Doggy Mentor

Archive for October, 2009

Is dog food aggression a problem with your canine companion?  If your dog growls or snaps at anyone who gets too close while he’s eating, you need to stop this serious dog behavior problem before your dog attacks you or someone in your family.

Dog Food Aggression Is Instinctive Behavior For Canines

Dogs in the wild protect their food, their mates, and their territory.  Aggression is necessary for their survival.  The most aggressive dog is the pack leader, or alpha male, and he enforces his position by being the dominant dog in the pack.

But the pack leader in your home shouldn’t be your dog.  If he is, you’re in for trouble, because he thinks he’s the alpha male, and, like he would in the wild, he’ll use canine aggression to enforce his position.  This is a dominance issue that won’t go away on its own.  You must take steps to deal with his aggressive behavior before it reaches a dangerous level.

Causes of Food Aggression In Dogs

Unfortunately, too many dog owners have the idea that puppy aggression around food is cute.  Encouraging this behavior is a serious training mistake many dog owners make.  Instead of being amused by canine food aggression, you need to nip this problem in the bud.

Your dog is confused in his mind about who the pack leader is.The way your dog understands it, there is a leadership vacuum if you don’t take the role of the alpha male, even if you’re female.  If you don’t step into the role, he will.  And he won’t be nice about enforcing his position in your household.

He thinks that since he’s top dog, he can take whatever he wants from whoever is lower in rank than him.  The reality is that the family dog should be at the bottom of the heap, not the top.  Anyone in the household should be able to take anything away from him, even his food.  Of course, you’re not really going to do this, but he needs to know where he stands in your household pack.

Dog Food Aggression Training

With a puppy, you’ll make it clear that having people or other animals around when he’s eating is OK.  Do this right from the beginning, and you’ll probably never have a problem with this type of canine aggression.  Anyone in the family should be able to safely stand right next to him at any time while he’s eating.You should take control of his food if this isn’t the case.

It’s always a good idea to feed your dog after you and your family have finished eating.  Your dog will instinctively understand that the alpha dog always eats first.This teaches your dog exactly where he ranks in the family is in relation to everyone else.

Require that your dog sit and stay quietly while you’re fixing his food.  If your dog growls, and demands food, don’t give in.  He needs to earn his food by behaving in a non-aggressive manner.

Never let your dog “win” his food by growling at you.  This only rewards his bad dog behavior and reinforces the very behavior you want to stop.

If dog food aggression is already a serious problem in your household, a dog behavior course should be your next step.  You can find a course that includes a consultation with an experienced dog trainer by clicking on any link in this article.

You can your dog can reap many rewards when following a high quality training program. Canine behavior training is possibly the most important part of owning a dog, because it will help prevent negative behaviors. It is important to deal with dog aggression issues by training dogs to interrelate appropriately with other dogs and especially people. In order to know how to effectively train your dog to be a loyal and eager pet, it is important to know where dogs came from, and how their interaction with each other can affect training. The first domesticated dogs were likely abandoned wolf puppies taken in by early humans. These wild dogs were taught to perform tasks that the humans needed assistance with, like guardian territory and frightening potential predators. Humans in turn provided sanctuary to the dogs, in addition to food, winter dog boots and companionship. This is a kind of connection that continues today.

Many dogs still perform a variety of tasks for their masters, including herding, guarding, and hunting. It’s important to know that dogs are pack animals prior to starting a training program. Wild dog packs utilize a ranking system, where each member quickly learns his or her place. Only when the pack leader dies will the lower dogs move up the chain to their respective roles. The alpha dog will carry out the main duties as pack leader, and the lower dogs naturally understand that they should not challenge the pack leaders authority. The other members of pack look to the alpha dog for leadership, food, and protection. With this in mind, it is essential that you show your dog that you are the leader of the pack when you begin training. A dog that submits to his human pack leader will respect his commands without question. Earning your dog’s respect is the first crucial step in effective dog training, and it will lay the groundwork for all succeeding training. There are many reasons to train a dog properly. A calm and well-mannered dog is pleasant to be near, both for the dog’s family, and other people he might encounter. They will also be more willing to try wearing small dog clothes, once they gain your trust.

