Francis N. Tressler asked:




The first rule in dog obedience training is to remember that dogs are not human. It’s easy for us to fall into the habit of expecting our dogs to know what we’re saying and what we expect from them. We tend to treat our pets as if they think like us.

They don’t. Just like we don’t think like dogs, or even pretend to know how they think and why they act the way they do. We can’t always know that triggers a dog’s responses and how they might react to certain stimuli.

While we build memories every second and think ahead to what we expect from our actions, dogs don’t. They live in the moment. There is no past and no future. They live in the “now”. We might see this as a drawback but that approach enables dogs to put all their energy into taking care of immediate needs, like staying alive. It’s how they survive in the wild.

Understanding this will make dog obedience training go a little more smoothly.

As members of a pack, dogs soon establish pack leaders. Any dog not obeying the rules of the pack will soon learn this vital lesson. It doesn’t take long for a dog to realize which one is the leader and that it’s not acceptable to take food before the leader and senior pack leaders have eaten.

There is a learning curve. It doesn’t happen immediately. After several admonishments, the dog comes to understand and obey. It’s the same when we train our dogs. It takes several repeated lessons before they learn what they can and cannot do as pack members.

Only after your dog recognizes and respects you as the pack leader can your dog be trained. Therefore, dog obedience training begins by training you how to establish yourself as the leader. You have to gain your dog’s trust, which means being clear and consistent in your demands.

Once you achieve this level, you will be better able to teach your dog how to behave in your pack. To do this, the dog must learn your language and get to know what your actions mean. Communicating between species can be difficult, but the more closely you can emulate how his species communicates, the more readily he will learn. And the sooner you will get the results you want from your training sessions.

Your job is to let your dog know you are the boss. Send a clear message to let your dog know when he has misbehaved, and make it the same each and every time.

Consistency in command used and how persistently you use it will bring you success as you proceed in your dog training efforts. Be patient and remember that your dog has a lot to learn about living in your human world. Allow time for the commands and lessons to sink in.

Most of all, make sure your dog obedience training teaches your dog his rightful place in the pack. Make sure he knows that he does not dominate. You do.

dog training

Danielle Chua asked:




For all dog owners, everyone understands and knows that they should provide dog training for the puppies but what training to start off? How and what to choose among so many dog trainings which are available in the market?

First of all, when getting your puppies back home you should start with the most simple and basic dog training-socialization skills training for your dog. As this is the basic and simple dog training that every dog should undergo!

Dog socialization skills training should start at the age of three to eight weeks old as this is the sensitive period for socialization where once the skills had been developed; it will post greater influences on the sociability of the dogs in future. Good socialization skill’s dogs will be friendlier and less fearful to human as they are trained to be with human. But dog socialization skills need to continue until the adulthood as there are cases where dogs had no traumatic experiences when they were puppies but became fearful and aggressive later on.

What is a socialization skill? It is a skill where dogs learn how to cope and behave with human around.

Socialization skill is very important especially for large breed dogs (watch dogs). As large breed dogs are born with the natural instinct of watch dogs where they are skeptical towards strangers and will not give any opportunity or chances for human to harm or even touch them. This is their natural instinct! So without proper socialization skills there are high probabilities for them to harm and attack human who are trying to build relation and connection with them as they do not understand it and this is how they protect themselves.

How to develop the socialization skills for your puppies or dogs?

First thing that you must bear in mind is puppies learn fastest from positive experiences. So if you want to see and get the best results you must make sure your puppies get pleasure, feel easy and rewarding of doing what you want! Remember to be humor and patient when training your puppies as this is the only way to please and let them enjoy the training process!

First of all, you will need to establish physical contact with your puppies. You need to start slowly, patiently and do not rush! By establishing physical contact with your puppies you can build the relation among you and family members with the pup!

How to set up the relation, start off with picking up your puppy and touch him with love and care. You can start by carrying him like carrying babies where his back is facing your lap and touch him thoroughly ( Make sure he is in comfortable position). Initially he might be struggling and trying to get away. Stay calm, does not get panic and pushing him too hard. Try to reassure and comfort his by rubbing his tummy and talk to him gently (say something that praising and rewarding) until he feel comfortable and relax when you carrying, wrapping and touching him. Try to reach every part of your puppies, from his tummy to his legs and toes. Primarily he might not feel comfortable for you to do so, but gradually he will start to enjoy by nipping your finger in playing and squirming around when you are touching him.

