My Dumb Dog

There’s a difference between disobedience and incomprehension. If your dog isn’t obeying a command because he doesn’t understand what it is you want him to do, that’s not a behavioral problem at all; it simply means that you need to spend some more time together in training. True disobedience occurs when your dog deliberately does not obey a request or command, although he has full knowledge of what it is that you’re asking him to do (and you know this because he’s performed it reliably on several occasions beforehand). Although this may seem like a relatively minor inconvenience, it’s actually a pretty serious thing – not only can it be dangerous for your dog (for example, if he’s heading towards a busy road and ignores your ‘come’ command), but it’s also detrimental to your relationship with your dog.

Disobedience is rooted in disrespect. When your dog deliberately does not obey you, he’s saying, “I don’t respect your authority enough to do what you want me to do”. If you allow him to get away with this, you are allowing him to form the habit of passive-aggression. This is not something that can just be left to “fix itself” – the problem will worsen, not get better, if you leave it. It’s very important that your dog recognizes that you outrank him in the social hierarchy of the household. The concept of alpha status is one that you need to be familiar with in order to maintain a healthy, functional relationship with your dog. It may sound cruel from a human perspective, but your dog is happier when he knows that someone else is in charge of making all the decisions – including his day-to-day behavior and obedience levels.

It is not possible to have a good owner/dog relationship if he does not understand that you are the clear-cut authority figure: he must know that he’s beneath you in the chain of command. Your first step in dealing with generalized disobedience is to reestablish your dominance.

Here are some tips on doing so:

- When leaving the house and the car, you must always leave before your dog. This is unmistakable alpha behavior: to a dog, only the alpha leaves first. If you allow him to exit the house or the car ahead of you, you are saying to him, “You’re stronger than me; you should go first because you’re the decision-maker”. Inside doors aren’t so important, but every time you leave the house or the car to go outside, you must make him wait for you to go first, until you release him from the ‘wait’ with a release-word.

- Make him wait for his food. Your family and you must always eat before him – if it means he has to wait an extra half hour or so for his meal, it won’t hurt him any. When you put his food down for him, make him sit and wait until you release him to eat. Keep his feeding schedule varied, so he’s always aware that you’re in charge of his food – don’t allow him to form expectations of when he should be fed.

- Don’t allow him free, uninhibited access to the whole house. The house is your den: you’re allowing him to be inside. Remind him that you’re allowing him into your den – it’s a privilege for him to be there, not a right - by sometimes allowing him inside, and sometimes sending him outside for half an hour or so. Keep certain areas of the house strictly for your own, as well (such as your bed, certain pieces of furniture, or some rooms).

- Never allow your dog to initiate play. If he’s nudging you for attention or to start a game, you may think that it’s cute and affectionate; but what he’s really saying is, “I’m the boss and I’m telling you to play with me right now.” If he starts bothering you for attention, ignore him for a few moments: get up and do something else. Wait until he’s given up before initiating the play yourself. Playtime is a fantastic way to bond with your dog, but it should be done on your terms, not his.

- When you arrive home, don’t rush straight over to him and shower him in affection. That is not alpha behavior at all – an alpha dog, upon arriving home, doesn’t go over to the other dogs and throw himself at them, saying, “Here I am! I missed you guys! Let’s have a cuddle!” – he ignores everyone else, relaxes for a short while, maybe has something to eat, and only interacts with them when he’s good and ready. Even though you’re probably good and ready to interact with your dog as soon as you get home, it will make more sense to him – and underscore your authority – if you ignore him for just three to five minutes upon arriving home. Another fantastic way of counteracting disobedience is to start – and maintain – a basic obedience training plan. You don’t have to do anything fancy or super-demanding; just ten minutes a day of learning and enforcing commands. This can drop to five minutes a day once your dog is completely reliable with the commands.

