Labrador Retrievers Make A Great Family Pet

My own black labrador retriever, Shorty. ( She was adopted)

For those of you who are considering keeping a pet dog, it would be a great idea for you to get a Labrador Retriever dog for a pet. The popularity of this type of dog is increasing and there are a multitude of great reasons for this including this breed’s very likeable nature. Besides their very likeable nature, the Labrador Retriever dog is also very well adjusted to being in the company of children, who in any case would like this particular breed, especially because they are quite gentle towards them.

Quick To Train

Another wonderful characteristic of the Labrador Retriever dog is their ability to train well, they will readily learn the basic rules of the house, and additionally, they are clever enough to learn a few tricks as well. There are no doubts that the Labrador Retriever dog can be trained very fast, and they are also a very dutiful animal that will always serve their master with great respect. Having such outstanding qualities, the Labrador Retriever dog is a great joy – both in the presence of adults as well as with children.

As the owner of a Labrador Retriever dog you will, no doubt,undoubtedly, need to take on a lot of responsibility regarding the upkeep and well being of your pet. In fact, having a Labrador Retriever dog at home also provides you a great opportunity to inculcate a sense of responsibility in your children who should be taught how to properly own as well as care for their dog.

You should make sure that your Labrador Retriever dog is provided plenty of exercise as they are very energetic and thus will need to drain their energy in a productive way. You should also give them a lot of space to run about as well as be taken for walks regularly. Moreover, the Labrador Retriever dog wants and should be given a lot of attention and you must do your best, as their owner, to give them love and make them feel like they are your friend and not just an acquisition to the home.

For their part, the Labrador Retriever dog will yearn for companionship from people, and so it is never recommended to leave them on their own. If you are going on vacation, make sure to leave them with someone reliable who will provide them with attention and care for them properly. In the case of a Labrador rescue dog, you need to be extremely careful about how you keep them and you should ensure that they are showered with a lot of love and care, and they must be made to feel wanted at all times as well.

All in all, bringing home a Labrador Retriever dog will undoubtedly be a boon for you and your family who will soon fall in love with this lovable, intelligent and excellent pet dog.

Mobile Pet Grooming Lightens Your Load

Without a doubt, there are numerous individuals who think of their pets as their children. These pet owners, of course, are well aware that they are the primary caretaker of their pet's wellbeing. Therefore, they need to be prepared to provide all the affection, care and upkeep that's called for. And that involves taking good care of your furry friend's grooming needs.

Some pet owners don't give sufficient priority to their pet's grooming needs. This might be due to either money or time constraints. However, for those who just aren't able to spare the time, there's a marvelous alternative. The solution is as simple as a phone call to a nearby mobile pet grooming service. It's the perfect way to ensure that your pet receives the tending and maintenance that will keep him healthy and attractive.

Time starved pet owners are fast discovering the benefits of mobile pet grooming services. That's due to the fact that the ease of calling up a mobile pet grooming service to pay a call to your home simply cannot be beat. You might be too busy with your job, maybe you travel a lot, or you're at home but have too many other responsibilities to give your pet the attention it needs. It's as easy as making an appointment with a mobile pet grooming company.

You'll certainly enjoy the convenience of this type of service. However, your ultimate concern is that each person who tends to your pet has its safety and wellbeing as their primary consideration. While checking out various mobile pet grooming services you need to ensure that you know some facts about them prior to entrusting your pet with them. Look into how long they've been in operation. So you'll gain some insight into how well they know their business. As well, make inquiries regarding the staff that they employ to ascertain their education and training.

Legitimate mobile pet grooming services will have no issues with helping you understand all the details you should be aware of. Most companies are genuinely concerned about the well being of their clients' pets. So the staff will empathize with your worries. They won't be annoyed by your questions or disinclined to respond to them.

Your pet's session with a mobile pet groomer will be relatively brief. However, you need to make certain that it's a safe and pleasurable event. And so your pet will actually be excited when they show up the next time.

Keeping your pets healthy at Christmas

Its winter time which means that the cold snap is here, we all like to snuggle up warm and have a nice roaring fire on, but its not just us humans that get cold, our pets despite their lovely soft fur can also get cold. To many people leave their pets outside during these winter months which leaves pets cold and also miserable, this can also lead to criminal charges being brought for animal neglect and you could even go to prison.The best thing to do is when you take them outside is for you to also go out with them and them make sure that they are back inside before you go to bed.

