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Nothing can be more annoying than the sound of a crying, whining puppy.  However, this behavior has its roots in biology.  Whining is how a puppy gets attention from its mother and they often learn that it gets the attention of their human parents as well.  Sadly, if your puppy has a whining problem, it’s because you’ve taught him that whining gets your attention.  The behavior has been reinforced, and thus, he will continue to whine to get the results he wants.

A dog will whine or cry if:

• He’s looking for attention because he’s lonely or bored.
• He’s feeling uncomfortable – too hot, too cold, wet.
• He’s hurting.
• He’s in a place that he doesn’t like or a new environment.
• He may have to eliminate waste and be trapped inside.
• He may be hungry or thirsty.

The first step on how to stop a dog whining is making sure he is happy and healthy.   Be sure your dog has a bed area that is dry, warm, and safe.  He should have good food and fresh water.  Feeding your dog in a place where he normally whines will begin to give him positive thoughts about that location and help to stop the whining.

If your puppy whines most at night, it’s best to move his crate into your bedroom.  Being able to see and smell his “pack members” will make your puppy feel more at ease.  You can also put a piece of clothing that smells like you in the crate to soothe your puppy.

Having new or exciting toys in the crate can also entertain your puppy while the rest of the house is sleeping.  A kong toy filled with peanut butter or dog kibble can keep a puppy entertained and quiet for hours.  Wrapping an old ticking clock in a towel can also soothe a puppy because it sounds like the heartbeat of its mother.

If your puppy whines at night it could be because his energy hasn’t been expended during the day.  Tire him out!  Go on walks, play games, run around, play fetch, do obedience training.  At the end of the day, your puppy should be so tired that he flops into bed and sleeps through the night without whining.

One method that works if your puppy is in another room is to open the door, say “Enough!” and then slam the door shut.   If the whining stops, go into the room and praise the dog and give him a treat.

The most important thing to know if you want to stop your puppy from whining is that you cannot react to the whining.  You must send the message the whining is useless.  No matter how pitiful the whining sounds and how long it lasts, do not give your puppy attention.  Ignore him until he is quiet.  You can’t give in and nobody in your family can give in.  Be strong!

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As humans, we’ve been told that a good diet involves at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.  So what about your dog food vegetables?  Shouldn’t your dog be benefiting from the vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants and fiber of vegetables?  Should your dog be eating vegetables too?  The answer is simple – yes, vegetables for dogs extremely important.

Many owners are concerned about pet food recalls and the chemicals and preservatives in commercially available dog foods.  They’re not sure exactly what is in store-bought dog food and are worried that it is affecting their dog’s health.  Many dog owners are switching to a raw food diet, also known as a BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food) diet.

Part of this diet involves raw meat, but the other important component is vegetables.  Some people claim that vegetables aren’t necessary for dogs, that they can survive on a diet of raw meat, but studies have proven that a diet of all meat is not nutritionally sound for a dog.  There are so many nutrients that come from vegetables and many positive effects of incorporating vegetables into your dog’s diet.  Just like in humans, a diet full of a variety of fresh vegetables helps prevent disease and extend life.

When planning your dog’s new diet, you need to know which vegetables are harmful to dogs.  We all know not to feed dogs chocolate, but did you know that garlic and onions are also harmful to dogs?  These can cause anemia.  Other vegetables that should be avoided are tomatoes, wild mushrooms, and avocados.  Some vegetables like beans and cabbage can cause your dog to have bad gas – so while they’re not unhealthy, the aftermath of eating them is not necessarily pleasant for you or your family!

There are two main types of vegetables – high glycemic and low glycemic.  Some of the best vegetables for dogs include broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, spinach, squash, and zucchini.  Starchy vegetables like corn and potatoes are good, but may cause weight gain due to their high carbohydrate content.   Feed these sparingly.

Low Glycemic Vegetables – Feed These More Often!

• Broccoli
• Brussels Sprouts
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Dark leafy greens
• Green beans
• Summer squash

High Glycemic Vegetables – Feed Sparingly!

• Beets
• Carrots
• Corn
• Parsnips
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Rutabagas
• Sweet Potatoes
• Winter Squash

Dogs who are not used to vegetables may not want to eat them at first.  The best way to introduce vegetables is to cook them a big and process them in a food processor.  You can also mix the vegetables in with a protein source.  Soon your dog will develop a taste for vegetables and you can feed him a wide variety of them in his regular diet.

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Spin

Put a treat in your hand and let your dog see it.   Hold it just out of his reach and turn your dog in a circle, saying “Spin!”  Once he’s gone all the way around, give him the treat and say “Good spin!”  Eventually you will be able to do this without a treat.  After that, you can do it by simply giving the command and twirling your finger.

