Boston Terrier Gifts

Dog Training Videos
So what is dog training really all about? The following report includes some fascinating information about dog training--info you can use, not just the old stuff they used to tell you.



Sometimes the most important aspects of a subject are not immediately obvious. Keep reading to get the complete picture.

Dog training is the oldest and probably the most common solution to bridge the understanding gap between people and dogs as their best friends. There are plenty of solutions to help dog owners train their animals, and one of the most popular is the dog training video. Sold online or in special pet stores, dog training videos provide comprehensive techniques and tricks that can turn the most disobedient of animals into an obedience example. People often prefer dog training videos to individual trainers for a variety of reasons.

First of all, there is the money issue; dog training videos are a lot cheaper than special training classes. Furthermore, many dog owners want to be actively involved in the training process; thus, with the help of a dog training video they can exploit the two sides of the experience: the fun part and the practical one. When you’ve got a puppy, it is all the more rewarding for you to be the one to train it how to target focus or fetch and retrieve. Dog training videos come with very professional solutions that can be put to practice by people who don’t have a clue on the subject.

The lessons presented by dog training videos are gradual and take you step by step to achieve the behavior patterns you want for your pet. It is a good idea that you watch every training stage on the dog training video, several times. Then you have to put into practice with your dog. Of course results appear in time, but make sure you are persistent in exercises; skills must be used, otherwise they’re wasted. Some other member of the family may get involved too, watch the dog training video together and exchange opinions. However, only one trainer should work with the dog at a time, in order not to create confusion.

Keep in mind that all the tips presented on a dog training video need to be integrated in the special context of your house. Avoid giving your pet conflicting orders and don’t use too complex linguistic structure. As you’ll learn from any dog training video, short words like ‘sit’ or ‘down’ are most effective, not to mention that the dog is receptive first and foremost to the voice pitch. Therefore, you don’t need a dog training video to tell you that animals are susceptible to raised voice for instance and they become defensive. Good luck!

There's a lot to understand about dog training. We were able to provide you with some of the facts above, but there is still plenty more to write about in subsequent articles.

Article Written By J. Foley

Article Written By J. Foley Checkout These Great Dog Training Videos : http://tinyurl.com/297ab3

Keeping Your Pit Bull Away From Fights With Other Dogs
Even if you feel confident that your Pit Bull and your other dogs are getting along well, it is still wise to separate them when you are not around to supervise. Little fights can and do happen, no matter how great they are getting along. Spats can occur over possession and control of toys or one dog can irritate the other, which can lead to a violent fight. Unlike humans, dogs cannot choose to be polite and back off during a disagreement so do not give them a chance to get a fight started. All dogs and especially your Pit Bull have the potential to get into a violent fight. The difference between your two breeds is that your Pit Bull was bred for many generations to win them. Even if you are successful in maintaining peace between your Pit Bull and your other dog, it is more difficult to control aggression between your Pit Bull and strange dogs, particularly if you have a male Pit Bull. Although neutering your dogs help prevent aggression, it is never a guaranteed cure. The most effective solution is to always use a leash when walking your Pit Bull and try to avoid other dogs as much as possible. Also, when taking your male Pit Bull out for a walk, do not allow him to urinate on trees or any objects that are sitting along your path. Doing so allow him to claim that object as his territory and is more likely to defend it. In addition, you need to train your dog the basic commands including the “come�, “stay�, and “sit� commands. And do not forget to carry some dog treats with you. Every time your dog sees another dog, have him perform these commands and reward him right after the exercise. Never wait for him to act aggressively to the other dog to give your commands. This will only make him think that you are rewarding him for his aggressive actions. Many dog owners try to stop their dog’s aggressive behaviors by speaking to them softly and petting them. This practice is usually not effective because it only gives the dog the impression that what he is doing is an acceptable behavior. In addition, speaking to him in a gentle voice encourages him to be aggressive. On the other hand, you should not scream and yell either. Doing so will give your dog the message that you are including yourself in the fight and are also attacking the other dog. For the same reason, do not run to the other dog or your Pit Bull will think that you are starting to attack and your dog will be more than happy to join you. Keeping in mind about your Pit Bull’s origin can help you control him and prevent aggressive behavior from ever surfacing. Remember, a confident Pit Bull has no motive to start a fight and most of them get along very well with other pets. In fact, Pit Bulls are among the most responsive of dogs. With proper and positive training, you will be able to control your dog’s aggressive behavior because there is nothing more important to him than obeying his owner’s commands. Article Written By J. Foley http://travelguy.typepad.com/just_about_dogs

