Clicker training are these days an established form of pet training, and has, despite the critique its been getting, become common among many trainers. The negatives about it has basically been about the myth that it requires big amounts of foods to work, but that is not at all the fact. It can, just as with any other form of reward training, be combined with affection or whatever your dog enjoys. And, by the way, not any training should be used with only one single treat. It won't keep your dog concentrated and eager to obey with all sorts of distractions, you have to change them every now and then, or combine them. A clicker devise costs a about two dollars, so it's not a big investment if you are curious to try it.

Clicker training has been used effectively since the fifties, that you can communicate with your dog exactly when a good thing is done. You can't possible be that fast with verbal rewards even if you try. So that means that the dog will get your intentions faster, and that will make the exercises more effective. When you have clicked a good behaviour, the dog gets a treat, affection, toys, or food, depending on the level of the training. That's the basics of it.
Another advantage is that it differs from your voice, and will be easy for your dog to recognise as a training device. The dogs hear yours and other humans voices all the time. If you don't learn to use your voice very effective when you work with your dog, it might be easier to get the dog to clearly recognize the click sound instead of a voice. Besides, if you are using your voice, you have to remember to use a word only in that situation, and not in other every day situations. If you for example use “well done” as the word to recognise good behaviour, you shouldn't use it in other situations, or it will loose effectiveness and will be very confusing for your companion. The click is only there for the dog, clearly meaning a treat or reward, and can't be mixed up with anything else. And, as I talked about earlier, you can't deliver a “good boy” as fast as a click.

As you start to use the clicker, you will probably think it's a quite fun way of training yourself. The results can be very good in a short amount of time if you learn it correctly. You have to start with some basics, so that your dog will fully understand the clicker. A good way to start is to just learn how to get you dogs attention by saying its name. Say your dog's name in a clear voice. When the dog turns his head to look at you, you click once. And then give it a reward. At first keep the reward in the palm of your hand, but as you develop the exercise, keep the reward visible. Teach the dog that it has to look at you, not the food or the toy on the table. He will know it soon enough. This is a simple way to start, and you can develop that to other obedience exercises, like coming when calling, lye down, tracking, etc. You can also train your puppy for unwanted behaviour with the clicker as soon as it understands the pattern of the device. You add a “no” to the exercises when he is doing something unwanted, and use the clicker the same instant he is following the “no”.

Learn more about clicker dog training, get free tips and learn about different dog training methods at www.dogtraining.efven.com

Beatrice Stephenson is a freelance writer on pets, recreation and health.

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Ronnie Constancio

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A videotape from a home surveillance system was key in solving the case of the Yorkshire Terriers stolen at gunpoint. Four purebred puppies and an adult pet were stolen by intruders who held the owners at gunpoint while catching the dogs and putting them in a plastic bag. The videotape of the crime was played on multiple television stations, leading to tips that cracked the Los Angeles case.

Four of the five purebred Yorkshire Terriers, that had been stolen at gunpoint more than a week ago have been returned. The fifth dog has not been recovered yet. The suspect turned himself in to police.

The dogs had been stolen at gunpoint during a home invasion. Three puppies, valued at $2,500 each, along with a full grown family pet, were recovered and returned to their owners at the Wilshire Division police station on Saturday night. One puppy remained missing, according to police, as reported by Fox News.

Family members hugged their puppies and left the police station with the dogs in their arms.

Yorkshire Terriers are small dogs with long hair. The breed is one of the most popular AKC breeds in America.

Fox News reported that Detective Luis Corona said that the dogs were recovered after Ryan Belton, 19, of Los Angeles, surrendered to police Friday night.. Ryan Belton was booked for investigation of residential robbery.

The gunpoint dog napping had been captured on a home surveillance system, that taped the incident. The videotape of the robbery was shown on news media. The videotape of the robbery that aired on local television resulted in many tips being called into police. As a result of these tips, police went to the home of Belton's father, Detective Corona said. “When the son came home, he confronted the son and that led to the son being brought in to the station to turn himself in.”

A second man was being sought.

The puppies had been advertised for sale in a newspaper. Two men posing as buyers made an appointment to see them on February 23. When a female family member opened the door, one of the men pulled a hand gun. The men ordered the family of four to lie on the floor in the living room. A home surveillance camera recorded the robbery scene as on man held a gun and the other man chased after the puppies with a plastic bag as they scampered around the room. He snatched one of the dogs from a woman's hands.

After grabbing the four puppies and the family dog and stuffing them in the plastic bag, the man and his partner fled in a silver car, according to police.

