Dog Walking Etiquette

There is no guidebook or specific rules about how you should walk your dog. But similarly to how you should behave in a public setting, there is a dog walking etiquette. So here is a couple of things you should and/or shouldn't do while taking your companion.

Control your pet.

There are different levels of control you can exercise on your pet. While walking you should not let you dog walk-up to random people unless they say it is okay to do so. Some people are allergic and others are afraid of dogs. Controlling your dog also means that it does not walk-up to other dogs. Some dogs do not tolerate stranger dogs, or are just afraid and intimated which could result in aggressive behavior. To avoid losing control on your pooch, keep him or her on a short leash especially in crowded environments. A longer lead may be used for more remote walking areas such as trails or parks. Always, keep your dog on the leash unless at the park or in a fenced area. You never know what or who might come out from behind the next bush. This is a safety precaution. Prevent your dog from barking too much. It is relatively okay once or twice but constant barking is a noise nuisance to the neighborhood.

Pick-up after your dog!

This may seem like the most obvious one out there, but there are way too many dog owners that do not pick-up after their dog goes to the bathroom. Be courteous to other owners and pets. No one wants to see, smell or step into what your pooch has left behind. A reason why there are only a limited number of beaches that allow dogs, is that people are not picking up. Go out prepared and always carry bags with you to pick up after your pet. This allows for a clean environment at all times.

Know the limits of your dog.

Each dog and dog breed is different. Know how far your pooch can go. Choose the appropriate weather and terrain to keep both you and your dog comfortable. If you are training or conditioning your dog, make sure you do your research or consult an expert to provide only the best. Studying your pet's behavior can help determine what type of environment is best.

There are three main dog walking etiquettes out there. Apply control over your pet when outside. Pick-up after your dog if he or she leaves a mess. Finally, make sure you know how far your dog can go. Overall, walking your dog should be a fun, relaxing, and enjoyable experience for both pet and owner.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Walking-Etiquette&id=9934384

3 Tips To Be A Good Pack Leader

Why is it IMPORTANT to make yourself the Pack Leader in dog training?

Do you find that your dogs have behavioral issues, like barking at other dogs and biting your stuff? In these cases, it is most probably your dog thought that he is the pack leader, or maybe he is just confused about it.

But talking about dogs' nature (they are pack animals!), once you (the master) show the leadership, actually the dog is more than happy to be a follower!

Here I would like to share some tips to develop yourself to be the Pack Leader!

Tip #1: Take full control of his feeding arrangements

Your dog is not allowed to eat until you release. Be strict and eventually he will understand that: If I don't follow, I won't have food! Knowing that food is always the "ULTIMATE" goal for every dog, if you are able to show them that you are in control of their food, there is no way they cannot be listening to you. Bear in mind that you should control not only when to release food, but also where to feed them and you will feed them when they are behaving well!

Tip #2: Stay assertive during dog training

Take note that assertive is different from aggressive. Talk to your dog in gentle, but firm tone. Don't speak in cute way or in anger. If you know that your dog ignores you purposefully, stop first and come back later. Do not shout at your dog. Most of the time, shouting is useless but only hurting yourself. They can actually feel our love towards them. Likewise, they can feel also if we would allow them to do whatever they like. Dog training... is a matter of training them about discipline too!

Tip #3: Know your pack

We all love our dogs, aren't we? Understand and love them. Only when you know your pack and what fulfills them, then only balance is created. From there, we can formulate the dog training plan more effectively. It is like working in a team in our workplace. You got to understand everybody's personality before you can actually mix well with them. Balance the pack with your knowledge in dog training!

This is the fundamental and SUPER ESSENTIAL for dog training. Many people would say that dog training is difficult. But believe me, the key is at the - be the PACK LEADER!

Source:https://ezinearticles.com/?3-Tips-To-Be-A-Good-Pack-Leader&id=9070195

5 Common Signs of Dog Separation Anxiety To Watch Out For

If you notice that your pet dog has been acting up lately and you don't know why, he may be experiencing separation anxiety which is a common issue in canines. It is when they feel stressed when left alone resulting in negative behavior. Any dog parent or pet owner should be able to tell the difference between a dog being sad when their owner leaves the house and the more serious separation anxiety. Knowing the symptoms will be a great deal of help to fight the issue or even prevent it.

