Picking The Best Dog Food Can Be Easy

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Suzie Welden

Picking the Correct Dog Food

If you are like dog owners, your main goal is to maintain your pet healthy while fulfilling his hunger. However like no 2 dogs are similar, there is no such thing as being an ideal canine diet. Rather, owners must look take a examined look at their pets. Things such as species, activity level, age, and whether the dog is having any physiological adjustments just like growth, pregnancy, or nursing really should be considered when selecting dog food.

Consider Nutrients

Even so, there are some simple rules of thumb. To begin with, pick a high-quality dog food that is rich in nutrients, such as energy, protein, EFA, vitamins, minerals, and water. Pay certain attention to the protein ratio. Usually, dog food with a Twenty to thirty percent protein content is great.

To make sure your dog’s health, pick a dog food that is easily digestible. A combination of wet and dry dog food can promote healthy gums and teeth. Even though it is hard to turn down an adorable and hungry dog, be skeptical of overfeeding. Overfeeding can lead to weight problems, which could create a variety of health problems in your dog. How can you tell if you’ve been overfeeding your dog? Just try to feel his ribs. If you can’t feel them, it’s time to cut back a bit!

In case your dog has special health or perhaps dietary issues you may wish to ensure that the dog food meets your pet’s special requirements. Talk with your veterinarian in case you have questions. Or maybe search the web for pet retailers who carry dog food. Lots of their sites have excellent articles and also other information that can help you select the right dog food for your pet.

Good Quality Pet Food Popular with Enthusiasts

One of today’s well-known trends is an obvious rise in high-quality pet foods. As pets replace children and dogs serve as part of the family, those who pamper their dogs tend to do so at mealtime. Almost every main brand of dog food is arriving out with a high-end line, and then there are many smaller companies focused on the creation of high-end, fresh, and healthy dog food. These meals are not just nutritionally balanced, these are tasty and nice to look at. Many dog foods are adding human-grade ingredients such as pasta, rice, vegetables, tuna fish, and peanut butter. Others are all-natural or organic.

Even the labels on high-end dog food is different. Pouring dry kibble out of the bag simply won’t do any longer! Many high-end dog foods are packaged in see-through deli containers. These are attractive but functional. People who own small dogs who can’t consume the entire 10 oz. portion right away may reseal the container to maintain the contents fresh.

For further advice on dogs and top-selling dog products check out Savvy Dog Lovers – the place that the best bones are buried.

The subject about blue buffalo dog food is truly intriguing and I urge you to learn more with the link provided. You may also learn more when you click here.

Posted in Dog Food | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Potty Training Your Dog

Posted on April 27, 2012 by admin

Potty Training Your Dog

Housetraining Schedule: How To Housetrain Your Puppy In 7 Days Or Less

It is quite alright if you are a new puppy owner and feel clueless about how to initiate housetraining for your dog. Many new dog owners make the mistake of scolding and punishing their dogs when they make a mess.

I made this same mistake with my first Chihuahua. Every time she would go potty inside the house I would take her over to the messy area and scold the dog with a loud voice with the occasional tap to her rear.

Soon enough, I noticed something strange happening. My puppy was still refusing to use the bathroom where she was supposed to go, but she started pooping and urinating underneath the bed and in closet areas. I caused my puppy to be afraid of going to the bathroom!

She did not understand why I was angry all of the times before and all her little brain knew was that every time she used the bathroom, I would yell at her. I realized that she started to be fearful of going potty and was basically trying to hide it by going in places that I could not see in plain view.

The Positive Approach Always Works Best

The moral of the story here is that you must take a positive approach to housetraining and totally eliminate any negative scoldings or punishments. The best thing to do is to supply your dog with a schedule each and every day.  This schedule must be adhered to without fail in order to produce the quickest results possible. Here is a sample schedule:

6:30 AM: Immediately upon waking, remove your puppy from his crate, leash him up, and take him to his potty area, wherever that may be. Allow him to focus by staying quiet as he sniffs and circles the area.

