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Monday, August 3, 2009

Dog Treats - Why You Want to Use Them?


It is not a secret that rewarding someone has the greatest motivation effects. Humans enjoy different kinds of rewards and definitely food is not among the top rewards. However dogs love these little tasty pieces of food they are given when they do something right.



Dog treats are a great way to not only train your dog but show him your appreciation every time he does something correctly. Dog treats are in the basis of the reward training and that is why it is worthed for you to try some of the techniques below.

Teach your dog to come when asked to.

Teaching your dog to come to you when you call him is one of the first things he should master. This is not only convenient for you but important for the dog as it could save his life in some situations.

Teaching a dog to come is not a problem in general. Most dogs like to belong and that is why it is likely that they would react to the voice of their master and naturally come to him. However this has nothing to do with the real obedience that is required of your dog. Imagine you are outside and there are many thins that distract the animal are you sure your dog will come to you when you ask him to?

You can easily teach your dog to come to you if you create a positive attitude toward the command. You can start with a leash pull it gently and say the command. Eventually your dog will understand what you want. When he comes - give him the reward. This is how you will show your dog that he did the correct thing. You will notice that after a few lessons you will not need the leash any longer.

Teach our dog to sit.

Teaching your dog to come when you want him to is the easiest part of any dog's obedience training. The next step is to teach him to sit upon command. Although it seems to be a useless command having a dog that sits and stays calm upon a c command is a real pleasure and very beneficial in certain cases.

Dog treats can help you master this as well. Ask your dog to come. Say the new command "Sit", and gently push his bottom towards the ground. Your dog will sit because of the pressure you are applying to his back. When he does - give him the reward. Do the same a couple more times and than make a break. Later on you van try again. You will notice that after a few lessons your dog will learn what your command means and listen to it.

Another popular dog treat technique for teaching your dog to sit is to hold the reward above his nose and say the command. Your dog will sit because this is the only way to reach th reward. Because you are pronouncing the command meanwhile he will associate the movement with the command.

There are many more things you can teach your dog using dog treats. However remember dog treats are meant to be "luxurious" for your puppy. Do not give them very often and never use them instead of food otherwise your dog will not be so found of getting the reward.

Author: Keith Londrie

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Guideline For Choosing Dog Treats


What makes you love your dogs? Is it because of the way he loves you in return and the eagerness that you feel when he attempts to please? This love can be more emphasized through dog training as it creates the firm bond between you and your pal.

One well recognized method of dog training is through the use of dog treats. But dog treats are not for positive reinforcement dog training alone. Most dog owners have used them as snack alternatives. This does not proceed pleasurable experiences but may also aid in maintaining your pal's health.

Like with other pet stuffs, there are considerations that an owner should first evaluate before allowing his pet to dog treats. Health components concerning with calorie content is on the priority list.

One of the growing concerns on dog health nowadays is obesity. Almost half of American dogs are overweight. Like with the case of human, obesity may lead to a variety of diseases like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.

Overindulgence is thought as one of the contributing reason for obesity. This may be due to human factor. Most owners tend to give dog treats on an unregulated basis. For most, it doesn't matter how many calories does a single biscuit may contain. To resolve this issue, an owner needs to cut back on the daily calorie intake of his pet until he reduces some weight. Controlling the quantity of dog treats throughout the day may be of great help. You may also choose to lessen his foods gradually until he reaches normal weight. In line with this, it is ideal to stick with dog treats with low calories. The subject on obesity may further be resolved through consulting the vet and to implement a regular exercise regimen.

It is also an ill practice to give your dog commercially produced human foods. Some of which may contain elements that are not suited for your dog's health. Commercial foods are also often rich with fats and calories and low in nutrients and vitamins. Moreover, this practice is really not healthy for your dog's manners. This only encourages begging. Give him his dog treats in his own place instead but always bearing the thought of how healthy the dog treats you give are.

Tips on Dog Treats Selection

It is always best to buy naturally produced dog treats. These save you from unnecessary additives that may post threats against your dog's health. Fat and sugar-rich dog treats are complete no-no. look for dog treats that have high concentration of fibers and protein.

Dog treats that are primarily made from fishes are good sources of unadulterated health components. These are great foods for human as well as dogs. They are low in calories and fats.

Avoid giving dog treats before any major meals. If you are training him using positive reinforcement, cut back portions of his meals to balance his diet with dog treats.

There are dog treats that are especially made to optimize your dog's health. Working in the same principle as that of the vitamin supplements. These are aids to maintain your dog's health and may even relieve symptoms of certain diseases.

Don't allow that dog treats may cover as much as ten percent of your pet's diet.

In choosing the ideal treat, it is helpful to rely on your best judgements. It is you who know your pet well enough but in cases of doubt, you may as well consult a veterinarian.