Thursday, August 26, 2010

How to Find a Tibetan Mastiff Breeder

Tibetan mastiff dogs are heavy-boned and large dogs. These dogs originated in the Tibet and then later introduced to the western countries. These dogs have short fur over their heads with a thick coat of hair over their body. It is actually what makes them survive the cold seasons of Tibet. Most people would choose to have this breed because they are large which are what westerners like the most.

If your live in the states or different parts of the globe yet still wants to have a Tibetan Mastiff dog, you need to find a breeder. Read on to find out how to find a Tibetan Mastiff breeder.

1. The first thing you need to do on how to find a Tibetan Mastiff breeder is to contact your local dog associations or groups. Most of the localities have a Tibetan Mastiff dog association where in they breed dogs of such type. These are the official breeders for these kinds of dogs. That way, you can be sure that your dog is 100% bred of a Tibetan Mastiff.

2. A helpful tip on how to find a Tibetan Mastiff breeder is when the person tells you the ups and downs of adopting the type of dog. It means that he is an expert with these types of dogs which makes his company or group an official breeder. You might want to ask this from any breeders you meet and if he fails to answer that only means that he knows not much of what he is breeding.

3. If the breeder you found tells you that they do not have a puppy available at the moment, you can then ask if he can refer you to other breeders he know. They might have some friends or remote company that also breeds dogs of that type. If you found a good breeder, he will never bad-mouth other fellow breeders. He will actually recommend you to the best place he knows second to their place.

4. Ask the breeder what Tibetan Mastiffs are like. You can inquire about how to take care of them, and all the things you would like to know. This is your opportunity to ask these questions before you take the dog home. The breeder will have enough knowledge about this if he really has an expertise with these dogs.

5. If you found a place that have the puppies you are looking for, kindly ask him if you can see their kennel. See if they are living in a good environment. If they are, you are sure that the puppy is healthy and they are always checked. Some places do not have the proper facilities for dogs.

6. If you are ready to take the dog home, the breeder might ask you some information and questions about your family and home. This only shows that they are concern with the welfare of the dog. No good breeder would let his dogs go to a home that will not take proper care of him.

Those are the steps on how to find a Tibetan Mastiff breeder. Now you can start looking for one in your place to adopt a puppy of your own.

Bringing a New Puppy Home - 5 Tips

he unconditional love of a puppy is one of life's great pleasures.

Their curiosity, innocence, and joy for life are inspirational and bring out the best in us. If you're considering bringing a puppy in to your home, it's important to give careful consideration to such factors as breed traits, how big the dog will be as an adult, access to exercise, your personal schedule, and the long-term cost of caring for your pet.

A dog's personality is largely shaped by its early experiences and with proper care and planning, both dog and owner can thrive. Following are 5 steps to help ensure a lifetime of happiness for both your and your puppy:

1. Prepare Your Home

Puppies are naturally curious; so setting up your home in advance is essential. Lock away all household chemicals, keep any potentially poisonous houseplants out of reach, try to tie back any electrical cords and keep doors closed. It's also important to create a specific "home base" for the new puppy by using portable gates or an indoor kennel to keep the puppy away from trouble as well as helping the puppy to feel safe without the sense of abandonment that comes from being locked alone in a room. Don't give in to the occasional whine and mix solitude with "together time."

2. Diligence Now Brings Happiness Later

Dogs have incredible memories and they'll never forget something that is fun or rewarding. It only takes one time getting on the couch or finding scraps in the garbage for them to learn that "the sofa is really comfortable" or "there's free food in the trash." If they do, they will remember those pleasant things forever; so it is better if your dog never learns the wrong things at all.

3. Stay Positive

Right from the start it's crucial to always use positive reinforcement to train your puppy. A reward and praise for waiting at the door will be a lot more effective than chasing them down the street trying to teach them they shouldn't have run out. Showing puppies things they have done wrong, especially with an angry voice, makes them "hide" and virtually eliminates the ability to teach them what's right. So remember, avoid letting them learn to do something wrong and praise them immediately for a job well done.

4. Proper Socialization

A young puppy must have enough positive, happy, and fun experiences with a wide variety of different life experiences before it is 3 months old. Although your vet might have told you not to take your puppy out due to risk of disease, it is critical for your dog to be socialized before the shots are completed. The truth is that more dogs are euthanized due to behaviors that stem from fear issues than are lost to illness. Proper socialization will ensure that you have a balanced, well-adjusted pet as an adult. So don't hesitate to take your dog to different place, introduce them to a variety of environments, and meet lots of people, but be safe and careful choosing how to introduce your puppy to other dogs. Play dates and puppy classes are great, but dog park visits need to wait until all vaccinations are completed.

5. Be Patient

Puppies are products of their environment and will behave in accordance with what they see and hear. Your early days and months with your new puppy will be filled with teaching moments. And while there will be moments of frustration, like that 'present' you find in the middle of the kitchen floor or a well-chewed slipper, just remember that how you react now will make a huge difference later. Patience, love, and guidance go a lot farther than aggression, anger, and unrealistic demands.

If your puppy is experiencing any level of fear or aggression, seek the help of a qualified, positively oriented trainer or behaviorist. It is possible that doing the wrong thing will make the problems worse and harder to fix in the long run.

Beds For Dogs - Considering Your Dog's Needs

Beds for dogs are as important as beds for humans. Dogs spend more than half their lives sleeping, typically around 10-16 hours a day, depending upon the age and activity level of the dog. Working dogs tend to sleep less, non-working house dwellers usually sleeps longer hours.

Dogs sleep patterns are very similar to humans. They go through slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement sleep (REM) just like us. However their sleep cycles are shorter then humans, that is why dogs take frequent short naps instead of sleeping at one long stretch like most humans do.

It's a lot of fun to watch your dog when they are in their REM sleep, every dog owner has seen their buddy running after and maybe even howling and barking at their dreamland squirrels. I have seen dogs wake themselves up with their load barking during REM sleep, the confused look on their face is priceless!

When a dog is curled up in a ball she is usually in the SWS phase of sleep, and is easily awakened. Dogs usually spend their REM sleep stretched out on their sides or lying on their backs, that is when they sleep the most soundly. So be sure your dogs bed has plenty of room for her to stretch out and sleep deeply.

You may also need more then one bed for your dog. Your might need a heated dog bed outdoors, but indoors, you want something that is comfortable for your dog and looks attractive in your home. Or maybe a bed in the family room so she can hang with the pack during the day, and another bed where she spends the night while the human pack members are sleeping. A dog sleeping beside the bed of a child is a sweet sight to see.

Beds for dogs come in as many varieties as there are dogs. Always consider the unique needs of your dog when buying your friend a bed.

Beginner's Guide to Dog Grooming Equipment

If you are thinking about grooming your beloved dog at home there are a few pieces of Dog Grooming Equipment that you will need to purchase to help get a good result. While it's not as simple as grabbing the scissors and the old baby comb in the bottom of the utility drawer it is easy to find and build yourself a good collection of the necessary tools needed without breaking the bank. The first thing you will need is a dog grooming brush. The most important fact about dog brushes is that one size doesn't fit all, meaning the brush you buy needs to be tailored to your dogs length and type of hair.

Undercoat / DE- matting rakes: These are must have items for dogs who shed their fur. Made up of single row of prongs designed to get to the undercoat of your dogs fur and remove the dead fur that may be matted up.

Pin brush: Made with or without rubber tipped ends. Perfect for removing dead hair and minor tangles in your dogs fur. This brush is excellent for dogs that have a medium length coat, a wire, wavy or curly coat.

Slicker brush: Made up of fine wire bristles that removes mats /tangles from all coat types. It helps in removing dead hair from the undercoat and the outer-coat. It's used mainly after the dog has been brushed with a pin brush as it also stimulates the dogs skin to produce a natural sheen to their coat.

A metal toothed comb is useful to have with a selection of brushes. It is useful for quickly and easily detangling fur or gently brushing out mats in the dogs hair. The teeth of the comb vary in size from fine to medium and coarse, depending on the type of coat your dog has.

A dog clipper and blades are the safest way to trim your dogs fur without a high risk of injury to them. There are a variety of brands available to buy that range in price and available functions. Ideally you want one that is reasonably quiet and has a heat control to minimize burning your pets skin. The blades for the clippers are available in different sizes with the lower numbers corresponding to a longer cut and the higher number relating to a shorter cut. A number 4 or 10 are regarded as those used normally for a good tidy cut if the coat. It's recommended to never go above a 10 as you can risk burning or cutting your pet due to the shortness of the cut.

If your dog is a house dog then chances are they very rarely get to naturally wear their nails down, so it is recommended to trim their nails. You can buy a dog nail trimmer that will act as a Guillotine and "chop" the end of the nail off. It is the most used method but does run the risk of you over chopping and hurting your dog by cutting into the quick. Nail sanders are a new piece of equipment and they work by "sanding" the nail on a rotating emery board. They carry less risk to injury of the nail quick but they may be uncomfortable to your pet as they involve a lot of vibration and it is still possible to "over sand" the nail. Dog shampoo and conditioner is a must for any dog grooming. Human shampoo or conditioner can never be used on your dog as it has a different pH level which will can result in irritation to your pets skin and can result in damage to their their coat. This is why there are a wide variety of dog shampoo and conditioners available. You can pick from a variety of brands that each have different properties, such as detangling, moisturizing, parasite control or just smelling gorgeous. By researching a little about your breed of dog and what their fur type is you can easily and quickly get the right Dog Grooming Equipment to groom your dog. Once you have your collection of tools all you have to do now is...relax and enjoy the wonderfully rewarding experience you get with this chance to bond with your dog.

