A Guide for Dog Training

Posted by on August 8, 2009

You can train your lovable and precious pet dogs, to do smart, interesting, and entertaining things. It takes many years and a lot of dedication to train dogs properly. Some methods in dog training take more energy and attention than others, while some can be incredibly simple in nature and involve acting or speaking in a certain way to the dog. All of these things, in some way, train a dog from puppyhood to the later years of loyal companionship.
Dog training Tips
Some basic tips for dog training include several categories that subgroup the different field of training that a dog trainer desires to achieve.
One of the most basic trainings that dog owners go through is house training, or, in other words, the training of dogs to not use the bathroom inside the house or in any other non-approved area. This is pulled off by two methods: firstly, when the dog messes on the floor inside of the home, his master must instantly command in a deep, firm voice that this is not acceptable. You need to take the puppy out doors and show them were they need to relieve themselves. Most dogs can be taught this in just a few weeks.
Another training that owners usually want their dogs to know is how to stop doing something. Potty training can work with this at the same time. Whenever a dog is found eating something that is not meant to be eaten, immediately remove it from his jaws and warn him in a deep, stern voice that this is not allowed. Then, replace the item with a chewable toy meant for the dog so that he or she knows that the toy is ok to be chewed. Again, within several weeks, the dog will know that most things should not be chewed on, but the toy is ok to chew.
One more primary trick or ability that dog owners like to teach their dogs is the ability to sit on command. This is an easy trick to learn. With a treat handy, the owner speaks the command sit to the dog and then pushes the dog’s rear to the ground, though not harshly or to hard as this will discourage sitting. Give the dog the treat as soon as they are sitting down. After practicing this for a couple of weeks, the dog will finally comprehend that sitting down on command brings forth a reward.
These are just a few of the many complex and basic commands that dogs can be taught.
Dog Training Collars
Dog training collars come in several shapes and functions, one of the most used and popular collar on the market is the shock collar. Though some people find this collar cruel, it truthfully provides only minor discomfort to a dog rather than pain. The collar doesn't cause any harm and is more humane than yanking on a choke chain or lead rope. Shock collars can be preferable to choke chains or ropes since the incident for injury is lessened. Shock collars are great at teaching a dog what it's boundaries are.
Dog Agility Training
Dog agility training is a form of training that teaches dogs to move quickly through obstacles and with haste around certain structures. This type of training is done for competitions and other events that test the dogs ability and the trainers skills. This type of training is easier to do on mid aged dogs.

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Training Your Dog to Come on Command

Posted by on August 8, 2009

Is your dog trained well enough to come the first time you call? For me, when my dog didn’t come when I called  was a very frustrating experience. When your dog doesn’t come do you start yelling and repeating come over and over? Well, I am here to tell you not to do that if you want to train your dog to come on command.The reason for this is that the yelling is going to negatively reinforce your doggy not to come.  Yelling the word “come” in an angry and loud voice will be like teaching him that “come” means the same as “trouble”. As a matter of fact, the yelling may even make him choose to run farther away-this is really frustrating (I know).

If you use the positive techniques of training, you make it fun for your dog to come when you call.You do this simply by giving your dog lots of praise and affection and some treats when he performs as you want.  It is much easier to get your dog to come when he always has had a positive experience for coming to you.

  • So that he doesn’t get distracted when learning to come, begin the training inside your house. Using a happy upbeat voice (this is important) call him to you saying “come”. Give him lots of affection, praise and a treat as soon as he come to you. You can enlist the help of someone else in the house to train the dog to come. First one of you can call and then reward your dog for listening and then the other repeats the training.  Once your dog consistently responds to the come command  inside the house he is ready for further training outside.
  • Put your dog on his leash prior to going outside. If he is distracted and doesn’t pay attention when you call him try giving a tug on the leash, and walk backwards till he comes up to you. Now that he’s come, you can give him praise, love and a treat-all great rewards. Be sure to reward and praise him for his actions, but don’t get angry if he doesn’t immediately get the idea. Once you get your dog to come on command with the short leash, you are ready to try it with a long leash.
  • Your dog will feel less controlled by you when walking on the longer leash. So, now when you call him, he may be feeling a little more independent, having more room to cruise and all, so it may tempt him to ignore your call command. For a dog that is ignoring your call to come as you are walking him, quickly change direction and start walking away-this will get his attention for sure (as the leash will remind him he needs to catch up with you) and when you call him now he will run up to you for the praise and reward you will be giving him for listening. Stay with this step of  the training until he is coming every time you call him. Now you are ready for the next step-off leash recall.
  • It is a good idea to begin this step inside a yard that is enclosed with a fence so the dog isn’t tempted to run off and ignore you once again. Work on the off-leash recall using the same methods as on-leash training, namely lots of praise and rewards of petting and a treat for coming when he is called. If your dog is not all that responsive, go back to the previous steps until he really has it down and try again. Hopefully, your dog is listening and now you are ready for the big test.
  • You are now ready to try calling your dog to you even when he is cruising around outside the yard without a leash. Unless the doggy is already well trained to come, he probably won’t pass this tougher test. Your dog has truly learned to come on command when he listens to you amongst the distractions that are outside the yard. Even if he sometimes isn’t perfect, keep working with your dog on this-it is an important element of obedience training. You are with your dog every day, so you will have plenty of opportunities to train him the way you want things to be.

