I finally setup a page on Facebook for Dog Training Blogger. Please take a few minutes to take a look HERE and PLEASE click the “Like” button, or simply search for Dog Training Blogger from your Facebook page.

It is a work in progress so the looks will be changing over the next few days. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

Wayne Booth
www.DogTrainingBlogger.com

Most dogs love to chew on rawhides but you may have heard people questioning whether they are safe or not. It’s a good question.

I’m not really a rawhide lover. I actually saw a vet on the national TV news talking about how dangerous rawhides are to dogs. He stated that your dog can choke on them and they can also create blockage in the gut.

There have been concerns in recent years because some rawhide products were imported from China and other countries where safety protocols were not followed in manufacturing the rawhides. Salmonella was connected to the rawhides. This was probably more of a hazard to humans handling the rawhides than to your dog, but there were recalls. However, no American-made products were involved.

Dogs can chew on rawhide and the parts that they chew usually pass through their digestive tract without any problem. It’s always possible that they may pull off some small fragment of rawhide and they could choke on it, but the chances of that happening are similar to you choking on a piece of food. Of course it’s possible, but if it happened it would be a fluke. Still, for this reason, it’s always recommended that you should not leave your dog with rawhides to chew on without supervision.

When your dog chews on a piece of rawhide to the point where it is soft and gummy, you may want to take it away from him, at least for a while. You can get him to do something else or give him a fresh rawhide. Some people put these chewed on rawhides up so they can dry out and harden. Then they can give them back to their dog later once they are hard again.

If you are uncomfortable with giving your dog rawhides to chew on then you may want to look into Nylabones which are hard bones for chewing made from hard plastic. They also have edible chews in flavors that appeal to dogs. There are many other kinds of bones that satisfy a dog’s urge to chew.

Some people give their dogs pig ears, but if you are at all concerned about salmonella then you may wish to stay away from pig ears and other products that have been chopped off animals. Even with products from the United States there are occasionally recalls.

If you choose rawhide chews for your dog try to look for chews that are dried without chemicals. Look for unbleached chews. And look for chews that are heavy and thick so that they will last longer.

Your dog will almost certainly love rawhide chews so make the chewing experience safe for him.

What experiences have you had with rawhide chews? Good or bad?

Until next time…..

There are a lot of benefits to training. Some reasons benefit your dog, some help you. And some reasons help both of you.

1. Training a dog can help him keep his home. It’s a fact that many dogs are turned into animal shelters each year because they are considered by their owners to be out of control. They may be exhibiting “behavior problems” such as soiling the house, jumping on people or barking too much. Training a dog can help solve these problems. If a puppy continues to soil the house or jump on people or otherwise cause problems at home, chances are that many times his owner will end up turning him in to an animal shelter. It just takes a little training to solve these behavior problems and help a dog keep his home.

2. Training helps a dog be more responsive. Dogs that are trained are used to watching their owner and listening for commands. They are more attuned to their owners and focused on them instead of distracted. This makes a dog a pleasure to be with. You can teach these dogs more and more.

3. Training can be fun for dogs. Your dog is rewarded with praise for doing each small thing right and you, the trainer, get positive feedback from your dog. What’s not to like?

4. Training is a great way to spend time with your dog. The two of you are working on something together. You have a project that you both understand. You’re comrades or, if you like, teacher and pupil. It’s one of the best ways there is to get close to your dog and really understand how he thinks and his true personality.

5. Training actually improves your relationship with your dog. As your dog learns more he becomes more educated and more intelligent. That means he’s more capable of understanding you, just as you’re more capable of understanding him. The bond between the two of you grows as you spend time together.

6. Training your dog can lead to other activities, such as agility, rally, flyball, canine freestyle and other things that you can enjoy doing with your dog. All of these activities depend upon you and your dog first establishing a relationship through training together.

7. A well-trained dog is welcomed nearly everywhere. Vets, groomers, and other businesses that work with animals will be able to tell that your dog has received the kind of training that sets him apart from other dogs.

8. Good training can save your dog’s life. A dog who responds to you when you call him, who immediately returns to you when you see a car heading toward him, can literally save your dogs life.

Can you think of some other reasons? Please share them with us in the comment section below.

Until next time…..

Getting a new dog is always an exciting time. What will he be like? Should you get a boy or a girl? Will you adopt or get a puppy from a breeder? You can’t wait to hold him and pet him and play with him! Whether you decide to get a puppy or an older dog, the first few days will be both exciting and hectic as you and your new pet get to know each other.

Before you bring your new dog home, however, you should give some thought to what kind of rules you want to set for him. Some of your rules will depend on your own personality and preferences. Other rules are some common sense suggestions.

