Showing posts with label bay area dog training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bay area dog training. Show all posts

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Which dog training place is better for my jack Russell?

He is 5 years old. His former owner got him as a puppy from a breeder and kept him until about a month ago where he was with a lady. The lady gave em back to the man and he gave him to me. He is aggressive and "lungy" at my 6 cats. He does great with other dogs. I took him for an evaluation at a training school in my city. They said he is timid, has the tendency to become aggressive. Recommended their 400.00 training school. They are more aggressive with their training, also.

Enter Petsmart training. They are $109.00 and use "treat training". The other school said that doesn't work. Petsmart's trainer worked with him a little and used treats and he sat for her immediately. The guy @ the other school had to shove his behind down to make him sit. I do not know which place to take him to. Petsmart is cheaper and seems good, but he is stubborn

A Guide To Your Dog Training for Law Enforcement



Recommended Answer:
I don't recommend either. The first one uses domination over your dog as the means to make him obey. This is not teaching him to obey, or why to obey... it is just teaching him to fear you. With a dog that has aggression problems, this will only compound his issues, and he will probably get WORSE later.

I also don't recommend the Petsmart trainer. While their approach is more positive, they may not have the right tools to help you with this serious problem. A $100 obedience class is great, but it will not solve the aggressive tendencies in your dog.

I would recommend going to a a veterinary behaviorist, (a veterinarian that specializes in behavior.) They may be slightly expensive, but they shouldn't be $400.

If you don't do that, I would recommend finding a Certified Pet Dog Trainer in your area. You can find one by going here: www.ccpdt.org. These are people who have studied and taken an exam to prove that they know the science and psychology behind dog training. Not all of them may be well versed in aggressive behavior, however.

Talk to a couple trainers and ask for references of clients they've worked with that had aggressive dogs. They should be about $25 to $50 an hour.

Guard Dog Training


  • you ever thought about using a little bit of both and do it yourself and the rewards can be even greater and treats don't have to be treats they can be a favorite toy and i have known people who took their dogs to both petsmart and more expensive places and got nowhere. the key with the cats is to slowly introduce him to them by the way FYI you can pick up tips watching the dog whisperer

  • I took my Jack to puppy classes at Petsmart. I'm so happy I did. He's one of the most well behaved dogs I've had. He seemed to have fun at classes. I liked it because they don't just teach the dog. They teach you how to teach the dog, and how to be a leader to him. I wouldn't spend my time and money at a place that made my puppy sound like something was wrong with him. Not to mention the price, and they sound a little too aggressive. Learning should be a positive experience for you and your new dog, not a forced and unhappy one.

  • alright you cant stress too much about him not listening so just try being calm but assertive. the best place to go is a school where you can also be evaluated. more aggressive training is OK but treat training is too. you also need to learn how to train him and be a leader.

  • Petsmart is lousy. So what if the dog sits for a treat. You could have done that yourself without the Petsmart trainer. You need functional training, not sitting for treats.

  • Petsmart is just fine if you just want to work on basic commands and manners. Treat trainer works for all dogs that like treats for teaching basic skills. However if your dog has some aggression issues a more specialized trainer might be warranted. However the school you mention with aggressive trainers and a "school" does not really seem like the issue. If you want to work on his aggression towards cats in your home then I suggest finding a qualified trainer who will come to your home and work on this issues in the problem environment.. home with the cats. If he is good with other dogs and people the cat thing is really minor (o.k. not if you are living with it everyday but JRT and cats is not really a great match) and you don't need overall specialized training but just related to his "issues". My advice Petsmart (or similar) for basic manners and dog bonding training, tricks etc. and a specialized person to come to your home for the cat issues.
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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Being a certified dog trainer at petco....?

Hi. I am in the process of starting my new job at PetCo as a certified dog trainer. I went in asking a question about a school that they are affiliated with and they said they dont use them anymore because they have a mentoring program. Where they apprentice you their. I have not signed my contract yet, though it is 1 year which i am okay with but the question i am having trouble finding the answer to is, when I become certified am i certified under PETCO standards or am i certified universally. after my one year contract with them, is that certificate good to find another job with, or is it basically BS to other people. I have no professional experience in dog training, though i have a 6 year old minpin and a 4 month old chocolate lab that i do the training myself with who are really good,obedient dogs. With petco being my only professional experience is that good to get another training job when my contract is up with them, or will other training schools look at it like a joke? anyone who has worked/works for them who has the answers it would be really helpful. Thank you !

Selecting Quality Dog Training Leads



Recommended Answer:
Certification means very little in the dog world. People select trainers based on results - i.e. titling your own dogs - and on references - i.e. helping other people train their dogs. I have issues with PETCO training in general as the methods are all developed from a PR standpoint at the higher levels. No serious trainer I have ever met would ever recommend PETCO training and I have never met a PETCO trainer that seriously competed in any canine sport with their own dog or a "real" trainer that began in a PETCO-like situation.

If you want the job, then accept the training with a grain of salt and realize it won't transition well outside of that corporation. If you want to be a dog trainer, join a local all-breed club and ask if you can assist with a beginner class, work your way up to being a full trainer and then, when you have enough references and experience, you can start your own business. The training you will learn will not be dictated by a corporation and will applicable to dog sports as well as pet stuff, making your training much more valuable and provable.

