Wow!!  I couldn’t believe it – within seconds she was calm, subdued and totally at ease.  So much so that she jumped onto the sofa next to me and went to sleep.  It was like a miracle.  I can’t wait to try it when the window cleaner comes as he is a definite “trigger” point for stress!!

Apparently, it’s the gentle pressure of the Thundershirt that has this calming effect on anxious and hyper-active dogs.  It’s gentle, constant pressure on the dog’s torso makes them feel safe and secure.  You don’t need any training on how to us it either – just put it on and watch the results!!  Just make sure you buy the correct size for your dog as it has to be a snug fit but you must be able to fit 2 fingers under the shirt when it’s on.

Because the Thundershirt is  made from a thin, soft, breathable fabric your dog shouldn’t overheat whilst wearing it, but obviously take it off if your dog starts panting heavily or it’s tongue is hanging out.

I’ve tried the Thundershirt and I would honestly recommend it to anyone who has a hyper-active, anxious or stressed-out dog.

When choosing a kennel for your dog, there are a couple of things to consider. When looking for at dog kennels you always want to go for the ones that you know you dog will be comfortable in size-wise and materials-wise. Durability is another aspect of kennels.

Your dog will need to be in a safe environment if it will be outside. The kennel must be able to withstand all kinds of weather conditions, should be in as shady a spot as possible and should be an place of refuge for your dog.

Searching for practicality

You will always have to be practical while shopping for dog kennels. Seeing that the comfort of your dog is important you will have to get the right shape and size for you dog and its needs.

Remember that your dog does not care about the colour or what the dog kennel looks like in your back yard. It will be most happy if its needs as a dog are catered for so make sure that’s your first priority.  Choose from our range of cost effective and stylish dog kennels at Ideas 4 Pets.

A dog kennel means much more to your dog than a simple place to rest his head sometimes. It is a place of comfort; it is a place of safety and security. It is a place of shelter and a place to sleep soundly. An outdoor dog kennel is shelter from the elements for your pooch. Keeping it insulated from heat and cold is essential. An indoor dog kennel provides a peaceful place which is the dog’s own safe space. A dog kennel indoors can be their own sanctuary. A place that they can go to in order to feel safe and out of the way.

Putting your dog inside its kennel, whether indoors or out, should never be as a punishment. The dog will gain negative associations with its kennel that way and this can cause behavioural issues.  Instead, a dog kennel should be a quiet, clean and secure refuge for your dog.

For dogs that reside in an outdoor kennel with attached run, they should not be confined there all of the time, as even the largest runs we provide are not designed to provide enough space for adequate exercise and the daily interaction that your dog needs to be healthy and happy.  However, they do make excellent places to house your dog overnight or if you want to protect parts of your garden when you aren’t there to supervise.

The signs of aging are unmistakable in a dog; no longer running around as exuberantly as before and walk time is no longer so important to them, or they simply tire much more quickly. Older dogs are often restless when trying to find a comfortable place to sleep.

The first thing obviously is to have your dog thoroughly checked out by the vet and adjustments made to diet and nutrition. Sometime the vet will prescribe medication for joint pain etc. You as its owner can help your aging pet greatly by investing in an orthopaedic dog bed.

Comfortable rest

Just as with humans, the quality of life in later years is very important. There are various types of orthopaedic dog beds available on the market today. The main criteria for an orthopaedic dog bed is that it must be firm enough to give that much needed body support.

Quilted foam beds for instance are excellent for dogs that suffer from arthritis. Ideas 4 Pets quilted foam beds are made from medical grade foam used to make orthopaedic beds for humans.

Orthopaedic dog beds are also wonderful for any dog that is recuperating after an accident or surgery as it gives the much needed support. Dogs with any sort of handicap also benefit greatly from orthopaedic dog beds. These special dog beds can make a huge difference in the quality of life of senior dogs and are worthwhile investing in to help your pet rest comfortably.