Christina is a busy 9 to 5 worker bee who loves the time she gets to play and hang out with the gorgeous Yorkie at home. Like most pet owners she wishes there was enough time in the day to play with him more so she started looking into ways that she could hang out with him more. One way was to help with his regular grooming at home and make it more of a "spa" experience, which surprise surprise the little fella loved. So at home now is a much happier and more content Yorkie owner and a very satisfied and very much pampered Yorkie who gets to spend more time with his mummy. For more info on how to achieve the same satisfaction have a look at and read

Maintain Dog Obedience Training Through Consistent Reinforcement

Dog training is all about consistency and repetition. Consistency teaches obedience; every time they are told to do something, the command is properly enforced. To communicate clearly with your dog and earn its trust and respect, maintaining consistency is absolutely essential.

Training and obedience must be maintained throughout the dog's life. Just because the dog has learned the commands does not mean the owner can totally slack off with training. This is where consistency comes in. Use the commands throughout your daily life, but be sure to enforce any command you give. If the dog starts 'getting away' with things, it will soon stop obeying except when it feels like it.

Your expectations from your dog should always be realistic and consistent. Unfortunately, many dog owners are guilty of giving their pets mixed messages. If your dog is begging for food at the table and you give him a scrap just to get him to be quiet, you are really rewarding your dog's behavior and perpetuating the problem. Your dog cannot understand your motivation, and inconsistent behavior on your part will only confuse him.

Do not worry that you are being too tough on your dog by never bending the rules. Dogs like consistency - they prefer knowing what the rules are. It is much easier to know that they are never allowed to jump on the couch, then to be allowed on it multiple times, but then get yelled at when they jump on it with muddy feet.

Remember, when you are consistent with your actions and expectations toward your dog, you are improving communication, earning your dog's respect, and ultimately building a better relationship with your pet.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Causes of Aggressive Dog Behavior

Aggressiveness in dogs is quite normal. It is actually their nature of being carnivores. But there are also possible ways to control it. It usually ends slowly as the dog grows older. But if it continues even if it has been your pet for long, there must be some problems on your pet. To know about this, we need to know what the causes of aggressive dog behavior are.

Below are the most common causes of aggressive dog behavior:

1. Defensiveness

Here is an example of this kind of aggression: When your pet dog does something bad, you will eventually get mad and scold him for it. After that, your dog will hide somewhere. The next time you try to get close to him, he will bite you.

This is because he feels threatened of you after scolding him. This is very normal because the dogs will not know what you meant by getting angry with them. All they would remember is how you hurt them. Anyone who is hurt will get mad and take revenge. To treat this kind of aggressiveness, you need to leave your dog alone for a while until his anger is gone. Anyway, he behaves badly that is why you scolded him. He needs to learn that it is not an appropriate action. Leaving him alone for a while will make him think about his behavior.

2. Territorial

This kind of aggression is one of the main reasons why we like to keep dogs at home. Territorial aggressiveness is when the dog guards the house. It will defend its territory against strangers. It can be the same with his food, his toys and even his owner. The dog is just being protective of what he has and cares about. But this can be dangerous when it starts biting and even your friends.

You can cure this by letting your dog socialize with other people. Try giving him a walk on mornings. That way, he will meet other people so that he will not chase strangers as they pass through your house or visit you. Tying the dog with his leash is also a good way to prevent him from attacking other people and animals.

3. Agonistic

This can be a cause of aggressive dog behavior when the dog is in pain. When the dog is hurt or feeling weak, it will become aggressive knowing that it is the only way he can protect himself from enemies. If you sense that your dog is sick or maybe feeling ill, you need to bring him to the vet.

4. Reproductive

Just like humans, dogs are also very protective of their young. If the female dog has just given birth to her puppies, she will be aggressive to whoever tries to get close with them. She may think that people will hurt her puppies. The only way to protect you from being hurt by the mother dog is to leave it alone for a while. Do not start cuddling her young until a few weeks after giving birth. Just give them food and water to drink but avoid playing with them.

Knowing these causes of aggressive dog behavior will help you determine them the next time so you can also protect yourself from being bitten

Bissell Upright Vacuum - Exceptional Suction and Pet Hair Removal

You don't only need to remove the usual dust and dirt, you should also get rid of pet dander, allergens, and pet hair. For that, you need a vacuum cleaner that can be the task. The Bissell upright vacuum is one good choice as it has proven itself effective and durable over decades of use.

The Bissell upright vacuum is available in a number of models, each built with special functions. Listed here is a look at some of the models ideal for households with pets:

Lift-Off MultiCyclonic Pet Vacuum

The Lift-Off Bissell upright vacuum is intended to clean carpet, bare floors, upholstery, car interiors, and stairs. It has a turbo brush system for cleaning upholstery and stairs that works to catch pet hairs. This model also has a detachable canister so you can use it in areas where other upright vacuum cleaners can't go. It is fairly lightweight, only weighing 27 pounds and has a cleaning path of 15 inches. It has two rows of rotating brushes and a HEPA filter complete with an indicator light that tells you when it is time to replace the filter. The Lift-Off has a bagless, easy-empty collection container. It comes with a crevice tool, dusting brush, pet turbo brush, extension wand, and upholstery tool. In addition, it has a front headlight to illuminate dirt and pet hair.

Pet Hair Eraser

The Eraser vacuum is intended for use on carpet, upholstery, bare floors, and low pile rugs. It includes special features for getting pet hairs out of the carpet like a pet hair lifter and rotating brush. This Bissell upright vacuum has a powerful multicyclonic action that provides superior suction. The Eraser utilizes a HEPA filter to minimize allergens and has an easy empty bagless collection container. The vacuum comes with multi-use tools to make it easy to vacuum upholstery and stairs such as an extension wand and crevice tool.

PowerGroom Pet Vacuum

This lightweight Bissell upright vacuum cleans all surfaces including low pile carpet. It has superior suction thanks to a cyclonic separation mechanism. It picks up pet dander and hair and prevents the dispersal of allergens because of the HEPA filter in place. This vacuum has a cleaning path of 15 inches and also has an extension wand and crevice tool for hard to reach places and upholstery. The PowerGroom is also bagless; disposing of the collected hair and dirt is by emptying the collection chamber.

PowerGroom Pet Compact

As its name suggests, the Compact is smaller that the standard upright vacuums. It weighs only 11 pounds and has a cleaning path of 11 inches. It's also about half the price of the larger vacuums. It is ideal for quick clean-ups of pet hair and other household messes. This Bissell upright vacuum operates on the same multicyclonic separation system and is suitable for use on bare floors and carpets. It features a HEPA filter, crevice tool, and pet contour tool. This vacuum is bagless, making disposal of collected dirt a breeze.

You need powerful suction and the right kind of brushes to lift and remove pet hair from your floors and upholstery. The Bissell upright vacuum is a good choice because all of these models have been specifically designed to defend myself against those tasks.

Tips For Bulldog Puppy Training

Bulldogs are such cute creatures that we cannot get enough of. We can't help but fall in love with their chubby features. If we can get a chance to adopt one of these, we won't even try to think twice. However, it will be more enjoyable to have a trained bulldog. That way, we can have a good pet-owner relationship with it. Knowing some of the tips for bulldog puppy training will give you an easier upbringing for your dog.

Below are the tips for bulldog puppy training:

1. Give your puppy a collar when you bring him home. Choose a collar that will fit his neck. Bulldogs are chubby dogs and they have wide necks. Make sure that collar will be wide enough not to choke the dog while not too wide to slide it out. A puppy in a collar is easier to train.

2. Give your puppy his crate. Place it in a quiet place in the house. Make sure that he gets enough space in his create. As he gets bigger, he should still fit in it. Give the dog his blanket. Make sure that it is comfortable for him. To avoid getting the puppy bored, you can give him some toys inside the crate. Rubber toys are the best so that he cannot destroy it too quickly.

3. Set a place from your yard where the dog can have his potty training. Bulldogs are very intelligent pets. They will sure to pick up what you are trying to command them very easily. A few minutes after their meal, take them outside to their designated potty area. Leave him for a few minutes while he does business. Gently pat him and raise him for each time he potties there so that he will know that it is the only place he can do potty.

4. Give your puppy its meals on a schedule. Make sure that it will be the exact time every day. This will help you monitor when it is time for him to go poop. Also make sure that you do not tolerate your pup in eating too much. Bulldogs are very fond of eating and they won't stop while you are giving them food. Try to put them on a healthy diet to avoid them from being overweight.

5. Take your bulldog pup to some of your trips. This will help him socialize with other dogs and people. If your dog is socially active, it will not treat others as total strangers. It can also be a good way to prevent your dog from being bored inside the house.

6. Give your bulldog pup some obedience training. Teach him how to lie down, sit, heel, roll and stay. This will keep your dog obeying you whenever you try to command him. It will also serve as your bonding time so you will both have a time to enjoy each other's company for a cause.

7. If your pup is done with his basic training, you can then start to teach him more difficult commands. Just remember to praise him and pat the dog whenever he obeys you. You can give him a treat so that he will always know that you like it when he obeys.

These tips for bulldog puppy training will help you raise your bulldog puppy properly and offer both of you a very enjoyable bonding.

What You Need to Know About French Bulldogs

French bulldogs are known to be sturdy, stout, compact and small with a distinguished square shaped head. Apart from being cute, they also have broad muzzle. They usually have black nose with attracted round eyes. Their ears always stand erected which makes them look like always ready and active. Dogs like the French bulldogs are perfect to be petted. It is very pleasurable to have them running around the house and doing funny tricks. They are not too big to handle yet not to small either. If you want to adopt this type of dog, you need to first know the basic information about French bulldogs.

