Dog Tip of the Day Blog - By Dogster.com

Free Love: Don’t be Stingy with Praise When Training!

Tracie Hotchner — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:00:02 +0000

A dog works to please you, to get your approval. Remember to praise and be enthusiastic about even a small improvement. If you were the dog, would you want someone to call you and make you sit, but then instead of complimenting you, get annoyed because it wasn’t quick enough or straight enough? Of course not – that would bore or irritate you, just as it would your pooch.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

On Puppies: Fragile, Handle with Care

Adam, Wendy & Lola — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:00:02 +0000

Roughhousing with your puppy could do more harm then good, and can trigger aggression. So make sure you don’t allow friends or family members to play roughly with your dog. You don’t want your dog nipping at the hand that feeds him or shy away when you want to cuddle with him. A dog that’s shy of being touched will be difficult to handle when getting groomed or checked by a vet.

PawLux.com is a leading provider of all natural and eco-friendly products for dogs. Feel free to read our blog at www.pawluxury.blogspot.com or follow our popular Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/pawluxury.

Unleash Your Inner Pack Leader

Adam, Wendy & Lola — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:00:02 +0000

Find your inner pack leader voice. Use it in voice commands to correct your dog – but remember – NEVER hit your dog. You don’t want your dog to become a scaredy-cat, no pun intended. Striking a dog only makes him fearful and distrustful of humans and scared of you.

You don’t want your dog to hide in the closet upon your arrival home – a nurtured dog will be at the door waiting with wags and licks. Use a high-pitched voice to praise him when he’s being good, and a low, gruff voice to gently scold (never yell) when your dog is misbehaving.

The Arf of Good Manners

Adam, Wendy & Lola — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:00:02 +0000

Teach your dog manners at a young age. Remember, dogs crave boundaries and you desire peace in the household. So take charge and keep in mind that you are the pack leader, and your dog will follow the pack leader.

Teach your dog that misbehaving – nipping, biting and barking incessantly – is not good dog etiquette. Even very young puppies can be taught the sit/stay, down and come commands. You can get a good dog training book, watch the Dog Whisperer or enroll you and your pup in obedience school.

If you are a proud parent of an adult dog that will need some retraining in doggy etiquette 101 don’t fret. It’s never to late to teach an older dog new tricks and the art of good manners.

Spare Your Dog the Moving Blues

Adam, Wendy & Lola — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:00:02 +0000

Dogs can become anxious with changes in the household like a new move. Unfamiliar situations or disruptions in your pet’s daily routine can cause them to feel uneasy frightened, restless, whiny, finicky and squirmy.

As you settle into your new home try to keep the routine as regular and consistent as possible. Keep feeding, playtime and walks at the same or similar times. Stick to your previous schedule as closely as you can. This will help keep your pet calm and help him to adapt more easily.

How to Administer Pet Pills

Adam, Wendy & Lola — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:07:16 +0000

Should your pup require medication, here are some ways to go about administering it. Crush the pill or pour capsule content in to your dog or cat’s dish. Stir the powdered medicine or capsule contents in with a little bit of pet food and mix thoroughly. It is vital that your pet gets his or her complete dose. Before you get out your meat tenderizer and start pounding away, double check to make sure your pet’s specific pills can be administered in this fashion. Sometimes a pill’s package instructions or your vet may strongly advise against it.

If all else fails, up the ante. Remember, dogs go loco for peanut butter and love the irresistible nutty taste. Place the pill in a small spoonful of peanut or smear this gooey delicious treat on the roof of the dog’s mouth, just behind his front teeth. This will force him to swallow. Since the peanut butter sticks well to the pill, your dog is less likely to spit it out.

A Hands-on Approach: Checking Your Dog for Abnormalities

Tracie Hotchner — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:00:02 +0000

Your hands are your first line of defense against cancer and parasites. Run your hands all over your dog’s body every day – depending on where you live and the environment around you, it’s a good opportunity to check for ticks, but also to feel for any growths or bumps that your vet should examine.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Use the Formula: Figure Out How Often a Puppy Needs to Go Out

Tracie Hotchner — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:00:02 +0000

The rule of thumb is that a puppy can hold her urine for the number of hours that correspond to her age in months, plus one. So an eight-week-old puppy – who is two months old – can hold it for three hours (2+1). Keep in mind this is the maximum time she can hold it but she may feel the urge before that.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Tennis Balls Can Be Dangerous Toys

Tracie Hotchner — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:00:02 +0000

Do not leave tennis balls unattended with your dog. If he or she has strong jaws and chews on the ball it can pop into the back of her throat and cut off the air supply. Also, dogs who chew on tennis balls can wear down their teeth on the tough outer fuzz.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Hairless Dogs: Not Necessarily a Good Choice for People with Allergies

Tracie Hotchner — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:00:02 +0000

People mistakenly believe that the few breeds of dogs with no hair might be good choices for those with allergies to dogs, but just the opposite is true. These dogs still have the two things which people are allergic to: skin – which sheds dead cells, or dander and saliva, which they deposit on their skin when licking themselves.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.