Why not start showing your MinPin and Lab in some companion sports like obedience, agility, rally or tracking? You're sure to meet folks who can put in a good word or make a recommendation on where to find a mentor once you're in the "dog world".

From Simple Dogs to Guard Dogs - How Guard Dog Training is Done?


  • ask PETCO that question

  • You'd have to ask them. I would just do a training class not with them. Go to a school for it, I think it takes about 2 months.

  • There is no such thing as a "Certified Dog Trainer" except for private organizations like PetCo - which really means nothing.
    You would be certified (cough) under Petco Standards period. It wouldn't mean anything to anyone else. (Certainly not me)
    I'm unclear about your Addition Details. Are you telling us that YOU have to pay for this "Certified (cough again) Petco Training? If so, do NOT sign that contract. And be very careful about any Dog Training places that makes you pay them, as you also train "their" dogs. ("Their" meaning the dogs other people have brought in for training by them.) What a racket.
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Monday, August 13, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Need a little dog training tip.?

today when I was walking my german shepherd (8month old), my neighbor's kids (around 5 i think) came to me and wanted to pat my dog.

afterward, when they were leaving, one of them ran back, and thats when my dog almost launched at her... the dog didn't bite her though.

the girl was well within the dog's attack range, and she was a lot slower than the dog. If the dog wanted to actually attack her, it could have done it.

was that just the dog's instinct to chase things that are moving?

what should I do to get rid that behavior? (my german shepherd is pretty well socialized.. she will let everyone pat her.)

next time if some little kids want to pat the dog, should I put the dog in down position first?

3 Secrets to Dog Training - Immediate Results



Recommended Answer:
You can work with your dog-it was probably protecting. You know how police dogs chase criminals? Just Make her sit, and distract her. When she is behaving treat her. Make sure you say "Shhh" in a firm voice so she knows not to do this. It is something they did on It's me or the Dog. Socialize her a lot. Give her praise, affection, and a lot of exercise. If it doesn't work, get behavioral training.

Dog Training - Why and How to Train Dogs


  • Go to the website: www.dogwhisperer.com and ask Caesar Milan. He can tell you what to do.

  • ur dog was probably scared like that boy was tryin to attack u or the dog. its just doin his job and being protective

  • I go to ; http://www.beginningdogtraining.com to get all the answers to questions like that.

    Good luck

  • Hold on to your dog tightly but it is normal for a puppy to do that. They don't like quick movement. It is pretty much instintive for some breeds. like my dachshund.
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training?

My dog is a 2 year old golden retriever and boxer mix. He is constantly pooping and peeing in the same place. We take him out all the time and we try to keep him out there for as long as possible but he often barks like crazy. He normally goes to the bathroom inside right when we leave or when we go up stairs. When we come home or walk down the stairs he usually hides under the bed because he knows he did something bad. We have tried many things and nothing works. what should we do?

Dog Training - Secrets For Training Your Dog



Recommended Answer:
Crate train.

Block off his access to the place he has accidents.

When you take him out, bring a handful of delicious treats-like pieces of hot dog. When he goes, give him the treats and praise him. They learn to "save up" their pee so they'll get their treats.

Just to clarify-your dog doesn't hide under the bed because he knows he did something bad-he hides under the bed because he has associated you coming home or downstairs with being punished. He does not understand why.

How to Find the Perfect Dog Training System


  • he wants to get it on with a female

  • Clean the spot where he goes most frequently REALLY good, you want that scent gone as best as possible.
    Dogs with pent up energy do odd things like this.
    Is your dog getting enough exercise?
    I would exercise him regularly and see if there's a change in his behavior.
    You can't punish the dog unless you catch him in the act.
    If you provide him with regular exercise I think you should crate train him. He may be feeling insecure when he's alone. A crate symbolizes relaxation and being calm. I would put him in the crate when you leave, as long as he's been exercised before hand.
    Prevention will go a long way to stop this behavior.
    Good luck.

  • If he's not doing his business when you put him out, try the "match trick". This is a trick used by dog show people to get their dog to go poop when he is on his walk and he won't go (the last thing you want to hear is "clean-up to ring 5" - and it's your dog!).

    Take a regular match from a matchbook (NOT a stick match) and insert the match-head end into the rear end of the dog, but only about half way. Take him outside and walk him around the yard and tell him "go potty" (the idea is to train him to go on command). The match will stimulate his bowel and he will go. It might take a few minutes, but be patient. Do this every single night after he's had his dinner and you will get results.It also sounds like he's got some anxiety about being outside and he can still smell where he has gone in the past, no matter how well you think you have cleaned up and he will continue to mark. To clean this up totally - even what you can't smell, get some "Anti Icky-poo", yes - that is really the name.
    http://www.antiickypoo.com/c-antiickypoo…

    It is used for pet-soiled and crime scene clean up. This stuff works great!!
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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Can somebody recommend me a good dog training school or private trainer?

