The Decision to Put Your Pup to Sleep

The Decision to Put Your Pup to Sleep
by John Grimes

Dogs are absolutely wonderful pets. As the years pass, they become an integral part of your family. Unfortunately, the life span of a pup is not as long as ours which leads to some difficult decisions.

The Decision to Put Your Pup to Sleep

All dog breeds are unique, but the one constant is that they do not live as long as we do. As your pup ages, you will inevitably be faced with some very difficult decisions. One of the hardest is putting your pup down. The decision to put your pup down often comes at a point when you cannot help but recognize the pup is in a lot of pain or has severely restricted movement or both. In making the decision, it sometimes helps to know what happens.

Euthanasia is the practice of terminating life in a painless manner. While this is a highly controversial topic when it comes to severely ill humans, it is less so with pups. Society has come to accept that animals in severe pain should be mercifully released from it. The process can be undertaken in different ways, but the most common is through an injection. Your pup is given a shot of barbiturate that eliminates pain. The quantity is sufficient that your pup will actually overdose with the heart, lungs ceasing to function, but only after unconsciousness occurs. In short, it is a merciful, painless death, but that does not make it easy for you.

There is an old adage that if you really love something, you will let it go. This is pretty much the decision you will face with your pet. Inevitably, you will have to recognize that your pup has reached a point where it is in constant distress. While you probably can't bear to think of doing the act, you have to determine if you are being selfish by not doing so. Nobody, pet or human, wants to live in constant pain. It is misery defined. While you love your pet dearly, you have to determine what is best for it.

One of the surefire ways to deal with this issue is to ask your vet. He or she can give you options on any treatment for your pup and pain management issues. Vets are also trained to be subtle, but frank, about when it is time to let your dog go. From exams, they can recognize when a pet is having a very hard time and tell you as much.

Once you make the decision, you need to prepare yourself for it. It is going to be very hard, just like losing a family member. Don't feel guilty afterwards. You have done the right thing in eliminating the misery your loved one was suffering. It will also help to commiserate with friends with pets. Whatever you do, don't isolate yourself.

At the end of the day, our dogs represent an integral part of our lives. That being said, there comes a time when you must recognize that your pup is miserable and take the step you dread, but know is right.

About the Author:John Grimes is with All Terrain - makers of natural pet products for the outdoors.

How To Decide On A Dog Training Collar

How To Decide On A Dog Training Collar
by Paul P. Duxbury

Many dog owners find that their efforts toward training their pet are greatly aided by the use of a training collar. There are many types of collars available and each employs a different mechanism meant to guide your pet, restrain him or discourage bad or disobedient behavior. Some training collars can harm a dog if they are not used appropriately or are the wrong size; so, you should research training collars thoroughly before choosing one and consult with a training expert if you are unfamiliar with how to use a chosen collar. Some common dog training collars are: the prong collar, the Halti, the Gentle Leader, the choke collar and the electronic collar.

Prong Collar

The prong collar looks a lot more painful to the dog than it actually is. This collar is made up of metal prongs that have been linked together. When you apply a pulling pressure to the collar (via the leash), it gives the dog a little pinch that is meant to duplicate the effect of a mother dog's teeth when she grabs here pup by the scruff of the neck. The prong collar is a safe and effective training tool as long as the fit is correct and the collar is used appropriately. The prong collar should not be used if your dog is one to consistently yank at his leash.

The prong collar should fit snugly against the dog's neck. As most prong collars can be adjusted by simply adding or subtracting prongs, the correct fit should be easy to achieve. A properly fitted collar should leave approximately half of a finger space in between your dog'ss neck and the prong tip. A collar that is any looser than that will not do its job and will needlessly chafe the dog's skin.

Halti and Gentle Leader

Both the Halti and Gentle Leader head halter devices look a lot like the harnesses that are used to control horses. While the prong collar is designed to condition behavior and movement, the head halter is designed to restrict or restrain your dog's movements. The thought behind the halter's design is that if you can control the head, the body will follow its movement. When you pull on the attached leash the device closes the dog's mouth and restrains his head. These types of collars are great for dogs that lunge, bite or display other aggressive behaviors.

There are drawbacks, however, to using a head halter device. Most dogs will not take very easily to any device that positions a strap over its nose. You may have to struggle with your dog many, many times before he will submit to wearing it. Another drawback is that pulling at your dog's head makes it a lot more likely that you will inadvertently injure the dog's neck or back. To avoid injury, you should always make sure you are restraining your dog in the correct manner.

