Many times, puppies behave just like children, that's why they need to play on a daily-basis. Playing and games are a part of the puppy's mental and physical development. You can teach your puppy to fetch different objects, and at the same time making of this something fun for your pet, just as if it was a game.
Many times when company arrives, our puppy will be all jumpy and anxious because of the strangers. Even though most of the time is a sweet gesture, there are persons who will not appreciate it and see it as such. That's why teaching our puppy to be calm and quiet when you'e having company over is important. Try with treats and with lots of compliment words.
We are responsible of teaching our pet how to behave, but still enjoying them like the friends and loyal companion they are.
Posted in Dog Training | Tagged lessons
Some of us will probably feel a bit (or a lot) hurt by this. But leaving the pride aside, we must admit that 99 percent of the times this is a true fact. We are prone to show we love someone with food, and we do the exact same thing with our dogs.
Just like happens when we are too self-indulgent, giving our dog too many treats can be harmful to their health.
But besides the treats, we commit another mistake. Most of us cannot deny that we do not read the food-labels, which is something important, because those labels indicate the amount of food our dog needs.
It is true that when we neuter our pets the physical activity is diminished, that's why it's important that if we continue giving the same amount of food we gave before neutering, our dog will gain weight because of the lack of exercise.
How to tell if your dog is a bit heavy? Easy. When looking our dog's back, we should be able to notice a waist below the ribs, sort of hour-glass shaped. If the opposite happens and all we see is a squared back and not a hint of a waist whatsoever, the diagnosis is one: overweight.
Posted in Dog Health & Care | Tagged obesity
Maltese don't have special demands when it comes to food. All our dog will need is a balanced diet with proteins, carbon hydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals. Don't over-feed the dog, and try not to indulge their whims too much.
When choosing the right food, the size and age of our dog must be considered. Usually, 100 gr. of dry food or 315-390 Kcal every day should satisfy our dog's needs.
The Food:
- Meat, can be chicken, bovine, lamb or others (although is not highly recommended). This can be raw or cooked, although pork meat should always be cooked.
- Liver, guts, entrails. It's a great food, especially for puppies and growing dogs. It should always be cooked.
- Fish is good for growing dogs; it should also be prepared before giving it to our pet.
- Eggs are given to puppies, breeding dogs, and during breastfeeding.
- Milk, just when puppies.
- Is recommendable that all animal by-products to be previously cooked or boiled. The same goes for rice and pastas.
- Veggies and fruits. If you haven't tried it before, you'll be surprised to see how much dogs love it. Try with apples, pears, celery, avocado, watermelon (in summer, very refreshing), etc.
- There is a wide variety of prepared food nowadays. Most of them have all the needed, making of it a more convenient and easier way to feed our pet.
- DO NOT forget: Fresh Water. Water is the most important thing for living beings. There should be fresh water at all times. Remember to change the water a few times during the day, to maintain the freshness.
Posted in Dog Health & Care | Tagged feeding
There are many people out there who believe having a dog can be a problem when you work and you have to be out all day long because of it. But for all of us dog lovers, who cannot conceive the idea of not having this friends (and sometimes lifesavers), there has to be some way to keep it all balanced. Having our dog safe and calm in our home while we are at work, without the main concern: will Fido be ok and not make a mess while I'm out?
Well, for all dog-owners, there are some techniques and ways to keep our dog alone, minimizing the possibilities of barking and destroying.
- Create an indoor den. Leaving your dog outside all day long is a bad idea. There are a few factors to consider: sudden bad weather, annoying neighbors and bad behavior because of too much freedom. Try using a crate if you or a surrogate come in during the day to let your dog out for a break. If no one is coming, another option is to make a toilet area in the farthest part of the room. If you are willing to do the cleaning, you can use newspapers; if you have the money, you can buy a dog litter tray.
- Create a haven. Most of you know that a bored dog is a destructive dog that can harm himself by chewing and/or swallowing all the wrong things. To prevent this, leave a blanket, toy and a nice comfy bed in the place your dog will be during the day.
- Create mental stimulation. There are treats available for you to give your dog, which will have him entertained during most of the day. Try leaving a Kong toy or a Buster Cube filled with some treat (like peanut butter, meat, or dry food). Your pet will spend most of the day trying to get the treats.
