The Importance of Walking Your Dog, And So Much More

Walking your dog or (best buddy) is so much more than just a way of exercising. Walking your dog is also showing your dog that you care for it and want it to enjoy themselves rather than be bored sitting indoors all day, doing nothing but stare out the window, look for food and sit on your feet. Dog walking is also a behavior training opportunity, it teaches your fluffy creature how to behave in canine company. Not only is this benefiting both of you on the exercise side but you are also developing a relationship with your dog and having some quality time to bond with your beloved pet!

A thought not to forget is that the second we become pet owners we are taking our pets health 100% into our own responsibility. Walking our dogs regularly is one of the first steps to their physical and mental health, if you often walk your dog you will notice they are more physically fit, they feel better, have better form, are more energetic, experience less health problems and live longer. Walking our dogs can also be a great form of structure and compliments the structure that we provide in the home. Because we love our dogs we often believe that they should have all the freedom in the world. But having structure is hard-wired into dogs, they seek it crave it and are happier with it. There is no more basic rhythm for dogs than walking, it makes their lives whole and is something they can look forward to. Walking your dog is not just beneficial on the health side it also creates happiness. When you have a great relationship with your dog you're in good health and you're making new friends you're bound to enjoy more in life!

Moreover, the social aspects of walking your dog can also act as a great incentive for us all. People love to share things in common and what is more socially enjoyable than having a chat with a fellow dog lover while on a walk. Friendships are built out of such things.

Finally, it's us, yes the owners of the dog who benefit the most. A good walk for 30 - 60 minutes is fantastic for the mood, cardiovascular activity, and overall health. It takes multi-tasking to another level. Fulfill all your objectives from one simple walking activity in a fraction of the time.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Importance-of-Walking-Your-Dog,-And-So-Much-More&id=9382934

Know These Common Mistakes That Dog Owners Often Make

Nobody is perfect, this also applies to pet owners, they often make mistakes when training their dog. Poor dog owner training can lead to some dog behavior problems. If you are training your dog, learn these common mistakes and how you can avoid them!

Most Common Mistakes You Must Know

Leaving Your Dog Alone Too Much: Do you know that pets need attention, they want to spend time with their owner. Leaving them alone too much can lead to behavior problems. Even if you are very busy, make sure that you still spend time with your dog every day.

Inconsistent Training: As you are reading previous articles explaining about dog training tips, you already know that being consistent is very vital. Inconsistent training can lead to behavior problems.

Chaining A Dog: Some dog owners are too cruel, they keep their dog by chaining them. Don't do this, chaining a dog is not a good way to teach your dog. If you don't have a secure fence, there is still a solution available for you. You can keep your dog in the house crated.

Don't Yell: If you are constantly yelling at him, it will lead to behavior problems too. It is very normal that we may lose our temper from time to time, but yelling is not a solution.

Crating Them Too Long: Keeping him in the house crated seems a good idea, but if keep your dog in a crate for hours and hours, this can be dangerous. Doing this can affect his muscle tone and growth.

Reinforcing Bad Behavior: We often do this, but we don't realize it. Reinforcing bad behavior is a very serious issue. If you want to teach your dog about good habits, don't do this.

Hitting Your Dog: Hitting your dog or swatting him with newspaper is definitely a bad idea. As a dog owner, it is important not to set a bad example in front of your dog.

Conclusion

When you are training your dog, you must realize that changes won't happen overnight. It takes time until you can see the real result. Training a dog can be very fun if you know how to start. There are many dog owners who can share their experience with you. By learning some common mistakes that dog owners often make, you will be able to avoid these mistakes, helping you to teach your dog in a correct way.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Know-These-Common-Mistakes-That-Dog-Owners-Often-Make&id=8925164

5 Ways To Make Dog Training Easier on You (and Your Pet!)

Whether you've adopted from a shelter, a breeder, or somewhere in between, the joy of bringing a new pet into your home can feel like bringing a baby home from the hospital. Like babies, new pets can come with new responsibilities, like training them to fit in your environment. Some new pet owners don't realize this until they're stressed and dealing with a confused dog. The good news is that dog training doesn't have to be as stressful as you think! Check out these five ways to make it a breeze.

1. Make a Schedule

Remember that we're all creatures of habit, so setting aside 15 to 20 minutes every day (or at least on a regular schedule) can make all the difference. Making dog training a habit will help you and your new pet succeed, so pencil it into your schedule ahead of time and commit to making it a priority. If you aren't able to commit to a regular schedule, try to involve other family or household members in the dog training so that a consistent regimen becomes part of the routine.

2. Prepare Mentally

You can't teach an old dog new tricks-unless you have the patience to keep at it! Proper dog training is a marathon, not a sprint, so make sure to prepare yourself mentally for the long haul. Try to remain calm, patient, and avoid showing signs of frustration, which your new pet may pick up. Don't forget to go slow and repeat commands until they get it right multiple times.

3. Have the Proper Equipment

Talk with a trainer about what tools are available to you as you begin creating new habits with your pup. Chances are, the trainer will want you to work separately without the pet so that you're able to build a bond that isn't reliant on outside help.

4. Manage Your Expectations

Remember that canines vary in intelligence and temperament, especially when it comes to the wide spectrum of breeds available. Make sure you set realistic expectations for your dog training based on breed traits, as it will be harder to teach a Chihuahua herding commands than it would be a Shepard.

