Dog First Aid Kits are easy enough to create. First you need some kind of container to hold all the medicines, drugs and supplies in such as a tackle box, old lunch box or some other shoe box sized plastic container. It should be water-proof, strong enough to withstand mild pressure and have a clasp of some sort – but not locking.

Label it on all sides with a felt tip marker so that it is easy to read. Something such as “Dog First Aid Kit” or whatever just so you can easily know the difference between your human first aid kit (if you made it yourself as well) and this one for your dog(s) and puppy (s).

Under the lid of your dog first aid kit would be a great place to tape an index card which contains the numbers of your local veterinarian, poison control, and other canine emergency numbers for your dogs (emergency vet, etc).

It would also be a good place to list a description of your dog(s) including color, weight, name, health issues, distinguishing characteristics and a recent photo labeled with the name of each pet. Your dog will thank you in the case of some sort of disaster or emergency when you are not at home for some reason.

Below is a list of several items you should obtain to place within your dog first aid kit and brief explanations as to what each item is for. Remember, your dogs health may depend on it.

Dog First Aid Kit Ingredients

Activated charcoal: for poisonings (1 gram per pound, mixed with water),

Antihistamine tablets: for insect stings and allergic reactions,

Betadine or Nolvasan: cleaning open wounds,

Blankets: several if possible, to help prevent against shock in the event of an accident or injury as well as a good way to transport an injured dog,

Blunt nosed scissors: to cut tape and clip. Keep these scissors with the kit.

Canine rectal thermometer: to take the dog or puppies temperature,

Cortisone ointment: Used as a topical anti-inflammatory,

Cotton balls and swabs: Used mainly to clean wounds,

Eyedropper or dosage syringe: to apply medications to your GSD,

Eyewash: to irrigate the eyes of your GSD,

First-aid cream: to sooth and protect wounds,

Gauze bandage: for wrapping wounds,

Gloves: both thin plastic to avoid contamination and thicker ones if you have a fear of being bitten,

Hand towels: to dry hands, for clean up, etc.,

Hydrogen peroxide (3%): has various uses, one of which is to induce vomiting,

Ipecac: used to induce vomiting (1 teaspoon per 20 pounds),

Kaolin and pectin: to help diarrhea (1 teaspoon per 10 pounds),

Magnifying glass: to help locate any tiny objects

Muzzle: even the best German Shepherd may bite when in extreme pain. If you don’t have one you can also make one from strips of soft long fabric, tube socks, etc.,

Nail clippers: best case scenario, have both human and canine nail clippers,

Non-stick adhesive tape: to help tape bandages in place,

Non-stinging antiseptic spray: to help clean wounds,

Pepto-Bismol , Maalox or Kaopectate: to help relieve minor stomach upsets,

Petroleum jelly: for use with the rectal thermometer, also an aid in constipation (1/2 teaspoon per 10 pounds),

Saline solution: can be used for many things such as irrigating wounds,

Stretch bandages: for wound dressing,

Styptic pencil: to stop minor bleeding,

Tweezers or hemostat: use to pull our splinters or other small foreign objects,

Vegetable oil: for mild constipation (1 teaspoon per 5 pounds, mix it in with food)

We all know that trained K-9 dogs help police forces track and apprehend criminal offenders often. We also know that there are specially trained drug dogs that aid in the process of finding illegal substances at airports, shipyards, and even residential areas. There are also dogs that are specifically trained as arson dogs.

So, what exactly is an arson dog, and what do they do? Arson dogs are specially trained K-9’s in the area of accelerant detection. When a fire occurs, the police will arrive and investigate the scene. If the fire seems suspicious, they will bring in the arson K-9 and their handler. The dog is trained specifically to sniff out miniscule traces of various fire accelerants that could have possibly started the fire.

These dogs undergo a rigorous training program, called the Arson Dog Program, and each dog is assigned a policeman handler. The handler works with their dog, and the duo certainly makes an authoritative team. Not only is the handler a policeman in the fore, they too are specially trained to investigate fire scenes for the possibility of investigating an act of arson.

