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How to give your dog a bath

Bath time, it could turn out to be a looked forward event or a dreaded event for your dog. It all depends on what you make out of it.  Be sure you set aside enough time to complete this event.  This will make your dog more comfortable if you are not rushed.

Dirt and odors love dogs, which makes learning how to give a dog a bath an essential part of caring for your pet. You may have visions, or past experiences of your pet tearing through the house all soaped up and shaking water all over your new furniture. Remember bath time dosen’t have to be an occasion to dread, if you plan ahead and give your dog a bath he’ll enjoy.  Have patients with your pet.I am a groomer and believe me when I tell you patients is awarding for both you and your dog.   I have a couple clients that have dogs that only have three legs , one is terrified of water, but all these dogs have trust in me, I have taken the time to show them how to stand, how to relax in the tub, bath time can be frightening to many pets. 

If you have read “about Cheyenne” in my blog, you will understand that not all dogs are the same.She used to be scared when I bathed her, she would hit the panic button big time!  I never would get upset with her, and showed her I wouldn’t hurt her and that bath was a good thing.I still have to be very slow with Cheyanne, but she has accepted bath time without much trouble.

First you want to gather you bath supplies, collect all the supplies you’ll need for bath before you start.  Some of the essential dog bath supplies that I like to use include:

Brush or comb: Have on hand the appropriate grooming brush or comb for your dog’s coat. One of my best recommendations is the Soft Rubber Dog Brush – Removes loose hair like a magnet, stimulates capillaries and natural oil production for healthy skin and coats.

Dog Shampoo and Cream Rinse: Be sure to use a Shampoo and Cream Rinse formulated for your pet.  Product made for people don’t have the appropriate pH balance for dogs and this in turn can damage the coat and skin. I like to use an Oatmeal base shampoo; it seems to help with the itches. 

Small Cotton Balls: These are for there ears, you need to keep water and soap clear of their ears.

Plastic Pitcher or Removable Shower head:  The pitcher works great if you don’t have a removable shower head for wetting and rinsing you pet.

Lots of Towels for Drying your pet.

A couple optional items you might like to use when you give your dog a bath are special ophthalmic ointment to keep your dogs eyes from being burned by the shampoo this is available from your veterinarian or a pet supply store, and an ear dry solution if your dog has a lot of ear infections.

Eight steps for bathing your dog:

When you have everything gathered up, its time to give your dog a bath!  A word of warning is be sure to close the door to the bathroom or whatever room you’re using to bath them, you don’t want any escapee’s…

Step one: Brush you dog

Be sure to always brush you dog before giving them there bath (this is also an important step in weekly dog grooming) you want to remove loose hair, tangles, and mats – bathing them before your do this will only make the tangles worse.

Step two:  It time to jump into the tub

Place your dog into the tub, if they will climb in the tub this is very helpful if not gently place your pet into the tub, remember you don’t want to scare them.  This is when you will want to put the cotton balls in the ears and apply the protective eye ointment in there eyes if you’re so inclined.

Step three: Get your pet wet!

Comfort to your pet is critical, make sure the water is lukewarm.  Start from the front and move to the back and the underneath, save his head for last – a dog with a dry head has less of a tendency to shake, since the best shakes start from the front and move back.   You can keep a better hold of your pet with his hair dry around his neck and head.

Step four: Time for the Shampoo

You will want to use a generous amount of shampoo, (but go easy on the shampoo around his head and ears).  Work the shampoo in to nice lather starting at the neck and moving back to the tail.When shampooing be sure to get ther belly and between the toes.  If your dog has a longer coat, be sure to squeeze and press the shampoo through his hair rather than rubbing it, this can cause tangles.

Step five:  Rinse and repeat if necessary

Rinse out the soap completely, Turn you hand over your dogs and check for any left over soap.  Soap left on your dog can cause skin irritation.  Be thorough when rinsing!  If you dog is real dirty and smelly you may have reapply the soap to the offending areas wash and rinse again. 

