Canine Owner s Guide to Essential Dog Toys

•A Realistic Look at the Cost of Owning a Dog
The thought of bringing home a cute, playful, new puppy causes many people to neglect the cost of ownership. Would you be surprised to learn that it can cost thousands of dollars each year to properly care for a canine? Without planning a realistic budget, you may discover that you lack the necessary funds to provide for your dog's basic needs. If you're unable to meet his needs, his comfort, happiness, and health may suffer. Below, we'll explore the costs associated with owning a canine....

•The Dog Owner s Quick Guide to the Most Common Behavioral Challenges
If you own a dog, there's a good chance you have noticed at least one behavioral problem. Most canines at some point in their lives develop tendencies and habits their owners find annoying. From digging and indoor urine marking to nipping, chewing, and jumping on the furniture, there are effective ways to modify these behaviors. But it requires knowing why your pooch is doing these and other things in the first place. This article will provide an overview of the most common bad habits dogs...

•How to Address Your Dog s Separation Anxiety
Dogs love being near their owners. The attention they receive and the comfort they feel makes them happy. When their owners leave the home (to go to work, run errands, etc.), dogs miss their company. This is a normal dynamic between owners and their pets. But many canines become overly anxious when their owners leave. They experience such a high level of distress that their reaction to their owner's absence becomes problematic. This is called separation anxiety. This article will provide an...

•Top 4 Reasons Dog Owners Abandon Their Canines
Dogs make ideal companions. They're loyal, and will remain so throughout their lives, protecting you, your family, and your home. This is one of the reasons it is heartbreaking when owners make the decision to abandon their pets. In some cases, they'll leave them with animal shelters, consigning them to the possibility of being euthanized. In other cases, owners simply desert their pets, forcing them to find food and shelter on their own. This can lead to a fate even worse than...

•5 Smart Tips For Taking Your Canine on a Hike
Dogs love the outdoors, and even more so when they accompany their owners. If you're an avid hiker, your next expedition may be a perfect opportunity to enjoy the sun, air, and a magnificent view with your pooch. Preparation is key. You'll need to take steps to accommodate your canine's needs during the trip. You'll also need to watch out for the safety of others you'll meet along the way. Here are five tips that will help you and your dog enjoy your hike together. #1 - Call Ahead To Inquire...

•Curbing Your Canine s Dominance Aggression
Dogs are pack animals by nature. They are most comfortable when they know their place within the hierarchy of their pack. Occasionally, they'll become assertive to establish their place if there is any question regarding their authority. This dynamic sometimes occurs within their owner's home, which is a sign of dominance aggression. Below, we'll take a closer look at this potentially dangerous behavioral problem so you'll have a better understanding regarding how to address it. You'll learn...

•How to Keep Your Pooch Off Your Furniture
Suppose you own an expensive white couch. It's spotless and appears immaculate, even under close scrutiny. Unfortunately, your dog has developed a habit of resting on your couch whenever he has the opportunity. If he only left his hair behind, a quick vacuuming would solve the problem. But dirt, mud, and other debris threaten to turn your white sofa brown. How can you discourage your pooch from resting on your furniture? It's important to realize that most canines are unaware their behavior is...

•Several Tips For Selecting the Right Kennel For Your Pooch
When planing a family trip there may be several occasions in which your dog will not be able to travel with you. You might be forced to take a business trip, want to go on vacation with your spouse, or need to visit family in another state. Ideally, you would be able to leave your pooch with a trusted friend or family member while you're away. Unfortunately, that's not always possible. When you have to leave your canine behind, and cannot find someone you trust to care for him in your absence,...

•Why You Should Use Positive Reinforcement When Training Your Canine
The number of professional trainers who use negative measures (e.g. yelling, leash-pulling, hitting, etc.) to communicate with their dogs continues to drop. Like a growing number of other trainers, they're adopting positive reinforcement measures. This a more effective approach for encouraging canines to respond to commands appropriately. There are many reasons owners should also adopt positive reinforcement techniques when training their pets at home. We'll describe these reasons below....

•Children and Canines Understanding the Basics of How They Interact
Kids and dogs interact with each other in a playful, carefree, and trusting manner. The problem is, a child is small and therefore at potential risk when playing with the wrong pooch. There may be dominance issues related to how a canine views his place in his pack in relation to the child's place. There's also a risk of physical injury that can result when kids cross the line with regard to a dog's boundaries. In this article, we'll explore the relationship between children and canines, and...