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Posts Tagged ‘training your dog’

So you brought home your brand new puppy. Dog obedience training is the last thing on your mind. Oh, you know you will have to train your dog to go to the bathroom outside but that is no big deal.

You can happily see just what your life is going to be like together now that you have a new best friend. Your anxious to take him to the park with you so you can run and play together through the green meadows. He will always stay by your side eliminating the need for a leash and he will go with you everywhere that you go.

He might even be your child’s best friend. They will run and play together on hot summer days the way a kid and his best friend are meant to. Life is going to be so wonderful!

Then reality sets in.

Your perfectly behaved dog will absolutely not relieve himself outside and loves lounging on your couch. He is suddenly to good for dog food and scours the counters for his feast. Your new carpet has become a digging haven.

Forget that you bought him chew toys and plenty of bones, the arms on your favorite recliner have become the best chew toy in the world. He is constantly barking at everything including his own shadow and your dreams of owning a well behaved dog are vanishing.The constant barking is driving you batty. If you do dog obedience training dog barking is first on the list.

So what do you do now?

Well you can’t get rid of the blasted dog because even though he is a monster he has the saddest eyes that he stares up at you with when he’s in trouble. He really loves you and you him.

If only he would behave.

Well the answer my friend is dog training and not just taking your dog to a dog training class a handful of times. Your dog will need constant training but it will not be as hard to do as you think.

Dogs really love to please so when you two finally figure out how to properly communicate and he knows what to expect, he will go out of his way to make you happy.

There is probably no doubt that you want to keep your dog happy and healthy.A nutritious diet is one of the best ways to improve your dog's health and well being.  This could also affect the way your dog behaves and could be a cause or a cure for problem dog behavior.

It should not be hard to believe that some foods might affect dogs in the same way that they affect humans.Some humans are sensitive or allergic to food additives and certain foods.There are different reactions to this sensitivity, an example is hyperactivity in children.  It is a possibility that if you have dog problem behavior, and training does not seem to be working, that your dog could be sensitive to something that it is eating.Do you remember what happened the last time that you ate something that didn't agree with you.  How did you feel?What if you had to eat it because you had nothing else?  Dogs do not have the option to change their food, they have to eat what their owners feed them.

A lot of the commercial dog foods available today are high in carbohydrates and they contain fillers and additives.  The high carbohydrate concentration alone can cause wild swings in blood sugar levels and can in turn, cause dog behavior problems.Even though dogs evolved from primitive wolves, they are not exclusively carnivores.The prey of wild wolves eat plants and the wolves will eat the stomach contents of the prey.You might have seen your dog eating grass.  If it was up to your dog, it would probably eat food that it could digest easily.  This is why you often hear about Veterinarians prescribing a lamb and rice diet for dogs that have certain health problems.

To assure that your dog gets the nutrition that it needs you should look for a food that is high quality, protein based and contains the essential nutrients that an animal would derive from other sources such as plants, roots and berries.Although it may be difficult to find a product that meets these requirements in todays market, with a bit of research you should be successful.  With proper nutrition, your dog will be much healthier and in some cases its behavior will improve.

If you’re reading this article, you’ve probably already got yourself a nice set of pet steps; but if you haven’t yet purchased dog stairs, you might want to take a minute to seriously consider the benefits. Every time your dog jumps on and off of objects such as furniture, his joints absorb the impact. Over time, this can lead to the early development of arthritis, not to mention that any time your dog jumps from something, he risks the possibility of a broken bone. Besides, pet stairs are wonderful to use by the bed to keep your dog from pouncing on and off the bed, simultaneously jolting you awake.

If you already have a set of pet stairs—good for you!! This is an important tool to make your dog’s everyday activity easier and safer. The next step is teaching your pet how to use them. Some owners struggle with convincing their stubborn pet to use the steps, especially if the dog is a little older and is “set in his way” of doing things. The best way to convince your pet to use pet stairs is to show him how it can be worth his while.

Showing your dog “what’s in it for him” isn’t nearly as hard as it sounds. One way you can do this is by positioning the stairs where they will be used most and dangling your dog’s favourite toy or snack to lure him up. This may not work the first couple of attempts, but perseverance really does pay off. If your dog tends to be easily excitable, dangling his toy or a treat in front of him may not be the best trick. Instead, try sitting on the bed or sofa—or wherever you plan to position the stairs—and call to your dog. If he tries to climb up without the stairs, give him a gentle scolding and place him in front of the stairs, repeating the process over until he uses the dog stairs correctly.

