Dog Whispering

You’ve probably heard of horse whispering but there is also such a thing as a dog whisperer.   These people talk wayward animals into behaving.  There actually was a television series about a Dog Whisperer. It made its appearance on the National Geographic Channel in 2004. The sponsor of the show is the Pet food company Purina and another American pet store chain called Petco.   I ran across it while looking for something to write about on this blog because it is one of the most downloaded of mp3s on the Internet.   I guess this is because people can take an iPod to the park and follow the instructions to train their pet live while viewing the episode.  The Dog Whisperer himself is Cesar Millan who has made a living from dog whispering. His specialty is working with difficult to train dogs , the typical alpha dog.   In each episode he tries to cure a dog of a bad habit such as being possessive of food or toys or biting, growling or nipping at people’s heels. Each of the dogs featured on the television show the Dog Whisperer has a serious problem and at the beginning of each show each is incredibly destructive.   You see lots of footage of these dogs trashing a room in just a couple of minutes usually because they are bored or lonely.  Millan uses the fifty or so dogs that he owns on his farm including dog breeds such as Rotweilers, Pit Bulls and German Shepherds to demonstrate how to be a dog whisperer.   This is impressive as these are know to be ,bad dogs, but he does not get his ear torn off. A dog is only as good as his owner, as they say, so the aim of The Dog Whisperer is definitely to teach people how to be better owners.  In essence being a good Dog Whisperer is actually about teaching a dog that is boss. Millan teaches each dog that the dog owner is the leader of the pack and not the alpha dog.    If you get a dog that thinks he is a leader, then you have an aggressive or even an alpha dog. This kind of dog is often overly suspicious, possessive and protective. One thing a good dog whisperer can do is calm this type of dog down by making him feel secure and like there is a leader. This persuades your dog to stop trying so hard to take over what he perceives in his doggie mind to be your incompetanace.    In the wild the leader of the pack would do this by being firm and direct with his body language. The Dog Whisperer cues humans to do the same so that the dog feels secure.  The motto of the Dog Whisperer is ,exercise, discipline and then affection., This is demonstrated on dog after dog in the many episodes of Cesar Millan’s shows.   The show is very popular as he makes it very easy for any dog owner to understand the principles involved in getting your dog to behave in all kinds of different situations.  

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All About Dog Beds

If you don’t want a dog to sleep in your bed then make him his own lair. Dog beds are also an essential part of dog training. It gives a dog his own personal retreat and most dogs will gladly go to bed when commanded. Saying ,go to bed, when you have company is a good way to discipline the dog without hurting his feelings. Also if your dog has his own bed you won’t be spending hours removing dog hair from your bedding and pillows!  

A dog bed can help you train your pet from sleeping with you. A good idea is to put your dog’s bed at the foot of your own bed. For one thing it places your body above him so that he thinks you are the ,alpha dog, in the pack. This is because canines are wired to think that whoever sleeps the highest is the superior dog.This is also why when you let your dog sleep with you he is more likely to see you as an equal rather than a master.   Once this happens he is less likely to obey you and also do things like snap at you when you pass his food bowl.  

There are all kinds of absolutely fantastic dog beds out there on the market. There are designer ones. They also come in all shapes, styles and color so you are likely to find the dog bed that is absolutely right for you whether you are shopping online or in a retail pet store.  

One of the most popular types of beds are like big beanbags and they sink beneath your pet’s weight and create a natural cradle.   Many dogs find this kind of bed really comfortable and safe feeling.  

You can also get dog beds that look like rubber rafts.   These are boat shaped dog beds that have fleece linings. These are also sometimes called bagel dog beds.  You can also buy dog beds that look a bit like soft caves. Dogs love these because it appeals to their den instincts. They are shaped like slightly stiff pitas.   The base is foam and there is a stiff fabric arch inside that allows the dog to really get inside and retreat from it all.

 If your pet has back or hip problems you can also buy ones that are as high tech and ergonomic as the ones for humans. Examples are the Pet Ortho Mattress and the Memory Foam Bed that are specifically designed to relive stress on your dog’s joints and bones.  D

og beds are also usually made from fabric that is waterproof, stain proof and that is easy to clean.   The manufacturer to prevent them from gathering hair, mold, fungus or bacteria treats many dog beds.   In fact one of the main benefits of keeping a dog bed in your house is that it can keep your home a lot cleaner as the pet will tend to do the main part of its shedding or dander loss in the pet bed.

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