Thousands of pet owners who will be traveling this holiday season will be boarding their pets at vet’s offices and boarding kennels. But with so much traffic going in and out of these kennels, the chance of your dog catching kennel cough greatly increases.

Kennel cough, or Tracheobronchitis, is caused by a highly contagious airborne virus, and is a type of upper respiratory infection in dogs. The symptoms are dry, hacking cough that may sound as if the dog has a bone caught in his throat. Even though kennel cough is rarely deadly, it can be very expensive for your vet to treat.

If you are boarding your dog this holiday season, there are a few tips you could use that could keep man’s best friend from coming home with kennel cough.

- Make sure the kennel has an effective, daily clean-up process and follows a strict schedule of disinfecting with the proper chemicals.

- Make sure the kennel provides clean, individual water and feeding bowls for each animal.

- Make sure the kennel requires the proper immunization requirements to help prevent from other dogs infecting your dog.

- Make sure that the kennel has proper climate control and that the animals are protected from all elements. Cold temperatures can increase the chances of your dog contracting kennel cough.

- Clean all your pet’s toys, bedding, and other supplies that you supply both before and after boarding.

- Check to see if the kennel or boarding facility is a member of the American Boarding Kennels Association.

Another way to ensure that your dog will not suffer from kennel cough is to treat them with K-9 Cough (www.k9cough.com) after returning from the kennel. K-9 Cough is a potent and successful treatment for your pet’s kennel cough. K-9 Cough uses the very best ingredients to ensure that your dog has first-rate treatment to guarantee a complete and quick recovery from kennel cough.

K-9 Cough is safe, effective, and easy to administer. K-9 Cough works for all breeds and all sizes of dogs. Since the symptoms of kennel cough do not appear for 3 – 5 days after exposure, by treating your dog immediately after returning from the boarding facility will ensure that your furry best friend will never have to suffer.

Rachelle Ross
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/tips-for-avoiding-kennel-cough-dangers-while-boarding-dogs-during-holidays-79572.html

We took our dog to a boarding kennel recently and after when we picked him up, it was apparent that he had been neglected. I'd like to either report it, or at least have someone be able to check on it. Any help?

Check with your local shelter and find out if the have cruelty investigators. If the facility is affiliated with a vet then your states DVM board of med should be able to help. Also, if the facility touts any kind of membership with a national boarding group or something like that, you can report them to the group. There are some who will swoop down on the kennel like nobody's business. Good luck!

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Chances are, at one time or another you will need to turn to someone else to care for your dog. Perhaps you’ve accepted a work assignment that will keep you out of town for a month. Maybe you’re finally going on that long awaited cruise. Whatever the reason, you find yourself in need of someone dependable and trustworthy to care for Rover. Although some dogs do best at home with a pet sitter, other dogs do better in a boarding kennel. Consider your dog’s personality and needs before making a decision.

Things to know up front: For kennels, pet boarding is a business. Their success depends on volume as much as quality care. Kennels care for many animals at the same time and your pet will probably be kept in a cage or run. Don’t expect a kennel to give your pet the same kind of attention and affection that you do; it just won’t happen. But good kennels employee people with a natural love of dogs that will be kind and gentle and care for your pet to the best of their ability.

Kennel choices: Most vet offices offer boarding services. While vet office care may be limited, with smaller cages and limited exercise opportunities, many people, especially those whose animals have medical needs, feel more secure leaving their pets with a trusted vet. Other owners turn to private boarding kennels that can range from bare-bones to luxurious. Sparse facilities do not differ much from vet offices. Cages are usually small and exercise is limited to two walks a day. More expensive facilities offer mixed playtime for dogs that are socialized, outdoor exercise areas, larger runs rather than cages, and grooming services (all of which may be at an extra charge). Upscale doggie hotels are all the rage in some areas. Your dog may receive a massage, bath and haircut, obedience training, soothing music and luxurious bedding while you’re gone.

Where to start: Whatever level of care you decide on, there are some basic things to know and do before making a final decision on where to board your pet. Price, comfort, health and safety are all valid concerns. After all, you’re entrusting someone else with one of the most emotionally valuable things in your life.

