Archives for Dog Training category
It’s actually very common for dogs to become depressed, stressed, and anxious. This is usually due to lack of exercise and also stimulation of their mind and body. They need to be able to release their built up energy. If not, they can easily become bored and when that happens for extended periods of time it can lead to depression or many other problems. Dogs are similar to humans in many ways and that is one of them.
The more intelligent the individual dog is the more stimulation it needs or it is more likely to get depressed. They need some form of work or activities that can keep their mind active. This is usually done through long walks, training sessions, or playing rigorously.
This is actually one of the main reasons why dog training is so important. A dog that is well-trained will get a lot more stimulation in life by pleasing its owner. It will also have a true pack leader that it can look to for security and guidance. Every dog should be trained properly and training should continue throughout its lifetime. It’s not just something you do when they are a puppy!
Often the weather in the area we live in can be a huge obstacle when trying to keep a dog active. The cold winter months and shorter daylight hours make it difficult to exercise the dog. The scorching hot summer days can be just as bad for going on walks. Then, you have to factor in busy schedules and so many other things that life brings our way. It can be very easy to overlook the exercise needs of your dog.
Luckily, there is exercise equipment for dogs just as there are for humans that can be great alternatives in these conditions. Most people are unaware that there is such a thing as a dog treadmill. Yes, they do exist, and they can be very useful in helping you get your dog the exercise he (or she) needs no matter what the conditions are like outside or how tired you are after a long day at work.
Some people that do know about them seem to think that dog treadmills are cruel to use or bad in some way. It’s actually quite the opposite if they are used PROPERLY and safely! They can be a great stress reliever for your dog and give him the exercise he needs. Top trainers and dog experts around the world use and recommend them.
Treadmills can also be perfect for people who live in apartments, elderly, people with disabilities, someone who is unable to take their dog out for walks at night due to safety reasons, or anyone else with a dog that needs more exercise. Even the fittest person in a great neighborhood with a fenced in yard can often benefit from the conveniences of a treadmill for dogs.
Side Note: Just letting your dog out in a fenced yard does NOT give him (or her) the exercise and mental stimulation he needs. That is a huge misconception among many dog owners. Yards are great for letting your pet out to go to the bathroom but they still need long walks, proper exercise and training!
To get the convenience and assurance that your dog is healthy and happy, and free of depression or stress, a K9 treadmill could certainly be exactly what you need. I recommend looking into getting one right now if you can. Just remember to use it properly as directed. Also, don’t substitute a treadmill for all the exercise needs of your dog. You should still take him on walks when you can, play with him as much as possible, and give him all the love and attention he deserves for being such a loyal and loving companion!
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Successful dog training is all about positive reinforcement and firm consistency. You must establish yourself as their leader but do it in positive and respectful ways. When you hit a dog, use forceful methods, yell at them, or punish them other ways for bad behavior they do not respond to it. Those things do not work!
If you use negative methods (hitting, yelling, punishments, etc…) to train your dog, you will end up with a pet that is afraid of you and will most likely have worse behavior problems than before. You will not end up with a well trained dog at all. They don’t understand the way you might think they do. No true dog training professional or expert dog trainer would ever recommend using force to train a dog. So why do people do it anyway? It makes no sense.
When you see a well trained dog that listens to its owner and seems to be perfect in every way, I can assure you it was trained properly via positive reinforcement. Chances are it has NEVER been hit or punished for doing something wrong. Dog training is not easy and it does take a lot of time and work, but if you do it right the first time it makes life with your pet much easier and happier!
Recommended Resource: Dog Training Online
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Crate training dogs is a necessity for most people and a great way to raise your dog from being a rotten little puppy to a well trained old friend. Some people worry that crate training might be cruel or that their puppy/dog will hate them for it, but when used for the right reasons, nothing could be further from the truth. Crate training your dog is a highly effective and perfectly humane way to establish your dog his own place in your home and give him a strong feeling of security.
Crate training is a popular dog training method which provides your furry friend with his own special den and establishes acceptable behaviors for life in your home, including housebreaking. Dog crates are also a safe place to keep your pet in the house while you are gone if they aren’t allowed roam the house without supervision. But crate training a dog is not only useful for potty training; it can be useful for many things.
Here are 5 important tips for crate training your puppy or adult dog…
1) Never send your dog to his crate as a punishment and don’t ever put your dog in the crate when you are angry at him for any reason. You want your dog to associate the crate with good things. If your dog misbehaves, simply lead him to the cage with encouraging words. Think of it as a happy place for your puppy to go for a break when needed. Try to sit with your dog for a while until he is used to the crate and reassure him that you are not angry.
