Archive for the ‘fun dog tricks’ Category

Valentines For Two: Love Me, Love My Dog

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

1279816216 65 Valentines For Two: Love Me, Love My Dog

When this Valentine’s Day comes around, will you find yourself dating two, such as someone with a dog? If that special someone is like me, they love their dog unconditionally. Why? One of the main reasons is that their dog feels the same way about them. in fact, all of us who are or want to be lovers should take a lesson in the courage, heart, and loyalty of dogs. With few exceptions,

*Dogs are loyal and would never desert you.

*Dogs want to cuddle with you all the time.

*Dogs cover you with kisses and don’t keep count if you don’t return the same amount of affection.

*A dog is the only animal that would risk its life to save yours.

Here are some ideas to make this Valentine’s Day one your beloved will never forget:

1. What are their favorite toys?

This Valentine’s Day you might look for dog toys that represent the holiday but also fit the imagination and activity of your two friends. how about a red Frisbee or ball that your date can throw for the dog? Don’t forget the red or heart-shaped squeaky toys that most dogs love. Every time your date and Fido go out to play and they toss your gift around, they will think of you.

2. how about their crockery or china?

Perhaps your date and the dog could use some new dishes? You could choose something with a valentine theme, or dishes that are red and white, or splurge on some china pieces (depending on his or her individual taste.) If your love interest has a teeny tiny dog, a special china or crystal bowl might be just the thing for a water or food dish. You could get something matching for your date, such as a crystal champagne flute or a china tea cup and saucer in the same pattern. This may sound over the top for a non-dog owner, but I promise…your date will love the thought and the gesture. If your date has a rambunctious animal, something inexpensive and plastic might be more appropriate.

3. What else do dogs and dog-lovers need?

The following objects can match or not match. Use your imagination:

*Pillows. A big pillow for the dog to sleep on, possibly with their name on it. A distinct couch pillow for your date, after you have paid attention to their individual taste.

*Blankets. Red and white blankets, with or without hearts will warm the heart of your date when he or she cuddles with the dog…each with their own coverlet.

*Jewelry. I was at a large dog show recently and I was amazed at the amount of jewelry choices for dogs. My best friend bought two outlandish collars for her teacup Poodle. Use your discretion and imagination.

*Leashes. Though dog owners never have enough leashes to keep in the house and the car for their dog, I doubt your date will warm to the idea of receiving a leash for him(her)self. Buy them something else like a belt or a purse.

*Treats. This Valentine’s gift is pretty universal. Chocolates for your love and doggie bones for the dog. and each time you visit, always have the dogs favorite treat in your pocket. You will make an outstanding hit with both of them.

Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day for two. because if you love me…you have to love my dog.

Valentines For Two: Love Me, Love My Dog

Saving Moms Sanity: Why A Rainy Day = Joy To My Dog!

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

1279798217 27 Saving Moms Sanity: Why A Rainy Day = Joy To My Dog! My dog must be one in a million! I never would have though she would enjoy a rainy day like she does. After a good rain she is just dieing to go out side. of coures I think she needs to go out to do her business now that the rain is over. I would be wrong!

She is killing me to go out because she wants to search for all the frogs and crawfish that come out after a good rain. The first thing she does is go to the edge of our property where we have a ditch dug to drain the water from our yard. she knows that the frogs hang out there and the crawfish aren’t far away.
The frogs apparently have a bad affect on her mouth when she licks them. they make her drool uncontrollably and still she doesn’t care. she plays with them until they are no longer able to hop or pretty much move. The crawfish are a different story though. they try to back up into the grass. she just digs them out. Then they stand up and try to pinch her with there claws. they usually make her holler a little when they grab her lips and hold on. You should see her swing them around. You can’t help but laugh and then wrought her on because after that bit of pain the crawfish just inflicted, you want her to win! and she does. she eats everything but the claws! she just leaves them there as if to say “Let this be a warning to all you other crawfish. I will get you too and your claws are no match for me!”

I have come to think that she is a cajun dog. only cajuns like crawfish that much! Here are a few pictures, so that you can see exactly what I’m talking about!

