Dog Health Questions: Dog Section: I need help on ADULT dog socialization?

Okay,

So my dogs aren't that socialized around other dogs and in certain situations, and I'm trying to help fix it. I went to the library today and checked out lots of books on dog training and socialization. However, almost all of the books are just ranting on about "You need to socialize when your dog is a puppy" (which I already know) and they don't really explain HOW to do anything!

Here are the problems I need help fixing:

For Lily:
-Barks/Growls at other dogs, may occaisionally snap out of fear, which then becomes aggression.
-Is freaked by people wearing hats or large, dark cothing
-Startled in noisy situations

For Sophie:
-Barks/Growls at other dogs (when they are far away), becomes EXTREMELY nervous when they come near, and tries to run away and escape from them. Also, she once peed when a dog came up to her. (Sophie never shows any sign of aggression and has never once snapped at or nipped another dog)
-Scared in noisy situations, such as along a busy street (I live right next to a loud, busy street)

Are there any books that you thought were very helpful that you could reccomend for me to read? Or, do you have any sort of things I could do to fix these problems?

I can not get a professional trainer to come help because we are quite tight on money and it seems like all trainers are $1000 to come help!

Any suggestions/advice?

If you need anything else, ask.

Thank you!

Dog Training Career: Doing It and Loving It

Recommended Answer:
WOW you have your work cut out to you, and you are going to have major patience but it is fixable.
First I would work very hard on lead with sit, stay, heel etc. Use treats and lots of positive reinforcements just use your yard without any distractions. I always recommend a basic choke collar fit high on the neck right behind the ears for easy control and easy, safe corrections. A quick snap and release is all you need and the sound it makes kind of brings them back around.

You need both dogs to totally be fixed on you. The more they focus on your the less they will be distracted by the things that really bother them.

Once you have mastered this then slowly start adding some distractions. It would be great to enlist your friends with dogs that are reasonably calm. Keep them focused with treats and at the moment they start to break say a command like "ignore" use a quick sanp and release of the collar and treat as soon as they go back to looking at you.
This should help with both of their dog issues. Just remember the more they are fixed on you (and the treats) the less they think about the bad stuff.
The easiest was to help with the man issues is to have very calm male friends, come in your house, quietly sit down on the floor with a treat and let the dog come to them. Slowly you can add the hat.
Eventually you will be able to ween them of of the treats and just use the positive reinforcement.
It is hard to remember everything to type but maybe ai have helped a little:))

http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/Do…

Dog Training: It's Not Just For Adults Anymore

• if you want your dogs to start socializing start having them go for walks togather with other dogs this makes them feel like the other dog or dogs there walking with are part of there pack and they want be agressive towards them, if your dog is afraid to be neir another dog just have it walking close to it such as across the street every time you walk it have the dog get closer and closer soon it will get used to that dog being their, if your dog is afraid of hats you could try just setting a hat out on the floor and let it become comfortable with it.


• Here are a few people I know that may help you with the books they have written:
  Patricia McConnell
  Brenda Aloff
  Suzanne Clothier
  William E Campbell
  
  And lots of treats. Dogs must smell it to believe it, just like humans must see it to believe it.
  
  I would go with cautious canine by patricia mcconnell based on what you wrote.


• Perhaps this site will help you out:
  
  http://www.dogstardaily.com-train-aft has a FREE book you can download and read. Also at the top of the page they have a drop down on training and behavior. I'd suggested looking at the 'fear' and 'aggression' sections.


• Lily's problem with black coats/hats is the easiest, either have a loan of one or get a second hand coat, and get a few different hats. Then you start to wear them around the house. When she is no longer bothered by you wearing it, then get guests to wear it at your house until she is happy with that. This is called desensitization, teaching her that there is nothing to fear.
  
  One problem you have is that much of your training will have to be done separately to begin with, so you will have to walk them separately. The below is also a desensitization program.
  Perpendicular Pooch Technique
  Your dog needs to learn a sequence of commands you expect it to follow, this starts at home.
  You must teach your dog to 'leave' a food treat (you can just drop it on the floor) & 'come' to you and to 'sit' still for 5 seconds, then make a fuss & allow the dog the treat. Repeat until your dog is perfect.
  1. Use a Halti or Gentle Leader, take your dog to a local park where there is a popular walking path.
  2.Choose a location where other dogs are unlikely to approach, approx 25 yards at right-angles from the walking path.
  3. Take your dog through the routine you taught it at home to make sure it is responding.
  4. As soon as a dog appears, tell your dog to 'leave' and turn and walk away from the path for five paces. Then tell your dog to sit. There are only two outcomes - the dog responds and sits - or it doesn't.
  If your dog responds then praise it liberally with pats, hugs and food and return to your starting point to repeat the process with the next dog.
  If it does not respond, issue another 'leave' command and continue to walk away from the walking path. Finish with a sit but this time tap your dog on its rump to ensure it gets the message. If your dog still does not respond, then you are too close to the path, leave the park and return another day and start at a greater distance.
  5. After a few days, if your dog always obeys then move to 20 yards.
  6. Continue until you are able to win the confrontations while walking along the path and are approaching other dogs head-to-head rather than at right angles.
  
  As soon as you have taught Lily leave, I would do obedience class with Lily. As she has more issues she would probably benefit from obedience classes, the trainer can give you advice when she sees the body language and your dog will learn to accept other dogs near her. The more a dog obeys you quickly, the more control you have over the dog. The main problem is neither of your dogs obeys you, and neither seem to trust you to protect them.
  
  Sophie would probably benefit from having a young pup over at your house for a very closely supervised visit. As she is so apprehensive of other dogs she should feel safe with a young pup (so long as she shows no aggression). she will feel safer at your house to start with. Also, on weekends take a book to a park and sit in a quiet corner and just read your book for a couple of hours, have sophie lay next to you, she can watch what is happening without being confronted. Remember dogs pick up cues from owners, so it is really important that you remain calm, if she shows any fear, tell her off, No, don't be silly. don't comfort her, if an owner comforts her dog then this confirms that there is something to fear. Ignore her fear as much as possible, just tell her off. when she sits quietly give her a treat, start when the dogs aren't around, the treat when they are approaching and going past. I would also spend time in your front yard so she gets more experience with noisy cars. You have lots of work ahead of you, especially with 2 dogs.


