Dog Health Questions: My dog whines to go out, won't go, and the uses the floor, what's the deal?

My dog, a black lab/chow mix has been a perfect example of dog training up until recently. We moved to a new location, and we understood the anxiety, but now they (we have two dogs) and we have settled in and our other dog is now the perfect one. They both whine to go out, and so we get up and take them on their leashes, Bo (the male) will immediately go potty and is ready to go back in, but Dixie (the female) just sniffs around and then goes inside and pees on the floor, right in front of us. We thought it was because she was independent, and didn't like being on her leash and being watched while she pottied. Since then, we've let her go without it, and that seemed to work, and she'd pee outside, but then poop at night right after we lie down for bed. Now, shes back to doing nothing, and just a moment ago, we took her out, and literally the second we walked back inside, she went over and peed in the floor. We caught her and told her "no" and she just looked at us and continued her business. She doesn't respond to any kind of discipline, and we've looked and looked for answers. This place just got new carpet, and we cant afford to replace it!!

Please respond if you have any information on how to help correct this behavior.

Dog Training - How to Handle Outdoor Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
I think that she is going through a confused state right now. The best thing to do would be to take her out several time for extended walks. It may be that it's just taking her a while to do her job. And of course praise her when she does do her job outside.

Advantages of Using Dog Training Videos

• keep her outside until she goes. dogs are not ashamed of peeing infront of someone. they lick their butts for gods sake :) haha
  really, take her out on her leash after she eats and drinks im sure you already know, and stay out with her until she does #1 and #2. dont come in until she does.


• i had this problem when someone gave me a dog. she was house trained and everything. the vet said it could just be that she is moody, or mad that she is not where she has been for (amount) of years... or months... we never really figured out what to do, we couldn't fix it... the girl who gave her to us ended up wanting her back, so we gave her back, and she hasn't had problems since...


• Kinda sounds like shes protesting. Is this the first move shes had, besides going to you as a pup (i assume)? make sure you give her BIG trouble when she goes potty in the house, bring her outside right after, even tho she wont do anything, just do it as a refresher. When you bring her inside after she asks for the door, but doesnt go... IMMEDIATLY put her in a kennel and shut it. ignore her for a bit.. like 2 or 3 hours... then take her straight back outside, if she doesnt go to the washroom, straight into the kennel she should go. and start rewarding them both when they go to the washroom outside. If only one goes to the washroom outside, only give that one a treat. If she is doing this at night, put her in a kennel for the night, and in the morning, staright outside, first thing you do when you open your eyes. The trick is to be stern and persistant... non-persistant training is no good, almost as if your doing nothing, remember that anytime you give in (letting her out of the kennel because shes whining, give her a treat when she didnt go out for the washroom) will reverse the training.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog majors............?

What are some dog or animal majors. Like, I'm having a hard time finding the degree titles, specifically for dog training. But I know there might be other things, I just don't know what they are called. Like is there such a thing as a major in dog training or animal majors in general? Please help! Websites will be useful too.

Dog Training - How to Housebreak an Adopted Dog

Recommended Answer:
None. You have to go to a school that specializes in that like DBU.

Electronic Dog Training Collar

• animal related fields
  animal behavior colleges teaches you to be a dog trainer
  animal science major there are specializations inside of that including parks and wildlife
  ag major related with all animals not just dogs and could put you into a pet nutrition job
  zoology: masters field work or simple work in the zoo's or with rehabilitation or research centers. parks and wildlife because this requires a major in wildlife bio and animal science which can actually make a very stable job if you have the majors underneath it.


• Zoology majors are very rare nowadays, and you're much better off getting a degree in biology if you want to work in zoos or aquariums. If you want to work with dogs, you may need to look into specialty schools that offer certificates in dog training, dog psychology, etc.


• I don't think there are any college level classes like that. There are specialty schools for dog training. The National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors would be a good place to start. See what classes and seminars they recommend.
  
  http://www.nadoi.org/


• As in a university degree? Check with the university's science department. Most degrees are in the physical science of animals but there may be an animal behavioral science degree. Different universities offer different degree majors.


• Vetinary Medicine


• Maybe Vet Technicians?


• African American studies?

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Dog Health Questions: Questions about dog training?

Okay...so my grandma has two dog that are EXTREMELY well trained and I asked her secret so I could use it to my dog and she said "If they do something bad, I just swat them on the but once. It isn't hard but it is enough to let them know they did wrong. Just like I did with my kids" her dogs don't even ACT abused...if they do something she doesn't like she will just yell "Stop That!" and they stop instantly. They just grab their toy or play with her. They wag their tails all the time and are so happy, too. My dogs have never even been hit (except for my beagle when we was a puppy. We adopted him from a abusive family member) and they act terribly abused! If I go to raise my hand to do something...they cower down instantly. The most we ever did was say in a loud (but stern) voice "No." yet they act like they have been beaten senseless.

Is there any truth to what my grandma says? Why is it that my dogs act abused, but my grandma's dogs don't? Is a little swat on the butt okay in teaching a dog? Is what my grandma does abusive?

5 Effective Tips For Successful Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
Without seeing it in person, but going by your post I would say No, what your grandma is doing is not abusive.

Even though dogs should be respected and treated as dogs, I will use a human example to explain. A lot of the same principles in raising well behaved kids applies to raising well behaved dogs. All kids need exercise (mental and physical), Discipline and affection.

What your grandmother does is uses DISCIPLINE and not abuse. And this is why her dogs do not act abused, they aren't.

With kids, we use time outs as the most effective way to discipline them. But kids rationalize and can think over their actions. Dogs are instinct only, they don't rationalize their actions.

So a positive marker (reward) is getting to play or getting food from your grandma, while a negative marker (correction) is a quick swat on the butt. (other people use collars or simulate bites with their hands, or neck pokes)

As long as the actions are not causing physical, emotional or mental harm, its not classified as abuse. People who have done a good job raising their kids, often times have an easier time with their dogs because they understand the balance of reward and discipline. (always exceptions though)

So what you would need to implement with your own dogs is a structured, exercise routine, mental and physical stimulation, discipline when needed and affection when they have earned it.

Good question!

