A dog truly is a person’s best friend. We invest in their lives, find emotional comfort and relationship with our furry friends, and develop deep connections. Because of this, when we are happy, our dogs are happy, and when our dogs are happy, so are we. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Sometimes our furry friends struggle, and these struggles cannot only bring down our pets, but can affect us as well. We want to see our pets happy, we don’t want to watch them be in pain, be stressed, or even be anxious. 

While it might surprise you, giving your dog CBD can actually be an effective way to help your best friend through difficult times, injuries, or old age.

CBD, not THC

First and foremost, we are not saying to give your dog marijuana. In fact, THC can actually make your dog very sick. It is important to distinguish that while both THC and CBD come from the cannabis plant, they are different things. THC causes a reaction in humans that many of us are familiar with—whether first hand or second hand—that is known as “getting high.” CBD, however, another production of the cannabis plant, can help reduce inflammation, help to cope with stress, and improve sleep habits in humans.

While humans can tolerate both CBD and THC, your pets can only tolerate CBD, so ensure to find a healthy dose if you are considering giving your dog CBD.

Why Should I Give my Dog CBD?

There are a number of reasons why you may be considering giving your dog CBD. Obviously, this is not something that you just give your furry friend regularly for no reason. Giving your dog CBD is with the desire of improving their quality of life. 

Many dogs suffer from stress, anxiety, attachment disorders, pain, and arthritis, and CBD can be used to remedy this. 

Especially if you have a former stray, or abused pet, your dog may struggle with attachment anxiety, and stress caused by sounds or certain settings. CBD can be a great tool for helping your pet to move through anxiety symptoms, and even develop new neuropathways to assist it in healing from past mental wounds. This type of treatment should be done carefully, and notably, but may help improve your pet’s emotional ability and significantly reduce their day-to-day stress levels.

Another reason for administering CBD to your dog can be a post-injury scenario. Many dogs when injured, whether through an accident, or through a skin condition (such as fleas and ticks) have a habit of reopening wounds by biting or scratching the effected area. CBD has a significant effect of calming itches and the desire to itch for dogs. Giving your healing dog CBD can help ensure that it heals quickly, and does so without further aggravating or reopening their wounds.

Lastly, arthritis and old age are two things that we struggle watching our pets deal with.  This type of pain that comes with older joints and age can make your dog less lively, and in some cases less happy. CBD is a great tool for reducing inflammation, and mildly assisting pain reduction. Giving your arthritis-affected, or older dog CBD treats can help to treat their ailments.

How Do I Give My Dog CBD?

First and foremost, you should never give your dog a CBD supplement made for humans. The human endocannabinoid system allows us to process cannabinoids (such as CBD and THC) in a specific way. Dogs also have an endocannabinoid system, but just like other nutritions and supplements, they process cannabinoids at a different level than humans. If you administer a dose of CBD to a dog that you would give yourself, you may get your dog sick. Thus, ensure that you acquire a dog-directed CBD supplement for your pet.

Additionally, you will want a CBD treat that is paired with other compounds to help your dog best ingest, and best enjoy their CBD supplement. 

At this point, schedule a treatment plan for your pet, and keep a notebook of their treatment. It is important that you document any changes to their behavior, and that you can accurately decide when to, and when not to give your dog CBD, as well as how it is affecting their condition.

Where Can I Get CBD for my Dog?

There are a few places to get a CBD treat for your dog. ElleVet has a researched and backed CBD + CBDA product that has been clinically tested, and is tailor made for your pet. In addition, they provide a plethora of scientific data and proof regarding the use and effectiveness of their pet CBD product. Once you have found the right product for your pet, make sure that you follow the instructions of the distributor or your vet.

AJay

hellonuzzle.com

According to data collected by the American Veterinary Medical Association, over 76,000,000 households in the U.S. have dogs. If you’re one of the millions of families who own a dog, you understand the importance of having a well-trained dog. 

If you aren’t sure how your pup measures up, this guide will describe some of the traits your dog should have. Keep reading to learn what they are. 

1. Your Dog Remains Focused 

A well-trained dog can stay focused on specific tasks. This is a dog who can take on a variety of responsibilities in any kind of setting without getting distracted.

This type of training is most often seen in a service dog. Service dogs are trained to help complete tasks that are difficult for their owners. 

