Bathing A Dog

All dogs need to have baths. Some more than others. Most dogs do not need to be washed more than once every couple of weeks because bathing a dog to often will dry out his skin. Every breed is different, so it is important to find out how often your particular breed should be bathed.  But there always is that extra bath, the ‘what did you roll in bath‘.

As an owner you want to make the whole process of taking a bath as easy and as painless as possible for both of you. Bath time should be, if not a happy time, at least not a total war zone. Read more

How to Stop Your Dog From Chewing Up Your House

Every dog likes to chew things. It is up to you to teach your pet what he is and is not allowed to chew. You do not want this behaviour to become a problem. If want to know how to stop a dog from chewing the first thing you need to understand is why dogs chew.

Dogs chew for a variety of reasons. If they are young they may be teething, which any owner will tell you can be a trying time. Some dogs chew out of boredom or loneliness.  Once you have figured out why your dog is chewing you can start to correct, or at least curb the behaviour.

Make sure that your dogs has chew toys. These are his toys that he is allowed to play with and abuse. Read more

Dog Leash Training – Getting Your Puppy Used to The Leash.

Once you have picked out a proper leash you will probably want to start training your puppy to walk with it attached. This is not a difficult thing to do and you should begin your training as soon as possible. Not just for you, but to make sure that puppy doesn’t get into danger. The last thing you want is puppy running on the road or eating something dangerous.

Start by getting the new family member comfortable with his collar. Put it on him when he is in the house playing. Be sure that the collar fits correctly. Your dog may try rolling or pawing to try to get it off. Being able to put two fingers between his neck and the collar is usually a good measure. Watch to make sure that he cant get it off. Some dogs are real escape artists. Try and keep him distracted, and give lots of praise. Make it a positive experience.

The next step is to attach the leash. A short, light leash is the best to start with. Let the puppy smell it and get used to it. Allow him to drag it around the house. He will soon loose interest in it. Make sure that you do not leave the animal alone with his leash dragging.

Once you have gotten him used to the leash, pick it up. Remember, this is not a game of tug of war. If your puppy starts to pull, STOP. Do not move. Call the dog and get him to focus on you. Do not pull back on the leash but don’t move. Once you have the puppies attention continue moving. Keep treats handy during this stage and give lots of praise as the dog follows you around the house.

If your puppy decides to sit down, don’t start yanking on him. Call his name and reward him when he comes to you. If you have to get down to his level and have a treat or toy handy. Keeps these initial session short and fun. There should be no pulling done either by you or the dog. If he starts pulling, stop. Call his back and praise. You want him to learn that walking with a loose leash close to you is when he gets rewarded.

Training the Family as Well as the Dog

You have added a new member to the family, a bouncing little puppy, congratulations. Now that he is home it is up to you as an owner to start training him. But before you can even start house training a dog you have to train the rest of the family. This is especially important if you have young children in the house. Puppy training can be relatively easy but everyone in the family must work together.

In order for your puppy to learn anything he has to be given clear, precise and consistent commands. This applies to everyone in the house including the children. You will also have to get everybody in the family to treat the dog the same way. You will probably find it harder to train the human members of the family than the dog.  Read more

How to Clean a Dog’s Ears

Despite the fact that ear infections in dogs are preventable, it is still one of the most common reasons for a visit to the veterinarian among dog owners. In order to save your dog (and pocketbook) some grief, make sure you devote a little time each week looking at your dog’s ears.

The sense of hearing is very important to dogs and therefore when you clean your dog’s ears, you need to make certain you are doing it the proper way. Both the inner and outer parts of your dog’s ears are very sensitive, so it is crucial that you abide by proper cleansing procedures. The following tips will assist you in keeping your dog’s ears clean without doing harm: Read more