All Useful Tips for Your Dog.

5 Puppy Training Tips For A Better Dog

2008-11-13T10:20:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't love a puppy? They are cute, fluffy, and playful. However, don't let those innocent puppy eyes fool you - all puppies grow up to be dogs, and puppies growing up without the benefit of puppy training often grow up to be bad dogs. Here are some easy tips for puppy training to make the transition from puppy to dog easier on both of you. 1. Puppies grow up - act accordingly. Many puppy parents hold off on puppy training because, after all, they are just puppies. They think that puppy antics are incredibly cute. However, every time your puppy does something, remember how big your puppy will be as an adult. While a 10 pound lab puppy might be cute playing tug of war with your pant leg, chances are it won't be nearly as cute when your 100 pound adult lab does the same thing. Basic puppy training means setting guidelines about appropriate behavior from the first day home.

2. Make the crate a second home. Another part of puppy training is to give the puppy his or her own space. The easiest way to do this is with a crate. The crate provides the puppy a place to sleep, a place to keep the puppy safe when you are not around, and an easy way for you to travel. Puppies do not like to go to the bathroom where they sleep, so a crate can be a very useful tool when doing puppy house training. The crate should be large enough that your puppy can stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably, but not so large that he or she can poop in one corner and lay down in another. Do not leave puppies in the crate for extended periods of time - a puppy can hold his or her bladder for about as many hours as it is months old.

3. Never hit a puppy. It is a common misconception that hitting a puppy is part of puppy training. However, hitting a puppy during puppy training more often than not will lead to only one of two things - a dog that is afraid of you or a dog that is aggressive. Neither is the desired result of puppy training, and this will lead to a dog that does not make a very good pet.

4. Make puppy happy for coming. Getting puppy to come to you when called is one of the first puppy training steps that you should take. Doing this step of puppy training will have many uses - it will allow you to distract puppy from wrongful behaviors, it will allow you to find puppy if it becomes lost, and it can keep puppy from dangers activities like running into traffic. During puppy training, reward puppy every time he or she responds and comes when called. Small treats and lavish praises and pats will teach puppy that coming when called is a good thing.

5. Socialize. An integral part of puppy training is training your puppy the proper behavior around other dogs and people. Take puppy out often, exposing him or her to new situations and new people and pets. Reward the puppy for desired behavior, and reinforce simple commands like sit and stay. Remember to stay calm, as puppy will read your emotions and act accordingly. Starting puppy training early will lead to a lifetime of good times with your dog.

Copyright (c) 2008 Cheap Puppy Pads

By: Nick Luvera

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Cheap Puppy Pads offers super absorbent puppy pads that take the hassle out of house training puppies. Great for puppies and for older dogs that are incontinent. Once the dog is accustomed to using the pads, they can be placed outdoors to encourage dogs to potty outside. Also, be sure to visit our site to sign up for free weekly dog training tips.

Dog Training Tips

2008-11-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

Considered “man's best friend,” dog training professionals have been disseminating more knowledge on how to make this animal live up to that title.

Here are tips that one should keep in mind in training his dog more easily.

Digging Behavior

Dogs, as social beings, consider digging as their outlet when they are lonely. Nutrient deficiency may also cause this digging. Also known as pica, they sometimes eat the dirt they dig to supplement their health. Spending more time with your dog and giving him a health check will keep his digging behavior at bay.

Potty Training

For dog potty training, a reward-based method will prove to be a very rewarding endeavor. Giving it a bit of dog food when it performs a good potty behavior will make it easier for it to remember the good thing that it did.

Repeat and Repeat

Considerable repetitions will give your dog ample time to grasp the command. Consistency is the name of the game. After doing enough repetitions, not helping him with the routine will test if the dog really got it. Three successful attempts in a row is a fine gauge in defining if it's just a fluke or if the dog has actually understood the drill.

Direct and Correct

Communicate to the dog how the drill should be. Be clear on what you want the dog to do. Just commanding the dog without correcting him if he did it wrongly is not advisable.

Timing is Gold

Timing means that you should consider the age of the dog when considering how to deal with him. It is best to train dogs while they are still puppies. Always remember that “old dogs can't learn new tricks” saying.

Be More Stubborn Than the Dog

Establishing rapport to the dog must always be in this order: you as the alpha dog (authoritative) and him as the submissive being. Show any sign of fear when he snaps back and you damage that rapport. Don't let the dog not complete the exercise. This will teach the dog to just hold out long enough for you give in to his preferences.

Be A Good Actor

Provide your puppy with an outlet for his chewing urges. Also, you may practice yelping loudly when your pup starts to chew on you. After yelping, fold your arms and for 10 minutes consider ignoring him. That response is the thing that happens when a pup becomes too rough on other puppies. But depending on your puppy's personality, he may react otherwise, such as biting more. In this case, use a more aggressive approach.

By: Jack Russell

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Jack Russell is a a long time dog fancier, visit his Dog Resources Blog and download his Free Dog Owners Handbook - it's Dog Gone Good! www.daveshealthbuzz.com/dogcare/

Handy Training Tips For Dogs

2008-11-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

Training a dog can be done relatively easily, despite what some people believe. You simply have to keep a few training tips in mind. You must teach the dog that you are in charge, and not him. You must also use a tone that exudes superiority and confidence. Lastly, you absolutely must be consistent in your training methods. Learn to master these three tips and your dog will learn whatever you want to teach him.

You’re in charge. Even when you see your dog’s adorable face, you must keep in mind that you are the one giving commands and your dog must obey your commands. If you’re too soft with your dog and let him be in charge, your rug, shoes and many other belongings will likely suffer. That’s not mentioning the other people who will be affected by your dog’s lack of good manners. Set boundaries and let your dog know what is and isn’t appropriate. Use appropriate tone of voice and gestures like pointing.

Be strict. You know the expression “give an inch and take a mile”? That’s exactly what will happen to your dog if you are not consistently strict. Dogs can sense if you are being strict by your tone of voice. Be strict and use appropriate tone when you order him to stay in the yard. If you want to go out for a walk, you don’t have to use the same tone. Be enthusiastic instead. If your dog starts running away, be strict again and he’ll understand who’s in charge.

Be consistent. You must maintain a certain consistency in intonations, gestures and words when dealing with your dog, otherwise, the dog will get confused. Always use the same commands and always act the same way when he does something that is unacceptable. By being consistent, your dog will become better trained, which will improve your confidence in your training skills. The more confident you are, the better trained your dog will be! You can also establish consistency in your actions by always using the same door to take the dog out or by always using the same nighttime routine.

By being in charge, strict and consistent, you can better train your dog and better predict his behavior. Don’t forget to show your love and affection for your dog as well! Treat your training sessions as games and reward him for his good actions.

By: Daniel Waser

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Daniel Waser is a dog lover since his childhood. He has a lot of experiences with dogs. Visit his website for more information about Dog Health Problems or get his latest Dog Training Tips.

My Favorite Dog Training Tips

2008-11-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

A few sources echo similar techniques that ensure success when training your dog. After scouring the web and throughly researched the issue, I have tried many tips and found a few that actually yield results.

Always reward good behavior. It may seem obvious however, many pet owners find themselves unconditionally pleased with their pet. For instance it may be easy to notice a behavior such as laying down and rolling over as adorable and reward the animal with attention and positive feedback. Other situations it may be less obvious that your dog is actually carrying out desired behavior. When potty training, after a long day when your dog eliminates outside for instance, make sure you do not abandon the dog at this time, remind it that it is doing the right thing verbally.

Never reward undesired behavior. A dog will learn with consistency and love. Don't fall for cute tricks. Only encourage desired behaviors. Follow through with commands. If you instruct your dog to do something, make certain that it does. In other words, do not give commands that you are unwilling to take the time to enforce. Follow through with your instructions even if you have to physically, gently of course, place the dog in what ever position you stated. If this is consistent your dog will learn much more quickly and be obeying you in no time.

Proper exercise. When given a chance to expend energy and the freedom to walk or run your dog will behave much differently in the home. This is crucial to a having a healthy pet as it is a fundamental need of the animal. Although dogs are domesticated they still flourish when outdoors.

Avoid double commands. Do not instruct two things at one time. It is beneficial to your dog to be able to follow through with a command and then be rewarded. Multiple commands are fine as long as they do not overlap.

These are just a few of my favorite dog training tips. Ever since I started I've noticed a world of difference. They are simple, to the point, and effective..

By: Margareta Setijoso

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

I certainly hope that you find this article useful as i expected it to be. Visit Margareta's blog and site about how to Successfully Train Your Dog To Behave and Dog Training Tips for more information.

The Secret To Understanding Obedience Dog Training

2008-11-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

The Secret To Understanding Dog Obedience Training

Dog obedience training is important for a number of reasons and the reasons can vary depending on what type of home the dog has been placed in and the personal preferences of the dog's owner. This training is not about giving commands and pushing dogs to work hard instead of enjoy life, it's quite the opposite. The training is vital to the safety of the dog, his handler, and those around him.

Obedience training doesn't solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem. Obedience is about you having a relationship with your dog and the dog responding to you. Obedience sessions can sometimes cause you to question which of you is the more intelligent, but it's important to keep at it. It is accomplished using a balanced approach which includes rewards as well as corrections.

Some behavior problems are often related to dominance issues with dogs. Signs of behaviors that exhibit dominance are nipping and mouthing, growling and/or baring teeth especially when asked to give up a resting place, food or a toy. A handler may decide to use force, however the standard used by most trainers is the minimum amount necessary to inhibit the unwanted behavior. Most training revolves around establishing consequences for the dog’s behavior.

Basic pet obedience training usually consists of 5 behaviors. Walking on leash is one of the biggest problems faced by a lot of dog owners. When properly done you can expect a life with your dog where you have the ability to not only have your dog not get into the garbage, jump on you or drag you down the street, but also a dog who is able to walk calmly at your side regardless of distractions both on and off leash.

If the dog does not understand this or the human is not acting as the leader, the dog will assume the role. A handler must understand communication from the dog. Punishing a dog who does not understand what is being asked of him is not only unfair to the dog, but can make the dog fearful or unwilling to cooperate.

Dog obedience training is an attempt to establish a firm relation between the dog and the dog owner. Dog obedience training is especially important in today's world, when people take their dogs everywhere. Dog obedience training is an essential for dog owners to help their animal to be a better companion.

By: Allen McDaniel

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

For a complete list of secret dog training tips that the dog training professionals don't want you to know, visit www.dogtrainerpro.info

Free Dog Training Tips: Easy Steps To You Leading The Pack Part 3

2008-11-07T08:17:00.000-08:00

Be a leader, a dog will follow.

From the last two articles, remember King and his dominant dog behavior? King was the leader of his pack -- Mom, Dad, 2 kids. King set the rules in the house and didn’t hesitate to enforce them, with growling, snapping, and even biting. I introduced 3 simple dog training steps to help you begin to take the leadership role back from King.

Then there was Queenie and her family (especially Mom), who gently took the leadership position. Queenie learned dog manners and wonderful dog behavior through Mom’s gentle but firm positive dog training methods and her consistency in teaching Queenie house rules. Queenie was eager to learn and to please and received lots of praise and tons of treats. With humans as pack leaders and dogs as pack members (preferably at the bottom of the hierarchy!), the whole household is calm and happy.

Let’s talk about your household. Your angel might not be as dominant or aggressive as King, and you may have worked with her some but not quite enough to have a dog similar to Queenie. Time is sometimes a factor -- with our lives as busy as they are, sometimes it’s difficult to make time to for even short periods of dog training. But if you’ll give it a little effort, the payoff will be tremendous. You can change your dog's behavior in no time at all.

I want to give you a few more new recommendations for regaining leadership in your pack. But first, I want to review some of the ones found in the first two articles. For the complete list, go to http://www.best-dog-articles.com.

SOME REVIEW STEPS

Get their attention first -- say Fido’s name before you say the command.

Be kind -- Use a gentle voice, give commands and direction calmly and lovingly.

Let’s play -- YOU start and end all games. Keep them wanting more.

Let’s EAT -- YOU eat before feeding the dog.

Praise, praise, praise -- Pour on the praise for good dog behavior and good manners.

