Buying a collar and lead is probably one of the first things a new dog owner does as they are a necessity for proper control of your dog and an essential piece of equipment when training a new dog or puppy.
If you have a puppy then it’s likely they will quickly outgrow a collar or lead, so it is perfectly acceptable to buy non-expensive and lightweight equipment during this early stage of their life.
Many people like their dogs to wear a collar all of the time, but some ornamental collars will not stand up to a sudden movement or constant straining. You should therefore consider having 2 collars; one for ornamental purposes and another one for training your dog or puppy.
Even though puppies get plenty of exercise through play you should try and get your puppy accustomed to wearing their collar and lead at the earliest age possible.
Even if you do not intend your dog or puppy to wear a collar all the time you can buckle a light collar around their neck and leave it there for a number of days until your dog or puppy ignores its presence.
Do be aware that the neck hair of a long haired dog will be permanently marked if it wears a collar at all times so use common sense depending on your breed of dog or puppy.
A bolt and spring clip is best on the end of a lead and you should buy clips where the opening does not come at the point of most strain as they are liable to come apart.
Leather and nylon leads are a good choice and although many owners think chains would be stronger they can be very uncomfortable from the owner’s point of view.
If you are serious about training then you will be using a slip collar as this will provide you with much more control. A slip collar consists of a chain with a ring at either end, the chain is dropped through one of the rings to form a loop, which is then put over the dog’s head.
A pull on a slip collar is slightly uncomfortable for the dog providing focus for training, but when the lead is slack the collar is loose. The slip collar will only work well if the collar is put on correctly so you should practice to ensure the fit is best for you and your dog.
When using a lead take it in your right hand and ensure your dog walks on your left hand side. If using a slip collar the ring through which the chain is slipping should be underneath. Practice as much as possible with your collars and leads so that both you and your dog or puppy become familiar with them and you can both use them in the best possible way.
Once you have the right equipment you can begin basic exercises and lessons to train your dog for obedience, competitions or shows, providing pleasure and companionship for you and your dog or puppy.
Tags:
Bolt,
Chains,
Common Sense,
Dog Collar,
Dog Owner,
Dogs,
Exercise,
Focus,
Lead,
Lightweight Equipment,
New Puppy,
Nylon,
Ornamental Purposes,
Point Of View,
Presence,
Proper Control,
Puppies,
Spring Clip,
Training Puppy,
Training Your Dog
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Jul 17, 2010 | | Dogs
When it comes to birds, avid watchers know that you can never have too many bird houses in your yard. Birds appreciate these items during the nesting and migration seasons, which can just about cover the entire year in some areas. So, if you are trying to attract birds to your yard, you should certainly create a place that is inviting and appealing to them. They will reward you with their presence and you can enjoy gazing at some of the most beautiful items nature has to offer. If you are interested in bird houses, you may want to consider making your own. You can create interesting bird houses in no time, using simple household items. Use these tips to create an easy coffee can bird house.
To begin you will need to collect an empty coffee can, super glue, paint, a small wooden peg, fishing line, a permanent marker, and a utility knife. Begin by washing the coffee can with soap and water. Be sure to rinse it well. If there is much residue in the can, birds will not want to stay in it. Dry the can and replace its lid. Next, trace a circle onto one side of the can, near the bottom. This will be the entrance for the birds. The circle will need to be large enough for birds to enter, but not too large. Some birds prefer the entrances to be smaller because it allows them safety from larger preying birds.
After tracing the hole, use the utility knife to carefully cut the entrance for the birds. Next, glue the wooden peg just below the entrance. This will be a great place for birds to perch, especially if a bird has babies inside and is trying to feed them. Be sure to allow enough area for the entrance however as well. After the glue dries completely, you can move on to decorating your home. Using paint or anything else you would like, you can make this type of bird house into anything you would like. Be sure to remove the label if you havent already done so. You can paint the can to honor your favorite football team or paint lovely flowers on the side to match your garden. The possibilities are unlimited. This is a great time to get little ones involved as well. Children love to help with crafts and painting a bird house is one that children of all ages can participate in.
