Dog Breeds Explained: Your Complete Guide to Picking the Perfect Dog!

The AAFCO sets the standards for pet food safety and nutrition, and the testing done by the AAFCO is used to determine whether or not specific ingredients are acceptable as pet foods.

But the AAFCO will rate both low and high quality ingredients as being nutritionally adequate, because there is a demand for pet food in all price ranges.

So you need to learn how to read past the AAFCO approval statement on your dog food labels if you want to know what Buster is really consuming.

Reading a Dog Food Label

The label tells us many important facts and figures that may otherwise dissuade or persuade us from purchasing the food.

In short, it is important to read the labels. To actually read that label, and not to just give it a cursory glance, we will have to first know a little something about what can be found there and what it means.

The first thing most of us notice on any label is the product name. The product name may also contain primary ingredient names such as "Beef Dog Chow", or what kind of dog the food is intended for, such as "Puppies, Adult, Lactating", etc.

If, in the product name, an ingredient is listed, say for example that "Beef Dog Chow", that beef must be at least 95% of the total weight if there is no water required for processing, and at least 70% when water is included. So, for dry kibble, 95% of that weight needs to contain beef.

When the title contains "dinner, formula, nuggets," and other similar words, the ingredient named must be at least 25% of the weight. So in a product named Lamb Dinner, 25% of the total weight for the product must be lamb.

But, if only ¼ of that entire product needs to consist of lamb, the lamb may not (and probably is not!) the main ingredient. Ingredients must be listed in a descending order of weight. So, even though the bag says Lamb Dinner, the lamb may be fourth in order.

Example:

* Lamb Dinner Ingredients: Corn, meat and bone meal, wheat, lamb.

In that Lamb Dinner, the main ingredients are really the corn and meat and bone meal. Not desirable for a healthy meal.

On the other hand if the ingredients listed were

* Premium Lamb Dinner Ingredients: Lamb, ground rice, ground yellow corn%u2026

This presents a more desirable meal and one that your dog can actually consume and digest properly.

When it comes to the words "flavored" or "flavor" such as Lamb Flavored Nuggets, no exact percentage of the named ingredient, the lamb, needs to be present, but enough of that ingredient needs to present as to be detectable

Often times, the main ingredients will not be present in the title.

In such a case, these foods often include items such as: ground yellow corn, meat byproducts, tallow, and other items that are not particularly digestible for your pet. The actual named ingredient will probably be down the list and make up only a very small part of the product.

Besides naming an ingredient with the product name, other phrases and adjectives are used.

Premium Dog Food, or X Premium and other like titles are making a justified boast, as these products complied with the nutritional standards for a complete and balanced dog food. This is definitely something to take into consideration when shopping.

Natural Dog Food means that there are no artificial colors, preservatives or flavors.

If a product has given the calorie content on the bag, "Premium Beef Dinner: now with lower calorie content," this is done so voluntarily as a service to the consumer.

Because the calorie content of pet foods does not have to be displayed in their labels, however, here's a formula to help you make sure Buster is not eating too much:

Multiply the carbohydrate by 4.2kcal (kilocalories) per gram, the protein by 5.65, and then the fat by 9.4 kcal per gram.

If you need to convert the kilocalories to kilojoules (another unit of measurement for energy) simply multiply the total by 4.184. Of course, rounding to the nearest ten might be helpful, as long as you keep in mind that it's an approximation erring on the low side.

Where's the Fat?

A good way to find the higher quality dog foods by reading the ingredient list is to search for that first source of fat.

Everything that is listed before that fat source, and including it, is the main part of the food. Everything else is generally used for flavor, preservatives, vitamins, and minerals.

For example:

* Food A:Ground yellow corn, meat meal, chicken fat, ground wheat, chicken byproduct meal, dried beet pulp %u2026

* Food B:
Turkey, chicken, chicken meal, ground brown rice, ground white rice, chicken fat, apples, carrots, sunflower oil%u2026

The importance of finding the source of fat and where it is listed is so you can find ingredients that may or may not be harmful to your pet, such as beet pulp or corn gluten meal.

