Feeding Bones Safely to Dogs

August 8, 2018 by Designerdogsonline

Giving your dog a nice juicy bone as a treat seems like the right thing to do, yet most dog owners refrain from doing so. Why is this the case? When asked why they don’t give their dog a bone, the average dog owner will regale you with stories of choking, cracked teeth, and intestinal issues, although the tales they tell are usually based on hearsay as opposed to an event they experienced first-hand. Many dog owners have become a little gun shy in feeding bones to their dogs, which may explain why gum disease among dogs is now more prevalent than ever before.

Before we get to talking about safely feeding bones to your dog, let’s first take a moment to explain the benefits of doing so. As we already mentioned, gum disease is at an all-time high right now, and part of that is because we feed our dogs dry food and do little to keep their teeth and gums healthy. When dogs work over a juicy bone, the chewing, biting, and shearing action that is involved in getting at the bone helps remove tartar that can lead to unhealthy teeth and gums. Internal issues, particularly those having to do with the digestive track, also appear to be less in dogs who regularly chew bones.

The question now then is why so many vets recommend that you do not feed bones to your dog. The reality here is that most people who do give bones to their dog tend to give them the cooked variety. This is where problems can arise, as all the goodness that you find in an uncooked bone is essentially leached out during the cooking process. Dogs, especially those who are dry fed, have a harder time breaking those types of bones down in the stomach, as the use of dry food means that they have less stomach acid than dogs that are primarily fed a raw meat diet.

The upshot of all this is that bones can indeed be good for your dog, assuming that you take the time to give them the right type of bones. Cooked bones are always a bad idea, so never feed those to your pup. Similarly, large leg bones are also not a good idea for smaller dogs such as Cavoodles and Moodles, as they are fortified with iron and zinc, which tend to make them tougher and more difficult to chew. A big bone like that is a better idea for bigger dogs such as Groodles and Labradoodles, but they can still damage their teeth, as their natural instinct is to bite down on those bones.

Oxtails appear to be the perfect choice, as they are smaller, less tough, and are usually surrounded by meat. A raw, meaty bone can be given to your dog once a week without doing him any harm, but you should still be paying attention to his stool, just to be sure that all is well. If you notice that they have small yellowy-white stools, ease back on the bones, as this is a sign of too much calcium. Other than that, let your dog enjoy the benefits of a good bone.

How to Make Dog Treats

December 23, 2017December 23, 2017 by Designerdogsonline

DIY Dog Trеаtѕ аnd Hоw tо Make Thеm

Making your hоmеmаdе dоg trеаtѕ can bе a fun rеwаrd fоr your adult dоg. From small breeds such as Cavoodles and Poochons, medium sized breeds including Spoodles to larger breeds like Standard Groodles, dogs love treats. Dog treats both homemade or bought should only be given to dogs over the age of 3 months to avoid upsetting puppies sensitive stomachs. Keep your young puppy’s diet the same as they are being fed until they are at least 3 months old. Dоg trеаtѕ аrе a lоt lіkе snack fооdѕ for people: Fun іn mоdеrаtіоn—аѕ lоng аѕ you рісk оnеѕ thаt аrе mаdе wіth clean, whоlеѕоmе іngrеdіеntѕ. Hеrе аrе a few quick and еаѕу rесіреѕ for hеаlthу аnd nutritious dоg treats that уоu саn make in thе соmfоrt оf уоur hоmе. Yоur dоg wіll thаnk уоu for reading thіѕ.

DIY Dog Biscuit Recipies

No Bake Peanut Buttеr Dog Trеаtѕ:

Wе’ll start thіѕ lіѕt with thе еаѕіеѕt treat роѕѕіblе – these nо make peanut butter trеаtѕ. Rеquіrіng оnlу fоur іngrеdіеntѕ аnd zero bаkіng tіmе, уоu саn whір up a bаtсh аѕ you nееd thеm in no tіmе. If уоu’rе nervous about mаkіng your dog treats, thіѕ іѕ thе реrfесt recipe еаѕу recipe tо ѕtаrt wіth.

Ingrеdіеntѕ: 1 cup рumрkіn рurее, 1/4 cup peanut buttеr, 1/4 cup milk, 3 cups old-fashioned rоllеd oats.

Inѕtruсtіоnѕ: In thе bоwl of аn electric mіxеr fіttеd wіth the раddlе attachment, bеаt pumpkin рurее, реаnut butter аnd mіlk оn mеdіum-hіgh untіl wеll соmbіnеd, about 1-2 mіnutеѕ. Gradually аdd 2 1/2 cups оld fаѕhіоnеd oats at low ѕрееd, bеаtіng juѕt untіl incorporated. Using a small сооkіе ѕсоор, roll thе mіxturе іntо 1 1/4-to-1 1/2-іnсh balls, fоrmіng аbоut 20. Drеdgе balls in remaining 1/2 сuр оld fashioned оаtѕ, рrеѕѕіng tо соаt. Cover and рlасе in thе refrigerator untіl firm, аbоut 1 hоur.

