Dog Training Tip – Leash-Collar Training
Dog Training Tip – Leash-Collar Training
By Fritz Blanc
When you’re learning about something new, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.
There are many different styles of dog training, and finding the one that works best for you is important for creating a dog that is a talented, loyal and faithful member of the family. All successful methods of dog training work to reinforce the relationship between dog and handler, and the foundation of any successful training program is getting the respect of the dog. Fortunately, dogs are wired by nature to seek out leaders, and to follow the direction of those leaders.
This article focuses on one of the most popular methods of dog training – the so called leash/collar style of training. Other articles will focus on the other popular style of training dogs, often called reward training or positive reinforcement.
Both leash/collar training and reward training have been around for a very long time, and they have proven their effectiveness over time. The type of training that works best will vary from dog to dog, and from breed to breed. It is important to remember that each breed of dog has its own unique qualities, reinforced by hundreds of years of selective breeding.
Of course personalities of individual dogs vary quite a bit, even within established breeds. You, as the owner of the dog, know better than anyone which style of dog training will work best, so it is important to work with the trainer you choose to achieve your goal of a willing, obedient and friendly dog.
Leash and collar training is the best way to accomplish many types of dog training, particularly in situations where the dog must have a high level of reliability. For instance, dogs that have an important job to do, such as rescue dogs, police dogs and guard dogs, generally benefit from leash and collar training.
If your dog training tip facts are out-of-date, how will that affect your actions and decisions? Make certain you don’t let important dog training tip information slip by you.
In leash and collar training, varying degrees of force can be used, ranging from slight prompts with the lead to very harsh corrections. The amount of correction used should be appropriate to the situation, since using too much correction, or too little, will be ineffective.
In a collar and leash based dog training program, first the dog is taught a particular behavior, generally with the leash. After the dog has demonstrated that it understands the command, the leash is then used to correct the dog if it disobeys, or when it makes a mistake. The leash is the main form of controlling and communicating with the dog in leash and collar training.
When using leash and collar training, the dog must be trained to trust the handler and accept his or her directions without question. In order for the dog to be fully trained, the handler must demonstrate the ability to place the dog into a posture or position he or she does not want to take. This does not mean using force, but it does generally require some level of physical manipulation. This manipulation is most easily and safely done using the main tool of leash and collar training – the leash.
It is important for every would be dog trainer to understand that the leash is simply a tool. While the leash is an important tool in this form of training, it is important for the dog trainer to be able to eventually achieve the same results using whatever tools are at hand.
Even when the only tools at hand are the owner’s body and skill, the dog should be willing to obey. Creating a leader/follower relationship between handler and dog is still very important, and it is important to use the leash as a tool and not a crutch. A properly trained dog should be willing to obey whether the leash is present or not.
There’s no doubt that the topic of dog training tip can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about dog training tip, you may find what you’re looking for in the next article.
Fritz Blanc is a part time internet marketer who has created many web sites about various subjects. You can visit one of his web sites about dog training tips at: http://dogtrainingtip.blogspot.com Other websites by the same author: [http://golfingtechniques.blogspot.com] [http://homeschool-diploma.blogspot.com]
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Secrets Revealed About Miniature Dogs and Teacup Puppies
Secrets Revealed About Miniature Dogs and Teacup Puppies
Small dogs, teacup puppies and miniature dogs are all definitions of dogs which are smaller than their regular breeds. The fact that the dog is classed as a true miniature dog breed is down to whether or not it is a recognized dog breed by the various dog breeder societies around the world who maintain the definitive lists of dog breeds. They hold important information regarding size, weight and features of the dog which set it apart from its larger brothers.
Teacup puppies or teacup dogs are actually the runt(s) of the litter. These runts were given the affectionate name of teacup to enable unscrupulous breeders the ability to sell what would otherwise be a dog they could not sell and they would usually sell them for a premium price as well!. Note these animals would not be classed as an official breed as their tiny traits cannot generally be reproduced with any certainty.
Nevertheless Teacup puppies can actually be the offspring of breeders breeding two runts from different litters in an attempt to try and produce an even smaller version of their parents as I said earlier though the results can be rather unexpected!
These animals can often have health issues including the tendency to them breaking their bones in what would be classed as normal activity like jumping off the sofa, they can also display uncharacteristic behavioral traits that the full sized animal does not normally have.
