How to Find a "Perfect Match" Dog

Here are some great search tools that I thought I would pass on...hope you find them helpful! –Kim

Searth Tools from Petfinder^™

Adopt one of over 200,000 dogs available right now on Petfinder! Many are available in your local area!

Making a Difference

Advanced Pet Search Features

• Go straight to List of Breed Types
• View Search Tips
• BOOK: The Adopted Dog Bible (Paperback)

---

Adopting the Right Dog for You

HomeMade Dog Toys

Valuable Resource...

Who Else Thinks Dog Toys are
RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE?

WHY NOT SAVE BIG BUCKS AND JUST MAKE YOUR OWN?

Save money, make your pooch happy and stop lining the pockets of pet store chains!

• Save Big $$ Making Your Own Dog Toys!
• Learn How to Keep It Safe!
• Turn Trash into Hours of Fun!
• Have Fun on a Budget!
• Teach Your Kids the Value of Making Things at Home!

There is nothing like making something with your own two hands. There is a personal feeling of accomplishment, but more importantly, your canine friend will appreciate the effort.

If your dog is anything like mine, a store bought toy may get a bit of attention for a few moments, but then the toy is ignored for more personal items in the home including, but not limited to, shoes, socks, couches, or even tables depending on the dog’s size.

Everyone knows dogs love to run and chew, and this is natural for any dog. Puppies tend to teethe, and just like children, they will put anything in their mouth.

As a pet owner, you get to offer some acceptable solutions to this natural process, hopefully deterring the teething pup away from the more unacceptable items.

Nonetheless, the pup will choose something homemade over something store bought because the smell from store bought items are nowhere near as appealing as items already in the home.

Making HomeMade dog toys is COST-EFFECTIVE, imaginative, and down right fun. Almost anything in the home has the potential to be a dog toy, and believe me, your dog is well aware of this fact.

When bored, your favorite cushion sure will feel good on those teething incisors, and the smell is simply wonderful!

Those curtains hanging there sure do move nicely and make this interesting sound, and your dog will thoroughly enjoy finding out what is making that sound.

Let’s face it – your home is a cornucopia of interesting smells and sounds with everything you hold dear having the potential to be an enormous dog chew.

Instead of allowing your best friend to envision your belongings as a favorite new toy, or an adversary needing to be ripped to shreds, pet owners offer special toys to their dog. This is how a dog learns what is an acceptable opponent, and what is not so acceptable.

Making homemade pet toys is an ideal method of allowing your dog the benefit of personal scents you naturally add to the homemade item instead of the sterile or mixed scents of those store bought items.

It's Also a Great Way to Teach Your Kids the Value of a Dollar and Inspire Them Creatively!

Continued - List of toys you can easily make, plus five BONUS books....

Online Dog Encyclopedia

Here are two great tools that I thought I would pass on...hope you find them helpful! –Kim

Search Tools from Pedigree^®

Breed Gallery
This easy-to-use Breed Gallery chart will give you information about numerous common breeds to help you find one that matches your lifestyle.

Find Your Perfect Match
This easy-to-use Select-A-Dog^® tool will help you find the breeds that best match your lifestyle.

The Most Important Command to Teach Your Dog

Here's a great article that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

"Come!"
 

There are many important commands to teach your dog, such as "Sit!" and "Stay!" However, many dog owners consider "Come!" to be at the top of the list.

Why? Because in some instances, "Come!" is the primary way you will get your dog's attention if he is running or playing.

It's easier to get your dog to stay or sit when they are back by your side. To accomplish that task, they need to know the "Come!" (recall) command.

The "Come!" Command Helps Make You the Pack Leader

Dogs are accustomed to living in packs with other dogs, so a strict hierarchy is completely normal to them. If you treat your dog as a partner with equal rights, you may give him too much freedom. That will only confuse him, because a dog needs clear rules. There must be a leader of the pack – and it's the leader who calls the dog to "Come!"

Teaching the Command
 

Begin training your dog indoors. First of all, it's important that your dog reacts to you and comes when you call him. Always use the command "Come!" coupled with his name. After you have called him once or twice, he will probably come running to you. Praise him lavishly, or even spoil him with a little treat.

Sometimes, your dog may have something more important on his agenda than coming to you. If he doesn't come to you after you've called him twice, get him and walk him to the spot where you where when you called him. Praise him continuously while walking and when you arrive at the "call spot." Repeat the exercise right away.

If you are outside in your yard and you call him and nothing happens, you may start a wild chase if you try to get him. Your dog – especially if he's a playful puppy – may consider this a wonderful game. This will not make for a successful training session, though, which means you have to use another method outdoors. If your dog doesn't come to you when you call, just turn around and go away. In most cases, he'll come running after you.