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Vegetarianism is becoming far more popular as an alternative diet these days, but what happens if a vegetarian wants their dog to stay away from meat as well? Is it possible? Well, basically, yes it is. Dogs are omnivores, which means they naturally eat a diet composed of meat, fruits and vegetables. Cats, on the other hand, are considered to be carnivores, meaning they eat primarily meat, and therefore can't easily eat a diet without meat.

Before switching a dog to a vegetarian diet, a trip to the veterinarian is essential, just to make sure the dog is healthy and can withstand a change in diet. It's a lot easier to start a puppy on a vegetarian diet so that their system will start out without meat. As any human vegetarian already knows, it's vital that the diet include a correct balance of the necessary vitamins and minerals. Dogs actually require calcium in their diets as well as other minerals like phosphorus and iodine. Vitamins like vitamin A and B1 are also important. In the wild, mammals, especially dogs, eat the meat from their prey, but also chew on the bones for calcium.

When developing a vegetarian diet for dogs, remember to include a nice variety of foods so that the dog will get a healthy balance of the essential nutrients. Since dogs enjoy yeast, which includes B vitamins, sprinkling a little over food is nutritious, as well as making it tasty. Dogs need to have plenty of protein, vitamins and minerals and carbohydrates, just like people. If you switch a meat-eating dog to a vegetarian diet and then notice problems such as vomiting, skin problems or diarrhea, take the dog to the vet to make sure it's not allergic to any of the foods you've been feeding it.

Most cooked food can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator or freezer, or served warm, depending on the preference of the dog. It's your dog, so you'll know what it prefers to eat. Dogs enjoy vegetables and cereals, but make sure not to include too much that might be difficult to digest. Thoroughly cooking vegetables will help to break down the fibers and make the veggies easier to digest. Snacks like sugary cereals, candy and cakes should be left out of the diet, because just like people, sugar has some bad effects like weight gain and other diseases.

Some examples of foods are cheese, carrots, peas, eggs, soy protein, beans, whole wheat bread, yeast, brown rice and don't forget the chewy rawhide bones to keep their teeth strong. It might take a bit getting used to, for you and the dog, but with patience and a little trial and error, your dog can become a healthy vegetarian.

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Laurine Aubert

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When a girlfriend bought me a Flexi I graciously thanked her and wondered what on earth she thought my Pit-bull would do with it and now I can't live without it; The Flexi is a Dog Leash, it is made, in Germany, of hard plastic and thick nylon cord that stretches 16 feet (5 meters).

I put the unwanted doggy gadget in a cupboard and promptly forgot about it, thinking it would be handy for an emergency.

Aside of the fact that I had convinced myself that something made of anything other than heavy chain would be inadequate for my Pit-bull, I also felt that the Flexi dog leashes were for senior citizens, or just plain lazy people!

Elsa, my dog is named after Elsa in the movie Born Free, because she was a rescue dog, and one day when we were being 'gadabouts,' driving around in the truck, I lost her beautiful leather handled heavy chain leash.

I was not able to afford another one, but that was when I remembered the Flexi dog leash I had stashed in the cupboard months ago for such an occasion.

It is now five months later and I am a complete and utter convert. What could possibly have happened that so drastically changed my thinking?

It was not the fact that it was made in Germany, even though the Germans do have a great reputation for quality, BMWs come to mind. It was not the fact that it was made of hard wearing German plastic, because I have an aversion to all things plastic, and just the very thought of plastic is a complete turn-off, especially when I think about durability.

While I cannot say that it is chew proof, because for some reason my dog didn't' attempt to chew it, I can say several things about it, that I would never want to get used to not having, if it were to be taken from me.

The first is this, my dog is exceedingly muscular and strong, and not too well trained, yet it has survived almost half a year of her running away until the whole cord is outstretched and yet it does not snap – wow – I would never have believed that – if I had not experienced.

The second is this, I can quickly reel her in if traffic is coming and she has come to know the sound and knows when I have released the lock button and she stops anticipating being reeled in.

The third thing about it that I have completely fallen in love with is that I cannot run as much as I would like to with my dog and I want her to be able to run, so I hold the Flexi above my head and she runs round and round until she wears herself out.

The final and most endearing feature about the Flexi that I discovered over these winter months was this: I don't have a garden and when it was 40 below I just couldn't always bring myself to walk the dog, so I wrapped the end of the Flexi around the handle of the door and let her go walk herself. She couldn't go any farther than 16 feet, but she came back when she was ready.

