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At some point, we have all heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But is it true? The truth of the matter is that any dog, regardless of age, can be taught. As dogs get older and get more set in their ways, it may take a bit more time to change them, but consistency will get the job done.
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I just wanted to share how I prepared for my dogs before I got them and how I prepare for their future as they grow up in the the hopes that it may help someone else thinking about getting a new puppy soon. 
Saving for the new Dog, The Doggie Budget, and the ‘Emergency Fund’.
Saving for the new Dog: This is important. If you have to borrow or use credit to buy your new dog – You can’t afford it…
I made a list of ALL the expenses for the first several months of my dogs life and saved enough money to pay for that before I ever bought the dogs. Aside of the actual cost of the dogs, I had to save for their food, crates, puppy shots and checkups at the vet, + their ear crops (Dobermans look goofy with floppy ears). Before I ever brought my girls home, I had already bought their crates and had a few months worth of food stocked up for them. I also had the money for all their normal trips to the vet set aside. A puppy is much less stressful when you plan ahead and prepare for their arrival…
The Doggie Budget: Food, treats, toys, leashes, collars, routine trips to the vet for checkups, more treats! Raising a happy and healthy dog is not always cheap but much more easy to manage if you plan ahead and set a ‘budget’ for them each month. You do not want to spend too much on junk that they do not need and then later on discover that you have no money left for their food… Even worse would be to spend so much on junk for them that you have no money for your own food! Money is always spent more wisely when one uses a budget and plans in advance. I have several friends that live on a budget – Most of them do not include their dog or animals on their budget and they wonder why they have nothing left at the end of the month… A well done budget will include ALL expenses (even the dog) and money will be allocated so that you spend LESS than what you you bring in.
The ‘Emergency Fund’: Life happens and does not always go by the ‘budget’. The transmission in the car goes out or you get laid off from work… You can’t always plan for these unexpected events but you CAN plan for dealing with them when they arise. Part of any any good budget will be the ‘emergency fund’ and this should be the most important bill that get paid each month in MY opinion… Having a credit card for ‘emergencies’ is not so smart. In the end you will pay much more (interest!) to deal with any sudden problems that arise. I set aside $50.00 (each) per month for my dogs to have their ‘emergency fund’. I keep this in a seperate account and use this ONLY for real emergencies. This is their security for ‘just in case’ something happens to them and they need an emergency trip to the doggie doctor. Hopefully, my girls will stay healthy and as time goes by this fund will get bigger and be able to cover larger and more costly emergencies. The dog owner must decide at what level to reach with their emergency fund for the dog. (This is the hard part) A dog ‘Emergency Fund’ is fully funded when the owner has decided that that is the MOST that they would be willing to pay to fix fido in the event of a problem…
My dog Princess knows that I hate spiders and will kill any that come near me… She has a good emergency fund set up for her…
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Dog training is very important if you would like to ensure that you and your new pet will be able to live in harmony. Dog training can correct or modify a number of the dog’s natural behaviors, making the dog much more suited to life being taken care of in your home. There are a number of different ways available to train your dog and by following these 7 basic dog training tips, you will find that the training goes smoothly and is fun for both you and your dog.
1. If you are unsure of how to train your dog, seek help.
Individuals that would like to train their dog often have no idea how dog training is conducted or how the personality of their dog will factor into the training process. There are a number of different books and reference materials available to help a person train their dog, and if the owner is still unsure or uncomfortable with the training methods, they can ask a professional dog trainer for assistance and additional dog training tips.
2. Negative reinforcement is the least effective training method.
One of the dog training tips that most dog training professionals wish more people knew is that using negative reinforcement or punishment to train the dog is the least effective way to get the dog to obey you, but is the most effective way of making the dog fearful or aggressive towards you and others.
3. Making dog training fun also makes the training more effective.
Another one of the most important dog training tips to remember is that dogs love to please and are eager to learn in all stages of life, so making the dog training fun for the dog not only makes the training more enjoyable but also makes the lesson easier to learn for your dog.
4. Don’t be afraid to use small treats as rewards.
Giving the dog a small treat for a job well done will not hurt the training process and will make the training more enjoyable for the dog. The treat chosen as the reward should only be given during the training process and on the successful completion of the task the dog was asked to do.
5. Research training products extensively before deciding which to purchase.
There are a large number of different training products on the market today and some of these products are intended for a specific use, not for general obedience training. Some of the products will have features that are not necessary to the training that you are trying to conduct, while some others may have features that will make your training sessions easier.
6. Dog training takes time.
Just as you didn’t learn how to read in a day, your dog will not master a command or a trick within the space of a day. It takes time for a dog to remember and execute a desired behavior after it has been introduced to them, so this important dog training tip is to give the training time to work and the dog time to understand what you are asking him to do.
7. If at first you don’t succeed, try again.
This last tip of the important dog training tips is that if your dog fails to understand a training method or a command, try a different teaching method. Just like different people learn in different ways, different dogs learn in different ways as well.
To find more dog training tips, visit the following site: Free Dog Obedience Training Wisdom. You’ll find free articles that will teach you more about how to train your dog to obey you.
If you own a pet and don’t own any de-shedding tools, I will bet that you often have to use a lint roller on your clothes before leaving the house! Most pet owners are willing to put up with hair on their clothing and in their home. I think our love for our pets makes us blind to the amount of hair there really is in our homes and on our person.
I myself have three small dogs and two cats that live inside my home as well as three larger dogs that live outside. I have tried many brands and variations of de-shedding tools available to pet owners, some have been a total waste of money and others have really done what they say they will do. With a total of six dogs, all of which are shedding breeds, I would have a lot of hair floating around if I didn’t keep up with the grooming.
Www.luvurdog.com offers several types of de-shedding tools to help groom your dog. The one that works the best on all of my dogs, cats, and even the horses is the Furminator. This tool, developed by a professional groomer, does a fantastic job removing the loose hair from the undercoat while leaving the top coat unharmed. If you have pets that shed, de-shedding tools such as a de-shedding comb, an undercoat rake, or the furminator, are a necessity. Unless of course, you really like to show off your newest sports team sweater, dog hair and all!
ASPCA did an exceptional job putting this video together. I just had to share it with my friends.
This pack was designed to be an everyday pack with excellent performance, fit and functionality. Give your dog a load to carry and a job to do.
German Shorthaired Pointers Wall Calendar: Whether on land or in the water, the German Shorthaired Pointer always gets the job done. These intelligent, friendly, and loyal dogs love their families dearly. Enthusiastic workers, they are excellent all-purpose hunting dogs. Celebrate this elegant and lively breed with this handsome German Shorthaired Pointers wall calendar.
This pack was designed to be an everyday pack with excellent performance, fit and functionality. Give your dog a load to carry and a job to do.
This pack was designed to be an everyday pack with excellent performance, fit and functionality. Give your dog a load to carry and a job to do.
