Friday 9 November 2012

Winter Care For Your Dog and Puppy

Your pet needs extra care during the winter months. There are extra hazards in winter for your pet. Some dogs are more affected by the cold weather than others. Its best to have a winter jacket for your pet to protect them against the wind and snow during the winter months.


Do not leave your dog or puppy outside alone without a heated shelter.
  • There are dog protection booties that are available for purchase .
  • Do not let your pet run across frozen ice it could lead to disaster.
  • Do not allow your dog or puppy to eat snow as there could be dangerous objects or chemicals etc in it.


Keep your dog or puppy away form anti-freeze it is incredibly dangerous for them.Even though it smells and tastes good for them.


Do not leave your pet alone in a car during cold weather.



Exposure to cold weather can cause hypotermia in your pet which can lead to death.





Be aware of your pets body temperature and do not leave them outside for long periods of time.
Ensure that your Pet has a blanket to sleep on.

Groom your pet to ensure he/she has the best fur protection.

Increase your pets calorie intake, they burn more calories during cold weather.






 
Dry your pet if they get wet in the rain or snow.

Provide adequate amount of fresh water for your pet.


Your pet can get frostbite just as easily as humans.
Be aware of your pets safety during the Christmas. Keep your alcohol and chocolate treats away form them. If your pet boisterous don't leave him/her alone with the Christmas tree. Christmas lights when chewed could be problematic.Your puppy or dog could get a stomach obstruction from the eating of decorations such as tinsel. Holly and mistletoe are poisonous to pets.

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Deworming your Puppy



Parasites can reek major damage on your puppies health. Puppies usually get their first parasites while they are in their mothers womb. If the mother of the pups is not regualarly dewormed before she becomes pregnant then the puppies usually contract worms from her.
Common puppy parasites are roundworms which can be passed from mother to puppy or by eating soil or poop. Whipworms which can be contracted from soil or poop. Hookworms contracted from eating licking walking on contaminated soil. Tapeworms passed on from fleas. Roundworm and ringworm eggs can live in the soil for years.





Symptoms of Parasites

  • Pot Belly
  • Pale Gums
  • Weight Loss
  • Diarrhea
  • Lethargy
  • Poor Coat Apperance



Treatment of Puppy Parasites

Deworming medications only target the adult worms not the eggs or larve. You will have to partake in a strategic deworming plan to make sure that the puppy is totally clear of worms.
Strategic deworming involves giving the puppy deworming medicaiton at intervals. They should be dewormed at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks and 12 weeks. After you have given the deworming medicaition you will see the worms in their poop. Make sure you dispose off this poop straight away.









Wednesday 15 August 2012

What Age Should A Puppy Be Rehomed

It is cruel to rehome  a puppy too early in their life. You are really doing a disservice to a puppy if you rehome or get a puppy before it is 8 weeks old. Why would you want to upset a cute puppy stealing precious time it could have with its mother and littermates. A proper dog breeder would never consider rehoming a puppy under 8 weeks. Ideally 12 weeks onwards is the best time to rehome a puppy.
From 0 to 8 weeks puppies learn good dog behaviour from their mother and siblings. A pecking order is developed and they learn that they cannot bite or attack without consequences.
They learn alot from play with their siblings. Pups that are rehomed too early have alot of the time behaviour problems.



Sleeping Border Collie Puppies




Behaviour problems such as been very shy nervous and afraid of everything, others will be biting everyone and overly hyper. Breeders who want to rehome their pups before 8 weeks are usually just looking to make a quick buck and don't care about the pups future.
This critical time when the pup learns bite inhibition,how to act with other dogs cannot be got back. Orphan puppies should also be kept with their siblings they may not have their mother but they can learn from each other and other adult dogs.
If a puppy is taken from their mother and littermates before 8 weeks it will be more difficult to train.
Very young pups are also alot of work. At 12 weeks there is less puppy destruction they have more manners and are housetrained to a degree.

At 12 weeks you are better able to judge the temperament of the puppy and its general health. You do not want to bring a sickly puppy into your life and go through the trauma of it dying. Many horrible breeders still sell puppies knowing that they are terribly ill.

It is also better to have some age on a pup when you are considering using the pup for work.
The older the pup is the more interest it will have in working sheep if that is the way she/he is inclined. It will save you from having a working dog that is not interested in working.




