Posts Tagged ‘dog training’

Organic Dog Food

Friday, April 22nd, 2011

The desire for healthy, organic food seems to apply equally to pets as to humans, because a lot of pet owners would rather buy organic foods to feed man’s best friend. One could be forgiven for being surprised at the large variety of organic dog food available on the market. Just as for humans, there are a lot of pet health issues that one could cure or even prevent completely by the use of organic pet food.

For instance, organic dog food could reduce the risk of the dog developing skin diseases and allergies. The explanation for the positive health impact is the absence of additives, chemicals, colourants and pesticides. Instead there are only grain extracts and high quality proteins for ingredients of organic dog food. Organic dog food also provides more nourishment, which is reflected in the higher levels of energy and the normal weight of the dog.

Normal dog food often causes diabetes and excess weight with all the concomitant problems that accompany these illnesses: back ailment, organ failure and decreased mobility. How can organic dog food help here? Well, organic food items for pets do not contain bulk fillers, they are nutrient-packed products that create energy not fat deposits. Moreover, it is best and a lot easier to prevent health issues than to try to cure them afterwards.

A better digestion and a stronger immunity system are the other main benefits that come with the feeding of organic pet food. Due to the lack of chemicals normally present in regular pet food, your dog will no longer be sick or experience wind or diarrhea. A healthier metabolism is what you will achieve with a healthy diet. Furthermore, the quality of the nutritional substances in organic dog food, boosts the immunity functions, thereby reducing the risks of infection and all sorts of specific diseases that affect dogs on a routine basis.

In general, veterinarian experts claim that organic dog food significantly increases the life of any animal, not to mention the fact that it will go through old age a lot better. It is quite common that pet owners who choose organic dog food, are also interested in eating organic foods themselves, sticking to clean natural products that boost bodily functions and reduce toxins and disease.

Ask your local dog food provider about organic dog food and if there isn’t any at your local shop, try to order it online. There are many web sites that offer such products at pretty decent prices.

One last tip, be very wary of dried dog food, no matter what it says on the packet. I used to have a dog that stayed at home alone during the day, while I went to work. I didn’t like to leave ‘wet’ food, because of flies, bacteria and vermin, so I bought dry food, which would not deteriorate during the day. However, within six years she had diabetes, which meant that I had to inject her with insulin every morning. The veterinary said that it was very common for dogs fed only on biscuits to get diabetes, so check with your vet first or feed organic wet food.

If you enjoyed reading this article on organic dog food and you want to read more about dogs in general or dog training, please go to our our website called Dog Training

Keeping Your Dog Motivated

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010

Keeping the attention of a dog while training is not always an easy task. Dogs are very easily distracted, and it is important to not allow the dog training sessions to be ruined by boredom. Making dog training fun for the dog and the human alike is essential to creating a happy, well-balanced and well-trained dog.

You should provide random positive stimuli during the day in order to keep the attention of your dog. Doing things the dog enjoys, like walking in the park, riding in the car, and playing with other dogs, are great ways to keep the dog’s attention, but you must reward him for small successes.

For instance, to reward the dog for coming to you when you call him, tell your dog to come to you, without giving any clues about going for a walk, a car ride, or other treats.

After the dog has come to you and obediently sat down, attach the leash and start the reward. This can be either the before-mentioned walk in the park, ride in the car, or anything else the dog likes to do.

Giving some sort of reward, whether a treat, a special outing, or just a scratch behind the ears, every time the dog does something you want, is a good method to keep your dog’s motivation while you are dog training.

If your dog knows something good is going to happen every time he obeys your command, he will be more motivated to please you every time.

Distraction training.

When training any dog, it is important to not allow distractions spoil the training. The dog must be taught to ignore distractions, such as other people, other dogs, other animals and loud noises, and focus on what is being taught These kinds of distractions can even be used as rewards when training the dog to come when called.

For instance, if your dog enjoys playing with other dogs, whether in a local dog park or with the neighbour’s dogs, let him play freely with those other dogs. Then go into the park or yard and call your dog.

When he comes to you, provide lots of praise, treats and other rewards, then immediately allow the dog to return to playing with his pals. Do this a few times and praise the dog each time he comes to you.