Step six: Wash the face last

Wet you dog’s head carefully and use your fingers or wash cloth to soap up his skull, muzzle and ears.  Keep the soap away from his eyes.Rinse everything again from front to back and do one last check for soapy residue that may need rinsing. 

Step seven:  Apply the cream rinse

Once you have your dog completely rinsed, it is time to apply the Cream Rinse.  A good hint for this is to mix your Cream Rinse half and half with water, this way the cream rinse isn’t to thick and it won’t go on to heavy.Work the cream rinse evenly all over your pet. I like to try and comb or brush the cream rinse into there coats, I feel this enhances their coat, and helps eliminates snarls in there coats. Be sure to rinse your pet thoroughly front to back as you did when you shampooed your dog.

Step eight: Prepare Yourself for the shake!

Remove the cotton balls from your dog’s ears.When you hold a towel up between you and your pet, they can shake themselves almost dry and you don’t get a shower.Then use the towel to dry as much of your dog as possible.If your pet has long hair remember to pat them dry this will help avoid tangles.If your dog will stand still for this, you can use a blow dryer to help dry them.  After a pleasant bath your dog may go nuts!Expect a sudden burst of craziness – rolling and running threw the house.  Keep them inside and out of drafts until they are completely dry.I have found that where ever your pet likes to lay, place a towel there to help absorb any excess water. 

That is it; you are all done with your pet’s bath.  See it isn’t that bad.  Bathing should be a regularly practice with good dog grooming.  Make sure you have the appropriate grooming supplies and equipment on hand and close by saving lots of confusion and trouble during there bath time. 

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It is probably true that you want your dog to be healthy and happy.The main influences on your dog's health and well being are a nutritious diet and getting enough exercise.  This could also affect the way your dog behaves and could be a cause or a cure for problem dog behavior.

There is no reason to believe that certain foods do not affect dogs in the same way that some foods affect humans.  Some humans are sensitive or even allergic to certain foods and food additives.  This sensitivity causes a variety of reactions, one being hyperactivity in children.  It is a possibility that if you have dog problem behavior, and training does not seem to be working, that your dog could be sensitive to something that it is eating.What happened the last time that you ate something that didn't agree with you.Did you feel really happy and ready to play?What if there was no other choice but for you to eat it?Dogs don't have the option to change their food, they must eat what their owners feed them.

Ingredients in a large number of the commercial dog foods available today are primarily carbohydrates, fillers and additives.  The high carbohydrate concentration alone can cause wild swings in blood sugar levels and can in turn, cause dog behavior problems.  Dogs evolved from primitive wolves, however, they are not exclusively carnivores.The prey of wild wolves eat plants and the wolves will eat the stomach contents of the prey.  You have also most likely seen your dog eating grass.If it was choosing its own food, your dog would choose to eat food that it could easily digest.Because of this, veterinarians often prescribe a lamb and rice diet for dogs with certain health problems.

A high quality, protein based food that also contains the essential nutrients that an animal would derive from plants, roots and berries should be chosen to ensure that you dog gets proper nutrition.It might be hard to find a product that has these ingredients in today's market place, but they do exist and you should be able to find one with some research.To help your dog to be healthier and possibly even improve its behavior, proper nutrition is essential.

If you are a dog owner facing dog behavior problems, you probably sometimes feel at a loss for what to do. It’s possible you’ve tried everything you can and you still have a problem. Maybe your dog’s behavior is starting to interfere with your quality of life.

Are you aware that dog behavior problems will affect the quality of life for your dog? Teaching your dog discipline is good for her as much as it is good for everyone else involved. This can be easier said than done. Maybe you feel like you don’t know what to do about these dog behavior problems?

The first step is to understand the problem. You need to know why your dog is having a problem before you can start to do something to correct it.

Some types of dog behavior problems include:

· Excessive barking

· Biting or chewing

· Digging or destruction of property

· Aggressiveness to people or other animals

· Wetting in the house/ marking territory

Of course this is just a small example of the types of behavior problems your dog might have. It can be a behavior problem in itself if your dog resists the training or discipline you try to give her.

