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Posts tagged "dog training" It takes a considerable amount of time and energy to mold your pup into a balanced canine companion; no wonder some pet parents end up frustrated and confused when their dog becomes uncooperative. House training your puppy doesn’t have to be a grueling process though; it’s just a question of establishing a good routine built around your dog’s needs. Here are 6 mistakes you should avoid when house training your dog: Wrong feeding habits The first thing you should be aware of is that your pup’s digestive system gets stimulated whenever she eats, leading her to urinate within 15 minutes of eating, and defecate within half an hour of having their meal. Consequently, practices like over-feeding, observing unsuitable diets (like salty food) and not feeding your pup at regular times only make potty training harder. Punishing the puppy for its indoor accidents Puppies generally lack good bladder control; they need...
Continue reading » Planning, TrainingNo Comment When you bring home a new puppy the last thing you consider is that he or she could become aggressive. What many pet owners do not realize is that a dog is rarely genetically predisposed to aggression; rather, the actions of the owners can unwittingly lead to anti-social tendencies. Listed here are ways to prevent aggression in your new dog. Socialization The most important way to prevent aggression is to properly socialize your pet. Your dog should be introduced to as many new people, places, experiences, sights, sounds, smells, and animals as possible. One cause of aggression is fear, and proper socialization helps dogs develop coping mechanisms for new and potentially scary situations. Socialization should continue throughout your dog’s lifetime. Set Boundaries While dogs deserve to be spoiled by their humans, it is also important to set boundaries for how pets should interact with family members. A dog whose every...
Continue reading » BehaviorNo Comment Teaching your dog recall (i.e. to come when called) is one of the most important lessons your pet can learn. A rock solid recall can literally mean the difference between life and death, particularly if your dog escapes the house or breaks free of his collar. Tips for teaching recall are described here. Low Distraction The first step is to start training your dog in a low-distraction area, such as a spare bedroom. Do not attempt recall in the yard or at the park until your dog has mastered coming when called in the house. Place a leash on your pet, ask your dog to sit, and then walk backwards (still holding the leash), while saying “come” and holding a treat. When your dog reaches you, give your pet profuse praise. Make Recall Fun Once your dog has learned the meaning of “come,” take to the outdoors and turn recall...
Continue reading » TrainingNo Comment Training your dog is not just a matter of him or her having good house manners – it can also mean the difference between life and death. The seven most important commands to teach your dog, as well as tips for training, are discussed below. Sit Why is “sit” such an important command? When your dog is getting ready to jump on a new person that walks into your home, asking for “sit” can keep all four of your dog’s feet on the ground. In addition, by utilizing “sit” as a pre-requisite for other daily rewards, such as going outside or having the food bowl set down at dinner time, this simple command can create a well-behaved dog. Stay Not only can “stay” be useful during an unexpected situation (such as a broken dish in the kitchen), teaching your dog how to stay also reinforces independence. Dogs with a strong...
Continue reading » Behavior, Dog Safety, Training2 Comments Dog training can be the most rewarding – and frustrating – undertaking for a new pet owner, especially when a young dog is involved. Watching your dog master a command for the first time is an incredible moment; while other instances may make you feel like you are spinning your wheels. Before you blame your dog for being stubborn consider whether you are making any of the following common training mistakes. Poor Timing Timing is crucial when training a dog, both for reward and punishment. When your dog does the correct behavior, such as sitting when you ask for the “sit” command, your dog should be rewarded immediately. Any delay in giving your dog positive praise will teach your pet that there is no incentive to follow directions. Similarly, punishing your dog long after a bad behavior has occurred, such as yelling at your pup when you find an accident...
Continue reading » TrainingNo Comment Most people like dogs and they are the most common non-human life companions. Kids fall in love with them watching Lassie and we all have that idea of what a perfect dog would be. We all know what we want, but only a small percentage of dog owners know how to achieve that. Dogs are rather progressive animals and their brain is quite complex, so it’s not really safe or clever to determine one single element in dog training as the single most important one, but there’s one element that is, in my opinion, so important we can select it as a foundation for everything else. That is CONSISTENCY. Dogs just as humans like things to be in order and to make training as effective as possible we have to make sure that the dog knows exactly when it’s time for training, when it’s time for playing and that “sit”...
Continue reading » TrainingNo Comment The martingale, which is often referred to as the “humane choke chain,” is a great training tool when used appropriately. Best known as being used on greyhounds that are prone to slipping out of collars, thanks to necks that are significantly wider than their heads, these collars are also great for dogs that routinely escape collars or harnesses. There are certain precautions that pet owners should take, however, when finding the right martingale dog collar for their needs. What is a Martingale? A martingale collar is composed of two loops: one large loop, which goes around the dog’s head, and a second smaller loop, which attaches to the leash. When pressure is applied to the leash, the smaller loop will tighten the larger loop, placing pressure on the dog’s neck. This method is considered more humane than a typical choke chain because the wide fabric ensures that pressure is more...
Continue reading » Dog ProductsNo Comment A marker is a tool that allows us to tell the dog exactly what behavior is being positively reinforced and it allows us to do so in a clear, objective and simple way. In other words, a marker turns out to be a tool that facilitates communication between the owner/trainer and the dog. When we correctly use a marker to train our dogs, we speed up the whole process by making it faster and more efficient; it also prevents the dog from developing frustration during the training session for not to being able to understand what we want from him and what behaviors are being reinforced. How do we use a marker, then? 1st Rule – We should mark the behavior at the exact moment it occurs. That is, if we want to teach a “Sit”, we should mark the exact moment the dog’s hind legs touch the ground; if...
Continue reading » TrainingNo Comment Do you remember the time when your parents gifted you a new remote control car when you got A grade on your report card? That made you study harder, right? This is known as positive reinforcement. Same is the case with dogs. They want praise, reward and food. Using positive reinforcement, you can train your dog in no time. As the rewards make the pooch more likely to do the desired behavior again, this type of training can prove to be the most useful tools to shape up or change the behavior of your dog. Timing matters Timing is very important when you plan to use positive reinforcement. For instance, reward should be given immediately or your dog may not be able to associate with it if not given on time. Teaching commands This training method is also great when it comes to teaching your dogs certain commands...
Continue reading » TrainingNo Comment When I first started to get interested in dog training and dog behavior, I had no idea where I should look for information. Unfortunately, the internet is filled with people willing to give you advice on every sort of problem or topic relating to dogs. Their intentions are the best but sometimes they can do more harm than good. When it comes to dog training, the internet is flooded with myths and outdated information. TV shows shouldn’t be considered as a reliable source of information, as well. One of the most famous and well-known TV shows on dog training is actually promoting the use of dangerous, outdated and counterproductive methods, whilst misinforming people. So if we want to know more about this topic, what kind of sources should we rely on? Books – Books can be a rich and extremely useful source of information. If you choose the right authors,...
Continue reading » TrainingNo Comment 