A helping hand

A dog cage can be a helping hand when you own a dog. The crate is normally constructed of sturdy and strong wire, it is safe to use for your dog and it is often very beneficial to them when used correctly. Your dog cage can be used to instill a sense of security for your dog, especially for nervous animals.

It is a place your dog can call its own, where it can feel safe and can be comfortable. Now, a dog cage should neither be too large or too small. If it is too large your dog may feel more uncomfortable than they should.

If the cage is too small it can be cruel to force your dog in there. Dog cages can assist in housetraining, teaching your dog to hold their bladder until they get to an acceptable toilet space, but are only effective training aids when used as part of a realistic routine. A dog cage can also be used to keep a dog with destructive behaviours safely away from furniture etc for short periods when you are out, although confining a dog to a crate for long periods of time is not appropriate use.

Some dogs may be nervous and lash out at children or other pets if they cannot find a secluded space of their own, dog cages are perfect personal spaces for your pooch – many dogs see them as a sanctuary and use them of their own volition as a bed.  Most dog owners rarely have to shut the doors of their crates once their dogs are grown up, settled and housetrained.

In her mind, her dog’s behavior was nothing to worry about, nothing that need concern her until her mother came into the room and disturbed the quietness.  Her mother pointed out to her that the dog had been asleep all day and that her ears and her tail were drooping and she asked if the little girl would you like to change the way her dog looked. She wasn’t sure what she should do but in hindsight she feels that her mother turned the dog into her teacher and she learned some valuable lessons in the process.

Her mother initially suggested that the dog should help with the clearing up of rubbish. She put some rubbish in a small bag and gave it to the dog and told the dog to “Carry.” The dog sniffed it and then picked it up and started trotting down the hallway towards the bins.

She asked the dog to perform small chores liked “go to your dog bed” or “go outside to your dog kennel” and “find your toy”.  The dog happily performed these tasks and it was obvious he enjoyed the tasks and the exercise it gave him.  He now had a purpose in life !!

She began to take more care of the dog, purchasing a dog grooming table and brushes to keep the dog’s coat sleek and smooth.  Again, the dog enjoyed the experience of being handled and stroked and a strong bond began to form between them.

The dog began to change from a shambling wad of fur into a sleek wolf-like creature.  His once lazy muscles tensed and his nose stuck up in the air. His walk changed into a prance and then a gallop, until all she could see when she took him out for a walk was a bouncing bottom with a tail wagging above it !! The dog became a part of something and learned to enjoy it, while teaching the little girl something in the process.

The dog’s response and enthusiam to her commands and her mother’s guidance made the little girl aware of his needs and how to fulfil them.  The dog encouraged repetition and she realised that she was not performing a chore but she was actually giving something to her dog.

Lessons like this went on for 17 years until the dog died but the girl felt that she had been given some special gifts – the gift of being responsible and the gift of being able to recognise the needs of others.

I thought this story was quite inspiring and it makes us very aware of what an important role our children can play in helping to care for and train the family dog.

It’s important to remember that a family dog should see all the member of his human family as “pack leader” as this not only gives responsibility to our children but also allows them to teach and train the dog knowing that that the dog will respect them as much as it respects the adults in the family.

For this reason alone, it is essential that your dog quickly understands who is the real boss – the pack leader (ie. you and other members of your family) and that he ranks bottom of the hierarchy !!  For instance, if your dog jumps on the chair before you get a chance to sit down, then he thinks that he is the leader of the pack and has first choice. Wrong !!  You get the chair and he gets his own dog bed or his own dog kennel.  A bit like the old days when dad had his own chair and one of the kids jumped in it – not a good idea !!

This isn’t being mean to your dog, it just helps him to realise that you are the pack leader and being consistent in this type of behaviour towards your dog ensures that he’ll answer your commands and therefore be better behaved because he knows the ground rules.  Once this has been established, you will happily want to include your dog in most family activities.

