Training Down

Start by have your dog go into a sit  or a stand. Take a treat and hold it in your hand. Let her sniff it but dont let her have it. Take the treat and lower it to the floor. When the dog is in a down reward her and say down. Then start to say the word down as she goes into a down. Continue to say the word a little bit before she goes into a down. Repeat for a few time a few times each day and in different environments.

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Disobedient Dog Training Tips

Dog training often ends up looking more akin to human training. Thats really because an owner must train himself, before he can effectively attempt to train his dog. People are not born knowing how to train a dog and need to first learn if they really desire to do so. This article will help to clear up some of the mystery of dog training.

Whenever you introduce new animals to your home, make sure you do it slowly. Give your own pet great consideration before bringing another animal into the house. For optimal bonding, select a new pet whose personality is similar to that of your current pet.



 Make dog training easier by helping your puppy always feel safe and loved, rather than afraid. If a dog feels unsafe, they are likely to show bad behavior. So this doesnt happen, make sure your dog is always safe.

 One of the most basic dog training tips around is to use your dogs name to command its attention. You will not be able to control your dog if you do not get his attention first. This should be done at least 10 times daily. If you need to punish your dog, go to your dog. Dont call him or her to you and then punish.

 If you are thinking of hiring an animal specialist, be sure that you check their reputation and interview them thoroughly. Many animal behavior specialists have opposing opinions on how to correctly train dogs. Be sure to verify that the trainer you hire has similar ideas as yours, prior to implementing any of their tips.

 There are many ways to make crate training more comfortable and successful for your new puppy or dog. If they are hesitant about the crate, you can put a nice chew bone inside and shut the gate while they are not in it. Your dog will want the bone and will be unable to resist entering the crate. Give your dog some praise when he gets inside, so that he further associates being in the crate with good behavior.

 Do not neglect to make a visit to the vet for a spay or neuter around the six month mark. This should coincide with the beginning of obedience classes. If your dog is spayed or neutered, they will be much more obedient. Your dog will be happier and he or she will live longer.

 Your dog needs to understand how to go to a vet exam. Gently run your hands across his whole body, and praise him for calm behavior. Help him to tolerate the vet handling his paws and mouth. Ask some of your family and friends to assist you with this.

 Positively encourage your dog without using treats. Using food is an effective and popular way to train dogs. You probably do not carry treats with you 365 days a year when you are not in an "official" training session. Start using praise and extra attention, hugging and patting, when your dog displays a positive behavior.

 You never want to give your dog a punishment during training. Try to stop your dog from performing unwanted behaviors, but if he does, redirect him by demonstrating the correct behavior. Build a positive relationship with your dog during the training process.

 You may have to consult a professional when training your dog. When your dog training is going poorly, a professional can help out. A dog trainer can be invaluable in pointing out where the issues are occurring, and they can also put you back onto the right track.

 Anxious dogs tend to chew things, including your upholstery. If you keep him in a crate and give him toys that are safe for him to chew on, your dog and your house will stay safe.

 Give them chew toys for pain relief while teething, and keep everything else out of reach. Replace the item immediately with one of the dogs own chew toys. If the puppy is suffering any pain from teething, freeze a wet washcloth for him or her to chew on.

 Always research and interview a behavior specialist for animals before hiring them. Different animal behaviorists will have different approaches and methodologies concerning training and discipline and you want to make sure you are in agreement with these prior to introducing them to your dog.

 Do not allow your dog to be in charge by deciding when he should, or should not, listen. If you dont intend to follow through with enforcing a command, save it for later.

 When training your dog, do not include any punishments. If your dog does not follow the correct behavior, instead of punishing him, gently teach him what to do instead. Build a positive relationship with your dog during the training process.

 Make sure your dog associates one word with one discrete behavior. Dogs respond much better to this because dogs will associate a specific word or action with that particular type of behavior. In all aspects of dog training, consistency is crucial. If you strive for this, you and your pet will get more out of the training.

 It is important to take your dog on a rather long walk if you plan on being gone for several hours. If you play with your dogs and exhaust them, it helps the dogs handle the anxiety they may feel from being separated from you when you leave.

 If you are welcoming a guest into your home, give them clear instructions about how to interact with your dog. Keeping calm, and introducing themselves to your dog, may help reduce any negative behaviors that another approach would cause.

 Whenever you want your dogs attention, use its name. You will not be able to control your dog if you do not get his attention first. Practice calling your dogs name and letting him respond at least tens times a day. Also, it is very inappropriate for you to call the dog over to you and then punish him, as this will teach him to fear you and discourage him from coming when called.

 Always use your dogs name when you need his attention. To have some good control over your dog, a solid response is crucial. Call them to you at least ten times a day. Try to avoid punishing your dog when it comes to you after you call out its name while using this technique.

 As you have seen, training your dog is an investment you will enjoy for many years. An ill-behaved dog is destructive and a cause of stress for every family member; before long, he will be unwanted. If you follow the guidelines that you have just read, you can begin to do the right thing and work with your dog.

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Dog Trainer in Ventura Hits YouTube!

Well folks Ive made onto YouTube! Thanks to Nathan Weiner and Tree in a Box Productions (gotta love the name!) I am on film! very exciting indeed...just click on the link and check it out for yourself!

 

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Crufts Hotel Deal

Crufts Hotel 2012 

We would love to invite all those who are dog lovers to attend the world famous dog show Crufts and stay with us near the NEC. Crufts Dog Show is Thursday the 7th to Sunday the 10th of March 2013 inclusive. 


Fantastic demonstrations and competitions of all the major dog sports including all the finals for heelwork to music, agility and obedience. Of course there is also halls and halls of shopping plus discover dogs too. 


The Rates shown are per room and include a three course evening meal and full english and continental breakfast at the Holiday Inn Coventry. It is a fantastic deal and represents excellent value at greatly reduced prices. The hotel also has bar facilities, a swimming pool with steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi and a gym all inclusive in the room rates. 


If you are competing at Crufts dogs are also welcome in the hotel for a small fee. 


Please remember you cannot take your own dogs to Crufts unless they have qualified to take part. 


The Rates Are: 


For a Double or Twin Room 
Mon to Thurs = £95 per night,
Fri/Sat/Sun = £80 per night 


For Single Occupancy 
Mon to Thurs =£80 per night, 
Fri/Sat/Sun = £65 per night 


For a Triple Room 
Mon to Thurs = £105 per night, 
Fri/Sat/Sun = £90 per night 


If you would like to book a room at the hotel please let me know by the 1st of September 2012 latest – a £10 non refundable deposit is required per room per night by that date. The Balance must be paid before on by the 31st of January 2013. My phone number for any questions or to book is 07958522732 or email miranda@sussexcountydogtraining.co.uk 


Would be great to have you there, Miranda. x

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Operant and Classical Conditioning

Operant and Classical Conditioning

Operant conditioning is a defined set of principles, developed in the 1930’s by a behavioural scientist called B.F. Skinner. The theory says we can make things happen, either good or bad, by choosing behaviours that are either rewarded or punished. We use the 4 methods Positive Reinforcement, Positive Punishment, Negative Reinforcement and Negative Punishment and where the dog acts upon the environment. Dogs will not generalise well, here, and need to be trained in all different environments in order to fully understand what is required. Once they have learned the behaviour, in the front room, we then need to train that behaviour in the garden, then in the park, and so on, until the behaviour has become generalised. E.g. the dog learns that they can make good things happen by offering the sitting behaviour. Next the dog needs to learn that those good things still happen if the sitting behaviour is performed elsewhere. We are using the Positive reinforcement quadrant here to teach the dog that sit is the behaviour we want, and we want it, to cue, in all environments.

