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

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Would a Rough Collie be the right dog for us?

I've done a lot of research for a few years and I know what each of the breeds require, but now that we've narrowed it down we'd like a general decision on which breed? We're looking towards the more pastoral/working breeds but are open to suggestions (no toys or terriers, please!).

Here's what we can do (exercise etc.)
-2 miles walk a day, along with at least half an hour play session a night, probably more.
-He/she would never be left alone during the day or night, he would go to my dad's work which has a total of three people and plenty of space and fields
-We do have cats, and will raise correctly
-Socialise well with everyone and everything!!
-Do nice long walks at the weekend too
-We have three members of family alltogether
-we're generally looking for a medium-large sized dog
-we will do puppy/dog training classes, we've found some really good one's.
-we would like to rescue

I really like flyball and agility etc.

thanks everyone xx

Ages of us: two adults in 50's and a 15 year old, all my cousin's and family are all grown up to, so no young children xx

Dog Fence Review - Dog Training Rights and Wrongs



Recommended Answer:
YES
YES
YES

Rough Collie
Rough Collie
Rough Collie

You will never find an easier to train dog.
They are also a breed of dog who has an OFF button.
They do NOT need a constant source of entertainment.
They will get the job done but then they are happy to do nothing.
They do well in performance events.

The dog in my avatar is a Rough Collie she is titled in Obedience, herding and Agility.
She is also a therapy dog.

I could not ask for a better dog.

She is a total pleasure to live with.

ADD-Your local Collie Club can give you a breeder referral

Contact your district director which you can find on this page from the Collie Club of America

http://www.collieclubofamerica.org/cca_d…

Guard Dog Training


  • A Rough Collie sounds to fit your criteria perfectly! They're roughly medium-large sized, love playtime but are pretty calm usually, socialize very well around younger children and love to run around in big open spaces. I think this dog would be a great choice for you and your family, and it's great that you're rescuing or adopting it from a homeless shelter.

  • Yes as long as you wear gloves before stroking him (:))

  • You sound like you'd make a great home for a lot of dogs.
    Rough Collies do demand a lot of physical activity and attention and active things to do, and it sounds like you can provide that.
    rough collies are great with kids and they love fly ball and agility.
    The only thing I would have to add in that you haven't mentioned is grooming. They'll need a lot of grooming. Unless you want a short haired collie which I personally love the look of.
    Love their snouts.
    Good luck!

  • When I saw the flyball and agility, I immediately thought collie or springer spaniel. They're both gorgeous breeds, and I know that our dog simply adores long walks. Do you have a large back garden? Collies and Springers can be very active dogs - sometimes even long walks don't calm them down.
    I'd suggest buying the dog from a puppy, and socialising it with the cats so they don't get chased off. Try and find a breeder, as pet shops can sometimes have puppies from big dog farms where the mothers are forced to produce puppies as quickly as possibly.
    Springers and Collies are both gorgeous dogs - althought Border Collies can be a little tempermental at times and Springers can end up pulling off your arm (new smells, new sights)!

    I wish you the best of luck in finding one.
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Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Dog Health Questions: What do you think the best way is to discipline a dog is?

My boyfriend and I have different view of how to train and discipline our dogs. I believe in positive reinforcement and pack leadership he believes in spankings. I have studied dog training a lot more than he, but he just wont listen and thinks he is right (hes is a man, no offense LOL). What are some ways I can let him know that is not the right way to go? Are there other discipline methods that you use, that we might agree on? If a dogs were to run out in the road and not come to you how would you discipline that? If you spank them they will learn not to come to you. If you don't do anything they wont know its wrong. Have any ideas that me and my BF might agree on?

Thank you!

Finding Careers in Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
Every dog is different. Each has it's own "Motivation", it's own "Level of tolerance" and it's own "Rate of Recovery".
"Motivation":Treats may be good praise for some dogs...others may prefer petting...others may work best with nothing more than verbal praise.
"Level of Tolerance": To some dogs, your voice whispering "You naughty dog" is enough to devastate their entire week. Others may need a firm verbal correction....verbal and choker/pinch correction....very stern voice and e-collar correction...or nuclear weaponry. For instance (Generalizing as a breed): Giving a Newfoundland a dissatisfied look will depress him all day. An Irish Terrier will sit in a bathtub with the hairdryer, toaster, clock/radio and curling iron...and STILL not acknowledge that you're speaking to him.
"Rate of Recovery": Once the Newfie is corrected with a whisper, even using his favorite treats and a ball, it may be 30 minutes before you can have further training progress. A working GSD, Malanois, most Terriers etc., can take a very firm physical correction, and IMMEDIATELY focus on what you're trying to teach them. NO "Hard feelings", no depression, no lack of drive.

Being able to read a dog during every second of training is what makes a "REAL" dog trainer. They ARE the behaviorist/trainer/rehabilitator. There used to be no difference....now with MASTER TRAINER CERTIFICATES being handed over to anyone willing to spend $45-$50K, they've had to invent 3 different categories for people that CAN'T train a dog.

Aggressive Dog Training - Expert Advice


  • I also believe in Positive Reinforcement.As the owner of many German Shepherds in my Lifetime I see what that can do for their self estemm..Just like a child,spankings don't work and today you can get arrested for child abuse.So why do it to your dog,who wants a dog that is afraid of you.Would'nt you rather have him Please you because he wants to out of love instead of Fear!!

  • Check out this website: www.leerburg.com there is a ton of info on dog training that you and your boyfriend will most likely agree on. The site not only saved my GSD from being throttled by my bf (now my hubby) just for the simple fact he didn't like GSD's and he wanted the dog to know what it was supposed to do from the word go, but it also saved our relationship-I was ready to take the dog and leave him.

    Spanking a dog is no way to train the dog and have it trust you.

  • You should train any sized dog the same as you'd treat a rottweiler. don't accept anything just because it's small and cute. and yeah. from the start make sure you tell them who's boss. and eat your dinner before them, decide where they're going to sleep and keep it like that and don't let them walk in front of you and boss you about.

    Hitting a dog will just make the dog fear you, or if it's feeling butch, be aggressive to you.

  • I believe in training using their brains not their tummies. I do use treats but only when the do something good. Positive training does not work for every dog just like negative reinforcement does not work for all. I use sharp corrections, but never hurt the dogs. My dogs can train without treats and do well.

  • I agree with Chaos. It's corrections using a poke, or touch of some sort. Or the leash snap. Yelling does not work. Both my dogs would sit at look at you like you were retarded. I treat when necessary, and use it for training, but never if the dog is doing something bad, then is corrected to reinforce the behaviour. My love and praise is enough. Thus why my 5 month old lab already walks nicely on a leash.

  • Lol, dogs don't spank each other. Have you ever seen a dog use its paws to hit the other dog? No! Its just not natural. Try scolding. Dogs don't exactly yell NO! at each other but they do growl. If he runs out on the road, call him back, then reward him for coming back. If you spank him when he comes back, he'll learn not to come back

  • I use positive reinforcement and never discipline. I correct. The dog doesn't know what I want unless I show it. They don't know why you're mad at them, it's confusing.

    my BF and I disagree on training. I use too many treats in his opinion and praise too often. He feels Holly should just listen because he told her to. *shrugs*

  • Say "Bad Dog" in a firm and loud voice. Or put him/her in the crate for about 10 minutes.

