Dog Tips

You JUST got a new dog – Don’t freak out – Pet tip 255

If you just brought your new dog home, here are basic tips on house-breaking, dog games, dog feedings, diciplining dogs and chewing.

Today’s domestic dog is still closely related to the wolf. Like all wolves living in a pack, dogs must be part of a stable family and feel safe. Most domestic behavioral problems occur when the dog is confused about how to act/behave in different situations such as your home or out on a walk.

It is recommended that you keep Fido confined no matter his age for at least the first month in your home. This will allow him to settle in more comfortably and adapt to your lifestyle. At the same time, confinement will reduce such misbehaviors as chewing and separation anxiety.

Here are a few general rules to help you to prevent misbehaviors when you bring Fido home:

10 tips on being a great pet owner – Pet tip 155

10 simple guidelines on being a great pet owner

Our pets are amazing additions to our lives and they enrich us in so many important ways. It is common knowledge that pets reduce human blood pressure, can help with depression and can even make us live longer. People that …

Aging Dogs and Cats – Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome CDS – Pet tip 126

Signs of aging - cognitive dysfunction syndrome

Just like us, animals experience some classical signs of aging. When our cats and dogs reach their senior years, it is normal for them to develop a few grey hairs and spend a few more hours sleeping on the couch. …

Arthritis in Dogs – Pet tip 96

Arthritis in dogs - dog has arthritis - Pets.ca is Canada's source for info on pets including dogs cats birds and more. We have articles and information, pet store, free petsites, ask the vet, contests, breeds and breeders, bulletin board, dog parks, lost and found, pet cemetery and more.

Arthritis is an inflammation of the joint(s) causing discomfort due to pain and stiffness of the joint that can be debilitating. The occurrence of arthritis could be due to genetics, environmental factors, or a combination of both. Arthritis can be …

Asking your Vet Questions – Pet tip 231

Bringing your pet to see the veterinarian can be stressful on your pet but it can also be stressful on you the pet owner. This is especially true if you are going to see the vet to deal with a …

Asthma in Dogs and Cats – Pet tip 123

Asthma in cats and dogs

Asthma is a chronic problem of the respiratory system. It is apparent when some event, such as breathing irritants found in the air, triggers a response in the airways. The response could be inflammation, constriction, and excessive mucus production. The …

Bathing dogs – Pet tip 148

Should I give my dog a bath? - bathing dogs

Should I bathe my dog and how often should I bathe my dog are two common questions that many new dog owners wonder about. The answer will usually depend on the breed of dog as dogs with different types of …

Bladder stones in dogs – Pet tip 127

What to be aware of when your dog has bladder stones

Bladder stones, or uroliths, are increasingly common in pets. Often the first signs of uroliths is straining to urinate and blood in the urine, or recurrent bladder infections. If a stone is small enough to leave the bladder but large …

Bored Dogs and Cats – Pet tip 196

Dogs and cats get bored easily - Some tips to alleviate dog and cat boredom

Even though many pet owners realize that they aren’t spending enough time with their pets, and that their pets are becoming bored, some pet owners are at a loss as to how to rectify the situation. If your cat or …

Can Dogs Detect Evil – Pet tip 210

Dogs are absolutely amazing animals and helpful to humans on many levels. First and foremost they really are Man’s (or Humankind’s ) best friend. Treat your dog well and it will almost certainly become a trusted friend and truly devoted …

Cancer in Cats and Dogs – Pet tip 230

The word cancer scares the heck out of most people. Most of us know someone that has had cancer and many of us know of friends or family members that have died of cancer. In terms of a basic definition, …

Canine Rivalry – Dogs fights – Pet tip 100

Canine rivalry - Dog fights - Pets.ca is Canada's source for info on pets including dogs cats birds and more. We have articles and information, pet store, free petsites, ask the vet, contests, breeds and breeders, bulletin board, dog parks, lost and found, pet cemetery and more.

