Free Pet Care Advice, Tips and Information

It is desirable to decide well in time where the pregnant bitch will deliver her pups. Choose a quite place so that she is not disturbed, and get her used to sleeping there only during the last one or two weeks of pregnancy. Induce and accustom the female to go to her regular bedding there, which can be replaced by newspapers afterwards.
A wooden box of an appropriate size, with sides about 25 cm high, should be prepared in which the mother can conveniently stretch out at full length on her side, with room for whelping and feeding her pups. The sides will protect the pups from rolling out. A shelf or railing, projecting sufficiently from the insides of all three walls, will prevent the mother from rolling over on to the pups and crushing them between her body and sides of the box, especially during the first few weeks. The shelf is nothing but a strip of wood projecting out about 8 cm above the floor of the box and 8 cm out from the sides. This may be modified according to the expected size of the pups. The fourth side of the box should have hinges which open, providing an entrance for the mother and a convenient opening for cleaning the box.
A thick layer of newspapers is the ideal bedding material in the box during whelping. One or two layers of the newspaper could be removed when soiled, with the least disturbance to the mother. The room where the whelping box is kept should be neither too cold nor too warm. There should be no direct draught, as changes in temperature can be disastrous for the pups. Significant puppy losses are attributable to chilling. For long-haired breeds, it will be helpful if the mother’s hair is trimmed from under the tail and around the milk glands to avoid soiling.

The ears of dogs should be examined daily as an essential part of grooming. Long droopy-eared breeds like spaniels and poodles are much more susceptible to ear problems than erect-eared breeds. This may be because the droopy ear flap interferes with ventilation. The ears of such dogs need special attention. Their ears may be cleaned to remove accumulation of wax, by using a little cotton swab dipped in liquid paraffin. It is not free from risk for an inexperienced person to use just anything to clean the inside canal of the ear; this may cause serious damage, especially if the dog jumps suddenly. If there is any sign of redness in the ear, or the ear is painful- this state being usually expressed by bending the head to one side or shaking the head- immediate veterinary aid should be sought.

Heeling refers to a correct walking style by the dog, that is, under leash control with his right shoulder in line with the owner’s left knee. This should be taught to the pup at 3 to 4 months of age on completion of his vaccination schedule.
Get a lightweight, narrow flat collar for short-haired breeds and, if easily available, a round one for long-haired breeds. The collar should be neither too tight nor too loose and should slip over the head of the pup easily. You should be able to slip two fingers between the neck and the collar. Never pull off the collar without unfastening it. The dog should be on your left side. The leash should be held in your right hand and the leash shortened by coiling with the right hand, so that the dog must follow. At the same time the left hand should hold the part of the leash close to the dog’s neck to execute firm correction and control. Walk with a reasonably brisk pace. This should be done at a quite place like a park or pavement where there are minimum of vehicles and other dogs present, so that the dog under training can walk freely. He may try to dash ahead or pull back. As soon as he does this, jerk the leash with your left hand, call his name and give the command, HEEL somewhat emphatically, but in a calm and pleasant tone. Your dog’s right shoulder should be in line with your left knee. If required, snap the leash sideways or downwards. Pulling upwards can cause coughing or an injury to the dog. After some practice the dog will become proficient and will adjust his steps with your movement. When the dog walks correctly, praise him liberally. One or two lessons daily, for about 10-15 minutes, will suffice to make the dog walk as desired in a few days.

Before training a dog, we must win the trust by handling him gently, talking to him softly, and giving him lots of affection. Except for toilet-training, however, put off training until your dog has had a week or two to adjust to the family and his surroundings. Be extra patient, especially with a pup. Dogs learn by repetition, by associating a deed with your pleasure or displeasure. The modern concept in obedience-training is that only kindness, patience and understanding can succeed in training a dog. Punishment, whether with a rolled-up newspaper or with the hand, can only frighten and alienate the dog.
Training a dog means basically conditioning him, and this is best accomplished by rewards which can be verbal (praise), physical (petting or play), or material (treats). John S. Rarey, 19th century horse-trainer rightly said: ‘Kindness is Power.’ This applies to dogs too. The method should be simple: immediately reward appropriate behavior; give no reward for an inappropriate response. If a dog comes when called, and receives praise and a treat, he is more likely to reassure your nervous, barking dog by petting him, he might perceive petting as a reward for barking and may, therefore, bark all the more. Similarly some owners inadvertently teach rudeness and aggression by playing with their dogs in a rough, aggressive manner.
Consistent, patient and friendly lessons can teach almost any dog the commands such as HEEL, NO, SIT, DOWN, STAY and COME. This fundamental training is a necessity for every dog’s own safety and for his acceptability as a normal good member of the family.
Only one family member should take up the training responsibility. However after the dog has learnt a command, it can be issued by other household members as well.
For training a dog, you will need a chain-choke collar, especially for dogs of large breeds, and a reasonably strong leather leash. However for most young puppies, buckle collars will do instead of a choke collar. The absolutely essential requirements for the family-trainer are patience, persistence, practice and praise in addition to time, consistency and no loss of temper. The real requirement is friendly strictness. Initially dogs are best trained in short sessions of ten to fifteen minutes each, with no more than one or two of these per day. Training is better held before feeding time or after the dog has relieved itself. For the dog to learn a single command, repeated instructions and practice are necessary.