With Classical Conditioning, we are not necessarily looking to train a behaviour, yet looking for an emotional response from our dog.  Often our dogs have learnt these responses from a single incident, and thus these become generalised very quickly. Behaviours that involve a strong emotional response where the environment acts upon the dog are classically conditioned. i.e. fear of thunder and lightning or the fear of children after an incident involving a child pulling his/her ears. Next time he/she see’s a child, they can generalise very quickly and have an emotional response of fear towards children. On the other hand, as with Pavlov’s dogs, the emotional response to the bell ringing was to salivate at the prospect of food, and dogs who have had pleasant experiences with children, soon generalise that all children are nice, and their emotional response is one of happy thoughts and not fear.

When looking to apply operant conditioning or classical conditioning when dealing with a dog’s problem, first we must define the problem. Problems are often defined as problems for the owners and not for the dogs. A dog that loves to greet us by jumping up, may have been rewarded for this by a cuddle here and there, and yet now it has become a problem, especially as the dog has grown bigger and stronger. Here we would teach the dog a new behaviour (operant conditioning) as jumping up is not necessarily an emotional response (classically conditioned) but a learnt one, probably through reward.

We would in this case use positive reinforcement, and maybe, negative punishment to change the unwanted behaviour of jumping up to the desired one of sitting when you greet me.

When the dog jumps up we can turn away (negative punishment) and when the dog puts all 4 feet on the floor, we reward that behaviour (positive reinforcement) As we continue to do this exercise, the unwanted behaviour will extinguish, and the desired behaviour increase.

Alternatively, if we do not want to use negative punishment here, we can ask the dog for an incompatible behaviour to jumping up (desensitisation of incompatible behaviours), a sit, and reward this desired behaviour. Again the unwanted behaviour will eventually extinguish and the desired behaviour increase.

If we were to encounter a dog who would bark at another dog, due to an emotional response of fear (classically conditioned), we could look to change the dogs emotional response using classical conditioning, or a technique called counter conditioning.

For dogs to learn, we must ensure that they are in the right state of mind, and a dog that is so fearful may not be able to learn, as its emotions are such that it is not cognitive to learning. This happens if we subject the dog to too much of the stimuli that causes the fear in the first place. Some trainers will flood the dog here in an attempt to prove to the dog that there is nothing to fear and subsequently change the dogs emotional response and learn to be happier in the presence of other dogs. This method, in my opinion, can also cause a dog to shut down and not be able to learn that other dogs are nothing to be fearful of, or worse still lead to some aggression towards the other dogs. If we ensure that the dog is in a clam state before we introduce the stimuli, then this helps towards learning. We need to change the dogs emotional response from fear by adding something nice in the presence of the stimuli. We can use high quality treats to feed the dog, ensuring that our dog is not overly stressed at each stage. We will keep the stimuli(other dog) at a distance, where our dog is happily eating the treats, thus now pairing the presence of another dog with something nice. We can move the stimuli closer over a period of time or over different sessions, as our dog becomes more at ease, subsequently classically conditioning the dog to enjoy the presence of other dogs.

 

Jeff Sasse (2010)

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How Much is That Doggy in the Window What to Know When Getting a Dog

Honestly, the biggest problem I see when training dogs (and their owners!) isnt jumping up, running away or housetraining.  By far, the biggest issue is people getting a dog that wasnt a good match for their family. The article Getting a Dog addresses the important qualities to consider before selecting your next dog.

Learn when the perfect time is to bring a new dog into your home, based on your living situation, the time of year and more. Look at the pros and cons of getting a puppy, young adult or senior dog, as well as which is a better match for you - purebred or mixed breed.

Once youve determined that the time is right and youve closely considered what type of dog fits your life, its time to examine your options of where to get your new dog. Learn more about well-run animal shelters and rescue groups and how to identify and avoid rescue groups that dont act with the dogs best interest at heart. If you decide to purchase a dog from a breeder youll have lots of research to do, but our Selecting a Good Breeder article will help you ask all the right questions.

Lastly, learn why it is so important NEVER to buy a puppy (or anything else) from a pet store or a backyard breeder.

Once youve read about how to select a dog thats a good match for you and your family, you might find you still need some help. If thats the case, please dont hesitate to ask!  Email me or call me at 503.686.5890. The most important decision you make about your new dog happens before you even bring him/her home!

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Give your puppy his own toys

You might have thought you had a good dog, but you could have ended up with a bad one. However, theres still hope! A bit of training goes a long way in reducing bad dog behavior.

Dogs need to play so always give your dog time to be a dog and to engage in normal canine behaviors. Feed your dog a balanced diet, give them space to run, and provide them with activities that will burn energy.



 Give your puppy his own toys that he can chew to remove pain due to teething, and keep him away from chewing other items. You need to replace that with a designated chew toy. Puppies sometimes chew objects while going through their teething phase. A wet cloth that has been frozen is perfect for them during this time.

 If you are welcoming a guest into your home, give them clear instructions about how to interact with your dog. These reactions may actually encourage dogs to jump up on your guests or attempt to dominate them.

 Many people are bitten by dogs because of their fears of that exact thing happening. The dog will feel fear if it is startled, trapped or feels threatened. While training your dog, you should avoid the use of excessive force. Doing so may result in injury to you. Your dog will be eager for your approval.

 Its important that your dog enjoy training and look forward to training sessions. Keep the sessions limited to 15 minutes or so to avoid the dog becoming disinterested and distracted. Vary your rewards. Give your dog a lot of praise when they do something right. When training is enjoyable, listening becomes a happy time, too.

 Playing tug-of-war with your puppy when you are working on training him is a bad idea. In addition to tug-of-war, games that involve wresting something away from your puppy or chasing each other in any respect, can entice the animal to bite or nip at your hands. You want to avoid having your puppy become accustomed to this behavior, so it is better to postpone these games until the dog is more mature and fully trained.

 Training your dog can help if your dog has a hard time being left alone. It is quite possible that if your dog frequently barks unceasingly or damages your belongings when you leave, he or she is actually suffering from separation anxiety. If you train your dog to stay busy when you are gone, it can help. While youre training your dog, its important to also show a great amount of love so your dog knows that everything is alright.

 Use consistency with training by making sure all members use commands that are the same. For instance, if your dog gets on the sofa and he hears you saying "get off," but your husband says "down boy", it may confuse your dog. As long as you use consistency, then your dog has a great chance of learning all of the tricks and behaviors that you wish.

 If you lack patience or cannon remain even-tempered during the training session, do not push forward. If you cannot focus on remaining patient when training your dog, it will quickly lose interest in what you are trying to teach.

 Pick a phrase you will say to your new puppy the whole time you are working on house training him. Every single time you take your pup to do his business, say something like "need to go out?". It does not matter the phrase you choose, as long as you keep it consistent. This will keep him focused, and will teach him to associate those words with the action of relieving himself.

 Feed your dog a healthy diet. Too many table scraps can unbalance your dogs diet. If your dog isnt getting what it needs to stay healthy, it could really struggle to find the energy for training or may act out in other ways. Something as simple as improving their diet can sometimes have a huge impact on how receptive they are to training.

 You cannot rush through the training process. Remember that all dogs have short attention spans and puppies even more so. A training session that wears your puppy out is going to turn into an unpleasant memory, making him less likely to respond well to subsequent sessions, and more inclined to ignore what you are trying to teach him.

 Your dog should know the difference between right and wrong at all times. This means everyone living in the house needs to enforce the boundaries you set. These inconsistencies can cause significant setbacks.

 If you prepare your dog for veterinary exams, it will help both you and your dog. Gently place your hands over its body, acknowledging your dog when he responds positively. Prepare your dog to accept someone handling his paws or looking at his teeth. Ask your friends to help out, as well.