My dog is an Australian Shepherd and he is 2 years old. He is very aggressive towards strangers who come near the house or us. He barks, growls and jumps at them. He doesn't stop barking and trying to get at them unless he's in a different room. If they touch him too much, annoy him a lot and stand close, he may nip them. (He nipped someone once). It has to be around Toronto, Ontario. I don't know which one is the best or who will be trustworthy. I heard of dogs like this being turned into family guard dog and not just barking and jumping at everybody they meet - even our friends. Thanks.

4 Core Basics of Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
I would look in the Toronto, Ontario yellow pages. (if they have one) but you can find a whole bunch of trainers there. Or you can look on the internet.

Control Your Aggressive Dog With These 4 Dog Training Tips


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    Monday, April 16, 2012

    Dog Health Questions: Is dog training a good thing?

    We got a trainer for a dog we just got to help her stop doing her business in the house.
    (We have 2 other dogs, so 3 altogether.)
    And now, the trainer is telling my mom to feed them at 5-530pm, and at 6, take the food away.
    And same thing in the morning.
    And at night, around 9-10pm, we take away their water and put it up.
    So then we know about what time they will do their business.
    And the trainer was saying "would you leave breakfast on the table for your kids if they didn't eat it".
    But humans can decide when they want to eat.
    Animals can't just pull something out of the cabinet and eat it.

    Dog Training - Dog Training Techniques



    Recommended Answer:
    The trainer is absolutely right.

    You shouldn't let dogs free feed; if you do, they'll end up having to go potty all day. Same thing with water at night, you don't want them waking you up to go out.

    Would I leave breakfast on the table if my kids didn't eat it? Nope. If they're not hungry, they're not hungry.

    Basic Dog Training - Where To Buy Your Dog From


    • Obedience training is the foundation for establishing a better relationship between you and your dog. Obedience training helps establish the owner in the role of "pack leader". Obedience will lay down clear behavior guidelines that your dog can follow. A well-behaved, obedient dog is more than just a pet of pride. The difference lies largely in the training, and good training can save a dog's life.

      These articles will give you tips about how to best train your dog.

      Dog Training - http://www.dog-pound.net/dog-training.ht…

      Dog Obedience - http://www.dog-pound.net/dog-obedience.h…

      Repetition, consistency, practice and correction are what it takes to train a dog to be happy and responsive. If you follow these simple steps you will find that your puppy can grow into an obedient well-adjusted dog.

      Repitition and Consistency in Dog Training - http://www.dog-pound.net/repetition-cons…

    • trainers are a very good thing and the trainer is only making this temporary to help teach your dogs to recognize when they have to go potty and let you know. they wont go hungry or starve. kind of like teaching a new born baby to adapt to your schedule. your dogs will learn eventually and get the hang of it. be patient, takes time... :-)

    • your trainer is very right. you should take away the food so they know that when food is given to them, they eat it and don't wait all day to eat. but i have to disagree with taking away the water. they should have the water out just because water is defiantly essential and dogs probably need water more than food.

    • Taking the food away is to train your dog to eat at fixed times. As a result your dog will need to go at certain time to, so you can program (yourself) when to take him out.

      A more efficient way would be to learn the dog is it wrong to poop in the house. There's tons of good training manuals on line, so I don't need if you really need that expensive (?) dog trainer...

    • I came across this great dog training site last month that gives so much information about puppy and dog training. All the advice is working well on my 4 month old labrador. Give it a go. It really is worth it. The site address is www.dogtrainingsuccessformula.com .

    • This procedure is widely used in dog training. You are not denying your dog just teaching it to eat when the food is there . Its just behavioral modification. You don't want your pet to pee and poop in the house forever !

    • i think ur trainer is wrong the dog will learn at his own paste but taking away the dogs food? u wouldnt like that if someone did that to u now would u?

    • na, just let it **** all over your house.

    • you should feed your dog at certain times so your dog won't be spoiled and so you could teach your dog that he/she has to eat during that time and even though your dog won't eat when the times up you take your dog's food away. When your dog needs to use the bathroom he/she will give signs like sniffing the ground, going in circle, digging the ground or corners, etc. also whenever your dog gives off signs or whenever you walk your dog look at the time so the next time you will know what time to feed your dog and when to walk him/her. Or you could put a dog bell on your doorknob and train your dog to ring the bell w/ his/her nose or something to let you know that he/she need to use the bathroom.

    • I personally leave my dogs food out. It is always fine if you leave it out because it gives a dog choice on when to eat. But if you notice it becomes a problem that the dog is constantly eating that could cause obesiety and that is a serious problem! so what i do with my dog is i give him to cups of food a day one in the morning and one at night its the perfect diet for my dog. but you could also go with the training. but training could effect the dog at first. I personally think the best thing to do is food in the morning and take it aways before work or school (which ever one you have) and than when you get home give him/her food until bed time! [: hope i helped!
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    Sunday, March 11, 2012

    Dog Health Questions: I need some advice about training my dog, and it may take a professional.?

