10 Biggest Misconceptions about Dogs

1. When your dog looks grown up, he is.

No matter how big he is, or how mature his behavior, your puppy is still a puppy until he's at least a year old. Large-breed dogs are growing puppies for close to two years.

2. Neutering your dog will negatively affect his personality.

If your dog has always been an outgoing, fun-loving, playful dog, neutering won't change that all. If he is a little reactive with other dogs or roams the neighborhood, neutering may make him a bit gentler and more inclined to stay home.

3. You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

The biggest challenge in training an older dog is helping them unlearn old behaviors. If you combine patience with sound and treat training, you’ll soon have a talented and well-trained little pal.

4. Dogs need variety in the food they eat.

Your dog thrives on routine. Changing diet frequently and rapidly will do him more harm than good.

5. Obedience training is only for problem dogs.

Yes, obedience training can help with some unacceptable behaviors, but wouldn't it be better if those behaviors never had a chance to develop?  In addition, obedience training can strengthen the bond between you and your dog and help you enjoy each other's company even more so!

6. Dogs need supplements in their diets.

If they are eating a high quality, nutritionally balanced diet, they will do fine. If you have questions, ask your veterinarian.

7. Dogs who spend the day in the yard get plenty of exercise.

Dogs are pack animals — they are not good at running or playing when they are alone. Exercise is an important part of your dog's health. It's up to you to be sure he gets it.

8. Dogs do destructive things to get even with you.

Don't project your emotions on your dog. Most behaviors that drive you crazy are normal for a dog and begin when he is bored, tired, sick or lonely.

9. It's natural for your dog to have bad breath.

It isn't. Bad breath is often, an indication of dental or health trouble.

10. It's okay for dogs to be a little plump.

Excess weight in dogs can be associated with heart, respiratory and blood-sugar level problem, skeletal distress and gastrointestinal disorders. Don't feed your dog table scraps, and make sure he gets plenty of exercise.

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10 MOST DANGEROUS THINGS FOR YOUR DOG AT A DOG PARK

Spending time with your dog at a dog park may seem ideal, however, there is often a lot more other thing happened at the park. There are actually several occasion that your dog could become injured.  Here are 10 possible ways that a dog park could be dangerous to your dog:

1.     Sharing treats with other dogs

While sharing treats can be a kind gesture, if your dog has allergies, you need to watch him closely. You want to be sure that another dog owner doesn’t slip him a treat without asking your permission. Depending on the severity of your dog’s allergy, he or she could end up becoming quite ill.

2.     Attacks by larger, more aggressive dogs

Dog parks consist of dogs of all breeds, sizes and temperaments. Regardless of the size or breed of your dog, a more aggressive breed could intimidate and even attack your dog 

3.     Contagious illnesses

Chances are you would never believe that you need to head to the vet for immunizations just to be able to spend time at the local dog park. However, many pet owners aren’t concerned about your dog and may bring their dogs when they have contagious illnesses. Beware! 

4.     Escape routes

Fences that are in need of repair could pose a danger. There may be an opening just large enough for your dog to squeeze through, especially if he or she is an escape artist. 

5.     Sharp objects

You might want to carefully search the park before allowing Rover to run loose. There could be sharp objects that could cause your furry friend to become injured on or even impaled. 

6.     Poison

You are undoubtedly aware that dogs will scarf down just about anything that could be even remotely edible. There have been reported cases of disturbed individuals leaving enticing food items at dog parks that have been laced with poison. Keep Rover in sight at all times! 

7.     Fleas & ticks

Not all pet owners are responsible enough to rid their dogs of fleas and ticks before allowing them to hang out at dog parks. Take caution and make sure that you administer regular preventatives to your pooch. 

8.     Contaminated communal water bowls

You certainly don’t want your dog catching a nasty intestinal infection or other illness by drinking from a contaminated shared water dish. Be sure your bring water so Fido won’t go thirsty. 

9.     Unspayed and unneutered dogs

If your female dog has not been spayed, then you might want to think twice about taking her to a dog park. She could be in heat without your knowledge, which could attract unwanted male dogs that could quickly mount her before you can react.  This could leave her with nasty STDs. 

10.     Children

Not many people would expect an innocent child to pose a threat to a dog. However, some children don’t know the proper way to play with dogs and may cause Fido harm or provoke him to bite when he normally wouldn’t.

Many dog owners believe a dog park is the safest place for dogs to run freely while playing and exercising. Despite the fact that dog parks are supposedly safe, there is the possibility of your dog encountering various dangers. If you own your own home, you might want to fence in the backyard so your dog can run freely while remaining safe. If this isn’t a possibility, or you insist on going to the local dog park anyway, then you need to ensure that you closely monitor your dog to maintain his safety.

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Tips On How To Train Your Dog Dog Really Fast

Truth be told you are going to have to work harder than you have ever done before in order to train your dog successfully! I am telling you 99% people are just not capable of actually putting in the amount of hard work that is needed to train up their dogs. Believe me the only way to see phenomenal results that people are going to admire is to actually work your hair off on a day to day basis! Believe me patience is the most important skill that you can work to develop if you want to train your dog properly. My business is hinting right now that housetraining a puppy is simple when you're conscious just what you are doing.

