Dog Dances the Merengue

I've seen other videos of dogs dancing or doing tricks, but I came across one that is simply amazing! Dog lovers and non-pet people alike will enjoy watching this incredible dog doing the Merengue.

Crate Training Basics

The following is a guest post by Jaime Simpkins.  I hope you find it helpful in training your dog.

Everyone needs their own space - a place they can escape life's hustle and bustle, and relax. Our canine companions are no different. They will enjoy their own space even more if it includes some of their favorite playthings, and isn't associated with punishment or being locked away from their family.


A crate is a perfect place for your dog to call his own. He doesn't need anything fancy; just a comfortable bed, a bowl of water and perhaps a chew toy. It's not difficult to teach your dog to like his crate, it just takes patience, time and some of his favorite treats.

Teach your dog that the crate is a positive thing from the moment you bring it home. Put the crate in your lounge room and put his dinner bowl down next to it, so he's happy to be near it. If space is an issue in your lounge room, consider a wood dog crate as this is a nice alternative to the typical crates you find. Give him a treat and lots of praise whenever he shows any interest in the crate. You can then encourage him to go into his crate by putting his favorite treats inside. You can even start to feed him his meals in the crate. That way he is rewarded for going inside. Every time your dog interacts with the crate, he should be given treats and praise so he enjoys himself.

When he is regularly going into the crate, you can add a command and even a hand signal for this behavior. Give your dog the command as he goes into the crate, then reward him with lots of treats. it won't take long for him to learn what this command means. Over time, you can start to fade the treats, so your dog will go into his crate only with a command or hand signal.

When your dog is happily going into the crate, you can start to close the door. In the early stages, just close it for a second or two,and give him a treat for being calm. Slowly increase the time that the door is closed, and always give him a reward for staying relaxed and quiet in the crate.

Never leave your dog too long in their crate; a good guideline is the time your dog is crated in hours is a maximum of how old they are in months, plus one. This means your 2 month old puppy should only be crated for 3 hours at a time, at the most.

Crate training isn't always easy, and it can take several weeks before your dog is happy to stay in their crate. Don't rush things, and try not to get frustrated. Most dogs do eventually learn to settle happily in their crate.