A Good Tip For Dogs With Itchy Skin by Adam G. Katz

A Good Tip For Dogs With Itchy Skin by Adam G. Katz

Now that summer is in full swing, many dogs are experiencing dry skin and excessive itchiness. I know that my dog, "Forbes," certainly has been! Of course, the first thing you'll want to rule out is fleas. But barring fleas, I've found that the best way to alleviate itching is to:

Splash approximately 2 Tablespoons of either vegetable oil or canola oil in your dog's food.
The additional fat will give your dog's coat a soft, shiny look and will help alleviate dry skin and itching.
You can also try an over-the-counter product you can get at most pet stores called, "Lipiderm," which works pretty much the same, but costs a bit more.
Something else you might try: One of my newsletter subscribers writes, "Best thing for itchy skin is lemons. Slice a couple of lemons in a litre of water and boil it. Let it cool down for a day then you can spray it on. Works wonders and is cheap."

To read more of my dog training ramblings, read about my book (click below): http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!
About the Author
Author, Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer! which you can read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq

SOME ADVICE ON CITRONELLA NO-BARK COLLARS by Adam G. Katz

SOME ADVICE ON CITRONELLA NO-BARK COLLARS by Adam G. Katz

Dear Adam:
I have a client who has just adopted a dog. The dog is adjusting to its new apt., but is barking a bit when the owner leaves. A friend of hers has lent a citronella collar for her to try.

My question is: Is there any health concerns with using the collar in terms of the spray getting in the eyes or lungs?
I would love to hear about peoples experiences with the collars whether they are negative or positive.

Thank you in advance!!
-RD.

Dear RD:

They have a tendency to jam up. Not to mention run out of spray. And-- although it probably won't kill the dog-- who knows what spraying that stuff in their eyes and nose will do over a long-term period of time.

Ideally, the dog would only need to be sprayed once or twice and then hed learn to never bark while wearing the collar. But everyone I know seems to go through the refill spray bottles like a worm eats through a discarded balogna sandwich. And this would suggest that the correction from the spray is only motivational enough to get the dog to cease the current exhibition of the behavior, but is not motivational enough to make him remember to not do it later.

I recommend the Tri-Tronics Bark Limiter. It's a quality product (it gives the dog a mild shock when he barks) and it works very well. Try a web search on google.com.

Good luck,
Adam.

P.S. If you've already got the Citronella collar... go ahead and try it and see if it works for you. It's not going to kill the dog overnight. ;-) And you may just get lucky and find that one or two sprays will be all that you need to curb the behavior if your dog has a fairly soft temperament to begin with.

To read more of my dog training ramblings, read about my book (click below): http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!
About the Author
Author, Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer! which you can read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq