Dog Training Basics

Archive for January, 2009

Dog Crate Training

First you will need to help them get used to the crate, before you begin locking them in. You can watch your dog from a distance to see how long it takes them to calm down and get used to the crate. If he shows any signs of protest, you should not let him outside. Instead, let him settle down first then let him leave after awhile. Do this exercise for a couple of days until he has learned to enter the crate and leave it on his own.

Some people oppose the idea of crate training dogs, because they think is a cruel form of isolation. Still, the benefits to crate training your dog mentioned in this article, and several other benefits that we will not take the time to explore, show this to be a good method for both the owner and their dog.

With appropriate and sufficient training, crate training your puppy or dog will make him see it as his haven instead of an enclosure that makes him feel unsafe and lonely.

Crate training is based on the instinct of the dog to find some security with den nesting places that are isolated from all distractions. For dogs, a den can serve as their home. Through proper introduction and selection of the right techniques, the dog will not be threatened by this approach to training.

Why You Should Use a Crate

a) There are times when you can not let your dog run around freely and a crate is a great way to keep them with you, while controlling them at the same time.

b) The dog will feel relatively safe inside the crate especially when located in places where they are most vulnerable.

c) They would have a place for solace when they wanted to rest or when feeling under stressed where no one could bother them.

d) A crate could also be used to limit dogs with problem behaviors.

e) It is also a good place for puppies that are still untrained and might cause some trouble within the home such as biting.

f) If your dog has separation anxieties, once they become familiar with their crate they will be able to calm down better.

g) Another advantage is that it keeps the dog safe whenever you bring him outside the home.

h) Dogs feel safe and secure inside their own familiar crate.

i) Crates can enhance training by giving your dog a sense of consistency and guidance for routine activities.

Size Does Matter

The crate should be large enough to accommodate the dog on all fours, to let him lie down comfortably and to give him enough space to turn around without hitting the walls. However, if you also intend to use the crate for travel, the crate should be larger than the regular above mentioned size.

However, when a crate is used for just training purposes, they do not need to be so large that the dog can move around in it and maybe do something undesirable inside it.

Introducing Your Dog to Their Crate

Once you feel your dog is ready for the crate, that is the best time to introduce them to it. After you purchase the right crate for your dog you will need to put it someplace in the home where they will see it often. The first week you should remove the door and just let him explore it at his leisure.

Some dogs will not show any interest in the crate so you may want to perk their interest by putting a favorite toy or treat inside. Once he becomes more familiar with the crate, try feeding your dog inside it. This special treat is a signal to your dog that this a special place just for him, and that will create a sense of safety and security all dogs enjoy.

Why Get Cheap Dog Training Collars?

Should you invest in supplies to train your dog?

It is important to know you will devote a lot of time and need to spend some money to successfully train your dog.

Of course you can purchase the more expensive dog collars if you want to. There are a lot of choices for you. Collars range anywhere from fancy fashion dog collars, studded collars to a wide variety of others. Most owners do not like to spend the extra money on dog training collars and therefore choose to use one that will be more practical and meet the basic requirements.

If you have a dog with a lot of energy or is highly curious you can find it stressful to train them, as you learn to deal with all his behavior patterns.

After investing for your dog’s training without satisfactory results, many owners tend to cut down from spending too much on other things that contribute nothing to improving the behavior of the dog. An option for cutting back on cost would be the type of dog training collar you use.

If the dog you are training likes to chew on things you may not want to invest in a nicer, more expensive collar at least until he begins learning to respond well to training. What is more important to remember is the improvement of the behavior and not really on how expensive or sophisticated the collar and other accessories look.

While dog collars are instrumental in gaining better control and correcting lesser unwanted dog behaviors, the expensive ones could still put a dent in the budget of the owner. This is the reason why many owners resort to buying cheap dog training collars as good alternatives, without having to sacrifice the function of the item, or adding an unnecessary financial burden.

