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The weather is nice out, so avoid the soggy bathroom and wet paw prints on your floors and take your dog outdoors for a bath! Unfortunately, most dogs don’t like to partake in this activity to get clean, but they, and you, have to tolerate it. To make this ordeal easier on the both of you, be sure you are properly prepared!

First of all, choose soap that is made for dogs; don't use dish soap or human shampoo, these aren’t formulated for maximum benefit for pets. You can even skip out on the flea soap since regular pet soap does just as good a job of killing fleas by washing them down the drain -- if there are any fleas on your pet at all, that is. The best way to keep your dog flea-free is to use a monthly "spot-on" treatment from your veterinarian by Frontline or Advantage.

Footing is important, inside or out. If you're using the bathtub, put down a mat or towel so your pet won't slip and get hurt. Outside, wash your dog on the lawn; it should give plenty of traction. Also, a spray nozzle is also essential. Pouring dirty water back on your pup seems a little counter-productive, don’t you think?

To prepare your dog for the dreaded bath time, comb or cut out tangles and mats beforehand. Remember to put a pinch of cotton just inside your dog's ears and a drop of mineral oil in each eye to help keep out the soap, too. Don't forget to take out the cotton later, though, or you'll be wondering why your dog is ignoring you more than usual!

Now the time has come to bathe your dog. Wet him thoroughly and then start shampooing, working up a good lather. The key to a good bath is a good rinse, since leftover soap will make the coat look dull and flaky. A cream rinse or detangler is a good idea, especially for silky or double-coated breeds, and must be followed by another thorough rinse for the best results.

After your dog has shaken off all the water, towel him off and let him dry inside. Dogs who dry off clean stay cleaner longer, and that means you and your dog can avoid the next bath just a little bit longer! 

 

We all know that exercise is important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For all of us dog lovers, we like to have them participate in our activities, but we have to remember that our energetic little friends have limits that differ from ours.

Here are some potentially hazardous scenarios to avoid when exercising with your pup.

High Jumping- While dogs love to chase around a ball or Frisbee, tossing these objects too high or off of a tall structure can cause your dog to land awkwardly. Unfortunately this accounts for the crippling of many canines each year. Be sure to keep the objects lower to the ground to protect your pet from over extending themselves and causing an injury.

Dangerous Objects- When fetching, use lightweight safe toys like a tennis ball for instance. Heavy and hard objects can damage dog’s teeth when caught. Sticks can also pose a hazard to pups when caught, because they can easily extend to the back of the mouth or throat causing an injury.

Over-Exercising- Our dogs may seem like they have an endless supply of energy, but the reality is, they experience fatigue just like we do. Without moderation a dog will become tired, lethargic, and extended bouts of extreme exercise can lead to more serious conditions like heat stroke or dehydration. Always bring water to keep your canine friend hydrated throughout exercise sessions.

Heat- In South Florida we are accustomed to a hot climate. We have to remember that unlike humans, dogs have an inability to regulate body temperature efficiently. Dogs that have short muzzles, black and long-haired dogs, and especially young or old dogs are most susceptible to overheating. Remember that the top temperature for a working (or allowing a dog to play excessively) is about 85° F. However 85° would be too hot for those dogs that are most susceptible to overheating. Also remember the humidity, as the heat index increases with the level of humidity.

Warming Up- It is crucial to have your dog warm up before sessions of intense exercise like pulling a sled or doing a lot of running. This can prevent strain and fatigue. Light activity allows the pup to warm up his muscles and get moving before taking on a heavier activity load. The rest period after activity is also vital as it is the time allotted for muscle recovery.

Following these basic guidelines will have you and your pet living a happy, safe and healthy lifestyle together. Now all you have to do is get moving!

