Archive for the ‘Dogs’ Category

One of the most difficult aspects of adopting a dog is deciding on a breed. Some are big while others are small; some are rambunctious while others are calm; and many have personality quirks that are endearing to some owners and frustrating to others. While nearly any canine can make a good companion, selecting a breed that matches your lifestyle will help ensure the experience is as rewarding as possible.

In this article, we'll provide several tips that will help you pick the perfect new addition to your family. Whether you have young children, live by yourself, enjoy an active lifestyle, or prefer time on the couch, you can find the perfect match.

1 - Consider Your Preferred Size

A large canine will need plenty of room; many will feel cramped inside small houses or apartments. Their tails may inadvertently create havoc when they swing back and forth. Also, keep in mind that big dogs eat more, and usually pose higher veterinary bills.

Small pets can become injured easily if someone steps or sits on them. They are also more susceptible to cold weather than bigger animals. On the other hand, small dogs are easier to transport, and usually less expensive to care for.

2 - Keep An Open Mind Regarding Age

Most people adopt puppies without considering an older canine. There are pros and cons to caring for each. A puppy is cute and playful, but requires a significant amount of time. You'll need to housetrain him as well as train him to prevent an assortment of behavioral problems from developing.

An adult dog is usually less excitable. While he may be energetic, he is likely to display a relaxed disposition. There's also a good chance he has received training in the past, which saves you time and effort. Most adult canines are already housebroken, and can quickly adapt to their new homes.

Another benefit of adopting an older pet is that there are few surprises. His personality will have already been formed by the time you bring him home.

3 - Your Energy Level

Some breeds have more energy than others. For example, American Foxhounds, Dalmatians, and Irish Setters are known to be high-energy dogs. These pets are well-suited for owners who live active lifestyles, and can provide them with plenty of exercise (more than a daily walk).

Other breeds are known to be far less energetic. This group includes Mastiffs, Saint Bernards, and Basset Hounds. These canines make compatible companions for owners who enjoy time at home, and are unable to commit to more than a couple of walks each day for exercise.

4 - Your Pet's Grooming Needs

Your dog will need you to provide for his grooming, whether you choose to do it yourself or take him to a professional groomer. In addition to periodic baths, he'll need to have his hair and nails trimmed.

Certain breeds, such as Boston Terriers, English Springer Spaniels, and Rottweilers, need minimal grooming. Others, such as Bearded Collies and Chow Chows, have high-maintenance grooming needs. This means you'll need to bathe, brush, and give them trims more often. You may also find yourself picking up the hair they shed throughout your home.

5 - Breeder Versus Animal Shelter

A lot of would-be owners prefer to adopt from breeders since doing so guarantees breed quality. If you choose to take this route, make sure the breeder from whom you adopt your dog has a good reputation. Many breeders are unprofessional, and fail to screen the animals they breed for diseases and other problems.

An alternative is to visit a reputable animal shelter. The canines are usually mixed breeds, which means each is unique and less likely to be burdened with breed-specific health problems. Also, many shelter dogs will have already been trained by past owners.

Selecting a canine that complements your life can be a daunting experience. But with a little research and self-analysis, you can pick a dog that poses a perfect match.

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Dated back to earlier times, the Chukchi tribes from northeastern Asia were the first to breed Siberian Husky dogs. It was during 1909 when these sleigh dogs were brought to Alaska for the first time in history to compete in the All-Alaska Sweepstakes race, where they drew the attention of the Alaskan dog breeders for their great running abilities. The American Kennel Club (AKC) offered recognition to these dogs in 1930. Eight years after this recognition, the Siberian Club of America was instituted.

Siberian Husky dogs are a gentle breed with pleasing temperament. The Chukchis raised their dogs with high admiration, considered them as an integral part of the family and inspired their children to play with the dogs. This probably facilitated the development of a warm, gentle, social and human-like attitude in these dogs. With their alert and intelligent nature, the Siberian Husky can become a warm companion for people of any age with diversified interest levels.

