Of all the activities dog owners carryout every day nothing gives a dog more pleasure than routine grooming.  Not only is dog grooming a great way to keep your dog clean, sensitive skin medicated , and smelling great it also provides extra attention to keep them mentally engaged with their pet parents.

It is no secret to long time dog owners that their four-legged family members take on the personality of their owner. Dogs are very “in-tune” with how you feel both emotionally and physically. Companion breeds are being trained to alert their owners of upcoming episodes such as epilepsy, heart attacks, and many other issues facing their pet parents.

Dogs are able to recognize and will reflect your “feelings” good or bad. When you’re upset just watch your dog casually curl up next to you with those big brown eyes and you cannot help but feel better. Enjoy going on a walk around the neighborhood, well it isn’t just the sound of the dog leash that gets them excited.

While many pet owners view dog grooming as more of a necessity rather than bonding time this belief is only half-true. Whereas the mechanics of shampooing and brushing will control shedding, keeping dander down to a tolerable level the process of dog grooming is what really counts.

The natural rhythm of you bathing and brushing actually massages your dog giving them that “Oh ya…that’s the spot” feeling.  The dog grooming process can sooth tired and sore muscles and joints not to mention the calming effect a dog owner’s voice has on your dog.

Grooming time should be bonding time. Take advantage of dog grooming as the process from start to finish offers you about an hour to give a little something back to your best friend. Brushing in between a full dog grooming session is also a time when you as the pet parent have the opportunity to notice any abnormalities in skin or the growth of fatty tumors so many dogs develop in their senior years.

As you are shampooing and drying your dog use that time as well to check your dog from head to tail for any cuts or scrapes that may need some extra attention. Dog grooming is a great opportunity for pet parents use it wisely and reap the rewards of bonding that only caring and loving dog owners can experience.

by Remarkable Dogs

You have just arrived home from the breeder with your wonderful new puppy. It is the goal of every new or experienced dog owner to have the best dog on the block. The question is how you get there; the answer is patient and consistent training. Basic dog training can be divided into two areas, teaching commands and behavioral correction.

Dog treats can be a tasty addition when teaching your dog basic commands, however behavioral correction requires the owner to understand the concept of alpha male and being the pack leader in your dog’s life. Dog treats have little to no place in corrective behavior, as your dog needs to understand his/ her position in the pack.

Teaching basic commands like come, stay, sit etc. is a more appropriate environment to use dog treats. The trick is to use them at the right moment during training. The most important aspect of any successful training lesson is to ensure the command is learned and executed to receive your affection as the reward.

As you practice with your dog, continuing to reinforce learned commands the order of reward should always be your affection followed by a dog treat. The reason for this order is so your dog will associate the learned command with the reward being your affection and not the dog treat.

Dogs will favor different treats over time after all variety is the spice of life. If your dog tires of the treat or decides he/she no longer likes the dog treat then there is no incentive for your dog to successfully execute the command. As your dog wants nothing more than to please you, giving your affection first will provide the right incentive for the reward.

Behavioral corrections are a completely different ballgame. Depending on the behavior or its severity, most issues should be left to professional trainers and dog behaviorists. If your first dog is a rescue dog or shelter dog, try to find out as more information as to previous training and socialization as you can. The answers will give you a pretty good idea on how the dog will behave once they arrive home.

Here are a few tips for pack leader issues you should be aware of and how to establish you as the pack leader:

• Never let your dog sleep in your bed with his/her head even with yours-this reflects dominate behavior,
• Ignore your dog when you first come home from work if they are jumping up on you-wait for them to calm down and then give your affection,
• Be on the lookout for any signs of aggression,
• Mouthing and Mounting-both are signs of dominance and both should not be allowed.

Learning when to give your affection and when to use dog treats during training will properly incent your dog to execute a learned lesson. Patients and consistency are the two most important concepts of training. Be firm no shouting and repeat, repeat, and then repeat again everyday and you will have the best dog on the block.

By Remarkable Dogs

You have just met the love of your life and decide to take your relationship to the next level; living under the same roof. There is only one catch you’re a dog owner and she is a cat owner; how will you introduce them so they too will be able to live with one another.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association 32% of households are cat owners and 37% of households are dog owners. Which represents 72 million dogs and 82 million cats in the United States; with this many pets, the two are likely to be found in the same household.

