Archives for October, 2008
Posted on Oct 26, 2008 under dog training, indoor dogs, puppy training, small dogs |
How Long Do Dogs Live? From the time we bring them home as wriggling bundles of joy, we all want our puppies to live forever. As they bond with us and grow into full fledged family members, we tend not to think about the end of their life or how many precious years we have with our canine friends.
However, when picking out our new puppy it is rare that we give adequate consideration to the average lifespan of the dog. There are distinct factors that play into whether our puppy will be with us until our children graduate from high school or if they give us a few good years. Most experts agree that small breeds tend to outlive large breeds. The general rule of thumb is the larger the dog the shorter the life span. Large medium to large breed dog tend to live about ten years, although there are exceptions to every rule. We have a feisty-willed large breed mutt who is determined to see his fifteenth birthday.
Smaller breeds tend to live longer, anywhere from twelve to fifteen years. Occasionally you will run into the nearly twenty year old Scottie, but most don‘t make it past their sixteenth year. Again, every rule has its exceptions. The Irish Wolfhound isn‘t expected to make it more than six or seven good years although there really isn‘t a conclusive reason as to why this is so. Of course these figures are taking into consideration overall good health and quality care.
Genetics play a vital role in longetivity, but those we can‘t control. There are a few factors in our favorite little guy‘s life we can do to help him get to his ripe old age. Some of them can even combat predisposition to genetic diseases. One of the fastest ways to shorten a dog‘s life is to keep him outside all the time. Dogs that live outside tend to be missing a few key ingredients in their overall care that impact their life span.
Even with a shelter available, dogs do wear down and age quickly when they are dealing with constant element exposure. While some can adjust, most dog bodies find the extremes the environment can dish out at them to be exhausting and threatening. Dogs who permanently reside outside tend to receive less over all care. Since people spend the majority of their time at home inside, often small health problems go unnoticed until it becomes an overwhelming problem. Even the responsible pet owner can forget to feed or water the dog who is permanently engaged in outdoor activities when the lifestyle inside the home becomes stressed or busy.
Outdoor dogs also lack the essential strong emotional connection with their owners that indoor dogs benefit from. Having their human friends to please and play with goes a long way in their overall happiness and health. Often a sick dog who has no emotional connection will stop eating and caring for themselves long before those who have families who love and care for them. If you want your little guy to live a longer, fuller life, bring him inside and let him be part of the family lifestyle. Whether you are bringing home a purebred puppy or a distinguished gentleman of questionable descent, their life span can be about the same.
Barring any health problems, each should live as long as the other and it really just comes down to personal preference. From birth to about two years old your puppy is learning and growing. Every day your little guy is reaching new miles stones and his body is very busy. High quality puppy food packed with nutrition can help set him on the foundation for a healthy life. These foods are a little more expensive, but they can be well worth the cost when considering the effects of malnutrition. If your little guy comes from a family or breed history of hip and back problems such as hip dysplasia, excessive exercise in the first two years can put added stress on the joints in question and actually exacerbate the potential for later problems. Exercise is good, over doing isn‘t.
Regular veterinary check ups and of course vaccinations during the first two years can help to catch problems early on, which will increase his overall health. This is the time when your puppy really needs you to watch out for him, whether his body is having health problems or he is ingesting things that can cause long term problems, staying on top of him now reduces health effects in his later years. >From his second year through his fifth we can consider this his basic years of good health and maintenance. Watch for signs of growing obesity and make sure he is receiving ample exercise and fun play time. If he is a healthy dog then these years should be stress free.
Keep at least annual appointments with the vet for check ups and updated shots. His food should be a high quality protein based variety, but if he‘s showing signs of to much happy eating either cut back on his portions or switch to a low calorie variety. Once he gets into his fifth to eighth year we can consider him a middle age to aging dog. These are the years when small but manageable health problems are likely to show up. If he‘s a really good eater but hasn‘t shown signs of obesity before, these are the years when his activity will slow down some and he may develop a weight problem now. Again, a good low calorie food and a few perhaps coaxed walks should be enough to help him keep his youthful figure. Other problems such as cataracts, arthritis, or even heart murmurs are most likely to show up during these years.
