Dog Training Tips – Teaching Your Dog to Sit
Many people’s experience with dog training can be described like this; when their dog is six months to a year old, they sign up for a dog obedience class; some make it through the six or eight week course and some do not; but for many, that is the end of their dog’s education, and they describe their pet as “an obedience school dropout.”
To these people, I say, “Let’s be honest.” The dog didn’t drop out. You did. After all, who didn’t drive to the class or decided to skip the session?”
The Problem with Obedience School
But in fairness to dropouts, let’s also admit that a dog obedience class can be a frustrating experience for both dog and owner if this class is the dog’s first experience with training. Obedience classes traditionally begin with the heel command, which is actually one of the more complex things you can ask a dog to understand. It’s like expecting a child to learn algebra when they haven’t had basic arithmetic.
When you give a dog the heel command, what you’re asking him/her to do is not one specific thing. What your dog is supposed to do depends entirely on what you’re doing. Should your dog walk when you walk, turn when you turn, and stop when you stop. Add to that the fact that, if this is the first training experience, your poor dog doesn’t even understand that training is what is going on. The dog is not a bad dog, and is not a stupid dog, but he/she not only doesn’t know what you’re asking it to do, your dog also probably doesn’t even understand that you’re asking it to do something.
An Easier Way
It doesn’t have to be this way. There is a simpler way to train your dog, so relaxed that you can begin training your puppy the day you bring her home.
The “sit” command is the most universally useful command you can teach your dog. The new dog owner might wonder why. “How is this useful? The dog is not doing anything!”
Exactly! A dog that is sitting is not jumping all over your grandmother, or whatever other obnoxious behavior you want it to stop doing. And more importantly, a dog that is sitting when told is a dog that is under control and doing what you want.
The traditional method of teaching the sit command is to have the dog on leash at your side, repeat the command “Sit” while you pull up on the leash and push down on her butt. You’re forcing the dog into the correct position, but this is not enjoyable and can be stressful and frustrating for both you and the dog.
But why force the dog into position when you can coax? Start with a treat, something yummy like dried liver, or even a piece of kibble if he/she hasn’t been fed yet. Call the dog, get his/her attention, and make sure your dog knows you have a treat.
It won’t take long. Within seconds your dog will be there, his/her nose right at your fingertips. From this position, all you have to do is move the treat back over his/her nose and the top of it’s head.
Keep your hand only an inch or two over the dog’s head; too high and she’ll rear up on her hind legs. But, with the treat moving right back over her head, the nose will follow it, up and back… until… he/she… SITS!
Say good doggie, and reward him/her with a treat.
Do this a number of times every day. When you feed your dog, he/she will probably be jumping and frisking when your dog sees you coming with the food bowl. Tell your dog to sit, and when your dog sits, tell him/her is a good dog and set down the bowl.
You don’t need to give the dog a treat now every time you tell him/her to sit. But do give your dog a praise! Your dog is doing what you asked it to do, acknowledge that, let your dog know how pleased you are, and what a good dog he/she is.
These exercises are not just useful in themselves, your dog is also learning to learn. Your dog is learning that sometimes you want it to do something, that there is a word associated with the thing you want her to do, and that if he/she pays attention, he/she can figure it out.
Above all, never consider that you’re “done” training your dog. There’s always something new to learn, and new ways for you and your dog to have fun together.
Derrick Madison has two wonderful dogs, and shares his dog training methods on his blog. For more information on dog training techniques, and how to deal with problem dog behavior, you can visit his blog at: Dog Behavior Training 101
Dog Grooming Tips
Many people overlook the importance of grooming their dog to their overall health and well-being. Grooming is an essential part of caring for your dog, and should be done on a regular basis for the best results. Some of the benefits your pet will reap are increased skin oils resulting in a beautiful, healthy coat, a decrease in skin problems, less shedding around the house and car, and a more obedient pet, just to name a few.
You will need plenty of patience to groom and style your dog if you plan to do it on a regular basis, especially if it does not like this type of treatment. You will need to learn a few tips, ideas, and professional hints on grooming your pet if you ever want your pet to have show quality care by you. A knowledgeable professional pet groomer will be able to give you advice on not just how to groom your dog, but on how to care for your dog as well. You will be pleased to find out that qualified, experienced pet groomers offer seminars for advice and trimming demonstrations for your dog.
It is a good idea to start using environmentally safe and animal friendly (non-toxic) substitutes when grooming your dog. You must groom your dog’s whole body including the legs, tail, and underbody if you want to do it right. You must groom certain dogs from the skin outward to truly be effective in taking care of their coat of hair and keeping it healthy. Comb through the unseen healthy hair and remove the shedding hair; this is what most groomers do first before cutting your pet’s coat. You must groom some animals all at once, while some other animals have so much hair that it is easier to do a little at a time each day.
You know your dog is well-mannered when it will sit still and allow you or a professional to perform regular grooming and maintenance without any fuss. The more often you groom your dog, the better he will be at receiving your attentions and responding to your commands. This will also strengthen the bond between you.
Last but not least, you might want to rethink your choice to get a dog if you are not ready to handle all the responsibility of grooming and feeding one. If you don’t have the time or the desire to do it yourself, than its time to call the professionals. Yours dog will love you for it, and you’ll feel great about it too.
I own both dogs and horses, and have shown both. You can get more pet grooming tips by visiting my site at Pet Grooming Tips
The Chinese Shar-Pei Dog Breed Essential Tips And Info
The Chinese Shar-Pei is a great family dog that has an expensive, exotic look. She is loving toward the family yet she makes a great watchdog and guard dog. She was originally bred to fight so she may fight other dogs. Take care to have her under control when walking her.
Good With Children?
They are good with older children, especially if they have been socialized at an early age. As a reminder, never leave a young child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.
Good With Other Pets?
They can tend to fight. Some are good with other animals if they are socialized with them early on.
Trainability
They are highly intelligent but may be manipulative. They really require an experienced owner.
Approximate Adult Size
The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the Chinese Powder Puff is 18 to 20 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 35 to 45 pounds.
Special Health Considerations
Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Chinese Shar-Pei is no exception. Be on the look out for skin problems, fevers, and amolydosis (kidney failure). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
Grooming
The Chinese Shar-Pei has a short, harsh coat with plenty of loose skin on the head and body. You should check folds of skin regularly to insure that there is no irritation. Brush daily if possible to help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.
Life Span
The Chinese Shar-Pei can live between 7 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
Chinese Shar-Pei History
They are an ancient breed from China dating back to 200 BC. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1991.
For more information on the Chinese Crested or a complete list of dog breeds visit this Dog Behaviour website.
Dog Training Tips : How to Train a Dog to Use the Litter Box
Train a dog to use the litter box by supervising and encouraging the proper behavior. Train a dog to use the litter box with tips from an experienced dog trainer in this free video on dog obedience. Expert: Ty Brown Contact: www.communicanine.net Bio: Ty Brown has been a dog trainer for over 10 years. Filmmaker: Michael Burton
1001 Forever Beauty Tips
Let Your Body, Mind & Spirit Shine With Magnetic Personality! Secrets on makeup tips, body, hair, hand, legs & skin care, Also beauty recipes, weight-loss, nutrition, exsercises and more.
1001 Forever Beauty Tips
German Shepherd Dog Breed Information and Best Tips
The human-dog correlation forms an essential part of the society. Legends and tradition have surrounded a part of the character and teaching guidance for the dog. With the introduction of science and human psychology, many scientists have made efforts to characterize and identify the activities of the dogs and the methods involved in training them. Difficulties in the relationship of dog and human aroused during the middle of the 20th century. But, in the 21st century, researches have proved that, hardships were removed depending on the selection of breeds of dogs appropriate to human needs. This small but momentous march may help in maintaining a good relationship with the owners of the dog and the public. There are several breeds of dogs available. A family can select a dog on the available breeds depending on their security requirements.
This article deals with the German shepherd dog also called as Alsatian Shepherd. This breed of dogs shows self-assurance, friendliness and devotion to the owners than other breed of dogs. The recognition of German Shepherds still holds good as they have an unjustified status as aggressive Shepherds, because of their similarity to their far-away predator, the wolf. These dogs become hard to be handled if meddled harshly. They act as watch dogs for houses and also are used for protection purposes because of their courage, heroism, stubbornness, power and vigor. German Shepherds are generally not used in the security services like in army and police. But they are used at homes, since they show loyalty, love and affection to their owners.
German Shepherds are medium sized dogs and normally weighs about 40 kgs. Ears of these dogs remain wilted and droopy and become hard after they grow. Shepherds have sparkling eyes with a package of dense fur and have a proportionate structure towards their adulthood. These dogs develop some problems around the waist called dysphasia due to over jumping and shaking of the body and this leads to joint problems. Skin problems are common in Shepherds and everyday grooming is a must for these dogs. Perfect good food is essential to avoid skin problems.
These dogs eat normally 800gms of meal per day. They normally prefer fresh foods like meat and vegetables, other than dried dog foodstuffs. Shepherds normally prefer long walks and like straying outside the home. These dogs usually sleep outside the door of the house and provide safety and security. In short, these dogs are called as pet dogs. Socialism and instillation of good habits can be made possible by providing proper training to these dogs. It is more important to keep them psychologically and physically engaged.
Scientific researches have proved that by ascertaining a dog’s physical structure and behavioral characters, it becomes possible to decide on the breed of dogs appropriate to specific tasks and environments. More significantly, community may be enhanced with a dog or breed of dog, reducing the occurrence of activities arising from unsuited human-dog interactions. However, further study needs to be done to simplify and recover the functioning and social interactions with dogs.
For more information on the German Shepherd or the different Dog breeds take a look at this Dog Training website.
The Poodle Dog Breed Tips And Advice On Health And Care
While ranked as one of the ten most popular breeds, Poodles also have their share of Poodle health problems just like any other dog breed. Problems that affect the eyes are the most common for Poodles. Progressive retinal atrophy or PRA is the most common eye problem for Poodles. This condition destroys the photoreceptors found on the retina in the eye. Basically it causes the retina to shrivel up as the disease progresses until the dog goes completely blind. As the dog ages the condition will get progressively worse, but it can appear in dogs anywhere between two years of age to eight years of age.
A sudden appearance of being afraid of the dark is the most common symptom for a dog with this condition. PRA is also caused by a recessive gene that can remain dormant in a line of dogs for several generations before showing up in a dog. It is very difficult to predict which dogs will get PRA and currently there is no cure.
There are many more Poodle health problems that you should be aware and not just the eyes. Your dog can be affected by other Poodle health problems such as a bleeding disorder known as Von Willebrand’s Disease, which affects the proteins in the platelets. As a result the dog’s platelets don’t have their normal adhesive properties and then they can’t stick together in order to stop a dog from bleeding. The blood will not clot normally with any injury. Typically this condition is unnoticed in the dog until they have surgery or experience a traumatic injury, usually causing the dog to bleed out before treatment can be done.
If you have a miniature Poodle then there is achondroplasia, which is a condition where the long bone cartilage in the leg hardens because of their abnormally short legs. For the larger standard Poodle the common bone problem is hip dysphasia, which is a malformation of the hip socket and femoral head. Then there are allergies that can cause skin conditions on the face and feet. Some can result in itching, others in moist and smelly skin and still others that cause pustules to appear.
Poodle health problems include bloat, which can occur in standard Poodles. This is a condition that can happen in any breed that is large and deep chested. While the exact cause is not known the results of this condition are always and quickly fatal. With this condition the stomach fills with an excessive amount of gas and stomach fluids and cause the stomach to blow up like a balloon.
The buildup is the result of the stomach flipping itself over causing both ends to twist close. The only cure for a dog with this condition is to receive surgical care from a veterinarian within a few hours. Without the care of a veterinarian the dog will die and it will be painful for the dog. However, the bad news is that even with surgery the dog’s chances of survival are not that high, but successful surgeries often correct the problem for the life of the dog.
Get more info and advice on the Poodle or a full list of dog breeds at this Dog Behaviour website.
5 Effective Dog Training Tips
Whether you just got a new puppy, or you adopted an older dog, no doubt you want to train your dog to be well behaved. This can vary from house training your dog, to training your dog how to sit and stay. No matter what kind of training you are trying to do with your dog, there are some tips that can be very helpful to you. The following are five effective dog training tips that can help you train your dog in half the time.
Dog Training Tip #1 – Use Positive Reinforcement – Unfortunately there are many people who try training their dog by using negative techniques, and this is not an effective way to train your dog. Instead of yelling at your dog or giving him negative attention, it is important that you positively reinforce his good behavior when you are training him. Use praise, petting, and even treats whenever he performs well. You want the training to be fun for you and your dog, so make sure you use positive reinforcement for the best results.
Dog Training Tip #2 – Use Short Training Sessions – Just like children, dogs can be overwhelmed by a great deal of new information at one time. If you try to teach them too much in one setting, more than likely they will forget a good deal of it by the next day. It is best if you only have training sessions that last about 15-20 minutes with your dog. Every time you have a training session with your dog, try to focus on only one new command and reviewing previous commands that have been learned. This will help your dog better retain the information and training.
Dog Training Tip #3 – Use a Pleasant and Firm Voice – When you are training your dog the voice that you use is very important. You should be sure that you use a voice that is pleasant; however, you also want your voice to be firm and commanding as well. Make sure that your voice reflects that you are in control, but be sure that you do not sound mean.
dog training Tip #4 – Have Patience with Your Dog – If you are going to train your dog, you are going to need to make sure that you have plenty of patience. No doubt it will not be easy, but you need to make sure that you show your dog patience and not frustration. If you do not think that you have the patience to train your dog, then you may want to send him to obedience school or have someone else do it for you.
Dog Training Tip #5 – Avoid Any Distractions While Training – Another important tip to remember when trying to train your dog is to avoid any distractions while you are training your dog. If you happen to own any other pets, make sure that they are not around when you are trying to train your dog. You want the area to be free of distractions so your dog is focused on you and what you are trying to teach him.
Find out about the Innotek dog collar, how they work and the different types at Innotek dog training collars
Dog & Cat Tips : Symptoms of Lyme Disease in Dogs
Lyme disease in dogs often causes several symptoms, including depression, fever, decreased appetite, weight loss and joint stiffness. Look for chronic stiffness as an indication of a dog that has Lyme disease with help from aveterinarian in this free video on dog health. Expert: James Talbott Bio: Dr. James R. Talbott is a staff veterinarian at Belle Forest Animal Hospital and Kennel in Nashville, Tenn. Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge