Dog Owner’s Guide To Shih Tzu Training

Author: Richard Cussons

Shih Tzu training is as important and as possible as training other breed of dogs. Shih Tzus, also known as Lion dogs are considered as one of the oldest breeds of dog. They are not just friendly, energetic dogs with long, flowing double coat but are also intelligent dogs capable of learning commands and tricks taught to them.

Below are outlined Shih Tzu training tips to guide dog owners and help them come up with a nicely trained and well mannered Shih Tzu dog.

• In housebreaking, decide what method to use. Are you going to paper train him because you are too busy to take him outside every time he has to use the bathroom? Decide which one works best for you and your dog.

• Then, train yourself. In other words, you must be knowledgeable enough and knows how to train your dog the method you have chosen.

• When he accidentally use the living room as his bathroom, do not attempt to strike him or rub his nose on his own mess. Physical punishment will not correct him; instead will just make things more difficult.

• Get rid of stains with a cleaning implement specifically made to remove animal stains. Specifically made neutralizer will get rid of odor and leave no trace of scent for the dog to return to.

• When it comes to obedience training, train your dog the basic come, sit and stay commands. These basic commands are his building blocks to other more complicated obedience training and will help you develop a nice relationship with your dog.

• Use positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement increases the chance for a dog to exhibit the same behavior again. It consists of loving praise, pats and treats. Giving of treats is an effective way in dog obedience training. But just make sure to show and give the treat only when the command is already performed. Showing of treats before giving the command is just like bribing your dog to do it. Your aim is to train him to follow commands because he loves and respects you as his leader.

• Whether you are on housebreaking or obedience training, give him proper diet. Consult your veterinarian on the types and amount of food you need to give your pet. It will also help if you are aware of what foods are to be avoided to lessen the risk of allergy and other food-related problems.

These few tips seem to be so simple but will surely bring the best out of your Shih Tzu dog. And what exactly you will get? A Shih Tzu dog with human acceptable behavior and is fun to be around.

Richard Cussons trains different breeds of dogs. Learn more about Shih Tzu training and other information pertaining to Shih Tzu dog breed.
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Toy Dog Breeds: Havanese

Author: Fiona Kelly

Dogs are part of the family and should always be taken with you when you move – even it’s the 1500’s and the

move is from "civilized" Europe to the wilds of the New World. But dogs braved the harsh sea voyages along with

their families and settled down to start a New World with them. In Cuba, which Columbus claimed for Spain in

1492, a distinct spunky toy breed developed known today as the Havanese, named after Cuba’s capital city

Havana.
Because of the prosperity of the Cuban colonies, Havanese were shipped back and forth over the Atlantic to Spain

along with the other riches of the New World. The silky coated companion won the hearts and laps of European

aristocracy. When the first dog shows started in the 18th century, the Havanese were among the breeds shown.

However, when the Cuban Revolution occurred in the 1970’s, anyone owning a toy dog was targeted for death.

The Havanses had to flee Cuba with their families.
Not content on conquering the hearts and homes of one nation, the
href="http://www.havanese-puppy-guide.com/Havanese-Books/">Havanese is now conquering North

America. Although only introduced in the 1970’s after the Revolution, the Havanese is making a name for himself

in and out of the show ring. The breed has now been recognized by the American Kennel Club and the American

Rare Breeds Association. They colonize indoor homes and apartments best. They make great companions for

individuals and families.
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Traveling With Your Toy Breed Dog

Author: Connie Limon

Have you wanted to visit friends or relatives, or perhaps hike the trails at a scenic park? Did concerns over leaving your pet behind prevent you from going? Traveling with your pet is easier than you think.

Air travel with pets falls into two categories, in-cabin and cargo. In-cabin pets must be small enough to fit into a carrier that will slide under the seat in front of you. Pets too large to fit comfortably in a carrier must travel in cargo. If your pet needs to travel in the cargo area of the plane, you will need to check for temperature restrictions. Most cargo areas are not temperature controlled. They do not have air conditioning or heat.

When you make your plane reservations ask if the airline will accommodate your pet. Some airlines do not take pets. If you purchase your airline tickets through the Internet, make sure your pet will be able to travel with you. You will need a reservation for your pet as well as yourself. You will need to inquire of the airline's specific requirements such as plastic crate or soft-sided carrier. Ask the airlines what size will be required for your specific pet.

Airlines have restrictions on the number of pets they will carry in order to provide safe travel for all. Therefore, making your pet's reservation at the same time you purchase your ticket is a good idea. Extra charges for both in-cabin and cargo pets will be assessed.

You will need a health certificate from your veterinarian. Health certificates are good for ten days. If your trip will be longer than that you will need to purchase another health certificate for the return trip. Cost of a health certificate varies by location and vets. Cost can be anywhere between $15 and $45.

Most airlines require a soft-sided carrier for in-cabin pet traveling. Some soft-sided carriers come with wheels just like luggage, which makes it easier to transport your pet through the airport. A soft-sided carrier also reduces the amount of "pet space" under the airplane seat. Window and middle seats have more room underneath than aisle seats due to seat configurations.

Toy breed dogs traveling in cargo will need an airline-approved crate. Generally, these are hard-sided, non-collapsible crates. The airlines usually require the toy breed dog be able to stand and turn around comfortably in the crate. Some airlines will not allow toys to be inside the crate. You may have to pack your toy breed dog's toys separately with your own luggage. Be sure to ask about the airline's requirement of toys inside the crate when you make your reservations. If the airline does allow toys, it is nice to supply your toy breed dog with at least one companion toy for the trip. The crate will also need to have one water dish and one food dish attached to the front of the door. Most airlines will require you to place a bag of food on top of the crate and some inside the food dish. You will also need to provide soft, absorbent material for the bottom of the crate. A soft blanket with your scent works well.

Be sure to provide your toy breed pet Nutri-cal before the flight and as soon as you able to reunite with your pet regardless of whether or not they ride in the cabin with you or in the cargo area. The Nutri-cal will help keep their blood sugars level. Toy breed dogs are more susceptible to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar attacks), which sometimes occur during the stress of traveling. Do not give your toy breed dog tranquilizers.

The motion of the airplane has a soporific effect, which may cause your pet (and people) to drift off into a sleep. Once in the air your toy breed pet will probably sleep most of the trip.

You will probably want to train your toy breed pet before the trip to make your pet a better traveler. There are many resources available that will show you how to accomplish this. One way to help your pet get use to traveling inside a hard-sided crate or a soft-sided carrier is to pack the crate or carrier just as you would for the airplane trip. Take your pet for several trips in the car before you actually go on the airplane trip. Take your toy breed pet to the vet in the same carrier or crate you will be using for the airlines. A soft blanket with your scent is nice to place in the bottom of the crate for your toy breed pet's comfort. Time spent training will definitely pay off for you and your toy breed pet.

Don't hesitate to travel by air with your toy breed pet. A little preparation and planning before the trip is all that is usually required. Flying with your toy breed pet is safer than traveling in an automobile. Don't forget to check with your motel to see if pets are welcome!

Author: Connie Limon. Please visit us online at: http://www.abouttoydogs.com We are an article and dog training resource directory all about toy breed dogs. Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletters.

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Dog containment systems – controlling the behavior of your dog

Author: Clint Jhonson

You or your neighbor may have a dog. In such a case, barking is most likely a problem. In addition, it might happen for the dog not to know where it has permission to walk and where it does not have such permission. When dogs bark continually, you may long for some piece of equipment that will make it possible for you to have your dog stop barking successfully.

Since screaming will not do too much to help you, a bark control collar will certainly do the trick. To what concerns your dog wandering around places where it should not, by opting for one of the available dog containment systems, you can eliminate such a problem as well.

A bark control collar acts in response to the trembling triggered by your dog’s vocal cords at any moment it barks. Such a bark collar issues an electronic correction or a strong burst of citrus smell at the barking of the dog. With a special meter placed on the dog’s collar, you can see the number of barks that your dog issued in one day. Undoubtedly, people prefer to opt for a bark control collar that does not harm their canine friend.

An electronic bark collar is a wonderful dog-training mechanism precisely for the reason that it presents the possibility of a harmless correction. In the case where the electronic approach does not suit your style of training, you can opt for a citrus bark control collar, which will work as a form of diverting your dog from barking. The notion on which any bark collar functions is the need to create some sort of mild irritation or distraction for the dog, so that it should control its barking. In addition, you can control the intensity of the correction applied.

Moreover, you should keep in mind that a bark control collar would not make your dog stop barking forever. The reason is simple: you do not want to have a completely silenced dog. On the contrary, you only want to see your dog able to control avoidable, long barking sessions. Once the dog becomes aware that the correction applies each time it has yielded unnecessary barking, it will adjust its behavior and bark only when desirable, even if it does not have the collar around its neck.

The same principle applies to the functioning of dog containment systems. They also target the containment of some category of behavior, more precisely, your dog walking towards and in areas where it has not permission to walk. Such systems are helpful and gentle. They do make use of an electronic correction, but this resembles a minor annoyance for the dog. Such annoyance will distract it from walking beyond the permitted boundaries.

On the other hand, you will need to train your pet to use such dog containment systems. It will not know how to detect the boundaries on its own, with the minimum trouble. If you pay a month’s efforts to train your dog to grow used with the presence of one of the dog containment systems, you will have your dog stick to what it has permission to do and to what it does not.

Do you worry that it is all too complicated? You have no real reason for that, since you will benefit from a set of written instructions for use of the systems. In addition, by browsing our articles, you will also be able to learn about the best manners of applying training of your dog to use these systems.

Dog containment systems are a superlative manner of allowing your dog to keep fit (walk and run) and play without your continuous control. You can also stay relaxed to what concerns excessive barking if you opt for a suitable bark control collar.

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