When we have more than one dog in our household we can sometimes see rivalry or fighting between the two dogs which is fairly normal. Dogs are pack animals that live in a social group, each member has its status …

Cataracts in Dogs – Pet tip 136

What to do when your dog has cataracts

The word cataract is probably one you’ve heard before. Perhaps it was in reference to your parents or grandparents, or maybe even from your own doctor. It might surprise you, however, to hear about cataracts from your veterinarian. Most dog …

Cats and dogs in pain – Pets in pain – Pet tip 125

Dogs - cats - pets in pain. How your pet responds to pain

Pain is an unpleasant experience that humans and animals alike will avoid if at all possible. When an animal’s pain is very great they will exhibit noticeable signs. The problem is that there is often a gap in communication between …

Cherry eye in dogs – Pet tip 122

What to do when your dog has cherry eye

Any owner of a dog who has had “cherry eye” will tell you that it is not a pretty sight. Perhaps you have witnessed it yourself and have seen the large red mass bulging out of the inner corner of a dog’s eye, from which the name ‘cherry eye’ originated. While not the most visually appealing condition (for the owners or the afflicted dog), cherry eye is actually a fairly common and benign occurrence in many breeds of dogs.

Though it may appear somewhat like a tumour or even an awfully big bug bite, the ‘cherry’ on your dog’s eye is actually a prolapsed (or popped out) gland. Known by veterinarians as the nictitans gland, this gland is present in the third eyelid of dogs and aids in the production of tears. Unlike humans, many animals possess this third eyelid which closes horizontally across the eye to provide extra protection and moisture.

Choosing a Kennel for your Dog – Pet tip 222

Summer is just around the corner and that means that many people are thinking about vacations. For families with pets like dogs and cats, this involves deciding what to do with them during the vacation. Many families are choosing to …

Christmas Safety for Pets – Pet tip 110

Christmas safety for pets - Pets.ca is Canada's source for info on pets including dogs cats birds and more. We have articles and information, pet store, free petsites, ask the vet, contests, breeds and breeders, bulletin board, dog parks, lost and found, pet cemetery and more.

When Christmas time approaches it’s easy (and fun sometimes) to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of it all. But before you do, it’s a good idea to consider your pets at this time of year, and make …

Clicker training – dog training – Pet tip 99

Clicker training - Dog training - Pets.ca is Canada's source for info on pets including dogs cats birds and more. We have articles and information, pet store, free petsites, ask the vet, contests, breeds and breeders, bulletin board, dog parks, lost and found, pet cemetery and more.

“Click and treat”. This is the saying of all clicker trainers in the dog training world. Before being used in dogs, clicker training has been used in training other animals such as dolphins and horses. Clicker training uses a small …

Clipping Dog Nails and Cat Nails – Pet tip 184

How to clip your dog's or cat's nails.

Did you know that it is recommended that you clip your dog’s or cat’s nails every 3 to 4 weeks? Feeling like a neglectful owner now? Don’t feel too bad; most of us seem to forget about our pet’s nails …

Cold Weather and Dogs – Pet tip 248

When is it too cold for dogs to go out

Every winter in North America there are days when it is freezing cold; so cold that it is uncomfortable for humans to be outside for a long period of time even when we are bundled up. But what about our …

Dalmatians – Pet tip 224

Of all the dog breeds out there, there are few that are more recognizable than the Dalmatian (aka a Dal). Perhaps this is because we associate them with firehouses and stories from our own youth. It seems like whenever we …

Distemper in Dogs – Pet tip 168

Distemper in dogs - what is distemper

Many dog owners, especially new dog owners are likely to hear about distemper and how their dogs should be vaccinated against it because it has the potential to be a dangerous, sometimes fatal disease. Distemper is a highly contagious virus …

Dog Aggression Warning Signs – Pet tip 94

Warning signs of dog aggression - Pets.ca is Canada's source for info on pets including dogs cats birds and more. We have articles and information, pet store, free petsites, ask the vet, contests, breeds and breeders, bulletin board, dog parks, lost and found, pet cemetery and more.

Although most domesticated dogs are friendly toward their owners and the people they know, it is always important to remember that dogs are still animals. Although the majority of dogs in North America are domesticated, there are still feral (wild) …

Dog and cat paws – Pet tip 147

Dog and cat paws - basic information

Dogs and cats don’t have feet! What they have instead are paws. However even though paws look and are built differently than human feet, paws and feet are simply two different ways to do the same thing, walk. Walking is …

Dog bites – Avoiding dog bites – Pet tip 134

How to avoid getting bitten by a dog

Dog owners are more likely to get bitten by an unfamiliar dog than non-dog owners. This makes sense because people more comfortable with dogs are more likely to approach them and therefore increase their risk of being bitten. However, this …