Additionally, being around an obedient dog assuages people’s fears, especially when it comes to more controversial breeds like Rottweilers and Pit Bulls. Knowing why a dog is exhibiting a negative behavior is important in effectively training and modifying bad behaviors. For instance, separation anxiety may be the root cause of many bad behaviors chewing and destructive behaviors. Solving the root cause of the problem will help to eliminate the peripheral behaviors. When dogs get overly stressed and have a hard time dealing with it, it can lead to negative behaviors. One objective of a high-quality dog training program is to help the dog to endure stress without exhibiting negative behaviors. It is important to differentiate human behavior and dog behavior when training and working through bad behaviors. It is important to remember that your dog is not human, and has very different reactions and motivations to take into consideration. One thing the humans and dogs have in common is their sociability and the need to form close groups and strong bonds. While the bonding is very important to dogs and humans, it has served very different purposes in the evolution of each species over time.

We’ve all heard the common saying that dogs are a man’s best friend. The truth of this statement lies in choosing the right breed. While some breeds, such as Dobermans and Dalmatians, are naturally aggressive if not raised carefully, Labradors are naturally friendly. This is one reason that makes them an ideal breed for those that are constantly running around and don’t have the time or money to spend on obedience schools. From the first day a Labrador is brought into your house, it will wag its tail and lick your face with love! Since Labs are usually mild-mannered, they make excellent pets. They are gentle and well-behaved around strangers, so kids can introduce their friends to the dog without any worries. Many families find this gentleness to outweigh the fact that Labradors do not make very good guard dogs.

In addition, Labradors rarely make any noise, unless they are startled by something unusual. Thus, they are ideal for families who live in close proximity to their neighbors. In addition to being a good family pet, Labradors also make an ideal companion for an outdoorsman. Labradors are often used in hunting expeditions because they are athletic, curious and love water. When labs aren’t actively hunting, this breed makes a great companion to the hunter. But when taking your lab hunting, some dogs may need boots for dogs to help protect their pads from getting torn up. Others may need small clothes for dogs to help keep warmer in the cold months.

Lastly, as many of us have witnessed, many Labradors are used as guide dogs for the blind or otherwise disabled. Not only are Labradors highly compassionate, but they are also extremely smart. Thus, they can be trained to do just about any task within their physical capabilities for their needy owners. For example, Labradors have been known to bark to alert other people when their masters suffer a heart attack, seizure, or stroke. In short, Labradors are the best breed of dog because they play and work alongside their human owners. Whether you are a parent, sportsman, or person in need of assistance, you should seriously consider adopting a loving Labrador into your family. One lick on the face or wag of its tail will convince you that you’ve made the right choice. Labradors are truly a man’s best friend!

An untrained dog can and does cause his owner a lot of stress as well as also endangers the very life of the dog as well. It is for that reason necessary for every dog owner to start dog training as soon as their dog or pup is old enough to be given instructions. The first part of dog training involves teaching your pet essential commands after which your pet will get to learn to do simple things like ‘sit’ when told to do so and to ‘stay’, and ‘go’ when so commanded.

An Early Start Is Recommended

The most important aspect to dog training is to start him off as early as is possible because once your dog has grown older it will then become harder to break his established habits. Early training will ensure that your dog learns how to behave properly and it will also be easier to train your dog. At the same time it is also necessary to understand the value of imparting dog training in short bursts rather than in long boring training sessions.

Dogs are identified to have very short attention spans and so to use this trait of theirs to your benefit requires that you only execute the training while his attention is focused on what you are teaching him. In addition, you need to create a routine for him to follow which can consist of five minute training sessions in the morning followed by the same duration in the afternoon as well as in the evening.

Training my dog is not always a smooth process and there are many times when common problems will arise. One of the reasons for such problems arising is that you have not managed to earn the respect of your dog. As harsh as this may sound it is nevertheless a very real reason why dogs won’t follow your commands. It will take a lot of effort to teach them that you are the master and not they.

Another common dog training problem that you will need to overcome is that your dog jumps too much. In order to rectify this behavior you should try and turn your back on him to show him (who is a pack animal) that such behavior is unacceptable and your dog too will soon come to realize that when he jumps on you and you turn your back to him he is being shunned. With any luck, this will assist cure him of this frequent dog training problem.

