Caring for Your Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Pet Dog

The soft coated wheaten terrier would be considered by most people to be “high maintenance”. This means that a lot of care should be given to it in order to maintain its stature. This statement also means that a lot of steps should be taken in order to care for the dog properly. So how do you care for your soft coated wheaten terrier pet dog?

Let us first talk about the coat. This is one of the most distinguishing characteristics of a soft coated wheaten terrier pet dog. In fact, when you take a look at the name, you will realize that the coat gives the dog its identity. Taking care of this essential part of the soft coated wheaten terrier dog can be quite a daunting task. This is especially true if you have just found out about the various standards that people use to judge the beauty of a soft coated wheaten terrier pet dog.

Frequent grooming is required to keep the coat shiny and to prevent matting. It also helps get rid of any accumulated dirt. You should comb or brush your soft coated wheaten terrier dog everyday to make sure that his coat remains silky and tangle-free. The coat also needs to be trimmed once in a while to preserve the “terrier look” and to allow a new coat to grow.

Besides the coat, you should also take care of the nails and teeth of your soft coated wheaten terrier pet dog. In case that you do not know what to do by yourself, you might want to hire some professional dog grooming services to do the job for you.

Another aspect you should concentrate on is the training. Remember to train your soft coated wheaten terrier dog as early as possible in order to ingrain in him the basics of proper behavior. There are several keywords that should come to your mind when training your soft coated wheaten terrier pet dog:

1) Consistency – be consistent with your teaching. Do not use different commands in order to get the same response as this will only serve to confuse your soft coated wheaten terrier pet dog. You should also be consistent in terms of reward and punishment. This will help your dog understand what you want to happen.

2) Tone – a soft coated wheaten terrier dog is actually pretty sensitive to the tones in the human voice. This means that the dog will be able to tell if you are feeling upset or if you are feeling impatient. You need to learn how to moderate your tone in order to avoid confusion with your soft coated wheaten terrier pet dog.

3) Timing –learn the proper timing of when to correct your soft coated wheaten terrier pet dog. The element you need during correction is surprise. You need to correct the soft coated wheaten terrier for a mistake right after or even before it performs the act. This way, you will be able to instill a sense of consequence into your soft coated wheaten terrier pet dog.

Caring and training for your soft coated wheaten terrier can be quite a bit of work. You will also have to contend with the energy inherent in every terrier breed. However, with patience, your efforts will be rewarded.

Major Concerns with a Border Terrier

If you want to have a small but sturdy pet dog, then the Border terrier might be for you. This pet is no delicate lapdog. The Border terrier pet dog is full of fun for the whole family.

Before getting a Border terrier pet dog, however, you might want to consider some of the major concerns regarding the breed. This will help you weigh the pros against the cons and will let you reach a decision that would be best for you. Here are some concerns regarding Border terrier pet dogs:

1) Temperament – when people talk about terriers, they all comment on the same behavior using different words. Some people say that their dogs are feisty. Some say that their dogs are stubborn. Some people would prefer to use the word impulsive. The point is, they all describe the same behavior. A terrier is inherently dynamic in its behavior. It is part of what makes a terrier, a terrier.

The temperament of the Border terrier pet dog may be quite surprising, if not outright shocking for most people because of its size. For such a small dog, a Border terrier pet dog sure packs a lot of energy.

2) Aggression - Border terrier pet dogs are not really as aggressive as other breeds. However, its instincts as a terrier would still urge it to run after anything smaller than it. This means that if you own a cat or even a pet rabbit, you cannot have a Border terrier pet dog. This also means that you cannot trust a Border terrier pet dog out of its leash. If it even sees something running, it will take off, leaving you yelling uselessly. This, of course, can cause accidents to happen. In order to make sure that your Border terrier pet dog does not get hit by a car, you need to keep that pet on a leash outside.

3) Escape – it is recommended by many experts that Border terrier pet dogs should be kept in a fenced-in yard to let it have some roaming space while making sure that it is safe. However, you should know that Border terrier pet dogs are clever escape artists. Even if a Border terrier pet dog is within a closed in fence, you should try to keep an eye on it.

