At last and eventually I have the honor of reading about a Vet who has brought to light in a local newspaper the perils of throwing a stick for your dog. Did you know that dogs suffer more injuries from chasing and catching sticks as they do from accidents on our great British roads.

I knew that because my father was a Vet and as a child I used to see the injuries arrive at the practice door. Some of them were horrific, dog with sticks that had cut their tonsils or where the part of a stick had gone down their throat. The dog is very vulnerable around the face where there are many nerves and blood vessels.If these are perforated it can cause excessive bleeding

My father used to advise them to throw rubber toys or a suitably sized hard rubber ball and with all the dog toys around now there is really no excuse. Think of it this way if you feel that the toys cost too much. What is cheaper ..the toy or the Vets Bill? Mind you when you use a rubber ball of a suitable size make sure it is that really hard rubber and not the soft type. Any dog with the right amount of chewing can take apart a soft rubber ball and get pieces lodged in the esophagus and intestines.

Many a dog that has gone off his food and has been constipated on X ray has been found to have a piece of rubber firmly stuck in his gullet. Life threatening to say the least if he is not taken to the vet in time and at the end of the day highly expensive to get removed! Its much cheaper to get the correct toy in the first place.

So is throwing a stick for a dog really as dangerous as I say? Well let me enlighten you here to just a few typical injuries. Dog left paralyzed after being stabbed in the back of the throat by a stick that then entered the spinal cord. Dogs who suffer a slow death as infection spreads from tiny fragments of wood left lodged in a wound. Penetration of the tongue and into the windpipe by a dog running for a stick that had lodged into the ground

Still not convinced?

With today's credit crunch in full swing you might like to consider the cost. Some Vets have seen costs in the thousands in treatment fees and in the end the poor dog has actually died. So next time you take your beloved pouch to the park for a walk and he is eager for his chase and return, introduce him to his nice new hard rubber ball, not only safe but bounces for miles!!

Posted under Dogs

Whoever said that dog training is easy must be living on another planet because the truth is that it can at times be very hard, and what dog owner has not met another owner who has been on the brink of giving up the effort. Yes, your dog want to please you, but, have you made it clear to them just what you want?

One of the best dog training aids that you can employ is to emphasize rewarding your dog for what he or she does right rather than simply punishing your dog when he or she does something wrong. Dogs crave attention and approval from their owners and will do just about anything to get it. If you want your dog to learn potty training, reward her when she goes in the right spot in the yard just as much as you scold her for going anywhere else. Many people neglect to include this positive reinforcement as part of their dog training aids arsenal, but that approval and affection can go a long way toward getting your dog to do what you want her to do!

Now there are some training aids on the market which you can buy, some quite frankly being much better than others. Expert dog trainers are now turning away from choke collars and chains saying that they are quite ineffective for the task, as well as being harmful. What is still held in high esteem however is a good strong collar and lead, one which you can give a gentle tug to and get your dogs attention without causing any discomfort. A dog needs to be reminded of what they can and cannot do, and a good lead will help with this. Some people like to use a muzzle in order to try and control barking both when out, and when at home, but we shopuld never forget that barking is something that comes naturally to a dog.

Another weapon in your arsenal of dog traing aids is the good old fashioned grooming brush. Most dogs just love the time when they are groomed, and they also love having a toy to play with. Give them a chewy top and you will keep them happy for hours, and they won't be looking to chew the furniture or get up to mischief. Another basic aid is you, yes, your playing with your dog is not only great fun for both of you, but it will make sure that he or she has little energy left to get into trouble. It does not cost anything to play, so make sure you do.

A final word to say about bathing your dog. They can be trained from an early age to enjoy this providing you use the right equipment. The shampoo that you use needs to be dog shampoo, not human shampoo, and a conditioner is helpful in order to making the combing activity easier later. Have a good size towel handy, and if necessary a leash in order to restrain them. You can make this an enjoyable activity for both of you providing as I said earlier, you start at an early age.

Posted under Dogs