Thursday, 15 April 2010
Training Your Dog To Stop Jumping
Jumping up without an invitation is one of the most common problems owners face with their dogs. However, resolving this issue doesn't have to be time consuming or difficult. With the right techniques and some ol' fashioned consistency you can teach your dog how to mind his manners even when you or a stranger comes into your home.
Causes
Over Excitement and no socialization - dogs that are not used to seeing strangers on a regular basis may become over excited exuberant.
Too Much Energy - If your dog is bouncing off the walls like rubber then the likelihood of him jumping up will increase times ten! Dogs that don't get enough exercise will often display unwanted behaviors to drain their energy.
No Prior Training - Dogs are not born with the knowledge of how to greet humans. It's up to us to teach them the right way. If your dog has not been taught how to properly greet someone then it's unfair to expect him not to make up his own rules.
How to resolve this problem
Teach your dog! - Make time to show your dog exactly what behavior is acceptable and what is not. Often times teaching a solid sit/stay is very effective at curbing a jumping dog. If he's sitting, he can't be jumping.
Get Control - Leash up your dog when company comes over so you have an easy way to control him. Keeping a leash right by the door for easy access is a good idea. If your dog pulls on the leash, lunges at people or otherwise has no respect for the fact that YOU are on the other end of that lead, then a training collar such as the "Prong" can help you get control fast. Think power steering for dogs. (always consult a trainer for poper fitting and use of a prong)
Be consistent - Allowing your dog to jump up some of the time, but not all the time is confusing for him. Set the ground rules and stick to them!
Okay, I have control, a training collar and the will to be consistent...now what?!
Now, you control the situation.
Leash your dog
Ask your dog to sit
Open door
At this point many dogs will attempt to get up, calmly place him back into a sit.
Invite the visitor inside
If your dog attempts to jump up the training collar will do most of the work of "correcting" him for the unwanted behavior, all you need to do is place him back into a sit. If you must do this twenty times, then you must do it twenty times.
Praise your dog for the right behavior! This is very important. You've told him what you DON'T want to see, now tell him what you DO want to see. He needs the complete picture to really learn what you expect of him.
Wash, rinse and repeat.
Enlisting the help of a friend to play the part of a 'visitor' can be a big help. This way you can practicing many times in a row without worrying about your guest.
Practice, practice! You know the saying, practice makes perfect. Dogs are like cars in that they need regular 'tune ups' to keep in proper working order. Keep practicing with your dog and he'll keep responding.
Use space to your advantage - Use the same technique your dog is using to curb his jumping up on YOU. Quickly step into his space as he jumps. A loud "EH AH" and a hand clap can help to get your point across. Then show him what you do want, ask for a sit and praise when he does. He wants your attention, so make sure he only gets it when all four paws are on the floor!
Exercise - A tired dog is a good dog. Proper exercise can help to curb many unwanted behaviors and making it easier for you to control the training sessions. Most dogs need at least 30 minutes of hard running to be civilized pets.
Ann Griffin runs a pet resource website at CentralPetz.com, a place for pet owners to find dog training articles, contests, dog forums and more
Causes
Over Excitement and no socialization - dogs that are not used to seeing strangers on a regular basis may become over excited exuberant.
Too Much Energy - If your dog is bouncing off the walls like rubber then the likelihood of him jumping up will increase times ten! Dogs that don't get enough exercise will often display unwanted behaviors to drain their energy.
No Prior Training - Dogs are not born with the knowledge of how to greet humans. It's up to us to teach them the right way. If your dog has not been taught how to properly greet someone then it's unfair to expect him not to make up his own rules.
How to resolve this problem
Teach your dog! - Make time to show your dog exactly what behavior is acceptable and what is not. Often times teaching a solid sit/stay is very effective at curbing a jumping dog. If he's sitting, he can't be jumping.
Get Control - Leash up your dog when company comes over so you have an easy way to control him. Keeping a leash right by the door for easy access is a good idea. If your dog pulls on the leash, lunges at people or otherwise has no respect for the fact that YOU are on the other end of that lead, then a training collar such as the "Prong" can help you get control fast. Think power steering for dogs. (always consult a trainer for poper fitting and use of a prong)
Be consistent - Allowing your dog to jump up some of the time, but not all the time is confusing for him. Set the ground rules and stick to them!
