Dog Care & Dog Training Tips

Having a Dog comes with many responsibilities. The key explanation for limitation imposed on dogs by many countries and states in America is because of irresponsibility of dog owners.

People get dogs for all the incorrect reasons which they regretted at the end. Owning a Dog must never become cumbersome, which is why it is crucial that if you want to own a dog, do it for the correct reason before getting one.

You should not get a dog for:

1. Protection
The wrong conception for people who have this motive in owning a dog, is that the dog will automatically be protective for their family which certainly will not come true. Wrong way of training like keeping the dog away and not socializing them well with people for trying to make them to be protective could turn the dog to be scared and wary of strangers. Instead of protecting the dog owner, when face with certain critical situation, this dog would almost certainly run for life.

Worse still some owners, train the dog to be aggressive and bark by tying him in a one location and training him to have the territorial aggressiveness. This is inviting for lawsuits to come knocking on your door. Thousands of children and people had been hurt all over the world just because some children often found wondering within the territorial intended to be protected by your dog.

If your intention for getting a dog, is for protection, then a better way is to get those electronic alarm devices that can sound like vicious barking which can be activated by motion detectors. This would definitely much more effective than getting a dog.


2. To appease you children nagging
A lot of children often nag their parents for a dog, just for a reason of cuteness or fun to play with. More often than not this comes with a promise of taking good care of the dog well being and cleaning up the messes they will create. Well this is surely a very bad choice to be made. Because the effect of cuteness and fun to play with will disappear after days or weeks, and now the dog will be left with no care.

More often than not this task is immediately shift to the busy mom who does not have the appropriate time to train the dog and such the dog would develop bad habits which would not be bear by the busy home makers. This is perhaps why there are so many dogs end up in the shelter and some on the streets. If you are not prepared to train the dog to be a good member of the family, then give stuffed toys to your children instead of getting them a dog.


3. Competing with your neighbor. : )
Out of so many silly things people do, probably this is one of the worse one. Just because early in the morning one day, your neighbor brought his dog for a jog and shows you how good it is to have a dog and how beautiful his dog is, you get jealous and get one for yourself so that you can show it to your neighbor too.

Although you might not be the one who do this, there are people out there who did these silly things. Having a dog is a lifetime dedication and it takes effort to be able to enjoy and have a meaningful relationship with your dog. So pride and competition should not be a factor in getting a dog.

Actually, if you look at it, there is not much different in having the correct reason of wanting a child and wanting a dog. You should determine to do all you can to make him a contributing member of the public. You should be devoted to appropriately socializing him, training him how to act in any kind of circumstances, loving, providing and caring for your dog.

Responsibility in having a dog starts before getting one, you should start studying on how to best care and provide your dog. Get obedience training manual and learn from those so that you know what to do when you bring the dog home.

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So, you're planning to get a dog, eh? Congratulations! You're on your way to having one of the most satisfying, enjoyable moments of your life with your loyal friend and companion. But before you start picking out which cute pooch you'll be taking home to meet your family, you have to keep in mind a few important things first. Having a dog as a pet involves more than buying a bag of dog food and a brand-new dog house. Getting a new dog is almost like having a new child. Dogs need constant love and attention, especially when they're young. You will need more than dog food if you want to keep your pooch happy and healthy. Walking into a pet store without any prior information as to what you really need will just confuse you more and waste your money. It's not going to be any use talking to the salesmen; they're just there to sell you everything in the store if possible, whether you need it or not. There are only a few essential things you should get for your new pet. My suggestion is first and foremost, get a good book and learn about your dog's breed and its characteristics. Not all dogs are the same; different breeds have different personalities, quirks, habits, needs, etc. But don't think of the book as the ultimate authority on your dog. Treat it as more of a guide.

What you need next is a good collar, one that you can stick at least two fingers into between your dog's skin and the collar itself. Also remember to get one that has plenty of room for your growing dog. Some dog breeds can grow very fast in just two or three weeks, so you want to make sure that you won't be replacing the collar every 2nd week or so.

Speaking of collars, I recommend getting a training collar, such as a German pinch collar or a choke chain. Nevermind the scary names; these two collars work great at training your dog to behave properly at the end of a leash without tearing your arm off its socket. But never use these collars as your dog's everyday collar. I know some people who forget to replace the collar after training their dogs and end up having to cut them off after a few days because their dogs grew so big that the collars wouldn't fit over their heads anymore.

