Does your dog require medication? Are you having a hard time getting them to take their pills? Well, there are several methods that you can use to turn this from being a struggle and a negative experience for both of you to making this a fun and positive time.

One method is to wrap the pill in a special treat. Most dogs love meat or cheese. If you take a small piece of this treasured food and put the pill inside of it, your dog is likely to devour the entire treat, pill and all, without even a second thought. In fact, using this method, they will likely look forward to taking their medication!

Also, there are several products on the market specially designed to help you give pills to your pet. Greenies makes Pill Pockets, that work under the same basic principle. You just slide the pill inside of this treat and give it to your pooch. Not only is it an easy way to give them their medication, it also is a healthy treat for them.

It’s important to get your dog accustomed to having their mouth opened and inspected without biting. This will help with visits to the vet and also if they are ever injured in this area. Using positive reinforcement training with treats and praise will help make this a good experience and make pill taking much easier. Try using the command “open” as you gently open their mouth. In exchange, give them a piece of Bil-Jac liver treats or another high value tidbit. Never force their mouth open or make this a painful or negative experience. The key is to have patience and work consistently over several days and weeks to learn this command. Soon, they will equate the word “open” with good things and will quickly respond.

Some dogs seem to have a vacuum cleaner like ability to magically extract any hidden medication from a treat. Another, but less preferable method, is to open  their mouth and then use a Pet Piller or similar device, or your finger to push the pill as far down the throat as possible until your pooch swallows it. You will need two people for this procedure, one to hold open the dog’s mouth and one to insert the pill.

Don’t ever force open a dog’s mouth with your hand on the bottom jaw. Always place your hand over the top of the muzzle, then place your first finger and thumb just behind the large canine tooth, where there are no more teeth. Before you administer a pill, have the puppy or dog sit so they do not struggle or potentially choke. Speaking gently and positively, open their mouth as gently as possible. The second person will place the pill at the back of the tongue. The safest method is to use an inexpensive Pet Piller, but your finger will also work. After the pill is inserted, be sure to keep their head pointed up. You can stroke their throat until you see them swallow. Follow this up with more praise and treats.

If none of these methods seem to be working, contact your veterinarian. Is there a liquid or powdered form of the medication that you can mix into their food? Or is it OK to crush up the pill and sprinkle it onto their nightly meal? Believe me, your vet has dealt with finicky pooches before and will be able to offer you advice to make sure that your pet is getting the medication he needs.

Products recommended in this article:

• Click here for Greenies Pill Pockets
• Click here for Bil-Jac Liver Treats for Dogs
• Click here for the Pet Piller

Dogs are naturally curious and inquisitive. They like to investigate the world around them and their noses are often their primary source of information. Many pooches cannot help but exploring a good smell and to many dogs, there is no better smell than garbage.

Are you having problems with your pet getting into the trash every time you leave the house or even leave the kitchen? Nothing is quite as frustrating as walking into a huge mess of leftovers, used paper towels and who knows what else strewn all over your freshly mopped floor. Maybe your dog has a habit of getting into outdoor trash as well, ripping open the big black bags to investigate what wonderful treasures they might contain.

Not only is this habit frustrating, it is also dangerous. The food that your dog finds is likely rotten after having been in the trash for days. There may be things like broken glass or other sharp objects that can cut his mouth or worse if he ingests them. There might even be poison; chemical cleaners, anti freeze, or lawn fertilizers, to name a few.

You will want to do everything you can to help your beloved four-legged friend get over this bad habit. There are several approaches to modifying this behavior.

Make it a negative experience
One method is to make garbage-stealing a negative experience. This way, he won’t associate breaking into the trash with getting a reward.

Many dogs hate loud noises. If you associate the trash with a loud scary noise, that might be enough to modify his behavior. Buy some balloons and blow one up. Put it into the garbage can and bring the dog to the can. Use a pin or knife to pop the balloon and startle him. After you’ve done this once or twice, leave another blown-up balloon in the garbage can. Most dogs shy away from the trash if they learn to associate it with the sound of a popping balloon.

