Training Your Dog Not To Fear Loud Noises

By : Burt Cotton
Loud noises, such as fireworks, thunder and traffic, are one of the most frequently cited fears given by dog owners. It is natural for some dogs to be fearful of loud noises, but some dogs are so traumatized by thunder, fireworks and other loud noises that they are completely unable to function.

Dogs that display excessive fears or phobias such as these can be a danger to themselves and those around them. Dogs may manifest their fear in self-destructive ways, like slinking under the couch or the bed and getting stuck, for instance. They may also react in ways that are destructive to the home, such as urinating or defecating on the carpet, chewing up favorite items, or barking incessantly. These reactions are often worse when the owner is not at home.

One thing that is hard for many dog owners to understand is that soothing or stroking a dog that is displaying fear is exactly the wrong thing to do. While it is natural to try to calm a fearful dog, to the dog you are rewarding it for being afraid. The dog likes the sound of your voice, likes your petting, and concludes that he has done the right thing by acting afraid. This only makes a bad situation worse.

The best strategy when the dog displays fear when there is a thunderstorm or a fireworks display is to simply ignore the dog. It is of course important to watch the dog to make sure he does not hurt himself, but otherwise just ignore him and let him work through the fear on his own. When you go away, be sure to make sure there is nothing the dog can get stuck under, since fireworks or a thunderstorm can pop up at any time.

A dog that is severely afraid of thunderstorms and other load noises may need to be confined to a single room, or even a crate, for a period of time. After the dog feels safe in his “den”, he may be able to deal with his fears a little better. It can be quite a struggle to teach a dog not to be afraid of thunderstorms, firecrackers and other such noises, but it is important that the dog at least be able to control his fears without being destructive to himself or his environment.

Using distraction
Much as magicians use sleight of hand to hide their tricks, so dog owners practice the art of distraction to take their dog’s mind off of their fear. For instance, if your dog is afraid of thunderstorms and you know one is on the way, gather some of your dog’s favorite toys and get ready for the misdirection.

Of course, your dog will probably know the thunderstorm is on the way before you do. When you see your dog start to display fear, take a few of his favorite toys and try to get him to play. Very fearful dogs may be reluctant to play, but it is important to try nevertheless. Often a few treats can be a good distraction as well. Try buying one of those balls that you can fill with treats or biscuits, and encourage your dog to chase it.

Try playing with your dog every time a thunderstorm is in the forecast. This can start to implant good memories, and these can sometimes replace the fear memories that caused the dog to be afraid of thunderstorms in the first place.

Desensitizing your dog’s fear
Desensitization is a highly effective way to deal with phobias and fears in humans, and it can be very effective for dogs and other animals as well. Desensitization involves introducing the dog to small amounts of whatever noises frighten him. For instance, if the dog is afraid of thunder, try tape recording your next thunderstorm and play it back slowly when the dog is relaxed. Reward the dog for not showing fear responses. If he does show fear responses, do not comfort or soothe him but just ignore him.

This kind of desensitization training can be remarkably effective for some dogs, but it will take lots of patience and hard work. Fears of thunder and fireworks are not always easy to cure.



Author's Resource:

Burt Cotton www.dogtrainingnews.org

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Training Your Dog Not To Chase People, Bicycles, Joggers, Etc.

By : Burt Cotton
Dogs by nature are predatory animals, and all predatory animals share the motivation to chase fleeing objects. While this may be a natural instinct, it is not appropriate when those fleeing objects are joggers, bicyclists or the mailman.

Training the dog not to chase people and bicycles is an important thing to do, and it is best to start that training as early as possible. Starting when the dog is still small and non-threatening is important, particularly with breeds that grow very large, or with breeds that have a reputation for being very aggressive. Many people respond to being chased by a dog, especially a large dog, with understandable fear, and it is best for yourself and your dog that he be trained not to chase before he reaches a threatening size.

Some dogs are easier to train away from chasing than others. Breeds that have been used for hunting or herding often retain much more of their chasing instincts than other types of dogs, for instance.

No matter what breed of dog you are working with, however, it is important to not allow him off the leash until his chasing behavior has been curbed. Allowing an untrained dog off the leash is dangerous, irresponsible and illegal.

Before you expose your dog to a situation where he will want to chase someone or something, be sure to train him in a safe, controlled area like a fenced in yard. It is important for the dog to be able to focus and concentrate on you, and for him to understand what behavior you want. The dog must be given the opportunity to repeatedly perform the behavior you want while in this controlled setting.

The training session should be started indoors in the dog’s home. The dog should be put on a leash and the owner and the dog should stand at one end of a hallway or a room. The owner then waves a tennis ball in front of the dog but does not allow him to touch it. After that, the tennis ball is rolled to the other end of the hallway or the room, and the command “Off” is used to tell the dog not to chase the ball. If the dog starts out after the ball, use the command “Off” once again and give a firm tug on the leash.

When doing this type of training, it is vital that the dog not be allowed to touch the ball. If he actually reaches the ball, he may think that “Off” means to get the ball. This exercise should be repeated several times, until the dog has learned the meaning of the “Off” command. When the dog responds correctly by not chasing the ball, he should be rewarded with a special treat.

After the dog seems to understand his new game, move to another room and try the same thing. Repeat the exercise in several rooms of the house, in the garage, etc. After the dog has seemingly mastered the game and learned the meaning of the “Off” command, you can work with him without the leash, but still only in a safe area like your own home or a fenced in yard. It may take some time for the dog to fully master control of his chasing instinct, and it is important not to rush the process, or to leave the dog off leash until you are sure he is fully trained.

To test the training in the real world, enlist the assistance of a friend to pose as a jogger. It is important that the dog does not see and recognize this person; he has to assume that it is a stranger in order for the test to be valid. Stand with the dog on his leash and have your friend jog by a couple of times while you do the “Off” exercise. If the dog does as he is asked, be sure to provide lots of praise and treats. If he starts after the “jogger”, give a firm reminder by tugging on the leash.



Author's Resource:

Burt Cotton www.dogtrainingnews.org

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Living In The Suburbs With Your Labrador Retriever

By : B Jones
The suburbs may be the best of Labrador Retriever worlds, but its environment poses its own special set of problems. While suburban Labrador Retrievers are usually not as restricted, regulated, isolated, and controlled as those in the cities, the very lifting of these restrictions provides a set of pressures for the suburban dog owner.

When suburbs do have leash laws, residents do not always obey them. In general, enforcement of leash laws is lax in the suburbs. The law may include a stipulation that the dog must be leashed or "under the owner's direct control." Having a Labrador Retriever under one's "direct control" is, of course, an ambiguous phrase. What it means in practice is that the Labrador Retriever is allowed to run free but eventually returns home. This is enough "control" for some owners.

Free-roving dogs often form packs or bite, a growing problem in many suburbs and villages. This is forcing suburbs to adopt city-type leash laws and implement zoning restrictions that penalize all dog owners. At least in cities, most stray Labrador Retrievers are picked up promptly and impounded. As a result, city dog owners tend to keep their dogs supervised, since they stand a very real chance of losing them if they don't.

Regardless of the environment, the only complete solution to free-roving is somehow to contain the Labrador Retriever on one's own property when it is not on a leash. The best and most humane way is to bring the dog into the house where it belongs regardless of the owner's interpretations to the contrary. Assuming the dog is indoors at least fifty percent of the time and is obedience-trained to come when called, there will be little or no problem of its going off its own property. When there is a problem, secondary backup solutions are to fence in the yard or to chain the Labrador Retriever, an unhappy alternative.

Some suburbanites persist in believing the myth that their environment is "country" enough to allow their pet to go where it pleases. (Unfortunately, even a country environment does not allow that.) The suburbs are not the country, and even if they were, that is no excuse for letting a dog run wild.

Many a suburban dog owner experiencing house-soiling, chewing, digging, or free-roving has considered actually moving out to the country, in order to have their dogs “roam free”. However, that would not help. Labrador Retriever owners cannot do without having complete control over their dog. A dog will come when it is kept close by, oriented to the inside of the house, and formally practiced in coming when called. Most dogs who are running free in the open become less and less inclined to listen when called and become too relaxed when it comes to obedience. Instead, keep your Labrador Retriever inside, and either accompany it under supervision or leash it for defecation and exercise. If you want it to run free, take it to a park or large field and personally watch the dog.



Author's Resource:

Richard Cussons is a champion for dogs of all breeds but Labrador Retrievers in particular. You will find out more about Labrador Retrievers at the Labrador Retriever Savvy website.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Living In The Suburbs With Your Labrador Retriever

By : B Jones
The suburbs may be the best of Labrador Retriever worlds, but its environment poses its own special set of problems. While suburban Labrador Retrievers are usually not as restricted, regulated, isolated, and controlled as those in the cities, the very lifting of these restrictions provides a set of pressures for the suburban dog owner.

When suburbs do have leash laws, residents do not always obey them. In general, enforcement of leash laws is lax in the suburbs. The law may include a stipulation that the dog must be leashed or "under the owner's direct control." Having a Labrador Retriever under one's "direct control" is, of course, an ambiguous phrase. What it means in practice is that the Labrador Retriever is allowed to run free but eventually returns home. This is enough "control" for some owners.