There is no doubt in my mind that if you are lazy then you are just going to end up failing so you should not bother trying to train your dog. Please just stop reading right now if you are a lazy individual. Hard work is the core of all the obedient dogs that you see out there. Don't you think for a moment that people who have well trained dogs have done it by wishing for it!

I am telling you right now that the most important aspect of actually being able to train your puppy successfully is actually getting out there and becoming a more patient person. At the end of the day your dog is just a dog, so you need to be extremely patient until he understands what you are trying to teach him. Teaching him one thing at at time is going to require that you are really patient. This is going to be frustrating at times but believe me if you are able to stick it out you will see results!

The next thing you must develop is a level of consistency. Daily effort with your puppy dog will ensure that you will see amazing results. Believe me if you are not putting in the daily effort then you are going to fail in terms of teaching your dog anything. If you are actually looking to see results in the near future then you must apply what I've just told you.

Believe me I really and truly think that if you want to see success with your dog then you are going to have to go to your local bookshop and learn everything there is about this subject matter. I will tell you right now to go to your local bookshop and grab all the books that you can on the topic of training dogs. Then spend the next few weeks just studying everything you can on dog training. Believe me no matter how mundane of a task this is you must do it if you actually want to successfully train your dog.

Believe me I am telling you from experience that all you need to do in order to see success with your dogs is to just follow the advice that I've given you here! I am telling you take it slowly and enjoy the process. Remain patience and consistent and believe me you are going to see amazing results in no time. Trust me the world is going to wonder how you managed to make your dog so obedient. You are going to smile in joy.

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Top 10 Dog Games That Will Wear Him Out

I can just see you sitting there scratching your head and wondering why I refer to dog training when writing about dog games. Well, this is because I am a dog. I know from personal experience that all dog games are really training and all dog training is really games. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Valentino Spock Bone. You can call me Valentino for short. My human has quite a sense of humor. But that is another story. Oh, by the way, the title about games that will wear HIM out is a pun intended because dog games will wear out a dog or a human! I guess it depends on who is reading this article!

Playing dog games is one of the most effective and fun ways to give your dog the physical and mental exercise he needs. It also provides a personal way to get to know your best friend in a casual environment. Unlike standard training routines that I will discuss in future articles, this article is just for fun, but in a healthy training-type way.

The thing is that I get bored with just plain old "fetch" or "Valentino come", even if it is for a treat. I'm very intelligent and so is your canine pal. He wants variety and lots of excitement. Even experts agree that in order to keep your pooch happy, you need to provide exercise and a challenge along with positive reinforcement...my favorite is those little treats that are soft and look like a tiny t-bone and they just tingle in my mouth and make me want to do cartwheels and run around the block...Sorry, I sometimes get carried away by the thought of another treat.

So here goes:

1) Fetch: Try to think out of the kennel and get creative with a ball or favorite toy instead of a stick. My human does not let me chew on sticks but she does let me chew my toys, so I get to use safe items to play fetch. I know this sounds funny, but not all dogs are created equal. Some dogs just don't like to play fetch! If not, keep reading because there are plenty of other dog games to play. Oh, I am sure that your dog already knows how to bring it back to you and to "drop it" before you start playing fetch.

2) Backyard Bobbing: We do this in the summertime using a small inexpensive wading pool that fits me to a T! All you have to do is fill it with a few inches of water and place a rubber toy in the middle and watch your dog have lots of fun getting into and out of the pool! If your dog gets too excited doing this be sure to let him calm down by getting his attention on something else or by emptying the pool and putting it out of his reach.

3) Mystery Tour:You can create a maze of boxes and other simple shapes in the back yard and use those treats to get your dog to run through the maze with you at his side, or not. He may want to go by himself while you watch. This is really great for helping your dog learn to move with fluid motion and it helps him to be OK with new and different shapes and situations, giving him confidence and mental balance. You can also purchase equipment for this, but simple is usually best unless you are training for obstacle course trials. Sometimes I just get all goofy and just jump ON the boxes in the maze...it drives my human crazy!

4) Hide and Seek: I love using my awesome natural ability to follow scents and with just the right amount of encouragement your dog will be an expert at finding you or whatever toys you hide in this game. If you and your dog are new at this, give him the stay command then hide yourself or a toy where your dog can see you, then give a come and get it or find me command. When he finds whatever you hid give him a nice treat and praise him like silly. After you get used to this, your pup will be able to find you or the hidden object by scent alone, even if he cannot see you. Start simple then get more complicated by adding more distance. Did you know that tracking dogs will sometimes track a scent by walking several feet away from where the trail is? The nose knows.

This is a great way to spend time indoors on those cold winter days or just rainy days when inclement weather prevents you from taking your best friend outside. Please be sure to keep those treats close by. And, be sure to give the "stay" command before you hide, otherwise, he'll be right behind you!

