Today's Thought: Old Dogs and New Tricks

They say that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, are they right?

Well how about this for an idea, it's easier to teach an old dog new tricks than to teach a new dog old tricks.

Experience is the teacher of all things.

Dogs continue to learn every single day.

Never, ever write off any dog's ability to learn new things and to progress their skills and understanding of commands.

Potty Training For Puppies (Top Tips!)

Following on from the excellent K9 Magazine article on puppy housetraining, we've got these top tips on how to potty train your new puppy...

Puppy Potty Training Made Easy!

As much as we would love dogs to use potties that isn’t what this article is about. I’m talking about house training, making sure that they know to go outside when it is time to do their business. Potty training your dog is a lengthy procedure but at the end you’ll know it’s worth it.

Dog toilet training can be something of a difficult task. Every day needs to be the same and you need to give him constant attention when you can; this will make the toilet training procedure a lot easier. Your training process will take longer if you are working out of the house quite often as your dog will need to go and the house is the only place that he can.

The simplest method for potty training a dog is the newspaper method. Many owners have the problem where dogs excuse themselves in the house, because they don’t know any different, you can make them sit outside for hours but they will wait until they come inside the house to do their business, and most of the time they will do it where you can't see them. This happens because while trying to potty train their dog many owners punish them after they have done the toilet in the house. But that is no good, they need to be caught in the act, but you don’t need to rub your dog’s nose in it like many suggest! The dog needs to learn to trust you not fear you or it will never learn.

The first obstacle in potty training dogs is to teach the dog how to go on command, you can do this inside the house then work your way up to teaching him to do it outside. Pick a certain area inside the house, maybe at the back door or something likewise, place a lot of newspaper around the area and every hour or so take him there and tell him to do the toilet, or whatever you want the command to be. Sooner or later he will do the toilet, but you have to keep a close eye on him around the house so you can see if he is going to do the toilet or not. When you see him go to do the toilet, take him to the paper and tell him your command, then praise him for doing it on the paper, this type of potty training needs a very vigilant handler. When he learns to go on command try to take him outside instead of the paper, that way he will soon learn that he has to go outside.

There are other problems that potty training your dog can help with, submissive urinating can be quite a large problem. Often when your dog meets someone knew that he likes or someone he knows, or even another dog he can get very excited and in turn he wets himself. This isn’t good for the person he is doing the toilet on and is very embarrassing for you. Potty training your dog will help to only release on command.

With a lot of hard spent time and vigilance you can teach your dog anything, potty training is just a step towards another accomplishment in your dog's life, when he does do the toilet outside and not in the house make sure he receives lots of treats and praise, the more he knows it pleases you the more he is likely to do it!

Useful Resources:

House Training For Puppies
Puppy Paper Training
Puppy Nutrition
Insurance for Pets
Dog Fleas & Puppies
Lifetime pet insurance cover (deals)

Puppy Potty Training Video Tips

Snapshot Dog Breed Profile: Anatolian Shepherd Dog

Let's look at the Anatolian Shepherd dog breed.

The Anatolian Shepherd has a long history as a working dog in the country of Turkey. The original function of the breed was to guard flock. Today still, the breed is used as a highly-dependable security dog.

Researchers claim that the canine's roots probably go back 4000 years ago to the Roman Mollosian war dogs and the Tibetan Mastiff. These dogs were used to safeguard livestock against dangerous predators, such as bear and wolves.

By viewing various pictures of the breed you will notice that different Anatolian Shepherd dogs may vary in size, colour and coat type. This is largely due to nomadic shepherds travelling a large geographical region while their Anatolian Shepherds would accompany them. The traits that have not changed, however, are the breed's independence, loyalty, and toughness.

Anatolian Shepherd dogs made their way to the United States during the mid 1950s and although its usefulness was in the service of guarding livestock against coyotes, wolves, and other predators, the breed did not become popular until the late 1970s/early 1980s.

What's it Like to Own an Anatolian Shepherd Dog?