Free-roving dogs often form packs or bite, a growing problem in many suburbs and villages. This is forcing suburbs to adopt city-type leash laws and implement zoning restrictions that penalize all dog owners. At least in cities, most stray Labrador Retrievers are picked up promptly and impounded. As a result, city dog owners tend to keep their dogs supervised, since they stand a very real chance of losing them if they don't.

Regardless of the environment, the only complete solution to free-roving is somehow to contain the Labrador Retriever on one's own property when it is not on a leash. The best and most humane way is to bring the dog into the house where it belongs regardless of the owner's interpretations to the contrary. Assuming the dog is indoors at least fifty percent of the time and is obedience-trained to come when called, there will be little or no problem of its going off its own property. When there is a problem, secondary backup solutions are to fence in the yard or to chain the Labrador Retriever, an unhappy alternative.

Some suburbanites persist in believing the myth that their environment is "country" enough to allow their pet to go where it pleases. (Unfortunately, even a country environment does not allow that.) The suburbs are not the country, and even if they were, that is no excuse for letting a dog run wild.

Many a suburban dog owner experiencing house-soiling, chewing, digging, or free-roving has considered actually moving out to the country, in order to have their dogs “roam free”. However, that would not help. Labrador Retriever owners cannot do without having complete control over their dog. A dog will come when it is kept close by, oriented to the inside of the house, and formally practiced in coming when called. Most dogs who are running free in the open become less and less inclined to listen when called and become too relaxed when it comes to obedience. Instead, keep your Labrador Retriever inside, and either accompany it under supervision or leash it for defecation and exercise. If you want it to run free, take it to a park or large field and personally watch the dog.



Author's Resource:

Richard Cussons is a champion for dogs of all breeds but Labrador Retrievers in particular. You will find out more about Labrador Retrievers at the Labrador Retriever Savvy website.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Labradoodle Dog Breed

By : Ashley Peach
Have you ever heard of a Labradoodle? If not you will find the below information not only interesting, but you may convert to a new dog breed for your family. The Labradoodle is a hunting dog that is a cross between a poodle and a Labrador. You will find there are seven colors you can have with a Labradoodle. They can be chalk, cream, apricot, chocolate, cafÈ, or black and silver. You will also find they can be a mix of these colors. They are one of the most interesting breeds despite being a mixed breed. You will find they usually weigh between 25 and 90 pounds. They stand about 13- 22 inches from the ground making them a short dog.

You will find the Labradoodle is intelligent, intuitive, and very full of energy. They do very well as companions, but doesn’t make a service dog. In other words while they can be great hunting dogs they don’t make for good therapy dogs or seeing- eye dogs. They tend to have both a poodle and Labrador mentality making them very excitable. You will also find they can make a great family pet as long as they have been trained. They can be excessively energetic and sometimes don’t make the best pets for smaller children. Training as a puppy is very important to help them learn proper techniques and reign in the energy just a little. If you do train them properly they can be around children.

Training should be for both a lab and poodle since they are mixed. You should be able to combine sport activity along with obedience. Labradors tend to be very energetic and without proper training they will continue to be disobedient because they would rather play. The poodle in them can make them a little anti social. You will find they are very easy to train for indoors, but consistent training and a firm hand is needed. You should always take your Labradoodle for walks daily to offer them plenty of opportunity to play and have fun. You will also find a medium yard is needed. They do not do well in condos or apartments. If you work during the day you should have them tied to a runner in the yard to let them explore and play. They require at least two hours of interaction such as walking, running, and playing with toys for the best health and happiness.

Care of the Labradoodle is fairly easy. They require regular brushing as the hair can become quite tangled. They have the poodle style coat, which means longer hair, rather than the Labrador coat which is usually short. In order to keep shedding down you will need to brush them. You should be able to clip them just once a year. You will also find this dog breed to be hypo- allergenic. In other words they tend to suffer from several allergies so they can have health problems due to respiratory issues.

As long as you train your Labradoodle and offer plenty of affection and activities you will find them to be a great addition to your family. You should start of with a puppy, especially if you are planning on having children to help them adapt to the social requirements they will need to have. If you purchase an adult Labradoodle you may find it harder to train certain behaviors out of them, especially if they have had no formal training. Labradoodles are one of the most interesting breeds because they have been mixed. They are recognized as a breed by the dog association.



Author's Resource:

Ashley Peach is a writer for the websites dog accessories, dog training aids and dog bowls.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

The Neapolitan Mastiff Dog Breed

By : Ashley Peach
There are a few Mastiff breeds in the dog species. One of those breeds is called the Neapolitan Mastiff, which is also a working dog. They are large dogs growing to 165 pounds and at most 30 inches tall. They are a very muscular dog breed. The Neapolitan Mastiff is usually black, chocolate or blue in color. They have a short hair that is coarse and dense. You will find this mastiff is known by his massive wrinkles around the face and on his back. If you are ready to learn more just keep reading. We will tell you whether they will make a great pet or just a wonderful watchdog. You will also learn about care, temperament, and training needed.

First care with any dog is very important. You need to make sure you have the right dog food with the highest nutrition value, plenty of water during the day for them to drink when you are off at work, and of course that you take care in their grooming needs. As a larger dog you will find the Neapolitan Mastiff requires quite a bit of nutrients in their food. You will also find that grooming is very easy. You can brush them with a rubber brush to remove the dead hair, and help keep shedding to a minimum. You will also need to take a wet cloth to their winkles to keep that area clean, but for the most part they will keep themselves clean. This can make the care very easy for this dog breed as a pet, but the question remains are they really a great pet to have?

Their character or temperament is often seen as very watchful. They are a guard dog at heart. They will be very territorial, protective, but not aggressive. You will actually find them to be gentle and very affectionate. Despite the gentle side they will still stand guard around strangers. You may also be a little wary at having them around small children. As mentioned the Neapolitan Mastiff dog breed is very large. They are also very muscular which can make them a little scary for small children. You should introduce this breed into the family only if you have older children that can handle the massive size. You will find that around other pets and even children with the proper training and socialization they can be quite safe.

Training is very important so that you establish a dominance over the Neapolitan Mastiff rather than the other way around. You will need to socialize them with other animals as puppies to avoid issues and make sure they under stand house rules. You will need to be firm with a consistency they will understand. Their need to be protective can be a problem during training and especially if you don’t train them at all. You may seek a professional handler to help you learn the techniques you will need in order to train your Neapolitan Mastiff. Exercise is also very important to their care and training. You will find they need daily exercise, such as two walks in a day. They also need to have a large backyard to play in. Their great size demands a lot of space, even in a home. You will not want to keep them cooped up in an apartment, but rather have a large house with a backyard. While they are protective they can be happy spending time outdoors for a day while you are at work. Like most dogs they shouldn’t be left for extended periods of time or ever mistreated.



Author's Resource:

Ashley Peach is a writer for the websites dog, dog treats and dog leads.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

The Papillon Dog Breed

By : Ashley Peach
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes to make great family pets. There are always dog lovers out there that have a favorite breed, but how do you know what you may like if you don’t know the breeds peculiarities. If you have never really been around dogs you should always find as much information about them as possible including the breeds that are available and how you should interact with them. The Papillon dog breed is considered a toy. It is one of the smaller dogs among the list. You will find that it is also an older breed in European history.

Dating back to the sixteenth century you will find the Papillon was considered a lap dog for most of the nobles in Europe. The name means butterfly in the French translation and when you see this dog you will understand why it is an apt name. The ears really resemble the wind span of a butterfly with the shape and the hair that grows around them. In fact you could argue their ears are actually larger than their face. You will find the Papillon dog weighs nine to ten pounds and stands about eight to eleven inches. They have one of the finest coats in the dog breeds as well. They are usually white with patches of black, tan, and other colors. The coat is long and almost silky. You will find they are soft to pet and that their hair is going to be a little longer than most dog breeds. Luckily the hair doesn’t grow to long on their limbs, but they are fairly fluffy in appearance all around.

Like most dog breeds in the toy category you will find the Papillon dog to be extremely playful, alert, and affectionate. They are also well known for their elegance. They do not make a great guard dog as they tend to be overly affectionate with everyone. You will find they are not shy or aggressive. They like to be the center of attention, and despite their size you will find them to be quite sturdy. The Papillon likes to have plenty of affection and doesn’t do well with mistreatment; therefore older children are recommended before adding the Papillon to your family. You will also find they can be a little protective towards the family or owner, but they will never be dangerous.

Training is one of the easier options you have with this dog breed. Most dogs can display a stubbornness during training, but not the Papillon. They are eager to learn and like complex problems for their intelligence. If you are hoping to integrate them into a family you will need a little socialization training regarding other pets. They tend to like being protective and the attention seeker, which may cause issues. You will find the Papillon is often a show dog or used for therapy because of their temperament. You will also find they need to have daily exercise if you hope to keep them healthy and happy. They do need to have yard space or parks that they can go to for running and playing. You should never leave this dog in the backyard unsupervised though. They tend to have issues escaping.

