How To Get Your Dog To Stop Pulling On The Leash

Writen by Pat Doyle

It is really miserable walking a dog when he is constantly pulling on the leash. You can't really take a relaxing walk when your arm feels like it is almost being pulled out of the socket and you are constantly yelling at your dog. I had this problem with my dog, and here is what I found out.

1. Use a harness or halter, not a collar.

This is very important, both for your dog's health and for your peace of mind. I didn't realize until I found out in obedience class, that pulling on the leash is very bad for the dog's neck and can leave lasting problems. Duh! I guess I should have figured out that it can't be good for the dog, but I truly did not realize it. So I went right out and got a harness for my dog.

Right away, I had more control of her, and she did not pull nearly as much. The way the collar chokes the dog itself causes the dog to pull more. With the harness, things went much better.

2. If the dog pulls, walk in the opposite direction.

Just turn around and start walking the other way. Don't get angry or even say anything. The dog will soon realize that you are the one who controls where the two of you go, and how fast.

You will have to repeat this a lot. For a while, I had to do this a few times at the beginning of every walk, until the dog remembered. But it sure made the rest of the walk very pleasant.

3. Hold the leash close to your abdomen.

If your arm is stretched out, then a sudden pull by the dog will have you feeling like your arm is about to get pulled out. If you keep your hand close to your body (just above the waist seems to work fine), then you have much more control. If necessary, use both hands at first. But keep them close to your body.

4. Be matter-of-fact about it all.

Don't get upset and yell at the dog. Just matter-of-factly, go along where you want to go. The dog will have to follow. The dog will soon learn to go where you want.

If you get all upset, you give a lot of control to the dog. She could be just trying to get a rise out of you. If she pulls, just calmly walk in the other direction. Don't even look back. If she lags behind, just keep going. Keep your hands close to your body and this will be pretty easy to do, especially if you are using a halter.

It would be a real shame if you avoided going on walks with your dog because of the pulling. Dogs need walks. They need the exercise and the variety of seeing something other than their own back yard. And the exercise is good for you too. So try these tips, and I think you will see a big difference.

Pat Doyle is the creator of the popular website http://doggiewoggie.com. She has also started the new website http://cute-dog-pictures.doggiewoggie.com.

This article may be republished as long as you keep the full text, author's name, and website links with the article.

Doggin Las Vegas Where To Hike With Your Dog When In Sin City

Writen by Doug Gelbert

Sunset Park at East Sunset Road and S. Eastern Avenue is a traditional urban recreational park with ballfields and playgrounds. While lacking an extensive trail system, there is fresh green grass and shade trees aplenty that will be a welcome sight for any dog visiting Las Vegas. A paved trail traces the edge of a prominent artificial pond and beyond that is a patch of undeveloped mesquite-dunes land similar to what all Las Vegas looked like before the coming of neon.

For some serious hikes with your dog head out of town to the northeast and Valley of Fire State Park. The stunning red sandstone rock formations that give the Valley of Fire its name are the result of great shifting sand dunes. Two thousand years ago the Basket Maker people traveled here and left rock art reminders of their visits that can be seen today. In 1935 the Valley of Fire, now 34,000 acres, was dedicated as Nevada's first state park.

Dogs are welcome on all nine short interpretive trails, all easily accessed from the main park roadways. In many places the hiking is over fine red sand trails. The feature trail here is the White Domes Loop Trail in the far northern section of the park. The path circles through rock formations and a slot canyon on its one-mile odyssey. Look for the stone ruins of a movie set from The Professionals when Lee Marvin led a crew of four hard-edged adventurers on a rescue mission for a kidnapped woman. Many movies have used the Valley of Fire as a backdrop but this is the only set in the park as filmmakers are no longer allowed to abandon their sets.