NEW STEPS

1. Are you sick?!

One of the first concerns with new or unwanted behaviors (e.g., excessive urination) is a health concern. Get a vet check to address any health concerns that might cause behaviors your dog has no control over.

2. Down every day!

Put your dog in a "down" position for 5-10 minutes every day. This reinforces for your dog that you are the leader. Beginning this program may involve many jump-ups. Just gently and firmly put the dog back down. (No need to restart time.) You will notice that the breaks of command quickly fall away. It’s fine for your dog to sleep through this one!

3. Do that AGAIN!

Dogs love routine. They have incredible internal clocks. One activity that dogs love and that routine is important is mealtime. I suggest feeding dogs two times a day (no running buffet) within an hour window each time (e.g., 7-8AM and 5-6PM). Watch your dog -- if you do something regularly, they come to expect it and act appropriately. Other activities that can become routine are morning or evening walks, Saturday errands, the time you come home from work. If it’s a regular thing, your dog knows it’s going to happen.

4. Brush, brush, brush the coat!

One activity you both can enjoy is grooming. Daily gentle grooming reinforces a loving relationship with your dog. This can become prized private time for both of you.

5. Through the paces-- Every day!

Obedience training is very important to do every day, even for 5 minutes at a time. Try to avoid the military commando approach. Be consistent and kind, get your dog’s attention first, praise, praise, praise for his willingness and compliance to your commands. Practicing obedience reinforces that you are the leader.

CONCLUSION

That’s it! You now have the arsenal for regaining the leadership position in your pack and getting some good dog behavior practices in place. Emphasizing the positive in your dog training efforts pays off exponentially -- your dog will be your friend for life and won’t be scared of you. When you establish yourself as leader, dogs respect you and will work so hard to please you. Take the time to get these easy steps into your daily routine and watch the changes magically occur.

Wishing you a calm and happy adventure with your canine companions.

By: O'Neal Hendrix

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

O’Neal Hendrix is a premier professional dog trainer in Atlanta, GA. For many years, she has "worked miracles" with dogs and their owners. Check out her dog toy recommendations for all dog breeds and temperaments!

Dog Training: Tips And Tricks To Stop Your Dog From Digging In Your Yard

2008-11-06T10:08:00.000-08:00

It’s downright infuriating to look out the window and see Buddy digging another hole in the yard. You yell out the window; he may or may not even acknowledge he’s heard anything; then back to the digging. This dog behavior has got to stop.

WHY DOGS DIG.....

Did you ever stop to think WHY Buddy digs? (except to make you mad!). This is the real trick – to figure out why he’s digging in the first place, the motivation behind the dog behavior. Then you can take dog training steps to discourage it, redirect that energy and possibly stop it completely.

1. I’M BORED!

Location: Digging along the fence lines and at the gate.

Why? He is bored and wants to get out for some action.

Solution: Provide more exercise for your dog, both physical and mental. The more exercise the better, according to your dog. A tired, happy dog will rest nicely between great outings.

2. I’M HOT!!

Location: Digging along the edge of the house or shallow "pits," especially in the heat of the summer.

Why? Your dog is most likely creating a cool spot in the cool under-earth. If under the porch, he’s creating a den.

Solution: Check to make sure you are providing fresh cool water throughout the day and night.

Is there adequate shade to protect your dog from the hot sun? Is good air circulation available or possibly a nice breeze? Or is the space filled with stagnant air?

Provide plant life (trees, bushes) for shelter from the hot sun. Cool grass keeps the ground heat down.

3. IT’S JUST MY NATURE!

Sometimes it’s the breed of dog, not so much the environment. Some breeds tend to be burrowers -- hounds, huskies, malamutes are a few examples.

Solution: If this is the case, work with your dog to agree on a place he can do his thing and camouflage it with something like plants or fencing.

4. I LIKE IT!!

Some dogs just like to dig, and dig they will, no matter how much you yell and scream.

Solution: Create and help them with the ideal digging place -- a sandy blend with hidden treasures that reward digging at that spot. Having a prepared area encourages the digger to focus the digging to the area you set up in an out-of-the-way place. Remember to keep the area stocked with assorted treats and toys.

TO FILL OR NOT TO FILL ..... EXISTING HOLES

The second part of the story is.....

What to do with the holes that keep reappearing, no matter what you do? Have you back-filled holes dug by your dog only to find them dug again, over and over?

When this happens, the next stage of hole-filling is called for.

You might think this next step it involves yelling at your dog, or rapping on the window. Nope. Are you really going to stand and stare out the window hoping to correct the situation while it’s happening (which would be the only way to really correct it using this method)?

TECHNIQUES FOR "FILLING" HOLES

There are two better techniques to encourage your dog to rethink digging that hole.

The easier of the two is to fill the hole until almost full. Mix the last portion of dirt with dog poo, pinecones, moth balls, or other repelling non-harmful substance. The next time your dog arrives for the big dig, he quickly finds the game has changed. Most dogs quickly change their behavior.

The second method is more time consuming but effective. Cut a section of chicken wire or similar to cover the hole plus 8 inches or more. Dig a hole a few inches deep that surrounds the hole and will fit the wire shape.

Fill the hole and then press wire in place and cover with dirt. Pack the area well, particularly around the wire edges. When your dog returns, the wire will stop his digging progress.

If along a fence line, secure the wire to the fence along the inside of the fence, just a short distance from the ground. When the wire gets to the ground, keep going vertically a short distance underground. Then bend the wire so the bottom is perpendicular to the top (forms an L). Bury the horizontal part underground inside the fence, pointing away from the fence. When your dog digs he is stopped by the wire and his weight on the earth helps keep the wire in place. The result is the dog gives up on that area.

Pretty cool, huh?!

CONCLUSION

We humans see digging as bad dog behavior. Dogs don’t, and they dig for different reasons. If you can figure out why they’re digging, you can put dog training steps in place to stop it. Some dogs dig, that’s what they do. Set them up a space to dig and you both win!

Try these dog training techniques to change unwanted dog behavior. They seriously work.

By: O'Neal Hendrix

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Free Dog Training Tips: Easy Steps To Leading The Pack

2008-11-04T09:07:00.000-08:00

Be a leader, a dog will follow.

Hum, what does that mean?! Simply put, if you lead the pack, your dog will follow you to the ends of the earth. Some basic and easy adjustments in your dog training routine can result in huge changes in dog behavior. The simple truth is...dog behavior is a result of human behavior. That is, your dog reacts to you. If you take the time to teach your dog appropriate behavior, and you are consistent in reinforcing it, your dog will work so hard to please you. One key to changing and reinforcing new dog behavior is using positive dog training methods. This article introduces some basics in beginning to get some respect from your dog.

Dogs are pack animals, and they want a leader to tell them what to do and what dog behavior is appropriate. If you don’t step up as leader, your dog, no matter how big or small or cute and fluffy, will take over as leader (not just of other dogs, but of you, your spouse, your kids, the cats, and anything else that moves and breathes). This is not the ideal situation, as you can see from the following example.

The Franks are a real family where the dog runs the house. King didn’t want the role of leader, but no human stepped up as leader so he felt he had to. His "pack" consisted of dad, mom, and two kids. Being leader was a big job--keeping track of the pack, teaching them the rules (which King made up), and enforcing the rules was a 24-hour job. He successfully taught the family to stay away from his food and toys (growling and snapping when they got too close), not to disturb him if he was napping in main traffic areas like the middle of the kitchen floor, that certain pieces of furniture were his and his alone, and that he decided who got to come into the house. The young boy became a playmate whom he could nip and jump on; the older child and the parents were there to care for him. Any infractions of these "rules" were quickly and severely disciplined by King with growling, biting, snapping, baring teeth.

If King’s household is like what you experience in your family, we’ve got some gentle and positive dog training tips to help you take back your leadership role.

Put these simple steps into your dog’s daily life and watch the dog behavior changes. Each of these steps shows your dog that YOU are the leader. Let’s start simple, with 3 very basic and easy (for you) new dog training ideas. Once you’ve mastered these, in the next article, I’ll introduce several more.

1. Show me your tummy!

Make it a positive experience for your dog to roll over for that yummy tummy rub. This submissive posture indicates a deferment to your leadership.

2. Praise, praise praise!

Praise for being a good dog. Any dog behavior you like and want to keep, praise it and give a small treat occasionally. This focus on what you want is much more successful than a focus on what you don’t want. No free treats or praise for the dominant dog. If your dog wants to be petted, have him sit first! Everyone wins and the dog is learning manners at the same time.

3. Get out of the way!

A leader gets respect. For Scout, that means no lying in high traffic areas (hallways, middle of living room or kitchen), no sitting on your feet, and no refusing to move out of the way. Gently scoot your feet in the direction you want to go while using excited tones and waving your hands to get him up and moving.

For a dog, trying to live with everyone "just getting along" does not work. Dogs live in packs with hierarchies, not democracies. Remember, no human leadership means Fifi will take over and set the rules. It’s time for you to step into the leader position. If you do, you will notice positive changes in your dog’s behavior right away. You and your dog will begin working as a team.

Be the leader--your dog will love you for it and you’ll be surprised how hard he’ll work to please you.

Get started using these 3 tips and check back in a few weeks for the next set of easy dog training steps for outstanding dog behavior!

By: O'Neal Hendrix

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

O’Neal Hendrix is a premier professional dog trainer in Atlanta, GA. For many years, she has "worked miracles" with dogs and their owners. Check out her dog training blog for her advice about everything dog!

7 Effective Dog Training Tips

2008-11-03T08:25:00.000-08:00

Many people feel that dog training is a challenge. They try to prepare for the many obstacles they feel lay ahead. The good news is, dog training can be an easy, fun, and positive experience. Just follow these 7 effective dog training tips, and you’ll see.

1. When training your dog, give him praise when he does it right. When you show your dog that you are happy with his efforts, he will be more inclined to want to please you. As you progress and reach harder milestones, you may want to wait a little longer to give the praise. In the beginning, however, it is good to do it right away.

2. Use treats. After he has worked hard, has done a few tricks, to sit or to lay on command, or has been a good sport, it is fair to reward your dog with a treat. Like people, dogs need incentive to work.

3. Do not yes or hit your dog. This is extremely ineffective and will not produce the results you want. Like people, dogs respond negatively to such abuse, and it will more than likely increase the chances that your dog will rebel. This will only make for a frustrated owner and an angry dog.

4. Be firm but gentle. Give the commands firmly while gently moving your dog into the position that you want him. The firm but gentle tactic shows your dog that you are the boss: but, it also shows that he is loved.

5. Train your dog for a couple of minutes each day: but, don’t go for too long as it will overwork the dog and cause him to feel stressed. Like people, dogs need repetition in order to grasp a new concept and can become stressed when overworked. Not to mention, if you work with your dog a couple of minutes a day, this will strengthen your friendship.

6. Help your dog to associate action with command. The way this can be done is as soon as you see your dog sit, say the word, “sit.” Do the same thing if he is lying down. This will help him to know that these certain words are associated with these actions. Do this until he gets the hang of it.

7. Do not pay attention to your dog if he is misbehaving. If you give him attention only when he is running with toilet paper in his mouth, getting in the trash, or causing any other mischief, then this is letting him know that he can get your attention when he is doing something bad.

When you train your dog, this allows your dog to feel safe and secure. Also, when your dog knows you are his leader, this can prove to be a happy environment for both you and your dog!

By: Kelvin Ho

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Are you worried about your dog's health? Make simple and healthy dog food at home with free dog food recipes at www.doggypuppyguide.com. For more dog food recipes, go to www.doggypuppyguide.com/dogfoodrecipes.htm.

4 Dog Training Tips That Work

2008-11-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

There are many, many ways to approach training your dog. You could hire out a professional trainer (expensive...ouch!). You could enroll in a less expensive class (time-consuming...ugh!). Or you could carve out the time from your own busy schedule and do-it-yourself (can you spell commitment?).

I favor doing it yourself for a lot of reasons, not the least of which is that it's the best way to get to know your little best friend. But if you're doing it yourself, you definitely don't want to waste time or effort, right? So here are 4 time-crunching, zero-wasted-effort dog training tips that will work.

1) Keep Your Sessions Short

Your pup isn't like us. He can't "force" his attention on anything for very long. So you need to capture it quickly and work with it quickly. That means keeping your training sessions short...probably never really more than 10 minutes when you're starting out. You can compensate for the short time by having multiple sessions during the day or evening....think "mini-sessions." Then, when his attention span starts to stretch, you can stretch your sessions out too. Shorter sessions actually make for faster learning.

