Archive for August, 2009

Stop Your Puppy from Biting

If you have a new puppy in your home you must have already noticed his passion for chewing and biting everything he can get his little mouth close to. Obvious targets are your hands and feet, any shoes laying around, and basically everything else, too.Here are a few practical tips to help stop your puppy from biting and to make his chewing less of a problem.

  • First of all, get your puppy some chew toys to play with. He’s teething, so he’s going to have to bite something, and these chew toys are the perfect substitutes for your hands and feet.  As you start playing with your puppy and he gets too rough, stop him by placing your hand over his mouth to hold it shut. Hold his mouth closed with your hand until he stops resisting your grip. Your puppy won’t exactly enjoy his mouth being held shut, so soothe him with your voice while you hold him. Using a firm but calm voice, tell your puppy “no biting”. Be sure to keep your voice calm so he doesn’t become nervous and resist even longer. The sooner he relaxes, the sooner he will submit. Once he has become submissive and stopped struggling, it is time to remove your hand from his mouth, and offer him his chew toy as a wonderful substitute to human flesh.  Get him to take the chew toy in his mouth, and then give him lots of praise and affection.Because you are positively reinforcing chewing on the toy instead of you-consistently-the puppy will learn that the toy is the better alternative.Be patient with the training (it won’t change overnight. This type of negative reinforcement will hurt you progress with training your puppy by undermining his trust and confidence in you.For the best results, make sure the whole family knows to only use the positive reinforcement techniques. Try to make sure no one else who is around the puppy slows down the training by not following the positive training method.
  • A good way to prevent household damage when you can’t supervise your puppy’s activities directly, is to keep him in his crate. If the puppy is allowed to wander the house without anyone watching he will surely attack his favorite targets. Put some chew toys inside his crate with him, so he can chew to his heart’s content safely.
  • Common sense alone tells you some easy ways to stop the pup from chewing easy to get at goodies. A simple example is to put all your shoes and slippers (historically favorite targets) into a closed room or closet.
  • Borrow a trick form Mama dog to let the puppy know he is biting too hard. You can imitate her, by yelping with a very high pitched voice to let the puppy know he is biting too hard. You might feel sort of silly, but this is one way Mama Dog  gets a puppy’s attention and stops the puppy from biting her.
  • I have found that a very good way to stop my puppy from biting me is that while holding my hand over his mouth,  I also stare him in the eyes and bare my teeth in a snarl and perhaps even make a low growl to show a threat to him. You may have seen a Mama dog do this sometime or other.
  • You probably won’t want to grab the puppy by the scruff of the neck with your teeth the way a Mama dog does, but there is no reason not to use your hand to hold him still and show him who is boss until he submits. Don’t stop the correction until he has really shown you he understands that you are the boss, by becoming  submissive.
  • Playing rough games with him, such as wrestling and tug of war only encourage him to bite, so avoid the rough play. I always used to do both those rough games with my puppies, and consequently always used to have bloody hands and wrists and forearms. I didn’t realize at the time the rough playing was not a good idea because it could increase his aggression level.

I hope these tips are useful to get a grip on your puppy’s biting problem. Click here for more dog training tips www.BehaveDoggy.com.

To read my review of the best of the Internet’s dog obedience training programs, please click here.

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Cat Groomer - Prevent Costly Mistakes

Dog Grooming Tools Video

Introduction:

Brushing and grooming a dog is not as simple as it sounds. If you think you can use any of the several types of brushes available to groom and brush your dog, you will be so wrong. Each of the grooming tools available in the market is meant for a specific use, and a good understanding about the specific application is necessary to make grooming easier for you.

Professional dog groomers have the expertise to look after your dog in a better way than you can manage. The expert dog groomers would use slicker brushes to remove mats and tangles from the dog’s fur for all types of dog coats. A slicker brush would remove dead hairs from the undercoat and = coarser hairs from the outer coat of the dog’s fur.

There are various kinds of brushes which are used for grooming and brushing:

Undercoat rakes:

Undercoat rakes are useful for dogs that shed. The brush has one row of metal prongs which remove the dead hairs from the dog’s undercoat. To remove hairs from the soft loose undercoat of your dog, you should use an undercoat rake which is especially designed for this purpose.

Undercoat rakes remove the loose hairs without disturbing the longer hairs in your dog’s upper coat. During the time of the year when your dog starts to shed, an undercoat rake becomes very useful to keep your dog from shedding, and it also helps to maintain skin health by gently stimulating circulation to the skin and removing dead skin.

Thoughtful consideration of  Dog grooming brush by looking at   a professional review is always recommended.