John Foley,Dog Trainer, Dog Walker & Dog Sitter. If I can Answer Any Questions You Have. Email me jackstunes2003@yahoo.com http://travelguy.typepad.com/just_about_dogs

puppy potty training,dog potty training
Housetraining-Puppy2


Bringing a puppy or an adult dog home is as great a responsibility as bringing home a newborn child. You need to train it really early to get the best out of it. And, as you will agree with me, it is always better to catch it young and watch it grow into a well-trained dog.

Two of the most practiced housetraining methods are the Crate training and the Paper training methods. Let me share some valuable information on both the training methods with you.

Crate Training

It is advisable to put a new puppy or dog in a crate so that it learns from the very beginning that the entire house is not its playground. It may seem harsh when you see the tiny little thing trying very hard to make its way out of the crate. Hold on! One mistake at this stage will make you repent for the rest of your life.

The crate also makes you mobile with your Dog. Your dog can easily be taken for a trip if it stays in the crate. Moreover, it is also safe in households where dogs are not that welcome.

Most importantly, the crate marks your dog's territory for good. Now, your Dog will not understand on its own that the crate is its home. You need to train it that way.

How do you do that?

The Crate training process needs a lot of patience, persistence and pain. Firstly, you need to select the right crate for your Dog. It should be spacious, comfortable and (as per your requirement) portable.
Secondly, positioning the crate is vital. Many behavioral problems may or may not arise, depending on where you place the crate in your house. Make sure to place it in a room where the family spends most of the time. As a result, your Dog will not feel isolated and neglected.
A soft towel or blanket on the floor of the crate will make your dog more comfortable. Your dog should associate pleasant things with the crate. Offer treats and say sweet nothings to your dog as soon as it goes near the crate. Place food near or just inside the crate. If your dog crosses the door, repeat the act by placing the food further inside. Repeat this exercise till your Dog associates the crate with food (even if the latter is placed way inside the crate).
Next, your dog needs to stay inside the crate for the whole day. This will not be possible in a day. This needs a lot of practice and training. You have to begin this exercise by keeping your dog inside the crate only for a few minutes in the beginning. Leave the room instantly. Return after a few minutes to see how it copes with your absence. Gradually, stay away from the room for longer periods of time. By doing this, you are conditioning your Dog to your absence.
Your dog also needs to follow the command to enter the crate when you want him to do so. Again, your dog needs to stay inside the crate at night. I would advise you to place the crate in your bedroom or very near it, in the very beginning. Slowly, move the crate away and place it where you want your dog to sleep. Make sure it is easy for your dog to get out and eliminate at night.
Despite all the advantages of crate training, keeping the Dog in the crate for very long has its own share of problems. The crate is basically a medium of confinement. Too long a confinement takes it toll on your dog's physical and emotional needs. Puppies should never be kept in the crate for more than three or four hours in a day. This is because they have little control over their bowels and bladders. Once they associate the crate with elimination, you will have a tough time dealing with the exercise again.

I hope this information is useful to all dogowners.

Next, I will share some information about the Paper training method.

Paper Training

Paper training a dog is usually practiced by dogowners who stay out of the house for very long and for those who live on umpteenth floors of sky-ripping highrises. I would suggest all dogowners to use newspapers because of two main reasons. Firstly, they are cheap and can therefore be thrown away after every use. Secondly, the paper quality is such that it makes a very good absorbent.

What you do is very simple.

