Owners of bird dogs have supplying needs that pet owners do not necessarily have. Some of these include callers the field training, tracking collars, and often by callers. The good news is SportDog can meet all of those needs.

SportDog SD 400 Dog Training Collar

These correction collars are used for mischievous behavior, correction-based training, and other times when your dog needs correction. Hunting dogs often need training to retrieve, stand still, and to flush on the point of a partner dog. The SD 400 from SportDOG provides fourteen different levels of stimulus for corrections to help you better-train your hunting dog. The receiver and collar are completely waterproof, making it ideal for training–no matter the weather or terrain.

SportDog SD 400S Training Collar

The 400S offers a higher level of stimulation and is perfect for larger breeds or very stubborn dogs. All dogs are unique and sometimes the stimulation that works on one will not work for another. If all other training methods have failed, you’ll likely find that this one won’t. Remember that electronic training collars like the SportDOG SD 400S are safe and will not hurt your dog. Training your dog requires patience, consistency, and constant feedback on how he is doing.

SportDOG Bark Collar

Every hunter knows that your dog barking in the field is liable to create fewer hunting opportunities. It is not especially helpful to you if your dog barks at inopportune times. Sport dog barking callers can help correct this inappropriate behavior if done properly. It will not take long for your dog to understand that there are times when barking is not appropriate. The proper use of a barking caller will prevent your dog from sending prey a way from you. Before you know it, your dog will understand that he must remain quiet and once that happens you will no longer need this type of collar.

There are a lot of collars to choose from. Make sure that you’re getting a collar from a trusted company. Such a company will usually have a nice choice when it comes to style, safety, and reliability of training collars. You can be assured that SportDog is a great brand whether you’re looking for a bark collar, training collar, or tracking collar. You can also depend on SportDog for all your other hunting dog needs.

We all worry about our bird 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 best-behaved dog is going to create havoc when running loose: even if it’s just digging holes or eating rotten things out of the street. Sometimes they just come home parents-to-be.

Although most people who have dogs elect to put up a typical fence in either wood or chain link what they’ve quickly discovered is (a) they are an eyesore, (b) a clever dog can get over or under the fence and (c) they actually make your home values go down. You need an alternate solution for allowing your dog to safely roam your yard without the added worries of him breaking out and getting into trouble in your neighborhood or running the risk of being injured.

Today, more and more responsible dog owners are electing to use an electric dog fence, which is designed to keep your dog safely in your yard. Some people feel that these systems are inhumane because they correct your dog’s errant behavior by jolting him with a small electrical charge. The fact of the matter is that these electric systems actually are designed to not harm your dog, instead they provide a ‘reminder’ that they are going into areas that they should not be going into.

These electronic dog fences are a blessing in disguise to dog owners who don’t want the unsightly “typical” fence. The wiring is underground (just a few inches) and is all that’s needed to establish the boundary for your dog. A transmitter uses the wires to emit a signal that the dog’s collar picks up when the dog is within the boundary. Once out of the boundary (or attempting to leave it), the collar issues a correction in the form of a light shock—similar to the static shock you get when rubbing your feet on the carpet. These transmitters and wires can be located anywhere eon your property that’s convenient for you and your dog.

The new Innotek fences have solved a lot of the technical flaws of original electronic dog fences. In the past, your dog would be able to continue through the wire boundaries after getting a small shock. However, the newer design will continue to send shocks slightly out of bounds, reminding your dog to head back, keeping him safe and sound.

Innotek electric fences also feature increasing levels of electronic stimulation so that you can set lower level shocks for when your dog approaches his boundaries. And for more stubborn dogs who go past the boundary, you can set levels of shock for a set range beyond the boundaries for added safety.

Innotek has also come up with models that make earlier systems obsolete! One of the most significant challenges of these fences was that they really did not have a large enough range to allow your dog to run and play in a large area. Today, the lower end systems that Innotek makes cover up to five acres and the top of the line system the Innotek 2100D covers up to twenty five acres of land making it ideal for those who have sprawling acres.

