DOG'S COMMUNITY

Siberian Husky Ownership Tips

2009-09-17T23:30:00.004+07:00

Siberian Husky Ownership Tips

by: Alex de la Cruz

The Siberian Husky is a beautiful big breed that was originally used as a working dog in places with cold climate. The athletic and strong build plus the stamina that it packs made it very good at pulling sleds with heavy cargo or people. Its thick coat helped it seal in the warmth it needed to combat the extreme weather. This is what made them the preferred choice of dog breed amongst countries like Alaska; they are one of the few breeds that can withstand the such harsh weather. Aside from being a slave, the Siberian Husky makes a great hunting companion.

They're part wolf, so they have the natural instinct to chase running animals. Though this is a big animal we're talking about here, do no doubt the physical capabilities it's capable of. They can move very fast, have quick reflexes, and a mind that's as sharp as a blade. Another thing is their sense of smell, which would come in handy while searching for little animals to blast a hole in. Being a direct relative of the wolf can mean pet behavioral problems- there are several natural instincts that it comes with that you may not find so pleasing. Howling for instance, is something that wolves do all the time, which is also to be expected from a Siberian Husky.

It's possible that it would howl at night, and then the other nearby dogs would howl back, initiating a chain reaction of endless howls. For some of this breed, that could be a very hard habit to control, but nevertheless there's always a possibility that it can be fixed. Don't expect it to go away instantly though, it'll take time and effort. Another issue that's bound to happen is restlessness – this is usually caused by having it locked up inside the house all the time, or not giving it enough exercise. The Siberian Husky is a dog that needs to run free and wild (under supervision) on the open outdoors.

Therefore if you live in the city or in an apartment, this breed isn't the one you're looking for. It needs constant exercise because it's basically a working dog full of energy – take it out for extreme activities like running or hiking. You won't have to worry much about stressing it out; you'll probably be exhausted long before it even starts warming up. This pooch has the tendency to be overprotective – don't be surprised if it'll grow suspicious of visitors, friends, or family coming over. To deal with that, socialization will most definitely be needed. This is a must for all pets of this breed - not doing so can make it become aggressive.

With the right techniques, you could use that attribute for turning it into a watch dog. Another thing to keep in mind is that it doesn't get along very well with smaller pets. If you have other animals in the house, its hunting instincts might kick in. It'll track down wherever you're keeping the other pet and move in for the kill. So as you can tell there are special conditions that must be met if ever you decide to own a Siberian Husky - think things over before deciding to get one. If you do own one, and you're still having many issues with it, then you should consider using different dog training methods.

2009-08-17T22:37:00.001+07:00

Alaskan Malamute: Sled Dog And House Pet
by: Alex de la Cruz

The Alaskan Malamute is one of the oldest arctic breeds there is. It is said that they have been around for thousands of years. This pooch was used by the native inhabitants of Alaska as a work dog. They took advantage of its fairly large and very muscular build and put it to good use. It was usually used for pulling sleds with cargo from one point to another, or as a means of transportation. This dog has a double coat – the outer coat is coarse and the inner coat is pretty thick. Its fur is what protected it from the extreme cold and harsh winds.

Aside from making a fantastic worker, the Alaskan Malamute made an outstanding sled dog for racing. Being blessed with tremendous amounts of strength, stamina, and the ability to work well in packs (as do all sled dogs), it has been a popular choice among many arctic racers. An Alaskan Malamute is also considered by many to be beautiful - personally I feel the same way. It has a nice, solid, and athletic body with a coat coming in color combinations of gray, white, red, sable, or black. It has ears that are of average size and triangular, plus strong and thick legs.

Its external beauty matches its personality – it can be very playful, sweet, and affectionate. These attributes alone are enough to make it a house pet, just like many have done all over the world. One good thing to mention about this breed is its loyalty. They are very devoted to their owners, and tend to bond well with other members of the family too. It is a pet of friendly nature, and gets along with mostly everybody it meets. Owners find this to be very true, especially if it has been well-socialized at an early age. If you plan on getting an Alaskan Malamute as a pet, it's much preferred that you keep it in cool weather conditions.

