Total Dog Magazine

Category: Dog Training

  • Potty Training An Adopted Dog

    Potty Training An Adopted Dog

    Adopting a new pet is one of the things that bring delight and squeals from children. It’s a happy occasion for both you and the family. Nonetheless, a pet, cute and squiggly as they are will, as all dogs do, mess the house. The new member of the household has to be potty trained as soon as the primary day.

    It is important to observe that canines may hold their bladder up to 5 hours, not more than that. In reality, canine being territorial animals will mark the territory by urinating each few toes or so. When the dog is new to a specific place that has not but been marked by different canine, expect the canine itching to mark each nook and cranny of the house, worse, that embrace the rugs and carpets. The following will walk you through to potty prepare the pup.

    As a result of you expect the pup to urinate you could possibly very effectively anticipate that it is bound to happen. Once you see a pup raising a hind leg, carry him outdoors to a delegated place the place the pup could relieve himself. Sometimes a pup that is good for adoption is about three months old. That additionally means that the puppy might maintain his bladder for a minimum of three hours. Refrain from waiting for that. Deliver the puppy out each two hours counting from the time when you first brought him outside. It is very important set up a routine and a schedule. Canine respond well to schedule and routine. Routines, repetitions, and schedules are the principle instruments used in training.

    Use the identical space every time. When you find yourself trough enjoying with the puppy, go to the spot. When the pet has completed consuming, go to the spot. Each two hours after that, go to the identical spot. Eventually, the puppy will get the idea. All it takes is patience and the way ready you are because bringing residence a brand new canine to the home will take responsibility. The hardest half is just until the pet will get used to the routine. Till then, the whole lot hangs on your commitment to elevating a housebroken dog.

    Likewise, feed the canine on a daily schedule. That means you could possibly predict and higher control the time when the puppy shall be relieving itself.

    In the same method, younger puppies will need to relieve itself in the course of the night. A younger pet is generally considered less than 4 months old. In that case, do give water to the pet before bedtime. Puppies which can be four months or more make it overnight. When the pet wakes up, the primary urge is to urinate, deliver him to the spot. After a nap, do the same. Establishing routines and getting the puppy accustomed to the spot will make him go there ultimately without being led.

    Even behind all these, accidents may happen. If the pup dirty a rug, a piece of paper or pieces of item, place the items in the spot. It would give the puppy the hint what the spot is for.

    It’s also essential to praise the pet the very second after the pet has relived himself within the spot designated. That may reinforce the idea and go there each time.

    Buy frontline for dogs online today and protect your adopted dog from fleas and ticks.  Frontline for dogs is highly effective and will keep your new pet free from fleas and ticks.

  • Clicker Training

    Clicker Training

    How To Clicker Train Your Dog

    Clicker Training is a relatively new way of training a dog using a small finger-length box which makes a sharp and distinctive click. Clicker training is the art and science of using a conditioned reinforcer to train your dog using no corrections or punishments.

    The pet-friendly way to train…
    Many dog owners worry about the things their gundog does wrong. Clicker training lets you concentrate on what the gundog is doing right. You’ll learn to build good behaviour instead of trying to fix mistakes. Click when the puppy or young gundog “goes” in the right place. Click for sitting instead of jumping up. Click for waiting at the door. Click for a loose lead while walking the gundog at heel. Clicker training is also a great help in laying the foundation for gundog training.

    The click is a marker signal
    Clicker training is a science-based system for teaching behaviour with positive reinforcement. You use a marker signal (the sound of a toy clicker) to tell the gundog that what he/she is doing is right. The system was first widely used by dolphin trainers, who needed a way to teach behaviour without using physical force.

    No corrections or punishment
    In traditional training, you tell a gundog what to do, make that behaviour happen (using force if necessary), reward good results with food, and punish mistakes. In clicker training you watch for the behaviour you like, mark the instant it happens with a click, and pay off with a treat like chicken or something similar. The treat may be food, a pat, praise, or anything else the gundog enjoys. If the gundog makes a mistake all you do is wait and let them try again.

    Replacing the clicker with praise
    Clicker trainers focus on building behaviour, not stopping behaviour. Instead of shouting at the gundog for jumping up, you click it for sitting. Then, click by click, you “shape” longer sits, or more walking, until you have the final results you want. Once the behaviour is learned, you keep it going with praise and approval and save the clicker and treats for the next new thing you want to train.

