Recall

How to get Fido to come to you when called!!

You need a bag of tasty treats and a long lead or 2 leads hooked together.

Take Fido to a area with little distraction.

Feed Fido a little treat (this will get his attention)

Show Fido the treat and step back using a command such as “here” or “come” and when he comes feed and praise him.

Repeat over and over!

AROUND THE HOUSE

With a pocket/ training pouch full of treats call Fido (again use the command you have chosen) throughout the day while going about your daily activities. When he comes treat and praise!

OFF LEASH

IT IS NOT RECOMMEND YOU LET YOUR DOG OFF LEASH IN A PUBLIC PARK UN LESS YOU ARE 100 % SURE YOUR DOG WILL RETURN WHEN CALLED.

In a secure area with little to no distractions get Fido’s attention again by feeding him a small treat.

Show Fido the treat and step back words using a command such as “here” or “come” and when he comes feed him.

Repeat over and over!

AID NEEDED

Each with treats in tow

Pace yourselves about 20 feet apart.

Feed Fido then have your aid call (using the command you have picked) and feed Fido and do this back and forth for 10 min.

(“goooooood boy or girl! In a happy excited voice. And a short but excited bout of pats)

(At the end of your training session instead of using “goooood boy or girl” use YESSSS! This becomes a command that will notify the dog that this training session is ending)

Dog Photog

One of my most favorite past times is photographing my pups.

Commands I use for taking pictures are “sit” or “down” and “stay”!

I always use a favorite toy or treat to get the dogs attention.

For the famous bulldog head tilt I use a squeaker toy. Works every time!

20 Fun dog facts

Did you know?

Rottweiler was bred originally as a cattle driver dog.

Sgt. Stubby. A Pit Bull war hero. Stubby was wounded in action twice, he saved his entire platoon by warning them of a poison gas attack and he single handedly captured a German spy.

Predominantly white Boxer won't have a certified pedigree and can't be shown.

German Shepherd Dog aka Alsatian has 220,000,000 sensory 'smelling' cells. Man has 5,000,000

The jaws of the Pit Bull are functionally the same as the jaws of any other breed

Ingesting as few as 4-5 grapes or raisins can be poisonous to a 20 pound dog.

Dogs have twice as many muscles for moving their ears as people

Dogs turn in circles before lying down because in the wild this instinctive action turns long grass into a bed.

Pit Bulls score an 83.4% passing rate with the American Temperament Test Society. That's better than the popular Border Collie (a breed who scores 79.6%). View the ATTS stats.

The normal body temperature for a dog is 101.2 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dogs can see color but it is not as vivid a color scheme as we see. It is much like our vision at twilight.

During the middle Ages, Great Danes and Mastiffs were sometimes suited with armor and spiked collars to enter a battle or to defend supply caravans.

Pekingese were worshipped in the temples of China for centuries.

The most dogs ever owned by one person were 5,000 Mastiffs owned by Kubla Khan

The name of the dog on the Cracker Jacks box is Bingo. The Taco Bell Chihuahua is a rescued dog named Gidget

Dalmatians are completely white at birth

The Basenji is the world’s only bark less dog

Dog nose prints are as unique as human finger prints and can be used to identify them

The average dog can run about 19 mph. Greyhounds are the fastest dogs on Earth and can run at speeds of 45 mph

Some dogs can smell dead bodies under water, where termites are hiding, and natural gas buried under 40 feet of dirt. They can even detect cancer that is too small to be detected by a doctor and can find lung cancer by sniffing a person’s breath.

Male dogs will raise their legs while urinating to aim higher on a tree or lamppost because they want to leave a message that they are tall and intimidating. Some wild dogs in Africa try to run up tree trunks while they are urinating to appear to be very large.

Teaching old dogs new tricks

5 tips to house training an older dog: (this method works with puppies also they need to be taken out more frequently)

1. Select a spot where you want the dog to go potty (such as a small corner in the law). Use the exact same phrase, it will become a command (I use “hurry up”)

2. Use a deodorizing cleaning solution to eliminate odors that might stick to your floors and carpets. Dogs' sense of smell is very keen and the smell of urine or excrement in your house might make it think that it is the place to go potty.

3. Lessen your dog's food and water intake before it sleeps. This prevents accidents.

4. Keep your dog's sleeping area as tight as comfortably possible. Enough space for the dog to sleep and turn around.  Every morning, when the dog wakes up, take it to its regular potty place and give them the command.

5. Give a treat once the dog is done potting while you are still outside in his area and praise every time he eliminates outdoors.

