The Modern Bark | Dog Training Tips

Dog whistles have been used since the late 1850’s  for long distance control of dogs for  obedience,  hunting and retrieval as well as the herding of stock.   Whistle commands are used when working  dogs outdoors over long distances, where  verbal and visual commands are impractical.   Typically these whistle commands are taught after the dog has mastered the related visual or voice commands in close proximity to their trainer.  A variety of styles of whistles are in production, and each has its advantages based on the type of work the dog is performing and environmental conditions.   In this review we will discuss which model whistles are appropriate for herding dog training along with video tutorials of whistle training basics for this venue. Herding Dog Whistles Compared If you are adept at whistling, scroll on down for the video on traditional herding whistle commands. For those of us that have a hard time makin...

Intact male dogs tend to live longer healthier lives Image: Courtesy of PublicDomainImages.net Images of frightened, discarded cats and dogs in shelters tug at our hearts and serve to encourage the public to embrace the spaying and neutering of pets as a way to reduce the unwanted pet population.  The burgeoning population of abandoned cats and dogs has increased in tough economic times. A growing trend in the animal welfare and rescue community has been to spay and neuter cats and dogs prior to releasing their charges to their new adoptive families.   In the case of young kittens and puppies, some of the more zealous of these organizations have begun spaying and neutering puppies as early as 6 -8 weeks of age.   Research regarding the long term benefits and risks that such early intervention may have on the physical development of the adult dog is many years away. However we can look to existing research for the effects on the health of dogs spay...

Courtesy of Public Domain Images Hemangiosarcoma is a form of cancer found almost exclusively in dogs. A relatively common canine cancer (6-8% of all canine cancers) it is estimated that 2 million of 73 million dogs currently alive in the United States will develop the disease and ultimately die from it. At this time, it is considered incurable, as it remains symptomless until the advanced stages of the disease.  The current standard of care, surgery and chemotherapy, have proven to extend the life to the affected dog a mere median of 180 days, with surgery alone, and an additionally 180 days with chemotherapy added to surgical intervention. In the wake of these poor treatment outcomes, research has focused on early detection of the disease as well as a new, very promising alternative medical approach. Hemangiosarcoma Hemangiosarcoma is an indolent cancer, meaning it initially develops very slowly, asymptomatically and painlessly.  The most common primary sites ...

A dog’s diet should consist of 20 percent vegetables consumed on a daily basis. With these 3 easy home cooked recipes you can add that much needed vitamin and mineral fix to your dog’s diet with a minimum of effort.  Better yet, these dog treats store in the freezer from 2-4 months.  So with a little bit of effort, you can serve Fido healthy snacks for months to come as easy as 1-2-3! 1 - Fast, Simple and Healthy Dog Apple Crisp Treats These dog treats are simple to make (you’ll be done in 45 minutes start to finish) and are super nutritious.  Smear them with a little peanut butter for an extra tasty treat! Ingredients: 2 apples pealed, cored and sliced into 3/8” slices 2 Tablespoons Lemon juice 1 cup water 1 tsp cinnamon Instructions: 1.      Preheat oven to 350° F 2.      Combine the lemon juice and water in a small bowl. 3.      Place a...

Source: Courtesy of PDPics.com Dogs are omnivores with scavenging tendencies; t his means they are open to eating almost anything that appears edible,  and that can lead to bouts of diarrhea.  Diarrhea is defined as loose or watery stools; it is the system's attempt to quickly eliminate something distressing from the intestinal tract that is poisoning the system. Causes of Acute Diarrhea in Dogs Acute or sudden onset diarrhea The dog may have picked up a bug or virus The dog has eaten something that does not agree with him Internal Parasites  Change in Diet Poison Causes of Chronic Diarrhea in Dogs Food allergies such as gluten or main protein ingredient allergy Inflammatory Bowel Disease Kidney, Liver or Thyroid Disease Irritable Bowel Syndrome In most instances, diarrhea does not necessarily warrant a trip to the vet.  If the dog appears to be in good health otherwise, then you can treat his symptoms at home with some simp...

Samoyeds - Dogs of the Spitz Family Looking for a fluffy dog? Then look no further! The double coated dog breeds are your ticket to puff and fluff in all shapes, sizes and temperaments.  The double coat is represented in every dog group from working and herding to toy, hounds, sporting and non-sporting dogs, and they have some major fur-factor going on. For example, looking for a small, white fluffy dog – choose from the West Highland White Terrier, Bichon Frise or American Eskimo Dog.   Needing a big fluffy white dog; try the Samoyed or the Great Pyrenees just to name a few of your options. What is a Double Coat? Double coats are comprised of long, guard hairs that define the dog’s appearance, which are supported by short, dense woolly hairs (the undercoat) below the surface of the guard hairs.  The denser the undercoat, the fluffier the dog appears. The protective guard hairs of the coat are designed to repel moisture and shed dirt. ...