Dog Health Questions: If I am a new dog trainer how and how much should I charge?

I just moved to San Jose, CA for my 9-5 job, but I wanted to do some dog training on the weekends.

I don't have any official qualifications, but I'm quite good: I trained my friends dog to open the refrigerator, grab a beer and bring it to me. Simple tricks I can teach dogs in a few minutes.

I was going to advertise home training visits on craigslist, but I'm not associated with any business so I don't know where to start. I'm not looking to make a killing, but I would like some reasonable compensation for my time. So how much should I charge?

And then how should I charge? (By the trick? Per hour of my time? Any other ideas?) If I had my preference, I would like to teach exotic tricks instead of the basics. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks

Basic Dog Training - Starting Off on the Right Paw

Recommended Answer:
Dog trainers typically charge by the hour. I'd start very low since you don't have the credentials to pull in clients and need to start the ball rolling with word-of-mouth advertising. Another way to build a reputation and expand your experience is to volunteer with a shelter rehabbing dogs with minor behavior problems. Most dogs surrendered to shelters would have a much easier time being adopted if they had a little brush-up on their basic training.

Let your vet know you are a dog trainer. They often maintain a list of local trainers to share with clients who inquire. Do the same with your local pet stores. Make sure these are people who know you and know your dog(s) so they can feel confident recommending you (having seen the results of your work first hand).

Actually, putting obedience titles on dogs is about the best way I know to get the word out about your training skills. Then teaching beginning obedience classes. Then you get some requests for private training through that.

Dog Training - A Fun Activity

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: How do you train a dog? ?

I have a dog. He is a mix between a Bernice Mountain dog and a rotwiller. I want to train him. The only thing he knows how to do is sit. Do you think that you could help me train him?? I want him to be able to play fetch. He knows to get the ball, he can get the ball. But when he gets the tennis ball but he don't drop it out of his mouth and give it to me. I will give out 20 PTS to the person who answers this in a Nice way, and who will IM me while I'm training my dog. And yes 20 points here is how it works. Who ever wins the 10 PTS to this question, I will make a separate question saying who won the 10 PTS for my dog training question. Then if it was you, you post an answer saying "That was me" or " I was the one who answered you question" then I will chose your answer that you posted say the best answer so you will get ANOTHER 10 points. Please instant message me if this is too confusing to you or would like to win 20 PTs!

SitStayFetch: Dog Training To Stop Your Dog's Behavior Problems (Review)

Recommended Answer:
I will only RECOMMEND but wont say that you MUST do it as not everyone can. However, I've used Clicker Training with my puppy since she was 8 weeks old and she has been learning stuff very fast. She now knows Jump, Sit, Lie down, Fetch, Shake, Other paw (Shake), Stay, Stop, Drop it, Roll over. I can't go into all of them deeply but I used the clicker with all of them. Basically, how the clicker training works is that you have to somehow get your pet to DO the action that you want of her and when she does, you click and reward. There are a lot of videos that can help you on Youtube and Google with this and I'm sure if you watch those you'll get a grasp of it very quickly and teach your dog a bunch of things.

For Fetch: I leashed my puppy and threw the toy, when she went and got the toy I directed her back to me with the leash and when she came back I said drop, she would drop and I would click, reward, and say good fetch. You have to say go FETCH as you throw the toy so she'll know that going, coming back, and dropping is all the process of Fetching. Good luck, I wish you luck!

Dog Training Methods Uncovered

• Why have you not googled 'obedience training a dog' and followed the online instructions? Youtube also has videos on dog training. Nobody can post that much information on these screens, they limit the number of words you can use.


• you can't train a dog. It is impossible. Oh, and Google doesn't exist either.


• There are many other things that you need to train your dog besides just teaching him to fetch. He also needs to be leash trained and manor trained, he also needs to know his name. When he gets the ball and brings it back to you, take the ball in your hand and say release, let go, drop it. What ever you wish. When he loosens his grip then you say good boy. When he drops the ball then you give him lots of praise and throw it again. If he brings the ball back and is still kind of resistant then do the process over again.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Anyone know the name of the dog trainer I am looking for in Kansas City?

A few months ago I was surfing the internet looking for a dog training program for my dog.Then school started and I wasn't able to get into any of the programs with my schedule. I remember there was this one dog training program in the KC area that that advertised having your dog trained while you were on vacation. I remember that it was kind of like a boarding place, but they worked with your dog in a training sense, not just boarded it for you.

I only ask this because I rescued my dog from a shelter, and they suspected he was abused. I have further decided that he had been abused by a man, because new men come around that he doesn't know, he growls and is very unfriendly, but he doesn't do this with strange women that he meets. He understands sit, down, stand, stay, and come. He is a very well behaved dog. However, he still lacks confidence, he occasionally does the nervous peeing thing, he doesn't really know how to play with toys, and he still is not comfortable when strangers (men) come around.

I also ask this because, not that I don't want to be involved with his training, but I am leaving for a week at the end of March. I was going to leave him with my parents and brother, and they love my dog...but this nervous peeing thing has started up again more so than normal lately, and my mom isn't a huge animal fan, especially on her new carpet. I would just really hate to leave him there, him get freaked out, squirt, then my mom start yelling, making him more nervous, and he pees more. It just seems like I am setting him up for failure.

I figure if I need to board him, I might as well board him somewhere where they will work with him, and maybe help his confidence and fear of strangers. Problem is, I can't seem to find it on the internet anymore. Does anyone know the name of the place I am looking for?

How to Identify Good Dog Training Schools

Recommended Answer:
I did a search on Google Maps and came up with "A Dogs Fun Playce". They are in KC, MO and they do boarding training. Hopefully this is the one you were looking for?? Just make sure it's positive reinforcement training.

Here's the link: http://www.adogsfunplayce.com/index.html

Discover the Secrets to Guard Dog Training

• No idea. A word of caution about board-and-train - most of them (especially those that have been in business for 10 years or more) use punishment (including shock collars). I don't recommend this for any dog but certainly not one who has fear issues. Research carefully and make sure that positive reinforecement is the primary teaching tool. And, of course, your dog should meet the staff before you commit to make sure he isn't afraid of them.
  
  Also, you didn't mention which state!
  
  Here is one that looks promising in KC, Missouri. http://goodpupkc.com/

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog training?

i had a dg about a year ago but because of reasons beyond my control i had to give him up to animal shelter 2 days ago they called mesaying the FOUND my dog i was exited because to be honest i thought id never see him again of course i went and paid the fineonly 45$ and now hes with me again the cad thing is when i had to let him go he had a bad habit(he was a puppy) of not popping outside but inside now that hes back he chooses to do the same thing he is walked outside but as soon as he comes inside he goes and poops what shall i do PLEASE HELP

Dog Training - Getting the Basics Right

Recommended Answer:
yeah don't hit your dog. he'll only get confused and become afraid of you. When he's about to go, take him outside and then praise him for going on the grass. if you don't catch him going inside, then pick it up with a paper towel and take it outside and lay it on the area in which you want him to potty.
show it to him and then pet him softly while pointing at it.
Hopefully a few days of this should help. It might take longer, because he's an older dog now and it will be harder to break him of his habit.

Electronic Dog Training Collars

• do not do the above please research the house training books or even advice on some websites it is worth it if you continue to BEAT your dog it will resent you the purpose is for the dog to live a happy healthy life...not one where he is beat all day long i hope the last person who answered this does not own any animals

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: How do I potty train my dog?

I have a Miniture Cockerspaniel/ Chiwawa mix and I have tryed everything...he will only go to the bathroom on the carpet. I have tryed puppy pads and he chews them up, I have tryed dog training sprays...it doesn't work and I have taken him on two hour walks...he wont go outside. What do I do?

Dog Training - Important Tips

Recommended Answer:
Crate Training is the answer you are looking for. Every dog for the last 8 years has been crate trained at our house and we have great results. Get a dog crate/kennel from your local pet supply store. Big enough for the dog to stand, turn around and lay down in, but no bigger. A dog will not soil their own bed, so keep your pup in there unless she is eating or you are actively with her, don't leave her unattended outside the crate. When you take her out of the crate, put her outside right away to let her know she can potty now. Remember dogs don't understand us, you have to show her what to do, over and over. You really do have to TRAIN her. When she does go out and do her biz, praise her with happy words "good potty!!" and or treats. Using key words like potty can also train her to hear them and get her to the door faster, to go out. It may take a while to get her used to this new behavior but stay with it, it really does work. Don't punish her when she does have accidents in the house, it will just make her want to hide everytime she has to go...
Also make sure you get a deep cleaning pet stain remover that breaks down the enzymes in urine, so she won't be tempted to pee where she has been. Nature's Miracle, stain and odor remover, is awesome and can be found at smaller pet food stores. Good Luck.

