Oct 30 2011

Dog Arthritis – Do You know All of the Facts?

Many of the issues regarding health conditions in humans may also be sustained by dogs. Usually, dogs also have to put up with arthritis. One fifth of the canine populace have this joint condition and have to bear with other related symptoms as well. They also experience the similar soreness in the joints that we human beings undergo.

If you observe your dog sleeping more than normal and he/she finds it difficult to sit or stand, has no interest in playing, unexpected weight gain and favoring one leg when walking, jumping or playing around, he/she may be experiencing arthritis and joint discomfort. A visit to a dog clinic would be the best solution so that you will exactly determine what your dog’s condition really is and to be able to get the corresponding cure for it. If you act upon it immediately, the chances of your dog getting well will be higher. Lucky for us, our local veterinarian allow other remedial options. A supplement of glucosomine, chrondroitin sulfate and vitamin C are what he prescribed for our dog. It helps make more collagen that is essential for the bone’s foundation. He may also suggest fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Omega 6. The swelling is reduced by it as well as the hurt that goes with it. You can easily buy these items in the drugstore and they do help. I for one am a user of these supplements for my own arthritic condition.

Humans and canines with arthritis have similar cures. All you need to do is look at the medicine literature for the equivalent dosage according to the dog’s weight.

Cartilage in the joints is formed with the presence of glucosomine and chrondroitin. The rate of how cartilage is formed is accelerated with the help of the two supplements.

Glucosomine is classified as an amino sugar. An amino sugar is unlike other forms of sugar in the body, and are components of carbohydrates that are incorporated into the structure of body tissues instead of being used as an energy source. Skin, nails, tendons, eyes, bones, ligaments and heart valves – these are among the tissues glucosomine is concerned. Study shows it is effective in cartilage creation and repair.

The effect of chrondroitin is that cartilages are toughened and kept in good shape as well as well-oiled joints.

Vitamin C is vital to all animals and humans because it is essential for the formation of collagen. Connective tissues of tendons, ligaments and fascia, has so many of these fibers.

To keep your dog healthy, make sure he or she maintains an ideal weight, gets moderate daily exercise to stay fit and keep joints limber. Do not make the dog do one week of exercises in just two days. Instead of benefiting from it, it may even be detrimental to them. Taking it slowly, one at a time is better. It is imperative that your dog stays on his/her right weight and in shape so that added strain on the bones and joints will be avoided. A fiber-enriched diet coupled with vitamins and proteins are good for your dog’s health, even better if you include supplements if there is already indication of arthritis in your canine friend.

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Oct 26 2011

Benefits Of Grooming Your Dog

Even though dogs are able to keep themselves relatively clean, they need our help to do anything more than the basics.

Grooming your dog has benefits for both the dog and for yourself and your family. Here are some of the top reasons why you should groom on a regular basis.

Brushing is great for the health of their coats. Just like us, brushing increases the blood circulation underneath the fur which helps the cells get what the nutrition they need. And again, like us, they need to be washed in order to rid their coats of toxins that build up over time just from being outside.

Brushing your pup will improve his overall health by stimulating his blood circulation which in turn will boost his immune system, promote muscle mass and help fight off infections. It also makes them feel happy, loved and comfortable, which will turn them into even better dogs.

As I mentioned, dogs can do the basics, but really, they don’t seem to care if they smell! The longer or thicker your dog’s coat is, the more grooming they are going to require because their fur is going to capture and hold all the smelly places that they get into. Grooming them will help eliminate smells, and you could add natural oil scents when brushing or bathing them to make them smell even better.

Grooming gives you a chance to check out your dog’s body on a regular basis. Often our pet can hurt himself, or have a lump or swelling that we knew nothing about. The sooner you know these things, the better, and the quicker you can have them looked at it need be.

Regular grooming can save you money on professional dog grooming. Even if you go to a professional for cuts and styling, if their fur is in good shape to begin with, the job will be made much easier and therefore cheaper. Your dog will probably love you even more, since often professional dog groomers are not their favorite people!

One of the best reasons for groom your dog is that it provides you both with a sense of bonding. Your pet will love all the extra attention you give him and the two of you will grower even closer.