• Have you tried Bark Busters?
  
  I have used them and they only cost me 400 for both of my dogs! Plus its a lifetime agreement that if you need them they will come back!
  
  Before I used them my dogs were very noisy in the house and outside. Now after training them with Bark busters They are not noisy in the house and not nosy outside or when your on the phone!
  
  You should also train them separate not toether because its too distracting!


• I'm with Koter Boter. Barkbusters is a great professional trainer. I can give them a reference also.
  
  With all the problems you are having I think it is going to be overwhelming for you do to this on your own.
  
  The money will be well spent considering the stress you are going to put yourself through!

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: I got a female Labrador from my bro-in-law. She is 6 months old. Pls tell me her feed, health care & training!?

My bro-in-law told me that feed only 500 ml of milk each time, two times daily. But I think she requires more. I Have had tried giving boiled and fried eggs. She is losing her hair now. Our house maid told us that because of feeding eggs, she (dog) is losing hairs. Whether is it true? She is of 14" (inch) in height, 36" (inch) of long (excluding tail) and at least 12 Kilograms (26 pounds) of weight.

Kindly suggest me books on Dog Training, Diat (feed) of Dogs, Cleanliness, remedy to stop hair losing and any other important suggestions.

5 Advisory Tips For Good Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
go to the pet store and get a bag of puppy chow.

you should not be giving her milk anymore, she can no longer digest them unless the milk is formulated for dogs.

eggs should be given either raw or half boiled or boiled. never ever give any fried stuff to dogs. the oil isn't good. you can give eggs but limit to max 4 eggs a week.

Read Cesar Millan for dog training. As for diet, feeding her dry food should be balanced already. unless you want to feed her raw meat which is very much recommended if you have the time to read up on it and to prepare it daily.

10 Dog Training Mistakes You Must Avoid

• you should be feeding her more milk than that and start her on dry food, i would not give her eggs. go to your local library and most of them have good books for ttraining and taking care of dogs.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: How can i help my dog get along with other dogs?

she is a 2 year old brittany spaniel and she gets along with my other dog with is a siberian...

how can i help her?she does not get along with the cats i have and would KILL them.....but she gets along with small animals say guinea pigs and would never hurt them...

she barks and trys to attack them ficously....of course i dont let her...
she is totally in love with people and is the friendliest dog.... but how do i get her to get along with other dogs?

it is embarressing to HAVE to walk out of the pet store and try to get her in control!!!

maybe dog training obedience?
but there are other dogs there....and it might distract her from learning!
what should i do?

Dog Training Tips - Negative Reinforcement Vs. Positive Reinforcement - Which Is More Effective?

Recommended Answer:
put her on a leash and make sure the cats are secured with someone else. first your dog should be alone on a leash with you. give it one treat at a time and distract it giving it treats. Then bring the cat in. Dont make a big deal of it just continue to give the treats. at the first bark or leap towards the cats stop the treats and remove the cat. after the dog calms down try again. continiue this until the dog does not react and is comfortable with the cat very close.
this could take a lot of time so be patient.

Why One Size Does Not Fit All In Dog Training

• You might want to take your dog to an obedience class so that they can help you tame you dog. What you might want to do is try to get your dog to socialize more and teach him how to be nice with other dogs. By teaching him the difference between right and wrong. And reward him when he is on his best behavior in front of other dogs. If he sees you rewarding him each time he is on his best behavior and nice to other dogs then they will Absolutely get the message and will start behaving.


• We have the same problem. It seems to help when they are young to have them around other dogs. We got ours around 2 years old and I think it was to late. We have tried everything. He is now 4 and I swear it is getting worse. He gets along great with our other dog too, and cats, but not others. We have not tried obedience, but once they are set in their ways I wonder if you can break them. Good Luck!


• Its hard for dogs to get along because they all want to be the alpha. Just day by day let them see each other you holding one dog by the leash and someone holding the other. You have to be very careful but they'll come around. Good luck!


• It might be a good idea to take your dog to a group obedience training. she would have to learn to behave and listen to you while other dogs are present.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Military Working Dog Handler?

from a military perspective, what college degree or professional experience would be related to being selected to become a MWD handler? would someone with a dog training certification or previous experience as a professional dog trainer/handler be at an advantage for selection into this MOS?

Career in Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
you dont need any college at all.you just enlist into that career field.army mps have the option to become dog handlers if selected.air force security forces has combat arms or k-9 handler position when youre eligible to train for them.you cant just enlist as a handler you have to go into that career field do your best and hope you get selected for training.

Choosing Your Dog Training Video

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Pet training???

does anyone know of any good internet sites that are good for dog training... comands like sit, speak, shake?

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

Recommended Answer:
tRY THIS SITE. http://www.crittersavers.com/programserv…

Dog Training Goals

• http://www.clickertraining.com They teach rabbits, ferrets, dogs, cats and even fish.


• The Dog Whisperer has a video available on DVD that will help with these commands and other skills for your dog.
  Try looking for them on EBAY to get a price break.


• http://www.radiofence.com/pet_training.h…http://www.terrificpets.com/dog_training…http://www.bloomington.in.gov/animalshel…http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Dog-train…

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Difficulties with dog training?

I've been having issues with my puppy and reigning her in. She is a 6 month old boxer/german shepherd mix. We've taught her sit and lay down. But whenever she does it she runs around and does it halfway. We only treat her when she does it right, but she still won't stop. She also basically uses our kitten as a chew toy, sitting on her and mouthing her. I feel like she might be hurting my kitten because of the vast size difference. And one last problem is that she chews on everything in the house from walls, to her bowls, to my table and chairs. she always has several toys around but she goes for the things I don't want her chewing on. I've sprayed things with bitter apple spray and I praise her when she uses her toys.
Any suggestions on these things?

