There is an old theory that when you meet a dog you do not know, you should stick out your hand, palm down and let him sniff the back of your hand. This is in fact a bad practice. By sticking out your hand toward a dog who does not know you, and who may be very wary or even frightened, you threaten him by invading his space. He cannot be sure, when your hand comes toward him, that you do not intend to grab him. A much better practice is to stand normally, let your hand lid ag

When walking your dog be sure to allow him time to walk while not in heel position. Every dog needs to mark territory in order to communicate normally with other dogs in the neighborhood. Preventing this behaviour would be something like allowing a person to walk around the neighborhood, but blind-folding his eyes and tying his hands to his side, and not allowing him to speak to anyone he might meet. Dogs leave messages for other dogs and read the messages left by other dogs.

If you get your dog as a puppy, it will in most cases automatically and forevermore see you as its superior. As for adult dogs, the simple act of providing their food strongly reinforces your primacy. Also, dogs that are markedly smaller than you will usually accept your authority. However, some particularly high spirited breeds (Jack Russells, Dobermans, Akitas) may choose, on occasion, to challenge. This can manifest itself in interesting ways: the dog may growl or snap if

Dogs have more or less the same programming as their wild cousin, the wolf. In some important ways dogs are different than wolfs which make them more amenable to life with humans. Here are some of the key points. 1) Socialization: Because they were designed to live in groups, dogs are highly attuned to the moods of their pack mates - in this case, you and your family. That's why it is ideal for puppies to join their new families during the seventh or eighth weeks of life. Thi

Some dogs can be trained quickly, while others take much longer. If you have an adult dog that has never been house trained, treat it as you would a new puppy. Never punish your dog for making a mess in your home. Reprimanding your pet after is has an accident only teaches it to be nervous and wary of you. Instead, anticipate when your dog needs to eliminate. After your dog wakes up, or plays, take it to the place that you have chosen for it to relieve itself, and always clea

You want to create an exercise program for you dog that is safe. So start off slowly, be consistent and patient, and you can gradually increase the level of activity when she shows that she's ready for more. Take it real easy if your dog is still a youngster. Puppies aren't as coordinated as adults. Their muscles aren't fully developed and their bones are softer. They are also more susceptible to the heat and cold. Puppies do need some moderate exercise, but serious fitness t

Dog owners know how much their canine companions adore sharing an afternoon jaunt or dashing after a ball in the park. But exercise is much more than just huge fun, it's also doing your dog a whole lot of good. A good exercise program will help keep your dog from becoming overweight, which has been linked to heath problems such as heart disease, respiratory difficulties and arthritis in dogs. Regular exercise will also expand your dog's lung and heart capacity, and will help

Backyard breeders breed their dogs and sell the puppies as a way of making money. They are unlikely to be involved with a local or national club dedicated to studying and advancing the breed, so their dogs aren't to the breed standard. Without knowledge of the breed and the standard, they may not understand how to prevent unfortunate genetic traits from occurring in their pups. They may still however, charge prices as high as a reputable breeders Many classified ads are place

Reputable Breeders: Breeders know just about everything about there is to know about the breed of dog they raise, and they work to improve the quality of that breed with every litter. The money they spend on breeding a litter of puppies far exceeds the money they make from selling the pups. They are doing it for love, not money. Breeders will screen potential buyers very carefully, turning down those whom they feel will not provide the pups with the right lifestyle or environ

Purebred dogs have been showing up at shelters in increasing numbers in recent years. Alarmed that their beloved breeds are ending up there, purebred fanciers have formed breed rescue clubs to give these dogs a second chance. Volunteers who raise a particular breed open their homes and kennels to individual dogs that have ended up in a shelter or been abandoned. They also take in dogs from people who realize it isn't working out but who want to make sure their dog goes to a g