4) The noise - Border terrier pet dogs will bark at practically anything that catches their attention. Because of this, you need to properly train them to bark only when needed. You should also be quick to stop them if they are barking inappropriately.

For this reason, you should not really get a Border terrier pet dog if you live with very close neighbors and if you work during the day. An unsupervised Border terrier pet dog is sure to keep barking all day long. This, of course, may draw complaints from your neighbors.

5) Independent thinking – what people love about Border terrier pet dogs is the fact that they can learn very quickly. This is because of their inherent curiosity and toughness. However, the same qualities that make them prize-winners can also make them very stubborn when they want to. You have to be consistent with your commands and show the Border terrier pet dog that you mean what you say. In doing so, you will be training the Border terrier pet dog properly.

Some Information Regarding the Kerry Blue Terrier Pet Dog

The Blue Kerry terrier pet dog is one of the most mysterious breeds of terriers. This is because of the fact that even though the breed has been known by the Irish for at leas 150 years, nobody really knows where they came from or how they were first bred.

Various legends are told in order to explain the appearance of the Kerry blue terrier breed. Some say that the peasants bred them for hunting purposes since noblemen monopolized the use of wolfhounds. Thus, noblemen hunted with their wolfhounds while peasants poached with their Kerries.

Another legend speaks of a wrecked Russian ship that contained a blue dog. This dog swam into Irish shores and there, mated with the local terrier population. This, of course, started the genetic pool of blue Kerry terriers.

Whatever the case, the blue Kerry terrier sure has a colorful history. It started as a working dog, helping hunters bring in prey. It would also be trained as a police dog by the English. Today, it is considered to be one of the best breeds of dogs that one can own. This is in part of its excellent abilities as a watchdog.

One thing that is so cool about owning a Blue Kerry terrier pet dog is the fact that this breed is adaptable to every situation. It can be a hardworking hunter’s dog. It can become the vigilant watchdog. If you want companionship, it can also provide that. People who are fortunate to have a Blue Kerry terrier pet dog even say that once you are a Kerry lover, you are forever a Kerry lover.

There are some terrier characteristics which may cause a bit of trouble for your dog. Like all terriers, the Blue Kerry terrier pet dog can get into fights with other dogs. In order to prevent this, you need to make sure that the Blue Kerry terrier pet dog is properly socialized. Usually this is done by the breeder.

Most people, when they are getting a pet often ask the question of whether or not a pet can be housebroken easily. Thankfully enough, the Blue Kerry terrier pet dog has a disposition that is easily house trained. The Blue Kerry terrier pet dog is actually quite eager to learn. This means that you will be able to train it very quickly.

Although a Blue Kerry terrier can become an excellent playmate for children, it must be taken that the children do not show any cruelty to the dog.

The Blue Kerry terrier is also one of the more hardy types of terriers. This is because the Blue Kerry terrier has very few genetic problems. Before buying one, however, you need to ask for eye certifications and hip x-rays. These are the most commonly afflicted parts of the Blue Kerry terrier.

A Blue Kerry terrier is not really for everyone. Some people may find it a bit too playful. Some people may not really get used to the Blue Kerry terrier’s curiosity. People may not really understand its habit of following everyone around. Today, the fate of the Blue Kerry terrier dog lies in the hands of the breeders who care for them, nurture them, and make sure that they have great homes to stay in.

House Breaking Your Golden Retriever

To properly train house break your Golden Retriever, you must stick to a routine regarding your crate, and ensure that he doesn’t spend additional time outside of his crate. When he is outside of his crate, you should watch him at all times. If you don’t keep an eye on him when he is outside of the crate and he has an accident inside the house, you can’t blame no one but yourself as you didn’t correct him the second it happened.

To help your dog learn the right way to relieve himself, you should always praise him when he goes to the right location. You can crate him at night, then take him out when he wakes up in the morning and show him the correct spot. Give him some time, then praise himself once he starts to go. If you avoid accidents, you should be able to train your Golden without any problems. Once accidents begin to happen though, it can be extremely hard to break the pattern.

