It is important to keep your dogs well exercised in the warmer months, just as it is in the winter months. We know that sometimes as the colder weather arrives, people (and some dogs!) do not want to be out there in the snow. It is important to keep dogs busy in order to burn their excess energy. If dogs do not have an outlet to release their pent up energy, it will come out through bad behaviours. Good training and exercise are essential for your dog to be happy. Here are some games you can play to help keep your dog physically and mentally active.
Recognize the toy
Dogs learn by repetition and association. You should be able to teach your dog to recognize a few toys by name, and then you can keep him busy by asking him to fetch you certain toys. Start off by picking one toy and giving it a name. Each time you pick up that toy to play with your dog repeat the name and give the toy to your dog. Begin asking for that specific toy. If the dog brings you the wrong toy, do not accept the toy and ask for the one you want. You will need to repeat this until the dog "gets it". Remember to work in short bursts and make it FUN!
Hiding items
Hiding items such as toys or treats and asking your dog to seek them out is a lot of fun! Start of easy by showing your dog where you hid the item and then giving him a lot of praise for finding the item will show him what is expected of him. Then work your way up to hiding something in a different room, or even outside if you dog enjoys the cooler weather.
Fetch
Although this seems like a natural behaviour for a dog, not all dogs know how to fetch and then give up the toy. Some dogs will just bring the toy and then not drop it. An easy way to help your dog learn what you want from him is to use 3 tennis balls. Start by throwing one ball and encourage your dog to go and get it. Once he is on his way back, throw the second ball. Most dogs will drop the first ball as they see the second one fly overhead, as he drops the ball say "drop". If he does not drop the ball, encourage him to chase the second ball that you threw and he will most likely drop the first when trying to get the second. As he comes back throw the next ball and repeat.
Remember to always be positive, playing games with your dog should be fun and stress free!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
What Dogs Know
Dogs have a keen ability to recognize a human's body language or cues that a person gives off. This does not apply only to the dog's owner or the family, but to outsiders as well. Man's best friend has the uncanny sense of knowing when you are happy, angry, depressed, sad, or ill. If he feels that you are angry or in a bad mood, he will slink off and leave you alone until you get over it. However, if your dog senses that you are sad, he will stick close by and do what he can to show you that he cares about you.
That is one reason why it is such a good practice to take service dogs into hospitals and nursing homes, and to rehabilitation units. The service dogs that are trained to be used in this manner love their job, and do it so well. They bring joy and happiness to the patients and residents, and in turn they bask in the love and attention that is lavished upon them.
The dog's social needs are met by those visits, and just for a moment the persons that he visits forget all about their pain and suffering, so it is an ideal situation for both the animal and the humans that he checks in on.
During the course of performing this service job, a dog will, at times, come into contact with people that he senses are very ill, and coming to the end of their lives. The dog will respond to these folks with extra attention, to make sure they know that he cares about them.
It's heartwarming to know that dogs care enough about humans to comfort them and to help them make it through the difficult and sad times in life.
Everyone loves their pets, the care and feeding of any pet is a big responsibility.
Would you like more tips on caring for your pet, how to choose a vet and other things? Visit my lens on this subject
That is one reason why it is such a good practice to take service dogs into hospitals and nursing homes, and to rehabilitation units. The service dogs that are trained to be used in this manner love their job, and do it so well. They bring joy and happiness to the patients and residents, and in turn they bask in the love and attention that is lavished upon them.
The dog's social needs are met by those visits, and just for a moment the persons that he visits forget all about their pain and suffering, so it is an ideal situation for both the animal and the humans that he checks in on.
During the course of performing this service job, a dog will, at times, come into contact with people that he senses are very ill, and coming to the end of their lives. The dog will respond to these folks with extra attention, to make sure they know that he cares about them.
It's heartwarming to know that dogs care enough about humans to comfort them and to help them make it through the difficult and sad times in life.
Everyone loves their pets, the care and feeding of any pet is a big responsibility.
Would you like more tips on caring for your pet, how to choose a vet and other things? Visit my lens on this subject
Training Two Puppies - 3 Tips You Must Follow When Training Two Puppies
Training two puppies is a bit more difficult than one... but as you are about to find out, it's still not hard-when you do it right.
So what do you do? Here are 3 GUARANTEED tips for seeing nearly instant results.
TIP #1) You are the boss
First you need to remember that you are in control-and you MUST make that clear. Make sure from the second they get home that you establish your authority.
This doesn't mean being "mean" or "harsh"... simple that you aren't going to tolerate disobedience. If you let them get away with things at first such jumping on the furniture and LATER tell them they can't, they will be very confused.
TIP #2) Let them out OFTEN
Be certain either you or somebody else is around to let them out potty every 2 to 3 hours. Young dogs are only able to hold their pee for 3 hours AT MOST.