In the first instance, you must be aware that everything that tastes good is not always good for human beings as well as dogs. Thus you cannot rely merely on a dog’s likes or dislikes. You are responsible for the proper feeding of your dog, as he lives under your care. Dogs are exposed to the same food-related health risks as you are. Overweight in many dogs may be due to consumption of unsuitable foods.
Anatomically a dog appears to be a meat-eater, as his teeth and digestive tract are akin to those of his forefathers. Today, however, dogs have adjusted to human food. There are three main schools of thought regarding diet for dogs.
1. Western countries generally depend upon well-balanced commercial dog foods, which comprise a very big industry. These foods are available in dry, canned and semi-moist forms, and are the result of years of scientific research. It is difficult for an average dog owner to provide a diet as balanced and nourishing as that sold by manufacturers who employ nutrition specialists and the latest technology for research on dogs. Thus the users of these commercial foods take advantage of scientific research and convenience.
2. Some people regard dogs as pure meat eaters and feed the latter only meat. In fact, some feed only raw meat which is neither a balanced food, nor free from the great risk of infections like certain bacteria of the salmonella group and parasitic infections.
3. Due to various factors like cost and non-availability of well-balanced commercial foods, most dog owners in India purchase the ingredients for their dog’s food and cook for their pet. They also feed the dog food cooked in the house for family members. Giving only leftovers from meals, thinking that table scraps are enough for dogs, is a completely incorrect notion, and this is the least healthy method of feeding dogs.
Thus, from a practical point of view, in certain countries like India, we have to depend upon cooked meals for dogs, in spite of the undoubted superiority of scientifically well-balanced commercial foods as are available in Western countries. In general we should be aware that dog food should contain approximately 30 percent proteins and 50 percent carbohydrates, in addition to 5 percent fat. Besides this, an adequate quantity of vitamins and minerals like calcium and phosphorus should also be present in the diet to make it balanced. The actual requirement of proteins for dogs is still a matter of great debate, as it is affected by many environmental, dietary, physiological and genetic factors.
Preparing cooked meals is not difficult and most educated people know which foods are rich in proteins and which in carbohydrates, and so on. To find out articles, and then to calculate the quantities required, is not an easy task. There are as many feeding schedules advised as there are breeders, and puppies generally do fine on most of them. It is best, however, for the new owner to follow the feeding schedule suggested by his veterinarian, who will keep in mind the availability of what he recommends, palatability and nutritional quality.

The important point is to balance the proteins, carbohydrates and fats in the dog’s diet as we do for ourselves. The various foodstuffs recommended for puppies are milk, cottage cheese, yoghurt, wheat porridge, cream of wheat (suji), various seasonal vegetables, rice and/or wheat chapattis, or sometimes bread. Products like Farex, available with chemists, could be substituted for porridge or suji for puppies who need additional minerals like calcium, multivitamins and yeast during their growth period.
Young dogs need more nutritious food for physical growth and weight gain. Meat, eggs and fish (all properly cooked) are an excellent source of protein for dogs. It is important that the eggs are cooked, preferably half boiled or poached- so that their intake does not interfere with the absorption of vitamins, particularly of the B complex group. Some seasonal green vegetables and finely grated carrots cooked and mashed with a little rice or wheat chapattis, should be included as one meal. If you introduce vegetables into the diet much later, dogs do not develop a taste for all. From about three months of age, if the owners are in a position to feed the dog cooked meat; this could be included in the diet. Care should be taken to see that there are no bones in the meat or fish.

