Must Know Dog Training Tips and Techniques
June 29, 2010 by TopDog
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There are many dog training techniques and styles and some vary according to the dogs breed. There are various items and training tools to help even the novice train a dog successfully. The one thing that is always required when training a dog is patience, understanding and the ability to read your dog successfully.
There are different types of training and they can differ depending on what you want your dog to do. The most basic of training for all dogs is basic commands such as sit, heel, stay, come and fetch. Another basic training for all dogs is house training. All of these training methods are essential to having a good relationship with your dog.
There are training methods for easing a dog’s aggressive behavior, teaching a dog not to bark or whine, basic behaviors, biting, chewing, digging and many others. All of these, however, should be taught only after basic commands are taught and they are successfully house trained. This stops the dog becoming confused and keeps your patience and sanity intact!
Obedience in dogs is not automatic; while some dog breeds are albeit better than others, they still have to be taught to obey their owners. If they are not taught obedience, the dog may become unruly, aggressive and you may find yourself unable to cope.
Let’s look at housebreaking your new puppy or your rescue dog. When you first get your new dog is when you should start to work on getting the dog broken into the routine. Puppies will want to relieve themselves much more than an older dog, so you have to be able to take note of the times your puppy will want to go.
The usual times a puppy needs to go is straight after food or water, so take care to note what your dog does when. The important thing to remember is to not get angry with your puppy if they do make mistakes or have any accidents. Accidents will happen and they may be plentiful, so stay patient and don’t scold the animal if they get it wrong.
It isn’t until a dog is 12 weeks plus that they will be able to have any sort of control over their bladder functions. This is why it is imperative to start training straight away and get them into a good routine. The dog will soon realize that when you take him outside it is time to go, it may take a while and don’t take your eye off the dog when outside. This way you can be sure it has actually done what it needs to do before you take him back inside!
Other forms of dog training such as agility commands and activities will take time, but they can be a lot of fun and exercise for both of you. You may wasn’t to get a professional dog trainer to help you, especially if you are considering entering the dog into agility competitions.
There are other forms of dog training that are more serious; there are dogs that are trained to lead blind people, help disabled people, the elderly, to help find surviving victims of disasters, fire dogs, police dogs and many more. These are always trained professionally and usually by specialty organizations that deal specifically with training for those occurrences.
Check out our Dog Training Blog and grab a copy of our Free Dog Training CD. Dog training can be difficult if you don’t have the right skills for the job.
Dog Chewing Problem: Things You Must Do To Get Rid Of This Problem
June 5, 2010 by TopDog
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Dog’s chewing problem is very annoying for its owner .Few of my friends are very frustrated with this habit of their puppy .They often ask from others why dogs keep on chewing and how to stop them from doing this ridiculous thing .Through this article I will try to solve the problem of various dog owner who are dealing with same issue.
Let me clarify the fact why do dogs chew on everything .Main reason behind this activity is to keep their jaws and teeth healthy and strong .Some dogs chew when they are free and they have nothing to do .Puppies mostly chews in their teething stage .Sometime dogs chew just to get attention of their owner .Another dog chewing problem is if they are afraid of something like fireworks ,loud noise etc .These sort of problems also develop Chewing Problems in dog .Chewing is not a big issue unless or until your dog started chewing things which are precious for you .There are several electrical wires ,poisonous stuff and other precious stuff which you will never allow your dog to chew .If your dog is trying to chew almost everything ,it’s the right time to teach him properly to get rid of this habit .
Next thing you want to make your dog free from this habit of chewing .There are several ways to throw this habit out from the life of your dog .First step is to keep an eye on his chewing habits .Keep all expensive things away from reach of your dog .In few cases ,dogs have only particular likings in case of chewing .For example some dogs only chew furniture while other chew shoes and sleepers .In this case ,try to wrap all those stuff with some non toxic substance having foul smell .This method very rarely works but still there is no harm in using this method .Try to say firm “no” if he is chewing in front of you .Try to replace it with another chew toy .Proper training and well disciplined behavior also sometime make dogs free from habit of unnecessary chewing .Proper exercise and indulging your dog in playing is must whenever you notice him chewing some stuff .There are several tasty dog chew available in market .Try to provide these stuff to your dog in initial stage so that he may not start chewing other things .Always try to indulge your dog into games or other sort of work because I have noticed that mostly dog chews when they have nothing to do .Some dogs chew when they find themselves alone .So try to spend more and more time with your dog .