True miniature dog breeds have been around a long time and have even been found mummified in Ancient Egyptian tombs. These animals can be bred consistently and their offspring are true to the breed-type.
In more recent times around the 1600′s, the miniature dog breeds were also very popular you may know King Charles loved his small spaniels and the breed was actually named after him. Many of the gentry of the time would have one or more of the miniature dogs as they were so popular.
Many small dog breeds survive today and are the favorite of city dwellers as they do not need the same space that a large dog needs. You can just about walk the dog by going around the block or over the local football field as they are so tiny.
Food bills can be lesser of course than feeding a large dog and of the mess that comes out the other end is not as much a hazard as that of a big dog just make sure you do not stand in it though.
There are of course many many specialist shops and businesses built on providing services, specialist food, clothing and play items for the smaller dog so you would not have to look too far to make your small pooch happy and comfortable in your apartment.
All in all there are many breeds of small dog available to be chosen as your favorite. As always with any pet it is important that you care for your animal well and love them, they will return your love with undying loyalty.
Often it is a god idea to shop around for some doggy insurance for your miniature dog, those vet bills are still going to be much larger than your dog and can actually be higher than you might pay for a regular breed of dog.
Ken is a lover of animals in general. He is particularly fascinated by the whole story of the miniature breeds and Teacup puppies. His particular favorite is the miniature Beagle with their big brown eyes and friendly loyal disposition.
He would love to hear from any other lovers of these smaller dogs – please go and have a look at his blog site at Miniature Dogs
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How to Remove Dog Pee Out of Rugs
How to Remove Dog Pee Out of Rugs
After a long tiring day at work you come home only to have your nose bombarded with a horrid smell. You start your investigation to find the source of the foul odour and to your horror it is your favorite area rug carpet. Your beloved dog has peed on it while you were away. Upon further investigation you also find that this wasn’t the only time your rug was used as an indoor bathroom. Now what do you do? First don’t panic, I know easy to say not always easy to do. Grab some COTTON Towels, do not grab any cleaners or spot removers, just cotton towels.
Depending on if your rug is wool, synthetic, or another fiber type and if your rug is hand-knotted, hand tufted, or machine-made will decide how easily urine will be removed from your rug. These tips are at your own risk since I do not know your exact type of rug. Getting a professional WoolSafe area rug cleaner to deal with urine is always best.
The thing about pet urine is the older it is the harder it is to get out of area rugs. When you get a new puppy it almost guaranteed they will pee on your rugs, A LOT. Do not wait until your puppy is fully trained to get the rug taken care of. When you first notice that your rug is used as a bathroom get it professionally cleaned and afterward if you don’t need to use the rug keep it stored away until your puppy is fully trained.
Another fact about your dog peeing on your rug is when you catch them doing it, it probably isn’t the first time they have done it. Depending on the type of construction your rug has it may be hard to see where your dog has peed. The only real way to tell is to get to down and start smelling your rug. Dogs tend to like to pee in the corners, the middle of the rug if it isn’t covered by furniture, near furniture legs and by entrance doors. A round or oval urine stain is from a female, and of course a splatter is from male.
When you do find that your rug is being used as an indoor bathroom this is what you can do:
- If the urine is fresh place cotton towel on the floor under where the urine is and take a folded white cotton towel and blot the spot by stepping on the towel all around the urine. When the towel has become too wet, use another clean, cotton towel and continue to step all over the spot until you are getting no more wetness on the towel. Check the towel underneath your rug to see if it is getting too wet. Change the towel as needed to protect your floor from the urine.
- Now dampen a towel with water and blot the top of the rug where the urine was. DO NOT RUB your rug in a circular motion. This causes pile distortion which is permanent. Keep the urine spot moist until you can get your rug to a professional wool safe area rug cleaner the next day.
- Do not wait days or weeks to get your rug taken care of. The longer the urine is in your rug the harder it is to remove. If you are unable to personally take the rug in see about getting the cleaners to pick it up.
When you have not seen your dog peeing on you rug, but find out from the odour, or you were moving the rug and noticed your floor has evidence of urine spots, there isn’t much you can do to fix the rug yourself. When the urine is absorbed by your rug and is now dry and any efforts you make by applying miracle cleaners from bottles will completely ruin your valuable rugs.
