Showing posts with label dog muzzle training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dog muzzle training. Show all posts

Monday, October 1, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Anyone tried "The Perfect Dog" training system by Don Sullivan?

I had two dogs (neutered males) who got along without issue. I just took home another older neutered male dog (Bo) from the shelter at which I volunteer. Bo and my other older male (Tuba) scrap about once every three days or so. No serious injuries yet, but I'm worried and looking for some guidance. The little dog gets along with everyone as he is not much of a threat and is pretty goofy. Bo (lab/shep) is understandably needy and seems to want to be the sole recipient of our attention. Tuba is a chow mix who is incredibly loyal and smart. He does not like when Bo comes between him and me, but does not fuss about it. Bo often growls and shows his teeth at Tuba when Tuba walks by or walks by me.

Small Dog Training - Small Dogs Need to Feel They Are Pleasing You



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I believe he uses a correction collar to train.

For your problem, a correction collar will only make the situation worse.

Try NILIF (google it).

Dog House Training - Complete Dog Training Tips and Tricks For Training Your Dog in Your Home


  • you know, i was watching that thing on tv the other day and i think its all crap. no way some flimsy looking collar is gonna train any dog, big or small.

  • no

  • No, and don't waste your money. That man and his training system are a joke.

    Try this with your dogs:

    Undesirable behavior can be caused by many things, including undetected illness. No behavior modification program should begin without first taking the dog to a veterinarian for a complete physical examination. While you're there, give your vet a printed copy of this page and ask if it would be an appropriate technique for you to try. The NILIF program is an accepted standard in dog training/behavior but it is not, and is not intended to be, a substitute for an in-person, professional evaluation of your dog's behavior. This technique is intended for dogs in good health and of sound mind and stable temperament.

    The NILIF program is remarkable because it's effective for such a wide variety of problems. A shy, timid dog becomes more relaxed knowing that he has nothing to worry about, his owner is in charge of all things. A dog that's pushing too hard to become "top dog" learns that the position is not available and that his life is far more enjoyable without the title.

    It is equally successful with dogs that fall anywhere between those two extremes. The program is not difficult to put into effect and it's not time consuming if the dog already knows a few basic obedience commands. I've never seen this technique fail to bring about a positive change in behavior, however, the change can be more profound in some dogs than others. Most owners use this program in conjunction with other behavior modification techniques such as coping with fear or treatment for aggression. It is a perfectly suitable technique for the dog with no major behavior problems that just needs some fine tuning.

    ATTENTION ON DEMAND
    The program begins by eliminating attention on demand. When your dog comes to you and nudges your hand, saying "pet me! pet me!" ignore him. Don't tell him "no", don't push him away. Simply pretend you don't notice him. This has worked for him before, so don't be surprised if he tries harder to get your attention. When he figures out that this no longer works, he'll stop. In a pack situation, the top ranking dogs can demand attention from the lower ranking ones, not the other way around. When you give your dog attention on demand you're telling him that he has more status in the pack than you do. Timid dogs become stressed by having this power and may become clingy. They're never sure when you'll be in charge so they can't relax. What if something scary happens, like a stranger coming in the house? Who will handle that? The timid dog that is demanding of attention can be on edge a lot of the time because he has more responsibility than he can handle.

    Some dogs see their ability to demand attention as confirmation that they are the "alpha", then become difficult to handle when told to "sit" or "down" or some other demand is placed on them. It is not their leadership status that stresses them out, it's the lack of consistency. They may or may not actually be alpha material, but having no one in the pack that is clearly the leader is a bigger problem than having the dog assume that role full time. Dogs are happiest when the pack order is stable. Tension is created by a constant fluctuation of pack leadership.

    EXTINCTION BURSTS
    Your dog already knows that he can demand your attention and he knows what works to get that to happen. As of today, it no longer works, but he doesn't know that yet. We all try harder at something we know works when it stops working. If I gave you a twenty dollar bill every time you clapped your hands together, you'd clap a lot. But, if I suddenly stopped handing you money, even though you were still clapping, you'd clap more and clap louder. You might even get closer to me to make sure I was noticing that you were clapping. You might even shout at me "Hey! I'm clapping like crazy over here, where's the money?". If I didn't respond at all, in any way, you'd stop. It wasn't working anymore. That last try -- that loud, frequent clapping is an extinction burst. If, however, during that extinction burst, I gave you another twenty dollar bill you'd be right back in it. It would take a lot longer to get you to stop clapping because you just learned that if you try hard enough, it will work.

    When your dog learns that the behaviors that used to get him your attention don't work any more he's going to try harder and he's going to have an extinction burst. If you give him attention during that time you will have to work that much harder to get him turned around again. Telling him "no" or pushing him away is not the kind of attention he's after, but it's still attention. Completely ignoring him will work faster and better.

    YOU HAVE THE POWER
    As the human and as his owner you have control of all things that are wonderful in his life. This is the backbone of the NILIF program. You control all of the resources. Playing, attention, food, walks, going in and out of the door, going for a ride in the car, going to the dog park. Anything and everything that your dog wants comes from you. If he's been getting most of these things for free there is no real reason for him to respect your leadership or your ownership of these things. Again, a timid dog is going to be stressed by this situation, a pushy dog is going to be difficult to handle. Both of them would prefer to have you in charge.

    To implement the NILIF program you simply have to have your dog earn his use of your resources. He's hungry? No problem, he simply has to sit before his bowl is put down. He wants to play fetch? Great! He has to "down" before you throw the ball. Want to go for a walk or a ride? He has to sit to get his lead snapped on and has to sit while the front door is opened. He has to sit and wait while the car door is opened and listen for the word (I use "OK") that means "get into the car". When you return he has to wait for the word that means "get out of the car" even if the door is wide open. Don't be too hard on him. He's already learned that he can make all of these decisions on his own. He has a strong history of being in control of when he gets these resources. Enforce the new rules, but keep in mind that he's only doing what he's been taught to do and he's going to need some time to get the hang of it all.

    You're going to have to pay attention to things that you probably haven't noticed before. If you feed your dog from your plate do you just toss him a green bean? No more. He has to earn it. You don't have to use standard obedience commands, any kind of action will do. If your dog knows "shake" or "spin around" or "speak" use those commands. Does your dog sleep on your bed? Teach him that he has to wait for you to say "OK" to get on the bed and he has to get down when you say "off". Teach him to go to his bed, or other designated spot, on command. When he goes to his spot and lays down tell him "stay" and then release him with a treat reward. Having a particular spot where he stays is very helpful for when you have guests or otherwise need him out of the way for a while. It also teaches him that free run of the house is a resource that you control. There are probably many things that your dog sees as valuable resources that I haven't mentioned here.

    The NILIF program should not be a long, drawn out process. All you need to do is enforce a simple command before allowing him access to what he wants. Dinner, for example, should be a two or three second encounter that consists of nothing more than saying "sit", then "good dog!", then putting the bowl down and walking away.

    ATTENTION AND PLAY
    Now that your dog is no longer calling the shots you will have to make an extra effort to provide him with attention and play time. Call him to you, have him "sit" and then lavish him with as much attention as you want. Have him go get his favorite toy and play as long as you both have the energy. The difference is that now you will be the one initiating the attention and beginning the play time. He's going to depend on you now, a lot more than before, to see that he gets what he needs. What he needs most is quality time with you. This would be a good time to enroll in a group obedience class. If his basic obedience is top notch, see about joining an agility class or fly ball team.

    NILIF DOES *NOT* MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION YOU GIVE TO YOUR DOG. The NILIF concept speaks to who initiates the attention (you!), not the amount of attention. Go ahead and call your dog to you 100 times a day for hugs and kisses!! You can demand his attention, he can no longer demand yours!