Here are some tips for a good training program:

- Never give a command that you cannot reinforce immediately if he chooses to disobey you. Every time your dog takes the opportunity to ignore your command, he’s learning that it’s both easier and a lot more fun to ignore you. For example, if you call across the park for him to ‘come’ as he’s playing with some other dogs, the choices are clear-cut to him: he could cut his play-time short and come to you, or he could ignore you – which is easy, since you’re so far away – and continue to have fun. Until your dog is completely reliable with commands, he should be on a long line or retractable lead so that you can enforce them if necessary.

- Remember to use your voice to the best effect. Praise should be in a light, cheery, happy tone of voice; if possible, smile at the same time. It makes a difference to your tone of voice, and most dogs will study your face to make sense of your expressions, too. Corrections should be uttered in a stern, brook-no-nonsense tone: you don’t need to shout, but your voice should be low and authoritative.

- When you’re verbally interrupting your dog, it’s more effective to shout, “OI!” or “Ah-ah-ah!” rather than saying, “No”. The sounds are more clear-cut, and you’ll get a better response. - Do not repeat a command. Remember, you should be training on a leash or a long line: if he ignores you, he gets a short, sharp tug (some call it a ‘flick’) on the lead to remind him that you’re present, and you’re in charge. Repeating yourself teaches him to wait for the command to be repeated at least once before he obeys you.

- Five to fifteen minutes per day is an adequate amount of time for training. Any more than this in one sitting, and your dog’s concentration will likely lapse: fifteen minutes of intense training, where your dog is concentrating hard on what you want, is enough to send even the most energetic dogs to their beds for a snooze afterwards. You might be interested in checking out a Dog Teaching site for advice on Dog Behavior Problems and dog training.

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What do you need to successfully train your dog? Other than Tritronics shock collars and SportDOG training collars, one of the hunting dog supplies you’ll need is the dog training bumper. The ideal one for training your retriever is one that is made to last for repetitive use, and flexible, soft plastic.

Hallmark Dog Training Bumpers

Dog training bumpers come in a variety of styles and sizes to meet the needs of anyone training a retriever. Hallmark makes a variety of superb quality training bumpers including those made of plastic or foam. When selecting your bumpers you have an option of solid plastic, canvas covered or feather holding. Each offers a durable, realistic feeling, non toxic way to help you train your dog on retrieval. One of the added features of these bumpers is your ability to hold the scent of a duck – this can make training your dog that much easier.

No matter what kind of dog training bumpers you choose, you should look at each one for the following benefits:

A) Superb construction
B) Durable materials
C) Safe, non-toxic materials

Ideally if you are training a puppy you might want to consider using plastic training bumpers. The advantage of these is that they are less expensive than some models and offer a variety of bright colors – this makes them easier for your dog (and you) to identify them when you are training your hunting dog in the field.

Dog training dummies

Training dummies that float are also very useful and popular training tools. Using foam-bodied dummies with your training can better simulate retrieving in the field and better prepare your dog for the job. Remember that “bumpers” and “dummies” are interchangeable names that apply to both types of training tool, whether it’s land or water-based. They’ll both help you train your dog to hunt and retrieve fowl for you.

How to use dog training bumpers and dog training dummies

You’ll find it advantageous to use training dummies or bumpers that can be used in conjunction with scents. A common scent is that of a duck, and are available in virtually any hunting dog supply store. Injecting duck scent into dog training dummies and bumpers offers another training tool so that you can have a well-trained hunting dog.

For a puppy your baby is a toy like thing that is hogging all the attention that belongs to him. This can sometimes create some difficult situations. For the dog his home is his territory and he feels that the new arrival is encroaching on his territory so he feels threatened by the baby. Since the baby will receive a lot of attention from you the pup also gets jealous of the baby. There are no sure fire remedies to deal with this situation. However, there are some tips which are useful such as-

The biggest challenge for your puppy is to deal with all the attention that the new baby gets. With a new baby around sometimes you inevitably ignore the puppy and he will have to learn to accept this. You can help your dog through this transition by introducing certain gradual changes

If you start ignoring your dog suddenly upon the arrival of the baby it becomes very difficult for your dog to adjust, so it is important to get him used to it slowly. You can do this by ignoring him everyday for sometime usually an hour should suffice. You don’t need to sit in one place. Go ahead with your regular chores like watching TV or doing your laundry just don’t talk to or look at your dog. You will want to view these dog apparel and dog supplies for your puppy.

