2 Games Your Dog Will Love: Catch-Me-If-You-Can & Bobbing-For-Treats

<p>By Dave Swanborough

Catch-Me-If-You-Can

One of the most popular games dogs play with each other is the game of “catch-me”. They delight in being either the chaser or the chasee. Most dogs are more comfortable in the role of chasee when playing with people. Some trainers caution against play-chasing your dog for fear the dog will learn she can evade you. But most dogs already know you are as slow as a slug.

Before playing this game, you should teach your dog to come when called and you should use distinctive words to signal the beginning and end of the catch-me game. Begin the game with “I’m gonna get you!” and stalk your dog, pouncing at him. Give chase as best you can, but if he leaves you in the dust, either crouch down and wait for him to do a fly-by (when you can pounce at him once again) or turn around and run full blast the opposite way – a sure-fire way to get him headed back in your direction.

Some dogs like to see how close they can pass without hitting you. If you have one of these, stand perfectly still so you don’t run into the dog’s path. A high-speed collision with a dog is very dangerous for both of you. At the end of the game, give a game-over word such as “finished” and call the dog to you using his regular recall command. Give him a treat and take a break.

Bobbing-For-Treats

This game will give your dog the ability to pick up floating or sunken objects from water, plus it’s fun watch with other dogs that join the dog-party! It is basically the canine version of bobbing for apples. Since no self-respecting dog is going to get his muzzle wet for an apple, all you need to do is substitute dog biscuits, hot dog slices or other treats. Experiment to find some that float on top, some that float just below the surface and some that sink.

If you’re having a summer pool party, you can use a child’s wading pool and let each dog splash around after the treats. For more formal affairs you can use a large bowl or pot. There’s a reason you don’t just fill up your bathtub, though: One sight of it filled with water and all your doggy guests will head for the exit, sure you have a dreaded bath planned!

Fill your pool or bowl with lukewarm water. If you’re using a bowl or pot, change the water between contestants; if you’re using a pool just empty it after the entire contest. Let each dog have a practice bob until he gets one treat. Then start the clock and see how many he can grab in two minutes. Can anyone get them all?

A variation on the theme for ball-crazy dogs is to fill a kiddie pool with tennis balls. See how many balls each dog can pick up and give to his person in one minute. The person is allowed to get in the pool and encourage the dog in any way, and she can take each ball from the dog as soon as the ball is totally out of the water. The person can even help by picking up balls herself – of course, using only her teeth.

About the Author: Dave Swanborough is the Webmaster and owner of All About Dogs a website dedicated to supply resources and information to help all Dog owners better understand their pets needs. http://www.dogscatsdogs.com/

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Food For Your Pomeranian

<p>By Bruno

When it comes to food and nutrition, the Pomeranian is among the dogs needing low maintenance. However, it always helps to take a little care, so that the dog is always in good health.

Pomeranians tend to be extremely fussy about the food they eat. While you might want them to eat a specially formulated food, they might prefer to eat your daily food. Thus, it is necessary for the owner to be aware of the dog diet basics. This way, he can ensure that the Pomeranian gets all the nutrition he needs even if not through a conventional diet.

Meat or Plants: Dogs, being carnivores, are likely to reject all plant food and prefer meat. However, each dog is different. There have been instances where Pomeranians prefer to eat vegetables to meaty dog food formulations. However, you should strive to keep the Pomeranian’s diet more focused on meat-based food, rather than plant food.

Pomeranian Loving Plant Food: If your Pomeranian is among the few that prefer plants to meat, you might be fraught with worry. After all, you might wonder whether your Pomeranian gets all the nutrition it needs through the plant food and fruits that he eats. However, you don’t need to worry. There are special formulations of half-digested plant food for dogs available in the market. These will appeal to your dog, while causing no trouble with his digestive system.

Allergies to Food: At the same time, make sure that the dog food contains plants to which your dog is not allergic. Some dogs shows signs of a problem when they eat corn or soy beans in their food. A good way to tell if your dog is allergic to the food it eats is by checking to see whether he licks his paw frequently or rubs his nose on the carpet. The worst-case scenario would probably be when your Pomeranian vomits after eating his plant-based food. If you suspect that your Pomeranian is allergic to plant based food, do not bother giving him any vegetables or fresh fruits, because they will only cause him trouble. Instead, feed your Pomeranian raw turkey or chicken meat, or even cooked meat.

Teething Issues: You should always ensure that the food you feed your Pomeranian dog does not result in tooth problems. It is best to provide the Pomeranian with dry food, as the dog gets all the nutrition it requires, while avoiding any tooth problems. This is another reason why food eaten by humans is not healthy for a Pomeranian. ‘People food’ can lead to many health problems in the dog, including liver diseases and tooth problems. Specialized dog food is the best choice of food to provide the Pomeranian, as it keeps the dog’s gums and teeth healthy.

Puppy Food: Pomeranian puppies need the same diet that their adult counterparts require. However, the owner should not thrust the raw food to the puppy immediately, because the puppy’s stomach needs to develop further before it can handle and digest raw meat. Instead, introduce the raw food gradually, little by little in his diet. Give the puppy dry and cooked food in little portions at each meal. You can provide him with cooked lamb or cooked chicken. After fifteen minutes have passed, put away any uneaten food. For adult and puppy Pomeranians, you should always leave them with adequate amounts of fresh water at all times.

