Start out with dog training the right way

If you have never tried to train an animal, the idea may be rather intimidating. There is a lot of information out there and sorting through it all can seem difficult. These are just some tips to help you start out with dog training the right way.

Dogs need to play so always give your dog time to be a dog and to engage in normal canine behaviors. Feed your dog a balanced diet, give them space to run, and provide them with activities that will burn energy.



 When you can learn what will motivate your dog, you will have more success in your training. Spend some time to learn what all about your dog - what will work for him, what he likes, and which training techniques will be a waste of time. Offer your dog a lot of positive reinforcement and an array of training techniques. When the dog is happy, he will want to perform better.

 Consider using a clicker to help your dog learn great behavior. If you give your dog an award when you used the clicker, it will be easier to train. Making the sound and giving a treat is a good way to build this association. Eventually, your dog will learn that the noise means "good," and this will help shape their behavior by using this tool.

 Dont play tug of war with your puppy. These, along with chasing and wresting, can encourage them to bite your hands. You will want to put these games off until the dog is older and properly trained not to nip and bite.

 If your dog suddenly starts exhibiting behavioral problems, take him to a veterinarian in order to rule out any serious health conditions. Animals that are in pain or that have certain health conditions may lash out or behave inappropriately. This behavior is an indicator to humans that there is something wrong.

 If you are training more than one dog, remember that some breeds of dogs can be trained together, but some breeds cannot. If your dogs cannot focus during training, you may need to start with one-on-one before training them together.

 Get your dog used to the things they will encounter when going for a vet visit. Practice gently moving your hands all over your dogs body and reward him for staying calm. You also need to get him ready to have his paws held and looked at, as well as his teeth examined. Ask your friends to help out, as well.

 Use consistency with training by making sure all members use commands that are the same. For instance, if your dog gets on the sofa and he hears you saying "get off," but your husband says "down boy", it may confuse your dog. As long as you use consistency, then your dog has a great chance of learning all of the tricks and behaviors that you wish.

 When possible, puppy training is the most effective form of dog training. This is not a hard and fast rule, but young dogs do respond better to training. When you train your dog as a puppy, he will be a well-behaved dog throughout his life.

 You should use positive motivation when you are training your dog. Rewarding your dog with praise is an important part of reinforcing desired behaviors. Using punishment and negative training techniques will only make the dog afraid of you and less likely to want to please its master.

 Always give your dog the tools for success. If you are training it to stop chewing things it shouldnt be chewing on, give it things that it can chew on. In addition, keep the household objects that could be dangerous away from your pet. Items like hairbrushes can cause a dog to choke or could block their airway.

 It is important to use a wide spectrum of treats when training your dog. Dont use your dogs everyday treats for training. You want to place special emphasis on their improvement in training.

 Dogs have tunnel vision and will focus on one thing to the exclusion of all else. If you do it enough times, your dog will wait for your signals instead of focusing on other things.

 Challenge your dog frequently. Give him "quizzes" to make sure he still knows his stuff, even if you both know he does.

 If dogs have similar personalities, you may be able to train them simultaneously. If your dogs fight or goof off instead of paying attention, it may be wise to do a bit of one-on-one training before training them together.

 Dont let your dog take the lead in a training session, or in life. . Dont ever give your dog a command if you are unable to follow through with the enforcement of it.

 You do not want to use wee-wee pads when potty training your dog. The problem with the wee-wee pads is that they leak and leave enzymes from urine and feces behind. Potty pads can also mislead your dog into thinking that similarly shaped items throughout your home, like rugs, are appropriate places to go. Teaching your dog the appropriate place to go from the start is always the more practical idea.

 Do not tie a couple of dogs closely together. The dogs could get wrapped up and they may be injured. If one dog happens to be much larger than the other, the small dog could get tangled to the point that it could choke to death.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Dog training is mostly about being consistent with your pooch and setting the rules of your relationship. Once those are set, youll find you both enjoy your time together even more! Keep in mind that you must continually reinforce your dogs training lessons. Provide refresher courses when needed and continue to correct bad behavior. Once your dog gets the training basics under his collar, you will not be limited in what you can achieve together..

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Electric Dog Fences The Facts

By Andrew Strachan

Electronic dog fences are intended to be used as a control device for your dog. They are designed to keep your dog within a specified area, either by means of an electric shock, unpleasant noise or offensive smell. Electronic dog fences can be a mixed blessing though. Not only for humans but for your dog also.

The electronic dog fence will consist of a wire that is buried in the ground around the perimeter of where you want to allow your dog freedom. When the dog strays too close to this wire, a signal is sent to the dogs collar that will in response, administer the deterrent to your dog. This has the effect of discouraging your dog from straying over the boundary.

Although electronic dog fences can be quite expensive, they have the big advantage that they are invisible to the eye. This means that they can be used in areas where front or back fences are prohibited. So for somebody without a yard or area where their dog can be kept, they can be very advantageous.

Unfortunately, they have their disadvantages too.

The first problem is that most dog owners will use the electronic dog fence as a substitute for proper dog training. It is a quick fix and can be very frightening for a dog that is not used to the collar. Most dogs will not immediately associate the shock, or noise from the collar with the fact that it has strayed outside of its boundaries. For nervous dogs especially, or dogs that have been adopted from rescue homes and may have history of abuse, this type of punishment control can be very disturbing for the dog.

