Dog Zone Guru

There are few things more inconvenient and unsettling than finding out that your prized pet is harboring parasites. Fleas feast on the blood of their host, jumping from one life source to another and even becoming an itchy, scratchy nuisance to humans. Ticks are less mobile, but they often carry disease. Dealing with them can be tricky and precarious, and it’s not easy to get your dog to sit still while extracting a tick from his flank.

In the unfortunate event that your dog experiences a flea infestation, it’s time to dig out the flea and tick shampoo. Warm up a bath for the pooch and coax him into the water. Rubbing the shampoo into the fur without gloves allows for more control and precision. Be sure to cover every part of the body save the eyes with a thick lather. Finish by rinsing the animal clean and draining the water while he’s still in the tub. Then dry him off to the best of your ability. The water that gets shaken all over the house momentarily should be minimized that way.

The first thing to remember with dog obedience training is that positive reinforcement is the basis of any successful program. When the dog performs a trick or does as he is told, you should reward that behavior immediately with a treat or a pet. Bear in mind that most dogs are exceedingly food-driven; try to figure out which tasty treats your canine craves, and use them as an incentive.

Over time, the impulse to follow commands will become hard-wired into the dog’s mind. You won’t always have to reward the dog with food, nor will he continue to expect it after a while. Still, it’s important not to skimp on affection when your dog demonstrates good behavior. Just be sure to provide the reward almost instantaneously. Dogs don’t possess the same level of understanding about cause and effect that humans do.