So You Want a Guard Dog, Eh? (Basic Dog Training)

Recommended Answer:
Crate her when you can't supervise. When you can supervise, keep her on leash and attach it to you. She can't run around when you command her to do something if she is attached to you.

Advanced Dog Training Goals - It Pays to Think and Plan Ahead

• Like many undesirable canine behaviors, destructive habits usually develop because a dog is bored, lonely, or both.
  
  Try to link to get more tips on how togo about it:
  http://dogtime.com/chewing-digging-behav…
  
  As for the trainining, I think it's a good start if you start with crate. Be upbeat about putting your dog in his crate, and when you return to let him out, be matter-of-fact about it. If you act like it's no big deal to be in the crate, your dog is more likely to act that way, too. It's also a good idea to put him in the crate for brief periods even when you're home--that way he won't link being alone with being in the crate.
  
  Read more abt this: http://dogtime.com/housetraining-crate-t…
  
  goodluck!


• Ok Below are somethings you can do:
  
  1. Say you are going on a trip or to work then you crate her in bar crate which you could get a any local pet stores or even online.
  
  2. You could take her to classes to train her, they might cost money but it is worth having a good dog.
  
  And below there is a website asked by another person who had the same promble:


• It sounds like your dog has some basic obedience problems.
  
  I don't know if you're familiar with the concept of "being the pack leader" when you get a dog, but it sounds like your dog thinks it is a high-ranking member of your family. It would make sense for the dog to think it is ranked higher than a tiny little cat.
  
  Next time the dog starts playing too rough with the cat, make a loud "No" and pick the cat up and start giving it praise/attention/food.
  
  Also, make sure your praise is handed out with precise timing so the dog isn't confused as to what it is being praised for. You may also want to consider a complete dog training guide to cover obedience/aggression/chew training. A good guide will open your mind to things that may be the cause of these problems. Seperation anxiety maybe? I've linked to a site with a few articles and guides in the resource box. I hope they help.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog training HELP!!! Is it too late?

I have a 3 year old male chihuahua that I got when I was still living with my parents. I recently moved into a house with quite a few roommates. He is currently still at my parent's house because I'm afraid that he will get out of the house/back yard at my new house and run away. Unfortunately, I did spoil him too much and the only command he obeys is "sit", and even then, that only happens when food is dangled in front of his face.
I understand that this is my own fault, I don't need any answers telling me that...I need some advice on what to do to train him. Is it too late with him being 3 years old?
What can I do to ensure that he doesn't run away if brought to the new house? The roommates are kind of oblivious to dogs, so I can't rely on them to watch him when I'm not home.

Dog Training For Dog Problems

Recommended Answer:
It's going to be a lot more difficult, especially with Chi's but it is possible if you're willing to put in the effort. You probably would want to enroll him in an obedience class at some place like PetSmart or Petco. They usually see dogs of all ages, so you shouldn't worry about that.
Remember while you are training him that YOU are going to need to have a very assertive and calm attitude. You are going to need to be the dominant one, you can't allow him to have any attitude that lets him be spoiled. You know that already.
As to the backyard, the best way to make sure that the back yard is safe is for you to get down back there and check for things like gaps in the fencem holes in the house that lead underneath the house, and out to the street, weak boards that he can paw his way through. Another problem could be the dirt underneath the fence. If it's just loose dirt, and no concrete, he could dig his way out. Check for that to make sure that he would not be able to dig into the neighbor's house, or dig his way onto the street.
Once you bring him home, if you don't have any dogs right now, your roommates could surprise you by taking an interest, or at the very least, making sure that they watch him to see if he runs away. Either way, even then, you would not leave him the ability to run away under the nose of your friends. Try placing reminders around the house that tells them to close doors, and watch out for your dog. It would help you, and would help them from experiencing any guilt over losing your dog.

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

• No, it is not too late. Train him like you would a new puppy. Start ALL over, even with the sit command. I'm guessing your new house doesn't have a fence, so I advise keeping him as an inside dog. If you don't trust them to watch him, hire a dog sitter.


• Dogs are absolutely capable of learning at any age.
  
  Enroll yourself and your dog in a training class. Keep him on the leash outdoors.


• about the new house.. put up a fence.. at least a small one..
  
  i dont think its too late to train your dog.. granted it might be harder and it might be more stubborn.. but i do believe it can be done!


• Hie thee to an obedience class forthwith!!! And when you're not home keep the little guy in a crate in your closed bedroom.
  
  Old Dogs Do Learn New Tricks!!!!


• Enroll both of you in obedience training..


• It is not too late, if he hasn't had obedience training it might be a good thing. He can be weaned off foodtreats over time even if he expects them all the time now. The only way to ensure that your dog doesn't escape while you are away is to crate him, he may have to learn the crate is a GOOD place,also he needs to be gradually introduced to your new roommates.
  You need to make the rules clear to your roommates about YOUR dog so every one is consistent. Clickers are just another type of reward that you use just before treating the dog after immediately catching him doing the thing you are trying to teach him. (My dog ignores it
  Trial and errlor. A good trainer should be able to help as you go. Good luck


• Dogs are learning new things all the time! I have three dogs around my house and none of them are professionally trained. For some obvious commands you always have to reward him with food, practically this is the most important thing for them. Just give them a reward every time you ask them to do something.. This is how they learn. I've got an old doggy and we have just finished practicing on "Eat your breakfast or else I'm putting it away!"
  Don't worry! I'm sure it will learn, even though he is three years old.


• You can train him now. Age doesn't really matter as much as everyone thinks but it will be harder because of the bad behaviors he already has imprinted on him. Find a good dog trainer to work with and be strong. It is very difficult to not give in but it is better for the dog and you in the long run to stay firm.
  
