Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

Essential Dog Walking Information and Advice

December 29, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Dogs need exercise, and the activity they love more than any other is walking. However, many dog owners shirk the responsibility. Perhaps they simply don’t have time, or maybe they don’t realize how important it is to walk their dogs.

Others give it a go, but give up after being hauled around the neighborhood one time too often by an unruly dog. If any of the aforementioned scenarios describes you, pay attention, because I’d like to share a piece of information that every dog owner should know.

“Dogs must be walked!”

Any dog trainer will tell you that daily exercise is a must for all dogs. For some, 30 minutes to an hour may be enough, for others 2 hours will just be getting started. But the point is they all need exercise, and walking should be the core component of that.

But dog walking involves more than a just leashing your dog and setting off. Some simple guidelines will make it a lot easier for you, and more enjoyable for the dog.

Here are some best practices you can follow;

* Don’t walk your dog during the hottest time of the day as they overheat quite easily. If you need to walk when it’s hot be sure to have some water along for the dog to drink.

* Don’t allow your dog to walk in front of you or he may get the idea that he is the pack leader and this will encourage him to pull. Always walk with the dog by your side.

* Don’t pull back on the lead because this will just encourage your dog to pull back. Try to always keep a relaxed grip, and if your dog does pull, stop and wait for him to calm down before continuing.

* Maintain control of the walk. Don’t allow you dog to dictate direction and particularly when to stop. Sniffing around and marking should only happen when you allow it.

* Where possible, avoid other dogs. You have no idea of another dog’s temperament and matters can quickly get out of hand. If your dog is small, pick him up if a big dog approaches aggressively, if you have a big dog just walk in a different direction and avoid a confrontation.

You also don’t know the health status of dogs you come across. An infected dog can pass on a serious disease to your dog.

* The right leash or collar. Pick a leash / collar combination that is strong enough to keep the dog in check, but still comfortable for him to wear. Also ensure that your dog wears his id tags. You never know when he might slip his leash.

If your dog does escape, the id tag will hopefully result in him being returned safely. For an extra level of security you may also want to have your dog micro-chipped.

* Finally, have fun! Walking your dog can be a really fun activity if you approach it in the right way. It’s one of the best ways of bonding with your dog, it’s an excellent work out for both of you, and your dog will be calmer and more obedient. All of that for just an hour of your time a day.

To find out more about dog training tips, dog breeds a-z, dog health and other useful dog info visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Filed Under: Dog Information Tagged With: 30 Minutes, Best Practices, Big Dog, Core Component, Direction, Dog Information, Dog Obedience Training, Dog Owner, Dog Owners, Dog Trainer, Dog Training, dog training tips, Dog Walking, Dogs, Exercise Walking, Hottest Time Of The Day, Neighborhood, Pack Leader, Rsquo, Scenarios, Temperament, Time Of The Day, Walking Exercise

What people do not know about dogs, service or Service Animals

October 16, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Basically, a service dog or animal is the same as a dog that goes a lot of training to support people with disabilities -. Mental and physical properties can also be the best friend for people with severe depression. Service dogs can be specially trained by the organization a service dog to work or perform tasks for a disabled person. However, the owner may also be training the animals. Some dogs are donated from different breeders, and some are abandoned dogs from local shelters payments. However, not all dogs can be dogs services. Things like temperament, ability to learn complex tasks, etc. You are welcome to play in the training of dogs. But each breed or mix of breeds of dogs may be able to give a representative of any service work. In short, depending on the breed, a dog can have all these qualities in terms of health, temperament, trainability, and physical condition. These features can lead to more than just a dog, but the service dog / animal instead.

So what you can expect from the dog certified? Frankly, for most, the owners expect them to be treated as animals and animals to changes in working in public places. Why? Simply because every security holder solely depends on the ability of dogs to service disruptions. During training, your dog is ready to distraction as much as can especially when wearing their stuff and they are also trained to relax and friendly, when the equipment is removed. Owner’s consent is necessary before other people working with the dog while in public places.

What may not know is that you can actually train your dog services. Currently, more people are choosing to train your dog, as it happens, that training programs are simply not able to train a dog to its owner’s individual needs. However, not all countries allow this type of training. Fortunately, it is allowed in some countries including the U.S., but there are certain criteria taken into account. Coaches must possess skills that allow them to understand that their experience in training dogs advanced services differ from the average dog training simple obedience skills. Owners may need to hire a professional coach or organization that is willing to train a dog owner. Owner instructors usually start training your dog while they are still a puppy until they reach the appropriate age for evaluation. The only downfall is that it is difficult to deal with emotional conflict in the rare cases where the dog does not evaluate and decide whether to re-home the dog and start over, or simply keep it as a pet.

