Having Trouble Training Your Dog? Try These Great Tips!

Getting a new dog is a very exciting time, however, it is pretty much like having a newborn baby at home.  There is a lot involved when you first get a dog.  Sometimes it could feel a little bit overwhelming.  However, the tips you will find in this article will help get you on your way to an obedient little dog.

For your dog to understand what you are punishing them for, you need to catch them misbehaving. If you reprimand a dog for something that happened hours ago, chances are your dog will not make the connection. And if you choose to ignore your dog to show that you are mad, do not ignore it for more than a few minutes.

One of the most important things to remember when training your dog is that it is a lifelong process. Many owners think that once their pet has the basics down, the training process is over. Dogs, much like people, learn throughout their lives, and consistent training will help them to be well-behaved and friendly.

To help train your dog, you must assert yourself as the dominant one in your relationship by refusing to give the dog undeserved attention or food. When you convince your dog you run the show and, in addition, let the dog recognize you can use that power to give it something it wants, your dog will obey your commands more effectively.

Listening to your dog is one of the most important steps of training your dog.  If your dog is uncomfortable or scared then you aren't going to get the result that you are looking for.  Respect their needs and the process will go a lot smoother.

After reading this article you can see that it is possible to have a dog that is both adorable and obedient.  With just a little bit of persistence and the suggestions given in this article, you will have a dog that you can be proud of before you know it.

Article distributed by Alexis Dougan on behalf of petbuzz.

Having Trouble Training Your Dog? Try These Great Tips!

Getting a new dog is a very exciting time, however, it is pretty much like having a newborn baby at home.  There is a lot involved when you first get a dog.  Sometimes it could feel a little bit overwhelming.  However, the tips you will find in this article will help get you on your way to an obedient little dog.

For your dog to understand what you are punishing them for, you need to catch them misbehaving. If you reprimand a dog for something that happened hours ago, chances are your dog will not make the connection. And if you choose to ignore your dog to show that you are mad, do not ignore it for more than a few minutes.

One of the most important things to remember when training your dog is that it is a lifelong process. Many owners think that once their pet has the basics down, the training process is over. Dogs, much like people, learn throughout their lives, and consistent training will help them to be well-behaved and friendly.

To help train your dog, you must assert yourself as the dominant one in your relationship by refusing to give the dog undeserved attention or food. When you convince your dog you run the show and, in addition, let the dog recognize you can use that power to give it something it wants, your dog will obey your commands more effectively.

Listening to your dog is one of the most important steps of training your dog.  If your dog is uncomfortable or scared then you aren't going to get the result that you are looking for.  Respect their needs and the process will go a lot smoother.

After reading this article you can see that it is possible to have a dog that is both adorable and obedient.  With just a little bit of persistence and the suggestions given in this article, you will have a dog that you can be proud of before you know it.

Article distributed by Alexis Dougan on behalf of petbuzz.

What Different Types of Dogs Are There?

Types of Dogs: Dog Breeds & Types

Dogs can be defined by the job they do, for example companion dogs are those that were bred to keep us company, and guard dogs were developed to protect their owners and their property. The American Kennel Club has taken these definitions further, and grouped dogs with similar purposes and temperaments together. This means that each group can consist of dogs that vary widely in appearance, and possibly even size. Let's have a closer look at the groups and the dogs that are in each one.

•    Sporting Group – these dogs were bred to hunt and retrieve. Because they were expected to work closely with their master, they make excellent companions. They love the water, and enjoy the opportunity to swim. These dogs aren't suited to a sedentary owner because they often need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to be truly happy. Breeds in this group include the Spaniels, the Pointers and the Retrievers.

