How to Run With Your Dog

Check with your veterinarian before starting your dog on an exercise program. Make sure running is the right kind of exercise for your dog.

Warm up your dog. Put the animal through a few sprints to loosen up her muscles and get her heart pumping. Dogs may show signs of stiff-ness after the initial run, just like humans.

Build up slowly, and watch for signs of fatigue. If your dog lies down during a workout, end the session.

Keep water on hand before, during and after a workout.

Watch the running surface. If your dog is not accustomed to running on pavement, build up gradually.

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How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth

Brushing Your Dog's Teeth

Training Your Dog to Use a Dog Bed

If you start right out teaching your dog to sleep in her bed while she is still a puppy, you won't have any problems when she grows older. However, this article will work equally as well for those of you who have older dogs, and are facing first-time dog bed training issues as well.

Understanding the Natural Denning Instinct

As with any dog training exercise, results are gained more quickly if you work with a dog's natural instinct rather than against it. Wild dogs will always try to find a sleeping den that is safe, warm, and dry. When puppies are born in the wild, the mother always seeks out a safe and cozy den for the birthing. She teaches them to keep the den clean by correcting them if they use it for a bathroom. Understanding that domestic dogs have these same instincts will help make the dog training process go more smoothly.

Selecting a Location

The dog bed should be placed in an area that is safe, warm, and dry. Try to keep it away from common areas where there may be loud noises and constant interruptions. Keep the bed away from drafty areas or areas that receive direct airflow from your home's heating or cooling vents. It is OK to place the bed in the same area where your dog eats as long as that area meets the conditions that I just outlined.

Pre-Conditioning the Bed

The dog's sense of smell is an all-powerful motivator. She uses it to detect food, danger, friend and foe. The most important use, as far as bed training is concerned, is that she uses it to detect the "Alpha Male" or "Alpha Female" in her "pack". Since her pack is your family, and the alpha male or female is the family member who the dog thinks of as the "boss", your sent means a lot to her. She knows that you represent food, protection, fun, and love. As a result, your scent is soothing to her. You can take advantage of that by placing your scent on the bed before your dog uses it for the first time. Here's how:

Remove the bedding and rub it up against your skin. The goal here is to transfer your odor to the fabric. If you're a bit hot and sweaty, so much the better. Don't be afraid to really rub your scent into the fabric, your dog is going to derive great comfort from the scent. Next, rub your hands along any railings or non-fabric pieces that make up the bed. Again your goal is to transfer your scent.

Once you have permeated the bed with your scent, allow other family members to do the same. Your dog's nose is keen enough to pick out each of the individual scents and will immediately recognize that this new object "belongs" here and that all of the members of her pack have visited it.

Leading Your Dog to the Dog Bed

Once you have pre-conditioned the bed, take a few of your dog's favorite toys and place them into the bed. Call your dog to the bed and point to the toys and get her interested in sniffing around the toys and bed. Pat your hand and try to get her to hop into the bed. If she won't then pick her up and gently place her into the bed. She does not have to lie down yet. Your goal here is just to get her interested in the scents and to add her own scent to the mixture.

Once she is in the bed, praise her with "Good dog" or whatever your usual praising terms are. Touch and rub the bed and bedding while you pet her, or rub her head, or scratch her behind the ears. Your goal in this step is to have her associate the bed with love and pleasure.

As you continue to praise and pet, have her lie down in the bed. Continue to praise and pet so she will be relaxed and unafraid. Lie down on the floor next to her and continue to praise and pet. Keep this up for a few minutes and then gradually walk away. She may stay or she may hop out. Either way is no problem.

Bed Time

When your dog appears to be ready to lie down for the night call her to the bed and repeat all of the steps above. make sure that her favorite toys or blanket are in the bed. Lie down with her, if possible, until she falls asleep. If she refuses to sleep in the bed at first, do not discipline her. Take your time and repeat the procedure every day until she gets the hang of it. It could take up to a week, or more, for her to start thinking of her new dog bed as her own cozy den.

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How to Walk your dog

Walking a dog is a daily task. It is super fun for you and your dog and is a way to keep your dog healthy. It should also bring you and your special friend closer. Here's step by step ways to walk your dog!

1)

You'll need a dog leash and collar You can get those at your nearest pet shop, or you can order it online. Make sure the collar fits the dog ,and it should be no tighter than when you put two fingers in it, however it not be too loose, either. Commonly, a leash will be 6 feet, which is the industry standard.. This should be okay for most dogs and dog owners, and there should be no need to buy a longer leash. If you are purchasing a retractable leash, make sure your dog is obedient enough to walk on a standard leash.

2)

Attach the collar to your dog, then put the leash on the collar's D-ring. If you have a standard leash, make sure you hold it correctly. Place your hand through the hole as if it is a bracelet, and then grip the leash. Also, if your dog has a tendency to pull, you may want a harness, which can be purchased at pet shops or online. A harness is beneficial because it does not choke your dog, and allows the pulling weight to be distributed across his chest and shoulders.

3) 

At first when your dog/puppy is first learning how to be on a leash, be very kind and supportive. If the dog doesn't know what to do, show it. To do that, show the dog that you're going to take it slow at first; Let the dog lead you first. After a while, you can lead the dog instead.

4)

"Talk" to your dog. Always praise your dog for just walking with you and doing their business.

5)

Take your dog out to a fun place! A park, a lake, a pet store etc. Don't walk your dog to the vets or on the next walk, it might be scared or upset.

6)

Walk with an even pace. Not too slow or too fast.

7)

Keep the dog's attention If the dog gets distracted, make a noise that will bring the dog back to you.

8)

Don't let the dog leave your side If the dog gets in front of you, stop moving completely and wait for the dog to stop too.

9)

Walk to the dog's side while it's still not moving and start walking together beside each other.

10)

Have fun! Walking is one of the joys of having a dog; you have some relaxation time, your dog can socialize, and if you see your friends; have a little chat.

11)

Make sure that if your dog decides to do its buisness on the walk, that you pick it up! It is an offence not to pick up your dogs mess. You can buy handy little bags from a pet store especially for picking up dog poop, or recycle your plastic grocery bags and use them as doggy-doo bags. Always remember to place your hand inside the bag so your hand never makes contact with the doggy-doo.

12)

At the end of the walk, praise your dog and give him a treat once you arrive back home. It is easy to carry a small, light over-the-shoulder purse with many bags for your dog-doo cleanup, small treats, and water bottles (one for you, and one for your dog). They make special water bottles dogs that you can purchase at a pet store, or online.

Related Video: http://www.5min.com/Video/The-Basics-of-Dog-Walking-5773

Dog Products: http://www.scruffmacduff.co.uk

Article by: http://www.wikihow.com/Walk-a-Dog

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