Dog fashion: Stylish Warm Dog Clothing?

If you are a true dog lover and have a dog in your house, especially a companion breed (those cute little fluffy ones- although there are some that are hairless) then you must have checked at least once on the Internet for some clothes for your little loved ones.

The rise in popularity of dog clothing, not only driven by celebrities like Brittney Spears, Paris Hilton and a host of others basking in the limelight, showcasing their pets to the paparazzi, much the same way as the affluent mothers of well dressed children of years gone by, but by the functionality and protection it provides for our pals. There are critics that say that this “new industry” is just another scam, as dogs don’t really care about what they wear, nor do they need clothes.

Modern dogs do not have to endure the ravages of nature as they did back in the days of wolf packs or even colonial times. Our pet dogs have become accustom to the same environment we enjoy. Even the professionals agree that because domesticated dogs physiology has evolved and adjusted to human environmental standards, they need extra protection from the cold as much as their human counterparts. This applies especially to popular smaller”lap dogs” and the “teacup” breeds with fine coats. They need protection from the colder temperatures, particularly the vulnerable under belly of the dog. So whether some like it or not, clothes for dogs are a necessary evil.

So yeah, one might ask himself why his little Fido needs a wizard’s hat and a cape for Halloween, or a biker’s outfit and well….at this point he might be correct. If the clothes for our little pals have their practical purpose in winter, this trend of dressing your dog with every occasion is somewhat useless, and maybe the only point where the critics are somewhat right. I mean a dog does not really know that he is supposed to be rebellious biker, or a powerful wizard or whatever. But the fact is we also enjoy seeing them dressed like no other dog is, to spoil them as by doing so we kind of spoil ourselves and keep up with the celebrities that are the ones that actually start “this year’s” trend in canine fashion.

To sum it all up, I should say that if while keeping your dog protected by the cold outside you also manage to make him look stylish with the latest hits in dog clothing rather than the usual piece of clothing you use, then it’s nothing wrong with that.

Train your Dog to Shake Hands

Dog training can be very fun and it is actually a great way to interact with him and you can do wonders in stimulating your dog. One common trick that everyone loves is shaking hands. Let us see how you can train your pet to do this.

The ideal starting position in this dog training routine is you sitting down at the level of the pet. Unfortunately you will need to have your dog sitting and staying so these two commands must be learned prior to shaking hands. You will have to take a treat and keep it in your left hand. Entice the dog with it and let him lick at it but make sure that he will not be able to eat it. Take your right hand and lift his paw slowly. Keep saying "Shake" at every second or so. As soon as the paw leaves the ground you need to praise your dog and give him his treat. Keep repeating this exercise and you will notice that eventually the dog will lift the paw alone. This is when we need to get to step two.

Now we will start the training session with the same treat in the left hand routine. Your right hand needs to be extended towards the dog's paw but do not grab it. Your hand should stop at around one inch away from his paw and this is when you have to give him the "Shake" command. As soon as the dog starts to raise the paw he needs to receive the praise and treat needed. As time passes your hand needs to get further away from the dog when you give the "Shake" command. Eventually the dog will learn to shake hands and all is needed is patience and treats.

Small Dog Safety Vests

Dog safety vests are usually used for hunting dogs, especially when doing night hunting or hunting in areas that do not have a lot of visibility. It prevents the dog from getting accidentally shot. What few people realize is that dog safety vests can be very useful even in cities and not only in remote locations. Also, small dog safety vests are not to be avoided. People tend to think that the dog is too small and will not have him wear them although it can be quite dangerous for the small pet as well.

In most cases small dog safety vests are needed when you take your dog out at night. It will aid by making him highly visible to both you and other individuals. Many small dogs are hurt or even killed every single month by cars due to the fact that the driver does not see them or sees them too late to avoid the accident. A small dog safety vest can avoid this type of problem. To make it even worse, late night walk with your small dogs can be problematic as bicycle-dog collisions also happen very often in parks and fields. In such cases it is clear to understand why the chosen dog safety vest needs to be reflective so that the rider/driver can have enough time to take the needed evasive action. You can save your dog from a lot of problems and even death with special dog vests.

The best part about this topic is that dog safety vests come in all sizes for all dog breeds out there. You can even shop for them online although buying one from a local shop is recommended. This basically means that your dog can try the safety vest on and see whether or not it is comfortable for him as this is highly important. You wouldn't want your small dog to be sad and not like it when you take him out, would you?

Sled Dog Training Tips

If you want to prepare yourself and your dog for carting or dog sledding you need to start with training for basic concepts of directions, stopping, going, pulling and holding on the line. Sled dog training is not that difficult but it does require some patience from you as not all dogs learn at the same rate. Also, keep in mind that you are required to be able to lift and carry your dog in the event that he gets injured. On the other hand, sled dog training basically means that your dug needs to be able to stop, go, line-out and trot at least five miles pulling weight, on-bye and turn right and left. The objective is for the dog to answer to commands and be ok with pulling weight. If your dog is not trained, there is no sense in putting him on carting or dog sledding as he will not know what to expect and might start panicking. If your dog is not in a good physical shape you could injure him and you do not want this to happen. Also, it is better to start sled dog training when the animal is a puppy and you will need a properly fitting harness, a training collar (sometimes known as choke chains), a limited slip collar, leather gloves, running shoes, belly band and double ended training leash. You could also purchase dog boots in order to protect the paws of the animal but this is not always needed. On the other hand, water is required and you need a water bowl and water together with making sure that the dog is hydrate before starting training. A first aid kit for a dog is also recommended.

The actual sled dog training is not difficult but it must be handled with seriousness. You must gather the equipment and look for a shady and cool area for training and make sure that the dog is hydrated. Now you have to harness him and boot him if needed. The belly band has to be attached and the training collar must also be put on. The double ended leash needs to be attached to the training collar next and make sure you leash it to the connection loops of the harness as well. Now you will have to take the training leash close to the harness connection and pull on it firmly in order for the dog to feel resistance. This resistance needs to be maintained and giving various commands and not respecting them needs that you will need to give corrections with the training collar as required. It is very important to start with one or two commands before you decide to go for more. In order to do sled dog training aimed at your dog lining out you need to attach the training leash to one fixed object. The dog thus has to stay in place and maintain a taut line. Next you will want to attach the training leash to a small tire and get help from your training collar in order to make the dog comfortable with pulling the tire. You might have to pull the dog along at first if it is required.

Keep in mind that you will be required to praise the dog during sled dog training whenever you are satisfied with what he is doing. If he does not follow directions just ignore him. You need patience and must realize that there is a small chance that results will appear immediately. You need to maintain training and not enforce it with strength or too much force.

Popular Dog Names

It is always interesting to see how you name your dog and the topic of dog names is one that is very controversial. Most owners love to give their dogs a name that is very human like. For instance, Matthew or Andrew. Others will want to give the name based on their favorite movie characters or the book they read. For instance, Black Beauty or Cholera (although they are quite strange they are still real dog names). Discovering the best dog names for your best friend can be difficult although it should not and can be even fun.

The biggest problem stands in the fact that we have a lot of possible choices and there is a big chance that you are looking for an unique dog name. You want one that will suit the dog's personality while avoiding names that can be harmful. The key is making it fun. The dog name you choose will be utilized around 25 thousand times during the animal's lifetime so it should be nice that your dog agrees to the name you are going to give him. Let us think about a cool dog name for your friend. There are many ways to handle this. The good news is that there are hundreds of sites online that will help you in choosing by simply giving you a huge list of dog names. Let us think about some examples.

In the US the two most popular dog names for boys are Max and Jake. Female dog names of choice sum up to Molly and Maggie as the most popular. You might not want a popular dog name and you might want a celebrity dog name, although it does sound strange to have a dog named Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Ben Afleck or The Undertaker. You could also choose your dog's name by breed. For instance, popular names for Labrador Retrievers are Heidi, India or Jade. For Germen Shepherds popularity stands in Action, Bruno or Fantom. Cool unique dog names stand in Brownie, Caviar, Pretzel or Okra. It is up to you to choose and decide where to go with your dog's name. Be sure to research the Internet for inspiration and you will see that you will find a good female or male dog name for your friend.