Is My Pet Over Vaccinated?

How many vaccinations do you get every year???  Ever wonder why we vaccinate our pets so often?  Well the answer may surprise you!  There is a lot of profit in them and while not every vet is over vaccinating for profit, it is something to think about.  Like many of you out there, I grew up taking our pets to the vet every year and getting those yearly vaccinations and we always trusted the vet blindly that our animals must need them.  Over the last several years, more & more canine professionals and caring owners have been asking, are we over vaccinating?  Most of the time the answer is YES!!!  Next time you get that pesky “reminder” to bring your beloved pet in for more vaccinations, take a moment to ask why.  Instead ask your vet about testing your pet’s blood for antibodies to diseases we are vaccinating against and find out if it’s even necessary. 

My Dog Eats Poop!

For those of you out there with this annoying problem, there is help!!  As crazy and disgusting as it sounds, poop tastes good to some dogs.  One way you can stop your dog from eating poop is to change their diet.  No, you don’t have to buy new food, but adding pure pumpkin or pineapple to your dog’s diet can make the poop taste bad.  Just add a small amount of either to their normal diet.  If that doesn’t work, the last resort is to go out to the yard, find those “heaping piles” and pour habanero sauce on them.  It won’t hurt your dog, but it will make them want to avoid that special treat in the future.   

What Am I Feeding My Dog?

Have you ever looked at the ingredients on the label?  You might want to start!  Most of the value brands out there have a primary ingredient of corn…when was the last time you saw a dog in it’s natural environment eating corn???  Here’s the reality, corn is a filler just like wheat, soy and by-products.  Have you ever wondered what a by-product is???  I can guarantee you it’s not what you want to feed your dog.  Here’s another thing to think about, corn is a carbohydrate and high carb diets create excess energy…where is that energy being released?  Do you walk your dog 2 hours a day?  Most of us will say no so how can they work off all that excess energy?  Well, they can’t.  Behavior problems can be linked to a poor diet so please do your research and find out what is nutritional for your dog.  Don’t buy dog food just because the commercial says “it’s healthy”. 

My Dog Has Allergies, How Can I Help?

Many dog suffers from allergies which can be very difficult to assess and even overcome.  Give your dog a bath using a shampoo that has oatmeal in it (do not bathe your dog more than once a week, once a month is preferable).  One of the best things you can do for your dog is to switch them to a fish based diet. 

Should I Insist On A CERTIFIED Dog Trainer?

Well the first question you should ask yourself is, who says they’re certified???  There is no federal or state mandated certification so who exactly is monitoring these organizations that certify trainers?   This is not to say that a certified dog trainer is not a good option, but a trainer’s experience is really what you want to ask and what their methods are.  Find out if they use shock collars, positive reinforcement or treat/clicker training and decide what is the most comfortable form of training for you.  After all, at the end of the day you will be doing the work…the trainer just shows you what to do :)

Should I Expect A Guarantee From The Trainer?

Beware of the word “guarantee” as in reality there is no way for a trainer to deliver on that promise.  A properly trained dog is one who is trained by the person or people they live with.  An effective dog trainer will evaluate your current situation, point out things you, the owner, need to change and offer techniques on how to correct unwanted behavior (or to teach basic commands). 

Can I Send My Dog Away To Be Trained?

BEWARE!!!  Please do your research before you even think about taking your dog to an on-site training program.  I’m talking about a center where you drop off your dog for say, 3 weeks and when they come back they’re “trained”.  The reality of many of these programs is shock collars.  They zap electricity into your dog’s neck over & over until the dog behaves!  Shock collars are the “easy way out” in pet dog training.  It is often effective, but it comes with a hefty price that they won’t tell you.  Dogs are far more likely to exhibit behaviors such as fear and/or aggression if trained via shock collars.  Their spirits are being broken and they are forced to do behaviors…not good.  The only way to properly train your dog is for YOU to do the work and make your dog want to do things for you.  **Not all of these facilities are bad, but you should do your homework before sending your dog to one.