Monday 13 August 2012

The Border Collie

A border collie can truly enrich your life if you are willing to invest the time and energy required. If you don't get out alot and have time constraint's then a border collie may not be the match for you. If you treat the dog well they will become excellent companion dogs. They bond strongly with their owners. They will be your best friend loyal and by your side. They thrive when they have a job and space to run. They love their owners but can be weary of strangers.
The border collie is an extremely intelligent dog. The border collie has beauty and brains. They have a keen sense of their surroundings.Their high intelligence means that they can be trained to a high degree but they can also push the boundaries. They have agility, focus and stamina
They are the Olympic athlete of the dog world.
They are too intelligent to lie around and do nothing all day.If you are considering having a border collie in your life you must be willing to give them alot of mental stimulation. They have boundless amounts of energy so be willing to exercise your collie daily.

The Border Collie has an amazing herding instinct. This instinct has been bred into them. Many herding dogs drive the livestock away from the farmer but the border collie has the skill of circling the sheep and bringing them back to the farmer. They can mostly do their job without force. The border collie uses his eye stare on the job by giving a threatening stare to intimidate the stock into submission along with a crouching stance. If the sheep is more stubborn the dog may bark nip or bite to get the job done if need be. They have an amazing skill of anticipation. They are great at anticipating what the stock will do. They can move at great speed. They can gather, drive and keep the stock in one place. The border collie is said to have an eye that can hypnotise cattle. They crouch down and intensely stare at the cattle. The intimidating stare with the intimidating crouching snakelike movements garner the cattle into submission allowing the dog to herd the cattle. A working dog can do the work of three humans. They are known to work with sheep, cattle, poultry,pigs,ostriches and clear runways and golf courses of birds.















If a border collie is in a home that doesn't provide them with enough mental stimulation and exercise they can develop neurotic behaviours. If bored and neglected they may chew furniture , dig holes etc. Any bad habits like chasing cars, children and cats come from their herding instincts. These habits are due to the fact that they are motion sensitive. With training and patience these problem's can be solved.















If you want to win competitions in dog agility, dog Frisbee, flyball, tracking and obedience then you have a good chance with a border collie. They also are a master of dance when trained dog dancing.
An awe inspiring experience is to watch a border collie at work. They excel in sheep dog trials. They can work form voice command or whistle.


A border collie called chaser has a vocabulary of 1022 words.
Their country of origin is Scotland and England.
Tiger Woods has a border collie called Taz.
Litter size is 6 to 8 pups.
Their life span is 12 to 16 years.
Weight male 29-45 lbs female 27-42 lbs.
Height  male 19-22 inches  female 18-21 inches.
Great for search and rescue.
Their coat can be rough{medium to long} soft {short}coat.
They are very handsome dogs most common black and white, black and tan,blue merle, red merle, red and white.
They need an outlet for their energy.
They have been helping farmers work for hundreds of years.
Old hemp a dog born in 1893 is the ancestor of most border collies today.
They should exercise for 2 hours a day.
Nipping at ankles and heels is natural for BC training should ease it.
They require regular brushing.
Traffic is dangerous for border collies as they may try to herd.
If left alone and bored they may become depressed.
They can be moody, quirky, strong willed,inventive,manipulative.





Saturday 11 August 2012

Blog Awards Ireland

blog awards irelandIf you enjoy my blog vote for me at Blog Awards Ireland

My categories are Best Newcomer Blog, Best Photography Blog, Best Blog Post, Best Personal Blog, Best Designed Blog and Best Mobile Compatible Blog.

Click to Vote

Saturday 28 July 2012

Ticks in Puppies and Dogs

Ticks are blood sucking parasites that are common in many parts of the Irish countryside. They are classed as anthropods. Your pet may come in contact with ticks while running through long grasses and wooded areas. Ticks are revolting. They attach themselves onto your pet with their mouthpiece and stay attached until they have their fill of your pets blood. The tick may stay attached for several hours to days. You usually will find ticks around your pets ears, inside of their legs, where there is little hair and their toes.
 Your pet can get ticks and be fine but there is also the threat of disease with ticks. The quicker you remove the ticks from your dog the better as it reduces the risk of disease transmission. Ticks start off tiny but if they get to suck of your pet uninterrupted they swell pea size and bigger with a hard shell. They then fall off and lay their larvae. In Ireland lyme disease is carried by the Irish ticks in USA lyme disease and Rockey mountains disease are most common tick diseases.

