Many people believe that the lifespan of the dog should be considerably more than what we expect. And this is due to the foods that we feed our pets.
The pet foods that we buy from the supermarkets have a high percentage of moisture, which leaves very little room for nutrition in the remaining contents. Some of the ingredients such as sodium are added to the dog food to make it more palatable while adding no nutritional value. In fact excessive sodium can be detrimental to the well being of your dog.
The most popular dog foods often use byproducts with added chemical reservatives and artificial colors. All of which can be potentially harmful to your dog. These byproducts have very little nutritional value and are certainly not helping in the overall health of our animals. Carbohydrate levels are often far too high in most of the brand dog foods and this is why there is an excessive number of overweight dogs and dogs that suffer from diabetes.
Obesity and the associated problems that are present from being overweight is one of the main reasons for the shortened life span. Most dog food manufacturers will also use a high percentage of grains to add bulk to the food while doing nothing for the dog’s health. If you live in a warm climate, don’t leave the dog food out all day in the heat.
While dogs have a short intestinal tract, and are unlikely to have problems with food poisoning they can still suffer from contaminated food. Even dog biscuits should be stored in a cool place and not subject to heat.
If we ensure that our dogs get the optimum nutrition, we can expect their lifespan to be considerably more than current levels. It is not unusual for well cared for and well fed dogs that have had optimum nutrition to live past 20 years.
-Adam
Filed under Dog Food & Health by on Jul 1st, 2010. 
There are times when you and your dog will need to be apart Unless you have no intention of ever being apart from your dog, then it is a wise decision to train it to be happy while you have periods apart.
As we have our pets for many years there will generally be times when there is no alternative but to leave your dog alone or with someone else. The sooner they become accustomed to staying on their own as puppies the easier it will be for both you and your dog. It is a lot harder to leave an older dog on it’s own if you have never been apart since it was a puppy.
Dogs can get separation anxiety quite easily as they cannot be told when we will be back if ever and they will assume that you have left them and are not coming back. By training them when they are young they will accept that you will be gone for while and will remain happy knowing that you will be coming back at some time.
I know people who have failed to do this and they have the burden of never being able to leave their dog alone with anyone else. This can make certain situations very difficult and I have seen these people take their dog to a wedding and a funeral and having to check constantly throughout proceedings to see that their dog is happy in their vehicle while they are gone for very short periods of time.
This is unfair on the animal as there can be times when it is not possible for you to be with your dog, in the case of a hospital emergency as an example. If the dog is trained to accept these times away it won’t be a big deal but a dog who has never been apart from it’s owner could be devastated by this time away. It is in your dogs best interests to get used to time apart so if you haven’t done so already, start a plan to help it cope as soon as possible.
Filed under Living With Dogs by on Jul 1st, 2010.
Just as we perform better when we eat the best foods, your dog will also be healthier if you feed it premium high quality pet food. The top brands of dog food, while often a little more expensive also have higher quality ingredients that will give your dog better all round nutrition.
The best foods have a complex range of vitamins and minerals that have been designed to give your dog all the elements that they need in their diet. This applies to their canned foods and also the dry food such as biscuits and nibbles.
These foods also contain a lot less additives and we have shown in a previous newsletter how these additives in the form of preservative, coloring and fillers are detrimental to your dog’s health and fitness. The nutrients that are found in the good dog foods can be absorbed well and your dog will be able to eat less food to get the same benefits.
Their energy levels will be higher and the incidence of obesity will be reduced. Their immune systems will be better and they will be less likely to develop allergies that some dogs are prone to get with skin rashes and other problems with their skin.
Some of the cheaper dog foods contain dyes and these are often the main cause of skin allergies in dogs. You can often tell when a dog has been on a good diet by the condition of their fur, which will have a lot more luster than a dog that has been fed poor quality food. They are also likely to shed less fur as it will be in better condition and that is a huge bonus for anyone who has their dog inside the house.
The premium dog foods are generally better for cleaning your dog’s teeth and this can save money in the long run by having reduced veterinary fees. Having good teeth is one of the essential elements of longevity for a dog so this is a very important factor.