When he starts to eliminate his wastes, offer praise and start repetitively giving a potty command such as “Go Pee, Go Pee”. As soon as he is done, offer more praise and a treat if you like. Now take your puppy back to his crate.

7:30 AM: Exactly one hour later, give your dog breakfast and then take him outside to the potty area approximately 20 to 30 minutes later. Immediately return him back to his crate until the next potty break.

10:30 AM: It’s time for another potty break.

12:30 AM (Noon): Take your puppy outside to his potty area and follow the same routine. Afterwards, come inside and feed the dog lunch and then some playtime.

3:30 PM: It’s time for another potty break.

5:30 PM: Take your puppy outside for another potty break and then back inside for some dinner. You do not have place him back in the crate until the next bathroom break.

During this time at night, try to play with your puppy as much as you can. This is a good time to tire him out a bit for his nighttime sleep. But keep a close eye on his behavior in case he starts to sniff and circle an area in the house before using the bathroom. If you cannot keep a close eye on him, simply put him back in his crate.

9:00 PM: If your puppy is sleeping at this time, wake him up for one last bathroom break. Follow the same potty routine and then put him back in his crate until the next morning potty break. Start the entire routine all over again.



Fast And Easy Dog Training

Posted in Dog Training | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Getting Your Dog From An Animal Shelter

Posted on April 27, 2012 by admin

Getting Your Dog From An Animal Shelter

Rescue Puppies: Shelters Or Breed Groups – Which One To Choose?

Is it possible to find a quality puppy to adopt at your local animal shelter or breed rescue group?

Conventional wisdom says no, but representatives of both enterprises say that’s not always the case. In fact, many puppies are given up and not adopted for a while. For example, one pup named Tiger was dropped off at a local San Diego shelter when he was just 12 weeks old and is still waiting to be adopted. He is 8 months old now.

You can find a lovely puppy at a shelter. Some of these puppies come from backyard breeders or from people who find themselves saddled with “oops!” litters – when an unexpected litter of puppies results when a female dog is impregnated by accident.

Still, the availability of puppies at a shelter or breed rescue group may depend on what breed is involved. Rescue groups rarely get puppies, let alone purebred Gold Retriever puppies, for example. In another group located in New York, there have only been three litters of puppies of the nearly 800 dogs that have been placed.

In any case, breed rescue groups and animal shelters have identical missions: To match homeless dogs with people who will love them and give them permanent homes.

Shelters generally accommodate all breeds and mixes. Many are run by local governments. Some have a policy of euthanizing dogs who are not claimed or adopted after a certain period of time; others will keep adoptable dogs indefinitely.
Generally, all adoptable dogs that come to a shelter are given health examinations and any immunizations needed, and may be spayed or neutered. Many shelters also perform special tests to determine what type of temperament a dog has, and some offer training programs to help increase a dog’s chances of being adopted.

Breed rescue groups focus on serving one breed or mixes in which that single breed predominates. Volunteers for these groups identify dogs in need, take them into their own homes for foster care, attend to their medical needs, and provide remedial training to help the dogs become more adoptable.

Typically, adoptable dogs remain with rescue groups until a permanent home is found. Sometimes, that permanent home turns out to be that of the foster care provider. 

Often, shelters and rescue groups work together on a dog’s behalf. For example, if a dog’s time is running out at an animal shelter, staff workers there might contact a rescue group and ask if that group can provide foster care for the dog. Such cooperation literally can be a lifesaver for a dog who needs a little more time to find a forever home.



Fast And Easy Dog Training

Posted in Dog Training | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Dogs At Backyard BBQs

Posted on April 27, 2012 by admin

Dogs At Backyard BBQs

Backyard Party – How To Host A Successful BBQ With Dogs In Mind

The next time you decide to put on a small barbecue party in your backyard during the warm, sunny summer months, make considerations for your dog and other guest’s dogs. Most friend and family gatherings are planned and entertained without a single thought of providing an atmosphere where both dogs and people can enjoy themselves together.

