Blog2022-08-11T19:27:15-04:00

How to Feed Your Dog a Pill

Dogs can be Picky Eaters

Some dogs will eat anything, while others are fussy eaters.  If a medication or a pill has an unappealing scent to a dog, then it will be difficult to get your dog to swallow or eat a pill.  However, here are some tricks to try out.

Mix it Up

First, ask the vet for a chewable pill.  This will help your dog eat it without forcing your pup to swallow it whole.  Then, once you have the pill and need to feed it to your dog, mix it up with a special treat.  Wrap it up in a cube of soft cheese.  If that does not work, try preparing five or six treats.  Put the pill in one of them.  Feed your dog a few of the treats right in a row.  Do not stop.  Then pop the one with the pill in the midst of it.  After the pill with the medication is given, offer another treat immediately.  Stay consistent.  Provide more treats in a row.  This technique does not present your dog enough time to realize you slipped a treat with medication.  It is too quick for the dog to realize what is occurring.  For the dog tastes the next treat rather than the pill.

If mixing it up does not work, try out other methods taught by K9 Obedience training classes.  There are positive, effective techniques to feeding your dog medications and Florida dog training is able to help you today.

By |February 15th, 2010|Dog Care Tips|Comments Off on How to Feed Your Dog a Pill

Dog Introductions Take Time

Dog Socialization Takes Time

Dogs are social animals and enjoy companionship with their owners and other dogs.  But you need to take your time when introducing a new pup into the house.  When you are ready to adopt another dog, have patience.  Stay positive and remember these guidelines to help the two socialize on a happy level.

Do Not Force It

When bringing home a new pup, do not bring another pet along for introductions during the car ride.  The car is not neutral ground to bring two dogs together.  Do not try it. Instead, wait until you get home.  Take them out on a walk together offering introductions on neutral territory.  While on a walk, dogs expend energy.  Thus, the dogs will not be anxious walking next to each other.  The energy spent is on the physical aspect of walking.  As a result, there is a true chance for the two dogs to release nervous energy and just be comfortable with one another.  Walking together becomes a natural thing for dogs when given the chance to bond during a walk.

Prevent Rivalries

Provide each dog with his/her own water and food bowls.  Do the same with chew toys and other favorite items the prior pup may own.  You may wish to keep each dog’s toys in confined areas, so it does not instigate any fighting between one another.

To truly develop a cohesive home join a Florida dog obedience training class today.  Sarasota dog training classes are available to teach you and your dogs not to clash, but to bond with one another enriching the lives of all whom reside there, regardless if human or animal.

By |February 12th, 2010|Dog Care Tips|Comments Off on Dog Introductions Take Time

Why Dogs Need Exercise

Dogs have a built-in need to exercise.  It is a way for dogs to release energy.  If this need is unmet on a regular basis, then dogs find alternative ways to expend vigor that is not in a constructive manner.

Lack of Exercise Equals Destruction

Do you ever wonder why your dog chews up the house or why your pup scratches and digs all day long?  Does your dog engage in excessive barking?  Does your dog frequently raid the garbage?  You need to examine how often you play with your dog or provide your pup with exercise.  If your dog is lacking in participation of activities, then the dog will substitute the physical actions with negative behaviors.  These are bad habits for your dog to adapt.  To prevent this from happening enroll your pup in agility classes or dog obedience training classes.  These classes allow your pup the opportunity to socialize with other dogs, bond with you, and provide a positive atmosphere to let loose.  Thus, when you come home your dog is relaxed, happy and peaceful.

Ample Exercise Exemplifies Happy Home

When you ensure that your dog is engaging in exercise on a daily basis, you are improving the quality of life for your dog, and you.  You decrease your dog’s need to chew, bite and bark.  It eliminates a significant number of bad behaviors from continuing to develop.  The dog also will be able to sleep and rest quietly at night.  It also prolongs your dog’s life by keeping your dog in shape.

For more information on why dogs need exercise talk to a Florida dog obedience training class today.

By |February 8th, 2010|Agility Classes, Dog Care Tips, Dog Training Classes, Obedience Classes|Comments Off on Why Dogs Need Exercise

Prevent Your Dog from Chasing Runners

It is hard to think about spring when the weather is still frigid outside, but it will happen before you know it.   And with warm weather, additional joggers and runners are noticeably active outside.  So how do you prevent your dog from running after these people when they go by?  There are different techniques you may utilize and here are just a few tips to help you and your dog.

Bring Special Treats

When you take your dog out for a walk, bring a stash of dog treats, small pieces of chicken, cheese or a hot dog with you.  You shall use this only when you see a runner pass by.  Let me explain.  When a runner goes by, you need something to distract your dog.  A regular dog treat may not be sufficient.  However, a tiny piece of chicken would be enough to keep your dog’s attention on you.  Furthermore, this will have the dog associate a runner going by as a positive thing.  For the dog sees runner, and thinks treat.  Thus, your dog will adapt to sitting or staying near you whenever someone jogs alongside.

Encourage Safety

The reason why it is vital to teach your dog not to run after people is for several reasons, but mainly for the runner and your dog’s safety.   If your dog chases after a person, then it may lead the dog into traffic and cause permanent injury to your dog and to the runner.  In addition, not everyone is comfortable with dogs.  Therefore, if a runner sees a dog chasing after him/her, then the runner may not respond in a friendly manner causing further aggression from both parties.

Teach your dog not to chase after joggers.  Make sure you expend your dog’s energy by engaging your dog in daily exercise and agility classes.  Florida dog obedience training and dog agility classes will prevent your dog from chasing a person out of excitement or the need to release nervous energy.   By the time a runner passes by, and agility classes are over, your dog will be too tired to care if someone is coming the pup’s way or not.

By |February 5th, 2010|Agility Classes, Dog Care Tips, Dog Training Classes, Obedience Classes|Comments Off on Prevent Your Dog from Chasing Runners

What to Do When a Puppy Bites

When dogs are just little puppies, they show signs of personality traits.  If the pup is forming aggressive or frightened behavior then the pup may bite.  Thus, you need to modify this behavior from the beginning ensuring your dog lives a joyous life.

Enroll in Puppy Kindergarten

The first key is to enroll your dog into a puppy kindergarten class or k9 obedience training classes.  This class will teach your pup not to bite using a positive reinforcement technique.  Just make sure your pup is current with vaccinations.  Furthermore, the classes are an opportunity for you and your pup to learn how to effectively communicate with one another making the years to come easy on the two of you.

Let the Puppy Mingle

The more your puppy socializes with other puppies, dogs, people, and kids the less frightened the pup will be when he/she grows up.  As a result, the less scared the dog is the decreased odds are that biting shall ensue.  Fearful dogs instinctively turn towards biting.  It is what they know.  It is how they fight with others.  Thus, do not isolate the pup.  When socialization happens appropriately, the pup develops into a well-mannered, friendly, comfortable dog.

If you still have problems with your dog biting, then do not wait to take action.  Find a Sarasota dog training facility that implements positive reinforcement.  Make sure the staff is experienced and knowledgeable in what they do.  Enjoy the time you share with your pup during the close.  It will bring you and your pup closer together.

By |February 3rd, 2010|Dog Care Tips, Dog Training Classes, Obedience Classes|Comments Off on What to Do When a Puppy Bites