Any one of these reasons alone should be enough to get you into regular grooming. It is an essential part of the responsibility of having a dog and should be integrated into your routine as soon as possible.

Alex is a freelance graphic artist & marketing pro with a love of writing and dogs. She has a long and personal history with dogs and has studied what works and what doesn’t when training them. If you enjoyed this article, check out a couple of her others, like Are Table Scraps OK For Your Dog? or Does Your Dog Have Separation Anxiety?.

May 20 2011

Why Canine Early Education – Sending Your Young Pup Off To School (Part 2)

Early puppy training introduces you and your puppy to the basic obedience commands that will be used throughout the dog’s life. The most common commands are “sit,” “down,” “stay,” “come,” and “heel.” Other commands may include “watch me,” “leave it,” and, if you’re a fan of The Sopranos, “fuggedaboutit.”

Ideally, the instructor will demonstrate each command, so that you can then teach your puppy. Most instructors first demonstrate on one of their own dogs, then with an untrained puppy. Of course, their already trained dogs make it look easy! Consider these pups to be “ringers.”

The trainer will sample a command, after which, you will try it with your own pet.

For those having a hard time executing the techniques, the trainer will give a different style to help your puppy learn more easily. As th owner and puppy master each technique, a new one is taught.

Since owners and puppies are not all the same, there are also a variety of techniques used for training. As long as there is no violation of animal rights, and the technique is doable by the average pet owner, there is no right or wrong. It will all depend on what the owner and the puppy can understand.

While there are alsosome awful training methods – too difficult or illegal, legitimate dog trainers usually keep a positive teaching style but stil teach you about setting guidelines for your puppy.

It is essential for puppy training that you use the correct commands in daily life. For example tell your dog “down” when he is jumping at you, not when he is already on the floor. You reap the benefits of training once you know how to make the commands work for you.

It is important to use the basic commands daily.

Proper behavior at home and outside can be achieved through the basic obedience commands. Avoid traouble when you take your dog out on a field trip. Surely, a trained dog is an enjoyable companion.

I learned these and moredog training advice from Ed Randall’s site where you can find out all about puppy training and what it can do for you.

Apr 04 2011

Dog Training Tools

Dogs do better if they are trained and there are many dog training tools available to help you accomplish this. They respond very well to training. It is important that the person who is doing the dog training is nowledgeable and will be consistent and patient. ‘Stick-to-itness’ is necessary in order to do a good job of training a dog.

A good dog trainer is also patient. A lot of training is done with voice and hands but there are tools that can be used to make the job a lot easier.

Dogs like to please their people. They are also playful and think a game of tag and catch-me-if-you-can is a lot of fun. A dog trainer needs to understand that a dog rarely deliberately misbehaves, more likely you, as the trainer, have sent the wrong message.

There are many tools available to help training: collars, leashes, treats and toys designed to help your dog understand that you want him to do something specific, a certain behavior asked for by spoken and/or signaled commands. Good eye contact, an evenly pitched voice, patience, timing and praise are all devices that will help your dog acquire the skills you are endeavoring to teach. Did I mention how important it is to be patient and to praise? Repetition is also very necessary. Don’t expect to have your dog sit on command in one day and not have to repeat the steps used, regularly.

Many people use a clicker, a device that snaps when it is squeezed. The theory behind clicker training is that when the dog does something you want, you click and reward. The first step to being successful is to teach your dog that the click means food. So step one would be to just wander with your dog and every time you click you give your dog a treat. It won’t take him long to know that if he does a specific thing, such as sit or down, you will click and he gets a treat.

Some dogs, however, are sensitive to the sharp sound of a clicker. If this is the case with your dog, you will be better off to use your voice, backed up by a treat, to let your dog know he has done something you like. If you like the idea of the clicker but your dog is sensitive to the sharp sound it makes, try clucking with your tongue. The end result is the same; you have just allowed for the acute sound to be softened.

