Dog Obedience Training
Author: Kelley Blackston

Dog obedience training begins with the owner. There are several tips to keep in mind before starting any dog obedience training. First of all, understand that dogs have an attention span of no more than ten minutes. Training routines, therefore, should be limited to this time frame. Secondly, all training should be positive. Reward your dog for correct behavior and always end your obedience training sessions on a positive note.

Training for a dog is similar to going to work for a human; if you do not get anything good out of it, you will stop working. Having fun is a big plus! Third, remember to be consistent. For example, if you feed your dog from your plate, don’t expect him not to beg when company arrives.

Work with him each day reinforcing basic skills and behaviors. Use the same commands and hand signals each time. When his behaviors slip, look at how you may be responsible. Next, teach the action before labeling it with a command. For example, before you say, “Fido, sit,” show him with the technique below what a sit is. Then, reward him saying “good sit” when he is in a sit. After a while, you will be able to say “sit,” and he will know what that means.

Finally, remember that you will get more cooperation when you are positive and patient. Instead of forcing your dog into a sit position, bring a tasty treat above and then back over his head until he sits back to get it. Reward him not only with the treat, but with lots of praise. These general rules will help any dog owner apply the basic dog obedience training command with success.

Let’s look at these basic dog obedience training commands. We just learned sit. From a sitting position, lower a treat straight down under the dog’s neck, when the dog bends down to accept the treat pull it slowly out so that the dog can comfortably lie down. In the beginning, you may have to hold his butt down to let him know that you do not want him to get out of the sitting position. Gentle guidance during the first stages is okay. Reward when your dog has all four elbows on the floor.

It is important that your dog have a releasing command such as “Okay.” When you open doors, give him food, or let him in/out of the car, use this releasing command to signal permission. After a weak of hearing this word, practice his wait at a door, not allowing the dog to pass without hearing the releasing command.

Come is also an important dog obedience training command. Using a long lead, let Fido wander off and then call his name and begin reeling in. When he gets close to you, say “Come.” Try this repeatedly until Fido loves the command “Come” and you are no longer having to reel.

Kelley Blackston

P.S. You may use this article in your publication, but the content and signature file must remain intact. Thank you.

“Thousands Have Discovered This Little Known Secret To Making Money With A Dog Day Care — Now It’s Your Turn…”

Dog Obedience Training

Dog Obediance Tips…
Author: Daniel Lesser

Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at times, but it’s well worth it. Here are several tips that should help things go much smoother and faster… plus reduce the frustration both you and your dog feel!

Conduct “play training” where by the training tasks are made into fun games and your dog’s play drive is used as motivation. There are a lot of really good books available on this type of training.

Intelligent dogs can also be stubborn, so you may have to outwit them!

While training your dog, you have to make him want to do what you want him to. You can’t make him do stuff unless it is fun. Otherwise you are wasting both your time and his.

Try to make your dog’s training so fun that it becomes his or her favorite activity. This will make learning much easier and more enjoyable.

Most dogs love to play! You can make your dog the happiest just by spending some time with them, giving your undivided attention each day. Without this, your dog will feel ignored, bored, or think they’re in trouble. When this happens they’re more likely to chew, tear things up, and not listen to you.

Daniel Lesser
Dog and Puppy Articles, Pictures and Resources http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-obedience-tips.php

Dog Lover Gifts
Author: Adriana Copaceanu

Whether you are searching for something to say “Happy Birthday” or “Merry Christmas” a dog owner will agree that dog lover gifts are always among those most cherished and appreciated.

Many times, a dog lover’s gift is designed with a specific breed in mind; among the various popular breeds owned include the following:

Beagles
Boston Terriers
Chihuahuas
Bulldogs
Jack Russell Terriers
Pugs
Golden Retrievers
Poodles
Dachshunds
Shih-Tzu

The type of dog an owner has often is a reflection of their personality; thus it shouldn’t be too difficult selecting a dog lover gift that is well suited for Fido and Fido’s parents.

