Browsing the blog archives for March, 2009.

Small Children and Dogs

Advice

Puppies, especially when they are new to your family can be an exciting event in your lives especially if you have children. It is quite the memorable experience when you have prepared for a new puppy and chosen that special friend whether it’s from a shelter, pet store, or breeder and you bring it into the home for the very first time! Be sure to view these raised dog bowl for your doggie right away.

As exciting as this event is, if you have children you must supervise every interaction between a puppy and your kids for at least the first few days following your puppy’s first days in their new home! To effectively provide positive socialization between your child and your new canine companion, follow these helpful tips! First, have your child sit on the floor with his or her legs crossed. Carefully and slowly bring the puppy to your child. Tell your child to lay out “their gentle hands” with palms down and knuckle side up so that puppy can sniff their hands. Be sure that you take a look at pajamas for dogs and cheap dog clothes for your puppies and older doggies.

Allow pup to sniff on their own time. This will require a little patience, but you should never force the puppy to sniff. Then the puppy is done sniffing(they will let you know) your child’s scent, gently pick the puppy up and place gently in your child’s lap. Let him or her pet the puppy, while always indicating they need to use “gentle hands” while doing so. Don’t forget to be encouraging to your child, this is a new experience for them as well! There a 2 things that your puppy will do. First the puppy may stay on your child’s lap, enjoying the pampering and attention they are getting. They may also fall asleep.

Second, he will leave to walk around and explore his new environment. If he decides to explore, let him do it while you are watching to make sure that he doesn’t get himself into any kind of danger. You will also want to encourage your child to not react loudly or feel badly if pup decides to do this because it is a good thing for them to look around their new home. Any child I don’t care who they are, weill be thrilled and amazed with their puppy and like with most children, they will want to grab their pup and pull them back onto their laps to cuddle with.

You as a parent and responsible dog owner must remind them to be gentle while petting. You will want to discourgage such things as grabbing, poking, or pulling at the new puppy as this could cause injury or fearful and aggressive behaviors. If puppy suddenly bolts from your child’s lap, remember that this little guy or gal may still be going through separation anxiety from being away from its mother or wants to explore their new surroundings.

If your child feels discouraged by this behavior and feels that their puppy “dislikes” them, just reassure them that the puppy is like a baby and wants to explore their new home and may be missing its mother! Boost your child’s confidence by reassuring them that by them giving the new puppy it’s space that they are doing what is best and making their new friendship stronger! After letting your new puppy have another look around their surroundings, gently pick them up again and place them in your child’s lap.

To keep them there, give them one or two of their favorite treats that you’ve brought with you. If he starts to show signs of wanting to escape, show him the treat and have your child gently feed it to him. Your child should place the treat on their palm for the puppy to lick, not on her fingertips where the puppy can accidentally nip them while he grabs for the food. Being calm and keeping a low voice, and staying positive is a great way to create an exciting and long lasting friendship with your family!

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Free Useful Tips About Doggy Munchies: What are the Best Treats for Your Dog?

Food and Nutrition

Sure you put the crunchy kibble in the bowl every morning and every now and then your doggums gets a treat of the gourmet, wet dog food, but what about treats? What are the best treats for the only member of the family that actually will work to deserve them most of the time? Unless the vet specifically says no to treats because your dog has gone from canine to porcine, then a treat can be a special reward for a job well done, or just a way to share a few extra special moments with the pup you love. If you want good advice you should check out a Dog Teaching site or a Dog Training Books site.

As always remember safety first: never feed your dog chocolate, grapes, nuts, (especially macadamia). Table scraps are not the best idea for Rover unless your meal is all natural and healthy to begin with. I once worked with a man whose little Chihuahua actually loved to eat frozen peas- we checked with the vet and he said as long as it did not upset his little tummy, they were fine for him. Make treats a special thing by only providing them every now and then, and never use them as a reward for behaviors that are mandatory anyway. ( Never give treats for toileting in the proper place, for instance or for not biting the neighbor’s kid- he needs to learn those things to function within the family.) Treats for learning tricks however is another thing altogether. Tricks are not a normal part of a dog’s behavior and some of them will stubbornly refuse to learn any at all, it is a matter of individual drive and determination on dog and owner alike.

