Greyhound:Socialization

Greyhound:Socialization
One, who owns a greyhound or is looking to own one, should be aware of the fact that socialization is a very important factor, where these dogs are concerned.

The greyhounds, as the statistics support, have been mostly racing dogs, and 95% of them have made a transition from racers to pets. They are never really friendly with people whom they don t know and owing to their background as racers they tend to chase them off at first sight.

In fact, there appears to be a direct relationship between their chasing nature and unsocial attitude. About 20% of these dogs have an extremely high prey instinct.

A newly trained pet, or rather a greyhound that has just turned into a pet, after a long life on the racing tracks, is bound to be skeptical of strangers. You will find it playing to its heart s delight with the people in the house, but the mere sight of an outsider, an individual, a dog, a cat or even a rabbit will set him off. This happens primarily due to the fact that he has been used to running along the tracks all throughout his life when he had probably been given specific objects to keep sight of, which he could track down and thus win the race.

Once trained into a domestic animal, the greyhound makes a wonderful pet. Its transformation from a racer to a pet requires diligent training. Owners are almost always successful in taming them but when it comes to socializing them, they are faced with quite a challenge.

The greyhounds are usually sensitive and elegant, and very brave but they can be quite willful too. They are to be socialized at an early age before its too late and they end up turning into timid beasts. Owing to his reserved behavior towards his master as well as others, he tends to be undervalued.

Greyhounds are programmed as racers. Unless warned, they would probably even run through a glass door. They need specific care to the extent that even the general dog collar or leash can do them harm.

Before taking a greyhound, one should be perfectly conversant with the methods to train him into domestic life. Adoption centers with experts at handling animals are the best possible options to turn to when one is at a loss with a greyhound.

These professionals understand the mind of the dog. A dog that is used to a schedule of running at a particular time of the day and then again staying locked in a room for the rest of the day is bound to feel ecstatic when set scot-free. Domestic life for him would mean running around in his owner s house all throughout the day, without really having to follow too many ground rules.

This however, has its pros and cons. Settling into domestic life calls for certain norms to be adhered to as well, aside from being just a household pet. All these norms can sum up to what we call socialization.

Indoors, within the household, they are calm and adaptable to the point of being lazy and are not even watchful or alert. But outdoors, they need special care to get accustomed to the life outside.

While interacting with people who are not family members, they need to be molded into warm, friendly animals that know how to be at their best possible behavior even when confronted with a stranger.

Learn all about Dog
Adoption from the unique e-book Super Dogs and
Puppies.

If you are searching for dog socialization, learn how to choose the right factors.

: Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog

Grooming: Supplies Your Dog Needs
Grooming is important to a Boxer dog as it is to you. Can you imagine yourself with unruly hair, dirty fingernails and unwashed cloth? Probably not! Everyday, we are spending ample amount of time to take a bath, get dressed and various other routines to c…

How to afford your horse and still have time to ride
How to afford your horse and still have time to ride By, Dr. Madalyn Ward I have recently embarked on a huge project of purchasing raw land and moving myself and the horses into the country so I can ride and advance my horsemanship. I thought I had m…

Good Things To Know About Russian Blue Cats
People say that no other cat breed can be as beautiful as the Russian Blue! They are indeed wonderful cats, which can steal anyone s heart with their emerald green eyes, silver-tipped fur, refined boning and plushy coats! These cats have a very strong personality. It is not the owner who chooses to take in a Russian Blue cat, but it is the cat that chooses to accept him! The cat has the final say as to how the relationship develops. If you are lucky enough to win her trust, you will get her full loyalty and love. The cat will treasure you more than anyone in the whole world. Unlike the other cats which are usually very friendly to people, the Russian Blue kitten is rather shy when meeting a stranger. The little one hides in a safe place, most of the times behind pieces of furniture. From there the kitten can review all the new aspects of her life. The only working strategy at this point is to sit down, quietly dangle a shoelace or move a cat teaser back and forth slowly and wait. The Russian will be unable to ignore the motion and will most certainly try to catch the moving object. This is the first step in establishing a relationship with the cat. From there on, you can hope for a serious relationship with the kitten. Lots of cat toys, as the Russians remain eager to play throughout their lives, no loud music and meals on time are the most successful tools you have for that matter! The Russian Blue cats are very intelligent, as their most important characteristic is that they always look carefully before leaping. Apart from the fact that the Russian Blue will have gained a large amount of play time from you at your first meeting, he will also have guessed just how interested you are in getting to know him. You have to be totally devoted to him in order for the cat to feel that you are the owner he was looking for! The Russians never like changes. So, if you decide to take one, then he must be sure that he will stay a long time and be treated as a valued member of your family. To sum it up, the Russian Blue cats are very intelligent and agile. A person who takes in such a cat must be able to treasure all the qualities the Russians have!