The dog will soon realize that coming to your call results in good things (treats and praise) and not bad ones (being removed from the park).

So-called distraction training is one of the hardest things to teach, because dogs are naturally social animals, and breaking away from the pack is one of the hardest things you can ask your dog to do. Most dogs will be understandably unwilling to leave their canine companions, but it is important to persist in dog training.

Training the dog to come to you when you call may take some creativity on your behalf at first. For example, waving one of his favourite toys, or a lure, is a great way to get your dog’s attention and put the focus back on you. If your dog has been clicker trained, a quick click can be a good motivator too in dog training.

Once the dog begins to get used to coming when called, you can start to reduce and eliminate the visual cues and focus on getting the dog to respond to your voice alone. It is important that the dog responds to voice commands alone, since you will not always have the availability of a toy or other lure.

Does your dog need training? If you need further details on dog training, then go over to our website called Successful Dog Training

Dog Names

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Dog owners will explain that there is no given formula for choosing a good name for a new dog or puppy. Whether they need to come up with girl or boy dog names, they will normally pick a name that sounds cool or a name they like rather than putting some thought into what the name really means. Popular boy dog names have meanings, as do human names, so more often than not the meaning will not suit the dog it is given to. Here we give a list of the top five boy dog names and what they actually mean.

Undoubtedly, one of the first things you do when you get a new dog or puppy is pick a dog name for him or her. For most dog owners, this actually requires little thought. They just choose a dog name at random and that is the name by which the poor animal will be known forever. However, there are certain issues that ought to be taken into consideration when going through dog names in order to make sure that you choose a suitable one.

First of all, dogs can sense attitude and tone of voice better than we can. If you pick a dog name for comic effect or after someone you don’t like, your dog will know by your tone of voice that something is not right. As a result, their attitudes may change towards you or they may refuse to respond to your commands. Dogs’ names should mean something but should not hinder their training, so you should really take the decision of the dog name carefully.

Although dogs are very intelligent creatures, they can’t process the same amount of information that we can. Therefore, dog names ought not be more than two syllables long. If they are more than that, most dogs will not respond. Max, Sam, Becky, Lady, Molly and the like are excellent dog names because they are short and the names are easily heard. They respond to these dog names and that will help your chances of training them successfully.

However, dogs’ names should help them form an identity of their own. Common names don’t really allow them to do that, so finding something simple but unusual can help their characters a great deal without damaging their ability to respond to a command.

Max: This is probably the most popular boy dog name and the meaning is surely the reason why many people choose it for their dog. It literally means “the most”. After all, every dog owner thinks that their dog is the ‘most’.

Jake: Jake is short for Jacob, which means “victor”. This is a suitable boy dog name, if your puppy has taken over the house within moments of setting feet inside of it!

Buddy: Buddy is a variation of Budd, which means “messenger”. This boy dog name could be apt for a working dog or one you might possibly train to retrieve the newspaper from the porch in the morning. It is a very popular boy dog name throughout America.

Bailey: The boy dog name Bailey is French and means “steward”. This is pretty apt if your dog is responsible and sensible, so it is probably not suitable for a Jack Russel puppy, for example!

Sam: Sam seems to mean “an answer to prayers”. This is a good boy dog name for dogs that are easy to train and are largely quiet!

Not many people consult a name’s meaning when choosing boy dog names, so instead of just going with your first thought, it may be worth taking the time to choose a dog’s name that is actually apt for your dog. After all, it doesn’t cost anything to spend some time thinking about your dog’s name.

Does your dog require training? If you require further details on dogs in general, then go over to our website called Successful Dog Training

The Reasons Why Dogs Snore

Sunday, April 25th, 2010

We all know that it is not unusual for pet owners to permit their pets to sleep with them on their beds at night. In fact, one third of pet owners have at some time, allowed their pets to sleep on their beds. Dogs readily provide a companionship that can’t be shown by any other kind of animal. However, this doesn’t mean to say that cat owners do not let their cats or another pets sleep with them too.