Discover the Secrets to Guard Dog Training

• Many people take poor training and socialization as signs of abuse. It's nearly impossible to tell from a dog's demeanor if there is abuse in his past.
  
  Is your grandmother abusing her dogs? Not in the eyes of the law. Is it necessary to attack your dog when you're angry at them? Absolutely not. Hitting is not the answer. Hitting comes from your own anger, not from teaching the dog anything. Hitting is for people too lazy to train.


• Well every dog has a different temperament I would say your grandmas dogs can handle how she treats them. Allot of dogs would be shutdown with what she is doing. I personally try not to use the methods she uses and I think you should also some dogs only need a bit of redirection and reward when the dog is doing the right thing.
  
  So since you are asking this and you have said what you have you know harsh corrections are not needed so don't use them.


• they probably act like that because you raising your hand or yelling reminds them of when they were being abused. it's nothing that you are doing wrong.. it's the dog's past that makes it more sensitive to discipline
  
  maybe your grandma's approach would work for different dogs, but it seems that your dogs don't respond to it well

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Dog Health Questions: Can you give me a good dog schedule for an unpotty trained beagle ?

My dog is 7 mouths and not potty trained and i just want a schedule that can get my dog trained

hope you know what i mean

The Shocking Truth About Electronic Dog Training Collars

Recommended Answer:
The most important key to potty training has nothing to do with the actual process of going "potty." The most important thing in a young dog is to never give him free reign of the house. If a dog has access to all the rooms in the house, he will pick one that he doesn't use much and designate it as his bathroom. While dogs don't like to poop where they sleep, they have no problem doing it in a room they're rarely in. Shut doors or consider baby gates to confine your dog to an immediate space where you can supervise him. Plus the only way you can benefit from accidents in the house is if you catch your dog in the act! This means you have to have your eye on the pooch at all times. I can't recommend strongly enough buying a crate for your pup. Any time you're not able to give your dog full attention (even if you're just taking a shower), he should be in his crate with a nice toy or some treats to keep him happy if need be. This is not just for potty training, but also to keep from eating or chewing anything that may harm him.
Now that that's done, the next step is to develop a schedule. Your dog will need to go out to potty after eating, after a heavy play session, and every time he wakes up from sleeping. No exceptions! At 7 months, he should be able to hold it overnight. Take him out after each one of these activities and make sure you stay until he does his business. Pups in general, but hounds like beagles especially, may get distracted when you take them out and forget all about their bathroom duties. Just repeat a phrase like "go potty" and if possible take him to the same place each time. When he is finished, throw a party and act like it's the best thing he's ever done in his life! Really praise him! Just make sure you wait until he's completely done or he may stop mid-stream from excitement :)

To sum it up:
Constant supervision is key! Use a crate when you can't be fully attentive.
Allow for frequent potty breaks especially after eating, sleeping, and activity.
Don't punish an accident unless you catch him in the act!
Reward the correct behavior heavily.

Common Dog Training Mistakes

• I have the luxury of working from home, so I took my puppy out every hour on the hour.
  
  I would say "let's go potty" in a happy tone and I would open up the back door. When he went outside I would praise him, "good boy, good potty".
  
  If he went in the house - I would say "uh oh", pick up the mess, say "let's go potty" and take him and the mess into the yard and drop it there saying "good boy, good potty".
  
  You also will need to stop feeding and watering the puppy at least 1 hour prior to bedtime.

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Dog Health Questions: How can I assert dominance over my dog on my babies' behalf?

We adopted an Anatolian Shepherd/Greyhound mix from the humane society 3 days ago. He's a neutered male, 2 years old and we found out after the fact that he's been adopted and returned several times. I don't know if the humane society has purposely lied to us or the last people to turn him over, but he is not good with small kids and cats like they said. He is trying to show his dominance over them (my two 11 month old babies and two dog-friendly cats) and cannot be trusted yet. He knows I'm the boss and so is my husband, but maintains a threatening posture around the cats and babies. I have them separated constantly right now except when my husband and I are both home and at the ready, but this is exhausting trying to give everyone the right attention. He is a good dog and has a lot of potential and is perfect for what we want him for-a companion for me, a stay at home mom who lives in the boonies and protection for the house. I'd hate to be anyone that tries to break in. We live on acreage so he has nearly unlimited opportunity to exercise and I haven't left the house since we got him, I can tell he's afraid of being left again. I can tell he is used to bossing people around and although I haven't dealt with dogs like this, I've had a few horses who were like that and use that knowledge with this dog. I'm a dominant person to begin with though and don't want to be too intimidating. I've had to be at 5'1" and 110 lbs. But, anyway, the babies don't poke or mishandle him at all, but he's stands squared off and stares at them and will growl if approached. My husband rolls him onto his back and makes him stay that way when he does this. Is there any merit to this approach? Or is the alpha roll an outdated method? We will start dog-training classes, but not immediately as I live far from them and have no babysitter. We are new to this area. Thank you for your help. Oh and are there any dog-training DVDs that are good? Thanks again.

Finding the Best Dog Training Supplies

Recommended Answer:
Alpha rolling is out dated.

It's dangerous to the handler, the dog, and it ruins any trust you may have built w/the dog. He needs to stop that.

You need to find a professional trainer, no video is going to help you with this. I would find a + reinforcement trainer or even better a natural dog trainer. He's part grey hound so his prey drive is pretty high, a natural dog trainer should be able to use his prey drive to correct these unwanted behaviours.

add;

Recent research has shown that the alpha theory is incorrect.

Dog Training Tips

• I don't think people who are not trained in properly administering the Alpha Roll should not give the Alpha Roll - ever. You can do more harm than good.
  
  Definately - you are on the right path with training. See if they can come to you - you may really want to consider that instead.
  
  There are several good methods for training - but if you are signing up for formal obedience training - call them up and ask them what method they use so you aren't using two different methods. Koehler is one method, there is reward based, clicker, etc.
  
  I use a combo of methods. Good luck.


