Puppy And Dog Training Secrets by Obinna Heche

Having a new puppy in your home is a very exciting and very challenging time for most folks and families. The average breeder has weaned and begun to let puppies leave for their new homes at about 8 weeks of age. This is very much like tending a baby, as dogs this young not only have very small bladders, they are for the most part unable to have much control over bladder and bowel functions. They require much care and almost constant supervision at this age.

Many folks do not understand how immature a puppy is at this age and assume when house breaking problems arise, the puppy is stupid or difficult to train. Chloe is a 2 year old chocolate lab, much loved by her family and very easy to train, this is because of the amount of love she is given by her family. You see, Chloe, like any other dog, will do anything to please the people she loves. The first lesson Chloe was given was her house breaking, she was kept outside the first time she came home until she went to the bathroom.

During the first weeks with the mother, she teaches her pups that the bedroom is off limits and shows them the appropriate place for elimination. One of the quickest and easiest ways to begin house training is to take advantage of these early lessons, and the pups instinct for cleanliness and keep him in a crate when you are not able to supervise. These come in all different shapes and sizes and should be big enough for him when he is grown.

The full grown dog should be able to stand and turn around. Although many come with a divider panel to use for the young pup, if yours does not you can use plastic to divide his crate. The theory on this is if he has too much room, he will assume on his own, that half is for sleeping and the other half is for elimination. So make sure the crate is small enough inside that he can not make that assumption.

This took the efforts of several family members but it showed her where she was allowed to go. When she was finally taken into the house, she was watched closely and whenever she started sniffing around she was taken back outside again. At night she was put in a box next to her owners bed, where she was kept when there was no one available to watch her. She was taken outside just before they went to bed and as soon as they got up in the morning.

When they left home, if they could not take her with them, she was again taken outside to go to the bathroom and put in the box, as soon as they returned she was again taken outside. This took a few days and there were accidents but she soon learned that if she went to the door, she could go outside and take care of her business.

Teaching her to sit was her second lesson, her owner would sit on the floor and play with her, teaching her to sit was a combination of holding her toy up above her head, at this point she would sit down to keep the toy in her site. She would also tell her to sit
while gently pushing on her hind quarters. When she was successful she was praised and loved on, she learned this one very quickly too.

Her third lesson was to lie down, again on the floor with Chloe, her owner would tell her to sit, when she was in the sitting position, she would then tell her to lie down and gently pull her front legs out and push her front end down. What this family now has is a very well trained dog which everyone enjoys having around.
Author Resource:- Obinna Heche. Los Angeles - California To find excellent information about dog training, dog behavior, grooming and dog care. Everything that concerns dog owners and their dogs. Visit.. http://www.biggsmall.com

Reward Training For Smaller Dogs by Lee Dobbins

Reward training has been used for many decades to train dogs and is a great way to train small dogs like the Pomeranian who are too tiny to respond to choke collars and other harsh methods of training. Reward training is used to train dogs to perform all kinds of activities including police work and military jobs. This type of training is used extensively in the training of dogs for movies and commercials. But you don't have to have a police dog or movie star to use reward training - it's very effective to teach your pet basic obedience commands. As the name implies, reward training involves a reward of some sort. Typically a special treat, but even praise and a few pats on the head can be considered a worthy reward by your dog. By using rewards, you can train your dog to do most anything. You simply need to follow a set of steps to get your dog to perform the desired task and then reward him right after. So if you want your dog to learn to sit, you might hold the treat above his head and move it backwards until he sits automatically - all the while say the command "sit" then once he has sat, praise him and give him the reward. Soon he will associate the word "sit" with the act of sitting and the subsequent reward. Clicker training is one form of reward training that can be used if you want the dog to obey you without using verbal commands. The dog is taught to associate a clicking sound with the reward. The trainer clicks the clicker when the dog does something good, followed immediately by a treat. Eventually, the dog learns to respond to the clicker alone. Reward training can be used to teach your dog complex behaviors if you have the time and patience. In many cases, the training uses a lure to get the dog into the position desired by the trainer. This lure gets the dog to do the "trick" of his own free will. Once the dog has performed the behavior he is given the reward. This is a great way to get the dog to do something without being touched by the trainer and is used a lot in the entertainment business. When training your dog, it's important to make sure he will pay attention to your commands when there are other distractions around and not just when the two of you are alone in the house. You need to know your dog will obey you with distractions as this can be one of the most important times for him to listen to your commands because obeying you can be what stands between your pet and some sort of danger. Once you have perfected a command at home - take your pet to the park or other place where there will be distractions and practice the command until he learns to obey you in public as well as in private.