The quick hikes in the Valley of Fire are especially attractive for dogs visiting in the summer when the sun's rays bouncing off the red rocks make the landscape appear on fire - and feel like it. Canine hikers visiting Las Vegas in more hospitable weather can also enjoy red rocks just west of town, heading out West Charleston Boulevard to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

A 13-mile scenic drive winds through the iron-tinged sandstone mountains and climbs about 1000 feet. Parking areas are liberally sprinkled along the route that provide access to 19 hiking trails. Many of the routes explore side canyons with only moderate elevation gains of a few hundred feet.

The most difficult of the Red Rock Canyon trails is the climb along the Turtlehead Peak Trail. This five-mile round trip is never too punishing as it makes its way to the 6,323-foot summit. Your purchase is sweeping views of the Calico Hills and the city of Las Vegas.

To reach Valley of Fire State Park take I-15 north out of Las Vegas for 55 miles to the Valley of Fire Road. Head east to the park's West Entrance Station.

copyright 2006

Doug Gelbert is the author of over 20 books, including The Canine Hiker's Bible. To subscribe to his FREE Newsletter on hiking with your dog and receive a copy of Rules for Dogs in 100 of the Most Popular National Park Service Lands, visit http://www.hikewithyourdog.com In the warmer months he leads canine hikes for hikewithyourdog.com tours, guiding packs of dogs and humans on hiking adventures. Tours, ranging from one-day trips to multi-day explorations, visit parks, historical sites and beaches.

Zoonotic Diseases Caused By Your Pets Worms

Writen by Keith Perrett

A zoonotic disease, loosely defined, is a disease that can be transmitted from an animal to a human. These diseases can be transmitted by direct contact, by vectors or by the consumption of animals and/or animal products.

While many animal diseases are zoonotic, we are going to highlight some of the more common ones caused by worms.

A) Hookworm (Ancylostoma caninum)

These are distributed worldwide and are found wherever dogs live.

In dogs they can cause anaemia(bloodloss), weight loss, loss of appetite, poor growth,bloody stools, coughing and localised skin inflammation, especially of the feet, legs and abdomen.

In humans they are responsible for a condition known as Cutaneous Larval Migrans. The migration of the larval stages causes localised skin inflammation, especially in the lower leg region

Preventative measures include:

1) Regular removal of dog faeces from the environment and avoiding contact with dog faeces and soil contaminated with dog faeces.
2) Disinfection of Kennels etc
3) Regular Deworming (pets and people!)
4) Basic Hygiene - washing hands after playing with dogs, before meals etc.

B) Roundworm (Toxocara canis) are also distributed worldwide.

Usually only dogs up to about 8 months old are infected. Symptoms include poor growth, weight loss, pot bellied appearance, coughing, occasional vomiting, slimey diarrhoea with worms sometimes visible.

In humans they are responsible for a condition known as Visceral larval Migrans. The larvae migrate through the body and the symptoms experienced by the person depend on where the larvae end up in the body.Common symptoms include a fever, muscle pains, coughing, loss of appetite, blindness (usually only one eye) etc.

Prevention is the same as for hookworm.

C) Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is one of the best known of the zoonotic diseases that involve pets and is the disease that leads many pregnant women to (unfairly) toss the pet cat out the door!

Although cats play a major role in the life cycle of Toxopllasma gondii, the causative organism, humans can in fact become infected 3 different ways, only one of which is direct contact with cat faeces.In fact, cat ownership is not a big factor for human infection with Toxoplasma.

The three ways that humans can become infected:

1) Eating undercooked meat
This is THE major route of infection for humans, NOT contact with cat faeces. In one study , up to 60% of infections were as the result of the consumption of undercooked meat.

2) Transplacental Infection
The foetus is infected while still in the uterus. This infection is the result of the mother becoming infected during pregnancy.

3) Ingestion of the organism shed in cat faeces.

Preventative measures thus involve cooking meat properly, wearing gloves when gardening, washing hands and utensils after working with raw meat and cleaning litter trays out daily.

