Where to Find the Best Dog Trainers in Richmond

Are you looking for a dog training business? Worry not because dog training schools are everywhere. Professional dog training services can range from basic obedience training to advanced dog training. Many people think that dog training is an easy job. If you’re one of those people who think you can train your dog just like professional dog trainers do, we dare you to give it a try.

Unfortunately, if you don’t have the knowledge, patience, and skills required to train dogs successfully, you’ll only disappoint yourself. Not only will you feel disappointed, but you’ll also grow frustrated with your dog, especially if it doesn’t respond well to your training. So why waste your time, energy, and effort in doing something you’re not fit to do? Leave this job to the experts. Trust us, even if you’ve been with your dog for decades, nothing beats the training provided by professional trainers, and the best part is they can train your dog in a short period. The length of training will depend on many factors but mainly on the techniques used and your dog’s learning capacity.

Since there are hundreds of potential dog trainers, where can you find the best one? Sadly, dog training is unregulated, which means virtually anyone can promote their business and charge you for their services regardless of their experience, education, and background. Therefore, it’s essential to spend time doing your research and carefully assessing potential trainers before trusting them with your dog.

First, check the training philosophy and methods they use in dog training. You can narrow down your options if you agree with their training technique. Of course, you’ll need to do your research beforehand, so you’ll know if that technique is acceptable or not; otherwise, you won’t be able to compare them. Setting a standard is crucial.

Find a dog trainer who uses appropriate teaching methods and techniques that are based on science. It’s also essential to determine what services the trainer offers and check to see if they meet your needs. For example, is your dog dealing with a behavioral problem like counter surfing, or does it need to learn the basic commands like “stay” and “sit”? Ask trainers if they offer private training classes to meet your dog’s unique needs. It’s important to mention that not all dog trainers provide the same services.

Generally, professional dog trainers offer group classes as they also enhance your dog’s socialization skills. However, some dogs learn best when trained one-on-one, especially if they get anxious or overly excited when they are around other dogs.

Some dog trainers offer private dog training classes. These classes can take place in your home, in parks or a training school. However, if you want the trainer to go to your home, expect to pay extra.

Another thing is to ask your potential dog trainer some questions. Ask about their credentials and educational backgrounds. The more years of experience they have, the better they’ll be at dog training. Dog trainers learn the craft by taking apprenticeship programs while others pursue the academe to develop and hone their skills. Still, others get certifications from specific organizations like the Certification Council of Professional Dog Trainers. It’s not required, but if trainers have this certification, it’s tangible proof of their dedication to their profession and their zest for continuous learning.

Go to search engine sites if you want to learn more about the trainer without asking them directly. However, their names are bound to appear in forums, Facebook pages, and other websites. In addition, you’ll learn about them by reading reviews and feedback from people who experienced their services.

You may also speak with the trainer face to face. We usually recommend this so you’ll get to know the trainer better. Learning about their work through websites and brochures isn’t enough.

If you have friends who have tried paying for formal dog training classes, you can ask them for referrals and recommendations. These are the people you trust, and we’re sure they’ll give you honest feedback and refer you to a credible and skilled trainer. Some trainers allow you to observe their classes, so you’ll know how they do it. Trainers should be patient, respectful, knowledgeable, and encouraging.

It’s also a plus if the trainer offers more than basic training. For example, training should include dog communication, how dogs learn, common dog behaviors and misbehaviors, etc.

Takeaway

Finding the best dog trainer is not luck, but if you don’t get lucky during your first try, don’t get discouraged. Instead, put a little more effort into your research, and you’ll eventually find a trainer that’s fit for your dog. Dog training is a priceless experience.

Nick White
Nick White
Nick White is the owner of Off Leash K9 Training. He has over 80 dog training franchise locations throughout the United States. He currently hosts the A&E show, America's Top Dog.

Back Pain is one of the Most Common Reasons for a Doctor Visit

Are you aware that back pain is one of the most common reasons why patients are booking appointments with their doctors? Even though chiropractors are able to address a number of conditions they are more popularly known in providing natural relief for back pain. According to statistics, over 31 million people in America suffer from back pain.This article outlines questions to ask when interviewing a chiropractor and provides guidelines for what to expect of chiropractic care.

Do you know that back pain can compromise your performance at work as well other activities of daily living? It’s also one of the most common reasons of absenteeism among workers. An estimated 264 million working days are lost each year due to back pain. In America, half of the working population says they experience back pain each year. Back pain does not just target old people; they can affect all ages and races. Next to skin disorders and joint disorders, back pain is the third most common cause why patients seek treatment.

