Handy Training Tips for Dogs

Handy Training Tips for Dogs
Despite what it seems to be from a distance, dog training doesn’t need you to be a fearless Hercules, all it asks of you is to keep a few basics in mind. First, establish who the boss is, remind your dog again and again that you are the one on two feet while he is still on all fours, and thus what you say is Gospel and what he barks is not.


Training a dog can be done relatively easily, despite what some people believe. You simply have to keep a few training tips in mind. You must teach the dog that you are in charge, and not him. You must also use a tone that exudes superiority and confidence. Lastly, you absolutely must be consistent in your training methods. Learn to master these three tips and your dog will learn whatever you want to teach him. You’re in charge. Even when you see your dog’s adorable face, you must keep in mind that you are the one giving commands and your dog must obey your commands. If you’re too soft with your dog and let him be in charge, your rug, shoes and many other belongings will likely suffer. That’s not mentioning the other people who will be affected by your dog’s lack of good manners. Set boundaries and let your dog know what is and isn’t appropriate. Use appropriate tone of voice and gestures like pointing. Be strict. You know the expression "give an inch and take a mile"? That’s exactly what will happen to your dog if you are not consistently strict. Dogs can sense if you are being strict by your tone of voice. Be strict and use appropriate tone when you order him to stay in the yard. If you want to go out for a walk, you don’t have to use the same tone. Be enthusiastic instead. If your dog starts running away, be strict again and he’ll understand who’s in charge. Be consistent. You must maintain a certain consistency in intonations, gestures and words when dealing with your dog, otherwise, the dog will get confused. Always use the same commands and always act the same way when he does something that is unacceptable. By being consistent, your dog will become better trained, which will improve your confidence in your training skills. The more confident you are, the better trained your dog will be! You can also establish consistency in your actions by always using the same door to take the dog out or by always using the same nighttime routine. By being in charge, strict and consistent, you can better train your dog and better predict his behavior. Don’t forget to show your love and affection for your dog as well! Treat your training sessions as games and reward him for his good actions. Daniel Waser is a dog lover since his childhood. He has a lot of experiences with dogs. Visit his website for more information about Dog Health Problems or get his latest Dog Training Tips.
By Daniel Waser

The World's Smallest Dog - the Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is the world's smallest dog

and it has been an extremely popular dog breed in the United States and around the world. This long-lived breed has a life expectancy well into the mid-teens. Chihuahuas or Chis have grown in popularity over the past several decades from an American Kennel Club (AKC) registration ranking of 16th in the early 90's to 10th in 2004 and 11th in 2005. The Taco Bell Chihuahua promotion introduced in 1997 fueled some of the popularity growth. The tiny Chihuahua can weigh from 2 to 6 pounds and can have a smooth coat or a long coat with feathered ears, neck, feet, legs and tail. Chis are adorable dogs with big eyes and ears but aren't a dog for everyone. If you have young children or other pets then the Chihuahua isn't a good fit for your situation. Chis are much too small to be safe around young children or toddlers and while they enjoy being around other Chihuahuas, they dislike all other breeds. Chihuahuas are the ultimate apartment dog and do really well with a single individual or elderly couple that likes to pamper these small toy dogs. Chis are completely devoted to their owners and love to be with them all the time. The tiny Chihuahua is graceful, lively, curious, intelligent, loyal and affectionate but has some terrier-like qualities. Chis are fearless, saucy, mischievous and bold and make good watchdogs. Additional information can be found in the Chihuahua dog breed article.

The Chihuahua is considered to be one of the few dog breeds indigenous or native to North America. Much of the Chis history is somewhat speculative but most experts think the breed descended from the Techichi. The Techichi was a small canine that existed in Mayan times around the 5th century AD. They think the Olmecs of Central America developed the Techichi breed. The Toltecs who succeeded the Olmecs in the 9th century AD carved small dogs with erect ears resembling plump Chihuahuas. These Techichis may have been raised as pets but they were definitely used as a food source for the nobility on special occasions. After the Aztecs conquered the Toltecs, they used the Techichi in religious ceremonies as food sources and sacrifices. The Aztecs also regularly burned these dogs along with the deceased in the belief that the sins of the humans would be transferred to the dogs and the dog would help guide the soul between this world and the next. Techichi remains have been found buried with human remains all across Mexico. When the Spanish conquered and destroyed the Aztec civilization from 1519 to 1521, they may have introduced a small terrier breed that was crossed with the Techichi. Some breed historians think that the Chihuahua is actually of European descent and originated in Malta. They offer as proof a 1482 painting by Botticelli which depicts a Chihuahua-like dog. They theorize that the Spanish conquerors brought these small dogs with them to the Americas. A third theory is that the Chinese, who were adept at developing miniature dogs, developed a Chihuahua-like breed which Spanish traders introduced into Mexico. Whatever theory is correct, the resulting breeds were left to survive in the mountains of Mexico - maybe with help from the local population. Nothing much was heard from these small dogs for about 300 years until 1850 when several small dogs - some long haired, some short haired and some larger hairless were discovered in the Mexican border state of Chihuahua. The smooth coat and long coat varieties were eventually called Chihuahuas after the state in which they were found and the larger hairless variety was called the Mexican Hairless. The Chihuahua breed was first registered by the AKC in 1904 and it was relatively rare. The national Chihuahua breed club was formed in 1923 and the breed received wide exposure when Xavier Cugat, the rumba king, appeared with his Chihuahuas in performances and movies during the 1930's and 40's. The Chis' popularity peaked in 1964 when it was the 3rd most popular dog breed in the US. The breed's popularity resulted in unscrupulous breeders and dealers introducing a number of health and temperament problems into the bloodlines. Genetic problems ranged from patellar luxation (slipped kneecap), heart disease (pulmonic stenosis), hypoglycemia, and tracheal collapse to poor temperament. Recent breeding practices are resulting in much healthier and more amiable amigos. However any prospective buyer should check to make sure that the puppy's breeding parents have been certified free of orthopedic and other genetic diseases. Anne Kirrin writes articles about small dog breeds' health, training and grooming issues and she is an editor for the popular Small Dog Breeds web site.

