Archive for ◊ April, 2010 ◊

Author: guest
• Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

It’s much easier to start leash training early on with a puppy, than to re-train an older dog with established leash behavioral problems. Go to dog training for more information.

Having a properly leash trained puppy makes life much simpler and safer for the dogs future. And of course it means that taking your dog for a walk is an enjoyable experience, for both you the owner and also your dog.

How To Train A Puppy To Walk On A Leash

The first step can take place as soon as you get your young puppy home. Just get your pup familiar and comfortable wearing a collar. A simple buckle collar is fine for this purpose. Put the collar on when you feed your puppy or when you are playing with him. Most puppies don’t have a problem with the collar, it may just take a little getting used to. If your puppy is rolling around or trying to scratch the collar off, don’t take it off him at this time. Wait till he has settled down or forgotten about it, then take it off.

This time get your dog used to the look and feel of his leash. You can upgrade to a fancy leather leash when your puppy is properly leash trained if you like. Put the leash on your puppy and just let him check it out and drag it around with him (always under your supervision). Once again your goal is to make your puppy comfortable with the leash and not fear it in any way. Reefr to dog trainers Newmarket for more information.

When your puppy is comfortable wearing the collar and dragging the leash around (may take up to a couple of weeks) it is time for you to pick up the other end of the leash. Make these first leash training sessions short, sharp and fun. And always keep in mind that your goal is to communicate to your dog that pulling on the leash is never acceptable. Therefore you must never reward his pulling by giving in to him. Be consistent with your message to him and always praise his good behavior (in this case, walking on a loose leash).

To start with just walk around the house with the leash in hand, and your puppy trotting along side you. Give him plenty of vocal praise, petting and even a few treats. At this early stage puppies love to follow their owners around, you should use this to your advantage. If your puppy pulls on the leash (which he will, don’t expect him to just know this stuff) immediately stop. Don’t yank him back over to you with the leash, just call him over and praise him when he comes. Then set off for more of a stroll and repeat this correction each time your dog pulls on the leash. It must be every time he strains on the leash, you have to teach him that when he pulls, it gets him nowhere. The same correction applies when your puppy sits down while you are walking. Don’t yank him forward to you, just stop and call him toward you.

This leash training method results in your dog not pulling and you not pulling, just a nice loose leash hanging down between you and your dog. It will take a bit of persistence and patience on your part, but it is well and truly worth it. Visit dog training for further information.

Category: Pets  | Leave a Comment
Author: guest
• Friday, April 16th, 2010

Most families reach a point when they begin to think about choosing a pet. There are several considerations, and sometimes, overlooking something important leads to a mistake. This can lead to stress, injury, family arguments, and eventually giving your pet up for adoption. In other cases, you discover things after the pet has been adopted that you never thought of beforehand. May the animal has habits that surprise you, or you may realize there are pet or human medical problems you are forced to deal with if you make the wrong decision. If you are in the process of choosing the right pet for your home, consider the many things that will affect the happiness of you and your pet. If you choose a pet of the canine variety, you will need to care for the animal and schedule Cincinnati dog grooming. At dog grooming Cincinnati they bathe your pet which helps keep your pet’s coat in tip top shape, improving their overall health and appearance. While the way you groom your pet may not seem important, it will have a major effect on the health and happiness of your pet.

Prior to choosing your pet, you will need to take into consideration any allergies. If someone in your family has a reaction to a particular kind of pet, living with the animal will be uncomfortable. In many cases, allergies are brought out by cats. Many people develop allergies to cats which causes itchy, watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing. It is pet dander that causes allergies. Even if the animal is not in the room, the cat fur is on the furniture and carpet and create a bad reaction. Some people only react to certain breeds of cats, but it can be a difficult trial and error process. This means plenty of discomfort and the possibility of putting a beloved pet up for adoption. If a family member is allergic to felines, a cat may not be a great choice for a family pet.

Another thing to consider is the amount of attention the pet needs. Many breeds of dogs are independent, but some require as much attention as a young child. If the animal is home for long periods of time alone, you may return to find destruction and mayhem. The animal gets lonely and frustrated and they act out in an attempt to get your attention. In some cases, animals that are left alone for long periods of time become aggressive. Even the most docile, friendly puppy can turn into a vicious adult animal after years of loneliness. If most of your fellow house-mates spend a great deal of time outside of the home, you may fare better with an independent pet. Cats often need some attention, but they also enjoy their solitude and they may be the perfect solution for a busy working family.

Category: Pets  | Leave a Comment
Author: guest
• Thursday, April 15th, 2010

House training is one of those issues that every dog owner must grapple with. In most cases house training is the first major milestone in the relationship between owner and dog, and it can sometimes be difficult and confusing for owner and dog alike.

The best house training procedures are those that use the dog’s own instincts to the owner’s advantage. These strategies take into account the dog’s reluctance to soil the spots where he eats and sleeps. This is the concept behind den training and crate training. Dogs are very clean animals, and in nature they always avoid using their dens as toilet areas.

These kinds of natural training methods generally work very well, for both puppies and older dogs. Naturally, older, larger dogs will need a larger area for their den, and crate training is generally best used for puppies and small dogs.

When house training a dog or a puppy, however, it is important to pay close attention to the signals the dog is sending. It is also important to be consistent when it comes to feeding times, and to provide the dog with ready access to the toilet area you establish on a regular basis.

It is important as well to never try to rush the process of house training. While some dogs are naturally easier to train, most puppies and adult dogs will experience at least one or two slip ups during the house training process. When these accidents occur, it is important to not get mad and punish the dog. Accidents during house training usually mean that the owner is trying to move too fast, or that the dog has been left alone for too long. In this case, it is best to just take a step back and start the process again.

It is also important for the owner to reward the dog enthusiastically when it does its business in the appointed area. The dog should learn to associate doing its business in its toilet area with good things like treats, rewards and praise.

During the house training process, the den area starts out very small, often as small as half of a small room in the beginning. As the dog learns to control his bladder and bowels better, and the owner learns to anticipate the dog’s toilet needs, the den area can be slowly expanded. It is important not to make the den area too large too soon. The den area must be expanded slowly in order for the house training process to move along smoothly.

It is important for the dog to be properly introduced to its den. Many dogs, particularly those who have never been confined before, such as those who have spent their lives as outdoor dogs, may react to the den area as if it is a prison, and constantly whine, cry and try to escape the den. It is important that the dog learn to accept its den as a home and not a cage.

One problem many dog owners overlook when house training a dog is that of boredom. Boredom is actually the root cause of many behavior problems in dogs, including chewing and other destructive behaviors. Boredom can also be the root cause of problems with house training. Dogs that are bored often consume large amounts of water during the day, and this excess water consumption can lead to the need to urinate often, even in its den area. Since soiling the den area goes against the dog’s nature, he can quickly become confused and frightened, thereby setting the house training program back even further.

It is also important to keep the dog from becoming bored during the training sessions. Many dog owners make the mistake of drilling the dog on things like basic obedience skills, heeling, sitting, etc. While these obedience skills are important, and it is true that they will form the basis of more advanced skills, it is important to mix things up and make things fun for both yourself and your dog. The more variety you provide the better your dog, and you, will enjoy the training sessions.

For more information on Dog Training Tips and Dog Training visit the links.

Category: Pets  | Leave a Comment
Author: guest
• Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

The leash and training collar is the most basic piece of equipment used in training a dog. Using the lead and training collar properly is vital to successful dog training. The training collar is designed to apply a specific amount of pressure each time the leash is tightened. The amount of pressure put on the leash controls the amount of pressure placed on the training collar, and the pressure can be adjusted according to how the dog responds.

How each dog responds to training with the leash and training collar is quite variable. Some dogs barely react the first time they encounter a collar and leash, while others fight this strange contraption with all their might. It is important to recognize how your own dog reacts, and to adapt your training program as needed.

The first part of training with collar and leash, of course, is to purchase a quality, well made training collar that will fit your dog properly. There are many types of training collars and leashes on the market. The most important thing is to choose one that is sturdy and well made. The last thing you want to do is chase your dog down after he has broken his collar.

The length of the collar should be approximately two inches longer than the circumference of the dog’s neck. It is important to accurately measure the dog’s neck using a measuring tape. In order to get an accurate measurement, you must make sure that the tape is not tight around the dog’s neck.

Most training collars come in even sizes, so you should round up to the next size if your dog’s neck is an odd number. It is important that the chain that attaches to the collar be placed at the top of the dog’s neck. That is where the training collar is designed to apply the best pressure.

The ability to apply varying degrees of pressure, and to relieve that pressure instantly, is what makes a training collar such an effective tool. It usually takes new users a little while to get used to using the training collar, and some styles of training collar require more finesse than others. If you are unsure which collar to choose, be sure to ask a professional dog trainer, or the management staff at your local pet store, for help.

After you have become familiar with the way the training collar works, it is time to begin using it to train your dog to walk properly on a lead. The well trained dog is one who will walk at his owner’s side on a loose lead, neither dropping behind nor charging ahead.

The well trained dog will also vary his pace to meet that of his handler. Under no circumstances should the handler be forced to change his or her pace to match that of the dog.

If the dog does begin to charge ahead, it is important to correct the dog promptly by giving a quick tug on the leash. This will give the dog a good reminder that he needs to change his pace. It is important to quickly relieve the pressure as soon as the dog responds. The training collar is designed to relieve pressure as soon as the leash is loosened.

Most dogs will immediately respond to corrections by a good, properly used training collar. If the dog does not respond as directed, it may be necessary to apply greater pressure. This can be especially true of large dogs or those who have preexisting behavior or control problems. If you are still unable to get a response from your dog, it is possible that you are using a training collar that is not large enough for your dog. If you think this may be the case, be sure to ask for expert advice before proceeding.

For more information on Dog Obedience Training and Best Dog Training Book visit the links.

Category: Pets  | Leave a Comment
Author: guest
• Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Apple’s iPhone has been very proud to publicise the fact that it has an ‘app’ for everything. No surprise then that there are now even apps for pet health care.This is great news for pet owners who use their mobile phones more than computers to obtain information as the many pet health care apps offer a range of information, close to hand.

The applications are all created very much with pet owners wanting quick, concise pet health care information in mind. A very useful application is the Pet First Aid app which contains a very helpful collection of simple snippets of pet health care advice for many different animals.It also describes in a good level of detail how to carry out physical checks on your dog, giving you a better idea of what might be the problem. A very useful ‘what’s normal’ section lets owners look up symptoms or behaviour to see whether they should be a cause for concern.

Similar to the first aid app is the mobile symptom checker.It works in a comparable way to its human equivalent, the NHS direct website, allowing users to search symptoms by category.

The Vet Record app helps owners to keep abreast of their animal’s pet health care records.It allows medical information to be input so that medical treatment can be tracked. This app might sound like it is doing the work of the vet, but it could come in handy if the animal has to receive treatment from any other vet, such as if they were on holiday.

The Pet Services finder app is great for pet health care enthusiasts. From dog walkers, to vets, to catteries, this service which is a cross between a search engine and a phone book can find them.

Other popular pet and pet health care related apps include an Off the Leash app which gives dog owners suggestions of interesting walks which are pet friendly and a Veterinary Dictionary which helps to clear up some of the confusing terms vets use.

It is certainly true that these new apps are making a big contribution to pet health care by simplifying it and making it easily accessible.

Category: Pets  | Leave a Comment
Author: guest
• Saturday, April 10th, 2010

When you feel that you have sufficient control of your dog while walking, usually within four days of his initial orientation to the leash, you are now ready to go to a higher level of control.|When it comes to Dog Training, there should be no “half-way action” accepted. In other words, it’s all or nothing from your dog. And a crooked sit must be considered as something less than your dog giving his full potential.

Not only does it look shabby, but it also prevents the dog from accomplishing his full measure of discipline and character. You can prevent your dog from developing the bad habit of crooked sits simply by using your free left hand while heeling.

As you prepare to stop during a walk, make sure that your left hand is in a position to place on the dog’s rear in such a way as to prevent him from moving around in front of you after you have come to a complete stop. If your dog succeeds in sitting in a crooked way, hold back the praise until you have straightened his sit. As your left hand drops to his rear, keep your left thumb pointing toward your left leg. This will ensure that you do not accidentally place your dog in a crooked sit.

Next, give the command “Heel” and begin to walk briskly in a straight line. As you prepare to stop, shorten your hold on the leash. When you stop, pull up on the leash, pressing gently on the rear with your free left hand, at the same time giving the command “Sit”.

Always follow a correct behavioral response by your dog with praise, even if you caused the behavioral response. Even though you are placing your dog in the sitting position, this should still be followed by warm praise.|In these learning steps, the less resistance you have, the better off it will be, both for you and your dog. Also keep in mind the importance of a positive attitude.

This will be the pattern throughout the course. You will show your dog what he needs to do and follow it with praise. After the learning process has taken place within the mind of the dog, then will you correct for disobedience.

Your training program at this stage should still be limited to fifteen minutes per day and consist only of the commands “Heel” and “Sit”. Give the command to heel, walk about ten feet, do a right turn, then come to a stop, placing the dog in the sitting position while giving the command to sit. Follow each sit-placing with warm praise.

In Training Your Dog , dogs with above average intelligence will absorb what you are trying to convey in less than four days and will begin to sit by themselves before you have a chance to place them. However, you must be firm with your decision that, regardless of how fast your dog appears to be catching on, you will continue to place him in the sitting position each time you stop for a period of one week.

Category: Pets  | Leave a Comment
Author: guest
• Sunday, April 04th, 2010

If you have a pet dog then you always want the best for it.You are also very likely to be the sort of owner who is easily persuaded to feed your dog food for people from the table. However, the problem with this well meant act is that many human foods are very toxic to dogs and may lead to serious dog health care problems.

One example of a food we regularly enjoy that could seriously jeopardise dog health care is chocolate.A lot of people are aware that it isn’t good for dogs, but it is actually very dangerous for dogs to eat.Some of the problems that it causes are much faster heart rate, hallucinations, diarrhoea, seizures, internal bleeding, heart attacks and potentially even death.Many people are tempted to give their dogs a little bit of chocolate but a small chocolate bar can be enough to kill a small dog, so it is not worth the risk. If your dog eats chocolate you should try and make it sick and consult a vet as soon as possible.

Most dogs won’t appear too keen to eat raisins or grapes anyway, but the fruits are incredibly dangerous to dog health care. If a dog eats a big enough quantity of grapes or raisins is eaten then a dog will suffer kidney failure and most likely death. Some sizes and breeds of dog can eat more grapes or raisins than others, but it is much better to avoid the dog health care risk.

Macadamia nuts and onions also pose a threat to dog health care. A dog that has eaten either of them may suffer with stomach pain, hyperthermia, shaking and stiffness.

Although we rarely see drunken dogs, it is true that a dog that has drunk alcohol will bahve in a similar way to a human who is intoxicated.Obviously drinking alcohol has the same health effects in dogs and is likely to leave your pet feeling quite poorly. However, should the dog have drunk beer specifically, then there is a another problem. The hops found in beer are dangerous to dog health care. The hops can cause malignant hyperthermia which normally leads to death.Again, the dog’s tolerance of the hops is affected by breed, with greyhounds known for their intolerance to hops.

Even though most dog owners are familiar with the basic principles of dog health care, it is still very important to follow this advice to take the best care of your pet.

Category: Pets  | Leave a Comment
Author: guest
• Thursday, April 01st, 2010

Aside from giving your pup the opportunity to avoid temptation of trouble and destruction around the house when you are not looking, its crate is also a practical piece of dog furniture to have around the house. It doubles as a dog bed, and makes a good hiding spot for puppies to stash their favorite toys.

Other puppies need more coaching. Here is where your patience comes in handy. The best crate training is a slow, positive experience and doesn’t happen overnight. It may take a few days, weeks, or even months before your puppy feels completely comfortable in its new digs.

This depends mostly on how determined and confident you feel about having your puppy sleep in a crate. If you’re unsure, your puppy will also be skeptical. If you don’t give up on the training, your puppy will learn to accept the crate faster.

There Are Two Important Rules Of Crate Training:

1) Don’t place your puppy’s crate in the garage or in a room where it can’t see you. The puppy will feel abandoned, and will bark or howl until you show up again, making it an extremely long night, as well as delaying the crate training process.

During the daytime, put the crate in the room where you spend the most amount of time. Come nighttime, move it into your bedroom. That way your puppy will feel secure that you’re nearby. If it whimpers during the night, it probably means potty time. Take your puppy outside without playing with it, and it will go to the bathroom and go right back to sleep in its crate.

2) Don’t let your puppy out of the crate when it’s barking or whining. This just rewards the pup for behavior you don’t want. Under no circumstances should you “rescue” the puppy, because this just teaches it that if it shrieks long enough it will get its way. Wait until your puppy is quiet before letting it out. Once he starts to calm down and stops making noise, then let it out of the crate.

Tip: How To Handle Crate-Haters

There should be no barking in dog crates. If your dog continues to bark in its crate, go back to the basics and repeat the crate training steps. Your puppy may also need a bit more mental stimulation. If so, try increasing your pup’s exercise so it’s pleasantly fatigued before crate time.

For barking puppies 4 months and older, sometimes you just have to ignore the noise. Pups have more opinions as they get older, and if you know that your puppy is nearly crate trained, isn’t hungry, or doesn’t have to go to the bathroom, it’s best to ignore him. The goal is to teach your puppy that a crate is a pleasant place to be.

Now if your puppy has a hard time whenever you leave the house; runs from room to room looking for you; or cries, whines or barks until you return, it will probably do the same thing if you put it inside a crate.

And lastly, as you all have heard already, a crate also doubles as a housetraining skill builder. Housetraining a puppy is much easier if you use a crate. Puppies usually won’t soil where they sleep, so once you let them out of the crate you’ll know it’s time to take them outside to eliminate.

For more information on Puppy House Training and Dog Training Tips please visit the best site for Dog Training - http://www.pet-care-information.com/dogtraining

Category: Pets  | Leave a Comment