Like many dog owners I didn’t know the first thing about training a dog. Well, we think we do because the dog sits or offers us a paw when we have a treat in our hands but those are just party tricks.

Then I bought my very own dog when I got a place of my own. As she grew she changed from loveable puppy into a liability. She wandered off, never came when called and turned into the Tasmanian Devil whenever anybody called around. The final straw came when she tore into the room and scrambled up to sit on the shoulders of a visitor who had come to evaluate me for a voluntary position. He was not a dog fan and I can still remember the look on his face now…

Trouble was, I had always treated dogs as furry friends, always giving in to those sad-looking eyes and never realizing that the dogs saw me in a totally different way. Dogs are pack animals and as such they are acutely aware of their position in the pack – and you and your family are its pack, even if there’s just the two of you.

Grasp that little fact of dog psychology and you are well on your way to a happier dog. From now on you are going to make it plain to your dog that you are the Alpha male or leader of the pack and what you say goes. See that furniture? That’s mine. You lie on the floor or in your dog basket. Don’t feed the dog tidbits from the dinner table – in fact the dog should be in his basket while you eat, and he only gets fed after everybody else has finished.

But isn’t that just being mean and taking all the fun out of owning a dog?

The leader of the dog pack eats first. He sleeps in the best spot. The Alpha male takes no notice of subordinate dogs fussing around him when he returns from the hunt. When you consistently act as leader you are communicating to your dog in a language he understands.

When you come home, ignore your dog’s frantic attempts at attention seeking until he calms down – then you praise him. It won’t be long before your dog realizes he’s gone down a few notches in the pack power structure and acts accordingly. You’ll soon find that your dog greets you quietly and quickly settles down as he’s worked out that is when he receives praise from you.

Still not convinced that training your dog makes him a happier dog? Look at it from the dog’s point of view. He’s living in a human world full of confusing things and behavior he can’t understand. By not teaching your dog his place in your pack he will feel it’s his place to take charge. But this leaves him feeling stressed, resulting in an unruly and confused dog constantly trying to make sense of an overwhelming world it cannot understand.

But when you assume command as leader of the pack, you take that responsibility off his shoulders. Just like a well-trained soldier, he will be happy knowing his place, his role in the pack and what’s expected of him – and happy to defer to your leadership knowing you’ll take care of the “big stuff”.

John Sharmanalski Has been training dogs for 20 yrs. get a practical free guide to dog training available, for a limited period from his online dog training store. See link below to help spread the word on facebook. Unique version for reprint here: We’ve constantly had dogs around ever since I was a kid..

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The first thing you need to do is make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise or physical activity. This can be accomplished with a daily walk, jog or play time where plenty of activity is involved. How much exercise your dog needs depends on his or her breed, energy level and size. Generally you will want to make sure they get at least 30 minutes of daily activity.

Another important step is to ensure that you are feeding them a proper diet. This also includes making sure that they are not eating too much or too little. Opt for an all natural source of dog food rather than the mass produced kind that can be purchased at any supermarket. Even better, include raw food in your dog’s diet and you’ll be amazed at how much better he or she will look and feel.

The next important thing which could dramatically boost your puppy’s health and wellbeing is to make sure you are not over vaccinating them. Vaccinations are the prime revenue stream for many veterinarians so they are generally quick to vaccinate even though your pup doesn’t need it. Opt for a titer test instead. This would see whether or not your pet needs the vaccination or not.

Your family dog relies on you for his or her health and wellness. Do everything you possibly can to assure they enjoy a very long healthful life. If you cannot do the easy things required to keep your dog healthy, then you should think about whether or not you should have the pet to begin with.

Herb Haskins is a proud Goldendoodle owner and an avid dog lover. Visit his site for information on goldendoodles including pictures, training information and more.

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With these things in mind, we’ll present several key considerations to think about prior to adopting a dog. The following are not meant to dissuade you. Instead, they will help you select a pet that can offer a seamless fit for your life.

How Much Energy Can You Handle?

Even though every canine needs exercise on a daily basis, some breeds are more energetic than others. For instance, Border Collies and Dalmatians are known for their high energy. By contrast, Bulldogs, Great Danes, and Rottweilers are less energetic. This trait is important because it will influence how much time you will need to spend taking your pet for walks. A single daily outing may be sufficient exercise for a Great Dane, but not enough for a Dalmation. Conversely, a low-energy breed may be unable to keep up with you if you want to take your pet jogging.

Is Your Living Space Large Enough?

If you live in an apartment, a Great Dane may be a poor fit. Even low-energy canines need room to move around. Moreover, one swipe of a tail can knock vases, books, and other items off shelves and table tops in constricted areas. If your home is large, you’ll likely be able to accommodate most breeds.

Can You Afford To Adopt A Pet?

A lot of people adopt dogs without considering how much their care costs. While expenses vary by breed, and are partly dependent on whether your pet suffers from medical issues, even routine costs can be significant. For example, a purebred from a reputable breeder may cost thousands of dollars. Food can cost several hundreds of dollars each year. Grooming, veterinary care, and medications, may add nearly a thousand dollars to the annual bill. Also, keep in mind that myriad unanticipated events can require expensive emergency veterinary care.