You can also teach the dog to ring a bell to indicate needing to go out that blog it to follow stay tuned!!

Let's talk RAW!

 

There is NO relationship between eating raw meat and wanting to kill. It has nothing to do with what a dog is fed and has everything to do with natural prey drive, training, genetics and socialization. 

I have never experienced “blood lust” from feeding my dogs raw meat or bones.

However I strongly recommend separating dogs when treating with raw bones.

Raw bones are a high commodity item and may provoke a fight.

If possible, use organically raised or chemical-free meats (grass fed).

Large chunks of meat are better for chewing and tearing. The process naturally cleans their teeth. If your dog has dental problems or is older, you may want to cut the meat up into smaller chunks.

Meat is protein and is also rich in other nutrients beneficial to dogs.

 I recommend feeding our dogs these meats:

beef

chicken

turkey

pork

lamb

Dogs are Carnivorous with omnivorous tendencies:

They are best served raw (organic if possible) and blended or pureed since that is the way they would be found in the wild diet (from the stomachs of dead animals)

Unless you use organic vegetables and fruits, be sure to wash non-organic produce thoroughly as many of such vegetables and fruits may have been sprayed with insecticides at some point

alfalfa sprouts

beets

bell peppers

carrots

celery

fresh corn

cucumber

zucchini

These vegetables should be cooked before being fed to your dog:

broccoli

cauliflower

green beans

peas

potatoes

Carbohydrates needed to fuel your dog's brain and muscles. They are rich in vitamins and minerals and sources of protein.

brown rice

barley

oatmeal

cornmeal

No bones about it:

Raw knuckle bones (the joints) in particular are great because they are soft and still have some tendons and muscle meat attached. They look kind of round like the shape of your fist. These bones clean your dog’s teeth in addition to providing them with a nice oral workout – not to mention a healthy dose of natural calcium.

NEVER, EVER FEED COOKED BONES TO YOUR DOG!

Fun and affordable homemade dog toys

It is not recommended to leave toys unattended with your dog some dogs will consume things such as towels or plastic items which can prove to be a costly vet bill!!

Old clean socks / dish towels or rags (for bigger dogs a bath towel will work) take it and tie a knot or two and Voila! You have a tug toy Fido will love!
You can also add a squeaker found in the craft department of your favorite store and be place in the toe of the sock and tied off above it or re use the squeaker Fido extracted from one of his old toys and re use time and time again.

Another use for an old washed sock, snap a plump carrot in half, then put the carrot pieces into the sock. Tie the top of the sock in a knot.

Old rope or leashes with the snap hook cut off braided and tied off also a great tug

Tennis ball with a hole cut in either end and rope or old leash strung through

Empty water bottles stripes off labels and plastic ring, filled with Fido’s favorite kibble proves to be hours of entertainment

Cut up your leaky garden hose into 12” pieces great for fetch!
(Just be aware that your dog may start to view even non-leaky hoses as potential toys and may rip them apart).

Feel free to comment and share you homemade toy ideas!!

Home Remedies

I am a firm believer in home remedies and have used them a time or two on my own pups.

With that said I am not a vet and just because it works for my dogs it may not work for yours. This opinion based information only :)

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): alleviating allergies, arthritis, establishing correct pH balance and helps strengthen the immune system.

The dosage of apple cider vinegar is about one teaspoon daily in the pet's drinking water to ward of fleas .

100% Pure Pumpkin:  Digestive Support (Pumpkin puree adds fiber and can firm up stools)

Virgin Coconut Oil added to food: condition dry shabby-looking coats, offers some relief to painful arthritis or ligament problems, can help balance the thyroid, gives dogs a natural source of energy and helps keep dogs smelling better. My favorite use of coconut oil - improves digestion and nutrient absorption.

Sea Kelp: Balancing Glandular Activities, Healthy Skin and Coat, Flea Control , Weight Control. Is AWESOME to bring out the pigment in white dogs!(Not all seaweeds are the same. Avoid getting kelp or other seaweeds harvested along U.S. shorelines because such seaweeds might be contaminated by industrial pollution)

Alfalfa: This herb is one of the best for dog arthritis and gout. Good for cancer prevention. Is high in vitamin K. Good for treating bladder irritation due to overly acidic urine due to its alkalinizing effect.

list of other herbs that are dog safe:

Aloe
Burdock
Calendula
Catnip
Cayenne
Chamomile
Dandelion
Echinacea
Eyebright
Flax
Garlic
Ginger
Ginkgo
Hawthorn
Licorice
Milk Thistle
Mullein
Nettle
Oat
Oregon Grape
Parsley
Red Clover
Sage
Sarsaparilla
Skullcap
Slippery Elm
St.-John's Wort
Valerian
Yellow Dock

***Do your homework before administering any of these herbs to your dogs!!

good place to order from!!

