Even though your dog may seem like part of the family, you should remember that your dog is actually an animal. It’s imperative to your dog’s overall health and wellness that you treat her like a dog rather than a human, especially when interacting with other dogs.

Too often we bring home a new dog and welcome the puppy as a member of the family. But then the dog becomes a fixture of the home, and rarely sees people outside of the family except for the vet and groomer. Even though the dog connects with visitors who come to our home, their well-being requires that they mix with others dogs in an environment outside of your home.

Is this really necessary? Yes, it is say the experts because dogs who are properly socialized early in their life tend to interact with others as friends, not foes. Dogs who are not permitted this needed connection are shown to be more aggressive.

Teaching your new puppy to make friends is not a difficult task, but you should wait until she has had all of her shots before taking the walk on the canine side. A young puppy may get overly excited at the prospect of making a new friend and her playful nature can go too far. The puppy is still too young discern the difference between our acquaintances and total strangers.

If your community has one, a dog park is the best place to introduce your puppy to the world. Many dog parks have separate areas for puppies or small dogs. Talk to dog owners and see which dogs are most likely to accept your pup’s attempts at making friends, or find another puppy owner and let your little ones play. If your dog gets along especially well with another dog there, then talk to the owner about arranging future play dates for your pets.

If you don’t have a dog park in your area, look for local parks, paths, or even pet shops to take a stroll. But regardless of the venue, don’t leave the leash at home. Some dogs don’t take kindly to the leash, although pups tend to be more accepting. Although it’s tempting to rush in for a pet, always ask permission before going up to another person’s dog.

The same general rules apply to an older dog, although if your dog shows anxiety or fear, or reacts aggressively to the approach of a strange dog, then a busy dog park might not be the best option. Instead look for a kennel or doggy day care that provides socialization for guests and talk with the operator about your concerns. Find one that will help your dog address his fears so that he can learn to be a happy canine. In extreme cases a trainer or dog behaviorist may be needed, but socializing your dog is worth the effort.

It means happier dog walks, easier trips to the vet, and if you decide to add another dog at some point, a smoother transition for both of you.

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Grain is a common ingredient of dog food and, although most dog owners aren’t worried about it, studies show that choosing specifically grain free dog food could have a number of benefits for your pet. The truth is that grain isn’t easy for a dog to digest, and can be the source of a number of allergies. In turn, this can lead to stomach and skin problems – making the diet you choose for your dog very important.

Thus, many experts believe that it is a good idea to switch dogs suffering from allergies over to a grain free diet. This is because such foods often contain higher amounts of proteins and large quantities of healthy vegetables and fibers. Contrastingly, many regular types of dog food contain lots of corn, which is regarded by many experts as nothing but bulk filler.

Dog foods that do not contain grain often contain such ingredients as potatoes, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, apples, flaxseed, alfalfa, and more. This is to ensure a proper carbohydrate and fiber content, which helps keep your dog full and also helps with digestion.

There are a number of types of grain free pet foods sold under different names. They all have different recipes, though the primary ingredient is usually a type of meat. Some of the leading names in the world of grain free dog food are Grandma Lucy’s, Sojos Europa, Orijen, Acana and Wellness CORE.

In general, dog food that doesn’t include grain will be better for your dog. In the wild, dogs are carnivores, which means they aren’t built to be able to digest grain. However, if you do decide to switch away from grain, you should always check the specific sources used in the food to make sure that the starches come from healthy ingredients. Also remember that grain free pet food usually has a greater amount of protein, and this isn’t good if your dog has issues with kidney health. Whenever you do make a change to your dog’s diet, do it gradually to avoid upsetting their stomach.

Disclaimer: The content in this article is only the opinion of the writer and should not be accepted as medical advice. Use the ideas for informational purposes, and always consult a veterinarian before you make large changes to your dog’s diet.

If you want to help prevent allergies and problems in your dog then grain free dog food could be the best choice. Whichever food you choose, be sure to use only quality dog food and check the ingredients carefully.

When you decide to go travelling do you plan to take your pets with you? This can be a hassle free time if you just take the time to follow a few guidelines!