Also, if your dog is not correctly trained to understand where its boundaries are, what happens if the system fails? Electronic dog fences can be shorted (by lightening or careless digging). Your dog is then free to go wherever it pleases. Additionally, a very active dog (or an un-neutered dog finding a female) may stray over the border and then have trouble returning home due to the repeated shocks he might be getting.

Above all of these problems, it should be considered whether giving your dog electric shocks as a method of training is an acceptable method of dog training in the first place.

With all that said, your decision whether to get an electric dog fence should be weighed up against the pros and cons of other types of fence. Small fences can be jumped by larger dogs. Chain link fences can be unsightly and are not allowed in some areas. In some cases, an electronic fence may work out to be your best option.

When it comes to dog fences, there is no one size fits all solution. Consider all of the facts like breed, personality, size, your living circumstances, health of your dog etc. and you can decide if an electronic dog fence is for you (and your dog.)

Article by Andrew Strachan. Find out more about dog behavior training and types of dogs at http://www.types-of-dogs.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Strachan

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Help The animal Rescue

ANIMAL RESCUE HELP

Hi, all you animal lovers. This is pretty simple... The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals. It takes less than a minute (How about 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box fund food for animals for free. This doesnt cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate food to abandoned/neglected animals in exchange for advertising.Heres the web site! Pass it along to people you know.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Please tell everyone you know to do this, it will really help the animals and it is free. It costs you nothing!!

Click on the envelope with the arrow at the bottom of this post and you can forward this post to your friends. Thanks for yur help.

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The Off Command Or Dont Touch That Thing Youre Thinking About Touching

By Suzanne Harris

The way you train "Off" is a perfect example of the positive reinforcement mantra: Any behavior will increase with reinforcement, and any behavior will decrease without reinforcement. "Off" is a lot of fun to teach your pup, and its very helpful in many situations.

Some people use the phrase "Leave it" instead of "Off", but it means the same thing. Use "Leave it" if you prefer. Either way, "Off" will get your dog to

* stop jumping on people
* get off the couch
* stay away from that chicken wing on the sidewalk
* wait to grab something until you give the OK

If youre training a young pup, youll be amazed at how quickly he learns "Off". As a matter of fact, most pups under 5 months pick it up in less than 10 minutes. Thats not to say they will respond to it in all of the various situations listed above in that short time. But if you practice the following exercise in a wide variety of situations, locations, and distraction levels, your pup will master even these in a matter of 3-4 days.

Dogs older than 6-7 months often take a little longer to get it, but dont give up particularly in your first few trials. If you, the human, are patient and follow these instructions exactly, youll see the same wonderful results even with your older dog.

"Off" means "Dont touch that thing youre thinking about touching." We will also simultaneously be teaching him "Take it", which means "OK, now you can touch it".

Step 1: The "Off" and "Take It" Exercise

Put about 10 pea-sized soft pieces of food in your hand. Any meat will do, or soft cat or dog treats cut into pea-sized pieces. Crunchy kibble pieces take too long to chew for this exercise.

Sit on the floor or crouch down to your dogs nose level. Hold your pup back from you with your non-food hand, and hold your food hand out 1-2 feet in front of his face at his nose level or below his nose level.

Now once and only once, command "Off" as you open your food hand and let go of your pup.

When your puppy lunges for your food hand (very likely), simply close your hand. Do not repeat the word "Off" or say anything else, and do not move your hand around. Your pup will likely chew on your food hand for a few minutes, trying to get at the food.

Simply wait silently until he gets distracted or bored or for any other reason stops touching your hand for an instant.

The instant he stops touching your food hand, quickly say "Take it" and deliver one piece of food to his mouth with your non-food hand.

Repeat this exercise 10 times until your hand is empty. You are allowed to command "Off" only once during each trial, so for 10 exercises, youll say "Off" a total of 10 times. Just remember not to speak at all after you have commanded "Off" the first time until he moves away and you say "Take it."

Your pup will chew and paw at your hand for shorter periods each time before he chooses to move his face away from your hand, allowing you to say "Take it" and give him a treat. This shows that he is learning that moving away from your hand is the fastest way to get a treat.

Over the 2-3 days, practice a set of about 10 trials (as described above) several times daily, each time in a different room in the house or better yet outside in a low distraction area. Each trial, add tiny (1/2 second to 1 second) increments of time to the time between his moving away response and your "Take it" food delivery. By the second day you should also be withholding your "Take it" delivery until he has moved at least 5 inches from your hand.

Note: Some pups will sit when you say "Off". This is OK for the first day or two, but we dont want him to think that "Off" is just another word for "Sit". After the first day or two, try to train him out of his sit response by delivering the Take It treat just before he sits.

He may also be sitting because youre holding the food too high. Your food hand must be at his nose level or below nose level.

Never give your pup a piece of the food while he is touching your hand, nor before you have said "Take it". You may deliver the food to his mouth only while he is not touching your hand.

Step 2: Adding Distance and Time to "Off"

When he can hold his "Off" for at least 5 full seconds in several different locations inside and outside, alter the exercise in the following way: Command "Off" as usual and wait for him to move away. Now wordlessly open your food hand without saying anything.

