Punishing a Puppy

by David the Dogman

I think the message I have is that we cannot ever expect a puppy to think human…therefore it is quite reasonable for us to think like a dog. A very good book on the market is called Think Dog…by the late John Fisher, well worth getting.

When puppies annoy the bitch she will use eye contact and facial expression first. The youngster will carry on the unwanted behaviour then the mother will give out a low growl which will increase in volume with a show of teeth. If this is not enough to produce the desired result the bitch will to all intense and purposes fly in at the youngster. This is not a full blown attack, far from it, it is dress rehearsal for the pup, conditioning him for life later on. No contact is made although from the resulting noise mainly from the puppy, one could be excused for thinking that the litter had been reduced to one pup.

It is interesting to note that the bitch will immediately console the puppy and start to lick it all over…and this behaviour is observed every time the youngster steps out of line.

From this we can learn that the puppy has been taught by the bitch the correction and reward. Correction…Growl (our voice NO)…the moment the behaviour stops the lick (we simply stroke the pups head). Now what we are doing is copying the mother. This way the puppy is never fearful of us.

In my humble it is cruel to punish a dog for anything after the act. In other words if you come home and find a mess, destruction etc. then ignore this. The puppy or indeed the dog will never understand he has done wrong. To come home and shout will make any dog put his tail between his legs and cower or shy away. Many owners will say “You see…he knows he has done wrong”. He does not know anything other than the human has arrived back at the den and is aggressive.
Commitment, Firmness, but kindness.

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Do you have any problems with your pet? Then why not send your problem to DAVID THE DOGMAN. David is a Canine Behaviourist who works and lives in Marbella, Spain. Tel/Fax (00345) 2883388. His web site is located at: http://www.thedogman.net. David has his own radio and TV shows, and writes for many newspapers and magazines. David has been working with dogs for many years and started his career in Israel, working on the Border Police. He has been involved in all forms of training, including air sea rescue, air scent work, and has trained dogs for finding drugs. David has devoted the past 10 years to studying behaviour and the very passive approach. He does not use choke chains, check chains, or any form of aggression.

David The Dogman is available for private consultations in your home, for further details telephone; Tel; (95) 2883388

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Pet Health Issues

Your pet’s health issues are one of the most important things you need to know about your furry, feathered, or scaled animal friends. A healthy pet is a happy pet, and you should be able to recognize some of the signs of trouble brewing in the health of your pet. It is for the sake of your pet, as well as for the sake of your family and any other animals that live in your household.

If you have a pet you must be aware of everything about that animal. Everything. If your pet lives, like most pets, inside our houses and closely around us and our children (and other pets as well) poor health trouble for one pet could spell trouble for the entire household. Take, for instance, the problem of fleas. If one of your nonhuman family members has fleas it becomes a plague upon the household. It is one of those contagious pet health issues that can make everyone suffer. The first sign of fleas is, of course, scratching, particularly around the ears and rubbing the eyes. This is because fleas need water just like every other living thing, and where is the water on an animal’s body the easiest to access?

That being said, scratching incessantly can also mean that your furry, feathered, or scaled friend has a skin problem, such as an allergy, that can make its life - as well as yours - terribly uncomfortable. If there are no signs of fleas, try to analyze anything in the pet’s environment that has changed just before the scratching started. It may be something as simple as washing the bedding in a different soap. If nothing comes readily to mind, please take your pet to the veterinarian to make sure that the itching is not contagious so that you can get some relief for the poor, scratching animal!

Another thing that may not be so obvious is a sudden change in your pet’s behavior. Has your otherwise docile pet become suddenly very aggressive toward others? This could be a sign of a developing health problem, such as the onset of an illness or perhaps the poisoning of your pet by a commercial dog food. Since this is becoming more of a problem these days, it should be checked by your veterinarian before it gets any worse. There are new studies suggesting that the pet food we serve our pets can be hazardous to their health due to the large quantities of chemical that are being added to the base ingredient, either by design or by accident when using salvaged parts of other animals that already have the chemicals in their system.

Your first line of defense in keeping your pet healthy is you. You need to know your animal, their habits, and their health to the extent that you know your children’s. If you choose to have an animal be a part of your family you must remember that the animal can be a detriment to the health of the humans in the household if it becomes ill. Be fair to you family. Be fair to your pets. It was not their choice to be there, so it is your responsibility to take care of them. Stay in contact with the veterinarian, make sure your pet has all their shots, and give them all the love and attention you can. Be proactive, not reactive. Try not to have to worry about your pet’s health issues. You will all be healthier and happier for it!

Having always had pets of one sort or another it is very important to me to know everyone is taking good care of their own pets and knowing any pet health issues prevelant today. We can start with what goes into our pets with help from http://pethealthreviews.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rhonda_Cossey

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