By mike mathewsPublished: 9/20/2006

Healthy Homemade Dogs Treats

By serving your dog with healthy homemade dog treats

you are giving them a treat they will definitely enjoy having. If you can learn to make your own healthy homemade dog treats, you can control the ingredients they contain. This is especially important if you have a dog that has a special diet or is allergic to the common ingredients that are in normal, store bought treats. For dogs on a diet, you can provide them with treats designed to fit in their daily calorie intake.

There are some finicky dogs out there who only have a taste for certain foods and will refuse to eat anything else making it hard for owners to find any treats to please them. With healthy homemade dog treats, you will be able to remove the artificial ingredients such as colors, additives, fillers, and byproducts that are bad for your dog. Animals need a pure alternative to the left over ingredients used in their food and homemade healthy dog treats give them just that. The store brand treats are created from preservatives the manufacturer adds to keep these treats on the shelves longer and to prevent spoilage. Healthy homemade dog treats will not have any of this mess in them that might cause your dog to be sick. Only the most natural and highest quality ingredients go into your special pooches treats. You can add fresh vegetables, fresh meats, and other soft, clean ingredients instead of offering them dry, stale, biscuits out of a box that has been on the shelf for months or years before you buy it. When you are baking your own healthy homemade dog treats, you can be flexible in the ingredients you choose to add. Many different combinations can be used to create different special flavors they like. Dogs love flavors like cheesy garlic, chicken, peanut butter, and beef. There are also recipes available that will allow you to make healthy homemade dog treats that taste like chocolate but, in reality, have no chocolate in them. Chocolate, of course, is a bad thing to feed your dogs and cats because it contains ingredients that could make them very sick. So next time don’t complain that your dog is not healthy, serve her best healthy homemade dog treat. You might not be knowing that most of the dog diseases are due to bad dog food. Prepare the best healthy dog food recipe for your dog. Dog Food Secrets is a guide that explains the healthy homemade dog food recipes with pictures. Check out Dog Food Secrets Review and don't let your dog die young.
By Abhinav Sidana

Top rated dog food

Top rated dog foodProper diet is the most important factor in dogs care. Homemade dog food is considered as best quality dog food. For some other reason commercial food is gaining popularity. But we should not compromise with dogs’ health.

Most of the dog owners have a common question in their mind. What is the best quality dog food? Every dog owners are tried to ensure best possible care to their dog. Many commercial foods are available in the market. But almost everyone suggest homemade food is better for dog’s perfect growth. So owners need to be knowledgeable about dog’s diet. Two categories of dog foods are very much popular: Raw dog food and dry dog food. Many experts believe raw dog food is the best choice for selecting dog’s diet. Raw dog food provides the necessary energy in dog’s health and help in their proper growth. The ingredients in raw dog food are natural and uncompressed. A proper raw dog food is a mixture of meat, fiber and starch. Dogs love meats. Sometime owners give too much meat to their dogs. But they should keep in mind that vegetables are also very much essential for their perfect growth and prevent from diseases. So while preparing food mix some sort of vegetable along with the meats. Carrots, broccoli, yams are good source of fibers. Feeding dry food to the dogs is most common and popular choice among the dog owners today. Most of the people at metro cities live a fast pace life today. Dry dog food is more convenient for them. But it’s important to realize not all commercial food contain high quality natural ingredients. So if you decide to feed dry dog food to pets, you have to be very careful. Check the ingredients in the food by reading the label. Make sure there is no preservative or artificial color in the food. These things may be harmful for dogs in the future. Proper diet is the most important factor in dogs care. Homemade dog food is considered as best quality dog food. For some other reason commercial food is gaining popularity. But we should not compromise with dogs’ health. You might not be knowing that most of the dog diseases are due to bad dog food. Prepare the best healthy dog food recipe for your dog. Dog Food Secrets is a guide that explains the healthy homemade dog food recipes with pictures.

