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

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Help with my puppy training please?

years ago i had a dog from a puppy i took him to dog training etc , however he always managed to pull on the lead and will never walk beside us
he past away 2 years ago

we now have a gorgeous new puppy can you give me some advice on how to train her so she doesnt pull on the lead and so we can take her lead off without worrying of her running away
she will be with us on th 14th of august as she is still to young to be seperated from her mummy
she will be 9 weeks old then
so at what age is it best to start her training and how can i proceed thank you
need a serious answer

NO BAD COMMENTS OR YOU WILL BE REPORTED

Dog Training Clubs - A Great Way to Help Train and Socialize Your Dog



Recommended Answer:
yes...as others have said...training starts from day 1.
never allow a leash pull, get puppy used to wearing a harness or muzzle if required, the earlier you start, the more tolerant they will be when older.
i get my tips at http://pitbull-secrets.com

Dog Training Tips - Dog Distraction Training


  • Don't ever allow the puppy to pull on the lead ever. On the recall do not allow her a choice not to come. Start your training right away. Get her into an excellent puppy training (not socialization) class right away. Find an instructor that does competition training. They seem to be the best at training with motivational techniques and preventing bad habits. Who knows you might pick up a new hobby.

  • You can always start training on day one! It's never to early, the earlier the better because the dog may get some bad habits. And to get him to walk nicely is whenever he pulls, stop for a few seconds then start again, if he pulls again stop, and keep on doing that, because when your walking your dog it's a reward right? They enjoy going for walks, and if you keep on stopping then it's not much of a reward! Hope this helps!(:

    Take this quiz and see if you really know how to train a puppy : http://training.petsmart.com/quizzes_pet…

  • These work great! Its called a gentle lead. They prevent the dog from pulling, and trains them to walk next to you. I see a lot of clients use them.

    http://www.petedge.com/product/Training-…

    AND

    zhttp://www.petedge.com/product/Training-…

  • ..so if you dont like my comment, you'll report me? W.O.W O_ohttp://www.berkspets.com/article.aspx?id…

    here's a link for your peoblem

  • They are never to young to start learning.
    We walk our dog on a "Canny Collar" (basically a headcollar for dogs) which allows us to control his head. There are similar things which have an added harness.
    The stop/start on walks is great and you can always add in sit commands. Be sure to praise your dog when she walks to heel.
    You can hold a treat to your side to encourage her to stay close although my dogs tend to get too distracted by the food and don't walk nicely.
    As for the running away when off lead - train her to come back. When you are out on walks can you have her on an extendable lead? If so, use this to allow her "freedom" and then call her back. If she doesn't come back you still have control with the lead. Praise her when she does come back and keep at it regularly through your walks.
Read More...

Friday, September 28, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training Please Help!! :(?

I have two puppies and they are difficult to say the least. They are both about 2 1/2 or 3, and they have forgotten all of their obedience training. Basic things like Sit and Stay and the like. I'm going to try to re-train them and I wanted to know are they too old? Any training tips? And lately the dachshund has had a problem with biting? How do I work with that? She has been biting a lot and refusing to be collared or leashed or touched. Please Help! And no rude answers!

Need Help With Dog Training? Help is at Hand



Recommended Answer:
I know firsthand having dogs that will not obey is very upsetting. But there is hope! It will take lots of time and attention. I would suggest training each dog separately. With our three dogs, it's very difficult to try and train when they are all together. Many training videos and helpful tips are available on a site called Basic Dog Training. The address is http://www.basicdogtraining.info.

Hopefully you will start seeing good results soon and have more peace!

Regards,

Dog Training Tip - Leash-Collar Training


  • No dog is too old for training. It might just take some dogs a little longer.

    The best thing you can do is train them separately. It can get a little hectic trying to train them at the same time. Just make sure to be consistent and use positive reinforcement.

    As far as the biting from the Dachshund, be very careful. Do NOT try to grab her muzzle and use force to try and stop it; that will only cause your dog to fear you and you'll probably get bit and make the situation worse.
    Is there a particular thing that sets her off to bite? Best to try and figure out the reason before trying to fix the problem. You probably want to consult with a reputable trainer or behaviorist.

  • They are not too old. They will catch on quicker now than when they were pups.
    Google positive reinforcement training
    Use praise and rewards. No hitting.
    Teach the one who will not be collared or leashed a 100% reliable sit/stay and down/stay in various locations. Place the dog in a sit/stay or down/stay before attempting to collar or leash.
    Praise and reward when the dog is still and obedient.
    Enroll in an obedience class.
    Hire a private trainer to work with the biting problem.

  • Usually dog needs to be well trained and socialized to cultivate good habits in it. A dog can go through obedience training and not be obedient. If a dog is referred to as being obedience trained it should comply immediately with every command its handler gives. There are so many dog training clubs that are usually very sociable and get great enjoyment in training their pets.

  • I have to agree with Khayos, although at different points in puppies' lives, they will completely forget their training and you just have to retrain them.
    Puppies need to know much more than sit and stay. I would take professional classes and do some researching.
    On the dachshund, she might need some animal behaviorist work. Dachies can be very nippy.

  • they are def not too old. i taught my 14 year old dog to sit stay and lay down one day. like when you're teaching them to lay down sit on the ground and prop one leg up make them lay under it to get a treat. but i learned how to train mine from it's me or the dog on animal planet. haha kinda pathetic i know but it helped ALOT.

  • Get a professional trainer, take them to OB classes.

    You sound like you're in over your head. Dachshund are snarky dogs as well.

  • Are these puppies that are 2-1/2 to 3 months old, or adult dogs that are 2-1/2 to 3 years old?

    They aren't too old. If they are years old, enroll them in obedience school; you'll learn how to handle them and the dogs will bond with you more tightly.

    re biting:

    When she bites, take hold of her skull in both hands, holding her muzzle shut. Look down into her eyes and growl at her, in as low and forceful a voice as you can manage, "NO! NO TEETH!" Then push her away and turn your back on her. Refuse to acknowledge her for at least three minutes unless she jumps on you: if she jumps and puts her paws on you, turn around fast with both arms swung wide and high over your head, to make you look HUGE, and snap, "NO! BAD DOG." Then turn away again and continue to ignore her. When she comes up to you with her ears flattened and her tailtip wagging, then tell her she's wonderful and resume what you were doing before she started biting.

    Repeat as necessary. Make sure everyone in your household does this.

  • No they aren't to old to learn, no dog ever is.

    For doxie that's started biting, a vet check is order. She could have something going causing her pain.

    I'll give you this example. Man and his border collie went running every day, they both loved it. Eventually the collie started growling, biting and snapping at the guy every time he went to put the collar and leash on for run. Took the dog in for a vet check, turns out she had severe hip dysplasia and the running had become to painful for her. Putting the collar and leash on was the cue that she was going a very painful run, so she protested.

    That owner has now found other means of exercising his dog, she no longer bites when the collar and leash come out, and while he misses his running partner a bit, both parties a very happy again.

