Doggykingdom Blog

Training your dog to walk on a loose leash is an easy task with persistence. 

Supplies Needed to Teach Your Dog to Walk on a Loose Leash

• Use a simple buckle collar, head halter, front slip harness, or martingale for the best results. 
• Pick a leash that measures four to six feet ( do not use a retractable leash).

Prey Drive or Aggression? 

Many dog owners mistakenly see prey drive as aggression but there is a difference. Aggression is an emotional reaction that is fueled by fear or the need to protect. However, prey drive is a simple instinct. 

With aggression, a dog becomes combative or seeks to flee from an aggressor. However, with prey drive, the dog wants to chase the target. 

Below are the steps needed to train your dog to use a potty pad: 

1. Place the potty pad in one small area of the home such as a bathroom or utility room. You’ll want to restrict your dog’s access to the rest of the house and instead place the dog in the room where the potty pad is located. Ideally, whatever room you choose to locate the potty pad should have easy clean flooring such as tile or vinyl incase the dog misses the potty pad or the pad leaks through.

Poodles and Bichon Frise dogs all have curly coats that continue to grow. The do not shed excessively but their fur will mat easily if not regularly groomed. Dirt and debris easily get caught in the fine hair. Ideally, you should brush curly or wavy dog coats at least three times a day or daily. Most pet owners seek out the services of a professional groomer at least once a month to bathe and trim the dog’s coat. 

Washing your dog with a dry shampoo is fairly straightforward. You’ll want to read the manufacturers suggestions on how to use the formula. Each type of dry shampoo differs and might have its own particular instructions.

Always patch evaluate an area of fur to make sure your dog is not allergic to the shampoo. Apply the formula to a small area and then wait for a couple of days to make sure there is no irritation.

You should frequently clean and dry your dog’s ear canal, but if your pup shows signs of pain or discomfort then you‘ll need to consult with your veterinarian for a full examination. In some situations, your canine companion might have an ear infection that is going to require prescription medication to clear up the infection. 

Symptoms your dog has an ear infection include:

• Unpleasant odor 
• Discharge
• Dog shows signs of pain
• Digging on the ears with a paw
• Crying or whining

Eight to Ten Weeks

At eight to ten weeks, your puppy is still just a baby, so you’ll want to keep puppy training sessions simple and short. You’ll need to allow a daily schedule that includes feeding your pup, housebreaking, play and basic command training. Also, at this age you’ll want to start socializing your puppy, so he is exposed to new people and situations. 

Teach your new puppy to wear a collar and walk on the leash. You can also start working on the sit command. 

Removing porcupine quills from your dog’s skin is never easy. It can cause the animal a significant amount of discomfort. Following the removal, you’ll need to seek veterinary care to avoid infection from occurring. 

If you suspect that a quill broke off below your pet’s skin, then your veterinarian might need to perform imaging to find the missing quill and effectively remove it from the dog’s skin before it moves or causes a severe infection.

What to Do When Your Puppy Starts Teething

If your puppy has started teething, then it's time to provide them with plenty of teething toys.  Chewing is essential for a pup teething. It helps ease the pain of the process and loosen the baby teeth so the adult ones can more easily break through. 

Always pick chew toys that are proper for puppy's size. If the chew toy is too large or hard then the pup will not be able to safely chew the item. Also, if it's too small then a large dog might accidentally swallow the toy and choke. 

Housebreaking Your Puppy With Crate 

Crate your puppy for no more than an hour at a time. Immediately let the pup out of the crate and take the young dog outside to go potty. When the dog eliminates outdoors, give the pooch ample praise and treats. Take the time to play with the puppy and interact with the pet before placing the dog back into the crate and starting the process all over again.

As the dog ages, you can let the dog spend longer in the crate between bathroom breaks. Many owners use a crate at night to ensure that the puppy does not have an accident in the house. You can also use the crate any time you leave the house.

What to Pack for Your Dog’s Camping Trip?

Your pooch depends on you to pack his essentials for any camping trip. Depending on what outdoor location you plan to visit for your overnight trip with your dog, you’ll need to ensure that you always have a leash. Most campgrounds and hiking trails always require a leash. 

Additional dog camping trip must-haves include: 

Food and Water

Pack sufficient food for your dog (including treats). Avoid switching foods when going camping or you could upset your pup’s sensitive digestive tract. When hiking, many dogs are hungrier than normal due to the animal’s increased exercise energy. 

Your pooch loves going for walks and a hike every bit as much as you do. The canine can soak up some much-needed sunshine, exercise, and enjoy the ...