    Within a day or two your dog will see you in a whole new light and will be eager to learn more. Use this time to teach new things, such as 'roll over' or learn the specific names of different toys.

    If you have a shy dog, you'll see a more relaxed dog. There is no longer any reason to worry about much of anything. He now has complete faith in you as his protector and guide. If you have a pushy dog he'll be glad that the fight for leadership is over and his new role is that of devoted and adored pet.©1999 Deb McKean
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Sunday, September 23, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training questions [involving traumatized dog].?

I have recently been give an adult dog (Alsatian) previously belonging to an elderly couple. The dog is quite anxious/insecure and possibly maltreated by one of the previous owners. I know the man liked to tease the dog. When I try put a leash around her neck she sinks submissively towards the ground (against the ground) as if I were about to punish her. It is quite baffling. This makes walks impossible.

How do I get her to trust the leash?

Is it possible to train an adult dog? (she is about 2 years old)

The Basic Commands of Dog Training



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It's very possible to train a 2 year old dog. One of mine was 6 when I adopted him, he had been starved and beaten and was as submissive as he was big (also alsatian).

Try leaving the leash lying around, if she goes near it - treat & praise (quietly and gently if she is anxious). If she sniffs it - treat & praise. Slowly bring it closer to her and keep treating until you can put it around her neck and keep giving treats. Once she is no longer afraid of it, try having her walk around the house with it and eventually you will be able to take her outside.

She has learnt the leash is a bad thing and you need to teach her now that it is not. Food is the quickest way to do this.

Traumatized dogs need a lot of patience and a gentle hand but will give back so much love it's unbelievable.

And very brilliant of you for taking her in.

Good luck!

Dog Training Fundamentals


  • Yes but it takes TIME! and lots of patience. By time I mean years. She may have been hit with the leash.

  • you are right she has been abused but not all hope is lost it will just take longer 1 because she has had many owners 2 because shes been abused and 3 because of her age my suggestion give ALOT of positive attention and praise even for little things like using the bathroom outside it will take time for her to trust you in the meentime i would try to use puppy pads and leave the leash on her when you come inside for an extra few minutes a day good luck hope it works out for you.

  • Yes, you surely can train her. It's going to take patience, time and lots and lots of positive reinforcement on your part. If she has a genetically stable temperament, you can get her back to normal, despite her being mistreated.

    Put the leash on her, talking to her quietly all the time, if she sinks to the ground, coax her up and praise her (give a treat too, if she's food motivated). Stay calm, assertive (not aggressive, just in control) and walk with her, talking to her, patting your leg to get her moving, whatever it takes. In the beginning its going to be very slow going and you need to praise her for every tiny step forward she takes.

    With the right attitude, she's soon going to learn the leash won't be used to hurt her, and that walks are great fun.

    When she gains just a bit of confidence and most important, trust in you, start teaching her some obedience. No classes at first, just you and her. Dogs gain confidence from success and she needs that. Lots of praise for everything she learns, no harsh corrections at all, just teach her.

  • Sure its possible to train her she is still very young - just treat her like you would treat a new puppy. If you put the leash on her and leave it on her and let her get used to it she should eventually calm down. Do this several times. As soon as she seems calm enough give her treat. If she wants to walk let her walk any direction and you hold the leash. Do this over and over until she gets used to the leash. Then try to get her to follow you while you are holding leash. Always end your training session on a positive. Give her treat and lots of praise and then start over again in a few hours or in the morning. This may have to be repeated often and you should probably find a trainer who works well with dogs who are shy and anxious and I would work with him/her and your dog. Going for walks, doing obedience will help bond with this dog as well as help her with self-confidence

  • Sure - shes a young dog, and she can learn.

    I would start by leaving the leash on her around the house (maybe a shorter version, so she wouldnt run the risk of catching it on something.) That would give her a chance to realize that the leash itself does not hurt her.

    If you feed her, pet her, maybe play with her, all when she is wearing the leash, I think she will quickly realize that it is not scary, and she can easily walk with it on.

    Then I would practice putting the leash on and taking it off, probably with treats, so she will associate putting the leash on with GOOD things, not bad.

    After that, you can progress to taking walks with her.
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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Dog Health Questions: How to stop my dog from biting stuff/peeing all over my house?

My dog is a lab 10 months old.We live on the 5th story so we cant keep taking him out frequently to piss.He keeps pissing on chairs,clothes,buckets,etc. my only option is to take him to the bathroom to piss but i'm an amateur and i don't know ANYTHING about dog training and he's like that dog in 'Marley & Me' (hard to train). He keeps biting things in our house like chairs,pillows,doors,cell phones,etc. Now that he's tall enough he is climbing on tables and taking stuff and chewing them. My dad is very sick of him now and if i don't do anything within a month (my sister is moving away) my dad's gonna throw him. Though hes naughty and uncontrollable my mom & i still love him so adoption is out of the options & we can't afford a dog trainer/walker.Any advise is appreciated.Thanks

Must-Have Tools For Easy And Fun Dog Training



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Assuming you have enough money to take him to the vet and you're not planning on breeding him in the future, I would definitely recommend you get him neutered. He may be peeing over everything to scent mark it and he should be young enough to correct this if you have him neutered now. I had my dog neutered at 7 months and I know it sounds young but he was an absolute nightmare (so badly behaved that my parents wanted him adopted) and the vet said he was old enough - and a couple of months down the line he was almost a different dog. Of course it was partially due to the fact that he was maturing but I think the neutering helped, aswell as training him myself for half an hour a day which gave him something to do. I also recommend taking him for at least an hour's walk a day whenever you can fit it in, as this will help with his activity levels. Hope this helps :)

Edit: Neutering is the main I can think of to help as it'll make your life (and his) much easier and won't harm him in any way apart from a couple of days of discomfort. If you really can't face it then try training him yourself - have you taught him basic commands like sit, stay, leave etc? 'Leave' was the best thing we ever taught my dog as it makes him literally drop everything and pay attention - you can find out how to teach it to him here: http://www.loveyourdog.com/touch.html

You can also buy books or read online other things to train your dog, maybe try agility as a bit of fun, exercise him more, maybe give him less dinner and put some food in a toy for him to figure out how to remove it (Kongs are good for strong chewers) as boredom will make behaviour problems worse. And try your best to leave anything chewable well out of his reach. Good luck.

Schutzhund Dog Training - The Highest Level of Dog Training


  • Get him neutered.
    Take him to obedience classes.
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Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Dog Health Questions: How do I handle a 2 year old dog growling at his food bowl?

My dog is a labradoodle and we have had him since he was a puppy. Since he was a puppy, when we put down the food, we keep our hands in the bowl for a few minutes and we never had a problem. Now he is 2 years old and for the past few months, he has gotten very aggressive with his food bowl. We feed him once a day. He is about 70lbs, so he never skips a meal. I really dont know why this is happening but we have small children that cant go near him if he is eating. Can anyone suggest what to do besides paying for expensive dog training?

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The basic concept for him is that he doesn't want his food messed with, just like if the waiter stayed by you while you ate and would reach out to your plate (me personally, would probably stab them with my fork... lol).
I would say when you feed him start by placing a few pieces of kibble in his bowl, then place a few more and so on, just so he can see that when your hand reaches for the bowl food goes in and it has a good association.

You may also wanna put him up to 2 meals a day, he may be trying to protect his plate because he knows it will be the only one he gets that day,

Basic Dog Training Commands


  • u shood feed him 2 times a day...hes is soo hungry from only one meal that he thinks that u will steal his food so he gets agressive....he shood have two big meals a day...breakfast and dinner

  • Your dog is probably feeling territorial. Have you considered having him fixed?

    You need to give him a smack when he growls at your hand when you put it in his food bowl. Not a hard smack but hard enough to let him know what he did was wrong and that if he does it again the consequences will be bigger.

