Senior Golden Retrievers for Adoption

by John Charles

If you would really love to own a Golden Retriever but are hesitant about taking on a puppy, then adopting an older Golden may be the answer. These lovely dogs when they are mature settle in very easily to a new home and they do not need nearly as much attention as a puppy as they like to have some time to themselves. Regardless of their age you will find that your new friend very quickly becomes a welcome member of the family.

Many times, breeders will have older dogs for sale. There are several reasons for this, which include show dogs that have lost their potential, studs that have been used for breeding, female Golden’s that have been bred a few times then retired, or other types of special conditions where a breeder is helping a friend get rid of his Golden Retriever. There are other reasons as well, although whatever they may be - the adult Golden Retriever will be available for anyone who wants him.

One of the great things of course about adopting a more mature dog is that somebody else has already spent plenty of time and patience getting them house trained. Yes they will need to have a period of getting used to your particular family situation, but the training required for this is nothing compared to the training of a new puppy. You will need to give them lots of love and attention, but this will be a pleasure, not a chore.

When you meet your Golden for the first time you may well be so taken with them that you are tempted to ‘wrap them up and take them home’ straightaway. But, avoid this temptation. Take a bit of time to get to know them, and to know all about them, just to make sure that they are right for your lifestyle. Also, do involve the other members of your family in all of these initial decisions, as it is important that everybody feels happy about welcoming a new member into the family.

You will find life much easier in the early days if you spend a bit of time helping your new family member adjust to your home and its environs. You will find things easier if you do, and your new family member will certainly appreciate you taking the time to help them settle in.

People often ask me how long it will be before your new Golden is comfortably settled in to your family routine, and I would like to suggest that it takes about a month, give or take a week or so. After this do consider taking them to a dog obedience training class somewhere because you will find that this pays handsome dividends. Yes, they will probably have been trained already before they came to you, but this will act as a sort of ‘top up’ training.

All Golden Retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention. Older Golden’s on the other hand, may have medical problems that you aren’t aware of. You shouldn’t let this stop you from getting one though, simply because the rewards that you’ll find are far greater than any cons that may come to mind. Although many people don’t give a lot of thought to getting an older Golden Retriever - they are perfect for families who don’t want to put up the time and troubles of raising a puppy.

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Why Learning How To Stop Dog Jumping Activity Is Critical

by Lee Dobbins

Most people subscribe to the idea that dogs jump on humans in order to be closer to them. However, this can be scary if large dogs, even with good intentions, jump on humans. It can cause all kinds of problems and potentially really hurt someone so it is important to know how to stop dog jumping behavior before an accident occurs.

A dog’s natural behavior is to jump up on a person when they want to be friendly. As the owner of the dog, you need to train your dog not to jump up on people. Also, let people know if they want to pet your dog, to kneel down to the dog’s level. As the dog’s owner, you should be an example, and kneel down to your dog. At the same time, show where the dog likes to be given attention. For example, rubbing behind the ears, sniffing your hand first, or scratching a dog’s chest.

‘Sit’ is an important and basic command. Mastering the ‘Sit’ is a foundation for other commands and may save your dogs life. Before teaching how to stop dog jumping, you and your dog need to master the ‘Sit’ command. It must be automatic and consistent in order to move forward to stopping any jumping behavior.

Begin your training with your dog standing in front of you and talk to him gently. If you watch him closely enough you will notice little signs that he is getting ready to jump up on you and wanting to play. At first just gently and firmly say, “Sit” to your dog. He may or may not do this at first and chances are he will not. This is when you lift you knee up to his chest, look at him and gently but firmly say, “Off.” Many people make the mistake of telling the dog “Down” but that just confuses him because it is the command to lay down. Remember to say, “Off” and gently use your knee to discourage him from jumping on you.

Try not to scare or hurt your dog, just gently knock him off balance. Lifting your knee a bit should do the job. This is just associating the command with the action. Make sure he gets rewarded with a treat and verbal praise when it is done. With enough repetition, he will soon obey the “Off” command.

Dogs who jump on everybody they meet are going to create an unpleasant incident sooner or later. Such behavior is specially dangerous around elderly people and young children. So take the time to learn how to stop dog jumping behavior if you do not want the risk of a lawsuit, or worse. And enjoy you dog.

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New Puppy Care

Getting a new puppy into a family home is a big decision that should come with a lot of considerations. This is because new puppy care is not all that easy and it involves everyone in the household.

