Kristopher’s Pet Blog

We are all aware of the benefits of a good night’s sleep to both your short-term and long-term health. Things are no different for your Dog. While most dogs can lie down and curl up to sleep on almost any surface a good quality Dog Bed will provide your dog with the extra level comfort that any dog needs to ensure that they get the best possible good night’s sleep or a quality rest between periods of activity. Another benefit of having a Dog Bed is that Dogs thrive on routine so having their own space and area to sleep in will make your dog happier, more content and more disciplined. It also makes for a better alternative to having your dog sleep with you which as we all know is not ideal.

So which Bed is right for my Dog then?
When buying a bed for your dog there are two main things to consider. Firstly, which type of bed would suit your dog and secondly, which size bed would be best for your dog?

Choosing a Type of Dog Bed
SlumberDog.co.uk provides you with a great range of shapes of Dog Beds. But which one should you choose? First of all, have a look at the way your Dog sleeps. If they like to snuggle up when they are in bed then an enclosed bed will probably be the best option. If they are the type of Dog that likes to stretch out and moves around during their sleep then a blanket type bed or less enclosed option will be your best bet.

Choosing the Correct Size of Dog Bed
Choosing the right size bed for your dog is probably the most important feature. As a general rule, smaller dogs like beds that are cosy therefore buying a bed that is just a little bit bigger than them will work best. Larger dogs like a little bit more space to move while they are asleep. Measure your dog while they are lying down rather than standing up. If in doubt, choose the size up rather than one that is too small.

Other Factors to Consider
All Dog Beds sold at SlumberDog.co.uk are easy to wash so you don’t need to worry about your Dog sleeping in dirt and grime. Another point to consider is the location of your Dog Bed. If your Dog will be sleeping inside then a Sherpa Fleece material will be suitable however if the Dog Bed will be situated outside then you are better off choosing a more durable and waterproof option. And lastly, there is no need for your Dog’s Bed to become an eyesore in your home. SlumberDog.co.uk provides a tremendous of range of colours and styles where you are bound to find something that will suit the decor of your home.

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Mackie writes:

My good friend who is a dog trainer offered me his 5 year old Belgian Malinois for adoption. He is trained as a protection dog so he can guard his master, bite on command, release the bite on command, stay until released and others. He has a trophy as third placer in Level 1 protection in a protection dog competition. I have two dogs at present: A one year-old and a nine month-old Labrador… both are females, obedience trained and not neutered.

I would like to adopt him and I know I can take care of him. Will he accept me after being my friend’s favorite dog for 5 years? My friend assured me that he can transfer the loyalty of the dog to me. He is a fierce dog when in competition but a very quiet dog when outside the training ring. In fact my friend brings the dog with him all the time and I know of several occasions that the dog is off leash. He is giving him up because he wants to replace him with a younger dog.

Should I take him up on his offer?

Dear Mackie:

Yes… the dog will transfer his loyalty to you.

Here are two major issues you should consider before adopting this dog:

1. The Belgian Malinois (especially one that is bred and trained for bite work and protection dog sports) will require a lot of work ON YOUR PART to learn how to handle this dog. You’re going to need a lot of training… one-on-one style… to successfully integrate this dog into your life. It’s like driving a Ferrari or a race car. The car already runs great, but if you don’t learn the right way to drive it, you’ll end up killing yourself. And just because you already know how to drive a Subaru doesn’t cut it… we’re talking Ferrari, here. And the Belgian Malinois is a Ferrari with the tricked out Turbo engine.

2. The breed is an extremely HIGH DRIVE breed. This dog needs TONS of exercise and mental stimulation. TONS. Please take the time to recognize that adopting this dog will be a major responsibility.

If you decide to do it, and you are successful, you’ll have an amazing companion. The breed is quite healthy and you can be content in knowing that you own a KING OF KINGS as far as working dogs are concerned.

Part of me has always wanted what you’re thinking about getting. But my lifestyle and dedication to the exercise and training requirements are something I do not have at this current point in my life.

P.S. Make sure that the dog isn’t dog aggressive before you decide to take ownership.

Read more other articles about miniature dogs and dog pounds.

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A pet dog is a loyal animal and is a source of companionship, protection and love to the family where it belongs. Dog clothes have become very popular today, especially for the people who have dogs as their constant companions. Dog-owners have no inhibitions about investing money for dog clothing, because dressing up the dog can be fun and is also considered fashionable.

Designer dog clothing has become a fashion and the industry is growing phenomenally, because dog clothing is considered not only a luxury, but a necessity. If you live in a city where the temperatures dip, the dog actually needs sweaters, coats and t-shirts. It even requires shoes and boots for long walks, or for running around in the garden.