As far as training goes, the Arson Dog Program (sponsored by a popular insurance agency) was founded in 1993. The dogs in this program are Labrador Retrievers, and they are trained rigorously for five weeks and are certified as arson dogs upon graduation. This particular program uses Labrador Retrievers because their sense of smell works well with recognizing fire accelerants, in addition to having a superior ability to differentiate between certain scents. They also have a friendly sand sweet disposition, which aids in easier training (not to mention almost everyone loves a Retriever!). Since the founding of this program, over two hundred arson dog teams have successfully completed the training, and they are now serving in approximately forty-one states and the District of Columbia in the United States.

Though people may not think that arson is a common crime, there is certainly a need for these specially trained and expert law enforcement teams. Each year, an estimated couple billion dollars worth of property damages, not to mention the loss of hundreds of human lives, is attributed to the terrible crime of arson. Because of this, arson dogs have been working hard to catch and apprehend the felons every day.

These K-9 accelerant detection teams on police forces are as close as family; most of these K-9 dogs actually live with the handler’s family in the home when they are off work. This closeness not only companionship for both on the team, it also aids in efforts to keep the relationship between the handler and K-9 close.

These fire accelerant detection teams work tirelessly, 24/7, in order to chase to apprehend arsonists. Because so many lives and money is lost each year due to the terrible crime of arson, programs have been established that are specifically designed to train arson dogs. These dogs are heroes in every sense of the word, and without them, many criminals would run free each year.

Eliminating monogamy was a major change made in order to domesticate dogs, and thus increasing the speed of selectively breeding dogs. The new traits that were bred into the domestic dog can be maintained only under domesticity; they would cause insurmountable social problems in the wild. Its no wonder there are so many different breeds of dogs today, as different ancient civilizations each had a different way of living life and surviving off the land.

Companionship, an allegiance between two species, was actually a by-product of the human-dog domestication mystery. Initially the relationship between dog and man was symbiotic: dogs would aid us in the hunt in exchange for access to safe shelter, a reliable food supply, and protection from predators. But then with the advent of herding for a living, humankind again called upon the assistance of the dog. Some nomadic tribes found it easier to build a stock of animals year-round rather than to depend on the fortunes of the hunt. This pastoral way of life created a more stable supply of food and clothing, encouraged the establishment of semi-permanent villages.

Early Semitic tribes in Mesopotamia used breeds similar to the present-day Kuvasz, a large, powerful white herd-guarding dog that often prefers the company of sheep to that of people. Dogs were now needed not to kill prey but to keep herds of sheep, goats, reindeer, or cattle together; to move the herds from place to place; and to protect them from predators and poachers. These herding dogs had specific traits that allowed them to do their job well.

As more jobs were needed to be filled by dogs, so the diversity of dog breeds. One of the earliest breeds to be developed for a specific task was the sight hound. Over 5000 years ago, Egyptian and Assyrian kings and queens prized the Greyhound- and Wolfhound type dogs, as hunting dogs in the desert depended less on their noses, given the sandy soil’s inability to hold scent for very long. They were perfectly suited to their task. In addition, the dogs’ good eyesight could often see its prey from a long distance, given the rolling plains and open country topography. The arid, wide-open expanses also required these dogs to be fast, lightly built, and short-coated so they wouldn’t be affected by the heat.

Heavier, mastiff-type breeds were first developed 1000 to 2000 years later in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) and gradually exported to Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and Italy. These powerful dogs were first used to take down large game; they would grab the prey and hold on until the hunter arrived to make the kill. Rhodesian Ridgebacks were used to flush lions for Egyptian archers who were lying in wait. The Saluki, one of today’s beautiful silky-haired sight hounds, was used thousands of years ago by Egyptian and Assyrian hunters to run down and capture rabbits and small gazelles.

We might have faced a situation wherein we have been greeted (sometimes knocked down) by pet dogs when visiting someone, with their embarrassed and apologetic owners trying stop them. As a dog owner, it does not seem to be a pretty situation to be in. Yet, it is a problem for owners to prevent their dogs from jumping upon and licking their visitors.

It need not be distressing. Just as you teach your dog to do things with patience, here too you can do it. However, here you may need to be more innovative and sneaky in order to teach your dog to behave.