  Since he's moving to your new house adding new rules will be easier since his confidence level with be a little unbalanced and it will be easier to become the dominant one in the relationship. Make sure you start off right and continue on the right path.
  
  Taking care of Chihuahuas while you're gone can be a problem. Since you should never leave chihuahuas outside, you'll need to keep him inside somewhere. Can he stay in your room so none of your roommates let him out? If a dog wants to run away there is nothing you can do to prevent that behavior. Especially if you're roommates are bad about leaving the front door open. If he stays in your bedroom you'll need to provide him with a lot of entertainment and maybe make it so he can see out the window. Also, you'll have to have a way for him to get outside occasionally so he can go to the bathroom or you'll have to come home and walk him.
  
  After he gets a better attitude you may want to get him a buddy to keep him company while you're gone. Chis are always happier in a pack. In the meantime you may see if there are any doggie daycares in your area. That way he can play all day with the other dogs there and not get lonely and anxious being alone too much.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Theperfectdog.ca, the Dog Father, Dog Training tips?

I saw it on tv and it looks ok
Wondering if anyone else has used it?
Any advice would be appreciated it

here is the link i go to then it re-routes me to another one

www.theperfectdog.cawe live in canada and haven't met anyone who has used it yet
so anything from anywhere is valuable feedback to us!

thanks again

Using Dog Training Collars to Train Your Dog

Recommended Answer:
I used it and it works great. If you have a small dog it will take you a little more time because the dog might be to scared with the command collar just don't baby your dog and you should be fine.

If you get the program make sure you follow the steps exactly how he explains. If you don't it will only slow the training down.

As for the website it did that to me as well. It redirects you to the cane website who I believe is in charge of selling "as seen on TV products".

Dog Training Advice - Tips That You Can Use

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training, Do ultrasonic sounds work?

I have a very big puppy (if you don't believe me check out my other question it has pictures). He gets very excited to see people and jumps on them. I've tried a few things to correct this and people have been okay with it. But I'm not! He could hurt someone or they could just claim he did and he could be taken away. He's on a leash but he looks like a pit so when he jumps on someone or pulls me it could scare someone. I do allow him off the leash in legal areas to do so and he does comes to me but when other people come around he just has to greet them.
I'm considering getting something called Pet Zoom to fix this issue. It sends out a sound only animals can hear. Has anyone ever tried something like this? It's a pain free training method.

The Three Dog Training Mistakes You Should Avoid

Recommended Answer:
I have something similar, and it works with some dogs, but not with others.....I mostly use it when a dog does not respond to me telling him to stop barking.

I would think a properly fitted prong collar would be more effective for your purpose.

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

• If i cannot hear it, how do i know it is working? Keep the dog on a leash at ALL TIMES until you have this trained out of him. A good knee to the chest usually works well if done right the first time and popping the leash when he is about to jump.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training...or other ideas?

okay so i want to become a dog trainer or something involving dogs in figured the best way to start would be a dog trainer any ideas how to get a part time job as one i'm 18 btw if that helps
and don't say go to your local pet store i need some specifics

A Long Tradition of Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
try out animalbehaviorcollege.com
its an amazing, and affordable, college for Dog Training!!!! It will teach you all of the basics.... as far as getting the job right off the bat, it will start off as training. Look in your yellow book pages for trainers around your area and see if they need an assistant. Or just ask if you can observe some of their classes so you can see how the whole shebang goes. I allow people to sit in on my classes all the time, and I let people do internships too if they are good by the end of a 21 week program they get hired. So look around and ask!!!

Schutzhund Dog Training - The Highest Level of Dog Training

• Start volunteering at a humane society or shelter. This is a great experience and can be awesome on a resume. This will also get you used to many many different types of dogs, good and not so good to make sure your career path is ideal.
  
  There are puppy daycares that you can apply for. Some PetSmarts have puppy hotels that you could be a caretaker for.
  
  Without experience you cannot just become a dog trainer, there are schools and classes that can get you certified. Also you might want to look into dog therapy, yoga, and other dog behavior class alternatives in your area to see if they are willing to train you.


• Most colleges offer Animal Science courses. Show kennels & dog shows are another place to get more contacts, look for a beginning position, or find out it's not for you. Service dogs (like seeing eye dogs) have organizations to volunteer for, also, so do animal shelters. If you could take one dog home at a time, train it, or rehab it's personality to make it easier to adopt- I imagine a good track record would open doors. Good for you.


• YES. Petsmart. If you already have a dog its 109$ for an 8 week program with you're dog to get a simple training class...and tell the trainer your interested in being a pet trainer once youve taken the classes with her. if she thinks you'd be good at it she'll send you to a 2 week training and then you're certified. and you get paid.


• I think a good idea would be to see if you can shadow a dog trainer. Look in phone books and search online.
  
  best of luck to you!
  
  lilyxx


• Books.
  
  School, there are several good dog training schools.


• I think it's a bit more involved than just taking a 2 year training course to get certified. Maybe that's all you need to do training at PetSmart, but I would say you need more than that.
  I would try to find a good dog trainer in your area and ask them if you can shadow them (eg. just sit in during their classes.) Many trainers will take you on as an apprentice and teach you for free and get you to help out in their classes. If you love dogs though, why not start out as a dog walker. You can make a pretty good living doing it part time, and you learn a lot about dog behavior especially if you do group dog walks.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Disturbed dog training/.Bad habits?

She was deserted on the dessert when very young.She is a loveable dog.,She acts like she was mistreated.

How to Incorporate Dog Training Into Dog Play and Exercise!

Recommended Answer:
Do you need help training? GO to www.dogproblems.com and get a subscription. It's amazing.

Dog Training Tricks - Cool Dog Tricks To Teach Your Dog

• I am not sure what your question is here. Are you asking for help with behavior or are you asking if her history is causing her behavior.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: House break dog training?

I have a 2 month old puppy. Everytime I take it outside we spend about 30 minutes if not more and she doesn't potty, but as soon as we go back inside she goes potty in my place.

