Tips On Clipping Your Dog's Toe Nails

Regular nail trimming is important to your dog's health and well-being. Use nail clippers designed for your dog's nail. Most dogs do not like their claws trimmed while other dogs will sit calmly while you trim. Clipping nails should be started when dogs are very young. 

You will need to get the dog accustomed to you holding their paw and applying a little pressure. Use special treats as rewards for their cooperation. These treats should be special and not used at any other time except for nail clipping. A soft voice should also be used to let the dog know you mean no harm.

Supplies you should have ready before starting the nail clipping. There are a variety of nail clippers available on the market. Visit your pet store and see which one feels best in your hand. With the guillotine type clipper the nail goes through the opening for the nail to be clipped. 

You should also have available a small file for those ragged edges. If your dog will not let you file his nails after clipping and he is an outside dog he will smooth the nail naturally. Another helpful item is a styptic pen that can be used if there is a small amount of bleeding.

After your dog has become accustom to the pressure against his paw you should try just clipping the tips of a few nails. Take as much time as needed to gain your dog's trust. 

Then holding the paw in your hand use your thumb to press each digit you are working with. The nail should be in full view with no obstructions even the hair around the nail. Inspect the top and bottom of each nail. White nails you can identify the quick where the blood vessels are located much easier than with black nails. Cutting the tips off will cause the quick to recede a little after each clipping. 

Cutting the tips of black nails is especially important if you are not able to identify the quick. Claws on the hind feet are often shorter and require less frequent trimming than those on the front feet. Don't forget the dew claws on the inside of the foot if your dog has not had those removed. Dew claws do not touch the ground so they are not worn down as the dog walks.

When using the guillotine trimmers place the nail through the stationary ring in trimmer cutting nail top to bottom or bottom to top. The blade should always be facing you to see how much nail you are cutting. You will be less likely to cut the quick. Do not cut nail side to side this may cause nail to splinter. Several small cuts should be used to prevent cutting the quick. Should you make the nail bleed use the styptic pen until you get the bleeding stopped. If the bleeding continues call your veterinarian.

Nail clipping regularly is important and will keep your dog healthy and happy. Should you feel uncomfortable clipping the nails contact your veterinarian or a good groomer.

What Do You Really Know About Your Dog's Sleeping Behaviors?

There is something about watching your dog sleep that is comforting and sometimes even comical. Do you know, several of your dog's sleep behaviors are similar to ours and others are inherent?

The average dog sleeps 12 - 13 hours per day. It may not seem that way, but puppies snooze even longer! That is almost half their life! Dogs are skillful at catching a few winks whenever they can. That form of napping is similar to Stage 1 sleep, where they are sleeping, but just barely.

Sleep is a vital part of the health, physical and emotional well-being of your dog's life. It is during sleep that puppies grow, wounds heal and energy is conserved and stored for what lies ahead.

Companion dogs kept indoors, sleep longer and deeper than dogs kept outdoors and working dogs. Dogs kept outdoors and working dogs try to slip in an extra nap here or there, but rarely relax enough to reach a healthy, deep, restful sleep.

Do Dogs Dream?

It appears dogs follow similar stages of sleep as humans. Stage 1, is barely sleeping. This is where most outdoor dogs, wild dogs and working dogs sleep. At Stage 2, the animal's blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and body temperatures gradually lower. Stage 3 is a transitional state between light and deep sleep. Stage 4 is the slow wave stage where usually the dog is now oblivious to their surroundings. If awakened suddenly, they often appear confused. Stag 5 is where the fun begins! This is the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase of sleep. Here, their body relaxes, but their brain remains active. At this stage, your dog's eyes roll under the lids and they slowly ease into those dreams we find so amusing. They whimper, growl, make lapping and eating sounds and motions, whine, bark, and/or appear to be chasing something!

Most indoor dogs spend up to 12% of their sleeping time in REM. Puppies spend a greater percentage of time in REM. During this stage, it is thought puppies process and merge what they are learning every day, into behaviors they will follow.

Interestingly, smaller dogs tend to dream more than their larger cousins.

Shaking during sleep can be perfectly normal for the average dog. Dogs that have suffered trauma and puppies removed from their mom too soon, may also shake in their sleep. Shaking could also be an indicator of health problems in dogs, such as hypothyroidism, pain, chills, and gastrointestinal discomfort.

If your dog is shaking while sleeping, calmly call their name and gently pet or touch them, to reassure them that everything is OK. Do not shake them awake! It is not known, if dogs have nightmares, but given the fact many rescues and dogs that have suffered severe physical and emotional trauma shake in their sleep, a little assurance goes a long way.

