Did you know that the best way to keep your dog healthy is to consider feeding him a high quality natural dog food that is typically found at a specialty pet store or online...not grocery store dog food.
These foods have less preservatives and fillers, so you dog excrete less waste which will make the clean-up so much quicker, easier & cleaner for you.
And, more importantly your dog will enjoy a healthier, more nutritious diet and you have less mess to deal with!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Teaching Tricks
Inspired by famous canine thespians like Lassie and Rin Tin Tin, many dog owners try to teach their dogs impressive tricks. Here are some simple, step-by-step dog training instructions for three common moves: play dead, roll over and flip a treat.Play DeadThis is an age-old move your friends will marvel at over and over again.
Use a food lure to teach your dog to lie down. As he sits, hold the snack in front of his nose and quickly move it down to his paws, saying "Down!" as you do so. Repeat until he lies down on command.
Next, teach your pooch to roll on to his back. While he's lying down, hold a snack in front of his nose with your right hand and move it in an 8-inch clockwise rotation. This will cause the dog's head and upper body to twist around. At the same time, gently push on his upper belly with your left hand. "Most of the time, the dog will immediately roll over and throw his legs up so you can scratch his belly," notes Wayne Hunthausen, DVM, the owner of Animal Behavior Consultations in Westwood, Kansas. As the dog rolls over, say "Roll over!" Repeat until he has it down, then start using only the snack and circular motion.
The last stage is a slow transition from the circular motion to pointing at your pet and saying, "Play dead." Gradually go from making a circular movement to pointing as you stand farther and farther away, repeating the cue word every time. Eventually, your pet will roll over dead every time you point at him and say "Play dead."
Roll Over It's a dog training fact that once you've taught your pet to play dead, you can easily get him to roll over because it's essentially the same trick. Just use "Roll over" as your cue word instead of "Play dead," and roll your hand instead of pointing.
Flip a TreatThis trick is fun for both your dog and his audience. And it's easy, too.
Hold your left hand under your dog's muzzle and place a treat on the end of his nose with your right hand. Slowly move your hands away as you give the command "Take it!"
During the first few attempts, the treat will probably go flying over your dog's head. Grab it before he does and repeat. Eventually he'll figure out how to snatch the treat in midair.
Teaching your dog to wait for your verbal cue before grabbing the treat requires a hold command and a release command. Place your left hand under the animal's muzzle and the treat on his nose with your right, then look into his eyes and say, "Hold it" in a low, assertive tone.
Slowly remove your hand from his muzzle and say, "Take it!" If he begins to go for the treat before your command, repeat the hold cue.
(Click here for more stories on training your dog.)
Read more about Dog Obedience.
Use a food lure to teach your dog to lie down. As he sits, hold the snack in front of his nose and quickly move it down to his paws, saying "Down!" as you do so. Repeat until he lies down on command.
Next, teach your pooch to roll on to his back. While he's lying down, hold a snack in front of his nose with your right hand and move it in an 8-inch clockwise rotation. This will cause the dog's head and upper body to twist around. At the same time, gently push on his upper belly with your left hand. "Most of the time, the dog will immediately roll over and throw his legs up so you can scratch his belly," notes Wayne Hunthausen, DVM, the owner of Animal Behavior Consultations in Westwood, Kansas. As the dog rolls over, say "Roll over!" Repeat until he has it down, then start using only the snack and circular motion.
The last stage is a slow transition from the circular motion to pointing at your pet and saying, "Play dead." Gradually go from making a circular movement to pointing as you stand farther and farther away, repeating the cue word every time. Eventually, your pet will roll over dead every time you point at him and say "Play dead."
Roll Over It's a dog training fact that once you've taught your pet to play dead, you can easily get him to roll over because it's essentially the same trick. Just use "Roll over" as your cue word instead of "Play dead," and roll your hand instead of pointing.
Flip a TreatThis trick is fun for both your dog and his audience. And it's easy, too.
Hold your left hand under your dog's muzzle and place a treat on the end of his nose with your right hand. Slowly move your hands away as you give the command "Take it!"
During the first few attempts, the treat will probably go flying over your dog's head. Grab it before he does and repeat. Eventually he'll figure out how to snatch the treat in midair.
Teaching your dog to wait for your verbal cue before grabbing the treat requires a hold command and a release command. Place your left hand under the animal's muzzle and the treat on his nose with your right, then look into his eyes and say, "Hold it" in a low, assertive tone.
Slowly remove your hand from his muzzle and say, "Take it!" If he begins to go for the treat before your command, repeat the hold cue.
(Click here for more stories on training your dog.)
Read more about Dog Obedience.
Does Your Dog Like Children?
Is your dog uncomfortable around children? If your dog is jumpy and anxious around children - panting, pacing or showing other signs of nervousness - be ultra-cautious about putting him in a situation involving children since it could wind up badly.
Veggies & Dogs
How about a healthy veggie snack for your dog? Have you been wondering how to start introducing vegetables to your dog? Start with raw veggies, since it’s much less preparation work for you. Any food in a fresh, unprocessed state has high nutritional value. See if you can develop your dog’s taste for raw carrots - those little mini carrots make a perfect snack for large or small dogs. Your pooch will benefit from the fun of the crunch and all that digestive and vitamin value, with none of the empty calories that biscuit snacks have.
If Your Dog Won't Eat...pull up a chair
Some dogs need the stimulation of another dog hovering over them in order to eat. Others are just glad for some human company. If your dog is picky, pull up a chair and see if that doesn’t restore his appetite.
Crude Protein is NOT good for dogs
“Crude protein” in dog food is not necessarily that which can be digested and utilized by the dog’s body. It is not what most people think of as protein since it includes hooves, beaks and feathers, which are not ingredients a dog’s body can do anything with.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Does Your Dog Have Their Own Bed
If you buy your dog his/her own bed it's a great investment for you. By having his/her own spot he will likely choose it over your furniture - which will save much wear and tear.
Click the photo to find your dog a bed.
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