Siberian Huskies cannot be classified as single master dogs, although they possess a strong dedication and friendliness to their family. They tend to socialize with new people they come across. Typically, they do not show any fear or suspicion to strangers and this tendency deterrents their quality to become a good watch dog, although they can come up with involuntary violence and show their strong defensive attitude if attacked. They act gently at the time of getting socialized with dogs from other breeds.

Empowered with their strong hunting instinct such as swiftness, sneakiness and great tolerance skills, Siberian Husky dogs show their voracious attitude towards small house animals like squirrels, birds, cats, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs and can cause serious harm to them. So the owner of a Siberian Husky must maintain enough precaution if he plans to raise small animals together with a Siberian Husky. Otherwise, the dog may promote a mess in and around the home.

Siberian Husky dogs do not need much attention since they have a instinct to stay clean. These dogs are covered with a dense coat of abundant volume. For these dogs, shedding usually occurs once per year. Siberian Husky dogs are especially inclined towards digging holes and find it a favorite leisure activity. The dog is easier to keep since it requires much less food compared with its size. Traced back to early days, these dogs were fed with small amount of food in order to keep them active.

Siberian Husky dogs possess a strong instinct to run. Since early days, these dogs have shown their true inclination to run, as they are found to enjoy this instinct from true core of their heart. However, this tendency may pose a serious threat to their existence if indulged. You may consider a situation when they endure their running aptitude through a busy road. So, if you own a Siberian Husky, you better know how to confine it wisely in order to ensure its maximum protection. If you feel bad seeing dog in confinement the Siberian Husky may not be a good choice for you.

Andrew Preston knows much about the history of the Siberian Husky breed. The Siberian Husky has a long and distinguished history. Siberian Husky information can help you to learn about the specific appearance and ability of the breed.

Have you ever wondered what "exactly" could be the reason why does your dog bark, pull on the leash, lunge, growl, attack, shiver, whimper, shy away or is dying to play when faced with other dogs that he is not familiar with?

Here are all the reasons:

o You don't have the right timing, right technique, or the right training tool that can get your dog under your complete control. If a certain tool stops working or doesn't even seem to faze your dog anymore, try another one. Use what works!

o You never thought socializing your dog with other dogs was really important or even possible. So you kept putting it off and now you finally admit that this has become a serious issue!

o You have been avoiding any dog you came across by changing routes on your walks, or by walking your dog really late at night or super early in the morning.

o Your training foundation is weak or even worse, you have no foundation. Meaning, your dog doesn't even listen to you that well in private or in your home. So why would he all of sudden behave like a perfect angel around dogs that he doesn't know or doesn't feel comfortable with?

o Your dog USED to be friendly around dogs, but you slacked off on being involved on dog activities, daily walks, etc. And now, all of sudden your dog doesn't know exactly how to behave around dogs he hasn't met before.

o Your dog, or perhaps the other dog, isn't spayed/neutered and they are dying to get it on and prove themselves. Jealousy also causes dogs to act aggressive toward one another.

o Your dog whimpers to trick you into thinking that all it wants to do is play, and when you get close to the other dog, all of sudden it charges for the kill. Very sneaky!

o You keep on patting your dog in an attempt to calm her down and by saying, "It's OK. It's okaaaaaaay. Nooooo...seeeee.... It's a nice doggie." But this doesn't send the right message. In fact by doing so, you are "encouraging" your dog to keep on acting aggressively. This might work on some humans, but it never works on dogs. So do not pat or keep on massaging your dog while she is constantly lunging and growling at other dogs. This translates to: "Go ahead. Kill 'em." Even if you say "NO" in between, you are still not being crystal clear with your message.

o You misread your dog's or other dogs' body language. Sometimes when owners hold the leash tightly, this makes the dogs seem bigger, more tense, nervous, dominant and sometimes even a bit aggressive. Often you notice an owner's dog is completely relaxed, yet the owner acts scared and desperately tries to pull the dog close to her. This makes the dog appear taller, more tense, with his head up and chest out, which reads a very confrontational gesture to other dogs. So please don't wrap the leash around your hand three times by anticipating a dogfight.

