Posts Tagged ‘classes’
Tue ,02/03/2010
The most crucial fact about puppies and dogs that owners must recognize is that dogs are pack animals and the person must set up authority. You, the owner, are the “pack leader” and you must act the part.
A new puppy will intuitively spend a big amount of time trying to figure out where they fit in the pecking order of their new home. They do this by trying to establish their own control. A few breeds have more forceful personalities such as the terriers or Chihuahuas. Other breeds are more naturally acquiescent.
As soon as your puppy comes home you need to help him learn his place in the hierarchy. All of the individual members of the family are above him in the “pecking order” and he needs to be aware of that fact. This is not reprimand at all and dogs actually prefer to be subservient to their owners. If your dog is to become content and well-behaved member of your household this hierarchy must be established.
In order to create the dominance you must go along with a few simple rules. Otherwise your puppy will be receiving mixed signals and it will be more demanding for you to train him and he will be confused as to what you really want.
The leader must each time eat first. Do not let your puppy eat before you eat. If you are planning on eating about the same time as you plan to feed your puppy, you need to make your puppy wait until you are done. Or you can have your puppy eat at a entire distinct time than you eat. In the start you may want to call your puppy to you to get his food and make him stay before you give it to him. You can teach him to sit and then give him his food.
Grooming your puppy can send powerful signals about who is in charge. At the start your puppy may whimper and cry when you hold him for basic grooming but you must pay no heed to him and be adamant on finishing. Always follow through on what you begin because puppies discover very rapidly if you really mean something or not.
Most puppies will nip and bite at things when they are very young. You must prohibit this behavior immediately and let your puppy know that it is not acceptable with a clear reaction of a “No” and a tap if needed. Keep in mind that you are the pack leader and the pack leader does not ever get nipped.
Showing your puppy that you are the dominant leader is the most essential thing you can do to have a well-behaved dog later on. Avoid aggressive games like “tug’o'war” where he can show too much dominance. Reward his good behavior with praise and treats and overlook his bad behavior as you commence the process of obedience training. Following these simple rules can help you train your puppy to be well-behaved and well-trained.
Maximum training tips for your favorite dog including training collars for dogs, obedience training for dog and much more at UniversityDog.com.
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Tags: Advice, Animal and Pet Articles, animals, classes, Dog Training, dogs, family, Garden, obedience classes, outdoors, pets, school, self help, terriers
Posted in Labrador Retriever Puppies, Labrador Retriever Training | No Comments »
Thu ,25/02/2010
Deciding to bring a puppy into your family unit is a commitment that should not be taken frivolously. Most dog breeds live between 10 to 15 years. Your puppy will be with you for a long time to come and getting a puppy is not a decision that should be taken frivolously.
Locating a highly regarded and well-respected dog breeder should be one of the first steps to take when you decide to get a new pet. The top breeders are committed to their breeds and they do everything they can to avoid health and behavior troubles. A good breeder will never intentionally sell you a unhealthy dog.
Since your puppy will grow up you should spend time with some adult dogs from the preferred breed before even looking at the puppies. Talk to breeders, other owners and local dog obedience trainers to get more information.
Distinctive breeds have diverse individuality that you will need to take into consideration. Some dog’s shed and some dogs make a big noise called “baying”. Make sure that the breed you choose has behavior that you can live with. If you cannot stand dog hair on your furniture or you or a family member is allergic you will want to consider a dog that will not shed. If your family is laid back and easy going you may not want to get a dynamic and rambunctious little terrier.
Those who work with animal’s day in and day out like veterinarians and the people who work in their office can usually give you quite a bit of advantageous information on the breed that you are taking into consideration. If there are possible health troubles that tend to show up in the breed it is nice to know that before you see the puppies.
Dog obedience trainers often see many different breeds and they can be a good source of balanced information. They can also usually give you some tips on what to look for in a puppy.
If you want some really helpful and fair-minded information talk with one or more dog obedience instructors. They usually have a variety of great information that they can give you on the diverse breeds and what to look for when choosing a puppy.
For many years to come your new puppy will with a bit of luck be a much-loved member of your family. You need to amass some sound information and use that to choose your puppy and not just the “puppy love” that we all have a propensity to encounter around charming little puppies. Every puppy will grow out of that really cute condition and the adult dog is the one who will be your pet for years to come.
The important secrets for training your favorite dog including crate training for puppies, house train a dog and much more at UniversityDog.
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Tags: Advice, Animal and Pet Articles, animals, classes, Dog Training, dogs, family, Garden, obedience classes, outdoors, pets, school, self help, terriers
Posted in American Labrador Retrievers, Animal and Pet Articles, English Labrador Retrievers, Labrador Retriever Temperament | No Comments »
Sun ,21/02/2010
Receiving a new puppy or even a new older dog is always a remarkable event for a family. During those initial days the new member of your family is adjusting and getting used to everyone and all of the new things. It is at this time that you need to make sure that you are doing everything you can to suitably socialize your new family member. Your new pet will run into many atypical situations in life and it is better for everyone if he learns how to handle and react in a healthy and satisfactory manner.
