Aussie Pooch Mobile Dog Wash Blog

It’s no secret. Dogs love their toys! So, what are the best dog toys? Well, there is no simple answer to that question, since it all depends on the individual likes and requirements of your furry friend.

Dog toys do much more than just entertain our canine companions. The best dog toys really are essential to our dogs’ physical, mental and emotional well being.

Benefits of Dog Toys

• Alleviate boredom and separation anxiety
• Provide mental stimulation
• Discourage destructive behaviour
• Serve as a positive outlet for pent-up physical energy
• Encourage socialisation
• Exercise jaw muscles
• Increase the bond between you and your dog
• Promote dental health

So you have chosen a name for your puppy but now comes the fun part - teaching him what it is. The objective here is to teach your little one that when his name is called he must immediately give you his full attention, that is, stop what he’s doing, turn his head and look directly at you.

As you go on to teach your puppy other commands you’ll have much more success if your puppy is focussed on you while you are teaching him these commands, hence the importance of your puppy knowing his name and responding to it.

When you use his name, make sure it’s associated with good things. Don’t call his name and then proceed to tell him off because if you do that too often he’ll start to associate his name with getting into trouble and won’t respond. Easier said than done, especially if your puppy has been particularly naughty.

The next progression is to introduce distractions, so try it with other people in the room, outside in the garden, in the driveway, when you are at a friend’s house and anywhere else you can think of. Don’t rush this stage and always make it easy for your puppy to succeed, he wants to please you, so make it easy for him to do so!

The Name Game

To begin the training, arm yourself with a few treats (Aussie Pooch Mobile Pooch Cookies and Liver Buds are ideal) and put your puppy on his lead, that way you have full control if he’s distracted by something and wanders off.

Call his name in a happy and light hearted voice - puppies love to hear the sound of your voice and will naturally look towards you when they hear you speak.

As he looks towards you, give him a treat and praise him verbally with words such as ‘good boy’ or ‘yes’. Repeat this a few times every day until he consistently looks towards you every time you call his name.

Only use his name once. If he doesn’t respond, give a very gentle tug on his lead or tickle his leg so he turns to look at you.

Next, call him and hold the treat near to your face so he has to look at you - reward him with the treat and praise as he does so. Once your puppy does this consistently, swap the food for a toy. His reward for looking at you will then be to play with you for a couple of minutes.

The next progression is to introduce distractions, so try it with other people in the room, outside in the garden, in the driveway, when you are at a friend’s house and anywhere else you can think of. Don’t rush this stage and always make it easy for your puppy to succeed, he wants to please you, so make it easy for him to do so!

Soon your puppy will learn that wherever you are, whatever the distraction, if he hears his name he needs to look at you and wait for the next instruction.

You can find more information, tips and hints by going to our website or Facebook page.

When we are stressed, our hearts race, palms sweat, we have butterflies in our tummies and often feel overwhelmingly pressured. The same goes for dogs. But the difference is, dogs can’t tell us how they feel. They use body language. So the easiest way to tell if your dog is stressed is look at changes in his behavior.

Some common signs include:

Excessive grooming or licking
Illness
Diarrhea
Being vocal – incessant barking
Inappropriate toilet habits e.g., accidents inside
Destructive behavior
Changes in appetite and drinking habits
Shyness or avoiding contact
Restlessness or trembling

And there are many reasons he might be stressed:

Illness
Thunderstorms or loud noises
Moving home or being put in a boarding kennel                                         Addition of another pet or family member
Travelling

If your dog is prone to stress the key is to control, calm, relax or distract him when he’s in a stressful situation, so he will realise there is nothing to be stressed about.

Some simple strategies:

If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, try to distract him before you leave so he will be focused on the distraction rather than you walking out the door.

Moving home – take familiar items to the new house (or boarding kennel) such as bedding and toys, water and feeding bowls.

Thunder storms/fireworks – Allow your dog to stay in a quiet secure place, e.g., Laundry or his kennel.

You can find more information, tips and hints by going to our website or Facebook page.

Teaching your new puppy (or older dog) to become the well-mannered pooch you know he can be, takes practice and patience. Make it fun for both you and Fido by following these training tips.

1. Puppies understand three vocal tones: directing, praising and shaming. Your voice will naturally alter, but in the beginning it will help to exaggerate these tones to avoid confusing your dog.

2. Assign a word to routines you repeat on a daily basis, such as ‘inside’, ‘upstairs’ and ‘car’. Use these commands regularly to get Fido used to it.

3. There must never be any doubt in your dog’s mind about who is in charge. Make sure your commands are direct, using only the single word and in a tone that makes it clear that it is a command, not a request.