  • i've never spanked a dog- the closest i have ever come to that is a hard swat on the behind when i've caught someone in the act of counter-surfing, or garbage diving.
    i believe in retraining behaviors to mold the dog the way we want it- mostly through positive reinforcement. but i also believe there are times when a dog does something that warrants a good scare, such as a firm shake by the collar, for who to remember it's supposed to be minding-

    but really, the punishment (if applicable) really depends on the dog.
    it's better to find ways not to punish at all.

    see- your example is flawed. before putting a dog in a situation that he COULD get into the road, i MUST know that he's trained for a perfect recall, and about road safety. the training should always precede the situation. otherwise, he must be kept leashed, because he isn't yet trained. ALWAYS set your dog up for success- give him a way to get praise- he'll continue those behaviors.

  • Well if your boyfriend does not understand that spanking a dog that ran away after you caught him only makes the dog afraid on getting caught and teaches them nothing about running away I am sorry, you have a up hill battle on your hands. Get a good book that explains the timing and understanding of positive reinforcement. If you can not get him to see that punishing a behavior after the behavior is pointless then get a new boyfriend. How he treats your dog is how he will treat children in the future!!! I have always liked Karen Pryor, check out her training website...http://www.clickertraining.com/?OVRAW=ka…

    and Victoria Stillwell...http://www.victoriastilwell.com/

  • Calm Asseritive approach is the best. Never spank. Watch the Dog Whisper. You are right about being the Pack Leader. Dogs want to know their boundries and limitations and that is your job and your BF job to show them the way you want things. You lead them. As far as the dog running out and not coming back that all starts with them respecting you. Start with them on a leash. Have them sit and then open the door and have them wait. When you give the command to go you go out first and let them follow. Then trun around and call him to follow you back to the house. Training is a matter of patience. Good luck.

  • My dogs would never run out in the road, because they would not be beside the road without a leash. :o)

    But you have to think about what you are teaching the dog. You cant reason with him. If you hit the dog for not coming, what the dog learns is "wow - if I am in the road, and my master catches me, I get hit. I had better not let him catch me the next time!"

    The way I would deal with a dog who would not come is to MAKE him come, and then reward him for doing what he should do. You can do that with a long lead, AWAY from the road. Then, if he ever ends up in the road, he will be trained to come when you call him.

    Training is basically establishing habits. You can do that a lot of different ways, none of which involve hitting the dog.

    (I hope you realize that if you were ever to have kids with this guy, you will have the same issues).

  • I dont think spanking is correct.. dogs dont understand the concept of a spanking.. all you will teach the dog is to fear you, or you may even teach aggression.Actually I dont think I like the word "disclipline".. I prefer the term "correction".. for example, you see a dog chewing on a taboo, item.. you tell the dog "NO", remove the item, give an appropriate item, then praise.

    And yes positive reinforcement in some situations.. the dog runs from you, obviously you cannot get to the dog to correct him.. so you need to train the dog.. use positive reinforcement to train the dog to "come".. of course the dog wont come if he knows he is going to get "spanked"... the dog thinks he gets spanked for coming to you, he doesnt realize he is getting spanked for running.

  • I agree with you, violence is NEVER the answer. Your dog should know the pack leader, and he will gain more trust in you, if you don't spank him. He will learn better too. Praise him when he does something good, and when he gets into trouble, just say no. Firmly, but not yelling.

    I suggest going to this website, it tells you a lot of techniques to use, and establishing pack leader. Another way is before he gets to eat, pretend like you are eating it, then your husband, before he gets to eat. Just like in a pack, the leader gets to eat first. It sounds silly, but it works.http://www.cbrrescue.org/articles/packle…

    I know it wasn't much, but I hope this maybe helped a little :)

  • Let me ask you a question - if you got married and had children, are you going to allow him to smack your kids too? Same principle! Animals and children that are hit, often lack confidence and withdrawn or fearful. Animals and children that are trained aka taught with positive methods tend to be more confident, alert, happier and over all well adjusted.

    FYI - this "boyfriend" will be an X if you don't agree on discipline. Before this puppy is completely messed up, you better decide if he is husband material with his need to hit. Sadly, it is not a "man" thing, it is an ignorance thing. There are some amazing men out there who never lifted a hand in their life to a woman, child or animal. The men who do, tend to be bullies, stupid or under confident themselves.

    Sit back and think about your future - this is not something that will resolve itself and marriages break up over money and child rearing. You already have a strike in your corner.

  • Dogs rarely need "discipline" and they certainly shouldn't be "spanked". That's abusive and useless. If your BF won't let up on the abusive behaviour and won't listen to you, it's time to dump his sorry a$s. Things won't change as you are together longer. An abusive control freak will always be an abusive control freak.

    "If a dogs were to run out in the road and not come to you how would you discipline that"
    You don't. This is the owner's fault for not controlling the dog. If he wants to spank someone, he should go all Fight Club and spank himself. Instead of trying to punish the dog for the owner's problem, the dog should go to serious obedience training to learn recall.

  • I used to think that spanking was the best way until I got my Lab and thought that with such a large dog I should take him to training. I went to Petsmart training and found it really informative. The method they taught was the positive reinforcement and it really does work. They way they taught the come command was to get a really long lead and attach it to your dogs collar. Then slowly back away from your dog and using treats call your dog by his name. Then after each time your dog comes to you try it again with a little more distance between you and the dog. And if you can afford or have the time I would look into going to a training class. It really is helpful and it also helps to form a stronger bond between you and your dog.

  • Personally, positive reinforcement is great, but different amounts work for different dogs. I have a Sheltie that learns by about 90% positive reinforcement and 10% correction when he is misbehaving. My Aussie mix is about 60/40, because she's much more strong-willed.

    For correction, I don't spank. I have a "firm voice" that my dogs know means business. When my dog, for example, is somewhere they shouldn't be (like the road) I command "Come". If they do come, they are praised, so they know that coming to me is a good thing to do. If they don't come, I walk towards them, get them out of where they shouldn't be, while saying "no" in a very firm voice.

    When they are doing something wrong, and you catch them in the act, there is *nothing wrong* with correction, as long as you don't overdo it. The rest of the time, keep yourself happy (but in charge) and they'll want to respect and obey you. When you are teaching them something new, though, positive reinforcement is really the way to go.

  • i believe in spankings also that's how dogs discipline each other, how humans do it, horses, and animals really, they all use pain and rewards but you could use reinforcement for small problems and spankings for big problems, how ever you would measure the situation.

  • try bribing him to do the better thing with treats!!! say no no and if he stops give him a treat but if he doesent dont give him one!!!

  • put him outside for a little bit.

  • I think it really just depends on the dog, what works best. In my experience, because I have a bigger dog (77 lbs) and he's got a thick skull on him, I didn't like hitting him... because he doesn't have a general negative association with my hands, I'd have to hit him REALLY hard to get him to understand that it's punishment. This bothered me, so, I used a rolled up [thin] magazine. This worked better because he learned to negatively associate the magazine right away, and I would only have to tap him on the head to get him to understand he was being bad (as opposed to smacking him so hard my hand hurt). Now, if he is misbehaving, all I have to do is is hold the magazine up and he corrects the behavior immediately. And if I do for some reason have to smack him on the head, it's no more than a tap.