For owners of more than one dog, Innotek provides an answer. You can purchase more than one collar to be used with your 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

You can trust Innotek to keep your dog safe and within his bounds while allowing him to play in a yard of any size, and the best part is, your dog can stay out of trouble in your neighborhod!

It’s summer and it seems like fleas are everywhere. Luckily, today’s pet owner has an arsenal of flea treatments at their disposal. Pyrethrin is a safe and widely used insecticide. Methoprene and Fenoxycarb are insect growth regulators (IGR) which prevent eggs and larvae from developing into pupae. Always treat bird dogs and their environment at the same time.

A flea’s life span can range from 2 weeks to 8 months. Because the pupa is wrapped within the protection of a cocoon, insecticides will not affect them one bit. This is why they are extremely difficult to kill, and also the reason why pet owners experience another flea outbreak just 2 weeks for the first treattment. As the pupa stage ends and the adult flea develops, you are left in the same position you began.

Flea Baths
Using a regular flea prevention shampoo can help with flea control. One thing to be careful about though is flea dips – especially if you have children in the house. Flea dips are very harsh and most leave a residue on your dog – they’re only recommended in cases of very extreme infestation and should be discussed with your veterinarian before use.

Spot On Medications
This type of flea treatment is administered between the shoulder blades of the pet. It’s a monthly treatment that will kill adult fleas for sure, and some brands will even prevent larvae and egg growth. These medications can only be used on dogs older than eight weeks. Water activities, like swimming or baths can make spot on medications less effective.

Pill Flea Treatment
Known for its effect as a “flea birth control”, this is also a monthly treatment. When the flea bites your dog, they become sterile and die without every laying eggs. When this happens, the fleas will die out completely, leaving you flea-free. Since this type of treatment can’t be washed off in water, it is great for pets that live indoors.

Natural Methods
Not everyone likes to use chemicals for flea control purposes. If this is the case, you should vacuum thoroughly as often as possible. In addition to carpets, vacuum furniture, pillows, and bedding. Properly discard the bag, or burn it, right away. Secondly, you should wash everything in the hot water cycle. Lastly, use dried pennyroyal, diactomaceous earth, or pyretthrum powder. Apply it on pet bedding and underneath cushions and mattresses. However, don’t use pennyroyal if your dog is pregnant. Repeat this process every few days.

Clean from inside out
Pet bedding, furniture, cushions, and thick carpets are fleas’ havens. Before treatment, always vacuum everything and everywhere in your home. Then, burn or properly discard vacuum bags immediately. Fleas love dust and hair, so this is important. It’s also important to wash all pet clothing and bedding in hot water. Insecticides are most effective on young, immature fleas.

Outside, fleas love wet, shady areas like dog houses, flower beds, and under decks or porches. Treat any location where your pet spends a lot of time. Fully mow and rake your yard. Get rid of leaves in flower beds and under bushes to increase the areas exposed to insecticides. The garage, basement and other places with non-carpeted floors should be thoroughly mopped to get rid of flea larvae hiding in crevices. Wash pet carriers and vacuum the car!

You can also choose a fogger or spray for your home, yard, and other areas, as they are very effective. You may need to repeat treatment in areas of severe infestation, usually every 2 or 3 weeks.

Flea bites cause all kinds of problems for pets and people. Intense itching can lead to skin problems, hair loss and infections. A bad infestation can lead to anemia and tapeworms. Allergies to flea saliva can cause flea dermatitis. Getting rid of a flea infestation is imperative for the health of your pet. Following these steps will help your pet and your home stay flea free.

There are lots of hunting dog supplies out there on the market, they range from dog crates, to dog collars, to electronic hearing protection. Make sure you do your research before you buy something to make sure it offers exactly what you want.

Heartworm is a serious, often fatal disease and is one of the worst diseases your dog can face. Luckily, it’s easy to prevent heartworm and it takes nothing more than a pill, food additive, and preventive care. You can purchase a heartworm pill to give to your bird dogs as a “treat,” or get liquid or powder additives to put into your dog’s food regularly (weekly, monthly, etc. depending on the treatment).