Wire-pin brushes:

The wire-pin brush is an excellent tool for general grooming of small to large dog breeds. The loose hair in your dog’s coat is lifted out smoothly by this brush, taking out the debris from the fur. Brushing your dog every day, or at least every alternate day, keeps the skin of your dog healthy, while distributing the oil present in the hairs evenly through-out the dog’s coat.

You can also use the wire-pin brush to remove the fluff from your dog’s coat by brushing against the direction of hair growth. Wire-pin brushes are available with or without rubber tipped ends, and these brushes are mostly preferred for dogs with medium to long hair and those with curly or woolly coats.

Slicker brushes:

These brushes are essentially used to remove mats and tangles from your dog’s coat, and as you brush your dog the brush helps to remove dead hairs. Slicker brush gently stimulates the skin of your dog as the layers of the dead skin are taken out leaving the blood to circulate evenly. A slicker brush is often used at the end of grooming and brushing, giving a finished shining appearance to your dog’s fur.

There are various sizes of slicker brush available for the larger to smaller dogs. Slicker brushes are generally made from thin metal wire mounted on a soft padded material, looking somewhat like a hair brush. The soft padded material on which the wires are mouthed ensures that the dog does not get hurt as the brush is used.

Summary:

Brushing your dog helps to remove dead hairs from your dog’s coat and clean the surface free of parasite as well. Brushing also helps to keep away fleas, and while you brush you can check for the physical appearance of the animal.

While you groom and brush your dog you can easily find out of presence of any unusual bundle, or bald spot which you may take care of immediately. As you brush your dog as frequently as every day or every other day, you slowly build up a bond between you two, and brushing would become a friendly invitation for your dog.

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Puppy Training

I hope you’re ready to enjoy a fun experience. You and your puppy are about to become a team by learning just a few of the basics. Your puppy will have to be molded into the type of dog that you want him to become. A well trained puppy is a joy to be around.

Help for Training Your Puppy 

Training with the Reward System

The reward system for training your puppy is by far the most positive method. Food and treats will be the main reward in the beginning. Many of the top trainers use little cut up pieces of hotdog as the treat. Love and lots of praise is the other reward.  Keeping it fun for yourself and your puppy is so very important.

The Training

Heel, sit and down are the first three basic commands a puppy should learn. Once your puppy learns these commands you will have much better control over him.  When you have a well trained puppy, socializing him to different situations will become much easier. Ten to 15 minutes sessions at the beginning will be enough because they are just puppies. It won’t be long before you will gradually lengthen the training sessions.

Puppy Training Advice

Using The Leash

While holding the treat in front of your puppy’s nose with your left hand, and the leash in your right hand, leash training begins.  In an upbeat voice, say the puppies name and give the heel command.  Become a human pez-dispencer, dishing out the treats and encouragement to keep the puppy walking beside you. If the puppy should stop, just continue to hold the treat in front of him and gently tug the leash.  Eventually the leash and collar will not bother the puppy.

Teaching The Sit

The easiest way to teach a puppy to sit is by holding a treat in front of his face and then slowly lift it up over his head. Every time you practice this, use the word sit. The sit can be taught anytime, just take one or two minutes and practice it during a commercial.

The Down

To begin teaching the puppy the down, he should first be sitting, then while holding the treat by his nose, bring your hand all the way down then forward. Say down every time you start to lower the food.

To train your puppy, you will need to stay consistant. Don’t worry if it seems like it is taking a little longer for your pup to get the hang of it, he will. Putting the treats away and using verbal commands is the ultimate goal. Just stick with it and the results will show up. All will be well when the puppy is trained.

Puppy Training Advice

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Finding Answers To Dog Health Care Questions

Finding Answers To Dog Health Care Questions

There are many resources online for dog health care, however, these sources need to be examined to make sure that they are reliable before taking the advice offered.  The most reliable sources are those that are produced by veterinary offices or associations, since the articles that are posted are produced by learned professionals.These resources are precious for the pet owners who don’t prefer to go into a veterinary office to get answers of dog health care questions.  These dog health care questions are often the common questions that many dog owners will ask, so they are commonly answered on these online sources.

Common Dog Health Care Questions

Some common questions in dog health care relate to food.  Pet owners often find it hard to resist giving their pets treats from the table.Although various veterinary sites do not prefer this behaviour for several causes.  First, the habit can lead to an overweight dog, since the dog food is portioned out and formulated to match the needs of a dog, whereas table scraps are an addition to those feedings.  Second, the table scraps may not be healthy for a dog to consume and can lead to other health issues.  Finally, this habit is helpful in training the dog to beg at the table, causing problems when there are visitors, in addition to stealing food when there is not someone around to guard the plates and dishes.