Many owners are fans of the smaller breeds, often referred to as “toy” dogs. Among these include Pomeranians, Shih-Tzu and toy poodles. These animals are often purebreds, and owners traditionally love showing off their animals to anyone willing to admire. These dogs often are “stereotyped” in movies, hiding out in the purses of “well bred” women who are polished, coiffed and manicured. These small animals often are depicted as enjoying a trip to the salon with mom for a brush and trim. Smaller breeds of dogs are often the perfect selection for families living in smaller apartments. Some dogs are even smaller than popular breeds of cats! The Yorkshire terrier is a perfect example of a pup small enough to fit in the palm of your hand!

Many owners of specialized breeds enter their pups into competition. Many hours are spent grooming, fluffing and primping the animals for show; thus dog lover gifts might include any accessories that help complement their dog’s unique features or characteristics. Undoubtedly upon entering the house of one of these award winning animals, you will find ribbons and hundreds of pictures of the stunning champion. The ideal dog lover gifts for people owning a prize dog would be anything that highlights and helps show off puppies stunning nature and well behaved personality. Clothing and picture frames are often popular choices for this category of dog.

Still other dogs are cherished for their warm, loving personalities and “family” natures. Golden Retrievers for example, are a popular choice among families with children. These animals are generally high energy but very well behaved, making them the perfect selection for a family with many young, energetic and playful children. For these, toys woudl be very well received, as the kids can play with them, while enjoying their pet.

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don’t blow the bank. You can find more Dog Lover Gift Ideas at her site. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for Gift News her free monthly newsletter.

Dog Jewelry: Express Your Love For Mans Best Friend
Author: Angela Davis

Dog jewelry is a favorite not only amongst dog lovers, but also amongst those who like to own different kinds of animal jewelry. Dog jewelry ranges from bracelets to charms to totems to specially made dog jewelry for men and women. Most of the high end quality dog jewelry is made from yellow gold or white gold, but may also be made in sterling silver. These are the more expensive varieties of dog jewelry other more reasonably priced variations of dog jewelry are also available. These more affordable pieces can be found in all shapes, sizes and materials. Whether it is some kind of metal or plastic or some alloy, this jewelry is available in all ranges. In fact some of the pieces are specially designed by known designers belonging to famous jewelry houses. Other than these designer jewelry houses, dog jewelry can also be found at departmental stores, general jewelry stores, online websites and in some auction houses too.

It is available to suit all kinds of tastes and different kinds of budgets. You just have to know what you are looking for. Dog jewelry earrings and bracelets can be an unusual and wonderful addition to any outfit, and are not overly flashy. They form an unusual and intriguing accessory, which can change your entire look. Dog jewelry earrings may either comes in a dangle form, or in a stud form. Dog jewelry bracelets are also a great item to own. Dog jewelry pins can add a beautiful and innovative touch to a jacket or scarf. They add a dash of color and chutzpah, which if used correctly can create an innovative style. These pins are of the dog’s shapes, and may either be hand painted, pewter, gold, or bronze plated.

Dog jewelry also includes charms, which can either be in the form of a charm bracelet or charm necklace. Many consider these to be a good luck charm. This piece of dog jewelry can add a dash of style to your outfit and can be worn by your pet too, making him the centre of attraction amongst the rest of your dog loving friends!!!

Dog jewelry locket rings are great too, because they hold your photo of the dog you love and look good when worn. However these locket rings don’t necessarily have to hold the picture of your animal, it can even hold the photograph of some close loved one.

Dog jewelry is also available in the form of a ring. This can give you the option of either showing off or being discreet about your love for dogs. This jewelry is the ideal gift to give to a dog lover, to some one who owns a dog or simply as an unusual gift to give to somebody. Not only that, it is a wonderful way to show your own dog how much you love him.

Dog jewelry is a unique item which you can not only gift, but can also buy for your own self. It adds an unusual look to your over all appearance and can be a wonderful conversation starter!!!!

