e-Training for Dogs

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Dog treats – A treat for their training

Food plays a great role for dogs than just filling their stomach. There are two major applications of food with dogs:

Food is used as a reward during training
It is also used in toys to help them pass time when they are alone

If foods are used smartly, they can act as strong motivators for dog training and also help the dog remain busy with it while they are alone at home. However, most dog owners do not understand the importance of treats used for various applications. You need to put in a lot of thought to use treats cleverly.

History of Training Back in the 1960s when William Koehler and Winifred Strickland were experts in dog training, using food as a motivator was unheard of. They were of the opinion that at one point of time when food has to be stopped, the training also comes to an automatic halt.
Dog training however, has come a long way since then and such doubts have been cleared. Dog trainers have learnt that if food is properly used, a dog enjoys his training lessons and helps in solving problems. It also helps in forging a strong relationship between the dog and the handler.

Training Your Pet Just as when to use food as treats in the dog training program is important so is the kind of food one must use for training equally important. Today dog handlers understand the importance of natural dog treats. About 15 years ago only dog biscuits were sold as treats but today they are spoiled with choices. You need to use dog treats very intelligently.

One dog may respond to one particular treat while another dog might not respond in the same positive manner. You have to try different treats for different dogs.

Notice your dog’s reaction to a particular treat. Each treat can produce different results.

Some treats are of so high value that the dogs are unable to focus on the training. You must avoid such treats in sessions where the dog especially needs to think. A difficult task does not need such high value treats. The focus of the dogs gets shifted to the treat to instead to the task.

On the other hand lower value treats produce excellent results on some tasks. As a trainer you need to understand when to use which treat.

You can load several toys with dog treats and let them play when they are alone or you are busy with work. The smaller treats will come out easily and you can notice the instant joy in their faces while some dogs who are great food lovers would easily unload a treat toy easily. For them it is necessary to fill the treat toy with large treats.

By Nancy Dodds of Petsfact.com.

Dog Food & Supplements: A Detailed Look At Nutrition For Your Pet

The nutritional requirement standards for dogs, as set forth by the National Research Council better known as the NRC, state that pet food manufacturers have to have the minimum amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals.

This basically includes meat, meat by-products, corn, brewer's yeast, vegetable wheat middlings, barley, oats, rice, and/or animal fats, fish meal, poultry, bone meal, cereals and soybean meal. All of these items are rich in the required nutrients.

To meet the delectableness standards so that pet dogs would like eating, manufacturers are permitted to add onion powder, garlic tomato puree, bacon, salt, and other ingredients to keep food smelling and tasting great.

The allowed ease in consumer handling is accomplished by packing the product in bags with graduated poundage from one to 50 pounds, in twelve to sixteen ounce cans, and in clear cellophane packs or cans for individual serving.

After the manufacturers have filled their product in a can (bag or box) they have to actually get getting the dog owner's attention to the pet food shelves in retail stores and Web sites. They understand that the family dog isn't standing there looking over the product – the dog owner is.

To get the dog owner to reach out and select one of the many different brands available, the product must be very attractive and capture the consumers’ attention. The dog doesn't give a care in the world what the product actually looks like. The dog is only interested in how it smells and tastes.

Today, pet food Manufacturers will advertise their product to look like fresh ground hamburger, choice steaks, chunks of lean beef, even breakfast cereals. Although pet food comes in a wide-range of styles, it only comes in only three types:

1) The complete food (all that the dog needs in one container). This dog food type will list the product as including all of the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals that a canine should have for good health.

2) The supplementary food (to be mixed to the complete food to boost taste). These food items for pets are made to get the dog's appetite motivated enough to eat all of his main food.

3) Little Treats and snacks (for dog training rewards or just plain spoiling) which can be a series from beef jerky for dogs to small cereal biscuits.

If a dog's diet contains only supplementary food, he would be deprived of the vitamins and nutrients he needs. The supplementary food and treats and snacks were not only meant to be the main diet of a dog. The majority of pet food manufacturers will specify this point on the label.

Article by Michael Rittenhouse of Oh My Dog Supplies, your top spot to buy dog toys online.

