Go ahead and teach your old dog new tricks

At some point, we have all heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”  But is it true?  The truth of the matter is that any dog, regardless of age, can be taught.  As dogs get older and get more set in their ways, it may take a bit more time to change them, but consistency will get the job done.

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Confused about Neutering!!

My occupation requires a significant amount of research and analytical skills…so I tend to do the same with my loving best friend (AKA…Maverick). The problem however seems to be that the more I research, the more opinions I get that are different, and seem to have validity and solid medical explanations to back them up.
So here is my issue/question. I have a 23 week old pure breed AKC registered Oversized German Shepherd. Not a Shilou Shepherd..just very large German Shepherd (Dad is about 156lbs, and Maverick is 81lbs at 23 weeks). Maverick so far seems to be unilateral cryptorchid (there have been random and inconsistent sightings of the other testicle, but never with any consistency. I had planned on waiting until at least a year old to Neuter him, as he is an oversized breed and I wanted to give time for all of the bone plates to close, and for the testosterone to do "its thing" before I cut the flow off. With him appearing to be unilateral cryptorchid with sporatic sightings of the other soldier, my Vet is pressuring me to do the Neutering next month if the other testicle does not become more consistent. I certainly understand the health risks with leaving the testicle undesended so my questions is this….is there a surgery that could just bring the testicle to its normal place so that I could wait another 6-8 months before I completed the full neuter?? Would doing the Castration now and cutting off the testosterone affect his muscle mass growth, bone growth etc??
My breeder, who is a bit "toooo" holistic is frantically telling me that none of Mav’s parents have EVER produced a cryptorchid puppy, and that she has seen the second testicle desend as late as 1 year?? For the record, the breeder is an amazing lady, who loves her dogs more than words can describe, but is a little radical and oppositional to convential medicine and vetrinary practices.
Any advice or help for this confused parent??

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Pet Care : How to Potty Train Your Puppy

Potty training a puppy requires determining the pre-potty behavior, taking the puppy outside at regular times throughout the day and offering lots of praise for desired behavior. Use consistency and positive reinforcement when potty training a dog with information from a practicing veterinarian in this free video on pet care. Expert: Marcia Martin Contact: www.drmarcia.wordpress.com Bio: Dr. Marcia Martin is a 1990 graduate of Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine. Filmmaker: Suzie Vigoin

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Dog Training Commands: How to Successfully Train Your Dog to Do Certain Commands

Although dogs are regarded as man’s best friend, the truth still exists that dog needs training to adapt to humans. Dog training commands is necessary for every dog owners to train their dogs to follow simple to complex commands.

Here are some tips to effectively render dog training commands:

Get your dog’s attention; you cannot render dog training commands effectively if you cannot catch your dogs’ attention. No matter how hard you tried if you cannot engage your dog’s attention it would be useless. A slight rubbing on its fur or nape will do the trick.

Get acquainted and know your dog. Dogs like humans have different learning curves. Observe your dog for a few days before starting dog training commands. This will give you hints on the habits that your dog has and how to take advantage of those habits to help you train your dog with ease.

Consistency. Learn how to be consistent with the dog training commands you are about to render. Tone of voice, body movements must be considered when giving dog training commands.

Acknowledge good behaviors. Use reinforcements to acknowledge good behavior. Affirmations and simple praises are enough encouragement for your dog to follow your instructions and to let your dog know that he is doing a good job.

Test your dog. After your dog performed a certain task consistently, use distractions to test if your dog will still follow your instructions.

Dog training commands is one way for you and your dog to communicate effectively. If you succeeded on training your dog, you will indeed win yourself a canine best friend that you and your family can enjoy.

In the event that you have not succeeded in providing an effective dog training commands due to dog behavior problems, do not lose hope because there are experts who can help you to effectively train your dog.

