Building A Bond with Your Dog

Having a good relationship with your dog means taking responsibility, as the owner, and provide them the best care. First, you need to establish non-violent dominance and discipline rules, which will make the dog feel comfortable and safe. Taking care of your dog’s health by properly feeding them and bringing them to the vet regularly is also a key component of a good relationship. Not least, playing and spending time together regularly is also vital to have the best possible relationship.

Discipline your dog. Establish non-violent domination. It is important to assert your leadership over your dog, right from the beginning of your relationship, without the use of physical force. Dogs need consistent structure and discipline to feel safe and comfortable in your home. Without them, their behavior can become unjust and unpredictable (for example, aggressiveness, hyperactivity).

dog training Colorado

Train your dog. Training your dog to respond to commands is a great way to bon with them and ensure easier communication. Teach your pet basic commands – “Sit”, “Stay”, “Lay down”, “Heel” and “Come here” – using correction and reward (non-violent) – correction of should only involve firm speech, not anger or physical force.

If you encounter problems with training your dog, turn to a dog training Colorado professional.

Use positive reinforcement. As a means of encouraging good behavior, strongly reward them for creating positive associations with being obedient. Rewards should include praise, caress, toys and treats. Do not use harsh punishments for bad behavior. Reprimanding your dog can be effective if you catch them in the act of doing something wrong. Simply say “No!”, in a clear and firm way. Overreacting will only scare the dog and make them lose confidence in you, in which case your bond will suffer.

Exercise with your dog. Exercise improves mental and physical health for dogs and owners alike, and promotes better sleep, digestion and behavior. How much exercise a dog requires depends on its breed, but, as a general rule, the dog should be getting at least 30-60 minutes of exercise per day. In addition to daily walks, try jogging with your pet or hiking outdoors.

Play with your dog. This is a great way to have fun and maintain a good relationship with your pet. There are games that dogs play almost instinctively, such as Fetch or Tug of War, but you can go beyong and try other games too, in order to keep things fun and varied. For example, play hide and seek! During the game, the dog will be very attentive to your voice, and the game will work both their brains and their senses. Many dog trainers in Colorado also recommend obstacle races, with the help of which you can practice the basic training commands.

Be affectionate. Petting your dog regularly can improve your bond and reduce stress for both of you. Living in a family has been proved to reduce heart and cortisol levels in shelter dogs. Use praise and caress as often as possible to strengthen the good behavior of the dog and improve their confidence.

What to Look for in Pet Diapers

pet diapers

Adopting a pet is, in many ways, like welcoming a baby into your house. They need to be litter trained. And until they learn where their toilet is, or signal that they want to go outside to do their business, accidents may happen.

In this situation, until your pet is fully trained, you do what you do with babies: you put a diaper on them. Yes, there are diapers for pets, especially dogs and cats. And they are useful during various moments in their life.

When Should You Put Diapers on Your Pet?

There are special diapers for puppies and kittens. They are properly sized to fit their tiny bodies and will save you a lot of scrubbing the carpets and floors while you litter train them.

However, pets may need diapers when they grow up as well. For instance:

  • Adult males who are not neutered and leave their scent around the house
  • Adult females who are not spayed and bleed when they are in heat
  • Old pets that have become incontinent.

Thus, if you want to keep your house smelling pleasantly with a pet living in it, then pet diapers are life savers. Now, let us show you how to find the right type of diaper for your pet.

  1. Type of Diaper Depending on the Gender

When it comes to dogs, there are different models of diapers for males and females. The male version is designed to be wrapped around their middle and help them urinate comfortably. They are larger than diapers for females.

Diapers for females are useful in many ways. Apart from keeping your house clean, it absorbs the specific smell of a female in heat, so that it does not attract the unwanted attention of males when you are taking your pet out for a walk.

  1. Type of Lining

Although they have furs, pets have sensitive skins, just like us. And they can suffer from diaper rashes, too. This is why you should always pay attention to the lining of the diaper. It must be soft, especially on the edges going around the legs of the pet.

Also, just like with babies, once the diaper is wet, it must be changed immediately. Dogs and cats are very careful about their cleanliness and will not tolerate a dirty diaper on their body.

  1. Size

When we refer to size, we do not mean only in terms of age. There are, indeed, diapers for puppies and kittens and diapers for adult pets. But dogs, for instance, can vary in size from breed to breed.

This is why you need to buy the right size for your pet, using this list as guidance:

  • Size X-Small: puppies and small breeds, such as Chihuahua – 4-8 lbs weight
  • Size Small: Maltese, Pekingese, Jack Russell – 8-15 lbs weight
  • Size Medium: Beagle, Pug, Cocker Spaniel – 15-35 lbs weight
  • Size Large: Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Dalmatian, Collie – 35-55 lbs weight
  • Size X-Large: Doberman, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Boxer – 55-90 lbs weight.

Just like with diapers for babies, make sure you dispose of your pet diapers in a responsible and environmentally friendly manner.

Important Questions to Ask When Interviewing Baltimore Veterinarians

Choosing the right specialist to trust your pet to, in the case of regular checkups, illness, or emergency situations may seem challenging, but things become easier if you know the right questions to ask.

Anytime you look for a specialist, you should consider making appointments and interviewing more than one person in order to be able to compare and choose what is best for you. Write down your questions, just to make sure that you do not forget anything and be prepared to take notes, if necessary.

So, here is the information that you should try to find out during the preliminary interviews with Baltimore veterinarians.

  • In which consists your veterinary training and experience? Are you also specialized in a veterinary area or in a type of pets?
  • Do you have your own small practice or do you work in a bigger veterinary clinic/ hospital?

Small practices may benefit from the expertise of a very good vet that you will work with all the time however they often lack investments in the latest technology. On the other hand, a large practice is typically equipped to offer all kind of medical services, but you might not see the same vet all the time. It is up to you to decide which alternative is the right one for your needs.

  • What are your hours? Do you also offer emergency services?

Baltimore animal hospital facilities typically offer emergency services, but things can be different when it comes to vets who own a small practice. However, even if a vet is not equipped to provide emergency care, he/ she must still know how to respond in such situations and be willing to sending you to a referral partner. Also ask if you will be provided access to 24-hour care if your pet will need it, even if not at your veterinarian`s facility.

  • What are your office’s capabilities?

Considering that most medical veterinary hospitals are well-equipped to provide all kind of services, this question is, again, mostly for vets owning small practices. Accidents happen all the time and it is essential to know whether your vet`s office is capable of handling different situation or you will be redirected somewhere else, on a regular basis. Ask about basic surgery, in-house laboratory, X-rays and anything else that seems important to you.

  • Will my pet be comfortable in the waiting room?

The waiting room of a medical veterinary center should be large enough to allow animals to feel safe and as comfortable as possible. Some of them allow cats and dogs in separate places, which is definitely a pro.

  • How much cost your services?

There may be cost difference between clinics, even for basic things like vaccines. More complex procedures involve even greater variation, so it would not be realistic not to consider them, at least as one of the factors involved in your choice.

  • What payment options do I have?

Baltimore veterinarians typically accept both cash and credit cards, but remember to ask if they also provide personalized payment plans for extra large bills.

  • Which types of pet insurance do you accept?