When you house break your dog, you should never give him any freedom. Getting it right is a lot of work for him, and chances are he’d rather be doing something else. If you are tolerant with him and allow him to make mistakes, you’ll find yourself needing to be a lot more stern to break him of the bad habits that you have tolerated and allowed. If you start when your Golden is young and enforce the rules, he’ll be a happy member of your family in no time at all.

When you house break, you should use confinement as much as possible. Confinement basically means that until you have housebroken your Golden Retriever, he isn’t allowed to freely move around the house. You should always keep a watchful eye on him and make sure that if he’s outside the crate - you know where he is at all times and what he is doing.

If you happen to take your eyes off of him even for a second, he could easily relieve himself on the floor. Once he starts to go on the floor, it can be really hard to break him of this habit. The smell will be there, and he will smell it the next time he is in that area. Each time he smells it, he will instantly go to the bathroom in that same area. The best way to prevent this from happening is to watch him at all times and ensure that he only goes in the area you have for him.

To housebreak your Golden Retriever, you should also allow him a way outside. Normally, a doggy door is the best way to do this, as your puppy can go outside and relieve himself when the time comes, without disturbing you. You should also use puppy pads or a litter box inside as well, so that he always has somewhere to relive himself. During times when he can’t make it outside, he needs somewhere else that he can go.

Housebreaking your Golden Retriever can take you some time, although it will be well worth it once your Golden is properly trained. He’ll be an essential member of your family, and not use the bathroom anywhere he takes a notion. He will only relieve himself outside or in an area that you have trained him. Golden Retriever’s need interaction with people, and if you are going to keep them inside - you’ll need to ensure that they have been properly house broken.

Hip Dysplasia And Golden Retrievers

Hip dysplasia is a poor formation of the hip joints, which is a common growing disease with younger dogs of virtually every breed. With larger breeds, unsteady hip joints are common, although hip dysplasia can be a serious problem that will limit the physical activity of your Golden. Although many Golden Retriever owners don’t realize it, hip dysplasia is something that dogs inherit from their parents, and gets worse with age.

The signs and symptoms of hip dysplasia is nearly impossible to detect with Golden puppies, although it will start to show once the pup has reached the age of nine months. Even though you may take your Golden to the vet to have him looked at, your vet will tell you that you need to wait to see if the symptoms are there, once the Golden Retriever has reached a certain age.

The symptoms and signs of hip dysplasia vary, although the most common include crippling or the inability to walk properly. This disease can get better once the dog gets older though, due to the joints stabilizing, the inflammation going down, and the muscles in the hips getting stronger and more mature. Keep in mind however, that Golden’s who have hip dysplasia when they are younger will more than likely develop arthritis when they get older.

Golden Retrievers that suffer from hip dysplasia aren’t fit for breeding, although they can still live a long and healthy life. There are certain drugs that your vet can prescribe to your dog, which will help him control his weight and help control the disease. These drugs can also cut down on the pain as well, helping your Golden enjoy himself as much as possible.

Some Golden Retrievers that have hip dysplasia won’t begin to show any signs at all until they get a few years old, once the muscles start to wear down and the damage to the hip muscles start to become more noticeable. Although your dog may be active and healthy for most of his puppy years, dysplasia can slow everything down and make your dog look as if he is old and is suffering from the physical attributes of arthritis.

To eliminate the pain of hip dysplasia, there are surgery options available. Golden Retrievers have a high threshold for pain, and won’t normally show any signs of being in pain, even though you know they are. X-rays won’t show any signs of pain, although the limping or slow walking will tell you that your dog is hurting. Golden Retriever’s who have this disease won’t know it - which is why you should help as much as possible. If you do your part and help your dog seek relief - he will feel better than ever before - although he won’t let you know he hurt any at all.

Traveling With Your Golden Retriever

Golden Retrievers love to be included in family activities, which includes take rides in the car and traveling. They love attention, and love for you to treat them just like they are a member of your family. When you first get your Golden Retriever puppy, you’ll have to teach him how to enjoy car rides and traveling, so he can come to appreciate it more as he gets older.

