Pampered Dog Blog

Training a dog can be quite a difficult process, if you go into the process blindfolded. Make sure you know what you are doing before you get the dog, otherwise, it will be a disaster. This article will give you the dog training information that you need to make your new addition to the family, well-behaved.

If you live near a body of water, whether a river, lake, stream or pond, and have a dog, make certain your dog knows how to swim and knows how to get himself safely out of the water. Surprisingly enough, not all dogs possess the ability to swim and even for those that do, they might be taken by surprise by a river’s current or waves and tides. Take care to test your dog’s swimming ability in a variety of water conditions for their safety and your peace of mind.

Establish a calm environment when you enter a room that your dog is in. Play time is good to have with your pet, however, your dog should remain calm when you enter the room. Do not acknowledge the animal when you enter and by doing so you create a controlled atmosphere in which you decide how and when play time begins.

When interacting with other dogs, expect a calm, sedate attitude from your pet before letting them go loose. By establishing a calm demeanor in your pet, you will cause a ripple effect through the other animals as well as teaching your dog that you control the environment. This will make it easier to withdraw your dog when it is time to go as well.

As you plan out your dog training sessions, focus on only teaching your pet one new skill at a time. Too many instructions and expectations can cause your dog to become confused and frustrated. You will achieve much better results if you work on one skill, achieve mastery and then move on.

Training doesn’t only happen during designated training sessions. Every time you interact with your pup, you are training him. Make sure to stay consistent in your commands and requests and to continue to reinforce those good behaviors. If you are training him to stay off the couch, don’t let him jump up there while you are watching a show. Stay consistent at all times with what you want him to do and you will see the rewards.

If you have a dog with separation anxiety, you can train him out of this anxiety by varying your routine. If you act like you’re leaving the house, but then don’t or store your jacket in the car instead of the closet, you can break the cycle of actions, that get the dog hyped up with anxiety to begin with.

Make sure your dog has a special place in your home; one he can call his own. His special area should have his dog bed or pillow, his own blanket, and all of his toys. This will be your dog’s retreat. You should encourage your dog to use this area during play times, but especially when there is increased activity at your home. One caution to remember though, is to never use it as a place for punishment.

Walking should be a time for you to work on your relationship with your dog. Your dog shouldn’t totally ignore you in lieu of squirrels, trees and other interesting things. Instead, keep him occupied with commands and rewards for great work. This will encourage heeling and attentiveness in your dog.

Listen to what your dog is trying to tell you. They are very smart animals and they know more than you think that they do. If he is acting in an uncomfortable manner when approaching other animals, do not try to make him interact with them. There is a good chance that problems will occur.

Now that you hopefully have some good ideas for training your dog you can set about your journey. Training a dog can often be a rewarding experience when you see their effort pay off with an obedient dog. Following what you have learned will give you the direction needed to train your dog.

To read more about dogs and food aggression, dog care, types of dogs and other interesting dog advice visit http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Dogs are not as intelligent as humans, therefore they should not be treated as such. If you do, you’ll end up disappointed and won’t get the results you expect. Dogs are smart animals, though, and with a little patience and understanding they can be well trained through smart dog training by the owner.

Introduce new pets to your household with care and patience. Before adopting another pet, you should think about the other pet you have at home first. Try to find a new pet with a similar personality to the one you already own. This will speed up the bonding process.

Try not to take your stress out on your dog by yelling at it because of your bad day or bad mood. Always keep in mind that unless your dog just did something bad right before this moment, your dealing with your pup should be only a positive and loving experience for them.

Always take your dog for a nice walk before leaving for a period of time. If you play with your dogs and exhaust them, it helps the dogs handle the anxiety they may feel from being separated from you when you leave.

Dogs that suffer from separation anxiety should always be in the company of other people. Allowing the dog to establish relationships with new people will lessen its dependence on the owner.

Your dog needs to feel a sense of safety for him to be properly trained, this is a good tip to follow. If a dog feels threatened, it will likely attack someone or something. To prevent this, make sure that your dog is always in a safe environment.

