The Best Treats For Dogs

One of the best things in the world is being able to make your dog dance around in happiness when you give him a treat he loves. Unfortunately, some owners give their dogs way too many treats. The treats may taste great but they can cause a lot of health problems if you give too many, or the wrong ones.

I'm not telling you to stop giving treats entirely. Certainly you should reward your dog for doing things you like, and it's great to indulge your dog a little occasionally. But some treats can be good for your dog in ways other than just emotionally.

Foods to Avoid

There are some treats and foods you should not give your dog. For instance, don't give your dog table scraps for treats. Table scraps can be bad for your dogs in some ways. Even something as harmless as garlic powder can cause your dog to have some digestive problems.

Additionally, human food often has a lot of fat in it that your dog doesn't need and it can lead to problems for your dog's organs such as fat in your dog's liver or an enlarged or weakened heart. Your dog can even develop diabetes. In general, if a food is not developed for a dog then you probably shouldn't feed it to him.

Besides table scraps, inexpensive dog biscuits and cookies that are high in fat are often fed once in a while, but if you feed them every day they can lead to health problems for your dog. You should avoid giving your dog treats that are high in fat or which are full of corn and wheat fillers.

Other things you should avoid giving your dog include pig ears (because of the risk of salmonella), ham bones, and cookies that are high in fat, especially if your dog is allergic to the grains which are often used in cookies.

Good Things for Your Dog

So, what kind of treats should you be giving your dog? There are some treats that I have found dogs love and which are healthy. Here is my list:

Kongs with Frozen peanut filling

Stuffed Kongs: Kong toys are great because your dog can chew on them literally for years and they won't be destroyed. Even better, you can put treats, peanut butter, and even chunks of meat inside them to keep your dog interested in chewing on them.

Frozen and Ice Treats: Most dogs love ice, unless they have some dental problems. Have you ever see a dog run at a snow bank? Somewhere inside your dog he is programmed to love eating frozen water. And here's the best part of all: frozen and ice treats are free and they're healthy for your dog, though they can get messy sometimes.

Pet Factory Rawhide chews

Rawhides Made in America: Dogs love rawhides and they make a great treat but you do need to be careful about giving them to your dog. Make sure you buy pressed rawhide so big chips won't tear off when your dog chews on it. And, secondly, make sure the rawhide you buy is American-made as there has been some discussion from news sources that rawhides from other places may contain arsenic.

Heavy, Big Bones: It's okay to give your dog some bones, as long as you watch and supervise your dog. These include large, heavy beef bones. But don't give your dog small bones that can chip or break, especially ham bones.

Top Chews Chicken Jerky

Jerky: Dried meat, like jerky, is a great treat for dogs. Jerky doesn't usually have a lot of additives, dogs don't choke on it, and they are usually safe to feed to your dog. They can make good training treats, too, because they are easy to break up into smaller pieces.

When you're looking for treats for your dog you should look for treats that don't have a lot of fillers or artificial ingredients. Look for treats that have organic, grain-fed meats from the U.S. That way you'll know they have been handled properly and they don't contain ingredients that might make your dog ill.

Finally, every dog owner needs to have good treats for their dog, so take care, do your research, and always choose a treat that your dog will like.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Best-Treats-For-Dogs&id=8155313

Happy Christmas from Gillick K9 Products

How Long Will My Dog Live?

When you bring home that cute puppy most of us aren't thinking about how many years we'll have together. All we're thinking about is how adorable he is and how fast we can hide everything he wants to chew on. So, it's amazing how fast the years go by and gray starts to show up in our friend's muzzle. Maybe you're starting to wonder how long your dog will live.

