December 18th, 2008 by admin

The first step in instilling some discipline in your puppy is to make her sit on command. The verbal command ’sit’ is very simple and can be taught to a pup of any breed within a few weeks. Of course, much depends upon your persistence and patience. Why the ’sit’ command is one of the easiest commands to teach is because of the natural construction of a dog’s neck and spine which makes it physically impossible for them to look upwards when standing. In order for a dog to look up at something high it must assume the sitting position. This fact is made use of while training a puppy to sit.

Training your puppy to sit

Let us follow the simple steps in training a puppy to respond to the ’sit’ command:

Stand in front of your puppy, holding a treat above her nose but just a little beyond her reach. This is important. If you hold it too high, she will tend to jump for it and if you hold it too low, well, you’ll find yourself without a treat!

Now, move the treat from above her nose towards her the back of her head and continue to trace this path backwards towards her tail. While doing so, keep calling your puppy’s name, followed by the ’sit’ command in a clear and firm tone. For example, “Rover, sit!” This will help to associate the word with the action.

Most often than not, you will find that your puppy, in trying to maintain eye contact with the treat, is forced to sit down on her own. If you find your dog keeps backing up instead of sitting down, train her against a wall, which will prevent her from going in reverse indefinitely - she’ll have no choice but to sit after she backs into the wall.

When she ultimately sits, praise her immediately by calling out ‘good sit!’ or ‘yes!’, and then offer her the treat.

In case your puppy just refuses to give in and does everything but sit, hold the treat at the nose level and apply a slight pressure on her rear end, pushing her gently down into sitting position. At the same time, give a slight pull at her collar. This will help her get the message of getting into a sitting position. Praise as soon as her bottom hits the floor.

In all these attempts, if your puppy manages to acquire a posture that even vaguely resembles a sitting position, praise her abundantly and give her a treat. This will motivate her to do better the next time. Dogs, like people, respond much better to praise than punishment.

Don’t let your puppy remain sitting forever. Without your release command she will not know when to get up. And in the absence of such a command, she may get confused. So, give her a command like ‘release’ or ‘okay’ or ‘thank you’, to let her know that she no longer has to stay in the sitting position.

Gradually, increase the duration of ’sit’ commands and reduce the frequency of treats. Once your puppy begins to sit on your command for minutes at a time without a treat, she has mastered the ’sit’ command.

Training your dog to obey commands requires patience, motivation and encouragement, not to mention a ready supply of treats! The training sessions should be short but frequent and should be repeated at regular intervals throughout the day. If you persevere, you will find that the day is not far when your darling puppy grows up into a ‘responsible adult’ and is praised by all for her immaculate manners!

Article from: www.crittercottage.com.au

December 18th, 2008 by admin

• Introduce the puppy to the senior dog away from the mature dogs “space” in the house. Introduce them in another room, outside, or somewhere that the current dog doesn’t see as his or her territory.
• Keep the introduction time short initially and supervise the interaction between the dog and the puppy. Usually a good idea is to keep them both on a leash with two separate handlers. If you are the person the senior dog has bonded with then you should work with the senior dog. If you are working with the puppy the senior dog may become jealous or possessive and this may be an additional problem that you will have to deal with.
• Spend time equally with the mature dog and the puppy. New puppies tend to get a lot of attention and older dogs may begin to feel left out and isolated or abandoned by the family.
• Watch for any changes in behavior with the senior dog that indicates they are becoming aggressive or anxious about the puppy.
• House the senior dog and the puppy away from each other until you know there are no problems with keeping them together.
• Remember that puppies will have a lot more energy than most senior dogs. Provide a room or area the puppy can’t get to that the senior dog can when they need some space and time away.
• Don’t expect the senior dog to share toys, food dishes and bedding areas. Get separate items for the puppy to avoid any problems.

December 18th, 2008 by admin

Inside or Outside?

Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies

When you first plan to buy or own a dog or puppy it is important to match the dog or puppy to the type of environment you want to keep them in as well as the temperament and overall physical nature of the dog. Some dogs absolutely need human contact as they have been bred as companion dogs and do not handle being alone or isolate well. These dogs are generally considered to be housedogs, and should not be kept outside or in kennels for extended periods of time. Keeping these dogs away from people leads to emotional and behavioral problems for the animals such as separation anxiety, barking problems, chewing and digging and even self-injurious behaviors.

Physical considerations

Some breeds of dogs simply cannot tolerate environmental conditions and need to be kept indoors in most extreme types of weather. Short haired and small breeds do not generally do well when housed outdoors in cold climates. In addition many of the larger long-haired breeds have difficulty with extremely hot or humid conditions and need shelter and possibly even air-conditioned environments in the summer months.

Dogs that are brach cephalic, or have very short muzzles such as Pugs, Shih Tzus, Boxers, Pekingese, Lhasa Apsos and Boxers may have difficulty with breathing in hot, humid or very cold climates. This is because of the short respiratory passages in the muzzle that allow for cooling of the air and regulation of the body temperature. These breeds of dog will need to be kept in relatively moderate temperatures and should never be exercised in the heat of the day or when there is very high heat and humidity combined.

Miniature dogs are generally not considered to be appropriate as outdoor pets. Some breeds, such as the Chihuahua and some of the miniature crosses have difficulty in regulating body temperatures which means that they will easily become cold or overheated in a very short period of time.

Dogs with longer, thicker double coats are often best suited as outdoor dogs. These dogs have the thick inner coat to act as insulation and the coarse outer coat to resist and repel any moisture. Double-coated dogs need to be brought inside to dry if they ever become completely wet during cold weather. The outer coat actually works against the drying process actually trapping the moisture against the skin and preventing drying.

Outdoor times

If you do plan to leave your pet outdoor during the day or when you are not home make sure you have a safe and secure fenced area. This means that your dog cannot get out as well as other dogs cannot get in. In addition find a way to ensure a constant clean supply of fresh water. A small child’s plastic pool may make a great cool area for a large breed dog but may pose a danger to a small dog. Often a outside garden tap left dripping into a dog dish will keep fresh water available at all times and prevents the need for large water dishes.

Make a place for your dog to get out of the rain, direct sun, wind or cold weather. Many dogs will go into a doghouse; especially if it is has soft dog blankets for them to lie down on. Work with your dog to encourage them to use the doghouse.

Provide lots of toys for your dog to play with while they are alone. Balls, chew toys and other dog safe toys are a great way to help keep your dog entertained when you are away.

Article by Kelly Marshall of Oh My Dog Supplies

December 18th, 2008 by admin

Key Secrets to Remember in Dog Training

by Ray Coleiro
While training your dog please remember:

Do not punish the dog. Punishment is not a training aid. It does little to foster willingness to learn and achieve. Limit yourself to a firm “NO” and to using your hands to block the dog’s negative actions. Refrain from hitting or physically abusing the dog.

Display extreme levels of patience and persistence – never give up; if you do, you are relinquishing your status as the dominant one. The dog is bound by nature and genetics to test how far he can push you or get away with disobeying you. You must display a stern and stoic attitude and do not pat, praise, or reward the dog if he does not pay attention or refuses to do as you have asked. Only yield once your commands are followed. If you “heel” instead of your “dog” then he will soon know who is the boss.

Be consistent in your training schedule. Always schedule a class at the same time of the day and for a fixed period –your dog will soon recognize that it is the time to learn and will willingly come forward. During training, both coordination and the trainer’s movements have a direct correlation to the dog’s comprehension. So, if commanded “come”, the dog must be gently guided towards the trainer by a helper or by using a leash so that the pet realizes that “come” means that he must go towards the master.

Be repetitive with each learning block until the trick/lesson is mastered. Some lessons will be learnt quickly while others will take a while. The pattern is different for different dogs and varies from case to case.

Use rewards and praise as often as required. Praise should immediately be forthcoming when a dog responds to any command. The pet will associate responding to commands with praise/rewards (treats) and will try and respond quicker to reap his rewards. Once a command/trick has been mastered then the treats can be withdrawn. You will find that obeying a command becomes second nature to your dog.