Don’t look!

This trick is adorable.   When you say, “Don’t look!” your dog will cover his eyes with his paw.  To train this, say “Don’t look!” and blow a little air at your dog’s face.  This will cause him to duck his head and wipe at his face with his paw.  Praise this behavior!  After a while, you’ll be able to just say “Don’t look!” without blowing in his face.

Play Dead

If your dog already knows the command “Down” you can push it one step further and teach him “Play Dead.”  Put your dog in the down position and check to see what side he favors.  Most dogs will lean to one side or another when laying down.  Gently push your dog over and say “Play Dead!”  If he rolls on his back, scratch his belly and praise him, saying, “Good Play Dead!”  Move to giving the command “Down” followed by “Play Dead.”  Eventually you will be able to say “Play Dead” when your dog is in a standing position.

Roll Over

Once your dog knows how to play dead, you can teach him to roll over.  When your dog is in play dead position, use a treat to get him to roll back over and on to his feet.  When he rolls over, praise him and give him the treat.  Eventually, with some time and patience, you will be able to get your dog to do a full Roll Over from a standing position.

Shake Hands

This is an easy one.  When your dog is sitting, give the command “Shake hands” and take your dog’s paw in your hand.  Praise him.  Once your dog makes the connection, he’ll lift his paw and put it into your hand on command.

Wave

This is an extension of “Shake hands.”  When your dog is sitting, give the command “Shake hands wave” and hold your hand higher than usual so your dog has to reach up with his paw.  Don’t let him contact your hand with his paw.  Praise him for trying to get his paw that high.  This will confuse your dog at first, but eventually he’ll begin to associate “Wave” with putting his paw up high.  What a cute trick to have your dog wave goodbye to houseguests!

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Why on earth would a dog eat feces when you’re feeding him perfectly good dog food?

There are two reasons why dogs eat feces.  The first is behavioral problem and the second is a medical problem.  Your vet can tell you which it is by doing some simple tests.

Dogs eat feces because it tastes good.  For humans, the thought is repulsive, but a dog doesn’t know that.  He knows that he likes, and if he likes poop, that’s what he’s going to eat.  Some dogs eat feces because they’re anxious, stressed, or simply bored.   Others do it to replace a vitamin or mineral deficiency.  Some will eat to hide the evidence if they’ve been punished for pooping in the house.  Others will eat their droppings because they’ve been overfed and their poop smells and tastes like their food!

With all these reasons… how to stop dog from eating poop?

Here are some tips to keep your dog from eating poop.  Not all tips will work for all dogs, so do what works best for you.

• Feed your dog twice a day, at the same times.
• Use a well-balanced and nutritious dog food.
• Always clean up after your dog promptly.
• Hide the kitty litter box in a place where your dog can’t get to it.
• Keep your dog mentally and physically exercised.
• Teach the command “Leave it!” and use it if you catch your dog in the act.
• Mix a tablespoon of pineapple, pumpkin, spinach, or pickles in your dog’s food.  These apparently make poop taste horrible to dogs.
• Sprinkle hot sauce or cayenne pepper over your dog’s droppings.
• Muzzle your dog in situations where he’s off leash and could get into trouble.

Be consistent in your training.  Don’t let your dog develop the habit of eating feces or it will become harder and harder to break.   Nip it in the bud and you won’t have to dive for cover every time your dog tries to lick your face!

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It’s adorable when your puppy jumps up and puts his little paws on your knees to say hello.  It’s not so adorable when your 120 pound adult dog bowls over your grandmother and sends her to the hospital with a broken hip. A little too extreme?

What about knocking down your children or getting muddy paw prints on your brand new business suit?  Then how to stop dog from jumping on people? Jumping is a behavior that needs to be trained out of your dog immediately when he is still a puppy.  There are few methods you can use to stop dog from jumping on people habit.

Ignore him!

This is an easy method.  When your dog jumps, turn your back on him.  Don’t say anything, just turn your back and ignore him.  Tilt your head and look up at the ceiling.  He may circle around you and try to jump again.  Turn away again.  Be patient, as this may take many times to sink in for your dog.  He needs to learn that jumping is not going to get him any attention from you.  Once it clicks, your dog should change his behavior.  If he stops jumping and sits, praise him.  If he stands still, give him the sit command and praise him.

Push his nose!

When your dog jumps on you, push your hand against his nose and give the command “Off!”  Since dog’s noses are very sensitive, this will only take a few times before your dog associates jumping with getting his nose pushed.  Be consistent and you’ll see good results.

