Dogs Obedience Training

November 17th, 2008 by admin

In my experience, as a dog owner, it can be a nightmare to find a rental home that allows dog(s). All you have to do is look in the classifieds under rentals to see why. Probably 95- 100 percent of the ad will state no pets.

The few that will allow dogs sometimes will only allow a small dog. The ad may even state a specific weight like 20 lbs or less. I never understood this. A small dog can be just as destructive as any big dog can. I have also seen many small dogs who were much more vocal than some big dogs. I have even seen little dogs that were extremely aggressive. So what is the benefit to a landlord to allow a small dog but not a large dog. I would love to know the answer to this question because it has never made any sense to me.

Lord help you if you dare to have more than one dog things get even more complicated. Even the type of dog can cause undo problems for a dog owner. I remember when we had 2 dobermans. The landlord was ok with us having 2 dogs in the beginning. After we moved in he stopped by and realized they were dobermans and had all kinds of problems with it. I think part of it was a house insurance issue. Which is a whole other topic I would like to discuss at another time.

However there are things you can do to help persuade a potential landlord. First of all make sure you dog is well behaved. Maybe even put him through the good citizen course. Upon completion he will get a certificate for it. This basically says your dog has passed a test of basic manors and is well behaved. This certificate can be used to show your new landlord that your dogs are well behaved.

Once I called a landlord that had a listing that said absolutely no pets, even though I had 2 dogs and a cat at the time. The place was perfect for us and had all the things we were looking for. I felt like we had nothing to lose so I called them. I asked them if they were willing to meet us and our dogs and see how well behaved they were. When we met with them they saw that the dogs were very well behaved. Seeing us make the extra effort for our dogs may have help sway them also. At that time we also offered a separate cash deposit for the pets. Part of it was to be non refundable and part was refundable after a year. I think a non refundable deposit for a pet is more than reasonable. The landlord should be able to clean carpets and treat for fleas regardless if there are any just for peace of mind for the next tenant.

The other portion was a refundable deposit. We allowed walkthroughs once a month for the 1st three months to ensure them that the dogs were not doing any damage to their property. After one year they walked through again and refunded our deposit although we continued to live there after the first year.

Cash security deposits can be an additional incentive to help convince a landlord to trust you and give your dog(s) a chance. The deposit affords them some protection in the event that damage is caused by the dog(s). Your deposit shows the landlord that you trust your dog not to cause damage. I love when I feel like I have helped convert a landlord to be a pet friendly renters. I hope that anyone given the chance to rent with a dog respects the opportunity they are given. Each time a landlord has a good experience renting to a dog owner the better it is for the next dog owner. All it takes to do this is to be a good dog owner. If your dog does happen to damage something make sure it is repaired before you move out.

References can also be a big help in bolstering your case to a potential landlord. You could even invite you potential landlord to visit you at your current place. This gives your potential landlord a chance to physically see that your dog is not destructive. Be creative you know can sometimes change a landlords mind with a well behaved dog and some incentives. Landlords are just worried that there rental will get destroyed sometimes they just need to be shown that it does not have to be that way.

I would say that the majority of adult dogs are not destructive. I also believe that when it comes to puppies the risk is far less now do to the increasing use of crate training.. Crate training young dogs and puppies drastically reduces the opportunity for a pup to cause damage in the home.

Having done some painting over the years for some landlords I have seen my share of damaged apartments. I am here to tell you that human being do far more damage than any dog I have ever seen. The worst I have seen dog wise most commonly is when the dog owners leave these poor dogs locked up or left behind to defecate all over the place. More realistically the landlord will have to freshen the carpets and maybe plant a little grass seed. I have owned many dogs over the years and honestly any damage that has been done was usually to our stuff not the structure of the house. Examples shoes. remote controls. pillows couches etc. The only damage to any home from any dog I have had has been a few scratches in the wood by the door and maybe some grass missing from wear in the back yard.

November 17th, 2008 by admin

As a dog owner, most of us have had to deal with an ear problem or two over the years. Unfortunately some ear problems are persistent and chronic.

