Category: Animals

How to Get a Service Dog:  A Dog is a Man’s best companion. People often suffer from loneliness for different reasons. Older people also need some help. For several reasons Service Dogs are helping many people.

Trained dogs help people who have any physical disability or mental disorder are called Service Dogs. Yet, in some places outside the U.S. service dogs are referred to a dog that works for armed forces or police.

Some people train their dogs to assist them in their work. Whereas, some people cannot train so they have to look for a service dog. Let us see How to Get a Service Dog and what requirements have to be fulfilled.

How To Get a Service Dog?

Service Dogs are the dogs performing tasks for a person with a disability. For instance, picking up things for someone in a wheelchair, or helping a blind person in crossing a road and help in investigations.

Though, they have been used for assisting people with physical disabilities. Now they are also used by people with mental disorders; depression. traumatics stress or anxiety. Furthermore dogs also help in taking care of a baby.

Different training is given to each dog to cope up with the individual disorders or requirements. According to a person’s claim, they get their service dogs.

Visible vs Invisible disability

Physical or Visible disability is evident due to the use of any helping device like a walking stick, wheelchair, a plaster hand, etc.

Whereas invisible disability is referred to as any mental illness. It causes distress in personal functioning. Like, loneliness, anxiety, depression, etc. Moreover diabetes, heart disease are invisible disorder.

Tasks Provided by Service Dogs – Physical Disability

For people with physical disorder, service dogs are trained to help them in the following tasks:

1. Get a phone from another room or place.
2. Pick up dropped items.
3. Carry handbags or any other small objects.
4. Turning on or off switch.
5. Open or close a door.
6. Hitting the elevator button.
7. Help during changing clothes.
8. Provide support while walking or crossing the road.
9. Protecting blind people.

Tasks Provided by Service Dogs – Mental Disability

For Mentally disabled people service dogs are trained to help them in the following tasks:

1.  Bring your phone in an emergency for contacting support.
2. Remind you to take medicine.
3. Stop you from emotional overload at home.
4. Help you to change your mood.
5. Nurse with medication side effects.
6. Help you calm down in distress.
7. Remind you to eat food, go for a walk, etc.

Besides, some people confuse emotional support dogs with mental therapy dogs. Emotional support dogs do not need any training, their presence provides comfort. Therapy dogs are well-trained dogs and they might not be easily accessible like physical service dogs.

” Americans with Disability Act (ADA) “. Under this act, service dogs assist physically disabled people only. Other than that are not qualified as service animals under ADA.

Tasks Provided by Service Dogs Other Than Any Disorder

Not only service dogs are for the physical, mental or emotional disorders but also Daycare, Security, Police or military use. As kid caretaker service dogs are trained to:

• Protect kids.
• Help in developing skills. Dogs play with kids to keep them active.
• Promote emotional development.
• Help in managing behavioral problems in kids.

Military working dogs duties are to:

• Detect drug
• Investigate
• Custom Support
• Security Check
• Secret Service Mission

Online Platform to Buy Service Dogs

Some online sites which provide a facility to deliver service dog at your place are.

• Brigadoon Service Dogs
• The Dog Project
• Paws with a cause
• Canine Companion for Independence
• NEADS
• Guide Dogs of America
• Can Do Canines
• Retrieving Freedom, Inc.

Buying or training a service dog costs around $15,000 to $30,000. Cost depends on the breed you choose and the services you want.

Ways to Pay for Service Dog

1. Some non-profit organizations that help you in buying a service dog for less or no cost.
   • Assistance Dogs International
   • Service Dogs for America
2. Reach out to the social networks to raise funds for your service dogs.
3. Save money.
4. Personal loan.

No insurance covers a price for a service dog or for its training.

Requirements to Get a Service Dog

To train your dog to provide services can take many years. It is a better option to get yourself a trained service dog from an organization. There are some rules to be followed to get a service dog. You must meet the following criteria:

• Physical disability or any medical certificate of illness.
• Be able to take part in the dog training process.
• Could take care of a service dog.
• Command a service dog
• A stable home environment.
• You must be recommended by a doctor.
• Or you own a license of the mental health department.

Though, there is no legal necessity to register a service dog.  These dogs are trained well to meet the person’s needs before they are delivered in someone’s home. It is said that it is quite difficult to train a pet dog as a service dog.

Breeds as Service Dogs

Not all dogs have temperament and attitude to provide services. Hence some of the breeds as service dogs are:

1. Golden Retrievers
2. Labrador Retrievers
3. A crossbreed of Labrador and Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd

Other than Service dogs, there are also:

• Autism Service Dog
• Guide Dog
• Hearing Dog
• Mobility Support Dog
• Therapy Dog
• Service Animal
• Psychiatric Service Dog
• Emotional Support Animal

A service dog is a necessity for some but can be expensive. Look for some funding’s and go for it. These dogs make a big difference in your life. There is a saying; If you want a lovable companion for life, get a dog and feed him. He will be a loyal protector for you.

Now you can get the best Service Dogs from the American Kennel Club and use them where you want for example for training, Sports and events, etc.

Can dogs eat celery? Celery is a low-calorie and healthy snack for humans but is it also healthy for dogs? Well, the answer to this question is yes. Dogs can eat celery, but there are some facts which you should know before going for it.

In this article, you will know about can dogs eat celery? How Much Celery Can Dogs Eat? and Is Celery Healthy or Toxic?

Celery is good for dogs also, but you should feed your dog celery as a special diet. Celery contains a huge amount of fiber, which is hard for dogs to digest. That’s the reason why it can’t be part of a dog’s regular diet.

What is celery? Celery is an amazing source of antioxidants. It contains water and fiber, which makes celery healthy and hydrating diet for both humans and dogs. Celery contains vitamins such as A, C, K, Potassium, and folate.

Can Dogs Eat Celery?

Yes, Dogs can eat celery. Celery is a fantastic treat for dogs. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), celery is safe for dogs. Celery is recommended as a weight-loss treat for dogs, as it is very low in cholesterol and fat.

Celery richly contains vitamins like A, C, and K, folate, potassium, and manganese. It also helps to freshen up your dog’s breath.

Too much celery may act as toxic for your dog instead of healthy. It can cause your pet to urinate more than normal. You should cut the celery into small digestible and chewable pieces, also remove the leaves before serving it your dog.

Nutrients in Celery

Celery is a vegetable which is full of vitamins and nutrients. It is considered as good for the digestive tract and the cardiovascular system. Celery is very healthy and useful for dogs.

Few of them are listed below:

• Celery contains vitamin A, which keeps the dog’s coat and skin healthy.
• Vitamin K is good for blood clotting, Celery is a great resource for it.
• Dogs produce vitamin C naturally, a healthy dog does not require it. But sick dog requires it and celery may be the best source for it.
• Fier is one of the main components of the celery, while dogs need fiber in the right dosage for digestion and weight management.

There are some other vegetables which are also enriched by many nutrients such as fiber and proteins. Carrot is a good vegetable for the dog, they contain the same vitamins as celery has. So you can also serve carrots to your dog.

How Much Celery Can Dogs Eat?

Your dog’s nutritional needs must be met by dog food, your pet does not require further nutrients to stay healthy. That’s why you should feed celery as a special treat. Remember that, never add celery to a regular meal.

To know how much you can serve celery to the dog. First, you need to figure out the that how much other meal or treats your dog gets on a regular basis. Calculate the percentage and feed celery 10% according to that calculated percentage.

It is difficult to calculate the exact percentage for most of the people, but it gives a rough idea of a reasonable serving size of celery. Let see through the example, if you serve a cup of food a day to your dog, then feeding a cup of celery is too much.

How to Serve Celery to your Dogs?

Cut the celery into small chewable and bite-sized pieces. Feed your dog a celery piece or two and make sure it sits well before giving more. Maybe some dogs deal differently with some food. It is an important thing for dogs but makes it as a special treat not apart of a regular meal.

Few pieces of celery which should be washed properly and chopped are enough for your dog to control its weight. It will be also sufficient for the health benefits of your dog from the vegetable.

Ways to Feed Your Dog Celery

There are two ways through which you can serve the celery to your four-legged friend. Remember that Celery is a fantastic diet, which is rich in many vitamins.

1- Raw Celery

Can Dogs eat celery raw? The answer is simple “Yes”. You should cut raw celery into small chewable and bite-sized pieces to overcome the chance of choking. To make it more tasty for your dog, add a little amount of peanut butter. Your dog will love it more.

2- Cooked Celery

Is cooked celery good for dogs? Dogs can also eat the cooked celery, you can make easier for your dog to chew through cooking. It is most helpful for old dogs or whose teets are missing. Boiling celery is considered as much healthy than frying it.

Is Celery Good For Dogs?

Celery is normally safe for the dogs but maybe it affects the dog’s health if serve more than the required amount. You should feed celery in small quantity in terms of toxicity, it does come with few risks.

Celery is hard and stringy in nature, which can cause a problem for the dogs especially the small dogs. They may face it hard while swallowing the celery. Maybe face a hard time once swallowed. Due to this reason, you have to think before offering celery to your dog.

