May
10

Housebreaking Tips For Great Danes

Posted under Pets

by RICHARD CUSSONS

Housebreaking a Great Dane can be a discouraging task especially if you are dealing to an adult one. But never let discouragement hinder you in housebreaking your Great Dane for this is one of the most important parts of his life. A well-trained dog rarely or never commits accident and thus loved for that. No matter how discouraging, you will definitely not be discouraged if you know the training progresses and will achieve successful training results in no time. Try to adhere some tips below to help you achieve results that you desire- a well-trained dog and a stain-free carpet…

- Start the training at an early age. Puppies are easier to train since they do not have undesirable habits to unlearn. Supervise and observe them closely for signs prior to urinating or defecating.

- Establish a schedule of feedings and potty trips. This is ideal in controlling the times he has to eliminate and prevent accidents in the house. Take him outside as soon as he wakes up in the morning, after meals, after naps, after taking him out of his crate, before bedtime and if he whimpers in the night.

- Accidents do happen along the way. If in case accidents happen, clean the area as soon as you can to prevent future accidents from happening in that very same spot. Never punish your dog (rubbing his nose in the area, spanking him in the rear or yelling at him) because of accidents! He may not understand why he is being punished three hours after he committed an accident. If caught him in the act, do something to distract him, a loud clap will do.

- Seek the aid of crates. Contrary to what others believe that using a crate is cruelty to animals, it is a remarkably reliable aid in housebreaking considering a dog’s den instinct and will as much as possible try not to soil their dens.

- Remember the word “praise”. A dog’s greatest happiness is having his owner’s attention and love. Let your Great Dane know that you love him and you appreciate what he is doing by giving him lots of praise along with your gentle stroke.

- Another word to remember is “patience”. Do not expect a dog to learn overnight. Training may take some time, perhaps days or weeks before he can really master the craft. Just be patient and hold on to the belief that your gentle giant will do better in due time.

credit by : www.amazines.com

The Healing Power Of Your Family Pet

Posted under Pets

There are some very good reasons that Americans share their homes with approximately 68 million dogs and 73 million cats and spend about 34 billion dollars a year on their animal companions. Why the love affair with pets? Well, for one reason, there is significant scientific evidence that pets not only help reduce the amount of time we spend at the doctor s office, but they also improve the quality of our lives and increase our longevity! For Baby Boomers and Seniors, in particular this is very good news!

It has long been acknowledged that our pets bring us many gifts and life lessons - friendship, companionship, unconditional love, loyalty, acceptance and forgiveness.
Children, as well as adults and seniors have always shared a special bond with animals. Dogs, cats, horses, birds, among many others, become our brothers, sisters, and best friends. For many older men and women who are widowed, divorced or separated from human family members and friends and who are alone and lonely, these animal companions become their “children” and beloved members of the family.

Older adults trust and confide in their animal companions. A pet supplies security, a safe haven and comfort zone, in which we can let down our guard and truly be ourselves without worrying about how we look or act or appear to others. And an animal companion doesn t judge, blame or criticize us. It loves and accepts us just as we are. It is loyal and empathetic and stays close and supportive during hard times. It is beside our side when we are ill or sad or depressed. The animal is there for us no matter how stressful, difficult or challenging one s life becomes. In addition, for both children and adults and particularly the elderly, pets fill a basic human need to love and nurture.

Family pets also make us feel useful and needed. They encourage us to engage in life more actively as the pet depends upon its family for food, exercise and medical care. They entertain and amuse us - they provide fun and laughter simply by being genuinely who they are. They seem to understand our feelings and attempt to accommodate them. They enable us to have someone nonjudgmental with whom to talk and communicate. They tend to bring us closer together as families as they share so much of our lives with us - day in, day out, holidays, vacation time - even when we re having a meal, reading, talking on the phone, watching television, and so on.

But the benefits of pet ownership do not end here. Animals may serve as a uniting thread in a family that is undergoing significant lifestyle changes. For example, families experiencing Empty Nest or Retirement as their children go off to college or on to marriage and families of their own may experience loneliness, depression, anxiety a sense of loss and purposelessness which the comforting presence of animal companions can decrease or even help eliminate. A pet s presence may help ease these transitions.

There are many physiological as well as psychological benefits associated with pet ownership. The simple act of petting an animal friend has proven to be of significant physical and psychological benefit. His presence has a calming effect. Blood pressure is reduced. Heartbeat is improved. Resistance to disease is heightened and tension is decreased. Our animal companions reduce stress, fear and anger. They also decrease loneliness and depression. As we get older, these pets can also offer us a sense of well being, encouragement, support and friendship. Loving and caring for an animal companion helps us to remain active and stay healthy. They may even provide us with a new purpose in life and a reason for living.

Our animal companions provide us with so many gifts. They serve as our friends, teachers, healers and guides. They teach us patience, loyalty, grace and gratitude. Most importantly, they teach and bring us the most precious gift life has to offer - that of unconditional love.

