Pet Cemetery

Our deepest condolences on the loss of your pet. We at Pets.ca, hope to give you this opportunity to share your grief, love and respect in a virtual pet tribute. The Pets.ca virtual pet cemetery is dedicated to preserving the …

Health Problems in Small Dogs – Pet tip 154

In general, small dogs live longer than larger dogs. This is partly due to the fact that smaller canine bodies don’t work as hard as larger canine bodies and so their physiological systems and internal organs stay in a better …

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.

Dogs Cats and Fur Battles – Pet Tip 251

Cats and dogs have plenty of fur and the battle of the fur and the household never seems to end. Cats and dogs don’t seem to care much about losing a bit of fur but it does bother many humans. Given that the fur problem for humans is not likely to end anytime soon is there anything we can do to reduce the amount of fur that cats and dogs shed?

The answer is ‘yes and no’ and has a lot to do with the personality of the human not the cat or dog. Dogs and cats shed and that is a fact of life. They can no more stop shedding than we humans can stop shedding. (Humans shed skin cells and lose body/head hair every single day).

Dog Barks When Left Alone

Hark, Hark, The Dog Doth Bark: Silencing The Dog That Barks When Left Alone – Jacque Schultz

Of all dog behavior problems, perhaps the most distressing one is the dog who barks when left alone. Incessant volleys of yips, woofs …

Communication with your Deaf Dog

Communicating with your deaf dog is a step above regular dog training in that everything is done in complete silence. Fortunately, besides its sense of smell, a dog’s world is based largely on subtle (and some not so subtle) body language so it is inherent in your dog to take cues from your behavior. These cues include facial expressions, body posture, and changes in body movement.

The most important thing to communicate to your deaf dog is a sense of peace. Since your deaf dog compensates by taking cues from the behavior of humans and animals around him/her, he/she looks to you as a leader and guide to show him/her how to react in situations. The easiest way to tell your dog to be calm is to project that attitude yourself by mimicking calm body language that is universal to dogs. This body language includes yawning, having your eyes half-closed and blinking slowly, slow breathing, looking away and pretending to be day-dreaming, and relaxing the muscles in your body. The body language you do not want to project is fast and shallow breathing, open-mouthed breathing, wide-eyed stares, tense muscles in your body, fast movements, or shaking. Even your facial expressions are important. As your dog gets to know you better, he/she will soon learn all your facial expressions, so be careful what you project. In general, it’s always best to adopt a positive and calm attitude regardless if you have a deaf dog or not! Yet it is even more critical to have such a personality because your dog’s emotions will be based off your emotions.

Using shelter – pound animals for research

Most people are aware that animals are used in research. About 80% of the animals used in research are used for basic scientific research or are used in medical testing. Although there is a big push to reduce the number …

Obese and Overweight Cats and Dogs – Pet tip 156

Just like us, pets that are overweight are at a much higher risk of developing a number of health conditions. Problems like arthritis, heart disease, respiratory difficulties, and diabetes are among the long list of issues seen in dogs and …

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 …

Dogs in Mourning – Pet tip 246

Dogs are extremely sensitive animals and can feel many of the same emotions that humans feel. Although many seasoned dog owners already know this, newer dog owners are often surprised by the depth of some of the emotions that dogs can feel. We all know that dogs can be very happy creatures; their broad wagging tails give them away every time. But dogs are capable of feeling more complex emotions than just happiness. At the other end of the spectrum there is sadness and depression and dogs are capable of feeling these emotions. Perhaps there is no greater testament to this fact then when a dog’s owner or another dog from the household dies