A collie uses his body to communicate. Given below are a few examples to help you know what your collie is trying to say.

When your collie wants to tell you that he wants to play, he will stoop down with his front legs elongated, will raise up with his head close to the ground.

If your collie wants to say that the place belongs to him and if he is ready to fight it out, then he will keep his legs stiff and stand in an upright posture.

If he is slightly bending his body with his feet ready, then it mean he accepts the challenge and is ready for the fight.

In case, your collie starts rolling on one side showing you his underside, then he means to say that, he does not wants to argue and accepts that you are the boss. This is a kind of dutiful answer to show that he does want any kind of conflict. You might have noticed this kind of a posture when a collie is among a pack of dogs showing that he obeys his leader. And if he starts rolling onto his back and rubbing it then he means that he accepts you as a leader.

If you find your collie keeping his head or paw on another dog’s shoulder, then it means that he wants to sort out as to who the boss is. These indications are usually found in dogs who are very dominant, who are leaders of the pack or aspirants to become leaders.

Mouthing: This kind of body language is commonly found in collies while they interact with humans. They will mouth your hands, when you walk along with them showing you the lead. Mouthing may be a serious sign of showing how dominant they are, and that they are not happy in accepting a human as their leader.

If he places his mouth on your knee, then he is looking for your attention. However he has many ways to seek attention from you like showing their paws in front of you or slowly sliding their head on your hands.

Bristles of hair on the shoulders and back: It is a signal of foreseen assault. A crease of hair raging down his back means that he is angry and does not want him to be pushed. In case the raging extends to his shoulders he means to say that he has had enough of you and it is an indication of immediate attack.

If your collie is sitting and holding his front paw slightly upwards then he means that, he feels insecure and stressed out. It also means that he is feeling uneasy, agitated and interested.

If he starts rolling onto his back and rubbing his body on the ground or if he is rubbing his nose and eyes with his front paw, he means to say that his master is preparing food for him or he does this sometimes when he looking forward to some pleasing activities.

Many a times the collie will scrape the floor when he has defecated. The glands that are present at the bottom of the collie’s feet have a different scent. In this case he means to say that he is available and is leaving his card.

About the Author: Written by Jeff Nenadic from http://www.my-dogshop.com My Dog Shop - check for current specials on http://www.my-dogshop.com/apparel-accessories_dog-toys.html chew toys online.

FLEAS

Flea Basics
Fleas thrive when the weather is warm and humid. Depending on your climate, fleas may be a seasonal or year-round problem. Your collie can pick up fleas wherever an infestation exists, often in areas frequented by other cats and dogs. Adult fleas are dark brown, no bigger than a sesame seed, and able to move rapidly over your collie’s skin.

Adult fleas live their entire lives on your collie. Female fleas begin laying eggs within 24 hours of selecting your collie as a host, producing up to 50 eggs each day. These eggs fall from your collie onto the floor or furniture, including your collie’s bed, or onto any other indoor or outdoor area where your collie happens to go. Tiny, worm-like larvae hatch from the eggs and burrow into carpets, under furniture, or into soil before spinning a cocoon. The cocooned flea pupae can lie dormant (inactive) for weeks before emerging as adults that are ready to infest (or reinfest) your collie. The result is a flea life cycle of anywhere from 12 days to 6 months.

Risks and Consequences
You may not know that your collie has fleas until their number increases to the point that your collie is obviously uncomfortable. Signs of flea problems range from mild redness to severe scratching that can lead to open sores and skin infections. One of the first things you may notice on a collie with fleas is “flea dirt” — the black flea droppings left on your collie’s coat.

Fleas bite animals and suck their blood; young or small collies with heavy flea infestations may become anemic. Some collies can develop an allergy to flea saliva that may result in more severe irritation and scratching. Also, collies can become infected with certain types of tapeworms if they ingest fleas carrying tapeworm eggs. In areas with moderate to severe flea infestations, people may also be bitten by fleas. While fleas are capable of transmitting several other infectious diseases to collies and people, this is rare.

