Overall Dog Info

When humans feel the onset of allergies, they do everything they can to eliminate pollen, mold, and dust from the area. Dogs are equally susceptible to common allergens, but they lack the communication skills required to make a change. It’s therefore up to a pet owner or a veterinarian to supply the diagnosis. Common symptoms of dog allergies include excessive scratching and biting at the feet and flanks, and tell-tale redness in the ear flaps.

If you can effectively control your dog’s environment – keeping him indoors when pollen begins to spread, for instance – it’s enough to minimize allergic reactions in some cases. Otherwise, talk to your vet about medical options. Dog allergy shots have proven to be safe, but they aren’t always fast-acting. Demonstrate patience in the weeks following allergy treatment because your dog will almost certainly experience relief in the long run.

It’s not easy to train a rambunctious young puppy to obey your commands. Dogs are often mischievous by nature, but bad behavior can be corrected through patience and persistence. Positive reinforcement is a system of training your dog to associate good behavior with treats. Timing makes all the difference when practicing positive reinforcement; make sure that your dog understands the reason she’s being rewarded.

If other members of the household are going to engage in the training as well, it’s best to settle upon some consistent terms. A dog can become confused by the slightest variation in commands. For instance, “sit” shouldn’t become “sit down” before the dog has mastered that command. Most dogs are food-driven, so organic dog treats or other edible goodies are often the best reward.

When we brought our 9 week old Schnauzer home, I thought how wonderful he is, so intelligent. I could tell he was a very smart dog. He walked beside me on the leash, didn’t pull, didn’t make a fuss about the collar or anything. When talking to him you could see the wheels turning in his head, as if he understood every word. Once introduced to his toys he seemed to understand that those were what he was to chew on and not the table legs, furniture, corner of the walls, or our shoes or socks.

He was very smart in those types of matters, but I couldn’t understand why he was so obnoxious and difficult to get along with about other things. We discovered later, it was when we intruded on his position or authority as the pack leader that he would become very ill-tempered. In his mind, we were totally out of line, out of control and we were not adhering to his rules and he felt it was his job to set the household right again.

It didn’t take us very long to realize that he was actually training and manipulating us in how he wanted us to relate and respond to the rules he was establishing.  How he had managed to manipulate his way into the “CEO’s position” of our household, I will never know, well, yes I do know, we allowed it.  By the the time he was only 13 weeks old, we knew we needed help from a professional dog trainer.

We began attending a regiment of weekly obedience training sessions with a dog trainer for several months. The first session started out OK, until the trainer said that we needed to use a different type of collar on Smokey. The trainer preceded to remove the thin fabric collar, which went OK, but when he started to put the metal choke training collar over his head, Smokey went berserk! He was trying to bite the trainer and throwing his body all around like a tasmanian devil. The trainer went into action, grabbing the skin around the back of his neck and forcing him to the floor, keeping him there until he submitted and calmed down. The squealing, screeching sounds Smokey made was horrifying and if that wasn’t enough he urinated all over the floor.

Then the dog trainer began asking a lot of questions. He wanted to know if Smokey was allowed up on the furniture, to sleep with us on the bed, did I have him on the leash inside the house, was I shouting at him, what was our feeding routine, etc. I thought he was being rather nosey, but soon realized he had a reason for asking.

After all, I wanted a lap dog, so of course, I was allowing him in the recliner with me, on the sofa and on the bed to play. The only good thing we did, was to start him off using the dog crate to sleep in.

The dog trainer explained that in the wild, the pack leader didn’t allow their subordinates into their personal territorial space unless the leader gave his permission. So, first off, to establish ourselves as the leader Smokey could no longer be up on our laps or on the furniture for the first YEAR. We, as the pack leader, could intrude on his territory any time we chose.

This was the most difficult part of the training because I wanted to hold him and have him on my lap all the time. But, it proved disastrous in just the first 4 weeks we had him.