The biggest reason why Pomeranian owners cannot maintain a proper diet for their Pomeranians is that, these dogs tend to eat more than required when they like the food. However, owners should be aware that Pomeranians do not need large amounts of food. They only need to eat the adequate, healthy amount, and drink a lot of water. Since each dog is different and individualistic, it is best to consult with the vet and come up with a nutritious diet for your Pomeranian.

About the Author: Bruno is a web entrepreneur and social media marketing consultant working for the Norwegian dog community website http://www.Hundefeber.no where he is responsible for recruitment of new community members. He owns a lovely pomeranian and is participating in the Pomeranian Forum on weekly basis.

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Canine Good Citizens

<p>By Kelly Marshall

Training your dog to pass the canine good citizen test is a true honor. This designation was devised by the American Kennel Club. Before enrolling in the course, the owner must sign the “responsible dog owner’s pledge”. Being a responsible dog owner is key to the concept. The owner agrees to take care of the total dog. This includes health, exercise, safety, quality of life and training. They also agree to clean up after their dogs in public areas and to not allow their dog to infringe on others.

The tests include:

1. The dog allows a friendly stranger to approach the dog and handler in everyday situations. The person administering the test will approach the handler and ignore the dog. The dog must not alter its position during the exercise.

2. The dog will sit politely while a stranger pets it.

3. The owner will demonstrate proper hygiene and grooming.

4. Walking on a loose lead.

5. Walking through a crowd.

6. Has been trained to sit, stay and down without force.

7. The dog will come when called from a distance of 10 feet.

8. The reaction to another dog is very important. This is demonstrated by two handlers approaching from a distance of about 20 feet. They stop, speak and shake hands and continue for about ten additional feet. Neither dog shows more than a casual interest in the visiting dog or handler.

9. How does your dog react to distraction? If a chair is dropped, a runner passes the dog or something else happens suddenly, the dog does not run away. He merely observes and remains in the control of the handler with minimal conversation from the owner.

10. The dog can be left with a trusted person. The person evaluating the dog asks if the handler would like him to watch his dog. The handler leaves for about three minutes. The dog does not have to remain in one position, but should not bark continually or become disruptive. The person holding the dog should not give excessive praise or comfort to the dog.

The handlers should use praise during the test either verbally or with petting. Toys, clickers or other items may not be used during the test. Although the use of treats and toys are not discouraged by the American Kennel Club, they are not appropriate during the test.

Any dog that shows even minimal aggression towards another dog or handler is not a good citizen and will fail the test. The only exception is if step ten is held outdoors.

By partaking of Canine Good Citizen classes your dog will be welcome in most situations at home or in the community. It is a program that is designed to reward a dog with good manners. It also stresses responsible pet ownership.

Upon completion of the course, the dog will receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club. If you are considering enrolling your dog in a course, you must already have had the dog go through obedience training.

About the Author: Kelly Marshall is a popular contributor at ohmydogsupplies.com – where you can find a dog beds clearance, dog steps, and more unique dog gear that you’ll never find at your local pet store.

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Dog Treat Jars and You and Your Dog

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How important is a dog treat jar? That is easy. Just think about your own treats. How important are they? Where do you keep them? If they are cookies, they are probably in a cookie jar of some cute design that corresponds with your kitchen dcor. Cake may be under a lid on a cake plate or in the refrigerator. Your mouth waters as you approach any of these because you know what is in them.

Your dog will recognize the fact that when you go to the dog treat jar you are about to produce a tasty morsel for them and there is no doubt that the excitement increases with each step and each movement. You approach the jar and there is pup. You remove the lid and he gets a little closer. Your hand goes into the jar and that is probably when the drooling begins. It is such fun to have a happy dog.

While treats are given for a variety of reasons, the most common is as a reward for some positive behavior. Maybe your dog is in the early stages of house breaking and has just come back from a successful venture outdoors. That is a great time for a treat. Perhaps your bell rang and due to your training the dog did not bark, snarl and growl and followed your command to stay when you told him too. This is another great time for a reward. A dog will learn more quickly to behave well if he is rewarded with every attempt at good behavior.

Perhaps you are feeding your dog RAW and you keep your dog treats in the refrigerator. If so that container is his dog treat jar. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just needs to be full. Unless you are planning on a photo shoot of your home, your dog could actually care less the conveyance that will produce a treat. He just knows it is coming if you are heading that way and he is totally ready.

Some treats do not keep well in dog treat jars. Homemade soft treats will mold more quickly if not refrigerated. In this case you may place a sealed container in the refrigerator and watch as you approach it if your dog is near. It has to bring a smile to your face.

Every dog wants to please their owner. So should every owner want to please their dog? Of course. It will elevate you to the leader status that you should have. By rewarding your dog’s good behavior, your production of rewards from the treat jar will be rewarded by a well behaved dog. It is also safe to consider that you will never go into the kitchen without the dog being close behind, but that is okay. As long as you set limits, it should not be a problem.

It all revolves around setting limits. Arbitrary rewards become meaningless after awhile and your dog expects you to produce at their will instead of yours. Be the leader and pass out treats from the dog treat jar with a conservative attitude. Your pet will reward you for it.

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