My Crazy Dog

Get An Electric Dog Fence For Your Gun Dogs

We all worry about our gun dogs and their safety. Concerns about what could happen if your dog was to escape from your yard and wander the neighborhood are normal.

Even the most well-behaved dog has the ability to create problems in your area, like hurting of killing other pets and animals, biting people, ruining other yards, and consuming trash and hazardous waste — or worse yet, coming home pregnant!

Many dog owners will put up a traditional wood or chain link fence to keep their pets safe. However, these fences aren’t always ideal. They’re not pretty to look at, dogs can get over or under it, and can cause the value of your home to decrease. This has a lot of dog owners looking for an alternative to allow their dogs to remain safe on the property and still have the peace of mind of knowing that their dogs can’t get into trouble.

The solution is an electric dog fence. In fact, more and more dog owners are starting to choose an electric fence, which is made to keep your pets safe on your property. Although some believe that these fence systems are inhumane, the small electrical charge produced will not cause harm to your pet. It is a gentle stimulation that will remind your dog where he is allowed to roam and what areas are off-limits.

Electronic dog fences are great for those who don’t like the look of a fence. In fact, these dog fences aren’t fences at all. They are a system of wires that are buried a few inches below the ground. The wires act as a boundary for your dog and is controlled via a transmitter that can be located anywhere you choose. The system works by receiving a signal that indicates your dog is crossing his boundaries, and will then send a small electrical stimulation to the receiver collar around your dog’s neck.

Some of the original electric dog fences failed easily since your dog could run right through the boundary, suffer a slight shock and keep going since the shock was momentary. Innotek however, has designed a system that will contain your dog safely and effectively even slightly outside the boundary.

Today, the Innotek systems have all new features that increase the jolt that your dog will get as he approaches the boundary but more importantly for those stubborn dogs who think they can just keep going, the shock continues for a range outside of the pre-determined boundary that you have set.

More new models from Innotek have rapidly made many electric fences obsolete. Larger, more effective size and range for fence parameters are one big improvement. Even the lower-end systems allow up to five acres of coverage while the top-of-the-line Innotek 2100D covers up to 25 acres!

Another challenge that was faced by many dog owners is what to do about multiple dogs, but Innotek has also addressed that concern by allowing you to purchase additional collars for use with the electric fence system.

Summary

The Innotek electric dog fence system offers:
1. A humane way of training your dog to stay inside your yard
2. Peace of mind
3. Elimination of unsightly fencing
4. Cost effectiveness

Let your dog play in your yard, large or small, safely with an Innotek electronic fencing system today.

Tags: gun dogs, innotek electric dog fence

Don’t Let Roundworm Effect Your Bird Dogs

Heartworm, or roundworm, is very serious can affect all types of gun dogs. With gun dogs, working dogs, and other outdoor dogs, you must be especially concerned because they are more susceptible to heartworm. The worse case scenario is that an affected dog can pass it on to humans, as well as other dogs. In turn, you can also pass on heartworm to your own dog.

Roundworm is a parasitic disease that is spread through mosquito bites or by getting it from other animals which have it. Animals like other dogs, coyotes, foxes, etc. can all have roundworm and can come in contact with your dog and transmit the disease to them. Prevention of roundworm is essential as treatment is extremely difficult. This disease often leads to death.

Preventing Roundworm/Heartworm

Giving your dog a tablet, food additive, or other preventive will greatly reduce his chances of getting infected. Tablets can be taken orally as a doggy treat while food additives are sprinkled, poured, or mixed in with food. Most preventive treatments require a monthly application, so mark a calendar to keep track of when dosage was given so you’ll know when to do it next.

If you live in an area where you have all four seasons, you should know that the number one carrier of heartworm are mosquitoes by means of passing on infected blood to another area when they sting their target. Where there are more moderate climactic change, roundworm is usually spread from one animal to another. No matter which scenario suits you, preventative measures should be taken each and every month, regardless of weather.

Symptoms of Roundworm

In its early stages, roundworm is very hard to detect since your dog won’t show any physcial signs of illness. Your vet can test for the disease, or skilled vets can tell by observation. It is typical of heartworm to gestate for several months before affecting your dog. During this stage of the illness, the disease can easily be treated, but it is best when your dog is asymptomatic.

Symptoms will begin as a cough, a loss of energy, and weight loss. You will see your dog become weaker and less interested in normal daily activities and fun. Take your dog to a veterinarian immediately if you notice these symptoms, as they can be many sicknesses, including roundworm.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Roundworm

Blood tests are needed to confirm a roundworm diagnosis. It is an easy test and most vets are able to administer a blood test right in the office. Once confirmed, the vet will have to find out what stage of the illness your dog is affected with, determine whether or not the infestation is male or female, and make a final decision on the best course of treatment.

Roundworm treatment is extensive and may be very expensive to treat. Aside from that the treatment is very difficult for your dog and in fact may result in his needing dialysis. Almost all dogs will be listless, suffer weight loss, and has other symptoms while the Worms are discharged. Follow-up treatments will be necessary to ensure that all of the Worms are eliminate it from your dog system.

If left untreated, roundworm infection can lead to organ damage and treatment for a lifetime. Detecting symptoms as soon as possible is very important and treatment must start right away.

When you have any sort of hunting dog, you should always keep in mind that you should always keep your dog’s health as top priority. There are also lots of different hunting dog supplies that you should have on hand for your dog such as electronic dog collars or dog collars.

Tags: electronic dog collars, gun dogs, hunting dog supplies

Easy Tips for Crate Training Your hunting dog

Most hunters who own hunting dogs treat the dogs not as a tool to use on the hunt, but as friends and companions who live with them every day. If your dog is living in your home with you, you’ve probably realized that these gun dogs also make great pets. In order to keep it that way, though, proper training for living in your home is a must.

Training a bird dog to behave in your house is not difficult and only requires persistence and love. You’ve trained your gun dog to be great in the field, so now it’s time to turn that same training into house living. If your dog is a puppy, this is even more important and will take longer to teach—puppies, while smart, are easily distracted and forget what they’ve learned quickly. Again, persistence is key. Teaching your bird dog, whatever its age, to go outside to potty, to not tear up your furniture, and so forth is most easily and humanely done by crate training.

Some thing that crate training is mean or cruel, but they couldn’t be further from the truth. Remember: a bird dog is not a human and has very different instincts. A warm, safe, quiet place for Fido to relax is a great boon to the dog’s self-esteem and well being. Dogs have a “den” instinct that prefers small spaces that give a sense of safety and security. That’s what a crate can be for your dog.

The size of the crate is a very important thing to keep in mind. You will want to purchase a crate that is big enough for your dog to be able to comfortably turn around, lay down straight, and be able to stand up comfortably. Most breeds of hunting dogs, a medium or large size dog crate will suffice. Don’t worry if you have a puppy, there is no need to buy multiple crates, you can buy the crate that will fit your dog when they are full grown. It is suggested however that you section off the crate and make it larger as your puppy grows. If the crate is too big, you will run into the problem of you puppy going to the bathroom in an empty corner. If there are no empty corners, the puppy won’t want to have an accident where he is sleeping.

Obviously, your dog cannot be locked in that crate all day, every day. The crate is for when you are not around to supervise your dog’s behavior, such as while you’re at work or sleeping. It’s essential that you let your dog out to potty and for exercise. Especially so with gun dog breeds as they are highly energetic. To get your dog used to the idea of going outside to do his business, take him for walks or take him outside repeatedly, every half hour or so, until he goes. Then reward him for going. It doesn’t take long, even for a puppy, to understand this behavior.

Speaking of puppies, remember that they do not have the control of an adult dog and will probably have accidents inside their crate. First and foremost, do not berate or punish your puppy for this as it sends a mixed message that puppy won’t understand. Instead, put puppy in a safe area and clean up the mess. Make sure that puppy doesn’t see you cleaning up, as this also sends the wrong message.If you have a puppy, you must understand that they don’t have the control like adult dogs, and can’t go for as long without having a bathroom break either. With this being said, a puppy will have accidents in the crate. It is important that you don’t scold or punish the puppy, because this will make him relate to crate to a punishment. Remove the puppy and place him somewhere where it is safe and he is confined, such as a bathroom. This way the puppy doesn’t see you cleaning the mess up, because this will tell your puppy that having an accident is okay, and you will just clean it up.

Dogs respond very well to routine. You should try to make sure that you take your dog out around the same time, as well as training time should be the same time everyday. If you maintain a routine in your dog’s life, the training process will be much quicker, as well as less stressful for you and your dog.

Most people feel that crate training is the humane way to housebreak your dog and it’s typically the quickest and most effective method of training your gun dog to use acceptable indoor behavior.

Tags: bird dogs, dog crate, gun dogs, hunting dogs

How To Care For Your Hunting Dog That Just Had Puppies

In most cases, a dog that has just had pups will whelp the puppies, expel her placenta, and with a little rest be back on her feet as healthy as ever. Whelping is a natural process in which a bitch will usually have no problems—especially if she’s strong and healthy. There are possible complications, however, so it’s a good idea to be aware of them. Postpartum care is important for any breeder of hunting dogs to understand.

Within a day of whelping, the bitch should be taken to a veterinarian to be checked. Most vets will also want to look at the puppies, which is also a good idea. You want to be sure, in the mother’s case, that she is still healthy and that no unborn pups remain in her womb and that her placenta ejected completely. If she retains either, she could get an infection (or worse) and die. Most veterinarians will also offer a shot to help her let down her milk and clear her uterus.

For the pups, temperature checks and physical checks can ensure that the babies are all in good health and that there are no immediate problems. For mom, make sure you watch for fever, lack of appetite and diarrhea after birth as these could be signs of a bacterial infection. Any symptoms should be immediately discussed with your veterinarian so that an antibiotic can be prescribed if needed.

