How to Train a Border Collie

>> 8/31/09

Easily one of most intelligent dog breeds, Border Collies are the ultimate working dogs with extraordinary instincts. Like most working breeds, Border Collies need to have jobs. They seek purpose in life by doing work. Work less Border Collies will always try to find something to stimulate their bodies and minds and if you don't give them something productive, that might mean that they become rowdy and destructive.

Border Collies are very active dogs and they can work tirelessly. Apartment living is not suitable for them because they need wide spaces to run and chase. If you have them as pets and you leave in an urban location, you must give them their daily dose of physical and mental stimulation through training, play, and exercise like hanging out in parks playing fetch and Frisbee.

Border Collies have strong herding instincts. They are supreme sheep herders. This herding instinct is actually a watered-down predatory instinct present in all canines. Wild canines, such as wolves, have these same instincts only the results are fatal because they are herding in order to kill and eat their prey in the end.

When Border Collies were developed, the killing part of the instinct was 'bred out.' But as owners, you must respect the origins of this trait. Old instincts may unfortunately come out and your Border Collie may threaten your livestock. This is why training and socialization is important to Border Collies.

This herding instinct, if too strong, may become a threat to households with little children. Sadly, the kids will only be perceived by Border Collies as sheep. There is a risk that the dogs may act aggressively towards little kids. The only way to prevent this is to socialize them early with children and train the dogs to learn that the children are more dominant than them.

Border Collies tend to be very attached to their masters. They will try to please their masters as long as they see their masters as the pack leader. It is very important to be firm and consistent with Border Collies. Positive reinforcement has been proven to be very effective. Train them with praise and restrain from shouting because they are quite sensitive.

Border Collies may go through a phase where they constantly challenge their master's authority. During this phase, they may become stubborn and too willful, much like an adolescent human. Just stay consistent and protect your position as the pack leader.

They just love to chase. That is why it is always imperative to tell children not to run because Border Collies might 'herd' them. Border Collies tend to nip their owners to lead them. Some may consider this behavior aggressive but actually, it is just an instinct telling them to herd the running animals. Their nipping intentions are not to harm but to lead to a certain direction.

Border Collies are amazing escape artists. They will always find resourceful ways to get out of the fenced yard. With their innate strength and agility, they are able to jump over barriers with relative ease.

Overall, Border Collies are perfect for people on farms especially those with livestock. If you train appropriately, they will be a huge help. Their companionship is worthwhile and they will do anything just to serve their masters.

**Attention Readers**

To quickly curb all sorts of dog and puppy problems, click the link to claim your free dog training video on how to How to Train a Border Collie... or send a completely blank email to trainmybaddog@aweber.com.

How to Train a Border Collie by Ty Brown

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Teaching the Off Command

>> 8/30/09

One of the handiest commands you can teach your dog is the Off command. This particular instruction is useful when you want your canine to refrain from jumping on you, others or furniture. It lets your pet know what he is not allowed to touch and stops you from using “No” all of the time, which is a word many dogs tend to eventually ignore, especially when it is overused.

Training your dog to respond to Off is a little different than teaching the other basic obedience lessons because you cannot simply take him into a room and have him perform the action. Since it is a correction command you actually need to wait until he naturally does something that would require you to use it, such as leaping up on a sofa, table, bed or a person. You cannot pick up your dog and place him on the item or encourage him to jump on you and tell him “Off” because you are sending him mixed messages and he won’t learn.

Therefore, what you need to do is keep a close eye on your dog’s actions and be ready to correct him. When you finally catch him in the moment here is what you do: In a firm voice tell him “Off!” If he has jumped up on you look him in the eyes and bear your teeth when you say it to let him know you mean business. If he doesn’t respond after a second or two, push him down gently but firmly. If he is on furniture, pick him up and place him on the floor if he is light enough, or give him an encouraging push or a slight pull of the collar to have him move off.

As soon as all four paws are firmly planted on the ground, praise him. It wouldn’t hurt to reward him with a nice little treat as well if you happen to have one ready. Continue to practice this command whenever necessary. You will know your pet fully understands its meaning and respects you as his teacher when he responds to it immediately.

Last, but not least, do keep in mind that the commands “off” and “down” have two separate meanings and should not be used interchangeably. Down is an instruction that means to lie down not to stop jumping, don’t touch, etc. Therefore, take care not to confuse your pooch.

Teaching the Off Command by Sharon Fuss

Author Resource:

Article provided by Sharon Fuss of www.ohmydogsupplies.com, check out our cool variety of small dog costumes online.

Related dog training help:

Training For All Dog Breeds And Sizes

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Teaching Your Dog The Command "Down"

>> 8/28/09

Have you ever heard the saying, "Nature to be commanded, must be obeyed?" This quote is attributed to Francis Bacon and it's never been more relevant than when training a puppy or dog. Dogs inherently know and recognize a hierarchy structure. They relate to different levels of authority within their pack-which now that dogs have been domesticated relates to their family of people, as well. The alpha is the leader at the top of the pack, while the one with least authority is known as the omega. When you have a dog, you want him to recognize that you are the alpha or leader in your family or pack.

Functionally, it is good for your dog to know and obey the down command. This can save your furniture from getting battered about and small children from getting knocked down. It's also a good start for your dog to learn additional commands such as "crawl" or "roll over" or even tricks.

It is a good thing that such behavior is by and large quite uncomplicated to train. That is why it is paramount to avail oneself of such voluntary behavior anytime it's possible. You can do this through keeping an eye on the dog and reacting when there is a clear-cut change from standing to a sitting posture or from a sitting position to a down posture.

When this happens, you want to speak a specific command and use a unique hand gesture simultaneously. This gesture should be something you would not normally do, so you must make a special effort to do it. Every single time the dog goes into this position, you should clearly issue the command and make that hand gesture. Always use the same tone of voice.

After you make the command and gesture combination, and as soon as the desired behavior occurs, give the dog lots of praise. Initially, the dog won't really understand why he's getting praised. But this is actually irrelevant. As you repeat this consistently, the dog will learn to associate the praise with his action following your command. And this desired behavior will be the link to that praise.

Nearly all dogs will not accomplish the asked for behavior on a command the first few times it is tried. So, always be even-tempered and clear and - first and foremost - be consistent. As with any other type of teaching, it is essential to eliminate noise and movement types of interruptions during the teaching period. Seek being alone with the dog and as far away from other people and animals as possible.

Always encourage correct behavior through taking a treat or favorite toy and placing the dog in a sitting position while placing the toy on the ground near to the front of the dog's nose.

You can also try using a "wave down" motion with your hand, palm down, directing the dog toward the down position on the floor by the treat or toy. But be sure you don't reward the dog with the treat or praise until he correctly complies and lies down. This may take a while, though, so don't get discouraged or angry if the dog doesn't comply at first.

