Ideally, you are the leader in your relationship with your dog and he follows your commands. In reality, that’s not always the case. If your dog dominates you with issues resulting from that upside-down hierarchy, he may require professional training. Spending time at a doggie boot camp teaches your dog that he must become subordinate, while instructing you on how to become the leader of your particular pack.

Intensive Training

While you might bring your dog to basic obedience classes once a week, working on exercises in the meantime, boot camp is far more intensive. Usually consisting of between one and two weeks of straight sessions, many canine boot camps require that the dog boards at the facility for that period. During part of that time, your presence is usually required. After your dog completes boot camp, some facilities recommend a series of private training sessions to reinforce and enhance your dog’s education.

Specialty Training

While all dog training boot camps provide basic training, most address specific behavioral problems in individual animals. These issues include aggression, destructive behavior, nuisance barking and housebreaking. Some canine boot camps offer sessions for training dogs in certain disciplines, such as hunting or guarding, rather than correcting canine problems. For example, if you own a bird dog, you might send him to a boot camp that works on retrieving training and conditions him to gunfire.

Typical Schedule

While canine boot camp schedules vary according to the facility, keeping to a strict schedule is part of doggie discipline. Typically, dogs receive at least two 20-minute training sessions daily, which includes exposing them to a variety of other canines. They also receive ample time for exercise, consisting of three or four workout opportunities of at least 20 minutes each. It’s important that dogs receive plenty of mental and physical exercise as part of their routine.

Becoming the Alpha

All the training in the world isn’t going to help your dog if you don’t learn how to become the alpha, or pack leader. A professional dog trainer observes your interaction with your pet, determining how your behavior affects your dog’s actions. In some camps, dogs spend the first week in retraining with the professional, while the second week consists of the professional training you and your dog together. In the best facilities, it’s dog and owner training boot camp.

Prednisone is a corticosteriod used to treat a wide range of chronic problems, such as asthma, lupus, arthritis, cancer, allergies and autoimmune disease. Since it is a powerful hormone, prednisone can give your dog immediate relief from uncomfortable symptoms. On the flip side, however, its powerful effect on the body can cause serious problems.

Length of Use

The type of side effects or problems caused by prednisone depend greatly on how long your dog takes the medication. When used only for a short time, the side effects generally are limited and temporary. If given over a long period of time, however, prednisone can cause permanent, serious health problems. If your veterinarian is recommending long-term treatment with prednisone, be sure to discuss whether the benefits outweigh the risks. Even though there are some serious potential side effects, for some diseases prednisone is the medication with the lowest risk.

Short-Term Side Effects

When used for short-term treatment, often for severe allergies or skin problems, prednisone can cause excessive thirst and frequent urination. These symptoms should abate as soon as the treatment is over, but in the meanwhile it may be necessary to let your dog outside frequently to prevent accidents. In some dogs prednisone can cause vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. Contact your veterinarian if your dog has any of these side effects to determine whether to continue treatment.

Diabetes, Cushing’s and Addison’s Disease

Prednisone changes your dog’s body in many ways when taken for long periods of time. For example, high doses can raise your dog’s blood sugar level, eventually leading to diabetes. The constant high levels of corticosteroids can alter your dog’s hormones and metabolism, which can result in either Cushing’s or Addison’s disease. Signs of these illnesses include dry skin, a pot belly, hair loss, oily skin and weight loss.

Suppressed Immune System

Corticosteroids such as prednisone work by suppressing your dog’s immune system. This can stop autoimmune diseases or allergies in their tracks, but it also leaves your dog vulnerable to illness and infection. For example, a small cut that would normally heal without incident can become infected because your dog’s body cannot react to protect him against bacteria in the wound. Keep a close eye on your dog while he is taking prednisone and contact your veterinarian immediately if he shows any sign of infection or illness.

Other Side Effects

Long-term use of prednisone can lead to stomach ulcers, changes in behavior, stunted growth, kidney disease, colitis and fluid retention. Stopping the medication suddenly can lead to serious problems, such as a heart attack. Your dog should be tapered off of prednisone.