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Give Your Dog Treats, But Don’t Overdo It

Dog treats are a great way to encourage your dog to behave, aid in training, –whether it’s complicated tricks and behaviours, or just potty training and the standard “sit and stay” commands. Then you can just give your dog a special treat now and then to let them know you love them, and that not chewing up your new pair of leather pumps was a smooth move on his part. Plus, many dog treats are optimized to contain vitamins to improve their digestive system, or strengthen and clean their teeth. However, there is a lot of hazard in giving your dog too many treats, and although spoiling the animal is a concern, there are also others, such as severe possible side effects of a harmful ingredient in the treat that your dog has been repeatedly exposed to. Making your own dog treats is very beneficial, –because you know what’s going into the food, and can control what the animal is exposed to. But it’s still important to ask a vet what ingredients you should not put in the treat.

Nutritional And Health Concerns

Throughout recent years, many foods and treats sold on mass scales especially for dogs were found to contain many ingredients that are actually poisonous to the animal, more so if they have been eating the food their entire lives. Even today, treats and foods for dogs can include dairy products, garlic, or onion, wheat gluten, liver, and salt. Chocolate is also poisonous for dogs, but rarely ever found in treats or food, and should never actually be given to a dog. All of these can cause numerous diseases in animals, from obesity to heart failure, when given to the animal in large quantities. Reading the ingredients panel of your dog food, or brand of dog treat, might just save your pet’s life, or you could even skip the store bought treats, and make your own at home. Some items, like raisins and popcorn are frequently given as treats to dogs; but raisins are poisonous, and popcorn should remain unsalted.

Consequences In Behaviour

Dogs can be spoiled just as easily as children can; if you give them a reward all the time, soon, good behaviour will have lost all meaning, and they will act out regardless of prior training. Children however, can be verbally corrected. Dogs don’t speak our language. So if you give your dog a treat all the time, the idea of getting a treat will have lost all meaning. Spoiling a pet and then punishing your animal for misbehaviour also leads to a lot of avoidable confusion. Train your pet wisely, and keep the treats for the times when you feel your dog deserves one, or now and then for just a little gift.

Make Your Own

Making your own dog treats is tricky, and you should always check with your vet before giving your animal anything to eat that is not specifically “for dogs”. If you plan to bake treats for your pet, also be sure of what vitamins are going to be in them, -that way you know just how this will affect your dog’s nutrition. Try the recipe below if you want to make a homemade batch of dog treats. But also check ingredients with a vet first, –your pet may have allergies or other health issues that might cause unhealthy reactions.

Homemade Dog Treats

Preheat oven to 325 F.

1 Egg

1/2 cup margarine

3/4 cup cornmeal

(Garlic powder has been removed from this recipe because it is unsafe for dogs, but as an option and if your vet does not object, add 1 tsp of garlic powder.)

1 tsp chicken bullion (unflavoured with onion or garlic, preferably)

3 cups flour

1/2 cup grated cheese

1 cup of oatmeal

3/4 cup milk

Combine all liquid ingredients in one bowl, and set aside. The combine together the cornmeal, cheese, chicken flavour, (garlic powder if you’re using it), and the grated cheese in a larger bowl. Not the flour. Afterward, pour the liquid mixture into the dry mix, and stir evenly. The add half a cup of flour at a time, stirring evenly after each addition. Use cookie cutters to make doggie friendly shapes, or just drop a couple teaspoons at a time on a baking sheet like cookies. Bake for 30 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet, and remember to let them cool for at least an hour before giving them to your dog.

Find out everything you need to know about Dog Treats, including where to buy them at Cosmos Dog Treats and Cosmos Dog Treat Store. Article written by Russ Hancock

How to Throw the Best Birthday Party Ever

Are you one who has determined that having birthday parties at home is just too stressful so you avoid them with fear and trembling? A little planning can go a long way. With it you can help you turn a potentially chaotic mess into a wonderful birthday party that your child will remember for the rest of his life.

