Easy Dog Leash Training

Getting Started With Dog Leash Training

Oct 13

Posted by Sophie in Dog Training, Leash Training | 1 Comment

Dog leash training is about being able to walk with your dog on a leash in a comfortable manner. One of the most important things to keep in mind in dogs training is that you are in control. You are the master and your puppy or dog has to understand that, while it is instinctive for them to feel like they have to lead the pack. Train your dog to walk on a leash is one of the hardest stages in dogs training, actually more complex than crate or potty training, but don’t worry, just follow these simple guidelines and everything should be fine.

The best way to start is to [...] continue reading this post

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5 Good Reasons to Train Your Dog

Nov 26

Posted by Sophie in Dog Training | No Comments

Obedient Dog

1. A well- trained dog will cause less damage to your home (think about your awesome hand-made pillows).

2. A good training will make your dog happy (dogs really only want to please their owners).

3. It will let you communicate with your dog better (he will know what you want and you will know how to tell him).

4. You will have more freedom (think that if your dog behaves very good, you’ll be able to take him with you anywhere, or leave him at a friend’s place without worrying or be ashamed by his behaviour).

5. It is your responsibility as a dog owner.

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Joanna Krupa Fights for Animals Rights

Nov 26

Posted by Sophie in Dogs & Celebrities | No Comments

topless-for-peta_446x587 joanna-krupa-nude

Joanna Krupa’s campaigns for PETA makes me actually kinda sad that I bought my little Crapo, especially after reading this horrible story in Times Online.

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Kelly, Sid & Sharon Osbourne

Nov 24

Posted by Sophie in Dogs & Celebrities | No Comments

Credit: Celebuzz

Spotted: Kelly and her mom Sharon Osbourne spending the evening together in LA on Nov 16th. How gorgeous does Kelly look?!

She is holding Sid, the black Pomeranian Puppy she got for her 25th birthday last month.

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The Affenpinscher

Nov 23

Posted by Sophie in Dog Breeds | No Comments

affenpinscher_puppy The Affenpinscher is a small dog from the toy group, according to the AKC. He weighs around 7 to 9 pounds (3-4 kg) and his height is around 8 to 12 inches (24-30cm). This dog has a harsh coat, usually black, but also sometimes gray, silver or red. The name Affenpinscher comes from the German Affe, which means monkey. It is true that his face and expressions, as well as his hair, really resemble monkey features.

The temperament of the Affenpinscher is quite strong. This dog has a lot of personality, can be really stubborn and is not easy to train. However, he is also very intelligent and shows curiosity, like most terrier dogs. They are confident and courageous and love to wander around, investigating everything. They are also very lively, playful, amusing and they love to jump around! This character’s traits make the Affenpinscher a very independent and busy little being. However, they usually get along with everyone and with other pets, being very affectionate, also not always with smaller kids (like most small breeds). Because of his strong-will temperament, the Affenpinscher can quickly become demanding and bossy if not properly trained, but their intelligence makes the training process quite enjoyable!

The origin of the Affenpinscher breed is not really clear, but it seems that it is the most ancient toy breed and his history seems to originate from the seventeenth century and from Germany. The Affenpinscher is an ancestor of the Brussels Griffon and Miniature Schnauzer breeds and was originally a bigger breed. The Affenpinscher was admitted by the AKC in 1936.

The Affenpinscher’s care is not really demanding. You will just need to groom his hair a few times a week. You don’t need to clip it, and it almost does not shed. Their health is pretty good, and they live around 12 years. However, they can transmit some genetic disorders such as heart murmurs, kidney problems, respiratory problems and can also suffer from fractures. Like most small dogs, they don’t need a lot of exercise are really good for apartment life. They are sensitive to temperature and their temperament is ideal for indoor life. However, the Affenpinscher is a terrier breed, and he really enjoys going out and sniff around, so you should walk him at least once a day to satisfy his instinctive needs. The litter size of this breed is usually from one to three puppies.

Oh and one more thing: be careful when lifting your Affenpinscher, because he can be really afraid of heights!!

affenpinscher_adult

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Puppia Dog Fashion

Nov 23

Posted by Sophie in Others | No Comments

I guess some of you already know the brand Puppia, who makes great harnesses, that are cute, soft and comfortable. I was browsing through their page today and noticed that they also sell cute Christmas accessories: leashes, harnesses, collars, hats, coats and scarfs!

Puppia Christmas Fashion

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Cute Christmas Dog Collars

Nov 23

Posted by Sophie in Others | No Comments

Now that the Christmas Season is coming, you can get a little gift for your dog and get him one of those cute collars, with jingle bells, rings, velvet fabric and others… I really like the second one with the small snowmen all over it, although the blue collar is not really “christmassy”. The velvet one is really nice too, and it looks luxurious and fashionable!

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Getting Your Dog Used to Wear a Collar

Nov 23

Posted by Sophie in Dog Training, Leash Training | No Comments

As soon as you bring your new dog home, you should start getting him used to wear a collar. Why? Well first, because puppies usually don’t like to wear anything around their neck, so the sooner you get them used to it, the faster they will learn. Second, because it is really important that your dog wears a collar with a tag on it (where you can engrave your phone number), in case he gets lost. And finally, once you start the leash training process (you can start to walk your puppy out usually when he is about 4 months old), it will be much easier for you to train him, if he is already used to the collar and to his leash.

