Dog Training Basics

Archive for May, 2009

If you are unhappy with the behavior of your Bedlington terrier, the best way to deal with it is via Bedlington Terrier training. Of course, it need not be difficult to train your dog, though it is a process that requires patience and determination and so it is worthwhile understanding the steps involved in training a Bedlington Terrier.

Realize Your Bedlington Terrier’s Needs

When your dog participates in Bedlington terrier training, the dog will fulfill some of its basic needs including exercising, socializing with other dogs and feeling secure in the knowledge of what is expected of it. After your Bedlington terrier has taken part in a dog obedience course, your dog will be able to respond in an appropriate manner to your commands while avoiding separation anxiety.

The main aim of starting out to train a Bedlington terrier is to teach it to behave in the desired manner around people and other dogs, and it should also teach him to become a well-behaved companion. In addition, your Bedlington terrier will have learnt how to perform specific tasks, though of course he should not be punished when he fails to do what is asked off him.

There are many that believe that Training A Bedlington terrier implies punishing the dog when it disobeys commands or doesn’t respond as he should. However, providing the dog with a treat when he obeys your commands is a more appropriate and better option for training.

Basically, you should realize that your Bedlington terrier is a social animal that will respond well to obedience training, and that if he remains untrained the dog may behave erratically rather than in a manner appropriate for a housebroken dog. Training and caring for a Bedlington terrier is an ongoing process that may continue for some time and it requires the active participation of the owner as well as the trainer, and it is more than giving your dog commands and expecting it to work hard. Training a Bedlington terrier is designed to improve its quality of life and sociability and it should help in making it a content, happy and obedient companion that will enjoy spending time with you and other members of the family.

Patience and dedication are a must when training a dog. To achieve the desired results in rescued dog will take double the dedication and patience. However, the rewards will be worth the effort.

Unplanned litters continue to be common even though the practice of spaying and neutering has been around for decades. Because of this it is hard to find loving homes for all of these newborn pups.. And if you combine this with dogs that are lost or have runaway, the animal shelters are spilling over. For many of these dogs being euthanized will be the sad reality.

For a some lucky dogs, there is a second chance. Some will be adopted into the care of a loving family or rescued from the street. But to the inexperienced dog owner it can be a mystery as to how best to proceed.

Dogs that are brought to shelters are generally not in the best condition. Horrible living conditions, abuse and neglect are often a part of their history. Sometimes these dogs can even be let go into the wild and they will have to fend for themselves.

Dogs are pack animals. Because of this dogs that are in the wild usually do not do well in isolation. Domesticated dogs are used to human and animal interaction so do poorly when released to the wild. However, with some training, these ‘wild’ dogs can learn to tolerate human touch and stop barking at the smallest noise.

A rescued dog will need a full examination by a vet as the first step in the rehabilitation process. If the animal is sick or in pain your training efforts will be wasted. Take the time to restore the dog’s health and bring it back to a healthy weight.

It can be difficult to find out the history of the dog but any information can be of use. Your training efforts will be helped if you have information on the dog’s past abuse or medical history.

Take your time when trying to gain the dog’s trust. Do not force yourself on the dog. The dog needs to learn to trust you and will then seek you out. The use of treats is a good way to build trust. Place a treat on the floor and back away a few steps. Do not stare directly at the dog. Once the dog takes the food make sure they get enthusiastic praise.

A few dogs that are rescued look for physical interaction from the beginning. Many others will take longer. But once you have established it, try to roll the dog over onto his back and place your hand on their chest. You will have two possible reaction, either resistance from an aggressive dog or fearful acceptance from a passive dog. Neither behavior is good. Forcing an aggressive dog into a submissive position is done under normal training. This technique typically does not work for rescued dogs. Take your time and establish trust. By speaking in a soft and calm tone of voice and gently rubbing the belly a fearful dog will know that being on its back is a positive experience and not a punishment.

Be patient as it is often difficult and slow to train a rescued dog. They are often older dogs, mixed, and with difficult temperaments which makes training more challenging. Hang in there. Your perseverance will pay off.

Don’t feel sorry for the dog. Training can be hindered by doing this. You will want to be loving and caring when appropriate but still be in control. Be a pack leader and let the dog know that you are in charge.

It’s a lot of sweet and hard work but you will have a companion for life.

Stefan Hyross writes for the site All About Dogs ‘N Puppies. Correct common dog behavior problems and other issues. Also visit the site for tips on puppy
potty training and other lessons for dogs.

