Of all the great gadgets in the world, there’s nothing that can ever replace the love of your dog. They come to you when you’re sick, and give you kisses when you’re sad. Your pet is one of the most loyal and loving individuals in your life, so you of course want the best for them. Above all, you want to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your dog, and the best device that can do that is a lighted dog collar.

Just as the name says, it is a collar for your dog that can be seen in the pitch black dark. Made of a glow-in-the-dark type material, lighted dog collars are perfect for many reasons. Aside from pet owners, a lighted dog collar can be widely used by K-9 law enforcement, search and rescue, and are recommended by both vets and trainers. If you care for your dog, you’ll realize that a lighted dog collar can show that love above all.

Since they are lighted, these collars will help ensure your pet’s safety. No matter how hard you try, sometimes your stubborn pooch manages to slip out of the house on occasion. If you live near a road or in a city, there’s a good possibility they could be hit by a car, especially if it’s night time, and you don’t get to them in time. A lighted dog collar is bright enough for a driver to see, and then in turn be able to avoid hitting your pet.

Regardless if you have an inside or outside pet, it is a smart and safe buy since accidents do happen. You can find a lighted dog collar in either your local discount store, or online. Depending on the brand, size, color and style you choose for your perky pooch, the price will vary.

Another nice benefit that they provide, aside from safety, is identification. Not only are you able to hook your tags on, but since the lighted dog collar is generally very noticeable, if your dog happens to get loose, you’ll have an easy way of informing people of something specific about your pet. This is highly beneficial, especially if your dog is a mixed breed because mixes are more difficult to describe.

This type of dog collar can be as unique as your own pet. Some styles can have paw prints all the way around the strip while others might have various items all around, such as bones and treats. These designs in a lighted dog collar can give your pet a very cute and innocent look, gifting them a style all to themselves. While style and fashion are generally not one of the most important assets to a dog, they sure can make you smile. But more importantly, the safety and security that a lighted dog collar provides makes everything else just an added bonus.

Every dog owner must eventually deal with some unwanted behaviors on the part of their four legged companions. Some of the most frequently encountered training problems with puppies and dogs alike are jumping on people and performing those amazing feats of escape.

Jumping up on people 

Jumping up on people can be a cute trick for puppies, but it quickly becomes a problem behavior as the dog gets older, larger and heavier. A very heavy dog can easily knock a child or even a small adult of his or her feet, so jumping on people can be a dangerous problem as well as an annoying one.

The reason puppies and older dogs jump on people is obvious – they are excited and happy to see them. Many people are reluctant to discourage this exuberant behavior, but it is important to redirect that happiness and energy in other ways. Many well meaning owners, family members and friends inadvertently encourage this jumping up behavior by picking the puppy up, kissing it or otherwise providing encouragement.

This type of inconsistency is anathema to proper dog training, and in order for the dog to be trained not to jump, every member of the family must recognize and accept the importance of the training. If one member of the family allows the dog to jump up while other family members do not, the dog will understandably become confused and frustrated. The training must be firm, kind and consistent in order to be effective.

One way to redirect the dog’s happiness and excited ness from jumping is to teach him to lift his paw when greeting you. This “shaking hands” posture is an acceptable way for the dog to show his happiness and his respect. Many people even teach their dogs to do simple tricks, like rolling over, instead of jumping on people.

Escaping and roaming the neighborhood 

A responsible dog owner would never dream of allowing his or her dog to roam the neighborhood freely. Allowing a dog to roam on its own is irresponsible, dangerous (to the dog and the neighborhood), and probably even illegal. Most towns have ordinances which prohibit dogs from being allowed to roam around free, so you could be in legal trouble if your dog is found wandering the neighborhood unattended.

Of course sometimes that wandering dog is not the owner’s idea, and many dogs perform amazing feats of escape when left on their own. The temptations for unattended dogs are many, including passing bicycles, joggers, children, cats and other dogs. It is much easier to prevent escapes than to recapture a loose dog, so let’s talk about some preventative measures every dog owner can take.

Removing the motivation to escape is a big part of the solution. A bored dog is much more likely to spend his day plotting the great escape. A dog that is surrounded by everything he or she needs, like lots of toys, a soft bed, and plenty of fresh clean, water, is more likely to spend his or her day contentedly sleeping or playing with toys until the owner returns.

In addition, a dog with lots of pent up, unused energy is likely to try to escape. Try incorporating several vigorous play sessions with your dog into your daily routine. Make one of those play sessions right before you leave. If your dog has a chance to work of his or her energy, chances are he or she will sleep or relax much of the day.

Of course dealing with the dog is only half the problem. It is also important to make the property as escape proof as possible, through proper fencing and other measures. For dogs that dig, it may be necessary to extend the fence underground by placing metal stakes in the ground every few feet. For dogs that jump, it may be necessary to make the fence higher. And if none of these measures work, it may be necessary to confine the dog to the house when you are not at home.