This breed needs plenty of daily exercise – a chance to run with you as you jog in the mornings or a brisk walk on the leash will do the job. Anatolian Shepherd dogs can live outside if need be, so long as the temperature does not reach extreme cold or high heat, however, they are very connected to the family so sleeping inside at night is preferred. Grooming requirements consist of a weekly brushing to remove dead hair.

Anatolian Shepherd Dog Health Problems

The Anatolian Shepherd has an average life span of between ten and thirteen years. Quite a healthy breed, the only major health concern that runs common is CHD, with entropion showing up as a minor issue. Veterinarians suggest that Anatolian Shepherd dogs get tested for potential hip and eye problems.

Helpful Resources

Lifetime pet insurance cover for an Anatolian shepherd dog
Dog nutrition and the Anatolian shepherd dog
Anatolian shepherd dog and puppy house training

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Distributed by Aljendro Reid on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands

What Is Proper Dog Nutrition?

We often hear people talk about the need for our dogs to get proper nutrition. But what does it actually mean?

Dog nutrition is so important to the health, behaviour and all round vitality of our dogs. So here is a fine article explaining and defining what proper dog nutrition actually entails.

Extract:

There is only a limited amount of fat that is used for protection against cold, cushion, covering, and extra energy. But when the maximum amount of stored fat is reached and applied for these purposes, the dog still continues to stock up fat and does so to the same degree that is equivalent to the excess energy that it consumes. For instance, every 3,500 calories that a dog eats in excess to what his body requires will be turned into 1 pound of body fat.

Source: http://www.dognutrition.org.uk/proper-dog-nutrition-defined/

Money Saving Dog Ownership Tips

The credit crunch has the unpleasant effect of causing more dog owners to give up their pets in the face of increasing financial pressures. Here we provide a short set of tips that can help reduce the costs of dog ownership.

Dogs do and always will cost money and yes, they do need a place to sleep, a bed, food and water. But ultimately there are measures owners can take to ensure this period of economic belt tightening does not cost dogs their homes.

Pet insurance, for instance, enables owners to have their veterinary expenses covered in the event of accident or illness. Some pet insurance policies start from as little as £10 per month which is just 32p per day.

Dog food bills can be reduced, dogs do not need to have the most expensive supermarket own brand pet food to be happy and healthy, they can actually be happier and even healthier if owners do a deal with their local butcher to get the day's unsold raw meat at reduced cost.

For those people for whom the real threat of eviction could cause them to make a decision about rehoming some weeks or months down the line, they should plan, plan and plan some more. If there is even the merest hint of losing a home, start talking with prospective landlords who will be happy to allow pets on their property.

Very often a compromise deal can be had, provided it is planned for. For instance, some dog owners offer their landlords what is known as a dog-bond, a simple contract drawn up that tells the landlord that the dog's owner is happy to pay for absolutely any damage or inconvenience caused by their pet. This peace of mind can persuade many landlords to be lenient on their no pets policy.

Resources:

Adopt a dog
Insure a dog for life
Free dog advice
Professional dog trainer

Pet Insurance Rise Leaves Pet Owners Confused

Over the past 15 years there has been a rocket-like surge in the depth and availabilty of pet insurance policies in the UK. As pet owners are faced with more and more choices, so the pet insurance companies are faced with the challenge of making their policy stand out.

As a result, according to a new survey by K9 Magazine - a lifestyle magazine for dog owners - pet owners are often left confused and furstrated when it comes to understanding the fine print of each individual pet insurance policy.

One of the most common causes of frustration according to the survey, which spoke to 200 pet owners in the UK, is being unsure of whether a pet is covered for illness and injury for the duration of their life.

Lifetime pet insurance cover is where the policy protects the animal for all of its life. However, not all policies offer this and as those policies often have lower premiums, they can be attractive to pet owners who base their decisions on price first.

AJ Douglas, a PR rep for a Taxi software firm and someone who has recently researched pet insurance, commented:

"I found the sheer volume of policies on offer to be quite incredible. At first I felt this was a positive sign, but then I realised just how much attention had to be paid to what I can only describe as discreet clauses. Often, two policies would look almost identical and it was only when you really dig down that you see there are some massive differences in what is covered and how long it is covered."