Okay, I have control, a training collar and the will to be consistent...now what?!
Now, you control the situation.
Leash your dog
Ask your dog to sit
Open door
At this point many dogs will attempt to get up, calmly place him back into a sit.
Invite the visitor inside
If your dog attempts to jump up the training collar will do most of the work of "correcting" him for the unwanted behavior, all you need to do is place him back into a sit. If you must do this twenty times, then you must do it twenty times.
Praise your dog for the right behavior! This is very important. You've told him what you DON'T want to see, now tell him what you DO want to see. He needs the complete picture to really learn what you expect of him.
Wash, rinse and repeat.
Enlisting the help of a friend to play the part of a 'visitor' can be a big help. This way you can practicing many times in a row without worrying about your guest.
Practice, practice! You know the saying, practice makes perfect. Dogs are like cars in that they need regular 'tune ups' to keep in proper working order. Keep practicing with your dog and he'll keep responding.
Use space to your advantage - Use the same technique your dog is using to curb his jumping up on YOU. Quickly step into his space as he jumps. A loud "EH AH" and a hand clap can help to get your point across. Then show him what you do want, ask for a sit and praise when he does. He wants your attention, so make sure he only gets it when all four paws are on the floor!
Exercise - A tired dog is a good dog. Proper exercise can help to curb many unwanted behaviors and making it easier for you to control the training sessions. Most dogs need at least 30 minutes of hard running to be civilized pets.
Ann Griffin runs a pet resource website at CentralPetz.com, a place for pet owners to find dog training articles, contests, dog forums and more
Monday, 12 April 2010
Leash Training Your Dog
Training your dog to not pull on the leash
One of the most common problems people have with their dogs is pulling on the leash. There are many reasons why this can occur, and quite often it is nothing more than excitement on the dogs part. If this is the case, allowing the dog a few minutes to simmer down before taking it on his/her walk can often stop it.
Once again, the dogs pack mentality can come to play with the dog assuming leadership over its owner as the leader of the pack. This comes back to the basics of dog training where the dog must be aware of who the master is.
Failure to get this basic dog training technique under control can lead to all sorts of problems, particularly if the dog gets off the leash. In the presence of other dogs, and sometimes young children this problem becomes pronounced.
One of the basics of dog training is for the owner to establish him or herself as the leader of the pack otherwise no training can be effective.
Once this has been established you can start the process of getting your dog to walk calmly beside you with or without a leash. And that process can only start if you are able to get your dog to sit calmly while you put the leash around its neck. That is the very first step of training your dog to walk without pulling in its leash.
Once you succeed in that task, you can move on to the next step where you can get your dog to walk beside you without a leash and be assured that he/she won't run away.
And from there you will not be one of those people where the dog is taking them for a walk.
Stop Your Dog Jumping on People
Dog Quote: They have dog food for constipated dogs. If your dog is constipated, why screw up a good thing? Stay indoors and let 'em bloat! ....David Letterman
Jumping on People
No matter how much we might enjoy our pet jumping up to greet us, there are many people who dislike having a strange dog coming up and jumping on them. For many people it can be a frightening experience as not everyone is a dog lover.
Besides that, many people just don't want dirty paw marks over their clothing.
It can also create major problems if a large dog were to jump up on a child or an elderly person.
Dogs will generally jump up on people because they are overly excited and pleased to see them - even if that person is a stranger.
Many people inadvertently encourage this behavior by rewarding the dog with attention after the dog has jumped up on them. The dog then seeks similar reward from other people whether they like it or not.
This is detrimental to the proper training of the dog and all members of the family must realize that they're doing more harm than good by encouraging their dog to jump up on people.
Consistency is important in all forms of dog training, where members of the dog's family will need to exercise discipline and accept that training will be all the more difficult if the dog is allowed to continue with this behavior.
Failure to do so will lead to confusion with the pet not knowing what is right or wrong.
