Dog Obedience Training - Why Use A Clicker In Your Dog's Training

clicker training is a non-coercive method of dog obedience training & is based on the dog's behavioural psychology; it relies on the 'marking' of good behaviour & rewarding this. The clicker itself is a small oblong shaped mechanical device, it will sit in the palm of your hand nicely so is ideal for outdoor work too during dog obedience training. It makes a short, sharp & unique 'click' sound, the idea is that as soon as your dog behaves & does what is asked you click & then reward.

As with all the dog obedience training that you do timing is paramount, the 'click' has to arrive the split second the dog performs the task requested of him/her. So if you were teaching your dog to 'sit' literally the instance the dog's behind touches the floor you 'click' & then reward. Through repetition your dog soon learns that good behaviour is followed by a 'click' sound & this is followed up by a tasty treat, dogs are very routine animals & creatures of habit so they pick training regimes up very quickly.

The clicker is a very clear way to communicate with your dog there is no mistaking the sound, so there is no misinterpretation from your dog. You can mark an exact behaviour that you wish to praise with one simple 'click'; some trainers/handlers refer to this type of dog obedience training as 'event marker' training. The trainers/handlers that use clicker training are different to normal trainers/handlers in that when they carry out dog obedience training they wait until the dog understands the behaviour before using a command or a cue to request that the dog perform the desired task.

When the dog has received several 'clicks' & appears to comprehend the behaviour the trainer/handler will introduce a cue. They will begin to say the cue before the dog carries out the behaviour, after repeating this a few times the clicker is used. When the trainer/handler gives the cue & the behaviour follows then the clicker is 'clicked' & the dog rewarded. Eventually the dog will begin to look out for the cue & then know that the behaviour follows this.

To begin with dog obedience training with a clicker can seem to be slightly daunting to a novice, there appears to be so much to carry out. The clicker itself at the precise moment required then rewarding the dog with a treat. You almost need more hands when your clicker training your dog.

The big advantage with this method of dog obedience training is that you can train any age dog with a clicker & generally most dogs will comprehend it. From your puppy to an older adult dog, because the clicker method is based on noise association I would say tat the only dogs that would not benefit from this type of dog obedience training are deaf dogs. Their method of training is completely different again as it has to be very visual.

Clicker training is a safe, kind & fun way to carry out your dog obedience training with no shouting & no smacking, just several little harmless "clicks."

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Toxic Dog Toys

The list seems to be expanding of products allowed into North America that are have been laboratory tested to be extremely toxic, therefore dangerous to children and pets.

Someone said a month ago that the pet food announcements of March, 2007 were just the tip of the iceberg and I would say that person was aware of the lack of safety protocols in China. Expert analysis conducted by Expertox a company in Texas established in 1996 that have over fifty years of environmental assessments tested pet toys sold in Walmart.

Expertox claims the results show these pet toy products contain elevated levels of deadly toxins. You have to wonder why Mattel recalled millions of its toys for children that contained lead paint made in China and still we are selling toxic toys for pets. One can assume that the levels of lead are not safe for children but are safe for our family pets. Of course, two Veterinarians dispute the findings from the Texas lab claiming these levels pose no real threat to cats and dogs. I wonder whether the veterinarians had fifty years of environmental safety assessments and where they received this education. Veterinarians really should stick to what they do best, and that is to try to help pets live a longer healthy life not a quick death.

Just as children put toys in their mouths, dogs and cats also play in this manner and that is how the chemicals are ingested into the bloodstream through their saliva. In doing this, the pet is exposed to heavy metal toxins that can cause death and is harmful to dog health.

The tests also revealed high levels of arsenic, mercury, cadmium as well as lead, so it is a combo platter of lethal chemicals.

CAT TOYS CONTAINING CADMIUM:

We are all familiar with those cloth cat toys that contain catnip, which they found high levels of cadmium. In addition, a plastic toy for cats that looks like a dumbbell also was found to be tainted.

DOG TOYS CONTAINING CADMIUM:

A Walmart toy made of cloth that looks like a hedgehog contained high levels of cadmium. These are sold almost everywhere today besides Walmart, and Petsmart even the Dollar Stores are filled with these products on every street corner.

