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Therapy dogs are dogs that are canine good citizens and are well trained and of a nature that is suitable for interaction with humans who are unwell. Studies have shown that interaction with pets and the special bonding it brings, helps the sick heal faster and trauma patients are known to come out of silence, grieving, or shock by interacting with pets.

An innovative program set up by Therapy Dogs International is “children reading to dogs.” Handlers and their dogs visit libraries and schools regularly and interact with children who have trouble reading. The dogs make friends with children who are encouraged to read the dog a story. The friendship and bonding between the child and dog as well as the non judgmental attitude of the happy animal encourages the child to read aloud to the dog who sits with a smile on his face and a wag in his tail. The interaction instills confidence in the child as well as improved learning.

Therapy dogs also provide valuable relief during disasters by helping affected families and persons as also relief workers. The animals provide comfort and an understanding that is invaluable in sad situations. Petting and hugging or grooming the dogs provides release of anxiety and stress. Dogs help heal and overcome problems and grief. It is unbelievable the kind of understanding a dog can show. So, dogs regularly work at bombing sites, earthquake affected areas as well as places whether flood or hurricanes have struck.

There are therapy dogs who regularly visit hospitals, old age homes, and nursing homes to help heal. The interaction with dogs brings a smile to face of patients and many dogs participate in physical therapy programs as well as in children’s wards where there are many children fighting illnesses. The dogs instill a positive attitude in patients and many look forward to the visit each day. Patients are encouraged to talk to the dogs, pet them, or even groom them. Bonding with the dogs speeds up healing and brings happiness. Many of the dogs are natural clowns and perform tricks to entertain the sick.

To be a therapy dog, both the handler and dog have to undergo special training, be of good health, be well groomed, and be dedicated to the cause. The dog must have a clear health certification and not be shedding his coat or have any allergies. The dog needs to be calm and obedient as he will have to take hospital activities and noise in his stride. The handler will need to devote time in training the dog, enjoy the work, and take insurance against unforeseen accidents. Owners interested in pet-therapy work will need to register with a group in the area where they live and find out from their dog club or trainer whether the dog they have is of a suitable nature and breed to be a good and successful therapy dog.

Therapy dogs show great patience, love, and understanding and the interaction is magical as even terminally ill patients are known to get better. Dogs boost morale, provide affiliation and touch, encourage love and communication, stimulate activity and exercise, help patients deal with depression, loss, and grief, and lower hypertension as well as blood sugar levels.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/pet/ , the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Pet Forum including topics on pet health, pet care and nutrition, grooming pet at home, dog, cat’s health issues and more. He also freelances for the premier Web Directory site http://www.1866Webdirectory.com.

Going through dog training is something every dog owner should do. Anyone can appreciate a well behaved dog. But did you know that there a several different kinds of dog training and not all are right for your dog?

Most people aren’t even aware of the different types of dog training. The different types of dog training are based for dogs at different stages.

Some dogs have had dog training before, while others have had none. Because of this, it is best that you know which kind of dog training to put your dog in.

The first type of dog training is basic dog training. This type of dog training can be for puppies or for adult dogs that have never received any type of dog training. This course teaches dogs to sit, stay, and come.

Basic dog training also emphasizes socialization skills(especially for puppies). Good socialization skills teach your dog to get along with other dogs and people.

If your dog has never had any dog training, it needs to start with basic dog training.

The next type of dog training is intermediate dog training. This is not for puppies. Intermediate courses are for any adult dogs who have either been through basic dog training or for dogs that have been trained the basics well enough by their owner.

Intermediate courses teach dogs to heel, walk proper on a leash, fetch and return, and it also goes over the basics of dog training in more detail (sit, stay, come, etc.).

Advanced dog training is the last kind available. Advanced dog training is only allowed for adult dogs who have taken at least 1 dog training course before and they must have passed it as well.

All of the basic and intermediate aspects are gone over in great detail in the beginning. Then the course goes to teaching your dog to follow these commands with hand signals (come, stay, sit, heel, lie down, etc.)

Once the dog learns hand signals, the advance dog training course then moves to teaching your dog to walk beside you without a leash and for the dog to stay beside you at all times. It also teaches your dog to pay attention to you and to avoid distractions.

This course is only for very well behaved dogs.

All of these dog training courses should utilize positive reinforcement (praise and rewards). They should not use any negative training techniques (hitting or yelling). Be sure that you pick a dog training course that only uses positive reinforcement.

Also be sure that you select the dog training course that is right for your dog. With the right dog training course, your dog can be well behaved, well adjusted, and truly a joy to have!

Amy Howells is an expert dog trainer who owns a website dedicated to teaching
dog owners the
short-cuts to dog training.

You can also sign up to her free e-course and discover the astonishing
short-cut secrets to dog obedience training.

Cats chew, lick, or eat non-food objects for medical and
behavioral reasons. Out of curiosity, a cat will try to chew on
most things. Easy to swallow items will need to be put up out of
reach of your cat.

Cats chewing and eating items, which are not food, thought to be
a lack of certain nutrients in the diet. Vitamin imbalance could
be some of the cause. Making sure, you are purchasing healthy
well balance food for your cat. Healthy eating for a cat means
healthy bones, muscles, and brain functions. If you are not sure
which brand to buy contact your vet for information and
recommendation for a healthy cat food. You will also want to
make sure that your cat has been up-to-date on the shots.

Chewing and sucking on clothing especially wool could mean a
sign of weaning to early. Cats or kitten sucking on wool finds
the smell similar to that of the mother’s fur around the nipple.
In turn, this could become a security blanket for the cat, as
long as the fabric is not chewed and swallowed. Your cat may
eventually stop the sucking or not. Your cat still can be a
wonderful companion.

