Train Your Dog Properly With This Guides

16.48 in Dog, guides, properly, this, train, with, your

Dog training can be very intimidating to someone that has never done it before. There is a lot of information out there and sorting through it all can seem difficult. These are just some tips to help you start out with dog training the right way.

The best way to teach a dog good behavior is to never let poor behavior take hold. Dogs find it much harder to break existing bad habits than to learn new, positive ones. For instance, a dog that is never fed table scraps is less likely to beg at the table.



 When training your dog, do not include any punishments. Taking preventative measures to avoid the occurrence of a bad behavior to begin with is always best, however, if your dog does get out of line, demonstrate how it should have been done rather than scolding him. Training your dog is a great way to develop a positive relationship with him.

 Dont give up on training your dog, no matter what. Through constant and positive reinforcement, you will be able to train your dog to retain the behaviors you teach them. Taking care of your dog must include instituting a training plan, as well as meeting his food and shelter needs.

 Everyone in the family should use the exact same commands when training your dog. If you mix up commands, like one family member saying "up" when another says "jump," the dog will have a more difficult time figuring out what you want. As long as you use consistency, then your dog has a great chance of learning all of the tricks and behaviors that you wish.

 If you catch your puppy chewing on things, stop him. By doing this, you are teaching him what is okay to chew on.

 If your dog suffers from separation anxiety when youre away, encourage him to bond with other members of the household. This will help it be less focused on the fact that you are not home.

 Get your dog used to the things they will encounter when going for a vet visit. Practice gently moving your hands all over your dogs body and reward him for staying calm. You also need to get him ready to have his paws held and looked at, as well as his teeth examined. Ask your friends to help out, as well.

 Dont be ashamed to ask for help if your training program doesnt change your dogs behavior. Particularly if you are struggling to achieve the results you desire, professional help may be just what you need. Professional dog trainers know the ins and outs of this better than you. This may be what to takes to get your dog started on the right foot.

 A trick you could teach your dog is to hold something in his mouth, such as a toy. Get your dogs attention with a clicker and reward him with a snack when he tastes or mouths the toy. When this has happened several times, hold off until the dog grabs the toy with his or her mouth. As this happens, press the clicker and then offer the reward. Also, rewards should only be given if the toy remains in the dogs mouth.

 Your dog needs to be mentally stimulated just like a human does. Visit your local pet shop for new and entertaining toys for your dog on a regular basis. If you neglect your dog, your dog wont neglect to chew up your valuable possessions.

 Have fun with your dog each day when training. A sense of play brings you and your dog together. This bond makes the dog more responsive to your commands and training him easier. Having fun with your dog during training is one thing, but playing and having fun with your dog outside of training is also necessary.

 Keeping your dog active is an important part of successful dog training and is also good for their health. Dogs are not made to sit around. The happiest, healthiest dogs run and work. Run with your dog, take it to the park or teach it to play Frisbee. Do not allow your dog to become bored and keep it entertained by keeping it active.

 Any complicated or multistage task you would like to teach your dog should be broken down into steps. A great example of a teachable command is having your dog get the paper in the mornings. You will need to teach him or her how to hold something first. Next, he must learn the name of the object. After that, you should teach him how to take the object in his mouth. Then, he should give it to you. Breaking a task into small steps will make the information your dog has to process much more digestible and consequently, more easily accomplished.

 Keep your dog well exercised and active. Dogs can get bored easily. A bored dog will try and find something interesting to do, and training is not usually interesting. When your dog is exercised and is happy, training will be easier. Walk or run your dog frequently.

 You will find dogs are simply dogs. Allow for activities that let him be himself and have fun. Dogs need to eat well, a spacious run, and lots of toys and interesting things to occupy their time.

 As with any professional, research their reputation to verify that you are getting the best animal behavior specialist out there. There are a lot of different approaches taken by dog trainers concerning how to correctly train a dog. Understand the trainers philosophy so that you can be sure the trainers approach is similar with your own views of dog training.

 If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, you should encourage him to have connections with others. The dog must develop relationships with others in order to diffuse its unhealthy fixation with you.

 Dogs that have trouble with separation anxiety need to develop stronger relationships with others in your household. Allowing the dog to establish relationships with new people will lessen its dependence on the owner.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 It is hoped that you have found some guidance from these suggestions. Remember these tips as a guide to helping you train your dog, so both you and your dog will be very happy..

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Provide dog with activities

06.12 in activities, Dog, provide, with

You might have thought you had a good dog, but you could have ended up with a bad one. However, theres still hope! A bit of training goes a long way in reducing bad dog behavior.

Dogs need to play so always give your dog time to be a dog and to engage in normal canine behaviors. Feed your dog a balanced diet, give them space to run, and provide them with activities that will burn energy.

 Give your puppy his own toys that he can chew to remove pain due to teething, and keep him away from chewing other items. You need to replace that with a designated chew toy. Puppies sometimes chew objects while going through their teething phase. A wet cloth that has been frozen is perfect for them during this time.



 If you are welcoming a guest into your home, give them clear instructions about how to interact with your dog. These reactions may actually encourage dogs to jump up on your guests or attempt to dominate them.

 Many people are bitten by dogs because of their fears of that exact thing happening. The dog will feel fear if it is startled, trapped or feels threatened. While training your dog, you should avoid the use of excessive force. Doing so may result in injury to you. Your dog will be eager for your approval.

 Its important that your dog enjoy training and look forward to training sessions. Keep the sessions limited to 15 minutes or so to avoid the dog becoming disinterested and distracted. Vary your rewards. Give your dog a lot of praise when they do something right. When training is enjoyable, listening becomes a happy time, too.

 Playing tug-of-war with your puppy when you are working on training him is a bad idea. In addition to tug-of-war, games that involve wresting something away from your puppy or chasing each other in any respect, can entice the animal to bite or nip at your hands. You want to avoid having your puppy become accustomed to this behavior, so it is better to postpone these games until the dog is more mature and fully trained.

 Training your dog can help if your dog has a hard time being left alone. It is quite possible that if your dog frequently barks unceasingly or damages your belongings when you leave, he or she is actually suffering from separation anxiety. If you train your dog to stay busy when you are gone, it can help. While youre training your dog, its important to also show a great amount of love so your dog knows that everything is alright.

 Use consistency with training by making sure all members use commands that are the same. For instance, if your dog gets on the sofa and he hears you saying "get off," but your husband says "down boy", it may confuse your dog. As long as you use consistency, then your dog has a great chance of learning all of the tricks and behaviors that you wish.

 If you lack patience or cannon remain even-tempered during the training session, do not push forward. If you cannot focus on remaining patient when training your dog, it will quickly lose interest in what you are trying to teach.

