Dogs love the to be in the outdoors, but if any of your adventures involve the water, make sure that not only you has safety gear on. Your dog is your best friend, and it makes sense for your dog to wear a life jacket if you’re out for a day of sun and sea. The term doggy paddle is a bit of a misnomer as not all dogs can swim. The term is just used to describe a type of swimming stroke. There are some dogs, like Pincers, Dobermans, and Boxers who have a lot of trouble in water. Some dogs dislike water and will only swim if they really need to.

There are many factors that affect how well a dog can swim in water. These include the type of breed, how big the dog is, what his fitness level is, and how healthy he is. If your dog is a young pup, you need a more gentle approach when introducing your dog to the water. Start with a wading pool and gradually move on to something bigger such as the beach. Conditions in a wading pool are more appropriate for introducing a dog to water. Due to the calmer and gentler water movement of a small pool, a puppy adapts better to playing in it. Placing your puppy in water that has too much movement may cause him to get anxious. This can lead to your dog getting into a lot of difficulty.

A dog life jacket will not only reassure you, but also serve as an extra safety measure during your outside activities. Life jackets prevent drowning by ensuring your dog floats. In the event of an accident around water, this will minimize anxiety caused by disorientation. Whether human or dog, life jackets are beneficial to all. It is an important piece of equipment and is a statutory element on boats, ferries, planes and any vehicle.

Initially when you put a jacket on your dog he might feel uncomfortable. With this in mind, you want to get your dog used to the life jacket by having him wear it at home, prior to going out on an outdoor adventure. Being at home will allow your dog to get used to the life jacket while in safe familiar surroundings, rather than in an unfamiliar outdoor setting. You want to ensure that your dogs first life jacket and experience of water is pleasant and enjoyable. This would help them to learn to love the water.

In selecting a life jacket for your dog, there are some guidelines and features to consider and remember, such as the size and weight of the dog. The materials used are also important so get something that is breathable and durable. Be smart: Don’t let your pet wear the jacket unattended; the animal could become entangled and choke.

Dave writes articles on the dog life jacket and about how to find a designer dog life jacket on the internet.

A well trained dog is like a well-behaved child. They are wonderful! The same applies the other way round ‘ an untrained dog is like a disobedient child. They can cause havoc! That’s why it is important for every dog owner to do some simple dog training.

Firstly, there’s absolutely no truth to the myth that certain dogs cannot be trained. While it may be more difficult to train some dogs, it can be done. And of course some dogs are easier to train. It all comes down to the ability of the trainer and his or her communication skills.

When a dog has been trained, it is secure, happy and relaxed. Every dog wants a leader just like their ancestors who hunted and lived in packs. There was always the ‘alpha male’ that was respected and obeyed by every dog in the pack. Your dog will look to you to fulfill this role.

Teaching your dog his or her name is the first thing to do. This will enable you to get a response from the dog every time you call its name. This forms the basis to all other dog training lessons.

The first important command is ‘come’. Hold a small treat near the nose and firmly call its name, for example ‘Fluffy, come!’ The puppy will immediately come forward to get the treat. Continue the process by stepping a bit further back each time. When the dog responds and comes to you, lavish it with lots of praise and affection.

Use the same method when you teach ’sit’ and ’stay’. Always talk in a firm tone whilst giving a dog commands so he or she can identify the varying tones of your voice. Your dog will soon learn when you are playful or when you mean business! Praising is essential because every dog want to please his or her ‘master’.

Whilst treats offer great assistance during training, don’t be too free with them. You don’t want your dog to obey you because he knows there’s a treat in store. You want him to obey you because you are his leader. His reward is your affection and your praise. Only give treats during training. Treats given at other times will only confuse your dog.

If you want to compete at dog shows and other competitions, it’s advisable for you and your dog to attend a professional dog training course. You will both learn the relevant behavior requirements and other etiquette rules. There’s plenty of helpful websites about such courses.

Getting rid of the bad habits your pet has developed can be difficult if you don’t have the training and tools you need. When you have a central New Jersey dog trainer to help you get rid of bad habits and develop new habits, you will find that dog obedience training in NJ is affordable, fast and easy!