So how do you throw the best birthday party ever and still remain sane? Let’s review four top tips to help make the day stress free:

Make a Plan - A birthday party checklist will help to keep you on track and in control. No more “Oh I hope I didn’t forget something”. With this single step you will have built in reminders and take the pressure off instantly. Include even the things that you know you won’t forget like “bake a cake” or “buy paper goods” just so you know that everything is there and will be taken care of. Have a section on your list to keep track of the items you need to buy as well as a detailed timeline. This also helps if you have people helping you with the party as they will know what’s been done and still needs to be done based on your checklist.

Get the birthday child involved - Keep in mind that your child is the focus of the day so he should be consulted and involved in a majority of the planning and preparations. It may take some extra time but having him involved will really make him feel special - and that’s the goal of the day after all! Have him choose the theme, take him with when you shop for the party favors and paper goods - ask him what he wants! You’ll be glad you did!

Grab a photographer - You want to remember the day in photos but often the last thing on your mind during the actual party is taking pictures because you’re so busy with the kids or the parents or getting the candles on the cake that the camera gets left on the counter unused. Snag one of the other parents or a neighbor friend to be in charge of the photography of the day. Make sure you communicate which pictures you want to have taken if you have special ones you want, but otherwise, let them just snap away. The beauty of digital cameras is that you can take tons of pictures and delete the ones that don’t work.

Hire Help - Ask an older sibling or cousin to assist you during the planning and especially on the birthday party day. Your helpers can serve as clean up crew or even be in charge of the games and activities. This way you can focus on your child or the guest’s parents, etc. You can, of course, pay them a small wage for their time or give them a special present or gift certificate from you for their help.

These small steps and some advanced preparation will help you to have a fun, memorable party without pulling your hair out. Keep your birthday child as the focus and the rest of the day will go smoothly! Enjoy!

Get a free birthday party checklist when you sign up for Annette’s mailing list today at FunOnTheArk.com

Premium Pet Care Tips

If you are a brand new pet owner you may not be sure how to adequately take care of your new pet. Taking good care of your pet has a lot of different aspects attached to it, and there can be a lot to learn at first. Everything from your pet’s diet, grooming habits, and even health care plans can be included in learning how to properly care for your pet. In this article we’ll take a look at several basic pet care tips you can use to help make sure your pet gets the best care you can possibly give them.

One of the first and most important basic pet care tips is looking after your pet’s diet. There are literally hundreds of different name brands, flavors, and kinds of food available for your pet to eat. It’s important that you check into each of the companies and check to make sure they haven’t recently had any kind of recall. Next, you’ll want to try and find the healthiest type of food your dog can eat. This can be difficult with so many choices, so be prepared to read a lot of labels.

Another aspect of keeping a close eye on your pet’s diet is making sure you watch for obesity in your animals. It is not healthy at all for your pet to be overweight and it can even shorten your pet’s life drastically. Weight gain is typical in pets as they get older so especially watch for obesity if your pet is starting to get up in age. Make sure to keep pet treats to a bare minimum and to not over do it, as this is a big factor in dog’s who become overweight. Most people already know not to give a dog or cat chocolate, but it’s good to be reminded. Chocolate can actually poison your animal and kill it.

Another of the basic pet care tips you need to know involves grooming. Grooming your family pet should be done on a regular basis and in some cases it should be done on a daily basis. Get a specially designed pet comb to help get rid of your pet’s loose hair and to help distribute the oil in your pet’s fur coat. This will make their coat shiny and it will look beautiful. Get a high quality pet shampoo to wash your pet in and also make sure to put to use any flea treatments that may help get rid of your dog’s flea problem.

If you don’t plan on using your pet to breed other litters of animals then you need to have that pet spayed or neutered. Not only does this prevent you having a ton of puppies to try and give away, it is also very healthy for your pet. In most cases it helps reduce the chances of prostate cancer in male animals and breast cancer in female animals. Many people who let their cat or dog have a lot of puppies or kittens end up creating a big stray pet problem, in which these animals end up with no loving homes and in shelters.

Exercising is another basic pet care tips must. Exercise helps to keep your dog from being overweight and unhealthy. It is also a great way for you to bond with your pet. Exercising also allows your dog to socialize with other dogs and will in general improve your dog’s over all attitude and behavior.