When shopping for the right collar you should also check its durability and functionality before you even begin to look at the price. It is a common mistake among buyers to use the cost as the basis for assessing the value, rather then basing it on the function and reliability.

However, cost can be a good way to determine if your looking at the right collar but it should not be the sole influence on your final decision. For example, an excellent collar could give the best value at its lowest possible price. However, since it is tagged with a low price the buyer might immediately conclude that it does not perform well.

Don’t give into the mind set that pricing equals quality. People may think that the more money they spend will automatically mean that they are getting a better quality training collar for their dog. This can indeed be the truth for certain brand names but is not always the case. You should do some research to find the best bargains available.

If your collar is integrated with advanced technologies will obviously be more expensive. The popular electronic dog collar is a good candidate. Electronic dog collars can run in price range from $100 – $1000 depending on what options they come with. You can expect a lot higher prices when more advanced technologies are used in making the collar.

Since dog collars can cost hundreds of dollars many people find it impractical to spend that much money on it, because it is a training accessory. So if you are someone wanting to be practical while trying to get a cheap dog training collar, it is best to do your homework.

Do you have a problem with dog chewing? A dog that loves to chew on anything he sees interesting and you can’t seem to figure out why he has this kind of passion? Did you ever come home from work and found your newest pair of shoes being chewed upon by your, cute, sweet and innocent, little dog? I suggest that you continue to read on if this is a familiar scenario to you.

One of the worst habits that any dog can pick up is chewing. Besides it being destructive to your property, a dog that enjoys chewing might end up injuring itself by breaking its teeth or swallowing harmful material. Worse, some dogs chew on themselves! This kind of bad behavior may cause hair loss and even serious infections to areas of their bodies like their tails, legs, and feet. If you have a dog chewing problem , work to immediately correct the situation instead of dismissing the act as a typical dog behavior.

Chewing is a known behavior of puppies . However, their choices of what to chew on will be depend on you and how you train your dog. If you are welcoming a new puppy into your home, be sure to supply it with adequate toys to prevent your pooch from destroying your home, car, or wardrobe. Furthermore , keep in mind to pick toys that are not mistaken for those “out of bound” objects. To somehow redirect its attention from the new pair they have just bought, many dog owners prefer to grant their pups with cast off shoes but to their surprise the puppy would still chew up on their brand new pair instead. Look for chewing toys and bones that will not splinter, break, or split and potentially cause a choking hazard. So that your dog does not become bored and opt to chew on your beloved possessions and furniture as an alternative, give your puppy with several different toys in various areas.

Yes, there are simple steps that can help you prevent your dog from chewing up your possessions! For starters, the easiest way to stop this routine is to keep an eye on your dog. Dogs cannot chew up your house and home while you sit watching them. Vigilance is a huge part of dog ownership. Besides, think about keeping your dog to a room or area of your home until you can trust him to have free rein of your abode. In addition to vigilance, cleanliness is a large factor in what a dog has access to chew. Simply put, your dog cannot chew your shoes unless they were left accessible. If you find your dog chewing something, if possible, place it out of his reach. In all likelihood , the dog will continue chewing the same item until it is either removed or completely destroyed.

“But what about the larger things like furniture, doors, or appliances that will be hard to move”, you say? For these structures, apply a thin film of Bitter Apple. Like its name suggests, this solution is quite bitter and very unsavory for dogs. Available in a spray or cream, Bitter Apple will not damage the finish of your furniture and can easily be wiped away once the dog learns not the chew. Don’t be alarmed if your dog does ingest the material, it will not make him sick, as the contents of it are non-toxic.

Lastly, be the protector of your own things. Teach your dog commands like “leave it” and instruct him to cease and desist the gnawing of your items. Use a spray bottle or a shaker device rather than physical punishment, which can sometime cause dogs to become more destructive in protest. If your dog is chewing on himself more than your home, immediately visit your veterinarian. There are a lot of skin conditions, including parasitic infections that can cause a dog to chew on his own skin in order to find relief. Turn to a cooling spray that will provide relief as the area begins to heal. Also, use an antibiotic cream to prevent infection.