Learning to read the labels on dog food is the single most important thing you can do if you intend to feed your pet a commercial diet. Buster may be the smartest dog who ever wore a collar, but he can't read, and he needs to rely on you to keep him healthy.

If what's in that can or bag doesn't sound like something you'd want to eat, it's probably not something your dog would eat if there were an alternative. So take the time to learn the language of labels!

Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios, including the internet best selling
"Complete Guide to Your Dog's Nutrition"

Visit the link now for Sharda's Special
Free Dog Food Report.

You want a dog, but you only have so much time and limited money that you can spend on a pet. The expenses don't stop with dog food and routine shots. Maintaining the health of your pet is an ongoing expense.

By doing research on dog breeds, you may find that the puppy you think is irresistible will grow up to be a budget-buster. Poodles are cute and naturally hypoallergenic. However, their curly coat needs regular grooming that probably costs more than your haircut.

The Greyhound's slick coat is easy to maintain, and only needs 30 minutes walk per day. A Fox Terrier is a little dynamo, ready to play, healthy and doesn't need fussy grooming.

Golden Retrievers are playful, energetic and great with children. These highly intelligent dogs bond well with their human families and require little more than daily exercise and lots of love.

The much smaller Shih Tzu is the couch potato of dogs. Happy to lounge or play, the Shih Tzu is ideal for small spaces and for small children. For all dog breeds, dental care to prevent gum disease is basic maintenance as is treatment for heartworms, fleas and vaccinations.

Dog Breeds Explained. How To Wash Your Dog

Even if you've got the most easy-care dog in the world, she'll still need some attention to be paid to her appearance every once in a while. 

So it's worth spending a bit of time learning the best techniques for easy, stress-free grooming.

Why Should I Bother Grooming My Dog?

Not so long ago, the average American's approach to canine grooming was somewhat cavalier. Dogs were seen as something that lived in the yard (usually in a dusty, hard-floored kennel), ate whatever was put in their bowls, and existed as a sometime-playmate for the household's children.

Today, we tend to care for our dogs a lot more, and view them more as members of the household than the Thing in the Yard.

Ever since this rise in the estimation of our beloved pooches became widespread, grooming has been increasingly recognized as an important facet of your dog's regular health-care. 

It ensures that any skin-care
problems are minimized (because grooming distributes the natural skin-oils evenly throughout the coat), and assists you in monitoring your dog's overall
condition - if you groom on a regular basis, you can't help but notice the presence of any unusual lumps or bumps.

This preventative action has saved many a canine life. Our dogs can't tell us where it hurts, but taking just a little bit of time every so often to check them over ourselves can save a lot of grief in the long run.

The trick is getting your dog to tolerate (and even enjoy!) the process %u2026

THE FIRST STEP IN THE GROOMING PROCESS

Something that many owners lack experience in is how to wash their dogs. Dry-grooming (brushing and 'buffing' the coat) seems to present little problem for most people; the rot tends to set in when water is introduced to the mix.

Most dogs have a strong dislike of being bathed, and in many cases will become utterly panic-stricken when the tub comes out.

This article is going to deal with the basics of how to wash your dog in a way that'll keep both of you relaxed and happy.

PREPARING YOUR DOG FOR GROOMING

First of all, the absolute most important thing you can do is to accustom your dog to the grooming process. Now, starting this in puppyhood is the ideal way to handle the situation, but of course not all of us have this luxury; if you've got an adult dog, you'll probably need to move a little slower, but you should still start getting her used to being touched and handled
all over as soon as you can.

As your puppy or dog gets used to the sensation of being rubbed and handled, she'll slowly come to enjoy it. Dogs are social creatures
by instinct, and physical affection and contact is a big part of their lives - it shouldn't take long before she begins to trust you, and allows herself to get some pleasure out of your touch.

All you have to do is start rubbing her slowly all over. Fondle her ears, touch her cheeks and neck, rub her back and belly, pick up her paws and - if she'll let you - give each one a gentle squeeze (treating and praising her whenever she lets you do this, since paw touching is generally a pretty big deal for most dogs). If she has a tail, rub it between your fingers; get her to roll over on her back so you can rub and stroke her belly and hocks.

