Dog Training Review

Spaying and neutering

2008-07-10T09:21:00.000-07:00

Spaying and neutering of dogs are highly wanted if you don’t want to breed the dogs and however, these activities need to be carried out by qualified veterinarians specialized in pet care and management. Anesthesia is required along with due surgical procedures for carrying out the spaying and neutering.

One has to understand first the terms like spaying or neutering. Both are related to the surgical approaches of sterilization in case of females and males respectively. However, the term neutering is also related to such procedures in both sexes. Accidental pregnancies that are not wanted can be highly minimized by these procedures.

Spaying and neutering helps to prevent occurrence of pyometra, which is a common reproductive disorder-giving problem to the dog owners. In male dogs, the neutering helps to prevent the occurrence of prostate enlargement or cancer. Hence, these help to minimize the incidences of reproductive disorders in dogs.

By these spaying and neutering, the male dog’s desire in search of female dog in heat is highly minimized and hence, wandering of male dog is reduced. The animal becomes calm also by these surgical remedies. Territorial behavior of these animals is also highly minimized by these in case of male dogs.

Spaying of your dog before the occurrence of first heat is the best one to avoid the incidence of breast cancer. If the dog is spayed after the first heat, the chances of occurrence of breast cancer in them is more and has been proved by research. Younger group of dogs need to be subjected to these operations to avoid complications in future.

Many veterinarians prefer the spaying and neutering of dogs only at the age of five to six years. However, these can be performed even at the age of three to five years. Postoperative care needs to be followed meticulously to avoid the occurrence of infections by microbial organisms.

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Nursing a sick dog

2008-07-09T12:22:00.000-07:00

Nursing a sick dog is one of the vital measures that a dog owner needs to understand. Similarly, when a dog becomes sick, the dog is in need of more care and affection based activities by the dog owners. Nursing a sick animal is often considered as an art and this should not be taken as a causal measure.

Yes. You need to take extra care to the dog when it becomes sick. For example, the sick dog with high fever needs to be given only some bread pieces and bulky non-vegetarian items may be avoided. Such dogs should be kept in some calm place after medications are taken and should not be disturbed. During the nursing of the dog who has taken the drug, the animal needs coaxing and stroking by the owner. Don’t raise the dog’s head too much to avoid the passing of drugs given by the mouth directly into the respiratory organs like lungs. During the nursing measures, take care by giving warm fluids.

Safety is to be given more priority during the nursing activity in any dog. When the dog has severe diarrhea, the animal may start showing signs of dehydration. Hence, the nursing care for dehydration includes an addition of small doses of salt and glucose to water in a careful manner.
Similarly, the vomiting dog also needs proper nursing care. Ice cubes may be given in such cases along with egg whites to smooth the esophageal passage.

Nowadays, a non-contact based infrared thermometer has come up in the market to obtain the temperature of the animal without much stress. Place the dog in a shaded place if the temperature is so high and provide good ventilation to the suffering animal. If the animal is suffering from hypothermia, provide warm blankets to given comfort to the animal.

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Dogs need different diets at different ages

2008-07-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

Dogs need different diets at different ages. Yes. This is true. For example, the puppy needs milk as the major food item while an adult dog may need beef or chicken in addition to the boiled egg and milk. So depending on the age factor, the diet schedule varies in reality for the dogs like any other species.

Puppies need greater amounts of protein, fat and carbohydrates than an adult dogs. Furthermore, puppies need more frequent feeding schedules in a day, unlike an adult dog. The movement based requirements of diet are more in the case of puppies, since they are often more active than the adult dogs.

Elder dogs need restricted protein but the protein needs to be easily digestible and easily assimilated in the body. The diet schedule should have ample supply of water for them. Feeding aged dogs too much protein may finally lead to over burden to the renal structures and ultimately, the dog may end up damaging filters in the kidney.

This is true especially when the immune system of these dogs is compromised due to many factors. Similarly, the elderly dogs need less food only because the movements of the adult dogs are highly restricted and hence, they have to spend a limited of energy.

Female dogs in the pregnancy stage need not be fed a full stomach since it may cause some discomforts to the animal. However, the pregnant animal and the nursing animal need special type of food items that deliver a balanced type of nutrition with proper supplementation of vitamins and minerals.

The nursing animal with puppies need to be fed with enough amounts of calcium and hence, there will not be any calcium based deficiency and the bones of the puppies will be strong without any curving.

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How often should I feed my dog?

2008-07-02T12:00:00.001-07:00

This often becomes an important question asked by many dog lovers and dog owners. If it is a puppy within age of the first six weeks, the puppies need to be given milk at the rate of five to seven times per day. The puppy will make some sound if it wants to feed in general.

