Dog Health Questions: I don't agree with dogs training!!! Do you?

My love for animals is maibe going a bit to the extreme...
Me and Almi, my bichon, understand each other perfectly. I tried to train her to sit! I was succesfull, but I stoped because I think is cruel to make animals play like puppets. Almi understands all I say to her....really....sometimes I think if she is realy "a dog" !!
So , a dog should get our love and attention, not our commands!!!!

Dog Training Methods Uncovered

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I think it's a waste of time cause all that time you spend training your dog... you can play with him/her

The Many Types Of Dog Training

• Bentley my saint bernard needed some training ,
  try having a chat with 200 pounds worth of cuddly dog when he wants to do something that you dont.


• Oh, grow up! Just what I want a bunch of untrained mutts running around............Sheesh


• no its NOT!!!! making them get a tissue is! They are understanding our language alittle and it helps them mentally! Your dog needs walks and exercise MORE THAN LOVE!!!! THen food!


• I think like you too. But it's alright to train the dog a little bit, just to have some fun with your dog, i think it's cool too. Just be sure to have fun with them not to make them do tricks for you to brag or win those dog prizes. I never like those with their dogs.


• I so totally do not agree. Dogs have to be taught, trained what is acceptable behavior just like a child does. Many. many dogs have lost their home because of lack of training and the dogs behavior becomes unbearable. Having a dog well trained can save the dogs live. I was once quite impressed when I observed an elderly gentleman walking his dog. the dog saw a squirrel and took off after it, running toward a busy street. The man said two words. "Baron, Down." The dog obediently went into a down and did not run into the street. The squirrel did not have such a happy ending.


• I suppose you also don't agree with "inhibiting" children by teaching them manners either? Training is not cruel...it is far more cruel not to train a dog. Dogs are not humans, they are dogs...a different species that has completely different social rules. They need to be trained in order to learn how to behave acceptably around humans. Thousands of dogs die in shelters every day. Most of these dogs are not there because people beat them and abused them, most of them are there because of "behavior" problems which arose simply because their owners did not bother to train them. Many of these problem behaviors are normal dog behaviors.
  
  Aside from saving lives by keeping many dogs from ending up in shelters, training can also save their lives by keeping them out of danger. I have trained my dogs to stand still when I give them the "wait" command. This keeps them from walking into traffic when we are out on walks. The "come" command keeps them from getting in trouble in many situations. And the "leave it" command keeps them from eating something that could kill them or rolling on a dead porcupine or getting sprayed by a skunk. I've trained them not to pull on their leashes. This means that they get to go on walks because you can bet I'm not going to hurt myself by trying to walk two 75lb German shepherds who are dragging me all over the place. How boring would my dogs' lives be if they weren't trained to walk nicely on a leash and they never got to go anywhere except the back yard?
  
  If training is so cruel, why do my dogs' ears perk up when they see me get out the treats for a training session? My dogs are much happier to work for me than to just stand there and let me love on them (in fact, they think that's a little annoying sometimes).


• I completely disagree with you. It's nice that you have this close relationship with your dog, but not everyone is so lucky as to have a dog who understands every word they say. The point of training is not to simply make dogs do things for our amusement, but to help them practice good manners and to keep them safe. If I understand you correctly and what you say is true, you can just say "Now Almi, you must never for any reason run into the street because it's very dangerous and you could get hit by a car" and your dog will get the point. But most of us can't do that, so we teach our dogs to sit and stay and come when called. If done right, dog training is very positive. Dogs listen to what you say because they want to please you, not because you're forcing them to do something they don't want to. Training a dog is like teaching a child manners and rules. We don't do it to have control over the dog our child, we do it to make them welcome and safe in the larger world.


• Proper dog training is nothing more than enhanced communication, and it can be done completely hands-free. Every moment you spend with your dog, ONE of you is training the other.... She barks, you open the door... she's trained you to let her out! You get out a biscuit, she tilts her head and makes the cutest face... you've trained her to give you that look!
  
  If strict obedience training isn't your style, look at activities like agility, freestyle, frisbee, and dock diving. Those are all sports that require rigorous "training," but the dogs are performing on a level no "puppet" ever could... and loving every minute of it.


• No I don't agree. Actually dogs are more content if they have some discipline.They kinda need boundaries, like kids They're not ppl and its not hurting them to learn to sit when told to , or not to sit at the table and beg or jump on people when you open the door to your 89 year old grandma. So yeah I think you should train them . .


• i understand where you are coming from and it sound like you have a well behaved dog anyway but you have to understand that some dogs are very hard to control and without training would be too much of a handful and more and more pets would be surrendered to animal shelters everywhere. dogs such as the kelpies and German Shepard's say that are high strung can become aggressive and difficult to handle without proper training just like many other breeds. it is a choice to train or be a "puppeteer" if you like but i have found through owning kelpies and breeding cavaliers (that can be extremely stubborn when they want to be) that training makes life for you and the dogs easier. its not harming the dogs in anyway as long as you give praise and proper reward and dogs love stimulation and the challenges that training brings and also making there owners proud.


• Well that may be fine for your tiny dog but with my 85+ pound Golden's they are trained.
  I love my dogs but all dog need to know thier place with in the family and if training them is what it takes than so be it.


• I'm with Goldengal on this. My golden is so good. She walks right next to me on the leash, sits when I ask her, greets people so gently, stays, does everything right.
  
  Then I have all the tiny demon dogs who run the house. They are sweet as can be, but don't do anything like my golden does. They eat my couch, tear up things they shouldn't, steal food off the table if they can get away with it, pull on the harness like they are mini pits, string toilet paper everywhere if they get the chance, hump your foot if you let them, and demand attention. A few of them will sit to have their leash put on, but that is about as far as I have gotten with them. And they don't bite. I only have one that I have to watch closely when visitors come, and she is a mix.
  
  Big dogs have to be trained for safety reasons. Little ones can get away with more because you don't have to worry about their behavior quite as much. They can't maul people or knock people down or destroy too much at once. And I can just crate those if I have to because I am busy with something else.


• It is important your dog understands that you are the Alpha "dog" in your relationship. Otherwise, you are in for quite a bit of trouble. It is not cruel to train your dog. The command "sit" is not to make a puppet of your dog, merely to show you are the one in control. You give your dog love and attention, yes, but don't let them be the boss.


• I do not agree that it is "cruel" to teach a dog to sit. If you abuse it or withhold something from it to try to teach it, that is cruel. But teach it by reward; that will work better anyway.
  
  Even if you love your dog as much as you would love a human, dogs are NOT humans, and do not feel insulted when you teach them things, as you would be insulted if I taught you to perform a trick using food as a bribe to teach you.
  
  As far as the animal kingdom goes, one of you has to be, and will be, "top dog" (pun intended.) It should be you; if it's not and you do not want to give her any commands, then she will be in charge. That will not go well.
  
  Good luck


• You are entitled to your opinion even if it really does not make any sense.
  
  I can only assume you are giving your dog love but not discipline. If that is the case you should not own any pet. You are not responsible and don't have a clue about raising animals. Love is not enough.
  Dogs need: Discipline, Exercise, Love in that order.


• I see nothing cruel about training.
  Humans are trained too, we learn our behaviors and how to act around other people and in various situations.
  
  Bigger dogs would be nearly impossible to have if they weren't trained. If you have a 120 pound woman walking a 150 dog, the dog NEEDS to be trained, else the woman wouldn't be able to control it at all. This would be a dangerous situation for the woman, the dog, and anyone around. (The dog could drag the woman, dart into traffic, knock people down by jumping on them, etc.)
  
  Then you have some breeds (like papillons, border collies, and many more) that really strive to have a "job". They are much happier if they have a purpose, rather than just sitting around the house.
  
  Also, training your dog helps you and the dog bond. It also enforces that you are the "alpha" and that the dog should obey you. This isn't cruel and unnatural, it's pack behavior.


• gee why don't you come to my house some evening when I'm obedience training? Working with one dog at a time while the others whine because THEY want to be the one "working" now! when he was young my male HAD to have 15 min of obedience "work" a day or he was a pain in the rear- those 15 min and he was a good polite dog the rest of the day....


• I love my dog to but I have taught it commands be cause we live by the road and if I couldn't keep her away for it she might get ran over. So I believe that you should teach them so you can keep them out of danger and things like that.


