Choosing the Right Dog Toys For Your Dog

By Lydia Quinn
Dogs and puppies love dog toys, but how do you know what toy is right for your dog? With so many choices available, from plush toys, to tennis balls, to rubber toys, the right choice isn't always obvious.

First, consider the size of your dog. A large dog certainly requires a different toy than a small dog, for instance. One of the most important points to consider is that all toys you buy should be of a size that your dog can't swallow. Even large dogs may accidentally swallow a ball that is too small for their mouth, especially if the dog is running and playing with the ball in it's mouth.

Another point to consider is how rough your dog plays and it's energy level. Is he or she a real strong chewer? Then stronger, more dense toys will be needed. Or does the dog simply like to cuddle with a toy? Then a soft, plush doll type of toy would be the answer.

Safety should be your first concern when choosing dog toys. Read the label carefully. What is the toy made from? Are some parts toxic? Sometimes, inner parts of dog toys are made of toxic materials, so it's important that you keep an eye on the dog while playing with this type of toy. If the toy falls apart or is chewed apart, you need to take the toy away and throw it in the trash.

If you're in the habit of leaving your dog for long periods each day, consider a toy which will involve activity for your dog, such as a toy that bounces funny, makes noises or has a treat hidden inside. These toys will keep your dog occupied while you're not at home.

When you give your dog a new toy, make sure to remove any labels, price tags, bows, ribbons or packaging. These can cause your dog to choke.

Often, the simplest toys will keep your dog the most occupied and happy. Consider a thick, strong rope that's tied into a knot on one end. Dogs can spend hours trying to unravel this type of toy.

You'll also want to rotate your dog toys, for instance, if you give your dog some new toys for Christmas, then put the old, summer toys away for a while. Variety is good for your dog and rotating toys will help to keep their attention.

Rubber toys are good choices for dogs, they tend to last a long time, resist damage and resist bacteria and have a bounce that can keep a dog's attention for longer periods of time. Watch out though, as a strong chewer can break off a piece of rubber and they can choke on it. Once a rubber toy has broken apart, throw it away.

Take the time to inspect your dog's toys once in a while, and throw away any that look too dirty or that look like they may be falling apart. It's also a good idea to wash your dog's toys in a mild dishwashing soap when you can.

Lydia Quinn writes for KnineTraining.com, offering a dog training toolkit and free gourmet dog treats recipe book for instant download. Visit us at: http://www.kninetraining.com/

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Training Your Pug

By Ryan And Sabrina Konecky
It's been unseasonably warm here recently. It's been warm enough to sleep with the windows open and enjoy some fresh air while we sleep... that is until we hear it... "YIP! YIP! YIP!"

Our neighbors brought home a new dog recently. Unfortunately for us, they don't know how to train it and, as a result, they keep it outside at nights. It's very difficult to sleep when you have a "yippy" dog living next to you. Their bark just seems to pierce through the walls and into your head! But, I'll spare you the sleep-deprived rant.

What our neighbors don't understand is that, with a little training -- good training, the right training -- they could be able to keep their dog in the house at all times and enjoy him/her more. A well-trained dog makes dog-ownership so much more enjoyable for both the owner and the dog.

In the process of training Sierra, we learned a lot of lessons that, had we learned them before we brought her home, would have made her training a lot smoother!

Pugs, like kids, have a very short attention span. It's important to work with them in short but frequent sessions. If you use a favorite toy or, even better, TREATS in with the training, you'll keep their interest a bit longer.

A pug is all about fun. If you're working on training your pug to go outside to potty and simply command them to "GO OUT!", you probably won't like the results (or the look) that you get. If you get excited about what you're telling them to do, they'll.

One of the mistakes that we made was only using the "COME" command when Sierra was in trouble. We wondered why she would never come when we wanted her to. Then we found out that to Sierra "COME" meant, "get over here so we can scold you" -- we really only used it when she was doing something she wasn't supposed to.

Training your pug -- or any dog for that matter -- involves us changing what we do more than it involves changing what our pug does. If we can learn the right way to train our pug, we can enjoy the stronger bond that develops.

Ryan and Sabrina are the very proud and passionate owners of a pug named Sierra. More pug training tips and resources can be found on their site at http://www.SierraThePug.com.

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The Top Ten Dog Obedience Tips

By Lisa Nobles
A new puppy is a wonderful addition to any household. They provide love, and hours of enjoyment and happiness. However, they can often come with some early teething problems. There's barking, potty training, chewing, and many more hurdles to overcome.

Be prepared, a new puppy does not come trained, so you will have to be the one to put your dog through some obedience training.

This article gives you the top 10 dog obedience tips on how to get your puppy trained and under control. Save yourself some time and frustration and read these tips. Put them to the test with your new puppy!

1. Use Praise and Correction effectively- If your new puppy does something right, give it praise- a pat or a snack. If your dog does something bad, make sure they know it. Don't abuse them though.

2. Repetition is needed- Your puppy is not going to learn something straight away. You need to exercise repetition of commands for each thing you want your puppy to be able to do.

3. Don't offer conflicting signals- You need to ensure that all people in your house offer the same signals for the same actions and treat your new puppy in the same way. Conflicting signals are only going to confuse your new dog.

4. Don't punish a dog if you haven't taught it something- Going on from the tip mentioned above, don't punish your dog if you haven't taught it how to do something. This is just confusing for the dog.

5. Have short training sessions- A puppy has a short attention span, so ensure that you keep any obedience training sessions short and sharp.

6. Take your obedience training slowly- Each dog will learn obedience at different speeds. Take your obedience training slowly and do not get frustrated. Your new puppy will pick up on your frustration.

