Friday, May 29, 2009
How to Find Great Books on Dog Behavior
By: Crystal Jordan
There are hundreds, probably thousands of books out there on dog behavior. With all the choices out there, how do you make sure the book that you are buying is a quality one with methods that will work? Here are some tips on how to find some of these great books.
First of, of the easiest ways to start qualifying books is to see who the author is and what their credentials are. Normally the longer someone has been a dog trainer the better.
Some of these books are written by journalists or professional writers, and not by people who have been doing dog training for years.
Another way to qualify the books is to look at who is recommending the book. If there are prominent people endorsing the book, then if should be of some quality to you. Books that have no endorsements are either really bad, or are put out by unknown authors.
You can also find good books on dog behavior by reading reviews in online forums or bookstores. Beware though that many positive reviews may have been written by the author or the author's friends. On the other hand, also be aware that many negative reviews were probably written by other authors who just want their book to sell more and want to damage the author's reputation.
Many times you just have to read the book to see if it will be useful to you, because it might not be obvious until you read a chapter or two.
If you are having problems getting this dog behavior problem under control, there are lots of resources out there to help you. Click here for one of the best resources for Stopping Dog Behavior Problems
Labels: pets/dogs
Monday, May 25, 2009
Choose the Type of Dog Training That Fits Your Pet
By: Chris Robertson
Whether they are trained at home or in professional obedience training classes, all dogs need training. But not all dogs need the same training. The obedience training needs of dogs differ by breed, individual temperament, home life, and early experiences. In addition, the characteristics of the owners affect the type of dog training that will be most effective.
As anyone who has spent time with dogs of varying breeds knows, the differences between breeds are enormous. Welsh corgis, for example, can be demanding and bossy. Labrador retrievers mature slowly and can be overwhelmingly affectionate in their desire to please. Poodles are very smart and are known to enjoy playing tricks on their owners and other dogs. Portuguese water dogs and many other breeds require a great deal of exercise. Given this small sampling, it becomes easy to see why different breeds required different approaches to obedience training.
Even dogs of the same breed can be very different, with wide-ranging temperaments. Some breeders have observed that while a litter from one set of parents may be happy and confident, another litter of the same breed from different parents may be shy and fearful. Training that works for a confident dog may not work well for a frightened animal.
The early experiences of dogs can affect how they respond to obedience training classes. Even dogs that are adopted as puppies right from their mothers have experiences their owners don't know about. Birth order and the pecking order of the litter affect puppies' early lives. When it comes to rescue dogs, especially strays and abandoned dogs, they may have had a whole range of experiences, both good and bad, before they reach their final homes. All this impacts how the dogs respond to obedience training.
The needs of pet owners vary as much as their pets in terms of training. Some owners devote considerable time to puppy training, while others don't. Some owners are able to discipline their animals, while others cannot. Dog training classes must take these differences into account. The old saying, "There are no bad dogs, just bad owners," may not be far from the truth.
There are many different schools of thought about dog training. Quality obedience training classes adapt training to the needs of the dogs and the owners. Rather than seeking out dog training classes that specialize in a particular type of training, owners will be better served by trainers who have experience with a variety of approaches. Such trainers will be able to use the approaches that work best with the individual animals.
Dog training is a big industry. Every urban area has many options for obedience classes. From Sarasota, Florida to Bellingham, Washington, dog owners can select from a variety of obedience training classes. Owners need to remember that dog training is not one-size-fits-all. Often the best dog training classes are the ones taught by trainers who know a wide array of methods and can use the ones that work best with the dog at hand.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
Learn more about Dog Training that Fits.
Labels: pets/dogs
Friday, May 22, 2009
10 Dog Training Mistakes You Must Avoid
By: Oscar B. Jones
New dog owners often make mistakes with their dog training techniques and how the whole dog training process is approached. Some mistakes are more common than others and I will cover 10 of them here.
Mistake 1
Do not expect to much from your dog early on. Most people who make this mistake usually mean well and really do love dogs, the problem is that they see other peoples dogs and want their own to be like these other dogs straight away. We all see dogs on our walks and over parks who are enjoying the company of other dogs who are so well behaved and obedient and we all become jealous of them. At this point it is forgotten how much time, patience and money has been put into these dogs to achieve the levels of success that have been achieved.
Mistake 2
Another of the common mistakes which just happens to be opposite to that in number 1 is giving up. Once again the owner means well and starts with all good intentions but unfortunately a lack of patience and the necessary commitment to get the sort after results is just not there. Due to their dog not being able to do handstands or cartwheels inside of an hour they decide that their dog is untrainable and resign themselves to life with an untrained dog.
