admin answers:

Do an internet search for dog training schools in your area. Zoology is a commonly offered major, but I’ve never heard of a dog training minor. You may be able to minor in companion animals, however.

admin answers:

Hi! Sharon –

You don’t need to pay a trainer to help you – you can do it – all you have is a lack of skill and knowledge – no disrespect to you on that one.

Go here – http://www.thedoglistener.co.uk

His site is FULL of tips to help the expert and novice alike.

Most people have trouble because they don’t think – you have to think like a dog to train one…

It works – honestly

admin answers:

For the first few customers, go low (like $10-$15, no more then $20) just so that you can get experienced even more. When you’ve trained a few customers dogs till they are satisfied, use them are recommendations and go higher. Of course, I wouldn’t pay no more then $50 for a person trainer.

admin answers:

Well, have you searched any local pet stores (I don’t mean chain-stores like petco)? I also believe Blue Buffalo is in Petsmart.
Search local dog boutiques/stores they usually stock up on healthy dog food like the one’s you’ve listed, some even deliver from their store to your door.

It probably is safe, if something is wrong you can just complain to amazon.com.

admin answers:

You’ll want to start your pet out on a good quality pet food. With the new pet food scare going around you have to be especially cautious in what you buy your pet to eat. If you are interested in purchasing your food online I suggest Newman’s Own Organic Pet Foods.

I’ve raised my dogs on Nutro Natural Choice brand dog food. It’s found at pet stores. My pets have had healthy lives and I honestly feel that pet food had a lot to do with it. I use the “natural” one because adding coloring to foods caused problems for one of my dogs, she had allergies to it. Unfortunately several brands of their can dog food and cat food wound up on the recall list of pet foods that had a tainted ingredient that was harming pets. So I am not as confident as I once was about recommending Nutro variety pet foods. Even though, thankfully, our pets are still healthy and had no problems from eating the food.

You’ll also want to take your pet to the vet for regular check ups and to a groomer about every six weeks to have the nails trimmed and ears cleaned, if you aren’t going to do those things yourself.

One thing I don’t think any pet owner should be without is a something called a “Kong” it’s hard rubber hollow toy. You put a treat inside the toy and your pet slowly works it out. It’s a great tool to have when you need to leave your dog alone in the house. It really helps with separation anxiety which so many dogs have and are very destructive because of it. They come in all sizes and several colors. I can’t stress enough how good these are for your pet’s behavior.

Since you are getting a Chihuahua you’ll want to get a sweater for your little one. They get cold easily and sweaters and little shirts come in handy for them.

They also have a reputation of being yappy and biters. Which I don’t think is true behavior trait of the breed I think people coddle them too much and that makes them insecure and neurotic cause the aggressive behaviors. Take your dog to an obedience class in your area and you’ll learn how to be the pack leader to your pet and both of you will have a much better relationship with each other.

I prefer a harness over a collar when walking a dog, collar seem to choke them too often. I also like the retractable leashes when I walk my dog. It gives them a little more freedom but I am still in control.

Amazon.com has great prices on Advantage and Frontline plus flea and tick repellants. Much better deal than you’ll get from a pet store or the vet. Plus they have free shipping if your order is over $25.

I guess that’s all I can think of right now. I love dogs and think life with them is far better than life without them. I’ve been around them literally all my life. I know I didn’t give you a list but advice on what is important for the life of your pet.

Don’t forget to spay or neuter your pet for their health and a longer life!!

admin answers:

I definitely suggest you take your time shopping around the organic section of the grocery store, as that’s where allergen-free food is usually found and properly/clearly labeled as being “dairy-free” etc.
For butter, you may be able to use shortening (not particularly healthy, but usually non-dairy) or Earth’s Balance vegan spread. You may also be able to use rice milk in place of regular milk in some recipes.
If you poke around Amazon, you can find a lot of recipe books for kids with food allergies.
There are also a lot of sites if you search for something like “food allergy recipes”… Here’s one: http://www.foodallergykitchen.com/pages/recipes.php You can search for recipes here by the allergen it cannot contain.
Most products have an allergen alert, but not all, so you will have to get used to scrutinizing the lists of ingredients on everything.
I also recommend buying utensils, a cookie sheet, and a pan just for her food, as cross-contamination happens. It’s also a good idea to use a separate sponge to clean them, so you are not wiping allergens on her things. For her more severe allergies, you would be best to keep them out of the home altogether, especially when if it causes a breathing problem.
My son is gluten-free/casein-free, and it was overwhelming at first trying to find all the right products. It will get a lot easier for you- You’ll have so many things memorized, and you’ll be able to come up with your own recipes based on what she can eat. At 13 months, she won’t demand a ton of variety, so you have a lot of time to play around. Good luck. :]