5) Swimming: I know this may be hard to believe, but some dogs do not like water! If your dog thinks that water is evil, do not force him. But if he does love water, please take him now! Swimming is great exercise and you can have lots of fun watching him do the dog paddle! Remember to take lots of towels and dry him off afterwards to keep him from catching a chill.

6) Frisbee: Ah, catch. Catching a flying object is almost too exciting for me to talk about. I'm young, though and this is easy for me. If your dog is older this may not be so good for him as it is very physical and requires lots of movement and jumping and sliding all over the place. You will want to throw the Frisbee a short distance to start and then you can throw it farther and farther when fido gets the hang of it. This reinforces the "fetch" instructions of going after something, bringing it back and then "dropping" it so you can repeat the process for him. Did you know that there are actually Frisbee competitions? It just doesn't get better than this.

7) What's That?: I just can not get enough of this one. My human sits in her easy chair and out of nowhere, she takes a rapid breath IN and says in her most inquisitive voice, "What's That"? My ears perk up and I'm off and running in the direction of wherever she points her finger! OK. I know there's nothing there but she gets me every time. This is good for getting my attention and it helps me focus on whatever my human wants me to focus on. Then when the game is finished, she uses other commands to end the game; come, sit and stay. Oh, and sometimes, she stands up or moves around when she does this. So many ways, so little time.

8) Saddle Bag: This one is really cool. This is when I get to carry water and snacks for my human. If you don't already have a saddle bag you can make one with a nice piece of fabric that fits around your dog's belly and chest...and it has to have a pocket on each side to carry the water and snacks...my human uses it to carry my treats, too. This is so cool because I just look cute and gets lots of praise and treats for just walking! And, of course, it's good for me to walk quietly by her side for exercise. If your dog has been used to wearing doggie sweaters and coats, he will ease right into this. If not, just give him time to adjust to the feel of doggie clothes before you expect him to be comfortable with it. My human started by dressing me in sweaters because I was such a wiggle worm. After I calmed down and didn't mind the clothes, she gave me a saddlebag to wear. She started by putting small items in the pockets and then she added her water bottles after I was OK with the extra weight.

9) Horse and Buggy: No, I don't mind being thought of as a horse pulling a buggy. People also call this carting or pulling in some circles. This requires practice to get the hang of it, but once you do it can be a lot of fun, great exercise and it helps build stamina. My human uses a little red wagon. She removed the handle and added a fabric hitch that fits over my back and attaches to two round dowel rods that she got at a craft store. You could also use a sled or cart. I have to walk steadily and pull the wagon that usually contains a child or just stuff like groceries or debris in the yard that she wants to get rid of. It makes me feel like I'm part of whatever my human is doing at the time.

10) Leave It: I really love this because I don't have to do anything and I always get a treat! At first you just hold a favorite treat in your hand and say "leave it" and let your dog sniff at it but don't give it to him...the minute he stops trying to get it, you give it to him and praise the heck out of him. I'm guessing that your dog will get it by day two. After he really gets it, you can use it for almost anything such as leave the cat alone, leave the rug alone and leave anything alone that has his undivided attention.

11) Grand Ole Opry: I have one more, well, actually two but since I can't really count. My human gets up and 1)starts twirling around and 2)starts singing at the top of her lungs! All I want to do is be part of this madness so I stand up on my two hind legs and I howl! It is truly a sight to behold and afterwards I feel exhausted! So this is probably good for those days when your dog hasn't had as much exercise as he should have. A little goes a long way with this one. If you are not able to twirl, then just sway a little side-to-side is sufficient. And, if you can not sing, all the better 'cause it will drive your puppy into howling heaven.

Dog games are so good for your dog and with a little time will have both of you in sync with what makes your best friend happy and healthy.

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Start a Dog Walking Club and Turn Your Walks Into Social Gatherings

Starting a dog walking club is a great way to make turn your daily walk into a social event for both your furry friend, and yourself. Making it a group event can also help ensure you don't skip days, and that both you and your dog get out and get the exercise you need. If you can make new friends in the mean time, and help socialize your dog, then that is just an added bonus!

For many people, getting up to walk their dog is a chore, that can get boring and tedious at time. Starting a club can add a sense of new, and can give your dog and yourself the social element that will have you out the door regularly, and give your dog the playtime and exercise that is essential to their health. Starting a dog walking club isn't hard to do, and will probably grow much faster that you can imagine.

The first step is to print up some fliers, or even make a group page on Facebook for people who are interested in the club, and live in the area. For best results focus on your immediate neighborhood, posting signs in the local coffee shop and on local boards. Provide a social page to follow and a phone number to organize outings. Depending on your dog, it might be a good idea to specify the type of dog personalities that will be welcome to avoid dangerous or aggressive dogs.

Don't worry about waiting to have a large group, but once you have 3 or 4 members you can begin to organize outings and take your dogs out for walks during the week, and even for extended hikes on the weekends. This a wonderful activity to do with a group as you have the safety of numbers, and your dogs will have a blast meeting new playmates and exploring together. Don't be surprised if you start losing weight and get in shape as well, as you are more motivated to get out of the house and moving.