7. Do obedience training with the dog yourself- Dogs are inherently pack animals and they look towards a leader. You need to make sure you are the leader they look towards.

8. Always practice obedience training- You could teach a dog obedience at all times. Teach them to fetch of a morning and sit before you feed them.

9. Only correct your dog if you see them doing something bad- Don't punish your dog if you think it has done something wrong. Only punish your dog is you see it do something wrong and immediately after you see it do something wrong. That way your dog will stop doing things that you don't want them to do.

10. Find out what motivates your dog- Is your dog motivated by doggie treats or is it more motivated by praise? Find out what motivates your dog and use that to help with obedience training.

Dogs are fantastic companions. But, a well trained dog is always better. Use the 10 tips mentioned above and you will be well on your way to having a well trained dog by your side.

Is Fido causing you to pull your hair out? Then stop fighting with your dog and start training your dog instead. Get the tips you need to keep your sanity at http://www.stopbaddogbehavior.com

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How To Get Your Dog To Stop Barking - You Need To Get It Under Control

By Oscar Jones
For someone new to owning a dog being able to handle the excessively loud barking of a new puppy can take its toll and be quite an experience. The majority of new owners are not really ready to cope with the intense amounts of yelping and barking that a perfectly normal puppy will enter in to as soon as it arrives at its new home. Although usual sometimes the puppy will not even give the new owner the pleasure of a quiet night.

Reaction To Fear

One of its biggest hurdles to overcome in its young life will be to get over the fear of being alone. This does not mean being away from you when you leave the house but going "off the deep end" as soon as you isolate them from you i.e. going to a different room. Just remember when and where you got your puppy from. They are used to being surrounded by their brothers and sisters and having their mum there all the while.

How Do You Deal With The Barking Problem?

If you decide that you are going to go running to your puppy as soon as its starts to cry and/or bark then you are in affect training a reaction. Unfortunately what you are training and rewarding is the behavior of barking/crying and you end up with a spoiled dog. Alternatively you can jst leave your puppy until it cant physically bark anymore, in which case the rest of your family will probably have something to say about it!!

Do you feel as if you are therefore in a no win situation? Well, don't panic I do have some useful tips on how to get your dog to stop barking:

No. 1. First thing you should try is to try and ignore your puppy's action(s) i.e. barking, if you can. Don't be tempted to keep shouted "quiet" are anything harsher as this will just scare him/her, the puppy will not want to then come near you, anxiety levels will increase and, you guessed it, the barking will increase.

No. 2. You can try using a "teaching lead". This is a product which will allow your puppy to be around you all the while whilst in the house. Using this type of tool will give your puppy some independence while keeping you close enough to not build anxiety.

No. 3. If, as invariably you will, you have to go out, try to ensure that you are not gone too long. I totally understand that on leaving the house you will want to cuddle your cute puppy and say goodbye but bewarned, this will only go towards creating stress within your new little friend as it will begin to associate this type of behavior with you about to leave the house. If you think about this it will make sense to you.

No. 4. There are various different training aids which can be used to quiten your puppy when barking. A quick jet of water, or a streaming spray can do the trick if used immediately when barking commences. Using a tin filled up with metallic objects can be used to make a startling noise if barking commences as you leave your puppy's side. It will probably make them jump and divert their attention from the action of barking.

I hope you found these quick tips of use and you will be able to utilise one or all in your training regime. For further information on all aspects of training you can visit my blog at The Dog Advice Zone

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Choosing Natural Dog Food - Four Tips

By Kim Fleming
There has been an increasing number of concerns and criticisms over a good number of commercially sold dog food. Because of such, many people have turned to feed their pet with natural dog food. In this writing, I am about to show you some important tips in choosing natural food for your dog.

* Understand Your Dog and His Food Needs

The first thing you have to remember is that natural dog food comes in many forms. Natural may mean feeding your dog raw meat and vegetables, cooked meat and vegetables or commercially sold natural food. You have to find out which one is best for your dog.

Not all dogs are same. Their nutritional requirements vary dependent on their different breeds and specific health conditions. You should always observe your dog's behavior and health condition, especially after changes in food. Consult your veterinarian with your observation and ask for his advice.

* Prepare Food for Your Dog

Some dog owners like to prepare natural dog food for their pets. This is a very good idea, but, to do this, you should have very good knowledge of what your dog exactly needs and with what quantity to feed him. Some people feed their dogs with raw meat, and others prefer cooked meat and vegetables as heating will kill most bacteria in the food.

Another thing to keep in mind is that many human foods are not suitable for dogs. For example, chocolates, raisins, mushrooms and onions are either dangerous or even toxic to dogs and should be on your "to avoid" list. You can make up your own list, though, with some research and observation. Compared to self-prepared food, commercially sold natural dog food is probably a safer choice.

* Check What is On the Labels

When shopping dog food, you should always read the labels just like what you do with human foods. Pay close attention to its ingredients. Fillers like wheat and corn, artificial coloring and flavoring, animal and plant by-products, and artificial preservatives should never appear in natural dog food. These synthetic ingredients are very likely to lead to gastrointestinal problems, malnutrition and behavioral changes in dogs.

* Get Enough Proteins and Nutrients for Your Dog

Dogs were built to be carnivorous so the bulk of their diet should remain protein-rich. The protein sources however should never be low-grade meat by-products. Your dog should be fed high quality lean meat and poultry.

Apart from protein, vitamins and minerals are also essential nutrients that should be found in natural dog food. You may choose to buy foods with fortified nutrients, or may feed your dog with vitamin-rich foods, such as squash, beans and peas.

If you are serious about keeping your dog healthy and happy, be sure to read more about natural dog food from our site. You may also like to check more about dog food from our dedicated section if you would like to dig further.

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