This might not seem like such a big deal, but it's actually a really important part of the grooming process: the more your dog enjoys it, the less stressful the whole event will be for both of you, and so the more often you're likely to groom her - which increases the health benefits for
her.

HOW TO WASH YOUR DOG

Bathing always comes before dry-grooming, since it makes brushing and trimming a lot easier as well as a lot more effective (there's not much point in brushing a tangled, dirty coat!)

You will need some basic tools: a tub, a non-slip mat, a plastic jug, some warm water, a small sponge, and some canine shampoo (not human
shampoo: the pH is all wrong for dogs, and will give her dry and flaky skin.)

Stand her in the tub, on the non-slip mat. If she's a large or unruly dog, you may want to wash her outside to minimize mess - either that, or you can restrain her by tying one end of a light nylon leash to her collar, and the other end to the faucet.

Pour jugs of warm water all over her until she's good and wet. This breaks down the grease in her fur, and ensures a thorough shampooing.

Mix a little shampoo with another jug of warm water, and rub it thoroughly into your dog's fur. Start off with her back and rub it into a
good lather (but don't be too harsh!)

Now you can move on to her head and face. Be very careful here - dogs' eyes are sensitive too, and if you get any water in her ears,
she'll probably get an ear infection. (You can plug her ears with a small twist of cotton wool to help stop this from happening, if you like.)

Remember to clean under her tail before you wash her off - dip the sponge into the shampoo mixture to do this properly.

Now it's time to rinse: using the jug and some clean, warm, shampoo-free water, carefully tip it all over her and use your fingers to help disperse the lather from her coat. Rinse her off thoroughly at least twice, since any residue that remains will irritate her skin.

Now you'll need to dry her off: if she's got short fur, you can use a towel (an old one will do just fine, although big dogs generally
need two); for dogs with longer fur, give her a gentle toweling-off first, and then use a hair dryer to get rid of the last dampness. Be certain that it's set on low heat, and hold it far away from your dog's fur to prevent burning either the skin or the fur.

KEEP YOURSELF CALM

Remember that most dogs have an inherent dislike of being bathed, which can cause anxiety and even outright panic.

Your dog takes a lot of her emotional cues from you, so make sure you act like a good role model for the occasion. Reassure your dog
frequently, keeping your voice well-modulated, low, and even; keep your movements slow and deliberate; praise her lavishly for good behavior, and give
her a couple of treats throughout the process to make it more enjoyable for her.

The more she enjoys the process, the easier it'll be for you!

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Grooming your dog is just one tiny aspect of maintaining overall health and happiness. For a complete, encyclopedic survival guide to all aspects of dog health, from preventative care to choosing a vet to doggie First Aid (even the canine Heimlich maneuver!), you should take a look at The Ultimate
Guide to Dog Health.

A survival guide for knowledgeable, effective, and
life-saving dog care, this manual keeps your dog's health and wellbeing firmly within your control - which is exactly where you want it to be.

To be the best and most responsible owner you can be, take a look at The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.

You can visit the website by clicking on the link below:

http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dog-health/

A purebred dog can easily cost more than your mortgage payment while adopting a mixed breed from the pound costs fifty dollars or less in many cities.

So which dog do you choose? That decision may be financial - what can you afford - or it may be personal choice if pedigree is important to you.

Regardless of whether you look at the SPCA or with a dog breeder, you need to know what dog breed you want to own. If you plan to enter dog shows or use your dog for breeding, then you must have the full registered paperwork validating your dog's lineage.

Without it, you're out of both of these activities.

You might be surprised to find a wonderful purebred dog at the SPCA. This dog may be lost, abandoned or left after the death of its owner. Still the dog has all of the characteristics of the breed you want - it just lacks the official paperwork.

A reputable dog breeder maintains careful records of the lineage and health of dogs used for breeding so that you have a full family history of the puppy you buy there. With this kind of careful breeding, a purebred dog is healthy and has the best characteristics of that breed.