Before bringing a puppy home, you must select a place where he is to be kept. Normally a small secluded room or place in a house or apartment is desirable. Young puppies need warmth and an even temperature in a draught-free area. Arrange a box which is not too big but large enough in size so that the puppy can turn around and stretch easily. See to it that the small area where the puppy’s box is kept is his own territory and is not disturbed by family members.
In the box, on one side, should be the puppy’s bed made of washable material, and, on the other, a few layers of spread-out newspapers. The box should have a door or lid on it with adequate ventilation holes. If the box is without a door or a lid, the puppy will keep trying to come out of the box and will keep crying if he cannot do so. The puppy will soon understand the purpose of the papers, because it will be natural for him to leave his bed when he requires to ease himself. You will have to use your own judgment, according to the weather and atmospheric temperature, to decide how thick the cloth or blanket across the top should be.

To decide whether to go in for a pure-bred dog or a mixed breed, we should be aware that a pure breed has a definite standard of perfection or description by which it is judged. Thus when you buy a pure breed, you know what you are getting; your pup will have a close likeness to his parents and will possess their general traits. As against that, getting a mixed breed puppy is more of a gamble, as it is not possible to determine his traits, and his size, coat, height or weight on maturity.
You should also be aware that a certificate of pedigree is not a guarantee of the health of the animal. Many people are under the erroneous impression that mixed breeds are always hardier or more resistance to diseases than pure-breed dogs. This is not correct. There is no difference in the resistance of pure and cross breeds and both need equal care from diseases. Sometimes mongrels may be smarter and healthier than pure breeds, but that is not always true, as in mixed breeding, a lot depends on the characteristics and traits of parents about whom a lot is often not known. Thus the element of chance is always there when you go in for a mixed breed. As for brains, one can find highly intelligent dogs and those which are a bit slow amongst both pure and mixed breeds. One thing is very important: whether pure breed or mongrel, you must treat your dog as if he is the best in the world, for no matter which category he belongs to, he will give an equal amount of devotion and affection to his owner. It is not surprising to see many homes with fascinating-looking, loving and affectionate dogs of highly doubtful ancestry!

Another rudimentary decision to be made is whether to go in for a male or a female dog. Stories contending the superiority of a male or a female as a better pet have no scientific basis. It mainly depends upon the animal’s individual personality. Females generally have a sweeter disposition. However they are ready to be mated, while males do not experience any such thing. Females start coming into heat once they are between six months to one year of age, depending upon the animal’s size, development and other factors. Generally females come into heat every six months and the heat period lasts for about three weeks, though this may vary somewhat from dog to dog. Whilst in heat, the female may stain rugs, and so on, and should be carefully watched and kept inside to avoid the nuisance of hovering male dogs. To get a female spayed- that is- to remove its ovaries and uterus, is more expensive than getting a male neutered or castrated.
Another important thing to decide is whether you would prefer a long or short- haired dog. You should always remember that a long coat requires more care as compared to short hair. At the same time, long coats do look beautiful, but you will have to spend more time keeping the coat clean and healthy, else, infestations like ticks, lice and fleas could pose serious problems.

A quandary in mind of a first time dog owner is whether to bring home a puppy or a grown-up dog. The general rule is that the younger the dog, the more influence one will have on shaping his character. This does not mean that you should go in for a puppy who is only a couple of weeks old and still needs his mother’s milk and care. It is better to start the gradual weaning of pups at 3 weeks to avoid any strain on the mother, especially if the litter is large. In my opinion, the ideal time to acquire a pup is when he is at least about 6 weeks of age. If you want a dog with show potential, wait until the puppy is about 3 to 4 months old. A pup is like a small child and requires a great deal of attention for at least the first four months of its life, along with a regular routine.
It may appear that going in for a grown-up dog is much less complicated and saves one the botheration of bringing up a small puppy who needs house-training. On the other hand, you should remember that a grown-up dog comes with a fully-formed personality, including good and bad traits. This dog has to adjust to new persons and new surroundings. This process requires patient handling but becomes somewhat easier if you get proper information about the routine and habits of the dog from his previous owner.
For a big sized dog you must be willing to exercise the pet, taking him for long walks at least twice a day. Smaller dogs do not need as much exercise and may thus be more suitable for indoor life in comparatively smaller houses. Bigger dogs need more space, and confining them to small rooms would be unhealthy. It is obviously not wise to keep a Great Dane as a pet if living in a two-room apartment on the third floor! Therefore, if you have a shortage of space, you should settle for a smaller-sized breed. Bigger dogs also prove to be more expensive on the food front. Though a big dog appears to be a deterrent to thieves and burglars, a smaller one too with a sharp bark may also serve somewhat the same purpose. Thus you must choose a dog of the right size as per your individual circumstances.