So now I can honestly say that if you want to borrow my Flexi, you'll have to fight me for it. I simply cannot get over the fact that this little contraption is so strong that even my girl with all her yanking at full speed on the end of its rope, it is still holding strong.

I believe my friend bought the dog leash at Target in Ames, Iowa, last summer. It was in the special area where they are getting rid of stock for a $1 or $2.

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Lassie Natural Way Dog Food comes in different flavors. The product we purchased is the Chicken Meal, Rice & Oatmeal Recipe. The package was attractive, and we admit the likeness of Lassie on the package may draw some to this product.

It clearly states on the package of Lassie Natural Way Dog Food that this product provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs. This is important for any dog owner. While there are many products to choose from that have a similar message on the package, many dog foods contain ingredients we are trying to avoid, including corn.

What was important to us is this: This product does not contain animal by-products and is corn, soy and wheat-free. If you have dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs, you may want to consider Lassie Natural Way Dog Food. Although this product is not advertised as being for dogs that have digestive difficulties, we have learned the hard way what works for some dogs.

The pieces are just the right size, which makes it easy for smaller dogs as well as larger dogs to enjoy. Adding a bit of water to the dog food makes it tender enough for any dog.

Lassie Natural Way Dog Food is manufactured by Sunshine Mills, Inc. in Red Bay, Alabama. The product carries a nutritional guarantee.

Lassie Natural Way Dog Food is available in most grocery stores. This is important, as the price is comparable to other products you will find in a typical grocery store. Also, you do not have to find a specialty store to buy this dog food.

According to the ingredient's panel Lassie Natural Way Dog Food contains the following: Chicken meal, rice flour, ground rice, rice bran, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), oatmeal, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), natural flavors, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, potassium chloride, salt, dried egg product, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate. Vitamins: Choline chloride, Vitamin A supplement, Vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid (source of Vitamin C), Vitamin D3 supplement, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), riboflavin supplement, folic acid, niacin, biotin, Vitamin B12 supplement. Minerals: Zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, sodium selenite.

Source: Product package and personal experience.

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Lekisha Moschetto

Nancy Pelosi Calls Mysterious All-Female Democrat Meeting

Will they rewrite the health care bill's abortion provisions? Introduce a bill banishing John Edwards from female affection forever? Officially, the Wednesday morning meeting's content is “to be determined.”

Send an email to Maureen O'Connor, the author of this post, at maureen@gawker.com.

washingtonpost.com:

The District will become the first city in the United States to distribute female condoms free, part of a project that will make 500,000 of them available in beauty salons, convenience stores and high schools in parts of the city with high HIV rates.

Read the whole story: washingtonpost.com

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Neil Malkiewicz

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The pet industry has become a billion dollar industry. Our pets are our children , Leona Helmsley left most of her wealth to her dog. If you have a particularly pampered pooch or kitten who needs to stay behind when you galavant off to the Riviera The Chateau Poochie in Lighthouse Point, Florida, is the place to board them. It is luxurous, splendid , opulent, over the top is what it has to offer you're beloved furry baby. It's located on Federal Highway. A beautiful white building, it's set back comfortably away from the highway with a very large parking area.

You can leave him/her for the day, have them nor a private lesson ($150.00), the 6 pack series for $850.00 or sign them up for a Masters Degree in the Canine Higher Education program for $2,400.00. They also offer group classes at only $30.00 per class and up for a series of 6 lessons. You're pet will be exposed to the best training available.

There is a Social Lounge and Fitnss Center your pet can visit for the day starting at $33.00 for the day or up to $300.00 offer a twenty day monthly pass. If you are living in an area where your pet does not have access to an area for exercise this is an excellent way to let them have some socialization and exercise in a safe , celan environment. There are little stairs to climb on and a large expansive room to romp in. If you want you can add on a visit to The Wellness Center for a therapeutic massage, rehabilitation services if needed, treadmill therapy, or exercise, Holistic Healing Therapy, Yoga, Reflexogoy, Accupressure or a Chiropractic session. If your pooch has weight issues you can have them put into the diet and exercise program with a weight loss consultation included. You will have the healthiest, happiest dog around. The Chateau Poochie obviously has an uncompromising dedication for attention to detail and care for your animal.

