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DogGeek Originals

How to Turn Your Misbehaving Pup into Your Dream Dog

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Your dog is your furry best friend, though he isn’t always on his best behavior. Don’t let your dog develop bad habits that leave you in a state of frustration — instead, utilize techniques and tools to ensure good behavior. With these gadgets and tactics, and a lot of consistency on your part, your pup can learn how to behave.

Training

Dogs are smart and can easily pick up obedient habits, if they’re trained correctly. The earliest time to begin training is around four months — the older your dog is, the more difficult it will be to train them. You can teach your dog simple commands like “sit” and “lie down” if you model them yourself. First, say the one-word command, demonstrate the desired action and then give praise once the action is performed. The tone of your voice is something you should pay attention to; it is more important and effective than the specific words you use. When your dog has picked up the desired action and performs it well, make sure you reinforce their good behavior with a treat. Food is an excellent form of positive reinforcement when you begin the initial training, though eventually your dog should be weaned off the constant reward of treats.

Interactive Toys

If your dog tends to destroy items in your home or get into trouble when you’re away, there are simple measures you can take to stop this behavior. Interactive toys are a useful tool that will keep your pup entertained and reduce the likelihood of inappropriate behavior. Choose different kinds of toys that are engaging, like plush toys, squeaky toys, ropes, rubber bones and dog puzzles. Try out a variety of different toys, so you can find one works best for your dog.

Another interactive toy is a dog bone or stick that your dog can gnaw on for hours on end. Choose a chew or bone that is specifically meant for hours of gnawing, so your dog doesn’t end up with any bone shards cutting his mouth. Only Natural Pet has a variety of bones and bully sticks to help keep your dog out of trouble.

Remote Monitoring

Many dogs have separation anxiety when you are gone for extended periods, which results in bad behavior. You can keep an eye on Fido when you’re out of the house with a home camera security system. Install cameras around the exterior and interior of your house so you can check in on your dog and catch any inappropriate behavior. Lorex has top-quality HD security camera systems for reasonable prices to help you stay connected with your pup. Access live footage from your phone. Lorex also carries some products with two-way audio so you can give your dog commands from wherever you are.

Invisible Fence

If your dog has a proclivity to run away, he is at a greater risk of physical harm. Correct this unsafe misbehavior with an invisible fence to keep him in your yard. You can set boundaries around your yard with the invisible fence posts and have your dog wear a special collar with a receiver to keep him within the boundaries. When your dogâ€™s collar receiver crosses into the signal field, he will be warned with an audible tone, then there will be a gentle static correction that reminds him he’s passed the limits of his boundaries. You can adjust the correction level so it is safe for your pet, depending on his size.

March 7, 2017 | DogGeek

8 Ways to Spoil Your Dog This Weekend

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Your dog love you unconditionally so why not spend some extra time this weekend with your best friend? Here’s a few ways that you can spoil your pup.

Road Trip! Who doesn’t love one? Get out of town for the weekend or night. Find a dog friendly hotel to spoil your buddy.
Spend some time at the park. Everyone loves spending time outside in the sunshine! Get out to a dog park near you and do some socializing. It will be good for your dog to meet some new friends and who knows… you could meet some too.
Get some new bling. Our dogs love running around "naked" for a while without their collars on, but they also really love when we put them back on. Why not hook them up with some new bling? Some our our favorite collars are from Earth Dog.
Do a spa day. When most people think of getting pampered the first thing they think of is the spa so why not go? Get a dog groomer near you to give your pup the royal treatment.
Enroll in dog day care so they don’t have to spend the work day alone plus they get to socialize.
Learn some new tricks. Get your dog set up with a dog trainer.
Get them hooked up with w new dog bed. Earth Dog has a great selection.
Take them shopping. You don’t have to buy anything although I know they would want some treats ;-)

Have a great time with you best friend. They deserve it!

February 15, 2017 | DogGeek

DogGeek Originals

The Advantages of Taking Your Dog to the Dog Park

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We all know that you meet great people and wonderful dogs at the dog park, but what are the reasons to take your best friend? Below are five advantages of taking your dog to the dog park.

Socialization: Dogs are social beings, they want to discover new things and be around other dogs just like you. These experiences also help guard against the development of fears and aggression against other dogs.
Play time: Not just for them but for you. You know you enjoy watching dogs run and play!
Physical along with mental exercise: Not only does your dog get a grey workout getting their heartbeat up running, but all of the new smells and scenery work your dog’s brain. Dogs were born to lead active lives and this helps them be active.
Educational opportunities: It’s a good opportunity for you to learn about your dog through observation and to learn from others who have well behaved dogs and what they are doing.
Community: The dog park is a great place for you to meet your neighbors and get to know about what is going on in the community.

February 15, 2017 | DogGeek

How To Choose The Perfect Pet Dog Name

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Adopting a new pet dog is an exciting experience, but in some cases you’ll bring them back to their new home only to realise that they still don’t have a name.

