Archive for the ‘Dog Training’ Category
Whether you just got a new puppy, or you adopted an older dog, no doubt you want to train your dog to be well behaved. This can vary from house training your dog, to training your dog how to sit and stay. No matter what kind of training you are trying to do with your dog, there are some tips that can be very helpful to you. The following are five effective dog training tips that can help you train your dog in half the time.
Dog Training Tip #1 – Use Positive Reinforcement – Unfortunately there are many people who try training their dog by using negative techniques, and this is not an effective way to train your dog. Instead of yelling at your dog or giving him negative attention, it is important that you positively reinforce his good behavior when you are training him. Use praise, petting, and even treats whenever he performs well. You want the training to be fun for you and your dog, so make sure you use positive reinforcement for the best results.
Dog Training Tip #2 – Use Short Training Sessions – Just like children, dogs can be overwhelmed by a great deal of new information at one time. If you try to teach them too much in one setting, more than likely they will forget a good deal of it by the next day. It is best if you only have training sessions that last about 15-20 minutes with your dog. Every time you have a training session with your dog, try to focus on only one new command and reviewing previous commands that have been learned. This will help your dog better retain the information and training.
Dog Training Tip #3 – Use a Pleasant and Firm Voice – When you are training your dog the voice that you use is very important. You should be sure that you use a voice that is pleasant; however, you also want your voice to be firm and commanding as well. Make sure that your voice reflects that you are in control, but be sure that you do not sound mean.
Dog Training Tip #4 – Have Patience with Your Dog – If you are going to train your dog, you are going to need to make sure that you have plenty of patience. No doubt it will not be easy, but you need to make sure that you show your dog patience and not frustration. If you do not think that you have the patience to train your dog, then you may want to send him to obedience school or have someone else do it for you.
Dog Training Tip #5 – Avoid Any Distractions While Training – Another important tip to remember when trying to train your dog is to avoid any distractions while you are training your dog. If you happen to own any other pets, make sure that they are not around when you are trying to train your dog. You want the area to be free of distractions so your dog is focused on you and what you are trying to teach him.
Find out about the Innotek dog collar, how they work and the different types at Innotek dog training collars
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Dogs can be the greatest source of love and happiness in our lives. However, they can also be a source of endless frustration. Usually the difference between a well-behaved dog and a chaotic dog is training. Dog training is an art and a science. Thee are many videos and books written on the subject and a lot of good information can also be found online.
One of the most basic training commands is âSit.â It is also one of the most useful. When I take my dogs into a dog store, so many pets are misbehaving, barking at each other, or trying to show who is boss while we are in line. My dogs, however, are commanded to sit while I wait in line. Usually, people are awed by this. But it really isnât very remarkable. Teaching a dog to sit does not have to be challenging.
Below is some advice I found online:
Few things in life are prettier than watching a well-trained dog and one of the basic commands is the sit command. There are several methods of teaching your dog to sit. Two of the most popular are the Click and the Compulsory methods. The Click method is based again on purely positive reinforcement while the Compulsory method uses both positive and negative reinforcements. Let’s begin our discussion with the easier of the two, The Click Method.
The Click Method of training a dog to sit is based upon rewarding the animal for the desired behavior. It gets its name from the idea that some audible queue is used to alert the animal of a pending reward with many trainers using a device called a clicker for this purpose. Whenever the audible queue is given, the reward follows immediately. To train a dog to sit by this method requires little effort on the trainers’ part. One begins by lavishing the dog with several treats, one right after the other while giving the audible queue.
Then abruptly stop the shower of treats and wait for the animal to direct its attention to you. Now display a treat and give the audible queue as you give the treat to the pet. Now hold another treat at chest level so that the dog must look up to see the treat. After a few minutes, your pet will likely sit down on its haunches because this position makes it much easier to watch the treat. Immediately, when this happens, give the audible queue and reward the pet. Repeat this lesson several times.
