Dog Collars

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You probably just came to terms with the fact that you could buy your dog its own bed. After possibly months or even years of sleeping beside you or on the floor, your dog will finally get its own bed. This means that if your dog is on the large side, it can have its own bed and not just a rug in your living room or a dog house outside your home. Here is an in-depth look at large dog beds:

Reasons for buying large dog beds

If you have a big dog, you need a large bed. You need something that will envelop your pet in warmth during the time it is recharging its energy. Most big dogs are bought not just as companions but also as guard dogs. You can make your dog more efficient if it is well-rested. So, you have to buy it a nice, large bed.

Deciding to go large

Well, if you have a Great Dane, a German Shepherd and the like, you have no choice. You have to buy something that will fit a dog like them.

Preparing for your big canine friend

When about to buy a bed for your large dog, you have a few things to consider. The first consideration is whether or not you can afford a bed for your pet. If things were fine without the bed and you are struggling financially, it is better not to buy one. If you can afford it, however, go for high-quality large dog beds that will last longer. Another consideration is your dog’s actual size. Measure your dog if you cannot bring it along during the day of the purchase.

Types of large dog beds

What are the different types of large dog beds?

Designer bed

There are actually designer large dog beds. If you want something posh, then you go for such a bed. Generally though, it is more practical to go for less expensive beds that somehow complement the room they are going to be placed in.

The question of space

Whether your dog sleeps inside the house or outside, in its own dog house, you should consider how its bed will fit into its personal space. Measure the spot in your kitchen or living room where you intend to place the bed or the floor space of the dog house.

It is important to make proper measurements. If you don’t, you could end up buying a bed that cannot even make it inside your home. You may not even have enough space to house the bed. If you have a dog house for your pet, make sure that the bed can fit into it. Make sure that the bed covers every inch of the dog house’s floor. Why is this important? This is so that your dog will not end up sleeping partly on the bed and partly on a cold floor or bare earth, whatever the case is. You need a large bed for your big dog if you want it to have the best type of rest and sleep. Sleep is also important in animals if you want to keep them healthy. The large dog beds should fit your dog well and should be able to warm it during the cold season.

Sam Tuelivia is a home pet store owner and an animal lover who finds happiness in assisting others succeed in raising happy and healthy pets as well. His true love though are large dogs. To learn more about large dog beds and dog training collars please go to petstore.com.

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The other week my mother-in-law asked me to walk her dog. While her dog is a relatively small dog, I ended up spending the majority of the walk struggling to get her dog to go where I wanted her to go. It was a frustrating experience, and somewhat embarrassing when others saw our struggle.

If this sounds familiar, there is still hope for you. There are things you can do to fix the problem. First, be sure that you are using the right kind of leash and walking equipment. Some leashes work great for some dogs, but are useless for others.

When a dog pulls on a leash, it normally is because they walk faster than we humans normally do. They may get bored while we stand around visiting with our neighbors. Whatever the reason, most of the time pulling on a leash is a natural dog behavior and will require training for them to stop.

A standard nylon buckle collar or a Martingale Collar is the best type of collar for training a dog how to stop pulling on a leash. Don’t try to use a choke collar because they can cause damage to your dog. Find a leash that is not too long, or too short, to give you apple of room to train. A standard six-foot dog leash should work great for this type of training exercise.

If your dog is constantly pulling away from you, a retractable lead can really help. Body harnesses are not meant to be a training tool, so don’t use them. They are especially a bad idea if you own a bigger dog.

The best way to train your dog is by positively reinforcing the times they go where you want them to, and standing stiff when they pull you. Train your dog to keep slack in the leash and praise them. Training collars are also a good training device, though they are not meant to be a permanent control solution.

When you begin your training you should try a place where there will be little distraction. If you can train your dog indoors, that can be a good place to start. If training your dog inside is not ideal, find an area where your dog will be able to clearly hear your commands and won’t have animals or people nearby to distract them.

The luckiest dog owners are ones that train their pets while they are still puppies. However, if you aren’t one of those lucky ones don’t fret. Luckily, you can still teach old dogs new tricks.

Being walked by your dog as opposed to walking your dog can be very annoying and sometimes embarrassing. Jim Witt is an authority on dog training equipment. Jim suggests visiting Country Brook Design for an excellent selection Martingale Training Collars and Dog Leashes.

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These days, training collars are more of a need than a luxury for dog owners who are responsible about their pets. Laws today penalize dog owners when their pets bark too much at night or growl or attack at people, and even just a carefree play can be mistaken for an attack by a surprised stranger. Dogs, of course, have no knowledge of the rules and they just follow their instincts, which is why they need to be trained. Therefore, the demand for training collars of several types has increased lately.