Also don't leave pets in cars during this cold weather, i have heard many reports from many Brighton vets in my area about animal owners leaving pets in cars whilst they go to the shops to come back and find that their pet is very ill because of the cold condensation in the car, also pets do like to play in the snow but try not to let them eat to much.

If you do have any concerns regarding your pet in this winter period make sure you have the number for a 24 hour vets handy so you can contact them whatever the time, do the usual things like keep them well fed and make sure they have plenty to drink, also do not be tempted to give them to many treats over the Christmas period as this could also make them unwell. And if you are getting a new pet this Christmas make sure you do not leave your old pet out and give them time to get to know each other, be careful that they do not fight as some animals are very protective of their environment.

Walking on a Leash and Staying: Two Essential Commands

Puppy Training

Many dogs have an aggressive side, and you often see this when they are on leashes. Dogs that are normally well-behaved can lunge and snarl at other dogs and people as you walk down the street. While he needs exercise, you do not want to put others at risk. What can you do about leash aggression?

However, there are some ways to deal with leash aggression so you can both get some good quality time and exercise outdoors

Dogs are like children in many ways. Often you can avoid bad behavior if you redirect their attention. If you see something that usually causes your dog to become aggressive, immediately distract him. Tell him to sit or lie down to keep him busy until the dog or person passes.

Dogs are masters at reading our body language. If you tense whenever you pass a person or another dog, your pet will pick up on it. He may think that you are scared and want to protect you. It is best to stay calm and act as if nothing is wrong if you can so your dog does too.

Try using a muzzle or a gentle leader when walking your dog. This should only be a temporary measure but if you are concerned your dog may lunge or bite, these can be very helpful.

Some dogs will persist at lunging despite your best efforts. If this is the case with your dog, consult with a professional trainer. You don't want to let the behavior go unchecked; your dog will become a danger to your neighborhood. as well as to himself.

Many dogs pull and lunge when on a leash. If your dog displays this very natural reaction to being on a leash, it is vital that you take action as soon as possible so it doesn't become either an irritating habit or a dangerous one.

People are always impressed with well-trained dogs. Beyond impressing your friends and neighbors, teaching your dog the stay command can be extremely useful. Treats and lots of praise will make the learning process much easier, faster, and fun. For most favorable results consider SitStayFetch.

First, tell your dog to sit or lie. When he does, put your hand, palm towards the dog, and say, "Stay." Use a firm voice.

As soon as your dog obeys, say, "Good." Even if the dog only stays for a brief second, it is a great start. Praising can only help him learn more.

Give the release command – say "Ok," or "Come" - so your dog knows he doesn’t have to lie down any longer. Feed him a treat and lots of praise. Giving rewards is a key component of the operation when it comes to things like puppy training.

As you work on the stay command, demand that your dog stay for longer periods of time. Don't give him his treat until he performs to your satisfcation. Have him do a little more each time.

You don't want to practice for an hour though. Keep your training sessions short and sweet. Make them fun for your dog, provide lots of praise and rewards, and you'll get results. Five to ten minutes is a great amount of time for each training session, and you can do it several times a day.

Another way that dogs are like children is that they have short attention spans! If you require him to train for longer than ten minutes, he is likely to become obstinate and disobedient. Also keep in mind that he'll have to have a lot of practice in order to perfect the command. Repeat "Stay" several times and be prepared to reteach him the command a few times.

Soon, your dog will be able to stay even if you leave the room. Even if you phase out the treats, remember to praise your dog for this accomplishment.

Get more information on Puppy Crate Training.

The Polar Bears Need You

Help Save Polar Bears with a Symbolic Adoption from National Wildlife Federation!

Dear Friend of Wildlife,

Q: What has colorless fur, partially-webbed feet and needs your help today?
A: Alaska’s polar bears!

Global warming is wreaking havoc on the polar bear’s arctic habitat. As sea ice, food sources and hunting opportunities dwindle, the bear is struggling to survive. In fact, scientists predict that 2/3 of the world’s polar bear population will disappear by 2050 including all of Alaska’s unless we act now!