They are not catastrophic events and can typically be handled with a trip to the vet and either simple procedures or medication. Ignoring problems now however, are likely to grow into unmanageable problems quickly. Stay on top of his check ups and vaccinations to ward off any potential disasters looming about. Most dogs that are generally healthy should make it through these years just fine. Depending on the size, breed, and overall health of your not so little guy, once he reaches eight years old he may be starting to push toward borrowed time. Smaller breeds won‘t get there until about ten, but even medium dogs are now starting to wear down.
Just because he‘s getting old doesn‘t mean you have to start thinking about euthanasia. There is a possibility that he will have health and happiness for a few more years to come. However now is the time when health problems can erupt quickly and strike hard. Eight years old and beyond is when you are most likely going to face making tough decisions about your faithful canine‘s quality of life. The care you gave him as a puppy is now doing its part to take care of him as he ages. Some older dogs need to be encouraged to eat.
If your once upon a time eating machine is suddenly losing weight, switch to a higher protein, higher fat content dog food to help him maintain his energy. Our care for our dogs all the way through their lives can make a huge difference in how long they live a full and happy life. When bringing a new puppy home remember that how you treat his body right now will carry a direct effect to his life span down the road.
Many dogs outlive their life span and are happy and energetic the whole way through. A little love and responsibility can go a long, long way. Any dog that has touched your life will certainly live forever.
Other articles you may be interested in…
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comment on woof! by dave collar - i love dogs i always take care of them u must be appreciated for the post. nice writing. keep it up.
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Give The Dog a Bone Already - Our neighbors have five dogs. Two of them are indoor dogs. One is a miniature poodle and I’ve never seen her pedicured pink nails touch down on actual grass. But her roomie, Spencer, is a rat terrier with a spunky little personality. …
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Shelties I Have Known: Merlin - In 1969, the woman to whom I was married at the time acquired a Sheltie. I’d never even heard of the breed before then, but I immediately fell in love with them. The woman was a bit, ummm, un-centered and did some really weird things to …
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Article: How To Pick a Puppy | Michelle Wrighton Fine Art and … - Well dear readers, as you know from reading my previous post Adopting a Rescue Dog we will be adding a new dog to our family sometime in the hopefully not to distant future. Although the time is not right just yet, I can’t help myself and I have been looking at different dog rescue websites and doing a bit of a dog training refresher’ course (gotta be prepared - and yes I would have made a good boy scout. It really saddens me that there are just so many dogs (and other animals) in rescue because they have been treated as if they are disposable’ possessions.
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catsreviews.com » Blog Archive » Why You Should Buy Havanese Dogs - If a person is considering buying a new dog they should consider what type of dog they are buying carefully. There is nothing worse than having an adorable puppy grow into a dog that is inappropriate for the family, especially when a little research would have let them know that before they bought it. Havanese dogs are a great small dog breed for any person seeking a new pet.
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Technorati Tags: buying a puppy, dog life span, dog lifespan, indoor dogs, nashville, small dogs, usa
Posted on Oct 30, 2008 under puppy training |
What happened when one day you bought a puppy and this cute dog suddenly start biting and chewing everything in the house, from socks, toilet papers, carpets, etc… and there is nothing wrong with his health?
It is very important that dog training is conducted at an earliest stage possible while they are still puppies but when you just got your new dog, here are some ways to puppy proof your home as an emergency and short term solution that you can use immediately to reduce the damage.
It’s perfectly natural for puppies to want to explore their surroundings.
They know the world around them through their noses and mouths, which is why many puppies can be seen smelling or chewing on just about everything they encounter.
The fastest way to prevent this destructive behavior for your Puppie is this Puppie Proof Your Home instead of reprimanding her as she is not trained yet.
What does “Puppie Proof” your home mean:
1.Temporarily take up any throw rugs.