The first thing that a family should do before getting the new puppy that they want for their home is to decide on what dog breed they want. Although new puppy care is basically the same no matter what breed of dog they are, a family wouldn’t want to get one that would grow into becoming a big dog, especially if they feel that they could not give the same attention and care that they gave it when it was younger. So, when a new puppy is brought home it would probably be some 8 weeks old because this is usually the age when breeders would allow these pups to be separated from their mother. Taking care of a puppy at this age would always call for a warm room where there is an equally warm place for him to sleep on. Before getting a puppy, a family should make sure that they have everything ready for it, like the place where the puppy should stay all day long, the place where could eat and play and where he is supposed to go when nature calls.

Another important thing that should be remembered by any family when it comes to new puppy care is the fact that a puppy needs to have moments of socialization. This is puppy need is regardless the breed that a family finally opted on. It is very important for a puppy to be socialized so that he will be able to adapt to all kinds of things while he is still young. As he grows, a puppy will be fine with anything that a family will expose him to like playtime at the park or the pool or walking with kids or other pups his age, as long as he was initiated to this at a younger age. This practically means that if a family wants their puppy to be generally well-behaved around babies and children as well as with other animals, then he should already have had socialized with them even when he was still as young as eight weeks.

Keeping a puppy healthy and safe is also another new puppy care tip that should be observed by families getting one. This includes bringing the puppy to the vet regularly for his check-ups and for medications if needed. Vets will also be giving advices as to the proper amount and right kind of food to be given a puppy and what types of exercises will he need. Advices will also be given as to the schedules of flea and deworming treatments and vaccinations. Another thing that a family should look into when getting a new puppy is giving their new family member the right amount of loving care. Puppies always thrive better when they are loved by everyone.

How To Care For A Puppy - 5 Important Things To Think About

by Lee Dobbins

Raising a healthy dog begins with caring for him correctly from the time you bring him home. Below are 5 tips on how to care for a puppy that will keep him healthy and comfortable.

1. Keep Him Comfortable

One of the many things that you must do for your puppy is to make him comfortable. You should definitely have a doggy bed and a set place for your puppy to sleep. Also, it is good to have plenty of toys, food, and water dishes.

Besides that, you should make sure you leave plenty of time to spend with your puppy in order for him to know you and feel safe and secure when around you. Make sure he knows that you are there to take care of him. Don’t forget that your puppy has just been stripped of his mother and siblings and the only home that he has ever had. In order to feel safe he is going to need a little reaffirmation.

2. Proper Food

You should remember that a puppy is a baby dog and he should be treated much the same way you would treat a young baby. You will not want to give him grown-up dog food for a while and you should check with a vet or the pet store or his previous owner to see what he has been eating. If you would like to feed him a different kind of food, do not just chance it quickly because he may stop eating or even get sick. Gradually replace your food with what he has been used to eating and he will learn to like the new food. Remember to treat him like the new baby he is and you will get along well.

Make sure that you do not start your puppy off by giving him scraps leftover from the table - he needs to be able to adjust before he can handle “people” food.

3. Medical Care

Responsible ownership of a puppy includes seeking regular veterinary care. Necessary treatments include worming and vaccinations to protect the puppy. To ensure that your young dog receives the best possible care, schedule an appointment as soon as possible, and establish a regular vaccination and examination schedule as recommended by your veterinarian. Getting the proper vaccinations and checkups is an important part of learning how to care for a puppy.

4. Keep Him Sage

Just as you “child proof” your home before you bring home baby, you should “puppy proof” your home before you bring home that new addition to the family. Puppies are naturally curious about their new world, and need to be protected from danger. That danger not only comes from what is in your home, but also from older and/or stronger pets who want to play too rough with the puppy. Also, make sure that any young children are taught that the puppy is a real live creature, because many puppies have been injured by a child who thinks they are a stuffed animal.

5. Training

A dog that isn’t properly trained can be a nuisance who no one wants to be around. If you don’t want your puppy to grow into a nuisance dog, then you need to have a plan for obedience training. Not only will this make him a dog everyone wants to hang out with, it will help you to keep him safe.

Learning how to care for a puppy takes a bit of planning, but mostly you should plant to give your new pup a lot of love and attention - those two things are most important for helping your puppy grow into a happy and healthy dog.

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Dog Behavior Questions - Is Your Behavior Ruining Your Training?

by Lee Dobbins

Contrary to popular belief there are not as many training styles as there are trainers and one of the most interesting dog behavior questions that arise is how the trainers attitude affects the training process. The despite an individual differences people handling dogs fall into clearly recognizable categories. And no matter your an individual style or that of your dog there remain certain truisms.

You must have patience when trying to develop good behavior in your dog just about as much as raising a child. For the most part we as humans don’t have that much patients. So when trying to train your dog to behave you may need to train yourself.