    I have a question about dog training, and I need someone who is very experienced to answer me. I have a Great Dane/Lab mix who is nearly 8 months old and she seems untrainable at times. Duchess is very sweet but she jumps a lot, and I'm not exactly sure how to go along making her stop. I tell her no but it seems to have no effect. When I try to teach her commands I can rarely keep her attention long enough to even tell her what it means. She doesn't know how to sit or lay down or anything, just to 'come'.

    Also, we usually keep bones for her to chew on, and then usually she doesn't have any problems with chewing things, but she gets bored easily and when we don't have bones she likes to chew up (not necessarily eat) things. My mom gets very mad at her when I'm not home (I go to my dad's about two to three times a week) and usually just puts her in her kennel. I don't think that's right for a dog to be in a kennel for punishment, but it's either that or we have to get rid of her.
    My mom has very little patience and every time she needs to go to the bathroom she'll wake my mom up, and then sometimes even then she'll still go on the floor. My mom gets really angry at her and usually pops her for it (which I don't think is correct either). We feed her at the same time every day and we give her water at the same time.

    I suggested obedience school because the organization we adopted her from gave us a 25% discount but my mom is very set on not letting her go because it's too expensive for us. I honestly don't know what to do and it's causing a lot of problems for us. Please help me.

    Dog Training Man's Best Friend



    Recommended Answer:
    This is how I taught my dog(I have a black lab)
    Potty training: I kept her on a leash and put her outside about every hour in the first month, then every 2 hours the second month. In the second month she understood where to poop and urinate!! I praised her each and every time she did her business outside, by telling her "good dog".
    Sitting and going down: I took her on a leash and gently pushed her hind to the floor telling her sit. I had to do that several times, but she did understand pretty fast what it meant. Going down("down")I pushed her between her shoulders until she lay on the floor. She did understand that one pretty fast too.
    Walking by my side: I called it heel: I again had her on the leash and pushed her to my side until she was lined up straight with me and told her the word heel.
    After my dog understood those commands I trained her by doing this procedure every other day or so, until she did it without any flaw. Then I trained her not to jump for food: I had a nice bone, told her to sit, and put the bone on the coffee table(she was sitting right in front of it). Whenever she wanted to snap up the bone I told her "no" and grabbed the bone. It was a harder one, because labs are very greedy, but she got the picture--she could not have the food until I told her so. After that she got food in a dog bowl and I made her sit down and told her "stay" while putting the food down. If she wanted to get up to go to the food I told her "no" "stay". That way she learned that she had to wait until I told her something. I did let her wait a couple of minutes and then told her "ok". It is a little time consuming to train the dogs like that, but it is well worth it.

    Not jumping on people: When someone knocked on my door she usually went into a barking fit and tried to jump up on whoever came. I did put her on the leash and told her "down". She did go down. I did not let her jump up to greet the visitor her way. Excessive barking was discouraged by jerking the leash and telling her "no bark".

    Understandably this approach takes time and there is a regular upkeep of thes training to do. However, it does pay off, because in the long run do you have a better behaving dog. Good luck

    Proven Dog Training Methods


    • So you rescued/adopted a dog that you now cant control/train. Contact the place you got her from and ask for help. Tell them whats happening and ask if someone there can help you with training for her. Reputable places will help you, without a second thought or question.

    • there are these remote trainers that you could purchase at any pet store. Every time she does something you don't want her to do, you press a button and she will stop. I don't own one but I was thinking about getting one, before finally purchasing a bark collar for my 3 year old Pug. The remote trainer will correct everything from barking, jumping, biting, and ect. I put my pug in obedience classes and it was a waste of money.

    • If you can't afford an obedience class - then check to see if there is a dog 4-H club in your area you can join. You can get free advice from the leaders and other members, and you can use your current dog as your project animal. They will help you train the dog, and you will learn all about dog care and training.

      The skills you learn in 4-H will last you a lifetime. You'll become best friends with your dog and make other dog owning friends, too.

      In most communities it is free to be a member of a 4-H club and to attend the meetings, and show at the county fair in the summer.

      You need help with your dog, and this would be a great way to have some fun and get the help you need.
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    Saturday, February 11, 2012

    Dog Health Questions: Dog training videos that are 10+ minutes?

    I have to fold laundry at work and would like to watch something but I do not want to have to click on a new video often.

    Clicker training, Ellis, Leerburg, KP, Kikopup, Koehler, I don't care who it is as long as it's about training and 10+minutes lol legit: What's your preferred method of training?

    Which One of These Four Dog Training Mistakes are You Making?



    Recommended Answer:
    I train pure Koehler.

    Here is a video from our Koehler list manager why to use praise instead of treats....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFgm9DXXm…

    (whoops its only 5:41)

    Here is good reading on the method if you run out of videos!

    http://koehlerdogtraining.com/ADD: Here is LEERBURGS You Tube page- lots of training videos (just under 10 minutes too!)

    http://www.youtube.com/user/leerburg

    Dog Behavior Training - How Much Does Professional Dog Training Cost?