We’ve also heard of dog owners who have denied their dog access to the bed unless the dog steps were used. This was done by either verbally dismissing the dog from the bed or bodily removing him from the bed onto the floor in front of the steps. This tactic is quite successful, as is high praise. Anytime your dog uses the stairs to get onto the furniture, make a big deal about it. Give him a cheery “good boy!” or any other phrase of praise you commonly use. This not only lets him know that you prefer for him to use the stairs, but also that it pleases you—and that’s what dogs want to do!

For information about getting your dog a set of pet stairs, visit Help Your Pets.

Ok, you just got a new dog and you are so excited and happy (and you should be!). But one question that will come up pretty soon is how to deal with training?

It is absolutely necessary to train your dog (if you haven’t noticed it yet, wait a couple of days…), but how? The dilemma is usually between hiring someone professional with a lot of experience to do it for you or training it on your own.

There are advantages to hiring a pro to do the training for you. First of all, you know the job will be done in a very good way (that is, after looking into references and making sure the person you hire knows what they are doing…). Aside from that, if you don't train your dog on your own, it will take less time for your dog to be trained. Another great advantage to hiring a pro is the amount of work and energy from your side. By all means – your involvement is a must, but you will have guidance and will have to put less work and effort into the process.

But (what, you really thought that only good and no bad???) hiring someone to do the professional training for you can get quite expensive. Also, you may feel you are not doing so good because you haven't any previous experience.

One solution can come in the shape of online help. Yup, there are various dog training programs which you can find on the internet, and they do a pretty good job! It is actually pretty ideal, as it gives you the opportunity to train you dog on your own, and it lowers the price of hiring someone! (Isn't that great to feel that way? Think of the great sense of fulfillment and accomplishment you will have!)

So, do your research online, see how much money you can out in this business, and get this project kicking!

Snarling? Biting? Growling? Wish To Stop Your Dog’s Aggression? click here now!

Usually the best training for your dog comes from their owners.

Training your dog will help him to be a more obedient animal .It will also help him to be a better animal .

The time that you spend investing in this training will reward you for many years .Your pet will be closer to you and will be your best friend.

And this methods won’t hurt his or her personality.You have to set the limits to help your dog to feel self confident.

Your dog need your attention.They do whatever it takes to get your attention .

It’s highly possible you may actually be unconsciously telling your dog to behave badly if you do not provide them with the attention that they are in need of. .

If you yell at your pet for doing something wrong , they may keep doing that wrong just to get that attention.

You are agitated which makes them agitated.Just don’t pay attention when your pet do something wrong like this.

Instead, positive reinforcement works well on almost every dogs.Give to your dog a reward if he or she show good behavior .Now, what can you do? .

Things like verbally praising them works well. You can take some time to pay extra attention to them .This does several things for your pet .

Your dog will realize that good behavior , will get them a reward.And, it will help to promote you as the leader .

If your pet tries to challenge your leadership you must show them you are the leader of the pack.Obedience training can be quite beneficial for your pet if he or she are continually showing wrong behavior.

The dog will feel more secure and behave properly when he uses his or her instincts to follow a leader.

Positive reinforcement type training can work really well with your dog .For example, the capture reward process where the dog is rewarded when the good behavior is displayed is commonly used to gently coax the pet into giving you the desired reaction.

Professionals trainers affirm that it is best to use several senses for training your pet.

It’s necessary the use of verbal communication and the use of hand signals .

What are verbal signals? Things like sit, stay, etc.You need a release signal as well which will inform the animal that she has done a good.

First, you should give the release signal. Second give her reward.This way the signal and the fact that the animal has done are linked in the animal’s mind.

You can do most of your pet training yourself.

You can tap into the resources that you find on this site about training for your dog.

We are going to explore some of the basics of dog pyschology. When you understand why your dog thinks and behaves the way he does, it can go a long way to helping in the process of training your dog.

Understanding why a dog behaves and acts the way he does is called dog pyschology. The way the dog-a descendant of the wolf- has adapted to human social organization is truly fascinating.

Dogs have learned to live with and obey humans through successful training. A dog learns that when he behaves well, he will be rewarded and this is one facet of creating a trusting bond and relationship between you and your dog.

To better understand dog psychology it is important to understand how wolves live.In the wild wolves live in packs of two or more.The males and females of the wolf pack use a strictly defined dictatorship system.

The biggest male in the pack is almost always the “alpha leader.”All of the other wolves in the pack folllow the alpha leader eagerly and with the utmost respect.

