10 Dog Gone Crazy Halloween Costumes

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Finding the Perfect Vet for your Pet

In the life of your pet, choosing the right veterinarian might be the most important activity you undertake. Your vet is more than a medical expert for your pet. He or she is a person who will need to meet the needs of your pet and you. Finding a vet should not be something that you do at the last minute either. As a pet owner, you should probably start scoping out vets as soon as you get your pet or even before.

Where Do I Start?

The best way to start looking for a good vet is to talk to friends and family with pets. Recommendations from friends should give you a few options but you can also speak to local animal shelters, dog trainers, groomers, and pet sitters. The phone book can be a good resource but you may find that you end up with an overwhelming list. Talk to people you know and especially to people with a similar pet care approach. You probably want to compile a list of at least 4 or 5 vets that you can then meet to ask some questions.

Veterinarians should be more than happy to meet with you and answer any questions you have. You should also expect to have a tour of their facility and even to ask for some references. Many veterinarians work in a team with other professionals so you will also want an opportunity to speak to the staff. If a veterinarian or his/her staff is reluctant to accommodate these requests you should start looking elsewhere.

Qualities of a Great Vet

There are definitely certain qualities you want to see in your veterinarian and the offices where s/he works.

• Good pet skills AND good people skills - You want to see how your vet interacts with your pet and how your pet reacts. Is your pet calm and does your vet know what to do to put your pet at ease. Moreover, it is equally important that you are able to develop a good rapport with your vet. Your pet cannot tell the veterinarian what is wrong and will need you to be his voice. Be sure that you are confident and comfortable with your vet.

• Your veterinarian has clean, comfortable, and organized facilities - A look around a veterinarian's offices should tell you quite a lot about the quality of work that s/he does. If you find clean surroundings where you feel comfortable and you can see that work is conducted in an organized manner you have probably found a dedicated and professional veterinarian.

• The veterinarian provides a wide range of services - While this shouldn't make or break your decision for a veterinarian, you might want to be aware of what services are available. A veterinarian who can provide in-house x-rays, ultrasounds, blood work, and other diagnostic services will be more capable of handling an emergency situation.

• You can easily book an appointment - Finally, you want to know that while your veterinarian is popular, s/he is not so busy that you cannot make an appointment. You probably want you and your pet to feel like you're important to your veterinarian and that you receive a certain amount of personal service. A veterinarian that is constantly booked might not be best suited to meet your needs or the needs of your pet.

My Dog Barks Too Much. What Do I Do?

Your dog's barking can be more than just a little annoyance. Some dog owners will recognize many problems associated with barking including upset neighbors and lost sleep. One of the most important first steps to getting barking under control is to recognize why your dog is barking. For the most part, barking is a natural canine activity that occurs when your dog is scared, upset, frustrated, or lonely.

Types of Barking

Normal barking will normally fall into one of two basic categories. Barking for attention and barking out of frustration are two of the most common causes of barking.

Attention seeking - In many situations your dog is barking to get your attention. It is important to ensure that your dog is being fed properly, has easy access to water, and is able to get outside for toileting. When your dog is hungry or thirsty he will likely bark to try to communicate these problems with you. In a lot of cases you may find you can get barking under control by more carefully attending to your dog's needs. In addition, when dogs feel lonely or scared they will bark. Perhaps they are even barking to warn you of what they feel may be potential danger. Make sure you spend an adequate amount of time with your dog. Companionship is very important to them.

Barking out of Frustration - Obviously if your dog is unhappy he is likely going to try to express his discontent. Barking is their method of communication. Often if dogs are confined or continually leashed they will bark to try to tell you they don't like it. Moreover, because of their confinement they can often become more agitated by other dogs or people because their defenses are compromised. Unfortunately, it can be nearly impossible in some situations to allow your dog room outside to roam. In these cases, it might be best to bring your dog indoors overnight or to provide some kind of sheltered area that is out of view. A dog house or a kennel can be a good place for your dog to escape and this might relieve some anxiety thereby decreasing barking behavior.

Some Tips for Controlling Dog Barking

There are some simple activities that you can employ to help you get dog barking under control.

1. When you're away from home for long periods of time, ensure that your dog has sufficient food and water.

2. For outside dogs, it is important to give them an opportunity to learn about their environment. Walks around the neighborhood where the dog can familiarize himself with the common sights and sounds will allow your dog to feel more comfortable and will likely reduce barking.

3. Exercise is important. If your dog is not getting enough exercise he will become more easily agitated and in turn will bark more. Having a large yard for your dog to roam is not equivalent to having a well-exercised dog.

4. Give your dog something to do when you are not home. There are some excellent feeding toys which can be packed with food so that your dog has to work for his food while you're not home. This can be a great distraction to barking. In addition, if you leave your dog indoors consider turning on the television or radio so that he doesn't feel so lonely.

Finally, be sure to praise your dog whenever he stops barking. You can even use a verbal command, such as "stop barking" to train your dog not to bark. In this case it would be important to praise the dog whenever it responds to the command. Eventually, he will learn that not barking is the preferred behavior

Uber Cute Kitten Roundup: 8 Pics that are Guaranteed to Make You Go Awww.

