Dog Hygiene Basics
Giving your dog a bath is important, but not as critical as most people seem to believe. If your dog is healthy, he really doesn't need to be bathed more that once every few months, but most of us put them in the tub or under the hose more often to get rid of that doggie smell and look shinier.
Dog Training Tips: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Dog
Doges are possibly the best pets anyone could have. Although there are different breeds of domestic dogs, all puppies need proper training before their activities become unwanted and annoying habits. Proper training of your puppy will ensure they become well trained and "perfect pets".
Dog Fencing Made Easy
The first thought when looking at building a dog kennel is to go with the traditional chain link and what a pain that is with setting posts and setting up a hard foundation of some kind It comes in pieces that have to be put together
Spaying or Nuetering Your Dog-Get The Facts... Be Responsible
Bringing a new puppy or dog home is a huge commitment
and a three-fold responsibility. You now have a commitment
to your dog, yourself, and to your community.
The Honest Kitchen Cools Down the Dog Days of Summer with Ice Pups Frozen Treats : Holistic Pet Food Company Lets Canines Beat the Heat with Gourmet
The Honest Kitchen, makers of organic and holistic dehydrated raw pet food, today announced the return of its Ice Pups frozen treats just in time for the summer season. Ice Pups, which sold out within weeks of their debut last year, are now available in a new larger size 10 ounce tin.
Are your Dog Treats Safe? They are if the Treats are Waggin' Train
Waggin' Train Chicken Tenders Proven Safe
Sarbanes-Oxley and Section 404: Old Dog, New Teeth
The failures we have seen in the quality and integrity of financial reporting in corporate America are clear evidence that something was awry. It is the responsibility of corporate boards, managements, public accounting firms and regulatory agencies to put confidence back into the financial statements issued by our society's most significant entities.
4 Ways In Which You Can Spoil Your Dog Rotten
You spoil your pooch as close to rotten as you can get, don't you? Hey, who doesn't? It's almost impossible not to, with those adorable, big, beautiful eyes, the little lashes, the soft fur just behind the ears..
Is Dog Obedience School for You?
Are you thinking about dog obedience school? Do you know what to expect out of it? Do you know what it costs or where to find a good school?If not, let me help take out some of the mystery of finding one to make sure you and your dog get the best experience you can.If you have searched the web in this topic, you probably found some sites that are basically search engines within search engines, no real information about dog obedience schools.
Got Fleas? How to Spot and Care For Fleas on Your Dog
Your poor pooch is scratching himself all over. Plus, you
know he's uncomfortable because he's whimpering and
gnawing too.
Shut The Door Buddy: Simple Dog Tricks To Teach and Impress
The shutting and opening door trick can be taught to all dog breeds. The only consideration maybe would be asking small size dogs to close large or heavy doors which are beyond their physical capabilities.
Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 3 of 3
Are there so many great dog breeds out there that you just can't decide where to begin? If so, let's break it down and sort through all the options. In Part 3, the final article in this three part series, we'll continue looking at the seven Groups of dogs that are acknowledged by the American Kennel Club.
Learn What Kind of Dog Treats You Should Avoid
Looking for a way to reward your dog for being great or doing something spectacular Dog treats are the perfect answer, as canines love them and they are relatively cheap
Positive Attitude When Training A Dog Produce Positive Outcomes
Dogs are the wonderful and reliable companion of human and when approached in the right way, they develop a strong desire to act in a manner that will please their master. Since they are particularly receptive to learning dog owners are therefore suggested to cultivate proper attitude when training a dog to produce positive outcomes. It is true that dogs often reflect the attitudes and temperaments of their owners, therefore a proper attitude and perspective truly is the rerequisite to training success and is exceedingly important than the equipment purchased, the exact system used, or the breed of dog involved.
Shock Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience and Breaking Bad Habits
Shock CollarsAre you at a loss as to whether or not to purchase a shock collar for your pet? Yes, you love the little guy but the neighbors don't want him in their yard. Or, maybe they are complaining about the dog's barking? You need to do something and you are thinking about getting a shock collar? Here's some information to think about regarding shock collars.