An alternative to having your dog jump up on you and other people is to teach it to sit and lift it's paw when greeting you for a handshake or similar tricks where the dog will be rewarded with attention.
I'm an online publisher of web content and blogs pertaining to the needs and wants of the public.
I'm also a business coach, and my coaching web can be found at http://www.course-internet-marketing.com ... do check out my latest blog about dogs at ... [http://dog-health-and-training.com/] ...consider signing up for my dog blog articles about the latest in canine health care and training.
One of the most common problems people have with their dogs is pulling on the leash. There are many reasons why this can occur, and quite often it is nothing more than excitement on the dogs part. If this is the case, allowing the dog a few minutes to simmer down before taking it on his/her walk can often stop it.
Once again, the dogs pack mentality can come to play with the dog assuming leadership over its owner as the leader of the pack. This comes back to the basics of dog training where the dog must be aware of who the master is.
Failure to get this basic dog training technique under control can lead to all sorts of problems, particularly if the dog gets off the leash. In the presence of other dogs, and sometimes young children this problem becomes pronounced.
One of the basics of dog training is for the owner to establish him or herself as the leader of the pack otherwise no training can be effective.
Once this has been established you can start the process of getting your dog to walk calmly beside you with or without a leash. And that process can only start if you are able to get your dog to sit calmly while you put the leash around its neck. That is the very first step of training your dog to walk without pulling in its leash.
Once you succeed in that task, you can move on to the next step where you can get your dog to walk beside you without a leash and be assured that he/she won't run away.
And from there you will not be one of those people where the dog is taking them for a walk.
Stop Your Dog Jumping on People
Dog Quote: They have dog food for constipated dogs. If your dog is constipated, why screw up a good thing? Stay indoors and let 'em bloat! ....David Letterman
Jumping on People
No matter how much we might enjoy our pet jumping up to greet us, there are many people who dislike having a strange dog coming up and jumping on them. For many people it can be a frightening experience as not everyone is a dog lover.
Besides that, many people just don't want dirty paw marks over their clothing.
It can also create major problems if a large dog were to jump up on a child or an elderly person.
Dogs will generally jump up on people because they are overly excited and pleased to see them - even if that person is a stranger.
Many people inadvertently encourage this behavior by rewarding the dog with attention after the dog has jumped up on them. The dog then seeks similar reward from other people whether they like it or not.
This is detrimental to the proper training of the dog and all members of the family must realize that they're doing more harm than good by encouraging their dog to jump up on people.
Consistency is important in all forms of dog training, where members of the dog's family will need to exercise discipline and accept that training will be all the more difficult if the dog is allowed to continue with this behavior.
Failure to do so will lead to confusion with the pet not knowing what is right or wrong.
An alternative to having your dog jump up on you and other people is to teach it to sit and lift it's paw when greeting you for a handshake or similar tricks where the dog will be rewarded with attention.
I'm an online publisher of web content and blogs pertaining to the needs and wants of the public.
I'm also a business coach, and my coaching web can be found at http://www.course-internet-marketing.com ... do check out my latest blog about dogs at ... [http://dog-health-and-training.com/] ...consider signing up for my dog blog articles about the latest in canine health care and training.
Dog Training Tricks - Proof That You Can Train Your Dog Yourself
Having problems with your pooch? Is she piddling on the rug? Is he dragging you down the street when you try to walk him? Chewing on your shoes or raiding the trash? Or do you have a new puppy you want to start off on the right track to prevent these problems from ever happening in the first place?
You don't need an expensive trainer for these everyday issues (though I do recommend a professional if you have a particularly aggressive dog that may require special understanding and handling). Nor do you need to attend the pet store "obedience classes" unless you'd just enjoy doing so. I'm going to show you here a couple of tricks to prove to you that you can train your dog to do anything you'd like, within his capability, and do it positively while both of you have fun. Just try them and you'll see for yourself how quick and easy this is.
First, it's important to understand that dogs live to please us. It may not appear so when your dog is ignoring your commands - that's because he doesn't understand your commands or perhaps your method for teaching him has backfired on you, which is the most common problem. What you think you're telling him and what he's thinking may be two very different things.
