Archive for January, 2010



Why You Must Never Smack Your Dog

Sunday 31 January 2010 @ 12:18 pm
by Jason Gilbert

Sometimes, breeding puppies can be a very rewarding yet frustrating experience, especially when it misbehaves and starting chewing up your new $2000 couch. You might have smacked your puppy when it misbehaved in some way, and if you have been doing so, you should stop now.

Being physical with your puppy will do nothing but have an adverse effect in the relationship as time goes on between you and your pet.

A puppy is like a new born baby. Will it make a difference if you abuse it when it cries and screams? Of course not! Like babies, puppies just do not get it and applying this type of punishment will only cause your pet to stay away from you whenever possible.

The psychology behind this is that dog when young, do not make the distinction between the pain it receives when you hit it, and the reason that you are having it punished. If it was biting on your shoe and you gave it a smack, all you did was to instill fearfulness and distress into the poor puppy, without it knowing what it had done wrong. It might be a different case for adult dogs.

You might think that hitting your dog with a light smack is fine. It might not hurt so much but it will terrify the life out of the infant dog and if you continue to do this, it will ultimately learn to steer clear of you at all costs, and you’ll never form a close bond with it.

Yelling at it is the next thing you should avoid doing as well. While yelling doesn’t inflict pain, it does instill fear (if you shout loud enough) which is scary enough for a baby dog.

Instead of being vocally loud, a more effective training method you should employ would be to speak to your dog in a very firm tone to get it to cease doing what it was doing. Then pick up your pup and give it a huge to give it reassurance and some love.

Hopefully this guide has helped you understand your new best friend a little better. The best way to deal with misbehaved puppies is through non-physical authority, and a lot of persistence and patience.

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How To Discourage Your Dog’s Territorial Aggression

Sunday 31 January 2010 @ 5:56 am
by Brian Westfall

Canines are hardwired to protect their territory from intruders. In most cases, they communicate a warning to others by barking; it’s a form of intimidation. If a trespasser fails to heed the warning, your pooch’s barking might turn into pacing and growling as if he is preparing for a physical confrontation. If the trespasser still refuses to leave, the pacing and growling may evolve into an attack.

If your pooch shows signs of territorial aggression, it is important to begin discouraging the behavior as soon as possible. Otherwise, your visitors’ safety might be at risk. This article will provide several tips you can use to discourage your dog from behaving aggressively over his territory.

Before Training Begins

There are a few medical conditions that can influence your canine’s tendency to act aggressively toward others. For example, hypothyroidism causes a deficiency of thyroid hormones and can lead to his feeling overly-anxious. If he becomes agitated enough, his anxiety can potentially prompt an attack.

You should also take precautions to ensure that you and your dog will not be interrupted by strangers during your training sessions. Close and lock your gates, especially if you’re training him off-leash.

Action Steps To Curb Aggressive Behavior

First, make sure your canine receives at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. That will help prevent pent-up energy from contributing to his anxiety or aggression.

Second, devote time each day to training your dog to respond to your single-word commands. Many professional trainers recommend a program that includes two or three short sessions (5 minutes per session is sufficient) each day. Whenever your canine successfully responds to your commands, provide a food treat.

In addition to these training sessions, make your pooch work for everything he desires. For example, require him to sit before serving him meals or giving him attention. Over time, your canine will learn that if he wants something, he must follow your commands to acquire it.

One of the challenges owners have with canines that are territorially aggressive is that their dogs often try to usurp the role of leader. This can be due to several factors, including a laxity toward actively curbing the aggressive behavior. To that end, it may be necessary to place a head halter on your pooch in situations that might provoke his aggression.

For example, if you’re expecting visitors with whom your dog is unfamiliar, a head halter will gently encourage him to submit to your authority. That gives your pooch an opportunity to meet new people, and be rewarded (with treats) for staying calm when others trespass on “his” territory.

The suggestions above are effective for canines whose territorial aggression is based on dominance. If the aggressive behavior is triggered by a fear-based mechanism, a modified approach including desensitization and counter conditioning is necessary. Training in such cases is focused on reducing a dog’s level of fear and changing the manner in which he perceives a potential threat. We’ll address those training issues in an upcoming article.

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Teaching Your Puppy Not To Bite In 7 Basic Steps

Saturday 30 January 2010 @ 10:58 am
by Hannah Clapham

Teaching you new puppy not to bite is one of the most important first steps you will need to take. This behaviour if not stopped can become an act of aggression in your adult dog, possibly leading to a situation where he would seriously injure a child, even if unintentionally.

Stay Consistent

Every one will have to be consistent in this training. Teach your children to treat your puppy exactly as you do. It is a natural thing for a puppy to bite. Play biting is what puppies do when they are with their litter mates, so it is only natural that they will want to do the same with you and your kids.

Behave Just Like A Puppy

It is easy to stop them when you understand how they behave with their brothers and sisters. One of their litter mates yelping will cause them to stop, so any time he nibbles on your fingers all you have to do is yelp just like him. He will stop and you can move your hand away. Don’t play with him for a while after he bit you. Use praise and treats when you are playing and he doesn’t bite at all.

Keep Your Training Sessions Short

Keep your training sessions with the puppy short. Puppies don’t have a long attention span. It is important for the training to be positive and it also helps if you talk to your puppy in a happy voice. Give lots of praise. Pet the puppy when he pays attention to what you are saying.

Provide Lots Of Toys

Whenever you are working on the way to train a new puppy not to bite make certain the puppy is provided with toys to bite and chew on. Should your dog bites your hand say ouch or yelp. Stay consistent in this. Should your puppy backs off let him know this pleases you.

Love And Attention

All puppies require loads of love and attention. They also enjoy plenty of play time with the correct toys. Puppies like texture. Therefore, always keep lots of different types of toys on hand for your puppy to play with. He will pick his favourite one. Use that one when you are teaching him not to bite.

No Old Shoes Or Clothes

Nonetheless, do not provide your old boots and shoes or clothes to the puppy to have fun with. He has no understanding what is new and what is not. He might believe this indicates it is Acceptable to chew up all your clothing and footwear. Puppies can become confused very easily. He needs to realize that your things are not his playthings.

Stick To The Routine

Make sure everybody sticks with the routine. You should never have your kids let your pup nip or hurt them in play, this will certainly confuse your puppy. Train them to yelp and stop playing also. Ensure your puppy is provided treats for good behaviour and not for bad.

Remember, it is a natural thing for puppies to bite and nip at their playmates so it takes a little time to unlearn the behaviour. No one would like a dog who is aggressive towards anyone so it is really worth putting into practice these instructions on the best way to teach a puppy not to bite.

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Necessities Of Dog Grooming

Friday 29 January 2010 @ 3:37 pm
by David E. Broadhead

The most serious side of keeping a pet is to take its proper care. In case your pet is a dog, you’ll need to be actually careful about grooming it properly. Proper grooming not only makes your dog look good abut also makes it feel good. There are a variety of things which make a part of dog grooming but there are certain basic things which are an essential.

Hair brushing is the 1st and the most important thing to do if you need to keep your dog well groomed. Not brushing your dog’s hair too frequently could mean tangling of hair which can damage your dog’s coat. Regular brushing of hair helps maintain a healthy dog coat.

You shouldn’t overdo the brushing my doing so every day. How frequently your brush your dog’s hair will depend entirely on the length of the coat. Dogs with longer hair often need brushing more repeatedly compared with those with shorter hair.

Another significant part of proper dog grooming is a bath. Your cleaning and grooming efforts can only be of use if you give your dog a bath. With a bath, the coat and skin of your dog become clean. Any dirt or bacteria get washed away. This means that the dog remains healthy.

You don’t have to get your dog a daily bath. Most dogs do well with a monthly bath. But, if your dog has soiled himself then showering him becomes more than significant. There are particular things that you need to focus on when showering your dog. This include the temperature of the water. Ensure that the water is neither too hot nor too cold. Also, ensure that you are using quality dog shampoos for your pet.

Another serious side of dog grooming is nail trimming. If your dog has long nails, he could be more susceptible to various illnesses. This is because the nails attract dust and other bacteria.

Thus, trimming your dog’s nails regularly is vital. your dog may resist getting his nails trimmed as they simply don’t enjoy the methodology. So you’ll need to take extra cares and care while doing the trimming. Try not to trim from the fringe of the nail as the slightest pain could make the dog very uncomfortable. Do use only professional dog nail clippers to trim your pet’s nails.

You do not want your pet to be a social embarrassment for you. Thus, it is vital that you follow these necessities of dog grooming and make your pet appear and feel good.

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Understanding Why Your Pooch Chews And Controlling The Behavior

Thursday 28 January 2010 @ 4:07 pm
by Ed Jamison

Puppies chew as a way to explore and relate to the world around them. The activity is instinctive to them. Unfortunately, if chewing behavior is focused in the wrong direction, it can result in damaged clothes, shoes, and furniture.

It’s important to realize that adult dogs also chew, but do so for a variety of reasons that extend further than mere exploration. For example, your pooch might feel separation anxiety if you leave him alone for long periods. Or, he might be bored. This happens often when canines lack an outlet through which to expend their pent-up energy. Your pooch may also chew on your belongings as a way to get your attention.

Whatever the reasons for the destructive behavior, you can control the problem. Below, we’ll provide a few tips for training your dog to avoid chewing on your possessions.

Use A Crate

Crating your puppy is an ideal strategy for confining him when you’re unable to watch him. Not only will he come to see his crate as his personal space, but you’ll prevent him from ruining your furniture and clothes when you’re not home. If you plan to keep him crated, be sure to give him a few toys with which he can entertain himself.

Provide Chew Toys

The goal is not to eliminate your pooch’s penchant for chewing; again, that’s his way of relating to the world around him. Instead, redirect the behavior toward objects that are acceptable for him to chew.

For example, all pet supply stores sell chew toys that can keep your canine occupied. Some are rubber; others are made from durable rope; still others are designed from strong leather and rawhide. Any of these toys will keep your dog’s attention while providing the stimulation he desires.

Keep Your Departures Understated

Owners often unwittingly worsen their dogs’ separation anxiety by overstating their departures. When they return home, they’re surprised to find their furniture partially destroyed. Downplay leaving your home. The bigger fuss you make, the more likely your dog will sense that your leaving is a major event. That raises the likelihood of his chewing.

Provide An Outlet For Exercise

When canines lack an outlet for physical activity, they become bored. Moreover, their energy level remains unspent and stifled. That’s a recipe for destructive chewing. Make sure your pooch receives at least an hour of exercise each day. He’s less likely to suffer boredom and he’ll have less pent-up energy to direct toward your couch.

Offer A Swap

Puppies find chewing new objects to be irresistible. If you see your pup gnawing on something he shouldn’t be, take the item away and replace it immediately with a chew toy. Avoid getting into a tug-of-war contest with him. Instead, have a toy on hand and swap it quickly.

Some dogs love to chew almost anything they can get into their mouths. Other canines are more selective, though they can cause just as much destruction. Learn to control the problem by redirecting your dog’s chewing behavior to objects you don’t mind being destroyed.

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