Category: Dog Training

The Importance of Having an Every Day Dog Collar

People commonly spend a lot of time choosing the special occasion, decorative collars.  However, you should be spending that time choosing your dog’s “every day collar.”  Your dog needs a reliable and sturdy collar to wear every day.  Finding a reliable collar may be more important than you think.  A good collar can prevent injury or even death.

The everyday collar should include a dog tag that has you pertinent information on it.  You should be sure to include your address and telephone number.  Also, make sure it is easily legible.  Dog tags can become worn down, so be sure you check them every once and a while to make sure you can easily read them.  I recommend that you do not put your dog’s name on the tag.  If someone who finds your dog knows its name, it would be easier for them to keep it!

The best material that a collar can be made out of is nylon.  Dogs can not easily chew through these collars, and they will last for many years.  The best part about nylon collars is that they come in a variety of colors.  The nylon collars I purchase for my dogs are made by Hamilton’s Deluxe.  You could get a red one, like the Wine Double Thick Dog Collar – 1 inch, pictured to the right, a black one: Black Double Thick Dog Collar – 1 inch, or hot purple: Hot Purple Double Thick Dog Collar – 1 inch.

Another reason I like these Hamilton’s Deluxe nylon collars is because they have the classic metal buckle, as opposed to the newer quick-snap closure.  The quick-snap closures can open when under a lot of stress.  If your dog is on a leash and tries to lunge after another dog, the quick snap closure could come undone, and your dog will become free.  This would not happen with the metal buckle closure.

To figure out the size collar that will properly fit your dog, you need to take a tape measure and measure your dog’s neck.  If you have a smaller dog, you need to add 2 inches to the number you measured.  If your dog is larger, you will need to add 3 inches to the number.  When the collar is on your dog, it should be tight enough so that it does not get caught on anything, which could potentially choke your dog.  The collar should not be too tight; you should be able to fit 2 fingers in the collar.

The Best Way to Train Your Dog is to Use Treats!

No matter what age your dog is, he or she can benefit from learning new tricks.  Not only does it give their brain a good work out, but it also provides you and your dog with bonding time.  Dogs love social communication between themselves and their owners, so teaching your dog new tricks throughout his lifetime is a great way to continually bond with your dog.

Before training your dog you need dog treats.  You will have a much easier time teaching your dog new tricks if you have treats.  Small treats are the best to use for a few reasons.  First, you do not want to over feed your dog with treats, that would not be healthy at all.  Also, small treats are eaten quickly so your dog will not lose focus on the task at hand.  You should also use treats that your dog is excited to eat.  Peanut butter dog treats and pork flavored dog treats are flavors your dog will love.  Tiny treats that my dog loves are Mini Grahams Dog Cookies – 8 oz, shown to the right.  The Mini Grahams Dog Cookies – 8 oz are great to use when training your dog because they are made of wholesome graham.

When using treats, you need to make sure that you are using them as a reward instead of a bribe.  Let me explain the difference.  A reward is when you give your dog a treat after she displays the behavior you are teaching her too.  A bribe is when your dog will not do a trick that she can do easily unless you give her a treat.  For example, if your dog will only “sit” AFTER you give her a treat, that is a bribe and is a misuse of treats.

Another thing to remember when using treats as a reward is to keep the treat out of your dog’s sight when she is learning a new trick.  Although you will reward her with the treat once she successfully completes the behavior, you do not want her to only do the trick for the treat.  You want your dog to be motivated to do a behavior because she sees your hand motions telling her to do the trick, not because she sees a treat.  Once your dog can complete the behavior consistently, start rewarding her with treats less and less.  You can not stop giving her treats altogether, but instead of giving her treats each time she does the behavior you can reward her with a belly rub or a toy.

However, treats alone will not teach your dog new tricks.  You will also need to use positive reinforcement.  Praise and petting works well in this regard.   And of course will need to have lots of patience!

Fix Your Puppy’s Chewing Problem

Puppies like to chew on things.  It is part of their natural animal behavior.  You can not expect this problem to go away, it actually needs to happen.  Just like babies who are teething, puppies have to teeth!  Adult dog teeth begin to come in at around 4 months.  This is extremely bothersome, just as it is to human babies.

