Nov 022008

Stella is a handful.  Stella is my dog and she is a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.  Being a terrier she has lots of energy to burn.  She is a lovely dog but needs alittle control in her life!  And mine for that matter.  We first attended a local puppy class to just get her use to other puppies and owners.  But as time goes on, I can see she needs more guidence!

I have searched the internet for online programs as my job doesn't allow for an local evening class.  I was confident that I could work on this in my own time and at my own pace.  I think I found the perfect solution for Stella and myself.  The program is Sit, Stay, Fetch

 This program addresses several dog behavior problems including-dog aggression, biting, jumping, wetting and many more.  My plan is to start Stella with this program and report to you her progress.  The first lesson starts tomorrow so stayed tuned and check back for her progress.

Oct 092008

Dog training collars are in demand year around but I think with the onset of fall hunting in many states the need increases at that time of year.  You will find dozens of dog training collars when searching for dog training supplies and there are also several types of collars.
To determine what type you what will depend on the type of training you want to do.

It very important to research all the different types of collars are available and determine your end goal.
Common types of dog collars are choke collars, electronic collars, no-bark collars and harnesses.

Dog training collars are different from regular every day collars because they help you discipline your dog when needed. For example choke collars are used by gently tugging on your dog to keep it from misbehaving.

Electronic collars are used with a remote control to keep your dog out of trouble or from barking when not desiresd. A light and harmless electric pulse is sent to your dog through the collar when pressing the button on the remote control.

All types of collars are useful but it is important that you check with your vet or online to make sure that the collars are safe for your dog and if they address the training needs you have.

Remember training should be fun, do not overuse dog training collars and make sure that your dog is comfortable and does not become afraid.  You want your training to have the right outcome.

Sep 072008

chopper
Creative Commons License photo credit: kezee

Separation anxiety is a disorder that not only occurs in human beings, but also in dogs. You may find that your dog exhibits certain behaviors when he or she is left alone. This goes beyond simply whining or looking a bit sad when you leave. Instead, it is a dramatic response that occurs almost every time you leave the house. Owners may find that their dog cries, howls, chews, digs, pees or defecates inside the house even if when they are trained not to do so. They may also scratch, claw and bark.

While professionals don't totally understand why this occurs, it is important that owners realize that the dog is really feeling panicked because the owner is leaving, and they dog or puppy is not out to be mean or to punish their owner for leaving. Some things which heighten the likelihood of separation anxiety include your dog or puppy not having spent a lot of time alone or if you or your family are gone for long period of time. For example, if you go on vacation and then come back your dog may panic when you leave the house again, because they aren’t sure when you might come back.

If your dog has had a real bad experience, for example getting hit by a car or prior abuse, then they may not want you to leave their side. If there has been some big changes in the family, such as you taking a new job and you now have a different schedule, if you have recently changed cities or if your son or daughter goes off to college, this may cause mental anxiety for your dong.

Sep 052008

Crate training your dog can be very beneficial for him or her, as well as for yourself. It will require you to commit some time and focus as well as energy to successfully do it. However, once you are able to, you will find that a crate gives your dog or puppy a fantastic spot of their own that is warm and welcoming. It also will allow you to protect parts of your home that you don't want your dog or puppy bothering while you are away. It also gives you a method that is safe to transport your dog while they are in the car. If you are going on vacation, and you want to take your pet, if your dog is crate trained, you can keep them in crate while you're at someone else's home or while you are at the hotel.

If you train your dog the correct way, they will be happy to spend time in the crate or at least they will not hate it. Crates come in different types of materials. Some are plastic, others are made from metal. They also vary in size. You will want it to be large enough that your dog has room to lay down, standup and turnaround. You can find a good quality crate at many of your major pet stores.

The amount of time that it will take to crate train your dog will depend on the amount of effort that you commit to it, as well as your dog’s personality and their past experiences. If your dog has been abused, it might take longer. Whether or not your dog has ever been trained before, and your pet's own personal temperament will also effect how long training will take.

Aug 302008

For many dogs, thunder and lightning can be incredibly frightening. If ignored, these fears are not likely to improve but only get worst. Therefore, it is important that you acknowledge them and try to help your dog deal with them as best as you can.

Many times, when a dog is frightened by thunder or other loud noises, their first instinct is to run away from it. Sometimes this can be OK. However, other times this can be dangerous. They may run into a car or into another dangerous place. That is where you, as the owner, needs to step in and try to help them deal with their fear in a much more safe manner. You'll want to pay close attention to your dog and see how they react when loud thunder or other sounds bother them. If they tend to jump into your bed or hide under the porch, make sure that they have access to those places so that they are able to run somewhere safe when they do get scared. Even out when you are t home, encourage them to go to those places, so when you are not there, they know where to go.

Another thing that you can do to help is try to provide a distraction when the loud noises occur. You will want to do this when you first notice your dog is beginning to panic or act distressed. Participate in an activity with them that you know he or she enjoys and that will take their mind off of the loud noises. If they like to play with a ball or if they have a favorite toy, make sure you reward them for interacting with you during this time with either praise or treats.

