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What are Service Dogs?

By Jean Cote | Posts , Training

Service dogs are a type of assistance dog, specifically trained to help people with physical mobility limitations to reach high or low places, or to open doors and turn on the lights. Other duties may include moving wet laundry to the dryer, or they may help in public by pulling a wheelchair up a steep incline.

Other service dogs may also be trained to detect medical problems and to warn the authorities. Some does have been trained to warn their handlers of seizures before they happen and to contact the medical emergencies by pushing a button (already preset to contact).

Service dogs have a very varied range of jobs and duties. Some handlers rely on their dog to pick up dropped items or reach high counter tops. Since the dog performs many physically demanding tasks, it is very important that service dogs be physically strong enough to keep up with his daily chores.

The majority of service dogs are Labrador retrievers, Golden retrievers or a mix of these two breeds. However, there are also German shepherds, Rottweilers and other herding, gun and mixed breeds working as service dogs.

Not every dog is up to the task of being a service dog. Although some service dog organizations breed dogs especially to serve this role, others adopt young adult dogs from shelters. The service dog is always matched with a person after he/she has been trained and is ready to help someone in need.

Since the range of physical limitations is great and vary differently from people to people, it is important that the dog is able to learn new behaviors and commands once he is placed with his handler.

Service dog handlers often rely on their dog for emotional support as well as physical help. For many people with disabilities, leaving their homes and interacting with the public is difficult. But having a dog at their side can give them comfort, confidence and security that they need.

Choosing a Good Dog Food

By Jean Cote | Food & Treats , Posts

Feeding your dog is the most fundamental way to care and to promote a healthy life for your dog. Good dog food will help your dog fight diseases and to keep him healthy.

It is of no surprise that the majority of dog owners spend more money on dog food than any other expenses for their dog. But choosing a brand or type of dog food can sometimes be confusing. A dog food that has a label “Premium”, “Premium Ultra”, or “Holistic” does not guarantee that the food was prepared using high quality ingredients. So the more you know about commercial dog foods and what the label means, then it become easier for you to choose a good dog food brand for your dog.

There are basically two choices of commercial dog foods. There is either the kibble type or the canned type dog foods. Both contain mostly the same ingredients, but the kibble type had the water removed through the process of extrusion or baking. This gives the dog food a crunchy appeal while at the same time ensuring a long shelf life. The water is kept in canned dog foods, so it must be sealed in a can to keep it fresh.

Here are some Pros and Cons of both:

Kibble:

  • Less expensive than canned dog food.
  • Has a very long shelf life.
  • Does not require refrigeration after opening.
  • Available in many flavors, types and formulas.
  • Usually keep teeth cleaner.
  • Ability to buy in bulk.

Canned:

  • May contain more vitamins & enzymes due to the fact that the food did not go though the process of extrusion.
  • Long shelf life (with the can unopened).
  • Easier to chew and picky eaters like it better.
  • Must refrigerate any remaining food.

The label on the packaging can tell you a lot of information regarding the quality of the dog food. On the front you should see the brand of food, whether it is for puppies, adults or seniors. But also on the bag, you will find additional text that will describe in greater details the content of the food. This is usually found in the back or the side of the bag of kibble.

Within this text, you should find a list of ingredients that was used to manufacture the dog food. Although the amount of each ingredient is not listed, the manufacturers must list each ingredient in descending order according to weight. So if the first ingredient on that list is rice, then the food contains more rice than any other ingredient. If chicken is the first ingredient, then there are more chicken than any other ingredient. Dogs require a high-quality protein so they usually do better on dog foods that have meat ingredients listed in the first two ingredients.

Below is a list of common ingredients found in good dog food along with a short description:

  • Animal fat (Chicken or Beef): Fat obtained from the tissue during the process of rendering and extracting.
  • Grains: This usually includes one of the following: whole, ground, cracked, barley, wheat, rice, oats, brown rice or any other grains.
  • Meat by-products: The parts of slaughtered mammals other than meat. This includes lungs, kidneys, brains, livers, blood, bones and intestines.
  • Meat or fresh meat: The flesh which includes muscles, tongue, heart and skin.
  • Poultry: The flesh and skins of poultry, it may include bones or not.
  • Poultry by-product meal: The rendered parts of poultry, this includes necks, feet, intestines.