If you were to import any products to Europe, you would have to do your research and prove your products meet the ROHS Directives set out by the EU legislation. These directives called "Restriction of Hazardous Substances", set very high standards for Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium and Bromine Flame Retardants. You would have to demonstrate that you have complied with these strict regulations before your products would be allowed into European countries including detailed product analysis. I doubt whether these products would have met the European Union standards, however they are welcomed into the US and Canada.

Since we cannot rely on importers, our governments should be doing the screening of products before they enter the country not after they are on the shelves. I would think we would be checking for shipments due to terrorist's attacks anyway we might as well inspect how they were manufactured in the country of origin. Companies buying these products from overseas manufacturers could have conducted their own screening, however most are in denial that there is a problem for obvious reasons.

There is a device called XRF Screening, which detects lead in any product and instead of each of us buying one of these - the government should be purchasing such products to protect its own population.

After all, we will be all using hospitals, drugs and medicine to cure our children and pets of lead poisoning and that costs a lot of money. If your dog exhibits these symptoms, please take it to the nearest vet for blood tests and a check up.

Signs of Lead Poisoning:

Vomiting, Poor Appetite, Diarrhea, Lethargy, Abnormal Behavior and eventually Seizures. How common are these symptoms these days?

Drugs are used to "chelate" chemicals like lead or mercury by binding to them and they are excreted out of your pet's system. Lead poisoning may kill your pet so check where your toys came from and then check your dog.

There are also herbs that can detox your pet from harmful chemicals. Chemicals tend to intensify in the liver and gentle herbs can help with cleansing them out of the body. What is Cadmium and why is it so dangerous? Cadmium as defined by the US Department of Agriculture is an extremely toxic chemical found in the industrial paint industry and found in batteries. Cadmium is a known cause of cancer. The lead is in the paint used to coat toys that your dog is putting in its mouth.

On September 11, 2007, China signed an agreement with the US that prohibits them from using lead paint. I do not believe other chemicals were included in this agreement. However, it appears to be a slap on the hand that feeds you. As we have allowed our manufacturing jobs to go overseas, we are paying the price in cheap, dangerous products coming back into our country and killing our kids and pets. The list of contaminated products from China continues to grow, and now includes:

Toys for children

Toys for pets

Pet foods

People foods

Fish

Jewelry

If Beijing is increasing inspections of their own products, when will the US and Canada start inspecting imported products? What is really puzzling is how this invasion of deadly products was allowed to occur because lead paint has been banned since 1978 which is over 30 years ago?

A lady from Illinois was worried about her Shelties playing with these toys she purchased so she hired a lab in Illinois to do testing on 24 dog toy products.

She has lost 3 Sheltie dogs over the past four years and that is a very high number of deaths. Her elderly mother noticed all the dog toys were made in China. The Illinois Department of Agriculture decided they were in the acceptable limits of levels of lead. What is so acceptable about levels of lead? The lab in Illinois found that a tennis ball from Petsmart tested 355 times higher than the amount found in the lab in Texas.

Dr. Ernest Lykissa, a PHD from Expertox in Texas reported that a dog playing with this tennis ball is getting a good dose of lead.

A latex green monster toy tested 907.4 micrograms of lead, that's is almost 1 part per million, a very high content. It also tested at 334.9 micrograms of chromium which is also high.

As an old railroad engineer once said after a major train wreck, " Someone was asleep at the switch".

If you continue to purchase lead tainted toys the imports will continue as well. It would depend on how much you really love your pet.

Teri Salvador is a freelance writer with a site concentrating primarily on dog health issues that offers frequently updated articles on natural remedies, pet product reviews and current articles on pet foods. Also added sections on Horses, Cats and Reptiles. Visit: http://www.DogHealth1.com

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Memory Foam Dog Beds

Why do dogs need memory foam beds? Dogs or other pets have become a member of your family, and should be treated as such. When we have arthritis or other painful conditions we look for ways to provide for our comfort, and so we may choose a special bed for ourselves. I know that I spent a long time checking out all the different mattresses out there before I chose one for myself. My Chiropractor suggested a certain type of mattress that was best for my needs. Should we not offer the same comfort to our 4-legged family member? Our pets cannot tell us when they are in pain and what is uncomfortable. We deduce this by the way they slow down, and cannot jump and run like they used to. Even their eager greeting of their master seems to slow down. These are signs of arthritis and the Veterinarian will offer other treatments for their pain, but very often he will suggest a soft but firm bed.

Memory foam was developed for NASA in the 1970's. However, it was never used in any space missions. By the 1990's memory foam was brought to the consumer. It conforms to your body shape, weight and temperature and thus prevents painful pressure areas and aligns your body. When one is uncomfortable and needs support for our pain we buy the best pillow and or mattress for our aching bodies. There are many types of beds available and we must be careful to choose one that best fits our needs.

In the same token, we must consider the needs of our aging dogs. There are many types of dog beds available in the market these days. When we choose a bed, we must consider the size and weight of the dog. Based on the weight and size of the dog, you can choose the thickness of the foam when you purchase a bed for your dog. The foam conforms to the dog's weight and shape, and evenly distributes their weight to minimize the pressure points. It also aligns the dog's body for a restful sleep. It is not only for the aging dog that we consider choosing a memory foam bed, we can choose it for the comfort of our pet. We can choose a bed because it is pretty, or luxurious or fancy, but we must also look for the comfort of our 4-legged friends. You can get both beauty, uniqueness and comfort in a bed that gives support and is soft.

Evangeline Samuel PhD was a nurse and healthcare manager, who likes a memory foam bed due to her own situation with fibromyalgia. She believes that memory foam dog beds are important for our pets too. She has a puppy in her life (her 'grandbaby') who she simply adores and believes that a luxury dog bed will be great for her.

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Dog Pet Supplies

So you're going to get yourself a brand new puppy. You might be imagining playing fetch or going for a walk with him and him becoming a loyal companion for years to come. Before you pick out your new best friend, you'll need to get a few things to make sure that his first night at your house is the best it can be. It doesn't matter if your puppy comes from a breeder, pet store, the pound, or a box in front of the grocery store there are a few pet supplies that you should have waiting for when he gets home.

The main thing puppy is going to want is food. puppies are babies, so they need to eat good, highly nutritious food. Just like a small child, they get really hungry and need to eat often. A hungry puppy will let you know by whining, whimpering, and trying to eat anything it can get its mouth on. Be sure to splurge a little on the dog food. Nutrition is important for a healthy dog, so don't feed a puppy adult dog food! Adult dog food just isn't as nutritionally rich as puppy food, and your new puppy also needs the extra energy it can only get from richer food.

It would be tragic if you just got puppy home, decided to take her for a walk, and she ran into the street. This happens to the best, most attentive pet owners. puppies are hard to control. They explore every neat smell or interesting movement, and they don't pay much attention to their surroundings. They also startle easily and can quickly get into trouble. If you want a well-heeled dog, you need to train the puppy the right way with a leash. There are a range of opinions in the dog training world as to what type of leash is best for training. Start with a traditional leash attached to a collar, and then migrate to more elaborate designs if you need to. Make sure that you hang on to the original leash; you will probably need it later.

Dogs love to chew on whatever they can get their mouth around, all of their lives, just as they would in the wild. puppies chew as a way to play, and because it helps them keep their teeth clean and strong. Make sure you have a variety of chew toys before your new puppy comes home. You don't want him chewing up your prized possessions, so make sure you train him to know what it can and can't chew on.

Unless you want a dog hogging your bed forever, you should get him his own bed. Dog beds can range from the simple pad on the floor all the way up to elaborate ones standing on legs just like a human bed. You can even get away with using an old blanket. Your dog isn't going to care as long as it's warm and comfortable. He'll get attached to his bed over time, so make sure it's a bed you both can live with.

If you make sure you have all of these pet supplies before your puppy comes home, everything will run smoother for you and that adorable puppy you saw in the window. Enjoy him, and remember it's up to you how "civilized" he behaves.

There are some wonderful resources out there like this site called Pet Supplies Online Now. Alternatively, for more information on dog supplies have a look at this site full of great information regarding dog grooming supplies.

