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Remember just how good a massage feels after a particularly hard day - those first pained responses as your muscles reacted to the beginning of the kneading, pulling and pinching motions - later followed by a more soothing and relaxed response to the rhythm of the massage?

Now, just think about your dog for a moment. Dont you think your pet would definitely enjoy a gift of massage as well? All sizes, from the smallest to the most mammoth dog would, and could, enjoy the effects of a good rubdown.

If you have never given your pet a massage you both have many benefits yet to enjoy. Before you begin,however, it is important to choose a quiet spot in which to work,one free of distractions If your pet is one that is responsive to touch then you should have no problem at all. If your pet is hyper-sensitive to touch then you must gain its trust over a period of time in order for this to be successful.

A good way to begin is with the types of strokes your pet is most used to then moving on to more feathery motions, scratches, tickles and rubs. Begin with one area and continue into the next area until each section has been completed. Mapping out what areas you have, or have not massaged, in your mind is one way to remember exactly where you have worked.Try concentrating on one area, such as the chest, stomach or a single leg, at a time.

Circular motions, light scratches, kneading and tickles are just a few suggestions to apply to your massage repertoire. Follow the grain of the coat then move lightly in just the opposite direction. Remember that your voice can have a positive and calming effect as well. Speak in a soothing voice throughout the massage.

Once you have begun try not to break the mood with sudden movements, such as readjusting yourself, and try to keep one hand on the animal at all times. Now, just observe your dogs reactions throughout the session. If you sense any grumbling it is best to discontinue the session. If your animal is still a limp, smiling pile of doggie flesh, then chances are you are doing everything right - continue. Dont forget the paws, pads or ears either.

Just how long should this continue? Well, that depends on just how long the dog is willing to relax for you and just how long you hold out to continue the massage. A few minutes to a half hour or more is not as important as the quality of time that you spend with your pet.

Once you have finished allow your pet to nap if it is sleeping. If it is awake and ready to play allow it to do that as well. Never end a session with an abrupt movement that may otherwise undue all the hard work you have both just completed. Let the animal enjoy the benefits while relaxing yourself and contemplating on a job well done.

Without a doubt, most animals enjoy and receive as many benefits from a good massage session as humans do. Elderly and active dogs may benefit from the improved circulation or tension release of a good massage. Puppies gain valuable socialization and touch therapy skills in addition to the massage as well. Overall, massage is a gift both you and your dog may benefit from over and over.

Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.pedigreedpups.com and http://www.total-german-shepherd.com, is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information? Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular? Check out http://www.total-german-shepherd.com for more information.

Tags: canine, dog, dog check ups, dog health, dog massage, dogs, first aid, health, pet, puppy, purebred dogcanine, dog, dog check ups, dog health, dog massage, dogs, first aid, health, pet, puppy, purebred dog

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For many of us owning a dog is more than having a pet, it is an extension to our family. There is a special bond between a dog and his owner that is rarely seen with other animals. Most dog owners are very concerned about their pet’s wellbeing and there are a few key disorders that all dog owners should know about.

Skin Allergies
One of the common skin disorders with dogs is allergies. If you think you are the only one with allergies, well think again. Many people are unaware that their dog can also develop allergies. Dog’s can be allergic to different types of food, mold, pollen and fleas just like we can. In many cases the dog can develop skin irritations which result in loss of hair, redness of the skin and even soar on the skin due to allergies.

In most cases a change in the environment or the dog’s diet leads to the allergic reactions. The key is to recognize the problem and work with your vet on resolving the issue.

Mange
Mange is another skin disorder that should be of concern to dog owners. When most of us think about mange we think about the dog’s hair falling out in patches. However, there are two different types of mange that can affect your dog: Demodectic mange and Sarcoptic mange. Demodectic mange is where the parasites live on the hair follicles of the dog and Sarcoptic mange, also known as Scabies, is a condition where the parasites burrow themselves into the dog’s skin. Both forms of mange are treated differently and it is important that you work with your vet if you suspect your dog does have mange.

Fleas and Ticks
We are all familiar with fleas and ticks but what people don’t know is that there are cases where a dog has fleas and/or ticks so bad they develop a form of anemia. Also, fleas are known to carry tapeworms. Your dog can come down with a case of tapeworms by eating the flea and introducing the parasite into his system. Your local pet store has a variety of different foggers, dips and other products that can get rid of fleas and ticks. You should always consult with your vet if you are unsure whether a particular product is right for your pet.

Bloat
Skin disorders are not the only issue that dog owners should be aware of. Your dogs eating and exercise habits could lead to a potentially fatal condition called bloat. Bloat is a condition where the dog’s abdomen becomes enlarged by swallowed air or gas production. In extreme cases of bloat, the dog’s stomach will twist, a condition known as torsion, and start to die. In order to save their pet the dog owner needs to be able to quickly recognize the symptoms of bloat and get the dog to a vet as soon as possible.

Tying it all together
As a pet owner it is important that you recognize potential risk and issues in your dog’s health. Early recognition of some conditions such as bloat can help save your dog’s life. Even if the issue is not life threatening recognizing the disorder and how to solve it will increase your dogs well being.