For a slow to learn or assertive dog, it becomes important to complement training by using a collar and leash in the effort. It's recommended to use a short nylon or leather lead that is, most favorably, about two to four feet. Put your dog in a sitting position and kneel down facing him.

Make the distinct hand gesture signaling the command, while at the same time giving the verbal command and moving a treat or toy by the dog's chin and to the ground while slowly and smoothly pulling on the lead. The purpose is to encourage the dog and not to chastise the dog in any fashion.

In those rare cases where your dog seems to have difficulty learning, try this. Face the dog at a bit of an angle and, while you are kneeling down, slip the loop of the leash under one or your feet and also slide the loop under the knee of the dog's opposite leg. Now try issuing the command again, only this time, gently pull the leash loop with your foot and pull both of the dog's front legs toward you gently, so he slides down into the down position.

Even if you had to initiate the movement to get the dog in the correct position, give the dog lots of praise and attention. The key here is that you want the dog to always associate good and positive feelings-both his and yours-with this position.

Teaching Your Dog The Command "Down" by Ryan Rivollier

Author Resource:

Get important information, tips, and techniques about Dog Training and Care. Also Learn about finding the most comfortable Dog Bedding for your dog.

Related Training Help:

New Dog Obedience Training Guide

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

How to Train a Gordon Setter

>> 8/27/09

Do you want a strong dog that is both capable of protecting your family and at the same time affectionate and amiable?

The Gordon Setter is a canine breed that poses these qualities. This breed is a perfect household dog. It is a medium to large size dog that may be tough to strangers but warm and friendly to its family and especially to children.

Families with children are the most suitable owners for Gordon Setters. It has a profound need for human companionship. They have a deep-rooted desire to please but can be mischievous when left alone.

Gordon Setters are very jealous and quite needy. They gravely want monopoly of their humans that keeping other pets along with Gordon Setters may spell trouble. This also speaks of this loyalty; Gordon Setters will protect their owners especially the children, to the death. A Gordon Setter trying to protect its threatened family is a sight to behold; a very nice trait for a guard dog.

Like any other dogs, Gordon Setters needs basic behavior training to say the least. Here are a few guidelines to follow:

Polite Gordon Setters = Less tension

Gordon Setters are very active dogs. If not trained with polite behaviors, it can cause constant disorder to your domestic life. Mind you, they are fairly large dogs and they just love to run and jump around. Therefore, it is very important to train them at least basic obedience and calm behavior.

They are tough and can endure considerably harsh training methods

Gordon Setters are strong-willed creatures. Occasionally, its humans may feel that their dogs own them because Gordon Setters are so independent and have a mind of their own that they do what they please without any regard to its owners.

With this breed, you got to show who's boss and take the role of the alpha male. Make this clear to your dog and life will be much easier.

To establish this, some owners may resort to fairly harsh methods but if it can be managed, always use positive reinforcement techniques. They can handle the harshness but may run the risk of having detrimental attitude development. A Gordon Setter too scared of its owner is a pitiful scene.

Physical and Intellectual Stimulation

Gordon Setters are bred originally for hunting. They are very popular “bird dogs”. They are able to localize birds and retrieve them to their human companions.

So, they are used to large fields where they can run and play. Space is very important for them. If you have a small place, always try to walk the dog to parks or other spacious places. These places are well suited for their training and stimulation.

Agility training is a great exercise for this breed. They are such a dynamo that exhausting them is an impossible feat.

They like to find objects. You can play hide and seek with them; this let them make use of their hunting and snooping instincts. This stimulates their mind and probably, the best way to exhaust them.

**Attention Readers**

To quickly curb all sorts of dog and puppy problems, click the link to claim your free dog training video on how to How to Train a Gordon Setter.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Free Sample Pack from Dinovite

Dinovite helps stop the itching, scratching and shedding of your dog.

"Dinovite Supplies the Nutrients...

VITAL NUTRIENTS are what they need to stop all that crazy scratching and shedding. Along with Dinovite® feed SuprOmegaTM Fish Oil or Salmon Oil to supply additional Omega 3 fatty acids and natural source Vitamin E and watch his coat get lustrous and most importantly STAY IN, instead of flying all over your house!"

I'm sure these samples will go fast so you had better hurry. Sample are for the USA only.

Free Sample Pack from Dinovite

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Little Known Ways To Train Your Dog

>> 8/26/09

There are many different types of training that one can provide to a dog and all are of great way for you to be able to communicate with them. You can either purchase lots of books or go to lessons to learn the right ways to train your dog. But also, there are plenty of dog training free tips that you may want to consider using and which can be found easily online.

When you are going to start training your dog, it is best to start it as soon as you can. However, do not think that for one moment that because you have an older dogs you will not be able to teach them anything. This is simply not the case even a more mature dog if trained in the correct way will be able to learn even the most basic obedience lessons.

It is important to remember that if you are considering using any of the dog training tips that are free is that dog's attention span is not very long. So keep the training sessions you do with your dog as short as you possibly can. If you carry on for any length of time, they will soon become bored and lose interest in you and what you are trying to do with them.

When you are carrying out any kind of training with your dog it is a good idea that you do it when you are actually doing some other activity that they like. Doing this will help to keep them interested and so the likelihood of them becoming bored and wandering off is greatly reduced. Also throughout the session you should use as much positive reinforcement as you can praising them and providing them with rewards when they have produced the right result.

If you do find that you need to reprimand your dog then make sure that you keep it short and sharp. Also it is crucial that you reprimand them as soon as the bad behavior has occurred and not some time afterwards, as the dog will simply not understand why they have been told off. Remember a dog does not have a very long attention span and they live in the now rather than the past or the future.

Above we have offered you a number of different dog training tips that you may want to consider using as part of the training you do with your dog. Below we offer just a few more dog training tips free that you may find helpful as well.

When it comes to training your dog it is important that you establish yourself first as the pack leader (remember dogs are pack animals) and you can do this in a number of different ways. The easiest one is to get them laid down on the floor and start rubbing their belly. As soon as the dog rolls over and shows you their belly to rub they have submitted to you and now see you as the alpha dog (pack leader). By establishing yourself in the position of alpha dog (pack leader) you will find that when the training sessions are underway they will actually progress much more smoothly and easily.

It is important that when you are spending time training your dog you need to remember that it is going to take time. So you will need to have lots of patience and be persistent and consistent in your training methods. If you can achieve this, again this will help with making the training a much more pleasurable experience for both you and your dog. Hopefully the dog training free tips that we have provided above will help you when it comes to training your dog.

Author Resource:

Your one stop source for Free Dog Training Tips please visit our web site at http://www.WhizDogs.com and take advantage of the best prices at our Dog Training Store at http://www.WhizDogs.com/store.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Stop Your Puppy From Peeing In The House

>> 8/25/09

When it comes to crate training, a lot of people might think of the crate as a place to go when the puppy is being punished. This is not true, as the crate is like a safe haven for your puppy to go, and once the puppy is used to the crate it will be his favorite spot to go to.

Whenever the puppy gets sleepy, scared, or a bit confused they will usually head towards their crate, if you have one. So when a situation like a thunderstorm occurs, and you have a crate for your puppy, he will most likely go there to hide because he is scared and feels safe their.

As you are teaching your puppy to get used to his crate, you have to make sure that you do not let him out if he is barking or going crazy. Wait until the puppy calms down before you let him out. Before you know it your puppy will greatly appreciate the crate.

So if you are planning on buying or getting a puppy, you should have already invested in a crate. This is to assure that the puppy knows exactly where it is when you first introduce the puppy into your home. The best places to place your crate are anywhere there is not heavy traffic, such as right in front of a bathroom.

When you bring the puppy home, you should put him inside the house and allow him to start searching for the crate. Leave the door to the crate open, and the puppy should start to wander in and out of it. You can also put a toy or dog treat inside the crate, to give your puppy extra incentive to enter. Once he goes inside praise him, and let him know that he is doing the right thing.

If your puppy stays in the crate on his own, praise him for it. Once your puppy starts getting in the habit of going into the crate on his own, you should place a new toy or treat inside for him to play with.

Now that the puppy is getting used to the crate, you can shut the door and monitor the puppies reaction. Some puppies may start to whine when the door to the crate is closed, this is normal you just have to make sure that you do not let the puppy out just because it is whining, wait until the puppy is calm.

There are many benefits to crate training your puppy. If you are having guests over or if you have to leave the house you can put the puppy in the crate, and if he is properly crate trained he will not mind at all and wait patiently until you let him out.

Stop Your Puppy From Peeing In The House by John Roley

Author Resource:

The author has been around puppies for more than 8 years. For further details on puppy potty training tips and techniques you can stop by and get his report that covers potty training dogs the easy way.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Puppy Clicker Training Mind Blowing Puppy Training Tips

>> 8/23/09

Puppy clicker training is a lot more simple to pick up than the usual command-driven training. Clicker training encompasses all types of animals, no matter the age. Puppies especially respond to it. Here are a few tips to get you going:

1. Before you proceed with your puppy clicker training, take some time and bond with your dog, and be ready to please.

2. Acquire the attention of your pup by calling its name in a apparent but habitual voice, and coax the pup to you. If your pup has not gathered the fundamental command 'come', you can teach that to it first. Say the pup's name initially before the command. (Such as "Fido, come".) Keep the command short and sweet. Saying its name first gets the attention of the pup, and the regular demand after that tells the pup what you want.

3. Press the clicker when you dog comes to you,, at that time give the pup a treat when he or she reaches you. This is reinforcing clear behavior, and soon your dog will understand that he or she can respond to a command and a treat will go along that click. The dog will actually initiate to watch you and take note, which is what you aspire.

4. Train your dog. With your pup in front of you, the treats in your left hand and the clicker in your right, the two of you are ready. Move the hand that has the treat over your dog's head amid its ears. As he or she looks up, click and treat. Recap this several times.

5. Slant over your dog just a tiny so with the intention of he or she leans back. As soon as his or her back legs begin to fold, click and treat. Recap this several times.

6. Be long-suffering with puppy clicker training. Eventually your dog will sit. Click and treat. Relocate to an extra part of the room and see if your dog follows. If not, call him or her to you, then take your left hand out over his or her head. Don't say anything, see if the dog sits by itself. Click and treat. Then move again and do again the process several times. Many dogs will begin to follow their owner around and sit, in suspense for a treat! Have enjoyment with your dog!

7. Train the puppy to stay seated by having him or her sit, but delay a few moments, then click and treat. Repeat this several times.

Puppy Clicker Training Mind Blowing Puppy Training Tips by Aaron Owens

Author Resource:

Discover more useful tips on how to quickly train your dog to listen to anything you say, by Clicking Here: Puppy Clicker Training.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

How To Train Your Dog With Positive Methods

>> 8/22/09

Dogs naturally do many things that we don't like - they chew, they bark, they pee and poo where they are not supposed to, and so on. It's important to understand that they don't figure out how to behave the way we want them to behave on their own. If you want a well-behaved dog, you must train him. In this article we'll take a look at the basic dog training methods.

There are two basic approaches on how to train a dog - positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Today, most experts in the field agree that positive reinforcement should be the main method of training.

What is positive reinforcement training? It's a method where the trainer reinforces a desired behavior with a reward, with something that the dog likes or wants. Every time a dog performs a desired behavior, he gets a reward which makes it more likely he will repeat the behavior in the future. A reward could be a tasty treat, a hug, a favorite toy, or just attention and interaction with the owner.

The opposite of positive reinforcement in a negative reinforcement where the trainer delivers a punishment, or negative consequence, when the dog performs an undesirable behavior. Punishment gets the dog to stop doing something. Negative reinforcement is connected to misbehavior.

Most experts in the field agree that positive reinforcement training is more effective than correction. It's associated with positive feelings and has better long-run implications than negative reinforcement.

Negative reinforcement has its place in the training process and it would be a bit naive to believe that you can train a dog entirely with only positive reinforcement methods. It should, however, be used carefully and sparingly.

I myself always use mainly positive reinforcement techniques to train my dogs and I love training them. This builds a strong relationship and it's a great way to bond. Always remember, a well behaved dog is a happy dog and a credit to its owner.

How To Train Your Dog With Positive Methods by Harry Littman

Author Resource:

Dogs should always be trained with positive methods. If you would like to know more about how to train your dog, visit positive dog training techniques.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Play Dead Dog Trick

>> 8/21/09

Want to teach your dog the play dead dog trick? Learn how with expert tips on dog tricks in this free pet care and obedience video.



Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Dog Training - Tips And Techniques To Use

>> 8/20/09

When you first get a dog in your life, we admit that it is irresistible to sit there and play with him or her all day. When he or she jumps up on your bed, you do not want to push them to the side. You figure one night is fine. Well, once you do it, the dog is going to expect it each and every night. If you do not plan on letting the dog sleep on your bed, then don't let them do it, not even once. You should also know that we have dealt with many dogs in the past.

Currently, we have a pit bull named Copper and he is highly trained. It seems he knows every command out there from sit to roll over.

When you first bring your pet home, you need to start training him or her to wear a collar.

When you first get your puppy, you will need to teach him or her to walk on a leash. First, you should start by introducing the pup to a collar.