2. Your Dog Doesn’t Struggle With Separation Anxiety

Another trait of a well-trained dog is one without separation anxiety. If you’ve ever done any pet sitting, you know some dogs struggle with breaking away from their family. 

You might notice separation anxiety with your dog. Even something as simple as going into another room sends your dog into a panic. 

Dogs who start getting training at an early age understand that their humans aren’t abandoning them and will do fine if left alone for some time. 

3. Your Dog Listens to Your Commands 

Another trait of a well-trained canine companion is following commands. If you only have to tell your dog once to come before he does, you have a well-trained and behaved pup. 

A well-trained dog learns and can remember all kinds of commands easily. This is usually the case with dogs who start training as puppies. Your dog should know how to sit and stay with simple hand gestures. 

4. Your Dog Adapts Well to Change 

Most dogs, especially as they start to age, have a hard time adapting to change. A well-trained pup will be able to manage any changes to his or her environment without becoming stressed or lethargic. 

Their ability to focus is what allows them to learn how to manage their owner’s needs in every new environment. 

5. Your Dog Does Well on a Leash

One of the most common problems dog owners face is leash pulling. An excited puppy will pull on their leash as they try to explore new scents as they walk. 

Dogs who started their training as puppies will let their owners guide them and will never try to walk far ahead of them. If your dog is struggling with pulling or any other behavioral issue, you might want to consider dog training. You can learn more about it and book a session right away.  

Work to Develop These Traits of a Well-Trained Dog

These are the top traits every well-trained dog should have. If your dog is struggling in any of these areas, you should consider training. 

Check out some of our other pet blogs if you found useful information in this one. 

AJay

hellonuzzle.com

In the US, around 85 million families have some sort of pet, which is two-thirds of the population! Having a furry companion is an excellent way to enrich your life. Plus, you can rescue furry creatures in need too.

Do you feel like you’re ready to add another member to your household? Then you need to make some preparations before you bring Fido home. Otherwise, they can get into trouble!

Keep reading for ways you can make your home pet safe before you introduce your new furry friends.

Store Away Toxic Substances

Pets are like babies; they’ll get into anything and everything! And when they do, they’ll want to taste whatever they find.

It’s vital that you store away all toxic substances, like medications and cleaners. Even if they’re not at ground level, you should lock these items away. You never know if your pet will jump up to where they’re not supposed to be!

Consider installing latches on your cabinets as well. Get trash cans with lids too, so they can’t get into these containers.

Remove Toxic Plants

Houseplants can really brighten up a place, but some aren’t great for pet safety. While looking at munchkin cats for adoption, you should also research all the plants you have.

You should give away those that are toxic to pets. If you can’t bear to part with your plants, at least put them high up where they’re impossible to reach. While you’re at it, place your fragile items out of reach as well.

Have the Right Flooring

If possible, ensure you have hardwood floors or tiles in your home.

In general, fabric flooring (such as carpet and rugs) is bad. Your energetic pets might trip on these things.

Also, they trap hair, bacteria, and biological waste from puppy accidents. This isn’t great for people with pet allergies, so do yourself a favor and breathe easier and clean up faster with non-fabric flooring.

Avoid Light-Colored Upholstery

Light-colored upholstery will stain easily, and when you have pets, your furniture will get ruined!

Keep your furniture looking newer for longer by going for darker colors. If you can’t afford to replace things, then at least get a dark-colored throw to protect your upholstery.

Make Your Yard Pet Friendly

Your pet won’t want to be cooped up all the time, so you need to make your yard fun and safe.

Ensure your fence is at an appropriate height and there are no loose boards. Remove toxic plants or consider installing an enclosure so you can confine your furry friends to a safe area.

Make the terrain safe by leveling it. Then add plenty of enrichment toys!

Ensure Your Home’s Pet Safe

Bringing home new pets is a huge responsibility. So take some time to ensure your home is as pet safe as possible. This will save you a lot of trouble and heartbreak!

Now you have a pet-friendly home, but there’s so much more to do to make your new pets feel comfortable. Read the rest of our blog page for more information!

AJay

hellonuzzle.com

When some people get a dog, they automatically find a dog trainer to make sure the dog is set up for success. Others plan on training their dog by themselves but come across an issue that needs professional help, such as anxiety or reactivity.