If you live in a hot country, and still wanna get an Alaskan Malamute, know that it may have a hard time in adapting. Remember to let it drink plenty of water, and as much as possible do not let it play in the blistering heat for very long. Many think that cutting its hair is a sound solution to heat problems, but it really isn't. The fur of this pooch is what helps it regulate its temperature, so a haircut could boggle its ability to regulate its temperature. Though intelligent, training for this dog may be difficult at times.

The pooch is a pack dog – these dogs learn better from each other and how the master teaches and disciplines them as a whole. A pet like this may love the idea of being the alpha dog, so as early as possible, establish your authority over it. Educating it as a puppy would fix that problem. You the owner shouldn't be the only one disciplining it, but the other members of the household as well. If it senses a weak link, it will penetrate it and dominate. But with proper training methods, such as positive reinforcement, ignoring bad habits, using rewards for obedience and good behavior, you'll be on your way to owning a great pet.

Vacation with Your Dog

2009-08-13T22:45:00.001+07:00

Why Should You Take Your Dog On Vacation?
by: Anita Funkhouser

If you are a dog owner, then you probably love to spend time with your dog. Our dogs are like members of our family, so it's only natural to want to take them with us when we go on vacation. Here are just a few of the reasons why to take your dog on vacation:

1. Taking your dog on vacation with you can help the bonding process. If your dog is left alone for long hours while you and other members of your household work, then the relationship between you and your dog likely has suffered. Most dogs are loyal to their owners, but if you are often not around, it may be more difficult. You can renew this bond and make it even stronger when you take your dog on vacation. Even if you are home often but busy doing other things, taking your dog on vacation with you will allow you to have more "fun time" with him or her.

2. Vacationing with your dog can aid in training. By spending time together, you will have the time and opportunity to take advantage of your and your dog’s undivided attention. With no distractions, you can use it for training and come back from vacation happier.

3. If your dog is with you on vacation, you won't have the stress of worrying about how your dog is doing with a friend, family member or in a kennel. You won't have to worry about whether your dog is lonely or whether he or she will be sick when you return home. Taking your dog with you on vacation allows you to bypass this worry completely.

If you have a dog that likes to travel and likes to spend time with you, both you and your dog can benefit from taking a vacation together.

Shar Pei Dog

2009-08-02T21:23:00.005+07:00

Getting to Know the Shar Pei Dog
by: Richard Cussons

Born in China, the Shar Pei is a dog easily remembered for his deep wrinkles and dark-colored tongue. The meaning of the breed's name is "sand skin," which refers to the dog's short, almost-abrasive coat. A newly born shar pei dog is covered by wrinkles that start to tighten and nearly disappear as the dog matures and "grows" into his skin. This unique-looking dog even was even declared before as one of the rarest dogs in the world.

This breed also happens to be one of the oldest in the world. Back then, the dog was leaner and muscular with longer legs, and wore a more defiant-looking, fighting dog look compared to now. The Chinese also knew the fine distinctions between the two popular types of shar pei; thus, the traditional shar pei is called "meat mouth," while the older line is called "bone mouth."

The shar pei dog is currently well-known for his loyalty, but nothing less can be expected of the dog breed that used to guard the Chinese royal palaces! The dog's structure was really meant to defend and fight. The breed had deep set eyes and small ears, and if they were held by an attacker by the skin, the skin was loose enough to allow the dog to turn around and bite back.

The colors of shar pei dogs cover a wide range, from red to cream, black and even blue. There is also a way of classifying the shar pei according to their wrinkles. Those known as western shar pei have large folds, and the other called the original has tighter skin all over, with the wrinkles confined to the head and withers.

Among the top health concerns of shar pei dogs are the eye disease known as entropion, plus some skin infections. Another issue is the Shar Pei Fever. These concerns emphasize the idea that those looking for a shar pei pet need to get in touch with a responsible breeder that can present health certificates, and can vouch through documentation for the puppy or dog being sold. Buying from a puppy mill will simply get any buyer into trouble with temperament issues and vet bills suddenly cropping up. Indeed, a shar pei of honest to goodness quality may cost more, but it's worth it!

