In the commercial, it looks as if this puppy and horse are real friends.  They may or may not be in reality.  The magic of camera, that certain quality that a dog has to convey an emotion…that’s commercial!

So what kind of dogs do well in commercials? Personality and skills count. A dog that’s shy about meeting strangers would be stressed on a commercial set. And a dog that’s uncomfortable in unfamiliar situations would also be stressed. These are just a couple of thoughts to help you decide should you had dreams of getting your dog into the entertainment industry. So let’s say your dog is comfortable around strangers and feel fine in unfamiliar situations.

What does it take for a dog to be in a commercial?

What’s the next criteria? Well-trained. Since there can be lots and lots of distractions on the set, how is your dog in following your command and not get distracted everytime there is movement nearby? Does your dog have the discipline to stay focused on you (or whoever is working with the dog) even when there’s distrations around?

Keep in mind that during the commercial, your dog would not be on a leash. Is your dog able to follow command off leash, when you are at a distance?

Now for abilities. Yes. Stars are not made on personality alone! If you’ve been training your dog to do tricks, put those down on a resume. Yes, dogs need resumes too!

For example, can your dog limp on command? Crawling, bringing you things? When you take photos of your dog to send to the casting agent, capture moments when your dog is at her cutest.

Also take some short videos (maybe 3 to 5 minutes) when she is performing tricks. This way, if an agent likes the way your dog looks in the photo, and ask to see what your dog can do, you have these videos at your finger tips to send them immediately!

If you enjoy this video, here is another dog commercial by Subaru.

The post [VIDEO] Budweiser Super Bowl Dog And Horse Commercial appeared first on Doggie Outpost.

How does music affect dogs?

Patricia McConnell did research on the effect of music on dogs.   Dogs who stay at shelters have been observed to respond differently to different kind of music.  Classical music that feels soothing brings out more calming behavior and less barking.  Heavy metal music does the opposite. Patricia does not want to generalize the finding, so she digs deeper into other research available on the topic.

What she found was that if the tempo of the song matches the resting heart rate (or breathing) of a dog, the effect tends to be a calming one.

If the note is longer, it tends to be more calming.  Like when you say to a dog “Sta-a-a-a-a-ay)  And when the note is staccato (short, repeated) kind of jumpy, as when you say to a puppy “puppy puppy puppy puppy”.

Some dog owners keep the music on when they leave home for work to keep the dogs company.  When they are around to watch their dogs’ response to different types of music, they observe similar results as Patricia. However, the effect also varies from individual to individual. That makes sense, not all humans prefer classical music.  And not all classical music is calming. Some people do play calming music near bedtime to help their dogs transition from playtime to slowing down for the night.  You can read more about Patricia’s research here.  Enjoy watching the sweet interaction between Doogie and his Dad.

If you enjoy this video, here is another one of 2 Retrievers who love music.

Article source:  Patricia McConnell

The post [VIDEO] This Man Wrote A Song For His Pitbull appeared first on Doggie Outpost.

How to teach your dog to play the keyboard

If you’re feeling inspired after watching this video to teach your dog to play the keyboard, it may be quite attainable.  Whether they get as good as these Retrievers depends on your training and their interest.  Petcha shares some tips on how to do this.  The author suggests that unless you already have a piano, you can purchase an inexpensive small keyboard to start.  Try local thrift stores.  And look for one that would not flip over if your dog uses a bit too much strength.  We don’t want to scare him away from learning.  And of course, treats.   Lots of them.  But tiny portions.  Otherwise you can end up with an overweight dog just from learning the piano!

To begin, place the keyboard between you and your dog.  Everytime he looks at the keyboard, give him a treat (or a click for those using clickers.)  You touch a key, then give your dog a treat.  Repeat several times.  Then wait.  Glance at your dog, then at the keyboard.  If your dog glances at the keyboard, reward him.  Encourage your dog to move his paw by shifting your foot.  If he touches the keyboard, even accidentally, reward him.  Your dog will probably make a few accidental touches.  Reward him everytime.

By now, your dog will probably be curious and touch the keyboard on purpose.  Reward this behavior.  After 10 or 20 successful touches, wait until your dog touches a key before you reward him.  Now he associates reward with hitting a key.  Finally, add the phrase “play the piano.”  Keep in mind different dogs learn at different pace.  Some are more interested than others.  Enjoy watching these extremely talented Retrievers.

If you enjoy this video, here is another musical Golden Retriever.

The post [VIDEO] Retrievers Playing Piano With Perfect Pitch appeared first on Doggie Outpost.

The Barkley family is taking a leisurely drive. All of a sudden, everyone starts barking.  Why?  Look at what shows up in the next scene.

Subaru dog family

The camera turns to a postal truck on the other side of the road. Next scene.  The car came to a stoplight.  A gorgeous poodle with salon haircut was crossing the street like she is walking down a pageant runway. The male dog was appreciating her beauty.  We hear a growl coming from the passenger side.  Mrs. Barkley is unhappy with her husband’s wandering eyes.

Next scene. The Barkley’s stop at a gas station. Papa got out of the car, went inside the gas station to get the bathroom key.  The rest of the family got out of the car and head for the bathroom.  It’s not what you expect.

Next scene. Inside the bathroom.  Everyone’s drinking from the toilet.   And they are using the hand dryer to dry their hair after they get wet from the toilet.

Last scene. Two dogs were kissing in a car parked outside a house. Romance is in the air.  The light inside the house came on. Papa Dog looked out the window and barked at the couple in the car.

Next scene, the daughter got out of the car, watching her boyfriend drive away.  I appreciate the humor of the writer for this video.  Sometime ago, there was a video showing how commercials were shot when they use dogs, especially puppies.  It was a commercial about mattresses.  It was easier to instruct the more mature dogs.  They have already had some kind of dog training.  But the puppies were a different story.  The crew sometimes had to work around the puppies’ schedule, and not the other way around.   Hope you enjoy watching this humorous commercial.

If you like this video, here is another Subaru dog video of Mrs. Barkley coming out of the hair salon.

The post [VIDEO] Subaru Dog Commercial With Barkley Family appeared first on Doggie Outpost.

Where do Samoyeds come from?

The Samoyed is not a loner.  He really likes to be part of the family activities, according to Michele Welton on Your Pure Bred Puppy.  They are very people-oriented.  Samoyed is named after the Samoyede tribe, who found their way to the cold climate region in Europe.  The Samoyed live in the same space with their people, often sleeping on top of them to keep them warm.  So they are very accustomed to people companionship.

Characteristics of Samoyeds

If Samoyeds don’t get enough companionship from us, he can do something destructive like chewing on our furniture or barking. And their bark has a high pitch sound that can annoy the neighbors.  So do not leave them out in the yard unsupervised.

Originally, Samoyeds were bred to be hunting dogs.  So if you are taking your Samoyed outside for a walk, it’s a good idea to have him on a leash in case he sees some small animals that he perceives as prey.

Samoyeds and shedding

And if you are thinking about getting a Samoyed, just know that they shed.  A lot!  Be prepared to find hair all over your house, your clothes, furniture, even your food.  Vacuuming daily will become part of your routine.  Just know that Samoyed hair will become a part of your life.  And their coat needs a lot of brushing and combing if you don’t want to see it all matted up.  Even with all these possible inconvenience, Samoyed is a gentle dog who is affectionate with his family.  You can read more about Samoyed here.

Enjoy watching Riina showering her kisses on Dad.

If you like this video, here is another Samoyed savoring her birthday cake.

Article source:  Michele Welton on Your Pure Bred Puppy

The post [VIDEO] Samoyed Puppy Riina Loves Kissing Dad appeared first on Doggie Outpost.

Bonnie is the most alert dog!  Watch how her eyes follow her parents’ cue.  She doesn’t miss a single thing!  And she’s learn to drop her ball when she plays fetch.  Many dogs make you work for it.  It is rare for a Groodle to look exactly like her mother–a purebred Golden Retriever, writes Bonnie’s parents in Dog Breed Guide.  Most I meet have the curly poodle hair.   This is a really well-made video, with segments on the different skills Bonnie is learning.  Watch for Bonnie’s wink at the end of the video.

Story of a Goldendoodle named Bonnie

In this video, Bonnie is learning to identify words and gestures.  By the time she was 11 months old, her vocabulary was at least 80 words.  She can find all of her toys by name.  She can find her family members by name too.

Her parents said they taught her to grumble instead of bark when she wanted to get inside the house.  Unless, of course, it is something really important.

Her parents feed Bonnie mostly raw, and they try not to over-vaccinate, in the hopes that she won’t have any allergy issues.

They are very appreciative of the good care the breeder gave Bonnie the first weeks of her life.  She is like the perfect child to her parents—happy, playful, bouncy, loves everyone, tolerant.

Her parents took careful notes about Bonnie’s growth and took many photos of her while she was growing up.  What a wonderful idea!  It’s a scrapbook for our dogs as they grow.

Enjoy watching Bonnie mastering new skills quickly in this video.  If you enjoy this video, here’s another video of Bonnie the Goldendoodle for you.

Article source:  Bonnie’s parents on Dog Breed Guide

The post [VIDEO] Groodle Learning Skills Quickly appeared first on Doggie Outpost.

He follows mom down the stairs to make sure the baby is taken care of.  A very thorough babysitter!  He sees to it that Mom does her job.

Golden Retriever babysitting

In a second scene, this Golden Retriever babysitter again sleeps near the baby, this time in the bedroom upstairs.  The baby woke up and started crying.  The Retriever went over to comfort the baby, even place his paw on the baby’s heart.  This dog KNOWS what he is doing!

Then he hurried down the stairs, accompanied by two poodles who got excited by his urgency.   He rushed to the kitchen, where Mom is cooking.