Your pet deserves your best care and attention for all the love and joy he or she brings to your life. Make sure you do your best to make sure your dog’s health needs and grooming needs are a top priority for you so that your dog will live a long and healthy life.

The Author is the happy owner of a pet health and insurance site called Pet Insurance Pro where he shares a lot more information on pet health, pet fitness and pet longevity. Read the latest article on VIP Pet Insurance.

Caring For Your Dog in the Summer Heat

Anyone who owns a pet dog knows how much fun it can be to play with your dog during the warm summer months. There are a lot of fun activities you can do with your pooch at the park, the swimming pool, and lots of other places. However, you need to also make sure that you pay close attention to your dog’s health during the summer and protect him or her from the elements of nature that are normal this time of year.

One of the biggest health threats to your dog during the summer is of course overheating. As summer moves in it gradually warms up and gets hotter and hotter until the heat is almost unbearable. We aren’t the only ones who feel the effects of the intense heat, as dogs also get easily overheated. As you can imagine with a dog’s thick fur that their natural body temperature tends to rise rapidly out in the summer sunshine. This is why it is extremely important to make sure that you have access to plenty of water for your dog. If you’re taking a long trip in the car make sure to bring some type of dish and some bottled water for your dog to drink.

You can also avoid overheating your dog on walks by changing up the schedule and walking him at cooler parts of the day. This is typically in the early morning hours or late at night. You should also try to avoid the hot asphalt when walking your pooch. Dogs have really sensitive pads on the bottom of their paws and the heat from the asphalt can cause them to overheat as well.

Another concern for dog owners during the hot, sweaty months of summer is heartworms. Heartworms are a type of parasite that a dog gets from a mosquito bite. This is one of the reasons dogs have this problem more in the summer as mosquitoes run amuck all over the place during the hot sticky months of summer.

After the dog is bitten by a mosquito the heartworm enters the dog’s body. From there the worms start reproducing themselves in the dog’s heart, which will lead to death. You can further protect your dog from this serious risk by purchasing medicine that helps prevent heartworms in the first place. This pill is effective in most dogs.

There are a number of other activities that are common place during the beautiful weather of summer that could be a risk to your dog. One of those is the typical backyard barbeque. Make sure when having all your family and friends over for a nice summer barbeque to keep an eye on the dog and make sure he or she doesn’t tip over the grill and get burned. Many dogs get burned every year while being unattended by their owners during these type of activities.

You also have to be careful during the Fourth of July celebrations as well. Most dogs don’t like a lot of loud noises like fireworks produce so try and keep your dog in doors during the fireworks so that your dog doesn’t run the risk of getting injured. Also make sure you clean up after you’re done with fireworks so that your dog doesn’t eat what’s left of them lying around on the ground as this could cause serious health problems.

Taking good care of your dog during the summer months will ensure that both you and your pooch have an enjoyable time playing and running around in the beautiful warm weather.

The Author is the happy owner of a pet health and insurance site called Pet Insurance Pro where he shares a lot more information on pet health, pet fitness and pet longevity. Read the latest article on VIP Pet Insurance.

FAQ About Dog Health

Many new dog owners often have questions regarding the proper care of their new canine friend. Not everyone has a vet on call 24 hours a day so it can sometimes be difficult to find the right answers right when you need them. In this article we’re going to take a look at a few of the frequently asked health questions new dog owners have asked and need to know.

One of the most popular questions asked by dog owners is how often should they take their dog to the vet? Typically a dog should have a yearly check up and an update on all his or her vaccinations. This is different for puppies. Puppies require more vaccinations and booster shots so they should definitely go more than once a year, but as they grow and get older you can reduce it down to one time a year. Dogs age more quickly than humans, so as a dog gets up in age you will probably need to take him to the doctor two or three times a year at that particular point in your dog’s life.

Another frequently asked question deals with the issue of neutering your pup. The simple and short answer to this question is that if you plan on using your dog to breed then you obviously should avoid that procedure. However, if you are not planning to use your dog for breeding purposes it may be a good idea to have him neutered. There are quite a few health benefits involved in having your dog neutered, such as less aggressive behavior. This procedure also greatly reduces your dog’s chance of having testicular cancer.

