Nonitage

Bonding with your sugar glider is not an easy job. Even though you bring them home and give them a nice place to live, it can still be a rough road. The good thing about sugar gliders is that they are very social and can easily bind with you. All it depends on is the amount of time you spend with them - the more time you give, the more you gain their trust.

Following are some tips that may be helpful in terms of making a strong relationship with sugar gliders.

• The first mistake that many parents make is that they fill the cage with many toys. Do not do this. Sugar gliders are social animals, and if they have too much fun, they may not be interested in you.

• Sugar gliders have the ability to recognize the members of family through their smell. For bonding, use a small cloth and wear it close to your skin for a day or so, then place it near the sugar glider’s sleeping area.

• You can also use a Bonding Pouch, a small fabric pouch that is worn around the neck. Through this, your glider will familiarize your voice and scent.

• Do not show fast and sudden movements around your glider - this will frighten them, making them react seriously to your movements.

• Always use a soft and comforting voice to call your sugar glider. They will definitely react to your sweet voice and you will gain their trust.

• Look after your sugar glider with great care and attention, just like a baby. Do not hold them tightly or chase them in a cage - this could scare them and make them less likely to trust you.

• Do not look and put your hands in their pouches, let their sleeping area be a safe zone for them.
These are just few tips that might help you in terms of bonding with sugar gliders. Gaining their trust is not so hard, but it requires your attention and softness towards them. Sugar gliders are completely social animals, and they love to stay in crowded places and have fun. Now it’s up to you in terms of how you will gain their trust.

You can make a special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary very memorable by presenting a unique gift to dog lovers on your list. What dog lover wouldn’t love to be presented with a rare breed like an Akita, American Bulldog, Bulldog, Collie, Poodle, or Terrier? When you select a dog, you should know what breed he or she prefers most. Each breed has its own unique features. A dog that fits the particular physical traits and personality of its new owner would be a great gift. Another wonderful gift idea is a wireless dog collar with a remote control or a dog collar embellished with jewels.

Always look for novel ideas when selecting a gift. A dog music box is a much sought after gift, as are paintings and crafts, ceramics and wooden items, posters, stained glass artifacts and painted tiles. Dog-themed greeting cards and dog birthday cards can also serve as unique gifts. Dog gift baskets containing dog clothes, food items and dog accessories are a reliable choice, and anything hand is extra special — making a great gift for a dog lover.

Personalized dog lover gifts are a wonderful way to go. Anything can be personalized: dog clothing, dog jewelry, dog dishes, dog beds, and so on and so forth. You can scour the Internet for unique personalized dog lover gift ideas and choose one that suits your dog loving friend and his or her dog. If you commpare prices, you will end up getting the best deal.

“On Trust” & “Paid For” for are one of the oldest dog tricks
that afford as much entertainment as anything a dog can do since
the early 1900s. It is not the easiest trick to be taught but
can be elaborated on and presented in several different forms to
impress most people.

To teach this trick call your dog to you, allowing him to stand
up or sit down, as he desires, and hold his head steady with on
hand, while you balance a piece of treat on his nose.

Say to him, “On trust, on trust,” steadying and restraining his
head from moving with one hand and holding up a threatening
finger with the other and repeating the words, “On trust, on
trust”.

After which, release his head, saying “paid for,” and give him a
little chuck under the chin, that will cause him to toss the
treat up and catch it. Of course, in his earlier attempts he
will not be able to catch the treat, but he should be allowed to
eat the treat after it land on the floor.

Continuous repetition of this training will produce efficiency.
Over time you should stop restraining his head with your hand
and allow him to balance the treat on his nose until you give
him the words “Paid for.”

He can also be taught also to hold the treat between his teeth
and not to swallow it until told to do so. This trick can be
made more impressive by holding a conversation with your dog.
For instance, you might say: “Buddy, old man, here is a very
yummy piece of treat, but it is ‘on trust.’”

Slightly emphasize the word “trust” and then go on and say: “I
am glad you dislike to eat things on trust, but this I have just
learned has been ‘paid for,’” emphasizing the words “paid for.”

Your dog can also be taught to toss the treat on hearing a
certain number. To teach this, balance it on his nose and hold
his head while you count plainly and deliberately, one, two,
three, and then chuck him under the chin. Until he has had a
great deal of practice he will toss it up as promptly at one,
two, four, as he will at one, two, three, but he must be drilled
until he will not toss it until he hears “three,” and it will
make it easier for him if you slightly emphasize the “THREE”
word.

In time you can use many combinations of figures and he will
wait until he hears the emphasized “three.” In working him do
not make him wait too long before you say “three,” and allow him
to eat the treat.