  • Firstly, if your dogs are together it's best to separate
    them, especially if your dachshund is biting your
    other dog.
    Dogs are never too old to learn anything. One reason
    for why they are hard to train could be because when
    they were younger they were never fully trained, and
    the training tactics used weren't used consistently.
    To try a dog you have to be consistent and VERY
    patient. It is best to train dogs while they are puppies
    because when they get older they (should) behave
    well around other dogs.
    Right now I am training my
    puppy to play nicely with the older dogs while he is
    a puppy because his antagonizing the other dogs does
    not annoy them as much as it would if he were a full
    grown dog trying to dominate the others. However,
    since your dogs are older it is best to train them
    separately.
    Your dog HAS to be leashed. Does she bite at you when you
    try to leash her? If you can't touch her w/o getting nipped at
    then you cannot keep her - this is dangerous. If she just skirms
    and runs away, be forceful, because training goes over well
    when you use a choke-chain and leash. You can use them to help
    train them to sit and stay and reward them with treats and praise
    when they behave well, but she has to be leashed, especially since
    most cities have leash laws.
    If your dog is biting you, pop her nose with a rolled newspaper
    or firmly squeeze his muzzle, and say "NO!" (don't use your
    hand because when you go to pet them they might think you're
    about to discipline them). If your dog lashes back at you with
    more force, go to your vet with the problem - you shouldn't keep
    a dog that is exhibiting this type of activity, because it could
    get worse. Honestly, older dogs CAN get "set in their ways". If your
    dogs have never been leashed or are not used to being touched
    and they threaten you with their teeth, then it is not best to try to
    train them.

  • Kudos to you for re-training them.

    For sit, take a very small treat (no bigger then a pea) and put it in your hand. hold it in front of their nose and slowly move your hand backwards and a little bit upwards. they should sit. Say sit, then give them the treat and say good boy/girl. Do this until they can sit without the hand signal. For stay, get them to sit. Then say stay and start walking backwards. Expect them to get up. When they do, go back to start and repeat the process. After you have walked back three steps say okay and give them a treat. (saying okay means they can move to come and get the treat.) Then praise them. For lie down, put your hand on the floor with the treat in your hand. Wait 'til they lie down. It's a lot like sit.

    For training tips: they say what makes people disappointed/angry is too-high expectations. So expect your dogs not to do it right until they actually do it right, if you know what I mean.

    As for the biting and such, I don't know how to correct it (because I've never had a problem with it) but I know it needs to be corrected asap. I also think I know why it's happening. Your dog feels threatened by something, and she's now trying to protect herself at all costs. Do you like to snuggle her? I know it sounds mean, but if you keep her close to you at all times she may feel like you're a dead goose hanging over her neck for lack of better words. If it continues, it could be a serious problem. We don't want to have Cesar or Victoria step in now would we. (;

    Good luck!
Read More...

Monday, September 3, 2012

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

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

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

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

Thank you!

Basic Dog Training Obedience - Puppy Behavior Tips



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

Police Dog Training


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Do you like Ed Frawley's training methods?

For those of you who don't him here's a link

http://leerburg.com/dogtrainingebooks.ht…

Look at Ed Frawleys Philosophy on Dog Training

Personally all the dogs I've trained were by his ways and I've had excellent results and I love him. His training methods that is. I was just wondering what othes thought of him.

So You Want A Career In Dog Training



Recommended Answer:
Like a lot of trainers and training methods, I feel he's got things to offer that are "of value", and things I'd personally prefer to stay away from.

His techniques aren't suitable for all breeds, or all dogs for that matter, but for higher-drive working breeds like his GSD's and Malinois, I think he's got the right basic approach. His methods applied to my breed (Basenjis) or any sighthound, would be a disaster....they simply SHUT DOWN when you apply even a small degree of force or discipline.

He seems to think "purely positive" clicker and treat methods are "ineffective" and people only use them because they think it's "politcally correct".....yet Basenjis and sighthounds aren't at all motivated by a desire to work with people. I use treats and clickers because it WORKS for my Basenjis, not because I think other methods are "un-PC". I used a prong collar and many methods similar to Frawley's when I trained my late Boxer in Obedience and they worked WONDERS.....for her!

I disagree with his blanket statements in that regard...there is no "black and white" when it comes to a ONE BEST training method for all dogs. I think it's good for anyone who trains, to be knowledgeable about many different methods....not everything works for every dog!

I know that there is some debate in the "working dog world" regarding his advanced training methods for Schutzhund, Ring, etc. I have no real personal experience in this arena (just some research and a lot of hope that one day I'll be in a position to train my own dog in SchH :). So I don't know who's right and who's wrong....but I do know a lot of people disagree with Ed's methods and just plain DON'T LIKE HIM....lol.

I got curious one day because he does say a lot of things on his site that'd raise the hackles of some folks, so I did a web search to see if he had any "detractors" so to speak...he does! A whole website devoted to it, actually.....it didn't change my opinion of him much (I didn't really have a strong one to begin with), but it did make for some interesting reading, and gave me a little perspective:

http://www.sl-prokeys.com/wffcw/indexmen…

Small Dog Training - Obstacles You Need to Know About


  • Mr. Frawley is a yank-n-crank trainer who cannot keep his stories straight. I've spoken with him via email because of my male's issues and the only thing he could come up with was either pay 500$ to send him up there for training or euthanize him. Meeting aggression with aggression escalates the aggression. This is bad, a dog is naturally armed whereas a human isn't. There are several petitions going around to get him charged with animal cruelty because of his 'training methods' and BTW, most of the supposed letters on his site are fake. He does it for publicity and to draw a gathering. I own his 'training' videos since a friend donated them to me and you can tell they are out dated. They also are very contradictory.

    I found a better way and the dog I was told to 'euthanize because he's in desperate need of being dominated or risk him killing someone' is no longer even close to being as reactive or aggressive. I prefer my dogs to show me 'submission' by their own choice than force them into a submissive role and risk them turning on me. Cooperation is much better than coercion. You should try it sometime.

  • I have known Ed for about 20 years..he is really good at what he does and I agree with the vast majority of what he says and does. Do I agree with everything he says...no, I do not, but, over all I think Ed is one of the most knowledgeable people out there with a lot of great ideas to offer to anyone that is willing to listen!!

  • I really like most of his methods. If it "ain't broke, don't fix it". You have had dogs that were obviously good candidates for his methods and it works for you. I have one GSD that would probably die if I tried his methods right now. He is a rescue and had never been on a leash, so I am making baby steps. Most of his methodology are things that I have used in the past with other dogs, mostly GSDs.

  • My philosophy has always been to, "take what works for you" and file the rest away for another day. Even bad advice is good to be aware of. I never stick to one person's method. After all, "it's their method", and I'm not them. I recommend reading up on and trying out from many different "methods" to give you a feel for what works for you and thus, the dog.

    Dogs are not cookies to be cut the same way every time, and I've not met one dog who's read any books on how they should be trained.

  • Not any more enamored by his methods than that dog whisperer guy - he is selling a product (actually lots of them) and the bottom line is the bottom line.

  • Very interesting you asked this...I was just moments ago reading some of his articles.

    I'm still up in the air on my opinion. I like a lot of what I was reading, but there were several things I ran across that I can't see myself doing (ie...slamming my dog into the wall with my knee if he attempts to race past me down the stairs.) He does have a lot of good information though; I was just reading up on pack dynamics and dealing with dominant dogs.

  • What people have to remember is that no one method is perfect for every dog. Out of my 5 dogs only 2 ever require the Leerburg type training and they are my more dominant, stubborn dogs, the other 3 rarely need anything more than a stern "NO" and doing what Ed Frawley suggests with those 3 dogs would likely scare them to death! That doesn't mean his methods don't have merit, just that it's not right for every dog or every person for that matter. Not every person is capable of training an aggressive dog the way he suggests.
    I agree with a lot of what he says and I think with the right dog and the right person his methods are 100% effective, with the wrong person that is not capable of doing it correctly or with the wrong dog, they could be a disaster.
Read More...