For example, you may want your dog to "come". Under what circumstances have you been giving that command? Are you yelling it at him for him to come to you only when you're unhappy with him and when he's to be punished somehow? Not exactly motivating. Certainly an unsuccessful approach.
It's well worth a few minutes of play every day to teach your dog to "come" immediately and every time you command it. And I do mean "play", not "work" - it's fun and a great bonding experience. Food is a terrific doggie motivator, so get some small one-bite treats (no big biscuits that take time to eat and thus distract from your goal). When you're sitting there watching TV or at your computer, most anywhere really, tell your dog to "come" with a calm, happy voice and give him a treat when he does. Only one treat, we aren't trying to teach him to beg! A little later, tell him to "come" and give him "lovies", pet him, praise him. Another time, play with him with his favorite toy for a few minutes. Show him that "come" means something good will happen. Do this frequently throughout the day , rotating the rewards, and you'll see that he will soon be happily obeying your command every time. Sounds easy, doesn't it? It is!
Want your dog to be well-behaved on a leash? This, too, is quick and easy, usually just a matter of stopping the walk when pooch starts to pull. Your dog wants to GO, to explore and sniff - that's his motivation and fun. Stopping dead in your tracks keeps him from what he wants to do. Shorten the leash length to keep him at your side and in a calm voice (very important - if you yell or show emotion, you'll just excite him further), tell him to "calm" or "shhh", whatever comes naturally to you, and stand there until he calms down. When he does, continue your walk, repeating this as often as necessary until he understands what you expect from him and learns to "walk nice" (my particular command for a rowdy dog). It can usually be accomplished very quickly, often in a single session with a quick reminder if he forgets it the next time you walk.
When it comes to walking, I believe this is one of the most important things you can do for your dog and for you. It not only gives you both healthy exercise, it allows for deeper bonding and understanding between you, the foundation of trust so important in further training. It also gives your dog that mental stimulation he needs to be well-behaved, socialized and happy. I don't do the "heel" thing when we walk - I have little interest in having a "Stepford" dog. Instead, I want our walks to be his time to stop and sniff (within reason) and to explore. I just insist that he "walk nice" for both of our sakes, which is defined as a loose leash and not losing his mind when he sees other dogs. The training technique I described above usually accomplishes both of these goals.
Just these two techniques I've described can be used with variation to deal with most any issue. For example, want your dog to leave your shoes alone? Give him own chew toy and reward him with a treat at first for choosing that over the seductive shoe. Spend a few minutes each day with this exercise. If that isn't enough, or in addition to the above, you can use the "leave it" command technique. For this, place the shoe in front of him and when he reaches for it, say "leave it", giving him a treat and praising him when he does. Repeat as necessary, making him wait longer and longer for his reward.
Want your dog to be calm when the doorbell rings? Use a variation of the leash training technique and the "shhh" or "calm" command you used on your walks, which he now understands, working with a friend or neighbor who is willing to come over and ring your doorbell until your dog "gets it".
Establish the foundation of reward for the behavior you want and he'll start learning new behaviors very quickly. He'll snap to the reward thing and look forward to learning new things, knowing something good will happen when he does... and just because it's fun!
I've just given you a quick overview here, a place to start. There are many more proven techniques that I hope you'll want to learn now that you know you can train your dog and how rewarding it is for both of you!
If you've found this helpful, please visit us at [http://www.4FurPeople.com] with step-by-step dog training courses including one on more advanced trick training, dog training aids like all-natural training treats, books, DVDs, nutrition and health information and much more! Also visit Pat's Blog at
You don't need an expensive trainer for these everyday issues (though I do recommend a professional if you have a particularly aggressive dog that may require special understanding and handling). Nor do you need to attend the pet store "obedience classes" unless you'd just enjoy doing so. I'm going to show you here a couple of tricks to prove to you that you can train your dog to do anything you'd like, within his capability, and do it positively while both of you have fun. Just try them and you'll see for yourself how quick and easy this is.