  • Leave food down for him around the clock and put another bowl down also. After a few weeks if this doesn't help, try hand feeding him only. He can't possess it then. This is what trainers have told me to do for food possession.

  • maybe you could have your dog sit infront of his bowl. give him a treat and pet him. then you could put a treat in his bowl and pet him. after a couple treats in the bowl and petting him while he eats them without any aggression try feeding him his food with the same technique (from hand and petting then little at a time in bowl while petting). You could also try putting him on a leash and do this and every time he shows signs of aggression tug on the leash, have him sit, and strongly tell him no

  • Feed him twice a day...away from everyone and everything. If this behavior does not stop, you'll need to consult your vet. Food aggression can get very ugly...and dangerous for your children. Think about it. kjl

  • My niebors dog is like that. It dosnt matter what breed, cuz hes is a shih tzu.

    Its somthing they do natraully if not trained bout it.

    Its just trying to point out "hey buddy my food, get lost".

    so one easy solution is getting him fixed.
    calms down a dogs temper by ALOT, trust me it works!

  • Hes Having territorial Issues so You Might want to stay away

  • Eating once a day isnt enought for a dog one heavy meal is too hard on the stomach feed your dog in the morning and at night

  • Get a baby gate and gate him in the kitchen or wherever you feed him.Keep the children out of that room during this time.
    I hope this does not start moving to toys, etc. and just stays with the food. Is this dog allowed on the furniture? If so, do not allow that. He should never be higher than your kids, meaning they do not sit on the floor with the dog.
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Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Advice on dog aggression??

We have a 4yr old Golden Retreiver mix. He is very loving,friendly, and affectionate w/us. However when anyone comes over to the house, he gets very aggressive with them, to the point we have to put him in another room, because he might nip at them. Anyone else have this problem? Would normal dog training help, or do we need something more specialised?

Dog Training - A Systematic Approach



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I have the same problem with my Rott. She love us to death but as soon as someone else come to the house she wants to bite. I solved that problem with her by telling the people right when they come in to call her by her name. So she think she knows them. I swear that works try. But remember who ever the person is they have to say the dogs name. And say it in a happy why.

Advanced Dog Training Exercises


  • He is protecting his house. This is not normal and the best thing you can do is get a professional trainer. If you cant afford one there are some articles online about this problem.

  • Yes we have an aggressive male chow. He's not real bad but bad enough that he nipped at my best friend who comes over alot. Some dogs are just extremely protective. Normal obedience training would probably help. We took our chow to obedience school and he is a whole lot better now. All dogs are different though. Maybe check with your vet to get his opinion.

  • yes dog obedience will help. AFter he is trained you can give him some "jobs" to keep his mind busy so he isnt so worried..
    putting him in the other room will not help
    what is he mixed with ? Retrievers ususally do not act like guard dogs

  • Be very firendly to him. Then maybe he'll feel more conforable with you. Is he fixed? Neutered animals nauturlly behave better.

    Or...

    Run Away!
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training?

My best friend has a pug and she needs to learn how to house train it. Right now it can't go outside because it hasn't had it's vaccinations yet. How can she train it if it can't go outside. And how can she if she can take it outside.
Thanks so much.

Hunting Dog Training Equipment



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Kennel training I have found works well.To kennel train put the dog in a proper size crate in the house at night,when you go to bed. Dogs don't like to sleep or lay where they relieve themselves. Keep the dog out during the day and prompt the dog to go "outside" or "potty" or any single word to train the animal to let you know when its time to "go". When they make in the house put them in the kennel until the next time to go outside. You must be consistent with the verbal commands so the pup will learn what "outside" means. Be Patient and reward them when they do as they should. As far as not going outside, just keep the dog away from other animals so they don't pick up anything. Good Luck

Schutzhund Dog Training - The Highest Level of Dog Training


  • she can take it out in her own back yard. I hope you don't mean it hasn't had any at all.

    she should not take it anywhere else until after it has completed all its shots.

  • "Right now it can't go outside because it hasn't had it's vaccinations yet. "

    That's one of the dumbest myths that won't die. Take the poor thing outside so it can pee.

  • This site, written by the pioneer in positive dog training methods, offers a lot of info to get any pup owner started. Housetraining is also included. Read - knowledge is power.

    http://www.siriuspup.com/behavior_proble…

    An exerpt from the site says,

    (Dr.) Ian (Dunbar) has been lecturing to veterinarians and dog clubs for over thirty years. In fact, since 1986 he has conducted over 800 days of seminar and workshop for trainers and veterinarians around the world. There are very few educated trainers who have not been strongly influenced by Dr. Dunbar's fun & games, from-the-animal's-point-of-view, dog-friendly dog training.

    Dr. Dunbar is peerless in his field; there is simply no other person who has Dr. Dunbar's qualifications, experience, and expertise in the realm of modern psychological dog training and behavior counseling-fields which Dr. Dunbar has played a major role in developing over the past 25 years.

  • I found an unbelievable site that shows you how to train your dog at home and it is as effective as any trainer that would charge an ungodly amount of money. It is doghomelife.com

    I hope this is helpful

  • ok..it can go outside. It just shouldn't be around other dogs or in places where other dogs go.
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Saturday, June 23, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Is it too late to get my dog trained?

He is about 7 months and lately since school started he has not been listening well at all. You can barely touch him without him attempting to bite. He used to listen phenomenally but lately he hasnt been listening and has been running away. Should we hire a trainer, take him to classes, or what!!??? Hellpppp. If he doesnt shape up i'm scared he wont be part of the family any more =\
Please Help Us!!!

Professional Dog Training Methods Revealed



Recommended Answer:
It is never too late to train a dog.

I would start with basic obedience classes - they are more reasonably priced, and the dog learns to listen to you regardless of distractions. Check with your local vet for anyone they recommend. Also, www.akc.org has a link to local clubs in the area that offer training classes.

Explain the situation up front when you call regarding class, and listen to what the trainer has to say. They may recommend a private trainer instead of a class situation - some class instructors do not like having "problem children" in the class, as they feel it is too great an interruption. However, I would search out a class that will allow the dog before spending the money on private lessons. (I do both class and private lessons, and feel a class situation is typically better for the majority of dogs).

Learn the Significance of Dog Training Courses


  • No, there is a saying, "You can always teach an old dog new tricks!"

    And I highly recomend consulting a personal trainer.

    Best of Luck to you!

  • It's never too late!
    We have a 3 year old Dal we rescued. He started school 2 weeks ago and we are already seeing results.
    The big part about obedience school is NOT training the dog, it's training the owner!

  • It's never too late. I adopted a 2 year old dog and trained her. Yes, a class with a professional trainer would help. Just training at home would help, too. Check out www.rewardingbehaviors.com for training tips and methods.

  • I would have told you to get an adult dog, since you can't be consistent with the puppy while you are gone for so long. Do the classes, and rearrange your life so you'll have time for him.

  • Training should never stop, try the classes and pay attention so you can continue training after, training is easy- it is repetition with praise when the end is acomplished

  • No, it's not too late. But it does sound like he may have learned some undesirable behaviors. My recommendation would be to locate a qualified trainer, and have them work with you directly. After that, you could, and probably should, consider classes.

  • You need to find a trainer I think, and make sure when he returns to you after running away that you are nice to him. Sounds silly but you need to make you and your home lovely to him, training collars work well or a tracking lead which is very long. The biting is aggression, maybe he is stressed and needs to be taught to be nice again. Find a local trainer.

  • it's never too late to train your dog. i think you should take him to classes to help with his biting and listening it might help with socializing too.

  • If hes biting then obedence classes help him know that your in charge. I would talk to a behavorilist. It cost me $75 but it was worth it. And its not to late tot take him. My dog was 2 years old when we finaly took him to a class. But its going to take time. its been 3 months and he's had a big change in him but hes not fully traiened.