    I don't punish my dog when he runs out in the street, I only reward him when he comes back (and he does within a few minutes). But, for example, when he has his leash on, if he starts to run off and I catch him quickly then I might hold his face and say "no" really firmly a few times or some other standard punishment... But if he already ran off and doesn't come back for a few minutes I don't think he can make the connection between what he did and what you're punishing him for. So, I praise him as soon as he comes back and this seems to work.

    Again though I think it really depends on the dog. Some dogs respond really well to a firm tone of voice, other dogs need a [non-abusive] smack or two.
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Friday, September 14, 2012

Dog Health Questions: I don't want a dog, my fiancee does, what do I do?

So my fiancee and I have been together for 4 years and we live together. His cousin's dog had puppies and he gave my fiancee one of them. My fiancee absolutely loves the dog, adores it to death. But me, not so much. I went on board with the idea because my fiancee was so excited with his gift but from the first week I already knew that this was not gonna be easy.

Caring for a puppy is alot of responsibility and takes so much time. We are having financial troubles and we barely have to money to take care of the poor thing. We are working all the time and the dog only gets time with us at night.

The dog has just learned to pee/poo outside but it has accidents whenever it gets excited or scared. It sheds everywhere, One hour after I've cleaned the house it's already dirty. I'm so stressed out and sad because lately my fiancee and I fight over the dog all the time. I don't want to be mean, but maybe I'm just not a dog person. Now I don't know what to do, how can I get my fiancee to see my side and give up the dog that he loves so much. It will break his heart, I don't even know how our household will be w/o the dog now. I don't want him to blame me.

OR how can I get myself to like dogs more because so far nothing has worked. The dog smells, nips, barks and won't let me sleep.... I'm thinking maybe I should just give up and leave. We don't have money for dog training classes, or even to take it to a vet. So confused =(

Dog Training - More on Dog Training Hand Signals



Recommended Answer:
puppies are a lot of work and some of it's behaviors probably won't go away/calm down until it's 2 yrs old.
honestly it doesn't sound like a puppy is right for you. Maybe an older dog, but some of those issues (smells, shedding) are just part of having a dog. If you keep up on the grooming it's not too bad.

I would tell your fiancee that at this point it's not fair to you or the dog. It needs shots, it needs to be neutered/spayed (you kept referring to the dog as "it" or "the dog" a clear sign you don't like it lol). It does need to be trained. It needs a lot of things and it's all pretty expensive.

Sit down, talk to him. Maybe compromise, if he can solve some of the issues you have with the dog, but otherwise...

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


  • if you already have the dog keep him, shelters don't do any good once you bought him he's yours thousands of dogs and cats and other animals die everyday in shelters whether its mistreatment or if no-one buys them they just put them down.

  • You shouldn't have this puppy for the only reason that you don't have the money to care for it.

    But if you are considering breaking up your relationship over a puppy then I would be concerned about your maturity and readiness for something serious.

  • If you can't afford to be able to provide Vet care for the dog, you shouldn't have it. It doesn't matter if your fiancee loves the dog or not. That is NEGLECT, not love!

  • If you don't have the money or the time to properly care for and raise him, you need to find him a home that can. Otherwise it is not fair to the dog.

  • The fact is.....if a dog can cause this much emotional difficulty...or misunderstanding...or complications....how in the future would you deal with a child. I would see this as a red flag.

  • The fact that your fiance took a puppy without considering your feelings or the fact that neither of you are financially prepared or available to care for it as a big concern. It signals a bigger problem with your relationship overall beyond the puppy. If the fact remains that you don't have the money to care for it and have no time for it (regardless of your feelings) and he did it anyway and would blame you if it were gone says volumes.

    I'm a dog person and I say it's fine not to be a dog person. Just don't own one. It's not OK for your fiance to force one on you or blame you if it's not working. But if later on when money and time are not the issues and he wants a dog and you don't, then what? How would you handle so it's fair to all involved?

    It's not so different as how you'd handle other big decisions (children or not, where to live, etc.). Time for you two to talk honestly. If you can't, dig deep and decide if you are in a relationship with the right person.

  • If you are not a dog person, and your spouse-to-be is, I see trouble in your future. The two of you need to work out whether you can deal with a dog in your life or whether your fiancee can live without one. When one wants a pet and the other doesn't, there is a lot of fighting in store down the road. You're both talking the rest of your lives: can a dog lover go a few years without one? Absolutely. Is a dog lover willing to go a lifetime without one (without at a minimum, resenting their partner for it)? Probably not.

    If you don't have money for vet care, training, etc. you don't get the dog, period (it would be totally irresponsible and reprehensible to get a dog you can't care for). However, the issue will probably come up in the future, when there is more money for these things.
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Monday, September 3, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Help with our dog and her "table" mannners!?

We adopted two 9 year old rat terrior sisters a few months back. They have been great so far, we love them. But one of them has developed an issue of begging, taking food from our toddler, eating anything unattended and picking in the garbage.

She also started biting our toddler for no reason. Sometimes our daughter is rough with her, we understand that. But if our daughter is just walking by she will snip at her hand.

This behavior came out of no where. We are not experienced in dog training at all and need some advice as to what we do about the horrible habits she has. Any suggestions?

Thank you!

Basic Dog Training Obedience - Puppy Behavior Tips



Recommended Answer:
Okay use something wet like water, get maybe a jug or a spray bottle and throw/ spray the water on the dogs face or you can take a newspaper or paper tails and when they do that slap them on the butt. Also, use a stern voice and scold.

Police Dog Training


  • Empty paper towel rolls and rolled up news papers work wonders. Just give a light swat on the rump, accompanied with a sharp no, and it work wonders. She probably views your daughter as another dog, a pack member, so she wants to be alpha over your toddler. Watch her very closely, and if she nips your daughter, flip her over on her back and hold her that way until she relaxes. If she struggles hard, keep her down. If you let her up, she'll think she is still alpha over you. Keep your energy positive and calm but assertive around her. Good Luck!

  • Your dogs behavior he/she is acting is for a reason.
    Try throwing something wet at him/her..Like a jug of water.

  • When you rescue dogs they come with issues built in from their experience and what works for them, as you say you haven't dog training experience then use this http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm .......dogs are opportunists and so will steal food, go into the rubbish and take food off your daughter, it works she gets a tasty treat immediately ( so is praised) so there is little point is scolding the dog as it is too late ( if you do).

    This behaviour has NOT came out of no where...it has been there all along, it has just taken time to come through and she doesn't respect or have pack leadership which is what she needs.........you are the provider of all her resouses and she has to learn this now.

    You need to stop your child 'being rough' with the dog, the dog isn't a toy and will react, you need to teach your child to be pack leader, so the dog respects her........and that includes putting the dogs out when your child is eating, putting the rubbish where it can't be raided and putting all food that can be stolen away.