 Remember to enjoy the time spent with your dog during training. Taking time to play creates a strong bond between the two of you, and your dog will be more likely to respond well to training. Training can be a fun experience, however, getting some enjoyment for yourself and the dog through play is a good thing.

 Large dogs that prefer to lie down on their backs or stretch, out should have a big bed to get comfortable in. Large, flat rectangle beds are made for large dogs. You can also get a little creative, and just buy a mattress made for a babys crib. Simply utilize fitted crib sheets to cover it. They can be removed and washed very easily. These mattresses are usually waterproof also.

 Do not let your dog decide when to listen and when not to listen. If the patience to follow through with any command you give is not there, simply choose to not give it instead.

 Do not tie a couple of dogs closely together. The dogs could get wrapped up and they may be injured. If one dog happens to be much larger than the other, the small dog could get tangled to the point that it could choke to death.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 It is not uncommon for dog owners to express surprise at the simplicity of weaving dog training efforts into daily life, and how fast they achieve great outcomes. So if you are looking to change any of your dogs wayward ways, try some of our tips for quick success!.

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Limit the duration of training sessions

Remember that your dog has the intellect of an animal. You will be greatly disappointed if you think that they can. Read this article to understand a dogs psyche better, and know how to treat your pet.

When training your dog, always be sure that it feels safe. If your pet feels unsafe, it is more likely they will act out in a negative way. In order to eliminate this, you should ensure that you put your dog in a safe surrounding.

 To be the most successful in dog training, make sure your dogs need for exercise is being met before starting a new training project. Canines were meant to exercise regularly. They need to run and work in order to be healthy and happy. Register for agility classes, run with your dog, and teach him or her to play Frisbee to increase activity levels. Make the activity consistent and stimulating for your dog.



 There are a lot of tricks you can teach your dog to do; a common one is training him to hold a toy in his mouth without chewing it. Whenever he puts the toy in his mouth, give a treat and his clicker reward. After your dog succeeds in mouthing an object a few times, move on to rewarding the dog for picking it up with his mouth. Once he does, click and reward. As he gets even better, only give him a reward for holding the plushie in his mouth for a few seconds.

 Training should be an enjoyable activity for your dog. Try not to make training sessions any longer than 15 minutes. That will keep his attention. Keep your rewards coming and vary what you give them. Make sure you shower praise on your dog when they do well. When the dog enjoys their training, they will listen better.

 Accidents are bound to happen while housebreaking your puppy. Clean accidents right away to speed up training. Animals are inclined to eliminate repeatedly in spots where they can smell urine or feces, and carpets require special care. There are many products on the market that can help with this, so check with your local pet shop.

 When training a puppy or dog that is new to your family, it is a wonderful idea to keep the entire family involved during the training. You may have one member of the family that does much of the training with him, but by having the entire family take part in the training, he will learn that he must obey each person that lives in the home.

 Playing tug-of-war with your puppy makes training less effective. Games, such as wrestling, chasing or tugging, teaches the puppy to nip or bite at your hands. This behavior is very difficult to break, so you should avoid these games while they are still a puppy.

 One of the most basic dog training tips around is to use your dogs name to command its attention. This will direct his attention to you immediately every time, and especially right before you issue a command. Get your dogs attention this way ten times every day. Also, it is very inappropriate for you to call the dog over to you and then punish him, as this will teach him to fear you and discourage him from coming when called.

 Make sure everyone involved in a dogs training uses the same set of commands. Make sure everyone is on the same page with command words; if the command for being quiet is "quiet," dont let anyone use "stop barking." If everyone uses identical commands, the dog will learn much faster and you will have greater success.

 You can try a little bit of ingenuity if you are going with crate training for your indoor dog or puppy. If your puppy seems reluctant about entering the crate, place a chew toy inside and close the door to the kennel. The puppy will want to enter the kennel to retrieve the treat. Once in the crate, let them know they did a good job by praising them.

 Dogs have natural destructive behavior, so provide outlets for them to exercise their natural behaviors. Feed your dog a balanced diet, give them space to run, and provide them with activities that will burn energy.

 Limit the duration of training sessions. Your dog is going to get bored doing the same thing over and over. Try to limit initial training sessions to 10 minutes or less.

 Decide on a single phrase to use when housebreaking your new puppy. If you use the special phrase you have come up with each time you take him outside, you will get him to focus on what he is supposed to do.

 Teething is painful, and providing chew toys helps alleviate the pain. Keep items that are potentially more painful out of reach. Take it away, and give him a chew toy. A frozen washcloth can provide teething relief for your pup.

 Over-training your puppy will expose it to too much at once, rendering the training less effective. Brief, simple, positive training sessions are well-suited to the limited supply of energy and attention a pup has to work with. If you try to do too much, the puppy will probably not remember much except that it was an unpleasant experience, and that will make it more difficult when the time comes for the next training session.

 If you want to train your dog, avoid playing any sort of control games like tug of war. Aggressive games promote aggressive behaviors, such as biting. Tug-of-war can be played once you have trained your puppy; however, it should not be played before the dog is completely trained.

 As with most things, and this goes with dog training as well, dont ever give up. Dogs need consistent reinforcement in what you have taught them so they remember the good behaviors and dont revert back to their old, disobedient ways they had before training. Training never ends. It is an important part of taking care of your dog.

 When training a dog it should always be done in a positive, motivated environment. Remember to reward desired behavior achieved by your dog while training, especially in response to specific requests. Using training techniques that are negative and based upon punishments will likely make your dog afraid, disobedient, and unhappy.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 After learning some helpful hints on how to get through to your dog and train it to behave to your expectations you simply need to follow what you have learned. After changing your dogs behavior to fit with the tips suggested you can properly train your dog..

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Provide dog with activities

You might have thought you had a good dog, but you could have ended up with a bad one. However, theres still hope! A bit of training goes a long way in reducing bad dog behavior.

Dogs need to play so always give your dog time to be a dog and to engage in normal canine behaviors. Feed your dog a balanced diet, give them space to run, and provide them with activities that will burn energy.

 Give your puppy his own toys that he can chew to remove pain due to teething, and keep him away from chewing other items. You need to replace that with a designated chew toy. Puppies sometimes chew objects while going through their teething phase. A wet cloth that has been frozen is perfect for them during this time.



 If you are welcoming a guest into your home, give them clear instructions about how to interact with your dog. These reactions may actually encourage dogs to jump up on your guests or attempt to dominate them.

 Many people are bitten by dogs because of their fears of that exact thing happening. The dog will feel fear if it is startled, trapped or feels threatened. While training your dog, you should avoid the use of excessive force. Doing so may result in injury to you. Your dog will be eager for your approval.

 Its important that your dog enjoy training and look forward to training sessions. Keep the sessions limited to 15 minutes or so to avoid the dog becoming disinterested and distracted. Vary your rewards. Give your dog a lot of praise when they do something right. When training is enjoyable, listening becomes a happy time, too.

 Playing tug-of-war with your puppy when you are working on training him is a bad idea. In addition to tug-of-war, games that involve wresting something away from your puppy or chasing each other in any respect, can entice the animal to bite or nip at your hands. You want to avoid having your puppy become accustomed to this behavior, so it is better to postpone these games until the dog is more mature and fully trained.

 Training your dog can help if your dog has a hard time being left alone. It is quite possible that if your dog frequently barks unceasingly or damages your belongings when you leave, he or she is actually suffering from separation anxiety. If you train your dog to stay busy when you are gone, it can help. While youre training your dog, its important to also show a great amount of love so your dog knows that everything is alright.

 Use consistency with training by making sure all members use commands that are the same. For instance, if your dog gets on the sofa and he hears you saying "get off," but your husband says "down boy", it may confuse your dog. As long as you use consistency, then your dog has a great chance of learning all of the tricks and behaviors that you wish.