If Your Dog Already Knows "Sit!" and "Stay!" and Other Commands...
 

Give your dog the "Sit!" (or "Down!") and "Stay!" command. Take five steps back, whistle, say your dog's name and "Come!" in an excited tone of voice. You can also open your arms to encourage him. When he obeys, praise and reward him. Repeat the command (taking only five steps back) for no more than ten times.

When he has this mastered, increase the distance to ten steps. Never call your dog to scold him or to do anything that he won't like. Responding to "Come!" should always be a positive experience for your dog – and, because your best friend is there by your side, for you, too.

Source: http://www.pedigree.com/02All-Things-Dog/Article-Library/fetch.aspx?artId=742&catId=3&sCatId=13&catName=Adult&sCatName=Training
©2009 Mars, Incorporated and Affiliates

---

Also, see:

• Clickertraining: The 4 Secrets of Becoming a Supertrainer
• Dog Training at Home

Teaching the "Come!" Command

Here's a great training series that I thought I would pass on...hope you find it helpful! –Kim

 

A Four-Part Series on Recall

by Carol Underwood

Training your dog to come is one of the most valuable lessons to teach. Hear why dogs need to learn to come from an early age with advice from a dog trainer in this free dog training video series.

 

The come command is the most valuable training tool for your dog. Learn the importance of dog training and how to get your dog to come with this free dog training video series.

 

Series Summary

 

Every dog owner cringes at the thought of their pet chasing a squirrel across a busy intersection, paying no mind to their owner. Dogs might be man’s best friend, but only if they are trained correctly. Proper pet training ensures your dog will come to you when called, stay on command, and be a polite animal citizen. Obedient dogs make for both a happier owner and safer pooch.

The most important command you can teach a dog is the come command, also known as the recall command. These videos will teach the importance of proper dog obedience training and display how easy training your dog really is. Learn how to teach the come command, both traditionally and with a remote collar. Mix it up by training your dog to jump and climb on top of objects with this free dog training video series.

Why Train a Dog to Come

Training your dog to come is one of the most valuable lessons to teach. Hear why dogs need to learn to come from an early age with advice from a dog trainer in this free dog training video.

 

Train a Dog with the Long Line Come Command

Train your dog the long line come command to expand their range of difficulty. See how to get your dog to come from longer distances with advice from a dog trainer in this free dog training video.

Train a Dog with the Short Line Come Command

Begin to train your dog to come from short distances. Learn the short line come command with advice from a dog trainer in this free dog training video. 

Train a Dog to Come with a Remote Collar

Training a dog to come with a remote collar is helpful with dogs who are distracted by their environment. See how a remote collar is used to train your dog to come with advice from a dog trainer in this free dog training video.

Train a Dog to Jump with the Come Command

The come command can be used to teach your dog tricks, like to jump over obstacles. Learn how to train your dog to jump and come with advice from a dog trainer in this free dog training video.

---

Carol Underwood provides comprehensive training programs customized to the needs of the dog-owner team. Her graduates include 'Canine Good Citizens', 'Therapy Dogs', and 'Assistance Dogs'. Her goal is to provide owners with the understanding and skill to communicate clearly with their dogs. She teaches what to do and how to do it, as well as why it works.
  
Source: http://www.ehow.com/videos-on_7572_train-dog-come-command-_recall.html
  

---

Also, see:

• Clickertraining: The 4 Secrets of Becoming a Supertrainer
• Dog Training at Home

Veterinary Secrets Revealed

Valuable Resource...

You CAN Heal Your Sick Pet at Home,
Without Going to the Vet...

In Less than 24 Hours, I Can Show You How to Examine, Diagnose and Treat Your Pet at Home.

Dr. Andrew Jones, DVM
May 6, 2009

Dear fellow pet lover,
If you're not ready to make some simple changes to the way you provide veterinary care to your pet, beginning today....

...your dog or cat could be seriously ill and live a "shortened" life!

Here is How I know:

My dog died young, only 8 years old. He was a mixed breed dog, a specimen of health. He was given a ton of attention, exercised three times a day, fed only Veterinary Approved food, and given all his vaccines. He had the "ideal" life. Hoochie passed away in my arms from a massive tumor bleed at 12:02pm on April 12, 2003 – the saddest day of my life.

I asked myself... why?

I thought that he was incredibly healthy. I was sure I was doing all of the right things for him.

But I later discovered I may have contributed to his death, because I believed ONLY in conventional veterinary medicine. You see, I am a Veterinarian.

I'm Dr. Andrew Jones, and I have practiced Veterinary Medicine for over a decade. Over the past 17 years I have treated literally thousands of pets for a whole variety of problems, and I currently own the Nelson Animal Hospital in Nelson BC, Canada (http://www.nelsonvet.com/). But, my beloved dog Hoochie is gone.

You are fortunate... it's not too late for you and your pet. Just read on and find out exactly what you must do now.

Pay Close Attention

Conventional veterinary medicine may be harming your pet – and I can show you step-by-step what you must do to prevent it. "Regular" veterinary care has lost its effectiveness over the years, and in some cases is actually causing illness in our pets.

Alternative pet health care has grown over the past few years, but the truth is that Veterinarians have STRONGLY discouraged pet owners from treating their pets outside of the Vet Clinic.

The entire Pet Health Industry has a vested interest in discrediting alternative medicines which can safely, naturally and effectively allow pet owners to care for their pets at home.

STOP AND READ THIS

Lock the door, Unplug the phone, and do whatever you can to have 10 undivided minutes... Get ready to read about how you could be saving the life of your pet starting now!

"I began to notice something unusual..."

Slowly, I began to notice something unusual about Hoochie. He really just wasn't the same. He was reluctant to go for his morning dog walk, which was always the highlight of his day.

I dismissed it as him feeling a bit off, some mild stomach issue or maybe a touch of arthritis... but it didn't pass. In fact, it got worse.

I eventually did a blood test on Hoochie, thinking at that point that he had a tooth infection. However, much to my horror, I quickly found out that he had a spleen tumor.

Immediately, I performed surgery on Hoochie and removed the spleen tumor. But I was too late - the cancer had already spread to his liver, and I knew that very soon, he would die.

How did an apparently healthy
mixed breed dog die so young?

I did all the "right" things – or so I thought. After grieving, I came to realize that I had played a role in his dying at too young of an age.

I came to question exactly what I did to my own pet – and what was I doing to other people's pets.

Through my questioning, I came to realize that most Veterinarians (including me as well, at the time) are not "getting it" – that in the process of trying to heal pets through technological advances, we are actually making them sicker!

There are 3 mistakes that I made that contributed to Hoochie's early death...

...are you making these same mistakes with your own dog?

Click here to continue for more information!

Who Says Dogs Can't Think?...

...Or Plot?!...

This is so classic that I had to post it....

I was on the phone this afternoon with one of my young-adult-single daughters*, who is currently living out of state with two of her own rescues – a Mini Schnauzer and little Doxie mix.

My daughter was in the process of enjoying a rare lunch break at home before her upcoming, extremely arduous evening shift. As a struggling young songwriter, musician and performing artist carrying the pressures of a mortgage, utilities, car repairs, insurance and the various urgent needs of daily life on her own, lunches like this are a relative luxury, as her refrigerator is usually empty.

Otis (the Schnauzer) was laying on the couch next to her, alternately eyeing her plate and chewing a squeaky toy. Suddenly, I heard her exclaim in an anxious voice, "OH, NO! There are two lost dogs running around in the street outside my house – a little Pug and a Weimaraner – without any collars!"

My daughter watched the dogs for a minute, and I could feel, even through the phone lines, the pull on her heart for these two wanderers. Suddenly I heard her exclaim, "What?! They stopped and they're looking at my house! The window is open and they can hear the squeaky toy!" It seems the piercing squeak of the toy Otis was happily chewing was acting as a homing beacon, drawing the two lost dogs straight to her front door.

"Oh, no! They're running into my yard! Oh my gosh!... They're… they're running right up on the front porch!!" I told her I'd call her back and hung up the phone. Several minutes passed....

Not hearing anything and overcome with curiosity, I called her back after about fifteen minutes. A rather annoyed voice answered the phone. "Hello..."

"So, what happened?" I asked.

"Well, when I went to the door, I heard someone calling them and they took off down the street. (Long painful pause.) Then I went back to sit down and finish my lunch... but... MY SANDWICH WAS GONE!"

She continued forlornly, "I looked at Otis, who was QUIETLY sitting on the couch, looking very pleased with himself. 'Otis,' I said, 'did you eat my sandwich?' MOM... HE LOOKED AT ME ... AND BURPED!"

I assured her, after unsuccessfully trying to contain my own amusement, that someday she will look back at this time in her life and laugh.

But somehow, at least right now, she doesn't quite believe me.

—Kim

*Our three talented twenty-something daughters currently perform as a band called SelahVie. They share a home together with their own rescues: two Mini Schnauzers, a Dachshund, a Dachshund mix, a Chihuahua and little Terrier mix.