Starting a dog walking club is a great way to turn your daily walks, and weekend excursions with your dog into a social gathering for both you and your pet. Post signs around the neighborhood on local pages and boards to find dog owners in your area who are interested in joining your club. You will be surprised as your dog walks turn into something you look forward too, rather than a chore.

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8 Pet Care Tips for Dog Owners

Being a dog owner is a real joy. It promises years of pleasure and companionship to owner and dog alike. But it is also a heavy responsibility and a long-term commitment. Below are eight tips on how to care for that "friend" to which you have made such a commitment.

1. Keep Up-to-date on Rabies and Other Vaccinations

This is vital to your dog's well-being. Rabies is still a threat to our pets. Every summer brings reports of findings of rabid bats or other wild animals. Rabies is especially prevalent if you live on acreage or in a wooded area more populated by wild animals.

Owners do have the option of getting a one year or a two year rabies shot -- or, if they are concerned about the side effects of a rabies shot another option is to get their dog a titer test, a blood test that indicates whether the animal's previous vaccine is still active or sufficiently protecting him. This prevents the owner from having to get a vaccine before it is absolutely necessary. Heart worm too is a very real threat to your dog and can be avoided by a heart worm pill taken monthly.

2. Regular Vet Check-Ups

This can be combined with your dog's vaccination appointment. A check-up will help the vet identify any problems while they are still in the early stages, whether it be a tumor or fleas.

3. Healthy Diet

This is not to be taken lightly as we hear so often about dog foods that contain melamine or are somehow contaminated. Many dog foods are not nutritionally balanced and fillers such as ground corn and other grains are added simply for volume. The primary ingredient in your dog's food should be meat.

4. Proper Training

A well-trained dog is a happy dog. He knows what is expected of him. He doesn't annoy guests with a display of bad manners or repel them by jumping on them or slobbering on them. Good obedience training also keeps him safe.

5. Socialization

It is important that your dog learn to play well with other dogs, not being the aggressor or snarling at his canine companions. The more quality time he spends with dogs, the better behaved he can be counted on being. So, go to the dog park, go to dog events, walk him in your neighborhood and let him visit with his neighbors. It will make him a confident

6. Grooming

Grooming is important to you dog's health. If he is matted or his nails need cutting, he is uncomfortable. He will be constantly chewing on himself and panting out of agitation. Also, a good groomer who grooms your dog on a regular basis is going to detect abnormalities or signs of distress or disease. If caught early such discoveries do not have to equate to a death sentence.

7. Exercise Your Dog

If he gets enough exercise he won't be an unholy, hyperactive terror. He will sleep well when it's bedtime and not be agitated and excitable. Exercise is also good for his overall health.

8. Obey the Leash Laws

They are for your dog's protection. His training will enable him to walk with you and obey your commands.

These are just a few of many tips to help you ensure that your have a happy, healthy dog and one with impeccable manners! Follow them and you will be exemplary as a dog owner.

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Dog Games - Top 5 Games That Will Tire Your Dog Out

Playing dog games with your canine pet provides your beloved with his much needed physical and mental stimulation. This also gives you the benefit of reinforcing his obedience training in a fun way as you establish a deeper relationship with him.

However, not every dog is thrilled with playing ordinary fetch all the time especially if he is very intelligent. Many dog breeders, vets, and trainers agree that the best dog games are those that provide exercise and challenge accompanied with positive reinforcement by giving the animal a reward for accomplishing what you want.

FETCH When you're dog has become tired of the basic throw-a-stick-give-it-back-to-me fetch he will refuse to play. To solve this problem, think out of the box and vary how you play the game with your dog.

Instead of using a stick, use a ball or his favorite toy then climb up the stairs. Throw the ball or toy gently then tell your dog to fetch the item.

This game is perfect for those winter or rainy days when you can't take him out of the house. Be sure though that you're dog already knows how to go up and down stairs.

BACKYARD TUNNELING Dogs love obstacle courses so this a game Fido will surely love. Not only is this a good mental exercise for him this game will also improve his agility.

You can set up tunnel in your backyard and coax your dog with his favorite treat to go through the tunnel. You can run along at the side of the tunnel or opt to wait at the other end just to convince Fido to follow you.

You can gradually add more obstacles to make it more fun. Although pre-made equipment is helpful, if you are creative enough I'm sure you can create a homemade backyard tunnel and obstacles at minimal cost.

HIDE AND SEEK This third in our list of dog games will give him a chance to put to use his scenting abilities as well as provide him with mental stimulation. You can opt to hide yourself or you can get one of his toys or a special toy just for this game and hide it at any safe place around your property.

Start easy then gradually make it more complicated for him to find hidden toys. This game is a great way to teach Fido how to find other objects as well.

FRISBEE CATCHING A modified form of the Fetch game this is a great way to teach Fido agility. Beware, this is an intensely physical game that is not recommended for old dogs.

To do this throw a Frisbee nearby until he learns that he must return the Frisbee to you. Gradually throw the thing farther and farther until he learns how to catch it.