Dog clothing can be bought and ordered from many ‘Department Stores’ on the net. You can get designer dog clothing, which has ‘hand-made’ designer clothes, or dog swim wear, puppy attire, dog vests, holiday dog clothing for any size that you are looking for. These shops offer sales according to the festive season, like costumes for Halloween. There are robes, coats, jackets and even dog eyewear for all seasons.

Many dog clothing designers make their own sizing scales for their individual clothing lines. Most of the fancy and expensive designer dog clothing is of excellent quality and there is a massive array of designs. But there are reasonably priced clothes too, and clothes to fit any dog size.

The most important factor for any dog clothing is its practicability. Of course the clothes are fashionable, but the clothes have to fit well and hence they have to be specially tailored for each pet. Dog clothing should be easy to wear, that is, easy to put on and take off. The dog should feel comfortable wearing it, even when it is pursuing its regular activities.

The fashionable boutiques selling dog clothing, especially made by designers, offer unique selections of dog accessories to match the dog clothing. Pets have become a glamour factor today, and they can be dressed up in dog wedding apparel, hats, and jewelry and designer shoes. The boutiques also sell diapers for dogs and life jackets too.

That is why the offers available range from “creature comforts” like dog sweaters, dog coats, dog pajamas to fashionable dog clothing like tanks, dog formal dresses and dog costumes for special occasions. The demand for dog clothing is rising, so the industry has good prospects.

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PetiPaaws for Cats

PetiPaaws for Dogs

The television series “Lassie” made Lassie the beloved symbol for Collies in America. Your new Collie puppy won’t measure up to the wonder dog, but you’ll most likely find him a wonderful family dog.

The Family Protector

The Collie was originally bred to herd sheep, and still has a strong protective instinct, which makes them an excellent choice for a family dog. The American Kennel Club classifies the Collie as part of the Herding Group. These dogs weigh 55 to 80 pounds and stand 22 to 26 inches tall.

The Collie is strong and graceful and has lots of endurance. This dog’s almond shaped eyes seem to sparkle with intelligence, whether they are brown or blue in color. The Collie’s ears — 3/4 erect with 1/4 folded — make its appearance both alert and appealing. The coat can be either rough or smooth. The rough coat is longer and fuller than the smooth coat. This breed can come in sable and white, tricolor (black, white and tan), or blue merle (tortoise shell) colors.

The Collie enjoys living in the midst of an active family. This breed is not a good choice for apartment living, since it’s a large dog and loves to spend time outside. A home with a big yard is ideal. Although the Collie is friendly and outgoing, this dog is protective of its family and takes its duties as a watchdog seriously. Your Collie will bark at intruders, whether they are people, cats, squirrels, or pieces of trash blowing around the yard.

Stubborn, But Trainable

The Collie can be quite headstrong and can get into a lot of mischief as a puppy. You should consider attending puppy obedience classes with your Collie, since it is easier to train a small puppy that hasn’t developed bad habits than a 60-pound dog that has. Also, be firm with your puppy about staying on the floor if you do not want Collie hair on all of your furniture. Once you allow your dog onto the furniture, he will feel that he has a right to be there any time you leave the room.

The Collie breed has few health problems. Eye diseases and PRA (a genetic defect leading to blindness) are the most common problems these dogs face.

A Good Eater

Collies can pack away a lot of food. These dogs have a tendency to overeat, so it is best to give them 3 small meals a day. If your Collie develops a bulge around his middle, talk to your veterinarian about switching to a food that promotes weight loss.

Although a rough coated Collie has long hair, the dog does not need extensive grooming. Brush through your dog’s coat several times a week to avoid mats, paying close attention to the hair around his face, behind his ears, and around his legs. A smooth coated Collie needs only occasional grooming.

If you want a medium-sized dog to protect your family and play with the kids, the Collie may just be the perfect pet for you. Read more other articles about natural food for dogs and rottweiler dogs.

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Cat Furniture for Scratching, Climbing and Sleeping

Cat furniture includes cat houses, cat dogs and beds, cat trees and cat towers. Cats are active animals and their favorite activity is to watch the world from a high position. Besides, they have an instinctive need to scratch all the time, so there are cat scratching posts also available for this purpose.

Because of their scratching habit it is best to provide them with a scratching post and teach them to use it. Otherwise they will scratch and claw furniture, doors or any other objects in the house. There are cat scratching posts available in different styles and sizes. Most of the posts are made of solid wood, and then covered with special carpets. Some have a sisal covering and this is machine wrapped and glued tightly to the wood.

Some cats like to scratch only when they are outside. But for cats that are indoors most of the time, they need some furniture for climbing and playing as well. For this purpose there are cat gyms, cat trees, cat condos and other cat tree furniture which can be put inside the house. The cats then get enough space to lounge, sleep and play at their own leisure.

All furniture is available in various colors, sizes and designs. First of all the size of the cat needs to be considered and then the space in the house. If the house has a balcony, the furniture can be put there as well. There are cat gyms and kitty gyms, towers with special toys attached to them and sometimes there is a combination of scratching posts and towers.

The cat condos and kitty condos even come in one, two or three storey structures. Some offer funny cat playgrounds, which have tabular boxes and the cats can hide and jump around them. There are cute steps available too, which come in different widths and number of steps. Such pet stairs suitable for cats and kittens of all sizes, and they are especially a favorite of the small cats, because it helps them to reach their favorite places easily.

There is a large collection of cat houses available as well. There are indoor cat houses and outdoor cat houses. The outdoor houses are made from kiln dried wood, because they are subjected to the harsh temperature changes outside. But the indoor ones are cozy and soft. They are often made of soft synthetic fabric outside and soft synthetic material inside. After all it is the most comfortable sleeping place for your favorite pet and it should be warm and secure.

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PetiPaaws for Dogs

As a loving pet owner, you want your dog to live a great life. You can do this thanks to the many advances in veterinary medicine. Dogs can live longer and healthier. And, the quality of your dog’s health is all about how well you and your vet work together to make it so.

Your first vet visit should be within the first ten days that you own her. In this time period, the vet will get measurements and weights for her. They will also check the blood and stool of the animal to insure there are no health concerns there. It is also important for you to get some basic education on modern pet care from your vet during that first appointment. The vet will be able to tell you how to brush the dog’s teeth, how to clean his ears as well as how to clip toenails. Just ask.

The next thing that you should keep in mind is your dog’s food. A well balanced diet will include foods that are good quality and in the correct amounts. Your dog needs the right nutrients to sustain a healthy lifestyle. You can always ask your vet which is the best food for your dogs as well as understanding how much to feed them. You don’t have to purchase the highest priced product on the store shelves either. Some of the most costly are not even that good for your dog. There are great inexpensive choices for you as well.

You need to give your dog exercise. It helps to strengthen muscles and keeps her weight under control. It helps with the immune system of the pet as well. You may actually have to encourage your dog to be active. If a dog seems to be a couch potato type animal, you need to find a way to get them moving. Other dogs are naturally active. You should put some time each day aside for the exercise of your pet.

Your dog will need to be seen by the vet at least once per year. This will allow the vet to insure the dog’s health as well as test for parasites that may be there. Blood and stool samples will be used for this. It is important to do this so that the vet can spot and treat problems before they threaten your dog’s health severely. You should also mention anything different that your dog is doing during this time. For example some pets will lick paint or will eat strange substances. These are signs that something is medically wrong and you should bring it to your vet’s attention.

Also important during this visit is that the vaccines will be updated. This is very important to your dog’s life. And, in some areas, it is required by law to have them done.

Lastly, you’ll need to know how to choose a vet. Do it the same way you would choose your own doctor. They should be someone that you trust and feel comfortable talking with. The vet should encourage your questions and support your needs. Read more other articles about small puppies and dog car seat.

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I’m a dog lover who believes that every dog owners should train their dogs if they truly love and care for them. Because I believe that dog training gives dogs a happier and healthier life. Not to mention, it also gives their owner a trouble-free life long companion.

Well, maybe you do know that dog training is important, but what resources are available to help train your dog?

“Online and it’s free!” This thought should come to most dog owners instantaneously.

Yeah, you’re not wrong! That statement is definitely right to a certain extent. Allow me to explain further:

1. Yes. I agree that there are valuable free information online. But do you have the time to scan through hundreds of thousands of web site out there to find one valuable or useful dog training tip?

And since you are looking for dog training advice yourself, are you the one to judge if this dog training tip is useful or even helpful??

2. Yes. Most resources are free on the internet, but are these resources reliable? Or trustworthy?

Ask yourself: Are you learning from experts who knows everything about dog training or from novice dog owners who publish their dog training experience online? Or maybe you simply have not idea who you are learning from.

3. No doubt there are “good” dog trainers who offer valuable and good dog training materials online. But are they revealing everything they know?

Again ask yourself: If they are “real” dog trainers who offer their dog training services to dog owners. Are these people willing to reveal everything that they know online free and put their business at risk?

