The Modern Bark | Dog Training Tips

Grooming not only keeps your dog's coat in good health, it reduces the amount of hair shed in your home and provides an opportunity to bond more closely with your dog. Whether you are wanting to keep your dog's coat in show condition or are just looking to keep it free of mats, these tips on caring for your fluffy dog will make short work of keeping your dog healthy looking and your home free of unwanted dog hair. Double Coated Dog Grooming Basics: 101 Before brushing your dog, always mist him lightly with a little water from a spray bottle. The water will eliminate static electricity  and provide elasticity to the coat to prevent breakage of hair the shafts. If you can hear the brush as it is pulling through the coat, you are brushing too hard or using the wrong style brush on the coat. Always brush out your dog and remove any mats before bathing him.  Washing a dog with loose hair or mats will only aggravate the situation, causing the mats to grow...

These ten hilarious Halloween costumes for  dogs will make even the most hardened criminals roll on the floor with laughter. Delight your trick-or-treaters with these hysterical dog costumes. All of them are affordable, although some are better suited to particular body or head shapes. The Triceratops Dog Costume Animal planet makes several of the more adorable dog costumes available this year.  The triceratops head piece comes in four sizes. However, even the smallest size is still rather large. In fact the size small is large enough for an adult female human to wear as a costume. Made from lightweight printed foam, this is a costume best worn by dogs with blocky heads, such as the bulldogs or rottweilers. This little cutie costs under $7.00 Zack and Zoey's Grr-antula Costume Fans of The Lord of The Rings will recognize this giant spider!  Fitted with Velcro straps, it should fit fairly snugly.  However, the wire in the legs of thi...

Learn more about the Coton De Tulear This year the American Kennel Club has allowed two new breeds to join their roster of pure bred dogs.  The Wirehaired Vizsla has joined the Sporting Group while the darling Coton De Tulear has entered the Non-Sporting Group. The Coton De Tulear This tiny fluffy dog is the national dog of Madagascar, where the breed originated. Named for its cottony white coat, "Coton" and the Port of Madagascar, Tulear, these charming dogs have  graced  Madagascar's national stamps. The breed standard calls for a gay and light-hearted dog that is never demanding. The tail is carried happily over the back and the proportions of the dog are slightly longer that tall.   The expression of the Coton is a smiling one that expresses "joie de vivre." The temperament of the breed is marked by a unique sympathy to the emotions of those around them. They are also known for their unique vocalizations which may include...

Looking for an novel toy for your young dog lover that does not involve electronics?   Canine Cardz, by Zazzy Pals, is 8 games in one package, and it combines children's three favorite activities. Awarded the 2014 "Best New Game of the Year" by Creative Child Magazine , the games are gender neutral and can be played alone or with up to 5 players.  All pieces come in a 5 x 9" carrying case, so it's ideal for holiday travel. The Package Includes: A Deck of 54 Unique "Dog" Playing Cards 12 Color Pencils 1 Sketch Pad 4 Large Colored Rubber Bones Instructions for Playing 8 Different Games Lessons on Learning How to Draw Dogs Canine Cardz on Sale at Wags and Whiskers Gifts. Use Coupon Code RP2012 for and additional 10% off Get It - Now The 8 games were developed by Randi Bienniek, a child psychologist, self taught artist as well as the mother of triplets!  Randi spent 20 years working as a school psychologist for elementary,...

Once puppy teething starts, it seems as though some object must constantly be in the puppy’s mouth. And if it’s not, your window sill, stair risers, or your shoes and socks will make equally delicious teething objects.  Save yourself some heartbreak and expense by starting your puppy off right with these durable and safe teething toys.  At all costs, avoid cute puppy toys that look like objects you don’t want chewed up; rubber squeaky shoes and cell phones are toys that teach your puppy to destroy valuable objects. Keep in mind that many of these toys are made for small, soft deciduous puppy teeth.  Some of these chew toys are not appropriate for a heavy chewer’s adult teeth. Watch for wear patterns on them, and remove or discard toys if look like they are getting worn to a point where they are likely to break or rupture. Note: We recently updated this article with the latest natural chew toy that is making in-the-know puppy owner's puppies content the wo...