However, the feeding frequency may be reduced when the dog becomes six to eight weeks old. By the time the dog assumes the age of four weeks, it may start taking of some solid food. Hence, mix the solid food with water in majority and feed your puppy once or twice in the beginning and if the dog develops some diarrhea, then delay the feeding.

Most of the times, it is due to trial and error but taking some basic steps in feeding, so you need to watch out. The feeding frequency may be changed to two to three times after the assumption of age of eight weeks. However, if the dog is seen hungry craving for food, then provide food once than the estimated numbers. This varies with different breeds of dogs.

However, avoid feeding too many times in this age group of dogs. Around three months to six months of age, the puppy will be teething. Hence, restrict the feeding to two times only but the balanced type of nutrition needs to be provided to the dogs of this age group to avoid the deficiency based symptoms in them.

From six months to one year, try using puppy food that is available commercially. However, from first year onwards, the adult food may be given gradually. However, when the dog becomes an elder dog, restrict the frequency of feeding since the movements of such adult dogs are highly reduced due to multiple reasons. However, the pregnant animal may be fed an extra time depending on the willingness of the animal and restrict the quantity of the food but without compromising on the quality of food.

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How much should I feed my dog?

2008-07-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

Many people will give different types of answers based on their experience with their dogs. However, the scientific facts related to the feeding aspects in case of dogs need to be given emphasis during the feeding activities maintained in case of dogs.

Usually the puppies should not be separated before they are eight weeks old. However, some times the orphaned puppies may exist. Usually about five percent of the body weight may be taken as criteria for the quantity of food to be given to the puppies. However, the amount that is consumed by the dog varies with size of the dogs also.

However, one can have a thumb rule of feeding the puppy goes until you see visible fullness of the abdomen to a moderate degree. If you are going on feeding the animal without giving emphasis to the animal’s stomach appearance, then the puppy may experience some kinds of digestive upsets and the diarrhea may occur in them.

This may cause many inconveniences to the owner as well as the puppy. Unlike adult dogs, the puppies need to be fed with restricted amounts of food but in more frequencies. However, once the age advances, the amount may be increased to some extent but the frequency of feeding is often decreased in many occasions.

A dog on a raw diet may consume only two to four percent of their body weight. Just observe closely the feeding pattern of the dog and the body condition of the animal. If the dog becomes obese, just reduce the quantity of food and if the dog becomes thin, then have an increase in the feeding items.

As mentioned earlier, puppies and adolescent dogs eat more than the adult dogs. Likewise the geriatric dog eats less than the adult dog due to the reduced movements of the dog. However, remember to restrict the amounts of protein during the feeding of diet to the aged dogs.

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Why are regular check-ups important?

2008-06-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

Why are regular check-ups important? Every dog owner asks this type of question, often. If you failed to do the regular check-ups, then the dog may end up having some major diseases that you don't know about. Hence, you need to pay lot of money both to the veterinarians for consultancy and for the required drugs useful for the therapy of the clinical condition.

One may not be able to find out the very commonly occurring clinical conditions in case of their dogs because of less experience with dog diseases or dog rearing. This is why check ups are important. For example, if the dog has potbelly, the condition may not look abnormal many times. But if the dog is subjected to the regular check-up, then the veterinarian immediately finds it out and gives the appropriate therapy. If not, the animal may experience diarrhea and the dehydration.

If the dog has any signs of illness, then don’t wait for the regular check-up. Instead, you need to approach the veterinarian immediately. Check ups if done in a regular manner will help to give vaccinations against canine distemper, parvovirus, corona virus, rabies virus, hepatitis virus, and more.

Booster vaccinations will be carried out in such cases without any delay in the injections and this helps to improve the immunity level of the dog against such diseases in a remarkable degree. Regular check up is the essential one with proper stools examination. Hence, the deworming may be carried out with drugs like fenbendazole, albendazole, etc.

Abnormalities like signs of pain may be ruled out during such examinations. If not, helminthiasis may affect the animal and diarrhea may occur in addition to the other types of digestive upsets and anemia. Regular examinations help to rule out the external parasitic conditions like lice or tick infestations. Dental problems are also found out during the regular check ups in reputed veterinary hospitals.

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First steps in grooming

2008-06-28T11:26:00.000-07:00

Grooming is one of the important activities to be known well by the dog owner. If the dog owner is not aware of the grooming, then the dog may encounter many types of diseases. First steps of grooming consists of activities like maintenance of coat, nails and ears. The maintenance of the coat mainly consists of enrichment measures like proper bathing, combing, drying of skin by dryers, and more. The animal need not be bathed daily and this helps to protect the skin’s characteristics like insulation feature.