 Pick a phrase you will say to your new puppy the whole time you are working on house training him. Every single time you take your pup to do his business, say something like "need to go out?". It does not matter the phrase you choose, as long as you keep it consistent. This will keep him focused, and will teach him to associate those words with the action of relieving himself.

 Feed your dog a healthy diet. Too many table scraps can unbalance your dogs diet. If your dog isnt getting what it needs to stay healthy, it could really struggle to find the energy for training or may act out in other ways. Something as simple as improving their diet can sometimes have a huge impact on how receptive they are to training.

 You cannot rush through the training process. Remember that all dogs have short attention spans and puppies even more so. A training session that wears your puppy out is going to turn into an unpleasant memory, making him less likely to respond well to subsequent sessions, and more inclined to ignore what you are trying to teach him.

 Your dog should know the difference between right and wrong at all times. This means everyone living in the house needs to enforce the boundaries you set. These inconsistencies can cause significant setbacks.

 If you prepare your dog for veterinary exams, it will help both you and your dog. Gently place your hands over its body, acknowledging your dog when he responds positively. Prepare your dog to accept someone handling his paws or looking at his teeth. Ask your friends to help out, as well.

 Remember to enjoy the time spent with your dog during training. Taking time to play creates a strong bond between the two of you, and your dog will be more likely to respond well to training. Training can be a fun experience, however, getting some enjoyment for yourself and the dog through play is a good thing.

 If you want to get rid of inappropriate chewing behaviors, you need to set up the dogs environment so that he will have fewer temptations. Additionally, make sure there is nothing that can pose as a threat to your chewing canine. Any objects which your dog could choke on or become entangled in should be kept out of reach.

 You do not want to use wee-wee pads when potty training your dog. The problem with the wee-wee pads is that they leak and leave enzymes from urine and feces behind. Potty pads can also mislead your dog into thinking that similarly shaped items throughout your home, like rugs, are appropriate places to go. Teaching your dog the appropriate place to go from the start is always the more practical idea.

 Do not tie a couple of dogs closely together. The dogs could get wrapped up and they may be injured. If one dog happens to be much larger than the other, the small dog could get tangled to the point that it could choke to death.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 It is not uncommon for dog owners to express surprise at the simplicity of weaving dog training efforts into daily life, and how fast they achieve great outcomes. So if you are looking to change any of your dogs wayward ways, try some of our tips for quick success!.

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To Training Your Dog With Effective Tips And Strategies

01.26 in and, Dog, effective, strategies, tips, to, training, with, your

Every dog requires training to some extent in order to learn what to do and of course, what not to do. These tips should help you train your dog.

Teach your puppy his or her name before you start to train him or her, as this creates a bond. Use his name frequently, and make clear that you want him to respond by coming to you when you call his name. There is no other word your puppy should be taught first. Make sure to spend time with your dog in order for him to learn and trust you. When you set this trust early on, the puppy will be more open to the next steps in training.



 Training is a great way to help your dog with separation anxiety. It is quite possible that if your dog frequently barks unceasingly or damages your belongings when you leave, he or she is actually suffering from separation anxiety. You need to take the time to train your dog to not engage in these undesirable behaviors while youre not home. A great way to ease your dogs anxiety is through love and compassion.

 Use the dogs name often when training to ensure that you have their attention. By using his name all the time in the first month of having our dog, he should associate his name with focusing on you. Choose a short name that is easily recognizable from other words.

 A wise tip in canine training is to always call the dog by his rightful name, rather than using any nickname or other deviation. To maintain control of your dog, you must be able to encourage a favorable response. Try this with your dog at least ten to twenty times. Avoid confusion by not calling your dog to you for punishment.

 Use the appropriate tone of voice when you are correcting your pet. Dogs tend to be well in tune with how their trainers are feeling. An appropriately stern tone can reinforce discipline.

 When training your dog never punish him; doing so will only make him be resistant to any further training. You should make every effort to prevent the behavior in the first place, but if your pet does misbehave, show him what he should have done instead. You should make training a time to interact with your dog, you want to build a positive relationship with him.

 You need to let your dog be a dog, so give him some time to burn off that energy. Your dog requires a healthy diet, room to exercise, and plenty of activities and toys to keep him or her busy.

 Communication is the basis for dog training. As you train and interact with your dog, you must be consistent and straightforward. This applies to corrections and rewards, as well as your body language, when training. Remember to always pay attention to the communication signals from your dog. The animal will usually let you know what he or she is feeling.

 In order to get your dog to obey you, it may be wise to take obedience classes. The obedience instructors can teach you a variety of ways to deal with issues such as your dog not listening, excessive barking, or disobedience toward commands.

 Ensure that your dog understands the rules. This means everyone living in the house needs to enforce the boundaries you set. This will quickly undo all of your hard work and training.

 Dont bog your puppy down with more information than he can process. You need to keep your training sessions short so that your puppy pays attention. If training sessions are too long, the puppy wont remember the specifics of the training session, just that is was grueling and exhausting. This will make it harder to train him next time.

 When house-breaking your puppy, choose a specific phrase to use when its time to go outdoors. When you take your dog out, repeat this command. This will help him form an association between being taken outside and doing his business.

 It is vital to train your dog when its still a puppy. Younger dogs learn more quickly and easier than older canines. Beginning your dogs training when he is still young will help him to be a well-behaved dog as he ages.

 Training your dog can be much easier if you use a crate. Use a consistent schedule for proper crate training of your dog. Over time, a dog that is properly crated trained is less prone to having accidents inside the home.

 Be sure to have your dog spayed or neutered at six months. You should do this at the same time you first take the dog to obedience training. A dog that has been spayed or neutered will be a more obedient dog. By spaying or neutering a dog he will have a longer happier life.

 A dog needs to be trained from the outset. The sooner you start training the dog the better, because they have not learned bad habits that you will have to correct. If you never give your dog any scraps from table food, they will never start begging for it.

 When you begin training your puppy, create a bond with him by first teaching him his name. Simply start by calling his name as often as possible. Once he learns his name, you can encourage him to come to you when called. Your dog should learn these items before any others as theyre the most important. Spend plenty of quality time with them, so that they know that they can trust you. In this way, he will be more receptive to advanced training later.

 Communication is one of the essential aspects of training your dog. Make sure you are clear and consistent when you are working with your dog. This means to be consistent not only with words, but with corrections and rewards. Be well aware that your dog is telling you something too. They will inform you of whether or not they are overworked, anxious, or having a great day.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Dogs that have received no training are likely to destroy your possessions and try your patience. If you use the advice in this article, you will be ready to teach your dog that skills will help the owner-pet relationship..

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Dog Behavior Down on the Farm Causes Issues With Owners

13.47 in behavior, causes, Dog, down, farm, issues, on, owners, the, with

My sidekick Poncho the dog and I received a dog behavior advice question from an inquisitive canine named Kia. This lucky dog lives on a lovely coffee farm in Hawaii where, in addition to the coffee, there are avocado trees and wild pigs.

