Posts Tagged ‘Dog Training’
I think many people stay away from professional dog training because they think that it is going to be too expensive. There are two different kinds of dog training that you may want to think about when looking to get your dog trained. The first is group classes with other dog owners and dogs and the second is private one on one classes. We did both with Cooper when he was a puppy.
The less expensive dog training courses were the group classes. These are more affordable for people and I suggest taking your puppy there to get them socialized with other dogs. You can find group classes through your local pet store or by calling dog groups that you find locally or online. We enjoyed getting our dog socialized with other dogs but we found that it lacks that personal touch or that one on one that you might need if you are having specific problems. You do however get to know the basics and that's important.
I also took Cooper to a personal trainer. They consisted of eight one hour courses and although they were a little more expensive they turned my dog around. By the end he was obeying hand signals and was total different dog. We were lucky to find a dog trainer that specialized in labrador retrievers. If you are having specific problems than I would suggest this is the way to go.
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When and How Do I Train My Puppy?
Anyone who has ever had a dog knows that training a new puppy is a challenge, but essential. With any new dog, puppy training starts the day that you bring your new pet home and continues for months as they continue to learn the basics becoming a part of the family. By the time you bring your new puppy home they are ready to learn. In fact, puppies can be trained from a very early age as long as we don't expect too much of them right away. By natural design the mother dog has been educating her litter for several weeks, preparing them to survive on their own. By seven weeks the puppy's development allows him to leave the mother and ensures the strongest human ties and best socialization possible. Older puppies may be less inclined to attach to humans right away, but eventually with love and affection and our constant interaction the bond will be just as strong. No matter what age you bring your puppy home, the important thing to remember is that they are ready to learn, they just need patience and practice!
Dog training at this early stage will focus on the essentials; house training, chewing, digging, jumping, and learning to wear a collar and walk on a leash. The most important thing to remember about training your puppy is that you are creating boundaries and establishing house rules that will be in place for a lifetime, making your time together the best possible. The groundwork you lay today will allow you to have a wonderful, productive relationship with your dog every day.
Responding To His/Her Name:
The first place to start training is to begin training your puppy to respond to his name being called. You can begin by calling the puppy's name as you feed him his meals so that the puppy starts to associate his or her name with his food- a good thing! After a few days you can change the order, so that you call his name, wait for him to look at you, and then give him a treat. Once he's responding on a regular basis, you can phase out the treats, using your voice (good puppy!) and your and petting to praise him and let him know that you are pleased with him. Treats can still be used on an unpredictable schedule as a reward, but the puppy is responding to your voice and praise more than looking for his payment of the food or treats. Having your dog recognize his name and respond by looking at you will prepare him for dog obedience, puppy training classes and more!
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Who doesn't love a puppy? They are cute, fluffy, and playful. However, don't let those innocent puppy eyes fool you – all puppies grow up to be dogs, and puppies growing up without the benefit of puppy training often grow up to be bad dogs. Here are some easy tips for puppy training to make the transition from puppy to dog easier on both of you. 1. Puppies grow up – act accordingly. Many puppy parents hold off on puppy training because, after all, they are just puppies. They think that puppy antics are incredibly cute. However, every time your puppy does something, remember how big your puppy will be as an adult. While a 10 pound lab puppy might be cute playing tug of war with your pant leg, chances are it won't be nearly as cute when your 100 pound adult lab does the same thing. Basic puppy training means setting guidelines about appropriate behavior from the first day home.
2. Make the crate a second home. Another part of puppy training is to give the puppy his or her own space. The easiest way to do this is with a crate. The crate provides the puppy a place to sleep, a place to keep the puppy safe when you are not around, and an easy way for you to travel. Puppies do not like to go to the bathroom where they sleep, so a crate can be a very useful tool when doing puppy house training. The crate should be large enough that your puppy can stand up, turn around, and lay down comfortably, but not so large that he or she can **** in one corner and lay down in another. Do not leave puppies in the crate for extended periods of time – a puppy can hold his or her bladder for about as many hours as it is months old.