When training your dog, keep in mind that daily sessions are needed to reinforce the desired behavior you want. Half an hour to an hour time slots will be most rewarding. Remember that no matter how much time has gone by, if you are starting to lose your control or your patience you must end your training session.

Strive to length that ‘time to boiling point’ a little an each day. Remind yourself you are dealing with a dog. Even the most an easily trained breeds or individual dogs an understand at roughly the level of an average two-year old persons. Of course there are those rare an exceptions.

When it comes to dog behavior questions, you need to go back to nature. In the wild, dogs are pack animals. Their pack has a hierarchy. The alphas are the leaders of the pack. The omegas are passive and often behave fearfully. There are also individuals that fall in between those two extremes. If you intend to successfully train your dog, you must be the alpha in your pack. At all points, you must be training your dog. Don’t let your dog train you. Even if it feels like that is happening, you must still actually be in charge.

When giving commands, be firm, but do not yell. Do not get angry with your dog when they do not obey. Rather than becoming frustrated with your dog, persist in your practice. Also, do not let the dog become the alpha of your pack. Your goal in training should not be to stroke your ego or to feel like you have power over your dog. The goal should be to have a safer environment for your dog and your family.

Teaching your dog to listen may not be easy. Your dog may be a natural alpha and may not want to take orders. However, it is possible. In wild packs of dogs, the role of alpha will change among pack members when one becomes more assertive than the current alpha. Consistently act as a leader to your dog and repeat these training techniques, and your dog will learn to respect you as alpha and will follow your commands.

You must remember that when training a dog you must be patient and take your time. If you expect them to learn quickly you will be greatly disappointed. They cannot remember things as you and I can even a small child can remember more then they can. So remember to take your time and learn your dogs limits and eventually they will get the hang of what you are trying to teach them.

There are different factors that affect how easily your dog will be to train. One of these factors is breed. Some breeds are easier to train than others. For example, some breeds are energetic- such as terriers, retrievers, and Dalmatians- whereas others are more relaxed. These breeds include basset hounds and collies. Another factor is age. A young puppy is going to have a shorter attention span than an adult dog.

The best way to train your dog is by working with their unique personality traits. Do not yell at your dog needlessly or use strong physical punishment whenever they don’t immediately obey. This will not help train your dog. In the end, training is about building trust with your dog so that he will obey you by choice rather than through fear.

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Keeping Your Havanese Healthy

by Fiona Kelly

The Havanese is a great choice as a family pet for many families, because he is a friendly, playful dog that enjoys adults, kids and other animals alike. However, just like any new pet, there are some things you need to know about caring for your Havanese properly before you bring him home from that breeder. These little dogs can be fairly flexible and resilient, but there are care requirements that are general dog care guidelines as well as concerns that are unique to this breed. It is important to educate yourself in the area of Havanese care to ensure that your new pet gets the best environment possible to grow and thrive.

Part of Havanese care is to concern yourself with specific aspects of Havanese health, so that you know what types of problems to need to be aware of with your dog. It is also important to know what the requirements of your dog will be in terms of grooming, and diet and exercise. By preparing for your Havanese care in these three aspects, you will be ready to bring that adorable puppy home and make it a part of your family.

All purebred dogs come with a handful of medical problems that they have a genetic predisposition to, and the Havanese is no exception. Part of taking responsibility for Havanese health is to be aware of these problems before you ever begin the selection process for your puppy.

These might include eye problems like cataracts and progressive retinol atrophy, which can cause blindness. It may also entail issues with hip dysplasia, or a condition known as patellar luxation, which is a slipping of the kneecap. By becoming aware of these conditions, you can ask your breeder about the history of these issues in his lines of dogs.

Another important component to Havanese health is keeping your puppy clean and well groomed. The coats of these beautiful dogs need to be brushed regularly to keep them shiny and free of tangles. Some owners prefer to clip the coats of their Havanese to make them easier to care for, especially in the warmer summer months. A monthly bath should be sufficient to keep your pet clean and healthy.

When it comes to the relationship between diet and Havanese health, there are two options that you can follow. The first is to use a high-quality manufactured pet food right from the pet store. If you are unsure of which food is best, you can ask your breeder or veterinarian for a recommendation.

It is best to find a brand that both you and your dog like and stick with it. If you must switch food, transition your pet slowly and gently, to avoid giving your dog stomach trouble. Most breeders and veterinarians will provide a dry food over a canned product, especially for young dogs.

Along with the nutritious diet, your pup will need regular exercise, and he will enjoy it more if he gets to do it with you! Take him for a walk every day, or play a few rounds of fetch in the backyard. With daily exercise, regular grooming sessions and a healthy diet, your pet will be the healthiest and happiest that he can be.

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Be Aware Of These Pug Health Problems

by Lee Dobbin

Everyone loves a beautiful, snuggly pug, right? They couldn’t be more perfect with their crinkled up face, little piggy tail, and amazing personality! However, if you are contemplating owning a pug, one must consider that there are complex Pug health problems that come with owning this beauty.

Part of what makes the Pug so adorable is their flat face, but it can also cause a few problems. The shape of the face and the way the eyes protrude may make them prone to ulcerations if they touch the food bowl or anything else. This isn’t a huge problem, just something to be aware of.

One of the issues that you will find in a Pug is an elongated soft palate that is associated with the shape of the face. In the Pug, this flap of skin at the back of the throat can constrict the airway causing several annoying issues such as funny breathing, coughing and snoring. If any of these problems become to annoying they can be corrected with surgery.

Two other Pug health problems are much more serious.

Pug Dog Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain and generally starts when the dog is between 2 and 3 years old. There is currently not much information available about the disease, but it is always fatal. If your dog has seizures or has trouble walking and muscle weakness your vet should evaluate the Pug as these symptoms can be caused by problems other than Pug Dog Encephalitis.

Hemi-vertebrae is a birth defect in Pugs. The vertebrae don’t grow the way they should and this causes andimbalance in the spine. The pressure on the spine from this imbalance can cause the back legs to be paralyzed as the dog grows. Fortunately, the condition can be found on an X-ray, so you don’t adopt a dog with the problem. If you do have a Pug with the condition, he’ll probably have to be put to sleep because there aren’t many treatments for it.

Pug health problems are something that any one considering getting a Pug should think about. Luckily, these problems are not common, so don’t obsess about them too much when making your decision.

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Dachshund Facts For Prospective Pet Owners

by Lee Dobbins

The German Dachshund is the most fascinatingly figured dog compared to any other breed including the Hound. This long short legged dog was first raised in Germany to hunt badgers. Some interesting Dachshund facts are mentioned below:

The Dachshund is part of the AKC hound group and has a long body with short legs. It comes in three varieties wirehaired, shorthaired, space and long haired and also in three different sizes which is available in each variety.

The German Dachshund has an elongated, muscular body and short legs. It has an elongated head, convex skull and eyebrows that stick out. His jaws are pronounced and muscular. He has a friendly and active expression, with dark oval eyes (eyes can be brown, black or even appear red). His long ears flop down. The upright tail is aligned with his back.

The AKC determines Dachshund facts when it comes to height and weight. Standard size is defined as 14-18 inches, and the average weight is set at 20 pounds. Dwarf or miniature size is 14 inches or less, and average weight is about 9 pounds. The toy version is under a foot in height, and weighs approximately 8 pounds.

Dachshunds are found in single color or bi-color. Single color appears in yellow or tan. Bi-color includes bright chestnut color with black, brown or gray markings. Other varieties include harlequin and piebald.

Dachshunds are lovable and loyal, but because of their headstrong nature they are difficult to teach. They are a little naughty and are very enthusiastic about digging holes in your courtyard. Some people consider the long-haired as a quiet one and the wire-haired one as the extrovert and entertainer.

One problem dachshunds face is that they have a tendency to be lazy and gain weight, adding to their other health risks. As with humans, they increase their chance of heart disease, diabetes, urinary tract infections and back problems.

The shedding rate of German Dachshunds is about average, as compared to other breeds. The shorthaired variety is the easiest to care for in this regard, as it generally only needs rubbing with a chamois or soft cloth. Longhaired varieties will need to be brushed every day. It’s a well known Dachshund fact that the wirehaired Dachshund’s grooming is a little more complicated, and will probably need to be seen by a professional dog groomer every six months or so.

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How To Use Dog Training Hand Signals Effectively

by Dr. Mayra Alfonso

In many countries and around the Americas, dog owners enjoy their pets a great deal. They’re oftentimes believed to be members of the family, just as an additional son or daughter. One of the reasons for this is because of how easily dogs can be trained, particularly when utilizing dog obedience hand signals.

Because of the power that pet dogs possess of being perceptive to body language, they can well comprehend not only verbal commands exclusively, but they’ve a great ability to learning hand signals for dog training. This makes their training more easygoing, than when exclusively only verbal commands are used.

Applying dog training hand signals could constitute a blessing from the sky. When using dog obedience hand signals properly you’ll observe that your pet will be learning faster. As the dog obedience hand signals are used in alignment with spoken commands the dog owner will see speedup on the dog training process. Among the 1st commands that the pet ought to learn is the sit command.

So, how do you train your dog the sit command? It is actually really easy. First of all you need to make sure you have your dogs’ attention 100% percent. To get your dog attention, you need to call your dog by his name. Make sure you only do this once, if you need to have a leash attach to your dog collar. Once you have your dog’s attention, point your index finger at your dog, at the same time as you say the command sit. If the dog doesn’t comply, show your dog what you mean by placing him on the sit position.

The next basic command you need to train your dog is the down command. Please keep in mind that it is a little bit more difficult command for the dog to do, especially because when they are lying down on the floor dogs feel that they are lowering their guard, and some pets will just not want to do that, especially if they are super vigilant. There are several ways to teaching your dog the “down” command, but one of the most effective ones is to place a treat in front of his nose and bring the treat down to the floor as you say the word “down”. Your dog will want to follow the treat and naturally end up on his belly.

Once your puppy understands the sit down and down commands, you’re set up to train him on one of the most vital orders. This command could in reality spare the life of your dog in the event that your dog chooses to get over the street when an auto is approaching. There are a lot of methods of training your dog on the come command, but among them is to position a leash on your dog, call his name and then enounce the command “come”, finally softly draw in the dog toward you using the leash and praise him after he’s closed to you.

Once your dog dominates the voiced command for come, you can now get going and train him in the come command by applying dog hand signs. To accomplish this flex your arm at the elbow, move your arm backwards toward you in a sweeping motion, and enunciate the command “come”. If your dog will not come to you, you might want to hold a treat in your hand, making sure your dog is aware that you have the treat, and then give the verbal and dog training hand signal for the come command, after your dog comes to you, give him a treat and tons of praises.

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The Know Hows of Dog Training Hand Signals

by Dr. Mayra Alfonso

Around the world and around America, dog owners love their pets. They are often considered members of the family, just like another son or daughter. But is about dog that people really enjoy and love? One of the main reasons why dogs are one of the favorite pets is because of how easy is to train them, especially when using dog obedience hand signals.

Because of the power that pet dogs possess of being perceptive to body language, they can well comprehend not only verbal commands exclusively, but they’ve a great ability to learning hand signals for dog training. This makes their training more easygoing, than when exclusively only verbal commands are used.

Applying dog training hand signals could constitute a blessing from the sky. When using dog obedience hand signals properly you’ll observe that your pet will be learning faster. As the dog obedience hand signals are used in alignment with spoken commands the dog owner will see speedup on the dog training process. Among the 1st commands that the pet ought to learn is the sit command.

And so, how do you teach your dog the sit command? It’s in reality real easy. Foremost you need to make certain you have your dogs’ tending 100% percent. To capture your dog’s attention, you want to address your dog by his name. Ensure you only call his name once. If your dog does not pay attention to you when your call his name you might need to have a leash attach to your dog’s collar to call his attention when you call his name. After you’ve your dog’s attention, aim your index digit at your dog, simultaneously as you verbalize the command sit. If the dog doesn’t comply, show your dog what you mean by placing him on the sit position; just push his rear end down to the floor, very gently.

At the instant that you realize that your dog have subdued the skill of sitting, it’s time to practice a brand-new trick. You’ll be able to begin then, teaching your pet on the down command. The down command is a bit harder than the sit command is, as some dogs defy going down on the flooring. Performing the down command for them implies to let down their guard, and many dogs have trouble with this. To instruct your dog on the down command, begin with your dog on the sitting down posture, and position a treat in front of his nozzle and lower the treat down to the floor as you state the word “down”. Chances are your dog will follow the treat downwards to the floor and will land up lying down on his abdomen.

Once your puppy understands the sit down and down commands, you’re set up to train him on one of the most vital orders. This command could in reality spare the life of your dog in the event that your dog chooses to get over the street when an auto is approaching. There are a lot of methods of training your dog on the come command, but among them is to position a leash on your dog, call his name and then enounce the command “come”, finally softly draw in the dog toward you using the leash and praise him after he’s closed to you.

When your dog dominates the come signal with verbal commands, you are then prepared to educate him on the come command using the hand signals for dogs. To carry out this command the right way flex your upper limb at the elbow joint, barely move your arm rearwards and give the command “come”. If your dog neglects to come to you, an extremely efficacious method to teach him to come is by making the same arm movement but holding a treat in your hand. Let the dog be aware that you have a treat in your hand and when the dog gets near you ensure to provide him with the treat and praise him richly. Using hand signals for training dogs can be extremely useful when training your flurry friend.

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