Apr 23 2011

Support With Training Your Dog

If you have a dog and you need to train it but you don’t have the energy, patience or time to devote to it, you aren’t alone. This is an undertaking that requires a lot of all of these things, and what you want is a safe, well adjusted dog and for you to be happy with the results, too. What may help you get there is to hire a professional dog trainer.

When it comes to hiring a trainer, quality and cost are going to vary as with any profession. Training philosophies are also probably going to differ significantly depending on the trainer, too, especially because it involves interacting with animals. Therefore, take the following things into consideration as you make your selection.

Determine what your budget is going to be. The cost of the services you hire will vary depending on where you live and what services you use. You can sometimes use free services, often supplied weekly to parks or shelters by volunteers, or you may pay $100 or better per session. What’s a reasonable fee for you? That will vary, depending on where you live, the experience of your trainer, how long the program is, and what your goals are for your dog.

What’s your schedule? Some training programs are done on a weekly basis, while others happen more often, even daily. Do you want a training program where you have to leave the dog and pick it up later? Or will you participate directly in the training? Most programs also require that you spend some time training the dog yourself every day, whether you do so at home or on site with the program.

In some cases, you may want to consider so-called “boot camp” training programs. In that case, your dog will go away to a special facility for quite awhile, up to several weeks. The training the dog receives is intensive, happens over the training period of time, and it happens very regularly, too. However, don’t be concerned that this is too hard on dogs. Dogs love this type of treatment. Near the end of this type of training, you, too, will usually have to participate so that the dog’s obedience is “transferred” from the trainers to you.

The results of these programs are truly amazing much of the time, though. For those dogs that graduate, they become disciplined and are very eager to follow your instructions. This is true even when they’re not special service dogs. Seemingly contradictory, though, these dogs usually don’t show any ill effects or signs of repression. Instead, they are enthusiastic and play happily.

Next, take a look at your goals. Do you want your dog to be able to enter dog shows, or do you just want him to be well behaved enough to not chase the cat or chew on your furniture? Either way, you’ll need to have your dog training so that these types of misbehaviors don’t happen and good behavior is the result. How you do this and what type of training program you undertake is going to differ depending on individual temperament and your dog’s breed.

Take a look at your dog’s temperament; for example, is your dog fearful, either because he was mistreated before or just because it’s submissive? Or, your dog may be assertive, either because it’s been abused previously and has had to fight back, or simply because it wants to be “leader of the pack.” The training you choose is going to depend on how you want to influence your dog and the characteristics you want to mold.

Whatever goals you have, and whatever your commitment or budget, you’ll want to choose a trainer who has endless energy and patience, and who loves dogs deeply. Most trainers choose their careers precisely because they have these characteristics in great measure.

Beyond the basics discussed, you’ll also want a trainer whose philosophy matches your own and makes sense to you, and who will respect and match your goals. Some trainers have a viewpoint that “dog” training is really about training the owner, not the dog, and there may be some truth to that a lot of the time. Some dog trainers are more permissive, friendly, lenient, and focus on emotionally “connecting” with your dog, while others are much more commanding and demand respect and obedience. Still others use a mix of these two schools of thought.

It’s probably true that no one training style suits everyone, but it’s not absolutely subjective, either. Even if you disagree on some points, there are a few principles that almost everyone can agree with. That is, consistency, patience, and persistence, as well as the need for the human to be in the “alpha” role, are just a few of the common guidelines.

When you choose your trainer, ask for friends or family to recommend someone, and don’t hesitate to try a few out. It may be that you’ll have to change once or twice to find someone who really suits your needs. However, be careful about being too quick to change, and don’t just do it casually. Dogs need regular environment and consistency in order to really absorb the training they are being given.

