Stopping a Nipping/Biting Puppy

By: Jane Saeman

It is not unusual for puppies to nip and bite. It is part of their nature. They are mouthing. They do this to let you know they want something and also to play. When your puppy first does this, see if he needs anything. He could just be hungry or thirsty. It's possible he needs to go out, or is just tired or wants some love. Decide if your puppy needs something before reacting to the nipping. Then there are things to do to help curb the habit in puppies below 16 weeks.

1. If you have decided your puppy is just nipping and biting to do it, you should isolate him, or put him in a crate with his favorite bone. There is no punishing or scolding to be done. Just patiently pick the puppy up, and put him in their favorite area with something to chew on.

2. If you puppy licks you, say the word 'kisses' and praise him for this action. You can encourage licking, rather than biting, by putting some butter on your hand for him to lick.

3. If the puppy bites or nips for attention, you must take away that attention. Don't react loudly to the bite. Just ignore it.

4. Is the puppy gets more force in those bites, you should sound like he has wounded you making a "Ep, Ep!" sound. Then look directly into his eyes for a few seconds. Next go back to what you were doing and ignore him. If it continues, there are sprays with flavors such as bitter apple you can put on, that will make the dog regret having nipped. You can also keep your puppy on a leash and jerk it to the side when he bites. If all else fails, you may have to isolate him until he calms down.

After 16 weeks if your puppy is still nipping, you need to stop it. You must communicate it is not allowed. Here are some tips:

1. Don't play rough games. Games like tug-of-way, chasing, and wrestling may be giving your dog the wrong message and letting the puppy think it's ok to bite down to challenge you.

2. Any nip is a bad nip. No matter where the puppy nips and whether it hurts or not, you need to make it clear that nipping is unacceptable.

3. Use a deterrent. There are mouth sprays or bitter apple flavored sprays you can put on to make sure your puppy gets a bad taste when nipping. Or you can use a squirt gun to deter the biting. Just make sure you do not look at the puppy while spraying him, because that could be taken as a confrontation instead of a correction.

4. Keep your puppy on a leash. This way when he nips, you have the leash to use to direct his mouth away from biting you. If you do not have a teaching lead for your dog, you can instead put a short lead onto a buckle collar.

5. When the puppy nips, use the leash to pull him away from biting. You can also use the sprays on that area. Again, remember not to stare at the pup while you do this.

6. If the biting continues, you should ask yourself if you are doing something wrong in the training. Are you snapping the leash or just pulling it? Snapping it is corrective. Pulling it is playful. Do you look convincing when you stare at him? If he is not taking you seriously, you may need to be sterner in training until you gain his respect.

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Welcoming a New Puppy into Your Home

By: Jane Saeman

When your new puppy first comes into a house, he needs to learn that this is his new space. Put him on a leash and walk him through the whole house. This is a time to show him everything, but also use the leash to limit access to areas you don't want him getting into such as furniture, closets and the kids' toy box.

You should not say 'no'. Since the puppy has not learned his name yet, he may start to think that is what you are calling him. Instead, let him know your displeasure by using a low voice to issue a "Yack!" sound, while doing a mild tug on the leash every time he sniffs something he is not supposed to touch. Repeat this action. As he moves away from them, you can pet him, say "good dog", and continue through the house.

The puppy understands the growl sound, and knows that it means he needs to stay away from something when you growl as he approaches it. It is important to let him sniff the item for a second before growling, so he recognizes what item it is he is to avoid. Dogs remember things by what they smell like, not what they look like. A new puppy will not pick up words, other than his name, but he will understand the growl means not to touch.

Other words puppies will learn are those that relate to things they want. If you say 'dinner time' every time you get food for the dog, eventually each time he hears that phrase, he will expect a meal. The best way to teach a dog words, is to make sure you constantly use the same ones, and that they are short and easy to learn.