We couldn’t let Smokey violate even the smallest of rules. When he got away with something that he knew he wasn’t supposed to do, he interpreted it as “my leader is weak”…. and since he perceived the pack was being lead by a weak leader he felt he could challenge us for that position.

For those of you who find yourself in this situation with your pet, you MUST establish yourself as the leader. Then, once you have established the rules you MUST be consistent. Keep your chin up, keep smiling and above all, know that the light at the end of the tunnel is not an oncoming train, it’s the disciplined, well behaved dog you have always dreamed of having!

As summer gets nearer, many dog owners are acutely aware, not because the weather is getting warmer but because the dog’s hair is starting to shed in clumps. That’s why dog owners are always looking for ways to keep their dogs neat and trimmed in every respect. The issues that need to be particularly addressed are the dog’s hair and his nails. That’s why you will need both nail clippers and an effective dog brush.

In order to keep your dog grooming at a minimum during the summer months, make sure that you do some amount of dog grooming on a regular basis. Depending on the length of your dog’s hair and his temperament, it’s best if you can groom him once a week. This can include a quick nail trim and a quick brushing.  By removing his excess fur, there is less chance of your dog’s hair matting, and it will also keep him cooler in the summer months.

There are several no-bark dog collars on the market.  But, before purchasing you should give some consideration to what your circumstances are and when you will want to use the n0-bark collar.  These no-bark electronic collars come with a variety of features.  First, you have the basic no-bark collar that has a sensor that detects when the dog barks, which is a noise or sound sensor.  With these basic no-bark collars the electrical stimulation occurs when your dog barks, but they can also emit an electric shock to the dog when a loud noise is detected other than your dog barking.  Loud noises such as dropping something, a loud ringer on a phone, other dogs barking, shutting a car door, a car horn or children yelling can trigger the sensor.   When your dog receives an electric shock that has nothing to do with them barking it is very confusing for the dog.  If this basic type of collar is used, you should be very careful not to have the collar on your dog when children are present or you anticipate a situation where a lot of noise could have the potential for triggering the sensor on the collar.

A better choice might be the no-bark dog collar that has a motion sensor along with the noise sensor.  The sensors must be activated simultaneously before the shock is administered.  This type of collar is better suited for families with children and who have more than one dog in the household, than the collar with only the noise sensor.  The motion sensor must be activated by the vibration or movement in the dog’s throat along with detecting sound before the electrical stimulus is given.  This prevents an accidental shock being administered to the dog due to other loud noises or other dogs barking triggering the collar.  Many of the collars with both the motion and sound sensors also have adjustable levels of stimulus, which is important.  Not all dogs have the same level of  tolerance.  You should begin at the lowest level of stimulus and increase in small increments until your dog responds to the correction.

We moved to an area close to a University and the students are walking past our house all day long.  My dog is a good watch dog, which means he alerts us to everything happening in the neighborhood and this gets old after a while.  I have worked and worked with him to get him used to all the people walking down the street, but he hasn’t responded the way I hoped.  I finally decided to try the no-bark collar and was quite surprised to see how quickly he responded.  It didn’t take him long to figure out that when he barked, he got shocked.   He barked only once at two different people and then sat on his chair on the front porch and just watched the rest go by.

There’s something else I noticed and that’s when he’s barking his level of physical excitement escalates.  The other day, he had his collar on when my husband came home from work, he didn’t bark at him and he always barks, his level of excitement was less, not all the jumping up and down and running around his feet.   And, he calmed down much quicker than what his normal routine usually lasted.  I wonder if the act of barking releases adrenaline or some other chemical that escalates the dog’s physical excitement level?  When the use of the collar stops the barking, then no biological chemicals are being released and the dog is calmer.  Humm… does any one know if this scenario has any validity?  Or do we just have an unusual dog?

Anyway, I thought I would pass along my observations and to point out the different collar options to consider before purchasing a no-bark collar, in case anyone is considering one for their dog.  The collar has proved very effective in our situation and I no longer have to usher our dog into the house and shut the door to keep him from barking.  Now our dog is enjoying the summer afternoons on the front porch with us.