If you have turned your head away from your dog’s poor behavior for too long, now is the time to start properly training. The Easy D.I.Y. Dog Training guide will help you learn how to quickly train your dog effectively. Regardless of what the behavior problem is, this guide claims to have the answers for you.

Maybe you have turn out to be familiar with your dog peeing everywhere in the house? What about barking too much and eating up anything and everything? Maybe your dog is a digger or exhibits aggressive behavior to other people. These are merely a number of the several problems folks like you around the globe are dealing with every day.

Truth be told , there are ways which you could end this kind of habits practically instantaneously. The Easy D.I.Y. Dog Training guide will teach you the best solutions to end your puppy toilet problems. You will learn how to swiftly teach your dog the basics of sit, stay, drop and heel.

Believe it or not, the guide boasts to hold the solutions to how dogs learn. You will discover the simple fact behind the actual mindsets involving dogs’ learning routines. In addition, you will understand 3 special voice tones that can and will get your dog’s particular attention.

One of the greatest worries with having an aggressive dog often is around kids. You certainly do not want your dog snapping at your kids or some others nearby. For this reason, you will learn vital ideas for how to train your dog being close to young children. By learning their temperament, you are able to effectively help them learn how to play nice. The guide will explain to you 4 important things which will ensure you obtain a family dog.

So what exactly does the full package consist of? First, you will be given a complete DIY dog training manual packed with valuable information. Second, you will be given a DIY dog training disc that you can listen to in the car or while you are lounging around.

The third item you’ll get is a 7 day potty training guide as an e-book and audio disc. From there you’re going to get a barking buster guide and vet health suggestions audio disc. If that were insufficient, additionally, you will acquire an e-book that illustrates getting rid of eating problems, a cost-free subscription to the healthy dog life discussion board, and 101 healthy selfmade dog formulas.

This method is stuffed with a bunch of things that can allow you to train your dog and enjoy it to the fullest extent. End turning your head the other approach to your dog’s poor habits and begin acting now with the help of the Easy D.I.Y. Dog Training guidebook.

Grace Tyler reviews the Top Dog Training Guides available today, including Eazy DIY Dog Training Guide. Show your dogs how much you love them. Get them trained!

It is a fact, dogs bark for communication purposes. Some breeds bark more than others but all dogs bark sometimes. It is when a dog barks excessively and without good reason that everyone gets frustrated. We all want communication from our dogs but nobody wants a dog that barks and barks for no apparent reason.

There are quite a few reasons why a dog will bark. If your dog is bored because he is in the house or the same yard all the time he may start barking to entertain himself. Dogs love social stimulation and interacting with others. Try to have more playtimes or take more walks. This may help your dog if he is barking excessively out of boredom.

Dogs can also start barking excessively when they become nervous or scared. When a dog is appropriately socialized they will be calm and more relaxed around various people and in various situations but if a dog is not used to these new things he may bark from anxiety. Train your dog to be calmer by taking him to different places and around different people. Give him a food reward while he is quiet and well behaved. This usually works well as the dog will start associating the pleasing treat with the new situation rather than nervousness.

Dogs will try to get your attention when they need something by barking. You want your dog to communicate with you but you do not want this type of barking to become out of control. If you respond to his barking by giving him what he wants he will continue to bark every time. Attempt to reinforce other communication behaviors by using praise and treats.

Sometimes dogs bark from separation anxiety. They just don’t want you to leave them and they bark until you come home. This is disruptive to the neighbors and others so it is definitely something you need to avoid. It may be easier to do this if you begin when your dog is still a pup and put him in the crate before you leave. That way he is happily in his own space and he will not miss you quite so much. Also never make a big deal out of leaving but just quietly slip away. He will probably notice that you are away but he won’t be so vocal about it.

Dogs bark to protect you and there are situations when we all would appreciate that. However, every single day when the mailman or mail person! comes to deliver the mail is not one of those times! This is atime when socialization and training can really pay dividends. Go with your dog to meet the mailman, let them become acquainted and hopefully your dog will not bark at him everyday. Another way to get him to stop barking at inopportune times is to distract him with a game or a treat. But in the case of your dog barking to protect you remind yourself that there may come a time when you will appreciate that so limit your training to people you know.