When the pet has gotten used to the collar, it is time to introduce the leash to him or her. In no time, your pet will be walking side by side with you on the leash. As you are walking him or her, you can also teach them the basic commands of sit and stay.

Your dog is smart and we know you will see that as you are doing your dog training. Each day, your dog will be learning, but you need to make sure you have patience and confidence in your four legged friend. When you have confidence in them, they will trust you.

Dog Training - Tips And Techniques To Use by Lee Dobbins

Author Resource:

Next, Find out more about the different dog care and training at http://www.dogbreeds123.com.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Walking your Dog on a Leash

>> 8/19/09

We will be taking a look at walking your dog with a leash, one of the more important things that your dog that benefit from learning in dog training.

Teaching your dog to walk nicely on a leash is something that will take some practice. Your dogs pulling is a common problem and unless corrected at an early age, it is going to get harder to correct as your dog gets older.

Allowing your dog to pull without any correction will let your dog believe that it is ok to pull. As you continue your walk, your dog will think he's being rewarded for pulling! This is obviously not the message you want to send him.

If your dog pulls and you pull him back, he will only continue to pull harder. This will be fun for him! Therefore, you need to train him to walk properly on the leash.

Before you start walking, stand still and hold the leash with both hands and several treats. Keep your hands close to your body. Whenever your dog looks up at you, praise him and give him a treat. Or, if he is just sitting or standing still, praise him and give him a treat. You want him to know that this is good. He will soon notice that the act of paying attention to you is rewarded.

If your dog begins to lean forward or start to walk forward, lean your body backwards or take a few steps backwards, but don't pull back. Hold your hands against your body and stand still. There may be tension on the leash, but just wait. Once your dog slackens his pull, or when he looks up to you, give him verbal praise and extend your arm down by your side and give him a treat.

Continue to praise your dog until he moves forward toward the end of the leash. If he pulls to the point where there is tension, don't say anything. Once your dog releases the tension, then you can once again praise him.

When your dog resumes standing position next to you, you can begin to walk. Say your dog's name and the command "let's go" or "let's walk" and begin to walk forward. This command should be spoken right before the dog moves forward.

If your dog walks properly without pulling forward, continue to walk and reward him periodically with verbal praise and tasty treats.

If you see that your dog is about to pull forward, stop walking and stand still. Your dog will wonder why you stopped walking so he will look back at you. Once he does this verbally praise him, give him a great, and give him a treat as you start to walk forward. Repeat this whenever your dog is about to pull forward.

It will not take him long to realize that when his collar is tight, you won't follow him, rather the walking stops. Therefore, he will want to walk lightly.

In the early stages of this training exercise you will want to practice this in your home or backyard. This way, your dog will have a chance to get used to walking on the leash in a controlled environment. Then, once he is comfortable here, you can walk him on the sidewalk.

As mentioned in the last chapter, you want to set your dog up for success, not failure. So you want to give him every opportunity to be rewarded.

Because this training exercise will take a lot of practice at first, you may want to use pieces of kibble rather than treats. You can take him on a walk during one of his meal times and give him his meal this way. Once your dog can walk without needing a lot of correction and reward, you can start giving him treats instead.

Until next time, all the best to you and your dog. Make sure you check out the resource box below for more information. Good quality dog training resources can help to make the process of training your dog easier as well as more enjoyable.

Sharda Baker has published several dog ebook and audios. Click here for more dog training help and advice.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

How To Deal With Puppy Biting

What is the best way to deal with puppy biting? Chances are if you are reading this article then you are experiencing some puppy obedience problems. Most new pet owners find themselves struggling with these issues and the truth is that they do not know how to deal with puppy biting.

If you are a pet owner then you have to learn how to deal with this issue before it gets out of control. Most people do not realize how difficult it can be to begin training a puppy and ensure that it acts and behaves the way that you want her to.

Pet owners should be concerned with learning how to house train their new puppy. As you begin dealing with this issue; it will help learn how to deal with dog behavior problems as they grow into adult dogs. We have decided to share some important tips for every pet owner so that they can put a stop to puppy biting.

1. Teasing Them With Games: It is important that you do not tease them with games that involve a lot of biting. If you continue playing these sort of games then it will just make it more difficult to put an end to their biting problem.

2. Commands: Your puppy should begin learning some commands that will tell them to stop biting. Begin telling them "No" firmly without touching them. As you continue to use this command phrase they will eventually begin to understand that you do not want them to act in this manner.

3. Persistent: It is important to know that training a new puppy will take time; however as long as you remain persistent in your puppy obedience then you will begin to notice that the training will pay off.

Be sure to stop by and visit our site below and get some valuable tips and advice on how to train a puppy so that you can put a stop to puppy biting.

How To Deal With Puppy Biting by Alex Pendry

Author Resource:

Puppy Crate Training Can Help You End Your Problems! Training Puppies Not To Bite

Related Training Help:

Train Any Dog Or Puppy In Under 3 Hours


Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

How to Train a Chesapeake Bay Retriever

>> 8/18/09

Do you want a strong, dependable dog? You should consider Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.

The breed was developed in the United States Chesapeake Bay area during the 1800’s. They are very alert dogs with an eager-to-please attitude.

Nicknamed the “Chessie”, they are regarded as more serious and more powerful among other retrievers. Their appearance is similar to Labrador retrievers. They are large with a powerful and muscular build. Primarily, they are good hunting companions and nice family pets for fitting owners.

Chessies are superb hunting dogs very capable of retrieving fowls in icy waters. These retrievers are oozing with machismo that it is viewed as the man’s man of retrievers.

Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are not the type of dogs for just anyone. They are very strong-willed and independent. A Chessie owner must establish its dominance over the dog. If not, the dog will develop dominance problems if it senses the owners are passive, meek, or timid and they will be very difficult to handle. Handlers need to be confident and must assert a natural authority over Chessies.

They are very discriminating to strangers and not as happy-go-lucky like other retrievers. Chessies are very territorial and can be very aggressive when they feel that their territory is threatened. This innate characteristic makes them good guard dogs.

Chessies are trainable although they are quite slow to learn. They do just fine with basic obedience training but are very poor trick dogs.

They need regular physical and mental stimulation. Exercises are a must for this breed. Chessies need to vent their energy through play and working out. Otherwise, they will become rambunctious and bored. It is good for their well-being if they are able to use their muscles frequently.

They are also very good swimmers and love the water very much. It is a great training for them to retrieve objects from the water. They are fun to play with and their energy seems inexhaustible. An ideal dog for a large family with a lot of kids, they are rugged and will do just about anything to have fun.

Surprisingly, even with their strong temperament, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers are usually slow to mature. And unfortunately, they are prone to health problems. They are likely to suffer from skin, and joint diseases.

There are numerous accounts that they are not as serious and intimidating as they are believed to be but Chessies may have varying temperaments and it largely depends on their hereditary traits.