2) Make your dogs crate comfortable and homey for them. Put blankets, chew toys, treats, and a pillow to rest upon. However, you shouldn’t put your dog’s food or water in the crate with him unless you will be away for several hours. It should be a place for them rest, not live.
3) Do not put your dog/puppy in the cage all, or even most, of the time. For example, don’t leave him in the crate all day while you are at work or all night while you are sleeping somewhere else. How would you like to be stuck in a cramped cage for hours upon hours? Not fun!
4) When crate training a dog, always be consistent. If your dog is jumping on visitors and you are using the crate to redirect him from this habit, be sure to crate him every time he does it. Remember to keep it a pleasant experience for your dog by staying positive and having your visitors go to the crate to say hello and pet your dog.
5) Crate training your puppy or adult dog is much more effective when you have a scheduled crate time. Like people, dogs needs to rest. Giving them a set “nap time” will help make them behave far better and calm them down too.
If you want a well trained dog, crate training your puppy is one part of the dog training process that needs to be done. Used correctly it will make your dog accept you as his master and pack leader, which is the first step in any successful dog training routine.
Crate train your dog offers him a little place to call his own. If done right, with love and patience, crate training a dog can help the two of you build an amazing friendship and take away some of the headaches that can come with dog ownership.
Crate Training Your Puppy
Whether you believe it or not, crate training is one of the best things you can do for your new puppy. Many people think that crate training a puppy is difficult, but it’s not if it is done correctly.
It is essential to take notes of the times when your puppy likes to eat, sleep, and “go potty” because this will help determine the best times for the crate training.
Crate training should be handled with the care and patience that you would expect from a loved family member, and is not about keeping your dog locked up for extended lengths of time. That is very bad to do!
Puppies naturally avoid soiling the area where they will eat and sleep and this is one of the reasons why crate training is important. However, there are bound to be accidents along the way when your puppy will poop or pee in the crate but he should not be punished for this because it will be counter-productive to your puppy potty training and crate training.
Crate training is one of the best methods for potty training a puppy, so it is more than worth taking the time to do it while they are still young to eliminate one more thing that can be a problem with dogs as they grow older.
Most puppies dogs will whine, bark, and maybe even throw an all out tantrum when they first start crate training so, while it might seem like your puppy doesn’t like crate training initially, most will learn to love their crate as their own place very quickly.
Crate training should start with short periods of time, maybe 10 to 15 minutes, and slowly build up to an hour or two as they get more used to their crate.
Crate Training an Older Dog
Many people assume that only puppies can be crate trained so they refrain from crate training older dogs because they think it is too difficult or can’t be done. This is not true.
There are also many people who think crate training is cruel and inhumane but this is also not true as long as it is done correctly. A dog that has been properly crate trained will actually enjoy the security of having its own place to go. Even at times when they are not expected to be in the crate you will often find your dog relaxing in it enjoying its own little space of the world.
Provided the crate is in a sheltered place and there is fresh water available they will be completely happy to have their own little home within a home. The crate should also be kept clean at all times and contain something comfortable to sleep on, such as a blanket.
The crate should always be made accessible for your dog with the door open when they aren’t required to stay in it so they are free to come and go as they please.
Older dogs can find the crate a very secure place for them to go since they tend to become less confident with themselves and their surroundings as they age. If an older dog does have an “accident” in their crate it is very important to clean it up immediately so they will continue to enjoy their space.
Finally, one of the most important things to remember is that your dogs crate should never be used as a place to send him as a punishment. Doing so will completely ruin your chances of ever making the crate a safe and happy place for your dog.
* Final note: It’s VERY IMPORTANT to remember that a crate is not a place to lock your dog or puppy away all day and night, and it’s not a place for them to live! The dog crate is only to be used for training purposes and as a place for your dog to call his own if he wants to get away. You can close them in the crate if you are going to be gone for short periods of time but they should NEVER be left in the crate for a long time. Dogs need to stretch, exercise, go potty, eat, drink, and socialize… none of which can be done in a crate! What’s the point in having dogs if you are going to make them live their lives locked in a crate?
Want to learn how to crate train your dog and many other dog training tips? Check out this popular site – Dog Training Online.
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Having an untrained dog is not only embarrassing; it can also be stressful for your dog and be harmful to him in many situations. If your dog isn’t trained it’s much more difficult to take him out in public because he won’t listen, or he might harm someone or get in harms way himself. For these reasons and many more, dog training is a very important part of owning a dog.
At the very least, you must train your dog to obey the “sit” and “come” commands. If you knows those really well then you will be able to control your dog in most social situations. More importantly, you’ll be able to call your dog back to you if you see he is heading into a dangerous situation.
