Karen Pryor Clickertraining 

Dog Health And Care Foremost

Dog Scratchings Doesn’t Mean We Have Fleas! Just That We’re Digging Around For Health, Care And Other Tidbits Of Interest To Owners Of Dogs, And Especially Puppies

Learned Or Instinctive?

If you’ve never been privileged to see a litter of two- or three-week-old puppies, chances are you’d be surprised there are no happily wagging tails in evidence. After all, healthy, happy dogs always seem to be tail-wagging no matter what they’re doing. So what’s the problem with the aforementioned youngsters? Well, the fact is that puppies generally just don't wag their tails until they‘re about four weeks old.

A Bribe Can Work Wonders

Bribery may be illegal, unconscionable or even immoral in much of today’s society.But there’s nothing wrong with it in training your dog. Tidbit rewards can be an essential in initially teaching your puppy his name, to come when called, to sit, lie down, kennel, be quiet and a whole host of things necessary for his future good manners. Their use can largely be phased out gradually when lessons are properly learned and solidified.However, an occasional treat can keep your dog’s obedience sharp all the time, since he’ll never be sure a reward won’t be forthcoming.

Your Dog On Pills

Like many new dog owners, do you have trouble giving medications to your pooch?. In particular, pills seem to prove a major nuisance You pop one in; your dog spits it out repeatedly. Impatience rises and, finally, either the pill crumbles on the floor or you accept defeat and arrange another trip to the vet. Ok, how can you master successful pill-giving?

Pills Can Taste Good

There are two approaches: the expert way and the resourceful method. Try the second one first. Bury the pill in a gob of peanut butter, soft cheese or a piece of liverwurst. If your dog is a food-freak, victory becomes an easy triumph. But…if not, try the expert technique. Put your dog in the sitting position, then, placing the pill between your thumb and forefinger, push his lower jaw downward. Center the pill as far back as possible in his throat, then clamp his mouth shut and gently massage his throat until the pill is swallowed. Observe him for several minutes, since some dogs are great fakers and will spit out the pill when they think you’re not looking.

Dog Rescue Is Its Own Reward

  One way to get around the potential problem of knowing the size (and even the kind of personality) a pooch will be at maturity, is to forget about buying a puppy and insted choose a full-grown dog.Yet, because buying an adult dog is not the easiest of chores, it's often a disregarded option.

  A perfect solution can be found in "Rescue" opportunites offered by various breed clubs. Such operations have dogs (usually adults) put up for adoption. Many may be dogs of the particular breed sponsored by the club, although other breeds, some of mixed origin, may also be available. Why are these canines up for adoption? Reasons vary widely from strays found wandering city streets or suburban communities, to ill, incapacitated or deceased owners or even folks forced to give up a dog due to moving to an apartment  or condo prohibiting pets.

  On the internet, using search engines, you'll discover nearly unlimited numbers of Rescue websites to plumb for the riches of adoptables from which to choose your  perfect pooch.

Puppies Need Grooming, Too!

Keeping your dog’s skin and coat healthy and clean is one of the most often neglected facets of ownership. Yet, all it takes is a few minutes, three or four times a week, to devote to brushing and grooming your “Best Pal.” The regular grooming routine (brushing, for short coats; combing for longhaired pooches) removes snarls, knots and dead hair and gives the coat a clean, glossy look, reflecting an owner who cares.

At the same time, the procedure provides opportunity to  thoroughly inspect your dog’s skin, revealing any otherwise unobserved problems, like lumps, sores, ticks or fleas. Then, once spotted, these troubles can be properly cared for. Make it a point to resolve regular grooming sessions for your dog. He’ll be happier, and so will you.

8 dog training tips for you and your dog. by: Fayola Peters
Dog training requires simple persistence to be a successful and
delightful experience for you and your dog.
Here are 8 dog training tips to guide you along the way.

1. Dog Training Tips - Get your dog's attention
Before you can start training your dog you first need to get its
attention. You can do this by talking to him and offering him a small treat.

2. Dog Training Tips - Use the correct dog training supplies
If you have a well behaved dog a six foot training lead and a regular
buckle collar will do. However if you dog is uncontrollable you should
use a training collar. For the right collar size measure the dogs' neck
and add 2 inches.

3. Dog Training Tips - For safety in vehicles
Before you introduce your dog to the inside of a moving vehicle you
should teach him the 'down!' and 'stay!' commands. This ensures that he
spends the ride on the floor of the vehicle.

4. Dog Training Tips - Elimination
When your dog got to go it got to go. To prevent your dog from getting
busy on the carpet you should train him to eliminate on command.

5. Dog Training Tips - Praise
Always praise your dog when he learns a new command.

6. Dog Training Tips - Reprimand
Do not hit your dog! Any time your dog is engaging in bad behavior, use
the opportunity to teach him the 'stop!' or 'no!' command. Using the
'stay!' command can also be effective in these situations.

7. Dog Training Tips - Play with your dog
This will help in building the bond between you and your dog.

8. Dog Training Tips - Do some dog training everyday
Don't rush dog training. Teach your dog one command at a time and don't
move on until he gets it. A little dog training everyday is all that's
needed.

Well that's it for my dog training tips. Enjoy training your dog and
remember that it takes simple persistence.

About the Author
Fayola Peters is the webmaster of The-Dog-Training-Guide.com
(http://www.the-dog-training-guide.com)
 

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