Recommended Sources of Quality Dog Treats, Snacks, Bisquits, Cookies, and Chews:
Dog.com has a huge selection of quality treats and chews including gourmet/organic and puppy treats.
ActiveK9.com carries a large variety of dog treats including vegetarian treats and pill pockets for dogs who are difficult to medicate.
Animal Behavior College
How to Teach Your Dog “Speak!” “Speak” is a fun dog obedience exercise for you and your canine companion to enjoy, one that will be both entertaining, and educational for your pooch. Learning how to bark on command may be a little bit tricky for your pal at first, but can be accomplished easily with dedication, repetition, and maintenance.
• The first thing that you will need to do is create a stimulus. In order to train dogs to do this command, they need to be excited. You should begin by playing with him. A game such as fetch or tug of war will create enthusiasm, thus making him more likely to be attentive to your commands. If he is energized, it will be easier to reinforce the positive rewards of the training.
• Once your pooch is riled up, cease the prior play, and reveal to him that you have a treat in your hand but do not give it to him. Instead, start by holding the treat behind your back. If your pooch begins to whimper, but does not bark, try waving it around. Revealing, and then re-hiding the treat again will also cause him to react with sound.
• As soon as he barks, reward him with praise, and a treat. Then, repeat the second step using the cue word, “speak”.
• Another tip for positively reinforcing this behavior is by keeping your voice at the same tone and volume level, each time that you make the speak command. That way, your dog learns to associate your positive tone, the reward, and the praise with the desired action, thus making him more likely to repeat it.
• The most important aspect of this training exercise is repetition. Just like any other cue, memorizing the command will make it easier for your dog to understand what you are asking him. By spending a little time each day going over the steps with him, he will pick it up quickly, and be less likely to forget over time.
Through this exercise, you will be able to educate your dog in one of the many positive tricks that he can learn, and keep his mind active and stimulated. To learn more fun tricks to practice with your dog, consult your animal trainer.
How to Cease Your Dog’s Destructive Chewing By nature, dogs are very playful creatures, which is what we, as humans, love about them. Yet sometimes, our pals develop annoying, and sometimes destructive habits that drive us absolutely crazy. No matter how much you adore your pooch, chances are you wouldn’t be happy to come home from work to find your dog happily gnawing on your favorite pair of shoes. Nor would you want him tearing up your furniture, and snacking on the cables behind the television while you were away.
Sadly, destructive chewing, and unwanted chewing in general is a trait that many dogs develop, no matter how much dog obedience training they have had. But fear not – there are plenty of ways to eradicate this unwanted behavior in a positive way that will both allow your pal to have his fun, and stop your shoe collection from being destroyed.
In the event that you discover your best friend munching on your possessions, irritated as you might be, do not react with anger against your dog. At the time it may satisfy you to shout at him for engaging in the unwanted behavior, but human logic and dog logic are two very different things. In your mind, punishing him for tearing up your couch will teach him not to repeat the act. In his mind, he has never been taught not to chew on unwanted objects, and you are cornering him for no good reason. If you get angry at him enough times without positively correcting the behavior, he could develop anxiety, or even react with defensive aggression. If you use positive methods to train dogs, you will find that your teachings are far more successful.
More often than not, the reason why your dog is chewing up your things is due to boredom. If you are not home for most of the day, and simply leave him to his own devices, you should not be surprised to find that he has engaged in undesirable behavior. The best way to keep this from occurring is to take preventative measures ahead of time. Provide your dog with a variety of chew toys to play with if you are away for an extended period of time, and reward him when he gnaws on his toy instead of on your favorite chair.
Another way to prevent the destruction of your belongings is to keep them out of your pooch’s reach. If you don’t want it in his mouth, make it inaccessible. Keep your shoes, socks, trash, and anything else he might decide to chew on locked away to eradicate any temptation.
Excess energy is also a cause behind destructive chewing. When your hound has little play time, it is common for him to seek outlets such as chewing to let it out. Remember: your pal is not acting this way to retaliate, or punish you for not paying attention to him. He is simply unable to find another method by which to express his energy. By exercising him frequently, and setting aside a good amount of play time, your dog will be perfectly content with gnawing on his rawhide while you take care of your own business, and absolutely thrilled each time you take him for a walk, or play a game of fetch.
As any animal trainer will tell you, with dedication and patience, you will be able to successfully train your pooch to cease chewing up your personal items. This behavior is undesirable, but can be eliminated as long as you stick to a strict and solid regime. With a little hard work, you and your best friend will be on the path to a healthier and happier relationship.
How to Prepare Your Pooch for a Vet Visit An inevitable part of a good pet owner’s duties when caring for their dog, is to maintain their health. Naturally, keeping your best friend healthy involves an annual visit to…pause for dramatic music…the dreaded veterinarian. Even the word ‘vet’ strikes fear into the hearts of many otherwise brave dogs, and you may find yourself unable to speak the word itself in their presence, referring to it as the ‘V-E-T’ every time your pal is around. A trip to the vet for a dog is the equivalency of you paying a visit to the dentist. Painful, but necessary. In your case, although you may repeatedly put off the detestable appointment, is that you are aware of the importance of the visit. Your dog, however, is not.
All that your pal knows is that a visit to the vet means that he will be poked, prodded, and pricked in uncomfortable places for no good reason! Not to mention, he is in a cold, strange place filled with unusual noises, bad smells, and unfamiliar people.
Even if your pooch is sick, or in pain, they do not recognize the importance of seeing the doctor. Regardless of whether or not it helps them feel better in the end, your pal may fight tooth and nail in attempt to escape the visit. Unfortunately, it is an unavoidable part of being a pet owner. However, by employing a few helpful tips, you can make the process of this event a lot easier to handle.
• First and foremost, part of the reason why your dog may be so fearful of the vet visit is because he is shy or uncomfortable around new people. When you put him in a situation where he is away from you, being handled by strangers, he can often react with fear, or even aggressive behavior. Even if your dog does not normally behave this way, you would be surprised to find how much his nature changes when he encounters a high-stress situation. To avoid this, it is important to socialize your dog early on. It is a good idea to introduce him to new people and situations as often as possible. That way, he learns to be more trusting with strangers, and is less likely to react violently when you take a trip to the vet. If you establish the mentality that the vet’s office is not scary early on, it will make future visits more pleasant.
• With older dogs that have had prior experience at the doctor’s office, it is a little more difficult to help them adjust to the atmosphere. It is likely that your pooch has already adopted a negative attitude towards the vet, making the situation a bit more complicated. In order to get past this preconceived notion, it is important to get your dog used to being touched. You can start this exercise by making sure that your pooch is in a relaxed state, and gently touching his ears, his feet, and his mouth. If he reacts aggressively, use dog training methods to correct him, and repeat the act. When he gives you a positive response, reward him. By doing this, your dog will learn that being handled can be a pleasant experience, and will be less likely to lash out when he is touched by a stranger.
• In the event that your dog is not hurt, and is simply going to see the vet for one of his yearly check ups or vaccinations, a good way to get rid of some of that excess energy is to take him out for some exercise. By playing a game of fetch, or just taking a few laps around the park, your dog will feel a little more at ease, which creates less likelihood for behavior problems at the vet.
• Even when your pooch is properly trained in dog obedience, sometimes he just doesn’t get along well with other dogs. If your dog is not normally friendly with other pets, his dislike of four-legged company will be amplified in this high stress situation. In order to avoid any acting out on your dog’s behalf, notify the staff ahead of time, and keep him outside of the building and away from other patients until the vet is ready to see him. That way, you will not be adding any extra anxiety onto yourself, and onto your dog.
• Remember, your dog’s behavior relies not only on how much obedience training he has, but also on your attitude towards the situation. As any dog trainer will tell you, your pal is a sensory creature. If you are nervous at the vet’s office, he will pick up on your attitude, and may behave in a similar manner. To avoid this, try to keep calm when inside of the office. When you are at ease, your pal is more likely to feel the same way. Remember that you are there for your dog’s benefit and well-being, so try to stay positive, even if you are worried.
By establishing positive coping skills such as the ones listed above, you and your pet will be able to have a safe and happy experience at the vet’s office. Visiting the doctor is not always a bad thing, so keep in mind that your pet could use reassurance in the event of a visit. With preparation, tact, and understanding, your pal will be on the path to a better attitude towards the veterinarian.