Care for your Papillon requires weekly grooming for their hair. They are medium shedders and they tend to get a little tangled during the week. You will also find they are prone to ear issues and the paws need to be trimmed at appropriate intervals. Health issues you may find with these dogs are cataracts, petalla luxation, and Von Willebrands disease.



Author's Resource:

Ashley Peach is a writer for the websites dog accessories, dog beds and dog collars.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Using Homemade Dog Food Recipes for a Healthier, Happier Pet

By : Jennifer McVey
There are many places to find dog food recipes if you are considering making your pet's food. There are also important points to think about when you make their food like sticking to the recipe, talking to a veterinarian, and paying attention to how your dog reacts to the food.

Two common places to find dog food recipes are on the Internet and through your local veterinarian. The Internet is not always trustworthy though. You cannot be sure that someone who posted their own idea for a dog food recipe is the right meal for your dog. Some of the factors might include the type of dog that they have and the types of foods in the recipe. If the dog food recipes are coming from a credible place on the internet like an animal shelter, a veterinarian, or some other place you can trust then you most likely are safe to use the recipe.

The best place to find dog food recipes is through your local veterinarian. Your vet already knows your dog best. He or she knows their digestive tract and what kinds of foods you can start your pet off with and how you can transition your animal from traditional dog food to homemade food. Many veterinarians already have recipes they can give to you so you can go home and make your pets food. Working with your vet ensures the health of your animal.

Switching your dog over to homemade dog food is a big transition. Your animal may not take the food change very well at first. For instance, your dog may not seem as if they like it or they might not be eating as much. You will notice a change in their stools. Your animal may vomit for a couple of days because their digestive tract is not used to healthy food. Be sure during the transition your dog is getting plenty of water. One thing that might be recommended is that you slowly break your dog into the new dog food rather than do a total change at once.

When you make homemade dog food, even the vet will tell you not to change the recipe. You might think you are being creative or making your pet happy by adding bacon grease to the mixture, don't. You also should not substitute foods within a dog food recipe. Stick to the recipe. If the recipes are too expensive for you then you might not be able to afford feeding your dog homemade foods. Many people have made their animals very sick by not properly cooking the foods to save time or substituting foods to save money. For your dog's health, stick to the recipes.

Dog food recipes are fantastic when you find them from the right sources. You should only trust your veterinarian or a reliable source for a recipe and you should follow it exactly. The purpose of making homemade dog food is for your dog's health. So you should follow the recipes and pay attention to how your pet responds.



Author's Resource:

Learn about making homemade dog food and more dog food secrets at www.saferpetfood.com

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Dog Agility Training Issues

By : rayter
Teaching your dog basic execution and obedience requires simple training techniques, a little amount of time and patience. The course familiarization depends on the ability of a dog while the physical responses will depend on the dog’s age. There are several dogs that can be enthusiastically convinced to run through a short and straight tunnel to chase a toy or to go to the pet owner.

In training your dog, it is important that you know your goals. Set your objectives prior buying any obstacle training equipment. Basically, an agility course or training helps you as pet owner teach your dog basic obedience and follow your simple commands. It even allows you both, you and your pet to have to great, fun and quality time together.

There are actually several ways to train your dog. Setting up an agility course within your home is one of the natural and exciting ways to impose the obedience you want from your dear pooch friend. Make sure that you are physically and emotionally ready before taking the course with your dog.

Your role as his trainer or handler is very important. This is because as your dog moves, you are also required to make some movement to get along with his excitement and enthusiasm.

You also need to prepare a prize for a job well done by your dog. Make sure that you have something for him upon finishing any obstacle challenge to encourage him more in his training. This is also a one way of convincing him that something great is waiting for him.

Dogs are intelligent animals and they can absolutely finish their training in a small span of time. They can also practically do strategic plans just to know what’s in store for them in the other end of the obstacle. All you need to do is to encourage them more and build the most important element of teaching them, trust.

There are also some cases that dogs become traumatic instead of being enthusiastic in taking the course due to some unwanted problems or events. In case you can’t handle your dog’s fear or trauma, you must see your most trusted veterinarian and see what he has to give you as an advice.

Dog training using the dog agility and obstacle challenges is just like playing around with your pet. You as pet owner must give your instructions in an inviting yet firm voice so that he won’t be afraid to you while enjoying his training. Remember a careful and step by step training process will help you in achieving all your goals.



Author's Resource:

The author is a dog owner and writer connected to a company that provides modern and effective dog agility training equipment, patio dog doors and underground fences at affordable prices.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Siberian Husky Dog Breed

By : Ashley Peach
Alaska, Siberia, and even Canada have breeds of dogs that work sleds, and live in cold weather with their owners. The Siberian Huskies are just one of the working dog you may want to have if you live somewhere cold. They are a medium dog breed that offers loyalty, affection, and happiness for any human. You will find out below about some of their characteristics, grooming needs, and the proper care for these dogs.

If you take proper care of the Siberian husky you will find they live for more than ten or twelve years as faithful companions. They need a well balanced diet with plenty of protein and of course a lot of daily exercise. The Siberian husky is usually 35 to 60 inches in height depending on the sex and 20 to 24 pounds. They have medium length hair that is usually a white, gray, or black. You will also find that they tend to have blue eyes. They have thick coarse fur to keep them warm in the cold climates. You will also find that they have two coats, an undercoat that is usually thick and very soft, and a top coat that is a little coarser. You will find that they are usually lighter in color on the underside. Their faces are usually thin like a wolf, with a slightly long muzzle. The tail tends to remain uncurled unlike other breeds that they mirror.

If you are interested in a Siberian husky you should realize that they need a lot of exercise. They love to work and be useful so any time you can give them something to do even if it is just training you will have a happy dog. You will find that they exhibit agility, dominance, and pride. The dominance stems from the sled dogs that they are. They need to show some type of dominance in order to lead the back as a team. Some of the Siberian huskies will have less dominance as they were breed for further back in the team. However they all love to have a job given to them. They are highly intelligent, which means they can learn tricks, as well as work. You will find obedience training is a little difficult with the dominant nature, but they will soon learn who is master. As long as you keep a gentle hand and a firm hand with consistency you should have little trouble with further training. They do need to be socialized with other animals at an early age because of their hunting instincts. They get along great with other Huskies, but cats and other small pets can be an issue. They can get bored fairly easily so having a home with a medium sized backyard is usually very important. They would rather run around all day than be cooped up inside.

For care you will find that daily walks are needed, at least a total of two hours. Grooming is important on a daily basis to avoid matting and tangles. You should also know for care that the Siberian husky can have cataracts and retinal atrophy so you need to have frequent eye checks as well as other vet visits. These dogs love to be around people and be of use. They can even be pretty great with children as they are a hardy breed.



Author's Resource:

Ashley Peach writes for dog supplies, dog bowls and unique dog toys.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Dog Training Importance

By : Ashley Peach
Though we have looked at training a few different ways in previous articles you will find that in this article of training importance we are looking at a few specific behaviours of dogs. There are some dogs that tend to bark a lot more than other dog breeds. If you are aware of the proper training and take the time to train your dog you will not have to worry about much of the barking. This can be important to you as well as your neighbours based on the fact that many like the peace and quite, rather than incessant dog barking. So how do you go about training out some things a dog just does instinctively?

Well the answer to that is really more in line with behaviour training. You will need to start the training as early as possible. In other words once the dog breed has been weaned from its mother you will want to enter the dog into training. You can go about training in a few different ways. If you feel you are a confident owner that exhibits patience and a consistent hand you may wish to purchase a manual and look on dog training sites for the information. This is one method and most usually the least effective. While books can help during training for dog barking and other instinctual behaviours you really want a professional that will teach you obedience as well as other training methods for your dog. The best approach to any training is going to be a combined method. You also should keep aware that training should never stop. Even though you have been successful in training a dog will go back to the instincts they were born with over training if you don’t keep with the training regiment. Most training is considered a daily exercise along with the actual physical exercise the dog needs.

So now that we have looked at training methods let’s look at behaviour training a little more in depth. Behaviour training is not just obedience. With behaviour training you are trying to teach the dog the response you would like to have. If the dog barks for know reason you should not reward the behaviour with petting. In actuality you need to discourage the behaviour. Yelling is not a way to do this. You need to find something that the dog does not like. For example with cats water is a good deterrent for bad behaviour because they don’t like to be wet. For dogs, it can differ depending on the breed, but usually a tone of voice, that is still at the normal level or the word no will be sufficient to get the bad behaviour stopped when you consider the training you are imparting. Remember that you also want to reward for good behaviour. Good behaviour can be the response to the “no” command you have issued. In other words if the dog ceases the barking and lies down instead you can reward them with a “good dog” or a little rub. Treats should be left for special occasions during training.

It can take a few months to get a dog trained to not bark. In some cases dogs will still bark when they hear the approach of a car or stranger. This can be good if they learn to bark once to alert you and then quiet down again. If they continue the insistent barking you may need to continue training. Remember so behaviour’s are instinctive so that behaviour training must over ride these senses to be effective.



Author's Resource:

Ashley Peach
Dog Supplies - Dog Training Equipment - Dog Collars

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Effective Sport Dog Training

By : rayter
To effectively train your sport or hunting dogs, try to teach them the guidelines that are provided in this article. It is really important to learn the correct way for a simple but valuable sport dog training command!

