Have you ever wished that the secrets of dog behavior training were available to anyone who wished to take their dog obedience training to a new level? The truth is that proper dog training can be simple for anyone who is willing to educate themselves on the best way to communicate with man’s best friend. In order to succeed at puppy training or adult dog training you must first understand why dogs do what they do. There are only two reasons why a dog performs any behavior:

1- To increase pleasure: Have you ever wondered why your dog pees on the floor, chews up your couch, and jumps on your guests? That’s right, these activities produce pleasure for your dog. It’s as simple as that. If these behaviors didn’t produce a fun experience then your dog wouldn’t do them. Any time you wish to correct behavior problems with your dog it is important to first realize that your dog is doing these things out of pure pleasure.

2- To avoid discomfort: Old school dog behavior training prescribed a very harsh method of correcting behavior problems and fomented a dog obedience regimen that was very disciplinarian in it’s root form. That type of dog training is unnecessary and will often do more harm than good.

Very skilled dog behavior training, though, should use humane corrections that merely provide an annoying deterrent to help correct behavior problems. Humane corrections can run the gamut from spray bottles to annoying noises all the way to training collars. Yes, used properly, a training collar can be a very valuable and humane tool for getting rid of unwanted behavior problems. It is recommended that you seek out the services of a qualified professional if you are going to use such a tool. These dog training collars are merely used to provide an annoying feeling and not a painful feeling.

In understanding these two concepts it is then much easier to formulate a training program that will fit your individual dog. With my own dogs or with the dogs of clients I always have a two-fold approach to training:

1- Obedience training must be mandatory. This is where the new school of dog trainers go wrong. The new school of dog obedience training uses lots of treats. The correction for an unwanted behavior is often a simple ignoring of said behavior. This style of dog training will never make obedience a mandatory endeavor for your dog. Think about it, if your dog has the option to come when called to get a treat or run wildly towards a busy street in the direction of a fleeing cat, which option do you think your dog will take? Likely he will head to the street and risk life and limb for the cat. This is because the owner never enforced their training efforts to the point where obedience is mandatory.

2- Obedience training must be fun. Just because something is mandatory doesn’t mean it also shouldn’t be fun. Dog behavior training is intrinsically fun for your dog because your dog gets to work side by side with you. Your dog is able to bond as he learns from you and learns a deep level of trust as you guide him along with his training. If you skip this step then you may have an obedient dog, but he sure won’t enjoy it.

I have referenced old school and new school dog training practices. Old school training is harsh and rough. New school is all fun and games. To truly have the best trained dog you need to combine the best of both schools. From the old school we use corrections to get rid of unwanted behaviors. From the new school we use a great deal of motivation and fun. The end result is the best trained dog on the block.

When you understand dog behavior training and how your dog views his world you can truly accomplish amazing things with your canine companion. Dog training can truly be made easy when you live these principles, rather than practice them at random intervals throughout the day. It’s time to get to work!

Once you have brought your teacup puppy home, wait at least a week or so until he has settled into his new home. Since immunization shots could put your puppy into stress, making him lose his appetite, it is best to wait at least 48 hours for his first checkup. At your first visit to the vet, a health check is needed to determine whether your dog is healthy or not. Regardless of results, your vet will tell you to set up a schedule for completing all required immunizations for your teacup.

Since regular vaccinations can prevent your teacup puppy from contracting these common diseases, it is your responsibility as a dog owner to ensure regular visits with the vet. In order to prevent dog health problems, you should be aware of the common diseases faced by dogs. Depending on your vet’s assessment, your dog should be able to complete his shots for Canine Distemper, Rabies, Infectious Hepatitis and Corona Virus. Here are other common dog problems that may need vaccination in the future:

1) Parvo – Scientifically known as Parvovirus, this viral disease affects all types of dogs, but is more common in puppies rather than adults. However, this disease could have serious consequences for the infected puppy, including sudden death. Since there is still no cure available for Parvo, it is important to vaccinate teacup puppies against it at an early age. Your vet will schedule a Parvo immunization as soon as your teacup puppy reaches 6 weeks of age and continue vaccinations until their 20th week.

2) Heartworms – These parasitic worms are common in dogs as well as cats. As their name suggest, heartworms live inside your puppy’s heart, free-floating near blood vessels. Unfortunately, even if you take care of your teacup puppy strictly, these worms can still be transmitted from dog-to-dog via mosquitoes. Since heartworms can be extremely dangerous to your dog’s health, it is best to give him shots around 3-6 months old because most 7-month old dogs and older are prone to experience adverse reactions to heartworm treatments.

