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If your dog has already shown an aptitude for basic obedience like sit, stay and heel then he might be up for the challenge of agility training. Agility training involves a handler coaxing his or her dog through an obstacle course. Judges then score the dog’s performance based on the number of mistakes made and the speed at which the course is completed. Agility training and competitions can increase the bond between you and your dog, provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation and give you an outlet for your love of all things dog. If you would like to get started in agility training keep the following tips in mind and you and your dog will be well on your way to a fun and rewarding hobby.

1. Make sure your dog can work with your without a lead. This can be a huge obstacle in itself for some dogs. Even the most well behaved dogs in the house can wonder off or become distracted when outside without a lead. You might wish to practice your training on a homemade course in your fenced back yard. This will get your dog used to the training before going to an off leash course.

2. Work from both sides when training. If you and your dog get used to you standing in one position he will be thrown off guard if the competition course requires you to stand in another position. You should be able to stand on either side of the obstacle without your dog being uncomfortable. To make sure this does not happen you will need to create variety during training.

3. If your dog is less than enthusiastic you will need to find a way to motivate him. Try not to pressure your dog and make the training fun. Find out whether your dog is more motivated by treats, toys or verbal praise and then use that particular reward for training. Praise less for slow performing and more for quick performing until your dog figures out what behavior pleases you the most.

4. Do not go too fast. If your dog is enthusiastic about training make sure to slow down the training to make sure that each obstacle is completed properly without mistakes. Enthusiastic dogs tend to finish as quickly as possible despite not learning how to perform each obstacle properly. Speed will be important later in the training; however, performing obstacles correctly is the foundation of agility training.

5. Avoid harsh punishment. Agility training should be fun for your dog. Dogs will perform much better if they are having fun. Harsh punishment may create fear or anxiety in your dog, possibly deterring him from the obstacle altogether.

6. Do not push through difficult obstacles. If you come upon a road block in your training then leave it alone for a while. If your dog just can’t seem to get a certain obstacle then it is best to simply stop working on it for a week or more and then come back to it later. This will avoid any frustration on your part which might lead to frustration from your dog.

7. Keep training sessions short and sweet. Keep them short because your dog’s attention span is relatively short. Your dog will learn more in 5 fifteen minute sessions than he will in two hour long training session. Keep them sweet by ending the session on a positive note. Always end the training session with praise and affection to ensure that your dog is enjoying himself. You will enjoy the training much more in short and positive sessions as well.

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Once you have identified the triggers that cause your dog’s unwanted urination you can begin to modify his behavior. Here are several tips to create a calm and appropriately submissive dog thus ending the submissive urination problem:

1. Calmly and quietly compliment, praise or reward your dogs with treats when he urinates outside. When he urinates inside never scold or punish your dog. Simply say no in a firm, even tone, ignore your dog and quietly clean up the mess. Aggression or loud response will only reinforce the behavior by assigning attention to it. Also, submissive dogs do not require severe scolding as it can make them even more fearful, submissive or stressed out in the future and only make the problem worse.

2. Greet your dog calmly from a standing position. When you bend down and your dog lies down to say hi, he will be showing more submissive behavior which reinforces other behaviors of this nature such as submissive urination.
3. Avoid direct eye to eye contact when you first see your dog upon returning home from an absence. This can be intimidating to a timid pooch and precipitate submissive behavior.

4. Do not grab and hug your dog when you walk into a room where submissive urination has occurred. Once again, a shy pup may see this as an act of dominance and the result will be submissive urination. Simply come in the door quietly and immediately take your dog outside and allow him the opportunity to potty in the proper location.

5. If submissive urination occurs at a specific time like before sleeping or just before you go out, try limiting your dog’s drinking water during those times. Be careful not to deprive your dog’s water access for more than just a very short period of time as water is essential to his well being. Dogs can become dehydrated quickly as they do not have the same ability to cool themselves as we do.

6. Do not make your homecoming a grand event. The excitement in your voice and greeting can be a signal to your dog that he should submit to your entrance and respond with submissive urination. Enter the room calmly and ignore your dog until he is calm and even keeled. Allow your dog to come to you and he will relax and be less fearful or excitable. He will learn that this is not a time for him to respond to dominant behavior with submissive urination.

7. Join a group dog training class. Submissive urination can extend to areas outside of your home and the group setting will allow for proper socializing with other dogs and their handlers. By helping your dog to build his confidence in a variety of situations you will help him to create balance and an even mood which will cut down on his fearful response of submissive urination. As your dog becomes more confident remember to be firm yet quiet and calm to encourage his new attitude without turning him into a spoiled pooch.

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The one thing that pet owners fear the most is the loss of their beloved pet. While it is an unpleasant and heart-wrenching topic, it is important to know your options in the untimely event of your pet’s passing. This can be especially true if your pet’s passing comes unexpectedly. Advanced planning should be considered to make the unfortunate event easier to deal with when the day comes. It should also be considered in the event that your pet passes while you are travelling and your animal is in the care of an individual or an organization. What are your wishes for your pet’s death care? In the event of a tragedy would you know your options? Would your friends or family members know what to do? These are all questions that should be answered in advance as they are difficult to deal with even with advanced preparation. There are several options available including home burial, burial in a cemetery, cremation and rendering.

If you decide to bury your pet at home you should check with your local city or county government to make sure there are no restrictions in place regarding the burial of animals. If there are no such regulations you should place your pet’s remains in a heavy duty plastic bag and then place them in a metal or wooden box. Next, you should dig a hole at least three feet deep to serve as the final resting place. This can be an emotional experience so make sure to have a few close friends or family members on hand to lend their support. It can also be difficult to dig such a large hole so you may need physical help as well. While this option is the least expensive it might not be an option if you move frequently and wish for your pet’s memorial to be near you.

Another option is burial in a pet cemetery. There are several things to consider when looking into this option. The first thing you want to do is check with the owner or Management Company to make sure the cemetery is on “dedicated” land. This means that the land is dedicated to being a pet cemetery and that its function will not change if the land is sold. You will also need to consider the type of burial. Most cemeteries offer communal burial where multiple animals are buried together. In communal burial there is typically a memorial wall with engraved plaques for each pet resting there. Some cemeteries offer individual plots with individual grave markers; however, this is more expensive than communal graves. To find a pet cemetery, start by asking your Veterinarian for a recommendation. If they do not have a dedicated pet funeral home that they use you can simply look up pet cemeteries in the yellow pages or online.

One of today’s most popular options is pet cremation. During cremation the remains of your pet are incinerated and you are presented with the ashes upon completion. One factor for consideration is if the crematorium does dedicated or multi-animal cremations. If they cremate multiple pets the ashes are divided and each owner ends up with the remains of their pet in addition to the remains of the pets of others. Dedicated cremations are common; however they are more expensive. Regardless of the option you choose most Veterinarians will make a plaster plaque of your dog’s paw and include it on a special box filled with the remains of your pet. This can make for an attractive display case for your pet’s remains. If this sounds morbid to you; you can choose to spread the ashes of your pet in a special place you shared with your pet such as a river or trail you used to swim or hike together.

The final option is controversial for some and is known as rendering. This is a process in which your pet’s remains are processed and turned into useful ingredients such as tallow or fertilizer. Some find this offensive while others feel that their pet’s body is essentially being recycled back to the planet. Some find comfort in the fact that their pet’s can be of further use after their death. You should check with the county animal control department if you are interested in researching this option.

Regardless of the option you choose, remember that the memory of your pet will always be with you. When you have made your final decision make sure that your friends and family are aware of your wishes. Make sure to keep phone numbers and addresses of the selected care provider on file for convenient access in your time of grief.

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