Typically if mom is going to have any problems they will show up within a week of the puppies birth so you’ll want to watch her carefully and make sure that she is in fact returning to her old self.

There are some things you can do as a responsible pup parent to make sure that mom has everything she needs to make sure all stays well. First and foremost make sure that the area where mom and babies are resting is kept very clean – wash all bedding daily and clean up any messes you see immediately. Do not use any harsh cleaning products that can cause irritation to the eyes and noses if the newborn puppies.

You should also watch out for eclampsia in the mother dog, which is a condition in which the body cannot produce the calcium needed for lactation. She will need to see the vet right away. Symptoms can include pain and discomfort, fever, sttiffness, and seizures. Also known as milk fever, this condition can happen around week three of lactating and can cause a serious threat. However, if you catch it early enough, you can add supplements to her food to make up for the lack of calcium.

Mammary gland infections, particularly the teats, are a common problem so you should them frequently. As her puppies get older and teeth grow in, these infections can occur. Mastisis can set in within a day of birth; watch for purple spots around the glands and check for fever. These and other infections are common and is easily treated with topical creams.

Sometimes, agalactia can set in. This is a condition where the bitch can only produce little milk, or sometimes, not at all. The vet will be able to see if this is a problem during the first examination and take effective measures to treat the problems.

Most of the time, whelping is a natural, nearly worry-free process that will require little on your part to go well. Most bitches that are healthy will have pups without a problem and will be fine mothers.

When you have any breed of hunting dog, you should also make sure that have all the proper supplies you need to train him correctly. There is a wide variety of supplies that will help you do this, including things such as Tri-tronics collars, and SportDOG collars.

Tags: bird dogs, gun dogs, hunting dogs, sportdog collars, tri-tronics collars

Keep Your Hunting Dog Safe In The Field With A First Aid Kit

Every hunter who goes out into the field with his dog should carry a first aid kit: both for himself and one for his dog. You never know when something will happen and being prepared is likely to decide whether the injury is taken care of or becomes a real issue. There are plenty of good first aid kits gun dogs you can buy.

While there are many options to purchase a canine first aid kit, it’s up to you to make sure that it’s ‘up to par’ and sufficient to take care of your dogs needs whether you are at home or out hunting. It may be tempting to wrap a dogs wound in whatever happens to be available (a torn shirt, handkerchief, etc) but having a properly sanitary dressing could make a difference between a wound that heals properly and one that can become infected and potentially debilitating. Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to preparing your first aid kit for you dog.

Here is what to look for in a good gun dogs first aid kit:

A First Aid Guide
The first aid guide will show you basic first aid for dogs for both small injuries (like wound treatment for scraps) and life-threatening injuries (like mouth-to-snout resuscitation). There should be clear instructions for the use of all items contained within the first aid kit, as well. To be best prepared for emergencies, you should read the first aid guide and learn the basics before emergencies happen. The keyword here is “emergencies” — first aid is not the replacement for regular veterinary visits.

Don’t Forget The Tweezers
This is a very helpful tool for removing splinters, ticks, and more. Splinters can go into the pad of a dog’s foot or elsewhere and work its way deeper and cause discomfort, and worse, abscesses. It’s best to treat them right away before they are forgotten and enters further in, causing infections that can spread to other parts of the body.

Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide typically costs less than $1 per bottle and is a must have for any first aid kit (human or canine). It provides for sterilization, wound cleaning and can even help you deal with the area of a splinter before and after you are done removing it.

Iodine
Iodine is even better than peroxide for cleaning a wound before dressing it with gauze or bandages. The best course of action is to use the peroxide, then the iodine, to promote quicker healing of your dog’s wounds.

Antibiotic Ointment
These are off-the-shelf ointments that can be used to help with bee or wasp stings, abrasions, or other small injuries.

Eyewash
Like their adult companions, dogs often get things in their eyes that no amount of trying will dislodge. You can find a simple saline solution that can be safely used to wash out your dogs’ eyes and in some cases, even prevent issues with their vision. Just spray some into the dogs’ eye and as a rule of thumb the rest will take care of itself.

Trauma Pad
In the event of serious injury where the blood flow is severe, a trauma pad will help stop the flow of blood, seal the wound, and provide you with a great tool for transporting your dog to an emergency vet. Because trauma pads for dogs come in different sizes, make sure the size is right for your dog.

Gauze, Tape, and Scissors
Simple, basic, and self-explanatory, these tools are indispensable for your dog’s injuries. It’s useful for cuts and scratches. To properly treat these minor injuries, bandage and gauze the area, then tape it to protect the area from further damage.

Don’t risk your dog’s happiness with being out on a hunting trip with you by being unprepared for an emergency. A good first aid kit is a helpful tool whether you’re out hunting or at home. There is nothing that you can do more easily for your dogs’ safety than have a good first aid kit.

Tags: gun dogs, hunting dog