2) Keep Your Sessions Fun

Think about this for a second. Since both you and your dog have to go through the same training together anyway, why not make it fun?

Look for ways to catch your dog "doing it right" and pile on the praise when he does. That will be fun for him and his reaction will make it fun for you too. Be positive! Smile! Laugh! Set a "fun" tone. Then don't be surprised if both you and your dog start to look forward to your sessions together.

3) Hold Your Sessions In Different Locations

Many dog owners have been successful at getting their dogs to understand and obey them over a large range of commands. Then they see it all fall apart as soon as they go to a new location. It happened to me. I had trained up one of my best buddies to the point where he obeyed me almost perfectly. The problem was, I had only trained him inside my apartment and in a small adjacent side yard. Then the first time we went to the park, WOW, it was like I had a different dog!

You see, I'd been working him out in the same surroundings and when those surrounding changed, he thought the rules had changed too. So I learned my lesson and since that time have tried to train my pets in lots of different locations. After a while they learn that the rules are the same no matter where they are.

4) Make Your Sessions Consistent

It's probably hard to believe, but your dog really wants to know his place in your world...and he's happy for you to define it. You can define it more easily for him if you're consistent.

Don't vary your training too much in the beginning. Work your lessons in the same way, the same order. Train him in the basic fundamental commands until he starts to understand and obey. Once you've established that framework, you can add more commands and a little variety. This will give him a strong comfort level about what you expect from him...and once he knows that, he'll show steady improvement.

Keep in mind that every owner/pet pair is a unique combination. And for training to be successful, they have to find their own unique "rhythm." Using these dog training tips will help you find your rhythm quicker...so you and your pooch can build a strong bond that will last for years.

Want to build an Awesome Relationship with your dog?

...check this out on The-Dog-Zone.net

By: Michael Royce

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Michael Royce is an amateur dog trainer who has lived with, trained, (and been trained by) more than a dozen great dogs in the last 25 years. He is a regular contributor to several websites and is a co-founder of The-Dog-Zone.net.

House Training Your Dog - House Training Tips For A New Puppy

2008-11-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

Once a young puppy arrives in the household, it is an exciting time for everybody. In order for the homecoming to go forward as smoothly as possible, it is a good idea to spend a little bit of time in planning.

One of the major challenges of dog ownership (in particular for first-time owners) is the issue of household training. If you outfit yourself with some fundamental knowledge and a positive mental attitude, though, it is a good deal easier than most people make it out to be.

The New arrival

As soon as you take the pup home, bring her outdoors. The excitement of the automobile journey joined with the unfamiliar faces, sights, and sounds will have her requiring to go anyway - and if you can mastermind her 1st toilet break so that it happens outdoors, rather than indoors, then so much the better. And not just from the position of short-term hygienics, either - the more your puppy relieves herself indoors, the more probable she is to do it over again.

The homecoming is a big chance for you to set a case in point for toilet conduct!

- Direct her to your assigned toilet area, and place her down on the grass.

- Hold back while she sniffs about - abstain from petting her or playing with her just yet, since you do not need her to form a connection between this area and games. She has to determine that this part of the yard is for toilet breaks exclusively.

- Once she starts to relieve herself, sound out the phrase you desire her to connect with toilet breaks: "Go pee" or "potty time" or whatever does work for you. It is better whenever the set phrase is short and easily recognizable - and use the same voice inflection each time, too (so that your dog can easily learn the meaning of the set phrase.)

- Once she is done, cause a big fuss over her: shower her in praise and warm heartedness, and give her a small goody.

When you bring her indoors the house, the house training regime you have settled on should begin at once.

As far as house training goes, crate training is more often than not accepted to be the most effective and efficient way of house training a pup in a short space of time.

What is crate training?

Crate-training is fundamentally the use of a small-scale inside dog house (the crate) to enclose your new puppy when you are not actively monitoring her.

How does it work?

Crate training is founded on all dogs' built-in disapproval of soiling the surface area where they sleep. As you are cutting back young dogs social movement to her sleeping space, she will instinctively "hold it in" until she is let out of the crate (provided you do not leave her in there too long, naturally!)

This is why it is crucial that the crate is sized the right way: if it is too large, she will be able to use one end as a bed and one end as a toilet, which defeats the entirely purpose!

How do I pick out a crate?

As a universal rule of thumb, it is more cost-efficient for you to pick out a crate that is large enough for her to develop into. It ought to be large enough for the fully grown dog to stand up comfortably without crouching, turn around in, and stretch out - but no bigger (so that she does not choose one part as her bed, and one part as her toilet!)

Since the fully grown dog is expected to be substantially larger than the puppy, it will most likely be essential for you to use a barrier to cut down the internal size of the crate. A wire grille or board will do just fine.

As an alternative, you will be able to use an inexpensive crate (or even construct one yourself) and replace it with a larger model as your pup matures.

Using the crate for house training

Crate training works like this: your pup is in that crate at all times unless she is sleeping, feeding, outdoors with you attending to the toilet, or being played with (active supervision.)

You will want to be consistent, or else it will not work: you can not allow your pup ramble off through the household unless you are centering your complete care upon her.

Whenever you permit her entree to the house before she is thoroughly house trained, you are essentially encouraging her to relieve herself indoors - and remember, for each one time she performs this, it will be easier for her to execute it again (and again ... and again ...)

Sample schedule of a morning's crate training

7am: Awaken. Puppy comes outdoors with you for a toilet break.
7.25: Breakfast time.
7.45: Back out of doors for additional toilet break (attended by you, naturally.)
7.50 - 8.45: Play-time! Puppy is out of the crate being actively played with, snuggled, etc.
8.45: Outdoors for another toilet break.
8.50 - 11: Puppy gets back in the crate for a nap
11 am: Puppy comes out of doors with you for a toilet break.
11.05 - 12.30: Playtime! Puppy is out of the crate being played with and petted.
12:30: Lunch period.
12.45: Puppy comes outdoors with you for a toilet break.
1 - 3.30: Puppy goes back in the crate for a short sleep.

... And so forth throughout the day.

Crate training usually takes one to two months (depending upon the breed of your dog and however much time you spend on the developing process.) As the pup gets older, you will be able to begin to cut back the amount of time spent in the crate - but beware of doing this too soon!

Other crate training rules

- Your puppy in all likelihood will not be too pleased to go in the crate the first couple of times she practices it. She would like to* be outside, being lavished with affection and attention, and hanging out with you (of course!) But it genuinely is for her own good - in a amazingly short time, she will come to accept the crate as her own personal haven where she can go to unwind and get a couple hours' uninterrupted rest. It is crucial to persist: don't react to any whining or crying.

- The most effective place for the crate to be is the hub of the household: generally the den or the kitchen, anyplace where people are incline to congregate. Just because she is in the crate does not mean she can't still feel like part of the household; it's significant for her not to feel detached or left out.

- The crate should be a welcoming, inviting place for her to go. Put down a couple of thick blankets or towels on the floor, and place a couple of toys and a chew or two inside it as well. The door should be invitingly open at all times (unless she is in there, of course, in which case it should be firmly closed.)

Some toilet truths about puppies that will come in handy

- Puppies' bladders and bowels are so small and weak that they've only a very small window of opportunity between knowing that they need to go, and having that need become an immediate reality. Because of this, it is imperative that you take her outdoors as soon as she awakens (she will let you know she needs to go out by pawing the doorway and whining), and inside of ten minutes of feeding or playing.

- Behaviors that suggest she needs to go out of doors include sniffing the ground and circling. Once again, because she's only little, she will not exhibit these warning signs for very long - so as soon as she starts, take her out at once. Better an unneeded trip to the yard than an unnecessary wet patch (or pile) on the rug!

- The maximum amount of time that a puppy can be crated at a time is worked out using the following equation: her age in months, plus one. Therefore, a three-month old puppy can be crated for a maximum of four hours. However, this is likely to be physically pretty uncomfortable for her (let alone hard on her emotionally and psychologically: it is tough being cramped up with nothing to do), so you should actually take her out at the least once every two hours during the day. If she is sleeping, of course, just let her sleep until she awakens naturally.

Max Young is an information researcher with a true interest in helping others find the knowledge needed to deal with everyday life.

By: Max Young

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Max Young is an information researcher with a true interest in helping others find the knowledge needed to deal with everyday life. For a further in depth look at house training, as well as a good deal of useful information on canine behavioral problems and the most effective disciplining methods, check into The Ultimate House Training Guide. It is the complete dog-house-training guide. www.squidoo.com/House-Training-Your-Dog

Dog Training Tips: Things I've Learned About Agility Dog Training

2008-10-30T08:32:00.000-07:00

I've owned many dogs, throughout my life, but have never known exactly how to train them properly. I based my training on punishment and just couldn't figure out why that didn't work that well. But, almost two years ago, I started training my Papillon for agility competition. She was extremely high-drive and I knew she'd really love it. So, I found a good agility training school and off we went. We've been competing, very successfully, for almost a year now and, looking back, I learned so many important things about dog training!

First of all, most trainers require that dogs have completed at least a basic obedience class before proceeding to agility training. This is critical to agility training and, in my opinion, every dog and handler could benefit from a basic obedience class. I learned that I have a food-motivated dog and that she will work her heart out for highly prized treats, not for punishment! There are skills you and your dog will learn, through an obedience class, such as recalls, sit/stays, down/stays, and walking nicely on a leash. Each of these skills is something you will need every time you compete, not to mention day-to-day life with your dog.

The pace of your training will always be set by your dog. Each dog learns at a different speed and, what comes easily for one dog, may not come easily for another. So, be very patient while training your dog any skill. Make it a game. Let your dog take as much time as it needs, without getting impatient or frustrated, to figure out what behavior you want from it.

All tasks must be broken down into small pieces, whether the task is a simple sit, the beginnings of obstacle training, or more complex tricks or agility sequences. If you break the task down to something small, then mark/reward and repeat, several times before making the task larger, you will have success without stressing the dog out. For example, when training an agility tunnel, you scrunch it up to its smallest form. Have someone place your dog at the entrance while you sit on the ground at the exit, with a treat, and call your dog. As soon as the dog comes through that little piece of a tunnel, you mark/reward. Slowly begin expanding the tunnel using the same technique. In just a few minutes, you'll have your dog going through however long a tunnel you need.

For agility training, once the dog begins obstacle training, there is never a wrong answer. Dogs get confused, and may shut down, if they start being told they're doing the wrong thing, so keep the training light and never scold for doing the incorrect thing. If the dog doesn't do what you want it to, you simply do not mark/reward for that action. You just ask again and, the minute you get the correct response, mark/reward and make a huge deal of it. That will make your dog more anxious to give you that same answer again. As you start competing, you might want to use a particular word to indicate the incorrect response, such as "uh oh," or "oops," but not with a scolding tone. This will indicate that the dog will be asked to try again but everything is fine between the two of you.

Lastly, always keep the training fun for both you and your dog. Even when you start competing, or have been competing for a long time, this is critical. If you start getting caught up in the competition and title-winning, you might forget why you started agility to begin with: because it's fun! When the game stops being fun, your dog won't enjoy it anymore and neither will you. Agility is a wonderful sport and will forever secure the relationship between you and your dog. Run fast, run clean, and, above all, have fun!

By: Melissa Buhmeyer

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Melissa Buhmeyer has been involved in dog agility training for two years and is co-founder of www.dogtraining-school.com/, a dog training school resource site for aspiring and professional dog trainers.

What You Must Know About Boxer Dog Training

2008-10-29T08:01:00.000-07:00

Boxer dogs are very intelligent, admirable and loyal home pets. Most people are attracted towards this breed because they are just admirable and also like them because they are intelligent and prefer having the boxer dog as their home pet dog due to their loyal nature. Boxer dog training does however require a lot of effort and attention from your part when compared to other dogs. You can start boxer dog training programs when they reach around 13 weeks old. This dog breed also learns faster compared to other dogs.

You should know that boxer dogs get bored quite fast and so you should prepare some arrangements wherein your boxer dogs is engaged the entire day. The best solution to this is to provide toys to your boxer when training them. The boxer dog would keep playing with the toys for the entire day. You can give different colours and types of toys so that he would have an option to play with the other if one toy is again boring.