While this first visit through the house is teaching your puppy a lot of things about his new home, he is also learning about your relationship. Since you are in charge, growling as needed, and holding the leash, he will start to understand that you are in control. This is every important. If you do not take on this role, the puppy will try to be in charge and that could lead to very negative behavior in your home.

Now it's time to show your dog important things such as where he will find food and water, his crate, where you want him to go to the bathroom outside. The way to do this is to take him to the spot and stand there until he goes. Once he does, praise him for it. Then you can offer a tour of the rest of the yard. If there are things he needs to avoid outside, like plants, you can teach him they are off limits. If you live in a city, you need to get him used to it. Go to a quiet area, and let him listen for a while. Don't walk him around; just let him hear things from a safe point. Don't let him wander in the city until his shots are up to date.

Note: if it took more than an hour to get your pup home from where you bought him, you should do the yard tour first so he can go to the bathroom.

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The Health Check - Keeping Your Golden Retriever Healthy

By: Peter Finch

Keeping your golden retriever healthy is of primary concern to all dog owners. As a dog owner, you need to ensure that your dog's immune system is doing well. You need to keep your dog healthy and happy. It is your duty as an owner to make sure that your dogs constitution is strong and can ward off any disease or sickness easily.

There are many ways of keeping your golden retriever healthy. The most important aspect of keeping your dog healthy is to give him a home-made food diet. Home-made food is far better than canned food. In fact, it has been known that most commercial dog food is made up of waste animal fat content or unusable grains, not fit for consumption by humans.

Hence, it makes a lot of sense to give your dog fresh food consisting of fruits and vegetables and fresh meat like chicken, mutton and beef. For water, you should ideally use spring water or filtered water instead of tap water. This is because tap water may contain traces of Lead and Mercury. Giving your dog fresh food will ensure that he gets the nutrition he deserves.

Bones by themselves are very good for your golden retriever, and will help them develop a strong set of teeth. Get him used to chewing on bones and make it a treat for him by leaving some meat on the bone. Golden retrievers are gifted with a great set of teeth. Chewing on a bone will really help in developing jaw strength.

Alternatively, you can also give him chew toys to chew upon. Either way, make sure that he doesn't end up chewing on your slippers or your curtains!

Anticipating health problems in your golden retriever are an essential part of keeping your golden retriever healthy. If you're careful, you will not need to go to the vet much. Lay special emphasis on any reproductive disorders, which you think your golden retriever may have.

Don't neglect these, as they can sometimes be fatal. Neutering your male golden retriever is a good idea if you don't want him to have too much contact with female Golden retrievers or are not trying to breed. Besides breeding, this will also help reduce any other problems related to tumors and tracked diseases your dog may have later on in life.

Keeping your golden retriever healthy also means having him around for a longer period of time. It is sad when your dog is old and falls sick. If you look after his health well, he will have a healthier life when he grows older.

Make sure your golden retriever has an excellent exercise regime. Keep your dog active and take it for walks, three to four times a day. If you have a yard let it run around as much as it can. This is the best exercise it can get. Taking him out will also get you some exercise. The better health he has, the longer he is going to stay by you

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The Bond of Dog Obedience Training

By: Andrew Bicknell

Getting your dog to understand what you want him do when given certain commands is the purpose behind dog obedience training. It is a communication process between owner and dog that creates a bond that is vital to the safety of the dog, his owner, and those around him.

Dogs are naturally social creatures that in the wild live in packs. When brought into a home a dog becomes a part of the family pack, and just like in the wild there is a natural order to things with a leader of the pack, or alpha dog, on down. One of the primary purposes of dog obedience training is to show your dog who is in charge. Without proper training or discipline just about any dog will naturally try to take over and be in charge.

This is where obedience training comes in. It lets your dog know who's in charge and at the same time creates a bond between him and his humans. It is one of the most important things any dog owner can do to establish a strong relationship between owner and dog.

Training your dog subtly but efficiently establishes to your dog that you are the leader of the pack and they are not, but it should not involve any negative or punishment-based components. Training your dog to be obedient can be an extraordinary learning experience as well as being a fun and rewarding activity for you and your dog.