Please note: This article is part of a collection of dog-related content that we purchased the rights to. Opinions expressed may or may not agree with those espoused by Master Dog Trainer Adam G. Katz. When in doubt, please refer to the advice given in Adam’s “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!” This article is provided for your enjoyment, only. It’s relevance to real world working dog training may be limited.
Filed under Dog Food & Health by on Jul 1st, 2010.
Toys, Toys, Toys. Dogs are a lot like children. They love toys. And they love things to play with. Dogs grow older but they never really do grow up do they? And they will always get enjoyment out of having their own toys to play with.
There are so many different varieties of toys on the market for dogs that it can often be quite difficult to know what to buy. All dogs love to chew, and you’ll find that most dogs’ toys are chewable. Toys are essential if your dog is going to be left on it’s own for extended periods of time as they can become bored quite easily.
A good toy can keep a dog amused for hours when they are younger and as they grow older they will have learnt to spend time on their own without fretting or getting into mischief. Many dogs also like to have their own possessions and a good toy is ideal to keep them satisfied.
The best places to look at a wide selection of toys for dogs are the online pet stores that have all you could dream of and ready to be delivered to your door overnight. Take a look and see what you think will keep your dog amused.
Filed under Dog Training Equipment by on Jul 1st, 2010.
Toys Keep Your Dog Entertained Food cubes are great toys to buy for almost any dog as they make the dog think before they can be rewarded with the food.
This can keep a dog entertained for a long time and is a good remedy for a dog that gets bored while you are away. By solving a puzzle the dog will be able to get the food treat and dogs are usually very determined when they know that there will be a food reward for them if they can sort out the puzzle.
Other types of puzzle toys are the biscuit balls, which are equally good at keeping a bored dog entertained. If you are going to be away from home then it is worthwhile looking at buying some of these to keep your dog happy as they pass the hours until you return. Other good toys that don’t require a puzzle for the reward are the doggie potato chips. These come in a wide variety of styles from pig’s ears to hooves and they can last for a couple of days. They are also excellent for the dog that needs to be left alone while you are at work all day, as they will keep them entertained.
There are various different options for the dog that likes to chew and most of these are non-consumable items that your dog can chew on for hours. As they get older you can simply throw them away and replace them with another new one, as they are relatively inexpensive. Fortunately most of these toys are cheap so you can test and try them until you find one that your dog will remain contented with. It’s a great way to stop your dog from getting into trouble while you are away and also to help stop them whining and barking if they are missing you.
Please note: This article is part of a collection of dog-related content that we purchased the rights to. Opinions expressed may or may not agree with those espoused by Master Dog Trainer Adam G. Katz. When in doubt, please refer to the advice given in Adam’s “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!” This article is provided for your enjoyment, only. It’s relevance to real world working dog training may be limited.
Filed under Dog Games by on Jul 1st, 2010.
There is nothing quite as annoying in a quiet neighborhood as a dog that continues to bark all day. There is always a reason why a dog will continue to bark and more often than not it is related to boredom.
Alternatively the dog could be hungry and wanting food or water, or quite possibly they don’t have sufficient shelter from the elements whether in a hot or cold climate. If these problems can be addressed this might be all that is needed to stop the dog from barking all day. You need to be aware of any other factors, and it is wise to ensure that your dog’s needs are being met.
Toys can help relieve the boredom and exercise before extended periods where the dog will be left on it’s own can help to settle the dog down as it will be more likely to sleep while you are away. More often than not the problem lies with a lack of training, as the dog has not been taught to remain silent.
Correct training will not only ensure you have a happier pet but the neighbors will also be happy that your contented dog is a quiet dog that will only bark when allowed or when there is an emergency. Your dog needs to know that it will not be rewarded simply by barking for attention and when it learns that it will get sufficient attention without the need to bark you will have solved it’s barking problem.
Most people are unaware that their dog might be barking all day, as they are away at work and unable to hear the noise. In those situations a friendly neighborhood chat might reveal exactly what your beloved dog is like while you are away.
If your dog does start to bark as soon as you leave the property you can sneak back up on it, ensuring that it cannot smell you by approaching from downwind, and then surprise it and reprimand it for barking. It will then be unsure whether you will return at any other time and will be less likely to continue barking knowing that it will get reprimanded.
