Dog - 7 Tips To Train Your Dog - Sanity Prevails!

So, you bring home your beautiful dog (or puppy) from the shop, pound or kennels and now it needs training. Where on Earth do you begin? Of course, there are plenty of books out there written about dog training and dog obedience. What we have done in this article is distilled all those tips into seven basic tips how to train your dog. They are: Be Your Dogs Leader. Be consistent. Dogs are pack animals by instinct. In the wild they live and hunt in packs. Indeed, in some parts of the world, feral dogs are a nuisance and guess what? When they go feral, go wild, they revert back to their pack instinct. So you need to be your dogs pack leader. To say, show who is boss would be an over simplification as most experts believe it is all about consistency, be consistent when enforcing rules and regulations. Expect your dog to push the boundaries and that is when you need to establish yourself as who is in charge. Earn your dogs respect by being firm but fair. Do not use violence to establish your rules, instead use positive reinforcement techniques. Maintain Eye Contact. When you are training your dog it is important to maintain eye contact. Dogs look to the eyes for cues in leadership. This is also a useful tactic when out walking, if you look into the dogs eyes when giving instruction, he or she will see you more as the leader. Teach Your Dog To Heel. This is one of the first things you need to establish. You can either use the short or long leash method but either way, it is important to reward positive behaviour i.e. when your dog follows your command to heel. Once this command is mastered you will find that you and your dog have a much closer bond, so that is why this is one of the cornerstones of successful dog training. House Train Your Puppy or Dog. Trust me, you do not want soggy carpets. Dogs quite naturally will keep their living area clean Yes, quite literally, they do not want to poop in their own backyard (or on your carpet). It just needs a bit of consistent (there is that word again) dog training. Reward positive behaviour, scold accidents quickly and do not forget to take your dog for regular walks and toilet breaks, preferably not just in your backyard and of course, always remember to take a plastic bag with you to pick up the mess. Check Out The Latest Training Aids. The dog training world is now full of very good training aids. Trust me, you do not need to do dog training all by yourself. What with clickers, electronic and chemical training aids, leashes and leads of different varieties, halters, electronic collars, muzzles and treat carriers you are sure to find the dog training aid that is perfect for your needs. Take Your Dog To The Vet. Simply put, you need to make sure that your dog is healthy and that there are no physical impediments stopping your dog from becoming successfully trained. For example, if your dog has cystitis it will be very difficult for you to stop your dog urinating in unexpected places. What is better than soggy carpets? A preventative trip to the vets of course. Be Patient. Do Not Use Physical Force. Unless you or someone else is in immediate danger you should not use physical force on your dog. It has been proven that the old stick methods of training simply do not work. Positive reinforcement works much better but of course, you may have to learn the most important attribute of all, patience. Allen Jesson writes for several sites including two sites that specialize in dog training and hot dog trainingand Seapets, a leading source for dog training aids. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allen_Jesson

Dog - Helpful Hints About Dog Training

There is nothing better than to see a well behaved dog. You know that the owner and the dog are understanding each other and enjoying each others company. Every day when you come home from work, no one gets more excited to see you than your dog. There are 5 the most important things that you need to know in order to be able to train you dog: 1. Patience -- patience is very important to be successful in training your dog. It's going to take a lot of repetition in order for your dog to get trained. Some dogs learn faster then the others, so knowing a little more about the breed of your dog, can give you an idea of how long it may take to train your dog. 2. Consistency -- you have to invest a lot of time in the beginning. But believe me, it will pay off in a log run. You will have to repeat same thing over and over and over again until your dog learns. You need to do it whenever you get a chance, which means at least twice a day, 10 to 15 minutes at the time. 3. Reward -- It is very important that you reward your dog when its doing something that you want it to do. Make sure that you always have a little treat handy. When they get reward they will learn what is acceptable and what is unacceptable behavior. 4. Team work -- Always remember that you and your dog need to work as a team. The training time is also considered as bonding time with your dog, as well as exercise. Never give up on your team mate, let him/her know when he/she is doing a good job and he/she will make you a proud owner. Also, make sure that both of you are having fun. If you are having fun, your dog can sense that and it will be happy as well. 5. Exercise -- Most of the time your dog is misbehaving when he/she is bored. Make sure that you give your dog enough exercise. If you can dedicate at least 40 minutes a day to take your dog for a walk, to the dog park, or have a play time with it or other dogs, or even combination of any activities mentioned, you won't have to worry about misbehaving. There is a lot of different options available that can help you train your dog. With the busy schedule, you may not have time to drive to the obedience school. But you don't have to do that any more. There are a lot of web sites that can help you with the dog training, this way you can spend more quality time with your dog. The websites can give you helpful hints, video instructions, and you can even email an expert for specific advise. Try it and you won't regret it. Ivana Urbanowski is a proud owner of two well behaved dogs. Here are a few web sites that have been selected to help you be a proud dog owner. They have good content and material that is easy to understand and follow. Click here for more details: http://urbiva.bezoogle.com/pp/dog-training/ Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ivana_Urbanowski