A new puppy can start learning socialization skills as early as 2 to 3 weeks following birth. Usually a family will acquire a new puppy at about 7 to 8 weeks old. Puppies tend to be more hesitant and frightened until they are about 14 weeks old so during the early days be gentle with your new puppy.
While we all know that it is imperative to socialize a puppy, the fact is that socialization is a skill that should be practiced throughout a dog’s life. Changes in circumstances and situations can affect a dog and a formerly pleasant and outgoing dog can transform into a apprehensive and menacing dog under different conditions. That is why it is important to continually socialize your dog and permit him to undergo numerous situations, people and other animals.
Let your dog become familiar with other dogs and other animals. You can take him to a park or a doggie daycare or even just visit friends who have pets. Be sure that your dog has had all of his shots first but it is important for his socialization to meet up with others.
Present your dog to the people who come to your residence the most. Since the mailperson stops by on a daily basis it is a good plan to introduce your dog to him or her. Anyone who stops by a lot should be acquainted with your dog. Also if possible make sure your dog is around as many different people as possible. This will make him more sociable in separate situations.
Dogs lived in the wild in packs and they will naturally recreate a pack pecking order in a new situation. It is essential that every person in the family is seen as a dominant pack member. When any human speaks the dog should pay attention and obey. The dog is the follower and the owner is the alpha dog or the leader.
Socialization needs to persist throughout your dog’s life. He needs to continuously meet new people, new dogs and other animals. If not he could become fearful and take on hard-to-resolve problems such as biting and fighting.
A dog that is well socialized is enjoyable to own and much more agreeable for you and other people. You will also be more successful at dog training. Everything about owning your dog will be easier if he is suitably socialized.
The principal secrets for training your pet dog including dog training treats, http://universitydog.com/150/stop-your-dog-from-digging/ and much more at UniversityDog.com.
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Tags: Advice, Animal and Pet Articles, animals, classes, Dog Training, dogs, family, Garden, obedience classes, outdoors, pets, school, self help, terriers
Posted in American Labrador Retrievers, English Labrador Retrievers, Labrador Retriever Puppies, Labrador Retriever Training | No Comments »
Fri ,19/02/2010
People and dogs both love to go for walks. When you properly train your puppy for the leash you can really enjoy your walks. If you fail to properly train your puppy for the leash that same walk can be an exercise in futility.
Puppies need to start training for the leash when they are very young. If you start early they will learn it fast and it will be much easier. To begin training your puppy, make sure you begin by getting him used to the collar. He won’t like it at first and he might cry and complain but make sure that you have him wear it until he gets used to it. The only time you really need to take it off is when you crate him so there will not be any mishaps.
As soon as your puppy is used to the collar then try to get him ready for the leash. Attach it to the collar and let him get comfortable with it by just dragging it around. Make sure that you supervise him when he is attached to the leash, though because he could easily get tangled up. Gently get to the point where you take up the leash and walk through the house. It is helpful to start at a place where your puppy feels safe so walk around the house first.
You can then take him around in the yard. Make sure as you are walking that you reinforce the good conduct and discourage the bad conduct.
Puppies will frequently pull at the leash. When he starts pulling the leash just stop moving and stand still. If you stop every time he pulls he will quickly learn not to pull anymore. Give him commands and communicate during this time also to encourage bonding and reinforce his training.
If he continues to pull you can also try turning around and walking quickly the other way. This will confuse him but he will soon learn that if he wants to go anywhere that he cannot be pulling on the leash. Repeat these behaviors until he learns that pulling on the leash is unacceptable.
Occasionally a puppy will just stop moving himself. If your puppy stops and refuses to come, you can persuade him with a treat. Lay the treat at your feet and make him come to it. Don’t call him to it. He will soon learn that he should not stop when you are taking a walk.
Very soon your dog will be obediently walking next to you with a slack leash. This is the behavior you wanted so make sure that he gets plenty of attention and praise when he does it to reinforce the good behavior. Never let your puppy get away with bad behavior and soon you will be enjoying walks with him.
Maximum training tips for your pet dog including puppy training aggression, house training older dog and much more at UniversityDog.
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Tags: Advice, Animal and Pet Articles, animals, classes, Dog Training, dogs, family, Garden, obedience classes, outdoors, pets, school, self help, terriers
Posted in Animal and Pet Articles | No Comments »
Fri ,19/02/2010
You know aggressive dogs can be very scary. They can frighten small children and adults too. There are some breeds that are more likely to be aggressive but even so there is usually an underlying cause for aggression in dogs and finding out why your dog is aggressive can assist you in your training efforts. A dog that is calm in most circumstances is an easier dog to own.
Sometimes excessive aggression is because your dog wants to establish dominance. Dogs are pack animals and there is always a pecking order to the pack. The alpha dog is the leader and the other dogs follow. Appropriate training will make you the alpha dog or the leader. Never allow your dog to think of himself as the leader or you will continuouslyhave problems. Even so your dog may still want to establish his dominance over other dogs or animals and this may be the cause of his dominance aggression.