When you decide to take him traveling for the first time, you should always give him food in small amounts throughout the day, while he adjusts to traveling. If you feed him a lot of food before you head out, he may get sick in the car and have an accident. By reducing the amount of food that he consumes, he’ll be much more in control of his bladder and himself.

When you are traveling, always plan to make frequent rest stops and allow your Golden Retriever time to relieve himself. You should also take some time to exercise as well, stopping every few hours for bathroom breaks and exercise. Golden Retrievers will hold themselves if they need to, although it isn’t good for them. No matter how far you travel, you should always be kind to your dog and stop every so often to let him have some time.

A common mistake that many have made, and one you should avoid at all costs, is letting your Golden ride in a moving vehicle with his head out the window. Although you may think this is a good idea, your Golden can easily get an eye, ear, or nose injury. Cars and trucks move at very fast speeds, and something can pop up when you least expect it and do serious damage to your dog.

When you stop for a break or to fill up your car, you should never allow your Golden Retriever to be alone in the car with the windows up. Even though you may crack the windows for him, the heat of summer can result in a heat stroke if you aren’t careful. If your dog does get a heatstroke from being locked up in a hot car, he can easily die before you are able to return to the car. If you simply must leave your dog in the car, make sure that you park in the shade and give him plenty of air.

As long as you do your part and take care of your Golden Retriever when you travel, he will love to travel with you. Traveling is something that your Golden needs to get used to, although most adapt to it fairly quick. Once you have taken your dog traveling with you, he will know when it’s time to travel and eventually learn to tell you when you need to stop so he can use the bathroom.

Why Does My Dog Lick Me? Learn To Speak Dog!

Dogs have three ways of communicating what they want. They bark, paw or mouth. We expect them to be bi-lingual. For a better relationship, return the favor.

In view of the fact you probably don't speak Dog, the best way to learn what your puppy or dog is trying to tell you is to learn Dog.

Mainly new, inexperienced dog owners do not realize Dog is a simple language to learn. Once you learn it, you understand your pet is communicating volumes of information by their doggie sign and body languages.

Licking is a common complaint many dog trainers receive. Frustrated owners, usually of new puppies or demanding, and amazingly spoiled dogs, often call to say they are being "licked to death", and they don't know what to do about it.

Learn Dog To Know What Is Your Dog Telling or Asking Of You?

There are a number of reasons why your canine companion licks you. Most are means of communication...we just have to know Dog, so we know what they are trying to tell us.

Licking is natural and inherent. From the day they are born, puppies are licked by their mother as a way to groom/clean, comfort and mark them. When they get a little older, they learn licking could inspire mom to feed them a few regurgitated morsels. Mom's licking communicates a number of messages to her offspring; which they continue to practice on themselves, another animals and on us.

This could be a good thing, or an annoying habit; which can become a serious behavioral issue.

Basically, licking makes a statement about your pet's mood, grooming habits, level of submission, signs of affection and the one we have the hardest time with, the need for genitourinary stimulation.

Since your puppy or dog doesn't understand why you don't speak Dog fluently, they will usually be persistent and keep licking until they get a reaction from you. Dogs learn by association. When your dog associates too much or the wrong kind of licking means you will leave them, they usually learn not to become obsessive about it...or not do it in front of you. The message they must learn is, one or two licks...and we're good!

When we reward the unwanted behavior by giving attention each time they demand it, we create a behavioral issue. By knowing when, where, and how often to respond or ignore, we curtail their demand before it becomes a relentless problem that requires behavior modification. The best way to do that is to simply walk away and ignore them.

Licking the face of another dog is the universal doggie message, "I'm helpless, I submit to you." or, "Hey I'm friendly and I'm so happy to see you." This is an ancient behavior, that has been normal from the time they were wolves.

When the wolf or wild dog pack returned from the hunt with supper, the subordinate members of the pack were happy to meet and greet the hunters, but they always had to wait their turn to eat. They displayed their happiness and submission by cowering and licking the mouths of the more dominant pack members. They were also hopeful the object of their admiration, would release a scrap or two.