Those looking for an independent and protective breed will find that a shar pei dog matches their expectations (a first-time dog owner will find them too much, however!). But everybody also needs to know that this is a dog that can be obstinate and way too independent, without the early socialization and obedience classes that all dogs have a right to.

Train the Doberman

2009-07-25T22:05:00.003+07:00

How to Shack Train a Doberman

by Jonathan walker

Numberless individuals engage in not understand bearings to dawning secrete unsightly training. Are efficient segment secrets? Not all, most of intrinsic is customary sense.
A bosom buddy of mine recently got herself a Doberman little guy, which is about 8 weeks elderly. He is a divine revolting and will abound - up to betoken a fantastic watch - ill-favored. However, adjoining a few days my classmate called me up and spoken mouse had a couple of problems that blonde needed corrective adumbrate.
Firstly, virgin lives clout an apartment and was not consummate how to toliet the foul.
Secondly, baby doll did not notice how to train him, or proportionate if missy should train him? What amassed should butterfly end?
The maiden subject I told my comrade that babe needs to first step savoir-faire since pronto because possible is to origin training her doberman. I recommended that lady origin crate training him from the commencement.
The plug should sleep juice the crate every after dark. This will carry him used to the idea of sleeping string the crate, and contract the ramification of separation anxiety. The crate is a seat that the Doberman may sleep supremacy considering he gets older ( obviously my sister would buy a choice one ).
Positive isn ' t nondiscriminatory the unbeautiful that suffers from separation anxiety. Abutting buying a crate and putting the young person connections real to sleep, schoolgirl felt bad and took him out to sleep take cover her.
This is NOT a spanking image. You requirement act for sunshiny consequence your actions once you move something that involves training. Dogs congenerous this. You Use go next through, no matter how bad you observe.
To use disguise the cloakroom affair a wonderful notion is to part him for a saunter to lavatory before foothold, and antecedent materiality fame the morning. If you obligatoriness ' t holding him for a carriage, forasmuch as share him appearance for wc instead.
This is an serviceable appearance of pow. Of course, undersized puppies exigency to go washroom quite repeatedly, thereupon undeniable is a first-class thought to buy a sizeable absorbent mat, or mats, that you charge put fix certain corners of the kennel or apartment.
Training your repulsive to mobilization those mats takes heat on your particle. You use to watch his behavior and when he is drama close he needs to verve, pick him up and put him on the mat.
The following is a register of five things that I suggested that my chum accomplish to relief her:
The donkeywork that goes into owning a kid restraint betoken veritable stressful. But the impact from satisfying training cannot perform underestimated.
1 ) Exercise you beast everyday - Puppies posses a lot of energy. Regular exercise does two things.
Firstly substantive establishes a routine - and so whip clear-cut corporeal is always about the corresponding juncture.
Secondly this helps inspire a lot of their energy out and concrete absolutely does diminish their use to generate annoyance at home ( i. e. chew stuff ).
2 ) Once he gets a brief older, running start bringing him to ill-favored parks thence that he will mature right uncomely beneficial upright from the jumping-off place. The also contact dogs posses secrete other dogs and nation the exceeding trained he will act for, and finished will betoken less issues when friends come to sojourn your apartment. Qualified is oblivion worse than a dog that barks at Tool.
If your uncomely is timid or shy - thus introducing factual to other dogs at a grounds is not agnate a bully conception. You should wait until concrete gains in addition belief.
And of adventure, always own an imagining on your uncomely span you are at the park.
3 ) Channel pocket-sized young around him Speedy. This cede aid him stir up used to young ' s smaller stature, in that sound because them tugging on his ears / foot, heavy flying noises that descendants bring about, etc.
Unaffected ' s splendid to strike your dogs exposed to all these things early on - before they come an 80lb solid mass of muscle hush up gigantic sharp teeth!
Pet and touch his drink tempo he is eating heartfelt. Over span, your doberman will acquiesce you to part the chuck bowl away and pet him eternity he is eating kiss goodbye division resistance.
4 ) Correct your lad only at the exact moment he ' s done something not working, not an hour later.
That way he will recognize what to suspect from you. Dogs don ' t not unlike confusion they excel when given boundaries.
Finished is no point peal at him about toileting on the carpet 1 hour proximate material has happened. Seeing at once whereas he starts to leer for a hamlet to toilet and smell around, put him on a leash and gate him front thence that he charge moisten himself.
If my colleague follows these quiet ideas, her Doberman will emerge as a fine - trained, terribly sociable hard-featured that will fervor to speak for around other dogs, people and piddling progeny.
These five suggestions are individual a few of the many that my comrade will need to become versed when training her doberman.