If that doesn’t work, try using a terrible tasting spray such as Bitter Apple on top of the garbage can. This product is specially made to discourage dogs by using a non-toxic formula that won’t hurt your pet, but will be a sobering reminder not to get into the trash. You can also use this spray to discourage chewing by spraying it onto items that your dog is attracted to, such as shoes or furniture.

Click here to purchase or find out more about Bitter Apple.

Eliminate the temptation
Another method is to move the garbage cans so that they are no longer accessible to your canine pal. Can you put your kitchen garbage can in a cupboard, perhaps under the sink? Or inside a pantry with a door that closes? Can you move your outdoor cans to the other side of the fence or put them in the garage so he will no longer be tempted to knock them over and see what’s inside? When your dog is outside, make sure he is on a leash and supervised so he can’t sneak over to a neighbor’s yard and get into trouble there.

If moving the garbage can is not possible, you might look into buying a different type of can that is very difficult for your dog to get into. A trash can with a lid and a foot pedal to open it up just might fix the whole problem. Also, get into the habit of taking the trash out every night. This will remove the temptation overnight and reduce the smell during the day.

Remember, no matter what, hitting your dog is not a good solution. While this might seem to solve the issue, it can lead to other problems. Coming up with positive solutions to address the behavior is a much better way to deal with this negative situation.

If you have been a dog owner for any length of time, you may have experienced panic at one point or another because your beloved pet had disappeared from your yard. Even if you have a physical fence set up, you risk your dog digging his way out.

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of using a wireless pet containment option and specifically discuss the PetSafe wireless fence which is a great solution for anyone that wants to give their pet freedom, while also enjoying peace of mind.

To begin with, having a system such as this allows your pet a lot of freedom to run and play in your yard or wherever you have the invisible fence set up. Like most dog lovers, you would probably prefer not to have your pet tied up or enclosed in some type of wire fencing.

We want our animals to enjoy large amounts of freedom to run around and also to get the exercise that they need for optimal health benefits. With a system such as this, your dog can enjoy this freedom without you having to worry about him running away or getting out of a fenced in yard.

A huge benefit of having a wireless fence for your dog is the complete flexibility and portability. This system is perfect for families or individuals that relocate frequently. You will not have to worry about installing a fence everywhere you move to or making sure that your accommodation already has a fence to meet the needs of your family.

The portability of the invisible fence allows you to take it and your dog with you wherever you go, so no longer do you need to worry about not taking your pet with you to the wonderful lake house (or somewhere equally as great) for summer vacation. Simply bring the system with you, create the boundaries once you are there and your dog will be free to explore, run and play in his new environment.

As stated above, this type of system is very easy to use. Set-up typically takes 1-2 hours and is really just a matter of defining your boundaries. The system is made up of two parts. There is a transmitter which should be placed inside, 2-4 feet above ground and on a non-metal surface. The other part is the receiver collar that goes around your dog’s neck.

Once the boundaries are set, you will have to train your dog using the collar. This is generally a pretty quick process and the PetSafe wireless fence does include directions of how to do this. The collar consists of contact points on the inside that touch your dog’s neck. If they move into a warning zone, which is a certain distance from the boundary of the invisible fence, a warning beep will go off from the collar. If your dog continues past the boundary of the fence, they will receive a safe but effective static correction through the contact point of the collar. This static will continue until your dog returns to within the boundaries of the fence and generally they learn this pretty fast and the slight shock is effective enough to contain them within the boundaries.

We hope this information is useful and wish you all the best on choosing a system that will bring your dog more freedom and you peace of mind.

Are you dealing with a dog who has behaviors you’d like to eliminate? Or perhaps you have added a new puppy to your household and it’s time for some dog obedience training. There are many methods of training your dog, which include books, videos, dog training schools and special training collars to name just a few.

Electronic dog training collars, such as the SportDog SportHunter models have proven very effective for people training their dogs for hunting purposes or for dog obedience in general.