A favorite tool of mine is a lightweight line about eight to 10 feet long. A bit of parachute chord or a lightweight clothes line is ideal. I put a small clip on one end and attach it to my dog’s collar, allowing him to drag the line on the ground. When I teach the recall I can pull on the line as I tell my dog to “come” or “here” or whatever command I use for calling him to me. I make sure to have one end of the line in my hand before I call. Dogs read body action extremely well and the act of reaching for the line can become a cue for the recall. I want the cue to be the command and not my movement. As soon as my dog begins to move toward me, or in some special cases, if he even looks at me, I praise and move backward. Most dogs have prey drive that kicks in when they see something moving away from them so when I move away I reinforce the recall command. I always reward with a click, a treat and praise when I get the action I ask for.

There are many kinds of restraining devices used on dogs. There are many different kinds of collars and harnesses, some especially designed to stop pulling or jumping. The collar needs to suit the dog and his handler. By this I mean that if you don’t have excellent timing then a harness may be easier to use than a pinch collar. Another thing to consider when you choose a restraint is perception. A pinch collar looks like a weapon that will harm a dog where in actuality, when used properly, it is a very humane device.

Do some research; consider your physical condition and temperament and the size and zealousness of your dog. Find the ideal tools to use; tools that make training fun and easy for everyone concerned.

Learn more about dog training tips. Stop by therapy dog training tips where you can find out all about tips for dog training and what it can do for you.

Feb 21 2011

Dog Training Advice Not Trainer Should Be Without

Dog training advice is more widely available than ever before, as professional trainers have cashed in on the desire of pet owners everywhere to have better trained canine companions. While this information can be helpful for most would-be trainers as they device an instructional program that fits their pet’s needs, there is also some simple principles that can expedite their efforts.

How dogs think

The canine mind is hardwired to get along with others in its pack. Regardless of whether this cooperation is required for tracking down a meal or finding a playfellow, dogs desire a peaceful social environment above all other concerns. Their minds are really that easy to understand.

That tendency can also form the backbone of any educational program for the animal. Dogs are one of the few species of animals that focus their attention on begin accepted by their community. Within any relationship with a human, the pet’s main goal is to ensure that he receives positive feedback from his master.

Be the canine king

Along with that desire for acceptance, canines also require strong leadership. Where it is absent, any pet can become disoriented and will often exhibit dominance toward anyone with whom they come in contact. Every owner must establish the fact that he is the chief member of the family pack, so that the pet can more comfortably adjust to its own place within the group hierarchy.

Develop a consistent approach

When the animal is being trained, it should always know what you want it to do. That requires a consistent approach to every aspect of the teaching program. Use a recognizable series of commands, and offer a system of rewards that the pet can understand. Avoid negative reinforcement where possible, as punishment can dramatically impact the pet’s ability to trust its owner.

Use the carrot and forget the stick

Dogs cannot be properly trained in a negative environment. Yelling, cursing, and violent physical outbursts are all things that must be avoided. Remember, the animal desires nothing more than to be praised for meeting expectation. Punishment is not required when a trainer wishes to show displeasure. All any trainer really needs to do is withhold a reward, and the animal will eventually understand what it is doing wrong.

Yes, most of this guidance seems to be obvious, but few people seem to utilize these principles properly in their canine educational programs. For those trainers who remember these essential truths, the ultimate goal of having a well-trained pet is always easier to reach when this simple dog training advice is used.

Learn more about dog training advice. Stop by Victor Joseph’s site where you can find out all about puppy training advice and what it can do for you.

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Nov 03 2010

Puppy Leash Training – How To Train Your Puppy The Right Way

The best way to have a well behaved dog, is to start when he’s just a puppy. Step one is to teach him to accept his collar and leash. You can start this puppy leash training pretty much as soon as you bring him home.

By training your pup to become used to a collar and leash, you are establishing yourself as the one in charge. You’ll quickly find out that dogs thrive when they know what is expected of them.

When your puppy learns that he has no choice but to accept his collar and lead, you can then move onto many other aspects of dog training. Here’s how to teach him to accept a collar and lead.

Be sure to buy a collar that is the right size. Don’t buy a collar that you think he’ll grow into. If a collar is too loose it won’t stay on. But it should be big enough that you are able to make some adjustments. The rule of thumb is that you should be able to fit two fingers easily between collar and neck.

