Saturday, December 15, 2007

Understand Your Dog Body Language. What is Your Dog Saying to You?

Author: mayra

If you are owner of a dog, it is very necessary to understand your dog’s body language. This will make you aware of what your dog’s telling you. Regular interaction with your dog is very important to keep him happy and make him stay away from aggressive behavior. Remember that dogs depend on body language to express themselves.

Dogs possess a peculiar kind of body language of their own. You need to understand this vocabulary in order to have a successful communication with your dog. Here are some of the most common Canine body language messages:

a) Tail and ears down:
Whenever your dog wants to exhibit submissiveness, he will sit down with both his ears down and tail tucked between his legs. Here, he acknowledges you as his master and surrenders. Your dog will also sit in this position if he has done something naughty or done something that you don’t approve of. He wants to curb your anger and hence sit in this position. Another situation where your dog sits with his tail and ears down is when he feels down, gets sick or injured.
b) Tail and ears up:
Whenever your dog approaches a new visitor, with his tail and ears up, he is excited and happy to meet this person. The body language is a way to express his happiness and gratitude. This is a playful behavior and you don’t need to worry about the safety of your visitor in this case.
c) Play bow:
This is a body language your dog exhibits whenever he wants to play with you or his fellow dogs. He will lay his front legs flat on the ground and stick his back end in the air. This body language is followed by a happy bark. He will also jump towards his side. In short, this body language of a dog is to ask someone to play with him.
d) Whining:
Whenever your dog gets frustrated or angry it will whine. This behavior is common whenever your dog is tied to a leash for a long time or not able to do what he wants.
e) Growling:
This is a warning to you. Here the dog becomes aggressive and warn you. This is common when someone tries to invade his place or privacy. It is natural for your dogs to growl at strangers. However, you need to know that dogs who growl at their owners have some problem. You should seek a professional help immediately. Growling is a sign that the dog is going to bite soon. Hence, this behavior should be taken seriously.
f) Barking:
This is one of the most common body language for dogs. This can mean different things depending on the circumstance. Dogs may bark to greet their owners, warn someone, or indicating a stranger’s entry to your home.

Pay attention to the body language of your dog will help you have a good relationship with your dog.


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How to take care dog to make it happy?

Author: Kendy Smith

Taking care dog keep an importance role in family. Dogs are apart of a family and deserve our respect and care. If you have never been a dog owner before you probably have lots of questions regarding the care of your new member of the family. If you do you will find this article looks at some of the available dog supplies and offers a few tips for proper care. In some instances proper care can be solely based on the dog breed you have, but most of the time general tips can help you pick the right dog supplies for the proper care.

When you are choosing your dog you have to decide where it will sleep, how much training you will be giving it, and of course the proper nutrients they will need. Some dog breeds have special needs to do digestive issues they are born with or can develop. This can make finding the right foods a little more difficult. It is best to speak with a vet or a dog breeder regarding the proper nutrition. You will also find that proper nutrition is based on age. Growing puppies are going to need softer foods that have plenty of nutrients, while older dogs may still need some nutrients, but a different formula.

Pet food is just one of the dog supplies you will need to buy for proper care. Grooming is also an essential part to owning a dog. You will need to take care of their teeth, give them vaccinations, clip their nails, and of course brush them. Some dogs, especially those with long hair or thick coats will need to be brushed more often. Sometimes you will find brushing them once a day is essential to that dog breed, while others can be brushed twice a week. Dogs have very sensitive skin so before giving them a bath you will need to understand the type of shampoo you should use and how frequent a bath should be. For dog grooming you will need the proper dog supplies at home from different brushes and of course the nail clippers for dogs.

Part of the proper care for your dog is having enough space. Some dogs tend to be very active, such as Alaskan Malamutes, German Sheperds, and Terriers. For these dogs you will need plenty of space to let them run and expend that energy. When you are talking about pet supplies for an active dog you will need to have fencing and even a runner in some cases. You may feel a runner is enough for the dog to stay out of harms way, and often it can be. However you don’t always want to hook them to the runner, but give them the entire backyard, so a fence can help you keep them inside the yard without restrictions.

You may also want to have a kennel or crate for your dog to sleep in at night and during the day. Some of us don’t mind our pets sharing the bed, while others want to teach their dogs as puppies that they have their own bed. Crates can also help you take them to the vet or on vacations so they can serve two purposes. You can also purchase softer bedding for them to lie in around the house.

Other essentials include dog toys, food bowls, and water dishes. Dog toys will help you exercise your dog physically as well as mentally, which is important to having a healthy happy dog. You will want to choose food dishes that allow for the proper amount of food intake during the day as well as water. This dish can be made from anything or purchased at a dog store. It is just important that it has enough room for your dog to get the nutrients and water he or she needs in a day.

Having a lot of methods to make dog health and happy. But the most important that you have to supply for proper care. Taking care a dog is not difficulty. If you love them, it is very easy.

Find your pet care and many useful information about pets at this pets directory.
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What Every Dog Owner Ought to Know About Holiday Safety

Copyright (c) 2007 Jennifer Koretsky

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching! While you're busy decorating and preparing your home for guests, here are a few important tips to keep your dog safe this season.

The Christmas Tree

Tinsel, small ornaments, and ornament hooks are major choking hazards for dogs. It's best to avoid tinsel altogether and keep small ornaments high on the tree, out of the dog's reach. Also, make sure there are no stray ornament hooks on the floor!

If your family has a real tree (as opposed to an artificial tree), it's best to block off the area around the tree with a screen or gate. Many dogs become ill from drinking tree water and ingesting pine needles. Vacuum the area around the tree regularly.

Holiday Guests

It's exciting to have family and friends over during the holidays—even for your dog! But there are certain precautions you should take when having company over.

Dogs can easily slip out the door when people are continuously going in and out. Make sure your dog is wearing an identification tag with your phone number, even if he is micro-chipped. Not everyone who finds a lost dog knows to have him checked for a micro-chip.

Your guests may adore your dog, but don't let them give your dog any food without asking. Children especially may want to give the dog a treat—hand them a safe treat and supervise while they give it to the dog. Under no circumstances should your dog be given turkey or chicken bones. They are too small and are a serious choking hazard. As an alternative, buy a marrow bone at the grocery store as a special holiday treat.

Why You Shouldn't Give Dogs as Gifts

Bringing a new dog into the family is a wonderful thing, especially if you adopt a dog from a shelter. However, giving a dog as a Christmas gift is never a good idea. Regardless of whether the dog is a puppy or an adult, his first few days in your home should be all about him. The holidays, for most families, are too chaotic and busy for a dog to get used to his new environment, and he may become anxious or frightened.

A great idea for families who want to give their children a dog for Christmas is to gift wrap a dog bone. When the child opens it, tell them it's for the new dog that you'll be getting in a few weeks. Or you can leave a note from Santa explaining that he didn't have enough room on his sleigh and will be coming back with the dog. Animal shelters are flooded every January with dogs who were given as Christmas gifts—so January is a great time to adopt a dog who needs a home.

Lastly, it's always a good idea to have your vet's phone number posted in a visible spot. Your vet's office should have someone answering the phone 24/7.

The most important thing to remember, amidst all the chaos of the holidays, is to always know where your dog is and what he's up to. That way everyone in your home, including the four-legged family members, can have a Merry Christmas.


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luvmutt.com is a website dedicated to mixed breed dogs and the people who love them. Meet a new dog every day at http://www.luvmutt.com .
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The Basics of Dog Training

Author: darrin22

All dog owners would probably want their dogs to be well behave in any instance and wherever the dog is taken to. However, some dogs can test your patience which makes dog training a challenging job for non-professional dog trainers. Don’t despair because there are easy dog training tips that will help your dog be the best of what you want it to be.

Consistency is one of the biggest key in dog training. For example, if you allowed your dog to sit on the couch yesterday and got yelled at this morning for sitting on the same spot, naturally, your dog will be confused. This is when consistency pays a lot of the role in the dog's training. It is highly recommended that you point out your rules clearly and stick to it religiously.

There are many ways to carry out dog training, from the basic behaviors, such as potty training to more complex tricks or command. If you don’t have the patience to do it yourself, you may signup your dog in dog training courses suited for his level of ability.

Another big factor that must be included in dog training is socialization. This is extremely essential for your fury friend. Dogs may possibly lead a miserable life if they are not given the opportunity to mingle and interact with other species. Dog training class will expose him to other dogs too. However, the best approach to have your dog socialized is to bring it and expose it to varied situations and settings that happen daily. If something upsets him, constantly be firmed with it. He must learn to get accustomed to everything, whether he likes it or not, for this is the only way to make things easier for the both of you. Make it your goal to bring dog along wherever you will go, if possible, for him to be exposed to the real world and be taught to react with things in a more positive manner.

Among the things that dog owners should keep in mind, despite the rigors of training, is keep it fun at the same time. Remember that learning doesn’t have to seem like a chore for neither you nor your dog. Aggression during training causes more damage than re-enforce good behavior and learning. Instead, your dog will have a negative impression on the training. Dog training should be based on mutual respect even though you’re dealing with an animal, but it must keep your roles between your dog and you clear.

If you do not know where to begin, you can always ask a fellow dog owners for dog training tips or take dog training classes. As a rue of thumb, sensible dog owners don’t need complex dog training because dog training is usually a matter of common sense.

Darrin is passionate about dogs. For more information on dog training, please visit http://www.puppybud.com .
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