Listed are some things you need to know about French bulldogs which will tell you why you should get one:

1. The French bulldog is very easy to care for. It is a perfect companion because they are playful and alert yet still very affectionate. If you live alone and wants to have an active companion in the house, then the French bulldog is the best for you. They will never give you a boring time.

2. Some people call them as clown dogs because they always have that happy disposition. It might be because they are born jolly and good-natured. Most owners of this kind of dog always love to have them around.

3. They will seek a lot of attention from you and they can become very aggressive if ignored. So if you want to have one, you need to make sure that you always have time for your pet. Actually, all they want is to have playmates. Just play with them and cuddle with them in your bed. Just make sure that they are clean enough so you can always invite them in.

4. They can sense their owner if he is being too passive. If they notice you being bored, they will come into you and distract you from whatever you are doing. Do not be annoyed when they do this. They just need someone to play with. You might want to spend time with them when they start seeking your attention because if not, they might behave badly.

5. French bulldogs are born clean. They usually avoid mud and puddles. If you take them outside, you do not have to worry if they get dirty. They will only play in some dry and clean areas. That is why it is better for them to stay inside the house.

6. They are prone to eye problems and joint related illnesses. If you are sensing these problems, you better bring them to the vet. He can recommend some medicines to prevent these symptoms.

7. These types of dogs snore when they are asleep. So if you sleep with them in your bed, you better be ready for some snoring.

8. Dogs like these are perfect for people who live in apartments. You are sure to have a clean and neat home with these dogs. They do not like messy surroundings and would keep their home tidy.

9. You also do not need to groom them too much. Just a little brushing after taking a bath will do.

This information about French bulldogs will be very helpful for those who want to adopt one. If you need to know more about French bulldogs, you can check your nearest pet store and they will discuss what you need to know about them.

Tips For French Bulldog Training

Training French bulldogs are very easy. They are clever dogs who like to play games and run around. You will sure to have a good time training them. But before that, you first need to know some tips for French bulldog training. This will help you have an idea how to start the exercise.

Listed are the tips for French bulldog training that you have to be familiar with:

1. During the dog's first weeks, you need to teach him where his food and water is located. Set a place in your home where you will feed him and make sure that it will be the only spot. Feed him 3 meals each day. Along with this, you also need to show the dog where his bed will be. Be familiar with your dog's bed time and up time.

2. Teach you dog where to do potty. This will depend on what time his meal times are. For example, if you just fed the dog his lunch, you need to take him outside the house after finishing his meal. For sure, it is time for his potty. Set a place in the yard where he can litter and bring him to that place each potty time.

3. Another tip for French bulldog training is to use the right words when correcting or praising them. If ever your dog does something bad, immediately correct him and make sure you sound like a boss. If you want him to stop from whet he is doing, say "No" "Don't" or "Stop" use this words as always so he can get use to them.

4. If your dog obeys you or just did something nice, praise him. Dogs love to be praised and if you do, they will always behave knowing that you like it. Say "Good dog" or "Yay" for praising. Make sure to sound gentle and grateful when saying those words. Sound like you really are pleased with what they did.

5. If you have a crate for your French bulldog, you need to train him how to stay in it. Put all the things he will need in the crate. Give him a comfortable blanket, a ready water to drink and some toys. It is up to you if you like to lock him inside the crate when you go to work or just leave it open. It depends if you placed a potty box, water and foods inside before leaving.

6. Always be gentle when training your dog. Remember that you are just like teaching a baby. If you command the dog or if you try to stop him from his bad behaviors, try not to get mad. Stay calm and be patient with them. Dogs are actually more sensitive than we know.

7. When the dog reaches 3 months old, you can start teaching him some skills. Do it while playing with him. Train the dog how to lie down, roll, sit, and stand and others.

8. If you are trying to tell him something, look directly into him and call his name. That will get his attention.

9. Ready your treats. Your dog will need lots of treats when training. That will keep him motivated and will enjoy his training time with you.

Those are some helpful tips for French bulldog training. Now, you can adopt your own French bulldog and start training them.

English Bulldog Training - Proper Steps

English bulldogs are wonderful to have as pets. They are not difficult to handle because they are playful and fun to have around. However, even though English bulldogs are good companions, we might be challenged with their stubbornness. We need to properly understand these kinds of breeds so that we can enjoy them as owners. There are proper steps for English bulldog training that you can follow to effectively teach your pet of his manners.

Below are the proper steps for English bulldog training:

1. Learn and understand their breed. You need to know that English bulldogs have a tendency to be stubborn. It is in their nature to be extremely adamant. At some point, if you call their name, they will ignore you after many times of calling them. It will usually happen if they try to play with you and you didn't grant their wish. If you like to be a successful owner of this kind of dog, you need to know how to handle their stubbornness. First, accept them for who they are. This is their nature and it is what they will be. Just teach them how to see you as the boss.

2. Motivate them. You can do this by giving those treats each time they do a good deed. Try not to use the same treat over and over. Change brands after the other is finished. That way, they won't get bored with the taste. You can cut the treats into pieces so that you can prevent your dog from being overweight.

3. If you do not like to give too much treat to your dog, you can just use the clicker. It is a good alternative for treats if you like to get the attention of your dog. Just press the clicker several times after your dog obeys you. That'll be like his reward for the good behavior that he did.

4. Choose the right words to command them. Only use the simple words like "Up" "Sit" "Eat" "Stop" and others. If you use these words over and over, the dog will then understand what you are trying to imply.

5. Be consistent with your training. Use the words that you chose every time you want that same deed or for the same command. You can train your dog every day, but only for a few minutes. Make the training as a hobby and not a job for the dog.

6. Have fun while training. Remember that your dog is a very playful type. He just wants to play with you all day. Spend time with him and use those bonding time for his training.

7. Be patient with your pet. Just because they are stubborn doesn't mean you should get tired of them. They are your pets and you need to pet them. If you train them well, they can be more behaved and submissive after the training.

These proper steps for English bulldog training can be done by anyone who wants to have the said type of dog. now you can start looking for one to adopt and take home with you.

Common Dog Behavioral Problems

People who have been handling dogs for long are probably aware of some dog behavioral problems. There can be lots of reasons for these, and one of them would be miscommunication. Let us understand the common dog behavioral problems and see how we can solve them.

1. Barking

Of course all dogs bark. It is the dog's own language. But at some point, they bark too much which can be annoying. Before you can prevent them from barking too much, you need to find out the reason why they are barking. Usually, they just want to tell you something. Some of the reasons would be:

- warning or alert

- excitement/playfulness

- seeking attention

- boredom

- anxiety

2. Chewing

Most dogs chew a lot especially in their puppy months. If they are still young, they need to exercise their jaws in order for them to chew on hard foods later. But most of the time, this can cause destruction to our homes. They may chew the carpet, the couch and anything they can get. To avoid this, you can try giving your pet some toys that he can chew on. A durable rubber ball will be perfect so that he won't destroy it immediately.

3. Digging

Dogs came from hunting ancestors. Early dogs stay in the woods to hunt for their food. That is why even the modern dogs do a lot of digging. They usually dig when they get bored or want to cool down from the hot weather. This can be very frustrating if you have a yard. To avoid this, all you have to do is spend more time with your pet. Give him a walk outside so he can have some exercise.

4. Separation Anxiety

This is one of the most common dog behavioral problems encountered by owners. They usually notice this when they try to leave the dog at home. The dog will start having an anxiety knowing that he will be abandoned. You can train your dog properly to avoid this kind of problem. Make him feel that you are coming back for him after.

5. Chasing

Dogs have a chasing instinct because they are born carnivores. They can sometimes chase after people, cars or even other animals. If your dog happens to chase a lot, you better keep him tied on his leash. You might also want to take him for some walks in the park. That will teach the dog how to socialize with others so that he will stop chasing.

6. Biting

Again, just like the way they chew, dogs also have a habit of biting. This may be due to their inborn instinct, fear, pain or just being bored. You can train your pet to stop biting by giving him a toy. Enrolling the dog for obedience training will also prevent him from this common dog behavioral problem.

All these common dog behavioral problems can be prevented through proper training. Obedience training is a very helpful method for your dog to know his manners. You also need to know how you can effectively communicate with them so that you will understand why they develop their behavioral problems.

Golden Retriever Puppy Rescue - Is It Worth Adopting There?

Have you aver thought about adopting a pup from a Golden Retriever puppy rescue? Well, it is definitely a better place to adopt a pup than a pet store. And it may even be as good as adopting puppy from a reputable breeder because people at a Golden Retriever puppy rescue really care about finding new loving family for their fosterling.

To tell the truth there are not so many puppies in rescues. Adult dogs are much more common. But pups may end up in a rescue for various reasons. Sometimes officials close puppy a mill or a breeders needs to shut down their operations and find a new home for their puppies very fast. Sometimes puppies are given up by individuals for a number of reasons. Sometimes even a pregnant Golden Retriever female may be brought to the rescue or just found roaming it the streets and the rescue will have to find homes for mother and puppies.

Anyway, here is a pup in a Golden Retriever puppy rescue. What happens next? Fist of all, the pup goes through the medical examination. This will normally include de-worming process, vaccination update, elbow and hip dysplasia examination, heart-worm examination, eyes checking etc. The pup will be given respective medical help if necessary. It will also be bathed. As the part of responsible pet ownership the pup will be spayed or neutered to avoid any undesired offspring. There are already too many homeless dogs, right?

Golden Retriever puppy rescue also provides its fosterling with socialization and basic training. Some pups that end up in a rescue may have suffered abuse from humans so they need to go trough rehabilitation process to be able to adapt to conditions of their new home easier.