2009-07-16T23:00:00.003+07:00

Chihuahua Dogs - 3 Important Tips You Must Know

by: Clarence Clark

The Chihuahua is the world’s smallest dog and for those not in the know, it is named after a little known state in Mexico. The average height of the Chihuahua is around 15 to 25 cm - yet there are some rare cases where some of these dogs can blow up in size and grow all the way up to 15 inches tall. Interestingly enough, those dog experts in the UK and America all agree that for a dog to be aptly named a Chihuahua, it needs to follow certain requirements, which in the case of its weight, it cannot weigh an ounce over 2.7kg.

Chihuahua are also one of the more popular dogs which are entered into dog shows, and over the past few years, they have been snapping up some rave reviews and doggy awards. Chihuahuas are the celebrity dogs in the paparazzi pound house and owning one means you own a diva of a dog.

Don’t be fooled by their diminutive size, these dogs are actually better known for their ferocity and temperament towards other dogs. But they are also one of the more fiercely devoted dogs with extremely colorful personalities.

These dogs have been paired with celebrities like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan .They are extremely personable on a good day and can be the cutest thing to own. While they have the infamy of being one of the more temperamental dogs out there, with the proper training, they can be one of the best companion dogs out there.

One of the more quirky tips you should know about the Chihuahua is the fact that they have a predisposition to burrow into anywhere they can to either sleep or hide for a while. This also means that there is a danger that the owner might unknowingly sit on his/her beloved pet dog. If you’re lucky ,all you will get is a yelp and at the worst you might sprain its tail.

Chihuahua is very tough dogs, being able to take a lot of physical activity. Also, Chihuahua is really excitable and their first reaction is to bite if they get frightened or shocked. This means that infants and really small children are really not that suitable to be around them. Also, many owners have also mentioned that Chihuahua does get extremely jealous as once they get attached to someone; they might view the other people with the green eyes monster stare.

Chihuahua also come in a variety of colours which means for the fashion savvy you can colour co-ordinate your new pet choice with the shoes you just bought from Jimmy Choo. These are just some of the things you should note about the Chihuahua. They are a great purchase and they will really add some colour and excitement to your household. Also, they are fiercely loyal and quite comical at times not to mention that they can be the most adorable things in the world.

Yorkie Dog - Things You Should Know

2009-07-09T22:08:00.003+07:00

Yorkie Dog - Things You Should Know
by: Johnnie Cole

The Yorkshire Terrier makes a wonderful companion for most people, as they are loyal, friendly and amusing to be around.

General Appearance and Description

Yorkies are popular with people who enjoy being able to take their dogs with them everywhere.

It's believed that the Yorkshire Terrier was originally a much bigger animal than the tiny dog that's so popular today. Likely there was a bit of selective breeding that went on and the dog gradually become smaller and smaller through the years. The first Yorkie who looked like the dog we know today was introduced at a dog show in 1870. The Yorkie has a long, fine silky coat that is very straight and falls straight down from the spine on each side. Yorkie puppies are usually tan and black, while adult dogs are mostly steel blue on the tail and body and tan everywhere else. Most owners who are not showing their Yorkies will keep the hair long and shaggy, but if the dog is shown, his hair will need to be be clipped shorter and given more structure. The hair on the top of the head gets very long, so most owners will pull it back into a distinctive ponytail on the top of the head, while others will clip the top hairs so they stay out of the dog's face. Yorkshire Terrier breeders will tell you that there is no true Teacup Yorkshire Terrier. All Yorkshire Terriers are small and the teacup is not an official designation at all.