•    Hound Group – hound breeds were also used in the hunt, to track their prey by scent, and to run them down. They are a diverse group, and include sight hounds such as the Whippet and Afghan Hound, and scent hounds like the Bloodhound and Beagle. They are amiable and easy going dogs and fit in well with family life, however they can be difficult to call back if they start to chase any potential prey.
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•    Working Group – as the name suggests, these breeds had a job to do including guarding and pulling carts and sleds. They are intelligent and reliable, and are good family dogs. However, most breeds in this group are very large, and this should be taken into account by potential owners.
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•    These dogs need training from a young age because, while they are easy to manage when they are puppies, this rapidly changes when they are a 70-100lb adult. Breeds that fall into the working group include the Rottweiler, Newfoundland, Alaskan Malamute and Bullmastiff.
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•    Terriers – the most characteristic feature of members of the terrier group is their feisty and tenacious personality. They were bred to chase and kill vermin, and the tendency to be grumpy and argumentative with other animals often persists.
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•    Size varies, from the tiny West Highland White Terrier to the larger American Staffordshire Terrier and Airedale Terrier. They need an owner who can manage their stubborn and determined nature.
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•    Toy Dogs – these dogs serve but one purpose, and that is to be a companion. They are usually small enough to fit on your lap, and don't cost much to care for. Having said that, they have big personalities inside that small body, and are very resilient.
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•     Whether you want a dog to groom and dress up with ribbons, or one with a short low maintenance coat, you'll find a toy breed to suit. They are particularly suited to apartment life. This group includes such compact and attractive breeds as the Chihuahua, the Yorkshire Terrier and the Papillon.
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•    Herding Group – these breeds used to be included with the working dogs, but they were given their own group in 1983. All of these breeds are able to move and control other animals. They are extremely intelligent, and most need a lot of mental stimulation and physical exercise. They are not a breed for everyone. Dogs that fall into this category include the Border Collie, German Shepherd and Corgi.
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•    Non Sporting Group – this group contains a wide variety of breeds, with no real common traits. They vary in size, shape and coat type. It's almost as if any breed that didn't fit neatly into one of the other groups was put in the non sporting group. Breeds included in this group are as diverse as the Bulldog, the Lhasa Apso and the Dalmatian.
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•    Miscellaneous Group – the miscellaneous group contains those breeds that are not yet fully registered with the AKC, but are part of the Foundation Stock Service. Many of these breeds are registered in other parts of the world, just not in the United States. Others, like the Chinook were developed in America, but are not yet fully registered as a breed.
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•    They will stay in this group until they are fully recognized by the AKC, when they will be placed in one of the other groups, depending on their purpose. This means that breeds in the miscellaneous groups will be unfamiliar and there may be few examples of them in America. Some breeds that are currently in this group are the Pumi, the Rat Terrier, the Sloughi and the Peruvian Inca Orchid.

While we are talking about breeds, it's appropriate to make mention of the crossbreed dog, also known as a mongrel or cur. These dogs have uncertain parentage, and come in a range of sizes, colors and coat types. They may strongly resemble one particular breed, which can give you a hint as to their ancestry.

Some people believe that mixed breeds are healthier than purebreds, because of hybrid vigor. It's certainly possible, but a crossbreed pup may receive a double dose of unhealthy genes from their parents, and may have the worst features of his parent breeds. Add to this the fact that the parents of mixed breed pups are less likely to have undergone any genetic health tests before being mated, and you can see why there is no guarantee that they will be healthy. Having said that, they can be just as intelligent, and just as good a companion as a purebred animal.

Ryan O'Meara is editor and publisher of K9 Magazine.

K9 Magazine Editor Ryan O'Meara on Dog Attacks

Ryan O'Meara, editor and publisher of K9 Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for dog lovers, has issued a warning to dog owners about the importance of understanding canine body language to spot the warning signs of a potential dog attack.

O'Meara, who is a former professional dog trainer, has previously spoken at the National Dog Warden Association on the topic of canine aggression.

He says:

"Understanding certain aspects of dog body language, what motivates them, what scares them and gaining more knowledge about things such as territory aggression, resource guarding and nervous aggression is the key for dog owners to recognise situations where their dog may be more likely to respond to certain situations with a bite."

O'Meara explains in his much talked about article "The Anatomy of a Dog Attack" how misreading the warning signs and failing to recognise tell-tale dog body language signals is one of the key reasons why people get attacked 'out of the blue'.

He explains:

"Dogs rarely bite people. However, if you examine some of the most serious dog attacks there is very often a correlating pattern."

O'Meara's remarks ring true in the cases of fatal dog attacks in Britain.

His article "What Causes Fatal Dog Attacks" details consistent patterns in all cases:

read more from Ryan O'Meara on dog attack patters.

K9 Magazine Editor Ryan O'Meara on Dog Attacks

Ryan O'Meara, editor and publisher of K9 Magazine, a lifestyle magazine for dog lovers, has issued a warning to dog owners about the importance of understanding canine body language to spot the warning signs of a potential dog attack.

O'Meara, who is a former professional dog trainer, has previously spoken at the National Dog Warden Association on the topic of canine aggression.

He says:

"Understanding certain aspects of dog body language, what motivates them, what scares them and gaining more knowledge about things such as territory aggression, resource guarding and nervous aggression is the key for dog owners to recognise situations where their dog may be more likely to respond to certain situations with a bite."

O'Meara explains in his much talked about article "The Anatomy of a Dog Attack" how misreading the warning signs and failing to recognise tell-tale dog body language signals is one of the key reasons why people get attacked 'out of the blue'.

He explains:

"Dogs rarely bite people. However, if you examine some of the most serious dog attacks there is very often a correlating pattern."

O'Meara's remarks ring true in the cases of fatal dog attacks in Britain.

His article "What Causes Fatal Dog Attacks" details consistent patterns in all cases:

read more from Ryan O'Meara on dog attack patters.

How to Give Pills to Your Dog

Urgh. This is one of those tasks that, depending on your dog, can be a real nightmare.

K9 Magazine's quick tip sheet: How to give tablets to dogs is a must read!

You can learn how to deal with those dogs who just refuse to eat tablets as well as get an insight in to the best methods to administer pills to dogs who wriggle and squirm.

Read it here: http://www.k9magazine.com/how-to-give-tablets-to-a-dog/

PetScreen Announces Advanced Canine Lymphoma Test

Advanced canine cymphoma blood test helps you make a more timely diagnoses.

Canine cancer screening experts, PetScreen would like to say a big thank you to all the vets that have provided PetScreen with follow up on their patients after using the LBT. With your help, we have been able to further develop and improve the test.

The company says:

"Many clinicians have asked about the identity of the biomarkers detected in the LBT. Therefore, we have been busy characterising and identifying the biomarkers used in the original LBT and found that two of them are acute phase proteins (APPs). Although APPs have been investigated individually in veterinary medicine for some time, we have continued our unique multi-marker approach to develop specific analytical algorithms which combine the relative levels of both haptoglobin and C-Reactive Protein in serum. This has enabled us to develop the Advanced Lymphoma Blood Test (ALBT), which has numerous benefits over the original LBT."

"We have tested the ALBT with 194 rigorously followed up diagnostic samples consisting of lymphoma samples, samples from healthy dogs and dogs with benign lymphoid hyperplasia and other diseases with similar presentations to lymphoma."

"By measuring the APPs using immunoassay, we are able to achieve excellent levels of performance, reproducibility and objectivity typical of such tests."

What the ALBT offers:

Differentiation between patients with lymphadenopathy due to lymphoma and lymphadenopathy due to other conditions such as benign lymphoid hyperplasia.

Same day results – lymphoma can develop very rapidly, and time is of the essence.

A simple blood test, taken as part of routine blood work. If results come back as positive for lymphoma, you might want to consider more invasive tests such as FNA or biopsy.

Reduced cost. The new same day turnaround test costs less than the original 5 day turnaround LBT.

You can request the new ALBT straight away. The submission form can be downloaded from our website, please follow this link:

http://www.pet-screen.com/web/PETSCR/index.cfm?s=2&dir=5110.

If you have any questions, please contact us at vets@pet-screen.com or you can call the Freephone number 0800 028 4811