3. Never hit a puppy. It is a common misconception that hitting a puppy is part of puppy training. However, hitting a puppy during puppy training more often than not will lead to only one of two things – a dog that is afraid of you or a dog that is aggressive. Neither is the desired result of puppy training, and this will lead to a dog that does not make a very good pet.
4. Make puppy happy for coming. Getting puppy to come to you when called is one of the first puppy training steps that you should take. Doing this step of puppy training will have many uses – it will allow you to distract puppy from wrongful behaviors, it will allow you to find puppy if it becomes lost, and it can keep puppy from dangers activities like running into traffic. During puppy training, reward puppy every time he or she responds and comes when called. Small treats and lavish praises and pats will teach puppy that coming when called is a good thing.
5. Socialize. An integral part of puppy training is training your puppy the proper behavior around other dogs and people. Take puppy out often, exposing him or her to new situations and new people and pets. Reward the puppy for desired behavior, and reinforce simple commands like sit and stay. Remember to stay calm, as puppy will read your emotions and act accordingly. Starting puppy training early will lead to a lifetime of good times with your dog.
Deciding whether or not your Labrador is permitted admittance to the furniture is a pretty important decision. If you have a big dog, it's an even bigger deal.
Furniture access is a concern of high importance for two reasons: firstly, because it's mighty inconvenient to have to struggle for space on your own couch; and secondly, because it strongly relates to the matter of dominance, which is of the highest importance as far as a harmonious dog/owner relationship goes.
Your Labrador puppy knows that the furniture – in specific, your bed – is your domain. If he's allowed up onto your own, private territory as a matter of action and whenever he feels like it, that's yielding a pretty big point to him; especially since it's rarely a two-way point (when was the last time you invaded your Labrador puppy's own den and snuggled down for a nap in his bed?).
It's advisable to be knowledgeable of these things before making a final resolution on furniture access for your Labrador. If you do decide to grant him unimpeded access, you'll need to make sure that you're extra-stringent with the remaining facets of alpha-dominance to keep him from getting an over-inflated sense of self-importance.
Having a tough time to get your dog to stop biting? Welcome to the club. Dog biting is a totally familiar issue and must be dealt with as promptly as possible especially if your pooch is still a wee pup.
My Labrador, Brylow used to bite me all the time. His bite wasn't strong enough to actually hurt me, but it was certainly jolting, not to mention irritating. Now if your dog's biting behavior is pushing you to the verge of sending it to nearest shelter, STOP. Firstly you need to figure out why your dog is acting this way.
Is there a specific action that is causing your dog to switch to "bite mode", like a hug for instance? Some dogs are not to keen on being hugged and would respond with a bite. You also need to be able to distinguish if the dog is showing signs of being under stress. It's widely acknowledged that stress is the main reason dogs' exhibit aggression which leads to frequent nipping and biting. Typical signs of stress and aggression include frequent growling, barking, excessive grooming, and restless pacing. If stress is not the underlying cause then it's certainly a standard example of a dominant dog thinking it's the leader of the household. The following dog training tips for biting should take care of the problem.
Start giving your dog obedience lessons
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If you are a first time dog owner you're aware that you'll be training your puppy and making sure that he behaves himself. But have you thought about the need to train yourself before training your puppy? The truth of the matter is that you are going to be going through a period of adjustment, just like the new puppy, and the better you prepare yourself for it, the easier the transition is going to be! When you are thinking about what kind of training you need before you bring your puppy home, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
The first thing that you have to be prepared for is the lifestyle adjustment. Puppies are a large responsibility and not only do you have to have the funds to take care of him, you also need to make sure that you are going to have the time to see to his needs. For instance, a new puppy that is not house trained or crate trained should be taken out at least once every one to three hours. Is there someone in your household who can see to that?
You also need to think about the level of activity that goes with getting the puppy that you are bring home. For instance, if you are bringing home a husky or a Labrador or especially a Jack Russell terrier, you should be ready for a very active lifestyle!
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