Does your dog has a chronic health problem that you would like addressed from a natural perspective ?

Maybe you are just interested in more preventative holistic care for your dog ?

Go to our Gold Coast Pets community Facebook Page to claim this SPECIAL OFFER from Canine Vitality !

I did a final follow up visit yesterday for a beautiful boxer named Jarrah who late last year damaged her anterior cruciate ligament. As surgery was an expensive option (and not always successful), her owner came to me to see if a natural approach could help. That was in Nov last year. When I first met Jarrah, she could hardly weight bear on that leg and was very restricted in her movement. Boxers are such active ‘jumpy’ dogs, that this restriction of movement was clearly making her quite depressed. I am sure if you had an injury that was restricting your ability to function nornally , over time this would make you feel a bit down and also frustrated and this was the case for Jarrah.

Her owner had her on a commercial diet but was very open to change as she wanted to do anything to get her girl back on track.We talked about the importance of nutrition especially in such cases as there are many nutrients required to help the healing process. Jarrah took to her new diet with gusto and started woofin’ down lots of raw goodies.

In addition, I added in nutrients including Glucosamine, fish oil, MSM with goji berry (this is an excellent combo I use regularly), and some wonderful herbs including turmeric, horsetail, roeships and devils claw (among others). I also added in some flower essences to lift her mood.

Within the first month we saw dramatic improvement and that has just increased each month. Five months on she is back to her old, happy and may I say, ‘jumpy excited self”. I love watching the transition in these dogs especially when it comes to their mood. She is once again, a ‘dog’!!

Canine Vitality – Naturopathic Service for Dogs Brisbane – Gold Coast

The following event is organised by Fast Match

Single and ready to mingle ?

Why not use your pooch to help break the ice between you?

Bring your dog to meet at the ‘Dune Cafe’ at Palm Beach Parklands, to spend 6 minutes chatting to each person of the opposite sex. The fun catch is you will be given your dogs name for the afternoon and you will only be able to talk about your dog!

Can’t bring your dog with you ? No worries! If you cannot bring your dog with you, please at least have plenty of pictures and video to verify you’re a dog owner on your phone.

If you love dogs however do not have a dog currently (or previous had one), are you “Auntie” or “Uncle” to someone else’s dog ? Bring that dog along with you !

The Palm Beach Parklands (at The Pirate Park) has great parking facilities and is directly off The Gold Coast Highway. Complete with Cafe and dog friendly facilities, and walkways direct to the beach.

Inclusions are: Gift bag valued at over $100.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE FOR I LOVE DOGS MEMBERS

click here to view the event and grab your special discount code

Read more about this event….

Courier Mail news article at http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/falling-head-over-heels-for-puppy-love/story-e6freoof-1226322353392

GC Mag news article at http://www.gcmag.com.au/article/single-and-ready-to-mingle-120412.html

please note that I am NOT the organisor of this event however I am (since I am single) going to it. Please contact FAST MATCH with any further questions.

Please have a read of the following article before attending this event….

• Dog Park Etiquette | Guest Post by Aussie Pooch Mobile | I Love Dogs Meetup Gold Coast | Million Paws Walk RSPCA(goldcoastpets.com.au)

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Dogs doing what they do best. "You chase me then I'll chase you" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Off lead dog parks are becoming more and more popular, with dedicated parks Australia-wide. These parks offer a great way for your dog to exercise, meet other dogs and generally have fun. It’s also a good way for you to meet other dog lovers.

But there are some rules that should be adhered to when visiting dog parks to ensure the safety of both the dogs and their owners.

The information below was has been taken from the ACT government’s brochure, Dog Park Etiquette.

• Keep your dog under effective control and if it becomes aggressive leave.

• Walking rather than sitting in one place will encourage dogs to see the park as a neutral space and reduce territorial behaviours.

• Parks are not suitable for all dogs. Dogs that are aggressive or overly shy should not be taken into the enclosure.

• If your dog is not well socialised with other dogs you will need to teach your dog how to behave appropriately at the park.

• Don’t come into the enclosure if it is already crowded.

