Thursday, June 28, 2007

Useful Dog Training Tips


When you are training your dog, some useful dog training tips include doing the training in many different locations. For example, if you only train your dog to respond to the command of "Sit" while inside your home, it may not understand that it has to respond to this command in an outdoor setting as well. Leash training for example, is something that most people only do outdoors. You have to work on this training inside the house as well and then it will be really effective. Training your dog also means that you have to teach it to pay attention. If you have the dog's attention, then you will also be in control of your dog.

Teaching your dog to come when you call means that you always have to be nice to it and to give it lots of praise when it responds. Kind words and little pat on the head are almost as good as getting treats because your dog always wants to please you. If you have the dog on a leash you can teach it to come when you call by reeling it in when it doesn't respond. After you do this a few times, the dog will recognize that the command you use means that you want it to come to you.

You have to remember to reward the behavior immediately when the dog responds to your command, whether it is "come", "sit" or another command. If you ignore the dog when it does what you want it to do, this is negative reinforcement because it doesn't get the kind words or treat that it expected.

A puppy is a lot easier to train than an older dog because it hasn't learned any bad habits. It also learns things a lot quicker, but you should never hit the puppy or give harsh reprimands. Since a puppy is like a little child, it will misbehave on times because of its playful nature. You do have to understand your dog's behavior and learn when it wants to play and when it is able to learn new things.

For lots of great dog training tips and other dog training information, visit Your Dog Training Guide at www.yourdogtrainingguide.net

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Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Secrets of Dog Training Professionals - Why Use Food?


Have you ever wondered how really good dog trainers come up with the techniques they use to solve behaviour problems in dogs such as excessive barking, destructive chewing, toileting in the house and jumping up on visitors? Or how top dog trainers come up with ways to train dogs in top obedience and working competitions? Apart from a few "naturals," most really good dog trainers have a very good understanding of how dogs learn. They have adapted theory from the world of behavioural science and turned that knowledge into real-life practical skills for training dogs. This article explains in plain English some of the science and theory behind dog training, these really are secrets of the dog training professionals!

If you go to any good dog trainer or read any of the many excellent books on dog training these days you will discover that most trainers are using food in their training. Why is this so?

Many dog owners are discovering the joy of humane, pet-friendly training using Positive Reinforcement. Positive Reinforcement involves giving the dog something they want when they do something we want. It's the same as getting paid to work, we turn up and do our job, and our employer pays us accordingly (well, enough to keep us doing our job anyway!) Would we go to work without pay? Not likely! Even volunteers get something out of doing their job.

The question is, what do dogs want? The list is almost endless, there are the basic requirements such as food and water. Then there are things like social contact, attention, play, toys and exercise. All of these things can potentially be used as positive reinforcement, and each dog will have a particular bias for what he or she will or will not work for.

So why do positive reinforcement trainers rely mostly on food in their training?

1. All dogs need to eat. Food is necessary to survival and dogs are hard-wired to work for food.

2. Most dogs love to eat, even beyond basic survival.

3. Some food is particularly tasty to dogs and will get a more enthusiastic response.

4. Food is convenient for the trainer, lots of small pieces fit in a bag or pocket and can be used throughout the day whenever we catch our dog doing something we like!

5. We have to feed our dogs anyway, so we might as well get something in return!

6. It is quicker and more efficient than training with play or toys, therefore we can get in many more reinforcements in a shorter space of time

7. Food gives the dog positive associations with being trained.

Why don't some dogs work for food? Mostly this is because they are not hungry. They either have free access to food, have too large meals, or very small stomachs and fill up very quickly. They may simply not like the food you are trying to give them, we all have different tastes when it comes to food.

Whilst special treats are great to use for training, often they are fatty, sugary or salty and not particularly healthy, so use these in moderation. The healthier the food you use, the better your dog's health will be. Some trainers are lucky enough to have dogs that enjoy healthy treats like carrot or apple!

Here's a trick for owners with dogs that don't appear to be food motivated:

- Divide your dogs normal meal into small pieces suitable for training
- Use those small pieces as training treats
- When you have finished training, give your dog the remainder as his meal

If that doesn't work, please seek help from a competent positive reinforcement trainer or veterinarian if you suspect health problems. All dogs need to eat, and all dogs will work for food - no exceptions!

