Feb 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
The trick of “sitting up” is easily taught to small dogs, but should try not be included in a big dog’s education, as it is difficult for them to preserve their balance.
The training of sitting up is one of the first tricks to teach and forms the groundwork for many other dog tricks. To train a dog to sit up, prepare some treats as a reward, and set your dog on his haunches in a corner, so that he cannot fall either backward or sideways and has very little or no space to lose balance.
Keep him from pitching forward by holding one hand under his chin and with the other hand hold the treat above his nose and keep repeating distinctly and deliberately say, “sit up.” Do not make him sit up too long at any one time, but repeat the lesson frequently and reward him often with plentiful of praise and treats.
During his first lesson he will require considerable assistance from your hand to prevent him from pitching forward, but as he gets control of the balancing muscles and understands what you want, he will depend less and less upon your hand to keep him in position and you can gradually render him less assistance until you will only have to keep one hand in position two or three inches from his neck or chin, so as to be ready to prevent him pitching forward; later on you can withdraw this hand entirely and simply hold the treat just above the level of his head.
By constant practice he will sit up well after you set him up; then he should be set up against the wall, so as to afford him a support for his back only, and after he has been well schooled at this and can keep his position easily, practice him against chair legs, cushions or other objects that afford him less and less assistance, until finally he learns to preserve his balance and sits up without anything to lean against.
During all these lessons the words “sit up” have been impressed upon his mind by frequent repetition, and now comes the final lesson to teach him to sit up as soon as he hears the words, and the chances are, if he has been diligently drilled, it will be necessary only to call him out in the room, show him a treat, hold it up a suitable distance from the floor, say “sit up” and he will do so, when he should be given the treat while still in position.
The only necessity to perfection is to practice him several times a day until he will sit up at the word and without being shown a reward; that can be given him after he has obeyed.
You have now a foundation for many other tricks. He can be taught to beg by moving your hand up and down just in front of his paws, which he will move in unison with yours. He can also be taught to salute by bringing one paw up to the side of his head, or to hold a wooden pipe in his mouth, or to wear a cap on his head or other articles of wearing apparel.
In teaching a dog to submit to being dressed up, do not attempt to get him to wear too many things at once; try him at first with a cap and after he becomes accustomed to that you can put on a coat and gradually accustom him to the other clothing articles.
Enjoy teaching your dog the “sit up” trick and most importantly have fun along the way!
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Feb 28th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
You have given almost everyone a gift, how about giving your best friend a present, too? I mean giving someone’s pet dog a gift basket. Got qualms on how to go about the putting together of one dog gift basket for your dog-lover pal? Here’s some simple tips or ideas that won’t cost you much:
How about a dog gift basket for more TLC for your friend’s dog?
One can never go wrong with a spa gift basket that will surely help your buddy pamper his or her pet. Aside from the thoughtfulness on caring for your friend’s best pet pal, the benefit of a nice smelling dog is a plus, too. Here’s how to create that pat-worthy dog spa gift basket:
Select quality dog grooming goods. Look for products with labels that indicate the ingredients. Products with the owner’s fave scents should be considered also. A dog shampoo and conditioner, a complementing pet perfume, a dog hair brush or detangler can also be a good option, too, especially if the dog is a long haired one. Some balm for the dog’s paw pads, an ear cleaner, a nail clipper, and other pet care products can be nice additions to fill your dog gift basket with.
Choose a basket or container for the products. Flea markets or garage sales can be good places to see when you’re looking for excellent rustic baskets or containers to place the dog grooming products in. A tote that is waterproof may be a good alternative, too. Choosing a color that will complement the dog owner’s house might just make your dog gift basket one great home decor thus more appreciation for your thoughtful gift. Just make sure that all the products will fit comfortably. Now if you found a big basket, including a dog towel to fill out the large basket is one great tip to follow. Shredded paper can be an alternative filling also.