Favored Positions of a Sleeping Dog

The sleeping position of your dog tells you a lot about him or her. Some like to sleep on their stomachs, almost like in a "down" position. This allows them to jump up at the slightest perceived threat or fact they may be missing out on what you are doing.

Others prefer sleeping on their side. This is a restful position. Your dog is comfortable with their surroundings.

Then we have the "Superdog" sleeper. They choose sleeping stretched out, on their stomachs. They look like they are flying. They are in a restful sleep, but ready to go as soon as they hear you move!

The most inherent position for sleeping is curling up. You will see this as a favorite sleeping position of dogs kept outdoors. You will find them curled up into a ball, with their paws under their body and their tail wrapped around their face. It is the least vulnerable and least restful position for sleep. They are conserving body heat, they protecting limbs, face, throat and vital organs. This position gives them the advantage to be on their feet immediately. The dog's muscles are tense and ready to spring into action, if need be. Dogs that sleep in this position rarely relax enough to drift into the REM stage.

Curling is the normal sleeping position for wild dogs and wolves packing together. It offers a sleeping position for awareness upon awakening as their senses are heightened to movements, sounds and scents. They conserve space in the den; protect their offspring and share body heat. You will notice even most domesticated puppies inherently curl up together or around their mother.

Finally, we have what looks the "dead roach" position. There are dogs that favor sleeping on their backs; with their legs in the air...looking just like a dead cockroach! This is the position found only in a very secure and confident indoor pet. Sleeping on their back is the most vulnerable position for a dog to sleep. It is thought to be the most comfortable and most restful position. Plus, it's your dog's way of cooling down quickly. Indoor dogs that have expended lots of energy and/or are over-heated will sleep on their backs.

The sleeping on their back position has not been observed as behavior exhibited by dogs or wolves in the wild. Dogs kept outdoors will not sleep in this position either. This position sends a message of vulnerability and submission.

It should be noted; dogs sleeping on their backs with their paws "protecting" their chest are indicating they prefer not to be bothered. Use caution when suddenly awakening any dog sleeping in this position!

Now that you know more about what goes on when your dog sleeps, you will have some insight about their confidence and sense of well being. In addition, it will give you a clue of why your dog behaves the way it does, when they are awake.

Bottom line: Comfort equals healthier, more and deeper sleep. Whatever sleeping position your dog prefers, make sure their sleeping accommodations are safe and comfortable. A dog that is well rested is generally healthier and happier.

Natural Remedies For Constipated Dogs

Natural remedies for constipated dogs are not only safe and without side effects, for the greater they are also effective. Homeopathic remedies, in particular, can be rapid in their action.

But first, why do you need to take action? Let's examine some of the common scenarios with constipation and how they can affect your dog. 

• Probably the first is pain on passing a stool. Not only is this undesirable in itself, it may compound the problem, as your dog will become reluctant to stool, delaying the inevitable pain.
• Constipation can occur without any pain at all, but holding on to all that waste is going to make for trouble in the future. A constipated dog will inevitably become more sluggish and more unhealthy as time moves on.
• Sometimes a stool will partially extrude then recedes back in.
• If elimination is not complete, your dog will keep trying - trying for both of you on a walk.
• Constipation can alternate with diarrhoea which creates difficulty keeping the dog and the environment clean.

These differences need to be considered when choosing the most appropriate remedy that is likely to help your dog. How you apply this will depend on the different modalities of natural health. For example, personal differences are very important in homeopathy, but less important in, say herbs.

But this is not the end of the story. You also need to discover what the cause was, as this may need to be treated before the constipation can be permanently resolved. It isn't natural to be constipated, despite it being common.

Some common causes can be: 

• after surgery or after drugs
• during pregnancy
• during travelling which unsettles routine
• after a frightening experience

Once the cause has been elicited, then the appropriate natural remedy can be selected.

But perhaps the most common cause is diet. Most people feel that commercial pet food is the healthiest food for their dog, because the packets, the advertising, even the veterinarians tell you this is so. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

Most commercial pet food is made for the profit of the manufacturer. Whilst this is a worthy outcome, it isn't if the product falls short of the claims. And, sadly, perhaps the majority do.

When a switch is made from commercial dog food to a quality, natural and species specific food, most cases of constipation simply disappear. And preparing such food is easy once you know how. The difficult part comes with a change of mindset.

This means the number one natural remedy for constipation is diet.

Why Do Some Dogs Eat Grass And Throw Up?

If there is one behavior which may come as a surprise to dog owners, especially the first-timers, it would be the question "Why does my dog eat grass and then throw up after?" This is a question which veterinarians often get asked and yet, the answer remains to be a mystery to all of them. Indeed, fiber is not a common thing for dogs and grass definitely does not go well with their digestive tract. Yet, this continues to be a habit for most dogs such as your beloved Fido.