Visit Cat Breed Adivce to find out more about <a href="http://www.catbreedadvice.com/Cat-Breed-Pages/Russian-Blue.html">Russian Blue Cats</a> .Learn new things about your <a href="http://www.catbreedadvice.com/Cat-Breed-Pages/Russian-Blue.html">Russian Blue Cat</a> .

Proper Care of Cats
Just like us, cats have needs and their needs must be provide especially if you have them as pets. Their needs are just normal when it comes to the basic and as well as material. What matters most is the affection and care you share for these animals. When they feel that you are sincerely taking care of them, they would really feel it.

What do cats need?

The following are the things cats needs for better growth and development:

Cat food

Cats could be very greedy but you have to watch their diet. There is this right amount of food. When cats are younger than 12 weeks, they need to have 4 small meals but when they grow as old as more than 12 weeks; you could gradually trim down the number of meals to 2. Water must also be provided but milk is not encouraged for it would only cause diarrhea to cats. Feeding them with grass from time to time could also help out in their digestion of food.

Cat belongings

There are items you need to provide to your cat that would surely make it feel the comfort and in effect these things are sure help for you to have a clean and orderly home. One of the most important things you have to provide is the litter container. Well, cats may be clean animals but just to make sure, you place a litter container for your pet to use. This would let you overcome having a smelly home. Change it often, you will both be much happier.

- A scratching post is another thing that must be provided by the conscientious pet owner. This will keep the home furnishings out of harms way. Cats need a place to scratch when they are growing their nails.

Cat grooming

They also need to look good. Proper grooming must be given to cats. When they feel pampered, they would radiate it and echo it to you. When your cat is long-haired, see to it that you comb the hair daily and give your pet a generous bath from time to time. When your pet is short-haired, just see to it that you get rid of fleas and other parasites. They have to remove as much as possible for they may also go and stay in your belongings at home like carpets and others. Tooth brushing is also very hygienic.

These are three important points that must really be remembered because they will definitely make your cats live the best life possible. If you pamper your special pet with proper care and affection, they will surely return the favor.

Author: Gail Hoyos Copyright 2007 Know exactly what your pet is eating. Visit my site for ideas for making your own cat treats and food. Pamper that Pet! They will love you for it! www.petsarefriendly.com

How To Solve Your Dog Behavior Problems
I did not know anything about dog obedience training before. And I had two dogs, Ebony and Jordan. Ebony was quite aggressive with other dogs, althought I wanted to stop her dog aggression. She was crazy about chasing cats, birds and squirrels and I wanted her to stop digging in the yard. Jordan on the other hand wanted to nip/bite people all the time, and I wanted to stop the dog biting, they were very aggressive and defiant at times. I read a couple of books about dogs behaving badly, but felt that I needed a step-by-step approach to correct my dogs unpleasant behavior. I researched several sources and the Internet and came across this magnificent dog behavior training, which I quickly enrolled in their free 6-day e course. I immediately started with the dog training lessons and got across to my two dogs Jordan and Ebony, that I am the owner and Pappy. I had no idea that doing something as simple as making them sit before I put their bowl of food down would make a difference in how each viewed me. They had made great progress. They had become confident, less anxious and both likes to practice commands every day. We still need to work on a few areas, but it’s only been less than three months! Ebony is much happier knowing that we are the pack leaders who protect, feed and love her. The training have been a tremendous help to me in gaining more control over Jordan & Ebony especially as they were rather defiant at times. What I like about this dog behavior training is that you it gives insights into what the dog are thinking, why they behave the way they do, and what to do to correct the problems. I have learned so much from the instructions, and my dogs are now following my commands and I am able to control them. My two dogs are very loving, fun and loyal but I’ve had to get a dog behaviorist out in the past as Ebony’s has a nervous disposition and a habit of going bonkers through fear by barking, growling and Jordan trying to bite. I think Jordan is extremely scared of children and doesn’t particularly like strangers and other dogs. They now love the family and those they know but it was really worrying and the fear of biting. Even from the feedback from around town, people have seen the improvement in both and wonder how we have accomplished this. Thousands of people worldwide have been successfully training their dogs , and solved their dog s behavior problems. You can have your dog obey you no matter what the situation and solve any specific problems that you may have with your dog - this is truly awesome material! With this powerful training and information, I have learned so much about dog behavior and how to respond accordingly without yelling or intimidating.