If you like a certain breed and want a dog to enjoy, then the mixed breed dog (or mutt as it's commonly called) may love you even more for rescuing it and giving it a loving home.

Dog Training Tips. It is time to master your first dog training session "No, YOU Come!"

As far as basic dog training goes, be prepared to exercise patience, self discipline, but always a firm force to achieve the desired result.

This can be especially ambitious when training a dog to come.

Dog training. Part one!

Always try to minimize distractions by arranging to be alone with your dog
and as far from other distractions as possible.

Start by facing the dog, placing it in the sit position. Perform the stay! command, and retreat a step or two. Issue a hand gesture and voice command at the same time.

Praise lavishly for the right behaviour, but never reward partial or incorrect ones. Repeat the actions, this time stepping further away.

If the the dog follows too soon, put it in a sit/stay position and try again. If the dog will not come at all, encourage with a treat or favoured toy.

If your dog is a slow learners or a little stubborn, leash and collar
training can be a valuable supplement. Put the dog in a sit/stay and back up a few feet reeling out the slack leash.

If the dog declines to come, give a gentle but unmistakable jerk whilst
executing the voice command and hand gesture. Continue until your dog
understands what you want him to do.

Dog training. As with any kind of basic training, patience and consistency are crucial.



Most dogs quickly prove themselves eager to please and responsive to praise following the correct training. Just make a point of remembering, they are the ones coming, not you!

Demonstrate alpha status by firmness of voice, confident body position and a willingness to hold off for compliance.

If necessary, demonstrate to your dog that you are the stubborn one!

John Adams. Dog Breed Training Explained


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Dog Breed Training. Should A Dog Knows It Place In Your Pack?

Dog Training Video showcase - Go Straight to the New Free Video Page

I need your help to shine some light on the importance of training a dog. I'm sure you have an opinion on whether we should apply some form of dog training.

One fact about all breeds of dog is this. "There is no such thing as a
bad dog... Just a bad owner"!

I believe it with all the energy I can muster. No dog, whichever breed you choose is born a bad dog. Not today, not yesterday, or not tomorrow.

If you teach a dog its place within your family he/she will accept what you say and do as you ask.

Dogs only misbehave or cause harm or damage when they have received little or no dog training skills.

It matters not if your breed of canine is small, tall, old, young, pedigree or mutt. If you show dominance to any breed they will do as told.

Dog Training Is Based On Command, Action And Reward.

So the simple answer (as far as I am concerned), is to make your dog understand that you are the boss, the pack leader, the Alpha dog. Make them do as you want. Make it simple and positive.

Do not shout, hurt or chastise your dog. Use one word commands whenever
possible. When you want them to act, use short direct commands. (SIT!). When your doggy has completed a task, use long happy commands (goooood booyyy!).

And of course, REWARD is 70% of getting your dog to understand that what he/she just did is a good thing, and so the dog will be more than happy to do it again, and again, and again!

Get this simple training lesson right, and the pleasure you both receive from completing the task will bond your dog to you like glue, which is the true sign of a good dog owner.

Dog Training Fact. Dogs cannot understand English...

Nor can dogs understand French, Spanish, Dutch, Navaho, Chinese or any other human form of language. Don't fight me on this one, just trust and believe me. The fact that your canine follows your command when long and winded is testimony of their skills.

So. Am I right or wrong. Does this simple example of basic dog training work for you?

Do you have a better simple dog training tip to offer us fellow dog owners, or do you think I am talking absolute garbage?

Please let me know by adding your personal view. I'm trying to compile a
percentage of "yes" and "no" to dog training.

Thanking you in advance for your input. It may be a good idea to add this to your favorites folder to keep an eye on the results.

I'm sure some good dog owners will be shocked at the results that we gather between us.

Also Check out my Dog Training Video's. There Awesome!

Dog Training Video showcase -  The best and most concise form of dog training explained the easy way. Go check my new squidoo show case. See this for yourself!

Training A Labrador Retriever Puppy

Training a Labrador retriever puppy can begin almost as soon as you bring him home. Like a child, he will learn best through games.