A professional dog trainer can offer you some tips and techniques to stop excessive barking but sometimes just more socialization and more playtimes will help stop the excessive barking. The one thing you should consider though is that your dog is usually barking for a reason and you should find out what that reason is. Then you can deal with the barking.

You will enjoy your dog more and other people will also enjoy your dog more if he doesn’t bark excessively. Try to stop the negative behavior of excessive barking while your dog is a young puppy and when he is older you will know that if he is barking he has a good reason.

Principal training tips for your pet dog plus learn what dog training videos I used to train my dog in a few minutes a day.

Womens Guide to raising a dog

The womens lifestyle guide to raising a dog

I felt like I was in the midst of a Robert Service poem. The moment I spotted Krystyna, the two dogs pulling her with such animation along the snowy path, I felt an excitement within me. Her skis “shoosed” over the gem-like snow. As the dogs approached, I could see the smile on Krystyna’s face matched the enthusiasm of both dogs. That was something I wanted to experience with my dogs.

Skijoring – Norwegian for ski-driving – has deep roots as a Scandinavian sport. Fortunately, it has also become a growing sport here, driving people and their dogs out into our great Canadian winters.

Dog-powered cross-country skiing is a simple yet accurate description of skijoring. It’s a great way to make winter come alive, for you and your dog – and it’s easy to get started. Whether your dog is an Australian Shepherd, a Pointer, Giant Schnauzer, or any medium to large breed, and assuming you can cross-country ski, you’ll do well in this exhilarating winter sport.

Skijoring is the ideal winter sport if you have one or two dogs. You don’t need deep pockets for equipment or a huge investment in time. You’ll be amazed how your dog’s pulling power will extend your glide. As a bonus, you’ll both burn calories and define a few muscles along the way.

Some recommend that dogs be 35 to 40 pounds at a minimum, though this would be for pulling someone who is definitely not a heavy person. For less strain on the dog, and as a safer size recommendation, your dog should weigh 40 to 50 pounds or more. He should be at least 18 months old before pulling, to ensure the complete development of his growth plates.

Skijoring requires only a proper X-back mushing or skijoring harness, and a shock-absorbing bungee-like tether, which in turn is connected by a quick-release snap to a skijoring belt. It’s important that you use the proper type of harness since walking or weight-pulling harnesses will cause rubbing and make your dog sore. An ill-fitting harness can be just as harmful. If the right harness is not available at your local pet-supply store, you can purchase the gear on-line through sled-dog-supply companies. Some even sell skijoring kits to get you started.

You may already have cross-country skis, but the skijorers I spoke with suggest using skate skis as they work best on groomed trails or at faster speeds. The wider touring skis can be better on rugged trails. For your dog’s protection, skis with metal edges should not be used for skijoring.

Be sure to bring water along for your dog, dress in layers, grab some dog booties in case the snow is apt to ball up in your dog’s paws, bring a warm-up coat for short-haired breeds (to use before and after skijoring), and let’s go have a lesson. Speaking of lessons, check with local clubs to see if any clinics or lessons will be offered – they’re a worthwhile investment.

Before you hit the trail
Fit the skijor harness on your dog, letting him wear it a few times before the first lesson. Praise your dog and combine wearing it with a fun activity. Never leave your dog unattended when he’s wearing the harness.

While out walking with your dog, begin getting him accustomed to and familiar with some of the sport’s commands, such as Gee (turn right) and Haw (turn left). Teaching your dog to ignore distractions with the command “On by” will be invaluable for the skijoring trails. If you can also get your dog familiar with Easy (slow down) or Whoa, the term will help you and the dog once you’re hooked up and flying down the trails!

Get your dog accustomed to pulling light weights such as a stuffed sack or an inner tube once he’s familiar with the harness. Start by walking alongside your dog and gradually lag behind as he feels confident. Make it fun – even toss a ball ahead – and praise when he pulls.

First lessons
The first training session will be the most important because it will set the tone for your dog. All training sessions should be fun from beginning to end. That’s the point of this exciting sport.

Ideally, and especially if you’re not taking lessons, have an experienced skijorer join you to help get you and your dog started.