Use conditioners and shampoos that are meant for dogs. Combing needs to be carried out with a soft brush meant for use in case of dogs. There are varieties of brushes available and depending on the type of breeds, one can use the concerned brush. This grooming of the coat by a comb needs to be carried out daily and the fallen hair if any needs to be placed in dust bin always.

Otherwise, when the dog owners switch on the fan, the hair will fly and may enter the nostrils of persons. Always don’t clip too much because this may lead to injuries of nail always. Similarly, you need to carry all the materials required for the clipping with you before the start of the procedure.

Use a sharp clipper designed for use in case of dogs. It is better to have the dog on the raised place and hence, the control of the animal is easier. Ear canals are to be checked up frequently and sterile cotton may be used for cleaning purposes. Grooming associated guidelines need to be followed strictly by the dog owners.

Nail-maintenance is one of the first steps of grooming activities. Live nail areas can be easily clipped away and are always light colored than the reddish area of the nail in the higher position. During the holding of your dog's feet by you, always have a firm grip. If not, the dog will take an upper hand during the clipping and some injury may occur.

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Bathing a dog

2008-06-27T13:41:00.001-07:00

Bathing a dog needs to be given more emphasis. This is because of the fact that if you are careless in bathing, the animal may end up having some infections. For example, if you don’t close the ears with large cotton ball, the water may enter into ear canals and may cause some ear infections with signs like constant discharge from the ears and shaking of head.

Frequency of bathing actually depends on the breed of the dog. If the dog is of a hairy type like the cocker spaniel, then the bathing is to be carried out once in six to eight weeks. If these breeds are bathed too frequently, then the skin and coat loose the protective characters. However, when the dog has defecated on the skin due to the frequent digestive upsets leading to diarrhea, to avoid the bad smell, the dog may be subjected to frequent bathing some times by the owners.

Take more care in avoiding some irritant soaps or human soaps. The soap materials used for human beings are not suitable for dogs. Similarly, many human shampoo products are having some ingredients that are not suitable in the proportions that are to be used in case of dogs. Hence, always try to use the shampoo products that are mentioned mainly for use in dogs. Take more care in using any new product.

Always have good time and patience for products required for bathing in one place with availability of water source. Dogs love the sprinkling of water, river, and oceans. Even when you are using bathtub, have everything in one place and then start bathing of the dog. Try to have a leash, conditioner, towel, and shampoo in the bath place.

Conditioner is of helpful to make the combing activity easier later. Bathing should be a convenient activity to both the dog and the owner. This should not be a burden.

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Top 5 Reasons Why Dog Training Fails

2008-06-26T13:34:00.000-07:00

Are you struggling with dog behavior problems? Is the 'dog training' method or technique you are using not working? Join the club! Approximately 90% of dog training efforts fail. It's not your fault! Here are the Top Five reasons dog training fails:

1. Not having an accurate mental model or paradigm of dogs.

There exists a deeply-held (yet erroneous) belief that training a dog should be easy and not take much time. Almost every one has had a dog in their life, so how can it be that complicated? Most dog training efforts do not work because dogs are very different from us. They don't think the way we do, learn the way we do, see the world the way we do, or have the complex emotional life we do. This means, when communicating with and training dogs, you need a counter-intuitive approach. In other words, those 'gut feelings' you have about how to train your dog are probably wrong. If you have tried to stop your dog from barking by scolding him, or tried to stop him from pulling by yanking on the leash, you know this.

2. Not having a trustworthy source

Most dog parents don't know where to turn for help. The problem is, there are so many trainers and training resources, it's difficult to know who can really help you, and how much that should cost.

3. Difficulty implementing dog training protocol

Most 'professional' training methods are difficult to transfer to dog parents. There are almost as many 'methods' as there are trainers. It is difficult to follow the sometimes complicated and vast instructions dog parents can obtain from training books, personal trainers, and training classes.

4. Lack of trust in training method

Confusion exists over contradictory opinions and methods about dog training. Often, when confronted with contradictory advice, dog parents do nothing, or choose one avenue with little trust or commitment. Without trust that what you are doing will work, it usually doesn't.

5. Lack of standardized knowledge base of dogs

Anyone can claim anything about training dogs. There is no significant research to determine conclusively which methods or philosophies of dog training work best, which are unnecessary, and which are abusive. At Canine Kingdom, we are changing all that.

The Canine Kingdom Universal Protocol Center is pursuing conclusive research to determine the facts about dogs, how to best communicate with them, and how to best train them. One of our outcomes will be to determine what training and education methods are most effective while respecting the dog’s nature.

Imagine, data to support beliefs about everything your dog does, and why they do it - so that all dogs may be understood. Join us at the Canine Kingdom to learn more about your dog, products that are safe and effective, and important information all dog parents need to know.