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Dog Training Tips - Socializing Your Puppy

Socializing your puppy is just one part of an entire series of puppy training you are about to embark on with your new dog. Socializing your new puppy is equally as important as house training him, providing him with positive dog training, and giving him general K9 training from day one. So, what does it mean to socialize a puppy? Well, socializing your puppy can and does mean several things and below are just a handful of ideas you can use in socializing your new puppy:

• take your puppy to the park or other acceptable public place so he can get used to different sounds and being around people

• take the new puppy to a dog park if you have one, this way he can get used to being around other dogs and won't be frightened by them

• allowing people to pet your puppy; this will help your dog feel more at ease with visitors and behave better during vet visits

• introduce your puppy to friends and family that will visit your home frequently, this will allow him to get used to these people and less likely to bark at them each time they come to your home to visit

• enrolling your puppy in puppy training classes is another great way that your puppy can be around other people and dogs and become more socialized

Beginning the process of puppy training as soon as you get your puppy is key to having a happy and healthy dog in the future. Just as feeding, exercising and giving your dog love and attention is important, so is training him. You can get dog training advice at a K9 training school or from other dog owners or with positive dog training books and other dog training advice materials. The key it to be consistent with the puppy dog training and be sure to include socializing your puppy as part of your dog training journey.

For Free methods on how to train your dog go to: Dog Training Tips

I am a professional dog trainer and have trained various mixed and pure breeds. I have seen some great dogs with some terrible dog owners. I want very much to assist the misguided dog owners to be responsible for how they train their pets.

Visit my website at: http://dogs-training-tips.com/New-Puppy-Potty-Training/

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Dog Food Secrets Review

I've chosen to review Dog Food Secrets because of my concern over the negative affect of commercially produced foods on the well-being of our dogs. Andrew Lewis makes some highly controversial claims in his top selling package, Dog Food Secrets. This top notch book makes pet owners more aware of the potential dangers to their dogs from feeding them some commercial foods.

Andrew Lewis claims that:

• Dog Food Secrets offers a simple solution proven to increase your dog's lifespan by up to 134% and save you up to $10,000 in veterinary bills and food costs.


• Our pets are dying early due to the ingredients in most commercially produced foods. Dogs living under the best possible conditions could be expected to live to 27 years of age, whereas the average North American dog only reaches 11 years of age.


• It is claimed that many commercially manufactured pet foods contain dangerous chemicals and are nutritionally deficient.


• The chemicals and preservatives in commercial dog food can make your pet more aggressive.

What is included in the package?

There are three packages: Bronze ($27), Silver ($37), ad Gold ($47). The confidential Dog Food Report is included in the Gold package.

Here are just a few of the vast number of topics covered in this comprehensive guide to maximize your dog's health, vigor and life expectancy:

• Six vital ingredients for health


• Dog health care (including perfect body temperature, heart beat and respiration for your pet; how to prevent and treat heartworm; tests for intestinal worms and parasites)


• Best fruit snacks


• 55 nutritionally balanced recipes dogs love


• 20 human foods deadly to your pet


• How many calories dogs should be consuming


• Five vaccinations dogs must have


• Checklist for 18 most common dental diseases

My Conclusions:

The information in this package is definitely disturbing and shocking. I have not examined the scientific evidence to which he refers so I cannot comment on the veracity of his claims.

That said, Dog Food Secrets does provide great suggestions for feeding and taking care of your dog, plus nourishing recipes which will hopefully extend your dog's life.

Andrew Lewis is so sure that you will really like his package that you can get a 100% refund and still get to keep the whole package!

For the sake of your dog's health, I urge you check out Dog Food Secrets.

Training Dogs Information is a free resource for dog owners offering useful tips on dog training and behavior problems.

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Choosing the Right Bed For Your Puppy

Now I could start this article by saying "don't bother" just use a box and to be honest most of the time you would be right, but that would make for a bit of a boring article wouldn't it!! So here is some advice for getting that dog bed for your little pride and joy.

