Most canines are domestic pets. Their owners keep them inside their homes for long periods of time. Assuming your own pooch stays in your home, you’ll need to  house train him in order to avoid messes. Remember to reward your dog with dog treats to reinforce good behavior.

Below, we’ll provide several methods that you can use to house train your puppy. Before we begin, it’s important to establish a few ground rules. First, training takes time. The more time you spend with your dog, in the training process, the less time it will take. Second, avoid physically punishing your dog if he has an accident. There will be accidents from time to time. Negative punishment with only result in fear from your dog. Third, be generous with your praise when you observe him using his designated spot.

Taking A Chance Inside

This method is to help your puppy make the transition from eliminating inside your home to doing so outside. Spread paper down on the floor in a designated area. When your puppy exhibits the tell tale signs of needing to go to the bathroom.g. he begins sniffing the ground), pick him up and place him on the paper. When he “goes” on the paper, praise him. Through the next several days, gradually move his designated area closer to a door leading outside. Finally, get rid of the papers within your home and set him outside to eliminate.

Crating

This house training strategy is preferred by many owners. The idea behind crating is that your puppy will learn to see his crate as his personal refuge. It is where he sleeps, eats his meals, and retreats when he is tired. He will not use his refuge as his toilet.

One of the most important benefits of crating is that it trains your dog to learn to control his bladder and bowels. When he needs to urinate or defecate, he can withstand the urge to relieve himself immediately. Instead, he learns to hold it until you let him go outside.

Hands-On Management

Some owners prefer to take a hands-on approach to house training their dog. There are no papers. Nor is there a crate. The owner commits himself or herself to constantly watching their canine for signs that he needs to eliminate. When he shows signs (again, sniffing the ground is common), the owner will lead his dog outside.

This strategy will only be effective if you spend most of your time at home (for example, if you’re retired). If you are unable to continuously supervise your pooch, you can expect messes.

When Your Dog Has An Accident

If your puppy has an accident in the house, treat it as you the trainers fault and not the dogs. After all, had you been attentive to his sniffing the ground, you could have prevented the accident from happening.

Do not get upset. Instead, immediately (and calmly) pick him up while he is in the act. If you can, attempt to limit the mess, by lighting pushing his tail downward. Then, carry him outside so he can finish. Stay near him so you can praise him when he finishes in his designated area.

House training your pooch takes time and patience. But, once he learns to adopt the proper behavior and use the area you have set aside for him, he’s unlikely to have another accident.

The family dog has limited means of communciation to express his intentions or ideas. Aside from whining, howling, and growling, he can bark. The problem is, your pooch’s barking as a means of expressing himself can leave you, your family, and your neighbors, feeling rattled. If he does it excessively, it can quickly become a problem.

Despite the annoyance of excessive barking, most of us want our canines to warn us of intruders or imminent danger. The challenge is to find a balance. Below, we’ll take a closer look at the most common reasons dogs bark. By understanding the catalysts, you’ll find it easier to influence - and curb - the behavior.

A Warning Of Potential Danger

Keep in mind from past articles that dogs are territorial animals. Your dog views you as his pack leader, and your home as the pack’s territory. This is the reason he barks when someone knocks at your door or rings your doorbell. The dog is alerting you that someone (i.e. a possibly intruder) is close by.

Should you have to leave him home alone, he will become the self-appointed guardian of the pack territory. If someone approaches, he will bark to let them know he is willing to protect what is his.

Anxiety Or Excitement

A lot of canines suffer from separation anxiety and will start barking when their owners leave them behind. Their bark is usually accompanied by a whine. In some cases, canines bark while they’re playing with people or other pets. This is most common with pups because they’re easily excitable.

When He Wants Your Attention

Your pooch loves your attention, and he’ll go to great lengths in order to get it. While some canines are content to sit near their owners, others will bark as if to say, “Hey! Pay attention to me.”

Your dog might bark at you for a number of reasons. For example, he may want to be let out, played with or even cuddled with. He might also vocalize excitedly when he knows you’re preparing to take him for a walk.

How To Curb Excessive Barking

A positive approach that rewards good behavior is far more effective than punishing your dog for unacceptable behavior. First, make sure he has an outlet for daily exercise. Two walks each day should be sufficient for helping him expend his pent-up energy.

