Getting Your Dog Used to Social Situations

If you want to get your dog used to social situations you may have to work on it. The first thing you want to do is to start socializing your dog when he is as young as possible.

You will need to have close supervision with your dog when meeting new dogs. A dog is similar to a child when it comes to learning how to play and interact with other dogs.

If you notice your dog is being picked on or simply looks unhappy/uncomfortable remove him from the situation. You can always try later or another day. Do not force your dog to play with other dogs. If your dog becomes aggressive, tell your dog “no” in a stern voice. If this does not work, remove your dog in a “time out” and slowly enter him back into the situation.

If your dog is just too excited and jumping all over the place, remove him until he calms down. Re-enter him into the situation of interacting with other dogs.

You will notice that some dogs use growling, barking and wrestling when playing. Keep an eye on your dog to make sure he is okay. Some dogs do fine with this type of play while others do not know what is going on. Your dog may take this as a challenge and think he is in a fight.

You may notice that the dogs start to use crashing and running into each other when playing. Some dogs do not like this and feel threatened. If your dog looks fearful or upset, remove him.

If one dog mounts another dog or one dog holds his/her head above another dog as well as one dog biting the back of another dog’s neck are considered power play. You should correct this behavior immediately.

The key is to slowly introduce your dog to other dogs while keeping a close eye on your dog so you can intervene if need be to keep your dog safe as well as the other dogs.

The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

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Ways NOT to Communicate with Your Small Dog

Here is a list of different circumstances you should avoid copying with your dog:

You are out with your small dog. A stranger walks past you and your small dog growls at the stranger. You laugh at your dog thinking he/she is so tough for such a tiny thing. You and the stranger laugh and you say to the stranger, “He/she is all bark and no bite.” You think your dog has “small dog syndrome.” You laugh and hold onto your dog’s snout when you say “stop” in a neutral tone. Your dog sees this reaction as praise--you laughed and used a neutral tone versus a stern tone.

You are out with your dog and your dog is on a leash. A stranger walks by and your small dog is pulling at the leash. You and the stranger laugh at the small “tough” dog. You think your dog will never bite but when your dog does this and you laugh, your dog is seeing this as praise. You are slowly making a dog that will bite.

Perhaps you are sitting at the park. You have a small dog on your lap. A stranger walks by. You pull your dog closer to your chest trying to stop the small dog from barking. You just gave your dog affection for barking.
Kids run by while your dog is on your lap. You pull your dog closer to you as you swat your dog on the snout. You just gave your dog affection and smacks? Confused dog.

The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

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Your Dog Questions Answered

Doggie-Corral likes to share answers to common questions you may have about owning a dog as well as some not so common questions. As always, if you have a dog question please feel free to ask!

How often should I brush my dog?
You should brush your dog at least 3 x’s per week in the spring. By doing so, you will eliminate much of the dreaded shedding in the winter---practically 100%!

Should I buy a sweater for my dog?
If you have a short haired breed or a small dog it is good to put a dog sweater or dog jacket on your dog when he/she goes outdoors.

My dog should only eat once a day. I like to feed him at dinnertime. Should I give him more food any other time of the day?
You can give your dog a little food in the morning just to get rid of the grumbling tummy noises.

I do not think that my dog will ever bite even when he barks. Other people’s dogs I do not trust. I think that their dogs will bite me if I come close to them, why is that?
You should never EVER assume that your dog will not bite--unless your dog believes this as well.

My dog keeps getting into our garbage in the kitchen. How can I train him not to do this?
Your best bet is to keep your garbage inside of your kitchen cabinets, perhaps under your kitchen sink. This is the only way you will protect your dog and a possible mess.

The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

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Your Loving Elderly Dog

As dogs age, they disposition can change. Some may desire to be near you 24/7. They may all of the sudden begin to follow you around more, beg for extra tummy rubs, lean against you, lounge next to you on the couch longer, and just be over all clingier than normal. When time is limited with your beloved dog, this can be a much appreciated time.

However, other dogs in their later time of life can become more solitary, spend more time napping, or just gazing out a window. Instead of greeting you when you enter a room, your dog may exit left seeking its alone comfort spot. This can sadden a dog owner during this time.

Any change of behavior out of the norm for your dog warrants a visit to the vet to rule out any physical reason behind the change. However, both of the scenarios explained previously are pretty common for a senior dog. If your senior dog begins to require more attention, give him or her the extra love they are craving and should he/she prefer more alone time, don’t take it personal. You can encourage interaction with your dog, just don’t force it and give them the space they need.


The main purpose of Doggie-Corral.com is to provide dog owners with an entire line of dog supplies needed to care for their beloved pets. We ship to the entire United States and provide a one stop shopping experience. We offer dog-training aids, dog insurance, health care essentials, dog apparel (e.g. dog shirts, Dog Pro sports apparel, dog boots, dog coats, dog College Sports apparel, dog blankets, dog sweaters, dog pajamas),dog beds, plastic and wood doghouses, dog crates and kennels, dog toys, dog chews, dog treats, dog and puppy foods, dog grooming products and more. Feel free to check us out at Doggie-Corral.com.

We would also love to have you connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
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