The best and safest thing to do is get it to your WoolSafe area rug cleaners as soon as possible. Anything you may try can ruin your rug. Here at Luv-a-Rug Cleaners in Victoria BC, Canada we see rugs all the time that have been permanently damaged by DIY (Do-It-Yourself) cleaning. It isn’t worth the hassle or expense to try to clean your rug yourself when it comes to urine removal or for that fact most spills.
Whenever you are in doubt call your professional area rug cleaners.
Since there are more than enough articles written about DIY rug and carpet cleaning here are some things to avoid using on area rugs:
- Baking Soda, it can discolour wool area rugs, plus it is not made for used on rugs
- Oxi-sprays, not made for any type of area rugs period! (read the fine print on the bottle, the risk is all yours)
- Hosing your rug with a power washer, can cause the pile to change texture, your rug to warp or worse your rug to start coming apart
- Any cleaners or spot removers that are not WoolSafe, if they don’t say anything about being safe for wool they can cause permanent damage to your rugs
- Ammonia, it is not made to be used on area rugs
- Bleach and any cleaners with bleach, not made for use on rugs
Things that are safe to use on most rugs for spills:
- Water to dampen the area, not wet the area. getting some area rugs wet causes damage
- Salt to absorb red wine spills and most wet spills, make sure it is regular white salt, not a flavoured salt
- Oatmeal/ Quick Oats absorbs wet spills
- Vinegar mixed with water in a 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar for urine on wool rugs or if your rug bleeds dye easily
- A dry cleaning product called Host Sponges. Call around to carpet and rug cleaners to buy this moist cleaner that absorbs dirt. Made from corn husks and citrus. It is designed to clean your wall to wall carpet and is Wool safe
To help prevent your dog from starting to use your rugs as indoor bathrooms:
- Sprinkle your rugs with Pepper when you first put them down, either as a new rug or after it was cleaned. As long as the pepper doesn’t get wet it won’t stain your rugs and you can vacum it up after a couple of days. This is good to do when you get a puppy or a new dog in your house, and after you move to a new place.
- When you go away for vacation and have someone house-sitting roll up your rugs and put them in an unused room. Pets don’t like their routines messed with and when you are not there they can act out of character and pee on your rugs.
Check the floor where your rug covers and the backs of your rugs if you suspect they may have been peed on. Whenever your dog stops following their regular bathroom routine it may because they found a more convenient place to go, your rugs.
There is no magic solution for urine removal at home. There are products made that promise you great results, but most cover up the odour and are not made for every fiber type used to make area rugs. The best thing to do is to get your rugs professionally cleaned as soon as you know they have been peed on. Pets will always seek out your rugs for their business because they are absorbent just like outdoors, even if you only own one rug they will target it.
Find Wool Safe Rug Cleaner.
Area rug cleaning in Victoria BC.
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All You Need You Know About Labrador Retriever Puppy Training
All You Need You Know About Labrador Retriever Puppy Training
By Susan Bridge
Do you have a happy playful Labrador puppy that is starting to become a bit of a handful, well get great tips and advice here and start your Labrador retriever puppy training today.
Training your Labrador puppy from day one is essential, as they have the most playful personalities with boundless energy to go with it. Training your lab puppy from day one will help set boundaries and rules for when they are an adult.
~ Provide A Puppy Crate ~
One of the best things you could ever do for your puppy is provide them with a safe environment to live and sleep in. In the wild dogs would never sleep in open fields or land, so some puppies feel really vulnerable when provided with a big open plan kitchen or room to sleep in. They love small tight spaces so providing a puppy crate is the best thing you could do, to make your puppy feel safe in its new environment.
Introduce the crate slowly by feeding them in it, and you will soon see your puppy going in and out of it with ease.
Using the crate will help with toilet training your puppy, as they do not like to soil their bed, so they will hang onto their bladder longer. The crate can also be used as a time out period for yourself, as having to watch a pup 24/7 can be exhausting. This can give you a tea break and a sit down while your puppy plays with a toy in the crate.
~ Socialize Your Puppy ~
Introducing your puppy to all different noises from the start will help your puppy not be nervous. Car noises, lawn mowers etc are all very important for a dog to get used to, as well as meeting other dogs. It’s all a great confidence builder for them.