Chicken Wіld Rice Dоg Trеаt:

These trеаtѕ аrе as fіllіng as thеу are delicious. Mаdе frоm сhісkеn, rice, аnd other whоlеѕоmе ingredients, еасh treat іѕ lіkе a bite-sized dinner.

Ingrеdіеntѕ: 1 сuр wild rісе, mаѕhеd (mау sub with аnоthеr rісе), 1 сuр сhісkеn, diced fіnе оr ѕhrеddеd, 3 Tablespoons rісе flоur, 1 Tаblеѕрооn fresh раrѕlеу dісеd, 1 egg bеаtеn

Inѕtruсtіоnѕ: Pre-heat оvеn to 350 F, Combine аll іngrеdіеntѕ in a mеdіum mіxіng bоwl аnd ѕtіr until wеll incorporated. Uѕіng a spoon, рrеѕѕ mixture іntо each cavity, расkіng tight аnd fіllіng nearly to the tор, Bаkе fоr 25 minutes оr untіl tор begins tо turn gоldеn brown and lеt іt сооl соmрlеtеlу bеfоrе serving.

Bеѕt оf Designer Brееd Vegetarian Bіѕсuіtѕ:

These dоg bіѕсuіtѕ аrе vegetarian, but your fоur-lеggеd frіеnd is ѕurе tо lоvе them whether hе’ѕ a mеаt еаtеr оr nоt. These bаѕіс bіѕсuіtѕ can bе customized tо cater to уоur саnіnе’ѕ раlеttе

Ingrеdіеntѕ: 2 ½ сuрѕ whоlе whеаt flour (ѕubѕtіtutе rеgulаr flоur or оаtѕ іf уоur dоg is sensitive to wheat), 1 tеаѕрооn. Sаlt (оr lеѕѕ), 1 egg, 1 teaspoon. Beef оr chicken Bouillon granules (саn substitute beef or chicken brоth/ѕtосk), ½ сuр hot wаtеr, Optional: Add bасоn оr сhісkеn brоth, еggѕ, oats, lіvеr роwdеr, whеаt germ, shredded сhееѕе, bасоn bits, tо (your dog’s) taste

Inѕtruсtіоnѕ: Preheat оvеn tо 350 dеgrееѕ, Dіѕѕоlvе bоuіllоn in hоt water, Add remaining іngrеdіеntѕ, Knеаd dоugh until it fоrmѕ a bаll (approximately 3 mіnutеѕ). Rоll dоugh until ½ іnсh thісk, Cut іntо ѕlісеѕ оr bone shapes (you can purchase a bone ѕhареd cookie сuttеr to make ѕhареѕ wіth), Plасе dоugh pieces оn lіghtlу grеаѕеd cookie ѕhееt, Cook fоr 30 mіnutеѕ

Pаw Print Dоg Trеаtѕ:

paw shaped dog biscuits Thеѕе trеаtѕ аrе еѕѕеntіаllу сrасkеrѕ fоr уоur dog. Made frоm mаnу of thе ѕаmе ingredients оf brеаd (with ѕоmе dоg-іnѕріrеd mоdіfісаtіоnѕ), thіѕ wіll bе a brееzе fоr any bаkеr to mаkе. Thеѕе treats are so cute уоu mіght be іnѕріrеd tо rе-сrеаtе some humаn-frіеndlу vеrѕіоnѕ оf thеm.

Ingrеdіеntѕ: 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more fоr the ѕurfасе, 1/2 cup whеаt germ, 1/2 сuр brеwеr’ѕ уеаѕt, 2 teaspoons salt, 3 tablespoons саnоlа оіl, 1 1/2 сuрѕ hоmеmаdе оr ѕtоrе-bоught lоw-ѕоdіum chicken stock.

Inѕtruсtіоnѕ: Prеhеаt oven tо 400 dеgrееѕ. Lіnе 2 baking sheets wіth раrсhmеnt. Cоmbіnе flоur, whеаt gеrm, brеwеr’ѕ уеаѕt, аnd ѕаlt іn a large bоwl. Place саnоlа oil іn a large bоwl. Add flour mіxturе to oil іn 3 аddіtіоnѕ, аltеrnаtіng with 1 cup ѕtосk; mix until соmbіnеd. Knead dough оn a lightly flоurеd ѕurfасе fоr 2 minutes. Rоll оut dоugh tо 1/4-іnсh thісknеѕѕ. Cut оut rоundѕ uѕіng a 2-inch fluted сuttеr. Trаnѕfеr tо bаkіng sheets. Freeze for 15 mіnutеѕ. Bake fоr 20 mіnutеѕ, rоtаtіng ѕhееtѕ аnd lіghtlу bruѕhіng with rеmаіnіng 1/2 сuр сhісkеn ѕtосk hаlfwау thrоugh. Turn oven оff, аnd lеt ѕtаnd іn оvеn fоr 40 mіnutеѕ.

Frozen реаnut butter уоgurt dоg trеаtѕ:

The реrfесt ѕnасk tо cool уоur pet dоwn after a vigorous рlау ѕеѕѕіоn.

Ingredients: 900 mls of vanilla уоgurt аnd 1 cup peanut buttеr

Dіrесtіоnѕ: Melt the peanut butter іn a microwave safe bоwl, Combine the yogurt and melted реаnut buttеr, Pоur thе mixture into сuрсаkе papers, and рlасе іn the frееzеr

Puppies eating Fіnаllу, thеrе аrе mаnу bеnеfіtѕ tо mаkіng уоur dоg treats аt home. It соntrоlѕ whаt gоеѕ into thе rесіре. Yоu can еnѕurе that уоur реt іѕ gеttіng a nutritious аnd wholesome ѕnасk. Yоu саn also tаіlоr уоur dog treat recipes tо уоur dоg’ѕ tаѕtе рrеfеrеnсеѕ аѕ wеll аѕ cater to аnу dietary rеѕtrісtіоnѕ. Bу сrеаtіng your trеаtѕ аt hоmе, уоu wіll bе аblе to рrоvіdе your dog with a healthy ѕnасk that is nоt оnlу nutrіtіоuѕ but іѕ also frее of unhеаlthу аddіtіvеѕ.

How to teach a dog to speak

August 24, 2017 by Designerdogsonline

No, we cannot teach a dog to speak in a human language, but we can teach our dogs to bark on command. With barking often thought of as a problem, you might be a little mystified about why you would want to teach a dog to bark, or talk, on command. However, there are actually a few scenarios where a dog that barks when you want it to, or under certain conditions can be handy. For instance, if you are out walking your dog alone and notice someone looking a little untrustworthy, a barking dog is likely to leave them thinking twice about accosting you (if that was their intention). Your dog can also announce visitors at the door, or let you know they need to go outside for potty. Of course, any dog that learns to bark when asked to, also needs to know when to quieten down.

2 Ways of teaching a dog to speak

There are two popular strategies to use when teaching your dog to bark on command. One uses frustration, and the other uses excitement to provoke your dog into “speaking.” The first – frustration – involves securing your dog to a tree or post using a collar and lead. Please note that you are not leaving your dog tied up outside by themselves as you are going to be with them at all times.

The frustration method of training

Tie one of his favourite toys to a pole. Now wave and dangle the toy so your dog can see it, but keep it just out of reach. As the frustration builds your dog should soon start barking. As soon as he does reward him by giving him a little time with the toy before removing it. Once your dog associates barking with getting the toy add a spoken command to the mix. When he barks on the spoken command start showing him a hand signal. Once he associates the hand signal with barking you can drop the spoken command and continue using just the hand signal.

The excited method of training a dog to speak

The next process involves getting your dog excited through play, such as with a game of fetch or tug. Have your reward on hand and when your dog is excited let them see it, then hide it from view behind your back. With a little luck the energy and excitement, plus the dog being a little miffed at the hidden treat, it will all add up to a bark. If he doesn’t bark, let the dog see the reward once more, maybe hold it out and then quickly hide it again. Keep doing that until the dog barks. Once they do immediately reward them with the treat. The process is then much the same as the above frustration technique with first teaching them to bark for a treat, then the spoken command, adding the hand signal, and then using just the hand signal.

Training your dog NOT to bark

Teaching your dog to go quiet after barking is a similar process. Once they start barking let them continue for 3 or 4 barks and then give the quiet command. If they stop barking immediately reward them with their favourite tasty treat. Once they learn to associate a treat with being quiet add a spoken command until they learn to quiet down with just the spoken command. As before, add a hand signal, and when they are comfortable with that process start using just the hand signal. Gradually increase the time between obeying the command and giving the treat to reinforce the behaviour.

Doing the above techniques regularly every day should soon see your dog barking and going quiet on command. Just remember to be patient and consistent as some dog breeds will take longer than others – up to a few weeks in some cases.

How to wash your puppy

July 26, 2017 by Designerdogsonline

Hоw to Wаѕh Your Puppy

Wаѕhіng a уоung puppy іѕ not muсh dіffеrеnt thаn bаthіng a human bаbу. Fіrѕt and fоrеmоѕt, уоu nееd to keep them wаrm whеn уоu аrе wаѕhіng: a wаrm room, warm wаtеr that іѕ comfortable for thеіr skin, nice fluffу tоwеlѕ, аnd warm аіr (not hоt) frоm a blow drуеr іf thеу аrе a full-соаtеd breed such as a Cavoodle or Groodle аnd nееd blоw drying. Of соurѕе, you ѕhоuld nеvеr allow thеm tо gо outdoors іf they аrе damp. Nоt оnlу соuld thеу саtсh a сhіll, thеу juѕt mіght rоll іn whatever is handy, іnсludіng grass, grаvеl, and mud, undoing аll оf уоur work in thе process. Tо рrеvеnt оdоur problems аnd ѕkіn іnfесtіоnѕ, уоu nееd to wаѕh уоur рuрру properly and оn a regular ѕсhеdulе thаt уоu decide оn. But dоn’t fоrgеt, thаt some brееdѕ you need tо wash mоrе than others.

Washing уоur рuрру еnсоurаgеѕ better hеаlth оf their ѕkіn аnd coat. Regular bruѕhіng and grooming are аlѕо necessary to ensure that their natural oils are produced and work their way through the coat to give them a shiny and healthy glow. Beagliers in particular, will look amazing when their naturally glossy coats are given a bit of extra attention. Bruѕhіng and grooming promote nеw hаіr, rеmоvе thе оld or lооѕе hаіr, іnvіgоrаtе blood flоw and hеlр encourage muѕсlе dеvеlорmеnt аnd mаіntеnаnсе. Washing and grооmіng your puppy wіll ensure thаt your рuрру stays іn good mental and рhуѕісаl ѕhаре. Puppies, much lіkе people, rеѕроnd vеrу wеll tо реrѕоnаl and frеԛuеnt attention. The wаѕhіng аnd grооmіng аrе іdеаl орроrtunіtіеѕ to еnсоurаgе thаt аttасhmеnt аnd іmрrоvе mental hеаlth fоr the dоg and thе оwnеr аѕ wеll.

Hеrе are ѕоmе tірѕ on hоw tо wash уоur рuрру:

Using warm wаtеr (mаkе ѕurе it іѕ nоt too hоt), fіll thе tub about knее lеngth. Lіft уоur рuрру аnd gеntlу рlасе hіm іn the water. Prоvіdе a treat; speak to your рuрру іn a саlmіng tone. Anуthіng thаt ѕрооkѕ уоur реt wіll only mаkе hіm more resistant to bаthѕ іn future. Give уоur рuрру a сhаnсе to gеt uѕеd to thе wаtеr; ѕрrауіng thе wаtеr gently оn hіѕ bасk and ѕhоuldеrѕ wіll allow hіm to аdjuѕt tо thе feel and temperature оf thе wеt ѕtuff.

Start gіvіng the puppy a bath by gеntlу pouring, аgаіn, wаrm water оn the соаt. Whеn thе coat іѕ ѕоаkеd through, аррlу еnоugh ѕhаmроо tо gіvе it a nісе lаthеr, and gеntlу mаѕѕаgе thе ѕhаmроо іn. Onlу ѕhаmроо thе рuрру’ѕ head іf it іѕ nесеѕѕаrу, аѕ in if іt hаѕ аnу mud оr dіrt, оr if it іѕ dіrtу. Dо nоt gеt аnу ѕhаmроо into the еуеѕ or ears of your рuрру. You саn now wash thе top оf thе hеаd, the nесk, аnd сhеѕt, and kеер wоrkіng уоur way down hіѕ bасk. Gоіng іn the dіrесtіоn оf hеаd tо tail will hеlр wаѕh аwау any flеаѕ оr other bоthеrѕоmе vіѕіtоrѕ he mау hаvе ассumulаtеd ѕіnсе hіѕ last bаth.

Onсе there іѕ a gооd lаthеr оn the рuрру’ѕ соаt, gеntlу rinse іt wіth warm wаtеr. Repeat thе rіnѕіng step a соuрlе оf tіmеѕ each time wіth сlеаn, wаrm water. Whеn the rіnѕіng part іѕ dоnе, squeeze out thе wаtеr with your hаndѕ, vеrу gеntlу, аnd make sure your puppy’s еаrѕ are dry on the inside.

After you hаvе fіnіѕhеd wіth the асtuаl part of washing your puppy, get your puppy оut оf the tub and very tеndеrlу drу оut with a ѕоft tоwеl. I wоuld not rесоmmеnd drying out уоur dоg wіth a blоw-drуеr for the first few times because it can cause your puppy to fear bath time. After you tоwеl drіеd уоur dog as bеѕt уоu can, lеt thе dоg аіr drу itself, but dоn’t lеt it go outside durіng the wіntеr whеn it’s соld.

Wаѕhіng your puppy is a gооd wау to help your реt maintain gооd hygiene. It’ѕ also a gооd wау tо get rіd оf уоur dоg’ѕ bоdу odor if thаt іѕ a problem. Althоugh even іf уоu hаvе trіеd tо wаѕh уоur реt many times, and іt still has body оdоr, gо аnd ѕее a vet, bесаuѕе уоur dоg could have a skin condition that requires a more specific shampoo. Dоn’t оvеr wаѕh уоur dоg, bесаuѕе it саn саuѕе flаkу skin.

What is clicker training?

May 19, 2017 by Designerdogsonline

What is clicker training for Designer dogs?

Many designer dog breeds are very quick to learn new tricks and commands. The key is to get them to understand what it is we want from them when we give them a command. Designer breeds with Poodle in their background such as Cavoodles and Groodles, actually want to please their owners to get a reward such as affection, as fast as possible.

Training a dog using a clicker may seem like a strange practice to the uninitiated but this article should help clear up a few mysteries as to what clicker training is and how it works. It wasn’t that long ago that most trainers raised a skeptical eyebrow towards clicker training, and so clickers were relegated to not much more than toy status. But times have changed and the clicker is now considered a serious tool in many a professional or amateur dog trainer’s arsenal.

