Archive for April, 2009
Learn How To Adjust a Baby With a Dog
Having a baby is the most exciting thing in the world. Very few pleasures of life come close to the joy of bringing your bundle of joy home with you. Needless to say, your life will change after the arrival of the new baby.
But if you already have one baby at home you will have to start by getting him ready to welcome the new addition to your family. The baby I am talking about here is your dog or puppy. To begin with just like an older sibling your dog will have a hard time accepting someone who gets more love and attention than him. So let’s talk about a few things that you can do to put your dog at ease. View these dog accessories for your pet.
If you suddenly bring a small baby or child into your puppy’s world in this case his home it is a very daunting and intimidating prospect for him. A good way to ease his anxiety would be to keep him in the midst of young children. This will give him a chance to socialize and be friendly with them. So when your child arrives he will not feel insecure or defensive around him.
Even if you don’t have young children of your own you can always ask your friends who have young children to send their kids over. This will be a learning experience for you as well as your pet. Some puppies may be a little aggressive towards children in the beginning but you can help solve this situation by asking the kids to carry doggy treats in their hands. This way, your pup will start associating children with treats and will accept them as his friends.
Dogs are no different than children and it becomes very difficult for them to decipher the changes that may take place in the house with the arrival of the new baby. So it’s very important that as far as possible you stick to the same schedules that you followed with your dog in the pre baby days. In other words try not to alter his feeding or walking time. Give him as mush attention as possible this will help him to not feel neglected. View these clothes for dogs and clothes for male dogs will be very awesome for your pet.
If you play aggressive games with your puppy like tug of war or play wrestle try to tone it down a little. Even though these games are usually harmless, with a new baby around that makes all sought of sounds your dog might mistake it to be a play thing. So be careful for the first few months once your dog gets used to the baby then it will be smooth sailing for you, your baby and your pet.
Selecting the Proper Dog Crate
There are several types of dog crates to choose from. It all depends on what you need the crate for and how big your dog is. There are a few things that you must keep in mind while shopping for a new crate for your dog. Are you traveling and how? How big is your dog? Is your dog scared of people? Does your dog like to bark a lot? What can you fit in your budget?
There are crates that are more like fence material. There is also plastic that you may want to choose from. There are some that you would have the convenience of collapsing and storing easily.
Remember that puppies grow. So if you invest in a small crate or kennel for your small boxer puppy, keep in mind the cost of the crate and the fact that the puppy will get bigger. Are you willing to invest in something that he will outgrow in a couple months?
Is this something that you are wanting your puppy to stay in during the day while you are at work? Keep in mind that if it is enclosed, your puppy may be uncomfortable and scared. Perhaps a larger fence like crate may be in his best interest. That way he has room to roam a little. It is an open crate to where he can see things around him. Also there is plenty of room for him to grow.
There may be times when you need to travel on an airplane and need to bring your pet with you. In this case, you may consider a light plastic crate because it is easier to carry and it is enclosed to where other animals won’t cause him to bark or he won’t get nervous. Not to mention you want one that he can just fit in and be secure. There are certain requirements for traveling on an airplane with dogs as well. Be sure to check with the airline to see about their guidelines and rules.
If you plan to use a crate on a regular basis, the best thing to do is to make sure that he starts out using it as soon as possible so that he can get use to it. For instance, if he needs to be puppysat, it is best that he gets use to the crate because as he travels to other places and sees other people in a strange environment, he would be familiar with the surroundings within his crate.
It would be (to him) a lot like home. It would provide him with the security that he would need so that he feels much more content. A lot of people would want to use a crate for the purpose of keeping him contained at night. In this case the crate is his ‘bed’. It should be a place where he is comfortable and secure. It is not recommended to use it for punishment and security, because that would be two separate purposes and may even confuse the puppy.
When shopping for a crate, keep in mind whether or not you would want plastic or metal. Some puppies like to chew a lot and that can even be the case as they get older. In this case the best type of crate would most likely be a metal crate versus the plastic type. When this happens, be sure to include toys and raw hide bones. Not to mention they can be very lonely and bored all day in a little confinement. Eventually they will get use to it but it is still good to make sure that they are as comfortable as possible.
Some dogs have separation anxiety, such as a Mastiff, so purchasing the largest crate is the best. The reason being is so that they have some space to move. Definitely start them out as soon as possible so that it becomes part of their everyday routine.