This year, give the gift that will help protect polar bears and other imperiled wildlife—
adopt a polar bear today at NWF's Adoption Center! Your gift recipient will receive a cuddly polar bear plush, a certificate of adoption and a polar bear screen saver.

You can protect other wildlife too! With over a dozen adorable animals to choose from, you’re sure to find one you love at NWF’s Wildlife Adoption Center.
Place your order by 12/22, noon EST, to get your gift by 12/24, when you use expedited shipping option.
Sincerely,

David Strauss
Vice President, Membership
*Your adoption is symbolic and your donation will be used where it is needed most to help protect America's imperiled wildlife.

Holiday Stress And Safety

All Natural Vitamins & Supplements for Dogs & Cats at Only Natural Pet Store

Holiday Stress & Safety
And Our Holiday Treat & Gift Sale
We hope your holiday season has been happy so far - this can be such a stressful time of year, for people and their pets. Beyond the higher rate of accidents, pets often experience greater stress around the holidays. All the change associated with holiday travel and visitors can set the stage for health issues - from tummy upsets to respiratory infections.

To enhance your peace of mind, we've got some helpful holiday suggestions to relieve your pet's stress (see below), great last minute gift ideas (like ONP Gift Cards) and sales items, along with our holiday shipping schedule for guidance on which express method to choose to get your gift order on time!

For those celebrating holidays over the next two weeks, we offer you best wishes for a Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, or a Wonderful Kwanzaa!

SitStayFetch Review – How To Stop Bad Dog Behaviour

Dog Obedience Problems? Put an End to the Stress and Annoyance of Your Dog Behavior Problems! AND Slash Your Dog Obedience Training Time in Half by Using Techniques That Give You Immediate Results!

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Dogs particularly from young should be trained to stop bad dog behaviour. I recommend SitStayfetch by Daniel Stevens if you want to learn how to train your dog fast and effectively.

Dogs are loyal companions though sometimes they can misbehave especially young puppies. This may be in the form of barking non-stop, biting things around the house, or digging holes in the back yard. No pet owner wants to have to deal with bad dog behaviors like this. It´s not only frustrating, but it´s time consuming as well, if you don´t know how to effectively correct the problem.

Adopting an animal when it is very young usually helps to initiate a lasting bond. Once a small puppy is taken from its mother, it relies on its owner for direction. It is at this stage that you want to start reinforcing certain things.

One of the most troublesome bad dog behaviors is playing with items the animal shouldn´t be. Typically this is slippers, or small kids´ toys, it can even be expensive purses or shoes. The dog has no idea what is and isn´t a toy, so it just assumes everything is.

The owner should be mindful of what it left within the dog´s reach and if he or she notices the dog picking up something it shouldn´t be, a firm "no" always helps. Repetition is often necessary to ensure the dog understands the rule and to correct this type of dog behavior problems.

Accidents in the home sometimes occur and if they aren´t dealt with swiftly, the problem can be a persistent one. Many puppies relieve themselves wherever and whenever the mood strikes them. This is one of the bad dog behaviors that can really impact your life. It´s important for the owner to take the dog outside at regular intervals when it is young so it becomes accustomed to not going inside the house. If that´s not possible, you can paper train the dog, which is also very helpful.

Biting is another issue that some dog owners find themselves facing. Typically it´s not that the dog is meaning to bite anyone. It´s more that the dog is playing and nips at the person. This is especially troubling if you have young children in the home. Correcting bad dog behaviors like this is really important. You don´t want to end up having a dog that bites people who are at your home visiting. This could have very serious results so you need to work with the dog, by scolding it when it does attempt to play in this fashion.

It´s so nice to have a pet for the entire family to enjoy. With a little work and commitment you can train your dog to be a wonderful and loving companion for years to come. Dog behavior problems can always be corrected if you take the right approach.

I highly recommend SitStayFetch by Daniel Stevens if you want to put a stop to your dog bad behavior. It is one of the best dog training course I have brought.

Common Cat Health Problems

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Healthy Cats

If you have never had a cat before, you may be surprised to learn how often they can have health problems.

