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Dog Obedience?A Guide To Behavior Training

Blogged by Tamzin on Sunday August 31st, 2008 at 11:24 am in Dog Obedience | 0 Comments »

Dog Obedience?A Guide To Behavior Training

Do you have a pet dog? Have you thought about getting him into dog obedience behavior training? You are wrong if you think it is a daunting task to get on with because contrary to what most people would say, the training itself is no rocket science and easy to administer. You can even do it by yourself. Doing so will heighten your bonding moments with your pet. All that it takes is an ample amount of time and effort on your part.

To make things easier for you, here is a quick guide to dog obedience behavior training. They apply to all breeds of dogs and whether they will be used in sporting, leisure, working, or for competitions. You need to know these principles and get them to work to ensure that your effort will pay off.

The Rule of Consistency

Consistency is one important thing to take note of during the entire training especially that you mean to correct the unwanted behaviors exhibited by your dog. To achieve consistency, be certain to employ the same commands for the tasks that you want your dog to perform. Don’t create the confusion in him by using an entirely different command for the same nature of task you require of him.

Also, establish house rules that your dog will fully be aware of. Soon you will see that he will do as you say without difficulty.

The Need for Proper Timing

Timing is indeed critical. It determines whether the training will be successful or not. Always give him praises whenever he has done something right. Reprimand him for the wrong ones. This will let him understand those behaviors that you like and dislike. You have two options for reprimanding. First, correct him right on the spot. Second, ignore him when he approaches you. This will let him realize that his behavior is unacceptable.

Giving the Adequate Dose of Attention

Like humans, dogs also seek attention and they love it. The only problem is that they are somewhat incapable of discerning which the positive is and which one is the negative attention. What they only understand is that when they are able to elicit reaction and attention from people, they will do the same things repeatedly.

As the owner, you should not yield to your dog when he is exhibiting bad behavior. Don’t let him out of his crate whenever he groans or run after him when he picks up your socks. When you do so, he will think that it is positive attention and is sure to repeat the same behavior.

So, what you must do is to only direct your attention to him whenever he behaves properly. Give him treats as the prize for good behavior.

Be in the Mood

It is important that you set your mind on the task. Dog obedience behavior training requires too much patience so it is best to have that frame of mind. Never ever proceed with the training sessions when you are drugged, drunk, or in a bad mood.

Dog obedience is a training that your pet must undergo. So, take note of these guidelines!

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Finding The Right Animal Trainer Or Dog Obedience School Made Easy

Blogged by Tamzin on Monday August 25th, 2008 at 7:19 pm in Dog Obedience | 0 Comments »

Finding The Right Animal Trainer Or Dog Obedience School Made Easy

Fact: Dog is man’s best friend. But, will you still consider your dog your best friend if it keeps on peeing everywhere, chewing on every furniture you have, eating more dog foods than the usual, and making a complete mess out of your room, garden, and home in general? It’s fun to have a dog to walk around, there’s no doubt about that.

But if your dog is not a well-trained one, chances are you’ll end up getting a new and friendlier pet. So, prior to getting a pet dog, be sure that you have idea about animal trainer and dog obedience school. And to make the task of finding the right animal trainer or dog training school for your pet, here are some tips to guide you.

First, you have to be keen when choosing a dog trainer or dog obedience school. With so many people promoting themselves as experts in the area of animal training nowadays, you could be easily deceived by one who claims to be the most reliable in this field. That is why, before you take on an animal trainer or dog school to help you turn your pet from naughty to well-trained, here are some factors that you should look out for:

1. The person or school’s reputation. To know this, you can ask around your neighbors or from your friends and colleagues who have already tried this kind of training for their pets. Or better yet, get recommendations from your veterinarian or from your local pet store because they know very well whom you can turn to when it comes to dog training.

2. Years of service/experience. Choosing between a new trainer or school and an experienced one, of course, any dog owner will always go for the latter. Why? Because longer years of service and experience mean that more people are satisfied with how they train dogs, thus they are there to stay. So before you hire a trainer or enroll in a school, make sure that you know how long the trainer or the school has been doing dog training.

3. Sincere love and attachment to dogs. Of course, you want your pet to be handled by someone who is not only into training dogs but also shows compassion to these animals, right? That’s why, be sure to look out for this quality when looking for the right dog trainer.

4. Training tactics and handling skills. Many people can easily claim that they love dogs and that they know how to train them. But do they really know the tactics and have the skills to really train one? So, when hiring a dog trainer, make sure that he really has the skills in the area of dog training. Ask if he keeps himself up to date by attending dog training seminars, workshops, and classes.

If you find a dog trainer or a dog obedience school that satisfies the four things mentioned above, then you are on the right track of having a well-trained dog. See, finding the right one does not have to be that mind-boggling, right?

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Useful Dog Obedience Training Tips

Blogged by Tamzin on Tuesday August 19th, 2008 at 1:48 pm in Dog Obedience | 0 Comments »

Useful Dog Obedience Training Tips

Okay, so you just bought that cute female puppy that you’ve been eyeing on for months. Now, what are you planning to do with her? Are you thinking about teaching her new tricks? If you are, then as early as now, you must accustom her to being handled for grooming and veterinary care so she’ll respond nicely. Whenever you have free time, take her in your lap and gently brush her.

Speak to her softly and say words like, “That feels good, doggie, right?” Then, stroke her paws and simply run your fingers through her. That way she will learn that touch is pleasant and not something that is frightening. Once you are able to handle her well, it will not be that difficult to start teaching her new tricks like making her obey your “sit”, “wait or stay”, and “do not jump” commands. Anyway, here are some useful dog obedience training tips for you.

For the “Sit” Command

This is actually one of the easiest tricks to teach and often the most useful. Since your pet is still a puppy, as early as now, you must teach her how to obey the sit command because it is a great way to reinforce your status as her leader. How to do it? First, you have to get her attention. Start by showing her a treat and then slowly move it upward in a way that she has to raise her head for her to see it further. You’ll notice that in order to do this, she will move into a sitting position, just like most dogs do. If she doesn’t do this, slowly push down on her rump while you move your hand back over the head to give her the idea. And once she’s on that sitting position, give her the treat.

For the “Stay or Wait” Command

This one can be more difficult than the sit command as dogs tend to move a lot. To teach your dog to wait or stay, simply place her in a sitting position. Then, hold up your hand, on which the flat of your palm is towards her face, and tell her to wait or stay. Now, move a few steps backward. If she stays where she is, give her words of praise, like “Good girl or good doggie!” But if she moves towards you or away, do not shout at her or punish her. Just put her back in position and start all over again.

For the “Do not jump” Command

A jumping puppy is very cute to look at, but when her size has doubled and she still does a lot of jumping, it will not be too fun at all. So, you must replace that jumping behavior with the sit command. Instead of pushing her away, simply pivot so that she misses you and then tell her to sit. When she obeys, give her praise or a simple treat.

These are just some useful dog obedience training tips that you can keep in mind. Take note, your puppy will be more lovable if she learns how to obey your simple commands.

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Dog Obedience Classes: What You Should Know

Blogged by Tamzin on Wednesday August 13th, 2008 at 4:26 pm in Dog Obedience | 0 Comments »

Dog Obedience Classes: What You Should Know

The dog is said to be man’s best friend. And so, being a best friend at that, the best thing that anyone can do for his/her pet is to take dog obedience classes. That’s right! If you happen to have a dog around, it is not enough that you feed it or give it a shelter at that. It is important that you have a direct communication with your dog so that you can make it follow whatever it is that you want it to do. However, making a dog obey is not as easy as you think. So the solution to that is to take dog obedience classes. Now, here are some important things that you should know before you enroll in one.

How much does dog obedience class cost?

No doubt, this is one big question that you want to be answered first before you proceed taking any dog obedience class. If your dog is a high breed, buying it in the first place may have already cost you a lot; and the added expenses that come with it include daily dog food and veterinarian visits. So, you ask, “How much does a dog training cost and can my budget accommodate it?” The answer actually depends mainly on where you live.

If you are residing in a smaller city, chances are you can find a dog training class that will cost you about %150, not too expensive at that considering the benefits it will give you and your pet. Where to find one? Start by checking out your local community college. Often times, they offer dog obedience classes that last for 6-8 weeks. You can also check from your local newspaper, ask your veterinarian for suggestions, or inquire from local pet stores.

What you should expect from a dog obedience class?

Of course, any dog owner wants not only value for his/her money but also the best dog training possible. So, if you are seriously considering taking a dog training class, better have knowledge on what you can expect at the end of the course. For one, a dog obedience class can teach your dog to be more sociable. This is because other dog owners with their pets will be sharing the same class with you.

It will sure be lots of fun and will teach you a lot about the basic commands for your pet. Next, useful tips and other important information will also be given to fix your dog’s basic problems. Always remember that dogs that are not trained may bite others, fight with other dogs, pee everywhere inside the house, and chew on shoes, slippers, and even furniture. By attending a dog training class, you will be taught on how to help your pet behave.

Taking dog obedience classes can really benefit you and your pet a lot. And with those questions answered, for sure you have already come up with a decision whether to enroll or not. But to be certain, better observe some classes first to see if they are the right ones for you and your dog.

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How To Master Dog Obedience

Blogged by Tamzin on Thursday August 7th, 2008 at 2:31 pm in Dog Obedience | 0 Comments »

How To Master Dog Obedience

Dogs are no doubt man’s best friends. They are definitely fun to be with and make great companions. Sometimes, they are even considered as part of the family. It certainly feels great to be walking with a dog around either just within the neighborhood or along the beach. But if you happen to have a dog as worse as Marley, the dog in the movie “Marley and Me”, perhaps you’re more stressed than the usual because of your dog’s naughtiness. But why live up with a dog like Marley if you can turn your pet into a well-trained dog? The solution ?master dog obedience. Here are some steps on how to do it:

First, be considerate. You have to remember that a dog is an animal, so unlike humans, it has shorter attention span. You may be able to get its attention now, but a couple of minutes or so it will go back to what it finds interesting. So, try to put yourself into its situation and imagine how frustrating it could be to undergo a dog obedience class instead of doing more fun activities. Take note that most animals are trained easily when given treats before the training. So, before you enroll your pet in a dog obedience class, prepare some really good treats as rewards.

Next, be consistent. It is not good to give your pet so many instructions at the same time or worse, give up on teaching it a trick just because it is not able to get it at first. Try to be very consistent in such a way that you will start with the easiest command first like the “sit” command before going for more difficult ones. Once it learned the “sit” command, proceed to others like the “stay” or “come” command.

When giving instructions, make sure that you repeat them from time to time until your dog realizes and understands what you are trying to communicate. Again, do not give too many instructions at once for this will confuse your pet more. Take your time. Now, once your pet learned the trick that you’ve been teaching, give a reward or treat and make sure that you review the trick before jumping into another.

And lastly, of course, be the boss. It is important that your pet recognizes you as its leader; otherwise you’ll end up having a dog that is as hardheaded as Marley. Once your pet recognizes you as the boss, it will be easier for you to make it follow your commands. However, you have to remember that being the boss does not necessarily mean that you have to be harsh to your dog whenever it fails to follow your instructions. Be gentle as possible because this is the most effective way to gain dog obedience.

Mastering dog obedience is not as difficult as you think, right? With all these steps in mind, you are off to a successful dog obedience training. Remember: be considerate, be consistent, and be the boss.

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