Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Dog Behavior Training - The Best Toys For Dogs


By John Williams
Dog toys are essential to keep your dog occupied to stop barking problems, boredom issues and through teething times for your dog. Finding a good toy for your dog through these times is essential, leaving your dog with a bad chew toy that they don't like will leave your dog with no option but to chew something else, there are many chew toys available so the choice is endless. Dental health for your dog will be greatly improved by chewing toys so it is important to keep your dog interested in the toy choice you give them. Popular toys usually contain something that tastes good, smells good, some light up, and others make noises to keep you dog entertained. If the toy is fun for your dog then you can use it to reward your dog for good behavior or take it from them when they are bad. Different Dogs enjoy different textures and tastes, you will need to find what your dog likes to chew and try your best to find a similar product but without it being as destructive to your house like their old toy, the table leg, was. Avoiding tugging toys may be a good idea in some cases, more excited breeds of dog and puppies especially will get the message that tugging is fun for you as well as your dog, thus encouraging him to tug at you trouser legs when they're in need of attention and curtains when they're bored. Personally I would avoid theses toys. When looking for a good toy for your dog, here are some good suggestions: 1. Look for a dog toy with something different like sound, taste, or lights.2. Pick a dog toy that is tough enough to withstand your dogs chewing and biting3. Choose dog toys that you think your dog will enjoy, using experience of what he normally chews is a good idea. Remember that choosing a dog toy all depends on the dog in question, each dog will have different tastes and experiences of what they enjoy, something as cheap and simple as a tennis ball could be enough to keep your dog occupied for hours on end.
For more information on Dog Behavior Training take a look at dog - behavior - training .co.uk
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Dog training - Rewards

By John Williams
There are many choices when it comes to rewarding your dog with a treat for obeying your commands, and these treats make a big difference in your dog's attitude towards you in learning new tricks, and why wouldn't they? To get anything in life you have to give something back and dogs are no different, you help them and they'll help you. Simple. But what are the best rewards and treats to give your dog in times of good behavior? Well for starters you won't be short of treats to try, the markets as it is now is full to the brim of all the fancy rewards and treats you could ever think of. One of the favourite for dog owners is to treat their dog to homemade treats from recipes that can be found across the internet in many places, some of my favourites and personal recommendations are listed in the products page of www.dog-behavior-training.co.uk along with other tips on dog training there. Consumer products are also a good choice when rewarding your dog; these include chewing toys which can be very rewarding for puppies and dogs alike. Saving one of their favourite toys for when they behave well makes everything more exciting for your dog and causes them to want to perform more for this reward. If a chew toy is not to your dogs liking then they may instead enjoy a tug toy, tug toys are good for your dog's teeth the same as chew toys are and it enhances the relationship between you and your dog as you play with them. Be careful while using these toys as some dogs may think of this game as good behaviour and will start tugging on trousers or other annoying or destructive things. The last toys I am going to talk about are the throwing toys; these are good to calm your dog down when they are over active or if you just want to reward your dog with quality playing time for their good behavior. These toys range from a simple tennis ball to special durable dog Frisbees and help you to react with your dog wile also training playing the 'fetch' game. There are lots more dog toys available, probably at your local pet shop. It is a good idea to keep in mind what textures and current toys your dog likes to play with or chew before making your choice but as long as your dog enjoys it, it can be used as a good reward and training method.
John Williams website owner, For more information on dog behavior training visit dog - behavior - training .co.uk
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Dog Training - Dog Bathing

By John Williams
Dog bathing is a must when living with a dog. Dogs naturally get smelly and are not like cats in being able to wash themselves well and be hygienic, this is why dog owners have to look after their dogs hygiene for them once in a while. Dog bathing should take place when your dog starts to smell or is very dirty, some breeds of dog find it very hard to keep smelling pretty as you will quickly come to notice. Running around every day rubbing yourself up against trees, bushes, benches and rolling around on grass or getting drenched head to paws in rivers or puddles are all common occurrences in a dogs life and all contribute to dog smelliness. It is important to make sure you brush your dogs coat and fur through before every bathing session to remove all bits of debris that may have got caught up in your dog's fur since their last bath along with tangles or matted hair that may have formed. If you ignore this step any tangles and matted hair will get worse after bathing and make it an impossible task to rid of them. You will need to use special pet shampoo and conditioner to clean your dog; human shampoo uses a different ph level and can be bad for your dog's skin. Starting off by letting your dog get used to running water, warm water should be used to wash your dog, it is best to use a jug or container to gently pour water on your dog. Be sure not to put water directly on your dogs face to be sure not to frighten them off or scare them. When your dog is wet, keep reassuring them and rewarding them if the behaviour is good to get the message across that bathing is not a bad thing. Rub the shampoo and conditioner onto your dog gently and being sure to do a proper job of getting all the smells and everything else out. To finish off, rinse all the soapy water and shampoo of your dog and dry your dog in the same way you would yourself or if your dog has easily matted hair use patting only to dry your dog, when this is all done reward your dog with praise and rewards for being cooperative with you.
John Williams website owner. For more information on dog behavior training visit the dog-behavior-training.co.uk website at this link...Dog Training.
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Healthy Dog Food Alternative: Organic Diet