If he holds his "Off" while your hand is open for 2 seconds, say "Take it" and deliver several treats one at a time, praising throughout because he just accomplished something big: Learning that no matter whats in front of his nose, "Off" means "Off" until you say "Take it." Gradually add more time and hand distance to each trial.

If he does not hold his "Off" for 2 seconds while your hand is open, its because most pups think that when you open your hand, thats the same as you saying "Take it". It is not. So if you open your food hand and he lunges for the food before 2 seconds have passed, quickly and wordlessly close your hand before he gets to your hand and wait again for him to back off. Once again, open your hand and wait without saying anything. If he lunges again, quickly close your hand again. Do not let him reach the food! This may go on for a while - you open your hand, he lunges, you close your hand and wait, he backs off, you open, he lunges, you wait, etc.

After a while, a light bulb will go off in his head and hell figure out that he must hold his "Off" until you say "Take it" even though there is an open hand of food in front of him. When this happens, hell hold his "Off" for the 2 seconds, and you may say "Take it" and deliver several treats one at a time to reward this wonderful accomplishment!

"Off" Generalization

The goal with "Off" is to get him to back off no matter what the item is and no matter where he is. Once he can hold a solid "Off" for 10+ seconds with your hand 10+ inches away at or below nose level in a wide variety of locations inside and out, youll start to lower your food hand toward the floor, 1 inch per trial, until he can hold a solid 10 second "Off" with your open food hand on the floor.

When hes mastered that, its time to try "Off" with food on the floor that you are not holding. This starts out the same way as before but now you simply put the treat on the floor instead of holding your hand open. The first few times you try this, dont stand up. Remember to practice this in a wide variety of locations inside and out before you move to the level of standing up which food on the floor. Its also a good idea to vary the distance between your dog and the food each time.

If he lunges for the food while its on the floor, hurl your entire body on top of the food to prevent him from getting it. Yes, Im joking here but dont let him get to that food before you can clamp your hand or foot down on top of it! We cant have him learning that hes faster than you are, can we?

Add distance from the food and add time from the food. Whenever you feel your pup has accomplished a very difficult feat, dont hesitate to reward him amply with several treats delivered one at a time with great praise and fanfare - he deserves it!

When Can I Use "Off" for Jumping, Couches, and Chicken Wings?

Once youve accomplished a 5 foot "Off" for 20 seconds, his response should be reflexive and you have earned the right to use the "Off" command for jumping, couches and chicken wings on the sidewalk. Congratulations!

"Off" is also excellent preparation for "Stay", which is also trained by showing your dog that the profit arrives when he displays self-control. As a matter of fact, Ive trained many dogs the "Stay" by simply combining a strong "Off" response with the command "Off-Stay" and gradually fading out the word "Off", but thats the subject of another article, here or at http://www.dogdaysUSA.com.

For more great dog and puppy obedience articles, go to http://www.dogdaysUSA.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Harris

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The Dog Whisperer Cesar Milan Stops By The Couch

"The Dog Whisperer" Cesar Millan stopped by The Couch to talk about his new show, "Cesar 911."

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How Healthy Is the Food Youre Giving Your Dog

Most people are completely aware of what commercially prepared dog food is actually comprised of, and you would be shocked to know the truth about some of the foods that are commercially available today. Your dogs health can suffer if you are feeding them the wrong food, and many commercially prepared dog food brands are simply not designed to keep a dog healthy, happy and active.

Dogs are in fact carnivores. There are situations where they will eat other foods, but that does not mean that their stable diet should not be as carnivorous as possible. The first ingredient in the dog food that you purchase should absolutely be a source of meat based protein. If the first ingredient in your commercially available dog food is a grain or a vegetable then our advise to you is to switch brands. The first five or six ingredients should be primarily meat based protein sources, like chicken, beef and turkey. Fish or rice are moderately okay choices, but primarily you want to go for natural, meaty dog food when possible.

Your dog should be eating kibble primarily. Many pet owners will opt for canned wet food, mainly due to the convenience of it, and the fact that many dogs seem to prefer it. However, there is a reason why kibble is so important: It helps keep teeth clean, and healthy, and it aids in digestion. Wet food is a nice snack, but should not be the primary source of nutrients for the dog.

Some diets are better than others. Many people are beginning to get into the concept of raw diets, and the BARF diet which stands for Bones and Raw Food. While this is an ideal diet for a lot of breeds, it is not your only option. There are kibble brands out there that provide balanced nutrition, as they are created by dog food companies that are consistently updating their recipes and formulas in order to deliver the most efficient diets available based on scientific research and studies.

Are you ready to find a balanced nutritional diet for your dog? Check the label. Anything you buy for your dog to eat, you should check the label first. Just because theres vegetables and chunks of meat on the cover of the bag, that does not mean you are getting real, natural ingredients.

The ingredients should be primarily meat sources, and the grain sources should be adequately processed for maximum absorption by the dogs digestive system. The more artificial products and chemicals you find; the less healthy and nutritious the food should be considered to be. There are a lot of excellent dog food brands.

Your best bet is to shop around for different brands, flavours and types, compare the labels in order to get to know the ingredients, and find something that you really feel comfortable feeding. Theres no harm in changing your dogs food if you find something better - Just make sure that you are always keeping your pets best interest in mind.

