Dog Obedience Tips
 

Training a new dog or even one which has been part of your family for some time can be time consuming and frustrating at times to say the least, but in the end it's well worth the trouble and if you stick to it you will surely be satisfied with the results if you follow the techniques correctly. Here are several tips which will help things go much smoother and faster... plus reduce the frustration for both you and your dog, which is always a good thing when it comes to effective dog behaviour training! Try conducting "play training" - this type of training is where the training tasks are made into fun games and your dog's natural excitement is used as motivation. This is a really simple yet effective technique and you should really try to include this in your obedience training routine as a must do. There are a lot of really good books available on this type of training which go into good detail on this subject in simple, easy to follow steps. Be careful though, as intelligent dogs can be stubborn, so you may have to outwit them, treats and praise will work wonders for your dog behaviour training. While training your dog, you have to make him want to do what you want him to (which is obviously the key to any successful dog behaviour training!). However, this is nearly impossible unless it is made fun for the dog, because if your dog doesn't enjoy it then he/she will not want to do it in the first place and you will most likely just end up wasting both your time and your dog's. Another key tip: almost all dogs love to play! You can make your dog the happiest in the land just by spending some time together, providing him with your undivided attention each day. Without this, your dog could feel ignored, bored, or think they're in trouble. When this happens your dog will be more likely to chew, tear things up, and not listen to you and this will be detrimental to any dog behaviour training progress that you have managed to achieve before and could throw it all out of the window. To get regular updates on dog training tips and techniques, please subscribe to my RSS feed here: dog behaviour training RSS feed.

 

 
The Top 5 dog behaviour training tips
 

Hello fellow dog trainers and people alike. Now, a lot of people have contacted me recently to ask me to cut down my detailed articles on dog training and to just give the main key points that they need to get going with dog behaviour training in a relatively quick period of time. It should still be noted that successful dog behaviour training requires some time and patience at the best of times, but all the same you should find the following definitve list useful, it contains the top 5 tips to any successful dog training that you ideally need for maximum success. Please take some time to read this article and you should find it makes a huge difference to your dog behaviour training success. Here we go:

1. Get your dog's attention
Before you can start training your dog you first need to get its attention, this may sound like teaching grandma to suck eggs to you but you would be surprised how many people overlook this and just carry on trying to train a dog who isn't really even paying attention to them in the first place! There are some easy ways to get your dogs attention such as simply talking to him and offering him a small treat in reward for his attention - dogs soon get to know and catch on quickly to this and you will notice this working very quickly.

2. Give praise
Time and time again it is the simplest and most obvious things that people neglect to do when training their dog, and surprisingly one of the most common (and most essential of the lot) is to give your dog praise when he does something right,as this helps to complete his association between your voice pattern and whether he has done good or bad. Whenever your dog obeys you and does something correct, make sure you give him plenty of praise and you will soon notice a change in his behaviour, even over just a short period of time, it's that effective!

3. Reprimanding
When it comes to successful and effective dog behaviour training, giving a stern reprimand is just as important as offering plenty of praise as both are required to complete your dog's association between your tone of voice and his behaviour. People come to me all the time with the issue that they just feel too horrible when they tell their dog off and they shy away from it. This is not good as if a dog is not told when he has done something wrong, then he will continue to do it knowing no different. You need to reprimand when needed to make all this work.Now, just to clear something up that is not always understood so well, to reprimand does not mean hitting your dog! This is totally wrong and will not help your dog behaviour training at all. Instead., any time your dog is engaging in bad behavior, use the opportunity to teach him the 'stop!' or 'no!' command. Using the 'stay!' command can also be effective in these situations and is a good example of a reprimand with a positive purpose.

4. Use the right dog behavoiur training tools
There is no good trying to train your dog if you don't have the necessary tools and supplies to do the job, you wouldn't really try to train a dog to obey your 'sit' commands without taking him out on a lead for a while would you? No, of course you wouldn't and it's another key factor in any successful dog behaviour training program. If you have a well behaved dog, then a 6 ft lead and a regular collar will easily suffice and will do the job nicely. However if you have a dog that is slightly more uncontrollable and unpredictable, then you should use a special training collar. You also need to make sure the collar is the right size (an uncomfortable dog is much less likely to play ball!) which you can do by measuring the dogs' neck and adding about 2 inches, this should give a pretty good estimate of which collar you need to buy for your dog.

5. Do a little dog behaviour training every day
Don't rush dog training. Trying to fill a dog's head with too much information will more than likely end up working against you just in the same way a child would trying to learn the entirety of a subject in just one lesson, it doesn't work. Teach your dog one command at a time and don't move on until he gets it, keep at it and persistence will pay off. Well there we go, I have listed the 5 most important and most essential tips you will probably ever learn when it comes to successful dog behaviour training. So please take them on board and make sure they are a firm part of your dog behaviour training program today and you will see dramatic improvement in your dog's behaviour and how quickly your dog's behaviour training improves. Please check back soon as I post regular dog training updates and articles that should really make a difference to you and your dog, or you can easily subscribe to my RSS feed at: dog behaviour training RSS feed.

