How to Get Your Puppy to Stop Biting!

By Lisa Gold

Dog training problems can stump many pet owners, but how to get your puppy to stop biting? Well, that one is a very common complaint among puppy owners and I'll explore it further in this article.

Biting is a defense mechanism for animals, including our domesticated dogs. A dog needs to be able to protect himself from attacks from other dogs and biting is a natural response. Dogs are also carnivores and in the past had to be able to tear apart their food to eat. Keep in mind, too, that puppies are getting new teeth and are teething. When this occurs it feels good to the puppy to bite. Puppies first learn to bite when in the litter. Have you ever noticed how rough they play? They are learning what is acceptable biting as the other puppies will squeal if the bite is too hard. This feedback helps them to learn how to control their jaw and develop bit inhibition or "mouthing" instead of biting hard.

If you want to know how to train your puppy to stop biting, you can start off by thinking like a dog. When your pup's biting hurts you, squeal to let your pup know. Sometimes that might get them more excited so if that's the case, try your own negative tone instead.

Just as with any unwanted behavior, you should reward attention to good behavior and ignore bad behavior. If your puppy is nipping at your feet, don't give her attention until she stops. Try walking away from her without giving her notice.

You can also try substituting a safe toy for biting, instead of your body parts. This will help them learn what is acceptable and reinforce the good behavior. When she starts biting you, hand her a chew toy instead.

Please do let them know that it's not okay to bite. One way to do this is to give them a tap on the nose and say "no bite" when they start biting. Eventually they will make the connection that this fun biting thing gives you displeasure and they should stop.

Remember that puppy nipping behavior does not start out as an act of aggression; it is just a fun activity for young puppies. Learn more about how to get your puppy to stop biting at http://dogintraining.info and grab your free tips while you're there!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_Gold

Which Dog Food is Best - Canned Or Dried

By Yuki Shoji

Whichever dog food you begin feeding your dog is most likely the one he will take to the easiest. That's why it's important to make sure you start your dog on a good dog food.

Dog foods have improved considerably over the years, but some people hold that dried food still contains the highest nutrient value. There are several benefits to dried over canned food. Dried food provides better chewing action for the teeth and gums and helps to prevent gum and tooth disease. Dried food gives your dog more value per meal because it is not high in water content as is canned food.

Budget wise, consider that you will need to provide your dog with more canned food to match the quantity of dry food both in amount and nutritional value.

Another factor to consider is that canned food contains preservatives to protect it from deterioration. Dry food also contains preservatives, but it is less susceptible to decay.

Consider too that some dogs do not tolerate canned foods very well and can develop diarrhea or stomach upsets. This is likely due to the preservatives used in production. In this case, your dog might do well with the superior quality canned foods or a strict dry dog food diet.

It's important, however, to look for dry food that is not loaded with filler such as corn or grain. You want to see beef (not meat by-products) or chicken at the top of the list when you read the label. Keep in mind that whatever is listed first represents the highest quantity of that item. If corn is listed first, move on to another brand. Corn provides little if any nutrient value and is hard for your dog to digest.

Be aware that meat by-products are leftovers from the slaughtering process and can include anything from chicken feet to internal organs.

Today, many manufacturers are including vitamin and mineral supplements in both dry and canned foods to help maintain your dog's health. Some contain soybean and rice, which offer valuable nutrients.

Simply by their size, larger dogs weighing over 30 pounds will likely do better on dry or semi-moist food which is more economical to buy and provides a good combination of nutrients.

Whichever choice you make, be sure to check the label. Look for real meat at the top, vegetables and vitamin and mineral supplements. Try to weed out those with long lists of preservatives as they can trigger digestive disturbances in your dog.

Look for higher priced foods, as the economical brands generally do not provide sufficient nutrients that are available from quality dog food.

For more great dog training tips and resources to help you train your dog, or puppy, visit Dogs Training Site at http://DogsTrainingMadeEasy.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Yuki_Shoji

Litter Train Dogs For a Cleaner Household

By Alex De La Cruz

It is very essential to litter train dogs while they are still young. A litter-trained dog can be a big help to you and the people in your household. The moment you decide to get a puppy, you need to know how to litter train a dog. This is important since not all the times your pet will have an access to the outdoors. There might be times in a day when you are not there to take them out to relieve them selves. Thus, it will be a big help if your dog knows how and where to relieve him self when he is inside the house.

