The Modern Bark | Dog Training Tips

By Tony Hisgett, Birmingham UK Five Fun Facts About Labs The Labrador Retriever is America's favorite dog breed, but Americans are not alone in Lab loving. Considered the most popular breed in the world,  Labradors are the favorite breed of the UK, Israel, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Mayor of a California Town - Bosco , a Labrador retriever, was elected honorary mayor of Sunol, California in 1981.  He ran as a re-pup-lican, and beat two human candidates for the honor.  Bosco remained mayor for another 13 years, until his death in 1994. Labs make the best Guide Dogs. In fact, approximately 70% of the American guide dogs are Labrador retrievers. Labradors are one of the ten breeds with the best sense of smell.  They can sniff out cancers in early stages, that were previously undetectable.  Labs have been trained to sniff out various cancers through patients' breath, urine and stool samples. They are so highly accurate, that scientists are att...

By Marilyn Peddle (Flickr) Whether you are getting a new puppy or adopting an adult from the local shelter, finding the right name for your new dog will help you bond to him in record time.  We have complied a list of 50 meaningful names for black male Labs. Here, you're sure to find the perfect name for your new black pup! Lab Names for Male Puppies Related to the Color Black Ash - Ruins, the powdery reside that remains after something has been burned. Coal - A blackish brown combustible mineral. Dusk - Darkness at twilight hour. Ebon - Darkness often used to describe the sky or heavy rain clouds. Eclipse - The blotting-out of a celestial objects light by another closer object. Etch - The etched material is filled with dark ink to create and image on another object after it has been pressed and the image transferred. Inky - Ink Black. Jet - Pure black and a means of extreme propulsion. Murk -  Darkness. Onyx - A jet black semi-precious sto...

Find the perfect name for your blond bombshell! These name inspirations celebrate the gentle, sunny dispositions of yellow Labrador Retriever Females as gun dogs and loving companions.  Female Gundog Names for Yellow Labs Annie – Annie Oakley, famous sharpshooter.  Belle – Belle Starr, infamous American outlaw associated with the James/Younger Gang. Jane – Calamity Jane, a professional scout and marksman who fought alongside the Native American Indians. Katie – Mother of the Sons of Katie Elder. Kimber – Producer of handguns and topnotch rifles. Rossi – Producer of shotguns. Sako – Maker of big game hunting rifles. Tikka – Maker of bolt action rifles. Female Lab Names From Downton Abbey Daisy - Daisy may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but she is certainly dedicated and fiercely loyal. As a flower, the daisy represents innocence, purity and childhood. Isis – Downton Abbey’s lovely yellow Lab, Isis, featured pr...

America's favorite dog breed for twenty years running, is also one of America's toughest power chewers.  These five toys have been tested for durability, interest and safety.  Several of these toys float, making them ideal for retrieval training, as well as all round chew toys. Your Labrador Retriever puppy is guaranteed to love these toys for a long time to come! The GoughNuts Stick is Guaranteed for Life The GoughNuts Guaranteed Indestructible Dog Chew Toys Designed with maximum safety in mind, the GoughNuts Dog Toys are made from premium rubber that is not as plastic tasting as some of the competitor's toys.  The Original Toy comes in green with a red center. Their slogan is, "Green means Go! Red means Stop!" If your dog reaches the red center, it is time to take it away from him and send it in for a replacement.  You pay shipping and a small handling fee for the replacement. Here Black means Go, and Red means Stop! Lab owners rave about the d...

This happy hound is America's fourth favorite breed, thanks to its alert, inquisitive nature and lighthearted temperament.  Beagles should never display resentment; their joyous temperaments are resilient, if sometimes, also, a little mischievous. Beagles possess some of the best noses of all dog breeds.  Their olfactory scent glands and nonthreatening demeanor make them ideal airport security workers, sniffing out potential bomb threats as well as contraband items. Famous Beagle Names from Cinema and Cartoons Of course we all know and love Charles M. Schultz's  Snoopy, but did you know that Snoopy was from a litter of 8 puppies?  Only five of them ever made appearances in the comic strip, Peanuts.  Those lucky dogs were Andy, Marbles, Olaf, Spike and sister Belle. Snoopy's Brothers: Andy Marbles Olaf Spike Rover  Snoopy's Sisters: Belle Molly Other Famous Cartoon Beagles Brian - The Family Guy's urbane beagle sophisticate....

Pet health insurance can save pet owners thousands of dollars in veterinary bills, but only if the claim is not denied. Buried in the fine print of many policies are preexisting condition exclusions and annual exam requirements, the scope of which leave many pet owners unreimbursed and infuriated. These tips are designed to help you understand what is and is not covered in a given policy, so that you can make an informed decision – is pet insurance right for me and my particular pets? And if so, how do I find the best plan for my pet's potential needs? Pet Insurance Case Study: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly The story of Zephyr illustrates the advantages and shortfalls of pet insurance coverage.  Zephyr was a six month old puppy and a show dog prospect, when she caught her toe in a screen door and broke one of the delicate bones in her foot. To ensure the foot healed correctly, and prevent a career ending limp, her vet recommended a costly surgery to place a pin in he...