Involve the entire family in your dog’s training exercises. Even if there’s one person who regularly oversees training, having the entire family involved will teach the dog that, he too, needs to consistently follow the household rules.

If you know there are certain things that trigger a bad response from your dog, try and keep his attention whenever these things come up. For example, if your dog doesn’t behave well around other dogs, provide positive distractions when you move past other canines during outings. This could re-jigger his associations and make him associate other dogs with positive reinforcement.

Try to use the same words or actions when you are training your dog. Dogs respond well to consistency and will soon associate a specific hand jester or verbal command with the appropriate action. Stay consistent. This will allow you to train your pet more effectively in a shorter period of time.

Communication is the key to training your dog. During your dog’s training sessions, keep your signals and commands clear and consistent. Rewards, corrections and body and verbal language should all be in harmony. Pay attention to what your doing is saying to you, too. He will communicate whether he feels good or whether he needs to stop.

Make sure that everybody in your household is uniform when it comes to issuing dog commands. If you use one command phrase and your family uses another then your dog may get confused. Your dog’s training will be faster and more effective when everyone is on the same page concerning his commands.

This article will help you and your dog function better in society. Training your dog properly will mean the difference between a pleasant dog owner experience and a negative one. Training, whether done by you or a professional, will make your ownership much more pleasant.

Dog training takes lots of work and if you want to succeed you will have to set aside time every day and stick to a training schedule. Even then, you may still fail, especially if you approach things in a haphazard, disorganized fashion.

Here are 6 tips to help you raise an obedient, well-behaved dog.

1. When to start dog training

A common bit of misinformation about dog training is that you should start training immediately. This theory suggests that time is of the essence, and even one wasted day will make your dog training efforts more difficult. This is almost always bad information, so you can relax and take a step back.

Dog training should never be a mad rush to get things done. It is a measured ongoing process that must be paced correctly. Dogs learn throughout there lives but you have a distinct advantage if your training is delivered at the right time.

Most dog trainers will tell you that the “sweet spot” for obedience training is 12 weeks. So don’t rush things.

2. The best person to train your dog is you

Training is about more than just obedience. It also a way of asserting your dominance and leadership. In addition, it is one of the best ways to build up a bond with your dog.

But you’ll only achieve these benefits if you do the training yourself. Yes, you can save yourself a lot of hassle by getting someone else to do the training. But its not the best way to go about it.

3. Consistency is key

Dogs are creatures of habit, and respond well to certainty and routine. Use this to your advantage when training your dog by applying consistency to everything. Be consistent in your schedule, in your voice commands and in your general approach.

4. Don’t use the dog’s name for corrections

Avoid using the dog’s name when scolding him or giving corrections. You want the dog to always associate his name with something positive, so that he never has any hesitation in responding to it.

5. Give rewards that your dog really loves

Although all dogs enjoy a food treat, there are other rewards that are just as effective, such as a toy, a game or straightforward praise and affection. Find out what really motivates your dog and use it to achieve the best training results.

6. Don’t punish your dog

An absolute no-no when it comes to dog training (or dog guardianship in general for that matter) is physically abusing a dog. Aside from the fact that it is barbaric, inhumane and even illegal, it is entirely ineffective. The dog may learn to fear you, but he certainly won’t be motivated to obey.

Dog training takes time and effort, but it is also a very rewarding enterprise if you do it right. The tips above will give you a head start.

There’s lots more about dog obedience training, dog care, information on dogs and other useful dog information at dogsanddogtraining.com

Dog ownership, or more accurately guardianship, is one of life’s great joys, and as you begin your life with your new friend I wish you many years of joy, love and companionship.

But in between all the fun and excitement, there is work to do. There’s puppy shopping, setting up sleeping arrangements, puppy training, and the less desirable jobs, like picking up puppy poop.

This article covers the 5 things every dog owner has to do in order to raise a happy, well-adjusted dog.

1. Crate Training

Hopefully you’ve done some forward planning and have already bought a crate before you bring your dog home. A dog crate is just about the most useful dog accessory you can buy. It can be used as a kennel, a carrier and a house training device.