3) Worms – Your teacup puppy may be infected by several variations of intestinal parasites, such as whipworms, tapeworms, roundworms and hookworms. Because these worms could cause numerous health problems, including death, you should take all measure to detect and prevent it as soon as possible.

During the first 8 weeks of your teacup puppy’s life, he should have received shots on measles, distemper and CPI. After these main vaccinations, be prepared for lyme, heartworm, rabies, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza, leptospirosis and other vaccinations appropriate to your area.

Dog toys are actually very important to the health and safety of your furniture. This is because they provide excellent distraction and chewing surfaces for your dog. By chewing on dog toys, it will help their gum and teeth to remain healthy.

When you go to a local pet store, you may find that there are tons of different dog toys available in the market. Some are expensive but many times, you can find inexpensive dog toys too. Such as rawhide bones, ropes, chew toys, plush dog toys and balls for under 10 dollars.

When you are free, you can also think about playing balls with your dog. Or if you feel like playing tug-o-war, buy ropes and get them to challenge you. And on Sundays, you can go outside and play a game of frisbee with them.  They are like small children, and when you play with them they know that you care and appreciate them.

If you don’t already know, it is important to have dog chew toys. This is because it helps to keep their teeth clean and gums healthy. Plus it keeps your furniture free from dogs. Rawhide bones are great dog chew toys and they are known to last for at least a year, but it all depends on the size of your dog.

Plush dog toys are also perfect for dogs. They give your dog something to toss around or playfully attack. Soft dog toys are safe for your small children and it will also be impossible for them to swallow when when there are no adults around to look at them.

There are some touch dog toys that comes with a squeaky sound when you squeeze them. Some dog owners doesn’t like it but some thinks it is helpful to know where their dogs are. 

If your pups have teething problem and they seem to chew on whatever they could reach it is advisable to buy dog chew toys such as dog Kong toys or toys that could be chilled in the fridge and be re-used again. These dog toys are normally made out of rubber and they are most likely to be indestructible.  The rubbers used are non-toxic, nonabrasive, non-splintering and does not get sharp when chewed. It also satisfies a dog’s natural need to chew and also cleans the teeth and conditions the gums.

Your dog plays a big role in your life and it is your responsibility to keep them happy. Since you give your kids toy to play with, your small dog needs them too. It doesn’t need to be expensive because if you do go shopping, you know that you can get inexpensive dog toys for them too. Toys will keep your dog company for hours and you don’t have to play with them when you are busy.

Owners of dogs should place greater emphasis on the prevention of dental diseases in their pets. Dental disorders have been found to bear a strong connection to other systemic disorders in dogs. That is why, today, dental care gets top priority.

Daily Care of Your Dog’s Teeth

Dogs should not be given highly alkaline or acidic food in order to prevent damage to their teeth.

The development of new teeth makes the animal bite anything that catches its fancy. If a dog does not get a bone or something resembling a bone to bite on early in its life, there is a higher risk of it developing dental disorders later in life. Therefore, dog owners should give their pets something to bite on during this crucial stage in their lives.

The teeth of hunting dogs need to be taken care of more than any other breed in order to avoid dental complications in furture. Get a good brush for your dog’s teeth. You need to, however, invest time, energy, and a lot of patience to use a brush on your dog.

Nip Dental Disorders in the Bud

Antibiotic treatment has to given right in the initial stages of a dental infection. Otherwise, it might lead to infection of specific areas. In worse conditions, the infection might spread to areas such as the pharyngeal region, the mucous membrane in the oral cavity and so on.

If the dog has bleeding in the oral region, it should be examined carefully for any dental disorders. Usually puppies, and at times, even adult dogs suffer from dental injuries. As a preventive measure, they should be immediately attended to. Otherwise, the animal might develop secondary bacterial infection.

In many countries, centers for disease control and prevention are now formulating guidelines to prevent dental disorders in dogs. Take you dog for regular oral examination. A little bit of care goes a long way in nipping any dental disorder in the bud.

The Schnoodle is a crossbreed variety of dog. This unique hybrid is the result of crossing a Poodle and a Schnauzer, classified as an F1. Since the Schnoodle is a crossbreed, the appearance can vary. The Poodle is fun and energetic as is the Schnauzer. Both breeds are intelligent and good natured dogs that enjoy the company of people and take well to training. Both breeds can be sociable but stubborn. Color can vary from brown to wheaten. Given the diversity of these traits, it is hard to predict which characteristics will dominate.

Some Schnoodle puggles may display a larger head relative to overall body size. Subsequent breedings to the F2 or F3 level can alter the appearance dramatically from the original F1 class.