If possible, train on a narrow trail rather than an open area, particularly until the dog fully understands what’s expected of him. When you’re at the trailhead, put the dog’s harness on, then your skijor belt. Leave your skis for last. Harness your dog and, for now, carry the towline.

If you’ve brought someone along to help you, that person can bring your dog to your starting point while you put on your skis. The helper can connect the towline to the dog’s harness and keep him straight. Connect the quick release to your belt.

Next, the helper can go ahead of the dog on the trail. When the helper gets far enough along, nod or in some way let her know you’re ready and she’ll call your dog to get him enthused. In an excited voice say, “Let’s go!” “Hike,” or whatever command you’ve decided to use, and begin to move forward. This is where you’ll test your balance. The moment your dog pulls, praise him. You’ll need to help him by skiing as smoothly as possible – the less jerking, the better. It sometimes takes a little practice to keep that line taut in the beginning.

If your dog is reluctant to pull, encourage him and, if he’s wearing a collar, gently tug forward. Praising the moment he responds is important! An alternative to this method is to hook your dog up to an experienced dog for the first lesson or two. As long as the dogs get along, consider this the express method for teaching your dog what skijoring is all about.

Keep the first few lessons short and upbeat, and always end while you’re both having fun.

Easy does it
It’s easy to overdo it when first getting started with skijoring. The sport will be fun for both of you and it may be tempting to keep going. Even if your dog is in prime health and in good condition, this is a strenuous activity for him and you don’t want to overdo things. Gradually work up to longer sessions and more-frequent outings. It’s also a good idea to do other activities in between, to keep up his conditioning and work different muscles.

If your dog is overweight – even just a little on the chubby side – it will be even more important to take it slow and easy, gradually working up to more time as his conditioning improves. If he appears to be exhausted afterwards or is not still animated at the end, the outing was too much for him.

A few other tips
The less you talk while skijoring, the better for your dog. Encourage him in the beginning but keep the commands to a minimum. It’s not as easy for your dog to distinguish the words, so save talking for when it’s necessary. Remain consistent with your commands, using them when on other outings. Ensure that family members are also consistent in the words they use. This is another reason to keep commands as simple as possible. Of course, no one will blame you if you blurt out the occasional “Yippee!”.

Remember when you learned to ride a bike or first learned to ski? It was awkward and took a bit of practice, but then you turned a point and suddenly there was a sense of wonder and you felt like you were flying. So, be patient if it takes a few times before attaining that magic.

The rewards
It was evident when talking with Krystyna March, who has been skijoring for seven years, and Doris Gordon, who has been at it for 12, how addictive this exhilarating winter sport can become. “[It’s because of] the companionship of being with them, the speed,” Doris explains, “and we get to go further, see more, and enjoy the outdoors.”

Krystyna echoes many of the same feelings. “It’s exciting, fun, and it is amazing how connected I can feel with my dogs. It is also so rewarding to see how happy the dogs are while they’re running, and after they run.”

In The Call of the Wild, Robert Service asks, “Have you broken trail on snowshoes? Mushed your huskies up the river?” You can experience these winter delights without a husky or snowshoes – give skijoring a try!

Walking through the woods looking for dropped whitetail deer antlers – “shed hunting” – can provide a unique day of excitement for you and your canine companion. A high-priced dog with a pedigree full of famous ancestors is not necessary to make a good shed hunting dog. All it takes is a dog that can recognize a bone by sight and smell, knows how to retrieve and likes to run in the forest and fields.

Shed antlers can be found at any time of the year, but the best time to locate them is during late winter or early spring. Once they hit the ground, they begin deteriorating with the help of rodents, and summer undergrowth can cover them in a thick mat of green.

Focusing on areas that bucks use during the late winter can increase your odds of finding more sheds. If you can locate a food source with thick cover and the warmth of a south-facing hillside close by, it’s a very good place to start looking. Check nearby obstacles, too. Heavy brush could tug on a tine, or the impact of jumping a fence could cause an already-loosening rack to be left behind.

Everyone can get involved in shed hunting, regardless of age, size and experience. Shed hunting can be as simple as a leisurely walk through the woods or fields, or it can be a more physically demanding backpack over steep terrain and through thick habitat.