Every pack needs a leader to help enforce the ranking hierarchy which is prevalent in every pack as this ensures that each member of your pack operates in harmony. As mentioned earlier, this is not being mean to your dog nor does it mean bullying your dog into submission.  Being the pack leader means taking responsibility for pack decisions.  Just like being head of the family, it involves protecting your pack and making sure that stressful situations are avoided or quickly resolved.

To establish yourself as the pack leader you need to start looking at how you play with your dog when he is a puppy.  For instance, if you play “Tug-O-War” with his toys then make sure you win more times than he does.  This makes him aware that you are stronger than he is.  If you play ball with him and have him chasing the ball around the garden or in his dog run, then make sure you remove the ball when YOU have had enough.  This shows you dog that you are of higher ranking as you have taken possession of the ball.  Also, make sure that your dog learns at an early age that he has to release the ball when you ask for it, as this reinforces that you are of higher rank than him within the pack. If your dog tries to snap at you to get the ball back or he growls at you or even gets over-excited, then stop playing straight away and put the toy away as this is your dog’s way of trying to gain control over you and showing dominance in an effort to usurp your position in the pack.

A doorway or gateway represents new territory to your dog so make sure that you claim that territory first by not allowing your dog to go through first.  This is true both within the house and also if he has an outdoor dog kennel with adjoining dog run.  If your dog has a dog kennel with adjoining dog run,  you may want to get into the run area but don’t  want him to escape through the doorway so you need to make sure he knows that he can only go through that doorway if you permit it.  Also, make some areas in your house “no go” areas unless you give him permission.  Your dog has to learn that he has to earn the right to go into these areas rather than taking it for granted.

If your dog is lying on the carpet and is in your way, ask him nicely to move to his dog bed rather than walk around him as again, this reinforces that you are in charge and he has to move to let you pass.

At meal times, always eat your food first as higher ranking members of dog packs always have the first feed.  ideas-4-pets would advise you not to feed your dog titbits whilst you are eating as this not only encourages scrounging but again reinforces his position in the pack – not to mention him getting overweight !!

Dogs will almost always vie for attention when ideally it should be the pack leader who should initiate the attention.  However, we all love to pet our dogs so don’t necessarily always discourage this, just make sure that every now and again you are not at his beck and call and ignore his attention seeking behaviour by looking away and not speaking to him.

Large dogs often jump up and put their paws on your shoulders and this should be discourages as it means that your dog is aiming to take a superior position and usurp your position as head of the pack.  If your dog tries this just walk away and ignore the behaviour.

There will always be times when your dog challenges your authority but you should never resort to physically punishing your dog when he does.  Your body language and your facial expressions will be enough for him to know that this will not be tolerated.

Finally, you and your family should always be consistent in your approaches to your dog whether you are indoors or outdoors.  It’s no good one member of family refusing to feed your dog titbits during mealtimes and another one dropping scraps under the table for him!!  Without consistency, your dog will be totally confused as he will not have any guidelines to learn by and this will create tension for him and for the family

This is usually because the children often spend considerably more time with the dog than adults do. Dogs offer wonderful companionship for children and often give them a sense of responsibility and security. As dogs have a shorter lifespan than humans, they can also help children understand bereavement and coming to terms with it.

Unfortunately children can sometimes tease and be cruel to dogs and encourage the types of behaviour you want to avoid (e.g. jumping up, nipping and begging). It is therefore really important for this type of behaviour to be firmly discouraged and instead to make sure that all the family treat the dog in a consistent way. If training is not consistant it will be difficult for your dog to understand what his desired behaviour should be this will result in him feeling confused and leave you feeling frustrated.

Likewise, dogs who have experienced negative or cruel behaviour from children can grow up to treat children with caution, so it is important for dogs to have as many positive experiences with children as possible and that children, as well as adults, are educated in good training and behavioural management practices.