 If you lack patience or cannon remain even-tempered during the training session, do not push forward. If you cannot focus on remaining patient when training your dog, it will quickly lose interest in what you are trying to teach.

 Pick a phrase you will say to your new puppy the whole time you are working on house training him. Every single time you take your pup to do his business, say something like "need to go out?". It does not matter the phrase you choose, as long as you keep it consistent. This will keep him focused, and will teach him to associate those words with the action of relieving himself.

 Feed your dog a healthy diet. Too many table scraps can unbalance your dogs diet. If your dog isnt getting what it needs to stay healthy, it could really struggle to find the energy for training or may act out in other ways. Something as simple as improving their diet can sometimes have a huge impact on how receptive they are to training.

 You cannot rush through the training process. Remember that all dogs have short attention spans and puppies even more so. A training session that wears your puppy out is going to turn into an unpleasant memory, making him less likely to respond well to subsequent sessions, and more inclined to ignore what you are trying to teach him.

 Your dog should know the difference between right and wrong at all times. This means everyone living in the house needs to enforce the boundaries you set. These inconsistencies can cause significant setbacks.

 If you prepare your dog for veterinary exams, it will help both you and your dog. Gently place your hands over its body, acknowledging your dog when he responds positively. Prepare your dog to accept someone handling his paws or looking at his teeth. Ask your friends to help out, as well.

 Remember to enjoy the time spent with your dog during training. Taking time to play creates a strong bond between the two of you, and your dog will be more likely to respond well to training. Training can be a fun experience, however, getting some enjoyment for yourself and the dog through play is a good thing.

 If you want to get rid of inappropriate chewing behaviors, you need to set up the dogs environment so that he will have fewer temptations. Additionally, make sure there is nothing that can pose as a threat to your chewing canine. Any objects which your dog could choke on or become entangled in should be kept out of reach.

 You do not want to use wee-wee pads when potty training your dog. The problem with the wee-wee pads is that they leak and leave enzymes from urine and feces behind. Potty pads can also mislead your dog into thinking that similarly shaped items throughout your home, like rugs, are appropriate places to go. Teaching your dog the appropriate place to go from the start is always the more practical idea.

 Do not tie a couple of dogs closely together. The dogs could get wrapped up and they may be injured. If one dog happens to be much larger than the other, the small dog could get tangled to the point that it could choke to death.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 It is not uncommon for dog owners to express surprise at the simplicity of weaving dog training efforts into daily life, and how fast they achieve great outcomes. So if you are looking to change any of your dogs wayward ways, try some of our tips for quick success!.

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Doug Duncan and Doggy Business

This past week I met with Doug Duncan, owner of a local dog walking, training, boarding & daycare facility, "Doggy Business".  My thanks to Gay Robson, longtime client and friend, for introducing us.  Doug is on the Northeast side of Portland in a 3,000 sq/ft building.  He runs a busy operation with 11 employees.  I may go teach some intermediate and advanced level classes for him after I recover from my surgery - probably some Rally Obedience and other fun things for owners who have already taught their dogs the basics.  Doug uses positive motivation and clicker training, so it should be a good match.  Check back later on to see what exciting courses are set up! 

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Teaching Your Dog Leave

Teaching Leave 

Leave means "dont interact with that".

"That" may mean a person, dog, rabbit, horse or cat.
"That" could also be a dropped food wrapper or nice steaming pile of fresh horse poop.
"That" is simply the thing you would like your dog to ignore, come away from, drop and leave alone.

"interact" means look at, touch, smell, move towards, think about.

So an example may be to ask your dog to "leave" the child with an ice-cream. As we do not wish to pair a negative with the child we will use a neutral tone of voice when training this command. We will not use harsh lead or collar corrections either. "leave" will start to mean to your dog "better stuff with owner" meaning your dog decides not to mug the child and their ice-cream but to return to you in expectation of something better.

This exercise will also need to be repeated many times in order to create an automatic response in your dog, your dog "leaves" the thing you want it to ignore because they have repeated the exercise "leave" so many times.

This video is from Emily Larlham, it is one of the best methods for teaching "leave":

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Dog Training Tips Really Not In This Dog Trainers Opinion

There are a lot of great dog training tips out there - really. I provide many myself, as you probably already know, on this dog training ventura blog as well as the Noozhawk dog behavior advice column Poncho and I write for. Although Im a certified dog trainer, and one that prefers practicing more of a science-based methodology, I ask you, please, be a critical thinker when it comes to adhering to some of these "tips". Mine included! 

Some of the ones Ive seen out there just amaze me! Do people really believe some of this stuff? These are just a few that I came across:

• "Do not tell your dog “it’s okay” or “don’t worry” while they are acting fearful or aggressive. Showing affection to your dog in those states will reinforce the behavior you do not want. The dog reads your affection as praise and believes that’s the behavior you want."

• "Grabbing the scruff of your dog can help him calm down. That is how mothers carry their puppies after they are born. However, you cannot be angry when you do it or your dog will pick up on your energy and fight it."
  
• "Dog training classes aren’t necessary. Classes only benefit the dog in the aspect of socialization and very basic obedience. You don’t need to pay money for this. The time is better spent out on a walk."

• "Be the first to walk out the door. Pack leaders are ALWAYS the first through passageways."

OH MY GOODNESS! Really??? Yikes! Just like the "Lose 10 pounds in one day." It sounds like its time for a "dog-training-bust-a-myth" moment...at least in my opinion. 

First off, when Im scared, if my husband consoles me Im certainly not going to want to perform that scared behavior more. If anything, itll help me relax, and may even help build my confidence, which would come in handy if I were ever in that situation again. 

For example, when it comes to flying Im not real keen on the take-off and landing part. He knows this. So whenever we fly together he takes my hand during both these times and talks to me in soothing voice - he doesnt yell at me or ignore me. Geez, if he did that Id hate take-off and landing even more! Nope, he does show affection - and ya know what? This makes me love him even more! 

As for the other examples of "tips" that I mention above, let me just say:

1. Im pretty darn sure our dogs know were not dogs or wolves, and that grabbing their scruff doesnt make them think we are, nor do I believe my own dog Poncho, or any dog would "feel calm" if I were to grab him by his scruff. If anything, I would think Poncho would be reacting out of fear from me grabbing him in such a manner - which I would never do. 
2. Dog training classes "arent necessary"??? Its all about finding the right class. One that is educational, fun and rewarding for both the dog and their humans. Even if youre not taking one of my manners classes at the inquisitive canine studio, or at Ventura College Community Education, there are still plenty of fun dog training classes out there! It sounds to me this person found classes very punishing...too bad, maybe they will want to attend one of mine. 
3. I dont care who goes through the doorway or "passages" first. I do like to set boundaries, but Im not a complete control freak. Ill ask for a sit, or four-on-the-floor before giving the release cue to "go on". Shoot, sometimes life is really exciting and our dogs want to get there first! Just like us humans and getting in line at the movies, or concert, or roller-coaster! Its called "impulse control" - dogs dont have much, which is why its important to teach them such exercises....Hmm, maybe those dog training classes are important. I teach many of these behaviors in my own dog training classes. 

As Ive said before, dogs (like all animals) do what works! They perform whichever behaviors gets them more of what they want, to keep themselves safe, and to prevent from getting hurt, or avoiding anything that would cause them fear, pain, or death. Duh. 

So before you start listening to tons of advice out there, please, be a critical thinker. If you dont feel comfortable doing something, dont. Or at least ask questions. Education is good! Knowledge is even better! 

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Help During the Grieving Process With the Loss of a Beloved Pet

My friend Colleen Mihelich is an animal lover and pet loss expert who founded Peternity - a company dedicated to helping others celebrate the life and love of their furry friends. She also has the wonderful and informative Peternity blog, where she offers heartfelt stories, along with enlightening guidance on how to cope when you do lose a beloved pet. I know I dread the day, but I am comforted knowing she will be there for me if and when that day comes.

