Monday, July 23, 2012

Prevent Dogs from Biting – Make Your Dog All Bark but No Bite

Dogs are social animals, and a friendly dog in a stressful situation would never attack or bite. However, many cases of individuals bitten by dogs belie this. Thus, it is important to know how to prevent dogs from biting.
If you want to own a dog or already own one and you want to prevent dogs from biting anyone, there are two things you need to remember: first, you have to train your dog to be friendly; and second, you have to avoid putting him in stressful situations.

Dogs feel stressed by unfamiliar objects, people or places, or by unpredictable behavior. However, the degree of unfamiliarity and unpredictability is different from dog to dog. In a crowd, some dogs are friendly to strangers while others are not. What spells the difference between these dogs isn’t breed but how well they were raised. Thus, you can prevent dogs from biting if you properly train your dog.

How to prevent dogs from biting

Although there is no guarantee that your dog will never attack or bite anyone, these six tips will significantly reduce the risks of your dog attacking or biting someone:

1. Familiarity with people and environment will help you to prevent dogs from biting. Create positive and pleasant encounters for your dog with objects, people and places within the first 8 to 16 weeks of his life, especially with those he would likely encounter during his lifetime. To prevent dogs from biting introduce them immediately to various kinds of objects in your house and outside your house (e.g. your vacuum cleaner), to various kinds of people (e.g. the postman), and to various kinds of environments (e.g. your car). Introduce him also to grooming, to the vet, and to other animals, especially other dogs. Some dogs don’t think they’re dogs. You don’t want your dog to have an identity crisis, do you?

2. Familiarize dogs to being touched to prevent dogs from biting as early as possible but supervise dogs when they are with young children as much as possible. It is better your dog realizes early on that you and others mean no harm when you hold him since you can’t avoid touching him or him being touched by other people, especially when he has to be groomed or to be brought to the vet. However, how he is held is important to him. If he is held improperly, as most young children would hold him, he becomes terrified of being touched.

3. Another tip to prevent dogs from biting is to create a home for dogs where they can find peace, safety and security and teach others to respect it. Your dog would encounter at least several stressful situations in his lifetime and that’s all but normal in a dog’s life. However, if dogs has a haven to go home to, it will prevent dogs from biting, as they would more likely dash to their dog house rather than attack.

4. Tie your dog when walking him in public but not more than 8 hours in one place. Dogs tend to get temperamental and aggressive when tied since they experience barrier frustration. They are more likely to attack and bite when approached since it seems to them their territory is being intruded and, because they cannot flee, they fight the intruder. However, when walking your dog, he is better on than off a leash. Supervised dogs are less likely to attack and bite, and also you can keep a better eye on them with a leash and can prevent dogs from biting if they encounter a stressful situation.

5. Another way to prevent dogs from biting is to teach dogs with proper and productive behavior. Though it is highly recommended to enroll your dog, including your family, in a home obedience class, it is just as advisable to consistently reinforce correct and appropriate behavior. Your dog can’t tell the difference between rough-play and real-life situations so don’t show or teach him aggressive behavior, like chasing after or attacking others even for fun. If he exhibits aggressive behavior towards other people or animals, like growling when someone comes too close to his food bowl, seek professional help. It is important to stop dogs biting and aggressive behavior as early as possible.

It’s not all that difficult to prevent dogs from biting and raise them to be friendly, especially if you see dogs as another being that deserves love and attention as much as anyone else does, as much as you do. Most often than not, dogs that attack and bite are neglected dogs. So always remember that behind a good dog is a good pet owner.

If you really want to prevent dogs from biting anyone, you need a dog obedience training to help you transform you dog’s behavior problems at the shortest possible time. Did you know that you can put an end to the stress and annoyance of your dog’s behavior problems by using techniques that will give you immediate results? Discover dog obedience training secrets to stop your dog’s behavior problems visit Secrets to Successful Dog Training

Proper Dog Diet- How to Feed your Dog with Healthy Diet

Dogs are man’s best friends. For sure you really love your dog to the extent that you want to nourish it and make sure it is really healthy and taking proper dog diet. Initially, you might think that making your dog gain more weight can be an indication that the animal is healthy. But on the contrary, obesity in dogs is also not an indication of good health.

Different dogs have different dietary needs. The breed, the age and the overall body weight are the contributing factors that influence the dog’s dietary needs. Be reminded that in truth, there is no single proper dog diet that can be considered as ideal in general for every dog.

One proper dog diet program for one dog could be good and ideal for a dog, but definitely not for another. Thus, if you have two dogs, each has its own dietary need, which would be significantly different compared to the others.