Treatment and Control
Your veterinarian will recommend an appropriate flea control plan for your collie based upon your needs and the severity of the flea infestation.

Fleas spend a lot of their time off of your collie and in the environment. In addition to treating your collie, reduce the flea population in your house by thoroughly cleaning your collie’s sleeping quarters and vacuuming floors and furniture that your collie comes in contact with frequently. Careful and regular vacuuming/cleaning of the collie’s living area helps to remove and kill flea eggs, larvae, and pupae. You may also have to treat your house with insecticides to kill the fleas; consult with your veterinarian about products safe for use around pets and children.

With moderate and severe flea infestations, you may be advised to treat your yard in addition to treating the inside of your home. Your veterinarian can recommend an appropriate course of action and suggest ways to prevent future flea infestations.

TICKS

Tick Basics
Hosting a tick is the price dogs may pay for investigating shrubbery, brush, or wild undergrowth. Ticks have a four-stage life cycle, and immature ticks often feed on small, wild animals found in forests, prairies, and brush. Adult ticks seek larger hosts like dogs who venture into these habitats. Tick exposure may be seasonal, depending on geographic location.

Risks and Consequences
Ticks are most often found around your collie’s neck, in the ears, in the folds between the legs and the body, and between the toes. Tick bites can cause skin irritation and heavy infestations can cause anemia in collies. Ticks are also capable of spreading serious infectious diseases (such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and others) to the animals and the people on which they feed. Disease risk varies by geographic area and tick species.

Treatment and Control
Prompt removal of ticks is very important because it lessens the chance of disease transmission from the tick to your collie. Remove ticks by carefully using tweezers to firmly grip the tick as close to the collie’s skin as possible and gently pulling the tick free without twisting it. After removing the tick, crush it while avoiding contact with tick fluids that can carry disease. Do not attempt to smother the tick with alcohol or petroleum jelly, or apply a hot match to it, as this may cause the tick to regurgitate saliva into the wound, increasing the risk of disease.

Collies at risk for ticks should be treated during the tick season with an appropriate tick preventative. Your veterinarian can recommend a product best suited to your collie’s needs. Owners who take their collies to tick-prone areas during camping, sporting, or hiking trips should examine their collies for ticks immediately upon returning home and remove them from their collies. If your collie picks up ticks in your backyard, trimming bushes and removing brush may reduce your collie’s exposure to tick habitats.

EAR MITES

Mite Basics
Ear mites are common in young dogs, and generally confine themselves to the ears and surrounding area. Mites are tiny and individual mites may be seen only with the aid of a microscope. Your collie can pick up ear mites by close contact with an infested animal or its bedding.

Risks and Consequences
Ear mites can cause intense irritation of the ear canal. Signs of ear mite infestation include excessive head shaking and scratching of the ears. Your collie may scratch to the point that it creates bleeding sores around its ears. A brown or black ear discharge is common with ear mite infections.

Treatment and Control
Treatment of ear mites involves thorough ear cleaning and medication. Your veterinarian can recommend an effective treatment plan.

SARCOPTIC MANGE MITES

Mite Basics
Microscopic sarcoptic mange mites cause sarcoptic mange, also known as scabies. Sarcoptic mange mites affect dogs of all ages, during any time of the year. Sarcoptic mange mites are highly contagious to other dogs and may be passed by close contact with infested animals, bedding, or grooming tools.

Risks and Consequences
Sarcoptic mange mites burrow through the top layer of the dog’s skin and cause intense itching. Clinical signs include generalized hair loss, a skin rash, and crusting. Skin infections may develop secondary to the intense irritation. People who come in close contact with an affected dog may develop a skin rash and should see their physician.

Treatment and Control
Dogs with sarcoptic mange require medication to kill the mites and additional treatment to soothe the skin and resolve related infections. Cleaning and treatment of the dog’s environment is also necessary.

DEMODECTIC MANGE MITES

Mite Basics
Demodectic mange caused by demodectic mange mites is mainly a problem in dogs. Demodectic mange mites are microscopic, cigar-shaped, and not highly contagious. A mother dog, however, may pass the mites to her puppies.