• Hi
  I think you're on the right track I believe that the dog needs to know his place in the pack and when he is sure of it he'll be much happier,the bottom isnt a bad place to be at least its a place!I would ensure also that you feed him away from the kids and after you have all eaten. I would be cautious when rolling him on his back as you dont know his temperament well enough and he may bite out of aggression or fear. Get a good class started or ask a good trainer to come to your house.I would get someone experienced in as the aggression you see could be mis read fearful behaviour in which case you could make it worse if you treat it as aggression. Look up the 5 minute rule on the internet its a really good exercise to do for any dog. it basically involves you ignoreing (completely) the dog when you re enter the house for 5 mins or more if needed until he is calm this just helps to re afirm your status. One other important thing NEVER leave the dog alone with the kids no matter how well he seems to be doing


• You're on the right track and I commend you for wanting to improve your situation and learn how to handle your dog.
  
  Personally, I'm kind of torn on the alpha roll. I agree that it should never be done by someone who is not well-versed in doing, but on the same token I'm not sure that it even SHOULD be used. I've seen plenty of research to substantiate that the alpha roll is not an action performed by the alpha dog at all, but rather a rush at the offending dog and at the same time submission displayed so that it APPEARS that the alpha roll is being performed.
  
  If your dog really is an Anatolian mix then you expect them to be dominant and independent anyways. Greyhounds are triggered by movement, and in general are fine around children they are raised with, but not so much with cats and smaller animals.
  
  I would suggest you contact a professional trainer who can observe your home life as well as study your dog in-depth and provide personalized solutions for your situation.
  
  http://www.iaabc.org/suchen/
  http://www.apdt.com/
  http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/
  http://www.associationofanimalbehaviorpr…
  
  I hope this helps you, and good luck to you!


• First of all, I would like to point out that it will never be a good idea to leave your dog unattended with children that young! I don't care how much training this dog gets and who ends up being boss, there will never be a good ending to that scenario, so you may have to get used to being there ALL THE TIME.
  I am frankly surprised that you would be willing to take on a rescue dog when you have so much to do with twins. I would actually recommend that you return this dog and wait until the babies are older before you consider taking this on.
  
  For those who think the "alpha roll" is a good idea, please show me a video where the alpha roll is used in the wild-wolves, wild dogs, hyenas-I will take anything! You will have some trouble, as this is NOT done in a pack environment-ever. Pack leaders rule through intimidation-they very seldom have to resort to violence or anything physical.
  
  When dealing with very young puppies, a gentle roll onto the back (not forceful at all) is a way of teaching a pup to respond to you as a leader. A forced "alpha roll" on an adult dog with issues is a great way to get your face ripped off and the poor dog euthanized.
  
  Dog training DVDs are not dog training. You need to be involved with the trainer in order to learn anything.


• Exerting dominance and alpha rolling him around the kids will only teach him that being around the kids is not a good thing, not something you want him to learn. This may not be a good match for you- greyhounds are typically not good with cats and other small animals that look and act like prey. Not their fault they were bred to chase prey!
  
  Regardless of how good he ends up being, I advocate never leaving dogs and kids uner 5 (bare minimum) together alone. Too much potential for something to go awry even with the most laid back Lab.
  
  The following resources may help:
  
  http://dogs.suite101.com/article.cfm/dog…
  
  http://www.canismajor.com/dog/kidsdog2.h…
  
  http://www.patriciamcconnell.com/product…
  
  http://clickerpets.stores.yahoo.net/puki…
  
  Additional info in response to edits:
  
  I may be too much of a grammarian ;-) but when you said that "right now" you don't leave the dogs and kids alone unsupervised, that implied to me that you might in the future.
  
  Don't give up on clicker training yet. The dog may still be settling in and that may be affecting his appetite. Regardless of the reason, you can train your dog to eat on schedule. First try just putting the food down for a short period of time (ten minutes is plenty long enough, 5 is probably fine) twice a day. Pick up whatever he didn't eat in that time and don't feed him again until next meal time- and only feed a regular sized meal, don't add the rest of the missed meal to the next one. If he still isn't eating regularly in a few days of this, put him on Sue Ailsby's "Train to eat" program- I haven't seen in fail yet!
  
  http://www.dragonflyllama.com/%20DOGS/Wr…
  
  Also consider letting him eat in a crate or other out of the way spot- he may be too nervous to eat if there are toddlers running around, etc.


• ASPCABEHAVIOR.ORG may have your answer


• Greyhounds are not safe around cats or any animal that runs, the shelter should have told you that. Greyhound mixes are the same way.
  
  You can try leashing the dog to your waist and keeping him with you for the majority of the day, instantly correcting him when he does something he should not, and giving praise occasionally through the day.
  
  the Cesar Milan videos on Youtube can help, but you need to get some pet gates installed in your house to block him off physically from certain rooms and the kids. Do not take a chance with the kids. A dog that growls does so out of fear or aggression, and a fearful dog is more likely to bite. With kids they bite at the face. When he's with you, put him in a sit position, they can't get as aggressive that way. And do not let the kids reach for or grab or poke at this dog, he could misinterpret that as attacks.


• Trainers still tell you to use the alpha roll, and it is effective. However, when your husband does it, it is him exerting authority over the dog not your kids. He will still see them as things to be dominated. Training him is a great idea. Just remember that your kids should never be allowed to punish the dog. They should be allowed to give him positive reinforcement only. I'm not sure if he snaps at your children or you when you give him treats, so if he does ignore this advice. But, one way for your kids to start having more authority is by them giving the dog an order to sit and then giving him a treat. I don't know how old your kids are, though.


• No matter what anyone says the alpha roll is never out dated, because dogs are not out dated. A dog is a pack animal, your husband, you and your children are a pack, and in a pack there are leaders period. It sounds like you have an idea, but just aren't sure. Shepherds are dominant becauseof there bred roll, to protect and herd. Im sure him being taken back as played a roll in his temperment, but safety has to come first for you children and yourself.
  An older dog will try to test his roll consintly especially in a new home. You husband isnt wrong, some people choose to put them on there back or bite them. I choose to make them wait for there food, untill I say. Also giving that type of dog a job, helps tremendously, guarding the property is a perfect job. There is no quick fix, its gonna take a lot of time and energy. Good luck and do whats best for you and your family.

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training question?