Obedience training is great for your dog because it is a good mental exercise that enables your dog to live happier and with more freedom. It is a way of fostering communication between owner and dog. Although obedience training doesn't solve all behavior problems it is the foundation for solving just about any problem including house training, chewing up your belongings, excessive barking, digging holes in your yard, fighting other dogs and aggressive behavior. The goal behind dog obedience training is the idea that a dog will respond with a certain reaction every time a certain command is given.

Almost every dog owner will have to use some sort of behavior modification techniques at one time or another when training their prized pet. It helps avoid temperament and behavior problems. Many dogs develop behavior problems because their owners fail to set rules and enforce them. Proper training allows you to communicate with your dog, helps to foster the bond between you, and keeps him safe from both injuries and behavior problems.

Dog obedience training is about setting boundaries that must be enforced on a daily basis and is the most important thing a dog should learn as it is the foundation to solving many of any dog's behavior problems. Obedience training is the perfect method for both you and your dog to establish a connection, to relate to one another and to make living together more enjoyable.

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Human Food For Your Golden Retriever

By: Peter Finch

Now that you have got your golden retriever home, it is important to pay enormous attention to his daily needs. Diet is very important for the health of your golden retriever.

Well, we would all feed our favorite pets dog food, but even pets can prefer variety in their platter. And it is not a bad idea to opt for human food for your golden retriever.

Golden retrievers, or any pets for that matter, love attention showered on them. So, if you are having a sumptuous dinner and your dog is salivating next to you, it is not a bad idea to make him sample some food.

Many a times, golden retrievers communicate in an interesting manner. If your pet expresses excessive fondness with the refrigerator, he may be communicating his interest in some particular food that is stored in the refrigerator.

As we all know dogs have a great sense of smell, and it would not be easy to hide a delicious food item from him. Human food, when served with a little caution may actually be good for the golden retriever. However, it would not be a wise idea to feed him table scraps. That way, you would be spoiling your pet.

Of course, you would have to make a conscious choice of what is appropriate and what is not for your dog. Human foods may or may not be suitable for it. Here are some may - have and should - not - have human food for your golden retriever -

"May Have" human food for your golden retriever:

Most of these food groups are beneficial for us, but the golden retriever may just benefit from and enjoy them. They would provide the appropriate nutrients along with the variety that your pet would like-

- Brown Rice ; Rich in fiber content, they are good for your golden retriever.
- Chicken/ Egg yolk/egg shells/ raw eggs. Rich in protein, this human food is also good for them
- Raw Vegetables
- Turkey. You need to exercise caution with this. If the strips are too hard, your pet can choke on it.
- Oatmeal
- Fruits. With the exception of grapes and raisins.

"Should Not Have" human food for your golden retriever;

- Egg Whites; This usually results in biotin deficiency (Vitamin B) due to the presence of avidin. Hence avoiding egg whites is best.
- Onions and garlic
- Chocolates. Bromine in chocolates can lead to toxicity in dogs and cats. Even if you opt for the un-sweetened variety, you may not be doing your golden retriever any good. Hence it is best to avoid chocolates completely.

It is better to always consult a veterinarian. Your vet may be right person to recommend the right diet. He will also be able to suggest what foods should be avoided. It may not be very wise to experiment with human food, unless you are sure about the effect of the same.

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5 Basic Commands: Train Your Dog

Learn the basic dog training commands and teach your dog to keep it obedient and happy.

Prior to providing training to your dog, you must build the skills like having more patience, effective communication. Don't get excited during training as your dog will get distracted and will wonder what to do. Forget training when you are angry. Communication plays a vital role, as commands have to be understood by the dog.

Dealing with your dog's behavior requires patience, persistence and proper training.

Most dog owners are facing problems as their dogs don't follow the instructions and misbehave. How to overcome this problem is the major question that many dog owners have.