Aidan Bindoff is Editor of http://www.PositivePetzine.com, your helpful online resource for positive dog training and behavior information.

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Monday, May 21, 2007

4 Steps to Quickly Leash Train Your Puppy!

1. When is the best time to leash train your puppy?
Now! The sooner you start, the sooner your puppy will be able to safely walk with you outside in a predictable, controlled manner. This isn’t always an easy task but very well worth the effort! Puppies are easily overwhelmed and may initially be afraid of a new collar and leash. With patience and a loving manner, you will be able to help your puppy overcome his initial fear.

2. What kind of collar and leash should I buy?
Start by buying your puppy a lightweight collar (no choke collars!) complete with an id tag, a lightweight leash, and some healthy treats. Begin by putting the collar snuggly but not tightly around your puppy’s neck. Be prepared – he won’t like it at first! He’ll paw at the collar, shake his head and roll around hoping to shake it off. It’s important not to laugh at him (this will only encourage him to keep doing it) or scold him either. Hopefully your puppy will forget about his new collar after a few minutes.

3. What is the first step in leash training?
Congratulations! Give your puppy a treat once he has accepted wearing his collar. The next step is to attach his leash. Just attach it and let him walk around the room getting used to the feel of it. After 2 minutes, take the leash off and reward your puppy. Wait 15 minutes and attach the leash again, once more letting him just walk around getting used to the feel of wearing a leash. After a few minutes, take the leash off again. Keep repeating this process until your puppy is used to wearing his leash. Remember: attach, walk around the room, remove, reward with a treat, repeat. Tip: if you attach his leash to his collar at mealtimes, your puppy will associate his leash with a positive experience.

Once your puppy has accepted wearing his leash, pick up the other end. Just let him lead you around indoors. Let him think that this is a fun game as he leads you around indoors. Keep it fun and make sure that you don’t let him be in a position where he wants to pull or strain against the leash. Do everything to make this a positive experience for your puppy. Praise him with your words and treats when you ‘catch him’ doing something right (if he happens to walk over to you for attention, rather than straining against his leash, praise him!). Tip: limit your ‘indoor leash walks’ to 5 or 10 minutes, several times a day if possible.

4. When is it safe to venture outdoors?
When you and your puppy are feeling comfortable with your ‘indoor leash walks’, it’s time to venture outside! Start with short walks in low traffic areas where there are minimal distractions (like other dogs). Slowly, gradually, widen the area where you and your puppy walk.

Once your puppy has mastered walking on the leash outdoors, it’s a great time to teach him how to go up and down stairs. Start by sitting on the bottom step of a short flight of stairs. Go up one step and encourage your puppy to join you. If he follows you, lavish him with lots of praise and a treat. Continue going up one step at a time with more praise and treats for each step. Do the same when coming back down the stairs. Tip: Don’t punish your puppy if he’s not ready to climb the stairs and never try to force him. If he’s not ready, try again in a few days. Patience is the key.

Whew! Congratulate your puppy and yourself! You’ve mastered teaching your puppy to walk on a leash AND go up the stairs! Leash training your puppy can be time consuming but is absolutely necessary for his safety.

BJ Gabriel is a successful Webmaster and publisher of DogTraining4Lovers.com. BJ provides free Dog Training information in a free Dog Lovers Newsletter to help you have the happiest, healthiest and most well-behaved dog on the planet!

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Friday, May 11, 2007

Stop Dog Barking


It is essential to have a dog that knows how to follow the right rules so that he will stop barking at people and other dogs. To achieve this, dog training must be considered.

Most people think that training a dog is hard and expensive. Moreover, dog training requires a lot of patience and creativity for your dog. We have to remember that dogs may be intelligent but they can not be as intelligent as us. The article provides some of the basic things dog owners need to know so they can do the training themselves. However, to maximize the full potential of your dog, a dog trainer should be hired instead.

What are the differences between a submissive dog and a dominant dog?