As you see Golden Retriever puppy rescue cares about pups almost like a reputable breeder would. The rescue will also provide you with complete results of pup's medical examination and information about puppy's character to make sure you understand medical and mental condition of a pup in care it's not 100% healthy. Remember, they will have to take the pup back in case something goes wrong. It's in their best interest to make sure you adopt a pup responsibly and consciously. So you are not buying a pig in a poke adopting from a rescue. However, the rescue will also require something from you in return.

Fist of all, it is highly plausible that you will not find a pup in your local rescue at once. You may need to be patient and wait for several weeks after submitting your application before the right pup will show up in the rescue. Second, a volunteer or rescue employee will pay you a home visit to find out if your home is appropriate for Golden Retriever puppy and if you are able to take care of it. So you'll have to meet certain criteria.

Finally, in most cases you'll need to pay an adoption fee in some form. Normally, it's not high and adopting a pup from a rescue will cost you less than getting one from a reputable breeder. Recues use this money to pay the veterinary and boarding bills and actually make ends meet and run smoothly. So they'll spend the money they got for rescuing another pup.

Dog Barking Collars - Get Your Dogs to Stop Barking

Dogs have a lot of annoying behavior - they can chew on furniture, your shoes, your newspapers. If you're a responsible dog owner, you have to do something about it. Unless you can fence off your dogs in a sound-proof room, or live where neighbours don't mind all that barking, you need to do something. One way to curb that non-stop barking is to get some effective dog barking collars for your pets.

Find out what triggers that excessive barking

Dogs bark for many reasons. They might do so, in the presence of another dog or animal, to assert some supremacy. Or they might do this to publicly declare its territory. Or to alert you to the presence of another animal or unidentified loud truck pulling in close by. Or it just likes to bark. But even, say, when you understand the triggers in the environment, and perfectly side with your dogs when they assert territory, you don't want them to keep barking over and over. Bark collars can correct this behavior.

It's not an overnight magic, it takes some time

Many new dog owners think using bark collars solves the barking problem straightaway. But this doesn't happen that way. That change greatly depends on the kind of bark collars you get for your dogs and how much time you spend training them. You can check out reviews online to compare brands and read dog owner reviews, if you need more info.

Choose only the reliable bark collar

If you have many dogs for which you'll be buying many collars, it's prudent to find out the most affordable and the dependable brands. If you're dogs can get rowdy during play or love to run around, the barking collars could get damaged or wet. You also have to think about the kind of deterrent you want to go with for your dogs. There are types that spray a harmless, scented chemical, like citronella. There are also those that emit a high pitched tone, a vibration, or a low electric shock. The scent-based citronella is highly recommended. Since dogs have sensitive smell, the scent released disrupts them most.

Is Your Dog Allergic to Dog Food?

My Springer Spaniel, Poot the Auction Hound, named so as he would often follow me around at auctions while I called bids, showed up with a plethora of allergies when he reached maturity. I am told that this adult onset of K-9 allergies is not uncommon. While he has some of the same allergies in common with his owner, like cats, grass & ragweed, he also has a few that are more unusual.

Poot is allergic to the fillers used in both dry & canned dog chows. Not only troublesome, but downright diabolical. Just detecting these allergies was a long a rather expensive process. Upon discovering the allergies, I of course immediately had him neutered. Luckily we had not at yet bred him, so at least the allergy wasn't passed on. This breed in particular should be held out of breeding until they are truly mature as these maladies usually do not show themselves until full maturity.

Of course the vet has a high priced, hypo allergenic chow, available only from them at a truly insulting price. $80.00 for a 20 lb sac is not uncommon. I don't know about you, but $4.00 a lb dog food wasn't in my future and putting the dog down seemed somewhat unreasonable. He was young and in otherwise good health and of course, he had bonded with me and was my constant companion.

I had a very expensive male cat once that had a similar issue with ash fillers from cat foods blocking his urethra. We fed that cat "home cooking" a few years until the condition was finally resolved by surgery. Unfortunately there is no surgical solution for Poot. After reading a few labels on hypo allergic chow and some other " fancy" - designer chows, I decided to give making my own dog food a shot. This is what I came up with.

1st, you need to get your hands on a good pressure cooker. I already had a high quality 5 liter model so that was a non -issue. A top quality, 5 liter Kuhn Ricon will run you about $180.00. There is also a larger model available. With a 5 liter, I need to make Poot chow about every 5 days.

Have on hand the following materials:
2 quarts of water
1 lb ground turkey
2 lb rice
4 oz barley
6 oz lentils
2 lbs frozen mixed vegetables
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil/bacon dripping or other fat.
1/2 dozen medium or small eggs

Directions are as follows: To the 2 quarts of water, add the 1 lb of ground turkey. Mix this well to break up the turkey. Bring gently to a boil over medium heat stirring occasionally. Due to the thickness of the bottom of a pressure cooker, the contents may burn easily if too high a heat is used.

While the turkey and water is coming to a boil - weigh the rice, barley and lentil into a common bowl or container. Add to pot stir thoroughly once water and turkey have come to a gentle boil -and apply the pressure cooker's lid.

Over medium heat, bring the cooker to the second ring on its pressure stem and remove from heat. Allow cooker to sit until completely cool. This can be a few hours or left over night.

In a separate pot, cover the 2 lbs of frozen mixed vegetables with water and bring to a boil cooking until tender; drain and set aside.

Once pressure cooker has cooled, empty contents into a large bowl or container for mixing. Add the cooked vegetables, the eggs and pour over the oil/fat, mixing well. I use the cover of a large Tupperware cake plate for mixing. My wife likes to mix it by hand while I use a large wooded fork.

This will yield about 4 1/2 well packed quarts of chow. Keep refrigerated. Recycled quart soup containers from the Chinese take out work fine for storage.

Purchasing tips: Most ingredients can be found at your local warehouse clubs or larger grocery chains. 50 lb bags of rice at cost less than $15.00, or less than 30 cents a lb., and you can eat it too. Investment in good quality large storage containers is a must.

The barley & lentils range about $1.00 a lb a larger grocery chains. Both are great sources fro complex carbs & protein. The frozen vegetables come in 5 lbs bag at just under $1.00 a lbs, and are included mostly for fiber and bulk.

The oil really helped his coat and raised the calorie content as did the raw egg. I have found Carolina brand ground turkey in 1 lbs plastic tubes really fit the bill. My local butcher carries it frozen for about $1.85 a lb.

At the end of the day, this cost about $5.00 a batch and a little time. Poot eats 1 quart, more than 2 lbs a day, at about a buck a day. While I keep a bag of the hypo allergenic chow on hand in the event that we are unable to get a batch made up, the cost of the vet exclusive chow and Poot's improved condition are strong motivators to stay a batch ahead.

Poot is now an elderly gentleman, 12 1/2 human years old and no longer accompanies me to auctions, preferring to snooze on the back porch. He still has some bad seasons from his other allergies that we need to treat, but the food allergy has not been an issue since I began feeding him this chow.

Citronella Spray Collar - Help Your Dog Curb Its Excessive Barking

Dogs bark for a host of reasons. They can bark to express intent to maintain their territory, or just to get your attention. Just the same, when your dog barks too loud, too often, and too much, you have to deal with it. Any responsible dog owner should be taking steps to curb this annoying behavior. Of course, there are various approaches, among them the use of a citronella spray collar. Let's go through those approaches.

Wrong rewards

Some dog owners worsen matters by "rewarding" the dog. Yelling at it or coming over to its side simply gives it attention - a negative encouragement. Also, should the owner, when inside the premises, let the dog continue barking, that's another wrong message - barking is allowed. When you give it food or otherwise play with him, that's also bad. These only last for a short while. The dog has to be taught that such barking will not be tolerated.

Staying calm

You have to stay calm when the stimulus triggering the barking - a door bell, a passing truck - happens. Avoid running to the door, yelling. If you stay calm the dog will see that the stimulus is no cause for alarm. Over time, your dog will lessen his overreactions - barking - toward the stimulus.

Positive rewards

Sometimes it's not too much of a nuisance to wait for the dog to calm down, before taking the time to greet it and come to its side. This way the dog can associate his non-barking with a chance for attention. When your dog ceases the irritating barking, it's the right time to show it affection.

Why you should use a bark collar

When the owner is away, the dog could also be barking non-stop. If you wish to keep up the correct kind of attention for your dog, use a bark collar. The collar is activated only by your dog's barking. The stimulus the dog receives depends on the type of collar - it could a be scented spray, a high-pitched sound, a vibration, or even an electric shock that's harmless to the dog. More information on bark collars is easily available online. Make sure you get the size that's right for your dog.

Doubtless, there are other approaches to instilling discipline into your dog. These approaches stand a good chance of working when paired with the use of a citronella spray collar.

Dog Cages For Safe Travel With Fido - Tips For Your Next Trip

Dog cages turn out to be one of the best solutions to a pet owner's dilemma: "What do I do with the dog when I am traveling?"

Whether you are moving across town or taking a car trip across the country, a dog cage serves as a safe travel cabin for your beloved pet when you are travelling by car. They are a necessity if you are traveling by plane.

Your Dog's Mobile Home

One of the best ways to plan ahead is by crate training your dog from puppyhood. As dogs are instinctively denning animals, the cage becomes the dog's familiar "hangout," providing him with a sense of safety and security. This can be doubly important when passing through unfamiliar surroundings.

Furthermore, many hotels or motels will only accept dogs that are securely crated due to concerns about soiling of carpets, damage to furniture, not to mention dangers to other guests. If your travels involve visiting family and friends, they too will appreciate your concern for their property and peace of mind. Asking friends to "love me, love my dog" can be an unfair burden.

Car Safety Issues

There are even more benefits to putting four-footed friend in a cage before taking off in the car. For one thing, an unrestrained pet is a danger to the driver, occupants, and the pet. Should you be in an accident or even just brake suddenly, an unrestrained occupant (whether animal or human) becomes a projectile that can injure others as well as be severely injured. Crate your dog-and secure the crate. An alternative is a special safety dog harness that uses the seatbelt system installed in your car.