o Your dog always lunges and attacks other dogs and doesn't really know how to behave. Like a barbarian, it's totally natural to him to act like a maniac. Basically your dog is thinking, "It doesn't really matter if the other dog is small, big, black, white, friendly or aggressive. I always lose it when I see other dogs. It's fun and it keeps me alive. I have that spice in me. Rrrrrruf!"

o You have a poor attitude and might even be prejudiced or scared of certain breeds. And guess what? Dogs never miss this and will try to protect you or at least try to scare the other dog. Maybe you hate certain breeds and your dog or the other dogs sense it from your energy, body language, or the fact that you totally changed direction, walked on the other side of the street, or picked up your small dog, hiding him from the rest of the world.

o Your dog never lost a dog fight in his entire life and always managed to scare, bully and lunge at dogs and actually get away with it. He probably sees himself as undefeated. The bigger the other dog, the more of a challenge; the bigger the fight, the better the pay per view.

o Your dog has been attacked by a dog in the past and got injured badly which resulted in him losing trust and confidence in you. You see, when you couldn't protect your dog from another dog attacking it, your poor dog had to find a way to protect himself. So now it anticipates another dog attack. This is why now he acts tough to scare the other dogs away. Can you blame him?

o Certain dogs provoke your dog more than others. See if you can find any pattern. Is your dog getting aggressive more toward males, females, puppies, adults, small dogs, black dogs, white dogs, fluffy dogs with floppy ears, pointy eared dogs, or even dogs that are not neutered. How about their owners? See if you notice any pattern with them. Some dogs love a challenge and prefer to fight the biggest dogs they can find. Some can't stand the small dogs' bark, and the fact that they are more spoiled than bigger dogs, and probably see them as Costco's appetizers.

o You've been letting your dog constantly mark on walks and thought it was normal and harmless. Now when your dog sees another dog in your neighborhood, he gets upset and tries to defend his territory. Just as your dog is overprotective of your house and your yard, he now thinks he owns the entire neighborhood just because he peed in every corner and every bush around it. How dare another dog walk in his hood!

o Something or even someone has irritated your dog, and now he decides to let it out on another dog. Be honest. Don't YOU pick on someone or at your loved ones when you aren't in a good mood? There you go. Your dog has learned it from you!

o Your dog is dying to play and interact with the other dog, but doesn't really know HOW. So he gets mad at you, mad at the other dog, at the leash, at your training tool and at the world! This could be a dog that once he manages to get loose, will lick the other dog to death to show his affection. Most dogs when they want to play, just pull on the leash, whimper, wag their tail happily, or maybe bark and whine in excitement. Not your dog. And it's really hard to know for sure exactly what he'll do, when he finally manages to get to the other dog. Will he play or go for the kill? And who's brave enough to find out?

o Your dog gets aggressive only when he is leashed. This might be another form of fear or frustration an attempt to keep the other dogs away. Or your dog notices that when he acts this way, you and the other dog owner walking another dog automatically pull back and don't let them get close to each other. Your dog knows that he can't do much while being leashed and his movements are limited. Therefore, it's much safer to act like a maniac. Basically each bark and growl translates to: "Let me go. Let me go, Mommy. I can take him. Let me show you what I can do. Let me put him on the news for you."

o Your dog is using your "other" dog as a shield/back up and knows it gives her more power when they attack as a pack. These dogs may walk politely one-on-one, but never as a team.

Conclusion: One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is that they automatically assume that if their pooch loves some dogs, that it will remain dog-friendly with all breeds of dogs for the rest of his life. The truth is, some will, but most WON'T. You must be able to get your dog's full attention around friendly dogs, aggressive dogs, hyper dogs, small dogs, big dogs, fluffy dogs, and male or female dogs.

It's like a serial killer. They rarely go on a killing spree of their friends or relatives. It's always the poor complete strangers.

About the Author:

Kevin Salem is considered to be one of the brightest minds in the world of dog training and one of the pioneers in his field. It's hard to paint Kevin's image with the same brush as others, as his unique way of thinking, writing, and training philosophy truly makes him distinct.

