Tuesday, 10. November 2009
It is the ambition of every dog owner to have a well-trained dog. However, many dog owners do not take into account the amount of effort and time which is needed to train a dog properly. That is the reason why a number of mistakes are made which could be easily avoided with a little bit of common sense and effort.
Dogs are definitely not furry children as some owners consider them to be. An average dog is going to have the mental capacity of a human 2-year-old, but there are not as many similarities as differences between a human and the dog. Dogs cannot follow language processing or reasoning like human beings. In the same manner, they do not understand cause and effect.
That is the reason why people get frustrated when they repeat the same command a number of times and the dog does not seem to comprehend it. In 98% of the cases the dog does not understand it, and that is why it is not necessarily ignoring that particular command. One should understand that, because it is possible that they responded to that command before but not on this particular occasion.
That is the reason why owners dub a dog stubborn or disobedient as if it was human. A dog might get distracted while training or not relate the “come” command with the behavior of the previous training session and its resulting reward. There are reasons for this particular behavior.
A dog trainer is going to need a lot of patience. You will need to repeat those commands continuously and again and again. Be ready not to get 100% results every time. Many dogs need more than 2 years of training to get past the simple basic and easy to understand commands.
Physical retaliation and venting your frustration upon a dog is definitely not a good response. It is going to make the dog afraid of you instead of correcting its behavior. Physical punishment should only be kept for meting out in extreme circumstances. A dog does not understand why he is being punished physically. This punishment is going to make your dog fear instead of trust you.
Dogs are just like human beings in the way that they follow people they trust instead of the people they fear. Following a person they fear is a last resort option for dogs. Dogs also have different reasoning abilities than humans. They are not going to learn from physical punishment, because they do not understand the reason behind it. That is why physical punishment is not an effective training option.
Some points about How Not to train your dog: – Talking to the dog as if it is a human and not an animal with a different nature than yours. – Believing that a dog has reasoning abilities to connect events across circumstances and times and coming to the same result as you. – Punishing them because they are not behaving the way you expect them to behave.
Follow these altogether ineffective methods and you’ll end up with a messed up dog and you will be an unhappy owner. But if this isn’t the outcome you are looking for, be prepared to change YOUR behavior, before you try to change the behavior of the dog.
Learn to pick the right Dog Bedding for your dog. Don’t allow Puppy Potty Training become a prolonged or tedious experience.
Posted in Pets by Ira Nelson -
Monday, 9. November 2009
Dogs aren’t actually stubborn. However, they at first don’t understand correctly what they’re supposed to do. To make this clear, you need to establish the alpha status up front. Be prepared to practice patience and determination and firm force to establish the behavior wanted. This can be very challenging when teaching the command “come”.
It’s natural for dogs to probe their surroundings. They will smell anything and everything, dig, turn things over, and pick up little items. When doing a teaching session minimize any distractions by arranging to be as far away from other people and voices as practical. It’s a good idea to use an area that is clear of impediments or a space without small objects on the floor.
Be sure to use any instinctive behavior you see. For example when you notice the dog coming at you, give a verbal command along with a hand sign to support this behavior. Try to use a word and gesture that you don’t normally use during your training sessions.
Put the dog in a sitting position facing you. Reinforce the command of ‘stay’ as you move away. Use hand gestures and voice commands. Praise the dog if the behavior is correct. Do not reward the dog for an incorrect or partial response.
This activity should be repeated with you stepping back. If the dog tries to come too quickly, reinforce the command of sit/stay. If the dog does not move at the ‘come’ command, entice him with a treat or a toy.
Reluctant or slow learners might need collar training or leash training. Put the dog in the sit and stay position. Start moving away, letting the leash go slack. If the dog does not obey you, tug the leash gently with the appropriate hand and voice command.
If the dog is too eager to come to you, use either a long leash or a rope which should be wrapped around a tree or fence rail. If the dog tries to move, the leash should be tugged as you say ‘stay’. This training can be done with the help of another person, but the dog is going to get confused about whom to obey. That is why it is sensible to have the dog’s focus on just one trainer.
During instructing, steadfastness and patience is crucial. Dogs don’t automatically understand the usefulness of ‘come’ or any other human-induced behavior. Speaking harshly when the dog messes up or is a little distracted is normally counter-productive. Develop your alpha role with tone of voice, body language and determination to wait for compliance. Physical discipline or leading is a less helpful technique.