“No Begging!” How to keep your pooch from pawing at your plate It is difficult to peacefully enjoy your meal when there is a constant, nudging paw tapping on your knees, or a sad-faced puppy with his chin in your lap, hungrily eyeing every bite of food that you spoon into your mouth. Begging is an annoying behavior that is easily manifested, and difficult to get rid of. The story is always the same. You feel guilty eating your comparatively divine cuisine whilst your doe-eyed dog watches sadly from the background, and eventually, relent into feeding him a few scraps off of your plate. You figure that it was just a tiny piece of chicken, and tossing him the leftover pieces that you did not plan on eating anyways will not be harmful.
However, once your dog gets used to the idea that he can weasel some food off of your plate with one, doleful look, this behavior can become obsessive and highly irritating. House guests, family members, nobody will be safe from your dog’s begging ways, and allowing the bad behavior to get past a certain point could cause him to become aggressive around food.
The best way to ensure that your dog does not become a beggar is to prevent the issues from occurring early on. If you can train dogs not to beg from the beginning, it will be highly beneficial to them, as well as yourself. If your pooch has already developed these habits, it is difficult, but not impossible to repair the damage with a few simple steps. The following tips will assist you in keeping your dog from skulking around the dinner table, and will also prove to be a great lesson in dog obedience.
First and foremost, it was likely that you were the one to teach your dog that it was acceptable to beg at the table. So, you must be the one to end it. Whilst you are eating your dinner, if your dog is in the room, he has probably already taken up his usual post at your feet, waiting expectantly for you to hand him a morsel. In this instance, it is best to ignore your dog’s advances, until he learns that his attempts are futile, and gives up.
Another vital factor in this dog training exercise is to let the other occupants of your home in on the plan, and make sure that they all follow the ground rules that you are setting. Having everyone agree to cease feeding the dog human food will aid your efforts to end the behavior. For instance, if you are refusing to give the dog a bite of your hamburger, but your kids are handing him green beans under the table, your attempts will prove to be counter productive. With teamwork, your pal will find nobody to turn to when he tries to continue begging.
Unfortunately, your pooch has already become attuned to the idea that with enough hard work, he can get whatever he wants from you, and will begin to add whining, barking, and howling to the typical routine. The important thing to do here is to stay strong, and continue to pay him no heed.
If your pooch is still standing, it is likely that he will move on to plan B, and begin trying to steal food from your plate, as well as your counter top when you are not paying attention. A useful tactic to employ at this point is keeping your dog in a separate room while your family has dinner, and making sure that he cannot see you. The best way to teach him that you are the alpha in the pack is by feeding him after you finish your own meal. Although it may seem like a better idea for him to be distracted by his own food, your dog needs to learn that you are the boss, and that humans come first.
The most important part of teaching your dog to stop begging is to stick to the plan with dedication and determination. By employing these tips, you will be on the path to having a healthier, more well-behaved puppy that your friends and family won’t mind having around.
How to keep your hound happy in hot weather The summer season is an enjoyable time for all, but can be dangerous for dogs if the necessary precautions are not taken when the weather heats up. There are many simple ways to protect your best friend from the heat, even if you have little to no experience with dog obedience .
• Proper grooming is a necessity for the comfort of your hound when dealing with the summer heat. Your dog trainer and veterinarians alike may recommend that you take your dog in for a trim when the weather gets warmer. For an accurate comparison, imagine wearing a full fur coat when it’s eighty degrees outside! As you can guess, having a heavy layer of fur can be incredibly cumbersome, and increase your pet’s risk of suffering from heatstroke. Since dogs are just as prone to sunburns as humans, it is not recommended that you shave him past one inch above the skin.
• Another important factor to keep in mind when taking precautions in the heat is to ensure that fresh, clean water is available to your pet at all times when it is hot outside, as all dogs are prone to dehydration when their supply is too low. When he is outside, it is also vital that you provide your pet with a shady place to escape from the heat. Even with proper water supply, a dog can still become overheated when they are left out in the sun for a long period of time without a hiding place. If it is excessively hot, it is recommended that you keep your dog indoors.
• It is important, even during the summer, to regularly exercise your dog. However, you must keep in mind that the asphalt heats up under the rays of the sun, and your pooch’s sensitive paw pads can burn if they linger in one spot for too long. In order to prevent this from happening, it is recommended that you keep walks limited to early morning and evening hours, when the air is cooler. If you must walk your dog during the hottest hours of the day, make sure to shorten the length of time you spend walking so that your pal does not get overheated.
All of these tips will keep your hound happy & safe during the summer season. For more information on how to keep him healthy in the heat, consult your local veterinarian.