In this article, we’ll go over some basic steps as to how to properly utilize one of these electronic dog collars for the most effective training for your dog.

These training collars work by the use of two main parts. There is a transmitter which you, the dog trainer, have control over and the receiver collar which goes around the dog’s neck. To correct behavior, you would send a small shock from the transmitter to the dog collar thereby letting your pet know that the behavior is not appropriate. Most models of training collars, including the SportDog 1800, have the capability to transmit a range of shocks to the collar and contrary to what some people may think, these electronic dog collars are perfectly safe and effective for your dog.

The first thing to note is that you will want to focus on eliminating only one specific bad behavior at a time. Start with one thing, such as not having your dog chase a moving vehicle. If you tried to do more than one thing at a time, your dog could end up confused and having a hard time associating the shock of the collar to the one behavior that you are trying to eliminate. The collars can be used effectively to curb a multitude of issues such as this, including things like incessant barking, jumping up on strangers, coming when you call for him or her and not running away.

Be consistent while you are training your dog. The shock or tone that you are transmitting to the electronic dog collar needs to be given every time that your dog engages in the behavior that you want to change. This is the only way that your dog will make the association and thus change the behavior in the way that you are wanting.

When using the SD 1800, or a similar training collar, start the transmissions at the lowest level possible to get your dog to react in the way that you wish. You do not want to over shock or submit too much too fast in the way of the corrections. The best way to train in using these electronic collars, is to use as few corrections as possible to get the job done.

Training your dog is no small feat but one that can be very rewarding. These types of training methods can be very effective when utilized properly. In no time at all, you can have the best hunting dog or well trained house pet in the neighborhood. Having this outcome to look forward to will be well worth the time and effort spent training your dog.

Do you have a pet dog that is in need of some good training? Whether you choose dog training collars and going it on your own or the local dog obedience school, training your pet can have a huge impact on your household. Unruly pets can wreak havoc and cause stress, so this is one area you’ll want to take into consideration before bringing home that new puppy.

There are many ways to properly train your dog and a lot of knowledge out there as to the methods that one can use to get their pet under control.

Perhaps one of the easiest solutions would be to send your dog to an obedience camp for a period of time so that professionals can take charge and give your dog the obedience training that he or she needs. If you don’t have access to a camp such as this or do not wish for your beloved pet to be gone for this long, another option would be a local training school.

Many medium to large cities have these types of dog obedience training centers. Here you can sign up for a period of time to also have professionals work with your animal. For the most part, these two solutions would be for basic obedience and training. If your dog has certain issues or psychological problems, you’ll probably need to consider working one-on-one with a professional to determine the best course of action for your dog.

Whether you choose a camp or local training program, one important element will be the training for yourself. It will do no good if your dog is behaving great for the trainer but when the pet gets home his or her owners do not know how to give the same commands or feedback. For this reason, any good training program will also include training for the pet owner so that you know exactly what to do to achieve the same results when you are at home with your dog.

If a dog training center or camp is not feasible for your situation, you can certainly learn the techniques and use tools such as a training collar, to train your dog yourself. There are many great websites, books and video training to help you achieve good results on your own. Of course it is best to start training your dog early if you have them since they are a puppy. A puppy will be difficult at first, but if you start out right away this would be the easiest method of training your pet.

Another option for training your dog would be to hire a professional locally that can come to your home and work one-on-one with you and your pet. This method will allow someone to really get to know your dog and what the particular issues might be. If your dog has specific issues that need to be addressed and you have the budget for it, this would be the most effective solution for obedience training that will work the fastest.

If you are fortunate enough to have a dog as part of your family, then you are certainly concerned about your beloved pet’s health. A common concern among dog owners is that of parasites, particularly the different types of worms that can take up residence inside of your pet. In this article, we will discuss the symptoms, treatments and recommendations for this common problem.

Drontal Plus Canine is one of the most effective deworming medications to administer to your dog. This particular drug will cover the elimination of all the different types of worms including tapeworms. roundworms, hookworms and whipworms.

