Tips on How to Train Your Dog to Walk on a Leash - Part 2

Training your dog to walk on a leash is an essential part of dog ownership. I want to do just a brief review of part one to just go over the points.

• Put your puppy or dog on the leash before you open the door for the walk.
• Walk out of your home in front of your dog and never let your dog exit before you
• If your dog is pulling on the leash just pull straight up to stop the forward motion and get his attention
• Make sure your dog walks behind you; keep your dog on a short leash if necessary
• Make sure that you are relaxed and in control during the walk as your dog will know if you are not.

Once you have mastered these techniques you can start addressing other aspects of the walk. Most dogs, especially puppies, will have a tendency to try and go after other animals during the walk. If your dog tries to chase after other dogs, squirrels, etc., give him a nudge with you foot to get his attention while still walking in a forward motion. It is important to keep moving as you do not want your dog to get fixed on any one thing. This must be done quickly and at the very start of the chase.

My dog Boo Boo is two years old now and can walk off leash with me anywhere. There are tons of squirrels, other dogs and lizards that were getting her attention during our walks. She does not go after anything anymore as she knows what I expect of her and she knows that is not what I want her to do. During the training she would pull and try and go after her target. I would make the correction with her and would give her a little tap with my foot to get her attention. I would then tell her NO at the same time of the correction all done while continuing our forward motion. I would also pull her head forward during this whole process. It is important to keep moving.
Once you have accomplished walking with distractions, you can start to introduce other commands such as "Heal". During the walk stop and say "Heal" and stop your dog's forward motion. Use a short leash for this training. Take a couple of steps and repeat the word "Heal", and stop again. It is important to get your dog's attention during this activity as you want your dog to look at you so he knows that you are giving him a command. If you keep repeating this every ten steps or so, your dog will start to understand what you want him to do.

I suggest that you walk your dog every day and repeat these functions. Your dog will be healthy and happy and it is a great stress reliever for you. It is also a wonderful way for you to bond with your dog. I will be adding some video's of Boo Boo to my website in the very near future. Boo Boo has been trained since she was 8 weeks old and can do amazing tricks. She is truly a wonder dog and I would love to share her accomplishments with everyone.

All of the above techniques were done with the use of a regular collar and leash. There were no choker or pincher collars used.

If you have found this article helpful and would like additional Free tips and information please visit my website at http://basicsofdogownership.com/

The Best Things You Can Do To Make Your Dog Happy

Deciding to bring a dog into your family can be one of the most rewarding decisions a family can make. Dog ownership can be a wonderful experience with the proper supplies, patience, and guidance. You must first decide where you will obtain your new addition. You can buy from a breeder, look into your local animal shelter, check online, and check in the newspapers. Sometimes your dog will find you as we acquired our dog by word of mouth from a neighbor that knew of this little 8 week old lab/pit mix that needed a home.
Once you decide on where to gain your new dog, you need to decide on a breed. Do research on the traits and characteristics of the different breeds so you will know what to expect. Find a breed that fits into your lifestyle. You do not want to get a dog that needs lots of room to run if your dwelling is not conducive to those needs.
There will be some necessities that you will need to have when you bring your new dog home. Some of the basics are food, food and water bowls, collar, leash, crate (if you crate train which I highly advise), chew toys, shampoo, brush, flea comb, flea treatment, heartworm pills, and plenty of balls to throw. Make sure you check with your vet for the best food for your dog. Some dogs need specific diets and a change in the food can bring on stomach problems. Also make sure that the shampoo that you buy for your dog is appropriate for the dog's skin type. Always check with your vet for the best options for you or do some looking on line as there are a number of safe organic supplies that will do the trick.
Start training your dog from day one. If you have brought a puppy into your home you will need to take a deep breath and start the potty training immediately. This can be accomplished simply with the right tools and attitude. You will need to establish yourself as the Pack Leader and reaffirm that position every day. This is extremely important as you need to let your dog know who is in charge and this will help tremendously in all facets of the training that you will need to do with your dog.
Dog ownership can be very rewarding if you are prepared with the right tools and mindset. Please remember that your dog will need your attention and love on a daily basis. You will need to have patience and understanding and a lot of love, you will also get that love back from your dog which makes everything worth it.

If you found this article helpful and are looking for additional information about raising your dog or information about training, please visit my newly revised site at http://basicsofdogownership.com Thanks so much for reading this article.

House Train Your Puppy with a Crate

One of the best ways to house train your puppy is through the use of a crate. This works especially well if you have to leave your puppy unattended for any length of time. It is a good idea to use a crate for at least the first nine months as you will want to protect your flooring and any items that a puppy may want to chew on.

Please buy a crate that your puppy can grow into as this is part of the training. When training my Pit/Lab mix we only experienced a few accidents that happened on our way outside. A puppy or dog typically will not defecate where it sleeps. It is important to make sure that while your puppy is in the crate it only has enough room to turn around in. Most crates come with a divider that you can keep moving as your puppy grows. This will help in the training as your puppy will learn to hold itself until taken outside. It is a good idea not to feed or give your puppy water at least an hour before bedtime. Make sure you establish a schedule for your puppy so it will start to know when it will be taken out for bathroom breaks.