Chokers

Some people consider these training collars ethical while others prefer the old fashioned leash. These collars restrain dogs from pulling away from the leash, as well as from incurring in other types of bad behavior. These collars are mostly used for walking the dog, specially when they are small or young and they haven’t learned yet how to behave with other people or dogs. Dogs learn that by not launching themselves at anything that moves, the choking sensation that the collar gives will be gone. Some training collars even have protrusions that dig softly into the dog’s neck when he or she pulls too much on the leash. These types of collars also stop any sensation to the dog as soon as this one relaxes.

Electronic Dog Collars

These collars work by delivering a small static electricity shock to dogs when they bark. The collar fits around the neck of the dog and the device from which the small electric shock comes from is placed directly in front of the dog’s throat. These collars are not cruel, since it’s not an electic shock, like the ones seen in cartoons, but a static feeling, similar to the one we get when we walk on carpets. These collars are very practical and effective as long as the training is constant and supervised closely by the owner; just remember to take the collar off when training is over so that the dog can rest.

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Most of the behavior which your puppy or adult dog exhibits is simply explained. It is because he is a dog and that is what dogs do! What you can do is reshape or channel these behaviors in a dog logical way until they are acceptable to you.

A DOG THAT JUMPS UP AT YOU CAN BE AN IRRITATION.

Especially when you have a nice clean pair of trousers on and he has come in from outside!

Wonder Why dog owners rarely wear white?

When trying to deter or to de-train a dog from a behavior it is important that you first of all understand the reason why he is exhibiting the behavior in the first place.

All puppies will try to jump up at you or your visitors. They do this because they want to get close to our faces and particularly our mouths-a food soliciting behavior carried over from when dogs were in the wild.

It can also be dominance related.

The dog wants to place his paws on you. Initially when a puppy jumps up at you our reaction teaches him that we like him doing that.

So how does that happen?

One or more of several things happen which confirms in the dogs mind that he is pleasing us. With little puppies especially we tend to tolerate the jumping up as they are sweet and lovable. And we feel they need our assurance all the time. We are also quietly pleased that the puppy wants our attention.Once we get tired of the jumping up we start pushing him off and at the same time talking to him, telling him to get off. Either reaction is pleasant for the puppy-he is being touched, spoken to or both. Even if you push the puppy off abruptly, they like to play rough and so do not see being pushed off as a deterrent.even seeing it as a game.

To the dog his action has provoked a reaction in you that will prompt a repeat of the behavior. When they get a reaction then the behavior is worth doing.

To stop him jumping up you have to change the previous rewarding behavior to an unrewarding experience..IGNORE the dog completely. Do not touch or speak to him.Turn your back on him,folding your arms so that you are not accessible for the dog to touch.if he jumps at your back take a step away..Do not acknowledge him in any way the whole time he is jumping up at you.When he eventually has 4 feet on the floor go down to his level and give him a lot of fuss and a tidbit.

Eventually when you have taught him to sit on command you can reinforce the control by making him sit as well,but at this stage you simply want him to understand that 4 feet on the floor gets attention whereas two feet on the floor does not. If everyone who comes to the house follows the same procedure the puppy will quickly learn that the way to get attention is to remain on the floor.

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A good walk is a must in training your dog and it needs to be done daily.  Yes, you read that correctly.  People go on power walks but you need to take your dog for a brisk walk that you are in charge. 

This means that your dog needs to pay attention to you and you do not stop to smell the litter on the ground or let him smell that rabbit that just crossed the road.It is not cruel but you are telling the dog you are the leader and have to stand your ground.

After your first session it will get easier but the very first one will be the most difficult.

Put your Dogtra 175NCP electronic training collar on your dog and set the level to between 5 and 20 depending on the temperament of your dog.  If your dog is more sensitive then do 5.If there is no response from your dog then turn the dial up.

Put the leash onto the electronic collar strap.

The secret to teaching this is kind of like a dance.  Whichever way your dog is initially going you are going to go in the opposite direction.

The initial time you try this may be disaster but you need to be persistent and don't give up.

In your right hand your should have the transmitter and leash.  For most people this is the right hand. 

As you start your walk your dog will want to go in his direction which is usually in the direction you are going but he will want to lead and pull you so as you start walking and you dog gets in front of you, immediately turn and walk in the other direction and press the “nick” button on the collar and let the dog get a tug from the leash end.sontinue moving and do not stop walking.

After you turn the dog will come in this direction and take the lead again so you want to be ready to turn again and again.

