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5 Tips To Selecting A Great Dog Gift
You can have lots of fun selecting a dog gift for someone who absolutely adores dogs. And you’ll be happy to know that no matter what size budget your working with there are lots and lots of wonderful gift ideas to choose from. In fact you may...
Choosing A Responsible Breeder
It is an exciting time when you get to bring home a new puppy. He quickly becomes part of your family and you create a bond with lots of cuddling, trips outside and walks in the park. If buying from a breeder, you will want to be sure you choose...
Choosing the right breed of dog for your family
There comes a time for most families to add a four-legged friend
to the household. This decision is not one to be taken lightly.
Choosing the right breed of dog can be the difference between
complete happiness and absolute terror in your home. I...
Cleanup Answers for Pet Stains and Odors
Do you love your pets but not the messes they make? Well here are a few simple, helpful tips that will make you and your pets happy.
Stains
If your dog or cat uses your furniture to spray urine on, chances are they will go back and do it again...
Dog Too Spoiled To Walk On Leash
Dear Mr. Katz: I have a 4 month old female pup, AmStaff/Boxer (we think - she was a rescue). She responds well to all training, EXCEPT for walking and heeling. We've practiced the loose-leash "turning on a dime" technique described in your book...
Dog Training Basics - Common Commands
A calm, obedient and faithful dog – it’s what we all want, right? To begin with, obedient and trained dogs are happier dogs, less likely to get into tussles with people or with other dogs. Another reason is that many communities require that the...
How You Can Prevent Your Dog From Aggression, Destroying Furniture, And To Avoid Stress
There are many reasons for teaching proper dog behavior, and teaching such behavior has many benefits for both the human and canine partners. Dog behavior training is vital to such life and death issues as preventing aggression,...
Kiki and the Rattlesnake
It gets hot in Texas. The air shimmers and dances above the
plains, and the baking sun draws a spider's web of foot-deep
cracks in the hard-packed clay. Lizards dig in under the biggest
rocks they can find, and even the prairie dogs hide deep...
Should You Correct A Puppy With A Pinch Collar?
Hi, Adam! My husband and I recently purchased a white German Shepherd. She is 12 weeks old today and quite a handful. Sometimes she can be so sweet, but other times she is actually quite vicious. Well, I don't know if vicious is the right word, but...
Tips for Easy Housebreaking your Puppy
If you are lucky enough to get a 7-week-old puppy, there is no excuse for any bad habits to develop over his lifetime. Puppies learn INSTANTLY when they are that young, and if you use the proper training methods, gentle but consistent, he will...
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Dog Training, Training Your Dog
Obedient dogs make the best companions. Time spent training your dog will reward you with a pet that is deeply bonded to you, respects you and is a joy to have around. Training your dog doesn't mean extinguishing her unique personality, it is simply a means of setting boundaries-something that makes dogs feel secure.
Some owners unconsciously train their dogs to exhibit bad behaviors. Since dogs are social animals, they are interested in doing whatever gets them attention. Positive attention is best, but if negative attention is all they can get from you, they'll try to obtain that. This is why yelling at a dog that has had an "accident" in the house doesn't teach her to not do that. All your excitement reinforces her behavior. The best way to let a dog know you are displeased with her is to ignore her.
Positive reinforcement is the key to training your dog. Basically, this means rewarding desired behavior. A reward might be a food treat, lots of verbal praise in a high voice and/or a good pet or scratch in her favorite spot. Rewarding your dog's behavior accomplishes two things: it makes her want to repeat the behavior to reap the reward and establishes you as her leader. Some dogs are more assertive than others, and will try to become dominant over you. It is important that you remain the "leader of the pack," and obedience training helps with that. However, even, and perhaps especially, less assertive dogs benefit from training. Following a leader is instinctive in dogs. Training your dog allows her to employ that
instinct to follow someone else, and makes her feel more secure.
There are many training approaches within the realm of positive reinforcement. Some behaviors will be captured-rewarded as they occur-while others can be shaped by gently coaxing the dog into the desired action. Most professional trainers recommend using both a verbal commands and hand signals to communicate with your dog. Besides words/signals for behaviors such as sit, stay, and come, you will need a "release" signal. This is a word or sound that tells your dog she's done something correctly. The release signal is always immediately followed by a reward, so that the dog comes to associate it with something positive.
You have lots of option as to how you go about training your dog. Libraries, bookstores and pet stores offer plenty of "how-to" training books. You can also find a lot of great information by surfing the Internet. If you prefer to have a professional by your side every step of the way, enroll in a basic obedience class. Major pet supply chains, humane societies and dog clubs usually offer classes. These classes are an excellent way to socialize your dog and educate yourself. If your schedule doesn't allow you to participate in a class, check your community phone book for personal dog trainers. Most will come to your home on a regular basis, and provide in-depth training custom-tailored to your needs.
About the Author
This article courtesy of http://www.dog-training-questions.com
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