A lot of new pet owners ask about how to recognize when their dog is getting ill. It really pays off to know your dog well and his personality and behavioral patterns as this will be a main indicator in determining whether or not your pooch is sick. Pay close attention and watch for changes in his behavior, his eating and drinking habits, and his sleep pattern. If your dog seems to be urinating a lot more than usual that is a pretty strong sign something isn’t right. So is vomiting and sudden weight loss. Watch and notice for any limping, or maybe even a vocal indicator such as a whimper.

One question that gets asked a lot is about getting your dog to stop eating the lawn. Many dogs when they are let out to use the bathroom have a bad habit of eating grass. There are many suggested theories as to why this is, but none are conclusive as to why dog’s do this. The only thing that is known for sure is that when a dog munches on some grass he usually throws it back up. One of the best ways to keep your dog from doing this is to get some specially made grass that you place on your dog’s dog food that is supposed to help your dog stop eating the grass outside.

There are many more questions that new dog owners ask that just won’t fit into the body of this article. These are just a few tips and pointers to help you make sure you are taking care of your dog correctly and are helping you to help your new friend adjust to his new home. It can be easy to get overwhelmed at first when learning how to care for a pet, but in due time it will become natural to you, so don’t sweat a thing. Just hang in there and enjoy your dog!

The Author is the happy owner of a pet health and insurance site called Pet Insurance Pro where he shares a lot more information on pet health, pet fitness and pet longevity. Read the latest article on VIP Pet Insurance.

Medical Insurance For Your Pets

Every pet owner considers their beloved pet to be another member of the family. People buy toys for their pets, special foods, and even take care of their health as well. Pets can be pretty expensive, especially when they come up sick and you have to pay an arm and a leg at the vet’s office for their check ups and treatments. However, there is a solution to high vet bills and expensive medicine in the form of medical insurance for your pets.

A lot of people reading this probably think that health insurance for pets must be some type of new fad and craze suddenly popping up, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Health coverage plans for pets have been around for the last 20 years or so, but are just now starting to become common place amongst pet owners.

Most people have the wrong view of their pet’s medical expenses. Most people are oblivious to the high expenses of paying for a visit to the vet and a pet’s medicinal needs. The shock usually sets in when they get the bill in the mail and realize just how much money these bills are going to cost. Over the last few years the price of a visit to the vet has risen considerably. This leaves many people in a hard position when it comes to their pet needing serious treatment done. Some people even have to let their dogs be put down because of not being able to afford a life saving operation. This can be devastating for a family to go through, especially children.

If you aren’t sure where to look for health coverage plans for your pets you should try searching on the Internet. The Internet has a wealth of information on just about any type of pet health insurance need you may have. It may take you awhile to find the right company with the right plan, but isn’t your pet worth it? Make sure that you shop around and that you don’t settle for the first company and plan that comes along. Try contacting these companies and getting as much information as possible about their plans and how much the deductibles will be.

Sit down with the whole family and take a look at your family budget. See how much cash you really have to work with before picking a plan. Make sure it’s a plan that will fit within the family budget and will not put any unnecessary strain on you financially. Once you’ve got your budget adjusted it’s time to contact the company and sign up for the plan you want.

There are a lot of different plan options for you to choose from and each one has it’s benefits and it’s down sides. You can always opt for a plan with a higher deductible that will be cheaper than some other plans. You can always go for a co-payment type of plan as well. This is a lot cheaper than some other plans.

Taking care of your pets is a must if you want them to have a happy, healthy long life with you and your family. You should definitely think about the financial costs of having pets before going out and purchasing one. This will benefit both you and the potential pet you could’ve had by realizing you may not be financially secure enough to pay for all the high costs of a healthy pet. Remember to shop around and try to find the best deal you can that will help you to be able to pay for your pet’s health care.

The Author is the happy owner of a pet health and insurance site called Pet Insurance Pro where he shares a lot more information on pet health, pet fitness and pet longevity. Read the latest article on VIP Pet Insurance.

Old Dog, New Trick: Teaching Your Older Dog Not to Bark

Many people believe the old saying “You can`t teach an old dog new tricks. Fortunately, when it comes to old dogs that bark, you CAN teach them new tricks. Obviously, it is easier to train a puppy not to bark than it is an elderly dog, but this doesn`t mean it`s impossible.