Don't worry-as they get older you can cut that number down to about 3 times a day. But make sure you do not let them out at the same time every-day... it takes diligence but the end result will be worth it.
Also don't let them out one at a time. This way they won't distract each other and will go much faster-this is one of the most important tips for training two puppies.
TIP #3) Get rid of house accidents INSTANTLY
If you let the smell hang around the dog will smell it and believe since they went there once, it must be okay. Just get a special cleaner (there are many available) and THOROUGHLY clean it.
Don't scold them for going-simply saying "no" and immediately letting them out in the right area is good enough.
TIP #4) Do NOT get a huge crate
This might be one of the biggest mistakes dog owners make. Why? Because If it's too big they will be able to pee in one area and walk around sleep in another.
But if it's small then this won't be an option... and they will be forced to hold it. Implement these tips for training two puppies and you should see results quickly.
So what do you do? Here are 3 GUARANTEED tips for seeing nearly instant results.
TIP #1) You are the boss
First you need to remember that you are in control-and you MUST make that clear. Make sure from the second they get home that you establish your authority.
This doesn't mean being "mean" or "harsh"... simple that you aren't going to tolerate disobedience. If you let them get away with things at first such jumping on the furniture and LATER tell them they can't, they will be very confused.
TIP #2) Let them out OFTEN
Be certain either you or somebody else is around to let them out potty every 2 to 3 hours. Young dogs are only able to hold their pee for 3 hours AT MOST.
Don't worry-as they get older you can cut that number down to about 3 times a day. But make sure you do not let them out at the same time every-day... it takes diligence but the end result will be worth it.
Also don't let them out one at a time. This way they won't distract each other and will go much faster-this is one of the most important tips for training two puppies.
TIP #3) Get rid of house accidents INSTANTLY
If you let the smell hang around the dog will smell it and believe since they went there once, it must be okay. Just get a special cleaner (there are many available) and THOROUGHLY clean it.
Don't scold them for going-simply saying "no" and immediately letting them out in the right area is good enough.
TIP #4) Do NOT get a huge crate
This might be one of the biggest mistakes dog owners make. Why? Because If it's too big they will be able to pee in one area and walk around sleep in another.
But if it's small then this won't be an option... and they will be forced to hold it. Implement these tips for training two puppies and you should see results quickly.
Bulldog Puppy Care Basics For the First Weeks
You probably spent ages finding the bulldog puppy of your dreams...and the big day comes when you can take him home, without an instruction manual! But just follow a few simple guidelines and you will be fine. The first night is usually hard on the bulldog puppy. He may cry all night and you can't really blame him. He is in a new environment without his mother.
When you bring your bulldog puppy home try and bring home a toy or towel that smells like his mom. This will go a long way in calming him down. Try not to run to him every time he cries...if so, you might be doing this for a long time. Pet him occasionally if you need to. Putting a sheet or cover over your puppy's sleeping area will also help him in getting used to bed time.
Bulldog puppies are as mischievous as all other breeds so expect that they'll get into everything. Puppy proof your house by putting away hazardous items like harmful plants, rocks, marbles or any other item that can hurt your puppy. You will scold your bulldog puppy like you would a child. With a firm "no" and then by showing him correct behavior. If he is chewing on a shoe instead of a toy...tell him "no" and replace the shoe with the toy. Praise him then for chewing the toy. Reward good behavior. Do not hit or spank...treats and positive reinforcement works much better.
Feed your bulldog puppy a dry food that is specifically for puppies. It is usually best to find out what food your puppy has been eating and continue from there. Adult food will be too hard for your puppy to tolerate. You will want to feed your puppy 2-3 times per day. Most puppies will eat in about 15 minutes. You can remove the food after that until the next time. Once your puppy is about 4 months old you can shorten feedings to twice per day.
Use this time where your puppy is missing his other family to form a special bond between the two of you. This can very quickly be a loving, happy situation for you AND for you bulldog puppy!
When you bring your bulldog puppy home try and bring home a toy or towel that smells like his mom. This will go a long way in calming him down. Try not to run to him every time he cries...if so, you might be doing this for a long time. Pet him occasionally if you need to. Putting a sheet or cover over your puppy's sleeping area will also help him in getting used to bed time.
Bulldog puppies are as mischievous as all other breeds so expect that they'll get into everything. Puppy proof your house by putting away hazardous items like harmful plants, rocks, marbles or any other item that can hurt your puppy. You will scold your bulldog puppy like you would a child. With a firm "no" and then by showing him correct behavior. If he is chewing on a shoe instead of a toy...tell him "no" and replace the shoe with the toy. Praise him then for chewing the toy. Reward good behavior. Do not hit or spank...treats and positive reinforcement works much better.