Probably one of the biggest headaches involved in having dogs for pets is potty training puppies. Puppies do not have a switch you can flip to have them go potty and they can't understand any verbal command unless they were trained to. Getting a puppy to do its business where and when you want it to does not involve rocket science. The one major requirement one needs to complete this task is a large amount of patience. Just as long as you stay consistent with your dog training, you'll have no problems potty training a puppy.

Getting them to go by understanding their nature

Animals act instinctively and they don't consider the pros or cons of a situation before deciding about it. Knowing this can really help you in learning how to potty train them. Puppies are like blank slates, they posses the instincts but they're still in the trial and error phase of discovering how to satisify certain drives. Urinating and defecating is a drive but, contrary to what most people think, puppies don't just stop whatever they are doing and do their business. Keep your eye on them when they get the urge, puppies often run around looking and sniffing until they find a good spot and then do what they need to do.

This is where the training in potty training puppies comes in. You have to teach your puppy to decide on a specific location to do their business so each time that they get the urge to go potty they go precisely where you want them to go. You do it this way? You'll need to use something that has an earthy or musky scent, something that is distinctive so that that, when they smell it, they can easily associate the smell with doing its business. You can purchasecommercially manufactured potty training sprays in pet stores or you can go hands-on and put a small amount of your pet's urine in a spray bottle when it does its business.

Whether you decide on the commercial spray or the hands-on method, the conditioning phase remains the same: when your puppy shows signs of needing to go potty, prepare a large pile of newspapers and keep your god within the area of the newspaper. Spray a small amount of the scent agent on the news paper. Let the puppy move around there and get comfortable. Once the puppy does its business gently hold its head near the spot you sprayed the agent close enough for the puppy to sniff the scent. Duplicate this for about 12 weeks each and every time the dog needs to do its business.

By doing the previous steps, you can get either of the two results or both. The puppy can associate doing its business to a newspaper or the scent, this means that whenever the puppy needs to go potty, it will either search for a newspaper or sniff around for a scent, either result leads to a properly potty trained puppy and worry free maintenance for you.

As mentioned earlier potty training puppies requires a generous amount of patience but aside from that it is actually a pretty easy thing to do.

Excessive barking is the plague of dog owners everywhere. It is in a dog’s genes to start barking in certain situations, different types of dog are more inclined to bark than others. It is extremely sad and one of the main reasons that alot of dogs get left along at animal shelters.

Stopping bad barking behaviors is actually quite easy to accomplish. The first thing to remember is that it is paramount to remember that you will not prevent your dog from stopping barking forever. Nature has already harwired your dog so that this comes naturally. If it is a quiet life you are after, away form dogs barking, then you should be looking elsewhere for a pet. A dog will bark if fearful, worried, trapped or when seeing another dog. These types of behaviors should not be discouraged.

Some owners attempt this through the use of shock or spray collars. Devices such as t. They deliver an electric shock each time the dog barks. The makers of such collars would have you believe that the shock they provide is no more that what you would get from static in your car, this is simply untrue. Collars such as these do fail, they do have faults and can end up shocking your dog without the dog doing anything whatsover.

A much more effective way to stop bad barking behaviors is through simple distraction. For instance, if a strange person is invited in to your house and your dog constantly barks at them, state the command “no” in an assertive tone and distract their mind by giving them something. Avoid shouting at or hitting your dog for barking. This can be very confusing for them. Any dog training is achieved through being consistent. At every occurrence of your dog barking when you do not want it to you should give the same reprimand following by the same distraction.

Praise them when they play with their toy instead of barking, in a light and excited tone of voice. As it is genetically implanted for your dog to want to please you they will begin to understand what is required of them and keep quiet in anticipation of making you happy. Repetition is the key, as with all training. Treat and reprimand enough times so that your dog gets what is expected of it.

A bark control collar can be utilized as a harmless and efficient training tool for eliminating your dog’s annoying or persistent barking. Following are the most often asked points I’m asked to clarify from pet owners interested in understanding how a bark collar works.

Bark Collars – Harmless or Harmful?

There has been a lot of controversy about whether bark collars are a humane training device. In my opinion, bark collars are definitely humane.

There are several different kinds of bark collars (Aboistop and Citronella collars, Ultra Sonic Collars and Shock Correction Bark Collars). For the intention of this post, I’ll center on static correction since the majority of debate about reliability and humaneness will often concentrate on this type of collar.

Static correction bark collars work by delivering a mild static electric shock to correct your dog when he begins barking. Some collars detect barking through use of vibration sensor, some collars utilize a microphone to recognize barking by sound; several versions of collars use a combination of both sound and vibration.

