Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Dog Crates: Different Types of Dog Cages and Crates

Some people think that dog crates are evil and only for bad dogs or mean owners. They think that to cage your pet is cruel and unusual punishment. But dog crates have actually proved to be very useful in training your dog. Using a crate gives your dog a feeling of his own little area that he can feel safe in. The crate is your dog’s own area that he can do anything he wants in. He can bring treats and toys in to stow them safely without you taking them and hiding them away. He can go in there when he wants some peace and quiet to rest. Since dogs are naturally pack animals, they like to have a nice cozy place to sleep and rest. To them, their crate is like their own little cave that they can crawl into. Since most crates are too small for humans to crawl into, they feel safe in their own little area that nobody else can bother them in. So don’t just think that crates are to cage your dog up when you leave or when he is bad. It is a fun place for your dog and he will learn to like being in there until you come home. It is not mean if you don’t treat it that way. Treat the crate like it was a small dog house inside your home, like your dog’s own room. Make it nice and comfortable with blankets and pillows or a bed. This also teaches your dog that he is not to go potty in his crate. If you keep the plastic bottom of the crate and make it easy to clean up, he might think it is ok to go potty in there. If you keep it nice and cozy he will not want to mess it up. This is also another reason to keep the crate area small. If it is too big he will potty on one side and just sleep on the other side. Dogs will not relieve themselves in their sleeping area unless they absolutely have to. If they think the crate is big enough they will think they have enough room to have a bed and a potty area.

There are a few different types of crate. The most popular type of dog crate is the old fashioned metal wire cage. These are strong and sturdy, and many are collapsible. Many also include dividers so you can make the crate smaller if you have a growing puppy. As the dog gets bigger you can make his living space larger and larger. Another type of crate is the plastic shell type. These are also pretty strong and sturdy but they usually are not collapsible or portable. They are more comfortable inside for your dog as it is a smooth surface all around. If you travel a lot with your dog you may want to use his crate as a travel container, or you might want to get a separate travel crate to bring him along on family vacations, trips to the vet, etc. This will make your dog more comfortable when travelling. You can keep food and water in your dog’s own little area that will keep him happy and comfortable while traveling.




Wet Or Dry Dog Food: Which Is Best For Your Dog?

Many dog owners do not know what the differences are between wet dog food and dry dog food. What should you feed your dog and why? Well it depends on many different factors, including your dog and your lifestyle.

Wet Dog Food

Wet dog food is usually best for smaller breeds and younger dogs. This is because it is easier to eat for dogs with smaller mouths and pickier appetites. Wet dog food smells and tastes better to dogs so it entices them to eat more and more often. If your dog has trouble eating or does not seem to be eating enough you may want to try to feed her wet dog food. The major drawback of wet food is that it is more expensive and usually takes up more space as each serving is in a separate can or container. This also creates more waste as you have to throw away one or more cans per day.

Dry Dog Food

Dry dog food is usually less expensive and easier to handle. You can buy dry dog food in bulk in bags weighing 40 pounds or more. This is usually more economical especially if you have a larger breed of dog or if you have more than one dog. Some dogs however are picky about their food and do not like most dry foods. If this is the case you can either try another brand of dry food, try wet dog food or you can try making your dog’s food yourself. Most dry foods do have proper nutrition, but beware of discount brands because some of them cook the food at too high of temperatures and cook some of the nutrition out.




Monday, May 13, 2013

How to Find a Leash and Collar for your Bulldog

There are many different types of leashes available these days for you Bulldog or other large breed of dog. From the standard leather or nylon leash to a metal “choke” collar, to the retractable type leashes that let you have the leash as long or as short as you want. The type of leash you want to get depends on your Bulldog and your walking routine. Here is a quick breakdown of the different types of leashes for your Bulldog, along with the pros and cons for each one.

Standard Collars

A standard collar is the typical collar that most dogs have, typically made out of nylon or leather that goes around your Bulldog’s neck. The major drawback of this type of collar is that when your Bulldog starts to pull on the leash it will choke him. Most dogs, including Bulldogs, don’t realize that they can stop being choked if they simply stop pulling and they never learn to stop doing so. See some of the other types of collars and harnesses below.

Harnesses

Although a harness makes walking easier on your Bulldog by not choking him, it also makes it easy to pull for hours on end without getting tired or hurting himself. Think about it, harnesses were designed for dogs to pull sleds and other objects with ease for a long time. They make it easy to pull a sled through snow so of course it will be easy for your Bulldog to pull on his leash when you take him for a walk. So be prepared that your Bulldog will probably be pulling more once you put a harness on him. There are other types of collars that don’t make it so easy to pull but still give your Bulldog a comfortable walk. For example, see gentle leaders below.

