It's a Dog's Life
What do we mean when we say "Oh, It's a Dog's Life"?
Maybe it's because the ideal dog's life is to have nothing more than a warm bed, to be fed regularly, and know that there is at least one human who cares and loves them. Or, is it that some dog's are left out in the cold… literally!
Knowing that you care for them, your dog is always delighted to welcome you home. A happy face, a wagging tail, in fact his whole body movement cry out "Hi, I'm so pleased to see you!"
When it comes to the sleeping arrangements, some dog owners may allow them to sleep in the same room. This suits a dog just fine, since dogs are pack animals and sleeping in the same area keeps the pack together.
In today's society, dog's have become completely dependent on the human family. When treated properly, they will give total loyalty and so much more in return.
They need to know who is the leader or "Alpha Dog". This is important to a pack animal, since he will naturally try to be number-one, which can become an ongoing battle if not confronted as a puppy.
Owning a pet is a lifetime commitment and not a decision to be taken lightly. This could be compared to raising children, which is always for better or worse… and definitely does not involve a local shelter after a few months. Always think about your decision thoroughly beforehand. It is not good enough to claim that you don't want them any more or just plain changed your mind. Make very sure you know what you are letting yourself in for and how much your life WILL change!
A pet dog can improve your life in many ways, both mentally and physically. Having a dog around is a great way to relax when you're feeling tense or stressed. They seem to know when you are feeling low and try their best to help.
Take them for a long walk or go and play ball in the park. The fresh air will do you both the world of good, it will clear your thoughts and take way the stress of the day. Watch your dog play with vigor and vitality, with not a care in the world, except to please their master.
Feeling lonely or depressed? Your dog is more tuned into you than you think and will be a faithful devoted friend. They will sense how you are feeling and try to let you know that you're not alone… in their own dog-like way!
With a dog around, there will always be those magical moments to remember, Maybe it's their mannerisms or antics that bring a smile to your face and ultimately a warm glow in your heart.
They find it easy to break the ice when meeting strangers…without speaking a word! Treating them with love and respect means they will communicate with us easily, forging a bond of unconditional trust.
Observing and learning about that special bond, allows you to understand the precious gift of friendship they have to offer.
Respectful training needs to start from day one and they will grow to be a happy, contented and loyal companion for years to come. You will become all that matters to them and they will be a pleasure to have around, mixing well within the community and loved by all.
Then there is the other end of the scale. This is where a dog's life can be very unhappy and very miserable … not loved or cared for properly. Be honest, we've all seen dog's that are poorly kept. They are the ones living out their life on the end of a chain in a cold lonely backyard with the occasional scraps thrown out for them!
Their life is a sad continuous "yearning" to have companionship, kindness, love and care. Their lack of training and control leaves them totally confused, not sure who is boss or even what is expected of them. Just think, next time you hear a dog barking endlessly, it's their cry of sadness, loneliness and a plea for help… all they want is to be part of that home's "human pack".
A dog asks for nothing more than being our best friend and to make our life a better one. They don't know or ask why… they just do!
So, when considering buying that dog, remember to take him into your family in the true sense and be his best friend… because he will certainly be yours!!
Now, back to that statement…"Oh, it's a dog's life?" Maybe it's as simple as this… knowing your place in life, leads to contentment… given the opportunity, your dog will show you how with ease!