Herbal Remedies For Animals Workshop

Participants will learn about the qualities of herbs – what they look, smell and taste like; what parts of the plant have healing properties; contraindications and precautions when using herbal remedies; the most beneficial form of each herbal remedy including learning how to prepare dried herbs, powders, teas, infusions and compresses. Students will learn how to use herbal remedies to provide solutions for common ailments – behavioural issues such as anxiety, nervousness and fear; digestive upset including nausea, flatulence, constipation, impacted anal glands and diarrhea; parasite problems; lesions of the skin. Participants will also learn how to use herbal remedies to help elderly animals cope with the infirmities of old age such as arthritis, cataracts, dental issues, heart disease, kidney disease and incontinence.
Participants will also learn about the qualities of aromatherapy oils, blending of aromatherapy oils, what are carrier oils and how to use them, contraindications and precautions with the use of aromatherapy.
Participants will be provided with an herbal remedies kit and an aromatherapy blend as well as a manual of useful herbs and recipes. *Please note the workshop is for people participation only as we will be working with herbal medicines that may not be suitable for all dogs to come in contact with. *Class size is limited to 6 participants. Early registration is encouraged. *Aromatherapy and Herbal Remedies are not substitutes for veterinarian care.
For further information contact: Treetops: 1-866-919-TREE (8733) OR info@treetopsweb.com
Two Workshops: 2/15/2009 or 3/22/2009. Register HERE

Dog Disease: Pyometra In Your Pet Dog

Dog owners of unsprayed females may at some time down the line be faced with a diagnosis of pyometra in their dog. Pyometr, a pus-filled uterus, affects mainly dogs that are 5 years old and older. It is an extremely devastating disease that can often result in death unless the infected uterus is removed surgically.

The disease is caused by a disproportion of female hormones, mainly progesterone. The result is an overactive uterus lining. Secretions gather up in the cavity of this organ and cause distention. Secondary infection can happen in some cases by bacteria entering through the dog’s vagina. On the other hand, many of the pus-filled organs are sterile when cultured.

The disease typically occurs from 7 days to 90 days after a heat. It may even happen in combination with a false pregnancy (pseudocyesis) but there has not been a definite connection recognized between these hormone-controlled diseases. Pyometra happens in unbred female dogs and those having produced litters.

Thankfully, the majority of pyometra cases are very easily diagnosed from the history of a recent heat and the clinical signs. The most general signs are digestive disorders such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

Other signs are slowness, swollen abdomen, extreme thirst, and vaginal discharge which is often foul-smelling. The discharge points toward that the cervix is open and this will decrease some of the abdominal pressure and toxicity often linked with pyometra.

Verification of the disease may be essential and is made by radiographs and a blood count. An x-ray (radiograph) will show the large, pus-filled uterus rather clearly in most cases. The white blood cell count may amplify two to ten times over normal.

Once the diagnosis is recognized, surgery is indicated and medical treatment has been described. Even if recovery occurs, the disease can come back after the next heat since the underlying cause has not been removed.

Increased danger is present if medical therapy is ineffective in that the dog may become more sick and thus more of a surgical risk. Many veterinarians will agree that pyometra is a surgical disease and that the diseased organ should be removed immediately in order to boost the dog's chances of total recovery. The only exclusion might be in trying to save a valuable female for future breeding.

Is Surgery Safe for Your Pet?

Several dog owners become hesitant when faced with the prospect of surgery in an older dog. But age is not as much as a decisive factor for surgery as is physical condition.

Obviously, kidney disease, heart disease, and other concurrent conditions will raise the risk of surgery. If suitable supportive therapy is given, even high-risk dog patient stand a very good chance of living.

Article by Michael Rittenhouse of Oh My Dog Supplies, your top spot to buy large dog beds online.

Dog Communication: Are You Paying Attention?

Do you have the patience and ability to understand what it is your dog is trying to say to you? Learning how dogs communicate is not only helpful during dog training; it also helps strengthen the bond between man's best friend and his owner.

As well to using his barking, tail wagging, and body movements, dogs can generally relay messages by the language by the position of their ear. The startled dog tells of his acquiescent attitude to humans by flattening his ears as well as lowering himself on haunches.

Also, in the last step in the order of aggression just before attack, a dog folds his ears close to his head and shows his teeth. But in the first step of forceful movement, the dog picks up his ears to a perpendicular position.

Even the dog with hanging ears will pull the base of his ears forward, which makes the rest of his ears stand forward and outward. This upright position tells his human handler that there is every reason to be alert or on guard.

During World War II, the marines of M Company of the Second Raider Battalion laid their lives on the line in their dependence on the ability of their dogs to converse to them what was ahead. While he was in the midst of battle, a Doberman named Andy had came from the shore to the jungle on Bougainville Island.

Andy actually preferred to work off his leash. The dog was about ten yards ahead of the men when he came to a halt and alerted his ears. The soldiers knew exactly what those stiffened ears meant that there was a Japanese sniper just ahead. The scout leader sent two riflemen ahead, and they sprayed a mangrove tree with bullets. Finally the sniper fell out. Andy silently informed his handler to snipers on two other occasions.