Tips on choosing a proper dog diet

A proper dog diet is also a must among dogs. That is why you should always strive to feed your dog with healthy food. Take note that feeding a healthy diet to a dog is not just all about giving the animal nutritious food. There are so many things you should also consider.

Here are some suggested ways on how you could effectively feed your dog with a proper dog diet:
- Ask the veterinarian about a reputable and ideal dog food brand. Do not just jump into the bandwagon and choose a dog food that is widely patronized in the market. Your vet knows a lot about nutrition facts and proper dog diet.

- If the vet makes a shortlist of recommended dog food brands, make sure you select the one that is of high quality. Consider your dog’s size, weight, activity, age and level before choosing the proper dog diet.

- Balance the dog proper diet by including dry food on his daily meals. Moist canned dog food must also be included because such food would certainly help maintain cleanliness of the dog’s teeth.

-Take note of the protein ratio of the dog food you are feeding your pet. Protein is very essential to the dog’s body. Ideally, protein in dog food should consist of about 20% to 30% of each dog meal. That would make up for the recommended protein intake of the dog.

- Do not overfeed your dog. Doing so on a regular basis could make your pet obese. Just like in people, obesity in dogs could also lead to several medical conditions, like musculoskeletal problems and abnormal growth.

- Feed proper dog diet just about twice each day. There are some dog breeds that need to be fed just once everyday. Make the dog’s meal time regularized during specific and consistent times of the day. Make sure the feed is also in a very and exactly measured amount.

- Do not ever feed your dog with table scraps in or under the table and while you or other people are eating. This would make an impression in the dog that begging for food from people who are eating at the table is acceptable. If you must feed your dog with scraps, put the food in his dog bowl after people have finished eating at the table.

It would not be very hard feeding your dog with proper dog diet. But always make sure that there is genuine caring and love every time you feed your dog.

Did you know that a home-made proper dog diet increases dog lifespan by up to 134%? Discover the step-by-step guide that makes your dog live a longer, healthier life, so you enjoy up to 8.3 more yrs. of happiness and companionship with your dog visit Healthy Food for Dogs

Is Your Dog a Whiner? How to Control Dog Whining and Give Your Ears a Rest

So maybe your dog is the cutest, most adorable thing on four legs, but if he’s a whiner, cuteness can only get him (or her) so far. Before your patience runs out (and that of your neighbors’), you should learn how to control dog whining. But first, learn a few things about him.

Why does my dog whine? Before you could control dog whining behavior, you should know the reason why your dog whines. Whining and similar sounds like barking and howling are just some of the ways your dog knows to communicate how he feels. This often happens when he is left on his own. You’ll notice this behavior in puppies that get separated from their mothers or litter-mates. It’s a distress call meant to tell his pack members that he is scared, in pain, upset or needs something.

In your dog’s case, whining may be a way to communicate that he wants food, attention or affection. Whining may also be his way of saying that he doesn’t feel good, in which case you might want to check him right away. Whining is a good thing and if you love your dog, it’s your cue to make sure his needs are met and he’s happy and healthy to control dog whining.

Unfortunately, whining can also be a way for your dog to get what he wants when he wants it. In this case, it becomes an unconscious habit – a bad habit. It can be heartbreaking or annoying, depending on the situation and you might want to control dog whining immediately to prevent a bad habit from forming. Here’s how:

Read his ‘whining.’ If you just came back from work and he whines, that’s probably because your dog misses you and is glad to see you again. After a short while, he’ll stop whining since he knows you’re already home. If he’s whining and aiming for the door, it can mean he wants to be let out to relieve himself. If this is the case, to stop or control dog whining, make sure to let him out.

If your dog is whining and seems upset, something might not be right, either with him or with your environment. He could be sick, in which case you’ll have to check him or bring him to the vet. He might also be worried about other things within his vicinity. To control dog whining, make sure you check the house because something might be up.

When your dog wants your food. Your dog might be whining because he loves the smell of the juicy steak you’re eating and wants a piece. Stop this behavior from becoming a habit and train your dog to have his own place to eat, totally separate from your dinner table. If your dog is still a puppy, don’t feed him table scraps, especially when you’re eating at the table. He will associate your eating a meal with something good coming his way. Don’t encourage this.

When your dog whines for your attention. Most dogs like attention from you but there are times when you just can’t oblige. In moments when you can, playing with your dog for a while might put a stop or control dog whining. If it doesn’t, learn to ignore his bid for attention and withdraw from him. Usually, ignoring your dog will do the trick.