These possible scenarios must encourage you to learn how to litter train dogs. There are certain methods and guidelines on how to conduct this type of training in an easy and effective manner. You just need to check out the materials that you can choose from. Being a responsible owner of dogs, you got to be patient enough to learn new things about your pets. It may not be an easy task to litter train dogs but surely you will benefit from it a lot. In training a puppy, you will need to have a waste box as your most important prop during the training.

You can use this waste box and some canine treats in teaching your pet where to relieve himself. However, be prepared to invest some of your time as you litter train dogs. You need to be there as your dog attempts to relieve himself so that you can correct his action right there and then. After you contradict his action, you have to point him to the waste box. Every time your dog does this, you have to reward him with a treat. This will further motivate him to relieve himself on the waste area assigned to him. This is a process.

So, don't expect that your pet will learn instantly. As you live with your dog, you will eventually realize the importance of litter training. At night time, your pet might need to relieve himself. Surely you don't want to be disturbed in your sleep at night; it can be a relief on your part when you know that your dog can take care of himself in this situation. When you read a guide to training a puppy, you will be able to prepare yourself of the possible responsibilities that you have to fulfill. It can be like a parent's responsibility towards his child.

Raising a dog requires commitment and patience so it will be an advantage that you have ample knowledge about it beforehand. It is a fact that positive reinforcement is really a big contributory factor for a dog to become a well-disciplined member of a household. Don't fail to make your pet happy whenever he does a good deed in waste training. They would surely continue doing the right things when properly motivated. If you properly litter train a pet, it will surely spare you from the tasking job of cleaning after. Additionally, you will be proud to have a responsible pet as a member of your home.

The author of this article Alex De La Cruz is a Dog Trainer who has been successful with several dog training courses for many years. Alex decided to share his knowledge and tips through his website http://www.doggyweb.info. You can sign up for his free newsletter and enjoy a healthy and submissive dog.

Dog Food - How the Experts Feed Their Dog the Right Way

A Golden Retriever puppy should be fed three times a day until she is 6 months old. How these feedings are spaced out during the day will depend on one's schedule. There is no set rule on the quantity of food to feed.

As Goldens can often be big eaters, it is easy for them to become overweight. There is a fine line between proper growth and excessive weight. The ribs or bones of a puppy should never protrude or be visible. This is a sign that nutritional needs are not being met.

Though not visible, when hands are placed on the body of the pup, those ribs should be easy to feel. If the hands sink into the body, then the food amounts should be cut back. A good plan to follow is to divide the amount recommended by the veterinarian by three.

If the puppy is finishing all three of these portions throughout the day and the appearance of the body indicates proper growth, then stay with those amounts. If the puppy looks like she is gaining weight excessively, then reduce the amount that is given.

The same applies for the puppy that leaves quantities of food uneaten, yet is at a good weight and energy level otherwise. Obviously if a puppy is eating her rations and appears thin, her food intake should be increased.

This is something that can be accomplished by observation and good judgment. There are Golden pups that could not care less for food. They are more interested in other activities than eating.

They will finally eat when it is absolutely necessary, but the result is slower than normal growth and a thin appearance. Sometimes these pups can be taught to appreciate food by the addition of a small amount of canned dog food.

Regular meals build an appetite and develop the habit of eating normally. While the food does not need to soak in water, the addition of a small amount of water will increase the palatability of the food.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Kramer

Obedience Training of Older Dogs

Obedience training for aged dogs must be handled carefully. Training is not only physically but also mentally demanding. Differentiate between the aged and the seriously infirm dogs when training them. As a norm, the training process of dogs requires a lot of patience. However, training aged dogs requires an even more patient and calm approach.

As such, the training procedure is not affected by the age of the dog. Irrespective of whether the dog is young or old, the training techniques remain the same. However, you may have to modify certain aspects of your training to accommodate the less than perfect eyesight and hearing abilities of the dog. If necessary, extend the training period by a week but do not leave the dog half trained.