Training your very hyperactive sport or hunting dog is not an easy task. Understanding dog attitude is like solving a mathematical problem. Sometimes it’s hard but you always have to look for effective solutions to solve it. And when it comes to dog training, one good solution is to purchase a sport dog training collar. This device will help you a lot in finding ways to better solve your training problems. Whether you’re in the hunting field or in various sports related areas, training your very energetic dog is so easy when using sport hunter dog training collars.

Isn’t it amazing how various techniques for teaching one of the most basic hunting dog commands can be so useful? Dog trainers may work hard trying to command their sport or hunting dogs with the word “come,” or “here.” It’s just the most common technique for trainers however, it will take them so much time to completely train these agitated dogs.

So for a more effective way, try giving them commands while using remote dog trainer. Nowadays, most hunters are learning the advantages of teaching this command while their sport dogs wear our electric dog training collars.

Each dog trainers and hunters has their own goal, regardless of whether he’s going to train a pointing or a hunting dog. The first thing to remember is to develop a dog having the confidence to obey the command of the trainer.

Whatever happens, take note that the dog you are training shouldn’t hesitate to give all of his 100 percent to obey your commands. You can easily increase your dogs’ interest during the training using our remarkable electronic dog collar training. Using this device will also run the risk of raising a dog that will leave your side for fear of being warned.

Practically speaking, there are kinds of hunting or sport dogs whose genetic makeup gives them the energy to just run around no matter what the circumstances which are also hard to train. But enthusiasm of every dog can be seen when they were still young so it’s best for you to place training dog collars on their neck and train them while they were still young.

For the first training days of a dog’s life, try to give him the commands that you usually give him. And then place the remote training collar on his neck and make sure that it won’t be too narrow to hold your dogs breathe.

When you think that your dog eventually manage to move unconsciously with his electronic dog collar, then it is the right time for you to continue training your hunting or sport dog in the field. With the use of our sport dog training collars, you can easily and confidently command your dog with so much ease. You can perform the training in the same field where you are hunting or have been doing other drills.

After doing the same task everyday and when you notice that your dog already understands all your commands, we can guarantee that it will really be effective. Your sport dog will immediately learn the basic and eventually become professional dogs after a couple of weeks. This is due to the stimulation that he receives from the collar. But always remember that you must use the lowest stimulation first so that your dog will not be surprised with the pulse and will accurately respond to it.

Just follow these steps and I am sure that you will end up raising a hard-running dog but will instantly obey you and that you can call back to when there is an emergency or whenever it is necessary.



Author's Resource:

The author is a pet lover and web copywriter connected to a company that provides top-notch sport dog equipment, no bark collars and other dog training collar products at affordable rates.

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The Best Dog Breeds for Children

By : Ashley Peach
Dogs require a lot of attention and some dogs can be extremely sensitive, which means they are not always best for small or young children. When you have children who want a pet there are several things you should consider. Below is a list of dog breeds that do well with children as well as some dog breeds that do not.

Dogs That Love Children:
German shepherds are our first dog on the list for being great with children. Despite the size of the German shepherd you will find that they are sensitive and very hardy dogs. They will tolerate a lot from young children such as tail pulling or hair pulling from children that are not aware of how it can hurt the dog. German shepherds are working dogs, but they also love a lot of affection and attention. They do well in households that have walking age children, especially older children that may return home from school and play in the backyard with them.

Poodles tend to do well with children as well. You may not want to have a poodle with infants or toddlers as they can be a little sensitive, but they love the affection and attention the children are willing to offer. Poodles are very active dogs inside and outside of the home. This means, they like being played with as well as trained. They can be sensitive so well behaved children are really the best types of households for them.

Golden Retrievers love children. In fact the best dog breed you can have for your child is going to be the Golden Retriever. You will find that they play, learn well, and shower affection. Most Golden Retrievers tend to follow children around as if they have adopted the care for that child and become some of the best companions as the child ages.

Labradors are also very good dogs to have around small children. They may need a little training to help with the proper socialization and commands as they can get quite rowdy, but they are hardy and not too sensitive. They tend to take the abuse of a toddler rather than lashing out.

Dogs That Tolerate Children:
Bulldogs are usually very loyal and loving to their owners, however they do not do well in abusive homes or where they will be picked on a great deal. Bulldogs tend to like peace and quiet over little children pulling on their ears or screaming.

Old English sheepdog’s can be in either category. It will depend on when you adopt the pet. Old English sheepdogs tend to be very loyal, affectionate and vie for attention. When you have an Old English sheepdog before children they can display very jealous behavior making them only tolerant of most children.

Great Danes are wonderful dogs, full of life and happiness. If you have a Great Dane in your home you can be assured that they will do well with any type of child; however they have landed in the tolerant status because of their size. The Great Dane is a very large and muscular dog, even with socialization training they can harm smaller children without meaning to do harm. Though they love being around children it is up to the parent to decide if they can be trusted with infants or toddlers even when the parent is in the room.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog’s are not the best dogs to have around children. They are a fiercely independent dog that does require attention. They do not tolerate children, and in some cases have been known to carry off children left unattended. The Anatolian Shepherd dog is meant to guard as well as protect the home from animals. Their instincts are to carry small prey to their owners during hunts as well as protect the home.



Author's Resource:

Ashley Peach writes for dog leads.

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Places to Adopt a Dog

By : Ashley Peach
Adding a pet to your home is a huge responsibility. Not only do you have to know the proper care, grooming, and training needed for a pet, especially dogs, but you have to make the right decision when you go to adopt a pet. You have to be prepared to adopt the dog and know they depend on you. So while there are several things to consider when you adopt a dog you also have to decide where to adopt the dog from. There are several places to obtain a dog that include breeders, kennels, rescue shelters, pet stores, humane societies, and private owners. Each place is going to offer you a little bit of a difference in the type of dog breeds available as well as their condition. Read further to find out what each place is like.

Breeders: If you are looking for a dog of a certain mix or breed than you may want to go with a dog breeder. A dog breeder works specifically with a certain breed to ensure the top of line dog. This means that they have a business, land, and a place to house healthy dogs. They may even offer training. Dog breeders are typically going to require a bit of your history with pets in an interview as well as seeing your place to make sure it is adequate. Dog breeders tend to charge a little more for the dog as they have taken care of the dog since infancy and they are raising an elite breed. These dogs are generally sold as puppies.

Kennels or Shelters: There are two types of shelters from your regular animal shelter to your rescue shelter. With a regular animal shelter you will find orphaned pets. This means that the dogs have either been lost and the owner cannot be found, the dog was raised wild, or someone had to give up their pet for a variety of reasons. Shelters will also take in unwanted pets from litters. Most often you will find older dogs in a shelter, but in some cases there will be puppies. The fees usually include adoption, neutering, and vaccinations as part of the actual adoption process. Most often in an animal shelter you will find a mixed dog breed or a mongrel. You may find some well known breeds in the shelters like terriers or golden retrievers. Generally a dog that is well bred is sold by the owner rather than given to a shelter. A rescue shelter operates a little different. The rescue shelter takes dogs away from abusive owners, dogs that have been rescued during fires or other natural weather issues like Hurricane Katrina, and those who have been abandoned and may be hurt. They nurse the dogs back to health before finding a loving owner. Most of the dogs from rescue shelters will have special needs emotionally and physically based on the trauma they may have sustained.

Human Societies: These types of places are also animal shelters. They house unwanted animals or dogs they have found on the streets. Most often you will not find a particular breed in the shelter, but a mix of breeds, and of course mixed breeds of dogs. These types of places want to make sure there are good homes, but work as non profit agencies so donations are taken rather than fees.

Pet Stores: A pet store usually carries a breed of dog. In other words there are usually not mixed breeds of dogs, but Huskies, Terriers, Dalmatians and other well known dog breeds that most pet owners are interested in. They can also work as the middle person in finding a breeder with the dog you would like to adopt. Keep in mind that pet stores will offer an increase in price on the dog above the animal shelters or humane societies.

Private Owners: A private owner is someone who is not a breeder, but has recently had a litter of puppies and tries to sell them or give them away for free. In this case you will not have the shots or neutering you may wish to have. While you may find a healthy dog for a reasonably price from a private owner they are not always the most well cared for. It will depend on the owner you seek. Keep in mind you can always go to a vet and have the dog checked for health issues and still adopt a wonderful pet. There are many choices in adopting dogs. It really doesn’t matter were you adopt from as long as you are willing to care and love for your new family member.



Author's Resource:

Ashley Peach - beds and collars.

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Find the Love of Your Life and Let Your Dog Be Your Guide

By : The Dogsexpert
Who has your best interest at heart? Your mother? Your friends? What about your best friend - your dog. We all know our dogs truly love us unconditionally.

For those who want to make this your year to really connect with someone and find that love of your life – your furry friend just may be your best source of judgment. So give Fido a shot this year.

Date Bait – Go Fetch

1. Let your dog sniff out a good date

a. Our sense of smell is to dial up what our dogs is to broadband. Dogs have 220 million smell receptors to our 5 million. Trust that your dog will know who’s a keeper.