Dog Training Commands One of the first commands to teach your dog is to “Come”. Next you can teach them to “Heel”.

We are often awed at watching fine bird dogs in movies and in action. These finely trained bird dogs never fail to heed their owners’ commands. When you see them perform you may begin to ask yourself, how did they do that? Perhaps bird dog training can bring out the best in you dog.

Training them to be a bird dog will bring out the best in your dog if you are willing to work consistently with them.

There are several dog breeds that could be trained into being excellent bird dogs. Teaching them to obey basic commands is the best place to start. Professional dog trainers know how very important it is for dogs to understand what it is their owner wants from them. In this type of training, there are main commands that should be mastered by both the owner and the dog.

First is for them to learn the “Stay” command.

Teaching your dog to respond to your ’Stay’ command, is very important for them to learn early during training.

As the dog follows these commands completely, it is a clear picture on how obedient and respectful he is to his master. Complete obedience is shown by obeying the command no matter how far the distance is between the giver of the command and the dog.

Using the command ’Whoa’ or ’Easy’ is very useful for dogs that get excited about flushing out birds, because they may begin to get out of control, and start mouthing or playing with the birds. Once they obey your command it would be good to go to him and praise or reward them for a doing a good job.

Teaching them to ’Come’

This command simply suggests that the dog should approach you as commanded. This command is one of the easiest to use. Say for example, retrieving would be a lot easier if the dog would come to you the instant you tell him to do so. Some dogs can be stubborn and may want to play or even begin to go off in another direction. Teaching your dog to ’Come’ will help keep him within the range you need, for them to obey any additional commands.

The ’Heel ’Command

Teaching your dog to respond to the Heel command, is used when wanting them to walk by your side.

It is normally matched with another one-word command such as “okay”, or “go” to signal his release. By using this command your dog will know they did a good job during the hunt and you are pleased with them.

Whenever the dog performs well, never fail to give him a tap, a treat or a word of praise to acknowledge his performance. Fine dogs are born with the instinct to please their owners. If you can let your dog see that he is pleasing you with his performance and you want him to repeat it, the best thing you can do is to reward him. Over a period of time, he will learn to do the same actions for which he was rewarded and praised.

Bird dog training is not easy. It is because of this, there are few well trained bird dogs today. Always be confident that your dog can become a fine hunter if you do what it takes to make him successful, by showing him patience in teaching him to obey basic commands.

Why do dogs bark? That’s easy: dogs bark because they are telling you something, interacting with other dogs, or showing an emotion. Almost certainly, you have noticed your pet with another dog at some point while they’re interacting. Dogs bark at each other when they play or are just hanging out together. Sad to say but we are only able to guess the cause for your dog’s barking behavior. The implication of their bark is easier to understand when dogs communicate with humans. The simplest way to understand barking is it relates to human beings is to compare it to a crying baby.

Little babies bawl when they are hungry, gloomy, bored, lonesome, need to be changed, or sick. When asking yourself, “Why do dogs bark?” the answer is just the same. A dog’s bark will notify you when they want to go outside, when they would like a treat, when ready to have their meal and when they’re feeling something. It’s understanding to decipher just what that bark means that could take some time. Having your dog for quite a while, you’ll start to appreciate of what the barking means much more clearly.

Why do dogs bark at nothing? The answer is they don’t. It may look like there is no reason for barking profusely, but that is not always the case. When your dog barks incessantly, and you think they are for no reason at all, try to consider the possibilities. Is your dog in pain, hungry, excited to go for a walk in the park or they have spotted someone outside your home? We may not notice some of these smaller things going on around us, but your dog will. If your dog is barking at the walls or at something non-existent, there is a possibility of psychological or health reason fro the barking, so maybe you would like to have you dog checked by a professional.

Why dogs bark nonstop? Try observing your dog to figure out what is the reason for barking. Most of the time, if you observe them, a dog will likely point their nose in the direction of whatever it is they want while barking at the same time. If you notice that your pet is barking nonstop and standing just beside the cupboard where you keep your doggie biscuits, then you’ve just figured out what he or she wants! Dogs normally show their behavior, and it’s up to each owner to pay close interest to their beloved pet to figure out what their bark is telling them. Barking incessantly means that there is a need not being met. In some situations, to control the behavior, regular exercise is a must, because that need may not be met at all.

Why dogs bark when you are telling them not to do something? Not all dogs do this, but if your dog does, you can probably relate it to a teenager talking back to a parent. If you’ve have been commanding your dog to be silent, sit, stay or to stop chewing on your furniture only to hear them barking back at you or making another noise, they are communicating back to you. It’s their approach of being disobedient toward you.  To instruct and train your pet that you are the boss to restrain this rebellious behavior, you should definitely use some respect training.

Understanding why your dog barks is the key to controlling the behavior. Some barking behavior is a lot easier to control by meeting their easy needs like feeding them, water, or a walk outside. Nevertheless, barking behavior is a result of parting anxiety, fear, or dominance needs to be curbed with exercises before it escalates into more aggressive or detrimental behavior.

Are your dog aggression problems too much and are now crying out for obedience training help? Then you found the right place. Here are four side-by-side reviews of the four best dog aggression training sites in the net today.

Sit Stay Fetch is the most excellent dog training website and we highly recommend it as it has lots of helpful advice to end your dog problem. Daniel Stevens discussed all the essential know-hows in fixing a dog’s aggression problems with ove 100 step-by-step images in order to make learning faster and more interesting. Dog Training Secrets is very informative but it doesn’t have supplementary photos. The third is Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer. Some great tips are also available.

Sit Stay Fetch – Dog Obedience Training, covers all points of aggressive dog training and helps answers many dog problems, for example, your dog being usually disobedient, your dog being over-aggressive, being quirky off-leash or even on-leash, not appropriately housetrained, etc. It has over 100 step by step photos and is a very informative. It also includes the latest do training secrets used by professional trainers, which are not available in other books, such as dog whispering, advanced behavioral training and the like.

Dog Training Secrets by Charlie Lafave, shares to you the significance of training your dog and what may happen if you don’t. Includes pretty much everything you need to know about dog training, like the 7 common behavioral problems and solutions. There’s also a chapter dedicated to training adult dogs.

Starting from how to choose and purchase a dog, Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer covers all possible about training dogs. This e-book is very lengthy and a bit boring, but finds the patience as it has very useful tips. Warning for the visual person: there aren’t any pictures at all and you might find it hard following certain instructions. It incorporates frequently asked questions of people wanting to train their dogs. There isn’t a table of contents.

How To Train Your Dog in One Evening, covers 10 most frequent problems. The first thing is to help you find out the reasons your dog are having these problems. Then it goes on with step-by-step directions, to show you what to do to solve these problems. This e-book is direct to the point and easy to understand. Although correct, obedience training your dog in one evening is very unlikely.

Popo, a Pomeranian dog has an excessive fear of loud noises. Popo turns his fear into aggression when he hears loud noises, and has already bit his owner Lindsey twice. Additionally, Popo fled when some guests began firing small fireworks during a Forth of July celebration. Good thing, Popo was found by a neighbor the next week and was safely returned to Lindsey. Moreover, Lindsey is concerned that Popo’s {relentless trauma | severe phobia} and aggressive approach is leading him on to tragedy.

Lindsey sought expert advice from her vet on stopping dog aggression. The veterinarian believes that Popo’s fear of loud noises originates from his petite size. In view of the fact that the dog has yet to be neutered, the veterinarian suggests the operation in order to lessen the aggressive tendencies. In the past, Lindsey has considered the procedure and consent of the operation. Popo have a reduced aggression after the treatment, but what’s left was his fear.

Concerned about her dog’s behavior, she then visited a veterinary behaviorist. The veterinarian’s plan was agreed upon by the behaviorist, but the professional feels that a lot should be made to address the fear prior to dealing with the dog’s fear successfully. Popo’s fear is starting to decrease after working closely together with the behaviorist for quite a few sessions. And for the dog to feel a source of comfort and security, the behavior specialist asks Lindsey to hold Popo. The dog is also restrained so that he will not be able to harm anyone in the clinic. Little by little , the dog is exposed to numerous different volumes of sound. . If Champs exhibits any sign of fear or aggressiveness, the stimulus is removed and Laura continues to pet, commend, and comfort. In the long run, Popo’ fear of loud noises slowly diminished and stopped acting out in aggressive behaviors in order to protect him.

Although the dog’s anxiousness lessens , poor dog is still afraid of thunderstorms. During these instances, the behaviorist gives prescription that will calm the dog. Upon giving the anti-anxiety medication, Lindsey observed a big change in his actions when the fear-causing stimulus is present. Furthermore, since Popo has started taking the anti-anxiety medication, the dog did not show any sign of violent behavior , even when the fear causing stimulus is present. Popo is no longer afraid of thunderstorms and today parties without the need of confining him, giving both him and Lindsey to breathe easier.

The therapy for Champs was a long process since the origin of the problem must be dealt with in order to cure the aggressive actions. Popo lost his aggression and once again serve as a cheerful and healthy member to society after the fear had been surpassed through methods including prescription and behavioral adaptation. Though Popo is a small dog, Lindsey is worried his bite and felt the need to stop the aggressive behaviors before it worsens. Lindsey proved to be a responsible pet owner and consider Popo’ situation to heart in the search to find a cure for the problem.

train your puppy

Getting ready to discover to train a puppy will be a lot more successful if you record everything you do. I know that sounds very “fuzzy” and lacking substance – there’s a lot more to it than you think, as it will be a big help when you come to review your progress, and shows you exactly what your dog responds to. These notes show exactly what works and how your puppy responds to various techniques, along with areas that either need improvement or a completely different technique. And just like anything else in life, spending time planning increases the odds of doing things right a lot more frequently than doing it wrong or the hard way. You know it makes sense.

Planning ahead needs to be at the top of your priority list when you start thinking about train a puppy, as it will make a big difference when relocating a young dog or puppy from his happy and playful home to his new and unrecognizable surroundings. It is a very stressful and worrying event for a puppy when his mother and littermates suddenly disappear, and he is thrust into an entirely new environment with a whole range of new and unknown faces and scents.

And it’s not just puppies and young dogs. Even adult dogs are somewhat bewildered by everything new that happens to them when they get relocated. An adopted adult dog has no idea of all the wonderful plans you may have in store for him; all he knows is that he is in a strange and somewhat frightening place.

If you have the time, take a few trips to meet your pup while he’s still at his “old place”. He’ll get to recognize your face and smell and make his move a lot less stressful. When you start out, tips for training a puppy the familiarity between you will result in a quicker learning experience. If you can’t make friends in this way, perhaps you will be able to take something from the dog’s former home with you – such as a cushion or familiar toy or just something that will remind him of home and adjust to his new home.

The perfect time to bring your new dog home is when you will be available to set aside a block of time to spend with him. A holiday period is perfect. But you do need to be at home with your dog during the holidays. Please don’t move you dog in, then home him in kennels while you go on vacation. Being there for him in those first few days will help him settle in, and help him overcome any separation anxiety he may experience.

Just as parents prepare for the arrival of a new baby by creating an environment to satisfy the baby’s needs and requirements, tips for training a puppy should be just as exciting. The new dog owner should be organizing his or her home for the puppy’s arrival.

The perfect place for your new puppy is a cordoned off area in a main living area, as your puppy house training regime will go much smoother as accidents can be cleaned up much easier from tiled or lino flooring. Kitchens are great places because we spend a lot of our time in these rooms, which helps to accustom the newcomer to day-to-day living in your household.

