Does Your Dog Ignore You? Here Is How To Remedy This!
November 15, 2011 by Helene Malmsio · Comments Off
Whether you have a new puppy or an old dog, it makes good sense to invest a little time training them. And while there is an abundance of information available about how to train your dog, you can go wrong with dog training tips from the experts.
What does a well trained dog act like? First, he is aware of his owner’s command and follows each because he likes to please his owner. He is not running around like a tornado and does not cause commotion, but behaves in a way that is likely to be helpful and cause pleasant thoughts regarding his presence. He does not jump on a person, he does not bark incessantly, he does not lick a person, he does not try to take food from their hands, he does not try to sit in a visitor’s lap, he does not nip or bite at fingers or hands, and he will lay down at the owner’s request. He is also well trained to expect his daily walks to relieve himself and will not, only in dire and unusual circumstances, relieve himself in the house. A dog owner has the responsibility to let his animal know there will be ample and regulated breaks for him outside and that the owner will be there when needed.
Consistency is essential: If you’re working with your dog on a specific skill or trick then try to train them at the same time every day. This helps your dog know what to expect. Most dogs thrive on structure and will perform and learn much faster when they know what’s expected. If you’re training using food rewards, try to train your dog before mealtime so they’re a little bit hungry and motivated.
Use hand cues in addition to verbal cues: Some dogs have an easier time understanding and remembering hand signals than they do with verbal cues. Assign a hand signal to each trick or behavior you are training.
Potty Training Issues: It depends on the breed of your dog plus your dog’s personality, but potty training can be a long training period and can certainly train you to learn patience. Some people believe that a dog should be crated when the owner is not at home. While this can work to train a dog, it should become unnecessary as the dog learns more how and when to expect the owner home to attend to his needs. A dog that is kept confined in a very small area tends to become depressed and aggressive and very rowdy when removed from the crate. It is very hard to train an animal that does not listen due to his excitement in being let out of confinement and has definite ideas about making sure he does not get put back into that crate!
Chewing: Socks, shoes, belts, electric cords, candles, dog dishes, the kids toys… these are all just waiting to be enjoyed if your dog is a chewer. Some of these are also very dangerous for your dog. Take steps to minimize what your chewer can get to while training them to leave your things alone.
Now that your dog has graduated from the basic dog training steps, you can also teach your dog some simple tricks. No matter which trick you choose to teach your dog, make sure you’re consistent in your training and you reward him for his efforts.
Finally, teaching your dog to fetch something is a time-honored tradition. Dogs can be taught to fetch items and will remember the various names for items. This can be not only a fun trick, but a handy one if you’re unable to easily get things for yourself. You dog can learn to fetch all sorts of things by name – toy, ball, bone, newspaper, shoes, etc. Start with one word, and really emphasize the word. When he’s consistent at fetching that item, you can add another word, and so on.
Dog toys are readily available from most stores and can be purchased relatively cheap. The only concerns are the size of the toy – it mustn’t be that small that the dog will be able to swallow it whole; and the material that the toy is made from – a hard, rubbery plastic is better than a thin, soft plastic that is easy to bite into small pieces. Essentially you want a toy that will stand up to the dog’s sharp teeth without falling apart too quick, and without small pieces being chewed off and swallowed by the dog. These small pieces can get lodged in the dog’s stomach and cause all sorts of health problems.
Many other variations of dog toys can be found or can even be made out of existing household items, just be sure to make them safe for the dog.
If you are unable to devote the time to training your pet, then please have a professional train your dog. It will be well worth the time and effort and money when one of your friends says, “Wow, your dog is such a pleasure to be around. I would love to have such an obedient animal as a pet”. Just take the praise and smile and give your dog a well deserved pat on the head!
Be sure your dog is comfortable and protected from the elements by wearing cute dog clothes and durable cooling dog beds.
Beagle Obedience Training Tips
March 10, 2011 by Rich Niccolls · Comments Off
The first thing to know about beagle pet instruction would be to maintain calm and never raise your voice as well as strike the new puppy. This can instantly produce a distrust that may never be overcome. The second thing to understand is the fact that it will require time. Possibly more hours is required with regard to beagles compared with other breeds because of their very character.
Potty training can often be one thing in the mind of an owner. There will always be a few accidents though with the appropriate instruction your clever small beagle can get the hang of it. There are plenty of products carried in family pet retailers that can help in this task. You’ll find sprays which can be applied to the areas that will be acceptable for doing its business.
