MyDogBreed.com Web Feed

Advanced Dog Tricks: Teaching Your Dog The High Jump

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:22:35 PST

Training your dog to high jump is not as hard as you may think that it is. After all, dogs love to jump around and have fun; and by doing the high jump they will certainly be having fun!

Scientists decode dogspeak

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:57:09 PST

Artificially intelligent Dr. Doolittles can understand dog barks as well or better than humans do. These findings suggest computers might significantly help people comprehend animal communication. Scientists tested artificially intelligent software on more than 6,000 barks from 14 Hungarian sheepdogs.
After analyzing digital versions of the barks, overall the computer program correctly identified the kinds of barks the dogs made 43 percent of the time - about the same as humans' 40 percent, said researcher Csaba Molnar, an ethologist at Eotvos Lorand University in Hungary. The software identified 'walk' and 'ball' barks better than people, although people identified 'play' and 'alone' barks better than the software.

Veterans visit Riverside memorial to honor war dogs

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 10:09:34 PST

The small group of veterans gathers at Riverside's March Field Air Museum once a year, traveling from all corners of the country, to mourn forgotten heroes of battle. They come to honor the dogs that saved lives by detecting booby traps and watching over military camps, dogs that became trusted friends in times of loneliness. The meeting point is the 16-foot-tall West Coast War Dog Memorial, which holds a bronze statue of a soldier and his German shepherd. For years, veterans have sought to have the contributions of war dogs recognized with a national monument. The West Coast memorial, designed by Denver-area sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg, was to have been placed at Riverside National Cemetery, but a national Veterans Affairs advisory committee argued that doing so would be disrespectful. The museum agreed to take it, and the veterans to meet there every year on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

Camping With Your Pet

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:52:32 PST

Who says camping in the great outdoors is just for humans, taking your dog camping with the family is one of the best experiences your canine can have. After smelling the same smells and hearing the same sounds, they too get tired of the monotony. Who doesn't benefit from fresh air and new experiences?

How To Successfully Clicker Train Your Dog

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:00:22 PST

Dogs are smart, but they don't naturally know what you want them to do, just because you tell them to do something. They're kind of like children, they just want what they want without regard to whether it is right and wrong. If you really want a well-trained dog, then you've got to train them to become your perfect canine companion. Simply telling them to do something isn't sufficient. Commands and words sometimes may sometimes work, but if you truly want to see some amazing results then you should consider clicker training.

Cool Dog or Hot Dog - The Dangers of the Summer Sun

Fri, 13 Jul 2007 10:51:24 PST

Summer is usually a time of rest, relaxation, vacations and fun activities for the whole family - which often includes the family dog as well. However, just like any other season, summer has its own hazards which you need to look out for such as sunburn, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion. These are specific hazards that can threaten not only humans, but animals as well. Unfortunately, many dogs are exposed to these serious dangers all too often. Dogs often get locked up in cars while their owner just "runs into the store for a minute". That "minute" (which is usually more like 10 to 20 minutes) can mean the difference between life and death for your pooch. Don't be regretful after something horrible happens. Take some simple precautions and actions to prevent these hazards from happening to your pet.

Protect Your Dog From the Deadly Parvovirus

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 08:42:47 PST

Spring is fading gradually into summer, and a lot of us love to spend time outdoors with our dogs. This means exposure to illness, but the most dreaded for dog owners is parvovirus. it strikes hard and kills fast-often within two to three days of dogs showing symptoms. But there's a lot of conflicting information on the web: some say it's airborne, some say it's only through feces. (Experts say it's through feces, even in trace amounts.) Some say it can stay in the environment for 6 months, others a year, some say indoors it will survive for only a month. Some say humans can be affected to some degree, others say not at all.

What Your Dog Truly Needs

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 08:36:28 PST

You are the center of your dog's universe. It is a weighty responsibility. You probably give your dog food, medical care, exercise, shelter and affection. But have you ever considered what your dog may truly need that you neglect? I think we love our dogs so much because they seem so like us in so many ways. We can see them feel joy and pain just like us. Things that we so admire in humans such as loyalty, trust and a boundless joy are so abundant in our dogs that we cannot help but love them. But loving our dogs means more then simply showering them with treats and kisses. We must respect that in being so like us humans that they need purpose beyond living for food and shelter.