Looking for information about Jewelry? Go to: http://www.merryjewelry.com ‘Merry Jewelry’ is published by Angela Davis - The Complete Jewelry Resource Directory Check out more Jewelry articles at: http://www.merryjewelry.com/archive

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Dog House Training
Author: Rolf Rasmusson

Dog House Training can be simple

To start your dog house training, the first thing you’ll need to do is buy your best pet friend a nice dog training collar, lead and dog crate. You should choose one made of nylon or soft leather. When your puppy grows older, you can buy him a heavier collar, and if he’s a large breed, it should be made of heavy leather, with a strong buckle and clip. Dog house training can be simple. We’ll need to be patient and prepared to spend enough time to work with your new friend right from the start. We can avoid your doggie being among the 60% that land up in humane societies (dog pound) because of behavioral problems. It’s like being on a dog rescue mission.

Get yourself a crate large enough for your puppy to stretch and lie down in (for those get naps). But not one that’s too big either. You don’t want your doggie to be able to potty in one corner and sleep in the other. Your little pet should be in the crate anytime you’re not available for watching your doggie. Our attempt is to get your friend to understand that they’ll have to wait until we come to their rescue teaching them to “hold” the potty which is obedience training.

Your little sweetie can be left in the crate for 6-8 hours at a time. You mostly do it at night time when you go to bed, but can also do it during the day if you have to be away.

When you’re at home, leave the puppy out of the crate, but set a timer (you know, one of those we use in the kitchen for timing) for every 60-90 minutes (no cheating; 90 minutes is the maximum). Each time the timer rings, take the pup out for a walk for 10 minutes, giving them the chance to eliminate, and reward them when they are successful. Positive reinforcement and love is the way to go. Don’t be surprised if you walk them for 10 minutes, nothing happens, and when you come back in the house they have an accident on the kitchen floor. BE PATIENT.

These are only some guidelines. But, take your time and do not become frustrated. In a month, or so, you will look back and laugh.

Remember that your puppy will grow very fast, so his first dog collar should be adjustable. Often the puppy’s breeder will give you a collar and lead with your puppy when you pick him up. Dog care and training really can be fun. You and your best pet friend so to speak grow up together.

If your puppy is not used to a collar yet, he should start his dog training by wearing the collar in the house for a few days. At first he will try to get rid of the collar, but in an hour or so he will get used to it, and then you can remove it. Remember dog house training benefits everyone. Wait till you see that puppy smile when they know there’re pleasing you.

For more good doggie stuff… http://www.dog-stuff4u.com

Dog Health Conditions and Terms You Should Know, Part 3…
Author: Daniel Lesser

Continued from part two.

Epilepsy/seizure disorder

When your Boxer is between 2 to 5 years old, he may develop seizure disorder.

When he has an epilepsy attack, he’d be unconscious and may look like he is not breathing but he is. He is not suffering.

The information that would be important to your veterinarian regarding such episodes includes:

> Duration of the attack

> The type of muscular activity your Boxer exhibits during seizure

> Any abnormal behavior during the attack

> Frequency of the seizure

What you do in such instances is not panic and time the attack by actually looking at a watch or clock.

It may only take place for 30 seconds but may seem forever to you. You need a veterinarian if it lasts more than 5 minutes.

Emergency treatment is definitely called for if your Boxer goes into seizure for 10 minutes or longer, twice in the span of 24 hours, or if he has a second attack before he could completely recover from the first seizure attack.

Remain by your Boxer’s side; be there when he comes out of the seizure to calm him. Stroke and comfort him.

To keep your Boxer from hurting himself during the seizure, move away furniture from the immediate area and protect him from water, the stairs and any sharp objects. If you can, place a pillow under his head to protect him from head trauma.

Unlike seizure attacks in human, animals do not swallow their tongue. So you don’t have to put your hand or spoon or any other object into your Boxer’s mouth when he has an attack. You might get bitten.

Also, keep children and other pets away from your sick Boxer.

Coming out of the seizure, your Boxer will be groggy, confused and feel like he has done something wrong. He may make unusual sounds and stumble around.

Do not allow him on the stairs until he has fully recovered. In the mean time, sooth him by talking to him softly, offer him some water, stroke and comfort him.