It's not always easy to predict how long a dog will live. For purebred dogs there are usually known ranges within each breed. Giant breeds, such as Irish Wolfhounds, are considered very old by age 9. Most large and medium-sized dogs, such as Setters and Spaniels, tend to live to be around 12-14 years old. Toy breeds and small dogs, such as Whippets, may live past 15 years of age. Those are generalizations. Individual dogs may live shorter or longer lives depending on disease, good food, and overall health care.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Journals of Gerontology

Studies have shown that mixed breed dogs may live just as long or longer than the medium, large and giant breeds of purebred dogs. They don't usually live as long as the Toy and small breeds of purebreds. This is in the cases where the mixed breed dogs are well-cared for, of course. These numbers may be somewhat skewed by the fact that many thousands of mixed breed dogs are euthanized every year without being adopted. Presumably some of the dogs put to sleep are the less healthy mixed breed dogs. If the unhealthy mixed breed dogs were adopted they might not live as long as the healthy dogs and they could bring the overall average lifespan down.

For wolves the average lifespan is 8-10 years old. However, they have been known to live to be 20 years old in captivity.

Reportedly, the oldest living dog was an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey who lived to be 29 1/2. He was born in Australia in 1910 and died in 1939. The average lifespan in the breed is 11-13 years.

The leading cause of death for most breeds is cancer.

The best study in English of dog mortality and causes of death was done by the Kennel Club in Britain in 2004. ( http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/549) You can check the study for health statistics on each breed.

With your own dog, you can help him live a long life by making sure that he sees the vet annually for a checkup. You can investigate the food you feed him and choose a good quality food that has named sources of protein and fats. No mystery meats or "animal digests" or "animal fats." Food should say "chicken" or "lamb" or "chicken fat." Keep your dog free of all external parasites and heartworm free. Make sure your dog gets regular grooming and lots of play time. If you do these things for your dog then maybe he will be around for 29 1/2 years, too, like Bluey.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?How-Long-Will-My-Dog-Live?&id=8155322

What You Can Do to Help Your Shy Dog

Dogs have all kinds of personalities just as people do. But if your dog is shy she may not have been socialized enough when she was young. Shyness can be a real problem for dogs. It may sound counter-intuitive, but shyness in dogs can lead to them biting people. If your dog is shy then she may be very fearful of things, other dogs or people. This means that if she feels very threatened she may overreact to something and bite out of fear. You should help your dog try to overcome some of her shyness. There are a lot of things you can do to help.

One of the best things you can do with your shy dog is to take her places with you, especially places where she won't feel threatened. Go to a park that allows dogs (not a dog park). Take her for long, relaxing walks where she can see birds, trees and other objects at a distance. Let her get used to being out of the house, with you, and having a nice time. Don't push her. Don't try to introduce her to strange things or anything that will alarm her. You will have to go very slowly. All you want to do is show her that she can have a good, safe time away from home.

You can take your dog to a pet superstore. These are good places to socialize your dog. She can examine new sights and sounds, cautiously meet other friendly dogs, and, if she's agreeable, let people pet her. Make sure that you have treats with you so you can give them to anyone who offers to pet her. She may be more inclined to let them pet her if they have a treat to give her. If your dog seems overwhelmed you should not make her stay but if she seems to be curious about the place and the other dogs and people, praise her and give lots of rewards.

You can also help your shy dog by building her confidence. Training builds confidence. Work with her at home to learn basic commands. The more she focuses on training and paying attention to you, the less she will worry about feeling shy.

If your dog is feeling confident enough around other dogs you should consider signing up for a training class. An obedience or agility class can be fun for your dog and will help her overcome her shyness. Being in a class with other dogs and people may make her feel nervous at first but she should soon forget about her shyness and focus on having fun with the training.

Finally, be sure that you aren't accidentally encouraging your dog to be shy and fearful. If you are soothing and comforting your dog when she's scared you may be sending her the signal that there is really something to be afraid of when she sees another dog or a person. It's better for your dog for you to stay calm and cheerful and let her know that there's nothing to be afraid of. If there's another dog, show her that he's a good fellow. If she's fearful of a person, give him a hug. Teach your dog that it's not such a bad, scary world after all.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?What-You-Can-Do-to-Help-Your-Shy-Dog&id=8155343

Is Your Dog Clueless About Fetching?