Another common type of aggression in dogs is territorial aggression. Your dog will relentlessly protect everything that he considers to be “his” including yourself, your home and your family. While this can be a good thing if you are threatened at some point, it can cause many problems in regular situations. It is infrequently that a family is truly threatened and if your dog’s territorial aggression is crazy it can cause issues with visitors and neighbors. Excessive territorial aggression is inappropriate behavior.
Often a dog will strike out from fear. Something scares your dog and rather than retreat he lashes out and attacks. The dog will start growling, pull his ears back and tuck his tail between his legs. Many times this type of aggression is mistook for direct aggression. Fear aggression is mostly caused by a situation that has scared the dog. He is lashing out because he is scared and does not know how to handle that fright.
Sometimes the aggressive behavior is misdirected. Something happens that triggers an aggressive reaction, such as a dominance or territorial issue but the dog is unable to take out his aggression on the target. He therefore will act aggressively where he is. He may start taking out his aggression on another dog or pet for no plausible reason yet something instigated his behavior. He was just not able to act on the real issue that triggered his aggression.
There can also be medical or biological reasons for aggression. A mother dog will often express aggression when she is protecting her litter of puppies. This type of aggression is understandable however sometimes a medical issue could be causing excessive aggression so it is always smart to have your vet give your dog a thorough examination.
Getting your female dog spayed and your male dog neutered can slow down aggressive tendencies. This can also contribute greatly to the good health of your dog. If you are not in the business of breeding dogs it is just the responsible thing to do and it will make your aggression training easier.
If you take into consideration the reasons why your dog may be acting aggressively you can tailor your training efforts and curb the aggression. You can work with your dog’s own specific needs and have more success.
Best training tips for your favorite dog also discover what dog training video I used to train my dog in a few minutes a day.
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Tags: Advice, Animal and Pet Articles, animals, classes, Dog Training, dogs, family, Garden, obedience classes, outdoors, pets, school, self help, terriers
Posted in Animal and Pet Articles | No Comments »
Fri ,05/02/2010
It is a fact, dogs bark for communication purposes. Some breeds bark more than others but all dogs bark sometimes. It is when a dog barks excessively and without good reason that everyone gets frustrated. We all want communication from our dogs but nobody wants a dog that barks and barks for no apparent reason.
There are quite a few reasons why a dog will bark. If your dog is bored because he is in the house or the same yard all the time he may start barking to entertain himself. Dogs love social stimulation and interacting with others. Try to have more playtimes or take more walks. This may help your dog if he is barking excessively out of boredom.
Dogs can also start barking excessively when they become nervous or scared. When a dog is appropriately socialized they will be calm and more relaxed around various people and in various situations but if a dog is not used to these new things he may bark from anxiety. Train your dog to be calmer by taking him to different places and around different people. Give him a food reward while he is quiet and well behaved. This usually works well as the dog will start associating the pleasing treat with the new situation rather than nervousness.
Dogs will try to get your attention when they need something by barking. You want your dog to communicate with you but you do not want this type of barking to become out of control. If you respond to his barking by giving him what he wants he will continue to bark every time. Attempt to reinforce other communication behaviors by using praise and treats.
Sometimes dogs bark from separation anxiety. They just don’t want you to leave them and they bark until you come home. This is disruptive to the neighbors and others so it is definitely something you need to avoid. It may be easier to do this if you begin when your dog is still a pup and put him in the crate before you leave. That way he is happily in his own space and he will not miss you quite so much. Also never make a big deal out of leaving but just quietly slip away. He will probably notice that you are away but he won’t be so vocal about it.
Dogs bark to protect you and there are situations when we all would appreciate that. However, every single day when the mailman or mail person! comes to deliver the mail is not one of those times! This is atime when socialization and training can really pay dividends. Go with your dog to meet the mailman, let them become acquainted and hopefully your dog will not bark at him everyday. Another way to get him to stop barking at inopportune times is to distract him with a game or a treat. But in the case of your dog barking to protect you remind yourself that there may come a time when you will appreciate that so limit your training to people you know.
A professional dog trainer can offer you some tips and techniques to stop excessive barking but sometimes just more socialization and more playtimes will help stop the excessive barking. The one thing you should consider though is that your dog is usually barking for a reason and you should find out what that reason is. Then you can deal with the barking.
You will enjoy your dog more and other people will also enjoy your dog more if he doesn’t bark excessively. Try to stop the negative behavior of excessive barking while your dog is a young puppy and when he is older you will know that if he is barking he has a good reason.
Principal training tips for your pet dog plus learn what dog training videos I used to train my dog in a few minutes a day.
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Tags: Advice, Animal and Pet Articles, animals, classes, Dog Training, dogs, family, Garden, obedience classes, outdoors, pets, school, self help, terriers
Posted in Labrador Retriever Training | No Comments »