If you are concerned that your pet has ticks you should take a close look at your dogs skin. Rub your hand around your dog to feel for any lumps or raised areas. Pay special attention between their toes, ears hairless areas and armpits.You might find red lumps. Ticks will start off as small as pencil tip and increase in size over time. Lots of dogs display no sign of been bitten by one or more ticks. Some dogs will find the ticks very irritating which leads to them licking and scratching them. Others are very allergic to them. An over infestation of ticks can cause anaemia in dogs. Ticks can move from dogs to people.

Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks.Lyme disease can be serious. It can lead to kidney failure and death. Puppies are more prone to lymne disease than adult dogs. Symptom's in dogs are difficult to detect and may not appear until months after infection. A dog with lyme disease may not show any symptom's if they do they will suffer fatigue, not wanting to move and spontaneous leg lameness for 3 to 4 days with failure to eat and depression. This lameness may reoccur 3 days to a week later. The dog may be stiff with an arched back. The dog may have swollen painful joints. Lyme disease can be often misdiagnosed. Sometimes mistaken for arthritis. The kidneys can be severely damaged.
The quicker you remove the tick from your dog the better. If you have access to a vet and the money get them to do the horrid job. Ensure that you wear gloves when dealing with ticks. Infection can be transferred to humans from the ticks.
When searching for ticks run your hands over the dog paying special attention around the ears, between the toes, hairless areas and under their armpits. Look and feel for any raised areas lumps and bumps. Remember the size of the tick will be an indicator of how long it has been on your pet. From the size of a pencil tip to the size of a bean.



  • Make sure the objects you are using to remove the ticks are sterile
  • Do not use your fingers to remove the ticks
  • Use a tweezers or specially made devices for removing ticks 
  • Ensure that you get the tweezers as close to the head of the tick as possible
  • You do not want to leave the head of the tick behind as it can cause an abscess
  • Apply steady gently pressure pull the tick straight out do not twist 
  • Apply antiseptic ointment
  • Do not squeeze the body of the tick as it can release disease 
  • Dispose of the tick straight away best to burn it, remember its a disease carrier
  • You can apply topical ointments that kill off the ticks 
  • You can also apply special tick killing shampoo


Prevention is better than cure. Its best to stay out of lyme disease prone areas and tick infested areas if possible. Remember humans can get ticks also. If you are going to the countryside its best to apply a topical ointment that prevents ticks and fleas to your dog. I use frontline. You should apply once a month topicals for peace of mind. There are tick collars, sprays, powders and dips. When you come in from your walks check your pet for ticks. Its best to catch them before they attach.

Sunday 1 July 2012

Heatstroke in Puppies and Dogs

Heatstroke can kill your puppy within 15 minutes. Puppies are more prone to heatstroke than humans. Unlike humans dogs do not have sweet glands all over their body. Dogs sweat through their paws and they have their fur all year round. They regulate their body temprature mostly through panting. Panting brings in cool outside air into their body and releases the excess heat from their body. But when outside air is a higher temprature  than their body temprature heatstroke strikes.
A dogs normal body temprature is 100.5 to 102.5 degrees fahrenheit. At 105 degrees fahrenheit your dog will start to show the signs of heatstroke and suffers the effects of it. At 106 degrees and above it gets very serious and irreversible damage begins.
The signs of heatstroke

  • Rapid Heavy Panting 
  • Increased Drooling
  • Hyperventilation\Gasping for Air
  • Deep red hemorrhages on gums and skin
  • Rapid Pulse
  • Vomiting
  • Diarhea
  • Dizzy
  • Dry Gums
  • Bleeding
  • Staring Glassy Eyes
  • Warm
  • Weakness
  • Fever
  • Pale Gums
  • Increased Heartbeat
  • Weak
  • Collapse
  • Seizures
  • Coma



Treatment of Heat Stroke

  • Get puppy to a cool room with fan/air conditioning.
  • Apply cool water but not ice cold water, if you cool the pup down too quickly you could cause bloating and heart attack. You should use a hose. Apply water first to inner thighs and stomach where there are larger blood vessels. Wet the foot pads as well.
  • Don't submerge the puppy in a bath of water or pool as this will cool the pup down too quickly causing heart attack or bloat. 
  • Don't cover the dog with a wet towel. The water needs to evaporate. Don't enclose the pup there needs to be free flowing air.
  • Get them to stand up and  walk around as this will increase the blood circulation and cool the puppy down quicker.
  • Give them cool water to drink.
  • If the puppy's temperature is above 107 degree's give them a cold water enema. 
  • When you get their  temperature down to 104 bring them to the vet.