The Crawfish!

The Showdown!

The Crawfish has her by the lips!

But in the end the Dog WINNS!

Saving Moms Sanity: Why A Rainy Day = Joy To My Dog!

Nevada SPCA Animal Rescue: I am 8 pounds of unconditional love.

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

1279778420 93 Nevada SPCA Animal Rescue: I am 8 pounds of unconditional love.Mia yearns for a quieter home with a tender-hearted person (or couple) to help her feel safe and secure.

She is a very pretty, petite girl with a gentle spirit.

We rescued Mia from another shelter that had run out of space to keep her.

She is a Chihuahua, spayed, 5 years of age, and debuting for adoption today.

Mia likes other calm dogs and may do best in a home with another dog (or dogs).

Nevada SPCA Animal Rescue: I am 8 pounds of unconditional love.

Dog Obedience Training.Tips And Guides On Dog Obedience Training

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

1279769416 16 Dog Obedience Training.Tips And Guides On Dog Obedience Training

Dog Obedience Training.Tips And Guides On Dog Obedience Training

As we said earlier, dog obedience training is only part of the equation. Read on and follow some helpfull tips.

Always pick a dog that matches your lifestyle many people choose dogs that are “cute” or “funny”. or purchase them on a whim. but that is not a good way to choose a pet. a dog, depending on the breed, can be a 15 year relationship. you want to be sure that the temperament of your dog matches your lifestyle. So do your research and be honest about what kind of activity level you have in your life. Don’t get a dog that needs a lot of activity because you need a reason to take a walk and lose some weight. you and the dog will end up frustrated.

Always try to devote 10-15 minutes every day to training. This is all it takes to train a dog. any longer and your dog will become tired and resentful. any less and they will not retain the information as well. you need to have a light balance when it comes to dog obedience training.

There can only be one trainer. Dogs are pack animals and take direction only from the pack leader. a pack animals only have one leader. Determine who will be responsible for the dogs training and do not let anyone else teach the dog anything new until they have mastered the basics.

Name your dog with a practical name. the experts say that a dog’s name should end in a vowel because it is easier for them to understand. Don’t make it too fancy or long or the dog might not know you are talking to it. Short and sweet is always the way. Use the dog’s name often when you are patting it and when you are feeding it. do not use it as part of teaching them a new command or they may associate their name with that command instead. only use their name when attention is required. Train them to look at your face by saying their name and gently turning their face up toward yours. Ey contact is important. When you are training it is important that they have all their attention on you. Calling their name should mean “look at the pack leader”.

Once you have established your expectations with the dog, they need to be reinforced by everyone consistently but again, no one except the “pack leader” should ever train the dog.

Your first training should be learning to sleep in a crate you may think it’s cruel but in fact, dogs are den animals. They actually enjoy sleeping in a crate. When they are puppies, keep the crate very small so they cannot relieve themselves in it (animals generally will not relieve themselves where they sleep or eat). as they become housebroken, get them a crate that is comfortable and place it somewhere near where the family is. Keep the crate wherever the designated “pack leader” sleeps. Forcing a dog to sleep away from his “pack” confuses him and makes him think he has done something wrong. do not let the dog sleep in the bed with you until you have fully trained them to sleep in a crate. Breaking a dog of sleeping on the bed, once they are in that habit is almost impossible. Train your dog to use the crate by putting them in there for a few minutes at a time several times during the day, gradually increasing the time they spend in there until they are assured that you are eventually going to come and let them out.

Second lesson should be how to walk on a lead/leash This is important,especially if you do not have an enclosed yard. Your dog should understand that when they go outside, they are expected to behave while on the leash. there are many books and videos on training dogs to help you learn how to do this.

The third training lesson should be “whoa” or “stop” or whatever you want to use as a command for your dog to stop moving. This command is VERY important as it could save your dog’s life. do not rely on calling their name as a command to get them to stop. there may be times when you do not want them to come to you but instead stay right where they are. if you call their name, they may think you want them to come. some sort of stopping command should be taught even before “come”. there are many videos and books that can help you with this training.