Who hasn't seen a happy dog sticking its head out the window of a moving vehicle, savoring all those passing smells? Alas, many have been injured by road debris and insects that enter their eyes, nostrils, or mouth. Others have even been strangled by accidentally activating the electric window control, and many more have needed trips to the vet for respiratory distress due to cold air forced into their lungs. You wouldn't let your child stick her head or arms out would you, just because she begged, would you? Resist your dog's entreaties and keep him inside the passenger cabin.

Dogs and Pickups: A Dangerous Mix

If you are driving a pick-up, avoid the temptation to stick the dog in the back. It's been estimated that over 100,000 dogs die each year falling from pickups. Even a quick swerve can be enough to send your precious pet flying. Also, dogs may jump out of the truck bed, creating hazards and possibly accidents to others trying to avoid him. Have you touched the metal of the truck bed in summer? It can get hot enough to injure your dog or encourage him to leap out of it. If you want to put the dog in the pickup bed, make sure he is in a secured crate with protection from a hot metal floor.

Finally, animals cannot tell us when they are hot, cold, thirsty, or hungry. Remember that dogs, like children, should not be left in cars, particularly with the windows closed in the summer heat. It can be lethal as well as illegal. Keep in mind that when you are bundled up for cold, that your pet would appreciate some consideration too. Have a snuggly blanket on hand in winter. Carry water and food (with dishes) for your pet to make sure they do not attempt to sample any dirty water or food scraps at rest stops.

Using dog cages and following these tips can make traveling with "man's best friend" safe and fun for everyone.

Anti Bark Dog Collar - Teach Your Dog That Silence is a Virtue

After his work shift, Mark comes home to his Labrador, Gabriel. As he unlocks his front door, he can already hear Gabriel barking that good-natured welcome-home-happy bark. Mark kneels and pets his companion for three-years. It wasn't always this good. "He's barking again, and it's scaring my cats," one of Mark's neighbors would complain over the phone. The barking got so bad Mark didn't know how to calm down Gabriel. After conducting an online search, he found out about how effective an anti bark dog collar was.

Controlling your dog's barking

Any responsible dog owner would want to curtail his dog's annoying, loud barking. Unless you can always spare time from work, you don't want to have to check up at home to calm your dog down. It can get worse - you could be driving, with your dog in your car, when all that barking happens. You want to be able to put a stop to that barking, which is often accompanied by a restlessness that could claw up furniture and break things.

Mark found out, after some observation, and a day off from work, that Gabriel barked at other dogs being walked early in the morning, and in the afternoon. Since Mark couldn't always be at home to hush his dog, some dog training tools were needed. The easiest to procure was an anti bark dog collar.

Shopping is easy

All Mark had to do was decide on a collar that fit Gabriel's size, and to choose the deterrent mechanism on the collar. Static collars mildly electrocuted the dog, or sent a vibration. Spray types released a chemical that annoyed the dog. Ultrasonic ones emitted a high pitched sound. None of these harmed the dog, but Mark decided to the spray type. His research informed him that his dog's sense of smell would only be irritated by the spray. After a few days of wearing the anti bark dog collar, Gabriel calmed down.

How to Properly Deal With Ticks and Fleas

Fleas are an exceptionally widespread bug discovered in the fur of puppies and cats, and are a real nightmare to you if you are a pet owner. Both fleas and ticks are a reality of pet owners no matter how much one would choose to deny their existence.

The best thing to do to make this ordeal an easier process for both you and your pet is to educate yourself to know exactly what you have to do in case your dog or cat gets contaminated or infected again. If your pet hasn't been infected yet, educate yourself now so that when the inevitable happens, you'll be ready.

Fleas bite into the host's dermis and sucks the blood out, which then causes the sufferer to respond to it with the representative signs being epidermis irritations or death. It is infrequent, but it can very well happen.

Tapeworms sometimes voyage alongside and are transferred by means of fleas to your dog or cat. If you see small, rice like creatures around your dog's rectum, chances are that he has contracted tapeworms.

To inhibit your pet from becoming infested with fleas, inspect him every night with a flea comb. If you find any fleas, be sure to eradicate them promptly but safely. The sooner that you find and dispose of them, the better.

Vaseline is a great product you can put on your comb to have the fleas stick to the comb. Verify that there are no pests between your dog's toes, around and in his ears, beneath his tail, and underneath all of his legs, where his legs meet the body.

While giving your dog a bath, lay a cloth under while rinsing. You can easily spot any fleas that are washed out after the rinse.

There are several flea and tick prevention remedies available today that are relatively easy to use. These remedies should only really be used during the heavy tick and flea seasons or when your pets become contaminated by them. Otherwise, it is rather unnecessary to use them as they will neither help nor harm your pet.

How to Select a Bullmastiff Puppy

Most dog owners like to have bullmastiffs as their pets because they are known to be very intelligent dogs. Back in the 1800's, they were used as land protectors against thieves. Today, they are one of the most perfect dog breeds to have as pets at home. If you like to know how to select a bullmastiff puppy, you need to understand some facts about this type of breed first.

Below are the steps in how to select a bullmastiff puppy:

1. You have to be careful when choosing for the bullmastiff to bring home. If you already have a male bullmastiff, you cannot bring in another male. You can select the female ones because same gender mastiff won't get along pretty well.

2. These dogs are very aggressive and you need to be ready for this beforehand

3. If you live in an apartment, then this type of do is perfect for you. They usually just love to stay inside the house. Bullmastiffs do not like extreme hot and cold weathers. The temperature inside the house will be perfect for them.

4. A very important thing to know on how to select a bullmastiff puppy is the way you will use it. If you live alone with nobody left home when you go to work, you need to reconsider adopting the bullmastiff. They do not like being left alone in one place for long periods of time. Their aggressiveness might just cause destructions into your home when you leave it with them. However if you really want to have a bullmastiff, you first need to train it carefully to leave it home.

5. Once you decided to get a bullmastiff as pet, you need to know your responsibilities. Their breed needs a lot of attention when training. If you just let them get old like that without training them, they will only turn out to be very destructive dogs. You will need a lot of time training hem so you must be ready for it.

6. Look for bullmastiff breeders who are reputable. Make sure that they are breeding pure bullmastiffs with healthy physic.

7. You might want to have the large breed of bullmastiff. They can grow up to 27 inches if well bred. Larger dogs are better because they are good guards into your home. Just teach them how to behave well so that other people won't get scared when they visit you with your dog.

8. You might consider adopting bullmastiffs from the shelters. Dog shelters needs to be the first stop when looking for a dog because these dogs are the abandoned ones. They need more help than the bred dogs. but if you cannot find this breed from the shelter, then that is the time that you can go to the breeders.

Knowing how to select a bullmastiff puppy is very important for you're to have s success in raising a pet. You cannot make a mistake when choosing for the proper pet because they are the ones who will be with you in your home for a few years time.

Steps For Training English Mastiff Puppies

The English mastiff is a dog that is known to be the heaviest of all breeds. They can grow into massive dogs. But you will not have to worry about anything because they have good temperaments. You need to train them early so that they can grow into a well behaved pet. To do that, you need to know about the steps for training English mastiff puppies. It will guide you for safe dog training.

Below are the steps for training English mastiff puppies:

1. Begin training your dogs in a quiet place in your home. Choose a place where there will be fewer distractions. Puppies are easily distracted with things around them. Make sure that you get your pet's full attention.

2. It is better if you use the clicker training for your pet. Ready your clicker and hold the treats on the other hand. When you have the dog's full attention, you can start training him. Use the clicker for every time he obeys your commands. Give him a treat after that so he will be motivated.

3. Tie the leash to your dog's collar. It is best to have them tied on during training sessions. It will make you have their attention at all times and let them know that you are in control.

4. Choose only the simple skills and commands to teach your puppy. You can begin teaching them complicated tasks when they get older. During their earlier months, you can teach them of the basic stuffs like how to obey you and a few tricks after that.

5. Make sure that he knows where to eat his meals. Choose a single place in the house where you are going to feed it. Do not give him food where he is. Let him come to that place you have assigned to eat his food. It will keep him have his manners.

6. The next thing you need to teach your dog is where to poop. You can buy a litter box that you can place inside the house onto where the dog will do his potty. This is recommended for people who live in apartments. But if you have a backyard, then it is better when they poop outside. Every few minutes after your pet ate his meal, take him outside to a place where he can poop. It will help to feed your dog the same time for all his meals. It will keep you in monitor with his potty time.

7. Teach your dog to stop his bad behaviors by stopping him firmly. Just because he's a puppy and very adorable, it does not mean you can just tolerate their bad behaviors. Know when to punish them but do not hurt them. Just tell them to stop in a mad voice. That will make them afraid of you and respect you more.

These steps for training English mastiff puppies are only appropriate for younger English mastiffs. If you have an older dog, you can ask for different training strategies from obedience training schools.

How to Give Your Dog a Proper Bath That Will Last

No one likes a smelly canine! Like humans, dogs need to be bathed in order to stay clean and smell good. Unlike humans, dogs do not need to be bathed every day. In fact, bathing Fido too often can cause skin irritation. Most dogs should not be bathed more than once each week; some can go even longer than that. The most important thing is to make sure the bath counts. In other words, how you bathe your pooch can determine how long they stay clean. Here are some tips on how to correctly bathe your dog so that the benefits last.

1. Use an all natural dog shampoo. Never use people shampoo on your pooch as this can dry out their skin and cause irritation. Invest in a dog shampoo that is specific to your dogs needs. For example, if you have a puppy make sure your use a "puppy" shampoo. If your dog suffers from allergies or itchy skin, use a gentle dog shampoo that is formulated to help with these issues, such as an oatmeal based dog shampoo.

