Dog Clothing, Products, News and Tips

Most dogs learn their biting reflexes from their mothers and from their siblings. When your puppy gets excited, whether it is during nursing or playing, the puppy’s mother will find a way to solve it.
Unfortunately, this does not always naturally occur for puppies. Often this is because many puppies are taken away from their mothers while they are still young. This makes the new dog owner responsible to do something about it.

Letting your dog spend time with other dogs is one of the better ways and more effective ways to teach your puppy the appropriate behavior. One way of letting your puppy socialize with other pups is to take him or her to a puppy obedience class if you are financially able or you could always let your puppy play with a friend’s dog as well.

The reason why putting your puppy with other pups is a great way to solve the biting problems is that the other dogs will correct the issue right away if it happens. Keep in mind that puppies will bite one another while playing but it is only when it becomes rough that the other dogs will take corrective action. Experts recommend that you let your puppy socialize with other dogs before the age of 12 weeks.

As well as introducing your puppy to other pets, you should also introduce your puppy to a wide range of people too. This includes small children, seniors, men, women, and people of different ethnic backgrounds. This will help your dog learn to be people-friendly and to be less aggressive to other people.

Socializing your puppy with other people and animals is not the only way to prevent any unwanted aggression from your dog. Give your puppy toys that he can play with so he can control his biting. Provide chew toys, ropes, and other toys that your puppy can chew on because this allows him or her to take out any anger or just bite on something else. As well, keep his teeth polished and do not let him chew on things that he shouldn’t, even if it means punishing him.

Make sure that no one in your family or that visits your home encourages your puppy to bite because training your puppy not to bite is a process. Even if only one person lets him or her chew on something that everyone else does not, this will send the puppy mixed signals and they will think that it is okay to do. However you plan on helping your puppy stop the biting habits, you have to remember that it takes patience!

Thinking about getting a new puppy or currently own a little puppy? Then this information will come in handy. House training your dog is one of the first things you should be doing. It is the most important aspect of training your dog as a puppy. While this process is usually not hard, take it seriously. You should always remember to take it slow because it will not happen immediately. If you rush the training process you may end up having to restart the whole process.

When the owner is not at home, the puppy should be placed in a small room at all times and all of the floor should be covered with paper. It is very important to puppy-proof the room , which means that you should remove any items that could cause injury to your puppy. At first, the puppy will likely dispose of waste at a random spot in the room and they will likely play with the papers, chew them etc. This is normal and you should not punish your puppy for it. Always clean up any mess that the puppy makes each day and place new ones down.

While the puppy is in the small room when you are not at home, due to using the paper training method he will began to get used to using the bathroom on the papers. After some time goes by he will choose to try other places to use the bathroom. When he establishes a favorite spot you should slowly take away the paper from there. Start to remove papers that are farther away from that spot then move on to laying down just a few papers. If your dog misses the paper when using the washroom it means that you need to make the area a little bit bigger as you reduced the spot too much. After your puppy is comfortable with doing his business on the same spot all the time you can most the papers to a area of your choice. Only move the paper up to an inch a day. If the puppy misses the papers, it means again that they are not ready to make a little move from spot to spot. It is important to not rush this process. If this happens then you can just move the papers back and wait a while.

The more time that you are able to spend with your puppy, the faster that he or she will be house trained. The main goal should be to bring your puppy with you to the toilet area to use the bathroom every time that he needs to go. Most of the time, your puppy will either need to go every 45 minutes or in most instances, right after each time he plays, after he just wakes up, or right after he eats or drinks.

When your puppy gets used to the toilet area and he starts to improve his bladder and bowel control, he will be able to spend longer time outside and a longer time on his own or playing. It is important that this transition is a slow process and that you don’t rush anything. Do not leave the puppy alone unless he is in his the originally specified room.

Going outside with your dog can lead to more than just a healthier lifestyle and a better bond with your pet — it can lead to romance. “I wanted to have social opportunities with my dog,” said Angie Gwiazdon, owner of K9-Connection, a Minneapolis-based canine networking program. Gwiazdon created a program that allows dog lovers and dogs to meet like-minded people, share some food and get to know one another in a no-pressure, fun atmosphere.

Where To Meet Dog Lovers
Wood offers a bit of advice to men seeking women who love dogs. “Shelters are full of kind women who volunteer their time. It’s paradise for a single man,” she said. You can also meet like-minded people at the dog park, doggie day care or simply around your own neighborhood.

