Dog Training - Behavior

By Allen McDaniel

Many dog owners are afraid to train their dogs themselves because they feel they lack the experience necessary to do the job well. There is no simple, short, "to-do" list that will tell you everything you need to know. It takes a lot of information to train dogs well. Professional dog trainers spend years of trial and error to narrow down the most effective techniques. Some of what these trainers have learned has been packaged into complete training manuals, but the extensiveness of such a manual goes beyond a simple list of tips.

There is one important advantage that you have over a professional dog trainer. You will spend more time with your pet than anyone else. You will be more familiar with your dog's behavior than anyone else. Knowing and understanding a dog's behavior places you a big step ahead on the dog training ladder. There are two types of behavior you should be familiar with. Those are the Nature behaviors, and the Nurture behaviors

Nature behaviors:

Learn the history of your dog. Do research on the breed. Was your dog bred to be a hunter? Does it have a history of scavenging? Is it an indoor lapdog, or a more aggressive outdoor dog?

It is important to use your dogs history in training. Understand that if your dog was bred to hunt, you need to focus your training more around those instincts. Play more fetch. Make those types of dogs work harder for their rewards. It is in their genes that they have to stalk, chase down, and then tear apart their prey before getting to enjoy a meal. Work with that genetic instinct rather than against it.

Nurture behaviors:

If you got your dog as a puppy, you will be familiar with how it was raised. If there were small children in the house, the dog may not think of itself as being bottom in the "pack hierarchy", since there are smaller creatures than itself living with it. This can be dangerous if the dog thinks it is in charge of small children, resulting in harmful playing and bites.

If your dog was raised somewhere else, and you got your pet from a pound or elsewhere, try to find out as much information as possible. If the dog was abused or ignored, it will need special care. It is important to show the dog as quickly as possible that it won't be treated the same way in it's new home. The sooner those issues are resolved, the sooner you can move to other types of training.

There is one last general guide to training that is important to follow. Always be consistent with your training, and never show indifference to your pet. Being consistent keeps your pet healthy. If it is sometimes rewarded for good behavior, and other times ignored, this will just cause confusion. If your pet is often shown indifference, then it will show indifference in return, and it will be difficult to train.

You can find more dog training resources at http://www.dogtrainerpro.info Allen McDaniel has spent time learning from leading dog training experts and behaviorists and is happy to be sharing what he's learned with the online community.

Dog's Health and Vitamin's Benefits

By Allen McDaniel

Dog's Health And The Benefits Of Vitamins

Giving your dog a vitamin supplement has been shown to not only improve your dogs resistance to illness and disease, but they can also increase your dogs lifespan.

The sooner you begin giving a vitamin supplement to your dog the better. Dogs that were given vitamins starting as puppies showed much better signs of health, and were more resistant to different strains of common dog diseases.

Most people assume that giving a dog a good healthy diet is enough to keep a dog living a good healthy lifestyle. But, think about the vitamins and medication that are often recommended to humans. As humans we take everything from antioxidants, do vitamin E for skin care, to gelatin for and calcium to help with bones and joints. Dogs get the same benefit from these vitamins that we do!

Dogs suffer many of the most common health problems and problems with aging that humans do. Dogs begin to lose their eyesight as they age. The cartilage in their joints deteriorates just like a humans does. And their immune systems can become weaker or stronger based off of their diet and nutrient intake. Vitamins, which have worked so well for humans for so many years, are often the answer to a dog's problems too.

Most effects from vitamins will be noticeable to you and your bet after just a few weeks of taking them. Once the vitamins have time to work on healing cells, and to prevent more cells from debilitating, the health benefits will be visible.

Some vitamin supplements are designed specifically for dogs, but even vitamins that are manufactured for humans can be crushed up and added to a dogs food or water.

Start your dog on a vitamin regiment as soon as possible. Your dog will live a healthier, happier life. And you and your dog will be able to enjoy each others company much more, for much longer. As always, it is important to ask your veterinarian before administering any type of medication to your pet.

Visit http://www.dogtrainerpro.info For more information on dog health and dog training.

Boston Terrier Rescue Dogs Make the Best Pets

By Wendy Caples

Now that you have brought your Boston Terrier rescue dog home you are likely wondering if you made the right decision. There are many aspects to take into account before adopting a dog, but you should carefully consider all of them to ensure you are making the right decision for you and your household.

Since you are helping to save the life of a wonderful and loving dog you will have a lot of joy once you get a rescue dog. Although sometimes a Boston Terriers can be more of a problem than you imagined and there can be a lot of heartache involved as well. So carefully consider all the pros and cons of adopting a rescue dog before you make the final decision to adopt a dog. You also want to be prepared for exactly what is involved in adopting a rescue dog.

Whenever a new dog is added to your home and life there will always be some form of uncertainty. Although when adopting a dog this risk is even greater. You should use caution when training or caring for a pet that has been physically abused by their previous owner.