    Fun and exciting for pets and people
    GunDogs quickly learn that the marker signal means, “Something good is coming.” Then they realise they can make you click by repeating their behaviour. They become enthusiastic partners in their own training. Clicker training is exciting for animals, and it’s easy to do.

    In 6 short weeks your dog can learn to be the happy, obedient dog you’ve always wanted!

    Call David for a free demonstration and see what just 6 week’s of gundog  training can do for you… Your dog will learn to be a more enjoyable, more obedient companion dog for your whole family.

    In 6 short weeks your dog can learn to be the happy, obedient dog you’ve always wanted!

    In just 6 weeks with our accelerated one – to – one training program, your gundog will learn to

    Walk on a loose lead
    Heel
    Sit and lie down
    Retrieve on a “seen”
    Retrieve a “blind”
    Be familiar with shot sound
    Begin the basics of stopping at distance on a whistle
    Stay when told, and come when called, even around distractions.
    Learn basic manners and obedience

    We will be working with you for 6 weeks and at the end of this period we will simulate a working test to see how well your gundog has developed. At this stage you will be hooked and want to go onto further things.

     

  • Leash Training For Dogs – The Basics

    An essential part of training is leash training for dogs. This training method can also come in handy when you’re teaching other commands as well. It also is a major safety issue. If you apply the correct methods, you’ll quickly learn that leash training is both an enjoyable and easy process.

    Leash Training for Dogs can be dissected into 4 basic steps:

    Step 1: One of the main training leashes I recommend is a flat leash. You will want to start by attaching the leash to your puppy’s collar. You may want to do this while they are eating or when giving them a treat, since this will help them associate it with something enjoyable and pleasant. Start by doing this in your home in an area that they are familiar with. Then allow them to run around a bit with the leash dragging loosely behind them. Make sure you are supervising them throughout this whole process. After a few minutes you can proceed to remove the leash. Then over the next few days, try repeating this for longer periods of time.

    Step 2: After your puppy feels safe being attached to their leash, you can begin to pick up the other end of the leash and follow behind them around the house for a couple of minutes. Praise them and give them treats while training using the leash. Continue carrying this out until your puppy feels safe with you holding the leash and walking along side them. Make sure that you don’t pull on the leash or you may risk frightening them.

    Step 3: After that you can start by taking them outside to an gated area. Allow them to run around for a while with the leash dragging. Next, try picking up the leash with your right hand and walk along side them. Next, you can have a treat in your left hand while you draw them to your left side. Continue praising them when they make any progress. Continue practicing this and you’ll be able to build up to walking your dog down your street. 

    Step 4: Be careful not to let your dog take the lead. Try and remember that your dog has a pack mentality and they require a leader. If you do not assume the leadership role, they will. Also, you’ll want your dog to walk at your side. What you can do to deter your dog when they start to walk in front of you is to turn and begin to walking in different direction. They will need to turn as well and catch up with you. Repeat this until your dog realizes that you are the leader and are in control. When they recognize you as the leader, it is more likely that they will respect your authority and obey you.

      These are a just a few basic steps that you could easily put into practice when you’re leash training for dogs.

      There are other issues that could arise. Therefore, you might be interested in discovering the very best and most effective dog training methods.  

     

  • 5 Tips For Training Dogs Successfully

    Training dogs is not a hard. You just need patience, dedication and some simple tactics and you will teach them successfully.

    Here are five top tips on how to train your dogs successfully:

    1. To avoid your dog getting confused and so that they can learn to recognize commands easily only one person should be responsible for training the dog initially. If too many people are trying to train the dog at the same time this can stop progress in its tracks.

    2. You should use positive reinforcements. If the dog does something good, you should reward this behavior so that he will know that what he did was right. If the dog cannot understand or follow your commands, never push him. Dogs are not as intelligent as humans, they make mistakes. What you should understand is that they won’t easily understand your commands in just one teaching, it takes repetition to train a dog successfully. Do not scold your dog as he might develop fear which will hinder his learning and willingness to be trained. You can use treats in order to encourage your dogs, although don’t overdue it.

    3. Teach commands one at a time. Try to teach him one command after the other. If he cannot absorb it, try to stay on that command only because adding additional commands will just confuse the dog. Start with the basics.

    4. In executing commands, you should keep your voice cheerful so that the dog will happily follow your commands. Dogs will respond to a low and coaxing voice. If you shout out loud, he may become startled and unresponsive.

