Are Your Neighbors Annoyed By Your Dog?

When you have a pet, a certain amount of responsibility comes along with it. If you have neighbors that live nearby, you always want to take into account whether or not your dog is being annoying on a day to day basis. After all, even the biggest dog lover can end up losing their patience if the dog next door starts to bark or get into things and so on. Because you love your dog and he or she is an integral part of the family, it may be difficult for you to realize just how much of a nuisance he or she is becoming.

The simple fact of the matter is that all dogs are capable of barking and more than likely will bark at someone or for some reason during part of the day. If your dog is starting to bark non-stop, it can easily become an annoyance to your neighbors. You need to take into consideration that if your dog is known to bark when you are at home, the chances are also very high that he or she is barking quite often when you are not home. While this can be extremely frustrating for your neighbors, you might find that your dog is barking due to the lack of attention or that it could actually be a sign of anxiety.

To help remedy that barking if you are going to be away from home for a couple of hours, think about leaving your dog inside instead of outside. As long as your dog has a safe and secure environment inside, it may be a lot more relaxed and quiet for them, thus helping them to keep quiet. If you are going to be out of the house for most of the day, it may be in the best interest of your dog to look into a doggie daycare or see if there is a dog walking service in your local area that you can call to give your dog some extra attention.

When you are curious as to whether or not your dog is annoying your neighbors, the best way to find out is to simply ask. By keeping the line of communication open and working with your neighbor, you may find out more about how you can make it easier for them to coexist in close proximity to your dog. In the end, hopefully everyone will be happy and free of the annoyance of a barking or pesky dog once everything is out in the open.

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Are Some Breeds of Dogs More Loyal Than Others?

When bringing home a new pet, there are a number of qualities you'll want to look for. You'll want to find a pet that you'll be able to train properly. You'll want an animal with a good temperament. And most of all, you'll want to find a dog that will be loyal.

While loyalty is a trait that's strongly associated with dogs, certain breeds of dog are far more loyal than others. If you're hoping to get an extremely loyal dog, you'll want to make sure you go with one of these breeds.

Collies are famous for being loyal thanks to the show Lassie. These dogs are very intelligent, and they're also extremely protective of the people who own them. They're a great dog for a family as long as you have the space for a large dog. Collies need lots of exercise!

Another dog breed that is known for its loyalty is the German Shepherd. This breed of dog is frequently used by both the police and the military. They're also used as service dogs. They're a naturally loyal breed, and they are quite protective of the family that cares for them.

Beagles were bred to be hunting dogs, but they're also an extremely loyal breed. In fact, this type of dog has been used by homeland security. They are very protective of their owners and have worked hard to make sure they get help in emergency situations.

The Labrador Retriever is one of the most beloved breeds around, and it's easy to see why. It has lots of energy, an excellent temperament, and it's extremely loyal. They make wonderful family dogs, and they can provide a lot of companionship to an individual as well. They're a great fit for all kinds of homes.

While the Kuvasz breed isn't as well known as some of the other breeds on this list, it makes for an excellent pet. They make very good service dogs, but they also have a sense of humor and can be very playful. They're great guard dogs, and they're great companions as well.

As you can see, some breeds of dogs are a lot more loyal than others. If you're hoping to bring a loyal pet into your home, make sure you look at these breeds first. You're sure to be happy with them. They're popular dogs for a reason!

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Dog Tricks : Bowing Dog Trick

Teach your dog to trick to bow. It is explained in this video.

How to Teach Your Dog to Dance | Dog Tricks

See how you can train your dog to "dance" with this video. I found this quite difficult with my dogs, they are just too playful and think it's a game. I wish you luck.

Dog Tricks : Paw Shake Dog Trick

Learn how to teach your dog the Paw Shake Trick with this easy to follow video.

Teaching your dog tricks is a great way to boost his mental stimulation, and it allows the two of you to bond. The training can be fun and simple, as long as he knows basic commands, such as "down" or "sit." Here are three simple tricks that you can teach your dog.

Shaking Hands

Since most dogs have a natural instinct to raise their paws for a treat, teaching this trick will be easy to do. Your dog will need to be in the sitting position before you begin the training. You will then need to place a treat in your hand, and slowly move that treat to the ground, placing it next to your dog's paw. Once your dog begins to raise his paw in anticipation of the treat, you will need to say the word "shake." Be sure to praise your dog and repeat this step, holding your hand a little higher each time so that your dog will need to raise his paw higher in order to grab the treat.

The goal is for your dog to raise his paw chest high. Always use the same paw when training your dog until he can hold his paw up on command; afterwards, you can switch to his other paw. After your dog has learned to shake hands on command, eliminate the treats and replace them with praise and doggy toys.