Well folks I believe we've finally found something that's cuter than a picture of an adorable little kitten. 8 of them!

Photo by Editor B

Photo by Travis Hornung

Photo by Felipe Venâncio

Photo by izzyplante

Photo by Hitchster

Photo by Ainhoa P

Photo by poolie

Photo by Lachlan

How to Care for Your Cat's Claws

Caring for your cat's claws can be viewed from 2 distinct angles. First as part of the grooming process, it is important to trim your cat's claws. But also, managing your cat's claws is an important process as far as it relates to your cat's behavior. Cat owners are well aware of the consequences of cat claws. Cats can destroy furniture and draperies and as such it is important to care for their claws. While some owners will consider declawing their cat, to make their own lives easier, this is strongly discouraged. A cat's claws are actually important tools and especially important defense mechanisms. Not to mention the danger your declawed cat would encounter if it got out of your house, there is some evidence to show that cats can develop biting behavior when they have been declawed.

As such, it is best to learn how to properly groom your cat's nails as well as some behavioral techniques to prevent clawing at furniture and other objects around the house.

Trimming your Cat's Claws

As with any grooming behavior, it is best to begin trimming your cat's claws when they are kittens. This is because your kitten will become familiar with the behavior and will be less likely to struggle in the future. If you attempt nail trimming on an fully grown cat, they will probably try to fight the process and you'll end up with a scratch or two.

Nonetheless, here are some easy tips to follow that will make nail trimming much easier.

• Start with a relaxed or sleepy cat. Your cat will be less likely to struggle when they are tired.
• The first few times you clip your cat's nails it may be easier to work with a partner. One person should hold the cat while the other trims the claws.
• Do not proceed with trimming if your cat becomes overly anxious.
• Make sure you have the clippers handy when you begin trimming.
• Purchase high-quality, sharp nail clippers.

As far as the process of clipping is concerned, it is relatively straightforward.

• Clutch your cat firmly with one arm while holding his front paw with the same hand. Some owners will find wrapping their cat in a towel can help prevent struggle and possible scratching.
• Gently press the pad of your cat's paw causing the claws to lengthen.
• Look closely at the claw and you will notice the quick which is light pink region in the center of the claw. The quick is actually a blood vessel and there are nerve endings in this region as well meaning if you cut it you will cause pain to your cat and she will bleed.
• Quickly clip the tip of the nail being sure not to cut the quick.
• Cutting all your cat's claws should take no longer than 5 or 10 minutes once you get the hang of it. Be sure to reward your cat with a treat as he will learn to associate nail trimming with a reward and will eventually learn to be more relaxed during the process.

Behavioral Techniques

While nail trimming goes a long way to prevent your cat from scratching and destroying furniture, you can also work to train your cat to avoid this behavior all together. First of all, it is advisable to purchase a scratching post. Whenever your cat scratches the post rather than valuable furniture, give her a reward. Either praise or a treat should be sufficient.

Also, you'll want to discourage undesired behavior. You can spray areas where your cat tends to scratch with a citrus-scented deodorizer as cats do not like the smell. Alternatively, covering a scratching area with aluminum foil will also deter your cat.

3 Mistakes to Avoid when Leash Training Your Dog

Anybody who's tried to walk an unruly dog, especially large unruly dogs, can probably tell you about the importance of leash training. Not only for your own sanity but also for the safety of your dog, leash training is an important aspect of basic dog training. To avoid stressful walks where your dog pulls incessantly on the leash, this is crucial training.

Usually, leash training your dog will be a straightforward process. However, this newsletter will discuss the 3 biggest mistakes that owners make when attempting to leash train their dogs. Avoid these mistakes and the training process should be relatively easy.

Inconsistent Training Behavior

Any kind of dog training requires consistency not only in your rules but your reaction when your dog breaks your training rules. Inconsistent behavior from the trainer can be very confusing for your dog and will make the leash training process much more stressful. For example, if your dog commonly becomes aggressive toward bikers or even strollers you must consistently deter that behavior because dogs learn best from predictable patterns. Dogs will learn quickly from cause and effect relationships but the effects need to be the same. When your responses to your dog's behavior are inconsistent this makes punishment or reinforcement seem random to your dog and makes it difficult for them to learn.

An established leash training routine, with consistent rules, reinforcements and punishments is the most effective course of training.

A Lack of Patience

Ultimately, every dog is an individual who will learn at a different pace. Many dog owners can attest to the frustration they have felt from time to time when trying to leash train their dogs. Especially if you've had one dog that learned very quickly, you may find it more difficult to train a dog that isn't picking up on concepts so quickly.

As people, we naturally want to achieve goals quickly and if we are frustrated during the leash training process this can lead to impatience. In fact, often times dogs need rules demonstrated time and time again before they'll pick up on it. Leash training may require an extended period of time to achieve effectively. Furthermore, impatience often leads to inconsistency. If you are always hoping for immediate results this can cause you to abandon your training regime and this inconsistency will certainly confuse your dog.

Be patient with your dog and stick to your routine. Eventually, even the most difficult learners will become leash friendly.