By Abhinav Sidana

Dog Halloween Costumes - Dressing Up Your Pooch For The Spooky Occasion

• Halloween is a fun time of year for children of all ages-and all species.

For those of you who are pet lovers you might already know that you can find creative cat and dog Halloween costumes to make the holiday even more special for you and your furry friend. If this is something that you are interested in there are a few different options that you can look into to learn more about the topic. The first suggestion would be to search online to get an idea of what you would like to dress your pet up as. You can also go to the larger pet stores to see what they might have to offer you for information on the subject.
Once you know what type of creative costume your want for your pet you will need to decide what you will use for accessories. If you are planning on having your cat be a dog for Halloween you might want to have him wear bones made out of paper around his neck. Just something simple and cute like that would work. Why not have your pet's costume match the theme as your children's? Your little girl could be Bo Peep while your black lab could be her lost sheep. Looking for an idea that is a little more complicated? Have your son be Elliot and your rat terrier can be E.T. the alien. The most fun part about Halloween is that you get to let your imagination and creativity run wile.

If you are planning on taking your old pooch "trick-or-treating" with the family you will want to take this into consideration, does the costume work well with a collar and leash? You wouldn't want something tragic to happen to your beloved friend on such a joyous evening. In the even that you might be out past dark you should put reflective tape on the collar and leash of your pets. You could also purchase these accessories that are made for doing such activities in the dark. Also, make sure the costume fits properly. Too small of a costume could be hazardous to your pet because it might not allow your pet to move as easily. If danger where to head your way your pet might not be able to get out of the way in time due to the restrictions. Always be sure to never leave your pet unattended while in a costume. An animal can easily become tangled up while wearing a costume and this could lead to serious injuries or even death.
You can shop for your cat or dog Halloween costume at most pet stores. Online is another option for shopping. Many pet suppliers have catalogues that you can have shipped right to your door to look through. You will be able to mail in an order or even make a purchase online. Making your own costume is another possibility. You can find free patterns or patterns for a relatively low cost online or at fabric stores. Whichever method you decide to use to allow your pet to join in on the fun is up to you. Just be sure to have the perfect fit for the safety of your pet. Don't forget to give your pet a couple treats, too.

Ten Steps for Grooming a Dog by Debbie J Gretsch

Grooming a dog is something that every dog owner has to do.

Dogs get dirty just like every one else and they have to be cleaned and kept healthy.

Grooming a dog is hard work. You have to do so many things and make sure that you do them right. Here are some easy ways to groom your dog and ten steps for doing it. First step, put your dog on a leash. Chances are your dog will want to get away, so put him on a different leash. While you are changing his leash, put him in a collar that won't bleed and that is good when it gets wet. You should not put him in his normal collar because if that gets wet and you leave it on him, it will cause sore spots. Second step, brush your dog's teeth. Use a special toothbrush and toothpaste for dogs. They can't use normal toothpaste because it can be dangerous to them. Third step, clean your dog's eyes. Dog's get gunk in their eyes, especially the older they get. Get rid of anything on the sides of your dog's eyes. Use a cleaning solution that you buy at a pet store if you need something besides soap and water. Fourth step, clean your dog's ears. Dog's get wax build ups in their ears just like humans do. Don't use a q-tip but use cotton swabs. A q-tip may go in too far and harm your dog. Use a special cleaning solution that you again get at the pet store. You need to buy the cleaning solutions to help your dog and really clean them. Fifth step, cut your dog's nails. Dog nails grow fast just like human nails do. You don't want to end up with a dog that has an infection in their nails. Cut just a little bit off. Never cut into the pink part of the nail. Just like your nails, that will hurt a lot. Sixth step, brush your dog's hair. Get out any knots by starting at the bottom and slowly going to the top. Use a thicker comb and then go over it again with a finer comb to get out any smaller knots the first one missed. Seventh step, use a rake to get out any really hard knots and go over your dogs hair with it. You want to get out any loose hair or any dirt that is in your dog's coat. Eighth step, trim your dog's hair. You should probably get him wet and then start cutting. You don't want to try and cut it when his hair is dry and harder to manage. Make sure you only cut off small lengths. Brush your dog's hair again. Ninth step, give your dog a bath. Use only dog shampoo as human shampoo could really hurt him. Be gentle around his eyes and genitals because they are very sensitive to the shampoo. Tenth step, give your dog a treat. He deserves it after a hard day of being groomed and made to do things he probably didn't want to do.