What techniques woud you suggest when it comes to house break training?

Thank you

Basic Dog Training Obedience - Puppy Behavior Tips

Recommended Answer:
If you're not already using a crate, I'd suggest you get one right away. Crate training is the simplest, and quickest way to housebreak a puppy. This webpage will give you a complete guide to crate training http://www.the-puppy-dog-place.com/crate…

If your pup doesn't eliminate while your outside, put him back in his crate and try again in 15 minutes. Do this until she pees/poops outside. Then she gets supervised playtimes out of the crate.

Set up a regular schedule of feedings, naps, playtimes and potty breaks to help your pups digestive system settle into a routine. Then you'll have a better idea of when she usually really needs to 'go'.

Best of luck.

Secrets to German Shepherd Dog Training

• ha ha ha i am haunting you,you can run,but you cant hide..................................i'm coming for your children


• Stay outside however long it takes to have them do their thing outside and then praise them. This will condition them and each additional time you go out it will take less time. Also, if you are not already giving them specific feeding times then do so. This will allow them to have predictable times when they have to go. Leaving a food bowl down for whenever they want to eat makes the timing unpredictable.


• If you see your dog eliminating in an inappropriate area say, "Outside" in a sharp voice. The sharp tone of your voice will startle your dog and cause him to stop eliminating. Quickly walk your dog outside so he can finish there. When your dog has finished praise him. Do not punish him for eliminating in unappropriate areas. This will only make hold his bowel and bladder and hide while he is eliminating.


• Your puppy already owns the place... I found, with all of my dogs, when they are young they get their own little habitat. I purchased a puppy play pen and put their dish, favorite toy and small kennel inside leaving kennel door open. That is their space. I also put o blanket down under the play pen in case of accidents, although there were none. Dogs will almost never potty where they sleep. Talk to your puppy. All of my puppies, now grown, still potty on command. I told mine "Potty" for number 1 and " Get all done" for number 2. As ridiculous as it may sound, it has worked on 4 dogs over the course of 20 years. Bring puppy out to potty first and reward with playtime. My puppies even understood "Nap time" At nap time they go into closed door kennel inside play pen. Try a little bite of a treat every time your puppy goes potty outside and a lot of praise.


• She doesn't do her business outside because she doesn't know what outside is for. You need to show her what it's for. You might want to take her out every 2 hours. Put her on a feeding schedule so you know when it's time to poop. Take her out 30 minutes after each meal, first thing in the morning (and I mean first thing) right after waking from a nap and right after playing and then every 2 hours in between that. Take her outside on a leash if you can and walk her around. Use a command word like Potty Time or Quick Quick, keep her moving (this stimulates the bowls) take some tasty treats with you and keep her moving till she squats to pee, once she does praise her really well, get excited and give her a treat. Then once she's calmed down try for a poop. If she doesn't then bring her back inside, confine her to a crate or a small room and then try again in 30 minutes.
  
  Look for signs she needs to go, sniffing the floor, circling around sniffing, pick her up immediately to go out repeat above. Once she's done his business bring her back inside. Right now you need to teach her that outside is for your business and nothing else at this time. If you catch her in the act of going, clap your hands together say OUTSIDE in a loud voice to startle her, pick her up and take her straight outside to the grass to go, encourage her and when she goes praise and reward.
  
  If he has an accident in the house, note how long between the last outside excursion that she went so you can adjust your schedule accordingly. Clean up the mess and DO NOT PUNISH OR YELL at the puppy ignore this behavior. You see the puppy cannot distinguish the difference between the act of going or the mess on the floor. If you punish she will associate it with the mess on the floor and that will make her HIDE her poop from you or be afraid of ever going in front of you again. Imagine how hard it will make housebreaking if she is afraid to poop or pee in front of you outside because she's afraid he will get punished for it.
  
  Reward the behavior you want, IGNORE the behavior you do not want. Eventually she'll learn what makes you happy and will continue to try to please you, but you must show her what makes you happy by praising and rewarding the behavior you want, it works the same way for teaching tricks, if you don't you will have one confused dog.
  
  Pick up books in PetSmart on proper housebreaking techniques.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: What is basic obedience dog training? quick 10 points?

What it include?

Commands
Other than commands

Many Thanks

Clicker Dog Training Will Make Your Pet the Next Neighbourhood Wonder

Recommended Answer:
For Basic obedience training you should be learning how to train your dog basic dog obedience commands like: Sit, Down, Come, Stay, Stand, and Heel. You will learn different dog training exercises to gain better attention from your dog, more reliable dog behaviors and techniques to have a calmer pet. You'll learn about leadership, general health & wellness, grooming and fixing or heading off common behavior problems. They will usually address issues such as jumping, digging, chewing, barking, greeting company at the door.
It normally a 6 week course, usually the 1st meeting they have with the owners without the dogs present....once completed you may want to consider moving on to

Intermediate Dog Obedience

In this class you & your dog will learn the basic dog exercises required to earning a Canine Good Citizen certificate (CGC). They will build upon the basic obedience training with this class. You will perform loose lead heeling with left, right and about turns. At this point dogs should be accepting of strangers, sit politely for petting and well mannered while walking through a crowd. Usually reactions to other dogs and distractions will also be part of the exercises.

Once completed they offer other courses.......we start our basic obedience class in Feb., can't wait...=0)

Dog Training DVD, A Great Investment in Your Dog

• Heel, sit, stand, down, stay, come and the finish (return to heel after a recall) make up Basic Obedience Training. Or, should I say, that is what is usually taught in the beginner classes. If you go to Sirius Puppy Training classes, the puppies learn all that *off leash* plus socialize with other dogs & people, learn bite inhibition, no mouthing, no biting, the names of family members and two tricks, food guarding prevention, fighting prevention ... in 6 weeks.
  
  You can also ask all of the questions you want, get help with housebreaking, learn to trim your puppy's nails, find out which are the best toys, bring the whole family, and more.