When you first begin to use a collar with your puppy, it will feel strange to him. By giving him lots of attention and reassurance you’ll help take his mind off it. Be aware that he may not get used to the feel of the collar in a day or two, so give him lots of time. Once he does become used to having it on, you can start to move forward with real training for your puppy. Leash training will be easier if you’ve given your new pup plenty of time to just get used to having to wear a collar.

Next, you’ll attach a short but light leash to the collar. Be sure that this leash isn’t any more than three feet long. Let your dog drag the leash all over for short periods of time. You’re trying to let him see how it feels when there is something attached to his collar.

Keep a close eye on your pup when he is walking around with the lead connected. If he does get stuck when you’re not around, he might get agitated and frightened. You do want him to see what it feels like to be restricted for a short time, but you do not want him to get upset when it occurs. So quickly free the lead when it’s stuck.

It won’t take too long until he is used to the feel of the leash. But now, instead of letting him drag the leash freely, connect one end of his lead to you. Continue to let him explore and get himself stuck just like he did before. But instead, this time, don’t go to him to untangle the leash.

Instead try to help him rid of that stuck feeling. Do that by crouching down and calling his name. Encourage him to come to you maybe by offering a treat or favorite toy. When he does come, praise him lavishly and reward him. Keep doing this for short periods of time every day. Be sure to release him from the leash after he’s done what you asked a few times, but always leave his collar on.

When he routinely comes to you when he is called, your puppy leash training will have been a success. You can then move onto the rest of the training program knowing that it will be a lot easier.

After working with your new puppy teaching him to accept a collar and leash, he will be ready for a snooze. Why not provide him with a cozy heated dog bed for inside. Even in summer, he’ll find his bed a warm spot in an air conditioned home. For outside, help him keep cool with a coolaroo dog bed. Coolaroo dog beds sit off the ground allowing for air flow underneath.

Oct 20 2010

A Glance At Some Of The Most Popular Hunting Dog Breeds

Dogs make for excellent cuddling companions for sure. But, apart from being your cuddly toy, they could also serve as a guard or even as a hunting companion. However, not all dog breeds are blessed with hunting skills. Your pet needs to be rough and tough if you want him to accompany you on your hunting spree. Here are a handful of excellent dog hunting breeds that you have.

It is not an unusual sighting to spot security staff with a Labrador retriever. The Labrador is considered to be one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States. This dog breed is considered to be the superb hunting companion. They’re exceptionally clever. So, you should not have an issue training them at all. Labradors have a good temperament so they can easily pull through the rough situations during hunting. Moreover, they have web like feet, which helps them to swim and catch the prey.

Weather is one usual concern which you must keep in mind when taking any dog breed out for hunting. After all, moisture and extreme weather could take a toll on the health of the dogs to a brilliant extent. However, weather isn’t an issue with Labradors. Their moisture repellant coat gives it the desired protection from the unfavorable weather even during tedious hunting expeditions. So, you can readily take this breed along for hunting and you need not worry about skipping your yoga session.

German shorthaired pointer is another famous hunting dog breed. This dog specie is ideal suited for folks who love to go hunting pretty frequently. Since this breed is a versatile and adaptable hunter, it could hunt both, on land and water with equal ease. This dog breed is primarily designed for hunting birds by chasing them. However, they are skilled enough to even hunt down animals. It can help you track the exact location of the prey, therefore making your hunting expeditions quite simpler. This clever dog breed could readily understand and carry out your orders.

Yet another hunting dog breed which is increasingly becoming the perfect hunting companion for a lot of people is English Springer Spaniel. This can be the best pick for people who’re involved in hunting for birds. This dog breed can comfortably bring out the birds from their hiding places and hence increases the scope of hunting for the owners. The high energy levels and strength in legs, makes it easier for this dog breed to endure even a long and tiring day of hunting. Moreover, Running with your dog can help you shed pounds as well. In case searching for faster weight loss, use products like Dietrine Carb Blocker.

So, the subsequent time you go hunting; don’t forget to take along any of the given hunting dog companions.

Here is some more information on Yoga Session and Security Personnel.