Let’s face it, owning a dog that does not obey you can really harm your relationship with your dog and make him much less pleasurable to own. You got a dog so that you would have a companion that you can take on walks and so they can accompany you to certain places. But if your dog isn’t trained he won’t listen to you and you will soon find that no one wants him around, including you. The result is that you spend less and less time with your dog and your bond becomes weaker and weaker, which will also lead to more behavior problems for your pet.
A well trained dog, on the other hand, is a treat for everyone, especially you as the owner. You will find that your friends and family welcome your dog and even request that you bring him over. This is really what having a dog is about, being able to bring your “best friend” with you and have him be welcome.
When training your dog, you want to start with the basics and make sure he has those mastered before moving on to more challenging commands. If your dog has problem areas like excessive barking or jumping up on people, then try working on those too because they can be particularly annoying.
Perhaps the most important command to train your dog is “sit” because it causes your dog to become stationary and can stop him from running around and causing trouble, or being a nuisance to others. It is also a command that your dog must master before he learns other commands. That’s because the sitting position is where he will be starting in before proceeding to other commands such as lay down. Sort of like a basic course in school that you have to take before you can take a more advanced course.
When it comes to dog training, you will definitely need to be patient, but if you have a dog, or are thinking about adopting one, then you must know that training is a vital part of dog ownership. After all, you want your dog to be safe, secure, and happy – don’t you? Training him to obey is critical for all three of those!
Dog training doesn’t have to be a “chore” or be unpleasant. Think of it as a bonding experience between you and your pet. Set aside some time each day for training and you will soon find that you and your dog come to a different understanding and a deeper, more satisfying relationship.
Here’s the #1 dog training course on the internet: Secrets to Dog Training!
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When you get your new puppy all you can think about is how cute and cuddly he is. He’s so much fun with his limitless energy, enthusiasm, and clumsiness. In fact, your puppy is nearly perfect except for one small thing… those puddles of pee and piles of poop he keeps leaving in the middle of the carpet!
One of the first things you will want to do with your new puppy is getting started on the house training. It can actually be an easy task if you know how to do it properly. Here are some things to remember in order to make house training less of a challenge for you and your puppy:
1. The first thing you must realize is that your puppy has a very small bladder. He cannot “hold it” for 8 hours or more while you are at work and expecting him to is just setting you both up for disappointment. If you cannot be home to take him outside every 2 to 3 hours, then you must provide him with access to a designated place to go inside.
2. House training your dog can take several weeks, or even months, and requires patience, persistence and consistency. Be prepared to provide all 3 for your puppy.
3. You can start training your puppy as early as 3 weeks old, but remember the younger your dog is the smaller the bladder, therefore the less time between potty breaks.
4. Never punish your dog when he has an accident in the house. Always reward your dog when he goes in the designated area. The reward must immediately follow the action or your dog will have no idea why he is being rewarded.
Like any other type of dog behavior training, house training involves following a certain series of steps to get your puppy to realize what is expected of him. Also like other types of dog training, you have to get your dog to perform the action so that you can reward him. Luckily this is easy with house training since your puppy will need to do his “business” many times a day; therefore you have a lot of opportunity to encourage the wanted behavior of going outside or in the designated area!
Here are some steps to take when house training your dog or puppy:
1. Observe your puppy and take note of his routine. He’ll probably need to go after eating and at certain times of the day. You’ll want to watch him very carefully at all times so you can “catch” him right before he goes. When you see him sniffing his favorite area, squatting or circling, it’s time to take action.
2. When you see your dog is about to do his business say, “outside” or some other word that you want the dog to associate with going potty outside. Say it in a firm and somewhat loud voice. You can use any word you want but it is important that you choose one word and use it every time and make sure it’s not a word you want to use for any other training commands.
3. This should interrupt your dog and you want to swoop in, pick him up and carry him outside.
4. Once you have him in the area that you want him to use as his bathroom say “potty” or some other command you want to use to get him to do his business. Again, be consistent with the word.
5. When he finishes his business, praise him and give him a treat to let him know that he did “good.”
It’s important to note that your dog will probably have accidents in the house and you should never punish him for these. If you do not catch him right before he goes then you’ll need to just clean up and wait until next time. If you stumble across an accident and punish the dog for it after the fact, he will have no idea why and you will not be helping your cause of house breaking. Contrary to what many people will tell you, rubbing his nose in it will not do anything.
Like every other dog training task, house training your puppy will require you to be consistent. Try to be around enough so that you can get him outside to do his business most of the time. Eventually he will get the idea and you will have a mess and odor free home from then on. Even after your dog is house trained he may still have accidents every once in a while. This is normal and should not be punished.
Remember that dog training is a never ending process and no dog will be perfect all the time!
Need more information? Get all the secrets to dog training that you will ever need.
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