I think you will find these tips are useful. For more helpful tips on all kinds of dog behavior problems and dog obedience training please visit. BehaveDoggy.com To read more and learn about the very best on line dog training program:. Secrets to Dog Training

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How to Stop Your Puppy from Biting You

Posted by on August 8, 2009

If your household has a new puppy, I am sure that you have been the victim of his sharp little teeth. Among the targets is the skin on your hands and feet, any loose shoes you haven’t put away, and well, I am sure you already know nothing is safe.Below are some common sense tips that will help you stop your puppy from biting you and your household, and making sure his chewing is not as much of an issue.

  • First of all, get your puppy some chew toys to play with. He’s teething, so he’s going to have to bite something, and these chew toys are the perfect substitutes for your hands and feet.  As the puppy’s playing gets too rough, use your hand to hold is little mouth closed. You should  keep his mouth closed until he becomes submissive and accepts your hand over his mouth without struggling. He will probably not be happy about this, but keep him calm with your voice and hold him still. Using a firm but calm voice, tell your puppy “no biting”. Be sure to keep your voice calm so he doesn’t become nervous and resist even longer. The calmer he stays, the quicker he’ll become submissive. Once he has become submissive and stopped struggling, it is time to remove your hand from his mouth, and offer him his chew toy as a wonderful substitute to human flesh.  Give him praise as soon as he starts to chew on the toy.Because you are positively reinforcing chewing on the toy instead of you-consistently-the puppy will learn that the toy is the better alterntive.Just be patient and consisitent with this training, and never punish or hit your puppy for playing too rough-that won’t help. If you use negative reinforcement you end up hurting your relationship with your puppy, and ultimately make training him harder.Make sure the entire household is on the same page, for the training to be effective. If some people are yelling or hitting the puppy when he play bites, this will undermine your own approach and cause the puppy to be confused.
  • A good way to prevent household damage when you can’t supervise your puppy’s activities directly, is to keep him in his crate. By not either watching or confining your puppy to his crate, he most likely will be found chewing various items around the house. Make sure to put some chew toys inside his crate to serve his chewing enjoyment needs.
  • Common sense alone tells you some easy ways to stop the pup from chewing easy to get at goodies. For example,  try keeping your shoes and slippers, etc. in a closed closet.
  • Borrow a trick form Mama dog to let the puppy know he is biting too hard. The way to do this is by yelping in a high pitched voice when he bites you. Even if you feel funny doing this, it is a very effective communication to your puppy.
  • I have that when he is really biting hard, that combining the hand over the mouth with a snarl and staring into his eyes. sends a strong enough message that he will stop. Mama dogs will do this in order to get the message across very vividly to their puppies.
  • You might not want to get fur in your mouth like a Mama dog does to make your point, but you can certainly grab the scruff of his neck with your hand until he is submissive again to let him know that you are the boss. Don’t stop the correction until he has really shown you he understands that you are the boss, by becoming  submissive.
  • Playing rough games with him, such as tug of war or wrestling, is a bad idea (even though it is so much fun) because it just encourages him to bite even more. I always used to do both those rough games with my puppies, and consequently always used to have bloody hands and wrists and forearms. I didn’t realize at the time the rough playing was not a good idea because it could increase his aggression level.

Use these tips to get control of your puppy’s biting problem. Click here for more dog training tips www.BehaveDoggy.com.

To get the very best of the on-line dog training programs, please click here. Secrets to Dog Training.

 

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What You Should Know About Canine Periodontal Disease

Posted by on August 8, 2009

Eating obviously means there is going to be food lodged within your dog's teeth and gumline. Plaque will develop if bacteria is left to accumulate from food particles allowed to remain in the teeth. Plaque can be removed relatively easily. However, if you don’t take steps to do so, it can turn into tartar, which is far more difficult to remove.