My dog is a submissive pisser. She will constantly go into a submissive state and start to pee, if you look at her wrong or sometimes when i try and play with her, Ive tried everything to get her to stop.(Everything i try is for a couple weeks i don't constantly change my corrective behavior) Ive tried ignoring that she has even peed and just clean it up, Ive tried letting her know it was ok and that im not mad, and ive yelled at her but i dont usually because it just makes her pee more. My dog is almost 4 and is such a good dog, she just started this about 6 months ago. She isn't abused and never has been and gets plenty of time to pee outside i dont understand why she started this habit and nothing i do fixes her submissive ways. Please help!!!

The Benefits Of Dog Training Classes

Recommended Answer:
Maybe you have switched and changed and tried too many things which will make her anxious...it is a submissive behaviour issue and can be helped by building her confidence...take a look on this website as it explains it and also use the NILIF (same website) http://k9aro.webs.com/behaviour.htm

Electronic Dog Training Collars - Should Your Dog Wear One?

• You might want to ask the vet, but here's a trick i used with my dog:
  When they start peeing carry them outside, soon enough they will realize that they need to go pee outside. I might sound nasty but it really worked. But also if he's that old you might want to just talk to the vet.


• It seems like you've made plenty of mistakes already with all the stuff you've tried. You should never comfort a submissive dog and you sure as hell should never yell at one. Submissive behavior should always be ignored completely. Comforting her in this state makes it worse because then she associates submissive behavior with positive attention. You're almost encouraging her to be scared at that point. Yelling at submissive behavior is extremely stressful and confusing. When a dog pees or rolls on their back or avoids eye contact, they're saying, "Just ignore me, you're the boss. I respect you, please don't hurt me...etc" So when you yell, you're dog has NO idea what else it could possibly do to please you, so of course she just gets even MORE scared and stressed out. Bottom line to keep in mind: NEVER reward OR punish submissiveness.
  
  It's very odd that this behavior would start out of the blue when she's 3 1/2 years old. Not to accuse anyone of anything, but are you SURE she was never abused in ANY way? Even an accident (someone tripping over her, dropping something noisy, shouting..etc) could trigger such a drastic change in behavior. It is very highly unlikely that she would just start for no reason.
  
  I would analyze exactly WHEN this behavior happens. Does it tend to happen around a certain time each day? Do particular situations trigger her stress? (Loud noises, new people, playtime...etc) Have their been any household changes in the last 6 months? (ie. new pet introduced, different schedule, new location..etc) Is she submissively peeing around everyone or only certain people/person? Answering these questions could help with the recovery process. It's very important to know what is upsetting her and how to appropriately avoid it.
  
  The real underlying issue behind submissive peeing is always a lack of confidence. Confident dogs do not get nervous enough to submissively pee. Your dog is either confused or stressed about where she fits into the "pack" at this point, so you need to build her self-esteem and assure her that she is doing things that please you. Since you said that sometimes playing causes the peeing, try to tone down the play. Take her for a walk instead or hold a bone for her to chew. It would be helpful for you to just let her play at her own pace. Don't force any particular playing on her, and if/when she pees, just stop and ignore her completely. You also mentioned eye contact, which I'm sure you know can be very threatening in the animal world. She may not understand that you're just looking at her. For now, it would be best to avoid all eye contact until she's feeling more secure.
  
  Also, start to hand-feed her. It might be hard for her at first, but it's a great way to build self-esteem and trust. You can sit or lay on the floor and simply hold food in your hand for her. Do not make eye-contact, do not use coddling words, just hold it for her and slowly feed her. She may not be willing at first, so don't rush her, but eventually, it will be helpful. You can also work with treats (be sure they're something special and enticing; not her usual treats) such as boiled chicken. When you're around her and she is behaving calmly, do not talk to her or say anything, but simply drop the treats for her. It will help her create a positive association with you. Eventually, you can hand-feed the treats as well. Everyone who comes in contact with her or stresses her out should be on-board with AT LEAST the treating part of training.
  
  Keep in mind that whatever she is most scared of or upset about should NOT be forced. Dogs are not trained like other animals or people through desensitization processes. You really need to let dogs learn trust for themselves, so it's best to never force a fearful situation. Be sure to ONLY ever reward confident and calm behavior and ignore stressful and nervous behavior. If she starts to act that way, simply walk away and ignore her. Do not acknowledge any peeing, just be sure to clean it with a cleaner specifically for dogs. Otherwise, she will continually smell her own pee and it will stress her out more. Obedience training would also be a very helpful activity. Performing acts that please you are a great way to boost your dog's morale. Even simple commands such as 'sit', 'stay' or 'leave it' are healthy to practice with treats to encourage her. If she doesn't know any commands though, now may not be the best time to start. It would only cause more stress for her if she didn't know what you wanted.
  
  Please be patient with her. Submissive behavior is much more difficult and confusing to her than it is to you. She's ultimately just trying to please you and to fit in with the family. Just take it slow and be sure to always reward confident behavior with a calm praise or a treat. Don't make a big deal out of anything, just try to stay calm and relaxed around her. She just needs to learn to trust you again.
  
  Best luck


• Hey there,
  
  Have you considered a bladder infection or some sort of health issue? What type of dog is it? Certain breeds tend to have specific traits and this could be one of them.
  
  When your dog pees, what I would suggest is right after - taking her outside and showing her where to go. Rienforce the training aspect of going outside. Perhaps she's scared for some reason... it doesn't mean it's from abuse but fear of you leaving again when you come home?
  
  It's weird and sad because the poor things can't talk to us. Breaks my heart.
  
  Also, not sure if you knew this but... looking a dog in the eyes can mean two things to them:
  1. A challenge. Some dogs get stared at in the eyes and try and fight and become aggressive
  2. They're in trouble.
  
  Be careful. Stick to one way of dealing with this instead of multiple ones. Dogs NEED structure and it needs to be consistent.
  
  Hope that helps :)

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Dog Health Questions: Dog Training Question?

Hello,

I have a year old Maltese dog (Male) ... There are some problems though ... Instead of licking you when he see's you or is happy to see you ... He will bite, not hard vicious bites just like ... I guess "playful" bites. But I do not want him doing that, what can I do?

Also, he starts to get on my nerves A LOT, he is not really "potty trained" ... But we have him outside for a long time, and when he finally comes inside he decides to do his business in the house ... (Mostly number 1). What should I do??