    5. Train your dog in various places. If you keep your dogs in a certain place like your home, he will not be able to adjust with the environment new people. Take him to the park or through the neighborhood. This will help your dog associate with other dogs and people.

    Training your dog can sometime be tough, but it will be worth it. In the end, you will be the one to benefit when your dog is trained. You don’t know he might even save your life one day and pay back everything you taught him.

  • Everything You Want to Know About Housebreaking Your Dog

    Everything You Want to Know About Housebreaking Your Dog

    Housebreaking your new dog may seem like a daunting prospect, buy it’s usually pretty easy. No matter what age your dog is, the same principles apply: praise, supervision, confinement, and patience. Take your dog to his proper toilet area as often as possible, and praise him; supervise him at all times when he is in the house; and when you can’t supervise, confine him in some way. But above all, be patient.

    Right from the beginning, whether your dog is old enough to control himself or not, the real training needs to begin. Here’s how to do it:

    Rule out any medical problem first. Have him checked out by a veterinarian to make sure he’s fit. A “wormy” puppy with diarrhea can’t be expected to control himself.

    Feed low-residue food. Give him two or three meals daily of a well-balanced, low-residue food (your vet can recommend a brand), rather than leaving the food out all day. Be consistent in his mealtimes to make the times of elimination more predictable. Try to make the last meal no later than 5 PM to help your dog make it through the night. Picking up his water at 8 PM may also be helpful as long as he doesn’t have a medical problem (such as kidney disease) that would make water restriction dangerous.

    Select one area as his toilet. Take your dog to an area of the yard you’ve pre-selected as his toilet zone. Show him where it is (don’t expect him to find it on his own) at the times he is expected to need to eliminate: immediately upon awakening, soon after eating, and at exciting times (after meeting new people, after a car ride, before and after play). When you’re puppy gives you that “uncomfortable” look, take him to the toilet area immediately. A puppy usually needs to be taken tom his area approximately every 2 to 4 hours. An older Boston terrier dog may only need to be taken every 4 to 6 hours.

    Teach a cue word. When you get to the area and your pup begins to search for the right spot, say to him “Hurry up,” “Do your business,” or any other creative phrase. That phrase will soon act as a cue to spend him up.

    Always praise and play afterward-not before. Pay your pup lots of compliments immediately after he eliminates in the right area. Then play with him in another spot outside. If your pet doesn’t do his business in his area after about 5 minutes, bring him back into the house and either tie or confine him for another 5 minutes. Then take him out to the toilet area again. The second time around is usually successful.

    Supervise your dog in the house at all times. Always keep your dog with you. If you’re too busy to watch him, put him in his pen or confined area. Keep him in his pen (with papers when he needs them and without papers when he gets older) or confined area when you are not home.

    Never use punishment after the fact. Even if you’re doing everything in your power to prevent accidents, they do happen. If you catch your puppy in the act, clap your hands to startle him, and say “No!” Take him outside to finish immediately. If he does, praise him for doing a good job. If you find an accident, do not raise your voice, spank your pup, or rub his nose in it. You won’t make him afraid of having accidents, but you will make him afraid of you.

    Learn from hi mistakes. Keep good records of accidents. Use these records to predict when your pup needs to eliminate so that you can alter your schedule to prevent the next one.

    Neutralize the odor. When cleaning up accidents, use products that neutralize urine odor. Avoid products with ammonia, as these may genuinely attract young pets like Boston Terrier puppies to urinate in the same location.

    Be patient and positive. This last tip is the most important. It’s possible to housebreak just about any dog like a Boston Terrier, though it may have to be done at his pace.

  • Coping with Dogs and Separation Anxiety

    Dogs are pack animals. You and your family, and any other pets in the family, are his pack. When everyone leaves for work and school, some dogs get highly upset and may become destructive or aggravate the neighbors with constant barking and whining. What causes this behavior and is there anything that you can do about it?

    My Experience

    Long ago, I had a dog named Pepper. She was part Australian Sheppard, and was a very sweet dog, although she was also really…ahem….active. I had her for 11 years, and for the first 9, she was a great dog. Even as a pup, she never chewed on furniture, shoes, or clothes. Each day, everyone left for work and school, and Pepper caused no problems. After 9 years, she suddenly became very destructive. It started when she got left in the basement one day, and it stormed. Being deathly afraid of storms, she wanted access to her usual hiding place – under a bed. So, she dug her way through the basement/kitchen hollow-core door. I came home to find the poor thing hiding under the bed, along with a big hole in the door.