It is facilitated too by dogs having a sleep pattern which is rather much like our own. Dogs usually have complete trust in their masters, which makes them a lot more relaxed during the night. This goes a long way to explaining why most dogs fall asleep easily and even go into a deep sleep where REM sleep activities can occur. In fact, once a dog goes into this stage, the owner often needs to call them several times before they can be woken up completely.

I’m sure, many of us have already seen a dog ‘running’ during sleep and, at times, barking with his eyes closed too. These dogs are believed to be dreaming. Breathing patterns can also be observed among dogs while they are asleep. For example, there are breeds which breathe heavily and there are breeds which breathe more lightly. The heavy breathers are much more likely to snore than those which do not breathe so heavily.

Often, dogs that snore can be quite a nuisance during the night, depending on the degree and frequency of the phenomenon. Like with humans, there are various considerations why dogs snore, although most have to do with the obstruction of the passage of air in the throat, which in turn is caused by the collapse of certain areas along the throat. It is the same problem as with humans.

A snoring dog ought to be checked for various issues to determine which treatment can be best applied. Some dogs are especially prone to specific allergic reactions that cause constriction in the airway. It may also be that there is some excess tissue in the areas that are inhibiting proper breathing. It is best if a veterinarian checks on different factors through careful evaluation of the dog’s anatomical features and general physical symptoms.

Maybe, your dog is overweight. Like with humans, obese dogs are more likely to snore during the night. This is because they have more flesh surrounding their throats. Therefore, they have excess tissue that hangs around the throat which can potentially cause the obstructions. Once this problem is corrected, the risk of snoring will be decreased. This would not only be healthy for your dogs, you may eventually enjoy nights of restful sleep too.

Snoring also has something to do with the general facial features. Some dogs seem to have pushed-in faces which narrows their air passages to a certain degree. The construction of their nasal passages also largely contributes to their difficulty in breathing. They are pretty much like humans with a cold, who are forced to breathe using only twenty-five percent of their nostril capacity. Dog breeds with shorter faces need to expend lots of effort to breathe properly. It costs them more work to control breathing and they are also more prone to snoring.

Minor surgery can afford your dog great relief. Be sure though that before any decision is made, you are well informed about the potential risks and consequences of surgery to stop a dog snoring. Most are irreversible, so careful thought must be given to any operation you allow. In fact it is best to accept the guidelines provided by your veterinarian.

Does your dog need training? If you need more information on dogs in general, then visit our website entitled Successful Dog Training

Is She A Lady Or A Tramp?

Monday, April 12th, 2010

So, you may be asking yourself, what is in a dog’s name? Just what does it matter what your female dog’s name is? The answer is perhaps a lot, because your dog’s name defines him or her in the eyes of your friends, especially if you have a rather small, puny dog. For what a small dog lacks in stature it can make up for in attitude. For a smaller dog, being cute will get her everywhere. But what is a cute dog without a cute dog’s name?

Cute dog names are really meant for female dogs. Abby, for example is a very cute dog name. When you put that together with an image, you probably see a little Westie or a Labrador pup running around a lawn in your mind’s eye. Other cute female dog names are Beauty, Becky and Princess. All of these cute dog names seem to embody a bundle of fur that has a sweet nature and just loves cuddles. They all allude to a cute appearance and a very happy dog owning experience.

However, there seems to be rather few cute dog names available for male dogs. This may be because it detracts from the masculine image that male dogs should have. Still, there are some male cute dog names out there. Bobby, Casper, Patch and Spot are all cute male dog names that have the same effect as the female ones do. However, you do have to ensure that you have the right kind of male dog to give a cute dog name to, because if you get it wrong, he will sound ridiculous.

Cute dog names can be suitable for male and female members alike of certain breeds and can help to develop a lovable personality, because of the affection, with which it will be handled. But do be warned, you do not want to leave your dog open to ridicule so pick when to give your dog a cute dog name with caution.

Whilst dogs are very intelligent creatures, they cannot process the same amount of information that humans can. Therefore, dog names should never be more than two syllables. If they are more than that, it is very rare that a dog will actually respond. Max, Sam, Lady, Molly and the like are excellent dog names because they are short and the syllables are hard. They easily respond to those dog names and it can improve your chances of training them successfully.

