Sabtu, 23 Agustus 2008

Siberian Husky Grooming

Siberian Grooming 101 or "shedding survival guide
for new husky owners" by Janet Elliott


This article is intended to provide some useful information for new Siberian owners who may not have had experience with a shedding husky before. Hopefully there will be some tips that others will also find useful.

Spring is a good time to talk about grooming as most of our beautiful Siberians are blowing coat. This is the time of year when we husky owners become more bonded to our vacuum cleaners than we are to our children and spouse.


The Siberian Husky Coat
Nordic breeds have a double coat, a soft undercoat and an outer coat known as guard hairs. The double coat insulates them from heat and cold, which is why they should never be shaved, even in the hottest climates. Twice a year the new guard coat coming in and pushes the undercoat out resulting in profuse shedding or “blowing coat”.

The addition of supplements containing omega three fatty acids along with other health benefits, helps reduce shedding and improve coat condition. Linseed oil or fish oil capsules can be purchased at Wal-Mart for under $10.00/ 120 capsules.

Why Groom?
Besides cutting down on the household “dust bunnies” there are many good reasons to schedule regular grooming sessions with your dog. As well as a good “bonding” time, it helps your dog become accustomed to being handled all over. This will make your dog more comfortable during visits to the vet. Grooming also helps stimulate the natural oils in your dog’s coat. Grooming is an opportunity for regular inspection for any parasites, lumps, skin problems, ear problems etc. that can become serious if undetected for long periods.

Grooming Equipment
Prior to bathing you should brush out as much of the loose hair as possible with a shed blade and or a coat rake (see below). Other tools to assemble for grooming can include a metal comb, rubber curry brush, spray bottle filled with water and a little conditioner and pin brush. One manufacturer, http://www.theuntangler.com, makes a good line of combs and rakes that have rotating teeth that remove tangles easily. A blower/dryer is an invaluable tool and well worth the investment. A grooming table, although not necessary, is a great back saver. Keep grooming sessions short and fun for your dog until he/she is comfortable with the process. I have found that a little peanut butter smeared on the top of the arm of the grooming table helps develop a good attitude towards grooming.

Brushing/Raking
The shed blade can be used to remove big clumps of loose hair. Then start at the head brushing against the lay of the coat, lay your hand below the coat rake and pull a little hair at a time up from under your hand and continue working toward the back of the dog. While brushing spray a fine mist of water mixed with a little conditioner to help loosen tangles and prevent breakage. Some of the main and tail detangler products for horses work great on the dogs. A seam ripper can be a useful tool in getting burrs out of the coat.

Removing Ticks
If you should discover a tick on your dog there are several methods that can be used for removal. One is to use forceps, don’t squeeze, to gently lift the tick up and out, taking care not to leave the head in the dog. Another good method that eliminates a chance of leaving part of the tick in the dog is to cover the tick completely with Vaseline and pull him off with the forceps when he comes up to breathe. After the tick is removed wash the area with alcohol swab or antibacterial soap.

Bathing
Too frequent bathing will dry your dog’s coat of natural oils but bathing with warm water during shedding periods will help loosen up the undercoat. After brushing, bathe the dog in warm water using a good quality dog shampoo. Human shampoo is too harsh although, in a pinch, you can use baby shampoo. Choose a shampoo that is appropriate for your dog’s coat. There are a wide variety of shampoos available including ones for dry itchy skin, sensitive skin, antibacterial, tea tree oil shampoos, and whitening shampoo for white or light colored dogs. Wet the dog thoroughly and don’t be stingy on the shampoo. Using a rubber curry brush is a huge help in loosening up hair and dirt. The most important step is rinsing, rinsing and rinsing again. Then towel dry as much as possible and finish with the dryer. Shampoo left on the coat or not thoroughly drying your dog can lead to hot spots. Conditioners with sunscreen are available for dogs with coats that are prone to sunburn. This helps red dogs keep a richer color and helps prevent black dogs from getting that red tinge to the guard hairs.