While we have this list of tips and tricks to get your puppy to stop chewing that we’ll cover below, the best thing to do is to not keep inappropriate objects around that your puppy likes to chew on.  Instead, replace them with objects your dog is allowed to chew on.  Since teething can be extremely painful, I would recommend giving your puppy something cold to chew on.  Something that I like to do is buy a sterilized bone and fill it with peanut butter, and put it in the freezer to chill it.  You can get creative and fill it with anything your puppy likes to eat.  The sterilized dog bones I use are the White Sterilized Dog Bone 7-9 inches (Case of 12).

There are certain objects that you simply can not pick up and move.  Things like table legs or couches are certainly appealing to dogs to chew on.  If certain big items are a major problem for your dog, purchase Grannicks Bitter Apple Original Spray for Dogs, pictured to the right.  You can spray this bitter apple tasting formula onto any object that your dog likes to chew on, and it will deter your dog from chewing on it!  I used it in my house when my dog was a puppy and it worked like a charm.  I highly recommend this product to anyone who has a teething puppy.

It is also a good idea to keep your puppy restricted to a certain area of the house when they are teething.  The more access of your house you give your dog, the more will be available for him to chew.  The laundry room can be a good place to keep your dog.  Or, you can use puppy gates to confine your dog to an area where your dog does not have a lot to chew on, perhaps the kitchen.  Another option is the Pet Exercise Pen, which is an indoor pen that allows your dog to have move to walk around, making this a much more favorable option than a cage.  You can order the Pet Exercise Pen in different sizes according to the size of the pen or the size of the space you have.

The Many Uses For Wee Wee Pads!

If you are looking to potty train a new puppy, look no further than the Wee-Wee Pads Puppy Housebreaking Pads, as seen to the right.  These pads are laced with a scent that magically attracts your dog to relieve himself on these pads.  They come in all sizes, so you can use them on toy dogs or even the largest breeds.  You can potty train your dog the same way as someone who wants their dog to go potty outside: give a “go” command and praise him when he does the deed.

Wee Wee Pads are not just for potty training a puppy.  If you live in an apartment, these Wee-Wee Pads can be a lifesaver.  It is not realistic to expect your dog to hold their bodily functions in while they make the travel from your apartment to the outside.  The outside of your apartment may not even have grass, making it extremely unlikely your puppy will even want to relieve himself outside.  Putting down these Wee-Wee Pads ensures your dog will not have any unwanted accidents in your apartment!

Even if you do not live in an apartment, the Wee-Wee Pads can come in handy.   During the winter time many small dogs are often up to their bellies in snow, making it very difficult for them to use the outside for a bathroom.  Tiny dogs also lose heat faster than larger dogs, making it particularly unpleasant for them to be outside during the winter.  Even larger dogs may not like going outside during the winter.  Snow, and especially salt, can irritate your dog’s paws.  It is easy to “train” your tiny dog to use the pee pad in the winter, as they will be attracted to the smell of the pad.  When spring arrives,  you can take the pee pad away and your dog will resume using the outside for their potty time.  You will have help your dog make transition from using the Wee-Wee Pad to going potty outside, but a positive systems of rewards will do the trick.

Older dogs are also ideal candidates for Wee-Wee Pads.  Older dogs commonly suffer from incontinence, which often involves them relieving themselves in the house.  Many times this can be due to an infection, so it is very important for you to take your dog to the vet to get him checked out.  Sometimes, your dog will have accidents in the house because of loss of muscle tone that prevents them from being able to hold in their urine.  Put down Wee-Wee Pads near your dog’s favorite areas of the house to prevent accidents.

Human Health Benefits of Pet Ownership

Pet ownership has many benefits.

One of the more interesting effects is the health and medical benefits that pets have on humans. There have been numerous studies that have verified positive health and medical effects in a vast array of different areas. Consider for example that studies have shown the following:

  • Senior citizens that own a dog frequent their doctor less than those that do not own a dog. Checkout GregRobert Discount Dog Supplies, today!
  • Daily activity levels of seniors that are not pet owners deteriorated faster than those of pet owners.
  • Pet owners have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
  • Children that own pets scored higher on empathy and pro social orientation scales than non-pet owners.
  • Positive self esteem within children is enhanced by pet ownership.
  • Pet owners have higher one year survival rates following coronary heart disease.
  • Pets decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation
  • Taking your dog for a 30 minute walk each day can burn 150 calories per day and help maintain your weight. Pictured above is the Nite Brite Reflective Dog Harness that works well during the fall when dark descends upon us earlier in the evening.