A submissive dog normally:

• avoids eye contact.

• rolls on its back.

• crouch down, ears back and tail lowered.

• is comfortable on its back in your arms.

On the other hand, a dominant dog:

• maintains eye contact.

• is unwilling to move from his place on the couch.

• dislikes grooming and petting.

• is possessive of dishes and toys.

Training your dog requires kindness and consistency. Dogs respond actively to praises and to rewards. In addition, they become harsh and unresponsive towards punishments and animosity, respectively.

Trainings with obedience classes can be intensely beneficial in petting your dog. In many dog training schools, classes for puppies are available. Young dogs are taught to get accustomed with other dogs and people using limited trainings. However, there are areas that do not conduct formal obedience training unless the dog is at least half a year old. Always remember that a dog is never too old to benefit from training when a good dog trainer is available, or if the owner is fully committed to the task.

Here are the recommended ways of training dogs not to bark:

1. Reiteration or Repetition

Reiteration is the name of the dog training game. In here, dogs are asked to do a task over and over again to achieve mastery. Dog tricks are best learned when reiterated and reinforced through rewards.

2. Persistence

Patience is a virtue that requires you to tolerate hardships. Persistence is trying to be patient for a longer time until a goal is achieved. Apparently, dog training requires a lot of persistence from the owner or from the dog trainer Physical and psychological aspects of the owner and/or the dog trainer must be sound.

3. Commendation and Amendation

Simply put, if a dog does the right thing, it should be said aloud. Otherwise, the dog should hear, "No, that's not it!" when the trick is not complete or appropriate for the command given. These words reinforce correct responses and diminish the unwanted ones.

4. Rewarding

Bits of cheese would really be good treats for dogs who responded correctly to a given command. Other food can be bought at pet stores. However, if you are able to get the respect of your pet, commands will be executed even if there are no longer involved treats. Likewise, these things reinforce warranted responses.

If your lifestyle permits being in charge of training your own pet, you can do the training as long as you have gathered enough patience and commitment by:

1. spending time grooming your dog.

2. having regular training times on the leash.

3. stroking its belly and toes and rolling it on its back

4. hand feeding some food to ensure that the pet is taking treats gently and slowly.

In asserting dominance, always practice consistency and firmness. Afterwards, you can be a master and a dear friend to your own pet.

There are many things that you can do to make your dog much better and very responsible to you and your family. Look around this site and if you need more please visit my review of a dog training book.

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Sunday, May 6, 2007

Great Dog Training Tips!

Training your dog can be a great way to bond with them and can greatly improve their relationship with you. There are many different dog training techniques, but hopefully these tips should help you with any system.

1. Reward good behavior, don’t ignore it. If your dog does something good be sure to reward them. The only way your dog knows if they have done anything right is if you reward them. The reward could be in the form of a treat or praise.

2. Develop good timing. This is probably the most important tip. If your dog is going to associate the behavior with the reward you need to reward the dog immediately. The same thing goes with punishment. People often want to punish their dog for a certain behavior well after the fact from when the event actually occurred.

3. Pattern interruption. This is another behavior modification cornerstone. If you want to change a bad behavior you have to stop it when you immediately see it beginning. All you have to do is interrupt a pattern often enough and it will go away. This is also true for human beings with bad habits like smoking.

4. Begin with the end in mind. Each training session should have a specific goal. By having a goal with each training session you steadily move your dog forward through their training.

5. Don’t get angry. If you start to get angry or lose your temper with your dog stop the training session immediately. You as the trainer need to stay calm; if you get frustrated your dog will know this and also get frustrated.

6. Be Consistent. This cannot be stressed enough, you need to be consistent. Nothing will slow your dog’s training worse than being inconsistent. Regular scheduled training sessions and the same rewards for the same desired behaviors.

7. Watch for family. Different people can also slow your dog’s training. Training of the dog should be limited to a few people. Often times your hard work can be for nothing if one family member gives your dog rewards for undesired behavior.

By staying consistent in your dog training program you can see great improvement in your dog’s behavior in a short amount of time. Having a well trained dog makes everyone’s life easier and happier; especially your dog’s when they know what is expected of them.

