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You do not have to spend a fortune on equipment for your new puppy, though it is a good idea to have a number of essential items on hand before you bring your puppy home. These include food and water bowls, collar and leash, grooming tools, shipping crate or metal cage, deodorizer/cleaner, and toys. Do not wait until you already have the puppy to do this, since you will be using them right from the start. Try a pet-supply store or mail-order catalogue, as opposed to a department or hardware store because the products are usually sturdier and of better quality.

For food and water bowls, tip-proof bowls are highly recommended, either heavy ceramic or stainless steel. Make sure that the bowls are big enough to be used when the puppy grows up. Do not use cheap plastic or metal bowls because they can splinter or develop jagged edges if the puppy starts chewing on them. Also keep in mind that certain breeds with long, floppy ears such as hounds and spaniels do best with a specially tapered bowl that prevents the ears from resting in the bowl as the puppy eats or drinks.

Collars and leash are also important. Since most puppies grow quickly, by the time they are adults, medium to large-sized dogs have outgrown at least two collars and two leashes, so keep your initial purchases simple. It is recommended that you start with two collars that are either flat nylon or rounded leather collar to hold an identification tag and dog license (in case your dog gets lost), and a training collar for preliminary obedience work. Nylon collars are preferred over metal ones, since they are easier on a dog’s coat and stay up higher on the neck. For puppies, lightweight nylon show leads (six-foot) are excellent. They introduce the pup to a leash gently, without trauma, and are relatively inexpensive. As the puppies grow, they require a more durable training leash. A six-foot braided leather leash is then recommended without sewn parts that could separate. The width you choose depends on what size your pup will be at maturity.

Shipping crate or metal cage are very effective, humane aids in house-training a puppy. Having a shipping crate or a metal cage is also the safest way to transport a dog by car, preventing injury due to sudden stops. You can either get an airline-approved kennel made of high-density plastic, or a slant-front metal cage designed especially for transporting dogs in hatchbacks or station wagons. These are lightweight and can be disassembled easily for cleaning. Since they are expensive, get a crate that will be big enough for your pup to use when he is fully grown.

We at href="http://www.ibookbin.com">iBookBin.com desire to give you all the updated information concerning your puppy or dog. Information that can give you many years of pleasure with your dog. Learning how to care for them and what they need, to grow healthy and happy, will ensure your success.

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Animal lovers come in all shapes and sizes. Undoubtedly if you bump into an animal lover you will find them to be friendly, loving, caring, and compassionate human beings.

There are hundreds of gifts for animal lovers, bound to bring a smile to their face. Keep in mind that a pet can be any number of animals including cats, dogs, horses, fish, birds, reptiles and even little piggies.

When searching for gifts for animal lovers, remember that each animal has distinct personalities, characteristics and habits. Some of these are detailed for you below.

1. Cats: Cats have perhaps the most distinct personality from any other animal. They might definitely be described as independent creatures. They are also lazy creatures, often requiring a nap in excess of three hours or more during the day. A cat traditionally will require his/her own ’space’ within your household, so be certain you take this into consideration. Among the top gifts for cats include catnip and scratching posts.

2. Dogs: Dogs are the universal unconditional lover. No matter who you are, where you come from or what you do, a dog is sure to love you. Unlike their feline friends, dogs love to travel in a car, and will often sit next to the driver and enjoy the ride. They tend to obey commands, and love to play chase. A Frisbee might be a cherished gift to a dog lover.

3. Fish: Fish were created for those that love animals but don’t have a lot of time to commit to elaborate hygiene and entertainment schedules. Fish pretty much live a self sufficient existence. They swim about, look beautiful and occasionally do something ‘neat’ that captures the attention of their owners and guests. Aquarium supplies and accessories are often appreciated by fish lovers.

You might find that an individual with an affinity for parakeets or other birds has quite a personality and loves to talk. Animal lovers often bond with pets that match their personality and lifestyle habits. Thus, when considering gifts for animal lovers keep in mind the pet owner’s personality, and you’ll easily find a gift that will satisfy both the owner and the pet.

