Many dogs love to enjoy their nap time on the floor. In the warmer months, this enables them to stay cooler and it allows them to be positioned to keep an eye on their family members and avoid missing any excitement (or food). Unfortunately, for many older dogs, this becomes quite uncomfortable and eventually has an impact on the health of their ligaments and joints. After a time, it can contribute to the development of arthritis, hip and elbow dysplasia, and other common bone disorders. These conditions make it very painful for your pets to move around, sit down, get up, and sleep, so it’s important that pet parents find a solution!

Some pet owners solve the problem by allowing their pets to sleep in their bed or on the furniture. This is generally bad idea for a couple of reasons. Many dog professionals suggest that co-sleeping fuels possessiveness and aggression in dogs, but more often, it’s simply disruptive and prevents humans and dogs from getting the rest they need. The last thing you want to be doing after a long day is struggling to be comfortable and drool-free on your own bed. Plus, inhaling pet dander and fur all night isn’t exactly ideal for you won health.

Another issue is the mattress. An older dog, or any breed particularly susceptible to joint diseases, should really have an orthopedic mattress like one from Mammoth Outlet designed specifically for them.

A retailer specializing in dog products will offer quality orthopedic beds that are designed to meet the needs of different breeds. These are the manufacturers who love and appreciate canines and truly want to invest in creating beds that will actually improve their quality of life. The best designs come in varying sizes and shapes, offer removable, washable covers that are resistant to stains, odors and mildew, and are water repellent. This helps to keep both the dog and the bed cleaner and fresher between washes! The Velcro closures on Mammoth beds make them particularly long-lasting, since zippers break quickly, while ensuring that they’re easy to remove and wash.

Even dogs without issues like dysplasia, arthritis or other skeletal diseases will enjoy the virgin memory foam fill, because it’s made to hug the body and erase any feelings of pressure as it distributes weight evenly. Beds for large breeds are extremely durable and made with an extra thick core to prevent the flattening of the mattress over time. All of the materials are extremely durable since they’re made with materials that include canvas, Cordura and micro-fibers, and in the case of Mammoth Outlet, they come with a lifetime warranty! These comfortable options can withstand the normal circling,digging and rolling around of their canine occupants.

Companies that know what they’re doing will have done research to put together a collection that out-performs the best of what the industry has to offer. Read testimonials and reviews of the company and the bed to make certain the investment will do its best for your pup!

Frustrating, isn’t it? You want your dog to sit, and you’ve tried having a little talk with dog to make him or her understand, but it doesn’t seem to be helping.

Here are some of the magical commands you could be giving, and how to make them work.

Sit

This is, by far, the easiest command to give your dog. The “sit” command can be used to get dog to sit down or lay down. Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose. Now, move your hand up, and let dog’s head follow the treat. This will get your dog to lower. Once he’s in the sitting position, reinforce this command by saying “sit.” Then, give the treat and share affection to reinforce again.  You can repeat this process multiple times with the treat. Eventually, you will want to replace the treat with affection. Repeat this sequence a few times every day until your dog masters it. Ask your dog to sit before mealtime, and when leaving for walks to prevent rushing the door, and in other situations where you want him to be calm, not rush people, or not be too excited and lose control.

Stay

The stay command is one that requires a prerequisite: sit. If your dog struggles with the sit command, you can’t use “stay.” Ask your dog to sit first. Then, use the back of your open palm to give the command “stay.” Take a few steps back and reward with a treat if dog stays. Increase the number of steps gradually while reinforcing the stay command. Reward your dog for staying even if it’s for a few seconds. You’re trying to teach dog self-control, which is difficult for a dog. Don’t be too discouraged if your pup has a hard time with this one. Call in a trainer and hire dog training in NJ if you need help. Since this is an exercise in self-control for your dog, you need patience. Self-control is something that young dogs, especially, have a very hard time with. Even older dogs can have problems controlling themselves.

Come

The “come” command keeps your dog out of trouble and brings him back to you if you do happen to drop the lease accidentally. First, put the leash on dog. Then, get on his level and say “come.” Gently pull the leash as you say this. When he finally obeys the command, you can give him a treat as a reward. Follow up with affection. Once he’s got it down pat, you can remove the leash and repeat the command in a safe area where there’s no real danger. After you’ve spent time with this command, introduce distractions. Distractions are important with a command like this because dogs are often “in the moment” kind of creatures. Meaning, if they get away from you, there are many things that will attract their attention. You want them to ignore all of those other things and obey only you – and you above other people or things, including other dog.

Down

Down can be one of the more difficult things for you to train your dog to do. If your dog is a “jumper,” then you’re in for a long battle. Why? Because the down command is one that puts your dog into a submissive state, and dogs are animals that want to be alpha. This is particularly true of aggressive dogs or dogs that are naturally inclined to be alpha dogs. Get yourself your dog’s favorite treat. Hold it in your closed fist. Hold your hand to the dog’s snout. He will smell it. When he does, move your hand to the floor so that he will follow. Slide your hand along the ground in front of him to encourage a lying down posture. Use the command “down” once dog is down on the floor (and share affection as a follow up). If dog tries to sit up or lunges at your hand, use the “no” command and take your hand away. Do not push your dog to a down position. While this can sometimes get the message into your dog’s head, it doesn’t actually teach dog anything. Laura Howard has been working with other peoples dogs as a trainer for several years, though has worked with her own dogs from a very young age.