Saturday, February 28, 2009

Dog Training

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Friday, February 27, 2009

Some Tips To Help You Control Your Weight

By Brian

Your weight loss program can get down right tiring sometimes right? With all the 'you can eat this' or 'you can eat that', sometimes it's a bit much.

You've probably been told that you should or shouldn't eat this and that in all the weight loss plans that you've seen.

Craving food can be the effect of those weight loss programs that ask you to eat half as much as you used to but exercise all the time.

Studies conducted recently have found that low fat or low in calorie diets only have a certain effect on the body. In fact, dieting this way alone may not prevent heart disease and in fact our bodies utilize and absorb more nutrients from foods that we actually like.

That means although eating alot of vegetables is good for you, if you're eating it to replace all the chicken in your diet or something similar, it won't do you much good.

When you smell something you like, your brain tells your stomach to activate and produce more digestive juices. These juices help break down proteins and metabolize it into your body better.

Before you go and eat everything that smells good consider:

1) Eating junk food, chips and chocolate because it smells good is not the way to go. Your food of choice must have some sort of nutritional goodness in it, such as fruits and vegetables. You can cook them any way you like (even frying it) as long as they taste good to you.

2) Is it because people are around that you are eating? Are you eating because of stress or high emotions? Well you have to ask yourself these questions and try and control the foods you eat when you get into these kinds of situations.

3) The way you eat your food is also important. You need to control how you eat so that you can eat for pleasure. Do this by chewing slowly, enjoying your food as you go. It is important to lengthen your meal because it takes time for your brain to register that you are full. If you eat too fast, your brain won't tell you to step and you'll keep going.

Not too hard to do right? Easy tips for an easy dieting plan.

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Dog Behavior

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Premier Ultimate Puppy Toolkit (Misc.) newly tagged "dog behavior"

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Helpful Pointers When Training Your Dog

By Rice Amire

Having a dog as a pet requires much responsibility. Primarily, their health and behavior are two to main aspects to keep in check. Training your dog can both be fun and rewarding if some time is invested in teaching and training your dog.

If you do not have any background on dog training, there is no need to worry at all. This is because basic dog training is quite easy, especially when you concentrate on just the fundamental commands.

To start off, these are just some of the essential commands you need to teach your dog, if youre thinking about going into dog training. Come, Sit, Stay, Down, No, Wait, Okay, Heel, Off, Jump, and Play Dead. But before you go through those basic commands, you have to understand the importance of consistency here.

The teaching method you employ should be consistent, so as not to make things confusing for your pet. One simple way of doing this is to stick to the command words you have been using ever since. Do not keep changing them because this would just confuse your pet. This would definitely defeat the purpose of dog training.

In order to learn a new trick, your dog must be fully attentive when being taught. Make sure to have your dog's attention before starting your dog training activity. This is usually achieved just by calling out your dog's name. Whenever your dog seems to lose attention, call out his/her name to get it back.

Also, it is important to teach commands one at a time. Do not teach a number of commands at one time because this would further add to the confusion of your pet. Depending on how perceptive your dog is teaching commands could take days, weeks, months, or even years.

When training your dog, be sure to teach your dog in short spurts. Your dog needs time to process the information and it may turn out to be less useful for your dog to learn a trick if taught through long tiring training sessions.

Sessions should be just 10 to 15 minutes long. Otherwise, your pet would become bored and would start doing something else. The commands would no longer be retained effectively. Slowly but surely is the key concept here.

Lastly, good behavior should be rewarded accordingly. Give your dog a treat, or even just a pat on the head, or a scratch behind his ear. This sort of acknowledgment is already enough for your dog.

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Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Top Social Training Techniques For Puppies

By Jack Hamersom

One of the most important training skills a puppy must be taught in order to be sure that both the dog and the people it comes in contact with will be safe. I puppy with good social skills will be a happier dog, and will make them a more enjoyable pet to have in the home. A puppy with poor social skills is not only miserable, but can also pose a danger to both humans and other pets around it.

The best time to start training your puppy and teaching them social behavior is when they are puppies, so that they do not start to learn bad habits, and the dog is starting with a clean slate. What your puppy will learn in the first months and years will affect the way the puppy acts for the rest of its life.

A dog that has been trained are has learned proper socializing skills will be able to be around humans and other pets without showing signs of aggressive. Instead, they will look and this as a chance to meet new pets and people, and will enjoy the time spent in new surroundings as opposed to stressed, scared, and lashing out at others.

At around 12 weeks is the best time to start teaching your dog social skills, if you do not get them trained before this time it can become a problem, because in most cases you are going to have to teach the dog how to stop bad habits they have acquired during this time.

Free Tips On Training You Dog

How to Teach your Dog Social Skills

Whenever you start as social event try to make the experience fun and exciting for the puppy. If they do not enjoy the experience it will be harder to train them.

Have family and other people you know come over and meet the puppy, and it they have trained pets have them bring the over as well so that the puppy is exposed to a variety of people and animals, and sees this as normal.

It is crucial that you take you puppy out and let it see new place, people, and pets. When you dog gets out it gets a chance to enjoy the outdoors while learning valuable social skills that they will need.

While they are young you need to make sure the dog is use to have a bath, getting its hair brushed out, having nails clipped, etc.

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Dog Behavior

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Getting The Most Out Of Your Weight Training

By Brian

You face one of the biggest challenges to body builders in that all muscle fibers must be exhausted to have the best muscle gain.

The simple answer is, you have work beyond failure and experience a higher level of training intensity than before. This also ensures that workouts remain challenging and continue to engender progress over time thus reducing the likelihood of regression. But how do you go about intensifying your training? Fortunately there is a tried and tested path to follow as outlined below:

1. Increase the resistance of the weight you are using - Meaningful increments in the weights slowly pushes your body a little bit over the point of failure each time. Aim to reach 6 to 8 reps of an increased weight without failing.