  • You can def. teach an older dog new tricks. You have to remember, your dog is still a puppy. I have an 8 month old dog that is still mischievous but you just have to be patient and remember that you lead the dog, the dog doesn't lead you.
    training would definitely help, especially since it's still young.
    don't give up just yet...because as soon as you do, the dog does too!

  • I would definitely take him to classes. 7 months is not too old for training, I took my dog who was five years old. I would contact local shelters and ask their recommendations on where the best traning schools are in your area, they would know better than anyone else.

    Also, it sounds like there's something else going on here with your dog. If he used to be well-trained and now he is acting aggressively, I would take him to the vet to see if there isn't something that's bothering him and causing the change in temperment.

  • 7 months is when dogs get sort of stupid and are like crazy teenagers and when you need a class more than ever! Train this dog!
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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Can i have my dog trained to be a service dog in Texas?

I am disabled and i am interested in getting a service dog to help me. Everything that i have read about service dogs says that you cant adopt one if you already have dogs. So I'm wondering if i can have one of the dogs i already own trained to be a service dog? If so where do you take them to be trained. What requirements are there? Any more information on this would be so helpful! It is NOT an option for me to get rid of my other dogs

The Basic Commands of Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
That's not true. Some programs won't place service dogs in homes that already have pet dogs, but some will. You just keep looking until you find a program that matches your needs.
http://www.servicedogcentral.org/content…

Hiring a private trainer to train a dog to that level will be very costly, most likely over $10,000. And when starting out with a pet dog there is little chance the dog will have all of the qualities necessary to complete training and actually become a service dog. Even among dogs specifically bred to have the ideal genetics for becoming a service dog and raised from birth by experts in the field, only 7 out of 8 succeed in completing the process. Out of the general dog population it is more like one dog in a hundred. Over three quarters wash out on health issues alone because an issue that wouldn't be a significant problem for a pet is exacerbated by the work of a service dog.

I think there is still an owner-trainer program in Texas, so you should look into that. They should be on one of those lists in the article I linked above. You take your own dog and they attempt to train you to train it yourself. It's less expensive than going through a private trainer yet they'd also be able to evaluate your dog for you and tell you what chance you have succeeding with him before you start.

But if I were you, I'd check out a few more programs before deciding none will work.

--- edited to add ---

The Seeing Eye does permit pet dogs on a case-by-case basis, but most guide dog schools do not. There's not much point in placing a trained dog in a household where that dog's training cannot be maintained. It's not like they are VCRs that can be programed and left. Other dogs can teach the service dog bad habits, or can become jealous of the time spent with the service dog. So it depends on the dogs already in the household and has to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The Kinds of Dog Training Collars


  • Each program has their own requirements. Not all service dog programs will not allow you to have a pet dog in your home. I have a friend with a guide dog from a school in NY who has several other pet dogs and even another service dog (medical alert dog for disabling diabetes, and yes she works both at the same dog as the alert dog (Doxie) doesn't guide and the guide dog can't alert).

    Is it possible to train your own dog, maybe. It is completely legally, but whether or not you would be successful would depend on your dog's temperament. You would most likely need to hire a professional trainer to both evaluate your dog and assist in the training, and even then there is no guarantee that you will be successful.

  • I have friends who are blind and have seeing eye dogs. They were not allowed to own other dogs as part of the agreement to get a seeing eye dog. But, I have another friend who is wheelchair-bound and SHE got a service dog and already had another dog at home.

    I think different corporations have different rules.

    As far as getting one of your dos you already have trained....I'm not sure. I'm sure if you had one with the personality for it, there would be someone out there willing to put some time into it.

    My experience has been that guide dogs for the blind are generally raised from birth to do so, but other service dogs can come from different walks of life. I have seen shelter pups become service dogs as well as labs/goldens raised from pups.

    ETA: This company will consider homes with other dogs- http://myservicedog.com/

    This website is dedicated to all things about Texas service dogs- http://ags.tamu.edu/

    This website has a whole list of Service Dog Trainers: http://wolfpacks.com/products/servicedog…

    THis website has resources for finding a service dog or trainer: http://servicedogcentral.org/content/nod…

    Hope that helps.

  • you can so get a service dog if you have other dogs.
    I know of people with service dogs.. they also have dogs that are just pets.

    You "can" get your own dog trained.. but the odds of any of your dogs having the proper temperment or drive for service dog work is slim to none. Not just any dog can be trained to be a service dog.

  • If you already have a full grown dog, there are slim chances you can train him to be a service dog. I mean it definitely is possible but it's going to be hard. If you wanted a service dog you would most likely have to buy a new one. They are raised literally from birth as service dogs. They are raised very carefully so nothing goes wrong.

    http://www.servicedogs.org/

    Good luck!

  • I would look this up in your area.I'm sure you could train one of your already owned dogs if they have the personality for it. Otherwise you'll have to get a dog that is already trained, doesn't mean you have to get rid of your dogs.

  • yes
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Monday, April 30, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Are you open to criticism of your dog training abilities?

Not really, but I figure if I put a legitimate dog question in the subject line, there is a chance that it will be posted.

Now....Have you ever went back and looked at some of your answers? Is there something that you usually do when answering, or something specific that you've answered in the past that makes you laugh and shake your head???? (as in something absolutely ridiculous or embarrassing?)

I, for the life of me, cannot figure out why in the world I capitalize some words. LIKE this for EXAMPLE...wtf?

Searching For Cheap Dog Training Collars



Recommended Answer:
I am always open to listen when someone knows something I do not.

When I trained horses and gave lessons, if I saw another trainer who was really good, I would sign up for a few lessons from them. Learned a lot of different approaches that way.

Yes, I am lots o dogs. I know I use a lot of ..........and I try to leave a lot of space to make it easier to read. I hate reading answers that are long and all stuck together. I tend to use too many commas....sometimes I just go back and remove commas.

I recognize Greek for his "hope I helped".

UHave2B is known for her Shepheranian and Tampom.:o)
***
Tsk, tsk, Julie....its "I YAM what I YAM. " :o)
More spinach for you.

Puppy and Dog Training


  • I'm perfectly open to criticism of my training methods if said criticism is given from somebody who actually knows that they're talking about. If there's a better, more efficient, long-term solution then I'm open to it.

    I go back and check my answers if the question was interesting, because I like to see how it develops and I'll often add comments to the additional details or even other answers. There have been times where I've answered something and then later thought "you know...that doesn't sound right now that I think of it" and will remove said answer because I'm not sure of it, or will amend it.

    I don't really use a "signature". I use the sources for listing my sources. Often times my sources are myself, so I'll put for example "experienced with sled dogs/huskies" when I answer a husky-related question. Is it necessary? Probably not lol. But at least my own personal experience with the breed will put more weight to my lengthy answer than somebody who said "HUSKIES ARE CUTE YOU SHOULD TOTALLY GET ONE I'VE ALWAYS WANTED ONE!".

  • You have asked two questions in one.

    1) dog training - of course , how can you learn if you don't accept criticism which is really advice underneath it all.

    2) opinion poll question on our writing habits in responding to answers - time makes us wiser in everything if we become conscious of it so naturally one sees where you could have been clearer, or not so verbose or confusing or included thoughts that do not pertain to one's question. The feeling that you experience are varied and probably all natural and normal.

  • i do go back and look at answers and of course as i learn more about dogs some thing seem like i could have answered better.
    Legit: i am open to criticism which i get weekly from my trainer. there is always way to improve and i make my fare share of mistakes when training. In theory i know things way better than i am sometimes able to perform in practice so its always a pleasure to have an unbiased observer give me feedback.

  • Open to criticism? Absolutely, those who aren't, aren't advancing. The problem in that should be clear (sadly it isn't to many people!).