• In my obedience training class we do attention exercises, sit, down,stay, come, wait, and leave it exercises. It is also important to teach friendly greetings. If you look at the AKC exercises that is an important start to any good obedience training class. Good luck!!!


• your typical sit, stay, down, come, etc...everything that you teach your dog in order for you to stay in control and not have them running your life. I also like to include good walking habits; this gives them good times to social with passerbys and a way for you to connect with them in an easy and fun way


• Sitting, standing, staying calm when ask and house trained.
  Tell it to sit
  Tell it to stand
  Tell it to go outside. which is opening the back door


• Basically,
  
  Sit
  Stay
  Come
  Lay Down
  Heel
  .... and learning impulse control and to listen to his master. Some behavior classes with other dogs can be mixed in, too.


• sit, stay, loose leash walking, down, heel, recall are all basic ob


• Sit
  Stay
  Come
  Heel
  Down

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog training shock collars?

I need opinions from those who have used shock collars to help with the training of their dogs.

My dog is 8 months old, large and active. I would only use the collar for recall when we go off leash in the field, NOTHING else seems to be working. I have tried praise, treats, making excited noises, leash training, but if he sees another person, dog, or anything else, I do not exist anymore.
Now, I know some people are highly against these collars, and I do want your opinions too, but keep in mind, these shocks are NOT a high voltage, I have put it on my own hand, it is a small, low shock that simply gets their attention. I do not see what is wrong with that. I would never use it for barking or anything cruel, just for his own safety and for the sake of other people and dogs in the field.

I need advice on how to go about the recall training the right way, because I do not want to start off wrong.

Learn the Significance of Dog Training Courses

Recommended Answer:
I personally see No problem with some one using a shock collar when they know what they are doing. I think most people including myself have no Idea on how to use a shock collar effectively so I usually worn against it-
However, there is a guy who goes to the same park area I do to let his dog run and he uses a SUPER long lead. I assume it's rope- tied to his collar- and he uses that to train. He's out there every day and when his dog doesn't come back he just real in the line- I think it's a great idea- The dog feels free without actually being free to get away:)

Dog Training Aids - Get The Right Tools For The Job

• I am buying a remote training collar for recall training my Mini Aussie. I have tried treats, clicker training, praise, using a long rope, running away from her, and nothing works.
  
  What I'm going to do is start with her on a long rope and when I call her and she ignores me or tries to go in another direction, I'll give her a little buzz, then recall her again. Then when she gets good at recall, I'd use the collar for when she goes off line, so she doesn't try to herd anyone/anything.


• i have a amstaff terrier, big muscular dog with very high pain tolerance.
  it said on a website not to even use a shock collar on this type of dog because he prolly wouldn't even feel it lol. but i got one anyway because nothing else worked, when he went outside, and for walks.
  to keep him in the back yard, i simply watched him and when he got to a certain point of leaving the back yard, i hit the "beep" button wich only lets out a high pitch noise you can hear as well. at first he paid no attention to this and kept going forward, after he got to another point i would hit the shock button (and yes i have tried this on my self many times on all the levels) so after while i didn't have to shock him any more . he knew as soon as he heard the beeping noise to stop and turn around. and nowa days he can roam freely without any collar or leash in the yard because he knows. as far as walking goes back in the day i put him on a leash and the shock collar and when he would try and pull me to go after someone or a squirrel or etc... then i would "beep" him and that's all it took. now all this time i used treats when good, and voice commands as well. so now he doesnt need the collar at all. its all voice commands now.


• my dogs have an invisible fence all around the yard which they were trained on so that they know the boundaries of the property and how far they can go. The dogs first hear a beeping noise and then if they go too far they get a shock. I think that if the dog is smart enough it will rarely get shocked, because the dog will pick up what it can and can not do. I think that if nothing else works this is definitely a good idea.


• I read the answer you got from ashley and she is right. I've trained hounds for years on a nintey foot rope and a shock colar. It has been very productive. Like humans dogs also have their own mind. The smarter the dog the less you have to sting him or her. I've had dogs that it only took one time, no joke. Probably the worst took two weeks. Just remember dogs like treats and praise. So be sure to let them know good or bad. I also use voice commands for standard training. Keep the commands simple. No. At. Good. and so on. Once the dog learns the voice commands should take over.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training advice.?

Give me the best tips you can on training a dog...specifically a six month old Australian Cattle Dog (Blue heeler).
His name is Dexter.

Using Dog Training Collars to Train Your Dog

Recommended Answer:
Start with the basics- Sit, Stay, Lay, Shake and Come. Use treats as a reward when he does the trick. With the Come command my dog does best with a treat and a whistle- I whistle and when he comes he gets his treat- it works especially well when you're at a dog park and 5 dogs all have the same name. The most important thing is to have patience. You have a smart breed so he should be a bit easier to train than other dogs. Working dogs love to learn new tricks because they feel like they are earning their keep and that they are making you happy- which they strive for. Once he knows the basics you can get creative and find new things to teach him. You can also make him start earning his food and toys- make him sit before he's fed or make him lay down or shake for a toy. They love that. Really there's no limit to what you can teach them once you have the basics down.

Oh- another thing I do is a hand signal with the word (like if I want him to lay down I say Lay and then hold my hand flat horizontally in the air). That way I can communicate with him in more than one way- either verbal or with signals.

Don't forget to take him on at least 2 long walks a day (30minutes-1hr). The more energy he's able to get out the less destructive and disobedient he'll be. Another thing you can do is hide his toys around the house or in the yard. That hones his scent skills and requires him to focus.

Also- If you are still having problems I'd highly recommend watching It's Me or the Dog. It's on Animal Planet and it's a GREAT show. It's taught me a lot.Best of Luck!!

Clicker Dog Training - Getting Started Clicker Training

• Always start with the basics and since he's still a pup - sign up for some obedience classes so you can work as a team.