Another common question in dog health care relates to tooth care.  According to the dog care information, the dogs should be given toys and treats that promote the natural cleaning of the dog’s teeth.  These toys feel good to the dog to chew, provide entertainment, and keep the plaque on the dog’s teeth to a minimum.  When these toys are paired with brushing the dog’s teeth three times per week, the dog’s teeth can usually be kept in great condition.

A third question in dog health care is often about cleaning the ears or skin related issues.  There are ear cleaning solutions that can be massaged into the ears of the dogs and then drained out by the dog shaking its head after the massaging is over. This usually has to be done in a place where the contents of the ear can spray out without causing a mess.  After that, the ear can be gently wiped with a Kleenex or cloth to remove the extra liquid, dirt and ear wax that remains.Skin problems can be dealt by giving the proper diet and selecting the accurate shampoos for the dog.

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Considering A Mastiff Puppy? Look A These Tips!

Caring for a mastiff can be the same as caring for any other dog; they need to be trained from young, have a good exercise routine, a good diet and must be groomed and cleaned regularly. Mastiffs can be by nature a very lazy breed and are very comfortable lying by the couch all day, every day. Because of this it is important that you teach your mastiff from a pup and give your mastiff a good routine. Their tendency of laziness is why Mastiff training should be very firm.

It is recommended to walk your mastiff on a daily basis and approximately twice a day to maintain your mastiff healthy and happy. If you have a back yard then it is ok to walk your mastiff once a day as they can walk around the yard. But if you live in an apartment it is recommended to walk your dog at least twice a day so that they can get a regular exercise.

Mastiff puppies need a good and regular diet to help them stay healthy. After they have been separated from their mothers they should be fed about four times a day to help them to grow strong and healthy. As your mastiff gets older you can start to lower the amount of food you give him on a daily basis to twice a day. Make sure to give your mastiff a balanced diet of meat and dried food.

Grooming a mastiff is generally a very easy process, since they are short-haired. They are natural shedders (watch out in the spring time!), so you don’t have to work so hard when you brush them. They do have natural oils in their coat to help protect their skin, to take extra care not to over-wash your mastiff; about once a month should work nicely.

Although they are very large, mastiffs are a gentle breed and can be very wonderful pets if taken care of properly. They have a wonderful attitude towards children, but naturally their size may not make great pets if your child is very young and can easily get knocked over by a grown mastiff. There are many different types of mastiffs, some of the most popular being bull mastiffs, English mastiffs, and American mastiffs. If you decide to introduce a mastiff into your home, you won’t be sorry!

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All About Teacup Yorkie Dogs

Yorkshire Terrier Video

Teacup Yorkshire terriers are very tiny, weighing approximately five pounds at the most. There is quite a bit of information to know about them though if you are considering such a breed of dog as a pet.

Some individuals assume that this is a specific type of breed but it isn’t. Instead teacup Yorkshire terrier breeders strive to mate very small dogs in order to keep the size to a minimum.

It is to your benefit to see both the mother and father so you can get a realistic idea of the full grown size your puppy will be.A Yorkshire terrier teacup puppy is going to be extremely small at the time when it is ready to leave its mother. You need to make sure you are well equipped to take care of it.

Many get injured due to falls or from not being handled properly. Children and teacup yorkshire terriers aren’t usually a good match a they may accidentally drop them.

Make sure you have a safe place for your yorkie puppy to sleep. You don’t want it to get lost around your home or even sat on.

There are some really nice beds and even small kennels you can use to keep it in if you want. Many individuals like to carry around their teacup Yorkshire terriers in a purse or other carrying capacity as a way to display it.

As with any Yorkie, your teacup may end up with a variety of health problems. You want to make sure this is something you are willing to take responsibility for.

Feeding your Yorkshire terrier teacup puppy the right combination of foods is vital to their health. Working with your veterinarian from the time you bring your puppy home will help to ensure everything thing he or she needs is provided.

Keep in mind that this breed of dog requires a lot of time and of attention. They love social interaction so you can’t leave them at home alone while you are at work all day.

They will end up becoming physically and mentally ill because of it. Many of them refuse to eat and they can whine continually when you are in the vicinity but not paying much attention to them.

Having a teacup yorkie can be very similar to having a very small child to care for.

You also need to be prepared for some challenges when it comes to potty training your new pet. If you become easily frustrated this may not be a good match for you.

They are among the most difficult breeds of dogs to successfully potty train. Yet if you are dedicated to the efforts and consistent then it will eventually fall into place.