2. Change up your exercises - All the muscle fibers in your body must be trained for maximum gain. Introducing a new exercise or changing the angle of a previous one (incline press etc) will help you achieve this.

3. Reduce the amount of rest between intervals - The level of intensity will increase if you give your muscles less time to recover before exposing them to more work.

4. Pre exhaustion - The weakest muscle in an exercise involving two or more muscles will always fail first. This means it will fail before you have the chance to exercise the main muscle to exchaustion. To overcome this, focus on tiring out the main muscle before doing the exercise with both muscles working together.

5. Do supersets - supersets are done by doing two exercises without any rest in between them that focus on the same muscle groups but are different types of exercise. This will fully utilize all the muscle fibers in that muscle group.

6. Do partial repititions - You will not be able to complete the full range of movement for any given exercise once you reach the point of failure. Using only a segment of the lift by doing a partial rep will work your muscles beyond the point of failure. It allows you to increase intensity without adding extra routines that could cause overtraining.

7. Try using isometric contractions - Holding the weight still at the point of failure to stimulate a static contraction in the muscle.

8. Do one more rep than possible - Going past the point of failure by doing one more rep will need the help of a friend. Once you have reached the point of failure, your assistant can help you go just past the point of failure to complete one more rep.

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Training Your Dog With A Citronella Dog Collar

By Michael Fargo

After all the begging, you got your kids the dog they always wanted. And guess what? He does things like digging, or perhaps jumping over the fence, or what about the barking? If this is you, you may want to consider one of the best training methods known as a citronella spray collar.

Spray collars are one of the most popular dog training methods out today. Let's take a look at the citronella collars a little more closely. This is a tool you can use to curb unwanted behaviors. It is primarily used as an anti bark collar. Because of the cost, and the method, it is highly recommended.

You can turn to this method of dog training to really help you get back control. A citronella dog collar is totally safe and harmless. What happens is when your dog misbehaves, a little fog is sprayed. Over time, with repetition, the dog realizes that by not doing a certain behavior, the spray stops. Eventually the dog learns to stop the unwanted behavior.

When looking into any kind of training method, some work well, and some are not good for the dog. Of the training collars out there, the citronella collar is considered one of the most humane. There are actually methods that are not beneficial for the dog. This is not one of them.

Anti bark collars automatically activate a citronella spray when the dog barks hit a certain volume level. The volume level prevents the collar from spraying when the dog makes a normal or quiet sound. You can also get a collar that you can trigger remotely. It's much better to use the citronella collar when working with a dog you want to control the very specific problem, such as theft of certain items, or chewing on things. When you see the dog exhibiting that behavior, you can trigger the spray.

In conjunction with a spray collar, some use a virtual fence. These are great training tools, and that can help you train a dog to stay in a boundary. When the dog gets too close to the border, first, a warning sound will go off. He is given the opportunity to come back. However, if he ignores the boundary, then a spray is triggered by his collar. Over time, the dog learns that the sound is a warning and he will not go past the boundary.

Spray collars are not the same as shock collars. The shock collars are another option to the citronella collar. These collars work in the same manner, except that they will shock the dog in stead of emit the citronella spray. For many, this is seen as an in humane method for dog training. And many recommend against this form of training.

For many, this is seen as an in humane method for dog training.. I am sure that most owners of the dogs prefer a happy and well adjusted and behaved dog, trained in safety and without pain. Get the results you need with citronella collar, and he will do well. Get your dog to behave and get your life and sanity back!

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Monday, February 23, 2009

Dog Behavior

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Dog Training

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Vet on Call : Home Remedies for Common Concerns : Behavior, Grooming, Sickness (Hardcover) newly tagged "dog training"

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Sunday, February 22, 2009

Positive Reinforcement For Your Dog

Perfect Pooch Behavior with Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement of dogs can be done easily by employing praise, dog toys, and small dog food treats. This type of training is proving to be far more rewarding than attempts at behavior modification that employs negative reinforcement techniques. When you elect to praise and reward your dog in a positive manner it will strengthen your bonds and you will be able to gain his trust much faster. If you are attempting to train your dog on your own the positive reinforcement methods are a sure way to quicker success and much less frustration

Our pets all have their individual learning curves and this directly how easily and quickly they can be trained. Some pets will be easier than others to train but with patience any of them can be taught basic obedience behaviors. Dogs are just like any other animal, including us humans, and they learn certain behaviors in two basic ways. Sometimes they will show the desired behavior simply for enjoyment and rewards, but they may be trained to respond to avoid unpleasant consequences.

This is the basic difference between positive and negative reinforcement in any type of training environment. Negative reinforcement means that the owner must deliver a punishment, or negative consequence, when their dog exhibits an undesirable behavior. If a dog chews up a shoe then the consequence could include harsh words, a few swats with a rolled up newspaper, or the owner might take away some favorite dog toys. Another harsh punishment involves the pet being placed in doggie prison (their crate) for a short period of time. The idea is to get the dog to associate the consequence with the behavior. Just like many humans, lots of dogs end up confused and hurt because of this type of behavior modification.

Owners and trainers that prefer positive reinforcement for their pets choose to reward and praise desired behaviors. Positive reinforcement means that when your dog does not chew up the shoe and simply ignores it, you would then compliment him with lavish attention and praise, or a small doggie treat. You could also buy him some fun dog toys that are shaped like shoes to use instead of your own tempting footwear.