Make him sit for your love.

If your dog doesn’t know the sit command, teach him.  Use the sit command whenever you dog would normally be jumping on you (for example, when you come home).  As you open the door, say “Sit!”   When your dog sits, praise him.  If your dog jumps on you, close the door and stand outside for a few minutes for him to calm down.  This may take a while, but your dog must associate jumping with being alone and sitting with getting praised.

Use a leash.

Keep a leash on your dog.  When guests arrive, stand on the leash so your dog will only be able to jump a couple inches off the ground.   You can combine this with the “sit” command.  Let your guests know not to greet your dog unless he is sitting.

One of the biggest reasons that dogs jump is that owners make a big deal about leaving home and returning.  This gets your dog very anxious and excited and wanting to jump.  It’s actually best not to inform your dog that you are leaving or make a big to-do of your return.  These are the best ways to make your dog calm and happy and with all four feet on the floor.

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If you’re looking to make a difference in your dog’s health and well being, making your own dog food is a big step in the right direction.  Here are some tasty recipes for dog food and treats that you can make!

Hamburger Happy Pup
2/3 c  hamburger
1/2 c brown rice
1/4 c potato
1/4 t garlic powder
1/2 carrot
1 c water

Chop the meat, carrot, and potatoes into small pieces.  Put them in a pot with ½ c of water and garlic powder.  Boil over high heat.  Cook the rice while waiting on the other ingredients to soften and cook.  Add a little water to the meat pot every so often to keep it moist.  Once the rice is cooked, add it to the meat pot, stir, and cook for a few more minutes until the rice has soaked up the liquids.

Chicken Pot Pup
2 chicken thighs
1 stalk celery
3 carrots
2 small potatoes
2 cups brown rice
5-6 c water

In a large pot, place chicken and cover with water. Chop up the vegetables and potatoes and add them to the pot.  Simmer on low heat until chicken is cooked, about 2 hours.  Add the brown rice and cover the pot, cooking for about a half hour.  You see see most of the liquid has been absorbed.  Take the pot off the heat, remove the chicken and debone it, throwing away the bones.  Shred the chicken and mix it back into the pot.  Wait until it has cooled before feeding to your dog.

Minty Hamburger
5 c of uncooked brown rice
10 c of water
2 lbs hamburger
5 T dried mint

Boil the rice in the water, add meat and mint and return to a boil, stirring frequently.  Reduce heat to low and cook until the water has been absorbed.  Form into burger patties or meatballs, whatever your dog prefers!   This recipe is great for dogs with bad breath!

Beef Barkingoff
1/2 c hamburger
1 lb noodles
1 c chopped vegetables  (sweet potato, potato, green beans, carrots, or spinach)
1 T vegetable oil
1-2 c water

Combine ingredients in a large pot and boil them until meat is cooked and noodles are tender.

Lovely Lamb
1/2 lb ground lamb
1/4 c cooked brown rice
1 small potato
1/4 c green beans
1/4 t garlic powder

Brown the lamb in a pan and then drain any fat.  Add the rice to the lamb pan.  Chop up the potato and green beans. Boil until they are tender, then drain.  Mix the vegetables into the lamb and rice.  Season with garlic powder, mix thoroughly, cool, then serve.

Quiche LaPoochie
4 whole eggs
1 T cream
2/3 c skim milk
3 oz ground, cooked meat
2 oz shredded lowfat cheese
1 whole pie crust (9 inch)
1 sprig finely chopped parsley

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.  Wisk together eggs, cream and milk and pour into crust.  Sprinkle on meat and cheese.  Bake for 30-45 minutes, until eggs set firmly.  Cool, sprinkle with parsley, and serve.

Get Creative!
As long as you are using ingredients that are healthy for your dog, the only limits on your creations are your imagination!

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There’s a new diet out there for dogs and it has a very funny name – BARF.  So what is BARF?  The acronym BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (or sometimes Bones and Raw Food) and it is a diet that some people believe has revolutionized their dog’s health and happiness.  These pet owners have decided to turn back the clock and feeding dog raw food diet better suited to their ancestry.  Animals in the wild don’t eat kibble from a bag or mush out of a can, so why should your dog?

The BARF diet is a raw whole food diet that is very similar to what wolves would eat in the wild.  It involves meat, bones, animal fat, organ meat and vegetables and fruits.  Even though processed dog food will say “real meat” or “high protein” or “all natural” it doesn’t mean that these foods are close to natural.  They all contain preservatives and additives, not to mention chemicals and fillers!