Dog Training How Tos - Laying a Solid Foundation

• If it POOS!!on the floor than gently whack it on the but and say no and shoe it where it should do POO!!! and PEE!!! do the same. =] =] =] =] =] =]


• Evertime your dog goes to the toilet lift your dog onto the place you require!!


• You need to keep an eye on him. When he starts going, you need to correct the behavior. Take him to a spot that you want him to go, wether it be outside or on a pad. When he goes in the right place, praise him. You need to do this with him for a long time. When you cant watch him, it is suggested that you put him somewhere like a kennel where he wont go. Dogs dont like to go where they sleep. Once you take him out of the kennel, take him outside right away. Also, most dogs go about ten to twenty minutes after eating. Try that out for a while.... GOOD LUCK!


• after he eats, take him out, but not for a walk. Stand in one spot and keep saying "go pee" as soon as he does, reward him with praise, but not a food treat. After he does his business, then you can walk him, because while walking he is more concerned with the destination than the business at hand.


• what i find worked for me is when the puppy makes an accident you bring him to it and firmly let him know it is bad what he did and immediately take him outside or to the spot you want him to go. And when he does what you are trying to train him or her to do you give them a treat. it takes lots of consistency but i trained all my pups in about 10 days.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training?

I want to make my boxer house train, he'll be four in Feburary. Hes really active and playful and gets real excited. I want to know best way to get him to become housetrained, hes already nurtured.

Dog Training Has Many Benefits

Recommended Answer:
There is tons of things to learn about potty training your dog. From what he eats to play time, nap time, etc... all of this has to do with potty training. Here is something you can do for your Boxer. Catch the action before you have an reaction!!! what this means is watch for the signs. Sniffing, and circling the area if his in a squatting postion too late you already lost him. Don't hit him or rub is noise in it. Remenber dogs have very short attention span. They don't know what happen 2 secs ago or a few days ago they just know what's going on right now. So what you would do is take him outside let him find a place that he likes and let him go. Once he goes give him praise or a treat you want to let him know that what his doing is correct behavior. Also, you want to get a bell and hang it eye level to the dog. Every time you take him out ring the bell eventualy he will ring the bell himself when he needs to go. Agian, if you yell at him, hit, or rub is noise in it. The only thing you are doing is making him scared and then he will go behind your back. Also, very improtrant you have to be on top of him at all times through out his life.
Good Luck

Things to Consider Before You Go For a Dog Training Career

• I have really liked the dog whisperer he has helped me
  turn my dog into my best friend. it take a lot of work and patience but well worth it


• Train him like he was a puppy, crate train him and take him outside every couple of hours, and tell him he is Good when he goes outside.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog training questions?

okay,I have a new puppy and she loves to bite and play...but the problem is that she cant be trained!!!hot could I train her and shat should I do in order for her to behave and not be a baby anymore???

So You Want A Career In Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
If she is a puppy - she IS a baby. If you didn't like that behavior, I would have gotten an adult dogs. Some larger breeds are not considered settled down and passed all the puppy-ness until the age of 2.

That's how I got my dog. Someone "threw him away" when he was 6 months old because he acted "too much like a puppy" and I adopted him and since I had the love to give him, he has grown up into a still playful but wonderful dog.

It takes time and patience...and a little time to let them grow up...to train a puppy. Training is the little things you do everyday, it doesn't happen overnight.

The Evolution of Dog Training

• well if obiedence is the problem there are many ways you could go at it. what you could do is give it a toy or let it nimble on ur thumb. if hes getting too rough give him a stern NO. DONT YELL. yelling will make it worse. if hes going in rooms he no suppose to there are sprays that can keep him out. they stink to him, you can't smell a thing and there will be no discoloration on your carpet. and give him treats for doing the right thing every now and then not everytime. if you give it to him everytime he'll just keep doing wrong things and do a good thing just for a treat. he'll know the difference. just try some new methods and go on dor training websites.


• make it seem like training is like playing, don't scold her, one way for sit is, hold a treat in yor hand so she can see it, then gently push down her bottem while saying "sit", and when she does, praise her and give her the treat, dog training books also might help. Scolding = negative effect, praising = positive effect!


• The best suggestion is to sign up for puppy training classes at your local pet supply superstore like PetsMart. They will be a big help in the correct way to train your puppy.
  
  Good luck


• Hi ,
  Well i found this really helpful guide ,its a really professional training called sit stay fetch , it teaches you how to train your dog by yourself , check it out at http://www.dogobediencetraining.co.nr , its a easy step by step videos and book Hope this helps you with your dog
  Good luck


• She's a baby. She's going to play like that until she's over a year old. You can't expect a baby to just "grow up" and not act like a baby.
  
  She's biting, probably because she's teething. Buy her some chew sticks or toys that she can chew on, so it's not your arm that she latches on to. If she does, you need to firmly say, "no" and ignore her. After awhile, she'll get the idea that biting you or others is bad!
  
  Training requires lots of time and effort. If you keep at it, (no beating, rubbing noses in poo, etc.) and praise her every time she does something good (important!), she will learn.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog training help!?!?

How can I train my dog to do tricks, for example,
sit, stay, play dead, roll over,
I have a chocolate lab puppy and need advice fast,
Please and Thank you :)

Do a Good Job of Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
Training = Patience from the owner and pup + lots of treats!!!!

My yellow lab knows sit, come, a bit of down and stay, get a book, that really helps!

Discover the Secrets to Guard Dog Training

• how old?


• these are basic commands...go to a class...all dogs need that anyways...also books help. A couple of tips that I can give you: Say what you mean and say it once not ten times "sit, sit, sit...." they heard you the first time. Show them if they don't know. Also find two different words for down...such as..."lay down" or "down" and "off" when you want them off the furniture. If you say down...they may get confused and think it's "lay down".


• for sit. push here butt down and when shes sitting give her a treat. kept doing that until she get it right


• I have a 3 year old dog and I have trained her very well! Find a snack that your dog likes (I used bacon bits) and work with your puppy everyday on one thing and give him/her the snack each time he/she does it right.
  
  Start with sit, say the command clearly and show him/her what you want by gently pushing on his/her bottom and adjusting the puppy.
  
  The best way to potty train is to take him out every 2 hrs and after he eats/drinks and first thing in the morning. If you get into the habit of always saying "go potty" when you take the puppy outside it will get used to hearing that and go on command. That way if you are at a park or on someones lawn he/she wont automatically go the puppy will wait for the comand that it is OK.


• It's important with all dog training but especially with young puppies to use lots of encouragement, praise and rewards (positive reinforcement) in your training. Start your puppy training sessions as soon as your little puppy arrives at your home. Set your puppy up to succeed, concentrate on developing desirable habits in your puppy and preventing undesirable behavior. It's much a better alternative to put your puppy on the right path from the start, rather than trying to correct established problem behaviors later on.
  
  Keep your training sessions short, consistent and always have fun. The key to shaping your puppy's behavior is to start out with very easy commands, continue to build on these successes and apply heaps of repetition. Base your training sessions around trust and mutual respect rather than old school methods based on punishment and harsh corrections. In this environment you will find that your puppy loves his training sessions and his confidence will grow with each and every session.
  
  Always remember that you are dealing with a very immature young animal. Be realistic, flexible, patient and always fair. Your puppy doesn't just automatically know this stuff! It's all new to him and he is bound to have the odd slip up and mistake along the way. Don't worry about these mistakes, just move on and do your best to prevent them in the future.


• Labs are an intelligent breed.
  You simply need the time to dedicate to training. If you have some basic knowledge of training a dog you are already ahead of the game.
  There are numerous books out there on training as well as websites that offer guidance.
  
  Patience, rewards, and teaching one thing at a time (don't attempt to teach more than one trick) is the best approach.
  
  Teaching your dog 'tricks' like sit, stay, and down are very useful when it comes to tending to your dog.
  I also teach on your side so my dog will lay on its side with its head on the ground.
  Settle and leave it are a couple of other lessons that can be beneficial too.