2. Animal Instincts

a. Dog lovers are more sexy – Radiate your sexiness. The presence of a dog makes everyone seem more approachable and fun.

b. Go for a walk with Fido and nonchalantly pause when in view of a potential date. It often opens the door to conversation.

Play Time
1. You got the date! Begin your date with a walk

a. People reveal more of themselves when there’s no pressure.

b. It’s free – you won’t waste money on a bad connection.

2. Don’t smooch your pooch or your date on the first date

a. Especially if you think this may be the one, some things are better left for later.

b. Kissing your dog before you kiss your date, may leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

After the date
1. Be as gracious as your dog
a. A dog appreciates the time you spend with him/her, so be as polite as your dog.
2. Dogs don’t lie – so why should we

a. In such a high tech communication world, if you don’t hear back within a few days after he/she said they’d call, it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.



Author's Resource:

As the Dogsexpert, and Founder of www.LeashesandLovers.com, Sheryl Matthys talks with dog lovers on how their dogs impact their personal relationships. Leashes and Lovers offers online connections (www.FetchaFriend.com) where dog lovers can search and connect around the world for friendship, doggie playdates, same breed of dog, and possibly love! Sheryl has two children, two greyhounds and is a certified dog trainer.

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How Dogs and Kids can have a Happy and Safe Hello

By : The Dogsexpert
Ask, then act. Asking someone if their dog is friendly is a polite way of letting them know you’d like to pet their dog. It’s an especially good way to teach children that all dogs aren’t interested in being touched by a stranger… so be careful.

Now that the nice weather has arrived, it seems everyone is out for a walk in the neighborhood including our four legged friends. While most dogs are friendly, wonderful, and playful, every dog has the capacity to feel threatened and may react in an unexpected way.

Since you can’t judge a dog’s demeanor based on its cuteness, here are some tips so everyone gets along.

Tips for a child to approach a dog and its owner:
1. Ask the owner if their dog is friendly and if they can pet their dog
2. Offer a back hand fist or hand out with fingers down
3. Let the dog approach the child to sniff
4. Pet a dog gently reaching from the side, not over its head
5. Ask to offer their dog a treat as dogs remember those who reward them

Since some dogs may not be familiar with children’s sounds and actions, it’s a good idea for children to refrain from screaming, squealing, and running. Even puppies who may seem harmless love to nip, chew, and chase small children which could be fun or frightening for both parties.

Some dogs perceive direct eye contact as threatening. That might present a problem when your child is standing face to face with them. You’ll want to be close enough to all of them to intervene if there’s a problem.

Americans love dogs – we own more than 65 million of them. Unfortunately, there are about 5 million dog bites a year according the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC says nearly 1 million of those bites required medical attention with half of those involving children.

The interaction between a child and a strange dog can be a sweet moment and an endearing one that hopefully inspires them to make a dog a part of their family someday. By taking simple precautions, it can be a pleasant experience that leaves everyone with a smile on their face.



Author's Resource:

As the Dogsexpert, and Founder of www.LeashesandLovers.com, Sheryl Matthys talks with dog lovers on how their dogs impact their personal relationships. Leashes and Lovers offers online connections www.FetchaFriend.com where dog lovers can search and connect around the world for friendship, doggie playdates, same breed of dog, and possibly love! Sheryl has two children, two greyhounds and is a certified dog trainer.

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

Dog Training Techniques Review

By : Jacob Lama
Dog training techniques originate from experts who usually emphasize the importance of a good relationship between a dog and the trainer. Dog Training techniques Many people feel that dog training is a challenge and they are desperate for dog training techniques. Dog training techniques usually won't work without treats. Dog Training Techniques must always be done in moderation. Dog training techniques based on learning theories. This category comprises techniques that use positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment as main ways to educate dogs. Dog training techniques based on canine ethology Techniques based on canine ethology take into account those behaviors that are natural in dogs, but usually ignore the principles of learning theories. Dog training techniques show him that the humans are the head of your house not him. Dogs are more relaxed in their own environment and they are not distracted by other dogs, so they are able to focus and learn. Dogs, particularly larger ones, must be obedient, or keeping them becomes a burden. Dogs that are handled and petted by humans in the first eight weeks of life are generally much more amenable to being trained and living in human households. Dog training and behavior is our passion. Doggy Do's and Don'ts Dog training, pets health, puppy behaviour. Dog training, puppy health, pets body language and more. Doggy Do's and Don'ts is the free online TV show focused on training dogs. Dogs can suffer strongly from separation anxiety. Dogs do not have as much respect for children as they do for adults.

Over 11,000 happy clients since 1979 We would like to give you some Free Training tips and help as our way of thanking you for considering our training program. You have two options: A)Video Clips three, four and five will give you a good understanding of our training method. B)Enjoy a few free training sessions with Ben and the students in his Professional Dog Trainers Program. Take one of our dog obedience training programs and these behaviour problems will be a thing of the past. Toys, praise, and lots of play are used throughout the entire training process making it positive and enjoyable for both dog and owner. The best age to start training is at seven to eight weeks of age. Over the years we have had a number of "clients" that were 10 years of age or older that passed with flying colours, although the training can often take longer with an older dog. As price, training venues and start dates are subject to change for the following three options, please contact us for more information. Extreme distractions—such as another dog running directly past your dog after a ball Distance commands up to the length of a football field (over 100 meters) Hand signals—your dog will respond to either voice or hand commands Off-leash control, not just in your back yard but in the midst of our group training sessions with many other dogs and distractions You may find it hard to believe that even a young puppy can perform these responses after one month of training. You are invited to attend our free drop-in class to witness these results for yourself and to talk to clients who have recently completed training.

If you prefer, we can come to your home or board your dog while training for an additional charge. If you have a busy schedule, we can come and train your dog while you are at work and then transfer the commands to you towards the end of training. There are six different options for ongoing training that you can take advantage of for your dogs lifetime at no extra charge. This enables you to build on your relationship and ensure that your dogs training continues to advance and not backslide. Want to send your pooch to the "Harvard" of Dog Training. This level of training is the ultimate. After the training is completed, you will have unlimited access, for the lifetime of your dog, to our 6 free training options to insure you know what to do with your newly trained dog. There is a wealth of information in this valuable resource: foundation training, how to make free dog toys that last a lifetime, canine exercise, conditioning to everyday stress, and safety pointers that may one day save your dog's life. Free Drop-In Classes (the Wonderdog Club) After you have completed one of Ben's dog training programs, you are welcome to join us Saturday mornings at the Wonderdog Club. Satisfaction guarantee Ben's guarantee simply states that you must be satisfied with the quality of dog obedience training provided in the group session. At the completion of training, if you are not satisfied, let Ben know and additional training will be provided until you are satisfied, no matter how long it takes. Our Dog Training Techniques Bark Busters' innovative techniques lead the pack in improving dog behaviour.

In most cases Bark Busters' gentle training methods can solve behaviour problems in under 3 hours. Here are the keys to our success: Our innovative, dog friendly training methods are based on the way dogs communicate with each other. Our “in your home” training means you get a personal program that will work best for you. Top Dog Training Techniques Dog training is a necessary adjunct to keepingdogs aspets. This gives you peace of mind that not only will you fix the problems quickly, but it will stay fixed Choose an area where Bark Busters Provides Training: B. While dogs can be trained for complex behaviors, such as rescue work,circus acts, or medical diagnosis, there are certain elements of training that almost all dogs can learn, to the benefit of both dog and master. This article assumes that the dog's owner also referred to by different people as the dog'smaster, guardian, or handler is the person
training the dog.



Author's Resource:

Jacob L. love to write article on different topics. You may find more information from here Dog Training and Dog Training Techniques

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Dog Obedience Training - Clicker Training

By : GreenDog
Clicker Training

Dog obedience training is one essential requirement that every dog owner should consider when taking care of a pet. Because dogs behave differently under different circumstances, it is important for them to be taught the proper behavior. Dog obedience training gives the owner the ability to communicate effectively with the dog, so the dog is able to understand what is required of him to do, or how he should properly behave.

A lot of times, trying to house train a dog can be an arduous task, especially when you are unequipped or uninformed of how to properly do it. In this regard, many dog owners decide on hiring professional dog trainers to do the job for them. This can be an ideal situation, especially when the owner has a busy schedule, but it can sometimes be costly. Did you know that training your dog is not as difficult as it seems? All you need is patience and dedication to the training, and you will soon be rewarded with a stronger bond between you and your pet. Plus, you no longer have to be concerned about his misbehavior, as your dog will always be at his best.

Many sources describe dog obedience training as falling into two categories, leash training and reward training. Both methods have been widely use by animal experts and trainers over the years, as they are both effective in teaching dogs. Leash training relies on the usage of a leash to allow a dog to understand specific commands. This also lets the dog know how his negative behavior is not acceptable. Reward training, on the other hand, uses treats as a form of reinforcement, for a dog to easily understand what should and should not be done. The clicker training method is one such form of reward training.