The static correction that your dog receives is akin to the shock you feel when you scuff across carpeting in your socks and then come in contact with a metal object. You have probably experienced this when you pull your clothes out of the clothes dryer during the winter and they have “static cling”. The resulting sensation is startling, but isn’t harmful.

When used properly, along with uniform training, static correction bark collars can be an effective, humane way to put a stop unreasonable or annoying barking.

Which bark collar works best?

The answer to this question lies with you, and your dog of course. As a dog owner, you know your pet best. Some things to consider when shopping for a no bark collar:

• Your dog’s age: Bark collars or dog training collars should not be used on a puppy younger than 6 months of age.
• Your dog’s size & weight: Your dog’s weight and neck size need to be considered when looking at collars. A bark collar for small dogs won’t work well for a bigger or stubborn breed.
• Your dog’s temperament: Is your dog very difficult to train? Apprehensive and  timid? There are specialized bark collars that will help with either extreme, as well as standard collars that will work with most dogs. A very shy dog may react better to a Citronella Bark Collar or Ultra Sonic device. Likewise, a larger dog will in all likelihood respond better to a bark control collar specifically made for large breeds.

Do bark control collars always work?

The success rate for bark collars is good, but its important to realize that they might not work in each situation. A sure way to help encourage success is to make a commitment to consistent training. Opt for the bark control collar that conforms best with your dog’s temperament and size, apply consistent teaching, and you’ll be well on your way to quieter days.

When you set out to teach your pet to come, there are a few secrets, tips and tricks that I'll share with you, to get fast success!

I have adapted these free techniques from the outstanding ‘Secrets to Dog Training‘ by Daniel Stephens. Check it out here if you wish to read more now.

“Come dog”

Firstly, and possibly the most crucial, is that you should never call your dog over if you are going to do something that he might class as ‘negative’ to him.. Some common examples are things such as tying him up, wetting him (if he doesnt like that!), telling him off, smacking, hitting or generally disciplining him..

Dont call over and discipline your dog for things such as running off, when he comes over. Your dog may learn that doing as his master commands, is a punishment. If your dog already knows negative associations when you call come, such as he thinks it means 'run asap!' or if your dog starts to ignore you, try using a new command that sounds diffferent. 

Forget your old come command and teach this exercise using a new, clear word. 'Here' or 'Hey' are popular ones, but really its up to you to use any command that you think will work.

In the ideal case, your dog should hear your command, cease what hes doing and sit in front of you! Best results are had when you treat this step as two different exercises.

Both exercises are best done seperatly, till your dog has them completely mastered. When this time comes, bring them together.

“Come sit in front of me”

Start with putting your dog on a short ish leash. Get your dogs attention, hold a favourtie treat of his/hers in your hand and take 3-4 quick steps backwards with the treat held in front, around nose height.

When your dog is in front of you, stop and raise the treat up a little, so the dog is motioned to sit and wait.

Command your dog to sit, and when hes does so paitently you can reward him with the treat by putting it in his mouth. Dont let him jump up to get it!

Next time you should do the process while holding your ground and avoiding moving backwards. Now try to phase out guiding with food or treats and change to simply reinforcing a correct 'come, sit' command. This will help your dog accept praise as a reward.

You can read part two of this article, for free, as my website (that has hundreds of other free dog training tips) here, at dog commands.

By Sandra Scott

A dog that growls at you is sending a clear message that must be heeded. People often do not understand a dog’s warning signals and do not retreat; dogs growl to make people understand the message they are trying to convey.

Usually, dogs will only display aggressive behavior when they feel that they are in danger or under threat.  Dogs will only attack when their numerous warning gestures have been ignored.

For an excellent dog training guide which will show you how to handle a growling dog, I suggest that you look at: Dog Growls.

Frequently, a dog growls to communicate his desires. This behavior is likely to be repeated once dogs realize that it gets them what they want. It is hardly a surprise that dog growling is a frequent issue because some people misguidedly think that this is an indication that their dog will safeguard them. The reality is that the dog is more likely to be protecting himself and his stuff.

Growling dogs may be considered dangerous according to some legal definitions so may need to be restricted accordingly. This could mean that he needs to be placed in a crate, kept in a separate space, or confined to the back yard.

If you give a dog what he wants after he has growled at you, he will very quickly realize that this is a great way to get what he desires. Understanding your dog’s needs is very helpful in resolving this behavior.

Just a reminder, if you are looking for a great free site to help you handle your dog’s growling behavior, you should take a look at: Growling Dogs.