It is always important to find the reason behind chewing problem of your dog .I have explained most common reasons of Dog Chewing and solutions to get rid of this problem .By finding reason of chewing ,we can easily get rid of this problem by following steps explained. Good luck and enjoy life the most beautiful and faithful animal.
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Four Dog Training Tools That You Must Use
May 3, 2010 by TopDog
Filed under Getting Ready to Train Your Dog
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Dog training doesn’t have to be that difficult and really, when it comes to basic dog training, you only need a few dog training tools. Sure you can buy all the latest and greatest tools that money can buy but you don’t really need to and sometimes, such as is the case with dog training tools, less is actually more. That being said, I would like to point out that the type of training that you do will greatly affect the type of dog training tools that you need. For example, if you are training your dog for hunting, you will need a variety of tools such as dummies, birds, whistles and, possibly, a rifle. While hunting training may be a step that you are moving toward, for now we are just going to look at dog training tools that you will need for basic dog training.Tool #1: The Bait Since most dog trainers use positive reinforcement you need some form of bait and reward for your dog. Obviously, food is a big incentive for many dogs but you may need to invest in something different if your dog is really not interested in food or your trainer recommends a different type of reward, such as a clicker. If you will be using food, it is important to use a soft treat that is cut into small morsels; usually about the size of your pinkie nail. Using small bites is the perfect dog training tool since a dog won’t lose focus when he is chewing the food and you won’t need to spend large amounts of money renewing your food reward.Tool #2: The Lead (or leash) One piece of everyday dog gear that you will use as a dog training tool is a lead or leash. This is just a standard leash that you can use for walks on a daily basis and the only thing that it should be is sturdy. For many areas of training, this will be the most important dog training tool that you will use, outside of food, since this will give you the greatest control over your dog. What is usually recommended with leads is to purchase one that is 6 feet long with a sturdy clip. Do not purchase a retractable leash to use as a dog training tool since you will not have as much control over your dog if you do. If you decide to take your dog to different types of training, such as conformation, you will find that you need different styles of leads but for basic training, a simply 6 foot nylon lead is essential. When you move into long distance “come,” your trainer may ask you to purchase a 20 foot lead but that will be at the discretion of your trainer.Tool #3: The Collar Although this dog training tool is often linked with the leash, it is important to look at the collar on its own. Generally, when you are looking for a good collar for training, you will want one that is flat and has a snapping clip to prevent the collar from slipping. Some trainers will recommend that you use a choke or a prong collar as an essential dog training tool but it is important that you only use those if you are told to do so and that you use the collar correctly since they can lead to serious injuries for the dog if used incorrectly.Tool #4: The Toy While this isn’t a dog training tool that you will really use during the training, it is a good tool to have handy for breaks or even for distractions. During a training session, take a few breaks for the dog to be rewarded through play. This will keep your dog interested in training and it won’t seem too long for you puppy. In addition to providing a break, a toy can be placed out as a distraction when you are teaching come. Having the distraction will teach your dog that no matter what he is doing, he needs to listen when you give the command. Once you have all the essential dog training tools, I would recommend speaking with your trainer to find out if there is anything that he would recommend or, if the training is specialized, if there is anything extra you should bring. Usually, all you will really need is a lead, a collar and the reward.
Nancy Richards has been involved with dog training for several years. Learn all about companion dog training , aggressive dog training etc. with positive reinforcement dog training tools.