Dogs get bored with the same old food over and over, just as we would, so they do need some variety in their diets. Treats should be healthy as well as good tasting, and part of the overall meal plan set up by the vet. Treats come in many types, and it is important to realize that your dog does not need a treat with every single meal- they should be occasional (hence the name, “treat”) To be safe, make sure whichever type of treat you give to your dog is the right size for him. It might seem amusing to see a pocket pet sized dog carrying a T-Rex sized bone, but it is frustrating for him and might be dangerous. Do not put your dog in danger for your own amusement!

Soft treats come in many shapes and sizes, so again, make sure you are giving the right size for your dog. If your giving these as rewards for training, then use the smaller size or break larger ones into several pieces. The jerky style treats are also good for training because the dog will go crazy for them, but make sure you are using those made especially for dogs rather than jerky marketed for humans.

Dental chews, which are usually made to look like bones are not made from animal bones at all, but rather from corn starch or something similar. The dog gets the satisfaction of lying down for a good long chew, and you can breathe a bit easier that they will not splinter or shatter like real bones. The extended time it takes to chew through them may make them good for the dog’s teeth, but be aware that they can pose a choking hazard if your dog tends to gulp and swallow things. Kiwi, the Wonder Pug takes hers and magically transforms them into a long, slimy, ropelike thing and then wants to lovingly share it with me. I love that dog, but no thanks on the slimmed up rope thing, okay?

Read about house training dogs on this blog.

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Read Useful Tips - What You Need to Know Before You Buy a Dog

Advice

After years of asking and begging, you have finally agreed to allow your children to have a pet that will complete the family unit. Before you rush out and buy the first dog that melts your heart with it’s (ahem) puppy dog eyes, there are a few things to know. Make sure that you do your research and agree on a size and breed before you look at the first puppy (if that is what you choose to get), and remind your children that you have the final say on what is and is not acceptable and that any arguments will equal no dog for that trip. It might actually be a better idea to look at several dogs and then have a family meeting to discuss everybody’s choice before the final decision is made. Be sure that everybody is on the same page before heading out to avoid tantrums. If you want Dog Teaching advice check out the Dog Teaching site.

Most experts agree that a child should be at least five years old before a new pet is introduced into their lives, before that they may not be able to understand the concept of playing nicely, or may be afraid of the dog for whatever reason. Remember, a new pet and fear never mix well. Observe your children with other people’s pets, or take them to a pet shop or shelter for a practice run. Do they pet the dogs calmly and slowly, or do they grab and lunge? Remind your child of how a dog likes to be approached, and why they need to follow this rule: this is a set in stone rule, no exceptions!

After you are confident that your child is actually ready for the next step, consider a few things about your families personality, lifestyle and availability. Are you a busy, on the go family with many, many outside interests, or are you a stay at home, nesting type family? If both adults work, and the children are gone at school, how will you handle all of that alone time with your new, furry bundle of joy? Will you crate train your puppy, or will you consider a doggy day care? Consider how needy a breed can be before you look at them, what good is a loving, little lap dog if there is never a lap for him to snuggle on? If you have found yourself packing on the pounds, get a sturdy, mid size breed that will not only be your best friend no matter what, but will joyfully exercise with you as well. Knowing that you have to walk the dog will motivate you- no one wants to do the bloated waddle around the block with their playful pooch dragging them along. If you want a great Dog Teaching site check it out now.

If this is a second pet, to serve as company for an established dog, consider an older dog, ideally from a shelter. Not only will you have the satisfaction of knowing that you have saved a life, an older dog will generally have less of the biting, hyper issues of a new puppy, making it easier for the established dog and the family. Introduce the two slowly, and let them define the parameters of their relationship. Most shelters encourage you pre-adoption meetings, so consider asking if you can bring your pet in to meet the prospective new family member and remember, not all dogs will fall into instant (dare I say it?) puppy love.

