Training

The concept of using food to train is often considered a form of bribery. The fact is that dogs adapt to whatever works best! If you know how to use food, your dog will offer the right behaviour to get it. Else you might end up with a dog who demands a treat or an assurance of one for everything you ask him to do. Here’s the right way to use food/treats to train your dog. Is using treats good or…

To understand the dog as a species, and as they exist today, you must understand their history and their beginnings. Here's more on these wonderful paws. The contemporary domestic dog is a direct descendant and close relative of the wolf, and the history of the dog is inextricably linked to the wolf. Most pet parents have heard their pets suddenly break into a howling song, like their wild…

From Chihuahua to Great Dane, Our pooches indeed have great variations. Besides shapes, colours, sizes and heights, there are many ways to group our canine companions. Read on to know more about the groups. Every dog breed is characterised by certain special features…which can be easily seen. But they are special in many ways…some are good in sports, some love to hunt, some want to always help…

Two is better than one? So you’ve decided to expand your family and get a dog. Wow great, but then you think- wait a minute, what if I get two? That would mean double the fun, double the excitement at almost the same cost – right? Wrong! Why two? Often prospective pet parents tend to believe that adopting two puppies would be better than having just one. With the busy schedules they have, they…

Our pooches love us in many ways…sometimes they even inspire us to do better in life…let’s celebrate tales about few inspiring tails. I’m 42 years old single dad with three boys. I was Staff Sergeant and spent 10 years in the Air Force Special Operations Command as a Combat Weatherman. In June of 1999, I was on a special operation mission in Ecuador on a counter narcotic mission. My vehicle…

There are many myths surrounding training your dog. Here are the facts for some of the popular training myths. Myth: If a dog can’t learn behaviour, he is stubborn, dominant, stupid or a combination of the three. Fact: Dogs are just like people. Some dogs learn quickly while others will take time and more guidance. If a dog is unable to learn, it’s only because the dog is not instructed in a way…

Like children, puppies learn at different speeds, and so as a pet parent you need to respect the individual pace of development and the fact that your puppy is still very young. 1. Learning his name: Never scream your puppy’s name – he has a very acute sense of hearing and shouting will just stress him. Instead, say his name slowly and clearly to catch his attention and associate his name with…

At around nine months of age, most dogs reach an awkward adolescent stage (although with large and giant breeds, this can occur in their second year). Everything you taught your dog seems to be forgotten: he won’t come when you call or even think of obeying the commands ‘sit’ or ‘down’. Here’s how to tackle it. During this time, the young dog is attempting to assert his rank, just to see whether…

Do you know why your pooch wags his tail? The most obvious reply would be that dog wags when he’s excited or happy about something. But that’s not all… the way your pooch wags his tail shows how he is feeling… sometimes happy, sometimes sad and sometimes even angry. Here’s more on wagging tails. As per Darwin’s Theory of Existence… all living organisms have to struggle for their existence. So,…

Which breed of dog comes to your mind when you see a wolf? Yes, a German Shepherd Dog! But it is not a mere resemblance as wolves are the ancestors of pooches–which is evident in early fossils and other historical traces. Here’s a sneak peek into the primitive period when canines used to live in wild before reincarnating as the man’s best friends. It must be via myths or movies that we come across…

He was not a medical graduate but he was a doctor who helped autistic children in dog-assisted therapy at the Saraswathi Kendra Learning Centre, Chennai. And he was a Labrador, fondly called Dr Moosa, who left for his heavenly abode recently. A tribute to this angel who helped many children in need. Moosa’s first steps in SKLC…. Moosa and Sherry were two black Labrador cross siblings who arrived…

Many pet parents attribute the dominating nature of their dog for all their bad manners. Here’s why it is wrong and what should be done towards a well-behaved dog. The excuse for a disobedient dog… “He is very dominant.” Of all the words used to describe the goofy dog who was vying for my heart on the adoption floor, these are the ones who stuck with me. “He won’t start any fights but he won’t…

Canine Fest 2011 organised by Pet Club India in collaboration with Max Vets multispecialty hospital and German Shepherd Club, Delhi on 24th December 2011 in New Delhi was meant to pamper pets with loads of playful activities including a fashion show in which they got the chance to socialise and enjoy all day long! Objective… Pooches need activities to keep them busy. In case of failing to direct…

A platform wherein people who love dogs came together to share their pets’ skills, talents and activities, Dog’s Day Out was a carnival organised by Obedience and Agility Club of India (OACI) on 18th December 2011 in New Delhi. Dog agility… Dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dog agility was first demonstrated…

Before you decide to get a breed of dog based on his look or image, you need to think about what it was originally bred for. For instance, can you handle a Terrier digging garden, or an Australian Cattle Dog chasing other animals? Here’s how to choose the right breed. When choosing a dog, there are several questions any future pet parents must ask themselves: “Do I have time in my busy schedule…

Together, a man and a dog can use helicopters to save lives at sea! The dog can even swim with the survivor holding onto his life-jacket! Here’s more on this incredible act of human-canine relationship.Picture this! Pleasant climate and a beautiful sunny spring morning at the banks of Lake Iseo (north Italy in the Central Alps). The Mediterranean vegetation, olive groves and vineyards offer a…

Choosing the best puppy for obedience work is not an easy task. There is no one who can guarantee that perfect puppy for the work she may be intended. Just as all human siblings are different with different abilities and coping levels, so are dogs. Deciding on a puppy’s future before she has had time to develop her own personality, her own gifting, coping skills, her relationship with her pet…

Dog licking is normal to them - they do it to greet one another and tend to use licking to evaluate their environment. A dog’s tongue is just as important to them as our hands are to us. It is used to taste different things, explore new animals and people, express submissiveness, and acknowledge that they value your friendship and companionship. Why do dogs lick? Most people wonder why their dogs…

Your pooch is an epitome of love and he deserves to be loved and cared for. Here are seven ways to bond with your sweet canine... Exercise – Dogs are derived from wolves and need constant mental and physical stimulation. What better way to start the bonding process by taking him back to nature by letting him smell, run and jump around! This gives him the perfect outlet to shed all that built up…

You have undoubtedly experienced frustration with your best buddy, from time to time. And, even though you know it’s not always your dog’s fault, blame is easy to cast when your emotion runs high. Behavioural problem with our canine companions is considered to be a common trouble faced by almost every dog owner. The dog’s mind... All dogs have evolved from wolves. The dog’s mind is filled with the…