Keep in mind that all dogs have different temperaments Just like kids, different breeds learn differently and at different rates. some dogs are stubborn and will challenge you at every turn. Others will just about bend over backwards to please you. you may need to adjust your training techniques to meet the need of your dogs temperament. This is another good reason why you should research a breed before you purchase or adopt a dog to be sure you can handle them.

Always reward success and good behavior with praise I don’t recommend using “treats” as a reward for training as it teaches them to work for the treat, not for your praise. if no treat is offered when they perform, they will become confused but praise can always be given.

Determine a “release” command for ending training When you are done training (and ended on a positive note) give your dog a command that signals you are finished. but make sure it’s not a common word. we made the mistake of using “okay” as a release command with our first dog and every time someone said it, she thought it was time to have fun and got all wound up!. Use a command like “Playtime” or “Recess” to let your dog know that the training part of the day is over and now they can just enjoy your company.

Always end your daily training sessions on a positive note if you have been trying to teach them something new and they are just not getting it, review something that they already do well and then praise them for that and end the session. Your dog will look forward to the training sessions if you always end positively, regardless of the success of that lesson. once the training is over, then it would be okay to give them “treats” or “cookies” as long as it’s not as a reward for an accomplishment. if the dog barks at you, then turn around, ignore it for 30 secs and when it stops, reward it. if a dog jumps on you and does not stop after you say stop, turn and say no in a firm tone. Remember! do not yell at a dog, it will not understand you and will continue to do the action, leading you to frustration.

Online training guides

What we have listed above are some training tips that are readily available on the web. these are just some tips which can help anyone with dog obedience training. However, if you need to learn more about dog obedience training, there are also many online guides which can greatly assist you in dog obedience training

Training an attack dog should be done under professional supervision with someone that knows the dog breed. find out more about training an attack dog with tips from an experienced dog trainer in this free video on dog obedience. Expert: Ty Brown Contact: communicanine.net Bio: Ty Brown has been a dog trainer for over 10 years. Filmmaker: Michael Burton

Dog Obedience Training.Tips And Guides On Dog Obedience Training

The Invisible Dog to Host Season-Closing Party This Sunday

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

1279747820 93 The Invisible Dog to Host Season Closing Party This Sunday

Everyone’s favorite neighborhood gallery/performance space/art studio the Invisible Dog at 51 Bergen Street is hosting a party this Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm to celebrate the end of their successful first season. This, straight from the dog’s mouth:

We will provide free wine as a thank you for your generous ongoing support.  You are invited to bring anything you please!  Food to grill in our newly opened garden, instruments to play and sing for our friends (yes, singers and musicians are more than welcome!), whatever you would like. the building will be open to all, including the exhibition space on the 3rd floor as well as the 1st floor space and the garden.

Additionally, as a very special one-day-event, the Recession Art show will inaugurate their new program of solo shows by presenting a piece by Recession Art Alumni Alison Wilder.  To be performed in the Invisible Dog’s elevator shaft, Wilder’s piece “Why neutral” conflates kitchen implements and celebration signage while doppelgangers provoke each other in the back yard. the installation includes sculpture by Alison Wilder, and video by Rachel Schragis and Alison Wilder.

Emmanuel Bernardoux, recent artist-in-residence at the Invisible Dog, just finished his experimental film thE cagE (E), shot entirely on location at the art center. Check it out!

    The Invisible Dog to Host Premiere of “Bay Rizz: the Man for You”If you see nothing, say SomethingA Closer Look at the Invisible DogBull and Bear Market

The Invisible Dog to Host Season-Closing Party This Sunday

Doggie Wabi Sabi: The Perfect Dog In An Imperfect World

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

1279744222 76 Doggie Wabi Sabi: The Perfect Dog In An Imperfect World

One morning, one of my favorite students asked me an interesting question. she asked me how do you create a perfect dog in a world where everyone is short on time, will, skill and money? when I asked her to describe the perfect dog, she told me that she wants a dog that will never sniff on a walk, will never jump on people, never steal food, never pull on a walk, never be bad.