One area where persons training aged dogs must be very patient is the reaction time of the dog. Many a times, the trainer feels that the dog is purposely reacting in a slow manner. If the dog is aged, the slow reactions may be due to the overall slowing down of the movement of the dog. The dog may suffer from arthritis and this may hamper the movement. Be flexible while training the dog. If the dog finds it difficult to sit, then simply dispense with the 'sit' command. The dog will resist training if it causes pain to him. Most dogs take a bit of time to get up after a 'down and stay' command.

Dog Training is Never Meant to Be Difficult

By Alex De La Cruz

Have you ever attempted creating your very own dog training? It's not bad to seek help from professional dog trainers because they have devoted their lives understanding the nature of dogs. And they definitely have something very important to tell. However, the very best trainer for your pet is you. You own the dog, you know its personal characteristics, and you definitely know its specific moods. If you haven't thought of that yet well its time you do. Make your pet obedient to your commands by personally training it. One advantage of personal dog training is creating some bonding time with your pet.

It will create an impression that you are its sole master therefore it will obey you. So how do you get things started? First you have to make sure that you know the attitude of your pet and if it is of proper age to be trained. It would be best to start its training when it is a puppy because it has lots of active energy and you can establish early on that you are its master. It is best that you start the training before your puppy turns 6 months because being young means that it is eager to learn.

But if you already have a middle age or adult dog it is never late for training. Oftentimes if the pooch came from a nice environment and it doesn't have any traumatic experience training is still possible. If you know your pet by heart, you can readily tell if something is bothering it or it's happy. You can also tell if it is ready to listen to you. So if you think its ready you can now start your own dog training. Next, learn to control your dog. Make use of command words consistently. Take note that it is not really the exact words which make your pooch obey but the sound of it.

However it would be best to just use the words you have already chosen and use it all the time to avoid confusion. When you take control it means that you are the one who's going to be followed and not your pooch. Do not give in to your pet's pitiful eyes especially if it wants additional treats. Do not bribe your pet with treats otherwise it will be spoiled. Just give the proper reinforcements for every good deed and job well done. Positive reinforcements play a very important part because it will serve as a reward to your pet and it will know that it has done something great.

On the other hand if your pup becomes disobedient learn how to correct it. Do this in a nice manner and which means that no kicking, spanking or yelling at your dog. Reprimand it without hurting it physically and emotionally. You can be lenient at first by tolerating its bad habits but make sure that you correct it for the succeeding mistakes. During training allow some break for the learning to sink in your pet's mind. They also tire out and if you push them a little too much it can no longer absorb what you are trying to teach it.

And lastly know how to praise your dog to boost its morale and to make it eager to learn more. This dog training does not only create an obedient dog but it also allows quality time together. Make every training session fun and exciting for you and your pet.

Is Your Aged Dog Sick? How to Find Out

By Kelly Marshall

Unlike human beings, dogs do not have the ability to communicate that they are feeling ill. Dogs are not even like children who can cry and indicate their discomfort. The illness of your pet dog has to be deduced by observing the behavior of the dog. Dogs have a comparatively higher pain threshold as compared to humans. Hence, they will cry out only when they are under severe pain and discomfort. By then, things become too late. Hence, the onus is upon the owner of the dog to find out whether his dog is ill or not. The best way to do so is to observe the normal behavior of the dog. If you can differentiate between normal and abnormal behavior of your dog, you can easily find out whether your dog is ill or not.

After waking up in the morning, make it a point to greet your dog by stopping all your activities and observe its behavior for at least one minute. Do not restrain the behavior of the dog. Just observe the dog for a minute.

Observe your dog during the morning and evening outdoor activities. Let your dog walk in front of you and observe it. Watch it when it moving up or down the stairs or when it standing or sitting. Watch for at least ten seconds.

Do make sure that you watch the first twenty seconds of your dog eating its meal. Further, watch it for at least twenty seconds in sleep and watch a complete urination and a bowel movement

Do not expect to immediately know everything about your dog's behavior. Keep on observing and you will discover that you can discern subtle variations in the behavior of your dog. Even if you are not conscious of the same, you will find that your observations come up when talking to your vet. If you observe any explicit abnormality, do not get worked up. It is important to objectively watch the abnormalities and describe them correctly to your vet.