• well i have 2 golden retrievers.
  so somewhat the same.
  
  time.
  patience.
  treats.. depending on the dog.
  
  to teach them *sit* you first say sit and thier name firmly then you kinda act like there is a string attached to thier nose and you start at thier nose and have all your fingers touching you thumb (to give you an idea of what your hand should be like) then you bring your hand upward. this tends to bring the dogs attention to your hand so it follows your and the back end goes down. another way is tapping thier back end above thier tail which gives them the idea of sitting. always reward the dog by saying good dog, petting it, or a treat.
  
  lay down you get it into the sit position and do the same hand thing but bring your hand downward to the ground. otherwise you can pull out thier legs lighty to bring hten to the laying postion. again reward it.
  
  play dead... never tried it.. my dogs dont have to big of a brain ; ]
  
  roll over is tough but just guid ethe dog onto its back. and praise it.
  
  (remember to always say firmly what you want it to do first)
  
  stay takes time. start with the dog sitting at your feet hold your hand out as if you were saying stop. start at its nose and slowly take steps backwards, repeating stay the whole time. if dog doesnt stay and it moves to you you must bring it back to where it was to begin with and try it again. dont give up. when you get the dog to stay from the distance you want say come and put your hand down. then reward it.
  
  extras:
  
  shake.. just say shake and pick up your dogs paw. it will get it eventually
  
  high five comes easy once they get shake down.
  --------------------------------------…
  its best to work with your dog for short periods of time and more often. so like 10-15 minutes maybe 2-3 times a day to give you an idea. just for being they dont have to long of attention spans cuz they have alot of energy. also reward it after by playing fetch or an activity your puppy likes!
  --------------------------------------…
  
  well thats all the stuff i learned and how to do it!
  it worked on my dogs.
  i really hope it helps you and good luck!
  =) have fun with your puppy!
  i bet its adorable.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: !!! Need Help With Dog Training !!!?

Hey Everyone! I have a Sihitzu-Maltese and her name is Snowy... She's 1 year 5 months old. Now, she's fully house trained (no more poops & pees in the house) but every time i leave the house or doing something alone i have to put her in her cage because she destroys everything in her reach. and i don't feel like i should have to put every item in my house out of her reach. i'v tried spanking her (gently), time-out, just about everything and nothing seems to work!!! she goes into garbage cans, gets everything on counters, napkins, tissues, goes on the bale and knocks plates and glasses off the table... I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH HER ANYMORE?!?! she broke my mom's $300 eye-glasses for god's sake!! so please give me your opinoin on what i should do.. HELP! my parents even threatened to get rid of her if she dosen't stop this nonsense!!!!! Thank You

Dog Breed in Relation to Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
Rule number one of puppy ownership....don't leave a puppy on it's own any more than you would a human toddler. Their natural curiosity and desire to play/chew will almost ALWAYS get them into trouble.

Before you spend another dollar replacing or repairing destroyed items, go out and buy a crate or a puppy pen. This is where the pup is put up at ANY time when she can't be watched like a hawk.
The only solution to this puppy behavior is REMOVING the opportunity for destruction. She will eventually grow out of the destructive behavior (around 2 yrs) and can then be trusted out of the crate. But for now, CONFINEMENT is the only SURE soution to your problem.
PLEASE DO NOT SPANK YOUR PUP FOR DOING WHAT COMES NATURALLY.
If she grabs a prohibited item, simply take it away, tell her 'no' or 'leave it', and give her a tug, ball, or other puppy toy instead. Start teaching her what's allowed and what's not, but NEVER punish her for something that is YOUR FAULT - leaving an item where she could get to it BEFORE she knows better.
This is the number one complaint I get in puppy classes - and it's the easiest to address. Just do it!!

Common Tools Used In Dog Training Schools

• Put her in a crate when you aren't home and your problems are solved.


• In this case, crating while your away is the best thing. your dog is angry that you leave her and looks for things to destroy. give her a comfortable size crate, where she can stand and turn around easily. give her chew toys to play with while your gone (kongs work great, especially with a treat or peanut butter shoved up inside.), plenty of water if your going to be away for an extended period. If she gets up onto things while your home, you need to set boundries as a starting point of where she can and cant go. another option is getting a baby gate and keeping her in a 'safe' room while your away.


• I had a similar problem once with a dog i had only he would poop and pee when i left the room to go the loo or something.
  You shouldnt use the crate for punishment but use it more often, every single time you leave the room, even if its just for a few seconds, put her in, let her out when you come back.
  Praise the good and i know its difficult but ignore the bad. She realises she gets attention from you when you shout at her or spank her for doing something naughty so she has started to be naughty for the negative attention. If she gets no attention at all from being naughty but she gets loads for being good and quiet then she will make a turn around, its a slow process but she must learn to respect your home and you.
  If you go out for longer than usual, confine her to your kitchen or a puppy safe room where she has room to play with a hide chew bone and some good KONG toys and squeekies.
  other than this seek advice from a good trainer.
  xxx
  
  2_Cool_4_U = LOL, i'll have to try that one!
  
  Also my husband mentioned that he had a German shepherd with the exact same problem as you, when he went out she destroyed things.
  He started to take her for a walk as soon as he came home, after about 3 days the destructive nature stopped.
  He continued to take her out after being out himself even after the temperament turnaround.
  This might not work for you but its worth a try.


• Well then you should try taking your dog with you everywhere that you go or leave her in a room that is puppy proof like your bedroom or something and take EVERYTHING that she can destroy, OUT of the room. Otherwise, leave her to walk around the house with toys EVERYWHERE and treats and things that she likes around the house to keep her entertained. My dog used to do the same thing and I bought her a lot of toys and put them everywhere and he just found his spot where he likes and went on a "scavenger hunt" for his toys then bought then to his favorite spot and spent ALL his time chewing on them. What you HAVE to make sure is that she likes the toys and that the treats are EDIBLE. She will eventually get used to this and wont destroy things that are yours. HOPE I HELPED! :)


• There is NOTHING wrong with crating the dog while you're gone. It's safe and humane...I do it to my dog I'm training right now cause she tears up everything! I can leave my older one out cause I trust him. Just crate the dog until it learns what behavior is acceptable. Keep up with the training and the dog will catch on=)


• Ever watched or read Dog Whisperer? Be the pack leader.
  
  also--buy a crate!


• Hi,
  
  I suggest that you get a professional dog trainer to assess your dog temperament and help you to train your dog.
  
  Instead of putting your dog in the close-up cage, get one of those open metallic foldable fencing or crate.
  
  When my beagle was biting my slippers, I rubbed red chilly on it and he stopped after that. So you may want to try this on your dog and see if it works.
  
  I have a feeling your dog was spoilt when she was a puppy, based on what I learned from my dog trainer. I remember he told me that he has to recommend a dog to be put down as it bites everything insight including members of the family and he was the 3rd dog trainer to be consulted! This is a very rare case so I hope yours is not in a similar situation.
  
  It looks like she is scared or only listen to you.
  
  Check out my blog dedicated to my 2 dogs and I have also put up a short training video where you will see the open metallic foldable crate that I mentioned above, at http://beaglecorgi.blogspot.com/ and http://www.davidpoh.com/
  
  Take care.
  
  David


• I fully agree 100% with Becky. You cannot leave a puppy unattended and if she jumps the gate you have to double gate her, one on top of the other, that's what my mom had to do. She confined her puppy to the largest bathroom and she managed to climb over the gate, so she had to install an additional gate on top.
  
  When you get a puppy you have to "puppy proof" your house as you would with a baby, remove anything from the floors and upper levels, hide electrical cords incase they are chewed, remove objects from tables, counters, including remotes etc. I had to puppy proof my house EVERY time I left the dogs alone up until 2 years of age. My dog chewed sofas, baseboards, door frames, remote controls, boxes and everything inside the boxes, plantation blind cords and plastic knobs on the cords, magazines etc. You soon learn to pick stuff up before you leave, I decided to crate train my dog and that's where she goes when we go out, or she goes into the garage during the day.
  
  You cannot trust a puppy to wander around unsupervised. When she does get a hold of something unacceptable you need to remove it from her mouth and replace it with an acceptable dog toy. You have to set rules boundaries and limitations with dogs, they must be trained to know whats right and whats wrong. Spanking doesn't do that, you can't spank or punish 3 hours after the fact not even 10 minutes after, they must be corrected at the time they are doing it.
  