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog Behaviorists, tell me more?

Okay, I've been an obedience instructor for 30+ years. I've been Director of Training at two clubs. One was the largest obedience club in the Chicago area (Fox Valley Dog Training Club).

One of the things that drives me crazy about obedience instructors is that there is NO national organization that certifies instructors. There are a couple of organizations but they have no idea how you actually teach, and whether you're any good.

Anyone can put up a sign and declare to the world that they are a, "certified obedience instructor, or Master obedience instructor".

I have noticed quite a few people here using the terms dog behaviorist, certified dog behaviorist, or Master certified behaviorist.

I'm not trying to put any of you on the defensive, and am honestly asking this question.

Is there any validity to these "titles"? In addition to taking some type of test, what else do you have to PROVE to some organization? Who are the certifying organizations?

Electronic Dog Training Collar



Recommended Answer:
There is no legally required certification standard for dog trainers. Technically, an animal behaviorist is someone who has a PhD in behavior and has passed an exam (Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist) or is a veterinarian with a specialization in behavior (Board Certified Veterinary Behaviorist), so that title applies to very few dog trainers.

Programs offering "certification" or titles are only as good as their standards.

The Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers offers national certification based on humane training practices and the latest scientific knowledge related to dog training. Trainers certified through CCPDT have to earn continuing education credits to maintain their certification. They must also adhere to a strict Code of Ethics in their dog training practices. They may use the letters CPDT (Certified Pet Dog Trainer) after their names.

The International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants offers certification via a comprehensive peer review of core competencies, such as assessment and intervention strategies, counseling skills and social systems assessment, behavioral science, and knowledge of animal behavior. The designation CDBC (Certified Dog Behavior Consultant) may be used by applicants who complete the certification process and also maintain ethical and continuing education standards.

Dog Training vs Horse Training


  • I am not a behaviorist (not the way you mean anyway) however I have studied many training methods, breeds, etc. and have worked with dogs for over 15 years.

    I think like all professions it is good to have some type of cert. to weed out the wanna be's from the real deal. However I think ultimately.....what speaks for how good of a trainer/behaviorist you are is your ability to work with dogs & how satisfied clients are with your work.

    I worked with a trainer when I first started out with dogs who was well known, cert. & even worked with the Denver Zoo. I now know thru experience this person and the whole facility as a whole knew squat about training or even caring for dogs for that matter.

    I have seen many who work on their own & have a natural ability to work with animals & dogs, such as Cesar Millan.

    As you say there are org. who do cert. but as you say they don't have the greatest screening process.

    I think when it all boils down to it...people will recognize you for who you are. Most of my family including myself have been in nursing for years....there are many "cert" caregivers who I wouldn't hire to care for my dog much less a loved family member. There are many who are CNA's that have more knowledge many times then LPNs & even RNs. My sister has a daughter on life support and has to teach RNs how to care for her, despite the fact my sister has no formal med. training.

    But your right...anyone can claim to be something their not, thats a given in any profession.

  • I have had a pack of dogs about 10 dogs, all house dogs, all very large and all running together, not seperated for 20 years. I have trained and competed in confirmation , draft, tracking, obedience, and weight pull, I always have a dog or 2 in classes at least 2 days a week . I always go to different classes with differant trainer, I find many of the certified trainer know far less then me.But I do learn something different for each of them . I am always learning. I often wonder how some of them get certified when they do not understand some very subtle dog body language and many can not tell the difference from a dominant aggressive dog and a fear aggressive dog. not an answerer just an opinion.

  • Hey Judge. Either you developed a sense of humor these last couple of days or you are actually serious here, I am not sure which yet. How many answers did you expect to get from all the "experts"? I am waiting too......

  • That's the problem, it's hard to know who actually knows what they're talking about and who just claims to be a trainer or behaviorist. And the ones who know nothing can talk up a storm and sound pretty convincing. We have a guy in our area, calls himself a Master Trainer and says he used to train for a police force, I wouldn't let him anywhere near my dogs. But then, I wouldn't let Cesar Milan near my dogs either.....

    We have the same problem with grooming, ANYONE can put up a sign and claim to be a groomer. There is certification from the NDGAA, but I've seen plenty of Certified Master Groomers that I wouldn't let touch any dog of mine, whereas I know plenty of excellent groomers that simply didn't feel it was worth spending the money and effort for the piece of paper.

    Hey, anybody remember Barbara Woodhouse? "WALKIES!"

  • Hey, I'm a scientific genius also Wonder Woman in my spare time. Now you just go ahead and disprove that. I can be whatever I want on the computer. And if you ask me something I don't know the answer to, I will google it and look real smart. I trained my Saints to ride bicycles on a high wire without a net.........so put that in your pipe and smoke it. With some of the answers I've seen here there are a lot of people smoking something.

  • The other day I was certified Hoo-Hoo Master. Does that count?

    I have never claimed to be anything other than Hoo-Hoo master. I know a behaviourist came an evaluated my aunt and uncle's cats (yea, those are people with too much time and too much money). After 300.00 the lady told them what they already knew (she validated their opinion, should have mentioned YA for them, they could have gotten that for free!!). They seemed real pleased with themselves and their purchase. The rest of my family sat there with our mouths open. I am thinking - auntie, I would have told you that for 300.00 send it my way - I could use it!

    I consider myself to be well educated, I have my MS in chemistry. I teach at a college. I know good websites from bad ones. I am currently in obedience class. I have 3 dogs. Every day I learn something new about them (they are younger dogs). Every day I learn what works (for them!) and what doesn't. Every day we make some progress and take a few steps backwards.

    But as far as titles, they are a bunch of hooey (notice, not hoo-hoo, that's my title!)

    There are lots of different ways of doing things (teaching, learning, training). I say, if it's not endangering you or another, and it is working for you, at least you are one step above the rest of the people that don't do jack sh-- with their dogs. One of my dogs had the crap beat out of him, negative reinforcement goes the wrong way with him. The other, he needs the negative reinforcement.

    Do I wish their was certification, classes, a test/examination to prove that you are a qualified behaviourist/trainer - you bet I do. I just can't see it happening.

  • You are absolutely correct, anyone can declare themselves a trainer and I do not think that there is any validity to the titles. I do not know of many organizations that certify dog trainers. I know of APDT and all they do is administer a test and if you pass you are then certified as a pet dog trainer but they do not observe the teaching style or even attend any of the classes taught by the applicant so even their certification is worthless.
    I learned a long time ago that you need to research an obedience instructor just as much as you would a breeder because too many that claim to be knowledgeable are not. This type of instructor can cause more harm than good. I think knowledge comes from experience and that is why it is important to visit a class or two before deciding to give your money to anyone who claims to be a Master Dog Trainer.
    Answers people get in this forum should be researched and not taken as gold because it is too easy to claim to be something you are not.
    I do think it would be a good idea to have some type of certification but the problem I see with that is who would get to decide what is the right training technique? I think too many people claim to be experts and there are many different styles of training so it would be a big problem.

    Do you still instruct classes and if so where in Chicago? I live in Chicago so I was curious.

