Dog and Puppy Supplies and Tips

Archive for September, 2009

Fortunately for many dog owners, dogs tend to pick up things they are taught very easily. As a result, you should be able to teach your dog how to perform some exceptional tricks.

In order to get your dog to start doing tricks, you need to find a trick that you know he could easily adapt to. That is to say, if your dog likes to fetch things you could teach him to fetch the morning newspaper.

No matter which trick you choose to teach your dog, make sure you’re consistent in your training and you reward him for his efforts.

Your guests will be in awe if you teach your dog to sit down and shake hands with them.

Dog training experts say that this is the easiest of tricks to teach your dog. After you teach your dog how to sit you can start teaching him how to shake hands. This can be done by saying the word “shake” while holding his paw and shaking it.

Be sure to reward him. If you repeat the word while you hold his paw he will start putting two and two together and associating the word with the action. Repeat the action everyday and he will be able to do it on command anytime you’d like him to.

Seeing a dog dance is also another amazing trick that you can teach. Since many dogs tend to jump on people that visit the house, by teaching your dog to dance you can bypass that unwanted behavior.

When your dog excitedly jumps up on you to play, gently hold his front legs. Then you can command him to “dance” a few times after which you should give him his treats.

Then when guests come over, have your dog dance rather than jump on them. Teaching a dog to dance is usually easier for owners of smaller sized dogs, and in fact, many small dogs can dance on their own without needing their owner to hold their front paws.

Finally, teaching your dog to fetch something is a time-honored tradition. Dogs can be taught to fetch items and will remember the various names for items.

This can be not only a fun trick, but a handy one if you’re unable to easily get things for yourself. You dog can learn to fetch all sorts of things by name – toy, ball, bone, newspaper, shoes, etc.

Start with one word, and really emphasize the word. When he’s consistent at fetching that item, you can add another word, and so on.

Take the time to teach your dog some cool tricks. Yes, they’re fun for you and you’re able to show off your dog, but your dog likes them too because you’re giving him tasks to do and quality time with you.

Usually, dogs are very social by nature, after all, they are pack animals, and packs are usually made up of a large number of other animals.

Some animals, however, either by accident or by design, were not socialized early on or may now be actually a bit antisocial.

Dog owners often fret over this behavior since it causes their pups to bark loudly and consistently at people, other dogs, and even cars.

If you have ever dealt with a dog that appeared sweet and calm in the home, but turned into an antisocial loner the moment you hit the streets during your walk or exercise time, you will want to read on to learn how to turn your pup into a social butterfly.

Suffice it to say that nothing will work overnight, and as a matter of fact patience is the very key to help your little doggie break out of his or her shell.  No amount of yelling at your dog will get him to cooperate, so it is best to stay cool, calm, and collected.

If your dog is barking ferociously while wagging his tail, he is in effect warning other dogs to recognize his dominance.  While it is hard to say where the dominance issues are coming from, you will want to make sure that he knows his place in your family structure.  To this end, it is important to remember that a dog should never be on the top of the hierarchy.

As a matter of fact, you will want to give your dog several opportunities each day to demonstrate his submissive behavior to you, such as letting you walk through the door first, having him break off eye contact first, and so on.

If this is not happening, then the odds are good that he is a bit unsure of himself with respect to the position in his own pack, much less his position with outsiders – be they canine or human.

If the latter is the case, enrolling your dog in a good obedience class is key to modifying the behavior – obviously, you will want to be the person going to the obedience class with him, so that you, too, can modify your behavior.

If your dog barks ferociously out of fear, which you can tell because the tail is not wagging, and because he may be backing away, then you might want to spend a bit of time taking to an animal trainer who can give you some advice on dealing with these fears.

You will probably want to do this prior to going to obedience training.  Some fears are quite silly to humans, such as the fear of people with hats.  Yet from the dog’s point of view, these fears need to be dealt with.

Does 1 dog year actually equal 7 people years?

One human year does not equal seven dog years.

This is a myth that you can equate people vs dog years on a 1 to 7 basis.
There is no specific formula for dog to human age conversions. A dog’s lifespan is only a fraction of the human’s lifespan, which means that a dog ages more quickly in the same amount of time.

There is no Dog to Human Years formula set in stone. There are too many variables that play a role in determining the aging in dogs. Aging varies a great deal depending on the size and breed of the dog.

Some dog breeds have an average lifespan that is almost double other breeds. Below are some of the main factors that play a role in determining the longevity of a dog:

1. Size –   It is a fact that small dogs tend to live longer. Sometimes up to 1.5 times longer. The smaller the dog and the lighter in weight, the longer the lifespan.

2. Breed –   The breed of a dog will give you an indication of the life expectancy. Apply the “Small Dog Rule” while remembering that there are exceptions to every rule. Large breeds generally have a shorter lifespan than smaller breeds. Weight and muscle mass play a role in determining the longevity of the dog.

3. Gender -  On average, depending on the breed, females will live one to two years longer than males of the same breed. This is similar to the human statistics.

4. Life Style and Health Care -  As a general rule, dogs properly cared for – quality food, regular exercise and medical attention – will live longer. Neutering and spaying will add years to a dog’s life. This is partially due to a reduced cancer risk that is associated with sexual organs.

The most common visible signs of aging in dogs are very similar to their human companions. The first thing you will notice is the appearance of gray hairs around the muzzle and eyes. As your friend begins to age, the following issues start to appear:

- Loss of Hearing
- Loss of Vision – cataracts
- Reduced Energy, deceased activity, sleeping more
- Weight Gain
- Arthritis and other joint problems
- Loss of Teeth

Several larger dog breeds are prone to joint problems, also called hip dysplasia. This can greatly reduce the quality of life of your companion.

Generally speaking, based on the breed and according to their adult size:

- Small Dogs can live over 15 – 16 years
- Medium to larger size dogs often live ten to 13 years
- Giant breeds, such as Mastiffs and Great Danes often only live to eight years

The Guinness World Records show the most recent record for the oldest dog was held by Butch a 28 year old from America who died in 2003. The oldest ever dog was Bluey, a sheepdog from Australia who lived to 29.

Chanel, the oldest Living Dog just turned 21 years old on May 6, 2009. Guinness World Records representatives presented Chanel and her owners with an updated certificate at her birthday party.

Chanel has a challenger. Max, a terrier-cross is now awaiting recognition from Guinness World Records as the oldest living dog. According to his owners, Max has veterinary papers to prove he was born in 1983, which makes Max 26 years young! That would make Max well over 100 in human years!