When dogs undergo a surgical procedure their vet will occasionally recommend that they partake in hydrotherapy as part of their individual healing process. This can also happen if a dog experiences hip dysplasia or has suffered an injury but the problem cannot be ‘fixed’ through surgery.

The general rehabilitation can be assisted with the careful introduction of hydrotherapy it has certain effects on the dog’s body tissues including relieving pain and swelling, improving the blood’s circulation, helping the joints to move freely and hydrotherapy can also stop painful muscle spasms.
(more…)

If walking in your own garden has become a hazard due to the fear of falling down a gaping hole kindly left by your ‘helpful’ pooch then it is time to think about training your faithful friend to stop the excavation exercise in your garden!

Before you can tackle the training to solve the problematic behaviour you need to work out why the behaviour is occurring in the first place. Now there are numerous reasons why a dog will begin to dig, they could be experiencing feelings of anxiety or possess a desire to escape or they could even be searching for shelter from the elements.
(more…)

Deciding that you want to welcome a new puppy into your home is a big enough decision in itself let alone trying to decide where exactly to obtain a puppy from as there are numerous routes available.

Irrespective of the puppy’s starting point in life one of the most important facts is its age when it is homed. Too many puppies are taken away from their mother and siblings whilst they are still far too young to be without their canine family.
(more…)

Many dog owners like to let their dogs have a good old chomp on a bone now and again as they feel it is allowing their pooch the freedom to return to their roots. Dogs are natural carnivores and of course direct descendants of the wolf so there is almost something quite wild and predatory about the domestic dog munching on a bone.

The next question on everyone’s lips will be, “is it safe to feed your dog bones?” Well this debate has been ongoing for some considerable time and there are those dog owners who swear by giving their dog a weekly bone and those dog owners that recoil in absolute horror at the mere thought of their sweet, little pooch chomping on a bone! The choice, as most things, is all down to personal preference having said that though there are some facts which you should be aware of prior to feeding ‘Rover’ a nice, juicy bone.
(more…)

A common problem often faced by dog owners is the one concerning their faithful friend and the hoover. The dog in question is generally as good as gold in every other way but when the dreaded hoover puts in an appearance the dog turns into a devilish little critter!

Now the poor innocent hoover does not have much going for it really when viewed through the eyes of a dog. It is the ideal ‘prey’ to chase because it wheels along the floor and not to mention the awful loud noise it makes, which to a dog is magnified so many more times than to you and I. In many households this ‘monster’ has a daily outing around the house and then vanishes again until the following day.
(more…)

You may have come across the term ‘target training’ as a dog owner and not really understood what it is all about, you have probably conjured up visions of your dog complete with archery bow aiming at a target board!

Basically the target can be anything that you have asked your dog to completely focus on and then carry out an action towards. Many trainers will advise to begin by encouraging your dog to simply touch your palm with their nose.
(more…)

When a dog scent marks inside the house he/she is displaying a different behaviour to when they might simply have an accident in the house due to not being housetrained yet or just due to being caught short!

Now I know the last thing you will think about is the reasoning behind the event when it actually occurs but it is important to try and comprehend why your dog is behaving in a certain manner. When a dog scent marks it is generally either about territory, dominance or sexuality.
(more…)

If you are a dog owner there are few sights which delight you as much as observing the pure happiness that seems to run through the whole of your dog’s body when you return home, and the thing is if you did not look after your faithful friend as well as you do then they would not be so pleased to see you home. You should view their display of joy as a big pat on the back for all your loving care.

Now if you are thinking about owning a dog you might well ask how you go about receiving the devotion and love from them, what exactly do you need to do to gain your dog’s respect and admiration?
(more…)

Ever had one of those moments when you wish your canine chum would just settle down for a moment whilst you speak on the phone or answer the door? We love our dogs dearly and we would not be without them but sometimes it would be handy if they had a ‘remove the batteries now’ facility! You could then have complete silence instantly even just for a few minutes or so.

Some dogs pace and do not seem to relax, they might not be making a noise as such but this sort of behaviour can be just as undesirable as a barking dog, it can drive an owner crazy watching their dog pacing up and down.
(more…)

If you are planning on a new canine addition joining your household soon then you need to be completely aware of the responsibility involved with owning a dog. Yes being a dog owner is a lot of fun and very enjoyable but it is also a bigger responsibility than a lot of potential owners realize.

Now the initial point to think about is the time you honestly have to look after your dog, whether you have opted for a puppy or an adult dog they will both require a lot of time and attention from you, especially in the beginning. Do not assume that simply because you are taking on an adult dog that it will not require the same amount of training as a puppy, in fact you could not be further from the truth with this thought to be honest. An adult dog can be harder to train as he/she would have developed some bad habits by now and if they have never had anyone to correct them they are going to take a lot of convincing that your way is indeed the right way!
(more…)