Make sure your budget can handle the ongoing expenses of caring for a canine. Otherwise, you may be tempted to cut corners on important things, such as medications, examinations, and emergency care.

Should You Adopt A Puppy Or Adult Dog?

Most people adopt puppies. They’re cute, playful, and for many aspiring owners, nearly irresistible. But it is worth comparing the time and effort involved with raising puppies to caring for an adult dog.

Puppies require a lot of attention. They need to be housetrained, socialized, and taught to avoid chewing and nipping. Pups are still learning how to behave, and which instinctive behaviors to abandon in order to please their new owners. This process takes time, and involves constant interaction between the puppy and his owner.

Most adult canines have already been housetrained and socialized. Their previous owners will have already curbed many, if not all, of their past behavioral issues. Also, an adult dog’s temperament is usually even, which helps them become acclimated more quickly into their new homes.

Adopting a puppy is an ideal choice for many people. But make the decision based upon what you are looking for in a canine, and the time you’re willing to spend during the first several months.

Before you adopt a new dog, make sure your lifestyle has room for him. If your job requires you to spend a substantial amount of time on the road, you will lack adequate time to bond with your canine. Similarly, caring for him will be difficult if you enjoy the flexibility of leaving your home whenever you like.

The bond between a person and dog is uniquely rewarding. But it requires a commitment of time and resources.

Visit http://www.bestbullysticks.com for the best Dog Treats

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Think about how much time you have to spend with them. They are going to need to be cared for on a daily basis. They need love and attention as well as good food and water that keeps them health. It is important to be present and available to them and their needs, in order for them to remain happy and healthy.

Take notice of your life and determine if you are home enough to spend with one. If your job takes you away on business, or you like to leave home for days on end, than this may not be a good time. Leaving them home alone for long periods of time is not fair to them and should be avoided at all costs.

Keep in mind that there are often medical expenses that come up, usually when we least expect it. Animals need their shots on a regular basis and when they become ill or injured, they will need to see the doctor. Before considering this, remember that this is an extra expense.

Having children can play a big factor with deciding to adopt an animal. If the children are small there can be problems with how they treat the animal, which could result in injuries to both the animal and child. Knowing how your children behave around animals and the temperament of the animal itself will need to be considered.

If you feel it is time for a cat adoption, then make sure you have all the necessities ready and available for when you bring him home. It will be fun getting to know your new family member.

Deciding that cat adoption is the right choice for you is determined by a couple of factors. Get the inside scoop now in our complete guide to everything you need to know about cats including top cat furniture and cat condo options.

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Preparing your house for a new feline needs to be something you make sure gets done before bringing your cat home. Cats need a few things that will help their transition easier. Check with your local pet store for supplies like quality food, pet bowls, beds, toys, and a new litter box and filler for it. By having these items, your cat will have everything he needs for settling into his new home. These items will also make it a lot easier on you.

Choose a veterinarian for your new pet before you pick him out. In this way, your first visit after getting the feline can be at the vet. Making sure you get all vaccinations and a complete check up is important to your cats health. The best animal friends are the healthiest ones. Talk to your vet about the schedule for preventative check ups cats need.

Consider how your new family member is going to feel when you bring home home. He might be frightened and in wonderment about what is happening to him. If you have small children, you should make sure to prepare them in teaching about how to best treat cats. You can get information about how to this online or through the Humane Society.

Adopting cats from the animal shelter is a good choice. By doing so, you will giving a home to a cat or kitten that is real need of one. The cats and kittens adopted though shelters are usually altered sexes with all vaccinations taken care of. However, this not mean you will not to visit your vet in the same day as the adoption taking place. In fact, many shelters require you to in compliance with the agreement for adopting.

You might know someone that has cat with kittens. If this is the place you choose to select your kitten from. Making sure you take him to the vet is imperative to prevent issues with worms or feline diseases. New kittens are a bundle of cute and playful joy. Keeping them that way means you taking the right care of them through regular visits to the vet.

Having cats as companions can prove to be gratifying and pleasurable. Many owners have reported how they would be lost without the presence of their cats to keep them company. Once you ever own one, you know how enduring the cat personality can be and how it grows on you.

Taking home a new cat is truly an adventure. It can however be challenging if you are new to the world of feline ownership. Get the exclusive inside scoop on all you need to know about cat adoptions now in our complete overview of the best cat furniture including cat condo options.

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Many shelters are available in most communities. These shelters will range in size and who owns them. City run organizations may be available as well as some privately owned facilities. Contacting them could be a step in the right direction. They may have some stray pets to compare, and a recent picture can be sent in for them to see. Officials there can compare the pet with the other animals already there, and they can hold the photo for future animal drop offs.

