Nov 19 2011

Does Your Dog Pass Obedience Class 101?

If you already own a dog, you know it takes a lot of work to train them. If you’re a brand new dog owner, then prepare yourself to work with your puppy to make sure they don’t pick up any bad habits

What are some of the pitfalls of not training your dog? Well, people who come to visit can be trampled on, climbed on, and maybe even knocked off their feet if your dog is very large. They are unable to carry on a conversation because the dog is licking them, barking at them, maybe even trying to nip at them, and, generally, causing a nuisance of themselves. A well behaved dog will become useful and rewarding portion of the situation rather than a time-consuming and disturbing distraction.

Consistency is essential: If you’re working with your dog on a specific skill or trick then try to train them at the same time every day. This helps your dog know what to expect. Most dogs thrive on structure and will perform and learn much faster when they know what’s expected. If you’re training using food rewards, try to train your dog before mealtime so they’re a little bit hungry and motivated.

Use hand cues in addition to verbal cues: Some dogs have an easier time understanding and remembering hand signals than they do with verbal cues. Assign a hand signal to each trick or behavior you are training.

Potty Training Issues: It depends on the breed of your dog plus your dog’s personality, but potty training can be a long training period and can certainly train you to learn patience. Some people believe that a dog should be crated when the owner is not at home. While this can work to train a dog, it should become unnecessary as the dog learns more how and when to expect the owner home to attend to his needs. A dog that is kept confined in a very small area tends to become depressed and aggressive and very rowdy when removed from the crate. It is very hard to train an animal that does not listen due to his excitement in being let out of confinement and has definite ideas about making sure he does not get put back into that crate!

Walking/Leash Issues: Can you picture this? A 75 pound Labrador retriever pulling it’s owner along at a fast clip while zigzagging from tree to tree. The poor owner, with a now dislocated arm, vows never to walk the dog again. This is sad because dogs can be trained to walk nicely and they LOVE to go on walks.

If you have taught your dog the basic things, you may want to graduate to teaching tricks to your dog. In order to get your dog to start doing tricks, you need to find a trick that you know he could easily adapt to. That is to say, if your dog likes to fetch things you could teach him to fetch the morning newspaper.

Seeing a dog dance is also another amazing trick that you can teach. Since many dogs tend to jump on people that visit the house, by teaching your dog to dance you can bypass that unwanted behavior. When your dog excitedly jumps up on you to play, gently hold his front legs. Then you can command him to “dance” a few times after which you should give him his treats. Then when guests come over, have your dog dance rather than jump on them. Teaching a dog to dance is usually easier for owners of smaller sized dogs, and in fact, many small dogs can dance on their own without needing their owner to hold their front paws.

Many people complain about their new dog chewing up everything in sight and tearing up their gardens, and admit that they don’t know how to stop the dog from doing this. There are some solutions, though they may take time to implement, which will help to stop this problem. There are a large variety of toys available which should keep the dog amused. Some are capable of hiding treats inside them, making the dog work for its reward by rolling the toy around until a treat falls out. Others can be placed into the freezer overnight and given to the dog on a hot day, letting the dog lick the cool treat over a period of time as the toy defrosts.

Many other variations of dog toys can be found or can even be made out of existing household items, just be sure to make them safe for the dog.

It may seem an impossible task now, but if you’re consistent with the above exercise, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how quickly your puppy gets the message that learning his lessons and obeying your commands is what will get attention.

To make sure your dog is healthy and happy you should check out our dog care tips guides and make sure he has plenty of dog toys to stop boredom.

Aug 13 2010

Three Dog Training Tricks For Your Pet And Helpful Hints When Applying Them

When a new dog or puppy makes its way into your life the journey has just begun. As real children need to be taught life lessons so do puppies and these dog training tricks will help you along the way. We as the pet owner have to not only show our pets love and respect but we also have to teach them as we do children what is the right thing and the wrong things in life.

One of the easiest commands to start your dogs training with is the “sit” one. You will find this one trick you will be glad you taught in later years. Teaching your dog to sit on command will help you in solving many problems with him in the future. This include jumping up on company, barking and chasing other animals just to name a few.

Simple steps to teaching your puppy this is to purchase his most adored snacks. Take one in your hand and hold just out of his reach above his eyes and head. Wait until he sits down on his bottom on the surface he is on and then say the command of sit, then tell him what a good boy he is and give him his reward. Practice everyday a few times with him and he will pick this up in no time and he will do it on command with only praise no snacks needed.