Dogs respond extremely quickly to praise when they execute proper behavior. You need to be resolute and make sure that they come when you order them to.
Learn to pick the right Dog Bedding for your dog. Don’t let Puppy Potty Training become a time consuming or frustrating experience.
Posted in Pets by Mitch Rodolfy -
Wednesday, 4. November 2009
Pet travel crates allow you to very easily and safely transport your beloved pet almost anywhere. You are going to have to pick the proper cage based on the pet that you are going to be traveling with. You are going to find that you have a lot to choose from. If designer cages are your cup of tea, you can pick one of those from the hundreds of assorted styles and designs available. You are going to need to look carefully when picking the 1 that is simply right for your needs.
If you have a medium or large dog, you are going to want a large crate. You could require assistance with the crate if you have a larger animal. The crate needs to be a size that allows your dog to sit down up, turn around, and stand easily. You also need to make quite sure you can fit dishes for food and water in the crate.
Small dogs can travel in small crates, or in travel bags that you keep on your person. Animals traveling this way is allowed on quite a few airlines. Travel bags for dogs can include backpack carriers, front slings, and handbags that allow the dogs head to poke through the top.
Cats typically require pet travel cages in the form of a cat carrier. This is really the only safe and secure way to transport a cat. Unlike dogs, cats do not tend to stand while they travel, so the carrier doesn’t need to be large enough for them to do so. There should be ample room for the cat to be comfortable in the carrier; however, it only has to have enough space for your cat to lie down without the top of the carrier touching his head.
Once you have chosen one of many appropriate pet travel cages for you and your pet, you will be ready to travel in style. With a full range of appropriate carriers available, it’s time that your pet accompany you to any destination! So, bring your pet along with you in confidence and security and see what a great time the 2 of you have together.
Purchasing items for your pet, and caring for them are part of what makes pet ownership so rewarding. A travel carrier is necessary to properly secure your pet and keep the animal comfortable during travel. These cages will make either a two week vacation or a day shopping trip, more enjoyable for both of you. I mean they are an extension of the family – Are they not? Mine certainly believe that they are!
Layla writes pieces on car dog cages and about the important safety points of dog cages to keep your pet safe.
Posted in Pets by Layla Smith -
Monday, 2. November 2009
It’s a serious business having a puppy or a dog. Sure it’s fun but expect there to be work involved as well. And one of the first jobs you’ll need to tackle when you have a new puppy or dog in the house is to house break your puppy. It can be less than fun to house break puppies.
That’s not to say it’s necessarily all that hard, just that it can be if you don’t know what you’re doing.
And if you get it wrong the results can be disastrous for your puppy, for you and for your family. House training a puppy correctly is a must.
And it may not even be a puppy you’re house breaking. Not everyone starts with a puppy, some for various reasons end up with an adult dog. Not that it’s impossible to house train an adult dog, but like a puppy you need to know what you’re doing.
It takes more than a page to set out everything you need to know about house breaking puppies and dogs, I keep that for my website. But there’s a few things you should know at the start.
First, always remember that you’re the boss dog. Your dog or puppy expects you to set the rules of the house and he is prepared to follow them if you teach them correctly. Teaching them correctly doesn’t involve punishing him for any infraction of the rules.
But you do need to be firm and consistent setting the rules.
Instead of punishing your dog for a breach of the rules you need to use positive reinforcement. In the past it the accepted wisdom was to show him the rules, for example where his potty place was, then punish him for every breach till he got it right. This can take a long time and subject you both to a lot of stress.
And remember, every dog or puppy is different. For some it will take almost no time at all to potty train him. For others it will take much longer. Be prepared for this and accept that it will take as long as it takes, even if you are doing everything right.
It may take a while, it may not. Expect it to take while and be surprised if it doesn’t.
House breaking a puppy is a procedure. You need to learn the right procedure then follow it for as long as it takes for your puppy to get it. Be consistent, don’t punish, keep the training up and every puppy can be house trained.
It’s a simple process. Learn how to housebreak puppy, follow the procedure consistently and keep at it for as long as you need. Find out more about house breaking puppies on my website.
Want to know more about How To Potty Train A Puppy? Visit Peter’s website to learn more about House Breaking Puppy.
Posted in Pets by Peter Albertony -
Saturday, 31. October 2009
It can be an overwhelming experience to have a dog in your house for the first time. It needs care and attention, but it does also have to learn to behave. So training is an important part of your dogs life.