    But this was merely the beginning. In the next 24 months, Pepper dug through doors, walls, and even the front door. She crashed through windows screens and shredded upholstered furniture. We bought her a sizable crate, and on her first day inside it, she broke the thick plastic floor lining, and her even-thicker plastic water dish, into shards. She also broke both of her upper eye teeth off along the gum line attempting to chew her way out. We took her to the vet to have her teeth fixed, and I asked for a prescription for doggy Valium. The vet told me that, without a doggy psychiatrist’s treatment, doggy Valium only works in about 5{d4f4ff813a06e2c77cbb9c6effe011ebffe2f8986e44983e90e08c54deb62f63} of cases. And in many cases even with a psychiatrist, they just help in about 15{d4f4ff813a06e2c77cbb9c6effe011ebffe2f8986e44983e90e08c54deb62f63} of cases. I have since heard better numbers than that, but at the time, it left us feeling pretty hopeless.

    In the last few months that Pepper lived with us, we moved into a big, brand-new home. In the beginning, she seemed as happy as we were with our new digs. But before long, she started her destructiveness again. She chewed on woodwork, shredded the carpet in several places, and destroyed some window screens. We finally came to the heart-breaking decision that we were going to have to find her a different home, before she totally ruined ours. At 11 years of age, we weren’t sure that anyone would want her. But we did find her a great home, with a lot of room to run, and someone who is home for her the whole day.

    We never could determine what caused Pepper’s sudden separation anxiety. Looking back, I think it may have started about the time we purchased a new box springs and mattress. Up till then, Pepper had always slept on the bed – not at the foot of the bed, but right up there on the pillows. It had gotten to the stage that when I rolled over onto my stomach or side at night, I’d get a mouthful of her shed hair. So when we got the new mattresses, I stopped letting Pepper sleep on it. Maybe being alone all day was ok, so long as she got her cuddle time during the night, and all of the destructiveness was her means of letting me know she didn’t appreciate being exiled from sleeping on the bed.

    I believe Pepper’s case was somewhat unusual, but there are actually steps that can help with more “normal” cases of separation anxiety. Start reading this article about CBD for dogs and then move on to the next few things that can help too:

    Food and Exercise

    Give your dog sufficient exercise. An exercised dog is a happy dog, and is also a tired dog. Plus a full belly is a happy belly. A dog that has been on a nice run and gotten his belly full is more likely to take a nap and sleep much of the day away. Ah, the life of a dog 🙂 And of course, you should also be sure that there’s fresh water and food readily available for your canine friend.

    Sights, Smells, and Sounds

    Leave the television or even a radio on. It can be reassuring to your dog if he can hear human voices. Leave a window open. Dogs like the fresh air plus the outside smells, plus they are able to see and hear people and other animals that are outside. You might have to leave it open only a crack, though, depending on your dog’s behavior. Pepper would go right through a screen that was open wide enough.

    Something to Do

    Leave your dog some favorite toys. It will give him something to do. Toys that both you and your dog have played with, and therefore have your smell on, can reassure. Ropes, nylon bones (not real ones, they could splinter and cause all kinds of problems or worse), squeaky toys, and balls are all good. The dog I have now goes out in the front yard on a 20-foot lead. I’ve seen him play with the lead, as though it were a live person or animal, when there was nothing else to do.

    Answering Machines and Web Cams

    Set your answering machine to screen calls, so the caller’s voice can be heard, and call your dog once or twice during the day and let him hear your voice. If at all possible, set up a web cam at home and at work so that you can look in on your pup and see what he is up to. If he’s misbehaving, call the answering machine and reprimand him. If he appears to be getting anxious, call and speak to him in a soothing voice.

    Put Your Dog in a Crate

    Although it didn’t work with Pepper, it may work for you. It might sound mean to confine your dog to this type of small space each day, but it can actually be reassuring to him. A dog often comes to think of his crate as his own familiar “bedroom”. One Fourth of July, when my current dog, Bo, was just a pup, he ventured outside and heard a huge firecracker boom. He ran back inside, cowering. He came out again, and it happened again. His third time out, several loud fireworks went off at once, and Bo ran back inside, down the steps, into his crate, and curled up and hid in there. It was his safe place to go. Crating works best if your dog is used to it, or is raised from a pup using a crate.