As you can see from this list, it is best to avoid the dog foods which contain by-products. Usually the more expensive brands of good dog food contain better ingredients, but you should always read the list of ingredients.

Also, the majority of good dog food manufacturers will print their website address on the packaging, which you can usually find additional information about the brand and dog food, like how it was prepared and whether or not it contains by-products.

If you are currently feeding your dog a brand of dog food and you wish to switch to a new brand, you will first need to transition your dog to the new food. Begin by mixing your dog’s daily food amount with half of the new brand and half of the old brand. This will usually avoid diarrhea and other common problems that occur when changing dog foods.

How to Make a Safe Dog Hoop

By Jean Cote | Posts , Tips , Tricks

So you want to train your dog to jump through a dog hoop? In this article, I am going to show you how to make a dog hoop that is SAFE for your dog.

When a dog jumps through a dog hoop, there is always the possibility of the dog injuring himself by accidentally hitting the dog hoop with his legs. So below, I will take you on a step-by-step guide to building your own safe dog hoop.

Equipment required:

2 small plastic hoops (approximately 22″ in diameter). You can find some very cheap ones at your local dollar store (my two hoops cost me a total of $2).

4 disc plastic magnets (half an inch in diameter or small enough to fit in the hole of the hoop). You could use any type of magnets really, but for the hoop to work well, you should use magnets that fits perfectly in the hole of the hoop. I purchased my magnets at www.kjmagnetics.com for $4 (+ shipping).

Tools Required:

1 Metal saw to cut the hoops. You could use anything really, since it is only plastic. But I don’t recommend that you use a knife or scissors as you might injure yourself.

1 Hot glue gun with sticks. You could also use crazy glue or silicone, but the adhesive that you use must be strong enough to keep the magnets in place.

Guide:

The first thing that you must do is separate the hoops. There is a union somewhere on the hoops that is hidden by a piece of tape. Remove the tape and take out the small piece of tubing that is holding the hoop together.

As soon as you detach the hoops, you will notice that they will expand. Place the hoops on the ground and pull each side gently until the hoops are completely loose.

Then place them one on top of each other, as to make one big hoop. Position both hoops so that the big hoop is round.

Draw a line where you will need to cut the hoop. In the picture, I have to cut the orange hoop.

Once the hoop has been cut, your next task is to glue the magnet inside each ends of the hoops. One very important thing to do before you glue them, is to check the polarity of each magnet. Each magnet has a north pole and a south pole, and one side can only attract the opposite.

For example, a north pole can only attract a south pole. So before you glue the magnets, I recommend that you mark down with a marker which sides are what.

Pour the glue from the hot glue gun into the hole of the hoop. Push the magnet inside and then put a piece of tape to hold the magnet. Then hang it upside down until the glue is dry.

xxx

Once you’ve done this for all four ends, remove the tape and tada!

Conclusion:

That is pretty much it! Remember that if you’ve never trained your dog to jump through a dog hoop, make sure that you start LOW and to gradually increase the height. Keep it fun and enjoy your training!

Feeding a Dog Raw Food

By Sally Gutteridge | Food & Treats , Posts

dog-raw-foodDogs have been living a healthy life with humans for thousands of years. (Vilmos Csanyi, in his book “If Dogs Could Talk” 1, says the oldest dog skeletons found are about 14,000 years old.) Yet in this twenty-first century, dog owners face a barrage of advertising, aimed at convincing us to buy commercial dog food.

Much of this advertising suggests that feeding a dog raw food is a highly complicated process, best left to the “experts”, those who package so-called “complete” foods. If feeding dogs is so difficult, how did humans manage so successfully in the past? Perhaps the same way they fed themselves and their children – through the use of common sense and an understanding of the needs of their dogs.

Tom Lonsdale, Australian veterinarian and author of “Work wonders; Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones” 2, says, “Definitely, without doubt, the best food for pets is that eaten by their wild cousins…In the wild it’s a case of survival of the healthiest. There are no veterinary hospitals or animal dentists in the wilderness… a natural diet provides the ideal ‘fuel’. It cleans the carnivores’ teeth and keeps the animals in peak fitness and health…a raw, natural diet acts as food and medicine combined.”

