Tag: love-dogs

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House training your dog

House training is one of the most important elements of creating a well trained dog and trusted family member.  Problems with house training and similar issues are the number one reason that dogs are surrendered to shelters, so properly house training your dog can literally save his or her life.

House training a puppy does not need to be difficult, but it is important to take the process seriously, plan ahead and take things slowly.  Some dogs will be easier to house break than others, so it important to work with your dog.  Rushing the process can be counterproductive and cause you to have to start all over again.

When it comes to house training a new puppy, it is important to know what to expect.  Unless the owner is able to supervise the puppy round the clock, it is difficult to complete the house training process until the dog is at least six months old.  It is important to know this ahead of time so you can be prepared.  Young puppies have bodies that are constantly changing and growing, and puppies younger than six months often have not developed the bowel and bladder control they will need to be properly house trained.

When the owner is not at home, the puppy should be confined to a small room and the entire floor should be covered with paper.  Of course it is important to puppy-proof the room, that is removing any items on which the puppy could be injured.  In the beginning, the puppy will most likely eliminate anywhere within the room.  In addition, the puppy will probably play with the papers, chew them, etc.  This is perfectly normal and should not be grounds for punishment or distress.  Cleaning up each day should simply be part of the routine of living with a new puppy.  Simply clean up the soiled papers and put down new ones each day.

Time for paper training

During the time that the puppy is confined in its little den, it will begin to develop the habit of eliminating on paper.  After a little time has passed, the puppy will begin to exhibit a preferred place to eliminate.  After this preferred spot has been established, the area that is papered should be slowly diminished.  The first papers to be removed should be those that are furthest away from the “toilet”.  Eventually, the owner will have to lay down only a few papers.  If the puppy ever misses those papers, it means that the papered area has been reduced too much and too soon. 

After the puppy is reliability doing its business only on the papers that have been left, the papers can be slowly and gradually moved to a location of your choice.  The papers should be moved only gradually, as little as an inch a day.  If the puppy misses the papers, again it means that they have been moved too soon and too far.  In this case it will be necessary to go back a few steps and start over.  It is important not to become discouraged.  The puppy will eventually understand the concept, and you will be able to choose your puppies toilet area and move on to the next step.

House training when the owner is home

Obviously the more time you can spend with your puppy the faster the house training will go.  The objective should be to take the puppy to the toilet area every time he needs to do his business.  In most cases this will be either every 45 minutes, right after each play session, after he first wakes up or right after he eats or drinks.  It is important to provide effusive praise for the puppy when he eliminates in the established toilet area. 

As the puppy becomes more used to using his toilet area and as he develops improved bladder and bowel control, he will be able to begin spending more and more time outside his den with his owner in the rest of the home.  It is important to begin this process by allowing the puppy access to one room at a time.  It is also important to allow the puppy in the extra room only when he can be supervised.  When you must leave the room, be sure to put the puppy back in his den.

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Training your new puppy to accept the collar and lead

Walking on a collar and lead is an important skill that every dog must learn.  Even the best trained dog should never be taken outside the home or yard without a sturdy collar and leash.  Even if your dog is trained perfectly to go off lead, accidents and distractions do happen and a collar, with proper identification attached, is the best way to be sure you will get your beloved companion back.

Of course before you can teach your new puppy to accept a leash, he or she must first learn to accept wearing a collar.  The first step is to choose a collar that fits the dog properly.  It is important to measure the puppy’s neck and to choose a collar size accordingly.  After the collar has been put on the puppy, simply let him or her get used to it.  It is not unusual for a puppy to try to pull on the collar, whine, roll or squirm when first introduced to a collar. 

The best strategy is to simply ignore the puppy and let him or her get used to the collar.  It is a mistake to either punish the dog for playing with the collar or to encourage the behavior.  Distracting the puppy often helps, and playing with a favorite toy, or eating some favorite treats, can help the puppy quickly forget that he or she is wearing this strange piece of equipment.

After the dog has learned to accept the collar, try adding the leash.  Hook the leash to the collar and simply sit and watch the puppy.  Obviously, this should only be done either in the house or in a confined outdoor area.  The puppy should be allowed to drag the leash around on its own, but of course the owner should keep a close eye on the puppy to ensure that the leash does not become snagged or hung up on anything.

At first, the leash should only be left on for a few minutes at a time.  It is a good idea to attach the leash at mealtimes, playtime and other positive times in the life of the puppy.  That way the puppy will begin to associate the leash with good things and look forward to it.  If the puppy shows a high degree of fear of the leash, it is a good idea to place it next to the food bowl for awhile to let him get used to it slowly.  Eventually, he will come to understand that the leash is nothing to be afraid of.

