Intellidogs » puppies

The Well-balanced Pup

Karen Wild — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 16:43:03 +0000

If you are looking for a breeder, or are a breeder yourself, you may be wondering what kind of care newborn puppies need?

I was very fortunate to come across a wonderful DVD thanks to the ‘A Sheepdog Diary’ blog author who told me all about the ‘Well Balanced Pup’ DVD. and how she is following the techniques for her own litter of pups.

Now, a lot is said about how to help puppies when they come to your house at around 8 weeks of age, but there is very little to help someone who really does want to give their puppies the best start in life from the second they are born. That is why this DVD got me so enthusiastic. Breeder Sue Jones talks about the entire process for any breeder – from birth to 8 weeks of age.

If you are not sure about where to get your puppy from, the DVD will give you an exact idea of the kind of breeder you need to be looking for. It goes without saying that you should never get a puppy from a puppy farm, because they end up with no social skills and are often bred from bitches that are shut away and nervous. It can be hard to know what sort of questions to ask a breeder – ‘Well Balanced Pup’ gives you so much information that you will know exactly what to ask. You can take a proper look at how a decent breeder does their job, and just how seriously they take the job, too. No money-making schemes here!

Although in the DVD there is some amazing footage of collie puppies, you can of course use the same techniques for any breed. Choosing the bred is only part of the choice you make when you pick a puppy, of course! I am always saying that socialisation, done properly, makes for a well-balanced and ‘bomb-proof’ dog that is easy to train and care for. If you want one of those, too, then Well-balanced pup is the place to start.

This DVD was not sent to me to get me to write an advert, and I have not been paid for this review. The welfare of dogs and their owners is close to my heart and I am delighted to be able to help promote such a wonderful work of understanding and true doggy knowledge.

You can visit the Well Balanced pup site to find out more and order your copy. Please share this blog – it may save a family from a puppy-farmed dog.

Puppy photo courtesy of A Sheepdog Diary

Ninja dogs!

Karen Wild — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:13:07 +0000

Clicker training for ninja dogs? Forgive me for being self-indulgent here. As you may know I am also a martial artist and love all things martial arts. I also love all things dog, so when the two mix, I am in heaven.

So, for light relief from all the problem-solving training, I thought I would share this excellent youtube video.

Bamboo clicker training’s other videos explain how the dogs are trained, so get yourself over to their other videos. This one is a huge favourite of mine:

They show how the dogs are taught to do the actions, using the trusty clicker. Try a few yourself and send me the videos to make your dog a star of the Intellidogs Martial Arts Hall of Fame!

Karen x

Rock Solid Recall – ‘Come Away’

Karen Wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:13:35 +0000

Advanced Recall Training. For problem lunging, barking and even aggressive reactions. An invaluable lesson for the safety of your dog and others, this exercise teaches your dog to willingly leave an object, area, person, animal, another dog using the ‘Come Away’ command.

Fetch and Give – a reliable retrieve

Karen Wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:09:55 +0000

“Fetch” provides easy exercise, mental stimulation, interactive play for children and dogs, and social interaction between shy dogs and visitors.
“Give” or drop on command helps put the owner in control and is vital when your dog has something in its mouth it shouldn’t – like your remote control, socks or tea towel.

Kids and Dogs – Safety and Sense

Karen Wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:02:09 +0000

Children and dogs can be great together. They can form a special bond and a dog can bring a lot to a child’s life. Many of us fondly remember dogs from our childhood and have a warm fuzzy image of a puppy and child growing up together!

Ouch! Stop Play Biting

Karen Wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:58:19 +0000

Puppy biting is a perfectly natural behaviour. Puppies use their mouths to explore their surroundings; nothing is sacred from puppy teeth. They also use their teeth when playing. Fortunately this is something they usually grow out of when they lose their puppy teeth at around sixteen weeks.

Train Your Dog to Sit and Stay

Karen Wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:56:30 +0000

One of the most useful things you can teach your dog is to sit on command. Luckily, for
most dogs, the sit command is the easiest to learn…

House Training Your Dog

Karen Wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:53:48 +0000

Dogs are instinctively clean animals. If they can avoid it, they would rather not soil themselves or their usual eating and sleeping areas. Dogs also naturally develop habits of where they would like to eliminate. For example, dogs that have a habit of eliminating on grass or dirt would rather not eliminate on concrete or gravel. You can use these natural tendencies for rapid and successful house training.

Don't Leave Me – stop separation anxiety

Karen Wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:50:31 +0000

One frequently experienced problem with adult dogs is anxiety when left alone. This can take the form of barking, howling, loss of bowel control, chewing, or a mixture of all four. An uncertain dog will be looking for security. It is then hardly surprising that he may begin by following you from room to room to make sure that you, the only thing he knows, are still there.

Stop Your Dog Jumping Up!

Karen Wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:42:35 +0000

Before you can begin to teach your dog not to jump up, you need to understand why they do it. Do you think your dog is just being naughty? You may have thought it was ok when they were just a puppy, but now it’s getting out of hand…