Smiling, I remarked those are a lot of “nevers” for a dog to master. honestly, most people aren’t that well-mannered. The quest for perfection can be hard on dogs and people, alike. I added that perhaps the dog in his natural state of imperfection is good enough, and that the dog is fine just as he is. so, instead of striving for perfection, why not strive for Doggie Wabi Sabi, a state of appreciation for the dog’s appropriate imperfection?

Doggie Wabi Sabi is a philosophy of living with your dogs that takes into account their natural doggy imperfection. Dogs are creatures of rustic simplicity, endowed with understated elegance, bursting with quirks and endearing oddities that add to their uniqueness and instinctive appeal.

Enmeshed with this natural elegance is a genetic drive that makes a dog unique, the desire for emotional, energetic congruence with a matching energy source. if this wish for intimacy (joining up with the Alpha) is not fulfilled, even on occasion, then the dog turns inward, onto and into himself and in the end becomes something dark and dangerous.

So, what are the benefits of embracing Doggie Wabi Sabi? The first benefit is balance. Physical balance, emotional balance and mental balance. a balanced dog is unconsciously perfect everywhere, all the time, with everyone, due to emotional surrender to the leader. To the untrained eye, it seems as if the dog’s perfection is a result of a happy accident.

The second is fluidity. Living with a dog in the way of Doggie Wabi Sabi is living with the dog that is perfect according to the circumstances and in the context of other people, places and things; the appropriate irreducible minimum of suitable behavior. You don’t have to practice with this dog, you don’t have to go to classes, you just have to live as you wish with the dog all the time.

The third is facility. there are two guiding principles at work when using Doggie Wabi Sabi; resonance and magnetism. The principles of resonance dictate that like attracts like; and with magnetism, like repels like. I prefer that all teaching of the dog should be done according to the principles of resonance; the attraction of like to like. Resonance, or as I like to call it, FarFenflugle, as it is easily used in the real world and in real time. this technique energizes the dog’s first compelling genetic need; harmonize energetically, emotionally, with the leader.

We are so lucky that dogs are “all for one” creatures, and that for them belonging to the collective is more important than belonging to oneself. Personal liberty for man is a great gift, it is a slow death for a dog.

I have found that the American ideal of a perfect dog is an ideal of robotized mechanical perfection, a dog that does nothing at all, and most importantly, never does anything that a normal dog might do. Artificially induced non-action, is a burden, an affliction and an unfair punishment. this mindless, soulless, robot-like obedience has no relation to creating a dog that fits in with a modern urban lifestyle.

Traditional dog obedience training can be artificial; a time consuming affliction, in many cases a burden to dog and owner alike. Traditional dog obedience training, in most cases does not create dogs that are safer, friendlier and an asset to the community because generally the training environment seeks perfection; the perfect sit, the perfect stay, the perfect heel. The focus is on very specific, very artificial external skills, not emotional, mental,or energetic resonance with you and your life.

If the natural internal drives and instincts of the dog are not groomed appropriately, obedience training has a minimal impact on reducing the inappropriate behaviors of a dog. if the dog does not believe with every cell of his body that you are his Alpha, then in his mind, he always has the right to say, “No”. this is the dog that is rebellious, aggressive, independent and out of control; he jumps, he barks, he bites. this is the dog that you see on any city street pulling the arm of his owner out of the socket, and if you are able, you cross the street to avoid. this is a dog that has gone over to what I call the Doggie Dark Side.

With Doggie Wabi Sabi, you gather the natural inclinations of the dog and mold them, coax them, guide them into a masterpiece of a dog that is appropriate in the imperfect now. if he is hyper, you make him less so; if he is sedate, you make him more so according to the moment; always seeking energetic resonance.

If you want a dog that is appropriately pleasant while accompanying you through your life, you have to do more than just contain the body or constrict the mind of the dog. Instead, I would encourage you to enhance you dog’s natural elegant essence, and turn that to your benefit. The daily walk with the dog is the best way to ignite the dog’s natural, genetic compulsion to hook-up with a leader, to pack up.