About The Author: Pablo Montalvo writes Blog Tips and Tactics Newsletter you can subscribe free here to his newsletter. Find out how the children in your life can expand their horizons with a dog as a companion at my website which is at http://learnonlinevideo.com/dogtrng

Bornean Bay Cat
Residing solely on the island of Borneo, Bay Cat is also known as Bornean Bay Cat, Bornean Red Cat or Bornean Cat. So reclusive is this cat that it was only in the last decade that the first live specimen was successfully photographed. Bearing close genet…

5 Tips To Easy Puppy Potty Training
The sooner you potty train your puppy the better. You want to establish good habits from the start. And, a dog who has never gone potty in the house will never consider the house a place *to* go potty. I ve always found the puppies we purchased from actual working farms (NOT puppy farms) were the easiest to house-train. They only ever wanted to go potty on grass or hay ” as they had only ever gone in the barn or outside. They frequently wouldn t even go potty in a parking lot ” we d need to find grassy areas on the way home for them to go potty.

Here are some house training tips that will help ” as long as you follow them consistently:

1. Closely supervise your pup while potty training. Do not let your puppy out of your sight while he is loose in your house! Watch him as though you were babysitting a very young child who could/would get in trouble if you didn’t watch them. A puppy is the same as a toddler in this respect. Keep your puppy in a crate to keep him out of trouble when you can t attentively watch him.

If you see your puppy starting to sniff around, take him outside (or to the selected potty area) right away. If you d like the potty area to be outside ” try to make the area outside from the start; and if for any reason you can t make the area outside from the start at least make the area near the door. This way when you are ready to house train to outside you can bring your pup outside whenever you see him beginning to sniff around near the door. *When you can’t supervise your un-trained dog, keep him in a crate*. Be sure you have the proper size crate too. Your pup should be able to stand up and turn around ” but no larger. If you bring your pup with you to purchase the crate, the store personnel should be able to help you select the correct size. Some people have tied their dog’s leash to their waist while potty training - but you still need to *pay attention*. (I once told my daughter that her puppy potty training problem was that she wasn t paying enough attention. She phoned one day to tell me that I must be right ” her puppy had two accidents that day ” both on her foot!)

2. If you find your puppy going potty in the wrong place interrupt him by saying “NO!” in a sharp tone of voice- then immediately take him to the proper place to finish. (If you don t catch him ” you aren t watching closely enough.) It could help to put the paper towel you clean the mess with where you want him to potty- so that he will have the scent there. Be sure to *thoroughly* clean and de-odorize the area where he pottied in the house. Use special products made for this purpose - or he will go there again. In fact, watch him *extra closely* and/or take him to his potty place when he starts sniffing around those areas.


3. Pick a potty place that is free of distractions. No playing of any kind until the pup has gone potty. Do NOT turn potty time into play time until after he goes potty. When he does go potty give him a treat and then PLAY with him. Reward him lavishly and immediately!

4. Set a schedule. Keeping a routine will help to establish good habits. Control when your puppy eats and drinks. Feed your puppy 3 times a day when you first bring him home (or as your breeder recommends). You can decrease this to one or two times a day as he gets older. Be sure he always has fresh water to drink. Take your puppy to his potty area about once an hour ” and always take him to his potty area within 10 minutes after he eats or drinks, wakes up, and after exercise or play. Permit absolutely no playing or distractions until he has done his business . Once he has gone potty you can begin to take him outside about once an hour for a very young puppy ” and extend the time between potty breaks as your pup gets older and firmly forms good house training habits. But be sure to *watch your pup carefully* whenever he isn t either confined or in an OK to potty area.

5. Reward your puppy as soon as he does go potty in the appropriate location. Give him a bit of a very tasty special treat. Tell him, Yes! Good boy! And play with him! Make the moment he goes potty the moment the fun and good stuff begin. Dogs love good stuff; and they will usually do whatever they need to do to get it. So all you really need to do is to make sure your dog knows what you expect of him ” what it takes to get the good stuff .

This is a lot of work at first until the habits are formed. But really, it is the most effective ” and sometimes the only- way that it can be done. Be sure to take your puppy outside as much as possible to increase his opportunity to eliminate outdoors. If he doesn’t go outside do NOT take your eyes off him when you bring him in. Most importantly: lavishly praise, reward, and play with him when he does go outside. With the use of patience, persistence, consistence, and lavish reward - you will both succeed! For more free dog training information, advice, and tips, as well as free information on dog care, puppy care, dog health & nutrition, and free canine cuisine recipes visit: http://www.e-dog-training.com.

