Sep 12 2009

4 Things You Need To Do To Care For Your Puppy

Size doesn’t matter that much with canines and caring for a small dog is pretty much the same as a big one. Having said that, there are certain points they need to be made aware of when looking after a small dog.

There are a few things that will need to be carefully considered before you proceed to buy one.

What you need to feed them: You must consider the size of the food you buy them from the grocery store as they won’t be able to eat the normal type of food ordinarily purchased for a regular size pooch. Buying a kibble for example must take into consideration the size of their jaw so a smaller one will be required which you may not find in just any store. Fortunately, canned food should not be a problem and will definitely be easier to obtain.

How to contain them: It is easy for them to run around and go to the toilet outside providing the area is secure isn’t it? Smaller dogs are much more nimble that larger dogs and what might be a secure environment for one is not necessarily for the other. It is also important to remember that fences can not provide top protection where you might find hawks eyeing your tiny pet as they are known to come down fast and sweep away minute dogs and puppies. A simple answer to this problem is to construct an enclosed play area which should stop this from happening.

Getting your pet to obey your commands: While tiny dogs aren’t any harder to train than large dogs, the consensus of many pet experts is that many of them end up spoiled. Although your pet might indeed fit into your pocket (and some breeds can), they still see the world in relation to pack mentality and someone has to be the leader so if you are weak, they will govern you. It may seem like a minor matter but just because they are diminutive and the mess they leave might not be much, it doesn’t mean they do not need to be house trained. Dog experts also suggest you make your dog work for you, to keep him responsive to your rules. If you can train your dog to perform small tricks and other normal things like fetching a stick for example you can then provide them with a small treat afterwards.

Grooming: Keep in mind that grooming a small dog is slightly different to larger ones and cater for this. These diminutive pets usually require more frequent nail trimming than larger dogs, because they typically spend less time on rough surfaces wearing them down. If you want to ensure they have healthy teeth and gums you will have to brush them at least a couple of times each week as their main diet will consist of soft food from a can. The above makes it clear that it does not matter whether you are taking care of a small dog or a large dog the methods are pretty much the same. The differences between each dog, may look minor and insignificant, but when you pay extra attention to each one aspect, it can provide the correct answer to a dog’s specific requirements.

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Sep 07 2009

Is There Really Such a Thing as A Bad Dog?

When a dog is termed as bad by the owner, usually it is them who are the cause. When you are taking a walk down a sidewalk, it is indeed disturbing when a dog grabs at your clean clothes. Often the huge dog next door finds your front yard too tempting a place to empty himself.

They are as bad as the children next door who are out of control. When adults in a home are clueless about their responsibilities, you can expect only bad behavior from pets and kids. Inexperienced owners would be smart to find a pet trainer who can teach them how to properly handle the animal without breaking its spirit. Ask the help of your veterinary surgeon or pet store to locate trainers who conduct private or group sessions; alternatively you could go online and take the help of an online course.

This training could teach owners how to be in command of their pets. Trainers have been heard to comment that dogs are easier to train to be obedient than their handlers. When you want the dog to be leash trained, make them practice in a small area away from other distractions. Barking is a behavior which is extremely annoying to both owners and neighbors. Remember when they bark, they is trying to communicate, so if shout or punish them for this, it will only result in puzzling the poor creature.

It is usually lack of food, attention or the need for water that makes a dog bark. The noise of a dog barking can alarm the owners of a burglar intrusion so attempting to stop him from doing this may work against you. It is wrong to encourage a puppy to bark and then punish him for barking when he attains adulthood.

You can bring about a change in behavior in your favor by providing the occasional bit of praise and a special treat; which is something the trainer will show you how to achieve. How do you make your puppy stop the undesired behavior? Well, simply learn to reward him when he does something which is ‘desired’ behavior.

Most importantly, don’t expect your dog to learn a behavior that’s contradictory to his breed. If you want a certain type of conduct, then get one that can give you what you expect. For a dog to be well-trained, you require affection, tolerance and dedication.

For additional info and to get a free Dog Training Course visit tclarkpetsolutions.com