K9 Magazine's survey showed that modern pet owners are more comitted to insuring their dogs than ever before, but they are calling for more transparency from insurers when it comes to up front information on the main / most important aspects of each policy.

Useful Link: BBC Watchdog show covering the topic of pet insurance

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Distributed by Mickel Anderz on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.

UK Dogs Happy with New Dog Shampoo for Itchy Skin

Pet's need no longer suffer with the perils of unncomfortable scratching as a dog shampoo for itchy skin aims to soothe the coats of Britain's scratching pets. As recently covered in the UK's largest pet business directory, the dog shampoo for itchy skin from Perfect Pet Skin is a product that many dog owners will benefit from.

K9 Magazine recently discovered via an online test sample, that thousands of their readers were searching for information on how to stop dogs shedding.

More than 4,000 people have accessed K9 Magazine's tip sheet on dog shedding and vet nurses have claimed that more of their customers are seeking advice and information on products that help dogs with coat conditions.

Vets are keen to stress that an itching dog should first be examined for parasites and other skin conditions, but access to a specialist product designed to ease the skin from itching and irritation can help pets in the short term and over a longer period.

K9 Magazine's associate publisher, Charles Vincent:

"We're always keen to hear and observe what pet problems are troubling our readers. When we noticed just how many people were accessing our articles on dog skin care, particularly topics on dog shedding, we felt it would be important that all pet owners get access to quality information on various products and treatments for dog skin care. Obviously we always recommend dog owners speak with their vet who can access first hand information, but it's very important for our readers to get up to date information on what's out there in terms of products specially designed to assist with a wide variety of pet health problems."

K9 Magazine conducts regular reader surveys and monitors pet industry trends via one of the most popular dog related websites online.

Useful Link: To find out about any dog skin conditions

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Distributed by Frances O'Haram on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.

Dog Owners Frustrated By Dogs Pulling on Leads

A recent observation by leading dog publication K9 Magazine has shown that dogs who pull on the lead are one of the main causes of dog owner stress. The magazine's website experienced a large volume of enquiries from owners desperate to cure this specific behavioural problem.

More than 53% of users of the site who accessed the dog training articles were interested in how to cure their dog pulling on the lead.

Charles Vincent, who is associate publisher of K9 Magazine comments:

"For a lot of owners, having a dog that pulls on the lead is actually quite a miserable experience. This is particularly true of older people or owners of very strong dogs. In fact, we've had people contact us who have explained that they get genuinely depressed at the idea of having to take their dog for a walk if they think it's going to be spent being pulled all over the place."

In some cases, dog owners have turned to professional dog training services such as Diamond Dog behaviour (a Durham dog trainer in the UK) in an effort to cure this upsetting behavioural trait.

Facts:

- 53% of K9Magazine.com users who accessed dog training material wanted information on curing pulling

- 29% of visitors to pet business directory, PetFriendlyWorld.com, wanted information on hiring a professional dog trainer.

In the UK, there are more than 5m dogs. With more and more dog owners using online services to help them cure specific behavioural problems, Total Pet Publishing (publisher of K9 Magazine) monitors ongoing search trends and answer solutions from pet owners. Dog owners are increasingly the focus of media attention resulting from bad or dangerous behaviour. The UK Government recently announced it would not be following up plans to implement compulsory insurance for everyone who owns a dog.

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Distributed by Almer Johanson on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.

Life Lessons From Dogs (Ryan O'Meara)

Think like a dog and win at life says author of new book.

Ryan O'Meara, dog trainer and publisher of K9 Magazine claims in his new book 'Clever Dog: Life Lessons From Man's Best Friend' that thinking like a dog can improve our happiness, prosperity, friendships and decision making abilities.

In arguably the greatest self-help book of all time written by the man who literally wrote the book on how to get more from life, relationships and careers, Dale Carnegie's 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' tantalisingly revealed a life lesson that deserves the attention of a more comprehensive study.

Carnegie's seminal work named the dog as "the greatest winner of friends the world has ever known".