How to Understand Your Dog by Using Good a Dog Training Manual

Recommended Answer:
For the first issue, I found that when I don't want an animal to bite me, I squeal really loudly and they think they're hurting you. If you do that often enough, they'll stop putting their teeth on you. It works really well, all my dogs were trained that way.

As for the 2nd issue, it sometimes takes small dogs a while to "get it" that they're supposed to do their business outside. You should go out with him and take treats. Every time he goes outside, give him a treat and lots of praise and pets. If he goes inside, interrupt him by clapping loudly, and then take him directly outside. Once he finishes out there, give him praise and treats if you have one handy. He'll start associating outside with positive things and will stop going to the bathroom inside.

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

• For the playful biting, whenever he bites, immediately make some sort of noise (ah-ah, tsk, etc, just as long as he can hear it and you're consistent), cross your arms over your chest and turn away. This shows him that his behavoir won't make you want to play, and is unacceptable.
  
  As for the pee, it sounds like me might be trying to gain dominance by marking territory, so just be sure to make it obvious that you're alpha in his "pack," and if it still keeps going, try looking for a training book that deals with dominance issues.


• if he hasn't been fixed, do it, will help w/ the "marking" in the house

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Dog Health Questions: How do I politely tell my landlord to stop bugging me about my dog training methods?

My dog is almost 6 months old and at night and when NO one is physically in the house she is put in her crate. She is in the crate about 4 hours per day during the day when I'm at work. Otherwise she is out of the crate. She is a lab and for her safety I feel more secure knowing she is not getting into any trouble or chewing something she should not that is why she is put in the crate. I also have 3 cats and they are now just starting to adjust to the dog( we've had the dog for 2 1/2 months now). I walk my dog 3 times per day for 30 - 45 minutes each walk. She is allowed to run in the yard which I let her do. My landlord has said (not so nicely) that she thinks when someone is home the dog is in the crate which I have politely informed her the dog is only put in the crate when NO one is in the house. She also wants to know why I don't let my dog go to the doggie park. I have heard quite a few bad things about doggie parks and I would rather not have my dog go there. It's personal preference on my part. She also keeps telling me not to abuse the dog. I'm not abusing, neglecting or harming the dog in any way shape or form. During the hot weather we've had recently the dog (and cats) go in my daughters room where the A/C is and keep cool. How do I nicely tell my landlord to please let me raise the dog MY way? Her dog is misbehaved (jumps on people, doesn't listen at all) I'm trying to teach my dog NOT to jump on people, and my dog listens to me. Please no sarcastic responses.

Dog Training: What Is Dog Training?

Recommended Answer:
As a professional trainer my opinion on your training methods is you are doing the right thing. More so than many people do with their dogs when it comes to training, exercise and supervision. Keep doing exactly what you are doing.

As for you landlord's comments, at this point she has learned she can get a reaction out of you so it's worth it for her to continue her jabs. Many times people who have dogs that are out of control themselves are the first to accuse those with a well behaved dog of inappropriate behavior when it's really more of a cover up for their own shortcomings.

You know that you have done the right thing for your dog, and that you are the responsible one as far as the great life your dog is leading. She knows she has chaos in her life with her dog. Leave it at that. Let her live with her shortcomings simply by smiling, nodding and going on with a great life you have created for yourself and your dog. The true alpha or the one that is right is often times the quietest and the silence speaks much louder than the argument. :)

Control Your Aggressive Dog With These 4 Dog Training Tips

• Not sarcastic, but this is really about your relationship with your landlord.
  
  I think you're doing the right thing...that's how we keep our dog when we are not home. She's probably lucky that her house is not being destroyed and should thank you for keeping the dog crated.
  
  As for telling her, its really up to you...not sure if I can help there


• Your landlord sounds old fashioned and set in her ways so even though she means well she can get annoying. I bet if you were planting some flowers she'd come up to you and give you advice on how to water them even though you know perfectly well how to. I'd just try to ignore her as much as possible and if she wants to talk just tell her you're busy and walk away.


• Tell her politely that you appreciate her opinion but you disagree then close the conversation. Say you do not want to discuss it anymore and you would like her to respect that. Then after that if she tries to talk about it with you politely excuse yourself. She can voice her opinion all she wants; you don't have to listen to it.


• what you are doing sounds fine to me tell the landlord that you are following the advise of a professional trainer already and that is what you will continue to do it is really none of there but you also do not want to be rude good luck

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Dog Health Questions: Walking without leash: dog training?

Alright, I'm having some trouble here. I get my dog to walk beside me but when I reward him he takes the treat and runs off and I cannot, for the life of me, get him to stay by me. He also gets really excited to go out and never seems to listen to me even if I offer a freakin bag of treats.

Dog Training Tips and Tricks - Ways to Make Dog Training Easy For You and Your Pet

Recommended Answer:
you might not know it but it is illegal to have a dog off leash, unless in designated off leash areas like a dog park. Even if your dog gets trained for this, there's no guarentee that he will never run off..and he can get killed.

try teaching the "wait" command
http://www.lucythewonderdog.com/wait.htm…

Successful Dog Training Tricks

• This is normal dog behavior you can use a longer leash at first to teach him to come back to you consistently. I would seek the help of a dog trainer.


• The "heel" command should always be taught on leash. You should ALWAYS be the one in charge...indoors or out.
  
  She has learned that if she behaves for 2.5 seconds, she gets a treat, and the game is over. When she is on lead, YOU control what the rules are.
  
  good luck


• Don't actually give him the treat, just hold it and let him kind of nibble on it in your hand. While he is doing that keep saying the command and praising. Keep him on lead and if he starts to break away then give a firm correction and put him back in position.


• Proper dog training treats is an art form.
  
  You want treats the dog can't resist and that he'll be able to eat quickly. Soft and small are key. I use low fat, low sodium swiss cheese. I buy the big blocks and cut it into small cubes. Really small cubes. Less then bit size cubes actually. Nothing they need to work on chewing. They smell good to your dog, they won't feel they have to walk away to eat it, and it's cheaper and more healthy than the treat junk they sell anywhere.
  
