Congratulations are in order - this will be an exciting time for you and your family - especially the kids. The smiles on your children’s faces when they see their brand new puppy will be hard to beat. Just think of the hours of enjoyment they will bring to each other!

But those first couple of months can be a bit of a challenge. There will be some training issues that you will need to deal with. These will be no problem, but the earlier you can train your little puppy, the more you will be able to enjoy him/her later on.

For example, those little puppy teeth can be sharp! When puppies play together, they naturally bite and mouth each other. This is not a big problem for them since their skin is relatively thick and it causes no discomfort whatsoever.

But when you are training them to socialize with humans, this is not the kind of behavior that is acceptable. And although this kind of biting is cute when the dog is just a few pounds, it ceases to be cute when they are 25 pounds or more. Controlling this ‘biting reflex’ is an important first step in training the little puppy.

Have the puppy socialize with other puppies if at all possible. Puppies will bite each other as they roll and play, but this playing happens to be the best way to train the puppy out of their biting habit - especially if they are playing with already socialized pups. The already socialized puppies will mildly punish the puppy that becomes to aggressive while playing and teach them to suppress their biting habit.

The socialization they get with other dogs also teaches the puppy not to be fearful of other dogs and it helps them drain off their excess energy. Puppies that do not get the opportunity to socialize with other dogs also tend to be more hyperactive as they develop fearful and aggressive habits. A dog will tend to react aggressively in a new and unfamiliar environment if they had never been socialized.

A puppy should also be socialized with adults in order to become a member of the household and neighborhood. Introduce your puppy to both children and adults and help them to make the distinction between those who are their owners and between other people.

The ideal time to train your puppy to be socialized is when they are 3 months old or younger- this is when they catch on very fast. This is even more important when dealing with breeds that are typically less passive.

A key way of training your puppy not to bite is to get them to trust you. Never hit your puppy as this will not help them to trust and respect you, It will simply cause them to fear and distrust you - which is not what you want. The confused little puppy won’t really understand why you did this and it will be counterproductive to their training.

And finally, enjoy your puppy, he/she will bring endless enjoyment to you and your family.

Naturally, every dog owner would like their pet dog to behave and learn obedience so they train their dog either with the help of a handler or just by themselves. Unfortunately, not all pet trainings can be thought of as successful. Most of the time training fails because there are some things that may have been overlooked. Let’s talk about dog training and the things involved with the training.

I am sure you have tried and tested a lot of methods and techniques to train you dog. However, you have to remember one thing. You cannot expect your dog to obey you the first time you command it. Why? well, you need to understand and know your dog. In other words, you need to have an understanding with your pet dog. That way, you can train it properly.

So what do you do to make your pet obey? First, you need to have an understanding of the principles of training your dog. What are these principles? Basically, there are three basic principles behind dog training and these are reinforcement, punishment and extinction.

With reinforcement, this is about the dog’s reaction to the trainer where behavior either becomes better or worst by means of specific actions. To further discuss what reinforcement is all about, let’s categorize this into 2 types namely: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement.

What is positive reinforcement? Positive reinforcement is about giving rewards or praise. If your dog behaves or obeys you, then you reward or praise your pet. By doing this, your dog will understand that it will be rewarded as long as it obeys you or behaves.

Negative reinforcement is where the trainer removes an unpleasant situation to make the dog obey. Let’s take teaching a dog how to sit for example. If you want to teach a dog how to sit, you put pressure on the collar and release the pressure once the dog obeys you.

Another principle that is used in dog training is the punishment principle. This is can be about positive punishment or the negative punishment. Positive punishment is where the trainer does something unpleasant and the dog’s negative behavior decreases. While on the other hand, negative punishment is about taking away something that the dog really likes or enjoys and the behavior is diminished or eliminated.

The last principle we are going to talk about is the extinction principle. Extinction is about total elimination of a behavior. This happens when a certain behavious is not reinforced and thus, resulting it to be wliminated or extinct. For example, your dog keeps whining but you keep your stand and not allow it to have its way. Your pet dog will learn that whining will do him no good so it stops.

So, there you have it. All you need to know about training a dog. A number of people believe that positive reinforcement is the best way to train a dog but let me remind you that you should assess the behavior of your dog before training. Most of the time, a combination of principles have to to be put together in order for your dog to learn. Good luck!