Heartworm Facts
Heartworm can live in the dog’s body and work its way into all major organs and tissue, and finally the heart, which is what kills the animal. Heartworm is a parasite and mosquitoes are often to blame because they carry heartworm. However, your dog can also get heartworm from other animals like foxes and coyotes.

Preventing Heartworm
Preventing is the easiest way to “treat” heartworm. As said earlier, getting protection is as easy as giving him a pill, adding something to his food, and keeping his home (and him) clean. While it’s common to treat heartworm only in the warmer months, many people have found that doing it year-round is both easier and more effective. Veterinarians agree.

Symptoms of Heartworm
One of the first symptoms you may notice is weight loss, lack of energy, or excessive coughs. As the parasite attacks the dog’s lungs or respiratory system, the cough will become more severe. And as it reaches other areas of the body, symptoms will worsen. In the first few months, the heartworm infection usually goes unnoticed because parasites are too busy propagating and haven’t yet spread to show the symptoms in the dog.

Diagnosis
A veterinarian will be able to diagnose a dog with heartworm through observation and blood tests. Treatment options will be based on whether the infection is male or female since they must be treated according to infection type. A double test will be done not only to determine whether male or female, but also to determine worm count. This will also how far the infection has advanced.

Treating Heartworm
Once diagnosed, heartworm must be treated immediately before the dog succumbs to it or spread the disease to other dogs. The treatment will depend on the stage of the infestation. An unhealthy dog has little chance of living through treatment or an infestation, but a healthy one can. If the parasites have entered too many of the dog’s organs or have become too much for him to handle, it’s not likely that treatment will work. This is why catching it as early as possible is key.

If any other dogs are living with or around the infected dog, they should be tested immediately for heartworm as well. It spreads quickly from one dog to the next, so testing is important. People should be tested as well, as humans are also capable of getting heartworm.

While heartworm is a deadly parasite, it can be prevented or treated if it is done properly.

Most of us are aware that when our dog has pups they take care of most of the work all by themselves. For almost all bird dogs, having the pups and expelling the placenta is a natural process and when followed by sufficient rest your momma dog will be back on her feet and happy and healthy as she ever was. Most dogs that are healthy have absolutely no problems giving birth. There are some complications that as a responsible pet parent you should be aware of (especially if you are a breeder).

Once mom has successfully given birth it’s usually a good idea to take her to the vet just to verify that everything is fine. You should try to do this within a day of birthing and you might want to check with your vet to see if they think it’s a good idea to check out the puppies at the same time. For mom, you want to verify that she has no puppies remaining in her womb and that she has fully expelled the placenta. If mom isn’t checked out thoroughly and a baby or a part of the placenta is left in the womb mom could get a serious infection and if left unchecked she could become ill enough to succumb to infection. Often your vet will recommend a shot that will help make sure the uterus is clear and will also help mom let her milk down.

Carefully watch the bitch for several days after giving birth to make sure that there is no high fever, lack of appetite, or diarrhea, as these are signs of bacterial infection. Without antibiotics, she can die or develop serious problems. And since puppies should never be away from the mother dog, they should also have the benefit of vet care. The vet will check temperature and examine them to make sure that everything appears normal. If anything seems unusual, you should take her to the vet immediately, especially during the first week after whelping.

Watch mother carefully for the first few days to be sure nothing unusual is happening. If she is to get sick after whelping, it will be during the first week after the puppies have come.

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.

Eclampsia is another problem to watch for in the new mother. This is often called “milk fever” and is a condition where her body does not produce enough calcium for lactation. This will occur three weeks or so after lactation begins and is a serious problem. If it is caught early, supplements can be added to her food to give her what she needs to make up for it. Symptoms will include stiffness, pain, and a fever with possible seizures. Take her to a vet as soon as you see any symptom.

Your dog may develop an infection of her mammary glands which can be common and you should be aware of. This is especially true as your mom pup nurses her babies and they start cutting teeth. Mastasis can also happen shortly after birth and is distinguished by purplish spots on the teats accompanied by a fever. This is relatively easy to treat with a topical cream.

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.

Although the conditions and problems above are serious, you’ll find that whelping is a very natural and healthy process, with little care required from you. Most dogs produce healthy puppies and will be fine after birth.