Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

When choosing a dog, it’s important to choose the breed that’s right for you. In order to do that, you need to know the characteristics and temperament of the breed you’re thinking about adopting or purchasing before you do so. The Golden Retriever is just one breed among many from which to choose.

The Golden Retriever was first developed in the British Isles, probably from crosses between the yellow flat-coated retriever, light-coated Tweed water spaniels, other spaniels, setters and even the Newfoundland and possibly the Bloodhound. It was predominantly bred for hunting and made a fine bird dog, both on land and in the water. It has not only been used for hunting and tracking but also for narcotics detection, as a guide dog for the blind, therapy dog and service dog for the disabled. The Golden is one of the world’s foremost family companion dogs.

The Golden Retriever has an average height of 20 to 24 inches and an average weight of 55 to 80 pounds. It is beautiful, sturdy and well proportioned. The coat is feathered, medium length and cream to golden in color. The outer coat is water repellent while the undercoat is dense. The tail is long but never curled. The Golden’s nose is black, and the eyes are brown with dark rims. The ears are pendant and medium sized. This breed is an average shedder.

Golden Retrievers are usually lovable, sweet, loyal, confident, well mannered and eager to please. They are patient and gentle with children. They are intelligent, easily trained and excel in obedience competitions. They can learn up to roughly 240 commands, words and phrases. They make an outstanding family dog and are very attached to their owners and enjoy pleasing them. They are friendly, even towards strangers and other dogs, with very little guarding instincts, however, do make good watchdogs and will loudly signal a stranger’s approach. These dogs love to swim and love to work, with the ability to focus on a given task, and will work until collapse. Goldens may become mischievous and/or high strung if not properly exercised. They may become anxious or distressed if left alone in a room. Golden Retrievers make excellent surrogate mothers to different species. Some of their talents include hunting, tracking, retrieving, narcotics detection, agility, competitive obedience and performing tricks.

Health concerns include hip dysplasia and congenital eye defects. Skin allergies are common and require immediate veterinary attention. Parents should be checked for Von Willebrand’s disease and heart problems.

The Golden Retriever is prone to obesity without exercise. They require a daily brisk walk, jog or run. They like to retrieve balls and other toys. They need to be exercised well to avoid hyperactivity.

Grooming for this breed of dog is easy and consists of combing and brushing at least once a week with a firm-bristle brush, paying particular attention to the dense undercoat. Daily grooming is required during heavy shedding. They should be dry shampooed regularly but bathed only when necessary. The ears should be cleaned regularly or ear infections may occur.

Golden Retrievers do okay in an apartment if they are sufficiently exercised. They are moderately active indoors but do best with at least a medium to large yard.

This breed of dog is lovable, friendly, well mannered, easy to train, good with children and makes a great family dog but requires regular grooming and daily exercise and may be too active for the elderly. If you’re able to provide sufficient exercise and regular grooming, then perhaps a Golden Retriever is the right breed of dog for you.

With the advent of the internet, dog training has gone online! Now, you can get in touch with a myriad of professional trainers as well as get advice or take whole online dog training courses. Traditional dog training classes certainly provide you with a wonderful opportunity for working with your dog, but if you are self-motivated, there might be a number of advantages to selecting a course for online dog training. Here are a few different advantages of online dog training over traditional training:

1. There are a lot of online dog training courses available. Most of them you are able to find reviews about from previous customers. These reviews help you to decide whether a program may be successful for you or not.

2. Videos: Many of the best online dog training courses now have video that accompany them as part of the package. These videos demonstrate each of the obedience skills to you, just like an instructor in a traditional class would.

3. Cost: Online dog training is often less expensive than enrolling in a traditional obedience class. Sometimes, there are even extra, supplemental videos or e-books as part of the deal.

4. You can take the classes whenever you want to! If you want to work with your dog in the middle of the night, you would be able to. Your schedule is entirely set by you.

5. Some online dog training courses have online chats, forums, or the ability to e-mail questions to a live trainer. This way, if you are unsure of something, you are able to verify the methods or problem solve.

6. When you work by yourself, you are able to focus solely on you and the dog. You have no other distractions to work with, and you don’t have to deal with anyone else’s dog either. Your dog can work in a more concentrated way too.

7. Does your dog have a behavioral issue that might make a traditional class difficult? Online dog training classes work very well for dogs that might be extremely stimulated by the presence of other dogs, are very shy or frightened in crowded situation, or a dog that might have different aggression issues that would be hard to manage in a traditional class.

8. Depending on the course, the online dog training course may include multiple options for teaching a particular skill. Also, there may be more skills included like trick training in the class. These are the eight main potential advantages to an online dog training course.

Overall, the online dog training courses might be able to offer a cost efficient and time conscious option to working with your dog. Remember to make sure to select a training program that has had a lot of customers purchase or participate in it. Also make sure to have thoroughly researched the program and read reviews to insure it will be a positive and beneficial experience for you and your dog.

You’ve got a dog with behavior problems, or you just plain want your dog to listen to you, but you don’t know where to begin. You need help and answers badly, but you don’t want to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a professional dog trainer to come to your house.

Well, you’re not alone, there are many people in this situation. While it is true that professional dog trainers usually get the job done the best and in the shortest amount of time, they are very expensive for most people.

But don’t give up on your precious pooch just yet because there is help out there: online help!