Dancing

This trick can be taught to all dogs, but those pets under 40 pounds learn the dance trick faster. When you begin the training process, make sure that your dog is in the sitting position. Place a treat in your hand, but be sure to close your hand and move it near your dog's nose. In a slow motion, you want to lift your hand over your dog's head; next, you want to move your hand slightly behind his head. Your dog will then look back at your hand as he stands on his hind legs. Give your dog a treat and praise him as soon as he stands on his back legs. Repeat this step over and over until your dog is able to stand on his hind legs quickly and sturdily.

The next step is to move the treat above your dog's head in a small circle. The goal is for your dog to twirl on his hind legs. Once he begins to step in a circle, speak the word "dance." Give him a treat and continue to praise him each time in order to bait your dog to stand up and turn in a circle.

Take a Bow

After shaking hands and dancing, your dog will deserve to take a bow. The key to this trick is having your dog place his chest to the ground while keeping his bottom upward. Bowing comes naturally to dogs, so this trick is simple to learn.

When you begin teaching this trick, your dog will need to be in the standing position. Place a treat next to your dog's nose, and slowly move it down, keeping the treat next to his nose at all times. Your dog's chest will be on the ground and his bottom will be upward. Keep your dog in this position for a few seconds and speak the word "bow." Use the treat to lure your dog back up into the standing position. Once he is standing, give him the treat and lots of praise. Repeat this process no more than three times a day and soon your dog will be able to bow on command.

Always keep training under 10 minutes per day. You will need to remain patient, positive, and calm when training your dog to do these simple tricks. Have fun and be sure to show off your dog's new tricks to family and friends!

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The Happiest Pup in the Park - Exercise Your Dog's Mind

Providing dogs with mental stimulation, as well as physical and social interactions are critical factors for maintaining their behavioral health. When animals are stressed or unhappy it has the same effect as it has on humans; your immune system can become vulnerable and you become susceptible to illness or disease during these times. This means that not only is mental enrichment a good behavioral health benefit but it improves health in general.

I have Chihuahua's so it does not take much real estate to provide plenty of running room for these little guys. The same can be true for someone with 10 acres of land for a Great Dane to run on! Running, fetching, chasing exercises are beneficial cardio workouts, but the mind needs to be stimulated for animals as well. Dogs really aren't much different than we are. Wouldn't you go crazy if all you ever did was sit on the couch and watch TV? Most people would answer yes. You need to get out and see people, experience new and exciting challenges. It's easy to understand a dog needs the same thing.

Dogs that lack mental stimulation can develop behavioral problems as a result of this imbalance. Exercising is undoubtedly needed, but you don't need a physically fit athletic dog that is bored to tears and forced to find his own outlets for mental enrichment. It's pretty much a given, the outlets he finds, will not be in line with behavior you find acceptable! It doesn't take a lot of time each day or every few days to provide an array of activity for your dog to keep him balanced with physical and mental exercise.

If you have a dog that spends time each day barking at nothing or chewing on anything he can find to sink his teeth into, furniture included, he may be bored. Parks are a great alternative! There are new smells and activities at the park every single day. When visiting public parks a responsible pet owner will keep their dog on a leash. This provides protection to other people as well as your dog. Even if you have the friendliest dog in the world, it does not mean that you won't run into that one person who has a real fear of ALL dogs. Be considerate of the things you are not aware of... play it safe and use a leash when visiting public areas.

Dog parks are a great alternative but they are not for every dog nor are they without risks. Aggressive or sick dogs should not be taken to dog parks. Unfortunately not all pet owners are responsible owners which means you may not always be aware of an aggressive dog or which ones may have a contagious aliment. Not all illnesses have visible symptoms therefore some owners may be unaware of their pet's condition. Use caution when visiting dog parks until you become very familiar with the others who use the park. And always help reduce the risk of spreading illness and disease by picking up after your dog! Discourage your dog from exploring feces left by another animal.

I take my dogs to several different parks. I look for parks that are not heavily populated with people to reduce the anxiety that might develop from being around people who are not respectful of other people or their pets. I use a dog park but I use a great deal of caution and I never trust what someone tells me about their dog until their dog's actions can validate the owner's claims! If my dogs do not get to go to the park at least every few days they start to bug me to take them. And when we do go to the park, not only are their appetites good that night but they also sleep well!

The last thing you want to do is reprimand or punish your pet because you aren't providing the mental stimulation he or she needs. The needs of each breed vary so research your breed and determine how to meet the needs of your breed. By providing your dog mental stimulation as well as physical exercise, you will be ensuring your pet has a long and happy life. I know I have some of the happiest pups in the park when I go! And when my dogs are happy... I am happy!

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