To quickly curb all sorts of dog and puppy problems, click the link to claim your free dog training video on how to How to Train a Chesapeake Bay Retriever... or send a completely blank email to trainmybaddog@aweber.com.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

How to Train a Dog to Get a Beer Out of the Refrigerator

>> 8/17/09

Have you ever wanted to train your dog to get a beer out of the refrigerator? Thanks to recent dog videos popping up on the Internet there are many people who are now looking to train their dog to get a beer, soda, or other drink from their fridge. Training your dog to do this trick is very possible if you have some patience.

Here is a list of things to do to train your dog to get your beer from the refrigerator:

• First, you must have a dog that likes to retrieve things. Retrieving is a largely motivational activity for a dog so you must first have a dog who naturally likes to play fetch or play tug-of-war.

• Start out by training this trick in what I call ‘bite sized pieces’. You wouldn’t teach your dog the whole trick from the beginning, but would rather split it up to make it simpler for your dog to understand.

• Begin by teaching your dog a command to grab a towel and a bottle from your hands. Get a towel, wave it around to excite your dog, and then allow him to grab it as you tell him ‘get the towel’, ‘fetch the rag’, or some other similar command. As he grabs the towel play tug-of-war and encourage him to pull and tug on the item. As he tugs praise him and allow him to ‘win’ the item. Continue training this behavior and gradually build the game to where he will tug on the towel for 10 seconds or more before he wins the item. Repeat this same training activity with a soda or beer bottle.

• Attach the towel to the handle of your fridge. Bring your dog close to the refrigerator and give him the command to fetch the towel. As he grabs it encourage him heavily to keep pulling. As he pulls on the towel he will open the door. When he does so, praise him heavily.

• Once the door is open you can indicate that the beer bottle or soda bottle is inside. If necessary, take the bottle out, wave it around to get him excited then place it immediately in the fridge as you command him to fetch the bottle. When he fetches the bottle praise him tons! With a little bit of practice you will be able to gradually increase the distance from where you command him. Be patient, work hard, and you will train your dog to get a beer from the refrigerator.

To quickly curb all sorts of dog and puppy problems, click the link to claim your free dog training video on how to How to Train a Dog to Get a Beer Out of the Refrigerator... or send a completely blank email to trainmybaddog@aweber.com

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

How to teach your dog to Roll Over and Play Dead

Do you want to know how to train your dog to roll over and play dead? This is a neat dog trick that is very simple and is a cute way to show your dog off to your friends.

As always, with all dog tricks, use of positive reinforcement will yield positive results. Keep in mind that your dog wants to please you.So show him how with lots of love when he does something right.

Here's a video on training your dog how to roll over and play dead.

How to teach your dog: Roll Over and Play Dead:



Related Training:

Teach Your Dog Any Trick


Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Why Dogs Bark and How to Control Barking

>> 8/16/09

When a dog barks, they are simply communicating. It is normal for a dog to bark. Whether they are alerting you to someone else in the vicinity or telling you they are hungry, it is the only way they have to let you know what they want. They may bark when they feel playful or they are bored. This is also how dogs may communicate with each other. However, there are dogs that taking their barking to the extreme.

The dog that barks at anyone that invades their territory is known as an alert barker. Unfortunately, if they are barking at anyone that simply walks by your yard, their behavior is reinforced as the person continues on past your property. The dog feels their barking scared them away and their barking behavior continues. On the other hand, there are dogs who simply bark for attention or because they are bored. They may bark when they are upset or anxious or at any small sound they hear. While a small amount of barking is normal, if the behavior becomes excessive, dog owners must take a firm stand to get it under control.

To control your dog's barking, the important thing to remember is that you must not reinforce their behavior. By petting your dog or giving him attention when he barks, you are telling him that it's okay and giving them the feeling that they have done right. Instead, you must speak to your dog firmly. Use one word for the improper behavior, such as "Stop". Spend at least a half-hour each day training your dog using this word. You can do this by simulating situations in which your dog will display their excessive barking. Get the whole family involved in the correction of your dog's behavior. While it can be time consuming, it can be an effective method to help control barking.

Unfortunately, there are many dogs who display their excessive barking, regardless of the amount of time you put in attempting to stop their behavior. In these instances, a dog barking collar may be what is needed. The collar is designed as a method of correcting a dog's excessive barking habits. When the dog barks, they receive a negative response by the collar and they will eventually associate barking with the negative effects. Collars can be purchased to emit a small electric shock, a sound that is irritating, or an offensive odor. While one type of collar may not work for your dog, another may, so you may need to try all three types to find out which one will control your dog's bad behavior.

Dog bark collars can be purchased for under a hundred-dollars and can save you much more in the fines you may have to pay for your dog's annoying habit of excessive barking. The important thing to remember, however, is even when using a dog bark collar to control your pets unwanted behavior, they must still be rewarded for their good behavior. When you find the dog bark collar is working, make sure your pet gets the good attention that he deserves for controlling his bad behavior.

Why Dogs Bark and How to Control Barking by Gen Wright

Author Resource:

Carrie Wagner writes for www.PetFencingSupplies.com, a site that carries a wide variety of electric dog fence systems, bark collars, dog training collars and more.

Technorati Tags: http://www.postyourarticle.nztip.com

Continue Reading...

Dog Tricks - How To Instruct Your Dog When It Comes to Tricks

>> 8/14/09

For the most part dogs are energetic to do what their owners want and try their best to please when it comes to receiving a reward for doing so. These are dog tendencies that need to be taken advantage of when it comes time to teach them tricks. It makes sense to take advantage of their natural tendencies. By building on these natural 'dog' tendencies and behaviors in conjunction with rewards to generate pet tricks, the operation becomes easier than trying to teach a trick from scratch.

Observe what your dog does for his own enjoyment. Does he jump into the air pursuing butterflies? Does he like to lay on his back with his feet in the air? If some kind of impromptu behavior can be expanded into an entertaining trick, that will quicken the training process. Be in readiness to use a fitting hand motion and voice command when this behavior is displayed and then follow through with an immediate reward.

Some dogs have weight or diet concerns so don't get carried away with the food treats. Training with treats may be a good way to get started and to strengthen your dog's attention and focus but in the end you want your dog reacting and completing tricks as a result of vocal instructions, hand signs, and praise for a a completed and well done trick. Once the correct signal-command/reaction-trick correlations are ingrained and automatic the use of treats can be lessened or completely stopped.

Most dogs don't take very long to get the hang of it because they recognize quickly that when they do the trick they get the treat. This makes the training pretty simple, and you can use simple commands as a gateway to other tricks. One example might be using the command 'down' instead of 'play dead'. This will be a good starting point, and eventually you can move on to 'play dead'. 'stay', 'come', and 'sit' will also come naturally to the dog once a little bit of practice is done.