It always looks great when you see people playing fetch with their dog. It's easy to believe that every dog is born knowing how to fetch. Some dogs do instinctively fetch and retrieve, but there are plenty of dogs who will look at you like you're nuts when you throw a ball for them and tell them to go fetch it.

If you have a dog who is clueless about fetching it's not hard to teach him what he needs to know. You only need a couple of basic things to get started: a ball, some treats, a ball with an opening so you can place treats inside. That's about it.

You can start by having your dog sitting or standing next to you. You should play with the ball and make it as interesting and fun as possible. Then toss the ball a few feet away and give the "Fetch" command. Whether your dog does anything or not, encourage him to go to the ball. You can even walk him over to the ball if necessary. When he touches the ball in some way give him a treat and praise him. You can repeat this exercise a few times. Make it lots of fun and give your dog lots of praise and treats when he touches the ball. Naturally, you should make a huge fuss if your dog actually picks up the ball or brings it back to you. Remember to just toss the ball a few feet away from you. You don't want to expect too much at the beginning.

If your dog has been touching the ball with his nose or putting his mouth on the ball you're doing well. Now start asking your dog to pick the ball up. Give him his treats when he picks the ball up. He may do this accidentally at first but that's when you should start rewarding him. You can place the ball in his mouth if necessary. Repeat this a few times until your dog is doing it reliably.

Next you can start asking your dog to bring you the ball after you toss it a few feet away. Give him his treats after he brings the ball back to you. Keep repeating. You can gradually toss the ball a little farther after your dog has gotten the hang of things.

You can also teach your dog to fetch by using a ball that has a small opening for you to put treats inside. Many dogs prefer a ball that has a built-in incentive. But be sure that the dog can't get the treats out himself or he won't need to bring the ball back to you. Start out by tossing the ball just a few feet, as before.

Some people prefer to teach the retrieve or fetch by using what is called the "forced retrieve." This means that you basically walk your dog through all of the motions. You toss the ball and walk your dog to the ball. Then you wait for him to pick it up when you will praise and reward him. And so on.

You can also use the "bait and switch" method. This can be a fun approach. With this method you need two balls, or two toys, or two of whatever. You toss the ball for your dog and when he goes to get the ball he may (or may not) bring it back to you. But, you have a second ball! So, you get his attention with the second ball, which makes him bring the first ball back to you. Most dogs will drop the first ball in order for you to throw the second ball. Then you throw the second ball for him, which he goes after. And so on. Retrieving becomes a great game for your dog if he likes going after the ball -- and your arm can hold out. This method works well for dogs that are prone to going after something and not bringing it back. Remember to add in the praise and rewards along with tossing the ball.

So, as you can see, there are several ways to teach your dog to fetch. You can try a few of them to see what works best for your dog or combine a couple. You and your dog should be playing a game of fetch in no time.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Is-Your-Dog-Clueless-About-Fetching?&id=8155332

The Right and the WRONG Way to Teach Your Dog to Come

The best way to teach your dog anything at all is to try looking at things from your dog's point of view. If you want to teach your dog to "Come" then you need to make it worth his while. That means you need to avoid doing what most owners do.

If you simply go outside and yell for your dog to come to you then chances are that your dog is going to ignore you, especially if you have a puppy. Your puppy is exploring the world and there are at least 100 things more interesting in your backyard than coming when you call. Your puppy could be chasing a bug, digging for a rock, or watching a bird. All of those things are more interesting than seeing what you want.

If you get mad when your puppy doesn't come to you then you are giving your puppy even more reason to stay away. What puppy in their right mind wants to go to an angry owner? None. All you're doing is teaching your puppy to associate the "Come" command with being angry and bad things.

If you go outside and chase your puppy with a leash your puppy might think its fun for a little while -- until he sees that crazy look in your eyes. Again, you are teaching your puppy that training is something bad and to be avoided.

Anytime that anger is involved in training, especially when you're training a puppy, you are most likely teaching the opposite of what you want to teach.

