Pet Evacuation Plan

When the earth shakes, the wind blows or the home is filled with the
smell of smoke, most people automatically shift into the
self-preservation mode and scramble to preserve their lives and the
lives of others in the family. Those who plan ahead and develop
contingencies for such emergency situations generally fare better than
those who do not. Professionals in the emergency disaster relief field
promote emergency evacuation plans for people, because they work.

But
what about an emergency plan for our pets? They are family members too.
Shouldn’t our plans for emergency evacuation include them as well?
Thousands of trusting, devoted pets are lost each year due to natural
disasters such as hurricanes, floods and fires, simply because their
people did not have an emergency plan that included them.

With
proper planning, many losses and much heartache can be avoided. Having
an emergency evacuation plan in place that includes the family pet does
not require a lot of effort. It is a task that is very easy to
accomplish. The following information and tips are provided to help you
develop such a plan.

• Never leave your pet behind unless
circumstances absolutely prevent you from taking them. For instance, if
the house is crumbling beneath your feet during an earthquake and you
can’t find the cat, you probably should get yourself and your family to
safety first and then, if safe, return to find the cat later. The
chances are that a cat or dog will manage to exit the house on their
own accord in such a situation, because they don’t want to be there
either.

In a situation where there is time to plan your
evacuation however, such as an approaching fire-line or hurricane, pets
should not be left behind. Their lives are as vulnerable to these
threats as humans and they need to be protected. Even if they manage to
survive, the chance of them running off and not being found is
extremely high. If they are found, it will probably be animal control
and in the aftermath of a natural disaster, efforts for reuniting pets
with their people are not high on the agenda.

• Do not book your
pet into a local kennel or temporary shelter unless local authorities
determine the shelter will withstand the impending danger. If the
facility is in the path of destruction, boarding your pet there will
not remove the danger to them. You will probably find that local
shelters and kennels will be closed and not accepting business anyway.
Additionally, kennels in neighboring towns that are not in harm’s way
will probably run out of vacancies very quickly.

The best idea
is to check with your local shelter or chapter of the SPCA long before
the need arises. They may already have all the information you need.

In
the absence of having such information, it is suggested that you keep
your pet(s) with you. Recently there has been a awakening in the
motel/hotel industry to the importance of pets to potential customers
and more and more establishments are making provisions for animals. It
should be relatively easy to find a motel that will accept your pet for
very little additional expense.

Pet Evacuation Plan

• Ensure that your pet’s vaccines are up to date and have that
paperwork in a place where you can find it quickly if the need to
evacuate arises. If your evacuation occurs during the time the disaster
is taking place (i.e. the beginning of a hurricane, etc.) make sure
your pet has a collar and that the required tags are attached. Without
meaning any disrespect, it might be a good time to treat your pet like
a piece of luggage by adding an information tag to the collar with your
contact information and an alternate family member’s (outside the
endangered zone) contact information. In the event you are separated
from your pet, this could be the one factor that ensures you are
reunited.

• Some organizations give advice for situations where
you have no choice but to leave your pet(s) at home. Except in those
where circumstances prevent you from locating your pet and you must
leave immediately (i.e. flood waters rising, etc.) such advice does not
resonate with this writer. As a member of the family, they have an
expectation of being important too. They depend upon you and you can’t
let them down.

Just a little effort today may save you a lot of heartache tomorrow. Take the time and draft a plan for pet evacuation.

By Gary Kurz
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The author is a retired Coast Guard Officer with over 32 years of
service. He is also a Baptist Preacher and Bible Teacher. He helps
those grieving the loss of a pet to understand the Biblical evidence
that proves they live on. His most popular book, "Cold Noses at the
Pearly Gates" delivers hope and comfort to the reader in a very gentle,
yet convincing way. Visit at http://www.coldnosesbook.com for more information and tips.
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Can Your Dog Take a Vegetarian Diet And Still Stay Healthy?

It is not uncommon for a dedicated vegetarian dog owner to desire that his dog follow his diet. Based on religious or moral values, there are some dog owners who would insist that their dogs be feed a vegetarian food only.

