Were you aware that crate training your Pit Bull terrier is the responsible thing to do as a dog owner, and that everyone should be doing this? Properly crate training your Pit is one of the best things that you could possibly do, and I’m going to explain exactly how to do it correctly. If you’re not exactly sure what I mean by “crate training”, don’t worry. This article is going to break everything down for you in easy to understand language.

When you first bring your Pit Bull terrier pup home, it is important that you show him exactly what his territory is. It is at this point in time that you’ll introduce him to his crate.

Place you Pits crate in a designated room or area of the house so that he can go there to rest and relax. This is very important and should not be a high traffic area.

You can purchase a crate at your local pet supply superstore or you could make one yourself if you’re so inclined. A wire crate with partitions is preferred, so that you can section it off when he’s little, then expand the partition as he grows. The crate should also have a washable tray below that slides out for easy cleaning.

I would recommend a large crate for your Pit Bull, then set the partitions so that your puppy has enough room to stand up and lay down. You don’t want him to have excess room however as this will give him a place to go potty without him having to lay in it.

Using partitions is more important than the size of the crate you purchase. Make sure that you use them to limit your puppies free space inside the crate and be consistent with the routine. Congratulations on being a responsible Pit Bull terrier owner!

To learn all about Pitbull puppies and training a Pitbull terrier, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

Many people believe that crate training a dog is cruel and unusual punishment. Nothing could be further from the truth however. Most dogs find that having their own “space” is comforting and gives them a feeling of security.

Before we talk more about crate training, I need to point out that it should never be used as a form of punishment. Also, a crate is not a substitute for spending time with your dog and don’t ever fall into the trap of leaving your Pit in his crate for more than 4 hours at a time. Many dog owners use crates improperly and end up with more problems than they initially started with.

First, it is important to identify the problem that you are trying to solve by crate training your Pit Bull. Is it potty training? Chewing and destroying things while left unattended?

The next thing that you need to do is prepare your dog’s crate. Make it comfortable for him and place some bedding, a few toys, and give them access to a small amount of water. If you notice that your dog starts to get uncomfortable in his crate, make sure to take him out outside so he can relieve himself. Once he does, remember to praise him excitedly. Crate training your dog will take some time and a little bit of patience, especially if you have a stubborn Pit.

When first beginning the crate training routine, it is not uncommon for the dog to whine or bark. The biggest mistake that many owners make is feeling sorry for the dog and letting them out of the crate. Whatever you do, don’t do this. Your Pit Bull needs to know that barking is not the solution and he needs to take some time to get comfortable in his new environment.

Crate training is a responsible practice that all dog owners should use. It provides a safe place for the dog to hang out and relax and it maintains order around the house at the same time. I strongly encourage you to start a crate training routine with your Pit Bull terrier today!

To learn all about American Pit Bull Terriers and how to train a Pit Bull puppy, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.

Can cats and dogs live together without constantly being at war? It seems that they very often can.

We often hear people claim to be a “cat person” or a “dog person”, but browsing through the various pet forums it appears that there are many of us that equally like both cats and dogs.

My son has a beautiful Border Collie who was the only pet of the house until she was five years old. Then three part Burmese kittens were brought into the family. Mollie the Collie and the kittens were introduced to each other slowly, and Mollie was taught that the kittens were not to be harassed. Naturally she was given extra doses of attention and affection, just to show her that the kittens were an addition to the family, and not a replacement for her.

As the kittens grew they soon learned to dominate the dog, after all they are felines and a canine must know its place, besides there are three of them. Often when Mollie is snoozing, or just reclining chilling out, one of the cats will just walk right over her, forgoing the niceties of walking around the dog. Mollie gives the impression that this behavior does not bother her, but sometimes a little sigh of exasperation is heard. Rarely do the cats take any interest in what is in the dog bowl, Mollie on the other hand, will quite often take a sniff of the cats lunch, and if one of the cats is close by it will give a warning hiss.

I don’t think that it can be said that the cats and Mollie are great friends, they never appear to play together. They live together in a state of tolerance, rather than friendship, but the relationship works OK, my son’s house is free of cat and dog fights.

But from reading the posts on the pet forums, many people report that their cat and dog are the best of buddies.

A lady writes that her Boxer and tabby curl up together on the sofa. Another post from an elderly gentleman reports that his Persian often hitches a ride on the back of his Labrador cross. There are many posts about cats and dogs being taken for walks together, stories of felines and canines being absolutely inseparable, even accounts of dogs pining for cats that have passed away.

All this does not imply that any old cat and dog can be thrown together and get on like a house on fire. Some dog breeds are unlikely to put up with sharing their home with a cat. Hounds and hunting dogs, for example may not be a wise choice. Also not all breeds of cat are sociable enough to live with another species of animal.