Author Resource:- Lee Dobbins is a pomeranian owner and dog lover. Visit her site www.Pomeranian-Pages.com for more dog care articles and training tips.

Your Pup Should Have ID by Wendon Lee

You can be the most attentive, loving, and responsible puppy owner ever. But despite all that, your puppy may still go missing. If she does, she might well end up in an animal shelter, where nearly a third of the numerous millions of dogs they gather up every year are house pets who somehow got separated from those that love them. If the owners of these poor creatures cannot be located and no other loving family members decides to take them home, then they're all but certain| to be euthanized not long after they are picked up on the street. Your own puppy can easily avoid this fate, nevertheless, by simply having some type of ID on her at all times.

The conventional method of doggie ID is a tag hanging from her collar. This tag ought to have the fundamental info essential for anybody who finds your missing puppy to obtain in touch with you. That would consist of your name, address and phone numbe. This information may also be engraved on a metal plate attached to the surface of the collar, or it can woven into the material of a personalized collar.

But collars are not foolproof. They can be lost or removed. Two other methods of ID don't have this issue. Some owners have their puppy tattooed with a number that's registered with a national group that keeps track of such things, like I.D. Pet. The issue with this of course is that a lot of people who may discover your missing puppy would have no concept what that number means. You could also have your name, address and phone number tattooed on your puppy, but that is a great deal of information to place on a small animal (and it could be out of date the moment you moved or changed your quantity). Some also say the tattoo fades with time.

Probably the most modern puppy ID technique is to have a microchip about the size of a grain of rice implanted between the puppy's shoulder blades. That chip can be scanned with a device like a grocery store scanner, which would turn up a number registered with a microchip manufacturer who has all of the information about the puppy. The average animal shelter has such a scanner, but the average individual who might discover your dog doesn't. So the very best answer is really a combination of solutions: a microchip for the shelter, collar tags for the great Samaritan who finds your wayward puppy and brings her to safety.
Author Resource:- Pet Places provides resources on puppies photos and tips on how to take care of puppies.

How To Control Dog Barking - Some Tips by Trevor Mulholland

Dog barking can be a major problem, especially if it's YOUR dog! If there is anything neighbors hate, it's loud noise coming from your house or garden - not everything is music to one's ears. And dogs barking seemingly without good reason is exceptionally annoying.
Dog barking can be controlled through a number of ways, but as with all forms of dog training, positive reinforcement helps more than hitting your dog or just shouting at him to quiet down. You can try to restrain your dog from barking by using a muzzle, but this won't stop him from whining and in the end, you haven't resolved the noise problem. Sometimes dogs bark for no visible reason, but it's only because they're lonely or restless.
One of the lesser known ways of stopping a dog from barking is by countering noise with noise. How to do this? Put a few coins or pebbles inside a small empty can, and whenever your dog starts barking, take the can in hand and shake it. The noise will startle the dog and make him stop barking. He might start up again in a bit, but just shake the can again; sooner or later your dog will understand what the noise means, and be conditioned to respect it.
If you're keeping a puppy and the poor little thing can't stop barking, take him aside and hold his jaws shut. While you're holding the jaws closed, say "No!" firmly. Release the muzzle once the puppy has calmed down... but if he starts barking again, repeat what you did. Sooner or later he'll get the hint, or will at least be too exhausted to continue barking, then go back to sleep. After a few days of this, your puppy will be sure to understand what "No!" means when he barks.
Special collars are another way to train your pets into behaving - but try to avoid shock collars, except in very extreme cases. Tone or vibration collars won't harm your dog, but ought to work as well. Vibration collars may be smarter, especially if you're keeping more than one dog, since it's quieter. Moreover, tone collars may emit sounds similar to cell phones or other digital devices, and they might end up confusing your dog more than helping him.
Stopping dog barking doesn't have to be a tricky task... however, it is important to remain humane and considerate of your dog, at all costs. Author Resource:- Puppy-train.com provides you with information on dog barking, dog training collars, dog training schools, dog grooming supplies and homemade dog treats. Come take a look at http://www.puppy-train.com/