You need to mull over sending your dog to a dog training school in case you don’t have extra time to train your dog or you feel that you want your dog to be trained by professionals. Even when it proves to be hard to get your dog to obey you, taking professional help in the matter will soon help rectify the situation.

Please visit my website to find out more about dog training videos at http://dogsology.com, thank you for reading!

 Almost everybody that has ever had a dog has given up some socks, slippers or the corner of their favorite chair to the chewing routine of their friendly canine. When it comes to your pets chewing, the question should be how can I redirect the chewing not how can I halt the chewing.

You’re not going too completely halt your pets chewing. Chewing is something your dog needs to do.

Being your dog is going to chew, give him plenty of things to choose from.

Begin by providing him with all kinds of gnaw toys. Be sure that you put as many different items as you can in the areas that he spends most of his time. This should hurry the process along and keep your dog from chewing on the things that cost a lot of money.

How To Stop A Dog From Chewing

Regularly inspect the toys and get rid of the really worn out ones. Remember to try a variety of toys until you find the ones that your pet really enjoys.

Anytime your dog chews on something that he is not supposed to, screaming and yelling at your pet will not be the method that teaches him to act appropriately. Punishment is out, positive reinforcement is in.

Right as your dog starts to tear up the newspaper, give a crisp “NOOO” and flip him his favorite toy. Give your dog a pet and praise whenever they choose a toy over something else.

Stop Dog Chewing

Another way to go about it is to make the chewing an unpleasant experience.

There is something called a scat mat. Scatter them around in the areas that you want your dog to avoid. Don’t worry the scat mat is basically harmless.

Another way to go would be to apply a bad tasting formula or bitters onto the object that you don’t want your pet chewing on. You should be able to find these things at the nearest pet store. These ideas may be way out there but they are other ideas.

You are not going to halt your dog from chewing but you can direct him towards chewing the proper things.

Stop A Dog From Chewing

Your dog is your best friend, and he deserves all natural dog treats or a yummy dog bone. Your dog is always on your side, and doesn’t make judge you like so many people do. Although he is wise in his own way, he also has a certain endearing innocence. The world can never be the world that he sees through his big brown eyes, but he stays with you anyway.

Your dog is probably also quite protective of you, and very alert to your feelings. Your dog can tell when you’re happy or blue without hearing a word. So of course you will want to give this loyal companion the very best dog treats? The face that greets you at the end of a day will almost curl up in a smile when you give him a juicy dog bone or a crunchy dog biscuit.

Your dog is obedient to you without question, and you will always want to reward him for his fealty. All natural dog treats are just one way you can show your love for him. Although dogs are perfectly happy with a loving pat on the head or a long walk together, you’ll want to do more for your furry companion. So you will want to give your dog healthy treats on special days like Christmas or your dog’s birthday. Whether you make them yourself or buy them at a doggie bakery, your dog will give you lots of appreciative licks after he finishes his dogs treats.

There is no doubt that the varieties of gourmet dog biscuits, dog bones and dog chews available are nearly endless. But if you’re a decent cook, your dog may appreciate homemade dog treats even more. And because you are familiar with every ingredient in your own dog treats, you will know there are no dangerous chemicals or artificial preservatives in them. Your dog will love treats that don’t have artificial flavorings or colors, and you’ll feel safer giving him home-made treats.

You long for your dog’s company for as long as he’s here with you, so you want to do everything you can to help him live a healthy, long life. To show your dog you care for him, you’ll want to feed healthy dog food and feed healthy treats you have purchased or made yourself. It gives him a few moments of absolute pleasure – a tasty treat of the finer things in a dog’s life.

Dogs love meat, to be sure, but all natural dog treats usually will also include wheat, eggs and maybe peanut butter. Your dog is a carnivore, so making sure there is a meat in your dog food treats will make him enjoy them all the more. You can find some great dog treat recipes out there. You will still want to add those other ingredients as well, so that your dog gets his daily vitamins and proteins. Natural treats will be wholesome and help the immune system fight off disease. Those are just a few of the benefits from all natural dog treats. A happier, healthier dog will be able to spend more years as your faithful companion.