Shih Tzu Dog Training - Body Language Your Shih Tzu Understands

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 08:29:17 PST

Shih Tzu dogs are highly intelligent creatures and many pet owners do not give them enough credit when it comes to the way they can read and understand our body language. Some people have no idea that the body language that we display has a major impact on how well a Shih Tzu dog will listen to us and obey our commands. Using the correct form of body language can also quickly stop your Shih Tzu dog from displaying an improper behavior. Let's use a very common example, such as the overexcited Shih Tzu dog who likes to jump on every guest that comes to your door. We all go through this with our puppy or adult Shih Tzu dog at some point in time. As soon as the guests arrive your Shih Tzu is overwhelmed with happiness and excitement about who is at the door and whether or not they are going to play with him.

Career has gone to dogs

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 09:34:58 PST

'If you do what you love, you'll never 'work' another day in your life," says Connie Pinkerton, who left a corporate job after 22 years to become a dog trainer. The first step toward Pinkerton's career change began four years ago when she became a volunteer at Human Haven Animal Shelter (HHAS) in Bolingbrook. Bark Busters, a company comprised of dog behavioral therapists and trainers, demonstrated their training methods to HHAS volunteers and Pinkerton was sold on their mission to enable clear communication between owners and their dogs. Shortly after the demonstration, Pinkerton enrolled in the Bark Buster "boot camp" and became a certified trainer. Pinkerton's training makes her a valuable resource as an adoption counselor at HHAS, since she is able to provide assistance if problems occur after a dog is adopted. She uses non-physical training methods in the owner's home that teach the owner how to "talk to your dog in a dog's language," and has trained more than 100 dogs in the past year.

Laurence Mancuso Dies; Founding Abbot Was 72

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:34:36 PST

The Rev. Laurence Mancuso, the founding abbot of the Monks of New Skete, whose hilltop monastery in upstate New York is renowned for breeding German shepherds and teaching a holistic approach to dog training, died on June 10 in Framingham, Mass. He was 72 and had lived in Natick, Mass., since his retirement in 2000. In 1969, a kennel in Morristown, N.J., donated a German shepherd to the monastery. But one winter night, the dog ran away. The monks had become so attached to the dog, Brother Stavros said, that they soon replaced it with two others, and then began breeding more. Soon, visitors who drove up the road to buy produce at the monastery began begging for puppies. With Father Laurence's approval, but under the supervision of another monk, the brothers studied veterinary medicine, animal nutrition and breeding techniques. The monastery's pack of German shepherds continued to grow, with one dog at a time assigned to each monk for training.

Fever In Dogs - Is Your Dog Sick?

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:33:55 PST

A pet dogs normal temperature ranges from 99.5 degrees F to 102 degrees F, while a puppy has a temperature of 96 - 97 degrees F at birth, which gradually increases by the fourth week. Any increase in temperature no matter how small needs attention. All animals have a part in their brain that regulates body temperature; it is called the "thermoregulatory center". The cause for the increase in temperature may be chemical compounds called "pyrogens". These are released in the blood, which circulates its way to the brain therefore adjusting the thermoregulatory center settings.

Fence Climbing Dogs

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:26:26 PST

Some dogs are just fence climbers. This particular German Shorthair, Daisy, is a 30 pound bundle of energy. She is as sweet as they come, but you have to watch her; she climbs fences better than my 5 year old boy (who climbs like a monkey, by the way). We have to have a lid on the kennel and have it tightly wired down. Daisy hadn't been in the kennel 10 minutes and was out again. I was dumbfounded as to how she got out, because there was a top on it. I put her back and watched her leap 6' in the air, cling on and climb to the top and push her way through the roof fence panel edge. Needless to say, we have wired it down tight all the way around now. Now she climbs around the upper section of our kennel about like a gibbon, but can't get out.

Dog Training and Classical Conditioning

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 07:22:03 PST

To understand how classical conditioning works in dog training, you are going to do a simple dog training exercise. You are not going to teach any practical skill to your dog but this is a very important exercise to understand the first step in dog training: classical conditioning. Therefore, this exercise is more useful to you than your dog. Take in account that you can't carry out this exercise if your dog is not able to eat solid food (for instance, very young puppies or dogs which must be in a special diet because of health problems). You need 15 to 20 food treats for your dog. These treats could be any healthy food that your dog enjoys, such as sliced hot-dogs, chicken chunks, dog food pellets, freeze dried liver, etc. Food treats must be of about the size of a navy bean (this is very important). Your dog must be off-leash, so you must find a fenced place to carry out the classical conditioning exercise. It must be a place your dog is familiar with, and there should be no distractions. In other words, you, your dog and the food treats must be alone in that place.