The most common method is to command at the top of your voice “No!” to stop your dog from charging. However, you can not always be there to stop your dog or the dog may not obey. Other methods include using chains to stop the dogs which can be dangerous for both as the sudden jerk of the chain can cause injury. Here too, you can not always be there to stop the dog. Others used keyed chains which creates rattling noise when moved. Dogs find this noise unpleasant and stop doing whatever they are doing. This helps when they are wearing but to make then suffer this noise would be cruel. Hence, a better solution is needed.

Sometimes one finds solutions by accident as it happened here. The owner unable to stop the dog from charging through the usual “key collar method” threw a regular chain at the door and yelled “No!” at the same time. The sudden clanging sound of the falling chain plus the loud command had a dramatic effect on the dog which stopped then and there.

This method has proved to be effective; but you need ensure that your dog does not that you are throwing the object or else it shall be scared of you. You can use chains, bottles, stones, or sand to do the trick. Remember the aim is to grab the dog’s attention and not hurt it. This method sends a signal to the dog “If you ignore your master, something shall happen”. Hence, the sudden falling of the object is bound to frighten the dog to realize that something is amiss and it is better to obey you. The thought of creating noise whenever someone comes, might not appeal to all, however, it is still better than apologizing for the dogs’ behavior. Moreover, this need not continue, for the dog shall learn to obey your command and stop the moment you say “No!”

The same method can be applied outside, whenever the dog tends to ignore you. The combination of the sound and object falling (like bottle with stones), plus your stern and loud command speeds up obedience and the dog is conditioned to obey you or else face the unpleasant situation.

Learn more of dog training aids, videos, cassettes, books, magazines from the library or workshops. The television show; “Dog Whisperer, Caesar” can also help.

Dog training aids involve more than just a simple collar and leash and over the years have seen good improvements in the range and availability of these training tools. If you are taking on the task of training your own dog then there are several advantages you can benefit from by using good dog training aids to assist you in achieving the goals of your training with your dog.

An obvious case of where this is true is whilst teaching your dog to fetch. It simply can’t be done without having something to be thrown, collected by the dog and brought back to you. Typically a stick is a good choice, but if you are in a park and there are dozens of similar sticks then your dog may become confused and you won’t have the same success.

An alternative to the stick would be something like a training dumb-bell. These can be thrown a good distance without much effort. They are bright and easy to retrieve – even when your dog doesn’t and many of these float on water if you are using it on a pond or lake. These are also easy and comfortable for your dog to pick up whereas I have seen sticks cause damage to a dogs mouth and gums over time.

Teaching your dog to heel can be aided by the use of a dog training line. This is essentially a long leash that can be used to indicate, by tugging, that you wish the dog to return to you when you issue the heel command. These training methods do not do away with the need for voice commands but instead make it easier for your dog to understand the desired response you are looking for when you do call to him.

Other training aids can include collars that discourage barking. These collars emit a pungent spray when your dog barks. The smell is not liked by the dog and over time the dog will realise that not barking prevents the release of the spray. The collar can be removed and hopefully the dog will not bark just as often as before.

If you are training your dog for more sporting activities then the use of whistles can be effective. Here you will typically issue a command to the dog like heel or sit and then back this up with a whistle command. The dog will eventually associate the whistle with the desired response. The trainer or owner can now issue the same command to the dog but over a larger distance. This technique is also used extensively by sheep farmers or herding dog owners for the same reason.

Training your own dog can provide lots of rewards and satisfaction, however it does take considerable patience. Good dog training aids can help reduce the amount of time required to reinforce the training and provide positive results. Remember to reward your dog when you see them showing the right response regardless of what training aid is being used.

As almost any pet owner can attest to, training that adorable little puppy, or that stubborn older adult dog is no simple job. Although a lot of dogs are exceedingly happy to satisfy their owners, the sad fact is that they often don’t always understand just exactly what you are saying and have relatively short attention spans. These factors can make it tough for even the most tolerant of owner, but before you throw in the towel, consider some simple and basic dog training tips you can practice to assist you on the way.

One of the best dog training aids you are able to employ is to emphasize rewarding your dog for what he or she does correctly rather than simply punishing your dog when he or she does something wrong. Puppies especially, and even older dogs crave human attention and approval from their owners and will do just about anything to get it. If you want your dog to become trained to go to the bathroom outside, reward him when he goes in the appropriate spot in the yard just as much as you reprimand him for going anywhere else. A lot of people neglect to include this positive reinforcement as part of their dog training approach, but that approval and affection can go a long way towards getting your dog to do what you require him to do!