If he continues, however, tell him quietly but firmly to stop. Don’t touch or pet him when you’re reprimanding him and avoid massaging his neck or back. Giving him a massage means he’s doing a good job and will send mixed messages. If the whining continues, stand directly in his view and in a loud voice, firmly say, ‘No!’ You can also stop dog whining by firmly tapping his muzzle with your hand.

Dogs are wonderful creatures whose companionship is valuable. Don’t punish your dog to control dog whining, unless you know he’s misbehaving. Punishment will not solve his problem and will only aggravate the negative feelings he has. Learn to ‘read’ your dog’s behavior to control dog whining and impose discipline only when it’s appropriate.

If you still failed with all your efforts to understand and control dog whining don’t lose hope. Did you know that you can successfully control dog whining in the shortest possible time with positive results? Put an end to the stress and annoyance of your dog behavior problems and slash your dog obedience training in half by using techniques that give you immediate results visit Secrets to Successful Dog Training

Dog’s Behavior Problem – How to Stop Your Dog to Snap at Other Dogs

Dog behavior can be difficult to understand, especially for pet owners. Some dogs will chase each other all over the street, sniff each other’s bottoms, and then do a few nasty things that may or may not result in a litter of pups. Other dogs will growl at other dogs, bare their teeth, and then snap at other dogs. The latter behavior can be disconcerting to pet owners who are fond of walking their dogs, but who are afraid of alienating themselves from other pet owners who have less aggressive canines.

Dog breeders and owners describe this canine-canine war as dog aggression, which is technically a dog’s intent to do harm to another dog. Dog snap at other dogs is only one display of aggression, and it comes in the category of loud barking and growling at other dogs. Dogs show aggression not so much because they want to hurt another dog, but because they are defending themselves from potential harm. Such defense tactics are undertaken by dogs to gain a higher status over a potential rival, or simply because of built in instincts or traits that make them feel that they are dominant versus other dogs. Some dogs may also develop hormonal imbalance, prompting them to exercise dominance over other dogs by showing dog aggression.

Aggression is common, although some breeds such as bulls and terriers are more likely to display aggression as they age. If a dog starts off life as an abused or attacked pup, then he may be fearful of other dogs and thus exercise defense-based aggression or snap at other dogs. In particular, dogs can be aggressive toward dogs or objects that resemble anything that threatened or attacked them in the past. If your dog snap at other dogs, therefore, may simply be a sign that your dog is defending his or her territory, or is remembering something in his or her past.

If your dog continues to snap at other dogs, then you might want to take a look at the following tips to help you control your dog. If all else fails, take your dog to the vet or a canine behavior specialist for more information on how he or she can be made less aggressive or harmful.

- When dogs lack exercise, they can have a lot of pent up energy, and can actually be more emotionally and mentally unstable. Take your dog out often and make him or her exercise by jogging together, or by playing fetch in the park. This can allow your dog to use up all the energy that he or she has, giving him or her less time and resources to snap at other dogs.

- If you have a puppy, discipline him or her and start him or her on a disciplined life without abusing him or her. A well-disciplined dog is less likely to do harm, and certainly less likely to snap at other dogs.

- If you prefer a dog that is docile and quiet, then you might want to select a breed beforehand that is not prone to snap at other dogs or other forms of dog aggression. Choose toy dogs or retrievers if you have little time to undertake any disciplinary measures. If you are an experienced breeder or trainer, however, then go for terriers and bulls, but be sure to instill discipline early.

- Act as a dominant owner. If a dog senses that he or she is dominant in your house, or the seeming owner of it, then it can turn itself into the alpha dog and establish itself as the leader of your pack. It can then think that it has the license to snap at other dogs and display aggression.

- As much as possible, keep only one dog at home. The more dogs you have, the more defensive your dog will become, and the more likely he or she is to display aggressive behavior or snap at other dogs.

If you really want to stop your dog to snap at other dogs at the shortest possible time, you need a dog obedience training to help you transform you dog’s behavior problems. Did you know that you can put an end to the stress and annoyance of your dog’s behavior problems by using techniques that will give you immediate results? Discover dog obedience training secrets to stop your dog’s behavior problems visit Secrets to Successful Dog Training.

Discover How to Stop Dogs From Barking

Although dogs are domesticated now, by nature they are still wild and they exhibit behaviors that sometimes very annoying like excessive barking. Dog barks to communicate and get the attention of people and other animals but when it becomes excessive and uncontrollable, it’s a constant annoyance and hard to handle if you don’t know the right techniques to stop dogs from barking.