Zoonotic diseases are a real threat to humans, but in most cases a little common sense and basic hygiene practices will prevent you becoming infected with any of these diseases.

Keith Perrett is a qualified Veterinarian http://www.pet-health-for-humans.com

Is Fido Running The House Gain Control Of Your Dog Today In A Few Easy Steps

Writen by Ann Griffin

Is your dog pushy, shy, submissive, demanding, or aggressive? Chances are that you've got a dog that could benefit from strong, fair leadership on your part. This program is a non-confrontational way of asserting yourself as a leader of the pack! Training should be fun and stress free, not an ongoing battle with your dog. Every pack needs a leader, and at minimum one dog plus one human equals a pack. Someone needs to take that leadership role and that leader should be you. Dogs are much happier without the "weight of the world" on their shoulders, being a leader is stressful and they'd much rather let you take the reigns and make the rules. Many common behavior problems can be directly related to a lack of leadership on the owner's part. Your dog will be ten times more likely to obey your commands when it really counts if he sees you as his leader. Without that respect, he will likely ignore you, so this is a valuable goal to work on and will make all the difference in how well trained your dog is.

Now don't worry, you don't need to be a Drill Sergeant to be a leader, in fact you should be having fun with your dog! Dogs judge "rank" through small, daily interactions not big battles. This makes it easy for you to integrate 'house rules' into your daily life that will have a profound impact on how your dog views your relationship.

Say Please: No more freebies, your dog will have to start working for what he wants. Well mannered dogs "say please", that means they Sit or Down for treats, meals, throw of the ball, going outside, etc. No more rushing the food dish or bolting out doorways, make use of the commands your dog already knows to manage his behavior. Use your interactions with your dog as training opportunities and you'll find that you practice commands many times through out the day without needing to set aside 20 or 30 minutes.

Furniture: Snoozing on the sofa is a privilege, not a right. And many dogs simply haven't earned that right yet. If your dog is non-aggressive then you can allow him up ONLY with permission. Insisting that he "say please" and sit or down first will ensure that he knows the sofa is yours, not his. Any attempts at sneaking up should be met with an unemotional off as you guide him off with the leash or collar.

Aggressive dogs should not be allowed on furniture without first being taught how to get off on command. Period. If your dog acts aggressively when on furniture (or when you are on 'his' furniture) then set your dog up for success and simply deny him permission onto the furniture. He very clearly is telling you that he is not ready for that privilege yet. Maybe someday. But not now. Keeping a leash on the dog in house will make it easy for you to guide him off should he sneak up, without risking a bite.

Attention: This is by far the hardest rule for most families. It's very common to pet the dog without even realizing that we're doing so. But in dog language petting and fussing over a dog often can be considered a submissive behavior, and you certainly don't want your dog to think of you as submissive toward them! You can combat this by asking for a command prior to petting. You can lavish your dog with as much attention as you like, but make him WORK for it!

Any attempt by the dog to make you pet him (nose nudging, pawing, smacking you with a toy) should be ignored. In dog language he is saying 'Hey, human, PET ME NOW!" the dog is ordering you to pay attention to him and if you respond by petting or tossing the toy then you will have told your dog that he has you well trained. Ignore these outbursts and your dog will accept that you no longer obey his orders. Once he gives up and walks away then you can call him over, ask for a sit, THEN give him attention.

Remember, the attention itself is NOT the problem. Who initiates the interaction can cause the problem. Make it on your terms and your dog will respect you for it.

Leash Pulling: If your dog is walking you then he's probably got the wrong idea about who's the leader of your pack. Dogs should walk on your left and slightly behind you. No sniffing or peeing on walks, that can be done at will in your yard. Walks should be more of a training exercise then simply physical exercise. We recommend at least one 20 minute walk per day. This is good mental and physical stimulation. A tired dog is a more well behaved dog!

