Dog Food Aggression - Is it a Myth?

While it seems like an obvious sign of distress, dog food aggression is a serious problem that is growing out of control in the United States. More shelter dogs are put to sleep thanks to this behavioral problem than any other. Personality tests consist of dog food aggression tests, and a failure means an automatic failure, even if every other aspect of the dog is perfectly acceptable. Aggression in all forms is unacceptable in our dogs but there are ways to prevent and cure it.

Preventative measures are highly recommended for any puppy or new shelter dog. Starting good behaviors right off the bat is an easier avenue than fixing bad behaviors once they are a problem. Leadership is a necessary element in curbing any dog's food aggression problems.

A dog that has been previously starved will have a much higher tendency toward dog food aggression than one that has always had a constant supply of food. Some dogs will figure out that they no longer have to guard their resources when they realize that they have security in the midst of everything else. Others need a reminder that they are not in charge.

Make sure before every feeding that your dog sits and waits for you to fill the bowl, put it down, walk away, and give him a command to eat. This lets him know that you are the boss of his food. Take precautions with a dog who has shown any type of aggression around food. Make sure that he receives his meals alone and in a quiet place. Children and other dogs are too unpredictable to help a dog get over his aggressive tendencies.

Do not feed the dog table scraps or any other form of people food. Keep him away from meal time for the humans. He needs a direct distinction between his food and yours. Do not permit children to run around with food around the dog.

He doesn't get to continue eating if he becomes aggressive. Take the food bowl away calmly without entering his eating space and correct his behavior immediately. Make him sit or lie down yet again. He must go through the entire command and release process each and every time if you are going to make progress. Getting angry or teasing him even just once will blow all of your hard work and you will be back beyond ground zero.

Make him sit and calm down before returning the bowl. Never use your hands. Push it back with the yard stick. In order to prevent this type of aggression, you should always make sure your dog is in the seated position and waits for you to release him before eating. This teaches him that you are the boss of when he eats, so being aggressive with you will never get him the meal he wants.

Make sure that you are not giving him mixed signals. Dog food aggression is a serious problem with devastating consequences. You have to be the one to remain consistent and keep training him to behave for his food. Over time you should start to notice that he understands that there is nothing for him to get worried about. If you are truly his leader, he will know that you will provide food for him.

What is the Best Kind of Toy For My Dog?

Let's face it; there are millions of different kinds and varieties of dog toys on the market. How do you know what to choose?

First, you need to decide what kind of toy you are going for. Are you looking for a cheap toy that your dog can destroy or are you looking for an indestructible dog toy that they can't? Are you looking for a challenging toy that will make them think and keep them busy or are you looking for a toy to be used in the water?

Cheap dog toys can be found anywhere, while they are good for a dog that just tears it up right away, wouldn't it make more sense to get a toy that is durable and lasts longer? While these durable toys may cost more initially, in the long run they are actually more cost effective because you buy less of them.

Durable Dog Toys are hard to find, but there are options out there. Toys such as the Goughnut as guaranteed, so even if your dog does destroy it, you can get a replacement one for free! Also Tuffy's brand dog toy have a scale of 1-10, 10 being the toughest. They are stitched many times so that your dog can not tear it apart. Dog toy made out of fire hose are also very tough and perfect for dogs that manage to chew through them a lot. There are also Tuff Balls tennis balls that are very durable and non toxic, unlike many dog toys out there.

Interactive dog toys are good for dogs that have a never stopping mind and need something to keep them busy. Toys such as the Treatstik and Canine Genius Leos are made to have food and treats put in them and then your dog has to work to get it out. The Nina Ottosson dog toys are puzzle dog toys that your dog has to work to get rewards. They come in many levels so whether your dog is a beginner or advanced, there is a level for them that will keep them occupied. The Hide a Toy series (puzzle dog toys) are good for dogs that like to tear apart toys- they allow you to put the toy back together after your dog thinks they have destroyed it!

Tug and fetching Toys need to be durable and long lasting. The Pentapulls from Doggles are a high quality toy that can stand up to the rigors of two dogs pulling on it. Water wubbas can be used for playing fetch on the lake; they are large and brightly colored!

Stuffing less dog toys are good for dogs that main purpose when they get a toy is to rip out all of the stuffing. They look just like an average dog toy, but they do not contain stuffing, thus dogs do not have the want to tear the toy apart and it will last longer.

How to Give Your Boston Terrier a Bath

Bathing needs not to be a difficult situation for either you or your dog. In fact my pair of Boston Terriers just love their bath time.

The first step is to prepare the bathroom. Lay out your shampoo and towels. Pull open the shower door or curtain.

The second step is to get the dog into the bathroom. I carry one of dogs to the bathroom and the other will follow me.