Gentle Leaders

A gentle leader is a type of collar that goes around your Bulldog’s face and puts the pressure on his nose when he wants to pull on the leash. Some people say that it looks uncomfortable, especially for Bulldogs with their short nose, however most Bulldogs do not seem to mind at all. The only thing that may be uncomfortable is when the dog begins to pull on the leash, this puts more pressure on his nose and makes him want to back off and walk slower. This is good because it makes your dog walk at a consistent speed close to how fast you want to walk. Eventually your Bulldog will learn not to pull or tug on the leash and you can even discontinue use of the gentle leader once your Bulldog has learned how to walk properly.

Standard Leash

A standard leash is usually made out of a material like nylon or leather. It is a simple leash that is only one length. This is good for most dogs as it doesn’t let them go too far away from their owner. Most standard leashes are anywhere from 4’ to 8’ in length. This is the standard type of leash that most owners get for walking their Bulldog

Retractable Leash

A retractable leash is good for Bulldogs that are a little more obedient than others as it gives them a lot more leniency when it comes to how far they can go. Most retractable leashes can go up to 25 or 30 feet but do have a button that stops it at any length you want if you don’t want your Bulldog to go any farther. This is good if your Bulldog sees something that catches his attention but you don’t want him to go any farther. You simply push the button and he will not be able to go any farther.

Chain Leashes and Collars/Choke Chain

Some people like the look of chain collars and leashes because they make your Bulldog look tough. Others like the choke chain type collar that chokes your Bulldog as soon as he goes too far. However, most dog trainers and owners find these types of collars and leashes to be inhumane and cruel. They also weigh a lot more than most other types of leashes and collars. Some bigger breeds like Bulldogs don’t mind a chain collar or leash compared to smaller breeds of dogs but they are still not recommended.

Whatever type of leash and collar you decide on for your Bulldog, make sure it is comfortable for both you and your canine companion. This will make your walks together much more comfortable for you and your Bulldog. Make sure it fits your Bulldog and his walking style but keeps him safe and close enough to you in case something happens.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

List of Male Names for Bulldogs

Do you have a male Bulldog that you need to find a name or nickname for? Or do you have a dog of another breed that you are looking for a name for? This is a list of some of the most popular names and nicknames for male Bulldogs that should help you to get some ideas of names to call your male Bulldog or other breed of dog as well. This is a short list of 80 of the most popular recent names for male Bulldogs. Although this is a list compiled of the top male names for Bulldogs, these names are also good for other male dogs of other breeds as well, so of all the names here you should be able to get an idea of a name or nickname that you can call your male Bulldog or any other breed of dog.



Ace
Adrian
Alpine
Balboa
Bam-Bam
Bambino
Bandit
Bear
Benji
Bentley
Beowoof
Blackie
Blaze
Blue
Bones
Brutus
Bubba
Budd
Buddy
Burly
Butch
Caesar
Capone
Chunk
Cognac
Colonel
Cowboy
Digger
Dozer
Droopy
Duke
Einstein
Elvis
Fang
Fonzi
Frankie
Goliath
Gunner
Gus
Harley
Hercules
Hulk
Hunter
Hustler
Igor
Killer
Levi
Lucky
Macho
Max
Mickey
Mikey
Milo
Mocha
Moet
Munchkin
Ninja
Odie
Onyx
Oreo
Patch
Patriot
Pluto
Popeye
Porkchop
Primo
Rex
Romeo
Sarge
Scoobie
Scout
Shorty
Spanky
Spot
T-Bone
Terminator
Thor
Tiger
Twinkie
Warrior



Saturday, April 20, 2013

Bulldog Training Guide Blog

Welcome to my brand new blog related to one of my all time favorite breeds of dogs - the adorable and loveable Bulldog! I will cover all topics releated to dogs - Bulldogs in particular, and training and raising them in regards to things like bathroom training, puppy training, obedience training, trick and agility training, and everything else you need to know about your Bulldog and how to train him or her. If you have any things that you want to know in particular, ask it in the comments section below each post or article. Let me know what you want to know about, what you think of my blog, and anything else you want me to know. I read each and every comment so please give me some feedback and I will make sure to tailor my blog to however you want it. Thanks so much for looking. As of the time of this writing there isn't much to see on the site but hopefully by the time you read it there will be a whole bunch more to see. So look around and bookmark my blog so that you can visit it later. Thanks again for visiting my new blog, "The Bulldog Training Guide Blog"!