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Monday, April 30, 2007

Dog Training – Early Training Is Essential

Dogs are a fantastic edition to any family but like all youngsters they need training. If you do not train your puppy now it will take a serious amount of help from a training school to get him to be obedient later on. Puppies just like babies learn mostly in their early years and unfortunately will also pick up the bad habits also. Early attention will save you heartache later on and give you more quality time.

House Training:

Dogs has to go to the toilet, everybody has experienced a new puppy making a mess on the tiles or carpet, not a pleasant experience but one that allows you begin training. You should allow your dog out on regular intervals; he will learn that this is the time to go to the toilet. If he happens to go in the house let him know that this is wrong by using a familiar word such as “No” and put him in the yard for a few minutes. Do not hit your dog, by doing so you will only break his spirit and make him nervous of you and others. It can by very frustrating at times but words work better long term and hitting. Never ever put the dogs nose into his urine, so many people do this thinking it is a good way for the dog to learn his lesson but in actual fact all you are doing is burning the animals nose, this is equally as bad as hitting.

Furniture and your puppy:

Teething can be a bit of a nightmare but you can eliminate the damage caused by puppies to furniture in a number of different ways. Boredom is a common cause for dogs to get up to mischief. Make yourself available for about 20 minutes playtime per day (excluding walking). Playing ball in the yard is a great exercise for the dog and apart from exercise it bonds you and him together. Toys are ideal in the house and will occupy the dog, if there are no toys such as a chewy bone the dog will find other ways especially if you pop down for some shopping and leave him alone – the furniture will get it. Different types of sprays are available to spray on the furniture and can be very effective. Remember to change the toys around from time to time as the dog will become bored with the same toys month in month out.

Walking:

Starting your puppy on a lead can be comical. It will take some time for them to get used to being on the leash but once they do it will be no problem. A dog will try to pull you along as this is in their nature. Do not run with the dog as this is giving in and they will expect this all the time. Put the dog on a short leash (not to short) and it will discourage them from trying to dictate the pace. After a week or so both you and the dog will be at ease with one another on the walk. Remember to bring the doggy bag with you. Starting off expect the dog to be curious of other dogs and new surroundings. Do not drag him along on the lead as this is his time for enjoyment.

Feeding:

Your dog has a different intestinal setup to you. So many people feed their dogs the same type of food as they eat themselves along with the dog food. Obesity in animals is common place along with humans. Do not feed your dog chocolate or other sweet foods as this will only lead to bowl problems. Dog food is designed to give the dog all the nutrients he will need to live healthily. Dog treats are available; they do not need our junk food. Check with your local vet or seek advice online for the amount of food your dog should consume on a daily basis.

Dog Treats:

Dog treats should be used as an incentive for obedience. Training a dog can be hard work and patients are needed. Basic training such as the command to sit should be rewarded with a dog treat. The dog will begin to understand that this is a good behaviour move and will do it less reluctantly with time.

Remember dogs will obey you more lovingly if treated properly without hitting; simple words will work much better than smacking. Make time for your dog, leaving a dog out the back yard day and night is no life, do not get a dog into the house under pressure from children, it has to be a well thought out decision.

About The Author

Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice on purchasing a variety of Pet Supplies which includes Dog Training, Pet Food, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your Pet interests. http://www.no1-in-pets.com.

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Friday, April 27, 2007

Dog Training Tip Video:



He looks cute but he can drive you bonkers! Learn what you can do to communicate better with your dog by seeing our video on dog obedience training .


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Thursday, April 19, 2007

Dog training – The Basic Commands

There are of course many reasons for owners to want a calm, obedient and faithful dog. For one thing, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles with people or with other dogs. Another reason is that many communities require that the dogs living in their neighborhoods be well trained. This is especially true for many breeds thought to have aggression and behavior problems – dog breeds like pit bulls and rottweilers for instance.

And of course, training your dog well will also make he or she a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children. Many studies have shown that proper dog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting down the number of dog bits and other behavior problems encountered by dog owning households.