Misunderstanding Your Dog

Many new dog owners will view the leash training processes as one sided. The owner tells the dog what to do and the dog responds. This can be a very destructive point of view when it comes to leash training. In fact, you and your dog are partners in the training process. As the trainer, you may be likely to take all the responsibility for training success or failure on your own without giving your dog any credit in the process. In fact, many owners will blame training techniques and strategies without considering the unique personalities of their dog. Every dog is different and as such leash training requires a flexible mind set on the part of the owner. Remember that your dog is an active participant in the training and sometimes certain techniques might not work. Be flexible and always have a backup plan and soon enough you and your dog can both enjoy relaxing walks together.

Doggies for Dummies: 35 + Resources for First Time Dog Owners

Photo by kimyoun9

Taking care of a new dog can be quite an undertaking, this can be even more so if you've never had the pleasure of owning one before. Many questions come up just as they do with any new undertaking. A great place to find answers to these questions is online, but then you face yet another problem, actually finding it. So we decide to make things a bit easier for our readers and gather all the resources that you may end up needing into one easy to find spot.

Finding the Perfect Dog

Photo by William Holtkamp

Tips on Adopting a Dog - A guide to the first few weeks with your new dog.
Before You Buy (or Adopt) - A great list of things to consider before you adopt a new dog.
How to Choose a Dog - Howstuffworks article on the many factors to consider before bringing a dog home.
What to Look For When Adopting a Dog - A video discussing the question "Should I adopt a puppy or a dog?"
Choosing a Dog - A great resource that dicusses everything you need to consider before.
How to Adopt a Dog - A great guide to adopting a dog from Mahoalo.com
Choosing Male or Female - Howtodothings.com helps you with choosing between a male and female dog.
Buying a dog? Beware of breeder - Very important information to consider before buying a dog from a breeder.
Find a dog breeder - Dog breeders search directory to help you find a purebred dog breeder in your area.

First Things To Consider

Photo by sndrspk

First Time Dog Owners - A list of articles specifically written for people bringing home a dog for the first time.
Puppies: Recommendations for New Owners - Good advice from the Quail Creek Veterinary Clinic on how to handle your new puppy.
Naming you dog - An awesome resource for anyone looking for dog names. Allows you to easily save potential names for review later.
Myths and facts about spaying and neutering - There is a lot of misconception about this subject. Check out this article to find out what is Myth and what is Fact.
The Economics Of Pet Ownership - Before bringing your new dog home you should get an idea of the potential costs that you will need to budget for. This article does a good job preparing you for that.
Essential Pet Supplies - A good list of items to get before you bring you new bundle of joy home.
30 Tips for Raising Puppies - 30 tips specifially for new puppy owners.

Bringing Your New Dog Home

Photo by Simon Davison

Bringing Your New Dog Home - A guide to help adopters start off on the right paw.
How to Get a Landlord to Accept Pets - Not sure your landlord will be ok with your new little friend? Check out these tips.
Housebreaking - Learn the key to successfuly housetraining your new dog.
How to Potty Train a Puppy - Advice on potty training specifically geared toward puppies.
How to Puppy Proof Your Home - Keep your puppy safe and avoid having your home damaged.
How to Build a Dog House - Give your new dog a nice little home of his own with this guide to building a dog house.
Housetraining - Advice from the Humane Society on housetraining your dog.
Easy, Inexpensive Dog Bed - Getting a new dog can be expensive, this guide will help you save some cash by teaching you to make your own inexpensive dog bed.
Prevent Your Puppy's Destructive Chewing - How to prevent your new puppy from tearing into the furniture, and everything else, once you get it home.
How to Surprise Your Children With a New Dog - eHow's 8 step guide to surprising you kids with a new dog.

Training Your Dog

Photo by laurgasms

Train an Untamed Dog - How to train a dog that has never had any obedience training before.
Body Language in Training your Dog - Learn about how using the proper body language while training your dog can make a big difference in the effect.
How to Leash Train a Dog - An excellent resource for anyone leash training their dog.

Emergencies and Veterinary Care

Photo by William Holtkamp

Holistic Vet List - The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Member Referral Search.
Finding a Good Vet - A few guidelines on selecting the right veterinarian.
Tips on Finding a Trained Holistic Veterinarian - List of resources for finding a holistic veterinarian.
Is it an Emergency? - An extreamly useful list of conditions that require immediate attention. The Emergency Veterinary Clinic of Cincinnati compiled this list of pet health emergencies.
Emergency Dog Health Care Videos - 15 videos at Expertvillage going over many common dog health emergencies.
Pet Insurance Shopping Tips - 16 Tips and Questions To Ask When Shopping For A Policy.

Keeping Everything Clean

Photo by ten safe frogs

Dog Grooming Tips - One of the best resources for learning about how to groom your dog. Make sure to check out the links in the aritlce, they are just as good a resource as the article itself.
Clipping a Dog's Claws (Toenails) - Vital guide for any dog owner who will be clipping their dogs toenails.
How to Clean Dog Urine - Good information to know, especially before your dog has been housetrained.
How to Remove Pet Hair - Wikihow's seven step guide on how to remove pet hair.