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Dog Training Tips

If you need any advice about dog training , a good place to start is to contact Lyn at

www.tammysdogtraining.co.uk

Who is Tammy?  A Star..

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Claudie on January 18th 2013 in Dog Ownership

Why You Should Train Your Small Dog

The reasons for training large, powerful dogs are obvious and abundant.  You need to be able to control them and they’re often much stronger than you.  They can very easily outrun you and it’s very possible they could hurt another person, whether intentionally or inadvertently.  Even just walking a bigger dog on a leash can be next to impossible if the dog hasn’t received some basic obedience training.

Small dogs, on the other hand, are not strong or threatening.  All you have to do is pick them up – problem solved, right?  Wrong.  It’s very important for you and for your small dog that you take it through at least some basic obedience training.  The health of your dog and your relationship with them will be greatly improved with just a small investment in obedience training.

Aggression

Aggression in small dogs is very common.  Many small dog owners don’t see this as a problem because they figure their dog is too small to hurt anyone.  This is both an errant assumption to make and an insufficient reason not to address your dog’s aggressive behavior.  Aggression is just as much a problem in small dogs as it is in larger dogs.

Small dogs are very likely to become aggressive precisely because they never receive the obedience training that larger dogs get.  People tend to think that everything they do is cute and so inappropriate behavior is rewarded.  Also, the easiest way to control a small dog is simply to pick them up.  This gives them the attention they want and reinforces the inappropriate behavior as well.

Being the Alpha

All of these dynamics make the small dog think it is in control – it is the dominant one in the owner-dog relationship.  If you don’t assert your dominance effectively and consistently, your dog will forever be fighting you for the top spot in the pack.  This is not going to get your dog to behave well and it’s not healthy for the dog either.

The benefits of obedience training are not limited to the specific commands you teach your dog.  By taking your dog through an obedience training regimen, you’re establishing your authority and opening a clear line of communication with your dog.  Having this type of relationship with your dog is just as important no matter what size your dog is.

Safety

Having an established way of communicating with your dog is definitely important for the health of your relationship with your dog, but it’s also vital to ensuring his safety as well.  When your dog listens to you and respects your authority, you can protect it from a variety of dangerous situations.  If you don’t have the tools to command your dog’s attention and respect, you won’t be able to keep him safe nearly as effectively.

If you own a small dog, you no doubt want the best for it.  In order to make sure you’re giving your dog the best care possible, it is terribly important that you take it through some basic obedience training.  This really takes very little effort and the benefits are numerous.  You may very well be shocked at how much some simple training can improve your relationship with your dog.

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Claudie on October 5th 2010 in Dog behavior, Dog Ownership, Toy Dogs, training Tips

Why Obedience Training is Important

For quite a few reasons, putting your dog through obedience training is the best thing you can do for them.  It’s a relatively simple process, especially when your dog is young, but a lot of people just don’t take the time or see the point.  You can take your dog to an obedience training class or train them on your own.  Either way, it’s a tremendously useful tool in minimizing bad behaviors early in their life.

Setting Boundaries

Establishing appropriate boundaries and making sure your dog recognizes them is extremely important.  It will make your relationship with your dog much stronger, and it will set your dog at ease as well.  When your dog knows its place in the world and what is expected of it, it will not feel the need to take responsibility for everything.

Dogs feel stress too and a dog that doesn’t have boundaries will be confused about what it is supposed to do and when it is supposed to do it.  This can lead to erratic behavior and a high-strung temperament.  It can also lead to a constant struggle for dominance between you and your dog.  With appropriate boundaries in place, however, your dog will be able to relax because it understands its place.  It will know that you are in charge and that you will protect it.

Putting Your Dog to Work

Dogs also want to have a job to do.  Obedience training is a way of putting your dog to work by giving it commands to follow and actions to perform.  A misbehaving dog is often just a dog that’s bored and doesn’t know what is expected of it.  By giving you dog a job to do, you give it purpose and a context to work within.  This is exactly the type of situation in which most dogs thrive.

Socialization

When you have confidence in your dog and your dog has confidence in you, you can spend a lot more time together.  If your dog knows how to behave in a variety of situations and will listen to you unconditionally, it can be a lot more involved in your life.  When you know your dog will listen to you no matter the circumstances or distractions, it will be much safer and easier to take them with you on a regular basis.