The nice thing about this is you can opt to join Frisbee competitions with Fido if he gets really really good at this game.

SWIMMING The last in this list dog games is beneficial to his entire body not just his muscles. If you love swimming and there is someplace that you both can do this, why not swim with your dog?

Dog games not only allow you train your dog to do stuff this also helps to create a disciplined dog provided that whenever your dog does something good you use positive reinforcement and give him a reward. It's also important that you make the rules and not the other way around, one way to establish this is to stop the game while the dog is still excited and not when he is already bored.

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The Secrets To Training Any Dog

There is a secret to training any dog. In fact I have never seen a dog that could not be trained. However I have seen dog owners that never took the time to train their dog and then wonder why their pet is out of control.

OK, here is the secret... desire, consistency and 15 minutes a day. Yes it is just that simple.

Let's start off with desire. To get a trained dog you have to have a desire for a trained dog. If you don't have the desire or see a real need for a nicely trained dog then it just won't happen. Look around at family, friends and neighbors I'm sure that somebody you know has a real nicely trained dog. Are you envious? Don't be, instead simply decide that you want the same with your dog and go for it. A well trained dog can go place with you and make you proud of the fact that it is so well behaved.

Next we are going to talk about consistency. It is a must. For example you can't allow your dog to jump on you today and then tomorrow scold it when it does the same thing. Plainly stated consistency is something that you have to be vigilant about. When you are with your dog shoot for 100% good behavior. Your dog will learn that behaving and acting properly is something that is always a must.

OK the last secret is 15 minutes a day. If you will train with your dog only 15 minutes a day you can have the best trained and well mannered dog in the neighborhood. Yes, it only takes 15 minutes a day, how easy is that.

I think a lot of people feel that dog training requires hours of vigorous work but that simply is not true. Hire a local trainer to guide you through the exercises and it will even be easier plus you will be amazed at your progress. Keep in mind that every 15 minute session should have a goal. For example today we are going to make our sit-stay a little better. You are going to work on all your exercises however the one that you are really shooting for today is a longer more reliable sit-stay.

I have one more little secret to share with you that will make that dog of yours even better. Train in multiple places. Yes, when you start training you probably will start in the house. When the dog is doing well in the house then you move outside to the driveway. When that is working well you move to the park, and then at your vets office. I think you get the idea, your dog needs to perform wherever it goes so train in those places.

I hope that learning these simple secrets will make you want to get out there and have fun training the best dog in the neighborhood, your dog.

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What Is The Best Dog Training Method

Wow, if we as dog trainers knew the answer to that simple question we could all make a fortune. However there are as many ways to train a dog as there are trainers and each trainer has it's own opinion. It's is sort of like how do you raise a child. Everybody you talk to does it a little bit different.

There used to be a T shirt that you could buy that said "the only thing that two dog trainers can agree on is that the third dog trainer is wrong". That is actually the way that most dog trainers feel even today.

I really believe that as dog trainers we should constantly be striving to find the dog training method that we like the best and feel most comfortable with. If we as trainers feel comfortable with the method that we use it just seems to make things easy.

I have always felt that what ever method a trainer is using can work if the trainer knows how to make it work. When I meet trainers that are questioning their own training methods I always ask. "Is what you are doing working? If it is then great that is what you as a dog trainer want. If on the other hand it is not working then you need to find a different method.

So as dog trainers most of us have a favorite way to train that works with most dogs. However along comes that dog that does not respond to your methods? What now? A good trainer knows more than one method to train a dog and this dog requires you to use one of those other techniques.

New trainers usually don't have these different methods at their disposal, however with continued training and learning they will. They simply need time to get more experience and education.

If you are working with a trainer you should see quick results with your dog. However if you are trying to train your dog on your own training may be slower because you don't have the experience or knowledge on what will work with your particular pet.

One other thing I would really like to share with you today is that I have NEVER seen a dog that couldn't be trained. However I have seen people that just don't take the time to do the training. Remember that training only 15 minutes a day will give you a trained dog so go train your dog and have some fun.

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6 Fitness Tips For Your Senior Dog

Exercise in dogs maintains and improves muscle tone as well as burning calories to keep excess weight off. Both of these help in improving your senior dog's quality of life. Just because your dog is a little older, it doesn't mean that you stop exercising. The following are 6 exercise options for your senior dog.

Run

Even though it's quite an intense form of exercise, you need not abandon it without a good reason. Dogs love running and it provides them with calorie burning and cardiovascular benefits that keep your dog feeling young. It is however advisable to consult your vet first if it is okay to run with your senior dog. If you get your vet's approval make sure to look out for signs of fatigue in the dog such as excessive panting.

Walk

If your senior dog cannot run, then walk instead. Walking is probably the most popular form of dog exercise for a good reason. It is easy to do, low impact, and it does not require use of specialized equipment. Always ensure that you find a pace which your dog can comfortably handle.

Gravity Use

Hills will help keep your senior dog in shape. The hill's incline may be used to target the dog's back or front legs, depending on whether you are heading downhill or uphill. You may choose on which part to focus on either the front or back legs.