WALK THE DOG…IT’S GOOD DOGGIE WABI SABI

If you want a good dog, walk your dog.

If you want a friendly dog, walk your dog.

If you want a protective dog, walk your dog.

If you want a healthy dog, walk your dog.

If you want a calm, cooperative, submissive dog, walk your dog.

If you want to learn to love your city; walk your dog.

If you want to live longer; walk your dog.

If you want to be happier; walk your dog.

If you want to reduce litter in your neighborhood; walk your dog.

If you want to reduce crime; walk your dog.

If you want your dog to love you, walk your dog.

If you want to reconnect with nature; walk your dog.

If you want Doggie Wabi Sabi now; walk your dog!

A dog cultivated with the principles of Doggie Wabi Sabi, may not know or even need to know sit or down or stay or heel. in fact while the training may be incomplete at best, but by using resonance, the attraction of one energy to another, the dog is always perfect, moment to moment.

Doggie Wabi Sabi: The Perfect Dog In An Imperfect World

It’s A Dog’s Life: Mommy’s back hurts again and it’s her own fault

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

1279735211 86 Its A Dogs Life: Mommys back hurts again and its her own faultDear Mommy,

Me and Scout are sorry that your back hurts this morning. but we think it is your own fault because you were bending over to give us baths in the backyard.

We were very happy being stinky and dirty. we didn’t want baths.

But we love you and we’ll take care of you today. You only have to take us to the cemetery for one walk and play water dog for only eleventeen hours today.

Love,
Bandit (& Scout!)

Visit Mommy’s new blog, Notes From the funny Farm, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

It’s A Dog’s Life: Mommy’s back hurts again and it’s her own fault

Sun 18th July: Bulldogs & bulldogs « Hong Kong Dog Rescue

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

1279728014 34 Sun 18th July:  Bulldogs & bulldogs « Hong Kong Dog Rescue

The bulldog story dominated everything today, and nobody really knew what was happening throughout the day until it was actually a reality.  I had been told that there were twenty bulldogs being given up by a breeder, but that’s all the information I had to begin with.  I assumed they were English bulldogs, then I was told no, they were French.  I asked when would they be available and was told Sunday.  Could we just take a few?  No, it was all or nothing.  The breeder actually wanted to sell the dogs on to other breeders, and taking them all out at once was the only option.  What to do, what to do?  I posted the story on Facebook, first as English, then French bulldogs, hoping that we would have some adopters or fosters lined up before the dogs arrived.  The confusion about the actual breed didn’t help.

The events were unfolding as I was at Whiskers’n’Paws with the puppies, and (via a Chinese volunteer) I was being updated on what was happening.  ”They” (and it’s always very secretive when dealing with the breeders as they never want their names or whereabouts revealed) said they were on their way to Sheung Shui with a van to pick the dogs up. when “they” arrived, they said there were seventeen dogs, not twenty, and one was a mother with three newborn pups.  Through the interpreter we arranged that the mother would come to Ap Lei Chau and back to Lamma, rather than going to Tai Po.  The rest of the dogs would be dropped off first.  Then the drama started.

The dogs were indeed English bulldogs, and they had been crammed into the back of the van in small cages for the short trip from Sheung Shui to Tai Po, but even this was too long for one of the dogs who was dead from overheating when they arrived.  I know that the volunteers and staff at Tai Po tried desperately to revive the dog, even giving mouth-to-mouth (how do you do that with a bulldog?), but it was hopeless.  These dogs can suffer heatstroke just by being outside in the heat, but being crammed in a stifling van, one cage on top of another, was a death sentence.

It was incredibly frustrating being on the end of a phone and not being able to help.  All I could do was to ask if the other dogs were OK, and if they had been dumped in the paddling pool or something to cool them down.  Yes, they had all been hosed and seemed to be OK except for one of the babies.  Because of the drama of trying to resuscitate the overheated bulldog it was too late to send the mother and pups to Ap Lei Chau, so I suggested moving them to the terrace of the “human room” where at least she would be safe from other dogs and infection, but it was still only an overnight solution.  It was the same with the adults (all female except for one male, I gathered).  They could stay the night in the play area, but by morning when the sun rose they would have to have a cooler space.