Play with your puppy often and get down on the floor with him sometimes if you can.

This will create a bond between you that you can build on through training.

At around eight weeks your puppy will be able to start to learn to retrieve objects, bring them back to you and let them go at your feet.

Labrador Retriever Puppy Training Explained

This is the "fetch" game that he will love all of his life.

To teach this exercise you will need to keep him on a 10-foot lead.

Do not use a stick but take a toy that he knows or a soft ball. Make sure it is too big to be swallowed.

Wave the toy around his head to get his attention and then throw it about 5 feet ahead. Do not throw it too far.

If he comes to the end of the lead suddenly, he could be hurt. Use his name, so your command is "Prince, fetch!"

Follow as he runs to the toy and if he picks it up, give him some encouragement - not too much praise, he is not done yet.

If he doesn't take it in his mouth, shake it in front of him until he does.

Then walk back to where you started, encouraging him to follow you.

If he drops the toy be sure to make him pick it up again. When he arrives back, prise the toy out of his mouth with the command "Out!"

Labrador Retrievers Belong To The Gun Dog Breed. Get More Advice By Clicking Here

Labrador Retriever Puppy Praise Time!

Then you can give him lots of praise.Make sure that this remains a fun game and not a trial for him.

He will slowly come to understand what you want and how to get the most praise from you.

When he becomes good at retrieving without you having to move out towards the toy, start to throw in different directions.

Labrador retrievers are great swimmers but they do need to learn to swim and develop strength in the swimming muscles.

Do not throw or force your Labrador Retriever Puppy puppy into the water.

A puppy of around three months old can be encouraged to go into a pond or lake and will soon realize what to do.

Wading in with him will help him get started, as will seeing other dogs playing in the water.

If you live near the ocean he will come to love swimming in the sea but for a young puppy big waves can be dangerous.

Choose a sheltered bay and have him play in shallow water at first. Do not throw objects out into deep water. Distances can be deceptive and you may throw it so far that he cannot swim back.

If the Labrador Retriever Puppy becomes exhausted, he will drown.

It can also be dangerous to let a puppy swim in your pool.

If he goes in alone when you are not watching he could swim until he is tired and then be unable to climb out.

So when you are training a labrador retriever puppy to swim, be sure to only let him go in places where he can easily get out of the water when he is ready.

Get The Best Skilled Labrador Retriever Training Advice Click Here!

Dog Food Secrets - Dangerous Foods

Many people are unaware that some of the foods that we eat on regular basis can be deadly to your dog.

A piece of chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death.

Even a small piece of chocolate is dangerous.
Anything containing caffeine can have a similar effect and be as dangerous as chocolate, and that includes coffee grounds, tea, and tea bags.

Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure and even a single serving of raisins can kill your dog.
Excessive salt intake can also cause kidney problems.

Onions can cause anemia by destroying red blood cells while tomatoes can cause tremors and heart
arrhythmias.

Dog Food Secrets

Tomato plants are particularly toxic to dogs.

Avocados are also highly toxic and can cause breathing difficulty and fluid accumulation around the abdomen chest and heart.

When giving your dog bones ensure that they are raw as cooked bones can splinter and damage their internal organs.

Excessive fat can cause pancreatitis, so it is not wise to feed your dog a diet of fatty foods.

Fried foods also fall into this category and are not good to retain maximum health in your dog.

More Dog Food Secrets

Certain nuts, such as Macadamia nuts and walnuts can cause weakness and muscle tremors.

Peanut butter however is generally okay provided you use the salt and sugar free peanut butter as sugar can encourage cancer growth.

The core and pits of fruits such as Apple's cherries and peaches contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs and can kill them within 24-hours without warning.

If in doubt, always refrain from feeding your dog foods that we are eating assuming that they will be okay.

What is safe for humans can kill your dog within hours.

Dog Food Is KILLING Your Dog!!

Absolute fact. Commercial Dog Food Is Responsible For Killing Domesticated Dogs - And You Have No Idea This Is Happening.

Watch This Honest "Compelling" Video About The Dangers Of Dog Food.