Pet owners can make posters and place them around a community. These ads may contain a large picture of the pet along with info about it and the owner. These posters can help people in the neighborhood be on the look out for a pet that matches the one in the poster.

A poster may also go to a vet office and a pet store. They may allow the signs to go on the windows or there could be another location for missing dogs and cats to go. People who attend vet offices and stores will feel empathy for the owner and pet and may actively keep their eyes open for any sign of the small animal.

In some cases a pet may have wondered into a neighbors yard and become frightened. It could be a good idea to contact neighbors and have them check their property. They can rule out that any missing pets are on their yard.

There are many Lost Cat strategies that can be used to find the location of missing animals. When a pet owner does various strategies to locate a pet in their community, they may find their pet quickly.

Get inside info on easy ways to locate your lost cat now in our complete guide to fab cat furniture including cat condo options.

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There are millions of people looking for a reason to express their emotions, and overlook the best option they have at their doorsteps. Most of the animal charity rescue centres like the RSPCA works towards such activities. The animals rescued by the animal rescue centres teams are further given suitable homes to the animals as per the suitability of the owner and the pet.

Here are a few tips to adopt a pet. You may want to keep fish, dogs, cats or birds as your pet. Each type of pet bears its own distinct features and qualities. A few of the tips that would help you to decide over these are as follows:

1) Fishes and Reptiles If you are allergic to fur and feathers you can go with fish or reptiles rescued by the team. The fish in its tank makes an excellent match to the house decoration. There are a variety of fish available out there in the pet stores, which can be kept together as per compatibility. Most of the fish are responsive to their owners, which gives a sense of belongingness. There are also turtles, lizards and other reptiles that can be kept in terrariums, and not only will they keep you company they make a great decoration to the house.

2) Birds If you have adequate space, keeping birds is an excellent option for people who love the beauty of nature. There is a saying, birds help people in making new friends, since most of the people remember you with anything that is abstract or different and a bird makes an accurate match to the word special.

3) Cats and Dogs Pets can improve your mood to a greater extent, further reducing the chances of uneven blood pressures due to uneven homeostasis. Pets like dogs need to be taken out which further encourages you to go out for an exercise. These cuddly animals always remove the sense of loneliness, providing unconditional love and affection to their owners.

The term ADOPT refers to a stance where you take the opportunity to take the stand to take a responsibility and share some of your precious time with someone special.

Find out more about the RSPCA

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Is Bide-A-Wee in Wantagh NY Cursed? (I can not say for certain this is all true. Many will argue Animals do not have Souls!)

I worked at BideAWee as a part of the grounds keeping staff for almost five years, from 1990 to 1994. I have many fond memories of my time there! It was my first real job.For years after I moved on I regularly returned to visit the Friends I had made while working there.

A few years ago I returned to find Tim Bourne the man who was my Boss and good friend the years I worked at Bide-A-Wee was no longer there! Tim Bourne was a Manager at Bide-A-Wee in Wantagh for over 20 years! When I heard Tim was no longer there. Myself and many others knew it was the end of Bide-A -Wee in Wantagh as Tim was the Bide-A-Wee of Wantagh!

Soon after Tim’s departure from Wantagh BideAWee the Animal Hospital closed! Now the Bide-A-Wee Adoption Center is closing its Doors. Some may say it is just a coincidence and Tim could not have done anything to stop the problems that happened!

I say Tim not being there is the reason these problems occurred! Tim had an incredible knack for bringing all three departments of Bide-A-Wee together. Whether it was for a Softball game at the School across the street after work or a Bide A Wee Staff night out, He made us all more then just co workers He made us all a family! He was the Heart and Soul of BideAWee in Wantagh. A body can not function with out its heart and without its Soul, why would it want to?

Ever since BideAWee of Wantagh let Tim go it has been as if the place has been cursed, I believe it is! There are Hundreds of Animals buried at the Bide A Wee of Wantagh and Tim took care of them for over 20 years.

Tim ran the Cemetery at Bide-A-Wee in Wantagh Honorably and many loved him. Losing a pet is very difficult for anyone, But some how Tim made it easier for people to get threw this tuff time! When the Scandal of pets not being buried at the Pet Cemetery in Middle Island NY happened in the early 90’s there was almost no one who was worried that something similar may have happened at BideAWee of Wantagh, Because everyone knew Tim would never allow something like that to happen there!

I believe the Souls of all the Animals at Bide-A-Wee of Wantagh can no longer rest and the place is now suffering from a curse! These Animals buried at BideAWee of Wantagh long for the man who made sure they were buried properly and helped ease the pain of their owners when they past!

Bide-A-Wee needs to do what ever it can to get Tim Back! They need to beg, plead and bargain! I believe once Bide-A-Wee of Wantagh has Tim back the Souls of the Animals buried there will once again be able to rest and the Curse will be lifted. Then Watch how quickly things turn around, I just Hope Bide-A-Wee does what it must before the curse spreads to the rest of the BideAWee Locations!

This Story is dedicated to the Memory of Red the Cat (Bide A Wee Mascot) By LJ James

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