Besides you, make sure everyone in the family get the time to play around of massaging him. Practice this until your puppies will stay there calmly and willingly for you to touch around without any hesitation. Your relation is build between you and him!

When your puppies turn into adult dog, now you might want to continue the socialization skills by letting your dog to lie side by side with you for the massages.

With proper and good socialization skill, it will help to ease the bathing, grooming, brushing and nail clipper later on. As your puppies are easily attach to you and they will not feel uncomfortable when you touch and play around his body. They will get use to the environment with human around and have a closer bond and relation with human.

Labrador training: Stop Your Puppy Biting

Sparrow Darling asked:




Training your dog to be a therapy dog can be so rewarding. Your dog will love his new job. There are many dogs that are well suited for this position in life. Your dog does not need to be a pure bred fancy dog–a mixed breed dog that has a good personality will bring joy to those he visits. He needs good manners and his coat needs to be clean. Don’t bring your dog to a facility if his coat is matted and dirty. If you don’t bathe him yourself, then take him to a groomer. Make sure the toenails are clipped, so as not to scratch furniture or skin. A dog that is going to be petted and hugged needs to be sweet smelling. It’s also good to brush your dog to get excess hair that might be shed. Many dogs have hair that does not shed and are good for people with allergies to hair–like Yorkshire Terriers.There are other wonderful dogs that do not shed, but even if your dog sheds his coat, that does not disqualify him from being a therapy dog. Just do some extensive grooming before he makes his rounds.

You and your dog may need a refresher course in manners and dog behavior training. You may chose to train your dog yourself at home.You need to make sure that your dog understands basic commands of sit,stay,come,down and some hand signals from you.You want to make sure your dog has the proper temperament to be a therapy dog. He cant be nippy or barky and he must love being petted and hugged. He can’t be wary of strangers, as he will be meeting new people.

Going to an assisted living facility can be stressful for both you and your dog the first couple of times. You may want to visit the facility without your dog at first to get the feel of the place, so that you know your way around. Meet the staff and possibly some of the residents to see who will welcome your future visits. You need to know the entrances and exits that you and your dog are welcome to use. Also, find out where your dog will be allowed to go and relieve himself. Always take some doggie bags with you to clean up behind your dog so that you will be welcome to come back in the future. As your visits will probably take a couple hours, be sure to have water and maybe a little food for your dog. After all, all this visiting takes a lot out of your dog!

There may be an outdoor area like a covered porch where several of the residents might be able to gather to meet you and your dog.This works nicely for those residents that are in wheelchairs. You will need to know if anyone is afraid or allergic to dogs. You don’t want them in an uncomfortable situation, but you also don’t want to place your dog in an uncomfortable situation either.

There will always be a certain amount of stress each time you visit with your therapy dog,as there will be new residents to meet. As long as your dog is comfortable in this situation, the smells of the facility and different noise levels will not be a concern. You will get to know many residents of these facilities if you visit on a regular basis. It will mean so much to those who are confined and have not enjoyed dog companionship in a long time.

If you have the companionship of your dog on a daily basis, can you imagine how much you would miss that if you suddenly couldn’t have your dog with you anymore? That’s why therapy dogs play such an important role. You will both be greatly rewarded.

So, if your dog needs a little extra training, it’s time to start., so you can start bringing some joy back into the lives of these people living in these nursing homes or rehabilitation facilities. Let’s start spreading some joy!

Who else wants their dog to be well behaved around people and other dogs?

Simon Harris asked:




Should your dog use an electronic dog training collar? In hunting and dog handling circles, there seems to be no end of discussion on this subject. The controversy and discussion over electronic dog training collars has continued for many years, and shows no signs of abating anytime soon.

On one side of the fence we have many dog owners, handlers and others who believe that the use of electronic dog training collars amounts to cruel and inhumane treatment of these animals, and they believe there is no real legitimate purpose served by using them.

On the other side of the fence we have many hunters and dog owners and handlers who believe very strongly in the value of electronic dog training collars (at least when they are used in certain situations). It must be pointed out that these folk also love their animals, are concerned about them and desire to care for them in any way possible. These are people who would not think of using an electronic dog training collar if they believed for one moment that such use was cruel or harmful to the dog.

What Are Electronic Dog Training Collars?

Before we get too involved in a discussion on the merits of these collars, it would be well to just mention how they function. Typically, electronic dog training collars work by transmitting an electric sensation to the skin of the dog via a sensor or a short probe that extends out from the inside of the dog’s collar. When the dog handler presses a button on his control unit a signal is transmitted wirelessly to a receiver unit attached to the collar.

