Dog Training Basics

Archive for February, 2009

One of the most common means of housebreaking a puppy is using a puppy training pad. However, not every puppy owner will use this option and it is in fact really a matter of personal preference. In case you do choose to use a puppy training pad then to succeed in your endeavors requires that you exercise patience and also spend a lot of time in training your puppy. Within a week of using a puppy training pad you can expect to see some noticeable results.

Be Patient

Puppies are actually quite adept at understanding their master’s body language and will easily know whenever you have lost your cool and are feeling angry with them. You must also expect that sometimes a puppy just will not respond to his puppy training pad and will go and do his poop wherever he pleases. At times such as these you will really need to keep control over your temper and instead exercise patient and hope that sooner rather than later he will get the general idea.

Today, you can expect to come across a number of different types of puppy training pads and the online market in particular really has a wider variety to offer pet owners. Among the better known companies making the puppy training pad you can included names such as Clean Go and Out, Pet Gold and a whole lot more. You will do well to first of all test out different puppy training pad brands to see which ones work and which don’t.

Tracking problems are the biggest trouble that puppy owners encounter when using puppy training pad to teach their puppies where to eliminate. Using a puppy training pad can cause many a problem and this in turn can overwhelm all but the most determined puppy owners. In case you feel that you don’t want to continue using a puppy training pad to housebreak your puppy the next best option is to use puppy pad trays that will at least ensure that your floors remain clean.

After about three months of regularly using a puppy training pad you can expect that your puppy will have learnt that this pad is the right place for him to eliminate. Sometimes, you might happen to come across a poor little puppy that seems to have been abandoned and if your little ones plead with you to take in this “free puppy” you need to think long and hard before acceding to your kid’s pleas. Nothing ever comes for free and before you know it, this abandoned puppy is going to start costing you a lot of money what with having to pay for vaccines, food, preventive medicine and a lot more.

how to potty train your puppy

Two words that strike fear into the hearts of most every new dog owner is potty training. Countless long walks, extra laundry, stains on flooring and furniture can cause many pet owners to shudder with apprehension. Even the most enthusiastic owner’s patience is taxed trying to understand how to potty train a puppy. A better way to look at it is to see it as the first stage of a bonding process that will result in a happy and healthy relationship. However, to potty train a puppy isn’t really that difficult. Here are some tips to help ease the process.

There are many potty training tips, but to begin with, feed your pet at the same time every day. Remember to remove food within four hours of bedtime and withdraw the water dish two hours before bedtime. It is recommended that you feed your puppy a dry food so that his stools will be more solid. A routine is the key to success. That also means you too have to stick to a routine by going to bed and getting up at the same time every day.

Toilet training for puppies involves taking your pup outside first thing in the morning. Put him on a leash and guide him to the place that you want him to use. Repeat this activity around 10 to 15 minutes after every meal or drink and right before bedtime. If, after 10 minutes, there is no potty action, then take the puppy back to its crate. Wait another 10 to 15 minutes then take him out again. Do not engage in play until the business at hand is complete. Sometimes puppies don’t finish on the first try, so give him time to be sure he won’t have to go again in a few minutes.

While you potty train a puppy, crate or confine him when you can’t watch him. It is essential to confine your puppy to rooms with washable floors until he is house trained. If you see your puppy start to relieve himself in the house, then say “no” firmly, pick him up, and take him out. When he’s finished, put him in a safe area and clean up the mess. Don’t yell at your puppy or punish him for accidents and please don’t rub his nose in it. If you discover an accident later, just clean it up and move on.

While you potty train a puppy, keep in mind that his access to furniture and carpeting should be limited to avoid damage. Be patient and you will be rewarded. Young puppies don’t have total control of their bowels or bladders, so they may realize they need to go when it’s too late to get outside in time. Just remember to be as patient as possible while you potty train your dog and teach him where he needs to go. Your tenacity will pay off.

It certainly pays to know which the best house training a puppy method is. The traditional method of house training a puppy is probably the first one that will come to your notice and it is one that is ideally suited for those that have a backyard where the puppy can go out to relieve him. This is probably the most popular of all methods and it essentially involves setting schedules when you can take your puppy out to relieve him.

Traditional Method

The traditional method of house training a puppy requires that you must frequently take your puppy out to a designated spot where you encourage your puppy to eliminate. In case your puppy does what is expected off him it is then recommended that you praise him and also suitably reward him with a treat. Besides frequently taking your puppy out to relieve him you need to also keep a close watch on him when he is inside the home and to act immediately in case you suspect that he is doing things that indicate that he wishes to relieve him. By repeating this routine frequently your puppy will learn where he should go in order to relieve him.

