Dog Gone Doggies

Pet owners have a lot of questions about heartworms, probably the most asked question with regards to heartworms is. Does it affect more than pet dogs? Yes it does, although you don't hear much about it foxes, wolves, ferrets and cats can get heartworms, there is no cure for cats at the moment. Here are more questions.

Are heartworms curable?

Yes, they are and close to 100% percent preventable.

What are the signs that my doggie may have heartworms?

A few active dogs show early signs and symptoms by coughing particularly following exercise, and the dog tires out easily, other pet dogs demonstrate no signs in any way. After the heartworms grow to adults and spread towards the cardiovascular system this is when you could possibly notice more severe symptoms.


What medication is prescribed for heartworms?

The drug Ivermectin or Milbemycon oxime is oftentimes used to prevent heartworms.

How do dogs get heartworms?

Your dog can only acquire heartworms through a mosquito carrying the parasite. Heartworms are not transmittable from one dog to another one, so if you have one pet dog that is infected the other dog is not going to contract heartworms unless of course bitten by another infected mosquito. Once bitten it takes about six to seven months to work its way through your dog system, and testing for heartworms during this period will not help, the heartworms won't show up until later on.

Is the medication for heartworms for other types of worms too?

Yes, and no this will depend on the medication some can be used to treat other parasites.

Heartguard (Ivermectin) is for heartworms only, Heartguard plus is made for heartworms, hookworms and roundworms.

Interceptor (milbemycin oxime) a second brand for taking care of heartworms is also for hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms in dogs and puppies.

Last but not least there is the brand Sentinel with the active ingredient in Interceptor plus they add lufenuron which sterilizes those horrible fleas.

Is there one region that heartworms are more widespread?

As a matter of fact the southern part of the United States was where heartworms showed up the most, where mosquitos are more rampant. Now virtually all states are reporting heartworms, some cases have been noted as far away as Japan. Where there are mosquito's you will find heartworms too.

What is the best way to guard against heartworms?

Honestly the easiest way to steer clear of heartworms is to start your puppy or doggie on prophylactic treatment. The average cost to treat your pet is generally about 50 - 90 bucks yearly, the bigger the dog the more costly. Heartworm medication is in the form of monthly pills, a 6 month shot twice a year or those liquid spot treatments you apply on your dogs’ neck like flea meds. Remember if you start adding treatment for the additional parasite preventatives (hookworms, roundworms, fleas) the cost can go up.

Once your pet has a confirmed case of heartworms then it becomes real expensive to help remedy. And not just that, when your pet dog is in treatment you need to do your best to keep your pet dog from physical exercise and overexerting themselves as it can cause death.


Since mosquito's are more common in summer can I stop treatment in the winter?

While it sounds like a sensible way to save cash if you are giving your dog year round treatment and fail to remember in the month of let's say in December your pet ought to be fine. But if you continue to fail to remember then your dog has a much greater opportunity to contract heartworms.

I really hope that clarified the questions you had about heartworms, you should for your dog's sake go to your vet get them examined then start right away on heartworm medication.

Dachshund Training is one of the first things you should research before you bring one of these little pups home. This can be a challenging process or a successful one, so doing your research will definitely help you reach success when it comes to Dachshund Training. Here are some helpful tools to follow when training your new dachshund.

Crate Training: Dachshund Training can be a little easier by using a crate. Although you may not want to put your puppy in a crate, they actually like the crate. It acts as their den, their place of comfort. Crate training is great because it helps cut down or even prevent potty accidents.

Potty Training: Potty training is the first type of training a new little puppy will encounter. This part of Dachshund Training should start right when you bring your new dog home. Making sure to take your puppy outside to potty every 45 minutes to an hour is very important. Be sure to try to go out the same door and take your puppy to the same potty spot each time, as this will make it easier for your puppy to catch on.

Obedience Training: One of the most basic parts of Dachshund Training is teaching them obedience. Be sure to start this training very early on. Obedience training is very essential to your dog, as a disobeying dog can be very hard to live with. Be sure to teach your pup the basics, like 'sit, stay, down, and come.'
These four commands are very important and will do a lot for you and your dog. Knowing these basic commands can help keep your dachshund safe. You will definitely need patience when training dachshunds because they are known to be very independent dogs. They love treats and a lot of praise, so be sure to use these helpful tools when your dog listens to your commands. Puppies get bored too, so try to keep the training enjoyable for the both of you, and try not to make it too long to where you and your dog get frustrated and tired.

Prevention Training: Dachshund Training is very important because it can take the route of prevention. You will want to work on breaking bad habits such as jumping on people, running through doors as soon as they are open, digging his way out of your yard, and excessive barking. Breaking these habits will help keep your dachshund safer. Puppy proofing your house is very important for the safety and well being of your dachshund.

Fun Training: Dachshund Training doesn't always have to be just about boundaries and rules. It can consist of fun training as well! Fun training is where you teach your dachshund how to do tricks and play games. Be sure to teach your puppy the basic obedience commands first though. That's how they will be able to learn these new and fun tricks. What tricks you want to teach your pup is up to you. A few are teaching them to sit up, wave goodbye, and shake.

Dachshund Training is very important and should start as soon as you bring your new pup home. Although training your dog can be a bit of a challenging process due to their strong will and independence, these great dogs are very intelligent and want to please their owner. Remember that healthy treats and a lot of praise go a long way in Dachshund Training. Being patient, calm, assertive, and consistent is the key to successful Dachshund Training.

And now I'd like to offer you a Free Training Guide, just click here: Dachshund Training
Enjoy the new puppy and be sure to get more tips, tools and training at http://www.PuppiesDachshunds.com
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This is really a cute video and these little Yorkie puppies are having a blast.In the video they show a ball pit they are made for kids but it looks like the puppies are truly enjoying it too! Here's a link to ball pits if you want to take a look at them for your dog. To have a set up similar to the video you would need an extra tunnel and a pack of balls. Of course you can use toys in place of the balls if you choose too. One idea is to get the ball pit first and if your dog likes playing in it then expand.

Just imagine puppies instead of children!

Once you have decided on a breeder that you can trust, you’ll need to start thinking about what type of puppy you want. This decision could take you some time, as it can be quite a few weeks or even months before the right litter is whelped - although it will be worth the wait. If your breeder has a few litters available when you look for your Golden puppy, you may be able to compare.

Some breeders may require that you put a deposit down on the puppy of your choice, if the puppies aren’t a certain number of weeks old. The good litters rarely go unsold, as most are already spoken for before the puppies are seven weeks old. If you want to get in on a good litter, your best bet is to get to your breeder early - before all of the puppies are sold.

When you arrive to get your puppy, you shouldn’t be alarmed if the breeder does the selecting for you. Most quality breeders will spend quite a bit of time with the puppies and they will know just what their individual temperaments are. The better breeders however, will do temperament tests to determine the temperament of the puppies they have with each and every litter.

By performing these tests, the breeder will get assistance in selecting which puppy goes to which type of home. If you’ve chosen one of the better breeders, you should let him do his work and help you select the puppy that he or she thinks will be your best match. Breeders can obviously select you a better puppy, as they have been around the litter for several weeks - and you have only been around the litter looking at them for a few minutes.

Although all Golden puppies are appealing to the eyes, you need to base your reasons on more than looks. Before you pick your puppy up, you should always make sure that he has a strong build, with straight legs. The puppy should be strong and muscular, yet be squirmy and active when you first try to pick him up. You should also make sure that he has healthy teeth and gums, and look over the rest of his body to make sure that he is healthy.

If your breeder does allow you to select your puppy from the litter, then you should take the puppies that you are considering to get away from the remainder of the litter and observe each one carefully, and how they react to you. Puppies that are around 7 weeks of age should be apt to explore their surroundings. Even though they may be a little cautious at first, the puppies should still be more than anxious to look around and sniff their surroundings.

