Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Dog Training - The Down Command

By John Williams
This command is a very useful command and is relatively easy to teach your dog. After learning the sit command, this command should be a breeze for you. Getting your dog to be able to lie down and wait while you go into a shop or walk away is a very useful command and is also key to gaining trust and a good relationship with your dog.

This command should be firstly taught indoors or in a comfortable place your dog is used to learning and doing commands for you, and then as time goes on and your dog gets better at achieving success with the command, you should take it into a public place with lots of interests and new smells to distract them. This should test the strength and commitment your dog has for the down command.

To start, make sure your dog is in the mood for training and preferably in a hungry and wanting mood where they will be more than happy to please you if it means they get a treat, just before meal times is generally a good time for training and will help the progress of your dog.

When you are ready to begin and you have your dogs treats to-hand, start by getting your dog to sit for you, followed by a reward .Then let your dog know you have another treat in your hand for him and slowly lower it in front of him, going lower and lower, as the treat gets lowered closer to the ground your dog will be forced into the down position with their belly firmly on the floor and paws ahead of them.

As soon as your dogs belly touches the floor, the command 'down' should be said and you should reward them with praise, encouragement and the treat you used. This makes the dog associate the command with the action and the action with a reward to help your dog training process.

If your dog steps out of line during the training exercise, gently punish them accordingly. After you have learnt this command and you now think you're ready for the next step, try taking your dog into a distracting place or area, or playing with their ball around them. When you have your dog under control at all times using the down command it is time to move on to more advanced dog training and you have now got a new trick to show your friends and family.



About the author:
John Williams website owner

For more information on dog behavior training visit the dog-behavior-training.co.uk website at this link...Dog Training.

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What Are The Benefits Of Training Your Golden Retriever Correctly?

By John Philips philips
Training your Golden Retriever is not just about schooling him in the skills of coming to heel, sit or rollover. Although training your dog is a necessary requirement, it should be fun, fulfilling and rewarding, both for you and your dog and an activity that benefits and includes every family member. Essentially house training your Golden Retriever is important for your sanity and sanitation.

It can take a lot of time and patience to properly train a Golden Retriever, especially in the early days when several training sessions a day are essential. Dogs learn at different speeds according to their level of ability, but on a positive note Golden Retrievers are one of the more receptive breeds. Like all breeds, however they respond more quickly and more reliably to positive incentives rather than to fear or punishment. Training your Golden Retriever is more than just an exercise in learning and understanding for a dog.

Obedience training for your Golden Retriever is the best way to keep both you and your dog happy and should not be optional. Done correctly, it will build your relationship and bring about a change in character within any dog, which eliminates nearly all behavioural problems. Although it can get frustrating in the early days you should always carry out the training with a positive attitude and reward your dog when he gets something right rather than punishing him for forgetting.

A Golden Retriever, especially a puppy, will develop his own schedule and behaviour if left unsupervised. Use verbal reprimands instead of punishment and reward good behaviour with lavish praise. Severe punishment tactics can actually cause behavioural problems in itself and in many cases bring about the opposite behaviour than what you are trying to achieve, even compounding existing ones. Using positive methods to define behaviour is fun for you and your Golden Retriever and if he is clear about where he stands and his function within the group will have no behaviour problems.

If you feel that training you Golden Retriever is beyond you a dog trainer maybe the answer. Searching for a reputable dog trainer can seem difficult, but the first place to explore would be your kennel or veterinarian’s office. The first obvious skill to look for in a trainer is knowledge, but additionally successful trainers must have commitment, patience, and flexibility. Experience gained through the amount of different dogs he has had through his hands is also very important. He must be discerning, enthusiastic, and comfortable around dogs and most of all is able to relate to people, as well as dogs, in a class or one to one environment.

By using a professional dog trainer you will actually see and hear the correct way of housetraining and handling your dog directly from somebody who is experienced in the task. Bear in mind that most dog trainers, especially a problem dog trainer spend most of their time training the owners, so be prepared for this.