Have you ever noticed your puppy or dog display their anxiety by nervously licking their chops? It is a display of submission and it's self-consoling.

It should be noted, a dog that obsessively licks itself could also be indicating a medical problem. That needs to be addressed immediately before it develops into a neurotic, self-consoling behavior.

Licking, as a means of grooming, is perfectly natural...it's like taking a shower every morning. The problem is, when they want to give you one too! Here again, one or two licks and we're good, should be the message you sent back.

Dogs instinctively lick open wounds, as a way of keeping it clean. For centuries, armies had packs of dogs tag along with them, for protection, as a food sources and as "medics." Their crucial task was to lick open wounds, to keep them clean, and disease free. It was, and still is in some cultures, believed their saliva helps to kill certain bacteria. That theory is debatable, and the jury is still out on it.

The genitourinary stimulation thing as a rule is, "if it feels good, why stop?" It's your responsibility to curtail that behavior when it is inappropriate, and before it becomes an obsessive behavioral problem.

By Learning Dog

You will better understand what your puppy or dog may be trying to communicate. Such as:

"You have returned from the hunt safely...what did you bring me?"

"Are you as happy to see me, as I am to see you!"

"I need some consoling and reassuring."

" I'm sad because you're upset."

"I submit."

"You're hurt; here let me fix it."

"I'm depressed, or lonely and I need your attention."

Or, "I have put my scent on you. You are mine, all mine!" Let's face it, licking sure beats the alternative scent marking method!

Bottom line: Observe your pet's sign and body language. Learn Dog; so you can better understand what your puppy or dog is trying to tell you. That way you can control the behavior before it becomes a serious behavioral problem.

Your dog will be so impressed, that you are as bi-lingual as you expect them to be!

General History Of Dogs

There is no incongruity in the idea that in the very earliest period of man's habitation of this world he made a friend and companion of some sort of aboriginal representative of our modern dog, and that in return for its aid in protecting him from wilder animals, and in guarding his sheep and goats, he gave it a share of his food, a corner in his dwelling, and grew to trust it and care for it. Probably the animal was originally little else than an unusually gentle jackal, or an ailing wolf driven by its companions from the wild marauding pack to seek shelter in alien surroundings. One can well conceive the possibility of the partnership beginning in the circumstance of some helpless whelps being brought home by the early hunters to be tended and reared by the women and children. Dogs introduced into the home as playthings for the children would grow to regard themselves, and be regarded, as members of the family

In nearly all parts of the world traces of an indigenous dog family are found, the only exceptions being the West Indian Islands, Madagascar, the eastern islands of the Malayan Archipelago, New Zealand, and the Polynesian Islands, where there is no sign that any dog, wolf, or fox has existed as a true aboriginal animal. In the ancient Oriental lands, and generally among the early Mongolians, the dog remained savage and neglected for centuries, prowling in packs, gaunt and wolf-like, as it prowls today through the streets and under the walls of every Eastern city. No attempt was made to allure it into human companionship or to improve it into docility. It is not until we come to examine the records of the higher civilisations of Assyria and Egypt that we discover any distinct varieties of canine form.

The dog was not greatly appreciated in Palestine, and in both the Old and New Testaments it is commonly spoken of with scorn and contempt as an "unclean beast." Even the familiar reference to the Sheepdog in the Book of Job "But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock" is not without a suggestion of contempt, and it is significant that the only biblical allusion to the dog as a recognised companion of man occurs in the apocryphal Book of Tobit (v. 16), "So they went forth both, and the young man's dog with them."

The great multitude of different breeds of the dog and the vast differences in their size, points, and general appearance are facts which make it difficult to believe that they could have had a common ancestry. One thinks of the difference between the Mastiff and the Japanese Spaniel, the Deerhound and the fashionable Pomeranian, the St. Bernard and the Miniature Black and Tan Terrier, and is perplexed in contemplating the possibility of their having descended from a common progenitor. Yet the disparity is no greater than that between the Shire horse and the Shetland pony, the Shorthorn and the Kerry cattle, or the Patagonian and the Pygmy; and all dog breeders know how easy it is to produce a variety in type and size by studied selection.

