Changing the name of your dog - how to do it

Maybe you don't know that but a dog or puppy of any age can learn a brand new name within a few days. So if you don’t like your pet name, you can change it. It's rather easy to do and it will not causes any harm to your dog. What is more dogs can have multiple names and respond to each one. For example, in many households, dog is called by his actual name as well as variations by different members of the home and he reacts to every one of it.

Changing a dog’s name doesn't require special skills and is rather easy. Here’s how you do it.
First of all, decide on any new name you wish for your dog to has. It can be little tricky because there are so many cool names. When you are looking for dog names, there are several places to get good ideas like fictional characters (from our favorite movies, books, or games), famous people, historical figures or stars and heavenly bodies (for example, if your dog loves to hunt, you may name him Rigel, which is the brightest star in The Hunter constellation).

During the first few days on changing your dog name remember to carry a pocketful of treats. Every once in a while, and also specifically when you do want your pet’s attention, say his new name and then immediately smile, praise him or  feed a treat.
Repeate this process and soon your dog will know that hearing that word means great things are coming, and he will respond to it.

By doing this you will teaches him to love hearing his new name and responding to it. Usually dogs can learn their new names within a few weeks if you do this multiple times each day. The whole proces will be faster if you avoid using the name for no reason and also avoid associating dog name with anything bad.

Why dogs that are keep outside are a little miserable?

As a new dog owner you may be considering keeping your pet outside the house. This is not a great idea as dog who’s kept outside experiences social isolation and he is animal born to be part of a social structure, a pack or a family.

The experts say many of dogs that are keep outside will never really bond with owners who interact with them so little.When cute puppy grow older, and and your children grow tired of the care they promised to provide or the neighbors complain abou the noise, people very often decide to dump the dog rather than solve the problem.

When you keep a dog outside you don't get the benefits of companionship from your pet. You don't even get much protection from outside intruders. As such dog barks at almost anything he sees. So you couldn't tell from his sound whether the dogs are barking at.

Moreover, outdoor dog often become a problem to his owners. Bored and lonely, such dog develop any number of bad habits. For example he dig craters in the yard or bark endlessly day and night. What is even worse, sometimes, without the socialization that dog need, he become aggressive, ready to bite anyone who comes into their territory.

So if you're considering getting a puppy with the intent of keeping him exclusively outside, you should reconsider your choice. For those who love pets, a pristine home is nothing compared to the pleasures of living with an animal who's really bonded to you.

Those of you who want to keep a dog outside because of home members allergies also can find solution. It won't be easy but an allergist may be able to help, along with attention to keeping the house and pets cleaner, using air cleaners and special bed for dogs that is very easy to clean.

Easy to clean dog's bed made of synthetic leather that is non-porous and does not absorb smells

You may believe - it's worth the effort. Once you have a dog you can welcome into your home and your heart, you'll start to live a different life.

Source: e-doggy.co.uk

Dogs need discipline, not punishment - how to correct your dog behaviour

Sometimes you need to correct your dog behaviour. But you need to remeber that dogs are not humans and they don’t have a logical sense of history. To dogs, a punishment relates to current activity. When your pet runs to a door to greet his owner and is punished for a mess done hours before, the pet understands only that he was punished for running to the door to greet you. He will curb the current behavior  - not the behavior for which he was punished.

There is no single dog who wouldn't want to please his owner. For example if you’ve ever gone to a pet store to view the puppies, you’ll realize that they want to please everyone. Puppies will exhibit happy exuberance for people unless they have learned through experience that punishment will be their reward for the attempt.

Dogs dont have special powers neither they can read minds. Our pets can only interpret expressions and body language. If your dog is used to having a happy owner greet him with a smile and a pleasant voice, he’ll turn himself inside out to express his joy. He will recognize mood and body language of his owner.

So now you know that when you want to discipline your dog you need to do it while they are doing the bad behavior and not after they’ve quit, because you can get different results that you want.

Here are some simple ways to discipline your dog. First of all try to distract your pet. Make a loud noise to distract your puppy from whatever they are doing. A loud yell or a slap on the table. This should startle him and focus his attention on you.

Next you can grab the fur under his ear on his neck and shake. This works best if you catch them in the act and the scruff-shake is a surprise.
Another method is to push the dog over (quickly but gently) either on to his side or onto his back and lean over him. This reinforces that you are dominant.
Last but not least - isolation. Say no to your dog and then ignore him. Dogs are very social and they won’t like it that you aren’t paying attention to them.