~ Watch Your Puppy Like A Hawk ~
Labrador retriever puppies love to experiment by putting things into their mouths and having a chew. So watch your puppy like a hawk when in the house, as wires are a favourite, and also outside in the garden as they can easily get caught in a wire fence.
Providing them with a Kong toy which you can fill with treats is great to keep them amused, or a sand pit outside with treats hidden so they can dig and find them.
~ How To Correct Your Labrador Puppy ~
There will be times that you will want to correct your puppy for doing something naughty. Be careful because there is a right and wrong way to do that. When correcting your puppy the timing and your voice tone is critical, always reprimand a puppy when in the act of doing something wrong, never after the event, as they will not know what you are correcting them for. Puppies respond to voice tone, so reprimanding in a guttural tone is far better than smacking, as they will always see that as an aggressive act and you could find that your puppy starts not to trust your actions, and may start to be aggressive towards you.
~Teach Leadership Skills~
Your puppy should always look to you as the leader of the pack, so here are some top tips.
1. Go through all doorways in front of your puppy.
2. Don’t allow your puppy to sit on the window ledge or back of the sofa.
3. Never play tug with your puppy.
4. Always have your puppy walking next to you on a lead, never in front.
5. Ignore your puppy on arrival for a short time, and all attention seeking behaviour like barking at you to do something.
Providing a safe haven and a little training will make your Labrador retriever puppy very happy and you will see a well behaved dog.
Need more help with training your Labrador retriever puppy, well find out how over 200,000 dog owners used some powerful and easy to use techniques to solve many dog and puppy issues here. http://www.freesecretstodogtraining.info
Click the link for more FREE advice on all dog issues and puppy training
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Basic Dog Obedience Training – How to Teach Your Dog the Most Basic of All Commands
Basic Dog Obedience Training – How to Teach Your Dog the Most Basic of All Commands
Some new dog owners get a little overwhelmed with their dog behaviors to say the least. Consequently dog obedience training is important way to not only keep your house from attack, but to establish a comfortable and trusting relationship with your dog. This is a way to teach your dog to exhibit certain behavior in every circumstance. In this article i am going to outlines 5 steps that you can use to begin your basic dog obedience training program that will show you how to teach your dog the most basic of all commands. Each step is listed and discussed below so that you can start benefiting straight away.
Here are some basic commands
- sit: the dog is in a sitting position.
- down: a dog is typically down when its elbows (front feet) and ear legs are touching the ground or floor.
- heel: the dog’s head or shoulder is parallel to the handler’s leg on the left side of the trainer.
- come or here: (referred to as the recall) “call your dog” equals “come” or “here”.
- stay: the dog must remain in the position (sit, down, stand) and location under which the command was given until it is released by the trainer.
let’s list and describe the how-to steps involved when you want to begin your basic dog obedience training program.
step #1: reward obedience
this initial step we use reward to teach our dogs the most basic of all command. This is the simple strategy of rewarding obedience and punishment of disobedience. This simply means that we reward our dogs when something desirable is done and achieved and punishment if a dog does something bad appropriately. This technique has proved to work tremendously.
step #2: using a dog leash
the 2nd step in the process is to use of leash to get your dog to obey your basic command such as sit or stand. Using leash to training your dog to obey basic command and instructions is essential so that you can control your dog in public places for instance. Hence learning how to use a leash to help you in your dog obedience training is very important and it is recommended by every dog trainer i’ve ever met and worked with.
step #3: use firm voice
the third step is the use of a firm voice. You have to be firm in your voice as you give your command or instruction to your dog during the process of your dog obedience training program. However, you must understand that there is a difference between firm and aggressive voice.
step #4: get the dog’s attention
at this step in the process you need to get your dog’s attention because if your dog’s attention is not on you, it will not be able to respond to your command and instructions. Most of your dog obedience training will be getting his or hers attention and keeping it on yourself. If your dog cannot give you the attention, it will not listen to you, and thus making the training pointless. First, get the dog’s attention, most dogs will respond to their name, so call them and when they look at you give the instruction and watch. After doing it few times the dog will associate the command or instruction with looking at you.
step #5: you must be consistent
the final step is that you must be consistent in your training so that you do not confuse your dog. In order to get the respect of your dog you must be consistent and avoid haphazard dog training. The key to keep you consistent is to establish a set of dos and don’ts for your dog.
As you can see when you follow the above steps you will be in a splendid position to achieve more benefits whenever you decide to begin your basic dog obedience training program.
If you are keen to getting more information on Basic dog obedience Training that at the same time has the benefit of how to teach your dog the most basic of all commands then just visit http://dogtrainingacademyonline.com
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Border Collie Obedience Training
If you are thinking of bringing Border collie in your home for a pet, then you need to focus mainly on their exercise to keep them calm and well going. Border collies are one of the top trainable dogs that can perform in several activities like obedience, Frisbee, fly ball and agility trials.
Since Border collie can be destructive with their high level of energy, you need to compulsorily involve him in the exercise. It would be better if you have a lot of open space or a garden around your home where your border collie can play and wear out his excess energy. If he doesn’t get enough exercise, then it can dangerous for you and your dog. He can be highly destructive but if you train him well, then he can learn it quick and easily as he is also very intelligent and agile.
While dealing with Border collie obedience, you should involve yourself in different kinds of activities like brushing his hair coat and bathing him sometimes. You may also clip his nails and teach him the obedience. Brushing is better than bathing him regularly because with bathing, your dog may lose his protective oil from the strips of the coat.
Border collie obedience training is not much difficult as you have thought of. Due to their high intelligence, he can be easily trained as rescue and search dogs. These dogs are very friendly and don’t seem so shy with the new people as well. They respond very quickly to the commands of their masters and enjoy completing the task given to them.
Just the key factor to Border collie training is patience and positivity. If you deal with positive behavior with your dog, then he is supposed to learn better and quick. With positive approach in the training, you can make out the best from him. Reward your border collie with treats when he obeys any of your commands. This motivates him to repeat the same task at your commands in the future as well. But do keep patience as it surely take some time to bring the improvements in your border collie.
The Author has been doing various research on dog training since long.
He is actively involved with different dog training related companies and likes to share his experience with everyone.
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Clicker Training Your Dog With Four Easy Steps
By Jeff Czyzewski
Clicker training consist of several basics including positive reinforcement, clicker conditioning, often called charging the clicker, accurate timing and marking and repeating. It’s by means of these principles that one could rapidly start teaching your dog with a clicker with excellent results.
Positive reinforcement signifies that you’re treating your canine once they perform a behavior or motion you want them to execute. This is different than luring or bribing your puppy to execute a certain action. Using positive reinforcement with clicker training, we’re really enabling the dog to execute the action independently, and then click and treating them when they do it properly. Positive reinforcement is quicker and less complicated than correction based training where we are attempting to cease the dog from doing something, like leaping or nipping. An instance of positive reinforcement could be when a puppy sits down independently when we are training a “sit” order and we encourage them for that action.
Clicker charging is the method of teaching your dog or puppy the sound of clicker and that a reward will be given at the sound of the click. The first few training sessions may require you to charge the clicker, but after the third or fourth session it may not be necessary. To charge the clicker you simply click the clicker and then give a treat to the dog. Do this 10-15 times until the clicking sounds triggers your dog to look for the treat. Once the dog understands that the sound of the clicker “marks” when they will receive a treat the training can begin.
Proper timing is vital with clicker training. In order to connect in positive reinforcement while using clicker, we’d like to time the click, or “mark” the behavior. For instance, when teaching the “sit” command we may click the minute the canine is seated. This implies the minute their butt touches the floor, you click. This “marks” the behavior and you would then instantly treat. If you ever click a moment or two later the canine might not know what they did. Should you treat and then click, you will be reinforcing the inappropriate behavior. So, the right time is every thing. Again, in this instance, we’re allowing the puppy to sit automatically, then we’re marking the actions with a click and then treating.
Repetition and ongoing instruction will allow you to clicker train your dog with more achievement. This permits your canine to easily recognize and begin learning by themselves exactly what conduct you want them to execute. You can then begin mixing behaviors. For instance, you may start training a sit behavior. After mastering the sit order, you might move on to the “lay down” order going from a sit. You can then command the puppy to sit, then lay down and click.
Once you grasp these 4 main ideas of clicker training it is easier to start to show other types of behaviors. More complicated behaviors could be bundled together and the use of target training can be introduced to permit your puppy to concentrate on certain items or positioning to develop a behavior. These four concepts in addition to 4 secrets that every owner should know can be located at the website.
Looking to find the best info on Clicker training, then visit http://www.ClickerTrainingSystem.com to discover the 4 secrets every dog trainer must know. Free Video Access to Dog Clicker training.
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Electronic Dog Training
Electronic Dog Training
By Larry Volwiler
Once people become familiar with electronic training products and use them properly, they find the methodology is proven, efficient, economical, and ethical.
The type of training in which an electronic aid is used is critically important, for it will influence the type of product and methods used. Is the equipment being used to teach a new obedience command, correct some common misbehavior, or is it being used to reinforce another electronic training methodology?
Factors affecting success Before an electronic training tool is used, it is strongly suggested that the entire training situation be re-examined. There are three major considerations in this re-evaluation:
Does the owner know what he is doing, does he understand the training process, and can he apply proper methodology to a specific situation? Is the owner training the dog properly, does he have a plan for this specific misbehavior, and is he executing that plan appropriately and correctly? Is the dog trainable? Is the dog in question stubborn, set in his ways, or unintelligent?
(We believe that all dogs are trainable. Dogs that seem stubborn, or unintelligent, have simply not been trained properly, consistently, or effectively.)
Of these factors, the first two are most important. If training is not successful, in most cases it is because owner education, preparedness, consistency or commitment is lacking. This may be difficult for some owners to accept, but remember that we have invited dogs into our environment. It is our responsibility to teach them in ways they can understand. This is incredibly important, because if an owner has not taken the time, or applied the appropriate techniques properly and consistently, training with an electronic product will not make a difference. It will only confuse even the smartest dog.
There are certain signals that suggest a dog has not been properly trained. In these instances a dog may:
Resist when his owner attempts to place a collar around his neck. Withstand correction, of any type, in the presence of certain distractions Control his owner by acting timid or by ignoring his owner Panic when he senses a warning. Attempt to escape when receiving a correction Do anything except the behavior necessary to avoid the correction.
Education is the key. If an owner takes the time to understand electronic training – why it works, how it works, how to apply the appropriate techniques – it can be a beneficial tool.
Electronic training requires knowledge and skill Why the concern for proper education? Because of the largest variable in the equation – the owner. Let us face it, humans are very unpredictable, as far as dogs are concerned. The response of most owners to the need for correction varies widely, depending on the dog, the training, the situation at hand, and even the mood they happen to be in at the time. This is not conducive to effective training – of any kind.
In most cases, a dog exhibits a behavior in response to some stimulus or distraction. Owners must be careful not to create yet another, different misbehavior by misapplying the correction, or applying it at the wrong time. And, for the safety of the dog, it is unnecessary to correct it for every little thing. Owners must be selective to avoid canine confusion. When applied properly, electronic training can be done successfully. To help understand this, let us examine how people respond to their dog without electronics.
Dog owners respond to their dog in any number of different ways. They may reward their dog by petting, talking, providing food or treats, playing, or letting them sleep on the bed. The list is as long as there are owners on it. These same owners also correct in various ways, including yelling, hitting, throwing things, the use of a chain link training collar, ignoring their dog, not providing food or treats, or isolation in a room, crate, or kennel. This does not imply that all of these forms of reward and correction are acceptable. Only that they are multiple, and that training can be successful under some of these circumstances. So it is with electronic training.
One of the greatest acknowledged advantages of electronic training is that sophisticated electronics do make us humans more predictable. It enhances human consistency, especially as it relates to correction. It also allows humans to easily and conveniently apply appropriate corrections, even when a dog is not within range of traditional (leash and choker collar) correction techniques.
Rules of electronic training As was mentioned earlier, electronic training operates on the same basic principles used in all canine behavior modification: correction, redirection, and reward. Therefore, it is imperative that the dog understands the basics before more sophisticated training begins.
‘Dummy Equipment Effect’: Before electronic dog training begins, the owner/trainer needs to be comfortable in the use of the device, and the dog needs to be comfortable, as well. Thus it is very important to create the ‘Dummy Equipment Effect’ before beginning.
Dogs are highly intelligent and certainly smart enough to know the difference between the different types of collars being used. They look different. They smell different. They exert different pressures on the neck once they are applied. Even the owner/trainer acts differently with the different collars. In some cases, the owner/trainer is there; in other cases, he is not.
Because all of this is true, it is important to eliminate the equipment itself from the learning process. Here is how.
Before beginning to train with an active electronic collar, the dog should first become accustomed to a deactivated collar (i.e., take the battery out). Even if the dog trainer or dog owner is under pressure to train the dog quickly (e.g., the neighbors are complaining), he still needs to teach the dog that the collar is not something to be feared.
The last thing someone wants to see is the dog cowering when it is being approached with a training collar, electronic or otherwise. By spending just a few days introducing the dog to the collar, other problems can be prevented.
General Rules: All of the general rules of obedience training apply to electronic training as well. In fact, they are probably even more important in electronic training. These guidelines include:
Do not train the dog for extended periods of time. Limit the number of corrections the dog receives in one training session and in one training day. Be sure that corrections are properly balanced with reward. Always give the correction at the same time. That is, do so only when the dog is actually misbehaving, not before the misbehavior occurs or after the misbehavior has stopped. This is important because it gives the dog a chance to learn, (i.e., to understand what causes the correction in the first place).
Finally, the beginning point of most electronic training includes the use of a leash, which serves to help redirect the dog away from escape and other inappropriate responses. This, in turn, makes it increasingly important not to correct arbitrarily or out of frustration. As a dog trainer or owner, it is necessary to be as disciplined as you want the dog to be.
The importance of redirection and reward Electronic training combines several different techniques. Applying a correction is only a small part of a training program. Redirection and praise are far more important.
Why is this methodology important? Suppose there is a dog in a containment system, but every day he charges away and barks at a jogger who is running along outside the established bounds. What should be the desired correction? He should come when he is called, stay in the yard, and stop barking at the jogger. But chasing and barking are perfectly normal in a dog’s natural environment. Only in the human environment are they inappropriate.
Therefore, if the owner/trainer really wants to train the dog under these circumstances, he must first correct at the appropriate time, and consistently. He would do so using an obedience command. So, before beginning more complicated electronic training, it is important that the dog understand basic obedience commands. The trainer/owner must build from a solid foundation provided by these training basics.
In this specific instance, as soon as the dog takes off running, he would be given the ‘Come’ command. That way, when applying correction, it is because the dog did not come on command, not because he is chasing a jogger. Conversely, when the dog does obey immediately, he is praised for responding to the command, not for breaking off his pursuit. This is called redirection.
The risks in electronic training are the many variables. This same situation, handled improperly, can have the opposite effect. It could train the dog to attack joggers. A correction at the wrong time may cause the dog to identify the correction stimulus with the jogger. Dogs are known to have fight or flight responses to such threats. If the dog’s response is to ‘fight,’ joggers beware!
Reward: Unfortunately, some dog trainers/owners put the emphasis on correction. Even in this article, the information is weighted in this area. This is because correction is the area where most training problems occur. Reward is a much easier concept to understand and apply. During training, the dog should constantly and consistently be given a deserved reward – preferably praise and petting – for behavior that meets his training objectives. Again, timing is critical. The dog must be able to make the connection between the reward and the appropriate behavior.
Gratuitous reward is also a no-no. The dog trainer must reward the dog only when he is behaving properly. Do not worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so. Unless, of course, the dog trainer/owner slacks off and chooses to reward inconsistently; or he breaks down further and treats the dog to praise, petting, and food, even if a behavior is inappropriate.
Emotional and energy outlet: Appropriate emotional outlets also bear some discussion in this context. Obviously, electronic training is designed to stop a dog from exhibiting misbehaviors, and help reward him for what the dog trainer/owner considers appropriate behavior. But if a dog cannot leave the yard, no reward can replace the freedom he has lost. In such cases, a dog must be given other appropriate outlets. This is why activities like running with the dog, or playing with him, are extremely important.
Redirection: Redirection is equally important, if not more so. In many electronic training situations, the dog trainer/owner needs to provide an alternate behavior for the dog. This redirection provides a known behavior pattern that the dog can fall back on, enabling the dog trainer/owner to reward him. A good example of such a behavior pattern is the ‘Sit,’ ‘Get your ball,’ or other command the dog already understands.
Have a plan: Overall, what one tries to do with redirection and reward is build better behavior in the dog. But when building anything, it is useful to have a blueprint – a plan that outlines specifically what to do under an array of circumstances.
