For those of you with dogs that are trained to heel accordingly, you are ready to make the transition into off-leash training. What You Will Need You will need two pieces of rope, five feet in length each. One of the pieces of rope should be strong and preferably made of nylon. The nylon line […]
City Dog Housetraining (Part 5): Litter Boxes Are Not Just For Cats
For small dogs, paper training and litter-box training are much easier to use as a permanent, long-term potty solution. Both of these can work very well for people who cannot take their puppy outside that often. However, for medium and large-sized dogs, consider the sheer amount of paper, litter and mess you’ll be dealing with […]
Obedience Training: Not Just For Show Dogs
The time is now for the public to understand that obedience training is not just for pure bred show dogs or those dogs used for services like police work, public service, and military missions. If fact, it is surprising that so many owners of mixed-breed dogs feel that their dog isn’t “good enough” or “acceptable” […]
Are Puppy Kindergarten Classes Necessary? You Be The Judge (Part 2)
Most puppy kindergarten classes introduce you and your puppy to the basic obedience commands that will be used throughout the dog’s life. The most common include sit, down, stay, come and heel. Other commands may include watch me and leave it. Ideally, the puppy-class instructor will demonstrate each command, showing you how to teach your […]
Loose-Leash Training: The Most Effective Way To Train Your Dog (Part 5)
A final tip to help you with loose-leash training your dog is about helping your dog to walk in a specific spot. Dawn Jecs, dog trainer and owner of Choose To Heel in Puyallup, Washington, teaches dogs to walk in a certain spot in relation to the handler. When they’re in that spot, the leash […]
Canine Hip Dysplasia (Part 2): Treatment & Prevention
One of the most difficult tasks facing a veterinarian is how to manage hip dysplasia. There are several modes of therapy available, but only the most commonly accepted techniques will be discussed. 1. Maintenance: This is non-surgical management and consists of rest and restricted exercise, pain relievers, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Its best use is in […]
Loose-Leash Training: The Most Effective Way To Train Your Dog (Part 4)
When on-leash, your dog needs to learn to walk with you, not against you. To keep the leash loose, the dog needs to stay tuned to your verbal and hand signals, and pace itself to your speed. Michelle Kirk, a local pet sitter in Pacific Beach of San Diego, California, uses a training clicker (a […]
City Dog Housetraining (Part 4): The Threat Of Disease
One of the major concerns about potty training a puppy to use the bathroom outside in the busy city is the possible spread of disease. Deadly distemper and parvo disease, as well as parasites, can be transferred via infected canine feces and bodily fluids. A puppy’s immature immune system leaves him open to all kinds […]
Loose-Leash Training: The Most Effective Way To Train Your Dog (Part 3)
Walking Toward A Goal On any walking route, certain places are especially attractive to dogs. When dogs near those places, their excitement increases and the urge to pull is strong. You can use those places both as walking goals and training rewards. Start toward the attractive goal, such as a bush or clump of grass […]
Commercial Dog Food – Is The Recent Pet Food Recall Finally Smartening People Up?
Commercial pet food is a multi-billion-dollar industry that seems to grow in sales each year that goes by. What is happening here, are more animals being adopted or are more pet owners being sold on the idea that dogs absolutely must eat dog food in order to be healthy? Surprisingly, the answer is the latter […]