When you single out the puppies, make sure you speak to the ones you are interested in and see how they react to your voice. Try moving around and playing with them, and see how they respond to you. Some puppies will be faster than others, although you shouldn’t pursue any interest in a puppy that doesn’t show any interest in moving objects or their surroundings.

If you take your time and evaluate each puppy that you are interested in, you can find the best puppy for you and your family. Golden Retriever puppies are great to have, providing you get one that’s healthy. Getting a healthy puppy should be your desire - as a healthy puppy will grow into a strong and healthy adult - and be around for years to come.

Golden Retrievers love to be included in family activities, which includes take rides in the car and traveling. They love attention, and love for you to treat them just like they are a member of your family. When you first get your Golden Retriever puppy, you’ll have to teach him how to enjoy car rides and traveling, so he can come to appreciate it more as he gets older.

When you decide to take him traveling for the first time, you should always give him food in small amounts throughout the day, while he adjusts to traveling. If you feed him a lot of food before you head out, he may get sick in the car and have an accident. By reducing the amount of food that he consumes, he’ll be much more in control of his bladder and himself.

When you are traveling, always plan to make frequent rest stops and allow your Golden Retriever time to relieve himself. You should also take some time to exercise as well, stopping every few hours for bathroom breaks and exercise. Golden Retrievers will hold themselves if they need to, although it isn’t good for them. No matter how far you travel, you should always be kind to your dog and stop every so often to let him have some time.

A common mistake that many have made, and one you should avoid at all costs, is letting your Golden ride in a moving vehicle with his head out the window. Although you may think this is a good idea, your Golden can easily get an eye, ear, or nose injury. Cars and trucks move at very fast speeds, and something can pop up when you least expect it and do serious damage to your dog.

When you stop for a break or to fill up your car, you should never allow your Golden Retriever to be alone in the car with the windows up. Even though you may crack the windows for him, the heat of summer can result in a heat stroke if you aren’t careful. If your dog does get a heatstroke from being locked up in a hot car, he can easily die before you are able to return to the car. If you simply must leave your dog in the car, make sure that you park in the shade and give him plenty of air.

As long as you do your part and take care of your Golden Retriever when you travel, he will love to travel with you. Traveling is something that your Golden needs to get used to, although most adapt to it fairly quick. Once you have taken your dog traveling with you, he will know when it’s time to travel and eventually learn to tell you when you need to stop so he can use the bathroom.

Is this not the cutest little dachshund her name is Madeline, I wish she was my girlfriend and she would chase me instead!

Dog grooming books are a great learning material for people who want to groom their pets at home without having to regularly pay for professional services. Then, dog grooming books represent a good course support for anyone who takes classes or attends a training program to get certification and licensing. The number of publications is very large, and you may have difficulties choosing. The best idea is to check for reviews, author's recognition and then order the material on eBay. A special place among dog grooming books is occupied by e-guides and other materials available for download on the Internet. Here are a few tips to help you select well.

First of all, why are you looking for dog grooming books? Do you plan to start a business or are you merely interested in learning how to care for your pet? In case you want to develop skills for business purposes it is worth mentioning the fact that studying dog grooming books is not enough; you'll need qualifications from an institution specialized in dog grooming training. Then, check the list of contents! Most books are general in the approach, because they apply to different dog breeds. Try to identify the grooming element that raises most challenges for you: nail trimming, coat brushing, hair cutting or ear cleaning.

See how well developed sections are in the various dog grooming books that you come across. You may not need a few paragraphs but whole chapters dedicated to various topics or subtopics. Depending on the author and the aim of the book, some materials will focus on supplies or equipment, others on grooming techniques while many will follow a general course. Specialized books deserve all of our attention, because many professional groomers provide solutions to home dog grooming through individual publications dedicated to a certain topic only, which is discussed in detail.

There are dog grooming books that focus on short-haired breeds only, while others cover medium and long-haired breeds. Moreover, very professional materials will describe hair cut options available for dogs with heavy coats, but this kind of dog grooming books target professional groomers first and foremost. Last but not least, certain breeds have physiological peculiarities that require special grooming. This is the case with dog breeds that have lots of hair in their eye area. Someone inexperienced may feel inclined to cut it so as to improve vision, but this could be really detrimental for the dog's eye health. Good dog grooming books may teach you about such cases and lots of others!

Training your dog can be an important part of your life long relationship with your dog. It can also be a bonding experience with your dog that can be beneficial to both of you. This article can help you see all of the benefits that dog training can bring to your relationship.

For dogs that chew inappropriately, try a training aid like a liquid that has a strong, bitter taste. Many pet stores sell holistic products that taste terrible to most dogs. Some people choose to steep pepper flakes in water in a spray bottle instead. Either way you choose to go, a bitter or spicy deterrent on furniture, shoes, or other items that you don't want your dog chewing or eating can stop this behavior in its tracks.

When training your dog, it is vital that you have a lot of patience. You can not expect your dog to understand your commands within a few training sessions. It takes some time in order to raise a well-mannered dog. Think about what it's like when you are trying to learn something new. It's not easy.

While training your dog, it is important to maintain a calm voice, even if you feel frustrated. If you get angry, your pet is not going to enjoy learning and will not respond well to your commands. Your dog should enjoy the training process rather than dread it.

When you are working on crate training with your new dog or puppy one should always take steps to let them know it's their home. At meal times always put their bowl of food inside the crate leaving the door open the whole time while they are eating. Thus they will associate a good thing like yummy food with the crate.

While dog training is incredibly important in order to integrate your dog into your family, it is also important that you spend fun, relaxed time with your dog as well. If you do not, the dog will be very well behaved, but it will also lose some of its personality and spirit.

The diet you are feeding your dog needs to match their needs and activity level. The diet that is right for a working dog is a lot different from that of a dog that lounges around the house all day. Talk with your vet regarding what is right for your pup and don't forget their needs will change as they age.

An important dog training tip is to use the pet's name whenever you are trying to get its attention. You need to get your pet used to responding to you when you call it by name. Use the pet's name when you feed it, take it for walks and play with it. Randomly call your pet to you by name several times throughout the day, and then reward it for coming when called. Never call your pet by its name to come to you only to be punished.

Be consistent when training a dog. A dog does not understand why sometimes hanging out on the couch is allowed, but other times results in a scolding. Decide what the rules are, and stick to them every time. Soon your dog will know what to expect and want to please you by doing the right thing (and receiving the occasional praise and even a treat or two for getting caught doing well.)

To teach your dog to lie down, have him start in a sit position. Take a treat, and place your hand on the ground. Slowly drag it away from your dog. Your dog should initially lower his nose to the ground, and then lie down as he tries to follow the treat further away. If he stands up instead of lying down, have him restart from the sit position. Make sure to praise him once he lies down.

An easy way to stop a puppy from biting is to act hurt when he or she nibbles at you. By startling your puppy with a noise and leaving the room, your puppy begins to learn that biting has negative consequences in the form that you will stop playing with it.

As noted previously, bonding with your dog is an important part of your relationship. By reading the article and taking note of the information, you can build a better relationship with your dog. It can also be an enjoyable part of your relationship as you both learn from each other and have fun interacting

A dog is considered by many to be a man's best friend, but training a dog is very different from loving or caring for one. Just like anything, learning the proper tips and techniques to train you dog will make your dog better behaved and more enjoyable to be around. This article contains a number of great tips on dog training.

Make sure you listen to your dog. What is he telling you? Your dog's behavior will often give you a window into his mind. Destructive dogs are often bored or anxious. Anxious dogs may act inconsistently with strangers. No matter the trouble, your dog is telling you how he feels when he behaves in situations.

It's easy to let your dog run free when you bring him home for those first few weeks, only to want to later correct behaviors when they aren't adorable anymore. Avoid communication breakdown by starting your training schedule immediately with your new dog, so he has the right idea from the start.