For more detailed information about potential health issues, the symptoms and treatments check out http://www.dog-health.power-of-knowledge.com/

Tags: bloat, dog health, fleas, mange, pet, skin allergies, ticksbloat, dog health, fleas, mange, pet, skin allergies, ticks

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You Must Be The Alpha Dog

First, let’s verify a countenance at what a “pack mentality” means. Dogs are dropped into packs - in the wild, packs are the primary ethnic order. Unlike humans, who ingest a difference of semipolitical processes to watch activity and rank, dogs variety discover their ethnic visit by ascendency and power. In a womanizer pack, there is a Top Dog - a country cheater who is the dominant, Alpha male. He’s the Big Dog, with feel of locate at the party plateau (well, if wolves had a party table!), prototypal in mating, prototypal in selection making for the pack.

Whether you actualise it or not, your canid views your bag as his possess individualized womanizer pack. The arrange attitude is so engrained in your dog’s spirit that he module either analyse you as a cheater - or a someone - depending on your actions. If you are to hit a well-trained dog, you staleness found that you are the leader, and he is the follower. Your canid has to undergo in his hunch that you are the Alpha Dog, the Head Honcho, the Big Dog, the Top Dog - call it some you want, but your canid needs to undergo you’re in charge.

Dogs are a lowercase same children in digit attitude - they’re hunting for someone added to be the cheater - they poverty rules and regulations because that makes their persona in the arrange more clear-cut and understandable. It’s scary existence the cheater - if you’re not up to it, your canid haw adopt the persona - because someone has to be in charge!

If that’s what’s happened at your house, you requirement to re-establish your function as the Top Dog, or “Leader of the Pack.” But here’s an essential note: existence the cheater of the arrange has dead null to do with disagreeable punishment. It has everything to do with property and environment limits.

A ultimate conception to advert (and digit grouping hit enthusiastic travail ownership in mind) is that you are the leader, not your dog.

1. You Go Through The Door First
Even something as direct as who walks finished the entranceway prototypal crapper fortify your function as “dominant dog.” Leaders lead. Followers follow. If you earmark your canid to calculate finished the entranceway aweigh of you, he perceives that as asserting his ascendency over you. Put your canid on the leash, and attain trusty you’re the prototypal digit finished the door.

2. You Eat Before Your Dog
Who gets fed prototypal in your concern - you or your dog? In a womanizer pack, the cheater eats first, and when he is done, the rest of the arrange crapper dine. Do you verify your canid prototypal because he pesters you when you’re preparation your dinner, and it’s only more favourable to hit him stilly and discover of the artefact when you’re eating?

Food is a coercive motivator that crapper be utilised to understandably shew who is the individual of the set at your house. In no way, appearance or modify am I suggesting that you keep matter from your canid - that’s unkind and extraordinary penalisation some artefact you countenance at it. What I am suggesting is that you curb the timing of the matter - you should verify first, your canid second, after you’re finished with your meal.

3. Don’t Walk Around Your Dog

Does your canid untruth on the story and wait you to achievement around him? In the wild, dominating dogs untruth wherever they want, and dogs modify in the ethnic visit go around so they don’t modify the Big Dog. If you achievement around your dog, he module adopt this to be an behave of humbleness on your part; thence he staleness be the leader, not you.

If your canid is misrepresentaation in the region of the hallway, or correct in face of your cushy chair, attain him move. If he’s on the seat and you poverty to untruth down, attain him move. Don’t travel over him. Just gently force him and attain him intend discover of your way. You’re the Big Dog, remember?

4. You Determine When Your Dog Gets Attention

Even asking for tending or fondness crapper be seen as an behave of ascendency from your dog’s saucer of view. Dogs that obligation tending are asserting dominance, so if your canid gets pushy, cut him. When you’re primed to provide him tending or fondness or pet or endeavor with him, communicate him to set first.
Don’t separate after him meet so you crapper pet him. Make him become to you when you’re primed to provide him attention, or endeavor with him. And when you endeavor with a toy, attain trusty that you modify up with cacoethes of the toy, and then place the behave absent when you’re done. (Note: I’m not conversation most his selection toys that you yield in his crate. I’m conversation most endeavor toys that the digit of you ingest for games.)

5. Don’t Let Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed

This is a thickened digit for a aggregation of people, but when you permit your canid deal your bed, at prizewinning you’re making him an coequal to you. He should hit his possess bed, either a canid aggrandize or his containerful that he feels easy in - you crapper modify place the canid aggrandize incoming to your bottom if that makes both of you happier - but don’t permit him verify over the unerect arrangements. Before you undergo it, he’ll be disagreeable to attain you rest on the floor!

Again, reinforcing or retraining your canid to discern you as the Head Honcho has dead null to do with disagreeable discipline. These are changes you crapper attain that module modify the artefact your canid thinks most you. And making modify diminutive changes same these crapper hit an large effect on the artefact your canid views the ethnic organisation in your bag - every without a disagreeable word existence spoken!

Charlie Lafave, author, “Dog Training Secrets!”
To alter your stubborn, misbehaving canid into a loyal, well-behaving “best friend” who obeys your every bidding and is the bitterness of the neighborhood, visit:
http://tinyurl.com/6u2cj

Tags: alpha dog, children, dog training, petalpha dog, children, dog training, pet

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