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My wild Border Collie “Buzz” performs his favourite demo showing how many ‘driven’ dogs are created through bad dog training habits. Buzzy is the subject of my book “Shaping Success” (Dog Writers of America Choice for Dog Training Book of the Year in 2005).
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Rufus and Mermaid are two Poodles that have matured in a pleasant suburban home together. The owner, Ms. Vicky, has no objection about the behaviors of the two dogs, with the exception of the fact that they whine incessantly. Seeing as her prince and princess do not have any aggressive tendencies, are not territorial, and do not have any other bad habits, she has overlooked this whining problem for years. However, as years passed by, the whining became annoying and Ms. Vicky began to speculate exactly why they are always whining.
In an effort to stop this behavior, she used her time to find the root of the problem. Dogs whine for a lot of reasons, including pain, fear, or boredom. In this instance, she thought that the cause of the whining was probably boredom, but she also felt that the other reasons should not be completely ruled out and so she decided to seek for the expert’s opinion. Toby and Josie’s owner brought the pair to the vet’s office to get more information about the situation. The veterinarian believed that the whining behavior stemmed from Toby and Josie being left alone for a large portion of the day while Ms. Vicky was at work. Although Toby and Josie were placed outdoors, so they can play, do their business, and exercise at will, the pair was still lonely. Given that this behavior has never been checked, the dogs have acquired the habit as a sympathy ploy to get what they want. The Miss confirmed this thought and the next step of breaking the habit began.
First of all , Toby and Josie were noticeably not okay with their current condition of being left alone during the morning. To make her dearly loved prince and princess happier, Vicky hired a pet sitter who comes in twice a day to walk, pet, and play with Toby and Josie. Although that the whining was still present, they’ve observed that the two dogs seem to be much happier when their owner returns from work. If Ms. Vicky didn’t allowed this whining problem to continue for such a long period of time and corrected the problem sooner, this new arrangement would have likely ended the whining altogether.
Meanwhile, the owner has started implementing the new training command for Toby and Josie. Every time any of the dog whines, she firmly states “no whine”. She gives this command with a quick squirt of water from a spray bottle to get the dog’s attention. Once the dog stops whining, the Miss lavishes it with praises and treats. Once the dog stops whining, the Miss lavishes it with praises and treats. Of course, tasks like going outside cannot be punished, since many dogs whine when they require to relieve themselves.
This training method coupled with the hiring of a pet sitter has drastically changed the whining condition with Toby and Josie. Now, neither dog whines to get what they want! Furthermore, Miss Vicky finds the situation a great deal less stressful on both her and the dogs. If you too are experiencing a similar situation, consider following this case study to help break your dogs from whining. Always remember that pain or discomfort is a possible reason for whining, so regularly visit your vet to ensure your dog is always in good condition. Best of Luck! Cheers!
These cheerful canines have been trained as hunters since the dawn of history, but they also make affectionate house pets. Here’s everything the neophyte owner needs to know about the Beagle and its traits. Training Your Dog books teach ordinary non-expert dog owners how to train their own pets. Virtually every aspect of training is covered, with special focus on the distinctive traits of individual breeds. Dog owners are instructed on humane but effective methods of housebreaking and paper training, obedience training, teaching the dog to respond to verbal commands and hand signals, walking on a leash, and more. Also covered are methods of correcting bad habits such as begging, unwanted barking, and showing hostile behavior. There are many instructive, full-color photos in each book.
Almost every child wants to own Lassie, the wonder Collie. Unfortunately, if the child really expects one dog to be that incredible, a Collie puppy may be a bit of a disappointment. After all, in real life, Lassie is actually played by several hard working Collies.
The Collie was originally bred to herd sheep and still has a strong protective instinct, which makes the breed an excellent choice for a family dog. Of course, not every Collie is a highly intelligent, diligent protector. Some of these dogs are high strung and nervous, but most are wonderful with children. The American Kennel Club classifies the Collie as part of the Herding Group. These dogs weigh 55 to 80 pounds and stand 22 to 26 inches tall.
The Collie is strong and graceful and has plenty of endurance. This dog’s almond shaped eyes seem to sparkle with intelligence, whether they are brown or blue in color. The Collie’s prick ears give it an alert appearance. The Collie can be rough or smooth coated. The rough coat is longer and fuller than the smooth coat. This breed can come in sable and white, tricolor, or blue merle colors.
The Collie enjoys living in the midst of an active family. This breed is not a good choice for apartment living, since it loves to spend time outside. A home with a large yard is ideal for the Collie breed.
Although the Collie is friendly and outgoing, this dog is protective of its family and takes its duties as a watchdog seriously. Your Collie will bark at intruders, whether they are people, cats, squirrels, or pieces of trash blowing around the yard.
The Collie can be quite headstrong and can get into quite a lot of mischief as a puppy. You should consider attending puppy obedience classes with your Collie, since it is easier to train a small puppy who hasn’t developed bad habits than a sixty pound dog that has. Also, be sure to be firm with your puppy about staying on the floor if you do not want Collie hair on all of your furniture. Once you allow your dog on the furniture, he will feel that he has a right to be there any time you leave the room.
The Collie breed has very few health problems. Eye diseases and PRA are the most common problems these dogs face. In fact, you are much more likely to take your puppy to the veterinarian because he has injured himself while jumping from a moving vehicle or exploring his surroundings than you will for a health problem.
Collies are quite happy to pack away plenty of food. These dogs have a tendency to overeat, so it is best to give them three small meals a day. If your Collie develops a bulge around his middle, talk to your veterinarian about switching to a food that promotes weight loss.
Although a rough coated Collie has long hair, the Collie does not need extensive grooming. Brush through your dog’s coat several times a week to avoid mats, paying close attention to the hair around his face, behind his ears, and around his legs.
The Collie is an intelligent family dog. If you want a dog who will protect your family and will play with the kids, the Collie may just be the perfect pet for you.