Did you know that you can successfully render dog training commands in the shortest possible time with positive results even if your dog has behavior problems? Put an end to the stress and annoyance of your dog behavior problems and slash your dog obedience training in half by using techniques that give you immediate results visit Dogs’ Corner

To know more about Pets visit All About Pets

Gerry Restrivera writes informative articles on various subjects including Dog Training Commands: How to Successfully Train Your Dog to Do Certain Commands. You are allowed to publish this article in its entirety provided that author?s name, bio and website links must remain intact and included with every reproduction.

Dog Training Techniques, the Fundamentals

We have trained our 2 hunting dogs with numerous dog training techniques. Our Vizslas Abby and Peaches hunt and are competitive in AKC sponsored events. These are the fundamentals with which we teach our dogs.

Flexibility, Consistency, Fairness or Positive attitude are all key to successful dog training.

To train any type of dog, you need a solid foundation. Apply these basics with any dog training method you use.

Remember to trust yourself and your dog while you train. The most important part of successful training is your partnership.

Flexibility – Don’t just repeat what has worked in the past with another dog. Each dog is unique. Be prepared to handle each unique training situation.

Consistency – Dogs learn through repetition. If you send mixed signals or do not correct unwanted behavior every time, your dog will not learn.

Positive attitude – Like people, dogs learn best from positive experiences. Focus on rewarding desired behaviors. Avoid working with your dog when you are frustrated or upset.

Fairness – Never correct your dog out of anger. The correction will not help your dog learn. It will only damage your relationship.

Confidence – Trust yourself!! Believe in your ability to train your dog well, and you will be successful in what ever dog training techniques you use.

Know your dog – Giving dog training commands is not enough. You must also read your dog’s body language and respond accordingly.

React quickly – When you give immediate praise or correction, your dog can make the connection between the behavior and the consequence. That’s how dog training works. But you must be alert so you can respond quickly.

Training notes – Keep track of your progress. Note what works and what doesn’t. List the dog training commands he still needs to practice. Having this information handy will be valuable as you continue learning how to train a dog better.

Enjoy training – When you and your dog have fun, training is easier and more effective. Use games and activities to practice commands and skills with your dog. Be creative and try new things so training never gets boring for either of you.

Tools - Your energy and attitude are important in dog training. But your dog training techniques must also include the right tools: leashes, collars, treats, etc. The wrong tools can make good training impossible.

Start slowly – Do not expect your dog to learn “Stay” if he does not know “Sit.” Do not expect your hunting dogs to follow commands if they do not know basic obedience. Training is a gradual process. Each step builds on the previous step.

Socialization – Dog training commands are only part of obedience. You also need to socialize your dog. That means he needs positive encounters with new people, animals, and environments regularly starting as a puppy.

Environment – Start with a distraction-free environment. You want the dogs to focus on you. As your dogs improve, train in new environments and with more distractions.

Health – Your dog must be in good health during training. Make sure to feed him a high-quality diet, low in artificial products and fillers.

Breaks – Don’t push yourself or your dog too hard during training. Take time for a rest. Sit down together for a drink of water. Play a game of fetch. Go for a swim. Remember to enjoy your dog not just train your dog.

Lizzie Novotny R.N has a researched and informative website about dogs, especially the sporting dog breeds. She raises, trains and shows dogs and horses, and is familiar with all aspects of their care. Find answers to your dog-related questions by visiting her website. So click on http://www.the-hunting-dog.com

Dog Training – Training Man’s Best Friend

Training Your Silky Dog:

It is essential to have a dog that knows how to follow the right rules and how to live around your house. To achieve this, dog training must be considered.

Most people think that training a dog is hard and expensive. Moreover, dog training requires a lot of patience and creativity for your dog. We have to remember that dogs may be intelligent but they can not be as intelligent as us. The article provides some of the basic things dog owners need to know so they can do the training themselves. However, to maximize the full potential of your dog, a dog trainer should be hired instead.

What are the differences between a submissive dog and a dominant dog?

A submissive dog normally:

- avoids eye contact.
- rolls on its back.
- crouches down, ears back and tail lowered.
- is comfortable on its back in your arms.

On the other hand, a dominant dog:

- maintains eye contact.
- is unwilling to move from his place on the couch.
- dislikes grooming and petting.
- is possessive of dishes and toys.

Training your silky terriers requires kindness and consistency. Silkys respond actively to praises and to rewards. In addition, they become harsh and unresponsive towards punishments and animosity, respectively.

Trainings with obedience classes can be intensely beneficial in petting your silky terriers. In many dog training schools, classes for puppies are available. Young dogs are taught to get accustomed with other dogs and people using limited trainings. However, there are areas that do not conduct formal obedience training unless the dog is at least half a year old. Always remember that a dog is never too old to benefit from training when a good trainer is available, or if the owner is fully committed to the task.

Here are the recommended ways of training silky terriers:

1. Reiteration or Repetition

Reiteration is the name of the dog training game. In here, dogs are asked to do a task over and over again to achieve mastery. Dog tricks are best learned when reiterated and reinforced through rewards.

2. Persistence
Patience is a virtue that requires you to tolerate hardships. Persistence is trying to be patient for a longer time until a goal is achieved. Apparently, dog training requires a loof persistence from the owner or from the trainer Physical and psychological aspects of the owner and/or the trainer must be sound.

3. Commendation and Emendation
Simply put, if a dog does the right thing, it should be said aloud. Otherwise, the dog should hear, “No, that’s not it!” when the trick is not complete or appropriate for the command given. These words reinforce correct responses and diminish the unwanted ones.

4. Rewarding

Bits of cheese would really be good treats for dogs who responded correctly to a given command. Other food can be bought at pet sores. However, if you are able to get the respect of your pet, commands will be executed even if there are no longer involved treats. Likewise, these things reinforce warranted responses.

If your lifestyle permits being in charge of training your own pet, you can do the training as long as you have gathered enough patience and commitment by:

1. Spending time grooming your dog.

2. Having regular training times on the leash.

3. Stroking its belly and toes and rolling it on its back

4. Hand feeding some food to ensure that the pet is taking treats gently and slowly.

In asserting dominance, always practice consistency and firmness

Dogs are man’s best friend. Despite that, sometimes they can grate on your nerves; barking, chewing, and the occasional nip can sour a relationship very quickly. That’s why it’s important to establish boundaries and make sure your dog is well-trained!
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The Importance of Dog Training for a Happy, Balanced Pet-owner Relationship

First Principles

Teach respect, a dog has to be taught to respect its owner. You have to be his leader and not let him be yours. As you communicate with your dog he learns to understand you, he will forever be willing to please. Once the dog knows you are his leader, he will be a happy follower by teaching your dog the basic training commands and discipline.

It is next to impossible to have a normal, well-behaved, even-tempered dog without discipline and some training. Once a dog is trained he is a better pet and greater companion, and he himself will be happier for knowing that his owner is pleased with him. There are many books devoted to discipline and training and free online resources for dog training than ever imaginable! There are also many great obedience-training classes for low cost to no cost, one for example is PetSmart and I highly recommend this form of training, it helps your dog or puppy learn to socialize as well as get his basic obedience training from a professional source, helping you and your dog learn together. You must be willing to accept the fact that if your dog fails the course and becomes a dropout, it is entirely your fault not the dogs. He is a willing subject, it is your complete responsibility to ensure you and he complete all training classes and continue to adhere to the lessons learned.

Any sincerely interested dog owner can train their dog, and it can be a most rewarding educational experience for both. Patience and consistency is the key to successful training, at times you will have to be firm, but gentle and always, always give praise for each and every one of his positive efforts.Basically dog training is built on reward, repetition, reprimand and again praise. Although it can be too early to begin training, it is never too late. Most puppies form a strong attachment to an individual which may persist or wane, and there is often a phase of disobedience and defiance. Discipline is needed during this crucial period, but it must be with patience and never overbearing or intimidating. Don’t listen to the old cliché “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. There is nothing further from the truth, I don’t for one moment believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, he can be taught new tricks and all the basic commands whatever his age.