Size. This is so important when purchasing a dog bed as most people do exactly the same thing and buy a dog bed that is too big for the dog. The main reason owners do this because they want to buy a bed that the dog will grow into and save money at the same time by purchasing a bed that will last the dog for life. This is the WRONG thing to do. A puppy needs to feel secure and purchasing a huge dog bed (especially with a roof) can be very daunting for a small puppy so try to buy something that is of a suitable size. Make sure that you buy a bed that has raised walls as again, this makes the puppy feel secure and comfortable in their surroundings.

Using a box? A box is a very good idea for a very young pup as they do tend to chew a hell of a lot during the first 3 months of their lives. I started my dog off with an old computer box and we just cut an entrance into the front of the box and cut the lid off. We then made sure that the box was well padded out with comfy blankets and other comforters like a small cushion. The nice thing with a box is that you can make it really cozy compared to standard dog beds. I would recommend using a box for the first 3 months of the dog's life and then moving on to something a little more practical.

Not too cheap but not too expensive. A contradiction I know, but take this into account. What you don't want to do is buy some Chinese rubbish that the dog will rip open within 5 minutes because it's made from cheap material. Then before you know it, you are rushing your little baby into the vets because they are passing cotton wall!!However on the flip side of the coin the other thing you do not want to do is buy a beautiful piece of furniture that costs a fortune, only to find your dog walking around with a wooden leg in its mouth!! This is not the way to go, try and buy something that is made from tough material that can withstand a beating, but try not to pay a fortune for it. I would avoid buying a dog bed off the market and maybe go into a reputable pet shop that can give you the advice needed to purchase the correct type of dog beds.

That's about it really I guess if you want a conclusion I would say to you again NOT to buy anything that looks cheap and don't buy a bed just because it looks nice. Start off with a box then buy something practical for the first year of the dog's life.

Then you can buy that bling dog bed you really wanted...

David Morton runs his own company in East London. He wrote this article to show his appreciation to the Online Backup company for getting him out of trouble when he thought he may lose his business. Follow some of Davids other articles.

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Leadership in Dog Training - Discover the Secret

Yes, training your dog can be simple! Discovering and understanding how the secret works, will make training your dog simple, fun, and rewarding for both you and your dog. It will also be lasting as long as you are consistent and have the proper follow through. It's really a life style!

I have many secrets that will help you in training your dog and there are many ways to get the task done. You are your dog's pack member, but if you're not the leader of the pack your training won't be lasting, no matter what method you use.

Training your dog can be simple, especially when you use your dog's natural instincts to follow a leader, but it will still take some work, consistency, follow through, and patience.

What is that work? It's called Change! You changing is the key factor, it is the work involved in reforming your old inappropriate ways of communicating and interacting with your dog.

So, the biggest secret of my dog training is your dog's instincts. Your dog instinctively wants and needs a leader. Now your understanding of this secret and you seeing your relationship to your dog, as the dog sees it, and not what you think it is, is vitally important. Because that's the big difference here!

You must take action, the right action. Now the question is how do you do this? You communicate leadership by your body language, tonality, mannerisms, consistency, and follow through.

Here are a few examples of interactions with dogs that DON'T show leadership:

Your dog nudges you and you pet him. ·

Your dog asks you to play with him, and you do.

Your dog asks you to put him outside, and you do.

Your dog pulls you on the leash when going for a walk.

You tell your dog to do something, but you don't make him do it.

These are just a few signs that tell your dog he is the leader. From your dog's perspective he doesn't have to listen to you.

Now when you really need your dog to listen to you, that is when he doesn't, right? I bet you're thinking of the times when your dog hasn't listened to you. Did it embarrass you, frighten you, or make you angry?

Discover how to communicate to your dog so that he understands that you are the leader. When your dog understands this, you will have his willingness to obey you. It isn't just training, it's a life style!

To discover more about the secrets and communicating with your dog and learning how to be his leader, sign up right now for Tracy Lenderink's FREE report to find out how to do exactly that - Go to: http://www.simpledogtrainingsecrets.com Read about the exciting FREE bonus too!

Tracy Lenderink, has had a love and passion with special communication with dogs all her life. Tracy has spent over 40 years as an Animal Behaviorist, Trainer, and Seminar Speaker assisting pet owners with their problem and issues. It has been said of Tracy that she is a "Master in Creating a Bridge of Knowledge Between the Animal and Human Spirit."

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