  • If anybody is interested, they can send me a check and I'll be happy to send them a certificate naming them a "Certified Dog Obedience Trainer" from the Ginbail Animal Behavior Training Institute (GABTI).

    All kidding aside, The Association of Professional Dog Trainers (APDT) is the only organization I know of that has ever gained any sort of reputability (albeit minimal) as a certificate writing group for dog trainers. Does their certificate impress me? Not really, but a "certified trainer" could do worse.

  • Sir,
    I am not a dog expert nor am I a trainer, nor am I a behaviorist.
    I have read with alarm this being stated in the source box for many people lately. I know of no certification with in my state for this either.
    I am very interested also how one acquires this title too.

    Add: I dont usually answer those types of questions I e-mail people who know what their talking about like you! And Greekman!

    One thing I am guilty of is I did give Beleiver the title of Hoo-Hoo OK Master. And darn proud that I did!

  • I have never heard of a "real"certified professional in any of these categories although they could call themselves professional if they are paid for their services. I have never known of courses to gain certification in Ontario.

    To me to be a certified anything you need to do a course and pass an exam and earn the certification papers. If there is no classes and no exam this just can;t happen.

    Probably something else like these no name dog registries where you can buy papers that mean absolutely nothing.

  • Just like most organizations, a certification means just over nothing. There is no way to police all of it's certified members and therefore no way to prove they have a brain cell functioning well enough to know what they are doing. You find people with no certification that know more about dogs than 90% of the certified ones.
    I am by no means a pro trainer, but I work in rescue and have fostered 20+ dogs in the last 5 years and by doing so have had to teach myself as well as learn from others what I did not already know and I am willing to admit I know nowhere near everything, but I do feel with a good amount of experience I know more than the average person.
    I think someone that is dedicated to dogs, willing to learn and willing to be open minded to new methods as well as has a good strong head about dog behavior can be an excellent trainer regardless of a little slip of paper.
    The problem I find with people here claiming to be a trainer is it becomes apparent they have never worked with dogs when they answer the tough questions like aggression issues. Anyone who has truly worked with aggressive dogs would not put down the use of a good electronic collar nor would they suggest the alpha roll in a dog ready to bite you. I wouldn't come close to alpha rolling a dog ready to bite me!! The only time I do the alpha roll is when my dog wants a belly rub.
    Anyway, I don't take too much stock in the so called TITLES here. I saw someone claiming to be a vet misspell not only the breed but the ailment as well. Some vet!
    I was Miss America by the way. 4 years in a row.

  • Do they not test you in person to become a CPDT?

    It is my understanding that the Karen Pryor Academy will have a very rigorous testing procedure for clicker trainers. That may not be of any interest to you, depending on your training style.

    I believe anyone can call themselves an animal behaviorist or dog behaviorist. There is a board for applied behavior analysts, but that could mean you know everything about Operant Conditioning, but have never applied that knowledge in the training of a dog.
Read More...

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training?

I just adopted a new dog from the pound a couple weeks ago. I have to leave him at home for about 5 to six hours a day......I leave him there with my other dog who is very smart and very well trained. However, I can not get this new puppy to stop chewing up everything in sight, i know this something that puppies do, but I can't seem to figure out how on earth to break him of the habit?

Small Dog Training Tips



Recommended Answer:
All puppies chew, some more excessively than others. They chew because puppies use their mouth like we use our hands. You may have to put your puppy in a crate or small confined space while you are gone until the puppy grows out of his excessive chewing!

When you are there, scold the puppy when he chews on something you do not want him to chew. You can spray things he likes to chew but should be off limits with "Bitter Apple" and he will leave these things alone. Try trading what he is chewing on that is not okay for something he can chew on-his chew toy or redirecting him or shaking a soda pop can that is filled with 13 pennies (your pups unlucky number!) or spraying him with water and saying "no!"

If your pup wants to chew on you or another human, it is time for a time out. He should not get any attention when he chews on a human!

Your new puppy will grow out of this stage, but you need to be consistent and diligent until he does.

Get a Well Trained Dog With Dog Training Guides


  • I would give the dog a little more time. He is probably still tea-thing. But take him to a doggy training thing. He and you will meet new friends, and he will learn stuff.

  • He's got alot of energy. You need to take him on long walks. Use up some of that energy. Also get him some doggie toys to have while you're away. Maybe some big bones (the cowhide ones) They are so cute when they're puppies, but a pain in the butt.

  • crate him while you are gone, or confine him in a small room that doesn't have any unacceptable 'chewables'. give him chew toys, marrow bones or somehting appropriate to chew while you are gone. dogs need to chew. make sure he lhas plenty of exercise the rest of the time.

  • Crate him!!!! He's not going to learn not to chew on things from your other dog, and you can't teach him if you aren't there. Give him one or two toys to chew on when in the crate. I highly recommend a Kong toy or Busy Buddy stuffed with a bit of food, but give him whatever he likes that he won't tear apart.

    When you are home, watch him closely and make sure he has toys available. If he chews something he shouldn't, take it from him and give him one of his toys.

    Oh, and Crissiso - "tea-thing"? Heaven help us.

  • Confining him until he can be reliable is probably your best option. Even then be sure to give him things to keep him occupied and be sure he has plenty of exercise and people interactions before going to his crate or room.
    Always praise him for doing the right thing and provide enough opportunities for him to learn what that is.

  • He chews because it relieves stress and is a natural behavior for him. He doesn't know the difference between your good shoes or the table leg and the stick he finds in the yard. The only way to "break" him of this is to train him. The only way to train him is to confine him when you aren't with him and to work with him when you are. It is totally unrealistic to expect that he will learn acceptable dog-human manners from your other dog. You're going to have to do the hard work of training -- and then you will have an awesome dog!!
Read More...

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training...sort of...question?

Ok, all of you so-called experts? Riddle me this!

This isnt for me, but I'm curious. A girl asked a question today about her dog and we all pretty much blew up in her face b/c she was asking about a chiweenie! So, our conversation grew after the regular hatemail...lol

I was wondering what you would recommend, I'm absolutely clueless!

2 1/2 year old dog. I already said the breed. She gets the dog from craigslist a couple of weeks ago. Owners didnt abuse, but neglected her and didnt train.

Dog pisses when she's by herself and / or scared of something. Squats and goes for it if there is something that she feels is threatening (I guess). Crate doesnt work b/c she's terrified of it and pisses in it also.

Lets say this is not a housebreaking issue, but some sort of a behavioral issue with the *****....What would your recommendation be? Aside from putting it down or giving it away?

Dog Training - 4 Quick Steps to Good Doggie Manners



Recommended Answer:
Why would someone put it down because it pees everywhere because it's scared? My recommendation would be to train it!

Revealed - Boxer Dog Training Secrets


  • I would definitely recommend going to The Dog Whisperer's website and look under the Tips section for information about dogs with anxiety, separation anxiety.

    Maybe that would be a good place to start. http://www.cesarsway.com/tips/

  • Stop punishing her at once. Submissive urination gets worse when the dog is scolded.

    http://www.mysmartpuppy.com/articles/Sub…

  • I would never suggest putting a dog down for that.I would do some research on this issue.Has she been able to pinpoint the things that make the dog scared for this behavior to start?It also sounds like she needs to be socialized.I agree with the other person on here,try going onto the dog whispers site

  • try a training class.

    sounds like submissive pee.

    my three year old still does it when someone baby talks and bends over her. if they let her go to them, she is ok.

    maybe she will start getting used to new situation and maybe she won't.good luck to her.

