Doggy Mentor

Archive for April, 2009

Dogs cannot be bad; it is the handler who is poor. It’s irritating when walking down the sidewalk in your own neighborhood only to have a dog jump up on your clean clothes. When your front yard turns into a ready made toilet for your next door neighbor’s dog, it can be equally irritating. Just like the kid next door who has not been taught any manners, these dogs can be compared to them.

Why blame the animal (or the kids) when the adult who’s supposed to be in charge isn’t acting responsibly? It is wise decision to take the help of a dog trainer to learn the tricks of handling this pet without spoiling its personality. Either you contact your vet office or pet store to get to meet a trainer or seek online help from a dog training book or from online dog training tips and tackle your pet problem before it goes out of hand. Owners can learn how to manage their pets from this training.

There is a saying amongst trainers however that it is far easier to train dogs than the people that own them! When you want the dog to be leash trained, make them practice in a small area away from other distractions. Both owners and neighbors get angry when they hear barking which although irritating is quite normal behavior. When they bark, they are simply communicating with us; a reprimand him might give them the wrong signal and confuse them.

So why does a dog bark?
When a dog needs attention, something to eat or drink, it will resort to barking. A Dog barking can be good burglar alarm and training them to stop isn’t always a good idea. It is not a good idea having your puppy bark, even during play if you are likely too shout at him when he barks as an adult. You could learn from your trainer how to reinforce certain behaviors in a puppy, which you desire, by giving them the occasional gift for being good.

How do you make your new puppy stop the undesired behavior?
Well, simply learn to reward him when he does something which is ‘desired’ behavior. There are many behaviors which are part of the breed of the dog so it is important to remember that you can teach your pet to go against these. In case you are particular about teaching your pet some specific behavioral skills, you should choose one from the breed which would provide you with the type of traits you are searching for.

When does a dog become good?
Good dogs are developed by patience, persistence and kindness.

Food aggression is most often seen in dogs who are rescued from homes where they were abused or neglected. A bite, a growl or a snap are all different types of food aggression. When attempting to pat your dog whilst its in the processs of eating it may well turn aggressively towards you.

Self-preservation is the most common source of food aggression, and the easiest to correct. In these cases, dogs feel the need to protect their food, from fear of it being taken away. Causes of this behavior can come from situations where the dog has been abused, had its food removed as a punishment of from just being under fed. Food aggression doesn’t always come from owner abuse or neglect, however. If you are not the first owner of your dog it may be that other pets have caused your dog to be off of its food.

If you feel that this is the case with your dog, all that’s necessary to correct the behavior is time, patience, and lots of love. Showing your dog that you are to be trusted is of key importance, that when you give the food to it you will not then remove it later. Be sure that your dog sees you pour their food and place it for them to eat, rather than readying the food and then letting the dog into the room.

Go slowly. Sitting by your dog whilst it eats is a great place to start off. For the first few times, stay silent. Ensure that your dog knows you are there but be sure not to startle them or make them fearful of your presence. When you get to the stage that your dog does not seem nervous when you are around, start talking to them in a gentle manner as they eat, wander around their eating area but stay at a distance. When your dog is used to you and no longer nervy you will be able to pet it whilst it is still eating. If they growl or snap, simply back away, and sit silently. It is an absolute must that no punishment is dished out on your dog, do not shout or hit it. It is key to let them know that you are happy with them when they let you stroke them as they eat.

If you are consistent with this training, you will see positive results very quickly.

When we first get our new puppy or a dog from rescue, we generally wish to know what sort of training, if any, the dog knows. Sit is about the very first thing a dog learns so many dogs know this one, even puppies. But as we move through life with our dogs it is very useful for humans to be ready to direct the dogs from one place to another.

Having your dog pulling on leash is a bad habit that desires correcting straight away. This behavior makes for annoyed owners and presumably injurs the dog’s neck. There is a technique to change this behavior.

Wouldn’t it be convenient if our dogs could change direction or wait for a few minutes whilst we made our way to the car, around the block or even in the house? Having a dog dart across a busy street is frightening and perilous. That is something that happens too often and can be curtailed.

