3 Important Things To Remember When Training Your Puppy

3 Important Things To Remember When Training Your Puppy

There are as many ways to raise a puppy as there are to raising a child. In fact, one way per family in general! But most of us agree that when it comes to children, certain things are universal and undisputed. Here are three things that a lot of people just do not think of when it comes to raising their dogs, however. How many times have we heard, "My dog just won't listen to me", or "He just won't behave!"

1. Dogs do not understand English until we teach them.

The thing we all love about puppies the most is the way they live for us, the way they focus all they have on us, the way our lives become theirs. in the beginning, they study us to learn our body language, our facial expressions and our language. Until we teach them the English language, it's all they have. If we say, "Wanna go out?" one day, "Have to go potty?" the next day, and, "Hafta pee?" the third day, if they DO figure out what we want, it is because we have picked up the leash and moved toward the door with a happy face! If you want to speed up his training by three-fold, teach him YOUR language. Pick a command for EACH behavior and stick with it. Tell all in your family to use the same words and commands, and your puppy will amaze you at how much faster he learns.

2. A young puppy's metabolism is racing along faster than we think.

The younger your puppy is, the faster he is growing, the more food and water he needs to fuel his metabolism, and the more often he has to go potty. Do not punish your puppy when he makes a house-breaking mistake. These are YOUR fault. Your puppy's age in weeks and his breed size determine how often he must go out. Once an hour is not too often for a large 6-week old puppy, especially if it is summertime. Dogs love the exciting smells outdoors, so there is no excuse to not have him housebroken by 7-8 weeks of age. Right after a nap, after he eats and after grooming are the key times, and he will signal you. If he is happily chewing a toy and gets up suddenly with his nose to the floor, move quickly! And every time he goes potty outside, praise him to high heaven! "What a good BOYY!", "GOOD go potty!" and the like. Dogs love our happy faces, and they will do anything to get it.

3. Dogs live for our facial expressions and body language.

Because of this, the worst punishment you ever need to give your dog is a scowl and to turn away from him. You can see his tail fall down and his face get so sad. He will learn the lesson, I guarantee it. But his attention span is only 3-5 minutes, so do not scorn him any longer. Love him up and give him your happy face again. Physical punishment is never necessary. Use consistent commands and loving praise and he will know what you want of him before you know. He will become a master of your body language and facial expressions in no time at all.

Naturally there are many aspects of training your puppy well. Loving kindness works just as well for puppies as it does with children, creating a happy, well-adjusted and obedient dog for life. These three important tips, used consistently with confidence, will start him well on his way.

Your Dogs Diet Can Lead To Protein And Kidney Failure

Research has indicated that higher levels of protein in your dog's diet could lead to kidney failure. Do you know if what you are feeding dog is safe?  Are you harming the health of your furry friend by giving too much protein in your dog's diet? 

The studies that showed a connection to high protein levels and kidney failure that the started concerns about protein levels in a dog's diets was not researched properly. The research was performed on rats, not dogs.  Rats mainly eat plants as their normal diet. Therefore a rats biological makeup would mean it would have trouble digesting a diet containing high levels of protein. Rats have difficulty excreting protein due to their natural dietary needs, not because the high protein diet causes kidney failure. 

So, where do we stand on protein in your dog's diet? Dogs are naturally omnivorous. In the wild, dog's would hunt or scavenge for food. The dog's diet would normally be of both animals and plants. Naturally dogs are meat eaters too.  because of this, a dog can easily cope with a diet consisting of 30% protein or more. 

When the protein intake is lowered in a dog's diet, renal function does not improve. Renal lesions are not less likely to form when a dog is being fed a low-protein diet.  It is not until a blood urea nitrogen, or BUN, test indicates a level of 75, then a reduction in protein intake should be considered.    

If you have worries about how much protein is in your dog's diet, you should make a appointment with you vet. Your  vet can advise you on your dog's diet. 

It is not correct that dog's can not normally digest high levels of protein. Kidney problems do not result from having high levels of protein in your dog's diet. Large amounts of protein are digested safely in your dog's diet, particularly when they mainly come from animal origins. 

Ten amino acids should be given in your dog's diet through protein.  Only twelve of 22 amino acids can be produced in your dog's liver.  Because of this meat such as heart, spleen, and meat by-products should all be in your dog's diet. 

If you purchase high-quality dog food it should contain meat as the main ingredient. This will provide the right amount of protein in your dog's diet. If you think about a dog in its natural environment. Would you see a wild dog grazing in a cornfield at mealtime?

Senior dogs should not be put on lower protein diets just because of age.  In fact, some older pets require a dog's diet that is higher in protein than when they were at a younger adult stage.  Unless your vet advises not to, you should always provide your pet the advantage of quality protein in your dog's diet.

Feeding your dog protein should not cause you concern.  We all want what is best for our dog's and nature tells us that protein will help your dog to live a healthy life. If you have questions about protein and kidney failure in your pet, then you should speak to your vet about your dog's diet.

3 easy to teach dog tricks

3 easy to teach dog tricks

To teach your dog tricks even easy ones you need to have some small reward treats, be in a quiet suitable place and keep the training sessions to 10 - 15 minutes or your dog will start to get board, remember when he gets something right lots of praise and a reward treat, just be careful not to get him over excited or he will loose concentration.

Getting your dog to give you his paw, first get your dog to sit, then as you say the word 'paw' take your dogs paw in your hand, give the dog a treat, repeat this, after a few times do not take his paw so quickly, say the word, count to one then take it, you should notice he is bringing his paw up as you say the word if he does not go back to saying it at the same time, do it a few more times then slow your response again. After 2 or 3 sessions most dogs pick this one up quite happily.

The high five, like a lot of tricks the high five is a progression of an earlier trick, in this cast the paw trick. Hold a treat in your fingers and raise your hand slightly higher than you would for the paw trick. You dog will think you want to do the paw trick and will reach for the treat with his paw as we taught him earlier, as he reaches up you say “high five” and give him the treat. Once your dog has mastered the paw trick this one should be very easy to learn and with just a few sessions he will be doing it on hand signal rather than voice control.

Getting your dog to jump through a hoop, before you start this one I would just like to ask you to be a little sensible and not hold the hoop too high as you do not want your dog to heart himself while doing the trick. Sit your dog on one side of a hoola hoop, get the dogs attention on your hand on the other side of the hoop take a treat in your hand and give the dog the command to release him from the sit, at first he may attempt to go around or under the hoop, if this happens start again, your dog wants the treat and will soon learn that going around or under does not get it so he will soon start going through it, when he does say hoopla and give him the treat. He will soon be jumping through the hoop on the command of hoopla. When I started doing this trick I had a medium sized dog (a Labrador) so I started with the hoop 6 inches from the ground and slowly raised it to waist height, if you have a smaller dog you might want to start with the hoop touching the ground so the dog just goes through the hoop and then slowly raise it as he gets used to the trick.

Your Dogs Diet Should You Avoid Table Scraps?

A dogs diet should not contain any table scraps. A dogs nutritional needs are not the same as a ours. Yes we eat some of the same things, but feeding your pet table scraps is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. A dogs diet does not need all the added ingredients we put into our own meals.

People have often have weight problems like obesity. Well a dog can have this problem also. If your dogs diet involves mostly table scraps, then the chances are that your dog will not maintain a healthy weight. Even a few pounds over weight can make a large difference in the quality of health and length of your pet's life.

When you have a dog that is not to particular what it eats, it can be very easy to let your pet become your garbage disposal at home, but really, this is a very bad idea. Certain foods we eat can harm your dog and therefore should never be considered to be part of your dogs diet. Grapes are one example, grapes have been known to cause serious problems for dogs. Chicken bones can also be a problem for your dog. Large quantities of chocolate can be very dangerous if allowed in a dogs diet.

When your dogs diet is not the best you can give it, then your pets outputs will be greater in size, smell, and mess. You will see the benefits of choosing a healthy diet for your dog, as you will notice that your pet is healthier and happier.

There are the odd occasions when a supplement or treat from your kitchen may be okay to use, but never in excess. You should talk to your vet about the use of healthy snacks for your dogs diet. Many vets recommend you give your pet ice cubes or pieces of carrot to snack on between there regular feeding times. By providing your pet these healthy alternatives to people food gives you the chance to choose the right healthy and nutritious snack for your dogs diet.

The next time your pet starts eyeing your food, what you need to do is redirect there attention. Do not use your table scraps. Instead give your dog a refreshing ice cube to munch on. A baby carrot will keep your dog happy and make you feel good about the right choices you have made for the nutritional value of your dogs diet. If you follow these steps you will know that you are your pet a high-quality.

