There comes a time in every dog owner’s life when they consider using dog training collars as an aid.   These collars are available at a variety of sources such as the internet, at stores, and even at vet clinics.  The question arises of whether this is an effective and reasonable way to train a pet.

What can a training collar do?
The advantage of a training collar is that you have a way to provide instant correction for a dog that doesn’t follow commands.  As such, this makes it an inappropriate tool for training very young dogs.  Puppies under the age of 6 months should never be trained using a collar.

Older dogs, however, can learn behaviors more quickly with a collar when it is used correctly.  The collar will administer a small shock or a spray of a citronella based compound at the dog’s face.  The dog learns that if it obeys commands quickly, no correction is administered and it is more eager to please on command.

Potential problems
For owners who feel that the collar is a substitute for spending time with their animal or for training them consistently, it is unlikely to be successful.  Dogs are pretty clever and many will learn to comply only when a collar is on, and then ignore their owners when the collar is off.   A dog that hasn’t bonded to its owner, or doesn’t consider its owner to be the Alpha, won’t stay trained when the collar is off.

Dog training collars can be a useful tool if employed properly and sparingly, but aren’t a solution for an involved and caring owner.

As your dog ages, you may find that they just can’t keep up as well as they used to.  In the morning, if they have a hard time getting up, an orthopedic bed can help.  Made out of the same memory foam that high-end Swedish beds are, orthopedic pet beds for dogs provide the same benefits.

An orthopedic bed will provide a lot more cushioning than a typical dog bed.  With the extra density provided, it will keep your dog up off the floor, thus ensuring a warmer, more comfortable night’s sleep.  No joints will be stressed and no muscles compressed when sleeping on an orthopedic bed, so your dog will feel better in the morning.

Orthopedic dog beds are available in a number of sizes, but you can also order them custom if you need to.  For a particularly sore dog who is suffering from arthritis or other joint disorders, you can add a heating pad or element that adds the benefit of some additional warmth.

You can even find water beds for dogs if you are willing to go online.  These beds provide many of the same orthopedic benefits as the Swedish mattresses, but require heating in all but the warmest climates.  Some dogs prefer a water bed, some a foam mattress, it is a matter of how much you are willing to spend and availability.

There is no question that an orthopedic bed can give your best friend a new lease on life.  Make each night a wonderful experience by getting the right bed for your favorite pup.

If you have a dog that you are having difficulty training and controlling, you might be considering dog training collars.  The internet is full of articles on how you could train your dog more quickly and effectively using such a collar, but you may still be uncertain if you want to move into this more severe form of discipline with your pet. 

Even if you are certain you want to try such a collar, you may have questions about which type of training collar is best.  There are some things you should know about collars before you give them a try.

Collar Style
There are three basic collar types available.  The best known is an e-collar.  This collar administers a small electric shock to your pet when they perform a negative behavior.  The second style is a spray collar.  This model will spray a jet of citronella based liquid at your dog’s face to stop their inappropriate actions.  The third uses a high pitched noise that dogs are supposed to hear but should be inaudible to people. 

Some collars combine two of these functions.  For effective training, they should come with a remote control, so you can determine when to activate the disciplinary function.

Size Matters
Training collars come in various sizes, models, and intensities.  It shouldn’t take a great deal of thought to understand that a collar appropriate for a Great Dane would be overkill for a Toy Poodle, especially if it is the shock type. 

For any of these collars to work, they have to fit snuggly and should not be combined with the dog’s regular collar.  Shock based collars can be purchased for dogs down to three pounds, but should not be used with dogs under the age of six months regardless of size.

Desirable Accessories
Dog training collars often come with a variety of add ons.  For example, if you use the collar regularly, you can get a pad or transmitter that you place on a counter or couch to discourage climbing.  Only certain models have this feature. 

