Clicker Training is training using positive reinforcement - teaching your dog to learn - using no physical compulsion or corrections whatsoever. Instead of yanking dogs around, shoving them into place, giving some praise, and  hoping the dog will make the connection, dogs are taught using the scientific methods of classical and operant conditioning.

This is the same method used to train the whales and dolphins and other creatures at Sea World. Anyone who’s been there knows that these wondrous creatures perform flawlessly for audience after audience and, at the same time, enjoy doing it.

The enjoyment feature is the key. You love you dogs and you want them to be responsive, but you dislike hurting them! With clicker training you don’t have to. This training works for every dog, from bold to timid, from tiny to giant. It is the same training method used to train animals for movie and TV work.

Read more »

Food allergies are often difficult to identify unless you are aware of the symptoms. The main symptoms of food allergies in dogs include facial itching, limb chewing, belly itching, recurrent ear infections or skin infections.

Since the dogs consume lot of prepared food materials including various kinds of proteins, fillers, coloring agents and more; in the commercial food materials, the incidences of food allergies are more than one can imagine. Allergic reactions mostly involve the skin or the gastro intestinal tract.

If you come across your dog itching after the provision of specific food materials, then suspect the food allergy in this animal. However, conditions like fungal infections need to be ruled out in general before the conclusion of itching as a sign of food allergy.

There are many recorded incidences of allergies in dogs to corn or wheat. However, the food allergies vary from dog to dog. Read the labels carefully before feeding your dog. Too much colored food materials and/or chemicals should be avoided.

Read more »

From the May, 2008, HealthyPetNet Life’s Abundance Newsletter:

Special Message from Dr. Jane

Read more »

Introduction

Read more »

This article came from The Sydney Morning Herald in Sydney, Australia. Be aware that some of the Internet links point to non-US web sites and that the currency is in Australian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Save face with a pet project

Anne Fawcett
January 7, 2008

Read more »

Dr. Jane Bicks, DVM
HealthyPetNet Veterinarian Formulator

Read more »

Every year, millions of Americans welcome a new dog into their home, particularly in the late spring and early summer. And every year, hundreds of thousands of dogs are given up for adoption, chiefly because they exhibit unruly behavior. Why? Because many people think they know everything necessary to train their companion animals, when really they have nothing other than a vague idea.

Read more »

Even though I am sure that you keep a close eye on your companion animal when outdoors, a number of things can happen to separate you.  If this does take place, the proper identification will help reunite you with your pet.  Animals without ID tags are often mistaken as strays and they are sometimes treated differently, so make sure your dog or cat has the proper identification.  I suggest a sturdy, yet comfortable, breakaway collar with an ID tag containing your pet’s name plus your name, address and phone number.  Also, hook your pet’s  rabies tag on the collar.

As some collars can fall off and others break away if caught on an object, a microchip is a good idea.  This is a very small device that your veterinarian can inject under the skin around the shoulder blades.  The chip has a number that is registered with the manufacturer and other local, state and nationwide agencies.  Many shelters and vets have scanners that read the number on the microchip.  Then, it’s a simple call to the manufacturer or agency to get your name and phone number for a happy ending.