As soon as you wake up in the morning take your puppy out immediately. You may need to carry your puppy for the first week to the outside to avoid any accidents on your way outside. We carried our puppy outside for the first week and praised her when she would go in the grass. We also said the words “go pee pee “and “go poop” when she did the act. Those commands reinforced daily will help later as she will now go on demand as she knows what those words mean due to association with the act. We rewarded her with petting, attention and play when she would complete the act instead of food. We wanted to reserve the food for the training of the regular commands such as sit, stay, lay down, etc. We did not want to confuse her with getting a treat for using the bathroom and then use the same method for regular commands. You must also watch the amount of treats given to a puppy as to not upset their stomachs as they are still growing and can only handle so much food intake.

You need to be consistent with the timing of the bathroom breaks which will mean you will need to be trained to use a schedule as well. Never reprimand with hitting for accidents which will most likely happen during the first few weeks. You must have patience and understanding when you are housebreaking your puppy. Here is a breakdown of what you can do to be successful:

· Buy a safe, quality crate that your puppy can grow into

· Set a schedule that you can stick to that will allow for frequent bathroom breaks for your puppy

· Limit food and water before bed time and walk just before putting your puppy in the crate for the night

· Use key words to get your puppy used to the commands to go to the bathroom

· Praise your puppy for going outside and never reprimand for accidents that will happen

Please remember that your puppy is just like a baby and will need to be taught how to do everything. You will need to have patience and understanding and a lot of love.

Go to www.basicsofdogownership.com for some solutions to training problems and other needs

Puppy Vaccinations and Your New Purebred Puppy

Your purebred puppies health should be of utmost concern to you.

You want a healthy puppy that is free of parasites and on good food. Nutrition is very important- especially in the first year of life.

There are many diseases that the new puppy may come in contact with and it is these puppy vaccinations that help build resistance to the viral attacks.

Though there are multiple ailments and diseases, I will attempt to briefly list and discuss only a few of the more common ones in this puppy article. As always, puppy vaccinations are the best preventive method.

Parvovirus (parvo). This is a very serious disease. It attacks the intestinal system and is a viral disease of dogs. Parvo is characterized by severe, bloody diarrhea and vomiting, high fever and lethargy. The diarrhea is particularly foul smelling and is sometimes yellow in color. Parvo can also attack a dog's heart causing congestive heart failure. Remember, without medical treatment, most puppies die from Parvo.

Distemper. This disease attacks every tissue in the body and may occur through inhalation of the virus in a contaminated area. Signs of the disease often resemble a bad cold with fever at first though the later stages may result in vomiting, high fever, diarrhea, convulsions and thickening/cracking of the nose and pads. Death is common and dogs and who recover may have future nervous damage. Simple puppy vaccinations are the best prevention.

Hepatitis. Spread through contact with contaminated urine or feces. This affects the kidneys and liver- often dogs will have high fever, lack of appetite, vomiting/diarrhea with blood, and depression. Often affected animals will have chronic health problems and recovered dogs will pass infected urine for months after infection. Again, vaccinations are the best preventive method.

Leptospirosis (Lepto). Affect the liver and kidneys and can be transmitted to man via contact with the urine of an infected dog. Signs such as vomiting and thirst, bloody diarrhea, depression, and jaundice may occur. Antiobiotic treatment is important though the best prevention is through vaccination.

Rabies. Transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, rabies is another disease that may be spread to humans. The disease affects the nervous tissues and causes paralysis and death (always). Again, vaccinations are your best weapon against this disease. Below find a brief listing of other common problems of which you should be aware.

Kennel cough. Kennel cough deals with bacterial and/or viral infections in the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms of kennel cough are a constant wheezing cough. Highly contagious as well!

Other symptoms to watch for in your new purebred puppy:

Vomiting. Occasional vomiting is not uncommon but consult your vet if the problem persists or if blood, diarrhea or pain accompany the vomiting.

Diarrhea. Can be caused by a number of things- viruses, food, internal parasites, and bacteria to name a few. Contact the vet if the stool is bloody, continues for an excessive amount of time, or if dehydration occurs. Once your pup has recovered, return it to its food slowly and in decreased but frequent portions.

Constipation. Can be caused by multiple factors also such as insufficient water intake, disease or ingestion of a foreign substance. While your vet may have to take blood tests to find the cause, usually a diet high in fiber and exercise will help prevent this problem.

Not to scare you in any way, I do hope this information will assure you of just how important those puppy vaccinations are to your new puppies (and your) health. Proper immunizations are the best prevention in the endless war on disease and may save your puppy, and yourself, a lot of discomfort, grief and pain- and possibly even death. Here's to healthy and happy puppy owning.

Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.pedigreedpups.com and http://www.total-german-shepherd.com is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information? Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular? Need to promote your dog related website and get additional in bound links? Check out pedigreedpups.com, total-german-shepherd.com or canine-hotline.com (dog only products store) for more information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Debbie_Ray

Food You Should Never Feed Your Dog

There are many foods that we eat that we should never feed our dogs. Some are obvious, and most are things most people would never think would harm their dog. This list will tell you some of them.

1. Onions and garlic- Can damage red blood cells because they contain sulfoxides and disulfides.Can also cause anemia.

2. Persimmons- May cause enteritis and intestinal obstruction.

3. Peach and plum pits- Can cause digestive tract obstruction.

4. Raw fish- May cause loss of appetite, seizures, and may cause death if fed regularly, because raw fish causes a thiamine deficiency.

5. Sugary foods- May cause Diabetes Mellitus, dental problems, and obesity.

6. Table scraps- Never feed in large amounts. Bones should never be fed, and fat should be trimmed from meat and fed sparingly.

7. String- May become trapped in the digestive system causing it to have to be removed.

8. Salt- If fed in large quantities, can cause an electrolyte imbalance.

9. Yeast dough- Can cause pain and rupturing in the digestive system.

10. Tobacco- May result in rapid heartbeat, collapse, coma, and death, because tobacco contains nicotine.

11. Raw eggs- Raw eggs may contain Salmonella. They also contain an enzyme known as avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin.

12.Mushrooms - May contain toxins, which can affect several organ systems, cause shock and even death.

13. Hops- Causes panting, fever, elevated heart rate, seizure and possibly death because of an unknown compound.

14. Spoiled food or garbage- Can contain many toxins which may cause diarrhea and vomiting.

15. Dairy products- Can result in diarrhea because adult dogs and cats do not have enough of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. There is lactose-free products available for pets.

16. Liver- If fed in large amounts, can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.

17. Macadamia nuts- They contain an unknown toxin, and can affect the nervous system, muscles, and digestive system.

18. Vitamin supplements for people- Supplements that contain iron can cause damage to many organs and harm the lining of the digestive system.

19. Raisins and grapes- May damage the kidneys because of an unknown toxin.

20. Baby food- May contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs.

21. Alcoholic drinks- Can cause coma, death, and intoxication.

22. Bones from fish, poultry, and other meats- Can cause laceration and blockage of the digestive system.

23. Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine containing products- Contains theobromine, theophylline ,and caffeine, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous system.

24. Cat food- Usually contains too much protein and fats for dogs.

25. Citrus oil- May cause vomiting.

26. Fat trimmings- May cause pancreatitis.

If this list helped you, and you would like to know about healthy foods that are free of toxins to feed your dog, then check out: (http://www.squidoo.com/got-healthy-dog-food)

April L. Toche

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=April_Toche

Crate Training your New Puppy

The decision to add a new puppy into your life should not be taken lightly as they need a lot of love and attention as any new baby would. To help cut down on the number of accidents that will inevitably happen, you can use a crate to train your puppy and help with house breaking your little one.

Crate training your new puppy will help avoid accidents in the middle of the night and will help in making your puppy feel safe at night. Make sure that the crate that you purchase is large enough for your puppy to grow into. The crate should have a divider inside of it that can be moved as your puppy grows. You should find one with a plastic bottom to make cleaning accidents easier and keep the crate from rusting. It would be a good idea to buy a washable pet bed that you can put into the crate to keep your puppy comfortable. Make sure that it can fit into your washing machine as accidents will happen in the beginning.

You should crate train a puppy for about 9 months or if things are going well less time will be needed. You should place your crate where you want your puppy to eventually sleep at night. Once you remove the crate from the room, the puppy will go to that spot to sleep as it is used to its surrounding and smells of the room or area that you want your dog to sleep. You should try and use the same bed that was in the crate so the puppy knows that he is in the right spot to sleep. You can also get your puppy a heated toy to help him feel safe. These toys have a microwavable pouch that is placed into the stuffed part of the toy. The warmth is comforting for a puppy.

When you first start out make sure your puppy has just enough room to turn around in the crate and this is where the divider comes in. As your puppy grows, move the divider to accommodate your growing puppy just enough so that he has enough room to turn around in. Dogs will try not to defecate where they sleep. This will help them to make it through the night until they are taken out. You should take your puppy out for bathroom breaks every couple of hours during the daytime hours. You should also not give your puppy any water or food an hour before bed time and make sure that he goes out just before going into the crate for bedtime.

Do not raise your voice or give negative reactions to your puppy as accidents will happen during the training. Just show your puppy the site of the accident and say “outside” and then take your puppy outside You must reinforce this action daily to get your puppy to understand that he needs to go outside to do his business. This will take an amount of dedication on your part to successfully house break your puppy.

Once your puppy makes it through the night consistently for a week or so, try leaving him alone for an hour at a time outside the crate during the day. Slowly build up his confidence so that eventually you can leave your puppy inside the home for several hours at a time without accidents. Your puppy will need love and support and with the tips given above you will successfully house train your new puppy.

Tami Grant writes on dog related issues.