And consider for a moment just how more pleasant the atmosphere will be with your close friends and dear family members enjoying themselves with a drink and a good hamburger on the deck of your house, while just off the corner of your eye your dog is having the time of his life, chasing and being chased by other guest’s pet dogs.

Not only will your BBQ appeal to everyone attending, but how cool would it be to tell them that they can bring their family pet along for fun and games? So during your next backyard event, take some time to plan ahead and include these animals in the plan.

Plan For Success

According to the Hearth Patio and BBQ Association, the backyard party trend has blown up into a $55 billion dollar per year industry. Houses are becoming smaller and more and more families look towards their home for fun and relaxation. Lawn chairs, picnic tables, and cooking facilities are all designed to bring the inside party “out”.

What you want to avoid is having your dog or someone else’s dog jump up into people’s laps begging for food and annoying the guests. Such behavior can ruin a good time, especially when drinks are spilled and dog paws just ruined your best friend’s shirt

The key is to single out those guests that have dogs and other dog lovers from the group. A good host for such dog-planning would have new toys that can be played with between your guests and the dogs. Many people love to play fetch and tug-of-war with friendly dogs so why not offer this activity at your BBQ?

Provide a common area for both dogs and your guests. Invest in a fenced-in enclosure where the dogs can play with each other without annoying the rest of your guests. And for the dog enthusiasts of the party who would love to take a break from mingling and head over to the doggie hangout, a perfect common area keeps the fun and games in harmonious order.

Consider the seating arrangements you have made. Think about where each person will be seated and make sure that the dogs are secured in an area that faces the party. Your pets want to be in on the action, even if it’s just to see what’s going on.

If you are hosting a backyard party at night, consider the safety of your animals. Should you allow them to run free, attach a small flashlight to each of the dogs’ collars. This is a perfect way for your guests to see them coming without an accident by stepping on the dogs. You can also attach a bell that jingles which will give people more warning before a dog is approaching.



Fast And Easy Dog Training

Posted in Dog Training | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Training Your Dog With Positive Reinforcement

Posted on April 27, 2012 by admin

Training Your Dog With Positive Reinforcement

Dog Training

Dog Training

A Balanced Training Approach – The Importance of Using Positive Reinforcement When Training Your Dog
By Mari M Okada

Although the idea of training dogs primarily using treats and praise may have seemed absurd years ago, as we continue to learn about and build bonds with these amazing creatures, it has not only become the most popular form of training, but is actually the most effective. The Positive Training approach can be easily applied to any training program, has highly effective results, and even creates a happier and healthier relationship between you and your dog.

Whether training your dog proper house manners, basic obedience commands, or even more advanced training skills, positive reinforcement is an essential part of any training program. The concept of using positive based training methods or training based on positive reinforcement is simple; it is based on rewarding your dog for good behavior. You teach your dog by reinforcing the good behavior. One of the most common misconceptions people have is that by constantly correcting and punishing their dogs for bad behavior, they should automatically know what is expected of them. The truth is that you must teach your dog the behavior you not only expect of them, but would like them to perform.

To reinforce the good behavior, find something that motivates your dog, such as treats, praise, or toys and consistently reward your dog with this each time the proper or desired behavior is displayed. By doing this, your dog will develop a positive association with performing the action or behavior. Once your dog is consistently performing the behavior, you can then introduce the verbal command so that your dog not only associates the command with the action, but will create a positive association with the command. Timing is very important when teaching your dog new commands, so when first introducing a new command, make sure to say the command at the exact same time your dog is performing the action.

The results of using this method are remarkable; most people are surprised not only at how focused and motivated their dogs become to train and learn, but are even more amazed at how quickly their dogs learn these commands and make these associations. Some dogs are able to learn a new command or trick within minutes. This is not only due to the reward they receive at the end, but also because as highly social and hyper-sensitive animals, they want nothing more than to please you and receive love and affection in return. So, when given the opportunity, they will actually choose to perform the behavior that gives them the greatest reward, which is praise, love and, of course, treats and toys.