Does a cold, wet nose mean your pet is healthy?

A cold, wet nose is just one sign of wellness in dogs and should not be considered as a main indication of overall pet health. You may easily find a healthy dog with a warm dry nose. On the other hand a sick pet can also have a cold, wet nose. So the common belief that a healthy dog has a cold, wet nose and a sick dog has a hot, dry nose is false.

The temperatures of dogs' noses fluctuate day to day so it's very difficult to say exactly why as it could depend on environment or other factors. You need to remember that dog can be perfectly healthy and have a warm, dry nose or be really sick and have a cold, moist nose.

The moistness of your dog's nose is also not an indicator of health. According to experts very dehydrated dog can have  dry nose but dogs can have moist noses because they're healthy, and they can have moist noises when they have a nasal disease. So nose moistness is not a reliable sign.

Moreover, moist noses are also one of the ways that dogs can regulate their body temperature and cool down. Unlike humans, dogs don't have sweat glands. They secrete sweat from the pads of their feet and their noses.

Whenever your dog has a dry nose and is showing signs of illness or pain, you should take him to see a veterinarian. Similarly, unwell pets with cold, wet noses should also have a veterinary check-up.
If you notice any unusual nasal discharge it's also smart to visit your vet.

As you see dog's nose is not such indicator of his health. It's better to look for symptoms such as not eating, not drinking, or behaving oddly.

Source: e-doggy.co.uk

How to introduce your dog to your baby - a quick guide

Dogs are very in tune with us so they easily mirror our feelings like anticipation before pregnancy but they don't understands what this realy mean to new order in house when baby will be born. Experts recommend that you prepare the family dog before the baby arrives. In order to minimize stress for the dog and reduce the chance of an accident you can make some preparations - here is our guide what to do.

First of all, focus on leadership. These 9 month before baby is born is more than enough time for you and your pet to work through most issues and get rid of unwanted habits.

Moreover try to claim your baby's scent. Bring an item that contains your baby's scent to home before you bringing baby back. Allow pet to sniff this item from a distance, while you are holding it so your dog understand that this is yours and you are giving him premision to sniff. This way you will establish clean boundries and help your dog to respect also your baby.

You should also condition your dog to understand that there is an invisible barrier that he may not cross without your permission. Eventually, you can allow your dog to explore and sniff certain things in the baby's room with your supervision and by doing this you will let your dog know that this room belongs to its pack leader ( you ) and dog must respected it.

When baby will be already in home you need to make propper introduction. Take your dog for a long walk and make sure you drain all of his energy. Before entering the house, your dog will instantly know there is someone new inside it. If you have already introduced the scent of baby, it will be somewhat familiar. Person holding the baby must be in a completely calm state. Then you should allow your dog to sniff the baby, but from respectful distance. During this first meeting, do not bring the baby too close. There will be time for this later.

Learing your dog respect for baby is important but you should alos teach your newborn about your dog. Once your child is in the exploratory state, it is important to supervise all interactions between him and pet. This is a great opportunity to teach your child not to bother the dog, yank his tail, etc.

If you are planning to transport your dog and baby together in car, it would be good idea to buy your dog propper car bed that will separete him from baby seating in his own car seat.

In addition to this, don't forget about your dog. Baby is very time-absorbing and dog does not need any new toys extra attention to feel important but you need to maintain the routine, providing daily walks and leadership.

Soure: e-doggy.co.uk

Why your dog needs bed?

Most of us don't pay to much attention to our own bed as we don't see it as the most cherished possession, but for sure we would not like to live without comfy bed. Our furry pets are just like us and they also need comfy bed - here is a short list why do they need one.

When dog owners ask what items are essential for their pet, a comfy bed is always at the top of the list with things like a collar, leash or food. Dog beds are so important that they aren't optional - they are necessary piece of equipment for all dogs as they have so many benefits to offer.

First of all, dog bed insulate your pet from the floor in winter and summer. During cold winter days, many small dogs love to curl up in a nesting-type bed like our model corner, which provides the warmth needed for both comfort and good health.

Moreover, dog bed provide your pet with his own private space and a sense of security.

Furthermore, comfy bed helps cushioning joints and bones - especially for older, arthritic or overweight dogs. Usually orthopedic dog beds have special foam mat - in our product we use Visco to give your dog extra joint support and comfort.