Here is the solution, provide your dog the Obedience Training to improve their behavior. Establishing yourself as pack leader is a very important concept for any potential dog trainer to understand. Start the training with the following basic commands:

1. Sit - Training a dog to sit is an important part of the training process.
2. Stay - A well trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so "Stay" is a very important command in basics dog training.
3. Down -Lying down is more than a just a cute trick and is a key point of any successful dog training program.
4. Heel -This is a part of dog leash training. It is important that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind.
5. Respond to the word "No"- The word "No" is one word that all dogs must learn. This is probably the first command in puppy training to teach your puppy. Once your puppy learns it, you will have far less dog problems to cope with. Slowly they will start responding to these commands and training exercises that follow.

Dogs are challenging pets wherein they can learn many things around you and what you teach them basically. So, keep them updated with all the new things. Have fun with your dog and teach them lots of languages too.

And of course, by providing basics dog training your dog can become a better family companion, especially in households where there are young children. Studies have shown that proper basics dog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting down the number of dog bits and other dog behavior problems.

To learn about the other aspects of dog training, take a look at Basics dog training online guide and teach your dog to shake a paw. You will be surprised how quickly your dog learns to do it.

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Dog Obedience Training

By: Dawn Lambie

Finally, the day has come. Your brand new puppy is old enough to come home and become a member of your family. Everyone is so excited! And she is so cute and cuddly and so fun to play with. Your puppy can do no wrong.

UNTIL...What? There is garbage all over the floor for the hundredth time. Your brand new $50 shoes are in pieces all over the floor. The remote control mysteriously disappears. And, the final straw, after hearing her whining through the night, you step in dog poop.

FRUSTRATING! Your loving feeling you once had for your cute, adorable puppy turns into disgust and hate. The sad thing is, this can all be avoided. That puppy only wants to be loved. She just hasn't been taught what she needs to know to be a welcome addition to the family. With a little bit of patience and a lot of love, you can train your puppy or dog how to live peacefully and happily in your home.

Your dog needs guidance and education. Training your dog challenges and stimulates his mind. You can start to train your dog as early as three to four months. There are many dog training books available to help you teach your dog the necessary commands. Dog behavior problems can be solved or avoided when using specific commands. It is very important to start in a quiet place, to avoid distractions.

Be sure your dog understands that you are the boss. He is to do what you tell him, not the other way around. A dog's nature is to live in a pack. Within that pack is the Alpha-dog. You need to show him you are the Alpha-dog. One way to do this is to keep eye contact with him. Do not raise your voice. Screaming at your dog will not help him understand what you are saying. This will only scare him. With a slow, quiet voice give short, concise commands.

There are many commands and tricks to teach your dog. The most common commands are come, sit, stay, and heel. Many common tricks are shake, fetch, roll-over, and speak. Dogs are capable of learning multiples of commands and tricks. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Chanda-Leah, born in Jan.1, 1994, weighing at only 7 and a half pounds performs 1064 tricks and loves it. This could be your dog. So have fun and enjoy the love of your dog.

PRAISE!PRAISE!PRAISE! A dog learns from pleasing or displeasing reactions. When teaching him a command, as in sit, let him know he has done a good job. He is more likely to repeat this command, if he feels he has done something to please you. Verbal and physical praises are an important process in training. There are many different ideas on whether you should give a dog treats for praise. Giving dogs treats in formal obedience training can be a positive reinforcement, just do not overdo it. And be sure your dog has performed the command you give him. If he starts to beg, jump on you, steal from your plate, or display bad behavior in connection with food, a dog should NEVER receive treats until the behavior is corrected.

DISCIPLINE as a training technique can be effective. The tone of your voice is important . Learn to say no without a whining, pleading tone. Go and get your dog. Never call a dog to you and then discipline it. Be sure to make eye contact. Never use an object to discipline. Be sure to discipline correctly and on a level your dog can understand.

It is essential to make up with your loyal dog. After you discipline your dog, you should remain passive for at least half an hour. Do not speak to the dog and avoid eye contact. Your dog should submit to you by either looking away or gazing down at the floor. If you go to your dog before it has time to readjust, he will shake and whine, which will make you feel guilty. Don't fall into this trap. He will not learn!