    • When I got my dog, they gave me a video with the adoption. It is called "Training Your Adopted Dog". There are different sections, but you can just hit "play all" and then you don't have to keep on selecting the next chapter. I love clicker training, and I just apply clicker training to everything the video says.
      http://www.youtube.com/user/hsinyicohen
      This is a youtuber I really like, and she is good at training, you can just put her FREE training videos on a playlist and it will play without you having to keep clicking on the next videos, and I like her videos better than most training videos.
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    Thursday, February 2, 2012

    Dog Health Questions: Bad Breeding? HELP? Dog training/mental problem?

    My dog is all the sudden 'turning' on us.
    He will be a happy little dog one minute. Then his whole expression changes, and he attacks our other dogs/attacks me. No one has been injured YET. He is currently by himself constantly. And i feel horrible.
    He is very depressed about being seperated from us and the other dogs. There are other times where we are playing with him, then all the sudden (his expression completely changes) he lays down and acts scared/upset/worried.
    I contacted the breeder about this and she claims it's a 'training' issue. Though i have no idea how it would effect him randomly doing this. And it is not consitent problem. He will go without weeks having any problems, then all the sudden his expression changes, and something happens and he attacks/shuts down. I have tried to set him up (repeating what happened when he all the sudden had this behavior change) and he acts normal. We have been to alot of different trainers/behaviorists to look at our dog, and they do not see anything wrong. He has done this once infront of a trainer, he all the sudden shut down and was acting very scared like something was wrong. She saw his eyes kind of glazed over, his expression changed, and he acted strange. We brought him back a day later, did the same things as the previous day. Nothing happened. She also feels that there is something mentaly wrong. Several trainers have mentioned this.
    So as you can see we are looking into things that could be wrong.
    Any suggestions to look for? We were wondering if we should take him to a normal vet, or try to take him to a university. How expensive are universities compared to normal vets?
    We have looked into a form of epilipsy. If the vet feels that there could possibly be a form of epilipsy is there any way to PROVE it?
    The problem is the breeder. She will not allow me to neuter him because she wants something out of this dogs father. He is having these problems, i cannot neuter him without her written consent because of a contract.
    So basically i was wondering if anyone has ever had any of these problems before, and how to deal with them, what to look into ect.
    OH btw we have had a full panel of bloodwork and thyroid done. everything was normal :)
    Thank you. :)

    Sorry i forgot to mention the breed!
    He is a australian shepherd.
    I know now this breeder is horrible. :/ I really do not want to breed him. Like i said, she is blaming me and it's not 'his fault' it's my fault. She does not believe he has these problems, but training problems. :/

    Dog Clicker Training vs Compulsion Based Dog Training, Which is Better?



    Recommended Answer:
    You'd have to contact a lawyer to if you can get out of the contact since there's something wrong with the dog. I'm just not sure why you'd buy a dog from this breeder knowing how horrible she is.

    What to Look For in the Best Dog Training Program


    • Wonder how she would breed the dog if he were to say "run off". Well, you could have him neutered, doubt that would change his behaviour much. But it's worth a try. Just report to her that the dog ran off, and you no longer have him. Does she live close enough to check on that?

    • It's absolutely a breeding problem. Temperament is just another thing that BYBs ignore. In NO WAY should you allow this dog to be bred. Tell her to take you to court if she wants to enforce that part of the contract, and go prepared with statments from ALL of the behaviorists & trainers you took him to, to back yourself up. I doubt she'll sue

    • The dog sounds mentally unstable to me. Contact the breeder and tell her this, and that is likely genetic and he can not breed. If she refuses to take him back or let you neuter him, get the trainer's statements on the dog and take her to court.

    • Not having him neutered is ridiculous!
      She would have to be prepared to go through the courts to do anything anyways! You have plenty of witnesses to the odd behavior. If she does pursue the issue (which I seriously doubt), no court will rule in her favor.
      Sever all ties with the woman & if she finds out the dog's been neutered then so be it.
      To leave him intact would be irresponsible. That would be my first step & ASAP!

      I really don't know how prices compare regarding university vs. GP vs.specialist.
      Discuss your options with your vet & see what he suggests. Keep him in the loop.
      My gut tells me that the next step should probably be a veterinary neurologist.

      You still need to make sure he's getting plenty of exercise & walks. He also needs to spend time with the family. If you have to muzzle him to feel safe doing so then do it- but only when needed & for short periods. A basket muzzle will allow him to breathe normally & drink water (with practice). http://www.petedge.com/Guardian-Gear-Bas…

      Best wishes & good luck!

      Add:
      You're showing THIS dog?!?

    • Hello. here are 3 tips on how to train dogs. I hope it helps.

      1) When giving your dog a command, avoid using a loud voice. Even if your dog is especially independent/unresponsive, your tone of voice when issuing an obedience command such as "sit","down" or ""stay", should be calm and authoritative, rather than harsh or loud. 2 ) Whenever possible, use your dog's name positively, rather than using it in conjunction to reprimands, warnings or punishment. Your dog should trust that when it hears its name or is called to you, good things happen. His name should always be a word he responds to with enthusiasm, never hesitancy or fear.

      3) Avoid giving your dog combined commands which are incompatible. Combined commands such as "sit-down" can confuse your dog. Using this example, say either "sit" or "down". The command "sit-down" simply doesn't exist.

      check out the site for more info.
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    Wednesday, January 25, 2012

    Dog Health Questions: Question about dog training?