Oct 14 2010

Easy Dog Training Tips Anyone Can Do

Training dogs is a profession any loving dog owner can take up on his own pet. If you are one of them and have been deterred by well meaning friends and relatives have probably failed themselves; don?t lose hope. It may be that wrong techniques have been used, teaching has not been consistent, or patience just ran out. There are times that dog training will severely test the affinity you have for your dog– but this comes with equally rewarding results. You will have a better relationship with your pet and your home will be cleaner too.

To be an effective instructor of these dog training tips, let us take a look into the average dog?s uncomplicated mind. While we human beings are intelligent creatures, our dogs are several levels lower. Human beings can understand through logic and general assumptions. Dogs can only get their owner?s expressed wish through a pattern of consistent commands and repetitive actions. For example, to us ?Let?s go boy!? and ?Come!? and ?Come here boy!? all mean the same thing but not with dogs. Even if he does approach you eventually, it doesn?t necessarily mean he comprehends you.

Be consistent in educating your canine. Use the exact words you will use in training your dog basic obedience commands. This follows to every part of his training.

A healthy and successful relationship with your dog starts with the establishment of your authority over him as his master. Be firm and strong when you deal with him, never harsh and violent. Once the dog understands this, he will seek to be a ‘good boy’ and obey commands promptly if he knows this pleases you.

Rubbing the dog?s belly is a good strategy in enforcing your authority. It teaches him submission by allowing him to lick the back of your hand. Never concede to his growling and whining just to keep him quiet. It is imperative that you establish habits that lead to good behavior the earlier the better.

There is a trick professionals use in training dogs and it is this: allow the canine to teach himself. What does this mean? If a dog is doing something that demands correction, you should reprimand him immediately and replace the wrong behavior with a better one through inflicting either pleasant or less than desirable sensations.

When he starts chewing your shoe, give him a sharp blast of cold water from your squirt gun. If he resumes his shoe chewing, squirt him again. Place a favorite toy in front of him and encourage him to pick it up. When he does, shower him with praise. He will associate unpleasant feelings with the wrong behavior and good ones with the right behavior.

Canine socialization is an important part of his dog training. Fearful and overly aggressive dogs are result of neglecting to train them proper social skills. You should introduce him to other pets and people early in his life. Bring him to places that are noisy and full of activity so it will not be strange to him in the future.

To bring someone or something up in discipline and tender care is a sign of love and maturity. These dog training tips will help your dogs be happy and confident in their life. Sure it has its challenges; but the end result is always worth it.

Geraldine Dimarco knows that dog obedience training is a necessary tool for all pet owners. You can avail of free access on Advanced Obedience today.

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Sep 11 2010

Training Your Dog 101: Nine Top Tips On Dog Training

Well behaved dogs are that way because they are well trained. An untrained dog can make life pretty miserable, although you can’t really blame him for his actions. He just doesn’t know any better. So training is important. But before you begin a training program here is some basic information you should be aware of. Professional dog trainers use this basic information all the time. Here are 9 of their most important tips.

1. Don’t waste any time getting started with training your new puppy. Establish routines right away and stick to these routines. It’s easier to do that than it is to try to change things up later. Change only succeeds in confusing your pet. For example, if your pet isn’t allowed on the furniture, that should be a hard and fast rule. Don’t let him join you on the couch one day and then scold him off if you find him on the couch another time.

2. Your dog needs to learn who is in charge and of course that should be you. But it’s also important to be fair in your treatment. Don’t have expectations that your pet is not ready for. But once he’s taught, expect him to obey. For example, don’t toss him scraps from the supper table one day and then scold him when he begs for food another time.

3. Collar and lead training may well be the single most important thing you can do if you want to have a well behaved dog. Start this training soon after your puppy arrives. This will make all the training much easier and more effective.

4. Dog training should be fun for both of you. Be sure to celebrate his accomplishments with a reward. You can reward him with a pat on the head, by praising him or even giving him a small treat. He’ll work much harder if he knows a reward is waiting for him, so you’ll be able to accomplish way more in a short time.

