Training Tips for Older Dogs...

Your adult dog needs the right amount of balance in his training. These needs include a regular dose of physical exercise, mental exercise, and the need to socialize.   Providing your dog with these needs will keep him happy, healthy, and may even add extra years to his life. Mental Needs Of Your Adult Dog The more you teach your dog, regardless of his age, breed, and personality, the better he will become at all levels of his life. Training your dog to perform certain tasks gives him purpose, which in turn greatly improves the quality of his life. Once your dog learns...

What to Do if you Think your Dog is Bein...

What are the signs of “dog bullying” and how can you prevent your dog from being bullied by other dogs? There are dogs out there that bully other dogs when in a “doggie environment”, such as a dog park, dog daycare, or a beach area designated for dogs and their owners.   Often, bullying takes place in large groups, regardless of the size. Most of these dog bullies are of the large breed and prey on smaller dogs, although there are also smaller breeds with a strong, dominant personality whom bully on other dogs of all sizes. The next time you take your dog to the...

Helping the Hyperactive Dog...

Hyperactivity in dogs is a common problem. Generally it is present amongst a cluster of other inappropriate behaviors such as jumping, pulling on the leash and unwarranted barking. In most cases, canine hyperactivity is stress induced. We must realize that simply living with humans involves a certain degree of stress for most dogs. Many humans do not understand dog communication and do not respect the fact that dogs are of a different species with different needs. To gather an in depth understanding of some of the many communication difficulties that exist between man and...

Now Ear This! What Your Dog’s Ears...

Understanding What Dog Ear Movements Mean All positions of a dog’s ears should be gauged relative to the way the dog normally carries his ears when he is relaxed. Dogs with severely cropped or very long ears will be harder to read. Ears erect or slightly forward: “What is that?” This is a sign of attention in response to a sound or when studying a new situation. Accompanied by a slightly tilted head and a relaxed or slightly open mouth, the meaning changes to “This is really interesting” or “I do not understand that” and is...

How to train your dog any behavior...

I’m a professional dog trainer. I’ve had formal education, studied with other accomplished trainers and worked with dogs for nearly thirty years. It’s no secret why I can do things with dogs that seem amazing to the average person. But training your dog is about you and your dog, not me. If I can’t give you some useful nugget of knowledge that will cause a change in how you relate to your dog, then I’ve failed both you and your dog. The most important thing I’ve found to teach the average dog owner is a simple universal dog behavior, which will allow you to...

The Benefits of Using Food in Dog Traini...

For a puppy, feeding is like breathing. Filling a belly does more than merely nourish; it displaces the nervousness caused by the pangs of hunger. The warm glow that comes from a full tummy assures the puppy that he is securely connected to his group. Therefore, we shouldn’t hesitate to use food in training. Since eating is so basic with a puppy, it is easy to excite him with a treat. If in his rush to grab the food, he snaps at your hand very hard, do not correct the dog or get mad at him. Just take the time to calm him by giving him a steady flow of food so that he...

Seperation Anxiety in my Dog...

I hope you can help me. I have an eighteen month old Border Terrier called Lucy. She has been housetrained and was doing fine. But recently she seems to have regressed into a state where she suffers from separation anxiety quite severely. I’ve tried training her again to show her that whining and crying won’t have any effect and I’ve also tried giving her a treat before I go out and when I get back, but she appears to be in the same state of distress when I get back as she was in as I left. I can’t think of anything that could have triggered...

My Dog Looks Like a PitBull, What Are My...

I have a general enquiry about dogs and the law. What is the legal status of ownership if a dog escapes? I’m really concerned about the treatment of Pit Bull type breeds after the dog amnesty (my dog is a Staffy mix) and I’m really concerned that if he ever escaped, god forbid, that he wouldn’t be given back to me as he does have a certain look that could get him confused as a Pit Bull. I have him microchipped, registered as a Staffordshire Bull Terrier x English Bull Terrier, although we aren’t really sure about this, and it is not likely he will...

Getting a New Dog – Do I Need an O...

I am about to get a staffie and I want to have the dog living in the house, full time so it is part of the family and will not get jealous of any future children we have. I do not want to get an outside kennel as I do not believe in them, I beleive a dog is part of a family and therefore my home is his home. i have however had advice that it is best to have an outdoor kennel which is his domain and indeed he may be happier with this and i wanted to get a professional take on this. I want to ensure that my Staffie has a great temprement and do not want to breed jealousy in...

Dog or Bitch – Should I Get a Male...

Male Or Female: Which Dog Is Better? Which dog makes a better pet, a male dog or a female? The answer to this question depends on what you’re looking for. On one level, if you care about the personality and character of the dog more than anything else, the gender shouldn’t matter. Your decision will be based mainly on how the puppy behaves and acts towards you and other people when you are looking at the litter. On another level, if you want to find out whether a male dog or a female dog would generally make an overall better pet, then you’ll have to take...