Unlike plaque, tartar will irritate your pooch’s gums. If it is not removed, it will cause gingivitis, which will result in inflamed or bleeding gums, and bad breath. But, the problem can become much worse. Given enough time, the amount of tartar beneath the gums can grow, forming pockets that collect bacteria. This marks the onset of periodontal disease (PD) and can eventually cause your dog to lose his teeth or suffer infection as the bacteria enters his bloodstream.

Below, we’ll describe some of the leading causes of periodontal disease in canines. We’ll also explain how veterinarians treat the problem.

What Causes The Problem?

There are several factors that play a role in the development of PD. For example, how old your dog is can have a significant influence. Because periodontal disease takes time to develop, it is most prevalent in older canines, though it also occurs in younger dogs. Their food's texture also has a surprising impact. Harder foods are more effective for rubbing plaque off the teeth than soft, canned foods.

Usually, the smaller a dog is, the more susceptible it is to dental problems. Their teeth are usually positioned close together making it more difficult for the plaque to be rubbed off by harder foods or removed through brushing. The likelihood of the buildup of tartar is increased greatly if the dog's owner does not brush their teeth regularly.

Canines that suffer from periodontal disease will often paw at their gums, drool, or show a heightened sensitivity around their mouths. One of the most obvious signs of PD is also the most often overlooked: bad breath. If you notice your pooch exhibiting any of these signs, take him to a veterinarian for a dental exam.

Forms Of Treatment

Periodontal disease in canines is diagnosed in four grades from early gingivitis to advanced periodontitis. The treatment prescribed by a veterinarian will depend on the grade. Grades 1 and 2 will normally be treated by a thorough dental cleaning whereby any existing tartar will be removed with scalers. Grades 3 and 4 require more intensive treatment. A veterinarian might perform root planing, subgingival curettage, and even extraction of one or more teeth.

Owners should consider their dog’s oral health a priority. A minor issue such as bad breath might signal the onset of gingivitis. If it is not resolved in a timely manner, it will eventually turn into periodontal disease. However, with a regular routine of brushing and periodic dental exams, owners can help keep their canines’ teeth problems at bay.

 

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How to Deal with Diabetic Dogs

Posted by on August 8, 2009

In the same way that millions of people cope with diabetes, so too, does the disease affect canines. Specifically, the disorder is called diabetes mellitus (DM). An insulin deficiency prevents your pooch’s body from metabolizing glucose effectively. There are two varieties of DM: Type I and Type II. The former is the most prevalent type (99% of dogs with DM suffer from this type) and occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough insulin. The latter occurs when insulin is manufactured but your pooch’s body isn’t able to use it properly.

In the following paragrpahs, we'll lay out the warning signs to look out for if your dog have developed diabetes mellitus. As a potentionally fatal disorder, it is crucial to recognize is as soon as possible. We’ll also explain how the disease is diagnosed and treated as well as what you can do at home to help your dog manage the disorder.

Possible Warning Signs

The most common symptoms of DM include a marked increase in the amount of water your canine drinks and as a result, the frequency with which he urinates. You might also notice that he is losing weight even though he maintains a strong appetite. Other signs include a general apathy or decrease in physical activity and the sudden onset of blindness.

Treatment After Diagnosis

Once diabetes mellitus develops, your dog's overall condition can decrease rapidly. His body’s inability to process glucose effectively can lead to severe dehydration and other health issues. It is important that you have a veterinarian perform a full physical exam if you notice any of the warning signs described in the section above.

The veterinarian will ask you about your dog’s eating routine as well as his elimination activity. You will be asked about any recent fluctuations or changes in his weight or demeanor. Then, a urine analysis is performed to identify possible infections and review glucose levels.

Once diabetes mellitus has been diagnosed, your veterinarian will teach you how to administer daily insulin injections for your pooch. They will help create a diet and exercise regimen that will help your dog maintain a healthy weight. During the first several weeks of treatment, the amount of insulin administered will likely change. Most veterinarians prefer to start cautiously with small doses and increase them gradually.

What You Can Do At Home

Providing care for your dog involves administering daily insulin shots (sometimes, twice daily) as well as any other medications that your veterinarian has recommended. You'll also need to be vigilant regarding your canine's eating and exercise routine in order to ensure he maintains a healthy weight level. If your dog experiences an insulin overdose (he might seem weak or disoriented), give him food right away.

As noted, diabetes mellitus can be potentially deadly. However, once it has been diagnosed, you can help your dog live a healthy, happy, and problem-free life.

 

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