    Stay Calm

    When you leave, and when you initially get home, stay calm. Your dog will detect your vibes, and if you become nervous because he is likely to be nervous or upset, your dog will detect it. Make coming and going no big deal.

    Interval Training

    Leave the house for just a couple of seconds, then come back in. Go out again, and wait a few minutes and then come back in. Vary the amounts of time that you are gone. Get your dog used to being separated for small amounts of time, and gradually increase the time. Go in or out different doors. Take your keys with you one time, but not another. Go when your dog is looking, and when he isn’t. And stay calm. Eventually, your dog is not going to know if you will leave for a long or short time. But he will begin to realize that you always return.

    I’m hoping these tips will help you and your best friend to live in harmony. Love My Dog Blog would love to hear any stories you have about your dog and separation anxiety, or any stories about your dog. You can also visit Love My Dog Blog for information and facts, tips, and human dog interest stories.

  • Basic, Easy Dog Training Tips

    Basic, Easy Dog Training Tips

    Dog Training (Adiestramiento Canino) is the process of instruction a dog (Canis lupus familiaris) to perform plastered actions in response to certain commands which the dog is trained to understand. It is a general term which does not, by itself, describe what or how the dog is taught.  

    There are many methods of dog training and many objectives, from basic obedience training to specialized areas including law enforcement, military, search and rescue, look for, working with livestock, assistance to people with disabilities, entertainment, dog sports and protecting people or property.  

    As pack animals, wild dogs have natural instincts that favor cooperation with their fellow dogs. Many domestic dogs, either through instinct or breeding, can correctly interpret and respond to signals given by a valet handler.      

     

    Basic training

    Most dogs, no matter their eventual advanced training or intended purpose, live with people who want them to behave in ways that make them pleasant to be around, keep them safe, and provides for the safety of other people and pets. Dogs do not figure out basic obedience on their own; they must be trained.  

    The hardest part of training is communicating with the dog in a humane way that the dog understands. However, the underlying rule of all communication is simple: reward desired behavior while ignoring or correcting undesired behavior.  

    Basic pet obedience training ordinarily consists of six behaviors:  

    • Sit
    • Down
    • Stay
    • Recall (“come”, “here” or “in”)
    • stopping point (or loose-leash walking)
    • Heel

    “Corrections” should never include harmful physical force or violence. Using force while training is controversial and should not be interpreted lightly, because even if it ends the behavior, when applied inappropriately with some dogs it may lead to a loss of drive (enthusiasm for the given task), stress, and in some cases even aggression. A handler may decide to use force, however the standard used by most trainers is the minimum amount necessary to inhibit the unwanted behavior.      

     

    Puppies and learning

    The antenatal period is a recently recognized developmental period of puppies. It is thought that “long-term effects on behavioural development may also be produced in some mammals by events occurring in utero”. (Serpell, 1995, p. 80) Previous studies tended to overlook the existence of this period, since the puppy’s behavior could not be observed. With the development of the ultrasound elevator car, a puppy can now be observed within the mother as early as the fourth week of gestation.  

    It was found that puppy fetuses would react to pertain and/or pressure from the outside of the mother’s abdomen. In addition, it is theorized that since puppies have such a well-developed sense of touch at feature, the sense of touch would also be well-developed before birth. Studies have found that “when a pregnant animal is petted her litter is more docile”, (Denenberg and Whimbey 1964, in Fox 1978) According to Fox, this facilitates relaxation, emotional attachment, and socialization. Other studies have indicated that puppies that receive outside contact (petting of the mother) while in utero have a higher tolerance for touching than puppies that receive no contact at all. One could theorize that well-off petting of the mother’s abdomen could help to facilitate positive, beneficial puppy socialization with people.  

