May 2009

A new puppy can be so cute. I think they are made that way so it’s easy to forgive them for peeing all over the floor and chewing up anything they can get their little teeth on. It takes time and patience to train a puppy but there are a few things to know that will make it a little easier. Read on then check the links in the article for more resources on how to train a puppy.

First of all it’s very important to train your puppy. An untrained puppy turns into an untrained dog which can lead to big problems. Puppies are usually very willing to be trained – they just don’t know it yet. The first 20 weeks (5 months) of a puppies life is the most valuable learning time. Its little brain is like a sponge and soaks up everything you teach it.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are learning how to train a puppy:

* Always use positive reinforcement when puppy training. Never hit him. He will learn not to trust you and if he doesn’t trust you, he won’t learn from you. Reinforce good behavior with dog treats and lots of praise.
* Simple, one word commands like “sit” and “stay” are best. Don’t use them in a sentence like “Now I want you to sit down like a good boy”. Just simply say “sit”.
* Never give up on your puppy. Keep working with them. You can’t work with him one day and not the next. You have to be very consistent. It’s a lot of work but it will pay off in the end.
* Focus on one skill at a time when you train your puppy. After he learns one skill, then move on to the next one.

Another good thing to do is to enroll your puppy in an obedience course if you can afford to spend hundreds of dollars. If you don’t have the time or money to devote to that then you should look into the many programs you can purchase online to teach your dog at home.

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How do you select your dog food? When reading the labels do you know what the ingredients listed really are?

I started my research on dog food shortly after my six year old Beagle started having seizures. I found out the dog food industry has some scary secrets that they wish would remain unknown to the general public. The problem is that now that I know I have decided I must tell the world.

I promise you I’m not going to give you a sale pitch for some high priced fancy dog food. I will explain to you how to learn how to look at the ingredients in your dog food and understand what they really are.

What would you say if I told you that just by feeding your dog correctly you could add over eight years to its life? That would mean eight more years of tail wagging, kisses and unconditional love.

It took me many hours of research, but I did find a book that explained how to decode the secret language used on dog food labels. Even though the FDA regulates dog food labeling, the regulations are not even close to what they use for people food..

The FDA’s weak regulations of dog food labeling have made it easy for the pet food industry to hide unhealthy ingredients that they use to make the food more attractive to dogs so that they’ll eat it. Some of these ingredients are actually deadly over the long term for your dogs. These regulations allow the pet food industry to play with words and unless the pet owner educates themselves there is no way to tell what is really in the dog food..

The difference between a dog food named Beef Dog Food and Beef Flavored Dog Food is that the first would contain around 70% beef (of some kind) and the second could contain 0% beef of any kind.

If your dog food says with beef or beef nuggets or even beef dinner that means your food only contains 3% beef.

The truth is the dog food industry has been allowed to deceive the pet owner into thinking they are purchasing quality ingredients, when the truth is we are purchasing ingredients not fit for human consumption.

The animal food industry is using the waste leftovers from human food production processing plants. This slop is deemed unfit for human consumption, but is sold as ingredients for pet foods.

The problem here is the FDA allows the pet food industry to label these ingredients in such a way that we think they are healthy. One example of this is the use of the words Dried Egg Products as an ingredient in your dog food. This sounds healthy enough and it is listed as a source of protein, but this ingredient is a leftover by-product that is marked unfit for human consumption.

You would be surprised the number of healthy sounding ingredients listed on dog food labels that are actually toxic waste.

Because of my finding during my many hours of research I now feed my dog’s homemade dog food, but I know this is not particle for everyone. If you are one that can’t switch to a homemade food, then it becomes even more important to learn how to correctly read a dog food label. The link below will take you to a website that I found that will explain every word listed on the label of the dog food you are using.

This is important, for the healthy of your dog you really should learn what’s in your dog food and be prepared for the next dog food recall by clicking here

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We have gone past those days where dog collars can qualify as fashion statement of your dog. The canine fashion trends are easily as exciting as our human clothes. There are trendiest dog clothes that come in unique trends and designs that will surely make your pet dog as fashionable as you are. Dog fashion industry is now an accepted and vibrant industry and is recognized as a highly profitable industry. There are a lot of assortments and apparel options to suit all types of breeds, size, age and even characters of dogs. The dog fashion trends have reached a point where you can buy beachwear, bridal wear, summer wear, sweaters and even goggles to go with the season and activities you are enjoying with your pet dog.

You are also given the opportunity to choose from a wide range of outlets. You can visit a dog specialty boutique which offers a wide collection of dog clothing and other accessories that will surely enhance the image of your pet dog as a four-legged fashion trendsetter. You can also check out the latest trends and fashionable products on the Internet. You will have enough fill of all sorts of products and accessories that will definitely make a fashionable and trendy creature out of your precious and cuddly pet dog. If you are serious in pampering and dressing up your pet dog, then there is not reason for you to worry as you will definitely find the right outlet of the best dog fashion items that will suit your budget.

There are quite a number of specialty shops where you can check out the latest dg fashion trends and products for your pet dog. You can locate readily one at every place imaginable. You will definitely find one or several dog fashion and dog accessories outlet at your shopping center. You can also get information from clubs and friends who desire the same information as you are. Their inputs can be very useful as these are generally objective and factual and untainted of any marketing embellishments. While you are at it, look for unique sales and bargain offers and you can put additional mileage for every penny that you will spend.

