Yorkies and Labs

As anybody can run a dog training class – Do you know if your dog trainer is qualified?

Are they registered with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers or similar?
The APDT, UK are proud of the fact that they assess all members according to a strict criteria which ensures they have appropriate skills to teach dog training. They are required to keep their education up to date, and adhere to a Code of Practice. If any member is found to be in contravention of this Code then their membership is withdrawn.

http://www.apdt.co.uk/

I use the facilities of a so called "centre of excellence" to train my dogs myself. However I think that it is vital to socialise my dogs, consequently I have also taken them to classes throughout their lives.

The centre that I use has a limited amount of experienced trainers, they need other people to take up the slack. To enable them to do this, their kennel and office staff go to one day and on-line courses to gain qualifications and then they take classes.

When inexperienced owners have a new puppy, it is difficult to establish which classes that they should attend. My advice is that they should sit in on several classes before they decide.

Although the Asker says that trainers should be registered with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers or similar, I have always opted for trainers that have a wealth of experience and with a proven track record. Nevertheless if they are registered this is a bonus.

I have no qualifications, however I take pupils FOC. At the outset, the pupils are told that I have no qualifications. Unfortunately I failed with one of them, she could not decide which end of the dog to lure or treat. Afterwards she hired a hall and now charges to train dogs.
Beware anyone can run a training class.
EDIT. I think that this Asker was warning new and inexperienced dog owners. Any idiot can run a training class, however if they go to a qualified trainer who has a vast experience of training, it helps.

We change the water daily to try to keep it clean but I worry that there may be something dangerous to the dog’s health from drinking water with potential bird poop in it. Any experience with this?

There is a possibility of getting Coccidia from ingesting bird poop.

i have a dog, she’s about 3 years old now, and sadly she was never trained. she understands sit, but only sometimes does it. she pulls on the leash, constantly tries to run away, jumps up on everyone, and if i took her off the leash in public she would never come back.

any ideas of a training video or website i could use to spare myself the $125 on a class?

I do agree with the others who have said that PROFESSIONAL training is worth every penny (not Pet Smart).

But I can tell you this with confidence: buy some training books. If you are a good reader with comprehensive skills and the patience to train your dog yourself (it is a great bonding experience) it is highly likely that you and your dog will be successful. Here is a link to dog training reviews.

http://tiny.cc/trainingdog

Please remember that no matter which route you choose, you need to be consistent at all times and dedicated to training. It won’t happen overnight.

I’m looking into buying a dog and checking out different pet health insurance agencies. Is it worth it? How much does it usually cost for a healthy puppy/dog?

When you first get a dog, you will probably be told by several people that you need to buy dog pet insurance. However you may not be at all clear as to exactly why you need it, especially if you haven’t owned a dog before and are aware of the situation. The cost varies with the type of dog and the age, shop around but i know my dog insurance policy has had a battering in the last two years and they paid out over two thousand pounds , thank god for my policy! LOL

If there is one reason for having dog pet insurance that you had already thought of, it is probably health insurance. That is, insurance to cover your vet’s bills if your dog is sick, or injured in an accident. It’s most unlikely that your dog will go through his whole life without a single disease or injury, and nowadays just one treatment can cost literally thousands of pounds. Dog pet insurance policies vary enormously as to what level of cover they provide for vet treatment, so you need to compare them carefully and see what best meets your needs.

However, there are several other reasons why it is important to take out dog pet insurance. Some of these may not have occurred to you if you haven’t had a dog before.

? If your dog causes a motor accident, for instance by running out into the road, you will need insurance to cover you for legal advice and compensation payment. You are responsible for what your dog does, so the other party will sue you. If a serious injury is involved, the compensation could be huge.

? Similarly, you can be sued if your dog bites someone, e.g. a postal or other delivery worker, or a neighbour. Of course, you need to keep your dog under control and train him not to bite people, as it would also result in him being put down.

? If you have to be hospitalised and there is nobody to care for your dog, your dog pet insurance can pay for boarding kennels (if you have a policy that specifically includes this). The policy won’t pay for putting your dog into kennels while you go on holiday! However, if you have booked a holiday and your dog is sick or injured at the last minute, preventing you from going, you can have a policy that covers the cost of cancelling your holiday.

? If your dog is lost or stolen, dog pet insurance can pay for advertising and rewards. Some policies will also cover replacement – some will even pay for bereavement counselling!

? If your dog is hard to control, is disobedient or has other behaviour problems, a dog pet insurance policy can pay for advice and help from a dog training expert or a dog behaviour therapist.

Of course, many of these things may never happen – and you certainly hope they won’t. But sometimes they do, and it’s a good idea to consider right at the outset how you would cope if any of these things did happen. There are a number of good reasons for having dog pet insurance, but the most important one of all is – peace of mind.

In August we are moving to Korea to be with my Husband on a command sponsored tour, Do we need to obtain a health certificate for our dog? And do we have to pay for the dogs travel?
Thanks Dina, that site was very helpful! But on the travel expense of our pet, doesnt the military provide the travel expenses just not the care expense?

Yes, you will need to obtain a USDA/APHIS United States Interstate an International Certificate of Health Examination for Small Animals (APHIS Form 7001). The form isn’t available online for download as it is in sextuplicate and the forms are numbered. It is only good for 10 days from the date stamped. You will also need a current rabies certificate. The rabies shot must be given more than 30 days before entering the country, but less than a year; South Korea does not recognize 3 year rabies certificates.

Not all vets (in the US) are USDA accredited to use the USDA form (APHIS Form 7001). You will need to call your vet to specifically ask about authorization. They will have a letter of authorization from the Area Veterinarian in Charge for that specific State. Your other option is to call the office of the Veterinary Services Area Veterinarian in Charge or the office of the State Veterinarian in your State to verify if a specific veterinarian is accredited or to obtain a list of accredited veterinarians in your area. The list is available at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/downloads/vsavic.pdf

The offices listed in the .pdf are where you then need to take or mail the form to get the actual seal affixed. If you are military, base vets are all accredited and most states allow them to possess/use the seal (which will save you a trip to the USDA office).

Current endorsement fees are $35.00 for the first animal and $6.25 for each additional animal listed on the form. Fees are scheduled to increase October 1, 2010. Fee info is near the bottom of the page. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/fmd/vs_import_export_fees.shtml#13020

They do also list the cost of endorsement fees if you need them signed outside of normal business hours (after hours/weekends/holidays). It also has the fee schedule for those going to England/EU/Japan or any country that requires a FAVN.

As for travel costs, no, the military will not pay for their travel and you should be aware that it is generally 2-3X more expensive to ship animals back to the US. You can, however, deduct them on your income taxes as part of moving expenses.

Most of the airlines have heat embargoes in effect for checked baggage and cargo pets from June through September as the temps will be above 85 degrees. Additionally, most of the Asian airlines (including KAL) will not accept the pet as checked baggage if the total weight of the dog (in the crate) is 70 pounds or more; it will have to go as cargo (which means additional fees will be collected at the quarantine office at ICN as well as being more expensive than checked baggage fees).

As long as your dog’s rabies vax is within the stated time frame, the animal will not be quarantined. The same basically applies to animals going back to the US from Korea, except that instead of the APHIS form, you will get the Korean version.

If you are flying over with the MM, you will need to make arrangements at one of the base kennels as base lodging (like the Dragon Hill Lodge at Yongsan) do not allow pets. You should also be aware that some base housing is no-pets which means you will have to request a waiver to live off post.

I have a bichon that has knee problems and I have talked to my vet a little bit about it. She told me to try joint health dog food. But, I’m not sure what is the best kind out there. I know I should just call my vet, but, I’m worried she’d just sell me what they have in the office and I know that it is really expensive.

You, like me are concerned about vets and their motives. A large % of vets are more concerned with profits than the welfare of our dogs. Read the rest of this entry »