Please Be Warned. This Video May Shock You


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Dog training is all about building relationships

Here's Today's Joke: How do you stop a dog smelling?
Cover its nose.

Dog training is all about building relationships.

Good dog training is all about building positive relationships where the dog has respect for it's owner and also where the dog realizes that the owner is the master and leader of the pack.

If the owner assumes the position of the leader of the pack and the dog knows and respects that position then it will feel more secure and be a happier pet.

Under no circumstances should the dog be fearful of it's master and that is why most current methods of dog training focus on the positive aspects of the dogs actions and reward it for the good actions that it takes rather than punishing it for anything that it does wrong.

A well trained dog that respects it's master will always want to please, and that leads to a better-behaved dog both at home and when socializing with other dogs and people.

These positive training techniques are also great at retraining dogs that have consistently done something wrong, as they will quickly learn that the rewards for good actions are far greater than the attention they are seeking from their negative actions.

Even older dogs can be trained quite well by using these methods so a dog is certainly never too old to learn new tricks.

Click Here For Dog Training Explained
The Best Dog Training Advice For The 5th Year Running Click Here!

EXTERNAL PARASITES AND THEIR TREATMENTS

WHAT IS A PARASITE?

External parasites are pretty common among dogs. A parasite is an organism that lives off the resources your dog has to offer: namely, fresh blood (which most parasites drink) and a warm place to stay (in and on the skin and fur).

What are the common parasites that might affect my dog?

There are a wide range of parasites that affect dogs:

- Fleas
- Ticks
- Mites
- Lice

All of these parasites cause adverse reactions in your dog: typically, itching and inflamed skin, a dull coat, and bald spots.

In advanced cases, your dog may develop anemia (blood loss) and become generally debilitated (particularly if he or she is very young, very old, or suffering from another condition).

In addition to this, many parasites convey secondary and internal parasites to your dog.

For example, fleas usually carry the common tapeworm (which causes constipation and flatulence), and ticks can cause a variety of much more serious problems like Lyme's disease and paralysis.

In today's article, we're going to be looking at fleas: what they are, how to tell if your dog's affected, and how to get rid of them.

A CLOSER LOOK AT FLEAS

Fleas are without question the number-one most common external parasite affecting dogs. They're small, jumping insects that are light brown in color, although humans generally can't see them - they move much too quickly for that!

Fleas live off your dog's blood. The life cycle of a flea moves very rapidly from stage one (egg) to stage four (adult flea), which means they're capable of multiplying with staggering rapidity.

An adult flea lays hundreds of eggs per day. Each egg will then become an adult flea, which lay hundreds more eggs of its own. One flea becomes a major problem very quickly!

HOW TO TELL IF YOUR DOG HAS FLEAS

The symptoms of a flea infestation are unmistakable.
A dog with a flea infestation will scratch almost constantly, often at areas that fleas seem to favor: the ears, the base of the tail, the belly, and the stifle (the webbing of soft skin between the thigh and the abdomen).

It's actually the saliva of the flea that causes the irritation, not the bite itself, and some dogs have a genuine allergy to this saliva (as opposed to a standard irritation). Dogs with allergies suffer much more significant negative reactions to a flea infestation, and usually develop "hot spots".

These hot spots are areas of sore, inflamed, flaking, bleeding, and infected skin, caused by the flea saliva and your dog's own reaction to it. Bald patches will sometimes develop too, from repeated scratching and ongoing inflammation.

If you think your dog has fleas, you can confirm your suspicions by taking a closer look at his skin: you probably won't be able to see the fleas themselves, but you should be able to see what looks like ground pepper (a thin sprinkling of fine black grains) on his skin. This is flea dirt (poop).

If you groom him with a flea comb (which is like a fine-tooth comb), try wiping it on a paper towel: if red blotches show up on the towel, you know that your dog has fleas (on a white background like a paper towel, flea poop shows up red: since fleas subsist on blood, their poop is colored accordingly).