There are some useful items you can purchase that can be used as dog training aids and some are more efficient than others. Martingale collars and chains are being discarded by experienced training experts as not only detrimental but downright ineffective. At the same time, a good leash and a robust collar can be considered a necessary dog training aid due to the fact that dogs will respond to their owner when he gives them a gentle yank. This shouldn’t be anything that would injure the dog, just a kind reminder of how he needs to respect the owner’s command, when he needs to stop barking, and so forth.

Some people may also want to add a muzzle to their list of dog training tools, but these should be used sparingly and only in certain situations. Some dogs just will not stop barking no matter what you do, and keeping in mind that barking is just a part of their natural instinct the way humans have an instinct to converse to one another, an owner may not be able to do anything other than muzzle their dog when they are out in the yard or if the dog is kept in an house where the neighbors may be annoyed.

Believe it or not, a high quality grooming brush and some toys can be thought of as dog training tools as well. When done right, dogs love to be groomed and they love to have their owners pay attention to them. These activities can help a dog to continue to stay calm and collected and keep him from barking endlessly, gnawing on furniture, and so on. And of course the more you play with your dog the more tired he becomes so he is less likely to have the energy to misbehave.

All those who have been to CPR classes will know the basics to mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. You start by checking if the patients airway is clear, then you check the patients breathing, then you check for heartbeat and if, during this process, the patient suddenly awakens, ensure that you are not bitten.

For quite a while now the American Red Cross and other organizations have been training people in performing CPR for pets through classes which include all the nuances of first aid for pets inclusive of mouth-to-snout resuscitation. That’s correct, mouth-to-snout.

This technique is very similar to the conventional mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for humans. The main difference is that the person while performing this will close the mouth of the dog and provide breaths into the nose of the dog. Though this sounds humorous and to some even unpleasant, knowing the mouth-to-snout resuscitation technique can even save your pets life if it ever came to that.

The Scoop is a popular website that reports news on dogs (you know what the theory is -’dog bites man’ is no news but ‘man bites dog’ definitely is). In March 2002, they came out with a story about a man in Walla Walla who saved a dog from death by performing the mouth-to-snout resuscitation. The dog had accidentally choked and had it not been for the Good Samaritan, who had received training in this process, the dog would have surely died. The Associated Veterinary Clinic of Walla Walla then treated the revived dog and released it.

Mouth to snout is not the only procedure that can be performed on dogs. In case of emergencies where the dogs heart stops, chest compressions can also be performed. Awareness about these procedures can perhaps save a dogs from death and allow him to live and play another day of fetch.

Many organizations, which previously provided training and certification in traditional CPR only, are now teaching pet CPR too and the concept is fast gaining popularity. The Red Cross in your locality may be conducting these classes and if you are interested in training you must contact them. You never know when such expertise may come to use.

All dog lovers should know canine first aid and a good canine first aid kit is an absolute must. You can create your own canine first aid kit, or buy one of the many excellent pre-packaged kits available online.

If you are going to create your own kit there are a few essential items that should be included: Scissors, Gauze Pads & Rolls, Vet Wrap, Alcohol Prep Pads, Latex Gloves, Eyewash Solution, Instant Cold packs, Tweezers, Nail clippers and a Triple Antibiotic Ointment like Neosporin. Surgical rubber tubing and a 4 inch piece of dowel wood makes an excellent tourniquet and can be included as well.

Emergency

No one ever expects an accident or emergency, but when it does happen it is always best to be prepared, an ounce of prevention on your part can save your dogs life. Knowing what to do in an emergency and then acting swiftly to take the proper steps can lessen the chance of your dog sustaining additional injury.

You should also plan ahead for situations like moving a large breed dog. Some of the bigger breeds like Great Danes and Saint Bernard’s can tip the scales at 120 to 150 pounds and even a Labrador Retriever can easily reach 90 to 100 pounds. Two people with a folded blanket slipped under the dog can safely move the dog to your vehicle for transport to the emergency clinic.