Here are 5 common signs of dog separation anxiety that should be observed:

Barking

Barking or whining (or both) is the most common sign of separation anxiety in dogs. They would usually start this behavior once their owner leaves and won't stop until they return. The barking is a cry for their owner to come back to the pack.

Chewing

While dogs naturally love to chew on just about anything, excessive and destructive chewing is a separation anxiety symptom. This behavior in canines is similar to when humans chew gum in order to stay calm.

Digging

When a dog is stressed, one usual behavior would be digging. This is usually accompanied by general destruction so if you find that one of your shoes have been chewed on, papers in your house are scattered and played with and other similar scenarios while you were gone, you should start observing your pet, especially if it is accompanied by digging.

Drooling

While almost all dogs drool, it can be a sign of stress when excessive. It is hard to tell whether excessive drooling is medical related or due to the stress of separation anxiety, so try to be more observant. If your pet has this issue all of a sudden and you're not sure of the cause, it is best to consult with your veterinarian.

Peeing and Pooping

Another common sign of dog separation anxiety is urinating or pooping inside the house, especially if your pet is potty trained or knows how to do his business outside. If this happens only when you are away, it means that your pet is indeed stressed.

Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition. Canines are naturally loyal and loving and it makes them sad when they are away from you which they see as the leader of their pack. Watch out for these signs to help fight the issue!

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Common-Signs-of-Dog-Separation-Anxiety-To-Watch-Out-For&id=9799476

Top Three Factors Why Your DOG Needs A Dog Trainer

A lot of pet owners struggle to house train their dogs due to lack of dog trainers. It is certainly true that a dog trainer is a lifeblood for training any fussy furry pal having behavioral issues. He is a wonderful resource to help pet behave in the right manner and develop techniques to help them overcome their aggressive nature or teach them good habits. Though it takes much time and at times pet may ignore the commands, your pet can benefit hugely from obedience training.

Not Listening to Owners

Not all breeds are easier to train. Some are easier, whereas some are tough shells to break. However, all canines can be trained to fall into the league to follow simple commands. Pet owners get frustrated when they command their pooch to sit and the furry pal just barks back or run away from them. If you have to shout or nag or repeatedly give them the command before they listen to you, it straightly means that they lack respect towards you. Some pet owners may be wondering that their pets obey them most of the time, but still do they need a dog trainer. If your pet doesn't give a heed to simple commands at the very first time, it is likely that opting a dog professional would be really beneficial.

Though your furry pal listens to you, it is good to hire a dog trainer to improve the ability of your dog to always obey your commands and behave in the shell even in the presence of others.

Barking

Barking is a natural instinct of canines. This is the way of their communication through which they express their emotions and feelings such as pain, anger, fear, and excitement, to the human world. Nevertheless, this becomes abnormal when a dog's barking becomes excessive. For example, even if for a small thing like a moving car, a passerby, a pet cat, a little sound from TV or a presence of a guest, your pooch barks it seems wrong.

Excessive barking may be related to behavioral issues pertaining to separation anxiety, stress, attention seeking, barking out of boredom or loneliness. A professional dog trainer can very well understand the underlying issue of your pooch and can help in to assess out the right theory in order to correct his behavior and carries on a few techniques to help your pooch wad out of this problem.

Licking

Normally, dogs like to lick to show their feelings of love and attachment with their owner. Canines are social and playful creatures. At times, Fido may start licking aggressively on his owner's face or hand, and they may even lick to the strangers or the guests in the house. Owners may take it wrongly thinking that their dog is really lovable and is affectionate towards everybody, even those coming to the front door.

However, you need to understand that this pet behavior is not likely to be appreciated or liked by outsiders especially small kids and old people. And, if you have a large breed dog, then there is every possibility that your dog with his huge body and powerful stamina can overpower the person. A qualified dog trainer knowing rightly to handle such dogs can help your furry pal to control his excitement a little bit, and under training, he can learn to greet people without licking.

A dog trainer is really helpful if you think you need to house-train your pooch or in case if he is facing some particular behavioral issue.