When a professional dog trainer trains the dogs, it looks very simple; but it is not. So you will probably experience that even the simplest training methods is difficult. But when it looks darkest, you must remember that most dogs want to please their owners. So the more time you spend training your dog, the more it will love you; and obey you.
The best time to start training your dog is between the age of 3 and 16 weeks. Here the bond between it and you will take hold. So if you earn its respect as the master, the training will be easier in the future.
The pillar of good dog training is commands. But even though it looks simple, when the professional dog trainer is doing it, you might find it difficult. And the dog will probably not obey you.
The secret is in the tone of the voice. Professional dog trainers do not posses special animal talking skills; they are just experienced in dog behavior and know how voice can get the dog to do, what they want. And you can learn the same by practicing.
You must have a firm (but non-threatening) tone of voice to show who is the dominating part of you two. If you do not establish that, you will not be able to train your dog. And it will only fear you, if you threats or yells.
Instead you should praise your dog, when it is doing something right. A positive attitude is the most effective thing in dog training. A dog is able to distinguish between right and wrong; but it is not capable to understand the difference without the proper feedback from the trainer.
So by using the tone of your voice to show it, when it has done something right or wrong, you can learn it to distinguish between what is good behavior; and what is not. Again remember that the dog will try to please the owner, the dog will learn to everything it can to follow your instructions.
When you master the tone of the voice, you can start to search for more complicated training methods to take the training even further.
And a final issue; the temperament and intelligence are different for all dogs. So when a method might work on one dog, it might not on another. So learn which methods that works with your dog; and stick to them.
Martin Elmer is the editor of Hundefan – a website about hundeartikler. Here you can also read about hundenet.
Posted in Pets by Martin Elmer -
Thursday, 22. October 2009
Your dog relies upon you to keep him safe both inside your home and outside. Most owners realize that they should keep their canines on a leash while they’re outside in order to prevent their roaming into the street. But, their responsibility extends much further. In this article, we’ll provide five tips that you can use to ensure the safety of your pooch.
#1 – Keep Dangerous Poisons Out Of Reach
Your canine’s appetite isn’t limited to the meals you provide him during the day. Given the opportunity, he’ll eat items that are not meant to be consumed (at least, not by him). For example, he may begin eating antifreeze if it is left within his reach. He might also start eating mouse bait, pesticides, and your own medications. Each of these items can lead to significant health issues. Keep them out of his reach.
#2 – Tag Him
You may think it could never happen, but many owners have learned that their dogs are always willing to explore if they’re given the chance. One of the reasons animal shelters in many cities are overflowing is because canines get loose and roam until they’re found. Put a collar and tag on your pooch. Also, consider microchipping him. Then, once a week, check to make sure his collar and tags are secure.
#3 – Keep His Head In The Car
It is a rare dog that doesn’t love to ride in a car with his head sticking out of the window. The problem is that it invites bugs and debris into his eyes. Plus, if you’re involved in a traffic collision, your pooch can be injured. If he’s going to ride in the car with you, keep the windows up enough to prevent him hanging his head outside.
#4 – Make Him Ride In The Cab
Owners will often place their dogs in the exposed bed of their trucks. This is incredibly dangerous for a few reasons. First, the stopping and starting can throw him off balance, often into the sides of the vehicle. Second, taking a sharp turn while your pooch is elevated on the side of the vehicle can throw him from the back into traffic. If you own a truck and you’re bringing him along, keep him in the cab.
#5 – Have A Veterinarian On File
The worst time to look for a veterinarian is when your dog desperately needs one. You should have the name and contact information of a trusted vet within reach. That includes his or her office phone and an emergency number. You should also have a back-up veterinarian that you can take your canine to in the event your primary vet is unavailable.
Your dog’s safety is at risk from accidents. Whether he’s getting into rat poison, becomes lost, or is riding in the back of your truck, you don’t expect him to get into trouble. It happens unexpectedly. Take the time to make sure he’s as safe as possible.
Find the best Odor Free Bully Sticks and healthy dog products at Pawlux.com
Posted in Pets by Eric Renfro -
Saturday, 19. September 2009
When a dog is termed as bad by the owner, usually it is they who are the cause. It’s irritating when walking down the sidewalk in your own neighborhood only to have a dog jump up on your clean clothes. The dog next door might also prefer to leave his calling cards on your front yard.
