TYPES OF DOG TRAINING EQUIPMENT

Let’s be honest. Who among us, human or animal, can’t wait to be trained?

Infants love the warm pee in their diapers and delight in playing with their poop.
Terrible twos smirk as they dare us to stop them from climbing on the furniture.
Kindergarten kids swing from the limbs of trees as if they were monkeys.

And adults. How do you feel when you come up against a NO?

“Training” represents boundaries. It takes a long time to recognize that training may also represent freedom from chaos. In a world populated by more than one, we could not function without guidelines and limitations, even if we choose to ignore them. So, it is important to learn to live with what we’d rather live without.

And dogs….
Dogs are not as independent as cats, although they can be. They usually love to please their owners. Sometimes not, especially when they are puppies, fearless, adventuresome, out to introduce themselves to the larger world. But, like the rest of us, they come up against limitations and regulations and aggravations. Like the rest of us, they find themselves restrained and constrained. And, like the rest of us, they have to learn to live with boundaries. Then, it becomes less of a challenge and more the everyday reality.

What kind of “limitation” we place on our dog’s unbounded freedom is a very important consideration. Some dog restraints can be cruel. Would you want to wear a spiked collar around your neck? Would you like to be yanked back by a choke or chain collar? What about a shock collar? If not, why would you use these on your dog?

What kind of restraint would be appropriate for your family pet? There are collars that fit around the neck. There are harnesses that fit around the stomach. There are collars made of various fabrics, different lengths, and different colors. There are two-dollar collars and two hundred dollar collars.

There are harnesses, an alternative to leashes. These fit around the dog’s body, lessening the “yank” effect on the dog’s neck and distributing the weight to the rest of the body. It is harder for the dog to slip out of a harness than a collar. Typically, though, harnesses are used more with young dogs, whose bones are still developing, and in the training of service dogs.

Leashes, which attach to harnesses or collars, can be made of almost anything. Some are made of leather, some are braided from cotton or other materials, some are short, keeping the dog on a tight rein; others allow the dog to have some sense of freedom to roam and explore, even if there is a human being at the other end of the leash. The length and “fabric” of the collar you choose depends on personal preference and the environment in which the dog will be raised. For example, if you and your dog walk mostly city streets, you might want a relatively short leash, which allows some exploration space, but not enough to “block traffic.” On the other hand, if you are walking along country paths or along the shore, you might prefer a longer lead, giving both dog and walker room to roam.

Muzzles help train dogs who have a tendency to be aggressive towards or try to bite people or other animals. Sometimes they are used with dogs that bark too much, but this is not usually a primary reason to muzzle or halter a dog. Varieties of dog muzzles enable owners/trainers to determine how much the dog will be able to open his mouth. Muzzles are made of various materials, some being more comfortable than others. If the dog is going to be muzzled for any period of time, it is imperative to make sure that the dog’s breathing is not constrained. Muzzles should be used sparingly.

Some trainers prefer to use a system of rewards rather than restraint. It is important to give verbal signs of appreciation when your dog succeeds at accomplishing a task or learning a new positive behavior. Sometimes the reward is a new toy, sometimes a pat on the head, sometimes food. Owners need to be careful about using food as a reward, because it gives the message that food is love and owners who are too “loving” may find themselves with very obese dogs. Your dog is happy to please you and is fine with a word of thanks or a pat on the head.

When deciding what kind of training tool is most appropriate, think about the intended purpose and intended outcome of the tools and methods you are using. Although discipline is important, structure is essential, and repetition is the best tool for learning. Love and patience and practice need also to be included in the mix. Training is a form of bonding, bonding is a form of trust, and mutual trust and respect are imperative to the success of training and to the fostering of a lifetime of companionship with “man’s (and woman’s) best friend.”

Presented by Guest Blogger
Patricia M. Berliner, CSJ, Ph.D.
Enjoy yourselves!

Dog Shop

Cat - Dog- Rat Buds Video

Amazing tolerance and kinship among these creatures. The mayor of Santa Barbara is reputed to have taken this video clip and circulated it as a holiday greeting.
Enjoy.

Dog Grooming at its Best

by Todd Martin

To make sure your dog has a nice and healthy coat, you have got to know about the nature of your dog coat, and whether they are prone to any skin problem. A few breed require frequent grooming and trim at the grooming center so that they look good. Long-haired dogs typically have to be groomed on a daily basis whereas short-haired breeds can do with a weekly grooming. All healthy pets have got to boast lustrous, mat-free coats. Although, having a shining and healthy coat, which will be envious to others, have need of additional care as well as effort. These consist of a few crucial things below:

Brush Regularly: Coat care essentials consist of habitual coat check ups, brushing and combing, bathing with the proper product and healthy diet. Your pet has natural oils on her skin, and frequent brushing spread those oils all over the coat and keeps it polished. Brushing besides gets rid of loose dirt from your dog's coat, and it feels great to your furry pal. Tenderly brush the hair down and in the direction of hair growth.