For a more detailed listing of this information and other relevant articles visit the Delta Society which is an organization that promote human health improvement through service and therapy animals.

 As a pet owner myself who has experienced the joy of pet ownership I can say that I am not entirely surprised by these results. It’s well known that our own personal happiness has definite effect on our physical well being. Pets can certainly provide the companionship and love that boost self esteem and psychological well being.

Leash Pulling – YOU can stop it!

Our dog starts leash pulling as soon as he sees the leash and knows he’s about to go for a walk. If we don’t stop it at that point, and the walk starts out of control, the precedent is set for the entire walk.

Here are some suggestions to help you get your dog used to walking on a leash WITHOUT alot of pulling and jerking.

Before expecting your dog to calmly walk beside you on a dog leash, train her to be calm when you are putting her collar and leash on! Ask her to sit-stay while you are putting on her leash. If she does not stay, delay the walk until she does. Don’t give in or she will learn that it’s OK to be out of control. If your dog doesn’t have a reliable sit-stay, then practice training her to sit-stay without the distraction of the prospect of a walk.

Most dogs learn very quickly that they must sit while the leash is being attached to the collar. If your dog bolts toward the door as soon as the leash is on, dragging you behind, then the situation is out of control. Simply hold onto the leash, stand still and let your dog dance, ricochet and bounce around at the end of the leash. It may take a few minutes or more, but she will soon realize that you are not going anywhere and will begin to calm down.  Try a retractable leash to invoke more control on the situation – pictured to the right, is Flexi’s Giant leash for larger dogs.

When this happens, praise him or her for being good. You may even give her a small dog treat as a reward. After another minute or so, take your first step, but NOT towards the door. Instead, walk your dog around your house, garage or yard to give her a chance to practice her ‘not-pulling’ skills. Every time she pulls, lunges or strains on the leash, simply stand still again. When she calms down, talk to her, praise her calmly and quietly. Try to keep your dog’s attention on yourself instead of the door. When you feel that your dog is in control and she is walking nicely without pulling in your house or yard, then it is time to proceed to the front yard and around the block.

Every time your dog pulls on the dog leash and you continue the walk, you are rewarding her for pulling and lunging. Every time your dog gets out of control it is essential that you instantly stop the walk, stand still and wait for her to calm down before continuing. It is a tremendous effort in patience at first but it will pay off if you persevere.

You may only get to the end of the block or even your driveway on your first outing, but if you give in to your dog’s demands, then she will continue to pull. You can speed up the process by asking her to sit- stay for about 5 to 10 seconds every time she begins to pull.

By being consistent and persistent – walk time will be more enjoyable for both of you.

Comfortable and Durable Dog Collars and Leashes

Now that spring is finally here, many dog owners have been taking their dogs outside for a walk.  Before you take your dog out for a walk, it is important to make sure that your dog’s collar and leash are in good condition and are not in need of replacement.  If your dog’s collar and leash are worn out and need to be replaced, it is a good idea to replace them before taking your dog out for a walk.  Using a worn out collar and leash that can easily break are dangerous for both you and your dog.  For those dog owners who are looking for a replacement collar and leash, here are some wonderful suggestions:

  • One of the most durable and comfortable materials for a dog collar and leash is nylon.  There are a variety of fun colors to choose from when selecting a collar and leash.  You can get creative and have fun mixing colors together.  A fun, colorful dog collar for any dog is the Nylon Ocean Weave Dog Collarby Hamilton Pet Company.  This collar is made of durable nylon that is sure to last a long time.  It is flexible and easily conforms to the shape of your dog’s neck.  Coordinate this color with a colorful dog leash by Hamilton Pet Company and your dog is ready to go!  The Earthtone Weave Nylon Dog  Collar and Lead has the same great design but has darker, earth tone colors.
  • Another durable material for a dog collar and leash is leather.  Leather may be stiff at  first, but it will conform to the shape of your dog’s neck.  It is very durable and great for any dog who wears out a collar and leash quickly.  The Hamilton leather dog collars and leashes are very durable and comfortable for your dog and you.  These leather items are vegetable tanned, which gives them a beautiful shine.  They are also sold in a variety of beautiful, earth-tone colors that look great on any dog.