Approximate Adult Size

As with many hybrid breeds, size and weight will vary. The approximate adult size, two years old or older, of either the male or female is 16 to 18 inches at the withers. The withers is the highest point of the shoulder. A Schnoodle can weigh between 14 and 18 pounds.

Special Health Considerations

Most dog breeds have certain health conditions problems associated with that specific breed. Poodles could be prone to Canine Hip Dysplasia that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness. Poodles can also be prone to epilepsy, which is common in many dogs, stifle problems and ear infections. The Schnoodle is said to be prone to cataracts and other eye-related problems.

This disease list is provided only as an informative guideline and your Schnoodle may not experience any of these conditions. Before choosing a Schnoodle, or any type of dog, always consult a veterinary professional for more comprehensive information.

As with any dog, the puppy stage, 0 to 12 months of age, is the time for shots, boosters and a thorough check up. As an adult, the dog should have an annual veterinary checkup including a dental exam and cleaning. As with most pets, avoid feeding your dog sweets. Certain human foods should never be given to your pet. When in doubt, always consult your veterinary professional.

Grooming

The coat of Schnoodle can vary from course to soft and will be generally wavy with very little shedding. Regular brushing is very important for the Schnoodle and will help maintain a clean and healthy coat. The process of grooming provides an opportunity to examine the dog for skin problems and strengthen the emotional bond between you and your dog.

Dental health is important and the teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities and periodontal disease. Poor canine dental hygiene can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious health conditions.

The claws should be trimmed regularly and the paws examined for signs of injury.

Life Span

With proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions, a Schnoodle should be able to live a long and healthy life, possibly as long as 15 years. Given the hybrid nature of these dogs, and interbreeding, an accurate prediction of life expectancy is not possible.

Registries

American Canine Hybrid Club

As a hybrid breed, the Schnoodle is not recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club, Continental Kennel Club, the Canadian Kennel Club or their affiliated organizations.

Litter Size

Litter size for the Schnoodle is said to average between 4 and 6 puppies, though accurate data on litter size has yet to be collected.

Category

Hybrid

Every dog is an individual so not everything in this article may be correct for your dog. This information is intended only as a good faith guideline.

Aggressive dog behavior can not only take the fun out of having a dog, it can be dangerous too. The last thing you want to see in your beloved canine is aggressive dog behavior.

As soon as most dog owners see aggressive dog behavior, they try and do something about it, of course. Unfortunately, what these owners do is yell at their dogs or hit their dogs to try and get control of the canine aggression.

With aggressive dogs, it’s easy to make mistakes that can lead to big problems. To make sure you don’t make these mistakes, avoid these aggressive dog behavior training no-nos:

1. The first mistake people make with aggressive dogs is keeping the dogs penned up. Not exercising an aggressive dog is a big no-no!

A bored dog is far more likely to be an aggressive dog. Most dogs have a lot of pent-up energy. They’re simply designed to be active. When you don’t allow your dog to be as active as he or she wants to be, this can lead to problems.

The best way to avoid dog aggression is to work off that pent-up energy. Take your dog on daily, long walks. Play fetch with your dog. The more you interact with an aggressive dog in a playful, fun way, the less aggression you’ll see.

2. Another big aggressive dog behavior mistake is hitting the dog. Training aggressive dog techniques require touch, but not hitting! You never want to hit any dog, but certainly not an aggressive dog. Violence will simply encourage aggressive behavior.

To correct an aggressive canine, pull at the scruff of the neck or gently nudge the dog. A firm voice and a specific gesture that telegraphs your displeasure will work too.

Your goal in correcting an aggressive dog is to surprise and get across your message. You’re not trying to hurt or punish the dog.

3. Being a wimp is a big aggressive dog training no-no. Dog training aggressive behavior out of your dog requires you to be the boss! A wimp isn’t going to be affective at dog training aggressive behavior out of a dog.

Dogs need guidance. They need a leader. Dog parenting doesn’t simply mean care. It means leadership too.

To establish leadership with an aggressive dog, be sure you’re the one in control. Enter a room first unless you give your dog the okay to go ahead of you. Establish that you’re head honcho.

4. Dealing with repeated dog biting yourself is a big mistake. Aggressive dog training for dog biting requires the pros. If your dog bites, you need aggressive dog training from a professional dog trainer. Don’t try and deal with a biting dog yourself. The consequences are too dire. If the above tips don’t help control aggressive dog behavior, get some help.

Your dog deserves to be well-socialized so he or she can have a happy life. Take steps now to deal with aggressive dog behavior.

The insurance pays for the dog’s necessary treatments like surgeries, x-rays, laboratories, and a whole lot of others. So if you want to ensure your dog has the best insurance to maintain his health for a longer living life.