Whether you have raised your dog from a puppy and missed teaching him to be quiet along the way or are getting an older dog from a friend or even the local pound, it`s important to teach your canine friend not to bark needlessly.

Why Dogs Bark

There are several reasons why your dog is barking and not all of them are bad. While you don`t want the steady barking of a nervous animal, you certainly will want your pet to let you know if there is an intruder or if someone needs help. Understanding the method behind the madness will give you a far better chance of training your dog the right way.

Fear: Is your dog afraid of thunder? Perhaps he barks only around strange men, like the mail carrier. This is quite common, but it doesn`t need to be permanent. Letting dogs have a safe place to retreat to can really help with this type of barking issue. A safe spot to curl up with a favorite toy and a treat will help your dog relax and keep busy for a bit.

Lack of attention: Dogs are social creatures and they often live to please their humans. If you are out of the house for long periods of time, you dog is probably suffering from separation anxiety. To help him get over this, be sure to take him with you sometimes and to take it slowly. For example, just go outside the door for five or ten minutes while leaving some treats and new toys for your dog.

Boredom: Your dog could be barking simply for something to do. If you notice that your canine pal is extra active, scratching at the door or chasing silly things, chances are he needs something better to do. Giving your dog a chore will help him feel happy and useful and will get rid of that bark. Teach him a new trick or play fetch in order to keep him busy. New toys can also be used.

Change: Some dogs are more sensitive to change than others and if there has been a recent move, death in the family or other drastic change, your older dog may be barking for this reason. In this case, it is often a matter of letting your pet become accustomed to the new situation. If there is someone missing, it can be helpful to give your dog a piece of their clothing.

Teaching an Older Dog Not to Bark

Dogs that are over five years may be a little more difficult to train not to bark, especially if this is not a recent development. Many pet owners have unintentionally taught their dogs to bark by responding to them when they make noise, often from the time they are puppies. This just lets the dog know that if he wants attention, he only needs to start barking.

Patience will go a long way in teaching your older dog not to bark. Since this is an ingrained response, the longer your dog has been barking, the longer it will take for him to unlearn the behavior. Rewarding good behavior and teaching the command, “Quiet” will help you get your dog to understand that barking isn`t a good thing to do. Most dogs are happy to please their humans and once they realize that you want the behavior to stop, they will usually attempt to comply. Again, patience is key.

Bark Busters is one of the leading providers of dog training and puppy training in Canada. With personalized trainers all across the country, Bark Busters’s professional trainers can help you train your dog effectively.

Tips Every Dog Owner Should Know

Taking good care of your family dog should be like second nature to any pet owner. It’s important that we take care of our pets because they often become like one of the family and they deserve to be taken care of with all the joy they bring into our lives. There are a lot of important aspects of proper dog care, but in this article we will be examining three tips that every person who owns a dog should know.

The first tip we’ll be looking at is the use of vitamin E to treat your dog’s common skin diseases and disorders. These pills can be purchased practically anywhere and are pretty non expensive. There are several different ways that you can give these pills to your puppy. One way is to just give the dog the pill whole. The other option you have is to slightly pierce the outer shell extract the oil and just rub it on your dog’s skin yourself. Whichever method works for you is the one you should stick with. Dogs often get dry skin so this is a great way to put the moisture back in your pup’s skin and to keep him from itching so bad.

The second tip we’re going to be looking at is the use of a common household item known as Pepto Bismal. Believe it or not this is actually a great way to help treat your dog when he or she has a slight case of diarrhea. Most people may not realize that this is perfectly safe and won’t harm your dog at all. You should still contact your vet before giving your dog any Pepto to see what the recommended dosage is. Another common side effect of diarrhea is dehydration. If your dog happens to get dehydrated you can always use Pedialyte to help your dog recover.

The third tip that every person who owns a dog should know is a tip to help prevent certain medical problems that may occur in your dog’s lifetime. Many people don’t know that acidophilus, which is found in yogurt is actually really good for your dog. Acidophilus actually helps aid your dog’s digestive tract and helps your pooch to avoid contracting a yeast infection. The only kind of yogurt that is recommended for your dog is plain white yogurt.

