How To Have A Happy Dog

If you are quite creative, love music and enjoy dancing, you might like to try the relatively new sport of heel work to music. This is now extremely popular all over the world and has evolved into many different divisions including musical dressage, heel work and freestyle.

Handlers may wear costumes and use some props, while dogs can wear fancy collars. Most dogs really enjoy dancing to music and it’s fun trying to find a composition that suits your dog’s personality and the way he moves.

Can any dog do this?

Yes: A dog of any breed or size, pedigree or crossbreed, can have fun with heel work to music. If you don’t want to compete, you can entertain your family and friends. Some people get pleasure from taking doge to perform for senior citizens or at a children’s home.

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Is your dog very fussy about what he eats? Or is he so greedy that he steals food from your plate when you’re not looking? Food is such a staple of life that when we offer a meal to our dogs and they turn up their noses and refuse to eat, we can be left feeling guilty and frustrated, almost as if we’ve let them down in some way.

On the other hand, it can be very annoying if you are just about to sit down to lunch and turn your back for a moment, only to return and discover that your dog has helped himself! However, whatever the problem, there is always a solution.

FUSSY EATER

Owners who resort to spoon-feeding fussy eaters or constantly tempting them with different flavors and varieties of food, will actually be making the problem even worse.

To encourage your dog to eat, try putting down a daily allowance of balanced, complete food in a clean bowl. If he doesn’t finish it, don’t offer him anything else (particularly not snacks and treats), and just before you go to bed at night dispose of any food left in the bowl. Repeat this the following day and most behaviorists predict that you will see an improvement within a few days. Remember, you have his best interests at heart, so don’t worry that you are being mean.

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There is absolutely nothing wrong with owning a mutt or mongrel dog, and the good news is that there is no evidence that they are any more or less happy than their pedigree cousins.

Mongrels can still be beautiful to look at, and even those that are not quite so aesthetically pleasing can have fantastic personalities and make brilliant pets and loving companions. The great thing about mongrels is that they are totally unique in every way - you’ll never see anyone with a dog that looks exactly like yours!

What’s the difference?

Pedigree: When you buy a pedigree dog you will receive papers giving full details of the dog’s family tree, going back at least three generations. Pedigree dogs are sometimes called purebreds.

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There are a few essential commands that you should make an effort to teach your dog. Even if you teach him nothing else, he should return to you as soon as you call his name, be able to sit on command, lie down, walk to heel and be able to walk on calmly when he is off the lead.

This level of basic training will give you the confidence that you can control your dog in any situation. A happy dog loves learning something new: the mental stimulation helps to keep life interesting for him, and he too will gain confidence from his training.

Happy Dog Tip

If you have a toy breed, don’t think he is too cute to bother with obedience training. Toy breeds can be highly intelligent dogs and they enjoy learning quite complicated commands and tricks.

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Agility is a fantastic sport for dogs and owners of all ages to enjoy. It is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK, Western Europe and the USA. Using voice and hand signals, handlers are timed as they instruct their dogs to negotiate a series of obstacles such as tunnels, jumps and ramps.

If you’ve done some basic obedience work with your dog, you can take this to another level by having a go at agility training.

Can any dog do it?

Any dog - cross-breed, mongrel or pedigree - can take part provided he is over 12 months old, and is reasonably fir and healthy. Before starting any agility training, have a chat with your vet to ensure your dog is physically capable as the sport involves running at speed, jumping hurdles, balancing and negotiating various obstacles.

There are elementary, starter and novice classes available for dogs of all sizes including minis (dogs under 38 cm (15 in) high at the withers). There are also classes for young handlers, seniors and disabled participants.

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Contrary to any myths you may have heard, your growing puppy will most definitely not be happier left entire. He (or she) will constantly want to roam, feel incredibly stressed, aggressive and frustrated, and be at risk of various illnesses. Furthermore, your dog won’t be any happier if you allow him to breed once or her to have one litter of puppies. What your dog doesn’t know, he (or she) won’t miss.

Straying dogs are vulnerable to infections and serious health problems, which can lead to great unhappiness for everyone concerned. Although neutering costs money, it is a long-term investment and will undoubtedly save you more on vet’s bills later in your dog’s life.

When should my puppy be neutered?

Male dogs become sexually mature between six and 12 months, and females between seven and 12 months. Traditionally, both female and male dogs were neutered at around six months of age but today, with safer anaesthetics and better surgical techniques, many vets advise neutering as early as eight weeks. research has shown no adverse effects of early neutering.

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A good trainer will not teach your dog for you, but they will teach you, the owner, to train your own dog. It can be very bad for your confidence in your own ability if your dog will do anything for a trainer but chooses to ignore you!

Your dog should enjoy his training sessions and not appear apprehensive about the experience. You can help him by making training a part of his daily routine, so that it’s not something he associates with a particular place or repetitive sessions and negative experiences. Remember, your dog will be happy to please you, especially if you generous with the rewards you offer him.

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Your new puppy will probably be on his very best behavior at first, and as a new owner you will be so anxious to make him happy that you may be accepting more or less anything he chooses to do. However, once this initial honeymoon period is over, you may uncover a few problems. Generally speaking, these are not difficult to put right and your puppy will be happier for it.

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Congratulations: you are proud new parents. The little bundle of joy you’re bringing home has transformed your world. But how will the other family members adjust to the new arrival?

While you are absorbed by your newborn, your dog may feel jealous and resentful of the attention you’re giving a new member of the ‘family pack’. Helping your dog to adjust to this change is vital if you want to maintain a happy household.

Naturally, your baby will demand the majority of your time and affection. However, sooner or later you will have to ensure your dog happily accepts his new position in the family group. This can be done smoothly by following these suggestions:

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If your dog is overweight he could suffer from serious health problems including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and respiratory problems. He may also be lethargic, sleep more and ultimately have a shorter lifespan.

RESEARCH

Studies show that more dogs than ever are classed as overweight. Some of this is attributed to their owners feeding too much of the wrong kind of food; in addition, an increase in demands on owners’ time makes it more difficult for them to exercise their dogs adequately. A combination of exercise and altered eating habits (not one or other on its own) is the most effective way to achieve and maintain weight loss.

If you take your dog for an annual check-up, his weight will be assessed and your vet can tell you if he is piling on the pounds. This is definitely not a happy situation, but thankfully it can be remedied.

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