With a similar social organization and instinctive mental or psychological structure, wolves were able to adapt domestically with man thousands of years ago. Wolves divide duties like feeding:one wolf tracks, one stands guard, and one makes the attack.The alpha leader allows the other members of the pack to finish his “leftovers” when he has fed first and is satisfied.

As part of your household your dog views the members of the family as the pack.To figure out who the alpha leader is and exactly how he fits into this new system, your dog will be watching everyone closely.

He will be watching for clues such as the physical size of each family member as well as the tone of voice that each person speaks with.The way everyone interacts with one another is another clue your dog will watch for throughout the day.

Someone in the household, either yourself or another responsible adult in the household, will have to establish themself as the alpha leader.The sooner this is established, the fewer behavioral problems you will see.

You must also have a clear understanding that your dog is at the bottom of your family’s hierarchal system.

If your dog sees that no hierarchal system is in place, he will create one and put himself in charge. This is when a lot of dogs can become overly dominant and destructive. Your dog should understand that he is subordinate to everyone-including children.

Because of their small size and their dependency on adults, it is sometimes difficult for a dog to understand that he is lower ranked than children. Dogs can sometimes become very aggressive towards children for this reason and might even bite on occasion.

You can help your dog realize that his position is subordinate to every other family member through disciplined training.Good quality dog training resources can help you with this process.

Remember, training does take time and effort, but it is definately worth it!

All the best with the process of training your dog.

Darcy Austin is editor in chief of Dog Obedience University, a comprehensive resource on dog obedience training.

Summer is around the corner. Its the perfect time of year to take some dog walks and get rid of that cabin fever. If your dog walks are anything but leisurely strolls, the following tips are just for you!

Change Your Direction

Abruptly changing the direction you’re heading in may be enough distraction to make your dog understand that he needs to follow you. Each time your dog begins to yank on the lead or run in front of you, quickly change direction and start walking in a different direction. When he obeys and returns to your side, be sure to follow up with praise and/or a small dog treat. Don’t scold your dog for pulling ahead, simply catch him off guard and redirect him.

You may have to repeat this many times , even if it means your “walk” is only a few steps at a time, back and forth. The goal is to have your dog following you, and paying attention to the direction you’re headed in. Repeating this process and giving praise and treats when he responds positively, quite often fixes the tug of war game some dogs like to play.

If you already own a remote dog trainer that has both positive and negative tone reinforcement, now would be a good opportunity to put it to use.

Always Be Consistent

Once you’ve made up your mind that you want your dog to walk obediently beside you, don’t give in! If you don’t establish consistent rules, your dog will become confused. Treat this as you would any other training session.

The best way to practice your new walking skills is in a familiar place like your driveway or backyard. After your dog has mastered his new leash walking skills, you can experiment with longer walks in unfamiliar places.

Keep Up the Good Work

As with all dog training, teaching your dog to walk properly on a leash is an ongoing process. Don’t be discouraged if your dog isn’t instantly getting it. Patience and consistency will pay off in the long run. Don’t assume that the training ends when your dog starts walking beside you. You’ll want to continue to use the distraction technique occasionally to keep him on his toes and reinforce what you’ve taught him.

Don’t be stingy with the praise and treats! Dogs love being rewarded for doing the right thing. Heap on the rewards and praise when he is obeying you, and he will pay more attention to your actions.

crate training

A dog trainer has to be a special person who can undertake training your dog so that he or she can be the pet of your dreams. But, cost sometimes comes in the way and so we must turn to an alternative: be a dog trainer for ourselves. No, this does not mean opening your own business or doing the pet training for your family. It means that you are going to be the one who will handle and train the dog in certain aspects. Luck may pay a part but it will be a firm base of knowledge and help that gets you through.

In order to be a dog trainer for your pet, you have to know some dog training tips. The first is having the proper knowledge on the dog breeding. Certain dogs are more laid back than others. Some dogs exhibit more aggression. As a dog trainer for your puppy, you must know its breeding. Once you have this knowledge ingrained then you will know what areas of difficulty you can expect as well as areas that will be easier.

Basic dog training starts off with teaching the pet how not to use the bathroom in your house. Dog books may recommend something called crate training to help with this aspect. Basically it begins with laying puppy pee pads out and into a crate designed to house your dog. There will be some rough times when the carpet gets more of the pee than the pad or crate does but as a dog trainer you must come to expect this. Eventually the dog will lean to use the bathroom correctly.

Crate training can also be used as a way to secure the dog at night when the rest of the family is asleep. You probably do not want to wake up and find your best shoes chewed up because Fido became irritated at you because you were not there for him or her when they wanted to play. Dogs are very smart. If you irritate them or abandon them, they will retaliate and the recipient is often a favored pair of shoes that become chew toys.

