Petsmu

Dogs are known to be an adventurous and fun seeking animal. With all that running around and sniffing, they sometimes find some passengers to that don’t even expect. Ticks are a blood sucking insect that will bury itself into your skin if you don’t take the measures to remove them.

Since your dog doesn’t have thumbs or hands, for that matter, to remove a tick from its fur. You, the owner, must help your canine buddy out.

First off, don’t try using any remedy or mythical method some untrained person has told you for removing ticks. For example, the ones which say you can remove a tick with a cigarette, cleaning fluid, petroleum jelly, or a burning match.

The idea is to remove the tick entirely, not in bits and pieces. Using those remedies you’ll irritate your dog’s skin and make it more difficult to remove the tick. Ticks have their mouth parts barbed and release a glue like substance to hold them in place while feeding.

In order to remove a tick safely and effectively, Use these 5 tips

1. Using a tweezer or tissue, gently grasp the body of the tick and pull directly away from the point of attachment. Do not twist or jerk it.

2. If the mouth parts break off in the skin, use a sterilized needle to remove as you would a splinter.

3. Wash the bite area with soap and water and apply an antiseptic, likes alcohol or hydrogen peroxide.

4. Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after removal.

5. Mark the date of the tick bite on your calendar. Watch for symptoms of disease from your pet in the upcoming weeks.

If you followed these steps promptly after you noticed the tick on your dog, you should notice no symptoms from the bite. If for any reason you do start noticing any symptoms, call or visit your local vet as soon as possible for more information. Continue Reading »

The good news about training a Havanese puppy is that they are eager to please and willing to learn. Because they are willing to please their owners, once they understand who is in charge in the home, they can be willing partners in a training program. There are very few Havanese problem behaviors that cannot be overcome with patience and a dedicated training schedule, but like newborn babies, they need to be in a daily routine in order to understand what is expected of them.

While Havanese puppies love attention, they thoroughly enjoy being the center of attention and if performing some tricks for their owner provides that attention, then they are willing to learn them. They are highly intelligent animals and quick to remember simple commands such as sit, stay and down and with the correct reinforcement of commands are more than willing to go along with directions. Once the chain of command has been established, Havanese training should be quick and painless.

Early training is important with Havanese dogs as they have a tendency to learn quicker when they are young. One of the characteristics of the Havanese breed that many folks find attractive is their small size. However, a small dog will also have a small bladder and can present one of the most Havanese problem behaviors that take time to overcome. They may be quite capable of understanding commands, but they have trouble holding in their need to go to the bathroom. It can take up to a year of steady working with the puppy to housebreak them.

Many Havanese owners believe that using cat litter in a box will help train the animal not to use the floor, but the puppy can become ill if they eat the litter. Most veterinarians and dog trainers recommend the use of paper pellets in a box that can attract a young Havanese pup, helping it to learn where to do his business. Although daily walks and running are needed for it to receive adequate exercise, it may not always do what comes naturally while outside. Training a new Havanese puppy can be exasperating at times as they may seem more interested in playing than in learning, but when they realize that their owner is happier with each new trick they learn, they become a more willing student. Havanese pups when left alone too long may start to entertain themselves, and that is not always a good thing as these frisky critters can have a destructive nature in their playing. Continue Reading »

Choosing a name for your dog is something that many people enjoy but others find it to be rather frustrating. It is usually best if they try to find out what the popular dog names are in order to give them a little bit of direction. Not only can they save them some of the frustration of deciding on a dog name, they may actually be able to think of one that they would not have considered otherwise.

According to some websites, the most popular dog names are Buddy, Max, Sadie, Jack, Daisy, Lucy, Lady, Charlie, Rocky and Duke. Of course, there are thousands of dog names that you can choose from, one of which is sure to make you happy. There are several different things that many people take into consideration whenever they are choosing a dog name. Although this may take them away from deciding on one of the popular dog names, it can fit the breed or the particular dog very well.

It is very important for your dog to be named early in life. This will help it to be able to recognize its name, which many of them will do very quickly. It still doesn’t hurt for you to have the dog around for a little while before you finally settling on a name. Some people have a name in mind and they may have been waiting for many years to call a dog by that name. Other people, however, like to watch the dog and learn a little bit about its personality before finally deciding to settle in and name the dog. It really is a personal choice on your part but by giving the dog an interesting name, one that fits in well with its breed and personality, you can draw back on that every time you call it. Continue Reading »