• that's not mean at all.
  every body has to play like puppets.
  ex. if a teacher tells you to go to the principal's office you go.it aint bad at al.


• The purpose in training your dog is not to make it do what you want it to do and not for it to be your little puppet. The point in training your animal is to make sure that it does not do something by its instincts. Animals are different than humans in some ways and their instincts can make them act out sometimes. If you train them then they are less likely to bite the mailman, or jump on a little girl knocking her down, or run out of the door and out of the fenced in yard getting some stray female knocked up and pregnant, or getting into a dog fight and euthanized because it is now a threat to society.
  
  Think of it as a child. They do not learn things unless you teach them right and wrong. Not only does this ensure that the animal listens, but it also shows who the dominant pack leader is: you! This only means that the dog trusts you and has respect for you and that the animal is comfortable in calling you a parent. Just because you give the animal love and attention, does not mean you are the parent. If you spoil the dog they only walk all over you and you have no control at all, this does not gain any respect.


• Animals see humans as their master and god, as long as you give your pet attention and love I thinks its okay to train it. Animals can be quite intelligent so if you want to teach it some tricks go ahead I'M sure it will enjoy a challenge. Teaching animals is fine as long as its good and not to show off or exploit it as a circus animal. Its good stimulation for pets in the same way you find new challenges to stimulate a growing child so that it doesn't become bored.
  
  People and animals are the same- if they are not behaving properly teaching them how to is for their own benefit as they will definitely be much happier and more loving,


• Well there's training a dog like a puppet and there's teaching them manners. Everyone is taught manners. The "sit" command isn't just for your benefit, it is for the benefit of all. Picture a Great Dane. Picture a little old lady. Now picture that Great Dane charging the little old lady and knocking her down, injuring her. If the Great Dane had known "sit", and done it on command, the little old lady would be safe.
  
  Dogs enjoy human interaction, and if you do it correctly, training of any kind can be a game for the dog. Dogs love to play games right?


• Dogs are PACK animals.
  
  Pack animals need a clear leader and they need to know their place in the pack. Without these two things, the dogs become insecure and this leads to antisocial behavior towards everyone other than the owner, and quite often, also towards the owner.
  
  I saw a girl like you on a show on Animal Planet where a teen girl's dog attacked friends who visited, and even the girl's mother. This was in the UK. The trainer said "no more chips (like potato chips, etc), no more sleeping on the bed. The dog had to sit to be given treats. She had to sit to be petted. She was taught that her job as dog was to be polite and to do as she was told. And then she knew her job, and her place in the pack, and then she was no longer insecure and she treated all people with respect and stopped attacking.
  
  Every human needs a job to do to feel happy, fulfilled and successful. Dogs also need a job to do to feel they are valuable and contribute to the pack.
  
  Human children need to learn to live by rules and with limits. Without these they are insecure and act obnoxious. The same is true of dogs.
  
  If you love your dog, you set limits and teach them to do things like sit, stay, down, off (or leave it), etc. Loving your child or your pet is shown not by giving it everything and demanding nothing but by making it feel good about itself because, by doing things it is asked to do, it knows it is loved and it knows it's a productive member of the pack (family).
  
  You are not doing YOUR job right now. You are not teaching your dog it's place in the family, it's job, and you are letting it turn into a spoiled, obnoxious brat. Your dog is becoming insecure, not knowing it's place in the pack. Eventually Almi will try to be Pack Leader as every pack needs a leader who tells the others what to do and disciplines them for infractions... and Almi sees NO pack leader guiding and directing the pack.
  
  It's not cruelty. It's not making them puppets. Making Almi follow commands is how you show love and give guidance.
  
  It would have been cruel to not send you to school and make you follow directions so you learned how to read and do math. You could not have written this question if you hadn't been made to go to school and learn. It's also cruel to not teach your dog so your dog learns and knows things and can do things.

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Dog Health Questions: Any hints for a person who adopted a dog rescued from a hoarding situation?

As popular as the tv show on animal hoarders is & there are certainly people who adopt them, I would like to learn about living with a hoarded dog through a focus on the animal itself adjusting to living as the only dog in a home. I wish I knew more about the situation mine came from other than the total number of dogs & that they weren't socialized & never went outside. Animals & people are different, so please don't take affront when I say that my husband found his birth mother & siblings. He is so happy & so are they. Back then, the mother wasn't allowed to see or touch their baby. I wish that anonymously I could let the hoarder know that this dog is doing well & is loved. If they were reassured, they may learn not to hoard. I'd also like to hear hints from others who adopted a hoarded dog. So far, so good with ours making great progress. Yes, we will be enrolling in dog training.

Therapy Dog Training - Working With Your Dog

Recommended Answer:
You respect the fact that they came from a hoarding situation, but you begin a new life with your newly adopted dog. Your dog is out of the misery now and is safe and in a loving home. That's the first step and that's where your focus should be.

Along the way, you will run into hurdles that will make you cock your head like a curious pup. Some will make you giggle, some will make you cry. It will also take a little longer for a pup with this background to adapt in your home than it would a pup with a normal puppyhood. Give him space but use the time to establish a routine. Routines make any dog feel a lot safer. I.e. when are you going to go for a walk. When is feeding time. Play time? nap time? A dog likes these things to happen at t he same time everyday.

I adopted an 8 month old lab mix that had been rescued from a hoarder at 6 months. It took time and patience, but we found our own way to be together happily. The hardest thing was teaching him to play normal puppy games such as tug of war and fetch (which he never got the hang of).
The hoarder pup will exhibit fear...sometimes of really odd things. My dog had a fear of fire hydrants for example. Do not force the dog but also don't run in the opposite direction either. When you come across something that startles the dog just stand still and let the dog investigate on his own terms. His fear of hydrants was gone soon.

Here are some tips:

Obedience training - will help you bond, will give him confidence. The class is a good, safe setting for socialization as well.
Socialization - Take him places with you as much as you can. Let him meet different people in different settings. Be careful around kids though, because they get excited and my dog had a hard time with this. If I asked them to approach calmly from the side he did fine and actually liked the attention.
Take him to the dog park - Dogs are the only companions he has ever known and it will give him a great boost to be able to spend time among his own kind. Or set up play dates with other dogs in someone's home.
Read up on dog body language. What does it mean when your dog yawns? When your dog faces you and looks away? When your dog hangs his head? When you're dog's tail is pointed straight back? When he waves his paw in the air? when your dog scratches the ground? When his paws sweat? When he licks his lips? Dogs are so good at reading human body language, but the hoarded dog is at a disadvantage here, because it has not had the change to study that the normal puppy has had. It will help you both a great deal if you would try to learn his language.

But generally, he needs little more than a dog with a normal background would need...love, patience, compassion, etc.

Good Luck

Train Your Dog - Benefits and Tips For Successful Dog Training

• they need to feel loved beyond belief, but be careful could lead to seperation anxiety. socialization is a MUST! plus dog training like you said.


• They need A LOT OF SOCIALIZATION!
  so work work work


• Ironically enough, when my husband and I adopted our dog from one of the Humane Society's "foster homes", the H.S. foster lady herself was an animal hoarder! She lived about 20 miles away from us, out in the sticks. Her gravel driveway was about a 1/2 mile long. I remember my husband and I joking around about what if there was some psycho killer living back there so no one would find the dead bodies.... Then we saw this nasty shack of a house. About 15 dogs came running up to my car. I'm not afraid of dogs, but I was not cool with FIFTEEN dogs barking and growling at me. I was afraid to get out of the car! The lady came out & walked us into her house where there were probably 10 more dogs and at least 20 cats. Believe me when I tell you I cannot begin to describe the ungodly stinch of that place! Her house was cabin-style, so the kitchen, living, and dining areas were all just one great big room. She had so much rotten food and garbage on her counters, we couldn't see the countertop or stove themselves. There were cats *and* dogs climbing all over the countertop looking for food. There were heaps of crap all over the floor and huge urine puddles everywhere. She asked if we wanted to sit down-- I looked at the couch which had been chewed to shreds by her many bored animals and saw that it also had turds all over it. I could barely breathe. I asked if we could talk outside.
  