You should also find some time so that you stay and play around with your boxer dog. Make sure that you do not let go the unique abilities of your dog but should encourage the dog and also help the dog to improve their abilities during the boxer dog training. If you spare some time with your boxer dog they would not feel left alone, won't get bored and they will realize that there is someone in the house to love and care for them. This would make him happy and your boxer dog will soon start learning different obedience and other skills that you teach him. You can also give your boxer dog some special training like you can train him to search for hidden things.

Apart from this you should also make sure that your boxer dog is given a proper diet when training them. Make sure that your boxer dog does not eat any food that might affect their health or make them temporary sick. You should rather opt for some special boxer dog foods which are easily available in the market as they would help in improving the strength of your boxer dog and also increase their intelligence. You should remember to always provide fresh food to your boxer dog in order to keep them healthy. Additionally you should also make sure that you wash the food utensil of the dog every time you feed them.

You should also take your boxer for a walk at least once a day. Taking your boxer dog out for a walk is really important as it helps them come across other people in the society and be obedient. The boxer dog being an intelligent breed it would soon find out any harmful or wrong happenings in the surrounding and soon protect themselves resulting in effective boxer dog training. Apart from this there are also other training methods you can use or can also send your boxer dog to special dog training programs to make an intelligent and strong pet companion.

By: Jason Rusch

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Want to know more about boxer dog training? If so take a look at my site to get a copy of my FREE report that reveals my top 5 training tips that you can put into use today! (click the blue link) Blog

Getting Dog Training Advice

2008-10-28T23:21:00.000-07:00

Dog Training Tips Online

Our website will help you in all areas of dog training and offer you up to the minute advice on what you can do to make the transition easier and to enjoy your time with your dog more. When it comes to looking after a pet dog, there are many things that need to be considered and various dog training methods are one of them. Every child wants to get a dog and the best way to start is when they are puppies. It is always great when a child and puppy can grow up together.

We want you to have a healthy, happy relationship with your dog and our dog training advice is the best way to get started on that. You will be given a huge amount of resources and dog training tips as well as what approaches you should avoid for healthy dog training. Everything you are given will be well researched, accurate and relevant and will aim to introduce you as a pet owner to the world of dogs. It gives you insight as to their behavior and the way they prefer to be trained to be obedient, clever, and friendly pets.

You are sure to find every resource and dog training advice or dog training methods we offer great for starting and maintaining your pet owning skills. You will need to create a loving and healthy environment for any dog you get and the training offered applies to all dogs, big or small. Various breeds have different kinds of training, but the general rules apply to all dog training methods.

As with any training schedule with human or pet, there will be set backs and hurdles to overcome, but with this website you will soon be able to move forward as you have the best hints and dog training advice at your fingertips to ensure success. Once you have trained your pet dog and are living together happily, you can also use these resources to help you maintain your good relationship and many of the tips will involve achieving good communication between a dog and his / her owner. First of all you will need to learn how to communicate with a dog and here you will get all the help you need so that it is pleasant to live alongside your pet.

There is nothing worse than having a dog that does not obey you and that is not well trained. You will soon be feeling helpless and overwhelmed with all the chaos. It is very healthy for a dog to be trained and the only reason they get chaotic is because they are frustrated just like a human would be frustrated if you did not teach him or her to talk. We have wonderful dog training methods and dog training advice that will also allow you to identify the main problem areas you are having with your pet and it will give you handy tips to start training them the right way.

By: Timothy Peck143 Timothy Peck143

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Timothy Peck is author of this article onDog Training Advice. Find more information aboutBasic Dog Training here.

Tips To Solve Your Dog's Barking Problems

2008-10-26T11:56:00.000-07:00

Is your dog barking? Why does a dog bark?

Having a barking dog is not easy to deal with and it can put the dog owner into embarrassing situations. You don’t want to be known as the neighbor whose dog keeps everyone awake at night. There are many other negative side effects of having a dog bark all through the night (and day). No matter how much dog owners love their dogs, loud and constant barking becomes irritating.

One way to stop a dog from barking is to use a barking collar. It’s a gentle and humane way to correct the barking problem. But before you begin a barking collar treatment, you must understand why your dog is barking in the first place.

Things to be Aware of Before Beginning a Stop Dog Barking Treatment:
A dog can bark for several reasons. If you keep your dog in a fenced off area that has a clear view of the street, loud cars, animals or noisy children, the dog will inevitably bark. If a neighbor regularly walks by and yells at the dog or scares him, your dog will bark even more. If this happens, you should try to talk to the neighbor and request that he treats your dog with respect. You can also fence off the area of the yard that offers a view on these people, animals or things.

Your dog can also bark if he is hungry, thirsty or excessively hot or cold. Dogs are like us and they need food and water. During extreme weather they also need to be able to stay indoor. If your dog has physical needs such as those just mentioned, he will keep barking until his needs are met. If your dog keeps barking after you’ve checked and dealt with all of the above possibilities, you may have to get a barking collar.

3 Types of Barking Collars to Solve Your Dog's Barking Problems:
We’ll talk about three types of barking collars, some of which may be considered humane or inhumane.

The first one is called a spray barking collar and it is one of the most popular types of barking collars. They consist of a regular collar with a device attached in the front, directly beneath the dogs' chin. Whenever the dog barks, an unpleasant scent is sprayed. Dogs don't appreciate being sprayed in the nose, and the sound made by the device when it sprays may also startle them. That being said, there is no pain associated with this treatment and it is considered humane.

Choke barking collars are a different type of collars that may scare your dog, but they are considered safe to use. The collar is designed to automatically constrict the throat whenever the dog barks. This type of collar has a sensor that detects the proper width at which to close. Although not typical, bruising has been reported in some cases. There is also a serious problem associated with collar malfunctions. Should the collar be defective, it could choke your dog to death.

Shock barking collars are the third type of collars and they are considered inhumane and cruel. They are therefore not commonly used today. In addition to giving shocks, these collars force the dogs to develop an association with the barking cause, whether it’s a thing or a person. For example, if the presence of a child causes the dog to bark, the dog associates looking at the child with receiving pain. The dog doesn’t know that it’s his barking that gives the shock, he thinks that it’s the presence of the child near him. Should the collar be taken off, the dog will remember the child and associate looking at him with the pain he received.

A Few Final Words on Barking Collars:
You already know that people don’t like barking dogs. If your dog barks too much and you've already tried other techniques to stop your dog from barking and all those techniques failed, then you should consider investing in a humane barking collar such as the spray barking collar. These collars won’t cause physical harm to your dog. Keep in mind that it’s in your dog’s nature to bark, so don't punish him for barking, simply help him correct his behavior.

Getting rid of your dog's barking problem can be done once and for all. The spray barking collars used in combination with the owner treating his dog in a proactive way can help put an end to incessant barking.

By: Daniel Waser

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Daniel Waser is a dog lover since his childhood. Visit his website for more information about Dog Health Care and download the free report "The Secrets to Raising a Happier Dog” or grab his latest Dog Training Tips.

5 Effective Dog Training Tips

2008-10-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

Whether you just got a new puppy, or you adopted an older dog, no doubt you want to train your dog to be well behaved. This can vary from house training your dog, to training your dog how to sit and stay. No matter what kind of training you are trying to do with your dog, there are some tips that can be very helpful to you. The following are five effective dog training tips that can help you train your dog in half the time.

Dog Training Tip #1 - Use Positive Reinforcement - Unfortunately there are many people who try training their dog by using negative techniques, and this is not an effective way to train your dog. Instead of yelling at your dog or giving him negative attention, it is important that you positively reinforce his good behavior when you are training him. Use praise, petting, and even treats whenever he performs well. You want the training to be fun for you and your dog, so make sure you use positive reinforcement for the best results.

Dog Training Tip #2 - Use Short Training Sessions - Just like children, dogs can be overwhelmed by a great deal of new information at one time. If you try to teach them too much in one setting, more than likely they will forget a good deal of it by the next day. It is best if you only have training sessions that last about 15-20 minutes with your dog. Every time you have a training session with your dog, try to focus on only one new command and reviewing previous commands that have been learned. This will help your dog better retain the information and training.

Dog Training Tip #3 - Use a Pleasant and Firm Voice - When you are training your dog the voice that you use is very important. You should be sure that you use a voice that is pleasant; however, you also want your voice to be firm and commanding as well. Make sure that your voice reflects that you are in control, but be sure that you do not sound mean.

Dog Training Tip #4 - Have Patience with Your Dog - If you are going to train your dog, you are going to need to make sure that you have plenty of patience. No doubt it will not be easy, but you need to make sure that you show your dog patience and not frustration. If you do not think that you have the patience to train your dog, then you may want to send him to obedience school or have someone else do it for you.

Dog Training Tip #5 - Avoid Any Distractions While Training - Another important tip to remember when trying to train your dog is to avoid any distractions while you are training your dog. If you happen to own any other pets, make sure that they are not around when you are trying to train your dog. You want the area to be free of distractions so your dog is focused on you and what you are trying to teach him.

By: Mike Laxman -

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Find out about the Innotek dog collar, how they work and the different types at Innotek dog training collars

7 Important Dog Training Tips For You

2008-10-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

Dog training provides your dog with important lessons. They can save his life and they can protect you, your family, your neighbors and your household items.

Sadly, many dogs end up at the local pound because they never learned how to adapt to life within human society. This is often because owners don't know proper dog training methods. When their dogs seem unable to make the transition, owners feel their only alternative is to let the dog go.

This doesn't have to be the case for you. All it takes is knowing the right dog training techniques that work, how to apply them effectively and where to look for help.

One of the first lessons is for you.

Make dog training fun and enjoyable for you and your dog. That way, neither of you will become stressed or frustrated. Remember that dogs pick up on your emotions, the energy you emit. If you become tense, your dog becomes upset too. In this state, he is confused and unable to learn.

It takes time for a dog to learn and retain what he's learned. He might succeed admirably on your first training session, but the next day he's just as likely to have forgotten it. He might seem to have it down for an entire week or more and then fall back into his old habits.

He has a lot to learn in his youth. Because a dog's natural instincts are far stronger than any training you might apply, it's easy for him to slip back at this early stage.

This is a normal part of dog training, but it's not impossible to overcome. Simply reassert the training as a refresher course. Don't think that he just can't learn, because he can. He proved it by getting it right the first time.

Puppies love to play and interact with humans. While this is fun to observe and experience, it can present a problem during training. For an especially exuberant puppy, make extra effort to calm him whenever he loses focus.

You can do this by helping him expel some of that energy. Chase him around the yard, toss the ball, play tug-of-war, and anything else that will drain him. After about 15-20 minutes, or when you see he's slowing down, take a 5-minute rest and then begin the dog training.

Keep your training sessions short, especially at the beginning. He'll learn much better if you keep each lesson to under 10 minutes. Take a break, an hour or so, and start again.

Here are 7 basic dog training tips that will make training fun for you and your dog.

1. Seek out trained professionals. They can shorten the learning curve for you and your pet by using only the most effective dog training methods. No guesswork, just results. Refer to any of the great dog training books that are available for proper techniques.

2. Use positive reinforcement during the dog training sessions. Negative reinforcement, such as hitting your dog, can bring the opposite results to what you're trying to achieve. As well, negative punishment can make your dog fearful and even aggressive.

3. Make it fun! Dog training doesn't have to be a gruelling task. Dogs love to please their owners, so if the learning environment is relaxed and fun, your dog will learn much more easily.

4. Use small treat rewards to help make the training enjoyable. Choose a special treat to use only for the training process when your dog has completed a lesson correctly.

5. Choose appropriate training products. Speak to your dog trainer or pet store professionals for advice on the proper product for your specific needs. For basic training, you need the right collar and leash, which can be a clicker collar or one of the different types of harnesses.

6. Remember that it will take time for your dog to absorb and understand your dog training lessons. Allow him the time he needs but also remember to reinforce each lesson by using the same methods every time. This will help his retention.

7. Know when to change your teaching method. While you'll want to stick to one method, it must be one that actually works. Try different methods until you find one that gets the results you want, and then continue to use that method.

Once you see some results, you'll realize that dog training can be a rewarding experience.

