A new place, new smells and new people. This could become a nightmare daytrip. It is important whilst concentrating on socialization of your dog, to include a few social visits to the vets waiting and examination rooms. Most vets will be pleased you came along, after all it will help them in the future to have a trouble free examination of your dog.

When you have a relaxed dog in a vets, then your visit's troubles is 90% over. The next step is to get your dog used to being examined. This can easily be achieved in your own home, with a trusted (by the dog) member of the family playing the part of the examiner. Try an set up an examination environment, with a table. If you make it fun and relaxed, your dog won't mind at all and even enjoy the attention.

All the time ensure you have physical control over your dog, with plenty of reassurance. Get your dog used to you having a firm grip of it. Get the examiner to circle around your dog and act as a vet would.

Soon your dog will realise, there is nothing to worry about. It'll be like another walk in the park.

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 12:29 pm - [82 comments]

The first time you take your puppy for a walk in the park. pick a wide open space so that it will want to stay near you. There is less likelihood of distractions or cover luring it away. Run away from the puppy quite a bit, encouraging it to chase after you. Give it heaps of attention and tasty treats when it catches up with you. As your puppy becomes more confident, you could start playing hide and seek behind trees to teach it to keep an eye on you. Make a big game of it. but don't overdo it. or the dog will become neurotic and never leave your side.

You can leave the trailing long line on as a precaution against the unlikely event of it darting off in the opposite direction to you. Actually. it is extremely unlikely that your puppy will try to run away from you. but it will give you tremendous comfort and confidence knowing that the line is there. just in case something should go awry.

Also. take a favourite toy with you so that your dog thinks that you are fun to be with - otherwise you will find yourself abandoned in favour of other far more interesting distractions.

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 12:07 pm - [1149 comments]

Short-coated dogs, such as Labradors, should be groomed regularly, as they canmoult copiously and their short, spiky hair can be a scourge on clothes, furnishings and carpets, Use a short bristle or rubber­toothed brush which will massage and stimulate the dog's skin, increace the circulation and work out any loose hair, A wipeover with a damp chamois leather will leave a nice shine,

Medium- and long-coated dogs should be groomed and detangled every day - just make certain that you use the right type of brush to suit your dog's coat. Detangling is often easiest with a human's hairbrush with thick white nylon teeth or a comb with revolving teeth. The undercoat can then be brushed out, but be careful not to scratch your dog's skin if you are using a wire brush, Don't drag your brush through knotted fur. Instead, cut the knots out with round-ended scissors.

Some long-coated dogs, such as spaniels, become really tangled and knotty behind the ears. in the armpits, between the toes and on the backs of the thighs. These areas are easier to manage if you keep the hair trimmed short and groom your dog regularly.

Most people brush their dogs far too vigorously, which overexcites them and makes them jumpy. Brush your dog slowly and gently, with the same care
you would expect from your hairdresser.

At first. allow your dog to become used to being stroked all over, then gently and slowly brush its coat with a soft brush. If it tries to bite the brush,
anoint the edges with a little clove 011 it tastes disgusting. This will convince the dog not to bother resisting and la a better option than pulling the brush away when it snaps.

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 12:00 pm - [598 comments]

It is very difficult to get a dog to live normally as a family pet if kept in a dog kennel. And the job of keeping a dog kenneled has to be done by an experienced person, for dogs that live in small places tend to be aggressive.

Many of them spend the day in a dog kennel and are guardians at night, which means they have no relation with people whatsoever.

If you are dog kenneling, please take the dog out for a walk frequently and periodically. Praise it every time he does something right, and say an energetic No! Every time it does something it shouldn't.

Once the dog gets used to being free in it's dog kennel and around people, it won't bark as much and it will probably be a lot calmer and happy.

Posted by Matt Glover @ 9:41 pm - [3 comments]

REPUTABLE BREEDERS
Find a responsible and recommended breeder via the breed clubs, the details of which you can get from the Kennel Club or the Internet, Try to purchase a dog from a breeder who has their dogs living in their home, as opposed to living in kennels. This shows that the animal scan coexist with humans, whereas their kennelled counterparts are much more of an unknown quantity.

Experienced breeders may be able to give you help and advice, but they can also be a little set in their ways, so take that. Ask to see a copy of the dog's pedigree and any health certificates before you buy in to account. Always keep in mind that you are talking to someone who is biased towards a particular breed - you need to check their advice with another source, Visit several litters before you decide, so that you have something to compare before making your choice. The ideal age to buy is between seven and eight weeks old. Do not pick the first puppy that you see, and don't buy the shy puppy or the boldest, although this can change daily. It is best to see the puppy at least a couple of times before deciding to buy it.. Ask for a copy of the pedigree, and look for any inbreeding (brother-to-sister or father-to-daughter matings) or close line-breeding (uncle-to-niece mating), Keep an eye out for the same or similar names cropping up, and don't buy the pup if its parents are too closely related.
Get a second opinion if you are unsure.

EX-BREEDING DAMS
Breeders sometimes sell off bitches when they are barren or too old for breeding. These dogs are often institutionalized,
especially if they have spent their lives in kennels, so be aware of this,

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 8:22 pm - [4 comments]

Hi again,
What a week .... For a while now I think this site has been running pretty slow, or so I am being told by my regular visitors. So I decided to take the plunge and invest some money and effort into providing a faster service in displaying pages. I hope you will notice the difference, you would laugh if I told you how I was hosting this site.

Well I'm back now, with a few more grey hairs than before (thankfully I wasn't pulling too many hairs out), so what's everyone been upto ? For me, I've not being doing too much on the dog training front, it's been more like spending quality time with the dogs. I think a break from training does a World of good to our 4-legged friends. It gives them a desire to achieve more when you resume training.

So I guess my Pearls of Wisdom are suggesting that you take a break - do nothing, just have plenty of fun and play. Have a nice week

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 12:32 pm - [4 comments]

I was asked earlier today about when a friend of mine has her first child, What sort of effect it will have on her 3 year old labrador - Coco? Now I know Coco and I know how she's been raised and how she behaves, I thought it would be best to post some advice that I found, to help my friend and other expectant families.

• Watch your words! For your dog's whole life before the baby he has probably heard things like: "what a good little boy." You have taught him certain words are just for him. Now the baby arrives. You say something like: "mommy's good little boy." The dog suddenly runs up for you to pet him. You push him away. The dog becomes confused. Avoid the confusion by developing some new key phrases for your dog and only the dog. Make this change as soon as possible.
  
  
• Games in the house: If you have played ball with your dog in the house he will most likely jump over about anything to get to the ball you threw out. With a baby or a toddler in the house as well, these types of games are best outdoors. An unpredictable bounce of a ball can lead to an unanticipated pounce on baby by the dog.
  
  
• Be careful about giving your dog extra attention because you know that soon a baby will be in the house and you might not have as much time to spend with your dog. Dogs get use to the extra attention really quick. When the attention has to be suddenly shifted to the new baby, it is unfair to the dog and sets a stage for competition between the dog and the baby. A good rule to begin to follow before the baby arrives is no more than ten minutes of attention per hour when you are home.
  

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 6:47 pm - [3 comments]

Hi All,

"Where have you been ?", I hear you ask. Well I'm pleased to say that I have been developing another website www.Advice-Rimadyl.com. Why ? Well I remember when serving in the Royal Air Force, serving in Gibraltar, my Lier, my GSD Police dog showed signs of hip dysplasia, and the symptoms rapidily got worse.


Not knowing what treatments where available for treating Canine Arthritis, I started searching the Internet, and sadly there wasn't much information. Out of interest I tried again, and the situation hasn't improved very much, although it looks like Canine Arthritis and Rimadyl are very much talked about.


So that's why, take a look and let me know what you think

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 7:40 pm - [2320 comments]

Already recognised by the Guinness Book of Records, Crufts 2005 once again demonstrated the event’s status as the ‘largest dog show in the world’.
120,000 visitors and over 21,000 dogs from across the globe flocked into the NEC, Birmingham over the four days of the show to be treated to an extravaganza of canine competitions, displays and trade stands.
The 2005 prestigious Best in Show trophy went to a six-year old Norfolk Terrier, Am Ch/Ch Cracknor Cause Celebre, better known to her friends as Co-Co. Co-Co was handled by Peter Green and owned by P Beale, S Ingram and E Matell.
Another worthy winner at the show was Buster the Springer Spaniel army sniffer dog, who was chosen by the public as the first recipient of the Kennel Club Hero Dog of the Year award. Handled by Danny Morgan, Buster came out on top of a poll of BBC TV viewers which attracted over 45,000 votes. Busters was rewarded for achievements including detecting weapons in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Iraq.
So what does Crufts 2006 have in store for the thousands of dog fans gearing up to visit the world's largest dog show?
As ever, the event will culminate in the presigious Best in Show Competition as well as...
Over 180 different breeds of pedigree dog to get better aquainted with
Over 400 trade stands packed with everything for dogs and their owners
Displays and competitions in Agility, Flyball, Obedience and Heelwork to Music
Good Citizen Dog Scheme training and displays
Kennel Gazette Junior Warrant Winner of the Year competition final

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 9:43 pm - [110 comments]

A convicted murderer and the dog trainer - This has made me laugh and I'm sure someone will try and make a movie about it one day. Although I doubt it'll be a very good one.

So a quick summary of what happened. Kansas - John Manard(27) convicted first degree murderer, formed a friendship with a female Dog Rescue Volunteer, Toby Young(48). I'm not sure about the exact method of escape, although there is plenty of talk about Manard escaping, aided by Young, in a dog transport crate.

I don't know what worries me most, that fact that a convicted murderer can escape prison so easily, or the fact it took 12 days to re-capture him (and her).

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 10:55 am - [6 comments]

From 9th - 12th March 2006 lights, cameras and lots of action will fill five halls of the NEC, Birmingham as the 103rd Crufts, the world's greatest dog show, is brought to you by the Kennel Club.

Crufts is a haven for dog lovers across the country with over 180 breeds of pedigree dogs and over 400 trade stands packed with everything for dogs and their owners and much, much more. Tickets are available now

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 2:42 pm - [81 comments]

Dog Behavior Problems can cause you no end of problems. Dog trainers around the World have had countless conversations with owners regarding their dogs behavior and answering how the owners could improve it.

It is important to realise as soon as possible if you have a dog that could have problems, which if it's not addressed properly, could be the start of a rough ride. It is also important to know that you are not alone, many owners have been there and successfully brought the dog through this troubled time

We promote only a few products here at AdviceDogTraining.com and would like introduce you to this downloadable ebook for dog behavior training

Sit Stay Fetch: Dog Training To Stop Your Dog's Behavior Problems
Click Here to Download.

This could be the book you need for a long and loving relationship with your pet.

Good Luck, we're with you

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 11:27 pm - [7 comments]

Missing Dog at Airport, have you seen the news ! It's sorry news for a show dog, who recently took part, in the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show held in New York this week. Not only did she take part, but she also won an Award of Merit. Vivi (Ch. Boham C'est la Vie) and their owners are going through some trouble times with as the Whippet from California disappeared from Kennedy Airport on Wednesday.

The news has been full of stories about Vivi, and the over-whelming level of support she and her owners have had from everyone, even the authorities. The helicopter from Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has been flying the skies about, searching all 5,000 acres of the airport.

The real sad news is, despite all the efforts, resources and good will, it seems that Vivi's tracks have disappeared. Her owners Jil Walton and Paul Lepiane had been trying to keep their spirits alive, and I imagine inside are still holding out some hope for the safe return of Vivi.

Mr. Lepiane and Ms. Walton offered a "substantial" but unspecified reward for Vivi's safe return. Vivi is valued at $15,000 to $20,000.

Here at Advice Dog Training we want to wish Vivi, her owners and people who know them all the best and to let them know we are thinking of them. We all are hoping for a safe return for one of our own.

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 10:05 pm - [78 comments]

Here's a question we recieved through our contact form

We have a 21 month old Border Collie M/N, He is still in behaviour classes, just completed his 3rd session, and 2 sessions in alility. We are looking to get a German Sheperd m 8wks old Do you think we will have any problems having 2 males in the same household.

I guess as you're currently taking your collie to behavioural classes, you already feel that he may have a few anti-social problems. Whoever gave you that advice was spot-on, most behavioural problems are rectified by socializing with other dogs.

Socializing allows our pets to be amongst others, and soon form a pack amongst themselves. When a dog joins the pack they soon find their role. If they step out of line, the pack seniors normally bring them back into line, and so your collie is learning.

Bearing in mind I haven't met you or your dog, but knowing that you have enrolled in classes, I would say it would be fine to bring another dog into your family. There will obviously be some fun amongst them, but they'll sort it out.

SO LONG AS ... you two are the Pack Leaders, they do nothing unless it's on your terms. It's the same with most exercises in dog training/handling, 'Everything on your Terms'

If you decide to get your puppy, then I do hope you have a great time.

Posted by Matt Glover @ 10:00 pm - [3 comments]

One Late Evening, a burglar broke into a house he thought was empty. Tiptoeing through the living room he suddenly froze when he heard a loud voice say: "Jesus is watching you!"
Silence returned to the house, so the burglar crept forward again "Jesus is watching you," the voice boomed again.
The burglar stopped dead again. He was frightened. Frantically, he looked all around. In a dark corner, he spotted a bird cage and in the cage was a parrot.
He asked the parrot: "Was that you who said Jesus is watching me?"
"Yes", said the parrot.
The burglar breathed a sigh of relief, and asked the parrot, "What's your name?"
"Clarence," said the bird.
"That's a dumb name for a parrot," sneered the burglar. "What idiot named you Clarence?"
The parrot said, "Same idiot who named the Rottweiller Jesus."

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 2:46 pm - [79 comments]

Here's a topic I commented on earlier :

Tracy Said: I have a 3 month old puppy that always seems to bite the kids clothes. She will not do it to my husband or myself, just the kids. They are 6 and 9. She will sometimes bulldoz them and try to jump on them. We have used the squirt bottle to squirt her in the face that seems to work sometimes.
I have told the kids to push her down and say NO very firmly and to not run. We have enrolled her in puppy kindergarten we start next week. Is there any other suggestions someone else might have. She has left red marks on my kids arms. We make sure that the puppy gets plenty of exercise. She seems to get more wild when they come home from school. Thank you.

So I Said :

I'm sorry to say, you've got a puppy that is doing what puppies do, not as we think they should, but it comes - eventually. I would lose the squirty water bottle - try and lose it as soon as possible. I'm assuming only you and your husband have access to the water, that may be sending the signal that it's only you and your husband are pack leaders. Even if the children have access to it, your puppy doesn't like it, or you for using it.

We need to introduce your children as pack leaders, or certainly higher in the order than your puppy. Not by beating, screaming and shouting, but by doing things on human terms. 'You' go through the gate first, 'you' decide when to open the door, 'you' say when the pup can go to his feed bowl. Play together YES, but on human terms.

* When I say 'you', I mean you, your husband and the children.

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 5:31 pm - [2 comments]

Me again, I thought I'd take this opportunity to discuss the most pleasurable thing for dogs - Taking a Walk. One of the things that put most potential dog owners off getting a pet, is the responsibilty of one. And walking is one of those responsibilities, but it needn't be a pain.

Everyone would love to get out walking for hours, but most of the time that isn't practical, unless it's a planned or regular activity. For your pet, going outside alone can be rewarding, the sense of freedom. Nothing makes a dog happier than going out with their parent(s).

Short walks can benefit you and your dog's relationship and health. A 15 Minute walk, whilst waiting for your programme to start, can make your dog feel loved and gives him/her a chance to blow out the cobwebs.

So my advice to anyone with a dog, or considering a dog is to look around your home for your 15 Minute walk that only requires you to grab your leash and coat

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 6:07 pm - [87 comments]

Well it's probably going to be you or your other half that's at fault, than it is your dog. 'Rover' can hardly be blamed if all he's getting is inconsistant commands from both of you.

You'll be scratching your head, wondering 'Why is Rover jumping up onto the new leather couch ???' - 'He never does that !!!'. Oh yes he does, because it's likely his other parent is allowing him to. It is extremely important that his parents (and that includes the children) agree the Do's and Don'ts for Rover.

Sit down with the family and talk about what you all want from the family pet. He probably knows you're talking about him, so include him in the conversation. Explain the consequences and benefits, then agree the code of conduct.

Others may disagree with our family code of conduct, which is fine because each family can have their own Code, so long as everyone agrees to it. Here are some of our families Code of Conduct :

• Echo (our labrador), does not come into our bedrooms, so he does not go up the stairs
• No feeding from the dining table.
• Play in the house with any of us, but never raise your paws
• Always start the walk on the leash, and Echo comes on our route

Having each member of the family 'Singing from the same song-sheet' will benefit everyone, especially 'Rover' or in our case 'Echo'

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 5:28 pm - [3 comments]

OK then 'Blog Entry' number 1, the very first, my very first step into the New World. I understand and the idea of blogging and look forward to meeting friends from all over. So to kick off I thought I would explain the purpose of this site, and what I hope to achieve.

AdviceDogTraining will collate information rich dog training and healthcare articles provided by some of the best authors on the Internet. Providing a 'Home', a 'One Stop Shop' for dog owners and trainers to the latest, most topical documents.

In due course, I hope that AdviceDogTraining will become the place where anyone wanting to learn more about dog training and health can visit, and return as often as they like.

Posted by Matthew Glover @ 10:14 pm - [3 comments]