Let Your Dog Lead The Way
Your dog can help you meet someone if you take a daily walk and see someone on a similar excursion. “Start moving in the direction of the other person,” said Gwiazdon. Your dog will then be able to lead you the rest of the way to the individual. Dogs are very good at picking up subtle changes in your path. “Compliment the dog, not the owner,” said Gwiazdon. That canine compliment can get the ball rolling for some human interaction. It helps avoid the awkwardness that can sometimes follow a compliment between two unacquainted people. As you chat, it becomes easier to let someone know that you’re not only interested in the dog but seeking to learn more about the owner as well. You may even get a phone number out of the exchange.

[Source: WNBC]

“Their saliva is much cleaner and if you have a cut or anything, if they lick it — it’s healing,” one woman told “20/20″ while being interviewed in New York City.

To find out just who has a cleaner mouth, we asked veterinarian and fellow dog lover Marty Becker, author of “Chicken Soup for the Dog Owner’s Soul,”. “They raid the garbage can. You know, we give each other a peck on the cheek when we say hello, they give each other a peck on the rear end,” said Becker. “All you got to do is look, watch, smell and you’ll realize that that is not true.”

He thinks the myth that a dog’s mouth is clean stems from their practice of licking their wounds. “And they’ll be licking that wound and you’ll notice that the wound heals very fast - what that tongue does is it gets rid of the dead tissue,” said Becker. He compares that tongue lashing to the work of a surgeon who cleans out a wound, and said the licking also stimulates circulation.

If you want to give your pooch a kiss, it may be safer than kissing another human. Becker says many of the bacteria in the mouth of a dog are species specific, so it won’t harm its owner. “So a staph or a strep for a human is not transmissible to a dog, if you were to kiss it, and vice versa,” said Becker.

Bottom line - you’re more likely to get a serious illness from kissing a person than kissing a dog. But since dogs do transmit some germs, Becker has some advice: “Keep the vaccines current. Good external parasite control, good internal parasite control. You’re going to be good to go.” And then, he says you can kiss them all you want.
[Source: ABC News]

Praise is the key to bonding with and understanding your dog. With a little help you will see your dog’s behavior vastly improve. If you’re happy and excited, the dog will be too!

Have you ever seen someone give their dog a couple of “good boys” only to see no reaction from the dog? Worse yet, have you ever seen this happen where the dog stiffened up? If you think you can say “good boy” without meaning it and have your dog believe you, you’re wrong.

The key is that dogs need to believe our praise. Dogs are highly emotional and very perceptive. As pack animals, they seek the approval of their superiors. If other people see you praise your dog, and they think you’re pretty weird, then you are probably praising it correctly.
Talk to the dog. Tell him how well he just sat; how confidently it was done. Tell him you admire his intelligence, and how you appreciate his good work. Say it and mean it. Say it as silly and as babyish as you need to, to get the dog’s eyes to brighten up, his posture to rise, his ears to perk up proudly. That is praise.

Tossing a ball or a stick for your dog is not praise. It is play. It is important to play with your dog. But, if your dog doesn’t feel good from your vocal praise and your facial expression, all the play in the world will not build a relationship, nor will it help you in training.

The best communication
The best way to develop a good relationship with your dog is to communicate on an emotional level. You must rely on building your skill at talking to the dog, so that the dog picks up immediately on your emotions.

It is easy for most people to talk silly with puppies. It takes some practice to be able to talk babyish to a big, tough dog. Since we cannot elevate the dog to human understanding, we must act in ways that dogs understand. A pat on the side and a “good boy” can give great satisfaction to the dog.

All of this is necessary to understand your dog and put fun into your training program. It’s very important to see a happy dog and one that can’t wait for the training time as you step out the front door with a leash and collar in your hand and treats in your pocket!

Have fun together!

[Source: OrovilleMR]

Vacations can be sad if and when they separate pets and their owners.

The traditional procedure has been to board dogs in a kennel during vacations, but that experience can be mixed.

“Dogs with behavioral issues, separation anxiety, or who don’t like other dogs are likely to experience a lot of stress if kenneled,” says Angela Speed, spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Humane Society. “Likewise, older dogs who have never experienced a kennel may not adjust well.”

Happily, new answers are appearing to the old question: “What do we do with Tippy during family trips?” The options fall into two categories: To take or not to take.

For Beth Maresh of Cedarburg, the answer is: “Take.” Her family has two well-traveled dogs.