    All the time, everything comes into perspective when you re-read.

    My signature move used to be "Hope I helped!" and "Feel free to e-mail me with questions/concerns"...since I've stopped doing that the # of emails I get a day have gone from about 10 or 15 to 0 lol. Maybe I'll start adding it again, I really do enjoy helping people who have a functional brain in their head.

  • Do i have a signature move? hahaha, i do tend to capitalise words that i want to emphasise. & when i look back at my answers, when a Border Collie question comes up i seem to talk and talk and talk and talk. LOL. I don't think i really put anything in my "source". I tend to use a lot of "-" and "...." and i paragraph.. a LOT!

    As far as training goes as long as it's constructive criticism i'm always open to it!

  • Hmmmm . . . . well, I'm kind of an @ss about poor grammar - drives me up the wall - so I sometimes snidely throw a comment in my answer. Yes, it's not nice. I have never claimed to be nice. : )

    My dog training abilities? Well, I'm full of great ideas . . . now putting them into practice is a horse of another color! It's hard (for most owners, anyways) to remain clinical and remove emotion from training so that a dog's disobedience doesn't send you into a rage. I generally know the appropriate response and correction for most behaviors - for me it's a matter of how often I get to put them into practice.

  • It makes me crazy when I click submit before spell checking. I regret being so short sometimes, with people asking legit questions (to them) when it's just such a stupid question. I don't use signatures, but sometimes I think I identify myself when I talk about training guide dogs.

    Finally, when it comes to criticism, I usually don't mind. If I'm right, they don't matter. If I'm wrong, then I've learned something. We added clicker training to our regimen in the past 4 years, and we had a huge learning curve there - warm and fuzzy clicker trainers beating the crap out of each other about timing, cues, poisoning cues, yada yada. But as long as we're alive, we have to keep learning!

  • By whom, that is the question. There are about 10 people on the planet I will accept genuine criticism from, but, I am always open to hear what someone has to say...there have been many gems discovered this way.

    You already mentioned my signature move, I think that everyone knows it in here. Aphrodite, when I said "I hope I helped", I did not specify in what way I helped, did I?

  • I feel like every single question I talk about myself or my dog! Haha, if I even SLIGHTLY relate to it.(i capitalize words alot for no reason like im shouting or something?) Someone will ask something like "Fox are killing dogs in my neighborhood." and i'll be like, "Oh yeah we have fox in our neighborhood, my dog got into a fight with one, and blah blah blah...then after like a couple paragraphs I realize I didnt even answer the question.

    I also noticed I sound really childish, haha :(

  • i use no punctuation ... i edit reports as a job and fix and correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, so when i am doing something for fun i avoid all that stuff ... when i first joined i answered questions angrily and rudely as that is how i saw people answering ... after a few violations i finally got the point of the site, asking and answering questions ... this "question" is not a question and should be in polls and surveys because it does not contribute anything no matter how it might entertain a few ...

  • I notice I do this - separate my sentences with a "-".
    I notice I put words in quotations when I'm telling someone they are stupid in some way. Like so, Bells you're really "cool" and all, but you....ARE THE BEST! hahaha

    I capitalize things I want to get across too I guess lol.

    ADD: Greek puts Realist and he always ends it off with "Hope I helped!" even though he usually just finished making someone feel stupid lol.

  • I laugh at all my responses for the most part!!

    By the way I have
    30 Years Experience DMV
    President of the "Insert Hybread new dog breed here" Club

    I also use
    Pomeranian Owner
    Akita Owner
    Rough Collie Owner
    Former Doberman Owner
    Former Rottweiler Owner
    Owner of SIX SIBERIAN HUSKIES in my lifetime

    and
    http://www.koehlerdogtraining.com

  • Yes! I used to tell people Purina was crap, based on my experience with their lower and mid-grade foods (beneful, etc.) until I had really, really good results with proplan and selects. Then I had excellent results with those two foods and my lab, so I recommend them now for people with very high energy dogs.

    I don't think i have a signature- I should get one!

  • Uh, yes. Some of my answers should have been deleted. (By me). I have a habit of using *-----*.
    I also use capitalizing when I am trying to get a point across.

    I also use a lot of *for crying out loud* *gawd* *gosh durn* *hmmmm*

    I could go on and on. It is very interesting when you go into the voting section I can pick out who's answer it is simply because we all have our *signatures*.

    As far as criticism? No, I am not okay with it. Unless it is by someone I respect and then it would be done via email.

  • I use a lot of ...... ..... and capitalize too. I am usually too lazy to captalize anything else.

    I've answered questions and then gone back and said "wtf was I talking about?"

    Criticism? Always open to new ideas, never open to insults.

  • When I look at some answers waaayyyy back, I think that I used to be too harsh in my answers.

    I also STILL talk like this SOMETIMES, just like the others said; only when I'm trying to get my point across. ;)

    I don't have a signature.

  • Oh god.. yes.. so embarrassing lmao. I wish I could go thru & delete all of them.. they're horrible.. I was full of "prong collars are mean" BSI used to put "Mutt" in my "signature".. but then I changed to my actual name, Mariah, & stopped putting Mutt.. lol

  • I always instead of one period add many... Like that... I think it's easier to read even tho it is'nt proper english but really whats proper in YA anyway...

  • I use a lot of "...", and I tend to do a LOT of capitalizing on emphasized words, like you!

  • Sometimes I go back and my answer seemed bitchy or like I was mad but, I was really typing it calmly/nicely. whooops.

  • Well if you haven't noticed I always SCREAM........ VET!..lol

  • For the most part, I don't care what anyone thinks of any of my abilities, dog related or not. I am what I am, as Popeye (sp) use to say.

    I answered something really bad about a year ago, about the *color* when a b*tch was whelping. In other words I f....d up and deleted my answer, as not to give false information. The color pertained to *before a pup was whelped, or after.* (green, that is) Also, there is a question I WISH I never answered in another section about a month ago. I now have MY fan club because of it.

    You capitalize words for the same reason I just capitalized WISH....to emphasize it, or to put emotion to words that people can't actually hear on a computer screen.

    If a question has to do with a Bulldog or Dobe, I will usually, but not always, put "Use to show and breed Dobes for 25 years", just so people know that I've actually owned this breed. I usually put something in about owning a Bulldog when someone asks something about health issues with their Bulldog, particularly Hip Dysplasia.

    @ms. manners........Thank you very much for correcting me. I will make spinach for dinner tonight. Hey at least I remember Popeye, since it's been about 50 years.

  • You need to get a life, and stop judging others for theirs. I'm looking at your questions and your answers, and all you do on Y!Answers is get on to rant and rave about this or that, and try to make people feel bad about themselves. That's really pathetic. Sounds like you are unhappy with yourself, and are trying to bring complete strangers down, to make yourself feel better about yourself. I hope I'm not the only one that's reported you for abuse on Y! Answers for not even attempting to answer the question asked, bc you shouldn't even be allowed usage of this site anymore... And to ensure I'm not violating Y!Answers, I'll attempt to answer your question: No, I'm not, and most people are NOT open to criticism of their dog training abilities, especially from a complete stranger such as yourself, bc what the hell do you know about anything?

  • I capitalize certain words. I can hear myself talking in my head as I write and they are the words I would stress. LOL.

    I also use a lot of quotation marks.
    And I add on alot.

    But to answer your "question", yes, I am open to criticism of my training abilities, as long the other person can legitimately back up what their argument is. Telling me I am cruel and I don't bond as well with my dogs because I use corrections is just BS. Backing it up with websites that are all the same BS, with no actual REAL information to back it up other than an opinion is it is mean is not a legit argument.