Another outstanding tip for every dog owner knows how to treat and prevent ear mites. Ear mites can do a lot of damage to your dog’s ear and cause a lot of discomfort. In order to treat ear mites you need to take an eye dropper and put two drops of corn oil into your dog’s ears. After that you need to gently massage your dog’s ears and wash them out using a few balls of cotton. You will probably have to repeat this process for several days in a row before all the mites are actually gone.

We all know how constipation can make a person feel, so imagine your dog being constipated. It’s not a very pleasant experience. There are ways we can help our pooches become regular again. This remedy varies depending on the size of your dog. If you have a pretty big dog you’ll need to add 3 or 4 tablespoons of mineral oil into his food. A smaller dog only needs 1 tablespoon; maybe 2 so don’t overdo it. After a day or two your dog should be as good as new again.

These are just a couple of helpful hints to help you take care of your favorite four legged friend and help your dog to live a happy healthy life.

The Author is the happy owner of a pet health and insurance site called Pet Insurance Pro where he shares a lot more information on pet health, pet fitness and pet longevity. Read the latest article on VIP Pet Insurance.

Names For Dogs: Tips on Choosing Best Dog Names

If you have recently adopted a dog into your home, once you have gotten used to each other for a bit, you’ll find that you might have some trouble thinking up a name. As you might already suspect, choosing a dog name is an important part of getting your new pet settled and making them a part of the family, so make sure that you choose wisely. When you are considering names for your dog, keep the following tips in mind, and you’ll find that you have a great place to start.

1. Don’t pick anything that will embarrass you later.

While your dog’s name will primarily be used by your family, remember that you will need to take him out and bring him into contact with other people from time to time. Make sure that the names that you are looking at will not embarrass you should you have to put it down on a veterinarian form or if you have to give it to the kennel where you are boarding him. If it’s not a name that you are comfortable giving them or your older, more conservative family members, give it a pass.

2. Keep it short.

You’ll find that keeping the name to one or two syllables is usually for the best. Short word and names are the easiest kind for your dog to distinguish from the words around it, and you’ll find that a dog will learn its name much more quickly if he can hear it distinctly. Take the time to make sure that your dog knows his name by repeating it to him often and making sure that he associates it with praise.

3. Keep the vowels in mind.

If you are adopting a dog, especially if he is an adult, you may find that he comes equipped with his own name. This is fine if it’s a name you like, but what if you can’t stand it? While renaming a dog can be a cause of confusion, you’ll find that if necessary and if you are patient, it can be done. Try to find another name that has the same vowel sounds. For dogs, vowel sounds are the easiest to hear and if you can replicate the sounds of his original name, you’ll find that he’ll pick it up much more quickly.

4. Yell it out the door.

This is the litmus test for if a name is going to work. Go to your back door or the front one and call the name out as if you were calling your dog. You’ll find that if the name rolls off of your tongue easily and doesn’t get too many stares, that this might be the one for you. This can be a great final test for a name that you are considering.

Once you’ve chosen the right dog name, here are a few quick guidelines to teaching your dog his name:

1. When you call your dog’s name, use an upbeat, positive tone of voice. If your dog reacts at all to the name, give him a big hug and pet, telling him what a good boy he is. You can offer a treat, too. Do this for a few minutes each day.

2. Don’t teach your dog any other commands during this time. Focus on name recognition only.

3. Take your dog out into different situations and teach him his name. Try out his name while at the dog park, while you’re walking him on a leash, when he’s running free with other dogs.

4. Don’t use your dog’s name in a negative manner. Keep it positive and upbeat and your dog will soon respond quickly to his new perfect dog name.

Find the best dog names at http://www.favorite-puppy-names.com

Dog Training Collar aka Shock Collar Buyers’ Guide

In an era of high speed Internet access, cell phones, and palm pilot organizers, it was only a matter of time before dog trainer would adopt the electronic training collar as an acceptable and humane way of training dogs. Notice I did not use the term “shock collar”. The reason will become clear after a brief look into the evolution of “The Dog Training Collar”.