Feed your bulldog puppy a dry food that is specifically for puppies. It is usually best to find out what food your puppy has been eating and continue from there. Adult food will be too hard for your puppy to tolerate. You will want to feed your puppy 2-3 times per day. Most puppies will eat in about 15 minutes. You can remove the food after that until the next time. Once your puppy is about 4 months old you can shorten feedings to twice per day.
Use this time where your puppy is missing his other family to form a special bond between the two of you. This can very quickly be a loving, happy situation for you AND for you bulldog puppy!
Caring For a Sick Dog - Important Frequently Asked Questions
A lot of people are aware of the value of natural remedies when caring for a sick dog. However, not enough people actually take the time to get the remedies and then use them to bring their dog back to health. This is only because there is some confusion about what the actual natural remedies are and where to get them. In this article, I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about using natural remedies when caring for a sick dog.
What can I do if my dog has an ear infection?
Some of the basic cooking oils that you have in your home can be used to treat this. Olive, almond or mineral oil are great natural remedies if your dog has an ear infection.
Is there a natural flea repellent for dogs?
Absolutely! Just as it will scare away the vampires, so will it scare away the blood sucking fleas. You guessed it - Garlic. It is a natural flea repellant. OK, so I can't actually guarantee the vampire part, but for kicking those fleas into never-never land, garlic does the trick.
My dog has itchy skin and is scratching all the time - what can I do?
I'm sure you've given your dog a bath before. Well, the next time you strap on the scuba gear to do a doggie wash, put a handful of oats in the bath water beforehand and then while you are giving your dog a bath, pour the bath water all over their skin, and it will help to soothe their irritated skin. Sure they'll shake all over the place to dry themselves off, so you'll most likely get to share part of the oat water, but that's OK. They're just trying to help your skin too.
What if my dog has dry skin patches - can I do something about that?
You bet there is. This is one of the simplest natural remedies that you can use when caring for a sick dog. It can be used after the oat water bath, or just by itself. Just as you can often use Vitamin E on a sun burn on your own skin to take that redness and soreness away, you can also use that same Vitamin to give them some fast relief by putting some on the dry skin area. Vitamin E works very fast to tackle the dry skin problem. And dogs, being the logical critters that they are, won't stop scratching until there is no more itch to scratch.
My dog seems to have sore feet sometimes - is there anything I can do?
Absolutely, and your dog will love you even more for it. There is nothing like a nice foot bath to take the soreness away from tired feet. And since dogs spend so much time on their feet every day, they sometimes end up having problems with them. Epsom salts added to water and then used to soak your dog's feet will give them huge relief. But there is a little trick to this -- you have to be very careful that your dog doesn't drink that water when you are done. Make sure they have cool, clean water available before the foot soaking so that they don't mistake the Epsom salts water for their own.
What can I do if my dog has an ear infection?
Some of the basic cooking oils that you have in your home can be used to treat this. Olive, almond or mineral oil are great natural remedies if your dog has an ear infection.
Is there a natural flea repellent for dogs?
Absolutely! Just as it will scare away the vampires, so will it scare away the blood sucking fleas. You guessed it - Garlic. It is a natural flea repellant. OK, so I can't actually guarantee the vampire part, but for kicking those fleas into never-never land, garlic does the trick.
My dog has itchy skin and is scratching all the time - what can I do?
I'm sure you've given your dog a bath before. Well, the next time you strap on the scuba gear to do a doggie wash, put a handful of oats in the bath water beforehand and then while you are giving your dog a bath, pour the bath water all over their skin, and it will help to soothe their irritated skin. Sure they'll shake all over the place to dry themselves off, so you'll most likely get to share part of the oat water, but that's OK. They're just trying to help your skin too.
What if my dog has dry skin patches - can I do something about that?
You bet there is. This is one of the simplest natural remedies that you can use when caring for a sick dog. It can be used after the oat water bath, or just by itself. Just as you can often use Vitamin E on a sun burn on your own skin to take that redness and soreness away, you can also use that same Vitamin to give them some fast relief by putting some on the dry skin area. Vitamin E works very fast to tackle the dry skin problem. And dogs, being the logical critters that they are, won't stop scratching until there is no more itch to scratch.
My dog seems to have sore feet sometimes - is there anything I can do?
Absolutely, and your dog will love you even more for it. There is nothing like a nice foot bath to take the soreness away from tired feet. And since dogs spend so much time on their feet every day, they sometimes end up having problems with them. Epsom salts added to water and then used to soak your dog's feet will give them huge relief. But there is a little trick to this -- you have to be very careful that your dog doesn't drink that water when you are done. Make sure they have cool, clean water available before the foot soaking so that they don't mistake the Epsom salts water for their own.
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