Dogs are sociable, lovable and excitable and it's why we love them. However, these sweet traits can also be the root of major behavioral issues like chewing furniture, biting, not coming when called, barking or running away.
So, it's important to start training your dog from a very early age. As an instinctive pack animal and follower, they will become subdued and more comfortable in a variety of social situations. To learn some of the best tips on how to train your dog, keep reading for suggestions from some of the top trainers in the country.
Use Positive Reinforcement
Starting a dog training program is not as simple as it sounds. You need to begin with positive reinforcement. That means instead of yelling at or scolding your dog when he does something wrong, you reward him when he does something right. It's a good idea to mix up treat awards with praise and petting, unless you want an overweight, but well-behaved pet.
The dog will learn that good behavior is rewarded. Just like humans, dogs respond best to praise and encouragement. They will learn faster and equate good behavior with a tasty treat.
Avoid Bad Habits
One of the most common mistakes amongst dog owners is to yell at their pets when they're barking incessantly. Why doesn't this work, and why does it make the problem even worse? It worsens the problem because your dog's barking at something, whether it's a squirrel in the yard or a car driving past. When you start yelling at them, it thinks that you're "barking" too, therefore reinforcing the behavior that barking is okay.
Remember, your dog can't understand your words. He can learn a few commands and understand your tone. To solve an incessant barking problem, try using a spray bottle of water. When your dog begins barking uncontrollably, say the command "quiet" softly and give him a small spray of water. Eventually, they will learn that "quiet" means he should stop barking or he'll get sprayed with water.
Another method involves ignoring your dog completely when he's barking. Sometimes dogs bark because they're bored or want attention, so it's best to ignore this behavior. Once the dog stops, reward him with a treat. Because they may be barking out of boredom, sometimes a simple distraction, like turning on the radio or throwing a toy, will work.
Normally though, dog training is most effective when you use rewards and positive reinforcements, not scolding or yelling. Remember, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
For information on practical dog necessities, please visit http://www.dog-necessities.com, a popular site providing great insights concerning issues that help you with dog care, such as dog training products, dog medical supplies, and much more
Showing posts with label train your dog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label train your dog. Show all posts
Monday, 5 April 2010
Canine Tips - How To Stop Your Dog From Marking Indoors
Dog urine marking is not a toilet training issue but rather an issue concerning a whole range of instinctive behaviors. Even though a dog may go outside to empty his bladder, he may still mark indoors to mark his territory. To a dog lifting his leg to scent mark is not the same as wanting to have a pee.
We as humans tend to think of dog urine as something unpleasant but to a dog it is something of great interest. A dog leaves it's scent in urine to tell other dogs a message. This message could be about whose territory it is, about the dog's social order or advertising mating availability. Dogs use urine marking to show their dominance or to claim something as belonging to them. But there are some steps you can take to eliminate this bad habit.
Here's how to stop your dog from marking:
1. Don't confuse urine marking with wanting to pee.
If you find large puddles of urine on the floor it is more likely that the dog had to pee and couldn't or didn't want to go out. With urine marking the dog deposits a smaller amount of urine. Marking in the house is usually done to an upright surface such as a doorway, table leg or piece of furniture. Dogs often mark on objects. Quite often the object is something new or different with unfamiliar smells that has come into the house.
2. Don't let him mark every tree while you are out on a walk.
Do not allow your dog to stop at every tree and tire to mark while you are out on a walk. You should keep moving, only stopping at a location of your choosing to allow him to empty his bladder. Ask him to do an obedience cue (if you have taught him how) before releasing him to go potty.
3. Neutering your puppy.
Testosterone seems to play a role in urine marking. At least one study has shown that neutering a dog at any age will help prevent it. It can't be guaranteed that neutering a dog is going to magically cure this problem but if you don't neuter a male dog, your chances of breaking the habit are greatly reduced. Of course neutering isn't always an option as you may wish to breed your dog.
4. Catch him in the act!
Close supervision is necessary. You must be dedicated to stop the marking behavior of your dog and you must be consistent. A couple of weeks or often much less time of intense supervision and correction can save you a lifetime of tearing your hair out trying to find a quick fix for the problem. Some people have reported that it has only taken a day or two using the intense supervision method.
Confine your dog to one area of the house where you can watch him. Shut doors to other areas of the house or barricade them off with baby gates or improvise with whatever is at hand.
If barricading is not possible another option is to put your dog on a retractable lead while he is in the house with you and for you to have total control at all times.