Keep the lessons simple. To begin with, the lessons should be fairly easy and such that the dog can complete it within two-three actions. As his level of learning increases the lessons could be more complex. Just as our children go, at first to play school, then to kindergarten, and then to the first grade so also in the case of our pets.

Respect the intelligence of your pet and allow him to think –use his mind. Give time to your pet to figure out what is asked of him. Do not try and help him complete the set task. If you do so, the pet will allow you to do the work for him. If you display patience, the dog will realize what you need him to do and he will obey you directions.

Treat the dog as you would a colleague/ student. You must, talk to your dog explain what it is all about. Speaking to the dog while training will ensure that the dog keeps his attention focused on you. He will soon master the different tones used by you to give commands.

Do not plan long sessions –their attention span is short. Therefore, short lessons are learnt better. It is recommended to have short 10-minute sessions repeated 2-3 times a day.
Whether you are a first time dog owner or a seasoned veteran, your learning never stops as far as it comes to training your dog. Each and every dog presents different training challenges, and the more equipped you are to handle these training issues the more likely you are to prevent any permanent and long term future behavioral problems.

If you are serious about your dog, and want the very best for her/him, then you owe it to your best friend to get a copy of this FREE Dog Training Mini-Course. You can still get it from here:
Dog Training Mastery

About The Author:

Ray Coleiro is the author of the popular book “Dog Training Mastery - An Owner’s Manual!” His main interest lies in promoting effective Canine Communication using solid Dog Psychology principles. To learn more about his proven Dog Training methods and life’s work, you can visit Dog Training Mastery

December 18th, 2008 by admin

Summer Holiday Health & Safety For Your Dog

Summertime can be the ideal season to take your dog to the beach to enjoy the summer sunshine. This can be a great holiday time, as long you take the necessary precautions to ensure your dog is safe and comfortable on the beach and in the sun.

The most frequently asked questions about having holiday fun in the sun or at the beach with your dog are:

Will my dog be able to swim?
Not necessarily. Contrary to popular belief, there are certain types of dogs who will find it difficult, if not impossible to swim. There are some breeds with a combination of large weighty body’s and little legs that find it very difficult. Also, some dogs seem to have developed a fear of water that may preclude them from enjoying a holiday swim at the beach. Remember that even dogs that are good beach swimmers, do get worn-out and need to rest periodically. If taking a puppy to the beach, make sure that you introduce him to the water slowly and carefully so that you can teach your dog to enjoy your holidays at the beach.

Is the Water OK for my dog to drink?
At ocean beaches, it is not good for your dog to drink the water. Illness would result from your dog drinking the salty sea water. It is important to bring provisions of fresh water for both you and your dog to drink. Rinsing your dog with fresh water after swimming and playing in the sand is a good idea too, it can avoid skin complaints and harm to your dog’s coat.

Can my dog get sun burnt?
It is possible for dogs to get sun burnt. Dogs with short or white fur and also those with pink looking skin are the most likely to suffer from sun burn. To ensure a pain free holiday for both you and your dog, it is a good idea to take similar precautions with your dog as you would with your own skin. Applying sunblock to areas with little or no hair such as their ears is a good idea. Limiting exposure to the sun is also a good preventive measure.

Is it OK to let my dog off his leash and roam freely on the Beach?
There certainly are specific “dog beaches”, where it is perfectly ok to let your dogs run free on the beach. However most beaches require that you keep your dogs on their leads at all times. This is common sense really; it makes for a safer environment for both the people and the dogs holidaying on the beach.

Strategies for making sure that both you and your dog enjoy your summer beach holiday in comfort and safety include:

• Watch out for heat stroke symptoms in your dog, such as fast panting, drooling and unsteadiness on their feet.
• Be aware of the heat of the sand, hot sand could be quite painful for your dog’s feet too!
• Always supervise your dog while on the beach.
• Be aware of your surroundings, particularly with regards to things lying around on the beach such as fish hooks or dead fish or sea life which could be toxic to your pet.