What Do You Think Is Causing Back Pain?

Your back is a complex network of muscles, ligaments, joints and bones. A sprain in your ligament or a strain in your muscle, an inflammation of your joints or a ruptured disk can all result to back pain. Injuries and accidents can also lead to back pain. Other factors that contribute to back pain include stress, obesity, poor posture and arthritis. There are also several diseases that result to back pain such as blood clots, bone loss, kidney infections and kidney stones.

What Can Help with Back Pain?

Today, more and more patients are interested in spinal manipulation also known as chiropractic practice in addressing back pain concerns. The notoriety of the abuse of opioids has sparked the interest of non-drug treatments like chiropractic therapy. In chiropractic therapy, your chiropractor will carefully and manually manipulate your spin to reduce pain and restore functionality.

How Can You Prevent Back Pain?

We all know prevention is better than cure, which is why it is important that we are able to identify what factors contribute to back pain so we can find ways to avoid them. First of all, obesity can lead to back pain. If you don’t want to fall victim to back pain then you need to strive to maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise. You can ask your chiropractor on the types of exercises that are safe for your back and joints.

You should also avoid long hours of inactivity. If you work in an office setting set your phone to alarm every 15 minutes so you can stand, stretch or walk around. Before you start with your exercise make sure that you do proper stretching exercises. Practice in maintaining proper posture because bad posture is the number one cause of back pain. As much as possible, wear comfortable shoes.

When you sleep, check the firmness of your mattress. Most people don’t realize that their mattresses are actually what are causing their back pain. We suggest that you choose a mattress that has medium firmness to lessen the curve of your spine. In addition, make sure you follow the proper posture when you are lifting heavy objects. Keep the object as close to your body as possible and life with your knees. Another factor that contributes to back pain is smoking. Smoking tobacco impedes normal blood flow thereby depriving your spinal tissues of nutrients and oxygen.

By avoiding those mentioned above you are taking proactive measures in protecting your spinal health minimizing your chances of experiencing future back pain. Nevertheless, when back pain is the problem you know that the best person to seek is a chiropractor that is if you are looking for a non-drug approach to pain relief.

Paul Braadt
Paul Braadt
Dr. Paul Braadt is a 3rd generation chiropractor and a graduate of the prestigous Palmer College of Chiropractic. He has been treating patients for over 35 years in Allentown, PA.

How Long Should You Breastfeed?

Now that we have all come around to the fact that breastfeeding is best, there is still some debate as to what the most appropriate period of time should be that breastfeeding should continue. The time period can vary greatly depending on who you speak to but there are some facts that most experts do agree on.

1. The First Six Months

It is highly recommended that infants under the age of 6 months are exclusively breastfed. This means no formula, solid food or even water should be given to the baby. The reason for this is that breast milk provides for all an infant’s nutritional needs as well as some extra benefits such as antibiotics and an immune system booster.

However, not all moms are able to fulfill this 6-month ideal and need to return to work or simply aren’t producing enough milk to sustain the infant. In these cases, expressing breast milk is still advisable while supplementing with formula and breastfeeding exclusively for as long as possible within the first 6 months is highly recommended.

2. The First Year

At about 6 months, it is recommended to start introducing soft, solid foods to the baby’s diet as breast milk alone may no longer be sufficient to meet nutritional needs. However, breast feeding is still recommended even if you are expressing the milk. It is also advisable to add breast milk to cereal or other foods if possible.

At about 6 months, the other beneficial properties of breast milk also begin to wane. This means that it is important to ensure that baby is getting all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in to continue growing and thriving. The amount of feeds should reduce as the infant starts eating more and requiring breast milk less.

3. Two Years

Many moms prefer to wean a baby at 12 months but according to the World Health Organization, it is recommended to continue with breast milk until a baby is at least two years old. At this age, the baby’s body should have built up a strong immune system and be eating all the food groups to meet their nutritional needs.

Continuing breast feeding after two years can be detrimental to baby, especially on an emotional level where they stay dependent on mom for longer than necessary. It can also have a negative impact on mom as she may start to suffer from nutritional deficiencies never mind the fact that baby now has teeth and the process can be quite painful.

If possible, it is not recommended to express milk and bottle feed as this can result in dental issues arising. Should you be supplementing feeds with formula during this time, it is far better to do so in cup than a bottle.

Keep in mind that weaning is a process whether you choose to do so in the first few months or at 2 years. It is recommended to give your body as well as baby the time necessary to adapt both physically and emotionally to discontinuing breast feeding.

