Category: Uncategorized

Now that you have your new dog or puppy, it’s time to start training.

But it’s best to do it right the first time.

If you have a young puppy, we recommend that you wait until he’s at least 8 weeks old to begin formal training.  He needs to be old enough to pay attention to what you’re trying to teach.

Often, playing a game will help him learn to pay attention to you.  Here’s a game designed by a well-known dog trainer that will help your dog learn to pay attention to you and have fun at the same time.
Click here for your free game
Before you begin the formal training lessons with a dog of any age, please plan to follow these keys to success:

1. Be patient. Each dog is unique, and learns at his own pace. Some dogs
   learn quickly; others take more time. Patience is indeed a virtue when it comes to
   effective dog training!
2. Be kind. This goes hand-in-paw with “Be patient.” Don’t lose your temper if your
   dog doesn’t “get it” right away, or appears to be ignoring you. Please do not
   punish your dog for not learning quickly enough. As a matter of fact, don’t punish.
3. Be flexible. If your dog is struggling to learn, be willing to change your training routine. The location may be too distracting. The time of day may be too close (or far from) feeding time. The length of your training session may be too long (or too short). The training exercises may need to be broken down into smaller, simpler steps. Remember, each dog is unique. Be flexible and willing to do whatever you can to help your dog succeed.

4. Be generous. Be generous with your rewards and your time. Always reward
   your dog’s correct responses generously. Don’t be stingy with the treats—he’s worked hard and deserves a generous reward! And commit ample time to your
   training lessons. We’re all busy these days, but this is “quality time” for you and
   your dog. You’ll both enjoy and benefit from the lessons, so make sure your schedule is adjusted accordingly!

If you didn’t get your free game already, don’t forget to click below to get one before your leave.
Click here for your free game

Ticks are not insects like fleas, but arachnids like mites, spiders, and scorpions. A tick has a one piece body, harpoon like barbs around its mouth to attach to a host for feeding, crablike legs and a sticky secretion to help hold itself to the host. The United States has about 200 tick species whose habitats include woods, beach grass, lawns, forests, and even in some urban areas.

They have a four stage life cycle, egg, larvae, nymphs, and adult. Depending on its species, a tick may take less than a year or up to several years to go through its four stage life cycle. Adult females of some species lay about 100 eggs at a time. Others lay 3,000 to 6,000 eggs per batch.

Ticks can carry various infectious organisms that can transmit diseases to cats and dogs as well as humans. The four primary diseases and their symptoms are:

– Babesiosis – lethargy, loss of appetite, weakness, pale gums
– Ehrlichiosis – high fever, muscle aches
– Lyme disease – lameness, swollen joints, fever, poor appetite, fatigue, vomiting
– Tick paralysis in dogs – gradual paralysis and poor coordination

Of the four diseases, Lyme disease is the worst, as it can also infect humans. Studies indicate that dogs are 50 percent more susceptible to this disease than humans. Lyme disease is transmitted through the bite of the deer tick, also called the black-legged tick. Symptoms in humans include fatigue, chills and fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, and a red circular skin rash. In June 1992 the USDA licensed a vaccine to prevent Lyme disease in dogs. There is no vaccine for cats yet.

If your dog is outside regularly, ask the veterinarian about the Lyme disease vaccine. Watch for the symptoms mentioned earlier, and if you suspect a tick-borne disease, get your dog to the vet immediately. With early diagnosis, antibiotics generally work. If possible, dogs should be kept out of tick-infested areas. In areas where ticks are prevalent, yards where dogs exercise should be treated with appropriate chemicals to kill adult and immature ticks.

Dogs should be examined frequently for the presence of ticks on their bodies. Ticks prefer sheltered locations, such as inside the ears and between the toes of the host, but a heavily infested dog may have ticks anywhere on its body. When a tick is found it should be removed immediately. The proper way to remove a tick is to use fine-point tweezers, grasping the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull gently, if the tick’s mouth parts remain embedded in the animals skin, you should try to remove them as you would a splinter. Alcohol or other disinfectants should be used on the bite site, the tweezers, and your hands if you do not wear gloves.

