Did you know that arthritis affects one in five dogs over the age of seven? It is a painful condition that affects the joints and can occur in your pet’s neck, hips, shoulders, elbows and back. However, there are many simple solutions that you can provide at home that will relieve the aches and pains in your dog’s joints.

Change Your Dog’s Diet

Easy enough and it worked for my dog. Be sure you are providing a high-quality dog food with no added preservatives, food colorings, wheat, corn or soy products. It would be preferable to get a dog food that is low fat AND has low carbohydrates, but unfortunately there is no such thing as a low-carb dog food. Just be aware that grains (which make up a large component of dry dog food) tend to increase inflammation and aggravate arthritis. A better alternative would be to switch to home-prepared meals with either cooked or raw meats and vegetables.

However, if you don’t want to prepare meals for your pet, then cut back on the dry food and start adding a cup of fresh veggie “salad” every day. Celery is excellent for the joints. I often chop up lettuce, celery, cucumber, some carrot, and any other fresh vegetables I have on hand. Just make sure to cut all vegetables into very small pieces for easy digestion (a food processor is perfect for this) and don’t use onions or mushrooms as they may be toxic to your dog.

Provide Supplements That Reduce Arthritic Swelling and Pain

Give your dog a glucosamine tablet. Glucosamine helps the body manufacture glycosaminoglycans, which is designed to maintain cartilage structure. The recommended dosage is ¼ mg of a 500mg tablet per 10 pounds of body weight once a day. Preferably use a glucosamine tablet that also contains Chondroitin Sulfate. This supplement helps to attract water into the cartilage for added nutrition and lubrication. It also seems to inhibit excessive cartilage destroying enzymes.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a naturally occurring organic dietary sulphur that has been shown in studies to relieve arthritic pain, slow joint deterioration and reduce inflammation with no negative side effects.

Dogs don’t usually get enough Omega 3 fatty acids in their diets. Omega 3 helps to regulate pressure in the joints, among many other things. A good source for this is fish oil capsules. Additional vitamin E will also be needed since adding more oil to the body increases the need for this vitamin.

Reduce Excess Weight

Extra weight on a dog puts extra pressure on the joints and causes more pain and swelling. Begin by reducing the amount of treats given, cut back a bit on food, and provide a lower fat diet for your dog. Exercising is also important. If possible, take your dog out for several shorter 10 to 15 minute walks each day rather than going for one long walk. Another great strategy is to take your dog swimming. They’ll get the exercise without stressing the joints. A bathtub works well for very small dogs. However, if your dog is a landlubber and hates water don’t push the issue.

Keep Your Dog Warm and Cozy on Cold, Damp Days

Set up a soft bed or some layers of fleece in the area where your dog normally sleeps. If your dog usually stays outside, then provide an insulated dog house with soft bedding on the floor. Be sure the doorway is somewhat sheltered and facing away from the wind. Better yet, bring them inside when it’s cold and/or wet.

Apply Moist Heat

Apply a hot water bottle with warm water or use a towel soaked in warm water that’s been wrung out to your dog’s aching joints. Moist heat penetrates deeply and provides welcomed relief. Do not use a heating pad as it may get too hot for the dog and burn them especially if your dog has limited mobility - they may not be able to get up and move away from a pad that is too hot.

Raise Your Dog’s Food and Water Dish

If your pet has arthritis in their neck or shoulders, consider raising their food and water bowls so they don’t have to bend their head down to eat.

Give Your Pet a Massage

Don’t we all love to have sore muscles rubbed? Gently rub around the affected joint and massage the surrounding muscles. This gentle kneading and the heat from your hands should ease some of the pain.

Use a Ramp For The Stairs

If your dog has a hard time going up and down stairs, think about buying or making a ramp that can be laid over the stairs so your dog can more easily maneuver them. This is especially useful for when they need to go outside to “do their thing” or are required to jump into a truck for a trip to the vet.

Additional alternatives include herbal and homeopathic products, acupressure, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. Safer and often just as effective, these are just some of the things that you can do at home for your dog to give them relief from arthritic pain.

Is your dog sick and getting sicker by the day? Are you searching for answers and alternative solutions to your dog’s health care problems? Visit Caring for Canines, a web site that focuses on holistic approaches to dog health issues => http://www.caringforcanines.com

(c)2005, Rose Smith. All rights reserved.

Housebreaking any new pet can often be a daunting challenge, and housebreaking your Pit Bull puppy will be no exception. It is a necessary step that you as a dog owner must take if you intend your Pit Bull to be an indoor pet, but one that many owners dread. The earlier you start training your dog the better, and many veterinarians recommend starting housebreaking at around eight weeks old.

Pit Bulls tend to learn well by repetition, so it is important to develop a daily routine and stick to it as much as possible. They also crave lots and lots of attention, which will help them to feel more secure in their new home and possibly make training easier. It is best if someone is at home at all times with the Pit Bull during housebreaking, as it will definitely make the process much faster. It is important that you have a designated area for your Pit Bull that is to be considered his individual space. Ideally, his space should be somewhere easy to clean up, like a tiled floor for example, because accidents are likely to happen, especially in the beginning. The area will need to have his bed, chew toys, and food and water since this is the area he will spend a lot of time in, especially if you are away. Make sure the area can be closed off so that the dog cannot get out and gain access to other areas of the house when no one is home. Baby gates tend to work well, because the dog can still see you and won’t feel as though he is shut in.

During your time at home, try to give your Pit Bull puppy as much of your attention as possible. Try to go outside with him at least every thirty minutes or so, and make sure you praise or reward him for relieving himself outside. Praise and rewards will help him learn that it is good to potty outside, and he will catch on quick.

Expect your puppy to have accidents in the house. It is just something that is going to happen no matter how diligent you are in training him. Punishing your puppy for this will only lead to more setbacks. The best way to handle housebreaking is to be patient, and remember that it is a long process for both of you that won’t happen overnight. The more attention you give your new Pit Bull puppy, the more he will thrive and do well. During all of the time you devote to training your puppy, you are building a good relationship with him as well, hopefully one that will last a lifetime.

To learn all about American Pit Bull Terriers and training a Pit Bull, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com today.

Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn’t win a fight against a fifth-grader. But did you know that for a dog agility is possibly even more important? With so many of a dog’s happiest moments spent running, jumping, catching, and stretching, dog agility training can really help dogs age gracefully and happily.

What is dog agility training?

You’ve probably seen dog agility training on television. The dogs run a course of tire hoops, tunnels, seesaw, dog walk plank, jumps, hurdles, weaving poles, and a 3-meter A-frame. Heeling, sitting, down stays, send-aways as well as walking off leash are also included.

Who can participate?

Anyone with a dog can do agility training. There is not age limit for people or dogs. In fact, children and puppies are encouraged to take part. All breeds and sizes of dogs without a physical disability can benefit from agility training. Be sure to check with your vet before you begin agility training if you have any doubts about your canine’s fitness.

What equipment is needed?

You as the handler will need comfortable shoes and clothes that you can run in, because this is not exercise for the dog alone. Your dog needs a leather or webbed buckle collar and a leather, nylon or rope lead of fairly long length. Do not use a chain lead; it could get caught in the jumps.

Agility Training Courses for Dogs

There are two sides of agility training for dogs. They are the obstacles and the control training. There are also tips for training your dog. Obstacles. Although it seems high to many handlers, the A-frame is the best obstacle to begin training. The dog walk plank, low jump and the tunnel (dogs love this obstacle) are also excellent for training the novice dog.

Control training is important to keep your dog disciplined both on the agility course and off. Everybody knows that a dog must heel and sit. You must also teach your dog to know and obey different commands: to go left and right, lay down, and wait. After those are mastered, the dog must learn normal recall (returning anytime you call) and recall over obstacles. Also important is the “send away” command, making the dog go ahead you.

Tips for Dog Agility Training

Begin training by getting your dog’s attention. Talk to him and offer a small treat. Coupled with the love he has for you, he’ll be all ears. Be sure you have the correct lead (generally 6 feet) and a comfortable collar (measure the dog’s neck and add 2 inches) for your dog. Give praise often. “Tune in” to your dog to be sure she and you are ready to train.