After getting the collars, buy a weighted water bowl and a food bowl. Puppies love to play with and in their food, so it helps to have weighted bowls to avoid having them tipped over. A dog crate or dog house is next, depending on whether your dog will sleep outside or inside. You will also need three leashes of different lengths, to be used for walking and training the dog. This is another thing you'll need that dog book for. It will explain to you how to use these different leashes in training.

Don't forget the chew toys! Dogs require constant exercise on their gums, so get a variety of chew toys for your pet, or else you'll be replacing your upholstery and your shoes on a regular basis.

And finally, DOG FOOD! Despite what some animal rights groups would have you believe, dogs are carnivores. They eat meat. So check the ingredients. If corn and other types of vegetables is the first ingredient listed, your new four-legged friend is not getting what he needs. Look for chicken or beef to be listed as the first ingredient.

Chiun Masters is a researcher and writer for http://www.capitaldogsupply.com, where you can get high-quality dog supplies at great prices. Visit us when you need dog supplies.

I expect you're reading this because you have just welcomed a new member of the family into your household. Yes, a puppy! Well congratulations! First on getting such a wonderful animal and friend, and secondly as it's a puppy it's going to be simple to get your new companion trained.

Puppies are relatively easy to train. They are like empty vessels waiting to be filled. And you are the person to do the filling. If you don't they could pick up bad habits from the environment and from other dogs. You are the best teacher for them.

Some ground rules first though.

Never punish your puppy if they make a mistake.

Always praise when things go well.

I've developed an easy strategy and process for getting your puppy toilet trained in a short period of time. And it works! I've used this on my own chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy called Charlie. He was toilet trained within 14 days.

Some might say "14 days? That's a long time." But in reality it's not. We have to make sure we get it right as what we lay down now will keep your puppy in good stead for the rest of their life. Charlie never makes mistakes with toileting now.

What we'll look at is defining areas, regular feeding, regular toilet breaks and spotting the signs.

OK, let's start.

First, establish and define areas where your puppy can relieve themselves.

What this means is that you encourage them to go in certain areas and discourage them from other areas. Your puppy will find places that they are comfortable in going. Keep an eye on where they go and choose a suitable area. When the puppy goes clean up immediately and then lay some newspaper or magazines down there. Next time your puppy is likely to visit the same place. The newspapers will need changing every time they visit this area. And don't forget to praise them when they do their business on the papers.

If they soil somewhere they shouldn't then make sure you clean up straight away with a cleaner that will mask or remove any odours. If necessary reinforce the area with what your puppy recognises as good things. For example our puppy started to soil his bed. So we switched feeding from the kitchen to his bed area. He associated that area with something nice - food, and stopped soiling there almost immediately.

Second, establish a feeding routine.

If you're doing 3 or 4 meals a day then make sure they are always at the same time and always send your puppy out to the garden immediately after feeding. Puppies' bowels are stimulated when they feed so don't delay on this. Also start to use words or phrases that your puppy will associate with toileting. Phrases such as 'go do business' or 'busy'.

Thirdly make sure that your puppy is taken to the garden regularly.

During the day we took Charlie out to the garden every two hours. This is a good time to reinforce the phrases related to toileting.

Fourthly look for the signs that they need the toilet.

With all this training we soon noticed our puppy would start to communicate his need to go to the toilet by sitting by the door and howling. Look out for other signs such as restlessness and barking.

Hopefully this article will give you some good pointers for getting your puppy toilet trained.

A dog is known as "man's best friend" for a good reason. These animals are loving, faithful and will love you selflessly for their whole life. For those of us who are lucky enough to have a dog smiling at you when you walk in the door when you get home. These animals are so happy to see you no matter what. But the thing about a dog is they are a great responsibility even if the dog does not demand it of you. There are a couple of things that a dog will need of its owner and they are that they need to be taken out for exercise and for walks as well as making sure that they receive a proper diet and nutrition.

Most people who own a dog will have a yard for them to run around in or a large space so they can get some fresh air. Sometimes we try to get two jobs done at the same time by taking our dogs with us when we go to town, that way we are running our errands as well as waking the dog. Sometimes a dog or puppy can get lost because they are friendly or the owner was negligent and the dog wandered away in just a matter of minutes.

Dog Collar Light Use

Most of the time a dog collar light are used by professional dogs that are used for rescue in water, snow or in the woods. Hunting dogs use dog collar lights so that they can be seen at night when hunting. This way you are able to see the dog at all times. A lot of dog owners today will use a dog collar light even if they are not being used for professional purposes, this way if the dog is alone in the yard at night by itself it can be seen.