Tick can and will survive after they are removed from the host. You should flush the tick down the toilet or drown them in a small container of alcohol. You should never squeeze a tick as it will release toxins that may contain any of the diseases discussed earlier. Hundreds of pesticides and repellants are available to control ticks on dogs and cats. Products range from oral medications that are available only from your veterinarian, to collars, sprays, dips, shampoos, powders, and spot-ons.

The chemicals Chlorpyrifos and Amitraz are used in several types of products and are very effective against ticks. Amitraz should not be used on dogs that are sickly, pregnant, or nursing. However, no matter what type of medication you use, always check with your veterinarian first.

Anyone with a dog knows these lovable creatures love to curl up snugly or stretch out nonchalantly at their favorite spot and snooze.

Right after an energetic game of catch or past feeding time, dogs usually retreat to their own space and sleep to regain their strength and liveliness. Dogs love a warm, comfortable and quiet place to rest. Puppies love to be cuddled and usually dig the couch or his master’s lap when about to nod off into dog dreamland. Thus, it is a necessity to have a nice, comfortable and perfectly-sized bed for your dog. Your doggy will absolutely appreciate their own cozy sleeping and napping spot. Dogs are creatures of habit and will typically sleep at the same spot, so a comfy dog bed at their own corner is a great gift that your dog will be grateful for.

Click to check out this enclosure

1. Assortments Of Dog Beds

Of course you can create your own dog bed: a wooden box with a pillow or blanket is an easy and inexpensive alternative. There are, however, a huge assortment of dog beds available at pet supply stores that will perfectly suit your dog. Really now, Fido can’t choose a bed for himself so here are some tips that can be useful when buying a dog bed.

2. Pick A Bed That Will Suit Your Dog’s Personality And Sleeping Habits

You should know the type of bed your dog would be most comfortable in. Dog beds come in many different styles like round nests, donuts or cuddler beds, round fluffy balls or pillows, square flat mattresses and sofa-shaped beds sized just right for a dog. Does your dog love to curl up into one big fur ball? Then a cuddler, similar to a pillow with sides, would be appropriate. If he’s a sprawling sleeper, a larger mat would be excellent. Some dogs love to sleep on their bellies; a rectangular-style dog bed would be perfect for them.

3. Your Dog’s Size

The size of your dog is an important consideration. A small, thinly padded bed would be adequate for toy dogs like Chihuahuas and Shih Tzus. In comparison, Dobermans and Huskies would need larger, heavily padded beds where they can stretch out comfortably. Whatever size your dog is, pick a dog bed that is slightly larger than him. This is to allow room for growth, especially for puppies, and allow room for movement.

4. Easily Washable

Make sure the dog bed is made of removable and washable materials. It will definitely get dirty and smelly, so it is important that you can easily wash it anytime. Make sure too that the material is appropriate for the dog’s fur. Look for machine washable bedding if at all possible.

Click to see this comfy, washable bed

5. Get Cedar

– Look for a dog bed that is filled with cedar: cedar repels fleas
– Refillable cedar-filled dog beds will make your pet happier and less stressed
– Make sure you don’t have an allergy to cedar

6. Location, Location, Location

Where will you put your dog bed? This is also an important consideration when choosing a bed for your pet so you can pick the right material. Some dog beds are more suitable for an indoor location like in the bedroom or living room instead of outdoors, like in a porch for instance. Climate and local weather are important factors to consider as well. Choose a dog bed that will provide warmth for your dog in winter and air circulation during summer.

7. Quality

Durability is also essential. The dog bed must be able to withstand Fido’s penchant for chewing as well as his sharp claws. As we all know most dogs are messy, so make sure the dog bed you choose is up to the challenge. Pick a dog bed cover that is washable and made from durable fabric. Consider the color and style of the dog bed too. You might want your dog’s bed to complement your walls or furniture. You should know that there are dog beds that can accommodate a variety of your dog’s special needs. Heated dog beds and orthopedic foam dog beds are available and are excellent choices for older and arthritic dogs. Your dog will definitely appreciate his own bed in his own little space. The health and well-being of your dog will depend not only on diet or exercise but also on how much comfortable sleep and rest he gets.

Check out this elevated bed

Teach him to walk on leash!

Teaching a dog to walk on a leash is not always an easy task. It’s in the dog’s nature to want to wander off and sniff everything that comes in his path. However, this behavior is not conducive to a pleasant and athletic walk. You, his master, have to strike the balance between allowing him to explore his world and walking in a controlled way.