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Nov 18 2009

Positives and Negatives of Dog Training Control Tools

Every so often the differentiation between training discipline and constraint is needlessly confused. Using verbal commands and non-verbal clues, with leashes or snacks, to solicit wanted behavior is training discipline. Using choke or ‘stop-barking’ collars, electronic fences or barriers and related devices is for constraint or prevention of unwanted behavior.

Control isn’t of necessity harmful. Dogs instinctively have the need for and gravitate to the continuity of a community in which someone is the ‘alpha wolf’ and in a dog and a human relationship the human has to take that job. To allow the dog to establish himself as the alpha dog means property destruction, potentially threatening conditions for other dogs and humans, human dissatisfaction and a maladjusted dog.

Choke collars were conceived to help in getting control. Dogs are like humans in that each has their own character and traits. Some are, as a result, more assertive or slower to learn. For ones that don’t react positively to a conventional leather or nylon collar, a metal choke collar can supply additional deterrence to tugging and leaping.

The potential drawback is that choke collars, when used clumsily – all too simple to do – can give you results you didn’t want and also be dangerous. Choke collars fit only one way and when suitably fitted should make allowance for a one to three fingers space between the neck and the collar – three for larger dogs, one for smaller. Ordinarily a collar two inches longer than the measurement around the neck will suffice.

Used crudely, though, choke collars can pinch the skin – resulting in lesions that scratching will make worse. They can also by mistake pinch the trachea. A fast yank-and-release does no damage; however by its construction it does cause discomfort. But for dogs that try to defy the tether this technique can be difficult to be successful with. Ordinarily, it is not recommended, chiefly for smaller dogs.

Prong collars are less hazardous than they appear, but have almost no positive characteristics -in this trainer’s opinion. The only good aspect of the structure is their limited diameter – they can only clinch down so far. Nonetheless, a critter with such a strong-willed tendency to pull that prongs do not deter him cries out for a re-thinking of his whole training regime. That animal requires persistent training and behavior modification manipulation.

Halter collars, which envelop the neck and the muzzle, but don’t stop panting or prohibit drinking and eating can give further constraint. The drawback is they don’t inhibit biting if that’s an issue. If biting is not a problem an everyday tether and collar, or maybe a chest halter might be preferable.

‘Stop-barking’ collars on occasion work when training those dogs that continue in a barking mode way past the reason to do so is gone. Barking is natural and an ordinary response to potential danger and is also used to draw attention when one becomes removed or separated from the group. But, for reasons not all that well comprehended, some individuals continue barking day in and day out or are set off by the most minor events.

Electronic collars that prohibit barking come in two forms: noise stimulus and shock stimulus. Noise collars generate a brief, unpleasant sound that distracts and tends to discourage continual barking.

Shock collars initiate a minor but startling electric shock that can be repetitive and persistent during prolonged or obsessive barking sessions. Fair and balanced investigations of their effect draw mixed conclusions, on the other hand. As with prong collars, any dog who is a candidate for one would also profit from an attentive, professional trainer.

Now and then quick fixes are appealing and worthwhile… until they become replacements for more constructive (both to trainer and dog) long-term management. Making the effort to understand how to access your dog’s focused attention and cooperativeness without disproportionate reliance on control equipment is better. The usual effect is happier trainers and more well adjusted dogs.

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Nov 16 2009

Dog Training – Adapt Your Tactics to Fit the Breed

The differences within the category of what we consider domesticated dogs is so extensive that it is better at times not to consider them all as the same species. Biologists do since dogs can interbreed. Since dog owners hold different objectives, it is sometimes better to emphasize the differences rather than their similarities.

A Great Danes and a Jack Russell look act and think very differently. A Jack Russell is more hyperactive than a Great Dane. A Golden Retriever and a Collie are very different from one another. The Golden Retriever is more excitable, fun loving and friendly. A German Shepherd and a Chihuahua have absolutely nothing in common other than being a canine animal.