While I’m not against vegetarian diet for humans, since it is proven to a certain extent that we humans can survive on a vegetarian diet. Nevertheless, it is still debatable if dog owners should make their dogs go vegan, since studies shown that it might not be healthy for dogs to a very large extent.

Our dogs are closely affiliated genetically to their ancestors, wolves, and they are one of the few true carnivores that exist in the animal planet. Meat makes up a significant portion of their diet and is a hugely important element that is not advisable to be left out totally. Proteins offer by meat are usually too difficult to replace with vegetables and fruits.

While some claims have been made for dogs being able to thrive on diets that consist primarily of tofu that provide plenty of vegetable matter protein. That protein is not high quality enough to be metabolized by your dog. In fact, fresh fruits and vegetables snacks are often recommended for dogs that must lose weight only because these vegetable base snacks add very few calories to your dog’s system.

Some humans feel that feeding a meat based diet to your dog is wrong simply because we like to have control of our environment around us, in fact, we impose our wills upon our dogs who really have no choice, since you are the one who bring home the food. Given a choice, a dog would surely choose to eat meat rather than vegetables.

It is important to remember that even if you feel that eating meat is "immoral," your dog has no morality; he is an amoral creature who lives his life based on his desires, not on right or wrong. He eats meat because he needs to eat and it tastes good, not because he believes he has a right to do so or not.

To conclude, if you still choose to feed your dog a vegetarian diet, there are several soy-based diets on the market now. It is recommended that you purchase one of these diets and follow the serving suggestions made by the company strictly. It is also strongly recommended that a veterinarian be consulted before shifting him to a vegetarian diet. Your dog should also make frequent, regular visits to the veterinarian until you are certain that he has adjusted to the new diet.

By Moses Wright
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Moses Wright is the webmaster of DogCustomer.com. He provides more information on Dog Health, Dog Health Care and Dog Veterinary Diseases that you can learn in the comfort of your home. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

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Gun Dog Training – 3 Basic Commands For Great Results

Have you ever seen a great gun dog in action? What was the feeling that overcame you? Was it something that you thought you could never accomplish with your pet? Most people see a well-trained gun dog in the field and think that they could never complete such a task. After all, the training that goes along with such fine action is very time-consuming. However, training a gun dog is definitely doable and if done right, will be a joy to last a lifetime

What Bird dog training really boils down to is time. After all, time is the only thing that separates a great gun dog from a dog that wont listen and runs around like a fool. If you will spend some time working with your dog every day then your dog will respond accordingly. Basically all you have to do is teach three common commands "whoa", "come", and "heel". If you can get your dog to respond to these three commands at all times, regardless of what task they are doing or how far away they are from you, then your dog will be a good gundog.

Of all the commands "whoa" or stop is the most important. This commands allows you to stop your dog at any time and is useful if they are too far out in front of you while hunting. If your dog is goofing around in the field and you are able to "whoa" him, you can go to him and correct the behavior on the spot. This will make for a much faster learning process. This command is also helpful for rewarding your dog when he does something well.

"Come" come is simply a command that means come to me. This basic command is an essential tool especially in retrieving dogs. If you can get your dog to come when called, then you can avoid them messing around in the field or chewing a small bird. This also helps when trying to correct and unwanted or to reward praise. If you can get your dog to "whoa" and then "come", you will have accomplished a major feat. These two commands by themselves are the majority of your task, as they will allow you to stop your dog and retrieve your dog all the time.

"Heel" heel is a command to allow your dog to slowly walk with you and this allows you to keep your dog under control. When hunting your obviously carrying other items such as your gun or fallen birds, and you don’t have time for a leash or a disobedient dog. When teaching the "heel" command, you should also have a release command. This makes an important distinction between "heel" and the fact that your dog is free to go hunt.

Be sure to always give your dog lots of praise when they do something right. Dogs learn by association and will respond accordingly, if treated correctly. On the flip side, unwanted behavior should be corrected immediately as well. Training is actually very simple; it’s just a time-consuming job. If you spend the time with your dog, you will reap the rewards. Even the best champion in the world was once an untrained pup.

