Archive for February, 2010
Teaching Your Dog Some Manners – Part 5
The “Down” command is a standard command used in competitive obedience. It is also a command that should be a main component of any pet owners training program. When company comes over, you don’t want you dog pestering them for attention. The best way to deal with this is to tell your dog to down, and he can lie down beside you. Or, you can place a Dog Bed
in a corner of the room and tell you dog to go lay down.
Down. Your dog needs to know your dog training command for “sit” before he learns “down.” When your dog is in the “sit” position, again hold a treat in front of his face and make sure it has his full attention. Give the “down” command, while at the same time moving your hand with the treat down to the ground, then away from him along the ground. As he follows the treat with his eyes, he will most likely lie down. When he does this, praise him and reward him with a treat. If he fails to lie down, place your hand on his back and gently push down until he goes down.
Each training session should not last more than 15 min.
Teaching Your Dog Some Manners – Part 4
The “Sit” command is a standard command used in competitive obedience. It is also a command that should be a main component of any pet owners training program. Say you are out walking you dog. He is wearing a dog leash
and you meet some friends and stop to talk. If your dog has been taught to Sit, you can command him to sit. While in the sit position, he will behave much better than if he Is up wandering around.
This particular dog training command is one of the easiest to teach. Hold a treat in front of your dog’s nose. Make sure he’s looking at it. Give him your “sit” command and move the treat up until it’s over your dog’s head, then move it towards his tail. Most dogs will automatically sit down as they follow the treat in your hand. When this happens, praise you dog and give him the treat. If he fails to sit, place you hand on his back end and gently push down until he is in the Sit position, and give him a treat.
Each training session should not last more than 15 min.
Teaching Your Dog Some Manners – Part 3
Whether you are training your dog for competitive obedience or general behavior around the home, The dog training command “stay” can be extremely useful. The “Stay” command means the dog cannot move until another formal command is given.
There will likely be many situations where you’ll be glad your dog can “stay.” Often this dog training command is linked with “sit” or “down” but it’s also possible to for a standing dog to “stay.”
Lets assume your dog is sitting and is wearing a Dog Leash
. Open your hand and put your open palm about six inches in front of his nose. Give him your command for “stay,” move back one step, count to three then return. Praise your dog for staying and give him a treat. Do it again, this time moving back two steps, count to three and return. Praise him again and give him another treat (his favorite part of the exercise). Gradually increase the distance between you and your dog, and also work on increasing the amount of time he must “stay.” Do this until he can consistently stay for one minute. Once this is going well, start to add some distractions, like squeaky toys. Continue to add time and distance as his training progresses.
Each training session should not last more than 15 min.
Teaching Your Dog Some Manners – Part 2
Does your dog run to the door when the door bell rings? Does he lunge thru a Pet Gate,
which is keeping him in a certain area of the house? Teaching him to “wait” is a good way to prevent him from going where he is not suppose to until he is told he may do so.
The “wait” command is a low level stay command. With the “Stay” Command, the dog is frozen in place and cannot move until another formal command is given. With the “Wait” command the dog is free to move around as long he doesn’t move forward in the direction he was headed.
If you are opening a gate and the dog heads toward it, tell him to wait. As he moves forward, slam the gate shut until it bops him in the nose. Repeat the “Wait” command, and open the gate. If he lunges forward, bop his nose again. It won’t take very many repetitions until he realizes he needs to wait until he is invited to pass thru the gate. The same exercise can be used at a door, and is a good way to keep your dog from lunging at unsuspecting visitors who may be at the door. Each training session should not last more than 15 min.
Teaching Your Dog Some Manners – Part 1
You got a new dog, and you’ve taken him home. Now What? Most pet owners want to keep their new friend in the house with them. Your cute and cuddly little fur ball will immediately command center stage from the whole family. When the new family member arrives, there’s a lot of things for you to consider and even more for your dog to learn.
For your dog to blend seamlessly into your life, he will need to learn some house manners. There are basic commands that will teach him to behave himself around people he doesn’t know, wait his turn when the door opens, and to keep all four paws on the floor when there are good smells on the kitchen counter.
Your dog is totally reliant and dependent on you to help him adapt and fit into our human, domesticated world. You can’t just throw him into a Dog Crate
and leave him there. Your decision making and leadership will determine what path his life takes and what type of dog he will become. You are the Top Dog and you are responsible for shaping his character, temperament and behavior habits that he will carry throughout his life. Your dog’s future is in your capable hands.
Selecting The Right Shampoo For Your Dog
Believe it or not, your pet’s skin is actually more sensitive than a baby’s because it is covered with fur. A quality Dog Shampoo
is pH balanced to be milder than soap or even baby shampoo. Soap can be especially drying to a pet’s skin and leave residue in the fur, causing itching, dandruff and shedding. Soap is also more likely to wash off any topical flea preparations, while soap-free formulas are perfectly safe.
Some Dogs have skin allergies and sensitivities that can make it difficult to get clean and remain simultaneously happy. They need a mild, hypo-allergenic, tearless shampoo. A Shampoo which cleanses thoroughly, safely and is kind to sensitive skin. The use of only mild and safe, non-irritants, will leave your pet’s coat soft, plush, and smelling naturally fresh.
A good Flea Pet Shampoo will Kill fleas on contact! Select a product that does not use pyrethroids or similar chemicals to achieve results, so fleas and other parasites do not become resistant, Thus, the product never loses effectiveness.
Precious puppies deserve tender loving care. So you need an extra-mild shampoo just for your frisky young pup. Naturally tearless and pH-balanced for puppies’ sensitive skin, A luxurious shampoo which contains only nature’s finest blend of natural cleansers. So when you rinse thoroughly you’ll leave your pup smelling and feeling better than ever before.
Dog Hair Clipper Kits
When you are considering a pet grooming tool like a Dog Hair Clipper Kit,
you need to find a product that features a powerful motor. There are many breeds of dogs that have thick, matted fur to begin with and trying to shave off the hair with a low powered clipper will only frustrate you.
The Oster dog clippers are among the best on the market and is really good brand to consider. Wahl offers a few mid-range dog clippers, but none compare to the power and performance of the Oster. The single-speed dog clippers can produce up to 3000 cutting strokes per minute and they run fairly quiet. The two-speed variety give you 3500 cutting strokes per minute and many are produced to keep cool and not heat up. The worst thing you can do is trying to clip your dogs hair with a clipper that is very hot in your hands.
Maintenance free clippers are the best since you don’t have to oil them up. Some of the professional dog clippers stay oiled for up to 100 hours of use (that’s years worth). Cordless dog clippers are available and run off of batteries giving you about 30 minutes of trimming time.
The portability is convenient but some of these models lack power which we feel is even more important. An ergonomic fit is appreciated say most owners as some clippers are heavy and if not held properly can cause wrist or hand fatigue. When it comes to blades, remember that the closer cut you want, the higher the blade number.
Protect Your Car
Some dogs just can’t be left alone, and others simply love to go along for car rides. It’s really convenient to have your dog hop into the car and head down to the park for some doggie frisbee or fetch. But dogs are synonymous with wet fur, muddy paws and shedding. If your dog loves travelling with you but you hate all the debris he leaves in your car, it’s time to invest in something to protect your car surfaces.
Pet seat covers can be the answer to all your problems. Car seat covers keep pet hair, dirt and moisture off car seats, cargo areas and furniture. You can choose attractive covers that coordinate with your regular upholstery, and water-resistant nylon backing especially helps prevent wetness from seeping through to the car seat. They even secure easily to rear seats with elastic corner straps and ties for maximum ease and hold
Grooming Kits For The Pampered Pet
There are many ways to pamper your pet. One way, which will benefit both you and your pet is to keep him neat, clean and well groomed. You can spend a lot of time and money shopping for the necessary grooming tools individually, or you can buy a Grooming Kit
which contains all of these items.
A typical grooming Kit includes: Electric Clippers, Adjustable Titanium Blade, and 6 Comb Attachments. The kit also includes but not limited to, a Slicker Brush, Styling Comb, Grooming Comb, Shears, Instructional DVD, Lubricating Oil, Cleaning Brush, & Carrying Case
Product Highlight(s):
A Slicker Brush is used by both veterinarians and professional groomers alike. Removes mats, tangles, dead and unwanted hair. They are designed for pets with sensitive skin and delicate coats
Combs come in many sizes for many purposes. They may be fine-toothed, medium-toothed, wide-toothed and combination of these. Fine tooth combs are generally for soft and silky coats. Medium tooth combs are all-purpose, and wide tooth combs are ideal for heavy coats, and sometimes de-matting tasks.
The fine art of “finish styling” requires a good pair of scissors to give the finished touch.
The Necessary Task of Trimming Your Dog’s Nails
Does your dog run the other way when he sees the 
Nail Clippers or the Nail Grinder in your hand? Most dogs do not like having their claws trimmed.
Whether they like it or not, Trimming a dog’s nails is an essential part of the grooming routine. Untrimmed nails leave dogs vulnerable to painful broken nails. Ingrown nails are also a danger when a dog’s nails are not properly maintained.
If your dog’s nails click against hard floors, they are too long, and they need to be trimmed. Using the right tools will make the task easier and you’ll find that trimming your dog’s nails is very much like clipping your own.
The new QuickFinder® Clipper is a nail clipper for dogs (up to 75 lbs), cats and small animals, and birds, that utilizes QuickSensor Technology that senses your pet’s quick and gives visual cues as to when it is safe and when it is not safe to begin clipping. Red-Yellow-Green. Green means Go! It is fast, safe and easy to use.
This tool utilizes sensor technology to detect nail differences between the live blood of your pet’s quick, and the dead skin of the nail and claw. QuickSensor senses with a circuit-board precision, when it is safe to cut, when to be cautious, and when it is not safe to cut.
The QuickFinder® Clipper is not designed for high volume usage (e.g. grooming salons, veterinary offices, or animal shelters).
Start trimming claws in young animals so that they get used to the process. Some dogs will happily sit in your lap or on a table while you trim their claws but many require some form of restraint.