Adriana Copaceanu provides people with creative gift ideas that don’t blow the bank. You can find Great pet gift ideas at her site. Want regular reminders on gift-giving? Sign up for Gift News her free monthly newsletter.

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The fastest possible learning method is to set the dog up for continual success and reinforce this success. This applies to house training (’house-breaking’ or ‘toilet training’) the same way that it applies to tricks and manners. “Errorless Learning” has been shown time and time again to be the most efficient form of learning. But how do you actually achieve this?

In this two part article you will learn the tricks of the trade for house training your new pet in the fastest possible time! The first trick of the trade is our ’secret weapon’ for teaching pup to hold on all night:

Crate Training

It is difficult if not impossible to house train a puppy or dog errorlessly without using a crate at night, unless your new pet sleeps outside. Dogs are happiest when they are with their family, and less prone to nuisance barking at night if they are kept inside. What’s more, many of us don’t have the luxury of a secure yard these days.

A crate gives a puppy a ’safe place’ to hang out and rest. Dogs will generally not soil their sleeping quarters, so a crate of the right size will really help your pet to hang on.

A crate needs to be only just big enough for your pet to stand up and turn around in comfortably. If it is too big it will not help. If it is too small it will be uncomfortable for your pet to sleep in.

Wire crates are improved by covering the top and sides with an old towel or sheet, forming a cosy ‘den’ for your pet.

New puppies can be introduced to the crate fairly easily. Toss a small treat into the crate and have them go in after it. Don’t shut the door just yet, let them explore freely. When they come out of the crate, toss another treat in. When pup seems comfortable with the crate, shut the door but don’t lock it. Toss a treat in while the door is shut. We’re trying to form a positive association with the crate at this stage.

Pretty soon you’ll be able to shut and lock the door. If puppy whines or scratches at the door, do not let her out until the whining has stopped. We do not want to reinforce unwanted behavior this way. Remember - dogs do what works for them.

If you have an older dog, I would recommend you follow the plan laid out by Susan Ailsby in her free e-book, “The Book of Training Levels” available on-line (more information at the end of this article).

Before you go to bed, take puppy outside for a toilet break and make sure puppy has done her business before you come back inside.

Just before lights out, place puppy in the crate with a treat, close the door and lock it. A young puppy will be most comfortable in your bedroom if that suits you.

Set your alarm clock for 2:00am. A puppy should be able to hang on for about 4 or 5 hours at night if sleeping.

When the alarm goes off, let puppy out of the crate and take her straight outside. The walk from the crate to the outside is when you are most likely to have an accident, so don’t dawdle!

The next night, set your alarm for 2:10am. The night after, 2:20am and so on in 10 minute increments until puppy can last all night.

Don’t let puppy drink just before bed. Try to maintain a consistent routine from dinner onwards each night. Changing the routine is inviting accidents and disruptions, puppy may not be able to hang on. Worst case scenario is soiling in the crate, but this is unlikely to become a habit if it only happens once or twice. Having to clean up the mess will teach you the hard way not to mess with pup’s routine!

If pup learns that whining or scratching in the crate leads to being let out, then you will have a little problem on your hands. You need to wait out the whining before letting pup out. If whining is reinforced a couple of times it will take a while to retrain. So it’s better not to put pup in a situation where she may have to whine - maintain a consistent routine of food, drink, play and bed-time. The only variable that should change is that you get up 10 minutes later each night.

This approach should teach pup how to ‘hold on’ all night without any mistakes. By following this simple plan, pup will learn in the shortest possible amount of time how to hold-on all night. In the next part of this two part series we will discuss how to house train pup during the day in the shortest possible time.

Aidan Bindoff is editor of Positive Petzine, a free ezine for anyone training their own dog. Join now, and for a limited time, all back issues will be available for free download.

The Book of Training Levels by Susan Ailsby is available at http://www.dragonflyllama.com in the Dogs section of the website. It is a step-by-step plan for people training their own dog.

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