One of her latest posts was on Pet Loss Tips for Getting Through the Holidays. A few pet loss grieving tips she talked about were:

• How to spend your time.
• How to help others while helping yourself grieve.
• How to honor your pet.
• How to deal with your emotions.

After reading through the content, Id say one can use this information any time of the year - although, I know the holidays can be quite tough - especially since our non-human family members mean so much to us.

To read more about pet grieving tips from Colleen, please click here to see the Peternity blog post - You can also check out her Peternity website to share, heal, and help - both yourself and others.

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Crufts Hotel Deal 2014

Crufts Hotel 2014 

We would love to invite all those who are dog lovers to attend the world famous dog show Crufts and stay with us near the NEC. Crufts Dog Show is Thursday the 6th to Sunday the 9th of March 2014 inclusive. 

Fantastic demonstrations and competitions of all the major dog sports including all the finals for heelwork to music, agility and obedience. Of course there is also halls and halls of shopping plus discover dogs too. 

The Rates shown are per room and include a three course evening meal and full english and continental breakfast at the Holiday Inn Coventry. It is a fantastic deal and represents excellent value at greatly reduced prices. The hotel also has bar facilities, a swimming pool with steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi and a gym all inclusive in the room rates. 

If you are competing at Crufts dogs are also welcome in the hotel for a small fee of £15 per stay. 

Please remember you cannot take your own dogs to Crufts unless they have qualified to take part. 

The Rates Are: 

For a Double or Twin Room 
Mon to Thurs = £95 per night,
Fri/Sat/Sun = £80 per night 

For Single Occupancy 
Mon to Thurs =£80 per night, 
Fri/Sat/Sun = £65 per night 

For a Triple Room 
Mon to Thurs = £105 per night, 
Fri/Sat/Sun = £90 per night 

If you would like to book a room at the hotel please let me know by the 1st of September 2013 latest – a £10 non refundable deposit is required per room per night by that date. The Balance must be paid before on by the 1st of January 2014. My phone number for any questions or to book is 07958522732 or email miranda@sussexcountydogtraining.co.uk 

Would be great to have you there, Miranda. x

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Encourage your dog to adopt good habits

Dogs are not as intelligent as humans, therefore they should not be treated as such. The owner will be greatly disappointed with how training goes. Dogs are smart animals, though, and with a little patience and understanding they can be well trained.

If there are certain things that set your dog off causing bad behavior, then keep his mind focused on other things as you pass by what provokes this bad behavior. For instance, do something distracting to entertain and stimulate your dog when you are walking him and you approach another dog that your pet does not deal with well. By doing this, he will start to see that good things can happen even when he sees that stimuli.



 It is important to leash-train your dog. This will help keep your dog and you safe when going for walks.

 Stay with the training, so that he doesnt forget the lessons that he learned. Keep him in practice. A lot of times owners thing training is a one time event. You can encourage your dog to adopt good habits. That is why it is vital to ensure your dog maintains a strict rule system.

 To ensure your training sticks, everyone in your household needs to treat your dog the same way you do and use the same training methods. Consistent methods is your best bet to get your dog to remember something. If teaching methods between people differs, it is easy for your dog to get confused.

 Keep your dog outside while you are away from home to prevent it from chewing on your items. When this is not possible due to weather or living in an urban area, close your doors to all of your rooms. This keeps your dog out of your things. Be sure to leave chew toys out for them.

 When your dog reaches six months, make sure that your dog is spayed or neutered. Obedience training should be put off until this is done. Any dog not "fixed" will be very excitable and easily distracted in obedience sessions. This will make your dog easier to train.

 Training a new puppy can be much easier if everyone in the the family participates in the training. While they may have a single person working with them regularly, getting everyone involved can enforce that they must always follow the rules and it will make it more consistent.

 Dont let your dog make the decisions as to when to pay attention. If you dont feel like making time or having enough energy to give the dog a command, dont do it.

 When training a dog, watch that you do not overdo giving the dog treats. Too many treats can really plump a dog up. It is easy to forget about treats when you consider how much you are feeding your dog. This can happen especially when you are training him.

 Train your dog in little steps if what you want him to do is a bit more complicated. Take fetching the morning paper, for example. The first step is to teach your dog to hold the newspaper. Next, he must learn to follow a command to approach the object by name. You need to teach him then how to pick the object up. Finally, show him that you want the object brought to you. As you break the behavior down into simple steps, your dog will soon grow to master the entire task you want him to complete.

 Not everyone has what it takes to train their dog, sometimes a professional is needed. You may hit a snag in your training and a professional can help get you back on track. Professional trainers can instruct you on how to improve your training methods, and get both you and your pet back on track.

 Every dog is unique and is motivated to learn by different things. What your dog likes, doesnt like, and what types of training work for him are all things that you are learning during this process. Regardless of the reason that you have decided to train your dog, provide him with various training exercises and copious amounts of positive reinforcement. You will find it much easier to train your dog if he is happy.

 Obedience classes can help you with any training issues you face. These classes can help deal with various issues such as stopping disruptive barking, not sitting when told, and not listening to you.

 Pay strict attention to your body language and tone of voice anytime you are training a pet. Dogs can be very perceptive and can pick up cues from their owners about how the owner is feeling. A firm but stern tone should be enough to reinforce discipline.

 There are a few tricks you can try when attempting to crate train a puppy or dog. If the dog doesnt want to get in the crate try putting a chew toy in it and close the gate when theyre not there. This will make the puppy want to be let inside the crate to get the bone. Open the door, and praise them when they go inside.

 If you want to get rid of inappropriate chewing behaviors, you need to set up the dogs environment so that he will have fewer temptations. Additionally, make sure there is nothing that can pose as a threat to your chewing canine. Any objects which your dog could choke on or become entangled in should be kept out of reach.

 When you begin training your puppy, create a bond with him by first teaching him his name. Simply start by calling his name as often as possible. Once he learns his name, you can encourage him to come to you when called. Your dog should learn these items before any others as theyre the most important. Spend plenty of quality time with them, so that they know that they can trust you. In this way, he will be more receptive to advanced training later.

 If you catch your puppy chewing on something that he shouldnt be, stop him as soon as you catch him. Redirecting your puppy towards a chew toy teaches him what is appropriate to chew on. This can prevent further damage to your possessions.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 After learning some helpful hints on how to get through to your dog and train it to behave to your expectations you simply need to follow what you have learned. After changing your dogs behavior to fit with the tips suggested you can properly train your dog..

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Dogs and Kids

There are lots to think about when it comes to kids and dogs, needless to say precautions must be taken but wonderful relationships can also be forged between everyone in a family and the family pets.

Below is the most amazing resource when it comes to dealing with children and dogs and babies and dogs:

http://familypaws.com/

If you have any further questions please get in touch with Miranda or Jeff.

Miranda runs private family sessions where all family members (from the very small to the very old) can learn how to train and interact appropriately with the family canine. She is also very happy to have families and children in her general classes.

Office : 01243 697202 , Mobile : 07958522732, Email : miranda@sussexcountydogtraining.co.uk

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Changing behavior Who me

behavior modification |noun
the alteration of behavioral patterns through the use of such learning techniques as biofeedback and positive or negative reinforcement.