The family is among the 29.1 million Americans who say they have traveled with a pet in the past three years, according to the Travel Industry Association of America. Canines are the most popular animal travel companions, says the association.

But pet owners can’t always take their animals along on vacation. Here are some options if you decide to leave your dog behind:

Do a pampered sleep-over
Several local dog day care centers offer extended overnight boarding with playtime perks above kenneling.

Milwaukee’s Central Bark downtown and north side locations, for instance, offer enough supervised exercise on playground equipment with other dogs to fill a six-hour day before lights out. Stays can range from overnight to three weeks.

“The main thing we’re trying to do is keep them mentally and physically exercised. We find they’re happier all around,” says Katie Wilke, Central Bark general manager.

Donnybrook Inn, located in Cedar Grove, offers themed luxury suites for dogs, including a “Harley Suite,” and a “Patriot Suite” complete with themed toddler beds and covers, and TV sets to help keep Fido relaxed and occupied. The inn is set on 80 acres of land with several dog swimming ponds. Owner Lesley-Rae Karnes is a champion dog trainer.

“There are no tears when the dog is left here,” she says. “Kids get involved in selecting which suite the dog will use, and everyone feels good.” It’s about $22 a night. Information: www.donnybrookkennel.com or (920) 668-6511.

Hire a sitter
Professional pet-sitting companies allow your dog all the comforts of home - because he is home.

“In most cases I see dogs being much calmer than when they’re kenneled. They know where their toys are, where their dish is. Their yard is just a few steps away,” says Jane Lichtenberg, founder of Critter Sitters Inc. in Glendale (www.crittersittersinc.com).

Professional pet sitters can be hired to do as many visits a day as needed (costs vary but are about $19 to $25 a visit). But be sure to plan ahead because most professionals need to meet with owners and pets ahead of time.

“Pet sitters can administer meds,” says Felicia Lembesis, executive director of the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters.

“They need to know what should be done in an emergency, who the vet is, what the pet’s habits are, the favorite toys. . . . Things like where there’s a circuit breaker box in case of a storm.”

Added bonus: Pet sitters can also make the house look lived in by opening and closing drapes, taking in the mail and watering the plants.

A professional pet sitter should be insured and have references. For more information on what to look for in a pet sitter, check out information from NAPPS at www.petsitters.org.

[Source: JSOnline]

Dogs love a good day at the beach. Fortunately, there are numerous ocean and lake playgrounds for canine frolicking in pet-friendly cities across America. The best ones, of course, allow dogs to go off-leash, no matter what time of year.

A number of these dog-friendly meccas can be found in California.

San Diego
As a city, San Diego is beach heaven for canines. There are three off-leash zones where dogs can run free and even enjoy water activities such as kayaking and surfing.

Dog Beach at Ocean Beach: The original dog beach of California. Popular with both locals and tourists. It offers a wide stretch of sand along the Pacific Coast and is a great place for early morning romps, sunset walks or simply sitting and watching the waves roll in. Parking is plentiful, and this area is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Fiesta Island: Most of this large, sandy island in Mission Bay is a leash-free zone. Filled with sand dunes for a romping good time and the waters in the bay are calm — perfect for canine swimming. There’s ample parking and the area closes at 10 p.m. daily.

Coronado Dog Beach: With the backdrop of the famous Hotel Coronado, it’s a great place to picnic and relax. South of the Hotel Del Coronado, you can see the hull of the sunken gambling ship the Monte Carlo and, on a clear day, you can even see Tijuana. While the beach is open 24 hours (street parking only), it can get crowded, so go early.

Huntington Beach
Dogs are welcome on a stretch of sand along the famous Pacific Coast Highway between 21st Street and Seapoint Street — about three-quarters of a mile long. Open between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily. The restaurant area off the main beach has plenty of outdoor seating areas where you can relax and keep your pooch close by.

Long Beach
A hangout for celebrity dogs and their owners as it’s the only off-leash dog beach in all of Los Angeles County. Dogs are welcome at many of the outdoor areas of restaurants, as well as in some stores on trendy Second Street. This is a popular place for beach events and activities. To keep track, visit hautedogs.org.

Despite the fact that numerous Web sites and blogs claim there is a plethora of off-leash beaches in the northern California, none of these areas are official off-leash areas.