There are a lot of misconceptions concerning crate training.  Many mistakenly believe that it is negligent and even cruel and that you are in essence locking your pet up in a cage.  It is in reality a safe, humane, and effective way to train your dog. 

Far from being “locked up in a cage,” crates provide a needed sense of safety for dogs.  And they are multi-purpose.  From helping with housetraining to quelling separation anxiety, crate training is one of the most effective training methods available.

Dogs like small, safe places, which is why their ancestors made dens.  A crate recreates this feeling, which is why so many dogs respond favorably to them.  It also gives them a space of their own, which everyone needs and appreciates.

Crate training allows your dog to develop a sense of security, even when you are not there.  Instead of coming home to find evidence of his anxiety on your chewed up shoes, you can find a dog who is happy and well-adjusted.  Don’t worry; he’ll still be happy to see you! 

Many dogs grow to love their crates and will prefer going in there when you’re gone even if they have the option to stay out.  Some even go in when you are home and they need some time alone.

If you introduce your dog to his crate for short periods, it will be tremendously helpful in housetraining.  They learn to wait until they are let outside in order to relieve themselves.  Until they perfect this, however, limit the time spent in the crate.   

Small puppies do not have the bladder or bowel control to wait for hours to relieve themselves.  If you keep them in the crate at night, make sure they have ample exercise and play time.  Sticking to a regular walking routine will also help learn to control his bladder and bowels. Become well-read, sitstayfetch to gain sounder results.

Crates are great for helping your dog develop necessary behaviors, but they are not disciplinary tools.  For instance, if your dog relieves himself in your house, don’t put him in his crate for punishment.  Deal with the matter in another way, and save the crate for bedtime.  You don’t want your dog to associate negative things with his crate.

Crate training can take a little time, so let’s get started.

You can choose crates that are made from plastic or metal, depending on how you will use the crate and what works for you.  The important thing is to choose the correct size.  Your dog should be able to turn around and lie down.  You may think that a bigger crate is more comfortable, but it just allows him to create a space to relieve his bowels and bladder without soiling his sleeping area. 

Dogs will not relieve themselves in their sleeping area, so provide him with just enough room to sleep.  This will make your housetraining efforts much more successful. 

How do you get your dog into his crate?  Start slowly by placing the crate somewhere that allows your dog to explore without feeling separated from you or your family.  He will probably be curious and will want to check it out. 

Once he has had a chance to explore a little, urge him to go inside.  You can guide him in with a treat or a toy.  Food is a good way to get him in because it allows him to form positive associations with the crate. Check puppy training biting for more skillful dog training.

Let him go in and out.  If you feel he’s ready, close the door.  Once he realizes he’s closed in, he may whine.  This is a normal and understandable reaction.  Think of it like putting a baby to bed. 

Babies will cry because they would rather have you hold them.  Your dog is the same way.  It may break your heart to hear your pet whine, but if you let him out, he will be unlikely to get back in.  You will make crate training much harder for both of you.  Once he stops crying, let him stay in the crate for a few minutes before letting him out.  Several minutes at a time, followed by a walk or play time, is a great way to start.

Some dogs are hesitant to go into the crate, and it may take several sessions before he is comfortable.  Continue luring him in with treats.  Then, sit by the crate and let him know you are there.  After a few minutes, go to the next room. 

Stay in the next room for about ten minutes, and then come back and resume your position near the crate.  Increase the time you are in the next room until your dog is comfortable with about thirty minutes.  At this milestone, you can begin leaving him in his crate while you are not home. For more respectable outcomes attempt puppy potty training to help your dog training efforts.

Dogs typically respond to the safety and security of their crates very quickly.  If your dog is reluctant, take the time to get him used to the crate.  It will make him more happy and secure, and you’ll feel better knowing your pet is content even when you are not there.  It also is tremendously helpful in several aspects of training, so it is worth the time and effort it takes to help your dog get used to his crate.

If you have a dog of your own you will know that a entire tummy doesn’t nearly cover up the complete process

of deciding which dog food to pay for.