 

It is bound to be a more difficult to break old habits like barking, chasing cars, sleeping on furniture etc., and can be resolved with proper training aids, such as no-bark collars, sonic bark control devices, citronella spray collars, indoor radio fences, and scat mats, if all other resources have been exhausted to resolve these and various other undesirable habits develop or exist. You and your dog must be relaxed before you begin any training session. He can and will know when you are tense or uncomfortable, he can’t learn while he is tense or timid and if your dog or puppy is showing signs of stubbornness or defiance they may be more resistant to teaching, but don’t give in, stay firm, consistent and have a routine, all animals are creatures of habit, so stay with the training. In essence complete relaxation is essential for both dog and trainer, also, make lessons fun for both you and your dog. He will learn much faster, and give you a greater reward for your training efforts, vise-versa.

 

Getting To Know Your Dog or Puppy

 

To train your dog or pup to the best advantage for both, you must get to know their personality, for example there are sensitive or shy dogs who squeal at the slightest noise with disciplinary action and the merest jerk of a training lead, grooming comb or word of discipline, causing you to hurt his feelings and mistrust. Take caution and try to understand this dog or puppy’s personality, this is vital to their mental health and needs to be taken in a very slow, easy manner. If a stronger, more aggressive training method is used with this type of personality it cannot be reversed, and will ultimately result in a very scared, confused pet. Then there is the more assertive type dogs, they may need a stronger form of training and attention spans may need to be focused on, “Fearless” Fun loving, and go for it types of dogs always pushing himself at you for your attention, he jumps on your guests, slobbers on them, forces his “Here I am” on you, your guests, children or the elderly. This personality may or may not need a more aggressive training method, depending on the breed and the owner’s training abilities.

Make the Lessons Fun

Dogs get bored with long training sessions. If you work them for over 20 minutes at a time, they will lose interest and stop listening to you. For a younger dog or puppy, 5 to 10 minutes is long enough for one training session. But do it frequently, and again with, praise or training reward treats.

Basic Dog Training Commands

(1) Leash Training: This is the first and foremost of all dog and puppy training. Say you need to take your pet to the Veterinarian for a check up…this cannot be done without a well leash trained dog or puppy. Work with your dog or puppy daily  DO NOT: pull, drag or force your dog to follow the leash, take it easy…..let them walk to you, stop…say “Good Dog” Reward them with a treat, and let them sit, then, pet, praise them. Give them time, always be patient, they will respond soon to your leash training, it is so very important not to scare them while leash training!!!! They will never feel safe with you!!

 

(2) Heel: You teach your dog to walk on you left side without pulling in front of you; he always walks beside you, comfortably, easily and will never pull at the leash. When he tries to walk in front of you, you jerk back on the lead and say the word “Heel”. Use this command with easy, gentle commands, do not “Yank” on the lead, be very, very gentle or this will cause your dog to become scared and try to bolt and make the “Heel” command frighten your dog, therefore, reversing your training and all trust established with your dog or puppy. Please always use good sense and respond to your dogs action or “Reaction” to “Leash and Heel” Training.

(3) Sit: Pull the leash straight up and while pushing down on his hindquarters, saying the word “Sit”. Most dogs learn this very quickly.

(4) Down: You don’t want your dog or puppy to jump on people, especially, elderly guests, children or anyone else that is coming to visit your home. Your dog needs to learn this after he is confident with his leash training. Grasp the leash or collar just under the dog’s neck and while gently pulling in the downward motion as you say, “Down”

(5) Stay: This is a very important command, as it can save your dog from a situation were harm or injury may occur, and this can be beneficial to the both of you. This command can save you or your dog from being hit by cars, or any other dangerous situation, this can your dogs life. To teach the “Stay” command put your dog in a sitting position and talk a few steps away, and if he attempts to come to you, firmly say “Stay” and stop walking, ask your dog to sit, and start again, keep repeating this procedure until he stays, this may take some time, remember keep the lessons short, and be consistent.

(6) Come: Be sure to do this with a leash or long lead. First put him on the “Stay” command, use the word “Come” and give the leash a light tug toward you, when he responds a comes to you give him praise and or a reward treat and repeat this lesson until your dog is responsive to the command, then you can remove the leash or lead and repeat the lesson. This is one of the easiest lessons dogs learn very quickly.  With all said and these simple, easy to follow training guidelines, you should have a long and happy relationship with your dog or puppy. Note: Never give up, be patient, consistent and always praise!!!! Love your dog like he loves you.

YOUR DOG

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog…..You are his life, his love, and his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy ofsuch devotion. “

Author unknown:

 

 

 

 


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Housetraining Your New Puppy and a Few Guidelines

Many dog owners find puppy housetraining their hardest challenge. Left unsupervised, a puppy can spend months in a home, without learning what housetraining is all about. If over-supervised and harassed, it may become neurotic and overanxious.

House training a puppy means disciplining yourself to be consistent and by using methods established by professional trainers. In the long run, a few weeks of effort will result in a housetrained pup and later, a well behaved dog.

Housetraining Confinement Rule

There are several important factors to consider in puppy housetraining.  The first is confinement of the pup to a relatively small area that has an easy-to-clean floor and is not isolated from the rest of the family. Using a playpen is perfect. You are not being cruel keeping your pup in a confined area, as it is happier when it can slowly adjust to the whole house. Your pup will not be overwhelmed by the size or complexity of your entire home. Confined areas keep your pup’s teeth from electrical wires and other dangers, while teaching it to use the paper.  This means it is more likely to behave correctly, than to have an accident, which results in lots of praise and affection from you.

Praise When Housetraining Your Puppy

The second and very important factor in housetraining is praise. Your puppy loves you unconditionally from the time you bring it into your home and to please you is its aim in life. A mere scowl out of anger can start it sulking in sadness, while a pat or a few kind words, will set its tail wagging. Young puppies respond much more quickly and effectively to praise and encouragement than they do physical correction.  Physical punishment for a pup is unwarranted and confusing for a pup and may turn it into an aggressive dog from fear.

Consistency Is A Vital Housetraining Rule

Consistency is the third vital factor in housetraining. Consistency in schedule, feeding habits, praise and reward for proper behaviour and in verbal reprimand when accidents occur. Without consistency you will confuse your pup. Scolding occasionally for accidents, but ignoring others, feeding at irregular intervals, lack of praise for soiling on the dog’s papers or in the yard, will only serve to confuse and discourage your puppy. If you ignore some mistakes, forget to praise, overlook a mealtime, forget where your puppy is and if it needs to use its paper or go outside, you will never housetrain your pup.

These are only a guidelines in helping you in housetraining your puppy. The ultimate house training guide provides many answers and listening to any expert dog trainer will point you in the right direction when housetraining your puppy. Following a few basic guidelines will help you when you start housetraining your new puppy.

Consistency – The Secret To Dog Training

The biggest secret to dog training is understanding the process of positive reinforcement. All that’s really required after that is a lot of patience and being very consistent. Most dog behavior problems come from not understanding reinforcement or from not using it consistently.

To utilise it consistently, you’re going to need an abundance of patience. You need to appreciate the amount of time required to train a dog. You also need to understand that being consistent doesn’t just mean during a short training session but whenever you and anyone else are interacting with your dog. This means that you also need your family members and anyone who interacts with your dog to be consistent also.

Positive conditioning means that a positive reinforcement i.e. an enjoyable stimulus when your dog does some action will encourage him to perform that particular action again. It’s a sad fact that many owners positively reinforce problem behaviors in their dogs without being aware of it. For example, they enter the house, the dog is jumping up on them and they give affection to the dog. Affection is a positive reinforcement and so the dog is being encouraged to jump up on people.