Ask friends, neighbors, family, and your vet or dog trainer for recommendations. Then do a little background investigation. If your state requires licensing and inspections, make sure the kennels you are considering are in good standing. Also ask whether the prospective kennel belongs to the American Boarding Kennels Association. This trade association promotes professional standards, requires members subscribe to a code of ethics, and offers accreditation for professionalism, safety and quality of care. If you’re satisfied that a kennel meets basic requirements, schedule a visit.

What to look for: First impressions are important. Sniff the air as soon as you walk in. There should be no strong antiseptic smell or odor of urine or feces. Some antiseptic odor is understandable in concrete areas, but if odors assail your nose as you walk in the door, you may want to consider another kennel.

Look for a pleasant atmosphere. Do the current boarded dogs look happy? Do they come to the front of the kennel to greet you? Dogs that lie to the back and do not interact are a bad sign. Is the staff competent, confident, friendly and caring or do they seem harassed and irritable? Are there a sufficient number of workers or are they short-handed and overworked? Is the kennel owner ready and willing to show you where your dog will be housed and exercise areas? If not, cross this one off your list.

Make mental notes as you tour the facilities. Are dog beds clean? Look for clean food bowls and water bowls without scum or floating objects. Are the runs clean or is there feces lying around? It’s impossible to keep all runs clean 100% of the time, but you’ll be able to tell the difference between filth and recent deposits. Is the kennel yard full of debris? Is the building in need of serious repair? Is there good ventilation and a comfortable temperature? If possible, take a look at the kitchen. A clean kitchen is a good indicator of a clean pet area. Get a tour of outdoor exercise areas and runs. Are they protected from the elements? Is the noise level overwhelming? Although it is impossible to prevent dogs from barking, especially while someone is walking through the facility, the kennel should not be overcrowded to the point where dogs are constantly barking. Observe any activities offered. Note especially how aggressive dogs are handled.

Brass tacks: If your first impressions are favorable, then get down to details. You need to know if pets are required to be current on vaccinations. Some kennels now require that your dog be vaccinated against Bordetella, canine kennel cough. Many kennels will allow you to bring your dog’s regular food. It not only cuts down on their costs, but helps your dog adjust to kennel life. If it is important that your pet stay on his regular diet, ask; don’t just assume. What veterinary services are available? Does the kennel have a vet on call? You may prefer that the kennel call your vet if there is a need. Make this information readily available and let your vet know that your pet will be staying at a kennel while you are gone. Ask questions about feeding schedules. If your pet needs regular doses of medication, make sure this service is offered. Find out how much exercise your dog will be getting and how often they are allowed to potty. Can you bring your dog’s bedding from home and his favorite toy? Is it important to you that a staff member be on the property around the clock? If so, make sure this is the case at your chosen facility. Be sure to get a breakdown of charges. Some services are included in basic daily rates, some are not. If price is an issue, get the details worked out up front so you won’t be surprised when you get home. And last, but not least, trust your instincts. If you just don’t feel good about a particular kennel, go somewhere else.

Prepare your pet: So, you’ve taken all the preliminary measures and selected a kennel for your pet. Now you need to prepare Rover for his stay. If the facility offers doggy day care services in addition to longer term care, give your pet the chance to try it out. Take him once or twice for just the day. Take special note of his first impressions and reactions. Quiz the staff on his behavior and interaction with the other animals.

Be sure your pet knows basic commands. Make sure he is current on vaccinations and is flea-free (most kennels require it). If your pet is going to be at the kennel for an extended time, you may consider a trial run of a weekend excursion. This allows you to work out any kinks before the longer stay. If necessary, teach your dog to sit before being petted or fed and to walk quietly on a leash. Socialize him to strangers, especially if medication or grooming will be provided at the kennel. Make sure he is accustomed to a crate if he will be in one at the kennel. It will make the stay less stressful and fearful for your pet.

Prepare the kennel staff: No one likes surprises, not even kennel staff who are accustomed to working with all animal personalities. If your dog has any unusual fears, aggression triggers or other idiosyncrasies, be honest for the safety and well-being of all involved. Let them know if Rover is not reliably housetrained, hates men or eats things he’s not supposed to.

On kennel day: Exercise Rover before you turn him over to the kennel staff. Leave the kids at home. Walk in the kennel door, give Rover a gentle pat, tell him you’ll see him soon and let him go. Long goodbyes, hugs and tears will only stress out your pet (and you). He’s not going to hate you for leaving. Go have fun.