Golden Retrievers, like all dogs, do not understand the spoken language unless it's paired consistently with something meaningful to them, but they are effected by your emotions even when they don’t understand them. Be consistent in your commands and keep in mind your enthusiastic praise is the best training tool you have and will help him understand. The dog must understand that it is the bad behaviour that you don't like, not the dog itself.

A well trained Golden Retriever will give you years of pleasure and loyalty. However, when examined closely you will discover that you as the teacher will gain even more from this relationship with your canine pupil.

About the author:
More information can be gathered about Golden Retrievers by visiting Golden-Retriever-Facts.com a popular website with tips and advice on how to care for your family pet.

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If you love your pet then get it a dog health insurance

By Robert Scott
Dog owners are a different class of people altogether and if you own a dog you will nod your head to this statement. Dog owners treat their pets as their children and at times, the pets are given far more attention than we give to our kids. We can talk in doggie language and know exactly what is on our dog’s mind when he stares at us at the dining table with those soulful eyes. Dog owners are the only people on this earth who will laugh to see their morning paper torn to shreds by an adorable puppy and if your dog hides your socks while you are getting late for an early morning meeting, only a dog owner will find it amusing. So, since we love our pets so much and obviously our world revolves around them, it is only natural that we would want to provide the very best care possible for our beloved pets. Sadly, most of us do not realize the importance of a dog health insurance and the crucial role it plays in a dog’s life.

A dog health insurance is not necessary only when your pet is ill and needs to see a vet, the insurance can come in handy in many other situations as well. Keeping a dog is not just about his food, exercise and cleanliness, it stretches much beyond that. Regular, annual vaccinations, for instance are very important for the dog’s and your family’s health and these vaccinations can cost a tidy amount of money. God forbid, if your dog falls seriously ill and needs expensive treatment like a kidney transplant, the treatment can cost a fortune and even your best financial planning may not be sufficient. Also regular grooming and visits to the vet for health check ups on a regular basis can make a dent in your pocket if you do not plan ahead for such expenses when you are keeping a dog as a pet. In comparison, if you get a dog health insurance, the premium which you will pay monthly, works out to be much less compared to the costs if you were paying from your own pocket.

Many companies are providing various insurance plans for dog health insurance as well as other pet insurance schemes. It is upto the conscientious owner to select a plan that will fulfill all the requirements of the pet. A little background research and helpful reference form other pet owners or preferably from the vet can help you choose an insurance that is perfect for your pet.

The dog health insurance can provide a suitable cover for many other situations that may arise in your life as a pet owner. For instance, accident coverage, or coverage in case your dog harms a neighbor, etc, are also provided by insurance companies if you select an insurance plan with care. Once you have shortlisted a company and decided on the premiums to be paid, you and your pet can rest easy with the assurance that no matter what, your pet will always be looked after well under any circumstances.



About the author:
Robert Scott is a veterinary doctor and through ages having been dealing in pet insurance. If you want to know more about pet insurance,Pet insurance Online, Dog health insurance , Veterinary pet insurance. you can visit www.insuranceforpets.net


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Help your pet lead a fulfilling life with cheap dog insurance

By Robert Scott
Like all children, even I was very fond of dogs and dreamed of a house full of dogs when I grew up. Now it seems that I am gradually trying to accomplish my dream since we already have three dogs, two Labrador Retrievers and a Beagle who is just three months old. People often wonder as to how one can juggle a house and a job with three dogs thrown in to be looked after and pampered. I tell them that once you come back home from a hard day at work or after you have just finished slogging at home, a welcoming lick form a dog can chase all your worries away. I can see all you dog owners nodding your head vigorously and I know I am right. However, a word of caution, keeping a dog is not just about his food and games and a cheap dog insurance can make life much easy.

I often wonder why people go in for stress relieving therapies when all they need to do is bring home a pet. Life can become very fulfilling if you have dogs around you because of the selfless love and devotion that they shower on you. On the same note, it is also important for pet owners to provide the best care possible for their dogs. Getting cheap dog insurance helps you provide not only for his regular check ups at the vet but also for all sundry expenses that you might have to undertake for your pet. The cheap dog insurance can cover the grooming costs and many other incidental costs that might arise on behalf of your pet.