Dogs and children

As the owner of bulldogs I am adamant about not allowing my dogs to become a statistic. It is my responsibility to watch out for the well being of my child and my dogs.

I am, after all their master and they rely on me for more than food. I am their pack leader and they look to me for guidance. This is why I will touch on the Instinct and Normal Behavior of dogs.

Dogs and children should NEVER be allowed together unattended EVER! Not even a split second! No matter the age, breed or size of the dog or age of the child. 

Dogs are animals with animal instincts and in the end will be held accountable whether their fault or not.

By following this simple rule you are saving not only your child or dog from potential injury but your dog from being taken if the child is bitten and yourself from legal litigation.

Wild canines have been around for millions of years but have only lived with us a few thousand of those years.

Dog behavior is often guided by instinct. Whether he is burying a bone, playing fetch, guarding his territory, or turning circles to prepare for his afternoon nap, these actions are derived from basic instincts. Instincts can vary from dog to dog. Of all the instincts, a dog’s pack instincts are probably the most influential. Pack instincts dictates how dogs interact with other dogs and with people. They see humans and the animals that they live with as part of their pack, and they look to see what rank each member is. This guides much of their behavior.

Let me very clear that your training effort may curb instinct (such as marking) but will not be effective on a genetic trait.

Genetics has been capitalized on in the breeding world.

This is how it works, you find a quality (i.e.: color, shape, size, health, or even behavior) and you breed a line of dog with the same qualities that will be ingrained in your dog and no amount of training will correct what is "in their blood" that is why it is so VERY important to know what your dog was bred for, what kind of dogs it came from and to make sure the breed fits your family and life style needs.

Not all small dogs are lap dogs.

Can't judge a doggie by its size!

Patterdale Terrier aka Black Fell Terrier

This smashing lil guy who would fit all too well in your LV is no Tinkerbell. Used as a rat, fox, and rabbit hunter, the Patterdale Terrier is not bred for looks, but rather for its working ability.

This lil guy is not for the apartment dweller!

Dachshund fondly referred to as a weenie dog

Was bred for the primary purpose of hunting the badger. The Dachshund (translation: Badger Dog) required specific traits such as courage, stamina & perseverance beyond what is usually expected of any other hunting dog.  The breed's deep sonorous bark is a special advantage, for it enabled the hunter to determine what was going on down in the badger hole.

A fan favorite, the Pug. 

Although makes an excellent lap dog they are good watchdogs, very devoted highly intelligent, but bores easily without variety in their training .They are known to behave well with both children and visitors.

Pugs who do not have strong human leaders can become jealous, and begin to display guarding behaviors, such as food, toys, or other spots in the house. After all this pint size pooch is a Mastiff type dog!! 

I have had the pleasure of training a Pug and I can tell you they take patients and not for the lazy trainer!!

 Here are a few "Lap dogs"

Papillon, Pekingese,  Yorkshire terrier, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, English toy spaniel, Japanese chin, Lhasa apso, Maltese, Pomeranian, Toy poodle, Shih tzu.

Even my 80 pound American Bulldog makes an excellent "lap dog" 

All dogs require exercise no matter how lazy the dog.

Not all dogs fit in their breed specs! But that is for a later blog :)

What breed is right for your family?!?!

There are over 150 breeds registered with the American Kennel Club, and that doesn't include all breeds in the world. The count is up to over 600 with the new designer breeds such as Labradoodle.

Your pure bred dog isn't as pure as you would like to think.
I like to explain it this way. There are "man made" dogs and  "God made".

The Boxer "man made" dog was developed in Germany in the 19th century. The Boxer's ancestors were two German mastiff type dogs, the Bullenbeiszer and the Barenbeiszer. They were later crossed with the powerful ancestors of the Mastiff and Bulldog.

The Pharaoh Hound "God made"dog. The Pharaoh hound is one of the oldest domesticated dog breeds in the world. The breed is estimated to have originated around 3000 BC.

Most breeds serve a purpose as a working dog such as retrievers, catch dogs, hounds, guard dogs.. These dogs were bred for a specific job and there for generally have a need to "work".

That is why not all breeds are meant for family type settings. That doesn't mean your family couldn't or shouldn't own a working dog it means to provide the appropriate life and to meet your dogs needs you need to understand what they were bred for.

I can help!! All you have to do is ask!! :)