Once the baby arrives it will be normal to have baby toys lying all over the place. Your dog will find it hard to resist these toys and may get into a tug of war with the baby over the toy. He may also try to rip or eat these toys. It is important to stop your dog from doing so. The best way to do this is to not keep these toys in dogs reach. But this is not always possible. So train your dog before the baby arrives to stay away from the toys and baby products. You will also want to take a look at these clothes for male dogs for your doggie.

A good practice session for your dog should involve a couple of baby toys thrown along with his toys in front of him. Since the baby toys look different and new the dog will definitely reach for them and when he tries to do so stop him with a firm “no” and divert his attention to his own toys. You can also lace the toys with mouthwash or sprays available in the market that stop furniture chewing. These sprays and the mouth wash produce an uncomfortable odor and taste for the dog. Soon the dog will start associating the command with the odor and taste and stay away from them.

Your baby and your dog will eventually become best friends but you will have to help this friendship to start. For your puppy the new baby is a strange being that makes peculiar sounds. The baby may feel that a dog is a big ball of fur to be grabbed and tugged at. The different perspectives may create a slight situation because of the baby tugs or pulls at your pup it will startle him and he may not react favorably. So to get him used to the tugging and pulling start by quickly pulling his ears when you pet him or by tugging at his coat when you are petting him. You can also add some baby sounds for effect. The whole point of this exercise is to get your dog habituated to the new sounds and actions that he may encounter with the new baby around.

It really is quite simple to litter box train a dog. Dog owners never like to do the potty training days. When it comes to litter box training, it can be easy to do with the right system. There are a few things to know before training your dog. Always consider the previous training level and habits of your dog. Remember that trainability varies greatly by a dogs breed. Some breeds can be a snap to train when others are not as compliant and a bit more difficult to train. Some dogs will take a little more discipline but they can be trainable.

Lets talk about litter box training dogs with the system itself. The Ugodog dog litter box is constructed of durable material that is capable of handling a respectable amount of weight. What sets this potty apart from other potty systems is that its grates are uniquely designed to be kind to sensitive doggy paws. The way the grates are made is specific as to not cut into the bottom of the paw pads. Also, the openings are tiny enough so that even the tiniest dogs will not get their paws trapped. The grates also are two separate pieces to allow for easier clean up. This system is a green product, sturdy, inexpensive and no replacement parts needed! The best reasons why this is a great pet potty pick.

Age always needs to be considered when trying to potty train your dog. That said, even older dogs can be trained to use dog litter boxes. You do not need expensive supplies for this system to work. You can use pee pads underneath the grates but this is costly and not very environmentally friendly. Newspaper works just as well. Once the dog is trained to use the system, you do not even need newspaper. At your convenience, you can flush the pee down the toilet in the evening and through out the poo that sits on top the grate.

Training tips as easy as 1-2-3:

1) Place the dog litter box in a spot where your pooch is use to going on pee pads or if they are use to going outside, place it where you would like.
2) Place a paper towel that you have soaked in your dogs urine beneath the grates.
3) The moment your pup needs to use the bathroom take them to the litter box and they will recognize their own scent and start using the potty very quickly!

Do not use negative reinforcement with your dog when training them. Use the same words repeatedly that you use to command them to go potty. Do not be discourage if your dog has a few accidents at first. If they do, when you clean up the accident use that urine soaked paper towel to put under the grate and take your dog over to it following an accident. The Ugodog indoor dog potty will make your life and your dogs life simpler. You will not be dealing with pee soaked paws or ripped up pee pads. Do not forget that furry little friend still need exercise. So do not eliminate walks.

If you have just brought a new puppy home, getting a dog crate for him will be essential and will serve various purposes. Puppies are too small to adjust to large spaces and they will get easily intimidated by the sheer size of the space around them. Keeping him in a good sized crate will reassure him and help him to cope with the large space that he sees around him.

