It can be an embarrassing experience. Your new neighbor stops by to drop off a gift and your pooch heads straight for her crotch. He is sniffing away, she is uncomfortable, and you are practically helpless. As crazy as it seems, your dog does have a legitimate reason for putting his nose where it does not belong. However, you can work on ways to stop this all-too-embarrassing behavior.

First of all, realize that your dog is not a pervert. If you are unsure, then watch how most dogs act when they meet each other. They may spend a few minutes circling and sniffing out the other, usually heading straight for the other’s bottom. There are reasons for this behavior that center around your pooch’s nose and pheromones that are secreted from the anal glands. The pheromones can be found in feces and urine, but dogs in direct contact may head straight for the source. This is a natural behavior that should not cause alarm.

A dog can understand a lot about another animal by smelling the pheromones. Ever wondered why your pooch spends so much time smelling trees in your yard and marking his territory? Pheromones to dogs are like deep conversations to humans. By the scent of the pheromones, a dog can find out whether or not another animal is a threat and whether or not the other animal wants to mate. The scent of the urine or feces can portray species, sex, and status in the hierarchical chain. Normally, the leader of a pack or the more dominant dog will give off an “uninviting” scent, warning others to stay away. Urine marking is used to not only claim territory, but to also protect territory. By picking up on the pheromones, a dog can find out if he is entering a friendly place or if he should take the long way home. Dogs use their sense of smell to find out things that humans find out through conversation.

So, if your pet heads straight for your neighbor’s crotch, remember that he isn’t doing it to embarrass you. Instead, he’s searching for the pheromone scent that can tell him whether or not the neighbor is a friend. If all is fine, then your dog may head to your neighbor’s purse or other personal items to further check things out, leaving you with an embarrassed look on your face. Even though the dog is not causing any harm, many people find the behavior revolting and undesirable. Lucky for them, there are ways to stop the behavior. However, never get angry with your pooch for acting out a natural tendency. Instead, work on ways to deter or replace the behavior.

First, try not to make a big deal out of someone’s arrival, even your own. When you come home (and instruct others to do the same), simply ignore your pooch. Wait a few minutes until he calms down before you pet or make a big fuss over him. If everyone walks passed him and ignores him, then he will soon lose interest in checking things out. Second, teach your dog the “sit” and “stay” commands. If your dog obeys your commands, then you have more control over him when company arrives. If your pooch heads for a person’s crotch, then interrupt the behavior immediately. Call him to you, and use a toy or a pat on the head as a distraction. Encourage the other person to allow your dog to sniff his or her hand. Most of the time, a hand sniff will take the place of a crotch sniff. Always reward your dog for acting in the desired way. If all else fails, then you may need to confine your dog to a restricted area of the house when company arrives. Once the dog is calm and the company has lost its “newness,” then you can release your pooch into the rest of your home.

Crotch sniffing may be disgusting for humans, but it is necessary for dogs. A dog can find out a lot about another animal (humans included) by deciphering the pheromones secreted by the anal glands. Don’t get angry with your pooch for partaking in this behavior. Instead, distract and deter him from the behavior using commands and obedience training. Before long, your pooch may be happy with a sniff of the hand!

This article was written by collin walker and provided by pet super store a website featuring dog training collars from PetSafe and Dogtra.

As the cost of gas continues to rise, people are becoming more aware of just how limited our resources are.  The need to find an alternative source of energy is becoming more and more apparent.

Solar power systems are not just limited to the homes of those living way out in the country where the cost of running lines for electricity is overwhelming and impractical.  With solar power components becoming more and more affordable, you are finding more homes in cities and suburbs benefitting from the use of solar power.

The price of using solar energy improves as the technology grows.  The federal government is even offering incentives to home owners in order to broaden the use of solar power.  It is in your best interest to equip your home with solar panel.  Using solar power in your home, you will be doing some of what you can to help save the environment.  This is over and above the savings you will see on your utility bills.  The cost of energy is rising almost as fast as the cost of gasoline.

Solar panels can be used in many of the homes in this country.  If you live in the South you will be able to benefit the most from the use of solar power, but those in other parts of the countries will be able to benefit also from the use of solar power.  So even if you live in Maine or Washington, you will still be able to benefit from the use of solar power.

As we become more and more dependent on power sources, every thing we can do to save some of that energy is helping the environment and saving ourselves money.  You will want to check out the residential panels at a store near you to see how they can improve your life and lower the cost of your energy bills.

Before you go shopping for those solar panels, you might have the question in your mind “How do the solar panels work?

Solar panels use the qualities of silicon and depend on them heavily.  Silicon has four electrons while it is in its normal state, but the atom has room for eight electrons.  Two silicon atoms can combine together creating a stronger bond.  They are sharing each others four electrons.  In creating electricity you need to have either a positive charge or a negative charge.  There is no positive or negative charge in the two silicon atoms because they have both filled the each others capacity of eight electrons.

Updating yourself as a pet owner  is an interesting preoccupation. There are several products and patents available that guarantee a carefree long car ride with a pet dog in tow. 

There are hammocks that attach to the interiors of your car or SUV. It really looks cool and cute, but after looking at it several times, you'd wonder how often the driver has to turn around to check on their pet or have their rear view sight blocked by a furry rump. There is also the collapsible pet crate that is attached to the front passenger seat with straps. Compared to the hammock, keeping your pet confined and out of mischief is better with this collapsible crate. Besides the firm base makes it possible for your pet to squeeze in some zzz's while being safely strapped in which a pet hammock can't do.

However you prefer to keep your pooch in a car, it would be better to take your eyes away from the advert picture and really think of how effective a pet product would be in reality. All pet owners want the best for pets. If your traveling long distances or prefer to take your pet with you, you should purchase a pet carrier. These designer bags or perfect for little dogs and provide a safe haven for all of your travelling needs.

Just the other day, a newspaper story highlighted the on-going tiff between humane organizations about the remaining Vick trained fighting Pitbulls. Personally, reading that PETA is all for the destroying of the Pitts surprised me. Reading on, their  comments that these dogs are broken and can't resume a regular “forever home” life. As I weighed the arguments of the other organizations that would like to re-home the Pits and PETA the more I got confused. Dogs aren't people and a master's training defines the dogs' reactions and concerns. For the remaining Pits that were supposedly “rescued” to further suffer betrayal from humans leaves a bitter taste in the mouth. From the time they were approx. 12 weeks old until their death, humans have betrayed them. First with a false sense of security, where society and laws and legislation yanks out the rug from under them with no future, but as dead dogs. Unless the PETA makes public its criteria they follow to judge abused fighting dogs for plant fodder, in my eyes their years as a humane society is questionable. It is easier to motivate people to what you think is right than to act out in a completely opposite way.

Gun Dog training reminds me of a bumper sticker I've seen “The road to success is always under construction…”, as an dog loverI started out wet behind the ears in assessing dog breeds. Aside from on-line research and extensive page flipping of books by experts, the best way to find out about them is talking to those who have done training, handling, breeding and correcting. Owning your first Retriever is the sweetest disillusionment you could ever get. Unlike pet dogs, gun dogs like Retrievers are always thought to be factory produced with batteries and training integrated in its system. A natural Retriever is several in a hundred thousand, to have your Retriever breed reach its potential takes training, practice and consistency. These are dogs and lovable pets, they do not come with a button which switches them on retriever mode. For any Retriever breed to be a hunting buddy, the most important thing to remember when picking a pup is its Biddable character. Getting from breeders who breed from their hunting lines know a pup that will willingly do hunting tasks and be content and happy in doing so. If a Retriever is not Biddable, erase your hunting illusions and turn to agility, rescue or obedience to enjoy your dogs potential. Cute as Retrievers may be, decide on the kind of dog you want to have before picking one out of a litter.