Generally speaking, when either pet is brought up with the other as a puppy or kitten the relationship can be rewarding for both. If however, the introduction takes place when both are adults the experience is often stressful. There is a method, which has proven successful with most dog breeds in meeting an adult cat for the first time. Keep in mind that this is a process and one that will take three to six months to achieve a safe environment for both pets.

The first step is to understand your dog breed. If you have properly socialized your dog and their built-in instincts do not involve chasing pry then you are off to a great start. If however, this is not the case not all is lost, it will just take longer. One thing you can take for granted is your pets sense of smell.

No one knows for sure how much more scent-sensitive dogs are than humans, a thousand times-ten thousand?  Nevertheless, what is known is that a dog’s nose has many more odor receptors, and an olfactory (smell) center that takes up much more room in the brain. Cats are no different. Remember the last time you opened a can of Tuna fish only to look down and see your cat standing next to you waiting for the juice.

Over the course of your new relationship the odors from your mates pet is on your clothes and they will recognize the smell. The pet supplies you will need are a dog crate and a cat carrier along with a pet gate. Establish the boundaries in your house that is where your cat’s area will offer a safe haven from your dog as well a place to hide. Use the pet gate to separate the two spaces.

Let us assume that your cat will be the new comer in the home. Cats are more sensitive to a change in routine then dogs, so for first introductions leave your dog in his/her dog crate allowing your cat to explore the new space. The opposite should take place if the dog is the new comer, although your dog will get use to the new space much faster. Just add the familiar dog toys and their dog bed as long as they know you’re going to be around the transition will be seamless.

The next step is most critical to success, the face-to-face introduction. Always have your dog on his/hers dog leash and sitting at your side. Bring the cat into the room and allow the cat explore the space and see your dog. Your dog will be very alert at this point wanting to sniff the cat and see what’s up. That is the next step. While holding your cat ease off the dog leash and allow the dog to smell the cat. Your cat is not going to like this first greeting and that’s okay.

At night, you dog should be in their crate and the pet gate closed. This safe separation procedure should happen while you both are away from home. If you are going to be away from home longer than eight hours make sure someone is available to let your dog outside and able to return them to their dog crate.

Over the next weeks and months gradually increase the time they spend in each other’s company remembering to give praise when the greeting is nice and firm “no” when the greeting is not. Begin leaving your dog off the leash and your cat free to roam. The goal is to reach a balance when both pets can tolerate one another without using a leash, dog crate, or the pet gate.

The keys to success are:

• Patience, this is going to take some time
• Always keeping a watchful eye when the two pets are together
• Continued praise for both pets – Cats are territorial and dogs will be dominate

Following this method will produce results and your pets will be able to live together.

by Remarkable Dogs

Caring dog owners attain a unique ability to know when their dog is not feeling well. You will notice the slightest change in behavior, eating habits, and how they walk or run. When your dog is in pain from joint problems they seem to move a little slower, playtime is reduced, and they take longer to climb the stairs or get up from the floor. The question is, “Can orthopedic dog beds provide relief?”

Most pet owners associate these symptoms to old age; however, that may not be the case. Dogs suffer from two main joint problems:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Canine Arthritis

Hip dysplasia once thought to be heritable and then only in large breeds, can in fact affect any dog. This dog health problem can stem from over exertion at a young age while the hip joint is still developing. Injury at a young age is another cause, even repetitive motion in puppies, for example jogging with your puppy while their joints and muscles are still forming under the age of one. In dogs the problem usually appears by the time, they reach 18 months old. Some say that early vaccinations weaken the young joints.

Dogs suffer from the same arthritic pain as their human companions. These symptoms differ only slightly then those for hip dysplasia affecting older dogs. The adage of a dog year equals seven human years really starts when your dog reaches four years old. So when your dog is 12 years old they feel like an 84-year-old human.

In the severest of either case surgery is an option along with medications proscribed from your Veterinarian that can relieve pain, however there is no known cure. As dog owners, one area we can help, provide quality orthopedic dog beds for them to sleep and rest tired joints.

Like there human equivalents, orthopedic dog beds and memory foam dog beds take the pressure off any one area spreading the weight evenly as they rest. If you have hard wood floors, your dog sleeps outside in a dog house, or in his/hers dog crate providing orthopedic dog beds will relieve the pain associated with hip dysplasia and canine arthritis.