If you are trying to housebreak your puppy, a large dog crates will serve as an invaluable training tool. Regardless of your puppy’s size and breed, a dog crate is vital for training him. A crate is also very useful if you have a puppy that is naughty and need to contain his excitement. If it gets difficult for you to handle your puppy all you have to do is put him back in his crate and that should help him to relax and calm down. You can also use the wire dog crate if you want to leave your puppy alone for a few hours. A young puppy that has just walked into your house will have a strong tendency to bite and chew onto things and may also soil your carpets. Putting your puppy into the crate before you leave your house is a good way to ensure that your puppy doesn’t get into trouble and doesn’t mess your furniture.

If your dog gets easily distracted, feeding him can be a task because after every few morsels he will go around sniffing and playing. You can use a crate to feed your puppy if he tends to get distracted often. Just place your puppy inside the crate with his feeding bowl so that he can eat in peace.

Here are a few tips that will help you select the perfect dog crate for your puppy

Choosing a crate of the correct size is important if you want to maximize its effectively as a training tool. While choosing a crate for your dog keep his height and width in mind. This is particularly important if you are using the crate to potty train your dog. If the small dog cages is too small it will be uncomfortable for your puppy but if it is too large he will segregate it into two parts and use one area to sleep and the other area as a bathroom. So it’s essential to keep in mind your dog’s size before you buy a crate.

Some puppies tend to grow faster than the others depending on their breed. If you own a puppy of a large breed the best solution for you would be a crate meant for adult dogs that comes with a built in divider. This is also a wonderful choice for larger puppies. The built in dividers help you to manage the space that you allot to your puppy. With the help of the dividers you can give him enough place to lie down comfortable and turn around if he wants to.

Finally if you are using a dog crate you will need to use some kind of bedding on the floor. Many pet owners are dismayed to find their puppy’s using the crate as their bathroom even though the size of the crate is perfect. If you are also encountering a similar situation you may want to take a look at the choice of your bedding. A thick luxurious bedding may look very inviting to your dog to urinate on. Instead go for thinner bedding. Relatively easy to use and inexpensive bedding is a news paper. It is fairly thin so it doesn’t induce a tendency to urinate in your dog and it is also very hygienic because it can be discarded if your dog soils it

Dog owners should know that commercial dog food is killing our pets. You don’t hear about dog food recalls until you go to make a purchase of your favorite brand and find it’s been recalled. Do you know what you’re really feeding your dogs? Commercial brands of dog food don’t even come close to the health benefits of natural dog food.

If you knew that natural dog food would improve your pet’s health would you alter it? You probably would after you finish reading this article.

Below please find advantages of natural dog food and also at advantages of natural dog food.

Out of the hundreds of ingredients (more than 500) used in commercial dog food, 68 ingredients are potentially lethal. Most of these dangerous ingredients are fillers, dyes and man made substances. Check the label of your dog’s current food to see all the garbage commercial dog food is loaded with. You may be stunned as you read the long list of ingredients. So if you’re wondering why your pet is itchy or has more than his share of infections, it’s probably in his food.

On the other hand, feeding your dog natural dog food is worth it to discover the countless benefits. Feeding your dog should begin with meat. Dogs naturally like meats, such as chicken, turkey, beef or even fish. Dogs also need other healthy ingredients such as vitamins and minerals. Make sure whichever brand you decide upon contains no artificial flavoring or coloring. It’s not good for humans and it’s not good for dogs.

Also, stay away from food made with grain, such as wheat, corn or oats. If eaten consistently, some dogs become itchy and can develop infections. Also, make sure the label includes a small amount of fat and some omega-3.

There are several online recipes for making your own natural dog food. Most are easy to assemble and best of all your dog will absolutely love them. So make enough for several meals.

There are several exceptional brands of natural dog food on the market. First ask your veterinarian which natural dog food he would recommend and why. Make sure his answer includes the above-mentioned ingredients.

Most cities have pet stores that sell ONLY natural dog food products. I found one particular dog food that included all natural products and to my surprise, both of my dogs loved the natural dog food over the commercial dog food.