Risks and Consequences
Localized demodectic mange tends to appear in young dogs as patches of scaly skin and redness around the eyes and mouth and, perhaps, the legs and trunk. Unlike other types of mange, demodectic mange may signal an underlying medical condition, and your collie’s overall health should be carefully evaluated. Less commonly, young and old dogs experience a generalized form of demodectic mange and can exhibit widespread patches of redness, hair loss, and scaly, thickened skin.

Treatment and Control
Your veterinarian will discuss treatment options with you. Treatment of collies with localized demodectic mange generally results in favorable outcomes. Generalized demodectic mange (demodecosis), however, may be difficult to treat, and treatment may only control the condition, rather than cure it.

IMPORTANT POINTS

Look for fleas, ticks, and coat abnormalities any time you groom your collie or when you return home from areas that are likely to have higher numbers of these parasites.

See your veterinarian if your collie excessively scratches, chews, or licks its haircoat, or persistently shakes its head. These clinical signs may indicate the presence of external parasites or other conditions requiring medical care.

Prompt treatment of parasites lessens your collie’s discomfort, decreases the chances of disease transmission from parasite to collie, and may reduce the degree of home infestation.

Discuss the health of all family pets with your veterinarian when one becomes infested. Some parasites cycle among dogs, making control of infestations difficult unless other pets are considered. Consult your veterinarian before beginning treatment.

Tell your veterinarian if you have attempted any parasite remedies, as this may impact your veterinarian’s recommendation.

Follow label directions carefully.

Leave treatment to the experts. Your veterinarian offers technical expertise and can assist you in identifying products that are most likely to effectively and safely control your collie’s parasite problem.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pet treatment isn’t simply about reactionary medicine - it’s about being proactive and taking preventive measures to ensure your collie lives the longest, healthiest life as possible. By raising a loved collie that’s strong and happy, you can keep your beloved canine active and healthy for years to come. So, read on for 11 great tips to help ensure your collie’s life is long and active.

Lots of Attention

You should be providing your collie at least 30 minutes of undivided attention each day. Whether it’s play time, training time or grooming, that love and focus is critical to building a deep bond and fostering your animal’s mental health.

Get Regular Exercise

Make sure your collie gets plenty of exercise every day. It’s critical for a healthy body and a healthy temperament.

ID Tags

While technically not a health-related pet treatment, ensuring your collie wears a flat collar (or harness) and ID tag at all times, even inside, will help bring him home safely if he ever escapes or gets lost.

Practice Obedience

Obedience training doesn’t just produce a well-trained collie; it also helps your canine lead a disciplined and structured life, something that’s critical to their pack mentality. Obedience training also helps to keep the mind sharp.

Yearly Veterinarian Checkups

Visit your veterinarian on an annual basis. Have your collie examined, and be sure to discuss any potential health concerns.

Brush His Teeth

Most veterinarians recommend brushing your collie’s teeth every day. It’s difficult, cumbersome and not always fun, but it will keep gingivitis, tooth decay and disease at bay. Remember, you don’t have to brush forever - a few nightly swipes should do the trick.

Give Him a Bath

You should bathe your collie whenever he is itchy, smelly or dirty. Not too often, but enough to ensure he stays clean. Your collie can pick up a lot of parasites, dirt and bacteria when he’s out splashing in puddles or rolling around in the dirt. Just like with humans, good hygiene is critical for good health.

Don’t Leave Your Collie Alone

Dogs are social animals, which is why they live and travel in packs in the wild. If you plan to leave your collie home alone all day, then you should invest in a dog walking service, pet sitter, or possibly doggie daycare. Otherwise, your collie will become depressed, bored and possibly destructive.

Give Your Collie Some Room

Dogs need their own space, so give your collie a peaceful and comfortable place where he can go to lie down, have some quiet time and take a nap. When your collie is resting or relaxing, be sure to respect his space and need for rest.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

If you’re feeding your collie discount dog food, ask yourself why? Keep your dog healthy by investing in high quality, non-by-product food.