A rescue dog can have a reflexive reaction and become very defensive if they were abused for extended periods of time. This type of behavior isn't common with Boston Terriers, but there is always the chance that it can happen. So you should consider this possibility and educate yourself about what you can do to correct if so that you can be prepared for anything when you adopt a Boston Terrier rescue dog. Rather than just focusing on the personality and temperament issues of a rescue dog you always want to consider the health issues of adopting a dog.

With a Boston Terrier rescue dog you can sometimes face a lot of health issues. The dog may have been given over to a rescue because they have a handicap or other disability that requires them to need additional care that a normal Boston Terrier wouldn't need. You should carefully consider whether or not you could devote the time, ability and desire to care for a special need Terrier . These types of rescue dogs will often need frequent trips to the veterinarian and as a result the costs can add up quite quickly.

Before you enter into an adoption agreement it is important that you know what you are going to expect with a Boston Terrier . Although there are some positive aspects to consider as well, the best is the fact that you are adding a sweet dog to your household that you can give your love and care to. Soon the dog will be so appreciative of your special treatment that they will return you love and care by becoming very affectionate.

Wendy Caples loves everything having to do with dogs, including Boston Terrier history. Many animals lovers each year choose to adopt an abandoned Boston Terrier. Boston Terrier information can be found at your local library or vet's office.

Handmade Dog Gifts - Ideas For You

By Jo Soliday

Many dog owners see their dogs as friends or family. In fact, quite a few people are more attached to their dogs than any humans in their life! If you know someone who is very fond of their dog and looking for a present that might please them, consider handmade dog gifts.

If your local dog boutique does not carry handmade items, you can find sources online. However, if you are on a budget, why not make your own? You will probably have twice the fun at half the cost while putting your unique stamp on things!

There are so many items to choose to create. If you know the person and their dog well, inspiration for what to make may have already struck you. If not, there are many ideas that you can pursue. Some of these include:

DOG CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES

Dog sweaters, whether knit or crocheted, are a wonderful gift for dogs with short hair in cold northern climates. Consider making one for a larger dog since these are often hard to come by commercially.

A dog vest or shirt can be simple to make, especially for a smaller dog. Consider adding matching bows by making your own ribbon from leftover fabric.

Bandanas are a very easy item to make and offer endless possibilities as to theme, decorations and more.

DOG COLLARS AND LEASHES

Here is another area where you can go let your creativity go!

Collars can be made from all sorts of materials such as fibers that are woven, knitted, crocheted or macraméd, or solid materials like webbing and leather. Decorations such as conchos, colored ribbons, sequins, beads and the like can be added. Hardware can be bought separately or parlayed from items no longer in use. Or else look for rings, buckles, sliders and snaps at thrift stores on belts, purses, totes or backpacks.

Leashes can also be crafted from a variety of materials. Webbing or leather can be left plain or have decorations added. A leash can be woven or braided from yarns, cotton or other fibers, and leather. Metal snaps can be purchased inexpensively and easily attached through sewing or weaving.

DOG BEDS AND ACCESSORIES

Make a dog bed for practically nothing out of a couple of old couch cushions. Add a homemade blanket or quilt, or craft these instead of a bed. If you have upholstery or vinyl fabric, you can also make a dog bed from scratch. Dog bed patterns are available to make some uniquely shaped beds.

DOG TREATS

If you love to bake or play with foods, here's a good chance to experiment! Just make sure that ingredients are not only healthy but safe for dogs (for example, some things that people consume like onions, some spices and raisins are toxic for dogs). The link below offers more information.

Not only can you make a food item, but you can have the fun of presenting it in a glass jar or tin that you decorate.

OTHER IDEAS

The above are just some ideas for handmade dog gifts. If you like to work with wood, PVC pipe, foam blocks, carpet or metal parts and tires there is another range of possibilities including dog stairs, ramps, dog bed frames, agility equipment, a dog wheelchair or a bicycle trailer.

Whatever handmade dog gifts you choose to make, remember that the final judge will be the dog, not the human! A few imperfections here or there will not matter in the least.

Jo Soliday has been a dog lover and crafter since childhood. For free instructions to make many of the above mentioned items, check out her website at http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff.com To find out about foods dogs should avoid, see http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff.com/dangerous-foods-for-dogs.html

Allergy-Free Dog Food, Is It the Best Solution?

By Darso Rhadika

Your pet dog is a unique companion that requires your love and attention. When your dog is suffering from any ailment or condition, you're also suffering. Sometimes, it's difficult to find out what causes such ailments, and many vets claim that it has something to do with food allergies. Around 10% of dog allergies are due to food.

Allergies related to foods can be very alarming to the owner. If you frequently see your dog excessively scratching and itching, then your pet may have a certain food allergy.

The most common food culprits are corn, wheat, and soy. There are also dogs allergic to beef and chicken. It would be best to bring your dog to a vet so that the doctor can give an accurate diagnosis and the proper way of treating your best friend.

If your dog compulsively and excessively licks his foot, or bites or chews his other body parts, this is already a sign that your pet has an allergy. Usually, pet nutritionists and vets recommend the substitution of your dog's protein source. For this special purpose, lambs are often used to introduce something that's new to his diet.