• Bring plenty of bags and clean up after your dog which will help to keep the park clean and useable.

• Dogs should be under the care of a person at least 16 years old, who must be fully responsible for the dog. Children under the age of 14 should not enter without an adult.

• Smoking is not allowed in the enclosure – cigarette butts are dangerous for dogs.

ABOUT OUR GUEST BLOG AUTHOR

Jane Keighley is Director of Jake Public Relations and has been PR Consultant to Aussie Pooch Mobile for the past five years.

Aussie Pooch Mobile is a franchised mobile hydrobathing service for the family dog that has been operating since 1991. The Aussie Pooch Mobile currently services approximately 20,000 customers everymonth throughout Australia. The company also services customers in New Zealand, The USA, New Caledonia, The United Kingdom, and Malaysia under the name of The Pooch Mobile. Find out more about their services at www.aussiepm.com.au

The Pooch Mobile (Photo credit: waynerad)

While we’ve always known it, now science says so too. There are a multitude of benefits from having a dog.

Good for the Heart

Studies show that heart attack patients who have dogs survive longer than those without. In fact, The American Journal of Cardiology says that dog owners are eight times more likely to survive one year after a heart attack than those who don’t own a dog.

Patting Pays Off

Another US study found that when an owner patted their dog, levels of feel-good hormones rose in both – which is associated with a reduction of depression and stress-related conditions. Other studies show that patting a pet can reduce blood pressure, not just for the owner but for the pet too.

Alleviate Allergies

“The old thinking was that if your family had a pet, the children were more likely to become allergic to the pet. And if you came from an allergy-prone family, pets should be avoided,” says researcher James E. Gern, MD, a pediatrician at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

However, a growing number of studies have suggested that kids growing up in a home with ‘furred animals’ – whether it’s a pet cat or dog, or on a farm and exposed to large animals – will in fact have less risk of allergies and asthma.

His studies found that if a dog lived in the home, babies were less likely to show evidence of pet allergies – 19% vs 33%. They were also less likely to have eczema, a common allergy skin condition that causes red patches and itching. In addition, they had higher levels of some immune system chemicals – a sign of stronger immune system activation.

Dogs for the Aged

Studies conducted by the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine have found that Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious outbursts if there is a dog in the home.

Mood booster

Many people who are vulnerable to depression or anxiety suffer less if they have a dog than do those living without dogs. The benefit is especially pronounced whenpeople are strongly attached to their dogs.

ABOUT THE GUEST BLOG AUTHOR
Jane Keighley is Director of Jake Public Relations and has been PR Consultant to Aussie Pooch Mobile for the past five years.

Aussie Pooch Mobile is a franchised mobile hydrobathing service for the family dog that has been operating since 1991. The Aussie Pooch Mobile currently services approximately 20,000 customers everymonth throughout Australia. The company also services customers in New Zealand, The USA, New Caledonia, The United Kingdom, and Malaysia under the name of The Pooch Mobile. Find out more about their services at www.aussiepm.com.au

JUPITER, FL - JUNE 30: Dogs are walked in The Village of Abacoa condominium complex (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

It’s never too late to teach an old (or young) dog new tricks, and with a little practice he will soon be the star of the show. The things you teach your dog are only limited to your imagination, but we’ve outlined some basics for you.

Initially you will train your dog with a treat, and 10 minutes each training session should be all you need.

Shake Hands

Basic: Start by having your dog sit. Say, ‘shake hands’ and gently lift his paw with your hand. Hold his paw and say, ‘good dog!’ or give him a treat. Let go of his paw. Do this a few times every day.

Advanced: After a while, say, ‘shake hands’ but don’t take his paw. See if he raises his paw by himself. If not, keep showing him what to do by saying, ‘shake hands’ and taking his paw with your hand. Your dog is not slow; he is just learning!

Turn Around

Basic: Start by having your dog walk beside you. Let your dog see a treat in your hand. As you are walking say, ‘turn around’. Lead the dog’s nose around with the treat so he walks in a circle. When he comes back beside you again, praise him and give him the treat.