When considering training your own dog, or having someone else help you train it, there are certain basic commands that must be mastered in order for a dog to be considered truly trained. These basic commands include:

*Heel – it is important that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind

*Respond to the word No – the word no is one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this important word can save you a ton of trouble.

*Sit – Training your dog to sit on command is a vital part of any dog training program.

*Stay – A well trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so stay is a very important command in dog training.
*Down – Lying down on command is more than just a cute trick; it is a key component of any successful dog training program.

Dog training does much more than just create an obedient, willing companion. Training your dog properly actually strengthens the bond that already exists between dog and handler. Dogs are pack animals, and they look to their pack leader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader.

Establishing yourself as pack leader is a very important concept for any potential dog trainer to understand. There is only one leader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must establish him or herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so leads to all manner of behavior problems.

A properly trained dog will respond properly to all the owner’s commands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure or confusion. A good dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn just what is expected of it, and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors.

In addition to making the dog a good member of the community, dog obedience training is a great way to fulfill some of the dog’s own needs, including the need for exercise, the security that comes with knowing what is expected of it, a feeling of accomplishment and a good working relationship with its handler. Dog training gives the dog an important job to do, and an important goal to reach.

Giving the dog a job is more important than you may think. Dogs were originally bred by humans to do important work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Many dogs today have no important job to do, and this can often lead to boredom and neurotic behavior.

Basic dog obedience training, and ongoing training sessions, provide the dog with an important job to do. This is especially important for high energy breeds like German shepherds and border collies. Training sessions are a great way for these high energy dogs to use up their extra energy and simply to enjoy themselves.

Incorporating playtime into your dog training sessions is a great way to prevent both yourself and your dog from becoming bored. Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the all important bond between you – the pack leader – and your dog.

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Useful Dog Training Tips To Stop Your Dog Stressing You Out!


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Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Dog Training Two Cute Dogs !


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The Basic Principles of Dog Training

Dog training is defined to be the method of teaching a dog to perform certain behaviors. There are many areas of dog training which can include obedience, agility, retrieving and hunting. The behaviors involved in each case are different but the underlying principle is similar. That principle is to have established a good relationship between the dog and the handler.

To be able to achieve success with the training, discussed below are some recommended principles to execute.

It is important to note that all dog training must be done to educate the dog by developing its instincts and drawing out accidental and acquired habits. The most important step to do to start dog training is the establishment of the bond to create a nice working relationship between the handler and the dog. The trainer must be patient with the dog. The situations must be understood from the dog’s abilities. For this reason, commands, the execution and the subsequent reward or punishment should all be made clear to the dog.

To avoid any confusion during the training, it is important that the dog is with the trainer a lot of the time in order to be familiar with the words, voice and actions of the trainer which will help in making the training easier. It is also important that only the trainer gives out the commands and that unnecessary fussing over the dog is avoided. This would prevent any confusion on the part of the dog with regards to which it should follow.

During dog training, the trainer must always anticipate the dog’s actions. Commands must be given before the dog acts. If the dog does something wrong, the step should not be repeated but rather return at the beginning because the dog must learn to consider only right actions in its entirety. The subsequent reward or punishment should follow quickly after the act in order to instill what is right and what is wrong. Also, dog training must always finish with a good note. At the very least, correcting a wrong behavior should be done.

The success of the dog training can be determined by both the dog and the handler. The success of the handler depends on the ability to make the dog understand what it needs to do instinctively while the success of the dog is when it has the ability to understand that a specific behavior will gain a specific act of completion.

He is a Dog owner who shares information and likes to pass it on To read More Go Here Dog Behavior Problem.



Welcome To My Dog Training Tips Blog!


Hi my name is Maryanne and this is my first post in my new blog on dog training tips.
Lately we have had incidences of dogs attacking their owners or members of the family and even strangers. In Canada there has been increased reported cases of pit bulls attacks.
So we have decided to start this blog and provide the best online dog training advice that we can give to our visitors.
A dog owner has a responsibility to his family, neighbor and community. Some of us have been embarrased by our dogs in public and even know how stressful and frustrating it is to control an aggressive dog.




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