  • No one deserves a hard time just because they chose a designer breed. Yeah yeah I am not into them, I think they are ridiculous, whatever, but is this a random person or friend or a client? The worst thing you can do is put someone down for not knowing how to train.

    Anyway, some dogs are fearful by nature and it is important that in this girls case, she needs to understand how to approach crate training without force. She needs to take baby steps with this dog as this dog is sensitive. She also needs to know that little dogs, chihuahuas and doxies, have small bladders, and dont hold their potty as well as a bigger dog. Smaller dogs are just in general, notorious for weeing on the carpet, also coming with being so small, everything is extra giant to them, so most small dogs will act overly submissive (peeing, hiding, tail tucked) or overly aggressive and will hold their whole body posture high and bark, snap, growl, etc. All of this is usually fear based behavior.

    In any case, she needs to:
    1. Introduce the crate with patience, and praise when the dog goes in (calm praise without overexcitement) No punishments with this dog. All she has to do is frown at the dog and the dog already senses she did something naughty.

    2. She needs to say nothing when the dog pees out of excitement or fear. She should show no emotion, pick up the dog and take her out, then come back in and clean up the spot without any anger.

    The thought to have a dog put down/AKA killed for such an issue is disturbing to me that anyone would even think to do that!

  • For A Chwinnie? Well -- Ahh! I can't do it. I can't talk about chwinnnies and/or think about them.. Let me restart.

    This ''dog'' has weird problems. I don't recommend anything.

  • Crate, child gate, X-pen and lots of reassurances. The dilemma you have is that she should not have taken on this task if she does not have the ability to train at this level. Just because you adopt a dog, does not mean you have the skill to train the issues that dog has. She should get a mentor in her area to show her how to deal with the special issues this dog has. I mentor people in this area that bought puppies and didn't have a clue how to care for them. It is a sad thing, but common. She needs to find someone to help her, assuming she would accept help and not just blame the dog.
Read More...

Friday, April 6, 2012

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...

Thursday, February 9, 2012

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...

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Question about dog training and behavior?

I have a 8 months old lab and need to know if it's behavior is consistent with his age. I have two young kids and cannot spend a lot of time training him but I try to do my best. He is a good puppy but gets extremely excited and that's where I find it hard to keep him under control.
Food - He is very good and will sit and wait for me to give him a signal to go and eat. No probs there
Leash - He pulls a fair bit at first but few sharp jerks he settles down. He often tries again but gets quickly under control
Around people - too excited, he jumps up on them and nips a lot. If I am around I can control him with assertive words and by hold him in a sitting position but he cannot control himself.
Calling him - if he is by himself he comes at once. If I take him to the dog park and he is playing he doesn't come at all.
Kids - from time to time he tries to nip at them but after I tell him no he usually takes a toy instead and runs with them , however I have to correct his behavior often. He also tries to snatch toys from them (never does it with me) and the only wait to make him release it is to get the broom and tap the ground. he will then sit immediately and drop the toy. He doesn't listen if I tell him to drop it.

The really major problem for me is the jumping up and the nipping and snatching toys from my kids.

Is this behavior consistent with his age or by now he should be over this stage ?

Need Help With Dog Training? Help is at Hand



Recommended Answer:
If you don't have the time to train him, he's NEVER going to stop the behaviours that you don't want.

This is why responsible breeders DO NOT usually sell dogs to people with young children. So because you bought from a bad breeder, now you also have the hurdle of an unstable temperament to deal with since temperament is genetic.

It does sound like some of this behaviour is just puppy behaviour, but it also sounds like you need to step up and train the damn dog. If you can't, then he needs to go to lab rescue so he can get adopted out NOW, rather than when he's out of control and 3 years old, and utterly unadoptable. http://www.thelabradorclub.com

Dog Training Schools - Who is Being Trained, You Or the Dog


  • totally consistent. just keep doing what you are doing. he will get it. you just have to be on the ball all the time with him and make sure he does as you ask.

  • He's still just a puppy, and just hasn't been trained enough.

    You don't say how old your kids are, -but it's not enough that YOU train the dog.
    EVERY member of the house - including the kids - must help train the dog, so the dog learns to obey EVERYONE.

    To stop his jumping up & nipping, just give a sharp "NO" command and give him a quick firm hard poke/nudge in the neck or ribs (enough to get his immediate attention and make him stop and look at you with a "Huh?" look). Then stand over him until he is calm for 5-10 seconds, then give him a reward.
    Repeat as necessary. Do it EVERY time, and he will soon learn that "jumping-biting = a painful poke" and "sitting calmly & relaxed = a reward".

    To stop the snatching toys from the kids. The dog is not seeing the kids as "pack leaders". The kids should hold the toy and tell the dog to SIT or lay-DOWN. If the dog tries to snatch the toy, give the "NO" and poke in the ribs. If the dog obeys the SIT / DOWN and/or just waits... drop the toy on the floor and put their foot on it. IF the dog tries to get it, do the "NO"-poke correction.
    Wait until the dog is backed away & laying down, and then remove your foot. IF the dog tries to get it, do the "NO"-poke correction. Wait until the dog waits calmly. and THEN give the toy to him as a reward.

  • He's probably still has some "puppy in him, and should grow out of it, but he could just be in need of more exercise..haaha but I watch animal planet a lot and you need to watch the show "it's me or the dog" because it teaches tricks on how to train your dog..try,when you take him on a walk, the moment he lunges forward either because he sees another dog or whatever, immediately turn the other way or stop and say no..eventually he will learn that if he lunges forward his walk gets delayed or his focus on the object is broken. Hope this helps!! But for nipping, just correct him with a newspaper, it doesn't hurt because it's just paper, but the noise it makes when it makes contact with him will scare him..and say no, newspaper when you do correct him and soon when he does it again just say newspaper he will know what it means and stop what he's doing..

  • Some of it is age, some of it is lack of enough exercise and mental stimulation. Some of it just needs more proofing with the commands. Stick him on lead and go back to day one of obedience training. Teach him all the basic, sit, stay, come, drop it etc until he has that down pat without distractions and then with distractions like the kids.
    You didn't mention how old the kids are but they should be able to give him commands also.

    Labs can be wild if not given allot of exercise and that is not just a little walk during the day. It means running him and playing until he is tired

  • Pretty consistant with the age and the breed. Labradors take a long time to mature.
    They are also very high energy dog- and this is pretty normal behaviour for an active, intelligent boisterous dog.

    It is clear that you are doing well at training him by yourself- but kids can complicate training. No doubt your dog loves playing with them- he probably gets very excited if your children make noises in protest of him pinching their toys- it is probably all a big game for your puppy.

    Recalls take plenty of time and patience. It took my 5 years to get my Lab mix to a stage where her recall was flawless. 5 years. I could call her back if she was in stock chasing drive- and that takes some work.
    Of course he is not going to come back to you when he is playing at the dog park. You are not nearly as exciting as all the other dogs he is playing with.
    You need to find a special treat or toy that you only use in situations like obedience training or the dog park- something extra special- cooked chicken, cheese, kabana, etc, or a special toy. Start by taking him to these places when there arent many distractions (no other dogs is ideal) and work with him on leash before you begin training him off leash under heavy distraction and you will have much more success.