Seems these environmental conditions have resulted in plentiful amounts of avocados for Kia to hunt and dine on, as well as piles of pig poop to roll in. Poncho, being an inquisitive canine, confirmed that this is the ideal place for a dog! I mean, how much fun is it to have your own "entertainment center" (aka: enrichment) right outside your front door? Snacks and one doggone fun activity such as rolling in nasty stinky stuff.

As you can see from these photos, Poncho likes to "rock n roll"

too! Maybe because hes smaller and easy for me to bathe I allow him to roll in whatever he finds appealing - as a matter of fact Ill use it as a reward if I can! I call these "environmental rewards" or "real life" rewards.

For instance when were out on a walk he sees something interesting and starts showing signs of wanting to roll. For Poncho this includes: lots of sniffing, followed by scratching the area with one of his front paws, more sniffing, scratching, then rubbing the side of his face against the surface. If he likes what hes "sensing" then he starts his rolling....

If hes on leash Ill ask for a behavior first, like "watch me", sit or "touch" - then Ill send him off to roll, after Ive given him his release cue of "okay". This allows Poncho to be a dog, but still minding his loose leash walking manners - as opposed to just pulling me wherever he wants.

The guardians of Kia can use this same training plan. Allow Kia to roll in the pig poop, but only when shes been given the cue to do so. (And shes had clearance from her veterinarian that its okay to roll in that stuff).

A few other training tips for both the rolling and avocado issue Id recommend are:

• Reward Kia every time she ignores an avocado or pile of stench. And I mean reward! More than just a “Good dog!” Set it up where you are actively walking Kia near to where these items are, and whenever she looks at one and ignores it, throw a party!
• If she goes towards either of these items, use the “Leave it!” cue, lure her away from whichever item you want her to ignore, then reward her.
• If Kia decides the item in question is more motivating, give her a “Time out!” penalty - put her on leash for 20 seconds or so. But then let her off leash so you can give her another chance to make the preferred choice.

Lastly, management of a dogs environment is key when setting him or her up for success! A farm filled with a bounty of avocados and piles of stinky stuff to roll in is an ideal place for total fun! Its unfair of us to expect they wouldnt want to go and explore, so we need to take the time to teach our dogs what we want in a way that he or she would understand.

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Travelling With Your Dog in A Car

05.07 in a, car, Dog, in, travelling, with, your

Travelling with your dog usually involves more than putting the them in a car and driving off, especially if you will be driving long distances or be away for a long time.

If your pet is not accustomed to the car, take it for a few short rides before the trip. This can help keep your pet from becoming nervous or agitated, and may lessen the effects of motion sickness. If, after a number of practice trips, your pet continues to cry excessively or becomes sick please contact Miranda or Jeff. 

Buckling up is an important safety precaution for your pet. Restraints have several advantages. They help protect pets in case of a crash, and they keep pets from running loose and distracting the driver. They also keep pets from escaping the car through an open window or door. Cats and smaller dogs are often most comfortable in crates or carriers, which can be purchased in various sizes. Crates give many dogs a sense of security and familiar surroundings, and can be secured to the car seat with a seat belt or a specially designed carrier restraint. There are also dogs restraints available that can be used without carriers, including harnesses, seat belt attachments and vehicle barriers. No matter what kind of restraint you use, be sure that it does not permit your pets head to extend outside the car window. If pets ride with their heads outside the car, particles of dirt can penetrate the eyes, ears, and nose, causing injury or infections. Excessive amounts of cold air taken into lungs can also cause illness.

While packing for your trip, remember to throw in a few of your pets favourite toys, food and water bowls, a leash, and food. You should also carry a first aid kit for your pet and know basic pet first aid. If your pet is on medication, be sure to have plenty for the trip, and then some.

Stick to your regular feeding routine while travelling, and give your pet its main meal at the end of the day or when youve reached your destination. It will be more convenient to feed dry food if your pet is used to it. Dispose of unused canned food unless it can be refrigerated. Take along a plastic jug of cold water to avoid possible stomach upset the first day, as new areas can have minerals or bacteria in their water supply that pets need time to adjust to. Give your pet small portions of both food and water and plan to stop every two hours for exercise/loo trips.

Remember that your vet is a good source of information about what your pet will need when travelling. Consider having your pet examined before you leave as well, to check for any developing problems. Have your current vets phone number handy in case of an emergency. Also, be sure to travel with a copy of your pets medical records, especially if the animal has a difficult medical history.

Find hotels, bed and breakfasts, and campsites that accept animals and book them ahead of time. Learn more about the area you will be visiting. Your vet can tell you if there are any diseases like heartworm or Lyme disease and vaccinations or medications your pets may require. If travelling outside of the UK your pet may require a pet passport. A health examination following your trip should be considered to determine if any internal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, heartworms) or external parasites (ticks, fleas) were picked up in contaminated exercise or wooded areas.

To avoid losing your pet during a trip, make sure your pet is wearing an i.d. tag. To be doubly protected, consider having your pet tattooed or having a microchip implanted.

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Food Stuffing Type Dog Toys What the heck do I do with this thing

18.15 in do, Dog, food, heck, i, stuffing, the, thing, this, toys, type, what, with

You may have purchased one of those great interactive food stuffing toys for your dog, right? Maybe one of those red cone-shaped ones from the Kong Company? And you put some of your dogs kibble with a little peanut butter in it, gave it to him or her, and left it at that. But what now? What else can you do with it? OMG theres just SO much! As a matter of fact, I teach an entire class on stuffing food toys, and other types of "enrichment" at my inquisitive canine studio. 

I love feeding my own dog Poncho out of these, and other "interactive" food toys. He enjoys eating his meals out of them as well - I can tell because he goes into his "whirling dervish" mode every time I get one out of the freezer...yes, the freezer - hes at what I call "University Level". Pre-school would be dry kibble topped off with a little wet food. 

The Kong Company is nice enough to supply you with lots of tips and advice on great ways to use your dogs Kong toys. For me, I like coming up with my own "recipes" (okay, I think of them more of concoctions) with anything and everything that is either leftover from me and my hubby, or whatever I find in the fridge that needs to be eaten. 

Because the Kongs are relatively small on the inside, you arent able to put an entire meal in just one. So, like we humans have sets of dishes, I have purchased a few Kongs of the same size and consider them Ponchos "dishes". I might just give him one, along with his other favorite food toy the Tricky Treat Ball. And of course he gets his veggies in his bowl - there are some veggies in his Kong mixture, but most of them end up in his bowl...I think the veggies are the only thing Ill feed him from his bowl. 