What is the clicker training method? In many internet sources, and in terms of animal behavior, this can also be called as operant conditioning. This means that a dog learns to associate a positive act with something he likes, such as the treats or the reward. It is called clicker training because it uses a small handheld device that creates a sound when pressed. Using the clicker is an effective way for a dog to quickly grasp specific commands. Whenever you teach a dog a command, you time it with a click, and when he obeys, you give him the treat.

One of the first exercises to try out with the clicker method is to help the dog accustom the training and treats with the clicking sound. First, you must be in an area where there is minimum distraction for the dog, and have your bag of treats nearby. First, you have to call the dog’s name, if he looks at you, click and give him a treat. Repeat this several times within the next half hour, so the dog quickly associates the click with attention, and a corresponding treat. You can learn more about additional techniques on clicker training that you can practice on your dog.



Author's Resource:

For more information on Dog Training please visit:Dog Obedience Training

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Dog Crate Training

By : rayter
Want to know the do’s and don’ts of crate training your dog? This article will acquaint you with the most effective ways and methods to assist your dog to his new crate.

DO’s
• Slowly get your pup used to his new crate. Don’t push or force him to go inside the crate, instead praise him or give some treats or toys.

• It is fine to get a larger crate if you are not sure which one is the right size. If it is too big for your puppies, you can use divider panel to minimize the space.

• It is advisable to use soft pet bed to cover the surface so your dog will feel more comfortable and your dog will keep coming back to his crate. You may also use crate wear accessories to keep your pet warm and comfy.

• If your pet is out of his cage, find time to supervise him. Supervision will correct your pet’s bad behavior like excessive barking, chewing and eliminating anywhere he wants to.

• Be patient while giving your pet a time to adjust. You must give an enough time for him to get used to the new crate when there is a change to a pet’s habit, At first you may find your pet is nervous in entering but this is normal, day after day you will see some improvements.

DON’Ts
• Leave your dog particularly the puppies in his home all day. No dogs can hold their bowels and bladders over a long period of time. Maintain a regular schedule every few hours for your pet to eliminate. A six week old puppy can hold his bladder about 4 hours.

• Letting your pet go around your house unsupervised. If you see your pet feeling awkward to go inside or outside of the crate, gently guide him.

• Forcefully put your pet inside the crate as a punishment. The crate is made to be your pet’s secured home and not to be associated with punishment.

• Put your pet inside the crate when he has diarrhea and is vomiting. If your pet is sick, the surface of the crate might have some remains of bacteria or worms. Try to adjust on the foods he eats and give him a balance diet. Crate him again when he backs to normal condition.



Author's Resource:

The author is a pet lover connected to a company that provides safe and effective dog crates, dog houses and dog agility equipment at affordable rates.

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How To Housetrain A Yorkshire Terrier

By : Michelle E. Arthur
Housetraining Yorkshire Terriers can be a lot trickier than many people think!

To be successful in housetraining your Yorkshire Terrier, you have to set up a schedule. Your Yorkie isn't going to do that for himself. It takes your effort and monitoring for several weeks to a few months for this to occur, so that your Yorkshire Terrier learns a routine.

You can help your Yorkshire Terrier know when it's the right time to go potty by repeating that routine consistently. When most people wake up, they usually go to the bathroom soon afterwards.

It's no secret that your Yorkie will need the same thing! So do your dog a favor and don't dilly-dally...take your Yorkshire Terrier out as soon as you're up and moving. Just think that she has been holding it all night, and how you might feel if that were you!

This morning potty break should be short. Next, allow your Yorkshire Terrier to eat breakfast as you're getting dressed and ready for the day. Next, take your Yorkie out for a potty break once you've had your breakfast and are ready to go out for the day.

If he's had some time to eat and let the food settle, he'll be ready for elimination before going into the crate or the room where he spends the day. With a puppy, you need to come back for a mid-day potty break and a mid-afternoon break if possible.

If you're at work all day, you need to arrange for a family member or friend to handle those breaks for you. Ensure that whoever does this follows the routine you have created precisely. Ideally, the potty breaks should be short, about 5 to 10 minutes, and should not be confused with play time. You want the Yorkshire Terrier to understand and know the difference between potty and play.

Try to maintain the same housetraining schedule for dinner. So, take your Yorkshire Terrier out the minute you get back. Establish a schedule to feed the Yorkshire Terrier at the same time each day, and try to not go more than thirty minutes off your schedule.

Your goal is to feed your Yorkie early enough in the evening such that he has time for the food to digest and be ready for a potty break before going down for sleep. And you'll want to follow the same pattern and schedule for housetraining the next day, and the following day, and so on.

As you're housetraining your Yorkshire Terrier, keep notes of the times. You can even create a simple checklist to post on the refrigerator. Then anyone who feeds the Yorkie or takes him for potty breaks can make note of the time. This is helpful in noticing what the Yorkshire Terrier's natural elimination patterns are.

When your Yorkshire Terrier completes his potty break, remember to give him praise and affection. You can offer a Yorkie biscuit, but it's not necessary. He's just as happy with your approval. Instead of the old training methods that punish a Yorkshire Terrier for making a mess in the house, you take the more effective positive approach to show him approval for getting the job done during a scheduled potty break.

Since your Yorkshire Terrier wants you to love him, he will be willing to try his best to please you. Just don't make it difficult. If you're running late and miss his potty break, clean it up and get back on track without scolding him. Your Yorkie depends on you for many things, including staying on target for housetraining. He doesn't want to mess in his space - or in yours - so help him do the right thing by sticking to a schedule.



Author's Resource:

Get free videos on housetraining Yorkshire Terriers produced by acclaimed Yorkie training staff at Ultimate-Yorkie.com.

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How to Build a Wood Dog House

By : rayter
Most dogs adapt well to outdoor living as long as they have access to shelter. They also need to have a good place to escape from the weather, and unless you're willing to let him in the house.

Building a doghouse is a great family project, and may be a good opportunity to involve the kids in a construction project.

Here are some of the tools you need in building a wood dog house:

• Hammer
• Table saw or Circular saw
• Pen or pencil
• Plywood
• Paintbrush
• Hearing Protection
• Drill and Safety glasses.
• Carpenter's square
• Tape measure
• 8' 2x4 (to be cut into 2x2's)
• 4'x8' sheet of 5/8" exterior siding
• 10' 2x4, rated for outdoor use
• Shingles (optional)
• Finishing material (paint or nontoxic wood preservative)
• Nails—16d for base, 8d for house, and short roofing nails if using shingles

The first step you will have to take on this project is consider your dog's habits. For example, some dogs like to sit on top of their wood dog house. If you suspect that this may be the case with your dog, don't put any roll roofing or shingles on the top of the house since they can get hot in the summer sun. Just use an exterior plywood panel, treated with a nontoxic preservative like linseed oil.

The next step is to measure the size of your dog, his or her height sitting up, stretched out, length laying down, and measure his or her width at its widest body part which is its shoulders. When your dog is standing up, measure her from the top of her front shoulder to the ground, tell her to sit and measure her from the top of the head to the ground. Then just add about four inches to these measurements and then you are ready to proceed. Figure out how much and what lumber you will need.

Thick plywood is a suitable choice for the floor, roof and side walls. After you have purchased your materials and measured and cut them, you are now ready to build the dog house.
Insulate the doghouse. A wood dog house should protect your animal from the elements and keep him warm. Use weatherproof plywood exterior panels to build the outside walls. Then insulate the ceiling, floor, walls with 1.5 inch Styrofoam sheets.

You may also want to paint your doghouse with black or white color. If you live in a cold climate, paint the doghouse black. Black doghouses absorb heat and stay warmer. But if you live in a warm climate, paint the doghouse white. The color white reflects heat, keeping the doghouse cool.

Outdoor living is not for every dog. If your dog is old and has lived inside your house for a number of years, it will not adjust to living outside, even with a doghouse. Acclimatize your dog to outdoor living when it is young and the weather is warm. And once your dog starts sleeping in a doghouse, she should stay there. Don't bring her into your house on some nights and leave her in the doghouse on others because then she will never fully adjust to outdoor living.



Author's Resource:

The author is a pet lover connected to a company that provides a wide variety of wood dog house products, dog proof fencing and dog pens at affordable rates.

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The Easy Way To Potty Train Your Older Pug Dog

By: Michelle E. Arthur
If you've ever come home and found that your mature, always-housetrained Pug has just left you a big mess to clean up, you're not alone. "Whoa!" you might say.

The possible alternative, such as a defrosting refrigerator, leaky water pipes, or a spilled cup of coffee give way to the awful truth; he actually sees the loyal household Pug in the act of soiling inside the house.

Many people simply kick their older Pug outside when this happens to them. That's not the best advice though, and there can often be a negative impact on an older Pug when this happens. That's because it's usually a medical problem that's causing this behavior, and something that needs to be treated rather than overlooked.

Medical problems are the cause for the majority of problems that we've seen with mature Pug dogs having accidents in the house. It's key that you get to the bottom of the problem before you can move forward with the proper plan to solve the problems, so don't be too hasty.

It's common knowledge among many dog owners know that the aging process of their Pug will present with poor vision and hearing. In addition, it's typical for there to be signs of arthritis, decreased appetite, and more frequent naps or longer sleep periods. But what's surprising to many owners is that potty training is one of the most common signs of aging!