Always remember if your pet is on medication that you bring plenty along with you. You would not want to run short, in case of emergencies always have your veterinarians number with you. This way you could get a repeat prescription should the need arise.

Planning ahead is vitally important to a stress free break. You should always be aware that not all places accept pets and you should always check in advance that the place you are planning to stay in is welcoming of pets.

In the case of your pet being a dog, always make sure that it is wearing a current rabies tag alongside its own identification tag; this identification tag should record your dog’s name along with your name address and telephone numbers.

You could opt for your pet to be micro chipped; this is a very good source of identification. Likewise if you have a cell phone with you, make sure that your cell phone number is on the dog’s tag, just in case it gets lost on your journey.

Some of your pets own belongings could be brought on the journey; this will make them a little more comfortable on the drive, and this in turn will make it a more enjoyable journey.

Take time to have regular breaks on your journey. There are plenty of rest stops on the main highways for you to walk your cats or dogs. The exercise and toilet break will make your pets more comfortable for the rest of the journey.

These facilities are to help out pet owners on their journeys. Make sure that you have the courtesy to clean up after your pets; this will maintain that these facilities exist in the future for other pet lovers.

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Older dog health is easier to maintain now more than ever. Even though older pets might require more of your attention, thanks to advances in pet foods and veterinary medicine, dogs are living longer.

So If you’re concerned about older dog health, and are wondering what is the best way to maintain it, here are seven tips to help you get started.

1. Many older pets have arthritis in their joints. In order to help slow the progression of this very common disease consider giving your dog two supplements, chondroitin, and glucosamine. Some manufacturers have already supplement older dog diets with these compounds.

2. Older dogs tend to lose their teeth and can have trouble chewing. Because of this you should regularly examine their teeth for any potential dental disease problems. If you have the time you should even brush your dog’s teeth every day.

3. Just like in humans, a dog’s mental ability diminishes with age. To help slow down some of this age related change try to keep your dog active mentally by adding new toys and play activities.

4. Giving your dog antioxidants can be another great way to help maintain their health. Just like in humans, antioxidants have proven health benefits for pets as well.

5. Also, with senior pets, it is important to have them be seen by their veterinarian more frequently. It is recommended that once dogs get about seven years of age, that instead of annual visits, that they see the veterinarian twice a year.

6. Flea and tick protection should also be kept up to date, because older dogs are more susceptible to external and internal parasites.

7. Obesity is the most common problem affecting older dog health. If you can prevent your dog from becoming obese, you can help them live healthier and longer.

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Training a puppy to accept a collar and leash is probably the single most important thing that you can work on when you start his training. Puppy leash training can begin almost as soon as you get him settled in his new home.

Training your dog to become accepting of a collar and leash is important because it will set you up to be in control. Once your dog accepts that you are in charge, training has a much better chance of success.

Once your pet learns to accept his collar and lead you can move onto many other areas of training with a greater chance of success. Here’s what to do.

It’s important that the collar fits properly. Too loose and he’ll back his way out of it. Too tight and he won’t be comfortable. Try adjusting it so you can slip two fingers easily between his neck and the collar.

When you initially begin to use the collar, it will feel strange to your puppy. Give him lots of reassurance and attention to take his mind off it. It will take time before he gets used to the feel of the collar. Once he becomes used to simply having the collar on, you can move forward in training your puppy. Leash training, without a doubt, is easier if you have given your new puppy lots of time just getting used to wearing the collar.

After he has become accustomed to wearing his collar, the next step would be to attach a lightweight, short leash to his collar. The length of the leash should be about three feet or so. Then you are going to allow your puppy to simply drag the leash around for a few minutes at a time. You are trying to have him get used to the feeling of having something fastened to the collar.

It’s important to watch him carefully when he is dragging his lead around. You don’t want him to get stuck and become upset or afraid, which might happen if he gets stuck for any length of time. You want this to be a positive experience so it will be enough that he feels a slight restriction very briefly, but no more than that. So be sure to quickly free him.

Within a few days he will have become accustomed to the feel of the leash. Once this happens, attach the other end of the leash to yourself rather than letting it drag loosely. As your puppy explores, he will get stuck as before. The difference is that this time, you will not go to him to free-up the leash.