Some breeds are more prone to develop ear problems than others. Cocker Spaniels are one of these breeds. In general dogs with long floppy ears have more ear problems than dogs with erect ears. The hanging ears create a warm moist environment perfect for bacteria to grow.

When your dog has a problem with his ears there are usually signs but not always. Usually in erect eared dogs you can see some redness or swelling. Sometimes you can smell a bad odor coming from your dog. If you do detect an odd odor from your dog it is a good idea to check his ears for any problems.

Ear problems can be very itchy sometimes. A dog will often scratch at their ears or even rub them on the floor to get some relieve. This constant itching often causes more damage to the ear if left untreated. If the ears get to painful to scratch a dog will often resort to shaking his head. Sometimes an owner does not always connect the head shaking to an ear problem until it is too late.

Constant head shaking will eventually cause hematomas. The violent head shaking causes broken blood vessels in the ear flap. The blood has nowhere to go so it pools in the ear flap causing a blood bubble. This is called a hematoma.

Hematomas usually need to be surgically opened and allowed to drain. As you can see quick treatment is best. Treatment usually consists of ear drops and antibiotics. This is far less expensive for you and less traumatic for your dog.

Ear problems are often connected to other allergies. I had two dogs with skin problems that fell into this category. Extra care also needs to be taken with dogs that like to swim. Always dry their ears well and you may want to ask your vet about an ear product that helps dry and or keep the ear dryer. There are several products for this purpose.

I have two dogs right now that have had ear problems in the past. One is a German Shepherd and the other is a Siberian Husky and both have erect ears. It seemed about every 3-6 months their ears would get red and itchy. Treatment with antibiotics and drops did help but the problem would reoccur. Over the years I have tried some home remedies to help soothe itchy ears and prevent future incidents. I did find that zinc powder such as gold bond did seem to give temporary relief and sometimes resolved the problem if caught quickly.

After all these years I have found a home remedy that has worked like magic for me and others. It is tea tree oil. I had been looking into natural remedies for our family and picked up some tea tree oil. It has many uses. It is used for itching and can be added to shampoo. It is also good to clean abrasions. it has antibiotic and anti fungal properties. I suggest you read more about it and decide for yourself but we think it is a wonderful thing to have around for your family and pets.

Anyway one of the dog’s ears were getting red and itchy again so i wiped them out with the tea tree oil and we did not have another problem for about 6 months. the next time I did the same and now it has been about 2 years since either dog have had a problem with their ears.

I have recommended this to a few people with very good results also. My sister was one of them. Her dog Bella has chronic ear problems. Each year they seemed to get worse. the last time she had to have surgery to drain a really bad hematoma. After she healed from than incident I recommended the tea tree oil and she has not had any further problems since.

I am not saying it will work for everyone but if all else fails you may want to try it. I know it has been wonderful solution for many of us. You can find tea tree oil in many stores in the 1st aid isle usually or at health stores such as G.N.C.

I would love to hear feed back from anyone who tries the tea tree oil.

November 15th, 2008 by admin

The sit command is probably the first command most people teach their dog. It has many practical uses and can be applied to many situations. A dog in sit position can not be involved in another activity such as jumping etc. It is also often used as a way of asking your permission and showing respect to you as the leader.

Often dogs are taught to sit before the are allowed to eat or go out. This basically teaches and reinforces to your dog that you are the leader. Teaching your dog to sit before he goes out or eats or goes up the stairs is also very practical.

A dog racing you up the stairs or bolting out an open door can be dangerous especially if you have children. A dog that is taught to sit before it goes out a door is less likely to run out the door when a child opens it also. Children that are old enough should ask the dog to sit as well before going out or feeding them. It helps let the dog know where his place is in the family pack. Your dog’s place in the pack should always be at the bottom.

There are two basic ways of teaching the sit command. The first is to put your dog on a leash and place him on your left side. With the leash in right take your left hand and slightly push on the top of your dog’s butt and push down. When his bottom touches then you say “sit”. This way he understands that sit is when his bottom is on the ground. This was the way I was taught in my first dog training class. Some dogs did fine with this but some resisted. The owners that had dogs that resisted were told to squeeze hard right in front of the dogs hip bones as they pressed. If your dog does sit with the gentle version of this fine. If not move on to my on to the second way to teach a sit.