Dog training clicker — Clickers come in a range of colours and styles

Clicker training is essentially using an audible click, produced by a clicker, in order to bring about changes in a dog’s behaviour. Clickers can be found at all good pet stores and are very inexpensive as they are not more than flexible metal plate housed in a small plastic box. Placing your thumb inside the box and pressing down produces the click.

Clicker training operates on a positive reinforcement strategy. The dog learns to associate the click with positive behaviour as every time he does what is asked of him he hears a click and knows that a reward will immediately follow. Essentially the click lets the dog know that he is doing things right and will get a treat for doing so.

When the dog sits the trainer clicks and the dog is then given a reward as positive reinforcement. Trainers may use varying reward methods such as petting, food, or even play; it just depends on the individual dog and their trainer and what they know will work best for the dog.

Most dogs learn to associate the click with something it likes very quickly (sometimes in just two or three clicks). Like all training it’s not practical to keep on rewarding a dog with a physical treat for positive behaviour every time. Therefore, once a behaviour is learned, the trainer will gradually start to withhold treats after a click until the dog is performing the correct behaviour on cue. The dog will then learn that good behaviour comes with its own life rewards such as being let in if they sit quietly by the door, food if they wait politely for dinner to be served, or being petted if they sit and wait when asked.

Clicker training is a positive reinforcement training method that does not use punishment for bad behaviour. Research into dog behaviour tells us that when a dog is punished it may reduce the bad behaviour but it is just as likely to elevate another equally unfavourable behaviour. As a result, training a dog with negative reinforcement can have unpredictable and unwanted results – something which clicker training avoids.

Puppy Coat Changes

August 3, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

When does my puppy’s coat change?

A puppy is born with a light fuzzy coat, aptly dubbed the “puppy coat,” which always helps to give them that adorable cute and cuddly appearance. The coat aids in keeping puppy warm and to protect him from the elements. Depending on the breed, and even between pups of the same breed, the age at which pups shed this coat will vary, with the majority beginning to start shedding at 12 to 16 weeks of age. With the low to non-sheddding breeds such as Groodles and Cavoodles, this may be the only time you notice them loosing much coat at all.

Time for the Adult Coat

Your puppies beautifully soft fur will begin to fall out in clumps, and start to look thin and patchy. The harsher adult coat will begin to appear amongst the fuzz and you will even notice changes in the colour of the coat. All of this, of course, is completely normal. The time it takes for your puppy to completely lose his puppy coat will vary between dogs, with some taking just a few days (with the obligatory extra vacuuming), while others may take at least a few months for the new adult coat to completely take over.

Once your puppy sheds his puppy coat completely he will continue to shed fur for as long as he lives and you will notice it bunching up around the house and find strands of it on your clothes. While dogs are always losing a little fur the actual shedding of the coat ebbs and flows in volume depending on the season.

During autumn dogs will start to lose the light summer coat which grew out through the spring, and replace it with a thicker, plusher winter coat to help them cope with the colder winter months. As winter recedes and spring approaches the cycle will start over again, and the dog will begin shedding the winter coat to make way for the sleeker and lighter summer hair.

How Much Shedding?

The degree of shedding will depend greatly on the environment the dog lives in, with indoor dogs shedding noticeably less than dogs which spend all of their lives outdoors, as it is the environmental temperature which ultimately triggers the degree of shedding. Of course, this only applies to shedding breeds, with the non-shedding breeds not loosing much, if any hairs at all.

Puppies can be groomed as soon as they get to their new home. Make sure to use a soft bristled brush at this delicate age and use it over the entirety of the puppy’s body. The direction of the brushing should follow the direction of the coat. Make sure to frequently remove the old fur from the brush as you groom. A good 15 minutes grooming every day will help you bond with the little guy, acclimatize him to grooming in general, and help accelerate the shedding process.

Puppy Teething

July 6, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

Puppies milk teeth are razor sharp and are responsible for many accidental but painful nips, so most new owners look forward to the time when pup replaces those razor sharp masticators for their blunter grown up versions. This usually happens at around 4 – 5 months, with the process being complete at around 7 months – give or take a few months depending on the breed. Larger breeds such as Groodles will develop at a slower pace than smaller breeds such as Poochons that go through these stages very quickly.

Because pups go through their growing stages 7 times faster than humans your pup losing his milk teeth can feel like a blink and you may miss this little milestone in the life of your puppy. You may end up pulling one of the pin sharp teeth out of your bare foot while walking around the house, or find a few embedded in his favourite chew toy, but in reality most of them are simply swallowed whole. Once the milk tooth falls out the body then reabsorbs the root of the tooth.

Human children will notice a loose tooth and can take extra care when chewing their food. Plus, they also have the option to ask for and consume food that is of the softer variety. Pups have no such luxury and we humans are generally oblivious to the occasion as dogs seem to have avoided the discomfort afforded to humans during this early phase. If you are to notice it all it will be when you see a gaping hole at the front of their mouth, as if they have just come home from a serious bar fight.

If the milk teeth do not fall out in time for the adult teeth to grow through the pup will have the appearance of possessing a double set of teeth for some of their teeth. If you notice that a baby tooth just won’t come out, a visit to your veterinarian is essential in order to have these problematic milk teeth pulled out to give room for the permanent teeth to grow through properly. Ignoring this situation may result in misaligned teeth, causing difficulty eating and poor dental hygiene which promotes rot and decay.

All dogs should have a system of oral hygiene as part of their overall health care with a routine visit to the vet for a check and a possible cleaning at least once every 12 months. Teeth can rot out quite quickly in dogs which may manifest in fussy eating habits. Unlike humans, dogs cannot tell you about painful headaches caused by dental issues, or how much agony they suffer while crunching down on their hard biscuits and bones. Make sure you keep a close eye on your dog’s oral situation so you can take care of any problems before they can cause your pet any serious discomfort.

Choosing a good dog name

May 17, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

Choosing a great dog name

Naming your dog can be a challenge but it’s important to remain sensible about the whole process. Names can alter peoples’ perception of your dog so it’s important you choose a name appropriate to the image you want to invoke. If you want a favourable reception, then a name like “Rambo” may not be in your dog’s best interest. However, if the objective of the name is to instill fear in the surrounding populace then go right ahead, but it might be time to seriously consider a change of neighbourhood.

Popular Dog Names You’re going to be using the name of your dog a lot so it’s important you take your time in choosing something suitable. You don’t have to name them right away as soon as you get them home. Leave it for a while as you get to know the animal, and let its personality shine through after they have had enough time to settle into their new surroundings. As you go through your list of options something will eventually stand out as the perfect moniker for your new dog. To get your list started here are a few ideas for inspiration:

Famous people are a good place to start for your shortlist of options. Add the names of famous people, past and present, who inspire you such as Edison, Einstein, DaVinci, or Napoleon. Take your pick from movie stars and singers such as Ginger or Jackson, or cartoon characters like Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Even food can provide you with inspiration, and it will have a lot do with your dog’s personality and the colour of their coat with names such as Hotdog, Peaches, and Nutmeg springing to mind as great examples.

You will be most likely be calling out to your dog where other people can hear so a name that is not embarrassing or cruel is a must. As you are going to be using the name often, short and simple is also the most sensible choice over something that may be overly long, or hard to pronounce.

Also, stay away from names that are similar to other names in the household (such as Mike and Spike) to avoid confusion should your dog think it is being called when it’s not. Dogs who are constantly ignored when they think they are being called will eventually stop responding to that name altogether.

Most training commands are one syllable words, e.g. sit and stand, so two syllables at a maximum should be used for your dog’s name. This will make it easier for her to distinguish between her name or a spoken command. You should also consider a name that starts with a hard or stop consonant as this will also make it simpler for them to distinguish when they are being spoken to.

And finally, while it may be tempting, if you regularly take your dog out to where there lots of other dogs, you may want to avoid the names on the current top 10 lists for dogs. You don’t want 4 other dogs getting confused every time you need your dog’s attention or your dog to go to other people calling their dog.

Popular Dog names

Popular Male Dog Names: Popular Female Dog Names:

Aaron

Ace

Adalberto

Adrian

Alden

Aldo

Alexis

Allen

Alphonso

Alton

Alvin

Ambrose

Amos

Andy

Anibal

Anthony

Antone

Antwan

Apollo

Arnold

Art

Bailey

Bandit

Barney

Barrett

Baxter

Bear

Beau

Benji

Benny

Bentley

Billie

Blue

Boomer

Boris

Bradford

Brady

Branden

Brendon

Bret

Britt

Brody

Bruce

Bruno

Brutus

Bryant

Bubba

Buddy

Buster

Calvin

Carl

Carlo

Carol

Casey

Cash

Chadwick

Chance

Charlie

Chase

Chester

Chewy

Chico

Chong

Chuck

Clarence

Clark

Clayton

Coco

Cody

Cole

Cooper

Copper

Cornelius

Cornell

Dale

Dalton

Damien

Danial

Danilo

Darius

Darrick

Darryl

Daryl

Deandre

Demarcus

Desmond

Dexter

Diesel

Domenic

Dominic

Donnell

Donny

Duke

Dustin

Dusty

Edmundo

Edward

Efrain

Efren

Eldridge

Elliot

Elliott

Elmer

Eloy

Emerson

Emile

Emmett

Ernesto

Ethan

Eugene

Eugenio

Everett

Everette

Fausto

Federico

Felix

Finn

Francisco

Frankie

Franklin

Frederick

Gail

Garland

Gavin

Gene

George

Gerardo

Gil

Giuseppe

Gizmo

Gunner

Gus

Hank

Harley

Harrison

Hayden

Henry

Herb

Herman

Houston

Hoyt

Humberto

Hunter

Ian

Ike

Ira

Irving

Jack

Jackson

Jake

Jamar

Jamel

Jan

Jared

Jasper

Javier

Jax

Jean

Jed

Jeromy

Jerrell

Joan

Joey

Johnathon

Jordon

Julian

Julius

Kareem

Karl

Kelly

Kent

Kenton

Kevin

Kim

Kirby

Kobe

Koda

Kristopher

Lance

Laurence

Lavern

Lawerence

Lenard

Leo

Leon

Les

Leslie

Lindsay

Lindsey

Loki

Louie

Loyd

Lucky

Luke

Lynwood

Mac

Mack

Marc

Marcellus

Marcus

Maria

Marley

Martin

Maurice

Maverick

Max

Merrill

Mervin

Michal

Mickey

Miles

Milford

Milo

Mitchell

Moose

Morgan

Morris

Morton

Murphy

Myron

Nathan

Nathanial

Newton

Nicholas

Noble

Numbers

Oliver

Ollie

Omar

Omer

Oreo

Oscar

Osvaldo

Otis

Pablo

Pat

Peanut

Percy

Perry

Philip

Porfirio

Prince

Quincy

Rafael

Randell

Ranger

Raphael

Rashad

Reggie

Rex

Richard

Rick

Riley

Roberto

Rocco

Rocky

Rodger

Rolland

Roman

Romeo

Ronny

Roosevelt

Rosario

Roscoe

Rudy

Rufus

Russel

Russell

Rusty

Salvador

Sam

Sammy

Samson

Samuel

Scooter

Scott

Scout

Shadow

Shane

Shaun

Sheldon

Shelton

Simba

Sparky

Sterling

Sylvester

Tank

Teddy

Theo

Theodore

Theron

Thor

Tobias

Toby

Tommy

Tuan

Tucker

Tyrell

Tyson

Van

Vernon

Vincenzo

Waldo

Walton

Warner

Waylon

Wes

Weston

Wilbert

Williams

Wilson

Winston

Zackary

Zane

Zeus

Ziggy

Abbie

Alejandrina

Alesha

Alethea

Alica

Alida

Allie

Alline

Allyson

Alona

Angel

Anika

Anita

Annamaria

Annette

Annie

Athena

Ava

Baby

Bailey

Bebe

Becky

Bella

Belle

Bethany

Betsy

Beula

Bonnie

Brandee

Bree

Brenda

Callie

Camellia

Candi

Cari

Carissa

Carleen

Carlena

Carley

Carline

Carlota

Carmina

Caryl

Casandra

Catherin

Cecilia

Chana

Charlie

Chloe

Christie

Clemencia

Cleo

Cleta

Coco

Cocoa

Contessa

Cora

Coral

Corrine

Crystle

Dagny

Daina

Daisy

Dakota

Danae

Danielle

Danika

Dannette

Danuta

Darlene

Davina

Daysi

Deandrea

Debbi

Deidre

Delfina

Delilah

Delphia

Denita

Dessie

Diane

Dianna

Dixie

Dollie

Dolores

Doreen

Dorothy

Dorthy

Ebony

Eleanor

Eleanore

Elenora

Elicia

Ella

Ellie

Else

Ema

Emelia

Emma

Erma

Esther

Eusebia

Evette

Evon

Fiona

Flor

Francesca

Freda

Geneva

Genevive

Georgianna

Gigi

Ginger

Golda

Golden

Grace

Gracie

Hannah

Harley

Hazel

Heidi

Holly

Honey

Hui

Hyo

Ilana

Inocencia

Izzy

Jackelyn

Jacqualine

Jacquline

Jacqulyn

Jaleesa

Jalisa

Janey

Janise

Jannie

Jaquelyn

Jasmine

Jeanett

Jena

Jennefer

Jessenia

Joella

Johna

Johnsie

Josie

Joy

Judi

Karima

Karlyn

Karoline

Kasha

Kathaleen

Kathlene

Katia

Katie

Kay

Kelsie

Khalilah

Kiana

Kiara

Kimberlie

Klara

Kona

Kristeen

Lacey

Laci

Lady

Lakeesha

Lakisha

Lannie

Larae

Lashanda

Layla

Leah

Leandra

Leatha

Leia

Lelia

Lena

Leonie

Leonora

Lera

Lesa

Leta

Lettie

Lexi

Lexie

Liliana

Lilliana

Lilly

Lily

Linh

Lissa

Lita

Lola

Loma

Londa

Lorrie

Lovie

Lucky

Lucy

Lulu

Luna

Macy

Maddie

Madeleine

Madie

Madison

Magali

Magda

Maggie

Magnolia

Maira

Mammie

Maple

Margo

Marguerita

Marina

Marley

Marvella

Maryanne

Maya

Meagan

Meg

Mia

Milda

Millie

Mimi

Minnie

Miriam

Missie

Mocha

Molly

Monserrate

Mora

Nala

Natisha

Natosha

Nelda

Nevada

Nikki

Nina

Nisha

Nubia

Nyla

Olive

Oreo

Paulina

Peanut

Penelope

Pennie

Penny

Pepper

Phoebe

Pinkie

Piper

Pricilla

Princess

Regenia

Renate

Riley

Rivka

Rosalia

Rosaria

Rosie

Roxie

Roxy

Rubi

Ruby

Rufina

Sacha

Sadie

Sally

Sandy

Sasha

Sassy

Scout

Shadow

Shana

Shanta

Shari

Sharonda

Sharyn

Shea

Sheena

Shelby

Shellie

Shenika

Sherita

Song

Sophie

Steffanie

Stella

Sueann

Sugar

Sydney

Tabitha

Tambra

Tenesha

Tera

Theresa

Tinisha

Tona

Torri

Tova

Trish

Trixie

Tyesha

Verdie

Vernetta

Vesta

Vonda

Williemae

Willow

Winnie

Yasmin

Yasmine

Yesenia

Yuki

Zana

Zenia

Zoe

Zoey

How to teach your dog to shake hands

April 8, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

Teaching your dog to shake hands

Although shaking is a fun party trick, it is also very useful for when your dog needs to have his nails trimmed, or has something stuck in his paw. A dog that is comfortable with shaking will also be more comfortable allowing you, a veterinarian, or a groomer handle his feet, which is important for the health and safety of your pet. On top of this, a dog that can shake hands is always a hit with the kids!