If you own a poodle, you will shortly discover that grooming them can take up a lot of money. This is why many poodle owners have decided to go ahead and try grooming their dogs themselves, and they are discovering that this is something that is much more straightforward than they might have thought. You’ll find that all you need to make sure that you are competent when it comes to grooming poodles is the ability to be patient and show a little bit of manual dexterity.

When you are looking to groom a standard poodle, you will find that the job takes about three hours once you have mastered it. You may find that when you are getting started that it is best to let the job proceed at intervals over the space of a few days, and this will give you and your poodle a bit of a break. If you feel that the trouble and the time investment are not worth it, remember to find a professional that you trust and take the time to network with other poodle owners to help you figure out what you need to know.

You’ll have to decide which trim you prefer. Poodles have coats that lend themselves to plenty of different looks. However, your choice will in part be dictated on how much time and effort you’re willing to put into keeping your dog’s coat in shape. Why you keep your poodle will make a difference too. Show poodles have a very limited range of acceptable trims.

All show poodles must have a variation on the traditional lion cut. There are three variations on this kind of poodle grooming - continental, English saddle, and puppy. However, they’re all related to the traditional “poodle” cut that we know so well. Originally, this cut was created to help these dogs swim more effectively while retrieving birds from the water. A long mane of fur on the chest protected the lungs and heart, and the tufts on the legs offered joint protection.

If you are not going to show your dog, you’ll find that you have quite a few more options when it comes to making sure that your dog looks tidy. You can do an all-around short trim, which is ideal when you are considering how to make a good grooming job last, but if you are looking for something more flashy, consider looking at pictures online and in books to get some ideas.

When you are considering grooming poodles, you’ll find that clipping the fur on the feet, face and the bottom of the tail very short for hygienic reasons, because it will allow for less food to get trapped there. You’ll find that when you clip the that things don’t get trapped between their toes, and you’ll also find that the shorter the coat is, the easier it is to cut and dry. Remember to wash your poodle before you groom it to keep your tools in good shape, and the better the equipment you get the better off you’ll be.

One part of the food industry - which grosses billions of dollars per year - beekeeping is a demanding skill which requires their practitioners to be very dedicated and passionate. A simple glance at most tables throughout the world will reveal how far the industry of beekeeping has come since it began as a hobby.

When beekeeping is a not family industry, many new beekeepers do not have the experience that they need to learn, in terms of biology and what to expect when they produce good honey. When bees make honey, they are actually regurgitating their food and storing it, which they need to do in order to survive the winter months sans flowers.

Among insects, bees have some of the most advanced means of surviving winter. Bees normally produce honey during the warmer months only, and many beekeepers farm during the cold off season. You pay a lot of money to train to be a beekeeper, because you have to know where to place the bee housing in order to get the bees to thrive.

Bees have a lot of natural insect predators, and a keeper has to have a decent amount of entomology knowledge so they can prevent the wrong types of insects from being a threat, such as yellow jackets, wasps, mites, and hornets. Science is very important in a beekeeper’s training and experience, and most people do not have this training initially, which is essential to have some idea how to manage bees, their habitats, and their natural pests. Beekeeping stretches back generations in some families, and that generally makes people dedicated and serious about the activity, which is important in any type of beekeeper training.

Lots of people learn the skill through great-grandparents, grandparents, and parents, and believe it to be a way of life that’s taught to children. It wasn’t even about making money it was actually just one other chore on the farm, but in the years it slowly progressed into a farm staple that was being sold like it was produce, meat and dairy, but it’s still a profitable market anyway you look at it and it’s one of the sweetest things in the world.

How the Pet Shipping Scams Work

A pet lover sees an ad somewhere offering a pet for an unusually low price because the pet owner can no longer keep the pet due to the owner having moved to an African country where the climate is not suitable to the pet’s health. Other variations on this involve financial hardship, an unexpected move for employment, or that the pets’ lives are in peril from being abandoned. When these ads appear online, they look like legitimate websites and feature pictures of the pet mentioned in the ad, increasing the likeliness of a successful scam.

The pet lover responds to the ad and receives an email from a seemingly legitimate email address requesting a low sum of money, usually just over $100. Upon receipt of the money wire, the scammers generally request additional money for pet shipping insurance and customs processing costs. Because they have already wired money, victims are inclined to send additional funds to hedge their initial investment and help the animal. But once the funds are sent, no pets are shipped and the seller does not respond to any additional correspondence.