  Also ... you should always start ON LEASH. Get the dog doing all of this on a very loose leash before you try doing it off leash. Then, get a really long leash and start working with that. Work with no distractions at first, then work with small distractions then build up from there. And remember ... dogs don't learn this stuff in a day. It can take months and months even years with some dogs for them to be reliable off leash.


• How old is your dog? Take baby steps with him - can he make it calmly out the door with you going out first? Does he heel on a leash? It could be that you haven't trained him to wait for things patiently or it could be that he isn't mature enough to handle all of the excitement of being out in the "open". It usually takes a well behaved dog at least three years before they are trustworthy off leash on walks.
  
  Did you attend obedience classes? How did he listen there with other dogs and stimulations around?


• Why would you ever think about trying to train a dog to walk without a leash if you haven't trained him to walk beside you on a leash? Of course he's a different dog outside. The distractions in the outdoor world are like a drug to a dog. Smells, squirrels, birds, cars, other dogs, people...the list is endless.
  Walking a dog on leash is safer for the dog and also required by law in most areas unless you live in a very rural area. Teach the dog to walk on a leash first....treats do not replace good training.


• It is illegal to unleash a dog when going on a public place other than the designated area.By the problem you have mentioned it looks like he has to be trained more for the outside atmosphere.Since he is calm inside and excited outside he has to be trained.
  Even after training don't unleash him in public place


• I used to have a crazy Siberian Husky when I was little. He was the only one with leash problems. He was so full of energy we always thought he would burst. What we did so he would walk with us was we would keep the leash short. It was difficult since he was so strong, but every time he would pull, we would firmly tell him "No. Heel." and if he stopped, we would praise him. If he didn't, we would stop. He usually kept pulling on what leash he had, but we would tell him no until we got him to rest. You should also consider using the firm "No" when he's in trouble. I'm not insinuating that you always yell at him, but just as advice, use your mean voice only when he is in big trouble. You could maybe even spank him as my dog learned quite quickly with that. Not hard, but just enough to show him that it hurts and he was bad.
  
  It sounds like your dog has a lot of energy when you go outside. What my family would do with our Husky was we bought those things that attach to your bike. It's this metal thing that you attach to your bike, and it's specially built so you can hook your dog onto it as a sort of leash. We used this to get his energy out. He had so much energy and was so strong that only my dad could do this. The dog would run along pulling my dad at insane speeds for two hours, until we decided it was time to go home. This would get a lot of his energy out, but he would still be jumping around and running in the house. I have no idea where it all came from.
  
  My current dog (much smaller and "dead" compared to the energy that my Husky had, although it is energetic) has the same issue as yours. She gets her daily meals in the kitchen, but if we give her a treat in the kitchen, she'll go to a near area that's carpeted and eat it there. Sometimes it's under the bed, although usually in the entrance to the kitchen. The eating of the treat under the table (for your dog) was especially interesting. He is most likely eating it there because for him it is like a safe, enclosed cave. He knows he'll be safe eating his treat there and that nothing will try to take it away. My dog doesn't get treats very often as she prefers belly rubs, and consequently doesn't like treats. I don't know how you fix the "hiding-under-something-to-eat-treats" problem but all I know is that it's normal. I think if you are playing with him while he has his treats or if you've ever tried or are trying to take his treat away from him, don't. This will make him think that he is at risk of it going away, so if you don't do this for a long time and pet him and praise him while he has/eats the treat, he will feel more comfortable eating it close to you.


• The primary rule of dog training is that whoever controls the reinforcers controls the behavior. Right now, you think you control the reinforcers because you have the treats, which is not an unreasonable thing to think. BUT- the dog has free access to all sorts of other reinforcers in the environment, great smells, a chance to run and roll in the grass, etc. and so has more control. Indoor and outdoor are very different because of the level of reinforcers the dog has access to.
  
  So first off, what is the level of the behavior indoors? Will the dog walk alongside you for 2 seconds before getting a treat? Three? Five? Ten? Thirty? With distractions? I know, its hard to do thirty seconds in a house cause there's not that much room to move, but you can circle and backtrack etc. Distractions can be the cat, food left out on the coffeetable that you pass by, a phone ringing, etc.
  
  If he's got some eating issues, you might want to work on those separately. What kind of treat are you giving? A biscuit type usually needs to be munched on and encourages the dog to go off and have a picnic by himself. Use small soft training type treats: Zukes Minis are the perfect size, BilJac minis also, soft cat treats work great, or you can make your own, I like to use Natural Balance rolls of dog food and cut them up small. Do a couple of sessions where he gets fed at your side with numerous small treats fed one after the other. Another suggestion is to use his meals if you use kibble- I spent two weeks doing mostly outdoor training with her meals- all her food was coming during training, which made it much more important! AND it made me train her consistently twice a day because I couldn't let her starve.
  
  When you do work outside, you need to control the environment, either by going someplace where there are fewer distractions, or by putting the dog on a leash. I like to work in tennis courts when the weather is bad because no is there and I can close the door to prevent the dog from leaving and there isn't a whole lot there, though still some interesting smells (and pick up any stray tennis balls first!)
  
  Start by being able to have the dog at your side- if he won't stay with you when you're still, it will be even harder once you start moving. Reward him for being within an 8 foot radius of you, then within a 6 foot, then six feet on your left (if that's where you want him) then 4 feet on your left, etc until he is in the position you would like.
  
  I would also recommend interspersing some other training, especially recalls (and dog should be set up so he is ALWAYS sucessful!) One of the ways I worked on my offleash walking with my newest pup was to recall her to me and then walk for a step or two, and then increased how far I went before I gave her a treat. Please note that my recall is usually facing away from the dog and calling her into heel position, not facing her.
  
  You can't realistically take a real world walk and train this at the same time. Yes, you need to know the leash laws for your area, they vary widely. And enforcement is hugely variable, but I can tell you that I've had cops watch me train and not interfere (other than to ask about training issues) because my dog was very obviously being trained and under control. I've also had neighbors tell me to put my dog onleash when he was behaving beautifully and not bothering anyone and the park was empty (she lived across from the neighborhood park.) And my dogs don't leave their soda cans, trash, basket balls, bikes, etc, in the park, but I digress. I am a huge proponent on not putting a dog in a situation it isn't ready for- the dog can develop issues that take much longer to train than the original training would have taken, and it can be dangerous if the dog runs away or runs to chase something. A strong recall is your best friend's best friend.


