One of the great joys of life is acquiring a new dog. Whether it is a lively fun seeking puppy or a mature dog from a rescue centre there is the excitement of collecting the dog and the eager anticipation of the pleasures of dog ownership to come. But how can you ensure a long and happy relationship? You need to learn about dog care and training as well as considering your own situation before you even start looking for a dog.

Considerations
At HomeAre there children in your household.Do you have other pets.Do you have a reasonable sized yard or garden.Have you considered the dog’s toilet arrangements.Are members of your family prepared to spend time training and exercising your dog.Can you fund good quality feed, some vet’s bills, insurance and kennel stays if necessary

Dog Breeds, Size and Weight

You will sometimes need to handle your dog e.g. grooming, trimming nails, bathing or lifting onto scales for a weight check. Obviously, the size and weight of your dog will make this easy (Chihuahua at 2.70 kg to 3.63 kg) or near impossible (St Bernard at 75 kg to 91 kg)

Exercise

Exercise is a key factor in maintaining your dog’s health. Small dogs like Jack Russell Terriers will not need as much daily exercise as a working breed such as a German Shepherd.You need to decide how much time can be given to the task. The less time available the more important it is to acquire a smaller dog.

Home Environment

If you like your house to be warm some dogs may find it distressing – a Shih Tzu dog for instance or a dog with a thick coat. If you have an immaculate home filled with expensive furniture, you will need to think carefully about the sort of dog you intend to buy especially if you want a puppy.

Grooming Your Dog

You need to groom your dog on a regularly. Size comes into it but so does the type of coat. A short coated dog is obviously going to pick up less dirt, and mud. and be easier to clean and groom. A muddy dog may require washing. This needs a facility such as an old fashioned tin bath. You could use your shower or even your own bath but it means a lot of cleaning up afterwards.

Temperament

You’ll find that working breeds, a broad group, including everything from guard dogs to sheep dogs are often more stubborn and tough-minded. Terriers are often bossy and a little aggressive. Hounds are usually relaxed and friendly, but sometimes difficult to train.
Carry out some research into different breed characteristics. Do this on line and ask your vet’s opinion. Dog breeders will normally promote their own breed so they are not necessarily the first people to ask for an opinion.

You will be looking to compare the following points.

Energy level
Activity and playfulness levels
Affection and Loyalty levels
Intelligence
Aggression (towards people/other dogs/other pets)
Ease of training
Heat and cold tolerance
Compatibility with people and other animals

Some Breed Comparisons:

Labrador

This breed is good with children and quite intelligent. They can be hyperactive if they do not get enough exercise because they are basically a working dog.

Golden Retriever
These dogs are similar in temperament to the Labrador but have less tendency to hyper activity
Poodle
An intelligent dog. It has an excellent temperament. It was used as a hunting dog in times gone by so it is quite tough by nature.

Beagle
Friendly, clever and not too big, making them suitable as a family dog. They can be over energetic if not exercised. They respond well to firm training.

Cairn Terrier
Busy little dogs that adapt well to children. They are usually of good quiet temperament

Collie
The Collie and the smaller Shetland are both calm, gentle and tolerant breeds that usually do well with children. They do need some constructive play i.e. fetching a ball etc.

German Shepherd
Very intelligent but it is a big dog and needs exercise and constructive play. It is loyal and a good guard dog. However, a German Shepherd must be properly trained.

Cross-Bred Dogs
Come in all shapes and sizes and typically should not suffer from in-bred temperament faults.

Owning a dog is great fun but you need to think carefully about management before you take on your new “best friend”.

The post Choosing A Dog? – Check This Out First first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Jumping up is one of the most frequent grievances Jack Russell keepers have about their pets. Mainly because Jack Russells are small, energetic and have strong legs, they’re vulnerable to jumping all over folks. Irrespective of their small size, JRTs are strong small dogs and they can pack plenty of pressure into a jump. This may also be a problem if your canine likes to get his feet grubby and go jumping all over your guest. So on this article, I’m going to explain some ideas and strategies to prevent a Jack Russell from jumping up. A fine dog training plan is necessary to make your jack russell properly behaved.

Preventing Jumping Up

Now, let’s quickly mention the matter of prevention. In Jack Russell training, it’s often better to avoid a problem from building or being more serious than to try to repair it once it gets to be out of hand. Bad habits in the canine can be difficult to correct. So, in the event the problem is recently developing, nip it inside the bud before it gets out of hand.

Lower Your body

The initial tip is to come down to your dog’s level when you greet him. Kneel down anytime you meet your puppy right after returning home. This prevents any need for your canine to jump up to get close to you.

The Off Command

However, you may discover that even when you kneel down, the dog will still refer to putting his paws on you, even though he just isn’t jumping. In this case you can train the Off command.

Teaching the Off command is easy. Here’s how you do it:

1. Kneel right down to meet the puppy.

2. Have a tasty goody equipped to reward the puppy.

3. When he paws at you, say the word “Off” in a apparent, authoritative tone.

4. When his paws naturally touch the floor, reward him using the treat and commend him with words.

Initially, the canine won’t completely grasp the link in between the word and then the activity of moving away from you. But once you do this repeateadly workout time after time, the canine will determine that everytime he stops leaping up, he gets a food reward.