Please note: This article is part of a collection of dog-related content that we purchased the rights to. Opinions expressed may or may not agree with those espoused by Master Dog Trainer Adam G. Katz. When in doubt, please refer to the advice given in Adam’s “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!” This article is provided for your enjoyment, only. It’s relevance to real world working dog training may be limited.
Filed under Dog Barking by on Jul 1st, 2010.
Your dog’s behavior is a reflection of you. A dog is as good as its owner has taught it. Family friends of mine have a German Shepherd and as they are an elderly couple they weren’t quite so inclined to train their dog when it was young. After a while of disobedience they decided to take this dog to a dog training school but as would be expected from a dog that has never had any training from a puppy the dog didn’t like the training school.
The easy solution was to discontinue the training and hope for the best. Unfortunately the best will never come from a dog that has not been trained and will not respond to any of their requests. They were disappointed with their pet and assumed that it was because it had a poor personality. Little did they know that having spent some time on this dog when it was a puppy would have given them a pet that they would have enjoyed a whole lot more and they would have had an obedient dog that they would have been happy to take anywhere without fear of it running away and causing trouble.
German Shepherds are intelligent dogs and this dog has been quite bored for most of it’s life as it hasn’t got any purpose in life and will not listen to any commands. After seeing the dog become somewhat depressed I started to retrain it to improve the life of both the dog and it’s owners. Progress has been very rapid as the dog is happy it has some new challenges and loves the attention and rewards that it gets on a regular basis now. It is a lot more sociable and is easier to manage when out in public. The owners are a lot happier and so is the dog.
It just seems a shame that they didn’t persevere so much earlier in the dog’s life and they all would have enjoyed many more years of fun and entertainment.
Please note: This article is part of a collection of dog-related content that we purchased the rights to. Opinions expressed may or may not agree with those espoused by Master Dog Trainer Adam G. Katz. When in doubt, please refer to the advice given in Adam’s “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer!” This article is provided for your enjoyment, only. It’s relevance to real world working dog training may be limited.
Filed under Dog Behavior by on Jul 1st, 2010.
Rottweiler training is different from training other breeds in some ways, yet similar in most ways.
Rottweiler puppy training is really not any different than puppy training any other breed. Namely: Crate training, house training, teaching boundaries and limitations, controlled socialization and drive building. I go into more detail about how to do each of these on our page about Rottweiler puppy training.
Adult Rottweiler training, I start by teaching the dog a progression of exercises. Each exercise builds upon lessons learned in the prior exercise.
When training a Rottweiler, we begin by teaching the dog to walk on a loose leash, using an exercise I call, “The Attention Getter.” Since the Rottie has an extra large (and muscular!) neck, they are physically less sensitive to corrections, compared to other breeds of dogs. To the point of rendering the traditional slip (choke chain) collar ineffective.
Because of this, I’ve found that most Rottweilers do best with a pinch collar (prong collar). Stubborn, highly resistant Rotties may respond better to a remote electronic collar– the stimulation level being adjusted to exactly match the dog’s temperament and motivation level.
In any case, we’re not using the training collar to punish the dog, but rather to “correct” the dog when he exhibits an unwanted behavior.
When Training Your Rottweiler Not To Pull On The Leash – When you hold the leash, you need to keep your hands down by your waist.
- You need to walk at a much faster pace than most people expect, in the beginning.
- Once the dog is walking on a loose leash in one location, you must then work the technique in different areas, too. Usually about 7 to 9 different locations before the dog extrapolates and automatically walks on a loose leash, anywhere you go!
- When you turn (the explanation for this technique is also explained in my book, for those of you who haven’t purchased it yet!) … you need to really come out of that turn as if you just stepped on a bumble bee. This is necessary in order to give your technique that, “Two objects moving in opposite directions” feeling.
- You must incorporate sudden stops. If your dog keeps walking, then you know that he’s not really paying attention, and this will give you another opportunity to do your right-about turn.
This “attention getter” exercise is the foundation of Rottweiler training. You can’t teach your dog anything else, if you don’t first have his undivided attention.
Learning phase– reinforcement phase– proofing phase The order we teach commands is:
1. The Loose leash “Attention Getter” exercise.
2. Boundary/perimeter training. This one is important, because you’ll very distinctly learn what a motivational correction is, if you teach your dog not to walk in the street.