Tips for training your puppies

Tips for training your puppies

All of us dream of parenting the perfect dog, a pup that is a CGC or canine good citizen and is well behaved and dependable at all times. Well dreams do come true if the training is done with care and dedication. Remember pups learn from day one and need to be taught what is right, what is wrong, and proper socialization.

Pups are like children, they need constant supervision and training. Training a pup need not be an ordeal all you need to keep in mind are a few simple rules:

•    Until your pup learns you need to keep an eye on him at all times. When you cannot then you must crate him. Create a schedule for the pup this will help the pup settle down quickly. The schedule must include things like hourly bath rooming visits, eating times, rest periods, walks, play time, training, and so on. A pup that has a busy day has no time to be bored and get into mischief.

•    Teach the pup to respect you. Dogs live in packs and instinctively follow a leader. If you establish your leadership in no uncertain terms then training will become easy as the pup will obey you at all times and not challenge your authority.

•    Use only positive training methods. Never shout at, hit, or punish a dog. It is not just cruel but can lead to behavioral problems. Use of electric shocks, prong collars, sprays, and so on could hurt the animal.

•    Teach the pup “nothing in life is free.” This is a system that is widely acknowledged as a useful training tool. If you practice this, the pup will learn that to get something like love, a walk, or treat, he must behave well.


•    Teach the meaning of “No,” from day one. Do not encourage behaviors like jumping, mouthing, tug-o-war, barking, or running out of open gates and doors. Praise good behavior and ignore or walk away when there is bad behavior. The pup will learn that if he misbehaves he will loose his companion/playmate.

•    To correct a behavior you must catch the pup in the act and startle him by rattling a can of pebbles. Once you have done this make him correct his behavior and immediately offer him a treat and praise. Pups do not recall what happened earlier so scolding him after an event is of no use.

•    Always call/use his name positively. Never say “Bad TOM,” or “No Tom,” this will cause confusion and the pup will think that if you call his name then it is something bad. The pup must associate his name with happy events like hugs, petting, walks, treats, and such. If this happens he will come willingly when you call out his name.

•    Create a training schedule that is short and sweet say 10 minutes thrice a day. Long repetitive lessons can be boring and the pup will loose interest in learning. Make learning fun and use trick training to teach commands like sit, down, come and so on.

•    Bond with the pup and both of you will enjoy your lessons. The pup must look forward to spending time with you and not avoid you by running away or hiding. Be sure to socialize the pup early. Socialization is one of the most important lessons. The pup must learn to be around other animals, people, sounds, vehicles, and other activities. So, slowly introduce the pup when he is little to everyday activities and sounds. Take him to the mall/ park, introduce him to children and other pets, and make him unafraid of the vacuum and garden hose.

•    Learn all about crate training, leash walking, house breaking, as well as food training. These are kindergarten lessons that every pup must master. Know about all the idiosyncrasies as well as peculiarities of the breed this will give you valuable insights on how to successfully train the pup.

As a pet-parent you have many choices. You could choose to train the dog yourself or register at a professional training school. Training a dog has many stages: kindergarten, obedience training, doggy sports, showing and conformation, as well as other aspects like therapy dogs, hearing dogs, and so on. What level you choose to train depends on you as well as the learning abilities of your dog. As you know, different dog breeds like humans have varied talents. Choose well and both you and your pup will have fun times together.

How Treats Affect Your Dogs Diet

Most people just do not know the importance of choosing a healthy dog diet. They do not take the time or make the effort to consult there trusted vet about a healthy and nutritious dog diet. It is important to know, even is you use dried food, canned dog food, or make it yourself, that you are most probably not supplying your dog with a vitamin rich healthy diet.

Most people give there pet a treat to chew, such a rawhide one, these given in moderation are fine. But you also need to consider, that any treat you give your pet, is a part of your dogs diet and therefore will have an effect in your pets health. The question you need to ask yourself is, do you give your pet to many treats?

What type of treats you give your pet makes i big difference to there diet. One of the worst things that can be done, is to give table scraps or junk food to your pet. Junk food that you eat becomes junk food for your pet. Also a mistake that can easily be made is to give your pet what is considered as healthy food for humans. Why? Because being healthy food for humans does not necessarily mean it is healthy food for your dog.

A good example of this is raisins, they are healthy for us, but can be extremely detrimental to the health of your dog. You should always try, when giving treats or it is snack time for your pet to make sure it is a healthy one.

Rawhide treats often spark controversy. Some vets and pet owners feel they are not a healthy treat for your pet. While others feel that rawhide treats are good for the dental health of your dog as well as supplying them with some amusement. As always when in doubt you should consult your vet for there opinion . If you do decide to include rawhides in your dogs diet, do so in moderation. If they are not given in moderation they can cause thin stools.

For the most part, dogs don't care if you give them a baby carrot, rawhide chew, or a milk bone, they are just happy to receive a snack. If you do provide various treats during the course of the day, then you may need to consider altering your dogs diet, this will help avoid obesity in your pet. Giving your pet to many treats may be fun for your dog and you, but the downside of this can be serious health problems.

Such treats as, Ice cubes, small bits of apple, and baby carrots are terrific healthy treat ideas for you to consider when choosing a healthy diet for your dog.  These treats will make little difference overall to your pets diet and this way, you will be able to focus solely on the food that is consumed during there mealtime.  Your dogs diet needs to be healthy one, this will ensure a long and happy life for your pet.

10 Items To Be Avoided In Dog Food

What dog foods and food ingredients should you avoid feeding my dog?

Are you concerned about the health of your dog? I compiled a list of 10 foods and ingredients which you should not feed your dog.

1. You should not give chocolate to your puppy because it contains the alkaloid theobromine, caffeine which is toxic to dogs.

2.. Dog’s digestive system can not digest the protein and sugar in dairy products. Hence you should not feed dairy products like milk, cream, butter, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, whey, sour cream, kefir, casein, and ice cream.

3. Dogs are very sensitive to oils so always avoid the same. Even you should be extra careful before you apply oil to dog for aromatherapy or massage.

4. There is a recent report regarding toxicity due to grape and raisin ingestion so avoid them.

5. Some houseplants are toxic so you should avoid houseplants till you train your dog properly on chewing.  If you like, you can provide a pot of fresh wheatgrass for safe nibbling.

6. You should avoid onions and Garlic because they may also irritate the gastrointestinal system.

7. Salmon poisoning is an infectious disease caused by a rickettsia that uses a parasitic fluke on salmon as a host. It can cause serious illness and death.

8. Soy contains compounds that may harmfully affect dogs by interfering with nutrient absorption, normal growth, thyroid function, and hormonal development.

9. Sugar comes in many forms, including beet, raw, brown, cane, fructose, corn sweetener, corn syrupdextrin, dextrose, glucose, lactose, maltose, barley malt, molasses, honey, and maple syrup.  Sugar in any form should be avoided.

10. Most dogs can not tolerate Yeast. Yeast may cause allergic reactions, bloating, digestive and urinary problems.

What you should do?

Preparing dog food is not the simplest of solution because the nutrition needs for puppies and dogs are quite different from ours.  The most recommended solution is to find a dog food that contains only human-grade, natural ingredients.

Flint River Ranch offers dog food that is prepared under controlled conditions, resulting in a food that is easily digested, and has a high degree of absorption of vital vitamins and minerals. Flint River Ranch dog food is a premium quality pet food that your dog will love and keep them healthy.

Guidelines To Choose A Healthy Dog Diet for Your Pet

When choosing a healthy dog diet it can often be difficult and confusing, that is if you let it be. The packaging and marketing of the products you wish to purchase will often blur your perception of it. Your dogs diet is the easiest and best way to keep your pet in good health and happy for the many years you will have together. it is better for you to find a diet that will provide all the essential nutrients that are needed for your pet to thrive rather than merely survive.

So here are some basic guidelines for you to follow when you are selecting the food for your dogs diet. you should know that every dog is different and what is the right diet for your neighbors dog may not be exactly what your pet needs.

The first step should always be when deciding your dogs diet, is to talk to your vet. They will always have your pets interest at heart, just like you. The vets recommendations will help you make the right decision.

What you need to do is find a reputable brand of dog food to be the main ingredient of your dogs diet. It is not impossible to come across a high-quality dog food that you have never heard of or seen before, but a well known and manufacturer provides you with an amount of safety and security about the decision to feed your dog a healthy diet.

Reputable and recognized dog food manufacturers take the time to research animal nutrition. This allows your pet to benefit from the company's research rather than going it alone.

What you should do is select a dog food that is appropriate for your pets age. With a older that is showing signs of aging, then it is best to consider a dog diet that is specially formulated for senior dogs. On the other hand puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs.

You will need to find a variety of food that meets your dogs needs. Even the breed and size of your pet will make a difference in the type of diet you should feed it. Diets formulated specifically for small dogs and large breeds are readily available. You will want to keep this in mind when selecting your dogs diet.