The best way to teach your puppy to come to you is by calmly attaching a leash or long cord to your puppy's collar. It's best to do this when your puppy is still in the house and not distracted by other things. Then the two of you can go outside in an enclosed area such as your backyard. You want to work in a place that is relatively free of distractions at first.

When you're outside with your puppy let him move around and play a little, especially if he is on the long cord. Then tell him to come to you. Remember that he doesn't know what this means at first. So, gently pull him toward you with the cord or leash. When he reaches you reward him and praise him for coming. Keep repeating this a few times until he begins to associate "Come" with actually coming to you and getting his praise and rewards. Keep things positive and cheerful.

Practice this lesson every day with your puppy on the cord or leash. It will be some time before you are ready to try it off-leash. Remember to let your puppy move around the yard and get interested in things so he's not paying attention to you when you ask him to come.

After your dog is coming to you quickly when you give him the command you can try moving on to doing the command off-leash in the enclosed area. Make sure the area is enclosed because you don't want to risk letting your puppy or dog get loose where he might get lost. Give the command off-leash and see how your puppy or dog does. Praise and reward when he comes to you. He should know the command by now so he will probably come to you. It's a question of how quickly he comes and whether he comes directly to you. You will need to practice off-leash in the enclosed area for a long time before you try this some place else. When you think you're ready to try it elsewhere, try it on-leash for the first few times. It's not easy to get a reliable recall when there are distractions. You may want to try it in a neighbor's yard if they have a fenced yard or someplace else where your dog will be safe if you try it off-leash.

If you teach the Come command without getting angry and, instead, use lots of praise and positive reinforcement, then your puppy or dog will be glad to learn it. Just make sure that you don't try to teach your puppy or dog using anger.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Right-and-the-WRONG-Way-to-Teach-Your-Dog-to-Come&id=8155349

Why Are My Dog's Teeth Stained?

Most people don't spend a lot of time thinking about their dog's teeth. Not until they notice their dog has stained teeth, tartar, bad breath or bad teeth. The truth is that your dog's teeth are very much like your own. They need attention throughout your dog's life. Your dog's teeth can become stained the same way that yours can - from the things he eats and from not being brushed or cared for.

Left unattended for years, your dog's teeth will become stained and yellow. They can even become brown and develop tooth decay. Many dogs develop very bad teeth by the time they are seniors which can mean they have problems eating. This can lead to them losing weight or having health problems. These problems often go unnoticed because people think that bad breath, weight loss and lack of appetite are signs of old age when, in fact, your older dog is not eating because of his dental problems.

You can prevent many of these problems later in life by caring for your dog's teeth throughout his life. This will stop any staining before it starts. There are some good ways to care for your dog's teeth and none of them are very labor-intensive for you.

1. Brush your dog's teeth regularly. This isn't hard to do and it only takes a few minutes each week. You can buy a toothbrush and toothpaste made for dogs (beef or peanut flavor are good choices) at your local pet store. A little dab of the toothpaste and most dogs think it's a treat to have their teeth brushed.

Dental Chews

2. Provide your dog with dental chews. Several companies make them and you can buy them at the pet store or where you buy dog food.

3. Give your dog raw bones to chew and eat. Raw bones are great for scraping the teeth and keeping them pearly white. You can give your dog chicken wings or necks, for instance. Marrow bones are also good. Make sure they are raw - cooked bones can cause problems.

Hill's Science Oral Care dog food

4. If your dog has teeth that are in really bad shape you may want to consider a dog food that is designed to clean the teeth and remove tartar. There are a couple of these dental dog foods on the market.

At some point in your dog's life, he may need to have his teeth cleaned by your veterinarian but this is not a routine procedure at this time. It requires the use of anesthesia to put your dog to sleep. If your dog needs a tooth removed or has some other specific problem, most people get the teeth cleaned at that time.

If you follow the suggestions offered here to keep your dog's teeth clean then your dog shouldn't have any staining.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Are-My-Dogs-Teeth-Stained?&id=8150664

Do De-Shedding Tools Work?