When you are using positive reinforcement, it means that you reward and reshape the correct behavior each time you see improvement, even if the steps taken by your pet are small. For instance if you are trying to paper train a puppy, do not scold him if he just barely misses the paper or has an accident as he is heading for the paper. This will confuse the issue for him and make training much harder. As you begin to reward the efforts he is making toward the correct behavior your dog will become more eager to get that "A" and you will be surprised how fast your training sessions find success. Dogs want to please and it is much easier for them to understand what you want them to do when you use positive reinforcement to guide them along the path.

Remember to reward your dog's correct actions with the positive reinforcement that appeals to them the most. Some dogs like food and tiny treats will work well, but other dogs adore praise and play time with dog toys that bounce or squeak. When you find which one works best for you own canine companion make the most of the opportunity and you will soon have a poised and well-behaved dog by your side.

About the Author:
Article by Kelly Marshall of http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com, your top spot to buy dog costumes online.

Keyword tags: puppy training, dog training, positive puppy training, dog behavior, puppy behavior

Separation Anxiety For Your Dog

Lots of people feel anxious when they're alone for long periods of time. But you may not realize that dogs feel the same way sometimes, too!

If you come home from being away to find your dog has torn up furniture, soiled the floor, or you get a report from neighbors that your dog barked and howled the whole time you were gone, your dog probably has separation anxiety problems. Unfortunately, many dog owners think their dogs are acting out of anger at being left alone or because they are "bad dogs." This leads to you handling the problem as bad behavior, which won't solve it. One of the keys to dealing with separation anxiety in dogs is understanding what it is, and why some dogs don't deal with being alone as well as others.

First, you should know that dogs are social animals. Their mentality is based on living in a pack (much like our family structure), so when they're left alone, they don't handle it well. Their instinct is to find the rest of their pack, and when they can't do that, they become agitated. This leads to the behavior that frustrates owners when they get home.

If you suspect that your dog has separation anxiety, there are some signs and symptoms you can look for that can help. When you're home, does your dog cling to you and demand constant attention? Does your dog start to get upset when you're getting ready to go out? When you're away, does your dog whine, bark, or howl the whole time you're gone? Is your dog restless while you're away? Is your dog destructive, or does your dog soil the carpets or floor in several areas while you're gone? If so, your dog most likely isn't simply bored, but is having anxiety at being separated from you.

It takes a lot of patience and love to deal with your dog's separation anxiety. Essentially, you have to train your dog to know that it's safe when home alone, and help your dog to know that you'll always come home, no matter how long it thinks you've been gone.

If your dog has mild separation anxiety, one way you can help is to make sure your dog has a variety of dog toys to play with while you're gone. A good selection of dog toys will help keep your pet occupied while you're away, distracting it from looking for you.

Getting dog toys may sound too easy, but with mild separation anxiety, it could be that all your dog needs is something to occupy its time until you get home. Making sure there are lots of toy options available could save a lot of anxiety for your dog, as well as frustration for you!

In addition to helping to keep your dog occupied while you're gone, dog toys can also help keep your dog from chewing on objects and furniture in your home. If there's a dog toy to chew on, you may save yourself from having to replace things at home.

Separation anxiety can be a serious issue for dogs, but with patience, love, and some great dog toys, you shouldn't have any problem helping your dog feel safer alone, and keeping your home from being destroyed. And that will mean a happier home for everyone!

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Article by Kelly Marshall of http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com, your top spot to buy dog clothes online.

Keyword tags: puppy behavior,dog behavior,puppy anxiety,puppy issues,dog issues,puppy separation anxiety

Women With Abs Look Great

By Robert Casewood

Time was when fitness aficionados sweating away in gyms and fitness centers were comprised of men. In the early days of fitness, there were no such things as aerobics classes and certainly no female bodybuilders. Those dark, barbaric days of exercising have are long gone and it's now a common site to see women slugging it out in the octagon or pumping iron and getting ripped.

Women now rival the men in gym attendance. Indeed, the fit, athletic look that long defined male sexiness has crossed genders and modern society's basis for female sexiness has gone from the voluptuous Monroe-esque image to the lean tanned surfer chick look complete with six-pack abs.

Female pop stars and actresses idolized by legions of adoring (and imitating) fans spend countless hours in working-out and keeping their bodies and especially their abs lean and trim. It's clear that modern society puts fit females in high regard and this can be evidenced by the popularity of Kerri Walsh, Donna Carano and the Williams sisters.

Modern culture's emphasis on being fit has women working-out as hard as men in fighting belly fat and getting and maintaining six-pack abs. An overwhelming number of both men and women are snapping-up ab machines, diet books and gimmicks in the quest for getting that much sought-after six pack.

Countless teenagers, professionals and housewives have been plunking down sizable amounts of funds for belly-fat reduction creams, unrealistic diet programs and pricy gadgets that isolate the ab muscles. Hard earned dollars wasted just to find a short-cut to lean, sexy abs.

Sadly, a lot of women get ripped-off by these "revolutionary" products which don't really do much to shorten the process of eliminating belly fat. The key to exposing the striations and contours of the abdominal muscles which give us that six-pack appearance is in getting rid of excess body fat. Take care of all-around body fat and we eliminate belly fat.

Studies have found that the secret to fighting body fat is to keep our metabolism high through the right exercises and healthy eating habits. Incorporating cardio exercises that keep our heart rate just below the maximum rate into our exercise programs can drastically reduce the time it takes to get that sexy six-pack.

Cardio exercises at a point below a person's AT burns the most calories from body fat rather than from glycogen which is important for muscle development. Muscle tissue is important because aside from giving us an attractive physique, it burns calories just being there. Yes, the more muscle tissue we have, the more calories we can burn while counting sheep or soaking in the tub full of bubbles.

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Dog Behavior

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Saturday, February 21, 2009

Best Ab Workout Is Whole Body

By Robert Casewood

Getting rid of belly fat has been a frustration for models and bodybuilders since the early days of working-out. This is mainly due to the fact that our bodies have a tendency to store most of our body fat around our abdomen and this is the last place it leaves when we try to get lean.