As celery is a mass-produced plant, they may have a pesticide. Feeding dog celery, which contains the pesticide is not a good idea. They may cause canine cancer.

What’s on my food is a website, which is run by the Pesticide Action Network, stated that 64 kinds of pesticides present on the celery. So, It will be a wise act to wash celery properly before serving to the dog. And only serve the treat in the limit.

Is Celery Healthy or Toxic For Dogs?

Celery is not toxic for the dogs. In fact, it is a great source of some vitamins such as A, C, and K for dogs. Celery is low in fat and calories.

Water and fiber are the two main components of celery. It has 95% of water, especially on warm days.

Possible Side Effects Of Celery

Celery is a great source of fiber, so the huge quantity of celery may make your dog gassy. It is very rare but it can happen when you serve the large quantity.

There are some dogs which are allergic to celery, in such case celery may cause problems in the stomach.

Alternatives To Celery Treat For Dogs

Still, you are confused with the question Can dogs eat celery? There are few other snacks or treats which can replace the celery.

They are listed below but remember that they can be used as a special treat. Never use these snacks as a regular meal for the dog.

• Popcorn
• Olives
• Okra

Quick Wrap-up

Celery is a fantastic source of antioxidants. celery contains water and fiber, which makes a healthy and hydrating diet for both humans and dogs. Celery is a rich source of vitamins such as A, C, K, Potassium, and folate.

Celery is recommended as a weight-loss treat for dogs, as it is very low in cholesterol and fat. You must cut raw celery into small chewable and bite-sized pieces to overcome the chance of choking. Remember that, never add celery to a regular meal. It should serve as special treats.

I hope you like the post about “Can dogs eat celery”. If you want to read more related articles then you can also visit:

• Can Dogs Eat Raspberries?
• Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?
• Can Dogs Eat Mango?

For dogs, barking is completely natural behavior. There are several reasons behind the barking of your dog. So you should first find the reason for its barking. In this article, I have explored a few barking reasons and also explain how to stop a dog from barking.

Continuously barking can be frustrating for both people at the home and people living nearby that house.

It is also difficult to stop while the dog is barking and also it is tough to ignore or prevent barking. You need to figure out the reason for the dog barking.

Why Dogs Bark? 7 Reasons for Barking

Barking is kind of vocal communication which dog try to do with the humans. There are different meaning for it, you need to discover what your dogs want to share with you and you have to understand that. After that, you will be able to stop your dog from barking.

There are various kinds of barking voice, you need to listen that sound carefully. Few of them are listed below, maybe this helps you to understand what your pet need.

• A play bark is shorter and high pitched.
• The defensive barks come in a loud and fast burst.
• Monotone and repetitive bark is a sign of a bored dog.

Below is the briefly explained list of some common reasons for the excessive dog barking:

1- Territorial Barking

Territory barking means when the unknown person or any animal which is not the part of that house comes in the area which your dog considers his area. In such a situation the dog starts barking loudly.

Dog consider it threat for his owner, as that thing comes closer the barking sound get louder and fast. Dog shows aggressiveness in such condition.

2- Alarm or Fear Barking

There are few dogs which start barking at some strange noises or objects which catches their attention. Such a situation may you face with your dog at home or at any place.

A dog will communicate via barking if your dog is fearful. It could be an unfamiliar person, loud noise or situation.

3- Attention-Seeking or Greeting Barking

Sometimes dogs bark when he wants something, for that he starts barking and try to get the attention of the people.  Such barking is kind of friendly barking, not an aggressive barking. Barking might become more when the greeting is given to everyone the dog meets.

4- Compulsive Barking or Separation anxiety

Dogs start barking excessively when they left alone. There are some other symptoms as well, which might you noticed such as depression, destructiveness, and pacing. The sound of this bark is different from all other barking voice.

5- Boredom or Loneliness Barking

Dogs are naturally packed animals, which means that they choose the company of others. A dog starts barking to show their symptoms of unhappiness and loneliness. A bored dog will bark excessively and loudly.

Such condition a dog face when they are left alone at home for a long period of time. So in such condition dog start barking excessively.

6- Aging Dogs Barking

It is quite common in dogs that as they are getting aged, they begin barking more. Few of them excessively bark for an hour and after that, they stop, but few of them didn’t stop easily. They bark without any reason.

Some people start shouting on their dogs while they are barking, to stop them. They didn’t know that shouting will affect them negatively. Because dogs will think they also want to join them and the dog will start barking more loudly.  So you should speak calmly and avoid shouting.

As you you know the reason for excessive barking. Now below are a few suggestion solutions and method through which you can stop your dog from excessive barking.