Swimming

This is a good, low impact exercise for dogs. It provides both development of muscles as well as cardiovascular benefits. The only limitations for swimming are actually getting places to do it I.e. a pool as well as the need to bathe the dog more frequently.

Balance Exercises

Senior dogs, just like human beings can have their balance deteriorate. This is why it is important to ensure that they get good balance exercises. The side step is a great example of a balance exercise for senior dogs. It has great benefit but is also low impact.

Range of Motion Exercises

These exercises will help your dog better move around. The reach stretch is often used as a warm up. Get your dog to sit down and having a treat in your hand, let them follow your hand moving away from them followed by side to side. To get a really good stretch, you can even move it towards their flank. The effectiveness of this exercise depends on the ability of your dog to remain seated.

Give your dog some daily exercise and it will be healthier and live longer.

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Five Important Obedience Commands All Dogs Should Know

Every well-mannered dog should know at least five basic but important dog obedience commands which are:

Down, sit, come, heel, and stay. You need to teach your pet these commands 3 to 5 sessions a day with each session lasting 10 to 15 minutes. Short but frequent sessions are preferable to long and tedious ones if you want to maintain your dog's interest.

The following is a brief outline of the basic dog training commands. You may opt for verbal praise or use treats once it has performed the desired behavior.

The Sit Command

The sit command is a stationary position whereby it has all its four paws on the ground. To train the sit command, hold a bite-sized dog treat and then move it from your dog's nose in the direction of its head. Praise your pet or click if you are using the clicker once the rear of your dog touches the ground and immediately give the treat.

The Down Command

The down command is yet another stationary position whereby it is lying down on the ground. To train the down command, ask your dog to sit and then taking a treat close to your dog's nose. Just like drawing an imaginary letter "L", move downward the treat from the nose to between your dog's front paws. Draw the treat outwards then click or praise as soon as the dog's elbows touch the ground and the dog is lying down. Once it is down, deliver the treat immediately.

The Stay Command

The stay command is a stationary position where it will stay frozen until released. To train the stay command, ask your dog to sit or lay down. Count two seconds then click or praise to reward the dog for staying in position and deliver a treat immediately while the dog is still in position. Afterward, release your dog from the position by using the release command.

The Come Command

To train the come command, step a few feet away from your dog. Then, call out the name of your dog followed by the signal 'come' as you are walking backwards quickly. Click or praise once the dog starts to come your way. Give the treat immediately the dog catches up with you.

The Heel Command

The heel command is where your pet walks next to you with it's shoulder in line with your left knee. To train the heel command your pet must be on leash. Start by making a step using your left leg first then walking while encouraging the dog to follow. Once it is right next to you, with the dog's shoulder lining up with your left knee, praise or click the dog then deliver a treat.

In conclusion, those are the five most basic and most important dog obedience commands. It is good that you keep repeating the procedures because it is only in repetition that the dog will come to understand these commands. Once the dog has learned all the commands it will not only benefit you but your dog as well.

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Best Puppy Training Tips

Adults who want to have the best trained dog in the whole wide world will need to follow the best puppy training tips that I am going to share with you in this article. Just like raising a child, all you need to possess in order to train your puppy is time, love and caring, a lot of patience, and provide a great deal of dedication on your part. Right now, I am going to share with you 5 training tips on how to train your puppy successfully.

1. As human beings, we get confused very easily when too many people talk to us at the same time. The same can be said about training your puppy. If there are too many masters trying to train a puppy at the same time, the pup's progress will stop. Find someone who will train the puppy, one on one, so that the pup can learn the new commands from one individual.

2. When you are using positive reinforcement to train your dog for good behavior, remember that you have to use constant repetition so that your pup will know that what they are doing is good. Never get after your dog for negative behavior; applying negative reinforcement will be detrimental to your pup's training process.

3. When we learn a new language, we have to start at the very basics; learn one step at a time. With dogs and puppies, you have to teach one command at a time. Once they have mastered that command, then you can teach your dog or pup another one.

4. Always have a cheerful voice when you are training your dog or pup. For you parents, think of how your children will respond if you are trying to tell them something in a loud or angry voice. They will become frightened; the same can be said for a pup. If you are trying to train in a loud voice, all the pup will do is shrink and hide.

5. Let your dog explore. This is a very valuable training tip that I can give you. Take your dog or pup on a walk, let them explore new things. This is also a great time to do some additional training for your dog or pup. During the summer, after work, I would go on my evening runs, my dog, who is an Australian Shepard would run along side me, sometimes, she would wander off, all I would have to do is call her name and pat the side of my hip and she come running right beside me. The training process was a pain in the neck, but over time and having lots of patience, she finally obeyed.

The training process will be long and sometimes it can lead to frustration, but if you follow the best puppy training tips that I have provided in this article, in the end, it will be worth it. You will have the best dog in the whole neighborhood and you will someday say to yourself, "truly, a dog is a man's or woman's best friend!"