By Steven Wickman
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To expedite your training routine, you may use a dog training collar, these devices will help correct many unwanted behaviors. You can find more free information on dog training supplies at our website.

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Possible Problems With Adopted Dogs

Most shelter dogs come with a few ready-made behavior problems, and those that don’t will generally develop a couple out of sheer ingenuity. And the anxiety of changing to a new environment and a new family is extremely likely to bring about new objectionable habits or intensify old ones.

Remain calm, and don’t take it personally; your dog certainly isn’t doing anything unusual, unchangeable, or ungrateful. She’s not misbehaving out of spite, so don’t correct her in spite; your job is to put a stop to her inappropriate behavior calmly and authoritatively, not to get revenge. Just think, she maybe she hasn’t had to yield to any guidelines before, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she can not understand yours.

We’ve shown a few of the most prevalent dog behavior problems here, but certain essential standards pertain to each of them:

1. Use prevention. If you know your dog loves to chew your shoes or dig in your plants, don’t leave your belongings out in the open yet. If she is only "bad" when she’s by herself, don’t leave her by herself until she can be trusted. In other words, prevent as many situations for her to be bad during these early weeks. But don’t go overboard and leave her in her crate all day either; that’s hardly fair to her, and plus, she’ll never understand if she isn’t ever permitted to make mistakes.

2. Be consistent at all costs. Set guidelines, and stick to them. Correct your dog every time she does something bad, not just when it’s convenient (and not only when you happen to catch her – which means it’s necessary to oversee her every move relentlessly at the beginning). And hold a family meeting to ensure that everybody in the household is correcting the same situations in the exact same manner; don’t let anybody try to be the "good guy" by not correcting your pup’s unwanted behaviors. That won’t earn anybody points; it will just cause an extremely bewildered and unhappy dog.

3. Catch her in the act, or don’t catch her at all. The same as with potty training, you should correct an error as it’s happening, never three minutes or six hours after. You should scold your dog if you see her chewing up your tennis shoes, but not if you find your tennis shoes already massacred on the ground and can’t see your dog anywhere around. If you wait too long to make the correction, she’ll have many great memories of eating your book and no clue that your anger is in any way related to it. Guess what that means? That’s right. Supervision.

Entrapment isn’t illegal in dog training. Suppose you are having difficulties catching your dog in the act of stealing eatables from your kitchen garbage. Why not set her up? Set some tempting tidbit where it can’t be missed, and be ready to correct her with your shake can or spray bottle and your sharp voice when she goes for the goods. Cheating? Perhaps – but it works. Don’t forget to reward her when she’s doing good. You don’t want to be a naysayer all the time; if you’ve told her she’s naughty for chewing up your sneakers, then tell her she’s terrific when you see her resisting the temptation to engage in inappropriate behavior.

By Kelly Marshall
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Kelly Marshall is a popular contributor at http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com – where you can find dog beds, dog steps, pet ramps, and more unique dog gear that you’ll never find at your local pet store.
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YOUR DOG: The Seven Ages of Man’s Best Friend

Collecting a Canine Library is easy. There are thousands of good books out there covering every aspect of dog breeds and behavior.

From the classic "How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend" by the Monks of New Skete to the latest "Dummies" title, there is no lack of good material on raising our beloved canines.

One book you might consider adding to your bookshelves is Jan Fennell’s THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN’S BEST FRIEND: A Comprehensive Guide for Caring for Your Dog Through All the Stages of Life.

Jan Fennell is an English dog trainer and the author of the international best-seller THE DOG LISTENER.

In THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN’S BEST FRIEND, she guides us through the key phases of a dog’s development by defining the seven ages of our dogs.

The Seven Stages, of course come from Shakespeare ("Man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages."), not a bad source of inspiration.

After a brief Introduction — "From Wolf to Wolfhound: the Evolution of the Modern Dog" — Fennell takes us through the Seven Ages:

ONE — PUPPY: 0 – 8 WEEKS. Here, she starts with the Early Hours, the First Turning Point — the Extended Pack Forms — Personality Testing, Teeth and much more…

TWO — PIONEER: 8 – 12 WEEKS. Feeling at home in the Human world. A safe haven. A space of its own. The dog’s senses. Different breeds — different needs. Typical problems…

THREE — PLAYBOY: 3 – 9 MONTHS. Growing up fast. The physical change. Pushing the boundaries. Moving into the wider world. Puberty…

FOUR — 9 – 18 MONTHS. The Apprentice. The Stay and Recall. Off the leash. Freedom. Dogs behaving badly — how to establish leadership.

FIVE — PRETENDER: 18 – 28 MONTHS Challenging times. The ultimate sanction. Breeding. Pregnancy. When to call the Vet.

SIX — PROTECTOR: 28 MONTHS TO 7 YEARS. The die is cast. The best days of their lives. Mixed-up dogs. Potential behavior problems. Rescue dogs. Well-being. Middle-age spread…

SEVEN — PENSIONER: 7 YEARS AND UP. Longevity. Your dog’s age in human terms. Emotional old age. Growing old gracefully. Diet. Medical problems.

In THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN’S BEST FRIEND, Fennell disagrees with some of the prescribed wisdom of other writers, but her points are valid. This is an interesting, essential book. Worth finding. If your local book store doesn’t have a copy (it’s a Collins hardcover), you can always find one on Indigo, Amazon or even Abebooks.

By Brian Alan Burhoe
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Brian Alan Burhoe is the author of many dog-related articles and short stories. His fiction includes the free online story WOLFBLOOD A Northwestern in the Tradition of Jack London. Many of his articles can be found at PUPPY DOGS INFO Dog Breeds Training Care Literature.

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An Introduction to Dog Kennels

Dog Kennels

Dog kennels and dog kennel fence are meant to keep your dogs cozy and comfortable, protect them from climatic conditions and provide them a personal space. High quality dog kennels are not connected by chain for your dog’s fur may get caught in them causing him injury. Versatile kennel structures that can keep your dogs safe and secure are the best options. There should be no exposed wires and kennels should be properly ventilated. Portable dog houses and good for traveling with dogs and make your dog more comfortable outdoors.

Dog Kennel Flooring

Wood is good option for dog kennel flooring provided that it is treated so that it is waterproof as well as stain and odor resistant. If your dog kennel flooring is made of wood that hasn’t been adequately treated then you will encounter many problems. Should your dog accidentally soil the wood floor of its kennel and it isn’t stain and odor resistant then you will not only end up with a nasty looking stain on the floor but every time your dog needs to use the bathroom it will smell that spot and be automatically triggered to use the same place over. There are some different ways to remove the odors left by dog urine or excrement but the easiest by far is to do your best to avoid any accidents from happening in the first place and make sure that the dog kennel flooring is properly protected against any such accidents.

Using the solution, clean the area thoroughly with a mop. Mop the area thoroughly with clean water to remove any traces of soap. Dry with an old cloth thoroughly. Spray an enzyme inhibitor (use one designed especially to be used on wood surfaces) onto a dry rag and wipe the area.

Portable Dog Kennels

Portable dog kennel solves all your dog containment needs. Use at home for dog run and exercise yard. Use at dog shows and sporting events for temporary confinement. Easy to set up at the site; Covered for shelter from the sun; Fits into a pick-up bed for safe travel to and from your show or event.

Some of the protable dog kennels features include: Portable dog kennel includes sunscreen top that prevents dogs from jumping out as well as blocks 80% of the suns hot and harmful rays Easy-fit ends and pipes make fence assembly a breeze One-handed latch assembly Door can be mounted on either side

How to Build a Dog Kennel

A company that sells dog kennels was offering a free course to anyone that bought their kennels on how to build a dog kennel.