You should first rule out any physical or health conditions that could contribute to the problem. Once you’ve done this, you can begin training programs to improve your dog’s behavior. It’s also better when you can that you do the training programs with your dog.

There are two different reasons for this; first, you need to be confident in giving your dog the commands and in rewarding and disciplining your dog. The second reason is that you want your dog to be familiar with hearing you say commands and make requests. You can then grow closer to one another because of this.

When you can’t do it yourself at home with self-training tools, you might decide to bring a dog trainer in who can work with you and your dog together. As a last resort, you may send your dog to some type of dog training program but if you do this, you still need to get some dog training classes in of your own so you know how to handle your dog when she comes back.

You can avoid common training mistakes by using websites, CDs, DVDs, books and more to help you train your dog. With this, you can fix nearly any type of dog behavior problems that you have now or that may ever arise in the future.

Now that you have an idea of what resources are available to stop dog behavior problems, you’re ready to start taking advantage of them yourself today. You should certainly have a happier and more well behaved dog when you can. This will be a great thing for the both of you.

New owners need to take time to work with dogs or they will develop behavioral problems. Behavior problems can be prevented if you train puppies early. There is still time, if you haven’t started from day one. It’s worth the time and determination to teach you dog. All dog owners dream of a well behaved dog to show off.

Change Dog Behavior Problems

Training Method

The best method in training a dog is using positive training. Rewarding a dog for good behavior is part of positive training. This is a good way for the dog to know everything is okay. Start training you dog in short sessions. One step at a time for slow consistant progress. Learning takes time for all animals, a dog is no exception. There are a few things you as a dog owner can learn about unwanted behavior; prevent it, ignore it, or teach an alternative behavior. Teaching dogs positive behavior over negative ones is best. Owners need to take control of bad behavior in their dogs and turn it around to a correct response. Owners need to reward the good behavior and correct the bad ones.

Behavior Problems

Knowing the reason for behavior problem is the first step in fixing it. A lot of owners want to know why is my dog doing these bad bahaviors?  Most of these behaviors are caused from aggression, boredom, or possessiveness. Most of these behavior problems can be solved by finding out why the dog is reacting this way. Behavioral problems can be corrected with a little patience from the owner. Solving behavioral problems can be challenging, but worth the effort.

Dog’s Bad Behavior Solutions

Who is the Leader?

All dogs have a pack animal mentality. There is always a leader in the pack. To have better control of your dog, the owner need to be leader. Establishing the leadership control over your dog will allow for easier training down the road. To change any behavior problems with your dogs, the owner and dog will need to work has a team. Using scare tactics on your dog won’t get the desired results, it’s best to have him wanting to please you.

Dogs with behavioral problems can be fixed with training. Positive training can improve the relationship between dog and owner. A dog will listen better and be easier to be around when fixing behavioral problems. The result that positive training focuses on is getting you dog to do what you want. Bad behavioral problems can result from a dog not knowing his role. A dog need obedience training to understand the rules of the house.

Change Dog Behavior Problems

I know from experience that even the best dogs are not always well behaved and do have behaviour problems.  Try to imagine trying to deal with 2 English Mastiffs, and a little Yorkie Poo.  They’re next to impossible to cope with when they’re all together which is reasonably often .  However, you can learn the tips that i did and how I discovered a way to control my dogs better than I have ever managed to before!  Some of the things I am going to tell you about is coaching, positive reinforcement, and consulting with your vet to rule out possible health worries. 

One of the first things I had to do to help me out with my dogs was find a dog teaching program.  My partner was not to enthusiastic on the concept, but after they were obedience trained he was quite happy because they were no longer dragging him through the yard.  So that little training helped incredibly.  I feel that coaching can help dogs of any age or size.  They can even help with dog behaviour issues. 

