Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

It can be confusing figuring out the best way to train your dog, and there are a lot of options available. How can you decide what the best dog training courses are? There are certain things to look for when determining where or who to take dog training courses with. Here is a list of tips to help you in your search for the best dog training courses for both you and your dog. Tips for selecting effective dog training courses:

1. Ask your local veterinarians, groomers, and shelters who they recommend the most. Someone who is a dog training professional is probably known around the local area, and chances are, the other dog service professionals will know about them.

2. Do an internet search for dog training courses in your area. Some pet stores hold classes, although they are not always the most conducive to learning. National professional organizations, like The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, have membership directories you can browse through. You will also be able to locate any dog kennel clubs in the area that might have training.

3. Once you have a list with a few names on it, it’s time to begin contacting. Always speak with a trainer directly to ask questions about their experience, how the classes are run, and in what manner they train. You might even ask for references. It is also important to ask a trainer if they are comfortable working with your kind of dog or its issues. Do they mind having your breed in class? Have they worked with it before? If your dog has special issues, you definitely want to get a sense of how they feel about it and how they would deal with it. Is your dog shy or scared or dog aggressive? What are the techniques they will use? You never want to get to a class and find out your dog won’t really get the kind of attention and education it needs.

4. Ask to watch. A reputable dog trainer or kennel club will not mind allowing you to watch a class in progress before deciding. You want to make sure you are comfortable with the trainer and the dog training courses themselves. How well is the information conveyed? Is the trainer able to control the class?

5. Group Size: How large a training class is should be a big consideration. You want to know that you will be able to ask questions and receive appropriate attention with your dog. Dog training courses should never be larger than 10-15 dogs, but in small spaces, less than 10 dogs should be in a class. Selecting effective dog training courses requires you to do a little homework to find a training professional with a good reputation. Ultimately, speaking with the dog trainer and watching his dog training courses personally will help you decide if you are comfortable both with the trainer and his style of training.

The Internet is the best and probably the most comprehensive source of information in the world; so, if you’re looking for free dog training tips to improve the relationship with your four-legged friend, run a simple search and see what you can find out. If you’re wondering about the reliability of the free dog training tips online, there is one way to get convinced, try them and see if there is noticeable progress in your dog’s behavioral patterns. If the Internet doesn’t suit your purposes, a friend who is also a dog owner may fill you in on some free dog training tips.

It is known fact that the greatest disadvantage about applying free dog training tips is that owners often don’t have enough time to devote to their pet. However, you can practice for instance the “sit” command together with other free dog training tips at any moment; you don’t need special preparation for that. You may even turn your attention to the dog during a commercial break for instance, or when playing “fetch”. Before throwing the ball, you can apply a simple free dog training tip or command: “sit” or “down” and continue with the game after the dog obeys it.

Many free dog training tips will help you teach your dog target focus: the simplest form of the kind is paw or touch. You actually get the animal focus on a specific area and then perform a certain action afterwards. Such free dog training tips are used in competitions as well as in daily life, when you want for instance to turn the pet’s attention from you. Moving and finding a specific place are forms of targeting and they are considered to be the first step towards retrieving. Free dog training tips applied for the matter will make you improve the relationship with the pet, it will move away from the couch for instance.

For professional free dog training tips it is a good idea to have a look at Dog Training Expert. People who actually apply free dog training tips find it very entertaining for both parts involved; keep in mind that the first to benefit is your pet. By sticking to some free dog training tips not only will you save money, but you’ll also avoid specific mistakes that dog owners make, thus ruining their chances of ever growing an obedient animal.

Itchy skin, hair loss, constant scratching, ear and anal gland problems are the most common indicators of a dog skin problem.

Although there are many canine skin disorders, the 5 following tips will help to identify some of the more common dog skin problems.

1. Fleas: The best way to identify a flea problem is to check your pets belly area and along the inside of the back legs. The hair is thinner in this area and easier to spot both fleas and flea dirt. The flea itself is brown or copper colored and roughly the size of a pin-head. Flea dirt looks like sprinkled pepper. Ruffling the fur on your dog’s back and along the base of the tail is also an easy way to find fleas and flea droppings. Often times dogs that develop Flea Allergy Dermatitis will show hair loss around the base (top) of the tail. There are many options available for flea and tick control.

2. Food Allergy Dermatitis: Although food allergies can appear in pups as early on as 5 or 6 months, they can also develop in adult dogs as late as 11 or 12 years old. Common symptoms of food allergy dermatitis are itching of the skin, excessive scratching, hot spots and even skin infections. Dog owners should realize that there is a distinct difference between Food Allergies and Food Intolerance. Like people, classic symptoms of a food intolerance would be an upset stomach and diarrhea. All foods do not agree with all dogs. Pink Bismuth is a safe remedy for stomach upset and diarrhea in dogs. Food allergies require slowly eliminating foods and changing the diet.