    Or there was the guy who called me an idiot because I do not believe in the "wolf pack theory" and stated that I obviously didn't know what I was talking about because I do believe there is a hierarchy but don't believe my dogs or I are wolves.
    I wasn't aware the wolves were the only species that had a hierarchy and that if I didn't believe in the wolf theory, I couldn't believe in hierarchy.

  • Oh, I'm sure there are several occasions where I thought one thing and then began to adapt my views because of the fact that, here, I was exposed to alternating viewpoints. If that makes sense, lol, I'm pretty tired right now :).

    I remember switching sides on the "designer dog" issue -- I used to be one of the troubled few who believed that they were actually *constructive* "breeds". . . but that was long ago. Hope that some people can change, I suppose, and "see the light".

    Signature move? I don't really have one *here*--I answer some PC-game questions and I always put "played/replayed all 22 games + SCK2" at the end of it -- MY personal credibility in that department, lol. Here I just tend to go "--" and " . . . " crazy.
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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Dog Health Questions: My Dog Training Website...?

is not a scam! And it bothers me that people think it is such. I'm looking for constructive advice to better my website.

Please visit my website at http://www.libertydogtraining.com and please post here what I can do to improve the site.

My goals with this business are to help dog owner's keep their current pets by helping with basic obedience and problem behaviors, as well as work with shelter dogs to increase their adoptability.

I also temperment test pitbulls, to check for any human aggression, which is NOT allowed in the breed.

The one who gives the best, most constructive and helpful advice will be chosen as best answer!

Dog Training Evolution



Recommended Answer:
I thought I left some good advice in your last post, but since I want some points here goes again:
1: a contact you page -name, number (preferably a toll free), address, email
2: photo of you and your dogs
3: photo of clients with their pets
4: date you started training
5: certifications, licenses, or trainings you have
6: complete list and prices of all your services
7: more likely to have customers if you have some sort of satisfaction guarantee
8: possibly a short bio on yourself and how you started this
9: a few good (free) tips for dog owners
10: a links page, including links to your local human society, ASPCA, dog training organizations, DDB (Dogs Deserve Better)
Good Luck!
testimonial page was good idea.

Using Body Language in Your Dog Training


  • You could stream in some video examples of your techniques and you working with dog to show your style. If people can relate to you visually they tend to be more receptive to your services. :-) Good luck I wanted to have this type of business myself someday.

  • cool,i like ur site and thank u for doing it, there are to many people that forget that dogs a hybridized wolfs and need to be reminded to treat their dogs with respect and love. good work.
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Saturday, February 4, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Can we have a dog trained to alert, without going through assistance training?

My husband has seizures and sometimes seizes and falls when nobody's home, or when he's outside alone. We don't feel the need to take an assistance dog because they're so specially trained, somebody could use the training a lot more.
We're really just looking into a dog that will, of course, be obedience trained, but also be able to bark and alert when he falls.

How would we go about doing this?

Why it's Important For New Dog Owners to Take Dog Training Seriously



Recommended Answer:
Dogs aren't trained to seizure alert. About 15% of dogs in the general population do this naturally. In order to train this behavior, we'd need to be able to control it in some way, either to cause it as needed for training, or accurately predict it. We can do neither, so it is hit or miss whether a dog figures it out on his own. Nearly all dogs are able to detect the signs, whatever they are, but only a few are able to make the connection between observing those signs and understanding what they foreshadow.

We aren't exactly sure what they are detecting. There are several theories. It might be scent based changes in blood chemistry. It might be fine motor changes or subtle changes in behavior. Dogs are much more sensitive to these things than humans are because very subtle changes in body language are how they communicate with one another.

What I suggest is that you contact a program that trains seizure response dogs and ask if they have any dogs from the program that aren't working out as public access dogs that they might be willing to place as home-only service dogs.

I suggest this because the dog will already have basic training, and the odds of finding an alerting dog in a seizure response program is nearer to 50% instead of 15%. We believe that the innate ability to figure out alerting can be screened for when candidates are selected for training. Some of us have gotten good results above 90% accuracy. Some of what we look for are also characteristics that would coincidentally make a dog a good service dog. Programs have been reporting that within six months of placement about half of their seizure response dogs begin alerting. This tends to support our position that selection criteria for service dogs in general also tend to select for dogs who are natural alerters.

That's alerters (dogs that predict seizures about 20 minutes prior to them occurring).

What you've described is actually responding (acting at the time of a seizure or immediately after). That actually can be trained fairly easily.

First, find a local trainer to work with. Ask them to select the candidate for you. You need a dog with a good work ethic, biddability, and a love of learning. He also needs to be open to bonding and have a stable personality.

Any decent trainer should easily be able to help you teach a dog to bark on cue. The rest is just a matter of transferring the behavior (the bark) onto a different cue (your husband falling to the ground).

Your husband "falls" on the floor, you cue the dog to bark, reinforce the dog for barking, and repeat. Do the exercise at random times and in random locations around the house. After about a dozen iterations, have your husband "fall" to the ground and you hesitate before giving the cue to bark. Does the dog anticipate that the next thing that will happen is you will cue him to bark? If he does bark without a cue, then it's time for a jackpot (big reward and making a huge fuss over him).

If he doesn't make the leap in logic, repeat another dozen or so times and try again. Different dogs learn at different rates.

You could take it a step further and get a k9 rescue phone ( http://www.iaadp.org/rescue-phone.html ) and teach him to bark and then push the button and continue barking. If you notify your EMS system that you have a k9 rescue phone and that if it is activated and they hear a dog barking it means your husband is having a seizure and requires emergency medical care.

edit:

The bulk of service dog training is proofing, generalization, and habituation. The task training is actually fairly quick and straight forward. If you only need the dog at home, then you don't need about a years worth of that specialized training intended to prepare the dog to work in the distracting environements of public access.

If a home-only service dog will suit your needs, then you should seek that kind of dog, rather than a full access dog which might be needed more by someone else. There are more public access dogs needed than there are to go around. Home-only dogs are much more easily available because they've washed out of the public access part of a program and the program would still like to be able to place them in service because that's what they were meant and trained to do (just not at WalMart with all the little kids trying to stick French fries up their noses).

Training a home-only service dog with the help of a professional trainer is completely do-able, and legal in the U.S.

No-No Dog Training Techniques


  • alot of time a golden retrever or a german are good at alerting, some dont even need training, its a rare case but some times they know some one is in trouble and they go and find help by barking or something but as training goes im not sure

  • If you're worried about your husband, you're worried enough to do things properly. Don't think your problem is too much and "somebody could use the training a lot more". If you're truly worried, at least look into a real disability dog.
    If he's outside and collapses yet no one is in, who is going to bothered by a dog barking? I'm sure real disability dogs are trained to do much more than bark.

  • Find a local trainer that has experience in training service dogs.

  • I think that you could probably get an assistance dog trained exactly for what your husband needs, without taking a dog from a more deserving person. I think your husband is definitely deserving. You need the dog with the mind to do that work and although some family pets would learn to warn, you could have others that would not.. The trained dogs are chosen for their ability to recognize and act when they are needed. So go with the pros and get an assistance dog to guarantee the dog would help your husband in a time of need.

  • Look into getting a real, trained service dog. You could be saving your husband's life. Even if you feel that it isn't needed, the people that train these dogs can probably steer you in the right direction.

  • Maybe there is a specific trainer for that exact reason that would be able to help you out. However, sometimes dogs have an instanct which would let you know something happened. Whenever my older brothers rough house with my youngest brother (15 year age difference) my GSD who is normally quiet and low key will bark and growl.
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Friday, January 27, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Therpy dog, training. testing. orginzation?

i have a 1 year old spanador. shes amazing, well trained. calm. and loves kids. i also worked at a nursing home, where she did very well with all medical equipment and noises.

truly, i believe that she could be a therpy dog.

we live in the pittsburgh area (small town half hour away), and was wondering how do i go about making her an offical therpy dog.

ive heard theres testing, what additional training should she have. and is there any orginazation in my area (google is not my friend)

The Basic Commands of Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
Go online at Petsastherapy.org and it will tell you all you need to know :)

Importance of Dog Training Videos


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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Quick tips for dog training?