The Different Types of Dogs Health Insurance

Dog Health Insurance

Dog health care insurance provides for the lifetime health maintenance needed by the dog. Treatment covered includes hospitalization, prescription, vaccination, medication, treatments, and other laboratory tests. Some insurers also cover the dog’s annual examination and even flea control prescriptions too. Dog Life Insurance

Dog life insurance will normally cover all the veterinary bills that arise in the instance that the dog became very ill and may eventually die. This form of insurance may also cover the death of the dog due to accidents. This insurance policy covers majority of illnesses including cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, and digestive ailments. Some insurers may even include coverage for euthanasia. Dog Accident Insurance

This is the basic dog insurance, under this policy dogs are covered against accidents like ingestion of foreign bodies, accidents caused by motor vehicles, bone fractures caused by other things aside from a moving vehicle, burns allergic reactions, lacerations, ingestion of poison, insect bites, and stings. Dog Bite Insurance

The law requires dog owners to have an insurance that provides coverage for all the injuries that can be inflicted by their pets. This is to protect both the injured party and the dog owner against dog attacks. Comprehensive Dog Insurance

This is a comprehensive type of all dog insurances and will cover everything that a dog may need, from health maintenance to accidents, animal bites to life coverage. Recovery costs spent to locate the dog in the incident that it became lost is also covered. This type of dog insurance will cost relatively more than the others but again this insurance will cover almost everything.

Dog ear infections are common in dogs and other pets alike, these infections can be caused by numerous situations and causes but as your pet relies heavily on their hearing it can be extremely annoying for them as well as soar and painful.

The shape of a dog’s inner ear is the cause for many of the different ear infections due to it being able to collect moisture from playing around water or in rain, ear wax, dirt and unclean debris, and unwanted parasites.

To identify and determine whether your dog has an ear infection or ear related condition, you will have to study your dog’s behaviour. Common ear infection activities include, rubbing their heads and ears against objects in your house like sofas and tables in order to stop the irritating ear, tilting of the head, and a red looking, soar, foul smelling ear with possible discharge.

To start you should take your pet to a vet to properly diagnose the infection that has occurred they will then probably issue you with medication or need to have the dog sedated in order to clean out the foreign debris. This process can be a difficult one for a vet and may have complications in finding the correct medication.

Dog ear infections that are diagnosed correctly can more than likely be cured, but taking your dog to the vet is crucial, without this step you will be putting your dog through more pain and it will take longer to become better.

To give your dog the prescribed medication you will need to raise the dog’s ear and apply the medication to the vertical part of the ear so it can seep down into the correct area of the dog’s ear. Then holding the base of the ear flap with your finger and thumb massage the ear canal and you will hear a squishing sound to note that the medication is in the correct area, then clean the outside and around the ear with alcohol to stop further dirt from getting into the ear to complete the process.

Puppy potty training is a full-time job…

The good news is it only lasts for a few weeks and has great benefits!

In exchange for your time, energy, and attention you can have a perfectly house trained dog for 10+ years.

…It doesn’t get any better than that.

The truth is everyone gets frustrated when training their puppy… because no one has the kind of time that allows them to focus on the needs of their puppy 24 hours a day.

…so before you throw the puppy out with the poop, check out these solutions to your dog toilet training problems.

Problem #1 Not enough time to spend with the dog.

Okay, so what’s really important here is to stop beating yourself up and ask for help.

The solution is friends, neighbors, and family members like to help each other out.

And if there is absolutely no one that you know, hire a pet sitter. Or, send your puppy to a dog trainer who specializes in house training.

Also, try to alter your schedule. If you live close to home, maybe you can come home at lunch to let your puppy outside.

If you work farther away from home, maybe you can take a longer lunch hour if you arrive at work earlier.

Try to create some flexibility in your schedule because house training does not last forever.

Because if you start your puppy right with good follow up, your puppy will never do it wrong! (And if you don’t have time to train it right the first time, you really won’t have the time to fix a bad habit.)

Problem #2 Yell or scream at the dog.

The reality is it’s hard to be positive all the time. Maybe your day didn’t go well. You tripped on the curb and sprained your ankle, or you got a last-minute assignment from the director, or the oil light went on in your car.

You come home from working all day or a trip to the store and see poop or tinkle on the floor, it’s just one more thing to add to a bad day…

So, you yell at the dog.

But your timing is way off… The dog pooped or tinkled on the floor a long time ago and does not connect your yelling to the pile of poop on the floor.

The dog just knows you were really crabby when you walked in the door!

The solution is what do you do when you want to scream?

So scream…but don’t yell at the dog.