Use an index card to list contact numbers, office hours of your regular vet, emergency clinic and poison control center and tape that to the inside lid of you emergency first aid kit. Make additional copies and post one on your refrigerator door so that anyone who needs the information can easily find it. Keep the numbers of your regular and emergency vet in your cell phone in case you have a situation while you are on the road or away from home with your dog.

Shock

Shock involves several signs that occur as a result of a traumatic injury such as an automobile strike, electric shock, animal attack and especially burns. Signs of shock can include but are not limited to; muscle weakness, rapid heart rate and breathing, pale tongue and gums, reduced pulse rate, shivering and cool extremities. A dog in shock is in immanent danger and if not treated promptly can result in death.

Assess the situation and consider a muzzle to restrain a pet that is in pain, even the most loving pet can give you a serious bite in response to pain. A muzzle can be improvised from a piece of rope, a neck tie, gauze strip and even panty hose. In extreme situations a blanket can be placed over the dog until a muzzle can be applied. To treat shock first control any bleeding (this is not the time to clean out wounds), keep the dog warm and quiet, do not let them move around, call the vet and transport right away to the closest emergency veterinary hospital.

Bleeding

When a dog is bleeding severely, the bleeding must receive immediate attention before doing anything else, regardless of any other injuries that may be present. Bleeding can be controlled by applying firm pressure from a cloth, bandages, or your own hand if necessary. Try not to remove the bandage to check the wound because bleeding may start again. If firm pressure does not slow down the rate of bleeding, a tourniquet may be needed. The tourniquet should be located about 3 inches above the bleeding wound with just enough pressure to stop the bleeding, do not over tighten. The tourniquet should be loosened every 10 to 15 minutes and then reapplied until the bleeding can be controlled with a pressure bandage.

Poison

Sudden onset of illness in a previously healthy dog could indicate poisoning but that can be difficult to prove unless you observe your dog being exposed to a poison. Signs of poisoning can include trembling, weakness, drooling, foaming at the mouth, vomiting and loss of bowel and bladder control. Two of the most common poisonings seen by veterinarians are rat poison and antifreeze as I found out first hand when 2 of my girls shared a piece of rat poison.

You’ll need to act quickly and correctly if you suspect your dog has been poisoned, the longer the poison stays in the dog’s system, the more damaging it will be. Only induce vomiting if you know for sure that the dog hasn’t ingested a corrosive substance. Call your veterinarian or emergency vet, if you know what kind of poison the dog ingested it will be much easier for the vet to advise you. If possible bring the package the substance came in as that will often assist them in determining the appropriate course of action.

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a dog trainer? Here you will find the requirements you should fulfill and the time it may take you to make your dream come true.

Before considering a career in dog training, you should consider some important requirements. You must be aware that loving dogs is not enough to be a successful trainer. You must be proficient in dog behavior, learning theories, behavior modification, first aids (both human and canine), marketing and business management.

In addition, you may want to train dogs for competitions, such as Schutzhund, Agility, Mondio Ring, Freestyle, etc. In this case, you should have a strong knowledge of rules and competitive procedures.

To make a long story short, the list below explains you the 17 most important requirements you must fulfill to be a dog trainer:

1. You must be passionate about working with dogs. Otherwise you will be very unhappy with your job. Taking away exceptional cases, dog training is not a high-salary career. So, you should not expect to compensate frustrations with money. That’s why you really have to be passionate about working with dogs. Of course, this passion can only come if you love dogs. If you don’t love dogs and are not passionate about working with them, just look for another job.

2. You must feel comfortable working with people. Feeling comfortable working with people is as being comfortable working with dogs. That’s because the job of a dog trainer involves teaching people as much as teaching dogs, or even more. If you don’t teach people how to handle their dogs in different situations, then they won’t be able to control their pets. As a consequence, your dog training business is not going to receive any good publicity.

3. You should be respectful and kind with both people. Acting in an arrogant manner toward other trainers, dog owners, animal behaviorists or anyone, can’t help you. Arrogant behavior does not create word of mouth publicity. Even worse, people who attended a training class with an arrogant instructor, tend to not go to the same place when they need help again. So, being polite and respectful is part of developing your dog training business.

4. You should be respectful and kind with animals. This point needs no further explanation. Nobody wants his dog be mistreated by a harsh trainer.