  Garbage cans have to be hidden behind closed doors, have a locking lid on them to prevent being broken into. Try putting an alarm on the table or counters so that when it senses her presence a piercing alarm sounds which will scare her into jumping down and not returning.
  
  I've seen shows where dogs have opened fridges and eaten EVERYTHING inside, I've seen them pull the oven door open, jump up and then jump onto the counters and actually pee on everything on the counter along with eating whats up there. Each time the trainer installed a device to deter the dog from doing this, each device emitted a high pitched sound when the dog got in range and each time the dog stopped.
  
  Crate her when you aren't around to supervise her every move it's the only thing you can do to perserve your sanity and your things and correct her when she is caught doing something that is unacceptable.
  
  Remember, NEVER give her an old shoe or item of clothing for her to chew, dogs cannot tell the difference between old and discarded and new and expensive.


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


• Excessive Dog Chewing is one of the biggest complaints of most dog owners.
  
  Puppies are notorious chewing machines.
  
  What's worse is without correction, you'll eventually have a full grown dog that can really destroy anything left unattended.
  
  You need to understand that your dog's chewing habit is simply part of his nature. Your job isn't to get your dog to stop chewing. Your job is to teach him to chew the right things...
  
  ... specifically, a chew toy.
  
  Puppies will chew on anything and everything because they are teething. When you catch them chewing something they shouldn't be (shoes, furniture, the remote, etc.), use the "No" command and replace the item with a chew toy. Once you dog starts chewing the chew toy, use the "Good boy" command to praise him.
  
  Adult dogs will chew for an array of reasons. A common reason is simply boredom. Yes, your dog can get bored.
  
  With an adult dog, buying treats like pig ears, bones and of course chew toys is a nice solution.
  
  Watch you dog closely when you start giving him these treats. A tendancy towards territorial behavior and aggression can occur.
  
  Remember that you should still praise even adult dogs when they are chewing on the right things.
  
  Crate Training, which is addressed on other pages, is a preventative measure when it comes to dog chewing while you're out of the house.
  
  You should consider this as an option but be wary that adult dogs will resist crate training. Crate training puppies from the start is the best way to implement this strategy.
  
  If your dog is too old for crate training or you just want another option, you can restrict your dog to certain rooms when you leave.
  
  Fencing off your dog in the house is an easy alternative when you go out. You can buy room divders or expandable fences at most of your larger chain stores.
  
  As with all other training strategies, consistency is important. Correct your dog every time. Use positive reinforcement and monitor your dog's chewing behavior.
  
  The Dog Training course on the next page incorporates many additional tactics to teach your dog proper chewing behavior. Take care and remember that patience is the key to success.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog Training using German commands - pls help!?

I would like to train my puppy using german commands. I attempted to use an online translator am unsure how accurate it is (I think not very since I got two very different answers for the same word at two different times). In particular, I am looking for the following: come, sit, stay, down/lay down, off, leave it/drop it, heel, attack, release, ignore, jump, over, through, weave, up, down, across, as well as anything else important in agility that I may have missed. If there is a website listing them that would be great; correct pronunciation would also be great.
Any help much appreciated, thanks!

A Long Tradition of Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
Darkhorse is right in most things he translated but some of his words aren't used for dog commands in this way.

come - komm
sit - sitz
stay - bleib
down/lay down - platz
leave it/drop it - aus
heel - Fuß, also "bei Fuß"
attack - fass
release - frei
ignore - (I've never heard this as a dog command!) ignoriere
jump - spring
through - durch
up - hoch
down - runter
across - hinüber

you missed: "Gib Laut"! That means he has to bark.
also: "such" when he has to search something
and (!) "hol" -> get it (you know, when you throw sth. away and he has to get it) and "bring" -> bring

Dog Clicker Training Can Make Dog Training Easy

• I would start doing some serious dog training sessions ASAP. Dog trainers/schools are OK, but if YOU are the one that trains your dog, he'll listen to you much more willingly. Here's a dog training course I recommend... http://tinyurl.com/2f8kux


• Try this site.


• SITZ - SIT
  PLATZ - GO TO YOUR BASKET ETC
  SPRING - JUMP
  DURCH - THROUGH
  KOMM - COME
  LASS - LEAVE / release
  GREIF - GRAB
  RAUF - UP
  RUNTER - DOWN
  RUEBER - ACROSS
  BLEIB - STAY
  LIEG - LAY
  
  google German + pronunciation for how to say them. hope i helped somewhat

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: What can I write off as a dog trainer?

I'm a dog trainer in Canada, I was curious if I can write off my dog's food and dog treats? How about any supplies for my dog such as dog bed, dog toys ect.

I do use my dog as a demo dog and for behavioural sessions at least 50% of the time.
Also can I write off dog training books?

Help With Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
You can deduct ("write off") expenses associated with your business.

Did you get the dog solely for the business, or was it a pet beforehand? If it was a pet, then you can't deduct expenses you would normally have for your pet. If you have any additional expenses, you can deduct them.

If I was doing your return, I would let you deduct dog training books. However, be prepared to justify this if CRA asks. Remember, people with pets buy dog training books too.

Basic Dog Training - Timing And Body Language

• Hi. I see that you need a guide to help you train your dog to become obedient and more healthy. Recently, I needed the same advise as you. One of my friends recommended the dog training academy course and it really helped me in training my dog in just a few weeks. You may want to try it too.
  
  Good luck.
  
  God bless.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Who has a better puppy training course? Petsmart or Petco?

I want to enroll my puppy in a dog training course at either one of these places. Here's my deal, okay so my brother in law manages the Petsmart closest to my home and he says tha they are much better. The Petco by my home is much much closer and they claim that they are better. They are both about the same price but I don't know who's telling the truth and who really has certified trainers. If you know please help me out! Thanks!

Positive Reinforcement In Your Dog Training

Recommended Answer:
I work at Petsmart and before people heckle me about anything I want to say, I won't boast. It really is personal preference. Even private trainers who are "certified" can still be bad trainers and people who aren't certified can still be the best trainers. I cant speak for petco but Petsmart actually trains their people and makes them work with an experienced trainer. Unless that particular store has people with questionable morals, most people don't take on classes on their own unless the experienced trainer feels they're ready. At my store there have been quite a few trainers I don't care for and only one I recommend people to.
Also, certification differs greatly with pet training. People disapprove of various methods all the time. I've had people argue with me that shoving a dog's face in it's feces is the best potty training method and hitting a dog when it "acts out" is the best way to control them.
I just pray you don't go to someone who uses aggressive methods to train dogs. I have had a family member take his dog to a private trainer that used spiked training collars and shock collars to train his dog. Before working at petsmart I took my dog to a private trainer that treated the dogs very well and only used positive reinforcement.
You need to set up a meeting with any trainer of your choice and have them show you their methods of training. Also take into consideration the trainer his/herself. See if they can be stern but non-aggressive and make sure they're not too sweet or shy as they may not be able to handle the dog.

Would Purchasing a Dog Book Or Dog Training Book Be Useful?

• Of course they will boast about themselves.... No good business will say "we suck."
  
  With either place it's literally a shot in the dark, a crapshoot if you will - some places have decent trainers who know what they're doing, others have crap trainers that learned to train by watching a couple of videos. Either way they tend to focus on ONE training method (which is the petsmart/petco approved method) and won't even consider trying another even if your dog doesn't respond.
  
  If i where you i would try looking for accredited trainers that are associated with your local kennel club, or at least someone who has years of experience with various training methods.


• Honestly, they are about the same. There really isn't an accredited certified trainer program. People go through programs and think they can call themselves "certified trainers" but it's really just BS. Both will claim they are better because they want the business. Either will be fine to teach you and your dog basic house manners.
  
  I prefer to look for dog training clubs or independent training centers as the folks there typically practice what they preach. I would rather have a trainer who has trained her dog into the upper level of competetive obedience/agility/rally teach me about dog manners than some "certified trainer".


• hmm.. around here, PetSmart doesn't have trainers but PetCo does. These kinds of trainers are not certified nor had any real canine psychology training. They have been through the "PetCo" trainers training and basically take already good puppies and teach them to sit. I actually get the referrals from many of our local PetCo trainers when the issues fall outside of their comfort zone. They can't and won't deal with anything other than perfect puppies and do not have the skills to deal with behavioral issues or more complex issues. I would highly recommend you find a certified trainer and spend your money there. Of course good trainers are a crap shoot so use the "find a professional" link on the IACP (http://.canineprofessionals.com) to find one. Good luck.