3. Atopic Dermatitis: A condition caused by environmental allergens. Dogs that suffer with airborne allergies will often rub their face along the side of a sofa or along the carpet. As with food allergies, dogs will also chew their feet. With Atopic Dermatitis, it’s common for dogs to develop ear infections due to a yeast overgrowth. Pollen, trees, grass, dust and wool fabric are just a few common airborne allergens that some dogs are sensitive to. Antihistimines are often prescribed.

4. Acral Lick Dermatitis (Lick Granuloma): This raised lesion will be red, hairless and is usually found on the leg of the dog. This neurological condition is self-induced due to continuous licking. Possible causes include anxiety, boredom and stress. Treatment will include identifying the source of the problem (anxiety, etc.), restricting licking of the area and often times medication for behavioral modification.

5. Hot Spots: Medically referred to as Acute Moist Dermatitis, these round lesions generally appear in warmer weather. Along the hip, the sides of the chest and around the head area are the most common locations for hot spots. These moist and hairless inflammations are painful causing the dog to fixate on the particular spot by licking, chewing and scratching at it. Continuous licking in one area is a large factor in the development of hot spots. These lesions can quickly become very large in size. The location of the hot spot will help determine what the underlying problem could be an; anal gland problem, ear problem or a flea problem. A Veterinarian will clip the hair around the spot, clean it with a medicated solution, prescribe antibiotics and pain medicine.

Determining the source of many dog skin problems can be difficult. Skin conditions can be uncomfortable and painful, so dog owners should not give up until they know where the problem stems from.

The Chihuahua is undoubtedly the oldest purebred canine native to the North American continent. He is known by no other name. The Chihuahua is a native of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. He appears in a short-or smooth-coated variety and another type that has a long coat. The distinguishing features of a Chihuahua are very small size (average weight is 3 pounds) large ears, prominent eyes and a long tail.

The Chihuahua was important in the ceremonial life of both Toltec and Aztex peoples and is still a very popular pet in his native land and all around the world. He is the smallest of all dogs. His purpose is to provide loving companionship. His very small size keeps him from being a good pet to children or toddlers, or even young adolescents. He makes a wonderful little pet for the elderly. His size makes him very easy to pick up, carry around, and to take care of during grooming chores. The Chihuahua seems to know other Chihuahuas and prefers their company over other breeds of dogs. He is highly sensitive and can be a bit stubborn.

Although the Chihuahua looks very fragile he can be quite courageous. He is known to be more of a one-person dog and can be quite ferocious in defending that person.

The short haired variety is kept tidy with brushing several times a week with a rubber slicker or grooming glove. The smooth should be soft texture, close and glossy. The coat should be placed well over the body with ruff on neck, and scantier on head and ears.

The long coats should be of a soft texture, either flat or slightly curly with an undercoat preferably. Ears fringed (heavily fringed ears may be tipped slightly never down), feathering on feet and legs, and pants on hind legs. Large ruff on neck desired and preferred. Tail should be full and long (as a plume).

The long coat will need attention a couple times per week. The long-coated Chihuahua is easy to maintain with brushing a couple times per week. They normally love the attention of being groomed.

You will need a cushioned natural bristle brush and a medium-toothed comb.

Grooming procedure:

1. Brush through entire coat with a natural bristle brush and then comb to remove all tangles.

2. A suitable shampoo for both the long and short coated Chihuahua might be “natural tea tree and lavender oil.”

3. Don’t bathe your Chihuahua unless he gets really dirty. Oftentimes the Chihuahua will only need a bath about every 2 to 3 months depending on environment and circumstances. Always rinse well.

4. Blow-dry the coat while brushing the long hair.

5. After blow drying, comb through with your medium-toothed comb (these items can be

purchased at any pet supply store or online.

6. Check the Chihuahua’s nails, ears and teeth. His nails should be kept moderately short. For show dogs, follow the breed standard about nails.

Note: The interior of the ear canals of the little Chihuahua should be gently cleaned. You may want to use a little Betadine scrub in his ears to prevent yeast infections. Pay special attention to drying the inside and outside of his ears. Ear infections can arise from moist ear canals.

Special Note about the Chihuahua Show Dogs:

For the show ring cut the hairs on the muzzle with a curve scissor and, for Long Coats, trim around the feet and between the pads.

There are some basic dog training skills that just about anyone can perfect, so in this article I want to go over some of these with you, so that hopefully you can train your dog properly. Dogs are amazing animals and are so capable of just absolutely being brilliant, but it takes some dog training abilities on your part and plenty of patience. They will not pick up on things the first time that you try it, probably not even the second or third time either, but it will happen, do not give up. If you do give up then chances are you will probably have a very ill mannered dog on your hands, that does not listen to anything that you say and then you will have to worry about many other problems that could occur. Without the appropriate dog training a dog could actually get so bad that they can not be trusted, nobody wants to have to experience this type of thing, so take the time out right now to begin learning more ways to teach your dog and to improve your dog training abilities.

Some people pay high prices to take their dogs to obedience schools for professional dog trainers to train them in every way but if this is something that you truly can not afford, do not break your pockets trying to send your dog to one of these places. Believe it or not, if you work hard enough and study over some information about appropriate dog training techniques then you are just as capable of training your dog properly as any professional would be. It can happen but it will not ever happen instantly, so you will absolutely have to be patient, there is no doubt about that people. If you find yourself becoming frustrated or angry with your dog, do not yell at them or ever strike them because this is not teaching them anything at all. The best way to teach a dog new tricks is by rewarding them every time that they do something wonderful, instead of just constantly screaming at them and hitting them for every little thing that they do wrong.

These helpful tips can help you with your dog training abilities, if you put them to good use and really give it a good, solid try. Your dog can be very responsive to your teachings, if you do it the right way, they can also turn on you in a heartbeat if you do it incorrectly, so remember that the next time that you think about hitting them or screaming at them for doing something that all dogs do. Your dog can be your best friend and you can both have a fun time together, good and appropriate dog training can really make a big difference. If you are unsure about doing it or just do not have the time, perhaps hiring a dog trainer could be an option for you.

By Carlos Antonio M. Cruz

Are you a dog lover? Want to train your dog? Need dog training tips and advice? Here are the basics. These are general rules every pet owner needs to know about dog training!

Be Patient

The cardinal rule is: love and respect your pet. Build your dog-owner relationship on mutual respect. Remember, positive reinforcement works wonders as opposed to violent methods. Use an encouraging tone and give him or her rewards. Teaching your dog or puppy to fear you will only teach him or her to defend himself or herself against you. If you’ve got a short fuse, you need to recite this over and over again like a mantra especially when your disobedient dog keeps running away from you. Never hit your dog.

Start Early

This is one of the most important of all dog training tips. Remember the saying you can’t teach an old dog new tricks? Well, that may not be absolutely true in all cases. But that is probably true in most cases. Dogs that have grown to be disobedient learned to be disobedient. They haven’t been disciplined and haven’t been shown any boundaries. Again, they actually LEARNED to be disobedient because their owners have unknowingly trained them to be that way. Dogs (and people) learn a great deal while growing up. Puppy training successfully imprints commands and behavior. What he or she learns as a puppy will determine his or her manners as an adult dog.

Be Prepared

There are several tools you need while training your dog. You need to make sure that you’re truly prepared before the training begins. For example, there are many types of collars out there in the market. Choose the right one for training your dog. Break away collars for example, is never good for training. The light line or check-cord is better suited for training dogs. This is a sort strong cotton cord about forty to fifty feet long that you can buy in any hardware. It’s perfect to use instead of a training leash if you want to control your dog at a greater distance (such as in fetching and search rescue). Dogs of different breeds and sizes also need different types of cord thickness as well as different types of leashes. Of course, the most invaluable materials you will need are dog biscuits. You need to use your dog’s favorite treat as a reward.

Another thing to consider is determining the right place to train your dog. You might have to train him or her indoors sometimes but it is generally better to train outdoors for practical reasons. You also need to make sure that there are no distractions. These will compete with the dog’s attention and would hinder him from absorbing command signals.

Keep at it!

This rule goes sort of relates to the first rule. Remember that training your dog is an everyday thing. This is especially true for behavior modification. If the dog sees that he or she can get away with being aggressive even just once, then he or she will be likely to do it again. Be firm with your methods and he or she will lean not to disobey or challenge you.

All in all, those are four general dog training tips and rules that all dog owners need to know. Keep these in mind and be responsible. If you want to find more information on dogs visit www.wikifido.com. A community of like-minded dog lovers where you can share dog rescue stories or brag about your beautiful dog.

We tend to think one of two ways about bathing a dog. Some people think dogs don’t need to be bathed more than once a year or so, while others believe in bathing their dog every month.

While bathing is beneficial, it can cause problems if it is done too frequently.