  About an hour later, after she had begged and pleaded with us not to adopt this dog, she started searching for the vaccination records and adoption contract. After about twenty minutes of sorting through the various piles of garbage in the room, she found it and there was this funky brown substance all over the papers-- I put them in a Ziplock bag and haven't touched them since. One of the dogs bit me. Dozens of flea-infested cats were rubbing all over my legs. It was HORRIBLE!!!!! I could not believe someone lived like that and the real kicker is she told us she was an RN-- a nurse should know better than to live like that!
  
  The problems we had with our dog: Because there were so many dogs and she was the youngest and smallest (about 38 lbs when we got her), she was very possessive with her food. We nipped that in the bud right away because food aggression leads to other things. I guess she'd always been the last one to eat and by the time it was her turn, there was no food left. She was hand-shy; didn't even want to be petted. She was scared of everything-- EVERYTHING--, especially black people. She had never been socialized. We solved that by hiring a black female dog trainer-- our dog loved her by the 2nd class and is much less skeptical of people now. Another thing that helped was that she LOVES other dogs! So we take her to the park and Petsmart-- two places with lots of dogs, and she gets used to people there. Because our dog had lived in a situation where she was allowed to just poop & pee whenever, wherever, we had a very hard time house training her and had to buy a carpet shampooer. She was very malnourished and poorly cared for-- how can one person care for 50+ animals alone? All of her ribs were protruding & she had such a nasty ear infection that her ear was filled to the brim with dirt & blood, the fur was rotted off her ear, and she has permanent hearing damage. A few days of medicine & daily cleanings fixed that. And the worst part was, the lady would leave her outside unattended for God knows how long, so she'd get bored and chew on gravel from the driveway. She had 4 broken teeth which we had to have extracted once we got her. In the first few months, we had about $1,000 in vet bills.
  
  This situation just should have never happened. It was absolutely atrocious. Her "foster mom" was a Humane Society volunteer AND a registered nurse. I don't feel bad for animal hoarders. Everyone has "struggles", but they need to get over them, not be babied by everyone around them. I hate that people want to claim that every bad action was based on a faulty state of mind. "I molest little boys because I have a 'problem'." "I mug old ladies because I have a 'problem'." "I hoard and neglect animals because I have a 'problem'." Please! Because of this experience, I will never "adopt" a pet from a shelter again.
  
  Our dog went from being this pitiful, timid, emaciated little 38 lb mutt with broken teeth and a severe ear/skin infection to being a beautiful, healthy 60 lb greyhound mix who loves people, loves running, loves our pet cat, is no longer food-aggressive, and listens very well *knock on wood* lol.DOG TRAINING IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY WHETHER YOUR DOG WAS ADOPTED FROM A SHELTER OR PURCHASED FROM A GREAT BREEDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!…


• " If they were reassured, they may learn not to hoard." its not something you can unlearn. Hoarding is a mental issue. They can learn to control it with HELP but its not something they can wake up one day and not do.
  
  As for how to deal with it? you deal with it as you would a dog that came from the shelter, socializing and training. You don't make excuses for behavior you simply work on how to fix them and if need be accept that some things can't be fixed and depending on the severity of the issue find ways to deal with it or put the animal down.


• If you have paid attention to the shows about the animal hoarders, the dogs' living conditions are horrible, and they are severely lacking in personal attention and love. You are a dream come true to this dog you adopted. Just be patient and give your dog time to get used to this new life and new rules. I adopted a dog that was rescued from a puppy mill, which is a terrible life, too. From a skinny, scared, deformed little runt, he has become the most loving sweet dog I have ever had.


• No offense but your post is incredibly hard to follow. I am not sure who the birth mother is and the mother who was not allowed to see or touch "their baby". I am not sure if you are talking about dogs or people. I will do my best to answer.
  
  That being said the first rule in rehabilitating any dog is STOP THINKING OF IT AS A VICTIM.
  
  Dogs live in the moment. They don't think back and remember when.
  
  I currently have a dog I rehabilitated that was from a real case of abuse and neglect, actually documented, I never treated her like a vicitim, I did not coddle her and I did not feel sorry for her. She went from scared of everyone and most situations to confident and brave and carries SEVERAL AKC Obedience titles.
  
  Just by your post I can tell you are making this dog a victim and feeling sorry for her.
  
  Forget about where the dog came from and move forward.
  
  It is a dog. It will respond to you treating it like a dog. It is a dog not a baby.
  
  Training will give it confidence- find a real dog trainer, not a cookie and click pet store trainer.


• You need to start hoarding asap to make to dog feel more at home. Start with a truck full of old newspapers and outdated electronic stuff and fill a room for the dogs arival. Old dirty cloths may also help the dog to adjust. No need to thank me just pass on a favor to someone else.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog Whisper, what is with him?

So awhile ago I asked some dog training questions and I got a few people telling me to do it like the Dog Whisper Ceaser does, but I have read so many different articles stating that he uses out dated techniques. Also I can not imagine his techniques that work for him working for everyone. I have watched him once or twice but I know his techniques would never work on my dog. Now I have seen more and more different people recommending others to use his techniques why? Is he really the guru of training? What do you guys think? and if you recommend him tell me why, with support other then he said it would work?

Dog Training Man's Best Friend

Recommended Answer:
People who have never worked with a real trainer and learn all their "techniques" from sitting on their butts in front of a TV are always quick to recommend him. Obviously the key words here are "never worked with a real trainer", so they have no idea what one does.

Knowledge is power, and seeing you have already been researching, I commend you. Keep at it and you will find the correct methods for your dog. There are many books out there and many good trainers as well.

Pam Dennison
Patricia McConnell
Ian Dunbar
Turid Rugaas
Jean Donaldson

Some real published, accredited, and well-respected trainers in the dog world.

Schutzhund Dog Training Is Not So Difficult - Read These Top Tips

• He's a TV Actor...not a dog trainer. He "cures" severe problems withing 30 min ...c'mon now.I've watched the show once or twice...I see it as entertainment, not a way to train your dogs


• He is an actor who has a TV show and sadly like many other things people think if they see it on TV it must be true, it must work or it must be the only way to do it.


• Caesar = Idiot
  
  Nuff said.


• He's a bully and an asshole. His methods are archaic and only teach your dog to fear you. Fear, in the end, always causes a backfire.


• Caesar a great guy who understands the nature of the dog. His methods work but people don't keep using them. Dog training does not stop at the end of training class. Use must use the techniques taught everyday in the same way. You must be the dogs pack leader and the dog will be your loyal and loving companion. You want your dog to respect you for your position not fear you for your methods. Never say never...try one of his methods for two weeks, be consistent and do it every day...


• I don't think a technique can be outdated, except for smacking a dog with a rolled up newspaper, people just come up with new ideas.
  Cesar Milan really just understands how dogs think but he sells himself (like any actor on TV) by using hippie-dippie techniques like "creating a surrounding to calm the mind" or stuff like that. If you really want to watch TV to train your dog, try watching Victoria Stilwell on Animal Planet. She doesn't really go into the "dog psychology" stuff that Cesar does, she just explains whats going on and how to fix it.
  however, its probably best just to do a lot of research or even just shell out the money for a training class if you really can't train your dog(s) on your own.


• Cesar has his own methods, and they work well for him. He says he rehabilitates dogs and trains PEOPLE - and in watching his show, i see this is true. His method isn't outdated, it works for him and for many others. It has a lot to do with the person taking on the role of dominance in their relationship with a dog, confidence, and a can-do attitude.
  
  Cesar's methods dont' work overnight, just like any other method, it takes time and patience and repetition.
  
  And, i also believe a person should choose the method of training they feel most comfortable with. So, if you are interested in teaching a dog basic training commands, for example, you can do an internet search and will find varied methods to choose from.
  
  I use some of Cesar's methods with my dog. I don't believe in yelling and screaming at a dog, and it seems to me that my attitude and even posture do help in getting my dog to learn and listen.
  
  Cesar's techniques would work with your dog, if HE trained your dog; however, if you are not interested in the way Cesar does things, then obviously, find another training technique to use.
  
  And i wish you all the best


• They work for him and his pack and they have worked for me and my pack.
  
  What works for him may not work with others, you will have to find your own techniques.
  
  BTW - The thumbs down for good answers in this question just because you dont agree is really childish - we are all making valid points!


