Hurling over jumps, running through tunnels, dodging weave poles, negotiating see-saws - do these sound like things your dog might enjoy? Then your pet might love dog agility training. Inspired by equestrian events, agility training for dogs started in the late 1970's in Great Britain. It's a great sport for both dogs and their owners as the team up to negotiate a course of obstacles and is a true test of your dogs training as he will have to listen to commands in order to run the course. If you want to start your dog in agility training he must be at least 9 months old to be assured that his growth plates have closed and in order to prevent injury. Your pet with start with dog agility training and must be able to clear the jump heights of his assigned division before he can compete. He'll first be put in the 'starter' division; which is the division for dogs that do not hold agility titles. When he makes it through a round here he earns his 'starter' title and is now qualified to compete at the advanced agility level. The next title your dog can earn is the "Advanced Title" which he ...

"Recently I caught my dog peeing in the house. He's never done this before, what's going on?" Dogs do this for any number of reasons. If he has been properly house-trained he should not be doing this. He might have UTI (Urinary Tract Infection), in which case the vet should be your first stop, or he might be scent marking. "What is scent marking?" Scent marking is a completely natural thing for your dog to do. By peeing somewhere he leaves his scent telling other dogs that this is his territory. Remember that a dog's sense of smell is much better than our own, so for him a scent marked spot is a very interesting place, while to us it just smells like dogpee! "Do all dogs do this?" Yes, they do. Some dogs are more likely to do so than others, males more than females, small dogs more than larger dogs, and so on. Two or more dogs in the same house may regard each other as competition and are then more prone to marking. Small dogs are also more likely to pee inside the house in general. "Okay, I understand what marking is, but why is he doing it in the house?" Your dog might be ...

I am amazed by how many people are unaware of the choices available today in their search for the right dog crate for their beloved dog. When a lot of people think of a dog crate, the first thing that comes to mind is a wire dog crate. Today there are many alternatives to wire dog crates if you would prefer have a more stylish crate. Although a wire dog crate can look aesthetically pleasing in your living area. Simply adding a dog crate cover can dress up your dog's wire crate so it will blend in with your decor. There are colors of dog crate covers to compliment just about every decor. Soft side dog crates are the most portable. They're light weight and easy to transport. You can easily move from one room to another if you don't want it to be seen by your guests. It's easy to take along when you travel too. Most soft side dog crates fold away flat and many are stackable. These are not suitable for dogs with a history of chewing or puppies in the chewing stage. If you need a crate for your puppy, it's best to start with a wire ...

During the first few months in their new home, puppies require a great deal of supervision. Using a dog crate can help you to prevent accidents during times when the puppy can't be watched. Housebreaking is easier to accomplish when accidents are prevented in the first place! Using a dog crate combined with a regular feeding and exercise schedule will make housebreaking go smoothly. If puppies could have their way, they'd choose to run free all the time, so you should expect some initial resistance to the dog crate. Puppies have to learn to accept periods of confinement. They won't like it right away but acceptance will come. Most puppies will whine or bark during the first few days of being put in their crate. Once they begin to accept this new restriction on their freedom, they quiet down and actually learn to enjoy it. Growing puppies need to alternate between periods of activity and rest throughout the day. By keeping the puppy on a regular schedule of feedings and exercise, you can control his natural rest periods. If you put the puppy in his crate when he's already tired, he'll get used to his new bedroom even faster. In the beginning, the ...