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Puppy Agility Training

You may be asking, "When can I start agility training with my new puppy?"   Puppies are always learning, so every time you are with your pup you can be playing and socializing with agility in mind.  Always remember, if you can control your puppies environment, you can teach and train the behaviors you want, left on their own, even in a fenced yard, puppies will learn and develop behaviors that later we may want or need to extinguish.

One of the first behaviors we teach our pups is "Table" or "Box". This  behavior transfers to the agility pause table.  But more than that, the table is the center and control point of our puppy training. We introduce pups and older dogs to the table set at a 12 inch height.  If you have a very small pup you could use an 8 inch table, but even with bigger dogs we use the 12 inch table and not higher. To begin, lure pup up on a low pause table, treat him for getting on the table.  Once the pup is comfortable getting up on the table, then lure the pup up to a sit.  You can also lure to a down. 

Next you want to work on distance to the table. If you have a person to help you you can use a white target plate on the table, take the pup and step back from the table about 3 feet.  Have your helper make a noise to

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Why Cats Make Such Good Pets

Cats are very good pets as they don’t require as much attention as other options such as a dog. You don’t have to walk the cat and you don’t have to deal with it barking at everything that happens to walk by your home. Young cats are extremely playful and you can interact with them when you want to. However, most cats are content to play with toys or to be independent.

This doesn’t mean that cats aren’t excellent companions though. They can be silly at times and they often enjoy curling up on your lap and purring. Your cat won’t come running when you are home at the end of day and knock you over. They also don’t lick or bite so you won’t have to worry about how they will interact with others when you have company. Cats always seem to be able to tell when you need some comfort.

Taking care of a pet can help a child to become more responsible but some pets just come with too much time required. A cat makes a perfect choice for children because they tend to take care of themselves. As long as they are given sufficient food and water they will remain happy. Indoor cats will have to be trained to use a litter box but most of them learn very quickly so you won’t have to deal with cleaning up such messes around

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How To Stop Your Dog From Digging Holes In Your Garden

Guess what? My new dog Forbes started digging holes in my rose garden!

As the owner of the web site Dogproblems.com (as well as the Southern California dog training company South Bay K-9 Academy for six years) I'm going to let you peek into my world and learn how a professional dog trainer solves this type of behavior problem.

First, I need to figure out when he is digging. Since I know the dog and his lifestyle, I can rule out several factors such as boredom or puppyhood or gophers, etc...

I noticed that every time he would start digging holes he was in the yard playing with a friend's dog, unsupervised.

So, I first need to MAKE SURE that it was ACTUALLY MY DOG that was the perpetrator. A quick look at his feet would suggest that it was.

Next, I needed to figure out if he would dig ANY TIME he was left alone in the yard or if it was only when another dog was present.

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The History of Dogs

The domestic dog is loyal and courageous, intelligent and adaptable. Useful as well as affectionate, the dog guards people’s flocks, plays with their children, and helps them hunt. A loving pet, the dog is known as a trusted companion.
   
Wherever human beings live—whether in an Eskimo village, a jungle clearing, or a crowded city—dogs live, too. In the United States alone, about 34 million dogs are kept as pets. Some are mongrels. Others are pedigreed—for through selective breeding people have created many distinct kinds of dogs. In North America alone, more than 120 standard breeds are recognized.
   
People admire domestic dogs. But they usually fear the dog’s untamed relatives—the wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes, and other species that make up the family Canidae, or doglike mammals. There has always been open warfare between wild dogs and people. As carnivores (meat eaters), wild dogs often compete with people for prey. Sometimes they attack domestic stock as well. People may be forced to kill wild dogs in order to protect themselves and their livestock.

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