If your Dogtra 175 NCP is not set high enough because your dog feels nothing turn up the control slightly.  If it is too high, turn it down.  Some dogs can be trained by only using the vibration/pager mode on the side of the transmitter.

If your dog is not paying attention to you then change directions and give a tap of the button.You can go in any path as long as it is different from where you were just going.spin to your left or right.Leaders get in the path of other pack members so you have to step toward him and continue walking so that he has to get out of your way.

You do not need to jerk or yank the leash in your hand only the lack picking up and giving a tug with the leash is all you need because you are using the electronic dog collar to give the correction and not your arm.

Training with body language instead of words is very important.  A pack alpha dog does not stop and say come on gang stay with me.staying in the lead and continuing in the same direction causes those that don't to be left behind.

Obedience training does not have to be long and boring, a 10 minute session is better than 30 minutes.  As your dog learns to walk with you you will find that you don’t need to give corrections with the collar but keep the Dogtra training collar on your dog for reinforcement in the event your dog decides he sees a squirrel or something that he thinks is more important than listening to you. 

Technorati Tags: dog training collars, Dogtra 175NCP, Dogtra training collar, electric dog collar, electronic pet collar

You probably want your dog to have some freedom, however, you want him to come when you call him.

The problem is most owner’s have inadvertently trained their dog not to come to them.  There are several reasons for this and not just one simple solution people need to avoid.  Mainly people will punish their dog when he finally comes to his owner and, therefore, the dog will resist coming because he knows he has been punished in the past.  Another reason your dog may not want to come is that his fun ends and you bring him inside only to leave.

I teach the command “come” using the Dogtra 200NCP Training Collar and a long line.  The long line can just be a simple $1 clothes line you purchase as the dollar store.  If you want a better long line you can buy a horse lead which is something with 1/2 inch nylon webbing and can be purchased at a farm or horse store.    You will want it to be lt least 25 to 30 foot long because you want to be able to work at distances with your dog as your training progresses.

Hope full you started with your dog on a 6ft leash with obedience training and as your dog was looking away gave the command “come”, gave a little tug on the leash toward you and backed up.  When your dog started coming toward you, you gave lots of praise because you want that to be the most wonderful thing is to want to come to you and when he reached you asked him to sit and wait for a pat on the head.

The reason you want to do this first is that your dog does not know the difference in a 6ft leash and a 25 ft long line.  Why?  Research studies have determined that canine have limited abilities to use reason or logic.  In other words, as long as you don’t inadvertently teach him the differences in length he won’t automatically know the length of your leash.

The first step to teaching this training is to begin taking your dog to various different locations (without other dogs) and let him run around with the Dogtra 200NCP Training Collar on and the long line attached to the collar and let him run a bit with the long line trailing him.  Make sure you are close to the end of the long line at any time to step on it and stop him.Does your dog like rabbits and squirrels? Then you want to start in a safe location.

I have found that dogs who are always contained or kept on a short or tight leash all their life will see freedom to run as somethat that is scarce.  So, the second he thinks he is free from the leash or fenced in area will bolt and run away because he has learned that the free area is not available very often so he must take advantage of it.

Now for the Training:

You need to have your transmitter for your collar in one hand and be ready to step on the long line with your foot and grab the long line with your other hand so stay close. 

Once you begin letting your dog roam around with that long leash attached two things will begin to happen.The freedom to run around will make your dog forget he is trailing a long leash.If your dog makes a decision to bolt away you will still have control.  (Remember foot ready to pounce on the end of the leash, transmitter in hand and other hand ready to grab the line.) Note:  It is pretty hard even for a very fast dog to totally get away from you when he is trailing 50 ft of leash or cord. 

Now that he has run a bit you want him to come back.Using a level of not more than 20 press the button, say come, pick up the end of the leash and turn and run two steps.  All these things are done simultaneously. 

So make sure there is not a lot of slack in the long line between you and your dog so that as soon as you command and turn and run and press your stimulation button it happens at the same time.

Your dog is going to look around because he wonders what the sensation just was.  If he moves even a little toward you or looks at you call him happily to you. 

If he does not repeat the same process, holding the end of the line, turn and take a few running steps so you get a pop on his end while at the same time commanding “come” and pressing the button.  If he starts to come toward you encourage him in a happy voice and when he get to you give praise a pat and let him roam again.

You want to keep testing this about 10 times as he is roaming around and not paying attention to you.

Attach this to the collar

A

Technorati Tags: dog training collars, Dogtra 200NCP, Dogtra training collar, electric pet collar, Electronic Dog Collar

Do you Know How to Find a Good Priced Dog Training Collar?

Is it worth to invest in your dog’s training?

Some people are willing to invest a lot of money and time.