    Having the dog on a lead and letting it trail, means you can step on the lead if you see any bad behaviour immediately and get control and remove the dog without getting angry or shouting or chasing after it away from the situation...........the least amount of touching, talking or looking at this dog the better as that keeps training very simply understood by the dog

  • every time he acts out throw a jug of pee at him and he will stop eventually. I tried this with my dog when he did these things and the nonsence stopped immediatly after I tried this.
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Saturday, September 1, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training help!!!!!!!?

i have a 13 month old papillon dog shes purebreed and shes potty trained we have a pee pad and we have a little peoblem she pees right on the edges not really in the middle but on the edges but still on the pad and i try not to get upset i have to clean often and scold her i know its not her fault i want any help to stop this problem and she dosent have a schedule for her meals and has avalibale water at all times thank you and the papmer is wide and big so that shouldent be a problem

Dog Training - How to Potty Train Your Dog & End Your Frustration - It is Easier Than You Think



Recommended Answer:
Housebreaking your new puppy is going to take patience. Ideally, you should begin to housebreak as soon as you bring your new puppy home. Puppies need to relieve themselves approximately six times a day. A puppy should be taken out immediately after each meal since a full stomach puts pressure on the colon and bladder.
Basic housetraining details, http://pho.se/byr

Electronic Dog Training Collar


  • Hi, Honestly I don't believe in this pee pad stuff, The best you can do for your dog is to take him/her for a walk 2 0r 3 times a day, this way your dog establishes his/her routine and she will do her business then; she will enjoy it much more, you must be consistent with the routine though. Sorry I can't really answer your question.

  • FIRST OF ALL DONT USE THE PEE PAD THINGS. I have a 6 month old Golden Retriver puppy and he is fully toilet trained. This is how we did it ------> Every hour take your dog outside and wait till he/she does a pee. Keep doing this for about 3 weeks and avecherley your dog will sit at the door and bark to be let out and will do a pee in the garden, when he does this wait till he comes inside and give him a treat or a pat. After about 3 weeks your dog will be toilet trained. Hoped this helped
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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Crate training failed miserably?

My siberian husky is puppy pad trained. She's 13 weeks and uses it every time without fail. We're trying to train her to go outside, but to do that we need her to learn to hold it while we're at work. So instead of leaving her out like we usually do (she does fine left to roam with a puppy pad). One of our dog-training friends recommended crate training her and showed us how.

She sleeps in it so she was comfortable at first. We left her in there periodically while we ran errands (1-3 hrs... then 4 hrs). She did fine. One time she peed - which caught us off guard. But she did it on the blanket inside the kennel. And so we removed the blanket thinking it would solve our problems.

Today was the first day we left her there through a workday. She was there from 10-4. When we came home poop and pee was EVERYWHERE inside her crate, all over her, it was a disastrous mess. She kicked it so it splattered through the bars and all over our carpet and was caked on her paws and hind legs. Her white fur is septic-brown looking. Yes. Very gross.

She was scared out of her mind, whimpering, crying.... it was bad

This is really confusing because dogs aren't supposed to pee or poop where they sleep.

Discover Why Dog Training Ebooks And PDF's Are All The Rage These Days



Recommended Answer:
A 13 week old puppy can only be expected to "hold it" in a crate for 2-3 hours. If she managed 4 hours, she was doing pretty good. The only exception is night time...most puppies WILL sleep 6-8 hours through the night without getting up to potty, but since they eat & are naturally active during the day, their digestive system works a bit faster as well.

You left her in there for too long, too young....crating is a "tool" to help encourage the dog to "hold it"....so that you increase the chances of success when you bring her outside to potty. She's crated when you can't actively supervise her, or when you leave the house for SHORT periods of time....to prevent her from chewing something harmful & pottying on the floor.

It won't be until she's 5-8 months, that you'll be able to expect her to hold it for 6-8 hours. Even an adult dog shouldn't be crated much longer than 8 hours on a daily basis.

You can use the crate now if you can hire a neighbor or pet-sitter to come by and let her out every 3 hours. Or you can keep her in a puppy-proof room, or X-Pen, with puppy pads on the floor that she can use. Use the crate only for short periods in the daytime (like when you're making/eating dinner), at night, and when you leave the house on short errands. It's also not a bad idea to feed her in the crate, and give her a daily "time out" for an hour, with a filled Kong toy to chew. Keep the crate a positive place & keep her accustomed to using it, that way by the time she's old enough to last a full workday, it won't be a problem for her. Right now she's got to be a little traumatized, so you should work to "repair" this experience with lots of positive associations.

Good luck. :)

Dog Training Advice - How To Do Obedience Training For Your Dog


  • She simply couldn't hold it the whole time you were gone and she seemed distressed that she messed up her sleeping area. Stick with the pads if she does well on them while you are at work.

  • put her in the crate for short periods of time as you were before BUT NOT FOR A WHOLE WORK DAY! so she is ok with the crate still but use the puppy pads for the minute as she is FAR TOO YOUNG TO LAST THAT LENGTH OF TIME WITHOUT GOING TO THE LOO!
    Wait until she is around 6 months of age, THEN begin to put her in her crate for longer and longer each day.
    You may find it helpful to make a note of when she toilets during the day so you know when to crate her and when to let her out.
    huskies are very energetic dogs and can easily develop behaviour problems if not given enough physical and mental stimulation. A husky may not have been the best breed for you knowing that you work long hours.

  • What went wrong? You left a dog in a crate for 6 hours when it was used to going to the bathroom every 1-4 hours... or peeing on the puppy pad. Even I would pee in my bed if I can't hold it any longer and no one would let me use a bathroom.

    I know this crate training is the new hype, but if your dog is fine without it, why shove your dog in a crate for a few hours? (Personally, I am against crate training unless it is necessary. If a dog may mess on the floor, at least stick them in the kitchen with a baby gate so they have a little freedom.) Let the poor girl roam the house as normal and pee on the pad as normal. Keep the crate though. You can use it to secure her in the car during car trips (say, car trips to the vet).

    Lesson of the day: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. :)
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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training Question...?

We've had a one year old beagle girl for about a month now. We're really trying to work with sit, stay, down, ect. When we're around the house and have a treat in our hand, her butt is firmly planted on the ground. She also knows sit when it comes to being by the door to get her leash on to walk. Other than those two times, she won't acknowledge sit. If we're not giving her a treat or walking, she acts like she has never heard of sit.

Any advice?

Positive Reinforcement In Your Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
STOP training with treats!!! I know its harder, but in the end, you will end up with a better trained animal that responds to your praise, and not your food. Use LOTS of animated praise every time she follows a command, don't worry if the neighbors think your crazy. It will take longer..but it will work. Also, you've only had her for a month,and beagles tend to be a bit aloof, give her time to bond to you. Once she does, she'll do anything for praise.

Discover Why Dog Training Ebooks And PDF's Are All The Rage These Days


  • make her sit.. if you don't make her sit when you ask then she will think that she can get away with it and continue doing the wrong thing! =D hope I helped!

  • yeah my dog does that too.
    he automatically sits everytime he sees a treat in my hand, because he knows that i want him to sit.

    i think the trick is to teach different tricks and not sticking with one for a long period of time, because then he will associate treats with automatically sitting, and thats it.

    also, don't say "sit" after he sat, because then he'll think sit is a praise word. maybe that might be your problem.

    and also how are you teaching him?

    maybe your teaching him in a way thats confusing to the beagle?

    i'd go to www.loveyourdog.com and look at some of the obedience tips there, yeah i know its a kiddish site, but the obedience lessons actually seem to work for me, and plus a lot of the lessons come with videos.

    good luck!

  • dont teach ur dog

  • haha...you certainly have a beagle!!! Beagles are VERY motivated by food, she now associates sitting with getting a treat, so of course, you have a treat, she wants it, she's going to sit without really realizing that is a command...how I taught my beagle to sit was I would tell him to sit, push his butt to the floor (gently) and give a SMALL treat half the time and give lots and lots of praise, hugs, kisses, etc the other half, then try to wean off of the treats.
    Also, an obedience class does WONDERS for beagles, but you have to work on your commands outside of class too.
    Good luck, beagles are a lot of work, but soo worth it!!