Crate Time: Many dogs will benefit from at least 3 hours of crate time per day. Having your dog follow you around the house all day may be cute, but it will also encourage separation anxiety, meaning your dog may panic or display destructive behaviors once you are out of sight. Even if you're home, give your dog some "alone time" in his crate and encourage him to be relaxed and calm on his own. It's a skill you'll be glad you've taught!

Important points

1) Enforce every command you give - Simply put, if you ask your dog to sit, lie down, off or whatever else you need to be prepared to follow though on that command should the dog ignore you. Giving a command and then allowing the dog to ignore it will greatly set back any training already done, and your dog will likely ignore you again the next time.

If a command is given, make it happen.

2) Leash your dog! In the house! Yes, in the house. If your dog has a habit of ignoring commands, being aggressive or in general giving you the doggy version of the finger, give yourself an easy way to take control of situations by leaving a collar and 6 foot leash on the dog in the house. This eliminates the urge to chase a dog, grab the collar, or otherwise agitate an aggressive dog. It will save both you and your dog a lot of stress in the long run.

3) Being a strong leader for your dog should be a way of life, not something that is only done for a week or so and then forgotten about. You will get back from your dog what you put into his training. If you are consistent, your dog will be as well. Respect is earned, often through time and consistency. Don't be tempted to stop the 'house rules' once your dog shows improvement or the training you've done up to that point will simply be wasted and you'll be back to square one.

4) Have fun with your dog! Praise him for good behavior and enjoy the connection your making with your dog as your relationship improves. You are working toward a partnership with your canine companion, enjoy the journey just as much as the results.

Ann Griffin is the owner of http://www.CentralPetz.com an online resource for pet owners to find training and behavior articles, forums and training information.

Irish Dog Names And Their Meanings

Writen by Clare O Hagan

The Irish have a special regard for dogs. They are part of our culture, our history. There is much mention of them in Irish stories and myths. The tallest dog in the world is the Irish Wolfhound, bred originally to hunt stags and wolfs. Well known dog breeds from Ireland include the Irish Red and White Setters the Irish Water Spaniel, the Kerry Blue. We have the terriers: The Irish Terrier, the Wheaten Terrier, and The Glen of Imaal Terrier. The Irish dog breeds mentioned were bred for working. They are hardy, intelligent, and courageous, and very good looking dogs.

We have made a list of Irish names that would suit a dog. In addition to well known Irish names and their meanings, we have introduced new ones. We have suggested dog breeds that would suit the names. We have included words that sound right, they are at times, whimsical and poetic.

Enjoy reading the list of names and their meanings. Thank you.

Anlan – great hound or warrior, this name has a majestic ring to it
Bannon – white - wheaten terrier
Blaine – thin - greyhound, whippet
Bran, Brenna – raven, Bran is the name of an adventurer
Caha – showery mountain - Caha is two syllables, good when calling a dog
Cara – friend – every dog
Cargan – little rock – would suit a small breed of dog
Carrig - rock
Carey – dark (Black Labrador)
Conan – hound – has a protective ring to it
Conor – lover of hounds
Conry – king of wolves/hounds
Crolly – shaking dog – perhaps a spaniel or waterdog
Derry – descendent of the red haired one, or oak wood
Donn or Dun – brown - chocolate Labrador
Dougal – black strand
Egan – small fiery one -any terrier
Emly – Lake marsh of the yew tree - any beautiful dog
Finn – river in Donegal, blond haired
Fintan – white fire
Flynn – dark red
Grainna – she who inspires terror – perhaps a small wirey terrier
Hugh - fire
Kasey - brave
Kelly - warrior
Kerry – descendant of the dark one – Kerry Blue
Kyla - attractive
Lana – peaceful, attractive
Lorcan - fierce
Madden – little dog
Murphy – hound of the sea
Nola – Noble
Orla – golden princess
Paddy – short for Patrick
Quinn - strong
Rory – Red king
Ryan – little king
Rua – red – red setter
Sion – fairy hill – where the author was born
Tara – rocky hill, assembly area
Tory – mountain like
Tressa - strength
Tynan – Dark
Tullia – quiet and peaceful