Okay, so what all do I put in it? And how do I do it? Simple...for the easiest "recipe" I combine the following ingredients*:

• Kibble (high quality like Solid Gold or Wellness)
• Canned wet food (high quality like Solid Gold or Wellness)
• Leftover veggies: canned pumpkin, zucchini, asparagus, bell peppers, carrots, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, summer squash etc...and anything else that might be around that he likes.
• Fruit: apples, pears, berries (or whatever is around that he likes)
• Grains: leftover brown rice, whole wheat pasta, couscous, quinoa, sweet and regular potatoes...and anything else leftover that he likes. 
• Meat: scraps of whatever we have leftover
• Dairy: plain non-fat yoghurt

I mix it all together, making sure there is enough kibble (which has many of Ponchos doggy specific required nutrients) and wet stuff to make it the consistency of a human type chicken salad. I add a little chicken broth or water to thin it out a bit. Then, I cover and refrigerate it overnight. This way, the kibble soaks up the water from the veggies etc...makes it a little stiffer, for easier stuffing. 

Now Im ready to prepare Ponchos meals. I take one of his Kong toys, and using a small fork or spoon, I fill it tightly with his "casserole". I then wrap it in plastic wrap, and put it in the freezer. This way, I can make a whole bunch of them, and keep them for when I need them. When theyre frozen, it takes him longer to go through one...instead of gulping down a meal in 10 seconds!

If youre just starting out, youll want to have your dog go through all the "stages" - beginners level (pre-school) to "University". If you start with a more difficult level, your dog might get frustrated and not want anything to do with it. Making it easy gets him or her conditioned to loving their Kong. They begin to associate the toy with more excitement than just the food itself. Its a fun game for them - plus again, this action taps into their predatory drive, and gives them something to do! 

Here are some "level of difficulty" suggestions, which are based upon how quickly your dog can get the food out:

1. Beginner: dry kibble (can add in some dry treats to make it extra tasty and enticing), top off hole with wet food.
2. Intermediate I: mix kibble with a little wet food, add any leftovers you want, loosely pack it - you still want to make it easy for food to come out. 
3. Intermediate II: kibble, wet food, any leftovers you want to add, pack it tight. 
4. Advanced: Freeze it! Initially you can thaw it partially before giving it to your dog, so as not to make it too difficult. 

Remember: there are some foods that are not healthy or safe for your dog - check with your vet if you are unsure. If youre dog has never had a Kong, its best to supervise until you know he or she know how to "use it". 

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Playdate with Jack Fiesta Island

03.06 in Dog, fiesta, island, jack, playdate, with

Jack strikes a nobel pose. 

Haha! Splashed ya!

 Splash does her imitation of a Golden Retriever. 

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Obamas in the doghouse with rescue groups

21.48 in Dog, doghouse, groups, in, obamas, rescue, the, with

Well its finally happened... the First Family received their "First Dog", Bo, a six-month-old Portuguese water dog. A "gift" from Senator Edward Kennedy. Hmm, interesting. My paranoid self immediate thought: Ruh-roh, Kennedy curse? Okay, maybe a bit too paranoid. But then my thoughts jumped to "Nice political spin there boys!"

According to the L.A. Times article, Senator Kennedy took the dog from a family who could no longer care for it, had it trained by his trainers, and thought the dog would be perfect for the Obamas. Really? Was this all just coincidental? Am I, this little ol dog trainer, the only critical thinker (albeit skeptical) about how this whole situation panned out? 

The Obamas had been going back and forth between breeder and rescue. Being the liberal democrats they are, they were really making us rescue supporters believe they were going to go the shelter route... but this just seems a tad too convenient. The perfect way for them to get their purebred dog, without hurting anyones feelings :-) Oh, and the final kicker, is that to make up for not adopting from a shelter, the Obamas will make a donation to their local D.C Humane Society. Nice spin...Well, what were we expecting? It is politics ya know. 

Lets at least hope he chooses more modern, humane, reward-based training techniques like the ones we use at the Inquisitive Canine, versus the old fashioned stuff - theres no way to put a favorable spin on that! 

Oh, and changing the name to Bo. Sweet that the girls named him after their grandfathers nickname, but IMO, a one syllable name that sounds like "no"? Well, hopefully theyll be using the former more than the latter. Or, maybe they can add "Diddley" onto it...just to keep the confusion to a minimum. 

Regardless, at least the pup has a nice home...and a loving family...and a great yard! Plus, ya gotta admit, those secret service guys and gals are perfect for puppy socialization. 

Hail to the Chief - DOG! 

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Help During the Grieving Process With the Loss of a Beloved Pet

21.12 in a, beloved, Dog, during, grieving, help, loss, of, pet, process, the, with

My friend Colleen Mihelich is an animal lover and pet loss expert who founded Peternity - a company dedicated to helping others celebrate the life and love of their furry friends. She also has the wonderful and informative Peternity blog, where she offers heartfelt stories, along with enlightening guidance on how to cope when you do lose a beloved pet. I know I dread the day, but I am comforted knowing she will be there for me if and when that day comes.

One of her latest posts was on Pet Loss Tips for Getting Through the Holidays. A few pet loss grieving tips she talked about were:

• How to spend your time.
• How to help others while helping yourself grieve.
• How to honor your pet.
• How to deal with your emotions.

After reading through the content, Id say one can use this information any time of the year - although, I know the holidays can be quite tough - especially since our non-human family members mean so much to us.

To read more about pet grieving tips from Colleen, please click here to see the Peternity blog post - You can also check out her Peternity website to share, heal, and help - both yourself and others.

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This Inquisitive Canine Now Soaring Proudly With NOOZHAWK!

13.04 in canine, Dog, inquisitive, noozhawk, now, proudly, soaring, this, with

Wow! Talk about exciting and completely positively rewarding! My rambling, opinionated, common sense,  and dare I say slightly smart-aleck mouth (and fingers) has proven to be an advantage once again! Yep, thats right! Im expanding outside the world of blogging and adding the very informative, local, online news Web site Noozhawk to my ventures - in a new column called "Ask the Trainer"...

Since a young girl my mother had encouraged me to speak up, take risks, take a chance (as long as I was safe - nothing crazy or illegal mind you), and "go for it". She would say "Whats the worst that could happen, someone might say no?" Well, I admit it sort of backfired in junior high when I asked a boy to a dance, but finally, after all these years, it worked for me! Someone said "yes"!

It all started when the very smart, business savvy, and open-minded Chris Donahue first made contact with me... Although he had called to inquire about something unrelated, I decided to take a chance and ask if he and the publisher/owner of Noozhawk Bill Macfayden, would be interested in a "dog behavior advice column"? Id always wanted to take the Q&A moments from my everyday dog trainer/coach life, and put it out there for the whole world to see. 