• Blue Heelers need to use their natural instincts to herd animals. My best advice is to find a sheep farm and find out if he can work there for a couple hours a week.
  
  My second best advice is to get him into agility classes if he can't actually herd sheep. Agility training will keep his mind busy as well as his body.


• Don't put up with anything now that you don't want to put up with for the rest of his life.
  
  Short training sessions, often. Keep them fun. Always end on a positive note.
  
  (Flyball is more fun and more affordable than either herding or agility .. and cattle dogs ROCK at it. Frisbee too!)


• He's still a puppy so he's not going to focus much when your trying to train him. So you shouldnt let training last too long. Start with Basics...
  Sit is the easiest one. give him a treat to get his attention. He's going to want more..let him figure out when you want him to do. Give him a sign with your hand that you will use as "sit" (i.e face your palm up..then close it) He'll jump and circle and try to figure out how to get it..then he will sit. As he's moving to sit say the word and give him a treat. He'll connect his action with your word AND sign.
  Lay Down can be difficult. And there are many ways to teach this. Kneel infront of your dog. Have him sit and drag the treat on the grown toward you and say "Lay Down". He'll follow it with his paws and when he lays down give it to him. Another way is (for small dogs) sit on the floor your dog at your side. Whatever side he's on...Bend that knee. and hold the treat between your legs. He'll have to crawl under your leg to get it. While he's crawling say "Lay Down" For Big dogs simply show them the treat...put it on the floor and cover it with your hand. They'll have to lay down to try and get it.
  Come can be used with a whistle (or you can whistle yourself) sit the dog in front of you and whistle then give him a treat. Then turn around and whistle. When he comes to face you and sits infront of you, give him a treat. He'll learn to go to you when you whistle.
  Jump up...just hold the treat up in the air and their jump to get it.


• read cesar millan's books and/or watch his show "the dog whisperer". get your puppy into a puppy training class from petsmart or wherever. start right away.


• AmyPatricia, I love the look of a australian cattle dog. They are so cute.


• There are many basic strategies you can try. The Internet is filled with them. However, if you are very serious and would like a well trained dog, it could take some work. I suggest you take a look at:
  
  http://www.squidoo.com/dog_obedience_training
  
  and see what the possibilities are. Obviously some breeds are well more suitable for certain tasks than others.


• Hi, I once adopted a dog from the local shelter and I had a terrible time trying to train him. Whenever he was left alone he would make a real mess! Anything I said was always just a suggestion to him that he could ignore. He was so rambunctious. He would not do anything I said.
  I tried lessons with the local trainer but those didn't work! But then I found a great dog training book series called "My Dog Tutor". I got my hands on these books and was able to fully train my dog in 4 weeks, I was so proud.
  Now I'm thinking about adopting a 3rd dog because it's just so easy to train them now!

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Potty Bell dog training?

I'm bringing my puppy home soon and I am wondering how I can train my dog to ring the potty bell to indicate it needs to go outside! I'm going to use the crate training technique with it.

Can I teach her this immediately or should I wait until I'm a few months into crate training?
What do I do if she keeps ringing the bell to get my attention or to play outside instead?

10 points for best answer!

Dog Training Schools - What a Typical Course Covers

Recommended Answer:
Ring the bell everytime you take the puppy outside to potty, make sure you use the word potty or outside as well. A good training method is to praise the pup and say 'good boy/girl OUTSIDE' when they do go outside. And when they have an accident inside use a stern voice to let them know you are not happy and say 'OUTSIDE' and then take them out where they are supposed to go.
As long as you ring the bell when taking them out, they will get the hang of it and mimic that, its just like any other training, it takes a little while for them to catch on. I have never had a dog ring the bell just for attention, although sometimes they do ring it just to go outside and play, but its not enough of a problem to cause much of an issue and I have 4 dogs we use that tool on.

Agility Dog Training, Key to a Great Sport

• Simply ring the bell everytime you bring her outside to potty. All you need is patience she will eventually learn but it will take time.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: DS: Why dog training classes rarely address behavior issues beyond puppy/beginning classes?

I was just thinking and pondering that all the dog training classes I've seen no longer address behavioral issues pass beginning. Or do yours?

Is there a reason why most dog training places don't address correcting behavioral issues in classes pass beginning classes? Since behavioral issues will most likely also come up pass puppy months and/or a 8 week beginning course, why wouldn't they also address them in those classes? It's weird to me, because I would think they would continue to.

Given, intermediate and advance classes need a lot time to teach new cues/proof old ones but I think behavioral issues should also be addressed. I don't know. Any opinions or experiences?

A Look At Bird Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
i think the trainers kinda rely on the questions coming from the students.
if they don't have any problems and they are not asked to solve a question,
they don't go there.
my trainers always asked if someone has problems and/or questions.
i have dealt with 4 different trainers.
they adressed jumping, nipping and housebreaking.

Teaching Your Dogs The Basics Of Dog Training

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog training - Vocal commands and hand signals?

For example, if you were training your dog to give his left paw and his right paw, what commands would you use and why?

Also, do you use hand signals as well? Or just vocal commands?

Puppy Dog Training For Obedience - How To Train Your Dog Puppy Properly

Recommended Answer:
I always use BOTH. But.. they usually respond to non-verbal commands better.
Even human do.. researcher tell us the 98% of communication between humans is non-verbal.

What You Should Know About Dog Training Techniques

• My dog learned faster for hand signals, so I started with hand signals and added commands later, I also did some clicker training, works amazing!!
  I use hand out and say paw for shake, hand slid back for crawl, hand up for sit and hand down for lay down, etc.
  My Mom uses completely different commands for her dogs tho, whatever works for you.


• I will usually teach Hand Signals and Voice Commands, and either use both, or one or the other when my dog has been trained to respond to the command.
  Because 'shake' isnt an Obedience command that you are going to get tested on- there is no right or wrong way to teach it.
  Some people prefer to have the dog shake hands like a human- i.e. Right paw to right hand.
  
