How to remove tips

Doing a daily tick check on you and your dog is important if you spend time outside with your dog in areas where ticks like to hang out,

If you find a tick on your dog, don't panic! Follow these quick and easy steps to safely remove the tick.

Step 1: Get Your Gear
Have a pair of gloves, a clean pair of tweezers, some antiseptic and isopropyl alcohol on hand.

Step 2: Check For Ticks
If you feel a bump or swelled area, check to see if a tick has burrowed there. Ticks can be black, brown or tan, and they have eight legs. They can also be tiny—some are only as large as the head of a pin—so look carefully.

Step 3: Remove the Tick
You'll need to wear gloves while removing the tick to avoid contact (ticks can transmit disease). Grasp the tick as close to your dog’s skin as possible, but be gentle! Be sure not to pinch your dog’s skin. Pull outward in a straight, steady motion, making sure that you’ve removed the entire tick, as anything left behind could lead to an infection.

Step 4: Flush It Away
To make sure that the tick is gone for good, flush it down the toilet.

Step 5: Praise Your Patient
Clean your dog's skin with antiseptic and make sure to clean your tweezers with isopropyl alcohol. Wash your hands, too! Then give your pup a treat for being a trooper in the fight against ticks.

Follow Up
Keep an eye on the area where the tick was to see if any infections surface. If the skin remains irritated or infected, make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Dog Behaviour Tipsheet

Your dog provides you with love and companionship, but chances are he also provides you with some unpleasant surprises from time to time—a mess on the carpet or a slobbery pair of slippers, for example. While dogs seem to offer their people love and friendship almost immediately, learning how to live by the rules of a human household does not always come so easily.

Maybe your puppy hasn't grasped the concept of housetraining quite yet, or perhaps your dog doesn't understand why jumping the fence isn't an approved activity. Whatever "issues" you or your pet may have, we have information that can help you address them. Our tip sheets are designed to empower pet caregivers to solve the problems that threaten their relationships with their companion animals.

Solving your dog's behavior problems may take a renewed commitment on your part, but it can be done. And it's worth it. After all, research shows that most dogs and cats are relinquished to animal shelters—or otherwise given up—because of common behavior problems their families didn't know how to solve.

Don't let challenges threaten the bonds you have with your faithful canine companion. With some effort and patience, and the advice on these tip sheets, you can address problem behaviors and keep your dog where he or she belongs—with you.

Caring For Your Dog

Your dog gives you a lifetime of unconditional love, loyalty, and friendship. In return, she counts on you to provide her with food, water, safe shelter, regular veterinary care, exercise, companionship, and more. Take care of these ten essentials, and you'll be guaranteed to develop a rewarding relationship with your canine companion.

Outfit your dog with a collar and ID tag that includes your name, address, and telephone number. No matter how careful you are, there's a chance your companion may become lost—an ID tag greatly increases the chance that your pet will be returned home safely.

Follow this simple rule—off property, on leash. Even a dog with a valid license, rabies tag, and ID tag should not be allowed to roam outside of your home or fenced yard. It is best for you, your community, and your dog to keep your pet under control at all times.
Give your dog proper shelter. A fenced yard with a doghouse is a bonus, especially for large and active dogs; however, dogs should never be left outside alone or for extended periods of time. Dogs need and crave companionship and should spend most of their time inside with their family.

Take your dog to the veterinarian for regular check-ups.

Spay or neuter your dog. Dogs who have this routine surgery tend to live longer, be healthier, and have fewer behavior problems (e.g., biting, running away).

Give your pooch a nutritionally balanced diet, including constant access to fresh water. Ask your veterinarian for advice on what and how often to feed your pet.

Enroll your dog in a training class. Positive training will allow you to control your companion's behavior safely and humanely, and the experience offers a terrific opportunity to enhance the bond you share with your dog.

Give your dog enough exercise to keep him physically fit (but not exhausted). Most dog owners find that playing with their canine companion, along with walking him twice a day, provides sufficient exercise. If you have questions about the level of exercise appropriate for your dog, consult your veterinarian.

Be loyal to and patient with your faithful companion. Make sure the expectations you have of your dog are reasonable and remember that the vast majority of behavior problems can be solved