How to Avoid Pet Shipping Fraud

There are a number of red flags which should alert pet lovers to the nature of these scams, but their judgment is often clouded by their fondness for animals. To avoid becoming a victim, look for these warning signs:

- Wiring Money to an Overseas Address–Usually the scams involve sending money to Nigeria, Cameroon, or another African country.

- Unusually Low Prices–Purebred breeds and hard-to-find animals are usually offered at prices well below the market value.

- Follow-Up Requests for More Money–Once a modest sum has been sent, victims usually receive a reply shortly thereafter requesting a larger amount of money.

- Refundable Pet Insurance–Short-term pet insurance for over $1000 that will supposedly be refunded when the pet arrives is requested.

If you have fallen victim to these scams, you’re not alone. Hundreds of pet lovers have unwittingly become victims to pet shipping Internet fraud and the Council of Better Business Bureaus and American Kennel Club have issued warnings about it. Other than reporting the fraud to the authorities, there’s little that can be done about recouping the money, but legitimate pet shipping companies are doing their best to alert pet lovers from becoming new victims.

Rick Powell is with the pet shipping company Animals Away. Animals Away is a pet and anmial shipping and pet transportation company. Please visit our website at http://www.animalsaway.com for more information.

What Can I Find In Addition To The Lab Mix Information On Professor House’s Page?

There is an extensive section on dog health and care. The website highlights several of the more common diseases so you can know what to look for to keep your dog healthy. The website Parvo, a potentially deadly and easily spread virus that can effect all ages of dogs. This disease will primarily affect puppies, so be sure to get your dog vaccinated and watch for early warning signs.

The website also details information on the prevention of all of the different diseases. One of the most overlooked areas of dog care is their dental care. By taking care of their mouths and making sure that they have a healthy mouth you can circumvent and prevent many of the more common diseases. This area is the first area that disease can get in, and if properly maintained your dog should live a long and healthy life.

The web page also gets into information on puppy socialization and how to make you dog happy. The page suggests beginning small and working your way into full socialization. A major factor in how your puppy will respond is your attitude. Maintain a positive attitude and your dog will pick up and see the activities as a positive activity. It is important that you take these steps carefully as doing something wrong here can lead to a major setback that can take a while to overcome. Be sure that you take each new situation carefully and that the environment is controlled. Doing this will ensure that your dog will stay focused on the activity at hand. Also try to ignore any negative actions that your dog does and do not coddle them. Be firm and strong in your approach and you will have positive results.

These are only a couple of the benefits of Professor House’s website. You can search through to find information on a host of different topics. Take a look and see what it can do for you.

Unique Gray Labradors

There are also a few rare gray and silver colored Labradors that actually get their unique coloring as a result of having been cross bred, though this fact is hotly disputed by those who know dog breeds very well. One thing that sets the Labrador dog apart from other breeds is the fact that he makes an ideal companion and this breed is also well known for its lovable nature and the Labrador is also very affectionate towards children and towards adults. He is also a very intelligent breed as well.

The Labrador dog is also sometimes also called the St. John’s Dog and he has, in bygone eras, helped fishermen out at sea. He could jump overboard and help the fishermen as they laid their nets and this trait makes the Labrador dog easy to train otherwise as well. In fact, he is also used in detecting drugs and is used to help blind people as well as the disabled.

Webmaster Ola Norrman of lab-mix gives the viewer detailed information about different diseases common for dogs. One of the most overlooked areas of dog care is their dental care read more as you are ready to purchase a labrador.

Trains Well

Another endearing quality of the Labrador retriever dog is his ability to train well and he will also readily learn the basic rules of the house, and in addition, is also able to learn to do a few tricks as well. There no doubts that the Labrador retriever dog picks up things very fast, and he is also a very obedient animal that will always serve his master faithfully. With such outstanding qualities, the Labrador retriever dog is a great joy – both in the company of adults as well as with children.

As the owner of a Labrador retriever dog you will, of course, need to shoulder a fair amount of responsibility regarding the upkeep and welfare of your pet. In fact, keeping a Labrador retriever dog at home also gives you a great opportunity to inculcate a sense of responsibility in your children who must be taught how to properly own as well as care for their pet.

You must also ensure that your Labrador retriever dog is given plenty of exercise as he is very energetic and thus will need to burn his energy in a productive way. He must also be given a lot of space to run about as well as be taken for walks regularly. In addition, the Labrador retriever dog demands and should be give a great deal of attention and you must do your best, as his owner, to give him love and make him feel like he is your friend and not just an acquisition to the home.

