It's an exciting time! You've made the decision to get a puppy, and most of the preparations are done. Now the question is whether you should enroll in dog training classes. Of course, you could also work with a dog trainer. Or you might feel confident enough to go it alone, because you already have a lot of experience with dogs.
It is debatable whether it makes sense to take your puppy to school if you already have sufficient experience in raising a young animal. However, puppy school does have one advantage: it offers puppies social contact with dogs of their own age. These encounters help puppies learn how to interact appropriately with other dogs as they grow up. This is something that is difficult to provide for your dog at home, unless you are a breeder or regularly invite other young dogs into your garden.
In puppy groups, young dogs can meet each other in a playful way. Nevertheless, hierarchies are already at play. The animals will have fun together, but they will also fight sometimes. The contact between the animals should be well supervised, as this is the foundation for a relaxed dog life. It is therefore particularly important that the trainer can intervene in critical situations and prevent negative experiences for the puppy.
A good puppy school is run by a trained, experienced trainer. It's not about learning lots of "tricks," but rather focusing on socialization. In a good school, the young animals are divided into groups according to their age, size, and character. The impressions your dog takes away from puppy school should be positive. Even if there is a problematic situation, there should be a positive outcome in the end, which the trainer may also have to bring about.
Under no circumstances should the puppies be left completely to their own devices. A good trainer adapts smaller "tasks" to the individual puppies' respective levels.
A good dog training school provides the best foundation your young dog can get. Lots of different impressions, playmates, and tasks that your dog will enjoy and be able to master.
One more tip: most dog schools offer taster courses or trial lessons. This allows you and your dog to get an idea of the school's concept and what it has to offer.
At puppy school, your dog will learn how to interact with other dogs and how to respond in certain situations. If you ask yourself what you want from your dog, your wish list will most likely include long walks together, during which your dog is happy and friendly towards you and other walkers and their dogs. Your dog should not become a fighter, but neither should it cower in fear. You want a trusting, attentive dog that knows you are the "loving" boss.
Puppy school, with its various young dogs and their owners, offers a wonderful training ground for the most important part of training: the best possible social behavior that your dog can internalize and then demonstrate. Commands such as "sit," "down," and others are added and are also tasks for daily interaction. But above all, there is hardly any other place where you can practice behavior within a group dynamic so optimally with your pet.
There are hardly any arguments against attending puppy or dog training classes. However, caution should be exercised in the case of puppies that have had a difficult start in life and show corresponding deficits due to trauma. Dogs that are particularly fearful and intimidated by everything and experience extreme stress when they are unprepared for a group situation at puppy school should first be trained alone with a trainer.
If your dog struggles with such difficulties, you should consider targeted training with a coach who will introduce the dog to other dogs step by step. After all, your dog will encounter other dogs and frightening situations in its life again and again, and it should be as well prepared as possible.
Horseback riding is a wonderful hobby, especially with your own horse! When humans and animals form a strong team, you develop a completely different connection than when you are "jumping" from one horse to the next at a riding school. But how can you find happiness with a permanent horse partner if you can't afford to buy your own horse? Or if you can't find the time to devote to a horse on your own? A riding partnership could be the best decision for you and your horse.
Malassezia dermatitis is a skin disease caused by yeast fungi, which often manifests itself in dogs as an outer ear infection but can also affect the entire body.
Echocardiography refers to the ultrasound examination of the heart, which is used in the diagnosis of heart disease. This requires a special ultrasound device and a veterinary practice specializing in cardiac ultrasound.
Basically, senior cats are just like people who are getting on in years: not everything works as well as it did when they were young. They have a few aches and pains, and sometimes, unfortunately, serious illnesses. And everything can slow down a little. It happens gradually: age becomes more and more noticeable over the years. Some cats age earlier, while others remain young and fit for longer. In any case, the aging process can be accompanied by good care.
Birds groom themselves almost constantly: they clean themselves, sharpen their beaks and bite. But sometimes our feathered friends need a little help.
Stomatitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane in a dog's mouth. It can develop primarily (on its own) or secondarily as a result of other underlying diseases and can affect only a limited area or the entire mouth. Small dogs and dogs with misaligned teeth are particularly affected.
We always want the best for our four-legged companions: to care for them, spend quality time together, and share our world with them. But despite all our care and attention, accidents and emergencies can happen. With an emergency kit, you'll be well prepared. Of course, the kit is no substitute for a visit to the vet. But especially for minor accidents, sudden illness, and stressful situations, a well-stocked emergency kit is an important tool. And in an emergency, you may even save your dog's life if you have the right equipment and know what to do.
You've probably experienced a dog wagging its tail at the door even though the person who was greeted minutes later was nowhere to be seen or heard. It's well known that dogs have better hearing than humans. But did you also know that your dog can block out certain sounds?
Endocrinology is the field of medicine that deals with disorders of metabolism and hormones. Hormones are messenger substances that are produced in the ovaries or testicles and by the endocrine glands, such as the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, pancreas, and adrenal glands, and released into the blood. Hormones transmit information and thus control all important bodily functions.
Who hasn't dreamed of galloping along the water's edge on horseback? The wind in your hair, a hint of salt on your lips, and the feeling of flying. Okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but admit it: you'd love to go horseback riding on the beach..
Which horses get osteoarthritis? It very often affects older horses that have already covered many miles in their lifetime or those that have been actively involved in sport for some time. However, horses that have not had regular exercise appropriate to their species can also develop osteoarthritis. Basically, though, there is no general rule. It is also not easy to recognize osteoarthritis in its early stages. Sometimes, horse owners think that their horse is just experiencing a temporary period of overexertion when it has difficulty getting up from the straw. Or they believe that the cold winter is the reason why their horse is a little stiff-legged. After all, who likes to run around at minus 15 degrees Celsius? So where does osteoarthritis start and how can a horse owner best deal with it?
Botulism refers to illnesses caused by metabolic products of bacteria of the genus Clostridium botulinum. Strictly speaking, it is not an infection but rather a form of poisoning, as it is not the bacteria that enter the body but their toxins, which are among the most poisonous biological substances known to man. Many of us are familiar with this toxin only as "Botox" used in cosmetic surgery, where it is administered in very low doses to smooth wrinkles.