The third step is to get the dog into the bathtub. Often you will have to lift your dog in. I just pat the side of the tub and both my dogs will jump in.

The fourth step is to firmly grasp the shower head and point it away from the dogs.

The fifth step is to turn on the water. It should be warm but not hot. If you have bathed a baby before that is the right temperature.

The sixth step is to get the dog wet. With one hand, hold the dog's neck, and with the other the shower head. Slowly wet the dog. Be careful not to get water on the dog's face or in their ears. (I wash these with a damp cloth after I bathe them).

The seventh step is to turn the water off and put a small streak of doggy shampoo on their back. Never use human shampoo it may dry or irritate their skin.

The eighth step is to suds up the shampoo; work in slowly around their back. Next I wash the neck and front legs. Then I soap up the belly and back legs. Be very gentle around the dog's genitals and tail. These are very sensitive areas. Scrub firmly. Be sure to not miss any areas.

The ninth step is to rinse. Rinse and rinse again. You do not want to leave any soap on your dog.

The tenth step is to let the dog out of the tub. Let them shake.

The eleventh step is to take a damp cloth and wash the dog's face and ears. This is a very sensitive area so be extra gentle.

The twelfth step is to dry the dog with a towel. My dogs love this.

The last step is to let the dog out of the bathroom. My dogs run around like crazy. I usually take a bath next and rinse out the tub and sop up the floor.

Puppy Love - Dog Training Tricks

Got a new puppy? Excited to teach it how to sit, stay, fetch? Need a couple of dog training tricks to get your puppy to behave?

Taking care of a dog is a lot like taking care of kid. They're needy, helpless and quite clueless about everything. It takes a while for a dog to understand what you're trying to say to it ("No, pillows are for sleeping not chewing") and - unlike human babies - will never develop the capability to communicate with you through speech.

So, how can you possibly train your dog?

Remember the saying "it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks?" Well, that saying is very true. It is important that you start training your pup as soon as you can, otherwise it'll develop habits of its own that will be hard to break. I started training my dog a few days after I got him when he was less than three months old.

Dogs learn through good and bad experiences. That's why the "reward and punishment" system works best when dog training. If you want to teach your dog to sit, for example, make sure you have a bag of treats ready.

Hold a treat in your hand and hold it up at the dog's eye level, close enough for him to see it and far enough so he won't be able to snap at it. Say "sit" firmly. Raise the treat higher up until the dog assumes a sitting position. When he sits, reward him with the treat. Repeat until he learns to sit even without you holding a treat.

Once your pup has learned how to listen to you, start introducing some dog training tricks. Fetching sometimes comes naturally to some dogs, while others need to learn how to fetch. Take your dog to a fenced in yard and give him some treats while showing him how to run after the ball.

Other dog training tricks to start with are roll-over, paw-shaking, and playing dead. Always offer positive reinforcement and reward them with treats.

Finding the Perfect Beagle Puppy

When looking for your perfect beagle puppy, there are certain characteristics desirable to this breed. While all puppies are adorable, finding one with positive characteristics will help make sure you have a healthy and beautiful dog. Whether a pet quality animal or a show dog, the ideal characteristics in a puppy help ensure that the dog is true to its breeds abilities.

HEAD

The beagle head is a slight dome shape, somewhat wide. It should have a defined stop, and not be snippy or pointy.

EARS

Long, rounded ears like the "Puppy in the Window" make the beagle distinguished from other breeds. They will hang close to the cheeks. When buying a puppy, check inside the ears for redness, odor, or marks. These might indicate an infection.

EYES

The ideal colors of the eyes are hazel to dark brown, with a friendly expression. There shouldn't be any yellow or red around the eyes.

COAT

As a hunting dog, the beagles coat should be dense and waterproof. Even though it is short, it will be rough when you touch it, and it sheds.

BODY

The conformation of the beagle should be a line that runs straight on top, from the withers to the tail. There will be well-sprung ribs, which makes sure the dog stays balanced.

TAIL

The beagle tail should not curl over the back, nor hang down. The ideal dog will have a long tail that is carried high, completely covered with hair (but not feathered hair).

When looking for a beagle puppy, you should always ask to see the parents, since it's so difficult to get an accurate assessment of a puppy in growing stages. Using a reputable breeder that has dogs in clean and safe conditions, along with recommendations, are the best way to find a dog for your pet or showing needs.

How to Care For Goldfish - 3 Stages of Caring For Goldfish

How to care for goldfish can be explained like doing a puzzle. If you are doing a puzzle, your desired outcome is to have a nice puzzle, and nice it needs to be. You don't want pieces to be on the wrong place, otherwise your puzzle will not be like it needs to be, you will not see what you want to see.