Furthermore, you will find pads that can be to be placed at specific points which have a plastic bottom to guard the ground. Apply one of those so when he or she piddles on the ground present that to him, tell him “no” strongly then bring your pet to the appropriate place and let him sniff it. Frequently it’s necessary to absorb the urine and put it at the location which has been picked.
Resting arrangements are another necessary area of the beagle puppy teaching process. In the event the boisterous little playmate shall be a cuddle companion then assisting your pet on the bed in the evenings when it’s time for you to retire may let him know about bedtime as well as where he is able to sleep. When there is a special bed bought specifically for your pet, when it is time for sleep place him inside it and also make sure he understands to stay. This can take a bit of time yet is going to be worth it in the long run.
An additional part of teaching will come as he ages. “Sit” is really as easy as stating it, demonstrating your pet what it really indicates and then giving a treat in the event the command is obeyed. One more will be fetching a toy. A few puppies are derived from effectively trained stock and a part of these games are usually ingrained into them from their mothers. Trainers aren’t certain if it’s for the reason that mom fetched while carrying the puppies or perhaps if it is something which is naturally discovered such as understanding how to eat.
Various other complicated instructions may be taught due to the fact beagle new puppy coaching is made less complicated due to their exceptional thinking ability as well as the stock they come from. There are some owners who may have trained their beagle the way to pick-up their toys and also bring slippers. A few have been photographed walking other puppies by holding onto their leash. Everything you want the beagle to master tend to be as simple as firmness, consistency as well as love. Beagles like to be around their human pack and can continuously use their brilliance to amuse just about every person who will watch.
The Dog Training Secrets website targets breed specific training, for example Beagle Training, where you will discover training advice for your dog. Other Dog Obedience Training advice can be found for 37 various dog breeds.
Obedience Dog Training and Crate Training for Young Puppies
February 18, 2011 by Ian Maranon · Comments Off
For anyone who is serious about puppy obedience training for pets, then you’ve reach the right spot. This information is about dog obedience training for puppies and dogs.
Perhaps you have had a young puppy or possibly a new dog and you also need some help. You truly want your dog to be obedient. You may be looking for information on crate training puppies or advanced training for adult dogs, these simple details are something you require to find out.
Crate training your pups is one of the best options for puppy owners. This can be a great alternative if you want the puppy to be safe and out of hassle. This will be relevant if you are usually absent for work or whenever you get to sleep at nighttime.
Another advantage of crate training is it enables the puppies to acquire its own area. This makes the puppy safe and sound. When looking for a crate, make certain that the crate is adequate enough for the dog. The dog should easily move. Ensure that the puppy has space particularly when he or she gets older to mature size.
Verbal Commands
For adult dogs, you should know that these pets interact well to verbal commands. Ensure never to confuse your pet dog. Say verbal command with the same tone of voice. You can use commands such as “jump, “sit down”, etc.
Incentives for the Pets
To let the pet realize that it has done a fantastic task is by using incentives immediately after the command. It just simply takes a small snack food for the dog to behave. This is the tested method to make sure that your canine behaves correctly. This is also a tested method to make them loyal to you as the dog owner.
To know more about obedience training for dogs, visit our Mighty Dog Training site here: Obedience Training.
Adopting a Senior Golden Retriever
February 11, 2009 by John Charles · Comments Off
Many a person longs to own a beautiful Golden Retriever but understandably has second thoughts when they consider how lively a puppy is. Perhaps you are one of these people? Well the answer might well lie in adopting a more mature Golden, one who will easily adapt to your family and lifestyle, and one that will not be as disruptive as a puppy.
Where do you find an older Golden. Well your first stop should be your nearest breeder because strange as it may seem they often do have older dogs for sale. It may be a retired show dog, or a dog which has produced several litters and will not be needed again. There is a whole host of reasons why they might have a mature dog they wish to find a home for, so, give them a call and enquire.
Most older Golden Retrievers are already housebroken, and know a lot of behavior patterns and how to adapt to a new and loving family. Although it will be a little hard on your new dog at first, if you give him plenty of love, attention, and patience, he’ll be just fine. You need to keep reassuring your new Golden on a regular basis, and let him know that you are his new owner and that you love him and you are glad he’s a member of your family.