DIANE POMERANCE Ph.D. is the author of six highly acclaimed books and numerous articles. She is an internationally recognized pet expert who has been interviewed on countless radio and television programs, newspapers and magazines.

The Healing Power Of Pets

Posted under Pets

Do you often feel sad? Lonely? Alone? Depressed? As though you didn t have a friend in the world? That the burdens of life rest upon your shoulders? Are these feelings often accompanied by lethargy, lack of energy or vitality, overall weakness or fatigue, physical unrest or discomfort? Did you know that a pet might be able to help you to cope with or even overcome these challenges and actually help “heal” you mentally, physically and emotionally?

It s true! There is extensive scientific data and evidence indicating that pets are natural born healers who not only improve the quality of our lives but also increase our longevity. Animal companions provide physical and emotional well being. In fact, the simple act of petting an animal friend has proven to be of significant physical and psychological benefit. His presence has a calming effect. Heartbeat is improved. Blood pressure is reduced. Our resistance to disease is heightened, and tension is decreased. Even cholesterol levels are improved, and animal owners (”pet parents”) pay fewer visits to doctors and hospitals. Our animal companions reduce stress, fear and anger. They also decrease loneliness, anxiety and depression.

According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), scientists have studied the pets-and-health bond for quite some time. Rebecca Johnson, a Professor of Gerontological Nursing at the University of Missouri has presented findings that suggest that interaction with pets may minimize or even reverse some of the damaging cell changes that occur naturally with aging. According to Professor Johnson, levels of endorphins, serotonin and prolactin - elements that can enhance feelings of well-being - increased in study participants during interaction, while cortisol levels (stress hormones) decreased.

Not only does interaction with pets decrease stress and related cardiovascular illnesses, but caring for a pet has practical daily benefits. For example, having a dog increases the likelihood of regular outdoor exercise. Daily walking provides well-known benefits for cardiovascular health and fitness. Walking a dog may also offer socialization with other dog or pet owners. Also, the opportunity to nurture and serve as a caregiver to another living creature offer the pet parenthood a sense of fulfillment and may even provide a reason for getting up in the morning. Indoor pets also provide significant benefits. A study published in the Journal of the American geriatrics Society reported that senior citizens who own pets are less likely to be depressed, are better able to tolerate social isolation and are more active than those who do not own pets, regardless of the type of pet owned.

Our animal companions also serve as a link to Nature and through Nature our spirits are elevated. We receive comfort, solace and renewal through the natural world of which our animal companions, are, of course ambassadors. They remind us of the beauty, power, complexity and wonder of the natural world. Sadly, too many of us have lost awareness of this relationship- our connectedness to all living beings. We are, instead, bombarded and overwhelmed by technology. Our lives are too often detached from one another, and our relationships are too often impersonal. We can get close with our pets who accept us just as we are and without judgment. We can let down our guard, share our secrets and allow ourselves to trust our pets. We can be genuinely who we are without facade or pretension. Our animal companions offer us unconditional love, loyalty and affection and keep us “grounded” helping us to reassess our priorities and to put matters in perspective.

Pets, through their playfulness, joie de vivre and spontaneity, have a soothing and therapeutic effect on their owners. Their presence and very essence reveal the life force, the creative force, the energy and vitality that exist in all of us. Even if we are unable to find inspiring relationships among other people, we find genuine love, friendship companionship, loyalty and camaraderie through the animals we adopt.

Through our animal companions we learn many invaluable lessons about life and death and the aging process. They serve as teachers, guides, helpers and healers. They accompany us on our life journey and through life s triumphs and defeats as well as our joys and sorrows. Perhaps it is time for you to consider adopting one of life s greatest sources of love and happiness.

DIANE POMERANCE received her Ph.D. in Communications in 1979 from the University of Michigan, and has written the highly acclaimed children s nonfiction book on pet loss, “When Your Pet Dies” which teaches children how to cope with and recover from the loss of a beloved companion animal as well as those inevitable losses in life. She is also the author of “Animal Companions: Your Friends, Teachers & Guides”, “Animal Companions: In Our Hearts, Our Lives & Our World.”, Animal Elders: Caring About Our Aging Animal Companions”, “Finding Peace After the Loss of a Loved Animal Companion”, and her most recent book “Pet Parenthood: Adopting the Right Animal Companion for You.” Dr. Pomerance counsels those mourning the loss of a beloved companion animal. As a writer, teacher, counselor and animal lover, she recognizes that the loss of a pet can be devastating to adults as well as children. For over 25 years, she has also worked in a wide variety of capacities in the entertainment industry both in New York and Los Angeles, including production work with such programs as NBC s Sports shows “NFL Live” and “Grandstand”, PBS “MacNeill/Lehrer Report”, and “Bill Moyer s Journal.”