Sunday, November 27, 2005

Dog Training Tips

Considered “man's best friend,” dog training professionals have been disseminating more knowledge on how to make this animal live up to that title.

Here are tips that one should keep in mind in training his dog more easily.

Digging Behavior

Dogs, as social beings, consider digging as their outlet when they are lonely. Nutrient deficiency may also cause this digging. Also known as pica, they sometimes eat the dirt they dig to supplement their health. Spending more time with your dog and giving him a health check will keep his digging behavior at bay.

Potty Training

For dog potty training, a reward-based method will prove to be a very rewarding endeavor. Giving it a bit of dog food when it performs a good potty behavior will make it easier for it to remember the good thing that it did.

Repeat and Repeat

Considerable repetitions will give your dog ample time to grasp the command. Consistency is the name of the game. After doing enough repetitions, not helping him with the routine will test if the dog really got it. Three successful attempts in a row is a fine gauge in defining if it's just a fluke or if the dog has actually understood the drill.

Direct and Correct

Communicate to the dog how the drill should be. Be clear on what you want the dog to do. Just commanding the dog without correcting him if he did it wrongly is not advisable.

Timing is Gold

Timing means that you should consider the age of the dog when considering how to deal with him. It is best to train dogs while they are still puppies. Always remember that “old dogs can't learn new tricks” saying.

Be More Stubborn Than the Dog

Establishing rapport with the dog must always be in this order: you as the alpha dog (authoritative) and him as the submissive being. Show any sign of fear when he snaps back and you damage that rapport. Don't let the dog not complete the exercise. This will teach the dog to just hold out long enough for you give in to his preferences.

Be A Good Actor

Provide your puppy with an outlet for his chewing urges. Also, you may practice yelping loudly when your pup starts to chew on you. After yelping, fold your arms and for 10 minutes consider ignoring him. That response is the thing that happens when a pup becomes too rough on other puppies. But depending on your puppy's personality, he may react otherwise, such as biting more. In this case, use a more aggressive approach.




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Friday, November 18, 2005

Tips in naming your puppies

So, you finally deiced to get a puppy. You spent many hours talking to dog breeders and surfed the Internet countless times to find the perfect puppy for you and your family. You went from pet shop to pet shop, to dog associations, to animal societies, looking and meeting puppies until you have found the right one.

Question is: Now what? Your puppy needs a name!

Throughout his lifetime, you will use the dog's name over 35,000 times. So, make sure that you choose a name that you and your family will use to refer to that loving dog of yours.

Here are some tips in finding the perfect name for your puppy.

Remember that dogs understand brief commands. Names should therefore be easy to remember. Names with two syllables or lesser work well. Don't expect that your dog would be able to respond to you immediately when you named him "John Dewey McArthur".

The name of your puppy should not sound like the rest of the commands. For example, do not call your dog "Stacy". It's too close with the command "stay". Having a name like that will only confuse the dog.

Remember that you will be using the dog's name in public. Remember the joke circulating in emails when someone has a dog named "Sex" and gotten the dog owner into trouble? "Boner" might be funny for your drinking buddies, but may have a different reaction when you are in a veterinarian clinic or at a park.

Ask your kids what they want to name the dog. Let them participate in name decision process. If they want to name the dog "Champ" or "Tootsie” so be it. Reserve your funky names when in front of other people.

You may believe that it would be an honor for your Uncle Tom or best friend Bobby if the dog is named after them. Maybe naming your baby after them might honor them, but naming your puppy after them won't.

If you decided to bring home a dog that is quite older, it would be probably better to stick with its old name. But, what if the name of the dog is "Barney", the name of your-ex whom you had a bitter breakup? Then, stick with other sounds similar to it.
Once you've picked a name, see if it works out. You will know if that works. If not, then there are tons of dog names available to replace it.

With these tips, naming your puppy would be fun.

Friday, November 11, 2005

Weight Problems in Dogs: Is Your Dog Fat?

Did you know that obesity is one of the greatest health risks among dogs ?

Obesity is caused by excessive eating and unhealthy binges just as it is in humans. Often, this situation is triggered by some environmental factors that may lead to more problems when not controlled .

Like humans, dogs develop certain diseases when they are overweight. These diseases, if not corrected, can lead to more serious complications including death. Here is a list of some of the repercussions of obesity in dogs:

1. Arthritis

Obesity in dogs tends to put extra weight on their bones. In turn, the joints and other parts of the dog’s bones develop arthritis.