You will need to visit your veterinarian to get a prescription for this medication, but he or she should be able to diagnose it right away.

There are a few ways to know if your dog has worms, none of which are particularly pleasant to examine. If your dog is displaying any symptoms such as vomiting, weight loss, or blood in his stool you will want to first inspect the stool to check for the presence of worms or worm segments. This would be a pretty common way to tell if your dog has worms.

If you do see worms, we recommend that you do take your dog to the vet even though there are medications available that do not require a prescription. These over-the-counter medications could be detrimental to your dog if the correct dose is not given. Also, some canine worms can only be eliminated with a drug such as the Drontal Plus that your veterinarian will need to prescribe.

Even if you do see the worms with your own eye, you should collect a sample of your dog’s stool to take to the vet because there are sometimes very small worms that can only be seen with the microscope. Your vet will most likely also do a blood test because some microscopic worms such as heartworm can be fatal if they are not caught and treated in a timely matter.

Typically one dose of the prescribed medication, would be an effective treatment for all of the main parasites that could be causing the issue. The type of medication mentioned here is made up of Praziquantel, Pyrantel Pamoate and Febantel as its main ingredients.  Praziquantel is primarily used to fight against tapeworms, the most common in dogs being the Dipylidium caninum. Pyrantel Pamoate mainly treats against roundworms and hookworms. This is the ingredient that causes sudden contraction and paralysis of the worm. Febantel is the portion that is highly effective against whipworm. If you use Drontal alone without the Plus it does not include the Febantel and wouldn’t treat for whipworms, so it’s important to have this also.

It would actually be a pretty common occurrence for your dog to have worms at one time or another during his lifetime. It is nothing to become overly concerned or worried about as it can be treated very quickly and easily. Just keep an eye on your dog for the symptoms above and be sure to take him to the vet for his regular appointments and this should be something that you will not have to worry about.

If you are the proud owner of a pet dog, then you’ve probably encountered the dreaded flea issue and the need for Frontline Plus for dogs. Fleas can wreak havoc with your dog as well as the state of the overall household. Getting a flea issue under control should be a top priority if you don’t want to deal with a serious infestation.

In this article, we’ll go over some facts of flea and tick issues as related to dogs. We’ll also talk about the popular medication, Frontline for Dogs and how this effective solution can keep your beloved pet free of all unwanted fleas and ticks.

Firstly, you should be aware that flea and tick issues can be more than just a nuisance to your dog. If these small insects are not kept under control, they can cause serious health issues for your pet. Certain fleas and ticks carry diseases that can be life threatening to your dog as well as to the people that they come into contact with. One example of such an issue would be the dreaded Lyme disease which is carried within certain ticks.

Medications such as Frontline Plus for Dogs are very effective because they are fast acting and long lasting with their results. Frontline is very easy to administer. If you opt for the topical solution, it gets placed on your dog and works itself into your pets oil glands just below the surface of his fur. Any critters alive at the time of application will be killed within 24 hours. Beyond that, because it is within your dog’s hair follicles, it will continue to be effectively applied for 30 days after the initial application. Frontline is also waterproof which means that your dog can have his weekly bath or take a dip in the lake and the medication will still continue to work.

Many people opt to use Frontline Plus Dogs or a similar type of medication as a preventative option. Frontline kills all stages of the life cycle for both fleas and ticks. This means that it will eliminate adult fleas and ticks as well as halting the life cycle of the eggs and larvae that may also be found on your dog. When you use Frontline as a preventative measure, you’d simply get your dog on a regular monthly routine of applying the medicine. Frontline can also be given orally as opposed to the topical solution, so you do have an alternative option as to how the medicine is applied.

Keep in mind that treating your dog for fleas doesn’t automatically assume that there are not fleas already making a home in your household. You should plan for a very thorough cleaning of the floors and carpets at the same time as the initial medicine application to your dog. This will assure that you vacuum up any eggs, larvae or fleas that may just be waiting to make a home within your poor dog’s fur when the Frontline does wear off.