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Top Dog Training Strategies

2008-06-24T10:20:00.000-07:00

Dog training can be administered by yourself or by someone who is an expert in this field. There are dog training classes all over your place and all you need is to scout for one that can truly be fit for the needs of your pet. Just be sure that during the course of the training, your dog will not be harassed in whichever way. Here are a few insights with respect to the top dog training strategies that you can ponder on.

During the time of dog training, it plays a big role if you praise your pet especially when he did a thing according to your instruction. Being happy about his efforts should be reflected on the tone of your voice especially that the slightest changes incurred therein can show your real emotions. If he sees that you take his act positively, then he is going to be more than willing to please you. As he goes on doing the right thing, take some time before you give him the praise that he deserves. This will imprint an impression on him that he has to put on all his effort so that he can obtain a real positive output.

Give him treats. If at the end of the training, he has done a good job, then it is best to give him treats. It is the prize that awaits him for all his hard work during the day. However, if he has not performed well, don't mistakenly give him the treats because that is likely to allow him to think that he can have the same reward even if he has not done anything good. Hitting or yelling at your pet does not form part of dog training. Harassing your dog is going to spark aggressiveness on his part. Dogs generally respond negatively to any abuse heaped on them. Don't push your dog to act like a rebel against you. Making your pet angry can put you at risk as well as your loved ones.

Be gentle yet firm. Gently execute the command but do it in such way that you appear firm. Show him that you are his boss but in a way that expresses your affection towards him. Develop a routine for the training. Nevertheless, overworking your dog is also not a good thing to do. Stressed out beings don't obediently comply with the prodding of others. The same thing can happen to your dog though.

Show your dislike with his every misbehavior. Because he wants to please you, he will feel bad whenever you are not pleased with him. Dog training requires tactics and strategies. For a positive outcome, follow these top tips regarding the right strategies in dealing with dog training. When you are properly guided on what to do and which you should not do, then your relationship with your pet is likely going to become more passionate. Enhancing your bonding together can make you loyal buddies for each other. Hence, keep these things in mind!

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Pointers for House Training Your Dog

2008-06-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Owning a puppy does not end at the time that you have paid all your bills and have settled the necessary papers. It extends to the big responsibility that you need to play. When you have a puppy at home, consider yourself to be like a parent who is about to rear a child. You need to do some dog training so that you can be in a better state of controlling him and shaping his behaviors. Right from the early stages of being a puppy, training needs to be started out. Puppies are like babies that need to be trained at an early age.

Dog training involves the inculcation of house training for the puppies. It involves giving an accurate distinction between which is the home and then which is the toilet. You need to know though, training the puppies are much of a challenge. They can be very picky and annoying at times. Hence, patience and understanding on your part are essential. House training your dog is your responsibility and no one else can do it besides yourself. Likewise, scout for books, online tips, and other advice from people who have had a first-hand experience with house training the puppies to be sure that you are doing the right thing. As a guide, here are some pointers that you need to equip yourself with in order to house train your dog the right way.
Accept your principal responsibility. Puppies are cuddly and indeed very cute. They are fun playmates but raising them is a responsibility. However, you must be both a teacher and parent to him.

Potty train your dog. The best time to do potty training is when your dog is just a puppy. Younger dogs don’t have the ability to control their bowel and urinary needs. Hence, introduce a place where he can relieve himself.
Give your puppy his own space. Like humans, your dogs will want a personal space. The area should be big enough so that he can run around, turn around or even stand up. The personal space can be a crate that can serve as his room.
Learn your puppy’s body language or body gestures. By doing so, you will be able to determine if he needs to relieve himself.
Give praises when needed. A positive tone will enforce to your puppy that you liked what he did. If he does a good job with his toilet needs, then don’t be such a miser in giving praises.

Develop his routine. His everyday toilet needs have to be developed at a young age. You can take him for a walk first thing in the morning, after his feeding time, or before his bedtime. This will give him the clue that it’s his time to relieve himself. Don’t use any aggressive type of punishment. Being harsh can make your puppy feel bad and demoralized. Also, don’t overuse the use of punishment. House training your dog is one way of building a harmonious relationship between the two of you. Get on with the basics and make your time with your pet all worth it.

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Dog Training Fun Activities

2008-06-24T10:17:00.001-07:00

Do you have a dog in your home? Then it can be really fun for you since you can find a playmate in your pet. Dogs are passionate by nature. They love to please their masters. They want to be stroked and be positively accepted. Because of their nature, they can lighten up your feelings whenever you feel down. No wonder, they are known as man’s best friends. However, they can be too hyper most of the times. With their inquisitiveness, they are likely to explore and discover all corners of your home. They easily get excited with the new things that they see which most of the times end up with them getting tied up into troubles. And just so you can divert their attention into other things, you can let them be engaged in fun activities. In this way, you can further hone their dog training.

