Keeping Your Pomeranian Dog Healthy And Happy

Opening your heart to a Pomeranian can be fun, but you must be willing to take on the responsibility of dog ownership. When you become a Pom owner, it’s up to to do everything in your power to make your pet's life a happy one, the proper care, environment and companionship. If this sounds like a big commitment – it is! But rest assured, the rewards of pet ownership far outweigh the work you have to...

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How to Correct Your Dog's Stay on the Agility Starting Line

Brad Carlson


Does your Agility Dog Stay everywhere but on the starting line? My "over the edge Border Collie", started breaking her start line stays after about one year of trialing. I had to go back and examine the cause and what lead to the deterioration of her start line stay.
As I pull pieces of the past, I realize that at first I asked my dog, Rip, to Sit-stay at the start line. But she began to lean and scoot, so I changed to a Down-stay. She did this for a while until she began to crawl and creep. Then I would walk away for a lead out, but I would continue to face her, by being face to face, that would help her to hold her position, well it did for a while. Then I started getting breakaways, she would no longer wait at the starting line, as soon as I started to step away from her side, and she would be off. That's when I pulled her from trialing.
Why did her behavior get worse at the start line? Because I started to negotiate with my dog, way back when she moved from the Sit-stay, I should have made it clear that the Sit -stay was the only behavior that would bring the reward of running agility. What I mistook as, "Oh, I'm asking too much for my edgy dog to Sit-Stay on the line." She took as, "Mom, doesn't really mean what she says when we're in this fenced ring with lots of people around." So, she began to test every behavior I asked for on the line. Dogs will do what we allow.
If your dog begins to break its start-line stay, whether that is a stand, sit, or down, STOP immediately. Don't run your run. I know you've paid your entry fees, but you'll be spending a lot more time and money fixing the problem when it gets worse. For some dogs, taking them off the course is deterrent enough to get back on track. For other dogs you may have to "train" your stay in the ring, of course you also, may be called for training and excused from the ring, but it's most important that your dog know that the fun can not and will not start until the Stay stays.
About the author: Brad Carlson is a dog trainer at Agility by Carlson. For more training details, visit our website at http://www.carlson-agility.com/

5 Things To Consider Before Buying A Dog

Many factors need to be considered by a family, before bringing home a new pet. Some are as followed: GENDER - SIZE - HAIR What about the gender of the dog? Are you interested in a male or female? Will you breed the dog once it is grown? If a breeding program is not in its future, consider neutering the dog. Are you interested in a large or a small dog? Often, potential owners don't consider the frame size and weight of the puppy when it becomes an adult. Also think about the grooming needs of a long-haired dog versus a short-haired one. VETERINARY CARE The dog will also need regular veterinary...

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Training Your Puppy The Right Way: Why Using The Crate Is The Safest Thing For Your New Puppy

Tom lives in a gated community of six houses. The woman who lives in the house next door to Tom just got a new Border Collie puppy. Tom immediately gave her a print-out of my dog training book (which you can read more about at: http: www. dogpro blems. com secretsbook. htm ) She read the book. Especially the part about using a crate to confine your puppy when you’re not home. (This is the same way you’d confine a baby to a crib or a play pen when you can’t keep 100% of your attention on your baby). It prevents your puppy from learning bad habits, and it also gives your pup a sense on security...

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