Rest assured that a good flea and tick medication works extremely fast so your pet will be back to his cheerful self in no time!

Frontline Plus for Dogs is a highly effective topical flea and tick medication that will eliminate these pests from your dog and home.

Click here (See all Pet Flea & Tick Repellents) to get started with Frontline Plus for Dogs and get immediate relief for your pet today!

Frontline Plus for Dogs will kill 98-100% of all adult fleas living on your pet within 24 hours of application! Additionally, Frontline contains an ingredient that will kill flea larvae and eggs, thus eliminating fleas at every stage of their life cycle.

Frontline Plus for Dogs also eliminates all life cycle stages of the four major types of ticks. This includes the harmful tick that carries Lyme disease, so ridding your pet of these toxic and harmful insects are of the utmost importance.

Active Ingredients Within Frontline Plus for Dogs:

Fipronil

• broad spectrum insecticide that disrupts the central nervous system of an insect by blocking the passage of chloride ions through critical components of the insect’s central nervous system
• results in hyperexcitation of contaminated muscles and nerves of the insect
• kills adult fleas before they can lay eggs (typically within 24 hours)

S-methoprene

• a juvenile hormone analog that is used an insecticide
• acts as a growth regulator, keeping the larvae from maturing to adulthood
• breaks the life cycle of the insect

How Frontline Plus for Dogs Works:

Frontline Plus for Dogs will immediately eradicate up to 100% of the fleas that currently exist on your dog within the first 24 hours of the initial application of the flea medication.

For the next 30 days after the initial application, Frontline Plus will continue to provide flea and tick control. The medication is long-lasting and fast-acting!

Frontline Plus for Dogs works by placing the active ingredient, Fipronil just below your dog’s skin within the oil glands. This ingredient is then applied over and over on your pet through the dog’s hair follicles.

Frontline Plus is waterproof even when it comes to your dog’s self-grooming. The medication is so long-lasting that it will not even lessen during your pet’s bath or swim in the local swimming hole.

Dangers of Fleas and Ticks to Your Dog:

Fleas and ticks are not only a nuisance to your poor dog, but they can pose serious threats to the overall health and well-being of your beloved pet.

Fleas can be an incredibly miserable and destructive source of pain when it comes to your dog. They are very tiny and can be difficult to spot before they have your dog scratching and biting to find some relief. Fleas may cause allergy dermatitis in pets as well as be the carrier of some potentially life threatening diseases.

Ticks can be extremely dangerous to your pet as well because some carry and transmit diseases which include Lyme disease. Lyme disease and other tick transmitted diseases can cause very serious health issues for both dogs and people.

Click here (See all Pet Flea & Tick Repellents) to get started with Frontline Plus for Dogs and get immediate relief for your pet today!

Giving your pet a dose of Frontline Plus for Dogs either orally or topically one a month will not only kill off the existing ticks and fleas, but it will additionally prevent further re-infestations from occurring.

Don’t delay…get some relief for your dog right away!

The SportDog SportHunter SD 1800 is a dog training system that allows for 8 different modes of training and 16 levels of momentary or continuous stimulation.

Click here to purchase today!

The SportDog SportHunter SD 1800 comes as equipped for 1 dog, but you can easily expand the system to include up to 3 dogs by adding SportDog Add-a-Dog Collars. All training collars will match easily to the SD 1800 transmitter for immediate use as a 2 or 3 dog training system.