First, it's important to understand that dogs live to please us. It may not appear so when your dog is ignoring your commands - that's because he doesn't understand your commands or perhaps your method for teaching him has backfired on you, which is the most common problem. What you think you're telling him and what he's thinking may be two very different things.
For example, you may want your dog to "come". Under what circumstances have you been giving that command? Are you yelling it at him for him to come to you only when you're unhappy with him and when he's to be punished somehow? Not exactly motivating. Certainly an unsuccessful approach.
It's well worth a few minutes of play every day to teach your dog to "come" immediately and every time you command it. And I do mean "play", not "work" - it's fun and a great bonding experience. Food is a terrific doggie motivator, so get some small one-bite treats (no big biscuits that take time to eat and thus distract from your goal). When you're sitting there watching TV or at your computer, most anywhere really, tell your dog to "come" with a calm, happy voice and give him a treat when he does. Only one treat, we aren't trying to teach him to beg! A little later, tell him to "come" and give him "lovies", pet him, praise him. Another time, play with him with his favorite toy for a few minutes. Show him that "come" means something good will happen. Do this frequently throughout the day , rotating the rewards, and you'll see that he will soon be happily obeying your command every time. Sounds easy, doesn't it? It is!
Want your dog to be well-behaved on a leash? This, too, is quick and easy, usually just a matter of stopping the walk when pooch starts to pull. Your dog wants to GO, to explore and sniff - that's his motivation and fun. Stopping dead in your tracks keeps him from what he wants to do. Shorten the leash length to keep him at your side and in a calm voice (very important - if you yell or show emotion, you'll just excite him further), tell him to "calm" or "shhh", whatever comes naturally to you, and stand there until he calms down. When he does, continue your walk, repeating this as often as necessary until he understands what you expect from him and learns to "walk nice" (my particular command for a rowdy dog). It can usually be accomplished very quickly, often in a single session with a quick reminder if he forgets it the next time you walk.
When it comes to walking, I believe this is one of the most important things you can do for your dog and for you. It not only gives you both healthy exercise, it allows for deeper bonding and understanding between you, the foundation of trust so important in further training. It also gives your dog that mental stimulation he needs to be well-behaved, socialized and happy. I don't do the "heel" thing when we walk - I have little interest in having a "Stepford" dog. Instead, I want our walks to be his time to stop and sniff (within reason) and to explore. I just insist that he "walk nice" for both of our sakes, which is defined as a loose leash and not losing his mind when he sees other dogs. The training technique I described above usually accomplishes both of these goals.
Just these two techniques I've described can be used with variation to deal with most any issue. For example, want your dog to leave your shoes alone? Give him own chew toy and reward him with a treat at first for choosing that over the seductive shoe. Spend a few minutes each day with this exercise. If that isn't enough, or in addition to the above, you can use the "leave it" command technique. For this, place the shoe in front of him and when he reaches for it, say "leave it", giving him a treat and praising him when he does. Repeat as necessary, making him wait longer and longer for his reward.
Want your dog to be calm when the doorbell rings? Use a variation of the leash training technique and the "shhh" or "calm" command you used on your walks, which he now understands, working with a friend or neighbor who is willing to come over and ring your doorbell until your dog "gets it".
Establish the foundation of reward for the behavior you want and he'll start learning new behaviors very quickly. He'll snap to the reward thing and look forward to learning new things, knowing something good will happen when he does... and just because it's fun!
I've just given you a quick overview here, a place to start. There are many more proven techniques that I hope you'll want to learn now that you know you can train your dog and how rewarding it is for both of you!
If you've found this helpful, please visit us at [http://www.4FurPeople.com] with step-by-step dog training courses including one on more advanced trick training, dog training aids like all-natural training treats, books, DVDs, nutrition and health information and much more! Also visit Pat's Blog at
Training Your Dog to Stop Chewing
Puppies are going to naturally go through a developmental phase that includes chewing almost everything in sight. They do this to help with the pain of their teeth cutting through their gums. This is very similar to what infant babies go through. Usually puppies will stop this chewing behavior at about nine months old when all of their teeth have come through. If your dog has reached one year of age and is still chewing everything in sight, it may be a sign that you need to look at the behavior further.