The kennel is constructed out of 150×19 rough-sawn treated pine for the floor and roof (this timber is commonly used for fence palings), 50×50 gauged or dressed untreated pine for the framing, 50×50 gauged or dressed PT (pressure treated) pine for the under floor skids (dressed or finished size is usually 46×46) and one sheet of 9mm exterior plywood from which the walls are cut

Dog Kennel Fence

The best kinds of dog kennel fences are made out of heavy-duty wire mesh and are rust proof so that they are both durable and easy to clean. Keeping your dog kennel clean means not only frequently washing the inside of your dog’s living area/house but also cleaning the surface of the floor the roof cover and the dog kennel fences.

Any surface that is not kept clean can be a potential breeding ground or refuge for bacteria and parasites. Some of the best dog kennels fences are made of 100% commercial grade steel and have good solid frames, with quick connect frame components, and then have heavy duty uni-body chain link wire mesh or 8 gauge heavy-duty 2×4 welded wire perimeters that are attached to the frames with the direct drill and weld method.

Steps How to Kennel Train a Dog

There are three main segments of training to teach a dog any exercise. This applies to obedience and all other areas of training as well i.e. protection work, agility, etc.

* Teaching Phase * Learning Through Intermittent Success * Learning Through Conflict

With the help of the above three steps its helps a dog goes through the process properly, it will actually go up in drive after it gets corrected because it has learned that it is now going to be put in a situation where it gets it’s drive goal.

By Samantha Clark
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Samantha Clark heads consumer reviews at http://www.dealsdepot.com.au. One of the web’s most popular Online Shopping sites.

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Rescue a Life By Taking a Stray Dog In

Giving home to a homeless is among the most noble things, a man is capable of doing. A stray dog who scavenges to eat and lives at the crumbs thrown by others is not a pretty sight for most of us, and that’s the reason why most of us have entertained the thought of bringing a stray dog home at some point of time in our lives.

However, most of the time we did not act upon the thought because we thought it would be too difficult to train a grown up stray dog for these two reasons– his being grown up and his being a stray dog. We were wrong on both counts. Old dogs are not less capable of learning than puppies and can learn even faster having seen a lot of life already.

Stray dogs are hard working as they have spent a large part of their lives struggling for food and life. They are grateful for the security and nourishment you provide and are ready to show that it was all worth it.

There are, however, a few things that you must do before taking a stray dog as a pet. Take the dog to the vet and have him examine it, for contagious diseases are a big risk in the strays though there is nothing much to worry about, as they can be easily treated.

Once you are through with the medical examination of the pet, it is time to train him a little because having spent most of his life scavenging, he would still try to find food in the dustbin. Gently tell him "No" if that doesn’t work, say a firm "No!"

That should work. After telling him not to look for food in the dustbin take him to his meal bowl, put some food in it and let him eat so that he gets the message as to where he would find food in the house.

Make them associate right. For instance, if he is being punished, he should be able to associate it with the fault. You come back home and find your pillow chewed upon, the dog gets punished. He’ll chew it again and would hide when you come back. He fears punishment but has not been able to associate it with the mistake. He associates it with your coming back home and not with his chewing the pillow. Show him the pillow, tell him not to do it again and if he does it again, punish.

It may be a little difficult at first but the dog would eventually learn "to learn." No matter how bothersome be the initial roadblocks, nothing diminishes the satisfaction of having a saved a creature from a life of torture, misery and endless struggle.

By Ashish Jain
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To get more information on pet dogs, dog breeds and dogs visit http://www.thepetdogs.com/.

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Dog Adoption: 5 Things to do When Visiting the Shelter

There are 5 things that will help you find the perfect dog to adopt at your local shelter.

1. One of the most important things to do long before heading to the shelter is deciding what kind of dog you really want. Spend time researching through articles on the internet, looking through breed books, and talking to friends about their dogs.

If you don’t have a clear picture of the kind of dog you want to live with, you could come home with the first dog whose big brown eyes and drooping ears made you feel sorry for him. Later on, you’ll be feeling a lot sorrier for yourself.

There are so many different personalities and temperaments, and such huge variations in size and coat length (and propensity for shedding and barking) that going to the shelter before doing your homework is just asking for trouble.

Once you know exactly what sort of dog you need, and what kind of activities you’ll be sharing with him, you’re ready to head to the shelter for the first time.