When you enter this magnificent Hotel you are in a lounge area with a round seating center. To the left is the bank of boarding rooms. They are dramatic mini dwelling, designed for relaxation and for making sure your dog is comfortable. The dogs are “guests” and the staff is there to make sure they are happy and well cared for. Each room is one color, peach, orange, blue, green and is named for a jewel. Each room has a completely see through glass front. In the Crown Jewel Suite ($87.00 to $109.00 a night) there is a webcam so you can observe your pet, a flat screen TV, custom monogrammed bed with luxury linens, crystal chandeliers, art and accessories. Your pet will get bottled water, evening classical music and if you'd like for an additional $4 turn down service, a peanut butter Kong ball evening snack ($3.00) and even a bedtime story or belly rub ($6.00 each).

In the Royal Suite ($185 a night) the suite is 16 x 20 feet and offers a designer sleigh bed with luxury bedding and 24 hour concierge as well as all the above amenities.

The Ambassador Suites surround the Dog Social Lounge and FItness Area so your dog can watch the goings on or participate depending on what program you've enrolled him in. Thats $76.00 a night. It's located in the heart of the social area.

The Parlor Suites have an Asian theme and are 4 x 6 glas suites with comfy fleece bedding (no fur throw). It still offers the webcam, flat screen and bottled water. That is $69.99 a night.

The least expensive but still luxurious rooms are the Parlor niches they range in size from niche to luxury and offer ample room. They have elevated beds, filtered water (not bottled but yes , filtered), classical evening music and a daily housekeeping service as opposed to a concierge. These are available for only $47.00-$59.00 a night.

If you want your dog to or have “the run of the palace” they will sign him up for the Luxury Unleashed program but they have to belong to the Social Lounge, Fitness Cub to participate. This gives them an in room attendant while they romp and is $89.00

All this is of course, over the top but not for serious, wealthy pet owners. One can certainly leave one's pet and not have to worry about them missing anyone.

Some of the incredible, adorable, posh services available that can be added to your pet's stay are: Individual Play Time, Royal Walks ($15.00), Daily brushing, Rallxing tummy rubs, Bed time story, Tuck in service, Tooth brushing, extra luxury blankets, or a relaxing 20 minute massage ($30.00) which I think is extremely reasanable compared to the price of a human massage.

The food offered can be Holistic premium food for only $4.00 a day or gourmet prepared meals for $5 -$18.00 a day. This is offered with a menu selection.

If you want to just stop in and do some shopping continue pass the boarding suites and enter the well stocked clothing boutique. They offer adorable outfits, pajamas, leashes, collars and accessories you could want to outfit your pet with. When I was there a large black Afghan was wearing a 4 inch wide black leather collar completely studded with rhinestones and a matching leash. It was sumptuous.

The Grooming are, The Salon, is impeccably clean and large. It literally sparkled it was so clean. They offer special dog cologne, one for males, one for females. The cologne was very pleasant and clean smelling. They bathe the dogs with Isle of Dogs No 20 Shampoo and Conditioner.My Chihuahua came out smelling better than I do.

I've seen other boarder groomer places that look nothing like this. Stacked cages, very industrial looking yet advertised as being a notch above the rest The Cateau Poochie is everything it states it wll be and more. It is something you would expect to see on Kimora's Fab show on television. It is elegant, posh, lavish and absolutley stunning. I highly recommend a visit and certainly recommend a stay .

The staff there were lovely,friendly, informative and very happy to be there it seemed.

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Brenton Derousselle

Imagine finding a lump in your breast when you are only twenty-eight. You’d probably be a little nervous, but after your family doctor suggests it is not uncommon for women to develop lumps in their breasts in conjunction with their menstrual cycle you might be reassured. But what if your doctor was wrong? Now imagine you are sitting in the examination room of the oncologist’s office waiting to hear the results of a biopsy of that lump in your breast. Right about now you might imagine hearing the words, “you have breast cancer,” only you’re not imagining it because it’s true.

Breast cancer is a frightening disease. Not only does it threaten a woman’s survival, but it can also diminish self-esteem, sexuality, and spirit. Being diagnosed with this disease is devastating enough, but imagine hearing you have it when you are only in your twenties or thirties. The stereotypical understanding of breast cancer is that it predominantly afflicts older, post-menopausal women. In other words, our grandmothers might be at risk for developing breast cancer, but we’re not. Be advised, though, breast cancer does not discriminate based on age. In fact, it is projected that an estimated 11,000 women under the age of forty will be diagnosed with breast cancer during the course of a year (YSC, 2004). Unfortunately, the medical community still treats the incidence of breast cancer in young women as a rarity, and research on the specifics of the disease as it pertains to younger women is virtually nonexistent. Until the medical community becomes more proactive in this area, it is vital that women increase their own awareness and understanding of the disease. The focus of this article is to inform and educate younger women about the realities of breast cancer. 