Unplanned incidents like a pet getting lost or perhaps injuring your neighbor or his property in some manner, can be sufficiently covered by cheap dog insurance. All you need to do is search out a reliable and reputable company that provides such coverage. You could either surf the internet for such websites or even check out the yellow pages to get the information about the right insurance company providing pet insurance for concerned owners. Also, the vet or other pet owners might be one of the best sources to provide good references for the insurance company and you could accordingly approach them for a suitable plan for your dog.

Cheap dog insurance is beneficial for you and your pet in more ways than you thought possible. The obvious advantage is financial. If you compare the insurance premiums payable each month, to the actual expenditure which you would otherwise have to undertake from your own pocket towards your pet you can the huge amount of dollars that you can save. Also the insurance provides coverage for even the most unpredictable and unforeseen circumstances that would have otherwise landed you in a fix. A pet insurance for instance, may even provide for the a circumstance where you need to cancel a holiday in case your pet falls ill. So consider all options and select the best deal that provides the maximum benefits to both you and your beloved pet.


About the author:
Robert Scott is a veterinary doctor and through ages having been dealing in pet insurance. If you want to know more about Pet Insurance,Dog insurance,Pet insurance Online,cheap dog insurance.you can visit www.insuranceforpets.net


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Travel Dangers In Jack Russell Dogs

By Richard Cussons
Traveling with Jack Russell dogs is fun, so fun as long as nothing went wrong. Unluckily, dangers can come along the way despite all the preparations and planning. Dogs not used of traveling can become scared of moving or unfamiliar objects and places. Chances are your Jack Russell dogs might escape through your open windows and doors. So always remember not to leave your car's windows and doors open. Consider traveling with your dog with a seatbelt or with a carrier. This will restrain him from unnecessary movements that are sometimes dangerous for both of you. If you decided to use a carrier, make sure it is large enough for your dog. He should be able to stand, lie or turn around it that carrier. When using seatbelt, position your dog in the middle of the backseat, not in the front seat especially if your car has front seat air bags.

Dogs left in the car can be affected with heatstroke. How much more during summer when the temperature is hotter? Heatstroke, also referred to as sunstroke is a condition wherein the body produces or absorbs more heat than it can dissipate. This usually happens when the body is exposed to too much heat.

A dog must maintain its normal body temperature which is 38.3 to 38.7 degrees Celsius (100.9 to 101.7). A dog with body temperature of 104 to 106 F experiences moderate canine heatstroke exhibits bright red tongue and gums, thick, sticky saliva and rapid panting. With the body temperature of above 106 F, a dog suffers severe canine heatstroke. A dog with canine heatstroke exhibits shock, weakness and/or dizziness, bloody nose as well as bloody vomiting and diarrhea. The dog's liver, kidney, lung, heart or brain can also be affected. Brain may swell and may lead to coma.

To treat heatstroke, take your dog to a cool place then apply ice packs or wet towels to the head, neck and chest. Let him drink cold water but make sure to give him limited amount of it. It is also advisable to let your dog lick ice cubes or even ice cream. During summer, most vets suggest to keep pets indoors to avoid the risk of heatstroke. But if you really do have to travel with your dog under the scourging heat of the sun remember these tips:

· Keep a bottle full of clean drinking water in handy. This will ensure that your dog gets the moisture his body needed. Don't forget to bring his bowl because some dogs won't drink in bottles.
· Never leave your dog unattended inside a parked car. Temperatures can rise and even if the windows are slightly open, your dog is still at risk of heatstroke.

Traveling with your Jack Russell dogs is enjoyable, so enjoyable as long as nothing bad comes along the way. Enjoy the travel! Take these tips...

About the author:
Richard Cussons is not just a writer but also a great lover of dogs. Discover more about Jack Russell Terriers at this site dedicated to Jack Russell dogs.

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