For his part, the Labrador retriever dog will crave companionship from humans and so, it is never wise to leave him on his own. If you are going on vacation, makes sure to leave him with someone responsible who will provide him with attention and care for him properly. In the case of a Labrador rescue dog, you need to be even more careful about how you keep him and you must ensure that he is given a lot of love and care and he should be made to feel wanted at all times as well.

All in all, bringing home a Labrador retriever dog will prove to be a boon for you and your family who will soon fall in love with this lovable, intelligent and excellent pet dog.

Finding A Top Dog Labrador Breeder

After careful research and consideration, you have decided on the breed of dog you want. The next step in locating the newest addition to your family is to find a good yellow, black or chocolate Lab breeder. This is not always easy to do, as there are many bad apple Labrador breeders out there who care more about the green backs than the little yellow, chocolate, and black backs running around their feet.

A very good sign of a high quality Labrador breeder is how much time they take finding out about you. Any breeder that really cares about their pups is not going to sell one to just any person, regardless of how much money is involved. You may be asked to fill out an application, and meet with the Labrador breeders themselves one or twice before ever seeing the puppies. This is a good thing – you want someone who cares that much about their dogs. This can help assure you that you are not getting a poorly bred puppy.

From the website of the labrador dog Ola Norrman provides with his special skills concerning the breed Labrador. Learn all about the highly trainable Labrador and about why this dog is such a popular family dog.

Christmas Dinner

Usually every year out of England just after Christmas, you read about a dog who ate the family’s Christmas dinner, desserts, decorations and some of the gifts. Almost without fail, the dog winds up being a Labrador Retriever. Christmas dinner in England is given even more hoopla than Thanksgiving in America. Although some Labrador Retrievers can eat such a massive amount of food with just a few belches, most just vomit it all back up. How festive.

Gucci Watches

Some dogs have incredible taste. Lulu the Labrador Retriever didn’t just eat anything in April of 2002 – she chose her owner’s $1500 (US) Gucci watch. Worried for both watch and dog (and about the inevitable puns in the press), Lulu was taken immediately to the vet, who confirmed that the dog was ticking. A successful operation removed the watch but not Lulu’s appetite. She has also eaten socks, dice and almost swallowed a diamond engagement ring before she was stopped.

Cat Poo

Most dogs are attracted to cat droppings, although some prefer to roll in them while others eat them. Almost all Labrador Retrievers will not pass up a chance at “kitty pate”. This is because cats cannot digest all of their food, so their droppings still has meat in it. This can be dangerous to your Labrador if your cat is on medication, which can also turn up in the poop.

Poison

Labrador Retrievers are like babies in that they explore the world with their mouths. They also think many poisonous substances like slug bait and antifreeze taste good. You need to keep these out of reach or stop using them entirely. You also need child proof locks on your cupboards, because Labrador Retrievers can learn to open almost any kind of cabinet door.

Include your medications in on the list of poisons. Human medications are made to be taken by creatures that weigh a lot more than the average black Labrador Retriever. They will wind up getting a dose that may make them very sick. Call your vet immediately if you suspect your Lab has eaten human medication.

Patience

Labrador retriever training takes a great deal of patience to be effective and to be good for the dog. Professional trainers that do not exhibit patience when training the dog will not be an effective trainer for the animal and may be a danger to the dog if not watched carefully. Labrador retriever training has to be taken in measured steps and each step must be fully learned by the Labrador retriever before the next step in the sequence can be taught.

Labrador retriever training can be difficult and frustrating if the dog is taking longer to learn a certain task, but this frustration should never be taken out on the dog just like an elementary school teacher should never take out their frustration on the children in their class. Labrador retrievers must learn how to do the things that their owner wants them to do, but this will not occur overnight. With patience and positive reinforcement, Labrador retriever training can teach the pet to do almost anything

From the website of labrador training Ola Norrman provides with special skills concerning the breed Labrador. Learn all about the highly trainable Labrador, good to know before purchasing this special breed,concerning methods and suggestions of personal Labrador training.

The U.S. has a growing stray animal problem that won’t go away until we fix it. I believe a great deal of this is due to lack of education. Some cities and municipalities put a lot of funding behind spaying and neutering education. Many communities have no-kill shelters, and a lot of other good is being done. If we educate ourselves, we can make a big difference. Just one person can make a huge difference in his or her own community.

Here are some disturbing statistics. For every human child born in the U.S there are seven cats and dogs born. A female cat and her offspring can (and usually does) produce 420,000 kittens within seven years. One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in six years (and usually does).As many as 25% of dogs entering shelters each year are purebreds. Approximately sixty-one percent of all dogs are killed in animal shelters. Approximately 75% of all cats entering shelters are killed.It costs approximately $100 to capture, house, feed, and eventually kill each stray animal, and you and I know who foots the bill. Us.

So it really is important to become educated regarding spaying and neutering pets? The Doris Day Animal League has a wonderful program which can give you a great bit of important information. The ASPCA site is loaded with useful information in addition to many other animal sites.

Though I owned pets all my life, I truly did not understand true pet care until I reached my adulthood. I only knew what my parents taught me which was very limited. As a upper-middle class child, like other upper-middle class kids, my parents bought me “the dog du jour” or what was trendy from a recent movie. From Irish Setters to Goldens from Afgans to Sheepdogs, I was given “the best”. And only from the most knowledgeable breeders. There is nothing wrong with that. Those animals need homes as well, and I feel good about taking care of a dog. I was often given cats as well, and, that too, taught me even more about animal care, and what great animals they are too.

It has taken me almost eight months to get past the loss of my last dog “Thor” , who “found me” in the mid ’90’s, lived to be close to twenty two years old, was with me twelve years. I fed him the b.a.r.f. (raw foods diet). He was very unhealthy when I found him, not at a shelter, (though I feel confident I would have adopted this magnificent creature had I found him there), but he was lost in the woods of rural Ms. He showed up with several other weather-beaten dogs. It was tornado season and there was one in the vicinity.

It surprised me that a stray mutt “Thor” could be my inspiration, the living soul on earth who would teach me about unconditional love. He turned out to be my best friend, therapist, and confidant.

I have taken in probably 20 stray dogs and cats since I’ve had Thor but found them all homes. Thor does not like to share his space with me, and at his age, he is the boss. I don’t want him feeling “replaced”. I encourage you to run by the shelter and take a look at some of the gorgeous sweet animals desperate for a home. Most shelters are not no-kill so most of them are on death row. You can be a hero to them, and believe me the payback is a million times over. Don’t believe me? Give it a try.

What is Known Shipper Status?

In 1999, the Federal Aviation Agency implemented changes in the way that goods were shipped by air in an effort to improve air safety. Following 9/11, those measures were enhanced further with more stringent guidelines for obtaining and keeping Known Shipper Status. Known Shipper Status is essentially a vetting process to ensure that most air cargo shipped throughout most of the world is shipped by professional, legitimate shipping companies. If a container is shipped through a company that has attained Known Shipper Status, it is deemed by the airlines and the TSA to be less likely to contain contraband or explosives and will be inspected less frequently. This streamlines the inspection process considerably and allows cargo to travel more quickly to its destination.

Why Known Shipper Status is so Important for Pet Shipping

When shipping your pet, it’s very important to use the services of a reputable pet relocation company like ours that has achieved and maintained Known Shipping Status because the pet will arrive at its destination more quickly due to fewer crate inspections. But most important of all, fewer inspections mean that the pet is far less likely to be removed from the crate and suffer injury or be lost en route.

Until recently, some pet relocation firms in smaller cities were ‘selling’ the use of their Known Shipping Status number to their clients and making them handle the shipping arrangements themselves, essentially charging them a fee for doing nothing more than providing their number and some paperwork. Not only is this illegal, it also endangers the life of the pet and at the very least, amounts to ripping off their clients. Reputable pet relocation companies like ours, as well as pets, are put at risk from these unethical procedures and recently the TSA has begun cracking down on these outfits and revoking their Known Shipping Status.

Every month, our facilities are inspected by the TSA to ensure that we continue to follow the Known Shipper Status guidelines. These inspections and compliance cost us a great deal of money each month but since September 11, 2001, it’s simply part of the costs of doing business for us and maintaining our status is a priority second only to making sure each pet arrives safely to its destination. If you need pet relocation services, you can rely on professional pet relocation companies like ours to get your furry friends to their destination as safely and quickly as possible. We’ll make all the arrangements for you so that the process is as fast and easy as possible.

Rick Powell is with the pet shipping company Animals Away. Animals Away is a pet and anmial shipping and pet transportation company. Please visit our website at http://www.animalsaway.com for more information.