Choke Collar

The choke collar is one of those dog training devices that is often surrounded by controversy. Proponents of the choke collar point to its humane effectiveness, while critics say that the collar is more torture device than training tool. The truth is that what the collar becomes is largely dependent upon who is using it.

A properly fitted choke collar works by tightening around the dog's throat when the trainer pulls on the leash and then releasing pressure when the trainer does. If the collar is not put on correctly, however, the pressure will remain and the dog could truly choke to death. These collars are not meant for dogs that consistently pull at their leash or for inexperienced trainers. As is the case with head halters, the choke collar has the potential to cause injury to the dog's neck.

Electronic Collar

Just mention the option of an electronic dog collar and many dog owners (even some people with no pets at all) will look at you as if you have suggested training your dog with a stun gun. The reality is that electronic collars can be a very humane way to train a dog. As with any other training device, however, whether or not it is used for purposes of cruelty is totally dependent upon the intentions and experience of the trainer.

The electronic collar works by allowing the trainer to give the dog small, electric shocks (via remote control) in order to modify its behavior. The intensity of the shock is left to the trainer. In general, the setting should be strong enough to make the dog's ears twitch. If the dog howls or yelps when the shock is delivered, then the setting is too high. Again, the electronic collar should only be used by experienced trainers.


About the Author:
Paul Duxbury writes extensively on dog and pet care at http://www.pet-care-centre.com and http://www.my-dog.co.uk

Cost To Owning A Puppy Or Dog

Puppies - The First Year Veterinary Care/Laboratory Tests - $100 to $200. Immunizations - $50 to $100.
Internal/External Parasite Treatment and Control - $100 to $150.
Spay/Neuter - $40 to $200. The cost often depends on the dog's size and age.
Food - $150 to $250Miscellaneous (collars, leads, obedience training) - $200 to $225.
Total: $640 to $1,125

Dogs - Annual Costs Veterinary Care/Laboratory - $50 to $125
Immunizations - $40 to $75
Internal/External Parasite Preventatives - $100 to $150
Food - $150 to $300
Miscellaneous - $100 to $125
Total: $440 to $775

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Caring For A Dog: 5 Steps To Potty Training Success

Caring For A Dog: 5 Steps To Potty Training Success
by Michael Lewis

Potty training a dog is one of the most frustrating things you will have to do. Take heart in the fact that once your dog gets the potty training, you won't have to teach it again. In many ways, potty training can be rewarding too. Not only can you help your pets to stop making messes on your favorite carpeting, but you can develop a strong relationship of trust and bonding with them to.

Here are 5 steps to make potty training successful in your home.

1.Use a crate. Crate training is very effective. A crate is used to allow your pet to have a place to sleep and teaches them to control their bladder. They won't soil their bedding. Then, when it is time to get up and go out, you can easily do just that. The dog learns from the start that you control potty time.

2.After meals, give your pet 15 minutes and then take them out. Food is a trigger not only to eat but also to go. When it comes to potty training success, allow your pet to get outside when the urge is approaching. What's more is that you shouldn't leave food out. Put it down for them at the designated time and allow them to eat for 15 minutes to 30 minutes and remove the bowl. Soon he will learn and that again allows you to control potty time.

3.Pick a potty spot. Select the area of your yard that you want your pet to go in. Take them to that spot every time to go. This will help your puppy to learn that when he needs to go, he needs to come here. What's more is that the smell of urine is yet another trigger to your pet to go.

4.Don't reward them with food. Remember that rewards need to be emotional, and therefore it is more successful to give them a reward of a patting and rub down then it is for you to hand them a treat. Also, treats are food which triggers potty time again!

5.Reward success, but don't punish accidents. Although you will be angry and you will want to punish your pet, your pet does not see this as a bad thing. He sees it as attention. He also can become aggressive as well as not like to be around you. Dogs don't relate their potty mistake to the punishment you are given them. Instead, ignore them when they do something wrong. Don't speak to them or interact with them.

Caring for your dog is hard work, but when it comes to potty training, success can and will happen when you install these five tips into your program.


About the Author:
Michael Lewis is an editor at ClearlyPets.com where you can find more articles about dog training.