The following thing that I did to help address my dog behavior problems were to start with positive reinforcement.  I know that could be a simple psychological issue to deal with the difficulties, but it does work quite well .  I revealed that when they misbehave if I ignore them and not show any affection of any sort towards the dog it manages to modify their perspective quickly.  Most dogs do love having attention given to them and without that attention then they sometimes will correct the naughty behavior quickly .  However, you must remember that when the dog does something good you have got to give them love immediately.  I generally give a pat on the chest which according to classes that I have went to makes them feel proud of what they did.  I have used treats as a reward at certain times principally when training them to come after I let them off of the leash. 

While those solutions often work for dealing with your dogs behavior you could have to consult with your vet to help address the issues.  I have had to do that for my pussy even because her behaviour is so awful.  Sometimes as is the case with my cat he prescribed medicine for her.  That could be what your dog desires to fix any behavior issues that keep repeated.  Remember that your infrequently your dogs behavior could be due to health problems so be sure to check with your vet before trying anything else. 

So if your dog has behavior issues you can try a selection of things.  Some of those things include consulting with your vet about possible health issues, positive beefing up, and dog coaching.  A combination of all those things maybe needed which is what I had to do with my dogs.  Principally the training and positive re-strengthening which seemed to help out the best since they were only puppies, but in your older dogs it perhaps that they are experiencing health issues so you do have to take into consideration the age of your dog before taking any steps to correct the behavior. 

I am living in South Carolina with my wonderful partner and two beautiful youngsters.  I have two English Mastiff puppies, a Golden Labrador, and a Yorkie.  I also have two cats who came to us as strays.  I like sewing, crocheting, and managing to take care of my zoo at the house.  Since I have so many pets I have got a robust interest in animal issues.

Despite his training or lack thereof, your dog may conduct behavior problems some time.It’s important to act on it as soon as you recognize the problem.It will be a whole lot easier to change a behavior in the young rather than the old.In any case, it’s always best to nip it at the bud.You don’t want to reinforce the negative behavior by ignoring it.

Before reading on, take a look at this article Interesting Secrets To Dog Training Review .

Here are some quick tips to address typical dog behavior issues:

1.Buy your dog some toys.When bored, dogs grow restless and start digging.Digging is not entirely harmless; it can become dangerous when your dog eases himself out of your yard.You don’t want your dogs to cause damage biting or digging on furniture.Worst, if your dog unknowingly chews on a live wire, he’d get himself toasted.So keep you dog busy.

2.Relax with your dog.Have your dogs befriend other dogs or animals.Dogs are pack animals; they’re more comfortable with people or other animals around.Dogs bark too much when struggling with separation anxiety.When living in an apartment, it’s best to keep your dog’s barking under control.Otherwise, your neighbors could call the cops and complain.

3.Have a spot in the house for puppies.It’s not smart to leave your house unsupervised with untrained dogs up and about.Untrained pups will chew your houseplants, pee on your carpet, and poop on your furniture.For your own peace of mind and to keep them safe, lock your pups up in a room where all they can do is poop on the floor.Just be certain about having them with enough food and water supply.

4.Have your dog undergo a physical exam.If your dog has serious behavior problems, you want to make sure it’s not because of some physical defects.

If your dog is constantly jumping, check this page Ways How To Stop Dog Jumping.

Resolving Specific Issues.

Although you need to exert an effort into it, behavior modification is an excellent method to resolve your dog’s issues.To be effective, your solution must approach the problem by dealing with its root cause.If it is indeed behavioral, a dog’s problem is a reaction to something.You’d be better able to help your dog respond appropriately if you knew whether his reaction is because of fear, redirected aggression or perceived threats to his territorial claims.The solutions can be as easy as the above suggestions or as in depth as clicker-training an old dog.Whatever the case may be, it’s very important to get to the bottom of it.

For more on this, check out Stopping Dog Behavior Problems .

When the owner terms the dog as bad, perhaps they should look at their own behavior. It is frustrating when a dog simply jumps on your clean clothes as you are taking a walk down the road. This can also happen when the dog next door leaves his tell tale marks on your front yard. Just like the kid next door who has not been taught any manners, these dogs can be compared to them.