If you are a fan of Cesar Millan, it will be difficult not to fall in love with Kevin's book. You'll finally be able to put an end to your dog's: Jumping Up, House-training, Play-biting, Barking, Leash Pulling, Destructiveness, Bolting Out, Over-protectiveness-- to complete off-leash response. 10 week old pups to 10 yr old adults, all breeds welcome. Kevin offers Doggie Boot Camp or House Calls Nationwide. Try his book, hire him in person, or see him put his eyebrow raising skills into action by visiting his award-winning web site: http://www.DogSecrets.com

Well, there I was with my new puppy on my lap hoping that he wouldn't be sick on me whilst we were driven home. Although we had decided some time ago what breed of dog we intended to get, it had still been a rather impulsive and unplanned event on that day; and so we needed some basic products - quickly.

All excited, we went to our local pet store to purchase a small comfortable bed for our tiny (and cute) little puppy. It didn't take long to feel more than a little disappointed with the choice available to us. And, in retrospect - it is understandable. After all, the local pet store does try to meet the needs of pet owners with dogs, cats, fish, rabbits, hamsters, and even snakes etc. It was therefore unreasonable for me to expect that it would have a wide choice of dogs beds from which to choose from.

After some research, it seemed that even the larger pet websites suffered a similar problem - way too many products, with a small choice in certain categories.

Admittedly, I am fussy - I mean, we spent quite some time decorating and furnishing our home in a style that suits us. I felt that dogs beds can be sizeable objects that take up quite a bit of floor space, and often become a focal point for people, whilst we admire our sleeping dogs ("look - he's sleeping...aahhh, bless").

Ever resourceful, I actually decided I would make our puppy his very own, personalised, dog bed. I made a beautiful bed, made from some old jeans and t-shirts - it was made with love, attractive, bespoke, and re-cycled - perfect.

The problem with adorable puppies, is that they have yet to be house trained, and yet to find their teeth and chew things. It wasn't long then, before that beautiful designer dog bed had been destroyed (I still forgave him - he's cute!).

The long-term aim of the new website we have set up - DogsBeds.org is to research whether there is a market for hand-stitched, personalised dog's beds (for adult dogs that don't chew). But, in the meantime, to save you guys' time and hassle, we have collated some of the better options available on the internet. We hope it helps you in your search for your dog's bed.

N Jackman
Website Founder
http://www.dogsbeds.org

Are you presently contemplating converting to hypoallergenic dog food since your four-legged friend has allergic reactions or even for many other medical factors? Transitioning the sort of dog food you give your canine friend might be an effective and practicable answer.

Surely the simplest way to cut out pretty much any things that trigger allergies through your dog's eating habits is actually figuring out what they are intolerant or allergic to. To get this done you will have to know what ingredients your pet is allergic to or simply what food products your canine has intolerance to. You will discover this data out by going to the vet coupled with performing certain medical tests. All these exams are the same form of examinations of which health professionals run on humans in order to discover their food allergies.

Before actually taking your dog to the vet, it is a good idea to try to figure out what they may be allergic to. For instance - pay attention to changes that you can pinpoint. If you know you switched dog foods recently, added in new flavors, etc. - this is the kind of information you will want to share with your vet during the appointment.

Even though you may want to go and see your vet, you'll still may want to change to hypoallergenic dog food now. The formula in hypoallergenic dog food won't be the same as with the common, everyday commercial dog food which you have recently been feeding the family pet. Yet, it still would be a wise decision to compare the particular list of ingredients in any case. A sensible way to achieve that will be to cut out the actual ingredient list you've got from your current food that you're giving your pet as well as take it shopping together with you.

Using this method you will be able to match all the ingredients effortlessly. If you cannot or do not want to do that you can just jot down the top listed ingredients (as they will be listed in order of the most used in the foodstuff) or simply examine two unique bags of food while shopping.

Another good idea is to write down the symptoms that your dog is displaying. The rationale you want to do this is due to lots of hypoallergenic dog food bags will list distinct ingredients they use as well as just what these ingredients can do to help your dog (similar to suppress excessive itchiness and scratching, create a more healthy coat, etc.).

