Why neutering is important

Most of the people in Bulgaria hesitate to neuter their pet, fearing that it’s painful or even degrading to the animal.

What is neutering

Spaying is the surgical removal of the reproductive organs of female dogs and neutering is the surgical removal of a male dog’s testicles. Both operations are performed while the dog is under anesthesia. Your veterinarian may want to keep your dog under observation for anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. Certain procedures will require that you bring the dog back in a week to ten days for suture removal. Continue Reading

Congratulations, you’re expecting a baby! If your family already includes a pet, you’ll need to help that first “baby” adjust to the new one you’ll soon bring home. You can help your pet cope with this big change in much the same way parents help children understand that a new brother or sister will be joining the family.

By following the tips below, you can ease your pet’s stress, help her welcome your new baby, and ensure that your pet stays where she belongs—with you and your growing family. Continue Reading

Wouldn’t if all it took to introduce a new cat to your resident pet were a brief handshake and a couple of “HELLO, My Name Is…” name-tags? Unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple, which means you’ll need to have some realistic expectations from the outset. What are realistic expectations? First, it’s recognizing and accepting that your pets may never be best buddies but will usually come to at least tolerate each other. Second, it’s understanding the need to move slowly during the introduction process to increase your chances for success. Continue Reading

Animals that live in groups, like dogs, establish a social structure within the group called a dominance hierarchy. This dominance hierarchy serves to maintain order, reduce conflict and promote cooperation among pack members. Dogs also establish territories, which they may defend against intruders or rivals. This social and territorial nature affects their behavior when a new dog is introduced to their household.

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For many kids, the family pet is their best friend—a companion who not only provides unconditional love, but also teaches them about friendship, responsibility, loyalty, and empathy. While most family pets are cats and dogs, other animals may also be appropriate for children. Rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, small birds, and fish can make great family pets, for instance, as long as they receive the specialized care they need.

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Sure puppies and kittens are cute, but… Don’t forget about older pets who may fit into your life perfectly.

With an older pet, you will get a less destructive, more graceful animal, and one who could more easily pass the “basic training”- you may not need to housebreak the pet, and it will learn faster to come when called and what “no” means. And if you work, a full-grown pet is better able to stay home alone during the day – this is especially true for dogs. Older pets are just as loving as young animals, but because most people want “cute” puppies and kittens, hundreds of older animals must be euthanized remain homeless on the streets in Bulgaria each year.

If you’re looking for a good companion, look at the older dogs and cats at the animal shelters. They have lots of love to give and the admirable qualities that come with maturity.

TRAINING YOUR DOG OR CAT WITH TREATS AND PRAISE

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Positive reinforcement is the presentation of something pleasant or rewarding immediately following a behavior. It makes that behavior more likely to occur in the future, and is one of the most powerful tools for shaping or changing your pet’s behavior.

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UNDERSTANDING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN DOGS

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The word “aggression” can refer to a range of behaviors from barking and growling, snarling and snapping, to biting and attacking. Threats of aggression are one way dogs have of communicating and are often displayed as a means of avoiding outright aggression. However, a threat (growling or snapping) may escalate to outright aggression (biting) in any given situation. Continue Reading

WHEN COMMON ADVICE CAN’T HELP

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The individuals who staff our Behavior Helpline have completed an extensive training program taught by animal behavior professionals. We are able to assist pet owners with many types of problems; however, there are some we can’t resolve by e-mail or phone because it isn’t safe or accurate to diagnose certain behavioral problems without observing the animal’s postures and reactions to certain stimuli. Continue Reading

CRATE TRAINING YOUR DOG

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Crate training your dog may take some time and effort, but can be useful in a variety of situations. If you have a new dog or puppy, you can use the crate to limit his access to the house until he learns all the house rules, such as what he can and can’t chew and where he can and can’t eliminate. A crate is also a safe way of transporting your dog in the car, as well as a way of taking him places where he may not be welcome to run freely. If you properly train your dog to use the crate, he will think of it as his safe place and will be happy to spend time there when needed. Always provide water for your dog anytime he is in the crate. Spill proof bowls or bowls that attach to the kennel gate work best. Continue Reading