I enjoy watching the Dog Whisperer on TV. One thing I notice is that owners are invariably reinforcing negative behaviors in their dogs without being aware of it. And this is in spite of the fact that they are fully aware of the process from watching Cesar on the program. The Dog Whisperer is very different which is why the dogs behave differently with him. He is always consistent and only give any attention to the dog when it is calm and behaving in a well-mannered fashion. In virtually every case that he helps, the problems are with the owner and his inconsistency.

It requires a lot of self-discipline and awareness to restrain from giving your dog affection when he is doing an unwanted behavior. Any attention is better than no attention to a dog. This means that, unfortunately, shouting at your dog may positively reinforce the behavior even though your intention is the opposite of that. So, the best response to unwanted behaviors in your dog may be to ignore them by turning away from your dog and giving no attention.

It’s more effective to focus on reinforcing positive behaviors rather than focusing on using negative reinforcement for unwanted behaviors. As the dog is encouraged more and more in positive behaviors, less time will be given by him to negative behaviors which go unrewarded.

Obviously, you may have to stop your dog doing unwanted behaviors For example, if he jumps on the food counter, you can just pull him off.

How do you reinforce behaviors you want to encourage? Possible rewards are tasty treats, affection or a toy to play with. Using small tasty treats is probably the most efficient method. The treat needs to be given as close in time to the behavior as possible. This is where using clicker training makes this process easier. The clicker sound is used to mark the behavior precisely as it happens and the treat comes immediately afterwards. However, clicker training is a whole subject in itself but well worth looking into since it will supercharge your training.

Read more about the Dog Training Secrets, about clicker training with dogs and about dealing with dog behavior problems in general.

How to Housebreak A New Dog

Housebreaking a dog usually means getting the dog to use the bathroom in the right place and at the right time. This is certainly important. But housebreaking is a lot more than just potting training. It includes all his behavior in the house. This includes his understanding of where he can go and when.

A new dog can wear out his welcome fast when the owner finds out he urinated on the carpet. (A more exhaustive list of dog behavior problems is available in Dog Training Lessons.) Of course, if he is a young pup, he can’t help it. If he has go to, he goes. It’s natural. Therefore, the training process must begin as soon as possible.

If you got your pup when he was eight weeks old, you got him at the ideal time. But remember, the dog usually can’t control the urinating muscles until he is about twelve weeks old. This underlines how important it is to take your dog outside often during the first days of ownership. Especially get him out a short time after a meal. Every hour would be good for the first few days at least. When he goes in the proper place, reward him with voice and treats.

Positive reinforcement is crucial. He will understand a pat, a dog biscuit, kind and encouraging words. This assures the pet that he is pleasing you and most dogs like to do that. So, opportunities to go, and much praise when he does will reinforce his acceptable behavior.

There may be places in the house you don’t want the dog to go. A black shedding dog may not be welcome on the white couch, for example! The untrained pup may not be welcome in the carpeted rooms. Your pet must understand these places are off limits.

Such training, say the best dog training books, is done by consistency and patience. If the dog goes into the forbidden area, then instruct him with words and drag him off, or out. Do this every time he trespasses so he knows this is not allowed, ever. Don’t make exceptions for anything for he won’t understand exceptions.

If you suspect your dog is trespassing when you are not watching, but not when you are, then it is obvious he likes the place but knows it is wrong. One family made it clear their dog was not to get on the living room furniture. But when they came home and felt the warm spot on the softest chair, the dog was caught. Try tricking the dog into thinking you are not watching when really you are. Then when you catch him disobeying the rule, rap his bottom with a paper and scold him so that he gets the message this is never allowed, watched or not.

Dogs are pleasers, so praise for right conduct goes a long way. Any reward you can think of will reinforce the good conduct, and withholding the reward will reinforce the cost of bad conduct. Be patient and don’t give up! In the long run, both you and your dog will be glad.

Hope you enjoyed this article. Learn more tips and read reviews of top dog training books at http://www.dogtrainingbible.net.