We love our four-legged companions but training can help them to mingle in human society very smoothly without any complaint from the outsiders or neighbors.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-Three-Factors-Why-Your-DOG-Needs-A-Dog-Trainer&id=9449775

What Is Dog Separation Anxiety and How to Reduce It

This problem is seen quite often in shelter dogs. I am dealing with this issue as a dog that I just adopted from a shelter has separation anxiety. If the problem is not treated or worked on it can lead to more stressful problems. This problem is not seen in every dog.

Some of the signs to look for are:

Some dogs have a more extreme case of separation anxiety and are more destructive than others.

Destructive like chewing on shoes or furniture, scratching, digging or going to the bathroom on the floors.

Barking, whining, howling.

Depression, lack of appetite, trouble breathing.

Following you from room to room.

The dog starts running in circles as you are getting ready to leave.

Some dogs may attempt to escape from the house to look for you.

Here are some tips to reduce the separation anxiety in your dog.

For a shelter dog that has been adopted is to have patience. The dog will learn new commands better to help combat the issue if he feels that the new home is safe, secure environment. Need to bond with your dog like playing and going on walks. This will help to use up his energy and be ready to relax alone. Create a quiet safe space for the dog only. Over time your dog will learn that he will be safe in that space while you are gone.

Next is to keep departure and arrival low key. This may be hard at first. For departing try not to pay attention to the dog for 10 to 15 minutes before leaving the house. After arriving home ignore the dog for a few minutes, then acknowledge him with some calming petting or hugs.

Offer some more comforting things for the dog by leaving a piece of clothing that will have your scent on it. This will help relax and some sense of familiarity because of your scent. Also, don't forget to leave his favorite toys and treats. Buy some treat games to him busy and the brain mentally stimulating while you are gone.

You could introduce a safety cue to be used such as "that you will be right back" for every time you leave the house. Start small by using the safety cue when you are going outside with the trash. Most of the time you are only gone a few minutes. Then keep building up the time you are away.

At first practice your departure routine by gathering your things that you take every day with you and sit down. Repeat this routine till your dog show no signs of distress. This way you are establishing a routine. Most dogs love having a daily routine with it master.

Don't be cruel to your dog by yelling or ignoring him. This may cause the problem to get worse. Try to calm him down with relaxing petting and talking softly to him in a low tone.

The best piece of advice is to be patient, consistent and persisted in the technique you are using.

Separation anxiety is not a result of lack of training or disobedience but it's a panic response.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-Dog-Separatuion-Anxiety-and-How-to-Reduce-It&id=9958037

Separation Anxiety and How to Fix It

Separation anxiety affects dogs and makes them appear stressed when the owner leaves home for some time. The phrase describes how the dog behaves when the owner is not around. The dog will exhibit symptoms such as excessive salivation, winning, barking and destroying items including scratching the walls, floors, doors and attempting to escape from the room.

Stimulated separation anxiety - The dog may exhibit and show a lack of self-control due to insufficient leadership. This dog may experience stress due to lack of attention from the owner. The dog becomes aware of the fact that it will attract attention if it behaves badly. When such a dog is reprimanded, it gets motivated because it knows that at least there is some form of attention. Negative attention can also be a reward if the owner is not aware of the needs of the dog. This kind of stress is easy to overcome especially where the owner increases the amount of time he spends with the dog by giving the dog proper exercise and leadership.

Fixing Anxiety

Take the Dog for a Walk

To reduce the anxiety, you can start by taking the dog for a walk. If you make the walk more rigorous, and give the dog enough food and water, the dog will spend enough time eating and resting. This leaves him in a quite or resting mode when you are away from home.

Avoid Touch or Eye Contact

Do not let the dog know when you are leaving or when you return. It makes the dog understand that there is nothing wrong when you disappear for some time. Disappearing for an hour before you leave or after your appear will effectively communicate this to the dog.

Say Goodbye Long Before Leaving

Before you leave the house, show the dog some affection. The dog will learn to associate the affection with leaving.

Remain Calm And Assertive

If you are ready to go to work, let the dog be aware of the fact that everything will be OK. This can be achieved if you project some level of confidence. Be assertive and reduce the separation anxiety.

Practice Leaving the Dog for Some Time

You can do this in a small manner. Leave the dog for some time then come back and leave again for a longer period of time. This should be practiced regularly until the dog learns that your absence does not mean anything.