Prevention of Heat Stroke in Puppies and Dogs



  • Avoid vigorous exercise with your pet on warm days best to play in the shade
  • Easy access to fresh cool water. 
  • Never leave you puppy/dog alone on a warm day in a car even if you have the windows down. A car can heat up very quickly even if its not very warm outside. Dog's been left alone in cars is one of the most common causes of heatstroke.
  • Short nosed dogs such as pugs and bulldogs are more at risk to get heatstroke. Puppies under 6 months. Obese dogs. Dog's with existing medical conditions such as heart and airway problems. Older dogs.
  • They should have access to a shady spot if outside.






Thursday 7 June 2012

Dogs Afraid of Storms thunder and Lightning


















Puppy will more than likely have a fear of thunder and lightning. Sometimes this fear can turn into a phobia. Dogs feel trapped during thunder storms. Your pet can do alot of damage to themselves and your home when they are in fear. Dogs have broken teeth, obtained fractures, caused cuts and bruises to themselves. Pets get knocked down and killed on the road from frantic running. There are also cases of pups going missing due to running off in fear. A pet that normally never strays can run off in fear and get lost. Here are some signs of storm phobia digging, jumping through windows, going through walls, running away, hiding, pacing, chewing, urinating, defecating, howling, dilated pupils, drooling, wanting owner, not eating, and shaking. Keep your pet indoors during the storm. This reduces the risk of getting lost or  knocked down etc. You should keep calm during the storm.
The pup will be able to read your anxiety. The fear of the thunder storm gets worse with each exposure if you do not try and calm the situation. A pet that is afraid of thunder may become afraid of rain, wind and dark clouds as they precede the thunder. Dogs may become anxious with the reducing barometric pressure. The smells that come with a storm also. Certain dogs are more prone to the phobia of storms such as collies, basset hounds, golden retrievers german shepard's. These are working, sporting dogs that spend alot of time out in open fields so this could compound their fear. 





  • Create a safe haven. Some dogs feel safe in the bathroom during the storm. Under the bed. In their create. In the wardrobe.
  • More exercise on the day the storm is coming. Dogs produce serotonin during exercise which makes them feel better.
  • Reduce the noise level. Play the radio, some music or turn on the tv. Earplug for dogs. 






  • Be calm. Dogs can sense your fear and it will add on to theirs.
  • Desensitisation. Play a tape of the thunderstorm to your dog at low volume. The dog will not be afraid usually at the low volume but he will be aware of it, do some obedience training with them. Reward the pet. Increase the volume at the next session. Do some obedience training again and reward. At the next session increase the volume do obedience training and reward. If the dog shows fear reduce the volume. Sessions should be around 20 minutes. Continue until the tape can be played loud. Play the tape when you are not around also. When the thunderstorm occurs use the same activities that you did with the tape. 
  • Counter the effects of electromagnetism. Done by rubbing your dogs fur to rid of static.
  • If it is really strong phobia and nothing is working contact a dog behaviourist.
  • You can purchase herbal remedies.
  • A storm blanket for your dog. There is one called the Storm Defender. The special lining in the cape brings relief.

Wednesday 23 May 2012

Puppys and Dogs have Jealous Emotions

Dogs are more similar to humans than once thought. They suffer from the pangs of jealousy just like us. They do not like to share the affections of their owners. When they see their owners giving attention to another dog it brings out strong emotion in them. It was once believed that dogs were only capable of having primary emotions such as anger and anxiety now research has shown that they have secondary emotions such as  guilt, jealousy, embarrassment and shame. Dogs show a strong dislike to unequal treatment. They do not like to see another dog getting preferential treatment over them. Dogs understand fairness. Dogs have the hormone oxytocin like us humans which has shown to bring out love and jealousy in humans.
Dr Range from the University of Vienna headed a series of experiments with dogs who knew how to give their paw. The dogs gave their paw weather they got a treat or not. All changed when one dog was given a treat for giving the paw and the other not. The dog who did not get the treat would not give the paw eventually and would not look at the researcher. You should treat all your dogs with equal care and attention. Even if you get a cute fluffy new pup make sure you give as much attention to your old dog. Experiments have shown that dogs are more sensitive to fairness rather than equity.





("The surest route to breeding jealousy is to compare. Since jealousy comes from feeling less than another, comparisons only fan the fires." Dorothy Corkville Briggs)