Dog Walking

Tip #1: Leash, leash, leash.

It might be interesting to entertain the notion that you can trust your dog enough that he or she won't cause any trouble, but you've got to use a leash. In fact, you should be consistent enough in your walking that once you go for the leash, your dog comes to the door and knows that it's time for a walk. If you don't use a leash, each walk will be far less predictable; if you do, you can exercise control and discipline every time.

Tip #2: Work your way up to longer walks, but don't go too easy.

The purpose of a walk is to get your dog exercise, which of course means that the dog will have to exert itself physically. You don't want to push your dog like you're training Rocky, but you also don't want to constantly monitor the dog's panting and take rests when the dog may be enjoying itself. The point of exercise isn't always to feel great: sometimes, it takes a little healthy pain for the gain. By all means, start out slowly in the first week or two, but once your dog can handle it, don't be afraid to push it a little bit.

Tip #3: Go at the same time when you walk.

You want to promote consistent and healthy habits both for yourself and the dog, so try to be as consistent as possible when you take your walks. For example, a quick walk in the morning before the dog eats could be a good time for the walk, as the dog will know that at the end of the walk comes a reward. This is also a great way for you to enjoy the walks on your schedule, no matter what you have to do later that day.

Tip #4: Be ready to play janitor.

If you have a dog and you walk it, you can expect that they'll use the opportunity with fresh grass to, uh, do their thing. Be ready for it, and make sure you know the local ordinances and laws that apply as they relate to dogs. Plastic bags will be your friend here.

Tip #5: Bring treats to reward good behavior.

Remember that you can't tell a dog when their behavior is good - they'll get the hint much better if you have a treat with you. Reward your dog for walking close to you, for example, by saying the word "close" and giving it a treat. Simply don't reward the dog when he or she hasn't been walking close to you, and eventually they'll take the hint.

Photo Credits: johnlemon

Create adventures for your dog.

Many people don't realize that while dog training is principally the same across a variety of breeds, your dog's individual breed can have a big impact on the techniques that work most effectively. Specifically, a hunting breed that is used to the outdoors and for having some tasks to complete will need to find some sort of adventure in its life; in order to properly train these dogs, you'll have to supply that adventure. But how exactly do you do that, and how can you make sure it's leading to a healthier dog?

We know that even in humans, having few goals and a sheltered life can lead to "cabin fever," or even more serious conditions like depression. Human beings and dogs alike need both social interaction and some type of adventure to feel truly at home. While we may not put a second thought into keeping our dog cooped up all day, we forget that they might want to go out just as much as us.

In order to make sure that a dog is healthy psychologically and responds better to training and discipline, we have to make sure that they get the adventure they need - especially the hunting breeds. To accomplish this, you can introduce small tasks or goals for the dog to carry out. For example, you can toss a stick out into a river or lake for retriever dogs, who enjoy having the task of getting it and bringing it back. This is one of the simpler ways to get a dog moving and putting its mind toward something.

To give a dog the outdoor experience it needs, try two factors: setting goals and making adventures. While running around with no aim can be fun, if you give a dog to focus on - such as giving retrievers something to find - they'll be much happier about their exercise. You can also bring a dog along with you while you seek your own goal, such as climbing to the top of a hill.

You'll also want to incorporate adventure. By tossing a stick out into a pond, you force your dog to swim through water to retrieve it - not necessarily an everyday experience. If you take your dog outdoors, you increase the adventure factor simply because birds and mammals might be crawling around, waiting to be chased by your dog.

Keeping your dog's life active isn't only about your dog, it can be about you. Taking your dog out to the park or down to the river can get you both some exercise and get you away from the TV.

Photo Credits: chefranden

Healthy Canine

If you raise a dog from a puppy and plan on living with that dog for the long haul, there's a good chance that you care about that dog enough to want to give it a long, healthy life. This is a great thing, but it will require some investment of both time and money to make sure that you're really raising a healthy dog. Remember that healthy dogs aren't raised simply with the right food, but with the right challenges, obedience requirements, and relationships that will help the dog adapt and socialize with the world around it.

In order to train a healthy dog, you'll want to focus on a few essential principles.

1. Make sure that your dog gets regular exercise.

Regular exercise is no joke - if you're not getting it, you should, and you should bring your dog with you. Walk your dog at least a half hour a day for a good six days a week. Don't skip out on this - if you have problems sticking to that simple habit, then you'll want to work on yourself, too. A dog's exercise habits might eventually reflect your own, so an investment of time and energy will help both you and your dog to live healthier, longer lives.

2. Have a clear structure of obedience.

The dog lives in your house, not the other way around. If a dog is going to socialize with you, your family, your friends, and other dogs, then it needs to know its place. Too many people give in to their dogs in order to appease them and treat them well - though these people are well-intentioned, their lack of discipline can lead to some mental problems for these dogs. By giving your dog boundaries and clear roles to respect, it will feel at home and know exactly how to behave: calmly and friendly. Set these standards for your dog and enforce them.

3. Don't punish your dog, correct behaviors.

A healthy dog needs to grow up in a friendly but firm environment built on discipline. You can't punish a dog because the dog might not know what it's being punished for. Instead, concentrate on correcting behaviors - don't let a dog get under your skin. If a dog is behaving out of line, firmly and strongly correct the behavior, physically if necessary.

For example, if a dog is barking at the door every time the bell rings, keep the dog on a leash and use that leash to move the dog back to a proper position of relaxation. Make sure that your dog knows that there are boundaries it is not allowed to cross, and be consistent in enforcing these boundaries.

Photo Credits: Randy Son Of Robert