Vaccination Question, Concerns and Answers

There are a multitude of common questions about vaccinations which are to be understood by the dog owners, as a priority. The most common of  questions is whether the dog needs to be given vaccination on the first week of age or not.  The dogs need not be vaccinated within five to six weeks of age.  But, if they did not receive vaccinations, then the vaccination against the parvoviral infections used to kill viral vaccines and measles disease may be given.     Another common question is whether dog is to be given bordetella disease vaccine and lyme disease vaccine. No, these vaccines are only optional.  Can the parvoviral vaccine can be used in first week of life? No. This will interfere with maternal antibody levels. 


Another concern is whether a pregnant animal can be vaccinated? Yes. Two to three weeks earlier to pregnancy activity that is expected, the pregnant animal may be vaccinated against viral diseases. This helps to provide maternal antibodies to the young one to be given birth. Is there any need to give rabies vaccine to dogs? Yes.  It is a must to go for the anti rabies vaccine for dogs. 


 When it comes to the anti-rabies vaccine which is given to the dogs, what precaution does one need to undertake in this regard? Rabies vaccine is given at age of thirteen to fifteen weeks of age and should to be repeated in fifteen months and then once in three years.  It is important that the dog is given this vaccine.


 However, this depends on the risk area. Is there any need for canine distemper vaccination in case of dogs? Yes. There is a specific requirement in the case of dogs for the vaccination against the canine distemper.  This disease is more prevalent in most of the countries.  


 Is there any vaccination against leptospirosis and at what age, the dog is to be vaccinated?   This is to be given at age of at six to eight weeks of age, again at tenth to twelfth weeks, and again at thirteenth to sixteenth weeks of age.

Classical Conditioning or "Pet Training"

Classical conditioning is the science of associating something with an activity and the best example is the experiment conducted by Pavlov. Whenever he served food to his dog, he used to ring a bell. In the beginning, the dog used to salivate by looking at the food. Later he began associating the bell with the food and at a point of time, he used to salivate at the sound of the bell. This doesn't mean that the actual noise of the ringing bell made him salivate. The dog associated the ringing of the bell with the food and that food or even the thought of it made him salivate. 


The purpose of classical conditioning is not  to actually make the dog to sit or jump at the command, but it does change the way the pet feels about a particular situation in which it is right now. Classical conditioning gives explanation about the behavior relating to a particular place, object or event.  It explains how the emotional response is developed. The responses can be developed in the animal either wontedly or by chance. Also the trainer must remember that the change in the behavior is irreversible most of the times. 


One of the most common behaviors dealt with in conditioned emotional response is fear. The fear can be instinctive, learned or unknown. For example, if a cat gets scared upon seeing a dog, this is instinctive fear. If the cat backs off upon seeing a raised hand, this is learned fear. This can happen in the case of an abused cat. If there is fear because of lack of exposure to a particular situation before, this is known as fear of unknown. 


The conditioned emotional responses, which are dislikeable, can be reduced with the help of classical conditioning. Classical conditioning further has two concepts namely desensitization and counter-conditioning. Desensitization is reducing the sensitivity of the animal towards a particular unavoidable situation. The bad situation is created again and again until the animal becomes insensitive or doesn't feel about it any more. For example, if the animal is given crate training, it is locked inside the crate again and again, till he gets used to staying locked inside the cage. 


In counter-conditioning the animal is exposed to a lower degree of extremity. The intensity is less and as well a positive thing is presented to the animal. By doing this pet begins to like the nasty situation. The pet is made to respond in such a way, which contradicts the current or previous reaction. For example, a pet doesn't like to be locked up in the crate all the time. But this undesirable situation can be made to look pleasant if the pet is fed with a treat from time to time as long as it stays calmly inside the cage. 


Negative counter conditioning is another technique, but it is used very rarely. For example, if the cat likes to bite the hand of the owner very frequently, the person can rub something distasteful on the hand. When the animal bites the hand, it will taste the distasteful substance and then associate the bad taste with the hand and will not bite again, if done repeatedly. 