My dog trainer, John Spieser, says that the first 2 commands he teaches a dog or a puppy are “wait” and “this way”. Using these 2 commands he will be able to get a dog to go nearly anywhere he desires them to and keep the dog safe along the way. This is also used to get a dog to stop pulling on the leash.

The command “wait” is easy to teach your dog. For some reason, wait, feels temporary to a dog so he’s more willing to wait than to “stay” somewhere for a while. “Wait” is good for street corners. Tell your dog to “wait” at the corner whilst traffic passes. Or perhaps your dog desires to wait while another dog, children, bikes or whatever passes by. Perhaps you would like him to wait for his food. Whatever the reason, the dog learns that it is only a temporary situation, shortly to be followed by the release ( which is rewarding ) and doubtless more certainly stimulating for the dog.

The “this way” command is better than come. The recall or “come” command tends to get over used and dogs may get resentful after hearing it regularly. Using “this way” permits the dog to keep moving but in a different direction. If your dog is running away from you and does not come back to the typical recall command of “come”, then try implementing “this way” into your coaching routine. A dog hears this as a chance to please and still keeps moving. It’s much less restrictive to the dog and it is truly simple to coach this to a dog.

For more effective communication with your dog, try dog coaching commands that teach your dog how to move with you without being too restrictive. Consider making “wait” and “this way” a first part of your repertoire.

These commands are successfully used in changing the leash pulling behavior too. The two dog training commands that make the most sense are ones that give you a lot of versatility with your dog.

Get your dog or puppy moving where you would like him using these 2 dog training commands. Stop your dog pulling on leash. Listen in the free audio from my dog trainer John Spieser.

Training a dog takes patience and dedication. To achieve the desired results in rescued dog will take double the dedication and patience. However, the rewards will be worth the effort.

Spaying and neutering has been common practice for a few decades, unplanned births continue to occur. As a result of this there are just not enough homes for all of the puppies that are born. When we add the number of dogs that get lost or wander away, rescue missions and shelters everywhere are filled to capacity. Many of these dogs will never find homes in time and be euthanized.

Some of the lucky ones will get a second chance. They are either found on the street or adopted from a shelter and brought home to compassionate and caring family willing to give them a better life. But to the inexperienced dog owner it can be a mystery as to how best to proceed.

Dogs that are brought to shelters are generally not in the best condition. Horrible living conditions, abuse and neglect are often a part of their history. Sometimes these dogs can even be let go into the wild and they will have to fend for themselves.

In nature a dog is a pack animal. Wild dogs generally do poorly on their own. A domesticated dog that has been released into the wild and no longer has human or animal interaction do poorly. Dogs such as these can still learn to be less fearful with proper training.

As the first step in rescuing a dog you should take it to your veterinarian for a full exam. You will not be able to start training your new dog if he is sick or in pain. Take the time to restore the dog’s health and bring it back to a healthy weight.

It may be a tall order, but whenever possible try to get the dog’s history. Knowledge of past abuse, general temperament, or medical history will help you as your train the dog.

Slow and steady is the order of the day when establishing trust with the dog. Try to avoid imposing yourself on the dog. The animal will begin to seek you out once they have learned to trust you. The use of treats is a good way to build trust. Try stepping back a bit after putting a treat on the floor. Do not stare directly at the dog. Once the dog takes the food make sure they get enthusiastic praise.

It is not uncommon for some rescue animals to initially seek out physical contact . Others may take a few days or weeks. But once you have got it you may want to attempt to gently lay the dog on its back and put your hands on its chest. You can expect that the dog will either resist if they tend to be aggressive or a fearful dog will accept. Neither behavior is good. In normal training, you would force the aggressive dog to take on a passive role. This will not work with a rescued dog. Establishing trust will take time. Make sure that a fearful dog understands that being on its back is not a punishment by given it a belly rub and talking in a calm voice.

In the case of a rescued dog training can be slow and difficult. They are often older dogs, mixed, and with difficult temperaments which makes training more challenging. Don’t give up. You will be rewarded in the end.

Don’t feel sorry for the dog. This is counter-productive and will only hinder the training. Be patient, loving and understanding but don’t let the dog have the run of the house. By letting the dog know that you are in charge you are establishing yourself as the pack leader.