No matter what breed of cat you own, cat health is one of the major topics you will have to know about. There are certain problems with every breed, some of which may be hereditary, but there are also certainly others than can be prevented easily. Worms are a common and recurring problem for every breed of cat.

Tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms are among the most common that infect cats. You should contact your vet and have your cat tested for worms if he or she has problems gaining weight, fleas, or if you see white spots in his or her stool. Please make certain that you have them treated with medication, otherwise worms can prove to be fatal.

Hairballs are the most common health problem for cats. Cats often swallow loose hair from their coats during their daily self grooming rituals. Loose hair, on occasion, will gather into a ball and become lodged in the digestive tract instead of passing through in your cats stool. When your cat starts to cough and hack, he is normally coughing up a hairball - as a popular cat owner manual confirmed recently. Cats usually are able to expel hairballs without complication. Although rare, a hairball can occassionally become lodged in the cats intestines, this creates blockage.

Blockages are very serious problems, and can be life threatening if they arent treated. If your cat becomes constipated, isnt eating properly, or has a very dull coat, he could have a blockage. Seek veterinary assistance immediately if any of the symptoms listed appear.

If you want to prevent your cat from getting hairballs and blokages, you should get rid of shedding hair by brushing your cat 2 to 3 times every week. Urinary tract infection and hairballs are common ailments in cats. You can purchase food specifically designed to control hairballs.

Pee hole infections happen more with boy cats that haven't been fixed, but girl cats can have it too. When a cat suddenly stops going to his litter box, this problem is normally the cause. Another symptom is when the cats urine starts to smell really strong. If you suspect that your cat has a urinary tract infection, you should take him to the vet. Your vet can treat the problem with medicine, and make recommendations to help avoid this problem in the future.

Nowadays, vaccines are available to treat the disease, feline leukemia, which used to be the greatest cause of death in cats in the past. To treat the disease, your cat will need to be given the shot before he or she is exposed. Even though death doesnt happen immediately, cats that are exposed to feline leukemia normally don't have a long life span. If you know your cat has feline leukemia, you should never allow other cats around him, as the virus is highly contagious.

To protect your cat, you should always make sure that you take him to the vet for his regular check ups. If you keep him up to date on his vaccinations, he should lead a healthy and productive life. Although some health problems can't be avoided, most of them can. If you take cat care seriously, take him to the vet and keep him healthy he will be your companion for years to come.

A Food Drive For Needy Pets

Season Of Suppers®, “A Pet Food Drive For Pets In Need” aims to help more seniors and their Pets fight hunger

National initiative encourages communities to reach out and donate this November and December to help local seniors with Pets stay nourished year round

Portland, Ore. —Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008—For some seniors, getting around easily is not an option. Often, their best friend and only companion is a loving dog or cat. The Season of Suppers campaign, now in its third year, calls attention to the importance of Pets to the well-being of homebound seniors. Helping keep these companion Pets well fed, healthy and part of the family for as long as possible became the motivating factor behind the partnership among Banfield, The Pet Hospital, the Banfield Charitable Trust (BCT) and Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA).

Phil Shippers, director of the Visiting Nurse Meals On Wheels program of Rochester, N.Y., knows the importance of getting the message out that homebound seniors with Pets are a vulnerable population. Read the whole story!“We know that many seniors in our community are compromising their own nutrition by sharing their meals with their Pets,” says Shippers.

Put An End To Your Dog Problems

photo credit: Ritmó

Dog Obedience Problems? Put an End to the Stress and
Annoyance of Your Dog Behavior Problems! AND Slash
Your Dog Obedience Training Time in Half
by Using Techniques That Give You
Immediate Results!

"A Siberian husky Juno. We bought him when he was 4-months old. His previous owners didn't have the time to train him and kept him outside. We have two other dogs already in the home, so we thought it would be routine when it came to training Juno. At first it wasn't so bad, we had to housebreak him which was moving along smoothly and he had to learn his place in the "pecking" order of our home. As he became more comfortable in his new surroundings, the more problems we began to have. Keep in mind, Juno is already a 29 pound puppy at 4 months old.