FURminator deShedding Tool

You've probably seen some of the ads on TV for these wonder tools that almost magically whisk away mountains of fur from dogs. They look great - but do they really work? Can it really be that easy to remove all that hair? Well, the answer is yes, and no. Yes, they do work but there is some actual work involved.

The tools come in various forms and names - the Furminator, the Mars Coat King, the Furbuster, but they all work on a similar principle. De-shedding tools are basically coat rakes that are used to pull out the animal's dead undercoat. Most dogs have two layers of coat, a dense, thick undercoat that insulates and protects the dog from the elements and provides warmth in the winter; and an outer coat that, to some extent, sheds light water and dust. It's the undercoat that grows thicker during the winter and sheds during warmer weather. This is the coat that you typically find shed in your house.

FURminator deShedding Tool

De-shedding tools have teeth which reach beneath the outer guard hairs of the outer coat and drag through the undercoat to help it shed quickly. This leaves the dog looking smooth and sleek, even longhaired dogs. So, instead of your dog slowly shedding his thick undercoat all over your house, the de-shedding tool pulls out the dead coat efficiently as you use it.

Pet Grooming Brush

Do these tools really work as seen on TV? Yes, they do. You can very easily pull out large mounds of dead hair from your dog quickly. It does not hurt your dog in any way as long as you don't scrape the teeth of the de-shedding tool against his skin. This is unlikely to happen if your dog has a lot of undercoat. You can usually tell when you are getting close to the dog's skin and ease up on your strokes.

DakPets Dog Brush

There is a little more effort involved in pulling out the dead undercoat than is sometimes shown on TV. Some dead hair may come away very easily but you usually have to rake the de-shedding tool through the undercoat just as you would pull a brush through your dog's thick hair.

De-shedding tools work best on your dog's neck, back and sides. They can be tricky to use in smaller places and you need to be careful when using them around legs or any place where your dog's bones stick out since you could scratch him. But in places where there is lots of fluffy hair de-shedding tools do work very well.

HappyDogz Pet Grooming Shedding Brush

To choose the right size de-shedding tool for your dog it's a good idea to ask someone else who has one or check the recommended size on the web site. If you buy the tool at a pet store, talk to the sales clerk. The larger the size, the more hair they will remove. However, if you buy a size that's too large for your dog you won't be able to work the tool properly over your dog's body.

De-shedding tools are a great help for grooming your dog but they are best used for seasonal shedding. They have limited use the rest of the year. Even if you have a longhaired dog a de-shedding tool will only help you so much in keeping him looking good during the summer months, although they can help a little to reduce year-round shedding.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-De-Shedding-Tools-Work?&id=8150675

6 Reasons Why Dogs Make Us Happier and Healthier

Why dogs make us happier and healthier.

Do Dogs Make Us Healthier?

We often hear stories that claim that pets, including dogs, make people healthier and even help them live longer lives, but are they true? Is there any science to back up these claims? The answer is yes! People with pets do lead healthier lives in many ways.

According to numerous studies, pets provide a wide array of health benefits to people, ranging from lowering blood pressure to helping to fight depression.

· In a study done at the State University of New York (Buffalo), people suffering from high blood pressure were found to have their blood pressure reduced after getting a cat or dog.

· The Centers for Disease Control states that owning a pet can decrease your blood pressure, your cholesterol levels, your triglyceride levels and reduce feelings of loneliness. They also state that owning a pet can increase your opportunities for exercise and other outdoor activities as well as your opportunities for socialization.

· Research suggests that people with pets may be protected from heart disease, according to the National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets. Their rationale is that the companionship of a pet provides an owner with the kind of "psychological stability" that helps to keep people calm and steady.

· Pets have also been found to reduce stress. According to the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in the UK, pet owners have been found to be able to handle stressful situations better than non-pet owners. Even walking with your dog can make you feel better and calm you down.

· People with pets go to the doctor less often, according to the National Institute of Health Technology Assessment Workshop:

Health Benefits of Pets.