Allison Zulawski
Allison Zulawski
Allison is one of the two owners of The Care Connection. Their center has been in the community for over 28 years, helping nursing mothers with all of their breastfeeding needs.

How Is Microblading Done?

Eyebrows are something that can alter your appearance for better or worse. This is typically why any makeup job can involve a large portion manipulating the eyebrows in some fashion. Because of this, it can take a lot of work maintaining proper eyebrow upkeep. In this article, we will go over what microblading is, how the procedure is performed, and some of the benefits of it.

What Is Microblading?

Microblading is essentially the newest way to get semi-permanent makeup to simulate natural looking eyebrows. It is a superior method to eyebrow tattooing because it utilizes a technique that offers a much more natural looking appearance. The procedure’s results can last anywhere from one to two years depending on various factors including how well the results are maintained, skin type, and sun exposure.

How Is the Procedure Done?

Typically, you are going to require two to three appointments in order to finish the procedure entirely. When it comes to the initial application, the color that you end up using is always going to appear darker than it will turn out to be. The color will naturally fade as it settles to allow for a much more natural looking application. The procedure requires only anesthetic cream applied to the eyebrow area and the technician utilizes the microblading technique in order to inject the ink on the surface level of your skin. Because the pigment is not injected deeper into deeper layers of your skin, it fades naturally and offers a much more natural appearance overall.

Benefits of Microblading:

1. Semi-Permanent

One of the main reasons a lot of people invest in this new treatment is because it offers semi-permanent results that you can enjoy for a long time. Typically, you can get anywhere from 1 to 2 years out of the procedure on average which is going to be enough for most. The results will vary based on your skin type, how you care for your skin, and how much exposure to sunlight you get.

2. No Maintenance

While you will be better off taking good care of your skin post-treatment, it is going to eliminate a lot of the tedious maintenance that you would normally have to put into your typical makeup routine. Having a no maintenance option makes caring for your eyebrows much easier and it completely eliminates having to worry about doing your eyebrows in the morning which can save you a lot of time each day.

3. No Pain

While pain is purely subjective, you are not necessarily going to have to worry about suffering through a painful procedure no matter what. This is because the anesthetic cream is used prior to conducting the procedure which will allow you to experience all of the benefits of microblading without having to suffer from any sort of pain.

4. Natural Looking

Another benefit that you are going to be able to get from investing in this procedure over the other options is the ability to get natural looking results rather than the unnatural results that you might get from alternative treatments.

Overall, there are a lot of different reasons you might consider investing in microblading. Not only is it a safe option that is going to offer long-lasting results, it is also a relatively painless procedure that can truly improve the overall look of your eyebrows day in and day out. It is something that is worth looking into if you are looking for great looking results from your eyebrows. By investing in microblading, you will be able to eliminate the need to regularly maintain your eyebrows for a long time.

Angie Byboth
Angie Byboth
Angie Byboth owns Permanent Makeup Arts and specializes in correcting permanent makeup procedures and has a Master Certification in permanent makeup through AIIC, and also has a BS in Bio-medical science.

Permanent Eyeliner Pros and Cons

Everyone wants to look their best, and many women achieve this by applying makeup. Makeup can be used in enhancing beauty, but it also means spending a lot of time applying the makeup, and also ensuring it is perfect. This is why permanent makeup has become popular. If you check out Instagram, you will see thousands of photos of women who have permanent makeup. More and more people are able to find it much more convenient, and they don’t have to worry about it coming off. There are many different types of permanent makeup, but the ones that have become common are permanent eyeliner, tattooed eyebrows, and lip liner pigmentation.

 

There have been many people praising permanent makeup and there are those who don’t like it. This is because like anything else, it has its pros and cons. When used well, it can help you in bringing the best out of your look. It is important to avoid going overboard because it is long term, and you will need to stick with the mistakes for some time. It is also important to choose the right expert to perform the procedure, or else you end up regretting a lot. What are the pros and cons of permanent eyeliner?

Permanent Makeup Pros

The main reasons women do this is to save time. This means you will not have to do the process every morning when you wake up, and this will save you a lot of time. You will be able to have the perfect eyeliner, without having to put any time into it before getting out of the house.

When done right, nobody will be able to know that you had permanent makeup. The main thing to be considered when doing this is ensuring the results are subtle. You don’t want anybody that sees you know that you applied permanent eyeliner. This is why it is important to choose an experienced beautician who will be able to provide you with great results that are hard to know they are permanent.