And if he doesn’t recover fully after 30 minutes, consult your veterinarian or any emergency vet facility.

Flea-infected Boxers

Flea-infected Boxers can develop skin diseases especially those allergic to fleas.

Black specs in the fur and bite marks on the skin tell if your Boxer has them. To check further, spread some newspapers and place your Boxer on top. Brush him and look for the black specs falling off.

Fleas live up to 6 weeks, feeding on blood and during that time would have laid hundreds of eggs that mostly land on your Boxer’s bedding, carpets and other favorable nests around your home.

The eggs hatch into larvae that seek nice, dark places while feeding on flea’s droppings, dust, human shed skin, dandruff and other such tasty morsels.

The larvae turn into hardy pupae that could survive for months before changing into adult fleas.

Fleas are host to tapeworms. Both problems are likely to occur together in your Boxer and, therefore, the treatments are also usually given together by the vet.

A bit of garlic a day may keep the fleas away from your Boxer.

Heart ailments

-Bradycardia or slow heart rate may be a symptom of thyroid disorder in Boxers.

-Dialated cardiomyopathy constitutes a serious, emergency case.

Your dog may collapse from it or the back legs have sudden pain and paralysis.

It is a serious heart condition whereby the heart muscle is enlarged and thin walled. Your Boxer will experience shortness of breath, coughing and can’t take to exercise.

Another serious heart condition is called cardiac conduction disease that is affecting Boxer’s longevity. It was previously known as Boxer cardiomyopathy but the new term is used to differentiate it from dilative cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac conduction is difficult to deal with due to 3 factors.

-One is many Boxers will not show any symptom (asymptotic) but will just drop dead suddenly from it.

-The Boxers develop this disease later in life, often after they have been bred.

-There was no good screening method for it until the one recently developed by Ohio State University researchers, called the 24-hour Holter monitor test.

However, there is still no assurance that Boxers “cleared” now from cardiac conduction disease by the Holter test will remain so in the future.

Many breeders and Boxer experts are now working to refine the test procedures, expand the database and come up with a guideline to select only, for breeding purposes, those Boxers with high probability of being free of the disease.

There are also concerns elimination of too many dogs from the gene pool would be bad for the breed diversity and could cause more problems in the future. Some opinions hold that extensive culling should only get done after more studies on genetic diversity in Boxers.

Hip dysplasia

This is a bone disorder whereby there is an improper fit of the large femur bone with the hip socket, causing lots of pain and lameness.

It occurs more in males

This articles is available at http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-health3.php

Part 1 is available at http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-health.php
Part 2 is available at http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-health2.php

Daniel Lesser
Dog and Puppy Articles, Pictures and Resources http://www.thingsfordogs.com

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Dog Health Conditions and Terms You Should Know… Part 2
Author: Daniel Lesser

Cryptorchidism is peculiar to male dogs and a condition present at birth.

The testicle/s, which developed in the abdomen, fail to descend into the scrotum. The usually underdeveloped and non-functional testicle/s should be removed, as it could turn cancerous later in life.

If the condition remains after the puppy is more than 2 months old, then the chances are it will remain so permanently.

Eye ulcers, if caught early, are easy to treat. Late treatment can be expensive for you as well as painful for your Boxer.

Dermodicosis or non-contagious mange first appears as numerous patches anywhere on the Boxer’s skin. The hair will fall off, leaving bald patches in large areas, and the bald skin starts to break down, turning into crusty sores.

Atopy is itchy (pruritic) skin disease caused by allergy to something the Boxer breathes in or touch.

It cannot be cured and is the number two common allergic skin condition in dogs, after flea allergy dermatitis. Having fleas would make it worse for your Boxer.

A Boxer suffering from atopy would have itchiness particularly on the hands and feet.

He’d be chewing his paws, scratching his ears, shaking its head, scratching the muzzle or rubbing it on the ground. These same symptoms can also be brought about by food allergy.

Acne in young dogs shows as red bumps (papules) and blackheads (comedones) on the chin and lips.

Shorthaired dogs like Boxers are more likely to get them. And like in human, they start getting acne around puberty, but the problem would usually go away after one year old or so.