• There are a lot of techniques that I think are really practical to use on the bully breeds or out of control habits that are dangerous caused by inexperienced owners. Sometimes a little more drastic training is needed for aggressive or out of control dogs. I fully agree and support all positive training methods but I also believe that if you have to have drastic results in a short amount of time then a light but firm touch (not a poke or jab) to get the dogs attention when it is out of control might be what is necessary. I got a rescue pit that was aggressive and pretty out of control and I used the tried and true positive reinforcement method but the focus was on everything but me or treats. I only had a short amount of time to get this dog under control or it would have been forced our of my hands so I used the "touch" on his side to direct his attention to me and then used positive reinforcement and redirected his energy elsewhere. I was able to get him to respond to all the basic commands in about 3 days and show he was actually trainable and worth rehabilitating. I ended up keeping him (but had to move from Mich. due to strict pit laws) and he turned out to be a great dog with no aggression. He even melded into my family of farm animals and kids. He lived to about 14 without even one incident so I have to say I think some of Cesars methods can be effective when used right and in a non hurtful way. My other dog at the time was a border collie and would have sulked if I ever tried to use any type of alpha training so it really depends on the dog and the situation in my opinion.


• He isn't literally able to understand dog's thoughts and talk to them, but he does understand how their minds work. My aunt knew him when she was younger and he's the reason she started raising Wolf-hybrid dogs. She passes the techniques onto me and I have been able to help her. She said maybe she'll let me meet him this summer.
  
  But two things: Do NOT try his techniques by yourself. Some of them are very dangerous. And the other: There isn't a dog on Earth he can't help.
  
  :)

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Dog Health Questions: HELP! dog has separation anxiety!?

I have a 14 months old german shepherd, Chief. He has separation anxiety and we dont know how to overcome this.

We let him roam the house, but then he began to destroy everything in site. Even after dog proofing the house, he still managed to find soemthing to get into.

We had a cage for him, which he had bent the wires, crys all the time when he is in it, broke one of his teeth, and broke the metal welding on the cage to the point where he could escape with it being closed. He was only put in the cage when we left the house.

since he destroyed that cage we threw it out and let him roam the house again. And he began to destroy the house yet again. We put him on separation anxiety pills and it helped for a while and then we got him fixed. Now we are in dog training and the trainer told us to try crating him again and put him back on the pills. So we have a crate but he doesnt see it as a "den" like he should.

We take him for 45 min walks before he goes in and fill up two kongs with peanut butter and give him a bone. We feed him in there and yet he does not go in it to lay down voluntarily. Now does he seem happy to lay in it.

He currently has his cage opened to him whenever he wants to go in and when we leave the house he roams the house and has asscess to his crate. I do not want to crate him for the rest of his life when we are at work and i dont want him to stay on his pills forever either.

If anyone knows some actually tips that can help me cure this lovable dog, make his crate more appealing to him or either stop his destructive behavior while we are away, that would be great! thanks!

max time he is left alone is 4 hours

5 Tips to Choose Effective Dog Training Courses

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The first step is to trust your dog to be good when you go out. The second step is to leave him in the crate sometimes. When you're at home leave him in the crate. Treat him when he goes for a set amount of time without being anxious. Gradually increase this time. After a while start leaving the house for short amounts of time. Gradually increase these periods. If you come home and everything is fine, praise him. A LOT.

Small Dog Training Advice

• Well thats a little tough. I take my dog to training classes which makes a HUGE difference for them since they are using their minds and are tired after training. He sounds bored and he needs more stimulation. Take him off those pills, there is no point in them. Crating your dog his whole life is a good idea and in no way is bad. Your dog needs to realize that the crate is a safe a quiet place for him so get a large wire crate that he can see out of and cannot destroy. Start slowly and reward him for going into his crate and reward randomly. Every time he displays good behaviour reward him. Give him large bones to chew on in his crate while your gone to keep him busy, but not rawhide, they can choke. Never put any toys that he can destroy in his crate to avoid choking as well. Discourage him from chewing or touching anything he isn't supposed to have. Its all about reinforcement. Make sure he get a ton of exercise before you leave the house and when you get home THIS IS KEY. He's bored and needs to be tired out, they are working dogs and are bred to be energetic. Walks are not exercise but running after a ball for an hour or make him pull you on rollerblades or a bike. You can also put weights on his back (in special vests) that will make him work harder on a walk. Just make sure he gets out and get lots of work both mentally and physically. Train him and exercise him for at least two hours a day, if you don't you will always have problems. Hope this helps!
  
  By the way it doesn't sound like separation anxiety, its definitely that he is just bored and not worked hard enough. Working class dogs need more than walks, its just like us sitting on a couch for 45 mins, it does nothing for them they need to run and be worked mentally.


• Desensitize Your Dog To Your Getting-Ready-To-Go Cues
  
  Figure out what begins your dog's anxiety. Is it when you put on your work shoes? Brush your hair? Pick up your keys? Find the earliest item in your getting-ready-to-go sequence that makes your dog anxious. Then practice doing that action, over and over again, until your dog is no longer anxious about it. For example, put on your work shoes, then take them off, then put them on again, over and over. You don't need to talk to your dog or do anything else special. Act just like you do every morning when you put on those shoes. When your dog is no longer anxious when you put on your shoes, move to the next step in your normal morning sequence; perhaps brushing your hair. (Note that if your dog's anxiety does not decrease after several repetitions, you are probably not working on the first item in your getting-ready-to-go sequence, and you'll need to back up).
  
  Repeat this exercise several times a day (5-10 times if possible), starting each sequence at a time when the dog is relaxed. Do NOT repeat the exercise if your dog seems MORE anxious when you start, or if he can't settle down in between repetitions, or if he follows and watches you MORE between exercises.
  
  You will have to spend a LOT of time with the early items in your getting-ready-to-go sequence, but as your dog learns to deal with this sort of thing, it will get easier. Opening up the front door (presumably the last item in your getting-ready-to-go sequence) will take fewer repetitions than the first item (putting on work shoes, in this example).
  
  Practice Short-Enough Absences
  
  When you've worked through your whole getting-ready-to-go sequence and your dog is no longer anxious, you're ready for your first absence session. Up to now, your dog with separation anxiety has associated absences with intense anxiety. The dog has to now learn to associate absences with a lack of anxiety, or calmness. You and the dog will practice being apart from each other for very short lengths of time - the time that your dog can handle - and you will gradually practice longer and longer lengths.
  
  So you've gone through your whole getting-ready-to-go sequence, and your dog is not yet anxious (if your dog is anxious, you are not ready to do any absences. Go over repeating the sequence items until your dog is calm about them). Now you're ready for your first very short absence. First you're going to want to give your dog some signal that this is just a "practice session". This could involve asking the dog to stay in a different area (such as the pen or room you practiced in), leaving a radio on, even spraying a certain scent in the air. This becomes a "practice cue" or a "safety cue".
  
  Walk out the door, shut it behind you, lock it, and then turn around, unlock it, and come back in. Don't make a fuss over the dog. Repeat. When your dog is not anxious, lengthen your absence to 2 seconds. Repeat until your dog is not anxious. Lengthen your absences to 3 seconds, with occasional 1-second absences. Repeat until your dog is not anxious. Continue with this process, gradually increasing the length of time you are gone. Every once in a while practice a shorter session - you don't want the dog to learn that each absence will be longer, as this might make him more anxious. Gradually increase the average length of time of your absence until the dog is alone for longer than your normal absence. (although some researchers write that two hours is a benchmark, after which the dog may be able to handle significantly longer time.) Yes, that means you will NOT be able to really leave the dog alone in the "safety zone" for longer than you've successfully practiced. Keep your dog in the old place where you had him wait, and/or hire a dog sitter, etc.
  
  It might help to set up some cues that the dog will not be alone for longer than he can handle, in other words, that this is just a practice session. Do you normally leave the radio or TV on when you're home? If you do, the silence when you're gone is a good indicator that the dog is alone. During this training, set up a cue that says "this is just a practice", such as the sound of the radio or a Mozart CD that you leave on "repeat" on the CD player. When you really do leave, you will continue to play this same cue - the dog will always believe that this is just a practice session.
  