Advanced: After some practice, hold the treat so your dog can see it and say, ‘turn around’, but don’t lead his nose. See if he is ready to turn around by himself and get the treat. Then you can try the same on the other side.

Beg

Basic: Have your dog sit, facing you. Hold his favourite treat just above his head and tell him, ‘say please’. Your dog will probably lift his front feet off the ground to reach the treat. As soon as the feet are lifted, even a little bit, give him the treat.

Advanced: This is a hard trick for most dogs. Wait a little longer each time before giving the treat, but be careful not to let your dog fall over on his back. You are helping your dog develop his balance.

Roll Over

Basic: Start by having your dog lie down on his belly. You can stand or kneel beside him. Using a treat, hold it by his nose, and then move it around and behind him, so that he lies on his side and then rolls over. Give him the treat and tell him what a great dog he is!

Tip: Only roll your dog on soft surfaces like carpet or grass so he doesn’t hurt his back.

ABOUT THE GUEST BLOG POST AUTHOR

Jane Keighley is Director of Jake Public Relations and has been PR Consultant to Aussie Pooch Mobile for the past five years.

Aussie Pooch Mobile is a franchised mobile hydrobathing service for the family dog that has been operating since 1991. The Aussie Pooch Mobile currently services approximately 20,000 customers everymonth throughout Australia. The company also services customers in New Zealand, The USA, New Caledonia, The United Kingdom, and Malaysia under the name of The Pooch Mobile. Find out more about their services at www.aussiepm.com.au

Related articles

• World’s first stairlift for overweight dogs (punjapit.wordpress.com)
• Teaching Your Australian Labradoodle Tricks (clancyaussiedoodles.wordpress.com)
• Dog Training Lesson 5: Teaching Your Dog to Lie Down (dogtraining4dummies.wordpress.com)
• 9 of the Biggest Dog Myths (clancyaussiedoodles.wordpress.com)
• Dog Training Tips That Every Pet Owner Should Know (mypetkingdom.info)
• Dog Training Lesson 3: Teaching Your Dog to Come When Called (dogtraining4dummies.wordpress.com)

Image via Wikipedia

CPR, First Aid and Pet Care Course

NOW available on the Gold Coast !

Related articles

• First aid (absolutepetcare.wordpress.com)

Dr Bruce Syme BVSc. (Hons), Founder of ‘Vets All Natural’, will be coming to the Gold Coast on Friday 20th April to give a talk on natural nutrition and supplements for animals and your pet.

Joining him on the stage will be Dr Elaine Cebuliak, Holistic Veterinarian from Animal Wellness in Brisbane, talking about alternative therapies for animals and your pet. In addition to Dr Cebuliak, Dr Ross Perry, world famous avian veterinarian will be taking the stage as well as Dr Casey Conroy, who transferred her skills from being a practising veterinarian to becoming an accredited dietician and nutritionist.

Each and every one of the above speakers is considered an expert in their field and this is an unique opportunity to hear them speak all together at a Gold Coast venue.

DATE: FRIDAY 20TH APRIL
LOCATION: BURLEIGH WATERS, COMMUNITY CENTRE
TIME: 11:00 AM – 04:00 PM
TICKET PRICE: $40.00 (refreshments included)

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TICKET SALES, PLEASE CONTACT:
http://www.wagthedog.net.au/dr-bruce

All attendees are guaranteed free entry into the prize draw being held on the day; prizes include Vet’s All Natural products, and an Aussie Pooch Mobile hamper.

A percentage of all tickets sales will be donated to one of two not-for-profit organisations chosen by the sponsors of this event.

Related articles

• Knowing When Your Puppy is Ready for Training (goldcoastpets.com.au)
• Things To Consider Before Breeding Your Dog by Damien Andrews (applies to cats too!) (goldcoastpets.com.au)
• Meet the Gold Coast’s Best Personal Travel Manager at The Gold Coast’s Newest Home and Lifestyle Event ! (goldcoastpets.com.au)
• How To Prevent Pet Urine Stains | Guest Blog Post by Gold Coast Carpet Cleaning (goldcoastpets.com.au)

BEIJING, CHINA - JULY 11: A police dog lies during a training at a police dog training base on July 11, 2011 in Beijing, China. The Police Dog Training Base was opened to a media visit to show the dogs skills to the public. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Understanding how training your puppy is important you must be aware of the importance of getting your dog formal dog training, be that one that you do at home or one from a renowned training ground like dog training on Gold Coast with Dogs By Katja.