Dog Collar So how can you get him used to it? There is only one way: let your dog wear his collar. You will to start by choosing the right collar, with the right size. Your dog’s first instinct will be to smell and bite the collar. So before you even put it on his neck, let him smell the collar until he gets bored of it. However, don’t let him bite it or play with it or he might think that the collar is a toy. You can then place the collar on your dog’s neck and let it walk around with it. At first, he will probably do everything he can to remove it, but if it’s well adjusted, he will get used to it really quick.

If you are dealing with a puppy, the all process might be more difficult, as elder dog should already be used to wear collars. That does not mean you shouldn’t give time to an older dog to get used to his collar either. Anything new, and especially something like a collar he will wear for a long time on his neck, should be first gently presented to your dog, to let him get comfortable with it and not scared or nervous.

You don’t need to leave the collar on your dog at all time, but let him wear it for example everyday for about 30 minutes. After about a week, he will already be fine when you approach him with the collar. Of course, always make sure that the size is fine and that your dog’s neck is not hurt, and be also very careful when you place the collar on your dog. You don’t want to hurt his ears or eyes, or let his hair get tangled in the buckle. If you are having problems to place it, command your dog to sit and stay first, and soon your dog will do it on his own.

Train the Family Too!

Nov 12

Posted by Sophie in Dog Training, Leash Training | No Comments

Dog and Family When you are teaching your dog to walk on a leash, the key is to be clear, consistent and precise. This can be really difficult to achieve if each member of the family is using different commands. This is the reason why as you train your dog, you also need to train the family! And it’s not always as easy as it seems!

First, you need to agree on a set of terms or commands that you will use with your pet. This does not apply to dog leash training only, but to any kind of training. This step is particularly important if you have children in the house. Once you have decided which terms you should use for the training, make sure everyone knows them and state clearly in which situation and how they should use them.

Second, you need to agree on the training tactics. For example, if you are trying to prevent your dog from pulling on the leash, implement a set of rules that will be used by each member of the household, such as stop walking while the dog pulls, and reward him when he is heeling correctly.

Third, it is also preferable to use the same rewards. Teach all the family how to praise and pet the dog. Don’t let the kids give treats to your pooch all day long, or they won’t work as treats anymore. You need to find the right balance of love and firmness and instruct those resolutions to your family.

The new gained stability will be really beneficial for your dog and you’ll see quick changes in his attitude and training performances if you manage to establish these “training rules”!

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Travelling to France with Crapo!

Nov 12

Posted by Sophie in Personal | No Comments

Crapo I booked a flight Barcelona -> Luxembourg to go home for Christmas and well Crapo is gonna take a plane for the first time! The bad news is that I thought he would weight around 3 or 4kg adult, and he is already over 5 kgs, which means he won’t be able to travel in the cabin with me. I have to buy him a coat because it’s probably going to snow there at that time. Maybe I should get a bag to carry him around because until now we would just walk together, but during my stay there, I will visit a lot of people and I guess some of them won’t be really happy about having a dog running all around their house!!

I always wondered…

Nov 12

Posted by Sophie in Others | No Comments

…what it is about pillows that dogs like to destroy them so much!! I have an idea about it, but I think this photo presents a really funny alternative!!

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Martha Stewart Dogs Products

Nov 12

Posted by Sophie in Others | 1 Comment

Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart is working on a line of products for dogs that will be distributed by PetSmart stores, including leashes, collars, toys, beds and much more. The products are supposedly going to hit the stores in spring 2010 and will be distributed by her Living Omnimedia company.

She says:

“I have always loved having a lot of pets – dogs, cats and birds, and consider them members of my family. It is very important to me that domestic animals be well fed, well groomed and well cared for, and I have always prided myself on the good health and happiness of my pets. I look forward to working with Age Group and PetSmart to provide other pet owners with the types of Martha Stewart-designed products that will keep pets happy, safe and healthy.”

PRNewsFoto/Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

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Ashley Tisdale and her new Puppy

Nov 11

Posted by Sophie in Dogs & Celebrities | No Comments

Ashley Tisdale got a new puppy poodle called Maui! Check her out shopping in LA in a trendy outfit:

Tisdale and Maui

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Dog Cognition Studies

Nov 11

Posted by Sophie in Dog Health | No Comments

Today I read an article in Time magazine that really excited me! The article is about a study on dog cognition, performed by Brian Hare, an assistant professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University. What Time recalls in the article, is that Hare and his collaborators are working on understanding the extremely complex and rich social intelligence of dogs. In this particular study, they demonstrate how Henry, a mixed-breed black schnauzer-poodle, can understand a pointed finger! It seems really simple maybe, but it’s not!

You might ask me: what’s so special about this article?

Well first, there are very few research studies on dog and since I’m passionate by dogs mind, I’m really happy to see that people are finally working on it and demonstrating what dogs are really capable of doing.
Second, the article mentions that Brian Hare is opening a new research center: the Duke Canine Cognition Center. This is truly amazing, because up to now, there was very few research centers interested in the subject, and now dogs will have their own center, where thousand of studies can be performed. The article also mentions that quite a few research labs are opening on the same matter (in the US and in Europe), which is just great. Some of the cognitive functions that scientists will be able to study in such laboratories are: perception, attention, memory, language, emotion, decision making, social interaction, morality, motor control, executive function, and the evolution and development of mental processes.
Finally, I think this is really great because dogs are really intelligent being, and we can learn a lot from them and not only with cognitive studies, but also on the underlying mechanisms and molecular bases of dogs neurology, which I hope in the future, will lead to a better prevention of dogs degenerative diseases like Alzheimer and Parkinson.

I guess that as a specialist in neurosciences, I can only be extremely happy about all this!!

Canine Cognition Study