The activity level and weight are the other factors for you to consider when making the decision of what to feed your dog. When you decide on a diet for your dog, pay attention to the portion size. Obesity is a serious problem in pets. It can lead to hip trouble and take years off your pets life.

Table scraps are definitely not a healthy diet. Your dogs diet should consist of a high-quality food specially designed to meet your pets dietary needs.

Only supplement a high quality diet when recommended by your vet. If you give your pet too many supplements in the dogs diet then this can lead to a poor of health.

Your dogs diet will fuel his health, so choose your dogs diet wisely. You need to select a brand of food that is reputable and suited to your dog. When you find the right diet for your pet it will promote good health and allow your dog to thrive for many years to come.

Some Great Tips For Dog Behavior Training

A stern test of you and your dog's friendship will be the chewing problem

Dogs carry out destructive chewing for three main reasons, they are simply bored, they find it pleasurable to do so, or they find it helps get them through emotional times. The nearest human equivalent for which might be to consume a bar of chocolate!

Anything that gets in the way of this chewing normally ends up in poor state. Beware that your dog's mouth has a lot of sharp teeth in it which will chew into most things.

Chewing is most annoying when it is your own possessions that are the subject, always stop this behavior straight away.

How To Avoid Your Possessions Being Destroyed

The first tip for dog behavior training is to not place valuable objects in the way of temptation. New mothers will know all about preparing a house for a curious newcomer. Why tempt fate.

In addition, when hiding things be aware of just how agile your dog is. Your dog can reach a surprising height when on its hind legs?

Consider that common targets in the home include books, eyewear, clothing, shoes, garbage, and small appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls.

Make sure whatever you do that you put food away in airtight containers or high cupboards. Storing food with a dog around is a problem that is best solved by placing some items up high and making use of strong containers.

The phrase prevention is better than cure applies to dog behaviour training too, if your dog is not given the opportunity to discover the delights of chewing a forbidden item then it is a lot easier for her to learn your house rules.

Letting your dog go back some some old bad habits only undermines your training efforts. Once she has the taste do not be surprised to find shoes you care about being treated to the same destructive chewing.

Getting some doggy toys is a good way of helping your dog understand that those are hers to play with, not any of your own stuff. Take a look around your local pet store for tough items such as rubber bones and balls etc. Buy a few and rotate their use as a way to keep your dog behaviour training interesting.

Some final advice on dog behaviour, when you catch your dog chewing something inappropriate be sure to interrupt her immediately and provide a suitable alternative and give lavish praise when this is accepted as a way of reinforcing good behaviour.

Where To Find The Best Food For A Nutritious Dog Diet

You want mans best friend to eat right. You should be aware of the added benefits of a healthy and nutritious dog diet, but where do you look to find the best food for your pet?

There are so many good types of dog food on the market today. You can buy bags or cans of dog food easily from your local grocery or department store. Store chains are now offering varieties of dog food that are of a higher quality and at lower cost to you.

If you don't want to purchase dog food from the grocery store, you might think about stores that sell feed for other animals as well. Businesses like TSC regularly deal with customers that are interested in good healthy nutrition to their pets. They should be able to help you decide on which specific brand of food will suit the needs of your dog's diet. Some of these higher quality dog foods are available at such stores and you may not find these higher quality foods at your local Wal-Mart.

Many  Businesses on the internet sell their organic and natural dog diets. You should look online to find the type of dog food that feels right to you. Some of these merchants will even deliver the dog food to your home. Your dog's diet has never been as convenient as this to obtain. The internet has made it possible for pet owners to widen their choice in their dog's diet.  

Your vet can advise you about the best types of dog diets. Your vet may sell specific brands or varieties right from their surgery. Once you have decided on what diet is best for your dog, You should consider purchasing it when you bring your pet in for a checkup. A vet would not offer you any food that is not right for your dog's diet, so this may be a good place to start from. If your vet advises on a particular type of diet for your dog, this may be due to health reasons, then your vet may be the only place to find the exact food for your dog's diet.

Some pet owners prefer to cook for their dog.  A dog's diet needs meat, vegetables, and grain. Selected meats, grains, and vegetables can be prepared at home, this will make sure you provide excellent nutrition for your pet. If you have green beans or carrots that you have grown in your garden, then consider adding these to your dog's diet. This way you will know  where the food has come from and how it was prepared.

A healthy dog diet can come from your butcher. If you do make your own raw diet at home, always remember that ground turkey or chicken breast fresh is always best health option.

Regardless of what type of food you decide on for your dog's diet, you must always consult with your vet before making any changes or alterations in the diet. Once you have made your mind up on a specific diet for your dog, then you need to take advantage of the healthiest and most convenient method that is available to you.

Dog Life Jackets

Water Safety for Dogs

Many people love their dogs and take them with them everywhere they go. People who enjoy boating and want to take their dog with them should seriously consider purchasing a water life jacket for their dog. If you are like me, your dogs are just as important to you as your children. You would never let your small child near deep water without a life jacket on, and then the same should be said for your dog wearing a life jacket too.

Dog life jackets look like a waterproof dog coat, and allow your dog all of the freedom of movement that a regular dog coat allows them, so they can swim, or ride your jet ski or partake in whatever water activity you both enjoy. Dog life jackets also have a handle built in on the dogs back so that you can grab hold of it and pull your dog out of the water in an emergency.

A life jacket for your dog could very well save his or her life, and I would recommend that all dogs wear one when at the beach, lake or near deep water. Many dogs become distracted easily and this can create problems if they are on a boat or even a wharf, pier or jetty. It is very easy for a dog to be distracted by a bird or a bright object like a windsurfer, possibly causing them to fall off your boat or the dockside. If that happens and they have a life jacket on, then you will be able to bring them to safety easier and faster or it will give them a better chance to swim to safety.

Dogs that love water also love to play in it and can get very excited while playing in or around it. Unfortunately, dogs have been known to drown when playing in water with a toy, ball or stick. They can get too tired without noticing it because they are keenly focused on playing with you or the toy. A tired dog can very easily fall victim to a strong current or a rip tide.

Wearing a dog life jacket will give you the time you may need to rescue your dog from a current or rip tide, or allow him to remain afloat to ride the tide back to shore. There are many sites on the internet from which you can purchase dog clothing such as a dog life jacket, or your pet shop should also be able to order one in for you. Dog life jackets are very important to have for your dog during any outing around water and you can purchase them in any size needed to fit your dog.

The Choices For A Puppy Training Collar

A puppy training collar, in my opinion, is a necessity for anyone getting a dog, just as a regular dog collar is a necessity.  The regular dog collar is a simple cloth collar to the elaborate leather dog collar, it’s all about choice with this one.  There are several types of the puppy training collar available, from the choke chain, pronged collars, bark collars and electronic collars.  We will discuss the possibilities in these categories, but be advised, that if you don’t train your puppy his bad habits will cause you unhappiness.  Eventually some people have their animals put down when the bad habits become more then they want to deal with.  If you bother to take the time to train your dog, all of this can be avoided.

What the Different Puppy Training Collars Are About

While the choke chain sounds like a return on the Inquisition, its not like it sounds, but the name is long standing and isn’t probably going to go away.  You can call it a puppy training collar and avoid the nasty image of the choke chain.  What it actually is, is a simple collar with an ability to tighten as the dog pulls. The best one is the Swedish Training Collar. The collar tightens the more he pulls away.  Most dogs take very little time to get the association, so this puppy training collar is most often quick, painless and the puppy training collar can be quite inexpensive.  This help with teach a dog to walk with you, not walk you.  It can also teach him to sit, heel, etc.

The pronged collar serves the exact same purpose as the choke chain, but there are prongs inside the collar, which pinch the dog if he pulls to hard.  While most people with small animals don’t feel the need to use this, people with larger animals often find it a necessity.  Puppies get excited, they jump, lunge, try to run and do all sorts of things that can injure yourself or others.  This type of puppy training collar is very effective and often only takes a couple of tries before the dog learns what he is supposed to do.

Electronic collars are just the same as the prong collar, and choke chain in purpose, but it uses a small electronic zap to convince your dog he is making the wrong choice.  They also have these collars with virtual fences.

Bark collars are a puppy training collar, but are designed to address the specific problem.  The choices are myriad to a small electronic shock when they bark, to a spray of water or other smell dogs don’t like.

While ongoing training and reminder training never stops, most dog really do learn quickly and the puppy training collar is your most helpful tool.

What Are Miniature Poodles?

In general, poodles are dogs that love fun and have a nice reserved temperament, if you need to have a pet that your family will love, then you might want to consider getting a miniature poodle. Read on and find out more information on the miniature poodle and use these as guides for making your decision in addition to knowing what you can expect when you bring the miniature poodle home.

