The best dog training advice can be as simple as a reminder that the dog is a dog. Although that may sound rather silly, many people seem to have forgotten this simple fact. Even though the pet who is allowed free reign of the house may seem adorable to the family, he may very likely become a huge problem. By nature, a dog is a pack animal. This means that the group must have an established leader. With a group that does not, the animal will generally attempt to establish this position for himself.

Some people look forward to arriving home to be greeted at the front door by Fido who will inevitably jumps all over them. This is a greeting that many find to be endearing and cute. The problem with this is many animals do not know the difference between greeting a family member and a visitor. It is certainly unacceptable to expect visitors to accept this behavior. With an animal who feels protective of his family, this may in fact developed into a dangerous habit.

In order to put an end to this problem the offending dog must have a designated spot several feet away from the front door of the home. When an individual enters the house the dog will follow his normal habit of heading to the front door. This is the time for his owner to instruct him to sit and stay in this spot until released. Animals who follow this instruction should be issued a reward to reinforce this behavior. The one who does not should be sent to a designated time out area to lie down. This lesson should be practiced at regular intervals until the dog understands what is expected. Eventually the reward should no longer be necessary in order to achieve obedience.

Feeding the family dog during mealtime, or worse before the family has eaten, is a bad idea. In packs, the Alpha male or the lead dog always eats first. Even allowing the animal to eat one bite before any family member may encourage the animal to feel that he has dominance over the individual. This is especially dangerous for families who have small children or elderly members.

The over use of treats has caused many dogs to become overweight. It has also led to many animals who do not need to earn the reward, thereby undermining obedience training. Those who are concerned that their pet may be hungry, should check with a veterinarian to make sure that he is being properly fed. Treats however should be saved as a reward for obedience and for teaching.

Teaching a dog to sit down when commanded is the first lesson that must be learned in order to continue training. This is a much simpler task than people may think. What is needed most of all is repetition and ongoing training. Simply place one hand on the dog's chest up towards the neck and the other on his rump. Gently press down with the hand on his back and tell the dog to sit. Practice this for least fifteen minutes a day and on a regular basis, and he will learn to do it on his own.

Teaching the command to lie down is as simple as the one to sit. With the dog in a sitting position tell him to lie down and gently slide the front legs forward into a lying down position. Now praise the animal and give him a treat. Continue practicing this until it has been learned with out being followed with a treat.

The key to teaching a pet anything is in repetition and reward. People who follow this method will find themselves with a well behaved animal. They also may find themselves being asked for dog training advice.

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Written by Karen Bellamy using tags: aggressive dog training, animals, canine, dog training, Dogs, Pets, puppies, stop dog aggression, stop dog digging

Canines are instinctively playful. Like children, they can encounter other dogs for the first time, and immediately begin playing together. Their activity can take several forms, including chasing each other, tackling one another, and even mild chewing and biting. Though many owners becomes concerned when they observe their pets roughhousing, there is seldom a reason to worry. When one animal crosses a boundary (e.g. bites too hard, is too aggressive, etc.), the other will let him know.

Signs that a canine wants to play are easy to identify. You'll notice him lowering his torso as his front elbows touch the ground. His mouth will remain open and relaxed; his hindquarters will be raised; and his tail will likely be wagging. This is called the "play bow." It is meant to encourage other dogs - and sometimes, people - to participate.

Below, we'll explain why your pet plays in the first place. You'll also learn about the different kinds of play, including the reasons they are important.

The Reason Canines Play

There is a common misconception about animals playing with one another. Many people have likened the activity to that of children, and proposed that it aids in their social development. Specifically, if a young canine is able to play with other dogs, he will be less likely to develop behavioral issues as an adult. The problem is, this claim seems to be inaccurate. Pets that are precluded from playing - for example, due to hip dysplasia - but exposed to other canines, are just as likely to develop properly as other pets.

Canine behavioral experts suggest that dogs play in preparation for their lives as adults. That is, the mannerisms puppies and young adults display while playing together may become necessary down the road.

Socialization Through Play

This type of playing begins when a pup is still with his mother and littermates (i.e. prior to being adopted). He will wrestle with his littermates, and use his paws and head to pin them. He will also bite them softly, which may result in a yelp if he does so too aggressively.

This is an important part of learning how to get along with others. Feedback from his littermates lets the puppy know he has crossed a boundary. He'll modify his behavior to avoid doing so in the future.

When Puppies Use Their Mouths

A puppy uses his mouth to explore much of his surroundings. This is one of the reasons owners complain about their puppies chewing (and destroying) their shoes, clothes, and even small pieces of furniture. To the pup, this is a form of play. It demands his focus, and gives him something to do that is pleasurable to him. Owners can direct this activity toward toys and other objects that are more appropriate.

This type of playing can be done without the company of another dog. When another pet is nearby, the two animals may engage in a tug-of-war with a shared object. This, too, is playing.

The Meaning Of Mounting

Young canines mount other pets as a rehearsal for mating with little to no discernment regarding gender. That is, your pet may focus on male or female canines. If a second animal is not present, he may direct his attention to furniture or legs.

Studies show dogs that rarely mount other pets or objects are less effective during mating. Given that most canines are neutered, this "problem" is rarely an issue.

Developing And Honing Hunting Skills

Much of a dog's playing, especially as an adult, is focused on developing and improving his skills as a hunter. For instance, your pet may chase squirrels at a park; he might chase balls or sticks; or, he may run after vehicles or people riding bikes. When in the company of other dogs, he may try to persuade them to play-chase with him.

Playing is important for canines, both for the mental stimulation it provides and the development of skills they may need to call upon later. As your pet grows older, however, he will likely lose interest.

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Written by Cindy Thompsan using tags: canine, Dogs, Pets, puppies

Canines undergo changes in personality when they reach their senior years. Sometimes, these changes happen slowly; a dog might adopt new behaviors over the course of a year or more. Other times, the changes may seem as if they occur overnight. For example, your pet may suddenly become short-tempered or dismissive when you call him.

If your dog is approaching his twilight years, it's worth becoming familiar with the new behaviors he might display. You may also notice changes in your pet's health and energy level as his body ages and his metabolism slows. Being aware of these signs will help you provide a comfortable environment in which he can enjoy the remainder of his life.

In this article, we'll describe some of the habits older canines adopt during their last few years. We'll also address the most common concerns owners have when they observe these changes in their pets.

Frequent Drinking

If you notice your dog drinking more water than normal, make an appointment with his veterinarian. Increased thirst is a sign of diabetes. While the disease usually affects younger canines, it can present itself later in your pet's life. If his thirst is due to diabetes, realize the condition cannot be cured. Symptoms can be managed through changes in diet, exercise routine, and by giving your pet insulin shots.

Lack Of Excitement About Going For Walks

When canines age, they become more susceptible to the weather. On a cold day, your pet may display less enthusiasm than normal about going for a walk. On an exceptionally warm day, he might show similar disinterest. If he remains animated in your home, yet apathetic about going outside, the reason is likely due to the weather. Modify his exercise routine to accommodate his aging body.

Unexpected Aggression

Older dogs may seem to become short-tempered with their owners, families, and other pets. For example, they might snap or growl when approached from behind. They might also do so in the presence of kids or puppies.

This can happen for a number of reasons. For example, senior dogs often begin to lose their vision and ability to hear. They also cope with elevated stress. When an older canine has difficulty seeing or hearing, he may become easily startled when someone approaches him from behind. His instinctive response is to snap or bark.

If he suffers from joint pain (common with senior dogs), he may become increasingly aggravated when children or puppies play near him. Because moving away from the commotion may be difficult, he might bark out of irritation.

Improper Elimination

Some aging canines will begin to urinate and defecate in the home. This, too, can be due to one of several reasons. Your pet may suffer from inflammatory bowel disease; he might have severe arthritis that prevents him from going outside in time to eliminate; or it may be a sign of cognitive dysfunction.

First, ask your veterinarian to examine your dog for medical conditions that may be causing the improper elimination. The vet can provide medications that help minimize the issue. Second, take your pet outside more frequently.

Caring For Your Senior Canine

Monitoring the health of your dog, regardless of his age, should always be a priority since medical conditions can surface suddenly, and worsen quickly. When he enters his twilight years, doing so becomes even more important. Take him to the veterinarian for a thorough checkup once every six months. Brush his teeth at least a few times each week. Make sure he remains active through daily exercise. And reduce the amount of food you give him to accommodate his slowing metabolism.

Doing these things will help protect your dog's health while making his twilight years more comfortable. While some of the behaviors he adopts in his senior years may seem strange, he remains your companion for the remainder of his life.

Written by Pamela Roberts using tags: canine, Dogs, Pets, puppies

If you own a dog as time passes it will become a close family friend and we need to watch out for any changes in health whether it's good or bad, diet can be the source or many health problems.

Your dog's diet can be the root of various ailments therefore a good balanced diet will help to promote inner health and well being and may assist in keeping any allergies under control.

If you choose to use a dog food that is more natural with an organic content, this will have a richer source of vitamins and minerals which provide additional health benefits to our dogs.

If your dog suffers a food allergy identifying and eliminating the source will allow the dog to return to good health fairly quickly.

Another option for good health is to introduce a vitamin supplement as we would take if feeling run down or tired.

Various other supplements that are beneficial incorporate beta-carotene which assists in eliminating toxins from the body.

A dog whose diet includes a great deal of meat can by natural means ingest toxic materials; if this is not managed further complications can reveal themselves in heart and lung disease.

To keep your dog's metabolic system working well an all natural diet will help

Dogs with allergies that go untreated can have ailments that cause great irritation including hot spots if these get very bad self mutilation can occur as the dog strives for relief.

To help eliminate allergies you should feed your dog a balanced and natural diet. Numerous options are available but as with anything a little research goes along way.

Homemade foods are a great option to maximise the nutrients in your dog's diet as you are in total control of the ingredients and sources of these.

For happy and healthy dogs and dietary information specific to allergies please look at my new website Dogs With Allergies where you will find information on Wellness Dog Food

categories: Pet health,dog health,natural dog food,dogs with allergies,pet dogs,family dogs,pedigree dogs,canine

Written by Bert Malone using tags: canine, dog health, dogs with allergies, family dogs, natural dog food, pedigree dogs, pet dogs, pet health, Pets