Top the gift basket for the dog with a toy that the nice little fellow can play with while enjoying the water. Dog grooming books can be particularly helpful to newbie dog owners. So you might want to include that in your dog gift basket, too.
Cover the gift basket with a cellophane. Choose either a clear or a tinted cellophane to cover your dog gift basket with. This will add to the put-together look of the dog gift basket and will eliminate the awkward look of the odd shapes of the items placed in the basket. Also, the cellophane can serve as a protection against rain.
Don’t forget to include a card and a nice big bow. The ribbon can also be used in securing the cellophane wrap. The card will remind your friend how thoughtful you are when it comes to the well-being of his or her pet. If you want to go a bit farther with your efforts on putting together a dog gift basket for your friend’s dog pal, search for a card with a humorous theme.
Other substitutes to the spa gift basket idea is putting in gifts that will also benefit the owner such as dog calendars, novelty items with a dog theme, e.g., action figures, mouse pads with a dog picture, T-shirts with paw prints, dog magazines, and photo frames. Including more dog toys such as doggie bones and chew toys for puppies will be more than appreciated, too.
Also, if you prefer the gift items to be more of a surprise, wrap each of the items with a gift wrap that has a dog theme. You can also cover some of the gifts completely with some shredded paper filling to add more surprise to the gift basket.
Now you can easily customize a dog gift basket for the delight of your dog recipient and its owner.
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Feb 27th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Dog shelters or Dog pounds are government entities or private shelter houses for stray or abandoned dogs and provide shelter to these animals until they find foster-homes, are claimed by previous owners or placed in other similar institutions. Dog shelters are a great place to find pet dogs for anyone looking for a great companion.
Some of these pounds are the so-called kill shelters, which mean that if a dog has health or temperamental problems that are no longer manageable within the available resources, then it will be euthanized or “killed kindly”. At times even healthy dogs need to be euthanized due to lack of space or funding.
Some shelters, usually in the private sector choose to be No-kill shelters. These provide support to healthy and adoptable dogs for the rest of their lives or until they find other owners. However the drawback is that many animals are not accepted in these shelters due to insuffiecient funds or lack of sufficient space.
A few of the private dog shelters provide low-cost spaying and neutering before the dogs are placed. Often initial veterinary care and vaccination (except rabies) are also provided to these animals.
Many aspiring dog-owners prefer pet shops to obtain their pets. However many of these dogs end up in dog shelters or are simply left out on the streets. Animal welfare organizations are now working to create awareness among the general public about the large number of adoptable dogs available in various dog shelters and the often-poor condition of dogs in the pet shops.
Once you do decide to adopt a dog from a dog shelter, the best would be to search for such organizations in your area in your local yellow papers. You may also search on the Internet for “dog shelters” or “animal shelters” with the name of your city.
Upon finding a facility, you should visit it a few times and observe the staff interacting with the dogs while they go about their chores of cleaning the runs and feeding the animals. Note the behavior of the staff towards the dogs, and vice versa. It will help you in deciding if you want to adopt a dog from this particular facility or not.
Many of these dogs might already be home trained. However no history is usually available on stray dogs. But if you research well you are very likely to find a dog that is most appropriate for your particular economic and domestic situation. And most importantly you just might have saved an animal from being euthanized or having to live in a shelter house all his life.
Make sure that you find the right pet, make sure you prepare your home and have the right dogs beds and dog bedding ready when your new house mate arrives.
So if you are a dog-lover on the lookout for a worthy canine companion, the nearest dog shelter is the place to go shopping.
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Feb 26th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
There are a number of things you need to consider if your dog is displaying chewing behaviors in order to effectively combat this destructive habit. The best way to learn how to stop a dog from chewing is to examine several factors:
First, what is he chewing? Cushions, shoes, his own feet? Some objects may need to be removed from temptation, especially while a puppy is still learning good behavior and self-control. Some things may be just too hard to resist. Others can be saved with the use of a bitter chewing-deterrent spray, which also works on feet and tails. Simply creating a terrible taste will likely be enough to stop chewing and prevent future episodes, without harming your pet.
