Teaching Your Dog to “Stay” the Easy Way

It can be very difficult for a dog to understand that when we say “stay” we want him to do absolutely nothing but to stay in his position. It is not something to actively do so it is important they comprehend that at times doing nothing is exactly what we want them to do.

How to teach your dog to stay

The first thing you need to do is make sure your dog already knows the command “sit”. This way you can starting combining an action you require of him, sitting down, with the passive composure we are trying to get from him. So tell your dog to sit and once he is sitting use the same tone in telling him to “stay”. After a few seconds of staying in his position reward you dog with praise or a treat.

You can help him stay in position by staying close to him and make sure there are no distractions that could get his attention. By using your body language you can ensure he will stay still.

If your dog should break the stay, then go through the process of sitting and staying again. A few seconds at the start of training will suffice and then gradually build up the amount of time your dog remains in the stay position. Always reward with praise, and eventually your dog will understand exactly what you expect of him.

The next step is to start making it a little more complicated by asking your dog to stay and move away a little bit without him moving.

Australian Shepherd Dog Training

The Australian Shepherd dogs can be a good companion if one leads an active life. This breed is a very active dog and a high spirited lifestyle suits best for them. In order to maximize this breed’s potential you must learn some basic facts about them.

Quick Facts

Commonly known as Aussie Shepherd, this breed originated from the U.S. working as a herding dog in ranches. A medium sized, stout, well-balanced country dog characterized by its triangular shaped ears set high on the side of the head and slightly rounded at the tip. These animals have a strong, deep chest and squarely stand on all fours. An identifying characteristic is its natural or docked bobtail. Masculinity or femininity is clearly defined in Australian Shepherd dogs.

Height: Dogs 20-23 inches (52-58cm.) Bitches 18-21 inches (46-53cm) Weight: Dogs 50-65 pounds (25-29 kg) Bitches 40-55 pounds (18-25 kg.)

Personality

Aussie has an easy going nature and loves to play around. Rough playing is what they enjoy most. They can sense what their master wants and are eager to please. Their playful nature make them poular with kids though they exhibit wariness around strangers. This kind needs to be exposed to people and other animals at an early age to practice their social skills and for them to be able to discern the difference between an ally and opponent.

Teaching

The great qualities that make these animals so endearing can also be damaging if they are not properly trained since this could result to undesirable behavior like nipping, chewing and digging. Obedience training for Australian Shepherds is highly recommended since they are quick learners and this will make them realize what are expected of them early on. It is best to develop their social skills by exposing them to people and other animals for them to discern between a friend and foe. Very loyal and affectionate with their masters, they suffer from separation anxieties so it is not advisable to leave them alone for a long period of time. Poorly socialized Aussies may become aggressive if not properly trained.

The normal lifespan of an Australian Shepherd is 12 years and more. Aussies have a bigger appetite that most dogs so they have to be fed large amount of quality food. If you want to get this dog for a companion you must be prepared to have the time and commitment. A well-trained Australian Shepherd dog is a joy to be around as they are dedicated and diligent.

How To Stop Your Dog’s Aggression Towards Strangers

Aggression in dogs is scary. Having a dog that acts aggressively towards strangers is a big problem. There are some things you can do to help correct the problem, but first you should understand why your dog is acting this way.

Dogs are instinctively aggressive by nature. Aggression came in handy when they lived in the wild - dogs needed aggression to hunt, to defend themselves from other animals, and to defend resources like their food, their den, and their mate.

While selective breeding over the last few centuries has definitely minimized this natural trait, all dogs are still capable of causing serious injury.

The good thing is, there is a lot we can do as dog owners to prevent this aggression from surfacing. And if it does surface - for whatever reason - there are things you can do to deal with it.

Although aggression in dogs comes in different forms, aggression towards strangers is one that is quite common. This type of aggression is stems from nervousness. If he becomes nervous around strangers, his instinct is to protect himself (and you) from the percieved threat.

Its pretty easy to tell when a dogs nervous around strange people. He’ll be jumpy and on the alert. You’ll see this in one of two ways… either he can’t sit still (constantly fidgeting, jumping at the smallest sound, and pacing around barking and whining) or he’s completely still, sitting in one place, staring hard at the person he’s suspicious of. This could be anyone - a visitor, the mailman, or someone approaching him on the street.

A dog who acts this way around strangers hasn’t been exposed to new people very often. The only way he’ll learn that strangers aren’t a bad thing is through experience. He relies completely on you to broaden his horizons - to take him to different places where he can meet new people. Until that happens, he’ll be unsure of new people… which is what leads to stranger aggression.

This is what we call “socialization” - and it’s an important part of raising a healthy, stable dog. The best time to start is when he’s a puppy, but it should continue throughout your dog’s life. Giving him a lot of new experiences helps him become comfortable in new situations. It gives him confidence. The only way this happens is by taking him out in the world and exposing him to new people, places and things.

It’s not enough to expose an adult dog to a crowd of new, unfamiliar people and just say, “Settle down, Roxy, it’s OK”… your dog has to learn that it’s okay on his own. That’s what socializing does… it lets your dog learn this by exposing him to all types of people and animals: from babies and toddlers to teens and elderly, from people in uniform to people carrying umbrellas or riding bikes.

By starting as a puppy, these new experiences become “common place” to your dog. He learns that new people are friendly and fun which makes him more relaxed and at ease when he encounters strangers in the future.

A fun way to start socializing your new puppy is to sign him up for puppy preschool. These puppy classes are usually held at vet centers or some other indoor, controlled environment. It’s a series of classes created specifically for puppies and their owners.

The typical puppy class has about a dozen puppies and owners. They are run by a qualified dog trainer who is usually joined by one or two assistants. By having more than one instructor, you and your puppy will have more one-on-one time with one of the trainers. During class, you will learn about your puppy’s developmental stages and even some basic obedience commands.

It’s fun to learn how to teach your puppy to “come” but the biggest benefit of joining a puppy class is the socialization. Until you’ve finished your puppy shots, many vets will discourage you from taking your puppy out in public. The main concern is parvo, which is highly contagous and very dangerous to puppies. Puppy classes provide a safe environment to start socializing your puppy at an earlier age. There are usually several “play sessions” per class to let the puppies run around and play together off-leash. This group play helps them learn how to interact with other dogs. It also gives them a chance to meet new people and start learning that they don’t have to be afraid of strangers.

Just remember… socializing at puppy school is just the start. To raise a friendly, confident dog you need to continue exposing him to new experiences. You’ll want to take him to as many new places as possible - just don’t overwhelm him. Start off slow, and you’ll see his confidence grow. By consistently socializing your dog, he’ll grow up knowing that new people and new places are good things. He’ll have nothing to fear, especially strangers!