Adopted Adult Dogs Might Need House Training From a Dog Trainer

So you've taken the plunge and gone to your local animal shelter and picked out an adult dog. You take your new friend home and, much to your dismay, shock and horror, he/she promptly finds your new rug and relieves itself! It's time to get your old dog house-trained or re-house-trained as the case may be.

As a new dog owner, you should assume adopted dogs of any age are not house-broken and take precautions before bringing it home. Shelters sometimes don't provide regular access to the outdoors for them to eliminate. A shelter environment can quickly alter the behavior of dogs who were well-trained and house-broken. If you know your new dog was previously house trained, re-training them will be easier.

Trainers Make House-breaking your dog Easier

Trainers work with you and your family as they house train dogs. Here are a few tips to help re-house-train your new pet:

* Keep a schedule. Feed and walk your canine at the same times every day. In addition to day-time walks, allow your pet outside access first thing in the morning and at the very end of the day. Reward him or her every time they eliminate outside.

* Make a routine. Use consistent voice commands for all activities. Dogs learn and follow cues. Dog owners who create a routine are usually amazed at how quickly their new dog grows to expect their routine. Dog training programs help limit anxiety since dogs learn what to expect every day. Take your dog out the same door every day. Don't allow play time until after it has eliminated outside.

* Offer quality dog food. Dry dog food limits stress on digestion and reduces the amount of stool. Choose a brand and stick with it to prevent your dog from having digestive issues and discomfort.

* Crate train. Don't allow your dog to freely roam your home - especially when you're not at home - until they have proven to you they know to eliminate outdoors. Be patient and start over after an accident. Dog owners will need to re-establish a routine after a dog has an accident. It's essential to thoroughly clean the area, for health concerns and so that your dog doesn't try to re-mark their territory. Don't punish accidents and only reward good behavior.

* Visit a vet if house-breaking your dog is not working. Your dog may have a medical issue that is preventing him or her from controlling their bladders or bowel movements. Also, dogs have fear and anxiety issues just like humans. Their bladder control may be associated with fear or a submissive temperament. If your vet believes medical or emotional factors are affecting your new family pet, Raleigh dog trainers at DarwinK9 can create a custom house-training program for your dog.

House training an adult dog takes time, effort, patience and consistency. Remember, your dog is learning this new routine too and they're learning good behavior from your consistent, repetitive training.

If you need help training your dog, don't hesitate to call house-training for adult dog specialists at DarwinK9 for a consultation. Our dog trainers throughout North Carolina are all qualified and experienced in house training your adult dog.

1101 Dawson Rd., Chapel Hill 27516
(919)355-8359 or info@darwink9.com.

Things to Consider Before Adopting Australian Shepherds

Adopting Australian Shepherds as pets can be a wonderful experience. Aussies are very protective and active dogs. This makes them great pets. However, just like adopting any kind of pet, there are certain things to consider in determining whether an Aussie is perfect for you. If you are considering adopting an Aussie, the following are some of the things you should consider.

Australian Shepherds are very energetic and active dogs. In order to stay physically, mentally and emotionally fit, an Aussie requires a certain amount of exercise daily. They usually love long walks and other forms of common exercises like jogging or running with their owners, chasing a ball, or catching a Frisbee. When given insufficient exercise, Australian Shepherds become fidgety and look for their own ways to use up their natural energy. This could cause a lot of problems to both the dog and the owner. If you are planning to adopt an Aussie, think first whether you can provide the necessary exercise this breed requires. If you are not an active kind of person, you may want to consider getting another breed of dog.

Aussies are also highly intelligent. They have a strong herding instinct and like to think of themselves as the boss. Some Aussies will assert themselves by gently nipping or growling at the heels of you and your family members. They mean no harm and will not actually bite but this behavior is very annoying and must be dealt with right away. Confidently put your Aussie in his place and he'll be well adjusted and happy going forward. Consider adopting from an Australian Shepherd Rescue Organization. The staff in these organizations will have taken the time to work with their dogs in their care and help them overcome unwanted behaviors like this.

Since Aussies are very protective dogs, they can also be very suspicious of other people who are not part of the family unit. While this instinct is great for your protection, it's not great when invited guests arrive. Socializing your Aussie to help him know how to determine friend or foe is important if you want to avoid an uncomfortable situation. Have some guest soon after you get your Aussie and let them know beforehand what you are doing. Let your Aussie see how you react to friends. Australian Shepherds are very intuitive and quick to learn. Your Aussie will quickly figure out your signals.

Grooming is an essential part of caring for your dog. After all, if he could do it for himself he probably would. Australian Shepherds require regular grooming, specifically brushing, since they have long and varied coats. Although their coats are weather-resistant, regular grooming is still required since they shed fully twice a year. Due to the Australian Shepherd's grooming needs, people who are too busy to groom their dogs may not be an ideal owner for an Aussie.

Now that I have mentioned all these cautions to consider before adopting an Aussie, let me tell you that these are absolutely wonderful pets for the right owner. They are loving and affectionate, great companions for children, intelligent, loyal, and protective. Isn't that just about everything you would want in a family pet? Please consider adopting an Australian Shepherd as your next family pet.

JOHN ROBBINS is a dog lover and Australian Shepherd enthusiast. For more info on adopting Australian Shepherds including tips on care, grooming and breeder selection visit http://www.aussiedogsecrets.com/australian-shepherds-adoption.

The Perfect Solution to Stop Fleas, Ticks and Lice on Dogs - Frontline Spot On Flea Drops

Ticks, fleas and lice are regular pests that can be a real annoyance in our dogs' lives; they can cause discomfort and sometimes spread diseases to our pet dog.

Ticks not only look awful but are a real nuisance and they can transmit diseases.

They are small spider looking insects that bite into the dogs skin to feed on the blood, they grip themselves firmly in and will not budge until they have finished their feed which may be hours, a few days or could even be for a few months.

What is so bad about the ticks is that they are carriers of diseases and ticks can transmits diseases to dogs within hours of being attached, so the best thing is always prevention and protecting your dog against ticks.

Fleas are similar to ticks in the way that they feed on the dog's blood; however they do not fasten themselves in when biting.

They are almost impossible to spot and also very fast but you may find flea dirt that they leave behind, which would look like black specks.

The big problems with fleas is not only do they make the dog very uncomfortable and itchy but they can cause allergies in dogs and this may lead to hair loss.

Fleas can even bring tapeworm eggs with them onto the dog, if the dog bites a flea that has tapeworm eggs, the dog will then have tapeworm.

Lice, like the other two pests (ticks and fleas) also like to feed on the blood of a dog so they are not dissimilar, although some varieties of lice do prefer to feed on the dogs dead skin, either is quite repulsive and uncomfortable for your dog.

Lice move very slowly so it would be easy for you to spot them on a dog, they are a light brown in colour and sometimes attach themselves to the hairs. As well as them being tapeworm carriers it is possible for them to carry other diseases, although the biggest problem here is if the lice lay eggs. If the dog is unlucky enough to have a pregnant female on him or her it really is a big deal, as she will lay her eggs and they will stick to individual hairs with a almost glue like solution, which in turn makes it very difficult to treat a dog that has lice eggs as nothing will break through the eggs.

The way to stop these three dog pests from harming your dog is simple; you should prevent the pests from being attracted to your dog, rather than treat them after, when it is much more of a bigger problem for you and your dog.

Frontline Spot On Flea Drops is an ideal method of protection for your dog, as it defends against ticks, fleas and lice.

Frontline flea treatment needs to be applied to the nape of the neck on your dog and then the active ingredient from the Frontline Spot On soaks straight in to the skin.

The treatment only needs to be applied every two months, so after applying your dog is protected for two months against ticks, fleas and lice.

The packs come in different sizes depending on the size of your dog, from Frontline for puppies to Frontline for large dogs; there is flea treatment to suit them all.

The great thing about this product, is that you it gives you peace of mind that your dog will not carry ticks, fleas or lice and also that your dog can go about its daily business without the discomfort or inconvenience of being invaded by any of these three pests. It goes without saying that Frontline Spot On flea treatment for dogs is the most effect flea killer.

At http://www.petpromenade.co.uk/ we understand how important it is to not only have the latest cat toy, or the trendiest dog collar, but also to make sure the boring bits are covered.
That's why we have a variety of flea, worming and fur treatments.

Living With a Destructive Dog

Destructive dog behaviour can range from chewing your cushions, to scratching up carpets, and at the extreme level, completely ripping to pieces your sofa. I've even heard of dogs that have chewed their way through plaster board walls or destroyed a whole kitchen.

Apart from the mess and the stress, any destruction in the house can leave an even bigger dent in your bank balance, which is a great incentive to get this behaviour problem under control.

What Causes Destructive Behaviour?

Dog boredom is often the first thing to be blamed for your dog's destructive tendencies. The trouble with this explanation is that it is guaranteed to make you feel guilty, especially if you have to go out and leave your dog home alone. The implication behind having a bored dog is that you don't spend enough time with them or stimulate your dog enough, which is often not the case at all. It is also attaching a human behaviour to our dogs. People get bored, I'm not sure it's proven that dogs do too. Of course our dogs love being active, but that doesn't mean they get bored when they are not.

I've heard about plenty of dog owners who go out leaving their dog with a pile of toys, but still come home to find their front door paintwork etched with deep claw marks, or teeth marks in the window frames.

Dog Chewing is Natural and Helpful

Destructive dogs will often chew anything they can get their teeth around, yet the reason they do it is not always what it seems. It's not boredom, nor are they doing it to spite you, instead the process of chewing will release a natural endorphin into their system that calms them down when they are feeling stressed. It's a bit like us eating chocolate, which raises our endorphin levels and helps us reduce stress, or perhaps a closer analogy is chewing our nails! (Though I'm not suggesting you give your dog chocolate instead, as that could be lethal.)

A dog's stress will often be as a result of separation anxiety and if the destruction only happens when you are out, anxiety is a much more likely reason for their behaviour. A dog that is frantically worrying about where the other members of its pack has gone and whether they are going to come back or not, can act in extreme ways. Owners often find that destruction happens in areas close to the outside, so doors and window frames are classic areas for them to attack in their panic to get out, as is scraping up carpets in an attempt to dig under doors.

How to Stop Destructive Dogs

If you think dog separation anxiety is driving the destructive behaviour, you need to start a desensitization training programme with your dog as soon as possible. Anxiety is not something that will go away if ignored for long enough, instead it is likely to get more intense.

Try not to use punishment, of shout at your dog if they do destroy something as this can make the anxiety worse. Restrict what they have access to for a while, or invest in a dog crate while you go to work on the problem.

The Author Venice Marriott is a writer, dog owner and runs a website which provides help and information for dog owners dealing with the dog behaviour problems created by anxiety in dogs. Get more information on dog behaviour problems, plus our free help sheet about the major symptoms of dog separation anxiety, when you visit the site.