Our furry canine friends are great at communicating with us. All we need to do is learn how to listen to them. Plenty of people get frustrated and annoyed by incessant barking.  Instead of just yelling to the dog to shut up though it might be more productive to learn just exactly why dogs bark.

Dogs are highly intelligent animals. Unfortunately they don’t have the capability to communicate in words. Instead, you have to listen to their barks and yelps and interpret their body language.

Here are a few of the different meanings to a dog’s bark.

• Constant rapid barking usually means something like ‘hey look at that. There’s something in our territory we really need to check it out.’

• A low growl means that danger is near or that the dog is scared and looking to defend its home.

• A couple high pitched yaps is normally just a “Hi it’s great to see you” kind of greeting.

• An extremely high pitched bark or yelp normally means the dog has a sharp shooting pain like a thorn in a paw pad.

• If a dog is just belting out a short incessant yap then chances are it probably needs to go outside and use the bathroom. It’s more of an attention getter than anything else.

• If you have a hound breed then a long drawn out howl means that the dog has found whatever it was looking for and wants you to investigate.  This bark is used more as an attention getter than anything else.

• If a dog is happy and looking to play it will let out a couple medium to high pitched yaps to say ‘hey there pay attention to me! It’s play time now!”

Understanding your dog’s barks is key to training the dog when it is and isn’t appropriate to start yapping. You want a dog that will alert whenever strangers are around. At the same time you don’t want an animal that won’t shut up.

Unless you make it clear from the start who is in control then training a big dog can be a problem. A big dog can be a handful because of its size and sometimes its temperament. Unless training has commenced at puppy hood it can be difficult to train your pet. This guide will provide you with some dog training tips and hints to help you gain control over your dog.

It is best to start training your dog from the day you bring it home. If you have acquired a puppy, that is better from a training perspective. Puppies are much easier to train than a big dog. While your pet is a puppy you will easily have control which makes training that much easier.

If your dog is already full grown and is a problem to you and anyone it meets then some serious training is required. Training a big dog will require a lot of patience. A grown dog is harder to train than a puppy. Stay calm and be persistent with your training methods. Start with the basics and take it slowly.

Teaching your dog to sit is one of the first things most people teach their dogs. It can solve a lot of other related problems, like jumping up for instance. There is no point trying to physically get a big dog to sit by forcing their back down. This is not a good method to try on any size dog as it can damage their back so avoid it.

To teach a big dog to sit use food rewards.

• Get your dogs attention.
• If your dog has a tendency to run from you then train it in a small room in your house or in a small confined area of your yard.
• Take a dog treat that you know your dog loves and stand in front of your dog.
• Hold the dog treat just over your dog’s nose, say SIT in a firm voice and move your hand backward behind your dogs head.
• This should all be actioned in one fluid movement. If done correctly your dog will automatically sit. Let him have the treat and praise him. Don’t overdo the praise for hyperactive dogs.

Repeat this four or five times ensuring that you say SIT each time.  Do not overdo it on the first day.

Repeat this process for a week reducing the treats little by little until your big dog eventually sits without the treats. Ensure that you praise your dog each time he does the right thing. The praise will eventually replace the need for treats.

If you own a dog then at some point you will probably have a problem with fleas. Flea control is important for both you and your dog. If fleas are on your dog then they are probably in your home. Summer is generally the time when fleas appear in large numbers so flea control around this time is vital.

Fleas can be seen with the naked eye and can be found anywhere on your dog but are more commonly seen on the lower back near the tail. For effective flea contol you need to treat the fleas when they are spotted. The longer you wait the more fleas you will get.

There are a large number of products available to control fleas but for effective flea control you need to kill fleas not only on your dog but also in their bedding, in your house and in your garden.

Best Offers

• DELUXE FLEA COMB with HANDLE – This comb can be used easily to remove fleas from your pet. Chrome plated steel with rounded teeth for a gentle touch. The teeth are spaced ultra close to trap fleas when combing. Complete with easy instructions for maximum effectiveness.
• Flea and Tick Shampoo -  A variety of shampoos to choose from. The easy way to  kills fleas and ticks very quickly, but also clean the animals skin and coat, leaving it shining and pleasantly scented.

Flea Collars are an effective form of flea control with herbal flea collars becoming more and more popular. Flea collars are generally a deterrent rather than a cure and should be used as such.

Flea Combs are quite effective as they are made specifically to catch fleas and drag them out. Use the comb everyday and also after each wash.

Ensure your dog is bathed regularly. Bathing will kill some of the fleas but not all of them. Use your flea comb after each wash as any fleas that aren’t killed will be stunned and easier to remove.

Wash your dogs bedding regularly and keep the area around your pet’s bed as clean as possible.

Vacuum regularly. Shake flea powder into the vacuum bag before using otherwise the fleas will just jump back out once vacuumed. Better yet, if you can afford to, throw away the vacuum bag after each vacuum.

Products such as Frontline have been known to be a highly effective form of flea control as they kill not only the fleas but also the eggs and the larvae for up to three months. It is easily applied to your pet and is completely waterproof so your dog can continue to swim and be bathed without losing the effectiveness of the product.

