Basic Dog Training Tips : How to Train a Dog to Sit
Learn how to train your dog to sit on command in this free video. Expert: Jim Leske Bio: My name is Jim Leske, Animal Behaviorist & Trainer. Filmmaker: Louis Nathan
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The Basic Commands For Dog Training
Training your dog well will make it a much better family companion, especially in households where there are young children. Many studies have shown that proper dog training makes a big impact when it comes to cutting down the number of dog bits and other behavior problems encountered by dog owning households.
When considering training your own dog, or having someone else help you train it, there are certain basic commands that must be mastered in order for a dog to be considered truly trained. These basic commands include:
• Heel – it is important that any dog learn to walk beside its owner on a loose lead, neither pulling ahead nor lagging behind.
• No – the word no is one word that all dogs must learn. Training your dog to respond to this important word can save you a ton of trouble.
• Sit – Training your dog to sit on command is a vital part of any dog training program.
• Stay – A well trained dog should remain where his or her owner commands, so stay is a very important command in dog training.
• Down – Lying down on command is more than just a cute trick; it is a key component of any successful dog training program.
Dog training does much more than just create an obedient, willing companion. Training your dog properly actually strengthens the bond that already exists between dog and handler. Dogs are pack animals, and they look to their pack leader to tell them what to do. The key to successful dog training is to set yourself up as that pack leader.
Establishing yourself as pack leader is a very important concept for any potential dog trainer to understand. There is only one leader in every pack of dogs, and the owner must establish him or herself as the dominant animal. Failure to do so leads to all manner of behavior problems.
A properly trained dog will respond properly to all the owner’s commands, and will not display anxiety, displeasure or confusion. A good dog training program will focus on allowing the dog to learn just what is expected of it, and will use positive reinforcement to reward desired behaviors.
Giving the dog a job is more important than you may think. Dogs were originally bred by humans to do important work, such as herding sheep, guarding property and protecting people. Many dogs today have no important job to do, and this can often lead to boredom and neurotic behavior.
Basic obedience training, and ongoing training sessions, provide the dog with an important job to do. This is especially important for high energy breeds like German shepherds and border collies. Training sessions are a great way for these high energy dogs to use up their extra energy and simply to enjoy themselves.
Incorporating playtime into your dog training sessions is a great way to prevent both yourself and your dog from becoming bored. Playing with your dog helps to strengthen the all important bond between you – the pack leader – and your dog.
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Basic Signs of a Sick Dog
You don’t have to be a trained veterinarian to know when you have a sick dog on your hands.
As a dog owner, you know how your buddy acts, smells, and feels when he’s healthy, and any change from that norm should be a tip-off that something is wrong.
It is a gut feeling, that your dog might be sick. Here are some signs to look for.
What’s the norm?
First, like humans, dogs will often show signs of fever when their bodies are fighting off infection. Although exact norms vary by breed, most healthy dogs will have:
A rectal temperature between 101 and 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
A respiratory rate between 15 and 20 breaths per minute.
A heart rate that falls between 80 and 120 beats per minute.
Pink mucous membranes on the gums, the tongue, the insides of the eyelids, and inside the lips.
Clean-smelling skin and ears, and clear, bright eyes.
When should I call the vet?
The short answer is: whenever you suspect there is a problem with your dog that you don’t know how to treat.
But there are also specific signs to look for, that should trigger a call to the vet, because they can indicate serious illness.
Do a quick check of your dog if you think something might be wrong.
Check the eyes: Is there redness, discharge, or swelling?
Check the nose: Is there discharge, running, or crusting?
Check the ears: Is there odor, debris, or discharge? Are they twitching or shaking?
Is your dog scratching at them?
If your check reveals anything out of the ordinary, call your animal health care center.
Warning signs
Warning signs that your dog is unhealthy and needs medical attention
Coughing, vomiting, gagging, and retching.
Heavy panting, shortness of breath, or irregular breathing patterns.
Discolored bowel movements, diarrhea, or constipation without a known cause.
Discolored urine, frequent urges to urinate, or straining during elimination; out-of-character “accidents.”
Unexplained changes in body weight, thirst, or appetite.
A change in your dog’s odor.
Lumps, cuts, scratches, or bite marks on your dog’s skin (self-inflicted or otherwise).
Hair loss or excessive dander, often accompanied by excessive licking.
Any evidence of parasites.
Even if there are no outward warning signs, changes in your dog’s behavior can be indicative of a serious problem.
Talk with your animal health provider if your dog displays signs of anxiety, depression, lethargy, fatigue, trembling, falling, stumbling, or sleepiness.
These behavioral cues, which may only be noticeable to you, may be your sick dog’s way of telling you he needs help.
Knowing your dog
You won’t always know the cause of your dog’s medical problem- but simply by caring for your dog and knowing his personality and daily routine, you will more often than not be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of pain, discomfort, and illness. Watch for changes in behavior, appearance, and appetite. Even if he can’t tell you why his stomach hurts, he will try to let you know – listen and watch, and you’ll get the message.
Lizzie Novotny R.N has an informative website about dogs, especially the hunting dog breeds. She raises, trains and shows dogs and horses, and is familiar with all aspects of their care. Find answers to your dog-related questions by visiting her website at http://www.the-hunting-dog.com
Learning About Basic About Dog Skin Problems
Dog skin problems may not seem worth worry, but in reality, they often develop complications. The term that is generally used for skin problems of dogs is eczema. It is used to refer to sore, swollen skin. But pinpointing the actual cause of eczema is not easy and sometimes even impossible.
dog skin problems are chiefly caused by soreness or dermatitis that leads to itch and irritation. Naturally, the dog, feeling uncomfortable scratches the swelled skin with its teeth and claws, thus causing hair loss and worse inflammation. Hence, this kind of skin disease of dogs is called itch-scratch-itch cycle. This may also cause rawness of skin, which will thus be an easy prey to bacterial infection.
There are a few definite symptoms of this kind of eczema:
? Scratching
? Rashes
? Reddened skin
? Loss of hair
? Body parts wet from licking (in white dogs, the infected parts grow brown by coming in constant contact with the saliva)
? Black and rough stuff in the fur
? Dryness of skin
? Worms attracted by the fur
? Infected spots, dandruff and mats
As you must have understood by now, the most effective way to avoid dog-skin problems is to keep your pet hygienic and clean. Regular bath and cleansing is necessary to keep the fur as well as the skin of your dog totally dirt free.
Many people still believe that grooming a dog is strictly optional and needed only for cosmetic reasons. Don’t pay heed to them. Good grooming is mandatory if you want your pet to be healthy. It is a useful way to test the presence of fleas, ticks, and other signs of diseases, that can cause skin problem to your dog.
You must be wondering now about how many times to give your dog a bath. First of all, it’s obvious that if your dig was playing outdoors or gets into something dirty, he needs a bath at once. Otherwise you have to decide upon the number of times you should bathe it, according to the texture of its fur.
If your pet has a smooth coat like a Dalmatian or a Whippet, it requires bath only twice a year. The same rule prevails if it’s a Golden Retriever or Saint Bernard.
If the fur of your dog is long like a Bearded Collie or a Maltese, it faces greater risks of entanglement and other dog skin problems. He needs at least once in a month bath schedule to stay fit.
On the other hand, a wirehaired dog like the Schnauzer or Norfolk Terrier, will require a month at the interval of 3-4 months.
Finally, if your dog has cute, curly fur as a Poodle or a Curly-Coated Retriever then be sure to face entanglement and knots to occur frequently. For these dogs, a bath becomes necessary every 6-8 weeks to keep them away from skin problems.
Muscle Atrophy In The Older Dog: It is natural that every mammal’s muscles grow weaker and smaller with advancing age. But still, there are two muscle disorders on dogs, which initially look like normal weakness but are actually poorly comprehended complex problems.
The first disease is often termed as polymyositis, which causes inflammation of one or more muscles in the body. The chief symptom is that the dog feels weak at its leg muscles after a period of physical exercise and may fall down. After a time, it will seem to get better only to reveal in a while that it is not and would thus fall down again.
This disease generally affects dogs during late middle and early old age. The root cause may be various but apparently deficiency in the dog’s immunity system is primary. Treatment with corticosteroids has proved to be effective. Although sometimes the muscles of the esophagus are affected and swallowing becomes difficult, they are successful to an extent.
The second disorder that occurs mainly in older dogs is muscular dystrophy. It is very similar to the muscular dystrophy that we see in human beings. Affected animals become inflexible in its movements as the muscles go on becoming smaller in size and weaker in strength. The cause of this disease is yet to be discovered and thus, the only treatment possible is to sooth the patient, trying to make him comfortable and is often based on the specie concerned.
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The Stipes to Find Out Basic Dog Helath Problems
As a pet owner, it is an important responsibility on your part to keep your dog healthy. You must bring your dog to the vet regularly. Even a healthy puppy will require many visits to the vet. Vaccinations, exams, worming, spaying, neutering and flea control are a few of the things that requires to be done to your dog on its first year of life to protect it from disease and other dog health problems.
Your dog cannot tell you when it feels sick. It is very good to get use to your dog’s normal behavior. Any sudden change to his physical or social behavior may signal the onset of a dog health problem, and early detection may save your dog’s life. If your dog gets sick, take him to the vet right away. Veterinary care protects your health as well as your pet’s, as the dog may carry a disease that can be transmitted to people. The most dangerous and well-known transmittable disease by far is rabies, a disease that causes almost certain death if not treated immediately.
Get used to learning the signs of illness in your dog. A sick dog usually tires easily, drinks excessive amounts of water and/or refuse to eat. The other signs that can show are fever, runny or red eyes, dry nose, convulsions, and also dry cough. Frequent vomiting and loose bowel movement may also indicate a medical problem.
Parasitic worms are also a cause for concern as these parasites cause various dog health problems. Blood tests to check for heartworms should be included in your dog’s annual checkup. These parasites are transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause serious illness. Your vet can prescribe you medicine that will protect your dog against heartworms.
Fleas and ticks are also a nuisance to your pet’s health. They can cause anemia or paralysis. Keeping your dog clean and well groomed can help minimize this threat. Cleaning and dusting your pet’s quarters with flea powder weekly can also help keep your dog free of fleas.
As an owner there are preventive measures that you can take in order to prevent dog health problems from manifesting. Make sure that you give your dog the best nutrition possible in order for him to develop a shield against common diseases associated with malnutrition or improper diet. Keep your pet healthy and in shape by giving him plenty of room and time to exercise. Follow your veterinarian’s vaccination schedule and regularly bring your dog for check-ups in order to detect any early signs of trouble. Always, give your dog regular prevention medicine for his/hers heartworm and also the other parasites. Always keep your dog well-groomed and clean. Brush your dog’s teeth or give it a tooth cleaning treat every week to avoid any gum or dental problems. Most of all, do not forget to give your dog lots of affection and firm but fair discipline to help keep him mentally healthy and happy.
Your vet can tell you more about common dog health problems for your dog’s particular breed, so make sure you ask about them on your dog’s next visit.
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