4. Your dog needs to be corrected immediately for misbehaving, so he can make the connection between poor behaviour and your displeasure. Correcting your pup half an hour later will only leave him confused.

5. Never hit your dog to correct him, as this will only make him fear you. The emphasis of training should always be on reward, not punishment.

6. Dogs learn by repetition and if you want them to understand the ‘no’ command you have to use either lead correction or some form of pressure and release via sound or body language such as stepping into their zone so they back up or move away and then rewarding the appropriate behaviour once it is correct.

7. Stay calm. The calmer you are, the more responsive your dog will be. Flailing arms, bent posture and a raised voice signal chaos and an invitation to play.

You can find more information, tips and hints by going to our website or Facebook page.

Ticks and fleas can cause all sorts of grief to your dog. But if your dog does come into contact with either, there are steps you can take to prevent suffering, and in the case of ticks, even prevent death.

Fighting Fleas

Fleas and flea allergies are more prevalent in the warmer weather so it’s doubly important to use flea control products. There are over 2400 species of fleas and they are hardy little creatures, so it’s necessary to treat your dog, his bedding, his house and his surrounds.

Regular bathing and grooming is also recommended.

The use of the hydrobath, gentle cleaning solutions and grooming techniques will help reduce hair shedding, particularly at this time of the year and brushing provides a revitalising overall massage that also helps loosen dirt and grit and encourages production of natural oils to keep the coat shiny, reducing the risk of your dog becoming flea-infested.

Special formulas can also help relieve symptoms if your dog has been flea bitten. Environmentally friendly solutions with pyrethrin will help relieve itching, promote healthy skin and are also insecticidal. Other solutions will help repair damage to your dog’s skin and soothe inflamed skin already affected by flea infestation.

But remember, prevention is best so take the appropriate steps to keep your dog flea-free.

Tick Tactics

The warmer weather is also notorious for attracting ticks, which when left unchecked can be deadly.

Paralysis ticks are known as Ixodes Holocyclus. They inject toxin with their saliva which causes paralysis. Symptoms* can be varied and many, so watch for:

• a slight stagger to very wobbly
• voice change
• retching, gagging or vomiting
• collapse
• respiratory difficulties, respiratory paralysis

If you do find a tick on your dog, follow the steps below.

• Remove tick with a pair of tweezers or tick remover
• Try NOT to stimulate the tick before removal
• Check your dog all over, as often there is more than one tick

There are a lot of preventative products on the market, but none are 100% effective. When checking for ticks, look in areas such as gums, nose passages and around eyes, the best measure is to check your dog daily.

And as with fleas, having a clean, knot-free coat not only makes your dog feel better, it makes it easier when checking for ticks.

Aussie Pooch Mobile provides friendly helpful advice on how to look after your dog’s best wellbeing and have products and solutions that will help keep these nasties at bay and help relieve a dog that is already affected.

*If symptoms are severe, it’s advisable to see your vet immediately.

You can find more information, tips and hints by going towww.AussiePoochMobile.com.au

A little basic maintenance is generally all that’s required to keep your dog’s ears clean and healthy.

Ear Care

Because of the twisty, curvy design of a dog’s inner ears, it’s easy for parasites, bacteria and yeast to hide and thrive in them. This also means that any debris in the canal must work its way up to escape. Infections can result from trapped debris. Dogs with allergies are particularly vulnerable, as are those with floppy ears, like Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds and Poodles.

Keep It Regular

Your dog’s regular grooming/maintenance routine should include regular ear checks. This is especially important for dogs that produce excessive earwax or have a lot of inner-ear hair. Your Aussie Pooch Mobile operator will always finish your dog’s hydrobath with ear cleaning and can provide helpful tips on ear and health care.

Wet Behind the Ears?

In summer, if you are not careful swimming can lead to irritation and infection. To prevent this from happening, be sure to dry your dog’s ears as thoroughly as you safely can after all water sports and activities. You can ask your Aussie Pooch Operator to demonstrate how to do this for you.

Danger Signs

Contact your Vet if you notice any of the following symptoms affecting your dog’s ears:

• Ear discharge
• Bad smells
• Redness
• Swelling
• Crusty skin

It’s that time of year again. The tick season has begun and you really need to start thinking about tick treatments, if you haven’t already, because paralysis ticks can cause serious illness and even kill your pets. 

Paralysis ticks are found on the eastern seaboard, from North Queensland to Victoria.  And although they are common near the coastline they can also be found inland in suitable habitats.

In the northern areas, ticks can be a problem all year round, but become particularly active as the warmer weather begins. Whereas, in more southern areas, the tick season lasts from Spring until late Autumn.