For the tips about house train dog please visit this blog.

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Professionals Say That Dogs and Cats Can Not Only Contract Salmonella But Can Transfer The Bacteria To Humans

Health and Safety

CANTON, Ga. - Bert Kanist didn’t think that there would be a problem when he gave his dog Ozzie a treat one day last month, two packages of peanut butter crackers.

Within a short time, Ozzie was terribly sick.

He was throwing up, Kanist said at his home in this suburb of Atlanta. He had diarrhea. His knees were wobbly.

The following day, Ozzie died. But Kanist’s second dog, Snickers a pound mutt, similar to Ozzie wouldn’t eat the crackers and was ok.

The crackers were from a brand called Austin, made by Kellogg Co. Kellogg recalled the product in January because the line was made with peanut paste manufactured by PCA or Peanut Corp. of America of Lynchburg, Va., whose salmonella-contaminated items are to blame for making sick more than 500 individuals and could possibly have contributed to at least eight deaths.

The Austin crackers were just one of more than 420 items that companies across the food industry have recalled because they could possibly be contaminated with salmonella, which most people probably think of as strictly a human pathogen.

But food safety professionals say pets can be just as much at risk, either from eating contaminated pet food or contaminated people food. That’s why at least 14 brands of pet products are on the F.D.A. or Food and Drug Administration’s list of products that have been recalled since January 1 because they were produced with items from Peanut Corp. of America.

From Human To Pet And Back

As difficult as it may be to lose a beloved pet to salmonellosis, doctors say an infected pet poses a bigger problem: It could infect its owner, because the bacterium Salmonella spp. can be transferred via waste or saliva.

That means you could contract salmonellosis simply by allowing your dog lick you, veterinarians warn.

Even if their pets show no signs of the illness, owners should always be cautious. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine said last year that they can easily isolate Salmonella spp. from healthy-looking dogs and cats, making them classic carrier animals.

Dogs and cats may suffer salmonellosis as a ‘reverse zoonosis,’ with infection transmitted from person-to-pet and subsequently back to other humans, the researchers wrote. Similarly, outbreaks of salmonella infections in large animal teaching hospitals have been linked to the introduction of bacteria from infected human personnel, with subsequent spread to animals and then back to other human personnel.

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Read house training dogs.

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Tips for Pet Dog Grooming For Long-haired Chihuahua Dog

Basic Care

Proper grooming is an important part of pet care. It not only makes a pet animal look better, but contributes to his or her physiological and psychological health. Good grooming practices are essential for maintaining health and happiness for you and your dog. Here you will find plenty of tips and advice, from how to do’s, to what to do’s, for proper care of your dog’s hygiene needs. Every dog needs his share of grooming to be carried out by their pet owner. Dog Grooming is a booming business and with the many pet salons around you can take your little baby pet to pamper and groom him.
Visiting the dog groomer can be very expensive. Many dog owners can’t afford to visit the dog groomer’s when financial times are tough. So follow these tips for dog grooming at home.
Dog Grooming Tips :-
Brush and comb - :
You need to brush and comb away the dead hairs before bathing your pet. But for dog breeds with long fur or a thick undercoat, like a Long-haired Chihuahua Dog or a Siberian husky, this dog grooming activity can be very time consuming. Save time by purchasing the proper Dog Grooming Tools. It is best to start brushing your pet at an early age, but do not despair if he or she is an older animal. It is possible to train one to enjoy grooming. Proceed slowly, and be sure to use treats and plenty of praise to make the experience fun!
Brushing teeth - :
Imagine never brushing your teeth for a lifetime. Bacteria would invade where your tooth and gum meet, providing a wonderful home for plaque to develop into calculus. In the same way your pet animals can get cavities and develop periodontal disease, so their teeth should be cleaned with pet toothpaste at least twice per week. It is best to use a small toothbrush that has soft bristles. Cleanings performed by a veterinarian may also be required.
Bathing - :
Dogs can be bathed by being wet down with a garden hose (careful, dogs like cold showers about as much as we do!), using a hand-held shower head, or with water from a bucket. Oftentimes, one bath will not make a dog truly clean. Many types of shampoos and conditioners formulated for dogs are available; however, using a shampoo without mixing it with water may be a little strong for a dog that’s just getting a touch-up bath. Be sure to brush him or her before each bath in order to get all of the mats out of his or her coat.
Nails trimming - :
Nail trimming is absolutely necessary for maintaining good health. If a dog’s nails are allowed to grow, they will curl over into a spiral shape; walking will become increasingly painful to the dog as they grow out. Either a scissor- or guillotine-style clipper can be used. You should also purchase a small bottle of blood-clotting powder.
Cleaning the dog’s ears -:
Trim the hair inside the ears. Apply an ear cleaning solution to a cotton swab and clean the outer part of the dog’s ear. Saturate a few cotton swabs and clean the nooks and crannies of the dog’s ears. When cleaning a dog’s ears, only clean areas that are visible to avoid ear injury.
Dog grooming is hygienic care given to a dog, or a process by which the dog’s physical appearance is enhanced for showing or other types of competition. A person who earns their living grooming dogs is known as a groomer.

