Towels – Always have at least one or two towels on hand for drying your companion after a refreshing bath.  Towels dry them to the best of your ability to help with air drying.

Drain Screen – Hair clogs are common when bathing your pet.  Simply use a drain screen to protect your plumbing from hair buildup.  They can consist of a nylon mesh placed in the drain or a built-in hair trap that can easily be cleaned.

Cotton Balls – Cotton balls can be placed in your pets ears to prevent water from running into your dogs ears.

Pet Shampoos – Like that of human shampoo, there are many types of pet shampoos as well to work on problem areas such as dry skin, itchy skin, fleas, etc.  Be sure to use the right shampoo to keep your dog happy, healthy, and free from skin problems!

Plastic Pitcher – A large plastic pitcher is essential for wetting and rinsing your dog.  Adjustable spray handles can be used on a garden hose as well but the spray velocity may not be too soothing for your beloved pooch.  Be sure to use a gentle spray or pitcher for a gentle rinse.

Eye ointment – Contact your veterinarian regarding recommending a good eye ointment to place in your dogs eyes.  Ointment can prevent chemical damage.

When evaluating a veterinarian, evaluate their staff as well.  Veterinarians using work with a team or

professionals that may care for your pet at one point or another so make sure you find an entire team you think will serve your needs.  Weigh the factors that are most important to you but remember, you may have to drive a few extra miles and possibly spend a few extra dollars to get the quality of care you desire for your pet.

Finding the Right Veterinarian

Recommendations are key when selecting a good veterinarian.   Start with recommendations from a friend, family member, neighbor, animal shelter, dog trainer, groomer, or pet sitter.  The Yellow Pages contains a large section of veterinarians and animal hospitals in your area and could also contain pertinent information such as services, hours, and staff.

Look for veterinary clinics and hospitals who are board certified or have an affiliation with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).  This signifies that a veterinary hospital has voluntarily pursued and met AAHA’s standards in quality care, equipment, and facility standards.  Other board certified veterinarians hold certifications in certain types of medicine such as surgery, cardiology, or ophthalmology, which means they studied an additional two to four years in the specialty area and passed a meticulous examination.

Once you’ve narrowed your search, schedule a visit to meet the staff, tour the facility, and learn about the hospital’s philosophy and policies. This is a reasonable request that any veterinarian should be glad to oblige. Write down your questions ahead of time.

What Do I Look For?

• Do service fees fit your budget and are there any discounts for senior citizens or multiple pet households?
  Is all work done in-house such as x-rays, ultrasounds, blood work, EKG, endoscopy, etc.?
  Are emergency services available? If so, what types of emergency services are available?
  Are appointments required?
  Are the doctor’s and staff caring, calm, competent, and courteous, and do they communicate effectively?
  How many veterinarians are in the practice?
  What do the other staff members do? Have they had schooling experience?
  Are dog and cat cages in separate areas or combine in one area?
  Is the facility well-organized, friendly, clean, and comfortable?

Training your dog is an important way to create a well-behaved, safe, and valued member of the family.  A good training class is a fun, social activity that not only introduces your pet to being around other animals, but also prevents or modifies behaviors that were once allowed to become problems.

The information below will help you find the dog trainer and class environment that best fits your budget and needs making you and your dog happy!

Is training my dog a necessity?

One of the first questions you may ask yourself when owning a dog is, “Does my dog need training?”  The answer is yes, as well as you too!  It’s important to remember that whether you are intentionally training him or not, your companion is always learning, even with older dogs.  If your dog is not taught the rules, it is in his nature to invent his own, and that could be disastrous!  Training allows caregivers to safely and humanely control their dog’s behavior before or after it has become a problem.  Make sure to always keep treats on hand.  Positive training is important to enhance the bond between the dog and the owner and also helps to ensure that your dog will happily respond to your instructions.

What should I look for in a trainer?

One of the most important things to look for in a trainer is the way they conduct their training. It is essential that the dog trainer uses humane tactics that encourage good behavior through positive reinforcement. Some of the ways they should congratulate your dog on good behavior are praise, attention, treats, or play. Look for a trainer that does not reward your dog for behaving inappropriately. The trainer should only reward the dog when desirable responses are achieved. If your trainer yells, chokes, shakes the scruff, or does any other activity to frighten the dog or inflict pain, remove the dog from the class immediately. The training process should always be a positive experience and not abusive or inhumane.

Where can I find a trainer?

A great way to start looking for a trainer is through a recommendation from a friend, family member, neighbor, boarding kennel, groomer, or vet. There are a large variety of listings under “Pet Training” in the Yellow Pages as well. A dog trainer’s membership owned by a dog trainer does not always mean that they are a suitable dog trainer. The associations’ membership criteria may not meet your expectations, so be sure to look into the qualifications of the trainer. The government does not regulate or license trainers, so take it upon yourself to investigate the trainer before enrolling in a class. Below are a few good questions to ask before beginning the enrollment process:

• How many years experience do you have as a trainer?
• How were you educated to become a trainer?
• What type of training methods do you use?
• Always ask for references from previous clients that have completed the class.

Which class format is best?

Group classes allow the dogs to interact with other dogs, and help train them to respond to their owners even when there are other distractions.  It also helps them to accept being handled by other people besides their owners.  Self-help training, private lessons, and one-dog lessons that exclude the owner do not provide these important advantages.  Another disadvantage of dog-only lessons is that the dog may only respond to the trainer and may not transfer his/her learned behaviors to you and your family.

If at all possible, all family members should be participants in the dog’s training.  Developing bonds between your canine and your self/family is the basis of the entire human-canine relationship.

What should I seek in a group class?

One of the most important factors to find out before signing up for a dog training class is whether you can observe the class. When observing, watch for the following:

• Is your dog praised often?
• Are commands given in positive or negative tones?
• Are lesson handouts available?
• Is other information available on topics such as dog grooming, problem solving, etc.?
• Does the trainer use a variety of methods for training?
• Before enrolling, is proof of vaccinations required?
• Are the participants as well as the canines enjoying themselves?
• Are owners and dogs actively encouraged to participate with each other?
• Is the size of the class too big, limiting individual attention?
• Do they separate puppy classes from adult dog classes?
• Are there different class levels such as beginner, intermediate, and advanced?
• Are training and equipment methods humane?

How much does training cost?

Depending on the type of training you desire and where you live, training costs range from $30-$65 per hour for private lessons and may start at $75 for several weeks of group sessions.  Some animal shelters offer subsidized training programs that may range from $30 to $95, depending on whether you adopted your dog from that shelter and the number of sessions held in the program.

What’s the best age for training?

It is best to train your canine companion during their puppy stages, but older dogs can learn new tricks too!  Dogs between 8 and 16 weeks should be enrolled in puppy classes.  Adulthood classes are appropriate for dogs over six months of age.

After choosing a training program:

• Take a trip to your veterinarian and have a check-up done. It’s important that your dog is free from parasites and up-to-date on all vaccinations before beginning training.
• Try not to feed your dog a large meal before class. Trainers rely on treats and food to encourage a desired behavior.
• Purchase and bring the necessary training equipment recommended by the trainer, if any.
• Practice what was learned before each class and always end on a positive note with a treat or reward.

Enrolling and participating in a dog training class will not only help your pooch become well-behaved but will also make for a safer member of your community.