    Enroll in obedience- great for exercise, mental stimulation, soclisation, and for giving you advice on how to train your pup and work on these behaviour problems.

    Your pup clearly does not understand the "drop it" command. Why not change how you are training him? Instead of punishing him by taking the toy away, reward him for relenquishing the toy by giving him a more desirable toy or treat? Teach your kids how to train your dog as well and he should be much more respectful with them.
    Good luck!

  • Try being a little less harsh with the pup. Instead of jerking when he pulls, just stop or turn around. Instead of correcting excited behavior, ignore it and only pet him when he is calm. When he jumps up just look away and stand still until he stops, then pet him when all 4 feet are on the ground.
    It's normal for dogs to have a hard time hearing their owners when they are out in public. Training has to be "proofed" for different locations. A good positive only trainer can help you with this.
    If he doesn't return a toy - offer a trade.
    I've posted some links below on jumping, getting a dog's attention to come, ignoring bad behavior and rewarding good behavior, trading, loose leash walking, etc..
    Also, it can take labs a long time to grow up. If he isn't taught calm behaviors (through positive, non aversive, non harsh methods) you can expect this for years to come.

    If you dont' want to take him to a postive only training class, a good book to read is Family Friendly Dog Training by Patricia McConnell. Another good book is It's Me or The Dog by Victoria Stillwell.

    there is absolutely no need to poke, stand over, jab, etc..
Read More...

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training advice: walking on a leash?

My 4 year old dog was abused as a puppy and has tons of anxiety problems. One including, walking on a lead. She'll do it fine in the house, but as soon as we try to walk her passed the driveway she shuts down. She'll flatten out and roll on her back and do anything to get out of her leash. She'll walk fine if we take her in the car and go somewhere else. She comes to the petstore and trots around like a pro and she'll walk around the trails at the dog park, only because they're away from home.

So we've hired three dog trainers to help us, and each one said to drag out dog along until she submits and walks. This worked fine for a little bit, except she was beginning to dread walking and training at all. She was really frightened and I didn't like having to drag her along every time she had an anxiety attack.

So what I have been doing for the passed few days, is having someone drop me off at the park with my dog, then we walk home together. She walks fine as long as she's not leaving home, so it's been working pretty well. I've been having her sit at every corner so I can give her treats and lots of cuddles, hoping to put walking in her mind as something fun.

I was wondering what any fellow dog trainers think of this technique. I'm hoping to start being dropped off closer and closer to home, until the point where we can just leave the house and have a normal walk.

Thanks for any advice!! :)

Want to Learn How to Train a Dog? Simple But Important Dog Training Techniques



Recommended Answer:
First, your dog was not abused, its just genetically weak, nerves, etc. Second, at some point it will have to walk, like it or not, third, its YOU that is holding the dog back from walking with your projection of emotions over it.
Put a prong on the dog and attach a leash, then just walk, no looking back, no treats, no nothing, just walk, it WILL come, if only to be near its head, I promise. I have used that same method on many dogs that refused to walk on a leash, took about 10 minutes to get them to do it, never failed.
Once again, quit projection your own emotions to an animal that has no way of understanding them, it will benefit both of you. Hope I helped.

ADD: Ok, I will play...your dog is 4 and was "abused" as a puppy...please tell me how it was abused, what was done to it?

Easy Dog Obedience Training Can Be Done at Home With a Do it Yourself Dog Training Program


  • As I was reading your question, I was trying to think what I would do. You came up with EXACTLY what I was going to say. Good Job!!!!! If anything will work, this will!

    You are an awesome dog owner and are willing to spend the time. I firmly believe you and your dog will conquer this together.

  • for a start its really frustrating for the owner and the dog picks up on this, so a good start is to learn to control how you deal with this situation, but you need to do it in steps, if you have a back garden go from the house to the back garden then to a park whats not as busy and keep introducing more and more sound as you go on, maybe take him for a walk at night and this might learn him that it isnt that bad outside and he can get used to the roads and the different smells and sounds, but when he starts to get nervous you need to attract his attention, and when he gets nervous have a treat to hand and get his attention espically when its as his noisiest and keep doing this and she will be looking at you for attention when all this is going on around you and then she will forget about it, its not easy, it takes a long time, shes had this habit for 4 years so its going to take a little bit of time to get that 4 years worth of information out of her head, but dont give up. walking a dog and a dog walking alright just makes the perfect pet . good luck we've been through this and it can be hard

  • What you are describing is not a dog shutting down – if you had seen that you'd know the difference. I purchase a dog many years back now that had been kept in the house/garden so not socialized. The world outside was an unknown quantity because it had not been exposed to a wide variety of situations & experiences which is what socialization is, as a puppy.

    The pup was fine when the lead was clipped to the collar, but pasted itself to the wall when I stepped outside. Overload of competing stimulus & it wanted to turn tail back to the safety of the house. I did not fuss over or reassure him as that would have been counterproductive & reinforced his anxiety, & adopted a normal confident attitude & tone of voice.

    I used treats to teach him the “watch” command, kept his attention focused on me while we walked up the road & each walk longer than the last. He has been born mentally sound but needed time to adjust to the world outside the home, & that he did fairly quickly.
Read More...

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Dog Health Questions: Dog training collars?!?

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

Small Dog Training Advice



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

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

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

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

Myths of Dog Training and Dog Training Solutions


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • you mean b a s t a r d
Read More...

Friday, December 30, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Took in abused Dog: Training tips?

Our new wired hair terrier mix was on the road and my boyfriend nearly hit him with his car, when he brought him to the owner he said he didn't want the dog anymore and since the man wasn't taking care of/neglecting him my boyfriend surprised me by bring Buddy home.

I need some training tips, he's no older than three and very very hyper.

- Thanks

Dog Training Ebook Review - SitStayFetch



Recommended Answer:
He is NOT abused, he is just a dog and needs to be trained just like any other dog.

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu7z5XtRL86…

ADD: Ignore the idiot at the bottom, there is no such thing as positive ONLY, but, that is what happens when ignorant kids with no training experience that game point come on here!!

Clicker Dog Training Tool


  • Enroll your dog in an obedience class. Positive reinforcement training only! A training class will really benefit your dog and once he's trained, you can think about enrolling him in agility or flyball if he's still hyper. You can't force a hyper dog that loves to be active to “calm down.” You have to take that energy and channel it into lots of exercise and a dog sport.

    Good Luck!

    ADD: Interesting Christina. Stop talking to your dog for two weeks? I've never heard of that one! Where did you get that from? Have you been successfully able to literally stop talking to your dog for two weeks?

    Positive reinforcement is not a death sentence. The goal of this method is to make training a more pleasant experience for the dog and owner while STILL producing a well trained dog. You still show the dog that you're the leader without going to extreme methods. If you're that against treats then don't use them. Just heap on the praise. Positive reinforcement can mean training with just treats, praise, clicker or all of the above. It's not just the "food" and "bribery" method.

  • The best way to train a dog is to first and foremost show the dog that you are the alpha, and that you aren't going to take any crap from it. This doesn't mean that you have to physically or verbally abuse the dog.

    Step 1: Ditch the treats. These are bribes. If you were out on a walk and your dog bolted after a squirrel, would it come to you if you said "Here Buddy, come! Come on Buddy! Come for a treat!" Probably not. Squirrels are much more interesting. Your dog needs to know that your company and affection is more worthwhile than the squirrel. As an alternative to treats, give your dog a good chest massage for a reward.