    Not having any problems, but I was just talking to my Dad, about say like, if you had a Pitbull, or a dog that you were warned could be aggressive with other dogs. If you had other dogs that were alot smaller and unagressive and couldn't defend themselves whatsoever from the dog. If you had the dog eat after both you and the other dogs you had in the household, and crated it while you were gone and let the other dogs roam free, would that teach that the other dogs have dominance over it? And what would be some other ways to establish the dominance that both you and the other dogs have over that dog?

    Now don't go tell me not to get a pitbull or something, I don't wanna hear it, and it's not even what we're talking about, we were just wondering what you would want to do.

    Clicker Dog Training is Extremely Reliable and Can Be Done by Anyone



    Recommended Answer:
    No, and I like where you're trying to go with this, but it won't make the difference. Here are a bunch of comments:

    1) The order of eating isn't really that big of a deal. In practical terms, yes, higher ranking dogs will eat before lower ranking dogs if they are all standing around and there is some kind of limited supply of food, but this is because the lower ranking dogs are too scared to approach, not because they are lining up politely to wait their turn. Artificially orchestrating the feeding order will not change the order of rank in the house. I can feed my shepherds and then eat afterwards and it does not remotely make them think that they are higher ranking. Consider that they still have to sit and watch me eat in front of them and you bet your booty that they would never dream of trying to muscle in to take my food, which a high ranking dog *could* do to a lower ranking dog. Likewise, I could not just change feeding order to change the way that my dogs have arranged themselves... it just doesn't work that way.

    2) Same thing for crating -- it would be a very good *safety* move, but would only shift rank in a very minor way and really, a Cane Corso is going to need to not be crated all day once they are old enough to be trustworthy around the house. If you were to crate a Cane Corso all day, you'd better be REALLY prepared to tire his butt out for the rest of the evening when you get home because he would be wild and ready to rock by the time you do get there.

    3) Getting down to the meat of things, aggression actually has very little to do with dominance. A truly high ranking dog does not EVER need to attack a lower ranking dog. A truly high ranking dog needs only give "the look" and the lower ranking dog will try to figure out how high to jump. The vast majority of aggression cases I work with on a weekly basis are founded in fear, anxiety, and/or insufficient socialization.

    4) Continuing with the meat of the matter, there is one very real concern with the idea of bringing in a Cane Corso, and that's the size difference. You say that the Pugs are all "unaggressive" and I'm not really sure what that means. Are all three of them very soft dogs who will not say boo to another dog? Social ranking for dogs is all about the personality of the dogs and has very little to do with physical size. It is highly possible that one of the Pugs could completely boss around a Cane Corso, especially if they already have seniority in the pack. The risk, though, is of the Cane not knowing his own size and dealing out damage to the smaller dogs by playing or interacting too roughly. This is compounded by the fact that Cane Corsos are very powerful for their size. Plus, idiot puppies and idiot adolescent dogs don't really read the books on this whole "pack order" thing, and they can go out of their way to be obnoxious and/or dangerous to other dogs in the house regardless of their actual social status.

    Basically, if you were to bring a Pit or Cane pup into the house, I would work VERY closely with a GOOD breeder. I will tell you right now that many good breeders may turn you down cold if they are uncomfortable with the situation, and honestly, any breeder that does not grill you and ask you a million questions is not a breeder you want to work with, ESPECIALLY for these types of dogs. Then you should expect the breeder to help you select a puppy with a softer (but not too soft) temperament that would fit in with your other little guys. And then, yes, I would try to keep them separated when you aren't around just for safety, and I would do that for at minimum until two years old, but if you can separate by putting them in separate rooms that would be preferable to long-term all-day crating for the Pit or Cane pup.

    Good luck convincing Dad!

    Dog Training Evolution


    • lol no thats not the right way to do it i have a 200 pound mastiff and a mailionua and the trick is to let the dogs know that ur the domiant one and there will be no fighting , yes they might get into tussles but still a dog should be well balanced before u bring another dog into the family and then there will be no fighting

    • I have pitbulls and they are not what the media portray. I also have chihuahuas and there is no problem with aggression against them from the pits. The way to control the dogs dominance is to walk with it often and be the pack leader 100% of the time. If you notice aggression, then you address it before it escalates. I have been using the Dog Whisperer methods (Cesar Milan) and all my dog problems have been solved in regard to my dogs fighting and so on. You have to be calm and dominant yourself. But the methods that you describe would not result in a submissive dog. For example, a dog confined while the others roam free is going to be angry and frustrated, not submissive. Cesar teaches a quick 'touch' method that has worked for my small pack very effectively. Also, I have used the method of flipping the dog on his back and making him stay there if he starts to escalate. It works so well that when somebody's dog got away from them at the vets office and jumped on and attacked my 100 lb pitbull male, he turned way from the attack and looked right to me for guidance instead of defending himself.