Would you like to call them bad dogs? They are as bad as the children next door who are out of control. There should be limits set for dogs to follow when inside, outside or in public places. It is wise decision to take the help of a dog trainer to learn the tricks of handling this pet without spoiling its personality. To get to know a good trainer approach your vet or pet store; these trainers often hold private lessons with the pet and the owner but it is just as easy to solve your pet behavior problem by attending any online course on pet management.
This training could teach owners how to be in command of their pets. Trainers have been heard to comment that dogs are easier to train to be obedient than their handlers. When you want the dog to be leash trained, make them practice in a small area away from other distractions. Barking is a behavior which is extremely annoying to both owners and neighbors. Remember when they bark, they is trying to communicate, so if shout or punish them for this, it will only result in puzzling the poor creature.
It is usually lack of food, attention or the need for water that makes a dog bark. The noise of a dog barking can alarm the owners of a burglar intrusion so attempting to stop him from doing this may work against you. It is wrong to encourage a puppy to bark and then punish him for barking when he attains adulthood.
You can bring about a change in behavior in your favor by providing the occasional bit of praise and a special treat; which is something the trainer will show you how to achieve. How do you make your puppy stop the undesired behavior? Well, simply learn to reward him when he does something which is ‘desired’ behavior.
You can not teach a pet some behavioral pattern which contradicts his natural breed. To make your pet follow specific behavioral training, you ought to choose one from a breed with can give you what you need. When does a pet become good? Well, when you train them with patience, resolve and of course, a great deal of affection.
For additional info and to get a free Dog Training Course visit tclarkpetsolutions.com
Posted in Pets by Thomas Clark -
Thursday, 17. September 2009
You should find that owning a small dog, similar to owning a larger breed. The owner of a small dog must however make some adaptations to suit the animal’s specific needs.
Consider the following daily dog care routines, and how they’re adapted to meet the needs of your pint-sized pup.
Food considerations: Some of the standard size food you may provide a larger dog ma not be suitable to a smaller breed. You may need to go along to a larger pet food store if you want to find a kibble that will not be to big for his (or her) tiny jaw. You ought to give the miniature canines some canned soft foods.
Where they will stay – safely: Every dog needs the following: regular exercise, an outdoor place for his potty needs, and an enclosed area which provides the animal with security. Smaller dogs are much more nimble that larger dogs and what might be a secure environment for one is not necessarily for the other. It may seem bizarre but it has been know for very large birds to actually take tiny dogs from their gardens. Hence, get your pet a kennel which is covered on the top for the right protection.
Dog training: While the training methodologies may be the same for large as well as tiny and are not any harder, but canine experts confirm that more often than not, the smaller counterparts are usually over-mothered. Although your pet might indeed fit into your pocket (and some breeds can), they still see the world in relation to pack mentality and someone has to be the leader so if you are weak, they will govern you. One of the most important aspects of training is that the dog must imperatively be house trained even if the mess seems insignificant. Dogs are naturally working creatures with many types bred purely for this function so this should also refer to your pet too. for a small reward or treat.
Grooming: Keep in mind that grooming a small dog is slightly different to larger ones and cater for this. These diminutive pets usually require more frequent nail trimming than larger dogs, because they typically spend less time on rough surfaces wearing them down. If you want to ensure they have healthy teeth and gums you will have to brush them at least a couple of times each week as their main diet will consist of soft food from a can. The above makes it clear that it does not matter whether you are taking care of a small dog or a large dog the methods are pretty much the same. The differences between each dog, may look minor and insignificant, but when you pay extra attention to each one aspect, it can provide the correct answer to a dog’s specific requirements.
For additional info and to get a free Dog Training Course visit tclarkpetsolutions.com
Posted in Pets by Thomas Clark -
Wednesday, 16. September 2009
There are many different ways to choose a collar for your dog. I am just going to give you a few options on how to do so. I will list four ways here to be exact.
An easy first step to take is to measure the size of your dog’s neck. You can easily do this by using a tape measure. Once you have the measurements you can compare to the collar package. Be sure that you can always fit two fingers between the collar and your dog’s neck.
I would then tell you to find out exactly how much it is that your pet weighs. Most collar packages will tell you the weight range that it is meant for. You should be able tell how strong you will need the collar to be after this.