Breast cancer tends to be more aggressive in younger women, meaning the cancer cells divide and multiply at a higher rate. When this occurs, the odds of the cancer spreading beyond the breast sooner rather than later are increased. The paradox here is that a diagnosis of breast cancer in someone so young is often overlooked or dismissed by both doctor and patient. Unfortunately, time is of the essence for the young patient because her cancer may spread outside the breast and potentially metastasize elsewhere in the body much more quickly than in an older patient. For this reason, the survival rate in younger women with breast cancer is much lower than it is for older patients. The good news is that when it is detected early, younger women can anticipate a five-year survival rate of 82% (YSC, 2004). What is so critical about a five-year survival rate? Five years following the initial diagnosis, if there has not been a recurrence, a patient is generally considered “cured” so that any future diagnosis would be considered a new instance of cancer. 

A more aggressive cancer and a lower survival rate are only two of the factors specific to pre-menopausal breast cancer patients. Certain treatments can affect fertility, and may even contribute to early menopause. And women who are already pregnant at the time of diagnosis will face additional difficulties. Beyond these health concerns, women of any age, but particularly younger women, will find their self-esteem and sexuality in crisis. For a young woman, losing either one or both breasts, or even a just a portion of a breast (as in a lumpectomy), can significantly alter a young woman’s view of her body. Imagine again you are that twenty-eight year old woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer and must now choose between having a lumpectomy or a mastectomy. While the lumpectomy can spare much of the breast, there is always the risk for recurrence and only a mastectomy can almost completely eliminate this risk. 

In our culture women’s breasts are inextricably associated with their attractiveness, desirability, and sexuality. When women feel unattractive their self-esteem inevitably weakens and consequently they may become less confident. Unfortunately, breast size often plays a substantial role in how women feel about themselves. Why else would so many women voluntarily subject themselves to unnecessary cosmetic surgery simply to enhance their breast size? Given a diagnosis of breast cancer, the prospect of losing part or all of your breast(s) at such a young age can be devastating beyond the initial life threatening disease itself. 

Following a lumpectomy or mastectomy, a young woman can opt to have reconstructive surgery, or even implants, but doing so will not necessarily negate the complexity of emotion that accompanies a breast cancer diagnosis. When any other woman opts to have breast augmentation surgery she is adding to what is already there, but for the breast cancer survivor, she may have had to first give up a part of herself. Additionally, breast implants often make mammogram screening more difficult because they block the natural breast tissue. For survivors who do proceed with cosmetic surgery there is the added concern that the implants will make it more difficult to detect other tumors, should they develop. Further, mammogram screening does not always detect every abnormality in young women because their breast tissue tends to be denser (YSC, 2004). Doctors are aware of this dilemma so they are not necessarily inclined to order a mammogram for a young patient who has detected a lump in her breast. 

Right now there are many young women living with breast cancer, and there are many more still who have died from it. While the disease is more prevalent in women over the age of forty, the number of women with breast cancer below the age of forty is not small. Research, information, and resources specific to young women with breast cancer are scarce. This lack of information would suggest it is not a disease that afflicts the young, but for a few rare instances, yet this is simply not the case. Now imagine you are that newly diagnosed twenty-eight year old woman one last time. You would undoubtedly have many concerns, but the good news is that today’s treatment options are as numerous as they are effective and there is a comfortable treatment plan for every woman. 

While no one can determine exactly why any one of us develops breast cancer, there may be preventative measures we can take to reduce our odds of developing this deadly disease. Additionally, there are different types of breast cancer and the risk of developing any one of them may be increased by specific factors in a woman’s lifestyle. For instance, certain aspects of our diet may either inhibit or encourage the growth of breast cancer cells. Various methods of contraception may also be influential in the development of cancer. Finally, by discussing the issue of breast cancer in young women we are encouraging education and awareness, which can only lead to additional research, resources, early detection, and most importantly – survival. 

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You don't need to have Cesar Millan's mad skills as a dog whisperer to enjoy an easy, fun relationship with your canine. Here are some tips, based on canine ethology (the science of animal behavior), that can help you and Fido avoid a whack pack.

Your Dog Is Not a Four-legged Person

Most behavioral problems of pet dogs are actually behavioral problems of pet owners. The thought processes and social systems of human are very different than those of dogs. If a dog owner doesn't take the time to learn about how their dog sees the world, there will be trouble in dog-owner relationship.