Coming home: One last thing, don’t be surprised or alarmed if your dog segregates himself and sleeps a lot upon coming home. He is not upset with you or had a miserable time. Dogs in kennels are awake from the crack of dawn until nighttime. They are excited by barking dogs, meal times and visitors walking past them. He may simply be exhausted.

Boarding kennels can be a good solution for those times when your pet has to be left behind. Do your homework and find the best facility for you and your pet. It is well worth the time. Your peace of mind and your pet’s health are your reward.

Sherry Massey
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/pet-care-partners-boarding-kennels-92441.html

(you can list more than one)

What do you like or dislike about these books? Why?

My favorite dog training/behavior book is Sit Stay Fetch
( http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/?hop=saleyahoo )

I bought it for my aggressive pekingnese, and i swear i dont even know my own dog! He is totally different now. I read alot of the success stories on the site, and i was sold. I give it 5 stars.

Books I really don't care for, are the books you can get on a specific breed like in barnes and nobles. I recently got a dashchund and was reading about them in a book at barnes and nobles after i spent a few weeks with her, and some of what they were saying was completely rediculous.

& I loved your question!

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You leave and he howls. Not just for a moment, but seemingly forever. When the howling finally abates, it is replaced by a whine. When you return, you find your home a mess as he has engaged in destructive behavior that is completely out of character. Your dog has a real problem: separation anxiety.

Dogs love their owners and develop a very close relationship with them. Sometimes the closeness of that relationship can leave them confused and frightened when the owner is gone. Thy dog may seem confused, angry or sullen when the owner leaves and may appear to lash out against being left alone by ruining furniture, creating messes or otherwise acting in ways wholly inconsistent with his training. Separation anxiety is relatively easy to diagnose: an otherwise well-adjusted dog seems to transform into a monster when left alone. Unfortunately, it is not always quite as easy to treat the disorder.

Helping a dog to overcome problems with separation anxiety is a process, just like other aspects of training, it takes time and repetition to be truly successful. The idea of training away separation anxiety seems unlikely because how can you address a behavior when you are not present to see, prevent or correct it? Fortunately, there are actions one can take to decrease separation anxiety and to prevent your dog’s frustrated behavior from spiraling out of control during your absence.

Prepare the dog for your departure. Many people have a tendency to lavish attention on their dog before leaving. They may take extra time to play with the dog or find other ways to try to squeeze in a little extra quality time with their canine friend. Though well intended, this only makes the owner’s departure even more noticeable and worrisome for the dog. Instead of petting and kissing the dog goodbye, owners dealing with separation anxiety should take measures to correctly prepare the pet for their absence.

This can be done by intentionally decreasing interaction with the pet prior to leaving. Although one may want to spend extra time with a pet before leaving him alone, the best practice is to actually come close to ignoring your pet for several minutes prior to leaving. This will make your departure less jarring and should serve to decrease the dog’s level of anxiety.

If you are leaving for an extended period and feel the need to connect with your pet and to enjoy their company, find ways to do so earlier in the day. Resist the urge to say goodbye before actually leaving.

Provide an immediate distraction for the dog. Right before leaving, it is desirable to provide the pet with some sort of distraction. A new toy, for instance, may serve to occupy his attentions, allowing for a smoother transition to his alone time. Whatever immediate distraction is provided, make sure it is something that is likely to interest the dog for several minutes. The objective, after all is to maintain his attention on something other than your absence for as long as can be reasonably expected.

This technique has the added benefit of teaching your pet that his time alone will result in a pleasurable experience. He will begin to connect your departure with a fun toy or diversion instead of feeling it will only bring anxiety and loneliness.

One should also provide a more lasting distraction. dogs crave human contact and will unavoidably miss it while alone. However, maintaining something of a human element to their surroundings can decrease the separation anxiety the feel when left without company.

Many have experienced success by keeping a radio or television tuned to programming featuring a great deal of dialogue. The dog will hear human voices and although he certainly will not be fooled into believing he is in the company of human friends, the sound is still soothing and can reduce feelings of stress and loneliness.