Attention Searching

Never ever give your Jack Russell interest whenever he jumps high on you. Attention just reinforces the conduct and conveys him it really is something he must do much more – that’s the opposite of what we’re seeking to gain. So, as a way to make him jump up less, it makes sense that we must dismiss the habits as much as possible. Take out the reward (your focus) and then the puppy will spot much less advantage in jumping up. This is a straightforward way of employing the dog’s all-natural wishes and instincts to build the habits you desire.

Always attempt to determine what the dog needs when you happen to be making an attempt to improve behavior problem. Jack Russells really don’t react nicely to being pushed to change – they’re strong-willed and independent, so strong-arm tactics will commonly generate a lot more opposition. It really is much simpler to uncover just what the canine wants and employ his very own wishes as being a motivator for good habits.

The post Jack Russell And The Jumping Issue first appeared on Puppy Blog.

As one of the largest retailers of PetSafe dog training collars within the UK we are writing to review the new PetSafe Venture Training collars.

In many respects the new Venture dog training collars are a large step forward aesthetically from the more conventional black boxy training collars like the old PetSafe 400 remote trainers. If you look at what most manufacturers have produced in the past it has been a black square receiver collar with a black strap and working a black remote handset.

The new PetSafe Venture receiver collars are aesthetically pleasing in a blue translucent casing that is nicely curved to compliment the dogs neck, they certainly look much more comfortable for the dogs to wear. This new exciting lifestyle appearance of the PetSafe Venture training collars has really set them apart and this factor alone has brought much interest from prospective customers. One point to note is that some people who have been a little wary of what others will think when their dog is wearing a static collar have been pleased to purchase a collar that doesn’t really look like a static training collar.

Venture training collars come in two different models the Venture 350 for small dogs up to a weight of 18kg that operate up to a 350 meter range, and the Venture 900 for medium to large dogs for pet dogs over 18kg that works on a distance up to 900 meters. Whilst the technology is the same in both the collars the level of static pulse is understandably lower in the smaller 350 Venture. Both of these Venture collars are able to operate 1 or 2 dogs from the same remote so all you need to do is buy a second receiver collar to turn these into a two dog training system.

Whether you decide to buy a new PetSafe Venture training collar or not we advise that you always set this on the lowest setting and just gradually increase this until you find the right level for your dog. Please bear in mind that all you are trying to do is set this at a level where you interrupt your dogs trail of thought. This is important as these collars need to be used sensitively and in a controlled manner, this way they can be extremely effective as a training aid.

PetSafe Venture trainers are fully waterproof so streams, rivers and lakes are a definite yes for dogs that just love to get wet, with no harmful affects on the collars. They also are mains rechargeable so just charge overnight and you are ready to go.

One very important feature that these Venture collars have is a large red button on the handset, this is a booster button that ramps the level of static by three levels and is ideal in emergencies. If for example you see your dog running towards a busy road you can use this feature to save the dogs life.

So how reliable are these PetSafe Venture collars? We have been selling these now for over six months and they appear to have been very reliable, we have had very few after-sales issues and generally the majority have been very pleased with their performance. Dogs seem to find them very comfortable to wear and their owners have found them effective. For further details on any aspects of the PetSafe Venture collars or any other PetSafe dog training collar then please do not hesitate to contact us on 0800 849 8844 or byemailatsales@easyanimal.co.uk. All the PetSafe range can be viewed at www.easyanimal.co.uk

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A lot of people make a mistake regarding dog and training – they think that one dog can be trained just like the other dog, worse, that all breeds can be trained in exactly the same way. Wrong.

It is very important dog training tip to stress is that when it comes to dog and training, not all dogs are created equal, just like many believe it or not. Each dog has their very own unique personality just like humans. And if the dog owners would only remember that important dog training tip, then they may not get as frustrated with the training of their dogs.

One dog training tip that an experienced trainer once told me was that small dogs are to be given a different approach to training than the bigger dogs. Ever heard of the Napoleonic syndrome? The shorter they are the . . . well, let’s just leave it at that.

Basically, smaller dogs are more courageous at heart if not in mind; they have to compensate for their small sizes. While the bigger dogs are just as courageous, but they feel they do not need to prove it for they already have the size and the power. So if a trainer looks at the quirks of the dog’s personalities, they would know just what technique to use when training the dog.

The dog trainer went on to display that not all big dogs are born leaders or Alphas for that matter. There have been a lot of cases where the smallest in the pack is the leader because of their cunning and intelligence. It also helps if the smaller dog raised the bigger dog since it was a pup. The bigger sized dogs bow to their elders, just like any humans. No matter the size, the bigger dog can concede to the reasoning of a smaller dog especially when it comes to stalking. This behaviour can be most observable in a home with small sized and big sized dogs living in one household. Usually the big dogs are the muscles and the smaller ones are those who think up of ways to manipulate the humans.