It will also be a lot safer for your dog when they are trained thoroughly to respond to you.  You will be able to steer them clear of the potential dangers of cars, other animals, and people.  This can provide you with great piece of mind too.  Developing a clear line of communication with your dog is the most important thing you can do to make sure you’ll have a long and positive relationship.

Little Time, Great Rewards

Training your dog right does take some effort.  But the results are well worth it.  You don’t have to commit to huge blocks of time to do it either.  You just have to set aside a small amount of time on a regular basis.  Consistency and a little bit of effort is all it will take to train your dog right.

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Claudie on October 3rd 2010 in Dog Ownership, training Tips

How to House Train your Puppy Successfully

House training your new puppy can easily turn into a challenging process for you both.  It doesn’t have to be that way though.  There are a ton of methods for potty training a puppy.  They are not all created equal, but several of them have been proven very effective.  No matter what method you decide to use, however, it is important to keep a few things in mind as you begin the process.  These tips will benefit you in the long run and set the stage for the creation of a long and happy relationship between you and your dog.

Toller puppy

Realistic Expectations

You’ll only get frustrated quickly if you expect your puppy to be able to do things he just can’t do.  Puppies are capable of learning and they’ll catch on fast to what you’re trying to teach them if you go about it in the right way.  They’re still young animals though, and you can’t expect them to be perfect.  Accidents will happen and it’s good to be prepared for this so you don’t get too upset.

It’s also not a natural assumption your puppy’s going to make that there’s a special place to go to the bathroom.  Animals will just naturally go when they have to go.  You need to help your puppy understand that there are places they should relieve themselves and places that they shouldn’t.

You also need to understand that your puppy can’t physically hold it for very long.  The older the puppy gets, the longer they’ll be able to wait.  It’s not their fault and they’re not trying to disobey you – they just can’t wait.  Setting up a schedule and sticking to it is the best way to make sure that you won’t be asking your puppy to wait any longer than they’re physically capable.

Consistency

Potty training, just like any other kind of dog training is all about consistency.  If you’re consistent with your behavior and instructions when you’re potty training your puppy, the puppy will be able to catch on much faster.  If you don’t stick to a routine or don’t react to the puppy’s behavior (good or bad) in the same way every time, your puppy will only become confused.

If the puppy doesn’t understand what you expect, it will never be able to please you.  You have to be able to make it clear exactly what you want the puppy to do.  Maintaining consistency in the signals you’re giving to the puppy is the only way to do this.

Seize the Moment

If you want to have a well behaved dog that you can maintain a good relationship with, there’s no better time to start laying the groundwork for that relationship than right now.  Starting out on the right foot with your puppy will make all the difference in what kind of dog he grows up to be.  And that will have everything to do with you.  The earlier you start to instill the right kind of behaviors with positive reinforcement, the easier it will be for you to train your dog as he grows up.

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Claudie on October 1st 2010 in Dog Ownership, training Tips

Teaching Your Dog Tricks

Teaching Your Dog Tricks

Teaching your dog tricks is fun.  That’s not the only reason it’s a good idea though.  It also helps you to build a stronger relationship with your dog and can go a long way towards helping to eliminate unwanted behavior before it starts.  It’s not true that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks either.  No matter how old your dog is, it can learn a few simple tricks quickly and easily.  As with any type of dog training exercise, the keys are consistency and patience.  You can quickly have a better behaved dog with an impressive repertoire of tricks with which to impress your friends.

Working Hard

Dogs want to work.  As domesticated pets, their opportunities for this type of action is limited.  Teaching a dog a trick means that it must perform a particular action or set of actions on cue.  As far as the dog’s concerned, that’s the same as giving it a job.  And a working dog is a happy dog.  Plus, working with you to perform and learn new tricks means that the dog is getting your attention and praise.  This kind of positive reinforcement is the best way to build a strong relationship with your dog.

Tricks and Obedience

Of course, obedience training is a great way to build this type of relationship too.  Teaching tricks though can be a great way to supplement and reinforce your obedience training.  It’s also a good way to continue this type of interaction after obedience training is no longer necessary.  Making time for your dog will contribute greatly to their well being and help them continue to thrive.