Here’s a final tip: make sure that you and your dog enjoy yourselves. After all, jumping through hoops is supposed to be fun–at least if you’re a dog.

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Before crate training your Pit Bull puppy, you’ll need to acquire a crate. There are many types and variations of crates available for purchase. It is important to pick the type of crate that will best suit the needs of both you and your puppy.

You should also take into consideration the size of your dog now, and how large he may be when fully grown to avoid having to purchase more than one crate. It is also important to remember that the crate will be his own individual space, and you want to make it as comfortable as possible so that your Pit Bull will enjoy his time there.

Since the puppy will be spending a lot of time in his crate, you should put several of his favorite toys and treats in the crate for him. Keep in mind that any toy you purchase should be large enough for the dog not to be able to swallow it, to avoid any injury to your pet. Having toys to chew own will not only give the dog something to chew that he can’t destroy, but it will help to prevent boredom while he is in the crate.

Due to the strength of the Pit Bull, it is important to purchase tough toys that are made to last. They tend to really like Kong toys, and they can be stuffed with treats, which will usually keep him interested at least for a couple of hours, or until he gets all the treats. You can also purchase bones and toys that are especially made for Pit Bulls, they are tougher and usually safer for them to have than regular toys and bones. Regular bones, such as rawhide bones, can be dangerous for Pit Bulls, because they are strong enough to chew off bits of bone and get them lodged in their digestive tract.

If your Pit Bull will be spending more than two hours in the crate, it is a good idea to equip it with a water bottle in case he gets thirsty. Many pet stores sell the same type of water bottles that are used for hamsters or gerbils, just in larger sizes. These tend to work well in the Pit Bull’s crate.

You should also put some kind of bedding in the crate to help your Pit Bull puppy be more comfortable. Old towels or soft blankets usually suit this purpose very well. Occasionally Pit Bull puppies will chew their bedding, if this happens, be sure to remove all the pieces so that the puppy doesn’t swallow them. If the puppy wets his bedding, just remove it until the puppy stops using his crate as a bathroom, then put it back in.

Since the crate is your Pit Bull’s own private space, it is important not to let children or visitors play with him while he is in his crate. He should be left alone to play or rest as he likes. If someone wants to play with him, he should be taken out of his crate first. You want your Pit to like being in his crate, and feel comfortable spending time there.

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One crucial element in ensuring your Pit Bull is a good pet is making certain he is trained properly. As a dog owner, especially as a Pit Bull owner, it is your responsibility to make certain your dog is trained and behaves well. Without training, Pit Bulls have a hard time learning to control their aggressive natures. Pit Bulls also need to develop social skills to ensure they get along well with other people and pets.

There are many different methods that can be used for training your Pit Bull. One of the most widely used methods uses a clicker, made of a relatively small box with a button that makes a clicking noise when pressed. This method does not work well for all Pit Bulls, some may learn from it, while it may have no effect on others. There really is no one set training method that will work on every dog because each dog is unique. Clicker training is recommended as a highly successful method among many trainers and veterinarians, mostly due to the fact that is a reward system that gives you a positive way to teach your dog good behavior.

The idea behind clicker training is to teach the dog to be obedient while avoiding harmful punishments and negative reinforcement. Each time you click the clicker, your pet will get a treat. Soon he will attribute reward with good behavior, and the training will be a success. The Pit Bull will soon learn what behaviors get him a treat, and will stop doing the things that don’t earn treats, therefore eliminating bad behaviors. Clicker training also helps the Pit Bull develop a better relationship with its owner. Pit Bulls are known for their high intelligence, so they should be fast learners with this method.

The clicker dog method of training should be used as an alternative for punishing your dog. Research has shown that when using punishment to stop bad behavior, you often stop that behavior, and another one develops in its place. Most dogs respond better to positive reinforcement, rather than negativity. No matter what training method you decide to use, it is important to keep in mind that no dog will learn overnight, and that it may take some time and patience on your part for your dog to behave in the way that you would like him to. Develop a training routine and stick with it until the end, and you and your dog should both be happy.

To learn all about American Pitbull Terriers and how to train a Pitbull puppy, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.