Some of the carcasses suggested by Tom Lonsdale include rats, mice, rabbits, fish, chicken/hens, or, for large dogs, calves, goats, lambs, pigs. Raw meaty bones include chicken and turkey back and frames, whole fish and fish heads, larger carcasses cut into manageable parts, by-products such as pigs’ trotters and heads, sheep heads, or tail bones. He lists offal such as liver, lungs, trachea, hearts, tripe, tongues, amongst others.

He acknowledges that finding whole carcasses, complete with fur, feathers, fins and entrails, may be too much for the average pet owner to manage, but concludes, “The second best and practical option — raw meaty bones and a few table scraps — is easy, economical and efficient and will have your pet living a long and healthy life.”

“Raw meaty bones” doesn’t mean a bone that has had the meat removed. It means a bone within a covering of nutritious meat. Gnawing, tearing and ripping the meat, tossing the meal from side to side in the mouth, before consuming the bone itself, gets the dog’s stomach juices pumping and cleans the dog’s teeth.

As Dr. Sasha Herbert says in her book, “nibble munch chomp” 3, carnivores “don’t just stick to the muscle meat. If they did, they would be lacking all sorts of important minerals, vitamins, fiber and fats.” So if we decide to feed raw, we need to include a range of animal parts, including organ meat and bones.

If you are interested in finding out more about dog raw food, you might like to browse the information on TomLonsdale’s raw meaty bones site or join the Yahoo! Raw Feeding interest group, where you will find helpful guidance from those who have already switched their pets to this diet.

The next question you need to consider is whether to include plant matter. Dr Ian Billinghurst, author of “Give your dog a bone: a practical commonsense way to feed dogs for a long healthy life” 4, argues that wild dogs and wolves would eat some vegetable matter, perhaps as the partially digested stomach contents of prey. For information on this aspect of feeding you could visit his site, Barf World. (BARF has been variously described as Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, Biologically Appropriate Real Food or Bones and Raw Food).

Although there is disagreement in the world of dog raw food on whether to include vegetable matter or supplements, both sides of the debate are convinced that dogs do not need to eat grains – a major component of commercial dried foods.

Dr Billinghurst says, “Modern dogs of any breed are not only capable of eating the food of their wild ancestors, but actually require it for maximum health. This is because their basic physiology has changed very little with domestication.” 5

It’s not rocket science. With some research and some commonsense we can feed our dog raw food and an appropriate healthy diet.

References:
1 Vilmos Csanyi, If Dogs Could Talk, translation by Richard E Quandt. 2005, North Point Press, NY, US.
2 Tom Lonsdale, Work wonders; Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones. 2005, Rivetco P/L, NSW, Australia.
3 Sasha Herbert, nibble munch chomp: The art and science of feeding your pet.2007, JoJo Publishing in conjunction with Lort Smith Animal Hospital, North Melbourne, Australia.
4 Ian Billinghurst, Give your dog a bone: practical commonsense way to feed dogs for a long healthy life. 1993, Warrigal, Australia.
5 Ian Billinghurst, BARF World: What is BARF?

10 Dog Christmas Tips to Celebrate the Holidays!

By Sally Gutteridge | Posts , Tips

Christmas can be a very hectic time for everyone as we are all busy during the holiday season with decorating, shopping, food preparation and hosting guests. But this time can also be stressful for our dog if he isn’t prepared to deal with the sudden changes during Christmas.

In this article, I will give you 10 tips that you should do in preparation for a happy dog Christmas.

1. If you are going to have guests over to your home at Christmas Day, it is important to give your dog plenty of exercise before your guests arrive. Take your dog for a long walk an hour or two before your guests begin to arrive. This will relief lots of excess energy I will make your dog calmer and more enjoyable for your guests.

2. If you are going to let your guests give your dog a treat, then it is important to tell them that they must sit your dog before giving him the treat. If your dog can perform tricks, then it is a great opportunity to showcase his skills and at the same time be very entertaining. Getting your dog to obey before giving him the treat will reinforce the hierarchy with your guests.

3. I recommend that you give your dog his meal / dinner before you begin your serving your guests their dinner. The reason is that if your dog is fully satisfied then he is less likely to bother your guests. You may want to give your dog a special dinner to make sure that he eats it completely. Perhaps a mix of dry kibble with a can of wet dog food would persuade him to eat it all and would give him a great dog Christmas present.