You Do Have Time

It doesn’t take a huge time commitment to teach your dog a few fun tricks.  You just have to be consistent and patient.  Plus, you’ll probably start looking forward to your sessions as much as the dog.  It’s a great feeling for you too when you see your dog master a trick that you taught it.  You’ll develop a much stronger bond that will translate to other situations as well.

Standard Equipment

There are a few training aids that you’ll be wise to invest in before you try to teach your dog tricks.  You may already be familiar with them if you used them for obedience training.  One of the most useful training aids is the clicker.  This simple tool allows you to “capture” a particular action or behavior and get your dog to repeat it.  It can be incredibly helpful when it comes to training your dog to do tricks.  Healthy treats are also something you should have on hand.  Aside from your praise, this is the best kind of direct positive reinforcement.

You and your dog can have a lot of fun together and build a much stronger relationship through the trick training process.  You can put your dog to work without it feeling like work to you.  You can also reinforce the tenets of obedience training and increase their effectiveness.

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Claudie on September 29th 2010 in Dog Ownership, training Tips

How to Stop Excessive Barking

Some problem behaviors are more straightforward to deal with than others.  Learning how to deal with your dog’s excessive barking problem can seem difficult on several levels.  It is absolutely possible to correct and deal with this type of behavior, but you have to take a few things into account first.  There are a lot of reasons why dogs bark, and you can’t stop them from barking all of the time.  You also don’t want to stop your dog from barking when it may be appropriate.

Boredom

Your dog may bark because he isn’t getting enough mental or physical stimulation.  Just like a little kid acting out, your dog may bark because he’s bored.  Make sure your dog is getting the exercise and attention he needs from you.  Don’t pay attention to him when he barks like this though.  A direct reaction to this type of barking, even a negative one, will only encourage your dog to behave the same way again.

Breed

Your dog may be bred to bark a lot.  Many herding dogs and hounds have this trait because of the jobs they were bred to do.  If you have one of these breeds of dog, he may be barking because it’s in his genes.  This doesn’t mean that you can’t train your dog not to bark when it’s inappropriate.  It is important to be aware of the possible causes of the excessive barking so that you can approach correcting it in the right way.

Separation

Dogs are pack animals.  Your dog may bark excessively when you leave him home alone because he’s separated from his pack and doesn’t know how else to find you again.  This can be one of the most difficult excessive barking problems to address, but it can be done when you know what is causing the problem.

The main pitfall you have to be sure to avoid in this type of situation is unconsciously rewarding your dog’s barking every time you come home.  If your dog is barking while you’re gone and then you come home and immediately give him attention, he will think it was his barking that caused you to return.  In order to break this cycle, you have to ignore your dog if he is barking when you first arrive home.  Only once he’s settled can you initiate contact and give him the attention he wants.

Strangers

Your dog may bark when a person he doesn’t know comes near the house.  This could be anyone that your dog perceives to be a threat to their territory.  It can be particularly difficult to eliminate this behavior if your dog is barking at the mailman or other delivery person because these people are guaranteed to reward the behavior every time.  The mailman comes, your dog barks, the mailman leaves.  It’s not an impossible cycle to break, but it will definitely take some work.

These are just a few of the reasons that dogs may bark excessively.  It is an annoying problem and an important one to fix, but it’s good to keep in mind too that there are times when you’ll want your dog to bark.  Barking can be a healthy way for your dog to express himself.  He just has to know when it’s appropriate and when it’s not.

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Claudie on September 27th 2010 in Dog behavior, Dog Ownership

How to Stop your Dog From Jumping on People

Puppies are cute.  They’re playful and happy and full of energy.  All they want is your attention and praise and it’s very tempting to give it to them no matter what they do.  There are a lot of problem behaviors that have their roots in uncorrected puppy behavior though.  You need to be careful and establish the right rules early in order to ensure that you’ll always have a strong, healthy relationship with your dog.

One of the most common puppy behaviors that can turn into a big problem later is jumping up on people.  Dogs will do this for several reasons, and it may seem cute at first.  If left unchecked, however, jumping up can become a big problem, particularly in larger dogs.  It’s a pretty easy problem to fix though, and it’s well worth doing.

All About Attention

The main reason dogs jump up on people is that they’re excited.  Your dog is so happy to see you when you get home that they jump up to greet you.  While it’s nice that your dog is so glad you’re home, this is not the best way for them to express it, and you need to make that clear.  Your dog is excited to see you and wants attention – don’t give it to them.

