The Fun Times Guide to Dogs

By Carrie on Nov 20, 1:58 PM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

5 Most Common Dog Behavior Issues & DIY Dog Training Tips From Cesar Millan

Are you having some behavioral issues with your dog? You're not alone.

Good news: the Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan takes on the most common issues that dog owners experience in his Common Canine Misbehaviors DVD.

It's the 5th DVD in the Mastering Leadership complete 5-volume set.

According to Cesar, the 5 most common issues owners face with their dogs are:

Aggression Toward Other Dogs - Your dog mirrors what you are feeling. Remember to stay calm when your dog behaves aggressively.
Overexcitement Or Hyperactivity - Your dog is not being challenged enough. Try giving your dog more exercise throughout the day.
Barking When You're Gone - It's also known as separation anxiety. Don't make a big deal when you leave.
Barking At Specific Things - Correct the behavior. Take time to simulate whatever makes him bark and work him through his anxieties.
Problems On Walks - You should always be the clear leader when on walks. Your dog should be next to you not ahead of you.

We've just skimmed the surface here in terms of dealing with those 5 behavior problems. For even more detailed DIY dog training tips regarding these "misbehaviors," check out K9 Magazine's summary of Cesar's newest DVD.

Here's our review of Cesar Millan's Mastering Leadership DVD Series (Volumes 1-3).

By Carrie on Nov 19, 9:35 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

VIDEO: 4 Simple Steps When Crate Training Your Dog

Using a crate from the first days that you bring your new puppy home will go a long way toward raising a well-mannered, self-confident dog.

A crate will also help to keep your puppy safe and out of trouble. Not to mention the fact that crates are also useful when your trying to housebreak your dog.

The fact is, dogs actually like small enclosed places. They make a dog feel safe. And dogs like to know their boundaries (so to speak). If you use a crate, then you are giving your dog a "den" to call his own.

The following video provides some great tips on how to train your puppy to stay in his crate. There are 4 simple steps that you should use when crate training your new puppy:

Treat outside of the crate - Give your puppy treats outside of the crate to get him use to simply being around it.
Treat part way inside the crate - Put a treat just inside the door of the crate and allow your dog to get it on his own. DO NOT shut the door behind him.
Treat further & further inside the crate - Keep putting the treat further back in the crate until you get your dog going all the way to the back -- comfortably.
Longer lasting treat - Use a treat that takes your dog longer to chew. Put the treat in the crate. When your dog enters the crate and starts eating the treat, then shut the door calmly. Before your dog is done eating the treat, open the door and let your dog choose whether he stays inside or comes right out.

Crate training your dog will not happen in one day. It may take up to a week (or two!). But with a little time, your puppy will come to be comfortable in his crate and he will use it regularly -- on his own!

Now, see those steps in action:

In order to survive the ups & downs of kennel training, remember to keep things positive (including yoru attitude and your dog's rewards). Your puppy needs to know that only wonderful things happen inside the crate.

By Carrie on Nov 18, 1:23 PM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

Dog Shedding 101: Tips To Eliminate Dog Fur Bunnies

Are you embarrassed to have guests over because of all the dog fur lying around?

Trust me, you're not alone. Sometimes it can seem like a never ending battle trying to keep the fur bunnies under control!

Unless you have a low-shedding dog, most dogs with fur will continue to shed all throughout their lives.

Perhaps you will never eliminate all of those darn things from your home completely, but there are a few things you can do that will give you peace of mind knowing that you are doing everything you can to keep them under control.

Try this:

Damp Paper Towel - Try using a damp paper towel to capture the largest clumps of fur you see lying around. Just scoop them up with the paper towel and dispose of them.
Bathe Dog Regularly - Giving your dog a bath regularly will get rid of a lot of loose fur and dander.
Brush Dog Regularly - As time-consuming as it might seem, try brushing your dog once a day to help keep the loose fur from flying around the house. (He will love the extra attention.)

Here are 4 more ways to tame pet fur tumbleweeds around the house.

Still looking for other ways to get rid of dog fur? Check out these tools to help you deal with dog fur.

By Carrie on Nov 17, 11:19 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

VIDEO: Tips For Training Dogs To Come When Called

Do you have a problem with your dog not wanting to come back to you once he is off of his leash? Or does your dog not stick around your house when he goes outside?

The following video points out a couple of tips for keeping your dog from running away from you. It will take some time, but in the end you should have a dog that does not run away.

Tip #1: If at home, set a boundary for your dog. You might want to put up a sturdy fence. Make sure there are no holes that your dog can get through.

Tip #2: If out in public, use a long leash -- about 20 to 30-feet long. Allow your dog to get a little ways away from you, then give the leash a little tug and tell your dog come at the same time. Make sure to praise your dog for coming to you.

Once you have the come command mastered, try teaching your dog some other basic commands.

Here are 101 dog tricks you can teach your dog.

By Carrie on Nov 16, 9:05 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

How To Keep Your Dog Off Furniture In The House

Do you allow your dog to get up on the furniture? Or do you want your dog to stay on the floor at all times?

If you are wanting your dog to stay off the furniture, then you should be clear about that from the day you bring him home.

Here are the 2 basic things you need to do when training your dog to stay off the furniture:

Any time you find your dog on the furniture, gently remove him off of the furniture. If you're dealing with a larger dog, try to lure him off of the furniture instead of moving him off yourself.

TIP: Everyone in the house has to cooperate with this little training exercise! Otherwise, you may find your dog on your furniture simply due to the fact that people are not consistently telling him not to get on the furniture.

Remember to give your dog a reward every time he performs the behavior you want!

If your dog is older than a puppy and already has a habit of getting up on the furniture, then it will be more difficult to train him to stay off. You may want to try and block off the room with a baby gate or look into using a scat mat. Another thing you can do is compromise. Try using slip covers on your furniture. This way, the dog can be on the furniture and the furniture can stay fur free!

If you are like me and allow your dogs on the furniture, then you run the risk of having fur everywhere. There are a few simple tools you can try to help you deal with dog fur.

By Carrie on Nov 15, 9:04 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 1 Comment

Dog Potty Training Tips - How To Potty Train Your New Puppy

One of the first things you will want to teach your puppy from the minute you bring him home is to go potty outside.

The following video points out the 4 basic steps to potty train your puppy. With a little time and a lot of patience, you can teach your puppy to potty outside -- instead of inside the house!

The 4 steps mentioned in the video:

Prevent the problem - never allow your puppy to potty inside. Always have proper supervision until your dog is old enough to tell you when he has to go outside.
Encourage proper behavior - provide praise and rewards for going potting outside... every single time.
Correct bad behavior - if caught in the act, give your puppy a firm NO and take him outside to finish.
Have a schedule - have your puppy on a regular feeding and potty schedule. That way, he will start to get used to the times when he's expected to go outside.

If you are looking for another way to potty train your dog, try a dog litter box. This would work great for smaller dogs.

By Carrie on Nov 14, 9:16 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

Should You Vaccinate Your Dog Against The Dog Flu?

Did you know there is a flu virus called H3N8 that dogs can get?

H3N8 is also known as the dog flu and it is a variation of the horse flu. This flu virus was found in 2003 in the Greyhound racing community and has since spread to household dogs.

Veterinarians are urging pet owners to get their dogs vaccinated against the H3N8 virus. They say that anywhere from 8% to 10% of dogs that get sick from dog flu may die from it.

Remember, if your dog is sick you need to keep him away from healthy dogs so they do not catch whatever he's got, especially if it's the dog flu.

If you think your dog might be sick, but your vet's office is closed, you can find a pet emergency treatment center near you.

By Carrie on Nov 13, 9:42 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

VIDEO: The Best Dog Grooming Tools To Brush Out Your Dog

Do you have to take your dog to the groomers to get out his mats?

Wouldn't it be nice if you could do this yourself, instead of having to pay the dog groomer?

This video shows you which dog grooming tools you need to brush out your dog. You'll see how to get out mats and the importance of using different brushes and combs when grooming your dog.

Who knows, you may never have to go to the dog groomer again!

Here are the dog grooming tools mentioned in the video:

Universal Brush - to brush the fur in the same direction
De-matting Comb - to penetrate the fur all the way down to the skin
Rake - to check your work
Stripping Comb - to get out the matted undercoat
Comb - to check your work one last time

If you're not ready to go all out and take on the full head-to-toe grooming sessions yourself just yet, then the Furminator is a great dog grooming tool that will get you by between trips to the dog groomers.

By Carrie on Nov 12, 10:44 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

Does Your Dog Have Cancer? - Here's How To Explore Your Options & What To Do Next

Dogs get cancer, too.

If you just recently found out that your dog has cancer, then you may be feeling hopeless. You probably have a lot of questions.

The first thing you want to do is educate yourself about the particular cancer that your dog has. Ask your vet to explain things to you -- in detail. That's what they're there for!

Still have questions? Check out books at the library or go online and do some research.

The treatment chosen to help your dog will be determined by his age, his health and the type of cancer your dog has. The 3 ways most commonly used to treat cancer in dogs are:

Surgery
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy

So, be sure to explore each of those options ahead of time, as well.

There are several different things that can cause cancer in dogs. For example, sunburns are one of the many things that can lead to cancer in dogs. Here are tips for preventing sunburns in dogs.

By Carrie on Nov 11, 9:33 AM | Unpublish this post | 0 | 0 Comments

How To Stop Your Dog From Barking At The Same Noises All The Time

Does your dog bark at the same thing every single day -- like the washing machine, for example?

Do you wish you had a way to keep your dog from barking during those times?

This video shows how to change your dog's response at those times by simply "conditioning" your dog to behave differently in those situations.

You ultimately want your dog to be in the presence of whatever makes them bark all the time -- without them feeling like they have worrying about it, or bark at it.

Here's how to do it:

Identify the particular noise which causes your dog to bark.
Reinforce your dog in those situations before your dog starts to bark.
Interrupt your dog when they start barking at that noise so the dog's attention is on you, not the noise.
Prevent barking when you're not around by leaving the TV on or preventing your dog's access to the noise.