The second way to teach a sit is really the best way to it. In fact I think it is the only way a sit should be taught. Even if you are gentle with the above method it still won’t work for some dogs. Some dogs are very sensitive to touch. When you touch them it actually distracts them from learning. And the rough version is unacceptable to me. Learning should be fun not painful and frustrating for you or your dog. The method I prefer to use to teach a sit is lure training. It is basically what it sounds like. You use a piece of food or maybe your dogs favorite toy to lure him into a sit.

Take the lure item and hold it close to your dogs nose and lift if up and behind towards his back. Do not let him grab it from you until his bottom touches the ground. When his bottom touches the ground say “sit”. There is no point saying sit to your dog before he actually learns what it means. If your dog keeps scooting back place him with his behind close to a corner. When he has nowhere to back up to he will hopefully sit for you.

After some practice he will learn to sit faster because he is starting to get it. He is learning that he does not get anything until he sits. When he starts sitting quickly you know he probably understands. To really test this you say sit without the lure in front of him. If he sits give him his reward. If he does sit on command over and over you know he understands the meaning of the word. Now when you train mix up the rewards. On the first sit maybe give him a treat. The second time maybe pet him a little. The third time just tell him excitedly what a good boy he is. This causes some confusion because he never knows when he is going to get a treat so he will sit each time. You do not want a dog who will only sit when he knows you have food.

Adding a hand signal for sit is pretty easy. You may want to teach this in case you are unable to tell him verbally to sit such as if he is at a far distance from you or talking on the phone. The hand signal is similar to the movement of luring into a sit. Start with your right arm down at your side, palm open bend your all the way up. By using the verbal command “sit” and the hand signal together it connects the two. Test your dog by just using the hand signal alone. If he does not sit using the hand signal alone go back to using both together. Eventually he will sit with either the hand signal or verbal signal.

After your dog learns to sit you need to clarify what sit means. Sit does not just mean to put your bottom on the floor. It means to sit and not get up until you release your dog. So after he understands the basic sit you want to ask more of him. To release your dog you say “okay”. You want to move him out of the sit as you say “okay”. You can do this by encouraging him to move forward and out of the sit. You can do this by moving back way from him or gently with the leash or collar. If he pops up before the command try to say “okay” as he comes up anyway. Either way it helps him make the connection. A good example is he is on the leash by your side in the sit position. As you say “okay’ you start to walk. Your movement and gently pull on the leash will encourage him out of the sit. As you progress you will move into the sit stay command. The sit stay indicates to your dog that he will be in the sit for some time.

Always make training fun. Keep each session short and successful. Always quit while your dog is doing well and you are happy. If you train to long he can get bored and stop working for you and you will get frustrated as well. You are always better off training 2 or 3 shorter lesson a day rather than one that is too long. For a puppy I would only train a few minutes at at a time working up to 15 minutes. Your puppy will let you know when the lesson is getting to long. If this happens adjust the lessons accordingly.

When we got our husky Buddy we found that although he was smart he was stubborn. At least that was what I thought then because he would learn a command quickly but would not necessarily do it over and over. I learned that he was not stubborn or stupid just not motivated. A lot of dogs will do something for you just to please you or for food(such as the Labrador). Apparently my Husky was more of a what’s in it for my dog. I thought about it from his point of view. What does Buddy love? Buddy loves to play. So I made a game out of it. When ever he sat or downed for me on command we would run a little. Sounds silly but that was his motivator. He loved it. It just made training fun for him. So if your dog is not motivated by food, praise or toys this may just be the ticket for you. It is a very good way for kids to train since it puts them in control of the fun their dog has when he listens.

Well good luck to all and as always keep it fun.

October 31st, 2008 by admin

Shih Tzu - Chinese Lion Dog

The Shih Tzu dog breed survived a tragic history to become one of the most popular toy breeds around today. Shih Tzu historical information reveals that the breed has roots in royalty.