5. Praise him when he pees where you want him to.
Don't forget to praise your dog when he marks in an appropriate place. If you are outside and he marks on a tree or other acceptable object or area tell him what a good boy he is. Tell him, 'Pee here, good boy' in a happy voice. Dogs learn quickly from positive responses to their behavior.
The message you are trying to get across to him is that urine marking isn't bad, but that marking inside the house isn't such a good idea.
6. When you go out...
Dogs who suffer separation anxiety may pee while you are out. They are not peeing out of spite because you left them, dogs just don't think like this. They are feeling anxious at being left alone. Try leaving them an item of your worn clothing with your familiar smells on it. This just might be enough to settle their anxiety.
7. Confinement is the only answer for some dogs.
Some dogs will never be able to be trusted with the run of the house. Although inconvenient to you it may be necessary to close doors to certain rooms and only allow freedom in the rooms he can be trusted.
But if you have tried everything you can think of - and nothing helped - consult your veterinarian to rule out any health issues. As with any behavior problem, there may be an underlying medical condition which is causing the marking.
My name is John Krenberg, and I'm a happy owner of a crossed breed Poodle/Terrier. Training him is extremely important to me since I live in a high rise apartment. I read a couple of books about dogs behaving badly, but felt that I needed a step-by-step approach to correct his unpleasant behavior.
I researched the internet and came across SitStayFetch, which I quickly downloaded, printed and read in one evening. Now Sumo, my pup, is doing great! At only 5 months old he sits, lies down, heals, stays, and even comes most of the time. I can not expect too much at his age but he is getting better everyday. I strongly recommend it to every dog owner out there. Here is the link: www.dogtrainingpalace.info
We as humans tend to think of dog urine as something unpleasant but to a dog it is something of great interest. A dog leaves it's scent in urine to tell other dogs a message. This message could be about whose territory it is, about the dog's social order or advertising mating availability. Dogs use urine marking to show their dominance or to claim something as belonging to them. But there are some steps you can take to eliminate this bad habit.
Here's how to stop your dog from marking:
1. Don't confuse urine marking with wanting to pee.
If you find large puddles of urine on the floor it is more likely that the dog had to pee and couldn't or didn't want to go out. With urine marking the dog deposits a smaller amount of urine. Marking in the house is usually done to an upright surface such as a doorway, table leg or piece of furniture. Dogs often mark on objects. Quite often the object is something new or different with unfamiliar smells that has come into the house.
2. Don't let him mark every tree while you are out on a walk.
Do not allow your dog to stop at every tree and tire to mark while you are out on a walk. You should keep moving, only stopping at a location of your choosing to allow him to empty his bladder. Ask him to do an obedience cue (if you have taught him how) before releasing him to go potty.
3. Neutering your puppy.
Testosterone seems to play a role in urine marking. At least one study has shown that neutering a dog at any age will help prevent it. It can't be guaranteed that neutering a dog is going to magically cure this problem but if you don't neuter a male dog, your chances of breaking the habit are greatly reduced. Of course neutering isn't always an option as you may wish to breed your dog.
4. Catch him in the act!
Close supervision is necessary. You must be dedicated to stop the marking behavior of your dog and you must be consistent. A couple of weeks or often much less time of intense supervision and correction can save you a lifetime of tearing your hair out trying to find a quick fix for the problem. Some people have reported that it has only taken a day or two using the intense supervision method.
Confine your dog to one area of the house where you can watch him. Shut doors to other areas of the house or barricade them off with baby gates or improvise with whatever is at hand.
If barricading is not possible another option is to put your dog on a retractable lead while he is in the house with you and for you to have total control at all times.
5. Praise him when he pees where you want him to.
Don't forget to praise your dog when he marks in an appropriate place. If you are outside and he marks on a tree or other acceptable object or area tell him what a good boy he is. Tell him, 'Pee here, good boy' in a happy voice. Dogs learn quickly from positive responses to their behavior.
The message you are trying to get across to him is that urine marking isn't bad, but that marking inside the house isn't such a good idea.
6. When you go out...
Dogs who suffer separation anxiety may pee while you are out. They are not peeing out of spite because you left them, dogs just don't think like this. They are feeling anxious at being left alone. Try leaving them an item of your worn clothing with your familiar smells on it. This just might be enough to settle their anxiety.
7. Confinement is the only answer for some dogs.
Some dogs will never be able to be trusted with the run of the house. Although inconvenient to you it may be necessary to close doors to certain rooms and only allow freedom in the rooms he can be trusted.