Certainly not for me or any sane person! Can you imagine KFC or Cheesecake Factory putting their recipes online?

I have no doubts or whatsoever that you can find quality dog training sites online, but you do need a considerable amount of time to find them and test them over time.

For example, how would you know if an online recipe is good? You try cooking with the recipe right? Well, you use the recipe and the food turns out to be rubbish! You figure that the recipe is lousy and went on to look for another one.

This process can go on and on. Unless you know that you have a good recipe on hand, you won’t figure out that it’s actually your cooking technique that sucks! The same thing applies to online dog training tips.

If you want to spend more quality time with your dog rather than searching for “useful” dog training resources online, the solution is actually simple: Buy a good dog training book.

Do what you have been doing all along. Learn from someone whom everybody learns from – just like going to school and learning from your teachers. In this instance, you just buy a proven dog training book that has been used by thousands of other dog owners.

It’s not difficult to make a wise decision. I hope you know what it is after reading this article.

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Be alert of pet training hand signals

dog training hand signals

When training a dog, you want to be very careful of the dog training hand signals that you give your dog. In lots of cases, only the slightest of change in how you hold your hand will vary how to dog reacts to the signal.
In most cases, dog training hand signals are not as important with basic obedience in comparison to the command and how well the dog reacts to that command. But, hand signals can be very important for hunting and various competitions. For example, when instruction for competition, especially agility, how you hold your hands and how you hand over your signals can greatly determine what obstacle your dog takes next.

Dog Exercise Hand Signals

Dog training hand signals are a great means to ensure that your dog’s attention is always on you, as he’s waiting for his next step. By using hand signals, you can easily reinforce your verbal instructions.
When instruction your dog, your dog exercise hand signals need to be consistent every time. You want to make sure that you keep your hands stable. Still the most smart and well trained dog can get easily confused with dog instruction hand signals that are similar, unsteady, or simply not given properly.
Common dog guidance hand signals can include:
Sit- With a fist or an open hand, make an upward motion
Stay- Make sure that your hand is open and flat, opposite your palm to your dog
Lay down- With an open hand, keeping the palm side of your hand facing down, make a downward motion
Dog guidance hand signals are great in many situations, and you can easily make up your own hand signals for different instructions that you want to employ when exercise your dog. Only remember to maintain things simple for your dog to learn.
And remember that it’s best when you first start training your dog with hand signals, that you continue to say the verbal command at the same time that you give the hand signal. This way, the dog will associate the hand signal with the verbal command. You do not want to move on to a new hand signal until your dog is reliant and doesn’t miss a hand signal. Always start with no distractions and slowly add one or two distractions at a moment in time to ensure that the dog fully comprehends the signal with the response that you want.
It’s best to start with simple hand signals, and once your dog is fully trained and cooperates with those hand signals, start adding more to your instruction agenda. You just want to make sure that you stay calm and patient; when your start to get frustrated, so will your dog. Remember that he’s not born knowing dog exercise hand signals and commands.

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Most training revolves around giving the dog consequences for his behaviour, in the hope of influencing the behaviour the dog will exhibit in the future. Operant conditioning defines four types of consequences:

Positive reinforcement adds something to the situation to increase the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again (for example, giving a dog a treat when he sits.)

Negative reinforcement removes something from the situation to increase the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again (for example, releasing the tension on an uncomfortable training collar when the dog stops pulling on the leash).

Positive punishment adds something to the situation to decrease the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again (for example, growling at a misbehaving dog).

Negative punishment removes something from the situation to decrease the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again (for example, walking away from a dog who jumps up).

Most modern trainers say that they use “positive training methods”, which is a different meaning of the word “positive” from that in operant conditioning. “Positive training methods” generally means preferring the use of reward-based training to increase good behavior over that of physical punishment to decrease bad behavior. However, a good trainer understands all four methods, whether or not she can put operant-conditioning terminology to them, and applies them as appropriate for the dog, the breed, the handler, and the situation.

Rewards

Positive reinforcers can be anything that the dog finds rewarding - special food treats, the chance to play with a tug toy, social interaction with other dogs, or the owners attention. The more rewarding a dog finds a particular reinforcer, the more work he will be prepared to do in order to obtain the reinforcer.

Some trainers go through a process of teaching a puppy to strongly desire a particular toy, in order to make the toy a more powerful positive reinforcer for good behaviour. This process is called “building prey drive”, and is commonly used in the training of Narcotics Detection and Police Service dogs. The goal is to produce a dog who will work independently for long periods of time.

