How To Choose The Right Dog Breed For Your Family

Choosing to get a dog for you or your family can be one of the best decisions you ever made or one of the worst. Having a dog in the home that is ready can lead to years of added happiness. Having a dog in home that is not ready can bring years of unhappiness. If you've made up your mind to get one, then you need to consider the biggest factor in adding a family pet - are you ready for one? If you have weighed all of the pros and cons and realize that a dog is a full time commitment; that it requires food, exercise, and attention, and it can cost a fair amount of money per year to maintain a healthy dog, then all that is left is to decide what type or breed of dog is best for you.

Since you have decided that your lifestyle is suitable for a dog, you need to choose a dog that will match your lifestyle. Do you live an active lifestyle when not at work? Do you spend most of your time in the house or other places indoors? If you have children, are they small or older? There are a lot of things to consider when getting a dog, but it is necessary to have a complete understanding of the situation you are getting into and the situation you are bringing a dog into. A good match between owner(s) and dog(s) is essential to both parties.

Family Dogs - Of all dog breeds today, probably the two most popular for families are Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. They tend to have the best disposition for family life and generally get along with people young and old alike. Young dogs of these breeds tend to have quite a lot of energy, but they will mellow out after three or so years. They get along well young children and don't require much specific training. They do handle a quiet life fairly well, but enjoy walking, playing fetch, swimming and many other outdoor activities. These activities also help to promote a healthy and fit dog.

The Border Collie, the Australian Cattle Dog and the Australian Shepherd also are good family dogs and are very intelligent. They are high energy dogs so they require more physical and mental stimulation than Retrievers or Labs. They will be much happier if they are given lots of exercise and training. Because these are dogs that are very high energy and driven, they may not be best suited for homes with young children. Border collies will instinctively try to herd small children by nipping at them so that is another consideration if you have children generally under the age of eight years old.

Another factor to consider when obtaining a family dog is whether or not allergies to dogs exist in the family. There are some dogs that shed very little, such as the Poodle family and Lhasa Apsos and also short haired dogs such as Great Danes. The Poodles do however require a fair amount of grooming. They require frequent baths and regular clips every six to eight weeks.

Probably the last important factor to consider when choosing a dog is the sex of the dog. Male dogs of most breeds tend to be more sociable in that they like to be in the same place as the people of the family. If everyone is watching TV in one room, it is more than likely that the male dog will want to be there as well. Females, on the other hand, generally tend to be more independent. That is to say that they might go off to another room and lay down by themselves.

Overall dogs are like people. They can have general traits, but personalities can vary from dog to dog. Even though there are general behaviors for a particular breed, a dog of that breed may not necessarily exhibit all of the same traits as another dog of the same breed.


For all of your dog product needs including training resources, collars and leashes, visit: Dog-e-Direct

Start Your Life With Puppy On The Right Paw

So the big day has arrived! You're bringing home your first puppy. It sure is an exciting time, but man it can be scary too. Especially if it is your first kick at the k9 can. I remember each time I've experienced puppy’s first day, just like it was yesterday, but each time my approach has been the same. Well not every time...my very first time was definitely a learning experience, but with every dog since I have used the same methods and practices.
You really need to start off on the right foot or paw so to speak. Ok, ok, enough of the puns. But seriously, how you introduce your new friend to his new home is key to the whole relationship you, your family, and the dog that will form, grow and enjoy for years.
#1 Rule of owning a dog. You are the BOSS. This doesn’t mean that you have to be mean or loud or rule with an iron fist, but you need the dog to learn that you expect obedience and that you are leading the dog. The dog never leads you. This needs to start on day 1 and should always be the way things are.
When you bring Puppy home be very calm and keep the excitement as controlled as possible. If you have children, chances are that they will be very excited, but you need to explain to them that Puppy needs to come in to the house calm and ready to learn. There will be plenty of time (years and years) to show Puppy tons of affection and enjoy play time.
The Second thing that Puppy needs to learn is that she only has access to parts of your home that you allow. In time you can introduce it to different areas of your home, but I feel the best place to start is the kitchen. Why? Kitchens usually have flooring that is easy to clean and there will be lots of cleaning until such a time as you have successfully housebroken Puppy. Oh right! I forgot to tell you what the First thing that puppy needs to learn is.
The First thing that Puppy needs to learn is where he will go to ‘pee’. After a very scary ride home in a pet carrier or even a box, your new little puppy will probably need some relief. Take Puppy from the car/bus/boat or whatever vehicle you arrived in and lead or carry her to the spot in your yard or the nearby park where Puppy will now call ‘washroom’. Allow some time for nature to kick in and once that happens you are ready and need to practice the #2 Rule of owning a dog. Be positive!! Let Puppy know that you are pleased that he pee’d in this area, and that will be ingrained in his mind for ever. Dogs love to please. When you show that you are pleased they will want to repeat the action that caused the praise. Be sure to give Puppy lots of opportunity to visit the bathroom. Dogs are also creatures of habit, so once it becomes a habit to do her ‘business’ in that area she will want to go there whenever the urge comes along and not on the kitchen floor.
So there you have it. The first day is looked after. (The first night is a whole other topic. – article to follow) The power does lie in the time when your dog is still a puppy. Set the expectations, show who is boss and create habits that will last forever.

You should take advantage of this Puppy and Dog training program. It is probably the best one available today and it is now at a great price - $37. You can't go wrong with it and you will end up with a great dog because of the training.

How To Choose A Good Dog Collar

As a dog owner you should be sure you know how to choose the right collar for your dog. The type of collar you choose should depend on what kind of activities your dog is involved in or what your dog's personality is like. No matter what you should choose the correct type of collar for reasons such as comfort and safety.
Some dogs are easy to control and will follow your lead willingly so they will need no more than a regular nylon collar. Other dogs can be stubborn and strong and will require a type of collar better suited for controlling your dog.
There are many other things to consider in when making your choice. For a more complete article, visit Dog-e-Direct.com and view the article: How To Choose The Correct Collar For Your Dog

How to Train Your Dog

Training a dog can be very challenging and difficult, but only if you are not prepared and don't have a good program to follow. Remember always be positive with your dog or puppy. Never hit or be mean to your dog. Dogs naturally like to please so if they do something that pleases you , make sure they know you are pleased and they will want to repeat the action that made you happy. Positive reinforcement is where it's at.