Do you really want a dog?   You probably have children who have been asking for a dog seemingly every day. You can use this to teach your children a great deal about responsibility as owning a dog is a very big responsibility.   However, there are a few things to consider before bringing a new dog or puppy into your family. You will need to think this out and figure out what your new canine to what your new canine family member can and cannot do in your home.

One of the first things you need to do is dog or puppy proof your home. Get on your hands and knees and look for hazards like dangling electrical cords that would be great for chewing; pick toys and other small objects off the floor that could be harmful if swallowed; remove chemicals, paper sacks, plastic items and even plants away from the chewing nature of a dog or puppy.  And if you are planning to house train your new pet, invest in a dog crate until he is fully trained. You don’t want him to accidentally think it is a great elimination spot!

Yu may also want to invest in a baby gate for those areas in your home where you do not want your new pooch to wander. It also could also be used to cordon off a special place just for him. This is especially helpful in the house training front. Also, dogs, especially puppies are curious and love to explore. If you don’t want your clothing and shoes plowed and chewed through, ensure that your pooch does not have access to them or supervise them closely.  In fact, your dog or puppy should not be left unsupervised until you know you can trust them.

Because dogs like to chew, buy some appropriate chew toys and rawhide bones for that gnawing instinct. Puppies teethe and having something safe to chew and proper supervision should prevent them from chewing on things in your home. Also purchase plenty of toys to keep him occupied. A bored dog can be a destructive dog! Rubber balls, tug ropes, push dog toys, and even squeaker toys are favorites of many canines. And just like with human children, you want to buy pet toys that are age-appropriate for them. Also, buy enough toys so that you can rotate them periodically so that your dog doesn’t become bored.

Lay some ground rules in advance of bringing your puppy home. Can he get on the furniture? Will you allow him in your bedroom? Where do you plan for him to sleep? You will want to know that in advance so that you can put his dog bed there. Are you prepared to be flexible and shuffle your game plan around a bit? Sometimes, dogs will latch on to a favorite spot in the house and if it is your bedroom, you will either have to train him to sleep elsewhere, or allow him to sleep on his dog bed in there. Dogs come with a unique personality and also a number of quirks, just like humans. You will have to learn to adapt.

You should also have a game plan in place for obedience training. A well-behaved dog is a great member of the family. Plus, you will get so much more out of your relationship if you invest in obedience training. Do your research and decide if you can tackle the job yourself or if you want to find a professional trainer to teach you.

Other things to think about are what plans do you have for your dog while you are away from home? What about a veterinarian? Would you hire a dog sitter or board him in a kennel if you had to travel? Do you have a decent dog yard fence or area for him to roam in? Have you considered an electronic pet containment system or even a traditional fenced yard.  Dog kennels (outside) or tieing him up on a chain should really not be considered.  What about exercise? Do you plan to walk him and let him socialize with other dogs? All of these are important matters to think about BEFORE adopting a family pooch.

One of the best and the worst things to happen for dogs in the last century has been the invention of the invisible fence ®. (The term Invisible Fence ® is actually a brand name or trademark for Invisible Fence Company, but so most people recognize it as a type of fence.) Other terms are electronic dog fence, underground dog fence or even electric dog fence.

How is the electronic dog fence the best thing for dogs?

I have seen so many dogs receive the freedom to run and play and be happy in their yards. I see these dogs actually get to interact more with their family on an every day basis. I have seen dogs actually receive health benefits from “being loose” in their yards. None of this was possible when dogs are tied up or kenneled all day long.

How is the electronic or electric dog fence the worst thing for dogs?

I have seen well intentioned people buy these dog fences out of department stores and install them. They had no professional installation help or dog training. They would let their dogs loose and the dogs would either adapt to the underground dog fence or they would not. Many dogs were hurt, lost or killed because they ran through these systems without proper guidelines.

Please read that sentence again … “Many dogs were hurt, lost or killed because they ran through these systems without proper guidelines.” This did not and does not have to happen.

The invisible fence should never be used without professional help. Make sure you never buy one of these department store fences (usually made overseas as well). Never buy from an electronic fence company unless they have a real dog professional to help you train your dog. Don’t assume that they are professionals just because they show up at your door - many of them aren’t.

As a dog trainer, I recommend this type of fencing done the right way. Be a responsible dog owner. Do your homework and do not just blindly rush into this. Your dog will be happy you did.

The Gentle Leader is a dog leash or head collar (sometimes referred to as a Halti) that is used to stop your dog from pulling while walking your dog.

Will it actually stop your dog from pulling?

Yes. It will stop your dog from pulling while on walks. But it is not suitable for training and addressing behaviors. It doesn’t teach your dog anything. And you have not established yourself as your dog’s pack leader. The Gentle Leader dog leash should be used only as a restraining device. There is a huge difference between restraining a dog and training him.

How does the Gentle Leader dog leash work?

The Gentle Leader slides over the head and muzzle. When the dog pulls, pressure is applied from the back of the neck causing the dog to pull backward instead of pulling forward. Basically, the premise is that it controls the dog’s head. Where ever the head goes, the body will follow.

The advantages of the Gentle Leader are you get definite control of your dog on walks. The Gentle Leader is inexpensive. Although it does take getting used to, a dog can adapt to it rather quickly. You don’t have to be a dog trainer to get him to respond to it.

The disadvantages of the Gentle Leader are that it is a restraining device rather than a training tool. Its purpose is really only for walking your dog. The dog will probably become “collar smart” which means you will have to use the Gentle Leader every single time you want to take your dog for a walk. It is not designed to work on other dog behaviors. Your dog may go through some spastic reactions while learning to wear it.

You will hear claims from head collar enthusiasts and others state that it is a humane device for dogs. It is no more humane than other tools such as training collars, martingale collars and pinch collars if the person using them knows how to use them. In fact, I will go so far as to say that the latter tools will address more behaviors and make your dog more obedient than the Gentle Leader or head collar.

In conclusion, the Gentle Leader will help you walk your dog, but don’t count on anything more. If you expect more from your dog, I would advise investing in a little dog training. The money will be well spent if you get the right dog trainer and you commit to leading your dog.

If you want to purchase the Gentle Leader dog leash, I have found Amazon to be very competitive. Just follow this link below:

Gentle Leader