Before actually making that decision to adopt a Golden,do give the matter some careful thought. Meet the dog first, and find out as much as you can about him or her. Find out their eating habits, and whether or not they get on with children, and old people, and do they enjoy going for walks in the country or in the town and so on. Ask if you can take them out for a walk, and make sure that you introduce him to the other members of your family, so that they too are happy about the decision.
If you had a guest staying with you in your home you would of course take some time to show them where everything is, where the bedroom is and the bathroom and so on, and it is just them same when you introduce an older dog into your family. Allow some time in your busy schedule to ease them in to your home and routine, and this will pay dividends in the long run.
People often ask me how long it will be before your new Golden is comfortably settled in to your family routine, and I would like to suggest that it takes about a month, give or take a week or so. After this do consider taking them to a dog obedience training class somewhere because you will find that this pays handsome dividends. Yes, they will probably have been trained already before they came to you, but this will act as a sort of ‘top up’ training.
All Golden Retrievers, regardless of their age, love attention. Older Golden’s on the other hand, may have medical problems that you aren’t aware of. You shouldn’t let this stop you from getting one though, simply because the rewards that you’ll find are far greater than any cons that may come to mind. Although many people don’t give a lot of thought to getting an older Golden Retriever – they are perfect for families who don’t want to put up the time and troubles of raising a puppy.
7 Tips To Correct Aggression Employing Dog Behavior Modification
Your training needs to establish you and your family as the “alpha” status in the pack. That resigns your dog to the base of the pack pecking order. Once the family demonstrates leadership over the dog, questions correlated to power may oftentimes be settled. This is why the communality and dog behavior modification are awfully necessary.
7 Techniques for Dog Behavior Modification
1. Give goodies. Stress to yourself that your canine can have whatever he wishes if he is groomed to work for it. Decidedly, it is imperative to reward any exemplary, unplanned dog behavior modification. Keep on your toes! Dogs will shock you!
2. Curb the food store. Since food is such a prized commodity, it is imperative to make your dog realize you oversee this valuable resource.
3. Conserve nuzzling. Rubbing, and the acceptance that goes with it, is a dynamic reward for most dogs and as such should be distributed in the same way as food.
4. Restrict kudos. Approval may be another highly appreciated treasure for which alpha canines must be required to work. Appreciating a dog constantly decreases the implication of this otherwise much valued recognition.
5. Utilize toys as rewards. The provision of toys is a privilege for which dominant dogs have to work.
6. Restrict games. Games are amusing, and as such, must be restricted. You have to introduce all activities and you determine when they are done.
7. Let your pet gain liberty. Liberty is one of life’s privileges and with freedom comes the desire for social obligation and respect.
Dog behavior modification is key when dogs use aggression to assert bad behavior. Keep in mind that YOU ARE THE BOSS…YOU CONTROL what happens.
How To Stop Your Dog’s Aggression Towards Strangers
January 6, 2009 by Christine Andrews · Comments Off
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!
Dog Jumping – How To Stop It In Two Simple Steps
January 1, 2009 by Christine Andrews · 1 Comment
It’s so embarrassing… Your friend stops by for a visit and, before you know it, your dog has jumped up on him to say hello. This type of behavior isn’t just annoying – sometimes it can be scary too. Especially if your dog is large, or your guest is afraid of dogs.
Teaching your dog to not jump on people is really important, and it’s really not hard to do. That’s good – because no one likes being assaulted by your dog, not matter how cute he is! Those sharp nails hurt, not to mention the muddy paw prints on their clothes. And though most dogs are just jumping because they’re excited, others are actually doing it to show you who’s in charge. Here’s what I mean…
It’s true – the main reason dogs jump is because they are just plain happy to see you! Their adrenaline is pumping and they are excited about something. This happens when you come home after being gone for awhile – or when someone comes over to visit.
There is also a less common, but more serious reason dogs will jump on you.
Dogs are pack animals, and each member of the pack has a ranking. The “top dog” is the alpha dog. There are many ways dogs show who is ranked higher in the pack — for example, the alpha dog eats first. He goes through the door first. He also shows he’s superior physically. He will do this with other dogs by putting one or both paws over the other dog’s shoulders — and he will do this with you by jumping up on you.
You have to understand, you are a part of your dog’s pack too. If he’s jumping up on you at other times (not just when he’s excited) it’s likely he’s expressing dominance over you.