However, you may have to help with some topical gel medication similar to the one used by teenagers. Such lesions may become infected and develop pus, which becomes itchy for your Boxer and he starts rubbing his face in the carpet or against furniture.

Urinary incontinence in dogs can be due to a neurological lesion - something not normal with the parts of the nervous system that deal with urine regulation.

A Boxer with incontinence will dribble urine and if a neurologic lesion is the cause, then this has to be removed.

There are also other reasons not related to the nervous system like congenital defect and bacterial urinary tract infection, also known as bacterial cystitis or bladder stone.

If your Boxer leaves wet spots where he has slept and he has skin irritation from contact with the urine, then he may have incontinence.

However, wet spots around the house alone may simply mean that he drinks a lot more and needs to relieve himself often but you are not allowing him outside frequently enough. Straining while urinating and blood in the urine are two signs of bladder stone.

Deafness

Boxer is among the more than 35 breeds of dogs on record to have hereditary sensorineural deafness.

The condition cannot be reversed with medications, surgery or hearing aids. Dogs also could become deaf from old age, toxicosis or infection.

How do you tell if your Boxer is deaf?

He doesn’t respond to spoken commands and only responds to you when he sees you.

He keeps shaking his head and pawing his ears or turns in the wrong direction when you call him.

He sleeps more than normal and would not wake up till you physically touch him.

But not to worry, you can still have a wonderful companion in your deaf Boxer through sign language.

Dogs have been known to learn as many as 65 command words in sign language. These include signs for, among others, “stop”, “potty”, “drop it”, “stay”, “lay down”, “sit”, “come” and “cookie”.

As extra measures, you want to keep the deaf Boxer in a safe environment as he cannot hear approaching dangers like an approaching car. So keep him on a leash and close to you when in traffic or out for walks.

On his nametag, add the word “deaf” so he will not be misunderstood if he ever gets lost. Some suggest putting a bell as well so you know where to find him if he gets lost.

And finally, if your Boxer tested positive for inherited deafness in one or both ears, do not breed him or her.

Article url: http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-health2.php

Part 1 is available at http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-health.php
Part 3 is available at http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-health3.php

Daniel Lesser
Dog and Puppy Articles, Pictures and Resources http://www.thingsfordogs.com

Dog Health Conditions and Terms You Should Know…
Author: Daniel Lesser

Some Dogs like Boxers unfortunately, are prone to several potential health problems such as:

- Skin allergy

- Food allergy

- Cancer

- Hip dysphasia

- Bloat

- Heart ailments

- Hypothyroidism

- Fleas

- Worms

Knowing what they are will help you to better monitor your pet’s health and to gather the pertinent information, in case of an illness, that would assist your veterinarian to administer the correct diagnosis and treatment. Below are some common afflictions of Boxers.

Alapechia (Lost of hair on the trunk)

Seems to be more common in male Boxers.

One, which died at the age of 12 years and 4 months, was diagnosed with seasonal alopecia. “He used to go bald once a year but the hair always grew back on,” said its owner.

Bloat

Gastric torsion or GDV or bloat in your Boxer can be life threatening so bring him to the veterinarian immediately.

The stomach gets filled with air and twisting and this can happen suddenly. The symptoms include restlessness, drooling and nausea and the stomach is bloated (distended abdomen). Your Boxer may vomit and continue to retch but nothing would come out.

Cancerous and benign tumors

Boxers are highly prone to cancer.

So any time you see a bump on your Boxer, you should check it out. About 20 out of 100 cases are cancerous.

Watch out for both external and internal lumps, eye ulcers or cherry eye as they called it, as well as dermodicosis or skin sores.

Mast cell tumors are malignant and they do not occur very often but can form either in the skin or within the body.

The related disorders reported along such tumors are round raised masses in the skin of your Boxer, lack of appetite, vomiting and abdominal pain. Check for tarry stools due to bleeding in the upper intestinal tract.

Boxers of any age can develop mast cell tumor but older ones, above 8 years, are more prone to it.