If you’ve recently purchased a dog, it’s very likely that you’re also running around trying to buy everything that the puppy will need. This includes an effective dog collar. The first step in this process is to measure your dog’s next with a tape measurer. Add two or three inches for the length of the collar. This is because you want it loose enough to be comfortable, but you don’t want it so large that it will slip off your dog’s head.

Also make sure that the dog collar is adjustable, especially if your dog is young and is still growing. Collars are available for dogs of all sizes, so it doesn’t matter how big or small your new pet is. There will be a collar that will be the perfect fit. Also make sure the collar is outfitted with all the dog’s information, including his name, your phone number, and address. This way, he can be returned home safely if he ever gets lost.

Make sure your pet is always properly hydrated with the Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain and get it for only $29.46 an exceptional value.  Drinking plenty of water is as essential for your pet’s health as it is for your own.  By providing a constant 5-inch stream of falling water, the innovative Original Pet Fountain makes drinking more attractive and fun for your pet, as well as more convenient for you. No longer will your pet have to slurp stagnant water from a traditional bowl. A large charcoal filter removes bad tastes and odors. The simple, safe Original Pet Fountain holds more than 50 fluid ounces of water (or more than 1 gallon with the use of an optional reservoir, which is sold separately).  In case you have cats, keeping them off your kitchen and bathroom counters and out of your sinks and toilets, is a definite plus.   A recipient of Cat Fancy’s Best New Cat Product award, it has been designed, approved, and recommended by veterinarians. Making sure your pet is properly hydrated also wards off urinary tract infections and kidney disorders. The Original Pet Fountain sets up easily in just a few minutes. Covered by a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.

To view the complete line of dog food and watering products click here.

Product Features

* Innovative watering system features patented 5-inch free-falling water stream

* Holds more than 50 fluid ounces of water

* Keeps your pet off counters and out of sinks and toilets

* Sets up quickly and easily

* 1-year manufacturer’s warranty

Product Details

* Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.1 x 7 inches ; 2.7 pounds

* Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds

* Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.

Drinkwell Original Pet Fountain - TO ORDER THIS FOUNTAIN CLICK HERE

Accessories
Drinkwell Original 2-Chamber Replacement Filter, 3-per Package, $5.99

ON SALE JUNE 1 through JUNE 2!  The Bark-Control Dog Collar for only $39.95 (Retail $59.99) a 33% savings!

Now that the weather is nice, you and your dogs want to be outside.  Only one problem, your dogs are uncontrollable barkers!  The electronic dog collar can help break your dogs from barking at the birds, squirrels, the neighbors outside, people walking down the sidewalk, kids playing outside and cars driving by.  The question is “How do I stop my dog from barking so much?”  Dog training with specific dog training techniques do work but can be a lengthy process.  But, by using a bark-control dog collar it makes barking a thing of the past and assists you in training your dog not to bark at everything that moves.  Using the electronic dog collar along with verbal command of “No” or “No Bark” and a dog treat will, in short time, train your dog to respond to just the verbal command.

In today’s economy, it’s nice to find the products you want at exceptional prices.

ON SALE JUNE 1 through JUNE 2!  The Bark-Control Dog Collar for only $39.95 (Retail $59.99) a 33% savings!

PetSafe PBC-102 No-Bark Collar

Product Features

* Bark-control collar sends harmless s

tatic shock to the dog whenever it barks

* Adjustable nylon collar senses vibration in dog’s throat during barking

* Lightweight receiver perfect for toy or small breeds

* Includes water-resistant receiver, operating manual and

replaceable 6-volt battery

* Receiver measures 1.75 x 1 x 1.25 inches; limited lifetime warranty

Product Description
Curtail your dog’s excessive barking with this harmless, easy-to-use nylon collar. Insert the included 6-volt battery into the lightweight receiver, and fasten the adjustable collar around the dog’s neck. When the dog barks, the collar senses the vibrations in the pet’s throat and emits a mild static shock and an audible warning beep. There are 6 progressive correction levels, so if the dog barks again within 30 seconds, the next shock will be stronger, though not too strong for small or timid dogs. For safety, if the dog barks 15 times in less than 50 seconds, the collar shuts off automatically for a period of 3 minutes.