You Must Be The Alpha Dog
First, let's take a look at what a "pack mentality" means. Dogs are born into packs – in the wild, packs are the essential social order. Unlike humans, who use a variety of political processes to determine leadership and rank, dogs sort out their social order by dominance and power. In a wolf pack, there is a Top Dog – a clear leader who is the dominant, Alpha male. He's the Big Dog, with pride of place at the dinner table (well, if wolves had a dinner table!), first in mating, first in decision making for the pack.
Whether you realize it or not, your dog views your household as his own personal wolf pack. The pack mentality is so engrained in your dog's psyche that he will either view you as a leader - or a follower - depending on your actions. If you are to have a well-trained dog, you must establish that you are the leader, and he is the follower. Your dog has to know in his heart that you are the Alpha Dog, the Head Honcho, the Big Dog, the Top Dog – call it whatever you want, but your dog needs to know you're in charge.
Dogs are a little like children in one respect – they're looking for someone else to be the leader – they want rules and regulations because that makes their role in the pack more clear-cut and understandable. It's scary being the leader – if you're not up to it, your dog may assume the role – because someone has to be in charge!
If that's what's happened at your house, you need to re-establish your position as the Top Dog, or "Leader of the Pack." But here's an important note: being the leader of the pack has absolutely nothing to do with harsh punishment. It has everything to do with consistency and setting limits.
A simple rule to remember (and one people have great difficulty keeping in mind) is that you are the leader, not your dog.
1. You Go Through The Door First Even something as straightforward as who walks through the door first can reinforce your position as "dominant dog." Leaders lead. Followers follow. If you allow your dog to charge through the door ahead of you, he perceives that as asserting his dominance over you. Put your dog on the leash, and make sure you're the first one through the door.
2. You Eat Before Your Dog Who gets fed first in your house – you or your dog? In a wolf pack, the leader eats first, and when he is done, the rest of the pack can dine. Do you feed your dog first because he pesters you when you're cooking your dinner, and it's simply more convenient to have him quiet and out of the way when you're eating?
Food is a powerful motivator that can be used to clearly demonstrate who is the ruler of the roost at your house. In no way, shape or form am I suggesting that you withhold food from your dog – that's cruel and unusual punishment any way you look at it. What I am suggesting is that you control the timing of the food – you should eat first, your dog second, after you're done with your meal.
3. Don't Walk Around Your Dog
Does your dog lie on the floor and expect you to walk around him? In the wild, dominant dogs lie wherever they want, and dogs lower in the social order go around so they don't disturb the Big Dog. If you walk around your dog, he will assume this to be an act of submission on your part; therefore he must be the leader, not you.
If your dog is lying in the middle of the hallway, or right in front of your easy chair, make him move. If he's on the couch and you want to lie down, make him move. Don't step over him. Just gently nudge him and make him get out of your way. You're the Big Dog, remember?
4. You Determine When Your Dog Gets Attention
Even asking for attention or affection can be seen as an act of dominance from your dog's point of view. Dogs that demand attention are asserting dominance, so if your dog gets pushy, ignore him. When you're ready to give him attention or affection or pet or play with him, ask him to sit first. Don't run after him just so you can pet him. Make him come to you when you're ready to give him attention, or play with him. And when you play with a toy, make sure that you end up with possession of the toy, and then put the toy away when you're done. (Note: I'm not talking about his favorite toys that you leave in his crate. I'm talking about play toys that the two of you use for games.)
5. Don't Let Your Dog Sleep In Your Bed
This is a tough one for a lot of people, but when you let your dog share your bed, at best you're making him an equal to you. He should have his own bed, either a dog pad or his crate that he feels comfortable in – you can even put the dog pad next to your bed if that makes both of you happier – but don't let him take over the sleeping arrangements. Before you know it, he'll be trying to make you sleep on the floor!
Again, reinforcing or retraining your dog to recognize you as the Head Honcho has absolutely nothing to do with harsh discipline. These are changes you can make that will change the way your dog thinks about you. And making even small changes like these can have an enormous impact on the way your dog views the social hierarchy in your home – all without a harsh word being spoken!
Charlie Lafave, author, "Dog Training Secrets!" To transform your stubborn, misbehaving dog into a loyal, well-behaving "best friend" who obeys your every command and is the envy of the neighborhood, visit: http://tinyurl.com/6u2cj