Caring for Dogs with Sensitivity

By Reggie Andersen
A dog has often been referred to as man’s best friend. I would like you to stop right now and ask yourself if you are your dog’s best friend. Is your dog treated like a member of the family or a nuisance that you feed and walk and clean up after? Naturally, the hope is that you are treating him as a member of the family and that you can honestly answer “yes” to the question if you are your dog’s best friend.

It is important that you care for your dog not only physically but emotionally as well. Granted all dogs have very different needs, we have a Llasa Apso who is very high maintenance and demands a lot of attention from us all. I have seen other dogs that would prefer that you leave them alone unless they come to you looking for attention. We need to take that into consideration when caring for our four legged friends.

Beyond getting them the required shots, and yearly check ups and making sure that they are being fed and have enough water and safe shelter dogs need interaction with their owner. We are talking about another living, breathing, feeling, being. Dogs on a whole are intelligent species, they can learn. Think about it. Your dog can talk back to you, can learn to sit, roll over, play dead, and protect you and your family. He is your best confidant when you are said and lonely, maybe he is all you have to share the joys of your life with. What about what your dog is experiencing.

If you go away on vacation and your dog is kenneled or friends keep him, do you notice how clingy they are when you return? Perhaps your dog is like our best friends’ dog and he will purposely avoid them when they come back from a trip because he was left alone.

Dogs build friendships with other animals and people. There is a connection that is formed. They suffer loss and grieve much like humans do. They miss their friends when they don’t get to see them. I know that it sounds odd, but you really need to pay attention to your dog, you could learn a lot.

Dogs have feelings as well and they can be hurt. Your dog literally lives to be petted, played with, walked and talked to by you. They need that interaction to be a healthy. Talk to your dog and spend time getting to know your dog. You chose that dog to be a part of your family. He did not choose you, you choose him. Much like a baby, they don’t choose either you do. They need nurturing just like your dog does. It may seem ridiculous to compare your dog to your child, but if you aren’t treating them the same then you are not caring for your dog properly.

Learn all about rare dog breeds and proper care for them under several unique circumstances at http://www.caringfordogs.net Caring For Dogs.

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Dog Training At Home Tips And Techniques

By Robert Weiner
Teaching your dog acceptable behavior patterns and tricks is not difficult using techniques proven by dog training experts. Dogs are intelligent and loyal, but it takes time for them to learn your ‘language’ and the meaning of your words. With patience and persistence, you can easily teach him your desired conduct, and create a close bond with your dog.

The most important aspect of dog training is consistency. To have a well behaved dog, everyone who cares for or is normally in close contact with your dog should know the proper commands. Always use the same word for a desired action. If you teach him to lie down using the word ‘down’, do not expect him to get off the sofa with the command ‘down’. Using the command ‘stay’ one day and ‘wait’ the next, will only cause frustration and confusion in your dogs mind. Dogs are intelligent enough to learn hundreds of commands, but single word commands are easier for dogs to learn and understand. Be uniform in meting out punishment as well. Hit of miss punishment is very counterproductive to good behavior.

Let your dog know you are pleased with him by showing him happiness and affection. Petting and play tell him he is a good dog. When punishment is due, a strong harsh word will let him know you are not happy with his action. Hitting your dog will make him fear you and cause aggressive behavior.

Your dog is naturally a pack animal, and for him to be well-adjusted, he needs to feel like he is part of your “pack”. A dog cannot feel part of your pack if you keep him isolated and only let him out on occasion to mingle with the family. The only way for your dog to feel part of the pack and to learn the “pack order” is for him to live with the family. Living with the family, your dog will learn his place in the group especially relating with children.

Playtime, walks, and exercise are a vital part of a dog’s life to prevent him from becoming bored, mischievous, and destructive due to pent up energy. To keep your dog from getting lonely, take him to meet the neighbors and their dogs. Chewing, incessant barking, digging are signs of stress, boredom, and frustration. If he chews, make sure he has plenty of chew toys, or give him raw bones. For digging, provide a place in the yard where he can dig without destroying your garden. Vary his routine every now and then by letting him spend a day at doggy day care so he can meet new friends. An occasional trip to a dog park will do wonders for your dog’s disposition.

A happy, well-behaved, well-adjusted dog will be your reward for patience and consistency in your dog training efforts.

Learn more about caring for your dog by visiting Living With Your Dog. Author: Robert Weiner writes articles about various family and health topics. © - WPW Enterprises

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Dog Electronic Collar - Too Harsh?

By David Mcfarlane
Using the right dog electronic collar for training can make all the difference in an easy success or daunting task. Head collars have become an increasingly popular dog training tool in the past few years. On one of my visits to my chiropractor, he suggested I pick up the book The Well Adjusted Dog.

There are two main types of dog training collars available; the most common dog-training collar is the one that will give a small shock to your dog when he barks. Leash and collar training is the best way to accomplish many types of dog training, particularly in situations where the dog must have a high level of reliability. When using leash and collar training, the dog must be trained to trust the handler and accept his or her directions without question.

Basically, you will find that there are five major types of collars in use by most dog owners: the regular flat nylon and leather collars, the choke collar, the prong collar, the leader or head collars, and the harness. Medium sized dogs can get away with the simple click in collars made out of cloth, or a thinner chain collar. One of the essentials of a dog collar is to make sure that it’s personalized and has the dogs name and your contact details.

To use an dog electronic collar effectively, first let the dog adjust to the feel of it around its neck and then make sure to keep the transmitter with you at all times, as it is a powerful device. It is important that your dog first has a knowledge of what ‘come here’ means before you start using the electric collar. When you’re walking your dog with a head collar, you may find that many people think that a head collar is a muzzle, and react to the dog with some trepidation.

Finally pick a dog collar that suits your dog’s personality and size. When a dog exhibits aggressive behavior, like biting, do not use the electronic collar. Once your dog is properly conditioned to the collar you can begin.

There are some ways to use a collar to help train your dog with. But once your dog has stopped barking what do you need to consider in a dog collar? The most important factor in buying a dog collar is your dog.

Halter Collars ensure the best control over your dog. Choose a collar and lead with the appropriate width that matches your pet's size. You need to find a dog electronic collar that will fit around your dog’s neck exactly.

For small dogs, pick out a collar that is neither too heavy nor too light. Collars are available in all shapes, sizes and colours. The next important factor to keep in mind is your dog’s temperament.

David McFarlane is a proud contributing author and writes articles on dogs. You can visit his Dog Electronic Collar site for more information.

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