 

Get your free leash-training guide

 

The first thing you will need to do is purchase an appropriate leash for your dog. Make sure it is the right weight according to how much your dog weighs right now. Even if he will eventually be 75 pounds, he will not be able to handle a heavy leash while he is still small. The next thing to choose is a collar for walking. Some people use harnesses that attach around his head and snout. Both of these products can help you better control your dog in a humane and safe way. Choker collars are not recommended for any breed of dog, as there is significant danger of hurting the animal. If your dog is small a simple collar and your leash might be plenty. 

The training process is time consuming and requires a great deal of patience. Do not expect your first walk to be a long one, distance wise at least. Think of it as a training session that requires lots of stopping and starting to get it right. 

Now, I can’t tell you everything there is to know about leash training right here, but I can give you another surprise.  It you click here, you can get a free e-book on leash training.  All you have to do is click the button when you get to the next page, give me you email address where you want me to send it, and in a flash it will be right there in your mailbox.

This is what it looks like.  CLICK RIGHT HERE to get your copy.

Hey, that’s great.  I was a puppy once — not too long ago.

Of course, I was born at the house where I still live, but I was chosen from my litter as the “very special one.”

I think it’s great when someone decides to get a new puppy.  But I always warn them that it isn’t a decision you make lightly.  Do a little research first and you will end up with the perfect dog for you and your family.

Making the choice to add a dog to your family is not something to be taken lightly. This is a very big and important decision and should be given due consideration.

Tell you what!!! Why don’t I help you a little bit and give you some advice on how to choose your new canine companion.

How to choose your new dog or puppy

First you need to decide if you want to get a puppy as opposed to an older dog.  Older dogs can make wonderful pets.  One of my ancestors came to live at my house when he was 13 and he fit right in from the beginning.

If you decide on a puppy, make sure all the supporting elements are in place before you bring the puppy home. First of all, make sure this is something everyone in your family supports.  Think about all the expenses that go along with owning a dog.   Be sure you can afford it. Dog food and veterinary care aren’t always cheap.

Decide where the puppy will sleep and eat and where he will get his exercise.  You can’t just let him run loose in the neighborhood.  It’s too dangerous.  And it might make your neighbors a little unhappy as well.

Puppies require a lot of time and care.  They have to get all their vaccinations and, as soon as they’re old enough, they need to be spayed or neutered.  Then there’s the housebreaking and training.

Adding an older dog to the family is also something that cannot be taken lightly, Be sure his temperament is compatible with everyone in the family.

Without this compatibility, both sides are bound to encounter problems and the dog would most likely be the one that suffers the most.

Then you need to decide if you want to adopt a mixed breed from your shelter or get a purebred dog or puppy.  If you decide on a purebred, the most important thing to remember is to BUY FROM A REPUTABLE BREEDER.  There are a lot of people out there who sell purebred dogs who are not breeders.  Having a litter of puppies does not make a person a breeder.  Breeders do a lot of research into their lines.  They know the problems that exist.  They choose new homes for their puppies wisely.  And they’re there to support you for the life of the dog. Yes, you will pay a little more money for a purebred, but I promise you will get what you pay for and will have a lot less heartache along the way.

Adopting a dog from an animal shelter can also be an excellent, and this is of course welcomed by both the animal and the shelter. Some wonderful pets come from shelters.  And they will give you a lifetime of love.

Most importantly, do your research before you decide to add a new member to your family.  Be sure you have all the information you need before you go out and find your forever friend.

 

 

 

Welcome to Rochester’s Place – the place where all good dogs wanna go.

Here you can find information on how to train your new dog or puppy, advice on adopting a new friend and even recipes for some delicious treats.

But first, a little about Rochester.  He’s a one-year-old wire fox terrier who has one blue eye and one brown eye.  It’s the blue eye that gives him special talents to know what other doggies need.

He knows about training because he’s done some himself and has an AKC Rally Novice title.

Please take some time to explore Rochester’s Place and come along with us on a journey that hopefully will lead to years of fun and companionship.

And before you go, why don’t you click the green button below for a copy of a free game to play with your new dog.  It’s fun, easy and can get him started on the right track to training.
Click here for your free game