Another good thing to remember is that dogs that are being house broken may have a hard time being broken. Therefore, you may want to put them in a crate. Dogs are less prone to pottying in their bed area. They are less likely to dirty it up and will wait as long as possible before pottying. With that said, crates are good for house breaking dogs.
You may consider a large crate and in this case it is best to get one that is collapsible so that you can store it when you are through with it. They have some that are stainless steel so that they will last a long time. Then for moving and traveling or for your smaller dogs. The choice is up to you so keep all of these tips in mind. There are many benefits for you, your dog and even your home, in using a crate. You can find them in pet stores and even online.
Be sure to visit our house pet supply store for your small dog supplies.
Launchers Are A Great Training Tool For Bird Dogs
Training your bird dogs to hunt, whether it’s for flushing, pointing, or retrieving, there are great tools at your disposal. Bird and Dummy Launchers are available with remote control devices that can be used together or separately to fill your training needs.
Remote Bird and Dummy Launchers
Whichever launcher you’re using (bird or dummy), you can use a remote control with it, allowing you to train your dog without having extra trainers to run the launchers for you. Without a remote, you’ll need a person at each launcher to “man the switch.” This can be distracting for the dog.
A bird launcher is designed to emit a number of sounds and beeps to help your dog learn the sounds that he will hear when he’s hunting with you. The type, be it a dummy launcher or bird launcher will be dependent on what kind of training your dog requires. And because your goal is to have a well-trained dog who will make a great hunting partner, launchers are perfect for the job.
For those who work alone and who would like to be able to launch a dummy more easily and to greater heights and distances than they can by throwing, this is the solution. This allows you to train your dog to retrieve game that is further away and allows for more realistic “launch, shoot, retrieve” scenarios versus the hand-thrown method. Using a remote, another great feature is added: sounds and surprise. This allows you to launch the dummy from somewhere not next to you and to do so while holding the gun poised to fire. This gives more realistic training.
To train a pointer or flushing dog, bird launchers are almost essential. A significant advantage with these is the ability to set up multiple launchers in the field to simulate an actual hunting area. Dogs are natural hunters and honing those skills is most easily done by mimicking what their skills were bred for. Training a dog to honor another’s point for the flush and to be effective in finding and pointing are much more easily done while using a bird launcher. Pointing dog trainers have been using them for years and now flushing dog trainers are seeing the huge advantages these tools can offer as well. Using the low-ground spring latch, these launchers can effectively train for quail and pheasant as well as high-flying birds like fowl.
How to Better Train Your Dog
Solid Dog Behavior Training Advice
Dogs can be very intelligent and owners need to realize that in the first step of dog behavior training. That’s good news because it means that your dog’s training is not going to be too difficult if you go about it the right way. Here’s some advice for those interested in dog training and what is involved:
Specifics
The timing of critiques and praises needs to be regular when you are training the dog. Obedience training allows little room for error. If you want your dog to obey you, your dog needs to understand that you want that—no matter what, all the time. If you do not advise or praise the dog while the action is occurring, it can be too late to ever change his habits. In training your dog, you may need to assist the dog as the action is occurring.
Consistency
When training your dog, you need to be consistent. If you never want your dog to scratch the door, do not ever let him do it no matter what the situation is. Dog behavior training is very sensitive to regularities.
Be habitual with your actions. If you do not want your dog to go on the sofa, then he never be allowed on that sofa—or your bed. In dog behavior training you learn that dogs do not understand the concept of occasionally or “if.” They only understand consistent permission or no permission– ever.
Good Boy!
When we are training our dog in obedience techniques, we often center on perfection in our dog but do not congratulate the dog’s good behavior as much as we should. If your dog is sitting where you want him to be sitting and minding his own business, tell him he is a good dog. In dog obedience training we believe in giving praise when the dog is not being naughty.
Try not to get too angry when he does something bad. In training our dogs, we believe that you should reinforce positive actions and let bad ones slide once in a while.
Stand Your Ground
If you don’t show your dog who the boss is, your dog will show you. You have to command your dog when training. Don’t be weak or shaky when you ask for an action. When training your dog, if dogs do not comply, you need to show them the way.