You will need to adapt your training technique to fit the breed of dog you intend to train, because of their differences. You will need to practice patience with all dogs while training them; however, some may need more than others will. Because, German Shepherds are very smart and take well to obedience commands they are generally easy to train. While a Jack Russell is intelligent as well, they are more willful and deserve a variation in their training.

Using distraction techniques while training terriers that are high-energy and highly active dogs may be just the thing they need, since they will spot movement and then quickly go after that which moves. Keeping them focused is challenging, since you need them to pay attention to you. You can use treats, toys and other items to help keep their attention.

Collies are mellower and equally trainable; they are however, very protective and fiercely loyal, which is touching. It can however, present a problem, because your collie may bark impulsively and go after anyone they think is posing a threat to their family. This is a desirable trait in a watchdog guarding the house at night, yet it can become annoying every time a child passes by on the sidewalk during the day.

Under these circumstances, bark collars may be the answer, however when the sun goes down you should remove the collar from your dog. This can help the dog associate discouragement of barking during the day, while also functioning as a watchdog at night.

Dalmatians are wonderful companions, yet they are very strong and ultra-energetic. This can cause a problematic situation for a dog that spends too much time in a small yard with no one to play with. If you plan to own one of these dogs, you will need to make time for working off all his or her surplus energy.

The only speed Dalmatians understand is full speed ahead. They do require a large area for running and playing. They require a master who can toss the ball far, far away and still be able to command them fully. They are loyal dogs that need a strong hand, since it takes a forceful master to be the alpha dog as far as a Dalmatian is concerned.

You will need to modify your training method to fit the actual nature of your dog, while including the consideration of both the aspects of the breed and the characteristics unique to your particular dog. Remember, dogs are individuals just as humans are.

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Nov 11 2009

Should You Crate Train Your Dog?

Is crate training a good way to train your dog? There are plenty of people on both sides of this question; crating, as you may know is a method of dog training which involves keeping your dog in a small cage for short periods of time. The cage, or crate as it is called is typically metal or plastic and is just large enough for the dog to turn around in, but no larger.

On the pro-crating side, people who use crate training say that it is a place which a dog can call its own ” a refuge from unpleasant sounds and the rambunctious behavior of children. As mentioned above, they also argue in favor of crating a dog as part of the housebreaking process, averring that this trains a dog to wait until they are taken outside to eliminate.

One criticism leveled against crate training is that it is unnatural for a dog to spend any length of time in a confined space where it can’t engage in its natural habits of exploring and roaming. It prevents dogs from being as active as they naturally are and is an unpleasant experience for the animal, they argue.

The no-crating crowd point to those instances where puppies will go ahead and soil themselves while in the crate, despite the arguments made by the proponents of crate training. They make the argument that crate training is really more about the owner’s convenience than it is the best interests of their pet.

Pet owners from both schools of thought of course have the best intentions and want to take good care of their pets. The research which has been done on crate training has given dog owners no certain answer one way or the other, but there is broad agreement that when done properly, crate training has little if any ill effects and can be of some benefit to the dog.

You’ll want to avoid keeping your dog in such a small place for an extended period of time. You shouldn’t keep your pet in the crate for more than four hours at the most. A longer time than this is uncomfortable for your dog and is also an unreasonably long time to expect most dogs to resist nature’s call.

There is also the concern that a caged dog can accidentally injure itself. It’s important to make sure that the dog’s collar will not snag on the cage and that the cage is free of sharp edges, as well as that the cage is sturdy enough not to tip over or break when pushed by your dog.

One benefit that fans of crate training point out is that these animals deal better with travel, since they’ve become accustomed to confined spaces and have familiar smells to comfort them in their cage.

Another school of thought holds that pets should be left at home while their owners travel anyway. However, if it is necessary to travel with your pet, use a well built crate which prevents any foreign objects getting in, as well as falling out.

There’s not going to be an agreement on crate training in the near future; that much is certain. It’s best to decide for yourself. Try crating your dog for a couple of weeks, followed by leaving the door of the crate open and let your dog vote with their feet ” do they steer clear of the crate or do they choose it as a favored spot for their naps? Let your dog have a say and you’ll have a happier pet.