©2006 Clare O Hagan - http://www.clareohagan.com

Clare O Hagan is co-owner of O Hagans Irish Store. A genuine lover of dogs, Clare and fellow artist Denise Wyllie, design, produce and sell, dog clothes with an Irish twist. http://www.clareohagan.com

The artists are affiliated to leading Women's Health Institutions internationally. See their art at http://www.wyllieohagan.com

Canine Distemper

Writen by Ron Swerdfiger

What is Canine Distemper?

Canine distemper is a highly contagios disease caused by a virus (paramyxovirus) which attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervus systems of dogs. Although dogs are the most commonly affected, Canine Distemper is also seen in foxes, ferrets, mink and many other carnivores. These infected animals are often the cause of the spread of this disease to domesticated dogs.

At normal temperature the virus can remain active in infected tissue for several weeks, provided the infected source does not dry out, or become exposed to ultraviolet radiation (sun light). At below zero, the virus can remain active for several months. At temperatures of 32°C or greater, the Canine Distemper virus will be destroyed very quickly.

How can the Virus spread?

Canine Distemper is spread through bodily secretions (nasal fluid for example} The most common form of transmission is airborne. Dogs become infected by breathing in particles secreted by infected hosts. For several weeks after recovery, a dog will still carry the virus which can lead to further contamination if not properly quarantined.

What are the symptoms?

Upon contracting the virus, dogs often appear "normal" for several days. The initial symptoms of the disease are runny nose, water eyes and a sore throat. The dogs temperature will increase to approximately 103.5°F (39.7°C). Over the next couple of days the symptoms worsen with the tonsils becoming enlarged, and the dog developing diarrhea. After approximately four weeks of treatment the virus begins to affect the brain. The dog will start twitching which will gradually turn in to larger convulsions The convulsions normally become so frequent and violent, that euthanasia is often carried out at this stage.

Are all dogs at risk?

Yes. Puppies younger than 4 months of age, and dogs who have not received vaccination, are at the greatest risk of infection. However, all dogs are susceptible to the virus. Canine Distemper was at one time the leading cause of deaths in domesticated dogs. Due to understanding of the virus and the ability to treat secondary symptoms, Canine Distemper only become a concern in isolated outbreaks.

What is the treatment for Canine Distemper?

At this time, there is no cure for the actual virus which causes Canine Distemper.. Treatment mainly consists of controlling spread and severity of secondary ailments such as , vomiting, diarrhea and fluid discharge. In the later stages of canine distemper, the use of anti-consultant drugs may help to control twitches and spasms. Constant nursing care is needed to make the dog as comfortable as possible.

Is there anyway to prevent canine distemper?

Have your dog vaccinated!!! Pups should be vaccinated at 6 weeks of age, and re-vaccinated every 3-4 weeks until 16 months old. Adult dogs should be vaccinated every year. Like most disease, prevention is often the only viable solution. Be cautions of where you are taking your dog. Since the most common transmission of Canine Distemper is air born, dog parks, kennels, even grooming facilities can be ideal places for dogs to contract the virus. Raccoons, skunks, foxes, and other carnivores are often the catalysts for outbreak. For this reason ALWAYS be cautions of wild animals. Never let your dog have contact with an unknown animal.

Ths website only provides BASIC information about canine distemper, your veterinarian is always your best source of health information. Consult your veterinarian for more information about Canine Distemper and its prevention.

For more great articles and tons of other great info visit our Dog forum, visit Ron's blog or visit our Pet blog

Animal Care Pet Pests Are Back

Writen by Bill Knell

While most Garden Buffs can hardly wait for spring and summer to arrive, many pet owners fear this lovely time of year. They know it's the beginning of flea and tick season. While the exact time when these tiny pests appear en masse to torture pets and humans alike may vary, a wise Pet Owner starts to prepare for their arrival as the snow melts, flowers bloom or the temperatures start to climb.

