February 1st, 2012
You may have seen it already somewhere and yes, letting your dog sit is one of the most basic commands that you as an owner can do. Teaching him how to sit is not even a difficult task to do and, provided that your dog is still a puppy, you can let your dog do the trick in no time. Below are the ways on how to teach your dog how to sit.
The very first step that you should do in teaching your dog how to sit is to look for a location that is quiet. That way he wont be easily distracted with other noises, as dogs can be easily get distracted with noises. And also you need to make sure that your dog is nothing short of hungry or is not needing to go to the loo; that way his attention will be all yours.
You will also be needing a treat so you must keep some handy all the time when training. If you do not have, a clicker will do as an alternative for positive reinforcement. When using a treat you can hover it on your dog’s nose and in a slow manner move it above his head. When your dog is looking at the food probably he is already sitting down. When your dog has sat down you can praise him for being a good boy and give him the treat. You need to repeat this step a few more times. After a few more times you can now add the firm command “sit” to the process. Say the commanding word priror to doing those stuff mentioned and give him praise and treat. Add few more of this and by then your dog will sit each time you say it, even without the treat.
Posted in Training and Obedience | No Comments »
January 31st, 2012
Just like any other things, there are ways on how to buy a dog grooming kit. As an avid dog lover and a dog owner, you should know the importance of regular dog grooming as it is not just a way to make your dog look lovely all the time and maintain it that way but it will also be a great time to bond with your dog, making his trust on you stronger. A dog grooming, which contains brushes, combs, and clippers among other tools is helpful in taking care of your dog’s looks, specifically in nails, teeth, and ears.
But first you need to be honest to yourself and to your dog: why would you buy such a dog grooming kit? Would it be only for show or would it really be caring for your pet? If it is the former then you need a bigger, and wider kit (not to mention you will also be needing a table for it) but if it is for the latter then the kit with just the basic necessities would be enough. And before you do buy one, you must discuss with your veterinarian first since there are certain breeds that require special grooming.
With a grooming comb, you need to buy the one with fine and coarse teeth and special nail clippers for dogs is also necessary. When buying a clipper, it is preferable that you should buy an electric one for it is much easier to use than the non-electric one. Clipping your dogs nail may sometimes cause accidents so also purchase a clotting agent.
For the ears you need to buy a liquid ear cleaner and cotton swabs. There are also breeds that need more than others so it is also better if you are going to discuss it with your veterinarian first.
Posted in Grooming | No Comments »
January 19th, 2012
Annually, a female dog will have to experience at least 2 heat cycles. Their bodies will go through a lot of things during this time including a type of canine menses that can cause pregnancy, given that she has already mated with a male dog. But there are also times when female dogs will just show signs of pregnancy but they are not actually carrying a baby/babies inside her womb. So what are the ways on how to tell if a female dog is having a false pregnancy? The next few paragraphs are some tips on how to determine false pregnancy. Take time to read please.
A female dog is pregnant if there is already signs of milk production. People may think that enlarged mammary glands and swollen breasts are sure signs of pregnancy but do not be fooled as this is a sign that your dog is not pregnant, especially if it begins to seep milk even if there’s no live birth.
If your dog is trying to put up a comfortable fort made out of rugs and sheets on a corner of your house, then that is another way of telling false pregnancy. This is also a very depressing time for her because she is ready to nurse some puppies but only without the young puppies.
Another way on how to tell if your female dog is showing signs of false pregnancy is when you have observed that she’s been carrying stuffed toys around like if she’s having her own babies. This is a very stressful time for her because she has to use some soft and tiny objects just to fill the void of missing her puppies.
It is times like these that your dog just needs a little extra TLC because they are preparing for babies that are not going to ever come. However, if your dog is not spayed and gets outdoors a lot of the time, then chances are that the next one will be a real pregnancy.
Posted in Dog Health | No Comments »
January 15th, 2012
When a puppy is not puppy trained, huge possibilities of seeing poop or pee inside the house is inevitable. And you can’t technically scold your puppy because they do not know that what they are doing is wrong. You can be tolerant or patient about this and clean it all the time OR you can simply potty train your puppy. If you have specifically a pit bull puppy, here are the ways on how to train a pit bull puppy.
When it is your pit bull puppy’s first time to get into you house, the very first thing that you have got to do is to take it to the potty. Guide him outside and lead him to the spot where you want him to answer to the call of nature – you may need a leash in order for you to do it. Commands such as “go potty” must be mastered and must be used all the time to let him know that you want him to potty. In time, the commanding word will be associated to the particular action.
Puppies in general have small bladder, thus they do not have yet the capability of holding on. That is why if you have noticed, your pit bull puppy will always do the potty at least once in every couple of hours in a day. Scheduling frequent potty breaks during the day will help you a lot. Remember to praise him when he has poop or pee on the same area where you want him to pee. The best time for you to bring your dog to his loo area is 30 minutes before meal and take him back there again after half an hour. Let him take a rest for a bit and take him again to potty after half an hour. I know it sounds really tedious but it will work eventually. And that is how you potty train your pit bull puppy.
Posted in Training and Obedience | No Comments »
January 15th, 2012
Cold weather does affect the way we live that is why we always prepare for the coming cold days. But it should not just be ourselves and our family that we should consider, but our dogs as well – after all they are also family. There are a number of dogs that can get affected by cold temperature easily even though there are some lucky breeds that can battle against this weather. Here are some amazing dog winter tips that you can apply so that you and your dog will have a great winter season.
Indoor – You might think that the indoors are considerably safe zones for your dog during the winter but do not be so too comfortable about the idea. If your dog’s bed is located at a drafty area, you should move it somewhere where there’s not a lot of air and moisture from the outsides can get in easily. You should also place some blankets on the dog bed for added comfort and warmth, But never place it near a portable heater as this may cause an accident like burning your house down or giving your dog some skin burns.
Outdoors – Of course, one cannot simply live indoors for the rest of the winter season, so whenever you guys are out, you should not forget to provide your pal with enough shelter if he needs to be outside at some point. Purchase some dog sweaters so that he would be comfortable as well. Minimize your outdoor activities during the winter season and especially once the temperature goes below freezing point. Provide name tags and identification and let your dog wear it because the winter season can destruct their tracking sense and may get lost easily.
Posted in Fun With Your Dog | No Comments »