On On the other hand, professionally trained puppies have been raised properly by very careful study and also had to undergo a regime that has a lot of strict guidelines and above all taking into account the success rate of 85% or above after evaluation, which is much higher than owner-trained puppies / dogs. Why is that? This is because the coaches are experts in genetic manipulation or stimulation early to tell if the puppies that are dogs.

If services business plan to get a dog, do not have to worry about bringing them to where you are. In fact, as soon as the dog, but registered, they can go wherever you go. You can feel free to adapt them to any restaurants, buses, schools, taxi driving, take planes, shops, cinemas, sporting events, watching concerts, visit the doctor’s offices and other public places. Legally, it is a requirement of federal law and state that you always have a dog with him. What makes it more exciting is that you do not need to wear any identification tools do not need to wear a vest as well. So everything, perhaps even the owner of discretion. The truth is that many service dog owners choose to dress their dogs in costume vest and identification in order to avoid questions and confrontations in public places. So in this way, it makes their lives easier and also helps to keep dogs away from the distractions as much as possible. If you bring your dog anywhere else, remember that it is illegal to ask for specific identification of service dog partners. If someone does not tell me it is not permitted by law. You can make cards with you, but remember that you must do so voluntarily, again, it is not required and should not be expected.

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Nelson Williams offers more info at : http://goldenretrievertrainingcenter.com/golden-retriever-breeder. He and his family live in Vermont. He brought home their first Golden Retriever when his now grown daughters were babies. His family has bred and cared for more Golden Retrievers than they can remember. With years of experience and volumes of research, the Williams offer for free, ‘Secrets of Raising Golden Retrievers’: http://www.goldenretrievertrainingcenter.com.

Filed Under: Dog Information Tagged With: Babies, Buckingham Palace, Cat Channel, Companionship, Dog Training, Dogs, Family Member, Free Secrets, Golden Retriever, Golden Retriever Breeder, Golden Retrievers, Google, Health Issues, Home Environment, Longing, Neighbor, Observation, Persistence, Temperament, Vermont, Waiting List, Whitehouse

Dog Breeding & Your New Puppies’ Temperament

May 14, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Your puppies’ temperaments are affected by their genetic predisposition toward certain character traits and their environment. The greatest factor influencing your puppies’ behavior is initially through their dam, her relationship with you and generalized perception of her environment. Her perception and acceptance of outside stimuli such as, for example, strangers who come to view the litter can set an indelible example for her offspring.

Therefore, no female dog should be bred who has an unsound temperament. If the temperament is the oven product of abuse, and the female exhibits exceptional redeemable qualities given an optimum supportive environment, breeding is a possibility. The attitude of the dam will always be reflected at least to some degree in every puppy.

The environment in which a litter is reared, therefore, is of paramount importance to having well socialized and confident puppies. As a result, it behooves anyone who engages in a breeding program, whether for a single litter or a long-term endeavor encompassing multiple years and litters, to breed only those dogs that most closely meet the breed Standard’s physical criteria, as well as those animals exhibiting the ideal temperament.

Filed Under: Dog Health Tagged With: Animals, Attitude, Character Traits, Dog Breeding, Endeavor, Genetic Predisposition, Ideal, Litters, Offspring, Oven Product, Paramount Importance, Perception, Physical Criteria, Puppies, Puppy, Relationship, Stimuli, Supportive Environment, Temperament, Those Dogs

The Bloodhound

February 15, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Bloodhound History and origin:

This scent hound is an old breed, dating back to Roman times.  He is said to have been brought to England by William the Conqueror in 1066.  This dog has the most powerful sense of smell of all the breeds.  In the United States, he has been used as a tracker of fugitives and lost individuals.

Description:
The Bloodhound stands 24 to 26 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 90 and 110 pounds.  This is a large, powerful animal with great stamina and drive. The shedding coat is short and requires regular brushing with a hound glove to keep it in good condition.  The color may be black-and-tan, red-and-tan, or all tan.  Bloodhounds have loose, wrinkled skin and long ears.