It is also the fastest way to teach the dog what, “No” means in a non-personal, non-confrontational manner.
3. Sit/Sit-stay.
4. Down/Down-stay.
5. Formalizing the heel position. (Not just a loose leash, but also on the left side).
6. Long leash and proofing. Rottweiler Training Around Distractions You should start proofing for distractions first, then move to greater distances– but only progress to greater distances when your dog is wearing the long line.
Without the long line, guess what might happen? The dog learns he can exhibit an unwanted behavior, and you’re not in a position to correct him.
Don’t take the long line off, until your Rottie has been 100% proofed around all type of different distractions and in a variety of different environments.
-Adam
Filed under Dog Training Articles by on Jun 30th, 2010.
“What does his Rottweiler have, that ours doesn’t?” … she whispered to her husband, horrified that their dog was lunging and pulling at the end of the leash.
I’ve heard it a thousand times, when I walk past other Rottie owners.
Hi! My name is Adam G. Katz. I’ve personally owned six of these amazing dogs over the past 17 years and I’ve supervised the training of (literally) thousands. And that’s in addition to the hands-on training of more than 250 in-person clients who paid me to do one-on-one training with their Rotts.
Look at any successful Rottweiler owner. What have they got, that others don’t?
Very little, probably. In most ways, these owners are no brighter or naturally more capable than average. Many of them probably have no more formal training or better natural aptitudes than you.
But that little extra they do have, is important. They have the special knowledge and ability for which any dog owner would be jealous– they know the facts about this breed. And they also have the confidence and self assurance which come from a deep knowledge of the history of these dogs, their traits and their health problems.
You may gain that extra, yourself. You can get that same knowledge and ability– that same confidence and self assurance if you are willing to pay the price in earnest, necessary study.
Breed enthusiasts like us have spent years developing, testing and proving this knowledge, alongside hundreds of professional breeders and kennels. What hundreds of men and women– many just like you– have done, you should be able to do with the knowledge and collective wisdom we have assembled, here too.
But you must be ambitious and willing to studying, seriously. And soon after you start putting this knowledge to good use with your companion, the results will start to show up in your own confidence and with your dog. (I was going to write, “Butchers Dog” … but I was unsure if you knew that was the name these dogs used to be called?)
For what you learn at home tonight is so practical, that often you can apply it immediately.
How much do you want success with your Rott? Can you imagine: Better obedience, a healthy dog, a deeper, more satisfying relationship? And most importantly: Playing an active roll in dispelling the negative stereotypes the media has created about this breed?
-Adam
Filed under Living With Dogs by on Jun 30th, 2010.
Rottweiler puppies. Is there anything cuter? Unfortunately (or fortunately?) you can’t just buy ‘em off the shelf at your local Wal-Mart.
And if there’s some guy selling puppies out in the parking lot… trust me, you don’t want any.
As an intelligent individual, your search for a new companion has most likely led you to the internet. You’ve probably noticed that there is a booming business of “mail order puppies” (for lack of a better term) online.
Which is probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen.
A search on Google reveals hundreds of web sites that will sell you a puppy, the same way you might buy a sweater online.
But buying a rottie puppy is an endeavor that requires time, persistence and effort. Exercising a little patience and research while searching for a puppy online will reward you a million times over. Trust me on this.
Good breeders spend a fortune for their stud dogs and thousands of dollars on their breeding females.
Breeding excellent dogs is a labor of love, not a labor for profit. You can’t make money breeding quality dogs, if you do it correctly. Sure, you can make money if you cut corners and run a puppy mill. But you don’t want to adopt a puppy from a puppy mill.
What does this mean to you? It means that:
Top Breeders Are In It “For The Love Of The Breed”–
And They Don’t Sell Their Puppies To Random Strangers
You better believe it.
Quality breeders care about who they’re placing their Rottweiler puppies with. It’s not uncommon for a breeder to ask you as many questions as you might ask them. A good breeder wants to make sure that the puppy is going to a good home. Especially with this breed, where the propensity to do damage if an owner isn’t 100% committed to the dog can be very high.
-Adam
Filed under Adopting A Puppy by on Jun 30th, 2010.
