YOUR DOG

Each dog and dog owner has his or her own unique dog training challenges.  No two dogs or owners are exactly the same.  Each breed of dog has a different temperament.  Despite the difference there are some basic things in common for training all dogs.

No matter what reason you chose to have a dog, your pet should at least have some elementary dog training.  It is very hard to deal on a daily basis with a dog who isn’t housebroken, who runs away or into the street, who won’t sit, come or stay when you want him to.  Both you and your dog will be happier with a little common ground on obedience training. Your dog’s training could save it’s life in an emergency situation.

One of the first things to take into account when dog training is that dogs are programmed for a world of leaders and followers.  You have to be the leader in your relationship with your pet.  Show consistency.  Know what you want your pet to do and keep that constant from day to day and training session to training session.   Don’t shout at your pet.  That is a sign that you have lost control.  Also keep your dog’s attention entirely focused on you during the training session.

It has been said that ninety percent of dog training is getting and keeping your pet attention. Dogs are much like children and have short attention spans.  Keep your training sessions short. Twenty minutes is an alright length of time or even a couple of ten minute sessions. You don’t want to overwhelm your pet.  Work with your dog in a quiet environment that is free of distractions.  Talk to your dog in a quiet voice.  Use his name and explain what you want him to do.  He may understand no more than, “Blah blah blah, Rex”  but the sound of your voice will keep him focused in your direction.

Positive dog training is more effective that a system of rewards and punishment.  A dog who looks forward to training sessions as fun and full of rewards is a dog who will learn faster and repond better.  Reward accomplishments with treats or words of praise or pats.  As your dog learns new skills you can reward him for each step along the way and if he doesn’t respond the way you want, rethink what you are asking him to do and how you are asking him to do it.

What worked as a dog training method for one dog may not work as well for the next.  Your dog may need to review some more basic dog training lessons before going on to new lessons. Rather than punishment or screaming a stern NO and  blocking a movement with your hands, or withholding rewards when he doesn’t perform  and remaining consistent are the best ways to encourage your dog to exhibit the behavior you want.

Remember that it is in your pets nature to want to test the limits and see how much he or she can get away with.  Consistency in dog training is what will achieve positive results for the long run.

If you are looking for a new puppy or dog we highly recommend going to your local animal shelter. Not only will you be helping to relieve the over population of animals as well as possibly rescuing a loving little dog, you just might meet the best doggy friend you will ever have. You could also go to a pet supplies store that sells pets.

No matter where you find the right dog for you, the same basic rules will apply. You will find that a very young puppy only vaguely resembles the adult dog you admired on the street or in the show ring. Older puppies, between the ages of six and twelve months or so, go through an awkward adolescent stage during which they seem hopelessly out of proportion. You will often get a better idea of what the puppy will eventually look like if you observe the adult members of his family.

Some advise avoiding the weakest and shyest puppy even though the runt of the litter just may turn out to be the best of the litter. Some breeders claim the mother picks out the best, so they remove the puppies from her and note which ones she brings back first but many agree that the signs of a good temperament in a very young puppy are friendliness, confidence, curiosity and playfulness. If you have small children you will definitely want a less temperamental or aggressive pet.

When you are having a hard time choosing a puppy from a litter you could proceed by elimination. First of all is sex, male or female, this will eliminate 1/3 to ½ of the puppies. Next you might consider colors or markings and  a playful and happy attitude. Always keep in mind the role he will play in your life. Do you want an active playful dog, or one that is quiet and more reserved? Choose the one that most closely fits your lifestyle so things go more smoothly.

Choosing an adult dog is a little different because he has already achieved his full physical development and personality. He may also have acquired  mental or physical quirks as well. When choosing an adult dog of an unknown past you should use your power of observation. Like the puppy, a good temperament is the most important quality of all. Keep in mind that adult dogs could be more difficult to train as they have already been trained by someone else.