2. Place all plants, poisonous substances, household cleaners, trash receptacles, paper products (such as tissue and toilet paper), shoes, and any small chewable objects out of reach.
3. Either remove, cover or tape down all accessible electrical wires.
4. Remove or secure heavy objects which could fall or be pulled down and cause injury to the puppy.
5. Confine her to just a specific location of course with a few toys to play with. Too much toys is also not good and may cause her to confuse between what belongs to her and what belongs to you
6. Apply bitter apple spray to some things which is very hard for you to move like furniture legs and etc.
That’s it some of the ways to puppy proof your home.
Last Note, it is good for your puppy to have a lot of outdoor exercise and for a much better and fruitful relationship with you, it is good to let your puppy goes through dog training session.
Puppy proofing your home should not become an excuse for you for not training your pets, but instead puppy proofing will give you some breathing space to create a dog training routine while preventing the puppy from his own destructive behavior.
So with that say, training is probably your must solution to providing long term solution to your dog behavior problem and in the long run will create a more meaningful relationship for both the dog and its owner.
Posted on Oct 30, 2008 under small dogs |
Everybody has heard of the basset hound or the beagle. This type
of dogs has proved to have many qualities or has been advertised
a lot. The influence plays also an important role:if one of my
friends. to whom I compete has just bought a pitbull, I should
definitely bring about a Tossain. How about the Polish Owczarek
Nizinny? i know nothing about it so this shouldn’t be my choice.
There are many breeds of dogs left on this planet which prove to
have more qualities, yet, are unpopular. This article will
present you some of these breeds.
The affenpinscher
This is the smallest dog in the breed which also presented us
the schnauzers. The affenpinscher is thought to be the most
suitable for a family pet as it is very intelligent, easy to
train of a good demeanor. They have a dark fur and have always
shown affection to human beings.
The anatolian Shepherd
This dog breed is of a medium size and has proved to be very
courageous. This breed is very powerful and loyal and it is used
in U.S.A especially for military and hunting purposes.
The basenji
The dogs from this breed are medium sized muscular dogs and are
also named the Africa Barkless Dogs. What is funny is that they
ever bark because they don’t want to do so as researches have
shown they are not mute.They are extremely known in Africa for
their hunting skills.They are not suitable as family pets but
their aversion to humans can be diminished if they are handled
properly from an early age.
The Bouvier des Flandres
This small and steady dog breed is somewhat similar to the
terrier one . Their fur is generally in dark shades and they
have proved to be very calm. At the beginning they were bred as
herders in France but nowadays they are used for police and
military purposes, as well as guidance for blind persons.
The central Asian Ovtcharka
The Central Asian Ovtcharka includes only large and muscular
dogs. They appear to be very loyal and fearless dogs with strong
protective instincts which makes them being used as watchdogs.
As any other large dog they have their ears and tail cut from an
early age.
The Polish Owczarek Nizinny
This dog is of a medium size muscular dog with a long fur which
covers its eyes. It can be used as a family pet, being very
loyal, yet they shouldn’t be left alone because they are
notorious for the ‘disasters’
they cause in this situation.
All in all what we do know is that many dog breeds are not so
famous but they prove to have some qualities which cannot be
surpassed. They may be great hunters or family pets; the idea is
that we should pay much attention to them as they are really
fantastic.
For great information about dog breeders, dog breeds, dog books,
dogs for sale, stud dogs, dog names, dog rescue, dogs wanted and
missing dogs just visit us at http://www.Doggies.ca
Posted on Oct 30, 2008 under indoor dogs |
For people that love dogs, yet have allergic reactions to them, there is a simple alternative. If you can’t do without a four legged “friend,” choosing a hypoallergenic dog is the best alternative. For those who are scratching their heads, a hypoallergenic dog is not a special breed of dogs. They are dogs that generate less (hypo) allergens (allergenic) in the air, which has a lot to do with the dog’s physical size and length of its fur.