Dogs and puppies that exhibit play biting behavior can be both irritating and dangerous. Although play biting is a normal dog behavior, it is important to teach your dog that mouthy play is unacceptable. When your puppy nips you playfully, make a loud noise and move away, ignoring the puppy. This will teach bite inhibition in a way the puppy understands.

The top mistake any dog owner can make during training is giving up. Giving up too quickly and too easily means that you've given up on your dog's abilities. Your dog needs time, patience, and consistency to grow. Continue working on behaviors in small doses. Your pooch is eager to please, so let him work alongside you.

Watch what sort of activities you are encouraging your dog to do. Sometimes we may perform actions with our dog without realizing that they are training them to do something we dislike. If every time your dog chews something up you send him outside, you are teaching him that chewing something up is the key to getting outdoor time. Be careful with the actions you take, especially ones that tend to be consistent practices.

Be aware of your body language when you are with your dog. Animals are keenly aware of it, and pay more attention to your actions than they do your words. Make sure that you are sending the intended messages of authority and unconditional love to your dog at all times.

Stay calm. Your dog gets his cues from you, and when you start acting agitated and upset, his actions will be sure to follow. Dogs can sense when you are uncomfortable. If you act calm and in control, you convey a disposition to your dog that allows him to relax as well.

Be consistent at all times when training your dog. Dogs need repetition when it comes to learning and remembering rules and rituals. If you are consistent one day, but not the next day, it confuses your dog. Dogs understand consistent black and white training, not various shades of gray.

When training a dog it is important to reward good behavior while punishing bad behavior. Careful effort to maintain a clear distinction between good and bad behavior will go a long way towards overall training of the dog. This will guarantee that the dog knows why it is being rewarded or why it is being punished.

Does your dog jump up on you? Simply turn your back to your dog for a few seconds when she jumps up. Most dogs will quickly learn that jumping up makes you ignore them, but when they have all four feet on the floor, then you pay attention to them.

When training a pet, it's best to start out by giving them a treat every time they do what you want them to. After they get the hang of it, back off the treats and only give them a treat 75% of the time, and continue reducing treats until they only get one occasionally.

As this article has discussed, taking care of or training a dog can be a wonderful experience. However, the dog training process can be challenging if you are not aware of the proper techniques to utilize. Apply this article's advice and you'll be well on your way to training your dog the right way

All breed dog grooming is for professionals, that is a fact! A dog owner will usually learn how to groom his/her pet according to the breed specificity, but an expert needs training to handle all kinds of dogs of different breeds and sizes. You can learn all breed dog grooming by taking some classes or courses designed especially to meet the needs of those who want to make a living out of this profession. Plenty of schools have appeared over the years, and presently there is even the possibility to take a certification online, through long distance courses. If you choose this alternative make sure that the trainer has authorization for organizing classes.

Once the all breed dog grooming training is complete you can move on to the next level: starting your own business. Local groomers provide most of the pet-related services in a certain neighborhood although vet centers, kennels and rescue centers have their hands full with similar work. A first difficulty with all breed dog grooming is equipment, because you'll have to buy a fully equipped grooming table that comes with all the accessories, since only such a tool is designed for the needs of dogs of all sizes.

The rest of the equipment items are equally important. All breed dog grooming requires a comprehensive range of hair brushes, combs, grinders, clippers and the rest, so that all the challenges of the grooming can be faced successfully. Skill and experience are the advantages that will win you most customers. Be prepared to groom different types of dogs, but hairy ones in particular. The explanation is very simple: a thick-haired dog that needs special coat cutting will be difficult for the owner to groom at home. You'll have to do the job and for good money too! It is neither easy nor cheap, hence, everybody has something to gain.

Lots of books have been publish under the very same title of 'All Breed Dog Grooming'; they are usually written by people who have experience in working with animals and who can share their tips and knowledge with others. Even so, keep in mind that an All-Breed-Dog-Grooming book will not qualify you for doing the job and opening a business. The part with the professional training we've mentioned above stays valid. Any business requires certification and authorization, and those are the first things you should be concerned about!

Epilepsy also known as seizures, normally occur from viral infections, and environmental factors as well. Even though an inaccessible seizure isn’t always a problem, dogs that have recurring seizures should never be bred. Vets can recommend medicines that control recurring seizures, although medicine isn’t always effective. Although epilepsy doesn’t affect the health of a Golden Retriever, it does have an effect on breeding. You can never tell if it is indeed heredity, therefore breeding is pretty much out of the question - to avoid passing it on to the litter.

Skin allergies
Skin allergy is the most common medical issue with Golden Retrievers. Skin allergy is normally the result of allergens such as flea bites, dust, airborne pollen, food, and even mold. Symptoms will vary, although they can include bits, scratching, licking, and even ear infections. Diet is extremely important here, as it can help to prevent a lot of these problems. If you consult with your vet, you can more than likely eliminate the risks your pet has of getting a skin allergy.

Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a condition that causes the thyroid gland to malfunction. Golden Retrievers that are affected by this disease will normally show such symptoms as coat problems or obesity. This medical problem can also result in a lack of fertility as well. A lack of fertility can be a big problem for breeders, as it makes it very hard for the affected Golden Retriever to breed.

The treatment of hypothyroidism involves taking the oral supplement for hypothyroidism on a daily basis. Once it has been treated successfully, the prognosis will appear to be normal and dog will have a normal, healthy life span, providing there are no other medical problems. This condition is somewhat common with Golden Retrievers, and can be diagnosed by your vet.

Some Golden’s who suffer from hypothyroid problems will have seizures, although this will stop once they go on the oral treatment medicine. Even though the hypothyroid condition isn’t associated with epilepsy, you should monitor your dog to be on the safe side. You don’t want to take any chances with your dog coming down with epilepsy, which is why you should always have your vet do routine checks.

Even though medical problems are somewhat common with Golden Retrievers, you can help to prevent them by making sure your dog is healthy. If you do your part and make sure that you treat your Golden well, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Golden Retrievers are generally healthy dogs, although they can get ill from time to time. If you take your dog to the vet and get him treated as soon as he gets sick - he’ll be better and back to his normal self in no time at all.

Almost all breeds of dogs are group oriented, as they need to interact with other species of their group to remain secure. Golden Retrievers, in particular, have been bred over the years to be geared more towards people. They make great guide dogs for the blind, friends for younger children, and even assistants for those who love to hunt. Due to the way they have been bred, they need to interact with people on a frequent basis.

They are merciful dogs at heart, and will tolerate several mistakes from you all the while wanting nothing more than you to acknowledge the fact that they are there and pat them on the head. Further proving that Golden Retrievers aim to please, is the fact that they were the first three dogs to obtain the Obedience Trial Championships - which is quite a statement indeed.

With Golden’s being so people oriented, it’s very important that they live with their owners. When you do any type of family activity, you should make sure that your Golden is included. Even though they don’t normally bark a lot, they will start barking if they get bored. Once a Golden Retriever is fully grown and becomes stout, he will enjoy many types of activities such as hiking, walking, hunting, jogging, and many other types of physical activity.

If you start your Golden Retriever puppy out early with exposure to kids, he will grow to become better than ever will kids. Although they can be very friendly around young kids, they can still knock them over or tend to want to lick them in the face. No matter how great your Golden Retriever may be around kids, you’ll never want to leave your dog and your kids alone. Even though Golden’s have a great temperament, a child can accidentally poke him or pull his tail and cause him to retaliate via his natural instinct.

All Golden Retrievers love the water, and choose to get wet any chance they get. If you have a pond or other source of water on your land, you can expect your Golden Retriever to get into it whenever he gets the chance. They are also drawn to mud, and will get themselves dirty on a frequent basis. Once your Golden is full grown, you can count on bathing him every couple of days.

During the summer, you’ll need to make sure that your Golden Retriever has plenty of moving air, shade, and water. They like the heat, although it normally isn’t good for them. As long as you take care of your Golden and don’t let him over exert himself, he should be just fine even in the hottest days that summer can dish out.