TREATMENT FOR FLEAS

Because fleas only spend a small amount of time actually on your dog, and the rest of their time leaping through your house laying eggs and feeding on human blood, it's not enough to just treat the dog: you also have to target his bedding, the entire house, all human bedding, and the yard (yes, fleas lay eggs all through the yard, too.

Even if it's cold outside, you're not necessarily off the hook: cold weather doesn't kill flea eggs, it just puts them into a state of hibernation. The eggs will hatch as soon as it gets warm enough outside.)

You'll need a broad-spectrum treatment which kills not only the adult fleas (which are the ones that bite), but also any developing fleas, and the eggs.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST (AND THE EASIEST!)

Prevention is definitely the best cure - you should keep your dog's flea treatments up to date with the use of a calendar, and use a treatment that's prescribed by the vet.

Off-the-shelf treatments aren't recommended, since different dogs require different strengths depending on their size, age, and activity levels.

A particular benefit of prescribed flea treatment is that most are also designed to prevent other parasites (like mites, ticks, and heartworm) from affecting your dog.

FOR AN EXISTING PARASITE INFESTATION

If your dog already has fleas, you have two options:

- You can 'bomb' the house and yard with a flea-pesticide. These come as foggers (which coat each room, and the yard, in a fine mist of pesticide) and sprays (which are applied manually to each surface throughout the house and yard), and although they're very effective in killing fleas and eggs, there's one major drawback: they're highly toxic to humans, dogs, and the environment.

Depending on your priorities, this is probably the quickest solution to a flea problem (and will effectively wipe out the eggs, too) but if you have anyone in the house with allergies or a health condition - including pets! - you might want to think again.

- A more health-friendly alternative is to target the dog with a topical anti-flea solution prescribed by the vet (like Advantage or Revolution), and to rigorously clean the house on a regular basis until the flea problem has gone.

This means vacuuming each room thoroughly each day - put a flea collar in with the vacuum bag to kill any fleas that get sucked up - and wash all human and dog bedding in hot water as often as you can (once every day or every two days is recommended).

You'll be able to tell when the problem's gone because your dog won't be scratching, and his coat will be clear of flea dirt when you inspect it.

WHAT NOT TO DO ABOUT FLEAS

- Don't use multiple products on your dog - it'll make him sick, since you'll be overloading his system with toxins.

- Don't forget to treat all the animals in the house at the same time: cat and dog fleas are interchangeable, and if one animal has fleas, they all will have them, even if some are not displaying the symptoms.

- Flea collars are no longer recommended as a safe option for flea prevention, since the collars are highly toxic - vets have realized that placing a toxic material directly against your pet's skin for long periods of time (flea collars have to be worn 24/7 to be effective) is detrimental to your dog's health.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PARASITES AND THEIR TREATMENT...

Fleas are just one of the many, many types of parasites that affect your dog. To find out more about the complete prevention and treatment of all types of parasites (external and internal), as well as a comprehensive guide to all aspects of dog health, take a look at The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.

This book is an invaluable resource for the responsible dog owner, and will help you to ensure that your dog remains happy and healthy - just the way you want him to be!

You can check out the book by clicking on the link below:

Ultimate Guide to Dog Health

HOW TO CHOOSE A VET

Your vet is a pretty significant figure in your dog's life - and thus, in yours.

Hopefully, you'll only ever need him or her for routine checkups and preventative procedures; but just in case, it's worth taking the time to develop a good relationship with a suitable vet, before you need their services.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR A VET

Sure, you could just pick a vet at random from the Yellow Pages or from an Internet search; but having the right vet is crucial to your dog's health and happiness (and, presumably, this plays at least some part in your own happiness and peace of mind as an owner, right?)

Think about it this way:

If you were trying to choose a doctor for yourself, would you be happy to just select one at random from an impersonal list?

Probably not. You'd want somebody who comes highly recommended - somebody you feel like you can trust.
Your vet isn't just your dog's doctor; he or she is also the dentist, manicurist, psychologist, and - hopefully! - a friend.

When you roll all these things up into one, you can see why it's necessary to spend some time confirming that you've made the right choice.