For allergy sufferers, finding an allergy-friendly dog is the most reasonable choice. This doesn’t mean that the dog will be completely allergy proof, but it does mean that this type of dog tends to generate less amounts of allergy causing elements.
It is impossible to find a dog that causes no degree of allergens.
Allergy reactions from dogs can consist of skin rashes, watery and itchy eyes, sneezing and a stuffy nose. More serious reactions are wheezing, asthma attacks and not being able to breathe deeply.
These can be frightening reactions and choosing not to have a pet, for these reasons, out ways the benefits of having one. For dog lovers, who suffer with allergies, this is a hard fact to accept.
The reason some people suffer from simple pet hair is because of their immune system. They are hypersensitive to the components found on the dog hair. Many people think it is the animal hair that causes the problem, but in reality it is what attaches itself to the pet hair.
The dog’s hair picks up pollen and dust attaching itself to the hair follicle. With normal movements, the elements are distracted on whatever it comes across.
Hence, larger and longer haired dogs have a tendency to generate more allergens than smaller and shorter haired dogs Therefore, the bigger the dog, the more allergy components it will distract.
If choosing a dog from a breeder, try spending at least 30 minutes playing with the dog and being in the dog’s area to see how you react to it.
If you have a severe reaction in that amount of time, then you can be assured that having it as a live-in would not be a good idea.
If you’re choosing a breeder who lives a substantial distance away, send a clothing item to the breeder and ask them to place it near the dog for a day and send it back to you in a plastic bag. Wear the clothing item or breathe in the smell and see how you react.
If no reaction, you might want to consider visiting the breeder in person. If you do get a negative reaction, it’s best not to waste your time visiting in person. The allergic reaction would probably be worse if you were around the real thing.
Another thing you might want to consider when choosing a dog is the temperament.
You want to choose a dog that will meet your needs, and you in turn, can meet its needs as well. Not only do you want to choose an allergy-friendly dog, but if you have a family, you want one that is family-friendly as well.
Here are a few breeds to consider: Bichon Frise, Irish Terrier, Poodles.
These dogs enjoy family surroundings, they’re excellent with children and they make great watch dogs. They also have low shedding levels.
If you are a single adult, you might want to consider a dog that is happy with minimal people surroundings. A couple of good choices would be Chihuahua or a Portuguese Water Dog. These dogs tend to bond with one person rather than several.
Here are a few dogs to stay away from due to their high shedding ability. They are: Cocker Spaniels, Irish Setters, Dachshunds, Basset hounds, German Shepherds and Afghan Hounds.
If you choose an indoor dog, it’s best to choose one that can be groomed regularly or that you can bath easily. It’s best to bath them at least 1-2 times per week.
This will reduce the amount of pet dander. Taking care of your dog’s hair is an important part of reducing the components that cause allergies.
You can even choose a hairless dog such as the Chinese Crested, American Hairless Terrier or the Mexican Hairless.
Some people claim that certain breeds bring out the worst in their allergies than others. In choosing a breed, be open to find the best one that fits your lifestyle.
Posted on Oct 30, 2008 under dog training |
Crate Training: Can crate training help my dog?
How do I use crate training to aid in teaching my dog to behave? What are the benefits of crate training? Is it safe to use crate training as part of my overall dog training program? How big should the area be when crate training? Questions, questions questions…
This article can certainly help with your dog crate training needs. But first we want to welcome you to our dog training resource section that will help deliver you all of the dog training and crate training tips that you could ever ask for. With our well researched dog training articles and our upscale dog training methods, you will find a life-long amount of useful dog related information available at your fingertips.
Many new dog owners come to me on a daily basis and ask lots of questions about create training, this is perfectly normal. In fact, the general public who does not study up on proper dog training may not even have heard of crate training before. To sum up what a dog crate is: It is simply an enclosed caged area that will prevent the dog from leaving the confines of the cage.
Crate training can be done inside of the house with an indoor dog crate or even outside in the back yard with a home-made caged area for the dog. Of course you will want the inside to have plenty of room as crate training should not be done in a small overly tight manner.
