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By Jessica N
 Don't get the wrong idea, this isn't about feeding your dog green beans and nothing else. Here's at it works: You get a can of green beans and mix some of that up with your dog's own regular food.
The benefit of this is keeping your dog full in between meals. If your dog is like mine, she seems to be hungry and looking for anything she can in between meals. But if she has some green beans mixed in with her food, she stays full and doesn't feel deprived. She's quite satisfied, at least until the next meal.
Of course, this technique is not necessary for all dogs. At the same time, it's a good solution for those dogs that could easily eat more than they ought to in one sitting. You are only going to be giving a small amount of green beans to your dog, so you don't need to go buy a slew of cans. Store the leftover green beans in the can in the fridge, until the next day.
By measuring it, you can keep track
of how much your dog is getting. Be consistent: Give her the same amount every day once she's accustomed to it. But when you are getting started, just add a tiny bit, and work the amount up each day.
Go ahead and stock up on green beans if you see a great sale. But remember, you won't be going through them that fast, unless you have a huge dog that can eat a huge helping of food at one time.
How many green beans do you feed her? You need to take into account how big she is and how much she usually eats. Another thing: No salt. Do your best to find green beans that don't have salt added in.
The biggest advantage to this diet dog food plan is that it will help your dog get back to her healthy weight which will give her better health and more energy. So, go for the green.
Want to make sure your dog stays healthy? Visit Diet Dog Food and learn the truth about all the different dog diets and find the right one for your pet. We also cover the best senior dog food. Stopping Your Dog From Barking
By Tim Harrison
 Though we have looked at training a few different ways in previous articles you will find that in this article of training importance we are looking at a few specific behaviours of dogs. There are some dogs that tend to bark a lot more than other dog breeds. If you are aware of the proper training and take the time to train your dog you will not have to worry about much of the barking. This can be important to you as well as your neighbours based on the fact that many like the peace and quite, rather than incessant dog barking. So how do you go about training out some things a dog just does instinctively?
Well the answer to that is really more in line with behaviour training. You will need to start the training as early as possible. In other words once the dog breed has been weaned from its mother you will want to enter the dog into training. You can go about training in a few different ways. If you feel you are a confident owner that exhibits patience and a consistent hand you may wish to purchase a manual and look on dog training sites for the information. This is one method and most usually the least effective. While books can help during training for dog barking and other instinctual behaviours you really want a professional that will teach you obedience as well as other training methods for your dog. The best approach to any training is going to be a combined method. You also should keep aware that training should never stop. Even though you have been successful in training a dog will go back to the instincts they were born with over training if you dont keep with the training regiment. Most training is considered a daily exercise along with the actual physical exercise the dog needs.
So now that we have looked at training methods lets look at behaviour training a little more in depth. Behaviour training is not just obedience. With behaviour training you are trying to teach the dog the response you would like to have. If the dog barks for know reason you should not reward the behaviour with petting. In actuality you need to discourage the behaviour. Yelling is not a way to do this. You need to find something that the dog does not like. For example with cats water is a good deterrent for bad behaviour because they dont like to be wet. For dogs, it can differ depending on the breed, but usually a tone of voice, that is still at the normal level or the word no will be sufficient to get the bad behaviour stopped when you consider the training you are imparting. Remember that you also want to reward for good behaviour. Good behaviour can be the response to the no command you have issued. In other words if the dog ceases the barking and lies down instead you can reward them with a good dog or a little rub. Treats should be left for special occasions during training.
It can take a few months to get a dog trained to not bark. In some cases dogs will still bark when they hear the approach of a car or stranger. This can be good if they learn to bark once to alert you and then quiet down again. If they continue the insistent barking you may need to continue training. Remember so behaviours are instinctive so that behaviour training must over ride these senses to be effective.
Tim Harrison is a writer for the websites Dog Collars and Ceramic Dog Bowls. Tips on How to Select Your Dog
By Jimmy Cox
 The right dog can be a source of fun and companionship for many years. But the wrong dog may well turn out to be a nuisance and cause of family dissension. So, give some serious thought to the matter of picking your dog.
Purebred, Crossbreed, or Mongrel
To paraphrase Gertrude Stein: "A dog is a dog is a dog." No one breed or mixture is better than another. It all depends on why you want a dog and what kind of a dog your particular situation will maintain. There's only one species of dog, Canis familiaris, with 116 breeds registered in the American Kennel Club. As to the crossbreeds and mongrels, their numbers and combinations are best left to the mathematicians. You may be sure, though, the crossbreeds and mongrels far outnumber the purebreds.
The purebreds, crossbreeds and mongrels are much alike in their general behavior and instincts. Any one of them will offer friendship, loyalty and companionship. And with reasonable care, a dog from any of these groups will turn into a fine pet.