  • Treats are a good start, but as her training advances, you need to start weaning her from them. Every time you tell her to sit, make it LOOK like you have a treat- sometimes you do and other times you don't. If you don't, you can simply reward her with praise or a pat...

  • Keep going with asking her to sit in those situations and in other situations where you have control over what she does like when she is on the lead. That way you can make sure she doesn't run away from you when you ask her to sit because it will just make her think she can get away with it! Dont try making her sit if she is running off after a bird or somthing else because you know she won't listen! Start with giving her a treat everytime you ask her to sit when you have her on the leash then gradually reduce this to every second time and every third utnil she only get the treat randomly,its the thought she might get a reward if she sits for you that will work in your favour and get her to respond. Eventually she will become so used to it that she will learn to respond when she is off the leash, start by asking her to sit when she is close to you but off the leash so that if she doesn't listen you are able to get a hold of her and ask her again so she can't wander off.
    Hope this helps :-)
    And if you are still having trouble,take her to obedience classes which are a great way to socialise your dog and fun aswell for the both of you

  • Beagles are scent hounds and some tend to find training a bit boring. Remember that she is only young and don't forget to practice, practice, practice.

    You simply cannot go from giving her a treat to NOT giving her a treat. You need to wean them gradually.

    Start to practice sitting outside as well. When training in a new environment, go back to the first lesson. Have her standing and, with a treat in your hand, move it over her head and ask for a sit. Treat her when she sits. Treat her every single time she sits for the first week. In the second week, try treating her not as often. Maybe one treat every two sits but throw in a curve ball and treat her occasionally every sit. Keep her guessing.

    By the third week, she should be getting pretty darn good at sitting. Here's where you need to start including a game such as Go Wild and Sit. HAve her on a loose lead and start bouncing around like a mad thing, talk to her in a wild funny voice and then suddenly ask for a sit. When you treat her in this game, it has to be higher value. By that I mean a small square of cheese, or cooked chicken. I have been told that a small jar of beef flavoured baby food is excellent and she gets a lick the second she sits.

    Once she has these down pat, start to move around your neighbourhood playing the sitting game with her and also playing Go Wild and Sit. My catchphrase in training is this "If you don't look like an idiot, you aren't doing it right." It has to be fun, fun, fun.

    With a harder to train breed like a beagle, I also highly recommend going to your local Obedience club. They can help you to iron out any niggles you may have with her.

    Good luck and have fun.

  • I feel your pain. I had that EXACT problem with my Min Pin. I asked some of my dog training savvy friends for tips and learned of clickers. When I first tried a clicker with Daisy, the results were immediate. She learned tricks much quicker and actually seemed to pay more attention to me OUTSIDE of my home. She now does her older commands (sit, stay, down, come, and shake paw) for me regardless of where I am or if I have treats. She's still catching on to some of the new tricks.

    PetCo sells clickers. :) If you do decide to try clickers, I suggest using the site I referred to in my sources. I learned the basics of clicker training from that website and have excellent results.

    Good luck with the training!

  • I agree with not using treats!! Treats are for bribing, not training. If you in the LA area, check out superdog.com
    They use "relationship based obedience". Also check out the book, by the "monks of New sket". It's a must read.
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Friday, April 13, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training...i need help!?

I got a dog at the begining of the summer, he is now 6 months old. He is a cockapoo, and i love him to death! He is very smart and knows many tricks (sit, paw, lie down, roll over and he rings a bell when he wants to go outside.) He stays home all day alone in the house, and he is housebroken exept for in our basement. OUr basement is completly carpet, and everytime he foes down thier, he pees! Is thier anything i can do to stop him? we spray his pee with some spray that stops him from going back nd we have to keep a gate up during the day. WHat can i do t omake him stop!?

Service Dog Training For the Hunting Dog



Recommended Answer:
HI Dogs don't like to fowl in what they consider their dens. It sounds like he has too much access to the entire house. I would try putting him in an exercise pen on some type of floor covering that is not carpet. (Maybe a bathroom)? And slowly increase his options as he makes fewer or no mistakes.
Sometimes this happens because the dog has too much access to water before bed time, etc. And you may need to give him more opportunities to go outside.
The other issue, is he could have a urinary tract infection, so a trip to the vet might be in consideration.

Crate Training Your Dogs - Ultimate Dog Training Method


  • Don't let him go down there, unless you are going with him to watch him.

  • Try looking here. www.so-easy-dog-training.com they are great for helping with dog problems just like yours. Good Luck

  • I suggest you don't allow him to go down there unless he is supervised. If the basement door is open a lot for whatever reason you could put a baby gate on it and we wouldn't be able to go down there.
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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training Tips - How to teach her to get off the bed?

I mentioned this problem in another post (about the dog puking) but I think it needs some elaboration and its own question.

I have a female, 6 mo.-old Sheltie. I'm just looking for tips.

I want to help teach her how to get off my bed, without embolding her to try and go up and down stairs. The reason for this is that she is not yet fully trained to "stop and come" if she gets away from me, and she's bolted out of my second-floor apartment door twice. The stairs are a buffer zone that I know she won't cross and I can catch her. I've scolded her about the bolting, and she's stopped, but its still a safety zone.

She is both one of the most intelligent dogs I've had AND the most hard-headed/ornery. The breeder whose helping me with her warned me that she was strong-headed, so this has been a character trait since birth. She learned 'sit' and other "tricks" after less than 4 commands, so I know she's not just being stupid. I've trained many dogs before, but this one is just... wow. :P

Now, part of the issue here is that I don't know why she's scared to leave the bed. It is one of those Ikea beds, so it's just over a foot off the floor -- I might as well be sleeping on just a mattress. While it's still head-level with her, I've seen her jump off of other things. When I walk her in the park, she'll hop curbs and two-foot or higher terraces with me with absolutely no problem or pause. I have a three-foot tall bed in my living room for a couch (I'm cheap, okay?), and she gets off of that just fine. I know she's still a puppy, but I wonder why she thinks the bed is more dangerous than these other things.

I want her to sleep with me. I don't want her getting on my bed while I'm gone. I work a VERY long shift -- too long for her to not go potty, and I accept that, but she gets on my bed and gets trapped up there. I'm tired of washing sheets. :P I come in from work and she's sitting there with that look on her face that says she KNOWS she's messed up and she can't even hide because there's nowhere to go.

The only option I have is shutting the bedroom door, which means shutting my two cats in there since that's their only access to their box in my bathroom. It just seems mean to them because it really is a very small space.

She was originally crate-trained, but I used to live with some roommates who would ignore her or tantalize her in the crate (one of the reasons I moved out) and then blame me when she wouldn't stop barking at them. I would have to go and get her and stick her in my bed to make her be quiet, that or stick her in an unventilated room which was NOT an option. The crate's become a "time out" zone, so I don't want to leave her in there when I go to work and make her think she's being punished.

Think I've covered everything.

5 Effective Tips For Successful Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
The thought occurs to me that you are confusing this poor puppy. She's either allowed on the bed or not. How can she possibly understand that she's only allowed on the bed when you want her to sleep with you? You can't let her on the bed one minute then be punishing her the next.

I would recommend that you check out the resources at http://www.training-dogs-information.com/.