Separation anxiety can be an absolutely befuddling issue for a dog owner. Even the most well-mannered and well-trained dogs can suddenly transform into destructive troublemakers as a result of separation anxiety. Training away this difficulty can be hard, especially when a dog feels very connected to his owner. However, by preparing your dog and utilizing appropriate immediate and lasting distractions, one can reasonably expect to reduce the anxiety experienced by their dog.

Paul P. Duxbury
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-deal-with-dog-separation-anxiety-88074.html

Among dog enthusiasts, it is often popular to discuss whether this or that dog breed is actually “bad,” or whether genetics or environment is the main contributor of problems such as aggression in dogs. Such discussions may lead one to assume that the only enjoyable and safe companions are submissive animals. But with proper handling, dominant dogs can become the life of the party.

So what, then, is a dominant dog? To understand that, you must first understand a little about canine psychology. For instance, if your dog bites or snaps at you, he isn’t necessarily doing it because he doesn’t like you. He is simply trying to “train” you not to touch his toys, or not to disturb him when he’s sleeping. He’s certainly not trying to allowing you to make him move from his favorite place. In short, he is using physical intimidation to control you.

dogs can be very clever when it comes to establishing dominance. Everything is a test to see how far they can push and what they can get away with. Anything that he does that has an impact on you changing your behavior is an attempt to undermine your authority. Some of these behaviors might seem innocent, but each time you let him get away with putting his teeth on you or simply refusing to do what you want him to do is one more advantage to his favor. This tells his dog brain that he is superior and can get away with whatever it is you don’t want him to do because you will let him.

The reason you want to correct dominant-dog behavior is that it could become dangerous. Of course, if you have a dog that simply taps you with his paw when he wants attention, that doesn’t mean she is on her way to becoming Cujo. You can decide for yourself whether you like this particular behavior and whether to correct it. But if your pooch threatens you with his teeth, which is the doggie equivalent of a beating, it could pose a danger to you and others.

This doesn’t mean you have to challenge your dog to a duel. Simply begin lowering your dog’s status by denying him those status symbols he craves. Don’t play games that would provide him opportunity to wrestle you to the ground and stand over you or games that tempt him to bite or nibble, even in play. Instead, play games in which you are in control such as fetch and tricks. But don’t allow him to coerce you into chasing him down for the toy. If he begins to try to manipulate you in this way, simply withdraw your attention. Owner attention is a valuable commodity that must be earned.

In addition, do not allow him access to your bed or furniture, as this is a huge symbol of status. At the very least, insist on being the one to initiate furniture-time. The same goes with your attention. Do not allow your overly dominant dog to order you to spend time with him. You initiate all contact, even if that means ignoring a particularly charming bid for affection. Remember, you truly are doing this for your dog’s own good.

The one thing you should never do with a dominant dog is use physical punishment. You wouldn’t try to physically punish, say, Dirty Harry, if you saw him behaving inappropriately, would you? He might give you a thrashing, and your dog might try to do the same. Instead, use psychology. Bribe him off of the furniture with a favorite toy or treat.

Help is always available should you find that you have got your hands full. Don’t be afraid to consult an expert to aide you in setting things straight with your dog. There are many trainers who have the skills and experience to deal with dominant dogs or pets with an aggressive streak. Trying to handle the problem yourself isn’t always a good idea and it’s important to get Jack the training he needs.

Jeff Clare
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/why-your-dominant-dog-is-not-a-bad-dog-136322.html

If you find that you are not being successful in training your own dog, or maybe you don’t have the time or the inclination, then you may wish to consider the use of a professional dog trainer. Professional dog trainers are also a great benefit if you have a particularly difficult or unruly dog with bad behavior problems. But, how do you go about choosing a good dog trainer?

There are no licensing requirements for someone to set themselves up as a dog trainer so you can’t simply pick the first one out of the phone-book and assume that they will be value for money. You will need to spend some time searching for a good dog trainer so that you dog’s behavior improves rather than worsens.

Possibly one of the best ways to find a good dog trainer would be to ask for recommendations from other dog owners you already know who perhaps have used a dog training service in the past. Other good sources are veterinarians, dog breeders, and pet storeowners who will have been asked similar questions before. By asking around, you can find out which trainers are most highly regarded in your area.