Purebred dogs
A purebred dog is one whose parents and ancestors are of a single breed. It is a dog with a traceable pedigree. In America, purebred dogs are registered with the American Kennel Club. Foreign purebred dogs are registered in the official kennel club of the specific country. The American Kennel Club now registers 116 breeds, divided into six groups.
Crossbreeds and mongrels
You may have decided that you just want a dog, nothing fancy - animal or price. If so, you have a wide range of choice from among the many combinations of crossbreeds and mongrels. They have little monetary value, but they'll give every bit as much loyalty and companionship as the purebreds.
Don't think that because crossbreeds and mongrels are purchased cheaply or obtained gratis, they are not highly prized by their owners. Of the 26 million dogs in the United States, more than two-thirds are crossbreeds and mongrels. And, along with the purebreds, these "cheap" dogs are the best-fed and best-cared for dogs in the world.
There are some disadvantages in getting a crossbreed or mongrel dog. To be sure, the crossbreed will grow up to look somewhat like his sire or dam. But not the mongrel; what he will look like is anybody's guess. Neither the crossbreed nor the mongrel can be entered in dog shows or field trials. So take this fact into consideration if you want to take part in the competitive areas of the dog world.
You will not experience much difficulty in finding a crossbreed or mongrel. And often they are yours for the asking. Consult the classified ads in your newspaper, visit a humane society, or reputable pet shop, and check with any neighbors who have puppies they cannot keep.
Male Vs. Female
The choice between a male or female should be based on facts, not prejudice. There are pros and cons for both sexes. The usual objection to the female is her estrus cycle or heat periods. She has a discharge during her periods, wants to go out and roam, and attracts a horde of canine Romeos. Add to this the excellent chance of unwanted puppies and you have the case against the female.
It's really not a very strong case. Let's consider some of the pros for the female. You'll find she is cleaner around the house, with better control of her bladder than the male. This is an important factor if you live in an apartment. You will recall that the male dog has an instinct for lifting his leg and urinating against trees, poles and fireplugs. He won't hesitate to use table and chair legs, doorjambs or floor lamps as substitutes.
The female has a strong maternal and protective instinct. She will guard children (especially if raised with them) as closely as she will guard her puppies. Some dog trainers consider the female to be more tractable, more willing to learn and with a longer attention span than the male.
You now should be in a stronger position to find a dog which will really suit you.
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http://www.freedogwhisperer.com/ Why Choose a German Shepherd
By Gerry Ronson
 German shepherds are medium to large dogs depending on their point of view. You will generally find that they are 22- 26 inches in height and 75- 95 pounds. German shepherds are also characterized by their hair color and face. A German shepherd is going to tan with black on the back, tail, and around the face. The muzzle is on the longer side for most dogs and proportionate to the head. You will also find that the German shepherds ears will stand up, but tend to curl just at the ends on some of them. The hair of a German shepherd is usually coarse and very thick. They are average shedders which means they need to be brushed at least twice a week if not more. During the warmer seasons they will need to be brushed daily. A wire brush will usually do the trick for grooming. Among other grooming needs you will need to clip their toenails usually once a month or maybe every two.
German shepherds are one of the most versatile dog breeds that you will ever find. Not only are these dogs used as police dogs, but they are also used in therapy, for seeing- eye dogs, and guard dogs. You will find no better companion when you look for a German shepherd dog. They are an extremely popular dog in several countries, especially America. It is important to understand how to care of this dog breed as well as some of the characteristics you should expect when you have one. We will also delve into their working side a little bit.
German shepherds have one of the most lovable temperaments of any dog. They are very affectionate, require a great amount of human interaction, and of course they need a lot of exercise. They are a very well muscled dog, which means that they are agile, quick, and very powerful. They may not be best around small children until after they have gone through training to make them more aware of their size and capabilities. You will find that they are really great at being trained, despite some tendency for stubbornness. It really takes a firm, but gentle hand. Among other characteristics you will find a calm behavior rather than rowdiness, and loyalty. Most often they do latch on to one master, but that doesnt mean they wont seek attention from anyone in the room.
German shepherds need to have a lot of space. They do not do well cooped up in small homes. They need at least an hour of exercise each day if not twice that amount to remain fit and happy. You will find large homes with a moderate backyard and fence will fit them a lot better.
German shepherd training can go in several directions. You can train them for households or you can train them to work. When training them for work you may need to seek a professional. As guard dogs or police dogs a German shepherd undergoes hours of training not only in rescue, but in tackling a person with a gun. This means that they will spend puppy- hood with a trainer. They will most likely be attached to one person during training. In some cases with the German shepherd used as a police dog they will have the partner train with the dog. In most cases they will train separately and then go through more training with their actual partner. You will find as police dogs they are used for narcotics, as well as cadaver dogs because they do have a powerful sense of smell.
Gerry Ronson writes for Dog Beds and Dog Accessories. Share Your Opinion. (0 posts)
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