You may not have your own dog trained to such an extensive manner, but you don't have to in order to know exactly how well your dog utilizes his silent body language with his vocal communication. The vocal vocabulary has a variety of form. Your dog:

whimpers
whines
signs
grunts
hums
coons
howls
squeals
growls
barks.

Your pet can fluctuate his barking enough to communicate with you. Almost subconsciously, you have no reservation about learning to understand the degree of your dog's barking. These minute differences may be in the tone, the frequency, the rhythm and the degree of loudness. Your pet dog may bark to show his enthusiasm, his joy, his sense of panic, and the need for your undivided attention.

By your dogs, tail-wagging, his licking, nosing, barking, howling and his many clever individual expressions, is actually talking to you. Your pet dog tells you how much he wants to be your defender, your buddy and your best friend. Like dogs throughout the history, your dog has become your companion by his strange way of communicating.

Article by Michael Rittenhouse of Oh My Dog Supplies, check for current specials on dog carriers online.

Dog Scootering

FOCUS your dogs energy! You're both going to the same place so why not work together as a team? Dogs love to pull sleds, carts, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, etc. However, traditional pulling sports have the dog on a line out in front of the human taking direction and speed through voice commands. In an urban environment, this could be very dangerous.

There are some scooter designs that are different in that the dog is harnessed into a SIDE/REAR of a kick scooter or a recumbent trike (the tadpole design with 2 wheels in front) which has a steering wheel and brakes. So the dog follows the rigs thru the turns and is subect to its brakes. This gives the rider the directional and speed control to make "mushing" appropriate on urban/congested sidewalks, bikepaths and trails and eliminates the extensive dog training need with these traditional dog pulling methods. It allows the dog to get all the exercise they want/need; yet keeps him under complete control (the rigging/bar will not let the dog turn his shoulders to the side) even better and easier than a leash. The location and the way the dog is harnessed into the was was designed to be neutral to the units handling, and place no weight on the dog, and is very easy to ride by young and old. Still, these scooters require some skill and offers enough excitement and exercise for the rider (you do need to help the dog up the hills) that its a real "team" sport.
Contact: Mark Schuette 722 SE Centennial St. #2 Bend, Oregon 97702 541-383-3845 www.DOGPOWEREDSCOOTER.COM Email