Separation anxiety can be a huge problem however with some patients and the help of a professional you will hopefully solve the problem.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Separation-Anxiety-and-How-to-Fix-It&id=9055444

Do German Shorthaired Pointers Make Good Pets?

Known for being smart, friendly and willing to please, the German Shorthaired Pointer has a great reputation amongst pets. Loved for their ability to literally point, they may seem like a fun dog to have around. But much consideration goes into preparing to add this breed of dog to your family.

With a dog who is good-natured and easygoing, it seems like a no brainer that this would make a good pet for your family. But largely bred to be a hunting dog, the German Shorthaired Pointer has lots of energy and fits best with a similarly athletic owner who will take him hiking, biking, or running.

A simple walk around your block is barely even a warm-up for a spirited pointer. If they have too much confinement, it can lead to destructive chewing, hyperactivity, and barking. Bored Shorthairs are notorious for chewing through drywall, ripping out stuffing from sofas, and turning the yard into a wasteland of giant craters.

Young pointers up to almost two years old frolic and jump with great force, and things can go flying, even people. So be aware if you have young children. Make sure the pointer gets lots of physical activity.

German Shorthaired Pointers are able to learn a great deal, but they have independent minds and are easily distracted by exciting sounds, sights, scents. Some German Shorthairs are stubborn and obstinate and some can be scheming. You must demonstrate to them, through complete consistency, that what you say is what you mean.

They are very smart dogs, even varying in their barks. For example, if they meet with a stranger, they will either give you a warning, protective bark or a welcoming bark depending on if they feel friendly toward the stranger or not. But they are not aggressive with people, only sometimes with strange dogs and some cats.

With pointers, obedience training is vital for implanting self-discipline and control, for this dog can be a bundle of extreme energy. While being exceedingly trainable, they are also easily distracted and can lose focus. So his owner needs to be patient yet firm.

These dogs are truly lovable and make fine companions for sports, like hunting. After good training, they do as they are told and love their master unconditionally. They would make a great addition to any family, they just need the right circumstances so they can grow happy and do their best to please their master.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Do-German-Shorthaired-Pointers-Make-Good-Pets?&id=9055462

A Poorly Behaved Dog, Not Separation Anxiety

I have written about separation anxiety many times and I always mention that it is always possible that the dog is not suffering from separation but is simply a poorly behaved dog. Well, I just found another poorly behaved dog that was misdiagnosed and I thought I would tell you how we solved the problem.

This dog was a 9 month old lab mix that came from a shelter and then was moved a couple of more times with its new family. The owners were using a wire crate (YUCK) for the dog when they were at work. Unfortunately, the dog had learned how to escape and was doing it on a regular basis.

The new family vet suggested medication along with training and behavior modification to help solve the problem.

When I met the dog owners they had already received complaints from neighbors along with a warning letter from their new apartment management.

We started the training and the dog seemed to do well with its new exercises however it was still noisy when they were at work so they decided to leave it loose in the apartment while they were gone. That wasn't good because it became destructive and started a new bad habit chewing.

When I received their phone call asking for help they told me this was the final chance for the dog it had to be fixed or else it was back to a shelter. I hated hearing that but understood so I suggested a new plastic crate that gives more of a den feeling than the old wire crate and a bark collar.

They followed my instruction and got the bark collar as well as an internet camera so that they could see what was going on with their dog using an app on their smartphones. The barking continued even with the bark collar properly fitted.

That evening they took the final step and purchased a plastic dog crate set it up and allowed the dog to play some retrieve the treat from the crate games. The next morning the dog went in the crate as they left for work. The dog barked for less than 5 minutes and then quit. Yes, peace for the neighbors at last.

So was it separation anxiety, no. That was my diagnosis from the beginning. What fixed the problem the bark collar? He barked through it with the wire crate. Was it the new den like crate? I think it helped tremendously. I have had several clients switch from wire to plastic with very similar results.

If you have a dog that barks and whines in the wire crate upgrade to plastic and see if that solved the problem. Remember that separation anxiety is not always the problem.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Poorly-Behaved-Dog,-Not-Separation-Anxiety&id=9029095

Should I Use A Bark Collar On My Dog?

Is your dog making a racket in the backyard and bothering you as well as every neighbor within hearing distance? If so it sounds like you need to do something to make the barking go away and fast, before somebody calls the law.