If you purchase an electronic dog training collar manufactured within the last few years, you will find that it should have a variable setting feature. A variable setting will allow you, the dog handler, to control the intensity of the electric stimulation that your dog receives through its collar. A setting which is too high can cause your dog a great deal of discomfort — or even bodily injury.

Humans and Dogs Are Not the Same!

Is very important to keep in mind the fact that humans and dogs are not the same — either physically, emotionally, or psychologically. Who is to say exactly how a dog will perceive an electrical stimulus? A mild electrical current might be experienced as being very painful by a dog — who’s to say for sure?

For myself, I would rather err on the side of caution. I believe that when a handler uses an electronic dog collar, they should keep the settings at the lowest possible level.

Think Carefully before Choosing to Use an Electronic Dog Collar

In closing, let me say this: I think that you should carefully consider both your needs as a dog handler or hunter as well as your dog’s welfare — think long and hard before purchasing an electronic dog collar. Ask yourself these questions. How will my dog react to an electric dog collar? Is there some other way that I could train my dog to function effectively without the use of an electronic dog training collar? Do I know of other hunters or dog handlers who get their dogs to do what I need my dog to do, who do not use an electronic collar? Remember, you’re not just making this decision for you, but for your dog as well.

Who else wants their dog to be well behaved around people and other dogs?

Michael Russell asked:




Not all dogs are created equal – some are born to lead while some gladly follows the commands of the pack leader. Consequently, not all dogs respond to training in the same manner – some gladly do their tasks and exercises without giving you, the owner, a hard time while others will test your temperament to its limits.

Hard-to-train dogs are by no means the lesser beings as compared to their more subservient counterparts. On the contrary, these dogs often possess several positive traits that interfere with your dog training sessions. Two of the qualities that get in the way of dog training the most are the animal’s independence and dominance. Let’s see how these qualities might jeopardize your dog training efforts.

Independence

Independence is by far the most commonly demonstrated trait by hard-to-train dogs. An independent dog can be viewed as a renegade who never needs to please anybody. While independent dogs unquestionably love their owners, their drive to please them is not as strong as those of other more compliant dogs. This trait often gives the owner or the trainer a more difficult time during their dog training sessions.

How could you tell that your dog is independent? Here are some telltale signs: .Independent dogs may exhibit a marked indifference to other people or animals. .They may not like being petted and disdainfully resents grooming. .They may prefer being alone. .They turn away when reprimanded.

However, independent dogs are not at all impossible to train. You just need to know what works with them and what doesn’t so that you may get the best out of your dog training efforts. A word of caution – it is a big mistake to apply force in correcting the habits of your hard-to-train dog. Physical corrections such as hitting and yanking will only lead to passive resistance on your dog’s part and make your dog training sessions close to impossible. Once your dog takes on this stance, it would be very difficult to make him or her obey your commands.

So, what is the best thing to do in training your independent dog? Utilize the “cookie power”! In other words, find out what rewards elicit a positive response and take advantage of it. With an adequate reward, your dog will surely let you have it your way!

Dominance

A dominant dog is one who explicitly shows you that he or she cannot be bossed around. While an independent dog will simply ignore your commands, a dominant dog will show you his or her discontent in being ordered around.

Dominant dogs are natural leaders. With these dogs, you need to prove yourself first before he or she recognizes your authority or else, your role will go further down the pack pecking order. Some signs of dominance may include the following: .Displays defensive behavior when guarding territory, foods or toys .Shows readiness to launch into a fight .Growls or snaps when they are not allowed to do what they want

Dominant dogs are trainable. Despite their fearsome and irritable nature, you can make them obey your commands during your dog training sessions and beyond. All you need to do is establish your role as the one who holds the alpha position. You need to establish your authority through reasonable actions and you will see that everything else will follow. Once the leadership issue is clearly established, your dog training sessions will go on smoothly without any troubles!

dog training

Francis N. Tressler asked:




Occasionally, dogs require extra attention when they are sick. If they have acquired an illness, an injury or have been through surgery, nursing will help his recovery. There are certain methods to effectively nursing a sick dog. It is a vital service you can provide to your sick pet.

A sick dog will often have a high fever that needs attention. Feed your dog bread pieces while avoiding heavy meat products. Stick to vegetarian meals during the initial stages of recovery.

Chicken soup broth or beef broth is a good meat substitute until the fever breaks. As the dog regains strength, begin adding more solid and nutritious foods. Do not give a sick dog human food or junk food as these put more stress on his system.