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Nov 10 2009

Things Not To Do When Training Your Dog

Nearly every dog owner wants to teach their dog properly. However, nearly an equal number seriously misjudge the amount of time and discipline it takes to instruct a dog. This results in a regular set of misjudgments that are often made that could, with more or less effort, be wholly avoided.

Dogs should not be treated as hairy kids. Even though the typical dog has the psychological development of a two year old child, there are more contrasts than similarities. While dogs are incredible at processing language, they are unable to rationalize as humans do. They can’t put together cause and effect the way humans do.

That is why plenty of new dog trainers are extremely frustrated when they suppose the dog is ignoring their command, which is being repeated again and again. Many owners consider a dog to be stubborn on one day when he obeyed his master’s commands the previous day. But the owners do not take into consideration that the dog does not understand the command so he does not know how to respond.

That is the reason why owners dub a dog stubborn or disobedient as if it was human. A dog might get distracted while training or not relate the “come” command with the behavior of the previous training session and its resulting reward. There are reasons for this particular behavior.

Dog owners and trainers have to be extremely patient. You will need to repeat commands many times for the dog to assimilate them. Sometimes the dog is not going to respond as you want it to. Many dogs take up to 2 years to go beyond the simple basic commands which they can understand.

Remember that patience means that you keep your temper when what you really want is to smack or yell at your dog. It’s normal to think about taking the easy route of physical punishment as the first reaction for improving the dog’s behavior. However, this should be reserved for only the most serious situations. The dog doesn’t really understand why they’re being smacked. This will not develop into trust, but instead fear.

Dogs are just like human beings in the way that they follow people they trust instead of the people they fear. Following a person they fear is a last resort option for dogs. Dogs also have different reasoning abilities than humans. They are not going to learn from physical punishment, because they do not understand the reason behind it. That is why physical punishment is not an effective training option.

This is how not to train your dog: -Treating and talking to your dog like it is a human, and able to reason like you. -Thinking that your dog can connect cause and effect, and events across different circumstances and time and reach the same conclusions as a human being. -Getting impatient with the dog, as well as frustrated, just because they are not behaving in the manner you want them to behave, and then punishing them for something they cannot understand.

If you follow these ways, you are just going to have a totally maladjusted dog, and are going to be extremely unhappy with the results. So change YOUR behavior now instead of trying incorrectly to make the dog change its behavior.

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Nov 09 2009

Use Your Dog’s Everyday Behavior to Teach Tricks

Dogs are amazing creatures in that they conform to their owner’s desires in almost all cases. You would be amazed at the things a dog will do to please their owner, especially when there is some sort of treat involved when all is said and done. There are things that they do as a matter of course, and those are the things that you’re going to want to use while you train them to do tricks. If you combine these methods with treats, then you’ll find that it’s a lot easier to do the training.

Observe what your dog does for his own amusement. Does he spring into the air pursuing butterflies? Does he like to lay on his back with his feet in the air? If some kind of impromptu behavior can be turned into an enjoyable trick, that will quicken the training process. Be ready to use a fitting hand cue and verbal command when this behavior is displayed and then follow through with an instantaneous reward.

It’s important to not feed your dog an excessive number of treats. If you feed them too many you risk them either becoming sick, obese, or immune to the treat if you know what I’m saying. Treats will be good in the beginning, but you need to slowly wean your dog off of these treats so that he or she will do the tricks after seeing your hand signal or receiving the verbal command.

Quite a few dogs get the knack very rapidly after a few repeats and a voice praise or snack reward. This usually makes training the “stay”, “come”, “sit” and other elementary commands quite straightforward. When you want to teach something a bit more complicated it can be as simple as capitalizing on these elementary commands and behaviors. For example, the “down” command can be the jump off point for training “play dead”.