You could consider it an art form or special talent reserved for people like you who have the envious ability to connect with their dogs on a unique level.

Done well, dog training is like poetry in motion.

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Get more dog training tips!. Did you know: your dog's personality will determine the right to dog training method? Free book: Myths & Mysteries of Owning a Puppy

Puppy And Dog Potty Training Tips

2008-10-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

There's quite a selection of different dog and puppy potty training techniques you can use, but they all focus on the same outcome – which is the goal of preventing accidents in your house. A technique used in the more effective house training methods is in encouraging your puppy to do his business outside of the house. Sounds obvious I know, but surprisingly few methods actually have the positive focus.

Whichever methods you decide to use, the main requirement from you is to remain patient and focused – house training a puppy or new dog takes time, and cannot be rushed.

People often feel that older dogs cannot be house broken, but his simply isn't true. Any dog at any age can be taught how to use the bathroom outside of the house. It is important that you keep your dog on a set schedule just as you would a baby. If you are trying to train a puppy then you should take the dog outside every couple of hours and definitely the first thing in the morning, after a meal and after playtime. Puppies under the age of three months are more likely to have accidents around the house because at this age the puppy is still unaware of the fact that they have to go the bathroom until they actually go.

Therefore the crate method of house training may be needed for younger dogs. This means that the dog will be confined to the crate during the times that you are unable to watch them closely to ensure that they don't have an accident in the house. Over time, the puppy is taken from the crate and left around the house because it has learned to use the bathroom outside.

However, if you find that once you have taken your dog out of the crate and they are having accidents once again, this means that you need to use the crate method for a longer period of time. The key to the crate method is that the crate should not be used a punishment. You should make the dog aware of that fact and find another of punishing the dog for any inappropriate behavior. The crate is a place to sleep, much like a den and should be treated as such.

If you have adopted an older dog and you discover that this dog has not be properly housetrained you can still use the create method. However, you must keep in mind that this dog may require a larger crate so that they can move around and sleep comfortably. Puppies need only a small space to sleep, whereas older dogs often like to move around. If by some chance your dog does have an accident in the house it is never a good idea to hit the dog on the nose or rub his or her nose in the mess on the floor. This has been found to only confuse or scare the dog. Scaring the dog is not a method that has been found to be effective when attempting to housetrain your dog.

When training your dog you should always keep the dog's food the same until you know that you can trust the dog not to do anything in the house. Changing the dog's food suddenly can have a negative effect on the dog's digestive system, sometimes causing frequent bowel movements. If you do this before the dog is fully house broken you are sure to have a few accidents in your house.

By: Michelle Spencer

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A loving and well behaved dog will make any owner proud, but unfortunately, great dogs don't usually come out of the box that way - nope, they have owners who no doubt used the top puppy training methods and took the time and energy to understand and train them using the most effective puppy training tips.

3 Easy Dog Training Tips

2008-10-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

If you are like most dog owners, you spend considerable time training your dog and you could use a few quick and simple dog training tips. Dogs don’t normally misbehave without having a good reason. After all, they are incredibly smart and they don’t understand English so they can’t explain it to you. Here are three easy tips about dog training basics that can be useful for new dog owners as well as experienced owners.

Tip #1 – Imagine that you’re a dog and think like one.
Get in the mood and think like your dog. Easy? Well, now you know what it’s like to expect your dog to think like he’s human. If you forget all other tips but remember this one, you may do well with your dog training. In order to address misbehavior, you must understand the reason behind it. The next time you hear your dog bark a little too much, keep in mind that it’s in his primitive nature to bark when he perceives a threat or danger. You could have the best muzzle in the world or be the best communicator but nothing beats addressing the cause of the barking. You can also try to place your dog in more social situations so that it becomes less skittish around strangers. You can also give him more room to run in the backyard so your dog doesn't feel threatened.

Tip #2 - Reward your dog’s good behavior.
If you want to be a successful dog trainer, don’t emphasize punishments but rather give your dog the positive attention they crave from their owners. Positive reinforcement always provides better results in the long run. Keep in mind that dogs can’t reason the way humans do. For example, if you punish your dog for chewing on your shoes while you’re home, he may stop for now but what will happen when you leave? The dog will get bored again and start chewing on your shoes again. If you were to toss them a toy instead or punishing them, he gets attention from you and gets to play with his toy, both of which are seen as rewards for the dog. When you’re away and your dog gets bored, he may just reach for that toy instead of your shoes. Always try to reward good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior.

Tip #3 - Remember their very short attention span.
You may not be aware of it, but dogs have no attention span. Ignore the dog training tips that tell you how to address a mis take your dog made a little while back. Going back to the shoe example, waiving the chewed up shoes in their face will not mean a thing to your dog, even if they did it less than 5 minutes ago. You must catch your dog in the act in order to give a meaningful punishment and get your point across.

Keep these three easy dog training tips in mind and you'll be successful.

By: Daniel Waser

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Tough Love: Helping Your Dog Lose Weight

2008-10-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

There are a number of different factors that can cause a dog to become overweight. Overindulgence on the part of the owner plays a large part in pet obesity. We all want our pets to be happy, and sometimes an extra handful of kibble does the trick. Certain breeds of dogs are also more likely to eat quickly and/or become overweight. Additionally, basic poor eating habits and a lack of exercise will result in an overweight dog.

Why Worry About Dog Obesity?
Like humans, excessive weight in dogs can lead to health problems like diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Studies show that 25% of overweight dogs suffer from severe joint problems which ultimately lead to decreased activity, further contributing to a long-list of other health problems. Obese dogs are found to have significantly shorter life expectancies than healthier dogs. It is therefore very important to take control of a pet’s weight problem before it becomes out of control.

How Can I Tell?
To understanding whether your dog is overweight, look at its ribs. You should be able to feel your dog’s ribs when they are standing, and, depending on the breed, see the ribs during exercise. If you are still unsure whether your dog is overweight, ask your veterinarian to provide you with a good weight range for your dog and an assessment of their overall health.

Over 40% of American dog owners have an overweight pet. That is a large number but luckily there are some easy to follow, basic steps you can take to bring down Fido’s weight in a healthy and easy manner.

1. Visit The Vet
Before making any changes to your pet’s diet, schedule a veterinarian appointment so that an overall assessment of your dog’s health can be taken. Keep a simple record of your dog’s sleeping, eating, and playing habits before you go to help your vet assess what may be causing any weight gain.

2. Re-evaluate Your Dog’s Diet
Reducing the amount of food your dog eats may be the key to reducing their weight. Dog owners should measure how much food they feed their dog regularly and then set a goal for reducing that amount by a certain date. You should check with your veterinarian to determine how much food your dog needs daily and slowly reduce the amount of food over an appropriate amount of time. Dog bowls that restrict the open space in the dog bowl, such as the DogPause Bowl, are useful both for slowing down dogs who eat their food quickly and for clearly showing how much food is in the bowl.

Your vet may also recommend a weight reduction dog food. These dog foods are usually low in fat, but high in fiber, allowing your dog to feel full while taking in fewer calories. When shopping for low-calorie dog food, look for one containing at least 25% crude protein. This will ensure your dog’s muscle mass remains intact throughout weight loss.

3. Set Feeding Times
Dogs like consistency and predictability. They may have become accustomed to getting food whenever you come home. In this case, they have associated your attention with getting food. To help your dog lose weight, try setting out two feeding times, one in the morning and another in the evening. This will help them eat slower twice a day.

4. Don’t Reward With Food Alone
As you cut down on the amount you feed your dog, your dog may start to beg or become irritable. Distract your dog by taking him or her for a walk or playing fetch rather than giving into their begging. This will help teach them that food doesn’t equate with love. Plus, all overweight dogs can use some extra play time.

~Ben Anton, 2008

By: Ben Anton

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Reduce Dog Overeating: Visit the DogPause Bowl website to view the best of dog food bowls for overweight and obese pets.

The Best Dog Food

2008-10-18T09:34:00.000-07:00

Karma Organic Dry Dog Food (made by Natura Pet Products)

The best, ultra premium organic dog food is Karma Organic Dry Dog Food, as they use over 95% organic ingredients in their dry dog kibble. Although they do not have a line of canned dog food, and just sell Karma Organic Dry Dog Food, it is the best choice if you want to eliminate chemicals, artificial preservatives, unnecessary additives, meat that is not fit for consumption, unhealthy fillers and in some cheap brands - road kill.

Karma Organic Dry Dog Food is the only dog food manufacturing company that can boast the over 95% organic ingredients. It also contains 18 certified organic ingredients and is made with organic whole fruits and vegetables - not dried. And just to add the perfect touch to their all natural organic environmentally friendly philosophy, they use packaging made with 100% recyclable material. Did you know that 95% organic ingredients are considered human grade food?

They provide 100% complete nutrition, and the ingredients list starts with number one being Organic Free Range Chicken, and continues like a menu in a health food restaurant. Changing your dog from the cheap grocery store brand to this highly organic dog food can be nothing but good, and will eliminate many of the health problems, allergies and illnesses caused by the food containing fillers, pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, GMO grains and all the nasty artificial preservatives and additives.

Although this is pricier than most, money saved by reducing health problems, and just the fact that you will be extending your dogs life seem to be worth the extra few dollars.

Newman’s Own Organics Pet Food

This pet food has more than 70% of all ingredients being organic. They use human grade all natural chicken and organic brown rice, and it is supplemented with high levels of antioxidants, Ester-C and probiotics.

Newman’s Own Organics pet foods do not use herbicides, pesticides or artificial fertilizers and is not irradiated, and do not contain chemical additives or preservatives. The ingredients are handled according to strict organic standards.

Newman’s Own Organics come in a variety of sizes of dry dog and cat food, and they also offer canned dog and cat food, as well as Newman’s Own Organics Dog Treats.

The 30% of ingredients that are non organic are still high grade ingredients that are completely safe, nutritious, all natural, and free of unnecessary fillers or harmful additives.

Natural Planet Organics Dry Dog Food

Natural Planet Organics does not list the percentage of organic to non organic ingredients, but its main ingredients are organic, and the rest are all natural.

Natural Planet Organics is certified organic dog food and classified by the company as Ultra Premium. Organic free range chicken is the first ingredient listed.

They also use organic grains, organic vegetables and organic fruits.

Additionally natural antioxidants are added, along with pre and probiotics, and an excellent combination of important supplemental vitamins and minerals for optimum health. Also glucosamine and chondroitin and high levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and taurine, which are essential, are also included.

You will find there are no harmful preservatives, added chemicals or fillers, that are invariably found listed as ingredients of lesser quality brand kibble. The ingredients consist of a list that includes foods that we recognize and eat,and not a long list of chemicals. I always believe if I can’t pronounce it, I wouldn’t want to eat it. This also goes for my pets, and this organic food meets “my rule.”

This organic food is offered as dry kibble only, for dogs and cats, and well worth the few extra dollars it may cost over less natural dog food.

Choosing any of the above mentioned three best certified, organic dog foods for your pet will give you peace of mind, and you can be confident that you are feeding your pet the best that is available. You will not have to worry about compromising your pet’s health, just as you don’t compromise your own family. After all, our pets are a very important part of our family, and giving them the best advantages of health and longer lives is up to us.

By: Jane Dinunzio

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

I am an animal lover and advocate of raising healthy, happy pets, as part of the family. I truly believe this starts with proper, adequate nutrition, which in turn extends your pets life. Check out what is the best of the best for you dog here: www.recipes4gourmetdogs.com

Innova EVO Red Meat Large Bite Dry Dog Food

2008-09-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

Innova EVO Red Meat Large Bite Dry Dog Food The EVO line of pet foods have been specially designed to provide all the key nutritional benefits received from the feeding of raw food diets but with the benefits of 21st Century nutritional research. EVO Red Meat Large Bites Dry Dog Food is made from 4 alternative sources of red meat for unparalleled taste and nutrition. Only the highest quality beef, lamb, buffalo and venison - including the meat, cartilage, fat, bone and connective tissue - are used in the making of EVO Red Meat. Whole fruits and vegetables are added to supply important, health promoting nutrients that dogs would find foraging for food. Live, naturally occurring microorganisms are then gently sprayed on after the cooling process.