Any Concerns

There are a few concerns that you may have about owning a miniature poodle and one of them is grooming. The poodle's hair tends to be curly and thick, so it will be necessary for you to make sure that your poodle puppy is groomed regularly or as often as possible. For puppies the standard grooming cut is normally short hair all over the body, and this may need to be done every month so that your miniature poodle looks great. The colors of the miniature poodles vary from brown, white, black and cafe-au-lait, and these are on many occasions displayed in the pet stores. In addition to this you can also have your poodle's coat temporarily dyed for special occasions or events. These can come in a variety of colors like apricot, red, blue, gray or silver which are the normally accepted colors for poodle coats. Such coloring or dyeing normally do not damage the miniature poodles hair.

It is ideally recommended for you to learn your poodle's temperament before you buy them. Sometimes you may need to socialize with the miniature poodle as a puppy, as poodles have a common trait of being reserved towards strangers. Miniature poodles also tend to bark a lot, meaning that they actually do a good job of alerting you if there are things wrong at home. In a majority of cases, your poodle will enjoy playing with children, except for a few poodle varieties that tend to be high-strung, so it may be a requirement for you to take a look at the ancestry of the poodle before you buy it.

The miniature poodle generally has a pretty long life span as well, but you'll need to watch out for certain genetic problems that can arise. Cataracts is common in all poodle varieties, and retinal atrophy could cause blindness, so you'll need to take your poodle to the vet often for vision and nervous system checkups. Your poodle should also be checked for runny eyes and ear infections often. And, poodle skin tends to be sensitive; allergies and skin rashes can occur when certain types of dog shampoo or dyes are used, and clippers could cause skin conditions in poodles as well. Make sure that your grooming facility uses sanitized and hypo-allergenic materials when grooming your poodle.

For more great information on how to care for your miniature poodle, visit www.petguidelines.com.

What is the Green Bean Dog Diet?

For some time now people have playing around with the idea of the green bean diet for dogs. You may have already know about this and are considered trying it. Let's take a look at the green bean dog diet and discuss some of the problems and advantages of it.

If you decide to feed your dog the green bean diet, you should know that you can not only feed your dog green beans.  By only giving your dog this green vegetable diet would not be the right healthy decision for your dog's diet. Pet owners should find the balance between dog food and green beans that will produce the desired results.  

The green bean dog diet is standard kibble for your pet mixed with a amount of green beans. These green beans are a healthy way to keep your dog full between meals. Adding some green beans to the food at meal times will help your dog's diet and keep your dog feeling full and happy between meals.   

Should all dogs be eating the green bean diet?  No not all dog's should have green beans added to their meals. The green bean dog diet is ideal for dogs who should lose weight. Many pet owners continue to use the green bean dog diet to help keep a healthy weight for their pet, This is after the initial weight loss.  

It is not often that your dog will turn there nose up at the green beans. Dogs feel fuller and will have more of a happy attitude towards you. Also a increase in health and vitality.

One down side to think about when you decide to change your dog's diet over to the green bean diet, is the larger amount of fiber your dog will consume. Some dog's systems can react to this, so you will need to monitor your pet's outputs.  Begin adding the green beans a little at a time and gradually increase the amount. Some pet owners find it helps to only add the green beans to there dog's diet at one meal time during the day, this is done keep there dog's potty schedule in order.

If you do decide to use the green bean dog diet as your dog's diet, then there are a few tips to keep in mind. You will need to purchase a re sealable lid to cover the open can of green beans, this is for easier storage in between meals. You should measure the amount of green beans in your dog's diet just the same as you would measure kibble or treats that you give your dog.

When ever possible you should purchase your canned green beans with no added salt. This is a healthy option for your dog's diet.

The green bean dog diet has many advantages. But you will need to monitor your dog's intake of them to help prevent unforeseeable outputs. The green bean dog diet will help to lose and maintain weight while keeping your pet healthy and happy.

Halloween Costumes for Dogs

A Holiday for Man’s Best Friend

 

Many people enjoy dressing up their loveable pooch, but have you ever thought that dressing up your dog for Halloween would become a very popular part of the holiday itself. Everywhere you look, you will find Halloween costumes for dogs - in the magazines you get, in the mail to the nearest pet store; people just love to dress up their pets. Because dogs are so friendly and obedient, they are easy to dress up and they still greet you with a wagging tail. You can even make fun doggie treats to hand out to your neighborhood dogs.

 

A Variety of Costumes to Choose From

 

Halloween costumes for dogs come in all shapes and sizes. They come in costumes such as football players, pirates, pigs, frogs, and some of the more extreme costumes that are for the most daring dog owners, like superman, batman, Godzilla, crocodile, Frankenstein, skeleton, and even hippie dog! Dogs can have just as much of a variety of costumes as people, and in some cases ever more. For your cute little princess dog, there are many princess costumes to choose from and for your tuff stuff dog they come in army costumes complete with camo print. Harry Potter fans can even dress their dog up with Gryffindor school robes, or just a magical hat to add that touch of magic.

 

Where Can I Buy?

 

You can buy Halloween costumes for dogs at most pet stores, or even at your local shopping center like Walmart or Target. They come in all different sizes, you can choose the perfect one for your dog, big or small, and there is always many choices to choose from. A good way to buy Halloween costumes for dogs is by ordering them directly online, because it is so convenient and the costumes are delivered directly to your home with only a small charge for shipping. And in some cases no shipping rates apply. Most Halloween costumes range in prices from five dollars to fifteen dollars at most pet stores. Though you should always shop around for the best prices, some can be highly overpriced compared with other stores who sell virtually the same item for less. It all depends on your personal preferences as a dog owner.

 

Popular Costumes

Today there are so many costumes for dogs out there that it can get confusing when trying to buy the perfect one for your dog. But, to make things a little easier, here are some of the top costumes of 2007. The ghost is obviously a popular costume during this spooky holiday, and your dog is sure to look adorable dressed as a little ghost. Other costumes including robots, pumpkins, and other animals such as pigs and even dogs! Yes you heard that right, this Halloween dress your dog up like a dog, Scooby-Doo is a popular choice. Anyway when you dress your dog this Halloween, be sure to give your rover lots of love and treats. And do not forget to keep your pets on a leash at all times! Your dog is sure to enjoy Halloween just as much as kids do on this fun-filled holiday.

Not Ready for Prime Time Dogs

Top Dog Breeds

How often do you hear an owner shout, 'Bad dog' when what really needs to be said is 'bad handler'. It just aint cool when a dog jumps on you and puts paw prints over everything you're wearing. When your front yard is the chosen venue for the next door dog to leave his many calling cards, this is also frustrating. The dogs are no worse than the children of the neighbor. What else other than bad behavior can you expect from animals and kids when the concerned adults have no idea what they are supposed to do?

The dog ought to be given pre-set behavioral limits when inside or when it is taken to public places. Sensible owners take the help of dog trainers who teaches them proper handling methods without breaking the natural spirit. Your vet office or local pet stores can put you in touch with trainers who hold group discussions with the owners along with their pet; or enroll in an online course to tackle any problems instantly.

A section of this training is involved with tutoring the owner how to handle his pet. There is a saying amongst trainers however that it is far easier to train dogs than the people that own them! Dogs need to practice when they are taught to walk with leash when they are taken out and for this they need to walk around in a yard or any other area. Owner and other residents get irritated when these animals bark even if it is a typical occurrence. When they bark, they are simply communicating with us; a reprimand him might give them the wrong signal and confuse them.

So why does a dog bark? Well, just like a young child or baby, it needs attention, food or something to drink. The noise of a dog barking can alarm the owners of a burglar intrusion so attempting to stop him from doing this may work against you. It is wrong to encourage a puppy to bark and then punish him for barking when he attains adulthood.

Trainers teach you how to promote the dog behavior you prefer by praising your pet and giving them the occasional treat. How do you make your puppy stop the undesired behavior? Well, simply learn to reward him when he does something which is 'desired' behavior. You can not teach a dog some behavioral pattern which contradicts his natural breed. To make your pet follow specific behavioral training, you ought to choose one from a breed with can give you what you need. Dedication, patience and a loving attitude are needed if you wish to train a dog.

 

Shall I Buy an Electric Shock Dog Collar

If you are interested in getting an electric shock dog collar for your dog, there are a few things that you are going to want to be aware of first. Mainly you are going to want to learn more about the argument on whether the electronic shock dog collar is cruel or humane.

What The Electric Shock Dog Collar Are

In order to make your own conclusion on whether the electric shock dog collar is cruel or not, you are first going to need to learn more about this type of dog collar in general and how they work. One thing only, you must know what you are doing. If you are a beginners, get the Swedish Silent Nylon Training Collar from trainingcollar.com and start in a dog training club to get the basic knowledge.