Since this is not widely known, it's understandable that Pug owners think that his Pug has forgotten potty training, is not as smart as previously thought, is lazy, or has turned into a sneaky little dog. The truth is that this behavior is more likely the first sign of the inevitable aging process. In fact, as your Pug gets older, the muscles of the bladder gradually lose their control, much like older human experience.

In the male, the aging process can also cause the prostate gland to enlarge, and this will produce an inflammation which will cause him to urinate often. Kidney diseases occurs in about 76% of Pugs over eight years of age. When a Pug ages, there is a gradual degeneration of kidney tissue with a weakening of the kidney function.

The older Pug should drink at least twice the amount of water than a younger Pug since the older Pug's kidneys will require it. Naturally, this will involve more frequent urination, thus more trips to the bathroom.

Where the middle-aged Pug would have required being let out in the morning and once at night, the aging process will require more freedom outdoors. In most cases, the older Pug will try to make his needs known to his owner. However, the owner, who is used to a regular routine, just isn't tuned in to the Pug's new requirement. Then, the old Pug is left with just one alternative. It's just as embarrassing to him as it may be to the owner.

Avoid yelling at your Pug or scolding him, as this will lead to a worsening of the situation and further problems.



Author's Resource:

Looking for Pug training movies, information and step-by-step training? Learn how to house train a Pug quickly and easily by watching these FREE movies.

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My dog is experiencing separation anxiety, help!

By: daniellechua
Separation anxiety in dogs, a common problem and normally this happened when dogs are left alone at home or being apart from their owners. It is a behavior of dislike or fear of being apart from their owner which result in undesirable behavior. Normally, dogs who suffered from separation anxiety will leads to excessive barking problem, chewing or biting, whining or growling, depression or loss of appetite. Dog owners most likely will get headache if their dogs perform destructive behavior.

How to know if your dogs are having separation anxiety?

Dogs that experienced separation anxiety will normally throwing tantrums by showing all the destructive behavior when you are not around. Chewing or biting things in the house and will focus on items that have strong smell of you. Excessive barking when you are around. Peeing or pooping in various locations. You can sense that your dog will greet you wildly and feeling anxious and stress when you arrive home. Some dogs will follow you no matter where you go, getting to stick together with you. Every dog troubled with separation anxiety will respond differently. Some will only employ a single destructive behavior while the other while engages several severe damaging behaviors.

Foremost, they will not feel guilty for destroying items in the house. They are doing all these to get attention from you and behave destructively to revenge you for leaving them alone.

Normally, dog owners who get back from the holiday or business trip will get headache due to their dog's destructive behavior. There are some methods that can help you to treat the consequences of your dog separation anxiety problem.

First thing that you must do to prevent or stop separation anxiety in your dog, reconstruct the relation build between both of you. Do not let your dog to be over attaching to you, as he will be following you no matter where you go. Start to keep them staying apart from you. Try not to let them to be so near with you while keeping a distance from you. Reward them when they successful to keep a distance from you.

Plan your departure ahead. Start the training before your vacation start. Train your dog to be apart from you from short period of time (15-30minutes). Every time you are being apart from him, dog starts to feel stress and later on develop to anxiety problem. So, before any anxiety feeling develop you will be home to stop it. As time goes by, they will start to adapt to the situation.

You will need to rebuild the way you interact with your dog every time when you leave or reach home. Try to maintain your arrival or leaving to be as low profile as possible. Do not let your dog to get excited or overwhelmed when you back home. Just ignore them for 15 minutes by not giving them any attention when you reach home or try to occupy yourself with some other thing in order to neglect him. You can also get him tired before you leave home or pass him a toy when you are leaving in order to avoid boredom when you are not around.

Lastly, you could vary your departure habit cues. This will help to diminish the cues that you give him when you are leaving home. Example, you will always put on coat, shoe and taking your handbag before leaving home. Every time you perform these actions, he understands you are leaving. Try to repeat this habit but stay at home. And make him confuse. Getting him to understand that you are not necessary to leave home when perform such action. Try not to give him any cues that you are leaving home.

Separation anxiety is a serious issue that occurred in many household. Serious anxiety issue in your problem will contribute to severe health issue.



Author's Resource:

www.dogcareschool.com

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7 Habits of Highly Effective Dog Owners

By: Eric Letendre
One of my favorite things to do is to read. I read books on everything. I read books on dogs, relationships, psychology, fiction, and business.

One book that I read a few years back was “7 Habits Of Highly Effective People,” by Steven Covey. I personally thought the book was okay but I loved the title.

I always thought that a great title for a book would be “7 Habits Of Highly Effective Dog Owners.” I thought that it would be a great title because I have worked with dog owners that were highly effective dog owners and all of them followed the same basic steps.

In fact, for years I have been teaching that…

In Order To Have A Good Dog Your Have To Learn To Be A Good Dog Owner.

On Saturday I got to work with a great little lab puppy. He was a lot of fun to work with. The owners, who I have known for a long time (I helped them train their last dog who recently passed away) are perfect examples of this principle.

Here are the seven habits all good dog owners have in common:

1. Training

All great dog owners spend some time training their dogs. Training is the best way to communicate with your dog. Your dog has no idea that they are not supposed to pull on leash, to not jump on guests, or to come back when you call them.

2. Exercise

Our dogs spend a lot of time waiting around for us. We go off to work, we're busy, we have appointments to keep, and our dogs are just hanging out waiting for us to do something with them.

Dogs are extremely social and want to interact with us. Every dog needs two forms of exercise - mental and physical.

3. Good food

Not all dog foods are created equal. Feeding your dog a good diet is very important. Look at some of the labels on dog food. Some of them are loaded with chemicals, dyes, sugar and low grade products.

Just last night I had my niece and nephews over for dinner. Just spending a few hours with them I could see the effect food had on their behavior. The same holds true with dogs. A poor diet can result in bad behavior and poor health.

4. Leadership

Dogs are social pack animals. They survive by living together in packs. In order for that pack to survive they need to develop a social structure with a leader. When you dog comes into the house, you need to become the pack leader.

By becoming the pack leader your dog will know where they fit in. Becoming the pack leader does not mean that you have to be forceful. It simply means that you need to control the activities that are important to your dog which are sleeping, eating, playing, and social contact.

5. Play

Dogs live to play. Ever watch a group of puppies together? It is one of my favorite things to do. A group of puppies will jump, run, tug, and have a great time together. Playing with your dog is a great way to exercise and bond with your dog. It will also fulfill an important need in your dog.

6. Management

Good management skills are crucial. When a dog is young they usually get into a lot of trouble by chewing, stealing, jumping, etc. The owner, as the leader and teacher, needs to manage the dog's behavior when they are young. As the dog gets older and learns how to live with us humans, we do not need to manage as much.

7. Patience

Some of the best dog owners I know are the ones who are patient. Having a dog, especially a young one, can be very trying.

Follow these steps and you’ll be a highly effective dog owner.



Author's Resource:

How important is a well trained dog worth to you? Do you want your dog to stop jumping, come when called, walk on leash and more? Eric Letendre created the ultimate, easy to follow dog training ebook "101 Ways To Improve Your Dog's Behavior." Complete with dog training videos, step by step instructions and more. Best of all you can get it free! Get it here => amazingdogtrainingman.com

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Halter Training Your Dog

By : John Neyman Jr.
One of the easiest training lessons you will ever encounter is halter training. Why is this? It is because your dog already knows the basics of how to function on a collar and leash system and walking is within their natural range of movement. Thus, you are not asking the dog to do anything outside of its normal field of activity. All you are doing is putting an extension on the collar and leash, which allows for more control of the animal.

So to begin the discussion, what is a halter? A halter in its simplest of forms is no more than an extended collar which has a secondary collar that encircles the animal’s upper torso just behind the front legs. There is a D-loop on the back for the attachment of a leash and the whole attachment usually buckles in the front. The halter is useful in stopping disagreeable behaviors and provides more control for the handler without wrenching the animal’s neck to achieve this goal.

To halter train your dog, you must first get your dog used to the apparatus. Let them explore it, sniff it and generally just look it over and become comfortable with it. This will put the dog at ease that this is not some new form of torture that you have devised and the dog will be more willing not to resist in the next step of training, which is placing the halter on the dog.

Most often halters are placed on the dog by slipping the collar portion over the head and then wrapping the torso section around the dog just behind the front legs. Many systems use a metal buckle or even a plastic snap connector of the type common amongst backpackers which joins the pieces together thus forming two loops, one around the neck and the other around the torso, with a connecting piece in between. The D-loop would then be positioned on the dogs back so affixing a leash is no major task. There are variations on this system however so read the manufacturers instructions on your particular model so as to avoid injury to yourself or your pet.