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Dog Training Secrets - How to Become the Alpha Dog

Stop your dog's behavior problems by learning the secrets to dog training. You need to learn how to become the alpha dog in your home. If you don't, you may have a problem with training your dog.

Dogs are pack animals and they have retained the instinct and concept of having a pack leader. You will be the pack leader in your home if you learn the following steps that I have outlined in this article.

You will need to elect yourself as the alpha dog right from the beginning of your relationship. You'll also need to enforce this position throughout your relationship.

Your household members will need to be aware of the enforcing of this position. If the members of your household do not assert your position as being superior to your dog, then the dog will try to insert his place in the ranking system. This is natural because of their pack instincts. The problem is... you can't let this happen!

A dog will get confused if one person gives leeway to do things and not by another person of the household. He won't know the appropriate response.

See his world through his eyes. He's looking to the alpha dog for domination.

Follow these tips and you'll find success at being in charge.

1) Adolescent Dog

An adolescence dog, from 6 months to 14 months of age will try to raise their position in the hierarchy. You'll need to be extra alert during this time to prevent his hormonally changed behavior from becoming a permanent problem.

2) Sleeping Dogs Need to Move

Don't go out of your way to disturb your sleeping dog. But if he's sleeping on the floor, a doorway or walkway, they you can have him move so that you can pass. You want to keep your alpha position. This will reinforce your position.

3) Moving Ahead of Your Dog

You should never allow your dog to go through a doorway first. The alpha dog has the right of way and you'll need to use that right of way at all times. Make him sit or wait while you walk through first. In the wild, the alpha dog leads the way and everyone in the pack follows.

4) Alphas Eat First

Ensure that your dog eats after all of the family members have eaten. Then, you can feed him. Again, this reinforces the wild pack leader where the alpha dog eats first before the other dogs further down the chain.

5) Treats

Don't feed your dog treats of food without him earning the privilege. If you do feed him scraps from the table it will encourage poor behavior. A dog will pester people while they are at the dinner table and it can become a difficult habit to break.

If you're using treats as a training aid you will devalue food in your dog's eyes if you give him treats at any other time. If you keep treats for training purposes only, then you'll get a good response out of your buddy.

6) I'm Home

When you arrive home, don't greet your dog right away. Make your dog go to his basket, bed or into another room. This will keep you in the alpha dog position. Greet all the humans in the household; put your groceries away or whatever you need to do then call your friend to you. I find this personally difficult to enforce myself because we both are so happy to see each other.

7) I Want to Go Outside

The exception to this tip is if you are house training your puppy or dog. Otherwise, if he wants to go outside make him wait or even have him go to his bed or basket for a few minutes before taking him outside.

8) Obedience

If your dog does not obey any command you give him within two to three seconds, then he's either ignoring you and your alpha dog position is under threat or he does not understand the command --- he'll need further training.

9) Be Physical

You may need to correct inappropriate behavior and send a strong message that the behavior is inappropriate and establish yourself as the alpha dog.

Give a "sit" command, be calm, and put your hand around the dog's snout. Do not squeeze it. Hold it firmly so it cannot squirm away. Make eye contact and tell your him in a stern voice... "bad dog". Apply only as much pressure as necessary for the him to be still. Send him away to another room, his bed or crate and ignore your friend for 15 minutes.

Dogs use their mouths to express themselves and to protect themselves. When you, the alpha dog, take control of their mouth, they are vulnerable. You are forcing them to submit to you.

Sometimes... "it's easier said than done." But, when you learn you'll be asserting yourself as the Alpha dog. I personally know how difficult it is to be alert and consistent when it comes to noticing your his bad behavior. It's important that you deal with the situation while he is misbehaving. Don't let your dog go back to their bad behaviors.

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Why It Is So Easy to Love a Dog

When we see a baby most grown people will turn into morons goo gooing and making impossibly ugly faces over the nearly terrified child. We move in close to the child's face, take impossible liberties touching and caressing the face, hands and feet of the child and then declare how tiny everything about them is.

They are adorable. We are seized by human survival when we see them.

When we see a baby we are reduced to idiots by nature. The baby's movements of hands, feet and face cause a very powerful hormone to be released in our bodies: oxytocin.

Oxytocin is the hormone that recruits our cooperation with the infants of our species. What triggers the release of oxytocin that causes us to want to touch, accept and defend a baby?

The movements of the baby. Those jerky, subtle movements of arms, legs and face that combine to reduce a grown adult to babbling fool. And Oxytocin works every time.

Nature has provided this to protect the totally vulnerable young. Even if someone meant to harm a baby, oxytocin makes it very difficult to think of such things by flooding our bodies with this recruitment to cooperation hormone. Even thinking of harming a baby seems hard to contemplate: oxytocin in your blood right now.

Dogs, once untamed hunters in the wild, found that sort of life a bit on the shaky side. But they did notice that in cooperation with humans, food would always be more available. Not to mention the care of their young and the scratching where no one had ever scratched before. But the humans were afraid of the wild dogs.