Dogs have natural oils in their skin and fur, just like humans do. Washing too often will cause drying, leaving your dog at risk of scratching and developing sores. Keep in mind that there are some benefits to having natural oils present. For one, they provide protection from skin bacteria.

Make bathing a dog fun for you and your pet, but take care. There are certain things you must watch.

1. Protect your dog’s ears. If water and soap enter the ear canal, an infection can develop. This can be temporary but it can also cause serious damage. Infections can harm the ear drum and lead to deafness. There are familiar signs that your dog might have an ear infection. He will shake his head and you will see a constant discharge from the ears.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, gently plug your dog’s ears with cotton balls. Do not force them into the ear canal. Simply place them securely at the ear entrance to block water from entering. When the bath is over, be sure to dry the inside of the ears as some moisture is likely to gain access. Use a cloth over your finger. If you choose to use a cotton swab, be extremely careful not to enter too deeply into the canal or you could puncture the ear drum.

2. Use a proper dog shampoo as they are formulated specifically to protect your dog’s skin and fur. Human soaps can be too harsh and irritating. As well, there is the chance your dog will be allergic to the scents that are added to human products.

3. Frequency of bathing will depend on your particular dog’s breed. Longer haired dogs will require more frequent washing than short haired breeds. If you have a Spaniel or other hairy dog, schedule the baths to once every two months. Other breeds can go 6-8 months. However, if your dog spends a lot of time outside, he is likely to become dirty faster. Regulate your baths accordingly.

It’s important to start your dog off right with the bathing routine. Be patient and compassionate. Once you scare your dog, it will be more difficult bathing him in the future. Try to make it fun. Dogs love having water sprinkled on them, and running into rivers and lakes.

Set up your bath outside when possible and encourage him to run through it. Use a toy to distract him from the water. When his energy has subsided, begin the bath. You might want to put him on a leash so he can’t run away.

Be sure to collect all the equipment first: soap, conditioner, towel and some sort of bowl to pour water over him. Water running out of the hose might be too cold, however water in the bath will have warmed to a comfortable temperature.

Show your dog that bathing is something to enjoy and he will look forward to your next session with excitement.

Because of the loyal nature of dogs, humans have found it very useful to use these friendly animals and train them to work and entertain us with tricks. With a bit of patience and effort we can teach our dogs a great number of useful activities to make our lives better. Unless you really do not have the time to invest in training your dog, it is usually better for both of you to work with your pet yourself. There are professional dog trainers you can hire to teach your dog certain routines but they will not be able to help you bond with your four-legged friend.

Dog training can be divided into several basic forms. The first and most important part of a dog’s training is in the area of basic obedience. A dog that will stay when told or await your command to come to you will be mush less likely to cause problems around other people. These basic skills work both ways. It is necessary for you to be able to teach your dog specific actions to let you know what they need as well. This is especially good for knowing when your pet needs food or to go for a walk.

There are a number of working occupations a dog can be trained for. Whether it is a hunting dog that will help you gather food or a trained seeing-eye dog to help a blind person move about, dogs have a great capacity to learn how to be useful in our society. Many occupations have enhanced their efficiency with the addition of a well-trained canine partner. Dogs can be trained to bravery and make excellent rescue helpers.

There is a lot of enjoyment to be had from just teaching your dog how to do entertaining tricks. Whether it is merely a funny stunt or small task like fetching, the coordinated interaction between your pet and its ability to perform a task on command will help forge the bonds of affection between you. Dogs are quite intelligent and able to learn a vast repertoire of tricks and activities. With some time and effort you can train your dog to do an entire circus’ worth of different actions.

Due to the pack mentality of a dog’s nature, it will already have the instinctual predisposition to want to please you with its activities. Consistent work and reward for proper behavior is the best method of communicating your pleasure over accomplishments to your dog. Dog training is a two-way street. As you teach your animal how to perform, you will in turn be learning how to understand its moods and body language as well.

One of the most important things to remember when you are training your dog is that you have to be consistent. The reward should only be given for correct behavior. You should include a way for your dog to signal you if it is unsure as to what is expected of it. It is recommended that if you do have to discipline your dog for wrong behavior that you do not perform this punishment with your hands as this may tend to make the dog fearful of any contact through the hands. Training your dog should be geared for eliminating bad habits as much as it is for teaching them preferred actions.

A well-trained dog is usually much more confident and healthy as the contact and companionship it has received gives it a secure feeling that it is a valuable and appreciated part of the pack.

