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Build A Better Mousetrap, And People Will Buy It
This is an old saying that many of us have grown up hearing since we were children, but the problem is improving on an invention that has been around for years. This is especially true for simple inventions like the common pet identification tag, or...
Choose the Right Puppy for Your Family
Purchasing a puppy for your family is a very big decision. It should never be approached casually, or lightly. A new pet becomes part of your family. You should do everything you can to educate yourself about the breed of puppy you are...
Dog training issues - refusing to come when called
Many dog owners fail to recognize the importance of having a dog
that comes when called until there is a problem, such as the
collar or leash breaking, or the dog tearing free to chase a
person or another animal. These situations can be dangerous...
Dogs - Comparing Pure Breds With Mutts
The Importance of Breeds of Dogs
Dogs are considered as man's best friend. If one decides to get
a dog for a pet, one can choose either a specific breed
otherwise known as pure bred or choose one that is a mixed breed
or a mutt. There is not...
Ever Wonder How Fast To Train Or Work With Your Dog?
I noticed the other day, while working with a new German Shepherd dog-mix I adopted from a local animal shelter--how fast and intense you must work with your dog, during the "reinforcement" phase.
Your dog goes through three general phases of...
Furry & Feathered Friends In Need Of Help
Many animals fortunate enough to have owners are provided shelter from the frigid temperatures outdoors, which have dropped so low recently. Those animals which are homeless may find a caring resident in the community who will take them in or set...
Is a Boxer Dog The Right Pet For You?
Having a boxer dog as a pet, although low-maintenance, require your consistent attention, exercise, human interaction, consistent obedience training and lots of love. You cannot leave them to their own design for too long or they will get lonely,...
Teaching Your Shih Tzu Puppy Not To Bite
Biting is one of those things that every Shih Tzu puppy seems to
do, and every Shih Tzu puppy must be taught not to do. Like many
behaviors, such as jumping up on people, biting and nipping can
seem cute when the Shih Tzu puppy is small, but much...
Tips for Introducing Two Cats
Adding a new member to your feline family is usually more exciting for you than your current cat. Even though they are solitary by nature, most cats eventually learn to accept or at least tolerate newcomers. Because they are very territorial, the...
Westie Merchandise that Benefits your Dog
There are many places to find Westie merchandise, but before you make a purchase for yourself or your Westie, consider first a retailer or non-profit organization that uses sales of Westie merchandise to benefit the breed. WestieMed, Inc. is a...
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Why dogs bark
Picture this, you're walking in the park, minding your own
business when suddenly a dog comes up to you and starts barking.
You start to panic because there is no reason for this dog to be
barking at you.
Why is this dog barking?
Dogs bark because we humans want our dogs to bark. For years our
domestication process and selective breeding has allowed our
dogs to develop their barking abilities. Wolves don't bark, so
through genetic engineering and the selective breeding process,
dogs these days have the ability to retain juvenile
characteristics. This is through the process known as neoteny.
Humans have chosen to retain the infantile traits of wolves like
large heads, flat faces, large eyes and of course the ability to
communicate, barking. Barking was further developed in dogs in
order to scare intruders or to help the master out (i.e. on
farms to assist in gathering the sheep).
Most dogs simply bark to communicate, to get attention, or
simply to show their excitement. Training and lifestyle are
important factors in teaching the dog how to communicate with
its master.
Dogs are extremely social animals. Wolves themselves always
travel in packs are usually never alone. Bringing a dog into
your family is basically like bringing a wolf into a pack. It
becomes a part of the family. Try not to leave it alone
otherwise it will feel as if it was abandoned by the pack. Dogs
are like having a baby in the house. They need love, attention,
and someone to be there to take care of them. Like people they
need a companion to blossom. Meeting your dog's emotional need
for companionship and play will allow the two of you to form a
strong bond together.
Sometimes having a second dog in the house can minimize the
barking and minimize the loneliness. Although this may be
rewarding at some
times, it can also be a pain. Your best bet
would be to maximize training of your dog when it decides to
bark. Sometimes having two dogs may cause havoc because they may
teach each other to bark more. From the example above, dogs who
bark at people are trained in a specific way. Everything boils
down to how the owner trains their dog. If you reward the dog
for barking, then the dog will understand that it's a good thing
to bark. If you don't reward the dog for barking, the dog will
understand that it's a bad thing to bark. If you are training
your dog to become a watchdog, sometimes their barking can be
very selective and discriminating with certain people. Sometimes
they may just bark at anything they see. It is important to
train these dogs by developing their intelligence level and how
they interpret various events.
Dogs who simply bark because of activity or excitement are
relatively hard to eliminate. Most of the time these dogs are
unaware of their barking and in turn becomes a process that is
hard to eliminate. You must turn to a dog trainer who teaches
the dog to debark.
Debarking can be somewhat inhumane because the dog is trained to
let out a low, raspy bark which cannot be heard from more than a
few feet away. If you consider the process of debarking your dog
you must weigh the pros and cons. It can be beneficial in the
sense that your dog will no longer be the irritating dog on the
block who barks at anything he sees but may be a problem if the
dog is in danger. As an owner you would want to know where the
location of your dog was if it was in danger.
About the author:
Cindy Frendo runs her own puppy training and dog training school
from her hometown of Ottawa, Canada. She also runs her own
website at
puppytrainingrevealed.com
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