I had to start putting things up out of his reach to keep him from chewing on them. He started using the bathroom in the house again. Then he started chewing on anything he could get in his mouth including our furniture, the carpet, and the kitchen floor. It was turning into a nightmare, nothing we was doing was helping. I finally had enough when he dug up my yard, including my vegetable garden. I finally got online looking for answers. I kept getting directed to the Sit, Stay, Fetch site and decided to buy the book. I was so excited to see so many answers to so many problems. The first thing we addressed was his digging and he quit immediately. It was so amazing.

Dog Obedience Problems? Put an End to the Stress

He is six months old now and he is doing so much better, thanks to the information in the Sit, Stay, Fetch book. I don't know what I would have done. The thing I like is that the training tips are fairly quick and efficient. Time is something we don't have a lot of here lately between my husband working, me going to school, and raising two children. I can't believe the wealth of knowledge in these books from training tips to how to be alpha dog. Things I would have never thought of. Best of all, I can teach my old dogs new tricks. They are already good dogs, but now they are becoming exceptional dogs.

Thank you so much Daniel Stevens for making SitStayFetch available to us and at an affordable price. It definitely beats having to hire a trainer, which we thought we were going to have to result to, but really couldn't afford. I have already recommended this book to several people and I continue to recommend it to all those who are having any kind of issue with their dog."

STOP Dog Aggression

Imagine if you had professional dog trainer and author, Adam G. Katz, sitting right across the table from you, explaining the fundamentals of Aggressive Dog Behavior?
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"Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer"
DogProblems.com
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Health Care for Your Pet Cat

Complete Cat Training

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Health Care for Your Pet Cat Pet cat care may be similar to caring for other pets. But such care may also have its own differences. One of them is that pet cats may suffer from a host of different diseases that other pets may not go through. Here is a list of some feline diseases that pet cats may suffer from at some point.

Feline Distemper

This disease usually affects pet cats at a young age. Known medically as feline panleukopenia, this type of viral infection lowers down the immune defenses of young kittens by severely affecting the production of white blood cells. This infection can make young kittens pass, liquid stool with blood due to the severe hemorrhaging that happens in their small intestine.

Fever may also be expected and will lead the young kitten to become depressed and then refuse to take any food and water. It may seem to the pet owner that the cat has a temperamental personality, hence the name feline distemper. The infection actually has no effect on the cat's personality in any way. Sadly, recovery for such conditions is very rare for a cat.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis

This is another viral infection that is also fatal in cats. Once your pet cat shows signs of this infection, it can take years and years of trouble. This infection is usually common mostly in young adult cats and can be transmitted to other cats. There are two known types of this infection.

There is the "dry" type where the young adult cat is affected by high fever as well as problems with internal organs such as the kidneys, lungs and the intestines. With this type of infection, the cats never seem improve no matter how well the treatment is given.

There is also the "wet" type of the disease has the young adult cat having a fluid discharge within the abdomen. Occasionally the cat's chest displays a golden and dense liquid that contains flakes within. This infection makes the cat run a high fever and would usually not eat well.

The only protection that cats can have over the disease is vaccination. But vaccines should be given to pet cats prior to any exposure to the virus or else the vaccine would not be very effective to prevent any infection.

Feline immune Deficiency Virus

This disease is similar to the Human Immune Deficiency Virus or HIV in humans. This virus in only found in cats and is being spread mainly through a bite from an infected cat. This disease suppresses the cat's immune system and leads the cat to be more prone to all sorts of infection. There is an intranasal vaccine available to protect cats from the FIV infection although some veterinarians are not that convinced that it can protect more effectively as compared to other vaccines.

Feline Leukemia Virus

This virus can severely limit an infected cat's immune system. With the affected immune system, the cat has limited ability to defend against all sorts of other infections. This virus can be spread from contact with infected cats. Many cats can become carriers of the virus for years without displaying any outside symptoms of the infection.

Cats harboring the virus may at times develop clinical signs of the infection if they undergo surgery, get injured or when they get lost outside their usual environment. These diseases may give pet owners an idea of how pet cat health care may be important to ensure that their pets live healthier and longer lives.

Imagine that, Adopt a Cat!