When you learn about the benefits of natural dog food, know that you’re prolonging your dog’s life. You’re also reducing the chances of disease, such as diabetes and cancer. It feels good to know that your dog is leading a happy and healthy life. It may also mean fewer visits to the vet and fewer medications. The bottom line is that the benefits of natural dog food definitely outweigh commercial dog food.

Read more tips about natural dog food at natural dog food.

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Many people would love to get a dog of their own. However the spiraling cost of pet medical care stops them from doing so. If you are a dog owner you will have to come to terms with the fact that eventually your dog may require medical attention even if he is not grievously injured or ill because you may have to take him to the vet for regular check ups. All of this requires money. Fortunately help is at hand. Today many companies offer pet insurances. These are particularly helpful for people who own more than one dog. A pet insurance is akin to buying an insurance policy for human beings. You will have to explore all the options available and read everything given in fine print to find a pet insurance policy that suits your needs

So before you choose a company you may want to get all the information about the products offered by them. A few questions that will help you to get started are-

The first thing that you should find out is if any pre existing medical conditions are exempted from the insurance cover. This is a very important question to ask because if your dog has an injury or a condition related to any preexisting ailment your insurance may not cover it. This means that you will have to pay for it yourself. So it’s important that you inquire about any such clauses in the insurance contract.

Not all insurance companies will have the license required to sell an insurance policy in your state. So before you choose a company, find out if they have the necessary approvals and documents to conduct business in your state. A company that tries to sell you an insurance policy without being authorized to do so is just cheating you out of your money. If your flying with your dog you will need faa approved pet carriers and possibly insurance.

Go for a company that has a solid reputation backing it. A newer company may not be able to offer the features and benefits provided by an experienced older company. You will also have to read the policy to find out the things that the insurance does not cover. Some of the common things that you may find in this category are dealing with endo parasites and heartworm, regular check ups and dental care. This are frequently occurring health needs so it is important for your insurance to cover them. Be sure to view these dog pajamas and dog dresses for your doggie.

As far as pet treatment goes, some of the most expensive procedures are CAT scan, reconstructive surgery and bone scan. Make sure that your insurance policy covers all these procedures. If your dog is gravely injured or ill you may have to get one or all of the above procedures done. Also check on your deductibles and find out if there is a cap on any kind of ailment or injury that your dog may have to go through.

Puppies are like little bundles of energy. They have a fairly good attention span and are very curious. If your puppy lacks these traits and you find him sleeping or sitting inactively you may want to take your pet to the veterinarian for a thorough check up. If the veterinarian doesn’t find anything wrong with your puppy you could use a natural way to augment his energy levels and attention span.

There is certainly no need for animal medication unless your dog is suffering from a serious medical ailment. If your veterinarian feels that your dog is in a good shape you may want to use the guidelines given below to help your puppy to feel better and be more alert in a natural way. View clothes for dogs and boy dog clothing, the clothes will keep your dog warm in the cold and staying healthier longer.

1. Many pet owners tend to feed their dogs five times a day. This is alright with most pups however if the amount of food that you are serving your dog is too much it may result in lethargy and a short attention span. If your puppy is more than six weeks old you can safely shift from a five times a day feeding schedule to a two times a day feeding schedule. Usually pet owners tend to over feed their puppies because they want them to grow fast. Instead of being healthy, over feeding your puppy will harm him.

2. Most good quality pet foods will have the digestibility level mentioned on the package. Quality dog foods usually have a digestibility level of 85%-90%. This is just perfect to provide your dog with the necessary nutrients without making him feel lethargic.

3. Most vital ingredient in dog food is protein. Dog’s need protein to build muscle and for over all physical well being. The richest source of protein for dogs is meat. So meat should form the largest part of your pet food. Unfortunately many ready made pet foods are laced with heavy quantities of carbohydrates and very little protein. The carbohydrates make your dog feel drowsy inactive and lethargic. View airline approved dog crates for you and your doggie.

4. You can also give your dog supplements of Vitamin B and proteins. But it is always safe to consult your veterinarian before introducing supplements as a part of the dog’s diet. Brewers yeast is a natural and rich source of Vitamin B and proteins and you can safely give brewers yeast to your dogs.