More than 30 years ago, electronic collars made their way into the dog-training scene. However, because the first generation of dog training collars were only capable of delivering one level of stimulation to the dog, they where appropriately nicknamed shock collars. These collars required the trainer to select the level of correction by inserting an “intensity plug” into the collar (before putting the collar on the dog for training, once the collar was on the dog they could not change the intensity level). This plug would then cause the collar to emit the same level of stimulation for all corrections issued during the session, regardless of how small or large the infraction – hence the nickname - shock collars.

The term shock collar had a very negative connotation that dramatically decreased their widespread acceptance in the dog-training arena. It was commonly stated that, “Only hard headed dogs that could not be trained by traditional means where run with shock collars”. As a result, very few professional trainers were public about their use of electronic dog collars fearing that clients would not entrust dogs to their care. However, some professionals, including legendary Rex Carr, where up-front about their use of electronic collars and worked diligently at developing a training program that utilized the collar in a way dogs could understand. Rex quickly became know as a pioneer of training retrievers with electronic collars. In fact, most if not all training techniques used today with retrievers are derivate from Rex’s original work.

Recognizing the limitations of the first generation of electronic dog training collars, manufacturers worked to refine their design. It was only until the release of the second generation of electronic collars that allowed the trainer to vary the level of intensity from the hand-held transmitter. The trainer could now select from one of three levels of intensity for a particular “intensity plug”: high, medium and low. This design still had its shortcomings. The trainer still only had 3 levels of stimulation to choose from and the lowest level of stimulation was typically inappropriate for simple corrections.

While the second generation of electronic collars was a great advancement in dog training collars, this technology was replaced in the last decade by collars that gave the trainer the ability to select multiple levels of intensity from the transmitter. This single advancement combined with customer education has done more for the widespread acceptance of the electronic collar than any other advancement in the collar’s history.

Manufacturers quickly recognized that a great design alone was not going to give their product the acceptance needed to support their newfound industry; it was only through education that new customers would understand how to use these training devices to advance their dog in a proper manner. The most significant form of education came when Tri-Tronics released a book written by Jim and Phyllis Dobbs and Alice Woodward, Tri-Tronics Training Retrievers. This book focused on incorporating electronic collars in all phases of training retrievers and walked the reader through a series of detailed steps, bringing a dog from A to Z.

As a result of the technological advancements and the educational support provided by manufacturers, the days of the “shock collar” are gone, giving way to the remote training collars. Today, like cell phones, its becoming more difficult to find someone who trains without an electronic collar.

The remainder of this article will focus on the technology found in many of the collars manufactured by the industry leaders and explain how each is applicable in training gundogs and your selection of an electronic collar.

Types of Stimulation - Continuous Stimulation vs. Momentary Stimulation

Let’s start by defining the two forms of stimulation available on the market today. First, there is continuous stimulation; this method of stimulation delivers an electronic correction to the dog for as long as the trainer presses the button on the transmitter. If the trainer holds the button down for five seconds the dog will receive five seconds worth of stimulation. However, most models on the market today will timeout after seven to ten seconds of stimulation has been applied to the dog.

The second form of stimulation available on some collars is momentary stimulation. Momentary stimulation, sometimes call a “nick”, is different from continuous stimulation in one simple way; no matter how long the trainer depresses the button, the dog will only receive a short electronic correction, the duration of which is measured in a fraction of a second.

When might you use continuous or momentary stimulation?

Continuous form of stimulation can be used in training when you need to extend a meaningful correction to your dog and re-establish control of a training situation. A great example of a training scenario where you might need to apply continuous stimulation is when you need to gain control over your dog on a runner. In this situation, a simple “nick” or short burst of stimulation may do nothing to stop him on that illusive cock pheasant. Often, a dog might just run through a short burst of electronic stimulation because he is too excited about the prospect of fresh scent to listen to your sit or “hup” whistle. The continuous level of stimulation is what is required to stop him in his tracks. Because the correction is applied to the dog for as long as you hold the button down the effect to the dog is a stronger form of correction. Another example of when continuous stimulation would be a valuable training tool would be when teaching a flushing dog to turn on the “come around” whistle. Here you would use a much lower level of stimulation and apply the stimulation in conjunction with the “come around” command/whistle, only releasing the pressure when he complies with your command. In both training scenarios, the dog has to be taught the way out of the pressure (or the correct response) before utilizing a collar.