5. Patience is something every good dog trainer needs, and lots of it. Your dog’s progress should be measured in small steps. He won’t learn and remember overnight. It will take a lot of practice before the desired behavior comes naturally. Reinforce the targeted behavior with practice and rewards.

6. At times, you will have to discipline your dog. There are two important points when it comes to discipline. First of all, don’t order your dog to come when you are planning to discipline him. Only use “come” for positives in training. Instead go to him. Secondly, don’t hit your dog. If you hit as a form of discipline, he will only learn to be afraid of you, not what you’re trying to teach him.

7. When you start a new session with your dog, first review the behaviors your dog has already mastered. This lets him get an easy reward before moving on to new training activities. Keep lessons short. If he seems to be losing interest, stop the lesson, ask him to follow a simple command, give him a reward and then do something fun with your dog before finishing the session.

8. Teach basic commands first. Commands such as sit, stay, down, and come are integral to success when you start on more involved dog training. Be sure he’s mastered all of these commands before trying to teach him more complex commands.

9. To have a successful training program, be sure to only give out rewards when he follows through on a command correctly. If he knows that he’s going to be rewarded whether he follows your command or not, he has no real reason to sit if he doesn’t feel like sitting.

By consistently following these tips on dog training, you can ensure success in training your dog. And I’m sure you agree that a well trained dog is a pleasure to have around.

A hard training session can be stressful for both you and your dog. To ease the stress for your dog, a warm cozy bed is a must. A cozy cave dog bed is the ultimate in luxury for your hard working pet. To keep his bed fresh and clean washable dog beds are ideal.

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Aug 14 2010

Dog Obedience Training Prevents Food Guarding Aggression

Food has been made an integral part of dog obedience training because it appeals to a dog’s survival instinct; it’s an effective motivator. But when that food becomes a mechanism for aggression, causing a dog to guard his meals with violent means, that dog’s food instinct has overcome his enjoyment of that dog training motivator.

Your dog’s ancestors guarded food because they often didn’t eat for days at a time. When a kill was brought back to the pack, the wolves that fought for the right to eat got to eat the most, and the best, meat.

The submissive dog might develop a food guarding habit, or eat her food in large gulps, to protect her meal from more dominant dogs, who feel that they have the right to horn in on lesser citizens’ food. Conversely, dominant dogs might scarf food or develop a food guarding issue in response to the scroungers who circle, hoping to usurp the right to eat.

Just because a dog behavior is natural, doesn’t mean that it belongs in modern day society. The best way to deal with this particular behavior is to properly train your dog and stop it from developing. These dog training techniques can help to keep food guarding habits from forming:

When training puppy, feed him only a few pieces of food at once, picking up the bowl frequently and adding more food to it.

Stroke your puppy while he’s eating.

Train your puppy by having him eat from a bowl that you hold in your hands.

Command your puppy to sit before feeding him. Then, while he’s eating, ask him to stop and sit again. Reward him with a piece of turkey or chicken, or anything that he prefers over what is in his food bowl.

While he’s eating, command your puppy to stop eating and to sit. Put a piece of meat into his dry food and dig your fingers into the food, stirring it around. Now, allow him to finish.

Pick up the bowl of food, halfway through his meal, add a piece of meat to it, and then return it to the floor.

Ask children and other family members, along with visitors, to try these dog training techniques, too.

These dog obedience training techniques train your dog to grasp the new concept of mealtime: that no one is trying to steal her food, that mealtime is actually more fun with humans around, that there’s a constant supply of food, and that mealtime can be relaxing and enjoyable. When you add clicker training to these dog training techniques, you will further reinforce all of these ideals.

Don’t attempt these dog training techniques if your dog already displays signs of food guarding: growling, snarling, dog barking, raised hackles, glazed eyes, or greedy and speedy eating.

Fighting for, and guarding, food is no longer necessary. There’s plenty more kibble where his current bowlful came from. It’s important to convey this idea to your dog at a young age, ideally during puppy training.

Your dog is no longer responsible for his own longevity. That’s up to you now. With the methods that make up positive dog obedience training, clicker training, and the dog training tips that prevent food guarding, he’s bound to pick that up in no time.

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