Best Dog Training Program Reviews

Follow this dog training program for six weeks, and youre sure to see ... Review: Take 10 minutes at least 3 times this week to review the commands and ...

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Training a dog using positive reinforcement often calls for the use of dog treats. The best dog training treats are small, soft, and something your dog really enjoys.

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Dog training books are one of the best investments you can make when it comes ... out a 6-week program of training, at the end of which your dog should have a ...

How To Train A Dog Videos Training your pup to come to you on command is an essential part of obedience training. With a little practice, your dog will learn how in no time! … Dogs Videos. How To Teach A Puppy Not To Bite Clothes Nevertheless, nipping in play is a pure conduct for ferrets, as it’s for puppies and

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Blood Tracking Dogs Are Not Hard To Find

Not really, because I am a member of an association of trackers for hire, and I have a yard full of dogs ready to go! I am a breeder and a trainer, so I have dogs of all ages, but I dont sell them in my yard, I train them in my yard, and I sell them in the woods.

I have people calling who want to come to my house and tour my yard, and "see" my dogs. What is the point of looking at dogs if you want a working dog? You need to see them on the job.

Sorry, I dont sell dogs out of my yard, only puppies.
And if you would like references from my many satisfied puppy customers, please ask.

So if you are interested in a started or finished dog, invite me to your lease or hunting camp during deer season, on a weekend when there are several deer being taken and I will show you some blood tracking dogs in action. I will bring finished dogs in case we have a tough track to work, and some started dogs who need to get on as many blood trails as possible during the open season, and puppies. I always have dogs in training, and need places to work them where they can get on multiple tracks even if the deer was already found. Because the deer season is short term, we need to get on as many deer blood trails as possible during the hunting season, and give the new dogs active experiences in as many areas as possible. I also have experienced ready to go finished dogs if you dont want to buy a dog, but need tracking services for hire.

For the most part, I do not sell finished dogs because it gets complicated after a dog is several years old, and is very attached to you.

Just like my experiences with hog dog shoppers, most people(about 95%) call me wanting a finished blood trail dog, assuming they can buy a ready to go, all you need to do is invest money, and voila: you have a working blood tracking dog.
These finished dog shoppers fail to understand the importance of a mutual relationship in the dogs’ functionality. No matter what breed, how well bred, raised, trained, or experienced, a finished dog will always have a big adjustment, going from one person—who they have known and loved all their life—to someone new.
And if they dont know, trust and love you, they wont work for you. If you want to buy a finished dog understand that it will require a lot of time and personal input on your part to develop a relationship of trust
before you will ever get that level of service the dog performed with the original owner.

 Not only does that relationship factor make selling finished dogs damn near impossible, I have people calling me who think they can get my 4 year old finished dog for the price of a puppy.

I am telling you here and now: you want a finished dog and you call me with that in mind, please advise me in advance as to how many thousands of dollars you are willing to spend so you are not wasing my time or yours. I put years into a dog, and it is worth thousands. If you dont believe that, you put years of your time, vet bills, and food expenses into a dog and get back to me on this one.


This brings us back to my most satisfied group of customers—the ones who are getting a puppy and raising it, and working on developing that long term relationship early on, and then having a dog that gets better and better year after year.


 Apparently common sense is not as common as it once was, and that may be the biggest issue causing people to think finding a blood tracking dog is a hard thing to do. Most people are not looking for a puppy or started dog, because they are accustomed to buying and using complex, ready to go, high tech machines to serve them, and all that is required is a purchase, then you turn it on and it is working for you. But a dog is a living breathing animal with feelings and complex emotional needs, that wants to be loved and accepted, and on a regular, if not daily basis. Dogs want to be part of the family, go where you go, do what you do, sleep in the house, guard you, your wife and kids, and your territory, and thats why, of all the domesticated animals out there, dogs are referred to as mans best friend.

Another thing is every dog has his own style of hunting and unless you know the dog and understand what it is doing, you might try to interfere and make the dog do what you want instead of trusting the dog, and letting it do what it knows it needs to do to find your lost deer. For instance some dogs hunt in circles, cover a lot of ground and should be worked off leash. Others are more straight line and on the blood track, and would work much better on leash if that is a restriction relative to your particular lease or management area. For you to trust your dogs actions in the field you must spend a lot of time getting to know how that dog hunts. As much as you might believe you need to train your dog to trail blood, if it is bred right, and raised properly, as mine are, obedience is the most important part of training, and after that, I suggest you let your dog train you to track blood. Where did we ever come up with this concept that we are smarter than them? You might be surprised how much a dog can teach you.

I have joined the Southern Blood Trackers Association, and we are discussing ways to get more dogs and tracking people into service.

Obviously, hiring us to come out with our experienced blood dogs is the most immediate and practical means for most hunters, to get a dog today. But we need to look ahead, and really plan on having one, or more than one for next season.

By that, I mean getting a puppy now, during hunting season, allowing it to be there in the box stand, and in the skinning shed, and raising it for a year and having it well started by next season. Buy a puppy from me, and I am available for consultation and training exercises in the off season to keep you on track.

Or getting a started dog, and working with it on leash  now during the hunting season, and gradually training and evaluating during the off season, so you have one well advanced for next hunting season. 

. We, in the blood tracker association, have obstacles that must be overcome to get more dogs into service. We need your help and want to work with you, the deer hunters, hunting clubs, and with government entities to raise the level of public awareness and the importance of the ethics involved with using working dogs to serve as the blood-tracking experts and minimize the effect of lost and wounded animals.


So, many people come into this looking for a finished dog and end up walking away from that pursuit assuming that blood tracking dogs are hard to find. If all you’re looking for is a finished dog, I agree—it’s going to be hard to find, because there are not that many of us breeding raising and training who are willing to sell our best dogs.

 Started dogs are very much available, from me personally, but you’re going to have to come up with more than money—you have to prove to me that you qualify to get one of these started dogs.
And what I mean by that is; I am very protective of my dogs who have been with me for a year or more.

 Your best bet is to get a puppy and invest time and money—and build a relationship—and as this dog progresses, I am available for consultation, training exercises, and will do anything I can to help bring your puppy into a point of service some day. Send him back to me for a 1 week boot camp at 6 months, for an evaluation and training exercise. Schedule a private class here at my training facility or better yet at your hunting camp or lease for me to work with you and your dog.