Along with my moms voice in my head, there were Lorrie Thomass and Emilia Doerrs voices in my head too... theyve encouraged me to "own my expertise" and "sell it!" - talk about great Web Marketing Therapy! 

So thanks to all of them, and my desire to share my advice and opinions with the world, I am now the proud writer of the Noozhawk pet column "Ask the Trainer"! The column will run on Fridays and repeat Saturdays. If you have any specific training and behavior questions about your dog, or a dog you know, or a dog youre thinking of getting, please feel free to write to me - your question just might end up on Noozhawk! 

Wishing you all the self confidence you need to own your expertise, in whatever you do! 

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Why dont clients see improvements with behavioural modification plans

06.35 in behavioural, clients, Dog, dont, improvements, modification, plans, see, why, with

There is a common statement that clients will often make in their first consultation or I will over hear at shows, in pet shops and at the park etc that "nothing has worked for their dog". That their behaviour could not be changed or that the training they were given was incorrect, of a low standard, their dog is too naughty or doesnt listen.

Whilst there are some behaviours that are very hard to change, all behaviours can be altered in some way to some extent. These changes are very possible but they require a few things from the people training them.

• A desire to change the behaviour in their dog that is strong enough that they will change their own lifestyle and routines and of course the ability for the owner to do this. 
• A dedication to changing the behaviour that will last as long as the dog lives.
• Hard work and practise.  

Whenever you try to change behaviour it takes time, regular practise and the dedication to keep practising for as long as it takes. In some cases this will be forever.

Having recently embarked on training my dog a new discipline that I have never before attempted and also making the decision that in order to do this I will need to get fit it has really been made clear to me why so many people fail to change their dogs behaviours to the extent they desire.

Training to get fit takes real dedication, committing to regular exercise, forever. Pushing yourself harder and possibly changing your routines and diet to fit with your new way of life. Without this you will not get fit, or you will get a degree of fitness but not what you could ultimately achieve. Of course there is also the fact that if you stop training you will again become unfit.

Training a dog to perform the required behaviours really well also takes all these things. The bigger change you require the more dedication it will take. The things that are required are:

• Real dedication to run through training exercises and situational training every day. 

• To train in alternative and new behaviour that is incompatible with the behaviour you want to change or stop. To keep that behaviour strong by practising it every day.

• To proof the new behaviours so the dog will do them regardless of how hard the situation they find themselves in or what ever distractions are thrown at them.  

• To be ready change personal routines and those of your dog, your expectations for your life with the dog (i.e. that it wont be the easy ride you had anticipated), to realise that the changes you make and the training you commit to will be life long.

In short many people do not or cannot dedicate enough resources to altering their dogs behaviours and thus do not make the improvements they seek. Whilst the right advice and coaching cannot be ignored, it is only effective if the advice and techniques are followed and more importantly practised. 

A great trainer will guide a client through these processes, explaining what is required, talking about how to make changes, what solutions are possible. Teach the client how to train the dog so they can practise, teach the client coping mechanisms for when things dont go to plan. Showing the client how to build on successes and improve the behaviour all the time till the client feels safe, happy and in control.  Make sure they motivate and inspire their clients to keep going because the persistence of trying with the right techniques and support is essential. 

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With These Tips Teach Your Dog New Tricks

07.35 in Dog, new, teach, these, tips, tricks, with, your

When you first meet your dog, chances are he didnt show his true colors and may have come to you with a few "problems". Dont worry, with proper techniques even the worst dog can learn to be well behaved.

Keeping your dog active is an important part of successful dog training and is also good for their health. Dogs are not made to sit around. Dogs need to run around and do activities with their owners to be at their best. Try enrolling in an agility course, going for a run, or practicing Frisbee skills with your dog. Do not let your dog get bored, but keep it moving as much as you can.



 Everyone in the family should follow the same rules when addressing your dog. For example, if your dog were to jump on the table and you say "off!" but another family member says "get down!", these conflicting commands will just confuse the dog. Having everyone on the same page when it comes to command usage will make training much easier, more successful and be far more pleasant for your dog.

 If you want to keep your dog trim and healthy, keep an eye on how many reward snacks you give him while training him. Many people overlook treats when considering the animals diet, but they certainly add up, especially during active training.

 When teaching your dog not to chew on things that are not toys, you should try to facilitate success. Furthermore, a dog that chews inappropriately needs to be kept away from danger. Items such as nylons, hairbrushes, as well as other common chewable, yet dangerous household items, can be a danger for your dog. He can choke easily, so watch out for them.

 Dogs should never be tied up close to each other. This is due to the fact that they could become tangled in each others cords and end up injuring themselves when trying to get free. It can even be fatal if you tie a large dog up with a small dog, and the large dog ends up getting a chain wrapped around the small dogs neck.

 Your dog should not get a cold voice from you because of a personal conflict with another human or the fact you got stuck in traffic. Remember: if your dog has not done something wrong immediately beforehand, your interactions should always be positive.

 Prepare your dog early on for veterinary examinations. Press your hands firmly over his body in the same manner that the vet will and offer him encouraging praise. Practice handling both paw and teeth exams, by examining between the paw pads and lifting the dogs jowls. You might want to ask your buddies to assist you in the process.

 If your dog suddenly starts misbehaving out of the blue, it is best to bring him to the vet so any health problems can be ruled out. An animal that is in pain is liable to act out in ways they would normally never behave. This is your dogs way of seeking help with a potential problem.

 You should never tether two dogs in close proximity to one another. The restraints for each dog can become tangled and in an effort to free themselves, they can be injured. If one dog is larger than the other, it could accidentally tangle the cord around the smaller dogs neck, causing it to become unable to breath, and possibly die.

 You may have to consult a professional when training your dog. When your dog training is going poorly, a professional can help out. A dog trainer can be invaluable in pointing out where the issues are occurring, and they can also put you back onto the right track.

 It is important to get your dog trained to walk nicely on his leash. Learning to walk properly on his leash will keep you both safe when you are outdoors.

 Do not neglect to make a visit to the vet for a spay or neuter around the six month mark. You should have him or her spayed or neutered along with taking him or her to obedience classes. You dont want hormones to interfere with the learning process. You and your pet will enjoy a longer and happier life together.

 Tell your friends and guests how to behave with your dog. These things can cause a dog to attempt to establish dominance and maybe even jump on guests.

 Many dog bites come from a source of fear. This happens when a dog feels frightened, threatened, and trapped. Force is not necessary to train a dog, and should never be used. If you do this, you may get bitten. A dogs main purpose in life is to please you, as he regards you as his leader.

 Using a variety of goodies for reward purposes while training is sometimes the best method. These treats should be easily distinguishable from the common biscuit variety you may give your dog on a regular basis as special achievements in training merit special edibles in reward.