Other models are better for multiple animals allowing you to use one remote that connects to several animals.  These can be great for hunters who can find the same technology with GPS tracking included in the collar to find a dog that has run after prey.  Do a little research and see what exists before you buy.

Training Involves YOU
Regardless of the collar you choose, you, the owner, must be heavily involved in the training process.  Dogs learn best from positive reinforcement, and you must be on hand to constantly praise their good behavior.  You should never use a collar as a substitute for proper, one-on-one training.  It is also important that you don’t use a collar for more than a few hours a day. 

Dogs should be able to run and play freely for a significant portion of their day.  Adding dog training collars to your training program can be helpful in training a difficult dog, but it can not replace a caring owner.

This article was posted by Discount Pet Mall. An ecellent source for the Garmin Astro Combo, Garmin Astro 220, and other tracking collars.

If you have a dog that simply won’t stop barking, get a bark collar. Bark collars use similar technology to that used with invisible dog fences.  A collar is fitted with a sensor that senses when the dog is barking and delivers a small shock or burst of citronella to discourage the behavior.

To train your dog not to bark you place the collar upon your dog.  Each time your dog barks the collar will administer a small shock or spray a citronella spray towards your dog’s face.  The shocks will increase in intensity until your dog stops barking, within preset limits.  Then the collar will reset itself until the next incident.  The collar will work whether or not you are around.  This allows you to use the collar even if you are at work or during the night.  Whatever time your dog barks most persistently you can utilize the collar to control the problem.

Before you use a bark collar make sure that your dog is barking out of boredom and not anxiety.  If your dog is barking because it is anxious or upset then adding a collar will only increase their agitation.  When using a collar you must be involved in the process.  Try to train your dog with as much positive reinforcement as possible.  Dogs respond better to positive stimuli than negative and they really want to please you.  Dog collars are effective in assisting you to train your dog not to bark, but should only be part of the process.

Invisible Fences refers to a specific brand of electric dog fence.  A radio fence is a specific type of buried fencing that utilizes a radio transmitter and receiver to encourage your dog to remain within the property.  Using an electric fence will prevent your animal from running out to the street or getting away and ensure that they remain within the boundaries you set.

An Invisible fence is set up by representatives of the parent company.  They will come to your home and discuss the parameters you intend to set for your animal.  Using these boundaries they will implant a transmitter wire below ground, about six inches deep.  The wire is connected to a power source and it begins sending a radio signal.  The radio signal is specific to your receiver unit.  The receiver is set upon a collar that your dog wears.  The collar contains a device that will deliver a small electric shock to your animal if it passes the boundaries of the invisible fence.

Once the wire is set into the ground and then activated, the technician will set up a series of flags that mimic the perimeter of the wire.  With the system activated the company will send out a trainer to help you train your dog.  You will be taught how to bring the animal within an appropriate distance and let them sense a small shock.  The training sessions must be short, so as not to overtax your dog.  Expect that it will take your dogs several weeks to associate the flags on the ground with the shock and further learn that they should not pass the line of flags.  Eventually you should be able to remove the flags as well.

The key advantage to installing the Invisible fence is that once it is installed there will be no sign of fencing.  You can be confident in the knowledge that your dog is safe on your property but still there is nothing to see of the fencing.  Other than the collar that your dog wears there is no sign that fencing is present at all. 

The collar your dog wears is specifically designed to work with the implanted wire.  As your dog approaches the wire they receive a small shock.  If they get closer the shock increases in intensity.  The goal is to discourage your animal from going beyond the designated line you have set.  Some collars increase the level of shock with each warning and set themselves to start again at just one level below the final shock of the previous.  The goal is to more quickly discourage the dog from approaching the fence.

While an invisible fence will not keep other animals from entering your yard it will keep your dog within your preset parameters.  It also is no guarantee of keeping other intruders, such as children from entering your yard.  None the less, you will find that an invisible fence will help protect your best friend without affecting the appearance of your home. If all else fails you can always use a spacious dog kennel.