Unleashed Unlimited
THE Dog Training Blog

That’s right, our selection of Dublin Dog Collars and Leashes are back on sale; just in time for the holidays!  These collars make a great gift any time of the year, but they are even more perfect for all of the dog lovers on your list.

As you all know, Dublin Dog Collars are created from a special blend of polymers that won’t absorb moisture, retain dirt, or harbor bacteria found in your favorite play areas. So no more collars that smell like an old sponge, just rinse under warm water, and you’re ready for the next adventure.

These dog collars will not fade and do not stink, ensuring that they will look brand new for years to come. You wanted a collar as unique as your dog, now you got it. We should all be so Lucky!!!!

Check out our online store for all of the styles and sizes, as well as other great gift ideas for dog lovers.  You will be hard to find any site that offers these collars for this price!  In order to get the sale price, be sure to enter “dublinsale” in the promotions box during check out.  All Dublin Dog items are delivered via UPS and the 20% off sale runs until December 31, 2008!

The place command is one of the most useful skills that you can teach your dog.  When we teach your dog to place, we are simply teach them to target a specific location and respect the boundary of that location. In the simplest definition, place simply means to put all four paws on an object (that is different from the ground) and remain on that object.

The object that you are using as a place can be a professional dog training placeboard, a dog bed, a bench, or anything else that a dog can comfortably get all four of their paws onto.  As your dog gets the concept of the place command, you can use your imagination and advance their skill level by placing them on other objects like tree stumps, a brick, and even your own body.

Placing is great for building the foundation for distance and distractions, because all your dog has to do is respect the boundary that we have taught them regardless of what is going on around them.  Many of the skills that Unleashed Unlimited teaches, revolve around the place command; the uses are endless.

*  Overall control and management of your dog

*  Can aid in training fearful dogs

*  Providing a familiar object in new environments

*  Making the dog aware of it’s entire body

*  Clearer definition of the heel position

*  Prevention of sloppy sits and downs

*  Teaching directionals

Stay tuned to our dog training blog for more tips and pointers on teaching your dog to place.  In a future entry we will cover selecting the right objects for placing, introducing your dog to the place, and simple body language tips to help your dog succeed.

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We offer a variety of bed styles and sizes from extra small for the toy breeds to extra large for the truly big dogs. These beds allow you to pick the perfect bed to match their best friends’ sleeping habits, no matter if they sleep curled up or like to stretch out - all dogs, little or big, will sleep in comfort.

Also on sale are the West Paw Dog Mats. They are a high quality mat that can be used just about anywhere such as; in front of the fireplace, inside a kennel, in your car, on the front porch, or just on the go - West Paw Design’s dog mats truly are the finest, highest quality mat that gracefully combines comfort and utility to create a perfect fit for any home décor. And with one piece easy machine washing and drying, your mat can always look clean!

To view all of the great dog beds and mats, please visit our online store.  The sale runs until December 31st 2008.

Also, the 20% Off Sale on Dublin Dog Collars ends December 31st! Act now to make sure you don’t miss out on these great collars!

There is nothing better that buying a new toy for your furry friend and if you choose the right one, it can make for hours of fun and excitement!  There are so many to choose from you may ask yourself, “How will I know my dog will like it?”  Paying attention to what your dog likes in a toy will tell you everything you need to know. His or her decision may be based on several things that are all relative to one or more of the five senses and are often interchangeable such as:

Touch: This involves the texture of the toy. Some dogs are crazy over a soft tug toy, a bone for chewing, hard rubber bones, furry toys or a softer pliable ball. If your dog loves stealing your socks or clothing this may be an indication that your dog may like a softer texture! Many toys also have a rough texture for chewing meant to aid in keeping teeth clean.

Sound: This is where the squeaky toys and toys that make noise come in and they come in a variety of options. If your dog loves squeaky toys, ask yourself what else he likes as they are usually in “something” such as a ball, plush toy, some types of interactive toys or soft latex type toys.

Smell: Some toys have scent added to them such as peppermint which also helps to freshen breath or by adding a favorite treat to a toy that has a “spot” gets the nose working and invokes interest.

Sight: Fast moving objects and toys that have movement come into play here as well as toys that have an odd shape that bounce a bit haphazardly and Frisbees.  These are for the dogs that enjoy the chase and retrieve (provided they were taught to retrieve).

Taste: These toys usually involve food of some type and come in a variety of options, there are some interactive toys that utilize food and bones or toys that can be stuffed with their favorite treats. These types of toys are also good for the “problem solving” aspect.

Many individual toys fall into two or more of these categories depending on the toy so when shopping for toys and knowing what interests your dog will make it easier for you to choose the right toy. You can also use your imagination with the existing toys you have around the house that they are not interested in by adding something to that your dog does like to the equation.

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One of the first questions people ask when seeking a dog trainer is, “How much does it cost?” Cost is important when purchasing anything and is a fair question, however it does not give you any valuable information as to what you are purchasing, and it should not be your deciding factor. There are other important factors that should be involved in the decision process, these are some examples:

• Does the dog training program meet YOUR NEEDS and goals you have in mind for you and your dog?
• Will the training classes be held at times and locations that you can actually attend?
• Are they able to show you their dog work so you can see for yourself the achievable results?
• What training tools are implemented and how?
• Do they offer private lesson or group lessons?
• What is the trainer to student ratio?
• Do they have proven and reliable results?
• How many lessons are included in their training packages and what do you need to do to advance your dog further?
• What is the curriculum that they teach, and how does it compare to other training programs?
• Are you able to witness one of their classes in session?
• Is the trainer willing to meet with you, in person, to discuss your issues and goals?  Do they charge a fee for that appointment?