Become your feline friend's best buddy with a great cat pet toy !
Copyright 2005 Marc Deschamps
Providing your feline friend with the right cat pet toy will make cat ownership more rewarding.
Many cats spend their days in home environments that are often lonely, and non-stimulating.
Without an outlet for pent-up mental and physical energy, some cats can become stressed, or even destructive. Luckily, you can help minimize these tendencies by enriching your cat's environment with stimulating, fun toys designed to appeal to their outgoing, playful natures.
Before purchasing any cat pet toy be sure to first "pet-proof" your home by picking up or concealing objects that, if eaten, could cause medical problems.
These include:
-Paper clips, pins, or staples
-Rubber bands, string, or shoelaces
-Pens or pencils
-Wires or power cords
-All children's toys
-Socks and pantyhose
-Jewelry
-Hardware
-Human foods or medications
In addition, be sure to remove any items of clothing (including shoes, belts and other delicious leather goods) that your cat might find tasty.
Though cats tend to amuse themselves better than do their canine cousins, they too need some regular mental and physical stimulation to stay happy. Also, without an outlet for their strong predatory instincts, most cats will become stressed or even destructive; it is essential, then, to provide your cat with a stimulating home environment that includes the cat toys.
Cats are not quite as destructive as dogs with regard to playthings. Nevertheless, care should be taken that a non-supervised cat pet toy not contain any easily-swallowed pieces such as buttons, feathers, strings or squeakers.
Often, cat owners find that their feline friend will treat simple household items as treasured toys. Balled-up wads of newspaper, cardboard boxes stuffed with shredded paper, ping-pong balls, or even the cardboard cores of paper towel rolls can often occupy hours of a cat's time.
The following store-bought toys can also provide your cat with hours of fun. They include:
-Plastic or hard rubber balls, with or without noisemakers inside
-Small, soft, stuffed animals, with or without catnip inside
-Wind-up or battery-operated toys
-Teaser wands or laser pens (operated by you)
Be sure to rotate your cat pet toy (s) on a regular basis, to keep interest levels high. Also, keep them clean.
Don't simply let your feline friend play with a cat pet toy all on its own; instead, participate in the action. Doing so will help bond you to your cat, and make playtime all the more fun. Whether it's a game of fetch or a session with the teaser toy, your cat will soon come to see you as its greatest play buddy.
Providing your feline friend with a fun cat pet toy will help minimize problem behaviors and make cat ownership more rewarding.

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Marc Deschamps is the editor of Kitten Cat Magazine, a free online publication, where people can share their passion for cats and learn more about this extraordinary animal. Other articles on cat toys can be found at http://www.kitten-cat-magazine.com/cat-scratching-post.html


Dog Agility Training for Your Puppy
You may be asking, "When can I start agility training with my new puppy?" You can start immediately, with certain recommendations. 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.

Expose your puppy to different surfaces. One of the first behaviors we teach our pups is "Box" or "Table". This behavior transfers to the agility pause table. Lure pup up on a low pause table, treat them on the table. You can call the pause table anything you want. (If I was starting over I would name the pause table "Box" instead of "Table" for my dogs because on the agility course there is the potential to have too many "T" words, i.e. tunnel, tire, table, and teeter. The problem is I am also a creature of habit, and under pressure revert back to my default words, "table" would be one of them.)

Teach your pup to "Box", meaning to get up on a variety of obstacles. In our training field we use "Box" for upside down kennel tops, the bottom of barrels turned upside down, bird crates, and more. Be creative with your pup, get them to get up on all kinds of surfaces, exposing them to different shapes, sizes, and textures. Once your pup is comfortable getting up on a "Box", then you can begin to ask them to sit on the box also.

You can also begin to use Buja boards for motion training. Buja boards are generally made from plywood, 36" x 36" with a painted surface or covered surface. On the underside, there is a 2x4 box where a partially deflated ball is placed. This enables the Buja board to rock gently. At first you can reward your pup for getting one paw on the board, then reward for two feet and eventually all four. Depending on your pups temperament will determine how fast they get comfortable on the Buja Board.

Perch training can also be started with young pups. The Perch is generally a 1'x1' wood surface that is raised by 2"x4"'s underneath. So the Perch is about four inches in height. The Perch helps teach pups rearend awareness. Again, you can reward your pup for getting one front paw on the perch and then the other. Perch training is mostly used with just the front paws on the Perch.

These are just a few behaviors you can teach your young pup. Exposure to a variety of surfaces and heights will help your pup build confidence in his future agility training.
Brad Carlson is a dog trainer at Agility by Carlson. For more training details, visit our website at http://www.carlson-agility.com/