In order properly to understand this question it is necessary first to consider the identity of structure in the wolf and the dog. This identity of structure may best be studied in a comparison of the osseous system, or skeletons, of the two animals, which so closely resemble each other that their transposition would not easily be detected.

The spine of the dog consists of seven vertebrae in the neck, thirteen in the back, seven in the loins, three sacral vertebrae, and twenty to twenty-two in the tail. In both the dog and the wolf there are thirteen pairs of ribs, nine true and four false. Each has forty-two teeth. They both have five front and four hind toes, while outwardly the common wolf has so much the appearance of a large, bare-boned dog, that a popular description of the one would serve for the other.

Nor are their habits different. The wolf's natural voice is a loud howl, but when confined with dogs he will learn to bark. Although he is carnivorous, he will also eat vegetables, and when sickly he will nibble grass. In the chase, a pack of wolves will divide into parties, one following the trail of the quarry, the other endeavouring to intercept its retreat, exercising a considerable amount of strategy, a trait which is exhibited by many of our sporting dogs and terriers when hunting in teams.

A further important point of resemblance between the Canis lupus and the Canis familiaris lies in the fact that the period of gestation in both species is sixty-three days. There are from three to nine cubs in a wolf's litter, and these are blind for twenty-one days. They are suckled for two months, but at the end of that time they are able to eat half-digested flesh disgorged for them by their dam or even their sire.

The native dogs of all regions approximate closely in size, coloration, form, and habit to the native wolf of those regions. Of this most important circumstance there are far too many instances to allow of its being looked upon as a mere coincidence. Sir John Richardson, writing in 1829, observed that "the resemblance between the North American wolves and the domestic dog of the Indians is so great that the size and strength of the wolf seems to be the only difference.

It has been suggested that the one incontrovertible argument against the lupine relationship of the dog is the fact that all domestic dogs bark, while all wild Canidae express their feelings only by howls. But the difficulty here is not so great as it seems, since we know that jackals, wild dogs, and wolf pups reared by bitches readily acquire the habit. On the other hand, domestic dogs allowed to run wild forget how to bark, while there are some which have not yet learned so to express themselves.

The presence or absence of the habit of barking cannot, then, be regarded as an argument in deciding the question concerning the origin of the dog. This stumbling block consequently disappears, leaving us in the position of agreeing with Darwin, whose final hypothesis was that "it is highly probable that the domestic dogs of the world have descended from two good species of wolf (C. lupus and C. latrans), and from two or three other doubtful species of wolves namely, the European, Indian, and North African forms; from at least one or two South American canine species; from several races or species of jackal; and perhaps from one or more extinct species"; and that the blood of these, in some cases mingled together, flows in the veins of our domestic breeds.

Tips to Save Cash With Homemade Dog Food

It may seem more expensive creating your own healthy homemade dog food as meat will take a larger percentage of the ingredients. Do not despair but be far sighted. The healthy diet availed to your pooch will save in terms of the number of visits to the vet.

For those firm believers of healthy homemade dog food and who only use the commercial baggage as a back up, incorporating money sense and able to maximize the health or your furry friend is like wining the world cup in an inflationary economy! Keep in mind these tips and your furry friend will be an asset not a liability in the numbers world.

Keep it simple

Bypass exotic and expensive meat, such as, bison, duck, ostrich and emu. The rationale is such meat are allergy free. This is based on the assumption that protein diet is causing allergy and switching the protein source will eliminate the allergy. It is best to strengthen his intestinal organs with probiotics such as Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Bacillus species available in many forms including food, supplements and yogurt products, as this will help reduce his sensitivity to food allergy.

Get to know your butcher

Ask your local butcher to save the unwanted cuts for your dog at a reduce price. Although some cuts may still be too fatty for heath consumption, trim the meat further yourself at home. The meat will be fresher as it has not been packaged for travel long distances. There is a possibility of organic or grass fed meat availability which is a definite plus to health.