One of the greatest benefits of using positive training methods is the relationship that it builds between you and your dog. With consistency and positive reinforcement, you not only create an environment that will give your dog more confidence, security, and self-control, but one in which your dog will truly learn to trust and respect your leadership. The type of relationship you build with your dog is a direct result of the type of training methods you use. The more guidance you give your dog through positive reinforcement and motivation, the stronger the connection between you and your dog will be. You will both not only have a greater understanding and respect for one another, but will lead much healthier and happier lives because of it.

Although there may be times when your dog needs to be corrected, it’s important that you never punish your dog for something that your dog might not know was wrong; this can not only result in other behavioral issues, but may actually result in your dog complying solely out of fear. Instead of just punishing your dog, take the opportunity to use positive reinforcement as a training tool by immediately redirecting the bad behavior to something good, such as having your dog sit and focus, then rewarding your dog for this. This will also help emphasize the difference between the inappropriate and appropriate behavior.

Every dog is unique, so it’s very important to take into account your dog’s breed, personality, and past history when determining the types of training methods to use. Positive reinforcement is a simple concept that is not only easy to apply, but actually fits well into your and your dog’s daily routine. The results are not only surprisingly fast, but very effective. And you will not only be providing an atmosphere in which your dog will continue to learn and thrive, but you will also be building strong bonds through mutual love and respect. Being proactive and taking a positive approach to training your dog is truly a rewarding experience.

Copyright Mari Okada, 2012

Mari Okada, Certified Dog Trainer, owns and operates Mari’s Canine Crew, a business providing various types of dog training services, including group classes and private trainings for obedience, agility, socialization, and common behavioral issues. As the ultimate goal of Mari’s Canine Crew is to connect people and their dogs, the services go beyond group classes and private trainings to include monthly online newsletters and training articles educating people on topics important to the health and well-being of their dog(s).

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mari_M_Okada

http://EzineArticles.com/?A-Balanced-Training-Approach—The-Importance-of-Using-Positive-Reinforcement-When-Training-Your-Dog&id=6749068

Posted in Dog Training | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off

Canine Training Made Straightforward

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Aubrey Floyd

When you are working on commands with your dog, work only on one command at a time, and only say the command one time. Do not say the command word more than once. Your goal is for your dog to obey the command immediately. You don’t want to have to say the same thing over and over.

When you are training a dog, it is crucial that you never use physical punishment when the dog behaves badly or wrongly. Striking your dog won’t teach them to listen to you; it will only teach them to be afraid of you. It may even train them to become aggressive towards people.

When you are first starting out in training your dog, try to schedule the training sessions to take place at about the same time every day. If you are making the training sessions a positive experience and doing them on a schedule, your dog will start to look forward to the sessions and enjoy them more.

The walk can be very hard to master, but with the right practice and patience, your dog will be walking right by your side in no time. Firstly, do not allow them to leave the door first. When you put his leash on, make him sit first or give you his paw. In short, some sort of obedience to get him in the spirit. Then, when you are actually outside, if he begins to walk in front of you, give the leash a quick tug to assert yourself as the one in charge.

Dogs mimic their owner’s behavior. Don’t be shocked if they decide they want to sleep in your bed and sit in your recliner. Don’t be shocked if they attempt to eat from your plate. Most of all, don’t be angry. Your dog has to be trained that this behavior is unacceptable. They need to be taught the acceptable options.

Always keep fresh water available to your dog when he is being trained using a crate. One way to do this without making a mess is to furnish the crate with a rabbit water bottle. Just attach it to the outside of the crate with the tip sticking inside. Your dog will quickly learn to drink from it.

Digging can be a troublesome behavior with some dogs. One way to address this is to create an area where your dog is allowed to dig. Hide some of his favorite toys in the area, bury dog treats, and encourage him to spend time there. This can keep your dog out of your favorite garden and help him to enjoy your yard.

Negative methods of training your dog don’t work. Just as with humans, positive reinforcement of behaviors is much more effective. Use praise, treats and play time to show your dog that you are pleased with their performance. If he cannot do what you are asking him, do not punish him or yell at him. He will associate trying to do the task with negativity and will avoid the task even harder the next time.

