In This Edition of DOG INFO GUIDES™...
• Top 1 Ideas for Every Dog Lover
• Top 2 With A Quick & Easy Tip - Stop the Jumping!!
• Top 3 The Importance of Toys for Your Pooch

In The Last Edition of DOG INFO GUIDES™...
• Annual Holiday Gift Guide Ideas for Every Dog Lover
• Train Your Dog With A Quick & Easy Tip - Stop the Jumping!!
• Why Toys? The Importance of Toys for Your Pooch
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Top 1 Something for Every Dog

Running out of time and don't know what to get your favorite companion or fellow dog lover this holiday season? Well we put together some fun and unique ideas and with many online stores offering expedited shipping at no extra charge you can have it to them just in time for the holidays.

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Top 2 With A Quick & Easy Tip
Stop the Jumping!

You arrive home, dressed in your finest clothes, or worse yet have guests over and the minute the door opens, dirty paws meet clean clothes. Sound familiar?

Jumping up to greet someone is a natural expression of a dog's happiness and excitement, however it is often not appropriate and sometimes dangerous with the elderly and children. Luckily this can be stopped quite easily with some quick consequences, consistency and praise.

The first step is to establish that jumping is not allowed. The next time your dog jumps up to greet you don't push him down or step back, but rather catch his paws and give them a quick, firm squeeze until he gives a quick yelp and then let him down. The goal here and always in any form of consequence training is not to hurt your dog, but establish that there are negative consequences for inappropriate behaviors. Alternatively, the next time your dog jumps up, quickly jab your knee forward into his chest so he is popped backward and down. These negative consequence actions, if done sternly, correctly and consistently will only need to be done a few times to stop the jumping. Be sure to be completely consistent at this time. Once you make the choice to stop the jumping, do not let your dog jump up on you, even once, without a consequence.

Next, use praise coupled with a food or toy reward as soon as your dog begins not to jump. This will positively reinforce the correct behavior and lessen the need for consequence training. Later, jumping up on command can be taught, but automatically jumping up must first be stopped before this can happen.

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Top 3 The Importance of Toys for Your Pooch
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When left home alone dogs often get bored, restless and depressed which sometimes leads to destructive tendencies! Your dog’s natural instincts are to hunt, explore, play and socialize. To keep your four legged friend happy, well adjusted and less destructive, it is important to spend time with them and when you can't be there, give them toys to stimulate an otherwise mundane life.

Toys can alleviate the stresses of being home alone and the need for digging or chewing. Proper chewing is good for dental care and should be encouraged, not punished. A dog would much rather chew a toy designed for him and not your favorite shoes, but you must have the toys to make this happen. Also important is to establish it is ok to chew on the toys. When you bring a new toy home pretend it is a treat. For example have your dog sit and instead of giving a treat, give the toy. Encourage chewing on the toy with affectionate words and petting when they start to chew on the toy. This will help establish proper chew behavior and hopefully save your favorite pair of slippers.

Now here are some helpful hints to pick out the best toys for your particular type of dog.

Is your dog a chewer?
Under supervision, give your dog a toy and if he chews it apart very quickly, you have an aggressive chewer. Again, under supervision, experiment with different types of toys to see if and how long they last. The best toys for the most aggressive chewers are hard rubber and nylon toys. These take a long time to break down and also provide much needed gum and dental stimulation for a healthy mouth. Rope chews and soft plush toys are fun and okay for less aggressive chewers, but supervision is necessary with these toys as small pieces can easily be broken off and swallowed leading to digestive problems or choking!

***WARNING*** - Avoid giving your dog animal bones and rawhide toys. Animal bones can easily chip and splinter causing mouth and intestinal damage. Rawhide toys will expand in your dogs stomach and may cause damage and pain.

Good CHEWING Toys:
Extra Strength: rubber, nylon toys; Extra Strength Bite-a-bone Nylabone or Kong are great choices
Basic Strength: nylon, cotton rope; Nylabone and rope toys are good choices. These toys are washable and should be replaced when frayed.

Toys for Playing

Good PLAYING toys:
Vinyl and latex should only be given to dogs that do not destroy their toys. They come in every shape and color, 5-7 inches big, generally squeak and are good for puppies and seniors because these toys are not as hard on the teeth and gums.
Canvas, cloth, plush and fleece should only be given to dogs under your supervision since they are easily torn and shredded. The interesting squeaker can be a choking hazard.

Picking the Right Size Toy
Small dogs should have small toys while large dogs have large toys. This part seems obvious, but often it is hard to find just the right toy or it may be tempting to buy a toy because it is cute, but too big or worse too small for your dog. Small toys, while cute, can be dangerous if swallowed by a large dog and big toys for a small dog can be overwhelming and intimidating. First think size, then looks. Puppies will require softer toys and these toys will need to be frequently changed and up-graded as the puppy grows into an adult.

Are the toys boring?
Variety is the key here. Dogs have a hard time distinguishing colors, and while they may look good to you, color really doesn't make a big difference. More important are different shapes, sizes and flavors. Smell is a dog's strongest sense so look for toys and chews that offer different aromas to entertain your wet nosed friend. Four or five toys are ok if you rotate their availability.

A Final Note

***NEVER*** take away a toy that your dog has become particularly fond of since this toy is a security blanket and will often leave them depressed, aggressive and anxious leading to aggressive, possessive behaviors.

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The Fine Print
DOG INFO GUIDES, a monthly newsletter for you and your canine companion, is brought to you by www.dog-names.us As dog lovers ourselves, we're dedicated to helping you give your pooch the happy, healthy life he deserves by providing valuable dog care and health information, training tips, and deals on quality pet products.

Health tips and product information provided by DOG INFO GUIDES are for general education only. Please follow product manufacturer guidelines carefully, and be sure to consult with your veterinarian for specific diagnoses and treatment.

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