Food is medicine, medicine is food

If you feed your dog healthy homemade dog food, this will have a direct impact on the health of your dogs. When your dog is healthy it ultimately saves you money and yet you do not have to be tight on quality ingredients. You can buy in bulk and locally thereby saving on the amount you would have paid on logistic cost. These savings can be used to creating healthy homemade dog food by using organic ingredients. To further enhance the health of your canine friend, add supplements, herbs, vitamins and minerals.

The key is balance

Take for example, vitamins or supplements, add them to healthy homemade dog food to booster the health of your canine friend but not overdose. Check with your vet to find the correct dosage. By adding enough it will save you money simultaneously protecting the health of your dog. If we check and compare what we have most of the time the products dosages overlap. We need to sit down and rationalize and before you know it we do not need some of it and we will be able to keep some cash.

Grow your own food for a healthy homemade dog food

Share the stress of the supply food chain by growing some healthy herbs and vegetables such as tomatoes in small containers that in the balcony if you live in the city. If you have your own backyard, you could have a garden of vegetables and herbs. You and your faithful companion will have hours of bonding time in a sun soak getaway.

Managing meat

If you are person who is an advocate of healthy homemade dog food and is budgeting conscious, here are some extra tips. Repackage the bulk purchases into smaller bags and freeze them until later use. Buy whatever meat that is on special, such as, chicken, beef, pork or turkey. That will save you money and add variety to satisfy the palate of your dog.

I am sure there are plenty of ways to save in a commercial driven economy and you will probably come up with a few ideas on your own. As Abraham Lincoln puts it, "Determination: Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way."

The Reasons Why Dogs Bark

Dogs bark. However, there are different types of barks and why dogs do this. Read on to learn about this.

One problem that dog owners and other people have is when a dog barks too much. This is especially true when a dog does not even seem like he would like to stop barking. There are many reasons why these animals bark. The key to stopping a dog bark is to find out and understand these reasons. That way, you would know the reason so you can find a solution to put a stop to the whole ruckus.

There are different types of barking. Dogs bark not because they want to annoy you but because they may be upset angry or bored. To handle the barking get to the main reason why he did so and handle it. Here are the different types.


• Territorial - One reason why a dog barks is because it is asserting its own territory. Dogs, just like other mammals, are territorial animals and they want you to know that it is the dominant entity in a certain place. This territorial nature can be seen when the mailman comes to deliver a letter to your home. Your pet would start barking. This is their way of saying to the mailman that your home is off limits to other people. That territory can be your house, the places that he has walks on a lot or it can be the park which he frequents.

• Alarm - Dogs usually bark when they see something that alarms them. Those which do this usually bark at anything they see regardless of whether it is within their territory or not.

• Attention seeking - When dogs feel that they are lacking attention, they will usually bark to seek attention.

• Greeting - This is a happy kind of bark, as when the pet sees their owner coming home from work, they will gleefully bark in greeting. Some would whine instead of bark when they greet their owner. You will know that the dog is greeting you when they are wagging their tail while barking.

• Compulsive - Sometimes, dogs seem to bark for no reason at all. This may be because they are bored or are anxious. This barks become compulsive barks as they do this again and again.

• Social - Dogs are social animals in certain ways. They bark because they want to communicate with other dogs. This may sound needless or angry but they are just responding to each other.

• Frustration - Dogs tend to bark when they cannot do anything about a situation they are in. For instance, when a dog is locked up in a crate, they will bark until they are released. It can be like a cry for help for them.

• Injury or illness - When a dog's bark is accompanied by whines, this could mean it is in pain or injured. Pay very close attention to this kind of bark.

• Separation anxiety - This reason can be hard to determine to pay close attention to the accompanying behavior of the dog while barking. Observe activities like destruction, pacing or making messes.