5. Give Immediate Positive Feedback and Rewards

We all do better with positive feedback, and animals are no different. Make sure you offer rewards or treats immediately after a job well done so that the animal learns right away which habits are good and which offer no rewards. This will help them learn faster and easier-besides, who doesn't love treats?

Teaching your new family member how to get along in their new environment can feel like a monumental task, full of frustration and stress, but it doesn't have to be that way. Practice patience, positive reinforcement, and consistency, and your new best friend will fit into the family in no time.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Ways-To-Make-Dog-Training-Easier-on-You-(and-Your-Pet!)&id=9515053

Aggressive Behaviors in Small Dogs

Aggressive dogs are a major problem for many pet owners, and a justified cause for concern. Some canine experts refer to aggression in miniature breeds as small dog syndrome, the animal kingdom's version of a Napoleon complex. Unfortunately, many people fail to take this behavior seriously, believing that an aggressive small dog won't be able to cause much harm. Professional dog trainers do take this phenomenon seriously, however, and recommend that dog owners do the same. Fortunately, small dog syndrome can be successfully mitigated with proper training and follow-up.

Small Dog Syndrome

Small dog syndrome is a term that many trainers use to describe aggression in miniature breeds. This phenomenon is sometimes mocked or discounted because small animals usually can't impart the level of damage that a large breed can. Consequently, pet owners allow their tiny companions to exhibit behavior that would never be tolerated with a large dog. Rather than training the tiny canines to display correct behavior, owners often control by force. It's easy to scoop a tiny dog up in your arms and carry him away when he acts up, but this does nothing to teach it proper behavior. This practice causes a variety of complications that can reward and reinforce bad behavior rather than eliminate it. In addition, this degree of close contact, when overdone, can make the dog feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed.

The Most Aggressive Small Dog Breeds

As you might expect, the usual suspects top this list: Poodles, Jack Russell terriers, Chihuahuas and Lhasa apsos are the most commonly reported breeds for aggression. It may surprise you to learn that cocker spaniels, beagles, dachshunds and shih tzus are also frequently noted as being antagonistic. Rounding out the list are the bichon frisé and the Pomeranian. Of course any dog, regardless of size, can develop aggression.

Experts say that it is important not to blame the dog's breed or expect breed-specific negative behavior patterns. Behavioral patterns in domestic canines almost always have more to do with human influences and the degree to which the animal was successfully socialized as a puppy.

Understanding and Addressing Tiny Aggression

Aggression in small dogs may have different influences than for larger breeds. And while tiny pups are more easily hurt, it may be difficult to make the adjustments necessary to overcome aggression while still keeping them safe. It is important to watch your dog for signs of fear or discomfort, which are the typical emotions that precede aggression. Careful observation will help you learn to recognize those situations that trigger unwanted behaviors. Watch for your dog to tuck its tail, assume a wide, crouching stance, put its ears back or lick its lips. If the situation elevates, it may bark, growl, initiate eye contact, snap at the air or put its hackles up.

The best way to remedy aggression in small breeds is with training, specifically using reward-based training techniques with obedience, confidence-building and socialization. It isn't easy to break old habits with weekly pet-store classes, however. Many experts suggest boot-camp-style programs. In this scenario, away from the owner's influence, a small dog can have the comfort level to successfully master new behavior patterns. At the end of the program, pet owners typically join their dogs to learn how to maintain and reinforce the new behaviors. With this approach, you are much less likely to experience recidivism, wherein the dog reverts to his old aggressive dog ways.

How to Keep a Dog in Good Health

Being a dog parent is not easy. One needs to be very careful about the special needs of the dog and offer them proper care and attention. In fact it would not be an exaggeration today that the adopting a dog is akin to being a parent of your child. You have to offer them a happy and healthy life that would not only increase their obesity but also offer them a high standard of life. One thing that you should remember here is that you don't have to adopt the dog only because of its liveliness or charm but also because you want to form a lifelong relationship. So you need to be very careful about physical and mental health of your dog as you are careful about your own child.

Here are a few helpful tips to maintain the health of you dog:

Daily Exercise

Daily exercise is the most important part of a dog's schedule. In fact many pet owners would not like to take their dogs to nearby parks for walking as they are too much worried about the dog being attacked by street dogs. In that case you may use a vehicle to take your dog in a vehicle and park it outside the garden. Then you can take you dog inside the park and allow it to enjoy brisk walking. The obese dogs find it difficult to breather and are at a high risk of developed diabetes.

Diet

Some people treat they dogs as their own family members. However it times they go a bit too far. It is especially true in the case of diet; In fact the dog's biological system and digestion process is distinctly different from human beings. So chocolate can be a treat for your child but for your dog it is a threat. The digestion system of dogs is designed in such a way that they cannot digest certain foods like chocolates, pizza, bread and others. Hence, instead of giving it what it likes the most you should rather offer it something that is most beneficial of its body.

Mental Well-being

The dogs are very sensitive when it comes to psychology. Many people buy dogs, not adopt them. It means that they buy them because of their liveliness instead of forming a genuine relationship. Such dogs are pampered too much in the beginning and later on when the owners are fed up they stop giving much attention to them. Sure, they get the food and water on time. But that is not enough. They also want to get proper care and love. Many such dogs suffer mentally and finally they fall victim to various psychiatric problems. So, it is very important to adopt a dog only of you have enough time to take their proper care.