Another method that is used for house training a puppy is the paper training method and this method is ideally suited for those that don’t have a backyard available or for those puppy owners that wish to teach their puppies to eliminate indoors. In any case, this method is basically more or less the same as the traditional method with the only difference being that you have to encourage your pet to go to a designated part inside the home rather than outdoors.

It also requires that you pile up some newspapers or use dog potty trays or pads or even litter boxes and then encourage your pet to eliminate in these places. Crate training method is another effective way to go about house training a puppy and it in fact involves giving the puppy a crate that he can call his den. However, dogs and puppies, by their very nature, are loathed to use their den for eliminating and so it requires combining crate training with the paper method or traditional method. When combined with the other training methods crate training will prove to be an effective way of house training a puppy.

Besides house training a puppy you must also do whatever is required in regard to imparting proper puppy obedience training. Here again your backyard can prove to be an excellent place where it becomes possible to combine house training with obedience training. Together, these two aspects of training a puppy, when successfully implemented, will help ensure that your puppy turns out to be well behaved and obedient and a joy for everyone.

If you think all you have to do is play with your puppy and feed him in order to take care of him, think again.  Puppy care is a huge responsibility and it is much like taking care of a small child.If you have a full breed puppy, you have to find out how to take care of the specific breed because the protocol can be different.For example, Chihuahua puppy care requires certain types of food for optimum health and different vaccinations than other breeds.

Food Basics of Puppy Care

Choose a dry food and avoid cheap, generic brands in puppy care.Buy only brand name dog foods to make sure you are getting a quality product.If you have a large breed dog, choose food made for large breed dogs.  Don’t judge dog foods by their vitamin and mineral content because often times over-supplementation of vitamins and minerals can lead to hip dysplasia.  
Try not to give your puppy too many special treats like milk bone biscuits in puppy care because they are not that nutritional.  Canned dog food is okay on occasion but it is best to stick with dry food because it is inexpensive, easy, and better for your puppy’s teeth.In puppy care it is important to avoid giving human food to your puppy because it can cause digestive problems.

In young puppy care, it is best to offer food three times a day.  If your puppy doesn’t feel hungry that often, you can reduce the frequency and when he reaches around 10-12 weeks of age you can start feeding your puppy twice a day.  It’s not good to feed your puppy only once a day because he will get so hungry in between meals that he will overeat at the next meal.

In puppy care, it is best to let your puppy eat as much as he wants during a 15 minute period and then take the dish away.  It’s not good to provide freely available food.This can lead to your puppy becoming overweight and getting hip dysplasia and other health problems later in life.When overfed, your puppy will also stop enjoying food altogether.  

The Importance of Shots in Puppy Care

Your puppy loses his natural immunity to disease somewhere between six and sixteen weeks of age.  Fortunately there are new vaccines that can protect your puppy from most diseases.It is very important to take your puppy to the vet and get vaccines but until then, make sure your puppy stays away from areas frequented by other dogs.Also avoid letting your puppy come into contact with stray dogs and sick dogs.

So there you have it.  Puppy care may not be as easy as you thought it was but by following the right protocol your puppy will be healthy.  The most important aspects of puppy care are proper feeding and shots.  If you follow these basic steps, your puppy will be healthy and vibrant and will rarely have to see a vet.

For more about puppies please visit www.puppycareblog.com

Ever get home after a long day at work to find your dog has been digging in your favorite flowerbed or chewed up the sofa?  If you’ve ever faced this situation, you definitely want to prevent it ever happening again.  One possible reason for this kind of behavior is separation anxiety, especially when a dog has been left alone for a long period.  However, it could also just be that the cause is simply just boredom.

Dogs need company and stimulation just as we humans do.  It shouldn’t, therefore, surprise you that your dog may get bored if left alone for a lengthy period of time.  If you don’t provide stimulation for your dog, he will find his own activities and these could involve chewing up your possession, digging up your garden, barking or whining constantly. 

Dogs should never be left alone for longer than four hours at most.  If because of your life circumstances or job, you can’t avoid leaving your dog alone for long periods, here are some tips:

•    Consider hiring someone to take your dog for walks.  Find a friend, neighbor or professional walker who can spend between 15-30 minutes a day with your puppy or dog.  Walks are a great activity for dogs. They stimulate him with all the fascinating sights and smells.  It’s fantastic exercise too

•    Being an only puppy or dog, like being an only child, can sometimes be lonely.  It could be well worth considering getting a second puppy or dog.

•    Create a specific place in your garden where your dog can ease his boredom.  You could create a dog sandpit where he can dig as much as he likes without ruining your lawn.  At the start it is vital to reward him repeatedly with a treat left in the sandpit so that this has positive associations.

•    Keep a variety of chews and toys for him changing the ones you give him daily to keep his interest high. Dispensing toys have a great interest for dogs when they are stuffed with treats as you can imagine. I would recommend that you try them. Also, make sure that you keep anything you do not want chewed out of reachI.

•    One way to keep up your dog’s interest is to hide treats around the house.  The treats should be placed to provide a bit of a challenge to your dog, but reasonably easy to access.  You could hide them under an upside-down bowl or Frisbee, or in an old sock.

I hope you find these recommendations helpful in dealing with boredom in dogs.  Obviously when you are with your dog, make sure that you take him out for regular walks and play games with him.  It is essential that you puppy dog is given the correct training.

Read more about separation anxiety in dogs and about dealing with emotional problems in dogs.

Let me ask you a simple question.  Do you know the triggers for fear aggression in dogs?  If not, then you need to read this article to learn more about this type of canine aggression.

Fear Aggression In Dogs

This is one of the most frustrating types of dog behavior problems.  Your dog may not hate all strangers; just certain ones.All men may be the object of his displeasure, or he may zero in on men who wear hats or who have beards.  He may absolutely detest kids under five, but older children are fine.  He may be fine with strangers outside the home, or he may bark at anyone who walks by the house.  

You can use dog behavior modification techniques to desensitize your dog to strangers.  But in order to do so, you need to identify exactly what it is about a stranger that’s scaring him.

Common Triggers For Canine Aggression In Fearful Dogs

Men often seem more threatening to a nervous dog than women do.  They’re bigger, their voices are deeper and louder, they may have beards or moustaches, they may wear hats.  Men have a more direct way about them.Another reason is that they make eye contact more directly, also.  Sometimes a man may remind your dog of someone who scared him or abused him in the past.

Just the presence of children is sometimes enough to send a fearful dog over the edge.  Their voices are high-pitched, and they move quickly and unexpectedly.  They’re sometimes attached to scary things like skateboards and roller blades.  Small children may come with noisy toys, which can be terrifying to a dog who’s nervous to start with.  

Kids also have a tendency to grab dogs with no warning and hug them.This behavior can be dangerous with an unfamiliar dog.  Most dogs don’t like to be hugged anyway.  Teach your children never to hug a dog, especially one they don’t know.

Any dog finds it threatening if someone makes prolonged eye contact with him.  This is especially true with a nervous, fearful dog.  Avoid looking a strange dog directly in the eye.  Look down or to the side instead.

Someone who’s just walking down the street fast or very slowly can be scary, too, especially if they appear to be coming right at your dog.  Anything out of the ordinary can be unsettling for him.

Odd movements like somebody waving their arms around, or jumping up and down, will also get a fearful dog’s attention.If the stranger brings unfamiliar smells, like beer or cigars, your dog may be scared, too.

Sometimes it’s not something as obvious as any of these things. You’ll need to spend some time watching your dog and making notes of which trigger, or combination of triggers cause him to display fear-based aggression towards strangers.

Dog Behavior Modification Can Help

Punishing a dog who displays canine aggression towards strangers doesn’t work.  Dogs learn by associating things.  So punishing a dog who’s already aggressive towards strangers only serves to teach the dog that strangers really are bad.  He gets the idea that if a stranger shows up, he gets punished, so he gets even more aggressive towards new people.

What you need to do is to desensitize your dog to strangers.  You do this by associating strangers with good things, like tasty treats.  Dog behavior modification is a long, slow training process that can’t be rushed.

A good dog training course can be worth its weight in gold when working with a fearful dog.  When looking at courses, you’ll want to choose one that has lots of good testimonials from dog owners who have used the course material.  It’s also important to find a course that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer.  Another essential feature you’ll appreciate is a dog owner forum where you can ask questions, and talk to other dog owners who have solved the same problem with their dogs.

This is the easiest way you’ll find to to deal with fear aggression in dogs.

Visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about fear aggression in dogs.

By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll have a better understanding of fear aggression in dogs.  Plus you’ll also know several dog training behavior modification techniques to use when dealing with this problem in your dog.

What Causes Dog Behavior Problems Like This One?

Fear aggression in dogs can have many causes.  Certain dog breeds, like the herding breeds, are more prone to this problem than others.  Neglecting to socialize your dog when he’s a puppy can contribute to canine aggression towards strangers.  Past abuse may also be a factor.