You can try using a favorite toy in the training, and you can do this pretty easily. Hold their toy close to their nose, and then command the dog to jump. The dog will jump, and though it won't understand at first, it will soon come to realize that "jump" means jump. There will come a time when you don't even require the toy to get the dog to jump, you can just use the verbal command and/or hand signal.

Take advantage of your dog's keen sense of smell... his capacity to recognize smells close by and at long distance is unbelievable. This incredible capacity can be used in teaching various types of "hide-and-seek" tricks and games. Again, using a favorite tug toy or chew ball, hide it under a box or other object. Start-off up close and slowly extend the distance or increase the difficulty in stages, for example setting the box in another room or up on a shelf.

What about giving you five? That's a great trick for a dog, and it's actually pretty easy. Most dogs have a tendency to give you their paw immediately, and you can show them your hand or "paw", and then say 'high five' as they give you theirs. After a while this will become second nature to them, but at first you will need to reinforce this behavior using a treat.

Sometimes you may find that the dog doesn't lift its pay when you want it to, in which case you'll have to resort to other measures. You'll have to physically lift their paw, but make sure you praise them and give them a treat. After a while they'll do it immediately without you lifting the paw as long as they know there is a treat for them.

There are a few other things that you can expand on once you've taught the dog a few tricks. One thing that you can do is expand the high five into a way to make them sit up. You can do this by compelling them to raise both paws, at which point they'll just sit up. Once you've gotten them to do this, make sure you give them a treat.

There are many different things you can do to train a dog. Whether you do it for behavior control, house breaking, or just tricks, you'll find that this greatly strengthen the bond between you and your dog. This is a great way to become closer to your dog.

How To Instruct Your Dog When It Comes to Tricks by Tom Steffler

Author Resource:

Learn important information, tips, and techniques about Dog Training. Also Learn about choosing the best Dog Bedding for your dog.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

5 Dog Training Myths - free dog training myths e-book

>> 8/13/09

This free PDF E-Book lists the true facts about dog training and dog obedience from an experienced, professional dog trainer.

Get insight into the top dog training myths and the real answers to all of your dog training and dog obedience problems.

Here's what you'll find in the free e-book:

Dog Training Myth 1

You're only training your dog when you THINK you're training your dog.

Dog Training Myth 2

You need to understand and communicate in dog language so that your dog will understand you.

Dog Training Myth 3

The dog whispering method is superior because it is the most gentle and humane.

Dog Training Myth 4

A dog that chews things is either terribly bored or simply trying to be vindictive.

Dog Training Myth 5

A crate is basically a dog cage that is like a prison for your dog.

All these myths and more are explained in this free e-book from a Professional Dog Trainer.

I have listed two ways for you to get the free 5 Dog Training Myths e-book with the first way through Scribd:



You can save and print the above e-book by clicking the "more" button on the top of the e-book and also make it full screen by clicking on the "toogle screen" icon, top right corner of e-book.

You can also download the free e-book through Easy Share by clicking 5 Dog Training Myths

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Shih Tzu Training - Taming Unwanted Behavior in a Shih Tzu

If there is one thing that drives any dog owner to the brink of insanity, it is excessive barking and Shih Tzu owners are no different. When something gets them riled up, these tiny dogs can really get working up into a frenzy of barking. If the owner is not there to deter it, the noise could go on for long periods of time. By gently training and using positive reinforcement with your Shih Tzu, you should be able to yield great results.

While it is worth your while to have an alert Shih Tzu to warn you when something is not right, until they learn what ordinary means by your direction, there will be a bit of confusion and much noise. When there is something you do not want them to bark at, use a very calm voice and tell them no. When it is appropriate to give praise and let them know not to bark anymore, now that you know what the situation is.

Using reward training is generally preferable over punishment, though sometimes you might need to get your Shih Tzus attention when they are worked up into a barking frenzy, this can best be accomplished by using a clicker or squirting with a water bottle. You make make your own simple noise maker by putting unpopped popcorn or pennies into a tin or aluminum can and sealing it up.

In addition to bark, a Shih Tzu may have the horrible habit of whining when left along for any period of time. Exercising the dog is a good way to curb this behavior, however this amounts to quite a bit of walking throughout the day. Playing fetch with a stick or a ball provides good exercise and some dogs truly love it. Sometimes its hard to make sure your Shih Tzu gets enough exercise daily to curb the bad behavior. Walking about a half-mile should suffice. Having two dogs at once can also solve this dilemma, as long as you make it known to the dogs you are the alpha human, you should have no trouble being the boss.

When considering things from a dogs perspective, the actions of humans are not easily understood much of the time. When it comes to behavioral training, you should be a gentle, firm, instructional, loving teacher and leader. You should teach all the members of your family to not startle a dog that is easily driven by fear and adrenaline. This could be something as simple as yelling or people who wear hats, but until a dog understands something is okay, they are going to get themselves all worked up.

Perhaps one of the most concerning tendency in a Shih Tzu is to engage in biting out of fear. This is a common occurrence in smaller dogs than in larger ones, but this type of behavior is most often associated with dogs that have either been poorly socialized as pups or a victim of physical or verbal abuse.

Having your Shih Tzu puppy meet a wide variety of people, other dogs and situations when they are younger encourages them to be unafraid, especially if you are overly cautious about situations where to dog may be injured. This does not mean you should snatch up your dog on the street when you see a larger dog approaching. It means to ask permission from the person who owns the dog, whether the dog is friendly or not and simply walking on the opposite side, if this is not the case.

If you show your own fear, your dog will respond and pick up on that fear, because they learn by what they see and experience. Shih Tzus are also very aware and sensitive of their own size. Biting out of fear is also witnessed with fear-induced urinating. Make sure you mind your temper, no matter what the dog has just urinated on, this is instrumental in not making an overly sensitive dog any more frightened.

Thankfully, this also means a Shih Tzu is small enough to simply be physically picked up and put into a crate for a time out to calm down, because this form of behavior is unacceptable. If the dog is very traumatized, it may never be able to overcome it and will always hunger for the attention he or she desires but is to scared to accept. Using soothing words to calm the dog and placing it in a safe place, will be necessary for dogs of this temperament.

Taming Unwanted Behavior in a Shih Tzu by John P Jackson

Author Resource:

This article was written by John P Jackson for GreatDogSite, home of hundreds of articles on Shih Tzus and other dogs!

Related Training Help:

The Essential Shih Tzu Guide

Technorati Tags: Source: www.isnare.com

Continue Reading...

Teach Heel And Take Control Of Walks

>> 8/12/09

Does your dog take you for a walk or are you in full control when you are out on your daily strolls? If what you experience is a pulling canine that is wheezing breath as he is desperately trying to move you forward faster, you are not in control and need to teach your pet how to heel.