Removing Matts or Tangles: If you do come across a tangle work from the outside of the tangle towards the inside, holding the hair between the tangle and the dog's body to avoid any pain. A combination of hair detangler and water can be sprayed on the matt and softly massaged in to get rid of the tangle. If you do have to remove the mat out of the hair, be extremely careful as you may finish up hurting your pet if you are not practiced as much as necessary. For all time use blunt scissors and cut from closest to the skin to away from the skin, with the ends of the scissors pointing away from the dog's body, not towards it.

Bathing: Choose the dog shampoo with natural ingredients. As they age, their skin may become more sensitive. Select a mild dog shampoo for your older dog. Shampoos made from coconut or palm oils are the mildest. Although bathing is an essential component in keeping their coat fresh and presentable, it should not be overdone. Most veterinarians suggest bathing a dog no more than once a month. Over bathing can dry skin and lead to hot spots and itching, which can lead to scratching and infection. If a dog is to be bathed more than once a month, an aloe based shampoo and conditioners should be used and foods and supplements with Omega fatty acids should be given to bolster the production of coat oils.

Essential Grooming Tools: Select the proper brush for your breed. Fine-toothed dog combs are meant for soft, thin or silky coats while medium-toothed combs are meant for ordinary coats. If your dog has extremely heavy or deep coat, use a wide-toothed comb. Bristle brushes are fine for dogs with long coats and grooming mitts are fine for short-haired breeds.

Select the right shampoo: Different skin kind needs different treatment shampoo. Whether your dog has typical, oily or dry skin, scaly skin or itchy and sensitive skin, all should be studied accurately. Prefer an all natural formula for the dog shampoo like Pet Silk Cucumber Melon Luxury Dog Shampoo. Natural formulas at all times work great.

About the Author:

Whenever you get any dog toys online, make sure you avail the great option available at Todd Martin's site for all your Dog Carriers, and Dog Toys necessities.

Or simply look at the ad links at this blog site for more options.

Wonderful Wild World

Is your pet this loveable? Let wild animals stay wild. Love them as they are.

Benny is sick

Our playful and funny Benny the best tuxedo cat I have ever met is sick.
He got in a big fight with a bigger cat.
I think he does not know he is still a kitten.

He really got beat up and I had to take him to the vet to the tune of hundreds of dollars of tender loving care and treatment. About 4 days later he came home, shaved in places and still sore. He slept a lot more.

About a week later it was clear he had another problem and back to the vet he goes, just in case it is from the same injuries. Or maybe that half-eaten possum in the yard?

We miss him this weekend while he is at the vet's. Funny how all the other neighborhood cats are behaving differently too, like they miss him too, and wonder where he went.

I dread the bill.But I know he needs the care.

Tips for Living with Furry Pets

Four Easy Tips to Live Harmoniously with Your Favorite Fur-ball


(ARA) – You play, laugh, snuggle and sleep together. In fact, you’re best friends! But, just like their owners, pets have their quirks: chewing socks, begging, stealing food and some things they just can’t help, like shedding hair everywhere.

One out of three dog and cat owners admit that they’ve left the house with pet hair on their clothes in the last three months, according to the Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair survey. For the 63 percent of Americans who have pets, this is not the most pleasing statistic to be a part of. It’s time for houseguests to walk in the front door of your home and notice how great your home looks, not how hairy you or your furniture is.

Here are some weekly housecleaning tips to reduce the pains of cleaning up after your pet so you can finally declare, “Welcome to the Sofa!” without the fear of hair, scratching or fleas getting the best of you.

* Stop those bad habits.

Whether puppies are teething, or your dog just has a bad habit, it is frustrating when your beloved pet chews on furniture. One option is to spray your furniture with chewing deterrents, which are available at pet stores. For cats who scratch, scratching boards are a must-have.

* Play fetch with pet hair.

Most pets shed, lovingly leaving their fur behind on your upholstery. For upholstered furniture, the new Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair does the trick. It is a handheld solution which traps hair – picking up as much hair as 145 of the traditional sticky sheets. Rollers grab, lift and trap pet hair inside the device as you slide the device side to side over upholstered furniture, keeping the living spaces clean and hair-free. With this cleaning tool, it's easy to welcome your pet back to the couch for a snuggle while watching your favorite TV show.

* Make fleas stay away.

Eliminate flea problems naturally and with a pleasant smell using peppermint and eucalyptus oils. They can be used on your pet's coat and you can also use eucalyptus leaves under your pet's bedding to prevent fleas and add a pleasant smell to the bedding.

*A million toys and nothing to do.

No matter how many toys you have lying around the house, dogs often still act bored or prefer your shoes. In order to help maintain your dog’s interest in toys, rotate them so a few are available each day.

Cleaning up pet hair has never been easier. Visit Pledge.com to learn more about the Pledge Fabric Sweeper for Pet Hair.

Courtesy of ARAcontent