Training your pup to remain calmly in the crate should be your first priority. It will keep him calm while he settles into his new home, and later you will use the crate as an important part of house training.

2. Puppy Vaccinations

All puppies need to be vaccinated. Generally this will be in the form of a 5-in-1 vaccine protecting against common canine diseases. Follow your vet’s instructions strictly on this, as most of these diseases are fatal to a puppy.

3. Puppy House Training

Common knowledge has it that you must start house training the minute you get your pup home. This will almost always be doomed to failure. The puppy will be disorientated and afraid and will hardly be in the right frame of mind to be taught anything.

For the first two weeks it will be much more effective for you to focus on crate training. As this relies on natural dog behavior it is much easier to achieve.

Within two weeks, the pup will have settled in nicely, and you can now begin house training him. The good news is, that if he is used to the crate, he’ll practically be house trained already.

4. Socializing Your Pup

Socialization serves two purposes, it introduces the puppy to a wide array of people and animals, and it teaches him how to behave towards others. Introduce your pup to as many people as you can, both inside and outside the family. Also introduce him to other animals in the household, but always supervise these introductions, and keep the puppy on a leash.

5. Bonding With Your Dog

If all of this sounds like hard work, it shouldn’t be, raising a puppy is fun. Take time to play with your puppy, as this is important to building a bond. As you play, gently correct any bad behavior, like biting.

Yes, puppies can be a lot of work. They can be time consuming and at times they can try your patience. But they’re also an absolute joy to have around. Their puppyhood passes so fast and before you know it that little bundle of fur will be a strapping adult dog. If you followed the advice in this article he will also be a happy, healthy and well-mannered dog.

Find out more about dog training, dog anatomy, dog health and other interesting dog advice at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com.

Adopting a dog is pretty much like taking on the responsibility of raising a child. It is a wonderful experience, but there are so many things you need to get right if you want your dog to live a happy, healthy, and fulfilled life.

In this article I’ll cover five of your most important responsibilities as a dog guardian. Get these right and you’ll be well on your way to giving your new friend the life he deserves.

Proper Nutrition

A good place to start is what you feed your dog. Broadly speaking, you can feed your dog a raw food diet, make your own dog food, or feed your dog a pre-packaged dog food. Due to time constraints the vast majority of dog owners will opt for feeding their dogs a pre-packaged kibble. And that’s okay, as long as you understand that not all dry dog foods are the same. If you’re going to go this route you want to feed your dog the best quality food you can afford, so ask your vet for her recommendations.

Veterinary Treatment

You are responsible for ensuring that that your puppy gets all his shots, and then has yearly check-ups, and follow up vaccinations. You will also have to ensure that, if your dog suffers from a serious illness or injury, you are able to pay for veterinary care. This can be extremely expensive and I would strongly advise you to consider taking out medical insurance.

Exercise

It doesn’t matter whether your dog is a couch potato or a jack-in-the-box, he needs his exercise. Make sure you have the time to provide it and the energy to keep up with him.

Your choice of breed is of the utmost importance. Don’t get a Border Collie if you can only spare an hour a day for exercising the dog. Lack of exercise is the number one reason behind canine behavioral problems, so do your research.

Obedience TrainingTraining is not an “optional extra”, but a responsibility of dog guardianship. A dog that has been trained will generally be calmer, happier and easier to control. Dogs actually enjoy learning, and training provides the dog with mental and physical stimulation.

Never use punishment when training your dog, it simply doesn’t work. Use positive reinforcement instead.

Affection and Companionship

Dogs are sociable animals who are used to living in a pack structure and therefore enjoy the company of others. The worst thing you can do to a dog is to exclude him from family activities, throw him in the backyard and ignore him. In fact, this is as bad as physically abusing the dog.

By addressing your dog’s needs in these five areas you’ll be giving your him the life he deserved. The payoff? A lifetime of fun, joy and companionship with your best friend.

There’s lots more about dog training, dog care, dog grooming and other helpful dog advice at dogsanddogtraining.com

Separation anxiety is a common canine behavioral problem and one that many dog owners are faced with. These problems can manifest in a number of ways, from barking or whining right through to property destruction and even self harm.

What Causes Separation Anxiety?

Dogs are social animals by nature and they bond strongly with the members of there pack. They are also highly observant and pay particular attention to patterns of behavior. So it’s no surprise that they pick up on the things you routinely do as you prepare to leave home.

You probably have familiar rituals that you go through as you prepare to leave the house. Every day you repeat these behaviors and, as your dog recognizes the pattern, he starts to become increasingly anxious.

Reducing Dog Separation AnxietyThere are many ways to reduce the anxiety your dog experiences whenever you leave the house. Depending on the intensity of the problem, it may be relatively easy to fix. Here are a few of the easiest fixes.

Change Your Routine – A good place to start is by changing your regular routines. If your dog starts acting up the minute you do a particular action, he has likely marked that action as a sign you are about to leave. Mixing up your routine means the dog no longer sees a recognizable pattern. As a result there is no anxiety trigger.

Don’t Reinforce It – When you lavish attention on your dog every time you leave or get home, you are only reinforcing the behavior. You have to remove any connection between the dog receiving attention and you leaving are coming back home.

The simplest way to do this is to leave home quickly, without any fanfare. Then, when you come home, totally ignore your dog for about 10 minutes, or at least until he has calmed down. Many dog owners refuse to do this, believing it is cruel, but you need to ask yourself whether it is any crueler than a dog spending his days in a state of anxiety, awaiting your return.

Teaching Your Dog How to Be On His Own – An alternative, or complementary, strategy for curing separation anxiety, is to change your dog’s expectation of how long you’re going to be out, and when you’re likely to return. In effect you’re teaching your dog to be alone, by getting him accustomed to longer and longer absences.

Start by going outside for a short while, then coming back in. Once the dog accepts that you always return, gradually start increasing the time you’re away.

You’re Not Being Mean To Your Dog

A lot of do owners are reluctant to try these measures with their dogs, because they believe they are cruel. I disagree. Taking action to arrest a problem that causes your dog considerable distress, and puts his physical and mental well-being at risk, can only be a good thing.

If your dog has separation anxiety issues, you need to take action right away. The steps recommended above should bring results in most cases of mild to medium anxiety.

On the other hand if the dogs is causing damage to the property and/or injuring himself, you should consult your vet or a professional dog trainer.

To find out more about dog training, dog grooming, dog health and other helpful dog info stop by at http://www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Do you want your dog to sit, stay, shake or stop using your expensive oriental rug to hide his little “gifts”? Read through this article to find tips that will help you accomplish those things you are having issues with. You may even teach him to clean up those accidents he did not mean to have.

When your dog is acting like a brat, cut off attention immediately. This is hard to do for some people, and encompasses more than you likely think it does. This includes foregoing nudging the dog away when he is playfully mouthing and even avoiding instructing or even looking at a dog that is demanding attention. Any attention at all may encourage your dog to keep up the bratty behavior! Reward him once he calms down instead.

When training a dog, rewards are much more effective than punishment. Use low calorie treats or pieces of boiled chicken to reward good behavior. Once the dog has learned the behavior you’re trying to encourage, you only need to reward with treats occasionally. Always reward with praise and affection!

If your dog is being destructive when unattended, it is likely a sign that he is not getting the physical exercise that a dog needs. Find a class that you and your dog can enroll in together and you are sure to find that it is fun and he will be far less destructive when you leave him.

A good dog training tip is to always keep chocolate out of your dog’s reach. Chocolate is highly poisonous to dogs, but that won’t stop them from eating it. Onions are also not good for dogs so it’s best to keep them away too. Never leave chocolate lying around.

Not all dogs are comfortable around other dogs or people. The best way to train your dog to be more comfortable around other animals or people is to expose them to as many people and other dogs as often as possible, preferably earlier in their life. This will make them accustomed to being around others.