2. Be sure to take a piece of paper and a pen with you. Since those brown eyes and droopy ears can be such heartbreakers, you will probably want to look at all the dogs in the shelter, look at the notes and comments left by the shelter staff, and make your own notes about the dog’s personality and appearance.

Then take your notes home with you and calmly decide which dog will be the best fit for your household.

If you see a gorgeous mutt that you just can’t stand to leave behind, even for a few hours, at least go out to the car and talk it over with your family before filling out the adoption papers.

3. Wear old clothes. The Humane Society shelter near you is kept as clean and sanitary as possible, but lots of dogs living in close quarters do tend to smell. When you take your potential pooch out to the exercise yard to get to know him, he may forget his manners and jump up on you in his excitement. A wool suit is probably not the best choice.

4. Take everyone who will be living with the dog, if possible. Everyone should have a chance to help make the final choice, as far as their age and experience will allow. Since it’s even harder for kids to resist those sad eyes when they’re attached to the wrong dog, it’s even more important to do your research ahead of time.

By the time you make your trip to the shelter, everyone in the family should know you’re looking for a small dog (or a big one), a short-haired dog (or a long-haired dog), a shepherd (or a lab). If you know what you’re shopping for, it will be easier to pass by the dogs that just wouldn’t fit into your household, in spite of their desperation to go home with you.

If you children (or your in-laws) are afraid of dogs, there may be specific breeds that trigger their fear. If your child was bitten by the neighbor’s cocker spaniel, that would not be a good breed choice for your family. Even if you don’t let your kids make the final decision, take them with you and watch them closely for any signs of fear around certain dogs, and for any signs from the dogs that they may not be kid-friendly. You should also ask the shelter staff if the dogs have been temperament tested, and which ones they recommend as safe around children.

5. Expect to go home without a dog. If you go to the shelter with the firm intention of taking home a dog, it will be more difficult if none of the available dogs really fit your criteria. You may find yourself fudging a bit, deciding that maybe that Rottweiler will be okay, even though you had your heart set on a Golden Retriever.

Remember – there are hundreds of dogs that need homes, and your perfect pooch may be in the animal control van right now, on his way to the shelter. If you don’t see exactly what you’re looking for today, there’s a very good chance that you’ll find your dog the next time you visit, or the time after that.

If you don’t see what you need, talk to the shelter staff and put in a request. Give them the criteria you’ve listed, and ask them to call you when the perfect pooch comes through the door.

So remember – the secrets of finding the best dog to adopt are preparation, research, and patience. You should be practicing patience anyway, since your future adopted dog is going to need lots of love and patience while he earns a place in his new home.

By JL Good
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Learn everything you need to know about dog adoption, including choosing the right breed for your family and how to avoid common dog adoption mistakes, at http://www.older-dog.com

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Why You Should Adopt a Dog

Dog adoption is made easy through the countless animal welfare organizations and animal shelters existing in every city across the United States. With literally thousands of adoptable dogs listed, a prospective dog owner can select to adopt a dog that needs a wonderful family to go to and be loved. In fact, when you search through these shelters and find a puppy, you are doing a great service to the community and to the local dog rescue or animal shelter that you went for your dog, cat, kitten, or puppy adoption. Thus, you should not hesitate! You should go today to your local area’s shelter facilities and practically support dog and puppy adoption. But before you exit such a life-saving premise, you should first consider some important factors that will shape your decision.

In fact, you are interested in getting a dog from a shelter you can increase your chances of completing a successful adoption if you make some observations and you are not afraid to ask the shelter’s personnel some necessary questions. Begin by visiting the shelter several times and watch the interaction of the staff members with the animals. Pay attention to how they treat, clean and behave to them and if possible keep notes of their attitude towards the dogs in general and the one you are considering of adopting in specific.

A buyer who chooses to adopt a shelter animal instead of buying a puppy should be just as careful in his choice and as selective of a place to adopt as the puppy buyer should be in his choice of a breed and a puppy. This is mainly due to diseases and lack of proper care. Although dogs are vaccinated against common canine diseases when they enter a shelter, they do not always receive immediately the appropriate vaccinations, especially if they have been already exposed to a disease while roaming the streets. In addition, if the shelter keeps each dog in different compartments, but a chain type of fence separates them from each other-meaning that their nose can be in direct contact-then illness are possible to be transferred from one dog to another. Furthermore, if their feces are not picked up regularly and their cells are not cleaned properly, worms and other feces-spread diseases are possible. Thus, ask the shelter’s veterinarian to perform a thorough background physical check on the dog you have set your eyes on and take proof of their vaccination before exiting the shelter or clinic.

Finally, you should be aware that owning a dog is a big responsibility. Apart from their need to be fed regularly depending on their size and breed, dogs have to be taken outdoors, and they often require medical care. Although it is a disaster that many people fail to recognize these and other issues beforehand, you should not decide to adopt a dog based on an impulse. It has to be a well-thought decision that takes under consideration how much time you have available everyday, what is your current lifestyle, and which are your living accommodations. Thinking beforehand where the dog shall live once it enters your house premises is as important as teaching your kids not to be afraid of the hairy new family addition-some children might even get jealous or afraid of a new dog. Plan ahead, research extensively and be well-prepared in order to enjoy for many years to come the amazing company and unique companionship a dog can offer to everyone in your family.

By Kadence Buchanan
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Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://etotallypets.com/ – In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://supershoppingtips.com/ and http://letsdosomeyardwork.com/

How to Pick a Good Dog Name: Finding a Unique and Fun Name for Your Pet

Getting a new dog? Then you are probably trying to figure out a good name for him or her. While picking a good dog name is not as critical as naming a human baby, you’ll be saying that name thousands of times over the next decade-plus, so you’ll want to make sure his name is a good fit for both of you. Here are some tips to help you pick a name you’ll be happy with.

Keep it Short and Sweet Short names of one or two syllables usually work best, and it’s wise to avoid names that could be confused with commands (such as "no" and "Noah."). Dogs sometimes have difficulty distinguishing our words, and longer names are both harder for you to say and harder for your dog to comprehend. Also, we often use our dog’s name as part of a command, such as "Leroy, let’s go," so it helps to have a name that is easy to call out.

Personality Comes into PlayTry spending some time with your dog to get to know his or her personality and traits before you pick a name. Sometimes your dog’s behavior, personality, or appearance will suggest a name.

Popular vs Unique NameThe most popular dog names today include Sam, Max, Lady, Maggie, Buddy, Brandy, Lucy, Daisy, and Ginger. But maybe you want something more unique. Some people like to name their dog after a character from their favorite book, movie, or TV show, a historical figure, or mythological character (Hercules, for example). Others name their dog after their favorite song, food or drink (such as Cosmo), color, car, or sports team. Also popular is picking a name reflecting the dog breed’s origin, like Olga for a Russian Wolfhound, or Ming for a Shih Tzu, a breed originating in China.

There are endless possibilities. Remember that you will be calling your dog often, so pick a name that you can be happy with for the long term. You can find sources for good dog names online or in dog books from your library or bookstore.

Try Out Your Favorite NamesOnce you’ve narrowed down the names to a few favorites, make a list and try them out one at a time. Say the name out loud. Does it sound pleasing? Silly? Is it easy to say? Try the name out on your dog. Does he or she suit it? It can be hard to come up with just the right name and you may go through several before you find the right one for your new four-legged pal. My friends got a new puppy and named her "Annie." It was a nice name, but they quickly realized it wasn’t a good fit for her. They renamed her "Layla," after the Eric Clapton song, and it suited her personality, and theirs, much better.

Teach Your Dog His NameUse your dog’s name as frequently as possible and give him lots of positive reinforcement (yummy treats) when he responds. He’ll quickly learn his name.

Keep it PositiveRemember to always use your dog’s name in a positive way, never in anger or in conjunction with reprimand. Your dog should know that when you call his name good things happen. Your dog wants to please you. The sound of his name should invoke enthusiasm, never fear or the impression he did something bad.

By Valerie Goettsch
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