Another way to get your dog to pay close attention while you are trying to perfect tricks is to use their favorite toy. You can dangle this close to your dog’s nose and say ‘jump’. It may take a few minutes, but the dog will soon realize that the word ‘jump’ means…well…jump. After a while you won’t even need the toy.

Take advantage of your dog’s perceptive sense of smell… his capacity to detect smells close by and at long distance is fascinating. This incredible capacity can be utilized in training many types of “hide-and-seek” tricks and games. Again, using a favorite squeaky toy or chew ball, conceal it under a box or other object. Begin up close and slowly lengthen the distance or increase the difficulty in stages, for example positioning the box in a different room or up on a counter.

What about giving you five? That’s a great trick for a dog, and it’s actually pretty easy. Most dogs have a tendency to give you their paw immediately, and you can show them your hand or “paw”, and then say ‘high five’ as they give you theirs. After a while this will become second nature to them, but at first you will need to reinforce this behavior using a treat.

Often the dog will give you his paw at once. With some dogs you will have to help them get the idea by elevating their paw whilst using the vocal command. Bear in mind the need to praise even if you have to elevate his paw into position, then lower the paw back down and repeat.

Once you’ve taught your dog a few tricks, there are some other things that you can do. Once you teach them to give you five, you can extend it into telling them to ‘sit up’. You can lift the paw slowly, and the other one will rise up by reflex, and then the dog will actually be sitting up. Make sure you reward the dog with a treat after you do this.

Training a dog can be fun, and it has a few other benefits as well. By training your dog and spending time with him or her you will create a strong bond. You and your dog will become very close and you both will be a lot happier!

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Nov 09 2009

Teaching a Insubordinate Dog To Respond To ‘Down’

“Nature to be commanded, must be obeyed” was a well-known expression of Francis Bacon. This idea is nowhere more true than when it comes to teaching dogs. Dogs will have a natural predisposition to search for and stay with a chain of command structure with a leader (alpha) at the uppermost of the pack and all the way down to an omega at the bottom. That is why the ‘Down’ command is unquestionably constructive for enforcing your status as alpha.

Functionally, it is good for your dog to know and obey the down command. This can save your furniture from getting battered about and small children from getting knocked down. It’s also a good start for your dog to learn additional commands such as “crawl” or “roll over” or even tricks.

Training your dog to obey the down command is actually pretty straightforward. Your dog will naturally lie down when he is tired or relaxing. So the first thing to do is study your dog and learn to recognize when he is about to go from a sitting position to a down position.

When this transition is about to occur, you want to give a specific and unique voice command and a hand gesture at the same time. This hand gesture needs to be something you don’t normally do the rest of the time so you don’t confuse the dog. Every time you want to teach a dog a particular behavior, you want to have a distinct and exclusive hand gesture that accompanies that command. Always use a consistent, clear tone of voice so the dog will learn to recognize it.

After you make the command and gesture combination, and as soon as the desired behavior occurs, give the dog lots of praise. Initially, the dog won’t really understand why he’s getting praised. But this is actually irrelevant. As you repeat this consistently, the dog will learn to associate the praise with his action following your command. And this desired behavior will be the link to that praise.

At first your dog probably won’t obey as commanded because he’s not certain what you want. So you will need to be patient and consistent. The best way to teach a new behavior is to work with the dog alone, away from other people and voices and distractions.

Another way to help your dog learn the down command and reward him is to do the following. When your dog is in a sitting position, place a toy or treat on the ground right near the front of the dog’s nose where he will naturally want to lie down to engage with it. At the same time, simultaneously give the down command and then reward the dog with praise when he complies.

Helping to focus your dog’s attention with the toy or snack, use a ‘waving down’ hand movement, with your palm towards the floor position. Be sure to avoid rewarding any dog with praise or a treat unless the behavior is complete and totally correct. However, if things don’t go the way you want them to, be careful not to become upset with the dog.