• It depends...
  
  Mostly on the trainer that the store happens to employ. I work at petsmart, my store has a GREAT trainer who is very flexible with techniques. He has used snapple lids to clicker train shy sensitive dogs (regular clickers were too loud!) using 100% positive reinforcement only to using leash corrections/prong collars for more difficult dogs. He's been training for over 18 years and actually trained for the US Army. Outside of his training in petsmart he is very active with Search and Rescue training new dogs and he works his own dog. On the flip side there is a store in my district who's trainer has never even owned a dog.
  
  Long story short - you have go and meet with the trainers talk to them both before you decide.


• They're both pretty piss poor. The reason is that the trainers are basically given a big handbook to teach from. They are not allowed to deviate from that handbook, which is impractical because all dogs are individuals with their own unique problems and ways of learning things.
  
  I would find a good, qualified trainer in your area. You might need to pay a bit more, but in my opinion if you go to either petsmart or petco you're waisting your money. You'd be better off reading a dog training book and teaching from there.
  
  Here's a link where you can find qualified trainers in your area:
  http://www.apdt.com/petowners/ts/default…


• Neither. Call a few local vets and ask for reccomendations in your area. Petsmart is terrible. They carry a small supply of overpriced junk. They are corporate minded and carry products based upon money. There trainers for the most part have limited or no experience in dog training. They read a manual and simply go thru a script. My biggest peeve is that the employees will answer your questions with the wrong answer and try to act like they know what there talking about.


• I wouldn't go to either of those because they don't have the schooling for dog training they are people that think they can train dogs. Trust me my mutt named Titan was in rolled in pet smart, because he wouldn't stop biting well lets say she got bit more on the way she acted then I did. I end up training my dog with a dog trainer on the side giving me tips. That had the classes be hind her.


• NEITHER.
  
  To be a trainer at either of those places means you flunked at restocking shelves or cashier or could not make it as the Wal Mart Greeter
  Seriously.
  
  Find an AKC obedience club near you and sign up with a real trainer who has titled dogs.
  
  http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/trai…
  
  Remember your dog does not need to be a purebred or AKC registered to participate in these classes.


• Ugh! Go to a real dog trainer. Sure they both have certified dog trainers...certified by Petsmart/Petco.


• Neither..


• neither

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Need Dog training help?

Ok so I am a volunteer at a humane society and there is a dog there that has been brought back 3 times (possibly more). The first time wasn't her fault (person has allergies) but the other 2 times was because of how territorial she is.

She is a very sweet dog most of the time and is about 1 1/2-2 years old. She has territorial aggression and tends to snap at you if you force her to do something she doesn't want to. I've looked up some stuff on how to fix the behavior but all i can find was "go see a Professional dog trainer."

Well, I obviously can't do that and the humane society is small but always busy so they don't have the money or time to do it. She isn't a puppy anymore and I am worried about her chances of getting a permanent home. I would take her but I have no way of contacting my roommates (they are away for the summer) and they have a very skittish dog. Plus, i have 2 cats and i don't know how she would react around either.

I want to help her. If you are a professional dog trainer or have worked with such dogs before advice would be appreciated.

Do not tell me that there is nothing i can do for her or to go see a professional. It will just serve to piss me off.

Dog Training Schools - Which Dogs Are Best Suited

Recommended Answer:
For more information please contact me at whmndz@aol.com and if I don't reply within 2-3 days resend it from a different email. Sometimes yahoo doesn't send to aol. And Sorry this is so long. I can help you on my email in shorter steps. I would like to see the dog also. If you have pictures...send them.

I am not a professional but I've had these problems with my 3-legged GSD/Lab/Pitbull mix that I got from the shelter. I go and get dogs that are shy or have these problems and "fix" them and then either find a new home for them that will ensure and practice what I've done or keep them. I'm getting a new one once the paper work goes through. Okay so the dog I had would charge and bite with full grips on the entering stranger's arm or leg. She went for my Dad's handyman's neck once. Okay to fix this, what I did was first started practicing pack order. If you adopt this dog yourself this will work. You have to spend loads of time with this dog though.

Start off with excercising the dog. If you go jogging, or put the dog on a treadmill. Dogs have a natural migration instinct and that is to travel. The leader of the pack determines when and where they travel and how long. Wolf packs travel for miles a day to cover and track territory. Walking the dog, if you're dedicated and don't want the dog to be put down, is the best thing right now. When you walk the dog, YOU go out first and call the dog then. Practice this until the dog does it right. When you open the door and the dog is trying to charge out, then BODY BLOCK the dog in the door way. This will eventually get to the dog that it CANNOT go out until you tell it to. After the dog is there peacefully and sitting and waiting for you to call it, go down the stairs or out the door and then call it's name with a calm assertive voice. Don't yell, because the dog will learn that it is only to come after you say Buddy, Buddy, BUDDY!! It will come after you do that. So say it once and tug lightly on the leash. After excersing the dog will be in a MEDITATION MODE and this is desirable for training obedience. The dog will rest at your feet. Start training to COME when called, DROP or OUT, and SIT. These are some of the most important commands you can teach a dog.

Entroducing the dog to different things, like umberellas and cats and dogs. Make sure the dogs or cats are seperated and the new dog is in a kennel and let the more submissive dogs run around and sniff the dog. Next you introduce the dogs one-by-one supervised on a leash. Killing and Chasing cats are natural for a dog because the dog is a hunter and it's PREY DRIVE is to chase any moving object until it is caught. The best time to introduce animals is when in MEDITATION MODE. I'm talking jogging for an hour or so well if it's a collie, it will need mental and physical stimulation whereas if it is a greyhound then since it's a sprinter, then you could let it run around in the yard for a few times, put it on a leash, and then walk in the park for 30-45 minutes. When letting the dog off leash even in an enclosed area, you should make the dog sit, and then take the leash off and then give it the OKAY or FREE command and let it go and play. Throw a ball and let it chase it.

Food is important to a dog so this is a great way to get her out of her aggression, make her do obedience commands and then after, go and prepare the food and mix your hands into it. Raw meat diet or half dry, half wet would do nicely when mixing it because the pack leader provides food so you want your scent on the food. Make the dog wait for food. The dog could pick up immediatly or not but even if you wait an hour for the dog to calmly sit down and wait for food (always feed after exercise) you do it.

Grooming- well some dogs like this and some don't so if your dog doesn't then hold the dog down and put a muzzle on the dog. Start with the basics like just water one day and wet it everyday. Press each paw and separate each toe. Play with the ears and open the mouth. Touch each canine. Eventually start with soaping. Anyone who will adopt the dog will have their kids or themselves groom the dog. Let the dog explore each tool you use and introduce it to as many things as you can. Remember dogs are different than humans and will experience things differently. They start will the NOSE, EARS, EYES. Humans are opposite with eyes, ears, and lastly smell.
You should never force a dog to do something because they will snap at you either first or last. What I mean is that every dog has a FIGHT or FLIGHT instinct. Some will try to go away and run and if it can't then it will use it's last resort and that is to attack and try to get away. It doesn't know that the medicine is good for it or that you are trying to keep the dog calm when it breaks its leg. It probably thinks that you are trying to eat it because it is weak and it knows that everything will go for the weakest link. Some dogs will fight first if dominate. This is why you practice

The Main Benefits Of Dog Training

• Can you guys call around asking dog trainers to donate a few hours a week for training, to teach y'all how to train aggressive dogs? Call veterinarians and ask if they can put you in touch with dog trainers. Or they may be listed in the yellow pages.


• What an immense waste of resources on a dog that should have met the big blue needle already.
  
  I wonder how many dogs who DON'T have issues will be turned away and perhaps euthanized while this dog takes up valuable time, money and more importantly SPACE!


• Dogs that snap at people should not be adopted out, they should be euthanized.


• I'm sorry, do you own and run the shelter? If they deem the dog unadoptable because it is showing aggression, the dog WILL be euthanized. Try again.
  Please don't come on here looking for help and then give attitude to people for helping you.
  
  You SHOULD go see a professional dog trainer. Why can't you take the initiative to contact some trainers in your area and see if any of them would be willing to help give you some guidelines for free?
  
  I also hate to break it to you but snapping at a person for telling the dog to do something is not territorial aggression. That is called a bad attitude and has nothing to do with territory.
  Someone needs to learn how to properly correct a dog and start working with that dog on corrections.