 Everyone in the family should follow the same rules when addressing your dog. Its confusing to the dog when one person uses the phrase "get off" and someone else says "down boy" to mean the same thing. If all members of the family use the same commands, training your dog will be much more easier.

 Use your dogs name often to ensure you have its attention. Use it constantly in the first few weeks that you have your dog: your puppy should associate this sound with paying attention to you. Choose a shorter name that can stand out from other terms.

 Most dogs are eager to please and respond better to rewards than punishment. You need to demonstrate proper behavior, then work with your dog over time and reward him when he does the right thing. This is the best way to teach your dog new tricks. Show your pet the right way through rewards and repetition.

 Give your dog new challenges often. Make sure you quiz him on the stuff he knows, so he stays on his toes.

 Always use your dogs name when you need his attention. To have some good control over your dog, a solid response is crucial. Call them to you at least ten times a day. Try to avoid punishing your dog when it comes to you after you call out its name while using this technique.

 As you read at the start of this article, people have numerous reasons to train your dog. Nothing pleases a dog more than when he pleases you, and a well-trained dog is a delight to be around. This article, hopefully, provided you with some suggestions on how to train your dog well.

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Suggestions on getting started with dog training

12.26 in Dog, getting, on, started, suggestions, training, with

If you have never owned a dog before, the process of dog training may seem to be an impossible task. There is so much information available on training dogs that its easy to become completely overloaded with no idea of where to begin. Below, you will find some suggestions on getting started with dog training.

Most dogs are eager to please and respond better to rewards than punishment. You must first show your dog what you expect them to do and then repeat the process until they get it. This is the most effective way to modify a dogs behavior or teach him a trick. You must show them through repetition and reward.



 Challenge your dog often. Provide your dog with fun ways to "quiz" it in order to ensure that it hasnt lost past training.

 Never punish your dog while trying to train him. Taking preventative measures to avoid the occurrence of a bad behavior to begin with is always best, however, if your dog does get out of line, demonstrate how it should have been done rather than scolding him. Training your dog is a great way to develop a positive relationship with him.

 Learn alternatives to treats as positive reinforcement when training your dog. Treats do work for teaching a new behavior. However, you may not always have a treat with you to congratulate you dog outside of regular training sessions. Verbal praise and physical affection, such as hugs and petting, can be just as effective as treats to reinforce any desired behavior when training your dog.

 Include plenty of physical activity in your dogs training routine. Dogs can get bored easily. A bored dog will try and find something interesting to do, and training is not usually interesting. It is easier for your dog to focus if he is happy and well exercised. A long walk or a brisk run are great ways to get rid of some of your dogs excess energy.

 Anxiety is frequently the cause of destructive chewing behavior. Give your dogs something they are allowed to chew on like a toy or treat, and put them in their kennel while you are away.

 During the dog training process, it is a good idea to use various treats as rewards for your dogs good behavior. Do not use the treats that you would give your dog day to day. They should be specific to training and ensuring the feeling of being rewarded for something specific. The dog will also be more likely to obey if they know they will receive something special.

 Your dog should be happy with everyone in your home so he does not suffer from separation anxiety. The dogs relationships to other people serve to dilute its unhealthy level of dependence and fixation on you that causes it so much grief.

 When possible, puppy training is the most effective form of dog training. This is not a hard and fast rule, but young dogs do respond better to training. When you train your dog as a puppy, he will be a well-behaved dog throughout his life.

 It is important to take your dog on a rather long walk if you plan on being gone for several hours. If your dog is exhausted, he wont experience as much anxiety when you leave.

 Any introductions to new animals should be made very slowly. Give your own pet great consideration before bringing another animal into the house. You can boost bonding efforts by getting a new pet that has a complimentary personality to your own.

 Try not to take your stress out on your dog by yelling at it because of your bad day or bad mood. Unless your dog has done something that warrants scolding, you should always take on a positive tone during your interactions.

 A first step to training a puppy is get him used to hearing his name. Call him using his name and teach him how to respond when called. Your puppys name should be one of its first words learned. Its important that the time spent with your puppy is quality time. Spend your time playing with your puppy. This way he will get to know you quicker and will begin to trust you faster. The puppy will be more open to more training down the line.

 Mentally stimulating your dog is important to its health and happiness. Frequent outside walks, chew toys and even healthy snacks offer great options for entertaining your dog. Any dog who is bored will find a number of ways to amuse himself and spend his time, such as chomping your favorite pair of shoes or digging up your prized botanical collection!

 You can rest assured that when you train your puppy, they may have an accident in the house. Immediately clean up every accident for training purposes. Carpets are known to trap the smell of urine and encourage the dog to return to that spot for further marking. Buy a product specially designed to neutralize odors.

 Dont start a training session if you dont think youll be calm and patient throughout. If you cannot focus on remaining patient when training your dog, it will quickly lose interest in what you are trying to teach.

 Continuously maintain all training that you have done with your dog, and consider adding new behaviors as you go. Do not believe that just because you dog has graduated from obedience school that training is complete. However, pets are ruled by habits, structure and routine in much that same way that humans are. Its important to be consistent with the rules for your dog.

 Although a harness is more comfortable for dogs, it does not offer as much control as a cinch-type collar. Keep your dog on his harness, but also use your cinching collar. Tug on his collar when its absolutely necessary, and your dog will soon learn how to obey wearing the harness alone.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 By following these tips, you should have a better understanding of how to train your dog. Putting these tips into action while training your pup can help the two of you forge a wonderful ongoing relationship..

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Doggie Birthday Party with Trix!

13.22 in birthday, Dog, doggie, party, trix, with

Kiko and I did a tricks lesson at a doggie birthday party at a dog park yesterday.  Louis the Maltese turned 1 !  It was loads of fun, and surprisingly not too chaotic, with about 30 dogs off leash.  Hootie the Pug won the tricks contest with his awesome version of "Crawl".  It was a hard to choose a winner as all the dogs in the contest rocked!  We also did an agility obstacle coarse.

Louis showing everone how to do "targeting"

Dance Dance Dance!

Mini Agility Obstacle Course!

"Tunnel anyone?"

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How to Fade A Lure when training with food

23.10 in a, Dog, fade, food, how, lure, to, training, when, with

1 Get RID of the lure as soon as you can! The goal is within 3 trials. 

2 If you dont have a clicker use a very short word like "yes!" or "yep!" 

3 Always make it harder and harder, dont get stuck at the same level of criteria

4 If you go to far to quickly you can always go back a step

5 If your dog is not following the lure, get a smellier lure- real meat!

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USE DOG TRAINING TO BOND WITH YOUR DOG

22.08 in bond, choosen, collar, Dog, for, have, puppy, right, the, to, training, use, with, you, your

USE DOG TRAINING TO BOND WITH YOUR DOG

Owning a dog that can carry out antics and is very docile and well trained is a pleasure and delight of every dog owner. Owning a dog that in reality pays attention, hangs on to each word and abides by its master would surely be appreciated and awarded. This would firmly strengthen the bond. What’s more, a dog well trained knows the way to “socialize” properly with people and other dogs.