Once you have selected a particular dog trainer, your work is not yet done. You may first wish to ask them to provide written testimonials from previous clients or possibly telephone numbers so you can check with some of those previous clients personally. Any trainer unwilling to do this should be treated with some caution. Most good dog trainers will have no problem with your request and will be happy to provide you with proof of their past successes.

Ideally, you should try to find a dog trainer who has been in business for a long time and at least a couple of years. Experienced dog trainers will have more success in dealing with the particular personality of your dog. They will have encountered a variety of dogs and behavior problems and will have learned what can be expected and the quickest way to train a dog or solve behavior problems.

Similarly, the longer the dog trainer has been in service is a good indication of their successes. After all, it’s unlikely their business would have survived without clients who were happy to pay for the service they received.

If you are unable to find a dog trainer who has been in business for a long time then be prepared to ask a lot of questions to any other potential trainers. Find out what successes they have had and what training they have taken to call themselves a dog trainer.

Finally, find out what the price range is for dog training services in your area. Get several quotations from different trainers and ensure you get value for money. You may need to pay a little extra for the services of an experienced dog trainer but balance this against the time it will take to get your dog trained to your satisfaction.

Garnett Johnston
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-choose-a-good-dog-trainer-94843.html

Just curious.

I don't think you can simply based on how a dog behaves, but I do think you can based on how a person interacts with their dog.

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Dogs are very sociable creatures – it’s part of the reason why we love dogs so much. The problem is that when a dog becomes too sociable they can be become agressive and get out of control. That’s why it’s important to train your dog from an early age to make sure that you can control their behavior and prevent this type of behavioral problem.

The most worrying type of agression from any dog is biting as this can have disasterous consequences on both the dog and its family. Current statistics shows that over 70% of dog biting incidents happen within the dogs family. Some of these lead to the dog in question being put down to prevent it happening in future – especially where young children are involved. This is the most tragic possible outcome that could have been prevented by some effective training in the first place.

Proper dog training, from an early age, helps prevent these habits developing in the dog. The training will also allow your dog to remain more in control of their feelings towards other humans and animals. This will give them a better “social life” and allow them to integrate more quickly with their family and their new surroundings.

Actually training the dog is another story. It’s not always as easy as some people make it out to be. Certain things need to be in place for the training to be truly successful. One of the most critical aspects of training any dog is something called “positive reinforcement”. This is simply the system where the dog is rewarded with treats or praise (or sometimes both) when the dog obeys commands or shows positive behavior in their environment. Positive reinforcement shows the dog that they’ll be praised and/or receive a treat when they obey new commands or exhibit a certain behavior that their owner requires. It’s a matter of the dog associating certain good feelings (treats or praise) with obeying a command from his owner. This type of association can quickly become instinctual for the dog.

What if your dog doesn’t immediately obey these new commands or shows a negative behavior? Do you punish the dog? Absolutely not! This sends the dog mixed signals i.e. that the same verbal command or request could just as easily being punished as rewarded. If your dog begins to doubt you in relation to praise or punishment then the training can become very difficult; if not impossible.

Another major mistake to avoid is training the dog into a bad habit – instead of in the opposite direction. For example, when dogs bark, it is usually because they’ve seen or heard something strange or unfamiliar. When dogs continue to bark, even if it includes barking at a familiar person, that becomes a problem. How do most people deal with their dog barking? They yell at the dog to shut up. Unfortunately the dog could take this action as their owner joining in the “barking experience” and the dog will then just continue to bark every time they’re yelled at thus making matters worse for everyone involved.

Any dog training performed without some form of positive reinforcement is a waste of the dogs and the owners time. The sooner you adopt this technique into your training program for your new pup or older dog the sooner you’ll see positive results.

Niall Roche
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/using-positive-reinforcement-in-your-dog-training-129820.html

PLEASE HELP!!

How do I train my dog not to jump on people?
another problem that is related..
How do I get my dog to stop running in circles like a mainic when people come over. She has stepped on babies, knocked over babies while doing this and chasing her outside, or yelling would only make it worse.

Both our solutions to this problem have been to remove her (outside) but this is not fixing her bahavior.

ignore the behavior…grab her by her collar and make her sit…when people come over greet them at the door with her on a lead and control her behavior the entire time they are there…training is the only way to correct it…consider signing up for a class…or you can crate her when guests are over

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