Euro Puppy BLOG

Dogs need to know that you're taking them for a walk. Not the other way around. The best way is to wrap the leash around your arm two or three times, and walk at a constant pace.




Make sure that your dog understands that no matter how hard he pulls, there's no going any faster than you're currently going, and so he might as well go at your pace.

However, if you've gotten him used to pulling you around, then you might not be able to convince him that you've changed! Ensure that your dog learns from the very beginning that going for a walk is a structured act with rules that are not to be broken.

Choke chains are a useful way to teach your dog that straining harder is not the right way to get what he wants. Instrumental as it is in training, remember that they can get 'caught' easily.




What this means is, that after being pulled taught, the chinks in the chain can become entangled so as to prevent the chain from loosening again. This is even more likely to happen with rusted chains. So make sure that you don't leave your dog chained up and unattended with a choke chain around their neck. They may actually get chocked.

All of us have had the frustrating experience of our dog rushing out of the gate before we can stop them. More likely than not, your attempts at chasing him or her down will fail. They'll just keep running further and further when they see you coming.


Image Credit: paul+photos=moody

What I have found, is that the best way to get them back, is to walk towards them, as if catching them is the last thing on your mind! Look at the sky, the trees...hum to yourself. If they bolt a bit, and look back, pretend not to have noticed. And when you catch up to them, don't grab them...not yet.

Go a little ahead so that you cut off the escape route, THEN chase them down. They will run towards your home, where another member of the household awaits them!

The word ‘vacation’ typically means one thing for Americans; it is a time to kick back, relax and enjoy. But for pet owners, vacation often means confronting the detested task of finding a suitable environment for the family pet – bridled with the guilt of leaving him or her behind. Now, the new Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel is offering pet owners the opportunity to enjoy a much needed break and they can travel with their favorite four-legged friend.

“At Sheraton we believe that people are at their best when they are connected to their family members and loved ones - including those with four legs,” said Director of Sales and Marketing Steve Spivak.“ By opening our hotel to pets, we’re giving guests the option to include their most loyal companions in their travels, removing the worry factor of leaving them behind.”

Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel is scheduled to open in October 2008 and plans to pamper pooches by offering guests luxurious custom pet beds and other amenities, such as floor mats, food bowls, ID tags, and more. All guests checking in with a pet will receive a “welcome kit” to include information on nearby areas for exercise and other goodies to help make traveling with pets more enjoyable.

“As Arizona’s largest hotel and the largest hotel with a pet friendly policy, we are positioning downtown Phoenix as a major destination for animal lovers,” Spivak said.

And an animal friendly town it is with more than 30 dog parks located throughout the metro-Phoenix region. Pet owners may also enjoy a desert hike with their furry loved one, shop at one of the Valley’s many pet boutiques and bakeries, and even attend Thursday night ‘Yappy Hour’ where pets can meet and mingle at Three Dog Bakery.

But the downtown area is not only a fantastic find for your four-legged friend. The Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel is located in the heart of the bustling Civic Plaza area, minutes away from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, historic galleries and art museums, exciting shopping, bustling nightlife, and many of the Valley’s most notable restaurants.

So do these perks make Phoenix a pet lover’s heaven after all? You’ll just have to come and let Fido decide.

For more information or to make reservations, please visit www.sheraton.com/phoenixdowntown.

Many owners of dogs like the German shepherd panic when they find that their puppy's ears are not standing up. Remember that a dog's ears can take even upto a year to stand up. Sometimes, your dog may be so furry that the weight is simply too much for the ear to stand! Some owners take to 'taping' the ears to encourage them, while others shave them. 'Shaving' is recommended for long hair breeds' such as Biewer Yorkie or the Yorkie (Yorkshire Terrier). We also suggest that you do not caress your dogs' ears.


Image Credit: This Year's Love

Take plenty of pics when the first ear stands up! You will cherish them forever.

A little advice from a dog lover - This may sound ridiculous, but unless you're planning to enter the dog into a show, love your dog for what they are. They have their own personality, and you can get by with accepting their flaws. After all....they accept yours don't they?

We welcome other useful tips and tricks here!

Dog biting is a serious offense in many parts of the world. If you feel your dog is getting out of control, and sending him to behavioral school is not helping, you might want to consider neutering him

Neutered male dogs are three times less likely to bite than intact males. It consists of removing the testicles of the male. While some might consider this method excessive, you might find that you have no choice in the case of an uncontrollable male.



Image Credit: ☠☠☠

Dogs love to be touched, and there are several sweet spots that you can tickle and rub to make your dog happy. You will know you're succeeding by certain signs like a deep grunt at the back of his or her throat, or constant licking of the lips. They will also come and rub their head against you for more.

Hold the head in your hands gently, and using your thumb and forefinger, caress the ears, and stretch them out gently. Or you can use your left hand to hold the snout, and with your right palm, run it over the length of the nose.

You can also gently scratch their throat right where their collar sits. You will know you're hitting the right place by the fact that their head will rise up to give you better access.

Each dog is different, and like different things. As you spend time with them, you will get to know more and more about what they enjoy. Remember, your dog may not like strangers touching or caressing him/her. It is normal, as a matter of fact most people prefer other people not touching him.

Earlier this week, I tackled the topic of anti-barking dog collars; what they are; and how effective they are. I would like to continue with the topic a bit.