Chicago
The Susan Kimmelman Off-Leash Dog Beach located at the northwest corner of Montrose Beach (the point closest to the city) requires a special $5 DFA (Dog Friendly Area) tag confirming that dogs are vaccinated and in good health. The tags are sold at many veterinarian offices and directly from the Chicago Park District. Dogs must be leashed coming and going to the designated area.

The Evanston Dog Beach in northern Illinois, also requires a beach pass. The off-leash area is open May 1 through October 31, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The beach pass costs $50 for residents and $100 for visitors, to be worn by dog owners.

Annapolis, Md.
Quiet Waters Dog Beach on the banks of the South River in Annapolis, Maryland, is a popular hangout for dogs and is adjacent to a nearby fenced dog park. There are two play areas: One designated for larger dogs, the other for small or elderly animals. Owners are allowed to bring two dogs each, and there’s a shower to rinse off after a day of fun in the sun.

Lake Michigan
The Norman F. Kruse Park in Muskegon, Mich. offers a beautiful stretch of white sand, capped with sand dunes for canine fun and games. It’s a popular location for family beach picnics as parking is accessible and there are restroom facilities.

Duck, N.C.
In the town of Duck, dogs and their owners have the whole year to enjoy the vast stretches of beach that trace the coastline beyond a 10-mile radius of city limits.

Whidbey Island, Wash.
This picturesque setting offers dogs a wonderful stretch of sandy beach and ocean to enjoy. It’s a great place for people to relax and unwind too. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Rainer and the Seattle skyline.

St. Petersburg, Fla.
North Beach at Fort De Soto features a stretch of white sand and has been named one of the most beautiful beaches in America. The Pinellas Country Parks and Recreation Department has opened a Paw Playground adjacent to the beach area where dogs can socialize and enjoy some serious doggy play.

Key Biscayne, Fla.
The Dog Beach in Key Biscayne, Miami is on the corner of Waddell and Vernon Avenue, just south of South Street. Don’t be surprised if you see dogs sporting the latest bikinis, board shorts and shades to match their owners.

Dog beach etiquette
Petfriendlytravel.com’s Travey Thompson says there are not as many off-leash beaches in this country as pet-lovers might imagine.

“Leash-free beaches are the result of huge efforts made at a grass-roots level by dog lovers within a community. I think it’s important for people to understand that these beaches are a privilege that can be revoked at any time. We all need to help keep these leash-free zones in tact by always picking up after our dogs and obeying the rules of the beach.”

For up-to-date information about off-leash zones and beaches that require a leash, visit Haute Dogs, the organization that initiated the Dog Zone in Belmont Shore — it’s also a good source of doggy beach information countrywide.

[Source:MSNBC]

A recent report by the American Veterinary Medical Association found that about 63 percent of all households in the United States have a pet. The bad news: 5 to 7 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year and about 3 to 4 million are euthanized.

There is a solution, and the way to reduce the number of pet deaths is adoption. Adopting a dog is a life-changing event. Dogs need lots of time and attention, requiring owners to be there every day. Therefore, it’s critical to find out whether you’re actually ready for a dog or would be happier with a goldfish instead.

“Making sure people are fully prepared to adopt a dog means a happier home and longer life for the dog,” said dog expert Trevor Wright. “Taking the time to thoughtfully consider if you are ready can reduce the number of abandoned and neglected pets.”
Here are a few things to consider when adopting a dog:

1. Are your children ready? Babies and toddlers can’t be trained as easily as dogs, which is why many experts recommend waiting until children are at least 8 years old before bringing a canine into the mix. If you’re set on getting a dog and have small children in the house, consider adopting an easygoing adult dog who’ll need less attention than a growing puppy.

2. Is the decision to adopt unanimous? Dogs shed, bark and can be messy. Unless the whole household is fond of your dog, it’s easy for resentment to build. It also makes it hard to set and enforce house rules, such as whether the dog can join you on the couch.

3. Consider the costs. On average, expect to spend about $800 during the first year of your dog’s life. If you live in a city where vet costs are higher, work full-time and need backup care, and want to give him at least a few treats, it can easily climb to $1,200 to $1,800 annually.

4. No yard? No problem. Some people believe a fenced-in yard is critical to having a dog. In fact, a yard can become an excuse for not walking or exercising your dog daily. Dogs spending most of their time in the backyard miss out on meeting other dogs and people, which keeps them happy and well socialized.

Learn More
For more information, visit http://www.dogtime.com/.