As the owner of a dog, you must have a creative mind. Why not involve your pet in your hobby? You never know, your pet can be really good at it. It is also one good way of enhancing your bonding with your loyal buddy. Dog training can start from you as his master. Therefore, do all possible fun activities with your pet while you train him at the same time! A Few Suggestions for Dog Training Fun Activity

Among the popular activities that you can do with your dog involve playing hide and seek, fetching, hiking, dog camping, agility tests, and obedience display. Agility test is a dog training fun activity that is generally applicable for all types of dog breed. This activity is sure to test the energy level of your pet. However, you must keep in mind that dogs vary according to their agility. It is for you to discover how agile your pet can be so that you will be able to determine which routine suits him best. Some of the agility games include climbing frames, going through tunnels, and jumping. It will also be best to have other dog owners around.

Hide and seek will then train your dog to be more observant. Let him find you or let him collect the objects that you have hidden. Fun and obedience shows are yet another wholesome activity that you can play with your dog. You can enlist your pet if he is ready to do some tricks. But before you let him join in these activities, you need to first train him to follow your own commands. Fetching teaches your dog to be more accurate and active. Chasing balls or anything that moves is one fun activity that can be perfect for your pet. Hiking and dog camping are other fun activities that you can involve yourself and your pet. They are likewise your opportunity to connect with other dog owners and to develop your pet’s socialization skills. There are a lot other things that you can partake in and the above mentioned are simply a few of them. Let your creative juices pour in as you train your dog while having fun with him!

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Dog Potty Training Tips

2008-06-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

For many pet owners, one of the hardest tasks to take on with dog training is that of potty training. The absence of potty training runs a big problem for you basically because you don't only have to deal with the foul odor but the rest of the nuisance that comes along with it. It is in this aspect that you essentially have to get on with dog potty training. The crash course on potty training starts right at the moment that you take in your pet as a member of your household. No one literally becomes happy to clean up the places where the dog has relieved himself. To basically avoid this task for the rest of your life, it is very important that you exert effort on potty dog training.

Furthermore, you must bring in all the patience that you are capable of exuding primarily because puppies are too young to easily pick up your expectations and standards. Potty training may take a little while yet instilling discipline on your pet calls for your own patience and understanding. Don't punish them harshly just because they are unable to suit your desire. Again, potty dog training takes time.

Some Pointers to Keep in Mind
Dogs that are sensitive are more likely to grasp every single indication that you convey. Most of the times, you may be unaware of transmitting any form of message. However, even the slightest change of tone in your voice lets your pet know that you are unhappy with him. What matters most during the dog potty training is your reassurance on your pet that everything will be fine. Raising your voice can threaten him so always stay calm. Don't send your pet to bed with negativity clouding over you. More so, never hit him when he accidentally relieved himself indoors. Take note that puppies are too young to stop themselves from having accidents.

A toilet training has to be carried out with all the patience that you possibly have without frightening your dog at the very least. Don't allow yourself to turn out to be a bully image that your dog will more than likely fear instead of respect. Staying calm is the secret to it. Appear friendly and understanding instead of getting ready to smack or turn out to be aggressive on him whenever he makes mistakes. Open doors for your bonding so that he will learn to trust you. Likewise, it is very significant to keep your ground and remain consistent. Develop a routine that he will follow. For example, feed him at a specific time and then walk him out or assign him an area where he can eliminate his waste. It will basically help if he is able to go out to relieve himself every after meal. Such routine is best kept consistently. Freely give out praises when he has done it well. Dogs love to garner praises from their masters. After all, they will always want to please you. Encourage your dog to be trained. The outcome of the dog training depends on you and therefore it plays a big role if you remain friendly, patient, and understanding all throughout the potty training.

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Crate Dog Training for Your Puppy

2008-06-24T10:10:00.000-07:00

Crate Dog Training for Your Puppy
For most of the times, dog training is a big challenge especially when you as the dog owner has to do it by yourself. There are a lot of obstacles to face plus some nuisances to battle. Don't forget that you are going to deal with a pet, an animal at the very least. Therefore, doses of patience are required from you. Unlike a person, dogs don't share the same language with you and thus you must first study and learn about his body language. First and foremost, the absence of dog training can turn your life with your pet nothing but hell. Imagine him running around your house destroying everything in sight. How much more when he goes outdoors and starts breaking things in your neighborhood? Can you afford the thought of being burdened with financial obligations towards your neighbors? Surely not. Indeed, dog training can be a tedious task especially if you are not equipped with the ample techniques. However, if it is the other way around, you will find the task simply a piece of cake.