Rescuing a dog from a shelter is great adventure and with a little extra work and patience, will give you a great companion for year.

Stefan Hyross writes and provides information about dogs and puppies. Read about dog behavior problems and learn how to correct them. Visit the site to  discover proven puppy potty training methods and other tips and trick for you and your pooch.

What we know as pet ownership has changed over the years. Gone are the Britney Spears of the world entering a LA pet shop and dropping $3000 on a Yorkie. Do something like that now and suffer the ire of PETA. Even our new president is being affected by the recent developments in the economy. He has realized that you cannot simply enter a pet store and 30 minutes later walk out with a new family member. The president has said that trying to find a new dog for his children is tougher than finding a Commerce secretary. He has been trying to model what a responsible new potential pet owner should be like during a recession, or any other time for that matter. During these tough times we should think of the needs of all the family members and wait until everyone is ready before welcoming a new family member. He is also showing setting a good example by getting a pet from a shelter or rescue organization.

Although the president’s choice of a new family dog, and whether it will be a labradoodle or a Portuguese water dog has been all over the media, more importantly is the unstable future of our natin’s pets in a time when there are those who can not pay for their bills.In our nation’s hayday, it was common to see stories that made us snicker and shake our heads about how people would spend tremendious amounts of money on their pets. They thought that their dogs actually loved the posh bottled water that was served to them in a crystal doggie glass. Stories of million dollar doggie trust funds, thousand dollar doggie hotels, pearl necklaces, and other instances of doggie decadence covered the papers daily.

Ever since economy has spiraled down,, stories of pets have evolved and are now much more daunting and saddening. The media all across our nation have been reporting about local animal shelters becoming filled far beyond their capacity, often times being forced to euthanize a greater number of otherwise healthy pets simply because of space constraints. Still others have left their pets in foreclosed dwellings or chained up in back yards of abandoned properties, left to fend for themselves, often times not able to reach food and water painfully starving to death at the end of a cable. The LA times even made pets and the economy their features story of the New Year. Pets are quickly becoming the luxury that can no longer be afforded.

This downward spiral comes on the heels of a recient upswing in adoptions. For nearly a decade shelters and rescues have been seeing a steady rise in the rate of pet adoptions a starke difference from the overwhelming intake and decline in new adoption applications. There is no real way of knowing if we have seen the bottom of this staggering trend or if there is more despair to come. You can be certain of one thing, it is not getting any better.

Any progress made in the past of educating the public on the need to adopt from breed rescues instead of purchasing from a puppy store means nothing if our hurting economy causes people to not be able to afford to own a pet or take care of the pets that they already have in their home. Vet costs alone have been a major factor in family’s decisions to give up their beloved dogs. With the average vet visit costing in the range of $200 a visit, families often have to decide whether they can spend this month’s credit card payment and unless they find a way to reduce their credit card debt, they often have little choice but to give up their pet.

Another sign of the rapid decline of the luxury pet market was the cancelation New York’s Pet Fashion Week. With all this negative news on the pet industry it is good to mention that pets have all kind of advantages. Vets across the nation have said that pets are an excellent way to lower blood pressure which helps justify spending the money spent on them.

For many people the only way to avoid having to make the decision of paying bills of feeding Fido, is to get themselves in a position to weather the economic storm. For many people this could mean entering into a credit card debt settlement program or other ways of lowering their household expenses. Filing for bankruptcy is often not the best choice for these embattled pet owners who do not want to deal with the court system, paying attorney fees nor having the black mark on their credit report for up to ten years. Often times credit card counseling, which is run by the creditors, is not a viable option since in most cases the payments are no less and sometimes more then what they are paying at the moment. Again this makes the owner struggle with pet food not to mention vet bills as mentioned earlier.

Whatever solution you may decide,  should you need credit card debt relief, ensure that you educate yourself on the differences between the programs and fully understand the pitfalls. In most cases speaking to someone who can assist you in settling your debt can be helpful and is suggested over going it alone.

This debate over pets and how they affect our economy will probably go on as long as people are struggling in this economic crunch our nation is experiencing. The underlying issue is that we either need to deal with the debt we have and pull ourselves out of this crisis, or resort to what many have and get rid of the family pet. Where will this trend end? Will the next crisis make us to decide whether to buy food for our kids and pay for medical insurance or leave them on the side of the street to survive on their own.

It can be a little overwhelming to try and buy the best dog beds. We don’t really have the choice of taking our dog out shopping for a dog bed and asking them what they would prefer. This leaves it up to you to make the best choice for your dog. There are some things you will need to look at when selecting a bed for your dog.

One very important aspect of finding the perfect dog bed is size. The size of the bed must be proportional to the size of your dog. The only way to get a good fit is to measure your dog. The first set of measurements should be while your dog is standing. Measure your dog from the shoulders to floor and from the end of the nose to the beginning of the tail. You will also want to take measurements of your dog while it is sleeping. When selecting a dog mattress add around a foot to the standing measurements of your dog to get the best fit. If you are looking for a nest and ball type bed add approximately nine inches to your dog’s sleeping measurements. It the bed does not have enough space your dog will not be comfortable. If you are buying a bed for a puppy get one with room to grow.

The shape of dog bed you choose will depend on your dog’s size and sleeping habits. Look at how and where your dog sleeps most often. Dog’s will usually have a few favorite places around the house. If your dog sleeps one place during the day and another at night consider getting a dog bed that is easy to move around the house.

When selecting the height of the dog bed look for on that is easy for your dog to get in. There are dog beds made from so many different materials and in different shapes and styles. The best selection for your dog will depend on the particular needs of your dog such as how it likes to sleep, the climate in your area, and the dog’s size.

Excessive barking is the plague of dog owners everywhere. Depending on which breed of dog it is, will determine the amount it is predisposed to barking behavior. It’s very frustrating, to say the least, and one of the top reasons that dogs are abandoned or dropped off at animal shelters.

Stopping bad barking behaviors is actually quite easy to accomplish. First and foremost it is critical that you note you will be unable to cease your dog’s barking behavior totally. This is genetically implanted in them and is therefore quite natural. If it is a quiet life you are after, away form dogs barking, then you should be looking elsewhere for a pet. Certain situations such as being frightened, scared or meeting other dogs will cause your dog to bark. Dont prevent your dog from carrying on with these behaviors.

Some owners attempt this through the use of shock or spray collars. This type of device is nasty for the dog. The collar picks up on the bark and gives your dog a quick shock. The makers of such collars would have you believe that the shock they provide is no more that what you would get from static in your car, this is simply untrue. Serious burns have been known to occur from the energy surges given out by faulty collars.

A much more effective way to stop bad barking behaviors is through simple distraction. For instance, if a strange person is invited in to your house and your dog constantly barks at them, state the command “no” in an assertive tone and distract their mind by giving them something. It’s important that you do not yell at or punish your dog for barking. This can be very confusing for them. You must be consistent. At every occurrence of your dog barking when you do not want it to you should give the same reprimand following by the same distraction.

Praise them when they play with their toy instead of barking, in a light and excited tone of voice. As it is genetically implanted for your dog to want to please you they will begin to understand what is required of them and keep quiet in anticipation of making you happy. Continue on with the reward and reprimand until your dog forms a habit of knowing when barking is acceptable and when you do not want it.

Any parent who gets a new puppy will be happy their children are so delighted but they will worry about the matter of potty training. Getting a new puppy means you must also accept you have to manage some tasks such as this. Without it you may have your soft furnishings smelly and damaged so get it done properly. The foul smell of messy puppies has the habit of spreading everywhere around the house. If you potty train your puppy you can overcome the problem at a stroke.

People train dogs to do some remarkable tricks and skills so potty training will be simple for most dogs. Your new puppy doesn’t have a lot of time between the feeling of the need to go and his body waste being excreted so keep a close eye on him at all times. If your puppy begins going in circles and sniffing the ground it is a good sign that he needs to go to the potty area quickly. Understanding what these signs are and what they mean are half the battle when potty training a puppy.

Doggy doors were a great invention and they make life a whole lot easier as your dog can go outside when it feels the need without you needing to be involved. When your pet learns how to use a doggy door he can make use of it all by himself to go outside the house when nature calls.

An excellent method to help potty train your dog is to have a regular routine of going for walks both morning and in the evening. When you arrive at the place you want him to pee or poo wait there until he does and then give him a lot of congratulations and encouragement.

Praise is important to a dog so whn you praise him for doing his business in the right place he will remember another time. Encouraging words will help reinforce the ideas about where he should or should not go to the bathroom. Punishing your puppy is not the answer so show him you are not pleased but avoid punishments. Your dog may be nervous about what is the right thing to do so you should reinforce the good things he does and show disappointment when he does wrong and slowly you will potty train him.

A careful owner must always be on the lookout for your puppy needing to go outside when you are training him. You may find your patience tested but a dog can only learn at his own speed of learning. As you train your puppy you should give him lots of affection to show you love him and he will want to please you.

Yes potty training your dog can be rather tiresome and repetitive. Potty training will prove it’s worth one day when you realize that your puppy is house clean. The smell of untrained puppies will no longer linger in the air and your house will feel clean once again.

Often people have a hard time determining the proper kind of dog house to get for their dog. The first thing you will need to do is measure your dog. This will make getting the proper size dog house possible. There will be several things to look at when selecting the right dog house for your dog.
 
If you have a dog that lives outside most of the time you need to look at the temperatures in your area. Those who live in an area where it is regularly wet and cold should investigate purchasing a dog house with heat. If that is out of your price range you definitely want to get one that is insulated and watertight and add in a heated dog bed. Buy a heated pad or bed designed for dogs as heating pads made for humans can easily overheat your dog. Heated dog beds are designed to be chew proof and operate at a low voltage for added safety. 
 
You will have a natural flea repellant if you choose a dog bog with stuffing made from cedar chips. If you live in an area where heat is more of an issue look for a dog house that will be nice and cool for your dog. Look for one with plenty of ventilation and place it in an area of your yard where it will be in shade most of the day. One option you have is air conditioned dog houses for those dogs that easily overheat. 
 
Purchase large dog houses that gives you dog ample room to lay down and turn around, but not so large that it will not warm up in winter. When it comes to dog houses bigger is not better. There is a wide array of materials used in the production of dog houses including PVC, galvanized steel, wood, and plastic. You can choose one that is completely assembled or a kit that you can build.

There are so many types of dried dog food you can buy today that it is difficult to know which one to choose. First of all let’s talk about what dried dog food is and how it compares to other types of dog food.

Complete dried dog food has been baked into hard biscuit sized pieces. Dried dog food can help keep gums and teeth in good condition as the crunching and chewing of the dried food acts like an abrasive against the teeth, removing plaque and stimulating the gums. It is also a good and complete source of nutirition. Complete dried dog food is easy to serve because you simply pour the required measurement into the dog’s bowl and it tends not to smell like the wet, canned dog foods.

Most leading dog food brands such as Eukanuba Dog Food develop many ranges of their dog food depending on whether your dog is puppy, adult, senior, specific breed or even having a sensitive stomach. But which food is the best for your puppy or adult dog?

If your dog is still a puppy (or under 18 months) look at the various brands of food for puppies. These are not usually breed specific because food developed for puppies tends to contain different levels and types of ingredients. ALL puppies, just like human babies need more and less of certain nutrients and vitamins. Puppy food also tends to be split by the size of the breed (small, medium and large). So by now you should at least be able to narrow the choice down by the age and size of the breed of your puppy.

Many dog food manufacturers split their ranges by specific breeds and size of breeds so choosing food for an adult dog is sometimes a little easier depending on what your priorities are. Assuming there are no health considerations you may decide to choose by the dogs breed size which then just leaves the price, personal preference and flavours available when selecting the brand. Sample packs are great for finding out which flavour your dog likes best!). Or go straight for a formula developed specifically for the breed such as boxer dog food.

Other things to consider when choosing a dog food includes your own personal preference. Brands such as Skinners are animal friendly i.e. not tested on animals during product development. Price is also an important factor; it is far better for your puppy or adult dog to be fed the same brand and not to switch too often because it can cause an upset stomach or your dog to go on ‘hunger strike’. So make sure you look at what you will have to spend on a regular basis and if you will be able to keep that up.

Tip: If you have more than one dog of a similar size it might be a good idea to try to get them all on the same brand and range of food.