These dog collars make dog training easy for you, so that you can teach your dog how to stop barking. You only need to keep the collar on them for a certain period of time, after which they will have been permanently trained and you can take the collar off and should never have to put it back on them again.

They work by lightly shocking your dog when they bark, not enough to harm them but just enough to make them realize that what they are doing wrong. You should start by putting the electric shock dog collar on at times throughout the day or night when your dog may bark but should not be, for instance when you have guests over or when you are leaving to go to work in the morning.

Where to Buy Electric Shock Dog Collar

If you have decided that the dog collar is safe to try on your dog, which it is, and you would like to try one on your own dog, you can generally just head to your local pet supply store and find what you need.

These dog collars are so popular that there is almost no pet store that you can find that will not offer a electric shock dog collar selection for you to choose from.

These are really great dog training devices, well worth a try at least, if your dog has a problem with barking. Every good pet owner will make sure that their dog is trained properly and not being rude or upsetting to you and your guests.

You want your dog to be polite and welcoming, and make sure that they do not annoy or frighten you or people in your home. This is certainly not the only device out there that you can use to get your dog to stop barking, but this is definitely one of the best options out there today.

Puppy Training 101

            Bringing a new puppy into your home can be an exciting experience, but also will inevitably provide many challenges for the new dog owner. Puppies are as law abiding as they are old. Puppies tend to compensate for their anything goes behavior with oodles of cuteness that results in the owners pandering to the pups, and thus not training them properly. Many will think they have the will power to withstand the cuddly cute manipulations that puppies are famous for, however few will succeed. The key to training puppies is to lay out several ground rules for you, and abide by them daily. This is why professionals often refer to puppy training, as in all truth being people training instead.

 

            Designate off limits zones in your home before, or during the beginning of dog ownership. Puppies tend to operate on a free style basis that allows them to go, sleep, and urinate wherever they please. Remember that dogs typically mark their territory through urination. So the more you make your house feel like the puppies new home, the more the pup’s going to want to a whiz in it. So the first step to avoid such a problem is creating off limit zones. Typically the easiest way to make this happen is close the doors to any and all rooms that are unavailable for the puppy to be in. Once you have created off limit zones for the dog it will limit your pee patrol to a few rooms, and once you get the dog trained to go outside you’ll be in really good shape.

 

            Choose and portion food wisely for your new canine friend. Dogs like to eat as much as they can, as often as they can for no particular reason. Be sure to make eating a daily routine in which you serve the dog the food, thus the dog understands who is in control of the food. Food can be your biggest weapon in training a dog.

 

            Fence in your yard if it’s not fenced yet, this will be the easiest way to train your dog. With a securely fenced in yard dogs will have a controlled environment to play, go to the bathroom, and sit when they are not wanted inside. Without a fenced in yard dogs will be forced to abide by your walking rules, which can vary in time and duration, and often don’t occur enough. Trust me, it’s much easier to let a dog outside in the fenced in yard than to walk them 5 times a day.

 

            Take pride in your duty as a dog trainer. Don’t be afraid to really get involved in training your dog, and becoming an interested participant in your dog’s growth. As with most anything in life, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. This is key with training puppies, the dog will be very responsive to your efforts if you take pride in training it. As long as the dog sees you working as hard as it is on abiding by rules, and working towards a routine the easier it will be to train the puppy in the long run.

 

            Be sure to purchase a book on the breed of the puppy you have purchased. Breed books are typically right on target when discussing dog habits, issues, and personalities specific to the puppies particular breed. Owning a dog book will give you insight on how best to train your new puppy.

Your Dogs Diet And The Effect It Has On Its Outputs

If you know anything about computers, then you will know what term GIGO means, it stands for garbage in and garbage out. So now you ask what has this to do with your dogs diet? Well your dog certainly is not a walking, tail wagging, barking computer, but your dogs diet definitely effects it in the same way. What food you feed your pet will eventually come out in the end.

The diet you feed your dog will have a considerable effect in its outputs. There are of course other factors that play a roll in this, such as nerve, illness and the weather. You can tell a lot about the health of your pet, by the outputs they produce.

Cleaning up after your pet is not the most pleasant job, but it is a necessary one that we all have to do. Being selective with your dogs diet, will make this task more pleasant and a easier job to do.

If you feed your dog a diet that is high in fillers, then the excrement will be large in size and often runny. Thus, making it hard to pick up. This is not recommended to do, but if you give your pet leftovers from the table, then when you go to clean up it will not be nice to do. This is because the outputs of a pet eating an unhealthy diet is just plain messy, smelly and large.

To many treats, such as rawhide or bones will change your dogs stool. You need to monitor how treats affect your dogs outputs, this way you can determine how healthy the snack really is for your hound.

If you feed your dog a balanced healthy nutritious diet, that is of high quality, then you will notice a difference in the outputs. Cleaning up after your pet may not be at the top of your list of things to do, but it will be a far easier task and much more tolerable to do, if your dogs diet is healthy and nutritious.

Always consult your veterinarian before you decide what type of diet is best for your dog. If you decide on dry food, then look for one that lists meat as the first ingredient. This way you will reduce the amount of fillers that your pet consumes.

Feeding your pet on a regular schedule is important. When you are deciding what your dogs diet will be do not simply focus on what you are feeding your pet, as its just as important to focus on when you feed your dog. If you feed your dog at consistent mealtimes, then you will be far more able to predict your dogs potty schedule. This also plays an important role when you are house training your pet.

By helping your pet eat a balanced healthy nutritious diet, then you are taking the first and most important step to maintaining a healthy diet for your dog. Your dogs diet, when you monitor it, will keep things running smoothly, it will also minimize outputs and mess. But be warned about to many treats in your dogs diet. By knowing what goes into your pet, will reduce the garbage and mess coming out.

Choosing the right Dogs Diet is not always easy, for further free information and advice try visiting Dog Diet Tips

Is Invisible Fence Right For You?

Don't you want to keep your dog safe? This is why many responsible dog lovers invest in an Invisible Fence system.

Invisible Fence is an electronic pet containment system. An electrical wire is laid underground along the outside of an area. The dog is fitted with a special electronic collar. When the dog approaches the perimeter, a warning beep sounds. This gives the dog the time to back away from the perimeter. If the dog ignores the beeping, a mild electric shock is delivered via the electronic collar to the dog's neck.

This technique may sound cruel, but it's not. The shock is very mild, as the power comes from batteries in the dog's collar, not from the buried wire. It's the surprise that gets a reaction. And the shock level is adjusted according to the size of the dog — smaller dogs get a much smaller shock.

Note that Invisible Fence, like all wireless pet fences, doesn't work its magic in a vacuum. The dog must be conditioned to run away from the boundary when the warning beep occurs. Flags are placed along the boundary to act as visual cues during the training, which initially occurs with a leashed dog. The collar is also placed into training (no shock) mode.

Conditioning is done quite simply. The owner approaches the boundary with the dog. As soon as the dog passes the flags that mark the perimeter, the collar will start beeping. The owner immediately tugs on the leash and walks quickly away from the perimeter, calling the dog's name. With lots of praise, the owner makes it a fun game for the dog.

Done over several training sessions, the dog learns to immediately leave the perimeter area as soon as the beeping occurs. Eventually the training is done without a leash and with the collar in its normal mode. If the dog ignores the beeping, the first shock it receives is usually enough to cause it to heed the collar's warning the next time it approaches the boundary.

Obviously, not every dog needs to be contained with an Invisible Fence system. But it works surprisingly well for those that do.

Tips In Dog Training

dog obedience training

A dog owner should set his mind in the right frame if he wants to train his dog. This would prevent him from violating any dog rules, an act that could really detriment the dog's interest on learning.

Following the rules of training will also prevent the owner from doing the things that could harm his relationship with the dog. There are certain rules in dog house training that must be followed including the following:

Stay focused

Incompletion of a task usually leads to confusion. Make certain that when a command is given, both you and your dog will follow through. Try not to be distracted whenever you order a command.

If you are commanding your dog to sit. When the command is given, make sure both of you follow through with it. Do not tug on the collar of your dog and stop halfway and be distracted. Always finish one command first then move on to the next.

The dog should sit completely and not just bend his rear legs. If you do not make this happen, the dog will think that next time you give the command it would be okay for him not to complete the task or to ignore it completely. Always stay focused, this way, you would eliminate the possibility of confusion and maximize the obedience to a command.

Rewards and punishments

Many owners are anxious to let their dogs hear a string of praises or be rewarded with several cookies instead of one whenever a command is accomplished. On the other hand, a lot of owners give too many punishments on a single wrong thing that the dog did instead of punishing him just once. Both may affect the training of the dog.