Cats in shelters get a bad rap.  People assume if they are there, it's because they are dirty, unloving, and don't make good pets.  People bypass the cat and go for the tiny kittens.  Although there's nothing wrong with getting a kitten from a shelter, there's something truly special about a cat that's lived a mile or two on this planet.

Fluffy is there for no other reason than someone else couldn't give her the love and justice she needed.  Look at the big kitties.  They are just begging you for a scratch behind the ears, a cuddle, and some lovin'.  Just because they are older, doesn't mean they won't play either, bring a piece of string, you will find the playful one you are looking for.

Imagine Fluffy is a six year old cat that has obviously eaten well, but sits there month after month because she's a little more docile and is a little bit older.  These older cats have much to offer.  If you are looking for someone to give lots of love too and someone who will give lots of love in return, one of these older cats may be the right choice for you. 

Shelters have been known to find homes for cats in their senior years too, although this is rare.  A cat being older doesn't mean he or she isn't going to be a good cat.  She may not leap and play any more, she may not even help catch mice, but she will give you all the loving days she has left without question. 

What about a cat with a few minor health issues?  What if fluffy didn't have four legs and was left with only three?  Would she be any less loveable?  Fluffy just wants to be loved, without reservation.  She's already been through enough; she just wants to have a reason to purr. 

You could go to your local pet store or to a neighbours home for a kitten, but what a joy it is to find a cat who will simply be content to cuddle.  The big rambunctious play days may be gone, but that doesn't mean she's lost her spunk.  Cats have a way of talking to you, let the cat choose you, they often do anyways, don't they?  A cat's love is truly PURRFECT, with the right cat; you will have that purrfect friend you've been looking for. 

Pet adoption is a great way to give these older cats a chance for love and life, next time you consider adding a feline to your home, consider adoption; it's a life you will be happy you saved.

Ruth is actively involved with the internet. She is a wife, a stepmom a dog owner. She is married for almost 30 years. One of her dogs is a Certified Therapy Dog. Her passion is dog adoption for all and dog training. http://www.choose-dog-adoption.com/Blog & http://www.happypetstop.com/blog

5 Great Tips On Building A Dog House

5 Great Tips On Building A Dog House

Over 50% of the population allows their dog to stay indoors and sleep on the couch or in their owner’s bed. For those of you who are interested in building a dog house for you beloved pet here are some simple rules to follow when considering what type of shelter you want to provide.

1. You should begin your dog house building process by making sure the house is big enough to accommodate your animal’s potential adult size. Humans enjoy having about 2 feet of air above us in a room in order to live without feeling claustrophobic. Your dog will probably also enjoy having that much room. The comfort zone for both humans and dogs is about 1/3 of their standing height. To figure out how much room the dog will need get out a tape measure and measure your dog. Measure him standing straight up, sitting on his haunches and above all measure the full dimension of the dog when he is the most comfortable, relaxed and stretched out position he can get into. Your dog should be able to look out the front entrance while both standing up and sitting. So the dog will not have to significantly lover his front shoulders or scrape his belly make sure that entrance is high enough. Stand over the dog and measure the width of the widest point of the animal’s shoulders.

2. Remember to raise the dog house several inches from the ground to allow air and water to flow underneath. To dissuade pests from invading the dog house and taking your dogs health into consideration remember how important ventilation is. Put in a few nickel-sized holes in the walls under the eaves. Install a wind block inside the house so the dog can use the heat of its own body to warm up the area if it is really cold or windy outside. Consider adding a partial wall which will allow your dog to escape the bad weather. Your animal can choose to just sleep in the entry room or go around the inner archway maze wall into the inner sanctum. Your beloved pet would probably love having a pillow or some sort of bedding to sleep on.

3. To avoid rain coming into the dog house make the floor just a bit slanted toward the doorway and build the roof a little bit slanted, as well. Make sure the house is well insulated but you should not paint the inside.

4. In the United States most storms come from the south and west so make sure the dog house faces a different direction. Most dog house plans suggest that the dog house door faces east. The cold air will not be able to whip through the entryway then.

5. It is suggested that you put hinges on the roof of the dog house. This makes it easier for you to clean out your dog’s home. You should clean the dog’s house as often as you give your dog a bath.

If your dog lives outside then he deserves to have a comfortable place to sleep and get out of harsh weather. Hopefully these easy tips on building a dog house will help you get started.

