Providing your dog the freedom of running outside in a backyard is part of being a responsible dog owner.  It gives your dog space to run around without restriction.  However, when allowing your dog to run around the backyard, it is important to find a way to keep unwanted visitors out.  You should provide your dog with fencing to keep other animals and strangers from approaching and causing potential harm to your pet.  Here are some various attributes of fencing to consider when looking for the right one for your home.

Wood Fencing

Wood fencing is a good option for sound barriers for the backyard.  It muffles backyard sounds, including a dog’s barking.  It also keeps any passerby noise to a minimum.  It is a deterrent to keeping criminals at bay, but it does come with a few negative aspects.  One is that the wood fencing is expensive.  Sometimes people do not have it in their budget to go with wood fencing.  It just depends on your dog’s needs, pricing, and what are your priorities are in terms of fencing.

Chain Links

Chain links are a great option for someone that wants the look of an open yard, yet still maintain control of who or what comes in and out of the area.  Chain links are also cost-effective.  On the other hand, if your dog is a digger, climber or jumper, then this type of fencing may cause issues.  For many chain link fences only stand about four feet high, and do not go down into the ground far enough to prevent digging.

To find out more about what type of fencing is right for your breed of dog, talk to a Florida dog obedience instructor today.  A k9 obedience expert will be able to go over this information and guide you in the right direction.

Make Your Garden Dog Safe

You and your dog love to relax outdoors.  It is good for both of you to receive fresh air, sit outside, and enjoy your beautiful garden.  But you need to be careful.  There are components of a garden that may be harmful to your dog.  Here are some tips on what your dog needs to steer clear when hanging out in the garden area.

Pay Attention to Different Types of Mulch

Many people use mulch in their gardens, but if you have a dog be careful regarding which mulch you use.  Shredded pine, hemlock bark or cedar mulch are the least toxic varieties available.  These would be more suitable to use while owning a dog.  One of the most lethal mulches is the cocoa mulch.

Cocoa mulch is a chocolate product used in landscaping.  And since chocolate is poisonous to dogs, then dogs need to avoid cocoa mulch as well.  If digested, cocoa mulch may cause digestive issues, muscle tremors, and seizures.

Compost is Great for the Environment, Not So Great with Pets

I do not discourage composting.  It is a good thing for the garden soil and environment overall.  But you need to pay attention of what you are putting in the compost bin.  A certain array of vegetables, fruit, moldy foods and coffee are toxic to dogs.  They will cause serious medical injuries.  Check with a Florida dog training expert first about what is safe and what isn’t before starting the compost process.

For more information about how to maintain a safe garden for your dog, talk to a Florida dog obedience instructor today.

Adding a new puppy to the home is an exciting time for the entire family.  You have the puppy crate ready, the puppy bed, puppy food, leash, toys, but are you ready to teach your puppy the essentials to healthy living through necessary commands?  It can be a bit tricky if you are a first time dog owner.  But it is not difficult.  All you need is love, positive reinforcement, and guidance from a professional.

To get you started in the right direction, here are a few standard lessons that will enhance your puppy’s development into a healthy dog, and improve the bond shared between the two of you.  There are more lessons then what is covered, but at the least, this will give you a starting checkpoint.  To find out specifics, talk to a Florida puppy training instructor or a puppy kindergarten instructor today.

Teach Your Puppy Basic Training

Every puppy should learn to sit, down, stay and wait.  It will keep your puppy healthy and away from danger when need-be.  For instance, if you and your puppy are on a walk and traffic crosses your paths without warning, then tell your pup to stay via the stay command.  It will keep your pup from running out into the traffic causing fatal injuries.  It keeps your pup out of harm’s way.

Teach Your Pup Not to Nip or Mouth

Puppies tend to nip and mouth when starting.  You need to teach your puppy that it is not desirable behavior through applying positive reinforcement.  You do not want your puppy to grow into a dog that bites even during playtime, and that is occurs without this lesson taught from the beginning.

These are only two basics of puppy training.  There is much more to learn.  Talk to a Florida dog obedience instructor today.

How to Find the Right Dog Breeder

When trying to find a dog to add to your loving home, the best option is to try rescue and animals shelters first.  But if you are set on finding a specific type of puppy, then a breeder is the way to go.  However, you need to be careful.  You need to find a loving, experienced and reputable breeder.  A Florida dog obedience instructor could probably help you.  In the meantime, check out these tips on how to find an honest, caring breeder.

Good Breeders Do Not Encourage Holiday Sales

It is commonsense to understand that puppies are in high demand during Christmas, but you need to be leery of breeders that sell during the high season.  For an understanding breeder comprehends the holidays are not the best time for a dog owner and the puppy to bond.  There is much chaos going on with decorations, family, houseguests, holiday desserts left out and more.  A puppy should be brought home to a calmer environment.  It helps the puppy make the transition of being away from the litter and allows you to pay attention to your puppy properly.

Loving Breeders Communicate

Watch out for breeders that sell a puppy after one exchange of communication.  Credible breeders wish to ensure the puppy is suitable for your home and lifestyle and will ask lots of questions.  In addition, the breeder will be happy to answer lots of questions too.  Find a breeder equipped with an abundance of information and advice making the transition a smooth one for you and the puppy.

To find out more about choosing the right breeder, talk to a Florida puppy training expert today.

Breaking Dog Training Myths

When searching for dog training advice, there is ample information found on the web and communicated between dog owners.  But sometimes it can be tricky to decipher which dog training advice is true, and which are not.  One of the best ways to be certain is to ask a Florida dog obedience training instructor.  He/she will guide you through the most effective dog training advice.  In the meantime, we put together some of the most common dog training myths that are repeatedly told which need to be debunked.

If It Works for My Dog, then it must Work for Yours

This is not always true.  Each dog has different personalities, and characteristics.  Sometimes the breed provides specific traits.  So take the training methods on a case-by-case basis.  You cannot believe what works with one, works for all.   There are some basic commands taught similar across the board, but there are other times where the exact training utilized for one dog will not work for others.

You Cannot Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

This is false.  You can teach an old dog or a young puppy dog training techniques.  It just takes further patience to ensure the training sticks.  And do not blow off undesired behavior and dismiss it to age.  If you implement positive reinforcement, then any dog is teachable.

To find out more about proper dog training, talk to one of our k9 obedience instructors today!