You now are ready to purchase your own hypoallergenic dog food. There are still other ways this can be done. You are able to actually go to your localized pet food store to check out their particular selection. Even so, in the event that this doesn't work out for you, or in the event that they would not have many brands to pick from; you could possibly decide to buy online. You can either search at a pet nutrition store or perhaps you may want to try Amazon for your pet food needs. Something I love concerning searching on Amazon . com is that they contain a big selection and plenty of details on what you are shopping for, including testimonials from real customers.

When searching for hypoallergenic dog food it is best to check what you'll need for your own pet. Your own dog's needs are the very basis for this sort of dog food swap. This particular choice is a great preventive measure whenever considering for allergen hypersensitivity in puppies.

Learn more about hypoallergenic dog food today. Visit Pamela Kazmierczak's website about Healthy Dogs to learn more about Allergies in Dogs right now.

Having a puppy can lower blood pressure levels, greatly reduce tension, give social support, and increase our every day physical exercise levels. Because our furry pals are doing a great deal for us, it is very important for us to take the time and energy to correctly raise and train them. Puppy training lessons are enjoyable and rewarding, albeit challenging. Learning starts at birth for puppies and research has demonstrated that puppies who are trained early on in life display more desirable adult behavior. It is actually best to train as early as possible or at the least by 10 weeks.

Potty training is generally where people start out, and for totally obvious reasons. One of the tips to keep in mind in all of the aspects of behavioral training is positive reinforcement. You would like to encourage your dog to conduct themselves well for the advantage of it. Violent or aggressive strategies and punishment-based strategies will bring about many social and behavioral problems. Your puppy can make you extremely happy so try and return this favor and train them by rewarding the good, never punishing the bad.

Establish a regular feeding schedule and pay attention to how long it takes your puppy right after eating to have to go outdoors. Keep an eye on your puppy's behavior closely and pay attention to what they do right before they go to the bathroom. They will in most cases show some noticeable hints like sniffing at the floor, circling the area or running to the door. There may be some accidents during this process, but if you can tune in to your puppy's pre-bathroom cues, you can take them outside whenever those happen. Once they accomplish their deed outside, make sure you reward them using a positive tone of voice and a treat. Puppy training lessons really should include a number of reward-activities for properly behaving dogs.

Lots of puppies will get used to this fairly quickly but far more stubborn breeds could need clicker training. Attempt to get the puppy outdoors to make use of the bathroom at the same time on a daily basis for quite some time. This will help them acquire a sense of routine around the behavior and associate it with going outside.

Research has demonstrated that lots of positive encounters and playtime with different dogs prior to the age of 16 weeks bears a much more socially integrated, friendly dog. Puppy training lessons for socialization need to incorporate normal walks through places with various other men and women and dogs, trips to the dog park where they might openly socialize with other puppies and also intimate time at home with all the family members.

When you are teaching your puppy how to make use of the bathroom outdoors, the ways to be a friendly and sociable dog as well as to abide by rules, the two most important principles are consistency and perseverance. Make sure you always keep your rules and rewards consistent in order to help them discover what behavior is acceptable. Be persistent and allow your puppy time to adjust to their new environment and learn the rules. Puppies can bring a whole lot of joy into our lives; keep in mind that encouraging them through positive rewards is an excellent method to repay this.

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Getting a furry addition to the household is exciting, however it comes along with plenty of work. A puppy must become acclimated to brand new surroundings and learn about the rules of his or her new family. The ideal way for you to teach your new four-legged family member right from wrong and make crystal clear what is expected of him or her would be to enroll in puppy training classes.

Despite the fact that the majority of training classes teach simple commands like sit, stay, lay down, heel and wait, the methods employed can vary greatly. Some trainers make use of harsh tones and a firm hand in an effort to show the dog that the owner stands out as the alpha dog. Although this method could be useful, it can make the dog fearful and shy, and will occasionally border on abuse.

The best puppy training classes employ rewards to generate the wanted results. The trainers recognize the simple fact that the puppy is actually a good friend plus a member of the family, and not an animal that must be broken. Rewards are generally food-based such as bits of carrots or perhaps a favorite treat, although not all the time. Positive words of praise along with a pat on the head are often just as encouraging for some dogs as a delicious snack. A distinct snapping noise is the reward for a job nicely done while attending a clicker training course.