If you give your dog attention – even negative attention – when he jumps up on you, all you are doing in reinforcing the behavior.  You need to avoid this type of reaction if you want to change the way your dog is acting.  There are a few simple ways to do this that can be very effective.

Turn Away

When you know your dog is about to jump up on you, turn your back to them.  Your dog wants your attention and thinks this is the way to get it.  You need to completely ignore them and not make eye contact until your dog is no longer jumping up.  Once they’re settled down, praise them immediately.  This will reinforce the idea that good things come when they’re not jumping up.

Substitution

Instead of turning away completely, you can simply give your dog something else to do when they jump up.  Commanding them to sit, for instance, is a good way to encourage a different behavior.  You must be sure and lavish your dog with praise and attention when they do what you’re asking.  This way, your dog will make the association that jumping up gets them nothing, while sitting gets them the attention they’re looking for.

Jumping up may not seem like a big deal.  It’s annoying sometimes, but your dog only does it because they love you, right?  This may be true, but it can become a problem quickly if your dog jumps up on children or elderly people when he becomes excited.  In order to avoid the possibility of anyone getting hurt, it’s best to train your dog early not to jump up on anyone.  This will make it easier for you to enjoy your dog in all kinds of situations.

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Claudie on September 24th 2010 in Dog Ownership, training Tips

What you ought to know before owning a dog!

Now the time has come for you to choose a dog, your ideal dog. However, what is the perfect breed for you with so many breeds to choose from? You should never buy a puppy on impulse and really think it all through. You ought to find out if the breed is suitable for you and your family before making a final decision. A dog is likely to live for 12 to 15 years and he will rely on you for his every need so finding your ideal dog is a must.

Before you make the final decision you must ask yourself the following:

Who will be the prime carer?
Who in your family will be responsible for looking after the dog, e.g. who will feed, walk, groom and teach him the basic obedience exercises. Of course everyone in the family should be involved with the puppy care but someone will have to be the prime carer. The puppy will need to be taken to training classes, to the vet and taken out on a regular basis, and you must not expect the children to be responsible for these very important tasks.

Is your home suitable?
Are you living in an apartment? in a house? have a small yard? a large yard? is the yard safely secured? Is your home in the countryside or in town? Each breed has different needs, characteristics and energy levels. Some breeds will grow up into a very large canine whilst others will require a large area in order to use up excess energy. So before your decide on a specific breed it is important that you consider if your home is a suitable environment for the animal.

How much time do you have to dedicate to the puppy/dog?
The first year of owing a puppy is very time consuming and you must be prepared to socialise him, to take him to training classes and to walk him on a regular basis. Some breeds will need to be taken out for long walks, do you have enough time for that type of canine, whereas certain dogs, like the toy breed, will require less exercise, so this type of breed might be your ideal dog if time is an issue.

Do you have any children? Does anyone in your family suffer from allergies?
Some breeds are more suitable for families with children, retrievers are well known to be a gentle breed; also a small dog might be more suitable. Herding breeds like the Border Collie could be troublesome for a family with young children as his instincts to round up live stock is very strong and he could well try to round up your children instead. Is your child allergic to dog hair? You could still own a canine and a breed that does not shed any hair, such as a Poodle could be your ideal breed.

Border Collie

Border Collie

Do your research; check all the pro and cons of each breed. Narrow your choices down to three or four breeds which are suited to your circumstances, get as much information as possible then choose your ideal dog.

In the following weeks I will update you with the characteristics of the most popular pedigree breeds, as one of the advantages of a pure bred canine is that the characteristics i.e. size, coat, temperament are predictable, as they are passed down from generation to generation.

Please bear in mind that crossbreeds can also make wonderful pets but you will never truly know what the dog will look like until he is fully grown. It is quite possible that one of the parents is small. However the puppy could turn out to be a very large canine once fully grown which might not be the ideal dog for your family.

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Claudie on November 8th 2009 in Dog Ownership

Welcome to MyIdealDog.com

Over the next few months I will be updating the site with various dog breeds, the pros and cons of owning each breed. This might help you choose your ideal dog.

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Claudie on October 30th 2009 in Dog Ownership