Mom had her back to him and did not see him coming.   So he stood on his hind legs and put his front paws on Mom’s back.  When she kept cooking, he grab her skirt and pulled on it until she follows him.  He hurries after Mom to the bedroom.  After Mom picks up the baby, the Retriever got up on the bed so he could touch the baby.

And the last scene is just precious!   He is taking the baby for a walk, pushing the stroller.  Some may think walking on hind legs is hard for a dog.  Actually, some dogs do not mind at all, but rather enjoy it.  There’s another post with a Pug pushing a small stroller with a doll in it.

Enjoy this very sweet video of the most caring babysitter!

The post [VIDEO] Golden Retriever taking care of baby appeared first on Doggie Outpost.

Why do some dogs circle around before they sleep?

Back to the days when they live in the wild.  There are actually very good reasons for this ritual.  Remy Melina writes in Live Science that this is not an uncommon behavior.

Dogs’ ancestors had to make their bed in the wild, which is their nest.  To make their beds comfortable to lie on, they would walk in a circle to pat down tall grass so where they lie is comfortable for themselves and their puppies.  In those days, doggie beds, doggie cushions, and pillows weren’t available.  They had to make their own doggie beds the old-fashioned way.

Safety is one reason for this behavior

Remy referenced Leslie Irvine’s research in this article on the topic.  There’s also a safety aspect to this practice.  By circling around a few times and flattening tall grass or snow when they make their beds in the wild, if there are any snakes or large insects lying around, they would be scared away.

Territory is another reason for circling

One other benefit to this practice in the wild is probably a territorial one.  By circling around and flattening the area where they are going to sleep, other dogs will see it as a signal that the space is taken, and will go elsewhere to make their bed.  It is a orderly system.  You can read the entire article by Remy Melina here.  Enjoy watching Grizz doing his bed time ritual.

Article source:  Remy Melina in Live Science

The post [VIDEO] Australian Terrier Makes Circles Before Napping appeared first on Doggie Outpost.

How to introduce a dog to swimming

If you are a fur parent who want to introduce your dog to swimming, this article offers some helpful tips.  One of them is keep encouraging your dog with reassuring words.   And also keep them at the shallow end, where he can touch the ground, and not frightened by the new sensation of the water.

When you introduce your dog to swimming at the beach, do it progressively.  Here are some ideas via Outside Online on a smooth and successful introduction.

Make sure introduction to swimming is a pleasant experience for your dog

First, do not toss your dog into the water or force him into the water.  You want this to be a pleasant experience so he looks forward to it in the future.  Even before you take him to the beach, make sure he has basic obedience to make this a safe experience for him.  Walk into the water with your pup, but only in the shallow part where he can stand.

Your basic training will help when you introduce your dog to swimming

Usually dogs don’t like to be left on the shore while you are out in the water.  Start with a few heel session.  This way, the focus is on the heel, and not on the water.  Your puppy is already familiar with heel work, so he is relaxed while being in shallow water.  When you see that your dog is relaxed, you can have him retrieve his toy.  But make sure that there are no deep holes nearby that he can accidentally lose his footing and get scared.

After a few games of retrieving his toy at elbow-deep water, he probably doesn’t even think about the water anymore.  If you notice your pup doesn’t want to swim, there are a few ideas in this article.  You can read about them here.  Enjoy watching this confident puppy on his first swimming adventure.

Article source:  via Outside Online

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What are Lhasa Apso’s like?

Lhasa Apso is among those with the strongest will.  This is understandable, for they were guard dogs for monasteries in Tibet, where they protect the residents from intruders.  Even if intruders get past the human guards, they are not going to get past the Lhasa Apso.  This is a royal and loyal dog.

According to Michele Welton in Your Pure Bred Puppy, Lhasa Apso’s are rather calm.  And they are deliberate.  Again this makes sense.  Originating as guard dogs for the monasteries, they do have to know what they are doing to keep their residents safe.

Although there are always exceptions, if a family with children were to adopt a Lhasa Apso, it would be a best matched if the children were older.  Lhasa Apso’s don’t like non-sense, and they definitely do not respond well to teasing.  Having said this, I have seen a Lhasa Apso watch over a baby, and runs to tell the parent when the baby wakes up.  And he was happy to indulge two children barely able to run who insist on chasing after the dog.  He was very happy to play with them.

When training a Lhasa Apso, be consistent and positive.  Remember, this is a dog with a strong mind.  Praise him, reward him.  If you are thinking about getting a Lhasa Apso, consider looking into a rescue group.  Rescue groups differ from animal shelters in that they are dedicated dog lovers who provide temporary foster homes.  The foster family evaluates the dog and provides basic training while the rescue groups find forever homes.  And you can be that new family.  You can read more about this topic here.   Enjoy watching Lady Lion training her family for belly rubs.

Article source:  Michele Welton in Your Pure Bred Puppy

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