The Training My Dog Blog

Archive for October, 2009

From what I have read here on YA, I have determined that dogs can not be housebroken. As puppies, they jump on people, bite children, and whine all the time. They get fleas, ticks, and worms, which are not the owner’s fault, of course!They like to do damage by chewing up wires, cats, and even couches! So, instead of keeping them, people want to get rid of them since they "have no possitive qualities"!

But, then I see a question that states that dogs can be "trained"! What is this allusive training? What doesn’t anyone else know about it? Is this just something that a "secret" society knows about and won’t share with the rest of us?

TELL ME WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!

Dog training is no secret, but it is work. And "work" is the second secret to successful training.

The first?

You have to be smarter than the dog.

He bites way too much. Are labs supposed to be honest,
or are they supposed to be biting, scratching, and non
kennel-going-into dogs?

With dogs the key to training them anything is consistency.

First, make sure that you’re not hurting him by doing something and he’s not biting/scratching defensively.

As long as that’s not the issue, here’s how you handle the biting problem:
as soon as the dogs teeth touch your skin, even if he didn’t even bite down yet, stop whatever you’re doing immediately. Grab him by the mouth (use two hands if you can’t catch his head), close his mouth shut and keep it that way (just make sure that he doesn’t bite down on his tongue). He will yank and squirm, trying to free himself. Do not let him go under any circumstances. He will then stop fighting, pet him gently, but keep the hold on the muzzle, after a few seconds of him not fighting, let him go and immediately switch his attention to something positive, like playing with a chew toy. If he goes for the nipping again, repeat this, hold his muzzle a little longer. He will learn very quickly and it’s painless. It’s all about drawing a clear, indisputable line for your dog. If he knows that you don’t allow this behaviour and will enforce it immediately and every time, he’ll stop and never try again. I’ve raised 4 dogs and helped my friends and family train theirs. As long as you are consistent and never ever allow the dog to break your rules, no matter what the circumstances are, he will love you and respect you as the leader of the pack and be a great companion.

As for scratching, if it’s scratching you, you can handle it the same as biting. If it’s scratching at the door to be let in, just do not enforce it and it will stop. For example, you need to put the dog outside for a little bit and he starts scratching like crazy at the door. Wait until he stops, even if just for a moment, and then let him in. Make sure that you don’t come out to scold him, or acknowledge him in any way when he scratches and he will stop.

Also, you should get this book
http://www.amazon.com/good-owners-great-…

it’s the best I’ve seen on training and understanding dogs. E-mail me if you have any questions, I’ll be glad to help.

I have an Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler and I really need to take her to training. I was wondering if there were any training facilities just for training cattle dogs in or around Indianapolis. I would like to train her to do obedience and hopefully agility, if that helps.

If you’re calling it "blue heeler"…STOP IT!
& stop imagining breed makes any difference.
You sound like a dopey kid.

Contact the local/county kennel club.YES,there’s a BIG one. They’ll point you REAL classes,run by REAL dog-people.

Obedience schools are not available in the town i live.

This is an excellent site. Each ‘blue’ heading is a link to the article.> http://perfectpaws.com/pupstuff.html
Your pup is ready to train as soon as you get him home. Sit, and Come, are the first tasks to train, and your pup can learn those the first week, or at about 8 weeks old..

First off you need to watch your pet’s behavior before deciding which style of dog collar to buy.

The dog collar market has a whole multitude of dog collars available, from the normal to the very specialized. Before you make a decision which type of collar to buy you need to know what each does and which dogs it suits.

The Dog Collar Types and uses

To ensure that you are using the best collar as a training aid for your dog, you should seek the advice of a professional dog trainer.

The buckle collar has a ring for you to attach the city dog license and other identification tags. Should your dog accidentally get lost, this collar and the attached tags will help him get back home.

If you don’t like the sound of clinking dog tags or if you worry that the metal tags will discolor your dog’s fur, then you can use a special tag pouch, available at most pet stores.

A muzzle is a basically a mesh cup that slips completely over your best friend’s mouth and nose. It is attached to your pet’s head with a strap behind the ears.

A head collar is not the same as a muzzle! A normal collar encourages your dog to pull against the pressure on his neck. A head collar is the opposite; it exerts steady and firm pressure on the scruff of your pet’s neck.

This mimics the behavior of a mother dog who is disciplining her puppies. Slight pressure round the muzzle and on the scruff of the neck is correctional behavior that your dog can understand instinctively from the human holding the leash.

The initial training using a head collar should be done under the supervision of a qualified trainer, even though a head collar is considered to be more humane than a pinch or slip collar.

The action of the leash when correcting your best friend is very different with a head collar verses any of the other training devices. So it’s important that you receive proper instruction on its use from a qualified trainer. While wearing a head collar, your a hound can still pant, bark, drink and eat, even bite.

While some trainers will use flat buckle type collars, especially on puppies, these collars do not always provide the ideal control for more unruly dogs.

Choke chains are metal chain links of various sizes with a ring on each. These collars should only be used while actively training or walking your dog. This type of collar is usually sold by length, so ask for assistance when purchasing a slip collar.

Used by many people to control hard to handle dogs, the prong or pinch collar lies flat on your dog’s neck until you need to give some correction or he pulls on the leash. The pressure on the leash will cause the blunt metal prongs to pinch your dog’s neck.

There is even a fancy collar that could be useful for an older pooch. Have you seen those spiked collars that make a hound look like a punk rock star? If you get your older canine one of these it won’t harm him. In fact, it can serve as your best friend’s protection from bigger and more aggressive dogs. Or from the overly boisterous younger dog.

Dog Collar Tips

Finally pick a pet collar that suits your dogs personality and size. A giant black leather collar with studs may not suit a toy poodle, or a pink ribbon style collar a British Bulldog. After all it is part of your dogs image so pick a canine collar that fits!

With all collars a proper fit is of vital importance. Non-slip collars should be loose enough to allow you to easily fit two fingers between the collar and the neck of the pet. Prong/pinch collars, slip/choke collars, head halters and harnesses should be fitted with the help of someone who is experienced in their use.

The incorrect fitting of one of these collars will result in improper use and can cause pain and discomfort for your pet. Please note that the sales clerk at the pet store is not usually qualified to fit these collars.

Stephen Dolan
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-pick-the-best-dog-collar-123141.html