Knowing how dog training is a step by step process taken to teach your pet the proper behaviour and skills that can make him one of the most ideal pets you could ever have. Although dog training can be done at home, you can choose to submit your pet to a formal set-up where various training takes place. The appropriate response to command and coping skills for stressful environments can be among the things that a dog can be trained for in a formal set-up.

There are some dog owners who are hesitant and are in doubt when it comes to the perfect time to start training their puppies, some think that training them too early will not bring out the results as expected or that it might not be healthy for their pet. It’s a notion worth correcting. Just like a child, it pays to start training and teaching them early on.  Especially with dogs, the moment they are born, the learning and adaptation process already takes place. It’s something they do by instinct. Given the time that they pass through weaning from their biological mothers and are now ready for adoption, you can start training them little by little making the entire process a gradual yet less strenuous one.

Here are some tips that you can follow as a guide when you start contemplating about training your puppy:

#1: Start Early. A puppy’s learning process takes place right after birth and is at its peak in the first four months. Training is best done the moment you take them home. When they acquire good habits early, they are those that turn out to be well behaved dogs.

#2: Allow Early Socialisation. Keep your puppy as comfortable with people as much as possible and do it the most in the first four months. Take them on walks and keep them around people, the positive experience they get gives them that certain level of comfort with humans.

#3: Promote Physical and Mental Stimulation. Enhance your puppy’s interest for new things and learning from exposing them to new environment, do not keep them overly isolated at home or caged. Take them on puppy walks and make them enjoy games, this way you get to have a mentally and physically fit puppy – a healthy one.

#4: Hand Feed Them. This promotes comfort with human contact. Getting them used to being hand fed, makes them more comfortable with people around and lessens chances of aggressiveness when people try to get near them while feeding.

#5: Address the Biting and Chewing. Being a puppy, your pet will definitely go through biting and chewing on things, be keen to replace this with the right toy that you have for them to chew on. This is also the time when you can enforce the importance of a “no” when you tell them that chewing on something isn’t right, take it away and replace it with the correct toy or training equipment.

#6: Determine the Best Time to Train. Training is best done when your puppy hasn’t had meals yet. This makes them responsive to puppy treats that you have prepared, this being your reward to every right response they do to a command. A puppy with a full tummy has the tendency of being unresponsive, tired and sleepy.

#7: The Proper Housetraining. Understand your puppy’s body language. Make it a habit to take them outside the house 45 minutes after drinking water or after they eat, it is after this duration of time that they tend to eliminate. After every outdoor elimination praise and reward your puppy associating outdoor elimination to a positive experience.

#8: Reward and Punishment. Understand that puppy’s learn at a different pace. For every obeyed command, reward them. This promotes a happy and fun puppy during the learning process. In correcting mistakes, divert to physical harshness or yelling, it sooner or later will grow an aggressive dog. A firm or stern voice is more appropriate when your puppy is behaving rather than yelling.

After having learned these simple steps, you now understand how important it is to have the right attitude towards training your puppy. It’s something not achievable in just one day; it takes some time, a gradual process. Consider taking your puppy to  dog training on Gold Coast with Dogs By Katja  and learn with your puppy the proper skills of being a good pet owner along the way.

Related articles

• Things To Consider Before Breeding Your Dog by Damien Andrews (applies to cats too!) (goldcoastpets.com.au)

Gold Coast City Council has implemented a new Animal Management Legislation that requires all  breeders of cats and dogs to obtain permits, and follow a Code of Practice.

The new legislation requires anybody who owns a cat or dog and intends to breed, including hobby  breeders and commercial breeding establishments, to hold a current breeder permit.

READ MORE NOW (( HERE ))

Under new State Government laws for pet owners, microchipping is now compulsory when acquiring a cat or a dog in Queensland.