You will have the same eyeliner the next morning, which means you will be looking the same every day. When you apply eyeliner, how it turns out today might not be the same as tomorrow. Permanent eyeliner means you remain the same, even if you decide to travel abroad. When in the market for eyeliner products, you might not be able to find the one you are using, which means the final results will be different.

Permanent eyeliners can be perfect for people who usually have allergies to makeup, or those with movement impairment making it hard to apply makeup, like people. This gives them the chance of looking great, without having to struggle to put on makeup.

Permanent Makeup Cons

As much as permanent eyeliner has benefits, there are some issues. Most of the cons can be avoided by choosing the right beautician and doing a little more research. Many people jump without knowing what they are getting into, and then they end up regretting when things don’t go their way.
The process of applying permanent eyeliner means it is done near the eye, and there are some cases of people having their eyes burnt by the numbing cream accidentally entering the eye. This can be very painful and will cause a lot of discomfort for months. Skilled technicians must have proper knowledge of the use of an anesthetic to numb the pain – especially when it comes to places close to delicate areas like eyes.

If you are considering getting permanent eyeliners, always choose an experienced expert, even if they charge a little more. There is no need to spend a lot after the procedure.

Recy Wang on InstagramRecy Wang on Pinterest
Recy Wang
Recy Wang
Recy is the owner of Perfection Permanent Makeup and has been doing permanent cosmetic treatments for over a decade. She served as a consultant for the prestigious Fengguan Beijing Plastic Surgery hospital and within 2.5 year had secured the position of lead consultant for permanent makeup.

Do Optometrists Treat Medical Conditions?

Having practiced for many years as an eye doctor in Sarasota, I am often asked about the scope of practice of an optometrist by patients who have never been to one. In general, a patient is going to go to a clinic and book an appointment to get their eyes checked. This can include an eye exam or a detailed diagnosis of an eye condition. However, one of the questions some have is about who to see for certain medical conditions.


What Conditions do Optometrists Treat?

Let’s begin with the basics when it comes to an optometrist and what they are responsible for.

A qualified optometrist will be able to help with a variety of medical conditions such as checking your eyes to see what is going on and they can help with your vision if it is not as good as it used to be or if a new prescription has to be written for your contact lenses or eyeglasses. The cases are going to vary but the specialist will be able to take care of these issues. Their responsibilities can also include providing an initial diagnosis of any eye-related symptoms that are being seen in patients.

Treating Medical Conditions

This is a multi-faceted question when it comes to treating medical conditions. People often assume an optometrist cannot treat medical conditions and that is incorrect. In fact, there are many conditions that an optometrist may treat. It is going to depend on the case and that is only determined after an appointment has been set up. The specialist is going to take a look at the eye to see what is going on and how they can help. With any case that is based around the eye, an optometrist will be able to assist and can prescribe something for the patient. However, the same does not apply to conditions that are not based around the eye and that has to be kept in mind.

If a patient comes in and wants to speak to an optometrist about their heart, they will not be able to help and are going to ask the patient to visit a specialist for the heart. An optometrist is qualified to help with anything that is associated with the eye and this can include conditions that are away from the actual eye. For example, a patient may be dealing with an immune condition and is going to need treatment for eye-related symptoms, which is when they will take the time to visit an optometrist.

It is always best to speak to a specialist as they can make the best assessment of a patient’s treatment plan.

Ophthalmologists

This is an eye specialist that has more advanced medical training and will have gone to medical school and internship before becoming a specialist. This is a professional that is able to provide a range of medical treatments including cataract surgery, or other surgical procedures that have to be done on a patient based on their case history. All of these details are discussed between the optometrist and ophthalmologist if a referral was made at the time. In general, an optometrist will pass on the case to an ophthalmologist for complex cases.

These are the details to think about when it comes to making an appointment with an optometrist and what they are able to handle. Of course, in most situations, an optometrist will have basic qualifications to help patients with a diagnosis and referral to a specialist, but a specialist may be able to give a more precise diagnosis. If you need assistance in choosing the correct provider, then the smart thing to do is to book an appointment with a family physician and ask for a referral to the appropriate specialist.

Susan Sloan, O.D.
Susan Sloan, O.D.
Dr. Sloan is a Sarasota optometrist and has been recognized as an expert optometrist in the field of contact lenses. Fitting gas permeable, soft lenses, bifocal, astigmatism, 1 day contacts, and tinted contacts for cosmetic and also for traumatic eye disfigurement, virtually any contact need or situation can be handled.

