Author Archive
Dog Diet: 5 Types Of Dog Food You Want To Consider
Posted by: | CommentsJust a few years ago, feeding your dog was so much simpler compared to today’s nutritional advice. I remember when my parent’s dog ate whatever the whole family would eat, including dessert! In addition to table scraps, he also ate commercial dog food. That dog had a happy life and lived well into his mid-teens without contracting any serious illness or disease.
Picking a commercial dog food was also easy back then. There were only a handful of brands to choose from and these pet foods all had practically the same ingredients, only varying in color and flavor.
Nowadays, there are so many varieties to choose from. Below is a list of some of the popular commercial foods available for your dog:
7 Golden Rules of Dog Training
Posted by: | CommentsThere seems to be a ton of different opinions and approaches when it comes to the subject of dog training advice.
One good thing that has come out of this is that trainers have realized that positive reinforcement give your puppy more of an incentive to behave better than negative reinforcement (punishment)… Personally I have changed some of the way I train my dogs and have mixed feelings about giving the dog treats and too much praise during training, but these are some of the things that I have found to work over the years…
Using positive reinforcement has pretty much become the norm, with different kinds of treats, praise or even a “click” given when your dog performs what you ask them to do. For those of you wondering what the “click” refers to, I’m talking about Clicker Training (which is another subject for a different day).
These are a some basic principles to be observed if you plan on using the now, standard, positive reinforcement training with your dog during your training session:
1. Always start your training with a positive mindset with a calm confidence. Start with an easy command that you are pretty sure that the dog is able to perform. This will build confidence in your abilities which will build a positive attitude about training. By the way, if you choose to give your dogs treats during training, please use treats made for dogs… not hot dogs or table scraps (and make sure they are SMALL pieces).
Having Fun with a Designer Dog Collar
Posted by: | CommentsSometimes we like to do something a little special for our pets. In the case of buying something a little different for our dogs, we may decide to go with a designer dog collar. Here are a few facts about designer dog collars, and some things to consider if you plan on buying one or two for your dog.
A designer dog collar will often carry with it a theme of some sort. In some cases, the theme may lend itself to something distinctive about the breed itself, or the country of origin of your dog’s breed. As an example, an ideal designer dog collar for a Scottish terrier may carry a plaid or tartan design. An Irish sheep dog may very well be decked out with a designer dog collar that features gold studs set in brilliant green leather. If the idea is to recognize something about the country of origin, there is any number of ways to incorporate that into a theme for a designer dog collar.
What Do Dogs Understand
Posted by: | CommentsAn inside look at a dog’s psychology
Even dumb dogs are clever. Just think of the many ways they get humans to do what they want. Few can resist the soulful eyes and the offered paw when eating something the dog also views as tasty.
One of the reasons for the many-thousand year association between humans and dogs is the latter’s great capacity for communicating in terms the former can understand. How often has your canine companion delivered a tennis ball with a look that you unerringly interpret as ‘time for fetch’?
These are only two examples out of many that show dogs have a great capacity for learning complex behavior.
Dogs can understand a surprising amount of language and body posture, but they process information very differently from humans.
Visits to the Veterinarian
Posted by: | CommentsVisit Your Veterinarian Regularly To Check Your Dog’s Health!
The well-trained and well-balanced dog should have little problem with visits to the vet. Dog health is a serious concern for the responsible owner and the dog should be accustomed to the veterinary surgery from early puppy hood. Your dog ought to have regular checkups appropriate to his age and general state of health. Also regular inoculations against the most deadly dog health threats like parvo-virus and distemper are essential.
When starting with a new vet, check the consulting hours and appointments system. How long will you have to wait after a phone call for a regular (non-emergency) appointment? Does the vet make house calls, and come out to your dog in the night in the case of an emergency? Can your dog’s medical records be transferred to a new vet should you move home? Do they do regular routine dog health checkups, especially for older animals?