In addition, if your dog has his own bed you can easily controll the spread of hair and dander by concentrating it in one, easy to clean location.

Dog beds can also help avoid injuries by keeping your dog from jumping up and down from the furniture.

As you may see buying bed for dog is very important. If you spend the time to research and purchase best bed for your dog's individual needs, you will soon find that it is your pet's favorite place to spend time. Keep in mind that low quality beds quickly break down so buy only tested, high quality beds like the ones we offer.

Odd dog sleeping habits and what do they mean

If you are a perceptive person you may notice that dogs have some weird sleeping habits. From napping curled up in a ball to the twitching that some dogs do when they dream.

Below we will try to explain what  these habits mean. So without further ado - let's start.

First we will discouss curling up in a ball. This behavior is very cute and has a fascinating evolutionary basis. Long time agow when dogs sleep in the wild, they often dig a nest and tuck into a ball to conserve body heat and protecct their vulnerable organs from other animals. This ofcourse doesn't necessarily mean that your pet feels unsafe in his bed - he just has the same sleeping preferences as his ancestors.

Another interesting habit is sleeping belly up. According to scientist this sleeping position might signal that your dog feels very relaxed and comfortable in place he is sleeping, so there is no need to protect his organs. On the other hand it could also mean that he's hot and is trying to cool off himself.

Next habit - twitching while asleep. If you see your dog twitching for the first time you may fell a little scared because it's very weird. You need to know that some dogs twitch while they're asleep
and maybe even vocalize a little. Experts thinks that dogs dream during the REM stage of sleep and may act on their dreams by twitching.

Last habit that we try to explain is crawling under the covers. Some dogs do it - others don't. Experts have some theories for this behavior. Some think that it mean dog's need to feel companionship while sleeping with a owner others explain it's evolutionary behavior from when wild dogs raised their puppies in dark dens.

How to talk with your dog - interpreting your dog's barking

Your dog won't "talk" to you in English, but you can interpret his intentions and immediate desires if you know what to listen for. Below is a few examples of sounds that dogs make, with human translation and the moods of the dog.

You should remember that generally, a low pitch indicates a more dominant or threatening stance, whereas a high pitch conveys just the opposite - insecurity and fear. A dog whose pitch or vocalization varies is emotionally conflicted.

First lets talk about rapid strings of three or four barks with pauses between in midrange pitch. Such sound mean something like - gather together - I suspect that there may be something that we should look into. Dog is more interest than alarm in such situation.

Next is rapid repetitive barking also in midrange pitch. It's dog signal that someone is entering our territory. It's just a basic alarm bark. Dog that makes that sound is aroused but not anxious.

Continuous barking (a bit slower and lower pitch) means that intruder is coming and you should get ready to defend yourself. Here dog is more worried than in his basic alarm bark.

Long string of solitary barks with pauses between each one may indicate that your pet is lonely and need companionship. On the other hand, one or two sharp short barks (high or midrange pitch) means simple hello. It's typycial greeting or acknowledgment signal used by dogs.

Single sharp short bark in lower midrange pitch is a dog signal to back off. For example when you disturbed him from sleep or pulled his hair.

Stutter bark like "ar-ruff" is and invitation to play with your dog. Dogs usually make that sound with front legs flat on the ground and rear held high as a play invitation. Rising bark is one of dog signals that he is having fun.

We hope that now you can be albe to communicate better with your dog and maybe he whisper to you that he is dreaming of one of our comfy beds ;)

Tips to keep dogs cool in the heat

Summer is one of the happiest times of year for people and dogs, but if you’re not careful, it can also be a dangerous time for your pet. Here are some tips that will help you and your dog have safe and fun summer.

First of all you need to provide shade to lessen risk of heat exhaustion. As we know summer is the perfect time to enjoy green parks and sandy beaches where you can walk with your dog. Just make sure you protect your dog from the potentially dangerous summer heat.
Unlike people, dogs can’t perspire as efficiently as we do. In order to cool off, they dispel heat by panting and perspire only minimally thru their pads. Unfortunately, this method is less efficient than sweating and your dogs can overheat quickly on a warm day. So make sure that your dog always have access to shade and fresh water.

You should also know what are the signs of heat stroke and what to do when they appeard.
Stay watchfull all the time and look for the following sympthoms: excessive panting, bright red tongue and gums, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, unsteadiness, collapse, and seizures. If any of this happend to your dog, take him immediately to the vet.

You can prevent all that to happend by doing some little things like for example, add a few cubes of ice to your pet water bowls. He’ll enjoy it, and it will help to keep his body temperature down.
If your pet can’t be in an air-conditioned area, consider placing a fan where it will blow on him.
Remember also to exercise your pets only in the early morning or late evening when the temperatures are lower. Try to avoid the hottest part of the day.
Last but not least, freeze some treats and give them to your pet. It will keep him busy for a while and help cool him down.

A dog could be your heart’s best friend

Did you know that a dog could be your heart's best friend? It turns out that having a canine companion may help lower your risk of heart disease.

As you may noticed, studies linking dog ownership to better physical and mental health have been popping up for many years. The findings were usually encouraging to dogs owners, but none of these studies offered conclusive proof. But recently American Heart Association (AHA) has check all the available data and came to conclusion that having a dog lowers the risk of heart disease. Are you courios why?

The evidence reviewed by the AHA indicates that dog owners are more likely to exercise, have a better cholesterol profile and have lower blood pressure. The are also less vulnerable to the physical effects of stress.

The data show that dog owners get more physical activity than people who don’t own dogs, the evidence is pretty convincing that ownership isn’t enough. A study of over 2000  people found that those who owned a dog but didn’t walk it were actually more likely to be obese than people who didn’t own a dog. Dog walkers, on the other hand, were much less likely to be obese.

Another study looked at 48 people with high blood pressure and high-stress jobs who agreed to adopt a dog. Half did, and half year later those who got a dog had significantly lower blood pressure during stresfull moments.

Even if you already have heart disease, you could get a dog to help you. A 1995 study followed people with cardiovascular disease. A 12 months later, those who owned a pet were 4 times less likely to be death than those who didn’t have a dog.

As you see dogs unconsciously take care of your health - you can repay them by buing something nice - like our comfy beds for dogs.

Taking your pet abroad - everything you should know

If you want to take your dog with you on vacation to another country you have to remember about few things. It's essential that you meet the entry requirements for your pet dog for the country you’re going to or coming from.

First a list of things you need when you enter the UK from the European Union country
Your pet needs to meet these requirements:
-a microchip
-a rabies vaccination
-a pet passport or third country official veterinary certificate
-a tapeworm treatment

You must also use an approved transport company and an approved route unless you’re travelling between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

When you enter or return to the UK from another country, your pet needs to meet similar entry requirements:
-a microchip
-a rabies vaccination
-a blood test - the vet must take the blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination
-a third country official veterinary certificate
-a tapeworm treatment

And what if you have special guide dog?
The rules for assistance/ special dogs when travelling under the EU are the same as for any other dogs. However assistance dogs can travel on more routes than people with pets normally can travel, and they can use other forms of transport where regular animals aren’t allowed, like for example the aircraft cabin.

So how does it looks in practice? When you return to the UK, the staff from the travel company will scan your pet’s microchip and check your documents. If you don't have required documents your pet will be put into quarantine or sent back to the country from which he travel and you will be charge for the costs of quarantine or the re-export of your dog.

Can all dogs swim?

Dogs, like every other animals are born with strong natural instincts like barking. Some people may also think that swimming is a skill that all dogs naturally have. But swimming isn't necessarily all dogs ability. While many pooches are perfectly amphibious, many dogs tend to sink like a sack of bricks. For these dogs, keeping their heads above water is not an easy thing to do, sometimes even impossible.

When it comes to swimming, we can split canines into 3 categories. There are dogs that can swim, dogs that can be taught to swim and dogs that should steer clear of all aqueous environments. Water spaniels, golden retrievers and English setters fall into the first category. They are excellent swimmers. It's because of their strong limbs and some genes. Many were bred specifically for things like water rescue.

And we have also some others breeds like bulldogs and boxers. There simply isn't enough thrust from their short legs to keep them afloat. Breeds that have short faces, such as the pug, also have a very hard time swimming since they fatigue easily.

Furthermore, some dogs may have the physical tools to swim, but have some kind of a mortal fear of the water. These animals tend to panic when submerged. For a dog in water, panic quickly leads to fatigue, and that makes drowning much more likely.

Remember that if your furry friend isn't a dog version of gold medal swimmer, don't despair. You can still enjoy fun with a land-loving lapdog. Instead take him to you car, put in safe carbed and go for a trip somewhere where are no lakes and rivers ;)