By Sandra Stammberger
Eco-friendliness is the name of the game these days and that is also true with dog food. Now, even dog food is made from organic sources. But how healthy is organic dog food? Should you even try to feed your dog this type of food?According to sales figures, organic dog food is really getting more popular every year. Responsible dog owners who are very much concerned about their personal health also want their dog's health to be at its best and so they decide to feed their dog with organic food. Some people think that the commercially sold dog food is not that healthy and so they prefer to purchase organic food for their dog. At present, no study has been conducted to prove that it is better than commercial dog food. According to the USDA or United States Department of Agriculture, the difference between commercially prepared and organic food is on how the food was processed and produced. The nutritional contents are almost the same. Despite this fact, organic dog food is slowly taking over the market. Many dog owners gravitate towards this particular type of food because it has wholesome ingredients. They don’t hesitate to introduce the organic diet to their cherished pets. The ingredients used do not contain antibiotics, artificial flavorings, and growth hormones. Even dog treats are now available in organic forms. You can't just switch your dog's diet immediately. You need to consider a few things first. Firstly, organic food exclusive for dogs is pricier than regular or commercial dog food. If you are on low budget, then you should stick with regular dog food. Otherwise, you need to choose the best food option available that will fit your budget.When purchasing organic food, you need to acquaint yourself with the different manufacturers. You must check their reputation and the standard of their products. You can even ask about the production process if you just like to be sure that the food is prepared well. Of course, don’t forget to consult your dog's vet. Food changes can definitely affect your dog so you need to consult a good vet to determine if the food switch is the best move. Dogs are of different breeds and they also eat different types of food as well. So you need to familiarize yourself with your dog's food preference. Still, the decision is up to you and as the owner of your pet, you only want the best. Every product has its good and bad side. True enough, organic dog food has more of the good side but don’t ignore the bad side as well. If after careful consideration of the factors involved in the food switch you still find organic foods the best alternative, then you can feed your dog freely.. Change should be introduced gradually and you can't just rush your dog into it. By rushing things, you will do more bad to your dog than good. So learn the right way to introduce new food to the dog's diet. You should also be patient because your dog may not like the food that you're feeding him. But if it's for the best, continue your efforts to switch the dog's diet to organic food.
Sandra Stammberger owns and operates http://www.worstdogfood.com/healthydogfood.html - Healthy Dog Food
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Easy Dog Tricks - Dog Training

By John Williams
There are plenty of dog tricks around to choose from but starting off with your first puppy or dog and knowing which dog tricks are easy can be a bit of a challenge. If you have a puppy then training them will be a lot easier than an older dog because of the habits dogs fall into when they are brought up. Older dogs will have different habits and a strong personality after 'puppyhood' so they may find some advanced tricks easier than basic tricks because of the way they have been brought up. Although the same as above can be true for puppies also, this is more likely to be because of the breed of dog you have and the different general personalities that go with them breeds. In this article we assume you have taught your dog the basics or sit and stay etc and now you want to teach your dog a fun 'show-off' type trick to impress your friends or family when they visit. There are many tricks from bringing you the TV remote to riding a skateboard, but to start off I recommend something simple like the figure of eight around your legs. This is similar to other commands you will have taught your dog and involves you using treats to encourage your dog to perform actions. To do this trick you simply have hold a treat in one hand and guide your dog through one side of your legs, through the middle then around to complete a figure of eight motion. Try to hold the treat close to your dog's nose to keep them interested and always reward them with praise afterwards and the treat afterwards. After you have mastered this and can get your dog to do it on command you're ready for your next trick and one step closer to the skateboard. Good luck!
John Williams website owner. For more information on dog behavior training visit the dog-behavior-training.co.uk website at this link...Dog Training.
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Starting a Career as a Professional Dog Walker

By Tl Kleban
Most working Americans share the same problem. They are low on time and high on tasks. It’s like a never-ending cycle. We spend our days working long hours at the office, only to come home with another few hours worth of chores that need to be done. This unfortunately shortens the amount of time we get to spend with our dogs doing fun activities like playing catch or walking. While this may seem like a minor inconvenience for you, it’s actually unhealthy for your canine best friend. Different dogs have different daily exercise requirements; some might need a quick walk around the block and other needs a good run in the middle of the afternoon. This is where the professional dog walker becomes so important.Hire a professional dog walker while you are at work. Many dog walkers are out there every day walking dogs or taking them on outings while you, the owner, is working, on vacation, or unavailable for some other reason. More and more people are creating businesses that cater strictly to owners looking for professional dog walking services. Here is how you can begin your own career as a dog walker.
The first thing you’re going need is customers. Ask family, neighbors, cousins, friends, co-workers and in laws to give your name out to anyone that owns a dog. Have them talk you up about how you’re great with animals and your dog loves going for walks with you, so they should have no problem that you've decided to take on this love of dogs as a full time career.
If you happen to already walk a few dogs on the side for something to do, warn their owners that you may start charging them a small amount for your services in the near future. Try to give them adequate time before you looking to collect and don’t just show up banging on their door for them to pay you. Do a search online to find out what other dog walkers are charging as the going rate. It is a good idea to keep your prices a little low in the beginning as you are trying build up a client base.
You’re going to need to advertise. There are plenty of sign and business card printing businesses which create either a magnetic sign for the door of your car including your name and phone number or personalized business cards that you can hand out at the local dog park in your town. You can also hand out your business cards in places, like animal hospitals and pet stores. Create and post a few flyers in the local mall, supermarket and post office to get the word out.
Make sure you have all the correct doggie gear you’ll need. Most dog owners let their professional dog walkers use their leashes or water bowls but it is always a good idea to have a few extras handy laying around in your car or office, just in case. A box of dog treats isn’t too bad of an idea either.
If you’re lucky enough to see your small business grow, you may need to hire some people to help you out. You’ll know when to bring in a co-worker if you don’t have enough time to match the amount jobs you have scheduled. Consider hiring some college or high school students as part time options to lessen some of the stress.
Taking a dog obedience class isn’t a bad idea. It can never hurt to know the basic dog handling skills, like dealing with dogs that bark constantly or pull on their leashes. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with how much your customers will appreciate it too.
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Dog Training - Dog Bad Breath

By John Williams
Bad dog breath can be a bad problem for your dog and you, at times a dogs breath an be unbearable and make bonding with your dog a chore you'd rather avoid at all costs. This may not be due to your dog and more down to the care you have not realized that your dog should have. Dog's bad breath like most other dog symptoms can be the cause of many different issues separately or together, this makes the cause hard to diagnose without a proper examination from a professional dog carer or vet. Common causes of dog bad breathe - Maybe your dog is finding it hard to eat or swallow which can lead to dog's bad breath and other illnesses that are related. Saliva drooling from your dog's mouth may also be a cause of bad dog breath, as more saliva gets built up in your dog's mouth is makes it easier for bacteria to breed resulting in bad breath. The last and most common form of bacteria build up is from not cleaning or not properly cleaning your dog's teeth, this enables tartar to form and make the bad odour you are forced to smell day in day out. Many believe that food choice and what you feed your dog is a problem when dog breath is concerned, as this may be true to an extent this is more of a temporary short term problem and the reason above is more likely to be the problem cause. There are plenty of dental hygiene products available in pet shops and online, some work better than others on different dogs but you best bet is to clean your dog's teeth regularly to stop the bacteria build up, this is where the problem begins and where you should target your efforts. If you fear the problem has got too far to recover or damage or the gums and teeth is visible you should contact your vet as soon as possible for help and a proper diagnosis of your pet.
John Williams website owner. For more information on dog behavior training visit the dog-behavior-training.co.uk website at this link...Dog Training.
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Dog Training - Dogs Hit By Cars

By John Williams
Your dog may be the best trained dog in the world, understand your commands perfectly, and you may think that your dog understands the roads and can cope with cars well, but there is always a chance your dog could get knocked over by a car and knowing what to do in this situation is vital. As stated above, you may think your dog is well suited to roads and can avoid cars and know when and where to cross the road, but from a dogs perspective this is all guess work and learnt from previous situations and near misses. Even after many years of crossing roads and viewing cars, dogs can still get caught up in situations that are dangerous and harmful. If your dog does become the target of a road accident there are certain rules that should be adhered to when arriving at the scene and these rules can be the basis of how much pain and how healthy your dog will be afterwards. The first thing to do is not panic, if your dog is conscious and can sense you panicking then they will panic also which won't help the situation. Common injuries of a dog being run over are cuts and bruises so there is a good chance your dog is fine. Dogs should not be moved after a car incident and until you know and are sure of the injuries they have, should remain in the same place or moved using a few people and a sheet or blanket as a stretcher if totally necessary. Always check their breathing, your dogs breathing may have stopped as a cause of the accident and will need respiration by holding the muzzle closed and breathing air through the nose. If there is any severe bleeding you will need to add pressure to stop the bleeding and then seek urgent medical treatment. If you are not sure of the seriousness of the damages, then contact your vet and explain the conditions to get advice on how to deal with the situation properly.
John Williams website owner. For more information on dog behavior training visit the dog-behavior-training.co.uk website at this link...Dog Training.
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