Instead try to help him get rid of his distress by crouching down and calling his name. Entice him to get himself unstuck and to come to you by offering some toy or treat. Give him his treat and lots of praise when he does come to you. Be sure to continue with this every day for short periods. After a few successes each day, remove the leash from his collar, but leave his collar on at all times.

When he routinely returns to you when called, your puppy leash training has been a success. You can now move onto the rest of the training program knowing that it will be much easier.

After a training session reward your dog with a cozy heated dog bed to keep him warm in the cooler weather or a coolaroo dog bed to keep him cool in warmer weather.

Dogs make wonderful pets and the key factor to having a well behaved dog that the whole family will enjoy, is by using proper dog training techniques. Dogs are kind-of like kids, especially puppies; they need to understand the rules of the household and they must respect the authority of their owners. Many new pet owners fall in love with cute puppies or even adult dogs that they purchase or adopt before they bring them home, only to become upset and frustrated when that adorable fur-ball chews up the furniture or makes messes on the carpet. While all puppies will find their share of trouble, a responsible dog owner must be patient and utilize plenty of time to raise that pup into a well behaved dog that is a joy to all. This article will provide some basic but very important dog training tips to help you and your puppy develop a happy relationship. I have learned over 50 years of owning and dogs and these tips are a great start.

Establish The Rules

The first step in dog training is to establish the rules of the household, and do not waste any time here! This means that if you don’t want your 100 pound Labrador Retriever jumping up on your bed at night, don’t let him do it when he’s a puppy at 5 pounds! Never let him do it. I know it’s tough because I am guilty, but take it from my lesson leaned. Never; not even once. Good news: it is never too early to teach your pup to stay off the furniture or avoid jumping on you or your guests. Oh, and don’t forget, before you bring your puppy home, make sure the whole family understands and is prepared to enforce the rules consistently.

Be Consistent With The Rules

Once your learn and establish rules, it is up to you and the rest of thre family to makes sure you live by them.Every time your puppy breaks a house rule, he should be reprimanded with a quick and firm “No!” and then shown the proper behavior. This applies to all aspects of your puppy’s training, such as house breaking and chewing on his toys instead of your shoes (they seem to love to chew up the shoes!). Just like kids, dogs learn the rules quickest when they are enforced consistently. This means that the dog owner(s) must be disciplined in their enforcement of the “rules.” With time, the rules become second nature to your dog and enforcement is rarely required.

Reward Your Puppy For Good Behavior!

This is a key tip. When your puppy follows the rules appropriately, reward him for his good behavior. Effective dog training requires positive reinforcement more often than punishment to produce great dog behavior. At the beginning of your dog training, make a big deal about his good behavior and give him a healthy edible treat. Within a short period of time, your puppy will understand what he’s supposed to do and you will be able to “wean” him off treats to praise and positive attention. Trust me on this, they are smart and learn quick.

I am not a “pro” at dog training but I have read a lot of books and of course have owned dogs for years. What I have found is that dog training is not particularly difficult, it just takes some reading, some patience, and definitely some consistency to gain success with these wonderful animals. The time you put in to training your puppy is well worth the years of enjoyment you, your family, and your guests will have with this new member of the tribe!

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Dogs are just about the most intelligent of domestic pets. If you take the time to look, you will see that they have the ability to communicate with humans, other dogs and even other animals. They do this with body signs and voice. Their signs are made with the their eyes, ears, eyebrows, head, mouth and tail.

Their voice is clearly not the same as ours, but they use pitch in their barks, whines, whimpers, pants, growls and howls and their gestures are made with their entire body and every element of it.

You can always tell a self-assured and therefore higher ranking dog, because they hold their tails aloft. Dogs, like all other animals, including we humans, have an inborn sense or their place in society. This is because dogs evolved in packs in the wild, just as we evolved in communities. which is why they fit well into our human society.

There is a pecking order within their group, as within human society. The weaker dogs submit themselves to the stronger dogs, which is why dogs lower their tail when they feel unsure of themselves. When dogs fight for dominance, the fur on their tails stands up and they have this trait in common with other animals. They do it to show that they are being serious in front of their adversary.