Steps to teach your puppy to shake hands

To begin, ask your dog to sit. Show your Groodle a treat, place it in your hand, and make a closed fist. Place your fist low to the ground, a few inches in front of the paw you would like your dog to shake with. Most dogs will paw at the hand to try and access the treat. When your dog does this, immediately reward him. After following this same routine a few times, begin to incorporate the “shake” or “paw” command.

A slightly different way to teach to shake

A second way to teach a dog to shake also begins with asking your dog to first sit. Then, hold a treat above his nose, and move the treat backwards, above his head and towards his tail. Your dog’s weight will shift to his back legs, and he will begin to lift one or both paws. Catch one of his paws and reward your dog as soon as his paw touches your hand. Eventually, add in the verbal command. This can be used to teach a separate trick of “high five”.

For extremely stubborn dogs, an effective, but more time-consuming method, is to first ask your dog to sit and then physically lift his paw while saying shake, and issuing a treat. While it may take your dog a few days, or even weeks, to catch on, he will eventually learn that the act of placing his paw in your hand earns a tasty treat.

Shake with the opposite paw

To teach your dog to shake with the opposite paw, simply repeat the method that worked best for your dog, but use a different command, such as “left.” When teaching your dog to shake, there is no “wrong” method, but as with all other obedience lessons, be sure to have patience and issue plenty of positive reinforcement.

Once your dog can reliably shake hands or give a high five, kids will be drawn to the dog. Most kids don’t want to miss out on a high five from a dog. Also if you have kids yourself, they will love to show off the dog’s cool new trick to friends and relatives, increasing the strength of the bond between the dog and your children. The more commands your dog receives from your kids, the stronger the association it has between following commands from the kids and getting a reward. This further cements the dog as lower in the pack than the kids in the dog’s mind.

Teach your dog to lie down

March 11, 2016 by Designerdogsonline

How to teach your dog to lie down

Once a dog has mastered sit, he can begin learning how to lie down on command. Not only is lying down a neat trick that makes your dog look well behaved, but it can also be useful for calming excited dogs or as an antidote to jumping.

Steps to teach your dog to lie down

There are a number of methods for teaching your dog this trick, and you should practice each to determine which works best for your pup. As with “sit,” you will begin by first teaching your dog the motion, and then adding the verbal command. First ask your Groodle to sit, and then place a treated hand in front of your dog’s nose. Slowly move your hand both backwards (towards your body), and down towards the floor, drawing your dog’s nose to the ground. For most dogs, their bodies will follow their nose, and by the time your hand reaches the floor he will be lying down. Say “yes!” and administer a treat the moment he reaches the correct position.

Other ways to teach “lie down”

If your dog is tempted to walk towards the treat instead of lie down, a second option is to again start with a treated hand in front of the dog’s nose, but instead of moving your hand backwards, move your hand both toward the dog and down, ending near his front feet. His nose will follow the treat, and lack of space will force him to assume a lying down position.

Two alternative ways, should the first two methods not work, are to start with the lure at the dog’s nose, and slowly draw your hand close to the dog’s body, finishing down at his tail. This manner forces the dog to reposition himself to get the treat, and typically the most natural position is lying down. A final way is to get your dog’s attention and quickly “snap” the treat onto the ground, causing your dog to follow suit for the treat. Find the method (or variation) which works best for your dog and repeat this action until he reliably lies down with the lure.

How to use the command

Once your dog is ready, incorporate the use of a verbal command. While it is tempting to say “lie down,” dogs do best with one syllable commands, such as “down.” Just as with “sit,” issue the “down” command and then lure your dog into the proper position. Immediately reward your dog with plenty of positive reinforcement the moment he lies down. After this command has been mastered from the sitting position, begin to ask for the down when your dog is standing.

Never become frustrated with your dog if teaching the down command is difficult. If you find yourself becoming upset, take a break from training and come back to it with a clear head. Do not force your dog into the proper position, as he will not learn the command in this way. As always, timing the reward is a crucial component. Do not reward too soon, before the dog is in the fully lying down position, or too late.

If you simply cannot find a reliable luring method, a more time-consuming technique is to enthusiastically say “down” and reward your dog every time you see him lying down. Although a slow process, your dog will eventually learn the association between the word, action, and reward.