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Dog Toys | Chewable Toys - NOW YOUR DOG CAN HAVE A BALL

Health and Safety

A Dog toy is a toy that is specifically for dogs to play with. Dog toys come in many variations. For Dogs, toys are not a luxury, but a necessity. Toys help fight boredom in dogs left alone, and toys can even help prevent some problem behaviors from developing. Although cats can be pretty picky when it comes to enjoying particular toys. Dogs are often more than willing to play with any object they can get their paws on. That means you’ll need to be particularly careful when monitoring your dog’s playtime to prevent any “unscheduled” activities.
Dogs have emotions just like humans and just like we get bored at times; our pet dogs also go through times when they would like something to do, especially when you are too busy to play with your pet. If you are out of the house a lot and feel bad about leaving your dog alone, you can buy some dog toys to keep him occupied through the day. These dog toys can be bought according to how old and big your dog is. You can get Dog Toy that can be used either outdoors or indoors. There are also all different ranges of toys and you can buy whatever suits your pocket.
The things that are usually most attractive to dogs are often the very things that are the most dangerous. Dog-proof your home by safely storing string, ribbon, rubber bands, children’s toys, pantyhose, and anything else that could be ingested. Toys should be appropriate for your dog’s size. Balls and other toys that are too small can easily be swallowed or become lodged in your dog’s throat. You can get stuff like Chewable Toys for dog and even artificial bones to keep your dog busy and active.
Dogs love chewing on things as well and if you buy your pet colorful and stylish chewable dog toys, not only will your pet be happy, so will you since your furniture and slippers will be saved from teeth marks. Toys play a big part in Training dogs. It is important that dog toys be safe for the dog, toys that are not safe could result in the injury, illness or death of the dog. Dog toys are not safe if small pieces can be chewed or pulled off as these could be swallowed by the dog. The toy should also be adequate for the dog, taking into consideration their size and activity levels.
We provide them and deliver them to you. You just need to click on a few buttons and order them and they will be on your doorstep. Our toys are totally safe for your dog, so you won’t have to worry about it getting hurt while using the toys. So what are you waiting for? Check out our site and get your dog some fun toys to play with!

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Free Important Info About How to Clean Your Dog’s Ears

Basic Care

Some dogs will let you do what you will for them without a fight and some would rather gnaw off the hand that feeds them than sit still for a simple ear cleaning. Kiwi, the Wonder Pug will spin and roll around hoping that you will exhaust yourself before you accomplish your mission, but if not, then you win and she will lie still for whatever it is that you want to do to her. My Pavlova, however is far more dedicated in foiling plans- there is just no out lasting that wiggly Chihuahua mix. Osgood is resigned that he will never make his people not do things to him, so he sits with his sad little head down and waits for it to be over.

For a larger dog, having him lie on a table will be safest for him and easiest for you. Make sure that he feels safe and secure when he is up there, and speak quietly and reassuringly to him while you work. Wrap you arm around him and grasp his upper leg area to prevent him from trying to get up while you take a look inside of his ears. Do not dig inside the ear canal for any reason, leave that to a vet. If the dog’s ear are excessively dirty, or there is any chance that you are looking at an ear mite infestation, then by all means schedule a vet check. Otherwise, take a wet cotton ball, or soft cloth and wash the outer portions of the dog’s ears, taking care not to allow too much water to get down into the ear canal itself. Continue to reassure your pet while you work and try not to be too slow about it. If your dog has really long ears, you can flip them over, but some dogs truly seem to loathe this.

As amusing as it might seem, a smaller dog might actually be harder to get a good hold on or to keep down, so you might need to recruit a helper for this one. Have the assistant hold the dog nice and firmly, maybe even wrapping her in a towel or small blanket while you are working to prevent wriggling or kicking. Again, speak gently to your pet, letting it know that all will be well in just a matter of time. Inspect the ears just as described above. If your dog’s head and ears are darkly colored, you might need brighter lighting or even a small flashlight to get a good visual on the inner ear.

Ask your veterinarian to show you exactly the best technique for your particular breed and what exactly you are looking for. Some breeds are more prone to ear infections, and dogs have more problems with their ears than cats do, so watch for signs of an impending problems. Floppy eared breeds (blood hounds, beagles, etc.) are the most susceptible to ear problems, but all breeds should be checked regularly. For more info you should check out a Dog Teaching site.

For the information about house train a dog please visit this site.

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Free Helpful Info - Compassion For Animal Rights Is A Lesson We All Could Learn

Advice

From a purely biological outlook, no creature inherently has rights beyond that which it has the ability to impose. What is able to live does, what cannot does not. But our existence is not just biology. It is ethics as well. “Might makes right” cannot be the operating paradigm in a world where freedom, compassion, humanity, and love are desired. Nor are we removed from consideration of the animal rights just because we are paying somebody else to create drugs, scent a deodorant, or raise our food.

Humans with the ability to use their technology to affect and control the world so widely and deeply are constantly faced with many choices. Modern existence is not a matter of mere survival as it was when we were in the wild. It is an opportunity to develop and grow as respectable, sensitive, and ethical people. For example, walking in the woods requires no rules, but driving in traffic does. Drinking from a river is not a problem, but damming the river and flooding thousands of acres is. Breaking down brush with our hands to make a lean-to for shelter is one thing, but denuding the world with machinery is quite another. Killing animals in the woods for food using only unique, strength, and speed is a method totally unlike clearing out whole populations with guns (for ’sport’) or with our urban ways. Farming animals to feed a growing population is required, but denying them any form of natural or decent life, or subjecting them to abuse or cruelty is not a right we can state.

Living in the wild would (represent few ethical choices. Causes and philosophy have a way of taking a back seat when life is consumed with day-to-day survival. But an technological society with almost limitless technological capabilities is another matter. Our ability now to practically cage and control every creature on the planet and virtually destroy the Earth’s life-supporting environment on an Earth-wide scale requires choices and ethical responsibility.

The first decision to be made, it would seem, is whether we wish to survive here long term or not. Assuming the answer is yes, we must take responsibility for the planet and its web of life. But it does not end there, as some humane and green movements would seem to argue. In order to live we must also take the lives of the plant and animal food we consume. That is a fact we face, and, assuming we desire to survive, it is not a matter of ethics. On the other hand, our management and behavior toward other living things-including our food-do present moral choices. It also creates a mood, if you will, setting the tone for how we treat one another. If we find it easy to treat life with insensitivity, it is a small step to treat one another the same way. If we extend care, compassion, and decency out toward the rest of the world, we are far more likely to treat fellow humans similarly.

Killing animals or plants for sport or just because we have the ability to do so is neither rational nor ethical. It is a form of psychopathic behavior that threatens the way of life upon which we depend and desensitizes us to the value of all life.

People who take joy in the pain, suffering, and death of other animals, or justify it because of money to be made, threaten civilization itself. It is not that great a jump for those who behave in this way to extend similar insensitivity to humans. Would we rather live next door to someone who creates habitat for wild animals in their yard and captures house mice to set them free outdoors, or someone who stomps on any bug they see, chains their dog to a stake in the yard, yahoos about shooting birds from their window with a pellet gun, and hunts for trophies leaving carcasses to rot? It is not a coincidence that serial killers often have a history of torturing and killing animals.

Animals raised for food should not be treated as nothing more than production units, confined so as to never see the light of day, and then be handled and killed inhumanely displaying animal cruelty. They should be raised kindly in a free and open environment where they might enjoy the life they have. Hunting should be reserved for the main purpose of obtaining food, not for the pleasure of killing. If there is opportunity to show compassion, why not take it rather than abuse and exploit just because we have the power to do so?

For the tips about house training dogs, please visit this blog.

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Dog Training Tools and Tips

Dog Training Products

There are many species of animals that share a bonding with the humans… Foremost among them, the men most loyal friend has always been the Dog. Humans and dogs are depended on each other for protection and survival through thousand of years. Any more information -click Dove Cresswell’s dog training page

Its not matter that what you are trying to teach your dog the main thing is the process should be easier. Here are the few basic guidelines which makes the process easier:

Be Consistent:

Use the same cue for the same command, every time otherwise you will confuse you dog. Make sure everyone who’s around your dog follows the same rules and uses the same cues.

Use praise and rewards:

Almost all modern dog trainers believe that dogs learn better and faster when we praise and reward them for getting it right, rather than punishing them for getting it wrong.

Time the rewards right:

The praise and reward need to come immediately after your dog does whatever you want.

Keep the training short and sweet:

Training works best if its fun and you stop before either of you gets bored or frustrated and make the sessions short. Five to ten minutes is plenty to start with, or you can do many mini-training sessions throughout the day.

Make it easy for your dog to get it right:

Train slowly, starting in a quiet, familiar place with no distractions, and then make it more challenging for your dog. Don’t get to the next step until your dog has mastered in the current one.

Practicing with videos:

If going to classes or hiring a dog trainer is not in your budget, then you load the puppy training videos to train your puppy.

Keep practicing:

Don’t expect that once your dog has learned something, he is learned it for life. Your dog can lose his new skills without regular practice.

Training is the best investment that you can make in your relationship with your dog. But you have to do your homework first, though, to learn how to communicate with him and what you want in a way that your dog will understand. Stay consistent and patient, reward your dog for getting it right and remember: you can train a dog of any age. For more information -review Ray Coleiro page

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Dog Disobedience Advice - Get Useful Tips

Obedience Training

There’s a difference between disobedience and incomprehension. If your dog isn’t obeying a command because he doesn’t understand what it is you want him to do, that’s not a behavioral problem at all; it simply means that you need to spend some more time together in training. True disobedience occurs when your dog deliberately does not obey a request or command, although he has full knowledge of what it is that you’re asking him to do (and you know this because he’s performed it reliably on several occasions beforehand). Although this may seem like a relatively minor inconvenience, it’s actually a pretty serious thing – not only can it be dangerous for your dog (for example, if he’s heading towards a busy road and ignores your ‘come’ command), but it’s also detrimental to your relationship with your dog.

Disobedience is rooted in disrespect. When your dog deliberately does not obey you, he’s saying, “I don’t respect your authority enough to do what you want me to do”. If you allow him to get away with this, you are allowing him to form the habit of passive-aggression. This is not something that can just be left to “fix itself” – the problem will worsen, not get better, if you leave it. It’s very important that your dog recognizes that you outrank him in the social hierarchy of the household. The concept of alpha status is one that you need to be familiar with in order to maintain a healthy, functional relationship with your dog. It may sound cruel from a human perspective, but your dog is happier when he knows that someone else is in charge of making all the decisions – including his day-to-day behavior and obedience levels.

It is not possible to have a good owner/dog relationship if he does not understand that you are the clear-cut authority figure: he must know that he’s beneath you in the chain of command. Your first step in dealing with generalized disobedience is to reestablish your dominance.