One sign of danger is a cat that is playing or sucking on an
electrical cord. Use Tabasco sauce, cover the cord in duct tape,
bitter products that are for cats (they do not like the taste).
If the cord is not electrical and the cat continues to play with
the cord, search at a local do it yourself centers, for molding
to hide cords.

Household plants are also poisonous to cat. One of the worst one
is the Easter Lilly. That beautiful fresh of spring at Easter
will kill your cat if eaten. Place the plant in an area that the
cat will not be able to reach or there are plants that are not
poisonous at Easter time. Learn and research more about the
plants in your home to make sure that the kinds you have are not
poisonous. Some of the side effects a cat can experience with
eating poisonous plants are welling of the tongue, and throat,
paralysis of the throat. If you see your cat with any of these
signs, please call the vet right away. The cat will need
treatment fast.

Use a couple of leaves on the plant to place or rub bitters or
tobacco sauce, pop a balloon near the cat if you catch them
around the plant. Grow plants that the cat can eat. Catnip is a
great way to start all cats love catnip. Wheat and parsley grows
good indoors and is cat safe.

Remember to praise your cat when the behavior is good. Rewards
as small treats are also a great way to show your cat that you
care. With rewards, it tells them that you approve of the
behavior.

When they are eating a plant, electric cord, the drape cords, or
any small object that has come in the cat’s site, a firm “NO”
can do the trick. Drop a heavy book, hissing sounds, some type
of loud noise that will distract the cat from the chewing. Have
spray bottles with water handy. Cats do not like the spray of
water.

Never hit a cat for any reason, never tap the nose, or throw the
cat. Any physical harm you do to a cat they will fear you. The
training for your cat not to fear you after you have done
physical harm to them will never work Always remember you are
the human in the training and your cat is the cat. You can only
train a cat if you know how to do it the proper way. Training a
cat and not following thou will be disaster when the time comes
to retrain.

As a cat gets older, they are set in their ways and this is very
difficult to train. Start with the trainings early, as it is the
easiest. Do not wait until the worse happens and it may be too
late.

Your cat is your friend, we take care of friends are friends
take care of us.

As Winter gets underway, wild mice and rats enter houses more often to escape the cold and rats are also seen in increasing frequency in peoples gardens. However, while this can be a matter for concern, there are ways that you can humanely remove these uninvited visitors rather than calling the local exterminator. He will put down anti-coagulant poisons which cause a long slow death and a great deal of suffering to the mice and rats as well as the poison being potentially dangerous to you, your family and your pets.

How can I tell if I have rodents in my house?

House Mice will leave a cloying ‘acetamide’ smell; other mice leave little odour.

Gnawing : Rodents need to gnaw constantly to keep their teeth trim and they will gnaw on most things.

Tooth Marks : Larger marks made by Rats who can gnaw through soft metals such as aluminium or lead.

Droppings : a rats poo is 12mm long and often tapered at one end. A mouse poo is half the length and thinner.

Greasy Marks: Rats and House Mice leave dirty black smears along well travelled routes especially where the have to squeeze under objects.

You may also hear the scamper of little feet above your head as they scurry around your loft.

What Problems can they cause?

Rodents generally cause minor problems in houses, such as furniture damage, food nibbling and a few electrical and insulation damage. Some rodents however are good house guests and cause NO damage at all.

Chewing wiring is the main concern which can lead to electrical faults and expensive repairs.

Prevention

Do not call the exterminators! They get rid of the rodents in a cruel way which prolongs suffering and in the long term does not get rid of rodents from entering your home.

Exterminators use anti-coagulant poisons. These cause a slow painful death over around five days to the rodent. The anti-coagulant literally stops the rodent forming any blood clots, so it bleeds to deaths - blood will come from its eyes, it nose and other orifices and will also fill its so that they drown in their own blood - this is a horrible way to die.

Problems with the poison also can occur if the rodent is eaten before it dies.

Anticoagulants are notoriously non-selective and have the potential to kill domestic dogs and cats, wildlife, children, and even grown adults.

And while the anti-coagulants may work in the short term by killing any rodents in your home, your house attracted rodents before and so it will attract more. The key is prevention - and is the easiest and best long term solution. Repair broken air bricks and holes in external walls. Fill any floorboard hole, replace damaged skirting boards and remove any nesting materials. Don’t leave food rubbish in bags in your back garden, always put it in a bin! Rats are notoriously good opportunists and leaving out food bags will only encourage them into your garden.

Also, although it may be environmentally friendly to throw out any rotting fruit or vegetables on to your soil to decompose, this again will attract hungry critters.

How do I get rid of unwanted visitors?

There are indoor devices such as sensors which use electromagnetic interference or ultrasound to drive rats and mice away. They emit a sound inaudible to the human ear but one that is awful to a rodent - the noise will literally drive them away. You plug them into any plug socket and let it get on with it! However, do be careful when using these sonic repellents - don’t use them if you have bats in your loft as this will drive them away. Also if your neighbour has a ’small furry’ such as a hamster or pet rat or mouse, make sure you don’t plug the sonic repellent in a party wall as the sound may travel through the walls depending on how your houe is built.

Live capture traps are also good. Set them up in your loft with a strong smelling piece of food in it such as piece of sausage or strong cheese. And check on the trap twice a day.

Once you have caught the rodent, do not release him or her in your back garden - they will simply come back in! Get in your car and drive at least 2 miles away - otherwise they will be back in your house before you are! GRIN!

Jason Hulott is co-owner of CavyRescue, The UK’s First dedicated Pet Rat Charity. We provide a huge array of articles on Pets Rats and other Small rodents. Why not sign up for our Monthly newsletter? Visit CavyRescue now.