Dogs are one of the most cherished pets in every part of the world. They are well received in more homes than any other domestic animal ever. Though they are in general affectionate, devoted and faithful, they can be taught to be more compliant. A well trained and well behaved dog is more cherished in any family and is shown more affection and consideration. The times you spent with each other performing antics and teaching equals to a connection that grows deeper each day.
You will definitely feel secure in taking your dog just about anyplace, to the park, vacations, beach, if you know that they will be conducting properly.

Getting to Know How your Dog Feels

Though animals are not thought to be as refined mentally as humans are, people can make the change. Dog training permits us to comprehend how the dog experiences and behaves.

Dogs are group animals, they fit in to groups and require a head, and we will be their person in charge. In dog training we will gain knowledge of how to behave like their head and tell them what to do. When we have set up our role as their “pack leader”, the admiration and faithfulness follows next.

But apart from that, our dog is a member of our family, as each member of the family has their part to play, so does the dog. A dog training sitting would let your dog be aware of his or her part and tasks. In getting to know this, every one would be happy to co-exist with one another furnishing a good atmosphere and a strong joyful bond.

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Preparing yourself with some good advice

09.19 in advice, Dog, good, preparing, some, with, yourself

When you decide its time to train your dog, its very common to be a bit lost. Good dog-training skills come naturally to very few people. In order to train your pet properly, preparing yourself with some good advice is an excellent idea. This article contains good guidelines for several different aspects of dog training.

If any sudden behavioral issue occurs, take the dog to the vet to make sure that there is not a health issue involved. Sometimes pain and other health conditions can cause some animals to act strangely or lash out. Animals cant tell us when something is wrong, so they depend on us to interpret their behaviors.



 Giving your dog mental stimulation is an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy. Visit your local pet shop for new and entertaining toys for your dog on a regular basis. Bored dogs will often turn to chewing furniture, shoes or even drywall, to amuse themselves if they are not given proper stimulation.

 Use your dogs name whenever you are offering it a treat. This will direct his attention to you immediately every time, and especially right before you issue a command. Use your dogs name several times a day. If you need to punish your dog, go to your dog. Dont call him or her to you and then punish.

 To learn how to effectively train your dog, you may want to take an obedience class. The instructors at these schools are trained to deal with a variety of different dogs, even the impossible cases. They can teach a dog to follow commands, heel on a leash and to stop any unnecessary barking.

 Anxiety in dogs often leads to destructive behavior like chewing or clawing. Placing the dog in a safe environment such as a dog crate and providing a chew toy keeps the dog safe and occupied until your return.

 Most cases associated to dog bites result from fear. This occurs whenever dogs feel trapped, threatened, and frightened. Dogs cannot be trained through force. This makes your dog more likely to bite. Your dog will be ready and willing to regard you as the dominant one.

 Dogs tend to concentrate on one thing to the exclusion of everything else unless that concentration is interrupted. With enough training, you will have your dog focusing solely on your signals.

 Once you decide to train your dog, it is very important that you continue with the training no matter what. Without reinforcement, your dog will revert to his old behaviors. You always need to keep training your dog, just like you need to continue feeding it and providing it shelter.

 Avoid tug-of-war games when training a puppy. These games often encourage a puppy to start biting. Dont let this behavior take root by avoiding these games until the dog is older.

 If your dog chews things when you leave him in the house alone, consider building a doghouse and leaving him outside when you go out. When this is not possible due to weather or living in an urban area, close your doors to all of your rooms. This keeps your dog out of your things. Be sure to leave chew toys out for them.

 Always give your dog the tools for success. If you are training it to stop chewing things it shouldnt be chewing on, give it things that it can chew on. In addition, keep the household objects that could be dangerous away from your pet. Items like hairbrushes can cause a dog to choke or could block their airway.

 Training should be done when the dog is young. This is not concrete, but it is known that puppies respond easier to training. If you start training your dog when he is young, he will be almost as well-behaved as a child.

 Remember how many treats you reward your dog with during the course of the day to avoid fattening him up. A lot of people forget to account for treats given during training when considering a dogs diet plan.

 Stay consistent when training your dog. Write down the commands that you use and then make sure each person who needs to know them does. Behavior should be rewarded or not depending on the affect that is being sought. When the people around the dog use different commands and responses, he may become confused and training could suffer.

 Teach everyone in your family to use the same commands to train your dog. Avoid confusion when it comes to disciplining your dog; keep command words consistent throughout the household. Using consistent commands all the time from every person who trains the dog will make training much less confusing for the dog.

 Using a clicker can help them behave better. Using a clicker is simple. Use it to make a good association between the noise and when something good occurs. Try clicking and treating immediately, and doing this several times over a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 To help you train your dog you should know what kinds of foods your dog likes to eat. Since these will be the rewards for good behavior when you are training the dog, it should be something that really motivates him. Make note of your dogs reaction when the reward is offered.

 Behavior problems that suddenly occur with no reason may indicate a medical problem that needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. This behavior may be his way of telling you that there is something wrong with him.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 Since you now have what you need, you can use this information to properly train your dog. If youve struggled to determine the right place to start your training efforts, you now have a clear answer..

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TRAINING YOUR PUPPY TO SIT

17.57 in bond, Dog, puppy, sit, to, training, use, with, your

TRAINING YOUR PUPPY TO SIT

A badly trained dog is an annoyance and can even be a threat to himself and others. A correctly trained dog, on the other had, is a fantastic and enjoyable buddy. In addition to assisting you to bond, it can even shield your pet from being harmed if he pays attention and will come when called.

When teaching always keep in mind that dogs react best to encouraging backing– shouting at your dog and beating him will not get done the job, in its place use rewards such as goodies and your appreciation – this will make the job much more enjoyable for both of you!

There is a general “process” to teaching, no matter what you want the dog to do. They solution is to get the dog to carry out the act and at that precise instant give the instruction for the act, then commend the dog and reward him with a goody. After a while, he will get the message and connect the act with the instruction.

Given below some ways you can make use of to teach your dog with the most fundamental instruction – Sit.

1. The first thing you have to do is to get your puppy or dog to connect the action of sitting with the instruction. To do this, merely spend time with your dog and when he sits give the “sit” instruction.

2. Going down to your dog’s height will let you to give his reward (goodies) faster so take hold of a handful of bite sized goodies and got down on the floor.

3. Take the goody up above the dog’s head. He will smell the food and go behind it with his nose. This act will compel him to sit - or backup, but apparently we are hopeful for the sitting act.