How to Fend off the Sexual Mounting by Your Puppy

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:35:04 PST

It is often a great shock when a new dog owner finds their puppy mounting their leg; most new dog owners have no idea what to do when this happens. Sometimes the dog owner will quickly retract their leg and tell the dog no, while other times the dog owner believes that ignoring the behavior and letting the behavior dissipate on its own is the best course.

Choosing A Labrador Retriever

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:26:23 PST

When you are in search of a dog, there are many choices that need to be made. The choices are not always easy. You want to make sure you take your time so that you get the dog that you and your family want. The first thing you will want to do is narrow your choices down to which breed of dog you would prefer to own.

Summer advice for the four-legged set

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:54:27 PST

ONEIDA - While summertime often means fun in the sun for humans and their furry companions, it can also bring about unpleasant circumstances for the four-legged set. From parasites to extra pounds, dogs and cats face special health concerns during summer and it's up to their human counterparts to help them through those sweltering dog days. On Saturday, the Oneida Animal Hospital, in conjunction with Wanderers' Rest Humane Association and the Humane Society of Rome, held its second annual pet fair. Several experts were on hand to provide advice on such topics as parasite treatments, pet diets and grooming.

Is Doggy Day Camp Right for Your Pet?

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:50:03 PST

At Best Friends, we have been running doggy day camp programs since 1997. We suggest the following guidelines to anyone thinking about camp for their family pet:

Consider Whether It Will Benefit Your Dog

In most cases, the answer is yes. Day camp is a great choice for high-energy dogs who need lots of daily exercise, as well as for puppies and young dogs who demand frequent interaction. At the other end of the spectrum, overweight dogs and older dogs suffering from arthritis can also benefit because the excitement around them gets them up and moving. (Be sure to check with your veterinarian first.)

Day camp can also be very beneficial for a dog who becomes anxious when left home alone and who expresses his discomfort with problem behaviors like howling, damaging furnishings or soiling in the house. In addition, shy dogs who can gain confidence around other canines. However, day camp won't help with a dog suffering from serious separation anxiety or fear issues; you'll need to seek assistance from a professional trainer before considering day camp for these pets.

Dogs hone skills to catch poachers

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:15:25 PST

RISING SUN, Md. - In the middle of a remote campsite, Warden stopped and began scratching at the ground where an ammunition magazine was hidden by officers under a pile of dried grass.

In another minute he found a shotgun shell.

And in another, he found a holster.

"When he starts to scratch to indicate he's found something, we throw a ball at him," said Cpl. Casey Zolper, a Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife enforcement agent. "Everything is a big game to him."

Like other black Labrador retrievers, Warden's favorite game is fetch. But he plays for a different reason.

Warden and Zolper were practicing article detection - a training exercise designed to help in the enforcement of regulations against poaching. Warden and dogs that work with environmental police units in Maryland and Pennsylvania are spending five days at the Boy Scouts of America's Camp Horseshoe in northern Cecil County to hone skills used in investigating hunting violations.

"We actually have quite a good bit of poaching throughout the whole state," Zolper said.

New police dog just beginning to get the hang of new job

Sat, 16 Jun 2007 09:11:19 PST

Though he just returned from training in Mechanicsburg on Friday, Sugarcreek Borough Police Department's new K-9 officer was hard at work running through training exercises Thursday.

Gudzis "Goose" started official duties Monday, and so far has not been called upon for searches.

Patrolman Ryan Ashbaugh, Goose's handler, said it has been a big adjustment going from working with Szultan, the K-9 officer he worked with for several years that was killed when hit by a car while off-duty in November, to a "green" dog like Goose.

The two dogs have similar, friendly personalities, but Ashbaugh said Szultan had been so well trained and so used to working with him, that he needed little commanding.

"He knew what I wanted him to do, before I had to say anything," Ashbaugh recalled.

Goose, on the other hand, is just learning, and needs a lot of reinforcement.

"He's a good dog and I have no doubt we'll get there," Ashbaugh said.