4. Tell your guests to never give your dog any table scraps. Although this seems like a no-brainer you would be surprised on the amount of people that would drop something and wouldn’t think there is any problems letting your dog eat it.

5. Depending on how many guests you are expecting at Christmas, it may be favorable to ask one of your family members to entertain your dog in another room until all your guests have arrived. I wouldn’t recommend locking up your dog if he isn’t used to it, but strangers walking in to your home may be a little overwhelming to your dog.

6. If you are going to unwrap presents then I recommend that you do not let your dog play with any of the wrapping paper. That is because it could potentially cut them while they play with it or they could eat it which may cause digestion problems. The last thing that you want to do on Christmas is having to go to an emergency pet hospital because your dog ate something he wasn’t supposed to.

7. Give your dog something to do while your guests are in your home. You can take a Kong and stuff it with peanut butter or pieces of cheese and it will take him a while to get all of the goodies out. There are also those new “intelligent” dog toys that require dogs to solve puzzles before they can get to the treat. I don’t know the specific name of these toys but I’m sure if you Google it that you will find what you are looking for. Perhaps you could purchase this “intelligent” toy ahead of time which would be a great dog Christmas present!

8. If there are children coming to your home make sure that you tell them not to chase the dog. A dog will bite a child if he feels threatened or afraid, especially if a child is chasing him. It is important to supervise children and to make sure that they are treating your dog properly.

9. Prepare a quiet room or move your dog’s crate into a quiet room so that if your guests are too loud for your dog, then he will have a quiet environment to go to.

10. If your dog loves to play then make sure that you instruct your guests on how to play nicely with your dog. Sometimes guests have a little alcohol in their system and they can get carried away by throwing toys too high or down stairs which could potentially injure your dog.

To have a merry dog Christmas, all that is needed is a little common sense and some planning ahead of time. If you have any more tips, please leave a comment below…

How to Train a Hamster

By Jean Cote | Personal , Posts

Well, this is very surprising! I woke up this morning and found a funny hamster video in my e-mail inbox. A friend of mine thought that it would be funny to train a hamster to spell the name of this website.

I am not sure if the hamster is actually trained or if it is all a video editing effect. I have no idea how to train a hamster and I’m curious to know if this is even possible. Are hamsters trainable and are they intelligent enough to do something like this?

I noticed a small glitch at 0:15 of the video which tells me this must be a video editing effect…

Watch the video! And leave a Comment Below!

Choosing the Right Dog Training Classes

By Sally Gutteridge | Posts , Training

dog-training-classesAre you looking for dog training classes? Before you spend a dime I encourage you to read more about the different dog training classes available today. Choosing a dog training class is a very important decision that will affect your relationship with your dog. It is important to research your possible options before signing up to any dog training classes.

There are three major aspects that you must consider when choosing dog training classes.

1. Training Method

There is a variety of dog training techniques that are being taught around the world. It is important to know which techniques you will be learning and applying with your dog before signing up to any dog training classes. Usually, the company or school will have information on their website about how they train their dogs.

Some dog trainers emphasize on being a strong pack leader and being the alpha in the household. This modern training has been around for the last century and will work with most dogs. But in some cases, these training techniques may involve punishing your dog when he does something wrong.

If you are not comfortable punishing your dog or if you are looking for a more humane way of training your dog then you will want to look for “reinforcement training” or “clicker training” on the prospect company or school website. These training techniques involve using positive reinforcements like treats, toys and praise to reward specific behaviors that you like.

2. Credibility

The second most important aspect to look for is to see whether or not the trainers actually achieved the results that they are promoting. If they say that you can train your dog to do all of the obedience training in eight weeks, make sure that you look at their credentials and see if they have officially won any obedience titles or have achieved credible certification. If you do not see this information on their website then you should ask them over the phone.

Another key element that will tell you if their dog training classes are good is by what their former students say about their experience. Usually a dog training company or school will have testimonials on their website. Read them all and see if anybody has had similar problems with their dog as you and if they were able to successfully resolve them.

3. Cost

Although the cost is an important aspect of choosing the right dog training classes, it is not necessarily an indicator of how good the company or school is. The best way to find out if a prospect company or school is worth your investment is to call them and to ask them questions.