Dog training is quite harder especially when you are starting out with a puppy. However, this is likewise qualified as the best time to do it. Part of the dog training for puppies is the introduction of his own private place. You can better do this if you start with the use of a crate. Most of the times, crates prove to be very useful most importantly in the housebreaking process. Here are some of the benefits of the crate for training your puppy.

The crate is the best tool to use in putting a mark between his home and his toilet. Instead of relieving himself anywhere in the house, he will be accustomed to eliminating his waste outdoors. So, let the crate be his own room and therefore place a pan or something outside to signal that it is where he must put his waste. After which, he will be used to looking for that specific place to have his accidents even when you no longer use the crate for him.

Dog training with a crate teaches the puppy to only chew on the toys inside their private room instead of those outside. When the puppy goes through the teething process, he is likely to chew on the curtains, pairs of shoes, furniture pieces, and the likes. Putting your puppy inside his crate will eradicate the possibility of destroying the precious items in your home. Some puppies even die when they start to play with the big jars, electric wires, and many others.

Puppies which are separated at a very early stage from their families commonly develop one typical behavioral problem which is otherwise known as separation anxiety. However, the crate can be his place of solitude wherein he can go to when he wants to escape the trouble he has made, if he wants to simply calm down or just be alone for a while. Crates likewise make your travel with your pet easier. They are generally handy. Dog training must start with your puppy. The crate should therefore be considered as his first training ground yet far from being called his own prison cell. Although he has a crate, it is important that you establish the assurance that he is not secluded from your family at all.

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Dog Training Systems Reviewed

2008-06-21T02:07:00.001-07:00

Millions of Americans own dogs. Although those dogs can be great and pets, training them can sometimes prove challenging. Finding a proven system on how to train your dog can prove just as challenging.

If you do a quick search online for dog training, you might think that there are as many systems as there are dogs. Many of these systems are extremely expensive and require a lot of time. Some of the systems don’t even work.

3 of these systems have proven to live up to their promises. All 3 are priced great and more importantly they work. Although all 3 tested well, our top pick was by far superior.

Findings:

Pick #1: Our Top Pick! SitStayFetch (Kingdom Of Pets)
'SitStayFetch' is the best-selling online dog obedience training guide that shows you step-by-step how to successfully put a complete stop to all of your dog's behavior problems - quickly and easily.
Authored by Daniel Stevens, this powerful eBook is jam-packed with a goldmine of valuable tips and techniques that are proven to positively transform your dog's behavior in the shortest possible time.
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Our Rating:

Pick #2: Dog Training Online

Dog Training Online is a comprehensive 7-lesson online video series created by professional Hollywood North Dog trainer Dove Cresswell. Some of the feature films Dove has worked on include Sam's Lake and Saved! the TV show 'Romeo'; behind the camera - Charlies Angels and Cougar Crossings and on the commercial 'The Source.' What's unique about Dove's online dog training package is that it works well for all breeds and sizes of dogs.
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Pick #3: The Ultimate House Training Guide (Kingdom Of Pets)

Authored by Martin Olliver, this fully-illustrated 120-page eBook contains a treasure trove of hints, tips and advice from veterinarians and professional dog trainers, as well as years of case studies from clients, thereby ensuring your house training experience is positive and problem-free, from day one.
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Popular Dog Training Books on Amazon

The Principles behind Training a Dog

2008-06-21T01:54:00.001-07:00

Naturally, every pet owner would like their dogs to behave and learn obedience so they train their dogs either with the help of a handler or just by themselves. Unfortunately, not all pet trainings can be thought of as successful. Most of the time training fails because there are some things that may have been overlooked. Let’s talk about dog training and the things involved with it.

To train your dog, there are methods or techniques involved. Once just doesn’t act like he’s the boss for your dog to obey. Common sense dictates that the understanding of pets and owner are very far apart, so don’t expect your pet to obey you especially in the beginning.

So what do you do to make your pet obey? First, you need to have an understanding of the principles of training your dog. What are these principles? Basically, there are three principles behind dog training and these are reinforcement, punishment and extinction.
With reinforcement, this is about the dog’s reaction to the trainer where behavior either becomes better or worst by means of specific actions. To further discuss what reinforcement is all about, let’s categorize this into 2 types namely: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is about giving rewards or praise. If your dog behaves or obeys you, then you reward or praise your pet. This good behavior remains because the dog understands it will be rewarded for as long as it obeys or behaves. While Negative reinforcement is where the trainer removes an unpleasant situation to make the dog obey, for example if you want to teach the dog to sit, you put pressure on the collar and release the pressure once the dog obeys you.