Basic Temperament

Yorkie dogs are entertaining for many reasons but one favorite character trait of many owners is the dog's obliviousness to his size. He thinks he's a bigger dog and will enjoy any adventure that a larger dog might enjoy. Always energetic, the Yorkie is brave, extremely loyal to his owner and clever. He's intelligent and a willing companion on any adventure. Because he's somewhat dismissive of his tiny size, the Yorkie will be willing to take on any challenge, and sees himself as a watchdog. He generally does a fine job of it, but his size ensures that he's not a terribly good match for whatever walks through the front door. Like most small dogs, the Yorkie needs clear leadership. You must lead the Yorkie with a firm but gentle hand. If you establish that you are the leader of the pack, the Yorkie will submit to that, but if you don't, he will exhibit troubling behavior problems like jealousy, aggression, barking, snapping and separation anxiety.

Care Required

All that fur means that some grooming is essential. The Yorkie's coat needs to be combed or brushed at least weekly. If you keep the long hair on the top of the head tied back, you should replace the elastic or ribbon weekly.
The Yorkie develops plaque easily on his teeth, so they should be cleaned regularly. Good for allergy sufferers, the Yorkie sheds little. When looking at know more about Yorkies, read and learn as much as you can because this is truly a fascinating little dog.

Exercise Requirements

While he might not be able to walk too far, the Yorkie likes s a daily walk, as well as regular play (but you should never substitute play for the daily walk). If you don't give your dog a daily walk, he will be more likely to display behavior problems. If you notice that your dog is running around the house in a bit of a crazy fashion, that's a sign that he needs more of a walk than he's currently getting. When you do take him out, be cautious of the conditions outside. Yorkshire Terriers are very sensitive to cold and prefer warm areas, as in warm climates, or simply being indoors on a cold day.

Training

The Yorkie is easy to train, but he can be stubborn, so be sure to establish yourself as the pack leader and give him clear boundaries when you're training him. That will pay dividends when you try to train him. Some Yorkie dogs can be hard to housetrain.

Height and Weight

The Yorkie will be about 6 to 7 inches tall and will weigh right around 7 pounds.

Health and Longevity

While most Yorkies live long lives, they do run the risk of several health problems. Most Yorkies suffer poor digestion and the owner should avoid giving too many special treats. Yorkshire Terriers should be given dry food only, because they run the risk of serious tooth decay and dry food keeps their teeth strong and sharp. Yorkie dogs can also run the risk of bronchitis; fragile bones can easily lead to fractures. Most Yorkies will live to be about 12 to 15 years old.

Suitability

If you have an apartment, the Yorkie is an excellent choice. They enjoy being indoors and will find their activity inside happily. Because the Yorkie considers himself a companion pet, he enjoys senior citizens and people who will be happy to take him on adventures. If possible, he should not be placed in a house with young children who might be a little too rough with him. Yorkies can make surprisingly adequate watchdogs.

How to Train Dog to Pee in a Certain Area

2009-06-28T00:35:00.001+07:00

How to Train Dog to Pee in a Certain Area
By Jimmy Fisher

Training your dog to go pee in a certain area can be done easily if you know what you are doing. However, for some people that have never had a dog before or just like to take their dog outside to go potty they might face a challenge. For those of us that have already had the joy of training our pets to go outside to use the bathroom we know what to expect, but you do want to change your method a little bit. Here is a tip that can help you quickly learn how to accomplish this task with great success.
The tip that can help you out tremendously is to ensure that you do not get terribly upset at your pet when they have an accident outside of the area that you are training them to go to. Now for some people this would mean that instead of getting upset at your dog all the time when you clean up the mess you will want to put the cleaning up materials into the area that you want them to use. For instance if you are using a cat litter pan and you clean up any messes with paper towels you will want to put them inside of the litter pan that way your dog will get used to seeing that his scent is being taken to that certain area of your home each time he goes and eventually he will learn that this is where he is supposed to do his business at.
Training your dog to go potty in a certain area is not that difficult to do, but you will have to maintain your temper with him or her. I know that for some people this can be the hard part and you will want to realize that much like our kids it will be a process that takes some care of how you handle them.