If you need blood tracking services for lost or wounded deer, you can call me at 337 298 2630.

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Dog gulps water too fast wont eat food what can I do

Laurens mom with Sophie (black fur) and General Sherman

I got a question from a reader, Lauren, about some issues with her mothers dogs.
The dogs are brother and sister poodle shih-tzu mixes. The brother appears to have gotten more of poodle genes, being a bigger dog, while the sister looks more like a shih-tzu.
Why does that matter?
Lauren said that the female dog has no problems drinking, but the male has a tendency to gulp his water down quickly and shes worried about bloat.
Could the bowl be too low for the male dog?

Her second question was about food, as the dogs are now eating a special diet.
The female dog "has to be on a special urinary control dog food," Lauren wrote.
As with most multi-dog households, it becomes easiest to have both dogs on the same special diet rather than try to keep different foods for each.
"However, neither dog likes this special food, and now brother wont even eat his," Lauren wrote. "I can hand feed sister a few pieces of her special food, but only if she sees her brother eat them too, and then its more of a me too kind of thing."
Lauren wrote that she was concerned treats were given out too freely and now the special food has no appeal for the dogs.

Heres my response, and I welcome any outside input that could help Lauren figure out these issues. I could especially use some help on the height of food dishes — Ive heard some people say a raised bowl reduces a dogs chance of bloat and others say exactly the opposite. Im not honestly sure what the correct answer is, so I welcome some insight on that matter.

 Ill try to answer your questions as best I can; keep in mind Im not a veterinarian.

Bloat is most common on deep-chested dogs and Ive heard pros and cons to adjusting the height of water/food bowls for dogs. With a dog as big as a Great Dane, it is standard to have an elevated bowl. For your case, Im not sure what would be the best to recommend in terms of height.

I do, however, support your recommendation of a segmented bowl or putting something in the water bowl to slow down the gulping. This is probably the best way to fix the problem and can be achieved regardless of bowl height. Its also a relatively cheap fix as bowls like this can be found for a reasonable price at most pet stores.

On food, this is really something Id like you to discuss with the dogs veterinarian because the sister dog does have a medical issue. I can tell you that I have had this issue with my own dog. He has allergies and has been on a variety of specialty foods over the years, not all of them very appealing to him, and we have had food strikes.

Fortunately, because Ive known for years that my dog has food allergies, his palette has not been given the chance to become snobby as he is on a very limited diet and always has been. He thinks a raw carrot or frozen green bean are among the greatest treats in the world. If my dog refuses to eat a new kibble, I know I can add things like chopped carrots (allergy tested and approved) to get him to eat it.

My concern for your mothers dogs is that whatever gets added to the food needs to be approved medically as an item that will not impact her urinary tract issues.

Since tasty treats are standard in the home, you might want to ask the veterinarian about some of those specific items the dogs really like. I have, at times, hidden a treat in the bottom of the food bowl to get my dog to eat. Important to making this work is 1) Showing the dog a treat is being inserted into the food bowl, and 2) Making sure it is well-covered with the kibble so that the easiest course of action for the dog is to eat his way to the treat.

But please do seek veterinary approval for any food items like that. Your mother should be discussing what treats are acceptable given the female dogs health anyhow — a special diet will achieve little if dietary adds like treats are hurting the cause anyhow.

One more thing: Once the veterinarian does approve a treat- or food-add to her diet, remember to take that treat out of the dogs daily treat allowance! If this becomes a regular daily add to get the dog to eat, those calories will keep on building, so make sure youre reducing the dogs non-mealtime treat intake by the same amount to keep the dogs fit and healthy.

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Open letter to Jolly Pets the best dog toy manufacturer in the world

I started to blog about how much Sensi loves his Jolly Pet toys and my first sentence was "I should write a thank you letter to Jolly Pets." The company really deserves it, and so, Ill get two birds with one stone here — a blogpost about the greatest dog toys in the world and a letter I can send to them. So here it goes:

Dear Jolly Pets,

I cannot thank you enough for the years and years of happiness your super durable, well-designed toys have given my dog. He just received his third teaser ball this weekend to celebrate his eighth birthday — thats his fourth Jolly Pets toy over the years.

The deflated soccer ball

Our story begins when Sensi, our pit/lab mix, became about a year old. I went to Petsmart and dropped $16 on a large soccer ball dog toy. The instant I returned home, as I was carrying the toy up the stairs to the front door, Sensi — who was outside — reached up to grab the toy. As soon as his teeth touched it, the ball deflated. Within a half hour, it was shredded into inch-by-inch pieces. "What a waste of $16," I said to my husband. "Im never doing that again."

From then on, I began searching for durable dog toys. By summer, I found Jolly Pets. I ordered the 8-inch Teaser Ball out of a catalog. Id never seen Sensi so tantalized and happy in his life. He paraded that ball around the house like it was made out of gold and diamonds. He would not let that ball out of his sight, making sure to carry it upstairs to bed every night — where he curled up his body around it in the dog bed — and back downstairs every morning. When we let him outside for potty breaks, he would carry the ball to the door and drop it just beside the entry way so it was right there for him upon his return inside.

8-inch Jolly Pets Teaser Ball

That ball lasted for two years. Considering my dogs strong jaws and drive to chew hard, the tenacity with which he tries to figure out puzzles (I am going to get that inside ball out, whatever it takes!) and our encouragement to beat up on his toys however he sees fit, thats a miracle. A toy that lasts two years in our household and is not made of steel is a miracle — theres no other way to put it.

The day that he finally chewed through the tough plastic exterior, after years of strategic chewing, and carefully extracted the inner-ball was definitely one of the proudest moments in his whole life. He ran through the entire basement apartment, showed everyone his long awaited and worked for inner ball and then made his rounds upstairs, making sure everyone saw his special prize. After about a half hour of showing off, he promptly chewed the inner ball to shreds. Whatever. It was his day, his toy, and hed been waiting for years to sink his teeth into that soft-plastic inner ball.

For Christmas that year, I got him the really big dog version of the teaser ball. Its a 10-inch ball and is considerably larger than the 8-inch one. When he unwrapped the package, he was so excited and proud of his supersized version of his favorite toy in the world. It was comparable to telling a 10-year-old hes going on a trip to Disney World. Like with the 8-inch, he paraded it around, slept with it, played with it nonstop, etc.

