Dog Training Basics

Archive for July 9th, 2009

Indoor Dogs

There are 2 essentially critical rules when it comes to owning indoor dogs. The first is forestalling the dog from harming others. The second is to stop the dog from harm. Dog coaching, when done correctly achieves both these jobs. Dogs are pack animals. Just like their wolf cousins, there should be a hierarchy of power in the household. The owner must be the Alpha and take charge.

Dog coaching starts when they are puppies and will continue throughout their lives. A dog must be in a position to depend on its owner for common sense bounds. Unfortunately, there are instances when the human fails. Dogs that aren’t acclimated to strangers can endanger not only the stranger’s life but their own as well. Animal Welfare officials deal with dogs each day that lacked the proper dog coaching and as a consequence, bit someone.

A dog that bites is a menace to society and it will not be excused. The hazards to neighborhood youngsters are not worth the cost of pet coaching obedience classes. If you end up unable to train your pet to behave around strangers, then find a dog coaching class that will. An aggressive canine that bites others is not tolerated by the law. You can end up fined and worst case eventuality, doubtless having to have the animal put down, should it bite someone.

Dog training may also be used to coach an animal not to eat food unless it is given by the owner. Yearly thousands of dogs bear vet attention due to poisoning. There are multiple things we frequently don’t consider as deadly or dangerous that can mean life or death to a dog. 3 of the most common harmful items found around most homes are : chocolate, anti-freeze and chicken bones.

Occasionally you may find a dog owner who swears that their beloved dog companion is perfectly healthy from ingesting chocolate. They may even claim that the dog breeding stops theobromine poisoning. Theobromine is one of the agents in chocolate. Humans can eat it but it can be lethal for dogs. Books about dog coaching will most likely have a section devoted to animal health and care, so please confirm and read about about what a dog can and cannot ingest.

You can love your dog by learning the necessities to dog training. It could be tough at times but it will be well worth it in the guidelines and The indoor dog will know the rules and the consequences of disobeying. You will know your pet’s personality and be able to keep him safe and happy. A well trained dog is a great example to other might owners who could be making an attempt to train their dog. Share your experiences and give them advice on coaching and caring techniques that have helped you.

When puppies are born they are dependent on others for their initial survival. The optimum situation is for the mother to provide feeding, bathing, and dog training. Most mothers do this admirably but there is also additional need for puppy care birth to wean. At birth the puppies will not even have their eyes open so it is important that they have a safe, warm bed which will allow them room to grow.

Much like human babies, puppy babies are born without motor skills and balance. Their feet and legs are not strong enough to support their body. At this stage in their life it is best to let mom take care of them while you make sure mom has everything she needs.

Puppy care birth to wean involves the many different development periods for the puppy. During this time the puppy’s mind and body will be developing fast and many personality traits will surface. This is the time when the puppy is introduced to humans and it is very important for the humans to make a good impression. Gentle handling is required since the puppy’s body is very fragile at this stage.

At about two weeks of age the puppy will begin to open his eyes for the first time. This is an exciting time for the puppy because he now has so much to explore. The need for puppy care birth to wean becomes more prominent now. You will need to make sure the puppies have clean bedding and room to move about and play. They will begin testing their legs more so it is important for their bed to be located in a safe place. They will still lack good coordination so place their bedding on a flat surface to prevent them from falling and being injured.

The Transition Of Puppy Training From Birth To Wean

When the puppies are about four weeks old the mom may need your help in starting to wean them. While mom will administer puppy care from birth until they are weaned, she will need you to provide them with healthy food while she slowly decreases their supply of milk. During this time the puppies need to learn to eat solid food and drink water from a bowl. This will seem awkward for them at first but in time they will get the hang of it. Human supervision is necessary at this time to make sure the puppies don’t fall in their water and drown.