Once the process of observation becomes a habit, you will realize that it does not take more than four to six minutes of your day. Soon, you will learn to discern subtle changes which may indicate to an illness. There are very few symptoms, called pathognomonic symptoms, which indicate a specific illness. Generally, symptoms are vague and general. You will learn to recognize them as well.

It is advisable to take aged dogs out for walks more often as they are more susceptible to arthritis. Frequent exercise can delay the problem. Further, aged dogs become lazy and frequent moderate helps circulation.

Unlike humans, a weak bladder in dogs is not a minor irritant but an indication of a bladder infection or the possibility of a kidney problem in the future. Bladder infections are common irrespective of the age of the dogs. On the other hand, kidney diseases are more common in aged dogs. It is one of the most common problems found in old dogs.

Health Concerns That Commonly Afflict Older Dogs

By Kelly Marshall

A very common problem faced by aged dogs is that of abrasions. Scratching and biting the surfaces of the skin causes itches which lead to abrasions. The best treatment for abrasions is herbal treatment. Mix blackberry leaves, rosemary leaves, elder flowers and leaves, witch hazel and apply the mix to the abrasions. Avoid sticky and oily mix as this will keep the skin moist and delay the healing.

Aged dogs often have abscesses. Abscesses result from the outflow of toxins in the blood through the skin. Increased toxicity of blood renders the normal waste disposal mechanism of little use. The body reacts by instructing the white blood cells to dispose off the toxins through the skin in the form of pus. If your aged dog is troubled by numerous abscesses or by frequent occurrence of abscesses, try feeding the dog nothing but distilled water and raw honey. Do not feed more than two to four teaspoons a day. This should do the trick.

Modifying the diet of the dog will lead to elimination of more and more toxins. The diet should now include several cloves of garlic. This will speed up the detoxification process. After the application of the paste, you should apply hot fomentations packs of blackberry or elderberry leaves on the abscess. You can make hot packs made out of chopped garlic or onion or both which have been heated in castor oil. Do not make it uncomfortably hot. The herbs will restore vitamins A, C, B complex and E. These vitamins speed up the recovery process.

Aged dogs are prone to anemia. Anemia is caused by lack of hemoglobin and oxygen in the blood of the dog. This condition occurs due to poor diet, lack of sunlight and constipation, shortage of blood, scarcity of while blood cells or even internal parasites. Just put pressure on the gums of your dog and determine whether the gums are whiter than usual and whether they take longer to become pink again. This is one symptom of arthritis. The dog becomes weak and loses his energy and stamina. Increasing the iron in the diet, preferably herbal additions in the diet will help. Vitamin C, E, B complex and copper should also be given.

Many aged dogs suffer from arthritis. An all-cooked diet, no exercise, non absorption of minerals and lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach of the dog can cause arthritis. The inflammation in the bones and joints may make it difficult for the dog to walk and move.

In conclusion, a diet of the arthritic dog needs to consist of distilled water to clear out the mineral deposits in the joints. The dog should be fed sprouts, raw vegetables, garlic and raw fruits. Acid forming diet should be avoided. Chopped comfrey and parsley leaves can be added to the diet. Further, the dog must be kept in a warm and dry place. It should be walked in sunlight. Ensure that your dog gets vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, F, calcium, Iodine, lecithin, magnesium, sulfur, potassium and phosphorous in its diet

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy for http://dog-mate.blogspot.com

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at ramasyahputra@gmail.com.

At http://dog-mate.blogspot.com, the privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. This privacy policy document outlines the types of personal information is received and collected by http://dog-mate.blogspot.com and how it is used.

Log Files
Like many other Web sites, http://dog-mate.blogspot.com makes use of log files. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol ( IP ) addresses, type of browser, Internet Service Provider ( ISP ), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and number of clicks to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Cookies and Web Beacons
http://dog-mate.blogspot.com does use cookies to store information about visitors preferences, record user-specific information on which pages the user access or visit, customize Web page content based on visitors browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser.

Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include Google Adsense, .

These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology to the advertisements and links that appear on http://dog-mate.blogspot.com send directly to your browsers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies ( such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons ) may also be used by the third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and / or to personalize the advertising content that you see.

http://dog-mate.blogspot.com has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. http://dog-mate.blogspot.com's privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites.

If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites.

Buying a Puppy For Christmas

By Mathew Reinholt

You have decided you are going to be buying a puppy for Christmas. Bringing a puppy into your family can be a great idea. They can bring love and joy into the household. They make wonderful companions for you and your family and buying a puppy is easy as they can be found in pet stores, shelters, and a multitude of breeders. But wait, there are some things you should know about before making that purchase.

You should first ask yourself if you are ready for the commitment required when owning a dog. They must be cared for at all times. You can no longer just pick and go somewhere for the weekend without making arrangements for your pet. They must be cared for with regular visits to the vet and they must be trained which will take time and effort.

Ok, so you have decided that you can handle the above then your next decision, which you may have already made, is what breed to get. Different breeds have different characteristics and you should be aware of them before buying a puppy. For example, the Labrador is one of the most popular breeds today. I am not going to go into all the good things about Labs that is not my point. Labs are very intelligent and very active. Labs require three hours or more of exercise per day. Because they are intelligent if they are not trained properly and lack exercise they will find a multitude of ways to get in trouble. My point is know the good and the bad of the breed you wish to purchase.

Now you have decided on the breed where are you going to purchase your puppy? I recommend a dog breeder but not all breeders are the same. Do a little research before purchasing and when you go there to make the purchase look around at how they keep their dogs. If it looks first rate it probably is. I do not recommend pet stores for two reasons. Some of them are just puppy mills and you do not know how the puppies have been treated. Also, a puppy needs to be with it's mother and siblings at least eight weeks. This is where they learn some basic social skills such as not biting too hard.

Another place to look is the animal shelter. If you have owned dogs before and know how to train them this is an excellent choice. If you are a first time dog owner or lack training skills I would not get my dog there as they may have social problems you can not see.

Ok, buying a puppy is complete and you are ready to bring it home. I hope you also purchased doggy dishes, food and a crate for training. You will need these prior to bringing your cute little puppy home. There is one more thing I think is a must for new dog owners and that is a Dog Training Course.

Maximizing Dog Care Under a Tight Budget

By Alex De La Cruz

Taking care of an animal can help make a person responsible. It also sets an individual's priorities because this involves time and resources budgeting. When you adopted a dog, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Maybe you are thinking of the happy moments with your pet and all the fun you will enjoy together as best buddies. Along with these thought perhaps are the things you need and want your pet to have. It is great if you can provide your pup with the things which will make it happy especially if you are treating it as another member of the family.

However this is not as easy as you think it is. Dog care involves cost and it is not just anything ordinary because sometimes you have to spend large amounts of money. What more if you have three or five pets? Then dog care becomes expensive. You have to provide each of them their basic needs. It's just like you have reared a child of your own. If you have a tight budget or having a financial problem and you don't want your pets to suffer, what would you do? You may be well off today but you can never predict tomorrow.

There will come a time that you have to make drastic measures to make both ends meet. So before anything like that happens, you have to make sure that you are providing your pups with their basic needs without allotting too much. To achieve that goal you must find quality and value for your money. The following are simple tips which can help you attain a smooth sailing journey with regards to caring for your pet. First, when you buy dog food make sure that it can feed all of your pups. This means that your pets must be of similar age because if not, feeding them together with one food will not be possible.

Your pets are also required by law to get rabies shots. In some states rabies is prevalent so have to make sure that your pets won't be infected. Preventing the disease to reach is a whole lot better than curing them in the end. Ask aids from an animal shelter in your area because they might help you reap savings on shots compared to what your vet charges. Aside from this you might also get other medical services for your pets. If they have an in-house veterinarian there services might be open to the public which can also cut down you dog care costs.

Plus if your pets have injuries or in the event of emergency you have something to run to. At times vets offer discounts if you are taking a number of pets to their clinics. Be sure you are the first to ask your vet regarding multiple dog care discounts because they don't normally disclose this information. Here, you do not only save money but also the time of finding a vet that can meet all of your pet's health requirements. If you already have quite a number pets and you don't want to have some more you can try spaying or neutering your pets.

This process involves taking their reproductive organs. Therefore you need not worry about their increasing number. Dog care should never be overlooked. The importance of health should be a major concern to you as the owner and you should try to maximize all the help you can get without placing their condition in a lower level.

Etiquette on Dog Walking

By Michelle Grace Tapire

Dog walking is an essential business of many as well as past time for pet lovers to spend their time to exercise with their dog companion. However, many individuals who are into walking dogs forget some courtesy in the area they walk used for the task. It is common sense that etiquette be applied in these places since a walk with a pet is usually done in public places like the park and neighborhood sidewalks, consideration for others must be observed.

Here are things that you have to observe in completing your pet's exercise through walking:

Never allow your pet to urinate or poop on others properties.

When you have your dog walking exercise and activities on in the neighborhood sidewalks or street, be sure to let your pet eliminate on rough areas only. You surely would not want your mailbox or plants to be urinated on; your neighbors feel the same. If you show concern for the properties of your neighbors, you can expect them to be considerate on your pets and your properties as well.

Always bring a plastic bag with you when you go out with your pet.

Picking up the poop after your dog is a good etiquette when dog walking. Leaving a pile of dirt behind is more inconsiderate for passersby. Moreover, you keep the community area clean for everybody and for your next day for walking your dogs. To ensure that you will be able to pick up after your dog, always bring a plastic bag with you when you go out dog walking.

Have a control over your dog outdoors.

You may have a cute and active dog that you think everyone would love, but you must remember that not everyone are so much as a pet lover as you are. You must understand that not all woman or man would like to be greeted or jumped on by your dog outdoor. To avoid some embarrassing circumstances in the park or on the street while dog walking, be sure that you take control of the leash. Train your dog to follow your lead.

Be careful in approaching other dogs while walking.

It is important for your dog to socialize with other dogs too. However, be sure to gauge the dog you will approach with your dog. Not all dogs can be nice with your dog as well.

Dog walking is essential for your dog; you can always keep this time less stressful for you, your dog and others.

4 Reasons You Need a Pet Door and Which Kind to Get

By Jennifer Akre

If you have been toying with the idea of getting a pet door installed in your house, it's time to stop toying. There are a number of reasons why it is wise to have a pet door installed for your furry friend. Here's a look at four of them:

Fewer Accidents

Just like sometimes you have to go and can't hold it any longer, the same thing can happen to your pet. If you happen to not be home when this urge comes, you are going to come home to an accident. This is especially a problem in younger dogs in training and older dogs that can no longer control their bladder as well as they used to. If you had a pet door installed, it would not be a problem.

Pet Independence

Want to teach your pet to think for itself and not be a puppy, get a pet door. This allows your pet to make decisions on when he or she needs to go out to the bathroom. This is also healthier for your pet. While many pets will wait until you get home to be let out when they have to go, if they wait too long, it could lead to longer-term health problems.

Fewer Interruptions

Have you ever had one of those nights when you have just been able to finally sit down after a long day and the dog then lets you know he needs out? Maybe you're right at the most dramatic point in the movie when this happens. Either way, it's inconvenient. With a dog door your pet can let himself in and out and you don't have to worry about it.

Less Home Damage

Many pets do whatever they can to get out when they need to go. They may start by barking then turn it into scratching and even biting on things trying to get a door to open. If you're not home to hear their cries to go out, you won't be there to stop the damage that a pet door could have prevented.

Selecting a Pet Door

Once you know you need a pet door you may wonder which is the best for you to get.

First, you need a door that is just going to fit your dog through it. Remember, this is a door that will have to go to the outside, so there may be some hot or cold air getting in. You want to make it as small as possible of an open space. If your dog is young, make sure the door will be large enough for him when he is full grown.

Second, many people worry about safety when they install a pet door. They don't want a door that is open to the outside where an intruder can get in. Thankfully, you can look for a pet door that thought about this. Look for a door that is electronic that can only be opened when your pet gets close to it. You will have to put a signal collar on your pet so the dog knows it is your pet at the pet door and not an intruder.