Owning a Dog: Turning Challenges into Joys

By Michelle Robert

I have had dogs in my life for over 35 years, and in that time, have definitely experienced all the ups and downs that go along with having a pet. Despite the challenges that have come along, there is no question in my mind that dogs are truly "man's best friend". It's just that with some, we have to work a bit harder to cultivate that friendship!

With our current dog, an eight year old miniature schnauzer, we have definitely faced a few challenges. Within a short time of him coming into our lives, we discovered that, while a smart and loving little guy, he also:

1. Growled and jumped on anyone who came to visit, and barked at absolutely everything he saw.

2. Was completely and totally terrified of visiting the groomers for his monthly clipping.

What could we do? We spoke with our veterinarian and did some additional research to discover some strategies and techniques to help train him...and us as well. This article will share some of the things we learned.

1. The barking/growling/jumping issue took some time because schnauzers, like all good little terriers are territorial, and are adamant about protecting that territory. Still, we could not scare away everyone who came to visit. So we tried all kinds of reward systems, squirting water, coins in a can, newspaper, just about everything. Nothing really worked. Finally our vet suggested a remote training collar, and after a lot more research, we tried the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer. One of the first things that we liked about it was that it has 9 stimulation levels so that we could start with the very lowest one first until we found the lowest one that was effective. It also has a tone-only training option providing more versatility. And we actually got the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer, 300 yds., which has a 300 yard range, allowing us to train from a distance. The best thing about the Innotek Ultrasmart? It worked. Within a short period of time our little guy learned good manners and our friends were no longer afraid to come visit us.

2. Achieving a stress-free grooming experience each month has involved training as well...but it was training us, not our dog. We determined that by clipping him at home each month, he would be happier and more comfortable, so we decided to purchase a good set of dog clippers. We ended up choosing the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper due to the Oster reputation for lasting years, and because of the many positive product reviews stating that they worked smoothly, quickly, and quietly, all important qualities for us. And I have to say that we could not be more pleased with how well the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper has worked out for us and for our dog. Other than it getting warm at times, which we easily solved by cleaning and changing the blades, and using Oster Kool Lube, it has worked out great. It is amazing that such a simple product that is so easy to use has made such a difference in our little dog's life, and once we learned how to get the cut right, it has been smooth sailing for us all.

Dog ownership should be a joy, and it truly can be, even if there is some work to be done to get to that point. For us, we had some help from the Innotek Ultrasmart Remote Trainer, and the Oster A5 Turbo Clipper. But it has been so worthwhile for us to have made the investment in our time to learn how to use these simple tools. Life with and for our little schnauzer is so much better, and as a result we have been rewarded with a happy little friend whose desire to please, affection and intelligence make him the best friend anyone could want! - 31866

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