Moreover, dogs names can assist them form a character of their own. Common names do not encourage them to do that, so finding a simple but unusual name can help their characters a great deal without damaging their ability to respond to a command.

I would bet money that most pet owners do not consider the points mentioned above when considering dog names for a new pet. Instead, dog names are chosen at on a whim, but it really is well-worth putting a bit more thought into it, for your dogs sake if nothing else.

Does your dog require training? If you require further information on dogs in general, then visit our website entitled Successful Dog Training

Fashionable Dog Names

Friday, December 18th, 2009

Fashion appears to decree everything these days. From what you wear to what you name your dog, everything you do is decreed by the need to be cool. Cute dog names are hard to come by and even harder to choose. This is because no sooner is something in fashion, than it is out again.

Who would want to pick a cool dog name that may not be fashionable next year? People tend to play it safe as a result, which is why the same names have been around for so long. To try and break that cycle, five cute dog names are given below with the reasons why you should pick one of them for your dog.

Phoenix: What could be cooler than a bird that goes up in flames and then rises from the ashes? Phoenix is one of the cute dog names that will never go out of fashion because it is based in history. It has a timeless quality which has somewhat surprisingly failed to increase its popularity.

Star: Star is one of the cute dog names because it has so many meanings and connotations that you can struggle to find out where to begin. A star in the sky is a phenomenon and a star can refer to someone that outperforms in a certain field. It is a high form of praise and thus is definitely a cute dog name.

Lady: Lady is one of the most popular dog names but it is also one of the cool dog names because of the Disney cartoon film, Lady and the Tramp, which was a massive hit. The film made the name popular but also gave it some credibility. In this case, popularity comes second to coolness.

Elvis: The coolest of cool dog names. Elvis Presley was definitely cool and remains cool today even after his death. It is infinitely cool to name your dog after an icon who never goes out of fashion.

Shadow: There is a dark and ethereal quality about Shadow that makes it a cute dog name. It would be best used on a large breed of dog however, because it wouldn’t have the same striking effect with a small one.

Whatever cute dog names you use for your mut, it is one definite way to give your dog an identity of their own and make your dog unforgettable to others.

Does your dog need training? If you need further information on dogs in general, then go over to our web site entitled Successful Dog Training

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Why Do Dogs Snore?

Friday, August 7th, 2009

We all know that it is not unusual for pet owners to permit their pets to sleep with them at night. In deed, one third of pet owners have at some point, permitted their pets to sleep on their beds. Dogs provide a companionship that can’t be given by any other kind of animal. However, this doesn’t mean to say that some people do not let their cats or another pets sleep with them too.

It is made easier too because dogs have a sleep pattern that is very much like ours. Dogs often rely on their masters with complete trust, which makes them a bit more relaxed during the night. This explains why most dogs fall to sleep easily and later on, enter into deep sleeps where REM sleep activities can occur. In fact, once dogs enter this stage, the owner needs to call them several times before they can truly be woken up.

For sure, many of us have already witnessed a dog paddling during sleep or, at times, barking with his eyes closed too. These dogs are said to be dreaming. Breathing patterns can also be observed among dogs while they are asleep. For instance, there are breeds which breathe heavily and there are breeds which breathe more lightly. The heavy breathers are much more likely to snore than those which do not breathe as heavily.

Dogs which snore can be rather a nuisance during the night, depending on the degree and frequency of the occurrence of this phenomenon. Like with humans, there are various reasons why dogs snore. Most though have to do with the obstruction of the passage of air in the throat caused by the collapse of certain areas along the throat. The same as in humans.

A snoring dog should be checked for various issues to determine which treatment can be best applied. Some dogs are especially prone to specific allergic reactions that cause constriction in the airway. It may also be that there is some excess tissue in the areas that are preventing proper breathing. It is best if a veterinarian checks on different factors through careful evaluation of the dog’s anatomical features and general physical symptoms.

Is you dog obese? I ask this because, as with humans, obese dogs are more likely to snore than thin ones. This is because they will have more tissue surrounding their throats. Therefore, they have excess fat hanging around their throats, which can cause blockages. Once this problem has been corrected, the chances of snoring will be decreased. This would not only be good for your dogs, but you may actually enjoy a decent night’s sleep too.