A dog cage can be a good training aid if used responsibly and properly. A dog cage not only allows your dog a safe, secure “den” to escape to when he has had enough of the rough and tumble, noisy play children often enjoy but also allows you, the owner, to call time as well.

A dog cage helps with many of the problems that cause stress and anxiety to new dog owners. Dog cages serve a useful purpose to prevent (and rectify) problems associated with destructive behaviour, fear of strangers, house training, with visitors who are afraid of dogs and when travelling in the car on public transport with your dog.

The best places for dog cages are in the corner of rooms, away from too much heat and cold drafts. Because your new dog will like to be near their new owners, it is best to try and locate the dog cage where your dog can see and hear you. It’s a good idea for the dog cage to be your dog’s only dog bed to start with, this way he will soon see his cage as a place of refuge. Some dog cages have wheels attached which makes them easy to wheel around the house with you and they all collapse for easy storage and manoevreability.

The dog cage should never be used as a form of punishment and your dog should never be forced in there against his will. Far better to leave the door open, put a soft, warm dog bed or some nice comfy bedding in there along with a toy and some treats and let him make his own way in there in his own time. This way will eliminate any stress for all the family.

If your dog has not been socialised with children, it is safer to exercise caution during initial introductions. The best way to introduce dogs to children is to ask the child to put a dog treat on the palm of their hand with their fingers close together and let the dog approach them to retrieve the titbit. Advise the child to hold their hand beneath the dog’s mouth level and keep it still. If the child is nervous, hold their hand steady as if they suddenly pull away with the treat the dog could try to snatch the treat.

Children should be encouraged to stroke or gently scratch the dog under the chin or around the throat, rather than patting them on the head as patting on the head obstructs a dogs sense organs and can be easily misconstrued as an act of aggression which could make the dog nervous or defensive.

It is very unwise to let a child hug or cuddle a dog that has not been fully socialised as this could cause the dog to become very nervous and threatened and could result in the dog snapping at the child.

It is always advisable that any interactions between children and dogs are closely monitored and supervised by adults.

It is important to get the right size dog cage for your puppy and this can depend on how long you intend to use the cage. If you just intend to use it whilst your puppy is very young then get one that is large enough to last him up until he is 6 months old. If you intend to use the cage long after your dog is trained then make sure you get one which will be large enough to fit him when he is adult sized. Ideas-4-pets have a cage size guide on the site which can be useful to refer to before purchasing.

Dog cages are usually constructed from powder coated steel, silver coated steel or galvanised steel and can be either square mesh or oblong mesh. There are also some which come in various different colours like blue and pink if you want something a little different for your dog. They can have either 1, 2 or 3 doors and some have a door on the top of the cage which can be useful if you have a number of puppies who can excellent little escape artists if they want to !!

It’s up to individual choice as to whether you choose a 1, 2 or 3 door dog cage. Sometimes it is useful to have a door on the long side of the dog cage and a door on the short side so that you are not limited to where you can place the cage. Look for a dog cages that are quality made (no sharp edges) and made sure that the one you choose is strong enough to hold your pet. There are some good lightweight models on the market but these are better for smaller, lighter dogs or dogs who are already trained to use a dog cage.

One very important thing to remember – NEVER force your dog into a dog cage or he will become nervous and see the cage as a punishment. Your dog should see him cage as a safe refuge, a “den” where he can go to sleep, away from the noise and bustle of family life. If you gently coax him into the cage by placing one of his favourite, soft, warm dog beds in there along with treats or his favourite toy or even his food dish to start with, then his natural curiosity will lead him in there. NEVER close the dog cage door when he first goes in there as again, this will scare him as he will feel trapped and see it once again as punishment. Instead, let him lie down in there comfortably of his own accord and leave the door open for him to go in and out at leisure. Your patience will pay off in the long run and he will learn that his dog cage is a comfortable, safe haven for him.

