JAck Russell Terrier

Having a pet in the house is diffrent now then it was just a few years ago.Gone are the high profile people of the world walking in a LA pet shop and dropping $3000 on a teacup puppy. Do something like that now and suffer the ire of PETA. Even our new president is being affected by the recent developments in the economy. He has realized that you cannot simply enter a pet store and 30 minutes later exit with a new family member. The president has stated that trying to find a new dog for his children is tougher than finding a Commerce secretary. He has been trying to model what a responsible new potential pet owner should be like during a recession, or any other time for that matter. During these times we must consider the needs of all the family members and hold off until the household is settled before inviting a new family member. He is also showing setting a good example by getting a pet from a shelter or rescue group.

Although the president’s choice of a new family pet, and whether it will be a labradoodle or a Portuguese water hound has been all over the media, more importantly is the unstable future of our natin’s pets in a time when there are those who can not pay for their bills.In our nation’s hayday, it was common to see stories that made us laugh and shake our heads about how people would spend exorbitant amounts of money on their dogs. They thought that their dogs actually appreciated the posh bottled water that was served to them in a crystal doggie glass. Stories of million dollar doggie trust funds, thousand dollar doggie hotels, pearl necklaces, and other instances of doggie decadence covered the news stands daily.

Ever since economy has spiraled down,, stories of pets have evolved and are now much more daunting and saddening. The media all across our country have been reporting about local animal shelters becoming filled far beyond their capacity, often times being forced to euthanize a greater number of otherwise healthy pets simply because of space constraints. Still others have abandoned their pets in foreclosed homes or chained up in back yards of abandoned properties, left to die of starvation, often times un able to reach food and water slowly starving to death at the end of a chain. The LA times even made pets and the economy their features story of the New Year. Pets are quickly turning into the luxury that can no longer be afforded.

The current downslide follows a previous upswing seen in adoption rates of the recient past. For nearly a decade shelters and rescues have been seeing a consistant rise in the rate of pet adoptions a starke difference from the overwhelming intake and decline in new adoption applications. There is no real way of knowing if we have seen the bottom of this staggering trend or if there is more despair to come. One thing is for certain, it is not getting any better.

Any progress made in the past of educating the public on the need to adopt from rescue groups instead of purchasing from a puppy store means nothing if our hurting economy causes people to not be able to afford to own a pet or take care of the pets that they already have in their home. Vet costs alone have been a major factor in family’s decisions to give up their beloved dogs. With the average vet visit costing in the range of $200 a visit, people often have to decide whether they can spend this month’s credit card payment and unless they find a way to reduce their credit card debt, they often have no choice but to give up their pet.

Another sign of the rapid decline of the luxury pet market was the cancelation New York’s Pet Fashion Week. With all this negative news on the pet industry it is noteworthy to mention that pets have all kind of benefits. Vets across the nation have said that pets are an excellent way to lower blood pressure which helps justify spending the money spent on them.

For many of us the only solution to avoid having to make the choice of paying bills of feeding the family pet, is to get themselves in a position to weather the economic storm. For many people this could mean entering into a credit card debt settlement program or other ways of lowering their household expenses. Filing for bankruptcy is often not the best choice for these embattled pet owners who do not want to deal with the court system, paying attorney fees nor having the black mark on their credit report for up to ten years. Often times credit card counseling, which is run by the creditors, is not a realistic option since in most cases the payments are no less and sometimes more then what they are paying at the moment. Again this makes the owner struggle with pet food not to mention vet bills as mentioned earlier.

Whatever program you may decide,  should you need credit card debt relief, ensure that you educate yourself on the differences between the programs and fully aware of the pitfalls. In most cases speaking to someone who can assist you in settling your debt can be helpful and is suggested over going it alone.

This discussion over pets and how they affect our economy will probably go on as long as people are struggling in this economic crunch our nation is experiencing. The underlying issue is that we either need to deal with the debt we have and survive this recession, or resort to what many have and abandon the family pet. Where will this trend stop? Will the next crisis force us to decide whether to take care of our kids and pay for medical insurance or leave them on the side of the street to survive on their own.

When you bring home a new puppy or new dog, the first thing that will be a worry for you, naturally, is how you will potty train the dog or puppy.  Although some folks will get lucky and get dogs from breeders who took the energy and time to train them, this won’t always be the case.  Indeed, much of the time, the new owners will be the ones responsible for any dog training.  This might be a daunting idea for many of us, but training dogs is actually much easier than it might appear to be.