Aug 262008

There may be certain instances when you have to re-train an older dog. This may occur when you have gotten your dog from a shelter. Many times, when dogs are placed in shelters, either they were abused or a family could no longer take care of them and so while they may have been initially trained, being in the shelter may not have given them an opportunity to use what they had already learned. This will require you to be a little patient and to be willing to take the time to train them again. In many cases, it is important to start from scratch. If your dog has already been trained, this should speed up his or her re-training. However, if they have never been trained, count on the process to take a little more time.

The first thing that you will want to do is to establish a routine. Make sure that you take your pet out at around the same time each day. Therefore, if you start by taking him out in the evenings after work make sure this is something that you do on a regular basis. When your dog does something correct like urinates and defecates outside where he or she is supposed to, make sure that you really give them a lot of praise and treats. Make sure that you do so right after they have gone to the bathroom, so that they understand what they're being praised for.

Aug 242008

A dog can be a really great traveling companion. They will listen to all of your jokes and banter without complaining. They won’t argue with you about which way to go or force you to ask for directions. However, unless your dog is properly trained to ride in your vehicle with you, it can make for an annoying ride or one that is even dangerous for you and your dog. Your dog needs to be either properly trained to ride in the car or either restrained.

To start off, it is best to take your dog on short trips where you do not need to get out of your car. For example, taking your dog with you to McDonald's or to a fast food restaurant where you can use the drive through, is a good way of to get started and to get the dog acclimated to riding in a car. This will give your dog some exposure to riding in the car with you without having to get out or without you leaving them in the car by themselves.

If your dog is not yet trained, you want to make sure that your dog is in their crate or is strapped in using a pet harness, which is generally anchored into a seatbelt. After you have broken in your dog a little bit with shorter trips, it is OK to start taking them on longer ones. However, you will need to ensure that you are properly prepared. Pack a bag for them that will include treats, water and food. You also may want to bring some toys, any medication that they need or any other necessary products. Make sure that if the trip is especially long, that you stop and take some breaks so that your dog can get out, go to the bathroom, drink some water and stretch their legs a bit.

Jul 252008

Remote dog training collars are all the rage right now thanks to some TV adverts and clever magazine placements. But, are they really worth the investment, and are you doing your dog any harm?

We'll address the two questions separately, but first I want to talk about whether or not remote dog training collars are actually good for your dog.

Imagine if you were walking down the street one day with your partner, and you happened to give a beautiful young lady a second glance as she walked past you. Now imagine that suddenly you are jolted with a violent electric shock, as if from nowhere. Or, depending on the variety of training collar that your partner has secretly snuck around your neck, you might get a blast of a seriously unpleasant odour right up your nose.

Does that sound like something you'd want? Worse, what happens if your partner drops the remote somewhere and a small child picks it up and starts zapping you like a maniac? Or if she's feeling vicious one day and wants to take out some aggression on you - remote dog training collars make this very easy indeed.

In all seriousness, although this example is a bit of fun, remote dog training collars present a real problem in dog training systems. This is that the dog cannot associate his bad behavior, you and the punishment together. By telling your dog "NO" when he misbehaves, he knows that you are unhappy about what he's just done.

By randomly shocking him from across the room or even in the other room, he's more likely to go mad trying to work out what's going on. What's more, you could provoke potentially dangerous and aggressive behavior through excessive use of a remote dog training collar, and that's entirely the opposite of what you're trying to do.

Jul 192008

Dog training begins when you dog is just a puppy, but most of the training in the early stages is training yourself rather than the dog. As dogs and humans develop that "special bond," it is important to understand that he looks to you for education and guidance. It is in a dog's basic nature to function within a social group, and it is our job to understand the stages of development of our dog so that we can give him the appropriate guidance at the appropriate time.

Birth to 4 weeks old. The puppy is only concerned with his mother as the key his survival: food, warmth, and security. His mom is the first disciplinarian, and it is at this time that he instinctively begins to accept discipline and training.

Five to seven weeks old. He is still learning from his mother to accept discipline, correction, training, and affection. This is a good time for puppies to meet people. Puppies shouldn't be taken from their mother yet as sometimes this may cause problems later in accepting human rules and discipline.

Eight weeks old. Traditionally, this is the time when puppies leave their mothers. You should take special care to make his transition as smooth as possible as this can be a traumatic period for him. As a new family member, he must be treated with love and kindness.

Jul 152008

We own and breed Staffordshire Bull Terriers and with a total of 5 dogs in what is a VERY small house, you might imagine that we have always been interested in dog training and dog training methods.

So being a Dog-lover I first came across SitStayFetch while browsing on Clickbank and SitStayFetch appeared to dominate the Clickbank Dog Training section! Its only major competition was from Dove Cresswell's Dog Training Online - another quality dog training system, but Dove Cresswell's system only had 30% of the Clickbank popularity!

And SitStayFetch is jam-packed with dog obedience training information, including how to solve over 25 dog behavior problems, real-life case studies, the best dog training techniques, an email consultation with the SitStayFetch team, and loads of photos that will help boost your learning

For the quite reasonable outlay SitStayFetch totally over-delivers with Bonuses! SitStayFetch extras include: