Dog Games for Winter Fun

Author: Elyse Grau
During long, cold winters, dogs and their owners may need a little more exercise. This article shows you some fun ways you can play with your dog indoors.

Some of you may have been told never to play tug of war with a dog. The fear is that it might make a dog aggressive or aggravate any possessive tendencies. Other trainers feel that there is nothing wrong with the game, as long as you follow certain rules: 1)The toy you choose must be long enough to avoid accidental injury. A thick rope with knots in the middle is good.

2)The game should be played only with the tug toy. Teach your dog a command such as "drop it" or "leave it" before you start playing. (It's a good idea to do this even if you never intend to play tug. That way if he wants to play with your shoe, you can simply ask him to drop it.) Never try to pull anything away from the dog, use your command instead.

3)You must be in control of the game. You decide when to play. Keep the toy out of sight in between games. You should win at least most of the time. When you decide you've had enough, simply say "that's enough" and ask the dog to "drop it." Always stop immediately if the dog gets too excited or puts his mouth on your hand.

Another game you can play is hide and seek. There are two ways to play this game; either you can hide and encourage your dog to find you, or you can hide toys or treats around the house and ask the dog to find them.

If you are to be the target, simply have the dog stay while you go into another room. At first don't go far, and hide in an easy spot. Then call the dog with "Come find me!" or something like that.

Continue to call as long as you need to. Reward the dog for finding you with treats, excited praise, belly rubs ' anything he loves. Once your dog gets the idea, you can hide in more difficult spots, and call less often.

To use treats or toys as the objects to find, start by hiding a treat under or behind something while your dog watches, then exclaim, "Find it!" in an excited voice. Once he gets the rules of the game, have the dog stay in one room while you hide treats in another.

If your dog likes to use his nose, try hiding the treats inside shoes, under rugs, between couch cushions and places like that. For other dogs you may want to put most of the treats in plain view.

Break up large treats so that you are not giving him too many. Toys can be used if your dog has a strong prey drive, or if the he is overweight.

You can also try some brain teasers with your dog. For one, find three boxes of the same size. Have the dog sit and stay, facing the boxes. Place a treat inside or underneath an overturned box.

Release the dog and allow him to find the box the treat is in. Eventually you can begin hiding the treat with the dog facing away from the boxes.

Here's another puzzle the dog can work on. Place a morsel of food on a flat plate. Cover the plate with a towel or inverted foil pie tin. If using the tin, make a small lip in it so the dog can smell the food. If the dog is good at working things out, he should soon at least try to get the towel or pie tin off of the plate to get to the food.

You can increase the difficulty by placing the plate under a chair or other obstacle. Give him a way to get it out, such as placing it on a towel or attaching a rope to the plate. Don't let the dog get too frustrated with these games ' if he's not quite up to it, help him along and let him have the treat anyway.

There are toys that you can buy that will keep the dog busy on his own. A number of toys are now made to dispense treats. These are balls or cubes in which you place small treats. When the toy is overturned, the treats come out. You can even feed the dog this way, placing his daily ration in the treat toy.

Also on the market are some puzzle toys such as the Iqube and Puzzle Pup by Kyjen. These are similar to those made for toddlers. Instead of putting rings on a stick, or shapes in a box, the dog takes the toys out of a container. Most of these are plush toys, and might not be suitable for some aggressive chewers.

These are just a few suggestions, use your imagination and your dog's abilities to come up with even more games you can play indoors.



About The Author

Elyse Grau is an herbalist and a long-time pet owner, well-versed in pet nutrition and feeding. She is the author of Pet Health Resource, your web guide to a healthy, happy dog or cat. For more information on this subject, visit: http://www.pethealthresource.com

Foods Toxic To Dogs

Author: Lillian White

Some human foods that should not be consumed by dogs include:

Intoxicating Beverages, Such as Beer, Wine, Spirits:

Consumption of these beverages may lead to coma or possibly death. Symptoms of alcoholic beverage overdose may include, excitement, depression, sadness, stumbling, cardiac arrest, and death.

Chocolate, Tea, Coffee, Coffee Beans:

Their content of caffeine, theophylline, or theobromine affects the nervous system and the heart. Chocolate overdose symptoms may include, excessive panting, hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, and death.

Grapes, Raisins:

Kidney failure may be caused by an unknown toxin which is present in grapes in raisins. Syptoms of poisening from grapes or raisins may include abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, and a halt in the production of urine. Ingestion by your pet may be fatal and even cause death.

Macadamia Nuts:

An unknown toxin present in macadamia nuts may experience undesired affects of the nervous and digestive systems. They may also have negative affects on muscles. Symptoms may include muscle tremors, stiffness, weakness, sadness, gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and lethargy.

Garlic, Onions:

Onions and Garlic contain contain substances which damage red blood cells. Symptoms include, anemia, lethargy, weakness, discolored urine, diarrhea, and vomiting. Processed, fresh, cooked, and powdered forms should be avoided.

Mushrooms:

Different mushrooms contain different toxins which affect several body systems. Symptoms may include, abdominal pain, shock, kidney failure, liver failure, hallucinations, diarrhea, vomiting, coma, and even death.

Prevention is the key, keeping these foods away from your pet to avoid possible toxic poisoning and overdose. If your dog is suspected of eating any of these foods get them to a veterinarian immediately.



About The Author

Lillian White

White's American Bulldogs
http://www.petads.bappy.com

Top Reasons For Dog Crate Training

Author: Jeremy C.W
Often, many pet owners misunderstand the concept and the importance of crate training. Believing that crating an animal for any length of time is a cruel thing to do. Infact, dog crate training is actually one of the best things you can do for your pet. It gives him his own personal place that no one else invades. If you think about it, you probably like having your own space, so why wouldn’t your dog?

One thing you need to remember about your pet. He is going to want to be with you so it’s best to either make sure his crate is where he can see and hear other people. If it is going to be an extra load on you to move his cage all over the house purchase an extra cage. This will allow him to have one in the bedroom and one in another part of the house.

Another advantage to crate training your dog is that if you have somewhere he can be confined when you are away, you do not have to worry about coming home and finding a mess. Older dogs normally will hold their bathroom trips for a longer period of time. However, puppies will pretty much go anywhere until they get accustomed to going out or using puppy pads.

Dog crate training can be great if you are planning on taking your pet with you somewhere that you have to fly. This can keep them from being so nervous if they are already accustomed to being in a crate. Traveling in their own crate that is familiar to them will not be as upsetting either. Taking along a favorite blanket or toy helps too.

A great advantage to crate training if you have a larger breed dog such as a boxer is that he can go to his crate when company is visiting. Some people are afraid of big dogs and it makes them uncomfortable to know the dog can get to them. If he is in a crate, it will ease the feelings of your guest and your dog.

Some dogs are just natural born chew machines. They will chew anything and everything they can get their teeth into. So crate training is a blessing if you have a job or places you need to go. Then you won’t have to come home to all of your belongings chewed to pieces.

Just take into consideration when you do put your dog in his crate that you don’t make him stay inside for hours upon hours. He needs to be able to get out and stretch his legs and go to the bathroom. The crates can be comfortable but your dog needs to be able to get out and stroll around to keep his muscles from getting cramped.

We love our dogs, once you've successfully house-trained your dog, remember to reward your dog for using his crate in the correct manner! You have just taken the long rewarding road towards creating a positive bond with your dog!



About The Author

Jeremy C.W is a Pet Fanatic and Write Information Articles for Websites like http://www.DogNpuppies.com =>Visit http://www.DogCrateTraining.net for More Insider Dog Crate Training Secrets

Sighthounds. Fast, Agile And Powerful. "Step Aside For The Sight Hound Breed Of Dog!"

Author: John E Adams
SightHounds: The History of the Sight Hound

Historically, sight hounds have often been called gaze hounds. In history, they have been working dogs and people were not so much worried about their appearance.

Once the 19th century approached, people began to breed them for appearance making them look like they do now; long, lean canines that almost look royal in appearance. They have even been known to be the favorite pet of many an Egyptian Pharaoh or world king or emperor.

Sight hounds are a breed of dog deeply rooted in history

Not only have they been used for a long time but many dogs could probably trace their roots back to the very first dogs that were domesticated for human use. That is quite a family tree.

Many people have heard of the notorious scent hound dog breed type. They are notorious for their great smellers, and for good reason; they have the ability to smell through thick grass, over a river, and for a very long time at that. A sight hound is the vision-worthy equivalent of a scent hound. While scent hounds are a type of hound with great noses, sight hounds are notorious for their impeccable sight.

SightHound Appearance

While scent hounds are notoriously short and stocky, sight hounds are just the opposite: long, elegant necks and legs, thin bodies, and strong muscles. They have high stamina levels for chasing and hunting and they must be exercised a lot, so they tend to be rather tight and muscular in appearance.

Sight Hounds in Your Community

While sight hounds are great hunting dogs, they make excellent family dogs as well as do other herding dog breeds. They are great for families with kids who can provide them with a great deal of exercise and attention. If you have ever seen a Whippet, a Borzoi, or a Saluki, you have laid eyes on a sight hound without even knowing it!

Note how deep a Sighthounds chests is and how long their necks are; these features and traits allow them to see far and over things that other dogs may not be able to. This is what they are famous for, after all!

While sight hounds make awesome family dogs, they are great for sport as well. Outside of regular hunting sport, they are good in dog shows and races as well due to their speed and agility. If you see dog shows on Animal Planet or the Discovery channel or you have ever been able to attend one, chances are that a great majority of the dogs who were the strongest competitors were sighthounds!

These days they can be great guard dogs, family dogs, and even herding dogs as well and are infamous for having good temperaments as well. Whether you are a man or woman of sport, a pet lover, or just looking for a great breed of dog for your family it is hard to argue that sight hound dog breed types are excellent choices for any person.

Sighthound. Lovely, dependable, friendly and protective—what more could you ask for in a dog?



About The Author

Copyright John Adams. Dog Breeds Explained The Sighthound breed of dog is trustworthy and loyal. But only for the right owner. Get the facts before you get the dog! http://www.dog-breeds-explained.com

Dog Training Tips

by: Andrei Smith
One of the reasons for doing an obedience dog training is to establish a foundation between you and your dog. Many dog owners believe that dog training is only for those who wish to compete in obedience trials, but they are wrong.

Dog training requires only a simple persistence to be successful and can be useful to help fulfill some of your dog's basic and social interaction needs. Here are some dog training tips to guide you along the way.

1. Firm and Friendly

When you give commands such as come, you want to use a happy and friendly voice. While on the other hand, you'll want a lower firmer voice for sit, down, and stay commands.

2. Praise & Reward

Always praise your dog or offer him when he learned new commands.

3. Be Patient

Patience is the key when you are training your dog. Focus on a single command a session and end it on a positive note. Dog's are incredibly smart and will pick up all your commands. After each session, spend some time playing. He will associate the time with you as positive and anticipate his training again.

4. Use the correct dog training equipments

If you have a well-behaved dog, a lead and a buckle will do on your obedience training. However, if your dog is uncontrollable with undesirable and distracting behaviors, you should use a training collar. You don't have to worry about the size as most electronic training collar now clearly indicate what size of dog the training collar is intended for.

5. No Distractions

Try to pick a quiet area when training your dog to do tricks or commands. A secluded back yard works best if you want to train your dog for basic obedience commands only.

6. Reprimand

Do not hit your dog! Any time your dog has undesirable behavior, be firm and friendly. Remember, dogs are man's best friend.

7. Be Positive

It is necessary to use positive reinforcement when training your dog by offering some dog treats and a lot of praise if he performs correctly and learn new commands.

8. Play with your dog

Dogs which are trained are a pleasure to take for a walk and a pleasure to own.



About The Author

Andrei Smith is a pet lover and web copywriter connected to http://www.DogTrainingCollar-4Less.com, a company that specializes in dog training collar at a low cost. Visit http://www.DogTrainingCollar-4Less.com for more dog training collar tips and other popular dog training collar products.