The self-help guru then went on to say:

"Did you ever stop to think that a dog is the only animal that doesn't have to work for a living? A hen has to lay eggs, a cow has to give milk, and a canary has to sing. But a dog makes his living by giving you nothing but love.”

If one of the most illustrious self-help minds of the past century can spot the value of thinking and behaving in line with man's best friend, Ryan O'Meara has taken the concept on to the next level in this book which reveals the hidden secrets behind...

• The dog's unique approach to conflict resolution. (learn to settle disputes favourably and without shedding blood).


• The dog's incredible (world famous) abilities to endear themselves to people and other animals, with a mere wag of a tail. (how to win REAL friends for life).


• How to the dog deploys unique mental techniques to cope with stress, illness and high pressure situations (how to be happier and healthier with positive mental attitude)


• Identifying and understand pack dynamic and prosper (how to get ahead in life, career and become prosperous without hurting people)


• How to survive when the odds are against it. (how to tough out the harshest of times and come out smiling)

Clever Dog examines the pivotal role dogs have played in the evolution of society, countries and culture. Did you know: had it not been for a dog, we may never have even heard about Alexander The Great?

The book is a fresh and innovative study of how man's best friend earned his name and, more importantly, how we can copy him to improve our mood, financial success, survival skills and ability to make more friends than we'd even know what to do with. In short, if you want to learn the secret to why the dog is the most loved animal on the planet, read this book.

Find out more / order the book Clever Dog: Life Lessons from Man's Best Friend by Ryan O'Meara - CLICK HERE.

Puppy House Training Why New Owners Struggle

A recent study by UK dog publication K9 Magazine has revealed that puppy house training is considered the hardest thing to deal with for new and inexperienced dog owners.

The survey, which interviewed 100 owners of dogs less than 6 months old, showed that the greatest strain in the face of new owners is training their dogs not to go to the bathroom inside the home.

Many dog ​​owners get discouraged when training their puppy at home when it seems that the dog has mastered the habit and then apparently reverts to old ways a few days later.

K9 Magazine's editor, Ryan O'Meara, the common problem faced by owners of new dogs:

"Often, when someone purchases a dog for the first time, they might never have been exposed to the dirty side of dog ownership. Sometimes it can take people a while to get used to the idea of ​​their beautiful home being turned in to a toilet by a cute puppy and therefore the stress of getting this particular behaviour correct can exceed other dog training targets."

The study indicates that 89% of owners had turned to the Internet to help them succeed in-house training their puppy.

84% said that the resources such as K9 Magazine's puppy training tips and eBooks had proved 'very useful' in helping to accomplish dog training goals.

Along with the house training a puppy, the biggest problem dog owners complained about new puppy ​​biting and howling.

K9 Magazine has produced a series of tip sheets and reports to treat the most common behaviour problems faced by new puppy owners - click -.

Resources

• Insure your puppy with lifetime pet insurance cover
• Professional dog training
• Adopt a puppy
  

Lifetime Dog Insurance: Pet Owners Miss Out

Dog owners are missing out on lifetime pet insurance cover due to oversight / pricing bias -

A recent study by leading dog publication K9 Magazine has revealed that 6 out of every 10 dog owners are unaware whether their dog is actually covered for life by the terms of their pet insurance policy.

The survey, which quizzed 100 dog owners who had purchased pet insurance policies in the past 12-months, asked whether or not they could say for certain that their dog was protected by the insurance for the duration of their natural life.

A staggering 60% admitted that they weren't sure and didn't check the policy smallprint when they purchased the pet insurance product.

K9 Magazine's associate publisher, Charles Vincent, believes this pattern is not unusual:

"With the advent of price comparison shopping sites, more and more people tend to be drawn purely to what they see as a bottom line price on insurance products - be they for their pets, cars, homes or even their own lives. The problems occur when people overlook glaring omissions in the product which can in turn lead to heartache down the line as they find that at the time when their pet is most in need of cover, their policy doesn't cater for it.

K9 Magazine has put together a simple, easy to follow tip sheet on buying lifelong pet insurance and understanding the benefits of lifetime pet insurance cover.

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Distributed by Stefan Kaymer on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.

Dog Owners Live Longer Lives

Dog Owners Live Longer, Are Happier and Healthier: Report

Academic research has revealed that dog owners are happier, healthier and likely to live longer. Whilst it has been established for some time that pet ownership makes people happier, it has now been shown that the benefits of owning a dog outstrip those of cat or any other animal.

A psychologist from Queen's University, Belfast, said dog owners tended to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Do Dog Training Clubs Work?

Can dog training clubs solve behaviour problems such as fighting, wrecking the house, or attacking the Hoover? Frankly no, these problems need to be dealt with in your own home by an experienced behaviour advisor. Dogs never have ‘just the one’ problem, but often it is only one of many which drives owners mad, or proves to be expensive. If your dog has any behaviour problems, sort those out first, as training will not help.

Do dominant dogs benefit from training? Eventually, but how do you spot dominance in your dog? Most dogs will assume dominant behaviour if they feel the lack of leadership within the household. A good rule of thumb is a dog who won’t be groomed won’t be trained.

The reason for this is that superior or dominant dogs will not accept grooming from their inferiors. Should you find yourself in this position, get advice and sort out who makes the rules in your house. Dogs do not appreciate being in charge, this is your job, but they will take on the role if you refuse to.

What can you expect to learn at a Club? Walking on the lead without pulling, returning when called, sitting, lying down and staying when told to are the basic building blocks, and you can expect to learn these exercises first. Should competition work be your goal, you will need to find a specialist Club.

Should you simply want a well behaved pet, try a club which hosts The Kennel Club’s Good Citizen Scheme, as this means that the training should be well planned, follows a well thought out route and you get to earn certificates and rosettes along the way! It also means that the Club is listed with The Kennel Club, and that it has valid insurance. The latter is important, as should you have an accident, or you or your dog suffer injury, an Insurance claim will need to be made. Well trained Instructors will show you how to use play, food, body language and voice to train your dog, and never a check chain in sight!

Common dog training problems

In a recent survey, 89% of owners said they had turned to the Internet to help them succeed with puppy house training. Training a new dog to go to the toilet outdoors is one of the most common behaviour problems new owners encounter. Dog club won't solve this particular problem but some of the people who attend dog clubs will certainly be able to advise!

Article sponsors and resources:

• Dog training Durham
• Puppy paper training
• Online dog training techniques
• Dog tips
  

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London / petbuzz / March 2011
Distributed by Robin Wiseacre on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.

Is The Hypo-Allergenic Dog a Myth?

London / petbuzz / March 10, 2011 -- Ever since US president Obama signed his family up for a so-called hypoallergenic dog, the world has gone mad for information on dogs who don't shed, dogs who don't cause allergies, dogs who don't make people sneeze and dogs who don't leave hairs all over the place.

The reality is, however, there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog.

Associate publisher of K9 Magazine, Charles Vincent:

"One of the things we - as a specialist pet publishing business - noticed a huge increase of, was the sheer number of people who assumed that there are certain breeds which are hypo-allergenic. This simply isn't the case. Allergies to dogs are related to the skin more so than the fur, so unless someone has managed to create a skinless dog, then allergies can still be transmitted."

AJ Douglas, a PR rep for a Taxi software firm was one of the people who looked in to the so-called hypoallergenic dog breeds for his family.

"We saw all the talk about dogs that don't induce allergies in children and thought it would be a great introduction to dog ownership. However, we were glad to come across K9 Magazine's advice on the subject which explained that there is really no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog. This is important for people to know otherwise I think many people could end up with dogs believing them to be totally allergy free, only to learn the truth later that there is no such thing as a truly hypoallergenic dog. In fact, we felt many breeds were being actively promoted as allergy free and this is simply untrue.

Charles Vincent is keen to stress that there is great advantages to using information to learn about everything from dog allergies to allergy free dog food.

"The key is to research from credible sources, then check, then double check. There is a lot of information out there, some of it good, some of it not so. But most importantly, dog owners shouldn't jump in to any decisions until they have really scoured as many sources as possible.

Distributed by Angelo Brittas on behalf of petbuzz :: social media for pet brands.