4 to 8 Dog Agility Jumps Makes Ideal Training

4 to 8 Dog Agility Jumps Makes Ideal Training

We are often asked, "How many jumps should I start with?"  You can never have too many single jumps to practice agility.  A good starting place is four jumps.  This is the absolute minimum number of jumps that we recommend. 

You can teach a variety of skills, drills, and exercises with four jumps.  Four jumps will allow you to work on a short jump chute or jump grid.  You can setup a "box" with your jumps and practice handling, collection, and 270 degree jumps.  You can teach your dog jumping left and right.  You can be outside the box and send your dog or you can handle from the inside of the box.  Your jumps can be setup in a horizontal line, so that you can practice serpentines and threadles.

Go the next step and get eight jumps.  Now you can setup two boxes with one introductory jump.  You've now multiplied your drills that you can practice with your dog. Your jump grids can be of recommended size and quantity of jumps.  You can also setup your jumps in a circle with the jump bars perpendicular to the circle or on the circumference of the circle.  This pattern also enables you to train a variety of skills.

Your next consideration is a double jump and a triple jump.  You could set two or three single jumps together to make your expanded jump, but having double and triple jump in your course work is really valuable to practice.  We've seen many dogs run a clean course and the last obstacle is a triple and the dog is not prepared for it, and bang, down comes the bar.

You can really be ahead of the pack and have two sets of eight jumps.  This is the ultimate in training because you can keep a jump grip up at all times that is separate from your course work, and have eight single jumps to have for course work.  And when you include your double and triple, you can really practice all the jumping skills and drills necessary to get you those "Qs".

3 Important Things To Remember When Training Your Puppy

3 Important Things To Remember When Training Your Puppy

There are as many ways to raise a puppy as there are to raising a child. In fact, one way per family in general! But most of us agree that when it comes to children, certain things are universal and undisputed. Here are three things that a lot of people just do not think of when it comes to raising their dogs, however. How many times have we heard, "My dog just won't listen to me", or "He just won't behave!"

1. Dogs do not understand English until we teach them.

The thing we all love about puppies the most is the way they live for us, the way they focus all they have on us, the way our lives become theirs. in the beginning, they study us to learn our body language, our facial expressions and our language. Until we teach them the English language, it's all they have. If we say, "Wanna go out?" one day, "Have to go potty?" the next day, and, "Hafta pee?" the third day, if they DO figure out what we want, it is because we have picked up the leash and moved toward the door with a happy face! If you want to speed up his training by three-fold, teach him YOUR language. Pick a command for EACH behavior and stick with it. Tell all in your family to use the same words and commands, and your puppy will amaze you at how much faster he learns.

2. A young puppy's metabolism is racing along faster than we think.

The younger your puppy is, the faster he is growing, the more food and water he needs to fuel his metabolism, and the more often he has to go potty. Do not punish your puppy when he makes a house-breaking mistake. These are YOUR fault. Your puppy's age in weeks and his breed size determine how often he must go out. Once an hour is not too often for a large 6-week old puppy, especially if it is summertime. Dogs love the exciting smells outdoors, so there is no excuse to not have him housebroken by 7-8 weeks of age. Right after a nap, after he eats and after grooming are the key times, and he will signal you. If he is happily chewing a toy and gets up suddenly with his nose to the floor, move quickly! And every time he goes potty outside, praise him to high heaven! "What a good BOYY!", "GOOD go potty!" and the like. Dogs love our happy faces, and they will do anything to get it.

3. Dogs live for our facial expressions and body language.

Because of this, the worst punishment you ever need to give your dog is a scowl and to turn away from him. You can see his tail fall down and his face get so sad. He will learn the lesson, I guarantee it. But his attention span is only 3-5 minutes, so do not scorn him any longer. Love him up and give him your happy face again. Physical punishment is never necessary. Use consistent commands and loving praise and he will know what you want of him before you know. He will become a master of your body language and facial expressions in no time at all.

Naturally there are many aspects of training your puppy well. Loving kindness works just as well for puppies as it does with children, creating a happy, well-adjusted and obedient dog for life. These three important tips, used consistently with confidence, will start him well on his way.