Some trainers believe that the toy acts as a positive reinforcer for the desired behavior, when in all likelihood the prey drive works on an entirely different level from standard training and conditioning techniques. This is seen most clearly in the fact that, according to the laws of operant conditioning, positive reinforcers lose their effectiveness if they’re given every single time a dog does what is desired of him; the more predictable the reinforcer, the less reliable the behavior. Yet detection dogs only work well when they are always rewarded with a toy, every single time they find drugs or explosives, etc. The reason for this disparity is that when a dog is trained through the prey drive, the training activates an instinctive, automatic sequence that has to be completed in order for the dog to feel satisfied. That sequence is: search, eye-stalk, chase, grab-bite, and kill bite. So when a dog searches and finds drugs or explosives, he feels he hasn’t finished his job unless he can bite something. This is the primary reason he’s always given the toy. It’s not really a positive reinforcer. If it were it would reduce the reliability of the behavior overall. It’s a means of completing the predatory sequence for the dog.

Punishments

“Positive punishment” is probably the consequence that is least used by modern dog trainers, as it must be used very carefully. A dog is generally only given this type of punishment if it is willfully disobeying the owner. Punishing a dog who does not understand what is being asked of him is not only unfair to the dog, but can make the dog a fearful or unwilling worker.

Punishments are administered only as appropriate for the dog’s personality, age, and experience. A sharp No works for many dogs, but some dogs even show signs of fear or anxiety with harsh verbal corrections. On the other hand, certain dogs with ‘harder’ temperaments may ignore a verbal reprimand, and may work best if the reprimand is coupled with a physical punishment such as a quick tug on a training collar. Trainers generally advise keeping hand contact with the dog to positive interactions; if hands are used to threaten or hurt, some dogs may begin to behave defensively when stroked or handled.

Avoiding punishment

Keeping a puppy on a leash in challenging situations or in his crate or pen when not closely supervised prevents the puppy from getting into situations that might otherwise invite an owner’s harsh reaction (such as chewing up a favorite pair of shoes).

Read more about stop barking dogs and dog training barking issues by visting http://www.myonlinedogtrainingtips.com/

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Training a dog to act properly has many benefits, for the dogs and their human companions alike. Dog behavior training is critical in order to prevent such negative behaviors as aggression. It is important to deal with dog aggression issues by training dogs to interrelate appropriately with other dogs and especially people.

In order to know how to effectively train your dog to be a loyal and eager pet, it is important to know where dogs came from, and how their interaction with each other can affect training.

The first domesticated dogs were likely abandoned wolf puppies taken in by early humans. These wild dogs were taught to perform tasks that the humans needed assistance with, like guardian territory and frightening potential predators. Humans in turn provided sanctuary to the dogs, in addition to food and companionship.

This is a kind of connection that continues today. Many dogs still perform a variety of tasks for their masters, including herding, guarding, and hunting.

Be aware that dogs are instinctively pack creatures before beginning a training program. In wild dog packs, each member of the pack quickly learns his or her place in the ranking. Only when the alpha dog dies does the hierarchy ever change once established. The lower dogs understand that they do not challenge the pack leader, and the alpha dog carries out his duties as pack leader.

The other members of the pack look to the alpha dog for leadership, food, and protection. Keeping this in mind, it is important for you to be the pack leader when you begin training your dog.

A dog that submits to his human pack leader will respect his commands without question. Earning your dog’s respect is the first crucial step in effective dog training, and it will lay the groundwork for all succeeding training.

There are many reasons to train a dog properly. A calm and well-mannered dog is pleasant to be near, both for the dog’s family, and other people he might encounter. Additionally, being around an obedient dog assuages people’s fears, especially when it comes to more controversial breeds like Rottweilers and Pit Bulls.

Knowing why a dog is exhibiting a negative behavior is important in effectively training and modifying bad behaviors. For instance, separation anxiety may be the root cause of many bad behaviors chewing and destructive behaviors. Solving the root cause of the problem will help to eliminate the peripheral behaviors.

Stress and the lack of ability to deal with it can cause a host of unpleasant dog behaviors. One objective of a high-quality dog training program is to help the dog to endure stress without exhibiting negative behaviors.

It is important to differentiate human behavior and dog behavior when training and working through bad behaviors. Dogs and humans have different motivations and reactions, so avoid the temptation to see your dog as human, and react on that impulse.

One thing the humans and dogs have in common is their sociability and the need to form close groups and strong bonds. While the bonding is very important to dogs and humans, it has served very different purposes in the evolution of each species over time.

Read more about stop barking dogs and dog training barking issues by visting http://www.myonlinedogtrainingtips.com/

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