Because of all the variables involved with electronic training, the dog trainer/owner needs to have such a plan. He needs to know exactly what he is going to do before a situation arises. Because, when it comes to training dogs, he needs to expect the unexpected. But if there is a plan in place, he will know exactly what to do.
The best plans are the simplest – the ones that ask the dog to do something basic. Pick something the dog has done many times before; perhaps a ‘Sit’ and ‘Stay’ command. Reliance on an old habit can bring a misbehaving dog – even a frightened or frazzled dog – back into the comfort zone. This will enable the dog trainer/owner to reward the dog, or regroup, should this become necessary.
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Leash Training Your English Bull Mastiff Dog
Why Dogs Pull on the Leash
Pulling on the leash is actually a very common problem with dogs in general, not just for Mastiffs. A dog might pull for several reasons. Most often it is only because they are very excited. Allowing the dog to settle down before walking can often stop the leash pulling.
Sometimes, because of the dog pack mentality, a dog assumes leadership over its owner as if he were the leader of the pack. Therefore, the dog must be trained as to who the master is. The owner must establish him or herself as the leader of the pack. Failure to do so will result in ineffective training of any kind.
How to Leash Train
The first step is to train your English Bull Mastiff to sit still while you put the leash around his neck. Mastiffs love to spend time with their owners and they become very excited. Training your dog to be calm while preparing to go for a walk is an important step to leash training.
You can put toys or treats in your pocket to encourage your Mastiff to remain near your side as you walk. If he loses his concentration because a cat or another dog is nearby, you can change direction and coax him with a treat to get his attention back.
The idea is to get your puppy to be aware of you and your body so he will walk beside you and not wander or pull on the leash. If he begins to wander off or pull, stop walking. The collar will tighten and he will have to stop and turn and look at you. He will probably be confused at first as to why you are stopping. Coax him back to you and try walking together again.
At times you may need to give a gentle tug on the leash to get your puppy’s attention and to remind him that you are in charge. Never jerk harshly on the leash as this can cause damage to your dog’s trachea. You only want to get his attention, not frighten or harm your puppy.
Be consistent and persistent when leash training your English Bull Mastiff dog. Always, always praise him for his obedience. Mastiffs love nothing more than to please their owners, so praise goes a long way. Be patient, firm, and kind as you will get the desired results.
Leash training is so important, especially with large dogs. Failure to do so can lead to all sorts of problems, especially if they get off the leash around young children or other dogs. A well trained English Bull Mastiff is a joy to own and to be around.
Sam Daniels is a dog trainer and enthusiast and, for a limited time, is offering his extensive Mastiff Care Secrets course free of charge. It is jam-packed full of must-have information for Mastiff owners! To learn more about Mastiff care just go here http://www.YourMastiffAndYou.com
Sam Daniels is a dog trainer and enthusiast and, for a limited time, is offering his extensive [http://www.yourmastiffandyou.com]Mastiff Care Secrets course free of charge. It is jam-packed full of must-have information for Mastiff owners! Learn more about Mastiff Care Now!
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Helpful Dog Training Tips
It is important to start training a dog between six and eight weeks of age. If your dog is older and has yet to be trained do not worry because it is “never too late to teach a dog a new trick.”
Many dog owners are curious as to the best way to go about dog training. There are several dog training tips that dog owners should be aware of. A very important dog training tip is that the owner must use positive reinforcement.
When training a dog it is good to reward the dog with both praise and dog treats. The dog should be awarded a treat each time the dog performs a command correctly. This will reinforce positive behavior.
Another dog training tip is to give firm but friendly commands. Give commands such as come and heel in a friendly voice. For commands such as down, stay and sit you will want to use a lower firmer voice.
When your dog has an accident in the house it is important to not rub your dog’s nose into the accident. Also, when your dog has an accident do not hit his or her nose with a newspaper.
When training a dog it is important to not punish the dog. Punishing a dog during training will only cause the dog to be afraid of you. One of the most valuable tips to follow when training a dog is to use consistent training techniques.
Dogs are wonderful companions and usually very easy to train. When your dog follows a command give the dog lots of praise and a dog treat. This is the easiest and most effective way to train a dog. Remember to enjoy the time you spend with your dog as this time forms a bond that is unbreakable.
Written by Samantha Gibson. Find the latest information on http://www.treasurevalleydogtraining.com Idaho dog training as well as http://www.treasurevalleydogtraining.com Boise dog training.
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