The main part of the BARF diet is fresh raw meat.   This will account for half of your dog’s diet.  Cook the meat as little as possible, preferably not at all.   Raw meats can be chicken, turkey, duck, beef, lamb, or venison – whatever’s on sale!  Vary the meat source as often as you can.

The other half of the raw food diet is fruits, vegetables, and grains.  Carbohydrate sources like oats, potatoes, pasta, or rice should be boiled to soften them a bit before feeding.  This helps them digest easily.  A variety of vegetables and fruits add nutrients and vitamins to your dog’s diet.  Carrots are an excellent source of vitamins and can be fed daily.  Other good vegetables include parsley, celery, alfalfa sprouts, corn, and zucchini.   Dogs also love fruits like apples, mangoes, bananas and watermelon.  Once a week you will want to add cheese, eggs or plain yogurt to your dog’s meal.

Certain foods are not to be fed for dogs.  Vegetables like broccoli, beans, turnips and cabbage will cause gas – not fun for your dog or your family!  Other vegetables like onions, peppers, spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes are not easily digested by dogs and should be avoided.

Remember that since this food is essentially “people food” it must be stored in the same way that you would store your own food.  Store raw food at a safe temperature.   If your dog does not complete his meal, cover and store it in your refrigerator.  Raw dog food in the refrigerator should not stay there longer than two or three days before being eaten.  If you prepare extra food, freeze it in small containers that you can thaw in the fridge before feeding them to your dog.

Using fresh, raw food that is unprocessed will give your dog more nutritional value.  Some of the other benefits that you will notice when your dog is on a raw food diet are better breath, less tartar buildup, improvement in skin, shinier coat, healthier bowel movements, easier weight maintenance, easier mobility, and an all-around happier pet!

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Dogs have been man’s best friend for generations.  It’s amazing the kind of jobs that a dog can do – there are guide dogs, bomb-sniffing dogs, drug-sniffing dogs, hunting dogs, and search-and-rescue dogs.  The job that most people associate with the German Shepherd is the police dog, one of the toughest jobs for any dog.  Police dogs do all sorts of duties, everything from tracking down criminals, finding drugs, searching buildings, and chasing down the bad guys!  They are so dedicated to their job that they will give their lives to protect their police officer.

The first step for training German Shepherd puppy as a police dog is basic obedience training.  It is important that the dog obey their handler immediately, no matter what the command.  Just like a guide dog, a police dog must be accustomed to all sorts of situations, environments and people.  This includes stressful situations like areas with lots of car traffic and environments were guns are being fired.   It’s a tough road to make it through even this part of training, but the German Shepherd is smart and easily trainable.

Police dogs also go through endurance and agility training.  It’s not enough for them to be able to run quickly, they need to be able to go up and down stairs, jump high walls, and fit through small holes.  The dog has to be 100% comfortable in any situation that may happen when it is chasing a suspect through the city.  Once the German Shepherd is trained in all of these things, it receives a special training for the job that it will be doing once it is an official K-9 unit.

One of the most common types of police dogs is the drug-sniffing dog.  What makes a dog want to find drugs?  After all, the drugs don’t smell good and the dog has no interest in eating the drug.  The key to training a German Shepherd to be a drug sniffing dog is to harness the excitement a dog has for finding his favorite toy and use that as a motivation to find drugs.

During the training, the handler teaches the dog to associate the smell of a particular drug with his favorite toy.  In order to play with his favorite toy, the dog must find the drugs first.  When he finds the drugs, the handler pulls out the toy and praises and plays with the dog.  German shepherd are trained to pick up the smell of one drug first, and then their repertoire is expanded to many types of drugs until they can sniff out any illegal drug.  The training for bomb-sniffing dogs is very similar, except the dog is trained to sniff for the chemicals used in explosives.

German Shepherds are great working dogs and a valuable part of the police force.  A drug sniffing dog can cover area ten times faster than a human and with more accuracy.  With a sense of smell 50 times better than ours, it’s no wonder why these dogs are seen as equal members of the police force as their human counterparts!

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Golden retrievers are one of the preferred breeds for seeing eye dogs.  But how do they get trained?  It all starts with a volunteer who loves training puppies.  Who can resist getting to raise adorable fluffy Golden Retriever puppies?

On first glance, it looks to have the appeal of leasing a car – every year, you get a brand new Golden Retriever puppy to raise, train, and socialize!  However, it’s not all fun and games – you have a very important job that will determine the quality of life for a handicapped person and must take that job seriously.

