Career in Dog Training

Salmonella Risk Prompts Pet Food Recall

2008-09-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Possible Contamination of Mars Petcare Products Could Pose Risk to People and Pets
By Caroline Wilbert
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Sept. 15, 2008 -- Mars Petcare is recalling pet food products manufactured at its Everson, Pa., facility because of a potential salmonella contamination. In addition to being dangerous for pets, the pet food could sicken people who handle the food.

Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable. If you think you may have been exposed, look for symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever.
On rare occasions, salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. The FDA urges people with these symptoms who have come into contact with the pet products to contact a health care provider.

Some animals may have similar symptoms, but others may have minimal or no symptoms. Whether or not they have signs, they could infect other animals and humans.
Many pet food brands are produced at the plant, including several varieties of Pedigree and a number of flavors of Special Kitty Gourmet. A complete list of brands is posted on the FDA web site.

Mars Petcare stopped production at the Everson facility July 29 after learning of a possible link between dry pet food produced at the plant and two isolated cases of people infected with salmonella. The company is now implementing a voluntary recall of all products produced at the facility between Feb. 18 and July 29; only the U.S. is affected.
End of article.

Here are three dog food sources that I trust and they are all delivered to your door:

Wendy Volhard's Natural Diet Foundation2
If you mention Promo Code # 32 in the comment box you will get $5.00 off of your first order. Dehydrated add water and fresh proteins. 10 lbs equal 40 lbs of kibble.

Flint River Ranch Pet Foods
Is an excellent kibble, our dog Orbit has been on it for over nine years and hasn't had a sick day or health problems all this time! Concentrated, you will feed 25% less food. I feed 50% less then I did of less quality brands of kibble. Twice baked for easier digestion and won't swell up in water, less chance of bloat. Remember all kibble should be supplemented with fresh proteins, veggies and fruits. Same for the cat kibble, cats need meat or fish too!

Wysong Pet Products
Has quality products kibble and canned for dogs and cats. Also products for people and horses. Check out their NEW UNCANNY pet food. Canned food not in a can and no heat processing.

The 2 Schools Of Thought In Dog Training

2008-09-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in a Career in Dog Training, or would like to become a Dog Trainer?

Do you desire to train your canine friend? Then, as you become a dog trainer, you have to choose between 2 evenly efficient approaches to dog training: classical and operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning is a subject of association. Basically, you will be asked to introduce motivators to your dog, to teach him to response in a specific manner when he meets certain motivators. For instance, ringing a bell right before giving him food will make him wait for food whenever he hears a bell ring. Supplying him a dog treat every time he turns over on the floor will in the long run make him roll on the ground when provided a dog treat.

Classical conditioning is thought to be the more effective of the 2 approaches in dog training.

On the other hand, operant conditioning is a very close option.

Operant conditioning includes the introduction of unconstructive or constructive supports all over the course of dog teaching. Positive supports are compensations you will provide for your dog every time he does something good. The plan is to educate your dog to maintain doing these achievements so that he can get his compensations. Unconstructive supports are retributions done upon the dog every time he does something adverse.

Some dog trainers would say that constructive supports should be preferred over unconstructive supports. Who would wish to see his dog be in pain, after all?

On the other hand, some canine breeds react better to unconstructive supports rather than constructive supports. English bulldogs, pugs and spitzes, for instance, are more amenable to learning when punished for their faults.

Unconstructive supports, on the other hand, can be catastrophic for particular canine breeds. A German Shepherd, once punished, may resent his possessor forever. A Shih Tzu can diminish his liking for a possessor who commences unconstructive supports for the duration his training. The same goes for a Pomeranian.

Just starting out at dog teaching or the Career in Dog Training?

It is wise to practice the classical conditioning method first because it is undemanding to do.

To become a Dog Trainer, or the pursuit of a Career in Dog Training, requires serious consideration.

Are You Interested In A Dog Training Career?