Don’t forget you will need to do grooming several times a week as well, for your yorkshire terrier teacup puppy. Otherwise their fur will become matted and difficult to care for. It will also hinder their overall appearance.

Teacup Yorkshire terriers are certainly popular, but before you buy one you need to make sure you will want it once the novelty has worn off. These puppies often sale for between $1,000 and $2,000 so they come with quite an investment in them.

Yet if you really love this size and breed of dog then your rewards will be plenty. They will surely justify any amount of money you spend in order to make one of them yours.

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Training Tips for American Bulldogs

If you are looking for a great family pet, American Bulldogs are extremely smart and loyal. 
The best way to ensure that your puppy gets properly trained and socialized is to start his American Bulldog training at a young age.

Extreme loyalty and protectiveness comes quite naturally to these dogs, as they were bred originally to be guard dogs as well as watch over livestock.  An American Bulldog needs lots of social interaction and exercise, so you need to be willing to make the commitment before adopting one as a pet.

Discover all the Best American Bulldog Training Tips by Clicking Here

Be sure to socialize your American Bulldog puppy while he is young so that his highly protective nature doesn’t prevent him from being able to be social with others.  The more environments, dogs and other animals, as well as people your dog is exposed to, the better.  An American Bulldogs that haven’t been thoroughly socialized will have a tendency to act with aggression and be quite wary around animals and people they don’t know.  Socialization is also very important for breaking an American Bulldog’s instinctual herding tendency for chasing small animals.

American Bulldog Training Basics

It is very important to make clear who the leader is at the very beginning of American Bulldog training.  The tendency for these dogs to be aggressive and dominant means that you need to demonstrate to your dog that you are the boss by being very consistent and firm.  American Bulldogs can have strong wills and be very stubborn, so it is very important that you stay firm and patient while training them.

Because dogs don’t like sleeping in a place they have soiled, crate training can be a very effective method for house training.  Stocking your American Bulldog’s crate with lots of soft bedding, food and water, and toys will help to give him a sense of security.

American Bulldog training should include leash training.  Because they are such powerful, large dogs, it is important that you begin training your American Bulldog on a leash while he is still young before he gets too big and hard to handle.

When your American Bulldog puppy starts pulling on the leash, calm him down by changing directions or stop walking until he stops tugging.  When he walks nicely on his leash, reward him with praise or treats.  Leash training is quite important due to the fact that these dogs require lots of exercise.

Learning some of the major obedience commands such as sit, down, stay and heel should come fairly easily for your American Bulldog considering they are such loyal, intelligent dogs.  Always allow plenty of time and stay patient.  Don’t forget to always make training sessions repetitive and focused and don’t make the lessons too long. As your dog is learning new commands, offer lots of positive reinforcement.

American Bulldog Training Tips

American Bulldogs need plenty of social contact, so it is a bad idea to leave them unattended or alone for very long. Providing your American Bulldog with proper training and lots of interaction and exercise will help him to be a very happy and healthy dog.

Properly training your American Bulldog will result in you having a family pet who is very protective, well adjusted and loyal. These dogs can make a great family addition and get along well with other animals and children if properly socialized. A timid person or someone who is too busy too properly exercise, train or spend time with their dog should not get an American Bulldog who can have quite an aggressive and dominant nature. If you do have the right personality and time to properly care for an American Bulldog, then this dog can be a very faithful companion.

For more great information on training an American Bulldog, check out my dog training book reviews!

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Choosing The Right Dog Breeds

Choosing the best dog breeds to adapt at your cozy home can be a daunting question; especially if you haven’t bought a dog before. If you have children, then you should most certainly choose a dog breed that will be suitable for and will get friendly with children.

It is a known common fact that some dog breeds tend to become jealous towards children which can be dangerous in the household, especially if your kid is very small. Therefore, you should read up on the nature of dog breeds, basic dog care techniques and what kind of environment is suitable for the breed that you are planning on buying.

American kennel society has recognized over 150 dog breeds including working dogs, companion dogs and more. remember that dog breeds have characteristics of their own and they come in to play. We all know that a dog can be a mans best friend but never forget be wise and think about what may go wrong if you buy a certain dog breed.

You will find some dogs being more territorial than other dogs while some other dog breeds being friendlier in nature. Police dogs and guard dogs usually need single master guidance in order to be disciplined.

One more important thing you should know about dog breeds is that some dogs know how to boss around people and know whom to obey. So read up on the general temperament of the dog and its nature before settling on any particular dog breeds.