The Heel command is not difficult to put into practice but it does require your consistence and patience. Once your dog learns to walk nicely, he won’t require the many corrections he will need in the beginning. When he understands you are in charge of the walk you will see a vast improvement and it will be like walking a whole new pooch.

However, before you can reap the rewards, you need to ensure they will happen by using these steps to success:

Step 1 – Walk your dog on a non-retractable 4 or 6 foot lead (do not exceed 6 feet). You will no longer tolerate any pulling. Each time your pet pulls, stop immediately and plant your feet firmly on the ground. Remain in place without moving for as long as he tugs. As soon as he ceases his attempt to drag you forward and the leash goes slack, give the command “Heel, praise him and continue on your walk.

Step 2 – Sometimes standing your ground isn’t enough to stop the hauling. To remedy this problem what you can do is suddenly change directions on him mid walk. When you feel tension in the lead, instantly turn and walk in the opposite direction you were going. This will get his attention and make him aware of your presence, which is what you want. Go back to using the standstill method when the pulls are less frequent.

Step 3 – While you walk and he is behaving himself, give him words of encouragement and praise and reward him with a few treats if you want to let him know that how he’s behaving is exactly what you want of him - you are pleased.

Step 4 – When the pulling becomes very infrequent, in place of stopping and standing, say “Heel” and give a light correction with the lead by giving him a gentle tug on the side to make him aware of you. Praise him when he responds as you desire.

Teach Heel And Take Control Of Walks by Kenny Flarity

Author Resource:

Article provided by Kenny Flarity of Oh My Dog Supplies, the top ranked place to find dog sweaters online.

"If your dog chews up the couch ... jumps on your guests ... barks excessively ... digs up the yard … soils indiscriminately ... pulls on a lead ... or exhibits any number of other annoying and destructive behaviors, you will learn here how to eliminate these behaviors without resorting to yelling ... swearing ... hitting ... or jerking (and save yourself a boatload of frustration) once you learn the secrets of “dog talk”... Dr. Dog’s FAST, EASY, FUN Behavior Solutions

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Dog Swimming - Teach Your Dog To Swim

>> 8/11/09

How to teach your dog to swim in your backyard pool.

"Nothing on the market explained dog training the way we thought it should be explained. So I wrote my own dog training book. You can start learning how to get your dog to listen to you, anywhere you go, with my best-kept and most effective training secrets you can start transforming your dog in less than 10 minutes . . .

By Adam G. Katz
Founder of South Bay K-9 Academy"



Related Article:

Training Your Dog To Swim Can Be Fun


Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Great Dane Training

>> 8/10/09

Before getting a Great Dane, think about the training that you will be giving your Great Dane. Great Dane training is very important especially if you have little kids in the house. Great Danes are not known to be predominantly ferocious; however, they oftentimes think that they are smaller than they really are in reality.

You may compare a full grown Great Dane to a horse. Imagine having a Great Dane jump on you - this can knock you down, if a Great Dane can knock you down, now visualize the same action, but this time the dog is jumping on a little kid, this can cause major injury. This is why Great Dane training is really essential and it can also be beneficial for you and your new pet when it arrives to its new home.

Jumping

Great Danes are actually really good with people and they always want to jump up to greet someone. This isn't a problem when the Dane is a puppy but when it becomes full grown, and still thinks its puppy sized, this can get to be a big problem.

The first thing you would want to teach your Dane is by training it to stay down during the initial Great Dane training process. You can give your Dane treats whenever it refrains from jumping on you especially when walking in the door for the first time.

If your dog gets down after telling it to, give your dog a treat. As long as you stay consistent and so long as your dog understands whatever it is that you want during Great Dane training lessons, teaching it to stay down and not jump on you or anyone else will be easy.

Training The Potty Business

One important thing that you should have in Great Dane training is potty training. This is to preparer your dog in being an inside dog and this would mean training your Dane to go outside when it needs to do its business. One way of doing this is to look for warning signs.

Once you start seeing your dog about to squat or sniffing around, take him outside in an instant. When your dog finishes its business outside the house, praise him or reward him with a treat. Again, being consistent will make your dog know the reasons as to why its being praised and being rewarded.

Great Dane training is really not that tough, however, make sure that you do this while your dog is still small and easy to manage because once he gets older, Great Dane training will be harder since the dog that you will be training at that time may be bigger than you are.

Great Dane Training by Andyl Hannerl

Author Resource:

Great Dane Training Download a free 26 pages free report 5 Dog Training Myths. After reading this report, you will know so much more about dog training than many other dog owners. Great Dane Training.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

"Guaranteed Tough" Dog Toys - Made from Zogoflex

>> 8/9/09

Does anyone know a dog that doesn't chew? Have you ever returned home to find your new shoes with doggy damage or your favorite book ripped to shreds? How about a DVD with teeth marks in it? Dogs get bored and puppies need to teethe. Dogs, like babies, like to "taste" their world, so chewing is normal behavior. Providing your dog with plenty of toys will prevent your personal items from being destroyed.

But do any dog toys last longer than two minutes for a dog who chews aggressively? If they are made of Zogoflex, they do.

What is Zogoflex? This is an extremely tough material that is pliable, buoyant and designed to be recyclable. Virtually no waste is created in the manufacturing process of Zogoflex. Zogoflex material is made in the USA. It is non-toxic and FDA compliant. It's used to create dog toys that are durable and fun for your dog. These toys are guaranteed against doggy damage.

As an important note, Zogoflex and any of its components do not contain any known sources of lead, cadmium, mercury, latex, natural rubber, phthalates, hormones, Bisphenol A or asbestos. That's pretty significant, considering the news not long ago about dog toys on the market that were harmful to dogs.

Zogoflex is also dishwasher safe. If it gets dirty, it can be placed on the top rack of your dishwasher and will come out clean and looking like new.

The Zogoflex line of toys includes the following:

* A dog toy called a "Hurley" that is shaped something like a bone that can be tossed for a game of fetch. It even floats, for dogs who love water.

* A toy called a "Zisc" that looks like a frisbee but is more pliable. It can be thrown like a frisbee but can also be used as a tug toy.

* A toy called a "Huck" that is shaped something like a ball, again good for fetching.

* A toy called a "Bumi" that is in the shape of an "S" but is very flexible and can be stretched, good for tug-of-war.

* A toy called a "Tux" that allows dog treats to be tucked into it for more of a challenge to your dog.

How is Zogoflex guaranteed?