The Shih Tzu originated as the pampered pet of Tibetan Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi, who bred the dogs prolifically between 1861, when she came into power, and 1908, when she died. Her successor disdained the little dogs and everything they represented. As a result, many dogs were killed after the Empress’s death. Surviving Shih Tzus belonged mostly to foreigners and members of Chinese nobility, who had received the dogs as gifts from the Empress.

The breed first appeared in the United Kingdom during the late 1920s or early 1930s. North American soldiers who got to know the breed in Europe during World War II became fond of the little dogs and brought them back to the United States and Canada.

Perhaps because of careful breeding to make them suitable as royal pampered pets, the Shih Tzu has a happy disposition and a strong desire to be the center of attention. The Shih Tzu is a lap dog who is content to spend hour after hour relaxing in the company of humans. Because of their small size—nine to sixteen pounds—and easygoing personality, these sturdy dogs are especially popular with apartment dwellers.

The dogs were bred to have a lion-like appearance, with their flattened facial muscles, bowed legs, bulging eyes, and intimidating facial expressions earning them the nickname of “lion dogs.” Their wrinkled faces were also said to resemble chrysanthemum flowers, giving rise to the breed’s second nickname of “chrysanthemum dog.”

The Shih Tzu coat ranges in colors from solid black or gold to several multi-color combinations. The breed’s elegant appearance comes from its long, slightly wavy coat, which requires daily attention.

The dog makes an excellent family pet but is equally content to be a companion for a single owner or a couple without children. The Shih Tzu is happiest when it is the center of attention, so families with infants or very young children are advised to wait until the children are a bit older before purchasing a Shih Tzu, to avoid potential problems with jealousy.

The British Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1935, and the breed continues to be popular in the U.K. and Europe. In 2006, the Shih Tzu ranked ninth in the American Kennel Club’s rankings of breed popularity. This is a particularly remarkable accomplishment, considering that the AKC first recognized the breed in 1969. The little Shih Tzu has come a long way in the United States in just under forty years, and it is likely to continue to grow in popularity as more and more people discover what a delightful pet this breed is.

The Shih Tzu is as well known for its delightful personality as it is for its long, flowing coat. Shih Tzu information can be found online, at public libraries, and from breeders.

Source : http://hubpages.com/hub/shih-tzu

September 15th, 2008 by admin

How can I stop my dog chewing my stuff? Well, to prevent the problem you’ll need to understand the reasons why dogs chew.

Most dogs have a natural desire to chew. It is fun, it is a self-rewarding, self-reinforcing activity and it passes the time. Chewing provides a nerous, bored, or lonely dog with an outlet for his emotions. To an anxious dog, the repetitive act of chewing is soothing - it’s the doggie equivalent of comfort food. Underexercised dog often use chewing as a way of burning up nervous energy and giving themselves something to do!

So now you understand why your dog chews, how do you prevent this chewing problem?

Remember to give your dog time to learn the rules, and plenty of ‘your time’ to help him learning faster.

Stop Dog Chewing Tips

Chewing problem can be easily fix but what it needs is a little effort from you. Here’s the steps on how to solve dog chewing problem:-

1. Set up a dog-proof home - take whatever you don’t want to end up in your dog’s mouth, and making it unavailable. Item such as books, eyewear, clothing, shoes, garbage, small crunchy appliances like cameras, cell phones, remote controls, and food or snacks on low tables or even countertops (if your dog can jump, climb, or leap onto something else to reach the desired object.)
2. Set Prevent your dog from learning the joys of illegal chewing. The more times your dog manages to snatch a jowful of a forbidden substance, the more readily he’ll target those items in future. If you can prevent your dog from chewing your stuff in the first place, it is a lot easier for him to understand what you expect of him.
3. Don’t confuse your dog by blurring the boundaries between his stuff(ok to chew) and your stuff (NOT ok to chew). Don’t offer your dog cast-off clothes, wornned shoes, or old towels to chew and play with. Your dog cannot tell the difference between the cast-off clothes and your new clothes.
4. Provide your dog with lots of tasty alternatives to your stuff. Give your dog two or three to play with at a time. Rotating the available toys every few days will keep things novel and interesting for your dog.
5. Spend lots of time in active supervision. Your dog can’t learn what you expect of him if he’s spending all his time boxed up in the dog-proof zone. He need the opportunity to explore the boundaries of your expectations. So your dog can understand what’s appropriate and what’s not.
6. When you catch your dog chewing something in appropriate, interrupt your dog by making a loud noise such as clap your hands or make an “Ah-ah-aaaah!’ noise. Then immediately hand your dog an alternative chew toy or bone. Once his jaws close around it, praise him generously. There’s no better way to get your dog to understand that chewing his toys equals praise from you, but everything else equals trouble.