The Christmas photo, thanks to the 10-inch Teaser Ball

In fact, I took Christmas photos of him that year but I couldnt get him to pose. He wasnt thrilled about the whole ordeal and he wasnt cooperating. On day two of the photo shoot — day one having ended in frustration and failure — I finally got the idea to give him his teaser ball for the photo. He gently rested his chin on the ball and voila! I got the picture Id been waiting for. All he needed was his special toy.

Within a week, hed figured out that the holes on this larger ball were big enough to stick his paws in. Using a crafty combination of both paws and his mouth, he learned how to extract the inner ball. Later that month, I wrote Jolly Pets about the situation and asked if there was any way I could purchase some additional inner-balls to replace the one hed ripped out. The people at Jolly Pets were so wonderful to deal with; they were kind, amused by the story and shipped me a box of five or so inner-balls with a cute note that said "We hope these keep your dog busy for a little while!"

Nowadays, the big teaser ball is pulled out whenever we have something to stuff inside it. Sensi has mastered the art of removing items from the big ball, though, so it doesnt keep him busy for long.

For Sensis eighth birthday this weekend, we decided to replace the 8-inch Teaser Ball that kept him busy for so many years such a long time ago. I cant remember the last time I saw my dog so happy. He played with that ball until he was so tired that he could hardly stay awake. Hed fall asleep with it in his dog bed and every few minutes, swat a paw at it or put his mouth on it. It was like he just couldnt stop himself from playing with the ball, even when he really wanted to sleep. He begged to bring the ball on the couch for a snooze (we let him) and of course, spent the night with his body curled up around the ball in his dog bed. I bet hell play with it all day while were gone too.

Throughout the years, weve also purchased a Jolly Pets toy designed for water. Thats probably the only other toy thats come close to rivaling how much Sensi loves his Teaser Ball.

So, dear Jolly Pets, I cannot thank you enough. Thank you for years upon years of keeping my dog happy. Thank you for creating a toy that is both a challenge to my dogs brain and brawn. Thank you for creating a quality, durable product that can hold up to the most intense chewers. Thank you for the kindness your employees have me treated me with. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Want to learn more about Jolly Pets products? 
Jolly Pets is a division of Horsemans Pride. Click here to visit Horsemens Pride, Inc.
Find the full array of Jolly Pets products online by clicking here, Jolly Pets
Go straight to the Teaser Ball

Shopping tips
Ordering online or through pet catalogs is usually the best deal. Because I didnt think ahead to order one, I picked up the 8-inch Jolly Ball yesterday from Petco in Auburn Hills for a pretty penny — $22 — and there was one left on the shelf. You can find much better deals online and in catalogs. But when it comes right down to it, every penny I spent was worth it to see Sensi with his special toy yesterday.
Teaser balls are also available in smaller sizes for smaller dogs.

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War Dogs

Fighting qualities of this animal native faithful and attached were ignored at what was a good guy, man. Principle, friend in need is a homo sapiens, after finishing the game wolves, bears, mammoths and prehistoric fauna ... all about, and has focused attention on the biggest enemy, another homo sapiens, of course. And with that all the time, and the state dog.

Egyptian frescoes dating as belonging approximately 4 millennium BC depicts the allure of wild dogs, kept on a leash and soldiers engaged in combat with the enemy. Also, the walls of ancient Assyrian temples located in Iraq battle scenes reflect the observed large dogs with bulldog shape, wearing collars of thorns soldiers kept on a leash in some processions.


Roman legions used and Molossian Mastiff Giant, equipped with light body armor, as a, civilized Western world and severely Attila Kun, called, whip of God, maintain a pack of 50 large dogs brought from Asian steppes, with their permanent camps surrounding the fight to prevent any surprise attack.

The ancients, from Pliny the Elder and Aeneas and Homer mention the dogs engaged in battles - such as that from Colophonians - or use in the army as a sentinel or special messengers, equipped with a special collar which carried mail.


Later, Frederick the Great (in 7 Years War), Napoleon (Campaign in Egypt), conquistadorii Spanish (the Mexican and Peru), Native North Americans (in their desperate attempts to resist the Europeans), French Navy (at military installations in Saint-Malo port, between sec. XIV-XVII) - dogs used for various military activities.
Already in the first part of sec. Twentieth most European countries used dogs in their armies and police work.


First Military School for Dogs of War was founded in Germany in Lechernich, near Berlin, the Imperial General Staff available in 1884. Two years later, when dogs were first officially mentioned units, was developed and training manual, valid during WWI.

Use more to guard the prisoners in camps during the Second World War, dogs continued their military service believer in modern conflicts. Their extreme devotion was often speculated, reaching even in the situation that, in 1988, Israeli forces use Rotweiller breed dogs, equipped with a bomb on suicide missions against Arab militias sheltered in bunkers, in the conflict in Lebanon. Even in the first Gulf War dogs were present, some 1,200 French forces using German Shepherd dogs trained to guard baggage, stationed troops and airfields.

Modern military tactics decreased intake of dogs in military campaigns in which man no longer bored to all involved - with or without cause. However, when situations require it, the generals have always in view of the promising potential, canine recruits. So these guys are generals, stubborn!

The best, of course, is that these beautiful animals be allowed to remain cheerful and affectionate companions of people pacifists. However, do not be surprised if, ever, when the language of dogs will be deciphered, your dog to whisper, Can not you believe it, but I had two great grandparents in Vietnam ... causing havoc in there!.

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Book Review Im a Good Dog

Last week I attended a book signing and discussion at Powells Books in Portland with Ken Foster who is the author of the new book Im a Good Dog: Pit Bulls, Americas Most Beautiful (and Misunderstood) Pet.

Throughout the discussion I caught myself nodding my head constantly the entire hour.  Every word that came out of Kens mouth resinated with me and made me itch to start reading the book.  From his discussion about his own pit bull rescue in New Orleans called The Sula Foundation to his work with BAD RAP and Animal Farm Foundation which both helped contribute ideas, stories, and photos to the book-- my head was sore from all of that nodding!

As soon as I got home I plopped myself on the couch and began to read Kens book which is filled with beautiful color photography that captures the true essence of pit bull type dogs.  Along with the images, Ken writes about topics such as the origin of the breed, rescue work, and pit bulls as family dogs.  I was so excited to even see a picture of our friends from Two Pitties in the City showcased on page 21 of the book (the inside scoop is that a photographer attended a Chicago SociaBulls walk to gather photos for the book and Mr. B happened to make the cut!).

Ken Foster

Overall I think that Im a Good Dog is an amazing read for pit bull owners as well as for people wanting to learn more about all of the great things that come from owning and working with the breed.  The book is filled with positive stories about pit bulls from the past and present and Ken does an excellent job of shining a light on these dogs for all of the good that they do each and every day.  Not to mention, this book is a very quick read with a bajillion super cute pittie photos.

Ken has been on tour since the end of October, but there are still a few states that he will be visiting in the coming weeks.  If you live close to any of the locations below, I strongly encourage you to attend a signing and discussion:

11/9: Atomic Books, Baltimore, MD
11/10: Books on the Square, Providence, RI
11/12: RJ Julia, Madison, CT
11/13: Nicholas, Ann Arbor, MI
11/14: Summit Brewery, Twin Cities with A Rotta Love
11/15: The Book Cellar, Chicago
11/20: Book People, Austin, TX
11/27: Denver, CO

If you dont happen to live close to the tour, you can learn more about Ken and his amazing book courtesy of StubbyDog here.

If youve already had a chance to read the book, what did you think?  Do you have any other dog book recommendations?

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Calm a Hyper Dog 2

Is your dog high strung and hyperactive? A hyper dog can be difficult to deal with on a daily basis. Here are some tips for making your dog more tranquil.

Dogs have unique personalities just as humans do. Some dog breeds are docile and laid back while others are high strung with loads of excess energy and enthusiasm. If you happen to be the owner of a dog who gives new meaning to the term “hyper”, you may need tips on how to calm a dog so you can restore tranquility to your home.

When dealing with a hyper dog, the most important question to ask is, “Why is my dog hyper?” Some breeds naturally have more nervous energy. This is particularly true of dogs in the working class such as the German Shepherd and Border Collie. These breeds need a great deal of exercise and focused activity to help to expend their considerable energy reserves. Smaller dogs can exhibit the similar high energy traits. Most people who have owned a Chihuahua can attest to their predisposition towards nervousness. If you live with a naturally hyper dog, the most important thing is to make sure he gets enough exercise. This can be in the form of a brisk walk several times a day or a fast paced game of ball or frisbee. Regular exercise can work wonders not only for your dog’s health but also for his high strung disposition.



If you’re giving your dog sufficient exercise on a daily basis and your dog is still high strung, there are other steps you can take to calm a hyper dog:

Give Your Dog Safe Toys and Bones to Chew
This is a highly effective way to calm a dog. Some dogs become hyper out of sheer boredom and the simple act of having something to do with their mouth can help to dissipate some of their energy and boredom. If you have a large dog, make sure you choose a bone that’s advertised as indestructible or you could be buying them quite frequently.

Take Your Dog to the Dog Park
This is an excellent way to allow your dog release some of his pent up energy and socialize with other animals. The simple act of socializing with other dogs and humans can make your dog more comfortable around strangers which can reduce stress and anxiety that may be contributing to his hyperactivity. Thirty minutes at the dog park is a great stress reliever for both dog and human.
Do Doggy Massages

A calming dog massage can be a very effective technique to calm a dog. If you don’t know how to do one, you can find instructions on the internet. Even the simple act of grooming or brushing your dog with a soft brush can be soothing and help to relieve his hyperactivity if done on a daily basis.

Don’t Reinforce the Behavior
A dog may become hyper in an attempt to seek attention from you. If you give your dog the attention he seeks, you reinforce the behavior. Ignore your dog when he’s displaying hyperactive behavior and give him positive reinforcement when he’s calm. If done consistently, this can have a positive impact on your dog’s hyperactivity level.

A hyper dog can be a challenge for the whole family. Try incorporating some of these tips to calm a dog into your dog’s daily routine and discover what seems to work for your particular pet. With a little patience, you can help successfully master the art of calming a hyper dog.

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Find a Blood Tracking Dog for 2015

My dogs are loaded and ready to track your wounded deer should you call me at 337 298 2630.

This is a great time to buy your own tracking dog all ready experienced and trained in a facility for blood trail dogs.

If you need tracking services,

or you are interested in buying a dog or have questions about tracking dogs,
 I can be reached at 337 298 2630.

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How to handle your dog when hes pulling

The same friend, his dog apparently pulls pretty bad. I think pulling is one of the hardest things to fix because puppies pull from excitement more than trying to be the leader.  Even Ceasar Milan says that there is no sense in trying to discipline an excited animal and I totally agree.
As far as pulling tips, the first thing I have to say is make sure your dog is well exercised!  Daily walks, runs, whatever.  I am not a person that says that your dog must walk at your side the entire time, but pulling and walking alongside you are different things.  My girl walks a little ahead but she doesn’t pull.  My boy pulls the entire first half of the walk and he’s on a tight leash and can barely go in front of me.
Don’t expect your puppy to walk at your side at the first half of a walk!  The whole point of a dog not pulling goes back to obedience and being the leader.  If you are the leader, once the puppy’s energy level goes down, they will have no desire to pull.  So, if you want to just make sure your dog knows that s/he is not the leader, try obedience surrounding walk-time.  Make your dog sit at the door while you leash him, make him wait while you walk outside and then call him when you want to.  This sounds difficult especially for big dogs, but it is possible.  If you can achieve this from your dog, you can already rest assured that your dog sees you as the leader. 

Next, I request small bouts of walking alongside me.  Such as when other people are walking past or when we are crossing the street.  The idea is to give a balance.  You do not always want to walk right beside your mother, right?  That’s how dogs feel.  They will do it because you want them to, but they don’t like it.  They want to run and frolic and be dogs, not walk at a snail’s pace for no clear reason.  So occasionally, I’ll call my dog back to me, make the leash short and request that the dog walk alongside me for 5-10 minutes or until they stop pulling.  As soon as they relax and stop pulling, I reward them with praise and possibly a treat and then relax the leash and let them run around if they desire.