    During the first two weeks of a puppy’s life, also known as the neonate period, puppies can learn simple associations. (Serpell, 1995) However, early experience events are unlikely to carry over into later periods. Studies indicate that puppies in the neonate period do not seem to learn by experience. (Scott and Fuller, 1965) It is theorized that this is due to the fact that the puppy’s brain, sense, and motor organs are still undeveloped. Based on its limited capacity to sense and learn it would be difficult to affect the puppy psychologically, either in a positive or negative sense. (Scott and Fuller, 1965)  

    The next period of development is known as the socialization period. This period begins around 3 weeks old and ends around 12 weeks old. (Beaver, 1999) The main aspect of this period is social play. Social examine, playful fighting and playful sexual behavior is very of import to developing social relationships during its life. (Scott and Fuller, 1965) New behavior patterns are directly influenced by the puppy’s interaction with its mother and other puppies in the litter.   During this period puppies develop social relationships, with other puppies as well as with people. However, there is a point at which the puppies can develop a fear of strangers. At 3–5 weeks of age, puppies will actively onset strangers. short thereafter stranger avoidance begins and slowly escalates until it peaks around 12–14 weeks of age. (Beaver, 1999) While this natural fear of strangers could serve as a way to keep a curious puppy away from predators, it can also hinder normal relationships with people.  

    During this period, startle reactions to sudden movement and sounds develop. This serves to help the puppy learn to differentiate between dangerous and safe or insignificant events.(Scott and Fuller, 1965) During the socialization period, the development of attachment to certain locations occurs. This is displayed by an extreme disturbance in the puppy whenever a change in location occurs. This is known as localization. (Serpell, 1995) Localization often peaks in puppies between 6–7 weeks old (Scott and Fuller, 1965), and then tapers off after that time until a change in location is no longer distressing to the puppy (cachorro).  

    Dogs that are handled and petted by humans on a regular basis during the first eight weeks of life are generally much more amenable to being trained and living in human households. Ideally, puppies should be placed in their lasting homes between about 8 and 10 weeks of age. In some places it is against the law to take puppies away from their mothers before the age of 8 weeks. Puppies are innately more fearful of new things during the period from 10 to 12 weeks, which makes it harder for them to adapt to a new home.   Puppies can begin learning tricks and commands as early as 8 weeks of age; the only limitations are stamina, concentration, and physical coordination.   

  • Why Is My Dog Having So Many Accidents?

    Why Is My Dog Having So Many Accidents?

    If you are having trouble with housetraining your dog, the quickest way to get around the problem and make a diagnosis is to know your pet’s history. Knowing how your dog has been performing at home yields important information to the veterinarian and helps narrow the diagnosis. Here’s how you can help:

    1) For urinary accidents, note if your dog is passing water more oftentimes; producing normal, smaller or larger amounts of urine; dribbling while walking; leaking while relaxed or sleeping; or wetting when excited or frightened.

    2) For fecal accidents, take a sample to the veterinarian. If your dog defecates in changer’ id=’spin_0′ onclick=’ShowSpinOptions(0)’>front of you, doe she appear to be straining or pooping while he’s walking upright? Look at the stools: Are they loose, runny, firm, hard, blood or mucousy? Are stool volumes less or more often than normal? Is your dog defecating more often?

    3) Report any changes you’ve noticed in your dog, such as increased drinking or vomiting; reduced or increased appetite; weight, skin or coat changes; lethargy; panting; anxiety; fear; lameness or difficulty getting up; or reluctance to play or exercise.

    4) Think about any changes or new events in your dog’s life that preceded or coincided with his housetraining accidents. A new member in the household? A change in diet, supplements or medications? A horrific event? Be sure to report anything new to your dog’s veterinarian.

    err: Do Not Withhold Water

    What goes in must come out, so some dog owners might find it alluring to simply reduce the amount of water their dog drinks or withhold water completely at night or while they’re absent.

    This could be a very dangerous thing to do. There are medical issues such as kidney problems or urinary tract infections where the dog actually needs to drink more water. Withholding water from a dog with low-grade kidney problems might lead to dangerous kidney failure.

    Depriving a healthy or ill dog of water could also lead to new or worse pre-existing problems. That said, there are some young dogs that just love to drink water, so they wet far more often. In those cases, restricting water to some extent is the only way that the dog can be a happy, functional member of the family. Unfortunately, many dogs do not outgrow this.

    If you suspect that your dog is lapping up water because it makes him happy to do so, discuss your suspicions with your veterinarian and get a veterinary exam to rule out any conditions that could cause increased thirst.

    We’ve got a ton more information, just click here

  • Use Proper Structure When Training Your Dog

    Whether a dog owner has just brought home a new dog, or they are ready to begin improving the relationship with an older dog, owners have a lot to consider when figuring out just how they will accomplish training their new or old best friend. From tried and true methods, to wacky gimmicks, to systems that just don’t work, there are so many ways to train dogs that owners (and their dogs) often end up so confused that limited to no results are accomplished. The reasons for the failure in any training system can quickly be analyzed to reveal that the failure most probably occurred due to lacking one of the three critical components (for both dog and owner).