Another principle that is used in dog training is the punishment principle. This is can be about positive punishment or the negative punishment. Positive punishment is where the trainer does something unpleasant and the dog’s negative behavior decreases. While on the other hand, negative punishment is about taking away something that the dog really likes or enjoys and the behavior is diminished or eliminated.

The third principle is about total elimination of a behavior. This is when behavior is not reinforced resulting to its extinction or elimination. For example, your dog is a constant whiner so you allow it to go outside but this time you have changed, your technique so even if the dog continues to whine a lot it is not allowed to go out anymore. Eventually the dog will learn that whining will do him no good so it stops.

For most dog handlers, they believe that positive reinforcement is the best way to train a dog. Yes, it may be for some but this might not work for the others. So before taking on any of the principles discussed, it is still better to have an assessment of your dog’s behavior prior to any training. In this way, you will know which of the principles would give you the best chance of success when it comes to training your dog.

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Taming a Dominant Dog

2008-06-21T01:53:00.001-07:00

Just like any new pet owner, you are excited because there is an addition to the household. And then after picking up the dog of your choice and bringing your pet into the house, it dawned upon you that your dog is quite dominant and hard to control. What do you do next? You embark upon training your dog to do your bidding. Wait! Before you do so, do you really know what you’re up to? Do you know what you are going to train? You may say it’s a dog. You’re going to train a dog. Just like with any tasks, don’t come unprepared. Understanding and knowledge are both essential so take the time to know why dogs behave that way.

Looking back at your canine friend’s origins, a dog is a descendant of wolves. Basically, although dogs have been domesticated thousands of years before, there are some characteristics similar to a wolf that is by instinct ingrained within your pet. For example, the sense of smell is like reading a newspaper for the dog. It tells everything just with a smell. Unlike for us, we need to see, hear and even feel to understand what’s going on.
In other words, although domesticated they still retain some of their most basic instincts.
You have to keep that in mind before going off to tame your dog.

If you feel that the time has come to start training your dog and show who’s boss then by all means start teaching your pet but remember three things for pet training: Focus, Take Control and claim all thing as your possession that is inside the house, of course.

Let’s talk about focus and why you need this. Sometimes it can be challenging to keep your cool especially if your dog is too annoying. So do you resort to using a stick and beating up your pet? Or yelling at your dog? That won’t do you any good. What you can do instead is be calm, steady and always remain firm. Whenever you start training or working with your dog remain consistently calm. Next, take control of the situation. If you are teaching something new to your pet, maintain eye contact. By doing so, the dog will understand that you are in charge and the one in authority. Actually the submissive pet will look away. So if you often gaze away from your dog while speaking, it might come to an understanding that you cannot control your pet hence, remember to keep an eye contact with your pet. Last, claim all things as yours whether this is about toys, food, rugs and so on stand your ground. Only once your dog understands that you are the one in charge should you allow your pet to share things with you.

Now that you are aware of these things, you can continue teaching your pet until the desired results are achieved. However in all things, remember to keep a little tender loving care for your pet, after all we are talking about your dog.

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Potty Training Your Puppy

2008-06-21T01:52:00.002-07:00

It’s a joy to have a puppy around. A puppy is cute, furry and squiggly all at the same time. However, taking in a new puppy would mean more responsibility for you as its care taker. That alright anyway a lot of people say that potty training a pet is easiest when they are young. Unlike if you are training an adult, there are some behaviors that need to be unlearned. So how exactly do you train your puppy? First, timing and routine are important. You need to setup a regular schedule for your little dog. How do you do that? Read more for you to know how to potty train your puppy.

Let’s begin with the basics. You need to consider the age of your puppy. A new-born is not ready for potty training but by three months, he is all set to learn how to cleanup.
First Rule: Keep your puppy’s meal on a regular schedule. In this way you can take your pet out after his done with his meal. You can also take out your pet after nap, before his bedtime, or when he whimpers during the night. Second Rule: You should only feed your puppy and give him a little water when you can take him outside after eating. As much as possible do not give water to your puppy two hours before sleeping. In this way you help prevent accidents through the night. Third Rule: After playing with your puppy, you can now bring him outdoors with you on a leash. This would give your puppy a hint that it’s time to relieve himself. Fourth Rule: Always bring your puppy to the same spot, so that he could recognize the area where he should regularly eliminate. Fifth Rule: You can use a word that would cue your puppy to relieve himself on your command. Last: Reward or praise your puppy if he relieves himself outside or followed your instructions on potty training.