READ MORE  from Gold Coast City Council (( HERE ))

Things To Consider Before Breeding Your Dog by Damien Andrews 

If you are not a professional dog breeder, there are some things to consider before breeding your dog. Without exception, these are things to consider BEFORE breeding your dog. Breeding your dog is likely much more involved, and more costly, than you might expect.

The very first thing to consider before breeding your dog is simply this: you will not make any money doing it. There are exceptions to this rule, but those exceptions are indeed very few and very far between. Even professional dog breeders turn a minimum of profit. In fact, if you are not already setup to breed your dog, then you almost surely will lose money during the breeding and selling of the puppies.

Before you breed your dog, take into account the following time-consuming responsibilities, and their costs:

• You’ll have to take your female to a veterinarian for a thorough exam – to ensure she is in peak health and physically able to have a litter of puppies.

• A bred female dog, like a pregnant woman, should be given a different diet, which will include certain vitamins. This special diet will add an expense.

• During the end period of her pregnancy, you will again take the female to the vet for an exam to ensure all is well.

• If you are not experienced in helping a dog give birth, then you will need to take the female to the vet’s office for the whelping. If you attempt to do this yourself, and you are not experienced, you may (much to your unhappiness) jeopardize the lives of the litter and the birthing female.

• Some breeds of dog whelp two puppies, others whelp 10 or more. If your breed of dog whelps seven puppies, then you will have to house and cleanup after all of them – as well as a mothering female who is now on a different (lactating) diet and different vitamins. You will almost surely need a whelping box, and some non-toxic cleaning supplies and equipment.

• New puppies, despite being irresistibly cute, are very messy and will need cleaning regularly. As will their whelping box. Their mother will do much of this, but you will need to augment her services regularly.

• The puppies will need to go to the vet at least twice before they are eight weeks old. This can be a real handful – and costly. The puppies will require injections before they reach selling age, which is customarily at eight weeks.

• If your female cannot provide adequate milk for her litter, you will need to feed them yourself. This will require special equipment and supplies – and time.

• Your female dog will only provide milk for the puppies for a few weeks. They will then need to be fed some form of puppy dog food. This does not happen in one day, and you will be required to wean the puppies away from their mother’s milk and onto the properly prepared and served puppy food. If you breed small puppies, the cost of the puppy food will be acceptably modest, but if you breed medium to large puppies, the cost of the food can quickly become appreciable.

• Once the puppies reach about six weeks of age, they are going to be into every kind of trouble imaginable. They will need space – the amount of space they need depends on their size and their breed. This space needs to be “puppy proof.” No electrical wires, no toxins, no furniture, no curtains, and so forth.

• At six weeks the puppies will need things to chew – enough to go around.

• Before you breed your female, you will need to find a suitable male. This is really, really tough for someone not in the business of breeding dogs. If you decide to pay for a top stud with a superb pedigree, then you will pay dearly for it. If you breed to your neighbor’s dog, simply because he has AKC papers, then you will not be able to ask much for the puppies. If your female does not have an excellent pedigree and/or has not won awards for conformation or training, your puppy price will also be diminished.

• Nobody is going to stroll up to your door and ask if you have puppies for sale. You will need to advertise. This takes time and costs money. Then you will have to answer the calls and emails about the puppies. You will also have to show the puppies – when it’s convenient for the potential buyer.

• If you have kids, the day the puppies start to leave the house will be a day you’ll never forget. Your kids will have already named all the puppies – and have their favorites. You will also have become very attached to the puppies, and watching them leave will likely disturb you more than you think.

There are indeed many things to consider before breeding your dog. I have only touched on a few of the most noteworthy and overlooked. If you sit down and mentally go through the individual steps that will be required over the 4-5 month long adventure, more considerations will no doubt make themselves known to you.

Even professional dog breeders will tell you that breeding a dog is predominately a labor of love. It takes a lot to have a successful breeding, and the profits are minimal at best. Before breeding your dog, please consider all of the elements involved. You owe that to yourself – and to your loving, loyal companion.