    When evaluating a dog training method, one of the most important factors is motivation. Motivation most often comes from what psychologists and trainers call positive reinforcement. Simply put, it is what everyone looks forward to about dog training, often taking the form of treats, toys, or praise. Not every dog has the same motives for working, so selecting the correct motivator, or lure is critical for training. Now the limitation to simply using a lure is that it isn’t always alluring…This is where the structure comes in.

    Structure comes in the form of showing the dog what to do even if your doing Dog Training in San Diego. A lure can, in many situations, offer enough motivation and structure of what to do but eventually, a dog will probably need some guidance. An example of the need for structure is when a dog bolts for the front door while being trained with a lure to perform a command. Although the dog may have a firm understanding of what a command should mean, the overwhelming influence of the doorbell may override the lure’s ability to motivate the dog to perform. In this case, something must be used to stop the dog from bolting to the door. A leash, physical touch, standing in front of the dog, or simply asking again for a behavior (giving a command) may represent enough structure to keep the dog performing a desired task. Without the structural component, the dog may run to the door, thereby only learning to repeat the mad dash next time. The occasional ‘mad dash’ is what is ruining our consistency…

    Consistency is probably the most important factor that can have a positive influence on a dog’s behavior even when your in San Diego Dog Training your new pet. The consistency of ‘doing’ what is right can only be learned from ‘doing’ what is right (practice makes perfect). Expecting the dog to figure out on his/her own what to do in a confusing situation will slowly eat away at the performance of the desired behavior. The proper application of motivation and structure can help the owner keep the consistency, but it is up to the owner to stay consistent.

    By using this model for a foundation of training, a dog owner, and dog, can build and maintain a happy and successful relationship. Punishment is not needed in this model, and both owner and dog will confidently understand and uphold their roles in a household. Understand that all components of this model are required to achieve the most success, and your dog will thank you for it!

  • How to Stop a Dog From Escaping

    The Escaping Pooch & A Dog With A Tissue Fetish

    Question: My Run-Away Dalmatian

    “I have a two-year-old female Dalmatian. She has never given me any real problems – except one – If the front door is open and I’m not watching, she’s gone like a flash! When she’s in the backyard, she comes to me when I call. When she splits through that front door though, the words ‘come here’ seem alien to her. Any suggestions? I’m afraid she’ll get run over by a car and I don’t want to tie her up.” (more…)

  • The Role of Eye Contact in Dog Training

    Every wolf pack has a leader, also referred to as the alpha figure. This wolf, sometimes a male, sometimes a female, controls many aspects of pack life, including, to a degree, defecation and urination rights and spots. Dogs, of course, are directly descended from wolves and now live in human packs. Problems arise when an individual dog, either through his genetic makeup or improper training by his owner, comes to think of himself as the leader of the pack. (more…)

  • Canine Dominance: Is it a Myth?

    Dogs Do Not Learn By Dominance And Submission: Many people believe that dogs learn by dominance and/or submission. This is an interesting theory that appeals to our sense of logic and the way nature appears to be ordered from the point of view of the human ego. Supposedly, dogs can learn to respect another individual through dominance. This presupposes that they can perceive another being’s point of view. Humans can indeed entertain others’ points of view, yet we know that no one learns to work effectively through the dominance/submissive model. (more…)

  • Cure Destructive Chewing in Dogs

    When your puppy is small, you should not expect him to be perfect all the time. Neither should you overwhelm him by correcting everything at once. Instead, concentrate on the more serious behavior problems, working with them as they show up. (more…)

  • 3 Basic Tips For Better Handling Of Your Dog

    Dog Training has been taught by many different schools of thought. Teaching your dog new tricks and handling obedience training takes both dedication and patience. It also takes a sense of skill and personal awareness of not only your dog’s actions, but your own body language and training practices as well. Below are two tips that any dog trainer can utilize when handling their pets: (more…)

  • Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

    Positive Reinforcement Dog Training

    Training dogs using positive reinforcement and reward training has long been recognized as both highly effective for the owner and a positive experience for the dog. Positive reinforcement training is so important that it is the only method used to train dangerous animals like lions and tigers for work in circuses and in the movie and television industry. (more…)