The collar is designed to train the dog, not punish it, and the shocks are not harmful. According to a Tuskegee University study, adult shelter dogs wearing the PetSafe No-Bark Collar for 6 30-minute sessions over a 2-week period showed no long-term adverse effects, and they all reduced their barking by the second day.

The 2.3-ounce receiver works with dogs weighing from 15 to 120 pounds. It is water-resistant and not affected by rainy or snowy conditions. The pure digital signal eliminates interference from stray signals, and is approved by the FCC. The collar includes PetSafe’s limited lifetime warranty.

Customer Review:

Solid product - effectiveness depends on the source of the barking problem.,

By	Mrs Dee “Dee” (Los Angeles, California)

We’ve only had this product for about 10 days, but I see how effective it is.. and under what circumstances it DOESN’T work. I tried it on our 1 year old Shih-Tsu who barks at every single little noise, because he’s trying to establish himself as the boss/top dog and it worked very, very well. He just stopped barking while we had it on him and we’ve noticed a huge reduction in his barking overall. We’ve also got an 8 year old terrier mix who has very tics and neurosis and he barks much of the time because he feels threatened or nervous. The bark collar forces him to bark less but doesn’t stop him so we’re working on that.

If your dog is ‘nuisance barking’ just for the hell of it, this collar is an excellent solution. If there’s another underlying cause then of course this collar isn’t going to work a miracle, though combined with addressing those issues directly it could be very effective.

It’s time to get our dogs groomed and looking good!  If your dog clippers are old, inefficient or lack enough power to get the job done, here’s your chance to get a great rotary dog clipper for a GREAT price!  It’s on sale from June 1 through June 2! So now’s the time to buy.

Price: $164.99 & this item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping.

Features:

• AGC Professional Animal Clipper with size 40 detachable blade

• Professional rotary motor clipper with detachable blade

• Locking switch button ensures that clipper will not accidentally shut off

• Shatter-proof housing and 14″ heavy duty cord

• All Andis Ultraedge and Ceramicedge blades will fit this clipper

Product Description:

The 22345 professional animal clipper by Andis helps keep pets well groomed. The professional rotary motor clipper with detachable blades runs cool, so fans and air vents that can become clogged with hair are not needed. The Andis dog clippers are equipped with a 4×4 blade drive which increases blade torque by 25%. The locking switch button ensures that the clippers will not accidentally shut off. The clippers offer long-term durability with the shatter-proof housing and 14-foot heavy-duty cord, so that you can use them for years to come. No oiling or greasing of the internal parts is needed so that you can enjoy maintenance-free use. All Andis UltraEdge, CeramicEdge, and Oster model A-5 blades will fit the 22345 clippers.

It can be difficult for an owner to take their dog to manners class with a professional trainer both in terms of cost and time.  In addition, hiring a trainer to come to the home can also be a hassle.  For dog owners who don’t have a lot of free time, dog training videos and books tend to be the best options.  While there isn’t the same sense of receiving hands-on training with a professional, most dog training videos and books provide the same lessons and tips as the professionals.  The best part of these videos and books is that owners can learn at their own pace.  The best time to start teaching a dog is while they’re still puppies, but it’s possible to train a dog of any age.  It’s important to practice patience when training because dogs will learn at a much slower pace than people, and it doesn’t make sense to get frustrated. 

While some dogs are more intelligent than others, all dogs can learn the basics with just a little love and effort on the behalf of their owners.  Make sure to keep ample treats on hand for rewards!