Excess weight in dogs may also initiate the development of other muscle and joint problems like spinal disc disease, hip dysplasia, and cracks on the joint ligaments.

2. Diabetes

Like humans, dogs can get diabetes too. We all know for a fact that overweight cause diabetes in humans. This can also happen in dogs. The reason is that the more fat stored in the dog’s body, the greater its system will generate insulin in order to cope up with its growing mass. Hence, dogs have the tendency to resist too much insulin in the body. The end result is diabetes.

3. Skin problems

Obesity in dogs can cause some skin problems. This is because excess fat deposits are being stored in their skin; hence, their owners are having a hard time grooming them. When dogs lack proper grooming, there is a tendency to accumulate bacteria, dirt, or other elements that could cause harm to your dog’s skin. In the end, they develop rashes, skin ruptures, and infections.

4. Capacity to tolerate heat

With too much fat deposits accumulated in their skin, dogs are more inclined to problems concerning heat tolerance. This is because dogs find it hard to tolerate heat due to the build-up of fats in their skin. That is why most obese dogs are prone to heat stroke especially during summer time.

5. Respiratory problems and other heart diseases

Like humans, obese dogs also have the tendency to develop respiratory problems and heart diseases. This is because the chest cavity is already covered with thick fat deposits. Hence, whenever the dog breathes, the lungs are having a hard time expanding and so does the heart. The problem starts when the heart and the lungs can no longer produce the right amount of oxygen and circulate it within the dog’s body.

6. Gastrointestinal problems

Obesity in dogs causes some problems in their intestines and pancreas. This problem results in an inflamed pancreas which is very painful to the dog and can also cause death.

7. Liver problems

Fats are harder to strain and this can pose a problem to the dog’s liver. When the liver can no longer function well because of the fat deposits that accumulated in the area, liver problems may occur and may even cause the death of your dog.

These health problems are indeed life threatening. It depends upon the owner how to combat these problems in order to keep your dog healthy.

One of the greatest ways to solve weight problems is a strict exercise schedule. It is a must that owners create a healthy exercise schedule for their dogs. This can be done by taking them for a walk every afternoon or letting him run through a field.

The best thing about this program is that not only the dogs get the chance to exercise but their owners as well. So, it’s a double benefit.

Next is to create a healthy diet for your dogs. Diet meals are extremely important for dogs so that they can still obtain the necessary nutrients they need in order to stay healthy. This should include the right combination of fiber, meat, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals.

However, dog owners should always keep in mind that when their dogs are taking fiber, more water should be employed so as to prevent constipation.

Alternatively, dog owners should also remember that before incorporating all of these things for your dog, it’s best to consult the veterinarian first.

For healthier and happier dogs, give them the best love and care you can plus a great dietary regimen. As they say, a healthy dog is a happy dog.

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Enjoyable Activities with Your Dog

A dog is more than just a pet. It is a friend one can always count on when things go wrong and no one seems to care. Having a dog for a pet is not just about feeding it and giving it a good home. It also takes maintenance to keep that dog strong and fit.

Spending time with man’s best friend further deepens the relationship one has with a pet. It tells the dog that the owner loves being with it and by either playing or working together; it strengthens the communication, understanding and respect between man and animal.

There are many ways to teach a dog discipline and learn new tricks and by teaching it through games instead of the normal routine with a little imagination thrown in, it can both be fun for the dog and the owner.

One game is called follow the leader. This activity consists of a group of owners and the dogs. By placing objects such as cones or cans on the ground and making the group go around these objects, the dog will learn to follow when it is called. Further strengthening that could be by switching who the leader is and doing the entire process all over again.

Another game is hide and seek. Children play this game with other children but by teaching the dog to stay in one place then have the dog search for the person when the dog’s name is called, it teaches the dog discipline and will make the dog learn to wait until being called.

One can modify this game by hiding a treat in a certain area and have the dog look for it. The animal will learn to use its keen sense of smell to search for things and be rewarded for it.

Waking up in the morning and taking the dog out for a jog is another good opportunity to spend time with the dog. This gives both the owner and pet a good exercise, keeping both physically active and in shape. Dogs like to play often and by changing the game with a little twist like catching the Frisbee or fetching the stick; it not only strengthens the limbs but also involves some thinking on the part of the dog to successfully catch the object.

Spending quality time with ones dog through a variety of activities is fun. It gives the animal an opportunity to learn good manners making it easier to live with and make the owner enjoy how wonderful the experience can be.