But if you have tried everything you can think of - and nothing helped - consult your veterinarian to rule out any health issues. As with any behavior problem, there may be an underlying medical condition which is causing the marking.
My name is John Krenberg, and I'm a happy owner of a crossed breed Poodle/Terrier. Training him is extremely important to me since I live in a high rise apartment. I read a couple of books about dogs behaving badly, but felt that I needed a step-by-step approach to correct his unpleasant behavior.
I researched the internet and came across SitStayFetch, which I quickly downloaded, printed and read in one evening. Now Sumo, my pup, is doing great! At only 5 months old he sits, lies down, heals, stays, and even comes most of the time. I can not expect too much at his age but he is getting better everyday. I strongly recommend it to every dog owner out there. Here is the link: www.dogtrainingpalace.info
Thursday, 1 April 2010
3 Things to Keep in Mind When Training Your Dog
dSo you've started the training for your dog and everything has been going pretty well so far. There have probably been a few minor issues that you had to take care of, but for the most part, there hasn't been anything big to worry about. That's great. I wish I could say that for most other owners, we aren't all lucky. Still, even though things have been smooth up until now, there's always room for something to go wrong. Here are a couple things to think about during your dog's training.
1. Harsh punishment doesn't help anyone
Let me clarify between soft punishment and hard. Hard punishment is taking physical action such as hitting your dog or yelling very loudly at it. These forms of punishment are not helpful and will only cause you problems during training. No one wants to be yelled at or hit, and neither does your dog, so keep this in mind. Soft punishment means things such as ignoring the dog or staring back at it. These are messages that can be calmly interpreted by your dog and reacted to.
2. You have to be consistent in training
Constantly stopping and starting training over a period of time is not a good way to get your dog trained. You can't decide to give up and then pick it up again later multiple times. This is confusing for your dog and prevents those important habits from being formed in its mind. This is the whole point of training, and it is missed when you aren't consistent. This also applies to all facets of training, not just the times when you do it.
3. Dog training should be fun and exciting
This is one thing most owners seem to forget when they get frustrated with training. It's understandable, but you must remember the fact that this whole training thing isn't about being angry or annoyed with each other. You and your dog both need to enjoy what you are doing, otherwise there is not point to it. The great thing about fun is that training seems to work better when both the dog and the trainer are in a positive state of mind, ready to learn and experience new things.
If you need help training your dog,discover how to properly train your dog without all those problems that make training so much harder. Training your dog shouldn't have to be hard. Visit: http://www.DogHelpGuide.com
1. Harsh punishment doesn't help anyone
Let me clarify between soft punishment and hard. Hard punishment is taking physical action such as hitting your dog or yelling very loudly at it. These forms of punishment are not helpful and will only cause you problems during training. No one wants to be yelled at or hit, and neither does your dog, so keep this in mind. Soft punishment means things such as ignoring the dog or staring back at it. These are messages that can be calmly interpreted by your dog and reacted to.
2. You have to be consistent in training
Constantly stopping and starting training over a period of time is not a good way to get your dog trained. You can't decide to give up and then pick it up again later multiple times. This is confusing for your dog and prevents those important habits from being formed in its mind. This is the whole point of training, and it is missed when you aren't consistent. This also applies to all facets of training, not just the times when you do it.
3. Dog training should be fun and exciting
This is one thing most owners seem to forget when they get frustrated with training. It's understandable, but you must remember the fact that this whole training thing isn't about being angry or annoyed with each other. You and your dog both need to enjoy what you are doing, otherwise there is not point to it. The great thing about fun is that training seems to work better when both the dog and the trainer are in a positive state of mind, ready to learn and experience new things.
If you need help training your dog,discover how to properly train your dog without all those problems that make training so much harder. Training your dog shouldn't have to be hard. Visit: http://www.DogHelpGuide.com
Training Your Dog to Avoid Some Common Behavior Problems
Whether you have a new puppy, or you have adopted an older dog from an animal shelter you may need to know a few things about dog training. Puppies especially require a lot of patience and time because everything is a fun toy or game for them. But with some thought and extra attention you should be able to train your dog on the basics.
Positive Reinforcement
Before you try to punish the dog for doing something "wrong" it is important to give positive reinforcement for the correct behavior -- the behavior you want them to exhibit in place of the bad behavior. For example you don't want your dog chewing on your shoes so you should provide him with something he can chew on. Give him some appropriate chew toys and provide him with praise and positive reinforcement when he chews on them before you start punishing him for chewing on other things. After all this is a normal behavior and he doesn't know the difference between your shoes and the chew toy you bought. When dog training you need to teach him which one is his.