Instead, walk into your bedroom, turn on the television or radio to loud, close the door, and yell into a pillow or at a wall. Or, sing your anthem of dissatisfaction at the top of your voice. Or, call a friend and ask them for two minutes venting time.

Then, stop.

Quietly return and clean up the mess and promise yourself that you’ll figure out why the dog pooped on the carpet and give the dog the opportunity to make a different decision (i.e. put in a doggy door, ask someone to take the dog for a potty break in the middle of the day.)

Problem #3. Rub the dog’s nose in the pile.

People rub a dog’s nose in a pile of poop because they think the puppy will be totally disgusted and revolted… And the dog and will never poop inside the house again.

But there’s no dog logic to that idea.

Why would rubbing a dog’s nose in anything create a response?

I mean, dog’s sniff poop piles all the time (it can actually trigger a pooping response.)

When you rub a dog’s nose in the poop, the dog just knows that you want him to see the poop up close and personal.

The problem is that it doesn’t stop the behavior.

And it can cause behaviors you don’t want such as the puppy starts hiding from you or running away from your hands.

It’s simple. The dog has been given too much freedom before the dog understands the house rules.

The solution isthat it’s time to go back to the basics of routine bathroom breaks, regular eating times, and crate training.

Problem #4. Hit the dog.

People hit dogs because they believe that if they hit the dog the problem will stop.

The problem is hitting doesn’t work.

Hitting does not teach the dog what to do.

If you drag a dog over to a puddle on the floor and hit her with your hand, what does the dog learn?

1. To be afraid of your hands

2. To run away when you grab her collar

3. To hide when you call her name

4. To submissively pee when you grab her collar

The solution is to add other “tools to your toolbox.”

For example, if you see your dog tinkling on the floor, don’t hit the dog!

Instead, say “Outside!” in a low voice and take the dog outside to go to the bathroom.

Then, when you are outside in a pleasant happy voice say “Go potty. Go potty.”

When the dog potties reward him.

Now you are teaching the dog the behavior you want - tinkle or poop outside - and associating it with a reward.

Problem #5. Keep the dog outside all day.

When dogs live outside all the time, they still don’t know what to do when they come inside the house.

It’s important not to give the dog total freedom in the house until the dog understands that tinkling and pooping only happens outside.

The solution is to teach the dog the “house rules.”

…which means it’s back to basics again, i.e. establish a routine, use a word signal, and reward the dog for going outside.

Because it’s not realistic to think that you can watch your puppy at all times, use a waist-leash (tie a leash around your waist and attach it to the puppy’s collar.)

Now you can still do the things you need to do, but at the same time when you see the puppy start to sniff or circle, you can quickly take the puppy outside to tinkle or poop.

Solving puppy potty training problems is not difficult. All it requires is that you understand that dogs have to learn new behaviors.

…After all in nature it doesn’t matter where dogs pee or poop!

Only you can give them the information and training the dog needs, but it has to be done in a way that makes sense to the dog.

…And that’s by associating a behavior (pee or poop) with a word signal (”Go Potty!) and a reward. Then it’s easy to solve puppy potty training problems.

A dog crate is a metal and plastic cage for your dog to sleep in or be in while you are away, the crate helps give your dog a secure place to live while in your home and a place to retreat to when things get a bit to hectic as they do in many family homes today.

Crate training is a very popular and effective technique for teaching your dog right from wrong; this method includes teaching rules of eliminating, sleeping arrangements, and keeping your dog from being destructive when you are out amongst many other benefits.

To crate train you must choose a correctly sized crate that your dog or puppy will be able to grow into with time and they will not be too cramped or have too much space. If your dog has a crate that is too small they won’t want to live there or go there and if the crate is too large it leads to eliminating problems.

You should make your dog feel as comfortable as you can in their crate; this should include putting a bowl of water with your dog in their crate, a nice easily cleanable blanket and put them in an area that is widely used by the family so they always feel part of what is going on.

When you are out, your dog can be closed in their crate to ensure common bad behavioural problems don’t happen while you are out such as chewing, biting and eliminating in the house. Be sure not to keep your dog in their crate for longer than about 4 hours and to let them go to the toilet on a regular basis.

Dogs will naturally not want to eliminate in their place of sleep so as you dog gets used to its new sleeping area it will want to go to the toilet only when they are let out so be sure to take them to their appropriate place for eliminating when they are let out, then reward them for behaving in the correct manner.

Always reward your dog for using the crate in the correct way and be sure all members of the family know that the dog should not be pestered in their crate. As long as this rule is followed then you won’t go far wrong and you will begin to notice great improvements in your dog’s behaviour immediately.