The general facial features of the dog affect the amount of snoring too. Some dogs seem to have squashed faces which narrows their air passages to a greater or lesser degree. The construction of their nasal passages also largely contributes to their difficulty in breathing. They are pretty much like humans with a cold, who are forced to breathe using only twenty-five percent of their nostril capacity. Dog breeds with shorter faces need to expend lots of effort to breathe properly. It takes them more effort to breathe and they are also more prone to snoring.

Minor surgery can afford your dog great relief. Be sure though that, before any decision is made, you are well educated about the potential risks and consequences of surgery to stop a dog snoring. Most procedures are irreversible, so careful thought must be given to any operation you allow. In fact, it is best to follow the guidelines provided by your veterinary doctor.

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Healthy Dog Food

Tuesday, July 28th, 2009

The desire for healthy, organic food seems to apply equally to animals as to humans, because many pet owners would rather buy organic products to feed man’s best friend. One could be forgiven for being taken aback by the large amount of organic dog food available on the market. Just as for humans, there are many of pet illnesses that one could cure or even prevent completely by the use of organic pet food.

For instance, organic dog food could reduce the chance of the dog getting skin diseases and allergies. The reason for the positive health impact is the absence of additives, chemicals, colourants and pesticides. Instead the ingredients in organic dog food are just grain extracts and high quality proteins. Organic dog food contains more nourishment, which is obvious from the higher levels of energy and the weight of the dog.

Regular dog food can cause diabetes and excess weight with all the concomitant problems that accompany these illnesses: back ailment, organ failure and decreased mobility. How can organic dog food help here, then? Well, because organic pet food does not contain bulk filler; they are nutrient-packed products that create energy not fat. Moreover, it is far better and definitely a lot easier to prevent health problems than try to cure them afterwards.

A better digestion and a stronger immunity system are the other main benefits that accompany the use of organic dog food. Because of the absence of chemicals normally mixed in regular pet food, your dog will not vomit or experience wind or diarrhea. A more efficient is what will result from a healthy diet. Furthermore, the quality of the nutritional substances in organic dog food, enhances the immunity functions, which reduces the risks of infection and all sorts of specific diseases that affect dogs on a routine basis.

A significant number of veterinarians claim that organic dog food substantially extends the life of any animal, to say nothing of the fact that it will go through old age a lot better. It is not uncommon that pet owners who choose organic dog food, are also interested in eating organic foods themselves, sticking to healthy natural products that enhance bodily functions and avoid toxins and disease.

Ask your local dog food supplier about organic dog food and if there is none available at your local shop, try to order it online. There are many web pages that offer such products at fairly fair prices.

One last tip, be very, very wary of dried dog food like biscuits, no matter what it says on the packet. A few years ago, I had a dog called Becky that remained at home alone during the day, while I went to work. I didn’t like to leave her tinned food, because of flies, bacteria and vermin, so I bought dry food, which would not deteriorate during the day. However, within six years she had gotten diabetes, which meant that I had to inject her with insulin every morning. Sometimes, she would have a fit. The vet said that it was very common for dogs fed only on dry biscuits to contract diabetes, so check the food with your vet first or feed organic tinned food.

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Organic, Healthy Dog Food

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

The requirement of healthy, organic food seems to apply equally to pets as to humans, because a lot of pet owners prefer to buy organic products to feed their four-legged friends. One could be forgiven for being taken aback by the large amount of organic dog food on offer on the market. Just as for humans, there are many of pet illnesses that one could cure or even prevent completely by the use of organic pet food.

For example, organic dog food could reduce the risk of the dog developing skin diseases and allergies. The explanation for the positive health effects is the absence of additives, chemicals, colourants and pesticides. Instead the ingredients of organic dog food are just grain extracts and high quality proteins. Organic dog food contains more nourishment, which is obvious from the higher levels of energy and the weight of the pet.

Regular dog food often causes diabetes and excess weight with all the concomitant problems that accompany these illnesses: back ailment, organ failure and decreased mobility. How can organic dog food help here? Well, organic food items for pets do not contain bulk fillers, they are nutrient-packed products that create energy not fat deposits. Moreover, it is best and a lot easier to prevent health issues than to try to cure them afterwards.