  Note: Some medications, such as the tricyclic antidepressants, buspirone and benzodiazepines (possibly clomipramine hydrochloride, "Clomicalm" or amitryptalline), may help your dog get over his anxiety. These MUST be prescribed by a knowledgeable veterinarian. However, some of these may take a few weeks to take effect, so you will need to make sure the medications are in effect before you try to use them in combination with the desensitization. The medications will not work in the long-term without the desensitization/counter-conditioning work - the process of teaching the dog how to deal with

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Dog Health Questions: Hamster training help(hammy ball race)?

i singed my hammy up for a hamsterball derby and ur supposed to train them but i cant get him to run as fast as he can without stopping(or even slow without stopping to groom himself). i want to be able to show him that if he completes it he'll get a treat but i dont no how(probably wont work anyway thats a dog training techniche). how do i train him?

Dog Clicker Training Can Make Dog Training Easy

Recommended Answer:
i own a hamster too and unfortunately we cant train him :[
the longest you can keep a hamster in a ball is 30 mins.
they play their balls for fun, not for race or work out so the race it self is just for fun either. I think the factor of winning is depends on the hamster's mood lol.

"Dog Care" - The Reason For Dog Training

• You can't teach a hamster to run in the ball fast. Please don't try to force him. Your hamster may not want to be in the ball. Don't keep him in his ball too long either. Long periods of time in a hamster ball can hurt the hamsters back.

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Dog Health Questions: How do I reload blank shotgun shells?

I want to load up some blank shotgun shells to use for dog training. How do I go about doing this? What do I put in place of the shot?

The Praise and Reward Dog Training Method

Recommended Answer:
Well just don't use any shot. Just put your primer in powder and wading in the shell, don't crimp it either. It will sound just like if you had shot in it when fired it will just be alot safer for you and the dogs.

Electronic Dog Training

• Primer and wads only. Use black powder as smokeless will not make a loud bang, only a hissing sound. Black powder is an explosive and requires no bullet or shot.

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Dog Health Questions: Any body els hate these dog gadgets... Squirt collars... bottles with rice/pebbles in?

Hiya Guys and Gals
I have had dogs all my life 30 plus years now, ive had large breeds toy breeds pedigree's and mutts, i cannot for the life of me understand WHY people use these Stupid, Stupid, gadgets for there dogs, ie:- My dog will not stop barking... My pulls on the lead... My dog crys when i go out...... And what do some people give as an answer...... Get a spray collar, Get a shock collar, put pebbles in a bottle and shake it, (and scar the life out of the dog)
For goodness sake what happend to old fashion dog training, why do ppl insist on these god for saken things, if you cant control your dog without these torcher items, maybe you should not have a dog in the 1st place......
Dogs are companions, not bleeping fashion items !!!!!!!

Hunting Dog Training Equipment

Recommended Answer:
Hey!! Some one from my generation.

Aren't those things STUPID????

What happened to good old fashioned "train the dog" is quite simple.

The owners want a quick fix, they want it now, they don't want to have to learn how to do it - or at least any more 'learning' than having read an article, go to Petsmart or watching a TV show. They want the dog "trained" in the same manner as they want their dinner fast from McDonalds. They want it made "easy." The one creates an disobedient and/or out-of-control animal in many circumstance and the other makes you fat and sick.

Being 100% consistent in anything that requires regular and constant and daily effort is not in many people's skill set.

Problem with "quick fixes" like those ridiculous head halters is they DO NOT work in the long run and are useless for many things. Try teaching a dog "come" or 'down' in one of those things. Can you imagine trying to teach a 'drop on recall" or much of anything besides 'walk on the leash so you don't jerk me flat on my face" in one of those headhalters or body harness or martingale contraptions??? (And drop on recall is a concept I introduce at the end of my basic obedience classes.)

Giving 90% of the pet owners a pinch collar is like giving a monkey a set of razor blades. They work because they are SEVERE!!

Then they spout some nonsense they heard about collars and how horrible slip/choke collars are. Well, maybe if the person is too lazy to learn how to use them. I put them on the owners wrist so they get the idea of pull-no; snap release-yes. There is a reason, however, why AKC shows prohibits those head halters and martinagle things and pinch collars from even being on the show grounds (ie: the dogs are basically out of control) and AKC obedience competitons only allow flat buckle collars or slip/choke chains. Doesn't occur to these uneducated people that maybe those who spend the time training and competing their performance dogs know more than them or the "trainer" at Petsmart who never sets foot in a competition ring to prove their skills against others.

Also wonder if they have ever taken a look at what collars Service Dogs wear in addition to their harnesses? They can take a guess and here is a hint: it is not flat buckles, it is not a head halter, it is not a body harness; it is not a martingale thing; it is not a pinch....now what is the answer??

Moreover the dogs quickly learn that the owner is dependent upon the gadget -- no gadget, GREAT - I'll do exactly as I please!

Add into that the current psycho-babble craze and it is a mess.

Lets add to the list:

"I gave my dog a 'time-out.'

Uh huh...he is going to sit in a room or his crate, figure out why he is there, think about his sins and conclude he shouldn't do that again. If a dog can do that, they should be applying to Harvard.

"I tried "tough love' by ignoring her."

Gee golly, now how is the dog supposed to reason out that they are being ignored because their owner is displeased with their behavior and not just busy cleaning the house becaue mother-in-law is coming to dinner or they are watching TV ? All the dog learns from that utterly ludicrious approach is they can do what they want.

"I only use "positive-only" training."

Goody - we can get rid of all laws with punishments if we just be nice to everyone and give them cookies (or something.) Guess that person would ALWAYS obey every speed limit even if they don't risk getting a ticket. Guess they are never ever going to ground their teenager for smoking pot - just bribe them with a new car or something.

"I "distract" him when he does something wrong."

Hmmm...seems like the dog got a twofer; (1) Got to do what he wanted and then (2) got his owner's attention and something else he likes."I trained him with treats - of course he won't do anything unless I have a treat.....or, gee, he doesn't always obey me even for the treat if he wants to chase the rabbit..."

Well, guess they don't mind walking around smelling like a doggy deli for the dog's entire life. And of course the dog is going to chase the rabbit if he would rather do that then come and get the treat -- you never gave him a reason that he shouldn't ignore you.Whats really scary is these people go out and breed and can't train or teach their children any better than their puppy.I've handled and trained everything from Chihuahuas to Great Danes. Done everything from obedience to tracking to training Service Dogs and have gotten the top performance titles offerred by the AKC. The dogs are GREAT - it is the amatuer "its too much work" "I read a book" "isn't there a faster and easier way" owners who make me nuts. I won't even tach public classes anymore. The dogs get it within 2-3 weeks - the owners take 2-3 months because it is too much work and effort for them.

(yep - up above luvropupp...just proved my point! Now can his/her doggy do a drop on recall, retrieve work by sight and by scent, hand signals for all commands, go-outs; directional patterns; hold a sit or down stay off leash in a line of dogs with mass confusion for 5-10 minutes, heel off leash through crowds out in public; track someone or something with no known starting point .... Hmmm, didn't think so.)Happy heeling!

Dog Training Part I

• God forbid they should "hurted da wittle spoiled ROTTEN brat's FEEWINGS"!!!
  
  They can't seem to "get" that dogs aren't HUMAN either! "Fur-baby" gives me the creeps.


• Different strokes for different folk.


• i agree...it's like some people want instant nice dogs. it doesn't work that way. you have to spend time with your dogs. people think gadgets are time savers, but your dog needs you to teach him.
  
  if you don't have time for your dog, then don't get one.


• DUH these are terrible especially those dumb choker collars get a harness instead!!! and the squerty thingies will only make you dog angry/upset use words/treats/scolding for training this is th best way.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training?

My pure bred chocolate lab will be a yr. old tomorrow nd has yet to learn to walk and come. I think she is retarded....is that possible?? lol......i need help, she is a good dog but i cant get her to do these two things, please help!!

Using the Right Dog Training Treats

Recommended Answer:
Your dog probably thinks she has you trained very well!

Go to the library and find books on dog training and obedience. There are a lot of different methods that are used and have been used.

Research trainers in your area. Did you get her from a breeder? Ask for recommendations - ask your vet as well. Find a beginning obedience class, sign up, attend, and do your homework.