If you find that this is happening, you need to realize that you’re dealing with more than a simple jumping issue. Your dog thinks he’s your pack leader. It’s time to brush up on your alpha-dog techniques. Better yet, get some outside help. Since this is a more complex issue, you are going to need to make some serious adjustments to your overall relationship with your dog.
Fortunately, most “jumpers” are just doing it because they are excited. It’s not hard to stop this type of jumping. The most important thing is to be consistent. You can’t let your dog jump on you when you’re playing, and then get mad when he jumps on you as you walk in the door. To stop jumping, you need to teach him that it’s never okay to jump up on you.
This simple two-step technique is one that many trainers use to stop dogs from jumping.
The first step is very simple. You just ignore him whenever he jumps up on you. This means you withdraw all attention – even negative attention – so no yelling, shoving, or corrections whatsoever. The idea is to give him the cold shoulder.
How do you do this? Whenever he jumps on you, immediately turn your back to him. Your posture should tell him that this behavior just is not acceptable. Fold your arms, turn your back to him and turn your face away. Avert your eyes. Since dogs use body language to communicate with each other, he will know exactly what you are saying.
This isn’t a matter of ignoring the jumping. You need to completely ignore your dog. Don’t look at him, yell at him, or acknowledge him in any way. Trust me, without the encouragement of your attention, he will calm down very quickly.
Step two is very important. It’s a matter of timing, so even though you’re “ignoring” your dog, you have to pay close attention to what he is doing.
As soon as your dog stops jumping and has all four paws on the floor, you are going to praise him… a lot. Be wildly enthusiastic. He will see that by staying on the ground, he will get your attention. Don’t worry that he was jumping just a few seconds ago. He will associate your praise with NOT jumping.
This technique is simple, but it works. Give it a try today. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your dog learns. All he wants is your love and attention. By making sure he doesn’t get it when he’s jumping, he’ll soon become the well-behaved pooch you’ve always wanted.
How to Train a Puppy Using the Crate Method
November 17, 2008 by Brian Lehr · Comments Off
So, you’ve got a new puppy. Congratulations! Now comes the fun part — house training. There are many misconceptions floating around about how to accomplish this, so in this article I am going to share what is probably the easiest and most effective way to house train your new puppy.
As far as house training goes, crate training is generally accepted to be the most effective and efficient means of house training a puppy in a short space of time. Crate training is essentially the use of a small indoor kennel (the crate) to confine your young puppy when you’re not actively supervising her.
The whole premise behind this method of crate training is that all dogs have an inbuilt dislike of going to the bathroom in an area where they normally sleep. Therefore, because she’s spending most of her time in her “sleeping quarters”, she will naturally wait until put outside before relieving herself (assuming that you let her out at reasonable intervals).
When choosing a crate, make sure you get one that will allow your new puppy to grow to her full size without having to replace the crate. Be sure it has enough space for your dog to easily stand up and move around a bit. As the dog gets bigger, you don’t want her being housed in a crate that’s too confining.
Unless you’ve got a puppy that will remain small even after being fully grown, you’ll have to place some kind of divider inside the large crate that will temporarily block off some of the inside of the crate from being used until she’s big enough to need the extra space. Otherwise, the extra space might be used as a bathroom space, and that defeats the whole purpose of crate training.
Crate training works like this: your puppy is in that crate at all times unless she’s sleeping, eating, outside with you going to the toilet, or being played with (active supervision). You’ll need to be consistent, or else it won’t work: you can’t let your puppy wander off through the house unless you’re focusing your complete attention on her. If you allow her access to the house before she’s thoroughly house trained, you’re basically encouraging her to relieve herself inside – and remember, each time she does this, it’ll be easier for her to do it again (and again and again ).
So, how long should your puppy be in the crate for any length of time? Use the following formula to determine this: how old is she, in months? Now, add one. Thus, if your puppy is only two months old, she should be in the crate for a maximum of three hours at a time. Ideally, however, it would be good to take her out to stretch her legs and to go to the bathroom every 2-3 hours. However, if she’s sleeping, then just let her keep sleeping (especially if it’s through the night!).
Training a puppy using the crate training method is not an overnight solution. It can take up to two months maximum, usually less, for this process to work. But that a short time considering the number of years she’ll be part of your family. As you progress with your crate training, you can begin to reduce the amount of time the puppy is in the crate, but make sure you continue to monitor her while she’s not in the crate. After all that hard work, you’d hate to start back one square one again because she starts going to the bathroom in the house.
