Almost any correctional collar is always dismissed by any trainer worth their salt. However, the majority of dog owners, almost all of them in fact, are not dog trainers. Excessive barking can pose a great problem beyond simple annoyance. A dog who barks at every little sound may end up in a shelter after neighbors complain or even deemed aggressive due to the barking out windows or even on walks if he reacts to other people or dogs. Keep in mind that nearly all correctional collars pose far more harm to a dog than good if not used right, but what about the citronella spray collars? A citronella spray bark collar, such as those made by Innotek and PetSafe, offer a quick and immediate negative reinforcer when a dog barks – it sprays the dog in the face with a potent, but safe spray of citronella. The collar, when combined...
Continue reading » Dog Product Reviews, Dog Products1 Comment Products that eliminate or reduce the amount of tension and pulling a dog puts on his leash has been a hot topic for many trainers and in high demand for pet owners. The ability of being able to walk your dog without that feeling of your arm being pulled out of the socket would be a miracle all on its own. An incredibly wide variety of these products exist on the market from head halters like you would expect a horse to wear to painful prong or shock collars for correction when a dog does pull. Not all items work for every dog, but some simply don’t work at all. At least not without the aid of training. Ideally, each one of these would only be used as a tool to train your dog in loose leash walking, but what about those times in which your dog simply needs exercise...
Continue reading » Dog Product Reviews1 Comment Bringing a new dog into your life is an exciting and rewarding time. You have a new friend to bond with. The two of you will share many adventures on your walks, play time, training, and relaxing times together. You must learn his personality just as he must learn yours. During these times you may wish to give him the chance to run freely without being on a leash. All dogs love to run. Most actually need to run to get out their pint up energy. His personality, along with his breed characteristics and training will ultimately decide if you pet can safely play off leash. All in the Recall Teaching your new dog the recall, that is coming when you call his name, is one of the top priorities of commands he should be introduced to. This command can literally save his life if you ever needed to call...
Continue reading » TrainingNo Comment There are many types of Belly Bands and diapers available on the market. Some stylish and other disposable. Just check out the selection on Amazon here, there is over a thousand to choose from. Some may laugh at the thought of a doggy diaper while others may see it as a quick fix for a dog with poor potty habits. The truth is, belly bands and diapers are not meant to be used for potty training at all! In fact, far too many pet owners misuse these items as a training tool or a band aid for a lack of house training instead of tackling the problem head on. It is the root of the problem, the dog not understanding that he must eliminate in a designated place, that causes potty problems and using an item to simply allow him to go where ever he wants or needs will only...
Continue reading » Dog Health, Dog Products, TrainingNo Comment With the advancement of technology available to everyday consumers in today’s society, we are now able to to purchase DNA testing kits for our pets to learn the breeds in their ancestry. While this may seem like a frivolous way to spend money, it actually plays a valuable role in helping our canine companions to fit in better with their families, appease their instinctual drives, and help us to better understand their behaviors, possible health concerns, and an educated guess at the adult size of mixed breed puppies. Why Does My Dog Do That? Perhaps you have a mixed breed shelter dog who likes to nip at the heels of your children as they run by, or a pooch that, no matter what you do, continues to dig holes in your back yard. What if these behaviors are not relative to the amount of exercise and training he receives, but...
Continue reading » Dog Health, Randon StuffNo Comment Nearly every rescue, shelter, and even ethical breeders microchip every dog before it leaves their care. What about dogs who are adopted through a classified ad or just aren’t microchipped? Is it worth it to you, to your pet, and your wallet to have a microchipped placed under his skin and then activated? When stories emerge from the web about lost dogs being found states away from their home, it may seem like some kind of miracle. Such as the case of Corbin, who’s family lives in Texas. He dug a hole from under his family’s backyard fence. Four days later a dog in an Ohio shelter was scanned for a microchip after coming in. Lo and behold, it was Corbin! He was found 1, 100 miles away! It is the microchip system that made a homecoming for the lost pooch possible. The Purpose of the Microchip Some pet lovers...
Continue reading » PlanningNo Comment It drives me crazy when people get dogs and are not prepared, and then get rid of that dog without thinking much about it. I bet you know someone that has done it. “the dog just didn’t work out”, or “it was to much work”, “he was crapping all over the place” etc. Where do you think those dogs go to? Given to someone else that does the same thing? Dropped off at a shelter? All because the first person expected that puppy to come home, be cute and be no trouble. That is not fair to the dog that they took the responsibility to care for. I’m not trying to scare you into not adopting a dog, I just want you to know what to expect. After reading this, I might also suggest reading my article The New Puppy Checklist! Are You Prepared? When you pick up your new...
Continue reading » PlanningNo Comment The beginning of summer often means aquatic sports for both humans and their beloved canine companions. Most dogs absolutely love the water and can’t wait to dive right in. Maybe it’s a family picnic at the river or lake, a day out on the boat or perhaps even the pool in your own backyard that you choose to cool off form the warm summer sun. Perhaps you’re lucky and have a doggy aquatic center specifically meant to help your dog get some aquatic aerobics as another means of exercise and fun. No matter where you decide to go swimming with your dog, precautions should be taken to keep him safe. A life vest made just for dogs is one way to keep your dog’s head above water while he enjoys his doggy paddling exercises. There are many to choose from, you can find a whole list of them HERE. It’s...
Continue reading » Dog ProductsNo Comment When you bring home a new baby from the hospital, you probably already have a nursery with brightly painted walls, a dresser full of clothes, a crib with cute bed linens and a mobile. You also will probably already have a bin full of soft, safe plush toys for your little newborn to cuddle. Bringing home a new dog, at any age, is not really much different. Your dog will need toys to play with, a place to sleep, his own dishes and and more. Are you truly, fully prepared to bring home your new furry baby? It’s So Confusing! Being new dog owners, it can feel very complicated. Don’t become overwhelmed with the vastness of the pet supply market when trying to decide what you need or don’t need for your newest pooch. If you already know the size and age of your newest family member, picking out...
Continue reading » PlanningNo Comment When I adopted my first dog, I was ecstatic to find that he was free to a good home. He was being given away to anyone who could give him the exercise and training he needed as well as care for him on a daily basis. No problem, I thought. Two meals a day, a bowl of water and a collar and leash and he would be just fine and dandy! How hard could it be to keep up with his care? I learned the hard way. Like us on Facebook and let everyone know, I Heart Dogs! Even if your dog is free initially, there are costs that will very shortly follow your decision to adopt him. Vet care needs to be provided within 3 days of bringing home a new puppy. This includes a fecal exam to check for parasites, worming medication, vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, heartworm prevention...
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