Great dog trainers will always try to help you over the phone even if you haven’t yet signed up to their dog training classes. That is because the goal is to help you train your dog and not to get you to sign up to the class.

Once you find a company or school that you feel comfortable with, make sure that you stay within your budget. Usually dog training classes begin with one puppy class and will have several grades of obedience training. It is important that you calculate the cost of each dog training class ahead of time to make sure that you can afford it.

Overall, the decision on choosing the right dog training classes is totally up to you. If something doesn’t feel right about a trainer, then trust your intuition and keep looking. If you try a class and you don’t like it, ask for a refund. Most companies will honor a refund request if it is requested after the first class.

How To Make Your Own Dog Toy In 7 Easy Steps!

By Jean Cote | Posts , Tips

If you are like me, every time you go pick up some dog food at the local pet store you simply can’t resist the temptation of walking in the dog toy aisle. And you can’t help but notice how cute some of the dog toys are and how much your dog would love one.

But then, you start to remember how your dog chewed up to pieces his last dog toy that you bought him and how it cost you over $20. The last dog toy that I purchased my dog was a fabric tug-toy, it lasted about a week before it ripped and started to fall apart. So for the last two years I have been making my own dog toys, ones that costs a fraction of the pet stores and that are of much higher quality.

In this tutorial, I will show you exactly how to build your own dog toy from materials that can be purchased very cheaply at your local fabric store. There are many different fabrics to choose from and they all have their unique advantages and disadvantages.

When choosing a material for your dog toy, make sure that you test its strength by pulling on each sides and look for rips. Some material will leave fuzz balls or fur all over the your floor. My personal favorite is pool table felt. Usually people will sell their used pool table felt because it is a little bit dirty, so you can purchase those for very cheap, for under $5. A pool table felt will allow you to make several dog toys.

Let’s create your dog toy…

Step 1. Start by cutting three strips the length of the fabric; make them as long as possible. Once the dog toy is finished it will only be about a quarter of the length of the strips.

 

Step 2. Tie a normal knot at the top of the strips and make sure that it is very tight so that the dog toy doesn’t come apart once it is completed.

Step 3. Take the knot in your hands while the strips are hanging off your hand.

Step 4. Take the strip that is the farthest away (yellow arrows) from you and bring it over towards you. Then take the left strip (blue arrows) and bring it over the middle strip. Then take the right strip (green arrows) and bring it over and under the two strips.

Step 5. Tighten each strip equally and you will have your first knot. The tighter you make your knots the harder the dog toy will be, but if you tighten it lightly, the dog toy will stretch while you tug.

Step 6. Repeat the same thing over and over until you have the desired length. Above is a picture of a few knots done in a row.

Step 7. When you are finished, complete the dog toy by doing a final knot at the end. The final knot is exactly like be beginning knot. There are alternative patterns to knot your dog toy so that it goes in a spiral. I will write more tutorials in the future.

Here are two pictures of my dog Chase tugging with hew new dog toy. She really loves it!

Have fun with this! Experience with all sorts of different materials and lengths! Share your thoughts and comments below…

A Comprehensive History of Dog Training

By Sally Gutteridge | Posts , Training

Dog training has evolved through the centuries and will continue to evolve in the future as we continue to refine and develop new training techniques. Positive reinforcement based training was something unheard of 50 years ago, and now in 2011 it is a training technique used by all major dog training centers around the world.

Let’s explore the history of dog training…

Hunting Training
The earliest dog training involved teaching dogs to assist in hunting. The hunters needed help when they went hunting and a dog could assist them in finding and retrieving their prey. There is nothing quite like hunting near a lake and getting your dog to swim in near freezing temperature just to retrieve a prize. This help the hunters tremendously and many hunting breeds like the Spaniels, Terriers, Pointers and Retrievers are still employed today.

Military Training
When World War I began dogs were often used in combat for various purposes. The military needed dogs to be trained quickly so they would train many dogs at the same time. Some of the dogs were trained as guard dogs and others were trained to detect mines and explosives.

The early military dog training techniques were ones of constant correction. The dog would be physically punished for not obeying the trainer’s commands. The punitive system went in to include collars with shocking systems. The idea of dominating the dog and becoming the Alpha and the pack was born and quickly spread all over the world after the war.