With the choices available from size, color, and style, you will be able to locate the perfect dog bed to fit your dog’s resting space. As dogs want nothing more than to please their owners, orthopedic dog beds is one investment we can make to offer our thanks in return.

by Remarkable Dogs

Along with owning a dog comes, purchasing dog supplies. Two of the basic supplies a dog owner must have are a collar and leash. The choices in this area seem endless and quite confusing if you are a first time dog owner. The question often asked is “which collar offers me the opportunity to train, hold tags, and still looks good?” Martingale collars and leashes have been gaining popularity and with good reason.

Martingale collars came about for use with sight hounds. The neck of the site hound is larger than their head allowing them to slip out of a buckle dog collar. Today, the martingale collar and leash sometimes referred to as a “show-leash” as it is the dog leash of choice by show dog handlers while in the ring.

Handlers and owners who have used this collar site the primary benefit as controlling your dog without choking or damaging their neck. Standard choke dog collars are by far the most popular collar purchased by dog owners. The issue is that most people do not fit the collar properly on the dog leading to neck and throat problems.

The martingale collar has a small chain fitted with a control loop. This chain connects the sides of the collar; when you attach a leash to the control loop and tug the collar, it closes on your dog’s neck. The result is even pressure placed on the neck stopping short of actually choking the dog.

When fitting your dog with a martingale collar measure your dog’s neck just behind the ears and purchase a collar that when the control loop is pulled tight the sides almost touch. The difference between the standard choke and the martingale collar is that if your dog pulls and tugs while walking the choke continues to pull tight where the sides of the martingale collar will stop.

They also come as an all-in-one martingale collar and leash, which is the collar you will see when you are watching then next Dog Show. Martingale collars are the perfect choice for small dogs as well, as their necks are very delicate. Training your small dog to walk on a leash using a standard choke will cause damage as you tug. Using a buckle type dog collar for training offers no control and their purpose is to add fashion as well as hold the dog tags.

The martingale collar is also a great choice for the jogger in the family who likes the security of having the dog along for the run. They are the best purchase any dog owner who is looking for an all purpose collar that will accomplish many goals from training, holding tags, and adding a little fashion.

by Remarkable Dogs

Beaucerons are highly trainable dogs, and can be considered among the most impressive of dog breeds when successfully trained: noble, imposing, helpful toward human beings, and with few problems related to discipline.

The problem, however, is that few people actually know how to take full advantage of through dog obedience training. Worse yet, many people think that they can be trained with just a few hours of work every week, leaving the Beauceron completely alone in the house for the rest of the time. This will inevitably result in an untrained dog–meaning destructive, neurotic, and aggressive –and will obliterate many of the qualities of nobility and gentleness that make the Beauceron so attractive as a breed in the first place.

Despite the difficulty of obedience training for a Beauceron, it’s vital to learn how to train the Beauceron yourself–and to devote a great deal of time to this training becoming the pack leader in his/her life. Hiring a professional trainer may result in a well-trained obedient dog, is true–but that Beauceron will be well-trained and obedient when his or her trainer is around, and will be another kind of dog altogether when it’s simply you in the drivers’ seat. So if you’re interested in owning this breed, make sure that you’re willing to learn how to train him/her–and make sure that you’re willing to spend the time to train them effectively as well.

One of the keys to successfully training for the Beauceron is to train them early. This holds true for all dogs, of course–one of the easiest ways to ensure that a dog behaves in a desirable fashion is to ensure that desirable habits are formed before the dog has a chance to form less desirable habits–that is, he/she learns to chew their dog toy before he learns to chew your sofa, for example.

However, for the Beauceron, the early training policy isn’t merely a good idea, it’s absolutely vital. This breed, which was a very cute puppy of only a few pounds, will inevitably grow into a massive, hundred-pound plus dog with powerful limbs and a powerful personality. If you have not taught the Beauceron how to curb that personality early on, all of that weight and power may very well be used in a way that you will not enjoy, we guarantee.

Once your training program has begun and you have invested in the appropriate dog training supplies, remember to follow these two rules: exercise patience, and be consistent. The Beauceron’s inherent nobility and arrogance makes it less likely to obey your commands at first, or to be interested in an obedience training program.

It is vital to gain the dog’s respect through positive obedience training messages and some light firm methods– limited to no more than a stern tone of voice to discourage negative behavior, consistently applied.