Here are some rules to consider for your new dog:

1. Decide whether your dog will live primarily indoors or outdoors. This is a big choice and one that can affect your dog greatly. If your dog lives outdoors you will have to provide him with his own dog house and shade. You will need to make sure that he is cool in the summer and warm in the winter. For indoor dogs you will need to make sure that they have enough access to the outside and that their housetraining needs are met. I would like to share with you the fact that you can never truly enjoy your dog to the fullest unless it lives inside with you.

2. Your dog will need to learn the rules about house training. This is something that all house dogs should know.

3. Decide where your dog is going to sleep. This can be a surprisingly difficult rule to enforce. You may think that your dog is going to sleep in the garage but he will have other ideas. You may think he’s going to sleep on the floor but he prefers your bed. You may buy him a crate but he prefers the sofa. So, although this is a “rule” you will have to be a little flexible about it. Do give some thought to where your new dog will sleep, but keep in mind that his crate is the best place, at least in the begining.

4. Decide whether your new dog will be allowed to get on your furniture or not. Many people do not allow dogs on the furniture while others think it’s perfectly normal and love to cuddle with their dog on the couch. If you’ve had a dog before you probably already know your opinion on this issue. If this is your first dog, you may find that you change your mind once you bring your dog home. On the pro side, it’s great to snuggle with your dog. On the con side, your dog can quickly begin to think that your furniture is his furniture. You will also have dog hair on everything. Whether your dog is allowed on the furniture is a matter of personal preference.

5. Decide where your dog will have his food and water. This rule is a little easier to maintain. Many people choose to feed and water their dogs in the kitchen or in a laundry room. These rooms usually have a tile or linoleum floor, or some other kind of flooring that is easy to clean in case your dog slops out water or spills food. Your dog will probably be happy wherever you put his food and water.

These are the primary rules that most owners will have to decide when they get a new dog. Other rules for your dog will depend on his particular circumstances. You can decide what level of obedience training you would like your dog to have. You will need the help of a behavior specialist if your dog displays any kind of behavior problems. If you’d like to pursue an activity or sport with your dog you can create whatever rules you need to fit the activity. The five rules listed here, however, are the kinds of rules that all dog owners face when they bring a new dog home. Give them some thought before you get your dog and you will be well-prepared when you bring him home.

Thinking of getting a dog? Great choice! But there are some things you need to know before you go out and get a dog.

1. Dogs cost money. No, not just when you get one. Dogs cost money AFTER you get them. They need a never-ending supply of dog food. They need vaccinations, heartworm preventive and trips to the vet. They need toys and bedding. Your dog is going to dip into your wallet every single week. In hard economic times some people have had to give up their dogs. If this isn’t a good time for you financially then you should postpone getting a dog until it’s a better time.

2. Dogs take time. When you bring a dog home, whether you’re getting a puppy or an adult dog, you’re going to have to spend time on things like housetraining, teaching your dog the rules of the house, working on any behavior issues (such as jumping on people, digging, barking), trips to the vet, and all of the playtime that your new dog is going to want. Whether you’re getting a pup or a rescue dog you can count on spending some time trying to socialize your dog. All of these things take TIME. You can’t bring a dog home and let him fend for himself. You basically get the kind of dog you’re willing to develop. If you don’t put time into your dog then you’re going to end up with problems. If you don’t have time for a dog right now, wait to get a dog when you have more time.

3. Dogs are messy. Your new dog is going to come into your house and make a mess of it. He’s going to chew on things. He’s going to drool. He’s going to slobber water. He may not be housetrained. He will have accidents in the house. There will be dog hair in your home. If you’re a perfectionist or you have OCD then you are in for a shock. If you want a real dog these are things you will have to accept to a certain extent. Your dog can be housetrained. He will stop having accidents. He may stop chewing on your things. But he’s always going to be a dog and do dog things like shedding and drooling and slobbering. If that bothers you then you may want to think about getting a stuffed animal instead of a real dog.

4, Dogs need training. It’s great to meet a well-mannered dog — a dog that walks calmly next to his owner without pulling. A dog that doesn’t jump up on people or bark too much. A dog that might know a couple of tricks. You may think that all dogs come this way. They don’t. If you want your dog to be polite and well-mannered then it takes training. If you get your new dog and he behaves like a hooligan that’s not really all that unusual. Many dogs start off acting like knuckleheads. You can teach your new puppy or adolescent dog to behave but it takes some work on your part. Make training fun and your dog can learn just about anything. But, if you’re not willing to train your dog then you get the dog you deserve.

5. Your dog depends on you. As crazy as a dog may be when he’s playing or as tough as he may seem when he’s protecting you, your dog will depend on you for all of the important things in his life. He will depend on you for every need and comfort. You can’t forget to feed him or ignore him when he needs to go outside. Having a dog is fun and wonderful and very rewarding but it’s also a serious responsibility. Make sure you’re ready for that responsibility before you get a dog.

Until next time…..