Information About Dogs - Information on Dogs also Puppy Information » Dog Supplies

Keeping Your Puppy Confined

Dennis — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:11:27 +0000

You will need something that is referred to as an “ex-pen” if your puppy cannot be confined to the kitchen or other safe area by means of doors or gates. The exercise-pen will keep your puppy safe and in one place, but it also allows him room to play, have access to water and use newspapers if he is a latchkey puppy with no one home during the day to take him outside. The “gate” mentioned is the good old baby gate which is now sold online and in pet stores as a “pet gate.” Choose one that fits your doorway securely, is high enough that the pup cannot easily jump over it, and is constructed so the pup will not be encouraged to try his climbing techniques.

Many objects are irresistibly chewable, but not if first sprayed with a deterrent such as Grannick’s Bitter Apple. The puppy will only accept…

What Your New Puppy Needs

Dennis — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:00:19 +0000

After arriving to his new home, your new puppy will need high-quality puppy food. He needs a feeding dish and a separate water bowl, both made preferably of unbreakable material. He will also need a collar that fits him right now, not one to be grown into, and a leash from the moment you bring him home. Both should be an appropriate weight and type for his size. You can go to any pet supply shop or online catalogs and find an interesting assortment of these and other accessories from which you can choose from. Next, you will need grooming tools that are suitable for your puppy’s type of coat.

You should have a few toys available as soon as your puppy arrives. Toys will help make him feel comfortable in his new surroundings and will keep him busy for hours. One of the best toys is a beef bone,…

Using A Shampoo To Bathe Your Dog

Dennis — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 20:19:47 +0000

Every dog, whether shorthaired or longhaired, needs to be groomed on a regular basis. Dogs also need to be bathed regularly. They love to be clean and groomed, evidenced by how playful they become after their grooming sessions. They enjoy being told how beautiful they look, and a clean dog is a lot more fun to train than a dirty dog.

In bathing your dog, the general guideline in bathing is this: When your dog smells like a dog, bathe him. Some dogs’ coats repel dirt and pollution more effectively than others. Dogs live in a variety of environments, and his environment, as well as how much your dog is exposed to dirt or how dirty your dog becomes just eating his food, will dictate how often to bathe.

The easiest way to bathe your dog is in the bathtub because you need hot and cold water to get the shampoo out…

Using A Scale For A Proper Feeding Program

Dennis — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:42:13 +0000

A scale is one of the dog owner’s most useful piece of equipment. Throughout a dog’s life his body weight is a constant and accurate reflection of his nutritional state. By frequent weighing at regular intervals, a dog owner can keep a running check on how well he is doing his job of supplying his pet with good nourishment. In fact, with nothing more than a set of scales, a notebook, pencils, a balanced food, and a suitable container, a complete feeding program can be tailored to every dog.

In addition to weighing the dog, a dog owner also uses scales for weighing food. The simplest, yet most accurate, way for the average dog owner to measure and control the amount of food he feeds is to weigh that food. In cases where highly accurate measurements of the dog’s actual intake are desired, the scales are used to weigh the…

The Right Collar For Your Dog

Dennis — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 20:55:35 +0000

Collars come in a wide variety of styles, colors, and materials. The two common types of collars are training collars and buckle collars.

The purpose of a training collar is for you to be able to guide your dog or to check your dog if necessary. (A check is a tug on the leash followed by an immediate release of tension on the leash.) A check is used when you want your dog to stop doing something. However, the check is a form of negative reinforcement and an unpleasant experience for any dog.

Collars for the trained dog are called buckle collars. They are either leather, nylon, or canvas. For the untrained dog, buckle collars are virtually useless. Trying to control a dog with a buckle collar would be difficult. Some dog owners prefer to use a harness, which is perfectly fine for dogs that do not pull or for small…

The Importance Of Using A Crate

Dennis — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 20:40:55 +0000

Though many new dog owners are initially horrified at the prospect of using a crate for their puppies, their attitude changes once they understands the use of it from a dog’s perspective. All canines are den animals; they naturally seek out spots for rest that are sheltered and secure. This is why family dogs often lie under dining room tables, underneath beds, or in dark closets: they are simply following a deep-seated den instinct. By using a crate, you provide your puppy with his own den which would be his sanctuary.

This is why house-training with a crate is highly recommended. A puppy kept in his den for a reasonable length of time, which is no more than three hours at a time during the day, will refrain from soiling and will learn to hold himself until you let him out. Consistently doing this helps your pup quickly acquire a regular…

Pros And Cons Of Using A Head Halter

Dennis — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:42:47 +0000

The head halter is a hybrid piece of equipment. It works on the basis that where the dog’s head goes, sooner or later the rest of the body has to follow. It is an adaptation from head halters used for horses. Whereas the pinch collar looks downright menacing, the head halter looks more inviting and almost user friendly. Interestingly, your dog’s reaction, and he is the one that counts, is likely to be quite the opposite. He will readily accept a pinch collar but vigorously and determinedly object to the halter, at least at first. The following list describes the principal advantages of the halter, once your dog has learned to accept the effect it has on him:

Calming and tranquilizing: A head halter is helpful with nervous, timid, shy, or hyperactive dogs.
Equalizing: It helps smaller handlers with larger dogs as well as senior citizens and handicapped handlers control their dogs
Muzzling:…

Optional Tools and Supplies For Grooming Your Dog

Dennis — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 20:30:30 +0000

Although you can customize your product selection to your type of breed and to specific products you want to use, below is a general list of the kinds of products you will want to consider for stocking your grooming station. The products listed are necessary for the basis of good dog grooming. Optional products are also included for dog owners who want to go the extra mile in grooming their dogs.

The following are eight necessary products essential for grooming your dog:

1. Shampoo for your dog’s coat type
2. Coat conditioner for your dog’s coat type
3. Petroleum jelly to protect your dog’s eyes and ears
4. Nail coagulant or styptic pencil
5. Medicated ear powder or other ear cleaning liquid such as rubbing alcohol or a product designed for this purpose
6. Eye drops for moistening and cleaning eyes
7. Cotton balls
8. Cotton swabs

The following is a list of optional products for your grooming:…

More Equipment For Your Puppy

Dennis — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:39:15 +0000

Before your new puppy arrives home, you will need to buy a certain amount of equipment. It is a good idea to obtain them beforehand in preparation for your puppy’s arrival. Essential equipment that you will need are food, water and food bowls, a crate or a pen, and collars and leashes. Below is a list of other necessary equipment for your new puppy.

Grooming supplies: There are a variety of brushes and combs available; choose those which are suitable for your dog’s coat. Other supplies you may need are towels, scissors, clippers, stripping combs, and shears.

Deodorizer and Cleaner: During the house-training of your puppy there are bound to be some “accidents.” Because puppies tend to return to the scene where they detect the smell of urine and feces, it is important that these spots be cleaned properly using a product that effectively neutralizes the odor. For cleaning puppy accidents…

How To Properly Put On A Snap-around Collar On Your Dog

Dennis — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:26:10 +0000

The following are three steps to place a snap-around collar on your dog.

1. Start with you and your dog facing each other. Take the clasp in your left hand and the two rings in your right hand.
2. Place the collar under your dog’s neck and bring the ends up to the top of his neck, directly behind the ears. When you begin to put on the collar, the dog flexes his neck muscles, expanding the circumference of the neck and creating the impression that the collar is much tighter than it actually is (similar to the effect produced by a horse taking in air as it is being saddled).
3. Attach the clasp to the floating ring. The smooth side of the clasp should be next to the dog’s skin.

You may get the impression that the collar is much too tight and that you can barely get it around your…