Although I briefly mentioned which breeds are the quiet representatives, I would like to continue with this thread. This is also an important factor when choosing a dog or a puppy. The amount of barking depends on three things: Firstly, the environment in which the dog lives influences his behaviour. Secondly it is genetic. Some dog breeds have been bred to be more quiet than others. Thirdly, canine physiology also holds answers. The Basenji breed for instance...ancient as it is, originates from Africa, and it has under-developed vocal cords. It cannot bark, because of a shallow larynx. It can give out sounds like yoddeling though. Some other more quiet breeds include:

-Golden Retrievers
-Newfoundland dogs
-Boxers
-Alaskan Malamutes
-Saint Bernards
-Bulldogs
-Collies
-Afghans

Of course they do bark, but in moderation. Dogs that are big barkers have well-developed vocal cords. New dog owners often don’t consider both training and dog breeds when selecting a dog and this can result in problems due to barking.



If you have done your research before buying a dog, good for you! An anti-barking dog collar is not needed if you are an owner of a quiet breed. Research into choosing a dog is imperative. However, if you are a loving owner of a rather roudy dog, then you may just have a problem there and an anti-barking dog collar in this case is a great possibility and solution. According to dog trainer and author; Ty Brown: " I get tired of people who don't do research and call these collars mean and cruel without realizing how humane they can be when used right. " With an anti-barking dog collar, slowly but surely, your roudy dog can become a quiet pet as well; much like the other non-barking dog breeds.

Please do bear in mind that puppies tend to be more enthusiastic and loud. A lot depends on the individual personality of your dog as well. If your dog has spent his early weeks among very enthusiastic barking dogs, don’t expect him to be silent, no matter what the dog breed is. Regardless of which dog breed you end up choosing, don’t overlook the importance of good training. Good training - although often requiring extreme patience and professional help; combined with an anti-barking dog collar- will ensure a happy home environment for both dog and owner. Silence is Golden. Start with an anti-barking dog collar.

All dogs bark. Is that true? Well no. Not all dogs bark, but most do. Owners of a Basenji, an Alaskan Malamute, and an Afghan Hound can take it easy and enjoy the silence around them. However there are dogs that are typically big barkers and these include the Jack Russell, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Mudi, Vizsla, Shetland Dog, Newfoundland, German Shepherd, Dachshund, Beagle, West-Highland Terrier, Toy Poodle, Doberman and the Schnauzer.

So what to do when you have to listen to incessant barking? Not only your sleep, but your neighbors’ nerves will also be affected. Although one understands that barking is natural for dogs, there comes a time when enough is enough. What to do then? Training might help…but an anti-barking dog collar might do the trick as well.

What is an anti-barking dog collar you ask? Well this is special type of collar that triggers a reaction out of a dog…and after repetitively negatively stimulating the dog with every bark, the dog slowly but surely learns not to bark. There are different types of anti bark collars available. There are dog collars that deliver a light shock to your dog as a reaction to barking. There is also a type of dog collar that sprays mists of citronella. This smell is not welcomed by dogs and they sooner stop barking than continue smelling the fumes of citronella around them. This is a more humane solution because it does not inflict pain to the dog.

So how effective is an anti barking dog collar, you ask?

- Anti-barking collars can modify a dog’s behavior while teaching the dog not to bark.
- It helps dog owners in their everyday chores of taking care of their dogs.
- It is humane and the most proper way to stop excessive barking of dogs. Dog owners support it worldwide.
- In a matter of a week, it can already be removed since dogs already get used to such a scheme.
- There are some anti-barking collars which are rechargeable so there will be no extra costs for batteries.
- There are some anti-barking collars which are waterproof which means dogs can use this device even when it’s raining outside.

As with every type of collar, it is important to choose the right type for your dog. This should of course depend on the size of your dog as well as their barking habit. You should buy a small, thin, delicate collar for small dogs, while thicker, stronger collars are the best option for large-bodied dogs. The fitting of the collar is very important! You don’t under any circumstances want to buy a collar that is too tight, since this may lead to choking!

If you are thinking of buying online…look at their return policy. This will help you in case the collar is too big, or too small for your dog. If you are aiming to buy it at a pet store, they may be kind enough to give you advice about the type and effectiveness of the collar that is perfect for your dog. So try it out. You might just catch up on a few hours of lost sleep!

Dogs are seen as beloved family members worldwide. Yet research shows that young children are at a greater risk from injury resulting from dog bites, than any other age group. Young children are known to treat dogs as playmates and this frequent and close contact can be dangerous at times. Majority of dog bites occur in the home environment while children play with ( - cuddling, hitting, kicking, squeezing, massaging, riding, sitting on, tickling, hugging and pulling ears and tails of ) their beloved pet dog. Research also shows that young children are not good at understanding the body language of dogs. Children more often than not look at the face of their pet dog and have difficulty in distinguishing between fear and friendliness.

These days there are many dog bite prevention programmes aimed at teaching children how to behave around dogs, and how to understand them better. Prevention starts at home…and the first step is to educate the parents to create a safe environment for cohabitation between children and dogs. It is important to focus first and foremost on teaching not only children but their parents as well on how to recognize and understand those situations which can be potentially dangerous in a household.



If you have young children as well as dogs in your home, it is highly advisable for you to look up organisations which can help you teach your children about their canine playmates. Because this is more complex than one would think, a team of behavioral veterinarians, Pediatricians, child psychologists and teachers form the Netherlands have united to tackle this seemingly innocent, yet very grave problem. There are now organizations in Australia and the UK as well. Look up these organisations in your country and make an effort. After all it is about the development of you child and the safe handling of your dogs as well.

However, it is also important to note that rules are meant to be broken, as children would like to believe and therefore increased knowledge does not necessarily increase behavioral intelligence. Ultimately efficient parental supervision is what is needed as a basis and this –together with correct and ongoing education- can lead to long term results. Good luck! Euro Puppy supports the safe interaction between children and dogs!