There are many dog training courses that you can purchase online that will teach you how to train your dog correctly, and show you what to do about behavior problems like biting, chewing, excessive barking, tearing up your furniture, or peeing in your house.

Many of the good ones also teach you how to train your dog to walk on the leash properly, so that you’re the one in control and your dog is not pulling you everywhere. Some even teach how to train a dog to do tricks.

The problem is that you don’t want to spend your hard earned money without knowing for sure which courses are good, and which ones are just a bunch of hot air and tell you things that will never work.

So, how do you begin on your search for the best dog training course, without getting burned by a substandard course? Follow these rules when looking for a dog training course, and you’ll be one step ahead of the game:

1. Choose a course designed by a professional dog trainer. This is VERY important, because a professional is more likely to reveal practical dog training methods that actually work. If you can, find a dog training course designed by someone who runs a dog training academy or school. They are the true experts in this field.

2. The fact is that dog training courses aren’t really for training dogs at all, they’re for training people, so you want to find one that is easy for you to understand. Look for a course that focuses on training the owner first, because ultimately it is YOU who is going to be training your dog, not the course itself!

3. A good dog training course will focus on teaching you how your dog thinks. People and dogs have been living together for thousands of years, but your dog’s way of thinking is completely different than yours. That’s why most people fail in training their dog on their own and need help in the first place. Look for a dog training course that will teach you how your dog’s mind responds to things, and how to recognize certain dog behavior and what it means. That’s the mark of a winning dog training course.

4. The last thing to consider is price. There are many very good dog training courses out there selling for $100 or less. Don’t think that just because you spend more money that you will get a better course, because it’s simply not true. Some of the more expensive dog training courses are most likely put together by internet marketers, and their only aim is to take your money and give you very little in return. So, keep it under $100, no matter which dog training course you decide to buy.

Copyright 2006, ReviewsOnTheWeb.com.

When choosing a dog, it’s important to choose the breed that’s right for you. In order to do that, you need to know the characteristics and temperament of the breed you’re thinking about adopting or purchasing before you do so. The Poodle is just one breed among many from which to choose.

The Poodle is the oldest known breed of dog and dates back to possibly as early as AD 30. Where it was developed is uncertain, but it is thought to have originated in Germany as a retriever of water fowl. The stylish clip was designed by hunters to help this breed move more efficiently through the water, and patches of hair were left to protect the joints and vital organs from the cold. The name Poodle is probably derived from the German word “pudel,” which means one who plays in water. This breed of dog has been used as a circus performer in France. It achieved popularity after World War II and was considered extremely fashionable. It was the most popular breed in America by the 1960s. Today the Poodle is primarily a show dog and companion.

Poodles come in three size varieties – Standard, Miniature and Toy. The Standard is over 15 inches in height at the highest point of the shoulders and weighs 45 to 70 pounds. The Miniature is over 10 inches but less than 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulders and weighs 15 to 17 pounds. The Toy is 10 inches or less at the highest point of the shoulders and weighs 6 to 9 pounds. They come in a variety of colors, including white, black, apricot and gray but never parti-colored. Most have a dense, curly, low-shedding coat. They have no undercoat and could be considered hypoallergenic, though not completely allergen free. The coat is coarse and woolly to soft and wavy. The tails are usually docked in the US. The ears are dropped and never cropped.

Poodles are exceptionally smart, active and excel in obedience. They have an air of distinction and dignity and a keen sense for instinctual behavior. They are highly energetic and get bored fairly easily. These dogs are extremely people oriented, generally eager to please and affectionate. They are adaptable and easy to train and make excellent watchdogs. Standard Poodles, in particular, are good with children and are fairly agile and athletic. Toy Poodles will play ball and love to fetch. This breed of dog is one of the easiest breeds to housebreak and learns more quickly than most dogs. Poodles may tend to bark a lot if not given rules. The standard variety is a bit calmer than the smaller varieties.

The most common health problems for Poodles include Addison’s disease, gastric dilatation volvulus (twisted stomach), thyroid issues, tracheal collapse, epilepsy, sebaceous adenitis (inflamed sebaceous glands of the skin), juvenile renal disease, hip dysplasia and cancer. A minor issue includes ear infections. The life expectancy for a Standard Poodle is 11.5 to 12 years and 14 to 14.5 years for Miniature and Toy, and some Toy Poodles may live to be 17 years or more.

Play will take care of a lot of their exercise needs, but Poodles need a daily walk or may display behavior problems. They enjoy a good romp in a safe open area such as a fenced-in yard. Standard Poodles require more exercise than the smaller varieties. Without the proper type and amount of exercise, they may be high strung and timid.

Grooming for this breed of dog consists of brushing on a regular basis and bathing every two to three weeks, more frequently if dirty. Clipping should begin at an early age, and they should be clipped every six weeks. The ears should be cleaned and checked frequently for wax or infection. Hairs growing inside the ear canal should be pulled out. The teeth need regular scaling.

Poodles are good dogs for apartment life and do okay without a yard. They are more sedate when indoors but love to play outdoors. They need lots of activity to stimulate their mentality.

This breed of dog comes in 3 size varieties, is one of the easiest to housebreak, is people oriented and is good for those with allergies because of the low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat but requires frequent grooming and proper training to ensure good behavior. If you are willing to provide proper grooming and training, then perhaps a Poodle is the right breed of dog for you.

Help For Parents Choosing A Dog For Their Children. Top 10 Breeds For Families, 5 Steps To Choosing The Right Dog And More…
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