Good digestion and a stronger immunity system are the other main benefits that come with the use of organic dog food. Because of the absence of chemicals usually present in regular pet food, your dog will no longer be sick or experience gas or diarrhea. A healthier metabolism is what you will achieve with a healthy diet. Furthermore, the quality of the nutritional substances in organic dog food, boosts the immunity functions, thereby reducing the risks of infection and all sorts of specific diseases that affect dogs on a routine basis.

A high number of veterinarians claim that organic dog food substantially extends the life of any animal, not to mention the fact that it will go through old age a lot better. It is not uncommon that pet owners who choose organic dog food, are also interested in eating organic foods themselves, sticking by healthy organic food that boost bodily functions and avoid toxins and disease.

Ask your local dog food supplier about organic dog food and if there is none available at your local shop, try to order it online. There are plenty of web sites that offer such products at fairly fair prices.

One last tip, be very, very wary of dried dog food like biscuits, no matter what the label says. A few years ago, I had a dog called Becky that remained at home alone during the day, while I went to the office. I didn’t like to leave her tinned food, because of flies, bacteria and vermin, so I bought dry food, which would not go off during the day. However, within six years she had gotten diabetes, which meant that I had to inject her with insulin every morning. Sometimes, she would have a fit. The veterinary said that it was very common for dogs fed only on dry biscuits to get diabetes, so check the food with your vet first or feed organic wet food.

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What’s in a Dog’s Name?

Sunday, July 12th, 2009

Dog owners will say that there is no proven method for picking a good name for a new dog or puppy. Whether they need to think of girl or boy dog names, usually they will pick something that sounds trendy or a name they like rather than putting some thought into what the name actually means. Popular boy dog names have a variety of meanings, but more often than not the meaning will not suit the dog it is given to. Here we give a guide to the top five boy dog names and what they actually mean.

In general, one of the first things you have to do when you get a new dog or puppy is pick a dog name for him or her. For most dog owners, this actually takes little thought. They just pick a dog name out of thin air and that is the name by which the unfortunate animal will be known forever. However, there is something you ought to think about when going through dog names in order to make sure that you choose the right one.

Firstly, dogs can sense attitude and tone of voice better than we can. If you pick a dog name for comedy value or after someone you dislike, your dog will see straight through you. As a result, their attitudes may change or they may refuse to respond to your commands. Dogs’ names should mean something but should not be detrimental to their development so you should really take the decision of the dog name seriously.

Although dogs are very intelligent creatures, they can’t understand the same amount of information that we can. Therefore, dog names ought not be more than two syllables long. If they are more than that, most dogs will not respond. Max, Sam, Becky, Lady, Molly and the like are excellent dog names because they are short and the names are easily heard. They respond to these dog names and that will help your chances of training them successfully.

However, dogs’ names ought to assist them mould an identity of their own. Popular names don’t really allow them to do that, so finding something simple but unusual can help their characters grow a great deal without reducing their willingness to respond to a command.

Max: This is perhaps the most popular boy dog name and the meaning is probably the reason why most people choose it for their hound. It literally means “the best”. After all, every dog owner thinks that their dog is the best.

Jake: Jake is short for Jacob, which means “champion”. This is a suitable boy dog name, if your puppy takes over the whole house within a short time of getting inside it!

Buddy: Buddy is a familiarization of Budd, which means “messenger”. This boy dog name may be apt for a farm dog or one you might train to bring in the newspaper of a morning. It is quite a popular boy dog name and can be very widely heard throughout the USA.

Bailey: The boy dog name Bailey is French and means “steward”. This is fairly apt if your dog is responsible and sensible, so it is apt for a Newfoundland or collie puppy.

Sam: Sam apparently means “an answer to prayers”. This is a good boy dog name for sedate dogs that are easy to train and are very little work!

Not many people consider a name’s meaning when choosing boy dog names, so instead of just going with your first thought, it may be worth taking the time to find a dog’s name that is actually suitable for your dog. After all, it doesn’t cost anything to spend some time thinking about your dog’s name.

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