Now that we have the halter on your pet, the hard part is over. Now you get to have some fun praising your pet for cooperating so well and rewarding them. Also give them a few minutes to explore the new sensation of the halter without the leash while rewarding them for not trying to remove it. The rewards will help with the next part of the training as well, which is getting them to walk while on a halter and leash system. My favorite method for this is to find an assistant who can walk a few feet in front of the animal and myself and offer some kind of treat to the dog, be it food or a favorite toy. The dog quickly learns that the harness is not restrictive and will follow the treats. Walk with your pet and allow them to sense that this device is not an encroachment on their freedom. If the dog begins to pull you along, say no and stand in one place just as in leash training. This will teach the dog that, while the halter does not impede their normal movements, there are limits to what they are allowed. In no time at all, you should have a pet that will happily be haltered and be ready to walk at your side rather than pulling you along over hill and vale.

The halter also has the added advantage of being a good handle should you need more control of a situation such as when aggressive behaviors are displayed. There is a simple technique to deal with this and avoid injuries to your pet or yourself. If you encounter a situation where you think aggression may be an issue quickly take in all slack on the leash and grab the harness between the collar and the torso loop. By pulling back on this section, you will raise your dog’s front legs off the ground and distract them from their aggressive behavior. In smaller dogs, it is possible to lift the dog completely free of danger in this manner.



Author's Resource:

John E. Neyman, Jr. is a Pastor, an internet marketer, a counselor, life coach. www.dogsareforever.com/

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TEACHING OLD DOGS NEW TRICKS

By: John Neyman Jr.
Common knowledge and witticism tells a person that old dogs are incapable of learning new behaviors as is often bespoken in the adage, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. Despite the numbers of people who would proclaim this decree to be solid truth, we are here to tell you that it nowhere near the being an accurate description of the truth. While it is a little more difficult for an older dog to be trained, it is entirely within the realm of possibility if one uses patience and remains consistent in the dog’s lessons throughout the process.

The first step in training an older dog is remembering that this dog has, most likely, already been trained once, be it properly or improperly. The older dog already has preconceived notions as to what acceptable behaviors are and what behaviors are not welcome. If you wish to change one of these behaviors you have to reprogram the dogs thinking process. For instance, a farm dog may have been trained to protect the barnyard and chase stray animals and predators away from the barn. Unfortunately, the dog now lives in your townhouse and thinks your cat is its mortal enemy. We have to reprogram the dogs thinking to make it understand that chasing the cat is not acceptable. So how would we handle this situation?

To start, make certain that the cat will be safe by placing the cat in a pet carrier or some other sturdy structure that prohibits the dog from actually physically contacting the animal but still allows for both animals to see, smell and hear each other. This provides a way for both animals to acclimate to each other in a safe, though possibly a bit stressful, situation. This small step teaches the dog and cat that both are going to have a presence in the home.

After the animals have both calmed a bit give them each a small reward, such as a piece of kibble. Be sure to give the dog lots of verbal praise and affection when it is not barking or trying to get to the cat as this reinforces his good behavior. These rewards are quite important in teaching older dogs as they help to retrain their minds that this behavior is good and is rewarded, thus making them want to repeat the behavior. This will also show the dog that you are accepting of the cat’s presence and you expect him to be accepting of the animal also. Repeat this process several times over the course of a week or so, until both animals seem fairly accustomed to the presence of the other and their aggressions seem to have subsided. At this point, you are ready to move on to the next step.

This step will require an assistant to help with one of the animals. Have the assistant leash the dog and hold him firmly on a very short leash. After instructing the assistant to maintain control of the dog, open the pet carrier and bring the cat out carefully. Your dog will likely move towards the cat so be sure the assistant has him held tightly and be careful not to let the cat panic and escape your grasp. Gradually bring them closer together and let them calmly adapt to each others presence. Repeat this step several times over the next few days and by the end of the week, these two animals should be like old chums.

Through this exercise, we see the basics of teaching an old dog something new. It involves first recognizing the dog’s previous training and then deciding what is applicable and what needs changed. Then reinforcing the good parts of the dog’s behavior with plenty of positive rewards and verbal praise while restricting or redirecting the parts of the behavior you want to stop. We also see that it is necessary to change the behavior in small steps rather than a complete change all at one time. This serves to help the older dog by not confusing him totally. With small steps the animal feels that it is learning new tricks rather than a complete behavior modification. This also allows you to spot trouble before it grows to large to handle. It also is essential to exercise patience and be consistent so that you may indeed teach your old dog some brand new tricks.




Author's Resource:

John E. Neyman, Jr. is a Pastor, an internet marketer, a counselor, life coach. www.dogsareforever.com/

Visit Animal Pets & Friends for more pet and animal articles.

California Dog Bite Laws

By: Arnold Hernandez


In California all dog owners are liable for their dogs actions that cause injury. The owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place, or in a private place. The victim has to have a right to be in the private place. It could be by implied invitation or expressed invitation. The owner of the dog is liable even if the dog bites on the owner's property. It does not matter if the owner new or should have known the dog was vicious or not. A person is considered to be lawfully upon the private property when he is on the property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him by the laws of the State of California or by the laws or postal regulations of the United States, and also when the person on the private property on invitation from the property owner, the invitation could be expressed or implied.



Someone breaking into a private home and bitten by a dog would not have a cause of action under strict liability. If your dog rushes out and bites someone knocking on your door or if your dog bites someone that is there for the purpose of converting you to their religion or perhaps someone that is trying to sell you a subscription to a nonexistent magazine, then they would have a cause of action, because of implied invitation. If you happen to have a fence that is locked or just closed and with a sign advising that no one is invited implied or expressly then you are unlikely to be liable, but exceptions to this rule also apply, such as when you put a playground that children can see and is very inviting to children.



Under the California law if you are bitten in a place where you have a right to be, you automatically win on liability, and it is only a matter of proving damages. If you are bitten after ignoring a sign that says no invitation is made to enter my property expressly or impliedly then a different standard applies. The standard is one of negligence, was the owner's conduct reasonable. Training an attack dog to attack any human being upon entering the property is probably not reasonable, even if the dog is supposed to be a guard dog. There is also the mail man exception, the mail man has to drop off the owner's mail and if bitten would have a lawsuit against the dog owner, regardless of whether there is a sign or not, these exceptions are probably the same throughout the country.



The best way to avoid liability if you own a dog might be to put up a sign that says, one that says there is no implied invitation to this property, keep out, all others in consideration for entering this property you assume the risk of getting bitten by a dog or something similar. It would not eliminate the risk of liability for a dog biting a human being, especially if it is at night and there is no light on the sign, but otherwise if the sign can be read, it would help minimize or eliminate the risk of liability. The more reasonable the owners conduct the smaller the risk. If you order a dog to attack and the dog happens to be particularly aggressive and it kills. The dog may be considered a weapon, not much different than shooting a gun. It all comes to reasonableness on the part of the owner.



Unlike most car accidents a dog bite or dog attack is a special kind of personal injury claim for insurance companies. It is a type of claim that is not evaluated by a computer. The types of damages that are pursued are often for pain, suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, loss or earnings, reasonable and necessary medical expenses, and future medical treatment. If the dog attack while the victim was doing something illegal, it is unlikely that a lawsuit can be maintained, but if not then these damages can be pursued.



California law states that a person cannot bring a lawsuit when a bite occurs if the dog is a military dog or police dog and the person bitten was annoying, harassing, or provoking the dog and the dog was defending itself. Also, a person cannot bring a lawsuit against a dogs used by the police or military, if the military dog or police dog was assisting an employee of the agency in apprehension or holding of a suspect where the employee has reasonable suspicion of the suspect's involvement in criminal activity. There is no real clear line as to what reasonable suspicion means. No lawsuits are permitted when the military or dog is assisting an employee of the agency in investigation of a crime or possible crime, in the execution of a warrant, and in the defense of a peace officer or another person.



Exceptions apply to military and police dogs as well. If the person bitten by a military or police dog is not a party to, nor a participant in, nor suspected to be a party to or a participant in, the act or acts that prompted the use of the dog in the military or police work, then the person is allowed to bring a lawsuit. When passing by a police dog caution is advised, because it is not unusual for passer-bys or bystanders to get bitten by a poorly trained dogs.



The police and military exception also has special requirements, for the police and military dog exception to apply the agency must also have adopted a written policy on the necessary and appropriate use of a dog for the type of work the dog is to do.



Once the dog bites, the law imposes additional duties, if a dog bites a human being, the owner of the dog is required to take steps to remove the danger of a bite from the same dog on another person.



Once the dog bites twice, any person, the DA, or city attorney can bring an action in court to determine if the confinement and treatment of the dog is sufficient to keep it out of danger to other persons. The court has the power, after hearing, to order that remove the dog from where it is confined, or even to destroy it if necessary.



A different standard applies when the dog has been trained to fight. If the dog has been trained to fight then only one bite is required for any person, the district attorney, or city attorney to bring an action in court to determine if the dog's confinement is sufficient to keep the dog from biting another human being. Once again after hearing the court has the power to prevent the reoccurence of a bite, by removal of the dog from the area or destruction if necessary.



Unlike some states, in California there are no free bites. If the dog bites a human being, there is liability for personal injury, unless there some sort of exception such as a police dog or military dog exception.


Author Resource:->  For a North San Diego County Attorney visit the authors website.

Attorney Arnold Hernandez. Lawyer, overtime,personal injury, car accident, dog bite, and wrongful death, Escondido, San Marcos, Vista, Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas


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