Training your dog can be a frustrating and enjoyable time. And, once you see that unconditional love and respect from your dog's eyes, it is all worth the time and effort you have sacrificed.

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Dog Ticks - Be Watchful Of Them

By: Steve Searls

We all know that the ticks are responsible for the spread of several diseases. In recent times, the experts have been telling us that the number of ticks has been on rise due to several reasons and hence there is an increasing chance of your dog being infected.

The main reason behind this sudden growth in ticks is the urbanization of the forests. Warming climate is also attributed to the rise of ticks. Years ago, the diseases used to spread mainly in the summer and were therefore seasonal. However, due to warming, these ticks seem to breed all throughout the year and have become a menace to our dear pets. More and more people now go for outings with their dogs which expose them to the ticks, leading to further infestation.

Various kinds of diseases are spread due to ticks. Lyme's disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Canine Ehrliciosis are among the most common ones.

Ticks lay eggs, larvae are hatched from these eggs and they immediately start seeking hosts. Once they feed on the host, they fall off and start living on the forest floors, feeding on decaying material until they develop into nymphs. The nymphs will again start searching for blood meal. If they can't find one, they perish. However, if they happen to find their blood meal, it will eventually fall off the host and live in the soil again further mutating into an adult.

If left attached to an animal, adult ticks can become quite large. I have personally seen them as large as a nickel. Now that's disgusting.

Adult ticks prefer larger animals like deer. In fact, deer are one of the main causes of the thriving tick population. If there were no deer, we wouldn't have such a big problem with ticks. Deer were close to extinction in the last century, but the restrictions placed on their hunting has now increased their number, and as their numbers increase, the ticks are thriving as well!

Due to the growing problem of ticks, the number of diseases is on the rise, affecting more and more pets. Your veterinarian can recommend various ways of protecting your dogs from ticks and fleas. Even simple preventive methods are better than none to keep your pet safe from the ticks.

These parasites can be very irritating for our beloved pets, especially if the dog is allergic to their bites. So, it is very important for you to ensure that your dog is free from ticks.

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Stop the Dog From Biting!

By: Joe Robinson

You've just acquired a beagle, and can't wait to bring him home to show the children.
Once home, the children begin playing with him and running around the house. Suddenly you hear a scream. The beagle has bitten one of your children.

Once the panic is over and you've determined your child is okay; it is time to sit down and determine why this beagle, whose breed poses no threat to children, would bite your child. Let's discuss how to stop the dog from biting again.

As mentioned earlier, certain breed of dogs are wonderful pets for children; beagles are no exception. However, there are times when erratic behavior can pose a threat to your children. Determine if this particular incident was a one time occurrence, especially if the beagle was retrieved from an animal shelter. Contact them and ask if similar biting incidences have occurred. If not, the reason behind it needs further exploration.

It is common knowledge that dogs usually bite for a reason. To stop the dog from biting may require you to question the children and find out what was going on when the incident occurred. Perhaps in their enthusiasm in having a new pet, one of children pulled on the dog's tail, or unintentionally scared the dog. There could be a number of reasons. It is up to you to find the real answer.

Conversely, if the beagle you just brought home is a puppy, and took a nip out of one of your children, it is incumbent upon you to begin training to stop the dog from biting. As with other unwanted behaviors in dogs, it is important to establish dominance over the dog.

You, as the owner, must become the pack leader. You need to be the alpha dog. This is critical when any new dog enters a home and immediately tries to dominate it. Once your role is clearly established, your dog will understand the boundaries you have set and abide by them.

To stop the dog from biting takes time, effort, and patience. You must be consistent in your commands, and reward the dog for good behavior as well. In addition, you need to educate your children on the proper way to handle, play, and interact with their new pet. Once everyone knows the rules of engagement, you will all be able to enjoy every aspect of owning this wonderful breed of dog.

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