A dog that is unsure what to do will wag its tail slowly. A bit like you or I might give a weak smile, unsure whether to smile explicitly or frown. They are in a process of working out whether they should accept the status quo or fight. Excited dogs wag their tails very fast and if the dog’s hip moves along with its tail, it means that the dog is in submissive mode to a higher ranker. A pet should do that to its owner, as you have become the leader of its substitute pack.

When dogs become aggressive they show their teeth, the same as humans. If all of the teeth are visible, it indicates that the dog is prepared to bite or attack. We do the same unconsciously. People often bare their teeth and snarl insults, before a fight. However, they also show teeth when they smile but this is an indication of compliance, again as we do – submissiveness here meaning a recognition that a fight is superfluous.

With a dog, the number of teeth on display differentiates between a smile and a snarl. In a smile, a dog only shows the front teeth, but in a snarl the dog reveals all his teeth and gums and makes an aggressive noise.

Ears are a good indication of the dog’s level of attention. When the ears are erect and forward facing, it means that the dog is concentrating. But if the dog is stress-free, its ears will lie flat. However, some breeds do not have as much control over their ears.

Dogs bark to protect their territory, which comes to mean their boss’ territory, which should signify your property. However, barking is their usual language so you will have to learn the difference between friendly play barking and aggression in your dog. It is pretty apparent though.

Observation of your pet is the key, because, although all dogs are the same as in all humans are the same, there are minor differences. They are not difficult to learn, just spend some time with you dog and keep your mind open and it will become very apparent to you.

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Widely recognized as the most popular and effective way to house train puppies the crate method utilizes your dog’s natural instincts. Dogs are naturally clean animals and will not by nature relieve themselves in the area where they sleep.

Knowing how to communicate properly with your dog lies at the heart of the house training process. Lecturing, yelling or other forms of punishment will not achieve the desired result. The key is to reward good behavior. Puppies are like babies, much too young to be held responsible for their bowel movements. Punishments are not the way to get through to your puppy. If you are going to use the crate method it’s vital that you learn about the proper, humane method to house train your dog.

Choosing the right crate

This is very important when it comes to the humane treatment of your puppy. A crate that is too small is very cruel. The puppy should have enough room to maneuver around and be comfortable inside. If the crate is much too large – the puppy might even relieve himself inside the crate.

The plastic varieties of crates are much easier to clean, durable and easier to carry around than the metal varieties.
It is also cruel to leave your puppy inside the crate for too long. Night time is crate time and often even very young puppies can go the entire night without soiling their crates.

You will want to slowly get the puppy used to the crate. The idea here is to create a positive feeling about the crate. Put a nice soft blanket inside and your puppy’s favorite toys too. You can also put some yummy treats inside to entice your dog.
Never, ever force your dog inside the crate. It is his sanctuary within your home.

Tips for house training

- Prepare the area that your puppy will spend most of its time in with a layer of newspaper.
- Designate an official toilet area for your puppy
- Supervise (or have the children do it) until the puppy has relieved himself.
- If your puppy starts sniffing or circling pick him up and get him outside fast!

Golden rules for house training your dog using the crate method:

- Take your puppy out first thing in the morning
- Take your puppy out directly after meals
- If your puppy has had an accident be sure to clean the area thoroughly. Use a product that will remove the odor.
- Never punish your puppy for accidents. You would never yell at your baby and put her nose in her mess. Rather use positive reinforcement when your puppy does her business outside.
- Take your puppy out just before bedtime and make sure he does his business.
- Give praise freely where it is due. Treats, walks and positive reinforcement will go a long way toward getting your puppy to understand that eliminating outside is the goal.

Housetraining your puppy will take time and patience. The kind of dog and your methods will greatly influence how long it takes for your puppy to be fully house trained.

There is a reason that the crate method is the most widely used house training method. It works well. Of course house training your puppy isn’t your only concern when it comes to raising a well behaved dog. You will also want to set some distinct boundaries. Puppies should not be allowed free reign of the house; at least not until they are fully house trained. Your puppy is a sponge and above all – keen to please you. You are the pack leader and the puppy will look to you to figure out what is and isn’t acceptable in your home.