Classical conditioning is used to alter the way of reaction of the animal in a particular situation. With classical conditioning it can be made to like an unpleasant situation and even dislike a pleasant condition. 

Puppy Care . . . Just The Basics- First Weeks

Once you have selected the puppy of your desires, it is then that you get to take him home without a manual to tell you how to succeed at training and raising him.  It is normal for the first night to be a bit difficult because the puppy will start to miss his Mom and other siblings.  He may cry or whine through out the night.  One can hardly blame him for his actions. 


 The pup will need a soft, dry, and safe place to sleep. . . 


Perhaps throw in a cloth or toy that has his litter mates or Mom's scent on it.  If you run to him when he cries, you will be reinforcing the habit.  Placing a sheet over the box or crate will get the pup used to going to sleep at that time.  


Let it be know that puppies are mischievous by nature . . . 


And not unlike their feline companions, they tend to get into everything.  Be sure hazardous items like marbles, wires, rocks, and any type of harmful plants are far out of the puppy's way.   




You should scold your pup just as you would scold a child NO.  However, when you tell him NO, you should show him the correct behavior.  A prime example would be if he is chewing up the newspaper, take it away and replace it wit one of his toys.  Praise him for chewing his toy.
  
*  Reprimands should be sharp and short; 


**  Hitting or spanking may create more problems down the 
        road.  Can result in the pup becoming fearful, shy, or 
        aggressive;  


***  Always reward for proper behaviors, this is when you 
       can utilize treats as reinforcement for good behavior, not
      to mention a simple scratch between the ears and a hug;


It is recommended that you feed him a dry food especially made for puppies.  Watch out for very high protein and extra vitamins as they may be harmful to your growing puppy.  Feed him two or three times a day.  Usually after fifteen minutes, the pup will have eaten all they want, so you can remove the dish.  As thy grow, after ten to twelve weeks of age, feed them one in the morning and once at night.  All of these should help your new pup get through those first horrible weeks away from his family.  

Adoption . . . Golden Retriever Style

Adopting An Older Golden Retriever


Those of you who want a Golden Retriever but aren't ready to go through the trials and tribulations of a puppy, should look into adopting an older Golden.  Older Golden Retrievers are mature, and prove to be great in homes where they need to spend a quality amount of time by themselves.  They are a very adjustable breed, being good tempered.  No matter how old the Golden may be, he will quickly become a valued member of your family in little to no time at all.


Many times, breeders will have older dogs for sale.  There are several reasons for this, which include show dogs that have lost their potential, studs that have been used for breeding, female Golden's that have been bred a few times then retired, or other types of special conditions where a breeder is helping a friend get rid of his Golden Retriever.  There are other reasons as well, although whatever they may be - the adult Golden Retriever will be available for anyone who wants him.


Most older Golden Retrievers are already housebroken, and known a lot of behavior patterns and how to adapt to a new and loving family.  Although it will be a little hard on your new dog at first, if you give him plenty of love, attention, and patience, he"ll be just fine.  You need to keep reassuring your new Golden on a regular basis, and let him know that you are his new owner and that you love you and you are glad he's a member of your family.

Adopting an older Golden Retriever is a wonderful responsibility to take on however, you should make sure that you learn everything you can about him.  You should also determine his temperament, and whether or not it's compatible with your family.  You should also learn important things as well, such as his diet, likes, dislikes, daily routine, and his habits.  Before you decide to take him, you should always make sure that the members of your family meet him as well, so you can talk it over and decide whether or not everyone wants the dog to be a member of your family.


With an older dog, you need to take care of him for the first days, and let him know where everything in your home is.  You"ll need to show him where he sleeps, where he should use the bathroom, and where his food is.  Take your time and be patient with him, as will normally take him a few days to learn how things in your home work.