Not everyone is aware of the challenges that come with caring for a deaf dog. The training process itself requires a lot of commitment and patience since you are basically substituting words with physical signs and facial expressions.  The luxury of yelling commands across a room in order to stop your dog from digging in the trash is unfortunately not your best option. However, do not be discouraged! Dogs are smart and they will surprise you in how quickly they’ll adapt to your new sign language. You will notice that it is easier to interact with your dog while you’re indoors, but the exciting setting of being outdoors may hinder your communication making it more difficult to retain your dog’s attention. Here are a few helpful tips in how to keep your deaf dog’s attention.

1. Loose Leash: keeping your dog on a leash is very important in the early stages of training for the obvious reasons. However, make sure that while trying to establish contact, the leash is not tight. That way they are forced to watch you rather than just feel you through the leash, so keep that leash loose!
2. Reward: the act of praise plays a vital role when training a dog, deaf or not. Since they cannot hear the sound of your voice, giving them a treat is the best way to reward a deaf puppy. Each time they respond correctly to a sign, reward them by instantly whipping out a tasty treat! Remember; keep the food out of sight until you are ready to give it. This will prevent the treat from becoming, in the dog's mind, an actual part of the command--or a bribe.
3. Creative attention methods: if your dog is facing away from you, one of the simplest things to do is to wait until they turn around. Indoors, if you walk up behind your dog, they may feel the vibrations of your approach and turn around or touching them lightly so you don’t startle them. Outdoors during the day, you can also try tossing a small stone or ball near your dog to get his attention. Be very careful not to hit your dog!
4. Vibrating Collar: possibly the best way to retrieve your dog’s attention when they are distracted is with the use of a vibrating collar. A vibrating collar works much like a pager. It has 2 parts, a hand held unit for the person, and another unit that the dog wears as a collar. This device is very popular for owners with deaf dogs and usually become less necessary once their dog is past their adolescent phase and are trained to the point that their owners feel confident that the dog will "check in," and come when called.

Remember to always train your dog in this sequence: 1) do the sign, 2) move away, 3) give praise when they follow, 4) take out treat, 5) give it. Always conduct at least 3 to 5 repetitions in a row before you release the dog's attention. This is what teaches them to sustain that attention on you until you release it.  Be patient and loving and your dog will do the rest!

As a dog owner, one of the things you look forward to during the day is going home and being greeted by your playful pooch. Your puppy loves you so much that he/she can’t help but jump all over you and kiss your face as much as possible! What do you do, though, when that rambunctiousness lasts all day? We love how playful and happy our dogs are, but at some point, they’ve got to settle down!

Set up a Schedule!

Routines are absolutely necessary to keep dogs feeling happy and secure.   Knowing they will get food and water at certain intervals in the day and will get to go to the bathroom is important to them! Dogs give us unconditional love, the least we can do is give them ease of mind about when they will go outside next!

How do you know when your dog needs to go potty and when he/she just wants to go outside to play? Well, you really never know. Your best bet to keep your pup from badgering you for attention would be to take him/her outside more often. Even if the emergency is to go chase a squirrel, at least you know there won’t be a loss of bladder control all over your newly installed carpet. Keep in mind that if your dog is feeling under the weather, be sure to take him/her out even MORE! This will prevent accidents and builds up the dog’s trust in you even more.

Some of the most important things to a dog are food and exercise. Without either of these, dog will definitely become agitated, ultimately leading to some wild antics. Feed your dog based on a regular schedule, and try your absolute best not to sway from this routine. Your dog expects to be fed at a certain time of the day, and if not, he/she will be upset. The best way to split up meal time is to feed your dog 2 times a day. Exercise cannot be neglected either. Throughout the day, your dog needs to have an energy release to keep from getting wild at home.  So, take your dog to play regularly; this will help to steer away from any rowdy behavior.

Training is incredibly important, but it will be pointless unless reinforced regularly. Training will not only build a solid foundation for your pup, but also strengthens the relationship between the two of you. You will become more established as the leader in your dog’s mind So go ahead, scout some classes and join a good training class for you and your furry friend, you both will be glad you did!

