Is your dog always slouching and bored being indoors all day? Well, it’s about time that you spend some time with your dog and do some activity. Agility is an amazing and fun sport that both the pet and the owner can enjoy. Most of pet owners are well aware that physical activity and exercise is important to keep the dog healthy and active. Agility training with the use of equipment does not only ensure your dog’s physical health but it also stimulates his mind. It tests the skills, endurance and capacity of your dog to go through the obstacles. This sport has started in UK in 1978 as an entertainment, but now has gained its popularity and considered also as a sport. Some does this for competition others for fun and spending time with their pet.

In agility training basically you will need the equipment to use. You can either build your own obstacle course or purchase it online. Apparently, it is gaining popularity among pet lovers that there are different types of agility equipment that is readily available in the market today. But, with wide selection to choose from, how will you determine that you are getting the suitable equipment to use?

First, consider the dog that you are going to train. Is your dog timid and you wanted to develop his confidence? Or is your dog has high energy and you want it to be used in a more controlled manner? Second, the size, age and breed of your dog. Basically, an agility course consisted of jumps, tunnels, weaves and a pause table. Choose adjustable equipment so you that will be able to decrease or increase the level of training difficulty. Go for portability of equipment, that has manual labor required, can be taken apart and relocated easily. Changing the layout of obstacle course will also provide more challenge to your dog.

Obedience is the key to the success of this activity. Agility training does not only test the skill of your dog, it also teaches them to be obedient in your commands. Determine also the goal of agility training, do you want to do it just for fun and just spend time with your dog? Or you want to take it to a more serious level such as for competition? These factors will help you in choosing the suitable equipment to use in the training.

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Summer may be your favorite time of year, but with it comes the heat, humidity and summer storms-all of which can be very hard on your dog. When planning your summer, it is important to remember your canine family members to make sure they make it through the summer happy and healthy.

“We see and hear of so many dogs every summer that get dangerously ill, or worse, by being placed in completely avoidable situations,” stated Liam Crowe, Bark Busters’ president, CEO and master trainer. “Many times the owners just don’t know any better, so educations is the first step in preventing our dogs from getting heat stroke, dehydration and other heat-related maladies.”

Depending on your experience level with dogs, below are either some new tips or some important reminders to keep your canine friends happy and safe during the summer months.

Heat

Heat can kill…and very quickly. Make sure your pet has plenty of cool, clean water. Do not dehydrate your pup by exercising it in the heat of the day. Save the run or long walk for early morning or late evening when it is cooler. Bring plenty of water with you and give him a drink whenever you take one. Be aware, too, that hot pavement can burn your dog’s paws. So if the pavement feels warm or hot to your hand, your dog will not like it. Dogs don’t have shoes to insulate their feet!

If your dog is spending time outside, make sure he has shade available to him along with plenty of cool, clean water. Provide two or more sources of water in case one gets knocked over. Your dog will also need shelter in the event of a sudden storm. He does not want to be out in the storm any more than you do. For his shelter, be sure to provide adequate ventilation because heat is a major cause of death in pets in the summer.

Cars and Trucks

Do not leave your dog in the car, even with the windows open. Heat buildup is tremendous, and it will not take long for him to overheat and suffer heat stroke. In less than 10 minutes, a car can reach over 120 degrees when it is only 80 degrees outside. Remember, your dog is wearing a fur coat. Think how you would feel if you were wearing fur at this time of the year!

Some dogs love to stick their heads out of the window to catch a breeze. It may look cute to you, but flying objects can injure your dog’s eyes and the constant flapping of his ears in the wind can harm them. Instead, crate or harness your dog to keep him safe. The back of a pickup is not a safe place for him. If untethered, he can jump or fall out, and even if he is tethered, he may get jerked around and injured during turns or sudden stops. He could also be hurt from the intense heat on the bed of a pickup.

Water

If your dog loves the water and loves to jump into the pool, make sure he knows how to get out safely. Dogs will instinctively try to get out at the same place they went in, so it is important to teach your dog or puppy where and how to get out of the pool regardless of where he went in. It is also important for you to keep an eye on him when he is in the pool because swimming is very tiring for a dog.

Be aware of the surrounding area if you take your dog to the beach, lake or pond. Watch for trouble and make sure your dog will come to you as soon as you call. Recall is one of the most important lessons you can teach your dog. It can literally save his life.

With a little planning and thought, we can help our dogs enjoy the summer and make it through without incident. We love our pets and want them to be with us for as long as possible.

The post Making the ‘Dog Days’ of Summer Easier on Your Pet first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Help dogs come with an assortment of skills: guiding dogs, hearing dogs and service dogs just to name a few. The basic premise of their training are all similar: condition a dog to help people that cannot do their day-to-day chores on their own because of certain impairment. These dogs will serve the people that have these impairments in the specific ways that are needed based on their skill, personality and each dog’s specialized training.

There are two types of dog training that these animals have to pass: Self-training and program training.

Self-training is done by the owner of the dog and consists of the general skills most owners naturally teach their dogs. The dog gets to know the person that will be their owner and master and to learn what that person’s handicaps and limitations are. The dog will develop a natural bond with their owner and take pride in helping them to accomplish the tasks that they need help with. Program dog training is also done with the owner, but with the aid of a trained dog helper expert that is know legible in the steps and skills that are essential to their important work. We know that having time between the dog and the owner will encourage or increase their relationship – but the training is also essential for the dog to be useful.

You can train young and old dogs, some prefer to train dogs that are aging in particular instances where an older dog might be more suitable – in other instances a younger dog might be more appropriate. There is no one size fits all.

As an owner you can train a dog in your own techniques that suit your family. By spending time together to increase your good relationship, you dog will be able to adapt to almost any situation. You can easily teach the dog commands such as: come, sit, no and stay. As time goes by you can train them to do things such as turn on and off lights and close and open a door.

One thing we do know is that our pet is one of our best friends, an effective companion and will go wherever we want them to go. They also provide emotional and mental support when we need someone to talk to – dogs really are man’s best friend.

The post Types of Dog Training first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Puppy training is a fantastic method of managing the safety and well-being of young puppies. From your puppy’s earliest years and throughout the rest of his/her life, the learning and training never stops.

Professional training for your puppy will teach him doggy basics, such as going to the potty at appropriate times and on appropriate spots. They also teach him general obedience. It involves spending time with him so you both are communicating on the same wavelength canines and humans communicate differently, and a good trainer works with you as well as your dog by showing both of you how to understand each other. And many times, it’s a lot easier than you imagine.

The Function of Professional Puppy Training.
Puppies, like babies, are blank slates. Many people attempt puppy training at home. However, if you’ve never trained a puppy, don’t have the time to do so, or seem to be failing miserably, professional puppy training can give your pooch the manners and respect for authority he needs to grow into a good dog.

Basics
What professional puppy training covers depends on various things, such as what your puppy knows how to do and what he’s having problems learning. For instance, a puppy that is not properly potty trained may learn to go potty only on command.

Types
There are two main types of puppy-training classes, and the duration of each varies. The first is the group class. Many dog-training facilities and pet stores host group puppy-training classes.

Benefits
The immediate benefits of enrolling your pup in professional puppy training are obvious: fewer mistakes around your home and fewer chewed-up shoes.
If a grown dog has never received training, owners may find that it’s their pooches that are in control.

Considerations
When looking for a dog trainer, think about whether your pooch would benefit most from one-on-one training or from a group class. Additionally, when choosing a trainer, ask about previous experience, success stories, and certification dog trainer through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers.

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