2. Use lukewarm water to completely saturate your dog's coat. Dogs' feel water temperature different than we do. If the water feels very warm to you, it will most likely feel too hot for your dog. Err on the side of caution and use water that feels slightly cool. Make sure that your dogs coat is completely wet through. Otherwise, it will be difficult to get a lather and the shampoo will not work as well. NOTE: Make sure you dog's coat is tangle free before the bath so you don't end up with a matted dog!

3. Dispense the shampoo on different parts of your dog's body and work into a lather. Gently massage the shampoo into his body being careful to avoid the eyes. You can also use a grooming mitt which really helps to loosen and remove dirt and dead skin.

4. Once the shampoo has been worked into the body, rinse well with clean water starting from the top of the dog and work your way down. Make sure all of the shampoo has been rinsed away.

5. Gently run your hands down your dog's body and legs to squeeze out any excess water. Use a towel to continue the drying process. You can use a dryer on your dog if you choose, but make sure the air is cool not hot. Otherwise, allow your dog to just dry naturally.

Start bathing your dog as a puppy so that they get accustomed to the process and don't cause a fuss. Make it a normal part of their weekly routine. Also, in addition to maintaining good hygiene, bath time is a good chance to bond with your pooch. Utilizing the above tips to properly wash your dog will keep them clean and smelling fresh for longer. The better your dog smells, the happier you and your family will be!

Small Dog Clothes - Our Top 10 "Must Haves" For Your Pet

There are a variety of small dog clothes on the market and we are going to name our current top 10 "must haves" and why all of us pet lovers should consider having these types of clothes for dogs on hand.

A dog rain coat and hat are necessary for those nasty cold rainy days when you need to keep your pet dry. If you don't like to go outside when the rain is sleeting down without any type of rain coat or hat on, then I can pretty much guarantee you (after numerous times of pleading and pushing them out the back door) that they don't like getting wet either.

A small dog sweater is great for those cold fall/spring days when you want to go on a long walk with your pet. Or maybe you're the type of person who likes to turn the heat down during the night in winter. If you are under the covers, make sure your pet has a way to keep extra warm too...

A fleece dog coat comes highly recommended for the excellent warmth factor, especially if your dog goes outside and plays with your kids for extended periods of time during the winter months.

Pet pajamas are fun and colorful. You can train your small dog to know when it's bed time by putting pet pajamas on them every night. It's a lot easier to start them off as small pups and train them so that they know when their pajamas go on, the lights go out.

A reflective vest for your small dog is really important if you allow them to roam free in your neighborhood. Small dogs can be hard to see at times and you don't want any accidents to occur that you could easily have avoided.

Dog Halloween costumescan be a real riot. Seeing a dachshund dressed like a hot dog makes me crack up every time. There are literally hundreds of costumes to choose from but make sure to choose one that suits the personality of your small dog. They are very sensitive to being laughed at.

Dog T Shirts are also a scream. Some of the sayings are just crazy and really ring true. "been there, chewed that" or depending on the case, "Been there, bit that" how about, "I bit the mailman, cause I like too..."

Dog Bandanna are seriously cool and look great on any dog. Choose wisely though, maybe a skull and bones bandanna for your teacup poodle isn't really a good fit....but might be perfect for your super protective Chihuahua.

Small dog dresses are really cute and grab peoples attention. There is such a wide variety that you can choose from like denim, frilly TuTu, leopard print, gingham and of course party and wedding ones too. One thing that can be really handy is that a lot of small dog dresses come with a loop that acts as a small dog harness which is really convenient for quickly clipping your leash and taking them for a walk.

Small dog accessories can be a lot of fun to play with. Bows and ribbons look great on Shih Tzus and other long haired dogs and give them that princess/ pampered look. (Beware: Princess attitude will be sure to follow).

All in all, small dog clothes can be a great source of entertainment and functionality at the same time.

Have some fun with the outfits and your pets and just like us humans, I'm sure they'll let you know which one is their favorite.

Benefits of a Raw Food Diet For Dogs

Dogs are better off having a raw food diet than having the commercially-produced ones often seen stacked on supermarket shelves that contain the usual preservatives, chemicals, fillers, or grains. While this may sound weird or different for many dog owners out there, the fact is there are many long-term benefits a raw diet can give and this is not limited to selected breeds. Giving all pet dogs the necessary raw foods is actually more beneficial to them than stuffing them regularly with the commercial foods that are not providing them the necessary nutrients they need.

Here are some of the benefits dogs will have when they are on a raw food diet:


Weights will improve. Not too thin, and certainly not obese. Having a raw food diet will clean up your dog's system and result in leaner and healthier bodies.
There will be no need for the regular dental cleanups. Dogs' teeth will naturally clean up by itself with the diet and this means no tartar and no odor from their mouths. With a raw food diet, their teeth will be stronger and cleaner, and any irreversible damage to their teeth and gums like periodontal disease will be prevented.
No more diarrhea. With commercially-produced foods, dogs are often susceptible to diarrhea because of the additives and unhealthy preservatives that are usually present in these foods. A raw food diet is totally free from all these and that makes it safe and healthier for the dogs.
Dogs' immune systems will improve with natural, chemical-free raw food. They will be less sickly, more energetic, and have longer, healthier lives. This means less vet visits and more savings for every pet owner as well.
Allergies will be totally eliminated because of the natural anti-oxidants they get from raw food that make them more resistant to allergies. Commercially-produced grains often trigger skin allergies. With a raw food diet, dogs' coats will also have more sheen and natural luster.
For the dog owners, it will mean a whole lot of savings on commercial dog foods because raw food can be sourced out easily from the kitchen, the local butcher shop, or meat and chicken shops that usually have no use for chicken heads or feet, pig's feet, and many other meat and chicken parts that are thrown away but are very good raw food sources for dogs. These can either be asked or bought for a minimal amount.

Many pet owners still prefer the commercial food for their dogs especially when they have already started in this kind of diet and making a switch to something natural may not be easy for some dog owners. But there are many who have tried and are now seeing the good benefits of a switch. A natural, more nutritious diet for your dogs should not be difficult if one starts out slow.

Chicken, fish, and raw eggs, for example are great starters. Then slowly follow up with raw meat such as beef, pork, lamb, duck, rabbit, and venison. Then as days and weeks roll by, your dog can have a variety-a little raw meat here and some chicken; then whole fish, squids, and raw meat later; then a mix-pork, chicken, whole fish, rabbit, and so on.

Socializing Your Pet

One part of pet training is socializing your pet with others and this is just as important as getting him house broken from day one.

You may be asking what exactly does socializing for a dog actually mean. This can mean a number of things really. Below you will find some ideas that can be used for socializing your puppy:

You can start by taking your dog around other dogs, for example a dog walk or a park. He will get used to other pets and being around people as well as different sounds.

If you take your dog around other dogs at a dog walk, he will get used to other dogs and learn how to behave around them. This is one of the best settings you can expose your pet to.

The way to break your dog in so that he is comfortable with visitors and other people than yourself, allow him to be petted by them. He will become more comfortable with this after a little time.

The people who will be at your home on a regular basis should be introduced to your dog early on. This way he will get to know them and not bark at them when they come by the house.

Your dog can be more socialized by enrolling him in puppy training class also since he will be around other dogs.

Giving your dog love and attention is very important just as feeding, exercise and training is. You want to start all of this right away. Get him into a puppy training class immediately to give him a happy and healthy life.

Essential Joint Supplements For Dogs to Relieve Joint Pain

In choosing joint supplements for dogs, find out what are the essential ingredients and vitamins that will significantly prevent and reduce canine arthritis and joint pain.

As our dogs age, their joints starts to wear down and may incur the risk of developing canine arthritis. While conventional medications may help to treat the inflammation and joint pain, they rarely help the joints to heal.

As such, feeding our dogs with the best joint supplements play an important part of a preventive program as well as to also help dogs with an already established arthritic condition to relieve pain and slow down the progression of the disease so that the joints and cartilage may heal.

When selecting joint supplements for dogs, the following is a list of ingredients and vitamins that have shown in studies to reduce the pain of canine arthritis and also help increase an arthritic dog's mobility and flexibility.

Glucosamine is a natural sugar that plays an important role in the formation and repair of cartilage. Not only does it eases joint pain, it also aids in rehabilitating cartilage and repairing joints that have been damaged from arthritis.

MSM is a natural anti-inflammatory that can be used for the treatment of a variety of disorders including canine arthritis. Studies reveal that animals with arthritis that were given MSM showed no cartilage degeneration, reduced stiffness and joint pain as well as improved flexibility.

Bromelain is an enzyme derived from fresh pineapples and studies show that Bromelain restores proper joint fluid to the cartilage and is also a very effective anti-inflammatory for relieving pain and swelling.

Vitamins A, C and E helps to supplement the treatment of your arthritic dog by neutralizing the harmful by-products of cellular oxidation, which assists your immune system to overcome disease.

In addition to the ingredients and vitamins, the following points are also important to help maximize the success of prevention and treatment of joint pain when using joint supplements for your dogs:


Supplements should be safe and effective without any of the side effects of NSAIDs
Supplements should be cost effective and less costly than NSAIDs.
Supplements should be palatable to your dog and easy for you to administer.

Keep the above ideas in mind as you consider the more commonly used nutritional supplements that might help your dog with canine arthritis.

Natural Dog Training - Principles to Better Train Your Dog

Dogs, regardless of breed, are undoubtedly one of the most sensitive and intelligent animals around. Thus, like any human, your furry friend would not like being harshly told what to do and what not to do.