Two traits that an individual must have when they potty train a dog are patience and consistency.  If you are inconsistant with your approach, it will take a while for your dog to learn the preferred behavior.  If you have the proper mindset and dedication, training a dog can be very enjoyable.  The first choice you must make in regards to training a dog is if it will use the bathroom indoors (pee pad/litter box) or your backyard.

If you decide that you would like to train your dog to use a pee pad, you will need to find a consistent location for the pad.  If the dog is unable to find the pad, they will become unsure of what to do.  You must create an environment where the dog knows exactly what is expecting of them.  When the dog knows what the expected behavior is, there will be fewer accidents.  If your dog has chosen another location for its restroom, you will have more work to train the dog.  You must be willing to work with your dogs current behavior to properly train them.

Decide where you want your puppy potty train indoors.  Put the pee pad down and show him where it is.  Most dogs will try to please you by using the pad.  If they decide that there is somewhere else in the house, like under the table, then you have found your training start place.  Put the pad down, show him where it is, and then gradually move it to where you want him to use it on a regular basis.

Learn more about how to Potty Train Dog here.

Training your dog to do its business outdoors is a different story altogether.  No matter whether you train it to go indoors or out, you must be sure to restrict water and food to the dog’s meal times only.  This helps to prevent any extra accidents.  Roughly 15-20 minutes after a dog eats or drinks, you must put it on the leash and take it out into a yard.  Don’t let the dog go just anywhere, though; you ought to lead it to the place in the yard that you have approved for this procedure.  Once the dog has gone, praise it and then give it a nice treat.

Unlike the dogs being trained for the pee pads, your dog will not have a means to properly relieve itself. How to potty train a dog for going to the bathroom outside also means teaching it how to hold its bladder.

Learn more about how to Potty Train Dog here.

These days, home security is simply a must have.  Burglaries and crime are always on the rise, which makes it all the more important to protect your home.  There are various burglary alarms and home surveillance systems available, designed to help you protect your home.Although they are good in their own rights, nothing compares to an old fashioned guard dog.  Guard dogs have been used for generations ?to help people protect their homes and their belongings.

For many years, guard dogs have helped to scare off burglars and thieves.  Although most have gotten used to dogs now days, nothing fends off a thief more than a vicious dog grabbing his ankle and clamping down.  Almost all guard dogs have serious bites and can seriously injure a burglar.  Guard dogs are trained to protect one’s home ?and they will do so no matter what.

When you get a guard dog, you should always make sure that you let him know who is safe to be around your home.You don't want the dog sto be vicious towards everyone, as friends and family are certainly allowed to be around your home.Most guard dogs are left outside of the home, with some deciding to keep them indoors.Indoor dogs are good, as they will instantly catch a burglar the second he decides to break into your home.

If you plan to keep your guard dog indoors, you should always have a supply of food and water available, as he will be there when you aren’t.  You will also need to give him access to an outdoor area as well, so he can use the bathroom.  A fenced in yard is an ideal place for a guard dog to go outside, as he can come and go as he pleases.  Sometimes, a burglar will try and sneak around the back entrance ?which is where giving a guard dog outside access can really come in handy.

Before buying the dog, you should always carefully research the species and where you plan to get your dog from.  Police dogs or dogs that have been trained for protection are ideal, as they already know how to defend things.Dobermans and Pit Bulls are great for protection too, simply because they are well known for being very vicious. 

If you carefully research your options and get your guard dog from a reliable source, you shouldn's have much of anything to worry about. You should never get your dog from a lesser known or poor source, as the dog may be poorly trained or not in good health.  A guard dog can be a great addition to any home ?providing you get a dog in good health and more than capable to fend of burglars.

Not everyone uses the same methods when it comes to house training your dog. What may work great for one dog, may not work well for another. For whatever you are trying to train your dog on, if one method is not effective over time, you might wish to try out a different method. Do this to assure you receive the greatest benefit out of training your dog.

If you ask 5 people how to go about training your dog you will probably get 5 very different replys. For whatever task it is that you are attempting to train, it is best to begin with methods that are the most commonly used to insure best success. Typically these are effective methods. Chances are that you will nor encounter any problems, but you can always try something different if you do. Training a dog can be time consuming so make sure that you are ready to give your undivided attention or this will not work out for either one of you.

If your dog needs to be potty trained outside, you can use crate training techniques. There is nothing harmful about this method of training as long as you are getting a crate of the right size, cleaning it, and making sure it is safe. There are some people out there opposed to crate training a dog. That type of people typically do not understand that dogs like to be in small enclosures.