Preparation can help avoid infestation. Flea and ticks may seem like super-pests that are able to thwart even professional efforts to get and keep them out, but they are not as tough as you might think. In most cases, people actually invite these pests on to their property and into their homes by their action or inaction. They do this by creating a flea and tick friendly environment.

I received a letter from a big city apartment dweller a few years ago. He had a small dog and lived in a clean, well-kept New York City apartment. He took stellar care of his dog, had his place professionally cleaned and always made sure that his pet avoided contact with other animals and areas likely to be infested. Despite all these precautions, his pet always ended up with fleas. Having lived in the Big Apple myself for a number of years, I knew that his problem was a common one. People who live in urban areas or clean suburban neighborhoods fail to understand how their pets get flea and tick infestations. Well, it's a lot easier than you might think.

During my days in New York City, I watched more then a few people walk their pets near trees. I mean, when a dogs gotta go, they've gotta go! The problem is that almost all trees in urban or suburban settings have grass, weeds or some other form of flora near or around them. That grass is rarely trimmed to proper standards. Fleas love tall grass because it's just a hop, skip and jump to the next animal that happens along to use the nearby tree as an animal restroom. Ticks also have a field day with these areas. Animals free and clear of these tiny pests interact with infested pets and you know the rest of the story.

There are just no shortcuts to preventing flea and tick infestation. It is all about cleanliness, vigilance and making the right choices. Providing a clean and well-kept environment for your pet is the best way to avoid infestation. Problem areas include refuse storage, lawns, trees, plants and bushes. Problem situations include contact with other animals and exposure to environments outside of your residence.

Let's begin with the garbage. Refuse areas are the perfect breeding ground for all kinds of pests. Keeping the inside and outside of garbage containers clean and making sure they are tightly covered is a step in the right direction. However, you also have to be sure that pets cannot get near or have regular contact with the containers or the area where they are kept. Pets are attracted to the smell of garbage (which you might not even be able to detect). So are other animals. Birds and various animal visitors to your property can bring unwelcome pests. These pests can end up infesting your pets. Refuse areas should be fenced off or placed outside of your pet's roaming area. Bird feeders should be placed away from areas where your pet eats, drinks or exercises.

Wild birds carry a number of tiny pests and diseases that can seriously affect the health of domesticated pets. When birds use pet water bowls to drink or bath, they can pass all kinds of health problems along to your animals. A large or concentrated number of bird droppings are also a major problem. While you cannot avoid having birds visit your yard or balcony, you can help limit their access to your pet by not going out of your way to welcome large numbers of them. Feed and water your pets inside. Avoid Bird Feeders if you have pets that eat, drink or exercise nearby. Keep pets inside when you seed your lawn.

The best way to place a NO VACANCY sign on your property when it comes to fleas and ticks is to avoid creating a pest friendly environment. Keep your lawn, trees and bushes trimmed. Use small portable gardening fences or other means of containment to keep your pet away from areas between bushes, small trees, gardens and your house. Purchase flea and tick preventive lawn sprays. These attach to your garden hose and allow the spray to be easily applied to your lawn, trees, plants and bushes. Most of these spray products are available at large pet or department stores. Outside areas should be sprayed once a month from March until October (and later if temperatures remain mild). If your pet has access to a balcony, patio, deck or garage, these areas need to be kept clean as well and may also be treated with anti-flea and tick sprays available in aerosol cans.

Dog Houses, concrete Pet Runs and containment areas can become havens for all kinds of bacteria, pests and disease. Unless you have a specific need to have these artificial areas on your property, don't bother with them. Your pet is better off without them. These kinds of areas require a huge amount of maintenance and cleaning. Even when properly maintained and cleaned, it's difficult to keep these structures free of troublesome pests.