Tummyache 

One very common answer when asked about this question is gastric problems. Many believe that eating grass is one way in which dogs get to relieve themselves from gastric problems as this helps them vomit. Vomiting thus helps them get relieved of any toxic substance or irritant which they may have ingested. However, as one vet has put it, is the vomiting induced by the grass or does the grass induce the vomit

Roughage 

One other possible reason why dogs feel the need to eat grass is the need for roughage which dog food and meats cannot normally provide. Even in the wild, dog relatives such as wolves and foxes normally get to ingest the roughage which their pray have induced. As this scenario is not possible in a normal household, your loyal little pet may therefore hunt for the source somewhere else-that somewhere being your lawn.

Checking out their territory 

It's a known fact that dogs do have the habit of marking their territory. In the same manner, some say that dogs eat grass in order to check out their territory for any signs of invasion. As gross as this may seem, dogs do like owning their own spot and they do mind an invasion of territorial space.

Worms 

This reason seems pretty similar to "dogs eating grass because of a tummy ache." However, this time, worms seem to be the culprit. This could be true except that there are still some pets which get worms despite their grass-eating habit. Other than that, dogs do need to get de-wormed on a regular basis so this reason ends up to be quite questionable.

A matter of taste 

While all these reasons seem to be quite scientific, we also have to be consider the fact that dogs do have their personal tastes. That's the reason why dog food comes in different flavors, right So maybe they should come out with grass-flavored dog food as grass-eating is a habit developed by your doggy's palate Maybe some dogs were meant to be vegetarian

Whatever plausible excuse or reason one can come up with, there are indeed some dogs who just like to eat grass for no apparent reason. While there is no immediate danger or threat to this behavior, it would be safe to make sure that the grass which he eats is free from any fertilizer or pesticide which he may ingest. With your dog eating grass from your lawn, at least you won't have to worry so much about mowing it.

How To Read What Your Dog Is Saying

Dogs are certainly one of the most popular pets in the planet. Who wouldn't fall in love with a dog? They are known for their loyalty and their ability to have fun. Whereas cats will lie down by your feet and have themselves scratched to the point of sleeping, dogs will engage you with their different antics and games. However, in order to have a good and meaningful relationship with your pet doggy, it is important that you are able to communicate with him and understand much of his behavior. After all, dogs, just like humans, have their own individual personalities.

Know His Bark

Just as we humans use different tones when speaking to other people, so do dogs have different barks. That is why it is important for you, as a dog owner, to be familiar with your dog's different barks. There are barks that will indicate playfulness, some that will indicate his willingness to do an activity such as taking a walk, and yet, there is that specific bark that will indicate that he is worried about some imminent danger lurking nearby.

Check out the tail and the ears

It is a known fact that in order to see just how friendly your dog is at the moment, all you need to do is observe his tail. A wagging tail usually indicates playfulness or a friendly attitude. However, if the tail is tucked and a bit rigid, you should be a bit more cautious since this may indicate that he is a bit on the worried side of things. If the tail us upright stiff or with a bit of a quiver, then chances are that he is in a highly aggressive mood and that he is willing to attack and defend hist territory at any given time.

The ears also serve as an indication of what your dog is trying to say. With a dog's ears of but not placed forward and stiff, this often means that your dog is in a very relaxed state. However, just as we humans frown at something when we get mad or even disagree, so do your dogs ears. When a dog's ears start stiffening and going upright, then chances are that your dog is in a very uncomfortable and worried state.

Sniffing out of curiosity

When a dog is uncertain about something he encounters, he usually stretches out his neck and starts to sniff. This is not a sign of fear but rather of uncertainty as your dog starts to observe and process the thing that he sees nearby. Just as we try to assess situations which we are uncertain of, so does your dog.

There are many body languages which are associated with a dog's behavior. However, probably the best way to really know your dog is to observe his mannerisms as he goes through his daily routines. Eventually, you and he would have established a comfortable way of communicating which could lead to a very meaningful and long-lasting relationship.

Why Is My Dog Aggressive Towards Other Dogs?