The story continues as I type, and we urgently need homes or fosters for these dogs.  Please get back to me if you can help.  This is a matter of life or death, as shown by the poor dogs that didn’t make it.  Sincere thanks to everyone at Tai Po who dealt with this unexpected and unusual situation brilliantly.  Life is never dull at HKDR!

One of the regular visitors to Lamma finally managed to get a photo of Cat.   I have no idea where she came from or why she decided to move in, but she lives on the roof with Samantha, a dog whose story I told in one of my previous blogs.  They are a very happy couple, and the other dogs seem to accept Cat’s presence without question.

Sun 18th July: Bulldogs & bulldogs « Hong Kong Dog Rescue

Georgia, operational ARDA Search & Rescue Dog – labrador retriever

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

1279719018 73 Georgia, operational ARDA Search & Rescue Dog – labrador retriever

Beautiful rescue dog images:

Georgia, operational ARDA Search & Rescue Dog – labrador retrieverImage by SkyWideDesignGeorgia, now an Operational VSRDA Wilderness Search and Rescue dog!

Dog Rescue Workers on the VeluweImage by Benjamin RossenYou can tell from this picture that these people really enjoy their work. they were busy with a serious investigation, but making a good day out of their job. a nice group of people.

Dutch Dog Rescue people were all over the place. I was told by one of the team leaders that they were searching for the body of a person missing for many weeks and thought to have been killed on the moors.

Recent searches:Pics of puppies (1)

Georgia, operational ARDA Search & Rescue Dog – labrador retriever

Secrets To Dog Training Overview – Turn Your Dog Into An Ideal Companion

Wednesday, July 21st, 2010

 Secrets To Dog Training Overview – Turn Your Dog Into An Ideal CompanionDate: 21 Jul 2010 Comments: 0

If you are saddled with a troublesome pet, you have probably seen those television shows where a pro comes and cures a family’s dog of its behavioral issues. You might dream of being on such a show or just getting a knock on the door and having your cryptic pooch reformed.

Sadly, most people don’t get the opportunity to have their dogs healed on a television show. You could have a pro meet with your dog, but sessions with a trainer are expensive and not all trainers use kind-hearted techniques.

Luckily, methods to Dog Training can help you train your dog to be the perfect family pet.

1. What are strategies to Dog Training electronic book all about?

Having a dog is a huge time and finance commitment. It’s a horrible thing when your dog isn’t even pleasurable company. Systems to Dog Training can help you change your dog into the well behaved pet you have always dreamed of having. By following the step by step instructions in the book and video manuals, you will be in a position to simply teach your dog basic commands. You will also get advice regarding how to break undesired canine habits, for example pulling on the leash or going to the bathroom in the house. Save your carpet and your sanity! with methods to Dog Training, you do not have to live with a bad dog any longer.

2. An Untrained Dog is a nightmare.

Having an untrained dog in your life leaves you and your family exposed. An ill-managed dog might bite you or your friends. Far worse, your dog might bite a neighborhood child. Your family would be subject to legal actions and legal charges and your folks pet would likely need to be euthanized. Systems to Dog Training can help you stop these terrible events from ever going down. a dog should be a loved and cherished pet, not a liability. with techniques to Dog Training, your pet will be happier as it is truly a valued part of the family.

For more info about <a href=”ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Train-a-German-Shepherd—Without-Training,-This-German-Shepherd-Dog-Will-Not-Be-a-Good-Pet&id=4090309″ target=”_blank”>How to Train a German Shepherd</a>, go to <a href=”ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Training-Secrets—The-Most-Important-of-All-Secrets-to-Dog-Training&id=4090301″ target=”_blank”>Dog training secrets</a>.

Secrets To Dog Training Overview – Turn Your Dog Into An Ideal Companion