Wednesday, April 23, 2008

How to house train a dog

by: JoleneOh
Training your dog should be fun, awesome, and enlightening for both you and your dog. Dog ownership does take times, brain power (not muscle power), and money, but the benefits are enormous in terms of the relationship you will have with your chosen "best friend." Here are some dog training tips that would make your dog training a successful one.

1. The optimum sessions are three to five minutes in length, three to five times per day, working on only tow or three behaviors each time.

2. In the beginning stages, be sure you don't use the dog's name to get him to look at you, say his name after he looks at you. After a day or two, you should start to see the dog get whiplash looking at you when you say his name.

3. Be always keeping an eye on your dog and heeding the multitude of signals he's giving you about his emotional state, you can avoid potential problems.

4. If the dog does something great, reinforce within a half second. If the dog does something less than desirable, wait for a full five to ten seconds after he stops doing the unwanted behavior, redirect to a better behavior, and then reinforce.

5. Repeat the process often. Dogs retain knowledge through repetitive training and can forget commands or required behavior if you train them only sporadically. To guarantee that your dog is well trained and obedient, work with her on a continuous basis. Repeat the steps of giving a command, marking the response, rewarding the behavior and releasing her.

About the Author
Be Sure to Check Out On how to train a dog the easiest way at http://www.squidoo.com/sit-stay-fetch, a website that specializes in providing resources on the best way to correct bad dog behavior.

Transport Dog Crates and Air Travel

by: GeraldineDimarco
It is not ideal to travel by air with your dog, but sometimes there is no other option. You'll need to consider transport dog crates, and the key is to make the trip as stress free for your dog as you can.

You've probably heard about dogs becoming injured, lost or even of dogs dying when traveling by airplane. The majority of dog air trips are free from complications of any kind, but you do not want to take any risks when transporting your dog by airplane. Preparation is therefore very important.

Before buying your airline tickets or selecting your transport dog crate, you should call the airline and find out their current rules and regulations in relation to pet travel. The general rules relating to pet travel, governed by federal regulations, state that your dog should be no less than 8 weeks old and have been weaned for no less than 5 days before the date of travel.

Small dogs (under 15 pounds) may be able to fit inside small transport dog crates or small pet carriers that will fit under your seat, if you are travelling with your dog. But large dogs must travel in the cargo section of the plane, which has no heat and no air-conditioning. This can be very uncomfortable and scary for your dog.

Some steps you can take to provide your dog with a stress-free airplane trip:

- stop-overs and transfers extend the journey for your dog, so opt for a direct flight wherever you can.

- find out about any delays in your flight schedule before you leave for the airport. You can confirm your flight the day before but it's also a good idea to call the airport just before you are due to leave as well, to double check whether the flight is scheduled to take off on time.

- take your dog for a walk shortly before you leave for the airport.

- check with your vet as to feeding recommendations for your dog. Most vets will recommend that your dog travel on an empty stomach. For long flights, your dog will need to be fed, and your vet will advise you what is appropriate, taking into account your dog's age, size and regular diet.

- ensure that plenty of water will be available to your dog during the flight to prevent dehydration.

- it's good practise to plan to arrive early at the airport. This is especially important when you're traveling with a pet, as there are more things that can hold you up.

- if you are leaving from a destination that's close to the airport, make sure your dog is given an opportunity to toilet just before you leave. If you are a distance from the airport, wait until you arrive at the airport before toileting your dog. Either way, it's important that your dog has a toilet opportunity to avoid accidents in the transport dog crate during the trip.

- get ready for your flight before you leave for the airport. Take magazines or reading material and activities for your kids with you so you don't need to spend time shopping at the airport. It's important that you spend all the time you can prior to boarding the plane with your dog. If possible, put your dog into the transport dog crate yourself (as opposed to airport staff doing this) and if it's allowed, take your dog to the gate yourself as well.

- tell your flight attendant as soon as you board the plane that you have a dog in the cargo area.

- make your way to the baggage area as soon as possible after landing, to meet your dog.

About the Author
If you need transport dog crates, you can obtain further info in relation to dog transport and stylish pet carriers at HealthierDogs.com

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