Fitness companies have recognized this and have been quick to cash in on countless people's war against belly fat. "Fat-burning" creams which allegedly melt away belly fat, ab workouts touted to give you a six-pack "in weeks" and countless exercise gadgets that isolate the abdominal muscles have been unleashed on the desperate masses eager to get rid of their soft paunches.

Unfortunately for people who plunked down a significant amount of cash for these "breakthrough" products, there is no real way to spot-reduce belly fat. Fat reducing creams won't do it and neither can gadgets that isolate the ab muscles. Ab machines and ab workouts only serve to develop and strengthen muscle tissue, but they don't really do much to eliminate the layer of belly fat covering the abdomen.

The fastest way to address a flabby gut is to do cardio exercises that burn the highest percentage of calories from body fat and not carbohydrates or glycogen which is needed for muscle development. Total body exercises are deemed to be the most effective in keeping the heart rate at a level optimum for the most effective body fat burn.

Exercises that isolate abdominal muscles aren't useless of course- they're a great way to strengthen and develop muscle tissue paving the way for that sexy six pack once the fat around the belly is eliminated.

Consuming the right foods can also help us in our quest for elusive six pack abs. Some citrus fruits actually render fat more soluble and hence easier to burn. Timing our consumption of carbs and proteins throughout the day can also help in muscle repair and development and increase our metabolic rate.

Some dieters that don't know any better try to cut-back on calories and skip meals. This can actually prevent them from reaching their goal of a flat, contour abdomen. Our bodies slow down our metabolism whenever we start to starve and this means it uses muscle tissue instead of body fat for energy.

Weight-training to build muscles can also help fight-off excess fat as well as improve our physique. The more muscle tissue we have, the more our metabolic rate goes up. Muscle actually expends calories even while immobile so having more of it will let us fight fat even in our sleep!

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Friday, February 20, 2009

Curtailing Your Dogs Barking

For dogs, barking is a natural form of communication. Since they can't tell you when they need something or are worried about a strange noise outside, they bark, growl, or howl to let you know what's going on. And while it's unfair to expect your dog to stop communicating altogether, you can curtail the barking to keep your dog from waking your family or the neighbors. There are several reasons a dog is a barker, and once you address the "why," you can curtail your dog's barking habits.

Some dogs bark for attention. If they're lonely or want to play, they bark. When you react to their barking, you give them the attention, which reinforces their barking behavior. Even if they receive negative attention from you because of the barking, they're happy because they're getting attention. This barking habit can be broken by giving your dog lots of positive attention when it's quiet. When your dog quiets down, praise it and give it lots of attention then. Conversely, when your dog barks for attention, don't respond. Your dog will soon get the picture that barking isn't the way to get attention.

Some dogs bark because they know that if they do, they'll get what they want. They bark at the door to be let outside, the bark at their dishes to get food, and they bark at the counter to get a treat. Because you give them what they want when they bark, they continue the behavior. After all, if you could get whatever you wanted by saying, "Hey!" you probably wouldn't quit, either, right? To retrain this behavior, work on only giving your dog what it wants when it's quiet.

Some dogs bark when they're left alone. These dogs have separation anxiety. They're the dogs that bark all day while you're at work. These kinds of barkers have two parts. First, they're lonely, and second, they aren't used to your daily routine, so it's jarring to them to be left alone without knowing when you'll be back. Retraining this kind of barker is more involved, but is worth the patience it takes to show your dog that it's okay if you're gone during the day.

Along with retraining your dog using positive reinforcement, there is something simple you can do to help curtail your dog's barking. Make sure your home is stocked with a variety of dog toys. Believe it or not, if your dog has a selection of toys, you may not have to worry about barking as much.

When dogs play with dog toys, they usually use their mouths. On a basic level, that means there's something in their mouths and they can't bark. But having dog toys also means your dog has something to do when you're not available for tummy rubs and ear scratches. Many toys are designed to engage and entertain your dog, and can help keep your dog from being lonely and bored.

Remember: dogs bark to communicate. And though you may want to teach your dog that it's not okay to bark all the time, you don't want your dog to feel it can't tell you how it feels. There's a balance between communication and behavior problems, and you can find the perfect balance with patience, positive reinforcement, and some great dog toys.

About the Author:
Article by Mary Stevenson of http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com, your top spot to purchase plush dog toys online.

Keyword tags: puppy crate training, crate training is hard, dog training , puppy behavior, puppy accidents

Behavior Problems in Rescue Animals

You visit the nearby animal shelters and see all of those adorable canines with the puppy dog eyes and pleading expressions and what can you do? Maybe you only came to volunteer or leave some dog toys for the animals there, but once there you are hooked like the proverbial fish.

Well, many people can't say "No" and they find that they are soon leading a new pet home before they realize what's happened. I certainly don't blame them because I am a pushover for those rescue animals that long for a forever home and family of their own. Although I began as a part time volunteer at a local animal rescue shelter, it didn't take me long to fall in love with each animal I came in contact with.

In fact, my inability to refuse the hound-dog looks on those sweet pet faces placed my name at the top of many foster, rescues, adopt and shelter lists and has been the driving force to my current circus of pets including 4 dogs and 5 cats. Between the dog toys, pet food and animal treats in my shopping cart there is often little room for my own grocery needs.

One thing that I am greatly aware of is the behavior problems that can occur with rescue animals. The dogs that have been treated badly, neglected, or abused can have issues with socializing that need to be handled by someone experienced with this type of training. For many of these animals re-socialization is mandatory before they are able to be offered for adoption. Dog toys are a favorite way for many trainers to make a connection to these frightened animals.