Your dog is your finest friend, you will choose him to live the fullest, happiest life that he can. Feeding him the

finest food will not just ensure that he is healthy and happy, but has a shiny coat and lively tail too.

Lots of of our spoiled pets become fussy. It’s a accepted improvement from being fussed higher

than so much. If you have fussy dogs, like me, you will know how guilt laden mealtimes can become.

You choose to give your dog the greatest advantage inside life; why not

think cooking some specially prepared meals simply for your dog. Whilst it is real that a lot

of owners be able to make available their dogs using adequate nutrition on a vegetarian diet, this is tricky and time

consuming to accomplish. Buying a medium quality dog food and adding a few extra goodness must be

enough.

One of the greatest ways to ensure your dog is receiving optimum nutrition whilst living on medium quality pet food is to add several

type of nutritional supplement. This be able to ensure fantastic nutrition at

all times.  One such proven source is NuVet. 

A news release, Chattanooga, TN using Calvin Sneed (Consumer Advocate) reported a breeder in Tennessee got caught in the Diamond Dog food recall and 12 out of 14 dogs died. 

However the 2 that didn’t die were on NuVet.  You be able to only acquire this product from breeder referral. 1-800-474-7044.  Referral number is 75855.

Read the labels of several dog food you pay for carefully. Any of the foods you pay for

be supposed to contain turkey, beef, chicken or any other animal by-product to keep your dog looking healthy and glossy.

If you are changing your dog’s diet you are vulnerable to guilt-treating practices. Don’t overcompensate for your dog’s fussiness. The quickest way your dog will learn to appreciate a new dog

food is to be forced to make do using what is served up at mealtimes. Don’t supply treats or snacks as your dog isn’t eating. This

only encourages fussy eating and perpetuates the cycles of fussiness again. Be firm.

If you are trying to incorporate several home cooked goodness into your dog’s life you could require to include rice,

corn, oatmeal or wheat. These are each good sources of carbohydrates. You will require to keep inside

mind that most of your dog’s most vital proteins come from meat. Whilst many say that dogs are

omnivores – they are ever partially carnivorous.

If you have a dog be sure NEVER to provide them the following:

• Chocolate
• Raw fish or eggs
• Onions
• Tomatoes

Using careful attention and some patience you can revolutionize your dog’s diet. And hopefully assist him live a

long and healthy life.

Where do I start a new pet for the family? What is the best pet for our family? Good start by collecting information. This is vital as a pet is for life, so if in doubt do not have a pet.
A bit negative there, but there is such a large choice of potential pets to pick from, all of them can be pleasurable, but have dissimilar pluses and negatives. You can decide from a dog, cat, gerbil, guinea pig, fish, rabbit, bird and the list goes on and on.
You should to involve everyone in the choice, it needs to be a complete family decision. Due to its importance I recommend you thrash out and commit to paper your objective for desiring a pet. Add to it on a large sheet of paper, with a column for the pet, some columns to rank each pet. The headings for a pet include, time (yours), cost (pets are expensive), pet care, space needed, aptitude to fuss, interest, joint activity, any phobias, other issues.
Pets take time, some necessitate more than others. Time eating animals are those that have need of regular exercise such as dogs and horses. Dogs evolved from wolves and still have many of those characters. They are used to regularly covering large areas every day to search for food, so most breeds need a minimum one to two hours a day walking. This should be part of a regular schedule and done everyday. Other animals may require a lot of grooming, changing water etc. A pet sitter often spends much of their visit to brushing long haired cats, though the cat and the sitter enjoy it. You may want a certain animal, but do you have the time for him? Be direct with yourself and the prospective pet.
Expense, consider all expense. There is the potential cost of the pet to start with, which for a pedigree pet can be costly. I would like everyone to consider taking a abandoned pet, there are increasing numbers of these at the moment as people are unfortunately abandoning them to the pet charities – is this an opportunity for you to help out? The other starting costs include cages, leads, grooming aids, blankets / beds. After that are the ongoing pet costs, food, which for a large animal can be substantial. I strongly recommend you to have your pet sterilized, many pet specialists and studies have shown that you will have less behavioural problems with a neutered animal. There are routine veterinary expenditure such as vaccinations, however some are impossible to plan for. For this reason I strongly propose you to take out pet insurance, so you can cope with any situations that may occur. There are ongoing costs for flea treatment etc. These costs mount up.
Is your house large enough for the pet? Some pets can be interesting, but you may not be able to fuss them, what is the most important for you? No pet has it all. Can you pick up the pet? Rats are remarkably interesting, but a few people do not like the scaly tail, or the idea of one.
You should to review the summary table, you may not have the time for dog walking during the week due to work pressures, the upside is you have the money to pay for a professional dog walker. Not enough space for the horse, use stables, but watch the cost.
So once you have identified a type of pet, there is often a huge variety of different types and breeds to choose from, looking at hamsters there are five basic types, with very different features. There is also the choice of how many, some animals are better off single, others as a pair because they must have the company. Then there is the choice of sex, some animals have very different behaviour between the male and female. Male rats are less active than females and urinate more.
After all of these decisions, I would recommend you to organise a pet test drive. Do you know anyone with a similar pet, that you can look after for a few days, or even be a pet sitter for them during the summer vacations. Discuss with the owner about the expenditure, the work that is required, and do not forget the pleasure that the animal gives. An alternative is to do some pet charity work.
Pet breeders and dog trainers are exceptionally knowledgeable, so visit and talk with them.
I hope this helps, go and enjoy a new pet.

Feeding the dogs these days is not a simple matter, and there are innumerable choices available in the markets. It is not as simple as feeding the table scraps to your pet any more, as owners are now aware that this can lead to various health problems because the food eaten by humans is not always suitable for dogs. It is essential to choose the right dog food, suitable as per the breed, age and size of your pet.

Choosing The Right Dog Food

These days, we are more aware of the chemical additives being used in the pet foods, and their dangerous effects on pet’s health. The dearie owners now earn that salubrious pet needs healthy diet, which is free from additives and chemicals. This can be quite difficult at times because most of the brands of dog food have coloring or preservatives in order to increase the shelf life, and to make it look more attractive. But, there are certain brands of dog food that provide the nutritional balance to the dogs, and can also be given to allergy sufferers.

If you visit the pet store to buy dog food, you will find hundreds of different kinds of foods out there, and choosing the best one for your dog becomes a difficult task. ou must choose the dog food cautiously so that it is able to provide all the nutrients required for maintaining a levelheaded and proud darling.

Most of the people love their pets as their kids, and love them unconditionally. They feel that it is their responsibility to ensure that their pets are well taken care of. The best way to make sure that your dog gets the best food is to prepare the dog food at home. Dogs have certain nutrient requirements, and most veterinarians feel that homemade food is best for your pet. If your dog is on the commercial food, make the change gradual so that digestive upsets can be avoided.

Never feed bones to your dog as they can get lodged in their digestive tracts. It is also advisable to avoid giving chocolates, avocados, onions, nuts, raisins, grapes and garlic. You can make dog food at home based off the sources of protein like fish, eggs, pork, lamb, beef, pheasant, chicken and so on. Add carbohydrates like barley, oats, quinoa, or wheat germ to the meat. The healthy dog food must be served at the room temperature, and adult dogs must be given one meal a day.

If you want to feed the readymade dog food to your pet, compare all the premium brand foods in term of ingredients. Good brands of pet foods always have pure meat product as the first ingredient. There are certain premium foods that are high in protein and have very less filler content as compared to dry dog foods. Some of the canned dog foods have no grains, but only protein. These foods can adversely affect dog’s health as their digestive system is not designed to digest the large quantities of protein. You must choose the dog food that provides a good blend of whole grains and meat such as potato, eggs, fish, grouse liver, broth and carrots.

More and more people these days are opting for natural organic dog food. Whether you are going for the organic dry dog food or the canned moist food, make sure that it is safe and healthy for your pet. Buying the organic dog food is definitely going to cost you more, but the benefits of this food will far outweigh the disadvantage of it being expensive. You can hunt for the coupons to get great discounts on natural organic dog food so that you get it at the best possible price. When choosing the dog food, just keep in mind that each breed of dog has its unique nutritional requirements that also vary as per size and age. If you are not sure, talk to the vet or read some books about dog food and care.