Next, what is the underlying cause of the chewing? If a puppy is teething, she definitely needs something to work those gums on. Try offering a toy or treats specifically designed for this purpose. Even better, freeze the chew toy for several hours, then give it to your puppy. This will both relieve his teething pain, AND distract him from chewing other objects. Win-win!
There are, of course, other causes of chewing, including boredom, stress and loneliness. Your dog requires a certain level of stimulation, similar to a child. And just like a child, if your dog is ignored, this can lead to him getting into trouble if adequate activities and interaction are not provided.
Other Points to Consider
- When there are times in the day that your dog must entertain itself, tie your dog up outside or have it somewhere where it can not reach anything but its toys to chew on. Maybe give your dog a little chew treat, or even better, one he has to chew in to get some peanut butter or other food inside. Mental stimulation is key!
- Practice obedience training your dog everyday, and make sure he gets plenty of exercise. This will help stimulate your dog mentally and physically, and thereby reduce its boredom.
- Do not physically punish your dog, as this will only cause more anxiety, and most likely increase his chewing.
- Do not play tug of war or wrestling games with your dog. This will only encourage him to bite and chew - not a good thing!
- Never try to pull a toy from your dogs mouth. Instead, distract him with a treat, and remove the object once he has dropped it. You can also teach him the “Leave” command.
- Ensure that he has plenty of toys to keep him occupied while you are out. You may want to rotate them, for added interest.
- If you think he suffers from any separation anxiety, make your exits very low key, so as to cause as little stress as possible.
For more information on Dog Behavior Problems I suggest you check out this great Dog Teaching site.
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Feb 26th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
One of the toughest jobs that a family faces when a new puppy comes home is getting the dog housebroken. This means that the dog will eliminate outdoors and not use your home and furnishings as a toilet. Lots of people think that getting doggy toilet trained is a tough task, but it doesn’t need to be. If you arm yourself with plenty of information for the best ways to get your dog house trained, you are on the right path to having a dog that goes to the bathroom where you want him to go.
When to House Train
A dog can be toilet trained at any age, but the best age to begin is between eight and twelve weeks old. If you set up a housebreaking routine as soon as you bring your puppy home, before long he will get the right idea of where to do his business. A crate is a great tool for toilet training a puppy. It keeps him confined when there is no supervision and most dogs learn quickly that if they make in their crate they will have to sit in it. Most dogs are fairly hygienic and won’t enjoy having to sit in dog doody or urine.
The Advantages of Using a Crate
Be sure there is enough room in the crate for your pup to turn around, but don’t leave so much room that he will be able to eliminate and lie down far away from it. Many dog owners view a crate as a jail cell or to use as punishment, but your dog will love having his own space where he can escape from the hustle and bustle of the household for some quiet time. Make your dogs crate a happy place and don’t use it for punishment. You can feed your dog in the crate, or while he is in there, offer him some treats. Place a favorite chewy or toy in there with him, add blankets and he will have a cozy den to escape to whenever he feels the need. Utilizing a crate for your dog can keep him out of trouble and not only in housebreaking.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled
Keeping a close eye on your puppy is a key factor in getting him properly housetrained. Whenever you see that he is sniffing, circling or beginning to squat, immediately take him outside to the place where you want him to go and see if he eliminates. If he does, praise him lavishly. A good idea is to have a cue, such as “hurry up” so that your puppy knows what you want him to do. When he is going to the bathroom repeat the cue and then give your dog lots of praise for a job well done. It is better to take the dog out and nothing happens then take a chance of an accident happening.
Have a Schedule
Feeding, watering and walking your dog on a regular schedule will make housebreaking that much easier. Puppies are like children and they thrive on a routine. Try and take the dog out around the same time everyday so they will be able to adjust their bodily functions. The first thing you should do in the morning is take the puppy from the crate and don’t let his feet touch the ground. Bring him to the place where you want him to go, give the cue, and praise upon a successful completion. Take your puppy out at least every two hours, after eating or drinking and especially after play. Before you know it, your puppy will be letting you know it is time to go out and do his business.
