Dog - Get A List Of Dog Breeds And Choose The Right Dog For Your Household

Breeds of dog differ in many ways: body size - Chihuahua to Bernese Mountain Dog. They differ in proportion like the Pit Bull to the Greyhound. They differ in head shape, ear shape, coat length and texture and in colour. Get a book and study a list dog breeds. Much of their physical traits matched the need for the function of the original breed. Do not rely only on the dog breed pictures. There are many directories of breeds of dogs. Buy one, or go to the library and borrow one. Today, behavior is even more important. Too often prospective dog owners select a breed based on its physical trait and not its character. The toughest guard dog is of no using if it falls asleep at the front door. Dogs enjoy as many breed behavioral traits as they do physical traits. Don't be surprised by this. Dogs are prone to act in certain ways that are dictated by their genes. Not all dogs will act the same within a breed, but most will. There is one behavioral trait that is present in all dogs. Their love towards their owner/master. You need to first analyze why you want a dog, before you select a dog. If you have kids you need to find out the breed that is good with kids. But, do not forget, you also need to teach your kids how to behave with a dog. A dog is NOT a stuffed emotionless toy. It is a living creature with emotions. Also, please, do not make kids take responsibility for a dog. It is an adult job to do that. If you are basically older in years, well you will not want a breed that needs lots of exercise. Or, a breed that may pull your arm out when walking. The size of a dog needs to be considered. If you have a huge dog and a small kid, they could bump heads and the child get hurt and that being no fault of the dog. Choosing a breed entails more than looking at pictures. Check out the breed profile. Talk with owners of the same breed in the same circumstances as you. Meet some "live" dogs of the kind you are looking at. Study the history of the breed. It will show you what molded that breed to be what it is today. For instance, an old breed of dog that was bread to dig out vermin will end up digging up your yard...it is in the genes! A sheep herder may end up nipping a little in the heels. Also, check into the more modern breeds. There are some amazing new "oodle" dog breeds. These new "oodle" dogs are great for dog allergy sufferers. Make sure your energy levels match. And all that being said. Look for the surprises. For instance, the greyhound race dogs make amazing pets for seniors, or those who do not partake in lots of activity. They make great apartment dogs. They love to sleep in the day, often curled up on a couch or pillow. They do NOT crave activity or exercise. They are trained to perfection and they are loving dogs. Go figure. Just when we think we have it all figured out. So you see, do not just run out and get a dog. Get the right dog for your household. Train that dog and you will have a friend and family member for life. Ruth's passions are people and pet health. She is very active with dog therapy visiting. She has two certified therapy dogs that visit in Senior Health Care Centers. Her Dog Blog: http://www.happypetstop.com/blog Her Dog Therapy Visiting site: http://www.mimfreedom.com/dogtherapy.htm Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ruth_Bird

Dog - Electronic Dog Training Collars

Electronic dog training collars have many different uses for training your dog. From basic commands to field training they are very versatile. Some lazy dog owners will rely on electronic dog training collars too much and can get unpredictable results. They are often best left for professionals. First of all, electronic dog training collars are somewhat controversial. Some people would like to see them banned entirely, whereas others really think they are great. Just like any other tool, it can be abused and misused if put in the hands of a novice. There are a couple of different kings of electronic dog training collars. Bark collars are electronic collars that basically give the dog a shock whenever they bark. The good thing about this is that the dog gets an immediate feedback on their behavior; and are more likely to associated the punishment with barking, than if the punishment is given at a later time. With the other type of electronic dog training collar the level of shock can be controlled by a remote control. This is the type of collar some trainers use when they are teaching the dog basic commands or field training. The main advantages of this collar is that you can adjust the level of shock the dog receives, and also while the dog is far away from you in the field you can still deliver training stimulus. Electronic dog training collars should be used by trained professionals or people who have been trained to use them. It is recommended that you try reward based dog training first. Reward based dog training is offering rewards, like dog treats for good behavior. No matter what your feelings are towards electronic dog training collars, many people continue to use them to train dogs. If your dog is misbehaving you should try and find out the cause of it first before resorting to an electronic dog training collar. For more dog training advice visit my website: Dog Training. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Suckow