    • i have a pit bull and she is always around smaller dogs they can be aggressive to other dogs if u dont train them right the key is when they are young u have to bring them around other dogs and if they are around alot of dogs when they are a puppy they will most likely not be aggressive towards dogs my pit bull loves all dogs and i think that it is a little unfair to keep one dog pined up and the other one not that would cause jealousy

    • Some pitbulls don't like other dogs, but if you had one and you treated it like you said and were otherwise kind to it, it would grow up to be a well adjusted, well behaved dog. You can also establish dominance by turning the dog over on its back so his belly shows and making sure he never wins any tug of war games, etc. with you. It also helps to make the dog "work" for his food and everything else- make him sit or lie down to get food, attention, etc.

    • Well, I wouldn't bring that dog home if I knew it was aggressive towards other dogs and having other smaller dogs ... I just wouldn't take that risk of this new dog killing the others. I don't know if it would be possible to retrain that dog or not, he would probably be happier in a single pet home.

    • Can I recommend this site:
      http://www.pitbullforum.com

      It's one of the best forums on pitbulls I have seen: a LOT of very very good info on training, health, equipment. They do not condone abuse, puppy mills, or dog-fighting. Go take a look !

    • Get a female. She will soon learn that she is bigger and stronger but have a strong sense to nurture and take care of the other dogs. I had a pit (female) and my wife had a chihuahua and they were the best of friends. My pit died and I now have a lab/doberman mix (female) . After 1 full year together the chihua hua and lab mix are great friends still, with no problems. I too am a big fan of Cesar and his ways they really work. Good luck
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    Thursday, November 17, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: Where can I get (almost) free dog training lessons?

    I live in the Tampa area.

    Basic Dog Training - Timing And Body Language



    Recommended Answer:
    http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/%2…

    This is as cheap as it gets... pretty awesome site once you get past the color scheme. I find Stitch's blog to be helpful when I'm feeling stuck on something.. it just makes me feel better to see the ebb and flow of someone else's training.

    Help With Dog Training


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    Friday, October 28, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: I have a dog training question?

    I have one adult female dog (standard poodle) and a female puppy (golden retriever) that is 5 months old. The golden has shown a few signs that she will be an alpha female and we have been working on her like crazy to keep her in lined and trained and she's doing really well. My question is, both females like to romp and play just like any normal dog and I've heard that a romp can turn into a fight very easily. The golden is only puppy, but I want to know if it is okay to let them romp like normal dogs or if I should make them stop. They have never had trouble with eachother or anything and my poodle is REALLY well trained, but I'm afraid it might be teaching the puppy how to fight. She's a smart girl and really sweet, just some pre-aggressive signs have been displayed that we are trying to weed out. If you have had experience with this and youre a trainer please help.

    The Evolution of Dog Training



    Recommended Answer:
    I'm glad to see that you can recognize that there will be a pecking order. Please let them play,this is a normal part of canine behavior and actually helps establish the alpha. I dont see it turning aggressive with an adult and a puppy,especially thoes breeds of dog. Generally fights are over other things and if you dont have two strong personalities let them play! Relax and enjoy

    Trainer for over 10 years

    Dog Training Evolution


    • the pup and adult are ok to play together. what aggresstion is being shown? is it outright attach like behavior? or is it one that the adult says hey kid knock it off, much like a mother pup would do to her youngsters? if it is like a mother pup then you are ok, if more of an attack behavier then I would worry. keep an eye on them and let them know when you choose enough is enough play. a big cue to watch for is the back of the poodle, does her fur stand up, does she stand tall and stiff? these are both aggressive stands.

    • let them duke it out its important for them to know whos boss, but stop them if they are causing injury to each other, i suggest a pro dog trainer if your having trouble with aggression because they older they are the harder their habits will be to break

    • When I took classes with my dog the trainer said that when your dog is learning to play with other dogs to stay in the mix and touch them so they know that you are supervising their contact.

      If things turn aggressive you can separate them right away because you are there and put them into "time out." Then they learn aggression stops your attention, which is a negative outcome and will not encourage them to repeat it.

    • You need to understand that in doggy language "Alpha" is head of the pack. Whenever you introduce one or more dogs there will be a standoff at one point or another to show who will be top dog. It's a very natural way of doing things and will happen whether you want it to or not. 99.9% of the time, it's harmless growling, barking, handling, and muzzling. Muzzling is huge for a puppy because that is the way they have been shown they are the lesser dominate dog (one dog take their mouth and covers the other dogs muzzle while pushing down.)
      Don't worry! Everything will be OK. They will work it out on their own, and you should not need to interfere unless one becomes severely abusive. It just sounds like natural "play" and really, it's VERY normal :)

    • We have two males. The first dog we adopted was a Beagle and neutered, the second was a German Shepherd and we had him neutered.

      I was always afraid of the play the dogs would get into with the growling, nipping and so forth because I didn't want the GS to hurt the Beagle. My husband would tell me to let them go, they'll work it out, the GS won't hurt the Beagle.

      I let them go and lo and behold--the Beagle showed/let the GS know, you're getting too rough--chill out. They've had some times where I've had to use that rough voice but, that get along great!!!!!!

      Just watch the girls and when YOU feel like it's getting out of hand then say something. Otherwise, let them get the feel of each other.
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    Tuesday, October 11, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: There are so many dog training programs online, anyone know of a trust worthy dog training review site?