By deciding early what your puppy may chew on and what furniture he is allowed on you can eliminate confusion and behavioral problems later in life.

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You might be disturbed that feeding your dog peanut butter or peanut butter dog treats is unhealthy. This can be a valid concern since many types of nuts are identified to be hazardous for dogs to ingest. Macadamian and walnuts are recognized to be unhealthy to dogs and should always be avoided.

Over time, several nuts might become toxic and the degree of phosphorus can build, causing both liver and bladder concerns. In some cases these issues can even induce death. It is also important to note that some types of chocolate might include nuts which could cause the same concerns.

For those dog lovers that like to include peanut butter for snacks, mixing with medication or just sharing, there is good information. Although we might think that peanuts are nuts, they are truly a type of bean. To be more to the point, they are part of the legume family (Fabaceae).

That being noted, dogs can have food allergies just like people. As with any untested food item, it must be fed in moderation and discontinued if an allergic reaction is suspected. Although there are many beneficial nutrients in peanut butter, it is also high in calories. If you are worried about preservatives, consider organic brands which might also be lower in sugar.

There is no data I have read that peanut butter is unhealthy for dogs. That being said, we being owners, must always read the labels and be aware of the products we give our dogs. Now it’s time for me to put some peanut butter on a dog treat and share the great news with my dogs!

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How many times have I hear fellow dog owners say, “I hate it when he barks non stop… or he utterly embarrassed me when he mounts people’s leg”. Dog owners usually have no problems to fill in tons of their dog behavioral problems into the above statements.

I have to admit that I feel disappointed, even sad whenever I hear dog owners say that statement. Why? Because, these owners have failed to see things from their dog’s prospective! To put it simply, I should say that they don’t understand their dogs at all.

Dogs do not misbehave because they’re spiteful, or are out to annoy or anger you. They just behave in a manner which is expected of a dog!

The fact is that dog behavioral problems that we can’t stand are not problems at all to the dogs. In fact, do you know that dogs “misbehave” for a reason or two? To list a few:

1. Dogs bark because they have something to say, something to tell you.

2. Dogs dig because they smell something underneath the ground.

3. Dogs chew because they are teething and are feeling uncomfortable.

4. Dogs chase after moving objects because they are following its instinct.

5. Dogs turn aggressive because they want to protect you.

For your information, most dogs actually misbehaved (in our eyes) because of the lack of care, concern and training from their very own owners:

1. Health Issue – Many behaviorists & dog trainers believe that at least 20% of all behavior problems are related to the dog’s health in some way or another. For all that you might know. Your dog could be misbehaving because he is sick or in pain. Bring him to the vet for a thorough check-up if he misbehaves suddenly when he has always been a good dog.

2. Imbalance Diet – Feeding your dog the wrong food, with too high in protein, fat or carbohydrates is known to cause hyperactivity. Sugars, starches and many other factors in your dog’s diet can also cause behavioral problems in your dog. Always read the label of the food before you feed him, seek advice if necessary. Remember that dogs need different type of food in different stages of their life.

3. Exercise – Lack of exercise also cause plentiful of problems. A dog that doesn’t get enough exercise is unhealthy and tends to be hyperactive, and display destructive behaviors. Dogs depending on breed type need plentiful of exercises – Do consider this factor before you get a puppy.

4. Lack of Leadership -I can’t stress enough on the importance of the leadership issue. Dogs display TONS of behavioral problems when they lack a leader. Aggressive & destructive behaviors, leg lifting, marking, mounting, barking & etc… It’s very important that you assume the role of the alpha leader!

You must understand that all dog develop behavior problems. These dog behavior problems never develop in a vacuum. They are always the outcome of the interaction between a dog and its environment, including you! Most canine behavioral problems can be controlled if not solved completely. You just got to put in some effort and understand that prevention is better than cure.

Lastly, do try to see and comprehend things from your dog’s prospective the next time your dog misbehaves. You’ll soon find that you love him even more!

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