It is probably safe to assume that you have a set of shoes you wear often. It probably would not go over very well to come home and find them chewed up or defecated in. Dogs have a curious way to express their irritation. If you utilize crate training as a weapon in a dog trainer capacity, you can leave your pet safely ensconced within the cage when you are gone.

Dog forums are an excellent way a novice trainer can receive advice on the harder aspects of being a dog trainer. It will not be all sunshine and roses, you should expect some roadblocks. Professional dog trainers have websites that can help you and your pet get past these barriers. You can also visit a local pet store for advice on everything from puppy pad training on up to teaching your pet tricks.

As a pet dog lover, you always see to it that you give all the best in the world for your furry best friend. There are even other people who would go through the extreme of enrolling their dogs to an obedient school for weeks or months. Well, that would be a good thought if you have the means of financial resources. They can also opt for a trainer who can train their dogs right in their own homes. If you have the much-needed budget, you can do so. But sad to say, most dog masters can’t seem to handle to invest in these things. That’s why, they would resort to going through the Web, browsing for an online dog training course and help them learn how to train their own dogs.

If you would really like to train your dog on your own, this is also what you need to find. There are many advantages in learning how to train your dog. First thing is, you can make a fine relationship with your best friend. Among all people, you are the only one or your family members, for that matter, knows the personality traits of your pet and training him on your own can be handled efficiently as compared to hiring a dog trainer. A dog training course that you can do on your own is much cheaper. You might, for example, find a program or a book which you will only pay for a minimumlesser amount and you can train your pet dog with it and you can even apply your knowledge from what you’ve learned from that book guide on other dogs.

Lastly, training your own dog won’t really be a hindrance to your time and your other important obligations. You can set out your fixed schedule on when to train your dog effectively. But the question is, where can you find a good training course guide? If you go to the Net right now, you can come across some dog training reviews site which has compiled several guides on how to train your dog. From there, you can get to learn the different system and after reading them, that’s the time for you to decide to choose from among those options which you think will work best for you and your furry friend.

Simple Principles in Dog Obedience Training

Dogs, even when their breeding is maximized and well-adapted to human needs, will always need some basic obedience training as they would never figure this out on their own. To be successful in obedience training you need to understand the differences between effective and non-effective training techniques. Principles to Learn:

Principle One: CONSISTENCY

The first rule in obedience training is to be consistent. You need to be consistent in the words you use, the tone they are spoken in and the actions that accompany them. Before you begin training you will need to come to an agreement with the dog owner on what it is they are wanting the dog to learn and how to accomplish it.

At first the word commands, such as “come”, does not make sense to a dog. He does not understand things the way humans think and he does not understand the language we use. So to make the training understandable, you should use the command in a very consistent manner so that the dog will learn to associate the word with the meaning you attach with it.

Another example would be, if you are using the command “come”, make sure that everyone in the household use it in a same type of manner. The command “Come” specifically means that the dog should approach the giver of the command. When you are using this command be sure not to use any signals or body movements that would be confusing to the dog.

If he does not come to you, do not force the dog to come to you and then punish him for doing so. Otherwise, this would make him attribute the command with the punishment. He will not follow the same command since in his mind, he remembers it will lead to punishment.

Being consistent in your dog commands is to be followed by anyone who works with the dog. For instance if you are teaching the word “come”, others should not use the words, ’come here boy’ or ’here’, because this will only confuse the dog.

Principle Two: KEEP IT SHORT

Both the amount of time you spend training and the words you use as commands should be kept short. Dogs tend to have a short attention span, it is best to limit the training so they keep the interest level to it’s peak during the days lesson. Puppies usually react to a specific stimulus, but not for a very long time, they may begin to chase a moving toy, and quickly lose interest, then move on to the next thing.

They simply don’t possess the same amount of interest they had when they started the activity and they become easily bored. The same thing happens in training therefore, it should be limited only to 10 minutes to 15 minutes of regular training.

Third Principle: No Punishment or Force Allowed

A trainer should never hurt the dog in any way, you should make it a goal to have the training be a positive experience for all involved. Also, never force the dog to follow the command if he is not prepared for, or punish a dog for something he did during training that he did not understand.

Make sure not to over do it when training your dog. The dog does not understand that he should learn things “instantly” and he does not realize that you are becoming impatient with the speed he is picking up the training. If you are angry the dogs can sense it but does not know why.

So do not use force as this does not communicate your meaning properly, instead gives a negative reinforcement. If he knows that he is praised when he does something right, he should not be praised when he does not follow a command.