Things You Don’t Like

1)      Jumping on people: Dogs to this for attention and affection. To get your dog to stop this, don’t let anyone pet him/her while on hind legs! Be sure to pet them, though, when they are on all fours.

2)      Going crazy over the leash: Whenever your pup gets boisterous over the leash, PAUSE. Don’t put the leash on until your dog has settled down. A good way to go about this would be to ask for a “sit.” Patience is crucial here.

3)      Constant barking: Barking is an adrenaline rush for dogs. To get this to stop, call for your dog, pet, and praise him/her. Do this each time your dog begins barking. This will reduce the adrenaline rush and lower the overall drive for your dog to bark.

None of this advice will help your situation unless you watch how you behave too! Here are some tips to help you out:

• If your dog becomes overly excited, STOP MOVING. Movement stimulates responsive movement in our dogs.
• Slow your movements when you are around a high-strung dog. This goes hand-in-hand with the previously mentioned tip.
• Don’t chase your dog! This teaches them to run from humans which is incredibly inconvenient when you really need to catch them. Plus, many dogs are struck by cars while running away from their owners.
• Adjust the volume and pitch of your voice according to certain situations. If you’re playing with your dog, excitement in your voice is great! When you are grooming him/her, however, a calmer voice is necessary to keep your dog composed.

Dogs are like children. If they are hungry or have to use the bathroom, they will do whatever it takes to get your attention. Do yourself a favor; meet your dog’s needs with schedules, training, and the proper care. Helping your dog to become more manageable is essential! Not only will this lead to healthier habits, but ultimately an improved relationship between the two of you!

Have you ever watched a movie with a movie star dog? Did you catch yourself thinking, “Wow, their dog can jump through loops of fire, and I can’t even get my dog to sit”? These dogs made it to Hollywood through months of rigorous training and patient trainers. Key is to stay positive and consistent.

 Bark Machine

Yes, there’s an App for dog tricks. You are not limited to an expensive dog trainer. If you are more of a visual person like most of us, this App will guide you and your pet onto a path of success. Dog Trick & Bark Machine’s instructions were supervised by certified dog trainers, according to the App’s creator. The dog tricks part of this App includes games and tips on how to correct behavioral problems and commands. A neat tool included is a high-frequency whistle that only dogs can hear, great for when waving hands frantically and calling out isn’t working out.

101 dog tricks

Check out this full list of tricks listed by difficulty. Challenge your dog and see how many tricks you can mark off and start setting goals. Aim high and teach your dog how to clean the house like Jesse the talented Jack Russell Terrier. These tricks performed by Jesse were made possible through positive reinforcement. Start with small tasks and work your way up. Have a tasty treat ready for your dog once they have accomplished their trick. This will keep up the great work and keep your doggie’s belly jolly.

Communication

If you look close enough you’ll find that your dog is communicating with you through body language.  Next time you take your dog on a walk, take a closer look at their behavior. By being in sync with your pet you’ll find training much easier. If you see that your dog’s ears are back he’s indicating submission. You can also tell a lot by a dog’s tail wag. If your dog’s tail is usually wagging towards the right, this is a great sign! It mean’s positivity. On the contrast left wagging behavior, may be a negative indication. Your dog may be in need of a walk or attention.

One of the reasons why dogs are man’s best friend it may be attributed to the fact that we are similar to our furry best friends. Dogs communicate through their barks, they may even communicate more often than humans.

Hungarian researches recently tested 6,000 different barks from 14 Hungarian sheepdogs using special software. Their study showed that the computer program correctly identified what the dog was trying to communicate 43 percent of the time, compared with 40 percent for humans.

It all starts with a foundation. So be consistent, be deliberate; be sure about all your directions and command. Mistakes are a part of learning, and most of the two-leggers are to blame. Play loads with your dog and your bond will grow stronger and so will your relationship. Most importantly, keep it fun!