Hot Spots
Hot spots can become very serious. They start out as small breaks in the upper dermal layers. The bacteria begins to spread both sideways and deeper into underlying layers of skin. Left untreated, it grows from the size of a pinpoint to the size of a quarter in less than couple of hours and without intervention, up to two inches in diameter in less than 12 hours. The first thing to do when you notice a hot spot is to disinfect with hydrogen peroxide. A spray containing gentian violet is an effective treatment. Some people use Desenex Foot Spray to kill bacteria and keep the area dry. The most successful treatment I have found is coating the area with tee tree oil. Tea tree oil has antibacterial and anti fungal properties. You can buy Tea Tree oil shampoo at your pet store or buy the pure oil at Wal-Mart, KMart, and Targets. Dogs don’t like the taste so it stops the chewing. A hot spot treated with Tea Tree oil usually clears up and has new hair growth in about 10 days or less.

Nail Trimming
Nail trimming will go a lot easier if you handle your dog’s feet often. Nail clippers come in a few styles. Plier styles often comes with a safety to prevent cutting to deeply. I prefer a guillotine style with surgical steel blades. Be sure to keep some “quick stop” or something similar to stop bleeding if you do cut to far. Many people prefer to use a cordless Dremel tool to file the nails. This method works great but, some dogs don’t like the noise. Reward the dog with treats after each foot or if he is very upset by the procedure reward after each nail and only do a few at a time until he is more comfortable with the process. Peanut butter or another person standing by with treats can be a big help.

Ears
Ear cleaning can be done with a cotton ball soaked with mineral oil, which is also good for eliminating mites. A good homemade ear wash solution is:

5 tsp. boric acid powder

2 1/2 cups water

1 1/2 cups white vinegar

Mix and pour into a squeeze bottle.

Skunked?
If your dog has been skunked this is the best solution I know of to eliminate the odor.

1 quart 3% hydrogen peroxide

1/4 cup baking soda

1 tsp liquid soap

Bathe pet in solution and use a tap water rinse. Do not bottle it or try to save it.

Sabtu, 17 November 2007

Dog of North

The Chukchi tribe of the vast expanses in the northern Siberia was the nomadic tribe that livestock Siberian Husky dogs. The tribe is well known for their outstanding ability to reproduce these dogs fine in 3000 years. They were a people who lived inland and hunted along the shoreline and coastal they used dogs to retreat to the game, many times over very long distances. Their dogs were high and purely selective and, consequently, the Siberian Husky today is very directly descended from the original dogs belonging to the tribe of Chukotka.

The dog was little known in the United States or Europe until the first "Alaska Sweepstakes" (later known as the Iditarod) was implemented and a team of Siberian huskies won. Thereafter expeditions to the North Pole, Siberia is also a major player. This beautiful and intelligent race has become a favorite Russian explorers and has been widely used throughout Siberia. For many years he was known as the "Chukchi" dog, but in the United States as "Siberian Husky" was invented in Britain, while the same race is often called the "Arctic Husky ".

The Siberian Husky is a beautiful dog. The eyes are almond-shaped and slightly tilted, the skull is clean and refined, with very soft bristled well erect ears loans intelligent and alert look in the head. Often, it is really a mask, and sometimes the eyes are a pale blue or golden yellow in color. The coat is soft and densely hairy and can be of any color, usually very marked symmetrically. It is a dog of medium size, classified as a "working dog" with great endurance and speed is the main feature of the race. Because of its close association with the Chukchi tribe, is seen as a "family member", it is very people-oriented and dog did not as strong a "pack mentality", as for example the Alaskan Malamute and husky some of the other breeds that have been bred to pull a game exclusively.

The Siberian Husky entry of the American Kennel Club registry in 1930 and its popularity has grown beyond that of being just a Dog Show. It is widely used as a Therapy Dog, doing well in obedience and agility and is also, of course, still used as a running dog sled. The Sibe "as he is affectionately called, is a nice and friendly dog completely, fairly easy to train and eager to please. By temperament, he is not aggressive to other dogs and people. It is relatively easy for the bride, even though it has a thick coat, it is not excessively long and is easy to maintain because it is rare for mats and fully tested. In addition to all this, it is healthy breeds that has very little genetic abnormalities or hereditary problems. It is an adaptable dog, but certainly need lots of exercise, because it was bred to be a working dog and should be kept busy or he will find something to occupy himself. It is above all a "simple custodial" and a happy companion dog who likes to work for his master.