The naming process can be difficult, especially if other members of your family are all campaigning for their favourites and for their voices to be heard.

The most important thing to remember is that whatever you end up calling your dog, this name will be used for the rest of their life; so here’s how you go about making a sensible decision.

Observe physical traits

First of all, does your dog have any physical treats that could be used to make up a name? For example, if your Jack Russell is white with a black circle covering his eye, you could call him Patch or Smudge.

Markings, distinctive colours, or aspects of their appearance can all be used to think of a suitable name and in most cases it will be obvious in a park full of dogs whose attention you are trying to get.

Personal meaning

Another tactic to use is to attribute a name that’s personal to you and has a lot of meaning attached to it.

Perhaps you could call them after a close relative, a city abroad that you love, the location where you first met your partner, or a name that relates to the time of year you bought your pet.
If the name you choose has a personal meaning then your pet will remind you of good times and memories and it will be much more enjoyable to say as well.

Individual characteristics

Once your dog begins exploring and running around their new home, see if you can spot any characteristics they have that remind you of a famous person or character. If so, you might be able to come up with a few contenders for their name this way.

For example, Odie, Snoopy, Pluto and Droopy are all cartoon names that could make the cut, but perhaps you could name them after a famous president, or a huge film or sports star.

If the name fits the bill and relates to their characteristics then you’re guaranteed to be onto a winner.

Unique names

It might take you a little longer to craft, but if you can find a really unique name for your dog then you’ll break away from tradition.

Some of the most popular dog names for 2013 include Alfie, Bella, Poppy, Max and Oscar, so start thinking outside the box and see what crazy, weird and wacky names you can come up with.

Remember that you will need to feel comfortable shouting this name in public though, so refrain from going for anything too outrageous.

Keep it simple

Simple is always worth going for too. If your dog’s name becomes too long or difficult to pronounce then you may run into problems further down the line.

In contrast, if it’s easy to say then it will be quicker to get their attention and keep them under control. Plus you won’t have to explain what their name is, how to say it, or how to spell it to other people asking about your new furry friend.

Gender specific

Finally, you may have come up with a handful of ideal names, but make sure they relate to the gender of your pet – unless you don’t mind being questioned by other people.

Bailey or Roxy for example wouldn’t be suitable for a male in the same way that Jack and Harvey won’t really work for a female.

It might make for awkward conversation if you have to explain that your pet has a female name but is actually a male and vice-versa, so choose wisely.

Over to you

With these top tips at your disposal, it’s now over to you to come up with a handful of names and narrow them down before making a final choice.

Why not get the whole family involved? It will be much easier to put your minds together and come up with a suitable selection to choose from.

Best of luck in naming your new pet dog, we hope that you’ll end up with a name that you will be happy with for many years to come.

This post was written by Time for Paws , a leading online pet supplies, food, and accessories store.

February 15, 2017 | DogGeek

5 Things NOT to bring to the Dog Park

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A DogGeek.com exclusive by Teresa Barker

Well, you know that before you jump into the car and head to the dog park you should pack a few key items to ensure a successful visit. But, did you know that there things you probably shouldn’t bring also? Here is a list of 5 things to consider leaving at home when headed to the dog park.

Puppies (under 6 months):
Puppies who are under 6 months have often not been fully vaccinated, and therefore, are vulnerable to getting sick. They are also fragile and prone to accidental injury by the rough play of larger dogs. Instead of taking a young puppy to the dog park, look up a puppy play group in your area. Give your young pup a chance to socialize in a much more controlled environment with other pups his/her own size.
Treats:
Unless you bring one for everyone (which could cause a stampede), leave the treats in the car. It’s great to train your dog in the park using treats as a reward, but do it outside the dog park. Food can cause dogs to behave in unusual ways, and if there’s a threat that there’s not enough to go around, full-blown panic can ensue. A great alternative reward system can be treating in the car after a successful muddy paw wipe-down.
Toys:
Again, save your dog’s favorite toy for before and after the dog park. Often, dogs don’t want to share toys and I’m not talking about your dog! If another dog gets your toy, he/she may not want to give it back. Other dogs may also ruin or soil the toy, so keep these kinds of situations to a minimum by avoiding them. Your dog can play with its favorite toy at home, so come to the dog park ready to socialize!
Small Children:
Have you ever seen a pack of dogs playing chase? There’s speed, strength, and no sense of manners. The rule of thumb for adults at the dog park is “loose knees,” to avoid being knocked over. Small children can be especially vulnerable to accidental injury by dogs having fun in open space, so try to avoid bringing small children inside the gated area.
Cell Phone:
Your dog is your responsibility at the dog park. Keep your dog safe, and monitor his/her behavior by constant supervision. Going to the dog park with your dog is like taking a child to a pool with no lifeguard. It’s up to you to make sure your dog is having fun and staying safe. In the time it takes you to update your facebook status to “dog-parking it,” a situation could happen that you might be responsible for. Keep your cell phone with the treats and the dog toys (in the car) and let it be YOUR reward after a successful dog park trip!