After the paint and decorations dry, you can poke a small hole in the back of the can and loop your fishing line through. This will allow you to hang the house on a tree. You can also choose to bolt the house to the tree. To do this, remove the coffee cans lid and place the bolt through the inside back of the can. This simple craft is a wonderful way to attract birds to your yard for you and your family to enjoy all year long.
Tags:
Babies,
Bird House,
Bird Houses,
Coffee House,
Empty Coffee,
Favorite Football Team,
Fishing Line,
Flowers,
Glue Dries,
Household Items,
Marker,
Migration Seasons,
Paint,
Permanent Marker,
Presence,
Soap And Water,
Super Glue,
Utility Knife,
Wooden Peg,
Yard Birds
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May 24, 2010 | | Birds
Every year well over 4 million people are bitten by dogs. While some of these bites may be minor, others can leave serious injuries or even death. If you own a dog which bites someone, you could find yourself in legal trouble. If it kills someone, you could end up behind bars. While I don’t want to scare you away from owning a dog, there are some things you will want to do to make sure your dog doesn’t bite you or others.
The first thing you want to do is never approach strange dogs. Even if the dog is behind a fence or tied up, it could see you as being a threat. You should also keep your own dog away from other strange dogs. It could be injured or killed if the strange dog decides to attack it. You should also avoid petting your dog without letting them sniff your hand first so that they know who you are. Under no circumstances should you run from a dog. Dogs are natural predators, and will almost always chase you unless they’re trained.
When a dog is eating, sleeping, or caring for its young, it is best not to startle or disturb them. They may snap at or bite you. It may be necessary to neuter your dog if it is going around and getting into fights with other dogs constantly. You can also take your dog around others to keep it from being nervous when in the presence of people it is not familiar with. Dogs should also be trained not to chase anyone. This is one of the most common things which leads to a dog biting someone. You should also give your dog rabies vaccinations, and never allow it to go places without your supervision.
If you should be attacked by a dog, the first thing you want to do is remain calm. If you panic you are likely to make bad decisions. You will also want to wash the wound as soon as possible. Use soap and water and contact your doctor as soon as you can. Contact the animal care agency in your area and let them know that you have been bitten. Describe the dog and where you encountered them. Let them know what direction you think the dog went in.
Being the owner of a dog which likes to bite is a serious issue. You can avoid biting by training the dog while they’re young. Once they get older, it will be difficult or impossible to get them to follow your commands, and if they bite somone else, you could be in a lot of trouble.
Tags:
Animal Care,
Bad Decisions,
Chase,
Circumstances,
Contact,
Dog Attack,
Dog Bite,
Dog Bites,
Dog Rabies,
Dog Vaccinations,
Fence,
Leads,
Legal Trouble,
Natural Predators,
Neuter,
Presence,
Rabies Vaccinations,
Soap And Water,
Strange Dogs,
Supervision
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Apr 25, 2010 | | Dogs
I am the owner of two miniature dachshunds who share my house and home. Many dog owners would rephrase that and instead call me the human who shares the house with the dogs. Dogs are indeed wonderful creatures.
Recent experiences have made me reflect upon and notice things about dogs and their presence in my life. I grew up with dogs so was taught at a young age to appreciate and treat animals with loving care. I recall clearly watching our pet Boston Terrier comfort my little brother who sat on the floor crying about something.
My friend came over to walk the dogs today and as she stood on the doorstep Peanut, my 12 pound dachshund stood up to lick her face. I belong to a PLR site for dog articles and there have been several written on this topic – all as if this was a bad thing. This got me thinking..