Dog Training Basics - Important Tips to Remember


  • here is way's you can take a water bottle fill it up with water than spray it on her to get of the bed or you can fliker on the snout or scold her for being on the bed
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Friday, February 10, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Are there any shrimp and salmon crunchy dog training treats out there?

I discovered yesterday that my dog will do ANYTHING to get a shrimp and salmon cat treat. She went nuts for them and I taught her to lay down within 2-3 minutes using them. This was an accidental discovery at my mom's house... the kitty treats were for her cats. Would it hurt my dog to have cat treats as high value training treats? Are there any comparable dog treats available in stores? I am working on training her as a therapy dog and high value treats are of great value in this process as she wants nothing to do with toys and only mildly responds to petting/praise.

A Working Dog - Training



Recommended Answer:
http://www.yummychummies.com/ <----PetCo might have these in store
http://www.salmonpaws.com/

If you don't want to order offline, here's the PetSmart website with salmon treats (and I know for sure the Omega ones are sold in-store): http://www.petsmart.com/search/index.jsp…

When all else fails, call the stores in your area and ask. When I worked at PetSmart, I knew the majority of treats available. It's been a few years, but I still know most of the staples. =)

Border Collie Dogs Training - Getting Started


  • My dog has salmon dog treats that we buy for her some times. They're pretty cheap and your typical grocery store treat. It says Omega-3 and Omega-6 Salmon treats on the front, but they aren't that healthy for your dog, so I would only use them when teaching very difficult tricks. I am sure there is nothing wrong with cat treats though, and if thats what works, I would keep using them.

  • I haven't heard of any shrimp and salmon dog treats.

    You can use the cat treats for training. Just go easy with them. That stuff is like junk food, and the cat treats are probably more "fattening" than dog treats.

  • vfdx
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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Good Waterfoul Dog Training Books?

Does anyone one know of a good waterfoul dog traing book or website or videos? I have a puppy and didnt know where to start.

Electronic Dog Training Collars



Recommended Answer:
10 minute retriever by Amy Dahl
Smartworks for Retrievers by Evan Grahm

For tapes
http://www.totalretriever.com by Mike Lardy
http://www.dobbsdogs.com by Jim Dobbs

Understanding The Concept of Dog Training


  • hello, defiently try this my little trigger was a nightmare last year but this seriously sorted him out.

    www.allyoupetneed.com
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Saturday, January 7, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training collars?!?

I have the type of training collar that goes over the snout and is high up on the back of the head, it works well for walking on the leash and is a good tool, but how long should my dog wear it? Can he wear it when he is in his kennel and sleeping? The directions said nothing about how long they wear it. thank you!

Small Dog Training Advice



Recommended Answer:
The Gentle Leader is the only brand in head halters that have worked for me. Only use it when your walking. I find the other brands dont have the same style as the Gentle Leader and aren't as effective. It is only a quick fix and doesn't fix any behavior issue your dog has with walking on a leash. You will still need to train him with a regular 6' leash ( I tied mine around my waist so he wasn't pulling my arm off, and its great for control since your core is the strongest part of your body.

I never leave any sort of collar on my dog ever, when you do it ruins their coat around the neck since the collar is always rubbing around it. It gives them "collar head" :)

http://www.gentleleadercanada.com/catalo…

http://www.loveyourdog.com/heel.html

Myths of Dog Training and Dog Training Solutions


  • It's either a Halti or a Gentle Leader. It should only be used for going on walks and does not replace a regular collar. I have one dog that I use it on when we walk in heavily congested areas where he may get startled and when we go to the vet. These are the times he is likely to pull me.

  • Use this collar only when you are walking the dog. Do not leave him unattended with it on.

  • i wouldn't recommend letting him wear it while he is sleeping, he could strangle or seriously injure himself... and i'd say he could wear it until he was about 1
    hope this helps! :D
    best answer!!!

  • I would take it off of him when you're not walking him. Put on a regualr collar for all other occasions.

  • It should be used only for walking. And it is not a training collar, it is a no pull harness that jerks the dogs head back when it goes to pull. It does not effectively teach your dog to behave.

  • Training collars are just that... for training. When you are not working with him, take it off.

  • only have it on when walking.
    it should be loose enough that your dog can still open its mouth fully if your talking about a halti/ gentle leader.
    I only used it while my dog had some aggresive tendencies towards other dogs when walking (we have since overcome this) then went back to a normal collar

  • Do you mean how long is it worn during the day... or how long to be worn for training purposes?

    The collar is only for walking... and should be taken off when the walk is finished. If you are wondering about how long to use it for training, that depends on the dog. You can take 2 collars on your walk when you think the pup is ready, and use a regular collar. If the pup continues to pull, put the harness back on. Our pup was 11 months before she finally got the hang of walking without pulling

  • Do not leave the collar on him when he is not being walked. There have been reports of dogs being more prone to biteing because people thought it was ok to leave it on them. If you do leave it on him for a long period of time, once you take it off he will either, bark all the time, or will tend to bite people who scare him, get too close exc.

  • Get yourself a normal, flat buckle collar for his ID tags, etc to wear all the time. The head collar should be used only on walks, taken off right after.

  • actually, a "gentle leader" is NOT a training collar.....it is a no pull head collar, and nothing else.

    A training collar is a collar you can GIVE CORRECTIONS with....:

    a flat buckle collar
    a prong collar(highly recommend!)
    fur saver collar
    a choke/slip collar(do not recommend)
    remote/electric collar

    all training collars should be worn with a flat buckle collar, or something with the dogs tags on it.

    you take them off when you are done training/working/walking.because the gentle leader is a WALKING ONLY collar, the dog should not wear it unless he is on a walk.

  • you mean b a s t a r d
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Friday, January 6, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Prison dog training?

i sent my dog to a prison training program and i was wondering if their were good results if you have sent your dog to it?

At-Home Dog Training Tips



Recommended Answer:
My dog came back very obedient but they took all the cheerfulll spirt out of him :(

Dog Training Plays Key Role in Dog Grooming and Puppy Care


  • from what i have read , this program helps both the dogs and the prisoner, they now have something to work on that should end up positive.in return they get the companionship and affection from the dogs. i have heard the results of this program are positive.

  • I've never had one from the prison program but I've heard that they get excellent results.
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Friday, December 30, 2011

Dog Health Questions: I've read a ton of dog training materials but can't find a command to make your dog go away.?

For example, when I've just sat down on the couch with a slice of pizza and I don't want my dogs nose in it. How do I teach him the command "Go away"?

The Worth of Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
Best way is to train him to go to a certain spot when you give a command. I trained my mother's Springer Spaniel to "Bed" which is her dog bed, my own dogs are trained to "Go lie down" which means they head for their crates. Once trained to do this, with repetition combined with NEVER feeding a begging dog, they stop doing it.

To train the dogs I simply gave the command, walked over to the spot and dropped a treat.. after a couple dozen times they headed there before I was even walking.

Help With Dog Training


  • Most people command the dog to 'lay down'. My dogs understood that 'get a life' meant that I wanted them to go lay down. How is your dog with other commands? If he is pretty good with other commands you might be able to find some tips on Cesar Millan's (the dog whisperer) website. If this is not the only issue you have with your dog then an obedience class would be very useful. Even if your dog is an adult and somewhat trained, the training methods and tips (and socialization for your dog) can be very helpful.
    I took my puppy to obedience class and it was very helpful. Recently my puppy was put on medication that could not be broken, cut or crushed and had to be given on an empty stomach with no food for at least one hour. So slipping it in a treat was not an option. He is a small breed dog and only 8 months old. He was getting so upset and each day was getting harder and harder on both of us. I found tips on his website and now he is taking them like a champ!