During the time when the puppies are four to eight weeks old will be a time of transition for the puppies as well as mom. The puppies will be learning independence and mom will be learning how to let go of the strong attachment she has had for her babies. Once the puppies are completely weaned mom can get a much deserved break. The puppies will still be in need of care but that care can now come from humans. If the weaned puppies have been cared for properly since birth they should now be ready to make the transition from puppy to family member or family pet.

DOG TRAINERS BRENTWOOD

There are a lot of schools of thought when it comes to Brentwood dog training and Brentwood puppy training) . The different dog training methods range from strictly motivational to strictly compulsion based and a number of variations in between. One of the most misunderstood methods of training is the utilization of the E-COLLARS VS SHOCK COLLARS. Before we get into that lets talk a little bit more about the traditional types of training. Strictly motivational dog training in theory sounds great. You take the dog and their favorite treat, (milk bone, dehydrated liver, chopped up hot dogs etc.) ask the dog to sit, use the treat to bait the dog into position, and when the dog is in the proper position reward him with the treat. Sounds great, but the problem is that in the real world, assuming that you want to be able to take your dog outside and have him listen, at some point there are going to be variables. what I mean is this, lets speak in terms of money, something that every person can understand. Take the dollar bill. If you have a $100.One dollar bill and a twenty dollar bill.one dollar bill and someone says choose one which bill are you taking?Sounds preposterous to even ask that question, right? But that is the whole premise for training strictly motivational.The one upside is your dog will be well fed and happy, but you will have no control around distractions.

The other side of the coin is strictly compulsion based training. The theory behind this type of dog training is you give the dog a command, then give him a moment to comply, and if he does not then he is heavily corrected via choke chain, pinch collar, throw chain, or shock collar. Dogs have been trained this way for years and the truth of the matter is you can teach a dog to sit, down, come and so on with this method, but the PROBLEM IS, YOU WILL CRUSH THE DOGS’ SPIRIT in the process. Now that we have a base and comparison of different types of training lets talk about E-COLLARS vs SHOCK COLLARS.

Your traditional method of shock collar training is correction based. This type of training has been used for field trial training for a long time as well as for police dogs.One type of shock collar training is identical to your pinch collar training.Give the dog a command give him a second to comply and if he refuses then the dog is given a very high level correction. The purpose of this high level correction in theory is that it will create a big enough deterrent that the dog would not dare disobey again. HOT SPOT TRAINING is the other type of shock collar training. Here’s how it works. Lets say that your dog is at a distance and you are teaching him a recall to heal position with a military finish. You would tell the dog heel and hold down the continuous button which distributes a constant high level shock until the dog happens to get into position to turn off the pain of the correction. The dog learns that the only way to stop the pain is to get to the safe spot associated with the verbal command which in turn is when the button is then let go and the pain stops. This type of training creates frantic erratic behavior in the dog because the level of anxiety is so high due to the fear of encountering that type of severe pain again. On top of all that 95% of dogs go one of two ways: they go into avoidance (they give up and shut down) or they lash out and try to nip and bite the handler and now you have a handler aggressive dog which usually winds up being euthanized due to the poor training. The other 5% percent have enough drive that they are able to work through the terrible training condition and their pain tolerance is high enough that they do not shut down. PROPER E-COLLAR training is very different. There are a few people in the US that understand PROPER E-COLLAR TRAINING. TIM SMITH is among the best in the country that understands the system and how to teach it with clear understanding even with the most novice handlers and trainers. The first thing that you have to understand is that E-COLLAR TRAINING is neither a negative nor positive, it is strictly a neutral means of getting the dogs attention. What you want is for the dog to be ELECTRONICALLY LITERATE. The definition of the dog being ELECTRONICALLY LITERATE means that he understands the VERBAL, PHYSICAL and STIMULUS intertwined together.E-COLLAR basics: If it was the first time we were teaching a new dog to sit.You would have the e-collar, flat collar, and a six foot leather leash.You would then ask the dog to sit and at the same time you should be guiding the dog into position and pressing the nick button at the same time.Once the dog starts to sit without the aid from the handler then it is time to move on to the sit portion of the command.With the remote sit you will then release the dog out of obedience so he is free to be a dog. Once he is at a distance you would tell him sit. The dogs first instinct will be to move back toward you since he only knows sit in one facet of the command and that is at your side. Use the pulley method to keep him at a distance so that the dog can start to learn separation of angle. Once he is starting to sit remotely without the aid of the leash, you are going to sit him at a distance, walk away and turn and face the dog.Then recall the dog towards you and at the midpoint ask him to sit. Before moving to this step the dog should have already demonstrated that he is ELECTRONICALLY LITERATE. There are a number of ways to know, but today we are only going to talk about one. You will see it when the dog starts to break position and you tell him to sit and he self corrects his position back to where he originally was which will be the key for every transition in the sit. The purpose of E-COLLAR training is so that the dog has clarity and understanding and produces the quickest results possible without compromising the dogs attitude. You should not be waiting for the dog to make a mistake and then fix it you should be looking for the subtle shift in weight before the dog breaks position so that he has success every time. The other big question is what is too high or low of a level and that answer is that there is no such thing. This is what I mean.The common denominator is that you should just be getting the dogs attention so putting it into perspective if you were sitting on the back porch listening to a baseball game and your wife wanted to get your attention she could tap you on the shoulder lightly. So my point is, you are going to adjust according to a given situation or distraction, but you should not be on a ten if the distraction is a seven and you should not be on a two if the distraction is a ten.It should be four to four or seven to seven.{ Hope this gives you some in-something to think about in the cutting edge world of e-collar training}. For more information on T.R. systems visit www.sfcdogs.com.