It has a lot to do with the conditioning of the dog to a particular place and object. You begin with papering the entire room except your dog's sleeping area. Instinctively, your Dog wouldn't like to eliminate where it sleeps. It will go to the papered area on its own.
Every dog chooses its area of elimination. Getting used to eliminate on paper and doing it at one particular place needs several weeks. Don't rush. Your dog will make mistakes in the beginning. Don't scold it. Be stern and order it to do it only on the paper. Once your dog decides on its area of elimination, slowly begin to reduce the papered area in the room.
Remember to take the process really slow. Keep enough area around its chosen place of elimination papered. Praise your dog and offer treats whenever it eliminates on the newspaper. It will soon associate elimination on newspaper with treats. This will make the training easier.
After quite some time, when you are absolutely sure that your Dog will only eliminate on paper, slowly move the paper (by half an inch a day) towards the place where you would like it to eliminate. In case of mistakes, use an odor neutralizer to do away with the scent of waste. By doing this, you disassociate other parts of the room with elimination.
However, paper training is always not seen as the best method of housetraining a dog. This is especially true for large breeds of dogs. If left to themselves in the house for too long, large dogs may see the entire house as their playground and they may eliminate anywhere, anytime.

I hope this information will be useful to all you dog owners.

Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog. DogPottyTrain.com one of her sites has the aim to promote public interest in Dogs and convey by all possible means varied house training techniques for adult dogs and puppies. Anybody is free to use the article in their website as long as an acknowledgement is given Nancy Richards' and a link to the site www.dogpottytrain.com

Boston Terrier Pictures From Loving Owners
Take a look at these boston terrier pictures sent in by their proud owners. You can't help but fall in love with them.

adotion of a dog or puppy
Spay and Neuter surgery has long been regarded as an extremely useful method of controlling the pet population. Naturally, no one wishes to have a very large number of puppies which finally end up in animal shelters for adoption or worse, for euthanisation. And neutering or sterilizing the pets ensures that this unhappy process does not occur. Many shelters make it a policy to neuter the animals under their care before they make them available for adoption and some others which do not do so, nonetheless require that the puppies which are supplied by them are sterilized by their owners after they take them home.
There are advocacy groups which have been demanding that all dogs be neutered/spayed unless the owners buy permission from the authorities not to do so. And there are less radical forums who, to avoid unwanted litters, advocate that dog shelters necessarily sterilize each and every dog that they send out into the wider world.

Then, of course, there are the opposing factions who are vocal in their insistence that legislation requiring sterilizing on a large scale is an infringement of the rights of pet owners. That they must be left to decide for themselves whether their dog requires to be spayed/neutered or not. Many others think that sterilization is cruel. They project their own feelings about the loss of reproductive capacity on their pets. Many male dog owners have problems in dealing with the neutering of their male dogs.

So where does one turn? Is it a good policy to sterilize your dog or isn't it? One can't but pay heed to the anti-sterilizing brigade who, apart from the views expressed in the last paragraph, also forward the notion that neutering a male dog turns him into a sissy. And as for the females; they turn fat and lazy if they are spayed and lament their lost capacity.

Let's attempt to cut through the layers of pros and cons in viewpoints to see if we can come to a rational conclusion about this issue.

Generally, it has been found that a pet owner would have an easier time of it with a sterilized animal rather than an unneutered/unspayed one. A dog that has been sterilized will live a longer life, more free of illnesses than one which hasn't. Naturally, the benefits to his owner are immense. He will not be beset with problems regarding the health of his dog as frequently as he would otherwise have been. And the pressure on his wallet would consequently be much less as he would not have to visit the vet as frequently as he would have to with an unsterilized dog.

A dog that has been sterilized has been found to be more affectionate and loyal and to also show less of a tendency to roam or run away. Obviously, these characteristics make them much more desirable to keep as pets. Which pet parent wouldn't like his dog to reciprocate the deep affection that he feels for his adopted doggy friend? And which owner would want to constantly be in a state of tension fearing his dog might run away at any time.

The other positive that emerges from sterilizing a dog is that he displays far fewer behavioral and temperamental problems than an unsterilized dog does. Psychologists have been delving into the phenomenon as to why sterilized dogs tend not to mark, bite or growl as much as unsterilized ones do. There is obviously a link between these two circumstances but dog psychologists haven't, as yet, been able to work out why.