Don’t Let the Puppy Roam
Letting your puppy roam around the house is a sure fire way to have accidents. If you have decided you don’t want to use a crate, and even if you do use one, confining the dog to certain areas of the house can make housetraining easier for everyone. It is difficult to keep track of a puppy when he has the run of the house, but if you gate him in the kitchen, he will still be able to be part of the action and can be better supervised in case of an accident.
Don’t Get Discouraged
There will be times when you first begin housetraining that you feel your pup is just not getting it. He may have accidents in the house as well on occasion. There is no need to be discouraged. If you stick to your routine, keep a good eye on the dog and make frequent outings to his outdoor bathroom, in no time your puppy will be housebroken. Another good idea is to use the same door all the time when you are taking him out so that when he has to go, he will scratch on the door to be let out. Once this happens, you can say hurray and know that your puppy truly is beginning to understand that going to the bathroom in the house is a no-no.
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Feb 25th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
When your new puppy has had it’s first arrival to your home, make sure to give your child(children) some easy tasks to do so. These tasks should be age appropriate and something they can do easily and requires little to no help from you!
Remember, you don’t want to give too much responsibility just yet, so start off slow! If you have toddlers in the home, they can easily pick up the puppy’s toys and place them in their basket and you can even purchase cheap dog clothing such as pajamas for dogs, shirts and more. They can also hand out treats as rewards to puppy for good behavior. When you take your pup to get their vaccinations, it’s a good learning experience for your toddler to see that even puppies get shots like they do and can be there to offer hugs and kisses!
Preschoolers and young kids(4years old to 8years of age) can help with feeding and watering with supervision, take pup outside for bathroom breaks on a leash, and assist during bath times. Children that are 9 years old and older should be able to do all the tasks previously mentioned as well as the following: help clean up after the puppy and help with house training and basic training commands, such as “Sit” and “Come”. An essential tool in house training a dog is having a xl dog crate or a small one to start out with and you will easily be able to potty train your puppy.
By having your children assist in these simple tasks for your puppy, you are helping them to be responsible and respectful pet owners and people. They realize that these are just things that go hand in hand when owning and caring for a dog or any pet. It forms that bond; that friendship between your child and your new family pet that lasts through both of their lifetimes! Two other puppy tasks that a child of any age can help do is keep pup mentally and physically fit! This can be done by regular exercise such as playtime and through proper socialization.
Feb 25th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Whatever your dog preference is, you are sure to find terrier dogs among the candidates for a pal. You’ll get energy you want with little grooming and added wit.
Basically bred for hunting and killing vermin, Terrier dogs are now known to offer wide spectrum of features and characters that you might find lovable. They are not as cuddly as toy dogs (while there are some terrier dogs in the toy and companion dog brackets) and they may not be as intelligent like other breeds but they set off these lacks with various things that only they can offer.
Let us discuss in brief some of the terrier dog types that you may find interesting:
Less aggressive but definitely not timid. This best describes Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. They are definitely alert and very spirited, but when the call for steadiness arrives, they are sure to show you some air of confidence and steady disposition.
This dog type too is gifted with intelligence which makes them very responsive with obedience training.
Parson Russell Terrier is a dog type that exhibits boldness, cleverness, affection and exuberant disposition. While many may find this a playful pal, it is still not advisable for everyone to take Parson Russell home. In fact, formal obedience training is a must for owners since this dog type is more likely to display mischievousness and too much playfulness that make this a very independent pet. For people with active lifestyles and those who can tolerate explorative disposition, this scamp is the best for you.
The Norwich Terrier, on the other hand, is a type of dog that resulted from breeding small Terriers with other smaller breeds, possibly Yorkshire Terriers. Maintenance of Norwich Terrier is minimal and they are content with modest living quarters. They have active disposition though and can be affectionate and fearless. Additionally, they are also known to display stocky and happy personalities which make them ideal pals.