4. The solution to the teaching is to give the reward at the precise instant the dog sits, but you have got to also give the instruction at that instant as well so that he links instruction with act. Hence when your dog sits, you should say “sit”, following it up by right away giving him the goody.

5. Shower praise on your dog – demonstrate delight in your voice; this will actually make him act in response.

6. Go over three to five times at each sitting but no more than that. Training should be enjoyable and not an uninteresting odd job, so do not go over the top with it in one sitting. You might have more than a few sittings all through the day.

When you use up the time to teach your dog, you get much more than just a dog that does a number of antics. He is keen to do things with you. He grasps to pay attention when you say his name. He gets accustomed to being with you and doing things on your command. Through fine training your stance as a person in charge is made stronger. You ought to arrange to use up a couple of minutes every day on working his “tricks”. This sort of recurring reinforcement will help him to keep in mind and in addition generate the bond between you and him.

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First 2 Weeks with a puppy

02.46 in 2, a, Dog, first, puppy, weeks, with

My new puppy is a terrier/chi mix. He is about 20 weeks old, 5 months. 

His pre existing issues were-

separation anxiety

house training

Timid with handling 

SO most of our training has been building the crate as a safe and wonderful place to be, as well as counter conditioning to me leaving the room while he is in the crate or loose.  

His initial behavior to being left alone for 10 minutes the second day that I had him was barking and howling and peeing and pooping in the crate and smearing it around on the crate walls with his paws.  Now after 2 weeks of tons of training, he settles and sleeps, and the other day I had to lure him out with a treat!  So I am very happy with how that is going!

The puppy hates grass, so I have also spend long hours standing in the yard patiently waiting.  The patience has paid off! :) 

Handling exercises 

What issues he didnt have but would be very important for  a new puppy in the first two weeks would be-

1- Restraint games

2- Reinforcing calmness rather than mouthing and biting 

3- Bite Inhibition

The first games we have been playing in these two weeks are-

1- default leave it from treats and bait bag while not working

2- positive interrupter/attention noise (I can call him away from playing with my other dogs already with the kissy noise)

3- Recalls

4- * Counter conditioning to handling!!!! * (the puppy was very hand shy)

5- Confidence on different surfaces using counter conditioning

6- How to follow a treat lure- (he would just pounce on my hand like it was prey rather than just follow it like a lure)

7- Crate games

8- Mat games

9- Settle

10- Loose leash walking

11- Touch with nose

12- Targeting with front paws

13- Building the tug and toys as secondary reinforcers

14- Basics of fetch

I constantly reinforce calmness and wonderful interactions with my other dogs, and interrupt him with the positive interrupter when play starts to get too aroused.  

So far so good!  

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Spend time with your dog

16.04 in Dog, spend, time, with, your

Every dog requires training to some extent in order to learn what to do and of course, what not to do. These tips should help you train your dog.

Teach your puppy his or her name before you start to train him or her, as this creates a bond. Use his name frequently, and make clear that you want him to respond by coming to you when you call his name. There is no other word your puppy should be taught first. Make sure to spend time with your dog in order for him to learn and trust you. When you set this trust early on, the puppy will be more open to the next steps in training.



 Training is a great way to help your dog with separation anxiety. It is quite possible that if your dog frequently barks unceasingly or damages your belongings when you leave, he or she is actually suffering from separation anxiety. You need to take the time to train your dog to not engage in these undesirable behaviors while youre not home. A great way to ease your dogs anxiety is through love and compassion.

 Use the dogs name often when training to ensure that you have their attention. By using his name all the time in the first month of having our dog, he should associate his name with focusing on you. Choose a short name that is easily recognizable from other words.

 A wise tip in canine training is to always call the dog by his rightful name, rather than using any nickname or other deviation. To maintain control of your dog, you must be able to encourage a favorable response. Try this with your dog at least ten to twenty times. Avoid confusion by not calling your dog to you for punishment.

 Use the appropriate tone of voice when you are correcting your pet. Dogs tend to be well in tune with how their trainers are feeling. An appropriately stern tone can reinforce discipline.

 When training your dog never punish him; doing so will only make him be resistant to any further training. You should make every effort to prevent the behavior in the first place, but if your pet does misbehave, show him what he should have done instead. You should make training a time to interact with your dog, you want to build a positive relationship with him.

 You need to let your dog be a dog, so give him some time to burn off that energy. Your dog requires a healthy diet, room to exercise, and plenty of activities and toys to keep him or her busy.

 Communication is the basis for dog training. As you train and interact with your dog, you must be consistent and straightforward. This applies to corrections and rewards, as well as your body language, when training. Remember to always pay attention to the communication signals from your dog. The animal will usually let you know what he or she is feeling.

 In order to get your dog to obey you, it may be wise to take obedience classes. The obedience instructors can teach you a variety of ways to deal with issues such as your dog not listening, excessive barking, or disobedience toward commands.

 Ensure that your dog understands the rules. This means everyone living in the house needs to enforce the boundaries you set. This will quickly undo all of your hard work and training.

 Dont bog your puppy down with more information than he can process. You need to keep your training sessions short so that your puppy pays attention. If training sessions are too long, the puppy wont remember the specifics of the training session, just that is was grueling and exhausting. This will make it harder to train him next time.

 When house-breaking your puppy, choose a specific phrase to use when its time to go outdoors. When you take your dog out, repeat this command. This will help him form an association between being taken outside and doing his business.

 It is vital to train your dog when its still a puppy. Younger dogs learn more quickly and easier than older canines. Beginning your dogs training when he is still young will help him to be a well-behaved dog as he ages.

 Training your dog can be much easier if you use a crate. Use a consistent schedule for proper crate training of your dog. Over time, a dog that is properly crated trained is less prone to having accidents inside the home.

 Be sure to have your dog spayed or neutered at six months. You should do this at the same time you first take the dog to obedience training. A dog that has been spayed or neutered will be a more obedient dog. By spaying or neutering a dog he will have a longer happier life.

 Although there are many benefits to using a harness, you will have less control over your dog than if he is wearing a cinch collar. Keep your dog on his harness, but also use your cinching collar. Tug on his collar when its absolutely necessary, and your dog will soon learn how to obey wearing the harness alone.

 You should not initiate a training session unless you are in a calm and patient mood. Be patient when training your puppy, so you can both stay focused.

 Communication is one of the essential aspects of training your dog. Make sure you are clear and consistent when you are working with your dog. This means to be consistent not only with words, but with corrections and rewards. Be well aware that your dog is telling you something too. They will inform you of whether or not they are overworked, anxious, or having a great day.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Dogs that have received no training are likely to destroy your possessions and try your patience. If you use the advice in this article, you will be ready to teach your dog that skills will help the owner-pet relationship..

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