With potty training, sometimes accidents happen. In case these accidents occur, here are some suggestions on how you can best deal with them. If you caught your pet in middle of relieving himself, don’t scream or yell. Gently nudge your pet to go outside and after this continue the reward thing by praising your puppy. Let’s face it you won’t be around all the time, so when you see some of the mess your puppy has left, just keep your cool and clean up then continue training your puppy with the routine you have made up. When cleaning your puppy’s wastes, make sure to clean it thoroughly so that it won’t leave any smell that may induce your puppy to relieve on that same spot again. After this, you can also put the soiled cleaning materials outdoors or where your puppy usually relieves himself, making it easier for your pet to recognize where he should go in the future.
Finally, if you just stick to your schedule and routine, eventually your puppy will get used to this and act in the way you want him to be.

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Housebreaking Your Adult Dog

2008-06-21T01:52:00.001-07:00

You’ve just figured that you’re ready for a pet and the expenses involved. Aside from this, you have decided to pick your “new friend” from an animal shelter, so you went ahead and paid the nearest animal shelter a visit to get your new pet. Actually, there is nothing wrong with buying a pet from an animal shelter especially if you are prepared for the fact that most of these pets have been housetrained by past owners. As a matter fact, it is a lot easier to train a dog if it has been housetrained before but it doesn’t mean that you can just lay back and let your dog do most of the work.

To make the transition for both you and your new dog easier, here are some suggestions that you might find useful. For the first few weeks, pretend as if your dog doesn’t have any training before so you can start from a clean slate. Don’t worry to much about the results of housebreaking your dog again because if it had some training in the past, learning new things would progress a lot faster. Read further so you can start housebreaking your new pet.

The first step in housebreaking your dog is to establish some routines. To do this, you can make it a habit to take your dog out everyday at the same time. You can also set a fixed schedule to feed your pet. In this way, the dog gets used to the idea of eliminating regularly. If your dog behaves properly or eliminates outdoors, be sure to praise your pet lavishly. By doing so makes your dog understand that you are pleased with its behavior and you liked it. As always, every time you housebreak a dog, it should be combined with patience and care. It might not be easy for the dog to understand you at first, however with consistency and by being patient, it will eventually understand the behavior that you would like your dog to have. Showing your dog that you care would make it easier for the two of you to bond. Having a good bond or relationship with your pet is a must, keep in mind you are living under one roof. It pays to be in harmony with everyone including the dog.

Assuming after a few weeks, things did not go according to your plans. Another alternative to housebreak your pet would be to hire a dog handler. Why hire a dog handler? This is not because you are incompetent to train your pet but rather a dog handler or trainer has more experience with teaching pets. Just to make your life easier, a professional is recommended. However, don’t just choose any dog handler, take some time to research about his background and his past experiences with regards to training pets. Always keep in mind that this is about your dog, so take extra care when choosing a trainer to whom you will trust the housebreaking of your pet.

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Dog Training Collar: Is This A Must To Teach Your Dog?

2008-06-21T01:49:00.000-07:00

There are so many techniques involved in training a dog. Some use patience and love while the others use control and dominance. Let me add that if a pet owner really doesn’t have the time to teach their dogs they seek help from professionals such as dog trainers or handlers. Anyway, the training style is pretty much up to the discretion of the pet owners.
Just be very careful when training a dog, we want to avoid any accidents that may hurt your pet.

So you’ve heard about giving rewards to your dog or punishing it to keep it behaved but you feel these aren’t enough hence you look for other ways to train your pet. Ways such as using a training collar. Before you think about the consequences of using this training collar, first ask yourself these questions. What is it made of? How does it help in achieving your goal of teaching your dog.

A training collar is –as the name suggests- used for training. There are different types of collar that your pet can use but for training, the “choke collar” or “choke chain“ is the frequent choice. This collar is made up of a slip loop that tightens on your dog’s neck if it pulls too much. Some people think it is too harsh to be used for training. However, if you use this collar in the right manner, you will find that it can be helpful with your dog’s training. Just don’t forget to use this collar only during “training” and if your dog is properly supervised. Never leave your dog with this collar on without proper supervision.
Remember, a choke collar can hurt your dog so use this with the utmost care.

Another training collar is the Dog Shock Collar. The point of using this type of collar is to discourage a specific behavior such as unnecessary barking. How does this Dog shock collar works? This collar has a sensor to detect barking and a pair of electrodes to send harmless shocks to a dog. Some Dog Shock Collar are more advanced because the frequency of the shock can be adjusted. The downside to these collars are that the dogs are consistently being punished. It resorts to what we call the punishment principle. Most trainers still believe that the best way to teach a dog is to be firm but should be accompanied with understanding and patience. It is no wonder that most pet owners consider these tools unnecessary. A pet owner can still maintain control and authority without using these collars, you just need to know the proper way to express dominance.
But if you are certain that these collars will work for you and your pet without anybody getting hurt then you are free to select this as one of your training tools. Just remember not to look for a quick fix but rather look beyond the training and keep it a goal to enhance a bond with your pet.

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