Dog - Dog Health Alert: Combat Kidney Disease Now

My friend was grief stricken. Her body heaved with sobs, and in between she kept repeating: "He was so young. I never thought I'd lose him so soon." No, she hadn't lost a son or brother, but she had lost a friend. "It's like losing a member of your family," she cried. She was referring to the death of Jack, her beloved Golden Retriever puppy, who had contracted a condition known as Juvenile Renal Disease. Regrettably, this and other kidney conditions are common threats to your dog's health, and as we've seen, the effects can be devastating. The good news, however, is that with the correct type of dog care, much can be done to prevent and even cure kidney disease. So what exactly do the kidneys do, and what causes them to become infected? First things first! The job of the kidneys is two-fold: they balance a whole variety of chemicals in your dog's blood AND they filter out waste material through the urine. When there are just too many toxic substances in the body, the dog's kidneys can become infected. (We can define a toxin as a substance which is in the wrong place, or which is performing the wrong function.) Common symptoms of kidney infection are drinking copious amounts of water, and frequent passing of dilute urine (that is, clear urine with no smell). This can lead to vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss and a wasting of the muscles. Many toxic substances are to be found in the plastics that dogs love to chew on, in unclean water and even in certain chemicals that are used in the processing of dog food. The resulting kidney disease can be debilitating at best and fatal at worst. Conventional treatments don't always work, and in any case they tend to be hugely expensive. Wouldn't it be better to avoid the onset of these conditions, and even to help your dog combat them (under a vet's supervision, of course) if they do strike? So what can I do? The safest bet is to go down the path of natural dog care: * Make sure that all the toys you allow your dog to play with are toxin free and chew -proof. There are many stores and online retailers who can help you choose the safest products. * Train your dog not to chew on litter and other discarded materials when you are out and about. * Give your dog only pure water to drink. Puddles, canals and lakes can be devastating! These days you just don't know what toxins are lurking therein. * In some areas even the tap water is suspect. So-called 'softened water' can be harmful and some areas have a high sodium content in their drinking water. Better to make it easier on your dog's kidneys by filtering all water before filling his bowl. * Many vets tell us that exercise is a key ingredient in the fight against kidney infection. Most people seem to be under the impression (as I was!) that exercise is only to keep a dog fit and to combat weight gain.. Apparently it also has a crucial role in helping stimulate the kidneys to do their job. * Finally, there is nothing to beat natural dog food, not only in the fight against kidney infections, but also against a whole host of other ailments. Many pre-packaged dog foods contain less than nutritious ingredients as well as a range of preservatives and other chemicals - many of which are toxic. * Natural dog food stores and online retailers will help you make the right choice here. You can even buy ingredients and herbs that are good for your dog and cook them yourself, but if that is too daunting a prospect there are a range of suitable alternatives. These will contain the nutrients, amino acids and vitamins your dog needs. Kidney disease, then, need not be the fatal condition it once was. We now know so much more about its causes and how to prevent it, and even how to boost a dog's immune system so that she herself can shake off any infection. Let's hope you and I and our dogs never have to suffer the same tragic experience as my friend and her dog! Interested in learning more about natural care for your dog? Visit Frank McGinty's site for some excellent news: http://www.familysoftshop.com/dogcare Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_McGinty

Dog - Shih Tzu - Useful Over The Counter Medications

Some over-the-counter medications can be used for emergencies in select situations. Always ask your vet before giving any over-the-counter medicines to your injured or ill shih tzu. 3% hydrogen peroxide: Can be used to induce vomiting and for general wound cleaning. Dosage is: 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight. Syrup of ipecac: Can be used to induce vomiting. Dosage is: 1 teaspoon per 20 pounds of body weight. Bismuth subsalicylate: Can be used for vomiting and mild diarrhea. Dosage: 1 teaspoon per 15 pounds of body weight. 1 tablet per 40 pounds of body weight (doubt your shih tzu will be taking a full tablet!) Kaolin-pectin: Use for mild diarrhea. Dosage: 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight. Buffered aspirin: Use for fever and inflammation, mild to moderate pain, arthritis, before giving vaccinations. Dosage: 1 adult table (5 grains) per 40 pounds). Ask your vet the correct dosage for your shih tzu. Diphenhydramine: Use for mild cough, allergies, allergic reactions. Dosage: 1 milligram per pound of body weight. Vegetable oil: Use for constipation. Dosage: 1 teaspoon per 5 pounds mixed in food. Epsom salts: Use for constipation, as a soak to reduce swelling and inflammation. Dosage: For constipation, 1 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight, dissolved in water and given orally; same dilution for soaks. Milk of magnesia: Use for vomiting, constipation, deactivate poisons. Dosage: 2 teaspoons per 10 pounds of body weight. Activated charcoal: Use to deactivate poisons. Dosage: 1/2 gram per pound of body weight. Petroleum jelly: Use for constipation. Dosage: 1/2 teaspoon per 10 pounds of body weight. Connie Limon publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers. Weekly updates of available puppies. Sign up at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Connie_Limon