Rescue dogs have often lost their innate sense of trust and they may exhibit strong territorial behaviors about food that can create problems. They can also be wary of any strangers that try to approach them. It is quite common to see these animals growl, bark and snap because of their fear and prior conditioning. This is when dog toys come in handy, a variety of these may be offered before a dog has a positive response. When a reaction is noted to a particular item, it will be used to facilitate the training program by helping to gain the dog's trust and interest.

If you are fostering one or more of the rescue dogs to help their socialization process you should be aware that their jittery nerves avoidance of people stems from many negative incidents in their past. Not raising your voice and offering them praise for the desired behavior will help calm them. Using small treats and an assortment of dog toys will give these animals a sense of security and boost their confidence. For many lonely and nervous pooches, these dog toys will become their security blanket.

Luckily, there are devoted handlers, trainers, and volunteers who will make the effort to show these rescue animals love and kindness. These people will commit long hours to socialization and rehab sessions that will change the way these dogs think and behave. The dogs are able to gradually adapt and learn good behavior that makes them ideal adoption candidates. When their new family is ready to take them home the dog usually insists on taking his beloved, and well loved, dog toys along.

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Article by Mary Stevenson of http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com, your top spot to purchase dog carriers online.

Keyword tags: dog behavior,rescuing a dog,canine behavior,pet behavior,rescue dogs health

Crate Training Your Dog Can Be Easy

Crate Training Your Dog is not a hard task to do. However, if they are not housebroken you should not let them have freedom in the house when no one is home. The best way to begin their training is when they are young you should put them in a crate with one of their favorite dog toys, while you are out. A crate will act as a temporary living quarters, and they will not defile it once they get used to being in it every day.

As soon as you get back home, you will need to take the dog for a walk. Remember they have been holding it in all day or for time you have been out. In the beginning of the dog training program, whether the dog is a puppy or an older dog, you should begin leaving them in a crate with a dog toy, preferable with one that they like. This should only be done for a short period of time, until the dog learns to hold its secretions. The exception to this is that if you live alone and you and the dog are the only two; otherwise, if someone else is home they should take the dog for a walk as soon as they see the dog sniffing around.

Do not use the crate as a means of punishment for leaving something on the floor. This will cause your dog to hate it when you put them in the crate, and will most likely give you a hard time about going into it. The only time you should put them in the crate is when you are leaving for a set amount of time. There are two set amount of times that you should use; the short time span, should be use from a few minutes to a few hours, and the long time span is while you are gone to work. At first, you should train your puppy with a dog toy, to get them to do what you want them to do. Praise them when they are good or does what you say, and do not be too hard on them if you come home and find an accident in the crate. If the dog has held it in until you got home, and you take it outside, give them a reasonable amount of time to sniff around and find the right place to do their business. Once they do, be sure to have a treat for them as soon as they are finished. This will begin to teach them that if they do well they get rewarded. However, if they do not do their business in the set amount of time, simply take them back into the house.

Once a dog plays with his favorite dog toy for so long, it will eventually wear out and you will end up having to replace it. Some dogs will have several types of dog toys to play with and only play with one more than the others, so buying one they like will keep them happy and content.

About the Author:
Article by Mary Stevenson of http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com, your top spot to purchase chew resistant dog toys online.

Keyword tags: puppy crate training, crate training is hard, dog training , puppy behavior, puppy accidents

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Get Yourself Some Six Pack Abs

By Jason K

Let's face it, there is nothing sexier for a woman then seeing rock solid six pack abs on a man. To make this as easy as possible we're going to look at a few tips that will help you to achieve those six pack abs in the quickest amount of time possible.

Most advice for creating a six-pack stom,ach is to do thousands of sit-ups, You can be rest assured that doing this will not give you a six-pack. Though exercise does play an important part in achieving rock solid six pack abs, it is also important that you watch what you eat.

Foods that contain sugar and other simple, refined carbohydrates should be avoided. Instead, go for foods that concentrate on complex carbohydrates as this is more nutritional for your body. Protein is also important as it helps to boost your metabolic rate. You need to bring your fat levels down, and by eating a healthy diet, you'll be well on your way to getting those rock solid six-pack abs.

The best form of exercise is interval training. Interval training will help you to quickly burn excess fat off your body while at the same time keeping your muscles toned. Recent studies have shown that interval training allows your body to burn more calories for up to 24 hours after you have stopped exercising.

Adequate rest between your workouts is very important. Your bodsy neds to recover fully for your next workout otherwise your progress will start to go backwards. Over training can cause muscle loss, and that causes your metabolism to slow down

By eating healthily, and regularly doing interval training, you will be well on your way to achieving powerful six pack abs in no time.

A proper workout program is by far the best way to get a flat stomach is the safest way. This will also help you achieve the physique you have always wanted.

About the Author:

Dog Training

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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

5 Tips on Housebreaking Your New Puppy

Puppies can be a lot of fun, they're cute and cuddly and positively adorable. However, a new puppy can also require a lot of work, particularly if you are keeping it in the house. Housetraining a puppy requires patience and consistency, much like toilet training a toddler does. The end result, a dog that is free to enjoy life as a house pet and one that will let you know when he or she needs to go outside, is well worth the initial effort.

1.Be persistent. Right from the start, you need to make sure you teach your puppy the rules. And the number one rule is not to do his business in the house. Obviously, a new puppy won't really get this at first, so you'll need to be very persistent to reach your goal of having a housebroken puppy. Training your dog to go outside is going to take some time and you'll be cleaning up some messes, so be prepared.

2. If you don't see it, don't punish it. It's going to happen. You'll walk into the room and find a puddle or a nice little pile of doggy doo waiting for you. This is NOT the time to express your displeasure with your puppy. He won't understand since the act has been done and he doesn't know what you're upset about. The only time you should punish your puppy for making a mess indoors (and by punish, I mean scolding and perhaps shutting up in his box) is when you actually see it happen. Act immediately, or the entire thing will have vanished from the puppy's mind and you won't be doing any good at all.