One of my favorite things is the "Nothing in Life is Free" theory - your dog must do something before you do something. She wants to play? She has to sit. She wants food? She has to down-stay. She wants to go for a walk? She has to sit and stay until you're out the door and you call her. I found that this is good for me to practice obedience and training with my dog between and before classes.

Happy birthday to your lab! If you take her to school and practice with her all the time, she'll be a perfect angel by her next birthday! Good luck!

Dog Training and Why it is Important

• Perhaps schedule an appointment with the vet or a trainer. A lot of animal training places do evaluations (free) ...so perhaps schedule one of these, and see whats wrong with her. Good Luck:)


• maybe petco but i have herd that they are kinda bad but not sure.. um well u could try saying it over and over... or commanding!!! well good luck!!!!!


• With any animal to train them you just need to take the time and have patience. We have been trying to train my roommates dog better and he responds well with treats. If she does not walk well on a leash some say use a choke chain. I do not believe in them myself but when I walk mine he has some issues but i just try to keep him close. I also reward him when he does good. The other dog is now learning to do things when told also. If you are concerned about her over all a vet might be able to give you more info by checking the dog out. If it does not follow voice commands could be a problem with hearing.


• A lot of the time its not so much that the dog is not smart, but rather the fact that we havent dedicated as much time to teaching the basics. I have a 1yr old Akita/Chow mix. At first, he would not listen for the life of him. 4 months of working on it - he still refused to sit when told. I started the training classes and let me tell you - they work wonders.
  Come to find out, it wasn't him not being able to learn - but ME not knowing how to teach him.
  Now- he's always the center of attention when people come over b/c he learned a lot more than just sit.


• It is all about the owner....not the dog. You are not spending the time with the dog and/or using proper techniques to train it.


• Take your dog to Obedience School. They will teach you how to teach your dog different tricks and how and when to reward them. It really helps.


• walking and coming are basics just look it up on google for techniques on training. the important thing is to be consistant and make sure that you reward. with 'come' , for about a week or two only call him 'spot, come!' when its already started to come towards you, then treat him. that way they get used to hearing those words and doing that action and it might help a little. another thing is use a long retractable leash and let them go away and get interested in something. then call them 'spot, come!' if they dont turn and come in less than one second, tug them and run backwards (while encouraging them and stayin gall happy) till he gets to you, then treat them. eventually youll say "spot- (he looks at you and waits for you to say come) - come!" and then hell come. remember to run backwards it helps them keep focus on you.


• You should start seriously training him ASAP. There are some really excellent dog obedience training courses out there that you can use. Be careful though - there are some pretty bad ones too. Here's one I recommend (a ton of people have had success with this one):
  http://www.dogobediencetraining123.com/course

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Dog Health Questions: How can i become a trainer for police dog? which studies are the best?

i would like to become dog trainer, but i don't know what to do... and if the studies are short i would like to achieve another diploma before getting specialized in dog training!

Dog Training Clicker - Why Use a Clicker?

Recommended Answer:
Here is info from the US Deparment of Labor's page on animal care and service workers (link is in sources):
"Education and training. Animal trainers often need a high school diploma or GED equivalent. Some animal training jobs may require a bachelor's degree and additional skills. For example, marine mammal trainers usually need a bachelor's degree in biology, marine biology, animal science, psychology, or a related field. An animal health technician degree also may qualify trainers for some jobs."

I would think criminal justice programs would be smart. I am not sure that there are major programs for training the police dogs. With criminal justice, you could probably become a cop and handle the dog. Even if you don't, a degree in criminal justice may be smart so you know what you are training the dogs for. I think you can get a 2 or a 4 year degree in criminal justice. Call up a local police station that uses police dogs and ask them. They would probably be willing to help you.

You could probably take some basic dog training courses and get some experience in training dogs if you have any. You could also train jsut about any other type of animal. Training is not based on intellgience level and it is actually easier to train dumb animals because they won't be wondering why they should listen to you. Training is just associating good things like treats with a behavior you want to the animal to do like sitting. You can also associate bad things like hitting or using a spray bottle with not doing a behavior or for bad behaviors like barking, but this is frowned on by many people.

组合链接

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Dog Health Questions: Wireless fence dog training...?

I bought a petsafe wireless fence for my german shepherd two months ago, I put up the flags for two weeks on the boundary, then took the flags up. The problem is my dog will not go any where near the boundary. The boundary is set at 90 feet, but he only goes 20 feet and no more. I tried to walk him around the boundary, but he jerks and fights away from it. I tried putting cheese in my hand and walking away from him to follow me, but he still stops. Any ideas to how to correct this behavior?

7 Most Believed Myths About Dogs And Dog Training Dispelled

Recommended Answer:
Honestly I would let him figure it out onhis own. The fence has done it's job in teaching your GSD to stay within the boundries, and he's not yet comfortable going close to it. Don't force him into it, because it will just make him even more nervous.

He will go farther on his own eventually, when he's comfortable with it.

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

• Wow, sounds like he learned only to well how the electric shock feels when he gets close to the fence. I am guessing that you have the electric turned up way too much. I'd leave well enough alone, sounds like he may be traumatized :). I'm not a fan of the electric fences as while the dog stays w/in the boundary due to electric shock, it doesn't prevent other dogs or animals from coming into their area so it doesn't keep your dog safe. I spent the $$ for a regular fence, but it was rather expensive. For the same amount that was spent on the invisible fence you installed, (depending on yard size) you can put up a nice looking wire fence using welded or twisted wire fencing from the farm store and T-posts.


• I would put the flags back up so he had a visual reminder again. You may need to retrain him to show him exactly where the boundary is again.


• There's nothing to correct. The fence has done its job. Be thankful he isn't one of the MANY dogs that finds ways to get out of these things. I'm not a huge fan of these fences either. Sounds like he's learned what the fence does, and it avoiding it. That's the whole point. Congratulations, it worked, now leave well enough alone. Dragging him to it like that, is going to do nothing more then get you bitten. And quickly. Let him come around in his own time, he'll figure it out. Just be happy the fence worked at all, and leave the rest alone.


• The only way I know of to correct/prevent YOUR behaviour is to find your dog an owner who understands dogs.
  You obviously DON'T, any more than you understand proximity shock collars (aka what a pooch wears to deter it from getting close to the cable of the "invisible fence").
  
  Invisible fences do NOT protect your pet from stray dogs or stray brats, they give NO mental comfort to scared-of-dogs people who must walk or cycle past. For each of those, your pooch's next owners need PHYSICAL fences.
  
  Invisible fences don't even keep dogs home, unless the pooch is a coward! When an enemy pooch or a ***** on heat wanders in & out, most dogs will race through the pain-barrier so quickly that they are out the other side before the shock cramps their muscles. But after the fight or mating they are no longer motivated to rush, and so the pain barrier prevents them from crossing back onto your property. As a result, your dog stays out on the street where all the dangerous traffic flies past......
  
  Find him a proper home. One that values him more than you do so is prepared to erect an effective physical barrier to protect him from stray dogs, stray brats, and his own impetuosity.
  
  No-one with any understand of dogs and proximity collars would DELIBERATELY attempt to walk a shock-collar-wearer around or near the cable. No doubt you are deaf, too - most such collars sound a buzz when within a planned distance of the cable, so that the wearer learns to go no closer. If it gets closer the zap takes over. Put the switched-on collar on your own neck and discover its "delights". And when you get zapped, be aware that dogs feel electricity between 5 & 10 times more painfully than we do.
  Les P, owner of GSD_Friendly: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/GSD_F…
  "In GSDs" as of 1967

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Dog Health Questions: Can I Tell if my dog has some wolf in him?

I have a two year old alaskan huskey. Upon bringing him to the vet i was told that he might be part wolf. A similar comment came up when i was at a dog training class.

From what i no, wolf and wolf hybrids are hard to train and usually don't make good pets because of their instinctual hyarchy nature. Is there any sure way of knowing whether or not he has wolf in him, and if he does should i be worried about it?

Dog Obedience Schools - How to Get Free Dog Training by Learning What's Taught at Obedience Classes

Recommended Answer:
Bad info, I disagree.

Wolf and wolf hybrids are pack animals and very, very clannish - which means they must be part of the human family. I cannot begin to to stress that must enough. I have read horror stories of these dogs being chained up and having to be put to sleep.