Correct pet hygiene keeps the animal happy and healthy. And although dog bathing is recommended once a month most of the time, what are you to do after a weekend camping? Water and shampoo are bliss and any dog grooming bath is a great occasion to brush the pet's hair, clean its ears and eyes and trim the nails. In case you lack the basic grooming skills or you prefer professional grooming services, you can pay for a dog grooming bath with a local business weekly, once or twice a month. While hair brushing should be done regularly, there is no absolute rule for bathing.

A dog grooming bath can be an occasion for great fun if the pet is accustomed to bathing as a puppy. When the animal is young, it is more playful and open to new experiences; that is the time to take the first bath together. If you adopt an older animal and you can't handle the dog grooming bath on your own, it's your duty to pay someone to do it. There are groomers that provide dog grooming and bathing for lower prices when combined than they would charge if the two operations were handled separately. Depending on the size of the pet and the hair thickness, you can pay up to $100 or even more for very large breeds.

High-maintenance dogs require great skill for dog grooming bath and only an experienced groomer will be able to handle heavy coats for instance. The advantage of professional services is that all sorts of bumps, lumps and even injuries may pass unnoticed by the owner under the thick coat, and the sooner they get detected, the better for the dog's health. Don't let your pet's hair mat because mat removal is painstaking and costly. Moreover, it tries the dog's patience really hard when it has to wait during this delicate procedure. There are even cases when the coat has to be shaved off to remove mats, and that is certainly not desirable at all.

All in all, dog grooming bath should not be neglected regardless of whether you carry it out at home or you hire a professional. Ask the vet for the most suitable shampoo or cleaning product so that you may solve the issue of coat parasites as well. Drying the dog's coat is another issue you need to handle carefully, because the blow-dryer may be useful, but it is not accepted by lots of dogs. Make the best of decisions starting from your pet's preferences and individuality!

Dr. Karen Becker explains why dogs eat grass and sheds some light on the motives behind this popular doggy behavior. Learn what you can do if your dog eats grass often.healthypets.mercola.com

Foxhounds were the very first of the canine races in Great Britain to come under the domination of scientific breeding. There had been hounds of more ancient origin, such as the Southern Hound and the Bloodhound; but something different was wanted towards the end of the seventeenth century to hunt the wild deer that had become somewhat scattered after Cromwell's civil war. The demand was consequently for a quicker hound than those hitherto known, and people devoted to the chase began to breed it.

Head:-

Somewhat broad, not peaked like the Bloodhound, but long from the apex to the frontal bones, eyebrows very prominent, cheeks cut clean from the eye to the nostril, ears set low and in their natural condition thin and shapely, but not large, nose large, jaw strong and level, and small dewlaps, expression fierce, and with the best often repellent.

Eyes:-

Very bright and deeply set, full of determination, and with a very steady expression. The look of the Foxhound is very remarkable.

Neck Should be perfectly clean, no skin ruffle whatever. The length of neck is of importance, both for stooping and giving an air of majesty.

Shoulders:-

The blades should be well into the back, and should slant, otherwise be wide and strong, to meet the arms, that should be long and powerful.

Legs and feet:-

The bone should be perfectly straight from the arm downward, and descend in the same degree of size to the ankles. The knee should be almost flat and level; there should be no curve until coming to the toes, which should be very strong, round, cat-shaped, and every toe clean set as it were.

Coat:-

The coat is hard hair, but short and smooth, the texture is as stiff as bristles, but beautifully laid.

Colour:-

Belvoir tan, which is brown and black, perfectly intermixed, with white markings of various shapes and sizes. The white should be very opaque and clear. Black and white, with tan markings on head and stifles. Badger pied a kind of grey and white. Lemon pied, light yellow and white. Hare pied, a darker yellow and white.

Height: Dogs from 23-1/2 to 24 inches; bitches from 22 to 22-1/2 inches.

Dog training is a vital part of being a responsible dog owner. Working with your dog brings better understanding between the two of you. This article can help you with your dog training. Your dog is eager to do things to please you and you need to take the time to show him how to behave.

Reinforce desirable behavior from your dog. Don't just rely on treats though. You can reinforce these behaviors through positive attention as well. Petting your dog and talking to him in cheerful tones can be a good incentive too. So can a new squeaky toy or a trip to the park.

If you want to have a responsive dog that is easy to train, be sure to talk to your dog. Always use the same words to mean the same things and speak in the same tone of voice when you want certain results. Your dog will not be able to understand every word you say, but he will develop a reliable vocabulary if you take the time to teach him. This will make obedience training much easier.

Never treat your dog as a person. Many pet owners coddle their dogs as if they were children, and this only confuses your pet. Training a dog is completely different than teaching a child. Dogs need to be taught to behave as a dog and expect you to behave as a dog as well when it is necessary.

One of the very first commands a dog should learn is to come when he is called by his name. To start getting him used to his name, use it positively as soon as he joins the family. Every time he comes praise him so he will find following commands a positive experience.

If you are trying to train a dog that seems unresponsive and even aggressive, check to see that the dog's basic needs have been met. A dog that doesn't get enough attention, for example, will be grumpy and not respond well to training. And of course a hungry dog will be unlikely to respond as well.

Make sure you and your family are consistent with your commands. If one person uses "down" to tell the dog to get off the couch while another says "off" and a third is letting him lay there, the dog is going to get mixed signals. It makes it much more difficult for him to learn the commands.

Try using your dog's name to get it's attention. It should have a good orientation response. Try to build attention by using your dog's name when calling it for things like walks, food, playing, etc. Try doing this 10 times a day at random times. Never punish them for coming to you via a call by you.

When training an aggressive dog you should begin training them slowly to show them you are the alpha. If you start out too quickly with alpha behavior on your part, an aggressive dog may think your behavior is a threat, and return an aggressive response. A example of this is taking a dog's food from him when he thinks he is the alpha and your leader, which could cause the dog to bite you.

Doggy daycare may sound like a great idea for hyperactive, distracted dogs, but it may be a serious setback to your training efforts. Your dog will need structure throughout the day. While running around and socializing with other dogs will be sure to tire him out, he will not receive the structure needed to curtail any over-the-top behavior. Consider a dog-walking service to let your dog stretch his legs during the day, instead.

If you have gotten a new dog or puppy, you should work on training them right away. If they are going to be indoor dogs, you can start crate training them . This prevents bathroom accidents or your items being chewed on. Start off with the right sized crate, so that they have enough room in the crate to move around a bit.

As already noted, dog training can be vital. Responsible dog owners take the time to work with their dogs and train them. Applying the information in this article, can help with dog training and help you to become a better dog owner. Working with your dog can build a better relationship, that will ensure that he will truly be your best friend

Many schools and accredited institutions provide dog grooming training for people interested in following a career in this field of activity. The programs are meant to teach the trainees all the skills required for pet care professions either in part-time or full-time businesses. After you complete dog grooming training you can start a personal business or get a job with a pet care organization or center. Traditional dog grooming training is conducted in accredited schools that function according to a well established curriculum. Internet programs do not offer the same reliability although they allow for a more flexible program. Home training is also criticized for the lack of resources and the impossibility to develop skills by working with live pets.

With distance dog grooming training a lot of emphasis is placed on the use of video didactic materials that take care of the practical part of your education. It is up to you to decide whether this kind of programs are suitable for starting a new career or not. Certifications are provided at graduation, but before paying for any such courses it is important to check whether the program or the center organizing the training is accredited and corresponds to the legal policy of the Better Business Bureau.

The costs of dog grooming training represent another issue worth considering because budget often has limitations. Long distance programs are usually cheaper than traditional school attendance. Nevertheless, good bits and bad bits can be found for any situation, yet, an expert recommendation will always go for the in-class form of training because of the possibility to develop skills more rapidly and in better circumstances. Thus, if you have the possibility to complete dog grooming training in a local school, choose this variant over the Internet distance studies.

We cannot conclude without touching on the fact that all forms of dog grooming training are rather new and modern. The demand for professional groomers have increased over the last three decades but thirty years ago, dog grooming definitely didn't sound like a promising job, not to mention career. Social changes and transformations have actually come to shape and improve dog grooming training because of the higher demands for quality services. This means that when you choose an educational program with a ten or fifteen year tradition in the branch, this could make a difference for your training. The longer the history of a training school, the better the references.

Sometimes, it can be hard to know the proper ways to train your dog. The best way to ensure that you are doing everything you can to train your dog and build on your relationship with your dog, is to learn as much as you can about dog training. Look at this article with care, as it is geared towards helping you.

The basics of training your dog involve rationing food and physically showing the dog what to do. By rationing the food your dog gets throughout the day, you can use treats during training more effectively. By physically moving the dog you can "force" the dog to understand what you intend the dog to do, in response to a certain command.

Start slowly if you have an aggressive dog. A sudden change in your behavior can be seen as a challenge if your dog already considers himself to be the alpha dog in the pack. Make sure that you don't approach with aggressive behavior or it will take a lot longer to get your dog in an accepting, learning mindset.

Food and treats can be your ally in training your dog to seek out his crate. Allow your dog to find strategically placed bits of food and a few treats every once in awhile when he returns to his crate. He will make it a habit of checking the crate out more regularly just in case something else has miraculously appeared there.

When training your dog to stay, take baby steps. First tell her to sit or lie down. When she has held that position for a couple of seconds, tell her to stay. If she stays longer, give her a treat. Allow her to move again, and repeat the process, rewarding her after she stays a bit longer with each repetition.

When you are approaching an unfamiliar dog, be sure to approach slowly and offer the dog the back of your hand to sniff. This allows the dog to get used to your scent and makes him much more likely to trust you. Once the dog recognizes your scent, he will not be afraid of you and will be more likely to follow your commands.

When you have gotten a new dog and you are working on training a key thing to remember is that you must always enforce the commands that you give your dog. Do not let the dog ignore you, and do not say the command over and over. If you are not going to be strong enough to enforce what you are saying, you might as well not waste your time.

Encourage your dog's cooperation in training by rewarding good behavior. Dogs respond to a calm, confident leader who earns respect. When your dog responds to commands make sure you reward him with play or food, and make sure you reward easy commands as well as harder ones to build his confidence.

One tip to keep in mind when training your dog, is to be sure to never discipline your dog for bad behavior when he is ill. This will only confuse your dog and might cause him to not respond to discipline in the future. Examples of this would be, if your dog vomits or defecates in a manner that is not typical to his normal behavior.

Always end a training session with your dog on a positive note, even if you have to manipulate the scenario to make your dog successful. Ending a training session immediately after a disciplinary action will mean that your dog will remember the session as being about punishment, not about training.

When training your dog, you should never punish any good behavior that your dog displays. If your dog thinks that it has done something bad even when it has done something good, the dog will not repeat the good behavior. Sometimes, you may not even realize that you are punishing your dog. For example, if your dog goes outside to use the restroom, you should not leave it alone because it will think it did something bad.

With all of the information you have just read, you should have a better idea about how you want to train your dog, now. The only way you are going to see success with your dog is if you actually apply the knowledge you have learned. Try to the best of your ability to do just that and you should see results

For beginners, breeding Golden Retrievers is nearly impossible. Breeding can be very complicated, although it can be easy as well. You should never attempt to breed unless you know a lot about requirements for hobby breeders, as it is simply unfair to the breed if you have a litter of puppies that simply aren’t what they should be. People who look to buy Golden Retrievers only want top quality, which is why you shouldn’t attempt to breed just have a puppies or make a few bucks.

Breeding Golden Retrievers is a very serious hobby, one that should be left to those who know how to make the right choices. There is a certain amount of cost and care involved with breeding, especially if breeders are going for a certain quality. There is also a lot of responsibility involved as well, which can take quite a bit of time to say the least.

Motivation for breeding Breeding can help to fulfill the need of a Golden, although the dog still has no knowledge of it missing, no regrets, or no guilt towards living a life without having been breed. A pregnant Golden Retriever female doesn’t gain anything in regards to health, as it instead causes problems. Golden females that have been spayed on the other hand, cannot be bred. If you have chosen to have your Golden spayed, always remember that she will be unable to breed.

When looking to breed, quality breeders will have a lot of choices in front of them. They will need to determine the pair, such as the mother and the father. To get the highest quality possible from the litter, the breeder will need to determine the traits of both dogs, temperaments, and how well they seem to react to one another. The breeder will also need to determine in either of the dogs have any type of health problems, to prevent any diseases or ailments from being passed on to the litter.

Sometimes, when breeding Golden Retrievers, the mother of the litter will prove to be unfit, which requires more work for the breeder. If the mother isn’t doing her job of nurturing her young, the breeder will need to do it for her. This can be the most time consuming aspect of breeding, as the breeder will have to feed the young and make sure that they turn out as healthy as possible.

Aside from that, breeders also face quite a bit of costs as well. The prices for daily care, food, and vet bills can be very steep to say the least. When you crunch the numbers, you’ll quickly realize that breeders don’t make much money at all when they sale. Most breeders do it for a hobby, not looking to make money. Quality breeders on the other hand aren’t concerned with money at all, as they are more concerned about the quality of their litters. Quality is better than quantity, as even the best breeders out there have problems selling puppies from time to time.

Although breeding is fun for hobby breeders, it is something you really shouldn’t be doing if you don’t have the experience. Although your Golden may get knocked up by a dog of a different breed without you knowing it, you should do your best to avoid it at all costs if you can. A pure bred Golden Retriever should be bred only with dogs of her breed, to help preserve the breed and keep their bloodline going. If you have thought about breeding in the past - you should really study long and hard before you actually make a reality of it.

There is no incongruity in the idea that in the very earliest period of man's habitation of this world he made a friend and companion of some sort of aboriginal representative of our modern dog, and that in return for its aid in protecting him from wilder animals, and in guarding his sheep and goats, he gave it a share of his food, a corner in his dwelling, and grew to trust it and care for it. Probably the animal was originally little else than an unusually gentle jackal, or an ailing wolf driven by its companions from the wild marauding pack to seek shelter in alien surroundings. One can well conceive the possibility of the partnership beginning in the circumstance of some helpless whelps being brought home by the early hunters to be tended and reared by the women and children. Dogs introduced into the home as playthings for the children would grow to regard themselves, and be regarded, as members of the family

In nearly all parts of the world traces of an indigenous dog family are found, the only exceptions being the West Indian Islands, Madagascar, the eastern islands of the Malayan Archipelago, New Zealand, and the Polynesian Islands, where there is no sign that any dog, wolf, or fox has existed as a true aboriginal animal. In the ancient Oriental lands, and generally among the early Mongolians, the dog remained savage and neglected for centuries, prowling in packs, gaunt and wolf-like, as it prowls today through the streets and under the walls of every Eastern city. No attempt was made to allure it into human companionship or to improve it into docility. It is not until we come to examine the records of the higher civilisations of Assyria and Egypt that we discover any distinct varieties of canine form.

The dog was not greatly appreciated in Palestine, and in both the Old and New Testaments it is commonly spoken of with scorn and contempt as an "unclean beast." Even the familiar reference to the Sheepdog in the Book of Job "But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock" is not without a suggestion of contempt, and it is significant that the only biblical allusion to the dog as a recognised companion of man occurs in the apocryphal Book of Tobit (v. 16), "So they went forth both, and the young man's dog with them."

The great multitude of different breeds of the dog and the vast differences in their size, points, and general appearance are facts which make it difficult to believe that they could have had a common ancestry. One thinks of the difference between the Mastiff and the Japanese Spaniel, the Deerhound and the fashionable Pomeranian, the St. Bernard and the Miniature Black and Tan Terrier, and is perplexed in contemplating the possibility of their having descended from a common progenitor. Yet the disparity is no greater than that between the Shire horse and the Shetland pony, the Shorthorn and the Kerry cattle, or the Patagonian and the Pygmy; and all dog breeders know how easy it is to produce a variety in type and size by studied selection.

In order properly to understand this question it is necessary first to consider the identity of structure in the wolf and the dog. This identity of structure may best be studied in a comparison of the osseous system, or skeletons, of the two animals, which so closely resemble each other that their transposition would not easily be detected.

The spine of the dog consists of seven vertebrae in the neck, thirteen in the back, seven in the loins, three sacral vertebrae, and twenty to twenty-two in the tail. In both the dog and the wolf there are thirteen pairs of ribs, nine true and four false. Each has forty-two teeth. They both have five front and four hind toes, while outwardly the common wolf has so much the appearance of a large, bare-boned dog, that a popular description of the one would serve for the other.

Nor are their habits different. The wolf's natural voice is a loud howl, but when confined with dogs he will learn to bark. Although he is carnivorous, he will also eat vegetables, and when sickly he will nibble grass. In the chase, a pack of wolves will divide into parties, one following the trail of the quarry, the other endeavouring to intercept its retreat, exercising a considerable amount of strategy, a trait which is exhibited by many of our sporting dogs and terriers when hunting in teams.

A further important point of resemblance between the Canis lupus and the Canis familiaris lies in the fact that the period of gestation in both species is sixty-three days. There are from three to nine cubs in a wolf's litter, and these are blind for twenty-one days. They are suckled for two months, but at the end of that time they are able to eat half-digested flesh disgorged for them by their dam or even their sire.

The native dogs of all regions approximate closely in size, coloration, form, and habit to the native wolf of those regions. Of this most important circumstance there are far too many instances to allow of its being looked upon as a mere coincidence. Sir John Richardson, writing in 1829, observed that "the resemblance between the North American wolves and the domestic dog of the Indians is so great that the size and strength of the wolf seems to be the only difference.

It has been suggested that the one incontrovertible argument against the lupine relationship of the dog is the fact that all domestic dogs bark, while all wild Canidae express their feelings only by howls. But the difficulty here is not so great as it seems, since we know that jackals, wild dogs, and wolf pups reared by bitches readily acquire the habit. On the other hand, domestic dogs allowed to run wild forget how to bark, while there are some which have not yet learned so to express themselves.

The presence or absence of the habit of barking cannot, then, be regarded as an argument in deciding the question concerning the origin of the dog. This stumbling block consequently disappears, leaving us in the position of agreeing with Darwin, whose final hypothesis was that "it is highly probable that the domestic dogs of the world have descended from two good species of wolf (C. lupus and C. latrans), and from two or three other doubtful species of wolves namely, the European, Indian, and North African forms; from at least one or two South American canine species; from several races or species of jackal; and perhaps from one or more extinct species"; and that the blood of these, in some cases mingled together, flows in the veins of our domestic breeds.

When you decide to get a new Golden Retriever puppy, the first choice you will face is where to get your puppy from. No matter how hard you try, it’s nearly impossible to know whether or not the puppy you are buying will grow up to be healthy and strong. In order to even assume that your puppy will grow up to be healthy, you’ll need to trust the individual you get your Golden from.

There are three options available to you, in terms of breeders. You should carefully think about each one, as they all will vary. Below are the three options you have to choose from, and a little bit of information to help you make this very important decision.

Dealer or pet shop A pet shop is simply the worst place that you can get your Golden Retriever puppy. The puppies they have for sale here are bred poorly, and raised in poor locations to say the least. At these types of places, the puppies are thought of as a profit and nothing more. There is little to no emphasis on quality here either - as pet shops prefer quantity over qualify.

Due to the way the puppies are bred and raised, pet shops make quite a bit of profit. With there being so little that goes into the breeding and care of the puppies, pet shops make a lot of money. They mainly rely on impulse buying, not giving you a lot of time to evaluate the puppies that they have for sale. If you’re looking for an addition to your family, and a puppy that you know is healthy, you’d be better off looking somewhere else for your puppy.

Backyard breeders Backyard breeders are considered to be yet another poor choice for your puppy. Almost all backyard breeders are people who own a few Golden’s and find it to be fun to breed their female for the fact of having puppies, or breed her once or twice before they decide to go ahead and get her spayed. Backyard breeders don’t look for quality or go out of their way to care for their litters, as they are more or less breeding to make money - and nothing more.

Normally, backyard breeders know very little about the breed in general, and even less about how to properly care for their Golden Retrievers. Backyard breeders normally aren’t familiar with the problems associated with breeding, and most could care less. Their only goal here is to breed Golden Retriever puppies. Once the puppies have been bred, their remaining goal is to sell the puppies as fast as they can - for the highest possible price.

Hobby breeders A hobby breeder is the ideal way to get your Golden puppy. Hobby breeders are loyal, committed, and think of their pups as more than just a hobby. Although they do make money breeding, they could honestly care less. Hobby breeders care more about the quality of their puppies than anything else, and they commit themselves to helping you get the best Golden Retriever pup possible.

Hobby breeders accept responsibility for each one of their puppies, and they stand behind each and every one of their pups. If you want the best pup you can get for your money, you need to visit a hobby breeder. They very rarely produce poor quality Golden Retriever puppies, as they care a lot about quality. If you get your Golden puppy from a hobby breeder, you can rest assured that you getting a healthy puppy from the start.

Socializing your Golden Retriever is very important. As you may already know, all dog breeds behave different in front of strangers, with some dogs choosing to ignore people altogether. They may choose to glance at someone, then go on to pay no attention to him. On the other hand, some dogs are the total opposite and love to meet everyone they can. These types of dogs love attention, and will take any attention they can get.

Some Golden Retrievers are happy with those they have come to know in their own family, or those they have selected to be friends. Others on the other hand, may feel comfortable just around those of the same sex. Most Golden’s like children, although there are a few rare cases in which certain types of Golden Retrievers like adults but not children. This is extremely rare, and is normally due to the way they were bred or raised.

When your puppy is between the ages of 8 weeks and 8 months, socializing him is extremely important. During this time, you should always do everything you can to ensure that your Golden Retriever meets other people. Although he may be shy at first and not have much interaction, he will eventually come around. You will need to be patient with him during these times, as he will need quite a bit of reassurance from you.

Your dog’s parents also contribute to socialization. If the parents of your Golden Retriever were good with people and other dogs, the gene could very well be passed on to your dog. On the other hand, if the parents were shy or aggressive dogs, those genes could be passed on as well. Pups inherit the traits of their parents ,which is why it is very important to make sure that the dogs being bred are compatible with each other - and share a passive temperament.

If your puppy was separated from his mother before he reached the age of seven weeks, he won’t learn many of the social signals taught to him by his mom and his siblings. Golden Retriever pups that are brought to a new home earlier than seven weeks will normally tend to end up nippy or aggressive around people. Although they may be aggressive towards people, they may be shy or fearful around other dogs, as they lack the social skills needed to be themselves.

Sometimes, if a puppy was injured or frightened during his early years, he can end up with a state of trauma. This type of thing leaves a huge scar in the mind of a puppy, making it very hard for him to get past it. Most Golden Retriever pups that have been injured or frightened by an individual never get past it. They may end up fearing humans in general, or being very aggressive towards them when they feel frightened. When you take your puppy home for the first time, you should always make him feel welcomed, and never let anyone or anything harm him.

To better socialize your Golden Retriever, you should always make sure that he gets plenty of interaction with other people and other dogs in his breed. This way, your Golden will learn how to socialize at any early age. When he gets older in life, he will carry these skills with him. Golden Retrievers that are sheltered or not given the proper amount of interaction will turn out shy towards people and other dogs. With your Golden being your companion for life - you should always ensure that he gets the socialization he needs.

Dogs aren’t like humans, so they need to learn in different ways. Dogs don’t have human responses, meaning that they don’t operate with the principle of right or wrong. Instead, they operate on a principle of response, guided by the actions you give them. If their actions lead to a bad response from you, then they not that what they are doing is wrong and will avoid doing that type of behavior.

If your dog does something right, he should be praised for it. If your Golden Retriever is listening to what you say and doing well, you should reward him with a treat or praise. Letting him know that he is doing good leads to positive response. On the other hand, if he isn’t listening to you or doing the total opposite of what you say, you shouldn’t reward him at all - but instead scold him with a stern NO.

When training your Golden Retriever, timing is the most important factor. If your dog is doing something wrong, you shouldn’t wait or hesitate to correct him. Doing so may send the wrong impression. When your Golden is doing something wrong, you should correct him right then and there, so he will know without a doubt what he is doing wrong.

For example, if your Golden Retriever is chasing cars, you obviously want to stop this habit before it gets it out of hand. The second you see him doing this, you should always stop him and let him know he’s wrong. This way, he will know that chasing cars is something he shouldn’t be doing. It may take a bit of time for him to realize this, and you’ll need to hold your ground and continue to correct him when he is doing something that you don’t approve of.

This type of theory is similar to that of praise. When you see your Golden Retriever doing something right, you should praise him instantly. If you don’t praise him instantly and instead wait until he has stopped, he will assume that you are praising him for stopping. To be on the safe side and get the most from your Golden, you should always praise him when he is behaving in the right way, then correct him when he is behaving in a negative way.

If you take your time and show patience with your Golden Retriever, you shouldn’t have any problems training him. The training process may take quite a bit of time, although it is more than worth it in the end. Once you have trained your Golden Retriever, he will react to what you say, and avoid doing the things he has been corrected for. Training is essential for Golden - and will make him a much better dog when he grows older.

Once your dog is used with the crate, you should lock the dog inside. You can go away for a bit and watch from a distance to see how he calms down. If you see him protest, keep him inside until he calms down. Let him go only when he does. If you do this for a few days, he should be learning to enter and exit the crate on his own.

Some people don't like crate training because they think that it resembles solitary confinement. But, if you read some of the benefits listed here, and those that are not mentioned and you might find on your own, you can easily reach the same conclusion I did, that a crate is good both for the dog and his owner.

If you train dogs or puppies enough, you can make them love it, and not consider it a place that they want to avoid. If they're not trained, they can feel lonely and unsafe in this environment.

Crate or den training is done because dogs need a feeling of security, a place of nesting, where there aren't any distractions. Such a home can be a den. If the right techniques are used and it's introduced properly, crate training can be OK for dogs, and they will not consider it a punishment.

1. Benefits of using a crate.

a) When you want to be sure that your dog isn't running around on his own, and you need him to stay put, you can use a crate to control him.
b) If they're in a place where they feel vulnerable, a crate will provide them a safe haven.
c) A crate can be a place to rest and relax for the dog, where he can't be distracted or bothered.
d) You can use the crate to make sure that dogs with behavioral problems are kept under control.
e) If your dog is untrained, you can keep him under control, so he doesn't bite your guests or cause any accidents.
f) If your dog has separation anxiety a crate can help him.
g) If you need to take the dog out, a crate can keep him secure.
h) His confidence is boosted because he is more secure.
i) Can help the dog with their training, since it can be a direction for their activities.

2. Size of the crate.

You should choose a crate that allows the dog to stand up on all fours, where he can lie down or turn around without the walls being in the way. If you also want to use the crate to travel with your dog, you should pick a larger one.

If training is the only reason why you use the crate, you should still pick one that follows the rules I talked about before. Using a big crate will allow the dog to do things that are unwanted in an area of the crate where they don't have to sit.

3. How to introduce the crate to the dog.

Introducing the crate to the dog should be done when you're comfortable with the idea. First, choose a crate that is appropriate. Second, put it in the house, in a place where the dog can notice it. In the beginning, remove the door from the crate, so the dog can explore it for a week or so.

If he doesn't seem interested in the crate, you can leave some food inside, to get his attention. After a few days pass, you can try giving him food inside. This way, he will learn that the crate is his and he can enter it safely.

About Author: Visit DoggyBehave.Com for more dog training tips, articles and best dog training guides. Read also our article on training your dog to stay.

Article Source: ArticlesAlley.com

If you haven't seen a dog give birth before then this may be a little graphic for you. Third puppy from a litter of four

The Poodle is commonly acknowledged to be the most wisely intelligent of all members of the canine race. There is a general belief that he is a fop, whose time is largely occupied in personal embellishment, and that he requires a great deal of individual attention in the matter of his toilet. It may be true that to keep him in exhibition order and perfect cleanliness his owner has need to devote more consideration to him than is necessary in the case of many breeds; but in other respects he gives very little trouble, and all who are attached to him are consistent in their opinion that there is no dog so intensely interesting and responsive as a companion. His qualities of mind and his acute powers of reasoning are indeed so great that there is something almost human in his attractiveness and his devotion. His aptitude in learning is never denied, and many are the stories told of his marvellous talent and versatility.

Not merely as a showman's dog has he distinguished himself. He is something more than a mountebank of the booths, trained to walk the tight rope and stand on his head. He is an adept at performing tricks, but it is his alertness of brain that places him apart from other animals.

The profuse and long coat of this dog has the peculiarity that if not kept constantly brushed out it twists up into little cords which increase in length as the new hair grows and clings about it. The unshed old hair and the new growth entwined together thus become distinct rope-like cords. Eventually, if these cords are not cut short, or accidentally torn off, they drag along the ground, and so prevent the poor animal from moving with any degree of comfort or freedom.

Corded Poodles are very showy, and from the remarkable appearance of the coat, attract a great deal of public attention when exhibited at shows; but they have lost popularity among most fanciers, and have become few in number owing to the obvious fact that it is impossible to make pets of them or keep them in the house. The reason of this is that the coat must, from time to time, be oiled in order to keep the cords supple and prevent them from snapping, and, of course, as their coats cannot be brushed, the only way of keeping the dog clean is to wash him, which with a corded Poodle is a lengthy and laborious process. Further, the coat takes hours to dry, and unless the newly washed dog be kept in a warm room he is very liable to catch cold. The result is, that the coats of corded Poodles are almost invariably dirty, and somewhat smelly.

Poodle's General appearance ---------------------------

Head: Long, straight, and fine, the skull not broad, with a slight peak at the back.

Muzzle: Long (but not snipy) and strong not full in cheek; teeth white, strong, and level; gums black, lips black and not showing lippiness.

Eyes: Almond shaped, very dark, full of fire and intelligence.

Nose: Black and sharp.

Ears: The leather long and wide, low set on, hanging close to the face.

Neck: Well proportioned and strong, to admit of the head being carried high and with dignity.

Feet: Rather small, and of good shape, the toes well arched, pads thick and hard.

Legs: Fore-legs set straight from shoulder, with plenty of bone and muscle.

Hind-legs: Very muscular and well bent, with the hocks well let down.

Tail: Set on rather high, well carried, never curled or carried over back.

Coat: Very profuse, and of good hard texture; if corded, hanging in tight, even cords; if non-corded, very thick and strong, of even length, the curls close and thick, without knots or cords.

We all know that Golden Retrievers are beautiful, obedient, and make great family pets and hunting dogs. Golden’s also make great guide dogs for the blind, narcotic detection dogs, and even tracking dogs for finding missing people. Although there are many other dog breeds out there, Golden Retrievers remain one of the most versatile and most astonishing breeds that you can get.

Before you rush out and buy a Golden Retriever puppy, you should first take the time to learn a bit more about the breed. You can attend dog shows, meet with various owners of Golden Retrievers, and even go to your local kennel club. Most people who own Golden Retrievers are extremely proud of them and will be more than happy to share their enthusiasm with you.