You will notice that all dogs have a “denning” instinct and they enjoy lying in dark places like underneath the table, behind the sofa, under the bed, etc. If you place a blanket on top of the dog cage, this will create a similar “den” for your dog which he will learn to appreciate.

Once your dog has got used to his dog cage and will happily go in it of his own volition, then you can close the door but only for short periods of time. Locking a dog in a cage for a long time is a cruel practise which we would not recommend. If, however, you have visitors who may well tread on your new puppy then this would be an option to keep him out of harm’s way for an hour or so. Equally, if you have not purchased a puppy play pen for your pet, his cage will be useful if you are busy elsewhere in the house and do not want to give him the opportunity of chewing your furniture, best shoes or electrical cables !!

As with all training tools, used sensibly,sympathetically, carefully and properly a dog cage can be a huge help in the training of your pet.

If you’ve just purchased a puppy there are a few things you should bear in mind to make certain that your puppy grows up fit, happy and healthy. There are 6 dog training tips that you should bear in mind for the benefit of your newly-arrived puppy:

Provide your puppy with plenty of love and care, and praise him profusely when he does something right. When you start to train your puppy it is really important to communicate with him as soon as you get him home. Don’t wait for your puppy to make a mistake or do something wrong before you communicate with him as this will get him off to a negative start. Once you start to communicate with your puppy he will learn that some things he does are good and he will be rewarded with lots of attention and maybe a treat and other things are not good and he will be gently but firmly reprimanded with little attention.

Puppies love to chew so provide your puppy with lots of toys he can safely chew on. You can buy these from your local pet store or even make your own, but do not give him socks or shoes as he will soon learn that it is OK to chew socks and shoes and he will not discriminate. When your brand new trainers are in tatters you will regret giving him the old ones to chew on !!

Provide your puppy with a warm, comfortable dog bed. Dog cages are a good idea as they cannot be chewed and they fulfil your puppy’s natural “denning” instinct. Fill the dog cage with lots of warm, comfy bedding and then choose from the many dog beds on offer and choose one which will suit you and your puppy once your puppy has got through the chewing stage.. If you intend to keep your puppy outside, then make sure he has a warm, weatherproof dog kennel. The dog kennel should be large enough for him to grow into, but pad it out with bedding at first so that your puppy feels safe and warm.

Watch your puppy closely if there are small children around. Puppies can be hurt or badly injured by children who do not alwlays understand that puppies are very delicate little creatures and that they should be managed with additional care and gentleness. Teach your children to handle the puppy correctly and not to keep picking it up and carrying it around as this causes discomfort. Also, puppies who are hurt can nip in defence.

Begin a feeding rota as soon as you get him home. A young puppy should start with 3 to 4 small solid meals daily. Your breeder should be able to advise you on what type of food he has been eating and if you want to swap to a brand of your own choice, do this gradually so as not to upset your puppy’s delicate little stomach. It is advisable to give your puppy a half-hour slot in which to eat his meal and then take it away. This will get him used to regular meal times. As he grows up then gradually reduce the meals to one in the morning and one at night. Always remember to have plenty of clean, fresh water available for your puppy to drink in-between meals.

Start to train your puppy to go to the loo regularly. Take your puppy to the same spot in the garden (or on a Ugodog) at the same times every day. Your puppy will need the loo after every meal and two to three hours in between his meals. He will also want to “go” after napping. At bedtime, always make sure your puppy has been to the loo before you go to bed. This will teach your puppy early on to use the same spot whenever he needs to pee or poo during the night and will prevent him from soiling his bed or your carpet !! Remember that he is just a baby and he will have the odd accident !!

Dog training should always be consistent. Don’t confuse your puppy by doing different things each day as his training will not be pleasant for either of you. Involve all your family in the training so that you can ensure that you are all saying the same things to the puppy.

Remember that it takes time and patience to train a dog and that shouting and losing your temper will not be helpful as this type of behaviour will only create a nervous, confused little puppy and the training process will take much longer.