3. Follow a routine. Dog training mostly relies on consistency in order to work. If your puppy knows what to expect, he will be better able to do as you want him to. At first, you'll need to tailor your timing to the puppy. Most puppies need to head outside right after a meal, so make it routine to do that. As your dog gets older, you'll be able to lessen the number of trips outdoors and your dog will learn to hold it or let you know if there is a need to be filled.

4. Keep it contained. You will have less to clean up if you keep your puppy in one area of the house. In fact, one form of puppy training involves using a crate to keep the dog contained. The crate can be placed anywhere in the home. If you decide not to use a crate, though, you can still put the puppy in a specific room, particularly at night. Laundry rooms often work well for this since they are easy to clean and warm. Your puppy will also feel more comfortable in a smaller space at the beginning.

5. No food at night. By making sure that your puppy isn't eating at night, you'll save yourself a lot of hassle. You can remove food and water a couple of hours before bedtime and take the puppy out for a walk before turning in for the night. This will work to prevent too many bathroom trips during the night.

As long as you are consistent and patient with your puppy, you'll find that he is eager to please and will do his best to learn bathroom rules quickly. Dogs really do want to make their humans happy and if heading outside when nature calls is what makes you happy, then you can bet that's what your puppy will try to do.

About the Author:
Puppy training can take some time and house training is no exception. When looking for puppy training in Toronto to not pull on a lead, in-home dog obedience training to improve your relationship between you and your dog. Visit us http://www.barkbusters.ca

Keyword tags: Home, Family,pet, dog, puppy training, bark busters, dog training

Control Bad Dog Behaviors

By Charlie Reese

Control Bad Dog Behaviors

What to do when Rover exhibits bad dog behaviors

Dog owners derive considerable happiness from these trusty pets. It's known that older people who live alone, but have a dog are happier, healthier and live longer than those who don't have the companionship of a furry friend.

Nonetheless, our beloved canines usually are at least mischevious sometimes, beating you to the newspaper and using it for a bone. At times, in his enthusiasm to love you, he jumps up to give you a hug and snags your favorite sweater on the way down. Then there's downright bad dog behavior, such as snapping when annoyed or chasing the mail carrier. Dogs make wonderful pets, but they all must have training to quell their latent bad dog behavior tendencies. It's best to start this training at an early age, because these bad habits just become harder to break, down the road.

Puppies tend to chew on anything small enough to fit between their paws. This is cute at first, unless it's your prized Steinbeck first edition. You hate to punish this fuzzy little ball with teeth. You needn't be harsh, but you've got to nip this habit in the bud. The old rolled-up newspaper is the best choice for this kind of discipline. It makes a loud noise, but does no more than sting that cute little nose for a moment. Even slapping the floor with the paper can do the trick.

You must catch them in the act and deal with them swiftly. Adding a verbal "Bad dog!" following newspaper application puts a little oomph into the action, as well as paving the way for future disciplinary action. After puppyhood has passed and infractions are fewer, a simple verbal "Bad dog!" is usually enough to correct most minor bad dog behaviors.

Jumping up on people is not something you want to encourage. Most bad dog behavior is cute when they're small, but never when they're grown. A medium sized dog can bowl over a child with disastrous results. When your dog jumps up, grab his front paws and hold them away from you at the same height. Don't allow him to stand down. Quite soon, he'll think this is not a great idea. He wants be on all fours, like a good dog. Hold him upright until he gets fidgety and whines. Gently let him down. You needn't say a word. Don't pet him or he'll be confused, thinking it's some sort of punishment-reward message. After several repeats, he won't jump up on you or anyone else.

A gentle but consistent correction is sufficient to curb most bad dog behaviors. If your pet exhibits any malicious behaviors, such as snapping or biting, it's probably best to engage a professional before the dog gets out of your control.

For all Rover's virtues, there's one character flaw in general: dogs find that roast on the countertop irresistible. I can't help you with that one.

About the Author:

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

What Your Canine Friend Wishes You Knew About Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Is your canine friend showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs?  This type of destructive dog behavior can make life an absolute nightmare for a dog owner.Sadly, this problem behavior is the second most common reason why people give up their dogs or have them put to sleep.  

You can change the end of the story for your dog by learning the signs of this condition and finding out what to do about it.

Signs Of Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Levels of bad behavior can vary in dogs with separation anxiety.  A dog with a mild case may pace around, pant, and over-groom himself.  

A dog with a more severe case may bark frantically for hours, driving the neighbors crazy.  He may display destructive dog behavior, tearing up whatever he can get a hold of.  Your dog may urinate or defecate inappropriately in the house.  He may go so far as to mutilate himself by chewing on his own tail, yanking out fur, and licking himself until he bleeds.

If you dread coming home because you don't know what kind of mess is awaiting you, it's time to take action to solve this problem.

Is Separation Anxiety Really The Problem, Or Is It Simply A Bored Dog?

Is your dog is bored, or does he really have a separation anxiety problem?  Here's how you can tell:

  • Destructive dog behavior occurs only when you leave him alone.If he's amusing himself by destroying things, he'll do it anytime, not just when he's by himself.
  • Your dog is "hyperattached" to you.  He follows you around the house, wanting you to hold him all the time.  This is flattering for the owner, but it's not healthy for your dog to be this attached to you.
  • He's learned what you do when you leave, and he starts getting distressed before you go.
  • He begins destructive behavior within 30 minutes of your leaving home.
  • He tries to destroy barriers, like a door.  A dog may go after the door he last saw you go out of.
  • Your dog barks in repeated, high-pitched yips.  This is reminiscent of a puppy's distress call when he or she is separated from mom.