 




 

Dealing With Your Fence Jumping Dog

Some dogs are very good fence jumpers, even if they are quite short. Take the Jack Russell terrier as an example. While this breed is adorable and very bright, they are incredible jumpers. Now, you don't typically see a dog sail right over the top of a fence (though it does happen) but you do see them use everything they've got to scamper, climb, and crawl up and over.

Fence jumping is frustrating from the perspective of trying to keep the dog in the yard but this behavior also poses a risk to the dog. For example, if your particular fence had any type of spike or pointed area on top, your pet's collar could become stuck, resulting in strangulation. Therefore, if you have any pet that loves to jump fences, you need to do something to correct the problem.

The perfect scenario would be having a puppy that you can train from the day you bring him home. However, even if you have an older dog, successful training is possible. The thing with dogs is that once they get over the fence, they quickly gain a burst of self-confidence and power that comes from the freedom of being out of the yard. To him, getting over the fence is merely a way of exploring or chasing critters beyond the normal barriers. To you, fence jumping is annoying and potentially dangerous to your pet.

In most cases, a dog will begin to jump fences because he sees another animal on the other side, he spots a person that appears to be friendly, or he is simply bored. Identifying the reason your dog is jumping the fence will help you determine the best course of action for fixing the problem. For instance, if your pet sees another animal or person, you may need to invest in a higher or different type of fence. Now, if you are home where you can work with him on an on-going basis, you have other options but for most people, this is a challenge. If your pet is bored, you could spend quality time playing with him outside, purchase new toys, or even consider adding another dog to the mix.

Another possible connection for fence jumping is the male dog looking for females, especially when they pick up the scent of her being in heat. In this case, it would help tremendously to have your male neutered. In addition to this, you will need to keep a close eye on him, possibly securing him to a long lead. This way, he can have the run of the yard while the lead controls just how close to the fence he can get. Most people find this option a good one.

In all cases, make sure your dog is getting plenty of exercise, as this is the root of most behavior problems. Most people under-estimate. Consider a 15 to 20 minute walk, fetch session, or playtime an absolute minimum. Beyond the puppy stage, most dogs will function - and behave - best with about and hour and a half of physical activity each and every single day.
 

 

 





Teaching Your Dog To Fetch

One of the first fun activities many owners will try with their dogs is playing fetch. Usually, the owner will take their dog to an open area and throw a ball or soft toy expecting the dog to go collect it and bring it back . What usually happens is the dog will stand and look and you or it will go off after the object you just threw and either start chewing on it or the dog will carry on running. Other times the dog will come back without the object expecting you to throw another one.

The fetch command is a fairly easy one and can be quickly taught to puppies and young dogs but can take a little more time with older dogs. Different breeds of dogs will learn quicker and some breeds like labradors and retrievers may take little to no training at all.

For those dogs that have nt quite mastered the idea of fetch, there are a couple of different methods of teaching the fetch command.

The first method is know as the forced retrieve and involves throwing a toy or similar object and manually walking the dog to that point. When the dog picks the object up the owner should generously reward them. This procedure should be repeated a number of times. Say 5-10 times a day for a week. If you do it too often to begin with, the dog may become bored. Make sure the area where you carry out this training is free from other distractions so the dog can concentrate on what it is you are trying to teach them.

The second method involves using another handler and getting them to walk the dog out to collect the thrown object and then back to you before the dog is rewarded. In fact, you can start with the first method and then move on to the second method. Remember to reward the dog generously for a good retrieve when using this method also. Again, ensure there are no distractions for the dog.

Some tips on making this process as painless as possible are firstly not to throw the toy or object too far. This way the dog can see where the object has gone and knows they can get to it. Also, you should keep a particular toy just for the fetch training. If the dog is used to regularly playing with the toy, they may not realise you are trying to teach them something new. They may end up taking the toy off to play and forget about you.

In early training, avoid the use of sticks or hard objects until the dog is well trained. Sticks also look pretty similar and if the dog finds a choice of many to pick up they just might not bother.

Hopefully, after a few weeks your dog will be happy to go to the park with you and fetch frisbees, tennis balls or whatever object you have brought with you. It's also great exercise for both of you.
 

 

Introducing Your New Dog to Your Current Dog

Many dogs appreciate having another dog in the family to play with. Though nothing can replace the time you need to spend with your dogs, dogs can keep each company. Dogs like to choose their own friends, and who you think might get along with your dog won't always. Proper introductions can help get your canines' friendship off to the right start.

Before you introduce your dogs, make sure they are up to date on shots. Choose a neutral location; a place that neither animal considers his or her territory. Have both dogs on a leash and allow them to meet for the first time. Have a friend or family member hold the leash of the other dog.

Your dogs will be stressed during this meeting, but it is important to not interfere. Ignore any negative behavior from either dog. Interacting with your dog while she is stressed will only feed into that behavior. Wait until your dog is calm and relaxed before you praise your dog. Praise these positive behaviors to encourage them.

When your new dog enters your home, make sure that both of them have a place of their own where they can relax without having to worry about protecting their territory. Feed your dogs in a separate area. If your dogs are comfortable, you can feed them in the same room, but not too close together. If they are anxious or you sense that meal time may lead to problems, separate them with a gate or feed them in separate rooms.

In time, your dogs will sort out their pack order. Whatever they decide, remember your place as the pack leader. Be fair with both dogs and

 



 

 



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