Never take tumors in your Boxers lightly, even a small one! The veterinarian would usually have them removed immediately because of their high susceptibility to cancer.

One owner noticed her Boxer had a bump the size of a mosquito bite that did not go away even after 10 days. The vet diagnosed it a malignant tumor and removed it the very next day. The owner felt so relieved that the tumor was removed before the cancer had a chance to spread.

Another owner found both his Boxer girls had lumps and had it checked out immediately. The vet removed the lumps due to their breed and the Boxers were all fine now!

Yet another owner was not so lucky.

“I have had the pleasure of raising two great Boxers but both passed away much too young of cancer. The last one, Nick, died one week after being diagnosed with anal cancer. It spread rapidly and he was only 7 years old!”

Part 2 is available at http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-health2.php
Part 3 is available at http://www.thingsfordogs.com/dog-health3.php

Daniel Lesser
Dog and Puppy Articles, Pictures and Resources http://www.thingsfordogs.com

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Dog Grooming and Dog Care
Author: Michele Elward

Dog grooming is relatively simple for most dogs. I have a greyhound and spend about 5 minutes per day on dog grooming. For dogs that have short hair, they need to be brushed, maybe once per week. For dogs with long hair, the grooming is more time consuming. This is an important consideration when selecting a breed. Beyond regularly brushing your dog’s coat and giving him or her periodic baths, you may want to consider a few other things.

Certain dogs’ nails grow faster than others and need to be clipped. It’s not enough to walk your dog on the street in hopes that the nails will wear down. If the nails get too long, it could be uncomfortable for the dog and might make it difficult to walk. Either clip the dog’s nails yourself, but be careful not to clip too much off, or go to your local groomer who will clip the nails for roughly $5.

Lastly, think about cleaning your dog’s ears every so often. Dust, dirt and wax can accumulate. Take a tissue and clean the ears, but don’t go too deep. This is also a good idea if you see your dog scratching his or her ears or shaking his or her head. Lastly, a few dog breeds are predisposed to having poor teeth, e.g., greyhounds and whippets. Therefore, brushing the dog’s teeth every other day is crucial. Otherwise, your dog might be uncomfortable and you may be facing some costly dental bills.

My above comments are focused on basic grooming, but you have to make sure you are providing your dog proper nutrition and medicines as well. With medicines, don’t forget to regularly get your dog inoculated - especially for rabies and don’t forget to give him or her monthly heartworm pills - if you don’t opt for a veterinary shot.

http://thepetman.com/

DOG GOES BALLISTIC WHEN JOGGING WITH OWNER
Author: Adam G. Katz
Dear Adam:

My dog, Chance, we think is a Golden retriever mix, but he’s mostly white with gold patches. Also he’s about 2/3 the size of a Golden Retriever.

He’s 18 months old and has been loose-leash trained pretty well as long as you don’t let him get distracted.

The thing I don’t know how to handle is that some dogs that we meet when we’re out jogging or walking, he goes ballistic.

We have used a choke chain to train him, and it seemed to work well. But there is that occasional dog that we meet will get him so riled that he pulls, then spins, then pulls backwards, then jumps up and down, then spins again - all to get loose to go attack the other dog.

What are my options?

- Greg

Dear Greg:

My first question is: Why aren’t you using a pinch collar? This is advocated ad nausea in the book…

Furthermore, distractions should not be avoided. They should be actively sought after. Distractions make your dog better. They allow you to teach your dog that you are going to make him behave EVEN AROUND A DISTRACTION.

My hunch is that he’s not listening to you because you’re using a choke chain collar and you’re not able to get a good correction. If you WERE getting a good correction, he wouldn’t be throwing a tantrum.

He can’t be watching the other dog and watching you at the same time. If he has to worry about you sneaking off and getting caught at the end of the leash (where he gets a correction from the collar)… then he’s not going to have enough room in his brain left to think about going after the other dog.

To read more of my dog training ramblings, read about my book (click below): http://tinyurl.com/4efaq
Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!

About the Author

Author, “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!“ which you can read more about at:
http://tinyurl.com/4efaq

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