Heartworm Medicine

Probably the most important preventive pet treatment is to keep your collie on heartworm prevention medicine during mosquito season. Heartworm is a deadly disease that is excruciatingly painful, so keep your collie safe from it. Be especially careful with which medicine you give your collie, however, as they are known to have Ivermectin sensitivity (an ingredient found in medicines such as Heart Guard).

You love your collie, so provide the simple care he needs to live a long and healthy life with you.

About the Author:
Written by Trevor Price
For helpful information about pet supplies - please visit petsuppliestips.com - a popular site about needs for your beloved pet - such as pet treatment - pet lover gifts - and many more!

As a animal-lover myself, I know that hiring someone to take care of your collie is like hiring someone to take care of your child. You need to feel safe and comfortable in your selection because that person will be entering your home and interacting with your family, all while you are not at home. Rest assured that there are trustworthy people out there that can help you with your collie care. Here are some tips for finding the right pet sitter and walker for you:

• Make sure they are Bonded & Insured

This step is easy. Just ask for proof of insurance. The potential sitter should not get offended for you being careful. If the sitter makes excuses, this is a red flag that the person may not be insured and is being dishonest. If that is the case, keep on with your search.

• Ask for references

If the sitter does not give references during the consultation, be sure to ask for some. Don’t be shy. Call the references and ask them what ever questions you want. You should feel comfortable with your selection and talking to other customers will help. In fact, your sitter should encourage you to call upon their references.

• Read all policy information

Most accredited pet sitters and walkers have some type of company policies that suggest rules for the owner and rules for the sitter. These help for your collie’s safety and the safety of the sitter. Your collie’s sitter will usually have you sign and agree to the terms so be sure to read them thoroughly and if anything seems questionable bring it up, otherwise keep looking.

• Ask all the questions you want

Don’t hesitate in asking questions. Your collie’s sitter should be experienced and have answers for any type of situations you may have questions about. Even those that are just starting their pet sitting business should have some experience in dealing with animals. If you find this is not the case, you may want to keep looking. Example question: What would you do if our collie got away from you during a walk? Or, what are backup procedures if you cannot make it to our house to care for our collie?

• Spend some time watching your collie and sitter interact.

Again, don’t be shy. If it makes you more comfortable to walk with the dog walker or casually interact with your collie’s sitter before making your decision, feel free! Your pet sitter should be open to it and gladly spend some time around with you and your pet, either for a short walk or game of tag. This will show you how experienced the person is with animals and will help you feel more comfortable in leaving your collie with someone besides yourself. Your collie will likely let you know if he enjoys walking with the sitter. Your sitter should also be open to sharing his/her experience with your pet. Suggest that your they leave you notes on how the day went with your collie.

Being thorough in your hiring process will make you feel more comfortable with trusting your pet sitter or dog walker with your collie. Good luck in your search!
About the Author:
Mary Hickman is the owner of selectpetcare.com and offers pet sitting plano tx. Visithttp://www.selectpetcare.com for all of your pet sitting needs.

Tis the season when we bundle up in our big coats and hurry from store to store in search of gifts for our friends and family. Many of us will remember to toss coins into the red kettle as we dash past the bell ringers. While we are sharing the joy of the season with our neighbors and co-workers, the coming winter months are difficult times for stray and homeless pets.

This is a crucial time of year to remember your local animal shelter.

A few simple acts of kindness and generosity can make a big difference. Here are some of the ways you can help:

Give to your local animal shelter.

Charitable donations are tax-deductible. Animal shelters are locally operated, so your money will stay in your local community. If you are financially embarrassed to be a little short on cash, there are many other items that most shelters need. Call your local animal shelter and ask what you can offer, but most shelters need food, old blankets, towels and newspapers.

Volunteer to help for a few hours at your local animal shelter.

You don’t have to be a veterinarian or have a lot of specialized knowledge to lend a hand. Animal shelters need help with bathing and grooming the animals, walking the dogs, and many other tasks. Recently, we have been going to our local shelter just to help by petting the cats, and everybody has loved it (especially the cats). Offer to stuff envelopes for a mailing. Ask what needs to be done.

Adopt your next pet from your local animal shelter.