If the dog breeds you choose have a common temperament then that means they are easy to discipline and they d probably make good friends with children. If not, they could be used as custodial dogs.

Grooming is a hassle for many dog owners but if you check all relevant information about dog breeds before you make the choice of buying a certain dog breed, then you will know what to expect. Generally, the long hair types are difficult to maintain while the shorthaired ones are easier to get by.

You will need to learn grooming techniques depending on the dog breed that you choose because some dogs have curly and twisted hair for which different grooming techniques are used.

Whichever dog breed you choose to join your family be sure to give your pet the love and attention they truly deserve.

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Pet Zoom - Save Time & Money

Dog Brush Video

Introduction:

If you are thinking of buying a brush to groom and brush your dog, you must remember that, when it comes to those different types of grooming and combing, one-size-fits-all is not what you should be looking for.

Tools that are used for grooming a dog has their own individual functions and an understanding of which dog brush is best for your particular breed makes grooming your dog easier for you at home.

If your dog sheds hair, undercoat rakes grooming brush is the one you should have, which would help to stop your dog from shedding. The undercoat rakes have one single row of metal prongs, just like any other rake, and these are quite effective in removing the dead fur from your dog’s undercoat.

Dog grooming is an expertise which is best left to the professionals, since no matter how hard you try you can never achieve the expertise that a dog groomer has. Professional dog groomers have access to tools, including various types of dog brushes which you do not have, and these people would have the skill and experience relating grooming which would keep your dog’s fur healthy and attractive.

Professional dog groomers ensure that your dog remains clean, and the fur remains in good condition. A groomer spends a lot of time caring for your dog’s fur which you might not able to do, and during this time he would be also looking into the skin condition of your dog and take proper care if needed.

Thoughtful consideration of Pet hair brush by looking at a professional review is always recommended.

There are several different types of dog brushes, each having its particular use for the kind of dog you have. Some of these are as follows:

Bristle brushes:

You can use bristle brushes on all type of coats. The brushes vary in its use depending upon the spacing between the bristles and the length that each bristle has. If your dog has long coat, you should have a brush which has widely spaced and longer bristles. With coarser hair the brush you use should have stiffer bristles.

Wire-pin brushes:

For curly or wooly coats you should use wire-pin brushes which may have or may not have rubber-tipped ends. This kind is also the preferred choice for dogs having medium to long hair.

Slicker brushes:

Slicker brushes are used for removing mats and tangles from your dog’s coat, and these brushes, with their fine wire bristles, are especially made for the purpose.

You would be using slicker brushes to remove knots and tangles from all coat types. These brushes remove dead hairs, both, the undercoat hairs as well as the coarser hairs from the dog’s outer coat. You would be using a slicker brush after you have removed a significant portion of the dead hairs from the dog’s undercoat with the help of a pin brush.

Summary:

When you are brushing your dog, you should always be using the right type of dog brush, taking your time and being gentle as you brush, taking special care as you remove mats or tangles. Your pet must feel comfortable as you use your dog brush to groom, and it should not be that painful which would make your dog avoid being groomed. Brushing your dog often, preferably daily, would help you in preventing problems with mats and tangles.

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How do you know your dog has an allergy?

Dog is man’s best friend, it’s a cliché but it’s still true. It is also said that dogs resemble their owners, or the other way around, this is also very true. So when you hear that the allergic reactions that you are getting yourself, are so similar to those that your dog is getting, would you find this surprising. You can have the same allergic reactions to food as your dog can have. For instance humans and dogs can both get allergic reactions to dairy produce. One of the difficulties associated with a dog allergy is that a lot of the times it is going to be very difficult to ascertain whether your dog is suffering from an allergy. But there are certain signs that you can watch out for.

Symptoms of dog allergies

The first sign that a dog has a problem is usually when you see that it has a skin complaint. If your dog starts getting any dog allergy, the dog will start itching a certain spot. And allergy could surface in far more frequent scratching than is usual. There can be a drastic increase in scratching one particular area or chewing at a particular area if the dog has an allergic reaction to flea bites. This is because the dog is having an allergic reaction to the flea saliva. It’s best to take your dog for a visit to the veterinarian if you notice any unusual itching.

Human allergies to dogs

Unfortunately human skin be allergic to their dogs or can become allergic to their dogs. Many pet owners make the decision with adult allergy is to sacrifice the dog straightaway. You can counteract the effects of a dog allergy or at least mitigate the effects to some degree by doing certain things. Confining your dog to only a certain number of rooms in your home is one of the things. Don’t allow your dog into your bedroom. You should also consult your veterinarian or your physician who will be able to give you some advice.

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