Features of the SportDog SportHunter SD 1800:

• 3/4 mile range to suit a wider variety of training styles and situations
• Transmitter and receiver are waterproof and submersible – You don’t have to worry about dropping either piece of equipment in the water while training your dog. Simply fish it out and begin using it again as if the submersion never occurred.
• System is expandable for up to 3 dogs – just purchase additional SportDog add-a-dog collars for the additional dogs and the system will easily incorporate them to the training modes
• The SportDog SportHunter SD 1800 includes up to 16 degrees of momentary (nick) and continuous correction – This large range in the variety of correction can be particularly useful with sensitive or difficult to train dogs.
• Tone only mode and button
• Includes training option for Tone only for 1 sec, then stimulation to the collar
• Both the receiver and the transmitter includes replaceable rechargeable NiMH batteries
• Includes low battery indication light for both receiver and transmitter
• Equipped to handle 40-80 hrs of “on time” between normal battery charges
• Includes lanyard and belt clip for easy carrying and transportation
• Comes with a lifetime limited warranty

SportDog SportHunter SD 1800 Specifications:

• SD 1800 Transmitter Dimensions: 2 1/4 in. (width) x 1 1/4 in. (depth) x 7 1/2 in (length including antenna)
• Transmitter Weight: 5.6 ounces
• SD 1800 Receiver Dimensions: 3 in. x 1 1/2 in. x 1 1/2 in. (does not include the collar strap)
• Receiver Weight: 9.6 ounces (includes the collar strap)
• SD 1800 Collar Dimensions: 1 in. wide (the 27 inch collar fits dogs that have up to a 23 inch neck)

Click here to purchase and get started training your dog right away!

The SportDog SportHunter SD 1800 is perfect for training your hunting dog, but this system is also great for other training uses as well. The long range is well suited to correct swimming dogs from a distance as well as other training possibilities that cover longer ranges.

Get started with the SD 1800 and your dog today!

The Innotek SD 2000 is a great basic in-ground pet fencing system that is very easy to install and use with your dog.

Click here to purchase today!

Enjoy peace of mind while your dog enjoys the freedom of being able to run around in the backyard.

Features of the Innotek SD 2000:

• Set a boundary of up to 5 acres in size for your dog! Additional wire kits will allow you to expand this if/as needed.
• Very affordable system for keeping your dog safe and contained without spending the time or money to build a big fence in the yard
• The best in safe, secure and reliable pet containment solutions
• Your dog will learn the boundaries quickly and with ease with the run-through prevention and time-out between corrections functionality
• Extremely easy to install, train and use day after day, and year after year
• Battery operated receiver collar is water-resistant and comfortable for your pet to wear
• Innotek SD 2000 comes with 1 receiver collar and will support an unlimited number of additional collars (to be purchased separately)
• Receiver collar is compact, lightweight (4 ounces) and is resistant to water
• Sturdy and very durable materials – polyurethane-coated wire with solid copper core will not disintegrate like PVC generally does
• Nylon collar is adjustable so it’s able to fit any size dog
• Includes 500 feet of single-conductor ground wire
• Includes indoor transmitter to be mounted on the wall
• Includes 1 receiver collar with a comfortable neck strap for your dog
• Includes boundary wire
• Includes 6-volt alkaline battery
• Training support 800 number with operators standing by to help you with set-up and use of the pet containment system
• Includes complete installation instructions that are easy to follow and will have you going with your invisible dog fence in no time at all
• Includes video and/or DVD
• Includes the training flags for your system set-up

Innotek SD 2000 Specifications:

• Coverage: up to 5 acres
• Collars: 1 included, will include unlimited collars (use SD-2025 collars)
• Collar weight: 4 ounces
• Additional containment wire: BD-25 boundary kits
• Wire material: polyurethane-coated with a solid copper core
• Warranty: 1 year

How the Innotek SD 2000 Correction Settings Work:

The correction level is pre-set within the factory originally for peak performance from the system and your pet. If your pet tries to go out of the invisible boundary that you set up, he will first hear a two second warning sound. In the event that he keeps going toward the boundary, the receiver collar will give him a continuous level of stimulation or light shock until he moves back within the boundary.

Electronic dog collars and invisible pet containment systems are safe and effective for your pet – no need to fret about the shocks as the dogs tend to learn quickly and will not be harmed in the process.

Click here to get started today!

Are you looking for the peace of mind that will let your dog roam free in the backyard and get the exercise that he needs? The Innotek SD 2000 is the perfect system to solve both of those needs! Get started with yours today!