The command of lie down is the next on the list. This command keeps your pet in the lying position in vehicles while he is traveling with you and your family and gives you the peace of mind that he will not move about while the vehicle is in motion and cause an accident. This also allows him to be able to go more places with you as you can tell him this command and he will lie down and relax.

Take one of his favored snack treats give him the first command learned of sit. Now take the snack away from his body on the floor to get him into a stretched out or lying position. Once he has achieved this position give him the lie down words and pet him while he enjoys his snack for a good job.This may take a little longer to learn but he will get it.

The last of these three tricks is also one that may take them the longest to get right as it is one called stay. Most dogs and puppies especially do not want to be still but where you or other family members are playing and more. Do not forget about training them with this command though because it is a very important one. Stay will keep them from running out doors, running away from you at parks and more. Again you will tell your dog the command of sit. Once they are in the proper place then with treat in hand and in front of them keep saying stay, stay, stay. If they move at any time you must start all over from the beginning again until they actually do stay. Once they stay then give them their treat as a reward and keep working with them until you no longer have to use the treat only praises and petting.

Training your puppy or adult dog should be done at the same intervals each day as they get used to having routine within their lives as we do also. Their focus is not very long standing so knowing this you should always time training sessions for about 20-30 minutes at the most. They will become unfocused and lose interest after too much time if you do not.

You can find numerous helpful books and videos on training techniques and tips at your local library or pet specialty store. These can give you pointers on some behavior issues and how to solve them as well as show you great new tricks the whole family will love to watch their favorite pup do.

All these dog training tricks and many more not listed can help even the most unruly misbehaved dogs become well-mannered and a joy to be around. These will help them control their urges of jumping on visitors as soon as they walk in the door, nibble on arms or hands as playing, chasing other animals within the households and so on. Take the time to teach your pet the right things instead of reinforcing the wrong things in their behavior and they and you will be much more productive and happier together.

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categories: Dog Training Tricks, Dog Training, Dog Tricks, Dog, Dogs Training, Training Tricks

Dec 01 2009

Teaching Fido Tricks

Most animal lovers can attest to a dog’s happy and faithful nature that people just love. Despite this, many are reluctant in keeping a dog because training them is hard work. The good news is it doesn’t have to be. Here are some easy tips that will help you have that fun and rewarding pet-owner relationship you’ve always wanted.

First thing you have to remember is that you have to establish your authority with the dog. He is after all an animal and will instinctively follow you better once he realizes this. Set ground rules that will allow him to acknowledge you as his superior. During meal times, let him watch you eat first then feed him afterwards. When you are crossing the room and he is blocking your path, dont go around him; instead push him gently out of your way. You are the leader of the pack and this is how it goes in the animal world. The earlier he learns you are his boss, the easier to teach him later on.

Dogs are sensitive to their handler’s emotions so you cannot show timidity or fear. Your voice should be firm and strong voice in delivering doggie commands. However, remember that dogs are especially receptive to positive reinforcement. Hand him treats each time he does something right. Be lavish in your praises to him. If he misses an order, correct him then and there, not after. Training sessions should go for ten to fifteen minutes, done a few times a day.

You will notice that dogs have similar behavioral patterns indicative of their mood. When happy they wag their tails, have an open look and bark a happy sound. Angry dogs bare their teeth, growl and tense up. Understanding your dogs mood will allow you to gauge him better, subsequently giving you response time to be able to train him more effectively.

Be patient in teaching your dogs new tricks. Ideally you start as early as six weeks but even older dogs can still learn. You will encounter some difficulty at first but remain calm and patient. Consistency will win out and he will learn sooner or later. Do not change your training patterns or schedule. Dogs get confused easily and you might lose ground if that happens.

Train your dogs in a place with no distractions. A playful butterfly or whizzing car will distract him from your lessons. You will find it difficult to get his attention then. A peaceful backyard or any indoor area will be satisfactory.

More than anything, keep in mind the reason you got the dog in the first place. Enjoy his doggie company! When training is beginning to seem like a chore, take five and just play around with him. Dogs will lavish you with unconditional love whatever may have happpened to you this week. And at the end of the day, it’s not how well he rolled over but how he got you to smile that makes him the perfect pet to have.

Geraldine Dimarco is a lifelong student of the animal kingdom. Find out more about dog articles your pet will want you to know.