ite into the exiting world of E-COLLAR training~Hope you were educated a little bit about the exciting world of e-collar training~Hope this gives you in-site into e-collar training~Hope this gives you some foundation of e-collar training~Hope this gives you some clarity into the cutting edge world of e-collar training~Hope this gives you s

Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs in the United States today, primarily because their friendly disposition makes them an excellent choice as a family pet. This dog was originally bred in Newfoundland, Canada, and was used by fisherman to jump into icy waters and pull up nets. These dogs turned up in England in the 1800’s, and this is where the retrieving instincts of the breed were sharpened. Today, in addition to being a popular family dog, the Labrador retriever is used as a service dog for the disabled and as a drug detector for law enforcement organizations. If you are considering this type of dog for your next family pet, there are a few basics that you need to know about Labrador puppy training.

The Temperament of the Labrador Retriever

This breed of dog is extremely social and energetic, so a big part of your Labrador puppy care will be to provide your dog with plenty of room for running and lots of playtime with you. A large fenced yard is the best place for this type of pup to play, and you will want to have a few toys on hand that you can use to play fetch with your pup. Another important part of Labrador dog traing is to take him on many walks, but never allow your dog out of his confined space without a leash. Because Labrador retrievers have so much energy, the more exercise you offer to your pup, the easier it will be to train him.

Labrador retrievers are intelligent animals, so training needs to begin as soon as your puppy comes home. An obedience class is a good idea as part of your Labrador puppy care as well, and should be done as early as possible for best results. House breaking your puppy is one of the first types of training that you will do, and will require plenty of consistency and patience on your part for the best results. For more specific information about house breaking as a part of your Labrador puppy care, you can contact your breeder, veterinarian or consult sites on the Internet.

Socializing your Labrador Retriever

Labs are social and friendly creatures by nature, so most do very well in families with children and even other pets. Keep in mind that while this dog may bark if a stranger approaches, it may not make a particularly effective guard dog. Because of their social nature, these dogs can become bored and destructive when left to their own devices too often. If you are considering a Labrador retriever as a family pet, it is important for you to be prepared to spend plenty of time with your new pet as a part of your Labrador puppy care. This will ensure that you and your pup will start out a relationship on the right foot – or paw, as the case may be.