The fastest way to train your dog to sit is to utilize positive reinforcement. If you command your dog to sit and he or she sits for a decent amount of time, then you can give the dog a treat. The dog will then recognize that when you say sit, if they succeed they will get a treat so they will eagerly sit longer and longer.

Generosity towards your dog goes a long way when you are trying to train your pet. Reward your pooch where rewarding is due and don’t be stingy with the doggie treats. You and your pet both deserve a reward for all your hard work and make sure to put enough time aside for your dog’s training.

As you can see from the article, it is possible to train your dog to be a good member of the family. It just takes patience, diligence and repetition. Your furry little friend will be the smartest on the block in no time at all and everyone will be asking you how you did it. Then you can direct them to these tips.

Visit dogsanddogtraining.com to discovermore about dog training tips and advice, dog care, types of dogs and other helpful dog information.

Dogs are considered to be man’s best friend and having a dog as a pet is proven to help owners be happy and live longer. In addition to companionship, dogs can prove helpful, but only if they are trained appropriately. Whether you want to train a dog simply for obedience or for a specific function, read on for some tips.

Stay away from high end training devices like shock collars. They often don’t function as well as advertised and are far more expensive than conventional training methods. Plus, using devices like shock collars can stifle your dog and discourage even good behavior. In general, using such techniques produces negative effects.

When training a dog it is very useful for the dog’s owner to do some research into training. By learning how to train a dog the proper way one will make their job much easier. It can be done the most effective way and be the easiest for both the owner and dog to adjust too.

When training a new puppy to come, a long rope is a great aid. Call the puppy while gently pulling it toward you and praising it for coming. When it reaches you, praise it even more and offer a favorite treat. Soon the puppy will associate its name and coming to you with praise and treats, then you won’t need the rope anymore.

When you take your puppy out to go to the bathroom, you must be patient with him. He has a short attention span and may get distracted by sounds and smells, or want to play. This is normal puppy behavior and should not be reprimanded, especially while he is still learning.

Don’t let your dog ‘own’ the furniture. To a bossy dog, the furniture is his fortress, giving him much more status than sitting on the floor. If your dog becomes possessive about the furniture, deny him access until he is ready to move for any human being, including a child or stranger. Stand with an erect posture and use a firm voice. Don’t use food to entice your dog off the furniture if he has already growled, as he will think he has been rewarded. Wait until he gets off the furniture on his own, and don’t allow him back up.

Set goals for training your dog. Decide what time of day you will work with your dog and how long you will work. Decide exactly what you want to work on, and be consistent. Work on the same things, in the same way, at the same time every day until mastered. Once you have accomplished one goal, build on it by adding something new. Don’t skip around or be inconsistent. This is confusing for your dog.

One tip to keep in mind when training your dog, is to be sure to never discipline your dog for bad behavior when he is ill. This will only confuse your dog and might cause him to not respond to discipline in the future. Examples of this would be, if your dog vomits or defecates in a manner that is not typical to his normal behavior.

It’s easy to let your dog run free when you bring him home for those first few weeks, only to want to later correct behaviors when they aren’t adorable anymore. Avoid communication breakdown by starting your training schedule immediately with your new dog, so he has the right idea from the start.

Following the tips in this article will ensure you have a well-trained dog. There are many options for training, including using professionals or doing it yourself. Whatever path you choose, you need to know that your dog can understand your commands and be in control in any situation you are in.

To find out more about dog training, dog breeds a-z, dog health and other interesting dog advice drop in at Dogs and Dog Training.com

There are a number of ways in which a dog vocalizes including howling, barking, growling and, of course, whining. Whining is perhaps the most subtle of these, but a sure attention getter, because humans normally interpret it as a cry of distress. I mean, who can resist such a pitiful sound?

It hasn’t taken dogs long to figure this out. In fact, some dogs have learned that whining can get them just about anything they want.

The Reason Your Dog May Be Whining

A dog will whine if it is scared, anxious, or in pain. Some dogs have even learned how to mimic being anxious or afraid to get attention. However, dogs do not mimic being hurt, so if your dog whines in pain, take it seriously.