When a dog has a dog collar light on he or she can be seen in the dark at all times and can be spotted a half a mile away and even more on clear nights. All of the dog collar lights are battery powered and you will get to chose the color of the light.

Dog Collar Light Facts

Most of the dog collar lights come with a reflective material collar so it shines and reflects all the time once the dog collar light is turned on. The dog collar light does not use a light bulb but instead uses a LED so the the light will last the longest amount of time. One of the important things to remember is to get a light that has a low blink rate. The fast blink rates are bad for you and your dog as well.

In Conclusion

When a dog is wearing a dog collar light, this will allow your dog to stand out in a crowd and will also make the dog look quite unique. Another thing about the dog collar light is the animal will be safer in traffic and you are not going to have to worry about losing the dog ever again.

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For more information on this topic as well as other dog and pet related topics visit: Dog Collar Light

Browse our English Bulldog articles or search through our pet classifieds to find that perfect puppy. If you are just looking for a good laugh check out our dog breed blog.

When choosing a dog food for your best friend, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind.

Here's 7 Tips for Choosing the Right Dog Food for your dog

• You should select a super premium or holistic dog food that is nutrient rich and has human grade ingredients. This means that the dog food is made up of food that is fit for human consumption. Most dog food is not. These dog food brands will include necessary protein, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. They are also made without the toxins and additives that can be harmful to your dog's health.


• Meat should be the first ingredient as this is the primary ingredient in the bag or can. Meat by products, and other nebulously described ingredients, when listed as a primary ingredient should be your cue to pass on this dog food.


• Secondary ingredients should be vegetables and rice. Once again, be wary of any by product, meal or odd sounding term. If you don't know what it is, it's probably not something you would want your dog to eat.


• Preservatives such as BHA, butylated hydroxyanisole and BHT, butylated hydroxytoluene are used some dog food manufacturers including one that is a favorite of many veterinarians The problem with these preservatives according to some dog nutrition experts is that these chemicals may be carcinogenic. Vitamin E & Vitamin C are natural preservatives and healthier for your dog. Vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that fights the formation of free radicals and the onset of cancer in dogs.


• Check the label for the AAFCO guarantee. The Association of American Feed Control Officials works to insure uniform standards for dog food nationwide.


• Check the expiration date. Some manufacturers make these dates hard to read, When in doubt ask the retailer to point out the date to you.
Consider making your own homemade dog food. This is an increasingly popular way assure a healthy and nutritious diet for your dog. A couple of options for homemade dog food include: The Bones and Raw Food Diet also known as BARF and vegetarian dog food diets. You can learn more about these diets at http://www.dogs-4life.com/

If you have any questions about the quality of your dog food you should consult with a holistic veterinarian. Holistic vets are much more in tune to the benefits of a natural and nutritious diet than many mainstream veterinarians who have had minimal training in this area while in veterinary school.

This is not a jab at vets. Anyone who has dedicated their life to healing and saving animals deserves our support. It is simply an observation of which type of vet is the best resource in the all important area of canine nutrition and picking the best food for your dog.

My small 8 year old dog suddenly became ill and no vet could determine the cause. She died after enduring 2 weeks of pain and misery on Mother's Day morning. Her life expectancy was 25 years. Don't let anything happen to your best friend. Find out what is in the dog food you use at http://www.dogs-4life.com/dog-food-that-kills.html

Some dogs love dressing up, and some people like dressing their "best friends" to look like humans. Dog clothes are an extension of their love for them, treating them like members of the family.

But why do dog lovers buy dog clothes? – I asked my customers and got the following answers:

1. Comfort for my dogs during winter
2. Sometimes we think out dog is human
3. I like to dress my dog up so people will make a fuss over her

There are, however, real reasons to consider using dog apparel as well. Apart from our own desire to dress our dogs in human clothing, there are often practical reasons to do so.

Dogs that have had medical treatments that result in the loss of fur will often need at least some protection from the weather until their fur grows back. This also applies to dogs that have been shaved for agility and show reasons.

People who live in colder winter climates should keep in mind that even though their pets have fur, they may need protection from the elements when they spend most of their time indoors, because they acclimate to their indoor surroundings.

Short-haired dogs are almost bald on the chest and belly, so be sure to select dog clothing that covers the lower portions of their bodies as well as the top.