5. Develop teaching skills. Since you are going to teach people how to handle and train their own dogs, you must have some teaching skills. There are lots of good trainers that don’t succeed because they can’t teach people how to train their dogs.

6. Be patient. Patience is perhaps the most important skill a dog trainer must master. Dogs can’t be trained in a couple of minutes. So, you need to be patient to allow the dog (and the owner) learn at their own pace.

7. Sense of humor. You are going to find a lot of problems during training sessions. However, many of those problems are so funny that they deserve a dose of humor. Having good sense of humor allows you to not get buried under a ‘problematic job’ and helps you to be creative when solving a behavior issue.

8. Be honest. You have to tell the dog owner what really happens. Not what he wants to hear. There are problems that can’t be solved by training and, if you face one of those problems, you should inform the dog owner. On the other hand, there could be some issues that you can’t handle. Be honest with the dog owner. If you can’t address an issue (for instance, aggression) recommend another dog trainer who can.

9. Never underestimate the skills of other dog trainers. It does not matter if they use old techniques that you don’t approve. Every dog trainer has his own method and nobody should be underestimated by the way he trains. Of course, you may disagree with other dog trainers, but never underestimate them.

10. Learn about several dog training techniques, even the old ones. Knowing the pros and cons of each technique will let you choose the right ones. This does not mean you should try every technique you’ve heard about. But reading books and watching videos about different techniques may teach something new and improve your training skills.

11. Keep up to date on the science of animal behavior and learning theories. Dog training is not a science but it is based on some scientific principles. As a good dog trainer you have to be up to date on animal behavior and learning theories to take advantage of recent discoveries.

12. Read a lot about dog training, but don’t believe all you read. There are lots of myths and hypes in dog trainer. As a dog trainer you should keep some skepticism and critical thinking.

13. Learn about marketing, publicity and business management. If you are a professional dog trainer, then you have to manage your dog training business. Otherwise you are not a pro.

14. Learn about dog nutrition, health and care. Put a lot of attention of dog first-aids because you will need them sometime. Besides, learn about management of kennels, doggy daycare, etc.

Dogs very rarely think about what they consume, unless it’s a hidden pill wrapped in a piece of bread or cheese (my dog carefully eats the tasty wrapper and spits out the pill). Most of the time, a dog will simply swallow its food whole, and dogs can choke just like humans. Saving a dog with a blocked airway uses the same treatment as a human as well. If you know CPR, you can help your choking dog.

Dogs are like children: You have to keep an eye on them all the time. Before you start giving your dog CPR, you should try to determine what your pet is choking on to begin with. Most likely, the culprit will be a bone or a small toy. Balls, if they’re small enough, are another possibility. A dog’s mouth is the equivalent of our fingers. Young dogs and pups will pick things up and taste them just to see what they are.

As with toddlers, always be certain that dog toys are large enough that they won’t accidentally be swallowed. When a dog gets something stuck in their throat, it will paw at their muzzle and try to retch up the blockage. A dog won’t be very cooperative with any human that’s trying to remove an object from its throat or mouth either, but a blocked throat is a medical emergency. If the dog stops breathing, it will pass out and could die.

If your dog remains conscious, you should try to remove the object blocking your dog’s breathing. Start by forcing your dog’s mouth open and trying to pull the object out of the mouth or throat immediately. Ideally, you should be able to see the object obstructing your dog’s breathing, but if you can’t see it, try raising your dog’s butt and back legs off the ground slightly before using a modified Heimlich maneuver.

The canine Heimlich maneuver begins with you pressing your flattened hand against the bottom of the dog’s rib cage. Push into the dog’s chest, pressing the dog’s lungs against its spine and back, and with any luck, this should cause the dog to cough up whatever was blocking its breathing. If the dog falls unconscious, try to perform the chest pressing maneuver twice again before giving two artificial respirations (breathing into the dog’s mouth; most first aid texts cover this in more detail), and then checking the dog’s mouth again. Repeat the process of two compressions and two artificial respirations until normal breathing returns.

Practice makes perfect. Just as you would practice a home fire drill with your children, it is good to have a few practice sessions with your dog for various first aid techniques. This way, should the time come that your dog needs help, the process will be more familiar to your pet and he’ll be less likely to struggle. Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for professional advise or help.