- Create pleasant sounds. Something that has always worked for me is leaving my dogs with the radio or the TV on. Classical music works like a charm, also the sound of human voices. Some people tape their own voices and leave that playing all day long. Remember it has to be something soothing and calmed, not rock or heavy metal music.
- Create sustenance. Always a bowl with food and one or two with water should be left (just the necessary amount of food of course).
- Create unemotional leaving and return. Try not to make of your leaving and your arriving home a big show. It'll only get him anxious. Before you leave, spend some tie with your dog. Playing with him till he is tired and taking him to the potty work really well.
- There are some other alternatives, but try all these before thinking of giving your mood stabilizers. There is a Prozac for dogs. It's not addictive, but it's a last resort that should only be used under veterinarian control.
Posted in Dog Health & Care
Perhaps there is a few out there who knows what it's like having a dog with a bad temper. Whether you like it or not, bad temper can also affect our dog. If the owner is constantly telling off the dog, depriving him of the needed affection, it's a normal thing the dog will be temperamental just like the owner. But there are many other reasons why this can happen, and to enlighten you a bit, here you have a few of them:
- Pain: acute pain can make of the most loving friend a grumpy one. A sudden change in our dog's mood requires our attention. We must check any pain, soreness, and if so, go to the vet.
- Old age: the oldies, just like any other grandpa or grandma, are more irritable. This because they have more troubles moving, sleeping and sometimes having to put up with the rudeness of kids. Instead of bugging them, giving them calm and affection can be a very effective thing to do.
- Injuries: some dogs are used to work and being active most of the time, and when they are forced to be more calmed and inactive, their temper can change for worse. Just like any other athlete unable to do what they've done for long time, they can't hide their annoyance.
Of course, we have to remember that most of the times, a bad temper dog can be entirely our fault, and so before going to the vet, we have to take a long look at ourselves to see if we are not the cause of our dog's mood changes.
Posted in Dog Training | Tagged temper
The Maltese is a small dog with a similar behavior of other dogs of their size. It's usually very excitable and it likes to bark, reason why the dog will react quickly to everyday stimulation. It' not infrequent to observe a Maltese dog barking and running because the door bell suddenly rang, or when they feel odd noises coming from outside. It could be a problem when you like to be quiet and in silence, but for the rest who sometimes have hearing problems, it can be helpful.
Maltese dog is not a home-wrecker sort of dog. The destructive behavior of this breed is relatively low, and also they are not aggressive dogs, but perhaps they are a little impatient when around children. They answer really well to the obedience-training, not being too much dominant with their owner.
Finally, when it comes to the special features of this dog, we can say they truly are a wonderful breed, extremely loving and affectionate, features that will make you enjoy their company all the time.
Posted in Dog Training | Tagged behaviour
If you have decided to travel with your dog, it is convenient that you follow a few guidelines before embarking on your journey. This way you will check if you have everything necessary and you won't have undesirable surprises.
- Go to the vet. Before going in long journeys with your dog, it's important to take it to the vet. You will have all the papers in order in case something happens when away, and you will have the chance to ask for some sickness pills in case your dog has a car-sickness problem.
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Pack for your pet. Just like you, your dog will need having its bedding, toys, brush, treats, dishes, medications, your pet's food and a copy of the medical records. One of the most important things you cannot forget is having a dish and a bottle of water in the car with you. Your dog will get thirsty, and it maybe difficult to stop in the way.
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Before leaving, a great way to ensure your dog will be quiet and calm is making it tired. Make your dog run and play right before getting in the car. Your dog will be more laid-back when starting the trip.
- If you can, take breaks. Your dog's legs need stretching, and your dog needs potty breaks.
- Finally, if you found something to make of this trip even more pleasant for you and your dog, just add it to the list. Remember all of this is not meant to be one more burden, but it's meant to be a help for you and your pet.
Posted in General
Many times, puppies behave just like children, that's why they need to play on a daily-basis. Playing and games are a part of the puppy's mental and physical development. You can teach your puppy to fetch different objects, and at the same time making of this something fun for your pet, just as if it was a game.
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