A Barking Dog is a Pain!

How do you get your dog to stop barking? After all, who likes a constantly barking dog? The only time I want a dog barking is when people drive up or to keep coyotes away. But when I tell her to stop, I want my dog to stop. So how do you go about obtaining this wonderful silence? We all know it's better to train anyone and anything when they are young. So start with your puppy training it to end up...

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Tough Guys Talking Plush Dog Toys

Shannon Weidemann


Recently Camille Tapp with Alpha Pet Products sent me a Billy the Duck Tough Guys Talking Plush Toy. My dog Kelly can be a destroyer of plush toys, ripping them apart and pulling the stuffing out, so I was unsure how long this toy would last.
Billy the Duck is dressed in a suit with bow tie and smoking a cigar. To further enhance the tough guy image he says “Do you think I’m funny? What am I, a clown?” when squeezed. Casino Cat, Dapper Dog, Stogie, and Lyin’ Lion are also available, each with a unique phrase. They are all around 11 inches tall.
Kelly was super excited when the box arrived. It had been packaged with some Buddy Biscuits Liver Treats and the box must have smelt very good. I got the toy out of the box, tossed it and away she went. She smelled the toy all over and then picked it up. She was able to get the toy to “talk” just by biting it. The first time it spoke, she dropped it. Then she quickly picked it back up again and bit it to make it speak again and again.
We have now had this toy for over a week and she loves to play tug of war with it, tossing it in the air and just laying down to chew on it. Billy the Duck has held up really well and is not missing any of his parts or fluff. This would be a great toy for any dog that loves to hear their toys talk.
You can find the Alpha Pets online catalog at http://camilletapp .alphapetproducts.biz They sell items for dogs, cats and people too.
About the author: Shannon Weidemann is a Consultant with Watkins, a company specializing in items for your Pantry, Medicine Chest, and Environmentally Friendly Cleaners. She is married to a wonderful husband and mom to one child and two furbabies. Learn more about Watkins and sign up for her monthly newsletter at http://www.greatvanilla.com

Breed Specific Legislation - Is your dog next?

Breed specific legislation otherwise known as “BSL” has started to sweep the world. Germany, Canada, The United States, France, and England are among the major countries that have enacted some form of breed specific law that restricts or calls for a complete ban on several breeds from existing peacefully within their borders. American Pit Bull Terriers or anything that remotely resembles a “Pit Bull” are among the most commonly listed breeds in BSL proposals. Even more horrible is that fact these laws do not even take into consideration the individual dog’s history but instead lumps them all together...

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Dog Too Spoiled To Walk On Leash

Dear Mr. Katz: I have a 4 month old female pup, AmStaff Boxer (we think - she was a rescue). She responds well to all training, EXCEPT for walking and heeling. We've practiced the loose-leash turning on a dime technique described in your book and audio tape at length, but she refuses to cooperate. It's not a matter of distraction - when I attempt to train her in this style, she pulls back with all her strength. When the loose leash is snapped, she sits, paws braced, or lays down on her back. These responses are immediate. I've tried instantly righting her, and continuing the training, but she...

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