Don't over emphasize the rewards or punishment due to the dog's behavior. If you are using praises as reward, do not over praise the dog. Single "good boy" praise will do to recognize that you are in favor of what the dog has done. This should be said immediately after the command is accomplished.

In the same way, a single pulling of the check cord will be enough if the dog did not follow your command. A signal will be sent to the dog to inform them that something is wrong.

The dog will become distracted from learning if you continue to offer rewards or punishment. He would only remember the praises or the punishments and not the thing he did or he did not do.   

End with a positive note

For every training session, make it a point that the training will end with a positive praise. This would make the dog look forward to the next training since the last session fulfilled her need to please you. Also, ensure to it that the last command was accomplished correctly so that the dog is oriented properly to following commands.

Never lose your patience

Often when trainers don’t get the results they want, they get impatient with the dog. Then they do something really stupid that could spoil the training.

Canine dog training should be an enjoyable experience for you and your pet. If it starts to make you lose your temper and your dog a lot more disobedient, you should try to assess your pitfalls.

Dog training is really a difficult business. If you are not prepared for it, you could get help from dog training classes and instructors.

Popular Commands for Dog Training

Dog Training Commands A good command to teach first is to "Come". Next you can teach them to "Heel".

We are often awed at watching fine bird dogs in movies and in action. We are often in awe at how well and quickly they obey their owner’s commands. When you see them perform you may begin to ask yourself, how did they do that? You may wonder if bird dog training will help bring out the best in your dog.

Training them to be a bird dog will bring out the best in your dog if you are willing to work consistently with them.

There are some breeds that have a natural lineage, giving them the ability to becoming a good bird dog. Training them in obeying commands could be a good starting ground. Professional dog trainers know how very important it is for dogs to understand what it is their owner wants from them. For this basic voice command training, there are basic words a owner should use to train the dog.

First is for them to learn the "Stay" command.

The most basic command is "Stay"

As the dog follows these commands completely, it is a clear picture on how obedient and respectful he is to his master. Complete obedience is shown by obeying the command no matter how far the distance is between the giver of the command and the dog.

The ’Whoa’ or ’Easy’ command is useful for dogs that are going too far ahead, when the dog is flushing the bird and the owner wants him to stop, or when the dog wants to play with the bird. Once they obey your command it would be good to go to him and praise or reward them for a doing a good job.

Teaching them to ’Come’

This is a simple command used to train your dog to come to you every time you give it. This command is one of the easiest to use. Say for example, retrieving would be a lot easier if the dog would come to you the instant you tell him to do so. Some dogs can be stubborn and may want to play or even begin to go off in another direction. Giving this command will help cut down on the distance between you and your dog in case he decides to do things his way.

The ’Heel ’Command

Teaching your dog to respond to the Heel command, is used when wanting them to walk by your side.

Another command that is often used after the ’Heel’ command is the one word command ’Ok’ or to ’Go’. This will let him know that he has performed favorably and he is again allowed to hunt for you.

Whenever the dog performs well, never fail to give him a tap, a treat or a word of praise to acknowledge his performance. Dogs are born with the desire to make their owners happy. When you begin to reward your dog in this way, let him know he is behaving correctly and that you want him to continue that type of behavior. Overtime, he will learn to repeat the same desirable actions as long as you allow him to do so.

Bird dog training takes dedication and persistence. It is because of this, there are few well trained bird dogs today. However, if you really want to turn your dog into a really good hunter, you should be ready to invest some time and patience in perfecting the basic commands used in his training.

Why Get Cheap Dog Training Collars?

Do you Know How to Find a Good Priced Dog Training Collar?

Should you invest in supplies to train your dog?

Some people are willing to invest a lot of money and time.

It is perfectly okay to buy very expensive dog collars if you prefer doing so. However, you will find there are a great deal of choices for you to choose from that do not cost as much. Starting from stone studded collars to fashion dog collars, you can get anything but may end up spending a fortune. However, for some owners it is never practical to spend so much for an item that could be obtained at a lesser price and also have the basic functions needed.

If you have a dog with a lot of energy or is highly curious you can find it stressful to train them, as you learn to deal with all his behavior patterns.

After investing for your dog’s training without satisfactory results, many owners tend to cut down from spending too much on other things that contribute nothing to improving the behavior of the dog. One good example is the dog training collar.

If the dog you are training likes to chew on things you may not want to invest in a nicer, more expensive collar at least until he begins learning to respond well to training. What is more important to remember is the improvement of the behavior and not really on how expensive or sophisticated the collar and other accessories look.

While dog collars are instrumental in gaining better control and correcting lesser unwanted dog behaviors, the expensive ones could still put a dent in the budget of the owner. To help stay within a manageable budget you don’t have to sacrifice quality because there are a lot of good functional collars that will work well without the high cost.

When shopping for the right collar you should also check its durability and functionality before you even begin to look at the price. Don’t get caught up in the mind set that if you pay more for a collar, that it is a good indication to determine it’s functionality.

However, cost can be a good way to determine if your looking at the right collar but it should not be the sole influence on your final decision. For example, an excellent collar could give the best value at its lowest possible price. However, since it is tagged with a low price the buyer might immediately conclude that it does not perform well.

Remember, we were made to believe that price equals quality. You do not need to be in the mindset of thinking’s items at the lower end of pricing are of less quality, while those having expensive tags have the best quality. This can indeed be the truth for certain brand names but is not always the case. So be sure to find the best bargains at their best prices.

If your collar is integrated with advanced technologies will obviously be more expensive. The popular electronic dog collar is a good candidate. The price of this collar runs anywhere from $100 to $999 depending on the types of features installed in the item. You can expect a lot higher prices when more advanced technologies are used in making the collar.

Dog collars can cost a few hundred dollars and many people find it very impractical to buy items with such outrageous price tags. So if you are someone wanting to be practical while trying to get a cheap dog training collar, it is best to do your homework.

The Pros And Cons Of Leather Dog Collars

They're beautiful, stylish and sometimes questionable. They come mass made and some with designer labels. They also make incredibly high priced chew toys for many puppies and dogs. They're leather dog collars, once the standard dog gear and now a luxury piece. Is a leather dog collars right for your pet?

Pros

Some of the advantages of utilizing leather dog collars are that they last a long time provided you are willing to take care of them the right way. Even though they are more expensive initially than other collars, they can sometimes last longer than the life of your dog. Many owners of dogs who get good and muddy prefer to use leather dog collars and leashes than of other materials because it is so sturdy.

One of the other advatages is that leather always goes with your dog's fur, whether it is brown leather or black leather. Leather has a timeless look and a great smell, provided you take care of the leather right. There are now a big selection of leather dog collars in different patterns, colors, with rhinestones or other additions. There are even big name designers of people fashions who are getting into doggie couture.

Disadvantages

The main drawback of leather dog collars is that it's made out of very tasty animal hide. At least, your dog thinks it’s tasty. You can’t tell your dog that it's not good to chew on the $100 rolled leather dog collar but it is okay to chew on rawhide treats. They are made of nearly the same stuff. Dogs will chew on leather, although with patience and persistence, they can be trained not to.

Another disadvantage is having to clean and condition the leather dog collar and leash. This is something you do not have to worry about with nylon or rayon collars and leashes. You can throw them in the bath along with the dog. But prolonged exposure to soaking water will destroy leather. You need to get special soaps and conditioners for them. You might need to have the leather collars worn only on special occasions.

If you are a vegetarian or vegan, than you are already trying to cut out all animal-based products from your life. The thought of killing cows for dog collars might not sit well in your mind. But there are handsome imitation leather dog collars that are just about as tough as leather on the market. As an added bonus, they don't have the strong smell that attracts dogs looking for a quick treat.

Dog Training Secrets

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By Jim Nettleton

If you’re as much of a dog lover as I am, you’re well aware that a dog plays a special role in a home. He is part of the family. Just as we train and teach our kids, we should also teach and train our dog. It is a proud feeling to have a dog that is well mannered and obedient. The dog appreciates it too, knowing that he’s pleasing his human friends. It does not come naturally for them to obey. Hence, they need to be shown, through firmness and kindness, but never through physical pain. Never, ever hit or smack a dog as it will only make them more nervous or aggressive, not to mention that it’s cruel. Instead you need to have a lot of patience and perseverance as well.

Whether you decide to train your dog yourself, with the guidance of someone else, or a handbook training course, please remember the most important thing - any type of action has to be done again and again. It is only when it is repeated that he will get the hang of it. Humans aren’t the only species that is forgetful, dogs are too. They need to be reminded often and instructions need to be repeated again and again. But once he is trained, he will hardly need any instruction again. The training will be permanently imbedded. He will be well behaved and will possess a good temperament. Everyone loves a dog that follows its master's commands and is well behaved. For in depth training information, visit my training site through the link in my resource box below.