You should always give your new Golden Retriever at least a month or so to get used to his new environment, before you start his new obedience training.  Even though your new dog may have some prior obedience training, you should still enroll him in a new class.  This way, he can brush up on training and you can work with him to help him understand.  Once you have finished training, he"ll understand your commands better and you and him will get along just fine.


All Golden Retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention.  Older Golden's on the other hand, may have medical problems that you aren't aware of.  You shouldn't let this stop you from getting one though, simply because the rewards that you"ll find are far greater than any cons that may come to mind.  Although many people don't give a lot of thought to getting an older Golden Retriever - they are perfect for families who don't want to put up the time and troubles of raising a puppy.

Oral Health Influences Your Dog's Health

As you well know. your dog is your very best friend.  Every single time you walk through the door your dog is so happy to see you that he wags his tail and practically smiles at you.  One way to show your pet how much they mean to you is to take care of that smile for your pet.  Did you know that your dog's diet can influence their oral health?

Of course, humans need to brush and floss their teeth regularly to keep their teeth, tongue, and gums in good condition.  Research has recently shown a link between good oral health in humans and a lower risk of heart disease. Don't you reasonably believe that If good oral health can have such a profound affect on people, then it only makes sense to consider the impact it can have on you pet.

It is important to brush your dog's teeth frequently to keep plaque and tartar from becoming an issue.  Even wiping his gums with a clean, damp cloth can be beneficial.  

Your dog's diet also plays a role in your pet's oral health.  Do you typically feed your dog canned or dry dog food?  What kind of treats and toys do you provide for your pet?  All of these things can affect the likelihood of trouble with your pet's teeth.

When your dog's diet is nutritionally sound, containing essential vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes, your pet's oral health will be at its very best.  Feeding dry dog food rather than a moist canned variety is best for your dog.  The tiny kibbles' hard surface rubs against the teeth to remove and reduce plaque.  The simple act of moistening the dry dog food with water or gravy eliminates this property from dry dog food.

The treats you give your pet are part of your dog's diet just like snacks are part of a person's diet.  As humans, we tend to want to overlook our snacking habits, so it can be easy to overlook the treats you give your dog.  This is not a good idea.  Carefully consider any and all items your dog will consume.  

Do you give your dog bones, rawhides, jerky treats, or dog biscuits?  Maybe your pet prefers greenies or corn starch chews.  You may not have considered it, but tossing Spot a rawhide chew is like giving him a candy bar.  The rawhide, for example, contains calories and is often provided between meals.  

Many of the treats and snacks you provide in your dog's diet can be just empty wasted calories.  Some treats, alternatively, provide excellent opportunity to improve oral health.  Greenies, rawhides, bones, and hard dog biscuits all help to keep tartar at bay.  The softer snacks, such as jerky treats, do not provide much relief from plaque.  The healthy treat, on occasion, will also prevent your dog from having bad breath.

Your dog's diet must be healthy to ensure excellent oral health.  Dry dog food is best whenever possible.  Don't forget to select treats for your pet that will enhance your dog's diet.  Consciously monitoring your dog's diet will positively influence your  best friend's oral health.

A KILLER Keeps Me Safe!

No, I have not TOTALLY lost my mind, I was actually referring to my yorkie named "Killer." 

 Too often I hear complaints that we dog lovers pay too much attention to our pets and treat them too much like they are human. Well to that I truly must agree with them.  I actually prefer animals to humans in A LOT of instances and the main reason being that I know what I am "dealing with."  Humans have a tendency to "muddy the waters" so to speak making daily life often rather stressful!

For the love of our pets, I had decided to bring to you some exceptional opportunities in regards to your pets so buckle up and let's go . . .Did you know  . . . 


  Over 70 Million U.S. Pet Owners Want To Know...which Pet Foods Use Risky Imports. Petsumer Report Tells You And A Lot More  . . . 




If you love dogs and are at all bored with your current job or looking for a way to increase your household income, then this is going to be the most exciting web page you read today!