That said. I have owned two wolf hybrids. They were both very,very smart and well behaved. We made both of them part of our family and my ex husband trained them both. One was hit by a car, so she was not living with us that long.

The other was a great escape artist - I had to put her in a cage and then lock her in using a wrench that she could not remove from the cage. She would open the door if it was not locked. T

She lived in the house with us, but when she had her only liter of puppies we put them in a coop to keep them out of the house during our work time. Some time after it was built, we found her climbing over the six foot fence so we knew we were beat and did not try to keep her contained any more. We had her spayed.

Having said that I will tell you a little more. Fluffy, our rough stuff Fluff as we nicknamed her, had eyes that glowed in the dark. She loved all of our kids, she helped find the lost hamsters when they got loose in the house and never harmed them. She did catch a mouse outside once and it was kind of gross, but that was the worst thing I saw. She played tag with the neighbor's cat. She was the BEST dog we had and we all miss her. She lived a long and good life.

No lies, here. Other people have had problems with their wolf hybrids, but we did not and I think it is because we already had another dog when we got her and both were part of our family.

Buying An Electronic Dog Training Collar Doesn't Have To Be Shocking

• Canine DNA test


• You already have the dog and love him. So nevermind what they said about wolf hybrids. Just do your best to train him. I'd stick with telling people that he's husky just incase wolf hybrid is on the BSL where you live.


• A DNA test will tell you & no I wouldn't worry just take necessary precautions. I would look up a wolf hybrid breeding & talk to them about training etc if he is part wolf.


• I wouldn't worry at all. You had him this long so he is fine...
  
  My in-laws have a Malamute/wolf hybrid. They got him from a breeder who races in packs. He is a great dog most loyal dog i have ever seen he was hard to potty train and he does dig an awfull lot but I think that is the Malamute in him..Any who its okay. Dont worry about it.


• Well, does he like to hunt and kill birds or cats? I had a part wolf and chow and he was stubborn.... played stupid, but I knew he was very smart, and he was very easy to potty train. (a sweet heart to me and other people) but very loud and hard to control, and he had an independence about himself, not the type that would like to cuddle (kept to himself, except when I had food, lol), and he was very dominant because we also had another dog that was lab and pit bull mix and he was a biter, but was afraid of Harley(aka the chow wolf) and Harley never bit a human being. I loved him and he made a great pet for me. I unfortunately had to get rid of him because the neighbors kept on complaining about him (they said he was too loud, lol), and the police loved him too, lol (he was a little charmer). Oh and he was fixed, so I wonder what he would have been like if he wasn't, lol.
  I don't think that you should be worried about him being part wolf.


• It really depends on what percentage of wolf is in him. For example 10% wolf is going to retain more dog instincts and modern dog traits then lets say 50% wolf or higher.
  
  The wolf hybrids I have been around that were 50% and higher really had a much more hectic personality then the 10% hybrids.


• DNA Test WILL NOT show if your dog has any wolf in him or not...in fact the DNA tests are only proving to be more of a joke than anything else (and an expensive one at that). DNA testing does not work on wolf dogs. There is no way to be 100% sure as many times people breed GSDs and Malamutes to get a VERY wolfie looking offspring that they pass off as wolf dogs.
  
  This pic is a Malamute GSD cross see how wolfie it looks, people could easily say OMG thats a wolf no doubts! But it's 100% dog.
  
  http://www.shawlein.com/The_Standard/13_…
  
  Alaskan huskies (being a mix of many times Shepherd and Mal or Sibe) sometimes end up looking wolfie...
  
  Both of my wolf dogs have to be kept in check and do test me for alpha on occasion. They were more willful than even my Siberians to train, but it's not impossible. They, like my Siberians, are very pack oriented, can try to be houdini's (no escape artistry isn't strictly for the wolf dog...), they actually parallel the Siberians in many ways, but in many ways they can not ever be treated as "just another dog"....


• Adam I would suggest going to yahoo groups and joining one of the wolf/wolfdog email lists there. WDZ, WDA, or WDC.
  
  for the rest of you, dogs and wolves are the same species and were reclassified as such in 1993. Hybrids is a misnomer and as such you do your canines a disservice in continuing a stereotype.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training problem?

My dog knows quite a few tricks: sit, lay down, speak, shake. Just recently i taught 'roll over.' I have developed a small problem. I've read that you should teach play dead BEFORE roll over, but I didn't. How can i teach her 'play dead' without confusing her?

Improve Your Training Sessions With These Dog Training Tips - Part 1

Recommended Answer:
you should stop her mid-roll while she is on her back by putting your hand on her tummy for a few seconds. then say 'good girl'. then after she gets up give her a treat.

Dog Training Tips - How To Get The Most Out Of Your Dog

• Before you do those things, you need to teach your dog to sit, and to stay, and to come when called. These are commands that one day may save your dog's life. I've also heard of a command, like a super come command, for emergencies when it is absolutely imperative that your dog obey you right now. You would use an unusual word different from come, such as whoop-ti-doo, or other uncommon term, and when he does respond by coming immediately, you give him a very special reward that he'd REALLY enjoy, like a can of real chicken. This way, the dog is protected when he runs into the highway, for instance.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training help?

I have a 1.5 year old large german shepherd mix. He's a really smart dog and I already trained him multiple tricks that he knows by heart. The thing is I'm moving on to the more difficult tricks and I just can't seem to keep his attention long enough. He's a very hiper dog and when I try to get his attention he gets over excited and jumps and plays. I teaching him play dead right now and he can't seem to get the be still part of it. I just want to get his attention and keep it, any advice?

Service Dog Training and Selection - Train Dedicated Companions for Disabled People

Recommended Answer:
Chances are these excited, anxious, or fearful behaviors have been reinforced. The truth is that it is very easy to reinforce these behaviors. You may even feel compelled to reinforce them, although that was never your intention.

Imagine a dog who whines excitedly in the car. You arrive at your destination and your dog is just-so-excited-to-be-here-and-bark-bark… There is nothing worse than sitting in a car with a dog who is whining to get out, so what do you do? You let your dog out of the car and...

...you have just reinforced whining! What's more, your dog has just reinforced you for letting him out sooner rather than later.

Another example of automatic, unintentional reinforcement is the dog who bowls over visitors. What does the visitor do?

"Oh, you're a big puppy! How about you hop down?" [push]

"HOP DOWN!" [wave hands in dog's face]

Wouldn't you love that response if you were a big, boisterous, and non-verbal Labrador retriever looking for attention?

The Calm-O-Meter solution
Let's look at a third example and a possible solution. A dog (we'll call her "Sabella" but she bears no resemblance to an actual German shepherd by that name), gets overly excited when she is about to embark on her nightly walk. Her owner, an enlightened trainer, has her sit and wait patiently at the door until she calms down. He does this because he knows that letting her out the door in her excited state will only reinforce that excited state for future walks—and will probably result in temporarily forgotten leash manners and reactive aggression towards other dogs as well.

But how does Sabella's owner know when she is calm enough to be let through the door?

He could look for certain signs: rate of breathing, ear and tail carriage, whining frequency and volume, pupil dilation or contraction. But that's a bit complicated. All he really needs to do is ask himself, "On a scale of 1-10, where 1 is very calm and 10 is very excited, how calm is Sabella right now?" He'll get a reasonably accurate answer, something good enough to work with.

Simple, huh? This is called using the "Calm-O-Meter."

Just as you can reinforce excited behaviors, you can reinforce calm behaviors.Turn the dial, but where to stop?
Next is to "turn back the dial" on that Calm-O-Meter. Just as you can reinforce excited behaviors, you can reinforce calm behaviors. But, keep in mind that it would be unreasonable to ask a dog to go from grade 10 "hyper" to grade 1 "comatose." That would set the dog up to fail and leave nothing to reinforce.

Instead, figure out what grade the dog is at when she sits, then ask for one grade less. If your Sabella is consistently at a grade 7, wait until she calms down to grade 6, then click and open the door. If Sabella is consistently at grade 6, wait until she has calmed down to grade 5, then click and open the door.

The Calm-O-Meter can be a metric for clicker training, using successive approximations toward the goal—a calm dog. Calm could be at grade 3 or 4; Sabella shouldn't have to lose her zest for life completely! If you aim too low, she might not ever make it out the door.