When it comes to dog and training, these personalities should be observed before the actual training could begin. There are some dogs that refuse to be trained until they see a smaller and older one doing exactly what the trainer instructs them to do. The big dogs would not want to look stupid in front of the smaller ones so they strive hard to emulate the example of the smaller dogs.

Trainers have long since observed that most dogs would learn faster from example of older dogs. Just like the humans do, they learn through observation and example. So do not get frustrated when what worked for one dog does not work for the other. Talk to a trainer and ask for their opinions on dog and training and how best to approach the whole process. Maybe the dog just needs guidance from another dog. It usually does the trick.

The post The Ultimate Dog Training Tip Not All Dogs Are Created Equal first appeared on Puppy Blog.

What is actually a small dog training collar and also just how will you choose the best kind? To resolve the most important question during the simplest manner, that is the device which can be planned for small dogs, specially those that weigh cheaper than 15 pounds. Are you aware that which type of collar is best suited, probably choice would be doable in your case as we first outlined which training collars commonly are not advisable.

A choke chain is one of the oldest and the most common small dog training collar being exercised. However, item, joined with several hard jerking from your trainer is hardly the optimum approach to use on small dogs. In truth, choke collars are actually proven to cause severe neck sprains, temporary foreleg paralysis, and tracheal damage, a few. Choke collars might well be the best option if you wish to certainly be a 100 % certain that your dog can’t slip outside of his collar, yet it is definitely not quite possibly the most humane equipment to make use of in dog training.

A pinch collar is yet another common training equipment. It is usually more advisable than choke collars for replacements in small dog training because it’s called by have saved a considerable amount of dogs’ lives. The fact is that, right now it’s typically the most popular small dog training collar among women, senior citizens, and pet owners with disabilities or injuries. May be given it takes significantly less energy to make your dog answer to a pinch collar rather than to other training collars and equipment.

This small dog training collar could be very effective because its mechanism draws on pure logic. Remove, mother dogs normally nip at their offspring to take care of bad behaviour. The pinch collar, therefore, only mimics a type of correction that the dog could be very knowledgable about, thus making her respond better to it rather than to any other kind of coaching collar. Furthermore, the sort of back of the shirt is made from a qualified veterinarian who knows the simplest way to defend the pup from collar injuries. That you are therefore assured that it is safe and even more humane approach to other training collars.

Of course, you will want to take into account that a pinch collar is just a training tool and it’s intended to be used exclusively during training other than for your dog’s permanent accessory. A good idea is useful to train dogs with tracheas that are able to be easily damaged, such as Dachshunds and Jack Russel Terriers. The pinch collar is a very start in training small dogs, but show up you’ll want to figure out how to talk with your dog even wthout using small dog training collar.

Finding the very best collar particularly little dogs is actually a difficult and delicate task, but once you know which different kinds of collar don’t use, the position of choosing the right collar turns into a great deal easier. The biggest thing is designed for you to always consider your dog’s safety and well-being most importantly other elements and considerations. When you have inked this then everything else will get caught in place.

The post Simple Effective Strategies for Picking the right Small Dog Training Collar first appeared on Puppy Blog.

A puppy training pad is getting to be the way many people are potty training their new puppy. These pads are good not only for potty training but for keeping a dog inside whom seldom goes outside. Anyone living in city conditions where taking their dog outside will appreciate the convenience of a puppy training pad.

We see older dogs that because of age or health or injuries can no longer control their kidneys and these pads provide a real convenience for both the animal and its owner. Young dogs are anxious to make their owners happy by relieving themselves in the right place. If a mature dog suffers from incontinence it will be a difficult situation for him and his master.

Marring of household contents can be costly and cleaning can be unpleasant for the owner and also stressful to the dog. Puppy training pads can help man and animal get along well and help the dog with his issues.

Litter boxes such those used for cats can also be helpful for dogs. Litter boxes have assisted in housebreaking of many small dogs. Litter boxes are not necessarily the most desirable answer, however. Bags of litter are expensive and the litter boxes can become a bit unkempt. Cats and litter boxes seem to work out well but this is probably not the best solution for dogs.

A puppy training pad is less costly and provides a less messy alternative. The pads are probably more like going outside on the yard than the litter box is. With a litter box some of the material invariably winds up on the floor and this does not happen with pads. The pads are easy to remove and discard without creating a mess.

These puppy training pads will help with the problem of a dog creating an odor in a certain place and then returning there. Urine odors that penetrate hardwood or carpet will stay there for a long time. If this happens the dog is sure to return to the same spot and propagate the problem. It is a dog’s habit to go back to the same area.

When your puppy goes to the pad it can then be thrown away along with the accompanying smell. Your responsibilities are simplified. If your goal is to teach him to go outside this is fairly easy. Slowly but surely relocate the pad closer and closer to an outside door and give him treats as he behaves properly. Before long he will be going to the door automatically.

The post How to Use a Puppy Training Pad Properly first appeared on Puppy Blog.