Intelligence and receptiveness to training may vary from dog to dog. It depends on factors like age, health, breed, and temperament. Your training methodologies will need to vary depending on the type of canine and the training atmosphere. However, there are some general guidelines that apply to all kind of canines as far as training is concerned. These universal principles are actually very easy to understand. Let's take a look at these standard training ways that you can use for natural dog training.

It is clear that like any normal person, dogs hate being yelled at. Natural dog training rules are against the use of any form of violence such as beating to achieve a purpose. If you hurt your dog to make it do something you want, it will become defensive or even violent in the future.

One of the key principles of canine training basics that you need to know is that once a habit is formed, it is very difficult for a dog to break it. So start training your dog at the earliest time possible on all the right things. Teach your canine companion the right kind of behavior and make it a habit.

Your best canine friend expresses itself through doing a lot of things like barking, jumping, tail wagging, and more. A basic dog training technique that you must master is the ability to understand each action or gesture that your dog makes. Understanding the kind of mood your dog is in is definitely a significant factor for successful dog training.

In general, the best dog training technique is still to go natural - that is understanding your dog, and its needs and wants. Cater to your dogs strengths and you cannot go wrong in your dog training adventures.

og Cruciate Ligament Rupture - A Common and Severe Cause of Dog Arthritis

Arthritis or joint pain is a common problem affecting aging dogs, as well as younger dogs that are too active, inactive or those suffering from obesity. This problem often begins as a small tear in the dog's cruciate ligament (Dog ACL), which often goes undetected and can lead to more serious conditions like full rupture of the cruciate, dog arthritis and cartilage (meniscus) injuries.

Early regular checkups and intervention are crucial in stopping the progression of this condition. Dog cruciate ligament ruptures require surgery in most cases to slow or prevent dog arthritis. Dog cruciate injuries do not always happen suddenly - gradual degeneration is common with partial tears, especially as the cruciate ligament weakens in some dogs as a result of aging. Constant movement and shifting of the knees can lead to wear and tear of the ligaments in younger dogs. That said, traumatic injuries can also occur in very active dogs, both large and smaller breeds, that are continually twisting, torquing and jumping.

At the bottom of the knees are the meniscus cartilages - the shock absorbers of the joint while in motion. Using this damaged knee can squeeze, pinch or tear the cartilage or meniscus, causing even more pain and arthritis. First, the dog will avoid using the damaged leg when standing, walking, running or jumping. If left untreated, the progression of dog arthritis can lead to extreme pain and significantly reduce the dog's quality of life.

The symptoms of dog arthritis due to Cruciate Ligament Ruptures are firstly lameness - which is severe in the beginning but can settle down over a week or two, can lead into a false sense of security about the wellness of the dog. Secondly stiffness of the joint and pain in the knee will be seen, but again this can dissipate for a while but when untreated, it can lead to more serious problems like:

Going Camping With Your Dog

Camping can be a great experience or it can be not so great. It all depends on how prepared you are. When you bring your dog along, it can add another dimension to the equation. Dogs love camping and should be included in fun family outings. Here are some things to remember to make your camping experience a memorable one.

When preparing for camp, it is always a good idea to make some lists. Make a general list for common items like a tent, camping stove, water, food, smores, porta potty, etc. and one list for every member in the family, including the dog. The dog's list should include everything you may need plus some. Items like leashes, poop bags, dog bowls, dog food, water, treats, a crate, and a tie out are good things to have on hand for your dog. Some things people may not think of that are also important may be a pet specific first aid kit, a muzzle, important phone numbers in case of emergencies, shot records and a k-9 cooling vest. Don't forget to bring any medication your dog may be on at the time. Before you leave, there are some things to consider. Make sure your dog has flea and tick prevention. It's a good idea to make sure your pet is up to date on his shots, including Lyme disease. Lyme disease is carried by ticks in the forest, and can be serious. A medication such as Frontline Plus or Advantage is a good idea. You dog must have current ID tags with an address and number where you can be reached. I put my cell number on my dog's tags so I can be reached wherever I am. A microchip is also recommended in case your dog gets lost. Bring more dog food than you think you'll need. I like to put pre-measured meals in ziplock bags so it is easy to pack and feed. If you have more than one dog and they have different types of food, write their name on the bags.

While traveling with your dog, make sure you take frequent rest stops and always provide clean water. Dogs travel the safest when they are in a crate. If they are used to a crate at home, they will feel safe and secure in it while traveling. There are also pet restraint devices that attach to the existing seatbelt which is also a good idea. Never travel with your dog in the back of a pick-up.

Most campsite allow leashed pets, but some do not allow pets at all, so make sure your campsite is OK with pets. Be a responsible pet owner, always pick up after your pet, provide clean water at all times and be courteous of your neighbors. If you dog is barking, it could annoy the site next to you. Many people go camping for peace and quite, and the last thing they want to hear is a noisy dog. For very barky dogs citronella anti-bark collars are a easy and humane way to get your dog to stop barking so much. An anti-bark collar will not deter your dog from barking if there was a situation such as an intruder. Most dogs have protection instincts that are much stronger than the annoyance of citronella.

If you are at the campsite and want to go swim or participate in various camp activities, never leave your dog in the car! A dog can die in a hot car in a very short time. It's best to bring the dog along with you in whatever activities you will be doing. Use a cable tie out if you must, but make sure your dog can't get tangled on anything in the area. If you have an RV and it's hooked up to electricity, you may leave the dog in the RV for short times. It is a good idea to leave the AC on if it's a hot day. Leave the dog in his kennel in the RV. Some dogs may get bored and use the cushions as chew toys. Always make sure he has water.

Stay clear of Poison Oak or Ivy! If you are unsure what Poison Oak looks like, do a Google search and you see that it comes in many different forms and colors. You may want to carry some Poison Oak & Ivy wash such as Tecnu along just in case. Dogs usually don't get Poison Oak, but they can pick up the oil of the plant on their fur and pass it on to you. If you suspect your dog has walked through a patch of Poison Oak, you can use the Tecnu to wash his fur as well. Because Poison Oak doesn't show up for 24 hours, you need to wash your skin in 2-8 hours after exposure if you even suspect you were near it. The rash from Poison Oak is a immune response, so even if you take a shower 10 hours later, the oil will already have soaked into your skin, and your immune system will do the rest to help make you miserable for a while. Luckily, many well traveled campsites do not have any Poison Oak, Ivy or Sumac.

Husky Jumping - Tips to Stop It

If you want to learn how to put a stop Husky jumping, then you'll want to read this article. Specifically, we'll discuss why Huskies jump, how to stop Husky jumping, and what not to do when trying to stop this behavior. I will explain each of these topics in this article, and show you how you can train your Husky not to jump up.

Before starting to train your Husky not to jump, you should understand why they jump in the first place. All dogs love to jump when they see their owners or visitors because they are excited and want to greet them. Dogs naturally greet each other by sniffing each others' noses or licking each others' muzzles. They want to do the same to you by reaching your face and making eye contact. Now that you understand why your Husky jumps up, the concepts of how to train him not to jump should be straightforward.

In order to stop Husky jumping, you are mainly teaching your Husky one basic concept. Your main goal should be to teach your Husky that he only gets affection or attention when his front paws are touching the ground. The next time that your Husky jumps up to greet you, you must completely ignore him; don't try to push him away or shout at him, just stand there or even turn around until he calms down. As soon as his front paws touch the ground, pet him and give him lots of positive attention and praise. Remember that the main idea here is to ignore him when he is overly excited and jumping on you, and to only praise him when his front paws are on the ground.

There are a few things that you should not do when trying to stop your Husky's jumping. You should try not to greet him excitedly as it will only make him more excited and likely to jump. Instead, try greeting him calmly. Also never touch or push him away when he jumps on you -- he may see this as initiating play. You should never use physical aggression, yelling or shouting as any of these things will only make him more excited and will not help with the training. If he performs any undesired behaviors, just ignore him.

Stopping Husky jumping does not have to be a difficult or daunting task if you understand why they jump. Focus on praising or rewarding your Husky when he sits calmly and ignoring him when he jumps on you. Avoid using physical methods or shouting and yelling as you don't want to teach your Husky that greeting you is bad. Put these tips to use in order to stop Husky jumping problems.

Stop Puppy Biting - Tips on How to Prevent a Puppy From Biting and Nipping

Have you been so entranced by the cute antics of your new little puppy that you are now finding it difficult to break him out of his biting habit. Nipping and mouthing is one thing when puppy is only 8 weeks old, but it is an entirely different thing when puppy's teeth become stronger and sharper with each week. The trick to preventing puppy biting is to find a way to discipline puppy without squashing his playfulness and thus teach him the difference between right and wrong behaviour. When a puppy is up to his cute, mischievous tricks, it can be difficult to be firm, particularly when he has you smiling from ear to ear. But being firm can simply mean that you begin introducing some consistent commands from the start, commands to remind him when he has gone too far with his biting.

How to Prevent Puppy Biting

As soon as puppy arrives home, you can start some playful lessons that take just a few minutes of your time each day. In fact, the lesson itself can become a form of playing that puppy looks forward to each day. Starting right from the time he arrives home, you can work on some of these suggestions so that you minimize the problems that others have had when trying to prevent their puppy from biting.

The Hard Nip

A puppy litter tends to take care of the biting-too-hard problem quite naturally. When the puppies play together, they react instantly if one of their brothers or sisters has started to get too rough. They won't hesitate in turning around and biting back just as hard with a little growl thrown in for good measure. Or, if they have simply had enough, they'll take off and leave the tough puppy to his own devices. Similarly, they will regard you as one of the group but with the elevated status of "top dog" or "leader of the pack". So you can learn from the angry siblings and react in kind:


A growling-sounding "No" can work to stop puppy in his tracks as soon as he starts biting too hard.
You can also try the "taking-off" trick and leave the room if puppy doesn't respond to your firm "No".
Some dog owners have found success with noisy items in a can; items such as nails or coins. When you shake the can, the loud, unexpected noise will startle puppy and grab his attention for sure. This can become the "no-biting" noise, reserved only for the purpose of correcting this particular habit.