[Source: NAPSI]

Swimming seems so integral to being a dog that we’ve even named a stroke after them, the doggie paddle, so you’d assume that’s something that every dog is born knowing how to do. However, not every dog instinctively knows how to swim, and some can’t swim at all, Wendy Diamond, the founder and editorial director of Animal Fair magazine, told TODAY. Dogs’ aquatic abilities are so misunderstood, in fact, that she put together a list of water safety tips for dog owners.

Diamond confirmed that some dogs are born swimmers. It’s a good bet if the dog’s breed includes the word “water,” as in Portuguese or English water spaniel, it takes to swimming like a nursery-schooler takes to finger-painting. For owners of those breeds, the problem isn’t getting the dog into the water, but keeping it on dry land.

But other breeds aren’t as water-friendly. Some dogs have to be taught to swim, Diamond said, and others, like bulldogs, take to the water like submarines take to the Cross Bronx Expressway. For the former, there is hope. For the latter, there are those bright orange canine flotation devices. Among those that can’t swim at all or swim only with great difficulty are basset hounds, bulldogs, dachshunds, pugs, corgis, Scottish and Boston terriers and greyhounds.

And then there are dogs like the Maltese, which are capable swimmers, but which are also susceptible to rheumatism, arthritis and chills that could be exacerbated by taking them in the pool with you. Diamond has a checklist for doggy swim lessons:

Avoid excessive noise: “Take them to an area that’s not so crazy and hectic,” she advised. Like children, dogs can become frightened and confused if there’s a lot of noise and activity around them. The object is to keep them calm and focused on the swimming lesson.

Use encouragement: As when teaching a child, keep your voice upbeat and positive, she said. “Using treats and toys to encourage your dog to enter the water also works quite well,” she said.

Never throw them in: Just as you shouldn’t throw a child in the water and expect it to swim to safety, you shouldn’t do that with a dog, Diamond said. “Don’t force the dog. If they don’t want to do it, don’t force them to do it.” Instead, she told Celeste, “Slowly put them in the water and get their paws used to it.”

Support their weight until they paddle: Even if the dog is wearing a life vest, Diamond said, support its midsection and hindquarters in the water until they start paddling and feel comfortable.

Show them how to get out: Getting a dog in the pool is only half the battle. Diamond reminded pet owners that they also need to be shown where the steps are in the pool so they can easily get out.

Keep an eye on them: Even in the water, dogs can wander off. Dogs that swim naturally and well can jump in the ocean and keep swimming until they’re lost, Diamond said. “You want to make sure, like children, that you watch where they’re going,” she said.

[Source: NBC Today Show]

Many pets are not used to large crowds and a lot of noise. The noise and commotion can be extremely frightening.

“If you are hosting a party or will have fireworks, have a safe quiet place to keep pets so they will not become frightened and hurt themselves. Fireworks, particularly, make pets very uncomfortable and agitated, and can hurt their very sensitive hearing,’ said Schultheis.

If you know your pet usually becomes scared by loud noises, like thunderstorms, Schultheis recommends putting the pet in the quietest room of the house, with soothing music playing, to help them alleviate any anxiety caused by exploding fireworks.

“If you are home with your dog during a fireworks display or thunderstorm, do not try to comfort them. That tells them that they have reason to be frightened. Turn up the radio to help drown out the noise and put lots of lights on so that the flashes are less noticeable. Act normally, keeping your voice light and unconcerned,” said Schultheis.

Never tie dogs outside because it increases their anxiety, Schultheis said.
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“Don’t leave your outdoor pets unattended, even in a fenced yard. The chaos may cause them to panic and hurt themselves trying to escape. A scared animal is not careful, and many are hit by cars when running wildly away from something they think is dangerous,” said Schultheis.

It is also a good idea to be sure your pets are wearing proper identification in case they do become lost during an event. Identification tags will help your pet find its way home. Microchips are the most reliable form of identification.

“Don’t take your pet to a fireworks event and then leave it alone in a parked car. They may develop hyperthermia (increased body temperature) which is usually fatal,” said Schultheis.

Dogs and cats cannot perspire and can only release heat by panting, drooling and through the pads in their feet. Cars reach unsafe temperature levels (120 degrees Fahrenheit) quickly. Young, elderly or obese pets, and those with a dark-colored coat, are particularly at risk of overheating.

“Keep your dog or cat hydrated and cool. Make sure they have access to water for drinking. Use a wet towel under the animal, air conditioning, a kiddie pool, or a fan in front of a pan of ice to keep the animal cool,” said Schultheis.

[Source: News-Leader.com]