Once you get the clean pet area thing down, you have another big hurdle to jump. Spring is the perfect time to take advantage of public picnic and park facilities. We all love to take our pets to the park and show them off. Well, fleas and ticks love that too. As pets meet and mingle, all kinds of pests and health threats rear their ugly heads to threaten your beloved pet. That is why it's smart to stay away from public areas with lots of other pets, wild animals, tall grass and poorly maintained flora.

If you've got Spring Fever, curb your enthusiasm and keep your pet safe. I just cringe when I see people bring their pets out to public areas and allow them to run all over the place unleashed. That's wrong on so many levels and it is an even bigger problem during flea and tick season. Maybe they watched too many Lassie reruns and have a vision of their dog running across a high grass meadow to save old Mister Hobbs who had a heart attack while plowing his field? Perhaps they saw Free Willy, all the sequels and want to give their pet a respite from the gated existence they endure as domesticated pets? Either way, letting your pet run free in public areas is not doing them or any one else any favors (except fleas and tick, they love you for it).

Another way to help keep your pet free of pests is by keeping the outside from coming inside. During the 1970s, everyone wanted to be Grizzly Adams. My mother loved to go walking out in the country (as long as it consisted of meadows off any one of a number of local expressways, parkways or highways). She brought all kinds of wild plants and berries into the house from those places. My favorite was the time that she decided to make Dandelion Wine, spent a couple of days collecting Dandelions and a couple of months trying to get the vile brew to taste like something someone would actually drink.

After any one of her attempts to get closer to nature, our home quickly filled with wild flora and all kinds of annoying flies, tiny flying insects and other annoying bugs that came along for the ride or were attracted by them. My Mom got really mad at me when I kept insisting that she had caused a fly with a human head to be brought into the house after collecting a bunch of wild plants and ferns from near an old research laboratory. I think the fly kept saying, "Help ME…Help ME!" The object lesson here is to keep inside plants and wild foliage brought in from the outside away from your pets. Trudging around nature and making it welcome in your dwelling can bring many tiny pests into your pet's environment. May I suggest getting your inside flora from a reputable Nursery?

Because fleas and ticks have become such a big problem, there are now a number of indoor and outdoor chemical treatments available for your pet and their environment. Given the possible repercussions of exposing a pet to any chemicals, I suggestion you ask your Veterinarian for their input on these choices before using any. They are some natural choices that produce the same result.

A natural flea repellent can be produced by cutting up a lemon, allowing it to sit in a spray bottle overnight and then spaying it liberally on your dog. Avoid their eyes, but spray behind their ears. The spray can also be used on your pet's environment. A small amount of eucalyptus oil can be added to the final rinse of your pet's bedding to help keep those tiny varmints away. Fleas hate salt and it can kill them. If your dwelling is really hopping with fleas, apply a thin layer of salt to your floor, carpet and furniture, then vacuum. You will be surprised how effective salt can be against all kinds of annoying pests. Dogs who need a flea bath can be bathed with some Lavender oil. And then there's the G-Bomb. Dogs hate garlic, but so do fleas and ticks. Garlic can be added to a nice piece of meat or chicken. When you pet sweats, they drop the G-Bomb on pests.

When it comes to fleas and ticks, they always prefer to come into a pest friendly environment. The best way to keep fleas and ticks away from your pet, your housing and yourself is by making sure that you do not put out a WELCOME sign. Keep your pet and their environment clean and well groomed. Pest proof your dwelling. Use common sense when taking your pet outside or away from home. Like poor relatives, it's much easier to keep these pests out then to make them leave once they have found a nice place to stay.

Read more about Dog Care and health tips at http://doggiestyle.billknell.com

Adopt a puppy at http://www.AzToyDogs.com or http://www.ArizonaPups.com

Author: Bill Knell
Author's Email: billknell@cox.net
Author's Website: http://www.billknell.com

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