Derek Rogers is a freelance writer who represents a number of UK businesses. For advice on pet food, he recommends Seapets, one of the UKs leading suppliers of pet supplies.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Rogers

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Teaching Dog Tricks The Easy Way

By Andrew Strachan

If you were to ask what the quickest and easiest method was for teaching your dog a new trick, the answer would be - work with the nature of your dog, not against it. What we mean here is that you should look at what tricks your dog naturally does, or look for a dog trick in the making, like naturally putting a paw on your knee or rolling over etc.

If you choose a dog trick that naturally occurs, half your work is already done. Your dog will probably be eager to please as most dogs are and should therefore respond well to rewards. You can build on this to reinforce your dogs’ natural ability rather than starting an entirely new dog trick.

Which Dog Trick Do You Choose?

Observe your dog and watch out for a potential dog trick. This may be something as simple as crawling along on its belly to, catching a Frisbee or a ball. As soon as your dog performs one of its natural tricks, associate it with a hand gesture or verbal command and then reward your dog with its favorite treat. It wont be long before your dog learns the procedure.

Eventually over time, you will be able to cut back on the rewards until your dog will perform the dog trick with just the hand gesture or verbal command such as fetch or go get. Now that the new trick is firmly lodged in your dogs head, you will be able to build on it.

For example, if you have taught your dog to catch a Frisbee, how about increasing the distance that he will catch it from, or throw two Frisbee’s one after the other. Get your dog to catch one, drop it and then run for the other!

Popular Dog Tricks

Some of the most popular dog tricks are sit and come etc. These are pretty simple to teach. To teach your dog to sit, with your dog standing firmly press on its hind quarters directly above its back legs whilst at the same time saying the word Sit quite assertively but NOT shouting. Most dogs will naturally sit. At this point, heap lots of praise on your dog and then give them a treat. After several repetitions of this, your dog will soon learn what Sit means. Do not try this on older dogs that may have arthritis in their hind legs or hips.

If your dog does not sit when told, NEVER scold it. Just ignore it and try again another time. Otherwise your dog will associate Sit with being scolded. If your dog persistently fails to sit, try another trick.

Each dog has different talents.

To teach your dog to come is simple. When your dog is at a distance, say loudly but not shouting Come here or Come. This will usually get your dogs attention. Repeat the statement Come on, Come here. Most untrained dogs at this point will probably look away and carry on with whatever it was doing.

At this point walk up to your dog but keep within around 5 feet away. Say Come here. Your dog will probably now come to you. When he does, its time for a lot of praise and a treat. Repeat this but increase the distance that your dog has to walk towards you more each time. Eventually, your dog will instinctively come to you whenever it hears you shout Come here, from any distance.

Again, if your dog fails to come to you, DO NOT scold it. I once got asked "Why wont my dog come to me?” On further investigation I found out that every time the dog ran away and then failed to come back, the owners would scold the dog when they got hold of it again. WRONG! The dog started to associate the command Come here with a scolding. Totally the opposite. No wonder the dog failed to come to command.

Another dog trick you can try is Paw. This involves saying Paw then gently lifting the dogs paw with your hand followed by lots of praisetreats. After a while saying Paw will cause your dog to raise its paw. You can extend this to two paws where your dog Sits pretty on its haunches.

Another trick is Speak. This usually works best with a naturally vocal dog. Every time your dog howls or makes a funny noise, praise the dog whilst saying the command Speak. Eventually your dog will speak on command.

Teaching your dog a new dog trick should be a fun experience for both of you, and will give you lots of quality time together. Enjoy!

Article by Andrew Strachan. Find out more about dog behavior training and types of dogs at http://www.types-of-dogs.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Strachan

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A List Of The Best Dog Breed That Will Suit Your Lifestyle Perfectly

As far as the visual aspect is concerned, you will already recognize what style of pooch youre searching for. But are you sure if thats the best dog breed for your lifestyle? For example, you might love the curly hair of a white Poodle, but are you prepare for the grooming treatment thats required to maintain that delightful curly coat? You respect the intelligence of a German shepherd dog, but are you aware that this breed will shed year-round? So unless you could bear to have hair constantly on your furniture, this affectionate dog might not be perfect for you.

Here is a list of the best dog breed species that belong in the top three of there respective categories. Find out which one has the ideal temperament for your household!

The Best Dog Breed For Child Friendly Living

If you have children in your family, its necessary that your doggy will get along with them. The following breeds will certainly enjoy playing with your children:

1. Beagle
2. Collie
3. Labrador Retriever

The Dogs That Will Need Less Grooming

Any dog will require some form of grooming. The teeth must be brushed, nails need to be trimmed, the coat needs to be brushed and they all require a bath on occasion. But as far as caring for the coat is concerned, these breeds of dog dont need that much maintenance:

1. Whippet
2. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
3. Chihuahua

The Small Lapdog

If youre seeking a small dog breed that you will nestle on your lap, these can be the finest option:

1. English Toy Spaniel
2. Pomeranian
3. Shih Tzu

The Energetic Dog

If you enjoy a great run and want a companion dog that could join you for a trek on a trail or a ten mile jog. Consider one of these:

1. Siberian Husky
2. Border Collie
3. Parson Russell Terrier

The Athletic Dog

Are you looking for a sporting buddy? These breeds are strong, vigorous, agile, and active – the formula of a winner:

1. Sheltie
2. Border Collie
3. Greyhound

The More Obedient Dog

If youre seeking a dog who will listen, one thats willing to please and does not become distracted easily, go over one of these best dog breed:

1. Shih Tzu
2. Golden Retriever
3. Border Collie

If youre interested in getting a more detailed look at dog ownership (like the best dog breed), including a huge variety of detailed information on canine problem behaviors, dog psychology, and the most effective ways to train your dog, you ought to take a look at http://www.dogs-for-all.com


Source: High Quality Article Database - 365articles.com

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Featured Toy of the month

Spike with his new Kong Wubba toy







This month I am very proud to say I will be spotlighting a wonderful toy from THE KONG COMPANY. It was my pleasure to talk to Mark Hines from the Kong Company and discuss my plans for featuring toys from The Kong Company. As we spoke it came to my attention that I would be spotlighting The Kong Company and its products for many months because of the many useful toys they offer. Most of you are familiar with the KONG, so I am going to begin by spotlighting a different toy. Read and enjoy!!

Kong Wubba (catchy name)

This wonderful toy has quickly become one of Spikes favorites! As you can see by the above picture he has a great time with it.

The Wubba is a Kong shaped toy that is covered with durable fabric. The Wubba is NOT a Kong covered with Fabric, but rather a softer squeezable toy with a squeaker for lots of interactive fun. I love to use this toy when Spike and I go out for a game of fetch, I also use it for training purposes and when I take Spike into new environments (especially the vet).

The amazing properties of this toy make it very versatile. It squeaks so I can use the sound to get and keep attention. The Wubba has a nice long tail that I use to get the prey instinct going and get Spike even more interested in the toy. Once the instincts are going we can either have a game of tug or I can throw the Wubba for a wonderful game of fetch. The unique shape of the Wubba gives it an unpredictable bounce making it a challenging fetch toy for any dog.

Can you use it for training? Absolutely!! Pull out the Wubba instead of food treats when you are ready to teach your dog something new or reinforce already learned commands. Take it on walks with you for distraction, if your dog reacts to other dogs or you find keeping his attention difficult when out in the big world. As a distraction approaches begin by squeaking, then wave it in front of your dog, next tell him to sit then toss it to him and play a little tug. in the 10 seconds it took you to do this you now have your dogs undivided attention and the distraction passes.

The Wubba comes in various sizes ranging from puppy to extra large. Be sure to get the size best suited for your dog. This is not a chew toy and you should not leave it around for your dog to chew. If you use it as a play/training tool and put it away after each use your dog will be that much more excited when you pull it out the next time.

Go pick up a Kong Wubba today and enjoy some wonderful play times with your dog!!

For more toys visit the Kong Company web site at http://www.kongcompany.com/





Spike showing off his Kong Wubba

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♥ Bulldog ♥ ► Cute English bulldog puppy plays in the grass █ Bulldog

french bulldog bulldog english bulldog bulldog puppies american bulldog english bulldog puppies hey bulldog french bulldog puppies hey bulldog beatles bulldog puppy bulldog skateboarding bulldog...

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The Effects Of Dog Training Collars

Training Dog Collars are have long been known to be one of the most effective ways to train your dog; which makes it the top contender for anyone wanting to have their pet trained. Training collars offer anyone a humane pet friendly method of training their dogs. They come in a variety of and sizes and types and are relatively inexpensive.

Dog Collar Training?

Pet Training is an ongoing process like building a fire. It has to be done the right way and with a little bit of care and patience. Training collars can be uses as an aid to add reinforcement to training commands, signals and obedience. They also help dogs to change their undesirable natural behavior and to learn to perform to what their owners expect.

If you are looking to self-train your dog the proper way, then training collars are the perfect tools for coaching a variety of training methods. The can be used for basic obedience training, advanced training, and even sport dog training.

Side-Bar => Training should be both motivational and balanced in order for your dog to learn the optimal.

Buying Training Collars

A proper collar fit is one of the many insider secrets professional dog trainers keep behind their closed doors. When considering buying a training collar, try finding one which fits your dogs neck snuggly. The more expensive and branded training collars are usually covered by a one to two-year manufacturers warranty.

Dog training collars are a great investment to have if you plan to save money by self-training your dog. Collars make sure that your unruly and unpredictable dog is kept under control for the future.

Training dog collars are simple, easy to use and aids maximum productivity from minimum effort. Training your dog will ultimately make both your "best friend" and you more contented. A little elbow greases and patience often results with vivid rewards as time goes by. So give it a try and Start your Dog Collar Training Today!

Jeremy C.W write information articles for websites such as DogCrateTraining.net and DogNpuppies.com. For more Training Dog Collars Articles, please visit TrainingDogCollars.com for your dose of Dog Collar Secrets Today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Wong

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The Escape Artist

Lisa and Keith Bryants boxer is an expert escape artist, able to jump their 6ft. backyard fence.

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My dog the anti study aid

I have a mid term coming up in biochem. Its worth 25% of my final grade. And this is how my dog helps me..
She seems to be getting more enjoyment out of that text book than I am.

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Preparing Your Dog For The New Baby

By Christy Tuller

Youve been trying for awhile and you are finally pregnant! Congratulations! This is a very exciting time in your life. You will be having lots of visitors. Lots of doctors appointments, doing lots of shopping and preparing for baby. You will also being going through a lot of emotional changes. In all the excitement you cant forget your best friend. Im talking about the four legged kind of course! Up until now they have been your child. They have gotten all your attention and love. So what can you do to prepare them for the new baby?

Before the baby is born you can make sure the dog gets to see the changes taking place in the house. While they might not understand you can talk to them while you work painting the nursery and setting up the new furniture. You will need to decide now how you feel about the dog spending time in babys room. When allowed to be involved and supervised at all times, a dog can be very helpful in watching over baby.

The day has come and you go to the hospital to deliver! You will be in the hospital for a couple of days usually. This is a great time for your significant other to take the next step in preparing your dog for the new baby. Your little one will be wearing a little outfit in the hospital. When the babys clothes are changed ask the nurse to put the outfit in a bag for your husband to take home. At home he can let your dog smell the clothes. This will familiarize your dog with the babys scent. When you bring baby home have someone hold your dog back just enough that she can smell the babys foot and recognize the scent. You will need to supervise all contact between dog and baby. Most importantly, when you go out for a walk with your new baby, dont forget the dog!

Please remember to continue giving your dog as much love and attention as possible so they dont feel abandoned by you. These suggestions can help you, your baby and your dog remain a loving family for years to come!

Christy Tuller is an expert on several topics and a dog lover. For more tips and ideas check out my blog Dogs Are Family Too! at http://www.dogs-are-family.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christy_Tuller

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Full Documentary Giant Megalodon Biggest Shark of the Dinosaur World Wildlife Documentary HD

Full Documentary Giant Megalodon Biggest Shark of the Dinosaur World Wildlife Documentary HD Full Documentary Giant Megalodon Biggest Shark of the Dinosaur W...

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The Nutrition Bridge And Probiotics For Dogs And Pets

What you do not know about probiotics can deprive you, your dog and other pets of a huge health advantage. Probiotics benefit dogs, cats and people by helping prevent chronic health problems. They benefit your dog by reducing toxins, strengthening organs, removing bound, decaying matter, and fortifying your dogs system with important nutrients lost with processed foods, antibiotics, illness or stress. Probiotics should be selected based on the health and stress level of the animal, and compliment any veterinary therapy.

Nutrition is a bridge between cells of the body and the microorganisms that inhabit the healthy gastrointestinal tract (GIT), which extends from the mouth to the anus, hosting approximately 400 different species of microorganisms, called endogenous flora or microflora.

All mammals require these beneficial organisms and biologically produce substances to create a hospitable environment for them to take up residency, for necessary health and proper functioning of the GIT.

You may ask why cancer is the number one killer of all pets?

Processed foods and stressful environments deprive dogs and the rest of us of these valuable organisms and nutrients we need to metabolize.

Endogenous microflora play an intrinsic role in your dogs digestive issues: gas, bloat, bad breath, inflammatory bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, stool eating, chronic skin problems and allergies. Included in the list are life-threatening vaccine reactions, parasites, worms, endurance fatigue, hypertension and joint problems, especially for elderly dogs, and immunology. The microflora and the immune system are intrinsically connected. What hurts one negatively affects the other. Few diseases are isolated in nature, and repercussions throughout the body are probable.

Stress, pH changes due to antibiotics, or cessation of nutrient flow in your dog or any mammal can kill off endogenous microflora attached to the walls of the GIT. As a result, areas within the GIT are stripped of the naturally protective microorganisms, creating an open invitation to opportunistic pathogens that can make animals sick by competing for available nutrients and starving the beneficial microorganisms or, more seriously, through the production of toxins. Food poisoning often involves bacterial toxins. The smallest amount of toxin can make an animal sick to deathly ill, and it can happen quickly.

Probiotics may assist in the dogs faster recovery.

Probiotics for our dogs and other mammals act as replacements until the endogenous microflora, decimated by antibiotics or stress, can recover.

Antibiotics may or may not kill the initial invading microorganisms, but they indiscriminately kill beneficial probiotics in dogs. Probiotics for dogs on antibiotics regimen should be given at twice the usual rate with doses staggered to maximize benefits. Antibiotics can kill probiotic microorganisms. Probiotics help control infections and prevent secondary infections, not in the GIT but by stimulating the immune system. They benefit our dogs by improving their microbial balance which includes bacteria, yeasts, and fungi that protect against pathogens and allow the endogenous microorganisms to recover.

To help your dog get the best protective coverage, rather than opportunistic pathogens, use a wide-spectrum probiotic, containing required amounts of the widest selection possible of different species. No one species is the best for every requirement or need and it can take 10 to 14 days for probiotics to fully activate in your dogs system. More concentrated forms begin working within a few hours.

An effective probiotic is Lactobacillus acidophilus, meaning "acid lover". Its a lactic acid-producing bacteria that lives in the stomach. It prefers acid and will secrete enough of its own acid to maintain a pH that is uncomfortable for many opportunistic pathogens. Other probiotics prefer the less acidic environs of the large intestine, and will successfully pass through the stomach and continue to the colon. There are always some probiotic microorganisms that succumb to the extreme conditions in the stomach, and that is why initial doses should be higher. The mechanisms are not completely understood, but probiotics act as regulators of the intestinal microflora, as a source of digestive enzymes, and as a positive stimulant to the immune system.

Giving probiotics to your pet helps produce natural antibiotics, which fight harmful bacteria. Probiotics benefit the dogs digestion of food, and aid in absorption of nutrients, antioxidants, and iron from food digested. They can help your dog with food intolerance while aiding in absorption of B vitamins, biotin and folic acid. Probiotics for dogs assist in controlling the growth of yeast, regulating hormone levels, stimulating the immune system, reducing inflammation and increasing energy levels.

Buying from a distributor or retailer, do you really know what you are getting?

Storage and handling of probiotics for your canine influences the actual quantity of viable microorganisms consumed. The package you buy may have had the CFU (colony forming units) of the various organisms listed on the label when it left the manufacturer, but are they there in the same amounts when your pet gets the product? The most effective probiotics are the freshest ones that spend the least time away from the manufacturer.

We have existed as a company since 1985, but it was a love of dogs, the dogs that have been a part of our life, and the passing of one dog in particular, Rusty, that inspired the creation of http://www.CalloftheDog.com and http://www.CalloftheDogShop.com -- created to provide the things your dogs and pets need. Visit us for great information and quality dog supplies! Be sure to see our About Us page as well.

The two sites are dedicated to the dogs we have loved so deeply, and who have given us so much love in return. Purebreds and mixed breeds, but mostly rescues in need of a home. We educated them, but each one has had something to teach us in exchange.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jay_Jacovitz

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Training The Trailing Search Dog

When training a dog for a true trailing dog to be used in the area of search and rescue there must be a definite understanding that you are NOT training for an A.K.C. title. Often the attainment of an A.K.C. title has nothing to do with following human scent nearly as often as it has to do with following the requirements that the handler sets up for the dog. Also, the motivation usually is pieces of hot dog which are laid on the track by the person who "sets" or "lays" the track.

A person training a dog for trailing must learn first the theory of scent and skin rafts; that a human being will constantly drop skin cells and that these cells form a "raft" which will drift with the wind and fall to the ground as the person moves. It is this trail of skin cells, which the trailing dog must be trained to follow. How and where the skin cells land on the surrounding vegetation or surface will determine how and where the trailing dog will locate the scent. The length of time that the scent may be picked up by the dog will depend on the quality of the training and the natural abilities of the dog, along with the effects of weather on the trail. The other requirement for successfully training a trailing dog is that the handler motivates the dog so that he will not deviate from the trail under any circumstance.

A person training a dog for a tracking title is not concerned with the life and death scenario of a true search "mission" but rather is concerned with the attainment of a title, which can only be earned by following a prescribed "track" which has been laid in a specific manner for the dog. Training for this title often involves the use of hot dog pieces laid in the track of the human, thus encouraging the dog to follow the exact foot impressions on the ground.

A person who is training a dog for certification as a "trailing dog" in the search and rescue area recognizes that the dog MUST be motivated to follow the trail of the rafts of skin to the source. The use of food, if used at all, must be limited to a reward after the trail is correctly followed. The major emphasis on training the trailing dog must be one of setting up many many different scenarios and using many different "victims", all the while recognizing that the task of the handler is to learn to recognize how the dog is reading the trail and to train the dog to identify the trail correctly through scent discrimination.

The best motivation is without a doubt the strong desire to find a human and the old standby from the beginning for this type of motivation is the "puppy runaway" which has been the basis for the training of search dogs for many many years. The difference between training an area wilderness search dog and a scent discrimination trailing dog is simply that the dogs exposure to air scenting is limited as much as possible during his early training. The humans task is to learn to "read" the dog and also to discover how the wind carries and distributes the skin cells and lastly but most importantly to motivate the dog throughout the training to want to follow the trail to its source.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Dog Training

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

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Is it the dogs or is it the people

Today I read an article titled "Dogs arent born mean, its the people that make them that way". It made me think of all the dogs that have a hard life or no life at all. Dogs that are tied out in yards with no human companionship, nobody to play with and left with no food or water. Then there are other dogs that are brought into this world for no other reason than to fight or be bait dogs.

I had read the above article shortly after receiving an e-mail from the Best Friends Animal Society announcing the decision for the dogs seized from Michael Vicks Infamous Kennel. The 22 at the Best Friends Shelter will be rehabilitated and then placed in appropriate homes when they are ready. Any that cannot be placed will live out their lives at Best Friends Animal Society. This was a great victory for the dogs, who are helpless animals without a voice.

So when I came across the "Dogs arent born mean" article in the Dallas News I thought how closely the articles are related. The article in the Dallas News reminds us that dogs are our responsibility and leaving them tied up in the yard and other cruel treatment is a tried and true way of making them mean.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that a dog routinely tethered or chained up is nearly 3 times more likely to bite than a dog thats fenced or kept indoors. According to a Pennsylvania based anti-tethering group, 194 children nationwide have been killed or maimed by chained dogs in the last 5 years. Domestic dogs dont choose to be chained, they are chained up and made prisoners by people.

Quoting from the Dallas news "Humans, disgracefully, do choose to mistreat them, neglect them, let them roam loose, chain them up, or egg them into aggressiveness." Does this mean get rid of a breed? No it means we need to stop the cruelty! If you choose to outlaw a mean breed the same, people making them fight will simply choose another breed. A veteran animal control officer in Louisiana recently told a television station "Ive seen the Chow go through that phase, and the Rottweiler and the Doberman... The Pit Bull has just hung in there longer than any of those dogs."

I think making stricter laws would help this situation. Some cities are considering limiting the number of animals a household can keep , require a universal requirement for pets to be spayed or neutered and BAN tethering of unsupervised dogs to polls or trees. This is a much more practical and humane way to help the situation than the almost impossible breed bans.

Breed Bans would not exist if it werent for individuals who tarnish the breeds name.

So take a look around and you decide.

Is it the dogs or is it the people?

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Training Your Dog The Basics

By Blue Dawg

Training your dog can be frustrating and overwhelming at first, but do not get discouraged. Remember you are the trainer and the dog is the trainee. There are some simple rules to follow that will help you get the training done and without the major problems. Remember to keep a level head, stay consistent and reward your dog for doing well. We will discuss these three basics in the following paragraphs.

In the daily lives of dogs the routine is everything as they are creatures of habit. They know when you are coming home and wait for you or they know when it time to eat. If you miss a feeding some dogs will bring you the empty food bowl or do something to alert you that something is wrong. New dog trainers can use this knowledge to their advantage and make their job easier. Dog training must involve repetition of actions as repetition becomes habit or routine. Having your dog respond with a certain action when you give a command is the goal you are trying to reach. To make use of dogs being creatures of habit, be sure to be consistent with your commands. Teach your commands the same way every time and keep at it until the dog responds the same way ever time before you move on to a new command. Consistency is the first basic of training a dog and will help you achieve what you want from your dog.

A very hard point in training is keeping a level head. When you have had a long day and you are tired it is very frustrating when the dog does not comply with your command and you become angry. This is the time when some dog owners say that the dog just can’t be trained or I am not good enough to train my dog. If this happens to you then don’t give up but wait until another time when you are more rested and can have more patience with your training. Keep in mind that your dog will not be trained in one day and that taking your time and having patience will get the job done in the end. Keeping a level head is a basic you don’t want to overlook.

A very important part of training your dog is giving a reward for following your commands. The reward part of training will help build a relationship between you and your dog. Now you don’t want to give your dog a treat or food on every command because this is unhealthy for the dog and will build a habit in the dog that you don’t want. When you are training, give the dog a “Good Boy” or “Good Girl” if they follow your command and remember to be consistent. You could even let the dog play with a favorite toy for doing well and you will always want to show affection for your dog. The reward you give will build a relationship and make other training much easier.

What you need to remember is consistency, patience and rewards as a way to start training your dog with success.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Blue_Dawg

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Training Your Dog The Easy Way

By William McRand

Well trained dogs are more likely to stay around home and with the same owner. Stay at home dogs dont get in to the pound, they are happy at home with their master. Most dogs in shelters has not had any training.

Start training your dog as soon as posible. It is never too soon to start training a puppy, however give your puppy as much freedom as possible until he is about 4 to 6 months of age. Always keep a lead and collar on your puppy in public places where there is danger. In many countries it is against the law to allow a dog to run free, so be careful if that applies to your country.

Training your dog helps to teach them boundaries, thus making them more comfortable around people. Whether you train your dog yourself or find a professional, teaching your dog commands and socializing it is important. Areas to cover in training include:

Some dog training tips:

This first one is easy. You just start by saying "sit" every time the puppy sits itself. He learns to associate the word sit with the action. This is a tip you can use in all training. Sit down on the floor so you get to the same level as the dog. You are less threatening when you sit. More important is that you are close to the dog so you can reward him faster.

Teaching a Puppy to Heel

You will need to Walk at a steady pace with your puppy with a good fitting collar and lead. keep him on your left side, keep saying the command HEEL. every time you say HEEL, slap your thigh or the side of your leg. If your pup trys to pull away or gets distracted, just keep walking, hell soon get the message and follow along. If you dont stop, hell have to follow. As he follows you after a distraction, pat him a little saying good dog or good boy or girl.

Teaching a Puppy to Sit

Its time to teach your dog to sit. while walking your pup stop and transfer the lead to your right side. Pull up on the collar and press down on his back end with your left hand. He will have no choice but to sit. While lifting with the collar takes weight off his front legs the motion causes the pup to want to sit, especially with your hand pressing him down. While telling him to sit as you press down. Repeat this several times, praising him each time he sits. Now walk further along and repeat this exercise several more times in a 10 minute walk.

Leash walking

Leash walking at a steady pace, you can start this training as soon as you get your new dog. This is
important, especially to build up a tolerance to stay in a kennel environment for several hours.
There are many benefits to having a well trained dog. But it doesnt necessarily mean the dog will not develop behavioral problems down the road, like separation anxiety. Simply put a well trained dog is a joy to be around and strengthens the human-animal bond.

William McRand Author: Freelance Writer specializing in Internet marketing, Self help, Blogging, and online income. If you found his articles helpful, read his Blog which is loaded with more useful content on this, and related topics. http://mcranddogtraining.blogspot.com/

http://mcranddogtraining.blogspot.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_McRand

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