller than you, but they can also potentially suffocate under there. If you allow this, adjust the blankets after they settle in to be sure that they can easily stick their head out. Because they generate a lot of heat too, these burrowers will likely move when they get too warm anyway.

Hope these tips help YOU get a good night's sleep!

Four Tips To Avoid Behavior Problems With A New Puppy

I don't know about your dogs, but Alvin and Simon are sorta well-behaved - when they choose to be. And sometimes they behave badly, like this morning when they tried to dig a hole for the foundation of their new dog house and came in covered in mud.

But they can behave well - I asked them to pose for the picture below, and they actually sat still for a few minutes. Miracles abound!


According to Dr. Becker, the holistic vet, you can avoid puppy behavior problems by following the following tips (additional references are below each section):

Bring your puppy to the vet as soon as possible for an examination. A sick pup won’t adjust well to his new environment, even if the illness is minor. It’s also hard to gauge a new dog’s real temperament and personality if he’s feeling under the weather.

Crate train your puppy. It’s much easier to housebreak and supervise a crate-trained puppy. Dogs are natural den dwellers, so if you make all your new pet’s crate experiences positive ones, he’ll quickly come to view it as his ‘bedroom’ – his own quiet, safe space. References: http://www.squidoo.com/dog-and-puppy-crate-training-tips and http://www.squidoo.com/More-Crate-Training-Tips

Make sure your new puppy gets plenty of rest and quiet time in her crate or another enclosed, safe area of your home. Puppies are babies and require lots of sleep. In addition, your new pup needs to learn to be alone and not to expect constant attention from human family members. Reference is http://www.squidoo.com/puppy-house-training-schedule

Socialize and train your puppy. In order to create a balanced, well-behaved adult dog, puppy owners must be extremely conscientious about socialization and training. There is nothing more important in raising a healthy, well-adjusted dog than insuring she is thoroughly socialized and receives basic obedience training, at a minimum. Reference is ezinearticles: http://ezinearticles.com/?Puppy-Socials---Are-They-Necessary-Or-a-Passing-Trend?&id=3020622

Also refer to http://www.squidoo.com/solving-puppy-training-problems