I will be dog sitting for a friend. He has 2 shepherds. Both are great dogs but the 14 month old jumps on me, does not seem to jump on anyone else. How can I keep him from jumping on me. I will be dog sitting for only 3 days so I am looking for a quick tip so that at the end of the 3 days he will be better behaved.

Secrets to Dog Training Review - Is it Really the Best Dog Training Program?



Recommended Answer:
When he comes running into you, stand straight and lean your body forward into the dog...You will be taking up HIS space and he will stop before he gets to you

Proven Dog Training Methods


  • Turn to your side or turn your back on him until he calms down...Just try to ignore him not talk to him or touch him. Keep doing this until he stops jumping on you.

  • I put my knee in their chest, not with a kick or with any force, but just enough to annoy them about the same way they are annoying you.

  • Visit:
    www.petvideo.com

    Watch: It's Me or The Dog on Animal Planet

    You can use a verbal that can startle them and immediately ask for a sit. Focus on a lot of "sit" training in any situation with these dogs and reward them for doing it with a treat.

    You can get a "compressed air can" (usually sold at computer or camera stores) and the second they jump - press the button for a quick blast of air near them - not at them.

    www.watchandtrain.com

    www.clickertraining.tv

    They should sit and wait for their foods bowls to go down with food, they should sit and wait when you enter a door or room, they should sit and wait before doing in or out of doors.

    Good luck

  • The others have the right idea - either a knee up to protect yourself or better, just turn your back. You can also lightly tread on toes ... not hard! Insist that they both sit when you walk in - reward with praise and wee treats - liver biscotti or dried liver treats are good. Don't let them have their meals until they sit. Don't let them go for a walk until they sit. If they want ANYTHING - make them sit for it. Toys, affection, food, etc. After sit - it's easy to do "down" - and "heel" - keep treats in your pocket and reward good behavior - ignore mistakes.

  • When he jumps, turn around and completely ignore him. Even pushing him off you or saying "No" gives him the attention he wants.

    Or, you could face him when he jumps and - gently! - bump his chest with your knee. Don't do it hard and don't hurt him, but he'll get the picture after a few jumps.

  • Tell your "friend" not to be a cheap bastard, and get services from a qualified dog walker/sitter.
    Many people find it an easy way out to dump their dogs on friends (as long it's not too costly)

  • many dog training books i have read say to put a knee to dog's chest with a firm "no" hope it helps

  • Ignore him when he jumps on you, turn your back on him and completely ignore him. He will get the idea after a few jumps.

  • When he jumps on you, step forward into him so he HAS to get down and back up. He should learn very quickly with this method.

    Good luck!

  • I URGE YOU TO TRY THIS WITH THE OWNER NEAR-

    my border collie was a jumper- and I met someone (Sue) who told me to hold up my knee when she approached - not really high, just to kinda let her know to stop. When she went to jump, her knee was just at Dixies chest . She always spoke to her AFTER she was in sit position. Worked for Sue and Dixie. I got lucky, Dixie outgrew the jumping on people.

    check out this website - it has info that has helped me, maybe there will be some for you...

    nanny911fordogs.com

    good luck! I think it is a great favor you do for your friend- it is hard to find someone you trust your animals with!

  • Every time the dog jumps on you, put your knee into him. Don't kick him, just throw your knee upward...he runs into the knee. Just do it every time and even try to entice him to do it so that you can train him!

    Good luck!

  • http://dogsdomain.info -
    For many resources on several topics about dogs.

  • when the dog begins to jump on you bring your knee up into it's chest just as a block not a kick and say no.

  • one thing to try that's fast is watch for the body tension that precedes jumping. When you see it order a 'sit'. If the dog jumps lift your leg slightly and bump the dog's chest with your knee or thigh. Simultaneously, push a palm near the dog's face away from you and give a sharp command: ‘off!' - of if the owner has a command for this use it instead. ('Down' is a separate behavior)

    The raised knee helps to keep the dog off and puts it off balance. The hand near the face obscures its vision and discourages a repeat jump. Working with a partner can be very useful with this approach.
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Friday, December 9, 2011

Dog Health Questions: What is the most respected dog training certification out there?

I googled "dog training certification" and see a bunch of dog trainer training organizations who give you a 'certificate' when you complete their programs. It's all pretty vague though - who accredits these people/business to hand out certifications? I haven't gone to the AKC site yet - I will - but want some unbiased thoughts if possible.
Thank you.

Aggressive Dog Training: 6 Tips to Civilize Your Dog



Recommended Answer:
For your needs, I would recommend that you participate in your local kennel club. Good clubs offer training sessions and classes.
The classes are geared to all levels of dog management.
On this page, you can find your local club if you are in USA or Canada>
http://www.netpets.org/dogs/dogclub.html

If you contact them and explain your needs, you are likely to get help.

You can also look up 'dog trainer' in your yellow pages. Just be CERTAIN to get references. Anyone can talk a good jargon, without producing the results you seek.

If you have a specific issue, there are many pros here, as you can see, and you may get the answers you need to help..But, you gotta be thick skinned, as you are likely to also get poor, if not rude, advice.

A Beginner's Guide to Dog Training


  • Those certificates are not worth the paper on which they are written. The best and most respected credentials are those created by the titles you have earned with your dogs. You can't be an efficient, competent dog trainer if you have not trained dogs to obedience titles. You need to have worked with and put titles on several different breeds and not just a CD title. Once you have earned UD titles and OTCH titles on several dogs of a variety of breeds, then you will have the credentials to begin working with a training group as an assistant to learn how to be a trainer.

    Buying into those dog training certificate groups will just be a way of wasting your money and getting a worthless piece of paper to put on your wall.

  • Most of the so called certifications for dog trainers are not worth the paper they are printed on.
    When looking for a trainer to work with I look for titles their dogs have earned. I want to see end results.
    I also want to interact with their dogs and see how they are behaved.
    Then I want to work with them once and see if their methods fit my dogs personality and how well they fit my personality.
    You need to have someone who you trust and feel comfortable working with. Someone whose methods you are comfortable using to train your dog on your own.
    If you have a local all breed kennel club in your area that would be the best place to start. They will have many people who should be able to point you in the right direction. They will have people who work in many different areas of training. Field hunting, obedience, agility, and the like. One of them should be able to help you get started.
    Good luck in your search.

  • None of them.

    Years of experience and accomplishments with their own dogs make the trainer - not "certification".

    ADD: I understand that you're only looking for pet dog training...but I stand by my answer. I'd still want someone with lots of experience helping me train my pet...and what they do with their own dogs is a good indication of how good they are at training.

    Even if you're just looking for someone to teach you the basics...wouldn't you still want someone who knows what they're talking about?

  • I agree, titles will prove a well trained dog, the more the better, and the more advanced. Anyway, why would you search that, it could be copied and printed for ANYONE.

  • There are ************NONE*************!!!!!!
    No such thing exists!!!
    Anybody can print out a piece of paper that says *any* old lie.

    REAL trainers prove themselves w/all the TITLES they put on dogs over the decades!!!!

    **TITLES ARE THE ONLY PROOF***!!!!
    PERIOD-no reprieve, no excuses....PROVE IT!

  • Dog trainers are not certified, their dogs either win or they don't.

    Here is an example of a trainer that wins once in a while (wink)
    http://www.totalretriever.com/nationalar…

  • Canine Good Citizen is the gold standard.
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Saturday, November 19, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Help dog training. How to train a puppy?

