Monday, July 23rd, 2007
All dogs bark, it’s their way to communicate a message. Dog barks for various reasons: to greet, to alert, out of boredom, to attract attention or when they are excited.
Although some barking from is acceptable, too much barking is certainly annoying, especially for your neighbors and eventually leading to complains. The easiest way to stop a problematic barker is to control his barking while you are at home:
1. Set up a situation where your dog will always bark. For example, you can ask someone to ring your doorbell or knock on your door.
2. When your dog charges to the door and start to bark loudly, approach your dog, grab his collar and give the command “quiet” – no shouting please, it doesn’t help.
3. If he stops barking, praise and reward. He’s a genius and deserves it.
4. When he continues barking, close his mouth with your hand, wrap your fingers around his muzzle – use both hands if needed, and give the command for him to keep quiet. Praise if he stops.
Most dogs would be able to learn the “quiet” command with repeated training like this. Set up similar situations to “lure” your dog to bark and repeat training whenever possible.
If you happen to own a hard-core persistent barker, use this method:
1. Vinegar-Water solution – mix a proportion of 7/8 water & 1/8 vinegar together. Pour the mixture into a water pistol or what kids call “super soaker” for longer distance shooting.
2. Aim and shoot at his chest whenever he can’t stop barking even on your command. Dogs hate the smell of vinegar and would usually back off and stop barking. He’ll even sneeze a few times. It’s harmless so you need not worry.
3. As always, praise him when he stops barking.
For your information, your dog might still be barking noisily and disrupting your neighborhood when you are not at home. In this case, you’ll need a training equipment known as “bark collars” to help train him.
There are several types of bark collars on the market. Some of these collars send an electric shock to your dog when he barks, some make a high pitch sound or emits a squirt of citronella which is annoying but safe for your dog. Usually, these collars can help you solve a problematic barker.
Personally, I’ll recommend the high pitch sound or citronella collars. They are very effective and more humane dog training tools.
About Author
Moses Chia is the webmaster of DogsObedienceTraining.com. He provides more helpful information on dog obedience training, dog training book reviews and dog illness symptoms interpretation that you can learn in the comfort of your home on his website.
Source: ArticleTrader.com
Posted in Breed, Dog, Dog Training, Puppy | 2 Comments »
Monday, July 23rd, 2007
Few breeds are as widely loved as the Maltese. This intelligent and affectionate pet is popular all over the world with the rich and famous as well as the commoners.
The Maltese is a playful and adventurous little dog with a rich history dating back more than 28 centuries.
As with every breed there is some disagreement about the first traces of the breed. Some say the dog originated in Sweden and is a descendent of a Spitz type dog.
The Greeks believe the first Maltese originated in the Isle of Malta. They called this dog “Melitaie Dog”. Melitae was the ancient name for Malta. Some sources indicate the Maltese originated in Asia.
The earliest artifacts resembling Maltese dogs was found in Egypt. These date back to between 600-300 B.C.- suggesting that the ancient Egyptians worshipped early forms of the Maltese.
There are many historical pictoral representations of these dogs. Greek cermaic art and many Greek and roman philosphers also mention the Maltese. Aristotle and many other noteworthy philosophers and historians mention the dog. The Greeks even erected tombs to their Maltese.
These tiny dogs most likely made their way through Europe and the Middle East as nomadic tribes migrated. Some say the little dogs were used in bartering and in this way the Maltese found its way around Europe, and beyond.
The Maltese was regarded as a upper class dog, prized by aristocrats, statespersons and royalty. In the middle of the 19th Century it was regarded as quite fashionable to have a Maltese in your pocket or handbag. Some even believed that the dog possessed magical healing powers.
The first records of the Maltese in Britian is during the reign of Henry VIII. Many royals have enjoyed Maltese companions since then. Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria also owned Maltese.
Nobody documented how the Maltese came to America. The Maltese were first seen in the US in the late 1800’s. The first Maltese was white and listed as a “Maltese Lion Dog” at the first show in 1877. The American Kennel Club started recognizing the breed in 1888.
Maltese owners come from all walks of life. Many pop culture icons have owned these good natured little dogs. Marylin Monroe, Elvis Presley, Elizabeth Taylor and Tony Bennett are some of the famous owners.
Most likely its white color and long silky coat had a great deal to do with its popularity. It also has alot to do with its great personality
About Author
Steve Allison is a third generation of professional dog breeders along with his brother Gary. It all started with his grandparents in 1970 with the Boston Terriers and has expanded to Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s and Pomeranians. He is also actively involved with dog rescue and has a website that showcases the puppies they occasionally has for sale at All My Puppies Online Steve is also the co-author of two consumer guides, Carpet Secrets and Moving Secrets Guide
Source: ArticleTrader.com
Posted in Breed, Dog, Puppy | No Comments »