  I generally just let the dog choose, but encourage the dog to reflect my hands (i.e. right hand, left paw because she is facing me)
  I dont have my dog trained to shake hands on voice command, because I like to add different words, so they work only on the hand signal.
  I love asking my dog 'do we have a deal?' and presenting my hand for her to shake.
  
  When you have the dog trained to touch each hand- rather than just the standart handshake, you can start to play 'patty cakes' with them, or train them to 'give 10' where they put both hands up.
  I like this with dogs that are prone to jumping up on people because it encourages their natural behaviour provided that it is under your control.


• IDK, the words/signal I give just kinda happens, I don't think about the cue too much.
  
  Hand signals first,then I add vocal. My sheltie responds to both.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: If I have multiple dog training sprays will my dog get confused?

Like if I have a spray to tell him not to pee there, and if I have one to tell him where to pee.

The Three Dog Training Mistakes You Should Avoid

Recommended Answer:
Take your dog out on a regular basis. Forget the "sprays". That is a lazy way of non-training a dog.

Some Less Obvious Benefits of Dog Training - Help For Owners of Older Dogs

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: What's the best site for dog training?

I have a new Golden Retriever, and I was hoping for some help with training her. I'm not looking for the clicker training method. I just want her to associate tricks with voice command and hand signals.

Dog Training Tips

Recommended Answer:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;…

Here is something that you may want to look into. I will not go into it again, but, read up on it and then make a decision. Good luck and I hope I helped.

Easy Steps to Boxer Dog Training

• The clicker is good but I recommend taking your pup to a puppy training school like the ones they have at Pet Smart. Or you can go to Barnes and Noble they have a ton of books available. Also check out Ceasars videos!


• 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…


• Wonderful secrets to train your dog
  
  What are the problems that you may experience with a dog is not trainedDoes your dog is causing you problems, does your dog bark constantly and cause inconvenience to you and your neighbors, do you lose control of your dog.
  
  Problems may be many, but nevertheless there are many excellent dog training programs and strong, though mostly very expensive, but after a long search found a remarkable program has been used too many dog breeders and the name of this program (the secrets to dog training) and this Program has been used by more than 225 breeders of dogs around the world. Program qualifies for your dog professionally trained. And there with the mainland.
  
  The secrets to dog training prepares you for your dog professionally trained. There are success stories with the program for many people who have succeeded in training their dogs.What are the advantages of the secrets to dog training?
  
  1 - Save a professional coach salary and we know that they are paid thousands of dollars
  2 - the ability to deal with all kinds of dogs, whether puppies or adult dog
  3 - To reduce incidents that may be caused by non-trained dog
  
  Some important tips to control the stubborn dog
  
  1 - Make the dog feel thy might, and your control it
  2 - Use the many styles of leadership, which will be in the program learn the secrets to dog training
  3 - Look out for unwanted behavior and tried to immediately rectified and the program will help you to assess your dog for bad behavior in a short time
  
  4 - dogs are challenging but will be afraid of you if he feels you are stronger than.
  
  5- Remember, dogs know ONLY "dog language" when they come to live with us. WE must teach them our language. In the above examples, Major did not learn OUR translation for the word "COME". He learned "COME" meant "angry owner – I'm in trouble now. Better scram out of here!" We want Major to learn that "COME" means "Get your buns to me in the fastest way possible – NO EXCEPTIONS!" Major needs to understand that COME means GOOD stuff – ALWAYS!
  
  Success StoriesKirsty Halleran
  To: Secrets to Dog Training
  Subject: I now have control over my two dogs!
  Both dogs are very loving, fun and loyal but I've had to get a dog behaviourist out in the past as Molly's a rescue dog, has a nervous disposition and a habit of going bonkers through fear by barking, growling and trying to nip/bite. I think she was abused before I got her as she is extremely scared of children and doesn't particularly like strangers and other dogs. She loves the family and those she knows but it was/is really worrying so the fear biting section has been great for tips on dealing with that.
  
  They know now who's the alpha and don't try nearly as much nonsense as they used to. Obviously I'm not expecting them to change overnight, I realise I have to be rigorous in the re-training but so far they're coming along great!
  
  I really wish I'd heard/got the Secrets to Dog Training books years ago, in my opinion no dog owner should be without a copy. They're brilliant, very easy to understand/follow and they results are amazing! Please find attached my photo of myself and the dogs."
  -- Kirsty Halleran (UK)
  From: Dr. Stanley Hyman
  To: Secrets to Dog Training
  Subject: At last, No More Jumping!
  "Hi Daniel, Our Bichon, Jasmine, is a very friendly little dog who loves everyone she meets and shows it by jumping up on them. By following the instructions in your Secrets to Dog Training book, we were able to control her jumping."
  -- Dr.Stanley Hyman (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)What will you learn with the secrets to dog training?
  Here's a Small Sample of What You'll Learn
  
  1-Need to stop your dog from trying to fight with other dogs? Learn the best ways to break up dog fights and prevent them from ever happening again.(page 84-86)
  2-Want to know how to curb your dog's aggressiveness? Learn six powerful strategies for training aggressive dogs. (pages 60-72)
  3-Did you know that your dog may not know why you are trying to correct him? Learn how to make him understand. This will remove the frustration and rapidly increase the speed of your dog's learning. (Page 37, plus further communication strategies provided throughout)
  4-All the secrets of professional dog trainers are revealed, and best of all are easy to apply! Stop wasting hundreds of dollars (chapters 103, 201, and 301)
  5-Does your dog require urgent dog house training? Learn the dog house training techniques you must know that get the fastest results, whether you keep your dog indoors or outdoors. (chapters 103, 203, 302 - also on our video - plus house training bonus book)
  6-Sick of having your dog race out the front door? Read my book and you'll never have to worry about this again. (page 116)
  7-Got a dominant dog? We teach you how to deal with him. (chapters 201, 202, plus bonus book). In our downloadable video, Dave explains ‘The Alp


• www.dragonflyllama.com

Read More...