Momentary stimulation can be used in training when you need to apply a short, light form of correction. A classic training scenario where we would use momentary stimulation is when utilizing “indirect pressure” during training. With indirect pressure, you want to apply a short, quick correction for not compiling to a command after you have gotten control over him through attrition. For example, if your dog refuses to take a “right-handed angled back” command on a blind retrieve, momentary stimulation can be used after stopping him with a firm “sit” whistle, “nicking” him once he is sitting for refusing to take the “right-handed angle back” command, then re-issuing the “angle back” command. In this case, the momentary stimulation applies a short less intense correction that does not “rock the boat”.

Range

Upon first consideration, you may not think that you would need an electronic collar that has a range of one mile. However, if you are hunting over a big running pointer, in the thick backwoods of New England, you might be better served with a collar that has an effective range of a half-mile or greater than a collar with less range. Most manufacturers quote “line-of-sight” range for their collars. However, the effective range of an electronic collar can vary according to terrain and environmental conditions. For basic obedience and most yard work, a collar that is capable of extending to 150 to 300 yards is more than adequate. However, if you are training in the field or working in any type of cover, more range is needed to produce a reliable signal.

Intensity Levels

Maybe the most important advancements in the electronic collar in the past ten years has been the change in the design of the electronic collar to allow a trainer to change levels of stimulation at the transmitter, rather than at the collar. In days gone past, a trainer could only change the levels of stimulation by physically changing the “intensity plug” and/or contact points on the collar itself.

Today, virtually all quality dog training collars on the market allow the trainer to select the level of stimulation from the transmitter. The old term, shock collar is no longer accurate, the term “electronic training collars” has since replaced this term primarily due to this single design change which allows a trainer to select just the right amount of stimulation necessary to correct the dog making the electronic collar a humane approach to training dogs. Now you can select a mild level of stimulation (barely noticeable by human touch) or a severe level of correction that would make even the toughest man take notice. The responsibility is now with the trainer to select the appropriate correction for the dog.

Transmitter Design

Probably the most important factor in regards to usability of an electronic collar rests within the transmitter design. Most transmitters on the market today fit easily into your hand. However, differences exist in the design of the transmitter. Some manufacturers make transmitters that are small, lightweight and can be hung on a lanyard. Other manufacturers make transmitters that are larger but extremely easy to use. Like most things in life, it comes down to personal preference. In order for any collar to be an effective training device it must be easy to use and be able to apply the correction at the exact moment it is needed. The last thing you want to be doing is fumbling for your transmitter, setting an intensity level when you should be delivering a firm correction that the dog will understand.

The last feature to take into consideration when evaluating the design of a transmitter is the resistance of the transmitter to weather. Some transmitters are water resistant while others are waterproof. If using an electronic collar while waterfowling you might want to consider a transmitter that is waterproof and can endure a “fall in the drink”.

Collar Design

The final consideration when choosing an electronic collar is the design of the collar/receiver unit itself. Some earlier models of electronic collars, intended for upland use, had external antennas that extended beyond the body of the collar and often became caught up on or became damaged by heavy brush. This design has since been replaced with antennas that are self-contained within the body of the receiver unit.

Like the transmitter design, collars also come in units that are water resistant and waterproof. If you intend on using your dog in or around water I would highly recommend purchasing a collar that is waterproof. These collars can be fully submerged in water while in the field without harming the internal electronics, a must for most hunters.

Final Note

Used correctly, the electronic collar can be an invaluable tool when training your gundog. There is no other tool that can help you effectively apply a correction to your dog than one of the many electronic collars on the market today. The days of chasing down your dog to apply a traditional correction (only have lost the significance of the timing) are long gone. Now you can effectively and reliably apply the correction at the moment when it is needed. Do your homework, if you have any questions regarding the selection an dog training collars a.k.a. shock collars, please don’t hesitate to visit us at Gun Dogs Online.

Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of GundogsOnline.com, the internet’s premiere online magazine dedicated to hunting dogs. If you have any questions regarding choosing dog training collars or shock collars, please don

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