We will now talk about the different ways sterilizing affects male dogs and females. Male dogs, once neutered, will generally not get into fights with other males. Therefore, the chances of their getting injured become considerably less just as the possibility of injuring someone else's pet also becomes remote. They will be less prone to embarrass everyone in sight by mounting people, other animals or furniture. And a bitch in heat in the neighborhood won't send him into a paroxysm of frustration. They will be far easier to train largely because they will not be interested in every passing dog as they will be more keen to please you.

As for the female of the species, they will obviously not get the heat cycles for three weeks every six months as intact females do. This is better than it sounds because you will not have to bear the constant whimpering and fussing that normally accompany these periods. There will not be the mess of blood everywhere nor the stink which accompanies it and you will not have all the male dogs of the neighborhood come visiting. Spayed females will never be stricken with ovarian or uterine cancer as both the ovaries and uterus are removed. And, strangely enough, spayed females will develop a "mothering" nature and will adopt another dog or even a child and become very attentive to them.

These then are the basic reasons for spaying/neutering your dog. While some forums will keep protesting about the infringement of their rights, all said and done, it is better to spay/neuter your pet and have him/her lead a far happier and trouble-free life than if they were intact.

Learn all about Dog
Adoption from the unique e-book Super Dogs and
Puppies.

If you are searching for spaying and neutering, learn how to do it the right way.

Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog.

Dob Obediance Training - How Important Is It?
Few relationships are as delightful as the one shared by a dog and his master. Dogs are intriguing and fascinating animals and they make wonderful household members if you understand their unique personalities, behavior traits and how to overcome any behavioural problems that they may have.

Dog obediance training doesn't solve all dog behaviour problems, but it is the foundation for solving most behaviour problems your dog may have. Nearly all dog behaviour problems are perfectly normal canine activities that, unfortunately, occur at the wrong time or place or are directed at the wrong thing. The main key to preventing or treating dog behaviour problems is learning to teach the dog to redirect his natural behaviour towards outlets that are acceptable in the domestic setting.

Dog obediance training helps to establish the owner in the role of pack leader, and lays down clear behaviour guidelines that the pack can follow. The capacity for a dog to learn basic obedianceâ€"and even complicated behaviourâ€"is an inherent trait in all dogs. Try respecting your dog's behaviour and act accordingly at the initial stage. Try to praise him for good behaviour instead of chastising him for bad behavior. This, in turn, lets your dog know the proper response (behaviour) that you expect, in place of socially inappropriate behavior.

Most dog behaviour problems can be solved through proven dog behaviour or dog obediance training techniques. You may be surprised to find, that many behavioural problems will be eliminated simply by channeling your dog's energy into obediance training. Dog obediance training involves both the dog and the owner and teaches them to efficiently communicate with each other. Dog obediance training is important for the safety of the dog, his handler, and those around him. Obediance training of your dog requires a lot of patience from your side. It should be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your dog.

So, whether your dog is jumping up, barking, or digging, these problems can be worked through in your dog’s real life environment â€" his home. Without tried and tested dog obediance training, dog behaviour problems will develop. A well-socialised and trained dog is less likely to develop these problems.

There are several types of dog obediance training and there are amazing resources available online and elsewhere which provide excellent dog obediance training techniques to help you fix any dog behaviour problem.

Here's 1 fantastic resource....Try this FREE 6 Day Dog Obediance Training course and put an end to the stress and annoyance of your dog's behaviour problems.
http://sallen67.sitstay.hop.clickbank.net/

My name is Shelley Allen and I am a freelance writer who enjoys writing about most things. You may reproduce this article in its entirety provided my resource box is included.

Wobbler's syndrome
The Doberman Pinscher, bred to be an outstanding guard-dog, is very energetic. The Doberman, unfriendly and ferocious as it might seem, loves to be physically close to its family members.

Highly intelligent, fearless and loyal, the Dobe needs an owner that is willing to discipline him without being afraid of him. He needs to be properly socialized to prevent over-protectiveness.

This breed needs consistent mental stimulation through positive reinforcement to stay happy and in good health.

The Doberman is generally healthy. You would hardly ever find him giving in to temperature differences or to mild ailments. All it takes are quick medication and appropriate exercise to get him back on his feet.

However, cervical spondilytis due to fusion of neck vertebrae and compression of spinal cord, commonly referred to as the “Wobbler’s syndrome� might affect this dog. This disorder is rampant among these dogs and starting with the hind legs, it might even lead to complete dysfunction of all four limbs.