If you are looking for a show dog, temperament may be secondary to physical conformation. There tends to be considerable difference of temperament between the show lines or breeds, and the working lines of certain breeds. When making your final choice choose from the heart and not so much by the book and you both will be happier for it. A dog or puppy can be a wonderful addition to the family.

Boredom experienced dogs may show itself in different types of behavioral patterns.  For example, some dogs will be seen barking continuously and some may be engaged always in some digging activities.

There are many ways to get your dog out of its boredom activities. Many toys are available which simulate ducks, squirrels, rodents or whatever toy your dog loves. Some dogs love to hear a squeaky noise in their toy.

A buster cube with multiple treats may be placed on the floor as your dog plays with it, it will  soon understand how to roll the Buster Cube to get a treat. A Buster Cube is an ingenious toy used for stimulating  your dog during play and feed time.  Such actions will be helpful for removing the boredom  in your dog. Activities pertaining to boredom need to be addressed by the dog owners.  This will help them to a greater extent to drive away the unwanted behavior patterns in their pet dogs.

For example, some dogs may often have destructive biting characters and will be seen biting chair, cloth, mats, and everything that can see. After ruling out the teething problem if it is a puppy, provide  it with some large sized balls, mineral mixture based bone materials, etc. Such variety of materials help to reduce the boredom related activities.

If you have a yard, let your dog go outside and play for a while or take your dog for a walk. Some dogs even enjoy watching television or eating ice. Experiment and find out what makes your dog happy.

Bathing a dog needs to be viewed as important.   While you do want to bathe your dog you don’t want to over do it. Frequency of bathing actually depends on the breed of the dog. If the dog is a hairy type like the Cocker Spaniel, then the bathing should be done once every six to eight weeks. If these breeds are bathed too frequently, then their skin and coat could loose the protective characters.  However, if the dog has defecated on their skin due to having a case of diarrhea to avoid the bad smell, the dog may be subjected to frequent bathing some times by the owners.

You’ll want be careful and avoid purchasing  irritant soaps or soaps meant for human use. The soap materials used for human beings are not always suitable for dogs.   Always try to use the shampoo products that are for dogs. Be careful when trying  any new product and if you notice it is causing your dog to have a reaction then stop using it and contact your veterinarian.

Make bath time a good time for your dog and have lots of patience.  While some dogs love the sprinkling of water, river, and oceans, some can’t stand to take a bath and will dart away first chance they get which could be messy if they are soap covered.  Even when you are using bathtub be sure to have everything in one place and then start bathing  the dog. Try to have a  towel, and shampoo in the bath place before you start so you don’t have to hunt for it once you get your dog into the tub.

Chew treats, you’ve probably given them to your dog before.  Many dogs love chew treats. They clean their teeth with them and it helps keep them occupied for hours. It’s  perfectly harmless right? No, wrong. Chew treats can harm or in a worst case scenario even kill your dog.

What could be so dangerous about a chew treat?

Well, the two most popular kind of edible chew treats are those that are made of rawhide and those made from compressed vegetable protein. When your dog chews on these treats, they may swallow large pieces of them. These pieces of chew treat cannot be properly digested by your pet and they could  become lodged in their intestines. Intestinal blockages can kill your dog in hours. Your dog could develop a condition called intestinal strangulation which is what occurs when blood flow is cut off from the intestines. The intestinal tissue then begins to die and rot.

How do I know if my dog has an intestinal blockage?

If your dog has a blockage, you could see some of the following symptoms,  vomiting, refusing to eat, regurgitating food, diarrhea or abdominal pain. If your dog has any of these symptoms, you should consult a veterinarian as soon as possible because it is an emergency.  An intestinal blockage  will not clear itself and could require surgery.

Should I  give my dog chew treats?

You do not have to stop giving your dog chew treats but you should monitor the use of these treats. When you can not be around your pet  take the treats away to be on the safe side. When your dog has worn the treats down into small pieces replace them with new treats.