Where do dogs learn their manners? From their owners! Dogs are pack animals and it is important for a dog owner to be the pack leader.

Having a happy and properly socialized pet requires teaching and guidance from the pet’s owner. Whether you have a puppy or adopt a dog, a relationship of trust should start as early as possible.

Training requires a disciplined and patient dog owner. It is easy to cave in when your dog just wants your attention and doesn’t want to listen to your commands. Reward your dog for good behavior. Positive reinforcement is more effective than punishment. Physical punishment will make your dog afraid of you and break down the trust you are trying to establish.

Housebreaking is one of the first aspects involved in dog training. With a 95% success rate Poochie-Bells are recommended by professional trainers. No more whining, barking or waiting by the door, your pooch can be trained to ring the bells when they need to go outside. The bells are strategically placed on a heavy duty designer durable grosgrain ribbon to accommodate small and large breeds. Poochie Bells are portable, there are no batteries or wires so dog owners can remain consistent with housebreaking wherever you and your pooch happen to be.

Some dog breeds are more difficult to train than others. There are breed specific behaviors that need to be adapted to their environment. Herding and excessive barking are natural instincts that dog trainers and owners need to modify for a dog to adapt in their environment and home.

Barking is an instinctive behavior for dogs. When a dog hears an unfamiliar noise, sees a stranger, or hears a knock or doorbell they tend to begin barking. It is their way of communicating what they hear. Some hunting breeds like a Beagle or Terrier tend to bark more than other docile dogs.

Excessive barking is an unwanted behavior that requires attention. Dogs usually bark in a standing or sitting position. Command your dog to lie down and the barking should subside. Dogs don’t tend to bark when they are lying down. The command “ENOUGH” spoken in a firm tone also informs the dog to stop barking.

Training a dog can seem overwhelming. The dog owner’s role as the pack leader is based on mutual trust. When the trust is established a dog will look to their owner for behavior cues. A dog wants to please their owner and responds to positive reinforcement when they behave appropriately.

We all strive to look our best. There are cosmetic remedies and prescription medicines for dark circles and puffy eyes. The same is true for dogs that have reddish-brown stains under their eyes.

Tear stains are apparent on white and light hair dogs. Brown, black and dogs with darker hair and fur experience tear staining also; it just is not that noticeable because it is camouflaged by their coloring. Light or dark coated, not all dogs experience tear staining.

There are many reasons why a dog has tear stains. It is trial and error to figure out which is causing the problem in your dog. Every dog has a different chemical makeup and lives in a different environment; therefore the eye stain culprit can vary from dog to dog.

Some dogs just have good genes, at least in the tear staining category. Veterinarians suggest that eye structure is the source of the problem. A sinus condition can lead to excessive tearing. The sinuses are connected to eyes, ears, nose and fluid blockage and inadequate draining can lead to infections.

Fleas tend to congregate around the eyes where it is warm and moist. They irritate a dog’s eyes and leave their red feces under the dogs’ eyes. Fleas also carry mites, which cause ear infections that also create excessive eye tearing and staining.

A Veterinarian can help diagnose the cause of excessive eye tearing and staining. Vets can determine if your dog has clogged tear ducts, ear infections or irritating eye lashes that are causing your dog’s eye to tear. Treating an ear infection or unclogging an eye duct via eye irrigation can be medically necessary. If there is a severe eye condition a Veterinary Opthalmologist might be required to treat your dog’s condition.

Good hygiene is important for every pet. However it can also play a simple role in keeping eye stains under control. Routine baths with a flea shampoo and washing your dogs face daily can make a significant difference.

Keeping dirt and hair out of your dog’s eyes and staying alert of any changes like excessive licking, or goopy eye conditions is the best way to keep your pet’s eyes healthy. Seek advice from a Veterinarian and/or dog groomer about treating the sensitive eye area.

Visit Jake’s Dog House for Tear Stain Solutions

Looking for something fun to do after a grueling week at work?  Enjoy an afternoon of fun playing with your dog.  There are many fun things to do with your dog.  A local dog park encourages off leash socializing for dogs as well as socializing for pet owners.  Dog Parks are also great areas for playing a game of catch and fetch.  The fenced in area creates boundaries and other dogs in the park generate a little fetching competition

Going to a community park where dogs are permitted is perfect for dog fun.  Play Frisbee with a flying disc in an open field.  Flying Squirrel flying disc is one squirrel who won’t mind being chased down. Just grab him by a paw and throw like a flying disk. Remember to snap your wrist while throwing to give him a good spin. His spinning feet create visual excitement for you and your pet, and the raised sides make him easy to pick up. The flying squirrel has raised sides for easy pick up, durable Rubber Feet, and also floats in water.

Many townships have bike trails.  In my town the bike trail follows the power lines with corn fields and small shrubbery along the perimeter of the trail.  From beginning to end the trail is 5 miles, so running, hiking, and rollerblading end to end is a doable distance for most dog owners and their dogs.   On the lighter side, play follow the leader and off trail hide and seek in the shrubbery.   Before you go, make sure your dog is healthy enough and fit enough to enjoy your planned activities.

Games of find the treat are a fun way to Challenge and Entertain Dog for hours.  A treat can be hidden in a contained area or in a dog toy.   Giggle Peek-A-Treat Ball challenges dogs to get the dog treats out of the toy.   Hiding dog treats and or placing them in a dog toy provides a great way to ease boredom, alleviate stress and keep dogs mentally stimulated and challenged.  Adjust the game to your dog’s age and make it easier or harder for dogs to retrieve treats.

Toys for bored dogs like Hide a Bird Plush Animal Puzzles are designed after nature’s own puzzles. Only this time, your dog can catch that pesky Bird! Hide a Bird will keep your pet occupied and eliminate boredom, but it and also develop a dog’s intelligence and puzzle-solving skills.  Interactive dog toys develop and strengthen eye-paw coordination skills as your pet discovers how to remove the squeaker birds from inside the Hide a Bird.

After an active afternoon of fun and games your dog might need a good brushing.  Grooming your own dog creates a special bonding.  The Shedding Slicker Brush provides double action – long & short pins work at two levels so dog owners get better results with no extra effort.   The Slicker brush is designed to remove all dead hair and other debris that landed on your dog during your day of fun.  For all coat types: long-haired; wire & course-hair; short & smooth-hair breeds.

For a quick clean up, Natural Grooming Wipes Hypo-Allergenic & Fragrance Free wipes are for our beloved furry friends who need a good cleansing, but may have sensitive skin, allergies, or who just don’t want to smell like anything but themselves. Mild cleansers freshen and deodorize, while succulent leave-in conditioners impart a healthy shine and leave a supple coat. Your best friend will look and smell better than ever before.

Enjoy your dog days!

Hi -

Welcome to the NEW! Jake’s Dog House Blog.

We will be posting on a regular basis on varous pet related tops including Pet Wellness, Pet Health, Green Pet Products, Pet Safety, and in general just plain Pet Fun.  Please check back and we would also love to hear the topics that you would like to see her on our blog.  Thanks for coming to the home of cool stuff….for cool dogs and cats in the dog house.  Have a great day!  Jon