Is Your Pet in Pain? by Aliza Adar Levine

Can you imagine that your pet may be in pain and you might not know it? Unbelievable as it sounds it is all too common. Learning to detect the signs of pet pain is really crucial to your pet's health care and well being. And pets don't always act like people do when they are suffering.

Animals can suffer with toothaches, joint pain,infections, just like people. Unfortunately,because they can't tell you about it you might be neglecting a serious or painful condition. One of the main things to look for is a change.
That can mean change in behavior, temperament, eating or sleeping patterns. It can be very subtle.

One sharp cat owner noticed that her cat was simply
meowing more than usual for a few days. Not crying, just more meowing. She took "Max" took the Vet and a horribly infected tooth was discovered and treated. No more meowing.

A typical cat reaction to pain is to hide. If you notice your cat is gone most of the time, check it out.

With dogs, less interest in eating, eating less or even slower than usual, can signal a toothache. Food falling from the dog's mouth is also typical. It may hurt to chew.

When "Doobie", usually a frisky boxer pup, was just lying in a corner quietly, something was wrong. A visit to the vet revealed a painful abscess that needed treatment.

If your pet is suddenly hyperactive or listless, pay attention. Both are possible signs of pet pain.

Older pets can suffer from chronic conditions like arthritis, hip pain, and other age related problems. Symptoms can be slow movement, limping, balance problems, subdued or nervous disposition. Pain can make a calm animal irritable or even aggressive.

There is no reason your pet has to suffer. Your vet can prescribe pain medication that can bring relief. Never give a pet human medications, though. This is very dangerous and can even kill. Cats especially, because their liver is different than a person, can be poisoned easily.

Often an animal will lick a painful area, or even rub it against a surface. A sign of this is can be a flattened or wet area on your pet's coat. Try to separate the hair to see if you can detect anything. The appearance of redness, swelling, an open wound, or even local heat all are best checked by a vet.

If you notice your dog scratching constantly, check out and treat for fleas if needed. If Poochie scratched herself raw and is bleeding, keep your eye on the wounds and get help if it's not healing up quickly.

So, if your pet seems to be acting different,it could be pain that's behind the change. When in doubt, go to your local pet clinic for security. You never know. When it comes to pain, it's always better to be safe than sorry.

You may end up saving your beloved pet's life! Author Resource:- Aliza Levine RNMH runs a busy Clinic,Pharmacy. Learn more about Dog health care at http://www.DogHealthCare.info

Dog Grooming - Nails, Ears and Teeth by Sandra Dinkins-Wilson

Dog grooming includes not only brushing and bathing your puppy or dog but continues with his nails, ears and teeth. If these are not taken care of, there is a potential for health problems. Think of these dog grooming points as preventive health care and a way to keep the vet bills down.

A dog's nails must be trimmed every so often. Depending upon the surfaces you dog walks on, you may find you need to trim every three to four weeks or even more often. You dog's dewclaws may need more frequent trimming than the rest of his nails.

Begin trimming a puppy's nails when he is about 10 - 12 weeks old. As with the rest of dog grooming, you may need to start with small sessions and work up. Start with one paw and do just that. If he is very aggravated with that, start with just one toe. You may even find you have to start with just holding one paw and one toe. Remember to praise him when he does allow you and to provide treats and play time after the session. Make your puppy look forward to his dog grooming.

In between bathing sessions, you can clean around your dog's eyes with a damp cotton ball. Wipe from the corners outward just as you were taught to do for your own eyes.