Puppy Training Tips Review

The aim of every good dog owner is to produce an animal that is well behaved in every environment and situation and that is not always easy for the average person. The quickest way, and I think the best way, is to follow a well-structured training plan that has been developed by professionals, shown to work successfully and is prepared in a simple, easy to follow pattern. (This is for the owner's benefit, as well as the dog!)

Dogs are descended from pack animals and, as such, the leader of the pack is the one that gets to set the standards for the rest of the animals; in your environment, it is your role to be the leader of the pack.

There are six basic training steps for every dog and then, once mastered by both you and your pet, you can move on to some fun training with your dog so your animal can be part of the fun with you and your family.

The overpowering joy you experience on bringing home your first puppy can be quickly shattered when it makes its first impression on, or in, your home. We all know that, unless it is a pre-trained rescue dog, these types of accidents are going to happen, but probably the first time is the worst.

Therefore your dog's initial training needs to be focused on toilet training. Teaching it to use a designated place in your outside space as a toilet, and not your house, must be your first priority. This step will be fraught with difficulties and there will, of course, be other accidents along the way, but, at the end of the day, when your puppy consistently manages to both let you know when they need to go and then go where they have been trained, both of you will be overjoyed.

The next stages in training your puppy are:

2 Obedience Training
3 Crate Training
4 Walking On A Lead
5 The Recall
6 Good Puppy Manners

Finally, you can work with your dog on some fun exercises that can teach it to give you its paw, wave, rollover, etc. These are not cruel on your pet as they enjoy themselves learning and can give you and your family more joy in playing with your dog.

Although you will want to move your dog's training through at an accelerated rate, bear in mind that your dog sees these exercises, not as training, but as fun and games. You should start training your puppy as soon as you can as, like young children, they will absorb everything that you can give them. Keep the early sessions short, up to a maximum of 10-25 minutes, to keep you and your pet at a high energy level. Gauging the time of the sessions can be important as too long will make the training for your dog less enjoyable and, like you at school or work, will probably stop them learning.

As I stated earlier, the aim of every dog owner is to produce a well behaved dog in any situation. It is also important that your dog respects each situation without the need for loud words and/or striking the animal. Your role as owner and trainer of your pet is to achieve this situation. Remember, there is no such thing as a bad dog, just a bad dog owner. Your dog deserves a good home and a good owner and it is your duty to provide both of these!

A Friend for Life Who Can Really Change Your Life

For dog lovers it is almost entirely unbelievable that anyone could hate dogs. Not because of how they look - which helps - nor because they guard you or protect you. Well some do! But it's actually because they are so amazingly affectionate, no matter whom you are or where you come from.

Dogs are completely non discriminating too and don't care where you were born or what color you are. If you show them any kind of friendliness and treat them well they will love you like no other animal does. They love kids, they love adults, they love the young, the old and when they really get to know you that is when they show their love by offering to protect you from any danger, muggers, burglars, thieves, robbers, young hooligans, anyone who might threaten you.

Your dog will take responsibility for you and never take his or her eyes off of you whenever there is a threat or risk of any kind. And the amazing thing is you don't have to train them. They instinctively know how to look after their owners and how to chase the bad guys away or raise the alarm.

What's not to love about a friend like that? They keep you on your toes too, because if you own a dog you better want to be fit. You have to take your new friend for a walk and in the process get some needed exercise. Throwing the ball and other toys to retrieve is also good exercise and if you take the animal on a leash, you can jog him round the block a few times and he'll love every minute too.

Why? Because he or she is playing with their best friend in the fresh air, and how good does it get for a dog? Actually, how good does it get for the owner too? Apart from keeping fit and getting some stress free quality time outside, you will be smothered in love too from this joyful animal who loves nothing more than to play and be loved too.

It's a win-win situation and it's no suprise that doctors have learned that owning a dog is one of the best ways of relieving stress and relaxing you to the extent that it can reduce high blood pressure, improve your appetite and help you sleep better too. Now why wouldn't you want a best friend like that - someone who does all that for you and never speaks an angry word?

Dogs! are amazing creatures I have spent over 20 years training and breeding dogs. They love unconditionally and ask little in return. They are great companions.