It’s safe to say that many dogs learn how to swim in a way that is natural and automatic. However, others may need some help getting there.  For those who need some help training your dog to swim, here are some dog training tips to help you teach your furry friend to dog paddle!

Familiarity

Dogs often find pools to be a foreign concept, and what they aren’t used to can scare them away.  Therefore, if you’re going to teach your dog how to swim, you want to have them near you while you’re swimming.  Seeing you in the pool will show them that it’s not a dangerous or scary thing, and will help them progress in their learning.

Beginning

When you’re first teaching your dog to swim, it should be in a gradually declining pool.  Start with them at the shallowest part of the pool and just let them dip their feet in.  Don’t try suspending your dog above the pool and letting them frantically paddle, because as funny as it may be to us, it’s horrifying to them and can scare them away.  put a leash on your dog and make sure to have plenty of treats with you when you begin the process.  First you want to gently walk your dog into the water.  After you’ve gone a little ways in, feed them treats and show them you love them with lots of pets and praises!  if they are comfortable doing this, grab a toy they love and try tossing it a little farther every time you throw it in the pool.  They will gradually become adapted to this and see it as a game, and they should be comfortable swimming in the pool after this.

If you are still having trouble getting your dog to swim, leave a message below or contact us at out Florida dog training center.  An additional blog on teaching your dog to swim can be found on this site also.  Come with any questions or comments, love your dog!

What are Foot Booties?

Foot booties are basically shoes for dogs.  These ‘shoes’ can service many different uses, and knowing these can make all the difference in your opinion on the product.  Foot booties have been known for their big variety of uses on dogs, but what exactly are they used for? There is no singular reason to get your dog booties, but there are rather a variety of different booties for different situations.  Foot booties can have an enormous impact on dog health, and foot booties can be a big part of proper dog care.

Temperature

Many dogs hate snow because the pads on their feet aren’t as thick as some other breeds, and it makes them cold to walk on it.  Foot booties protect their feet from the cold of snow making it more fun for them to romp around in.  The same goes for if the temperature where you live is very hot.  Dogs with sensitive paws will greatly benefit from foot booties because they protect their paws.

Surgery

Some dogs tend to pick at stitches after surgery, which can be dangerous to their health.  Foot booties make it nearly impossible to undo stitches or remove needed bandages.  Foot booties are therefore a good idea for fussy dogs that pick at stitches.

Dogs With Medical Issues

Many of us have seen dogs that roll around on wheels due to paralization in their legs or lower body.  In these circumstances, the wheels work wonderfully, but some dogs unknowingly drag their back feet when they roll around, damaging their nails and toe pads.  Booties protect dog’s back feet from being damaged when they are lightly dragging on the ground, helping them stay healthy.  Another medical issue that booties help with is when a dog is missing a foot, and yes it happens.  These booties can be custom made to act as a clip-on foot for disabled dogs, getting them up and running again!

For more information, talk to your local dog trainers, or contact our Florida dog training center.  We have a list of recommendations for dog booties if you need help finding some!

Dental diseases are common in dogs, especially periodontal disease, so prevention is the biggest step when you want to take care of your dogs teeth.  There are many ways to keep your dogs teeth clean and healthy, so if you want to learn a few

Food

Giving your dog dry food instead of canned or creamy food will help prevent tooth decay.  The dry products are specifically made to scratch and cleanse your dogs teeth in order to clean them.  The canned foods may seem more appetizing to your dog, but remember that this food easily gets caught in their teeth, causing issues with their teeth and gums, so unless you want to learn how to brush your dogs teeth, we suggest you stick with dry.
Vets

Every time you go to the vet, make sure you have a professional cleaning done.  A professional cleaning will keep your dog’s teeth healthy, and doing this every once in a while will keep you updated on your dogs dental health.

Brushing Advice

If you want to brush your dogs teeth as a last resort, there are a few things you need to consider.  Never use a human toothpaste on your dog.  Our toothpaste doesn’t work the same on dogs as it does on us,an additionally,  veterinarian offices generally have a suggested toothpaste that have flavor that is more appealing to your dog than ours.  Another thing to think about is the actual brush.  You never want to use a hard bristled brush on a dog.  Unlike the toothpaste, you can use human products when it comes to tooth brushes, but make sure the bristles on the brush are soft and gentle on your dogs teeth.  Vet’s usually have toothbrushes that come along with their toothpaste, so ask next time you go in.

For more information, contact our Florida dog training center, or locate some local dog trainers.

The use of shock collars has been a big base for debate since they were invented, but everyone has their own ideas about how to train their dog.  Shock collars obviously aren’t made to be a promotion for dog abuse, but are rather used for several key dog training purposes.

Dog Training

Shock collars are used to influence dog obedience in a slightly harsher way.  This type of shock collar can be used by setting up perimeter flags around your house, so that whenever your dog walks outside of the designated area, it will give your pet a light shock.  The shock collar is also used to discourage barking.  The way this collar works is by depicting how loud your dog is barking.  The louder the bark, the harder the shock.  If a dog has aggression issues, it is not uncommon that the owner will have a remote controlled shock collar for their dog.  This remote will shock your dog on cue, so if your dog is acting up, you have control to show them that they are out of line.

Shocking News

The electric current delivered from a shock collar is from two points on the dogs neck, and the effects depend on your type of dog, and your type of collar.  Factors that contribute to the differentiations in dog collars include the voltage of the electric current, how long the shock lasts, and also the frequency of the shock that is used.  This shock will cause discomfort, thus teaching your dog to avoid the behavior that led them to the shock.  The good thing about the bark collar and the boundary collar is that they teach your dog even when you’re away from home.  The amount of pain your dog feels will depend on the type of dog you have, their size, their skin, and their fun.  If your dog is sensitive, a shock collar probably isn’t the best way to go, but a decision to use one should be based on your personal opinions of the pros and cons of the device.

For more information contact our Florida dog training center, or talk to some local dog trainers.