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Intelligent Dog Breeds

What Are the Top 10 Most Intelligent Dog Breeds?

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Every dog owner thinks that his dog is the smartest dog around (well at least a few we know!).

Of course only a few of them would be right. Don’t despair if your dog’s breed isn’t on the list. Some highly intelligent dogs are very hard to train or act destructively when alone in the house.

Dog breed intelligence is typically ranked based on obedience (how consistently they obey commands) and their working intelligence (how quickly they learn commands). This ranking is widely attributed to canine psychologist Dr. Stanley Coren, who compiled it based on surveys of obedience trial judges.

Here are the 10 most intelligent dog breeds.

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4 Family Friendly Dog Breeds You Can’t Wait To Introduce To Your Kids

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family friendly dogsSo you have decided to look for a new family member. You can picture it clearly in your head, the grand reveal, the kids squealing with delight, the look of surprise from your partner!

However when it comes to choosing that perfect new family member, then there are a few things that are worth taking into consideration.

How old your kids are (if you have them), living space size (backyard, apartment vs house), and your lifestyle are just a few of the questions that are worth asking  yourself when looking for a family friendly dog breed.

Your new family member will have a huge impact on your family. What will your dogs role be? Are you just looking for a playmate, a guard dog, small, large – there is lots to consider. The following breeds of dogs all have some great pluses when looking for a family friendly dog. Read more

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13 Tips on How to Train Your Dog

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how to train a dogExcept for maybe cat lovers, we can all agree that dogs are a man’s best friend. However without proper training a dog can cause absolute havoc and be more work than fun.

When approaching dog training it is important to arm yourself with a lot of patience and to not expect instant “dog whisperer” miracles. Learning how to communicate with your dog will help build a better and stronger relationship.

Here are thirteen dog training tips that will help you create a fun and obedient best friend. Read more

Chewing couch

Best Affordable Dog Toys For Strong Chewers

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Whether your dog is a pit bull puppy that simply must have massive toys due to his size or a sweet little sheltie that shreds toys in five seconds flat and looks as befuddled as you do when they fall apart, you’re clearly dealing with a strong chewer.

It doesn’t matter what size a dog is when it dawns on you that the ordinary cheap or cuddly toys just won’t do the trick. Of course, it helps if your dog doesn’t passionately hate squeakers to the point she tears up any toy with that feature just to get rid of them.

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Afghan Hound sitting down

Three large dog breeds for those who are after a ‘Real Dog’

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If you love large dogs then today’s post is for you. We are going to have a look at three popular large dog breeds and why you should choose them for your new pet!

1. Afghan Hound

Afghan Hound

Afghan Hound

One of the oldest dogs in existence the Afghan Hound is a combination of power and elegance. This regal breed sets some real style and is dubbed the “Aristocrats” of the noble dog world.

It is distinguished by its thick, fine, silky coat and its tail with a ring curl at the end.

This regal look comes with a regal behaviour though. They are independent thinkers who don’t particularly care about pleasing you, they may display passive resistance by bracing their legs and refusing to move. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

Is the Afghan Hound Right For You?

Afghan Hounds need access to a large fenced area — fenced because these independent dogs have been known to take off and not come back. If there is a dog club in your area, get your Afghan Hound involved in lure coursing (chasing a mechanised lure around a track or across an open field). This is an appropriate outlet for the full-speed galloping behaviours that are “hardwired” into his genes.

See our full Afghan Hound Guide

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Is There a Small Part of Your Pet That is a Jerk?

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Take a quick glance over at little Fido sitting by the fire or Trapper jumping around playing outside. Could he perhaps be….just a little bit….surely not.

Well judging by the following Video there is definitely a chance that your pet is a Jerk – at least a small tiny part that is hidden deep inside. Ok, yes I realise this is not a popular view, we all love our pets deeply and would do anything for them. At the very least lets take a look at some of the just what could be lucking inside.

This video is one of the funniest I have seen for a long time (maybe that says something about me), I especially laughed out loud at the guy doing sit ups. Check it out after the break.

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Some Helpful Tips for Untrainable Dog Syndrome

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Dogs whose behaviour cause trouble to their owner, environment, as well as the dog, endanger health and safety have the so called “untrainable dog syndrome”. It is important to note that there is a difference between teaching the dog certain behaviour and solving problematic manners.

Troubling behaviour may occur as a result of the emotional state of the dog, high stress levels, unfavourable effect of the environment where the dog resides, training the dog with the use of force, pain or any other health disorder. Untrainable dog syndrome requires full attention and individual approach of the both dog owner and the dog.

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What To Look For When Choosing A Dog School

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Dealing with problematic dog behavior is a team work in which the owner and the dog behavior consultants participate, and, if necessary, so do veterinarians and other therapists. The ultimate success, visible as a change in the dog’s behavior, is only possible with the maximum commitment and effort which is the reason why it is crucial to know what to look for when choosing a dog school.

The suitability of the person who is giving the professional help is the first of many steps on the road to a better and happier coexistence with your dog.

What to look for when choosing Dog School

It is important to stress out that there is a difference between teaching a dog certain commands, such as heal and fetch, and solving problematic behaviors like aggression, destruction, urinating inside and barking too much. Accordingly there is a difference in the level of qualifications and knowledge among persons conducting obedience classes (course leaders, instructors) and those engaged in counseling when dealing with problematic dog behavior (dog behavior consultants).

With this in mind, when looking for a dog schools and someone who will help you with your dog, look for a person who has completed their educations in the field of animal behavior and works using only positive methods and new concepts. A positive and all-inclusive approach based on scientific findings is far more effective than the traditional ones based on wrong assumptions about dog behavior, such as dominance, alpha status, and the use of violent and rough techniques which will only result in bigger problems and the destruction of the dog-owner bond.

Make sure they treat dogs with love and respect – even though this should be a main condition for this type of job that’s not always the case. A person who doesn’t show empathy for dogs, their needs and feelings but considers them to be mindless beings who only act upon their urges is in fact a person who has very little knowledge about dogs and therefore can’t give your dog the help he needs.

One of the most important things you should pay attention to when picking a school for your dog is whether they use devices which cause dogs discomfort and pain. If that is the case stay away from them! No matter the “weight” of the problem, there isn’t a single reason or excuse for hurting a dog. Devices such as chokers, spiked training collars and dog shock collars in anyone’s hands leave adverse effects on the dog’s health (spine, thyroid, heart) as well as the dog’s behavior.

Don’t go to a school which doesn’t even want to meet you or your dog. Just like a veterinarian can’t know what your dog’s sickness is without examining him first, a dog trainer shouldn’t draw conclusions about the dog’s behavior without previously seeing the dog, meeting the family he lives with and gathering enough information to see if the dog needs a dog school or just obedience classes.

In conclusion you should look for a dog school whose only object is to find the cause of the problematic behavior; the reason why the dog acts the way he acts in certain conditions and situations.

Are You Making These 10 Dog Training Mistakes?

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Are you making these 10 dog training mistakes?

Many people say that there is nothing better than having a dog. That is certainly true but do you know what’s even better? Having a trained dog. Many people try to train dogs themselves and that is perfectly fine if you know how to do it and how to avoid making some typical mistakes.

You should always be consistent! Avoid using various words for the same command. It will only confuse your dog and he won’t know what he has to do. For instance if you used “Heel” you can’t expect the dog to listen to you if tell him “Walk by me.”

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Overweight Dogs – How to Manage Your Dogs Health

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Obesity is a problem that is often encountered in dogs of all breeds and ages. It inevitably leads to health problems such as diabetes, various heart diseases and osteoarthritis.

Overweight Dogs – How to Manage Dogs HealthAs a mindful dog owner you have probably already asked yourself if your pet is overweight. And that is a completely justified question.

With today’s lifestyle and feeding habits it’s not only people who suffer from obesity, it is more frequently seen in pets. It is believed that every third dog is overweight. Increased amount of fat tissue affects general medical condition which can significantly reduce lifespan as well as negatively impact your pet’s mood.

To find out whether your dog is overweight or not, look at him. If he is short-haired, you should see and feel his ribs easily. If you are able to do that, there shouldn’t be any problems. However it is always best to take your dog for an exam.

If the checkup found your pet is overweight, it is recommended to introduce him to a diet. For eight weeks give him food based on reduced caloric intake and increased intake of crude fiber. There are many products on the market which will provide the desired intake of nutrients, vitamins and minerals and such reduced diet won’t have any harmful effects on your dog’s health.

After about two weeks of such regime you should get your dog for another checkup and see if there are any improvements. If nothing has changed, think about introducing exercising to the program. By having the two week checkup, you’ll be able to see the results of a diet, get some new guidelines in nutrition and the other extremely important factor – implementation of intensive workout regime.

Obesity is something a lot of dog owners face without even realizing it. It starts with giving your dog treats believing it to be an excellent way to show your love. Coincidently, you don’t have much time to help your dog spend all the extra energy.

Dogs get used to this form of “love” really quickly, so they can even act insulted if you miss to “treat” them. In addition to that, they learn which pose, gesture or sound can “break” the owner’s resistance in the shortest time, if there is any. How many times did someone show you “just how cute” their pet is while begging for food?

The latest research shows that overweight significantly shortens your dog’s lifespan. Even though I can’t actually give any numbers you should take this quite seriously!

Altered food regime and increased physical activity are the only natural ways to regulate your dog’s obesity. As well as with the obese people, it is best to regulate food intake right away and gradually increase physical activity so that your pet’s heart doesn’t suffer any more than it already has.

So be patient, regulate his food, take your dog outside more often, play fetch with him and you’ll most certainly have a much happier and healthier dog.