Mistake 3
Lack of consistency. If you tell your dog that it cannot sit by the table when your have guests for dinner then do not let it sit their when you are eating alone. If you want to succeed in any level of dog training then you must remain consistent.
Mistake 4
Using too little positive reinforcement techniques in the training. A dog has to be rewarded for doing the right thing when it is asked to do it or it will not learn. If you only give your dog a correction when it needs correcting but never reward the good behavior then eventually your dog will start doing the wrong things just to make sure that you give it some of your attention.
Mistake 5
Similar to the previous mistake, do not give too much negative reinforcement. Don't sit and watch your dog waiting for it to make a mistake and then pounce on it to correct it. By concentrating on looking for the wrong behavior you will miss the times when your dog is acting as it should and therefore will not offer the required reward.
Mistake 6
Stay away from training your dog to do things that it was never supposed to do. A common problem in this area is taking a general purpose dog and trying to turn it into the best hunting dog that ever lived. All you will end up with is a confused and frustrated dog and a big headache. Certain dogs were just not made to do certain things. A Dachshund makes a useless fox hound and would you really try and send a Great Dane into a rabbit warren! Make sure you obtain the sort of dog that you need for the job/life that you have in store for it.
Mistake 7
Following through with the training. A dog loves to learn new things and will continue to learn through repeated and consistent lessons. Remember, if you spend a whole day training your dog and then don't bother for another couple of weeks you must expect your dog to have forgotten everything you taught it two weeks ago. You have to keep going, so rather than a whole day, give it two hours every other day but consistently.
Mistake 8
Avoid overloading your dog with all manner of different training techniques. Although it is good to have different views on training methods you need to find a few which you feel comfortable with which you can implement otherwise you are going to get confused and therefore be sure that your dog will. Stick with one method until you start to see results, gain confidence in that and continue with similar techniques and you will achieve the success you want.
Mistake 9
Too much apathy. Too often a dog owner is heard saying that they hate the way their dog behaves but that it is too late and cannot be fixed. If you want a change to happen then you can make that change happen. Your dog just needs to know that a change brings a reward with it and keeping to a direct firm approach will reward you with quicker results.
Mistake 10
A dog is never fuller trained. Training is a life long process and will never be completed. Your dog may well have learnt to behave as you want it to behave in all situations that you place it in. Remember, your dog will continue to learn so you need to reinforce the required behavior all of the time otherwise your dog will learn new experiences and behave differently.
For a complimentary 34 page report on dog training visit my website at The Dog Advice Zone
Labels: pets/dogs
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Dog Reproduction
By: Elda Rita Tessadori
When Nana, our little lurcher, was in heat - everybody knew. At the time we lived in central Rome and the whole neighborhood was following closely the adventures of Nana and her most persistent suitor, Orazio.
He was a tiny mongrel who inherited the genes of all his most persevering and stubborn ancestors combined.
Twice a year his only goal in life became mating with our Nana, who, on another hand, seemed totally oblivious of the commotion provoked by her estrus.
The wondrous fragrance of love impregnated not only our dam but also our car, house and myself. Orazio would follow me anywhere like the best trained heeler.
There was no way to explain to the supermarket attendant that I couldn't leave the little mongrel outside because he wasn't mine and he wouldn't dream of obeying me.
It was hard to sustain the reproving glances of the bystanders who thought Orazio was following our car because we were abandoning him in the street.
My neighbors were partial to Orazio because they saw in him all the virtues of enduring love and often asked me to let the two dogs mate. The idea of having to deal with a pack of little Orazios was disturbing.
Finally I learned the trick of tying the lovesick dog to my gate whenever I was going out and releasing him upon my return.
After years of this struggle I finally had to spay Nana for health reasons and we began to savor a carefree life with our pet.
Certainly I could have spared my little lurcher and ourselves a lot of troubles if I only had confronted reality. I was never going to mate Nana because there was no place for more puppies in an already over dogged world.
Definitely dog reproduction is better left to the breeders who will mate only superior quality dogs and whelp only puppies that can be placed in good homes.
The author, a biologist and lifelong dog enthusiast, ten years ago fell incurably in love with whippets, a beautiful, fun and easy care dog breed.