Then, be a responsible pet owner. Spay and neuter your pets. Keep ID tags on your cats and dogs at all times, even on indoor animals. Supervise your pets so that they can’t stray out of your yard. Teach your children to treat all animals with kindness, and set an example in your own behavior.

Share these ideas with your neighbors and friends.

Encourage them to donate to your local animal shelter, too. (The Humane Society of the United States is NOT affiliated with your local shelter and does NOT provide funds for maintaining and operating any animal shelters!) Encourage each other to report suspected animal abuse to local law enforcement.

Help raise funds for your local animal shelter.

Join in a fundraiser — or start your own event — to help your local animal shelter. Need ideas? How about a car wash? Or better yet, host a DOG wash! Sponsor a ‘pet party’ (with or without costumes) with prizes for “Best tricks” or “Pet / Owner Look-Alike” or other events. Host a bake sale to benefit your local shelter, with homemade pet treats.
Two thirds of American households have pets. So while we are wishing “Merry Christmas” to our neighbors, let’s remember our furry friends. They depend on us to make their homes happy and comfortable.

To find a collie rescue mission in your area, visit www.CollieRescue.us

About the Author:

Ann Wamack is a writer for Caitlyn’s Two Paws Up Pet Site. The website is sponsored by a petsitting service in White County, Arkansas.

Collies come in two different varieties, ’smooth’ and ‘rough.’ Rough collies require much more grooming, but smoothes do need to be groomed regularly to keep their coats healthy. Collies have a double coat of hair, meaning there is a thick undercoat and an outer coat of thinner and flatter hair.

A smooth collie has shorter hair like that of a Labrador or Dalmatian. The hair is short and smooth with a thick undercoat. Rough collies have a long and flowing topcoat and a dense undercoat. You can keep your collie looking good, no matter what the variety, with regular brushing.

You’ll need a pin brush, a slicker brush, a comb, scissors and a spray bottle filled with a conditioner spray. You can buy a commercial conditioner spray, or make your own using 1 to 2 tablespoons of dog conditioner diluted with water. Make sure it is diluted well or the spray will make your Collie’s coat greasy.

Make sure to spray your dog’s hair thoroughly before you start to brush. Never brush a Collie’s coat dry because it will break their hair. If you have a rough collie, part the dog’s hair and brush from the roots out. The pin brush can be used if your dog is not shedding and is free of matting.

The slicker brush and comb are helpful for shedding dogs and for removing mats. If a mat cannot be brushed out of the Collie’s hair, you can cut it out. Collies most often have matted hair behind their ears, underneath the front legs and on their underbelly so make sure to check those areas carefully. For a smooth collie, a slicker brush will suffice for both the undercoat and outer coat.

You should brush your collie everyday during shedding seasons, and at least once a week when they are not shedding. Regular brushing is important to remove the dead hair. If left alone, the dead hair will cause hot spots on your dog’s skin.

Collies generally do not require all over trimming, but you might want to keep their feet trimmed. With a small pair of scissors, carefully trim the hair around each footpad.

This will keep your collie’s feet clean. While you are working with your collie’s feet, you can also trim the nails. This should be done every 1 to 2 weeks to keep the nails from getting too long.

If your collie is a puppy, you can train them to be used to a Dremel tool with a sandpaper attachment. Apply light pressure with the Dremel and grind down to just before the pink quick.

The alternative to using the Dremel is to use a standard dog nail trimmer. Before you clip the dog’s nails, find the pink quick and cut just before that point. Cutting into the quick will make the dog’s nail bleed. If this happens, styptic powder is helpful to have on hand to stop the bleeding.

Finally, remember to clean your Collie’s ears about once a week. You can purchase a canine ear cleaner at any pet store. Squirt the ear cleaner into your dog’s ear canal and then rub the base of the ear. This will help the ear cleaner coat the inside of the ear canal. You can use a cotton ball to remove the excess cleaner and then allow the ear canal to dry naturally.

About the Author:
Written by John Williams
For more information on the collie or a complete list of dog breeds visit this www.dog-behavior-training.co.ukwebsite.