Together with simple commands, proper training will help to teach puppies socialization skills. Sometimes classes will begin or finish with a playtime that enables the dogs to get acquainted with each other and helps get rid of some of their practically endless supply of energy. Many training facilities in addition provide play dates on separate days during which classmates can spend time interacting with dogs from other classes.

It is vital to initially research the service as well as the trainer previous to registering for a class. Learn exactly how long the trainer has been working with animals and teaching classes. Contact the Better Business Bureau to make sure no complaints have already been filed against the facility. Ask for references, and phone or email those references to find out whether they were completely happy with the program and final results.

Puppy training classes will help the owner bond with the little puppy, however training isn't just for puppies. The right training tends to make the transition for a newly adopted older dog a lot easier, or help correct undesirable behavior of a much loved family member that never had formal training classes when young. Advanced courses are often available for successful graduates of the beginning class. Training classes will help Fido keep out of trouble and keep the owners as happy as the little tail-wagger.

Are you looking for effective puppy training advice? Be sure to visit my site for help in stopping puppy begging and in stopping puppy barking.

Training is definitely a vital component of a good quality relationship between any dog and its owner. Even if you adopt a mature dog that has a complete repertoire of commands learned, practice sessions won't just reinforce these commands but develop a much better connection between you. Your pet will appreciate the time spent together, having a task to do, as well as the exercise of body and brain - if you approach training properly.

When a puppy comes into your life, training will be even more crucial. You will have a canine blank slate waiting to become shaped into a well-behaved dog; and when you overlook reinforcement of appropriate behaviors as well as the drawing away from undesired behaviors, chances are you'll end up with an out-of-control terror by the time your puppy is completely grown.

In training classes, you will hear the phrases positive and negative reinforcement. The major difference is huge, and though negative training was at one time widely used, the superb success received by positive reinforcement has helped make it largely the training strategy of choice. For instance, when you are toilet training your dog, negative reinforcement would have you scold and punish your dog when it made a mess on your carpet. Positive, on the other hand, would have you praise and reward your dog for relieving itself in the appropriate spot. Providing your pet a precise objective with an attractive reward is a great deal more effective in producing wanted behaviors. Clicker training is a method of positive reinforcement used by lots of trainers.

In standard clicker training, two components are utilized to guide your puppy toward the actions you desire: a clicker plus a reward. In due course the puppy will come to figure out that the clicking noise will mean it has done the proper thing and will quickly be given a reward. Simply because the clicker makes a far more unique and faster sound in comparison with making use of a spoken cue like "good dog" and it is much less probable to take place in everyday conversation, it will help your pet learn more easily precisely when it did what you desired. The reward can be anything that motivates your puppy to work, from treats to a favored toy. The true secret in puppy clicker training is that your dog connects that click with the coming treat.

To get started on clicker training, don't ask the puppy to do anything at all. Simply click and then reward until finally the dog plainly sees that the two are linked. Next, anytime you see the dog doing anything that you might wish to develop into a command, click as soon as you observe the action, followed by the reward as well as a verbal cue. For instance, if your dog sits, click and reward. After several repetitions, add "good sit" as you provide the reward. Puppy clicker training isn't just valuable for such behavior training commands as sit, come, and down, but also for virtually any behavior you might find cute, such as sneezing, head tilting, or bowing.

No matter whether the dog will reach its full size at 10 pounds or 110 pounds, puppy clicker training can help make certain you end up with a happy, well-behaved friend as opposed to an anxious and stressful problem pet.

Are you looking for effective puppy training advice? Be sure to visit my site for help in stopping puppy barking and tips on how to stop puppy biting.

Getting a puppy is one of life's greatest pleasures. With appropriate training and guidance, a puppy can grow up and supply a person with constant companionship as well as a permanent friendship. Nevertheless, this can be easier said than done, especially since owners lose the will to train their furry pals when they see those lovely, heart-melting puppy eyes.

A typical issue experienced by owners is the reality that a puppy bites, in particular once it starts to develop its milk teeth which are razor-sharp and quite tiny. As a naturally inquisitive and gregarious creature, a puppy reacts to its environment and surroundings and will often wish to place items into its mouth. When allowed by an individual to do so, this can result in dire consequences later on in life. Biting poses danger to the owner, to any individual it could encounter and to the dog itself since it could possibly be put down because of this undesirable behavior. That is why it really is very important to stop puppy biting.

Probably the most normal strategy to stop puppy biting is to take away the finger or hand from the mouth and then swap it with a nylabone or possibly a chew toy. This will serve two purposes: to start with, it teaches the puppy to distinguish good biting from bad biting; second, it lets the pup find out just what objects they're truly permitted to chew on.

Another straightforward technique will be to let out a loud "ouch," yelp or squeal. This reaction is similar to its mother's response to discomfort and in the process, your puppy will find out that it should not do this. The handler should then glare at the puppy and keep a distance between him and the pup. This means getting up and moving away.

On the other hand, many people believe shaking a can filled up with a few coins and jumping up on the couch to be an effective bite deterrent. This particular approach scares the puppy and so it learns to link that horrible sound with the poor behavior. This will call for only very simple items: a soda can plus a few coins. Empty out the can and clean it. Place several coins inside then tape the mouth closed. Whenever the puppy begins to nip, give him the verbal command, like an "ouch," and at the very same time, shake the can vigorously and move away from the pup.

As can be readily seen, with just a bit of work and persistence, an individual can easily stop puppy biting. Always take into account that slapping or striking the puppy in the face is not going to do the trick. It could do the reverse as the puppy will in fact think that you're simply playing or it might become afraid of you.

Are you looking for effective dog training information? Be sure to visit my site to find out how to stop dogs chasing and stop a dog digging.

Most people have pets because they are animal lovers and relish in the idea of knowing that they can care for their favorite mammal, fish, reptile, or amphibian. Some folks have pets because it's what the kids wanted (now that's another story), others for company, and some for protection, namely guard dogs, but these too are often much loved members of the family despite their official role.

The most common family pets are probably as follows: dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, mice, gerbils & hamsters. However, it is the purpose of this article to highlight my thoughts and opinions on what seems like a steady decline in care for our canines and in particular the training methods applied using shock collars for dogs.

Most, but not all, pets are cherished and loved by their owners, and none more so than the hound. But in a society of rush and tear, just how may of you have the time for your beloved canine that previous generations had?

I know there are a log of dogs in my immediate neighborhood, but it's not so common to see them being walked and exercised, not compared to a generation or two ago, where the streets were alive with dogs and their walkers, especially in the mornings and early evenings. Another thing that concerns me is the amount of whacking I see both adults and kiddies dishing out to their animals in the streets. It's usually because the poor little mutts dare to stop for a sniff along the way, when all the walker wants is to get the pesky pet walk over with.

Does this seeming lack of affection mean are we becoming just careless or unfeeling towards animals as a society? I mean, where's the line between discipline and cruelty, firm handling and punishment?

When I discovered the growing popularity of shock collars for dogs, I have to be honest and say if upset me greatly. I think it's just a method that uses negative reinforcement to train an animal, and it seems like a bone idle and uncaring technique of training a dog. Anyone who takes on the responsibility of owning a dog should spend quality time with the animal and use interactive training methods, and not by zapping one of those darn shock collars for dogs every time your roaming rover does something you disapprove of.

It doesn't stop at shock collars for dogs either. Oh, no, we have shock collars for cats too. What's next, shock collars for unruly kids? The manufacturers and retailers of these gadgets advertise them as the most effective way to stop your dogs from barking (Umm! Dogs are supposed to bark!), in addition to assisting you, the owner, in the training and the behavior modification of your pet.

If we are so passionate about the continued development of our automated push button society, why don't we simply have Robot canines? These mechanical look-alikes could just sleep in the corner without any commitment from us. It would probably lessen the burden of the RSPCA too.

Andy Maingam is a proficient writer and webmaster of PickingPets dot com where he has articles on Dogs and Science Diet dog food. He also has other ?pet? related to pieces on the site.