The other causes of whining are fairly easy to treat. All it takes is a few, easy to implement, steps.How to Put a Stop to the Whining

Let’s talk about anxiety whining first. A dog that develops this behavior often does so by picking up on clues that you’re about to leave him alone, for example putting on your cap before going for a jog.

This then becomes the trigger that sets off your dog’s whining. In order to address this you’ll need to break the connection between your actions, and the dog’s reaction. There are a number of ways to do this.

For starters you could vary your routine. Or go through your normal routine a few times randomly, even when you have no intention of leaving. Or do your normal pre-leaving routine go outside for 30 seconds, then come back in.

All of these methods have the effect of breaking the dog’s connection between the routines he notices and the thing he fears (you leaving). It’s a simple methodology, but it works.

Dogs also whine when they are afraid, and this is particularly true of dogs left alone in an empty house. The obvious answer is to reduce his space.

Restricting your dog to just one or two rooms and giving him some crate training is an effective way of dealing with this form of whining.

It may take a bit of work to get the dog used to the crate but he’ll soon get enjoy being in his own “den”. This has the effect of calming the dog because he no longer feels compelled to patrol and protect the whole property. This works very well for dogs who suffer separation anxiety.

Addressing “Attention” Whining

Dogs can be quite manipulative and are quick to pick up on the outcomes of certain actions. For example, if you teach your dog to sit in order to receive a biscuit you’ll find that he starts to sit whenever he wants one – whether it’s on offer or not!Similarly, if your dog works out that you come running every time he whines, prepare yourself for plenty of running.

If you pay attention, you’ll soon pick up on the subtle ways in which your dog tries to manipulate you. You’ll have to learn how to ignore the attention seeking whining or your dog will wrap you around his little paw.

If you want to find out more about dog training tips, dog care, information on dogs and other interesting dog information check out www.dogsanddogtraining.com

When you hear of someone of getting a new dog you probably think of a puppy. But with the growing trend towards adopting dogs from shelters, it’s just as likely these days that the new dog will be an adolescent, or even an adult dog.

This is an admirable trend and one that should be encouraged, but it does raise some problems. Chief of these is that many of the dogs come with established behaviors and habits. Some are just difficult or stubborn, some have anxiety issues, others are outright aggressive.

In many cases, the dog soon finds himself back at the pound, and the owner is left with guilt and regret. But it doesn’t have to come to this because, with the right method, consistently applied, just about any dog can be trained.

Before you even start thinking about training though, there are two misconceptions you need to clear up. The first is that you should pity the dog.

Many of these dogs have suffered at the hands of humans, and many have stories that would stir all but the hardest heart. But your pity won’t help them get over that. What will help is your patience love, care and understanding.

Dogs are quite willing to forgive and forget, so focus your energy instead on creating a stable environment, and providing consistent leadership and positive training.

The other mistaken belief is that the way to train a “difficult” dog is to make him comply by using force. This is a lie, plain and simple.

Barbaric methods like choke chains and shock collars have no place in modern dog training. No responsible trainer uses them and if one so much as suggests you do, take your dog elsewhere.

These methods are possibly the worse thing you can do with an aggressive dog. Effectively what you’re doing is approaching an already aggressive animal with violence, and that my friend, is just asking to be bitten. So don’t ever use violent training methods with any dog.

What approach should you take? Start with the basics, crate training, potty training if required and then some obedience work. Keep it positive and reward based with lots of praise and treats, and remember that dogs can learn at any age.

Be mindful that your results will be less predictable than if you were training a puppy, and that you’ll need tons of patience and persistence.

Also remember that all dogs are different. Some are much more difficult to train than others, with age, breed and other factors all playing a part. With an older dog, whose history you don’t know, there is also the issue of past trauma affecting the dog’s trainability.

But with persistent application you will succeed. Need a role model? Well Frank Inn, the famous Hollywood dog trainer found virtually all his star performers (including Higgins, the dog who played Benji), at dog shelters.

There’s a lot more about dog training, dog care, dog walking and other interesting dog information at dogsanddogtraining.com