What are the benefits of crate training? There are quite a few reasons why using a crate to aid in dog training has its merits. One reason would be because a crate will prevent your dog from chewing up the inside of your house while you are away. This type of crate training, by leaving the dog alone inside, should only be used temporarily until the dog learns not to chew anything outside of the crate.
Another example of when using a crate is useful is if you are traveling in your vehicle for any extended period of time. A small hand held crate with your dog inside of it will help ease his fear and excitability if he has any sort of issues with traveling.
Last but not least, crate training can be used as a perfect aid in teaching the dog how to be house broken. Many methods of dog training are used and taught by professional dog trainers when it comes to house training a puppy, and most all of them will recommend some form of crate training if requested.
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Posted on Oct 26, 2008 under puppy training |
While there is no fool proof method for house training a puppy, crate training has proven successful for many. There is nothing more fun than bringing home a new puppy; for everyone except the person responsible for cleaning up after it!
This process effectively teaches the puppy to ‘hold it’ until given the opportunity to relieve himself somewhere more suitable. However, this method is not an excuse to ’shelve’ you new puppy for long periods of time.
This method of house training a puppy is based on the premise that puppies would rather not mess up their living area if they don’t have to. Puppies should NOT be left in the crate for too long. If your puppy goes to the bathroom in the crate because he could no longer hold it, the training process will be drastically compromised.
How do I handle house training a puppy in this manner?
If no one is in your home during the day, you should put the puppy in a bathroom or another small, uncarpeted area in your home that can be closed off. House training a puppy should take place only when you are at home. When you arrive home, take the pup out on a leash.
After you play with him for a while put him in the crate. Wait an hour or so and then take him out again. If he relieves himself, shower him with praise. If he doesn’t, put him back in the crate and try again about 45 minutes later. This process should be repeated until he is successful.
After he goes to the bathroom he should be allowed to play free in the house. Some people find it helpful to keep a diary of the times their puppy goes. While this may seem bizarre, it helps you to determine your puppy’s habits enabling you to decrease the time he has to spend in the crate.
The most important thing to remember with house training a puppy is to be consistent and offer an enormous amount of praise. The process may take a while and it is important to understand that if the puppy has an accident during the training it is OK, you should just increase the frequency of trips outside.
If the puppy has an accident after his training has stopped, don’t punish him, just revert back to the training process temporarily and you will be back on track in no time.
Posted on Oct 26, 2008 under small dogs |
If choosing dog is such a straight forward process, and it is,
how come so many puppies find their way into adoption centres
every year? Well one reason is that people choose the wrong dog
breed.
Don’t let your puppy become a statistic. Make it your goal to
choose a puppy suited to your family and circumstances. Think
about your previous experience of owning a dog and the amount of
time you have for training, grooming and exercising. Look at
your health including possible allergies, your financial
resources and the amount of space in your house and yard. Most
of all work out how much time you have for a dog.
Of all the different factors in choosing a the right dog breed,
among the most important is the relationship you want with your
dog. Some breeds by nature are rather aloof and elegant, others
are independent and energetic while others are dependent or
submissive. If you want to do specialized training, consider
breeds known for courage and trainability. If you want an
affectionate pet, choose a breed that typically likes to be
close to its people.
To ensure that your puppy fits in with your lifestyle begin by
asking yourself these questions:
a) How much time can I spend with my dog, a social creature who
craves companionship? - If your time is limited don’t get a
breed which can become dependent on their owners.
b) How much exercise can I give my dog? - If you hate exercise,
buy a small dog happy with a short walk. If you like to walk the
mountains all day long get a dog breed which likes a lot of
exercise.
c) How much grooming can I do? - If you hate grooming, buy a
short-haired dog.
d) How much training can I give? - If you have limited time,
choose a breed known for ease of training.
e) How much room do I have? - If you live in a small apartment
don’t get a large dog!
f) What characteristics do I want in my dog? - Think of words
like independent, energetic, submissive, affectionate,
protective, quiet, funny or sociable. Try to match them to the
characteristics of your family members. Your dog will fit in
much better if you do.
Finding The Right Dog Breed
Once you have answered these questions it is time to go out and
find the right dog breed for you. The internet is a great place
to start. Just go to your favourite search engine and type in
something like “dog breed information” or “dog breeds” and you
will find some excellent sites giving detailed information about
each breed.
Note the characteristics of the different breeds. What is best
for your situation: large or small, male or female, purebred or
mix? Short coat or shaggy coat? A dog needing lots or little
exercise? A lot or little daily grooming? Think through your
choices in detail and compare this information to your
requirements and make a short list.
Next ask people you trust about the dog breeds you are
interested in. Ask friends, family members and co-workers for
suggestions of dog breeds they think would be good for you and
your family. Ask them to be honest about the good points and bad
points of the breeds they suggest. Visit dog training schools
and breeders and ask about the dogs your think may be suitable.
Follow up on and meet the breeds you feel are a good match.
Finally make every effort when choosing a puppy to make your
final choice of a dog breed a family decision. Your dog will be
part of the family, and each member needs to feel a sense of
ownership for the dog and a willingness to help in its care.
So there you have it a short guide to choosing a puppy that will
fit into your family perfectly and bring years of fun and
happiness
Posted on Oct 26, 2008 under indoor dogs |
Many dog owners don’t consider that harmless little house and garden plants may be a potential source of danger to your dog or puppy. Usually poisonous plants are more deadly to small puppies, but some plants, even in small amounts, can be toxic to dogs of any size. By taking the time to understand the various plants and their levels of toxicity for dogs you can avoid costly vet bills and even more serious conditions.
Depending on the type of plant either the leaves, stems, bark, roots or fruit can be toxic. Some plants are only toxic at various times in their growth stage whereas others are always poisonous. For information on each type of plant the internet, your vet, or even a plant and gardening book is great resource.
Garden Plants
Believe it or not some of the most common garden plants are also the most deadly. Tomato plants, both the leaves and the stems, can be toxic to dogs. St. John’s Wort, an herbal plant, is very toxic leading to vomiting and seizures. Other garden plants that can be problematic include:
· Apricot
· Avocado
· Black Cherry
· Black Walnuts
· Castor Beans
· Catnip
· Chokecherry
· Eggplant
· Garlic
· Mushrooms
· Mustard plants/greens
· Onion
· Peach
· Plum
· Potato
· Pokeweed
· Spinach
Fencing the garden area or monitoring if the dog is actually eating the plants within the garden is important. When in doubt completely isolating the garden from the area the dog is kept is a great idea.
Ornamental Outdoor Plants
Everyone loves to have their yard area looking great, but not at the expense of his or her animals becoming ill. Some of the showiest of the flowering plants are also the most deadly, including Oleander and many of the flowering shrubs. The list of the most common flowering and ornamental plants that are frequently found in gardens are:
· Amaryllis
· Baby’s Breath
· Bird of Paradise
· Black Eyed Susan
· Bleeding Heart
· Bluebonnet
· Boston Ivy
· Calla Lilly
· Chrysanthemums
· Cyclamen
· Daffodil
· Daisy
· Elephant Ear
· Easter Lilly
· Ferns
· Flamingo plant
· Geranium
· Honeysuckle
· Hyacinth
· Hydrangea
· Ivy
· Jade plant
· Lantana
· Larkspur
· Marigolds
· Morning Glory
· Peony
· Primrose
· Rhododendron
· Tiger Lily
· Yucca
There are many other beautiful garden flower that can also be deadly, so be sure to check with the nursery or garden shop before planting them in the same area that you are planning on keeping your dog.
Indoor Plants
Many of the houseplants including ferns, dieffenbachia, pothos, ivy, philodendron, and even poinsettias are very toxic to dogs. Corn plant, peace lilies and any of the ornamental tobacco plants can be very dangerous for both full-grown dogs and puppies.
If you think that your dog may have consumed a poisonous or potentially poisonous plant immediately get them to the vet. Bring a small amount of the plant with you, including the leaf and the flower, to help with identification.
Posted on Oct 26, 2008 under dog training |
A search of the internet will reveal a plethora of courses, concepts, videos, and programs aimed at obedience training for dogs. Many are cutting edge and some are dated and no longer accepted by experts in the field. How does one go about finding one that is reasonable in its approach and yet effective in teaching your dog?
For most dog owners there are some very basic reasons for wanting to mold the behavior of their pet. A dog without some basic dog obedience training can be like that annoying uncle in the family who has none of the social graces, always loud and obnoxious, makes a mess of the house, always sticking his nose into other peoples business - you know what I mean. You still love him but you just wish he wasn’t around so much.
Well, you should want to be around your dog. Isnâ??t that why you brought him into your home, to be your friend and companion? This will happen when you find a reciprocal level of respect and understanding. This in turn grows out of finding the best way to communicate with your dog making sure he clearly understands what the boundaries are and what you expect from him.
Common to all reputable dog obedience methods should be the understanding and acceptance of the following basic concepts, though they may be stated differently:
* Itâ??s important to understand that dogs are pack animals and thrive when there is clearly defined leadership and they know what is expected of them. This is important to understanding how the canine mind works.
* It is your job to be the leader â?? consistently, repetitiously, persistently, and patiently.
* Tied in with patience is the tone of voice you use. Commands should be given firmly with no ambiguity, but also patiently with no yelling. Your dog must not be confused once he understands what you want. There can be no refusal or ignoring of your command.
* Reward and corrective action are also basic concepts in any dog training for obedience course. Reward could be in the form of praise a treat, or a â??clickâ?? (clicker training) while corrective action could be in the form of withholding praise, a treat, a scratch, or a firm â??No.â??
Dog Training â?? Basic Obedience
Itâ??s always good to start with the basics. Look for a program that starts with these fundamental concepts and commands:
The Come or Come Here (Recall) command is very important for control of your pet. Nobody wants a dog that ignores them nor do you want to have to mount a search party every time he is outside and off his lead.
Stand and Stay, Sit and Stay, and Down and Stay commands are very helpful especially in situations where there are groups of people and activities where your dog needs to be kept away or out from underfoot.
Walking on and off lead, sometimes called â??heelingâ?? is very important training as there is nothing more unpleasant then having an uncontrollable dog pulling and tugging on the leash and lunging at other dogs, animals, and people.
In addition to these basic commands many methods will include turns, fetch and carry, back up, crawl, shake hands, catch, climb ladders etc., and all of these with hand commands as well as verbal commands.
Other behaviors and/or problems that will be dealt with in a well rounded dog training for obedience program are house training, excessive barking, biting and nipping, chewing, digging up the yard, aggression, and jumping up on people and furniture. There may also be some discussion of the best dog obedience training equipment to have available.
This is a snapshot of the things to look for in a reputable dog obedience training program. Of course a good method and system for training are key to the welfare and safety of your pet, but also to your peace of mind and enjoyment of your canine companion.
For additional tips on researching this subject go to Dog Obedience Training
If you are trying to train your new puppy go to Puppy Training.
Posted on Oct 26, 2008 under indoor dogs |
SYDNEY (Reuters) A dog was hailed as a hero on Sunday after it risked its life to save a litter of newborn kittens from a house fire, rescuers said.
In a case which gives the lie to the saying about ‘fighting like cats and dogs’, the terrier cross named Leo had to be revived with oxygen and heart massage after his ordeal. Fire broke out overnight at the house in Australia’s southern city of Melbourne, where he was guarding the kittens.
Fire fighters who revived Leo said he refused to leave the building and was found by them alongside the litter of kittens, despite thick smoke.
“Leo wouldn’t leave the kittens and it nearly cost him his life,” fire service Commander Ken Brown told reporters.
The four kittens also survived the fire and on Sunday Leo, who fire fighters nicknamed ‘Smoky’, was again back at the house.
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