The type of food and frequency you feed your dog will depend on what made him sick. If he had surgery or had some sort of blockage, be sure to check with your veterinarian as to proper feeding. If the digestive tract was involved, a special diet might be required.

Keep your dog comfortable in a calm area that is warm and away from drafts. Provide soft bedding. If arthritis is present, this will help tremendously. You can also purchase specially-designed bedding for dogs with arthritis.

After administering any medications, keep the dog quiet so they can have the maximum effect. Take time to sit with the dog and show some affection to help ease the stress his body and mind are enduring.

Do not raise the dog’s head too much when administering the drugs as this can cause the medications to go into his respiratory organs, putting your dog at further risk of developing pneumonia.

Be sure to feed your dog warm fluids regularly during the recovery process. These will keep him hydrated and help fight infections. It will also help his body to better utilize any drugs that are prescribed.

If the dog has severe diarrhea, dehydration can occur. This can be combated by giving him a mixture of salt and glucose water. You can give your dog ice cubes or egg whites to help ease the oesophageal passage when vomiting is present.

Monitor the dog’s body temperature. There are several thermometers available that you can use. Ask your veterinarian for one that he would recommend for your dog’s particular condition.

Keep the dog in an area where the temperature can be regulated safely. Do not put your sick dog in front of a fan or an air conditioner as this will trigger further illness and possibly pneumonia. Put him in a well ventilated space where he feels comfortable and safe.

If the dog is suffering from hypothermia, provide him with warm blankets.

Give your dog all the attention you can spare. Knowing that you have not abandoned him will help him to get through the fear and stress of being sick. Do not try to play as he will not be strong enough or interested. Simply stroke him and show him you care. By providing physical contact, you will speed up his healing process.

The Complete Guide to Potty Training your dog in Just 7 Days

Emma Everson asked:




There are many different ways of dog training, and finding the one that works best for you is important for producing a dog that is a talented, loyal and a faithful member of the family. All successful dog training methods reinforce the relationship between dog and handler, the aim of any good dog training method is to get respect of the dog.

Leash and collar training is the best way to accomplish many types of dog training, particularly in situations where the dog must have a high level of reliability. For instance, dogs that have an important job to do, such as rescue dogs, police dogs and guard dogs, generally benefit from leash and collar training.

In a collar and leash based dog training program, first the dog is taught a particular behavior, generally with the leash. After the dog has demonstrated that it understands the command, the leash is then used to correct the dog if it disobeys, or when it makes a mistake. The leash is the main form of controlling and communicating with the dog in leash and collar training.

When using the leash and collar training, the dog must be trained to trust the handler and accept his or her directions without question. In order for the dog to be fully trained, the handler must demonstrate the ability to place the dog into a posture or position he or she does not want to take. This does not mean using force, but it does generally require some level of physical manipulation. This manipulation is most easily and safely done using the main tool of leash and collar training – the leash.

It is important that every dog trainer to understand that the leash is simply a tool, while it is an important tool it is also imperative that the dog trainer be able to eventually use any tool that is to hand, even when the only tool is the owner’s body and skill the dog should be willing to obey. Creating a leader/follower relationship between dog and handler is very important, this is why it is important to use the leash as a tool and not a crutch. A well trained dog should obey whether the leash is present or not.

For instant access to many more dog training tips, refer to my website for How To Train Your Dog In One Evening.

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Michael Russell asked:




Many rural developments are springing up, developments, which are governed by “home owners’ associations”. Sometimes these groups insist on a ban of regular fencing because it will mar the beauty of their development. In such cases, some dog owners consider the installation of an invisible fence. Invisible fences consist of underground wires, which will carry a current when a dog wears a collar. The collar will buzz the animal when it gets too close to the fence. The theory is that this will stop the dog and deter him from going further. Sometimes this is effective and sometimes not.

There are certain details, which a property owner should consider before installation of an invisible fence. For one thing, dogs who are long coated may need to have the coat around the neck area shaved so that the electric current can make enough contact with the skin for the dog to feel it. Also, dogs whose bodies are so constructed that they have loose folds of skin (called dewlap) beneath the chin may also have fewer nerve cells in that region and may be less affected by the electrical current. For another thing, there are dogs who are completely unaffected, in other words, they could care less. They may get the shock but it does not matter to them because whatever it is that they want on the other side of the fence motivates them more than the shock deters them. Unless such a dog is trained to respect the boundaries through some other manner, the invisible fence will not matter.

