Selecting Dog Houses

By : Jim Brown
If you are a dog owner, then chances are you have wanted to let your dog stay outside at one time, and a dog house makes this possible. A well built dog house is like a well built house for your dog, and it should provide shelter from the elements, be waterproof and sealed well on the outside, and the roof ideally will have real house shingles put on to further provide a weather proof dog house.

The exterior of the house should be sealed against rain, moisture, and wind. This is especially important if you live in the northern climates where winter climates can be bitterly cold. A layer of straw or hay should be spread thickly on the floor of the dog house, and then an old blanket laid over the hay to make a comfortable place to curl up and sleep.

The hay or straw serves two different purposes. The first purpose is to cushion the ground and give the dog a soft and comfortable place to rest. The second purpose of the hay or straw is insulation, and this actually works two ways.

The straw keeps the dog warm and insulates the dog against the cold ground that could pull body heat from the dog. The second insulator is to trap the dog's body heat in the straw and by doing this create a zone of warmed air around the dog nestled into the straw.

It is very important when either buying or making a a dog house that you take into consideration the breed of dog and their expected mature size. If your dog is a puppy but a large breed, make sure you change the openings to allow for growth in the dog until adulthood. You may also want to research your specific breed of dog if it is still a puppy, just to make sure you know how big it is going to get.

When leaving your dog tied up outside in his dog house always make sure that he is securely tied, chained, fastened, or inside a closed fenced in area. This makes sure that your dog and any people around stay safe and out of harms way.

Always make sure that there is fresh food and water right outside the dog house so that your dog can access it. In the winter time be very vigilant about checking the water if your dog is outside in the dog house, as the water can freeze over and your dog can not get water.

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7 Effective Dog Training Tips

By : Kelvin Ho
Many people feel that dog training is a challenge. They try to prepare for the many obstacles they feel lay ahead. The good news is, dog training can be an easy, fun, and positive experience. Just follow these 7 effective dog training tips, and you will see.

1. When training your dog, give him praise when he does it right. When you show your dog that you are happy with his efforts, he will be more inclined to want to please you. As you progress and reach harder milestones, you may want to wait a little longer to give the praise. In the beginning, however, it is good to do it right away.

2. Use treats. After he has worked hard, has done a few tricks, to sit or to lay on command, or has been a good sport, it is fair to reward your dog with a treat. Like people, dogs need incentive to work.

3. Do not yes or hit your dog. This is extremely ineffective and will not produce the results you want. Like people, dogs respond negatively to such abuse, and it will more than likely increase the chances that your dog will rebel. This will only make for a frustrated owner and an angry dog.

4. Be firm but gentle. Give the commands firmly while gently moving your dog into the position that you want him. The firm but gentle tactic shows your dog that you are the boss: but, it also shows that he is loved.

5. Train your dog for a couple of minutes each day: but, do not go for too long as it will overwork the dog and cause him to feel stressed. Like people, dogs need repetition in order to grasp a new concept and can become stressed when overworked. Not to mention, if you work with your dog a couple of minutes a day, this will strengthen your friendship.

6. Help your dog to associate action with command. The way this can be done is as soon as you see your dog sit, say the word sit. Do the same thing if he is lying down. This will help him to know that these certain words are associated with these actions. Do this until he gets the hang of it.

7. Do not pay attention to your dog if he is misbehaving. If you give him attention only when he is running with toilet paper in his mouth, getting in the trash, or causing any other mischief, then this is letting him know that he can get your attention when he is doing something bad.

When you train your dog, this allows your dog to feel safe and secure. Also, when your dog knows you are his leader, this can prove to be a happy environment for both you and your dog!

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