	Welcome to the Tips and Tidbits Page Dog treats – A treat for their training Food plays a great role for dogs than just filling their stomach. There are two major applications of food with dogs: Food is used as a reward during training It is also used in toys to help them pass time when they are alone If foods are used smartly, they can act as strong motivators for dog training and also help the dog remain busy with it while they are alone at home. However, most dog owners do not understand the importance of treats used for various applications. You need to put in a lot of thought to use treats cleverly. History of Training Back in the 1960s when William Koehler and Winifred Strickland were experts in dog training, using food as a motivator was unheard of. They were of the opinion that at one point of time when food has to be stopped, the training also comes to an automatic halt. Dog training however, has come a long way since then and such doubts have been cleared. Dog trainers have learnt that if food is properly used, a dog enjoys his training lessons and helps in solving problems. It also helps in forging a strong relationship between the dog and the handler. Training Your Pet Just as when to use food as treats in the dog training program is important so is the kind of food one must use for training equally important. Today dog handlers understand the importance of natural dog treats. About 15 years ago only dog biscuits were sold as treats but today they are spoiled with choices. You need to use dog treats very intelligently. One dog may respond to one particular treat while another dog might not respond in the same positive manner. You have to try different treats for different dogs. Notice your dog’s reaction to a particular treat. Each treat can produce different results. Some treats are of so high value that the dogs are unable to focus on the training. You must avoid such treats in sessions where the dog especially needs to think. A difficult task does not need such high value treats. The focus of the dogs gets shifted to the treat to instead to the task. On the other hand lower value treats produce excellent results on some tasks. As a trainer you need to understand when to use which treat. You can load several toys with dog treats and let them play when they are alone or you are busy with work. The smaller treats will come out easily and you can notice the instant joy in their faces while some dogs who are great food lovers would easily unload a treat toy easily. For them it is necessary to fill the treat toy with large treats. By Nancy Dodds of Petsfact.com. Dog Food & Supplements: A Detailed Look At Nutrition For Your Pet The nutritional requirement standards for dogs, as set forth by the National Research Council better known as the NRC, state that pet food manufacturers have to have the minimum amount of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. This basically includes meat, meat by-products, corn, brewer's yeast, vegetable wheat middlings, barley, oats, rice, and/or animal fats, fish meal, poultry, bone meal, cereals and soybean meal. All of these items are rich in the required nutrients. To meet the delectableness standards so that pet dogs would like eating, manufacturers are permitted to add onion powder, garlic tomato puree, bacon, salt, and other ingredients to keep food smelling and tasting great. The allowed ease in consumer handling is accomplished by packing the product in bags with graduated poundage from one to 50 pounds, in twelve to sixteen ounce cans, and in clear cellophane packs or cans for individual serving. After the manufacturers have filled their product in a can (bag or box) they have to actually get getting the dog owner's attention to the pet food shelves in retail stores and Web sites. They understand that the family dog isn't standing there looking over the product – the dog owner is. To get the dog owner to reach out and select one of the many different brands available, the product must be very attractive and capture the consumers’ attention. The dog doesn't give a care in the world what the product actually looks like. The dog is only interested in how it smells and tastes. Today, pet food Manufacturers will advertise their product to look like fresh ground hamburger, choice steaks, chunks of lean beef, even breakfast cereals. Although pet food comes in a wide-range of styles, it only comes in only three types: 1) The complete food (all that the dog needs in one container). This dog food type will list the product as including all of the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals that a canine should have for good health. 2) The supplementary food (to be mixed to the complete food to boost taste). These food items for pets are made to get the dog's appetite motivated enough to eat all of his main food. 3) Little Treats and snacks (for dog training rewards or just plain spoiling) which can be a series from beef jerky for dogs to small cereal biscuits. If a dog's diet contains only supplementary food, he would be deprived of the vitamins and nutrients he needs. The supplementary food and treats and snacks were not only meant to be the main diet of a dog. The majority of pet food manufacturers will specify this point on the label. Article by Michael Rittenhouse of Oh My Dog Supplies, your top spot to buy dog toys online. Herbal Remedies For Animals Workshop Participants will learn about the qualities of herbs – what they look, smell and taste like; what parts of the plant have healing properties; contraindications and precautions when using herbal remedies; the most beneficial form of each herbal remedy including learning how to prepare dried herbs, powders, teas, infusions and compresses. Students will learn how to use herbal remedies to provide solutions for common ailments – behavioural issues such as anxiety, nervousness and fear; digestive upset including nausea, flatulence, constipation, impacted anal glands and diarrhea; parasite problems; lesions of the skin. Participants will also learn how to use herbal remedies to help elderly animals cope with the infirmities of old age such as arthritis, cataracts, dental issues, heart disease, kidney disease and incontinence. Participants will also learn about the qualities of aromatherapy oils, blending of aromatherapy oils, what are carrier oils and how to use them, contraindications and precautions with the use of aromatherapy. Participants will be provided with an herbal remedies kit and an aromatherapy blend as well as a manual of useful herbs and recipes. Please note the workshop is for people participation only as we will be working with herbal medicines that may not be suitable for all dogs to come in contact with. Class size is limited to 6 participants. Early registration is encouraged. *Aromatherapy and Herbal Remedies are not substitutes for veterinarian care. For further information contact: Treetops: 1-866-919-TREE (8733) OR info@treetopsweb.com Two Workshops: 2/15/2009 or 3/22/2009. Register HERE Dog Disease: Pyometra In Your Pet Dog Dog owners of unsprayed females may at some time down the line be faced with a diagnosis of pyometra in their dog. Pyometr, a pus-filled uterus, affects mainly dogs that are 5 years old and older. It is an extremely devastating disease that can often result in death unless the infected uterus is removed surgically. The disease is caused by a disproportion of female hormones, mainly progesterone. The result is an overactive uterus lining. Secretions gather up in the cavity of this organ and cause distention. Secondary infection can happen in some cases by bacteria entering through the dog’s vagina. On the other hand, many of the pus-filled organs are sterile when cultured. The disease typically occurs from 7 days to 90 days after a heat. It may even happen in combination with a false pregnancy (pseudocyesis) but there has not been a definite connection recognized between these hormone-controlled diseases. Pyometra happens in unbred female dogs and those having produced litters. Thankfully, the majority of pyometra cases are very easily diagnosed from the history of a recent heat and the clinical signs. The most general signs are digestive disorders such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Other signs are slowness, swollen abdomen, extreme thirst, and vaginal discharge which is often foul-smelling. The discharge points toward that the cervix is open and this will decrease some of the abdominal pressure and toxicity often linked with pyometra. Verification of the disease may be essential and is made by radiographs and a blood count. An x-ray (radiograph) will show the large, pus-filled uterus rather clearly in most cases. The white blood cell count may amplify two to ten times over normal. Once the diagnosis is recognized, surgery is indicated and medical treatment has been described. Even if recovery occurs, the disease can come back after the next heat since the underlying cause has not been removed. Increased danger is present if medical therapy is ineffective in that the dog may become more sick and thus more of a surgical risk. Many veterinarians will agree that pyometra is a surgical disease and that the diseased organ should be removed immediately in order to boost the dog's chances of total recovery. The only exclusion might be in trying to save a valuable female for future breeding. Is Surgery Safe for Your Pet? Several dog owners become hesitant when faced with the prospect of surgery in an older dog. But age is not as much as a decisive factor for surgery as is physical condition. Obviously, kidney disease, heart disease, and other concurrent conditions will raise the risk of surgery. If suitable supportive therapy is given, even high-risk dog patient stand a very good chance of living. Article by Michael Rittenhouse of Oh My Dog Supplies, your top spot to buy large dog beds online. Dog Communication: Are You Paying Attention? Do you have the patience and ability to understand what it is your dog is trying to say to you? Learning how dogs communicate is not only helpful during dog training; it also helps strengthen the bond between man's best friend and his owner. As well to using his barking, tail wagging, and body movements, dogs can generally relay messages by the language by the position of their ear. The startled dog tells of his acquiescent attitude to humans by flattening his ears as well as lowering himself on haunches. Also, in the last step in the order of aggression just before attack, a dog folds his ears close to his head and shows his teeth. But in the first step of forceful movement, the dog picks up his ears to a perpendicular position. Even the dog with hanging ears will pull the base of his ears forward, which makes the rest of his ears stand forward and outward. This upright position tells his human handler that there is every reason to be alert or on guard. During World War II, the marines of M Company of the Second Raider Battalion laid their lives on the line in their dependence on the ability of their dogs to converse to them what was ahead. While he was in the midst of battle, a Doberman named Andy had came from the shore to the jungle on Bougainville Island. Andy actually preferred to work off his leash. The dog was about ten yards ahead of the men when he came to a halt and alerted his ears. The soldiers knew exactly what those stiffened ears meant that there was a Japanese sniper just ahead. The scout leader sent two riflemen ahead, and they sprayed a mangrove tree with bullets. Finally the sniper fell out. Andy silently informed his handler to snipers on two other occasions. You may not have your own dog trained to such an extensive manner, but you don't have to in order to know exactly how well your dog utilizes his silent body language with his vocal communication. The vocal vocabulary has a variety of form. Your dog: whimpers whines signs grunts hums coons howls squeals growls barks. Your pet can fluctuate his barking enough to communicate with you. Almost subconsciously, you have no reservation about learning to understand the degree of your dog's barking. These minute differences may be in the tone, the frequency, the rhythm and the degree of loudness. Your pet dog may bark to show his enthusiasm, his joy, his sense of panic, and the need for your undivided attention. By your dogs, tail-wagging, his licking, nosing, barking, howling and his many clever individual expressions, is actually talking to you. Your pet dog tells you how much he wants to be your defender, your buddy and your best friend. Like dogs throughout the history, your dog has become your companion by his strange way of communicating. Article by Michael Rittenhouse of Oh My Dog Supplies, check for current specials on dog carriers online. Dog Scootering FOCUS your dogs energy! You're both going to the same place so why not work together as a team? Dogs love to pull sleds, carts, bicycles, skateboards, rollerblades, etc. However, traditional pulling sports have the dog on a line out in front of the human taking direction and speed through voice commands. In an urban environment, this could be very dangerous. There are some scooter designs that are different in that the dog is harnessed into a SIDE/REAR of a kick scooter or a recumbent trike (the tadpole design with 2 wheels in front) which has a steering wheel and brakes. So the dog follows the rigs thru the turns and is subect to its brakes. This gives the rider the directional and speed control to make "mushing" appropriate on urban/congested sidewalks, bikepaths and trails and eliminates the extensive dog training need with these traditional dog pulling methods. It allows the dog to get all the exercise they want/need; yet keeps him under complete control (the rigging/bar will not let the dog turn his shoulders to the side) even better and easier than a leash. The location and the way the dog is harnessed into the was was designed to be neutral to the units handling, and place no weight on the dog, and is very easy to ride by young and old. Still, these scooters require some skill and offers enough excitement and exercise for the rider (you do need to help the dog up the hills) that its a real "team" sport. Contact: Mark Schuette 722 SE Centennial St. #2 Bend, Oregon 97702 541-383-3845 www.DOGPOWEREDSCOOTER.COM Email
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