After a while you will notice your pet sitting in anticipation of the click and the reward so it is now time to add your verbal command to the routine. When the dog begins to sit, say “sit”. This will gradually teach the dog that the command precedes the action and they will learn the meaning of the command in this way. After some practice and a bit of patience, your dog should begin to sit without having to see a reward being offered.
Now let’s discuss the more traditional method of training. The Compulsory Method. This is the method grand dad used on his dogs. Tell the puppy to sit while enforcing it. Saying the verbal command “sit” and pushing down on the puppy’s tail section to make it contact the floor accomplish the lesson. With some dogs you might have to hold their chin up during this process or they will go ahead and lie down. The object behind the lesson is to teach the pup when you say “sit” that there is no other choice but to sit and so eventually the animal will respond on its own rather than having to be coaxed into position.
Some owners use a tool called a choke collar for this training method. They will leash the dog with the choke collar in place and upon the sit command push the dog down. At the same time they will hold the choke collar down by way of the leash allowing only enough slack for the dog to sit but not stand up. If the dog tries to stand the choke collar tightens around the animals’ neck producing extreme discomfort.
The author does not recommend this method as it can produce a nervous and fearful animal, which can become quite aggressive when it feels threatened. Such training also makes leash training much more difficult as it teaches the animal to fear the leash because of the pain inflicted by it. This also tends to lessen the bond between master and dog because the dog comes to associate the master with the pain and discomfort as well and may lash out at the owner or others if the treatment continues.
In whichever method you choose for training your pet, one thing remains constant. Always be consistent. Also be sure to pour lavish affection upon your pet for good behaviors and responses as this improves their bond to you and makes them desire to please you more fully. With a moderate amount of time and patience, your dog will be rivaling any animal presented at the local dog competitions for his well-trained style and mannerisms.
Source: i-love-dogs.com
Training a dog to sit is not difficult. It requires an investment of time on the part of the owner, but, in the long-run, it will save a lot of time of trying unsuccessfully to control your dog.
It is also very important to use treats while training your dog. While thee are many inexpensive treats to choose from, I recommend against most of those. Because you will be using lots of treats during the training process, I think it is important to select healthy treats. Your dog will be eating a lot of whatever you choose and the treats that are filled with preservatives and additives are not good choices.
There are great places, especially online, to buy treats that are natural and healthy for your dog training needs. Just like the time investment, it may cost a little more now to feed your dog the high quality treats, but in the long run, it will pay off with fewer vet visits!
âSitâ is a good command to begin training your dog with. It has innumerable uses and is very rewarding. Once you success in training your dog to sit, you can continue with similar methods to other commands.
Dog training should be an opportunity for you to build your relationship with your dog, to create a better bond, and to have some fun in the process. Unfortunately, it’s often a little more challenging than that. To help you in the process, here are a few dog training tips that can make your experience a positive one for both you and your dog.
Sizing A Training Collar
It’s relatively easy to determine the proper length of the training collar that’s right for your dog. The appropriate size of the collar is the distance around your dog’s neck, plus 2-3 inches. Since training collars are usually made in even sizes, it may be necessary to round up to find the right size. The training collar should fit snugly, but not too tight. And make sure the pressure on the training collar is instantly released whenever the leash is loosened.
Boredom Can Create Problems
If house training accidents have started to happen and you’re having a hard time figuring out what the problem seems to be, don’t overlook the possibility that your dog is bored. A bored dog will often drink excessive amounts of water, which naturally results in a need to urinate much more frequently than normal. If you notice your dog consuming large amounts of water, you’ll want to increase his visits to the established toilet area. But before it ever reaches that stage, make sure he has plenty of toys and activities to keep him busy during the day and minimize his boredom.
Desensitizing Your Dog To His Fears
Desensitization is a highly effective way to deal with phobias and fears in humans, and it can be very effective for dogs as well. Desensitization involves introducing your dog to small doses of whatever frightens him. For example, if he’s afraid of thunder, try tape recording your next thunderstorm then playing it back at a slightly softer level while he’s relaxed. Reward the dog for not responding fearfully. If he does demonstrate some fear, do not comfort or soothe him (that will simply reinforce the unwanted behavior). Instead, just ignore him.