Consistency is the key here: they need to know, from constant, repeated examples, exactly which behaviors are rewarded, and which behaviors will not. If your dog perceives the slightest leeway in your policy, for example, you punish your dog whenever you see him chewing the furniture. But then leave him alone for twelve hours a day to chew the furniture unsupervised–then the Beauceron won’t perceive you as the pack leader, won’t follow your commands, and will gradually become more aggressive and hostile toward the human beings who, in the dog’s mind, he or she rules over.

Does this mean that a Beauceron cannot be trained? Absolutely not–but be aware of the commitment it takes to effectively train a dog of this breed, be willing to take the time to become the pack leader in his/her life, and be patient. If you can do all of these things, it will only be a matter of time before you reap your noble reward.

by Remarkable Dogs

Dog owners whether new or experienced plan for the goal of having the most well behaved dog in the neighborhood. To achieve this goal, obedience training is the answer and that begins with the right tools. The first tool you need to embark on successful obedience training is the appropriate dog leashes.

Dog leashes come in all shapes and sizes from leather dog leashes to retractable dog leashes. Sizes vary from four feet to over 100 feet and depending the training session will determine the correct length and style. Leather dog leashes of either four feet or six feet are the right choice if training your dog to walk. While for most breeds a six-foot dog leash, works the best but for taller breeds the four-foot length is the better choice. The shorter length gives you more control as you walk with your dog.

When teaching the “come” command long dog leashes of 20 to 100 feet is the tool you need. Most of these dog leashes are made of nylon and can be attached to your dogs training collar. This is one the most important commands to teach your dog as it could save his/her life one day.

A retractable dog leash has it’s place in your collection but is one of the worst choices for training. These dog leashes offer no control over your dog most likely breaking within one or two uses. Where they are useful is when your dog is well trained on how to walk; you can let out the lead giving your dog an opportunity to sniff his/her surrounding.

Choosing a leather dog leash or nylon from a training perspective does not matter, what does matter is that you choose the right dog leash to match the training session you are trying to teach. At the very least have two dog leashes in your collection, one for walking and one long training dog leash. With these two tools used appropriately, you can achieve your goal of having the best-behaved dog on the block.

by Remarkable Dogs

The basic rules of thumb when choosing the right dog toys is know the goal you are trying to accomplish. From here, the next step is understanding your breed’s behavior while taking into account the breed size. Once you have this information, the choices are endless.

Dog toys play an important role in your dogs overall well being; one of the most important is controlling anxiety. All dogs suffer from some degree of separation anxiety. Although we cannot stop the necessities of life such as going to work and running errands, we can help our canine family members cope.

The best method of helping your dog cope with anxiety is by keeping their mind focused and active. Boredom is one of the major contributors to anxiety, which for too many dog owners manifests into destructive behavior. To avoid or eliminate this bad behavior have a healthy supply of dog toys for your dog to keep occupied.

If your dog is a heavy chewer, that is, he/she can tear apart plush dog toys in minutes then perhaps a Kong dog toys or Indestructible dog toys is the best alternative. Kong dog toys filled with peanut butter and then frozen will give your dog hours of focus; there is even an extreme Kong for those breeds that seem to chew through anything.

As indestructible dog toys go the one we found to hold up to the claim “Indestructible,” is from Huck. This brand of dog toys is an indestructible ball which when tossed bounces in different directions each and every time it lands on the ground giving your dog plenty to focus on. Both the Huck indestructible dog toy and the Kong are made from natural materials and are non-toxic.

Plush dog toys are by far the most popular toy on the market. Most are safe if your dog happens to rip out the stuffing but you should read the label to ensure no toxic chemicals are present. The benefit to plush dog toys is that they are machine washable so if your dog likes to slobber all over the toy you can add it to the wash and it’s as good as new.

There are stuffing free versions to plush dog toys that are beginning to make a presence in the dog toy market. These toys are great if your dog’s primary goal is tearing out the stuffing living it behind. They also make a prefect tool in training hunting dogs.

Balls and Frisbees are great toys for dogs that enjoy playing fetch. These dog toys come in several varieties so choose wisely, that is small dog, small dog toys. Playing fetch with a large dog and small ball could have disastrous consequences if they swallow the ball whole and it lodges in their throat.

Have several dog toys available for your dog to play with, occupy their time, and focus their mind. Doing so will relieve anxiety, boredom, and the destructive behavior they accompany.  Like their human companions, variety is the spice of life for your dog, having an assortment of dog toys equals a happier well-rounded dog.

by Remarkable Dogs

The much anticipated call from your breeder has come…”Your new puppy is ready to go home.” Having a dog crate is one of the most important purchases you can make as a dog owner. Aside from speeding up the process of housebreaking and a place to sleep, a dog crate offers a safe haven and the security of a den like feel.

One the first training exercises you will embark on as the proud owner of a new puppy is housebreaking. A dog crate can cut that time in half when sized correctly. The crate should be large enough for your dog to stretch out, get up and turn around, but not so large that they can curl up in one corner while leaving three-quarters of the crate empty.

Dogs will not defecate where they sleep or eat and having the right size crate is essential for housebreaking. This does not mean that a new puppy should be expected to hold his business for eight hours when they first come home. Successful housebreaking still takes time as new puppies will need to relieve themselves every half hour for the first week or two so be prepared.

What a dog crate can do for housebreaking is ensure that they will ask to go outside when the time comes instead using their crate or your carpet. Again, this depends on buying the right size crate. Unless you plan to buy a new crate when your dog is fully grown, purchasing a dog crate that can grow with your dog is a great investment.

Life Stage dog crates like the one from Midwest have a moveable panel that is included with the crate that allows pet owners the flexibility of increasing the size of the interior to accommodate your dogs growth. To provide that den like feel use a towel or small blanket placed on the divider so the crate “feels” the right size for your dog.

For all dogs and especially small dogs, a crate offers a safe haven. Anxiety felt for small dogs living in a lively household is the fear of being trampled. Vets have said many broken bones in small dogs is due to accidentally being stepped on by a family member. A safe haven for your dog means just that, a dog crate is never to be used for punishment. The last thing any pet owner should do is raise their voice, order their dog in their crate, and lock them in. A time-out area is for human children not for your dog.

Because of the crates den like feel they are great for relieving anxiety when traveling. Dog travel crates come in a variety of styles from hard plastic to pop-up camping travel crates. Visiting a busy Veterinary office can be a scary experience for a small dog and keeping them safe and secure in a dog crate can ease the tension they feel.

Lastly, a dog crate will keep your pooch out of trouble when they are left home alone. Depending on your breed dogs, mature at different rates. For some maturity arrives by the age of two while others it could be age three. While a dog should spend no more than an eight hour stretch locked in a crate, dog crates offer pet owners the peace of mind that their dog will not tear up the house or injury themselves while off to work or on an errand.

Once old enough you can leave the crate door open so that your dog can come and go as necessary offering you the opportunity to purchase a designer dog crate. These crates resemble a quality piece of furniture such as an end table or nightstand doubling as a dog crate. These are great for adding some style to your home while providing a comfortable house for your dog.

by Remarkable Dogs

The Italian Greyhound is a very quick learner and trains well during its puppy stages. A puppy left without support or security will have temperament problems and will have constant fears to manage during later years. Puppies left without their mothers or siblings for extended periods will have difficulty socializing, and need this attention during their formative years to become better socialized in the long term. They may exhibit behaviors such as hand biting, nipping, and excessive barking; however, with the appropriate amount of obedience training, you can turn this around.

House training is much easier during the period of 10-12 weeks; prior to that, they have little control over their body functions until they are at least 10 weeks old, and waiting until they are too old can be a problem.

Italian Greyhounds are extremely bright and paper training or litter training your dog will be the ideal choice. They are not good all weather dogs and making sure training takes place indoors will be your best option.

These dogs require attention and positive motivation. They may need frequent stroking or caressing if they are uneasy, and they do well with training in a dog crate during the housebreaking stages.

It’s important to keep a firm grip on these puppies but also keep a gentle hand. Holding the puppies by wrapping them tight can help them stay safe and secure, and setting them on the floor requires that they have all four feet on the floor before letting go. This toy dog has long, thin, and delicate legs that are easily damaged if they land too hard. The dog needs to be trained on how and when to climb furniture, and they should not be left unsupervised on a bed or couch whenever possible.

It’s important not to let the dog go unleashed in an unsecured area; they may have selective deafness where no amount of calling will let you be heard. These dogs need to be monitored on a regular basis as they can be easily distracted.

Still, the dogs travel extremely well but do need to use their dog travel crate for long car rides. They do have a tendency to leap out of cars or vehicles if they are not properly restrained so be sure to buckle them in a dog harness.

Italian Greyhounds take direction and instruction well, and will be especially obedient after only a short period.

by Remarkable Dogs