When introducing cats and dogs to each other do it slowly and make sure that you are in control. Never leave your pets without supervision while they are learning to get along with each other. Feeding your cat and dog in separate places, and at separate times is probably best until they are used to one another.

Remember that two or more dogs are likely to have a pack instinct, and could see a new kitten as prey. If yours is a multi-dog household and you are adding a cat to your pet family, make the introduction one dog at a time. Remember also that it is not only dogs that can hurt cats, frightened cats can inflict nasty scratches to inquisitive puppies and dogs, and a scratch on the puppy’s eyes could be serious.

So can cats and dogs live together as friends? Yes, they can, it may take patience and perseverance on your part, but the result will be worth it

About The Author

Larry Chamberlain is the webmaster of www.best-cat-art.com and a lifelong cat lover. He lives in London England. Want to find that perfectCat Lover Gift?

catarticle@best-cat-art.com

History

Throughout the US and in many parts of the world, greyhounds are used as racing dogs to support gambling. In the United States alone, there are roughly 40 dog tracks and hundreds of puppy farms and training facilities around the country. Years ago, the greyhound industry was in much worse shape than it is today. Many tracks have established very good policies as well as “no kill” rules that help ensure the health and fate of the greyhounds. However, there are still thousands of greyhounds that after their racing days are in need of forever homes.

From Puppy to Adoption

Soon after greyhounds are born, they are sent to farms for training. They often remain in these training facilities until they are 18 months old. At this age, the dogs are introduced to the track and if they’re fast enough, will often race until they are between 3-4 years old. Aft this, they are usually put up for adoption.

Personality

It’s not enough to consider adopting a greyhound for humanitarian reasons alone. Think about the breed’s characteristics to determine if it would be a good fit in your home. Greyhounds are very easy-going dogs. This might surprise you, since we’re used to seeing greyhounds speeding around racing tracks reaching speeds of 40 mph. Despite this, greyhounds are normally good for only a few sprints per day. Otherwise, they are truly happy to relax around the house and casually play with a toy or a companion. The greyhound’s docile personality is complemented by their loyalty, intelligence and excitement about simple things like taking nightly walks or seeing their owner return home from work.

Appearance

Greyhound come in a variety of colors including solid blue, white, black, red, fawn and combinations of these colors with spotted and brindle patterns. Male greyhounds generally weigh between 65-75 pounds and females tend to weigh between 55-65 pounds. Their sleek, athletic look should be maintained even as they enter retirement. Keeping a greyhound fit and trim should be relatively easy since their metabolism is quite fast and they don’t tend to gain weight easily. Perhaps in part because of their great conditioning, greyhounds have long life expectancies for such large dogs, spanning between 12-15 years.

Availability

Greyhounds are available at shelters around the country - many of which are associated with local racing tracks. Be sure to discuss your home situation with the director of the adoption facility. They’ll want to know if you have cats at home, small dogs and very young children. Based on greyhounds’ training and instinct, some maintain left over aggressiveness toward small animals. The facility’s adoption director should be able to suggest a number of greyhounds that match well to your home life.

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Potty training your new American Pit Bull Terrier puppy is a necessary evil. Your dog needs to learn at an early age where to properly relieve himself. You can begin working with your pup at 8 weeks of age.

Puppy potty training can sometimes prove to be a frustrating task. You must do the same routine every single day and it is important to give your puppy a lot of extra attention as this will make the house breaking process much easier. The house training process will take longer if you are gone during the day at a job because your dog won’t be able to hold it for extended periods of time when he is just starting out.

To begin potty training your Pit Bull, give him an area that is all his own. A tiled laundry room works very well if you have one in your residence. Cover the area with newspaper and make sure that you give him access to his bed, toys, and food bowl. When leaving to go out, make sure that your Pit pup is in his “area” and cannot leave. You can buy a baby gate which will keep him confined, without feeling shut in.

After you have gone, he will need to go potty at some point and will relieve himself. As time goes on, he will begin to go in the same spot and when this starts to happen, simply begin to remove the newspaper in the rest of the room which is not being used. Continue doing this until the only patch of newspaper in the room is the area he has chosen to do his business.

When at home, spend as much time with your Pit Bull puppy as possible. The potty training process will be much, much easier if take your dog outside every 45 minutes or so, then praise him excitedly when he relieves himself in the yard. You can also give him a small treat when he goes to the bathroom outside to further encourage his good behavior.

It is a bad idea and completely ineffective to scold your puppy for having an accident in the house. Positive reinforcement and a lot of extra time and attention is the best way to handle this task and remember that no dog is completely potty trained until they have reached the age of 6-8 months. Patience is a must!

To learn all about Pit Bull puppies and training a Pit Bull terrier, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.