You can also consider the latest offers from online dog clothes and accessory outlets. It is your cost effective and easy option when you are looking for the best apparel and accessories for your pet dog. Because of the setup of the online business, you will normally get the best deals and offers through this online purchase. You can also not be pressed for time while doing online shopping as you can do the purchase at your most convenient time. When you decide to do some online purchase of trendy clothes and accessories, make sure that you conduct the online purchase with reliable and reputable online dog apparel and accessories outlets.

If you are serious and passionate in dressing up your dog, looking for the best outlets of fashionable dog clothes is not a problem; it is making your choice which will give you headaches as you will definitely find great picks from regular specialty shops and

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While watching the news once morning, a special about disciplining dogs came on. It enrolled four dogs in the Washington DC dog training to try and reform them. Each dog was treated individually and taken through a series of exercises. Dog clicker training was a main focus of the program A command would be followed by a click, and if the dog obeyed it received a treat. Eventually, if the dog heard a click it would do the command. I was astonished at the progress the dogs made in such a short time. Each went in a miscreant and came out a jewel.
If there were tryouts for this show, my dog would have been a shoe-in. Jesse, my dog, and I have a very complex relationship. As it seems, he is the king of the castle. I didn’t think dogs could wear pants, but Jesse has showed me differently. Jesse has always been spoiled. I have lost count of the times I’ve slept on the couch because he took the entire bed. When I buy a new pillow, Jesse has to test it out and see if he wants to keep it. Jesse takes it upon himself to taste-test every meal, whether or not I allow it.
I have tried to reform Jesse to the best of my ability. I tried using tips from a book from my brother-in-law; called Good Masters make Good Dogs. I did everything the book suggested, child-locking my kitchen, putting shock systems on things, but it did absolutely nothing. Jesse just out-smarted it all. I felt like I was hopeless. I then turned to my veterinarian. He outlined a plan that always worked for his other patients. Well, obviously, my dog is either a genius or a dunce because it didn’t work. Jesse seemed to repel any type of constructive reformation.
This special seemed like my last hope. If it could turn dogs that bit people, barked viciously and ate furniture around I was confident it could help Jesse. After all, Jesse was harmless at heart, he would never hurt anyone. He just needed some expert discipline. After watching the news special, I ran to the internet to see if I could get Jesse into the program. The news station website was actually running a contest where ten people can win the chance to take there dogs to D.C. for training. I am normally not the type to enter contests, but I was hopeful.
Three weeks later, I got a message on my cell phone from a Washington D.C. dog facility I had almost forgotten that I even entered the contest, so it was a huge shock. I had to have Jesse in DC in two weeks. I took him to be groomed and get a checkup just in case. Now that he was presentable, Jesse and I got in my car, him in the front seat of course, and set off. By the end of the workshop, Jesse was a new dog. He sat in the backseat on the way home, slept on his dog bed for the first time, and started a new diet void of human food.

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Minneapolis loves K-9s and if you’re one of its residents, you probably are one of the thousands who have a dog at home. After getting your first dog ever, one of the things you need to do is to teach your dog basic tricks. While you may want your dog to play dead or jump in hoops, you must remember that everything starts with easy things like sit, stay and fetch. For a few individuals, dog training is part of a natural skill. For some others, the task is better left to Minnesota dog training professionals.

New dog owners usually find themselves bewildered with what to teach their dogs and how to do it. While everyone loves his or her dog very much, some owners don’t have a clue on proper dog training. So, the best thing to do really is to call a pro.

What can a Minneapolis dog training gurus do? There are different kinds of skills offered by the pros. One of the most popular services is the in-house training. With this program, you leave your little friends to the trainers and they teach your dog basic obedience. Your dogs will learn how to sit, stay, walk on a leash, and fetch. When your dogs are already equipped with basic house manners, you, as the dog owner, will be taught how to manage these new skills that your dog has acquired.

You may also opt for group classes. In this program, both the owner and the dog attend classes. Simultaneously, the owner-handler learns the tricks in dog training and the dog learns new manners. This gives the advantage of better bonding between the owner and the dog during the course. Aside from that, since dogs are unique and have distinct traits, the owner can personalize his teaching methods and lessons while still following the rules of proper dog training. Effective group sessions should be limited to 5dogs per batch to ensure that every handler-dog pair is given the right amount of attention by trainers.

Another option would be the private classes. This is definitely more personal than the other programs as Minnesota dog training professionals are able to give undivided attention to you and your dog. The needs, skills and potential of your dog are given focus, which often leads to a quicker learning progress. As expected, this will cost more than the other programs.

Some Minneapolis dog training professionals also offer training services even before you purchase your dog. You just inform them of your preferences in terms of breed, color, age and other needs you want to specify, and they will find the dog for you. Before they send the dog to you, they teach it and make sure that it is already equipped with basic obedience so you don’t need to worry about anything anymore.

When you search for a Minnesota dog training company to provide you with your dog’s training needs, make sure that you get people who have been in the business for years and who have trained dogs based on positive discipline.

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