Much like the Norwich Terriers, Norfolk Terriers are also well-spirited, fearless, charming and always ready for game. While both may have some similar physical characteristics, Norfolks can still be distinguished through their folds in the ears.
Basically workman-like dogs, Kerry Blue Terriers are excellent watchdogs and work well in farm settings. This dog got its name from its blue-shade coat color which was originally black during puppyhood.
Wire Fox Terriers are of great interest since they display power through its excellent endurance capabilities and speed. Alertness and quick movements are the dominant expressions of this dog type. It is advisable though that the owner trains this dog and should be given enough doses of daily exercises.
Meanwhile, Smooth Fox Terriers are the frolic and lively types of dogs that are ideal in both country and city living. Displaying intelligence and cleverness, this dog makes good trainees and must be well credited by that. They are also likely to show great affection towards their owners.
These are just some of the many terrier dog types that can be considered as your next pets. In general, this dog type has good dispositions and makes ideal home pets. While some may display obscure aggressiveness, this still does not negate the fact that most types have the capacity to develop affection and keen expression of their attachment to their owners. Be warned though that some dog types in this breed can be very playful and should be given enough amount of attention and time during obedience training and exercises.
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Feb 24th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Is barking a form of language among dogs with precise significance, or just playful noise? Dogs exchange information among themselves less by voice than by a wide range of facial expressions, body postures and gestures, as well as by various scents. Dogs, who bark at night, are probably working off excess energy or announcing their presence, and this is undoubtedly the only message conveyed to other dogs within ear shot.
When a dog goes to his owner and deliberately barks, it is simply meant to attract attention. You must try to guess his general behavior, rather than from the circumstances and his general behavior, rather than from the particular form or pitch of bark he makes. The howling or baying of hunting dogs is an instinctive hunting cry informing the pack that the dog is on a trail. Barking at strange noises is a warning as well as a threat display.
A lonely dog who bowls may be sending out a gathering cry to other dogs nearby. Wild dogs on the other hand, never back, they only howl. Could the barking of domesticated dogs be a form of communication more closely resembling speech? A pet dog that shares a close relationship with his owner and has been taught to understand many words obviously makes an effort, sometimes quite successfully, to give meaning to his own utterances.
A dog who wishes to assert his importance and boldness instinctively employs all of the effects that make him look bigger and more frightening, raising his back ton increase his height and holding his head high in defiance. A dog who wants to show submission does just the opposite, making himself look small by crouching down with his tail between his legs and his ears laid back flat.
A dog who wishes to assert his dominance will take a perpendicular position with his head over the other dog’s shoulders, while nudging or pushing, with his neck arched, head and tail raised and tense. The conventional play invitation is a posture with the forehead crouched, the hind quarters high, a wagging tail, bright eye and a little yap. A rigid stance with a steady gaze and a high, trembling tail is hostile. A high, steady tail signifies self confidence, and held low indicates inferiority, fatigue, ill health, or a bad mood.
Pawing at the neck is an expression of affection, nose-nudging is another invitation to play. Paw-giving is a conventional canine gesture with two possible meanings. When he gives his paw to his owner while avoiding eye contact he’s saying “Please forgive me” or when he wants attention, he is saying “I’m here, don’t forget me.” When he offers his paw to another dog, it’s a sign of submission.
An owner, who takes the trouble to observe his dog and pay him the courtesy of listening to him, can establish a simple two-way communications system with his pet. Canine messages are generally very elementary, as he asks much less of us than we do of him. “I’m hungry,” “I’m thirsty”, “I need to go out”, or “Come with me I think something is wrong” are among the messages he manages to convey very well considering his limited means. His most eloquent utterance is the emotional gurgle of barks that means to say “I’ve missed you!”
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Feb 23rd, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
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.
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Feb 23rd, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
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.
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