Chewing can be a habit that your dog acquires because of boredom, anxiety, or even frustration. It doesn't matter why your dog chews, the behavior can be dangerous to your dog and can very expensive for you. The first step in stopping your dog's chewing problem is to catch him in the process of chewing something. You can limit the amount of items your dog has available to chew by offering them constant supervision and eliminating some of their favorite chew items such as shoes.
Once you catch your dog in the process of chewing and item, make it known that this is not the correct behavior for your puppy. Continue to offer your puppy very limited time to roam the house and always supervise. With this constant supervision, it offers you the opportunity to catch your dog in the act of chewing. When you are not able to offer the constant supervision necessary to keep your dog from chewing items, it is important to combine them in a small area or crate. In their crate, offer them appropriate chew toys so they begin to learn which type of toys they can chew and which items they should not be chewing.
Give your dog a special spot in the house where they can keep their favorite chew toys. Always keep these safe dog toys in this area alone; that way the dog will always know where to go when they feel like they need to chew on something. Some of the most popular chew toys for dogs are old socks, rawhide, safe toys, and knucklebones. Many people say that Rawhide should only be given to dogs while you are there to supervise because sometimes pieces can break off and cause your puppy to choke.
Anytime you are trying to teach your puppy to behave in a certain manner, it is important to provide stability in the training. Be consistent in your commands and provide only appropriate toys to chew on. If you do not want your dog to chew on shoes, don't offer them an old shoe as a chew toy. If you want your dog to stay away from the children's squeaky toys, don't offer them squeaky dog toys to chew on.
One final tip - many dog owners have returned from a quick dash into the grocery store, only to return to their car and find a massive chunk of the back seat chewed through. To protect against this, equip your vehicle with a car seat cover designed for pets. This will serve as a barrier & your puppy won't be able to sink his teeth into the meaty seats.
After a successful long term period of being chew-free, give him a comfortable dog bed to rest on (now that you are confident that he won't destroy it!)
Other recent articles by Kelly Marshall include topics on pet health care concerns and grooming long haired dog breeds
Chewing can be a habit that your dog acquires because of boredom, anxiety, or even frustration. It doesn't matter why your dog chews, the behavior can be dangerous to your dog and can very expensive for you. The first step in stopping your dog's chewing problem is to catch him in the process of chewing something. You can limit the amount of items your dog has available to chew by offering them constant supervision and eliminating some of their favorite chew items such as shoes.
Once you catch your dog in the process of chewing and item, make it known that this is not the correct behavior for your puppy. Continue to offer your puppy very limited time to roam the house and always supervise. With this constant supervision, it offers you the opportunity to catch your dog in the act of chewing. When you are not able to offer the constant supervision necessary to keep your dog from chewing items, it is important to combine them in a small area or crate. In their crate, offer them appropriate chew toys so they begin to learn which type of toys they can chew and which items they should not be chewing.
Give your dog a special spot in the house where they can keep their favorite chew toys. Always keep these safe dog toys in this area alone; that way the dog will always know where to go when they feel like they need to chew on something. Some of the most popular chew toys for dogs are old socks, rawhide, safe toys, and knucklebones. Many people say that Rawhide should only be given to dogs while you are there to supervise because sometimes pieces can break off and cause your puppy to choke.
Anytime you are trying to teach your puppy to behave in a certain manner, it is important to provide stability in the training. Be consistent in your commands and provide only appropriate toys to chew on. If you do not want your dog to chew on shoes, don't offer them an old shoe as a chew toy. If you want your dog to stay away from the children's squeaky toys, don't offer them squeaky dog toys to chew on.
One final tip - many dog owners have returned from a quick dash into the grocery store, only to return to their car and find a massive chunk of the back seat chewed through. To protect against this, equip your vehicle with a car seat cover designed for pets. This will serve as a barrier & your puppy won't be able to sink his teeth into the meaty seats.
After a successful long term period of being chew-free, give him a comfortable dog bed to rest on (now that you are confident that he won't destroy it!)
Other recent articles by Kelly Marshall include topics on pet health care concerns and grooming long haired dog breeds
Thursday, 8 April 2010
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