Ingredients: Beef, Lamb Meal, Potatoes, Egg, Sunflower Oil, Buffalo, Lamb, Venison, Beef Cartilage, Herring Oil, Natural Flavors, Apples, Carrots, Tomatoes, Alfalfa Sprouts, Garlic, Cottage Cheese, Potassium Chloride, Vitamins/Minerals, Ascorbic Acid, Dried Chicory Root, Direct-Fed Microbials, Vitamin E Supplement, Lecithin, Rosemary Extract.

How To Improve Your Dog Health?

2008-09-20T09:16:00.000-07:00

As a dog owner, you will agree that your loving dog is your
loyal and reliable friend. You treat him like your own son, make
a nice and comfortable dog house for him, buy the delicious dog
food for him and walk with him happily in the park.

He has become your best companion. You wish he grows and stays
healthy all the time. If anything happened to him, definitely
you would be devastated. You know that one day he will leave you
when he is getting older. However, just imagine how would you
feel if he died at his young age? You would be sad and regret
why you could not prevent this from happening.

In this case, you have to help your friend to live longer. Your
main concern is his health. You should help him to prevent from
suffering diabetes, obesity, allergy, arthritis, dry skin and
food poisoning.

How can you help your friend? Working closely with your
veterinarian is one of the solutions. Alternatively, it will be
a good idea if you follow the guidance from the experts in this
field. These experts have worked out their unique solutions how
to improve the dog’s health after many years of research. On
top of that, their findings will open your eyes to some very
incredible and sometimes unbelievable information why your dog
is at a much higher risk of dying prematurely.

If you love your dog, care about his health, I suggest that you
follow the guidance from the experts before it is too late for
your best friend. You can read about their guidance and
solutions at my
site.

About the author:
I have studied the topic of dog's health for about 10 years. My
goal is to help the dog owners to have better understanding of
their dog's health problem and how can they overcome this
problem.

Tips For Frustrated Dog Owners

2008-09-17T10:49:00.001-07:00

everything that you need to know about getting your dog to
actually listen to you in my free dog training
newsletter.

Dog training is not really that hard.
You have to remember that a dog only wants to please you. The
problem is getting your dog to understand what it is that you
want from him or her.

I would like to share with you
today a few important dog tips, these are things that helped me
along the path of training my furry companion:

1)
Don't Give Up Because of a Few Frustrations: Dog training is not
easy, and not something that your dog will magically learn
overnight. It is extremely important that you keep this in mind
and not give up when things don't magically fall into place
right away

2) Praising Your Dog: Praising your dog
for positive behaviors is all well and good, but I have found
that I get the best results when I include actual food treats as
well. Food really motivates my dog, and would probably motivate
yours too.

3) Stay Away From Negative Reinforcement:
If you hit your dog when they do something wrong, the only
education you are going to give them is that they should be
afraid of you. Please focus instead on praising when something
good is accomplished.

4) Make Use of Body Language
When Training: Dogs actually can read body language faster than
they hear commands. A good way to utilize this is by pairing
each command with a certain movement of your arm or hand. This
tip really worked for me.

Training a dog is a
wonderful experience, and does not need to be frustrating. I
hope you will keep these tips in mind when you start training
your dog. Good luck!

Learn everything that you need
to know about getting your dog to actually listen to you in my
free dog training
newsletter.

Latest article on website: Dog
Crate Training.

About the author:
James Jones writes regularly about pets related topics. I hope
you enjoy this article.

Prevention & Treatment Of Pet Car Sickness

2008-09-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

Motion sickness is common in both dogs and cats, however most
pet owners will readily agree that cats are the most prone to
becoming violently ill while in a vehicle. Most cats will have
some reaction to travel that can include howling, meowing,
foaming at the mouth, vomiting and turning into nervous wrecks
at the sight of the carrier and the car. Dogs, as a whole, tend
to be more accepting of car travel and typically learn to adjust
very well to traveling, even learning what the jingle of keys
means. It is possible that cats can learn to enjoy being in a
car, however most cat owners don't usually worry if the cat
doesn't travel well as they typically are only in the vehicle
when they are on the way to the vets.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that puppies
and kittens are the easiest to desensitize to being in a car, so
the earlier you start and the more positive you make the first
few car trips the more likely your pet will accept and even look
forward to those outings. Get your pet, either puppy or kitten,
used to getting into the car. With the car parked safely, hold
the little one on your lap in the passenger seat or back seat,
give a few treats and lots of praise and attention. Don't even
have the car going at first, just get them used to the physical
aspects of the vehicle. When they are comfortable with that,
take very short trips, even just around the block, providing
lots of treats and praise for just getting into the vehicle and
remaining in it while you go around the block. Always have
someone in the vehicle with you to hold and manage the puppy or
kitten while you are driving, don't try to do it on your own.
With puppies or dogs you can also make the park, beach or
countryside a short stop on the trip, building in some exercise
and a reward the dog is sure to enjoy.

Always make sure that before you put a puppy or a kitten in the
vehicle they have had a chance to go to the bathroom. If you are
scheduling the car rides, make sure they are at least one hour
after eating and after the dog or kitten has eliminated. In
addition don't allow the puppy or kitten to drink immediately
before getting into the car, rather try to have them on an empty
stomach to prevent any messes.

The puppy, kitten or adult dog or cat should always be in some
type of a safety restraint while in the vehicle. This means a
crate or seat belt, but never just loose in the vehicle. Dogs or
cats that are motion sick or anxious will naturally try to crawl
under the driver's legs or get up on their lap, posing a serious
distraction and a potential accident in the making.

If you have tried everything discussed above and your dog or cat
is still really stressed in the vehicle or seems to be sick
while traveling, talk to your vet. There are some prescriptions
medications that will help to relieve the anxiety by sedating
the pet, which can help them overcome their fear. In addition
herbal remedies are now available on the market if you don't
want to use medications. Like all non-prescription treatments
they are largely unregulated and may or may not be effective for
your pet.

About the author:
Haley Thomas is an animal lover and communicator and an editor
for www.TravelingPetGear.com - a resource for stylish gear and
information for pets on-the-go, including pet strollers, car
seats, totes, and ramps.

Dog Digs Tan

2008-09-15T10:08:00.000-07:00

Dog Digs Tan

GoGo XLarge Soft Crate 48L x 3225W x385H Tan by GoGo Pet Products

Folds down for easy transport. Complete with carrying handle. The GoGo Soft Crate is made from heavy duty water resistent canvas material with 1000D reinforced canvas corners. The bottom is made with a water resistent faux leather. The frame is made with a durable powdercoated tube frame that is easy to fold. Great for indoor or outdoor use. The GoGo Soft Crate is the absolute safest crate available.

Heated Sleeper For Your Cherished Home Pet

2008-09-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

pet beds aren't just an indulgence - they're often a
necessity, particularly for old dogs with sore joints or
arthritis, whelping puppies or animals that are sleeping
outside, in a basement or garage.

There are three specific styles of electric pet beds. These are
mats, insert warmers and complete, full-sized heated beds. To
learn more about each kind of bed, keep reading.

Heating Mats for Pet Beds

Pet owners love heated mats because they're versatile. Whether
you want to position them in a kennel, slap them on the bottom
of a dog house or just lay one over a favorite sleeping surface,
you can do it. They're also flexible for size, meaning they can
fit different sizes of animals.

Before you use a heated pet mat outside, make sure it's
certified for outdoor use. So, if you're planning to use your
pet mat in a damp garage or dog house, look for one that's made
with waterproof plastic and has an outdoor-graded power cord.
Outdoor models typically come with fleece covers, which are
fine. Just make sure you wash and dry them if they get wet or
soiled.

Pet Bed Warmer Inserts

A pet bed warmer is great for pets that like to move around. The
small insert can be moved from one bed to another. And because
it's small, it uses a lot less power than a full-sized heated
pet bed.

Pet bed warmers are small and portable, but that also means they
don't hold up well under heavy conditions. So, if you need a
warmer for the outdoor dog house or a cold basement, you may
want to invest in a heavy-grade, heated mat.

Before you buy a pet bed warmer, make sure it has a temperature
control - you want to be able to adjust the warmth so that it
doesn't get too hot. Also, look for one that can handle a little
scratching and biting.

Full Heated Pet Beds

A full-sized heated bed is the right choice if your pet likes a
cupped bed, typically referred to as a "snuggle bed." They're
sold in a range of styles and grades, depending on the size of
your animal and whether it's staying outside or indoors.

Obviously, if you're buying a heated bed to keep your Chinese
Crested Dog warm at night or you're buying one to soothe your
Great Dane's arthritis, you'd size your snuggle bed accordingly.

When it comes to purchasing heated pet beds, no one model is
better than the other. If you're looking for small and portable,
opt for the insert. On the other hand, if you prefer durability
and power, go for the mat. And if you just need a basic bed with
a little bit of added warmth, then choose the full-sized bed.

Remember, your beloved pet has needs for warmth in cold, damp
places much like people. A heated mat or bed is really a small
cost to provide a little extra comfort.

About the author:
For helpful information about pet supplies, please visit
petsuppliestips.com, a popular site about needs for your beloved
pet, such as chea
p dog crates,
health care for pets, and many more!

Pet Travel: Packing For Your Dog

2008-09-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

for your dog may seem a bit eccentric and, well, let's
face it, a bit over the top, however it really can make the
difference between a stressful and frustrating vacation or trip
and a really enjoyable experience. Although some dogs are happy
jumping in the car and heading out on the road with just their
collar and a leash, most dogs are much more comfortable when
they have some familiar items around them. In turn, the more
comfortable and relaxed your dog is the better the trip will be
for everyone. Taking a bit of time to pack your dog's travel
gear is just part of being the great owner and companion to your
pet you always wanted to be.

Deciding what gear your dog will need on the trip is largely a
function of where you are going and what you are planning to do
when you get there. Of course you will need the basic leash and
collar or harness, but you may also want to consider some
additional items such as a retractable leash or an extra long
leash or lunge line to allow your pet to exercise and roam a bit
while still staying under control. Remember you are going to be
in an unfamiliar place and even the best behaved and trained dog
may get the urge to explore, developing selective hearing
regarding your increasingly frantic calls to return. A
retractable leash for smaller to medium sized dogs is great
option to allow space and freedom while still having control of
the dog. For larger, heavier and stronger breeds a horse lunge
line is an inexpensive option for a long leash plus they come in
a wide assortment of colors and patterns.

If you have a short haired breed or a small dog and you are
taking a winter holiday to enjoy the snowy weather, packing some
dog sweaters and even dog booties may be important to protect
your pet from the cold. This is especially important if your dog
is used to being indoors most of the time or if you live in a
year round warm climate. If you want to stay conservative there
are lots of basic sweaters and heavier dog shirts and sweat
suits available at pet store or online. For those that have more
of a fashion flair, specialty dog boutiques and online stores
offer endless outdoor gear options.

A small, well equipped first aid kit for your dog is very
important. Your vet may sell pre-packaged pet first aid kits
that will typically include bandages, gauze, disinfectant,
antibacterial spray, tweezers, scissors as well as any
medication that your pet is currently taking. If your pet is on
medications be sure you have enough to provide the medication as
per the prescription for the duration of your trip.

Treats and toys should also be included in your pet packing
project and although you don't need to bring all the favorite
toys a few of your dog's top toys should be brought on the trip.
It is always a good idea to pack treats in several zip lock or
sealed bags or containers so that you can easily grab a small
bag to take on a walk or just to hand out a few treats
throughout the day. If your dog has a specialty food that is
difficult to find always pack enough for the trip if at all
possible. If the dog eats a readily available commercial brand
it is still a good idea to bring enough for a couple of meals,
just in case you have difficulty in getting to a store during
business hours.

A great way to pack your doggy gear is in a backpack that is
lightweight, waterproof and easy to carry. Some dog carriers and
crates also have cubby holes and spaces for packing, which is
terrific if space saving is important.

About the author:
Haley Thomas is an animal lover and communicator and an editor
for www.TravelingPetGear.com - a resource for stylish gear and
information for pets on-the-go including pet strollers, car
seats, seat belts, totes, tents, and life jackets.

How to Choose Pet Supplies for Your New Dog

2008-09-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

So you're ready to get a puppy or dog, but just aren't sure how
to prepare. First, think of all the pet supplies you'll need to
have already on hand before your new pet arrives. Some things
are needful now and some pet supplies can be purchased later on.