Caring for goldfish is the same, it's putting small pieces together. And the desired outcome can be healthy looking goldfish in a nice looking aquarium with nice plants, some nice accessories, rocks and many more things. When you do your puzzle, you probably know how it will look like because you've seen the front of the box. When you want to care for goldfish, you probably also know what you want, if I would ask you why you want a goldfishes, could you describe it for me?

That's a nice looking tank you want!!!

Stage 1

But to have a nice looking tank with healthy fish you need to know how to care for goldfish, you need to put the pieces together. Like in a puzzle, the first piece is already done, you know you want a nice looking tank with healthy fish. Now you need to know what kind of goldfish you want. There are different kinds of goldfish, and some of them can't be in the same tank.

The next step in stage 1 is to decide where you want to place your tank, and how big the tank needs to be. Don't place the tank in direct sunlight, air-conditioning vents, and heaters or it will influence the water temperature, the sun can warm up the water and that's not good for your goldfish.

When you decide all these things it's time for the next stage.

Stage 2

Now it's time to buy your equipment and aquarium, you will need a heater, filter, lights, gravel, food and a net to transfer the fish when needed.

After you bought everything it's time to install all of it. Be sure to wash the gravel with gravel washer. And buy only aquarium-safe products, because many things can be toxic for your goldfish.

Stage 3

At stage 3 you buy your goldfish, and put them in the tank with the floating method.

Now you have your beautiful goldfish aquarium. But that's not all, until now it was all easy, now comes the fun.

Maintaining your tank, now you will need to:
- maintain the water quality,
- feed your fish right, always at the same time and don't overfeed them,
- watch out for diseases,
- change weekly until 25% of the water, and
- wash every 2 weeks the whole aquarium.

But the most important part of all is to keep the water clean. Most goldfish diseases are caused by bad water quality. If you keep the water clean you will prevent most goldfish diseases and your goldfishes will for many years.

What You Need to Know About Koi Pond Filtration

The filter is the heart of your Koi pond. Koi pond filtration is the single most important function performed in your pond! It is what keeps the water clear and healthy for your fish.
One surefire method for having a Koi pond that fails is to spend all your hard earned money on installing a beautiful pond and then trying to save money on your filter.

A Koi pond filter serves two purposes. First, it serves as a mechanical filter that removes the organic waste produced by your fish along with anything else in the pond that would cloud the water.
Secondly, it serves as a biological filter by converting the ammonia produced by the fish into nitrites and eventually into nitrates which are less harmful to your Koi. Some filters are very high maintenance and require constant attention while others are quite easy to maintain.
The first thing you need to know when it comes to Koi pond filtration is that you can never have too big a filter. When selecting a filter, choosing one that is slightly large for your pond can turn out to be a very wise investment!
For any pond over 1000 gallons it is wise to use a pressurized biological sand or bead filter that can be back washed. There are pros and cons to each.
During the backwash portion of the operation sand, since it is heavier than water, falls to the bottom of the tank instead of flowing out through the valve with the waste. Plastic beads,since they are lighter than water, float to the top. As they are smaller than the valve-strainer's holes, they get washed out through the valve into the waste stream. More and more beads are lost during each backwash operation.
Bead filters also have limited efficiency. Smaller beads have more surface area for good bacteria colonization, but tend to get flushed out during the backwash procedure. This doesn't happen to the larger sized beads, but they have less surface area and thus are unable to filter as efficiently.
By under-loading the sand filters, and backwashing them more frequently with higher pressures and flow rates, you can take advantage of the greater food processing surface areas, while eliminating the chance of plugging. Many manufacturers recommendations for loading sand tend to be too high.
This causes the sand to plug the filter which is the main drawback of sand as a filtration medium.
Up-flow and gravity flow filters need to be cleaned regularly and it is a filthy job. The filter media is packed with rotting organic matter and foul odored fish waste.
As you clean and handle all the various parts of these filters you will find small, white feces-eating worms crawling on your hands and arms. Add to this the ambiance of the offensive odor described above and you don't exactly have nirvana!
The up-flow and gravity flow filters, though inexpensive to make, cost a fortune to purchase. So, in addition to paying a premium price to buy one, you are also spending so much time and labor that you might as well have paid at least twice the price!
If you use a pressurized filter, all it takes is the turn of a handle for 2 to 3 minutes and the filter is clean. Almost like magic! This saves lots of time, inconvenience, labor, mess, and wear and tear on your Koi. It uses slightly more electricity to operate a pressurized pump, but the savings in labor more than make up for it in most pond owner's eyes!
You can also use the waste water for your plants. It is packed with nitrogen and works even better than many of the fertilizers created especially for this purpose!
As you can see,to find the type that is right for you, you have several decisions to make about Koi pond filtration.