Aubrey loves to play the piano, ride bicycles and write about dog training read more posts at Dog Walking Jobs. Make sure to check out the blog and tell us how about yourself. Watch out for the upcoming write on Dog Daycare

Posted in Dog Training | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off

Your Pet Will Appreciate Home Made Meals Prepared From Raw Dog Food Recipes

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Amy Smuart

Many pet owners reach for a can of canine meal at the store, without a second thought, and feed their pet processed animal meal out of habit and because it is simply easier than making their pet a homemade meal. But, some pet owners are taking the time to research raw dog food recipes on the internet, buying fresh ingredients, and preparing their pet a healthy, good tasting meal. Canned animal meal contains preservatives and chemicals to keep the meal from spoiling on the shelf.

Canned feed will not harm the pet, but home made pet meal is a better choice. Home made meals of course tastes better because it is made with fresh ingredients and has not been sitting on a shelf for the last six months. Like humans, pets have taste buds.

Humans need to eat a balanced meal plan, and so do family pets. Bad food choices can limit a human’s life span and a bad meal plan can reduce a pet’s life span. The pet who eats a well balanced, homemade meal plan, will live a long, active, and happy life.

An important nutritional component of a pet’s meal plan is protein. Protein is the building block of life. Protein builds the animal’s immune system, and builds muscle. However, too much protein will lead to fat gain because excess protein turns to fat.

Good pet recipes will have the proper balance of protein, carbohydrate, and fat. The balanced meal will provide the proper balance of nutrients so that the pet will thrive, have a healthy immune system, and maintain proper weight. Add chicken and red meat byproducts to the pets diet so that the pet receives adequate amounts of protein.

One can prepare a well balanced meal for his pet with a little effort, at least a little more effort than it takes to open a can of processed pet food. Some pet owners have to take the time to prepare their pet home made meals because their pet has developed a digestion problem. Some pets require a special diet because of an intestinal illness or other type of medical condition related to digestion.

Pet owners who have to use raw dog food recipes because their canine has developed an intestinal disorder are used to preparing homemade meals for their pet. Pet owners who choose to prepare their canine a homemade meal because they want their pet to eat fresh meal instead of processed, love their family canine. Homemade meals provide what store bought meal cannot, and that is love and great taste.

Looking for easy-to-prepare dog food recipes? You can find great tasting and nutritious raw dog food recipes on our site, right now.

Posted in Dog Food | Tagged , , | Comments Off

Keep up the practice when Dog Training

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Colin Seal

Canine training with dog training collars are safe and result into happy dogs. Research implies that dogs that work because of fear instead of through teaching and practice seldom make content, cooperative partners. Efficient practice is the key to success in performance. Work smoothly to develop trustworthiness. If your dog has the capacity to be fast, the time, practice and confidence will permit that capacity to develop. Speed in any exercise is the results of repetition and confidence plus incentive and ability.

Almost all dogs and the majority of people go much slower than normal when learning anything. Give yourself and the dog sufficient time to learn before applying any pressure for speed. A dog that's correct, although a little slow, will perform better than one that's fast and incorrect.

Lots of the top-scoring obedience dogs have really high failure rates. They fail with speed and class, but they do fail. Canine obedience training collars is a good tool to regulate the dog in off lead coaching.

A dog can't shield you if it is home in the run or crate or if tied up securely when you're in public and when you have company. If you do not make a friend, companion and partner of your dog, you are not giving its natural protecting instincts scope to develop. Discrimination is the secret to successful function of a good protection dog. Many dogs know how to bite. Dogs trained with canine training collars know when not to bite.

Coaching time differs from dog to dog. The rule is it takes about 200 repeats of any single exercise before the dog really knows it. Some individual dogs may take more than 200 repeats. Dog training collars teaches a dog far faster. Dog training collars assists you to stop the dog if it decided to go in the wrong direction. This training practice motivates you to engage with your dog. This is a smart way to bond and make friends for life.