Why does training your dog have to be such a difficult process? Why why why? Hmmm, well, it doesn’t really. I think as humans we just make it as such...that is our innate behavior, no? ~ Let’s see. Behavior = the way in which one acts or conducts oneself. Just being alive is performing a behavior right? Sleeping in front of the TV is a “behavior”. Okay, that’s a simple one... It’s the whole “modification” process that sends us into a tizzy. After all, if we want to change someone else’s behavior we have to start with changing our own... Yikes! That’s too much work! Nah, it really doesn’t have to be...you just need a plan. Once you have a plan, consisting of a just a few small steps that you can fit into everyday life, then it too becomes part of your regular schedule... And therefore, a simple approach to reaching your goals...

Just go and experiment yourself... Pick one thing you love your dog doing. Then, be aware of when your dog is performing this behavior, and make sure you reward him or her with something that motivate them. Either a “treat”, praise, petting, playing a game. Something they find rewarding... This tells them “thank you”, “I appreciate that”. After all, don’t we all appreciate someone appreciating us.

Simple yes? Good. See? You’ve already modified your own behavior. Now, it’s time to go modify your dogs.

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Behavioral issue

When you decide its time to train your dog, its very common to be a bit lost. Good dog-training skills come naturally to very few people. In order to train your pet properly, preparing yourself with some good advice is an excellent idea. This article contains good guidelines for several different aspects of dog training.

If any sudden behavioral issue occurs, take the dog to the vet to make sure that there is not a health issue involved. Sometimes pain and other health conditions can cause some animals to act strangely or lash out. Animals cant tell us when something is wrong, so they depend on us to interpret their behaviors.



 Giving your dog mental stimulation is an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy. Visit your local pet shop for new and entertaining toys for your dog on a regular basis. Bored dogs will often turn to chewing furniture, shoes or even drywall, to amuse themselves if they are not given proper stimulation.

 Use your dogs name whenever you are offering it a treat. This will direct his attention to you immediately every time, and especially right before you issue a command. Use your dogs name several times a day. If you need to punish your dog, go to your dog. Dont call him or her to you and then punish.

 To learn how to effectively train your dog, you may want to take an obedience class. The instructors at these schools are trained to deal with a variety of different dogs, even the impossible cases. They can teach a dog to follow commands, heel on a leash and to stop any unnecessary barking.

 Anxiety in dogs often leads to destructive behavior like chewing or clawing. Placing the dog in a safe environment such as a dog crate and providing a chew toy keeps the dog safe and occupied until your return.

 Most cases associated to dog bites result from fear. This occurs whenever dogs feel trapped, threatened, and frightened. Dogs cannot be trained through force. This makes your dog more likely to bite. Your dog will be ready and willing to regard you as the dominant one.

 Dogs tend to concentrate on one thing to the exclusion of everything else unless that concentration is interrupted. With enough training, you will have your dog focusing solely on your signals.

 Once you decide to train your dog, it is very important that you continue with the training no matter what. Without reinforcement, your dog will revert to his old behaviors. You always need to keep training your dog, just like you need to continue feeding it and providing it shelter.

 Avoid tug-of-war games when training a puppy. These games often encourage a puppy to start biting. Dont let this behavior take root by avoiding these games until the dog is older.

 If your dog chews things when you leave him in the house alone, consider building a doghouse and leaving him outside when you go out. When this is not possible due to weather or living in an urban area, close your doors to all of your rooms. This keeps your dog out of your things. Be sure to leave chew toys out for them.

 Always give your dog the tools for success. If you are training it to stop chewing things it shouldnt be chewing on, give it things that it can chew on. In addition, keep the household objects that could be dangerous away from your pet. Items like hairbrushes can cause a dog to choke or could block their airway.

 Training should be done when the dog is young. This is not concrete, but it is known that puppies respond easier to training. If you start training your dog when he is young, he will be almost as well-behaved as a child.

 Remember how many treats you reward your dog with during the course of the day to avoid fattening him up. A lot of people forget to account for treats given during training when considering a dogs diet plan.

 Stay consistent when training your dog. Write down the commands that you use and then make sure each person who needs to know them does. Behavior should be rewarded or not depending on the affect that is being sought. When the people around the dog use different commands and responses, he may become confused and training could suffer.

 Teach everyone in your family to use the same commands to train your dog. Avoid confusion when it comes to disciplining your dog; keep command words consistent throughout the household. Using consistent commands all the time from every person who trains the dog will make training much less confusing for the dog.

 If your puppy is caught chewing on something unacceptable, stop him immediately. This helps teach them that they cannot chew on some things and can help them leave your belongs alone when youre not watching.

 Do not let your dog decide when to listen and when not to listen. If the patience to follow through with any command you give is not there, simply choose to not give it instead.

 Behavior problems that suddenly occur with no reason may indicate a medical problem that needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. This behavior may be his way of telling you that there is something wrong with him.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 Since you now have what you need, you can use this information to properly train your dog. If youve struggled to determine the right place to start your training efforts, you now have a clear answer..

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The Obamas Narrow Down Their Decision which puppy is right for them

First of all, I think it sets a great example for the public that the Obamas are looking to adopt their dog from a shelter. Dogs are the products of their environment, and if a dog is raised in a loving home with loving hands, that dog can be a healthy, happy and loving member of their family, regardless of pedigree.

And its also great that the President-elect has been doing his homework. However, it is important for Obama to keep in mind that breed descriptions and terms used by the AKC are all very subjective. Yes, many dogs are bred for specific traits and for carrying out certain tasks and activities. Their breed specifics will make that DNA a little stronger in some areas than other. But a dogs breed wont dictate personality - just like how you wouldnt say a person is friendly, reserved or aggressive based on their nationality or ethnic background.

Ive said it before, and Ill say it again: Im not breed biased. First and foremost their doggy DNA makes them dogs. And I know that you can train and teach a dog to love or hate almost anything. In fact, you can train any animal to do anything they are physically and mentally capable of doing.

So the most important thing for the Obamas to consider is how the dog will fit in with their lifestyle. While they must be able to provide the dog with legal outlets for the innate behaviors that it was bred for, they must also remember that dogs are living breathing creatures that have individual personalities! Theyre NOT inanimate objects like furniture, cars and computers that you can shop for through a catalog. I am a strong believer that dogs should be adopted based on personality, behavior, and demeanor. How a dog reacts at your first meeting is a better indicator of how it will fit into your lifestyle than the history of how the dog was bred. Its best to pay attention to what the dog is doing, not what you think it should or might do based upon breed alone. 

And if they are considering adopting a puppy, they need to think about proper socialization and dog training focused on preventing behavioral issues. Its just like when the Obamas had their children, they had to think about consistency in parenting and all the various responsibilities associated with taking care of another life in the long term. They had to baby proof their home, among other things. And with a puppy, they will have to puppy proof their home and know how to manage the responsibilities of raising a healthy and happy puppy. 

From what I’ve seen, the Obamas seem like a real traditional family that’s big on responsibility (Malia and Sasha will be making their own beds in the White House!) and they will remain focused on instilling values in their children to encourage them to be productive. Kudos to them for being such responsible parents! 

So they need to think about the dogs needs - Will the girls be brushing and grooming the dog regularly? Will Barack Obama run with the dog 5 miles or have the Secret Service pulling doggy exercising duties?

And finally, they have to think about taking care of the dogs needs in the long run. The dog will likely outlive Obamas presidential administration, even if he serves two terms. So the dog will be with them long after they leave the White House. And if the kids leave for college, Barack and Michelle will have an adult dog to take care of even though their daughters have moved away. So its important for them to consider their immediate lifestyle as well as what their future holds.

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House Training Products Go or No Go

Shopping.  A great American pastime. Some women can spend absurd amounts of time and money pawing through the racks in outlet malls or milling about at designer boutiques.  But this woman, this dog training, blue jean wearin, coupon clipping woman, can drain the bank account in only a few very special places.  Yes, bookstores will sink me.  And, now, as the proud mother of a preschooler, a toy store is also a dangerous place to shop. 