A new puppy will need a warm, cozy place to sleep that's
enclosed so he can't escape while you're away or sleeping. You
can buy a puppy crate (which is great for housebreaking), and
this will be the puppy's very own bedroom and home when not out
and about. Puppies like to feel secure and the crate helps them
to feel safe in their own special spot of the room. The crate
should be just large enough for the puppy to sleep and stand up
as well as turn around. It should not be so big that the puppy
can use part of it for going to the potty and the other part for
sleeping!

During night hours, you can even move the crate to your bedroom
near your bed so the puppy can see others in the family "den"
sleeping as well. This helps to prevent crying during the night
hours. You can buy a designer crate cover to make the crate more
private and decorative.

Puppies also like to play, so it's a good idea to have plenty of
pet toys on hand. Choose pet toys that are big enough so they
can't be swallowed by your pup. Keep in mind that older puppies
love to chew so the toys should be chewable and durable. Puppies
enjoy squeaky toys, balls, plush toys, and even small pillows.
Choose one special toy for the puppy's crate and keep the others
put away except during playtime.

Other things to have on hand for a puppy include a dog collar
(for puppies big enough to walk around outdoors), a leash, potty
pads for dogs, a pet carrier (for vet trips and other outings),
a food and water dish, puppy food, and treats (milk bones or
beefy treats). Oh, by the way... you'll also need a lot of love
and patience with a brand new puppy!

Bringing Home an Older Dog

Older dogs don't require quite as much care as a new puppy, but
they still have plenty of needs. If you plan to keep the dog
inside your home, consider potty pads for starters and be sure
to have a larger crate. Any sized dog can cause damage and harm
itself if left unattended in your home. A crate will contain the
dog when you're away and provide a comfortable place to sleep
during the night. Even an older dog that's already been
housebroken will have to adjust with potty issues at the start.

Other items to have on hand for older dogs include a leash and
dog collar with just the right fit for your dog, a food and
water dish, a large pet carrier, pet toys, and treats. Don't
forget grooming items such as shampoo, ear cleaner, fur brushes,
dog nail clippers, etc. You might also consider a harness and
retractable leash for more comfortable walks for your dog.

Consider shopping at an online store that carries multiple pet
supplies to find all the items you need. You can save on
shipping costs for your pet supplies when buying multiple
products at one store. When browsing a pet store online, be sure
to look at measurements for products such as collars, crates,
pet carriers, etc. Also, look for high quality collars such as
martingale collars for your pet's safety and comfort.

Many online pet stores will also carry other accessories such as
dog clothes, dog bedding and hammocks, dog diapers, cat collars,
cat toys, cat scratchers and posts, and other items. You'll save
time and money by getting all your pet supplies at one
dependable Web shop!

About the author:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon
International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies.
For tips/information, click here: pet supplies Visit
Majon's Pets and
Supplies directory.

Tips for Interacting with Shy or Fearful Dogs

2008-09-13T10:21:00.000-07:00

If you're like many people, dogs are like magnets. Before you
know it you're at the dog's side, petting and cooing over that
adorable fur-covered face. But what if you reach out to give a
dog a friendly pat and the dog cringes or backs away--or worse,
growls or attempts to bite? Unfortunately, many dogs are afraid
of people, and even the best-intentioned motion could be
interpreted as a threat.

Whether you live with a fearful dog, work with shy dogs in a
shelter or rescue environment, or simply want to make your own
dog or dogs you meet more comfortable, it is important to
understand how human body language affects our canine friends.
Learning how to use body language effectively will allow you to
put a frightened dog at ease, gain his or her trust, and avoid
misunderstandings. To that end, below is an excerpt from my book
Help for Your Fearful Dog.

The following tips on human body language are applicable when
interacting with any dog, but are especially important when
dealing with a fearful dog. Adopt these mannerisms and teach
others who interact with your dog to do so as well:

1. Let the dog come to you. If your dog is frightened, she must
be allowed to decide whether or not to approach. Don't restrain
your dog and force her to accept contact from others. Remember
the "fight or flight" response; if you take away the opportunity
for flight, your dog's choices are limited.

2. Turn to the side. Facing a dog directly is more
confrontational than keeping your body turned partially or
completely to the side; even turning your head to the side will
make a frightened dog feel less anxious.

3. No staring, please! A direct stare is a threat in the animal
kingdom (and on New York City subways!). It is perfectly fine to
look at your dog; just soften your expression and don't "hard
stare" directly into her eyes. Do not allow children to put
their faces near your dog's face or to stare into her eyes.

4. Don't hover. Leaning over a dog can cause the dog to become
afraid and possibly defensive. The one time I was bitten while
working in a Los Angeles city animal shelter happened when I
went to return an adorable, fluffy white dog to her pen. While
placing her on the ground, I inadvertently reached over her
equally adorable little pen mate--who jumped up and bit me in
the face.

5. Approaching dogs by patting them on the head is ill-advised.
Pet appropriately. Envision the interaction from the dog's point
of view; a palm approaching from above can be alarming. I do a
demonstration with kids to teach them how to pet dogs properly.
The child plays the role of the dog; I tell the child that I
will pet him in two different ways, and he is to tell me which
is nicer. First, I reach my hand slowly toward the child's cheek
and stroke it, smiling and softly saying, "Good dog!" Next, I
bring my hand brusquely palm-down over the child's head
repeatedly, while loudly saying, "Good dog, good dog!" Kids
almost invariably like the first method better. If dogs could
answer for themselves, nine out of ten dogs would vote for the
first method as well! It's not that dogs should never be petted
on top of the head, but that head-patting (or petting over the
dog's shoulders, back, or rump) should not be used as an initial
approach. It is wiser to make a fist, hold it under the dog's
nose to allow her to sniff, then pet the dog on the chest,
moving gradually to the sides of the face and other body parts,
assuming the dog is comfortable. Likewise, a hand moving in
quickly to grab for a dog's collar is more potentially
fear-inducing than a hand moving slowly to a dog's chest,
scratching it, then moving up to take hold of the collar.

6. Stoop, don't swoop. Small dogs in particular are often
swooped down upon when people want to pick them up. Fast,
direct, overhead movements are much more frightening than slow,
indirect ones. To lift a small dog, crouch down, pet the dog for
a moment, then gently slip your hands under her belly and chest,
and lift.

7. Watch your smile. While humans interpret a smile as friendly,
a dog might not be as fond of seeing your pearly whites. A show
of teeth is, after all, a threat in the animal kingdom. A friend
of mine once accompanied me to visit the wolves at the rescue
center. She patiently sat on the ground, motionless. Finally, a
large, black wolf approached to investigate. Unable to contain
herself, she broke out in a huge, toothy grin. The wolf darted
away as though she had raised a hand to hit him. The lesson?
Save the dazzling toothpaste smile for charming your dates and
accepting awards. Smile at canines with a closed mouth.

© 2006 Nicole Wilde

About the author:
Nicole Wilde, CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer) is the author of
seven canine-related books including So You Want to be a Dog
Trainer and Help for Your Fearful Dog (Phantom
Publishing/www.phantompub.com). She presents seminars worldwide,
co-stars in the Train Your Dog: The Positive Gentle Method DVD,
and writes a training column for Modern Dog Magazine. Nicole can
be reached at phantmwlf@aol.com.

So You Want to be a Dog Trainer

2008-09-13T10:16:00.000-07:00

So You Want to be a Dog Trainer

Are you a dog lover who is considering turning your passion into
a profession? It takes more to be a trainer than a love of
dogs--here's the inside scoop from an experienced professional.

A dog trainer trains people to train their dogs. If you're not a
"people person," consider carefully whether this profession is
for you. You must have patience, compassion, excellent
communications skills, and be a good listener. Instructing
people can be fun and stimulating, but it can be challenging as
well. A sense of humor helps!

Learn about canine psychology and behavior. Seek out books
(www.phantompub.com specializes in books for dog trainers) and
familiarize yourself with basic learning theory as it applies to
dogs. Understanding maxims such as "That which is rewarded is
more likely to happen again" and "That which is ignored is
likely to extinguish on its own" will serve you well throughout
your work with basic training and behavioral issues. There are
many DVDs now available that were filmed at instructional
seminars for dog trainers, many of which include video footage
and/or live demonstrations; it's always easier to learn by
seeing theory in action. (Tawzer Dog Videos
www.tawzerdogvideos.com is known for having wide selection.)
Also, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers website (www.apdt.com)
has recommendations regarding educational materials for dog
trainers. And attending live seminars and conferences is another
excellent way to gain knowledge. There are some schools for dog
trainers, but be careful to check out their training methods.
One excellent school is the San Francisco SPCA Academy for Dog
Trainers (www.spca.org/academy).

Seek out hands-on experience. Volunteering for your local
shelter or rescue group is one of the best ways to get
comfortable handling a variety of breeds, and to learn about
behavior issues. It's also a crash course in learning to read
canine body language! Shelter and rescue work provide an
opportunity to practice your training skills, and you'll be
helping to make dogs more adoptable in the process. Apprenticing
under another trainer is another invaluable opportunity, if you
can find one in your area willing to take you on. Assist in
group classes, tag along to in-home sessions, and learn
everything you can. If there is a trainer's networking group in
your area, join, learn, and make friends; you'll get invaluable
advice as you proceed along your career path. Although there is
no license required to call oneself a professional dog trainer,
you should have a well-rounded education before opening a
business.

Learn about modern, positive training methods. There are two
major schools of thought regarding dog training: the
old-fashioned method, where one waits for the dog to make a
mistake and then punishes him, for example, by the jerk of a
choke chain. The other, modern, positive method makes use of the
tenets of canine psychology, and employs food treats and other
rewards. Dogs are set up to succeed and then rewarded when they
do the right thing. Of course, many trainers fall into the grey
area between these two, but seek out sources of information that
are geared toward positive training methods.

Take it slow. That applies to both building your business and
the cases you should accept. Business-wise, if you are currently
employed, start training as a part-time job and allow yourself
time to let both your business and your skills build.
Behavior-wise, take on only the cases you are comfortable with;
refer ones such as those involving aggression issues to more
experienced trainers until you are ready to handle them
yourself. With time, patience, perseverance, and experience,
your business as well as your competence level will increase.

Get certified. Eventually, once you have some experience under
your belt, take the test to become a Certified Pet Dog Trainer.
This designation is offered by the Certification Council for Pet
Dog Trainers (www.ccpdt.com).

Making Your Dog A Star With Puppy Pictures

2008-09-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Dogs are forever revealed in movies. Some even have dogs as the
focal characters of a show. Of course, you want your own pup to
become one too! Though it seems complex to achieve, your dog can
become a star in no time through puppy films.

Like humans, dogs trial for a position too. They have to be
physically fit, suitable enough for the task and so on. Dogs
hand-in their resume once they direct for a character. With
these resumes is puppy cinema to impress the society.
Knowing that a picture can fake everything in your dog's test,
you should try every rate to take the best films that can be
posted in the pup's application form. These and all more will be
educated to you by this clause. Find out the various conducts to
capture the best puppy movies that can help your pup become a
star.

Readying The Pup For The Limelight

Pups, like humans, have to be readied before they instigate new
activity. Since the dog will be exposed to a new environment,
readying your dog beforehand is an elemental march in making
dreams come veritable.

Readying the pup for the fame means locale a precise regular for
this activity. Scheduling the dog's scheduled and slowly
incorporating the picture winning activity is deeply needed to
school the dog and have him readied fro the publicity. You can
ask the help of a professional if you'll have a hard time
liability so.

Photo Training Your Dog

Photo teaching the dog when he is already ready is the next
stride towards feat your goals. Playing tricks with the dog and
donation reward or punishment in every activity will help
prepare him to become camera oriented. You should frequently
custom the shots and generate different angles that can yield
the refine pictures. Even when your dog is napping, you can
repeat taking pictures of him and looking for the best shots.