Dogs are Pack Animals

Although you might be a big fan of democracy, your dog isn't. Canines are pack animals that require a social hierarchy established and maintained through the individual members' level of confidence, posture, threats and (as a last resort) violence.

From your dog's perspective, he is not part of your family. You, and those humans your dog regularly interacts with, are part of his pack; each member with a very specific spot in the social hierarchy.

Be Top Dog

Every pack has an alpha (highest ranking) and omega (lowest ranking) member. The rule…humans must be dominant to dogs. When the dog sees himself as dominant to any of the humans in his pack, there will be trouble. If your dog perceives himself dominant to everybody in the family, then everyone will have problems interacting with, controlling and disciplining the dog. If some human members of the pack rank higher than the dog, while others rank lower, those low-ranking individuals will not be respected by the dog and will end up having a troubled relationship with that pet.

Dominance Driven Breeds

Some breeds, and individual dogs, are more prone to accept their low-ranking pack status without much resistance. For a canine, not knowing ones rank in the pack is an extremely anxiety-inducing situation; where it is often better to be the omega than to not know where you stand.

Other breeds and individuals are very dominance-driven, and, as such, are a whole lot more work to train and maintain in that necessary bottom-of-the-pack rank. Male dogs and breeds that have been bred for aggression are typically the hardest to work into a healthy pack relationship with your family, particularly if you have young children who will, due to their small size, have difficulty dominating an aggressive, large-breed dog.

When selecting a breed, prospective dog owners should carefully consider what they are looking for in a dog and how that dog will be required to behave to ensure that the new addition is an enjoyable enhancement family's life. Dogs who have been bred for security or fighting, such as Chows, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers (to just name a few) are more prone to exhibit dominant behavior, which represents more work and more risk for the family. I am not trying to pick on these breeds in particular. There are many breeds that have been selected for aggressive tendencies.

However, having formerly worked in a veterinary clinic, I saw far too many unfortunate situations where a poor dog-family match, combined with insufficient training, led to the euthanization of a pet, sometimes after the dog's aggression resulted in the injury of a family member.

The Puppy Dominance Test
If you haven't already welcomed a dog into your family, but plan to at some point in the future, my recommendation is to start from scratch and get a puppy that you can train from the get-go and evaluate before you take it home. Knowing the breed helps, but mutts are great pets. So here is a simple test that will allow you to assess the dominance drive of a puppy, regardless of whether or not you know the breed.

When selecting a puppy, roll it on its back, and stare into its eyes. A dog that is more apt to be submissive will avert its gaze and quickly stop squirming and resisting. A pup that continues to wriggle while staring you down is giving you a clear message about its willingness to accept the omega position in your pack. Choose wisely, that pup may be part of your pack many years.

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If you have ever owned a dog, then you know what it is like to deal with the barking. But, not all dogs bark all the time. Some dogs are worse than others. If you own a dog and it barks often, it's best to try to stop the habit as quickly as possible. I will discuss some techniques that I have used before to stop my dogs barking.

Find out why your dog is barking. If you are gone all day and your neighbors have told you that your dog barks all day. Then your dog may feel lonely while you are away. Your dog may also just bark when it hears a noise or other people near by. If your dog is barking while you are gone you can try leaving toys out for it to play with. This may help keep your dog from becoming bored while you are away. You may also consider getting another dog so your dog will have company when you are not home.

Train your dog. Teach your dog to stop barking when you say “quiet” or “stop”. As soon as your dog stops barking be sure to praise them for stopping. With repetition, your dog should learn to “quiet” command quickly. I like the “quiet” command because I want my dog to bark when a stranger is knocking on my door, but I want to be able to make him stop when I tell him to.

Ignore your dogs barks for attention. If your dog is barking at you for attention or to get you to look at him or her, ignore them. I once had a dog that would sit down near me and bark until I payed attention to her. I found that if she started to bark for my attention, I wouldn't make eye contact and I would walk away if I could. I found that if I gave her what she wanted when she barked then she would continue to do it to get what she wants.

Consider alternative methods such as a bark collar. I would only recommend this as a last resort and I have never actually used this method before. However, I have had friends who have used this method before and say it worked for their dogs. I personally consider bark collars a form of mild torture but for some people this may be the only thing that works besides giving the dog away.

Those tips should be a good starting point to help you stop your dogs barking habits. But, if it's not you may consider contacting a local dog trainer to see what they can recommend. A dog is supposed to be mans best friend, but nobody likes a loud annoying best friend.

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Marya Guiffre