If you have a dog that is able to damage a Zogoflex toy, then your dog must be an amazingly powerful chewer as the return rate is less than 1%. You can return the damaged toy for a one-time free replacement or a refund, your choice. The damaged toys are inspected for weaknesses and then recycled. Since there are 5 different styles in the Zogoflex product line, that means 5 free replacements if your dog damages one toy from each style. Due to the different shapes and sizes of the Zogoflex toys, some dogs may be able to damage one style of toy but may not be able to damage another style.

Finally -- a dog toy that stands up to bulldogs, Jack Russell terriers and any other aggressive chewers and is eco friendly too!

"Guaranteed Tough" Dog Toys - Made from Zogoflex by Anita Funkhouser

Author Resource:

Anita Funkhouser is the owner of GoGreenDogBeds.com, offering high-quality, eco-friendly dog beds, toys and sweaters made in the USA from recycled soda bottles, and GoGreenDogBeds.com Blog, a blog about tips on dog care, dog product information, dog training ideas and more.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

The Here Command – Electronic Collar

>> 8/8/09

One of the most important things to remember when training your dog to learn any command is that he is smart enough and old enough to understand the training. In addition, you as the owner or the trainer must be prepared to correctly use an electronic collar and have an abundance of patience. While it may be frustrating at first, before you know it, basic commands like ‘here' will become quickly familiar. Ensuring you understand the proper training method not only will help you, but will result in no harm coming to your dog.

Most of us feel that the ‘here' command is pretty basic. However, before you start teaching your dog to ‘come here' he should be familiar with even more basic commands like sit, stay and heel.

As with all other training, the ‘here' command should begin on a leash and not on the electronic training system until you are both comfortable. To start off this training, it's best to mix other commands. This helps your dog focus, retain and also lets him know that he needs to gear up for training or working.

To begin this training, walk with your dog and issue the heel command a number of times during your walk. Make sure you praise him liberally when he follows your command. Once this has become fairly simple, tell your dog to sit. Once he's sitting, begin slowly backing away from him (making sure he remains sitting).

Once this is accomplished, use the ‘here' command. Remember, this is probably not going to be the easiest thing that you teach your dog, as he's liable to be confused by the process since you've already taught him the ‘stay' command. Once you've convinced your dog that ‘here' is a new command and that he must obey, you'll probably find he'll resist this less and less. Remember, this portion of training is going to require a fair amount of patience on your part, as your dog likely is going to be confused by this whole exercise and he's likely to put up a bit of a fight.

The best way to proceed is that you will do this a number of times – walk, stop, issue the sit command, and then when he least expects it tell him to come here. Your dog should be rewarded for obeying the ‘here' command until he's comfortable enough to do it without a lot of extra encouragement or a reward waiting after he's successfully obeyed you. It's important to remember that regardless of whether you are training a hundred pound dog with a normal amount of attitude or a ten pound dog with a hundred pounds of attitude that they must know that you are the one who is in control at all times.

Once you have successfully taught the ‘here' command on a leash, you can transition to an electronic collar after properly preparing your dog. Once you've accomplished the training on the electronic collar it might be a good idea to leave the receiver on him until you're comfortable that he will obey – you do not have to turn the collar on, some dogs will automatically change their behavior just because they are wearing their training collars. Once you are comfortable that your dog will follow all commands without correction, you should be able to remove the electronic collar completely. Depending on your dogs' personality, you may find that from time to time it's helpful to reintroduce the collar just to remind your dog that you and you alone are in charge.

The Here Command – Electronic Collar by Geoffrey English

Authors Resource:

Geoffrey A. English is the Founder of GundogsOnline.com, the internet's premiere online magazine dedicated to gun dogs. Come check out their site if you are looking for dog training collars including the Innotek ADV-300P, Innotek ADV-1000P, and the Innotek ADV-1002.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Dog toys - Does your dog really need them?

>> 8/7/09

Everyone knows that dogs love to chew. Have you ever returned home to find your favorite shoes damaged by your dogs teeth or your favorite book ripped to shreds? Sometimes dogs get bored, and playing is essential for keeping them mentally occupied. If dogs are not given toys to play with, they will find something else to play with or, rather, destroy. Chewing is normal behavior for puppies who are teething but some adult dogs may show destructive chewing behavior, and some dogs are more destructive than others. Toys should not take the place of human attention and regular exercise, but if your dog is left alone and you don't want him to chew your personal items, make sure he has plenty of toys to keep him satisfied. It's been said that a dog should have at least 10 toys at all times to keep from chewing on things he shouldn't.

Recently there has been concern about the safety of dog toys that are imported from other countries, but there are high-quality, non-toxic dog toys on the market that are made in the USA. There are different types of toys, including plush dog toys with squeakers sewn into them, tough chew toys, tug toys, toys that can be tossed like balls and frisbees and toys that can have treats hidden within them to make them more challenging to your dog.

Plush dog toys, even though they are made with reinforced and strong fabric, typically do not last as long as other types of dog toys, depending on the chewing behavior of your dog, but they can easily be cleaned by throwing them into the washer and dryer.

It's a good idea to rotate your dog's toys to refresh his interest in them as "new" toys are more interesting than old ones. Stash away some of your dog's toys so that only a few are available at one time. This helps to prolong the life of each toy, while rekindling his interest. The toys can be washed in between use so that the dirt and slobber do not become "ground in."

When washing squeak toys, sometimes the squeaker will become water logged. Most of the time this will clear up quickly if the toy is shaken and the squeaker is repositioned to promote drainage. Also letting your dog squeak it to force air through it may help with the problem. If your dog's squeak toy becomes so battered that it can no longer be repaired and is not safe anymore, the toy can be quietly disposed of when your dog is distracted, and if you've been rotating his toys all along, he'll be happy when you pull a "new" one out of the closet.

Chew toys often last longer than plush ones and there are even "guaranteed tough" dog toys that are guaranteed to last or you can get a free replacement. For anyone who wants to "go green," you can find dog toys that are made from recycled materials, and some of the toys are even recyclable again. You may also consider toys that can be stuffed with treats as these toys often hold a dog's interest longer at one time, especially when left alone. Interactive dog toys are fun for both dogs and humans, and it's easy for your dog to get exercise while he catches a frisbee or fetches a ball.

Dogs really do need toys, that is, if you don't want them chewing your personal things. Dog toys keep dogs mentally occupied so that they don't get into mischief and help puppies with teething, so it's important to make sure your dog has enough toys readily available to him or her at any given time.

Dog toys - Does your dog really need them? by Anita Funkhouser

Author Resource:

Anita Funkhouser is the owner of GoGreenDogBeds.com, offering high-quality, eco-friendly dog beds, toys and sweaters made in the USA from recycled soda bottles, and GoGreenDogBeds.com Blog, a blog about tips on dog care, dog product information, dog training ideas and more.

Technorati Tags:

Continue Reading...

Friends

Blog Syndication

Followers

  © Blogger templates Palm by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP