Giving your Dog Away Responsibly: How to Get Rid Of a Dog

Adopting a dog is a big responsibility and I suggest really thinking this over, you did take responsibility for this animal. But sometimes owners have unexpected life changes and find themselves stuck with a dog they are unable to care for from reasons varying from unexpected moves to sudden illness. Having a puppy that chews everything or whining is not a valid reason to give away your dog, or at least before you put the effort into some basic training. You will see a button on top marked ‘training” where you will find all our guides on how to fix specific issues (or just click here). You may also use the search button on the right hand side on the site. You If you or someone you know finds themselves in a life changing situation, there are several humane actions that can give your dog a new, loving home. It...
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Reviews: Bully Sticks For Dogs

Bully Sticks are 100% natural (real) dried beef muscles that will truly keep your dog busy for hours, unlike other products that falsely claim to do so. For the most part bully sticks are low-odor to odor-free (depending on the batch, an odd few may retain their beefy smell), reasonably priced, made in the USA, come in a variety of sizes for a variety of dogs, and do not contain rawhide. Their only downside is that of any bone or dog toy—once a dog starts gnawing on it once can expect a bit of a slimy, sticky Bully Stick mess. Bully Sticks come in the following lengths: 7 inches, 12 inches, and 24 inches. The latter length is for large breeds while the first is for small dogs. The 12 inch length is for mid-sized breeds. In other words, Bully Sticks can be given to a dog of any size...
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Dog Years to Human Years: How Dog Years Work

Dog Years Compared to Human Years A dog’s age times (X) seven is the classic formula for calculating how old a dog is in “human years to dog years.” While this formula is generally accepted, it oversimplifies the lifespan of dogs and misleads owners into thinking that all dogs are the same. Dogs are like children—there is no magic formula. Expecting a magic formula is detrimental to the owner’s expectations of his or her dog, as well as the dog’s short term and long term well-being. That is why I do not put much faith in a dog years to human years chart. Unlike children, however, dogs come in many breeds varying in both shape and size. There are many generalities about the respective breeds, such as illnesses, likes, dislikes, lifespan, and activity that first-time dog adopters use as magic formulas for finding the “perfect breed.” While generalities are generally...
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Canine Pregnancy; Everything You Should Know!

You may have made the big decision to breed your dog, or perhaps you adopted one who may be pregnant. Facing pregnancy in any species can be an overwhelming scenario, but if you are prepared with the basic knowledge you need about your dog’s pregnancy you can help her and your family pass through this special time as stress free as possible! Gestation, how long are dogs pregnant? A lot of people ask the question, how long are dogs pregnant. Surprisingly, there is a lot of misinformation out there. After mating occurs, your female’s eggs will be fertilized by the male’s sperm. Then, gestation happens! This is when the puppies become puppies inside your female’s uterus. Gestation usually takes 63 days on average, but can be slightly shorter or longer. During the first half of the gestation your female can remain her normal daily schedule of exercise and her normal...
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Review: Citronella Spray Bark Collars; Are They Worth It?

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...
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Easy Walk Harness by PetSafe Review

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...
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Off Leash Fun, or Danger?

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...
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Belly Bands and Diapers For Dogs; What Is Their True Purpose?

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...
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DNA Testing For Dogs and Why It Is A Good Idea

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...
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Microchip For Dogs: Is It Worth It?

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...
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