No one argues that dog obedience training isn’t necessary. Of course it is. Dogs don’t just intuitively know what it is you want them to do. While breeders and professional dog trainers are obviously very aware of the different training approaches, they normally prefer one over another. It’s always a good idea to go to dog obedience class because the socialization you get is invaluable – but more and more, dog owners are becoming informed in order to take on a greater role in training their dogs at home.

Correction Based Training
Up until a number of years ago, the most popular method of dog training was based on correcting unwanted behavior. The theory behind this is that the dog learns to associate a negative reaction for a certain behavior so avoids doing it.A good example is the use of a prong collar. When the dog pulls on the leash, the prongs dig into his neck, thus causing pain or at least an uncomfortable feeling. While correction based training can get quick results, there is a danger that it easily becomes nothing more than punishment. Trainers often get good results using these techniques. Dog owners don’t.

Positive Reinforcement Dog Training
In recent years, positive reinforcement dog training has become the biggest buzz word in the dog training world. This approach relies on the dog associating certain behaviours with something positive. When the dog delivers a wanted response, she is rewarded. She doesn’t get punished when she does something wrong – she gets rewarded when she does something right.

Some trainers claim that positive reinforcement by itself is never enough for some dogs and certainly not as efficient as a combination positive reinforcement and correction based exercises. Others preach that positive reinforcement by itself works as long as you teach your dog you are the alpha leader in her pack so her instincts tell her she has to do what you tell her – the only thing you have to do is teach her what you want her to do.

Clicker Training
And then there’s another group that swears by clicker training. This is positive based, but relies entirely on the theory that your dog will act based on getting what she wants more than any desire to please you. It assumes that your dog will give a certain behaviour not because she strives to please you, but because she knows it means something good will come. The key difference is that all behaviour is given voluntarily (which means training is actually fun for your dog) and by using a conditioned reinforcer (the clicker), it is much easier to be exact in teaching your dog what it is that gets her the reward. Clicker training takes a bit longer when starting out, but more and more trainers and every day dog owners swear by it.

More and more, people are dog training at home and using online dog training products to educate themselves. There are numerous approaches to dog obedience training but it makes sense to be aware of all of them when choosing what’s right for you and your dog.

Just as different people have different personalities and just as some afflictions tend to afflict people in an area that's genetically disposed to it, different breeds of dogs also have their own particular problems. At first, the care of a minature dashund puppy seems like it might be easy, since they're outgoing, energetic dogs with mostly happy personalities, but danger for these little dogs lurks in the form of back trouble. The naturally elongated body of a minature dashund puppy makes the care of its back particularly important.

Careful With Exercise

Proper dog training of a minature dashund puppy begins when they are young and ready to be trained. These little dogs happen to love exercise, but too much will both tire them and strain their bodies, and you also need to be careful of the kind of exercise they have. For instance, while these dogs will be perfectly happy to include a lot of jumping in their activities, since this puts particular strain on their backs.

Watch The Food

Taking care of a minature dashund puppy means that you need to feed it right, and that means both ensuring that your dog eats healthy food and doesn’t overeat. If you indulge your dog in too much food, then it will become obese, and because of these dogs’ natural body shape, that will also put a lot of weight underneath them, putting strain on the middle of their backs, which is just where they need as little strain as possible.

And of course, it should go without saying that when in the care of a minature dashund puppy, you never give it food intended for people. It's a sure way to lead to both obesity for your dog and constant begging at the dinner table.

If You Don't…

It is sometimes considered unfair to use scare tactics, but understanding what is in store with improper puppy training. Herniated or ruptured disks are the big risks with these dogs, and in some cases can lead to paraplegic dogs. If things get this bad, then the care of a minature dashund puppy will entail a lot more work, since the dog won’t be able to control bladder or bowels or exercise.

Rehabilitation takes time and patience, but many owners often put the dog down instead, thinking that they’re saving their pet from pain. No matter what, though, this is an undesirable condition to have in your dog. So remember, proper care of a minature dashund puppy and diligence in preventing back straining will result in a happy, healthy, and long-lived dog.

