Hunting Dog Training, What Are The Choices

Article Title: Hunting Dog Training, What Are The Choices
Author: Jim Kesel

How to do a good job of hunting dog training is a question that
has been asked literally for hundreds if not thousands of years.
Man most likely had a dog for his hunting companion even when he
hunted the mastodon. Let's face it if it were not for hunters
and their dogs the human race would not exist. In modern times
the term hunting dog may mean everything from a bird dog to a
coon hound. Obviously you do not train a retriever the same way
you would a bear dog. However when you train hunting dogs no
matter what the type of game you are focusing on you must begin
with basic obedience training. Basic obedience training is
necessary as it allows you to handle your dog in a manner that
allows you to tune its natural instincts and abilities. When
hunting dog training you must love dogs to begin with and you
must have patience and understanding.

Hunting dog training is not for everyone it requires time and
special skills. At this time there are no degree programs at any
college or university that teaches you how to train a hunting
dog. If you do not have the time for hunting dog training then
you probably should consider having your dog trained by a
professional trainer. A professional hunting dog trainer will be
focused on one type of hunting dog. The most common hunting dog
training is focused on bird hunting with pointing, flushing and
retrieving dog breeds. Since there are no formal hunting dog
training programs to teach you to train hunting dogs, there are
only a few options available. It is well understood that the
best dog trainers are unique and self taught. It takes many
years of dedication and patience to become good hunting dog
trainer. So the question is how does the average hunter learn
hunting dog training?

Hiring a professional for hunting dog training is in many cases
the fastest way to train your dog. In this fast paced time
constrained world many hunters just do not have the time to
properly do hunting dog training. When a professional trainer is
used to train your hunting dog you will be asked to work with
your dog at least two or three times during the training
process. If you live relatively close to the trainer it would be
wise to spend time visiting the training site as often as
possible. Each time you visit you will have the opportunity to
watch how the hunting dog training process works. You also learn
how to employ the lessons that your hunting dog has learned in a
field setting. It is also the perfect time to ask questions
about the training process. All this information will be
valuable to you when it comes time to tune up your favorite dog
prior to hunting season. In addition when it comes time to
acquire another dog you may have the tools to try hunting dog
training yourself. If you already posses a well trained hunting
dog you will quickly find that one well trained dog does help
train another. Once you have learned hunting dog training and
trained your own dogs the quality of the hunting experience will
be greatly increased.

You can also learn hunting dog training with the help of books,
videos and DVDs. Many professional trainers sell these training
aids that provide just about everything you need to know on
hunting dog training. In addition you will have a source to
contact when your training program hits a snag or you end up
with a dog that has developed a bad habit. Video hunting dog
training material has an additional value for when you need to
tune up your dog for the coming season. You simply pop the video
or DVD in the machine and watch how training should be done. In
addition you will have to purchase a number of training tools
including electronic collars. Many of these hunting dog training
products come with video instructions to help you train your dog
using the device. All these tools will assist you in doing a
good job of hunting dog training on your own. The pride of doing
your own hunting dog training comes from watching your dog
perform well in the field.

About The Author: James Kesel, MS
http://www.dog-training-careers.com

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Dogs And Chocolate

Article Title: Dogs And Chocolate
Author: David Beart

Most dog owners are aware that chocolate should not be given to
pets. We hide our chocolate treats in high cupboards and sealed
containers because we know that it can be harmful if ingested by
our animals. But, what if a candy bar gets left within the dog's
reach, and you come home to find an empty wrapper? What if your
dog eats a bit of chocolate that has fallen on the floor while
you are baking? We know that chocolate is harmful, but we need
to know the amounts to worry about, the signs to look for, and
what to do for treatment in the case that our dogs and chocolate
find each other.

The chemical compound that makes chocolate toxic to pets (yes,
dogs and cats, even horses), is theobromine. Theobromine, found
in products of the cocoa tree, is a xanthine compound belonging
to the same family as caffeine and theophylline (an ingredient
found in tea). Pets metabolize this chemical very slowly, and it
affects their heart, central nervous system, and kidneys.
Typically, although the level can vary depending on individual
sensitivity, it takes one hundred to one hundred-fifty
milligrams of theobromine per kilogram of a dog's body weight
(that's 2.2 pounds) to cause a toxic reaction. Now, theobromine
levels vary in different types of chocolate, because some
chocolates have a higher cocoa content than others. Milk
chocolate has approximately forty-four milligrams of thoebromine
per ounce, semi-sweet chocolate has one hundred fifty milligrams
per ounce, and baker's chocolate has three hundred ninety
milligrams per ounce. While the conversion can be tricky,
especially when you are panicking because your pup just ate your
daughter's candy bar, here is a guide to follow. Roughly, a
toxic dose would be: one ounce of chocolate per one pound of dog
body weight for milk chocolate, one ounce of chocolate per three
pounds of dog body weight for semi-sweet chocolate, and one
ounce per nine pounds of dog body weight for baker's chocolate.
For example, two one-ounce squares of baker's chocolate would
cause great risk in a fifteen pound dog. However, two one-ounce
milk chocolate pieces would only cause mild digestive upset. It
would take two or three milk chocolate candy bars to poison a
fifteen pound dog.

Early signs of theobromine poisoning in your dog may include
vomiting and diarrhea, restlessness, and increased urination. If
your dog is exhibiting these symptoms, contact your veterinarian
immediately. If left untreated, theobromine can cause increased
heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures, coma, and even death. You
may even want to start treatment before the symptoms present
themselves in the case that you know your dog has ingested a
harmful amount of chocolate, because early treatment is best.
Dogs and chocolate can be a very scary combination, so do
everything you can to make sure that the two are kept apart.

There is no `antidote' for chocolate poisoning in dogs. The
best means of treatment includes induced vomiting, and the
administration of activated charcoal. To induce vomiting, use
three percent hydrogen peroxide, and administer one or two
teaspoons by mouth every fifteen minutes until vomiting begins.
You can also use Ipecac; administer two or three teaspoons one
time only. Activated charcoal, which is usually given by the
vet, is a powder of processed charcoal that binds to many types
of poisons, keeping them from being absorbed into the
bloodstream of the dog. There is usually a good outcome if the
dog can be treated within three to five hours of ingestion, but
the effects of the chocolate can last upwards of twelve hours,
meaning that your pet may need to be hospitalized.

Knowing the signs of chocolate poisoning, as well as the toxic
dosage amounts of each type of chocolate for your dog, can be
very helpful in determining whether or not your dog needs
medical treatment for the ingestion of chocolate. Though small
amounts of chocolate may be safe for your dog to consume, it is
best to avoid giving chocolate to your animal altogether. Dogs
and chocolate, two of life's greatest gifts, are to be carefully
kept separate.

About The Author: David Beart is the owner of
http://www.professorshouse.com , a site that covers pets, family
issues, cooking and relationships.

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