Your dog may not do all of these things, but if your dog is showing some of these behaviors, this shows his problem is not boredom.

Suggestions For Dealing With Dogs With Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to learn that separation anxiety in canines is related to dominance issues.  In a wild dog pack, the leader can leave.  The others, however, never go away from the leader on their own.  

If your dog thinks he's the alpha dog, or pack leader, he'll get very upset if you leave him, since you're not supposed to do that.In his mind, he's repsonsible for his pack members, and he thinks something might happen to you if you go away.  Many times, once you establish yourself as the pack leader, the separation anxiety goes away.

Your dog needs lots of exercise to use up all that energy he has.  You should take your dog for a brisk walk twice a day.  You need to understand that your dog instinctively knows that the pack leader goes first.  He should be walking next to you or behind you, so that he's following you, the pack leader.  Allowing him to pull ahead of you on his leash is telling him that he's the alpha male, not you.  

So there you have it; now you can see how easy it is to inadvertently train your dog to do exactly what you don't want him to do.  You can avoid this by finding a dog training course that focuses on teaching you how dogs think.  Once you understand how your dog's mind works, separation anxiety in dogs is much easier to deal with.

If you're dealing with the problem of separation anxiety in dogs, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training resource that will help to solve your problem.

Dog Chewing Problems -- Four Big Reasons

Has this ever happened to you?  You come home to find that your dog has been chewing on your favorite shoes--again!  If dog chewing problems are a headache for you, read on to discover the four big reasons for destructive chewing.   

A Bored Dog Is A Dog That Will Engage In Destructive Dog Behavior

Dogs tend to play rough.  They chew on things and pick them up in their mouths to shake them, thereby "killing" them.  Tearing their toys to shreds is all part of the game.  This is natural dog behavior.  The problem starts when it's your things the dog is playing with, not his own.

A bored dog who's left to his own devices will usually find something to entertain himself with if he's left alone with nothing to occupy him.  Unfortunately, his idea of fun often involves destroying things, especially if he's a puppy or adolescent, and he doesn't have anything else to do to use up all his energy. 

What's the solution?  Get your dog plenty of exercise.  Play fetch with him.  Go for long walks, and give your dog plenty of time to sniff at interesting things.Don't forget that walks are great training opportunities, too.  They're much more than just bathroom breaks for your dog.

Make sure your dog has plenty of toys.  Rotate them so he always has something new to interest him.Toys that can be stuffed with food will keep your dog entertained and happy for a long time.

Separation Anxiety In Dogs

This problem often shows up with dogs who are too attached to their owners.  Your dog has a panic attack whenever you leave him by himself.  Dogs with separation anxiety often chew on things to comfort and soothe themselves when they're alone.  It makes him feel better.

The important thing to remember is that your dog isn't chewing on your belongings to get back at you for leaving him alone.  He's doing it because he's scared; punishing him will add to the problem.

Separation anxiety in dogs is a tough problem to solve, but with lots of time and patience, you can desensitize your dog so he doesn't react so strongly to your leaving.

Your Dog Wants Your Attention...

And he will do anything to get it, even if the attention is bad.  A dog who doesn't get much attention unless he misbehaves is a dog who's being trained to misbehave. 

It's a hard thing to understand, but dogs are reward-based.  The best way to get a dog to stop doing something is to ignore him when he does it.  If he gets your attention, whether it's good or bad, he's been rewarded for what he's been doing.

Give your dog lots of positive attention.  Play with him, take him for walks, just spend time with him.  If your dog is getting lots of good attention from you when he behaves well, he won't resort to destructive chewing to get your attention.

Fearful Dogs

Anxiety in dog is often a problem with canines who are scared of loud noises like thunder or fireworks.In an attempt to escape from whatever is frightening him, he'll attack doors, door frames, window coverings, screens, and walls. 

Avoind comforting your dog when he's reacting fearfully to things.  You're rewarding his behavior with your attention, which will only serve to reinforce it.Play with him and reward him when he responds to you, not to whatever is scaring him. 

Remember to provide a place where your dog feels safe during a scary situation.  This way he can retreat there when you're absent.

To sum up, it's important that you find and correct the reason for dog chewing problems.  A good dog training course is essential so that you can learn how to end destructive dog behavior without making the situation worse.

If you're dealing with dog chewing problems, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training course that will help to solve your problem.

How to Prevent Aggressive Dog Behavior By Socializing Your Dog

Let me ask you a simple question.  Do you know how important it is to socialize your dog?  Do you even know what socializing your dog is?You need to understand how this basic principle of dog training can prevent aggression in dogs later in your pup's life.

What Does Socializing Your Dog Mean?

Actually, it's pretty simple.  What you're doing is getting your dog accustomed to strangers, both human and animal.  It also includes taking your dog lots of places so that he's used to different environments. 

This process can be so much fun that most people don't take it seriously.  But if your dog hasn't been socialized properly, he may become timid and fearful.A pup who's easily frightened is more likely to develop bad dog behavior problems that are difficult to get rid of. Aggression toward strangers can lead to biting people, while aggression toward other animals leads to fights with other dogs.

Fear Aggression In Dogs

If your pooch is not exposed to lots of different people when he's between the ages of three and twelve weeks, he may develop fear aggression in dogs as he gets older.  This is characterized by him displaying suspicion and mistrust around people he doesn't know. 

A dog that shows a lot of fear around strangers when he's very young has a good chance of becoming fear aggressive as he gets older.  If your pup backs away from strangers while barking at them, this is a tip-off for you that this condition could be his problem.  In this case, you really need to concentrate on getting your dog used to other people.