The following are a few reasons for dog growling:

1. He wants you to feed him. This is an excellent opportunity to show a dog how to communicate his desires. The dog would need to behave appropriately before his food bowl would be placed in front of him.
2. He wants to eliminate. Some dog owners are delighted that their dog asks to be let outside to eliminate, however this is an unlikely expectation for an old or sick dog or a puppy. So a dog dosn’t have to worry about getting his owner’s attention to let him outside, it is much better if regular outings for elimination are scheduled.
3. He is protecting his meal. A dog may practice resource or food guarding to protect his food from a perceived threat (namely you!). Children must be told not to play with the dog’s food while he is eating. This also applies to adults; dogs must understand that humans give them food and don’t take it away. When it is safe to do so, food should be added to the dog’s bowl while he is eating.
4. Similar to food guarding, a dog may also guard a toy. When someone approaches the dog, growling is frequently the first sign that he will become aggressive if his warnings are ignored. Under these circumstances, the easiest solution is to only let the dog play with the toy in his crate.
5. He has taken something and wants to keep hold of it. You should never chase after your dog if he steals one of your possessions. Instead, you should make sure that he receives good obedience training where he will learn the joys of retrieving and will come to you on command.
6. Often a dog growls when he is afraid of being groomed or having his nails trimmed. If you plan on grooming your dog yourself, it is very important that you receive the correct training.
7. Dogs will also growl to protect themselves from abuse and suffering. Maybe a child has hit or tormented your dog when you weren’t looking so he may growl when a child approaches. Unfortunately, the dog will most likely be blamed for growling under these circumstances.
8. If a dog growls and his owner reacts by jumping backwards, this can be huge fun for the dog. He must not be permitted to become accustomed to this behavior as he is likely to show aggression when his owner doesn’t jump if he growls. This behavior must not be allowed to escalate.

To learn more about what to do when dogs growl at you, I suggest that you look at the best selling dog training guide, Secrets to Dog Training.

When you first bring home your sweet little puppy you never think that one day it could be a dog that is one mistake away from being sent off. It is not a single occurrence that creates aggressive dogs. Dogs are not born to automatically be mean or a threat to people. Abusiveness or poor ownership towards dogs usually leads to aggressive behavior. If you adopted your dog as an adult you will need to be particularly cautious and be sure that your dog has proper dog obedience training.

Showing your dog that you are the alpha and it is the beta is important to making housebreaking easy. Dog and puppy training are important for more things than just making sure that your dog no longer chews on your shoes. You must ensure that you do not let your dog turn into one of the multitude of aggressive dogs loose in the world. When a dog gets into dog biting or dog growling, a lot of terrible outcomes may occur. Neither one of those situations is a result from proper dog training.

The Terrible Aftermath Left From Aggressive Dogs

* May cause injuries to family, friends, or neighbors
* Emotional damage to youngsters
* Damaged personal property
* Previous situations that create lawsuits
* Being one of the many aggressive dogs that are put to sleep each year

If you truly love and care for your pet it is time that you step up and make sure that the animal you love so much does not join the ranks of aggressive dogs. You should seek outside help from a professional if you feel that you are unable to fix and control the problem on your own. With aggressive dogs, it can be wise to find a professional dog trainer who is specially trained in this area.

It’s advisable to do as much reading and research as you can on aggressive dogs. Learn that hitting a dog is not the way to train it. Violence only leads to violence, so be sure you aren’t contributing to the creation of aggressive dogs. The videos and books available might give you some success, however, in order to solve this problem, or preventing it from even starting, an expert can be invaluable.

Bringing In The Extra Help

It doesn’t matter if the trainer is free or if you have paid for their services, you must recognize that nothing is more important than understanding that you are responsible for your pet and its behavior. Owners are always held accountable for the actions of their aggressive dogs so make sure that you are never going to be faced with legal or moral consequences.

If you have a dog that has not yet experienced signs of becoming one of the many aggressive dogs out there then you have a little time. But if your dog shows any sign of aggressive play or destructiveness, you must not waste any time.

Puppy obedience is something that starts suprisingly early in their development. The amount of respect and puppy obedience in training is determined by the actual owner you purchased from.

Puppies, according to studies, are not ready for any training until at least three weeks of age. Their entire world revolves around their mother, eating and sleeping. By the 21st to 28th day of a puppies life they begin to leave the blanket and search for somewhere to do their business. Now, dogs begin to gain an awareness of the environment surrounding them, and to respond more directly to external stimuli. Lessons that an animal learns at an early age will have a greater impact on their obedience training as a whole.