Historical borrowing
The Calm-O-Meter idea isn't completely new. Like so many other techniques in dog training, it is an idea borrowed from human clinical psychology, modified and repackaged. The human clinical psychology equivalent is the SUDs scale, which stands for Subjective Units of Distress/Disturbance/Discomfort Scale. Of course dogs cannot be asked their level of stress or calm directly, but most dog owners are sufficiently in tune with their dogs for this technique to give fairly reliable results.

This PDF may be helpful to you. It is called when excited becomes rude.
http://www.clickertraining.com/files/Emm…

Dog Training DVD Review - It's PAWsible!

• Him getting overexcited and jumping when you are trying to get his attention is a good thing because that means you have got his attention but i know why you might think otherwise as i thought it was a bad thing to. If you are trying to teach him new tricks which require staying still then start off somewhere with no distractions at all then when he has learned it start doing it somewhere with alot of distractions this worked for my dog and trust me it is very hard to get his attention i would be happy if my dog does what your dog does getting over excited lol, also you will find that if you make him run for a bit he will get a bit tired and he will listen more without jumping around best of luck


• Try this page, they have few video-lessons
  http://en.teachme.tv/category/72/dog_tra…


• Take him for a LOOOOOONNNNGGG walk before trying the harder tricks. I have a 2 year old Doberman and she has way too much energy to focus on training unless I tire her out a bit first.
  
  So we go for a long walk, usually 2 miles, then head home, she gets some free time to drink water, rest, whatever she does. Then about 30 minutes after the walk I start the training with her.
  
  She is able to concentrate a lot better and can usually handle about 30 minutes of training a day this way. Much more than that and she loses interest.


• I recommend you visit the website I went to when my dog had behavioral issues a while back. It transformed my dog's behavior. Good Luck!


• Here's a free resource for you..
  
  http://dogsdomain.info

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training? Dog licks everybody. How to stop?

Mother-in-law has poodle that licks when excited. He has to lick any part of your body that is exposed (perverts go elsewhere please), face, hands, feet, legs. It's extremely annoying and she wants him to stop that habit. I've tried distracting the dog, but so far that isn't working. Any ideas? Any experiences?

Thanks.

OH, and happy Fourth of July (America)

Find Out How To Prevent Your Dog From Becoming Too Aggressive By Using Some Dog Training Skills

Recommended Answer:
What I do is use a spray bottle of water and squirt the dog.
All it does is stops the dog and does not hurt it in any way shape or form
I use it for my Deaf Dane to get his attention.

so in order to stop the licking you use the water and a word associated with the water like NO.
The more you use it the more the dog will listen.

Train Your Dog - Don't Let Your Dog Train You

• We have a little bichon. She only licks me, because she knows not to lick anyone else because ever since she was little my mum used to not let her lick anyone, by shutting her snout or training her to understand the command "no". I've never really smacked her or pressed her sout down gently so she never learned not to lick me.... It's something you need to try to train them not to do from young, GLk! :)


• The best way I've found to teach a dog not to do something is to actually teach it TO do it first. We all teach puppies the no command but not the actions that go on the other end of it. We holler "no! Don't chew my shoes (or electrical cord, or chair, or rug, or you fill in the blank)!". But we seldom convey more than anger or displeasure. This is a situation you take cake advantage of though without the dog being destructive.
  
  This is how I've taught my dogs not to bark, and along for the ride I got a Speak and a Whisper out of it. ; )

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Dog Health Questions: Do dog training colors work on lambs?

You know those dog colors that zap the dog when it goes off of your territory? If you put one of those colors on a lamb would it work or would you have to get one made for lambs?

Mat Or Place Training is an Important Dog Training Tool - Part Two

Recommended Answer:
such are only now being developed
http://www.csiro.au/science/Virtual-Fenc…

the big problem is Electric shock is not so effective on sheep as the wool is an insulator

7 Important Dog Training Tips For You

• It is said that dog training colors work on lamps, but I have not experienced such things. If you need any dog behaviorist to train your dog effectively, you can make use of... http://www.houstondogbehaviorist.com/


• well, most lambs that I've seen are a nice neutral color like white or off-white, so I think probably most colors would work quite well on them.

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Dog Health Questions: Does anyone know where you can take a dog training course specializing in K9 or Schutzhund training?

I planned to go to Triple Crown but you have to go through like three steps to get to the K9 training. I have some experience already, do they count that?? Also this is geared toward after I complete police officer training...

How to Incorporate Dog Training Into Dog Play and Exercise!

Recommended Answer:
If you are a police officer in larger department, they should have K-9 unit with trainers and helpers. In most cases, you have to be an officers at least 3 years in good standing to be a SOD member.(Special Operation Division. K-9 is part of it)
Believe it or not, sport dog experiences won't help you pass the interview. As you know Schutzhund training is very different than K-9. Most K-9 unit will looking for clear head person who can make right decisions in stress situations. If they think you are the right person, than they will pick you with/without experiences.
Once you are in, the department will pull you out of streets, and send you to training school with your new green dog. They will teach you everything from how to take care of dog, legal issues, and actual handling of the dog. They will teach you and your dog at the same time. So beginner can be a good handler.
If you like to work with a dog, and trying to learn basic fundamental of dog training, than you can join Schutzhund clubs in your area. (there are DVG and United Schutzhund Clubs of America. Go google those two mother clubs) You won't loose anything. Good luck

Things to Consider Before You Go For a Dog Training Career

• If you are becoming a police officer, many have their own training for K9 officers. You may want to clarify that before you pay for your own training.


• Does your police station have a k-9 unit... If it does, ask them where they have the dogs trained at.

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Dog Health Questions: What should I do with my dog *before* we go to a dog training class so that she pays more attention?

We have a 7 month old beagle/coonhound mix and going to beginner classes for training.

The trainer said we should exercise her alot before going to class. We don't want to tire her out too much...but will try more next week....see if it helps.

Are there any other suggestions besides tire the dog out?

Thanks

The 5 Best Dog Training Tips For You and Your Dog

Recommended Answer:
Exercise seems to be the best idea. If your class uses food, you might want to put her on a tiny fast. I don't know how you normally feed your dog, but have her be slightly hungry.

i.e., if you free feed her, pick up her food a few hours before.

No-No Dog Training Techniques

• Teach her to sit, and try to teach her to stay.
  Sit before you give a treat.
  Sit before you put the food dish down.
  Sit before you let her out the door.
  Sit before you let her back in.
  Sit before you pet her.
  
  If you don't have a basic book on how to train your dog, then get one.


• I have a Corgis that is in training right now too. See my avatar? It is recommended you exercise the dog. They have high energy at this age. This is the only way to burn it off. Mine is running through the house right now at 100 MPH burning energy on a rainy day!


• homework!!
  
  I was reading on dog training classes and something that the trainer wrote in his book just made crystal clear sense. In a dog training class, this is a level 2-3 situation in training level. First, you are in a new environment, new smells, new area, new dogs, new everything. Second, there are usually a lot of other people and dogs. Other people and dogs tend to make noise. Alllll of these things are known as distractions to your dog and to your training. Normally, when training your dog, you want to begin training in a calm and quiet environment, with NO distractions. You need to be able to have your dog sit, lie down and stay (work on extending time). You should also be working on - preferably in your backyard or right on your own street front, walking and heeling (not going to far from the house, because that is a distraction). AFTER you master these things in a quiet environment, you introduce time and distance and distraction, but only one at a time. For example, if you want your dog to sit when you tell him to even though you are 10 feet away from him - that is distance, which means that you are in a no distraction area and you are not asking him to sit for an extended period of time. If you want him to lengthen his sit (or stay or down) you don't do distance or distraction. As training improves, you start increasing, one thing at a time.
  
  For this very reason, if your dog will not sit, stay, or down when you are in your own home, you are not ready for obedience classes - there are just too many distractions. So if you are running into problems at class, such that the trainer is telling you to exercise your dog beforehand, you may have not done enough "homework" to be ready for a class.
  
  She wants you to exercise your dogs because tired dogs are easier to train - they don't have a bunch of excess energy, so the energy they do have is focused and ready to listen.
  
  The book that I read was called the Dog Whisperer (but it was NOT Cesar's book). He made a lot of good points about training, levels of training, how to introduce distance, distraction and time.

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