The common symptoms are a wobbly gait, (which gives the disorder its name), a stilted manner of walking on the front feet, a dragging of the hind feet, severe neck pain and the neck hanging in a downward position.

These symptoms might even grow into the worst possible situation where the dog would be rendered completely motionless.

Commonly seen in older Dobermans, from 3 to 8 years of age, it is known to have affected smaller dogs as well. The younger dogs may often die as a result of this disorder, as they are less capable of coping with it. The spinal cord compression occurs mostly in the vertebrae c5, c6, and c7.

There are treatments to take care of this disorder but it depends on the severity of the spinal compression. Cortisone treatment helps reduce inflammation of the spinal cord, while acupuncture is said to work as a pain relief. Chiropractic adjustment too cannot be ruled out but it might lead to severe complications in certain cases.

In severe cases, surgery would be the most plausible resort, but one is advised to always to go in for a MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) before doing a surgery.
An alternative to surgery is Gold Beads Implant, when magnetically charged gold plated
Beads are implanted in the dog wherever pain needs to be relieved.

The major cause of Wobblers Syndrome is yet to be known but some of the causes are
genetics, conformation of the neck, malnutrition, or injury.

Preventative breeding can be an option but because dogs don’t show symptoms before their breeding age, it cannot be entirely relied on. Therefore, one can only gather complete information on Wobblers in Pedigrees and thus, breed responsibly, so that one can get a perfectly healthy Doberman later.

Learn all about Dog
Adoption from the unique e-book Super Dogs and
Puppies.

If you are searching for WOBBLERS SYNDROME, learn about it here.

: Nancy Richards has been a dog lover for the past 12 years. She has owned and handled dogs of different ages and have helped many fellow owners in training their dog

Why not to train your dog: 5 of the best excuses.
There are almost as many dog-training excuses as there are dog owners. Here are five of my particular favourites - not because they justify not training a dog, but because they show how poorly people understand dog training, and dog training methods. 1) I don't want to break my dog's spirit. Many people cite examples of listless dogs or dogs that won't do anything unless told. In 20 years of handling dogs, I don't think I've ever met any of these mythical dogs â€" except where the dog has no stimulation at all, he will always be excited and pleased to be rewarded for doing what he's told. This does not make a dog listless or unhappy â€" it gives him purpose and rewards thinking! Beating a dog will break his spirit and make him afraid of doing wrong, but this is not training. Beating does not teach him obedience, it just teaches him fear. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the dog cowering at the end of his lead as his owner shouts at him has been 'trained'. Far from it. He has possibly been abused. 2) She's such lovely dog: I wouldn't change her for the world! Lovely dogs are lovely despite not being trained, rather than because they're not trained. Exceptionally lucky owners may have a lovely dog who doesn't bark much, who avoid people who are afraid of them, who never chew things, and may not even pull at the lead. But dogs are pack animals, and need rules to live by, and a leader to look up to. Training will not change your lovely dog's personality, but will help her to understand life, make her more content and an even better companion. Actually, most people who wouldn't change anything put up with a lot of inconvenience to 'keep their dog's personality'. 3) I don't have time to train him. Why do we have dogs? A dog is a living, breathing, thinking being that needs stimulation, play, exercise and companionship. All of these needs can be answered through training, which strengthens the bond between us and our animals, giving us both what we need. Better still, the very activities that make our dogs the perfect pets are the best activities to use to train him. If you spend time with your dog, you have time to train him. If you don't spend time with your dog, maybe it's time to consider whether a dog is the best pet for you. 4) He's only a puppy â€" I'll train him when he's older. No, no, no, no! Would you wait for a child to go to school before teaching them to speak, or before potty training them? Dog training isn't a chore for the puppy! Dog training is fun and fulfilling, and the training gives your puppy something to occupy their mind. Pet your puppy when she comes to you; make a fuss of her and give her titbits when she brings you a slipper, or a piece of paper off the floor! The more enthusiastic you are when she sits, the more she'll love to sit for you. The more she loves coming to you for praise, the more likely she is to leave Mrs Smith's cat alone when you call her. Train her now, or you may be paying for it for the rest of her life. 5) He's well behaved anyway The dog is a pack animal. A pack has a leader and followers of various importance. If you don't take the responsibility of leadership, your dog may may feel he has to. This will be stressful for him and for you. If you don't set the rules, your dog will, and you may not like them! Your dog should be a relaxing companion, not an adversary, a boss or a burden.