Before you moved your new puppy in with you, he was used to lots of playmates. Without them, he will be lonely so you will need to take their place at least for a few days. At the same time, you must not let the puppy do whatever he chooses for the first few days and then suddenly expect him to start following rules that prohibit him from doing exactly those same things. Puppy house training can begin with the easy techniques, but needs to start as soon as he moves in.

Being permissive in this respect is not being kind, simply because your rules aren’t consistent. Much of these techniques for training a puppy apply to the adopted adult dog as well. Being homesick and lonely is not just a puppy issue. When you bring a new dog home he or she will need to learn the rules from the start. All dogs need discipline and affection in equal amounts. But it will be a very rewarding experience for both of you.

The Australian Shepherds can provide good companionship. One should be used to an active lifestyle to appreciate this kind of breed. These animals are full of zest and very athletic and therefore can be a handful if one is not properly armed with a good dose of knowledge on how to train the Australian Shepherd. Read on to find out the basic information about this special breed.

Quick Facts

The Australian Shepherd or Aussie as it is commonly called from the US was used to herding in ranches. This robust, medium sized built dog has a triangular shaped ears slightly rounded at the tip. {Typical Aussie has a distinctive docked bobtail}. Aussie has a strong deep chest and stands squarely on all fours. Masculinity and femininity is evident in Australian Shepherds.

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

Aussies are intelligent animals, hardworking and has an innate herding and guarding instincts. They can be easily trained and love performing tasks. You will not likely find them in one corner just sitting around for a long time. Aggressive and attentive, they can be a good guard dog. The animated quality of this animal makes them popular to kids. Though they are friendly and affectionate with their human family they are actually reserve and cautious around strangers. Typical Aussies would be happy with constant activities going on around them. Make sure to schedule plenty of walks, play and training to keep both their mind and body in tip top shape.

Training

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 Aussied could become aggressive without proper training.

{Aussie has a life span of more than 12 years}. Higly active Aussies results to big appetite so be sure to sypply a big amount of quality food to supplement their energy level. If you have the time and sense of commitment for this breed, you will not be disappointed as your well spent effort will be amply reciprocated. With proper care and training of Australian Shepherds, a life with them will be enjoyable and rewarding.

Poodle Puppy

Poodle puppies are cute, cuddly, and curly and definitely a pet anyone would want to take home. Poodles make great pets, and have the most fun with them you will need to know as much about poodle puppies so that they are comfortable when you take them home, so read on to see what you should know in order to be a responsible poodle owner.

Whatever poodle breed you decide to buy, you have to be aware that some poodle breeds tend to be somewhat reclusive or anti-social, and can be very unfriendly around strangers, unless of course they are trained. You will have to train your puppies and socialize the poodle puppy by keeping them in an environment that has people around often, this way they won;t be overwhelmed when you take them out or if you have other people around.

One of the things you need to do is to ensure that your poodle puppies are taken to vet often for their checkups, this is because poodles generally have vision problems quite often, Their eyes need to look alert and should be shiny. If you start noticing film around the eyes, or even if your poodle puppy’s are often running, it is a possibility of the onset of a cataract. being able to treat this condition in it’s early stages is an important factor, and you should take them immediately to your vet should you notice that your poodles vision seem cloudy. Poodle puppies tend to also be prone to ear infections, so you have to ensure that your puppy’s ears are check out by your vet also. Having a hearing test for your poodle puppy should also be done and don’t forget that the proper medication is given to them as directed by your vet.

Poodle’s tend to have sensitive skin and you may notice this often, so you have to make sure that some grooming products would not be used for grooming your poodle. It is common to see poodle owners dye their dog’s hair in different colors, or shampoo the fur with expensive shampoos. Be aware however, that the chemicals in some these products could be harmful to your poodle puppies, and this could cause skin irritations and rashes. Further your poodle might develop allergies with such products, so should notice that your poodle is sluggish, or is perhaps often sneezing, then you should leave the grooming to professionals or have them do it in your home.