The first steps in the process are to sign up to be a puppy raiser.  There are different application processes for the different guide dog schools, so you’ll need to find the requirements for the one in your area. Your job when you receive a Golden Retriever puppy is to raise it for the first 14-18 months of its life – its puppy hood.  Your main task is to be sure the puppy is well-socialized and exposed to as many different people and places as possible.  Your second task is to training Golden Retriever puppies in basic obedience.

Socialization Training

Since a seeing eye dog must bring its blind owner to all sorts of locations, it is important that your puppy be exposed to all sorts of things.  Your Golden Retriever puppy will have a special vest that identifies him as a service dog in training.   This will enable you to bring the puppy anywhere that you would normally go.  Make it a point to visit as many types of places as possible so your puppy becomes accustomed to the sights, sounds, and smells of the world.  When your puppy is wearing his vest, he should not be touched by anyone.  It is important that the puppy connects the wearing of the vest with work time.

When the puppy is not working, he should be socialized with as many people and other dogs as possible.  Many puppy raising organizations have meet-ups where you can bring your puppy to socialize with other Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever puppies that are also being trained to be service dogs.  You can also bring your puppy to the dog park for socialization training.

Obedience Training

Another vital part to training your Golden Retriever puppy to be a guide dog is basic obedience training.  For starters, your puppy must be housebroken.   Once your puppy knows the etiquette of living in a house, you can begin to teach him basic commands like Come, Sit, Down, and Stay.  Teaching your dog to Heel on a leash is also necessary.  These are all easy commands to teach and will give your puppy the foundation necessary to be successful when he moves on to guide dog training when he is 14-18 months old.

Saying Goodbye

One of the most difficult parts about training a Golden Retriever puppy to be a service dog is saying goodbye when it is time for the puppy to move on to advanced training.  While it is hard to give up the bundle of fluff that you’ve grown to love, keep in mind that this dog is going to make someone’s life much easier and happier.  Besides, you can always apply to get a new puppy and have the joy of raising a puppy over and over again!

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Want a little more challenge when training your Beagle?  If your puppy is easily mastering the basic obedience commands, you may be interested in training your Beagle to track.  Beagles are one of the best breeds for tracking, along with Bloodhounds, Basset Hounds, and German Shepherds.

Since these dogs were bred for tracking, even if you don’t have a practical use for training your Beagle to track, it will be very fun and satisfying for him.  If your Beagle is hyperactive and tearing up your house, teaching him to track may be the solution to releasing all that pent-up energy in a constructive way. Refer below some basic Beagle puppy training tips to track.

Your first step is to pick up some basic tracking training supplies.  The first step is to buy a harness that is comfortable for your Beagle.  If your Beagle is still a puppy, look for one that will adjust to fit him as he grows larger.  You will need a long leash, preferably 30 feet or longer and made of a flat fabric or leather.

To lay the track, you’ll want some old leather items like gloves or beat-up wallets.  You’ll need some wooden stakes with ribbons attached to use as trail markers.  As with all training, keep some of your Beagle puppy’s favorite treats in your pocket.

The final item for your tracking training supplies is a pair of leather-soled shoes.  Why all this leather?  The smell given off by the soles of non-leather shoes can confuse your Beagle and make it harder for him to track, especially in the beginning.

It’s best to train your Beagle puppy to track in the morning or just after sunset.  This is when the scent is strongest.  Humid days are also great for trapping scents low to the ground where your Beagle can track them.  Try to avoid windy days until your Beagle is better trained.  Also avoid areas that have strong scents like near a gas station or a farm.

Put the harness on your Beagle and tie him in a place that is out of sight.  Setting the trail for your Beagle puppy to track involves scraping the dirt with your heel, putting in a stake, walking about 100 feet in a straight line and leaving one of your leather items.  Space out the leather items a few feet from one another.  When you’re done, walk back to your puppy, retracing your steps as closely as possible.

Don’t wait too long!  The trail is fresh and your Beagle will be eager to try out his nose!  Put the long leash on him and bring him to the stake where you started your trail.  Give him the command “Down” so he can be as close to the ground as possible to pick up the scent where you dug up the ground with your heel.  Gently point his nose into the dirt and keep it there for a second or two so he gets the scent in there.  When you let him go, say “Find it!” and point into the grass.  Keep repeating “Find it!” and praise your Beagle puppy as he sniffs the ground.

The key of tracking training is to get more excited the closer your Beagle puppy gets to an item.  When he finally gets the first glove or wallet, have him pick it up in his mouth and make it into a big, big deal.  He should think that finding this item is the best thing he’s ever done.   As your Beagle puppy gets better at tracking, you can start making things more difficult, but for now, have fun!

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