If you greatly rely on your vet, he would usually give you expensive formulas that are hypo-allergenic. But did you know that you can also figure things out by yourself? There are dog food mixes that are specially designed for those with food allergies. In the long run, these mixes can be expensive.

You can begin giving allergy-free mixes so that you can closely control your dog's diet. The mixes contain vitamins and nutrients formulated exclusively for dogs. Try to experiment and introduce other protein sources and observe the dog's reaction for a few days.

There are certain dog mixes that are chicken-based, while others have fish protein. Every now and then, change your dog's protein source and observe. If you finally found one that goes well with your dog and the allergies seem to improve, then stick to that diet.

There are things to remember when you're introducing a new food for your dog. You must do it slowly for about six days. Use the ration 4 is to 1, with 4 being the old food. Do this gradually until the sixth day, when you've totally changed your dog's diet. Stick with the food for at least a week and keep a close watch if your dog develops a certain reaction.

You can't solve the allergy problems of your dog overnight. Break your dog's food cycle by starting with a neutral food that's grain-free. After finding the right protein source for your dog, you can try re-introducing the grain back and see if there's an effect. Use your common sense; and if you choose to do things on your own, you can also save a lot of money. And remember that you should feed your dog with a well-balanced diet with the right amount of vitamins and minerals.

The process of sensitizing your pet dog to a certain food agent and the complex antibody response which takes place in your dog's intestinal tracts are not yet well understood. Despite this fact, many vets and nutritionists know the symptoms and how to correctly diagnose allergies, as well as treating them.

So you see, you can also try other alternatives in choosing your dog's food other than allergy-free foods. All it takes is patience, time, and common sense.

For more detail all about allergy please visit our site: allergycounsel.com Darso Rhadika the owner site http://www.allergycounsel.com Click here to get more information all about allergy.

Eating Disorders For Dogs and Puppies

By Craig McPherson

Here are the 3 signs that tell you your dog has an eating disorder. And you could be the reason they have it.

OVER EATING

Over sized dogs are generally lethargic an unhealthy. Your dog's meal size should be no bigger than the dogs head. The meal can be given once in the morning or at night. This, of course, refers to the adult dog. A morning feed will give the dog a chance to burn off any unused fats / carbohydrates.

See the Feeding section for some value added feeding and nutritional hints. Exercise should be a part of the dog's daily routine. A lot of walks and dog obedience training is good for you and your pocket.

UNDER EATING

Dogs that are too thin or do not eat well (loss of appetite or fussy eater) should be taken to the vet for a check-up. The Vet will advise you on the condition of the dog and the proper course of action to take.

SCOFFING

Dogs that scoff their food are generally doing this so that no other dog may take their food.

This may have begun when the dog was a pup in a litter and has become a learned behaviour. The pup may have always been pushed away from the teat at a young age by the other pups and had to franticly fight to get a feed.

If there are no other dogs in the family then the dog may scoff it foods because it feels that the family is a direct threat to the dog at feeding times.

So the dog consumes the food quickly so that the owner may not take pieces of food.

This is conditioned into the dog by a people continually taking food away from it.

The solution to this problem is to feed the dog separately well away from the other dogs.

Some large dogs can feel discomfort or end up with deformities if they continue to eat food off the ground. Bones are OK because the dog may lie down which is natural. Try putting the bowl food higher off the ground to avoid any problems.

You may also want to try and feed the dog small amounts by hand and encourage the dog to eat gently.

Also feed the dog food it does not like so much, vegetarian meals should slow the consumption rate down. Also try feeding bigger and tougher foods that the dog has to chew. A couple of days feeding just bones wont hurt.

For a complete tutorial on correct feeding for your dog and other relevant hints and tips, go to http://here-is-your.info/dog-training/

How to Stop a Dog Digging Problem

By Vic Lee

If you are having digging problems with your dog, don't worry it can be solved!

Dog naturally like to dig and where better then in your own backyard! Of course this is not so great for you or your garden.

Have you tried yelling, slapping the dogs rear or tying your dog up with a chain or rope? Many think that these methods will stop digging problems but they don't work.

Dogs start digging because they are calling for attention, they can feel lonely and know that by digging you will come to them. Other dogs may just be bored and starting digging to play or dig up their toys.

Here are a couple of steps to stop your dogs digging problem.

First of all, if you do have an "allowed" digging area, keep your dog in that area by making a small fence. When you see your dog digging in the allowed area praise it and let it know that it is being a good dog.

If fences do not work then you must invest a bit of time and be on the lookout for whenever your dog starts to dig in the wrong area. As soon as you catch your dog make a loud noise by placing rocks in a coffee can and shaking it in order to get your dogs attention. Or you could also have a squirt bottle near by and squirt some water in its face. Of course for this you have to be attentive to when your dog starts to dig.

However, by doing this persistently you will notice that your dog will learn and understand that it is not supposed to dig in the garden.

Also, make sure that your dog isn't digging because it is anxious or bored. Take your dog out for a walk every day or have at least an hour or more of playtime with your dog.

Learn More about Dog Obedience Training and how to solve behavior problems with Free Dog Training Tips