• I understand that you are a volunteer and certainly your heart is in the right place, but one thing you should understand is that because of varying circumstances, not all dogs can be rehabbed. She is a liability for the shelter so it is either get professional training or have her put down and most shelters won't put those kinds of resources towards something that may or may not work. I am surprised the shelter hasn't euthed her already. It is the sane, sensible thing to do.


• What does the dog snap at? When you tell her to sit, stay, lie down? or when your trying to put a leash on her? Or When your giving her food? I am a dog trainer and My min pin was agressive when i rescued her and she has calmed down greatly from training. If you could answer my questions above i could do my best to try and help you. I care for all animals and want them in all loving permanent homes ! anything i can do to help :]


• The other posters are right, I'm sorry you don't see it that way but what the shelter has is a potential liability risk. This dog is NOT territorial, a dog that snaps because you corrected it is not territorial it's untrained and aggressive. So what you basically want someone to do is to tell you (who has no experience in training) what to do in order to make this dog the "perfect" wonderful dog you think it should be? It's not going to happen. If you are inexperienced then you can actually do more harm to this dog than good. If the dog snapped for a correction then the correction was wrong. Dogs do not snap when you say AH AH, or oops, they snap when they are yanked or hit or treated aggressively. When properly corrected thru positive reinforcement training the dog would not have reacted aggressively.
  
  People want dogs with no issues when they adopt, the number of people who know nothing that go in and adopt a dog is quite high, they don't want one that they have to spend a lot of time training.
  
  This dog would need to be worked with for years and years, it's not a quick fix, any dog that shows aggression is unadoptable.
  
  I'm sorry and I know you like this dog but unless YOU know what you're doing you shouldn't adopt this dog either.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Can anyone tell me how i can get a full copy of Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer for free?

I love animals and i want the best for them, so when i search on the internet i come to a site that say this book is good for dog training but i cannot find a free copy of it and i cannot buy it also because i am short of money now! so can someone tell me how i can get it for free - fully.
Pls give me the details.

Basic Dog Training - Where To Buy Your Dog From

Recommended Answer:
Write the publisher and ask them. Sometimes if you write a letter and tell them how much you love animals and want the best for them and you can't afford a copy of the book, but you want to do the best by your dog, they might send you one. You might also try the library. If the library does not have a copy of the book, they might be able to inter library loan the book from another library, however, some libraries do charge a small fee to do an inter library loan.

Find Out About Purchasing Yourself Some Dog Training Books, They Could Really Be Quite Helpful

• Nothing in life is truly free.
  
  My suggestion is, save up your money for the books that you want to buy, some sites, like E-bay, will have those that you are looking for that maybe used but still in good condition for less.


• Check your local library.
  
  Someone might have donated a copy.


• Phone books might have some numbers or addresses.


• Sometimes certain sites have online manuals you just open in certain documents to look at them. I highly doubt you'll find one free though.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: My dream is to own a dog specialty store, how do i make it reality?

I'm 19 and currently working full time as a manager/owner at a home store that my mom owns. What i really want to do is have a dog specialty store of my own. What steps should i take to make this dream of mine be possible? I don't want it to be a franchise, i want it to be entirely mine.

Should i save? Take a dog training course? Take a grooming course? Take a business course( i already know a lot about owning and running a business.

Where do i start?

Dog Training Career: Doing It and Loving It

Recommended Answer:
You have made a start by coming up with a general idea of what you want to do, so how do you go about this.
You need starting capital this can be either saving or from a loan if its the latter always shop around for the best deal and don't be afraid to play lenders off against each other.

You will need to know what you are doing so make sure you have the knowledge otherwise you will fail before you begin, or you can either hire or sublet space to experienced staff and charge them a fee.

Attending a business course will only benefit you there is lots of information on line that you can research so use it.

Accounts can be tedious and time consuming and it can be beneficial to get an accountant to sort them for you a general book keeping course can help you run the business day to day.

Premises can be sourced locally so shop around and try to find a place with a good passing trade and parking.

Demand is needed, is there a demand for the services you want to offer

There are hundreds of things you need to take into consideration so research,research,research and the best of luck to you.

Some Helpful Tips To Help You With Your Dog Training Abilities

• Love the idea! Your best bet is to narrow it down to what you want to do in your doggie business. Do you want fashion (collars and clothing), a bakery (treats and yummies), training, grooming and wash, doggie sitting?
  
  I'd say a business course would be a good place to start. You can find one at your local community college. Maybe an accounting class as well.
  
  Best of luck!

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: How do you train a dog to stop chewing up stuff?

Well hes 3 years old and if you leave your shoes out, or a stuffed animal or pillow or somthing, he will grab it and run and wont let go! We try to bribe him with treats and that doesnt work! He went to dog training class for a few weeks and that doesnt work either. hes been doing this since he was a puppy!

What can i do to help him (we have to block the bed rooms with a baby gate.

Major Breakthrough in Dog Training Revealed

Recommended Answer:
Here is how a dog thinks..."if its on the floor it must be mine" so keep your stuff off the floor. If you can't get everyone to keep their stuff off the floor then it is a good idea to keep him out of the rooms with baby gates

Training classes will only work if the WHOLE family trains the dog at home and everbody does the same thing. Try it again and this time make sure everybody does the work with the dog at home

Dog trainer mantra: "...a tired dog is a good dog..." This dog is not exercised enough. He should be walked 3 Xs a day for at least 30 minutes

In addition to walking he needs yard time. If you have a yard play fetch with him. Based on your complaint I suppose he will not return a ball so use 6-8 tennis balls. Quickly throw them one at at a time even tho he doesn't return any he will chase after them - after the last one is thrown, you pick them up and start all over again.

If you don't have a yard use a hallway or a stairway.

He is not taking stuff cause he is a brat, he has learned that when does that he gets attention. If you do more walks and use the tennis balls to play with him, you may see him stop doing this behavior.....

....but, if not....

... when he will not drop stuff here is what you can do:
Don't chase him...instead, get a GREAT treat (small piece of cheese or a dab of peanut butter) and a dog toy that sqeaks.

Then run AWAY from him while you squeak the toy and make kiss-y noises and say his name in high pitched excited tone of voice.

He will start to chase you.

Keep moving, keep your back to him, but slow down and slowly turn to face him.

If he has already dropped the aniaml or pillow that you want, that's great, tell him "Good boy, leave it", give him the treat and then the dog toy and maybe do a little big of tug-o-war with the toy (but if he gets too into the tug game just let go)

If he still has the pillow or toy in his mouth hold the treat inside your fist, put the fist to his nose so he can smell it, and as soon as the pillow falls out of his mouth, tell him "Good boy, leave it", open your fist, give him the treat and then the toy.

Dog Training Aids - Do You Know How Safe The Methods Used For Dog Obedience Training Are?

• Keep your stuffed animals / pillows out of reach of the puppy. Try teaching him the "Leave it" command
  Make sure you have treats.. bones.. chew toys.. etc on hand.
  http://www.dog-obedience-training-review…


• tell him to stop lol.


• Umm...IF you cannot train him and correct him to stop then I see no reason for you to have a dog...Its called correcting him and punishing him when you see him doing that...
  
  If you cannot train him then you need to give him to someone who CAN


• At 3 years he has you trained. Keep the baby gaits up. That's something that could of been changed earlier probably not now at 3.
  When young we give the pup a firm NO and give it proper chew item. And keep close eye so you catch them every time.


• Part about you took the dog to dog training classes and it didn't work, You need to keep training. You just don't stop , its for life of the dog.
  
  You should have been taught the leave it command at those training classes , if you didn't then check the web on how to teach your dog to leave it.


• Wait until he gets clever enough to climb the baby gate! You need to address this and break the habit.
  
  Teach the "drop it" and "leave it" commands.
  
  Don't leave shoes and stuffed toys where he can get them. I know it is simple, but shoes have your "smell" on them and can be comforting. Also, if the dog is allowed plush toys, he can't differentiate between his squeaky squirrel and the baby's teddy bear.
  
  You may want to consider more training. You could either enroll in additional classes or just get a good training book and work at home. A dog can't be trained in just a few weeks. You should work commands at least a few times per week just for reinforcement. Good luck, he can learn if you are willing to work with him.


• I would leave the baby gates so he can't get to your stuff and only remove them if/when you can change his habits. Put everything out of his reach so that he can't get it. We have a 9 week old puppy and we say that if its on the floor, its fair game for the dog.
  