Here are some tips on doing so:

- When leaving the house and the car, you must always leave before your dog. This is unmistakable alpha behavior: to a dog, only the alpha leaves first. If you allow him to exit the house or the car ahead of you, you are saying to him, “You’re stronger than me; you should go first because you’re the decision-maker”. Inside doors aren’t so important, but every time you leave the house or the car to go outside, you must make him wait for you to go first, until you release him from the ‘wait’ with a release-word.

- Make him wait for his food. Your family and you must always eat before him – if it means he has to wait an extra half hour or so for his meal, it won’t hurt him any. When you put his food down for him, make him sit and wait until you release him to eat. Keep his feeding schedule varied, so he’s always aware that you’re in charge of his food – don’t allow him to form expectations of when he should be fed.

- Don’t allow him free, uninhibited access to the whole house. The house is your den: you’re allowing him to be inside. Remind him that you’re allowing him into your den – it’s a privilege for him to be there, not a right - by sometimes allowing him inside, and sometimes sending him outside for half an hour or so. Keep certain areas of the house strictly for your own, as well (such as your bed, certain pieces of furniture, or some rooms).

- Never allow your dog to initiate play. If he’s nudging you for attention or to start a game, you may think that it’s cute and affectionate; but what he’s really saying is, “I’m the boss and I’m telling you to play with me right now.” If he starts bothering you for attention, ignore him for a few moments: get up and do something else. Wait until he’s given up before initiating the play yourself. Playtime is a fantastic way to bond with your dog, but it should be done on your terms, not his.

- When you arrive home, don’t rush straight over to him and shower him in affection. That is not alpha behavior at all – an alpha dog, upon arriving home, doesn’t go over to the other dogs and throw himself at them, saying, “Here I am! I missed you guys! Let’s have a cuddle!” – he ignores everyone else, relaxes for a short while, maybe has something to eat, and only interacts with them when he’s good and ready. Even though you’re probably good and ready to interact with your dog as soon as you get home, it will make more sense to him – and underscore your authority – if you ignore him for just three to five minutes upon arriving home. Another fantastic way of counteracting disobedience is to start – and maintain – a basic obedience training plan. You don’t have to do anything fancy or super-demanding; just ten minutes a day of learning and enforcing commands. This can drop to five minutes a day once your dog is completely reliable with the commands.

Here are some tips for a good training program:

- Never give a command that you cannot reinforce immediately if he chooses to disobey you. Every time your dog takes the opportunity to ignore your command, he’s learning that it’s both easier and a lot more fun to ignore you. For example, if you call across the park for him to ‘come’ as he’s playing with some other dogs, the choices are clear-cut to him: he could cut his play-time short and come to you, or he could ignore you – which is easy, since you’re so far away – and continue to have fun. Until your dog is completely reliable with commands, he should be on a long line or retractable lead so that you can enforce them if necessary.

- Remember to use your voice to the best effect. Praise should be in a light, cheery, happy tone of voice; if possible, smile at the same time. It makes a difference to your tone of voice, and most dogs will study your face to make sense of your expressions, too. Corrections should be uttered in a stern, brook-no-nonsense tone: you don’t need to shout, but your voice should be low and authoritative.

- When you’re verbally interrupting your dog, it’s more effective to shout, “OI!” or “Ah-ah-ah!” rather than saying, “No”. The sounds are more clear-cut, and you’ll get a better response. - Do not repeat a command. Remember, you should be training on a leash or a long line: if he ignores you, he gets a short, sharp tug (some call it a ‘flick’) on the lead to remind him that you’re present, and you’re in charge. Repeating yourself teaches him to wait for the command to be repeated at least once before he obeys you.

- Five to fifteen minutes per day is an adequate amount of time for training. Any more than this in one sitting, and your dog’s concentration will likely lapse: fifteen minutes of intense training, where your dog is concentrating hard on what you want, is enough to send even the most energetic dogs to their beds for a snooze afterwards. You might be interested in checking out a Dog Teaching site for advice on Dog Behavior Problems and dog training.

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