    I have 3 dogs, my youngest Maya a Boxer/Lab is just a terror, I always have to keep an eye on her, the middle child Stella also a Boxer/lab but unrelated is almost the perfect dog except everything scares her and my oldest Mugli a Golden/Lab barks at everything. I need to get these guy's under control any and all help is welcomed.

    Dog Training Hand Signals - 2 Important Commands You Can Teach Today



    Recommended Answer:
    I highly recommend working with a trainer in person who can help you. I also recommend going to the APDT website and do a trainer search to find one near you.

    Dog Training Basics: 3 Golden Rules


    • Dog training is a personal journey of a sort.
      Dog training is not a regulated industry. APDT nor IACP is a database of people who paid membership dues, but not really a good source of credible reference ( I am member of both)

      None of the review sites can tell you what trainer/method is right for your situation. I guess it may help you avoid a disasters but can't point the best.

      When selecting a dog trainer:

      1) Look at the dog trainer's dog. Does that dog look like a dog you want your dog to be like.
      Don't just look at the obedience to commands (anyone can do that) but look at the dog and her/his interaction with the trainer. Does the dog look like a robot or is it balanced and happy go lucky dog. If the prospective dog trainer did not bring a dog along why not?

      2) Look at the dog trainer essp. as s/he comes to your house and how your dog reacts to him? remember dogs are energy driven animals a good dog trainer should be able to get your dog to a calm state with not much interaction with your dog. Even if your dog is an aggreesive one.

      There are some article on my site that may be helpful helping to get your dogs under control

    • Their is this website called dogtime.com. There you can talk to fellow dog lovers, read articles, and more… There is many articles that include training tips.
      If needed, enroll your dogs in a training class, or buy some books...
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    Tuesday, September 13, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: How much would you charge for boarding one dog for a month? Plus dog training?

    My girlfriend is Certified dog trainer and has clients wanting to have her board their dog while training for one month. How much would you charge an individual for one month?

    Dog Training Techniques - The Dog Whispering Technique Explained



    Recommended Answer:
    A local dog training facility (Hollywood Dog Training School) here in Southern California charges $4,000 a month for board and training.

    My breeder placed a dog and the new owners took it there before taking it home, that was their cost.

    Straight board at most local kennels is $50 a day so that alone would be $1500 just for board. Then she needs to figure out what her time is worth on the training.

    Four Dog Training Tools That You Must Use


    • A trainer I know charges about $1600 plus tax.. this does include 6 follow up lessons.

      If they want remote training (to have the dog offleash) that costs extra, which can be done during the training program, or after completion.. thats another $650 - 1250.

      Now, if the person is wanting more than just basic obedience/housebreaking.. that costs even more. Ive seen trainers charge upwards ofr $3,000-5,000 or more, depending on what exactly the owner wants the dog trained to do.

    • *I* wouldn't board dogs at my home, nor would I want to run a dog boarding facility.
      In my area, though, the going rate for a night of boarding is 10$ -- so it would be around 300$ for a month's worth of boarding.
      The owner also has to supply food, though.

      It's her choice, though.

    • I actually run a kennel in the D.C. area. For the average sized dog, for 30 days of boarding, I would charge $1050.00. Training would be extra, probably another $300, depending on the dog.

      Of course, these prices are relative to the area you live in.

    • it would depend on what is being charged in your area. you need to find out what kennels are charging per day for boarding and then find out what trainers in your area are charging and go from there.

    • I would say about $300.00..that's pretty reasonable
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    Wednesday, August 24, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: Could someone recommend a book or video on drug detection dog training?

    Havn't found any useful websites or anything so was wondering if someone could recommend a book or video or website on drug detection dog training.

    Dog Training - How To Train Your Dog In One Evening



    Recommended Answer:
    There are several, but, you will not be able to do it out of a book or video, I promise you. Look at leerburg.com see if he has any. Again, what you are trying to do has legal implications and you need actual drugs. I have been doing it for 27 years, I know. If you try to short circuit it, you will get in trouble. This is not a game.

    7 Important Dog Training Tips For You


    • Yeah, I assumed that you would need DRUGS for the dog to learn to detect. That can present a real problem....for most people anyway.

    • Here's some backwards advice for you.

      I've taught tracking for 20+ years. I've also been involved in a lot of scent work. Another poster on this site, Greekman has also been involved in scent work, perhaps he'll jump in also.

      There are a LOT of issues with drug dogs. Primary one is getting authorized by various governmental organizations to even get started. Need drugs to teach drug detection.

      Most of the people I've seen involved in this are people who have been involved in other scent work such as tracking, Schutzhund, search and rescue or other such things. They then get involved with training dogs for various law enforcement groups for search and rescue, or protection/search work. After all of that, they get involved in what you're looking for.

      www.dogwise.com and then search for books on tracking or schutzhund. That will give you some books in that area. You can then take it from there.

      By the way, a knowledgeable scent person is going to need a year, or more to get a dog up to the level of where they need to be. If you're talking advanced work, you're talking a couple of years.
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