Aggression Towards Other Animals

If your dog is not friendly towards other dogs, he probably doesn't know how to interact with other canines.  This is because he never learned the proper social skills as a puppy. 

Sometimes a dog owner unknowingly causes aggression between strange dogs.  If you tighten the leash and pull your dog closer every time you see a strange canine, you're communicating your unease to your dog.  If this happens repeatedly, your dog learns to get tense whenever another dog gets close.  He wants the other dog to stay at a distance, so your dog growls and barks at the stranger to accomplish this.

Plus, tightening the leash tells your dog that he can't run away.  The only option he has left is to fight.  Pulling back on his leash also forces him to lean forward on his front feet.  The other dog may think he's being threatened, and the result can be a dog fight.

Socializing Your Dog Prevents Aggressive Dog Behavior

You can see that neglecting to socialize your dog at a young age can lead to many dog behavior problems as he gets older.You'll need to make sure your pup is around a wide range of people to prevent him from developing fear aggression in dogs when he's around new people. 

Even more important is to make sure your young puppy has plenty of opportunity to interact with other pups.  This is how he learns to be a dog, and how to behave around other dogs.

Watch your behavior to be sure you're not accidentallly teaching your dog to be aggressive towards other dogs. 

Now that you have this information, you can take steps to socialize your dog properly to prevent aggressive dog behavior.

Is Your Puppy's Barking Driving You Mad?

Does your puppy’s consistent barking drive you and your neighbors crazy? If so, you may be at the end of your tether and unable to cope. The first mistake that people make is to think that they can stop their puppy from barking completely. It is important to understand that barking is normal behavior. Your puppy communicates by barking as you do by talking. It is only when the barking is excessive and inappropriate that you should take action.

The fact is that puppies bark for a reason and so it is important to find what the cause is before taking action. Puppies bark when they are lonely, anxious, bored or frightened. They also might be hungry, need to pee or simply just need to go out for some exercise.

If your puppy continues to bark excessively or inappropriately, then you should use commands like "stop" or "enough" in a stern voice. If this does not work, you should pull them away from what they are barking at and give a correction – a quick tug on the collar is a good idea.

Giving praise such as "good" is important when your puppy stops barking so that he knows this is a correct behavior.

If outside and your puppy is barking to come in but you do not want him to come in yet, you can use a command such as "stop" or "enough". You should do this in a stern voice through the door. Your puppy can hear your command through the door. Remember not to open the door until you are ready to let them in.

If this does not work then you could kick the bottom of the door from the inside. This makes a loud noise which can startle your puppy. This seems to work quite well.

You could also lean out a window and spray water from a bottle or hose. This action should stop your puppy from barking. If you do this action consistently, your puppy will eventually get a negative reinforcement for barking.

It is important to remember to give praise when your puppy stops barking. You must be consistent in praising positive behavior and giving a negative reinforcement for unwanted behavior.

Now that you know the reasons for your puppy barking, you should be able to take the best action in order to have a quieter life!

Visit the Training Puppy Tips website for more detailed information on stopping your puppy barking. You can use the same techniques for stopping your puppy growling.

Aggrssive Behavior in Dogs - A Dog Owner's Guide

Are you just plain fed up with the aggressive dog behavior your pooch is displaying?  Join the crowd.  Aggressive behavior in dogs is the most serious dog behavior problem that you'll face as a dog owner.  

However, canine aggression is preventable if you understand why your dog develops aggressive behavior.  Read on to learn more about this common problem.

Your Dog's Aggressive Nature Is Instinctive

Aggression is a valuable behavior in the wild.  A dog needs to be aggressive in order to hunt for its food.  It also needs to be able to defend its kill from other animals.  An aggressive dog also defends its territory and its mate.

In the centuries since dogs were domesticated, people have selectively bred most aggressive tendencies out of dogs, but a few do remain. And since dog do have sharp teeth capable of doing people serious harm, it's necessary to recognize aggressive behavior in dogs and deal with it effectively.

The fact that there are several different kinds of aggression in dogs is something that many dog owners are unaware of.  The two most common are aggression towards strangers and aggression towards family members.  These two types of aggression in canines have very different causes, and they need to be dealt with differently as well.

Aggression Towards Strangers

This type of dog behavior is very easy to recognize.  You dog may react in one of two ways:

He'll be jumpy and nervous, becoming startled at the smallest sound.You'll see that he agitated, pacing around, and barking or whining.

Or, on the other extreme, he'll be very quiet, sitting in one place without moving, while staring hard at whatever it is he's suspicious of -- whether it's a visitor or your unsuspecting mail carrier.

The main reason a dog is aggressive around strangers is because he's not used to them.You'll need to teach your dog that strangers aren't necessarily bad.

Aggression Towards Family Members

Your dog may show canine aggression towards members of your family for two reasons.  

First, your dog is protecting something he thinks belongs to him from someone he believes is a threat.This is referred to as "resource guarding".  

In the wild, only the dominant individual acts aggressively to guard resources.  So obviously, your dog thinks he's the pack leader, not you, when he displays this kind of aggressive dog behavior.

The second reason is that he's unhappy about how you, or somebody in the family, is treating him.  

Discover How To Handle Aggression In Dogs

You don't have to be at the mercy of your dog, and you shouldn't be.  If your dog uses aggressive dog behavior to control you and get his way, this is a very unhealthy situation, as well as being potentially dangerous.  There are many emergency room visits every year because of dog bites.  You don't want this happening to you or a member of your family, or anyone else your dog interacts with.

It's possible for you to learn how to handle aggressive behavior in dogs.  You need a dog obedience course which includes a complete owner's guide to rearing and training your dog to prevent canine aggression.  Be sure to read testimonials from other dog owners who have purchased the course to see how satisfied they are with the material.

Do yourself and your dog a favor and learn more about controlling aggression in dogs.