Incorporating the family dog in the search can greatly increase the success of finding sheds. A leftover bone from the dinner table is no different than one dropped off the head of a whitetail deer. In canine rationale, if it looks like a bone, smells like a bone and tastes like a bone, it must be a bone. As long as it leads to a game of fetch, its origin does not matter.

The efficiency of your rack-retrieving Rover can be increased by using an antler to play fetch in the yard for few weeks. This will help him make the transition from squeaky toy to deer antler and will reinforce what he’s looking for in the woods. Make sure to grind down the points on the tines to avoid injuries while he adjusts to picking up this new oddly-shaped toy.

Once he is proficient at retrieving the thrown antler, simulate actual shed-hunting conditions by hiding the antler in grass or leaves. Guide him toward the area and let him use his nose to locate the shed. It won’t take him long to get the idea that this is a lot of fun, and when you hit the woods he could amaze you with his antler-finding abilities.

As winter comes to a close, check your province or state’s regulations regarding the collection of shed antlers, load up the kids and family dog and head to the woods to share the excitement of shed hunting. With any luck it will be hard to tell if you, the children or the tail-wagging dog has a bigger ear-to-ear grin after finding a few of nature’s hidden treasures.

With the onset of spring comes the onset of bouncing baby puppies. How you interact with your new puppy is critical to her development; in fact, the lessons she learns now can set her up for life.

You will need to decide where to take your puppy for puppy classes. Notice I said where, not if. Whether there are classes in your area or you have to drive some distance to find one, they’re well worth the effort. Many owners on their second or third puppy think that whatever they learned in the past will be good for the new addition. This might be true, but it’s important to consider how long it’s been since you went to a dog-training class. It’s also important to recognize that your life will have changed since your last dog was a puppy. You may have children now, or be an empty nester. Even if you have the same breed as before, this is a different pup with different needs.

All the benefits of kindergarten
By taking your puppy to a fun, motivational class, you will learn things you may have forgotten over the years. You may, in fact, learn a whole new way of training.

Puppies do well with the social aspect of classes. If they’re allowed to meet and greet others of a similar age, they learn how other breeds look and behave. Upon meeting a Great Dane pup or a Boxer, some pups become alarmed. They usually just need some exposure to other breeds to become accepting of new dog faces later on in life.

Even if you think your puppy already knows the basics, getting into a puppy class under the watchful eyes of experienced dog trainers will be beneficial. During the classes you’ll learn the appropriate amount of interaction between pups and discover who may be bullying whom. It’s always hard to be the parent of the bully, but isn’t it better to discover this early and take steps to teach appropriate manners? Teaching your puppy on your own, in your kitchen, can’t do this.

Which brings us to training with distraction. There will be many times when you wish there were no distractions, but learning to pay attention while other puppies are around is a great lesson for your pup.

The scenario goes like this: you take your puppy to class to learn training techniques and have some puppy social time. You go home and practise what you learned in a non-distracting environment, then go back to class a week later to use the distraction to proof the lesson. Perfect!

While teaching the basic training words, most puppy classes will also teach “settle,” “leave it” and puppy handling. The recall (coming when called) can be worked on as a group so the puppies learn to go to the person who called, not to a random person in the vicinity.

Some schools offer other types of classes, such as Puppy Gymboree or Puppy Social. Many owners attend classes twice a week simply to keep their puppies learning and working in the class environment. This may seem excessive, but in fact can be a lot of fun for you and your new pet.

Yes, go to classes. You will learn how to teach your puppy some basic words; that manners involve more than a sit-stay; and that the bond you have with your pup can grow by leaps and bounds. You will also learn that having fun is what it’s all about.

Just as you won’t see a 15-year-old hu­man marathoner, you shouldn’t see a six-month-old puppy pulling a sled. These athletic endeavours re­quire not only training, but maturation, and pups have exercise limitations that must be respected. By avoiding the pitfalls of overtraining, you can create a canine athlete that performs well and stays healthy throughout its life.

A pup destined for agility, hunting, coursing, racing, sledding, search and rescue, police duty or other work must have the right genetic qualifica­tions for its job. You can’t expect a Pug to run for speed, or a Basset Hound to bound over a wall. Besides physical ca­pability, dogs must also have an in­nate motivation to perform their duties. A guard dog needs a disposition that’s quite different from a dog that excels in search and rescue.