You can teach an older dog to adapt to a dog house, but unlike a puppy he may be already set in his ways and might not take to a new environment.
No matter the age of your dog, when you have completed your dog house training you need to teach your children that the dog house is his safe place and when he goes into his home he should’t be bothered and that he wants to get away from everyone else.
A dog, no matter how friendly, has the instinct to attack when it feels trapped and if your children are bothering the dog while in a dog house the dog will feel trapped and attack. That’s why dog house training is just as important to your dog as it is to the rest of the family.
Find Out Useful Tips About Easy To Teach Dog Tricks
To teach your dog tricks even easy ones you need to have some small reward treats, be in a quiet suitable place and keep the training sessions to 10 - 15 minutes or your dog will start to get board, remember when he gets something right lots of praise and a reward treat, just be careful not to get him over excited or he will loose concentration.
Getting your dog to give you his paw, first get your dog to sit, then as you say the word ‘paw’ take your dogs paw in your hand, give the dog a treat, repeat this, after a few times do not take his paw so quickly, say the word, count to one then take it, you should notice he is bringing his paw up as you say the word if he does not go back to saying it at the same time, do it a few more times then slow your response again. After 2 or 3 sessions most dogs pick this one up quite happily.
The high five, like a lot of tricks the high five is a progression of an earlier trick, in this cast the paw trick. Hold a treat in your fingers and raise your hand slightly higher than you would for the paw trick. You dog will think you want to do the paw trick and will reach for the treat with his paw as we taught him earlier, as he reaches up you say “high five” and give him the treat. Once your dog has mastered the paw trick this one should be very easy to learn and with just a few sessions he will be doing it on hand signal rather than voice control.
Getting your dog to jump through a hoop, before you start this one I would just like to ask you to be a little sensible and not hold the hoop too high as you do not want your dog to heart himself while doing the trick. Sit your dog on one side of a hoola hoop, get the dogs attention on your hand on the other side of the hoop take a treat in your hand and give the dog the command to release him from the sit, at first he may attempt to go around or under the hoop, if this happens start again, your dog wants the treat and will soon learn that going around or under does not get it so he will soon start going through it, when he does say hoopla and give him the treat. He will soon be jumping through the hoop on the command of hoopla. When I started doing this trick I had a medium sized dog (a Labrador) so I started with the hoop 6 inches from the ground and slowly raised it to waist height, if you have a smaller dog you might want to start with the hoop touching the ground so the dog just goes through the hoop and then slowly raise it as he gets used to the trick.
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Want a FREE “5 Dog Training Myths” Report? Visit stop a barking dog to find out more!
Read about stop chewing dogs issues on this blog.
Tricks On Constructing A dog crate cover
Making a personalized crate cover for your beloved family dog isn’t as difficult as some people may think. There are many different companies that can provide you with the materials you need to accomplish this, or you can make it even easier on yourself and just purchase everything you need that is custom built for you.
If you desire to make this as simple as possible, then purchasing dog crate covers that are custom built to your specifications is the way to go. By following a few quick and easy steps you will be on your way to creating a beautiful and functional crate cover for your best friend.
A custom built crate cover setup can consist of several parts: a fluffy bottom layer for a bed, an inner liner and a fabric cover that totally blankets the entire metal dog crate. Adding all these individual pieces into one custom crate setup will provide your pet with the optimal combination of comfort and safety.
In order to have your custom built crate cover built, you will have to provide the dimensions of your dog crate to the company you are working with. You will have to provide accurate measurements to ensure the perfect sizing so be sure to get detailed dimensions of your dog kennel which include the length, the width and the height.
After you have the dimensions, then it is time to choose a fabric. You will have the options of choosing from a solid color scheme or from many different patterns. If you plan on placing your dog crate in a place such as your living room you should be able to easily find a color or pattern which compliments your decor nicely.
Once you have settled on a fabric color or pattern, then you can decide on the bedding material for inside the crate. How thick or thin of a custom dog bed do you want? Smaller dogs usually can get by with beds that are thinner the ones that are needed for larger dogs so you can decide accordingly.
An inner liner is always a good thing to add to your custom built dog crate. A waterproof liner set underneath the fluffy dog bed at the base of the crate can help contain any “accidents” that may happen.
Another addition to your crate setup you may want to consider is a fabric cover for the inner walls of the crate. This provides a more peaceful environment inside the crate for your dog and helps prevent any crate related injuries.