Flea control can be difficult but fortunately there are products out there that can help. By following the tips described above and using some of these products you should find your flea problems are over.

Dog training is an essential part of the socialization process of any dog. Without it your dog will be a problem to both you and anyone it meets. Nobody likes a dog that jumps up when greeted, barks all day and night or bites at unwary passers-by. Dog training may require some effort on your part but in the end it will definitely be worth it. You will have a pet that you will be proud to own.

If you haven’t yet purchased a dog then think about the temperament of the breed before purchasing. If you are buying from a breeder ask them about the temperament of the puppy’s parents. Dog training will tend to be a little easier with gentler, less volatile breeds and smaller breeds are often easier to control.

If you have already purchased your puppy or already have a fully grown dog and are ready to start dog training then check the following list of tips and hints:

1. Start dog training from day 1. This is so important and yet many believe that puppies are too young to train. The best time to train your dog is from the day you bring it home regardless of its age.
2. Be consistent. This includes your family and friends. There is no point teaching your dog not to jump up when greeted if your partner or friends allow it.
3. Don’t yell at your dog. This will only cause your dog to be scared of you and a scared dog is less likely to do what you want. You want a happy dog that is willing to do everything you say.
4. Don’t hit your dog or physically abuse it in anyway. This will only create a bad relationship between you and your dog and your dog will be less likely to do as you say.
5. Use positive rewards and ignore bad behaviour. When your dog does something good then reward it. If it does something bad, like jumping up on you, then ignore it.
6. Attend obedience classes. You don’t need to spend the rest of your life at obedience classes but if you can make the effort to attend at least ten lessons this will be a great start and give you and your dog the confidence you need.
7. Don’t expect too much too soon. Some dogs learn faster than others but if you are consistent then your dog training efforts will be rewarded.
8. Don’t leave your children alone with a new puppy. I put this one here only because young children don’t always understand how to look after a puppy and some have been known to hit them without reason. Any damage done at this early stage can have detrimental affects on your training program.

A simple approach to housebreaking your puppy

One of the more common problems we have with our puppies is housebreaking them. Housebreaking some puppies is more difficult than others and these puppies will take longer to train. Keep in mind that no matter how well the training is going, your puppy will occasionally have accidents. The key is to be patient and never take your frustrations out on your new pet.

Puppies are creatures of habit. If they learn that they can relieve themselves in your house then they will continue to do so. Don’t let your puppy get into this habit. Begin housebreaking as soon as you bring your puppy home.

Puppies will generally use the same area to relieve themselves so designate an area in your yard. When your puppy wakens, finishes eating or before he is ready for another nap, take him to the designated area. The more consistent you are with this method, the quicker your puppy will learn that it is the yard that he should use and not the house.

You can always pick when puppies are about to relieve themselves. Their nose will hit the floor and they will start sniffing around looking for the best spot. This is the key for you to pick up your puppy and take them to the designated area in the yard. Puppies are like toddlers – you need to keep your eye on them at all times otherwise you will have an accident of some sort.

Even with the best of training, puppies will make a few mistakes. If you see your puppy in the act, then pick him up quickly and tell him ‘No’ in a firm voice. Take him to the designated area immediately. You should not need to do anymore than this. Your puppy will eventually get the idea. If you have found an accident but didn’t see your puppy in the act then don’t admonish your pet or rub your puppy’s nose in it. He will have no idea why you are yelling at him. Just continue on as if nothing has happened.

Be consistent with your training habits and your puppy will be housebroken before you know it.

When choosing from the vast array of dog leashes on the market today, you will most likely choose the one that matches the dog collar you have picked, which is probably a good strategy in most cases.

Be aware however that the dainty little collar that you thought might suit your dog will probably have a dainty little leash to go with it and that dainty leash may not hold your dog if it sees a cat on its daily walk.

Dog leashes come in a variety of lengths and widths. Consider the size of your dog and the types of walks you take. A good rule of thumb is to have a basic six-foot leash for general walks and an extender lead for those runs in the park.

Dog leashes are not only for adult dogs. You can purchase leads specifically for puppies. Your puppy should be introduced to a leash as soon as possible. When attaching a leash to a puppy for the first time, allow the pup to drag it around for a little while. Ensure that you supervise your puppy as the leash could easily tangle. Grab the leash and walk a few yards calling your pup along. Do a little of this each day extending the distance as you go.

Dog leashes are not only suitable for walking your dog – they can also assist with training. Gentle Leaders or Haltis are a type of dog leash that can be a godsend for anyone with a dog that races ahead when walking. The Gentle Leader allows you to easily pull back on the leash bringing your dog back to a healing position. If used correctly, it is a gentle training method both for you and your dog.

Hands free dog leashes are a great option for joggers or anyone who needs to keep their hands free. Essentially it is a leash that comes with a belt that attaches around your waist. This is also great for hands free training of your pet.

All-in-one dog leashes and collars such as the Pink Traffic Lead All in One Dog Collar and Leash, as pictured, are another great invention. These are particularly useful in situations where you need to get a leash on quickly.