The Importance of Puppy Training
Yes, it’s nice if your dog can roll over, shake hands, and sit up to beg, but it is absolutely vital that your dog reliably come when you call. If your dog is chasing a squirrel or running after a car, you stand absolutely no chance of catching him or her before tragedy ensues. However, if the dog will return to you when you call no matter what else is going on, you can keep the dog safe.
Since puppies tend to get into more trouble than most adult dogs, you must start when the dog is very young to provide the most protection. Keep in mind that puppies have very short attention spans, so you need to keep training sessions short and fun. Your puppy will naturally come to you when he or she sees you, so you can begin training by simply having someone hold your puppy while you walk a few feet away.
Say the dog’s name and the command “come”, then have the person release your dog. The dog will more than likely come running to you, at which time you should give him or her overwhelming praise and perhaps even a small treat. Tell the dog, “[name], good come!” This reinforces the sound of the command and relates it to the action the dog just performed. Practice this a few times every day, gradually increasing the distance between you and dog before giving the command.
Once your dog is really good at this, add a distraction such as a toy very close to the path between you and the dog. Even if the dog stops to pick up the toy, he or she should continue in your general direction. If he or she doesn’t come when you call, go retrieve the dog and bring him or her to the spot where you were standing before rewarding with praise. You might want to eliminate the treat if you have to do the retrieving.
In the next newsletter, we’ll cover the second most important command, “leave it.”
Doggies Den: Latest Articles
Homemade Thanksgiving Treats for Your Dog
NUTRITION We all want to include our dogs in our holiday celebrations, but hopefully, you're aware that sharing table scraps with your dog isn't always the best idea.
Keeping Your Dog Safe during the Summer Months
HEALTH Summer is coming on fast, so it’s time to plan how you will keep your dog safe and healthy through the lazy, carefree, warm days.
Vaccination Time Again-Keeping Your Puppy Healthy
DOG HEALTH So you have your new puppy picked out. There are quite a few shots, treatments and examinations that will keep the newest member of your family healthy.
Canine Thanksgiving Feast
NUTRITION With the wide variety of food at Thanksgiving dinner, chances are you'll want to give your dog something special, too. If you're contemplating what to feed your dog for the holiday, here is a guide to a great Canine Thanksgiving Feast.
Dog Walking Tips Every Owner Should Know
DOG FUN Walking your dog is not only crucial to keeping him healthy and happy, it strengthens the bond between your canine friend and his caregiver. There are a lot of obstacles out there. Don’t forget these simple tips to keep your walk fun and safe in the outside world.
The Benefits of Physiotherapy for your Dog
HEALTH The same techniques that physiotherapists use to treat a variety of injuries and conditions in humans have been adapted to suit animals with great success. Family pets, show dogs, and working dogs can all benefit greatly from physiotherapy. Dogs whose activities involve a lot of agility are especially susceptible to the types of problems that physiotherapy can address.
The Decision- Adding a Dog to Your Family
FIRST TIME OWNERSBringing a dog into your family is a decision where many people don’t realize it’s magnitude until after they have the dog. There are a number of things that you need to research before you decide to purchase a dog, and it starts right in your own home.
Bringing Your Dog Into Your New Baby's Life
HEALTH Many believe that a dog and a new baby cannot happily coexist, so therefore the dog has to go. This is not necessarily the case.  A new baby does not mean you have to abandon your dog.
Doggies Den:
Most Popular Articles
Dog Pregnancy Symptoms
HEALTHIf you suspect your dog might be pregnant, check out part one in this series on pregnant dogs, where we cover pregnant dog symptoms.
Dog Birth
HEALTHIn the third article of our dog pregnancy series, we look at the wonderful, but messy, process of bringing newborn puppies into the world.
Indoor Dog Potties
DOG PRODUCTSIt's been a long day at work. You were so busy, you didn't even take time to eat a sandwich, let alone run home to let your dog out. You're on your way home, knowing the poor dog is crossing his or her legs by now, when your car breaks down, delaying you even further. Can't somebody make this easier?
Your Dog’s Digestive System
PHYSIOLOGYEver wonder why your dog eats so fast? Or why he eats gross things? Or why he gets sick to his stomach? Or why his waste stinks so bad? Some of these things are normal, some are not.
Canine Respiratory System
BREATHINGThe basic function of your dog's respiratory system is to bring oxygen in to and remove carbon dioxide from the body. Knowing the symptoms of respiratory diseases can help you help your stay healthy.
Shelter Dog Adoption Tips for Success
ADOPTION Are you intimidated by the prospect of "rescuing" a dog from a shelter? One reason that you may be wary of adopting a dog from a shelter is not knowing how to choose. Adopting a dog from a shelter can be a rewarding process, if you're prepared to do a reasonable amount of research.
Canine Urinary Tract Infections
SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTDoes your dog seem to be having trouble relieving his or her bladder? Learn how to recognize the signs of urinary tract infections and how to treat them before they spread.
What to do for Dog Diarrhea
SYMPTOMS AND REMEDIESIf you have dogs in your house for any length of time, you have likely experienced at least one bout of dog diarrhea. Beyond the pain in the tuckus involved in cleaning up the mess, you should know what causes diarrhea, and when it's important to see the vet.
What to do for a Dog Bite
DOG BEHAVIOR Getting bitten by a dog can be scary, and you may be tempted to run around in circles for a while, trying to figure out what to do. Here's our guide to help you manage the situation.
Top Ten Tips for Living with a Senior Dog
DOG HEALTH Bringing home a new puppy is so exciting, but it doesn’t take all that long for your exuberant puppy to grow into a senior dog who may have special needs. Here are the doggies.com top ten tips for taking care of your companion who has been with you through so much.