  • A beautiful command that has more meaning and is actually more helpful is "Go Lay Down". I use it as necessary for mine, and they understand it just fine. Perhaps you could try teaching that one.

  • If he comes up to you walk him away, maybe to his bed or a spot he likes to sleep in tell him to down and stay. If he is well trained, no matter what you are doing he will down/stay where you say to.

  • Go to bed! That's what I say, he runs to his bed, grabs a toy on the way, and hangs out for a while.

  • you can do this 2 different ways. With either the Away command or teach the dog to go to a spot, like his crate or mat with a command indicating where you want the dog to go. you can learn to teach these commands by looking up dog training and following the instructions, a clicker is very useful too

  • Our dog shouldn't be there when you eat.

    Put him in his crate in another room with either his dinner or a chew, and be the pack leader.

  • I've taught all my dogs to "go away" when I'm eating. I don't care much if they beg quietly but it's very useful when there are visitors. I point my finger with arm extended, say GO AWAY in a very low, stern voice, stare at them,and move towards them a bit till they back up. Do that a few times and he should get the idea. When I use it, it only means they have to back off far enough from the dinner table not to be a nuisance, not that they have to go any particular place. You can also teach the dog what 'go to your bed' means, and this should never be presented as a punishment, by tone of voice or anything else, no matter how annoyed you are. Going to his bed should always be a pleasant thing.

    Don't ever feed the dog from the pizza, that will only encourage him to get closer, hoping for another goody. Even once every two months will do it, dogs are optimists when it comes to receiving food.

  • Tell him "NO" and sit or "lay down".
    I would consult a book or the internet on the proper way of teaching the dog to sit and lay down.
    Good Luck.

  • we tell my dog to 'git'. i know that sounds sort of country, but we are from oklahoma. lol anyways, we just say the word in a harsh tone and she goes and lays down by the door. we taught her, by saying it and then leading her over to the door and telling her to 'stay'. then after we were finished doing whatever, we call her over and praise her. it only took a few times of leading her over and she got the hang of it.

    make sure when you are eating though, you pay him NO attention. not even petting or making eye contact. eye contact can be an invitation for the dog to come over. so if you look at him and he comes over and you give him a peice of food, he'll think your rewarding the behavior. so make sure once you say the command, don't give him attention until you are done doing whatever. he'll pick it up pretty quick, as long as your consistant.

    good luck!

  • we tell ours to GO LAY DOWN, they do right at our feet. their afraid they'll miss a crumb.

  • We have always told our dogs to "go lay down," and they have done it. Not to say they don't come back and try again! lol Yes, we do eat pizza on our couch, too! It is perfectly normal! ;-)

  • Why not simply put your dog in another room until you are finished, tell him no, or put him in a down stay until you are done. And why are you eating on the couch? Why aren't you at the table? LOL.

  • Do what the second poster suggested. Basically, you want to teach your dog a 'boundary' lesson.

    His bed or kennel is usually a best bet...whichever is more secure and comfortable for him. For my bichon, if she starts begging at the table, I turn to her and say firmly, "GO TO YOUR ROOM!" (her kennel) and she goes and waits there.

    As with all commands, you will have to teach your dog to associate the command with what you mean. And only say it once. If he doesn't obey immediately, put your pizza down, and take him to his bed/kennel.

  • make up your own for example spread your fingers apart on both hands wave the hands back and forth

    it means enough in sign language

    you may have to push him away at first to teach him the connection
    but evedentially just the hands actions will work

    had a deaf dog when i was younger it worked on him

  • my dogs know "Go lay down". When I tell them that, they go across the room and lay down. Originally it meant they go in to the back den and lay on their pillows, but we've relaxed the rules a bit.

    It helps to have a bed or spot you expect them to go to, like a dog bed or crate (with the door open). Just tell them to go lay on their bed, go to their room/crate, or go lay down in a specific place/room/corner.
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Saturday, December 17, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Affordable dog training camp in the Philippines?

Need help with my pug. He's more than a year old and he's pretty hyperactive. When I bought him, I was told that he's a rot (smallest in the litter). He's cute and charming but he makes a mark everywhere and he does it more than once (on the same spot!). He also barks when my he sees my dad. Like when he hears my dad pr my dad moves. Tried to train him but I was busy with work. He knows how to sit and he's potty trained but he doesn't now anything else.

"Dog Care" - The Reason For Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
Sorry, I don't live in that area. But what I can suggest is that the cheapest would be you buy a good training your dog book and start getting on schedule with your pug.
Make sure, when he does something good, or exactly as you say, reward him with a treat. The treats such as mini cookies should not be overfed, though.
And DO NOT scold him at any circumstanced. Just say something like bad boy! And don't pay attention for a minute. HE will know what he did wrong, and it weill prevent him from reppeating the same mistake again.
And a proper routine schedule is a must for everyday. And don't overdo it!

Good luck!
:)

The Worth of Dog Training


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    Monday, November 14, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: 10 Great Dog Training Tips?

    I would like to know if anyone can write 10 great dog training tips to include in my dog breeds website?

    Thanks Knotty x

    5 Tips to Choose Effective Dog Training Courses



    Recommended Answer:
    1. Make it fun for the dog. Treats shouldn't be the only reward.
    2. Be patient, dogs don't understand things right away.
    3. End training sessions on a high note. If you see they're making progress, it's good to stop while you're ahead, and pick up next time.
    4. Keep training sessions short and sweet. Dogs have a short attention span.
    5. Use hand signals for each command--dogs understand these more than your words. (But you can use words, too.)
    6. Train one command at a time as to not confuse them. Once they've mastered one command, move onto the next.
    7. Be consistent. For example, if you want to train them not to go on the sofa, then they need to never be allowed on the sofa by anyone. Otherwise, they'll just be really confused.
    8. Don't give away treats for free ever. Dogs should always have to work for them.
    9. Don't forget the praise! Dogs want to hear that you're happy with what they did--dogs don't always get it just from a treat shoved in their mouth.
    10. Make sure to mark their action the second they get it right. You can use either a clicker or a verbal marker like "Yes!" or "Good!". Make sure to be quick with your marker, so they know what they did at that exact second was what pleased you.

    Need Help With Dog Training? Help is at Hand


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

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

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

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

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

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

    • Well I only have a few that I thought that was very smart:
      1. Teach your dog commands in another language, at least the basic ones. It will impress friends, and if you want your dog to watch your house while you're away for awhile, intruders won't be able to command your dog. This one may be hard though.

      2. Teach your dog to wait for cars to stop passing before crossing the street. That way, in case your dog gets loose, they'll know to wait before crossing so they won't get ran over.

      3. Some people train dogs to call 911 when they're assigned to assist elderly people.

      4. Alerting the owner when they're hungry by bringing over their bowl, or when they have to do business by scratching on the door.

    • The mistake i see all the time (usually on a very cold morning) is when your dog goes poop don't take him home if he figures and he will is that's all you want him to he will hold it FOREVER. My tip is take your dog for a walk or to the park foe the same length of time. Don't shorten his time for convenience .

    • I will give you 2.