But from the time I was old enough to sign a check, my true shopping passion was pet stores.  America is with me on this one.  Recession or not, spending money on our pets continues to grow.  In 2011, that number was $50.84 Billion*.  Gulp.  Thats billion, with a B.

So, as any savvy business would do, companies continue to come up with more and more products for our pampered pets.  Some of them are gold - more toys to keep dogs mentally stimulated, and foods with higher quality nutrition that will help our pets live long, healthy lives.  And some just arent worth the space on the shelf.  Assuming you dont have an absurdly large portion of that $51 Billion in your own personal bank account, it helps to know what products are worth your hard earned money and which can be left to gather dust (or to be purchased by someone who missed out on my blog).

Here are ten of the most popular house training products:

No-go: wee pads.  These things must be a big time money maker for the companies that sell them, but I dont believe in using them to help house train a puppy.  They dont teach a puppy to hold it (to control their bladder and wait until they are taken outside - a skill they will eventually need), and they send the message that pottying inside is okay.

Go: artifical grass mats.  I dont recommend these for every client with a new puppy, but in some situations they can be helpful.  I suggest the plastic turf if a client cant get a very young puppy outside to the grass quickly enough - for example living on the 17th floor of a condo building - and in rare cases where house training has already gone awry.

No-go: dog diapers.  Unless your dog is incontinent (like our senior husky, Timber), leave diapers to the human babies, not the dog babies.

Go: crates.  Using a crate to help house train a puppy (or adult dog) is incredibly helpful.  Although metal wire crates seem to be getting more shelf space these days, I still prefer a solid plastic, airline style crate.

No-go: dog door.  Although a dog door can be a great convenience later in life, I dont recommend them for puppies or dogs that are still being house trained.  House training is about two things: learning where to go and learning to hold it until you get there.  Since dogs with a dog door have free access to their yard, they might not learn to hold it.

Go: baby gates.  Supervision is a critical part of house training.  Baby gates will help keep your dog within site and prevent them from sneaking off to leave a stinky gift in the spare bedroom.

No-go: newspaper. Unless you are buying it to read or clip coupons, dont bring a newspaper home.  The old-school method of whacking a dog on the rear whenever they had an accident in the house is severely flawed methodology.

Go: odor remover.  When cleaning up the inevitable accident, an ordinary household cleaner just wont do the job.  Dogs noses are astronomically more keen than our own.  It takes an enzymatic cleaner to get all the odor up - anything left behind is a billboard for your dog: pee here!

No-go: treats.  You may be surprised to see this on my list.  You thought I was a positive trainer, right?  Well, I am.  And offering your dog treats for going potty in the proper location wont necessarily hurt anything, but I dont think it really helps either.  In my experience, dogs dont seem to make the connection between a bodily function and a food reward.  But dont forget to pour on the praise!

Maybe: the doggy doorbell.  Teaching a dog to ring a bell as a way to ask to be let outside is a fairly new fad, and Im not against it, but Im not all for it either.  Owners usually start asking me about teaching their dog to "signal" when their puppy is about 3 to 4 months old - the initial angelic cuteness is wearing off and owners are frustrated with accidents.  "If only my dog would somehow just let me know when she needs to go outside, life would be so much easier!" 

Granted, a dog doorbell (commercially available as either a series of bells hung from the doorknob or an electronic doorbell that has large buttons a dog learns to step on) is preferable to other signals, such as scratching the door or barking, but be aware if you teach your dog a signal: your dog wont be learning to notify you only when they need to go out to eliminate, but will notify you any time they want to go out.  This could include wanting to go chase a squirrel, wanting to sniff the leaves, wanting to graze on the grass... do you see where this is leading?  Take comfort though.  Most puppies really are close to being fully house trained by this point.  It just takes a little more persistence and youll be there.

*American Pet Products Association, total U.S. pet industry expenditures

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How to get your pup trained properly

Congratulations on being a new dog owner. So, what are you going to do next? Training your dog is beneficial to both you and your pet. The following tips will tell you the inside scoop on how to get your pup trained properly.

It is vitally important that your dog is treated in the same manner, given the same commands and rewarded similarly by every member of your family. This is the only way to ensure the training sticks. Consistent methods is your best bet to get your dog to remember something. Make sure that everyone who trains your dog does it in the same manner as you in order to avoid confusion.



 If you want to be sure you are successful in your dog training efforts, it is vital that you keep your dog active throughout its life. Dogs were not meant to lay around all day. To keep them happy and healthy, they have to run around or do a job. Try enrolling in an agility course, going for a run, or practicing Frisbee skills with your dog. It is best to make sure your dog is moving just as much as possible and does not get bored.

 Positive reinforcement should include more than just dog treats. Dogs love treats, and easily learn new tricks when this is their motivation. However, you may not always have a treat with you to congratulate you dog outside of regular training sessions. Good behavior can be rewarded with petting and hugging, which are two great treat replacements.

 Clickers can be great behavioral training tools. If you give your dog an award when you used the clicker, it will be easier to train. You should click, and then immediately treat. This method will be necessary until your dog learns that the "reward" is the clicking sound alone. Your dog quickly learns that the clicking sound means a treat is coming, so you can then use the clicker to train.

 Provide your puppy with his own chew toys to alleviate the pain of teething, and try to keep other items out of reach. Give it an actual chew toy in its place. In cases where your puppy is suffering a great deal of pain, try soaking a washcloth in water and freezing it as a numbing chew toy.

 Appropriate training can help ease your dogs separation anxiety the times you are away from home. If your dog makes it a habit to bark a lot or tear up the home while you are away, it more than likely is suffering from separation anxiety. Proper training can teach your dog appropriate ways to entertain himself while you are not home. Make sure as well that you give your dog lots of love to ease the anxiety.

 For a happier and more content dog, be sure to provide it with things to do that will stimulate its thinking and keep its mind active. Giving your dog fun toys and treats such as Kong Toys or Busy Bones is a great way to keep them happy. You should also walk them on a regular basis so that they can get out any pent up energy. Bored dogs wont stay that way long; they will quickly entertain themselves by destroying your house.

 When teaching your dog not to chew on things that are not toys, you should try to facilitate success. It is also important that a dog who chews is protected from danger. Keep all items which can fit in your dogs mouth, like hair accessories or office supplies, away from your dogs reach.

 As with most things, and this goes with dog training as well, dont ever give up. Through constant and positive reinforcement, you will be able to train your dog to retain the behaviors you teach them. Keep in mind that training your dog is an on-going process, and just as important as providing him with food and shelter.

 For a happier and more content dog, be sure to provide it with things to do that will stimulate its thinking and keep its mind active. Giving your dog fun toys and treats such as Kong Toys or Busy Bones is a great way to keep them happy. You should also walk them on a regular basis so that they can get out any pent up energy. A dog that does not have anything to do may start chewing on your personal belongings.

 Do not allow your dog to stubbornly decide which commands he will pay attention to. Avoid trying to teach a command if you are not fully prepared to enforce a proper response.

 Give them chew toys for pain relief while teething, and keep everything else out of reach. Replace the item immediately with one of the dogs own chew toys. If the puppy is suffering any pain from teething, freeze a wet washcloth for him or her to chew on.

 When trying to train a puppy it is important to resist games such as tug-of-war. They encourage puppies to bite. Once your puppy is older and well trained, you can play rough games.

 Be sure to feed your dog healthy foods and treats. It is entirely up to you to provide a good diet for your pet. Not only is it unhealthy, it can affect the way they behave. Simply enhancing a dogs diet can make a big difference in its receptiveness to training.

 In order to be successful at dog training, you need to understand what motivates your dog. You are learning all aspects about your dog, his likes and dislikes, and what is effective and ineffective. He will expect love and positive reinforcement from you. He enjoys training and will respond to your leadership and patience. Happy dogs tend to perform better, and are easier to train successfully.