Back And Forth Recall Game
A great game for you and another family member to play with your dog is the back and forth recall game. This is an excellent exercise for teaching your dog to come whenever he’s called by a member of the family. Dogs often learn to only respond to one person. A well trained dog must learn to respond to whoever is in charge.
In the back and forth recall game, two or more people stand approximately ten yards apart, in a safe area, such as a fenced yard. One person calls your dog, then commands him to sit and stay. Once he’s followed these commands, the next person gives the come command. When your dog responds properly, he’s rewarded with a treat. Most dogs love playing this game. Just make certain that the person who calls your dog is the only one who gives him a treat.
You Don’t Want Your Dog To Be A Chaser
Before you expose your dog to a situation where he’ll likely be tempted to chase after a car or another person, you’ll want to have him thoroughly trained to respond to your commands. The command in this instance, would be, “Off!” As with all training, make sure the training area is controlled and safe. Your dog will need to be able to focus on you without any outside distractions.
Try starting this training indoors. Your dog should be on leash. The two of you start out standing together at one end of the hallway or room. Show your dog a tennis ball, but don’t allow him to touch it. Next, roll the ball down the hallway, while using the command, “Off!” If your dog starts out after the ball, repeat the command, and give the leash a firm tug. If your dog returns at your command, reward him with a treat and plenty of praise. As with all training, repetition is the key.
Using A Head Collar
Recently, the head collar has become an increasingly popular dog training tool. Two of the most popular brands on the market are the Gentle Leader and the Halti, though there are many other brands that do an equally good job. Many people find the Gentle Leader easier to fit than the Halti. The advantage of the Gentle Leader, which fastens around your dog’s neck, is that even if your dog is somehow able to wriggle out of the muzzle, he’s still wearing a collar. This safety feature can be very important, especially during outside training or in new and unfamiliar situations. On the other hand, the Halti offers better control of your dog. For this reason it’s often preferred when working with aggressive dogs.
Deciding to own a dog comes with it many responsibilities. These include feeding, grooming, lots of love and playtime, and keeping up with required shots and vet visits. Dog training is another important responsibility that must not be overlooked. Proper dog behavior training will make life for the dog and its owner much more fun and enjoyable.
Dog training is the act of teaching your dog what is acceptable behavior in specific situations. It is effective communication between you and your dog. Dog training is about you telling your dog what you want, and your dog understanding and responding in a positive way.
Dogs can be trained at any age, but it is most beneficial to start as a puppy, the first day of arrival in your home. This will show your new puppy, from the start, what the boundaries are and can be the beginning of the road to successful dog training. A dog without set boundaries, rules or knowledge of what is expected will only continue to demonstrate unacceptable behaviors. It is your job, through dog training, to teach which behaviors are acceptable.
Some of the behaviors that often need to be corrected are potty training, unnecessary barking or whining, jumping up on your friends and family, chewing, biting on hands and clothing, digging, and aggressive behavior. The more common but also important obedience behaviors that you should teach your dog during dog training is to sit, stay, heel, lay down and walk on a leash properly.
When training your dog, it is important to understand why your dog does the things that he does. Some behaviors are breed specific. Cocker spaniels tend to have weak bladders and will pee when they are excited. Growing up I had a Cocker Spaniel named Blondie that would pee at our feet every time we came home. We quickly learned to let her greet us outside so that she could get excited and do her business. When inside, she was paper trained and would always go in the same spot. Be sure you are fully informed of the behaviors that you may face with the breed of dog you choose.
A dog that digs usually does so out of boredom. It is important to find other activities for your dog to do. I have found that playing with him more, teaching him to fetch, taking him for walks in the park or even providing a place for him to dig will make him feel less cooped up in the yard and stop his digging caused by boredom.
Dog training takes patience and consistent reinforcement of the rules and commands. The best way to train your dog and to get results is through repetition, praise and positive reinforcement. It is important not to get angry or use force as negative punishment when your dog does not do exactly what you ask of it. Dog training does not involve hitting or yelling at your dog when it does something wrong.
B.F. Skinner, one of the most celebrated psychologists since Sigmund Freud, proved that behavior that is positively reinforced will reoccur. He also showed that the best training comes when information is presented in small amounts so that responses can be reinforced (also known as “shaping”). When your dog does something correctly, be sure to use words of praise in an excited voice, followed by petting and rewards with a favorite dog treat. Your dog will be able to feel the emotion and excitement in your voice and actions. This will be the encouragement needed to achieve the positive outcomes of dog training for a lifetime.
The Internet is the best and probably the most comprehensive source of information in the world; so, if youâre looking for free dog training tips to improve the relationship with your four-legged friend, run a simple search and see what you can find out. If youâre wondering about the reliability of the free dog training tips online, there is one way to get convinced, try them and see if there is noticeable progress in your dogâs behavioral patterns. If the Internet doesnât suit your purposes, a friend who is also a dog owner may fill you in on some free dog training tips.
It is known fact that the greatest disadvantage about applying free dog training tips is that owners often donât have enough time to devote to their pet. However, you can practice for instance the âsitâ command together with other free dog training tips at any moment; you donât need special preparation for that. You may even turn your attention to the dog during a commercial break for instance, or when playing âfetchâ. Before throwing the ball, you can apply a simple free dog training tip or command: âsitâ or âdownâ and continue with the game after the dog obeys it.
Many free dog training tips will help you teach your dog target focus: the simplest form of the kind is paw or touch. You actually get the animal focus on a specific area and then perform a certain action afterwards. Such free dog training tips are used in competitions as well as in daily life, when you want for instance to turn the petâs attention from you. Moving and finding a specific place are forms of targeting and they are considered to be the first step towards retrieving. Free dog training tips applied for the matter will make you improve the relationship with the pet, it will move away from the couch for instance.
For professional free dog training tips it is a good idea to have a look at Dog Training Expert. People who actually apply free dog training tips find it very entertaining for both parts involved; keep in mind that the first to benefit is your pet. By sticking to some free dog training tips not only will you save money, but youâll also avoid specific mistakes that dog owners make, thus ruining their chances of ever growing an obedient animal.
Obedience instruction has become more accessible to common people with the publication of the Diane Baumanâs guide Beyond Basic Dog Training. This book is a door open towards the secrets of an entire training philosophy, and it has been successfully used even for the preparation for canine competitions. Beyond Basic Dog Training helps you understand the principles and patterns on which dogs learn, which is in fact a dual system of trial and error. With Beyond Basic Dog Training you will learn to apply corrections in a positive way, teaching your canine friend not to fear failure.
As Diane Bauman proves in Beyond Basic Dog Training, for a successful program you have to understand that from the two elements involved in the equation, both are thinking. There is the âthinking handlerâ in charge of the âthinking dogâ, so donât ignore youâre petâs âfeelingsâ, on the contrary stick to an effective development of the communication level. With Beyond Basic Dog Training you will come to achieve more than obedient behavioral patterns, you will understand your dog and learn to respect and listen to its needs. Weâre talking about security, trust and confidence and lots of fun too.
With a guide such as Beyond Basic Dog Training you can have fun entertaining classes with your dog in the comfort of your backyard. At least youâre 100% sure of the methods used, since you are in perfect trust. With Beyond Basic Dog Training youâll turn your dog into a great companion; therefore it is very good for puppies to benefit from a fast and very humane way of teaching. It is perhaps the time now to answer a simple question: why would anyone go beyond basic dog training? Simple methods will only leave the training process at a minimal level exploiting the specific animal drives as much as possible.
Going beyond basic dog training, means getting to understand the more complex structures that make your dog what it really is; you come to appreciate a wagging tail more than you would have done before. Books such as Beyond Basic Dog Training may prove to be the right choice and the best source of information for strengthening man-animal friendship. Being able to see your dog succeed in performing complex tasks is the reward of every owner and amateur trainer. For other insightful sources, feel free to have a look at sites such as www.dog-training-expert.com. May all your efforts be fruitful!