A few guidelines can help you train your dog to avoid biting. you are never scolding your dog with violence.
You aren’t permitted to spank or strike since these techniques don’t apply to the way to house train a dog. Violence will always breed violence so be careful. Also, make sure that you are refraining from playing rough tug of war games where you are encouraging the dog to bite and growl.

Learn more about how to House Train Dog here.

You will soon learn that punishment when training a dog is easier then thought. Your pet is always trying to make you happy and will typically do anything to make it happen. Your voice and tone can make any dog knows that they are doing wrong. Your dog will figure it out. There is never a need to hit or restrict a dog from getting its requirements for a healthy life such as food, water, and sleep.

Books have been written on house training your pet, and useful advice is everywhere — but you now have a leg up, so to speak, on the process and have made a great beginning. right away because there is never time to wast Dogs are a lot like children with their own learning curve. So be kind, be patient, and always remember to love your pet and you will find that training a dog is easier then you think. Soon you will have enough knowledge to be able to assist others in house breaking their dogs.

Learn more about how to House Train Dog here.

Breeds of dogs all differ, just as owners Differ. Housing your dog depends on many factors, such as your lifestyle, your dog breed and the amount of room you have to spare.

For those who dont know me, my name is Sue Walton, and I am a professionaly accredited Dog trainer and coach. This article shares with you some of my top dog housing tips, but for my best secrets and heaps more info, you need to visit my site on dog training tips, which has a huge section on choosing and siting a great kennel/dog house. 

We should start by assessing what breed you have. Housing your dog largely depends on its requirements to stay safe warm and dry.

Toy varities, by the virtue of their petite size, make brilliant house pets. Many owners of small dogs such as terriers, shitzu or bichon are happy all the time, provided they are trained well!

These small breeds respond well to the house environment, providing they know their place in the home! You’ll probly find that a matt or a doggy bed aroun the size of a cat bed will suffice for these small breeds.

Keeping them in garage or washhouse could be ideal, given that the dog feels safe and it has a little area of its own. Dogs after all are known to be territorial.

As for larger dogs, such as medum sized spaniels, boxers/terriers, you will find that having them inside becomes tedious and irritating. Not only for you as owner, but for your dog too.

They need spacious areas that the outdoors gives them.

In addition, you need to think about the size and space you have for housing your dog.

If your garage is well ventilated, cosy and there is not to much clutter, it might be a great area for your dog to live, if however its full of clutter and your dog has to live in a small area where it cannot make its own space, it will quickly become fustrated.

For those of us that live in areas like apartments and duplex houses (or attatched units) you have to be very cautious of how your dog will be exposed to the neighours. For many breeds, being housed where people can fustrate them and irritate them.

Youve also got to consider what sort of breed requires what sort of housing to live in.

The breeder will have sussed you out before selling a dog, to see if your home suits that breed, however some people often come across dogs in other circumstances. Always do lots of research into your breeds living habits. A lazy bulldog will surely be happy with a corner of the yard and not much space, but you try and keep a livly breed like a pointer in a small yard, and you’ll drive the poor dog insane. Working breeds are active and require room to run and spacious kennels.

If your in this situation, and have a yard space for your dog to be housed and run around in, at all costs ensure that the fence you put up or have, is in good order and is very secure. Consider that your dog should not get out, but also think if anything else can get into the area. Cats, other dogs & children are known for getting into places where they shouldnt be, and this can lead to trouble!

Housing a your dog also has situational requirements. Think about your climate and where you are going to site the kennel. will your pet be cold? Windy? Directly sunny? Consider all these reasons when pacing a dog house in your chosen space. Kennel insulation will be required if the area is prone to frosts or snowfall.

Obviously, in this circumstance a saint bernard will be happier than a greyhound, so exercise common thought about the breed your dealing with. Pay attention to areas that get very hot, as this can affect the dog quickly.

Black paint on that kennel might suit your house, but will it cook your dog….? As far as getting a kennel goes, now days there are great off the shelf items that suit many lifestyles and designs. Moulded ones are popular but watch out if your pet is a chewer!

Avoid fibreglass kennels at all costs, as the glass can mean pain and discomfort for your pet. Wood is ever popular, and looks good and is very dog friendly. If your budget allows, go for a wood kennel!
My best dog housing tips, and some great examples of kennels and enclosure designs can be found at my dog resource page on housing your dog. Check it out, and the rest of my site www.dog-hobbyist.com