When you have a new pet it is important to spend a lot of time with them in the beginning so you can get to know each other and start forming good habits and routines. If you are able to spend a lot of time with him in the beginning you can praise and provide positive reinforcement when he exhibits good behaviors like going to the bathroom outside and chewing on his toys instead of your things.
Negative Reinforcement
Sometimes you will need to use negative reinforcement or punishment to help the dog training. To make sure it is effective there are some things you need to remember. First the punishment shouldn't be too harsh. Some animals are very sensitive and harsh punishment can make them either meek or aggressive.
Because each dog is different what works for one may not work for the other. Have a few options in mind so you can choose the one that works best.
The punishment should be short, and immediate. You need to catch him in the act; punishing well after the undesired behavior doesn't work. You also need to be reasonable. Certain behaviors are normal but you can limit them. For example you don't want your dog to eat off of the table, you want him to eat in his designated spot.
Dangerous Behaviors
Chasing cars is one of the most dangerous behavior problems for obvious reasons. The easiest way to curb this is to make sure your dog is always on leash when he is outside, but there are times he may slip out without his leash. It important to teach him this behavior is not OK. You may want to try using a dog training collar along with training classes so he understands commands to stop and come back.
At times training your new dog can seem like a difficult challenge, but with patience, understanding and consistency you may be surprised at the results.
If you have an escape artist you may want to consider investing in a GPS Dog Collar so you can learn his favorite spots. Taking a training class? Check out some popular Dog Training Collars.
Positive Reinforcement
Before you try to punish the dog for doing something "wrong" it is important to give positive reinforcement for the correct behavior -- the behavior you want them to exhibit in place of the bad behavior. For example you don't want your dog chewing on your shoes so you should provide him with something he can chew on. Give him some appropriate chew toys and provide him with praise and positive reinforcement when he chews on them before you start punishing him for chewing on other things. After all this is a normal behavior and he doesn't know the difference between your shoes and the chew toy you bought. When dog training you need to teach him which one is his.
When you have a new pet it is important to spend a lot of time with them in the beginning so you can get to know each other and start forming good habits and routines. If you are able to spend a lot of time with him in the beginning you can praise and provide positive reinforcement when he exhibits good behaviors like going to the bathroom outside and chewing on his toys instead of your things.
Negative Reinforcement
Sometimes you will need to use negative reinforcement or punishment to help the dog training. To make sure it is effective there are some things you need to remember. First the punishment shouldn't be too harsh. Some animals are very sensitive and harsh punishment can make them either meek or aggressive.
Because each dog is different what works for one may not work for the other. Have a few options in mind so you can choose the one that works best.
The punishment should be short, and immediate. You need to catch him in the act; punishing well after the undesired behavior doesn't work. You also need to be reasonable. Certain behaviors are normal but you can limit them. For example you don't want your dog to eat off of the table, you want him to eat in his designated spot.
Dangerous Behaviors
Chasing cars is one of the most dangerous behavior problems for obvious reasons. The easiest way to curb this is to make sure your dog is always on leash when he is outside, but there are times he may slip out without his leash. It important to teach him this behavior is not OK. You may want to try using a dog training collar along with training classes so he understands commands to stop and come back.
At times training your new dog can seem like a difficult challenge, but with patience, understanding and consistency you may be surprised at the results.
If you have an escape artist you may want to consider investing in a GPS Dog Collar so you can learn his favorite spots. Taking a training class? Check out some popular Dog Training Collars.
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Train Your Dog to Stop Barking
Here are several tips to train your dog to stop barking:
1. Make sure your dog has the basic things it needs while you are away from home, such as food, water and a comfortable place to relax. It needs to be a place where your dog can not see other people or other pets.
2. Be a good role model and do not repeatedly assure your dog he will be OK when you are about to leave the house. Do not repeatedly tell your dog you will be back soon. Doing this will making the barking problem worse. Do greet your dog excessively one you return hoe to reinforce the fact that staying home is a big deal.
3. Only praise your pet when he has responded properly to a command. Stop praising and petting your pet for doing nothing. Teach your pet to sit. First for short periods of time and then for longer periods and reinforce your pets to stop jumping on your guest. Guests typically do not like this. Praise and pet your dog as you teach him to sit for long periods of time.
4. Invest in some good chew toys. Use the chew toys to let your dog get distracted. Leave the room and close the door. When you return to the room continue to do what you were doing prior to leaving the room, but do not acknowledge your dog when you return. Ignore him and do not look at him. Do this several times and soon he will get use to your leaving and returning.