About the Bloodhound:

The Bloodhound is known to be the best tracker of all the scent hounds.  He is excellent at picking up a scent and following it relentlessly until the prey is located, but he does not kill it.  This breed is a highly specialized dog specifically designed to perform a single task: tracking.  Breeders have created not only a dog with the best nose in the business but also a dog with a relentless, determined mind-set.  The Bloodhound will follow a scent forever and ignore everything else, including you.  Choosing a Bloodhound for a family pet would be like using a bulldozer to drive to the corner store.   More than any other breed, the Bloodhound needs to perform the task for which he was bred.  Although most of them have a very good temperament, there have been few cases of very aggressive Bloodhounds.  The relentless, determined, non-thinking mind-set that is so effective in tracking can be transformed into aggressive behavior as well.  When a Bloodhound becomes aggressive, he is almost impossible to stop.  Keep in mind that this is a very big dog.  The Bloodhound needs obedience training and socialization early in life.  He is stubborn and is easily distracted by scents that you cannot perceive.

Feeding:
Recommended feeding for the Bloodhound is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Ideal home:
This breed will be suitable for hunters, trackers, police departments, and search and rescue teams and is not really recommended as a family pet.  He can be intolerant of children and may bite if teased or provoked.  However, if you choose to have this breed as a family  pet, he needs to live in the country and requires a fenced yard or kennel.  The owner must be a strong, no nonsense leader and must use this breed to do the work he was bred for.  Keep in mind the Bloodhound needs plenty of exercise to keep him happy and healthy.

Filed Under: Dog Information Tagged With: Aggressive Behavior, Bloodhound, Bloodhounds, Bulldozer, Dog Obedience, Family Pet, Fugitives, Hound Glove, Obedience Training, Prey, Roman Times, Scent Hound, Scent Hounds, Scents, Sense Of Smell, Socialization, Stamina, Temperament, William The Conqueror, Wrinkled Skin

The Bernese Mountain Dog

February 12, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

History and origin of the Bernese Mountain Dog:

Originated in Switzerland, the Bernese Mountain Dog was bred for herding, guarding, drafting, and droving. His large, sturdy frame and long coat allowed him to perform in cold mountainous environments.

Description:

The Bernese Mountain Dog stands 23 to 27.5 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 70 and 100 pounds. He is a large breed and is similar to the Golden Retriever in structure, only heavier and bigger-boned. The shedding coat is medium-long, wavy, glossy, and thick and requires regular brushing to keep it in good condition. The Bernese is tricolored, primarily black with rust and white markings on the chest, muzzle, feet, and forehead.

About the Bernese Mountain Dog:

This large, beautiful, athletic dog is easily trained and makes a great watchdog and a good family pet. Though playful and gregarious as a pup, he tends to become more reserved and guarded as he matures. He is normally affectionate to his owner, but can be very suspicious of strangers. Some are very timid to the point of being phobic. This potential for extreme shyness can lead to a fear-based aggression that is difficult to modify. This breed also possesses a dominant, head-strong temperament. Stubbornness normally calls for a firm, consistent training technique, but many Bernese, particularly the females, can slip into a panicky mind-set if pushed, sometimes resulting in a bite. This tendency is usually a result of poor breeding practices, and may not be reversible.

A well bred Bernese Mountain Dog is trainable, but patience and precision are crucial. The Bernese needs daily exercise and is happier in a rural environment. Because of the potential for aggression, this breed is not recommended for families with children. Early socialization is important from day one, as well as handling and grooming. The Bernese Mountain Dog lives only ten to twelve years and can suffer from hip dysplasia and bloat. Anyone interested in this breed should visit numerous breeders and closely observe the parents and litter mates.

Feeding:

Recommended feeding for this breed is 1 ½ – 2 ½ cans (13.3oz) of high-quality meaty product with biscuit added in equal part or 5 cupfuls of a complete, dry dog food.

Ideal home:

A house with a fenced yard is important for the Bernese Mountain Dog. A strong, patient leader is mandatory, as well as early training, handling, and socialization. Families with children should at present avoid this breed, as should nervous, cautious, and over-bearing people. The elderly and the disabled may not be able to handle the Bernese Mountain Dog.

Filed Under: Dog Information Tagged With: Aggression, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bloat, Environments, Extreme Shyness, Family Pet, Females, Forehead, Golden Retriever, Hip Dysplasia, Muzzle, Patience, Pup, Rust, Socialization, Stubbornness, Sturdy Frame, Temperament, Twelve Years, Watchdog

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