Some dogs require complementary training with a leash and collar to assist. To do this, get a short leather or nylon leash-a maximum of 4 feet long. Place the dog in the sitting position and kneel so you are in front of the dog facing him.

Now make the command and unique hand gesture you will use for this command while also moving the toy or treat from a spot near the chin of the dog down to the ground. At the same time, calmly and slowly pull down on the leash to nudge the dog into the downward position you desire. Do not jerk on the leash or punish the dog or give any negative feedback. Again, follow up with praise when the dog completes the desired behavior.

Sometimes a dog simply will not get it. So here’s another thing to try. Loop the leash around one of the knees on the dog’s hind legs. Bring the other end of the leash under your foot (on the opposite side) where you can move it with your foot. While giving the command and the gesture, slide the leash with your foot so it buckles the dog’s hind knee and gently pull the dog’s two front legs toward you so the dog gently slides into the down position.

At the Point the dog is in the correct position, you should praise the dog lavishly even though you were the one who initiated the movement and not the dog. The idea is to get the dog to associate such a position with good feelings: both his feelings and yours.

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Nov 09 2009

How Do You Train Your Pet Not to Chew?

The muscles found in the jawbone of a dog are capable of stripping the flesh off a rawhide bone in a few minutes. Even an ordinary Golden retriever can tear that thick bone apart really fast. That is because a dog has some of the strongest jaw muscles among animals. And that is why it can become a problem that they can do the same to the furniture too.

Different dog breeds are going to have different chewing patterns and tendencies, and that is all going to depend upon their behavior patterns. That is why dog owners should understand why dogs chew everything they see in or out of a house. That is one reason why their attention needs to be focused upon objects used only for chewing. But sometimes it is quite difficult getting a dog to understand that.

Young dogs including puppies are not very choosy about the materials which they find to chew. However, owners can teach the puppies to keep away from objects which are definitely not to be chewed upon.

As a little prevention is always better than the cure, keep laundry, shoes, and other chewable items away from the vicinity of the dog. Keep the toys meant for the dog away from the toys which are used by the children.

One can also keep a large number of attractive toys at different locations, both indoors and outdoors, which can be chewed by the dog. Some of these items may include hard rubber, plastic bones, and rawhide bones according to the breed one has. It is not suggested to give a real bone like a chicken bone to a dog, because it might splinter and cause internal injuries.

Nevertheless, there are plenty of toys made especially for dogs and some of them have treats in hollow interiors. A dog needs to work really hard to get to the treat and not only is it going to have a good physical and mental workout, but it is going to get a treat reward at the end of the activity.

You can try talking to the dog extremely firmly when it tries to chew upon any unsuitable object. But do not yell or punish the dog with physical punishment. Not yelling is quite difficult, but one has to look at other options for venting one’s frustrations, all in the upholding of a harmonious owner and pet relationship.

The development of specific habits can be done by leashing the dog. Then an unsuitable object has to be placed near the dog. The moment, the dog approaches it, the leash should be jerked sideways, and No said very firmly.

Remember to jerks sideways and not back. The throat of the dog can be bruised if the leash is jerked back. This pulling movement is to give the dog information and not for punishment purposes.

A dog may have the tendency of chewing objects found outside like fences, chairs, plants and other items. Such behavior can be contained by coating homemade mixtures like cayenne pepper, upon the surfaces which the dog likes to chew. Some commercial products also have bitter apple, which discourages the dog from chewing any surface.

As with all dog training, patience, persistence and consistency will be the primary factors which contribute to success. To suppress chewing, one must be up to the complex challenge since you are training the dog to not perform a behavioral pattern as opposed to learning a new one.

The easiest way to do this is to keep vigilant and calm and redirect the dog’s attention to objects which it can chew, so that it can follow its instincts. The purpose of the exercise is to keep your relationship with your pet happy, instead of losing your temper.

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