It is perfectly okay to buy very expensive dog collars if you prefer doing so. There are a lot of choices for you. Collars range anywhere from fancy fashion dog collars, studded collars to a wide variety of others. Most owners do not like to spend the extra money on dog training collars and therefore choose to use one that will be more practical and meet the basic requirements.

If you have a dog with a lot of energy or is highly curious you can find it stressful to train them, as you learn to deal with all his behavior patterns.

If you find that after investing in your dogs training the results you get are not what you looking for, then you should look at ways to begin cutting down on additional costs. One good example is the dog training collar.

For many owners it does not make much sense if the dog does not respond well to training to buy accessories, especially when the dog has begun nibbling on the corners of the dog collar. It is important to realize that the behavior of the dog and teaching them to respond to training is the main thing to focus on and not the collar, or any other accessories.

Even though dog collars are instrumental in getting better control and correcting unwanted dog behaviors, expensive collars can quickly effect your budget. This is the reason why many owners resort to buying cheap dog training collars as good alternatives, without having to sacrifice the function of the item, or adding an unnecessary financial burden.

When shopping for the right collar you should also check its durability and functionality before you even begin to look at the price. Don’t get caught up in the mind set that if you pay more for a collar, that it is a good indication to determine it’s functionality.

However, cost can be a good way to determine if your looking at the right collar but it should not be the sole influence on your final decision. For example, an excellent collar could give the best value at its lowest possible price. However, since it is tagged with a low price the buyer might immediately conclude that it does not perform well.

Don’t give into the mind set that pricing equals quality. People may think that the more money they spend will automatically mean that they are getting a better quality training collar for their dog. This usually happens but it is not always the case. You should do some research to find the best bargains available.

If your collar is integrated with advanced technologies will obviously be more expensive. The popular electronic dog collar is a good example. The price of this collar runs anywhere from $100 to $999 depending on the types of features installed in the item. You can expect a lot higher prices when more advanced technologies are used in making the collar.

Since dog collars can cost hundreds of dollars many people find it impractical to spend that much money on it, because it is a training accessory. With a little research you can find the type of collar you want and in the price range your willing to spend.

Technorati Tags: Dog Training Collar, dog training collars, Electronic Dog Collar

Do you Know How to Find a Good Priced Dog Training Collar?

Should you invest in supplies to train your dog?

It is important to know you will devote a lot of time and need to spend some money to successfully train your dog.

It is perfectly okay to buy very expensive dog collars if you prefer doing so. There are a lot of choices for you. Starting from stone studded collars to fashion dog collars, you can get anything but may end up spending a fortune. Most owners do not like to spend the extra money on dog training collars and therefore choose to use one that will be more practical and meet the basic requirements.

If you have a dog with a lot of energy or is highly curious you can find it stressful to train them, as you learn to deal with all his behavior patterns.

After investing for your dog’s training without satisfactory results, many owners tend to cut down from spending too much on other things that contribute nothing to improving the behavior of the dog. An option for cutting back on cost would be the type of dog training collar you use.

If the dog you are training likes to chew on things you may not want to invest in a nicer, more expensive collar at least until he begins learning to respond well to training. It is important to realize that the behavior of the dog and teaching them to respond to training is the main thing to focus on and not the collar, or any other accessories.

Even though dog collars are instrumental in getting better control and correcting unwanted dog behaviors, expensive collars can quickly effect your budget. To help stay within a manageable budget you don’t have to sacrifice quality because there are a lot of good functional collars that will work well without the high cost.

When shopping for the right collar you should also check its durability and functionality before you even begin to look at the price. It is a common mistake among buyers to use the cost as the basis for assessing the value, rather then basing it on the function and reliability.

Cost is a good margin for getting the right collar, but it should not affect the way one sees the item. You can find remarkable good dog training collars marked at an exceptionally good price. Another thing to be aware of is that just because the price is low, don’t think the quality of the collar is low too.

Don’t give into the mind set that pricing equals quality. You do not need to be in the mindset of thinking’s items at the lower end of pricing are of less quality, while those having expensive tags have the best quality. This usually happens but it is not always the case. You should do some research to find the best bargains available.

If your collar is integrated with advanced technologies will obviously be more expensive. The popular electronic dog collar is a good candidate. Electronic dog collars can run in price range from $100 - $1000 depending on what options they come with. You can expect a lot higher prices when more advanced technologies are used in making the collar.

Since dog collars can cost hundreds of dollars many people find it impractical to spend that much money on it, because it is a training accessory. With a little research you can find the type of collar you want and in the price range your willing to spend.

Technorati Tags: Dog Training Collar, dog training collars, Electronic Dog Collar