I have had dogs in my life for over 35 years, and in that time, have definitely experienced all the ups and downs that go along with having a pet. Despite the challenges that have come along, there is no question in my mind that dogs are truly "man's best friend". It's just that with some, we have to work a bit harder to cultivate that friendship!

With our current dog, an eight year old miniature schnauzer, we have definitely faced a few challenges. Within a short time of him coming into our lives, we discovered that, while a smart and loving little guy, he also:

1. Jumped and/or growled at every visitor to our house and barked at everything.

2. Absolutely hated going to the groomers to get clipped.

So what did we do? We did some research and spoke with our vet to discover some strategies and techniques that we could use to help make him a "good friend". Here is how we resolved these issues.

1. His barking/jumping/growling problem took a little time, because as a schnauzer, he was a bit territorial like many terriers tend to be. While it was important to him to protect his territory, it was important to us to be able to have visitors to our home! So we tried many different ways to improve this: reward systems, squirting water, coins in a can, newspaper, and more. You name it, we tried it, but nothing worked. We finally discussed the situation with our vet who suggested a remote training collar. After more research, we settled on the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer for a couple of reasons. Probably most important for us, we liked that it has 9 stimulation levels so that we could very carefully control the settings to use the least amount of stimulation that would be effective. We also liked the tone-only training option, that gave us even more versatility. We also decided to get the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer, 300 yds., which provided us with a 300 yard range to be able to train from a distance. And I can say that it worked! In a very short period of time, the Innotek Ultrasmart helped our little guy to become the model doggie citizen, and our friends were now happy to visit us.

2. Helping our dog overcome the stress of going to the groomers each month involved not really training him. but training us. We figured that if we could learn to do his monthly clip at home, we would be able to help him feel more comfortable, and be able to get the job done quicker, making him happier as well. So we invested in the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper, and it has made all the difference in the world. We chose these clippers because as an Oster product, we knew they would last forever, so we wouldn't have to buy new ones each year, and because of the reviews on what a smooth, quiet, and fast job they did. I will say that we have been very pleased with how the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper works: other than it getting warm, which we easily solved with cleaning and changing out the blades and using Oster Kool Lube, it has been so easy to do his clipping. Once we learned how to do home grooming, voila, no more schnauzer trauma! In fact, since our dog gets a treat at the end, I actually think he likes getting clipped each month.

It should be a joy to have a dog, and it can be, but at times it can take a little work to get there. For us, we had the help of the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer, and the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper. Making the investment and taking the time to learn to use these simple tools to make life with and for our dog have been so worthwhile. The rewarding result has been enjoying life with our merry, little schnauzer whose desire to please, intelligence and affectionate nature make him a joyous best friend indeed!

Discover how your dog can be trained to be a well-behaved and joyful best friend. Learn more about the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer and the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper, read the reviews of the product from other satisfied pet owners, and determine if they are right for you and your dog.

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Written by Michelle Robert using tags: dog behavior, dog care, dog grooming, dog training, Dogs, family, innotek, Innotek trainer, Innotek Ultrasmart remote trainer, oster, oster A5 turbo clipper, oster dog clipper, Pets

Introduction:

If you are thinking of buying a brush to groom and brush your dog, you must remember that, when it comes to those different types of grooming and combing, one-size-fits-all is not what you should be looking for.

Tools that are used for grooming a dog has their own individual functions and an understanding of which dog brush is best for the particular breed makes grooming your dog easier for you to do at home.

If your dog sheds hair, undercoat rakes grooming brush is the one you should have, which would help to stop your dog from shedding. The undercoat rakes have one single row of metal prongs, just like any other rake, and these are quite effective in removing the dead fur from your dog's undercoat.

Dog grooming is an expertise which is best left to the professionals, since no matter how hard you try you can never achieve the expertise that a dog groomer has. Professional dog groomers have access to tools, including various types of dog brushes which you do not have, and these people would have the skill and experience relating grooming which would keep your dog's fur healthy and attractive.

Professional dog groomers ensure that your dog remains clean, and the fur remains in good condition. A groomer spends a lot of time caring for your dog's fur which you might not able to do, and during this time he would be also looking into the skin condition of your dog and take proper care if needed.

Thoughtful consideration of Dog grooming equipment by looking at a professional review is always recommended.

There are several types of dog brushes available, each having its particular use for the kind of dog you have. Some of these are as follows:

Bristle brushes:

You can use bristle brushes on all type of coats. The brushes vary in its use depending upon the spacing between the bristles and the length that each bristle has. If your dog has long coat, you should have a brush which has widely spaced and longer bristles. With coarser hair the brush you use should have stiffer bristles.

Wire-pin brushes:

For curly or woolly coats you should use wire-pin brushes which may have or may not have rubber-tipped ends. This kind is also the preferred choice for dogs having medium to long hair.

Slicker brushes:

Slicker brushes are used for removing mats and tangles from your dog's coat, and these brushes, with their fine wire bristles, are especially made for the purpose.

You would be using slicker brushes to remove tngles and mats from all coat types. These brushes remove dead hairs, both, the undercoat hairs as well as the coarser hairs from the dog's outer coat. You would be using a slicker brush after you have removed a significant portion of the dead hairs from the dog's undercoat with the help of a pin brush.

Summary:

When you are brushing your dog, you should always be using the right type of dog brush, taking your time and being gentle as you brush, taking special care as you remove mats or tangles. Your pet must feel comfortable as you use your dog brush to groom, and it should not be that painful which would make your dog avoid being groomed. Brushing your dog often, preferably daily, would help you in preventing problems with mats and tangles.

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Written by Gregory Park using tags: animals, dog, dog grooming, Dogs, Dogs Grooming, pet, Pets

Introduction:

Brushing and grooming a dog is not as simple as it sounds. If you think you can use any of the several types of brushes available to groom and brush your dog, you will be so wrong. Each of the grooming tools available in the market is meant for a specific use, and a good understanding about the specific application is necessary to make grooming easier for you.

Professional dog groomers have the expertise to look after your dog in a better way than you can manage. The expert dog groomers would use slicker brushes to remove mats and tangles from the dog's fur for all types of dog coats. A slicker brush would remove dead hairs from the undercoat and the coarser hairs from the outer coat of the dog's fur.

There are various kinds of brushes which are used for grooming and brushing:

Undercoat rakes:

Undercoat rakes are useful for dogs that shed. The brush has one row of metal prongs which remove the dead hairs from the dog's undercoat. To remove hairs from the soft loose undercoat of your dog, you should use an undercoat rake which is especially designed for this purpose.

Undercoat rakes remove the loose hairs without disturbing the longer hairs in your dog's upper coat. During the time of the year when your dog starts to shed, an undercoat rake becomes very useful to keep your dog from shedding, and it also helps to maintain skin health by gently stimulating circulation to the skin and removing dead skin.

Thoughtful consideration of Dog grooming equipment by looking at a insightful review is always recommended.

Wire-pin brushes:

The wire-pin brush is an excellent tool for general grooming of small to large dog breeds. The loose hair in your dog's coat is lifted out smoothly by this brush, taking out the debris from the fur. Brushing your dog every day, or atleast every alternate day, keeps the skin of your dog healthy, while distributing the oil present in the hairs evenly through-out the dog's coat.

You can also use the wire-pin brush to remove the fluff from your dog's coat by brushing against the direction of hair growth. Wire-pin brushes are available with or without rubber ended tips, and these brushes are mostly preferred for dogs with medium to long hair and those with curly or woolly coats.

Slicker brushes:

These brushes are essentially used to remove mats and tangles from your dog's coat, and as you brush your dog the brush helps to remove dead hairs. Slicker brush gently stimulates the skin of your dog as the layers of the dead skin are taken out leaving the blood to circulate evenly. A slicker brush is often used at the end of grooming and brushing, giving a finished shining appearance to your dog's fur.

There are various sizes of slicker brush available for the larger to smaller dogs. Slicker brushes are generally made from thin metal wire mounted on a soft padded material, looking somewhat like a hair brush. The soft padded material on which the wires are mouthed ensures that the dog does not get hurt as the brush is used.

Summary:

Brushing your dog helps to remove dead hairs from your dog's coat and clean the surface free of parasite as well. Brushing also helps to keep away fleas, and while you brush you can check for the physical appearance of the animal.

While you groom and brush your dog you can easily find out of presence of any unusual bundle, or bald spot which you may take care of immediately. As you brush your dog as frequently as every day or every other day, you slowly build up a bond between you two, and brushing would become a friendly invitation for your dog.

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Written by Graham Larsen using tags: animal, animals, d, dog, dog grooming, Dogs, e, h, home & family, o, P, pet, Pets, pets_and_animals

A dog is mans wonderful little buddy, and often times, many people like to give their dogs special treatment like like they are a human member of the family. Dog grooming is one treat but treating your dog to a full spa day is a fantastic way to show your little friend that they are loved. Dog day spas are specially created and managed so that dogs like yours can have a fun filled day getting cleaned, groomed, and pampered all because they are loved by their owners. Pet spas are one of the very healthy activities for your dog and they are not only fun and exciting for your dog, but for the dog lover at the same time.

At a lovely dog day spa, your dog can enjoy the heavenly scent of liver toothpaste, the raging sound of tons of dog toys, and the gentle touch of a groomers hand scratching them behind the ears. Pet spas are a dogs dream vacation because they really get pampered like no other. They are given time to run around and playwear themselves out in a paradise of a back yard area and then are washed and groomed just the way you like them to be.

The reason why pet spas are so much greater than a normal hair cutter is because of the special treatment of you and your pet. At a pet spa, your dog will have the luxury of doing whatever he or she wants, while you also have the same luxury for a short time. While your pet is having fun being treated like royalty, you can enjoy the peace and quiet time of your own without your rambunctious best friend begging you for attention. Its not that dogs don't deserve all that special time, its just that sometimes is nice for someone else to take over the hard work for an hour or two. Just like you would hire a fun babysitter for your children, the dogs need a that time away as well.

At a pet spa near you, you will find that your dog is receiving all of the grooming that you would get anywhere else plus so much more. The specialized attention, superior product, and extra special toys and playtime make it a dogs paradise. Your dogs coat will be much softer than ever before and their nails will be taken care of as well as their teeth and eyes. They will basically receive a full body clean up and complete wash down, if necessary.

At a pet spa near you, you will find that your dog is receiving all of the grooming that you would get anywhere else plus so much more. The specialized attention, superior product, and extra special toys and playtime make it a dogs paradise. Your dogs fury body will be much softer than any time since they were born and their nails will be taken care of as well as their teeth and eyes. They will basically receive a full body clean up and makeover, if necessary.

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Written by Chucl R Stewart using tags: d, dog day spas, dog grooming, h, home & family, o, P, pet, pet spas, Pets, pets_and_animals