5. Do not say goodbye to your dog when you are leaving the house. Do not look at your dog before you leave. Feed your dog and provide him with a chew toy before leaving. Sit down at the table and relax, read the paper and then walk out the door without acknowledging your dog. When you return home, ignore your dog first off, change your clothes or do something else, whatever you choose. After your dog settles down acknowledge him, by telling him to sit, praise him by patting him on the head and tell him good dog. This will teach him to get use to your coming and going. Treat this as no big deal.
6. Give your dog something to do while you are gone. Something that will occupy his time and keep his busy for a while. Choose chew toys that are hollow so you can insert a treat inside of the chew toy that will keep him busy trying to get to the treat. Also, you can find adjustable balls and put dry food into the ball, so when the ball rolls around the food will fall out.
7. Give your dog something to do while you are gone. Something that will occupy his time and keep his busy for a while. Choose chew toys that are hollow so you can insert a treat inside of the chew toy that will keep him busy trying to get to the treat. Also, you can find adjustable balls and put dry food into the ball, so when the ball rolls around the food will fall out.
8. Invest in a citronella no-bark collar if necessary. Dogs do not like citronella a small amount will spray each time the dog barks and ultimately he will discontinue this behavior due to the citronella.
Training your dog to stop barking doesn't have to cost you a fortune. It is a small investment to condition and change your dogs behavior. Try the tips listed above and you will see results in just a few days.
My name is Ann Johnson. I am 49 years of age. I am married with (3) adult children and (8) grandchildren. My hobbies are reading, traveling, bowling, shopping and spending time with the family. Family holiday gatherings are very important and I go out of my way to make sure that everyone has a great time. I work from home. Please visit my web site at [http://discountpricesavers.com]
1. Make sure your dog has the basic things it needs while you are away from home, such as food, water and a comfortable place to relax. It needs to be a place where your dog can not see other people or other pets.
2. Be a good role model and do not repeatedly assure your dog he will be OK when you are about to leave the house. Do not repeatedly tell your dog you will be back soon. Doing this will making the barking problem worse. Do greet your dog excessively one you return hoe to reinforce the fact that staying home is a big deal.
3. Only praise your pet when he has responded properly to a command. Stop praising and petting your pet for doing nothing. Teach your pet to sit. First for short periods of time and then for longer periods and reinforce your pets to stop jumping on your guest. Guests typically do not like this. Praise and pet your dog as you teach him to sit for long periods of time.
4. Invest in some good chew toys. Use the chew toys to let your dog get distracted. Leave the room and close the door. When you return to the room continue to do what you were doing prior to leaving the room, but do not acknowledge your dog when you return. Ignore him and do not look at him. Do this several times and soon he will get use to your leaving and returning.
5. Do not say goodbye to your dog when you are leaving the house. Do not look at your dog before you leave. Feed your dog and provide him with a chew toy before leaving. Sit down at the table and relax, read the paper and then walk out the door without acknowledging your dog. When you return home, ignore your dog first off, change your clothes or do something else, whatever you choose. After your dog settles down acknowledge him, by telling him to sit, praise him by patting him on the head and tell him good dog. This will teach him to get use to your coming and going. Treat this as no big deal.
6. Give your dog something to do while you are gone. Something that will occupy his time and keep his busy for a while. Choose chew toys that are hollow so you can insert a treat inside of the chew toy that will keep him busy trying to get to the treat. Also, you can find adjustable balls and put dry food into the ball, so when the ball rolls around the food will fall out.
7. Give your dog something to do while you are gone. Something that will occupy his time and keep his busy for a while. Choose chew toys that are hollow so you can insert a treat inside of the chew toy that will keep him busy trying to get to the treat. Also, you can find adjustable balls and put dry food into the ball, so when the ball rolls around the food will fall out.
8. Invest in a citronella no-bark collar if necessary. Dogs do not like citronella a small amount will spray each time the dog barks and ultimately he will discontinue this behavior due to the citronella.
Training your dog to stop barking doesn't have to cost you a fortune. It is a small investment to condition and change your dogs behavior. Try the tips listed above and you will see results in just a few days.
My name is Ann Johnson. I am 49 years of age. I am married with (3) adult children and (8) grandchildren. My hobbies are reading, traveling, bowling, shopping and spending time with the family. Family holiday gatherings are very important and I go out of my way to make sure that everyone has a great time. I work from home. Please visit my web site at [http://discountpricesavers.com]
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