PARALYSIS TICK CONTROL TIPS

Avoid tick habitats

• E.g. bush and scrubland

Search pets every day

• Use fingertips to search through the coat thoroughly

Remove collars, leads or harnesses and check your entire pet

• Remember to look between toes and in armpits

Be systematic

• Start at the nose and carefully examine the face and ears before working backwards

Most ticks are found forward of the front legs

• Search this area carefully, particularly paying special attention to skin folds

Remove ticks as soon as they are found and keep on searching in case there are more

• Consult your local veterinarian for advice

If you own a dog or cat, there are several signs of tick toxicity you should be aware of.

Signs can include:

• Loss of control of back legs (wobbly or not being able to get up)
• Change in voice or bark
• Retching, coughing or vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Paralysis extending to front legs
• Laboured or rapid breathing

NOTE: signs often do not appear until the paralysis tick has been attached for three to five days. Not all signs will be present in all pets. Many of these signs can be confused with other ailments, causing some pet owners to delay visits to their local veterinarian.

If your pet shows signs, it may need veterinary attention so it’s important to see your veterinarian as soon aspossible. Sadly, delay in the removal of paralysis ticks or in the treatment of tick toxicity can result in death.

The most important things to do to help protect your pet from paralysis ticks are to check your pet for ticks every day and to apply an effective paralysis tick control product like FRONTLINE PLUS  every two weeks for dogs, or FRONTLINE  SPRAY every three weeks for cats.

It is especially important to not miss any tick treatments, as if you do your pet may not be protected from paralysis ticks. A great way to remember to treat your pet is to sign up for free sms or email reminders at www.frontlineplus.com.au

You can find more information, tips and hints by going to www.AussiePoochMobile.com.au

A first aid kit for a dog could very well save his life. The ideal kit contains many of the same items it would for us. A roll of absorbent cotton and some cotton balls, gauze pads and tape, a bandage, a pair of small scissors with rounded tips, tweezers, instant ice pack, sterile eyewash solution, a clean cotton sock (to cover wounded paws) a small towel or safety blanket and some sterile gloves.

If your dog is injured, approach him calmly and carefully. Don’t assume that he won’t snap or bite you - injured pets often react negatively at first to any attempt to touch them. Talk soothingly and move slowly so he can see that you mean no harm.

Bee stings are common in dogs. If your dog is stung while sniffing around, restrain him and remove the stinger either with tweezers or by scraping it out (moving parallel to the skin surface). Bathing the stung spot with a mix of water and baking soda will ease some of the pain. Swelling can be reduced by applying ice packs.

If your dog is bleeding heavily, slow or stop the flow as soon as possible. Use a clean towel or cloth to apply pressure directly to the wound. Change towels/cloths as needed, but keep pressure on until you reach a vet. If necessary, you can apply thick gauze pads and use tape to secure them while you transport your dog. It is best, however, to keep pressure on the wound and have someone else drive.

Cane Toad toxicities – The cane toad secretes a cardio toxin which affects the heart and also causes hallucinations. If your dog has come in contact with a toad simply wash the gums immediately using a rag and running water (do not put the hose directly down the dogs throat) and rub vigorously to get sticky toxin off gums.

Ticks – There a number of different sorts, but the major one to watch out for is the paralysis tick. It is essential that you check your dog regularly for ticks especially during the hotter humid summer months.

You can find more dog tips and information at www.AussiePoochMobile.com.au

Although gas production is a natural part of the digestive process, some dogs produce more than others and are not always fun to be around! If you want to keep your dog’s gas problem under control, follow these flatulence busters.

Slow it down

Flatulence (or farting) is often caused by air that is gulped down when eating too quickly. Putting a large object in your dog’s food dish will force him to slow down when eating. The object should be something that is too large for him to pick up in his mouth. A ball (relevant to his mouth size) is ideal. If you have more than one dog, feed them separately to reduce competition for food. You may also try scattering dry food around the yard so your dog will need to ‘forage’ for it.

Elevate it

Dogs that do not have to bend over to eat will swallow less air, which means less flatulence.

Change it up

Your brand of dog food may also be the culprit, particularly if it is high in soy.

Change over gradually so your dog’s digestive systems can adapt to the new food. Substitute about 25% new food for the old food each week so that by the fourth week your dog is completely on the new food.

Take a walk

Light exercise aids digestion and works out the gas while you are outside. If your dog eliminates during the walk, even better for you!

Intestinal Flora

Add acidophilus or prozyme to your dog’s food. These products help in the digestive process and may even help eliminate gas completely.

Keep Watch

Watch what your dog eats. Too much food at one time can cause gas, as can eating too many table scraps or extra ‘treats’.

While there’s nothing better than cuddling and playing with your dog, you have to admit that sometimes he really, really smells. But what causes the smell?