1- Block Dog’s View

It is the solution for the alarm barkers and territorial barkers. It is a quick way to handle them from barking due to some visuals or noise, just cut or block that vision. You need to simply install a privacy window or any obstacle which block the outside view.

2- Ignore Barking

Ignoring barking is the best solution for those dogs which are barking to seek the attention of people. Or maybe who are looking for any kind of acknowledgment from you. In such a situation you need to completely ignore your friend and turn around, walk away from the dog.

3- Teach Your dog “Quiet” Command

It is the best techniques for the dogs which are barking due to territorial barkers, alarm barkers, and play barkers. You need to teach your dog a few commands such as speaking and quiet. This will take time to teach such commands to the dog.

4- Keep Your Dog Tired With More Exercise

This method is perfect for all kind of dog barkers. Physical and mental exercise is also good for every kind of dog. A dog with excessive exercise will less likely to be on active for any activity. You should take some time to wear out your dog every day.

5- Reward With Treat In The Absence of Barking

It is also a better technique to stop the dog from barking. Reward your dog with the treat when he is not barking at something. If your dog watches something un-familiar, he stays quiet and starting watching you, reward him with a treat and praise him.

6- Use Gadgets To Stop Dogs Barking

Through gadgets, you can stop dog from barking. There are various gadgets which are easily available at different shops. The aim of using is to not hurt the dog, just want to stop it from the too much barking. As barking make noise and people annoying.

Below is the list of gadgets which you can use to get rid of this problem.

(i) PetSafe Deluxe Outdoor Bark Control

This system is designed in such a way that it detects the dog barking sound and start emitting ultrasonic sound, which can’t be heard by humans. Dogs found this sound unpleasant and stop barking. So, get the pet safe deluxe and get rid of this problem.

(ii) Anti-Bark Dog Collar

This gadget delivers a shot of citronella around the dog face when the dog starts barking. Some people considered this method is not useful because this solution doesn’t give any positive reinforcement.

7- Visit the Vet

Maybe your dog is barking due to some medical issue, so it is better to visit the vet instead of trying other methods. Due to some sort of injury or pain can make your dog bark loudly. An aging dog which is barking too much may have some kind of medical issue and need a doctor.

Things Should Not Try To Stop Dog Barking

There are few things which you should not use to stop dog from barking, Some of them are listed below:

• Never serve treat or meal while your dog is barking, because you are encouraging it and thus rewarding the behavior.
• Remember that never shout on your dog, because it will help to extinguish the behavior and even the dog will bark more.
• Never use any kind of anti-bark collar, because it is painful and unkind.

De-barking surgery is a kind of vocal surgery in which the dogs vocal cords are removed. This surgery does not take the dog’s barking ability, it just makes it barking sound raspy and quieter.

Surgery and anesthesia both are considered as risks, so you should avoid any procedure which is for human convenience.

F&Q’s About Dog Behavior & Health

Mentioned below are some frequently asked Question and Answers regarding the dog’s behavior and health:

Q-1: How to stop a dog from barking at night?

Reason: Dogs bark at night due to several reasons such as to alert the family to a disturbance, fear, seek attention and anxiety around being left alone.

Solution: The best solution to this problem is to ignore the barking. You have to convince your dog that barking will not bring you there.

Q-2: How to stop a dog from barking at people?

Reason: There are several reasons due to which dog bark at people. Maybe your dog bark due to fear, territory protection, greetings, and Frustration.

Solution: You can stop dog barking at people through giving a hand gesture, remove rewards of barking, close your dog mouth or Socialize your dog.

Q-3: How to stop a dog from barking at other dogs?

Reason: It is annoying when your dog starts barking at other dogs, maybe this happens due to attention-seeking, playing, or danger alert.

Solution: Well, there are many solutions to this issue such as go away from other dogs, serve your dog with a treat, distract your dog, or stop through the “Quiet” command.

Q-4: How to stop a dog from barking in the crate?

Reason: The dog is not trained to live in the crate is one of the main reason for barking in the crate. There are also few others such as attention-seeking, medical issue, fear or loneliness.

Solution: Ignoring the dog barking in this situation is the best solution. You can also try a few other solutions such as reward the quiet time, use an anti-bark collar or tell stop through the “Quiet” command.

Q-5: How to stop a dog from barking when you leave?

Reason: Your dog feel alone when you leave him alone and then he starts barking. And this the only reason behind this barking. The voice of this barking is a little different from all other barkings.

Solution: There are many solutions to this problem like make your dog busy, leave your scent, find some quiet place or fulfills all your dogs need.

I hope you like my article about “How to stop dog from barking” You can also visit some other interesting posts like:

• Can Dogs Eat Raspberries?
• Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?
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