      1) Dont let your dog jump off the back of your sofa.

      2) If you dog does and hurts it leg and cant walk on it:
      -take. the. dog. to. the. vet. and. get. off. the. computer. NOW.

    • Klee,

      I can give you fifty (50) training tips. However, what training tips do you have already?

      Everett

    • Bring him to training school

    • Whats cute at 8 weeks isn't at 100 lbs. Behavior.

    • i always get advise from this forum: http://positively.com/forum/

    • I can do that, but will credit be given where credit is due?
    Read More...

    Thursday, November 3, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: Don Sullivan Dog Training System?

    I'm watching t.v. as i'm typing this, and there's a Don Sullivan Dog Training System commercial on. It seems pretty cool, but you can never trust them. And it's just a collar? I don't understand how it would change a dog's attitude. Has anyone used it or heard about if it works or doesn't?

    How to Locate the Proper Dog Training Program For You and Your Dog



    Recommended Answer:
    Electric dog collars are primarily used to curb a dog's penchant for excessive barking. The idea behind the collar's use is to provide consistent, negative feedback to that action. Over time, this feedback gradually eliminates the behavior. There is substantial confusion about the use of these collars. Some professional trainers support their use and offer case studies that prove the collars' effectiveness. Other trainers support the widely-held belief that their use is cruel and abusive.

    How They Work

    Electric collars work by identifying the vibrations emitted from a dog's vocal cords. When your dog barks, the vibrations stimulate the collar through probes attached to its inner portion. These probes are in continuous contact with your dog's skin. When vibrations from barking are identified, the probes deliver a short, electrical charge. The shock is typically low-level and causes no lasting damage to the dog.

    Benefits Of Electric Dog Collars

    First, electric collars can curb excessive barking. Many dogs are prone to "nuisance barking" (i.e. incessant barking without obvious reason) which can be frustrating to their owners. And specific breeds are more prone than others. These collars can effectively modify this behavior. Second, while nuisance barking can arguably be eliminated through other training systems, the use of an electric collar is usually less maintenance for owners. Third, due to how these collars work, an owner does not have be present or in close proximity to the dog. The collar enforces the new behavior even if the owner is absent.

    Potential Drawbacks

    While there are obvious benefits to using electric collars, there are also a number of drawbacks. First, dogs typically learn new behaviors more effectively through positive reinforcement. A treat given for good behavior promotes that behavior more reliably than punishment doled out for poor behavior (i.e. barking). Second, owners often have a difficult time understanding why their dog is barking. Dogs bark for a number of reasons that include territorial dominance, response to perceived threats, or anxiety. If an electric collar is used indiscriminately to curb the barking, a dog may become confused about how to express itself.

    Making The Decision

    Using an electric dog collar continues to be a controversial issue. While some experts argue that their use is inhumane to dogs, others contend that the collars are an effective tool for behavior modification. That said, as with any tool, they can be used inappropriately, causing lasting damage.

    Dog Training Problems - How to Overcome Them


    • It looks like an electric collar of some sort.

      I don't like how he brags about the "perfect dog". I also don't like how he says to buy his system w/o any other training needed, though it's no surprise--he wants to sell his product.

      It seems too good to be true.
    Read More...

    Friday, October 21, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: Dog training help for new dog owner?

    i just got a brand new, 9 month old chocolate lab puppy. i need some advise and tips on when i should start training him and how. any previous experience would also help.

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



    Recommended Answer:
    When? Ummm NOW would be a good time! You have lost 9 months already, don't wait another second.
    Training with what? Heel, Basic commands, House breaking, Biting???

    Understanding The Concept of Dog Training


    • you need your lab to be trained now before he becomes your worst nightmare with a cute face lol. train the basics first like sit, down, stay ect. you can usually find out how to on the internet or go to a puppy training class ( i went to petsmart). Next you can train your puppy to do fun things you would like him to learn like roll over, speak, beg etc. Again you can find out how to using the very same sources.
      hope this helps and enjoy your puppy:)

    • YOu should start training him simple tricks like sit,lay,shake,rollovert.
      Train him to heal and not to wine when he is at his kennel to do that get him comfortable in going in there by throwing treats then close the cage and let him in there for 1 hour than take him outside to go potty and do this 1nce a day and your dog will get used to it!

      RATE FOR BEST ANSWER!

    • Start immediately. Labs get big fast and are quick learners. No reason to suffer with an untrained dog if you don't have to.

      The first and easiest thing to teach your dog is to pay attention to you. The "Look at Me" command is pretty darn simple--use food or a toy as a motivator and encourage the dog to always be looking at your face for spoken commands and praise. Spend no more than 5 minutes per session, repeat as necessary until the dog gets it.

      Next....sit, stay (very important), down, no jumping, no barking, and HEEL. All of which can be learned very easily by you and the dog. It is extremely important to teach your dog to heel while he/she is young--the last thing you need is a 60 to 90 pound dog dragging you around on a leash. It's not pretty. If you don't feel up to teaching these commands yourself, most basic obedience classes are cheap and very effective on a dog as smart and tractable as Labs are.

      The only other basic command I would recommend you to teach a Lab is the Halt command. This is important because Labs are bird dogs and the instinct to chase small prey is extremely strong in some of them. Halt is a more advanced command--here is an easy way to teach it:

      http://www.ehow.com/how_2284324_train-do…

      There are also other methods for Halt used primarily by those of us who do field trials and must control our dogs when they are at a distance from us. My Black Lab will halt on command even when in full pursuit up to 100 yards away from me. HALT is extremely useful---if you have a dog that loves to run off for example--this command can even save the dog's life by preventing him from running into traffic. It will also keep your soon-to-be very large dog from jumping all over people.

      Labs are bred to be companion animals and are easily trained. A well-trained dog is more pleasurable to be around and a compliment to the owner. An untrained Lab is like letting a bull loose in a china shop--they have tremendous energy and if their attention is not focused on manners, then it will be focused on troublemaking.
    Read More...

    Saturday, October 15, 2011

    Dog Health Questions: How can i get a degree in dog training?

    i have been training dogs for a long time now and i have no back up paper to show .only the dogs i train can prove my work.my problem is i can't use them to look for work else where.so well like to do any on line course that could end me a degree in k9 training.

    Using Body Language in Your Dog Training



    Recommended Answer:
    Degrees from online courses are useless. If you attend the Karen Pryor Academy in Massachusetts or the Academy for Dog Trainers in San Francisco, you will have a credential that is truly worth something.

    Can I Train My Dog Without a Dog Training Course?


      Read More...

      Thursday, September 22, 2011

      Dog Health Questions: How much is home dog/puppy training?

      I'm thinking about getting a home dog trainer. How much does it usually cost? I know it depends and the price varies, but what does it generally cost?

      I'm thinking about getting a trainer from barkbusters. Anyone heard of them? Are they successful at what they do? Also, in general, do these (dog training) lessons pay off. That is, are they even worth it/ beneficial?

      If it helps at all, I live in California.

      Dog Training Books - Why You Need One to Obedience Train Your Dog Correctly



      Recommended Answer:
      well if i was you id do a obedience class that way your training your dog and not some stranger i think hands on is alot better for you and the dog plus you get socialize your dog will be alot more dog/people friendly...now if theres a real big problem you cant solve your self then call a personal dog trainer...at a pet store the classes will cost around $100

      Dog Training Fundamentals


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