· Pets are great at helping people fight off depression, especially for seniors. People who are depressed or lonely can greatly benefit from having a pet. Pets keep people active and they offer unconditional love. They provide feelings of security and companionship. They can often give someone an interest in life when they have lost interest in most other things.

· Exercising with your pet is a great way to get exercise yourself. Even if you simply take your dog for a walk it means that you are getting out and about. This can increase muscle tone, heart and cardiovascular fitness and improve your mood. Just a little exercise can help you keep your weight down, too, which can help you live longer.

The more things you do with your dog, the more you can improve your health. If your health permits, check out some fun activities that dogs and people can do together such as water sports (many dogs love to swim); flyball; playing frisbee; dog dancing - obedience routines set to music. There are also favorites such as obedience training, agility, rally and sports geared to your dog's background, such as herding, hunting, tracking, earthdog activities and the like.

So, from a health point of view, it's absolutely true that owning a pet, including a dog, can make you healthier. Take a moment to give your dog a hug and thank him for making you a healthier person.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-Dogs-Make-Us-Healthier?&id=8150685

Microchipping Your Dog

Microchips for pets have been around for quite a while now. They are considered routine for many breeders. If you purchase a puppy from a pet store your puppy will likely have a microchip already implanted. Many rescue and shelter groups also use microchips in the puppies and dogs they place.

As you probably know, a microchip is a small chip about the size and shape of a grain of rice that is inserted between an animal's shoulder blades. Its purpose is to provide a marker for information about your pet that can be scanned in case your dog is lost or stolen.

There are some pros and cons about microchips. On the plus side, microchips are a permanent form of identification for your dog. If your dog is ever lost or stolen he can easily be identified if found simply by using a scanner to find his microchip. Collars can be lost or removed and tattoos can fade or stretch, but the vast majority of microchips stay in place. Most microchips can be found by a scanner when used properly. However, the scanner must be used by someone who knows how to use it and it is sometimes necessary to move the scanner wand around to find the microchip.

Microchips must be registered with a database company, such as the AKC's Companion Animal Recovery service. The database service keeps track of your dog's (or other pet's) information - his name, your address, phone numbers, vet information, contact numbers, and so on. When your dog's microchip is scanned a data code is revealed which tells the person scanning that the dog is registered with the database company. A call to the database company will allow them to contact you, or another one of your contacts, to let you know that your missing dog has been found, no matter where he's been discovered. Your dog might be found 1000 miles from your home and it wouldn't make any difference. A couple of phone calls and you would know where your dog was so you could go get him.

According to AKC Companion Animal Recovery, lost pets with microchips are up to 20 times more likely to return home.

If you don't register your dog's microchip with a database company then it doesn't do any good to have the chip implanted. As a form of identification the chip will be useless. It would be like having a telephone in your house but never connecting it.

At one time there were problems with microchips because competing companies used chips that required different kinds of scanners. Animal shelters or vets might not have the right scanner to read your dog's kind of chip. However, today there are universal scanners which are supposed to be able to read all chips.

There are a few studies which have suggested that there could be health risks associated with the use of microchips. Microchips are being studied more extensively now since they are being used in some cases for humans (in children and the elderly in some countries). However, so far the data suggests that the chances of any health problems, such as tumors at the injection site, occur in a very small number of cases compared with the hundreds of thousands of animals which have been microchipped.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Microchipping-Your-Dog&id=8150703

Doggie Door Training for Timid Dogs

You have decided on a Doggy door, now you need to train your dog to be able to use it. This video gives some helpful advice on how to persuade your dog to use it even if they are timid. 

Using A Doggy Door

PetSafe Plastic Pet Door

Doggy doors are a great convenience for both owners and dogs. Whether you have a puppy, a dog in the prime of life or an elderly dog, a dog door allows your dog to go in and out at will into a safe backyard. Your dog can potty or play as he wishes. Dog doors are not hard to install and it's easy to teach your dog to use one.