Okay today I buy a dog a male maltese puppy of 2 & 1/2 months old and I wonder how to train him because I don't want him to be peeing and pooping inside my house. he didn't yet thank God so any help will be appreciate.

The Importance of Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
I would suggest getting a crate, it makes housetraining SO much easier.

Make sure you take your puppy out about every 2 hours at least. Also after he eats, drinks, or naps take him out for a bit. When he goes outside praise him and give him a treat and be REALLY excited to show him it's the right thing. When he goes inside just say NO (but only if you caught him in the act). Never rub his nose in it or hit/tap him, puppies don't know any better and this doesn't help.

When you go out keep him in his crate (dogs wont go in there crate unless you leave them in there to long) and when you get home immediatly take him outside. At night before you go to bed let him go outside and then after he goes put him in his crate and in the morning get up and let him out again. Also don't let him drink/eat anymore about an hour/half our befor you go to bed so he isn't full and won't have to go.

Good luck!

Dog Training DVD Review - It's PAWsible!


  • Fill a can with small pebbles or coins. If you catch your puppy in the act of peeing or pooping inside, shake the can to startle him into stopping, then take him outside to finish and to teach him that that's where he should be doing it.
    Praise him when he goes outside (try giving him a small treat each time), and ignore him when he goes inside. Make sure you take him outside often because puppies can have trouble holding it in. Try to figure out what signs and body language your puppy shows when he has to pee or poop and take him out when you see them.
    There will be a few accidents. Just be patient. There is a product called Nature's Miracle that is good for cleaning up messes left by pets.

  • Heres my advice.....because your pup is still very young,he will have accidents.When I have a new pup I block off the kitchen so he can't wander the house.Then I make him a bed(in a crate)and his water & food area,and newspaper down for peeing etc.I do this because giving free rein to a pup in a big house is too much for them.They can't find were the papers are when needed.I'm not saying don't take him elsewhere in the house,just not without supervision.Once your pup is peeing on his papers,its time for him to learn to pee like a big dog...lol.It helps that it is summer and doors can be left open.You have to watch your dog closely.They will sniff around,perhaps circle around while they are looking for just the right spot for a pee.You need to take them outside,perferably out the kitchen door.When he pees outside you praise him and give him a treat.It will take a little while for him to catch on,be patient!Never rub their noses in it,or hit them!Remember he's just a wee babe,he'll figure it out!!

  • every time he does his Business in the wrong place tell him NO show him ( like point at it and say NO) and take him to the place hes suppose to do his business
    (If you want him inside buy those square pads i don't what there called)

  • take him outside every single time he tries to pee or poop
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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Does anyone know how much a private lesson of dog training cost at petco?

I know how much the group rate is (110) but I need to get a private lesson. anyone know how much those run at petco?

A Review of Secrets to Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
Too much.

If you are in real need of a private trainer, it would be best to contact a reputable trainer that's had more than a day of education.

Dog Training Tip - Leash-Collar Training


  • Petco training is only for dogs who need very basic training with no issues. Most of their trainers are not especially experienced or well trained. If your dog has issues you need a professional trainer. I suggest you call one of these trainers

    The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors
    http://www.nadoi.org/
    The Association of Pet Dog Trainers
    http://www.apdt.com/
    International Association of Canine Professionals
    http://canineprofessionals.com/

  • I don't think that PetCo offers private lessons. You would be better off going through a good trainer. Since you have a PetCo in your area, you most likely have some private trainers in your area that can meet your needs better then PetCo. Marci gave you some good websites to find some qualified trainers in your area. Other people to ask include your vet, boarding kennel, groomer, or kennel club for a good trainer.

  • Hey rebecca I understand the problem you've gone through when trying Secrets of Dog Training, My friend is in the same situation as you, and nothing worked for him unit he came across the Dog Training solution program, he's been having great success with it ;
    maybe this something which could be right for you

    Well good luck.

  • To add on to Marci's list:
    International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants
    http://iaabc.org/
    Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
    http://www.ccpdt.org/
    Karen Pryor Academy has a list of vetted trainers too
    http://www.karenpryoracademy.com/find-a-…

    Why are you looking for private vs group? I have seen privates go for $75 to $300 a session depending on the level of credentials and reputation the person has.

  • Hey
    You should give your dog some love
    I made some research for you and I found that you need professionals help
    Check the link below for useful info

  • i dont think peto does one on one.. there training for the pretty basic stuff. Get a privet trainer.

  • call and ask
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Saturday, October 15, 2011

Dog Health Questions: What is the best dog training book?

I have an 11 wk old pom that I want to train for manners and tricks. I blieve a happy dog is a well trained dog. Should I look for a specific book or writer? Should the book be breed specific (does that make a difference) thanks

Dog Training Techniques - The Fundamentals



Recommended Answer:
Hi, my puppy obey me well,as well i as want, there are alots of books out there for you to read, but i will encourage you to visit this site you will find all you need to train you puppy , it work for me, so it will work for you .Try it out. Visit http://dog-training-certification.blogspot.com/

Dog Training - How to Housebreak an Adopted Dog


  • There are lots of books out there, and lots of different training styles. Try a few and see what feels best for you and your dog. One I particularly like is "The Power of Positive Dog Training", by Pat Miller ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470241… ). It includes both basic obedience and tricks.

  • For a new owner there are so many good books, but I think the It's Me Or The Dog: How To Have The Perfect Pet book is quite good considering. It is easy to read, nicely set out, and Ms.Stilwell is an advocate of the positive reinforcement training. I actually managed to get 8 copies very cheaply to put in our puppy packs for new owners and have had lots of encouraging feedback. Definitely worth a look.

  • The Pat Miller book is good. My favorite is Patricia McConnell's books, either the Puppy Primer or Family Friendly Dog Training is a good start.

    http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/categor…

    There are also some good videos, especially this one on teaching a good recall, which can be a lifesaving skill:

    http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/product…
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Friday, September 16, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Does anyone know of someone offering dog training in Destin?

Need obedience dog training classes near Destin FL.

8 Dog Training Tips For Dog Lovers



Recommended Answer:
Yes Emerald Coast K9 may be your answer. They run a Destin Training Service. Scott Miller the owner is a former member of The Atlanta K9 division where he trained police dogs. His website is http://www.dogtrainingflorida.net. He will make you and your dog much happier.

Abandoned Dogs Trained for the Hearing Impaired


  • I am in Pcola and been training for 20 plus years, 4 in and with German Polizei.
    Rates and methods are outstanding!
    Some want to take dog for a few weeks and train for you.
    The dog is easy to train, easier when you are not there to be distraction. then when you get dog back, it looses what it doesn't use, just like we do, YOU need training with the dog so you are on the same page, especially you!
    Dog's know what to do, you have to learn to be the Alpha dog and bring it out, or reinforce YOUR TRAINING KNOWLEDGE to the dog.
    e-mail me, alot of questions need be known to evaluate and set up a training menu.
    Everybody would like different tasks or options, if I may say like buying a new car then adding options, hence the menu.
    I have one guy wants his dog to get him a beer out of the fringe on command! that can be done, but I think he is crazy, but the customer is always right, and I assure the dog knows that too!
    gsddsh@gmail.com

  • Emerald Coast K9 of Destin does a great job. I think they trained me just as much as my dog.
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Friday, August 26, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Need Suggestions for a free on line dog training site?

I am starting a free online dog training site. I would like ideas/suggestions for the name of the website, NOTHING ELSE. Thanks a Mil!

Dog Training Tips



Recommended Answer:
Here is what I could find:
http://www.doggiesparadise.com/online-tr…
http://www.lacetoleather.com/obedience.h…

Hope this has helped and good luck to you and your dog!

Reward Dog Training


  • Well if you're not a certified trainer then it will just be a "Dear Abby" site that could very well cause an animal to be improperly trained and become one of the million dogs in dumped at shelters yearly.......
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