Minggu, 11 November 2007

Handling Dog Skin Allergies

Take note of your dog skin problems

It was under their beautiful fur coats that the world of uncomfortable and even painful skin diseases are often lurking. Dogs skin problems can be an indication of a more serious and even life-threatening condition.

Some of the most dog skin problems are dry skin, usually indicated by the appearance of "dandruff" or excessive shedding, various fungal infections, mite irritation, scabies, and rashes that may be the result of the season , environmental or food allergies. Other problems include dog skin tumors, seborrhea skin diseases, melanoma and infected wounds.

The fact is that many of these conditions are completely treatable and often preventable. Identifying the cause and prevent skin problems dog is a responsibility that comes with the role of owning a dog. However, as an animal-loving guardian, adequate care and treatment of an animal is a legal obligation.

The Food and seasonal allergies dog


Some of the most preventable dog skin problems are caused by allergic dogs. Dog allergies may be the result of seasonal conditions, environmental factors or symptoms of food allergies. Many dog owners are surprised to learn that food allergies are not always related to food or a new regime. A dog can develop intolerance to foods they have eaten for years.

This is not a rare event for a dog to develop a food allergy when their immune system can be compromised. Adding a digestive enzyme to a dog's daily ration of a premium all natural foods several times is all that is necessary to heal the skin. Dog food allergies are often an intolerance to abnormal additives and preservatives.

Dog seasonal allergies can include parasites allergies. The chips are, for example, quite uncomfortable for a dog, but some dogs are particularly sensitive to flea bites. Although chips can be present at any time during the year, the hot, dry summer, when conditions are the worst. Other possible seasonal allergies are irritating pollens in the spring and mites. Rural dogs are at risk of developing other seasonal allergies where crop dusting occurs, or if other chemicals are used around the farm or surrounding properties.

If your dog is uncomfortable and too chewing and biting his legs and the back, scratching himself badly, or shows any signs or symptoms at all boring of a skin condition, please seek the advice of an veterinarian immediately.

Prevention is better than cure, the best premium all natural diet is the first weapon against skin problems dog and dog allergies. Dog owners must regularly check their dog skin and the feeling of any cuts, bumps and other skin diseases.

Selasa, 06 November 2007

Husky is in Working dog Group

As you begin your search for a dog, you are probably asking yourself, "What type of dog would be best for me?" Dogs come in many different sizes, colors, coats, and personalities. Start your dog ownership off on the right foot by doing your research before you settle on a breed.
Siberian huskies is submitted into working group dog. The breeds in this group were bred to help man. Their jobs range from rescue to sledding and guarding. They are intelligent, learn quickly, and make good companions. However, most of them are very large, strong dogs and they may not be suitable for families with young children. Proper training is very important with these breeds. Among the breeds are sled dogs like the Siberian Husky and Samoyed; draft dogs that were bred to pull heavy loads like the Bernese Mountain Dog; guard dogs including the Bullmastiff, Rottweiler and Akita; and rescue/water dogs such as the Newfoundland and Saint Bernard.

Jumat, 02 November 2007

Start to Train Your Husky in 5 Steps

In training Siberian Husky, you will require a lot of persistence and patience. Husky are easily bored with repeated tasks. They will only follow as long as the task is more interesting. Siberian husky is not your "do-anything-what-you-ask" dog, if you want the dog like that type, you have got the wrong breed.
Although siberian husky known as high rated breed dog, sometimes they also have some bad habits, like wander off and steal food after digging a hole under the fence. The digging instinct is strong and that, together with a need for exercise and a natural curiosity, often leads them into mischief. You will need a strong, well sunk fence if you want to keep your Siberian Husky at home. They have a strong desire to run, so should never be left to run free without a leash, for their own safety. They can forget where home is and just run forever.

How to train a Siberian Husky is therefore a more subtle art. You cannot force them. You must manipulate them so they see you as their leader, their inspiration. The trick is teach them to perceive you as more important than them, without them knowing. The following is a sample of some everyday things you can do to achieve this.

Here are some tips and tricks for training your Siberian Husky:

1. Start training your husky puppy with his name. Instruct all tasks begin with your husky's name then followed by the command.

2. Let he/she know that you are the leader. When you play with your Siberian Husky, make sure you end up with possession of the object. Go through doors and passageways before your dog. Rite of passage is important to dogs. Don't allow your husky to sleep on the bed with you, at least not until you have trained him. You don't want him to perceive that he is your equal. If your dog is blocking your path, don't go around him - make him move out of your way instead.

3. You need to get your husky used to having your hands around his food bowl. Start by adding tasty treats while he is eating, then get to the point where you can remove the bowl while he is eating to add the treats.

4.You want to get your dog used to seeing you as dominant, but under conditions of trust. Gently put him down on his side or back and touch his ears, paws and so forth and give him a massage to make it enjoyable for him.

5. use a harness instead of a collar and chain for your husky. Animals attack at the throat and jugular, so if you are trying to train a Siberian Husky by tugging on his neck, he will be too preoccupied with a sense of alarm and danger, to obey you.

The above are good starting points for becoming your husky's friend and still, there are a lot more tips for training your husky. Just remember that security and trust are important to a dog whatever their breed, so involves these in your training

Jumat, 26 Oktober 2007

DO and DONT about Siberian Husky

Few other dog breeds are so seemingly surprising that the Siberian Husky. Their sweet temperament and playful nature make great family pets, you can give them the exercise and companionship they need. They are a unique breed with their endurance, and the test of double layers, protect their skin from the extremes of temperature in the cold or hot conditions. Well known for their remarkable blue eyes, and not all dogs have that color, some are brown or both eyes, one blue, one brown. As the proud owner of six of the race, here are a few things that I learned from both research and experience.

Do


* Getting a companion for your Siberian husky if possible. Siberians are pack dogs and bored easily. They do not like to be left alone. If you do, you can find big holes dug in the garden when you return home as Siberians can be very destructive when bored. If you are presenting the pet to another when they have a better chance of adapting when puppy in hood. They managed to mix with cats and other dogs present you young. Our six Siberians live in peace and relative harmony with four cats.

* Fence firmly in your court, so that the foundations are deep and the barrier is too high for them to jump over. Huskies are enthusiastic shovels and world-class and are excellent jumpers escape artists. In addition, their favorite pastime in the garden seems to be digging in their bowls of water!

* Make sure your exercise is quite raspy. As they work Siberians dogs are not a good way to low energy consumption of households. However, if you have a companion dogs they like to play "tag" with each other and often by themselves bring revolves around your garden, if it is large enough.

* Invest time and patience in training. Siberians are very intelligent dogs, but also voluntary. They can not do anything unless they see the reasons for doing so, not just to please their owners.

* Keep them on a leash at all times outside in an open area. Like many owners Sibe know their cost, as Huskies to launch and run, and lose all sense of reality. Unfortunately, many huskies are lost or injured because of this single mind, as when they realize they have outrun their owners or are too far from home, it is too late. Worse still, they could find themselves running in the path of a car.

* Get checked regularly for dysplasia of the hip around 6 years and older. While race does not have a wide range of documented health problems they are prone to dysplasia of the hip, especially if they do not have high levels of fat and protein in their diet. The lifespan of a husky is usually 12-15 years. So they are deemed to withstand the coldest temperatures, double layer also offers them the protection of the skin from the sun in warmer climates, but with their very dense coat, you can find your favorite position Husky is sitting in front the unit air-conditioning, Prone on his back with all four paws in the air!

* If, like me, you live in a developing country (or region), not Western standards of veterinary care then check very carefully with regard to the type of anesthesia to give your Sibe. Get your veterinarian to do a test if necessary. It is possible that severe reactions can occur in Huskies if not given the equivalent of anesthesia - I speak from experience here. Fortunately I had read about the dangers from the outset and in order to avoid being neutral, as the type of anesthesia was not available. However, there came a time when one of my Huskies need for immediate surgery for a situation of life and death and I almost lost because of his bad reaction to anesthesia. His whole face and body swollen and require urgent attention. I now live in a region where the good quality types (human) is available local anesthesia and the veterinarian understands the vagaries of race; So all have since been sterilized without any problems.

Do not

* Getting a Husky if you want a watchdog. With their kind, they are affectionate friendly to everyone, even strangers. They are big "guardians", she will see a thief to come in your house and greet with enthusiasm, then watch them leave your TV, computer, etc., giving them a friendly lick send them on their way!

* Worry too grooming. They are pretty low maintenance, which requires a minimum of brushing daily. But twice a year, they shed profusely, and then they need more care.

* Expect your Husky to bark. Instead, they have a great ability to speak, wooing screaming and yodelling and can make complete sentences at the interaction with their owners and to begin play. These dogs are real talkers, you never know what sounds they will make next, and seem to have more and more vocabulary as the years go by. Some mines are now able to complete sentences, talking about the weather and as such!

* Overfeed them. Siberians are saving (and picky) eaters and therefore do not require as much food as you would think. Because of their sensitive digestive system (remember they are sled dogs), they can better with fish and meat products white rather than red meat. They also need fish oil in their diet, maintain a healthy coat and nails. This could be in the form of sardines or more dry food and veterinary supplements containing Omega-3 today.

Selasa, 18 September 2007

4 Main Races of Husky

The huskies or dogs Scandinavian are composed of four races:

Samoyède
With its long white hairs, it is originating in the north of Russia (tribe of Samoyèdes).
It was used since 1893 by forwardings polar of Norwegian Fridjof Nansen.

The Greenlander
He is still used in Greenland by Inuits, he is very enduring and more reliable than a motor bike snows.


Malamute
IT is largest and heaviest of the Scandinavian dogs. It has a remarkable capacity to tractor draw heavy loads. It holds its name of the tribe of Malhmuts which lived in Alaska.

Sibérian Husky

IT is most known of the Scandinavian dogs and approaches more of the wolf. It is originating in the tribe of Tchouktches in Siberia. It has a great capacity to tractor draw average charges at very long distances.
“Siberian Husky is a dog of work, selected to draw a light load at speed moderate on long distances. This long-distance runner nimble, powerful and is equipped with an enormous load-carrying capacity. It is a worker full with goodwill, a soft, waked up and sociable companion. Forged by the hard conditions of the Arctic, Siberian Husky has a very good memory and an excellent direction of the orientation. Of an above-average intelligence, it is able to take initiatives. Dog of pack, Husky needs hierarchical rules. In fact, it is the Master who must play the part of chief of pack, dominating, honest and especially without fault. ”. Thus Marie Luce Hubert and Jean-Louis Klein in their book define it:
“my dog, Siberian Husky”. Very many books were devoted to Huskies but this one is, in my opinion, one of best (food, health, raising, breeding,… etc suitable for Siberian Husky).

Alaskan Husky
IT is not a pedigree dog. It is the result of crossings between Siberian Husky and the dogs of the greyhound type or setters for their quality of speed. It is before a whole sprinter whereas Siberian Husky is more one long-distance runner.



Note:
Siberian Husky seems more “to be with the mode”, and it is very well as follows: enough to see these animals living in centre town, locked up all the day in apartment and which one finds with the SPA. One can completely live in apartment that was my case before having a house with ground, but that does not want to say that the dog made “of the settee” all the day and must corrode the feet of table to occupy itself… If one decides to have a husky, it is better to have already an active and sporting life. Siberian Husky requires that one deals with him because there does not like to remain all alone and with need to be spent physically regularly. You are not obliged to make mountain the every day or of going to Canada!!! but one strolls daily and an excursion on average mountain or in the countryside the weekend is already a super program for your companion. Many possibilities are thus offered to you: VTT, excursion, rackets with snow, ski touring, pulka, race with foot, rollers and other mountain activities like the alpinism and the ski touring.