 Your dog will be easier to train if you are careful to avoid letting him learn bad habits to begin with. Its far easier to teach a puppy good habits than it is to deprogram bad habits. If you dont want your dog to be constantly begging for food when you are at the table, dont feed it food scraps in the first place.

 Ensure that your dog gets plenty of exercise and stimulation. Dogs require mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Dogs with no enthusiasm will be harder to train than active dogs. If you have a happy, exercised dog, they will listen better. A long walk or a brisk run are great ways to get rid of some of your dogs excess energy.

 When doing crate training, train your dog incrementally rather than trying to do it all at once. Allow them to feel comfortable in their crate by closing the door and feeding them treats while praising them. Start off only putting them inside for 10 seconds, and when they seem okay with that, slowly increase the time they are inside. If your puppy starts acting distressed about going into the create, you need to slow things down.

 The best time to start training a dog is when its a puppy. While it isnt essential, a young dog will be easier to train. If you start training your dog when he is young, he will be almost as well-behaved as a child.

 When you get your puppy, be sure to create a bond to him by helping him learn his name. Repeat his name regularly, so he will learn to come to you when he hears it. These should be the primary words your dog needs to learn. Spending a lot of time interacting and playing with your puppy is the best way to establish a bond of love and trust. This will make him easier to train later.

 It is important for dog owners to realize that training no longer has to be a battle. With patience and a little research, you can train your dog. Dogs can rise to the occasion and thrive with training from their owner.

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Snuggly Mornings

We allow the dogs on the bed.  Yes, its true, the dog trainer said it.  We let our dogs sleep on the bed.  I think the theory that a dog who sleeps on the bed will "think they are dominant over you" is rubbish.  That said, only one of our dogs really enjoys spending the night on the bed with us.  I think the other two probably complain that we move around, toss and turn, and take up too much space. 

If youve ever met the dogs, you can likely guess which one adores sleeping with Mom and Dad.  It is the little princess.  Our bowling ball with legs.  Little Apple.  And if she sees the slightest gap in the covers she quickly worms her way in and goes from dog sleeping on the bed to dog sleeping under the covers! 

As piggy as she can be, its a wonderful sensation to wake up in the morning with a doggy friend curled up in the arc of my back.  Apple is happy to get some attention before getting up for the day - a nice belly rub, some ear scratches and a good body massage.  Shes soft and warm and cuddly.  And thats what having a dog is all about.

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Managing Your Reactive Dog

The Importance of Management

Anyone that claims or even subtly implies that he/she can get your dog "fixed" or "cured" of its aggression is trying to sell you on his services.

It is much more realistic to start with the idea that you may not be able to cure his aggression, but with proper treatment and training you may be able to control your dogs aggressive tendencies, and reduce the behaviour. This means that managing your dogs behaviour in order to prevent any possible "incidents" is essential.

Apply the management and safety planning according to what your dog reacts to.

Avoid what sets your dog off

If your dog growls when you pet him on top of his head, dont pet him on top of his head!! If your dog growls at others, keep him away from others.

Desensitization and other techniques may be needed for many aggressive problems, but you need to know exactly how to do this for your particular dog. Until then, there is no point is setting your dog off. That goes for any of your dog’s aggression problems. The more your dog lunges at your neighbour’s dog, the more you strengthen and encourage that response, and the more difficult it will be to undo that reaction. You must try to prevent all aggressive outbursts or situations completely.

Crates/kennels

Invest in a crate. If you don’t normally use one and feel guilty, reassure yourself that a crate is actually similar to a den, and dogs can eventually feel safe in there. Decorate it with blankets or whatever else will make you feel better about it. It is the ideal thing when you need a break from your dog or need to protect guests. However, it should not be used for more than a few hours at a time. Trainers who rely on excessive crating to "cure" aggression, could be relying on a psychological condition similar to "learned helplessness" or depression.

A crate ought to be a safe den for the dog. Ask guests to ignore the dog when the dog is in there. Otherwise, move your dog to room where children can’t open it. Put a sign on the door for adults. Don’t rely on a baby gate. Dogs have been known to jump them, or chew through them. The benefit of a crate is that you can have your dog in the same room with you. Note: excessive crating can cause more behavioural problems

Leads

If your dog is likely to bite you or anyone else who might have to deal with it at anytime, keep a lead on it, even in the house. See headcollars in combination with leads below. It’s possible to purchase lightweight cloth leads, and snip the handle so that it doesn’t catch on anything while your dog is allowed to roam free within your house. This will allow you grab the lead instead of its collar or its body if you need to pull your dog away from anything. It will allow you to avoid getting to close to those teeth. Note: Tethering of animals may expose them to increased stress and danger.

Muzzles, head collars and harnesses

If your dog is likely to bite, you should consider investing in a muzzle now. Don’t assume that your dog will behave appropriately with a muzzle, however. A muzzle will do nothing to prevent aggressive behaviour. A muzzle will only prevent a bite. You should also condition your dog to wear it so they feel comfortable wearing it.

A head collarmay be useful (ask your trainer). This is not a muzzle. Your dog can still breathe, drink, eat, even bite if not controlled, but it makes control easy, and it is easy to prevent a bite simply by pulling on the lead.

Harnesses will not prevent biting and if the dog is aggressive it could be dangerous reaching around the neck to fit the harness. However, it is good for dogs that pull or lunge and the no-pull front attach harnesses offer more of a humane control for dogs with short snouts, where head halters wont work or where the dog hates wearing a head collar.

 

Freedom (off lead activity)

Freedom is tricky. As humans we believe that our dogs should be free to roam as they please. We avoid using crates, leashes, etc. But ask yourself; are you avoiding the use of tools like those mentioned above because of guilt or laziness? If so, reconsider what kind of threat your dog poses to others. You will feel much worse if your decisions result in your dog causing enough harm to have it put down. Remember, if your dog is behaving aggressively, whatever is provoking the aggression is also stressful to your dog.

Sometimes dog-aggressive dogs benefit from having more exercise if they are the kind of breed that needs a lot and they are not getting enough. A dog aggressive dog does not need to make friends. If you want your dog to get running exercise, consider getting it a long lead, and taking it to an area where you will not meet other dogs, or walk your dog with a head collar and lead.

Similarly a dog that is aggressive towards people should not be free to growl or snap at people, even strangers. Dont take any chances. It’s far better to be cautious then to need to put your dog down because you thought it "might be okay".

• Invest in muzzles and/or head collars.
• Under no circumstances should you dog ever be given the opportunity to escape. If the door is going to be opened, always put your dog on a lead secured to something; put him in a crate or another room.
• Ensure strangers coming to the house will not have to confront your dog however accidentally.
• Make sure your garden fences and gates are well secured. If your dog escapes anyway, you will be held liable.
• Examine any open space your dog is allowed to run in, and make sure there is no danger of anyone or anything accidentally coming into this space. Dont assume that is you are there you can ask people not to come in. Sometimes they will not listen or believe your dog is a threat. If you are at all unsure, use a long lead, and a muzzle.
• Check your leads, collars, etc. will not break.
• Never ever leave a young child alone with any dog.
• Always keep your dog in another seperate area of your home when there are other people who may potentially get bitten.
• Use a locking mechanism or hook on the doors of rooms and crates, where people cannot accidentally invade your dog’s space.
• Children have been known to open the doors of dog crates even when asked not to, so it is best to keep your dog in an area where children are not tempted.
• Children may gain unauthorized access to a fenced area where your dog is kept. Never leave your dog outside without supervision.
• Get stuck in to training your dog so when your management accidentlaly fails (it probably will at some stage) your dog will be better equiped for the situation they may find themselves in.

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