“Trust” and “Paid For” dog tricks are considerably difficult to
master and requires plenty of patience from you. Remember, do
not punish your dog if he can’t master the trick, and rather
blame yourself for being a lousy teacher. In any case, enjoy
training and have lots of fun along the way.

I don’t mean talking like “good boy” or “go potty” but the body language
that lets your dog know you are in charge.

Most of the behavior problems owners encounter
are the result of owners letting their dogs take control.

This doesn’t mean being a tyrant or using a formal “heel” process; it just
means being the leader of the pack.

Walking is one activity almost all of us do with our dogs, and one that can
reinforce our position as alpha dogs.

What do owners doi wrong?

Poor posture. People slouch, bend to look down at their dogs, fight with
the leash and generally look stressed out or impatient.

What should owners be doing?

Attach a leash to a body harness rather than a collar for walks.

Louise Louis doesn’t like collars for walks because there’s too much danger
of injuring a Toy breed’s neck by pulling on the collar when walking.

She also doesn’t like retractable leashes as they are too long to
maintain control and keep a dog safe on city streets. Some
cities are prohibiting them for the same reasons.

Her recommendation is a leather leash of 4 to 6-feet for city walks.

The leash handle or loop should be slipped over your left wrist.
This provides more control and decreases the chance that the
leash might slip from your hand.

Position the leash itself across the fingers of your right hand
so you can shorten or lengthen it as necessary.

Position your hands in front of you, just below your waist.

The majority of the leash should be between your right
hand and your dog. You only need about six-inches of leash
between your right and left hands.

Keep your head up and maintain a positive posture.

Unlike many trainers who believe a dog should not be
allowed to sniff, roll, and amble at everything they pass, Louise
Louis believes dogs should be allowed to act like a dog.

As long as he obeys your commands when you give them (come, sit,
leave it), she says to cut him some slack!

The only exception is for male dogs that are constantly lifting
their legs on everything in their path. Don’t continually
stop for this.

You need to train your dog to relieve himself at the start
of the walk. His leg lifting has more to do with his trying
to mark his territory than to relieve this bladder.

If you remember nothing else from this, please keep in mind
the words of the late, great Barbara Woodhouse: head high,
hands low.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and
creator of the popular website on small dogs,
http://www.ToyBreeds.com

Puppies need to go to the bathroom after they play, chew, drink, eat or sleep. Start by putting them on a leash and tethering them to you. That way you can be aware of them when they start sniffing the ground (usually a cue the puppy needs to go potty). Pick them up and carry them outside. When they go potty, tell them “good potty” and give a cookie as a reward. Do not let your puppy off leash until they have finished going so they get into the habit of going potty, then playing. Many puppies will want to go outside just to play if you let them off leash first.

What if my puppy has an accident?

He will. Do not punish your puppy though. If you catch your puppy in the act then clap your hands or pick them up - this will make your puppy stop going. Get him outside FAST and let him finish up out there. Reward him for going outside. Clean up the mess with natures miracle which will remove the odor completely.

Do NOT rub their nose in it, swat them with a newspaper, or isolate your puppy. It will only teach them to not go in front of you.

If your puppy is going frequently in the house you are probably not supervising them enough. Watch and learn their cues. If you feel you are watching and your puppy isn’t getting it you can always have them checked for a Urinary tract infection.

If your puppy piddles when you greet them, this could be submissive urination. This would be a problem that is usually cured by ignoring the behavior and letting your puppy calm down before touching them when you first see them.

This article not only applies to puppies, but it is how you should train a dog of any age. If you can’t supervise your dog, please put them in a crate to help curb accidents. Remember, dogs go where they go most!

This can be a trying time, so have patience and you will get through it.

Training and older dog

Training an older dog can actually be more difficult because the behavior has been learned. The best advice I can offer is to treat them like a puppy. Start from square one. Keep the dog on a strict schedule and reward heavily for pottying outside. If they have an accident, clean it up appropriately and make sure you don’t punish the dog. Afterall they haven’t clearly learned not to go in the house. Always ask yourself if you missed some cues.

You can try hanging a bell on the door and teach the dog to ring the bell. Hold it just in front of their nose, and let them out when the bell rings. Beware of dogs wanting to just go out to be out instead of going to the bathroom.

Amy Dunphy
Dog Training Tips & Advice from the Dog Trainer Search. Find a dog trainer near you!

One of the most common questions dog owners are forced to address is how to train a dog not to bark.

Dogs love to bark. It’s a perfectly natural thing for your dog to do, just as it’s normal for us humans to speak.