Guide to Finding a Dog Trainer

Many dog owners encounter behaviour problems at various stages of their pet's life.

Knowing whether to go hunting for a dog trainer to help fix the problems is one thing, but knowing how and who to choose to help train your dog is quite another!

Training your dog is an important part of responsible pet ownership. While common puppy behaviour problems and housebreaking are discussed in many books and publications, here we'll discuss your options for basic obedience training and whether you want train your dog yourself or hire a trainer.

Obedience training can begin as early as three to four months if you train the dog yourself. Most trainers believe puppies aren't mentally or socially developed enough to benefit from group obedience class until they are six months old. Any sincerely interested dog owner can train his or her own dog, provided your dog hasn't already acquired a lot of bad habits.
You and your dog may want to attend a couple of lessons at a good training club. You may also want to arm yourself with a good training book.

Sponsored: Professional dog trainer in Durham.

Dog owners need to reinforce their dog's conditioned responses. Certainly the more practice and proofing you do with a dog, the more reliable his response will be. Skilled human beings, from tennis pros to typists, need practice to stay in top form. This is because all learned skills need reinforcement. So before you even hire your dog trainer, you need to be totally committed to the concept that, ultimately, YOU will be responsible for maintaining the dog's good behaviour.

When searching for your dog trainer, the best sources tend to be:

• Vets
• Friends and family
• Owners of well behaved dogs!

Above all, you will need to be comfortable with whoever you appoint. Someone who you feel you can trust and who you are happy and confident with.

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Article distributed by Armin Phelan on behalf of petbuzz : : social media for pet brands.

Loose Leash Training For Dogs

Ever wanted to teach your dog to walk beautifully at your side?

Learning about loose leash training is the secret to having a dog that will stick to your side when you go out on your daily walks.

A well behaved, balanced, happy and non pulling dog is a joy, yet many owners endure their walks rather than enjoy.

Learn how to loose leash train your dog.

Learn How to Wash a Dog

If you've ever found yourself struggling to keep your Terrier's coat in tip top condition or battling to keep the grime off your Golden retriever, this article on Pet Library is a nice, simple tip sheet on how to wash a dog.

From the article:

How Often Should You Give Your Dog A Bath?

In general, how often you bathe your dog will depend on its environment. Is he an inside dog or an outside dog? Does he get dirty eating? Does he have an odor?

A dog's skin and fur vary from breed to breed, just like humans, so if he smells then definitely give the pooch a bath. If he is an outside dog then the weather and parasites will have something to decide in the matter as well (bathing more often).

Source: http://www.petlibrary.co.uk/1/how-to-wash-a-dog/

 

Canine Lymphoma Diagnosis

Dogs are dying of cancer in alarming numbers. Morris Animal Foundation reports that a staggering 1 in 4 dogs will lose their lives to cancer.

Canine lymphoma is a canine killer. Normally a diagnosis of canine lymphoma is a death sentence for dogs, survival rates have been as low as 2% and the survival time from diagnosis rarely passes two years. But this could all be set to change, as the veterinary industry gears up to take canine lymphoma treatment to the next level.

K9 Magazine has put together a report on Canine Lymphoma that you can download completely free of charge.

Link: http://www.k9magazine.com/canine-lymphoma-special-report/

Golden Rules of Puppy House Training

Excellent top tip style article on house training a puppy in K9 Magazine.

Golden Rules of Puppy House Training:

1. Praise (wildly) when they do ‘go’ outside
2. Never scare or startle the puppy if catching them in the act indoors
3. Never, ever, under any circumstances rub a dog’s nose in any accidents. THIS DOESN’T WORK and is entirely unhealthy and unpleasant
4. Try to spot the tell tail signs when your puppy is telling you they need the toilet. These include circling, sniffing in corners, whining for no apparent reason and any time shortly after eating or drinking.
5. Remember, a small puppy’s bladder is physically very small and they actually can’t hold their toilet movements in for long periods at a time.
6. It is inevitable that a young puppy WILL have accidents in the home but as they get older and in combination with a well planned house training program, they will get better.

Source: http://www.k9magazine.com/house-training-a-puppy/