2008-09-09T07:54:00.000-07:00

By Sergio Resende

Are you looking for information about a possible dog training career? Do you also have a sense of community and volunteerism? If so, then you may consider working with guide dogs for the blind, deaf, and otherwise disabled. There are many organizations that train and provide such dogs and there are usually many paid and volunteer positions available for anyone interested in a dog training career.

For example, Leader Dogs for the Blind, headquartered in Rochester, Michigan, is one of the first and most respected of these organizations that train and then match leader dogs. Many businesses around their headquarters are used to seeing dogs in training being walked around inside and out. Their trainers are patient, understanding, and very involved with their dog training career and take their responsibilities very seriously. When you consider that it costs about $10,000 for this organization to house, feed, train, and then match just one dog, you understand why! It's also important to note that not all dogs pass their training program, as some are too skittish, playful, or simply don't take direction well. One of the hardest parts of any dog training career is having to "flunk" a dog and return it to its original owner or find a new one rather than match it to a disabled person. However, when you do have a dog finish the training and successfully matched with a disabled person there is no doubt a tremendous sense of accomplishment, knowing that you're going to not only have someone be helped in a significant way for years to come, you also know that this dog will have a loyal friend and companion in their new owner.

To get involved in this type of dog training career you probably need a degree in Guide Dog Mobility. San Francisco University offers such a program and has been graduating students from this Master's program for years, many of which are then matched to an organization that trains guide dogs and helper dogs both.

Of course you don't need a Master's degree for a dog training career; there are many volunteer opportunities available for anyone that loves dogs, is willing to work hard with them, and has unlimited patience and understanding. For example, most organizations that train guide dogs need constant help with fundraising. You may be able to organize and host some type of event that would raise money for them, such as a marathon, dinner, and so on. You may also find that a dog training career involves taking care of the dogs once they're finished with their training for the day. Grooming them, feeding them, and playing with them can be a very satisfying way of knowing that you're doing your part to make sure these dogs are well cared for.

Anyone interested in a dog training career is to be commended, especially if you're considering such a career in order to help someone that is blind or otherwise disabled.

If you want to transform your dog into an obedient and composed "poised pooch" that will follow your every command and behave under ANY circumstances, visit the link below to learn how.

How To Know That A Dog Training Career Is Right For You

2008-09-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

We have hit a high in unemployment recently, and many are now looking for more rewarding careers. Becoming increasingly popular for many is a career in dog training.

A career in dog training should be given as much consideration as a career in the priesthood or medicine.

Some persons may think that a real preference for pets would be sufficient to make it big in such a vocation. However, this isn't accurate at all.

These are 5 questions that you should ask yourself before considering a dog training career:

1. Are you a tolerant individual? Pet training entails persistence. Lots and heaps and heaps of persistence. Remember that canines won't be able to grasp human speech. You will have to depend on associative strategies to train them specific tricks and designs. This will need a lot of effort, and this will need a lot of time.

2. Are you a pet lover? It'll be futile to even think about a dog training profession if you aren't. Imagine an individual wishing to be a chef without any delight for good delicacy. You should like pets. At the very least, you should be interested with pets.

3. Can you bear pets? Can you withstand their stench? Can you bear the sight of their excrement? Will you be able to accept that some pets aren't potty trained, and they can take a waste just about everywhere and often without notice?

4. Do you have quick impulse? Some pets don't meet guests very well. They may scrabble, or worse, bite unidentified parties to guard themselves and shield their professed lands. Unfortunately, a canine training vocation states that the dog trainer will always be the outsider. Would you realize what to do? Would you know how to behave when the canine unexpectedly becomes aggressive?

5. Are you in relentless need of admiration? If you are, go sign up in a singing competition. A canine training career is a thankless occupation. Ask canine trainers who have spent years, and some even decades, priming dogs into well-behaved pets. The dogs will get all the credit. Dog handlers will often be demoted to the background, absolutely disregarded when their dog pupils show all the clever skills they have learned.

A dog training profession isn't for all. Nonetheless, it remains a rewarding career for anyone who has a delight for dogs and a talent for all the conditions mentioned above.