Modern Dog Training
After World War I it was considered normal to punish the dog for any misdeeds committed by the dog. Punishment equipment was invented like the prong and choke collars. The idea was that if a behavior is punished then the dog would learn to never do it again.

For example, training a dog to walk loosely on a leash was done by punishing the dog any time he pulled on the leash or walked out of line.

Fortunately, in 2011 we have evolved from these dog training techniques and are now getting the dog to do what we want on his own by means of positive reinforcements.

Assistance Dogs
Dogs have been shown to be terrific assets to those with visual or auditory impairments as well as those with limited mobility. These dogs must be highly trained as well as companionable. In addition, they are carefully selected as they must have the right physical ability and temperament. They then are put through an intense training that is reward based (positive reinforcements).

These dogs are trained to ignore distractions and to take direction. They are taught to lead or communicate and follow commands. It is imperative that these animals be thoroughly trained as any mishaps can endanger the lives of the owner. Most assistance dogs are trained by professionals and then introduced to their owner or trained alongside their owner.

Police and Drug Dogs
Drug, Search and Rescue, or Bomb Squad dogs are highly trained in tracking and alerting skills. Police and protection dogs are trained in controlled aggression. Each animal is highly skilled in their respective field and are not interchangeable in other areas. Dogs trained in tracking abilities are less likely to be trained using heavy handed techniques, while police and protection dogs are.

Medical Dogs
The latest dog training is taking place in the medical field. Dogs are being trained to use their highly sensitive noses and sniff out medical conditions, such as cancer. So far studies on the subject are limited but they show promise and could potentially lead to saving human lives  through early detection.

Dog Sports
Popular dog sports include Flyball and Agility. Flyball is a relay race with four dogs, and Agility is an obstacle course set up for a single dog to run while being coaxed by his owner. Training to run these sports is almost always based on positive reinforcement. Practice and consistency are also very important.

Family Pets
While much of modern training still involves punitive systems, positive reward based systems can be more effective and easier on everyone. Tricks and basic commands can all be taught gently and easily using positive reinforcement methods. The sheer number of methods and options we have today are indicative of how much joy and help they can bring into our lives. They also show our dedication to finding more humane and loving dog training techniques to train our dogs.

Interested in Labradors or looking for Lab Puppies?

By Jean Cote | Breeds , Posts , Puppies

So, you think that you may be interested in the Labrador breed or looking for lab puppies? In this article you will find more information about this great breed and whether or not it is the right breed for you.

To give you a better understanding of the Labrador breed, it is necessary to learn the origins of this breed. Labradors are originally from Newfoundland and named after the Labrador Sea. They were bred to work with fishermen to retrieve fishnets and other tasks involving swimming in the sea. A unique trait of Labradors is their webbed paws; they allow them to swim faster and easier than most other breeds.

Young lab puppies are one of the friendliest breeds to have as a family dog. They are easy to train and you don’t need to be an expert trainer to train them. All you have to do is put in your time and efforts and your Labrador will do his best to please you.

Labradors need lots of activity and exercise, so if you have very long work hours this energetic breed might not be the best for you. They strive if you have an active lifestyle and want to bring your dog with you. For example, your lab will love you if you bring him hiking, biking, camping, swimming in a lake, or anything that involves exercise.

Lab puppies come in three different colors; there is the black lab which is the most common amongst Labradors. There is also the yellow lab which is a more common color with service dogs and law enforcement. Then there is the chocolate lab which is the rarest of three. A litter of lab puppies may have all three colors, so the colors of the parents do not reflect the colors of the litter.

It is important to try to get lab puppies from reputable breeders. Even if you don’t plan on participating in dog shows or training your Labrador to be a service dog, a reputable breeder will ensure that the puppy is raised properly and has all of the proper nutrition and care provided. Someone selling lab puppies in the newspaper may be much cheaper but they may not know the small details of raising a litter that an expert breeder would.

One thing to be concerned about raising lab puppies is that they are very mouthy. They are known for biting / nipping at a young age so it is important to start training them as early on as possible. If you can afford it, I highly recommend that you look for a local puppy training class that will teach you exactly how to deal with puppy hood.

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