You can choose the right door for your dog or dogs by doing a little measuring. Measure your dog from his withers (the top of his shoulders) to the ground; and measure the widest part of your dog. This is usually across his shoulder or hips. If you have more than one dog you should measure your largest and tallest dogs to make sure that everyone can fit through the door.

Once the door is installed you will need to show your dog how to use the door. Most doggy doors have a flap with magnets on the bottom to hold the flap secure when it's not being used by your dog. Your dog will need to give a little push to open the flap from either side. The magnets can make a noise that scares some dogs so you may need to do some coaxing at first.

Some dogs may not be clear on the doggy door concept at first so you'll need to be patient with them.

The easiest way to teach your dog how to use a doggy door is to use some clothes line pins or metal clips to hold the door flap open. Show your dog the door. You should go outside and encourage your dog to come through the open doggy door with some treats. Praise and reward your dog for coming through. Spend some time petting your dog and letting him know what a good job he did. Once he's enjoyed this part of using the doggy door you should go back to the other side and encourage your dog to come back through to the other side, again offering treats and praise when he comes through. You can do this a couple of times to make sure that your dog has figured out that there is a new opening in the door and he can go through it.

Once your dog has learned this lesson it's time to let the door flap down. You should be on one side of the door and your dog should be on the other side. You can open the flap slightly and call to your dog to come through. Wave your hand at him through the flap to get his attention if necessary. Hold out a treat for him to see. Encourage him to push through the flap to come to you. Once he comes through the flap you should praise him and give him some treats to reward him. Let him know what a great job he did.

You'll need to repeat this process to teach your dog to go back through to the other side.

If you teach your dog to use the doggy door this way it should just take him a short time to learn to use the doggy door. He'll quickly be going in and out the door on his own without any coaxing at all.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Using-A-Doggy-Door&id=8150717

Why Do Dogs Drool?

Just about all dogs drool but it's much more noticeable in some dogs than others. The most basic reason dogs drool is related to the same reasons they salivate, or, indeed, why humans salivate: they are anticipating food. Any time a dog starts expecting food there will usually be some drool soon.

But dogs drool for other reasons, too. Your dog can't sweat to cool himself the way that humans can. He has to pant to take in air and cool down. This panting can also lead to drooling, especially if your dog is very hot.

Dogs may also drool when they're very excited. Any time your dog reaches the point where his tongue is hanging out of his mouth, there may be drool. That can include excitement about seeing you come home, excitement about playing, excitement about watching a squirrel - you name it.

Some dogs do drool more than others. This is often due to the shape of their muzzles and the amount of "flew" that they have. Flews are the long, pendulous lips some breeds possess. Examples include Saint Bernards, Bloodhounds, many mastiff breeds, Bulldogs, English Setters and others. If a breed has long, pendulous lips then it's a good bet that they will be likely to drool a lot.

Your dog may also drool if he is sick or nauseated. If your dog rarely drools and he suddenly begins drooling you may want to consider taking him to the vet. In these cases drooling can be a sign of poisoning. It may precede vomiting. It's also possible that your dog could have something lodged in his mouth. See if your dog will let you check by gently running your finger around his mouth. In either case, it's a good idea to go to the vet if it's unusual for your dog to drool and your dog acts like there's something wrong.

In some cases a dog may have a broken tooth or some other injury to his mouth that leads to drooling. Again, a visit to your vet is recommended.

If you have an habitual drooler there's not too much you can do about it. If your dog drools when he travels you can help him by putting a window down for him. The fresh air may make him feel better. You can also talk to your vet about giving your dog an over-the-counter pill for motion sickness. Your vet can tell you how much to give your dog. A couple of ginger cookies helps some dogs if given before you travel.

If your dog drools while watching you eat you should consider banishing him from the room while you're eating.

Otherwise, you can handle drooling by keeping a cloth nearby to wipe your dog's face when he starts to drool. Some owners like to put a bandana on their dogs so they always have a cloth handy for wiping their dog's face.

The good news is that drool does wash out of clothes and it's easy to clean off your walls.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Do-Dogs-Drool?&id=8150721