  I think that your problem is that the dog thinks that he is the alpha (As dogs are pack animals). He therefore won't do anything that you want. You need to assert your authority and teach him his place in the household, which should be below people.
  
  There are ways of communicating to the dog that he is not the top of the 'pack'. Always make him eat last as alpha dogs get to eat first. Make him sleep and lay on the floor as alphas get the comfiest beds. Read a good dog behaviour book so that you understand how to teach him where his position in his 'pack' is. And as soon as he picks up something you don't want him to, yank it off him and say "No" firmly. Give him a chew toy or stick instead.
  
  Maybe the dog is bored - are you giving him enough of a healthy outlet to chew? Dogs naturally need to chew and need a lot of toys.
  
  One solution is that when you are out of the house put him in a dog playpen with his bed, a toilet and some toys that he is allowed to chew. Only allow him free reign in the house when you are there to correct his behaviour.
  
  If there is nothing that works, I suggest you either learn to live with it and keep stuff out of his way or consult an animal behaviourist.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Selecting a professional trainer to work with you and your dog?

If you were ever in a situation that required you to seek help from a professional, what sort of person would you entrust your dogs training to..
Would you depend on credentials or give them the benefit of the doubt to work with your dog?
What situations and methods would you find unacceptable in a professional dog trainer?
When you have selected a trainer, would you hand complete control to the professional and let them train and teach how they see fit without your imput on methods etc?

Dog Training Has Many Benefits

Recommended Answer:
Look for someone that "has been there and done that", someone who understands dogs and how they function. Look for a trainer that understands drives and how to use then to satisfy a dog and manipulate them to his advantage.
Finally, look for a trainer that understands that there is only one way to really train a dog that has to function in the real world. Train a behavior by using motivational methods, whatever that is and works for THAT dog and then proof those behaviors with compulsion.
Despite what all the bunny huggers have to say, that is the only proper way to train a dog, period, end of. The amount of motivation and compulsion will be depended upon the dog's temperament, but, ultimately, the goal should be the same.

As for those that "claim" to be trainers and want to get involved in their dog's training...news flash...you are JUST a handler, all you will learn and need to know is how to "handle" that ONE dog, after it has been trained. Hope I helped!!

Buying and Using an Electronic Dog Training Collar

• First, I would get several recommendations from people I already trusted (vet, friends, etc.). Then contact the people recommended, talk to them about their experience with the situation, and get a feel for who I wanted to ask out to get a better appraisal from. From there, I would watch how the expert handled the dog, and whether I respected their information and if I "clicked" with them personally. If I didn't, they would be politely asked to leave. And no, I would never hand my dog over to someone else and just let them train the dog, because it doesn't really matter whether the trainer can get the dog to behave. The important thing is whether the trainer can teach ME to get the dog to behave.
  
  And at the end of the day, if the trainer can get the dog to behave and I couldn't, I would have to seriously consider whether the dog was in the right situation, since the fault then would be with me, not the dog. And I can accept that there are dogs that could be perfectly fine with one kind of owner, but terrible with a different one, and it's not fair to the dog to keep it in a situation where it is not being properly taken care of.


• I think this is a great question!
  
  To a certain extent I would be guided by credentials, but only in the beginning stages. I would certainly want to see how they interact with their own dogs, or be able to observe them in action before making any decisions. I would also like to see how the trainer interacts with MY dog, to make sure I have a good fit.
  
  What type of person would I entrust my dog to? Someone who is obviously passionate about what they do for a living, and not about how good they can look with the finished product. In other words, those who brag about how well they can train any dog need not apply.
  
  What situations would I find unacceptable? Any kind of "boot camp" where I am not able to be personally involved with my dog's training-I think that is one of the most idiotic methods of puppy training I have seen yet. Lazy dog owners dropping the "kids" at boarding school to get them out of the way. And poof! they come out trained. Not!
  
  As far as methods, it would really depend on what I needed the dog to be able to do. Mostly positive reinforcement training is my first choice, with a little NILIF mixed in, and some mild physical corrections. Anyone who straps a prong collar on my dog without trying anything else first is not getting my money. I want a trainer with the patience to train without having to resort to the last resort first.
  
  No trainer will ever have complete control over my dog's training. All methods will be discussed with me and examples will be given to me, and my feedback will be listened to. I will also listen to the feedback of a trainer who is willing to try new things or to understand what I want out of my time with them. I will not hire a trainer who is not willing to listen, or only knows one method, or worse yet, only believes one method will work in training.
  
  Last but not least, personality is a big issue. If the trainer has a volatile personality and a temper, that person will never lay a hand on my dog. If the person is very full of her/himself, that person will never lay a hand on my dog.
  
  I have interviewed and hired several trainers for my one dog, and was pleased with the results. I am about to embark on another training experience with a new trainer who was recommended by a trainer I know and respect. I will still be interviewing this person and observing how he interacts with my dog.
  
  It is very important to me that I believe in the methods used by any trainer I hire, as these methods are what I will have to agree to using once the class is over.
  
  ETA: Ha! I knew that would get a rise out of our resident "yank and crank" people!

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: I Need Dog Training Help?

I have a Welsh Corgi mix dog that is fourteen years old and she has some behavioral problems I would really like to get rid of. How can I go about doing that in a HUMANE way? The problems I am faced with are the following: stealing food off of my plate, getting on the table to get food, a shrill and loud bark that she does when she's begging for my food. I am to the point now where it is making me so angry, frustrated, and stressed out to the max. Please help! I would like to hear from people who are experienced with training dogs. Any advice would be appreciated.

Therapy Dog Training - What Are the Various Methods of Obedience Training For Dogs?

Recommended Answer:
At fourteen, it sounds like some of these behavior problems are actually habits. But you can break habits, it just may take you a bit longer.

As far as stealing food off your plate goes, you must take extra percautions to be sure she never gets the opportunity. The "out of sight, out of mind" idea applies here. Try crating her when you eat, or else directing her to a specific spot in the room while you or someone else is at the table. She will soon learn that while you are eating, she is laying down. Asking her to form a new habit won't be difficult and will be the best way to break her of an old one.

The loud shrill bark is clearly getting her attention. When she begins to bark at you, ignore her. Do not talk to her. Do not look at her. Don't even acknowledge her. And NEVER yell at or hit her. When she gives up (and she will) and goes to lay down, wait five seconds, then reinforce her for sitting quietly. Offer her a nice yummy treat or something she really really likes. Let her know that if she wants food, she has to behave the way you want her to behave.

Dog Training - Most Common Mistakes While Training Your Dog

• As previously posted, crating her in another room and removing her from the situation is best.
  
  Also, old dogs CAN learn new tricks. I would recommend that you take her to an obedience class since she obviously questions who is really in charge ;o) Best of luck.


• crate her when there is food out or put her in a different room. basically remove her from the situation!


• First thing these steps make take a little while first only cuz your dog is a bit old, and second every dog has a little trouble learning new things, Well I know a lot about this even though I'm only 14, I have had 8 dogs b4, Ok first problem the food steeling no one likes it when your dog takes your meal you get very mad what you do for this is. Every time she comes near you to try and get to the food make a "shhhhh" noise and push her away gently but firmly, than tell her no, than tell her "go lay down" it may take a little while but it works. Now the jumping on the table that is defiantly a no, does she wear a collar in the house? If so than gently but firmly pull her by her collar and tell her no, than tell her, go lay down. And the barking that defiantly gets annoying just tell her "shhhh" than go lay down, after a little while trust me she will get the message that this things are wrong and she should do them.


• Put the dog in another room or outside on a leash until your done eating and don't feed the dog table scrape ever again


• I had a dog that was like that! I would put him in a sit/stay in the corner of the room (about 10 feet away from the table). When we first started, I was up from the table about every 2 seconds to put him back where we started, but, eventually, he learned that the table was for people. After a while, he would just curl up in the corner when we ate dinner all on his own. I would usually reward him when I released him from his stay with a small piece of what we had for dinner, but in the kitchen, never where we ate. You'll get a lot of "right" answers from this question...keep trying until you find the one that works for you. Good luck.


• Teach the behavior you want rather than just trying to stop what you don't want. There are bark collars that spray water or citronella. You need to prevent the dog from practicing the inappropriate behavior in order to be able to change it. So if you can't just get the dog to stop the behavior a bark collar might help.
  
  www.fearfuldogs.com


• Crazy has it right kennel or crate her when your eating. Start that training now. Pet finder has videos on how to train her to use a kennel.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: I need some dog training advice?