Even if a dog has the right disposition for the job set out for him, he won’t be able to fulfill his role unless he is healthy. A dog with a joint condition such as hip or elbow dysplasia will find it too painful to excel in a duty requiring heavy activity. As well, excessive exercise will aggravate dysplastic joints, so they develop arthritis faster. Dogs destined for strenuous activity are usually screened for orthopaedic problems before time and funds are dedicated to their training. Hip ra­dio­graphs are manda­tory in many working dogs.

Health concerns are not confined to bone diseases. Some breeds are susceptible to inherited eye problems such as progressive retinal atrophy (PRA). Testing for this disease and others is breed and duty specific.

Once a pup is declared healthy, a planned schedule of exercises can be implemented, suited to the dog’s ability and the desired result.

How the body responds
The biggest mistake most trainers make is stepping up the duration of a young pup’s activity too quickly. To avoid this problem, it is important to understand how the body responds to exertion.

Consider a puppy in the first stages of a training pro­gram. Even on short runs, the pup tires quickly. Not only does the puppy have poor endurance, he’s clumsy. It takes a while to develop the fine motor control needed for a flowing gait.

The body’s first physical response to exercise is to in­­crease muscle mass. When the heart is pushed hard, its muscle builds so it can pump more blood with less effort. The same occurs in skeletal muscles, which en­large as exercise stresses them. Muscular response can be rapid. Many owners see changes in endurance and muscle mass within a few weeks of initiating training.

Muscle is not the only factor to consider. The ligaments that connect bone to bone and the tendons that connect muscle to bone don’t respond to exercise as fast as muscle does. This means that the muscles can overdevelop in relation to the structures that hold them together. Due to their pure power, muscles can strain (stretch) ligaments and tendons beyond their capacity.

Trainers frequently report that just as things seem to be going well, injuries occur. To avoid this outcome, increase distance slowly and stick to a schedule. Resist the temptation to let your dog run long distances just because he can.

Exercise techniques
Walking is the best way to initiate any training program. It requires no equipment and can be done any time. It can also be done at varying paces that match your long-term training goals. No matter what level your dog is exercising at, he needs a brisk walk. Allow him to sniff at the start, then get to work. If you find your puppy tires, reduce the distance by a third the next time you go.

Variety helps maintain interest and boosts skill development. For example, an agility dog may work a few obstacles in one week, but different obstacles the next week. A search and rescue dog may work on tracking one week and endurance the next.

Jumps can be used to strengthen your pup’s back and develop coordination. These can be made from coffee cans and broomsticks. For little breeds, punch holes in milk cartons and run a dowel between them. Make sure you put jumps on secure footing, and don’t leash your dog while he’s jumping as a leash can throw him off balance. Start with just a few jumps and slowly increase the number. If he re­fuses, he’s probably tired, so stop.

You don’t want your dog to be over-challenged with a jump, so keep the height low – no higher than his wrist for the first few weeks. As the pup grows and his ability to jump improves, slowly raise the bar to elbow height. Don’t go higher than the elbows until he’s mastered the jumps and has a mature skeleton.

Bones are considered mature when their growth plates close. In small dogs, this might occur at six months of age. In Great Danes, it could be as late as 14 months. Too much stress on bones while the growth plates are open can cause damage and irregular growth.

Endurance training is only for dogs with mature skeletons. If you take a six-month-old puppy on a 10-mile run, you are setting him up for injury and long-term orthopaedic issues. Just as it takes years of training for a human (an adult at that) to run long distances, it takes time to get a dog conditioned for endurance work. It’s critical that the bone support system (tendons/ligaments) be well prepared to accept the stress.

Your job, like that of any coach, is to develop your puppy’s ability without causing injury. Always start new activities at an easy level, and advance slowly so his body can develop. If you do it right, he will be able to enjoy an active life well into his senior years.

By Jeff Grognet, D.V.M.
A multi-published writer, Jeff Grognet, D.V.M., B.S.c.(Agr.), runs a veterinary practice in Qualicum Beach, B.C., along with his wife, Louise Janes, D.V.M.