Clean your dog's ears only when you see visible dirt. Never use cotton-tipped swabs. Use a cotton ball dampened with a dog-ear cleaning solution, baby or mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide. If there is a bad smell or signs of redness, your dog may require a trip to the vet. Keep an eye out for mites as well. Dogs with droopy ears may have more ear problems and need more cleaning due to lack of airflow into the ear.

Lastly, dog grooming continues with brushing your dog's teeth. To start the process with your puppy you may need to start by simply massaging his lips in a clockwise manner with your finger for a couple weeks followed by massaging his gums and teeth for a couple weeks. Then you can use a dog toothbrush, a piece of gauze wrapped around your finger or a soft round-tipped human toothbrush to begin massaging his teeth and gums. Finally you can begin using dog toothpaste. Do not use human toothpaste. If you find dog toothpaste too expensive, do as people used to do and make a paste of baking soda and water to brush his teeth.

copyright 2005. Sandra Dinkins-Wilson Author Resource:- Visit our Puppy Training website at http://ezpuppytraining.com/ for a free course on "Welcoming Your New Puppy Home and Puppy Training". Find more puppy training and care tips at our website ezpuppytraining.com.

Overweight Dogs And The Health Problems It May Cause by John Williams

The issue of overweight dogs is a big concern for many pet owners as they understand the health dangers that it can bring, but it is equally ignored by many others around the world and they are seriously affecting the happiness of their dog in later life.

An overweight dog is something many owners should be very aware of especially after the middle age of about 7 years of age (depending on dogs size). A dogs weight can seriously put your dogs health at risk and cut their life short as well as causing an unnecessary painful ending.

Dogs tend to be able to eat as much as we choose to feed them at times and feeding your dog till he/she is full is a bad idea at the best of times. A set amount should be given to your dog each day and some notification next to your dogs bowl might help the confusion of who's fed the dog and who hasn't.

As your dog becomes older, you will need to check their weight more often as their metabolism will slow down and overeating will become out of control and a problem for your dog. Obviously dogs come in different sizes and shapes so there is not set amount of food that has to be given to your particular breed of dog and a small amount of research or a trip to the vets will be needed to see how much your dog should eat.

Determine the weight of your dog is correct by checking that your dogs ribs can be easily felt with your hands with little pressure, and ensure they are not visibly noticeable. Your dogs hips should be easily felt and not surrounded by too much flesh and fat, and by looking down on your dog from above the body should curve inwards after the rib cage slightly.

If these requirements are all in place then your dog appears to be a healthy weight and this should be maintained throughout their life. Always ensure your dog has plenty of exercise and play time to maintain a healthy dog. If your dog becomes too thin then a vet should be contacted for advice and support as well as if your dog is very overweight, both can be equally destroying to your dogs health and come with their own dangers.

Note: dog diet preferences and advice leaflets or booklets will all be available from your vets and many pet stores and centers. Author Resource:- For more information on Overweight Dogs or Dog Health take a look at this Dog Training website.