September 12th, 2008 by admin

Yes - it can be done!

Many families combine having a dog with going out to work and school, often having to leave their pet alone for several hours at a time. This is not really an ideal situation when getting a young dog, and a question often asked by new dog owners is about how to house train a puppy when you are working full time.

Dogs Training

As I mentioned, it is not ideal to bring a puppy into your home if there is no one around to give it companionship (and boundaries) during such a formative time. My first recommendation would be to THINK HARD about whether the time is right to get a dog in the first place and that you take time to choose the right type of dog. Set aside your own emotions (and perhaps, also, pressure from the kids) and work out if you have the time necessary to give a dog the training needed. Ask yourself these questions:

- Will I really have the patience to not get annoyed if I come home from a hard day at the office and have to clean up dog mess?

- Can I find time during working hours to come home and let the dog out?

- If Not, is there someone who can do it for me?

If you are able to honestly answer yes to them, then you can learn how to house train a puppy and be able to teach your dog other lessons that need to be taught.

Here are my five steps on how to house train a puppy when you are working:

1) Plan everything with military precision, right down to the time of year you get your dog. Bring her home during the summer months, so that you are not inclined to rush the outside toilet time.

2) Bring your new puppy home during a period When your working life be less hectic - ideally when you have a couple of weeks holiday. That would be most ideal, as puppy house training can be completed in just a couple of weeks when done properly.

3) If you cannot get time off, plan it so that your older kids are off school so they can help with the training while you are out at work.

4) Discuss the training regime with other family members so that the training is consistent, even if the trainer is different!

5)Because time will be a major factor, read up on the most effective techniques by signing up for a training course before you get your dog. This will mean you can house train a puppy when you are working with as little stress and hassle as possible. I have created a lens on Squidoo specifically about house training dogs, so you will also be able to get some tips by visiting there.

Potty training your puppy is not that difficult. If you combine the latest techniques with my additional tips on how to house train a puppy when you are working, both you and your dog will have a great life together.

August 22nd, 2008 by admin

The project of dog training can be quite daunting, and not exactly the thing that you’re jumping for joy to start. However, it does not have to be a horrible ordeal. Actually, if you play your cards right - which is basically to be extremely consistent, praise your dog like crazy, and have tons of patience, then you’re almost guaranteed that things will work out very well. In fact, it may actually be one of the most rewarding times that you can ever experience.

It’s important to note that you cannot punish your dog into behaving, but you can praise them and reward your dog into good behavior.

This is How Your Pooch Could End Up With Out Strict Dog Training!

Dog Training: The Secrets That You Should Know Before You Begin!

It’s vital that you realize that dog training is not an activity that’s meant to boost your ego from being in charge of your dog’s behavior. It’s meant for your dog actually. For him/her to experience a much better more fulfilling life as a pooch.

If you have children you will be able to relate quite well to the experience. It’s clear that a child’s life would likely be in shambles if the parent wasn’t there to teach them about how to behave in life, in order to conform with the world. It’s actually a positive thing for both the dog and the child, even though getting from point A to B may prove to be a bit difficult. .

You’re basically supplying your pooch with the tools to enjoy a more fulfilling life.

The best part however is the bond that you will create with your doggy. This is one that will last forever, so instead of looking at training a dog as a daunting task, it’s time to look at it as a spectacular event that you’ll be privileged to share with your pooch.

Where to Start When Training Your Dog

There are tons of tricks and commands that your dog can eventually learn, but in reality you’ll want to likely stick with the basics first. These are the ones that are going to simplify your life much more quickly.

Here are the basics…

• Sit
• Stay
• Lay
• Heel
• And Place

Potty training your dog is in there as well actually. You’ll want to train your dog so that he will go potty on demand, this way you don’t spend massive amounts of your precious time waiting for pee and poops.

Just a Little Patience…

Your main obstacle while you train your dog will likely be the amount of patience that you can withstand. Right along with this is the amount of praise that you can give him.

If you plan to progress at all when training your puppy or dog is to use barrels full of patience. You’ll be surprised how far you can get with even the tiniest amount of praise for your dog. Imagine what tons of it will do.

Now remember this…Dogs are pack animals by nature and will generally follow the leader of the pack - or else there’s pretty dire consequences. So now you get to be the dominant leader of the pack. But one more thing to remember is this…

You’re not a dog! (Somebody may argue with that but for now….)

In order to enjoy that tremendous bond with the pooch, you’ll get a lot further by being a nice and gentle leader than a rough and mean leader. Treats and pets go much further than bites and barks in other words.

The Dog Training Myth That Won’t Go Away!

It’s often thought that rubbing a dogs nose in it’s pee or poop when it has an accident is meant to help teach the dog a lesson. However, dogs don’t learn lessons that way as effectively as simply showing them the spot over and over of where they should go and then rewarding them for going there. That’s how effective potty training works. Again, never use punishment as a training method.

Besides patience and praise the next biggest ingredient that people most often miss is consistency. Being consistent is of paramount importance because consistent dog training means consistent dog behavior. Make a commitment and stick to it while showing tons of love and praise to your new puppy!

August 21st, 2008 by admin

This blog concentrates on training your dog using only positive reinforcement methods. Some behaviors do require correction, but I do not condone any form of negative dog training techniques that involve physical punishment when your dog does not do as you wish.

I have also set up a website where you can get help with your dog training questions. Follow this link to ask your Dog Training questions or go to the dog training answers page to see if your question has been asked before.

August 8th, 2008 by admin

Yes, you can make mistakes training your dog…

Choosing to train your dog yourself does not come without its pitfalls, but the benefits outweigh the inconveniences ten fold. Not only will your bond be stronger but your dog will also trust and respect you even more, reinforcing your status as leader of the pack.

Here are five of the most common mistakes made by would be dog trainers who have not spent enough time researching before trying to train their dog.

Lack of commitment - understand that your dog will not be instantly trained overnight and that you should not give up on their training the first time things don’t go to plan. Be patient and keep up to your dog’s training schedule and things will fall into place.

Using punishment as a training tool - this is a BIG no-no! Spanking, yelling or kicking may feel like the right solution when you are frustrated with your dog, but this can lead to behavioural problems later. By building a positive relationship with your dog, you will be subconsciously enhancing any training you give, because she will try to please you for the love you give in return, so making the training process a lot easier for the both of you.

Not sticking to your training routine - You have got to follow the same procedures over and over before your dog will learn from the training. Also, try to keep things simple and only teach one thing at a time. Once your dog has mastered the first trick or command, build on it and add another. One of the biggest reasons people give up on training their own dog is that they try and do too much at once. By being consistent with your dog during training, they will grasp your commands more quickly.

Having no knowledge of your dog breed - this one really is a sticking point for many would be dog trainers, and is something that should have been considered before even choosing a dog in the first place. Some breeds of dog are inherently difficult to train, some are obstinate and some are just plain dumb (I mean that in the nicest possible way). Research potential breeds to suit your lifestyle and training ability. If you pick a dog breed that is going to be a challenge to train, be prepared for some hard work and maybe even professional training sessions if your efforts prove unsuccessful.

Not making your dog training sessions fun - although being consistent is important, you can at least change the location for your sessions (at home one day, your local park the next). If you are teaching your dog to retrieve, start by alternating the items you want her to fetch. It could be a Frisbee or ball one day and a newspaper or baton the next.

Get the guide here