Boxers have a very long puppyhood and are most frequently called, the “Peter Pan” of the dog world. They are not considered fully mature until they are two to three years old. Therefore, Boxer puppy care is extremely important.  This is one of the longest puppyhoods in the dog kingdom. They need a lot of puppy training in their early months to keep their master from wearing out.  

Boxers are very friendly and make an exceptional family pet. They are very alert, intelligent and strong dogs. But these dogs need good socialization skills as puppies in order to tolerate other dogs later on in their lives. The boxer, by nature, is not an aggressive or vicious dog.  However, he can become over-protective and dominating, if socialization has not been developed in his young years. So, a major part of Boxer puppy care is socialization. Bringing another puppy or an older dog into his environment at an early age will help him socialize within the dog kingdom.

Dog Training

Since Boxers have such long puppy lives, it is very important in Boxer puppy care to bring training into their lives as soon as possible. After food, exercise and boundaries have been established, your puppy needs to start training.  The housebreaking of your Boxer puppy can be done very simply. Using the crate method is very successful with Boxers.

Actually, most housebreaking methods are successful with Boxers because of their intelligence. Your local pet store will have many books on the different ways to housebreak puppies. But your Boxer puppy care will become more successful if you use the ‘clicker’ method. It is proven that Boxers respond better to clickers than they do to voice commands.  Again, your pet store will help you in finding a good clicker training class or book.

Start very young with your Boxer dog training and the both of you will be much happier together. Learning all of the various commands at a young age can only be a winning combination. Boxers love to be obedient and they love to have respect from their owners. They are often used for service dogs, guide dogs for the blind, therapy dogs and police dogs in K9 units. The military use these dogs as messenger dogs, pack carriers, and attack and guard dogs.

After watching the versatility of these dogs in their later years, it is no wonder that Boxer puppy care is very important. The love and affection they give to their owners and their socialization with the world begins in their early puppy years. It seems obvious that Boxer puppy care, of the Peter Pan of dogs, is very important to our civilization.

Crate training benefits both your dog and yourself, the loving dog owner.  Your dog will be more loving and affectionate towards family members when he understands his boundaries.

A Crate Makes Housebreaking Easier

Since dogs in general do not like to sleep in their own mess, housebreaking will become much easier.  Dogs will develop better bladder control when confined to dog cages over a specific time.  He will learn when to relieve himself after taking him outside immediately after his release from his cage.

Your dog will learn to get control of his need to eliminate since they do not like to rest in the area where they soil.   Dogs are den animals that like to have their own quiet place and they’ll do everything they can to keep it clean. But remember, Puppies need to go out frequently to eliminate, so do not keep them in the crate for long periods of time.

Destructive Behaviors Are Limited

Dogs naturally enjoy chewing.  Your dog needs to learn the things that are acceptable or not acceptable things to chew on. Since your dog is generally going to chew on something, would it not be better to chew on acceptable toys rather than your chair legs and shoes?  Therefore, by providing safe chew toys in his crate, you will protect your house from damage and also teach your dog acceptable things to chew on in the house.

Dog Crates Protects Your Dog from Household Hazards

A house contains hundreds of potentially lethal objects for your dog. If you let your dog roams freely in the house unsupervised, you are really asking for trouble and you unnecessarily put your dog in danger.  Your dog may not realize that chewing on electrical wires or eating plants or certain foods can potentially be dangerous.

Crate training your dog will bring you peace of mind since your dog will be out of danger when you’re not around to supervise him.

A Crate Makes Car Rides Safer

Your car trips will be safer and more peaceful if your dog is resting contently in his crate. A crate trained dog will eliminate any possible distractions as you drive.

Crates provides you dog security when he desires to rest or be alone.