Choosing An Agency

After you have educated your dog and after you've academic to
take the best pictures, you can birth looking for the finest
group that can help jaunt your pup into a star. This is the most
crucial walk of all since you have to go over much interrupt
looking for the unspoiled bureau.
Surfing the net is probably one of the habits to employ for your
dog. You can also commerce area agencies and succumb the trial
papers. Although this may take some time, you'll find everything
merit your efforts after you've seen your dog become a star
after posting puppy
picture.
About the author:
Allison Ayson writes for Jump2top.com - SEO Company

German Shepherds - The Family Watch Dog

2008-09-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

German Shepherds - The Family Watch Dog

There's a lot of different breeds of dogs, but among the world's
most popular dog breeds there are a few that have been singled
out as the most loyal, hard-working and intelligent. German
Shepherds have long been valued for these qualities and more.

The German Shepherd is a newer breed. It originated in 1899 in
Germany and was used for herding sheep. The breed was created
when German ex-military member and veterinary student Max von
Stephanitz saw a dog with admirable working qualities. The dog
was strong and intelligent, with a superior sense of smell and
fierce loyalty.

Von Stephanitz purchased the dog and bred it with his own
working dogs. Eventually, he created the breed we now know as
German Shepherds. Every German Shepherd today can be traced back
to von Stephanitz and his breeding efforts.

The name of the breed has been a source of several controversies
since its inception in 1899. The original name given to the
breed by Max von Stephanitz translated literally to "German
Shepherd Dog." In the 1940's, the Kennel Club officially changed
the breed's name to Alsation Wolf Dog. The change was due to the
fear that the breed would become unpopular because of widespread
anti-German sentiments during WW2.

Not long after this name change, the general public began to
fear that Alsation Wolf Dogs were actually wild and aggressive
half wolves. While this was not true, the public's fear was
enough to prompt the Kennel Club to change the name again, this
time to simply Alsation.

Dog lovers in various countries pressured kennel clubs for
another name change in 1977. This time, they asked that the
breed revert to its original name. Since then, the official name
of the breed has been German Shepherd Dog.

The original German Shepherd Dogs were used to herd and protect
sheep on working farms in Germany. Since then, German Shepherds
have been used in a variety of working capacities. Perhaps most
well-known is their use as police and military working dogs. In
rural settings, German Shepherds are extremely useful for search
and rescue missions. Their keen sense of smell and dedication to
pleasing their masters make them diligent workers.

In a more urban environment, German Shepherd Dogs are extremely
useful for locating drugs, explosives and fleeing suspects. The
strength of the dogs makes them ideal for taking down dangerous
or running suspects. They are often used in airports and mail
processing facilities to sniff out contraband in luggage and
packages.

In recent years, some concerns have been raised about the safety
of German Shepherd Dogs. There have been some reported cases of
the dogs turning violent or attacking people. However, most of
these cases are based on anecdotal evidence. Dogs tend to react
aggressively when mistreated or threatened, or when protecting
their masters. This has been the cause for many of the so-called
German Shepherd 'attacks'.

Overall, German Shepherd Dogs are very safe to have around. In
fact, they make outstanding guard dogs. They are protective of
their owners and will often put themselves in danger to save
their masters. They are currently the third most popular dog
breed in the United States and enjoy popularity all over the
world.

In Spain and the Balearic Islands especially, dog lovers
appreciate the loyalty and beauty of this regal breed. According
to licensing records, in fact, the German Shepherd Dog is the
most popular dog breed in Menorca - the
popular holiday island has a reputation of being extremely safe.
That reputation is thanks, in part, to these gentle working
dogs. They are always on the job, protecting their adoptive
families and keeping watch for any signs of trouble such as
housebreakers.

About the author:
Photographs and information about the Spanish holiday island of
Menorca can be found at travel guide yourmenorca.net

Traditional Menorca vacations are popular with families and the
holiday guide has Mahon airport photos and cheap flight
Menorca deals.

For new visitors a map
of Menorca is included.

Dog Obedience Training Video - watch for your self

2008-09-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

Even though digesting a lot of reading tutorials is obligatory
it is mostly useful to actually see Positive Dog Training Video
to deliver these strategies to animated life. To this end we
have collected a library of Dog Training Tool which can be
reached below.

The reasons why puppies nibble on your
prized bathroom slippers sometime is because they are teething.
Teething in babies produces pretty much the same desire to
nibble in puppies. Teething puppies usually nibble on things to
help them with the itching sensation it makes.

Dont
make the mistake of purchasing deluxe toys for your dog to chew
on because it wont be able to tell the difference between a
deluxe toy and a lavish slipper. In selecting chew toys for your
dog, buy a few that are the same in size and color in order to
help your dog keep track of them. Purchasing your dog a plethora
of chew toys can confound it and defeat the goal of distracting
it from chewing your valuables.

In education your
dog, you should use coherent commands in order not to confuse
it. Dogs that get accustomed to a particular command in a
certain context of use are unable to react to the comparable
command in a variant context. You should be uniform in your
whole tone when educating your dog in order to avoid puzzling
it.

A dog whistle is an efficient canine education
widget and is particularly better for long distance learning. A
dog whistle gives off a sharp shrill sound that can be detected
only to the ears of a dog, which establishes it as an premium
education instrument. Amongst other matters, a dog whistle can
be used to call a dog back to its owner in the course of
education.

Untold outrage has been shown over the
fabrication of the electronic dog collar because it comprehended
by many as an wrong instrument for education dogs. The
electronic collar is called remote dog education by its makers
and is employed to train a dog from a considerable outdistance.
The electric currents that an electronic collar releases are not
terminal to the dog.

dogs are those that are trained
particularly for the purport of amusement. Circus dogs are
trained to do a lot of impressive things such as jump hoops or
roll balls. You can teach your own dog a trick or two to catch
fun and entertain your friends.

A dog is ordinarily
trained in tune with its impulsive characteristics. A naturally
territorial reserve dog is trained to be a guard dog because of
its integral traits of territorial dominion protection. A
naturally protective and tender dog is trained to be a herd dog
in accord with its traits.

You need to make certain
that the environs that you prefer to train your dog is
motivating. You cannot hope to train your dog in an overcrowded
commons because the dissonance and individuals will distract it
from what you are attempting to teach it. To effectively train
your dog, take it to a relatively subdued spot.

Ponder great Positive Dog Training and Dog Vidio videos and lots
and lots of ideas and tips.

About the author:
James Davis writes regularly about pets related topics. I hope
you enjoy this article.

What Causes Dog Diarrhea - What Cures It

2008-09-09T08:59:00.000-07:00

Dog Diarrhea Dog diarrhea is not really that common of an occurance because dogs have a pretty good functioning digestive system. But if they do get it, you want to get rid of it fast! You know it is uncomfortable for the dog, not to mention it can make a big mess too! i know this won't make you feel any better, but if they do get it, there's about an 80% chance that it's because of something you fed your dog.

A sudden change in their diet can cause diarrhea, because a dog needs a couple days to warn their digestive system that you've changed to a new brand of dog food. A mix of both brands for a couple days, is a good practice to follow going forward.

Food gone bad will cause diarrhea, as well. Spoiled meat can have the same effect on a dog, that it can in humans. Please be careful, be picky about what you're feeding your pet.

A few other less common causes could be stress or mental upset, brought on by a long trip, or just being away from their normal surroundings canhave this effect on some dogs. And don't forget about worms. This is a common cause in puppies. Don't waste time getting advice from your vet to rid them on the internal parasites!

You will also want the vets opinion if your dog has diarrhea due to an illness, or a virus. Find the appropriate treatment for a quick cure.

If you want to try some things at home, a few things that have been successful are caster oil, a diet of plain rice, or thickened milk with arrowroot. If any of these seem to do the trick, slowly get them back on their regular food by mixing the two together for a couple days. If the diarrhea continues, certainly it is time to visit your vet. He or she will be able to recommend the correct course of action to take, and recommend medications after they have seen your dog.

About the Author

Larry Buhrandt is an accomplished writer interested in sharing his knowledge on dog training, feeding and good health. Read More

Your Dog Suffers From Separation Anxiety

2008-09-09T08:58:00.001-07:00

Your Dog Suffers From Separation Anxiety

It may be hard to believe, but our family dogs can suffer from anxiety just as much as we can. Anxiety is a response to stress. And nothing brings out anxiety in a dog more than separation from their owner. Your dog can have a panic attack if it seriously misses its owner. This separation does not even have to be very long time. When you leave your dog in the morning, they have no way of knowing when you'll return. Sometimes you only leave them for an hour, and the next time it could be ten hours. So some dogs may have an anxiety panic simply waiting for you to return home from work. And if your dog "acts out" it could mean serious damage in your home. If this takes place, now would be a good time to take a few dog house training steps to reduce the onset of separation anxiety.

This first one could be a hard one to do. But stop "falling all over your dog" every time you see it...every time you come and go. Because if your dog is ready for more attention from you, and you are not yet home...the trouble soon begins. Your dog has to understand when you leave it is not forever.

A high energy dog could get bored easily. And then you may not like what he finds to pass him time until you get back home. A good solution to this would be finding ways to get rid of some of this energy. Taking a nice long walk will do the trick...and the exercise will be good for both of you. And you may also have to consider leaving your dog in only one room of your home instead of the whole house. And possibly crate your dog, if this is not an option. Sometimes something as simple as leaving a radio on, can do the trick. (And if you can train it to change the station...all the better!) Although it may be a little late now, but the size of dog in the size of it's environment should be a consideration when making your dog purchase decision.

Some people have success with hiring a dog walker, or just someone to stop by for half an hour during the day. LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR DOG

About the Author

Larry Buhrandt is an accomplished writer interested in sharing his knowledge on dog training, feeding and good health. Read More

Doggie Treats Are A Doggie Threat

2008-09-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Doggie Treats - Doggie Threat

I'm sure you will agree with me when I say we all love our dogs! We have learned the importance of good nutrition, adequate grooming, discipline, love and attention toward our family canine. We care about the way our dogs haircut compliments them. We strive to include them in on as many family functions as possible. And we give them all the love and attention we can, like another member of the family.

I think at times we tend to forget the importance of diet and exercise in our own lives, as well as the life of our dog. We love our dog so much that we slip them a little dinner off of our plate. We give them a doggie treat for no "dog gone" reason. And we pass on todays walk in favor of an extra hour of TV. Does any of this hit close to home? If it does, you may be treatening your dogs life!

Too many of those "high in fat content" doggie treats, a portion of your "high in fat" dinner, and lack of exercise will all effect the life of your family dog. If you are overweight, you need to go on a diet. So the same stands true for the family dog. If old Rover is "rolie polie" all over, he needs to be put on a diet as well. He may never thank you for it down the road. But he'll be happier to take that walk down the road if you always take notice of what you are feeding your dog.

READ ALL THE DOG FOOD SECRETS

About the Author

Larry Buhrandt is an accomplished writer interested in sharing his knowledge on dog training, feeding and good health. Read More

Introducing Your Puppy To New Surroundings

2008-09-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Introducing Your Puppy To New Surroundings

We tend to shelter own young, both our children and our family dog from the world around us until we feel they are ready for it. But if we never expose them to the world, how will they ever be ready to experience it? Studies show that the peak period to get your puppy socialized is from 3 to 12 weeks.

That is where the trouble begins, because I bought my puppy from a kennel at 9 weeks old. So my window of opportunity was almost over before I started. I had no way of knowing what my little Maltese had seen, smelt, witnessed, heard, or already overcame before she was introduced to her new dad.

She loved people, and her toy poodle sister. So I knew she had enough human and animal contact. The smell of her sister canned dog food was a new smell for her...but she quickly knew she wanted to experience that! Her surroundings in our home she quickly adapted to...carpet floors, soft sofa, and her parents comfortable bed.

But I soon found out that the biggest challenge would be sounds. Deathly afraid of the dishwasher, vacuum cleaner, and hair dryer, to name a few. At 7 months, the vaccum cleaner is still a major issue for her, but she had adapted to most of the other sounds. maybe that tells you that I don't vacuum enough, I don't know. But what I always try to do is to give praise when the encounter she feared is over and she acted favorably toward it.

Just remember that the act of socialization with your new puppy should never be rushed or forced. Be patient, understanding, and reward your puppy for the right reasons, and you too will pass the difficult task of introducing your new little puppy to the outside world around them.

CLICK HERE FOR A HAPPIER LIFE WITH YOUR DOG!!

About the Author

Larry Buhrandt is an accomplished writer interested in sharing his knowledge on dog training, feeding and good health. Read More