Please visit our site for FREE helpful tips, information, and advice on dog and puppy training, puppy potty training, dog care, dog health and nutrition, and more. General Puppy Training Tips available at: http://www.e-dog-training.com/Top10PuppyTrainingTips.html Also see our article on 5 Steps to Easy Puppy Potty Training at: http://www.e-dog-training.com/5TipsToEasyPuppyPottyTraining.html - Copyright 2007 - May be reprinted and distributed with credit/link to: <http://www.e-dog-training.com>

How to give a cat a bath
It is important to know how to bathe your cat. Cats generally to a fine job cleaning themselves, however, they my need a little help from time to time. In this case, it is important to know how to properly give you cat a bath. Giving a cat a bath can be a little trick since most cats are not fond of water or getting wet. There are dry bath products available on the market today to avoid the traditional bath altogether, however these products are better used to keep your cat clean and healthy rather than get them clean after a roll in the mud. The dry bath products are generally a leave in treatments great for eliminating odor. A dry bath is a great idea for keeping you cat clean. It will usually not effect their current flea treatment because no water should be needed to wash it away. Always read the labels before using these products. They are safe to use on cats, but may contain different ingredients that you or your cat could be allergic to. Dry bath products are great, but what do you do when your cat homes home late at night, covered in mud, paint, or something incredible messy and possible toxic? Lets face it, cats get into trouble sometimes. You probably won t want to let them come in the house and lay on your floor or furniture, and, unless you know what your cat is covered in, probably should not let them sit in the mess all night, or try and clean it themselves. You should never let your cat ingest a foreign substance if possible. When this happens, hopefully on a rare occasion, you will want to know how to give your cat a bath. If you re very lucky, this may not be much trouble. Your cat might like the water. But if you have a normal cat like the rest of us, things could get pretty interesting. When you ve decided to give your cat a bath, you should get them a special kitty shampoo. The regular shampoo you use everyday may have harsh perfumes or chemicals that could be harmful to your cat. If this is not available, try and do the best you can with just water in an emergency. It may not be as easy, but this should get most of the muck out of your cat s fur. By this time you should be well aware of your cats temperament. You will know if your cat will fight you and how hard he or she will fight to get away from bath time. So take every precaution necessary to protect yourself and your cat. After all, most cats are equipped with an effective defense. Claws! If you have a leather jumpsuit or bird handling gloves, then you re set. Of course, most of us don t have these types of armor and they are not necessary to get the job done. Rubber gloves are suggested, but long sleeves are a must! Personally, I ve found that a thick, durable fabric like denim or even a thick cotton work just fine. Just make sure, what ever you wear, that it can t be penetrated too easily by your cat s claws. The size of your cat, and intensity of his or her frenzy, should determine your bath space needed. You may be able to get away with using your sink for small cats and kittens. If not, use your bathtub and keep all doors closed. If you have a glass shower door, it s not a bad idea to climb into the tub with your cat and keep that door closed too. Stop! Before you throw you cat into tub of water, remember they will, most likely, be frightened. When you attempt to give your cat a bath, chances are, your cat will know that something s up even before you begin. Your cat may be frightened by the sound of running water, or the splashing sounds in the tub or sink. It s usually not the best idea to run the water over your cat like a shower. This could startle your cat and cause him or her to spring into action and try to run away from it. The best way I ve found is to draw a shallow bath and have a cup handy to pour water, slowly onto your cat in order to wet him. Maintain control! You are the master of your domain and don t let your cat think otherwise in this situation. While hogtying your cat is not recommended, you will need to restrict his movement somewhat. This might take the effort of two people for unruly cats and may take some force. Whatever you do, please don t hurt your cat! Once you have control of your beast, and the water is ready, complete the procedure as quickly as possible. Wet your cats coat thoroughly and lather him up with his own special shampoo. Do the best job you can; don t forget the feet, tail and stomach. Always use extra special care when washing your cats face! Shampoo may not be needed in this area, and be very careful around his eyes. Once your cat is soapy, start to rinse. Using the same, gentle pouring motion with your handy cup and the water in the tub rinse your cats fur. You may want to have a reserve of fresh, clean water for rinsing. Try and use your fingers to break up any matting and wok through thick coated areas. Rinse well, drain the tub, and you are almost done. Now it s time to dry your cat. Drying your cat should not take as much effort as it seems. You will not be able to get him completely dry, so do your best and your cat, and time, will gladly finish the job. When you let your cat out of the sink or bathtub, keep him in the area. Your cat will most likely want to shake first, just like dogs, and then gently, but with enthusiasm, rub your cat with a towel to rid him of excess water. Your cat will begin to lick himself dry. You can them leave your cat in the bathroom until he s dry, or let him out whenever you feel is best you, your home, your furniture, and your cat. In order to simplify this process, here is a step by step guide on How to give a cat a bath: Get cat shampoo Suit up! Protect your body from potential injury. Draw a shallow bath (warm, not hot or cold) Restrain your cat Wet Lather Rinse and Dry The last thing you should know before giving a cat a bath is not to be intimidated. It may not be as simple as one, two, thee, but it s not impossible and you ll both feel better when it’s over.

Angela Coyle is an avid cat lover, and owner of Hercules the cat, Murteza Abyssinian, Mango, and many others throughout the years. She is also currently an editor at http://www.cat-care-cat-information.com

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