Teach your dog to beg no more

It’s not uncommon: you sit down to a nice dinner, and before you know it your pooch is at your feet. Somewhere along the way someone handed him a bite of human food, and he hasn’t stopped begging since. A little begging can be easily ignored; but when the whining and whimpering starts, you have a full blown problem on your hands. No matter what stage of begging your pooch is in, it needs to be stopped; and stopping starts with you.

Even though slight begging may be cute at first, it can quickly become a real issue. It’s one thing to shush a whimpering pup when it’s just the family, but what happens when you have company over for a nice dinner? If your pooch is used to getting a bite of your meal, then a stranger or two won’t stop his insistence.

Unfortunately, you’re probably the one to blame for your dog’s begging. It’s very tough to resist those puppy dog eyes, especially when you know how good the food tastes. However, it’s important to realize that dogs have their own food for a reason. Dog food is made specifically for a dog’s diet. Eating large amounts of human food will cause weight gain and other medical problems with your pet. Stopping the begging is possible, but it does take time and persistence.

The first step to combat the begging is to simply say “no.” Every time your pet asks for food, firmly say “no,” and do not give in. Giving in one time can ruin any progress you have made up to that point. For the low-key beggar, a “no” may be sufficient in eventually solving the problem.

For the developed beggar, saying “no” may only cause the pooch to get louder and more obnoxious. In this case, you may have to remove the dog from the situation entirely. Placing him in another room during meal time can eventually break the habit if it is repeated at every meal. Synchronizing his feeding time with yours can make a difference, too. For instance, having food for him in his room while you eat your meal can help him forget what he’s missing.

If you have a well behaved dog that obeys your commands, then you may be able to welcome him back into the dining room sooner rather than later. Place a dog bed or blanket in the corner of the room, and command your pooch to “stay.” If he tries to inch closer to the table, then repeat the command. You may even need to distract him on the bed with a new toy that he can only play with during dinner. If he obeys, reward him with a treat that is made for dogs.

If you have a begging dog, then it’s important to try to break the habit as soon as possible. The last thing you want is for your dog to beg every time you sit down for a snack. It may take a long time to undo the begging, but you can stop it with a little patience and persistence.

Developed by Sarah of Pet-Super-Store.com Where you can find cool supplies like elevated dog feeders and dog beds.

Christmas Gift Ideas For Your Medium Sized Dog

Christmas is almost here and Medium Dog Guide has some great gift ideas for our doggy pals.
(Affiliate links included below)

Personalized gifts for the one-of-a kind dog

Cratewear Pet Dreams Personalized 3-Piece Bed Set for Crates



This crate cover and bedding set turns a normal metal dog crate into a comfy haven for your pooch. The dog bed and crate pad are reversible for double the use. The best thing is that it can be personalized with your dog's name on the cover to make it your dog's very own home within a home.

Top Paw Double Layer Nylon Personalized Dog Collars

This sweet collar is made of heavyweight woven nylon. You can add your pet's name and a phone number on the collar as it allows two lines of personalization and 12 characters per line. Available in black, white or pink.

Gifts for the stylish pooch

Santa Claus Dog Suit with Adjustable Hat


Your dog will be look really stylish and festive in this adorable Santa Claus Dog Suit that comes with a really cute matching Santa hat.

Flower Nylon Collar in Purple and its matching 6 feet 1 inch Flower Nylon Lead

This lovely light purple collar and matching lead come in a sweet flower ribbon overlay that will look really stylish on your dog.

Gifts for the tough chewer

KONG Rubber Balls


Your dog will have hours of endless fun with this tough rubber ball, it is not only puncture resistant, it also has a hole through the center for treats. Your dog will love it.

The Almost Indestructible Ball


Want a ball that can stand up to the hardest chewers? Then check out this Almost Indestructible Dog Ball. It is as its name says, almost indestructible!

Tags: Christmas gifts for dogs, personalized dog gifts, tough dog toys, matching dog accessories.

Reduce Your Dog's Carbon Paw Print - 5 Eco-Friendly Pet Products

The recent article by NewScientist on the eco-pawprints of our four-legged best friends has prompted much debate on the Net. According to the article, a single medium-sized dog has a carbon footprint of 0.84 hectares while a gasoline guzzling SUV's footprint is only 0.41 hectares, less than half that of a medium dog! And that's not all, the land required to feed the dog population for the top ten dog-owning countries in the world is equivalent to the size of six and a half New Zealands! Wow!

Knowing all this, what is a dog lover to do? Well, we could start by using eco-friendly pet products like these to reduce the carbon pawprints of our dogs :

1. Booda Eco-Friendly Plush Dog Toy
Made from 100% recycled stuffing on the inside and natural wool on the outside, even the hangtags are recycled paper. Eco-friendly yet lots of fun for your dog.




2. Hueter Toledo Doggie Dooley System Model 3800
Eliminate one of the major causes for pooch's high carbon footprint - doggie poo. The Doggie Dooley System Model use bacteria action to liquify pet waste for ground absorption. Simply shovel stool into tank, close lid and occasionally add water and digester for it to work.



3. West Paw Recycled Fill Bumper Beds L
The fill in this comfy bed is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles that are crushed and grinded down. Even the fabric itself is made from 85% recycled plastic bottles! A perfect match of comfort and environmental friendliness.




4. Fresh Licks Eco-Disposable Bowls - Medium (10 ct)
This disposable bowl is made from 100% bagrasse - the fibrous residue remaining after sugarcane stalks are crushed to extract their juices, this biodegradable bowl is perfect for travel, the beach, dog parks - even for use at home.