Gathering as much information as possible is extremely important; as you gather more information you are able to make an educated decision as to what you are actually purchasing.  It is only then that you are able to see value in what you are purchasing, that is what justifies the price.

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The new Dublin Dog Collars designs are here! In order to get these new designs out there, we are putting all Dublin Dog Collars and Leashes on sale for 20% off!  To view and purchase the great Dublin Dog Collar and Leash styles and colors, visit our online store!

As you all know, Dublin Dog Collars are created from a special blend of polymers that won’t absorb moisture, retain dirt, or harbor bacteria found in your favorite play areas. So no more collars that smell like an old sponge, just rinse under warm water, and you’re ready for the next adventure.

These dog collars will not fade and do not stink, ensuring that they will look brand new for years to come. You wanted a collar as unique as your dog, now you got it. We should all be so Lucky!!!!

You will be hard to find any site that offers these collars for this price!  All Dublin Dog items are delivered via UPS and the 20% off sale runs until October 31, 2008!

We are always looking for new pet products to share with our readers.  We recently went to a home for an evaluation and I was introduced to a product I never knew existed; an electronic motorized pet door.  Its like a garage door opener for your dog, what a great invention!

It allows you to keep your indoor cats safely inside and lets your dog or outdoor cat outside using a magnetized sensor that is worn on your pet’s collar, and will not allow raccoons, opossums and the like to gain access to your home.  There are many great features of this pet door:

• You can lock the door if you don’t want your pets outside in the wee hours of the morning
• It can be connected to your security system for extra safety
• You can control the activation range
• You can control the duration of time the door stays open
• It is helpful in conserving energy, as there is no draft

The company that makes this product is a company called Solo.  They have a lot of information on their site about shipping, pricing and sizes, it is definitely worth checking out!

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What Is It?

Gastric torsion, bloat, torsion, and gastric dilatation-volvulus are all names given for the medical condition where a dog’s stomach becomes overstretched by excessive gas content.  In these cases, the dog becomes unable to naturally expel the buildup, and some cases the stomach can actually “flip” over and cut off all escape routes for the gas, trapping it inside.  Bloat can be fatal!  Unfortunately I experienced this first hand with my last dog Onyx, who experienced bloat while staying at a kennel a few years ago and died.  One of our clients had a previous dog, an Akita named Borlo, that also passed away from GDV.

Can Your Dog Get It?

Although it is unlikely, smaller dogs do not usually experience bloat.  It is more likely to happen to larger, deep-chested breeds like Great Danes, Akitas, German Shepherds, Labradors, Boxers, St. Bernards and other dogs of similar body types.

How Can You Recognize It?

Although there are several possible signs of bloat or torsion, a dog suffering from it will not always show ALL of these signs, but here are a few…

Restlessness, excessive drooling, non-productive attempts to vomit, noticeable swelling of the stomach, pale gums, difficulty breathing, and the inability to lay down.

If you think your dog may be showing signs of these behaviors or others, take your dog to the vet immediately - THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.  It is also a good idea to call the vet on your way so that they may prepare for your arrival.

How Can You Prevent It?

• There is a preventative surgery, called gastroplexy, that can reduce the risk of the stomach turning over onto itself.
• Do not feed your dog less then 2 hours before heavy physical activity.  Also, do not feed your dog within 2 hours after heavy physical activity.
• Feed several (at least 2) small meals, instead of 1 large meal per day.  Also make sure that your dog eats slow and does not “inhale” their food.
• Limit your dog’s water intake before, after, and during exercise or play.
• Give your dog a Gas-Ex before heavy physical activity; this will help prevent gasses from building up  in your dog’s stomach.
• Feed your dog a high-quality dog food that will not immediately expand when it comes into contact with water.
• Have your vet’s contact information readily available at all times.

Pictured above are Kira and Kevo, two Akita puppies that have had the preventative surgery.

Please understand that this entry provides a very basic outline of this condition.  Please contact your vet if you have any questions regarding this condition or any information contained in this article.

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Over the past few weeks, we have been filming and editing our first instructional dog training video, Unleashed Unlimited Presents: Trick Training Volume 1.  After receiving many requests from our Youtube subscribers, we finally decided to make the video to show some fun things you can do with your dog with just a little bit of training.

We took 8 eye-catching, fun, and exciting dog tricks and have broken them down step by step in a way that is easy for your dog to understand.  Because the training approaches taken in the video are so versatile, they can be applied to any method of training ensuring that everyone, regardless of training preference, can enjoy the information in the video.  We completely explain and demonstrate the following dog tricks…

• Weave between your legs
• Spin & Turn
• Retrieve Underwater
• Center between your legs
• Reverse
• Go thru
• Place on your back
• Crawl

Tricks are one of the things that Unleashed Unlimited enjoys most about dog training, it really is a lot of fun to have your dog do these things with you.  Seriously, when would you ever need your dog to swim underwater?  You won’t, but you can sure have fun watching him dive to the bottom of a pool for a sunken toy.  Boredom and routine are avoided, and it adds variety, balance, and a new set of challenges for you and your dog.  So if you are looking to have more fun with your dog, order your copy of this how to video today.