Justin Davies has been involved with dogs and their training for over 20 years and writes dog training articles for <a href="http://www.best4dogtraining.com">www.best4dogtraining.com</a>. For more information on training your dog, go to <a href="http://www.newdogtrainingmethods.info">www.newdogtrainingmethods.info</a>

dog adoption costs
Before you decide to bring a dog home, it is absolutely essential that you give some thought to the costs that you will be incurring in the process. It’s not the purchase alone, though even that is likely to be expensive in the case of some superior breeds of dogs, but also the cost of the equipments you will have to buy to make your home habitable for your pet. Then there are the visits to the vet, which have to be regularly made, and the expensive vaccinations, which the puppy has to be given. So, all in all, you will have to make pretty sure that your wallet can take the beating before you bring your doggy home.

What then, are the costs, and how much are they? Let’s start at the beginning. You have to buy the dog unless you are lucky enough to have it presented to you by a friend or a family member and the cost of this initial purchase can vary very widely. The variance will firstly depend on the type of dog you are buying. A purebred “companion only� puppy usually starts from around $800 but can go up to astronomical amounts for rare or exotic breeds. If you prefer to adopt a non-purebred variety from a shelter, it will cost you from around $150 to $300.

Costs also differ in different geographic locations so it is difficult for us to tell you of one fixed sum that you will have to pay for any given variety of dog. Visit the sources in your locality from where people normally buy dogs and check on the prices. And this includes the internet. After some queries on your part, you will be able to come to a fix on what your desired dog costs.

Now that you’ve got your dog, it’s time to look at the other costs you will have to start to incur. Let’s start with the one - time costs.

One Time Costs Average Cost
Fence $300 - $1500
Bowls $25
Collar $6
Training Collar $10
Leash $12
Bed $40
Crate $100
Brush/Grooming tools $20
Shampoo/ Coat care $15
Neuter/ Spay ( Based on weight ) $300
Microchip $50



Then there are the annual costs, which you have to be prepared for. I enumerate them below:

Vaccinations $185
Heartworm Test $35
Heartworm Preventive $65
Flea/Tick Preventive $120
Food $480
Toys/Treats $45
Tag $5

And then there are other costs:

Boarding â€" per day ( with 2 playtimes ) $25
Grooming â€" per time $50
Training classes ( Per 6-8 classes ) $100
Individual training ( Per session ) $100



And remember, this list is for grown up dogs and not puppies. If it’s a puppy you are adopting, the costs increase. There’s a check up, a series of 4 sets of vaccines, worming, heartworm tests, all of which will cost you close to $300. Then there is puppy food, which will set you back around $450 and toys/treats, which will cost approximately $65.

So, as you will have counted up from the figures given above, in the first year, you will be spending approximately $1500 to $2500 over and above the cost of buying your dog. After the first year, you will spend less per year â€" about $1000. Smaller dogs cost a bit less and larger dogs cost more.

Apart from all this, your dog will have lifelong healthcare needs. There will be shots and medicines you will be administering as preventive care and there will almost certainly be unexpected accidents, injuries or illnesses, however well you look after your dog.

It is therefore utterly essential that you objectively evaluate your budget and come to a decision as to whether you can really afford a dog. He will look to you for your support in all things and you owe it to him to give him, not only your love, but proper care, food and medical attention. These don’t come free â€" so ask yourself whether you can afford to get that dog you always wanted. If you realize that you can’t, it’s best to do without, both for your sake and his.

Anybody is free to use the article in their website as long as an acknowledgement is given Nancy Richards' and a link to the site www.traindogsandpuppies.com

George and Gracie's Playhouse
Updated December 8th, 2005. George & Gracie's Playhouse. For the love of Boston Terrier dogs everywhere this website was created! A cyber dog run where cute dogs rule and ...