Also when you train him, make him understand who is boss. Dogs have a tendency to take over and try to be the boss, if they realize that the owner is not taking the initiative. Training together also brings you both closer together and strengthens your relationship. There are many good schools in case you want to send him elsewhere to be trained. It is this training that could save his or yours. It is when a trained dog knows what to do, that he will salvage a situation. It is also every important to understand his speed of learning and his overall ability to learn, as many dogs possess varying levels of those qualities. And if you want him to be well trained, then understanding his feelings and taking them into consideration is a big part of the package.

Many training regimens are good for the dog in many ways. Fetching, for example, gets your dog much needed exercise. The dog also enjoys it because he recognizes it as play and, therefore, fun. Truth be told, it’s fun for humans, too. And we as a group can also certainly use the exercise.

About the author:

Jim Nettleton is a radio and TV professional and a lifelong dog lover. Visit his training site at: http://www.jaynetinc.com/DogTrainingSecrets.

5 Simple Tips to Cure Dog Yeast Infection - Yeast Infection Dogs

A dog can be plagued with any type of infection on any area of the body, but usually yeast infection affects a dog’s ears more than any other part of the body. I guess it is because of how the ear is positioned; it is close to the head and if not properly cleaned can develop an infection.

Dogs that have floppy ears don’t get enough circulation and dogs that do not get enough sunlight are susceptible to dog ear yeast infection. Yeast is developed in areas that are moist and dark. If a dog has had a bath, the area behind the ears needs to be dried properly. Putting the dog out in the sunlight will help to dry behind the ears.

Look for any excessive scratching behind the ear and notice any type of redness, swelling or discharge as well as any unusual odor coming from the animal. These are some of the signs of dog ear yeast infection.

Taking your dog to the vet is the best possible reaction to these symptoms. However, some dog owners have found natural methods that work even faster than anything that the vet may prescribe for the animal. So in cases where the problem still persists, you can opt for natural cure of a dog’s ear yeast infection.

Here are some options you might want to consider to cure dog ear yeast infection:

1. Change your dog’s diet to foods that will help to build up the immune systems. Dogs are pretty much like humans who get sicker when the immune system is low. Do not give your dog only the scraps from your leftovers to eat. There are different types of dog foods that target the immune system. Go to your local pet store to see what you can find. You can also give your dog Vitamin C and anything that will improve the health of your dog.
2. As discussed before, make sure that your dog’s ear is clean and dry because yeast grows more when it is in a moist area. If you have a dog that has ears that stand up, it is easier to maintain because nature (sunlight) will dry it for you. However, if the dog has droopy ears, then more care needs to be taken to keep it clean and dry. Try to see if your dog will let you put a headband that pulls the ear forward so it can have a chance to dry properly. Do this when the dog is lying down. Trim any excessive hair growth behind the ears. Use diluted vinegar to wipe behind the ears.
3. Stay away from giving your dog too much antibiotics. Antibiotics are a friend to yeast infection in both humans and animals. The body has a natural flora balance and the antibiotics disrupt the flow to cause yeast to grow.
4. Use anti-microbial herbs, if possible, which you can get at your local health food store. Pau d’arco is a great natural anti-microbial that you can try. Check with your vet first.
5. Chorhexidine is a good substitute for prescription treatment as well as the ointment known as Cotramizole.

Your dog is depending on you to take care of its dog ear yeast infection. If you follow the tips above, it will help to cure dog ear yeast infection, but make sure you do your own research and get medical help when needed. To get more dog ear yeast infection tips, CLICK HERE.

Building the Perfect Dog: The Golden Labrador Retriever?

It has been known long that some mixes seem to do better than their parents of either breed. It's a question of finding which breeds cross best with other breeds. Many of these crossbreeds even go on to become established breeds by themselves. One of the best crossbreeds in dogs is seen in the Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy, also known as Golden Labrador Retrievers. As puppies they begin to show the best traits of their parents breeds.

The Perfect Personality?

Both Labrador and Golden Retrievers are dogs that really like to be around people and are eager to please. Note that not every one is alike, and improper training will always make for a rowdy, fearful dog (no matter what breed), but on the whole, a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is a born people pleaser. They are fascinated by people and seem to easily bond with them. They also have a lot of strength and high energy levels, which comes in good for service and search and rescue dogs.

Great Dogs For Helping the Blind

The Golden Labrador Retriever are hailed as the best seeing eye dogs by experts that train seeing eye dogs in England. There is an excellent breeding program run in England by Guide Dogs to raise dogs to be seeing eye dogs. A Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy is first tested at about eight weeks of age to see what his personality is like.

Their training never really stops. Many a Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy fails the program and is put up for adoption as a pet. It costs about $70,000 US Dollars to take a Golden Labrador Retriever puppy and turn it into a specially trained service dog. They work until old age or illness forces them to retire, and then they are placed in care homes for the rest of their lives.

Other Things to Know

Although many online Labrador puppies information web sites will say that a Golden Labrador is always yellow, this is not true. Occasionally there is a black or chocolate Labrador/Golden Retriever puppy born. American Canine Hybrid Club is where you can register your Labrador Golden Retriever puppy.

Every day, there is a newborn Golden / Labrador Retriever puppy who makes that first step to being a specially trained service dog. They all can rescue us from ourselves and our selfishness and help give our souls back to ourselves.

Yeast Infection on Dogs Skin - Cure Yeast Infection Fast

Rex was a very playful dog. He loved to have you throw him any small object and he would run and get it. Sharon's kids loved Rex. They would come over to my house with Rex and my boys would also enjoy playing with Rex.

One day the boys came over and Rex was not with them. When I asked why, they hesitated to tell me. The older boy hung his head and told me to call his mom, Sharon and she would tell me. I called Sharon only to learn that she too was ashamed to tell me that Rex had yeast infection.

I asked her how he got it and she explained that the vet told her that Rex had dog ear yeast infection, which was a primary yeast infection that affected the skin and because his immune system could not resist the bacteria that causes yeast infection, he had contaminated it from other dogs in the neighborhood that he might have been playing with.

Dogs with yeast infection

Sharon sounded so sad and so were the boys. My boys also missed Rex and were asking me so many questions that I could not answer.

Sharon told me that she did not want Rex to be around the kids because he had all kinds of skin rashes and he just wouldn't stop scratching.

I decided to go on a research to find out what I could do to help this family since Sharon told me that what the doctors were giving Rex was not helping at all.

Curing a dog yeast infection

I did some extensive probing online and found a book written by Sarah Summers, titled 12 Hours to Natural Cure of Yeast Infection." I wasn't sure if this book could help since it seemed to target human beings and not canine yeast infection.

I sent an email to Sarah Summers, not sure if she would answer me back. Lo and behold, I got an email from her within a few days. She confirmed what I had hoped for. The natural methods that she had in her book had been well researched, she reported, and could help any type of yeast infection in men, babies, women and dogs.

I still wasn't sure, so I asked her if she could give me the email or phone number of someone who had tried it for their dog. I was sure now that she was going to give me a negative answer. I had pushed her in a corner.

To my amazement, she told me she would get back to me within an hour. I got an email a little over an hour later and was given the name and phone number of someone who had used her method to cure dogs yeast infection. However, before I made the phone call, I wanted to be sure that I wasn't just given the name of just any person so I did a reverse phone search to make certain that the phone number belonged to that person and that was when I made the phone call.

To make the story shorter, within 4 days of purchasing Sarah Summer's book online and getting the natural treatment for the dogs yeast infection, Rex was his old self again and that yeast infection was gone and never returned.

So it is from that standpoint that I can recommend Sarah Summer's book. If you would like to know more about how to get a copy of this book, go to 12 Hour Natural Cure for Yeast Infection Now.

Pink leather dog collar

It Shouldn’t Happen To A Dog: Pink Leather Dog Collars

Pink leather dog collars exemplify all that is wrong with modern society, and not just on an aesthetic level. You do have to wonder what the dog thinks when made to wear a monstrosity like a spiked pink leather dog collar. Dogs must really love us in order to not kill us for having to go out in public dressed like that. Although dogs aren’t color blind, they also don’t seem to care what color they wear. It’s only people that insist on pink designer leather dog collars.

Trying To Improve On Nature

Not that Pepto-Bismol pink leather dog collars aren’t an assault to the eyeballs, but they also show the arrogance of the human race. Leather is an incredible material. It’s tough, it’s attractive and it smells good. It also is very comfortable, once you break it in a little. But it does not come in pink. Although leather is often superior to other clothing materials, because it is not in pink makes it not good enough.