Picking a dog trainer that works for you is very important when this happens. However, with so many different trainers and styles, how do you pick the best one for you and your dog? 

You should bear all of these things in mind. 

1. Their Experience and Specialty

The first thing you’ll want to consider is their dog training experience. How long have they been in business? Are they used to working with the kind of dog you have?

Some dog trainers also specialize in certain issues such as reactivity, aggression, separation anxiety, etc. If this is a huge problem for you, you want to make sure that the dog trainer you chose is equipped to deal with it.

Pick a reputable trainer with plenty of experience such as k-9culture.com. 

2. Their Credentials

Anyone can create a website and call themselves a dog trainer. There’s nothing to regulate that.

With plenty of options for trainers available, you should pick someone who has credentials and client testimonials behind them. If the trainer can’t demonstrate anything that makes them seem reputable, it might be best to go with someone else. 

3. Their Style

There are many different styles of dog training. For the most part, you’ll want to look at trainers who believe in positive reinforcement. This has been proven to be the best method to teach dogs how to behave and maintain a strong bond with them.

There are also differences in location. Some people might offer in-home services, some might offer board and train, and some may even offer virtual sessions.

Which works best for you will depend on your situation.

4. Reviews

Reading online reviews is essential once you think you’ve found a trainer you like. Search for them and look to see if you can find any and if you can’t, ask if you can be put in touch with past clients.

You want to make sure they have a good reputation in the dog training community.

5. Fees

They don’t usually come cheap, but comparing trainer prices is important to make sure you can afford the services.

Don’t automatically go with the cheapest trainer, because they may be the cheapest for a reason! However, you should weigh the prices with every other factor and make a decision from there. 

Picking a Dog Trainer Can be Daunting

Picking a dog trainer can be a daunting task. You’ll be paying money for a service you want to improve you and your dog’s life, and you want to make sure they’ll treat your dog well.

Consider all of the above factors. Read online reviews, ask about their style, and see how your dog reacts to them! From there, you’ll be able to make the right decision.

For more dog advice and tips, check out the rest of our site. 

AJay

hellonuzzle.com

Ever been in line at the airport and had a dog walk by sniffing luggage with an office? You’ve encountered a sniffer dog. This might seem like an odd way to find drugs, but drug detection dogs are a great way to find drugs without unnecessary searches or tons of technical equipment.

You might find yourself wondering how that process even starts. A dog can learn to fetch, but sniffing out drugs is another task entirely. The process isn’t as complicated as you might expect, but it still works remarkably well.

The Dogs

Not all dogs make for the best sniffer dogs. There are different sniffer dog breeds that work well, but the list isn’t very long. While dogs, in general, have incredible senses of smell and are often trainable, those breeds that lean toward service and an aptitude for training are usually more likely to be selected.

The breeds selected to be sniffer dogs are often shepherds, German or Czech, boarder collies, labrador retrievers, or german shorthair pointers. There are a few more that do well, but generally athletic and task-oriented breeds work best. 

Training 

The training to actually become a drug-sniffing dog is not hard to understand. It doesn’t revolve around treats or an actual interest in drugs. The training begins with and continues to revolve around a toy. 

Trainers will play with a dog and establish a favorite toy, often a basic towel with no scent to associate with it. Then they will wrap up some cannabis or another substance in the towel so the dog will associate that toy with that scent. Then, when they want to play they will hunt down that towel, or that scent, as a signal that they have their toy. 

This process does take time and involves training for both the dog and the handler. The dog is rewarded with the training of proper procedures on how to behave when detecting that scent, as in some cases they may paw at it, but in the case of explosives detection that would be dangerous so they can’t touch it if they find it.

In the Field

Sniffer dog practice also entails going into different terrains to detect the scent and going to new places. Going into the field to find drugs is different than training, so it is important to make it as similar as possible.

There are companies that train and run narcotic detection programs and can detail how that process looks when called in. It can be different depending on the location and what the dogs are supposed to be looking for.

Super Sniffer Dogs

Using dogs for drug detection may not seem like the most reliable practice, but sniffer dogs do tremendously well and are happy to help. The training is safe and the dogs are not put at risk with exposure to drugs or anything that could harm them when getting the scent down. If you found this information interesting to learn about, keep reading for more animal facts.

AJay

hellonuzzle.com