Both dogs lick my face when Im in bed and I call this kisses. Peanut will go so far as to stand on my chest with all four paws so he can give my full face a wash including my eyes. This usually only happens every couple weeks yet I endure because hes my dog. Bark goes after my husband more because the only time he gets to lick his face is in bed whereas Ill sit with them during the day.
My dogs also jump up on me when I walk in the door and will do this with others they know. Again, the articles say this is bad and that you should train your dog to quietly accept a short pat on the head as a way of greeting. When my two dogs have been apart for as little as ten minutes they greet each other very enthusiastically. Why shouldnt they greet me and my friends in the same fashion.
Ive decided that regardless of what the articles may say, Im all for having my dachshunds jump up and lick my face. First of all, theyre just being dogs and second of all they are my friends and they dont know any other way of saying hello. I figure if they can make me smile and laugh it cant be all bad!
Tags:
Boston Terrier,
Couple Weeks,
Creatures,
Dachshund,
Dachshunds,
Dog Owners,
Dogs Dogs,
Doorstep,
Experiences,
Fashion,
Four Paws,
Friends,
House Dogs,
Kisses,
Little Brother,
Loving Care,
Miniature Dachshunds,
Presence,
Theyre,
Two Dogs
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Mar 11, 2010 | | Dogs
We have a long history with domesticated animals and even the nay Sayers cant deny their roll in society past and present.
There is evidence that as long as 10,000 years ago the Native Americans had domesticated dogs as depicted in early rock paintings. Apparently, the dogs in the painting look remarkably like the Carolina dogs of today.
It has been well documented that dogs and horses of past have been bred to assist us in various ways whether it be pack dog, work horse, hunter or herder. There is no doubt that they have value and have contributed to society in many ways.
The cat however is a very interesting animal indeed. I have yet to see a cat that can herd, or help with the hunt or carry supplies on their backs for us. The cat is strictly a companion to us, that is if they decide to allow you to be graced with their presence. Most cats still have that strong hunting urge as evidenced by your cats offering of that bird he just caught or mouse he brings to you. Most cats get attached to an area that they claim as their own. Some cats get very attached to the people who love them but as a general rule I think the cat feels he is the one who rules and he is allowing you to care for him. Still, we love them.
Horses are a special breed and have a tremendous ability to assist us in ways as only the horse can. Horses have been our mode of transportation much longer than our current ways of getting around. They are to me of such beauty, grace, and power and I always think of them in that way much more than an animal that works for us. They are spectacular.
Dogs however are by far the most domesticated of all animals. They not only help us but they are so genuinely attached to people and their antics are a constant source of pleasure to us. Just look at children or elderly people in an old folks home. If a child finds a stray dog they will surely beg you to allow them to keep the dog. If you take a dog into an old folks home you can see the dog respond happily around them and the smiles on peoples faces are a joy to see.
I had a Springer Spaniel when I was younger and he was the funniest, most easy- going dog around. He was unusual in that he had a very special relationship with our guinea pig. We had the best time watching these two at play. It was the same every day. The guinea pig would wait at the hallway entrance and would stay there until the dog noticed. Then the chase was on! The dog would bark and chase him all the way down the hall. The guinea pig at the last minute would veer to the left and run into the bedroom and go under the bed. The dog was big and somewhat clumsy and would never be able to slow down in time and hed crash into the wall, get up and then go put his nose under the bed and bark. They would do this four or five times in a row and then curl up together and sleep. Those two made us laugh. It was great!
As animal lovers, we also can adorn our walls with prints and motivational posters of them. They also make great gifts.
We love our animals, as it should be. Be kind and take well care of them.
Tags:
Antics,
Beauty,
Carolina Dogs,
Companion,
Dogs And Horses,
Dogs Cats,
Domesticated Animals,
Domesticated Dogs,
Hunting,
Love Special,
Mode Of Transportation,
No Doubt,
Old Folks Home,
Painting,
People,
Pleasure,
Presence,
Rock Paintings,
Sayers,
Work Horse
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Mar 06, 2010 | | Dogs