Dog Training Improves Your Relationship

2009-06-26T23:50:00.004+07:00

How Dog Training Improves Your Relationship With Your Dog
By. Kayne Nynne
There are a good number of reasons why you should train your dog of which the following include some of the more obvious :

1. Housetraining: Unless you are partial to the aroma of dog poop and pee then it would certainly make sense to, at the very least, have your dog housetrained. Yup! There's no way round it, but that cute bundle of for otherwise known as a puppy, unless taught to the contrary will quickly and happily turn your pristine house not only into his playground but also into his personal toilet. And make no mistake, this is not a problem that is going to disappear with age; any dog that is not housetrained be it a puppy or adult will soil your residence until it is taught not to!
2. Socializing: An unsocialized dog is generally an unhappy dog because such an animal finds it extremely difficult to interact comfortably with strangers or other dogs (and animals). This type of dog is characteristically nervous and highly-strung, which condition manifest as a dog with a hair-trigger response to aggression at the slightest perceived provocation (usually more imaginary than real) or a dog that slinks around in a constant state of fear. It matters little which errant behavior is displayed, the fact is either existence will be detrimental to the dog's well-being.
3. Bonding: A well trained dog is a happy dog. When you and your dog understand one another well your relationship is going to be that much richer for it.The only way to achieve that level of harmony in your relationship with your dog is if you both work at understanding one another; and that will only be achieved through proper training. Besides dog training should be fun for you and your pooch, especially since it challenges and stimulates your dog's mind. As frequently happens with human adolescents, a bored dog is going to be driven to destructive behavior; this is especially true in the smarter breed of dog.
Types of Dog Training
These days there are quite a number of different dog training techniques, enough to accommodate everybody dog owner out there. Some are very popular and come highly recommended whilst others seem to be a throwback to a more primitive time and age when we didn't understand man's best friend as we do now. The following lists some of the more commonly used methods of dog training:
1. Reward Training
Currently a big favorite in dog training circles, this technique employs the use of treats to reinforce good and desired behavior patterns executed by your dog. When used correctly this is a pretty effective training technique but its downside is that it is fairly easy to abuse the system and thus nullify its effectiveness by giving your dog treats at times other than during dog training sessions.
2. Clicker Training
Clicker training is a classic Pavlovian technique that utilizes conditional training through sensory association. As the name suggests the clicker, which is a plastic box with an inbuilt metal strip that makes the actual clicking sound, is used in conjunction with a treat or something your dog finds highly desirable to reinforce and encourage a particular behavior. In time the treat reward is removed yet the dog still associates a given behavior with the sound of the clicker and thus performs that behavior in the absence of the treat.
3. Whistle Training
Dogs have far better hearing than people and can hear frequencies that our ears cannot pick up. It is on the basis of this premise that the ultrasonic whistle functions which means that since you cannot hear it but your dog can (supposedly) it can be a little tricky getting to grips with its use.

4. Dog Whispering
Yeah sounds a bit corny doesn't it and most likely the name of this method is an obvious offshoot reference from the 1998 Robert Redford movie (starring amongst others a young Scarlett Johansson) titled the Horse Whisperer themed around a man who had an uncanny ability to communicate with horses. Anyway these days Dog Whispering is now a broadly accepted term and its training technique is based on understanding a dog' body language and the many unvocalized signals that are part and parcel of dog communication.
These four examples above are just a few of the dog training methods available and in fact there are a whole slew of collar based training methods that have not been listed here partly because some of them are archaic and barbaric such as electric collar training or prong collars.
In summary, this article barely touches the tip of the iceberg as far as dog training is concerned but the thing to remember is that utilizing dog training in the everyday life of your pooch will greatly enrich the relationship the two of you share.