ColinSeal from The Dog Line recommends and supplies folks with Remote Dog Training Collars for help and support withdog training issues. Find more info and a Dog Training Collar Review on the site for TheDog Line.

Posted in Dog Training | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Best Selections For The Ideal Commercial Dog Food

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Mathew Weglarz

Since you own a puppy you are obviously going to desire to provide that puppy the best dog food possible in order that he or she can lead a extremely blissful and healthy life. You really don’t wish to scrimp in this area simply because the overall health of your pet dog, and it’s total well-being, absolutely depends upon the food items that it feeds on.

So pay attention to the options that I am about to give you so that you can identify which dog food options are going to be the ideal for you and your most loved small friend.

The Mars Corporation has two important foodstuff lines that are absolutely part of the most beneficial pet food picks available today. The leading brand that they sell is known as Pedigree. I know you have seen Pedigree all around the food markets and you possibly have even fed it for to your pet every once in awhile. The other pick they have is known as Cesar and it is also one of the better selections out there for commercial dog food brands. So you can’t make a mistake with anything from Mars Inc.

Nestl is also a very big maker of a few of the best dog food brandnames on the market today as well. Their main claims to fame are Purina One, Purina Pro Plan, Beneful and VitaLife. These are all famous labels and I would be shocked if you haven’t known them. And they are all examples of the best dog food solutions these days so you could pick out any kind of these and they would be really good selections for your dog and its wellness.

One of the best companies that creates some of the best pet food options today is Procter & Gamble. They are trusted for the pet food labels Eukanuba and Iams. These are both two of the greater dog food brands available today, and they both have a very good name and a really good track record as far as the healthiness of your pet is concerned.

Don’t hesitate to pick out any of the dog food brands pointed out in this post above simply because they’re totally the best dog food picks out there today. Best Dog Foods.

Posted in Dog Medicines | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Precisely Why Dog Treats Won’t Aid You In Getting Your Service Dog Certification

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Cooke Osborn

I’m certain you’ve noticed this at some point before, and you could even do it yourself constantly. Get a dog bone and then freely suspend it in front of your dog as you simply tell him or her exactly what to do. Roll over, play dead, sit down, speak and I’ll present you with this treat. Of course your dog will probably obey, they desire that treat. In case you dangle a peanut butter cup in front of me, I’ll play dead as well as roll over too. Does this imply that I am conditioned to roll over? Or does it merely suggest I seriously love peanut butter cups?

Whenever training for your own service dog certification you are best served to leave the treats behind. The main element to effective service dog training is usually to help to make the dog admire you. This cannot be completed in case the dog simply looks at you as a supply of doggie snacks.

We usually suggest utilizing a praise technique when training your dog. However, praise can be as simple as a verbal phrase, or even just a pat upon the head. In case the dog obtains a treat each and every time she or he follows a command, you have not attained the dogs respect. You have turned your pet directly into a spoiled animal.

Remember that your pet has to learn who the authority figure in the relationship is. A relationship where all you do is present treats for obeying commands, does not illustrate any kind of authority. Another reason utilizing dog treats as a training tool is not the greatest idea, specifically for service dog certification, is you won’t always have them at your disposal. Service dogs need to know whenever they are working and in the event that they’ve been trained to respond to get a treat, precisely what may happen whenever you didn’t remember them at the home? Suddenly your pet is unhappy with you for not really treating them right after carrying out a command and at some point will no longer follow that order.

In some rare cases, dogs can become disruptive in public areas because they are certainly not receiving the treat they believe they’ve earned. The final and most apparent reason for not making use of dog treats while conducting service dog certification training is it may have adverse health effects upon your own dog. Just like people, dogs are not really designed to snack heavily the whole day. In the event that you happen to be giving your dog a treat every single time they follow a command, they will be adding some really serious calories to their own diet regime. You would like your dog to obey you more and more as training continues. However, if the more they comply with you, the more they consume, you’re creating a health risk for your dog.

For More Information on service dog certification as well as great advice on service dog training check out ServiceDogCertificationTips.com

Posted in Dog Training | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off