Just stop and think about all of the wasted materials, labor and effort that go into making pink leather dog collars – or pink leather anything, for that matter. You have to have the land to raise crops to feed the cow or sheep. You then have to raise the cow or sheep and then kill it, skin it and have the leather go through a special process called “curing”. You also need to stretch and condition the leather during this time.

And then, you have to coat it in pink. Generally, you have to cover the leather in another material (usually not as tough) in order to just make the leather pink. This often cracks off long before the leather underlay wears out. But hey – it’s pink!

Other Canine Fashion Faux “Paws”

I you are going to insist on making your dog wear a pink leather dog collar, then please be sure your dog is a girl. They say dogs can’t understand human language beyond a few words, but they sure know when they are being laughed at. Once a human starts to snicker, that human’s dog then joins in to tease the boy dog that is forced to wear pink because the owner thinks it’s “cute”.

On a more serious note, please do not get any kind of dog collar with rhinestones, diamonds or small sparkly things that can easily pop off of the collar. Dogs are like babies in that they explore the world through their mouths. Dogs have been known to choke to death on the shiny attachments that have come off of fashion dog collars.

Will Your Senior Dog Benefit From A Senior Dog Diet?

You hate to admit it, but your furry pal is getting a little older. You want to ensure that your pet is happy and healthy for many years to come. You have heard all of the hype about the new dog diets for older pets. Is there really a difference between dog food for adult dogs and kibble recommended specifically for seniors? How do you know when to switch your pet to a different diet?

The best resource for advice about dog diets is your pets vet. Only you and your trusted vet know the particular needs of your pet. Talk with your vet about any concerns and questions you may have. Your will vet help you with any changes, that is if any, need to be made to your dogs diet. 

If your senior dog does not have any health troubles and keeps a healthy weight, then there will be no need to change your dogs diet from adult to senior dog food. But, on the other hand, if your dog has trouble keeping there weight down or digestive problems, you may need to switch diet. If weight is the only problem, then consider lowering the amount of dog food you give to your pet. This may be all the change your dogs diet needs.

A senior dog is classed as a dog in the last third of their life. Larger dogs, such as Great Danes, live to be about 9 years old. When they reach the age of 9 years old, you may want to think about a senior dogs diet. On the other hand, a Poodle will not reach senior status until about age of ten, this is due to the longer life expectancy. The decision to alter your dogs diet should be based on there health condition, rather than there actual age in years. Your vet will help you to decide when the right time is to change your dogs diet.

Dog food especially prepared for senior dogs typically has less calories. This helps to combat any weight issues. The senior dog food also contains more fiber for the different needs in your dogs diet. As dogs age, they tend to suffer from constipation, this extra fiber will help remedy this problem.

Renal failure can be a health problem for senior dogs. How can your dogs diet help with this problem? Cutting down the amount of protein in your dogs diet will decrease the work load of the kidneys. For the most part, this is the reason, senior dog food often has lower protein content than regular adult formulas.

You should when possible, give your dog to eat dry dog food to encourage excellent dental health. Dry kibble helps to reduce plaque and any tartar buildup. If your senior pet rejects the food dry, then try moistening it with water or you could the purchase moist canned varieties. 

When your vet recommends supplements may be a help as part of your senior dogs diet. It Is because, some pets are unable to eat properly due to dental problems. many other older pets are not able to gain all of the nutrients from their food, this again is for various health reasons. Supplements such as, vitamins given everyday and glucosamine can be a great help to maintain a healthy diet for your dog.

Glucosamine helps joint health. For senior dogs, glucosamine can help to fight arthritis and hip displasia. 

Vitamins C, A, and E, help reduce the natural aging process and encourage better health for senior dogs.  You should talk to your vet about adding such supplements to your dogs diet.

We all want what is best for our pet. Your senior dog should have a diet that meets their nutritional needs. You and your vet should work together to determine what is the best diet for your senior dog. Your dogs diet will directly affect their health. Take care of your pet by supervising your dogs diet closely with the help of your veterinarian.

For further free information try visiting Free Dog Diet Tips

Does Your Barking Dog Drive You Mad?

For some people it is an offence to have a barking dog around them, they think that dogs should be seen and not heard. This is slightly unfair given that the bark is a dog's voice and like yourself it uses it to communicate.

Of course barking is your dog's way of talking and many owners would feel there is something missing if their dog was silent and of course there is the guarding duty many owners expect their dogs to perform. In most cases your dog is just trying to talk to you, perhaps he is just happy about something, dog obedience training will help you to find this out for sure.

The problem is that the language barrier between barking dogs and humans is well nigh impenetrable. Therefore, you are forced to resort to the facts of the situation in which your dog is barking and try to understand from its body language just what it is trying to say.

Apart from that many people ask just why do dogs bark? Your dogs bark is its voice, it is the best way it has of communicating with you.

Naturally they will bark when they are happy about something such as greeting you on your return or perhaps they are happy about running around in the park.

Some dogs having barking bred into to them such as toy dogs or sporting breeds where they are trained to bark in order to notify their owners of the presence of a particular quarry being hunted. Other dogs like the guarding breeds are trained only to bark when a threat is perceived.

Other than the above common reasons for dog barking might include, boredom, hunger, being lonely, something is wrong, the presence of other animals or perhaps she just needs the toilet.

Again the context of the situation will help you to decide the likely cause. But of course it is not fair for you to try to shut the dog up. She may be communicating for a very good reason, you just need to spend some effort in understanding her.

However, dogs are not stupid animals there are situations where they realise that they can use their bark to annoy or force their owner into a particular action. Bullying by barking is something you should never allow your dog to do.

For instance you dog may have decided that it is time to play and continues barking until you give in and drop what you are doing to amuse her. The problem here is that the dog then learns that all she has to do is to bark whenever she wants something and you will oblige.

This can get very wearing after a quite short period of time. The best approach would have been to show the dog that it cannot get its own way by giving it the cold shoulder.

Turning your back on your pet is a great way to show you are unhappy at its behavior and shows it you are serious in your training. After repeated actions your dog should eventually get the message.

Barking as a means of manipulation is used by your dog to try to demand things like going for a walk. Do not let your dog rule you, you need to be in charge here. This teaches your dog respect and hopefully makes for a quieter household with limited barking dog problems.

Consult a good book on dog obedience training like SitStayFetch to solve many of the problems you will encounter when you are training your dog.

How To Choose Dog Training Schools

dog behavior training

The truth is there are so many dog obedience schools that offer their services to anyone willing to pay them. The problem though is not all schools will meet your standards or your expected guarantees. Here are some points of considerations when trying to choose a good school for training your dog.

Reputable

Reputation has different meanings to different people- for some it is the capacity to yield good results regardless of the means, for others it is the popularity of the school itself which makes it highly recommended. Knowing the school by reputation is a good indicator as to the popularity of the school and the training methods used. It also reflects how many people have trusted on them.

You could ask around to find a school with a good reputation or check local websites. Veterinarians usually have several names of schools and trainers to give you, your dog breeder could also provide you with some references and ASPCA or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can provide a list of registered names that are sure to use humane methods approved by the organization.

Methods of Training

Any self-respecting training school uses responsible dog training collar methods. The school must have equal concern to your dog as you do, treating your dog one of their own. Beware of schools that employ trainers who still use old training methods such as yelling or hurting the dogs for there exists many of this kind.

A good school should use humane techniques that promote positive training and limits the use of risky negative reinforcement techniques. The former covers praises and the use of dog treats in recognition of the desirable behavior while the negative reinforcement techniques include practices like alpha rolling, choking and yelling.

Sufficient knowledge

The knowledge on training of the schools must range from the oldest unreliable method to the latest training techniques for dogs. Having extensive orientation in this field would optimize the capacity of your dog to learn since it would be exposed to all possible trainings to which it could respond well.

In researching for training schools, secure information regarding the latest seminars that the trainers attended to and the up-to-date facilities they have. Remember that you would pay hefty amounts to get your dog trained, it is but proper that you and your dog receive proper compensation for your investment.

The school's exposure to widespread training is another thing that you should keep in mind. There are schools that claim of specialization while others advertise that they have sufficient knowledge on all fields of dog training. Your choice should depend largely on the scope of knowledge the training school has.

Classroom Arrangement

There are two different classes of rooms setup providing private lessons. The main advantage of the group class is that it promotes socialization and good behavior in the presence of other dogs. Also, when the owner trains alongside his dog, the owner could benefit from exposure to other handlers' mistakes and techniques.

On the other hand, private trainings could not yield these advantages. There is also a good chance that the transfer of learning and obedience to command given by persons other than the trainer is poor.

It is indeed difficult to select the right dog training school for your dog, so make certain to choose wisely.