To see whippet pictures and find tips about training and caring for this amazing breed visit the site at http://www.thewhippet.net/
Labels: pets/dogs
Monday, May 18, 2009
Killer Dog Diseases
By: Alex De La Cruz
Dogs that are not given adequate care are prone to sickness and could sometimes be the reason for their deaths. Proper care and attention for dogs should be provided so they won't be able to acquire deadly dog diseases such as rabies and parvovirus. Would you want your beloved canine friend to end their cherished life by these diseases? That would be a harsh ending especially if you are treating your pet as another member of the family. Maybe you would wish that if they die it would be peaceful. But really knocks on everyone else door and it is possible that your pet may die with these diseases.
So why are these dog diseases deadly, and how could you protect your pet from it? The first thing you need to know about rabies is that it is a fatal disease that could be transferred to humans by dog bites. Actually the virus is found in the animal's saliva. It would be efficient if your pet is vaccinated by anti-rabies early on. Rabies virus can stay in the dog's body for two years and the infection for about two to twelve weeks. When the virus enters the bloodstream it attacks the central nervous system which later on spreads to the other organs of the body.
The saliva we often see dripping from the dog's mouth contains much of this. When your pet carries the virus in its body you will notice the following symptoms: paranoia, insomnia, anxiety, confusion and agitation. However the most obvious sign is the dog's fear of water or hydrophobia. The next deadly dog disease is canine parvovirus. This virus can be transferred directly and indirectly through its own feces. This is dangerous to puppies if they don't have maternal antibodies. You would know if your pup is probably suffering from this disease due to the following symptoms: dehydration, diarrhea, vomiting, and a high fever.
The infection can be observed within three to ten days. So it would be better if you give proper attention to your pup especially if it is not feeling well. The treatment for this dog disease is hospitalization. So that means getting your pup to an animal hospital is necessary because medication is highly needed. This is a viral disease but it is not just an ordinary virus because this one is really strong. It is able to survive extreme heat and cold and is able to live in organic materials found in the soil for about a year. This would imply that cleanliness matters in and out of the house.
But do not fret because bleach can kill this virus so a little extra mop on the floors will do. Do not ignore your pet's sudden silence or prolong sleeping hours because it indicates that something is wrong with its body. Try to understand that like humans they are also targets of diseases much more dog diseases. There are times when owners believe that their pet is invincible because it is getting its vaccinations regularly. But to be on the safe side, never be too confident as this might lead you to ignore proper medication for your pet. You might not know that a new dog disease is already posing a threat to your pet's health.
Just proper attention and keen observation will be the best weapon to secure your dog's health.
The author of this article Alex De La Cruz is a Dog Trainer who has been successful with several dog training courses for many years. Alex decided to share his knowledge and tips through his website http://www.doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free newsletter and enjoy a healthy and submissive dog.
Labels: pets/dogs
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Do Not Ignore Your Dog's Mental Health
By: Alex De La Cruz
Providing your much-loved pet with the proper food, shelter and love is very good by far. But if you also nourish its mental health it would be excellent. A complete well-being is not just about the physical and emotional conditions of your pet because its mental health should be a part of the picture. That is why some dogs, even if the owner provides them with everything that they could possibly need still feel different and aloof. Never wonder why your pet still behaves a bit wild even if it is already trained? The explanation for this could is simple.
Your pet is having mental health problems. The causes of this problem can be traced to its physical state especially if it is not feeling well. Just like humans, dogs react to pain in various ways and one of those is being aggressive towards other animals or persons. If your pet is sick get it to a vet for proper medication right away. Don't wait until it hurts itself or others because of its condition. Another similar characteristic of dogs to humans is having emotions but of a lower level. Dogs can feel sorrow whenever someone or something close to them is gone which makes them feel empty and they tend to just lay or sleep all day and doesn't mingle with other animals.
Later on this develop into a depression if the owner does not do anything about it. Another cause is due to being imprisoned in a cage for a long time or when it is left in the house when its owner is gone for days or weeks. This can be traumatic to a dog especially if it was used to live with many people around it. It will become cold and remote even to its owner and it will also be afraid to meet other animals. Either it will hide in a corner and yelp or bark angrily and destroy furniture in your house or neighborhood or even attack your favorite pair of shoes.
Being tied to a leash or chain for most of the time can also be a cause for having mental health problems. Your dog might want to have the freedom to explore and join other animals if it has a playful nature. But if you keep it tied for no suitable reason at all (except when it is sick or really mad), that is torture. Allow your pet to have some form of enjoyment because after all you want to nourish its complete well-being. If a dog doesn't have enough socialization early on its life as a pup, it does not know how to behave in a crowd so walking your dog might not be advisable.
Some dogs which are not accustomed to hearing loud noises such as firecrackers or gunfire will be in panic if the dog owner does not know how to calm them down. Now that the Christmas holidays are approaching, finding an area for your dog to hide or stay when the firecrackers are at its peak should be your main concern. There are dogs which whine for fear of loud noises. Get your pet to a veterinarian regularly for its mental health consultation. Learn that they do not know how to adapt to such circumstances mentioned earlier if they are not taught how.
Care for your dog physically, emotionally and mentally because that is the complete way of ensuring its total well-being.
The author of this article Alex De La Cruz is a Dog Trainer who has been successful with several dog training courses for many years. Alex decided to share his knowledge and tips through his website http://www.doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free newsletter and enjoy a healthy and submissive dog.
Labels: pets/dogs
Friday, May 15, 2009
Learn the Top Methods to Quickly Detect Dog Illness Symptoms
By: Mike Long
The health of your dogs must be checked on a regular basis in order to minimize the risk of illnesses. There are a variety of diseases that dogs may be vulnerable to, such as ear infections, skin allergies, acute cystitis, and pancreatitis. Needless to say, it is important for owner to be aware of the common dog illness symptoms.
For ear infections, symptoms of this dog illness include the scratching of ears, abnormal discharge from the ear, as well as the swelling of the ear canal. As for skin allergies, dog illness symptoms for this could be in the form of scaly skin, bumps, pus, or the loss of hair.
Symptoms of diseases involving the urinary tract include finding blood in the urine of your dog, as well as an increase in the frequency of urination. Dog illness symptoms of pancreatitis include diarrhea, fever, vomiting and loss of appetite. Generally, the symptoms for dog illness are the same symptoms that are evident when humans contract similar diseases.
Owners must be well aware of common dog illness symptoms so that they can more easily identify if their dog's health is in danger. Detecting diseases early on is highly beneficial to your dog's health.
In addition to closely monitoring your pet for dog illness symptoms, you should also bring your dog to the veterinarian regularly for check-ups. A vet can quickly diagnose any smaller problem before it becomes a much larger one. Additionally, be sure to feed your dog a nutritious diet and ensure that he gets regular exercise.
In fact, if you would like to learn more about dog illness symptoms and other ways to "get inside your dog's head", then I encourage you to download my FREE ebook - 'Top Secret Techniques To Keeping Your Dog Happy, Healthy and Safe' at http://www.UltimateDogCare.com.
Labels: pets/dogs
Thursday, May 14, 2009
How to Get the Right Read on Dog Health Symptoms
By: Mike Long
Every dog owner wants to have a healthy pet as well as free from illness and any other complications. But the reality of it is, virtually all dogs get sick and have illnesses at one point or another. It is for this very reason that owners must know how to recognize the various dog health symptoms that they may encounter throughout their journey of owning a dog.
Some of the easiest dog health symptoms to spot are changes in the dog's behavior. Disorientation and loss of balance could be signs of an internal ear infection, poisoning, or even neurological problems. Apathy and isolation could be a sign of rabies or some infectious disease. A fever over 39 degrees Celsius could also be a sign of an infectious disease or other various infections.
A dog's skin is also a good way of spotting some dog health symptoms. Generally, the dog's skin should have no unpleasant smell and the color should be a light pink or black (depending on the breed). Constant licking or scratching could be a sign of certain allergies or dermatitis.
Dog feces and urine are good indications of your dog's health. Dog health symptoms that can commonly appear in feces are an unpleasant smell, presence of blood in the feces, altered color, and presence of mucus. These dog health symptoms could signal certain digestive problems, infectious diseases, and more commonly, foreign objects in your pet's abdomen.
Intense odor of the urine, presence of blood, altered colour, and excessive production could signal renal infection, cystitis, or Cushing syndrome. A dog who seems to have difficulty urinating could be suffering from renal infection, aside from the complications listed above.
Other dog health symptoms include allergies, morning sickness, anxiety attacks, and persistent vomiting, which could signal the presence of tumors. Drinking water in continuous and large quantities could be a sign of diabetes. Parasite infections, on the other hand, could be signaled by abdominal dilation.
No matter what dog health symptoms your pet may exhibit, never take chances. Always consult your veterinarian for the best possible course of action regarding your dog's symptoms. Remember, as a dog owner, your pet's health is a top priority, so make sure that you address any symptom in the shortest amount of time.
In fact, if you would like to learn more about dog health symptoms and other ways to "get inside your dog's head", then I encourage you to download my FREE ebook - 'Top Secret Techniques To Keeping Your Dog Happy, Healthy and Safe' at http://www.UltimateDogCare.com.
Labels: pets/dogs
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