One of the more complex and hard to understand behavior of dogs is their tendency to be aggressive even to their own kind. Sometimes, it may even come to a point where the aggressive behavior can be quite hard to control. There may be many factors which can lead to such a problem. In fact, this aggressive tendency may even show at a very early age when your dog is still in his puppy years. Think of it as the start of the "terrible twos". What could be the possible reasons behind Fido turning into a monster

Medical Reasons

One of the reasons which may be behind your doggy's rough behavior is an underlying medical problem. Chemical imbalances, for one, can be largely to blame. Other medical reasons may be as follows:

. Hypothyroidism or a less active thyroid gland 

. Distemper 

. Low blood sugar 

. Epilepsy 

. Presence of a brain tumour 

. Head trauma

It's Just The Breed

Clearly, there are some breeds that behave more aggressively as compared to others. Some are just born with that kind of temperament. Most of them have a protective tendency, hence the aggressive behavior. Examples of these kinds of breeds are the Doberman, Rottweiller and Akita.

The Pack Attitude

Dogs, by nature, recognize that they are part of pack. Unfortunately, being part of a pack also means that someone has to be the leader or the alpha-male. It is this instinct which may somehow lead into a dog being aggressive towards another. This is most especially if you have two or more dogs of the same age and sex. Oftentimes, this will involve the need of one dog to be the head of the group.

Along with the need to be a leader comes the need to protect one's territory. Dogs do not appreciate it really if someone invades their space. Another dog who happens to be a stranger to him can really rub him the wrong way thus leading to another problem when it comes to aggression.

Poor Socialization Skills

Just as there is a need to teach a child socialization skills, so is there to expose a dog to different kinds of environment and other dogs as well. This is usually best when a dog is still at a young age wherein he can still be developed. The best time would probably be around 3 to 14 years of age when the dog has his senses fully developed and he is able to get to see more of his surroundings.

Past experiences

Dogs do have memory. When a dog, especially during the early years, encounters a bad experience from another dog, he may start to develop certain fears which may lead to aggressive behavior.

Whatever the reasons are, especially if they are not medical in nature, it is important to take note that this behavior should be corrected early on and not tolerated. As has been often said, it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks.

Q and A's for a Dog-Friendly Vacation

Going on holidays? Good news, you don't have to leave your dog at home. More and more hotels are welcoming four-legged guests and you can even choose from a wide variety of canine-centered vacation adventures. This article answers some of your questions about taking your dog on vacation with you.

How do I find pet-friendly hotels?

All major chains have select properties that allow you to bring your dog or cat, including:

• Hilton Hotels
• Best Western
• Comfort Inn
• Quality Inn
• Econolodge
• Marriott
• Holiday Inn
• Venture Inn
• Motel 6
• ....and many others.

Just go to the chain's main webpage and look for "pet friendly hotels;" you'll see which locations offer pet accommodations. Keep in mind, though, not all hotels in a chain have the same policies, so be sure and check carefully. And it's always worth getting confirmation in writing that your dog will be accepted.

Is there an extra cost to bring your dog to a hotel or motel?

Yes; nearly all hotels will ask you for an additional fee, ranging from $20 to $50 per stay, not per night. This charge is usually for extra clean up after you and your pet leave, including shampooing the carpet.

What if my dog barks a lot?

Most hotels reserve the right to "remove your dog from the room" if you leave him alone for long and he barks, disturbing other guests.

So if you're not comfortable leaving your dog alone in the hotel room while you're out exploring or enjoying your vacation, what to do? You could find a local doggie daycare, and check your pet in for the day or even book a grooming session locally.

How do I prepare for a long car trip with the dog?

First, ensure your dog is stowed securely in the vehicle; there are four ways to keep him from being a dangerous projectile in your car should you have an accident or even a sudden stop:

• get a special car harness for dogs - they're used in conjunction with your car's seatbelt system to keep your pet safe and secure
• if you have a sport utility type vehicle, you can buy a special barrier to keep him in the cargo area. However, this doesn't keep your dog really securely protected in case of an accident.
• use a portable dog crate in your vehicle, and attach it with your seatbelt system
• try one of the new booster seats for small dogs, with built-in seat belt or harness restraint

What should I pack for a car trip with my dog?

Lots of food and water of course. And don't forget the bowls! You'll also want to pack:

• an extra leash
• a few treats
• any medical information, your vet's name and number
• your dog's license and microchip info
• a small doggie first aid kit: gauze, antibiotic ointment, rubbing alcohol
• an old towel - in case you need to wrap him up
• a clean up kit - paper towels, disinfectant spray, plastic bags and twist ties... and wet wipes for you
• poop and scoop bags

My dog gets car-sick. What can I do?

There are some very good motion sickness medications available for your pet. Some are prescription based and you'll need to see your veterinarian. Others are all-natural or homeopathic solutions to nausea.

If your dog does tend to get sick in the car, make his pre-travel meal very light, and take plenty of rest stops.

In conclusion, with some extra planning you'll find that it's really lots of fun for everyone when you bring your dog on vacation!