    Step 2: Stop talking to the dog for about two weeks. If you jabber at your dog too much, they become desensitized to your voice, therefore making your commands less effective. Dogs learn much more efficiently from your body language. When you do speak to your dog, use a calm, firm tone. Don't yell or baby talk to it. Over coddled dogs cause more behavioral issues than you could imagine.

    Step 3: Thread the end of the leash through the loop and attach it to your dog's collar, while the leash is around your waist. It's called 'umbilical training'. This teaches your dog to be attentive to your movements and respect you as the alpha dog in the pack. Do this for a couple hours a day while you do your daily chores. Don't let your dog take the lead on walks. You're the boss. The dog should feel confident that you will lead it and keep it safe. It is important to have a trusting bond between you and your dog, especially if it has had bad experiences with humans in the past.

    Step 4: Socialize your dog! Take it to the park for adventures with other dogs and people. Get him acclimatized to new and unusual situations so that you don't have a skittish or aggressive dog.

    Good luck!

  • Aww... Poor Dog =( Before You Try To Train Him, Show Him Lots Of Love, But Don't Butter Him Up With A Bunch Of Sweets... Stroke His Fur And Play With Him. Since He's Hyper, Give Him Daily Walks, Have Him Drink Some Water Afterword, Then After A While, Train Him Like Any Other Dog. But, Since It Was Abused, Don't Spank The Dog If He Doesn't Do A Command Correctly, Just Grab His Head, And Say 'No', Looking Him Directly In The Eye. Even If It Wasn't Abused, Don't Spank It, My Sister's Friend Has A Dog Who Is Well Trained, But He Is Really Strict With Her, But He Doesn't Abuse Her. Anyways, My Point Is, Looking The Dog In The Eye And Saying No Is The Best Way... Oh,, And When You're Training The Dog, Don't Say It As If You're Bored, And Say It Only Once; Otherwise The Dog Gets Confused.

    Good Luck (:

  • Well, if he was badly neglected he might be in shock, but since he is hyper he probably isn't. Make sure to tell him when he's doing something wrong! Also, you should get him familiar with little kids and other people because my dog can be a bit agressive with strangers sometimes so that will help you later on! At night, when you go to bed, make sure you calm him down and tell him this is a time to be calm, he will understand eventually so at least you have a calm night. Taking him for walks usually makes them calmer, or at least I think. Hope this helped!

  • Take him out on a lot of walks. Try to get 2-3 walk in per day. Also bring him bing him to your backyard and try teaching him the game of fetch. My dog loves that game. You can use a ball or frizbee. He should like to play that game. You can also teach him how to jump through hula hoops. Maybe even make a maze in your backyard where he can jump through them. That should get some of his energy out so he won't be so hyper.

  • You can improve your dog's behavior through training.
    Dogs have their own set of behavioral problems. Lack of proper training methods may badly affect your dog's behavior and turn your beloved pet into a disobedient, aggressive or unruly dog. As a dog owner you should be aware of these problems and train your dog accordingly.

    You have to see this for more training tips, http://snipurl.com/u73fu

  • There are lots of dog training videos on YouTube. Be patient as you train him, and above all be CALM and be FIRM as you deal with him. The most important training tool with an active dog - as with any dog - is a firm voice and a cool, calm 'I'm in charge' demeanor. Once he knows that you're the boss it will make him feel safe and he'll be easier to train.

    It's true what they say - a tired dog really IS a good dog. So take him for a minimum of 2 walks a day and throw him toys and balls so he runs and runs, raises his heart-rate, and tires himself out.

    Good luck!

  • My fox terrier is very, very hyper, too, and that's not unusual for the breed. His previous owner sounds like he couldn't handle the energy so was trying to "ignore the problem and it would go away."
    Is he housebroken? Do you have a fenced in yard? Get your boyfriend to build a fence. There's a boyfriend training tip. Fox terriers LOVE chasing things, like tennis balls or squirrels.

  • aww bless i bet hes excited about having a new home, just use treats and ask him to do what you want of him ex sit stay lie just do one at a time till he understands what you want from him, he probably never had any training so will take time, but do it with treats and hell get there, good luck with your new doggy

  • use positive reinforcement for training

    http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/dog_training_positive_reinforcement.html

    or try going to petsmart or petco for training classes.

  • Yu should go 2 a proffesional trainer at a pet store like petsmart. u got a sweet bf

  • you can always try slowly guiding him into the trick, like when you want him to sit, try pushing his rear until he sits, then when he does, give him a treat! hope I helped!
Read More...

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Cheapest dog training in AZ?

What and where are there CHEAP personal protection dog training in AZ?

Dog Training - Getting the Basics Right



Recommended Answer:
Just around the bend from Wickenburg....right down the street from the Cheap FERRARI dealer.

Dog Training Tips - Basic Dog Training Courses


  • Try your local humane society

  • Good lord, if you're looking for someone to help you with personal protection training - cheap should NOT be one of your requirements.

    The fact is that it takes thousands of hours of training for a dog to become a personal protection dog. And it takes a very experienced trainer to get them and you there safely. It's very expensive and there are no guarantees that the dog you're taking to training will have the right temperament and be able to learn to be an affective personal protection dog.

    That said - if you really want a personal protection dog it is cheaper in the long run to buy a dog that's aready been trained in personal protection. And yes, they're not cheap. But having a poorly trained personal protection dog is a huge liability and is dangerous to everyone who crosses that dogs path. Including you.
Read More...

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Don Sullivan Dog Training System?

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

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



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

How They Work

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

Benefits Of Electric Dog Collars

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

Potential Drawbacks

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

Making The Decision

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

Dog Training Problems - How to Overcome Them


  • It looks like an electric collar of some sort.

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

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

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Dog Health Questions: Can I use a dog training collar on my cat?

I have 3 cats who are fond of scratching. One of them is also a chronic vomitter. By the way - they're all female and spayed; 2 are mother and daughter. I'm in the market for new furniture and don't want it to get destroyed by my feline housemates. I intend to buy more scratching posts, but am especially interested in an indoor invisible fence. The products I've seen are advertised for dogs - but are they safe for cats as well? Don't even tell me about the sprays because those don't work unless I use it on the cats directly (not the recommended use). I've also gotten into the habit of cutting their claws weekly, so I'm testing that strategy. Declawing is an absolute last resort.

Dog Training Tricks - Cool Dog Tricks To Teach Your Dog



Recommended Answer:
Hi Leslie...the invisible fence products for canines produces a zap which may be a little too strong for a cat. Consider using in conjunction with the weekly nail trimmings double-sided sticky tape on your furnishings and other places you would like to discourage clawing habits. Cats dislike having their paws stuck to the tape and after a few attempts will eventually avoid these unpleasant areas. Also consider placing different types of scratching posts such as either vertical and horizontal scratchers near places that the cats would like to claw. Some cats prefer one over the other or both as a personal preference. Some people find that rubbing catnip on the posts encourages the cats to scratch the posts rather than the furnishings/carpeting as well.

A Long Tradition of Dog Training


  • No...........

  • No, a dog collar would probably kill a cat---way too much
    electricity! Keep a sqirt bottle handy and whenever your cats
    start to sharpen their claws where they're not supposed to,
    squirt them and say "NO!" They'll learn very quickly.