Attack Dog Training! Must see. Amazing! (K9-1.com)
April 24, 2010 by TopDog
Filed under Getting Ready to Train Your Dog
Attack Dog Training – Personal Protection Guard Dog Training instruction by K9-1 Specialized Dog Training LLC. If you ever wondered how to train an attack dog we now have instructional videos for the serious dog trainer. This video features, Nikko, a Belgian Malinois raised as a pet then transformed into a high caliber personal protection dog at two years of age. Be advised that personal protection training 9or attack dog training) should only be done under the guidance of a professional and be used for defensive purposes only! Learn more about the “foundation style” of dog training and how it is slowly becoming the new standard for dog trainers who wish to use the most advanced techniques in dog training at www.selfhelpdogtraining.com
Pet Id Tags and the Law (uk) – a Must Read for Any Dog Owner in the UK
April 12, 2010 by TopDog
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Don’t end up with a £5,000 fine by getting it wrong, everyone should read this!
Many of us in the UK love to spoil our pets with various accessories like coats, jumpers, ‘doggles’ and even shoes! One of the most important things however that should not be neglected or forgotten is a Pet ID Tag.
Pet Identification not only makes sense (in case you pet gets lost) but also is a LEGAL requirement in the UK!
The law requires your to have your name, address (including postcode) and ideally phone number on the pet identification.
“The Control of Dogs Order 1992 mandates that any dog in a public place must wear a collar with the name and address (including postcode) of the owner engraved or written on it, or engraved on a tag. Your telephone number is optional (but advisable).” [ref Kennel Club website]
If you don’t follow the law with this, you could risk a £5,000 fine!!
In our opinion, the BEST way to get your pet identification all wrapped up, is to take our 5 step plan…
Best Pet Collars sell personalised custom embroidered dog collars and have a fantastic range of pet ID tags which can be with you in less than a week from ordering.
Dog Trainer, Pet Accessories retailer, dog food nutrition and retailer of Burns Real Food.
Must Know Puppy Training Tips
January 13, 2010 by TopDog
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Whatever your pup’s pedigree and whatever your goals for him, any puppy is still an emotionally immature animal. At the same time, no two pups are exactly alike and what works for one puppy is not necessarily best for another.
You must constantly be aware of your pup’s personality and of how you can get him to pay attention to you. However, there are some general characteristics of puppy training that are important to working with all puppies. These are basic principles which should be adapted by you as the basis of working with your puppy.
Do not get tough: Emotionally and psychologically, the puppy is still extremely sensitive. This means that learning takes place quickly, but also that fears can easily occur and inhibit learning.
Pups cannot take pressure or harsh treatment. Repetition is the key to puppy training. Never punish him if he does not do what you want him to do. This will defeat the purpose of the training and cause him to dislike the entire procedure.
Bad behavior during training sessions is more often than not a sign of the pup’s lack of confidence or understanding of what you want him to do. Therefore, many repetitions will be needed.
Keep it simple: A puppy learns to do things in a step-by-step manner. For example, in teaching him to stay, do not expect him to stay put for several minutes at a time while you are off someplace away from him.
You must first teach him to stay while you stand toe-to-toe in front of him, then to stay when you are standing a couple of feet out in front of him, then to stay while you walk around him, then to stay while you are standing several feet away and not holding on to the leash.
Many pups will take several weeks to progress through these steps, but they are necessary if you want to teach “Stay” effectively. If you tell him to do something before you have properly trained him to do it and then scold him for not doing it, you are
asking for trouble. The pup will lose his confidence and will learn not to try.
Be brief: Puppies have a very short attention span. A pup learns only while he is paying attention to you, so it does not accomplish anything to keep on training when he is mentally tired even though physically he is still very lively.
Five minutes at a time is long enough. With many puppies, two minutes is long enough to begin with, gradually moving up to five minutes.
Build confidence: Your puppy needs confidence-building as well as discipline and he will constantly be telling you by his body language which one he needs more at any particular time.
Relax while you are with him; smile; speak in a pleasant voice; play running games with him. In puppy training, building confidence means knowing what you expect from your pup.
Purchase english bulldogs and other terrier breads.