I completely disapprove of choke chains.  However, there is a leash that is kind of like a halter that goes underneath the dog’s armpits and prevents them from pulling because they don’t like the feel of being pulled there. 

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How to Neutralize Dog Odor

Dogs often leave behind their odors, especially if they stay confined to one area. The odor that emits from a dog will often linger and can become overpowering, You will need to take the time to tend properly to the odors before they become a permanent part of your home or car. You can neutralize these odors with common household products before resorting to paying a lot of money for commercial cleaning products.

Instructions

1

Spray air freshener in your home or car. The air freshener will mask the dog odor temporarily, but it simply masks the odor and does not eliminate it.

2

Absorb the dog odor with baking soda. Fill small bowls with baking soda and place it under furniture in your home. Allow it to set overnight, and repeat the treatment for three to four days if a strong dog odor lingers. You can also sprinkle the baking soda on carpet and furniture and vacuum it up.

3

Fill a squirt bottle with water. Spray the area to dampen it, and sprinkle baking soda over the area that contains odor. Allow the water to dry and then vacuum the baking soda up.

4

Fill a bucket with charcoal briquettes. Place these underneath furniture or in a specific room and close the doors and windows. The briquettes will absorb the odor in the same manner as the baking soda.

5

Shampoo the carpet and furniture in your home. Rent a carpet shampoo machine, or call in the professionals to aid you in this process. This will remove the smells that linger in your furniture and carpet.

6

Apply a commercial odor neutralizer to the area. If the home remedies do not help to remove the odors, spray an odor neutralizer on the area. Follow the instructions carefully on the product.

7

Give your dog frequent baths. Baths will help to eliminate the odor, and it will keep your home from smelling bad. You need to bathe your dog once a month or at least every four to six weeks to remove odors, according to Professors House.

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Train Your Dog Not To Pull On A Leash

Training Your Dog To Walk On A Leash.

One of the common faults of many dogs is pulling on a leash, which is more the owners fault rather than the dogs.

Here are a few simple steps for making sure that it is you who decide where to walk with your dog, not the other way round!

1. The first purchase necessary is a check collar or gentle leader with a leash.

2. Get the dog to stand next to you on your left and get him to sit.

3. Walk slowly forward and as soon as the dog starts puling on the leash then stop and pull the leash back to you, avoid pulling the dog back.

4. When the dog stops praise him and continue walking.

5. Continue this process for a number of days, repeating the steps three or four times a day. In a few days the dog should be trained not to pull.

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So You Think They Are Just A Dog

michigandeertracknhounds.blogspot.com

Below is a post a tracker in Michigan made on Facebook.

Notice how this new dog was "unique" in comparison to his other dog.

In this photo is my standard smooth European Dachshund "Sypris". She is 2 years old and she just completed her first official year of tracking.

She went on 17 tracks and made 8-9 recoveries. We struggled in the beginning because I was crating her to and from the tracks and also I was over feeding her and did not change her feeding time for tracking season. So for the most part she was tracking on a semi full to full stomach.

This was new to me because Scout my other tracking dog shows no affect with or without a full stomach. Once I had a feeding routine in place and allowed her to sit freely in my car she was a tracking machine. All her training I used a crate to haul her back and fourth and she showed no problem on my training lines. She has a very high prey drive and very high stamina when it comes to tracking. She is much quicker on a track than Scout, mostly due to her size and her nose is much better.

She for the most part tracks in a zig zag form slightly drifting on and off the scent trail. I have very high hopes with her and for her first year she was amazing and most likely would have made several more recoveries if I would have figured out the feeding routine and the crate issue. She is the type of dog that will punish you for not giving her the respect that she deserves.



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So you want a tracking dog? Just my opinion: they should be a family pet and treated
with respect 24/7/365.

But come hunting season...cut back on the food!

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FitDog Friday Great Places to Walk In Richmond VA the Floodwall

Its Fit Dog Friday!  

Fit Dog Friday is a blog hop hosted by my friends SlimDoggy, Peggys Pet Place, and To Dog With Love. Check out our hosts and the other bloggers in the hop (see below) for ideas, tips and inspiration for getting and keeping your pups fit and healthy.

Todays Great Places to Walk post features one of our favorite local trails, the Manchester Floodwall Walk.  This is one of the most scenic hikes in Richmond, featuring awesome views of the James River and city skyline.  The heron rookery is nearby, so you can often see a bunch of great blue herons fishing on the rocks.  From March 15 to October 15, there are ospreys fishing and flying overhead.    

The trail goes under the Manchester Bridge

The floodwall walk is wide and level, and is an easy ~3 mile walk if you do the whole thing.  Although there are no hills, there is a tall flight of stairs about halfway down the wall.  

To get there: The floodwall parking lot is off of Semmes Avenue just before the entrance to the Manchester Bridge going North, but we prefer to park on the street behind the Suntrust buildings (take 12th Street off of Semmes to get there).  From there, just follow the sidewalk to the footbridge over the railroad tracks, then take a left on the trail after the bridge.  (If, instead of taking the left down the trail, you follow the trail straight for a short distance, theres a great view of the city from the top of Manchester Wall.)  You can also park in the parking lot off of 14th Street just south of the 14th Street bridge, but that puts you kind of in the middle of the floodwall walk.

I love hiking the Floodwall!

Dont forget - today is the last day to enter my BarkWorld Ticket Giveaway!  Winners of the BarkWorld ticket will be announced tomorrow!

Ive got more fun giveaways coming up!  

On Monday, Ill be giving away A YEARS SUPPLY of Doggie Walk Bags Dogbags for Scoop That Poop Day, so definitely stop by on Monday!

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FitDog Friday

?

My friends at Slimdoggy.com and Peggys Pet Place teamed up to create the FitDog Friday blog hop, and were participating because we want to help educate humans about the importance of keeping their doggies fit.  Doggies who maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly live longer and have fewer health problems.  A few months ago, mom wrote an article that has some great tips on how to help your dog become and stay fit:  

How to Keep Your Dog Fit and Healthy: Part 1

How to Keep Your Dog Fit and Healthy: Part 2

You may now admire my physique

People and doggies often admire my physique and ask how I stay so fit.  

My Baywatch bod

Doing Zumba in the back yard

Well, mom and I walk every day and play frequent games of fetch, and we go hiking every weekend and sometimes after work.  I also go on an Adventure Hike every Wednesday with my buddies Tim and Nicky while mom is at work.

Hiking with Nicky
Photo by Tim Kondas of Canine Adventure

Hiking is a GREAT way to exercise because its fun for humans and doggies, especially when we get a group together for a hike.  

Because mom and I love to hike, and we love to give other dogs an opportunity to get out and hike too, we lead hikes for our local Dog Scout troop and a local Meetup group called Canine Adventures Human Adventure.  

Dog Scout hikes are REALLY fun, says Ruckus

Hiking with my Human Adventure 
buds Enzo & Choco

If you live in or near Richmond, Virginia, and youd like to go hiking with other people and dogs, check out Human Adventure.  If you dont live near us, you can steal our idea and create your own dog hiking group!  

Taking a dip during a hike last Friday
(This trail is within our city limits)

We have been amazed at the wonderful trails we have in our own city.  Get out and explore your local parks and see what you find!

We led a sunset hike on Monday
(This is less than a mile from downtown Richmond)

Need some help getting your dog fit?  There are lots of resources available:

Slimdoggy.com makes an app that helps you help your dog lose weight.  They also offer email consultations and one-on-one consultations.

K9 Fit Club offers fitness classes for humans and dogs.

You can purchase Dieting with My Dog, written by Peggy of Peggys Pet Place from Amazon.

Fit With Fido offers exercise classes for humans and dogs.

Thank Dog! Bootcamp offers fitness classes.

Thank Dog! Mobile is available at the Apple App Store.

Fur Fitness is a 501(c)(3) organization that educates humans about pet obesity and assists pet parents in helping their pets achieve and maintain optimal weight.

Association for Pet Obesity Prevention has weight loss tools and other great information on their website.

My buddy Choco is 11 years old, and hes a GREAT example of how staying active and fit keeps you healthy and young - hes one of the older dogs in our hiking group, but he still leads the pack!

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Train your dog to sit wait for his food

A week or so ago, I went over to a friend’s house and I showed him how to get his dog to sit and wait for his food to be put down on the ground before he lunges for it, but I apparently forgot to discuss it here, too. My mistake, guys, because getting your dog to sit and wait for his food is one of the most exciting things a trainer achieves. Nothing really compares to watching your dog sit and look at you while you ease his bowl down to the ground with your own patience. He’s waiting for you for a change rather than you rushing to please him.


How do you start training your dog to sit and wait for his food?

First, you’ve got to get him in a space where he can’t practice avoidance behavior because that’s the first thing he’s going to do when you start working. I had this pup (lab puppy) cornered in half of the bathroom. He had space to walk around in about a circle, but anytime he tried to walk passed me, I blocked him with my form so he had nowhere to go. Blocking a dog with your form takes anticipation on your part. You have to see signals of oncoming movement from your dog to do it, but luckily, this isn’t hard to do. It simply takes focusing. Anyway, I’m not much of a talker, so I body block him until he has no other choice but to stay put and normally by this time, any dog that has been trained to sit (or attempted trained to sit) will sit down and be patient if only for a few moments. Once your dog sits down, he’s ready for the next step. This first stage could potentially take five minutes to fifteen minutes, but do not give up. If he jumps for his food, move it out of his reach. If he actually is successful with getting the food, move as much as you can from his reach.

The next part, once he has sat down, is to make that position home base. You are free to start slowly lowering the bowl to the ground once he is sitting. If he stands up (which he will), you start over again, lift the bowl all the way back to starting position and get him sitting again before you start lowering his bowl again. This will likely take going back to step one and body blocking him. Warning, your dog will get frustrated and that is GOOD. Frustration is the key to learning.

Continue slowly lowering the bowl down until it is touching the ground. This point causes excitement for the dog and it is important that even if he is excited, stay in control. Yes this may mean lifting the bowl all the way to square one all over again and that’s okay. If he’s hungry, he’ll do what you want. Don’t feel bad for him because he’s not listening to you.

When I am at the point where I am constantly raising and lowering the bowl because of the dog’s actions, I insert one word. That word is called “focus” and focus means that he needs to focus on ME and not his food. This is another step that should be started in the beginning, but you won’t see results from this one until a few days of constant training later. Whenever he is getting too close to his bowl, stop the progression of the bowl to the floor, say “focus”, wait for him to snap out of staring and potentially drooling at the bowl, and then continue.

When the bowl is finally on the ground and your dog is still sitting patiently waiting for the command to eat, step away from the bowl just a foot or two. This is your dog’s cue to eat. Normally, if this is your first time doing this with your dog, he will probably be incredibly confused when you walk away. Why? Because you have claimed the bowl as your own and he knows, by your actions, not to mess with it. This is a GOOD thing if this happens. Funny, cute, and good. This is when you can give the command “Go on” or “go ahead,” or whatever works for you and motion towards his bowl until he gets that he can go ahead and eat. It may take one or two times of saying it. However, you can always say nothing and just walk away (that’s what I do).

I encourage anyone who’s never had their dog wait for his food to try this! I want to hear how it goes. Really, I do!

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How Puppies Learn

Handling Your Puppy Helps Them Learn!!

Handling your puppy regularly during the first eight weeks of life is essential to help them become trained and live in our home. In an earlier blog I mentioned this and that it is ideal to place them in their permanent home between 8 and 10 weeks of age, in some places it is against the law to take them away from their mother before eight weeks. They need this period before they leave their mother to learn socialization skills form their litter mates and their mother.

In addition to this puppies are innately fearful of new things during the 10-12 week period.
Puppies can begin learning tricks and commands as early as 8 weeks of age; the only limitations are the puppys stamina, concentration, and physical coordination. It is much easier to live with young dogs that have already learned basic commands such as sit.

Waiting until the puppy is older and has already learned undesirable habits makes the training much more challenging.

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Pinterest Inspiration Sweet Potato Dog Chews

Yesterday was a perfect cloudy Portland day to stay inside and make homemade sweet potato dog chews for Athena.  Ive been lusting over a few recipes for these on Pinterest, so it was about time that I made a batch.  Not to mention that I always contemplate buying a bag of store-bought sweet potato chews whenever I see them, but I end up passing them by because a) why spend money when I can make them for super cheap and b) if I make them myself, I will know 100% whats in them.

My recipe for these dog chews was inspired by a few pins on my Pinterest Dog Recipes board including this one, this one, and this one.

Heres what I did to make these tasty (and healthy!) treats:

Ingredients:

• 2-3 Sweet Potatoes
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

How to Make Em:

1.  Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit
2.  Prepare a cookie sheet by lightly coating it with olive oil
3.  Wash the potatoes and then thinly slice them into rounds (I tried to slice mine to be about 1/4-1/2 inch thick).  You could use a mandolin or food processor for this step to make the slices the same thickness, however I dont think that Athena minds that mine werent perfect =)

4. Lay out your round potato slices onto the cookie sheet.  Its OK if the slices touch, but try not to overlap them.

5. Bake for 4-5 hours (depending on if you want chewy or crunchy chews).  Flip the potatoes every hour.  Because mine werent perfectly sliced, I got the best of both worlds (chewy and crunchy).
6. Remove the chews from the oven and let cool.

7. Feed them to your dog as a delicious snack or tummy soother!

Staring at the deliciousness would be just too much to bear!

Athena thought these treats were DELICIOUS!  We plan to use the crunchy ones for special training treats that are low-calorie and healthy and the chewy ones will be great for an after-school snack ;)

Have you ever made any dehydrated dog chews (in a fancy dehydrator or in the oven)?  How did your dog like them?

Check out these Pinterest inspired Peanut Butter Dog Treats that I also made

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Being a guard dog

     I got blessed with dogs that are not really barkers, but occasionally they surprise me.  Like tonight and yesterday I was home all by myself for basically two days at my parents house which is rare.  So, when my parents got back a little bit ago, when the door opened, Puppy let out an alarming bark.  Two, in fact, and then she ran over to me and sat down like she was trying to make sure I knew.  It was very adorable considering she is largely silent and typically asleep.  But she jumped up, ran over to the baby gate where the front door is and barked.  Just warnings, nothing aggressive or anything like that.  Then Titus jumped up and looked at the door.  I fully believe if it wasn’t my parents that walked in, he would’ve barked himself.   He has been known to bark at visitors occasionally.
     As far as barking at visitors goes, I don’t think that it’s appropriate, but I don’t mind two or three warning barks.  As long as they can be hushed, I see no problem with barking at doorbells and things.  Some people love it when their dogs go plum crazy when the doorbell rings, but I think it’s just too much noise.  I think them barking as a warning is good just because I may not hear it, but I’m always attune to my dogs’ barking.  However, I feel like this is one of those things that you can only train if the dog already barks at the door – unless of course, you’ve trained your dogs how to speak in general.  I haven’t bothered with this command since I don’t want to hear their voices unless they’re playing, but I’m considering training them to give me warning barks when people knock on the door next year.  For pack behavior, it would give them look-out duty and something to always be on guard with.  It could be good for them considering they don’t do anything else.

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If the dog likes you I like you

Dog owners are famous for letting their dogs have an opinion about people they meet.
"He just didnt like George," one woman might say to her friend about last nights date. "He wouldnt go near him, and you know, to be perfectly honest with you, I just had this feeling that something wasnt right about the guy." Do dogs have a sixth sense about people? My answer is no.
Does this make your dog less trustworthy as a judge of character? My answer, this time, is only slightly different — mostly no.
Alexandra Horowitz in Inside of a Dog brings up the story of Clever Hans the famous counting horse. There was a horse, a long time ago, who was said to be able to do math. He would tap out the answers to math questions and always got the right answer.

Clever Hans, the famous counting horse

Eventually, it was realized that the horse did not know the answers to the math questions, but he was simply reading the response of the human asking the question to figure out when to stop tapping. Not even the horses owner realized this was taking place, because he was blissfully unaware of the tiny body language signals he gave when the horse reached the right answer.
What we have to take from this as it relates to your dogs ability to judge the character of others, then, is that theres always the possibility the dog is not making a judgment of the other person as much as he is picking up on cues youre giving about how you feel about that person.
Perhaps in the example I started with, the dog owner was the one who had a bad feeling about the guy and the dog, an excellent reader of human behavior, particularly its owners behavior, picked up on it.
This is called the confirmation bias. Horowitz writes: "Dogs become amplifiers of our own beliefs; we can attribute to them that which we think ourselves."
After all, how often do you hear people say, "My date last night was amazing, Ive never met such a wonderful man before. But the dog didnt like him, so Im not going to see him again."
You just dont hear that.
Now, lets return to the idea that dogs are excellent readers of human behavior. They are.
Dogs study us and they learn a lot about us, particularly our body language.
Horowitz writes: "We all have characteristic behaviors we display when angry, nervous or excited. Untrustworthy people often glance furtively in conversation. Dogs notice this gaze."
So, could your dog be able to pick up on who is good, and who is not?
Probably. But the point is, if your dog noticed, you probably noticed it too. Humans just dont always consciously process why we get these feelings that we have about other people.
You instinctively know that darting eyes and shiftiness is body language that expresses some nervousness that essentially indicates the person has something to be nervous about, and therefore is perhaps lying or untrustworthy in some manner.
You just dont process it. You dont automatically think, "his body language is giving me a bad feeling." Instead, you just chalk it up to this feeling you had — call it a gut feeling or an instinct, whatever.
Your dog is seeing the same things you see, but processing them more directly. And hes also paying attention to you to see if your body language is confirming what he sees.
Can we rely on our dogs to be good judges of character, then?
Perhaps, but not because of some sixth sense. And their opinion can be very much influenced by yours, so a better option may be simply relying on your so-called instincts in the first place.
Go with your gut.

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Deer Blood Tracking Dogs For Sale or Hire

Well here we go, it is that time of the year

where everyone wants a finished blood tracking dog and I mean they want it now because they have
a big deer down somewhere that they shot and cant find.

And they cant find the deer because they didnt want to feed a dog all year long and now that they did not plan on maintaining one all year long, and having one ready to go, and a dog is needed, they want to act like it is sitting on the shelf at the convienence store ready to go! Well, actually it is there waiting on you, but in the short term it comes with a handler or driver, like when you hire a taxi or a delivery truck!