  • umm lets see i don't think so

  • yes, the squirt bottle idea is very good. it worked well for my cats.

  • NO!!!! cat's are smaller than the smallest dog, and they would not respond well to shock therapy. Cat's don't live in big groups so they are not used to being disaplined...if you do this your cats will get nervous and probably urinate everywhere from fear..

    I have had cats all my life and they hardly ever scratch...buy a HUGE scrathing post that won't fall if the cats jump on it..and cut their nails...buy an animal nail clipper and just cut the tips(NEVER THE REDS)<-those are blood vessels and you will cause your cat ALOT of pain.

    also if you just physically move the cats or verbally reprand them whenever they are on furniture it works too

  • NO! Dogs collars are made for dogs and their specific weights and body make. Cats and dogs are different and the shock collars can hurt cats not to mention completely tick them off. Have you tried Soft Paws? Those silicone caps you glue to their nails so they can't harm anything? I would try those and see if they help. You do have to watch it though because they can and usually will get them off until they get used to them. You just have to stay diligent with it. Good luck.

  • i think the cat would just get spooked and might run away. I know someone who used one on a dog, the dog crossed the line and was to afraid to go back. Plus cats are good at getting rid of collars. scratching can be territorial or just for entertainment, the treatment depends on the cause.

  • no, that will proubally kill them

  • What are u crazy??? It's very hard to stop a cat from scratching. Lots of scratching posts help but they still love the furniture. I've also tried water sprays but they just end up doing it when I'm not looking! The only thing I can suggest if you really want new furniture is get a sofa cover, keep it on all day, if you want to show off your new furniture when you have company take off the slip cover. This is what I do. I'd rather they scratch up a $50 slip cover than a $1000 sofa!!

    Please don't declaw!! Its inhumane!!

  • I dont suggest using the dog fence for your cats. The voltage of the dog fence is created for dogs to be able to withstand. Cats are much weaker than a dog and can not handle as much. I strongley suggest declawing your cat. I had the same problem and its much better now that we got her declawed. I dont know anything about the vomit problem

  • you would have to ask the manufacturer about that, I don't think you can use it on a cat. I just love cats, and its obvious you do to. I know the "spray" bottle discipline, it worked for me! Neither one of my cats eat the plants,claw,chew, or really any bad habits. Boy, maybe I just lucky! I also have a dog, and they all get along better then my family!!LOL The cat that is up-chucking - this is a "food" allergy, have the cats "stool" cultured and sensitized and you'll find out why, food, internal problems,etc. Don't spend the money trying all different kinds of food. If you cats are "indoors" , declawing them will not be a problem for them, but you can never let them go out. Good Luck and lets us know how things worked out...

  • well maybe i dont know i dont like cats

  • NO. The shock generated by the invisible fence collar, or even the shock collars for barking will either kill or severely injure a cat. It has to do with mass. The small/toy dogs have more mass (10+ lbs) have more weight than the large breed cats which on average don't exceed 15lbs. Your average cat weighs less than 10 lbs.

    Also, it will not train a cat not to jump or scratch your furniture. Cats do not respond to shock discipline as dogs do. The shock will teach them to fear the collar, not to stop what they are doing.

    What you do is keep a spray bottle filled with water in every room. When the cat does something you don't like, spray them with the water. Shouting Hey! works the same way. This works because it surprises the cats, and cats don't like to be surprised (they also in general don't like water :P).
    For the furniture, I tried using the plastic double-sided tape sold for the purpose of keeping cats from scratching. It helped stop the cat from scratching in that area, but she started scratching other places as well.

    Also, place the scratching posts in way of what they like to scratch (usually the corners of furniture). If you keep up with the spray bottle, eventually they will get into the habit of leaving the furniture alone.

    If you ever have any questions about cat behavior, or products safe for cats, call your veterinarian, they are the ultimate authority on pet health.

  • i can't believe you would seriously consider that yes they can harm them and for the money you'd be putting into it your may as well just declaw them. i can't believe you would say declawing is a last resort but you don't mind shocking the hell out of them. how would you like someone to use a taser on you everytime you did something they didn't want you to do? and if your cat vomits a lot you should be taking her to the vet to see if something is wrong with her.

  • you should never use anything made for a dog on a cat and vice versa...
Read More...

Friday, September 23, 2011

Dog Health Questions: How much should I charge for dog training?

I will be training a 5 month old lab how to sit, walk on a leash without tugging, drop it, down, and house breaking her. I will be doing this for about 8 hours a day for 5 days. This is my first time doing anything like this, but i have worked with dogs for 7 years now.

Any ideas on how much I should charge for the week or per hour?

Need Help With Dog Training? Help is at Hand



Recommended Answer:
I am a Certified Dog Trainer.

Remember dogs only have about a 15-20 min attention span, (less if they are young) and any more than two or maybe three sessions per day would be counter productive. So you are only actually training the dog for maybe one hour per day for five days equaling five hours. The average price for professional dog training per hour is $150-$250 per session or per hour.

If you are required to stay with the dog for the entire 8 hours you need to charge by the day, if you can leave and come back you can charge by the hour. Depending on the part of the country you live in the price for the day should be $150 to $250, this is taking into account that you are probably not a certified dog trainer. You are performing three distinct services; dog sitting, house sitting, and dog training, granted you are new to dog training you are still no doubt very knowledgeable. They could never find anyone reliable to do all these services for less then $150 per day. If you end up charging by the hour charge them $20 to $30 per hour for each hour where you are at their house either house sitting or dog training.

I hope this helps you, you can learn much more at my website: http://www.blueribbon-k9.com , and if your interested I can recommend some really great dog training certifications that you can look into.

How to Incorporate Dog Training Into Dog Play and Exercise!


  • Since it is obvious that you do not have a clue about obedience training, your services should be for free. You cannot train even an adult dog for 8 hours a day. About the most that can be done at any one time is 10 - 20 minutes and that is with an adult dog and not a puppy. The attention span on this baby is extremely short and training session should be no more than 10 minutes and twice a day. Additionally, there isn't going to be much learned if you will only be training for 5 days. Obedience training is cumulative and is done over a much longer period of at least several weeks to several months.

    What you can charge is determined by your experience, reputation, and accomplishments and in a case like this, should also include guaranteed expectations. Just working with dogs over several years, is not the experience that is necessary to be a dog trainer. There are too many people who are putting that title to their name and fleecing the public. Don't be one of them.

  • I would say 20-40 dollars an hour, depending on how you feel about your own ability to train dogs. People don't trust trainers/nannies/baby sitters/landscapers/etc. who don't have references nearly as much as those who are established, so having a comparatively low rate would give a family incentive to hire you. If you are hired to train two other dogs and feel like you had a good professional experience with the families, it would be time to hiking up your prices.

  • 200 bucks an hour.

    Lie to them and tell them you are one of the best in the country, (It can't be a lie anyway, it's all based on opinion) and that is why yours is a little higher.

  • Surely 8hours a day is way to much training for a dog? In one day?

  • I would say, $10-$20 an hour. That way, it will be worth your time. If the owners of the dog don't agree with this price, then $5-$10 an hour. I know its cheap, but if u wanna get the owners to agree to a lower price, then that the way to go. Or, just $240 for the whole week, since the dog is learning a lot, and its for 8 hours every day for five days. Think about these suggestions. good luck! =) :) XD
Read More...