• Its ilegal to have a leash on your dog when out

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Dog Health Questions: Dog training... PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!?

I need help with my dog, he seems to be a mix between a lab and a poodle, so hes pretty big.he loves his crate and will go into it willingly and he goes in it by himself sometimes without us even having to give the command 'crate up'. but when we go to close the door and lock the door, he goes ballistic and barks like crazy and snaps at us and gets a wild look in his eyes. Its really quite scary. we have tried many things to get him to calm down but he will not stop. also, he barks all of the time just when people are driving by the house or walking past it and he goes crazy when someone is at the door. i really need help, any type of assistance will be helpful, thank you.

6 Dog Training Tips For a Well Trained, Well Behaved Pet

Recommended Answer:
If you're giving the dog attention when he barks, you are reinforcing that barking means good. He will just learn to bark because he is getting attention. Try ignoring him and if that doesn't work, you may be able to find some good training DVDs at the library.

Dog Training and Why it is Important

• Sounds like someone fought with him when closing the door of his crate.
  
  How about buying the DVD Crate Games by Susan Garrett and also some dog training from a positive reinforcement dog trainer.


• Once the initial phase of crate training your dog is over and he's at ease with the new crate, you can feed him while he's in it. Use the food bowl to lure him into the crate and then close the door while he eats. As he finishes eating, open the door again. Your dog might want out sooner at which point you can let him out but close the door behind him and keep his food bowl inside. If he paws at the crate door to be let back in, open it, let him in, and close the door again. You may need to repeat this several times during the meal.
  Once your dog is comfortable eating in his crate, you can try closing the door when he's not in it for mealtimes. Put food in a stuffable chew toy (peanut butter is great for this) and place it in the crate. When he goes in after the toy, you can quietly close the door behind him. Only keep it shut for a minute or two. Then open it, call your dog and praise him. Make sure the treat stays in the crate. Repeat the process several times, but each time leave the door closed for a little longer.
  
  If your dog barks or whines in his crate when the door is closed, do not open the crate! He'll think that barking and whining is what gets him out rather than you calling him. Wait until he calms down for ten to fifteen seconds and then open the door. When you go to repeat the exercise, don't keep the door closed as long.

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Dog Health Questions: Have you used Bark Busters dog training (the franchise, not a dog collar)?

They send trainers to you. It is $595 for 2-10 sessions, depending on what you need.
They guarantee it for life.
They come to your home. Is it best to have a trainer come to your home to help you with your situation, rather than just take your dog to classes?
Is trying to be the "alpha dog" the solution to many problems?
Please let me know your own personal situation and experience.
Thanks.

Important Dog Training Information

Recommended Answer:
Run, do not walk, to your phone and call Bark Busters!!!
Every pet store and veterinarian in my area recommends them because they are amazing...
My neighbor's aggressive dog was scheduled to be euthanized...the vet and other trainers said he could not be helped. They tried Bark Busters training and it saved his life! He's like a totally different dog now...
I used the same trainer for my dog and I saw immediate results - his issues weren't as bad, but in 1 lesson I got total control of my dog! I paid a flat fee and my trainer will give me ongoing help at no extra charge for the rest of my dog's life.
I tried group obedience classes, and after using Bark Busters I absolutely agree that In-home training is best because it's the dog's natural environment - the dog was much more focused and learned better and more quickly in his own home - too much distraction in a class.
Being 'Alpha Dog' or being a good Leader is most important because the dog understands pack law. Your dog needs to see you as Leader in order to trust you, respect you, and learn from you. Bark Busters teaches you a ton about the principles of dog behavior...how to show leadership in a dog way - it's kind of like a Harvard Education in dog psychology!
Bark Busters training is AMAZING!!!
If you want others' opinions, check out the thousands of testimonials on their website www.barkbusters.com. They also have a video clip on the site with tons of customer and vet testimonials.

The Basic Commands of Dog Training

• It's a franchise I don't agree with their methods or level of training they give their instructors.
  
  Alpha Dog ala Cesar Milan can get you in a lot of trouble. For a lot less, you can get a real trainer to come to your home and do private lessons.
  
  If you're just starting out, group lessons with other people and dogs is really the way to go. Call a local Humane Society or Rescue and see if they have classes. It's a lot of fun and great socialization for the dog AND YOU!


• I have used Bark Busters....love them ..love them..love them....best money I ever spent..they did such a good job, I even paid for them work with my grown children's dogs. I would do it over again in a heartbeat.


• Do they have a web site that I can review their method on?
  
  Many trainers are very good....This price is inline with national standards...a guarantee is nice if it means free lessons....remember this however: Your success is largely based on your understanding of what they do and say and your commitment to continue it....hard work is in order, but not for a long time....good luck
  
  I just found their website....I have to say this: They seem professional....however I'm always taken back by folks who claim they are the "only" ones who.....or folks who are also engaged in selling franchises.....


• We are using Barkbusters right now for an aggression issue in an ACD. The first time he came to the house to observe, he surprised us all with what we were missing in the behavior of our dogs. We currently own 5 dogs and also foster for a rescue group. In about 10 minutes, he had shown us some simple methods that had an immediate effect on our dogs overall obedience, and we were sold. He actually identified our pack leader for us(it wasn't who we thought it was) and suggested we work on the behaviors of three of our dogs in order to get the ACD under control. We have had three sessions and there is marked improvement in all of the pack, including the fosters. We are very thankful we hired this trainer, as we were terrified that we would have to put our ACD down.
  Their method uses nothing physical with the dog, which is great for us, because we don't believe in any of that. It is hard work, though .You have to be committed to your animals and practice and train every day, even if it's only for 15 minutes. If you can do that, you will be as successful as we are. It was well worth the money.
  For Sniffydogs, my instructor went through 225 hours of training for his certification. Plus he had a backround in dog training. I think that qualifies as enough.


• ***PAY**** somebody $600 to train MY dog???
  LMFAO!!!
  NOT BLOODY LIKELY!!!!
  I have a collar,leash,crate & BRAINS & a*SPINE*!!!
  
  Unless they "guarantee" it'll be able to dance BALLET PROFESSIONALLY!!!!

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Dog Health Questions: Questions about dog training?

I have a few questions about training a puppy.
1. At what age it's best to start training?
2. With what training should I begin?
3. What are some recommendations in how I should do it?
4. How long would it take for the dog to understand, especially if it's a smart breed?
5. If I train my dog alone, will he listen only to me?

5 Effective Tips For Successful Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
1. As soon as you bring your puppy home (between 8-12 weeks usually). Up to 16 weeks is when puppies take in most so start as you mean to go on and socialise them well once they have been vaccinated.

2. You can practice basic obedience with everything to do but I think the first commands are usually sit, lie down and stay. I also taught my puppies to pee on command by repeating my cue word when they went to the toilet.

3. Positive reinforcement works best; lots of praise and a reward when they get it right. Food is an excellent reward but for those that aren't food orientated, you can play a game or give affection. You need to be consistent with everything you do and do lots of repetitions for 5-10 mins each time.

4. It really depends on the dog and how much effort you put in as to how quickly it will pick it up.

5. Your dog will listen to anyone it believes is 'above' it in the pack once it knows the commands. While you may teach it, get friends/family to practice it with the dog once he knows what to do, e.g. sit before meals, lie down before play, stay before you put the lead on, etc.

Dog Training Collar

• 1.) as early as 2 months you can start teaching your puppy for training
  
  2.) You can start with the basic training such sit, stay and heel ( try visiting http://www.antileon-ent.com/dog/ for a more comprehensive training methods you can choose )
  
  3.) Its always good to give a positive training to your dog
  
  4.) It would depend on how compatible the training method you have chosen and how much time and effort you give in the dog's training
  
  5.) Its actually better to train your dog by yourself as it will also create a stronger bond between the owner and the pet. Just make sure that you inform yourself with good knowledge in training your dog which you can also find in the link.


• 1)The best age is around 6-8 months old
  2)I usually do what most people want the most, such as potty training, telling the dog not to bark, calling its name ect.
  3)Look at articles and videos as they will help you a lot.
  4)If you spend quality time with your dog should take 2-5 days
  5)YES HE WILL if you train it that way


• until 16 weeks of age puppies are SPONGES! dogs can learn until their dying day and they learn especially well before 2 years of age, but before 16 weeks, they learn so fast it's just amazing!
  it's important to find a balance though between training your puppy when it is easiest for them to learn and bonding with them, not getting them overtired and letting them be a puppy rather than a student.
  
  i think the best way to find this balance is to make training a lot of fun for your puppy. never train them when you or they are tired or frustrated. if you start getting annoyed or they are getting too excited, take a break. the first 2 days you should just spend time bonding, play together, help them settle in and explore the house and yard with them. i prefer not to do any formal training for the first few days but i still set boundaries. if your pup play bites say no and walk away for a few minutes. this will teach them what no means and that if they play bite they don't get to play. you will find that your pup very quickly gets the message. if you don't want your dog wandering around the house then block off the rooms you don't want them in. after a 2 days put a collar on your pup. they will find this uncomfortable but after a few days they will actually feel naked without it.
  
  when it comes to formal training go with the basics- sit, drop, stay. at this age stay is really hard as puppies have very short concentration spans but it's so handy you should start teaching them anyway. the key is lots of short training sessions with lots of treat rewards. training is supposed to be fun and enjoyable for both of you and it's a great way to bond. so if you're tired, getting annoyed or your pup is over excited it's time to take a break and come back in a few minutes when you are both more relaxed.
  
  it's impossible to guess how long it will take a dog to learn something, all dogs are different, just as all people are. as long as you are patient and do lots of short training sessions it shouldn't be long. puppy school is also a good idea. if you train your dog alone it will certainly be most responsive to you, but it will still listen to others. i trained my dog alone and she always listens to me, but if someone else says sit or something she will do it, just sometimes they have to ask two or three times or tell her off for not listening and then she will do it. it's better if your dog listens to other people though because if it runs away you want a stranger to be able to tell it to sit and not run across the road and you want your friends to say get down and for your puppy not to jump on them etc.
  good luck!


• 1.) Its best to start training the dog as soon as you get him or her. Also the breeders if they are reputable will have begun long before you aquire the puppy.
  
  2.) You should begin with simple commands, yet ones that are detrimental(ones that every dog should know), like COME, SIT, STAY, DOWN and of course the dogs name.
  
  3.) There are many books in which tell you step by step how to train all different kinds of commands, I suggest you purcahse one of these books.
  
  4.) All dogs are different no matter what the breed. And its also important to note that all dogs have a certain trigger, some like toys, some like food, and some like praise. Its important to find out which of these triggers that your puppy has. Its also important to know not to reprimand your dog during training, you want training to be a fun time so reward the dog when they are doing what you want, and when they are not ignore and dont reward. I found for my husky as he was very intelligent but very ADD that I also had to train him the command, LOOK AT ME because with him the only way I could teach him was if he was paying attention to me, and if he was looking at me then he was paying attention to me. My husky is now 5 years old and I have started hand signals. I think all owners should teach their dogs hand signals as well as the normal command because hand signals really make the dog need to pay attention to you. If the dog is looking at you that means he respects you, if you give him a command with hand signals he absolutely has to look at you which teaches the dog to respect you.
  
  5.) I've heard people say that a dog only has one master...This however is not the case. Dogs are pack animals and should respect EVERYONE. If a dog only respects one person, every one else becomes a target. It is important that everyone in the household as well as a variety of people of different ages, races as well as of different gender help and train the dog. This shows the dog that he must listen and respect to everyone no matter if there young or old, black or white, male or female.
  
  Good luck

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Dog Health Questions: Dog Training Collars?

Does anyone have any positive experiences with dog training collars? I don't mean the shock collars (I would never do that to my doggie), I mean either the one the the Dog Whisperer uses.
Thanks in advance! =]

Dog Training - Beyond Conditioning

Recommended Answer:
Don't spend the money on cesar milans crap.

Get any training collar from the local petstore. The trainers there will show you how to use it.

Dog Training Tips - Rules for Dog Trainers and Dog Owners

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