When you buy you’re Golden Retriever puppy, it’s always a great idea to buy from a backyard breeder or local puppy mill. Backyard breeders are normally the best way to get a Golden puppy, as they know and care a lot about the breed in general. Although you can always go to a reputable breeder, backyard breeders aren’t just in it for the money - they actually care about their dogs and want you to get the best Golden possible.

You can also visit the Golden Retriever Club of America and their local member clubs, as they can supply you with a list of breeders in your area. If these breeders don’t have any Golden’s for sale themselves, they will be more than willing to help you find what you’re looking for. This way, you can get a Golden from a very reliable source.

Whatever you do, you should never rush into buying a Golden Retriever. You should always take your time, and have a little bit of patience. When you buy your puppy, you want a healthy puppy who will grow up to be a fine testament of the breed. By taking your time and making a careful decision, you can save yourself a lot of time and money later on down the road.

Golden puppies that are poor quality, are normally produced by breeders who just want to have a litter or breeders who are just looking for the profits and care very little about giving thoughts to looks, quality, or temperament. If you buy a puppy from either of these breeders, you’ll more than likely end up with a puppy who has poor health, poor temperaments, and even disqualifications in breed.

When you get your puppy, you should always think long term. Only buy from a quality breeder, and you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. Always remember that you aren’t just buying a Golden Retriever puppy - you are buying a companion and a friend for life.

Tips For Training Your Golden

Although there are many training tips for Golden Retrievers, teeth is the most common. Golden puppies love to chew, and will chew anything they can get. Although chew toys are preferred, there is a way that you can help your Golden fulfill his natural instinct to chew, and help him to ease the pain of teething as well.

To start, simply fill an old sock you have with several ice cubes. Next, put a knot in the sock and place the sock with the cubes in the freezer. When your puppy starts to chew on things, simply give him the sock. You can keep several socks with ice in it in your freezer if you want, so your puppy will always have a chew toy. Although this is great to use, you should never leave your dog alone with the sock. He could end up chewing the sock and swallowing pieces of it, which could lead to very serious health problems.

Leashes During leash training, a lot of people prefer to attach the leash to the Golden then drag him in the direction they want him to go. This isn’t the best way to train, as it often sends the wrong signal to the puppy. Instead, you should first get your Golden puppy used to the collar and the leash. You can do this by putting his collar and leash on inside the house or outside in a fenced in area, so that he can walk around and move about freely with the leash on, dragging it alongside him.

Once you have given him some time, pick the leash up, then start calling him to you. Once he comes over to you, start praising him for it, so he knows that he is on the right track. Always be patient when leash training, as it will take some time for him to get used to it. If you continue to praise him when he is doing it right and continue giving him time to get used to the leash, you shouldn’t have any problems.

Digging around Digging is something that Golden Retrievers love, as it is essential to their nature. Digging can be somewhat frustrating if you don’t give your Golden an area to himself, as he will dig holes in your yard. If you keep your Golden indoors, he may try to dig in the floor, on the couch, or on the bed. Digging is part of their nature, and you should never punish a Golden for digging.

To help him fill this need, you should give him an area to dig in. You can get him a kiddie pool or sandbox, filling it with either soil or sand. Then, try burying a treat or toy in inside, so your Golden will dig to get it out. Once he learns this is where he should dig, he will more than likely head to that area when he has the need to dig. Later on, when he becomes a bit older, you should invest in obedience training classes that will help him to get his digging habits under control.

The above tips can help a great deal when training your Golden Retriever puppy. Golden’s are great dogs, although you’ll need to have a bit of patience with them. Even though they are very smart dogs, it may take them time to learn. Once they start learning however - they will become an integral part of your family that you couldn’t begin to live without.

Organix Organix Puppy Dry Dog Food, 14.5-Pound

Newman's Own Organics Adult Dog Food Formula, 12.5-Pound Bag

Newman's Own Advanced Dog Chicken & Rice Formula For Active Or Senior Dogs Dry Dog Food

As dogs age they have different nutritional needs, puppies need more milk and  addition to milk they need larger amount of nutrients like, fat, carbs and protein to grow strong bones and healthy muscles. Besides that they need to eat more often too. Adult dogs do not require milk at all but need a well balanced diet especially for active dogs.

However, when your dog gets to his or her senior years they need less food or they will start to put on the pounds. Not only is this unhealthy but it puts your dog at risk for joint problems, plus the overfeeding of protein could cause renal problems.

Let's not forget about pregnant and nursing dogs too, they have special requirements it takes a lot out of a mother to nurse her puppies. You must replenish the nutrients to keep her energy levels up plus meet the nutritional demands of the puppies so they will be healthy.

So it is safe to say that at different ages dogs have diet requirements. Thankfully they make food for all stages of the life of your dog. Pet food companies are starting to make more natural dog food because just like people pets don’t need extra preservatives either.
   
To top it all off just as important as feeding you dog in whichever stage of life is providing your dog with fresh filtered water like the kind you can get from a pet fountain.

Dog training can be frustrating for any dog owner, but certain dogs need a lot more attention than others. If you have a problem dog, this article is for you. In this article, we will provide the best tips for training a dog that is seemingly resistant to any training that you attempt.

Some dogs are so scared of thunderstorms that they are literally a danger to themselves. If your dog has an extreme fear of thunder, speak to your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may recommend and prescribe a mild sedative to give your dog before a storm rolls in. This is often a last-ditch effort when behavior modification cannot handle the problem alone, but it is often beneficial to a dog's quality of life if the problem is severe enough.

A great dog training tip is to let your dog know when they're doing something right. It's very easy to yell at your dog and tell them no when they're misbehaving. It's important to let your dog know when they're doing what you want because that reinforces good behavior

When you train your dog it is important to reinforce every example of behavior you want to encourage. Whenever your pet behaves according to your wishes it should be rewarded. This will prevent your dog from becoming confused and establish positive reinforcement associations. Behavior that is rewarded is behavior that will be repeated and eventually become habitual.

If you are looking to train your dog, make use of a variety of resources such as magazines, general dog training books and books specific to the breed of dog you are looking to train. Speak to people who have your breed of dog, to get ideas from them. Customize your training program for the dog based on what you learn.

If you are having problems with dog training, then you should look at your training routine. Dogs are much more susceptible to learning if you have a solid routine. All you have to do is keep repeating the commands you want them to learn repeatedly and eventually they will pick it up. Leaving you with a dog that is much easier to enjoy having.

Remember that training your dog to do tricks should not only be fun for you, but fun for your dog as well. Don't force her to learn tricks if she is not having fun learning them. You will be able to tell if she is enjoying them by gauging her pleasure from your praise after she successfully completes a trick.

To be successful at dog training, your body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice need to be consistent with the commands you are giving your dog. When you are rewarding your dog with praise, use a higher pitched, cheerful voice. When you need to correct your dog, use a deeper tone and a firm voice. Always stand up straight when you give a command. With consistency your dog will learn to understand and obey you.

Your own mood has a great deal to do with your success in training your dog. You must control your emotions, so that your dog gets the right idea from your training. Regardless of your dog's overall performance, be free and unreserved with praise, when your dog does what you want. Conflicted emotions on your part will have a negative effect on your dog's overall training regimen.

Repetition is one of the most important aspects of training your dog. Whether you are teaching obedience or a new trick, it is important to repeat the command to your dog on a regular basis. Eventually, your dog will catch on to what you mean when you say the term and begin to act accordingly, especially if you are able to provide an action to go along with your repeated term.

To be successful at training your dog, focus on teaching one command at a time. Trying to teach multiple commands at once can be confusing for your dog and frustrating for you. Instead, by focusing on one trick, your dog will be able to learn the command thoroughly and get it down before moving on to another.

In conclusion, we have provided the many ways that you can attempt to train a dog who has previously proven to be, nearly impervious to training. As long as you follow the steps provided, you should see at least, signs of success. Keep in mind that every dog and every owner, needs to find what works best for them