The age at which the dog is introduced to the fence is important. Animal behaviorists recognize that puppies have definite “fear stages” which will occur during certain periods. Usually for most puppies, this is around the eighth week and again around the eighth month of their lives. This theory has been well researched and documented. When a puppy is introduced to the electric or invisible fence, the owner needs to be aware of the puppy’s fear stages and whether or not the dog is psychologically ready to accept such a shock. If the puppy is in a fear stage and the breed of the dog is also a breed, which can be quite timid the invisible fence can do more damage than good, traumatizing the puppy so much that he doesn’t even want to be outdoors at all. Also, puppies who are naturally quite timid and ********** in their behavior, regardless of their breed, can react in much the same way. When the electric collar is on the puppy, owners must be aware that they should be present to watch for such adverse reactions and step in with positive reinforcement when the dog is stopping before it approaches the “zapping zone” of the electrical current.

There is another side of the picture to consider also. Invisible fences only work for the animal who is wearing the collar. Property owners with such fences often overlook the fact that their yards have no protection against possible predators or such dangers as packs of wild dogs, who have no barrier to cross to enter their property. Small dogs have been known to be attacked by predators who would not have been able to enter the premises if there had been a normal fence preventing their entrance.

In any case, people who are using invisible fences for the containment of their dog need to realize that using such a fence requires some vigilance and some training of the dog or it may not serve its purpose.

Easy D.I.Y. Dog Training for a Well Behaved and Well Trained Dog

Mike H Lowe asked:




One of the hardest dogs to train is a boxer. This is because they are very active and intelligent dogs. Getting a boxer to do everything you want can be a extremely difficult task when you own a dog that is so independent. If you are having trouble with your boxer or are thinking about getting one here are a few tips that should help you.

With a dog that is so energetic all of the time you need to make your dogs training exciting enough that it will pay attention. If the training isn’t exciting enough the boxer will definitely find something else that is.

The next step is to break the communication barrier. By this I mean you need to learn you dogs body language so that you can try to keep he or she as happy as possible. In a lot of ways dogs are like humans and their emotions and easily be read.

Next if you have the opportunity you need to start training your boxer as early as possible. Start teaching your dog the commands you require within a few weeks of birth. This is probably the best way to get a well behaved boxer.

Finally you just want to make sure that the training method that you are using us a positive one. Use a reward based system, giving your dog toys and surprises when completing tasks. Why because you dog deserves it. If you plan on sending your dog to a school make sure that it has all of it vaccines, this is important even if he or she is not going to school because this will help prevent a variety of diseases.

Boxers can be hard dogs to train. But with the right information, method and planning, your boxer could be on his or her way to being one of the best behaved dogs on the block.

The Complete Guide to Potty Training your dog in Just 7 Days

Samantha Matheny asked:




There are many reasons an adult dog may not be house broken. It could vary from a medical condition (a virus or a parasite), to never being taught, to even just a behavioral issue. If your dog is suffering from a medical condition, treatment should solve all house training problems. Most house training issues are behavioral issues and are easily remedied.

The very first step in house training an adult dog is to begin crate training him immediately. Crate training your dog will teach him the boundaries and rules of your home. It is also the most effective aid for house breaking and it provides your dog a safe place to comfortably relax. On top of all of these great things, crate training also gives you a reliable location to leave your dog while you are not home.

The second step in how breaking an adult dog is never leave food and water accessible to your dog all day long. By implementing a feeding schedule, your dog will be eating twice a day, once in the morning once in the evening. Like you, when your dog eats at regular times, he will have to go to the bathroom at regular times.

So now it is time to go outside. To make your life much easier, choose a specific location in your yard you would like your dog to use as his own personal bathroom. This actually gives your dog some more consistency and if you bring him to that specific area every time he has to go to the bathroom, he will rapidly become comfortable and much more willing to relieve himself there.

The key to any training is in the praise. All dogs want to please their masters. When your dog behaves in a way that makes you happy, let him know by giving him generous praise (lots of scratches and “good boy!”). When he knows what exactly makes you happy, your dog is much more willing to do what makes you happy.

When you are house breaking your dog, you must expect accidents. This is a trial and error process for your dog, so when there is an accident, do not get mad. Make a loud noise to make your dog stop relieving himself. Once he has stopped, calmly and quickly bring him outside to where he is allowed to go potty. When he finishes reliving himself outside, praise him. Be sure to thoroughly clean wherever the accident was, you do not want you house smelling like doggy poo!

Easy D.I.Y. Dog Training for a Well Behaved and Well Trained Dog