I have a 5 month old Sibeiran Husky puppy. I exercise him a lot and give him lots of love, but I need to sharpen up his training. He already knows the basics, come, sit, lay down, he's starting to get stay. He also is really good outside and comes, unlike some huskies, who are known to be stubbon and free spirited.

I want to train him at home, rather than go to an obedience class. I don't live in town, and to drive all the way there for an expensive class, when I'm sure I can do it at home, doesn't seem worth it enough.

I need him to be more well mannered. I'd like to know how to get him to stay by my side, not to jump on people (he's getting better, but I have to ask him to get down). I just want him to be a little more polite. I know he's an abnoxious puppy, they all are, but I want to start re-enforcing good manners now while he's still young.

He also gets really excited and leaps in the air and pulls on the leash when he sees another dog. I take him to the Farmer's Market to socialize him, but he wants to go see everyone! Any advice how to keep him calm and stay by my side?

Also, any advice on how to stop pulling on the leash? He doesn't really do it, but my older Siberian Husky does and he's starting to follow her example and I want both of them to not pull. I don't agree with choke collars.

Any other training advice is welcome.

Thanks

BTW: I don't watch TV, so no dog training shows

Considering a Dog Training Career

Recommended Answer:
I think you may be expecting too much, too soon from your 5 month old pup. Everything you describe regarding behavior is fine for a pup that age. The sharpness comes from constant repetition, constant reward/praise for good behavior and your pup's impulse control getting better as he matures.
The one thing I could recommend is to go back to your basics and start to decrease the response time and increase the activity time. For instance, if you are working sit, begin to work on how quickly he can sit when you give the command. Reward only the instant sit. Then tell him wait or stay. Start out with a one minute wait, then increase it to 2, 3, 4 minutes and so on. Up the ante some more and start moving around, backing up, turning your back on him...body language designed to "suggest" he should come and follow, but he is not allowed without the specific verbal or hand signal.
His jumping is probably excitement due to a normal puppy difficulty in mastering impulse control, particularly when he is presented with a social setting where he really wants to interact. The best way to work on this is to socialize as much as possible. Allow no one to approach or make eye contact with him. Put him in a sit or down until he is calmer. Only allow interaction on your command. This can be difficult for any puppy, but with calm, consistent training, in time he will get it.
Don't necessarily put a time limit on things...he is still young. He will get it with consistent training. I have found that people, even strangers are always happy to help and will stand and chat with you and NOT interact with dog until you give the command.(I have been doing this with my dog for years so he could pass the therapy dog test...he must never approach anyone with excitement , and only approach on my command.And he is almost perfect..If I could only get him to do this with my one uncooperative neighbor who always carries biscuits for him, he would be 100 proof!!
If he is pulling on the leash to get to someone or something, there are several techniques to use.
One is the immediate turn the opposite way and keep walking ...the other is for you to anticipate his pulling by watching what is coming...and put him in a sit/watch me, keeping his attention while the object of his interest goes past. Both of these have worked for me...I have been doing this for 2-3 years with my 3 1/2 yr old pit mix...at this point I can heel him and have him do watch me as we pass anything of interest..but it has taken me a long time to get to this point. You just have to keep working it.
Good luck!

How to Find the Perfect Dog Training System

• You need to purchase a short leash with a choke collar. I suggest going to the library and renting a video on how to train a dog. buy a crate and train him to go to sleep there every night. After time you will be able to not crate him but you can also use the crate as a training tool.


• Pain isn't really a good training tool, but sometimes, with stubborn dogs it is the only way to get points accross. Try to teach him vocal commands. When he goes to jump on someone, use one sharp jerk on the leash, and say "no" firmly, but not meanly. You just need to get the tone right. Possibly even try with just the voice command first to see how he responds (the same can be done with the walking and pulling on the leash). Soon, all you will need is the "no". And don't use their name, just "no". If he does what you ask, give him 2 pets on the head, so he knows he did well, but don't overdo it with the attention just then. If he doesn't listen, don't continue to jerk on the leash, only one more jerk, but continue to use "no" in the correct, "firm" tone. Hope this helps.

Read More...

Dog Health Questions: Dog training meathods?

I have a 6 month black lab puppy, and he has recently found that he can jump up high enough on the counter to grab down food. He has managed to turn on the hob doing this, therefore setting a chopping board on fire! However last night he pulled down some butter, and my dad got VERY annoyed, it was the widest i'd seen his eyes go. He is very traditional about dog training with choke chains (which he got for our old dog, and granted it did work, but we wont let him with the pup), kicking the pup :( and as i found out last night rubbing the dogs nose in butter. I shouted slightly, as we have watched and read hundreds of things that have said that it doesn't work.
So the general question is what ideas do you guys have on training techniques. I don't think its necessary (note the shouting) and my parents are being very hypocritical about it. But what IS the best way?

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

Recommended Answer:
Please contact your local kennel club. They can refer you to a reputable trainer. You said that your Dad kicked the dog. That is totally unacceptable. If he's that mean, you need to find the poor dog a new home.

Dog Training: Communicate With Your Dog Using The Call Command

• For every 10 people you ask, you will get 10 different answers!
  For me personally, I use a slip collar (yes, they are referred to as choke chains, but will not harm the dog if used properly and not left on the dog when the dog is alone). Along with this, a firm voice for commands and corrections, and a lot of verbal and hand praise when the dog is right. A lab is a very high energy dog, and needs a lot of exercise. A tired dog is a happy dog (and an obedient one).
  
  Make sure the dog is getting a lot of walks, play fetch, etc., as often as you can.
  
  Do not rub the dog's nose in anything, be it butter, or poop, or anything else. the dog lives for the moment, and unless you can catch the dog actually in the act of doing something wrong, a correction even a minute later is too late. the dog does not associate your anger with the act of what they did.
  
  For the counter, put a leash on the dog, even on their buckle collar. As soon as they start towards the counter, give the leash a firm "snap" and refocus the dog on something else. Never allow the dog to get within about a foot of the counter. If they can never get close to it, they will stop trying.
  
  When you cannot watch the dog, keep them blocked out of the kitchen.
  
  It will take time and patience. Yelling is something dogs do not understand - a firm one or two word "no" or "leave it" will go much farther than yelling will.


• I would use a squirt bottle with some lemon juice in it or a penny can.You could also place a motion activated device or toy up on the counter and see if the noise scares him away. Or do not let him in the kitchen to begin with.


• be stern with him and put him in his crate when he does something bad. Stern does not mean shouting. Shouting tends to make things worse, as the dog is sensitive to your tone. Hitting will make it even worse. Stern talknig and crating works.


• Well first a puppy/dog shouldn't be allowed in the kitchen, so you should probably get a child gate to block him out of the kitchen. It is for safety and sanitation that they shouldn't be there. For 'no jumping" I say "no jumping" lift the legs off me/the counter, and dance the puppy backwards. When the puppy sits, I say "good boy" I do this until I win the battle. They don't like to be danced backward, so it doesn't take long. You have to let them know what behaviors you allow, and which ones you don't allow, and remember to praise them when they do good, so they keep doing good. The problem with extreme methods is that they backfire on you. So say you yell at a puppy for having an accident and then put the puppy outside. You thought you taught the puppy not to potty in the house, what the puppy learned is that it got yelled at and put outside, so outside becomes the place he doesn't want to go again. You have to think like a puppy.


• As a long time dog trainer, your story broke my heart. What a cruel, senseless way to treat an innocent animal. Personally, I'd never allow these people alone with any animal.
  
  I would offer you links to some of my online training articles, but I'm afraid I have grave concerns for the welfare of this dog. It sickens me that there isn't a police car coming to your home right now to arrest these people.
  
  I've trained dogs for 30 years and was an aggression specialist for over a decade. The dogs I worked with were some of the most difficult and dangerous dogs imaginable. Yet I NEVER ONCE yelled at them, much less struck them!?! You don't get anywhere being vicious to an animal. I think one of the reasons I was so successful (and so quickly with each dog) was because *I* was TRUSTWORTHY.
  
  Well, here's an introduction to dog training:
  
  http://www.goodpooch.com/MyGoodPooch/tra…
  
  Please, either keep these people away from that poor dog while you train it yourself, or find it a better home. Please.

Read More...