Photo by Cristobal

1. Twice a year Rough Collies “molt” their undercoat. As with many long haired breeds, you must rake/brush this fur out. If you are a very neat person, then you had better know how to use a vacuum cleaner! (They are not a good house pet if someone in the family has allergies ..get a poodle if you want a
   hypoallergenic doggy). If the “tons of hair” molting bothers you, you might prefer a Smooth Collie. However, when it comes to year round shedding, collie owners say that the Smooths actually have a bigger problem than the Roughs in that aspect! Either way, you must brush both kinds of collies frequently to keep their coat beautiful.
2. Collies must be kept well groomed. A good brushing every day will keep your collie beautiful! If you are a busy person, you should figure in at least half an hour to an hour a week if you want your dog to look good and, at bare minimum, a monthly brushing is essential to at least prevent matting (where the hair bunches together in knots… this can lead to serious health problems). Bathing a Collie (needed perhaps a couple of times a year for a regular pet collie) is a fair amount of work, and unless you have a special high-power doggy blow dryer, they can take hours to dry. More frequent bathing will make him smell fresher, ease brushing, and reduce the chance of problems from allergy. You should NEVER bathe a collie if he is matted–a wet mat turns to harsh felt, and you’ll never get it out then! (Well, short of shaving the poor thing!)
3. Collies bark. Bored collies bark even more! Some collies may stand in your yard and bark almost unendingly. He may not even be barking at anything- he’s barking because he’s a Collie. They are not usually noisy in the house, however, because they have a
   tendency to be very low-active when indoors.
4. Collies herd — everything! Kids… ducks… and almost near anything that will move. Some Collies even nip at the heels of the ‘herd.’ They won’t hurt anything, but if there is a nearby mom who has the
   tendency to call her lawyer whenever her kid cries, a Collie (or any other of the herding breeds) may not be the best choice!
5. In the warmer parts of the country, summers are too hot for a Collie. An air conditioned home with brief outings is okay, though. Some people advise to clip collies’ coats shorter in the summer — but others state that you should never clip a collie because their fur provides protection against the heat as well! Others say that keeping them thoroughly brushed out removes enough hair to make them comfortable. Remember to always provide shade and cool, fresh water anytime your collie is outdoors.
6. Collies are very sensitive and will ask for attention. They don’t do well in families that treat a dog like a pet rock with fur. They must be provided with plenty of attention and loving–every day of the week!
7. Collies are partners. A Collie will meet you, look into your eyes, accept your introductory rub of his chest and chin, and decide you’re his for life. Feed him, care for him, and you’ll never be alone while he lives.
8. Collies are smart. Make that extremely smart… more like
   genius!! They make mistakes but generally not the same mistake twice. Just one look into their gorgeous eyes will let anyone know how brilliant a collie is!
9. Collies are extremely trainable. They were bred specifically to be obedient to man. Most don’t need too much training because they’ll figure out what you want almost before you ask (some puppies nearly housetrain themselves!)… but if you should get the training urge, your Collie is willing and ready!
10. Collies are athletic and make good outdoor companions. Just be sure not to over-exert them in hot weather, however!

When approaching an obstacle, take your time. Your dog will fail if he doesn’t have time to focus!

Your shoulders are your dog’s guide. Be sure the “tell” the dog where to go.

For some dogs, accidental “blocking” will draw their attention to another wrong obstacle. Make sure your dog is focused on the right one.

Remember, most problems are caused by you.. not your dog.

Weave, Weave, Weave. Jump, Jump, Jump.  Practice, Practice, Practice!

No matter which method you use to train your dog, consistency is always a must! Don’t confuse your dog by always trying different techniques.

The more time and energy you put into your dog, the more your dog will give you back in the long run.

Just when you think your routine is down pat, and you’ve walked the course enough, go back and walk it just one more time.

Just like people, all dogs are individuals; what works for one may not work for the other.

You can always learn something new if you just keep your mind and ears open. Sometimes your dog will even teach you things.

If you find yourself not enjoying the routine, the dog won’t either. Find one you like, and you will both succeed!