Dogs are, by nature, den animals and feel secure in small, enclosed spaces. Most dogs will seek out a place in your home that will mimic a den. You will often find them sleeping under a table or desk. Dog crates make excellent dens and can serve as a refuge, a hangout and a bedroom. By simply crate training your dog, you give him the tools to cope with any potentially stressful situations like going to the vet.

Crate training is great for both your dog and you.  So why not buy a dog cage and start you crate training today!

Puppies training are needed from the first night they arrive in their permanent homes, and puppy sleep care is most important right from the start.  Many people never think about puppy sleep care because puppies seem to fall asleep almost everywhere and without any special preparations.  Puppy sleep care could make a difference in the way a puppy adjusts to a new environment and new owners who should remember that everything is totally new to them.  The first night in the new place will probably be proof enough that this is a difficult experience for the puppy, but the new pet cannot tell the owner the reason.

Just like small babies, puppies cannot explain their problems so in the beginning their problems might not be understood clearly.  Unfortunately without some insight, a new owner could be confused and sleepless.  Dog training could make the difference between a smooth transition and some nights of trauma and confusion.Puppy sleep care is not difficult, but a few measures and precautions should be taken.Every one of these provisions could make the first days of the little puppy much easier. 

Puppy Sleep Care Requires Some Special Arrangements

Puppy sleep care includes establishing a new routine for a puppy used to a different routine that has been suddenly and unceremoniously disrupted.  The first few nights will be very difficult for the puppy because of the strange surroundings.  To a puppy, even more luxuriously surroundings will be strange surroundings.  The puppy will not realize that a more expensive carpet is better than the one he or she is used to from the former home.  People seem to forget that the puppy has been taken away from the mother who raised him or her to the point of departure.

The puppy in a new home will not have the brothers and sisters around any more either.  The puppy will feel very lonely.The puppy will bond with the new owner quickly, but until that bonding takes place, the puppy will be lonely.  The puppy needs to feel loved so shouting at the puppy will not endear him to a new owner or surroundings.  The puppy will also learn what works as far as behavior.  If he cries and the new owner runs to him or her, the puppy will realize that crying works if you want the owner to appear.  Puppy sleep care requires a warm place free of drafts.

Crate training benefits both your dog and yourself, the loving dog owner.  Your dog will be more loving and affectionate towards family members when he understands his boundaries.

Your Dog Crate Makes Housebreaking Much Easier

Since dogs in general do not like to sleep in their own mess, housebreaking will become much easier.  Dogs generally develop better bladder control when confined to dog cages over a specific time.  He will learn when to relieve himself after taking him outside immediately after his release from his cage.

Dogs, being den animals,  generally like their place clean and quiet.  It is also good to remember that puppies need to go more often, so do not keep them in the crate for a long period.

Destructive Behaviors Are Limited

Dogs naturally enjoy chewing.  Your dog needs to learn the things that are acceptable or not acceptable things to chew on. Since your dog is generally going to chew on something, would it not be better to chew on acceptable toys rather than your chair legs and shoes?  Therefore, by providing safe chew toys in his crate, you will protect your house from damage and also teach your dog acceptable things to chew on in the house.

A Crate Will Protect Your Dog From Household Dangers

Typically, a house contains many potentially dangerous objects for your dog.  You can be asking for trouble when you let your dog roam the house unsupervised.  Your dog may be tempted to chew on lethal objects like electrical wires or poisonous foods or plants.

Proper crate training of your dog provides more confidence that your dog will limit getting in trouble even when you are not around to supervise.

Dog Crates Make Traveling Safer

Containment in a dog crate helps eliminate some possible distractions if you have a very active dog.  A crate trained dog makes your trip more peaceful as your dog rest contently in his crate.

Crates provides you dog security when he desires to rest or be alone.

Dog naturally seek refuge in small enclosed spaces like a den.  Dog crates will provide your dog that nice place to hangout in when needing rest.  Crate training your dog will also prepare him for potentially stressful situations like going to the vet.

Crate training is great for both your dog and you.  So why not buy a dog cage and start you crate training today!