5. Omega 3 fatty acids are extremely healthy for dogs and humans alike. Most doctors and veterinarians will ask you to use Omega 3 fatty acids. In dogs they are responsible for increased concentration levels and a healthy coat. Flaxseed oil and fish oils contain substantial amounts of Omega3 fatty acids

Obedience training is much easier and more effective if you have a dependable, safe hunting dog supplies that are easy to use. Dogtra offers products that fit this criteria cost-effectively. Dogtra has training collars for multiple uses such as hunting dogs, pets, and service dogs.

Dogtra , as a brand, is very well known and is one of the famous brands when it comes to electronic dog training collars. Thanks to its great quality, Dogtra products are durable, have multiple benefits, and are waterproof. No matter what kind of dog you’re training, products like Dogttra Obedience and Service K9 Series offers many features that will help you train your dog.

A great feature offered by Dogtra is that their collars are low profile, meaning that you can put the collar on your dog while hiding the fact that it is a training collar. Good for both small and medium sized dogs, the collar is made with a waterproof receiver. Dogtra collars are the best choice when it comes to training both family pets and service dogs, as well.

Dogtra collars have many stimulation levels from the proprietary “nick” feature that lasts a fraction of a second to the longer levels that last several seconds. Another exclusive feature is the “pager” feature that allows you to signal your dog without any electric stimulation at all. All features are fully programmable from the remote, which allows for the trainer to use whatever best suits the situation at hand, giving full flexibility for the training and correction process.

If you are looking for the best possible value and all of the features, you will need to train your dog you will want to look at the Dogtra 200NCP Gold, which offers not only the best possible value but also all of the features you need to train your dog. The Dogtra 200NCP Gold offers the following features:

NiMH long-life batteries included
Collar expands up to 18”
Operates at a range of up to half a mile
Light weight receiver and transmitter
Optional car charger
Dummy collar available
Both print and electronic manuals
2 year warranty

Whether your dog is a pet, show animal, or a working hunting dog, Dogtra has shock collars that fits your needs to effectively train your dog.

It is important to start training your puppy well before he reaches the age of 4 months. If your dog has a nipping and biting habit it should be resolved with the help of proper training techniques and certain commands well before he reaches this age. But if your training fails to yield the desired results or if you have adopted a puppy that is almost 4 months old or older, then you can use the tips mentioned here to help you to train him and get him to stop biting and nipping at your hand. You may need to purchase some dog supplies for your new puppy, such as dog feeders or cheap dog crate that will aid in training.

The first thing that you need to do if your dog has a nipping and biting problem is stop all play which includes even traces of hostility. The usual games to avoid would be tug of war and wrestling. Most pet owners enjoy indulging in these games with their puppies but if your pet has the tendency to nip and bite your hand you will only encourage him by playing games that include rough housing. He will feel that his behavior is acceptable.

Generally most young puppies that are teething will tend to nibble at your hand which is acceptable given their young age. But once your dog grows up you don’t want to make any exceptions and you shouldn’t tolerate any nips or bites at all. Even if you feel that your dog didn’t mean to hurt you or is just play biting, you should immediately pull your hand away and give him a firm command to stop.

If your dog still continues with his nipping habit you may want to use measures that may shock him out of his habit. No I certainly am not recommending the use of torture devices such as shock collars but a squirt gun or bottle should work wonders. The moment your dog nibbles on your hand just squirt some water on his head or body this will shock him enough to make him stop. Eventually he will learn that every time he bites, you will use the squirt gun so he stops doing it.

Finally never take a biting or nipping incident lightly and laugh it off. These incidents merit firm disciplinary commands. Regardless of your dog’s age if you feel him bite or nip you immediately take a firm stance and in a loud voice say “no biting”. There are only two things that you need to remember here, the first is once you command your dog to stop don’t stare into his eyes for two long because he will think that you are challenging him. Also make sure that you don’t yell too loudly because you may scare your pup and fear is never a good training technique