Every pet owner wishes to have a great looking, and well-groomed pet that attracts attention. Dog grooming has been in vogue from sometime now. Dog grooming parlors are springing up in most neighbourhoods and pet owners are greedily lapping up this opportunity. Of course, like all good things, getting your pet groomed at the expert hands of a trained and experienced pet groomer doesn’t come cheaply. You will have to spend significant amount of money to get your furry or fluffy friend shampooed, cleaned, cut, polished, and styled.

However, if you don’t have that kind of surplus money and still want to ensure your Fido looks his/her best everyday, why not consider dog grooming at home with the help of some excellent pet supplies? Yes, it is possible and we’ll tell you how.

Let’s start with the kind of pet supplies you will need most often. Since an essential part of dog grooming is ensuring that the coat is clean, nails are cut and tidy, the coat is combed properly, and the pet is flea protected. Naturally, the most common pet supplies will therefore include:

· Bathing products: If you prefer organic to chemical ridden pet shampoos, conditioners, then you’ll find that you are spoilt for choice.
· Bathing accessories: Why not pamper your pet with some pretty printed or designed dog towels, bath mats etc. You can also pick up a hair dryer to dry your dog’s hair quickly and conveniently.
· Clippers: Clippers are an important dog grooming accessory. They come in different types such as turbo clippers, clipper kits, combs, trimmers and lots more.
· Other pet supplies: The market is full of dog grooming products for every kind of pet – from dogs to cats to ferrets to horses. While dog and cat grooming supplies are more in demand, you’ll find a wide array of grooming products such as nail grinders, Furminator de-shedding tools, Styptic powder, Matbreaker dematting tool, dematting combs, dematting rake, flea comb, area slicker brushes, undercoat rake, among other things.

The right choice in pet supplies ensures that your pet stays well groomed, good looking, neat, and healthy for a longer period of time. Dog grooming is especially important for hairy pets including dog breeds such as Poodles, German shepherds, Lhasa apso, as well as cat breeds like Siamese, Persian etc. Grooming your pet on a regular basis ensure that he/she doesn’t suffer from skin related infections or other disease causing infections that can damage or deeply affect his /her overall health.

Some of the dog grooming must do’s include:

Cleaning the dog’s ears since dogs can easily get infected through their ears. Moreover, dog breeds with droopy ears have higher chances of ear infections or other infections caused by ear mites, fungus, and wax deposits inside the ear cavity. Clean the dogs ears every week.

Dog grooming also involves clipping nails and you must ensure your dog’s nails don’t grow too big as they can hurt themselves while scratching. Clip nails every 2-3 weeks or depending on the growth.

There are many aspects involved with dog care and making sure you cover them all can be daunting. Dogs are subject to allergies but they catch them from the air. Proper allergy care involves not only treating the symptoms but also prevention. You should bath your dog regularly and rinse their feet after they have been outside to remove any allergens on your dog’s skin.

Dog dental care can also be done at home and is very easy but also critical to your dogs health. Proper dental care provides for more than clean breath, it also keeps your dogs organs healthy as bacterial buildup on the teeth can spread throughout your pets whole system and cause illness and disease.

As with your own dental care you only need a few tools in order to care for your dog’s teeth, these are dental clens solution, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental treats or toys or a dental cleaning dog kit. It may take your dog a few days or even weeks to get used to the dental care procedure but their teeth and gums will be much healthier and not have as many problems as before.

Ear care is particularly important for dogs, especially during the summer. A build up of moisture in the ear canals can cause problems as well as favorable conditions for ear infections. There are many products that can be used to care for your dogs ears including ear powders to keep ears dry, ear miticide to kill ear mites and other ear cleaning solutions that rinse away dirt and loosens waxy build up.

Keeping your dogs eyes clean is also important as this can prevent infections. The most common eye infection for dogs is conjunctivitis. To prevent infections you should use eye cleaning solutions or protective ointments that protect eyes from irritation as well as killing bacteria. You can trim hair from around your pet’s eyes to prevent infection, make sure the corners of their eyes are mucous free, and try to keep your pets away form activities or surroundings where they may get eye trauma. When doing any cleaning or cutting around your dogs eyes, you want to use the utmost care so as to avoid poking your dog in the eye!

As your dog ages there is some additional dog care needs that you should be aware of. Your dog should still exercise but at a lower intensity and for shorter periods of time. Older dogs should use a foam bed to protect their joints when sleeping. You should also take advantage of senior dog food as it will contain important vitamins and nutrients that older dogs may need more of. As dogs age you need to keep a closer eye out for changes in behavior as these can be signs of problems. You should take your dog to the vet as soon as you notice any changes.

Proper dog care also constitutes regular veterinary visits. This way you can be assured that you are providing your pet with everything he needs to be happy, healthy and long lived.