Even if puppy socialization isn’t an issue, many dogs go through a “shy” period when they hit adolescence at around six months.  It’s important to keep exposing your pup to lots of situations to avoid him becoming wary of new people and new animals.

Dog Behavior Modification Techniques

If your dog is already displaying fear aggression, here are six steps for dog training behavior modification you can use to desensitize your dog to strangers.What you’ll be doing is teaching your dog that if a stranger approaches, good things follow!

To start, you’ll need a few volunteers to act as strangers.  You dog also needs to be on a leash so he’s under your control at all times.

First, figure out which treat your dog loves best.  It shouldn’t be something he gets on a regular basis.  Steak, liver, chicken, cheese, hot dogs, whatever it is, it should be something he absolutely loves.

Second, the only time he gets this favorite treat is when a stranger is present.  You’re training your dog to associate this wonderful treat with a stranger being around.

Third, identify the trigger that pushes your dog to display canine aggression.  He may be OK if strangers are outside, but not in the home.He may find all men frightening, or just certain men, or kids of a certain age.  Do sudden movements, or somebody getting too close agitate him?  Observe him carefully to see what sets him off.

The fourth step is to expose your dog to a stranger.  Stay inside your dog’s comfort zone.  You want to move slowly so you don’t provoke him to an aggressive display.  Your dog should know a stranger is around, but he shouldn’t be overly concerned about it. 

Fifth, as soon as your dog is aware of the stranger, start feeding him treats.  Sixth, before the dog starts getting aggressive toward the stranger, you either have the stranger leave, or your and your dog will leave.

It’s very important that your dog is continuing to eat the treats.  If he won’t eat, then the stranger is too close.  If the dog isn’t relaxed enough to eat, you’re moving too quickly with the dog training behavior modification. 

Remember that you aren’t rewarding your dog for doing something right.  What you’re doing is changing his emotional state.

More Tips For Dog Behavior Modification

You’ll continue to work within your dog’s comfort zone, varying the distance the stranger is from your dog.  The stranger may be six feet away one day, eight the next, seven after that.  As long as aggressive dog behavior isn’t seen, you’re doing fine. 

Continue these steps for several weeks.  Now you’re going to start working outside your dog’s comfort zone by having the stranger come a little closer, maybe five feet away.  Keep working to reduce the distance your dog is from the stranger. 

You can see that this is a long, slow process.  It can be tempting to try to move along faster, but if you push too hard, you can undo all your hard work.  Keep the training sessions short, and end the session if your dog is getting nervous.

Do yourself a favor and find a good dog training course.  This can be a very helpful aid when using dog behavior modification techniques.  You’ll want to look for one that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer so you can get help, if necessary.

Visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about dog behavior modification.

The German Shepherd Dog is perhaps one of the most recognizable breeds in existence today.German Shepherds were originally used to protect flocks of sheep in northern Europe around one hundred yeards ago. In these modern times, German Shepherds are often seen doing Police K9 work, military work, theraphy work and as guard dogs.  Because of how they are shown in war movies and police action television shows — where German Shepherd aggression is often depicted, it is not unusual for people to have an inaccurate view of the real German Shepherd Dog temperament.

The German Shepherd breed has quite a unique personality. They are known to be fearless, confident, athletic and intelligent. They generally have a good sense of right and wrong and the ability to tell if something is amiss. They are also known to be loyal and dedicated.  Contrary to popular misconceptions, it is quite rare to see a German Shepherd engage in random acts of unprovoked aggression.  German Shepherd aggression is usually kept in check unless the dog or its owner is placed into a situation that warrants it. An adult German Shepherd Dog when provoked is extremely capable of inflicting serious injury to anyone who does not heed the usual warning signals.

German Shepherd aggression is often due to boredom and inactivity.  This breed requires high activity level.German Shepherds generally love running, fetching, jumping, and finding. Conversely, because of its high intelligence, it bores very quickly when given nothing to do, or when activities become too repetitive.A bored German Shepherd can rearrange any home in a matter of minutes with their powerful jaws and tall stance.  If they do not have adequate outlet for their high energy drive, they will get themselves into trouble by chasing cars, bikes, barking, chewing, digging and other destructive and unwanted behavior.

A German Shepherd owner should be an extremely responsible person committed to the care, training and exercise of their dog. Such an owner should have adequate knowledge about this breed type and its needs before taking them on. This is not a dog for the couch potato owners as these dogs require a lot of time and work.It helps if German Shepherd dog owners have creative minds as they can give their dogs new and exciting twists to games and activities.  In general, German Shepherds need obedience training, proper socialization with both people and other animals, daily exercise and play and they must be a part of your family. These breed of dogs are the type that need to be kept busy even if they are to be family dogs. Boredom and loneliness often lead to behavior problems. Personality and activity levels in German Shepherds vary from dog to dog. A dog's personality is largely determined by their genetics, training, socialization and the care that they receive.

Let’s face it, as a new dog owner, you probably haven’t thought too much about puppy socialization.  However, this is a very important part of dog training.  Many cases of canine aggression could have been prevented if the dog’s owner had only known how to socialize a puppy. 

Why Is It So Important To Socialize Your Dog?

When you expose your dog to lots of different people, different animals, and different places, he learns for himself that new sights, sounds, and people are fun, not scary. 

Socializing your dog is easier while he’s still a puppy.  You may not know that the best age to socialize a puppy is when he’s between the ages of three and twelve weeks.  A young dog who has good experiences with new people, other dogs, and even cats will be much friendlier and less fearful of people.  This helps to prevent aggressive dog behavior towards strangers when he gets older.

Remember that it’s never to late to socialize your dog.  It may take a little longer with an older dog, but you can still use canine socialization in order to help your pooch overcome a fear of strangers and be a happier, more trustworthy friend.

What’s The Best Way To Socialize A Puppy?

Actually it’s not that difficult to socialize your dog, if you’re willing to make a little effort.

Many dog trainers suggest a puppy preschool.  This is a series of group-training classes for puppies and their owners.There are usually around 10 puppies and their owners, along with two or three dog trainers.  During these classes, the puppies start to learn basic dog obedience commands like sit, stay, and others.

However, the obedience lessons aren’t the most important things your pooch will learn at puppy preschool.  The play sessions are where your puppy learns essential social skills.When the play sessions are happening, the puppies are let off their leashes and allowed to interact with each other.  Why is this important?

First, your puppy is learning how to interact with other dogs. 

Second, since there are other dog owners and a couple of dog trainers present, this means lots of unfamiliar people, too.  This is a great way for your puppy to learn not to be afraid of new people.

Third, it’s a controlled environment.  The dog trainers make sure things don’t get too wild.

Don’t Stop Puppy Socialization Too Soon

Many dog owners make the mistake of thinking that since their dog has been to puppy preschool, their puppy is now socialized.  This mistaken idea can lead to problems later on. 

It’s important to continue to expose your young dog to new faces, new animals, and new places.  Sometimes puppies who seemed to be well socialized at a younger age “forget” those early lessons.  By the time your dog is between eight months and two years old, he may become fearful of people and start showing canine aggression towards strangers.

Here’s some food for thought:  even though your puppy has learned basic skills during his first few months, it’s important to keep reinforcing puppy socialization lessons throughout your dog’s life.

You just got a new dog. Your excited about it and have decided on a name. Now that you have it home you have to train it. One of the first problems most dog owners have is teaching their dog when it is okay to bark and when it is not okay to bark. This article will take a look at a few ways you can get this started quickly.

Positive reinforcement is the first thing you have to make your dog understand. When it doesn't bark upon your request it will be rewarded with a treat. If your dog does not obey your command then you will not give it a treat.

Why is your dog barking? This is one of the first questions you must ask yourself. When you know why your dog is barking you can address the problem more effectively. Is your dog just bored? Do you have a lonely dog? Are your neighbors teasing it while he is outside? Find out the reason and then address that reason.

It's important that you assign your dog a command for when you want it to stop barking. For example, you could say “No Bark”. Make sure that you assign your dog a certain behaviour to go along with the command, also. You may want your dog to sit or go lay down upon your command.

The third tip is to crate train your dog. The crate can be used to put your dog in if he doesn’t obey your command. This is a great way to hadle things if your dog barks at people who come to the door. Howver this isn.

The forth tip is to decide how you want your dog to really respond. Many people do not like it when their dog barks at someone who comes to the door. But how bad really is that? Your dog is simply trying to warn you. A good idea is to let your dog bark a few times and then teach it how you want it to respond from there. For example, have your dog bark three times and come get you to let you know someone is at the door.

The fifth tip is to use a stop barking collar if nothing else seems to work. Shock collars are not as bad as most people think they are because you do have some control over the amount of shock. Keep in mind that there are other types of collars you can use besides a shock collar.

Teaching your dog how to stop barking isn’t going to be easy. But now is the time to get started before your dogs barking becomes a real problem. So, put a few of these stop dog barking techniques to good use before things do get worse.