The best place to start looking for a vet is by word of mouth. If you have any friends or relatives who take good care of their dogs, then that's a great place to start:

Ask them who they'd recommend, and why. This last one is particularly important, because everyone has different priorities: for example, perhaps they like their own vet because he/she is a specialist in their own particular breed;

Or they don't charge very much; or the clinic is only five minutes' drive %u2026 their priorities are not necessarily yours, so it's a good idea to make sure that your values coincide with the person giving the recommendations.

Another great place to find a vet is through local training clubs (Schutzhund, agility, herding classes, police K-9 academies, etc.)

These organizations are almost guaranteed to place a great deal of importance on high-quality veterinary care, because the health and well-being of their dogs is such a priority.

Once you've got a list of vets that you're interested in pursuing further, all you have to do is call up the clinic and explain that you're looking to find a regular vet for your dog(s): can you come in for a quick chat, introduce your dog, and have a look at the premises?

HAVE A LOOK BEFORE YOU NEED TO

Before you decide to align yourself and your dog with a particular clinic, test the waters first. Ideally, you want a chance to talk to the vet, and discuss his or her philosophies and approach to pet care.

This is really important. If your dog ever really needs vet-care (if there's an emergency, or if she needs an urgent short-term appointment), you want to be sure that you've made the best possible choice as far as her health and comfort levels are concerned.

Neither of you should be subjected to any unnecessary extra stress at a time like that - and you can avoid a lot of grief by spending a bit of time in preparation.

THINGS TO ASK THE VET

While you're at the clinic, you'll want to be assessing your potential vet's overall attitude and approach to health care and animals; and you'll also probably want answers to some specific questions.

Here's a list of useful questions to help you on your way:

- How many vets are there on staff? If you need to make an urgent appointment, you don't want to be waiting around while precious minutes tick past.

Ideally, there'll be at least two qualified veterinarians on hand (not just technicians or assistants.)

- What kind of testing and analysis capabilities does the clinic have If they have to send away to a lab for this kind of stuff, it means that the results are going to be delayed.

If your dog is very sick, time is an important factor: it's best if the clinic has at least blood-analysis testing on hand.

- What after-hours services are available? A lot of clinics close the doors in the evenings and on weekends, which means that if there's an emergency, you'll have to go somewhere else - and subject your dog (and yourself) to an unfamiliar vet.

(If you don't mind this, then that's fine; but be aware that in a high-stress situation when emotions are running high, it's reassuring for your dog and yourself to deal with someone familiar.)

- What's their price range? How are payments made? Is there a facility for payment plans in case of unexpected vet bills? The payment-plan option is particularly important.

Even with pet insurance, vet bills can sometimes be astronomical - and not everyone has the resources to deal with large vet bills straight away. Ask the clinic how they cater for situations like that.

- How up-to-date is the staff with advances in the industry?

Do the vet, the technicians, and the assistants attend seminars and workshops regularly? The field of medical care is always moving forward - responsible vets make the effort to keep up with the times, and see that their staff do, too.

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE

When you choose a vet, you're balancing convenience and quality. There's no right or wrong vet for you and your dog - which is partly why making the choice can be so confusing.

There are lots of vets to choose from, and they're all different!

Even though it's tempting to go for the one right around the corner with the rock-bottom prices, it really is worthwhile taking the time to shop around.

Your dog is utterly dependent on you for her healthcare - and if you take her seriously as a companion and member of the family, you'll want to do the best thing by her.

A good vet knows how to take care of you as well as your dog.

The relationship that you have with your vet will hopefully be one that's based around a healthy mutual respect and positive synergy - there should be very little scope for misunderstanding. When the two of you see eye to eye, it makes caring for your dog that much easier.

FURTHER READING

For a complete survival guide on stress-free dog care, including detailed information on when your dog needs to see the vet, how to respond to pet emergencies, dog First Aid, and all common health problems, check out The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health.

It's a complete handbook on dog health care, and teaches you how to take a proactive and prepared approach to knowledgeable dog ownership.

You can visit The Ultimate Guide to Dog Health by clicking on the link below:

Ultimate Guide to Dog Health