Getting Puppies Started with Encouragement

When you want your pet to do the right thing, the best thing to do is to not use punishment as a form of readiness. A great solution is to use positive treats and reinforcements. When you are needing to use negative stimuli for your puppy it should be limited to no and block any bad actions from your puppy with using your hands. You should not hit or otherwise hurt a puppy as it is counterproductive.

Puppies should receive positive affection and praises each and every time they correctly respond to a command. If not praised, puppies will lose enthusiasm and interest in obeying you. After your pet does a command correctly and you praise and caress them, they will then learn that following these things are fun and rewarding. Puppy obedience will also be developed as he learns that repeating proper actions will reap rewards. Using a positive reinforcement and a treat will strengthen the dog’s understanding and increase’s the dog’s willingness to follow commands.

Persistence Mixed with Great Timing

Timing is everything when it comes to puppy training. Details such as actions, movements, and corrections will affect the puppy’s ability to follow commands. Younger dogs may be confused by discipline, so it is critically important that puppies understand the link between their disobedience and the resulting disciplinary correction.

For instance, a puppy who’s chewing on a bone or toy in another room is unlikely to act in response to the command “come,” and if no one brings him to the trainer, he will learn that the command is the same as “ignore.He will find out that “come” means that he should head for the trainer and that it will also bring in the goodies if the puppy is told to “come” under controlled situations, like when he’s on a leash and is gently pulled toward the trainer then praised.

Puppy obedience training is best taught in easy exercises, one by one. It’s a whole lot easier to enlist in a training programs that is separated into phases rather than trying to teach your dog everything at once. Bring your patience with you when you are training and use positive reinforcement.  Slowly your puppy will learn to obey.

The two main reasons for dog digging are that your dog may be too hot or too cold. Your dog is able to adjust his body temperature by digging and lying in a hole. Different from people, dogs have no way to add or remove layers so they have to get relief from weather conditions in other ways.

In addition, dogs dig due to boredom. A dog that is apart from his master all day can easily become bored. A dog that is left alone will find ways to entertain himself. Unfortunately, this may be digging!

In order to stop dogs digging, it will be necessary to channel their behavior in other directions. Usually all you will need to so is provide your dog with a digging patch where he will not be punished. Particular breeds are given to digging. These breeds will require extra patience from you in order to stop their digging behavior.

For more information on how to stop your dog from digging, I recommend that you check out: Stop Dogs from Digging

The following tips should help to stop dogs from digging up your yard:

1. Put an unpleasant “present” in the hole dug by your dog. Dogs often start to dig, leave the hole for a while, then return later to resume the digging. While your dog is taking his break from digging, you should put the surprise in the hole. One suggestion is water sprayed with bitter apple, which is available in pet stores.

    

2. Another way to stop dogs from digging is by filling the holes with waste found in your garden. Dogs prefer to dig in “clean” dirt. Add dead leaves, sticks, rocks, and mulch to the hole and cover it with a thin layer of soil. When your dog returns to his digging activities and finds these unwanted items in his hole, he will probably stop digging. If this isn’t successful, fill the hole and spray with bitter apple. As the majority of dogs do not like the odor, they will stop digging in the hole.

    

3. Provide your dog with a special area where he can safely dig without repercussions. Digging is instinctive for dogs. It may take some time to train your dog to restrict his digging to that spot but it can be done. One way to stop dogs from digging up your flowers is to provide them with an area in the garden where they can dig as much as they like.

   A sandbox is one option or an area of your garden that has not been landscaped could be cordoned off. If you bury a few dog treats that your dog can find, this will teach him that he is free to dig in that spot. If you have previously scolded him for digging, you may need to give him extra encouragement. As soon as he understands that digging in that area is permitted, he will be an overjoyed dog.

    

4. When your dog has been provided with his own designated spot for digging, you will still need to keep things interesting for him. Every so often, you should bury a toy or treat for him to find. As dogs get bored with digging in the same area, he may decide that another part of your backyard looks more interesting.

   Every so often, the sand or dirt in your dog’s digging patch should be changed. Fresh dirt rather than hard earth is preferred by most dogs. As well, your dog will sometimes like to dig under the fence rather than in his own digging patch. Spread animal essence, which hunters use to draw out animals, over your flower beds. The odor from other animals may discourage your dog’s digging.

These tips will help to stop dogs from digging in areas other than the designated spots you have assigned to them. Dogs are not being mean when they dig under your fence as this is instinctive behavior for them.

To stop your dog’s annoying digging behavior, make sure you check out: Stop Dogs from Digging