It’s when our dogs bark excessively that it becomes a problem for all concerned - including our neighbours.

Considering this, our goal isn’t to to stop our dogs from barking, but rather how to control the excessive barking.

There are of course situations when we want our dogs to bark (and I guess there are also times when I like my chatty aunty to speak!;)

Training our dogs to stop or at least reduce their barking habit can be a very difficult task.

The first step in modifying this problem is to determine the reason why your dog is barking in the first place. Once you’ve identified the cause or trigger, you can then plan your
training solution.

Why Do Dogs Bark?

• To express their needs (being bossy).

• Some dogs are bred to bark (some terriers and hounds).

• They are staking out their territory.

• To alert other members of their pack (that’s you and your family) of impending danger.

• When playing, just through sheer excitement.

• Barking at other animals. Depending on where you are in the world, it could be squirrels
  or any other small animal.

• If they are isolated.

• Some dogs bark excessively when separated from their pack (you and your family).

• If they are trapped behind some type of barrier like a fence or window.

• Just for fun!

• To express dominance (puppies normally test you out at some stage with a display of dominance barking).

• They bark because their owners have inadvertently rewarded excessive barking in the past (this is crucial to understand).

• Through boredom or a lack of physical and mental stimulation.

• May feel stressed or uncomfortable for some reason. Things like feeling threatened or if they don’t have an appropriate place to sleep can cause excessive barking problems.

• Dogs that haven’t been properly socialized often become nuisance barkers.

• May be looking for a response or some attention from their pack.
  

Another thing to keep in mind is that even though it may appear to you that your dog is barking at nothing, this is not necessarily the case. This is due to the fact that your dog
has a much more acute sense of hearing, smell and sight than us humans. Your dogs excessive barking is probably being triggered by something.

How To Stop Your Dog From Barking

Ok, now we’ve sorted out the reason for your dogs barking problem, we can put some training techniques in place to control it.

The most important piece of advice to remember when trying to modify any dog behavioral problem, is to clearly communicate to your dog what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

One of the biggest mistakes us dog owners make is to inadvertently reward our dogs excessive barking. We actually encourage and reinforce the barking problem when we commit these three dog training sins:

1. Yell and scream at the dog - this just gives them the attention they were crying out for.

2. Let them inside. If your dog is barking his head off outside, then you let him in, this just rewards the barking.

3. If your dog is barking and you react by giving him a comforting cuddle or a treat of some sort, you are definitely encouraging your dog to bark again. By doing this you are communicating to your dog that you are happy with him. You should be making it clear that his excessive barking is inappropriate.
   

Right, lets get stuck into some proven techniques to stop your dog from barking. I’ve listed the most common reasons why your dog may be barking, and some suggested solutions you can try.

Dog Goes Crazy Every Time The Phone Rings

This is a very common and annoying time for dogs to bark excessively. Try these training techniques:

• Never yell at your dog.

• Get your dog used to the phone ringing, don’t make it such a big deal. Ring your home number from your cell phone or get a friend to keep calling you. When the phone rings just sit there, don’t say or do a thing. Repeat this process over a few days, your dog will probably continue to bark for a while but will give up before long.

• If you give your dog basic obedience training, behavioral problems such as excessive barking are easily controlled. Your dog looks up to you as their pack leader and is eager to please you in any situation. Teaching the Quiet! or Stop! obedience training command will soon correct nuisance barking problems.

• You may have some success by changing the tone and volume of your ring tone.
  

Dog Barks When You Are Not Home

I’m not going to pretend this type of barking will be easy for you to control, because in reality it is often a difficult and lengthy process.

Always remember that dogs are social creatures, when they are separated from their pack (you) they can become stressed and frustrated. This type of excessive barking is often caused by separation anxiety.

• Firstly I’d say just use your common sense and get these dog ownership basics right. Keep your dog well exercised (physical and mental) and provide fresh water, chewing toys and a nice comfortable place to sleep. You can also try to block your dogs view of the street or other distractions. Basically, make sure your dog is happy.

• If you know your dog has been barking while you have been away, you must ignore him for a while when you return home. I understand this is difficult for lots of owners, but otherwise your dog believes that his barking is the reason you came back home to him. Just go about your business for a little while when you get home, ignoring your dog. When your dog has settled down, you then initiate contact with him.

• This next method takes time and patience, but can be a very effective way to stop your dog from barking. It’s based on that important rule applicable to all training situations.
  Praise or reward when your dog does something good, create a negative association when he does something bad. Leave the house as you normally would, but just hide somewhere nearby. When your dog starts to bark spray him with water or throw a tin can full of coins or rocks in his direction (this is the negative association). Try to keep out of your dogs sight while doing this if possible. Go and hide again, if he is quiet for a while, go in and reward his good behavior with some praise and maybe a treat. This process may need to be repeated over and over until you have broken the excessive barking habit.

• The above techniques have proven to be successful with my own dogs, but if they don’t work for you, maybe you could try a Citronella Collar. Again this method uses the power of negative association. Every time your dog barks, a fine mist of citronella is sprayed into the air. Most dogs hate the smell, and soon realise if they don’t bark, the smell isn’t there to bother them. If you have more than one dog this method is not a suitable solution.
  

Dog Barks For Attention Or To Demand Something

This is one excessive barking problem that can be corrected very quickly.

• If you establish yourself as the pack leader or alpha dog in your owner-dog relationship, this type of barking problem won’t occur. You’ll also form a strong bond with your dog based on trust and respect.

• Another effective method you can try to stop this attention barking is simply ignoring your dog. Your dog will probably become frustrated and bark alot initially, but once he realizes that it is not getting him anywhere, he will stop. This training method can be hard on the ears for a while!
  

Dog Barks At Passers By

Workers like the Postman and Delivery Driver’s are constantly being barked at throughout their day.

Your dog perceives these type of people as intruders or a threat to their territory. The dog then barks and every time he barks he is rewarded, as the intruder goes away. Your dog is then very pleased that he has averted this threat, which leads him to do it again and again. His behavior is reinforced and therefore this can be a difficult problem to turn around.

• If possible, you could try to block your dogs vision or access to the area where these people pass by.

• Dog obedience training is the best solution to this type of excessive barking. Once you have your dog properly obedience trained, you will be able to communicate to him that this is unacceptable behavior.

• If your dog consistently barks at a particular person, you may need this person to help modify your dogs behavior. Just say your dog gets really agitated each time the postman
  arrives. Have a chat to your postman and give him some of your dogs very favorite treats. Each time he delivers to your house, he can also deliver a tasty treat to your dog. In your dogs mind the postman goes from being a threat, to a welcome guest.
  

How To Train A Dog Not To Bark

In extreme cases of excessive barking, where all else has failed, some people advocate debarking surgery. I’ve never needed to go down this path with any of my dogs, and don’t think I ever would. But if you have come to the end of the line and think you have run out of options, you could discuss debarking surgery with your Veterinarian.

Good luck in trying to control your dog’s excessive barking. If you consistently apply the above training techniques and add a little patience, you should have your dog under control before long.

Chris Smith is a dedicated dog owner and creator of
http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com.

Learn how to properly train your dog at home. It’s the best thing you can do for any dog.

I compare my kitten with my kids and the love for my kids is equal to the love I have for my kitten, and that is why I make time to take my kitten pictures as my kittens grown into a lovely adult cat.

When anyone visits my home, they notice how well groomed my kitten is, and how well treated, and they also notice the collection of pictures I have of my kitten, I place my kitten pictures all over my home.

Well, this article isn’t about me or my kitten, it’s about taking better kitten pictures, and here are 5 tips for doing just that:

1. Always try to avoid sudden movements

If you wish to take better kitten pictures, then you should learn not to make any sudden movements and always use better quality high speed film, and use a digital camera with no shutter sound.

2. Lower your camera angle to the height of your kitten

Any kitten picture you wish to take, should be at an angle that is equal to the height of your kitten. This is for much better pictures and also some very cute facial expression that your kitten shows once they start staring down the lens.

3. Always make sure your kitten is well fed

This tip is the most important of all, it is very difficult to take kitten pictures of a hungry kitten, they won’t stand still long enough for you to be able to get one shot. That is why it is so important to make sure that the kitten has just been fed, before you try to take any picture of your kitten. Wait at least 15 minutes after the you just fed your kitten. It is also very wise to study your kitten movements, that way you will be sure when you kitten naps, and what time is best to start taking your kitten picture.

4. Always have a couple of their favorite treats on hand

A tip I leant online, was to always have a couple of your kitten favorite treats with you, that way you will give them a treat anytime they start to get rowdy.

5. Try to keep thing simple

The best kitten pictures I have taken was when they least expected it. I try to keep things simple and never ever try to take too many pictures at a time. The kitten will become frustrated and walks away,and it is very difficult after that to get your kitten to stand still for any more pictures.

Now you that you have discovered a couple of my simple trick for taking better kitten pictures, you can visit my website and post those kitten pictures online, so the world can see the love we have for our cats.

Alexander Marlin, has a web site that host kitten pictures from around the globe. Just drop by and post your kitten pictures or cat pictures, it’s all free.