Featured Articles
March 2008
Hi there it’s Marko, one of the owners/administrators on Pets.ca and this is our second newsletter this year. We intend to put out only 1 newsletter a month so rest assured you will not get bombarded with mailings. Many thanks …
Basic Learning Theory and Dogs
Before taking on the rewarding task of training your pet, it might be a good idea to learn about how dogs (and any other animal, including ourselves) actually learn. Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are two terms you may have come across. They are two of the most important concepts governing learning.
Classical conditioning was made famous by the Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov and his dogs. Perhaps you have heard of the experiments he conducted, which eventually got the dogs salivating and drooling simply at the sound of a ringing bell, because they were expecting food. How classical conditioning works is that a neutral stimulus, such as a bell, is paired with giving food. Eventually, after a number of pairings the animal mentally associates the bell with the food.
PetLoss – Talking to your Kids
“A pet can be a child’s best friend,” says Cheryl Weber, a client counselor specialist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. The death of a pet can be a sad and confusing time for children as …
Tip 48 – Scary dog situations
Sometimes we encounter dogs that we don’t know in friendly circumstances, and sometimes dogs aren’t so happy with our company. This can happen for example, when we go to an acquaintance’s house, stumble upon their dog in a room or …
Choosing a Veterinarian
When you visit your doctor, your dentist, and even your hairdresser, you place a great deal of trust in the hands of another person. Whether they are responsible for your health, your smile, or your hair, you want that person …
Dog Tricks – Dog Training Level 1
It is always a pleasure to have guests over that enjoy the company of your pooch. Better yet, have guests that enjoy the company of an entertaining well-trained pooch. Training your dog is not only great for proving that your beloved pet is better than your typical dog next door, but it will be useful during emergency situations when you need your dog to be reliably obedient. By teaching tricks, your dog’s confidence will grow and his/her mentality will remain sharp into the golden years. It is a great way to build a strong relationship with your pet. Remember, it is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks.
First of all, choose a suitable location to train your dog. The area should be free of distractions that will disrupt your pet’s concentration. Training sessions should not be regarded as play sessions. Your dog must be taught that these periods of training are serious and that he/she will be allowed to play to his/her heart’s content once the session is over.
Next, consider what to use as a reward. Food treats may be used, but try not to depend solely on food to train your dog.
Birds as Pets
Getting Ready for a New Bird
Whether your knowledge of birds comes from Woody Woodpecker, Tweety or “Polly wanna cracker?”, they make great companions: Some will cuddle with you, others will play and, of course, many will chat. Just keep …
Cloudy Eyes in Dogs
Your dog has gotten cloudy eyes and you are wondering if you should be worried. Isn’t this just one of those changes that comes with getting older? You may be right, dogs’ eyes do indeed get cloudier with age and …
Bloat in Dogs
Bloat in dogs – What is bloat – Dog died of bloat – Dog article on Pets.ca
Bloat in dogs
Several times a week I receive a phone call from someone whose dog has died of bloat. Usually my role …