The third thing I would suggest is to be sure you pay attention to the material of the collar. Leather collars may break if pressure is applied for too long. This is something to also consider if you have an untrained dog that will tend to pull you around. One more tip about leather is that once it gets wet from being washed it is likely to start cracking.
The fourth thing I would recommend is to determine what the purpose of the collar is. Ask yourself if you are buying the collar for training purposes or for the simple purposes of identification or walking your dogs. If the collar is for training purposes you should go into a bit more detail on choosing one. If the collar is for the simple purpose of walking the dog than its a lot less complicated.
Choosing your dog’s collar is not a hard task to handle. As soon as you find out how much you want to spend on your collar and a good color and fit you should buy it. Just understand that training collars take more effort and research.
You can find out additional info on training collars here. T. Clark is an expert in dog training equipment.
Posted in Pets by Tom Clark -
Friday, 11. September 2009
Many people like to super-size your coffee and get additional toppings on your pizza, yet, having to choose a big dog won’t always guarantee you of all or most of the advantages. Each dogs type’ of inheritance is one defining factor to which their particular requirements are based upon. Some types, like hunters, are genetically programmed to crave the open spaces and outside physical exercise. If you are looking for dogs to be “lap dogs,” some breeds of dogs such as miniature dogs can actually serve you well, since they don’t need that much space or time to be outdoors just to run around and play, you wont find it hard to deal with them particularly if you’re the idle type of person as they can go with the flow of your life.
You should take into consideration the size of your living space when you are choosing the size of the dog that you want to take home. A German Shepherd is a marvellous watch dog for your city apartment, but you must give that dog time in the park to run and be active every day. If you can’t provide this dog the kind or amount of exercise that it needs because you’re too busy, tired or is just idle enough, then, a watchdog is not what you really need but an alarm system instead. If you want a pet that could remain contented just being inside your apartment and being outdoors is not totally his inclination, then you might as well go for a toy dog like a poodle or Chihuahua.
If you have a secured balcony with solid, high railing, that is already enough for such a small dog to enjoy its outdoor time but you should also see to it that you can supplement that with a walk outside even just once a day. Don’t let the dog’s visual aspect or temperament fool you.
If you want a gentle as well as a quiet dog, then you might as well settle for a greyhound – bringing such dog to a close living area is something that it wont be worried about. But you should also see to it that adequate exercise in an area where it is enough for that gentle greyhound to run and play is given. You should be aware that greyhounds are able to run with the speed of up to forty five mph and even faster, so if you don’t see to it that you can provide them enough time and space where they can freely run around, then don’t be shocked if your living room will be turned into their own track. Neither you nor the dog will be pleased with the result.
Size has everything to do with dog maintenance. You fell for the charm of that cute, furry puppy that barely nibbled the pup chow when you visited the pet store, but now, it grew up to be some creature in the form of a 120 pound St Bernard that could almost consume just anything and would even leave your wallets very soft and thin. If you want him to get enough nourishment then you better give him about 8-10 scoops of a daily high quality dog food, you will have to deal with the cost of a daily steak dinner, that is unluckily not for you to consume. Your huge dog also pushes around furniture like feathers. When there’s nothing to do and you’re racing late, then don’t be appalled seeing a fully-deconstructed living room when you get home since your large dog is more likely to do that to entertain himself.
Looking at the bright side, most pet keepers who own a toy dog usually supply their dogs with their own cute closet wherein they could display and keep their stuff such as little designer costumes, knit sweaters and clever toys. They also have chic beds, including those that are canopied or French provincial. Normally, holding on to all those doggy stuff is more complicated than keeping the dog himself since it could almost take up a lot of space and maintenance.
Some pet owners have multiple pets and if you are one of them owning multiple dogs, regardless of breed, you need to provide sleeping space for each dog. Don’t anticipate them to crowd together. It is not only you who needs space but also your pets or dogs specifically. individual territory where it is possible to sleep, relax and hide their personal things such as bones or toys is also one thing that most dogs actually call for.
Outdoor kennels having enough protection from any weather especially the bad one should be provided to those dogs that are left to sleep or reside outside. Sharing a bedroom with a neighbor is not something that you would actually do, so how could you expect the same thing with your dog? Consider the space and care needs of each dog when you bring a second or third dog into the family.
For additional info and to get a free Dog Training Course visit tclarkpetsolutions.com
Posted in Pets by Rob D. Frickerson -