The Biting Wrestle

As a rule, puppy biting is quite innocent and just part of what puppies see as quite natural fun. It's not so much fun for you, however, if puppy starts indulging in a wrestling match with the sleeve of your jumper or with the cloth that is draping over the edge of the nicely-set dinner table. When that happens, you can hold him back, give the "No" command that he is getting used to and then the moment he releases his grip, give him a substitute toy, one that is on the "okay to chew" list.

Tug-of-War

Do you like to play tug-of-war with your new puppy, joining in with the odd puppy growl no less? Whilst this is something that we have probably all done with our puppy, it is a past-time that can become a habit which is hard to break. As soon as we start talking about "breaking a habit" it means we have already gone too far down the path of allowing an undesirable behavior pattern. Participating in a rough tug-of-war game is teaching him from an early age that biting is an acceptable, fun activity to indulge in.

Positive Reinforcement for Stopping the Puppy Biting Problem

As with all dog training techniques, it is important to lavish praise on puppy when he gets it right. As soon as he drops the sleeve of your jumper from his needle-like bite or backs off from grabbing your ankle, reward him generously.

The key to puppy training is in giving consistent and immediate feedback so that he knows when he has done the right thing as distinct from when he has crossed over the line. That way he is not left guessing about how you might or might not react to different levels of playfulness. With a little bit of perseverance, you will soon have a puppy that is a joy to play with and a soon-to-be adult dog that is a delight to be around.

Garbage Toxicosis in Dogs

Garbage toxicosis in dogs has several different names including garbage gut, bacterial food poisoning, as well as song bird fever, but they all have one thing in common; they are all potentially life threatening. As any dog owner can attest to, dogs will eat almost anything if they are given the chance. At some point in the life of almost every dog, they will get into your garbage or your neighbors garbage. While it may seem like an innocent enough adventure for a dog, it can very easily take their life as it can be that dangerous.

However, what is not well known to most owners is that this disease is Zoonotic, meaning it can rapidly be spread to humans. People at the highest risk of catching this disease from their dog include children, people with immune compromised systems, as well as the elderly.

Why it is dangerous:

When your dog does venture into the garbage, they are beginning a trek that may be the last adventure they ever take. Ingestion of spoiled food in most every case is full of contaminated bacteria as well as bacteria toxins that can very quickly cause your dog to go into shock. While most of the ventures may only cause mild forms of diarrhea or vomiting that will quickly run its course, if it is severe enough and does cause shock, the prognosis for your dog is very grim.

After they have ingested the contaminated food, your dog has entered into a very dangerous world of bacteria. The various forms include Streptococcusspp, Escherichia coli, salmonella spp, as well as Bacillus spp. These bacteria quickly enter into your dogs gastrointestinal tract and once there, can very quickly produce toxins that are absorbed into their blood stream. Once they have entered the blood, they can and do produce a myriad of different symptoms including shock, collapse, and in some cases, death.

Symptoms:

Garbage toxicosis in dogs is much more common in dogs that are indoor-outdoor dogs or dogs that are living exclusively outdoors and allowed to roam. Indoor-outdoor dogs seem to have the highest rate of this very dangerous disease as once they smell garbage; they go to it as soon as they get a chance. It is also much more common in warm climates or during the hot summer months when food will spoil much more rapidly.

Dogs can also get this disease from eating an affected dogs vomit or stool, as well as by simply licking an affected dog as it is that dangerous.

The symptoms from this disease usually start to appear within six to eight hours after ingestion, but if it severe enough, it they can occur as quickly as 15 minutes after ingestion.
The first symptom or sign that you will see is diarrhea, but with garbage toxicosis in dogs, it is different than most forms of diarrhea. It is usually extremely foul smelling and bloody. Vomiting follows very quickly as well as a very sudden fever.

Fevers in dogs occur several times during their lifetime, but when it is very sudden it is always a sign that something is terribly wrong.

Once these signs occur, your dog will also become very weak as the disease is starting to circulate throughout their bloodstream. Once the levels of toxin become high enough, your dog may suddenly go into a seizure or worse yet; go into shock. If it reaches this stage, your dog may have very little chance of surviving.

Treatments:

Once you identify garbage toxicosis in your dog, the quicker you act the better chance your dog has of surviving. The first thing you will need to do is to contact your veterinarian. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the first thing that is generally advised is to empty your dogs stomach. If the signs are severe, you will not have the time to take your dog into your veterinarian, but you should only induce vomiting if they instruct you to.

The most effective way to induce vomiting and thus emptying your dogs stomach is with Hydrogen Peroxide. All bottles will be labeled that this is toxic, but it is very safe for your dog as it will not stay in their stomach. You should only use three percent hydrogen peroxide, and give your dog one teaspoon for every ten pounds of body weight. If you are going to use an oral syringe, one teaspoon equals 5cc or 5 ml.

Once you have given the solution to your dog, walk them around and very gently shake their stomach.
This helps to mix the hydrogen peroxide with their stomach contents. If they do not vomit, it is still very safe to repeat the process one more time. In the vast majority of cases it will be effective the first time. Once your dog does vomit, save some of the contents and take it to your veterinarian for them to examine.

However, if it does not work after the second attempt, you need to seek professional help as soon as possible. It is very important to note, that if your dog is extremely weak, inducing vomiting may cause aspiration and will not be recommended by your professional. This is why it is so very important to contact either your veterinarian or an emergency veterinarian before you do anything. Syrup of Ipecac is extremely effective in inducing vomiting in children, but under no circumstances should you use it on your dog.

It can be extremely dangerous and even more toxic than what you are trying to eliminate.

If the symptoms are not severe, activated charcoal is also very effective at minimizing the absorption of both the bacteria and toxins. Activated charcoal is a form of carbon that has been activated by exposing it to several oxidizing gases that include steam, oxygen, and acids. Because of its compounds, it is extremely effective at absorbing toxins. There are several forms you can buy from your veterinarian and it is a very good idea to keep both hydrogen peroxide and activated charcoal in your dogs emergency kit.

Once your dog has been stabilized and their stomach has been emptied, your veterinarian can than give them drugs that coat and sooth their GI tract and generally include Pepcid or Zantac knockoffs. In severe cases, a disease referred to as DIC or disseminated intravascular coagulation may occur, although it is quite rare.

Summary:

Garbage toxicosis in dogs is a life threatening disease, but it is also one that can easily be prevented if you understand the symptoms and react very quickly. The odds that you will keep your dog out of garbage are very slim as dogs will always take their best shot at this new food every time they have a chance. However, being prepared and reacting quickly may save them from the potential disaster that awaits them.

I am an avid lover of pets and my wife and I have had several pets throughout our years. We are especially fond of dogs, and we have a 12 year old Dalmatian (our 3rd) and a "mutt" that we rescued when someone threw him away to die in a vacant field.

He found us, nearly starved to death, and weighed about 2 pounds. After severe bouts of mange and severe dehydration, and over 1,000.00 in veterinarian bills, we saved the little guys life, and he is one of the best, if not the best, dogs we have ever had and today is a muscular, fit, and firm 70 pound best friend.

After finishing my MBA, which at middle age was not easy, I decided to keep the research work ethics that I acquired, and devote about two hours each night in understanding the health benefits of supplementation for both humans and pets and how they might strengthen our, as well as our pets, immune system in a pre-emptive approach to health rather than a reactionary approach.

Both of my daughters are avid cat lovers, and asked me to help them with health concerns and challenges with their cats. I am not a veterinarian nor claim to be, just a lover of pets that loves to research and pass on some knowledge that might be helpful, or at least stimulating to the thought process.

Do I Have an Overprotective Dog?

Throughout history, dogs have been used for the protection of people and property. It's comforting to know that our furry friends may do what they can to ensure our safety if we're ever in danger. But in most people's every day lives, they don't need their dogs to bare their teeth, growl, lunge, and bite.

Unfortunately, there are many pet owners who have dogs that exhibit aggression because they are being overprotective. If this behavior is left unchecked, it can cause inconvenience or even have tragic consequences. The dog that can attack a burglar who enters your home can, without training and discipline, just as easily attack a visiting friend.

In general, the overprotective dog is one that is in control of the household. The dog is the leader, not the human. This is a big problem because when the dog assumes the leadership role, he/she takes all responsibilities. That means they are in charge and won't listen to those pack members lower on the totem pole (you).

Since they are in charge, they must protect their territory, which includes space, objects, and people. If anyone outside of the pack tries to encroach on the overprotective dog's territory, they will react with aggression.

Common signs of aggression include growling, snarling, curling the lip, lunging, snapping, and barking. When these signs occur when someone outside of what your dog would consider the "pack" enters your space, then your dog is probably being overprotective.

Before you decide your dog is just being overprotective, make sure there is nothing medically wrong. Sometimes pain or illness will cause a dog to act aggressively.

When you have identified your dog's aggression as over-protectiveness, realize that you have to take charge as the leader and provide the proper discipline and training for your dog. Remember to see things as a dog would. Dogs in the wild live in packs and there is room for only one leader. You have to be that leader and be the one to decide who is the threat to your pack and who is not (friends, family, the mail carrier, etc.)

Of course, it's best to identify and address this issue when your dog is young, but older dogs can ALWAYS be trained to behave appropriately.

Contact a qualified professional dog trainer and/or behaviorist to understand your dog better and to find ways to train your dog to behave.