What Should Be in Your Puppy Food and Dog Food? by Sandra Dinkins-Wilson

How you should be feeding your puppy is perhaps one of the first concerns of the new puppy owner. After all, you want the little guy to grow up big and strong, or at least as big as he will grow. So just how will this puppy feeding be carried out? First off, realize that your puppy is not just a miniature version of an adult dog. He has his own nutritional requirements that go into puppy feeding. Pound for pound a puppy needs about twice the nutrition of the adult dog. What the requirements are for feeding an adult dog varies with breed, size, activity level, etc. And although you may have thought dogs were carnivores, understand that they are really omnivores just like us. This means they can and will eat more than just meat. In fact to have a balanced diet, they require more than just meat. So, first off, don't begin your puppy feeding with just meat. (Have I repeated that enough?) Dogs, like humans to some extent, require protein, fat, minerals and vitamins. Studies have shown that dogs seem to have no need for carbohydrates although many prepared dog foods and puppy foods may be up to 50% or more carbohydrates. This is why it is very important to read puppy food and dog food labels. When feeding puppy, realize he usually requires about 28 - 30% protein in his diet. Protein can, and should, come from more sources than just meat. Include milk, eggs and cheese along with meat when feeding your puppy. When considering feeding fat to your dog, the amount you feed varies by the requirements of the dog. An inactive dog may only need 5% fat. A very active working dog may need up to 20% fat. Going with puppies needing generally twice what adults need, you can see you need quite a bit of fat when feeding your puppy but it does vary. Best thing to do when adding fat to your puppy food is to keep an eye on your puppy. Don't let him start getting fat. Just like with humans, too many carbohydrates can be bad for your puppy. Usually carbs are used to bulk up a prepared dog food with 50% or more of the food coming from inexpensive carbohydrate, and especially starchy, sources. This is not necessary for dogs and studies have found that dogs do not need carbs as an essential part of their diets. Reading puppy and dog food labels you may find carbohydrate sources such as grains, potatoes, rice, milk and even sugar in some form. As these usually have been cooked, a dog can digest them somewhat. Give a dog a raw potato or whole grains and you will find a dog that will not be able to handle these. In other words, you will have a dog with an upset digestive system. Some uncooked starches cause diarrhea and some, such as whole grains, pass right through untouched by his digestive system. Not a good thing when puppy feeding. So read your dog food labels and make sure the puppy food or dog food you buy has these elements within it. Don't buy anything with too much carbohydates in it as dogs just don't need it. But do buy puppy food and dog food with protein sources, fat and vitamins and minerals. Some green vegetables in the mix won't hurt at all. copyright 2005. Sandra Dinkins-Wilson

Author Resource:- Visit our Puppy Training website at http://ezpuppytraining.com/ for a free course on "Welcoming Your New Puppy Home and Puppy Training". Find more puppy training and care tips at our website ezpuppytraining.com.

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HOME :: Pets/Dogs Dog Clothes and Accessories - Are They Necessary to Make Your Dog Happy? by Stella Coles

What makes our dogs happy?
If dogs could talk they'd tell us that there's a few things they need to make them happy. Firstly, diets of good food, fresh water, a comfortable bed and blankets. Add to that regular walks, exercise and play time. A few treats and toys are a bonus, but most of all, any dog would tell you they need affection, kindness and love. Mix these altogether, and you have the recipe for a happy dog.
Your dog isn't the only one who will benefit from affection. Studies have shown that pets have positive effects on human health. They help people unwind from the stresses of the day and teach us to love. They deserve some pampering.
One of the many joys of owning dogs is the knowledge that even if you're not wealthy, you can still make them happy. It's nice to indulge them from time to time with that new chew, ball or cuddly toy,but sometimes the best indulgences are free. You might ask yourself if they really need dog clothes and accessories.
It's very important to take good care of both the physical and mental health of your dogs. So, treat them with care. Take them walks every morning and evening and play with them, especially if you've been out all day.
Should dogs have dog clothes and accessories?
If your dogs are elderly or frail they would benefit by wearing a coat in cold weather, but these days it's possible to buy all kinds of clothing for your dogs, even boots. The important thing to remember is the comfort of your dogs. As long as they're comfortable, they're not going to need or want designer clothes. That is something owners should consider when choosing things.
As far as dog clothing goes, you can buy anything. Coats, jumpers, bandanas, and even fancy dress outfits. Dress your dog in a Halloween Costume or a Wedding Tuxedo for a special party. If you want a personalized product for your pet, you can find lots of different products online.
How about a bath robe or scarf? Maybe a T-Shirt or jumper? If you're fashion-conscious and you want your dog to be colour co-ordinated, that's not a problem.
Diamante collars and leads come in various colours and styles. You can even buy tiaras. It doesn't matter if you spend a little or a lot. Your dogs aren't going to know what you spent; all they'll be bothered about is how comfortable they are.
Whether you're looking for small dog clothing, big dog clothing or a luxury dog bed, you'll find plenty online. There's plenty of cheap Dog Clothes available so you don't need to spend alot. But bear this in mind - are you really buying something for your dog's benefit or is it for your's, because you think something looks sweet and it'll look great on your dog?

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