Why blame the animal (or the kids) when the adult who’s supposed to be in charge isn’t acting responsibly? Ask any smart owner and he would tell you that it is wise to take the help of a dog trainer to learn the handling methods without dampening his natural spirits. Either you contact your vet office or pet store to get to meet a trainer or seek online help from a dog training book or from online dog training tips and tackle your pet problem before it goes out of hand. A section of this training is involved with tutoring the owner how to handle his pet.

Many times trainers comment that dogs are easier to train than their owners. Dogs that must be leash trained for walking in public or at the park need practice; this begins around the yard or in a smaller location. Both owners and neighbors get angry when they hear barking which although irritating is quite normal behavior. Shouting or punishing your pet for engaging in this normal communication is counterproductive – as well as confusing to the animal.

So why does a dog bark?
Often, dogs bark because they lack attention or need food and water. The noise of a dog barking can alarm the owners of a burglar intrusion so attempting to stop him from doing this may work against you. Many owners make the mistake of letting a puppy bark as they please but change their attitude when they grow older. The trainer can coach you how to instill the behaviors which you prefer in our puppy.

How do you make your new puppy stop the undesired behavior?
Once your pet is rewarded regularly for good behavior they will begin to stop displaying the negative traits. Most important to note: you can not expect a dog to learn certain behaviors which are against his genetic behavioral pattern. You should look into breeds that exhibit particular characteristics if you want them from your pet.

When does a dog become good?
Well, when you train them with patience, resolve and of course, a great deal of affection.

A common mistake that many people make when training their dogs, whether house training, obedience training, or teaching them entertaining tricks, is using various forms of punishment when the animal doesn’t do what they want. Misinformed dog owners often use methods such as hiting the dog with a stick or locking them up on their own for ages.

This is very detrimental to the pet-owner relationship, and to the dog’s emotional wellbeing. If you persist on using these punishments whilst training then be prepared to produce a fearful and disrespectful dog who will not see you as someone to follow. If you got your pet from a shelter or rescue things can be a little difficult as these dogs have often suffered in previously abusive relationships making it harder to gain their trust and respect.

Not only is punishment damaging to your relationship and your pet’s emotional health, it’s not effective either. More often than not, punishing your dog leads to defensive, aggressive behaviors. Behaviors of this sort, once set it, will take some work to rectify. The quickest way to seeing the results you want is through positive reinforcement.

Instead of punishing your dog for unwanted behaviors, reward them for good behaviors. This is a great technique which will be very effective in many different circumstances. For instance, if you see your pet going to the toilet on your floor then take it outside as soon as you have firmly told it “no”. Watch your dog very closely. The moment that you notice them using the bathroom in the correct place, praise them in an excited, happy tone of voice, and offer a food or toy treat as a reward.

It won’t take long for your dog to make the connection between the bad behavior and your disapproval, and the good behavior and your praise. Pack leader status will be given to you by dogs and they just love to make us humans happy. This genetic hardwiring of your dog to make you happy works for you in the process of training.

The same principle applies to any situation, be it unnecessary barking, chewing on furniture or objects, jumping on or licking people, or any other of a host of annoying and potentially dangerous habits. The most important part of dog training is your ability to remain patient and consistent. It wont take long before you see that your efforts are really paying off

Food aggression is most often seen in dogs who are rescued from homes where they were abused or neglected. Some types of aggressive food behavior are bites, growls and snarls. You may see your dog snarling or growling at you as you approach its food bowl.

Self-preservation is the most common source of food aggression, and the easiest to correct. In these cases, dogs feel the need to protect their food, from fear of it being taken away. This could be as a result of a former owner of the dog being abusive or that your dog feels neglected and under fed causing it to guard its food. Food aggression doesn’t always come from owner abuse or neglect, however. If your dog’s previous owner had other pets, those animals could have run your dog off of its food.

If you feel that this is the case with your dog, all that’s necessary to correct the behavior is time, patience, and lots of love. You have to convey to your dog that you are to be trusted, that there is no competition for the food and that you are the provider for it. Be sure that your dog sees you pour their food and place it for them to eat, rather than readying the food and then letting the dog into the room.

Go slowly. Sitting near to your whilst it is in eating mode is a good place for you to start off. For the first few times, stay silent. You will want to make sure that your dog can see you but be careful not to make them jumpy. As nerves play a big part in aggression you will want to talk softly to them whilst they eat and reassure them that it is ok that you are present. Finally, your dog will trust you enough to let you remove and replace its food bowl without any sign of aggression. If they growl or snap, simply back away, and sit silently. It is imperative that you do not shout at, or physically punish your dog. Instead, praise them profusely when they allow you to handle their food or touch them while they are eating.

If you are consistent with this training, you will see positive results very quickly.

Let me ask you a simple question.  Do you know the triggers for fear aggression in dogs?  If not, then you need to read this article to learn more about this type of canine aggression.

Fear Aggression In Dogs

This is one of the most frustrating types of dog behavior problems.  Your dog may not hate all strangers; just certain ones.All men may be the object of his displeasure, or he may zero in on men who wear hats or who have beards.  He may absolutely detest kids under five, but older children are fine.  He may be fine with strangers outside the home, or he may bark at anyone who walks by the house.  

You can use dog behavior modification techniques to desensitize your dog to strangers.  But in order to do so, you need to identify exactly what it is about a stranger that’s scaring him.

Common Triggers For Canine Aggression In Fearful Dogs

Men often seem more threatening to a nervous dog than women do.  They’re bigger, their voices are deeper and louder, they may have beards or moustaches, they may wear hats.  Men have a more direct way about them.They are more direct about making eye contact, too.  Sometimes a man may remind your dog of someone who scared him or abused him in the past.

Just having a few chldren around may be enough to frighten a nervous dog, leading to aggressive behavior.They have high-pitched, squeaky voices, and their movements are fast and unexpected.  They’re sometimes attached to scary things like skateboards and roller blades.Noisy toys may also come with small children; a nervous dog may be terrified by the sounds.  

Kids also have a tendency to grab dogs with no warning and hug them.With an unfamiliar dog, this can be dangerous.  Most dogs don’t like to be hugged anyway.  Teach your children never to hug a dog, especially one they don’t know.

Any dog finds it threatening if someone makes prolonged eye contact with him.  This is especially true with a nervous, fearful dog.  Avoid looking a strange dog directly in the eye.  Look down or to the side instead.

Someone who’s just walking down the street fast or very slowly can be scary, too, especially if they appear to be coming right at your dog.  Anything out of the ordinary can be unsettling for him.

Strange movements, like somebody jumping around or waving their arms about, will catch a nervous dog’s eye.Unfamiliar smells on a stranger, like cigars or beer, can be scary for your dog, too.

Sometimes it’s not something as obvious as any of these things. You’ll need to spend some time watching your dog and making notes of which trigger, or combination of triggers cause him to display fear-based aggression towards strangers.

Dog Behavior Modification Can Help

Punishing a dog who displays canine aggression towards strangers doesn’t work.  Dogs learn by associating things.  So punishing a dog who’s already aggressive towards strangers only serves to teach the dog that strangers really are bad.  He gets the idea that if a stranger shows up, he gets punished, so he gets even more aggressive towards new people.

What you need to do is to desensitize your dog to strangers.  You do this by associating strangers with good things, like tasty treats.  Dog behavior modification is a long, slow training process that can’t be rushed.

A good dog training course can be worth its weight in gold when working with a fearful dog.  When looking at courses, you’ll want to choose one that has lots of good testimonials from dog owners who have used the course material.  It’s also important to find a course that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.  Another essential feature you’ll appreciate is a dog owner forum where you can ask questions, and talk to other dog owners who have solved the same problem with their dogs.

This is the easiest way you’ll find to to deal with fear aggression in dogs.

Visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about fear aggression in dogs.