5. 6 PACK Wag Bags Doggie Clean-up Bags - 108 Count
With stylish colors - yellow, orange and green, a unique mitt-shaped design for easy pick-up, and most importantly biodegradable, the Wag Bags doggie clean-up bag is the perfect eco-friendly product to bring along on walks.




Besides using eco-friendly products, the best way to reduce the pooch's carbon footprint is to think and do "natural" as much as possible, for example, feed foods that do not contain articificial preservatives or additives and try to use only grooming products that do not contain chemicals that will harm the environment. Remember, a little effort goes a long way :-)

Tags: carbon footprint, medium-sized dogs, pet products.

Smartest Medium-sized Dogs

We all know that dogs are very intelligent but which breed is the smartest? Without accurate and scientific ways of measuring a dog's intelligence like our IQ tests, we can only deduce a dog's intelligence based on the observations and experiences of dog trainers and dog owners. Based on research by Stanley Coren, the renowned author of The Intelligence of Dogs,

- the average dog can understand about 165 words, including signs, signals and gestures. They can also count to about 5...
- The smartest dogs, he calls them the "super breeds," are on par with a 2½-year old, recognizing up to 250 words...
More in article.

And what are these "super breeds", the answer below:

1. Border Collie *

2. Poodle *

3. German Shepherd

4. Golden Retriever *

5. Doberman Pinscher

6. Shetland Sheepdog

7. Labrador Retriever

8. Papillon

9. Rottweiler

10. Australian Cattle Dog *

* medium dog breeds

Four medium-sized breeds have made it into this list including the No. 1 smartest dog breed of all - the Border Collie. Guess it's good to be medium-sized isn't it :-)

However, dogs that do not make it into the super smart club do not need to be disheartened, some are simply too independent and have too much personality to learn and obey commands readily. And since canine intelligence is typically measured by how easily the dog is able to master commands, it is little wonder that such canines are labelled as "unintelligent", when they are not.

Source:
http://www.petmedsonline.org/top-10-smartest-dogs-in-the-world.html, http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/08/07/smart.dogs/index.html,
http://www.stanleycoren.com/e_intelligence.htm

Tags: smartest dog breeds, medium dogs, medium-sized dogs, intelligence of dogs.

Cool Summer Products For Your Medium-sized Dog

Summer is here in the Northen Hemisphere and summer trips, swimming and keeping cool in the heat are now the in-things. Here are a few products that will make this summer for you and your medium dog even more relaxing and enjoyable.

TRAVEL-tainer (7"H X 5"Diameter)
This handy TRAVEL-tainer (below) will keep your canine pal's food fresh and clean in an an airtight plastic container that can hold 1 gal. capacity of food. Just remove the carry handle and pull off the food/water dishes. Twist off the top and just pour! Perfect for summer trips! Comes in blue and pink colors.




Paws Aboard Doggy Life Jacket in Yellow (Medium; 14"Length; Yellow)
During the summer months, your dog enjoys swimming and having a fun time by the beach or pool as much as you do. With the Paws Aboard Doggy Life Jacket, you can make sure that he is safe while in the water. This doggy life jacket is quick draining and drying. The high-contrast colors and reflective strips ensure visibility in low light. A handy handle on top makes it quick and easy to pull your pooch out of the water if needed. The medium size fits Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Border Collies, Welsh Corgies and the large size is ideal for Bulldogs, Collies and Retrievers.



Caddis Black Big Thirst Automatic Waterer for Pets (11"L X 7"W X 12.5"H; Black; No-Tip)
Your dog will need more water in the hot weather. The Caddis Big Thirst Automatic Waterer for Pets makes sure that your dog is never thirsty even when you are not at home. The strong plastic base prevents tipping or spilling. It automatically refills the reservoir bowl without over flowing. Dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.




Lixit Dog Waterer (3.5"Length)
If you have an outdoor faucet or garden hose, the Lixit Dog Waterer can turn your faucet or garden hose into a self-waterer that never runs dry or spills! Just attach it to your outdoor faucet or end of garden hose to make it work. It's like a water bottle with an unlimited tank! Your dog simply licks or nudges the lever control and refreshing, clean, sanitary water flows directly into his mouth. Steel nozzle attaches to outdoor faucet without tools. Can be permanently installed in the supply line with a thread adapter.




Mighty Breeze Battery Operated Pet Cage/Kennel Cooling Fan (3"L X 5.5"W X 6.5"H)
Keep your dog cool in his kennel by just hanging this kennel cooling fan on the outside of any cage or kennel. Cools for up to 100 hours on just two D-cell batteries! Feature two speed adjustment for high or low air flow.




Water-LESS Pet Bath Towel - As Seen on TV
Summer months mean more baths for your dog, and now finally.... there is a way to bathe your dog without getting him soaking wet! Just dampen this specially designed premium quality microfiber pet towel then rub down your pet gently and effectively to remove oil, dirt, dust, dander and more. Keep your dog healthy, clean, and happy without the stress of using of harsh shampoos and irritating chemical cleaners. Finish by spraying your pet with a pet deodorizer.



PetZoom Self Cleaning Grooming Brush - As Seen on TV
And besides bathing, a good grooming brush is essential too. This soft, ultra-comfortable brush is so comfortable that it has won numerous awards for its gentle grooming and one-touch cleaning. With just one pass you collect all the loose hair, dirt and dander right into the PetZoom. When finished, get rid of all that unwanted pet hair from your PetZoom with just one touch. Grooming your dog has never been this easy. Perfect for both wet and dry grooming.



Tags: medium dogs, medium-sized dog, summer dog supplies, dog brush, bathing dogs, doggy life jacket, food carrier, waterer.