Dogs bark, that's how they communicate with us and with each other. In fact most dog owners don't mind a bit of barking to get our attention, to tell us somebody is outside or to warn us of danger. However none of us want a dog that barks constantly.

In some communities your barking dog can get you a ticket and even a very large fine. If you live in an apartment a barking dog may get you served with an eviction notice. So how do we control the barking.

The quickest sure fire way to get the barking under control before you get yourself fined and / or homeless is to use a bark collar. If you select the right collar you can get almost instant results. When it comes to bark collars you have choices.

There are several different types of bark collars so lets talk about them so you can get an idea of what you should be able to expect from each one.

Citronella Collar

First we have the citronella collar. When your dog barks it get a blast of citronella in the nose. Most dogs don't like the smell and the idea is that they quit barking to avoid the smell. Unfortunately they are not the greatest when it comes to working well. It seems that most people say it just did not work with their dog.

Bark Collar

The second collar to talk about is the ultrasonic collar. This one make a noise that the dog can hear but you can't. The noise is a high pitched noise that most dogs prefer to avoid. Again works with some dog and not with others.

The third collar is the vibrating

Bark Collar

collar. It actually vibrates on the dog and distracts it from the barking. Dog owners like this collar because their is no discomfort to the dog merely a distracting vibration. This collar is definitely worth a try.

Bark Collar

The final collar is the bark collar we are all familiar with, the one that causes a very mild static shock. Before we go on let me explain that it isn't as bad as it sounds however it is very effective. These collars can be programmed at different levels of stimulation and most allow a couple of barks before they activate. These collars are very effective. In fact if you are facing a large fine or life on the street this is the one I would go for.

I hope this information gives you some ideas about what you feel would be best for your dog and it's barking problems. Don't forget there is always doggie day care while you are gone during the day!

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Should-I-Use-A-Bark-Collar-On-My-Dog?&id=8667341

6 Warning Signs That Your Puppy Is Dominant

Having a dominant puppy can lead to all types of problems as your puppy grows into an adult dog. Being able to identify these dominant signals is important so that you will be able to correct the problems before they become habits. Training your puppy should start at 4 to 6 months of age and the earlier the better to keep from developing these bad traits.

Jumping on You

All puppies jump so don't let the fact that your puppy is doing it make you feel that you have a bad dog. Your puppy simply needs to be taught that this is not allowed. Teaching this at a young age will keep you from having a 90 pound dog jumping on you at will.

Demanding Attention

Your puppy may demand attention constantly. In fact he may bring you a toy or a ball and continue nudging you with the toy until you throw it for him. In the beginning it's such a cute behavior that we absolutely do what the dog is asking by throwing the toy. However over time this cute gesture can become a complete pain in the rear.

Humping

Humping can be very annoying and sometimes embarrassing. It not only happens with males but sometimes with females as well. You simply need to teach the dog this is not allowed by pushing it off of you and giving it the off command.

Mouthing

Mouthing can be very annoying and it starts at a very young age when the puppy's teeth are like little pins and needles that really hurt. The easiest way to correct this bad behavior without any confrontation is by using a product called Grannik's Bitter Apple it's available at almost all pet stores. Make sure that you are getting Grannik's because there are several other brands on the market that simply don't work as well.

Growling or Barking

We all find that growling and barking is kind of cute when your puppy is young. But usually what your puppy is doing basically is talking back to you. To avoid this type of attitude from your dog it needs to be obedience trained. Obedience training will help your dog understand what is allowed, what isn't and what the rules are.

Resource Guarding

Resource guarding usually starts with your puppy at a young age. To avoid your dog from guarding his food and toys you should start handling them and taking them away from him in the very beginning. We want your dog to learn that the food and the toys actually belong to you and you just allow him to eat the food and play with the toys.

One surefire way to avoid these dominant behaviors is to teach your dog you are the master. How do you do that? It's simple, with obedience training. Obedience training is a lot more than sitting, downing and staying. Obedience training is what establishes you as the master in the dog master relationship. Train your dog early and you won't regret it, you'll have a happy dog for the rest of his life.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?6-Warning-Signs-That-Your-Puppy-Is-Dominant&id=8331791