Archive for August, 2009
My work schedule has been especially hectic during the last few weeks, but that’s still no excuse for the way I’ve been neglecting my dog. Of course I always make sure he has plenty of food and water, and I take him for walks on a daily basis. But I still miss those days when we could spend hours at a time playing in the backyard with just a tennis ball and a strip of rawhide to keep us entertained.
A few days ago I noticed that my dog has reverted somewhat in his obedience training. He’s been pulling at the leather dog leash with unadulterated abandon, with little regard for the strength of my grip or my willingness to jog. I finally resolved to set aside a little more time each day to spend with my dog; that way he’ll get more exercise and I’ll be able to relax a bit.
Halloween, the second largest retail holiday next to Christmas is just around the corner. Kids are not only getting ready for school, their starting to think about what they’re going to dress up as for Halloween. So what about the family dog and his dog costume; they are a big part of the family and should be included in the festivities. Whether you are having a house party or taking the kids around the neighborhood, why not have Fido looking the part as well in his dog costume.
There are plenty of choices for costumes from football player, cheerleader, or James Bond in his best black-tie tux. Moreover, if you feel your dog is not comfortable with a full dog costume you could just get him a Halloween themed bandana or a Halloween collar and leash set, which could have spooky designs like a spider with spider collar bows. If he just wants to be a cool dude, he could carry off an eerie Halloween t-shirt for his dog costume, which could say it all.
Whether you use your dog leash for taking your dog for a walk or teaching your dog right from wrong, a training lead is one the more important purchases you’ll make. As a dog owner and retail customer, your choices can seem overwhelming. With so much variety, choosing a dog lead can seem a bigger challenge then actual training.
Your choices are retractable leads, where you have the option to determine the length of slack; Nylon leads, the least expensive dog lead and is often the most irritating to your dog; Leather leads, the most popular type of training lead, comfortable for your dog while giving you the most control. This lead takes some practice as your dog can pull you along instead of you “leading” the walk.
Perhaps the most important training tool you will purchase for your new dog is his/her dog collar. As a new owner searching for the right dog collar can be a confusing time. There are several varieties of pet collars to choose from; here are a few with the pros and cons from a training perspective.
Choke dog collar – Perhaps one of the most suitable for training covering the broadest range of dog breeds and most damaging to the dog if used improperly. When putting this collar on your dog, hold up the collar facing your dog. If the collar is set-up correctly, it should represent the letter “P” with the tail of the collar no more than three inches long when placed high around your dog’s neck. This will allow the “slip” to release when you release pressure on the leash.
Leather or Fashion Collars – Great for attaching dog tags and charms but not a very good training dog collar. It is a good idea to have one of these collars, as ID tags are important should your new dog roam from the yard.
Harnesses – Also, not a very good training tool, however, they will work well once your dog has been trained to walk properly with the appropriate training collar. If used as a training tool harnesses actually encourage leash-pulling making walking your dog challenging to say the least.
Pinch Collars – Perhaps the most misunderstood and no wonder they look like something from medieval times aimed at torture instead of dog training. This collar has saved many dogs’ lives; they are great for large strong breeds where the owners are weaker then the dog. Unlike dog choke collars, these collars put even pressure on the neck and do not damage the throat.
Before you choose your dog training collar, determine your training goals and needs and pick the best dog collar for your newest family member.
Pet Strollers Add a Quality Life & Safety to Your Dog
There are a number of reasons why purchasing a stroller for your dog is a good idea especially for smaller or older breeds. Dog lovers enjoy taking their dogs everywhere including crowded community events. Having your dog in a pet stroller can protect them from the group and accidentally being trampled.
Older or injured dogs that have difficulty walking can still enjoy a walk with their owner benefiting from the fresh air and sunshine. Dog strollers are a safe method of transport if your dog is sick and needs to get to the vet, not to mention protection from other infected pets in the waiting room.
Lastly, dog strollers help guard against aggressive unleashed dogs while visiting the dog park. Socialization is vital to your dog’s behavior and mental health. Although it may not be necessary to keep your dog in the stroller the entire time, it does offer a quick safe haven if they need one.
There are many varieties and sizes to choose from on the recommend site in this blog so pick the size that best fits your needs from small dogs to large. Dog strollers can offer you the freedom to take your family dog almost anywhere you go.
Showing off your dog in front of friends and family is something that I personally love to do. Having an obedient, happy pup is like having an obedient happy child. The sooner you start leash training the safer and happier the dog. Nevertheless, this is no simple task, new puppies are generally afraid of collars and training leads so owner patience will be your first lesson.
First try letting him lead you around in the house with the training lead so your new pup becomes comfortable with the feeling then slowly bring him closer to walking next to you. Remember to be tolerant this may take some time. Once your new dog is comfortable it’s time for outside socialization. Again start slowly, walking around your neighborhood, then off to the dog park and soon you’ll be visiting your family and friends.
Bring along the appropriate dog treats and always praise him/her as they begin to succeed and walk with pride. Dogs can sense your mood so a loving voice filled with praise goes a long way for their mental health and future obedience training. Successful training begins with owner patience and ends with a healthy, happy and well trained & socialized dog.
As a conscientious pet owner, you owe it to yourself as well as your dog to take good care of the animal’s coat. In order to ensure that your canine maintains a lustrous coat, you’ll need to practice regular dog grooming. Before beginning this process, give your dog a quick bath to eliminate any gnarls or tangles in the fur. This will make grooming exponentially easier. Wait for the coat to dry before proceeding.
Next you need to clip any excess hair. For obvious reasons, you should be especially careful when trimming hair around the animal’s abdomen, naval and groin. Make sure that the dog is comfortable and stationary during the entire process. Comb the dog’s head, face and ears with a brush, and finish by combing the rest of the body. You may want to use a coat conditioner to enhance the overall sheen.
I wanted to give my dog a collar with some bling. I looked at the website on this blog and found an excellent selection of fashion collars that fit the bill. I have a Brussels Griffon named Paulette and she follows me everywhere so I decided it was time for her to make a fashion statement of her own.
I got her the neatest pink designer collar that accessorizes perfect with the little huddie I bought while I was shopping in the site. You should see her strut her stuff…its great!! She always was a mite feisty and now when we go to the dog park – look out because now Paulette’s in the house.
Connected with my old hiking buddy Keith the other day, and we began talking about our dogs. During his annual trip this summer he planned to do some backpacking in Northern Michigan. In getting his gear together he realized there was no room for the dog supplies and he definitely wanted to take his Lab.
He found a neat website and starting looking around and came across a dog backpack. I asked him if he bought the pack to which he said he did and it worked great. There was enough space for the food, water and even some treats. The two had a great time both pulling their own weight.
Keith was very excited to be able to include his dog on vacation this year. I think both experience separation anxiety when they’re apart.
In speaking to a couple of friends the other day, their dog Rufus, a German shepherd, was looking for anything comfortable to sleep on. Sometimes it was with their kids or on the coach all the while shedding like mad.
The kids’ beds were too small to accommodate a dog that size and he was trashing their couch. Rufus is getting up in years and needed someplace warm and cozy he could call his own. So I hopped on my computer and went shopping and found a great pet bed.
This bed looked awesome and from the time it hit the floor Rufus was in heaven. After about a week I check back with my friends who said they loved it. Easy to clean, the dog was happy and no more hair on the couch. A winner all around.