Freshwater Aquarium Plants - Why You Want Live Ones

Live freshwater aquarium plants assist in maintain the natural balance in your tank. Simultaneously they do a lot for the aquascape. These inhabit plants can stipulate the water in the aquarium by taking away carbon dioxide in addition to as sulfur substances. They likewise further the development of bacteria to help get rid of other permissive waste in the tank. This natural filtration breaks up ammonium hydroxide into a lesser extent adverse substances that live plants utilize as food. Plants will utilize these nitrites and nitrates as a source of more demanded nitrogen for themselves.

I am certainly everyone has heard of photosynthesis. This is the method where plant life use light to produce food inside themselves and emit oxygen in the process. This is really valuable in holding the water in the tank for your fish. Just think once you switch off the light in the aquarium and it becomes dark, those plants will invert the process and ingest oxygen and emit carbon dioxide similar to your fish's breathing process.

Live plants may likewise be a food source for some species of fish that likes a large number of vegetation in their diet. Of course this entails that you may have to continue replacing the vegetation if your fish experience a big appetite.

You might also discover your fish's color is brighter in a naturally planted aquarium and those live plants will likewise give them many more sense of security. A healthy planted aquarium will furnish a little protection for pregnant fish attempting to break loose from the more combative males. Simultaneously it allows shelter for the smaller timid fish and those fragile, long-finned fish.

Live plants can supply additional, more pleasurable dimension to your fresh water aquarium. as you gain experience, you can expand your knowledge of live freshwater aquarium.

The Truth Why Algae Eaters Are Great Fresh Water Aquarium Fish

Algae eaters are an outstanding add-on to any aquarium but its best to wisely or you may regret your decision to introduce them to fresh water aquarium.

Algae eaters are used to help control algae. They are great fish to clean up the bits and pieces of algae that are inevitable. Algae is a typical product of fish keeping usually caused by build up of nitrates in water. However prevention is a key when it comes to controlling algae.

To cease algae progress you need a strategy to preclude instead of treat algae. You are unlikely to ever be without algae altogether, what you are shooting to do is maintain it at a satisfactory level. Plants inside your fish tank will consume nitrates allowing little for algae to feed upon.

Algae eating fish will help to deal with the rest. So which ones are best and which ones come with a health warning.

Depending upon the size of your aquarium, the planting and the fish that you already have, some algae eaters will be best suitable to your fish tank than others. So once you have decided on what types of algae eaters you will buy, you might want to think about adding some snails or shrimp to deal with other types of algae.

The Siamese Algae eaters are capable of growing up to about five inches in length and ideally they need to be kept in pairs which require them to be held open in a aquarium that is a minimum of about twenty five gallons. They will fit better with most aquariums and eat on brush algae off plants without eating up the plants. They do however have a healthy appetite and are not crabby eaters, tidying the tank of any food that finds its way to the bottom.

Breeding Discus Fish - Best Practices

Breeding discus fish is truly the very next step in the development of your pastime with these entrancing creatures. If you are enterprising enough to do it, you can get some very galvanizing results. Seeing that first discus fish that you know you helped to create can provide you with an awesome sense of achievement. Then there are the different colours that can come out of these tiny fish that are just superb when they are selectively bred.

While this is often extremely rewarding, it may also be quite tedious and there's much to learn before starting. For instance, discus fish are used to being in groups so when working on getting them to reproduce, you do not want to put only 2 discus in your tank, or they will feel a little out of a sorts.

You must have a new tank for breeding your discus fish. A twenty gallon tank should do the job. You need to keep this tank extremely clean and tidy. Some plants placed in there to give them room to cover up will be fine. You are also going to need a slate or another vertical surface for them to be ready to lay their eggs on.

As I pointed out, you will need to keep the tank extraordinarily clean and to have the right temperature. To keep the water clean, change some of the water each day. Usually twenty-five to fifty percent will keep you in fine shape. Also make efforts to not leave any fragments of food in your tank when you change some water out. With reference to the water temperature, the perfect temperature for breeding discus fish is about 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

Keep an eye on the astringency of the water too. Ensure that your discus fish are getting everything that they need to keep fit and happy. If you are feeding them during mating, ensure you select a food that may provide them with all of the nutrient elements they require as malnourishment will only cause to make you annoyed at why the breeding process isn't working.

You will need to have another tank to keep the babies in so they may not get some of the bugs that some adults have. When you get your first baby discus, you'll be wanting to ensure that you understand about feeding and ensure that the babies have everything they need to grow and develop.

Do not feel bad if your first try isn't successful. Breeding discus fish can take you a little while to get it down and worked out. If you aren't getting it the first time, go do more research and see whether you can find what you probably did inaccurately.

Maybe make yourself a check list from your studies to insure that you do not forget anything when you are making an attempt to make them mate.

Breeding discus fish can be an extraordinarily rewarding experience and for the entrepreneurial hobbyist, can make you some cash on the side when you get good at it. Just remember the things that I have told you here and you will do just fine.