There are no hard and fast rules.

Always check your score before the a class is over. Mistakes happen and it’s easier to correct if the class hasn’t ended.

Is trying to control your dogs barking getting a bit of a pain when all you want to do is get a decent sleep, leave your dog for 5 minutes, or have some respected guests round without having to get the earplugs out?

Training your dog to stop barking doesn’t have to be stressful, no one likes the loud barking sound coming from your dog, especially at 3 in the morning so lets go through some tips to control dog barking.

1. Need Attention huh?

Don’t give your dog the attention he wants from barking at you. if I was getting everything I wanted just for barking id probably do it too. You’ve got to teach your dog that barking won’t get him anywhere. If he wants something wait till he has stopped barking first.

2. Time to bark yet?

If your dog barks when you leave the house, 8 times out of 10 it will be because you’re making to much fuss over them when you leave. Dogs can’t fully grasp the idea of saying goodbye and may find it upsetting when you give them cuddles and play then go out the door and leave for 8 hours while you’re in work. For a dog that’s a good enough reason to bark and howl the house down for you to come back and play. Try leaving the house without any fuss, Leave the house without drawing any attention to yourself and the barking will lessen and stop.

3. Bored with nothing to do!

Dogs enjoy barking, it’s something they like to do. The barking sound might not be completely to your taste but dogs enjoy it and it’s a completely natural thing for them, so if your dog has nothing to do in his spare time then barking passes the time like nothing else. Keep your dog busy with lots of exciting toys if he seems to bark a lot at night, something to chew and play with when you’re not around will help comfort the dog and keep him from barking and waking the neighbours. With nothing else to do your dog will bark through the night until you wake up.

4. Visitor time

When visitors come round it’s an exciting time for your dog, new faces, new smells and more attention than usual. This often causes dogs to bark, they want all the attention they can get in the form of cuddles and play time. You can solve this by using the ‘Stop’ command, teach him this and praise him when he listens to you and you should have no more problems with your over excited dog.

5. Be Consistent

Unfamiliarity can trigger your dogs barking off a lot of the time so keep constant with the times he barks most, for a lot of dog owners this is at night time. Decide where your dog or puppy sleeps. If one night your dog is out in the cold and the next he’s all snug and warm in bed with you or your kids you can guarantee he won’t want to be back out in the cold getting no attention from anyone again. Stick to consistency with your dog and you won’t go far wrong, otherwise you may be in for another sleepless night shouting at your dog.

About the Author:

Written by John Williams
For more information visit our dog training website at this link… Dog Training

Dog bathing is a must when living with a dog.  Dogs naturally get smelly and are not like cats in being able to wash themselves well and be hygienic, this is why collie owners have to look after their collie’s hygiene for them once in a while.

Dog bathing should take place when your collie starts to smell or is very dirty. Running around every day rubbing yourself up against trees, bushes, benches and rolling around on grass or getting drenched head to paws in rivers or puddles are all common occurrences in a collie’s life and all contribute to collie smelliness.

It is important to make sure you brush your collie’s coat and fur through before every bathing session to remove all bits of debris that may have got caught up in your collie’s fur since their last bath along with tangles or matted hair that may have formed. If you ignore this step any tangles and matted hair will get worse after bathing and make it an impossible task to rid of them.

You will need to use special pet shampoo and conditioner to clean your collie; human shampoo uses a different ph level and can be bad for your collie’s skin. Starting off by letting your collie get used to running water, warm water should be used to wash your collie, it is best to use a jug or’ container to gently pour water on your collie. Be sure not to put water directly on your collies face to be sure not to frighten them off or scare them.

When your collie is wet, keep reassuring them and rewarding them if the behaviour is good to get the message across that bathing is not a bad thing. Rub the shampoo and conditioner onto your collie gently and being sure to do a proper job of getting all the smells and everything else out.

To finish off, rinse all the soapy water and shampoo of your collie and dry your collie in the same way you would yourself or if your collie has easily matted hair use patting only to dry your collie, when this is all done reward your collie with praise and rewards for being cooperative with you.