Second, avoid petting him when he’s barking. That sends him the message that you find his behavior acceptable, and are rewarding him for it. Instead, require him to “sit” or “stay” and give him a treat when he has stopped barking. He’ll gradually make the connection that his silence is likely to earn him a treat.

Third, if you can identify any potential threat that might by inciting your canine to park, try to desensitize him to it. For example, allow him to greet friends who visit your home, so he understands that a knock on your door does not necessarily represent a danger. Also, take him to a park where he can grow accustomed to passersby and their pets.

Your dog’s excessive barking will eventually become annoying to you and your neighbors. Once you determine why your pooch is doing it, you can take measures to slowly modify the behavior.  You can also use dog treats to reinforce good behavior.

The U.S. CDC states that one of four Americans are overweight. The eye-opening thing is that dog obesity is about the same as that statistic, if not worse. I wonder what some of the major reasons for the incredible amount of dog obesity could possibly be? Yes, thats right, its the dog food!

Natura Pet Products Company lead Veterinary Nutritionist, Dr. Sean Delaney, states “The debate among veterinarians is that pet food is to blame”. Canine obesity is fastly turning into the major cause of a lot of the diseases our canine friends experience. Premature dog deaths are also due mainly to canine obesity. However, as said by Dr. Delaney, dog obesity is absolutely preventable.

Most of today’s dog food brands are basically the same as feeding your dog fast food every day. And, a lot of us actually overfeed our dogs, knowingly or unknowingly, which adds to the epidemic of dog obesity. It only takes about 10 extra calories a day in your dogs diet to have him gain 1 extra pound of fat per year. Portion control is key to preventing dog obesity. Call up or visit your Vet and ask him or her if you’re giving the right amount of healthy dog food to your dog.

Healthy dog food is crucial to preventing dog obesity. For the most part, the majority of major commercial dog food makers make food that is unhealthy for your canine friend. Therefore its critically important that you find out if the brand your dog is eating everyday is truly healthy or really just disguised fast food for dogs. Try not to be persuaded by the major dog food company marketing gimmicks, these companies are marketing professionals. Find out for yourself.

So the two major secrets to preventing dog obesity are portion control and the type of dog food you feed your dog! And don’t forget, exercise is a close third.

What Your Dog Says With His Eyes

Your dog has emotions and feelings just like you. At any given time, he’ll try to communicate them with his body language and expressions. Most owners never learn to identify these signs; the fact that their pooch is sad, anxious, mad, or happy completely escapes them. As a result, they often fail to give the attention their pets need or crave.

The good news is that you can easily recognize the emotions your canine is feeling by watching his eyes. If you know what to look for, not only will you be able to recognize signals, but you’ll also be able to interpret them accurately. In this article, we’ll give you a crash course on how to read and decipher what your pooch is trying to tell you with his looks.

Looking For Signals

Most of us are accustomed to inferring intention and meaning from watching the faces of our friends and family. Slight changes or nuances alert us to specific feelings. For the most part, this is a learned trait. Since he can’t talk, you can learn to do the same by identifying the signals he uses to express his feelings.

In the same way people can open their eyes wide and shut them, so too, can your canine. Remember that shape varies according to breed. If your dog opens his eyes wide, it is usually a sign that he feels vulnerable. That can include feeling stressed or scared regarding something he finds threatening. He might express these same emotions by squinting a bit, though this might also suggest that he is being submissive to you.

The manner in which he is looking at - or away - from you will also suggest emotions and intent. If a dog stares at you with an intense, anxious look he probably perceives you as a threat. This should not be mistaken for a friendly dog that is looking at his owner and craves his attention. If a canine looks away from you, that usually signals he wants to be submissive.

If he is looking at you from the corners of his eyes and you notice a large amount of white, be wary. There is a chance he either perceives you as a threat or is highly agitated. In both cases, he might respond aggressively. It’s common for dogs to do this when you approach them while they’re eating or playing with their favorite toy. This is another signal that is often misinterpreted. If your canine is looking up at you or from the side, seeing the sclera (the white area) of his eyes may not connote aggression. It is easy to tell the difference - his body will not be tense.

Owners who take the time to learn how to read their dogs’ eyes will benefit from understanding their feelings. Remember, the only way your pooch can communicate with you is through nonverbal means. Learning how to identify them will strengthen the friendship you share. Remember to give your dog health dog treats and dog chews