 So yes, blood trail dogs are available "for hire", but they come with me to handle them. Why? Because no matter how well bred or trained and experienced they are, a blood tracking dog, like most working dogs, is part of a team, and unless you are accepted as a team player that dog wont work for you no matter how much money you spend on them, because they dont measure things monetarily the way we do!

Thats right lets go to the blood trail dog convienence store and get one ready to go!

Well as much as I wish it was that simple, I am here to report that unless you put time AND invest money in that dog, what makes you think it will work for you now that you need one? The point I am trying to make here is that dogs do not work just because they are bred OR  TRAINED TO WORK! They are motivated to hunt by their desire to please the master AND they hunt harder when they are hungry, but more on the blood trail dog diet later.

Unbeknownst to most people, they work because they are eager to please thier master, and if their master is ALSO their best friend, a Catahoula and I suppose most breeds also, will actually work harder to help find the deer.

I am available to travel and track for you if you are close to Lafayette, La., but why are you hunting deer and do not have a dog lined up yet? I will be glad to sell you a finished dog, but I need to know that you understand that the dog is trained, but the potential buyer needs to go to school to learn how to handle it.

OK, I have puppies, started dogs AND  finished dogs, and if you call me to ask the price of my dogs, like it is a generic price across the board, I will most likely ask you to tell me what this hypothetical dog you have never seen is worth to you.

Also, I need to know what you expect this dog to do, and you better be specific if it is a finished dog.

I also train dogs for other people, but most people want me to do ALL the work, and then they "buy" something that can only be earned as far as the dog is concerned. What I am getting at here is what motivates a dog to hunt is a relationship with the owner, not the training or the breeding. Sorry if this is not what you want to hear, but I have been doing this for years, and  most people come to buy a dog with unreasonable expectations that I AND the dog cannot fulfill.

I can be reached at 337 298 2630 if you need to discuss blood tracking dogs.

I am Marcus de la Houssaye, and I breed Catahoulas as working dogs.

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Dog Training Secrets Dvd

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Home Remedies for Bad Dog Breath

Dog breath is much like humans. Eating garlic, a bad bone or too much of plaque in teeth are liable to cause canine bad breath, much the same way as in humans. Some dogs are predisposed to have breath that is worse than others. Knowing a cure for dog breath can help in getting rid of a bad breath in dogs.

Dogs obviously cannot assume the responsibility of cleaning their own teeth. It is an essential part of grooming the pet and should be assumed by the owner as part of regular grooming. There are a fair number of commercial products that are available in the market that have been launched to address the problem of an offensive smell in dog breath. Natural dog breath fresheners, breath-freshening strips that dissolve in the mouth, mints and toothpastes meant specifically for canines are some such products. You can also find dog oral breath sprays for young dogs that have not learned to accept a toothbrush as yet. There are, however, certain home remedies that may be useful in addressing the problem.

• Bad breath in dogs is sometimes a simple matter of change in diet. If a change in the brand of dog food has suddenly resulted in bad breath in your dog, consider switching to another brand. Hard dog foods are better for your dog’s teeth and overall dental care.
• Dog breath can also be improved if you give him a hard clean bone to chew. Make it a regular feature and give one to him periodically.
• Treats and bones cannot replace a healthy diet. A healthy and natural diet is also necessary for your dog’s overall health. A healthy diet is also helpful in avoiding certain metabolic diseases that can lead to bad breath.
• Puppies are more prone to develop bad breath when they are shedding ‘baby’ teeth. This is a transient condition and is better addressed by brushing with diluted baking soda.
• Yoghurt mixed with live cultures, raw carrots and raw turkey works wonder as oral care products for some dogs.
• Avoid giving your dog canned foods and leftovers from your table. Stick to a healthy diet, preferably home cooked, and exercise to keep your dog’s digestive system in order.
• There are some home remedies that are used in the East for bad breath in humans. Extract of Neem leaves (Azadirachta Indica or Melia Azadirachta) or coriander leaves can be used for canines too. These can be used as toothpaste or added to their water to get rid of bad breath.

The best way to remove bad breath, however, is through proper dental care. Clean your dog’s teeth regularly and remove food particles that may get stuck between teeth. Dental diseases like gingivitis, periodontitis that are mainly caused by lack of dental care are the most common cause of bad breath in canines and proper dental care can help in avoiding any such condition.

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Itchy Dog why

There are more than 500 different things that can cause your dog to be itchy. If your dog is scratching all the time it is important to find out what is causing the itch. This can be quite difficult. While there are many common causes of canine scratching, it can take quite a bit of detective work to figure out the culprit. Try not to scratch your dog’s itchy spot for him. Believe it or not, scratching the itch will only make the dog more itchy.

There are several things you can do to ease your dog’s itch while you try to figure out, with the help of your vet, what is causing the irritating itch.

1. Bathe the dog regularly in cool water. Warm or hot water will only make the itch worse. Soak for five to ten minutes. Adding some Epsom salts, baking soda, or colloidal oatmeal (like Aveeno) to the water will increase the soothing effects. This will provide only a temporary relief lasting from a few hours to a few days. After the bath, pat the dog with a towel. Do not rub the skin, as this will only increase the dogs itch. Do not use a hair dryer on a heat setting. A cool (no-heat) setting would be okay. Heat and rubbing the dog’s skin will increase your dog’s itch, making the bath ineffective.

2. Fatty acids, found in either marine oils or evening primrose oil, can be very effective in easing an itch. You can try giving one of these fatty acid supplements. It will take several weeks before the benefit will take effect, so they are for treating long-term problems rather than an on-off irritation. You can find these at your local health food store.

3. Antihistamines can sometimes be effective for short-term itches. For example, insect bites or a flare-up of hay fever. You can use an over-the-counter antihistamine such as clemastine (Tavist), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Be sure to consult your veterinarian first. Your vet will give you the proper dosage and tell you if this will be a good thing to try for your dog’s problem.

Top Ten Worst Itching Offenders

1. Fleas

2. Airborne allergens like pollen, which result in hay fever

3. Parasites, such as ear mites, scabies or cheyletiellosis, also known as walking dandruff

4. Skin infections caused by bacteria

5. Ticks and lice

6. Food allergies

7. Fungal infections, including yeast infections

8. Seborrhea

9. Contact allergies

10. Whole-body illnesses, such as liver disease, immune-system problems and some cancers.

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