Most dogs don't like the rain, and if your pet spends most of his time indoors, you probably don't enjoy the musty smell or the water and mud. With some water proof, quality dog clothes, almost all this can easily be avoided.

Polar fleece is also a good protective fabric; it insulates and keeps the dog warm while keeping the skin dry. Booties are good for dogs in snow, ice and rain.

Booties can also be used to protect a dog's pads from hot ground surfaces. Remember that while a dog's pads are less sensitive than our own feet, they are still sensitive to extreme temperatures. If they start walking strangely, and it’s a hot day, the ground maybe hotter than you realise!

Getting your dog to accept wearing apparel

Proper fit is key for getting your dog to accept dog apparel. However, ease of getting the garment on and off is a new experience for your dog. Start by putting the clothing item on and rewarding the dog with praise and they will come to enjoy the process. Leave the item on for a short period. The next time, try leaving the garment on for a longer period of time, again praising and rewarding your pet. Make a fuss over them in the process and they will come to connect this to the clothing item.

Sizing can be important. Getting the correct fitting clothes for your dog is very easy. There are a few simple ideas to help you get the correct size:

1. Take a string, a piece of yarn or your belt and measure your pup, then compare it to a ruler for an accurate measurement.
2. Don't go by the Coat / Sweater / Tee/ etc. you use today they will be very different
3. Use more than One person to get an accurate measurement
4. Allow one size bigger for thick coats

As a general rule, measuring should be done along the dog's backbone from the Base of the Head to the Base of the Tail, which is referred to as the "top line measurement". This is from the base of where the collar rests to where the tail is attached.

It is best to start this training as a puppy, but older dogs can also easily be trained with a little more patience. Suitable dog clothes can make your pet happy and healthy resulting in less trips to the vet and additional savings in money and time.

Some dogs love dressing up, and some people like dressing their "best friends" to look like humans. Dog clothes are an extension of their love for them, treating them like members of the family.

But why do dog lovers buy dog clothes? – I asked my customers and got the following answers:

1. Comfort for my dogs during winter


2. Sometimes we think out dog is human


3. I like to dress my dog up so people will make a fuss over her

There are, however, real reasons to consider using dog apparel as well. Apart from our own desire to dress our dogs in human clothing, there are often practical reasons to do so.

Dogs that have had medical treatments that result in the loss of fur will often need at least some protection from the weather until their fur grows back. This also applies to dogs that have been shaved for agility and show reasons.

People who live in colder winter climates should keep in mind that even though their pets have fur, they may need protection from the elements when they spend most of their time indoors, because they acclimate to their indoor surroundings.

Short-haired dogs are almost bald on the chest and belly, so be sure to select dog clothing that covers the lower portions of their bodies as well as the top.

Most dogs don't like the rain, and if your pet spends most of his time indoors, you probably don't enjoy the musty smell or the water and mud. With some water proof, quality dog clothes, almost all this can easily be avoided.


Polar fleece is also a good protective fabric; it insulates and keeps the dog warm while keeping the skin dry. Booties are good for dogs in snow, ice and rain.

Booties can also be used to protect a dog's pads from hot ground surfaces. Remember that while a dog's pads are less sensitive than our own feet, they are still sensitive to extreme temperatures. If they start walking strangely, and it’s a hot day, the ground maybe hotter than you realise!


Getting your dog to accept wearing apparel

Proper fit is key for getting your dog to accept dog apparel. However, ease of getting the garment on and off is a new experience for your dog. Start by putting the clothing item on and rewarding the dog with praise and they will come to enjoy the process. Leave the item on for a short period. The next time, try leaving the garment on for a longer period of time, again praising and rewarding your pet. Make a fuss over them in the process and they will come to connect this to the clothing item.

Sizing can be important. Getting the correct fitting clothes for your dog is very easy. There are a few simple ideas to help you get the correct size:

1. Take a string, a piece of yarn or your belt and measure your pup, then compare it to a ruler for an accurate measurement.
2. Don't go by the Coat / Sweater / Tee/ etc. you use today they will be very different
3. Use more than One person to get an accurate measurement
4. Allow one size bigger for thick coats

As a general rule, measuring should be done along the dog's backbone from the Base of the Head to the Base of the Tail, which is referred to as the "top line measurement". This is from the base of where the collar rests to where the tail is attached.

It is best to start this training as a puppy, but older dogs can also easily be trained with a little more patience. Suitable dog clothes can make your pet happy and healthy resulting in less trips to the vet and additional savings in money and time.