So the dogs of eons past learned from the humans. They noticed that if the humans found a litter of their offspring, the movements of the baby wild dogs caused the humans to not only not fear them but pick them up and take care of them.

At some faraway, nearly forgotten council of the wild dogs, the chief dog must have ordered an investigation into this matter of human acceptance of the little, wiggling and randomly licking infants.

The report came back to the chief. To gain human acceptance and love, the dogs would have to adopt the behaviors of the puppies and never forget to turn on those behaviors if the humans showed any signs of turning off the cooperation button.

The psychological report, not recently found in ancient dogglyphs, recommended that wild dogs, now tired of the hunting and getting trapped lifestyle, should learn to turn on the charm with humans in exchange for their cooperation.

Here are the ten actions the dogs have learned that make us love them (complete with notations and directions from the dog council):

1. Always wiggle with abandon when the human arrives into the human places.

This wiggling, like the wiggle of a baby, triggers the release of oxytocin. We cannot help it. When we return home and our dog wiggles and randomly squiggles in unrepentant joy, we want to return the love. We feel guilty if we don't.

2. If the human looks annoyed for any reason, begin rolling with abandon and making yipping noises.

This is another oxytocin trigger that works like a charm. Garbage dug into again? Go wiggle on the floor and roll around or...

3. Look hurt with saggy eyes and do not resist punishment.

This submissive behavior releases tons of oxytocin causing your human to regret ever punishing you. They will move the garbage can before they will punish you again.

4. Bring toys to them and step back and seem eager.

Humans cannot resist the oxytocin "cuteness" of a child handing them a toy and then eagerly expecting to play with it. Impossible. Even if the human doesn't want to play just then, they will apologize and you can try again later. The real strategy here is not to play - the strategy is to make the human feel sad they are not going to play. This will cause them to feel they owe you and give you treats later.

5. Run off and then come back

Humans fear desertion. Any chance you get, run away outside and then run back to the human like you have been scouting ahead for danger. This behavior releases so much oxytocin that the human nearly bursts from joy knowing you love them. You are not just "there" because you have to be. You are there because you love them!

Of course, you know you are there for food, warmth and an easy life, but the humans must never suspect this.

6. Make your human look good in front of other humans

Obey instantly. Sit. Stay. Perform whatever silly trick they think they have taught you. How you act in front of the human friends will cause not only your human to feel delighted but will encourag the other humans to give a dog an easy life if they have the hopes of getting one like you. You serve the dog community when you are so "good" when company comes over.

Never make the mistake of treating other humans with the same love, devotion and oxytocin releasing behaviors with which you lavish your human. This will win you no ponts. Your human wants to reserve the secret love relationship when no one is looking. When people are looking, be a champ of obedience!

7. Be friendly to all human children but standoffish to all human adults

This rule will win you points with all humans. Love the children and forget you could eat them with one swallow. Lick them, sniff them and play with them. Let them ride you and pull your ears until you yelp. When you yelp it is the human child who will pay the price while you get extra attention.

Your yelp will release oxytocin in all the adults and the child who pulled your ear so use it with gusto! Yelp!

With adults, keep your distance. Act like you are studying them. Do not run to them or be anxious to be petted by them unless you are in the dog jail and you need a human to escape. If that is true, then forget this rule and turn on the oxytocin charm.

8. Always try to help when humans have emotions

Don't get lazy and lose your ability to sense emotions in humans. When they are sad, try to nuzzle them like you would a sad or sick real dog baby. Roll on them and try to comfort them. Act like you "know" they need you but you don't know what to say. Just let them know you know.

Your efforts are the same as a human child saying, "Mommy, did you get an owie?" The oxytocin flows like magic and you come out the winner.

9. Act sad when the human leaves

Unless you make the mistake of getting attached to your human, you will never be sad when they leave. You may want to go fast in those noisy boxes they roll around in, but the freedom of being the lone wolf in the house is in our nature. Nevertheless, act sad. Only cats are dumb enough to act disinterested. That is why we hate cats.

Stop at the door and droop your eyes and back as if you are begging to go. The human will try to explain to you why you cannot go. Look like you don't understand. Usually the human will feel like they are deserting you and a treat will arrive with them when you roll around with glee when they return.

Enjoy your day of freedom.

10. Use your hearing to be the potential hero

Humans cannot hear. They are all deaf compared to us. Use this advantage. They will not hear the clumping of the stranger going down the street outside the den, but we do. Bark like mad and run to the door as if you were protecting the pack. Really let it rip.

The human will peek out and see (if they really can see) the stranger and know that you are the true guardian of the house. This gives them a sense of safety and security that will hasten your forever place in the human space and all the free food and water and warmth a dog could want.

--These reasons and much more are why we love dogs. We cannot help but love dogs. They have figured out that to be our best friends they had to use our hormones against us, but, then again, it seems to have worked out for everybody.

Never let the humans know you really like "visiting dogs." Any dog with class will know you will have to give the humans a fright by doing the "will they fight" dance. It is entertainment to them. First things first. Otherwise, both sets of humans will feel you are far too fickle.

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