Building or ordering a custom built dog crate cover is a very simple procedure. By following these few quick and simple steps you can easily obtain a custom dog crate that will add to your dog’s enjoyment of life.
For the information about house training dogs - watch this video blog post.
How to Stop a Dog From Chewing - Free Helpful Info
There are a number of things you need to consider if your dog is displaying chewing behaviors in order to effectively combat this destructive habit. The best way to learn how to stop a dog from chewing is to examine several factors:
First, what is he chewing? Cushions, shoes, his own feet? Some objects may need to be removed from temptation, especially while a puppy is still learning good behavior and self-control. Some things may be just too hard to resist. Others can be saved with the use of a bitter chewing-deterrent spray, which also works on feet and tails. Simply creating a terrible taste will likely be enough to stop chewing and prevent future episodes, without harming your pet.
Next, what is the underlying cause of the chewing? If a puppy is teething, she definitely needs something to work those gums on. Try offering a toy or treats specifically designed for this purpose. Even better, freeze the chew toy for several hours, then give it to your puppy. This will both relieve his teething pain, AND distract him from chewing other objects. Win-win!
There are, of course, other causes of chewing, including boredom, stress and loneliness. Your dog requires a certain level of stimulation, similar to a child. And just like a child, if your dog is ignored, this can lead to him getting into trouble if adequate activities and interaction are not provided.
Other Points to Consider
- When there are times in the day that your dog must entertain itself, tie your dog up outside or have it somewhere where it can not reach anything but its toys to chew on. Maybe give your dog a little chew treat, or even better, one he has to chew in to get some peanut butter or other food inside. Mental stimulation is key!
- Practice obedience training your dog everyday, and make sure he gets plenty of exercise. This will help stimulate your dog mentally and physically, and thereby reduce its boredom.
- Do not physically punish your dog, as this will only cause more anxiety, and most likely increase his chewing.
- Do not play tug of war or wrestling games with your dog. This will only encourage him to bite and chew - not a good thing!
- Never try to pull a toy from your dogs mouth. Instead, distract him with a treat, and remove the object once he has dropped it. You can also teach him the “Leave” command.
- Ensure that he has plenty of toys to keep him occupied while you are out. You may want to rotate them, for added interest.
- If you think he suffers from any separation anxiety, make your exits very low key, so as to cause as little stress as possible.
For more information on Dog Behavior Problems I suggest you check out this great Dog Teaching site.
For the house training dogs information, please visit this blog.
Dog Training Bumpers Help Train Your Gun Dog
What do you need to successfully train your dog? Other than Tritronics collars and SportDOG training collars, one of the hunting dog supplies you’ll need is the dog training bumper. The ideal one for training your retriever is one that is made to last for repetitive use, and flexible, soft plastic.
Hallmark Dog Training Bumpers
Dog training bumpers come in a variety of styles and sizes to meet the needs of anyone training a retriever. Hallmark makes a variety of superb quality training bumpers including those made of plastic or foam. When selecting your bumpers you have an option of solid plastic, canvas covered or feather holding. Each offers a durable, realistic feeling, non toxic way to help you train your dog on retrieval. One of the added features of these bumpers is your ability to hold the scent of a duck – this can make training your dog that much easier.
Whatever kind of training bumper you get, make sure they’re:
A) Superb construction
B) Durable materials
C) Safe, non-toxic materials
Ideally if you are training a puppy you might want to consider using plastic training bumpers. The advantage of these is that they are less expensive than some models and offer a variety of bright colors – this makes them easier for your dog (and you) to identify them when you are training your hunting dog in the field.
Dog training dummies
Training dummies that float are also very useful and popular training tools. Using foam-bodied dummies with your training can better simulate retrieving in the field and better prepare your dog for the job. Remember that “bumpers” and “dummies” are interchangeable names that apply to both types of training tool, whether it’s land or water-based. They’ll both help you train your dog to hunt and retrieve fowl for you.
How to use dog training bumpers and dog training dummies
To get the most out of these useful tools, it’s recommended that you use them with scent. Duck and goose scents are readily available in most hunting supply stores. The scent is usually injected into the dummies (bumpers) and is a valuable added tool for successfully training your retriever.
Supplies to Train Your Bird Dog
To ensure that your dog is able to successfully work with you on a hunt and is well-trained in the art of hunting, there are certain supplies you’ll need. The range of supplies includes crates, training collars, whistles, bird launchers, and more.
Basic Hunting Dog Supplies
Because most hunting dog owners get their dogs from known, reputable breeders, getting a puppy means complete training. It will take effort from both you and the new puppy, but having the right aids will make your lives much easier.
Training your puppy with a crate is essential. Crate training not only eases house training, but it makes transport to and from the field when hunting much easier. Teaching puppy to like the crate now will make sure that he doesn’t rebel when you try to put him in one later. Crates utilize the puppy’s instincts for “denning.”
Dog Whistles
Because dog whistles are made for dog ears only, humans will not be bothered, thanks to its high pitch. When used correctly, your dog will learn to return to you right away when he or she hears the whistle. This will ensure that your dog will come to you when you can’t see him otherwise, allowing for ease when you’re getting ready to leave.
Duck and Game Whistles
Duck and whistles are not the same as dog whistles!! Duck and game whistles are used solely for training your dog how to flush and retrieve game. You can use these whistles to aid training of your dog along with the appropriate bird launchers. The use of these whistles helps you to teach your dog how to act in the field. It’s important to note that some whistles offer both features – the game whistle and the calling whistle.
Dog whistles can be used to teach a dog to flush and retrieve, but the two should not be confused with other gaming whistles. You can find duck and game whistles in any store that sells hunting dog supplies. You can use them together with bird launchers as a simulation exercise for on-the-field training. Some dog whistles offer a few different noises so that you can use it call your dog and also duplicate the sounds of ducks and upland game.
You should train your new puppy to retrieve, as well as point and flush, and you should do so as soon as possible. Bird launchers are the choice training tool for most hunters when it comes to this kind of training. Use it with a bird whistle to show your dog what it will be like when you’re out together on the field. Regardless of whether you’re training to retrieve, flush, or follow, bird launchers are the top choice. You’ll find that a lot of bird launchers come with remote controls, each designed to train your dog to learn how to be a good hunting dog. Retailers of hunting dog supplies will usually keep bird launchers on hand.
Other Hunting Dog Supplies
In addition to the supplies mentioned above, you can find bumpers and dummies that can help train dogs in retrieval techniques in both water and on land. When used with a scent they can help train your hunting dog even better. Remember, the sooner you train your dog to get used to the field, your gun and prey the better he will be on the hunt.
Dokken Dead Fowl Trainer Great Tool For Your Gun Dog
If you are looking for hunting dog supplies to train your retriever, you are looking for high quality, affordable training tools that can help train your dog to bring dead foul to you during a hunt. One of the most trusted names in Dead Fowl Trainers is Dokken.
Using the Dokken Dead Fowl Trainer
For a realistic looking dog training bumper the Dokken Dead Fowl trainer is not only easy to use, but it is also top of the line. Offering a soft body that can easily be injected with scent solutions, this training dummy offers a hard plastic head, soft foam body and hard feet. Because of the superior construction, the scent holds for hours and offers you hours of working time with your retriever.
Dokken Scent Injector
To maximize your training efforts, be sure to purchase the scents to be used with your hunting dog bumpers. This is one of the most beneficial features offered by Dokken, so take full advantage of the Dokken scent injectors.
Types of Dokken Dead Fowl Trainer
The Mallard, Honker Goose, Snow Goose, and the Back Duck are some of the most popular Dokken Fowl Trainers on the market. Each offers what you’ll need to train your dog to retrieve that type of waterfowl. Not only are these effective in the water, but they’re effective out of the water as well. If you’re interested in upland game, the Dokken Pheasant bumper is also popular.
Realistic Look and Smell
When you are purchasing Dokken dog training bumpers the first thing you are going to notice is how realistic they are. Combining the realistic look with an equally realistic smell means that your hunting dog is going to be a better overall hunter. Whether it is flushing and retrieving or retrieving with a soft mouth to hand, the Dokken line of products can help you train your dog to be a superb hunter.
Offering excellent quality, Dokken products are exactly the training tools you’ll need to effectively train your hunting dog. The Dokken Dead Fowl Trainer is the perfect tool for teaching your dog important hunting and retrieving skills, which will make him a great hunting companion
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