Before trying to stop dogs from barking, you must understand the reason why dogs bark. There are many reasons behind the excessive barking and some of these include loneliness, boredom, medical problems, fear or they just merely seeking attention from you.

Some dogs barks excessively because they want you to take notice of them. When they are left alone and get bored and lonely, they do things that will get your attention even if it irritates you and the neighbors.
If your dog suddenly exhibit bad behaviors like excessive barking for no apparent reason, your dog might need a medical attention. He must be in pain or there are other discomforts bothering him.

You need to determine the reasons for the excessive barking before trying to stop dogs from barking. If you are sure that there is no medical condition that you need to be concern then you might consider the following techniques to stop dogs from barking.

To stop dogs from barking, train your dog to listen to you when you say “stop barking” and be consistent. Sometimes dogs don’t know that excessive barking annoys people. If your dog barks to send alarms or signals to get your attention about something, let him know that you recognize his barks or signals and praise him for the alarm and then tell him to “stop barking”. Be consistent until he learns the habit that barking is just to communicate and he needs to stop when you told him so.

In his quiet time offer treats and continue praising him to let him know that being quiet when he needs to be quiet pleases you. Your dog likes to please you, so it will continue doing something habitually and repeatedly if it knows that you are happy with it.

If the barking continues while you are training him to stop barking, make sure to let him know that you did not like his behavior. Reprimand and punish him if needed to stop dogs from barking. But do not hurt your dog. Dogs have a tendency to be violent when abused.

Dogs are pack animals and don’t like to be alone, give enough time to your dog. Make him feel that he is part of the family. They also need to socialize with people and other animals. Take him for a walk daily or once a week to a dog park, this will stop dogs from barking if they feel loved and this will eliminate their boredom and fear.

If you have tried everything and found no success to stop dogs from barking, do not lose hope, it only means you need more effective techniques to transform your dog’s behavior. Did you know that you can put an end to the stress and annoyance of your dog’s behavior problems by using techniques that will give you immediate results? Discover dog obedience training secrets to stop your dog’s behavior problems visit Secrets to Successful Dog Training.

Dog Care: How to Choose Healthy Dog Food

Feeding your dog is not an easy thing to do, if you consider your dog as part of your family, you will take into consideration your dog’s health and choose healthy dog food to prolong your canine friend’s life.

Dog food must contain balance proportions of nutrients needed for growth and development. For your dog to remain healthy, choose healthy dog food with nutrients like protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fats and minerals. Too much or too little nutrients will put your dog’s health in danger. Commercially available dog foods are usually processed with a lot of preservatives so you must know how to choose healthy dog food to keep your pooch in shape and in good health.

Protein is one of the most important nutrients that dog food must contain. Choose healthy dog food that contains enough protein that your dog need. A dog’s diet must contain about 40% protein. The amino acid in protein is essential for dog’s muscle development and regulation of antibodies. Some sources of protein are meat, fish and soy beans.

You also need to choose healthy dog food with carbohydrates. A 40-60% of carbohydrates are essential for your dog’s health. Carbohydrates also include starches and sugar that can be converted into usable energy. Too much carbohydrates is not healthy and will be stored as fat and may cause obesity and maldigestion and other health problems. Sources of carbohydrates are oats, sweet potatoes and yams.

Fat is also needed when you get to choose healthy dog food. Good sources of fat are vegetable oil, fish and meat. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for keeping a healthy skin and may help in the restoration of other health problems like inflammation and blood clotting.

Like humans, dogs need vitamins and minerals. Choose healthy dog food rich in vitamins and minerals which are essential in dog’s development and for fighting diseases. For instance, Vitamin A is important for proper vision and for bone and teeth development. Vitamin D is important for the absorption of calcium and Vitamin E has anti-oxidant properties to eliminate toxins in the dog’s body. Minerals like calcium and magnesium are good for teeth and bones strength as well as for the normal functioning of the heart.

Water is also essential for the digestion and transportation of nutrients; it also helps in the regulation of body temperature.

Knowing how to choose healthy dog food will not only prolong your pooch life, but it also gives you a peace of mind knowing your pooch as a member of your family is healthy and well protected against diseases brought by unhealthy dog foods.

Did you know that a well balanced home-made diet increases dog lifespan by up to 134%? Discover the step-by-step guide that makes your dog live a longer, healthier life, so you enjoy up to 8.3 more yrs. of happiness and companionship with your dog visit Healthy Food for Dogs