Will Health Insurance Will Be Cheaper Now That There Is No National Healthcare?

You might have heard from your health insurance agent that healthcare will be cheaper now that there is no national healthcare. Although it is true that things are almost always cheaper in a free market economy, there are still some corrections to make regarding the assumption that national healthcare is totally gone.

For starters, there never has been a universal healthcare plan. Second, some are assuming that the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare (or to some, the Unaffordable Care Act) is no longer in place, but it in fact continues to be a central aspect to the medical insurance sector. Despite Republican promises to repeal and replace it and having control over both houses of Congress and the White House, they have failed to kill the legislation which has also survived numerous lawsuits against it too.


While the growth rate of medical insurance premiums seems to be slowing or stabilizing a moderate amount, possibly due to the increased coverage and mandates of the Affordable Care Act, the fact of the matter is that costs for health insurance continue to rise under the program. In many cases you need coverage to keep medical care affordable, but now also to avoid fines and fees that are stipulated with the ACA legislation. With national healthcare actually increasing the cost of care for many Americans, there are other ways you can minimize your health insurance premiums too. Keep reading to learn some of them.

1) Live Healthy

There are many benefits to living healthy. One of them is possibly lowering your health insurance premiums. Regular exercise, healthy diet, smoking cessation, and avoiding heavy drinking are all things that many insurance plans reward for. That’s because you’re less of a risk.

2) Shop Around

You probably already shop around for the cheapest car insurance. Why not do it for health insurance? The Marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act makes this a one-stop shop, although not all plans are listed here. Also remember that you can only get health insurance during the national open enrollment unless you have a qualifying event in the meantime. Otherwise, you’ll have to resort to temporary or short-term insurance plans, although these won’t typically avoid the taxes and penalties of not having full coverage.

3) Pick A Plan with A High Deductible

Insurance plans that have higher deductibles usually have lower premiums. A deductible is typically what dollar amount you are required to pay towards hospital, doctor, and medical bills. However, a high-deductible plan isn’t always universally applicable. If you are typically healthy and don’t get ill a lot, you can probably do this. However, you should avoid this if you have a history of requiring medical care.

4) Get A Policy Early in Life

Premiums sometimes depend on your age. If you can land a policy in your 20s, you’d pay less than landing the same coverage when in your 50s.

5) Take Advantage of Employer Coverage

Health insurance is a benefit of many full-time positions, and even some part-time, seasonal, temp, and contract positions. If your own employment provides health insurance of any kind that is a benefit you don’t have to pay for, you should certainly consider taking advantage of it. Even if you do have to contribute something of your paycheck to it, it might still be cheaper than what you could get on your own. Also check to see if you’re possibly covered under the benefits of a spouse or family member.

6) Don’t Sneeze at Partial Insurance

You might not like your employer insurance because its coverage is not as broad as you like, but if you use supplemental insurance alongside another plan, you might be able to pair things up enough to be protected.

Mark Citsay on Facebook
Mark Citsay
Mark Citsay
Mark Citsay is a State Farm Insurance sales agent in Las Vegas, NV. He specializes in Auto, Home, Life, and Health Insurances.

What To Expect During Your First Visit To A Chiropractor

For most people, the idea of visiting a chiropractor for the first time can be a little bit intimidating. It is hard to understand what to anticipate if you have never had chiropractic work done before. Learning more about what went down at a typical appointment can help take a few of the mystery out of the equation, making you feel much more comfortable when you are in.

If you initially reach the office, one of the primary things that you will be motivated to do is usually to fill in several various forms. The 1st form asks for information regarding your medical history including any pre-existing conditions that you have or any major surgical procedure you have had done in the past. The second form ask concerning your current symptoms. Typically, the questions will have you provide information on where the pain can be found, in the event it started, how severe it is actually, and what sorts of activities help it become better or worse.

When your paperwork is done, you will be taken back for your initial exam. In this exam, the chiropractor will usually begin by checking your blood pressure level and testing your reflexes. They are going to then examine the affected region, checking your flexibility, examining your muscles tone, and looking for almost any muscular, skeletal, or neurological issues that could be contributing to the trouble.

Depending on the condition, they can also take x-rays to acquire a better concept of what is going on. Sometimes, they could request bloodwork, at the same time.

After they have completed the exam, they will be able to reach a diagnosis. Based upon this diagnosis, they can then develop a treatment solution for you that addresses your specific condition. Generally, you have got to come back for a number of treatments in the future to help resolve the situation over time.

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