Dog - Unique Dog Collars

Dogs are arguably the most popular pets and companions. From lapdogs to German Shepherds, there is a whole range of breeds that a dog lover could choose for a pet. Some breeds are very strong and ferocious and need a real strong harness and dog collar to control them. A dog collar refers to a collar worn by a dog. It usually holds vital information about the dog on tags and has a ring that a leash can be attached to. Collars are meant to control a dog with more ease. Leather buckle collars are the most common type. Unique dog collars are designed to make a dog look unique and different. They are also designed so that a dog can endure the different activities that its owners engage in like cycling, walking and hunting. Reflective dog collars are designed for the safety of dogs at nights. The reflective strip on the leash reflects car lights and glows in the dark. This enables an owner to locate the dog in the dark. Flashing dog collars are also designed to spot dogs easily in the dark. Some collars are exclusively designed for dogs with long hair. Thousands of dogs get injured or strangled by their collars, while playing around fences and trees or while playing with other dogs. Keep-Safe-Break-away collars are uniquely designed to prevent such strangulation accidents. These collars are facilitated with a break-away safety buckle that releases when pressure is applied. This prevents dogs from getting entangled by their collars. Quick control collars are ideal for large sized dogs. These collars enable an owner to control the dog during a veterinarian visit or when confronted by another dog. Quick control collars are made from superior nylon material with a retractable leash, identification tag and a reflective strip stitched in for easy visibility at night. Dog collars are available in a variety of colors and styles. Designer collars and jeweled collars are in vogue. In addition to choosing a dog collar that is unique, it is extremely important to determine the exact collar size of the dog and make sure it is comfortable in the collar you have chosen. Dog Collars provides detailed information on Dog Collars, Personalized Dog Collars, Small Dog Collars, Fancy Dog Collars and more. Dog Collars is affiliated with Designer Dog Clothes. Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Stith

Dog - Dog Obedience Commands - My Favorite Commands

I own a Great Dane/Labrador Retriever. Because he's so huge, it really helps that he obeys some commands. Here are a few dog obedience commands he knows that I find either useful or entertaining. Sit: It's the equivalent of trying to get your dog to stop. Unfortunately this doesn't last long because my dog hasn't learned the "stay" command and as soon as he's sitting, he wants to get back up. Shake: This only works when my dog is already sitting. But instead of saying shake, I say "nice to meet you." It's so much cuter to say "nice to meet you." Stand on Hind Legs: For this command, I say, "Come," and pat my chest with both hands. This signals that he's supposed to jump up and put his front paws on my shoulders. Since he's taller than me on his hind legs, he can dance with me for a few seconds. Come: For this command, I just say "baby" in a high-pitched tone and he drops whatever he's doing wherever he is and comes to me. When I lived out in the country, I would let him run and play outside. He would be out of an eye-shot. I would open my front door and say "bay-beeeeee" really loud. He would come to my doorstep within seconds. His name is actually Dante but because of this command, I think he thinks his name is actually Baby. Go: This command is really useful when my dog is following me around the house and starting to be my shadow. When I need my space, I turn and say in a deep tone, "Go." At the same time, I'll point away with my index finger. He will immediately leave me alone and do his own thing. No: This dog obedience command is also in a deep voice. It stops him from doing something wrong. In the car, he has a habit of pulling my arm with his nose. He does this to get me to pet him instead of keeping my hand on the wheel. I say "no" in a deep tone and he sits back down in the back seat and stops bothering me. Cuddle: For this dog command, all I have to say is "come here" in a high-pitched voice and pat wherever it is I want him to lay his head. If I pat my arm, he moves his head to my arm. If I pat my leg, he'll turn around and lay his head on my leg. One thing I've noticed with my dog obedience commands is none of them work if I am touching my dog. Interestingly, my dog's biggest treat isn't food or a bone. (Although they are very close seconds.) My dog is very affectionate. More than anything, he just wants someone to pet him and touch him. So if someone is trying to give him a command while petting him, he won't budge because he's already getting what he wants! Although he knows all these commands, there is one command I really wish he knew, because it would be useful in public situations. Stay: One of my friends can throw a bone across the lawn, let his dog off his leash, and with this command, he stays where he's at. It's amazing that he was able to train his dog to stay even after the most tempting treat is released into the air. This command is probably the most useful command. It enables you to keep the dog from being a nuisance or a potential danger to people or other animals they come across with. Want to learn some dog training tips? I found 3 great articles at the Dog Guide. Here is one about dog training basics If you have a new dog, you should read this article about training a new dog If you have a stubborn dog, this article talks about stubborn dog training Article Source:http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dee_Bovis