After the puppy is comfortable with walking around the house wearing the leash, it is time for you to pick up the end of the leash for a few minutes.  You should not try to walk the puppy on the leash; simply hold the end of the leash and follow the puppy around as he or she walks around.  You should try to avoid situations where the leash becomes taut and any pulling or straining on the leash should be avoided.  It is fine for the puppy to sit down.  Try a few games with the collar and lead.  For instance, back up and encourage the puppy to walk toward you.  Don’t drag the puppy forward, simply encourage him to come to you.  If he does, praise him profusely and reward him with a food treat or toy.  You should always strive to make all the time spent on the leash as pleasant as possible.

It is important to give the puppy plenty of practice in getting used to walking on the leash in the home.  It is best to do plenty of work in the home, since it is a safe environment with few distractions.  After the puppy is comfortable walking indoors on a leash, it is time to start going outside, beginning of course in a small, enclosed area like a fenced yard.  After the puppy has mastered walking calmly outdoors on a leash, it is time to visit some places where there are more distractions.  You may want to start with a place like a neighbor’s yard.  Walking your new puppy around the neighborhood is a good way to introduce your neighbors to the new puppy, while giving the puppy valuable experience in avoiding distractions and focusing on his leash training.

Puppies sometimes develop bad habits with their leashes, such as biting or chewing on the leash.  To discourage this type of behavior, try applying a little bit of bitter apple, Tabasco sauce or similar substance (just make sure the substance you use is not toxic to dogs).  This strategy usually convinces puppies that chewing the leash is a bad idea.

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Dog training with a training collar or choke collar

The basic dog training collar goes by many names, including choke collar, choke chain, training collar, correction collar and slip collar.  These training collars are among the most popular and most commonly used tools with both amateur and professional dog trainers. 

While a training collar is an effective tool, like any tool it must be used properly in order to be effective for you and safe for the dog.  Among the most important considerations when using a training collar are:

  • How the collar fits the dog. It is essential that the training collar be properly fitted to the dog.  A properly fitted training collar is easier to use and safer for the dog.
  • Putting the training collar on properly.  There is a right way and a wrong way to fit a training collar, and putting it on wrong will make it both ineffective and potentially dangerous.
  • Using the collar properly.  A training collar should be used as a sharp reminder to the dog, not as punishment.  It is important that constant pressure be avoided when using a training collar.
  • The weight of the chain and the size of the links on the training collar.  It is important that the weight of the chain be appropriate to the size and weight of the dog.
  • The placement of the collar on the dog.  It is important to properly place the collar on the dog.

The importance of a properly fitted training collar

Determining if the training collar is the right size is relatively easy.  The ideal size training collar should fit snugly, yet comfortably over the dog’s head.  It is important that the training collar not fit too tightly, but it should not be too loose either.  A training collar that is too tight will be too hard to put on and off.  On the other hand, a training collar that is too loose can accidentally fall off of the dog’s head when it lowers its head.

It is also important to know that a training collar that is too long for the dog requires a great deal of finesse to use properly.  A collar that is too long can still be used, but it will require more skill on the part of the handler.

Properly sizing and measure the dog for a training collar

It is best to measure the dog’s neck with a tape measure, and then add 2 to 3 inches to that measurement.  So if your dog has a neck 12” in diameter, you would want to buy a training collar that is 14” in length.  Chain slip collars are generally sized in two inch increments.

Fitting the collar properly

When fitting a training collar, the part of the chain which is connected to the leash should be on the top of the dog’s neck.  With this type of arrangement, the collar releases the instant the leash is loosened.  Training collars work by making the collar tight and loose in a fast manner.  Tightening the collar is the first part of the correction, and making it loose is the second part of the correction.

If the part of the training collar that is attached to the leash is not on the top of the dog’s neck, the collar can still be made tight, but it will not release back to a loose state easily.  This constant pressure on the dog’s neck initiates a counter response on the part of the animal and the dog will quickly learn to pull and strain against the leash.

Finally, it is important to purchase a training collar that is well made and strong.  Buying a high quality training collar, slip collar or choke collar is vital to the safety of yourself and your dog. 

If the worst happens and your dog’s training collar does break, it is important not to panic.  Most dogs will be unaware that they have broken the collar, at least for a few minutes.  In most cases, if you act as if the leash is still connected, you can probably get control of your dog back quickly.

When securing a loose dog, the best strategy is to make a quick slip lead by running the snap on the leash through its handle and then slipping it over the dog’s head.  It may not be the best arrangement, but it will certainly do in a pinch.

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Dog training with a head collar

The head collar has become an increasingly popular dog training tool in the past couple of years.  Two of the most well known brands of head collar on the market are the Gentle Leader and the Halti, but there are many other brands that incorporate the basic head collar concept.

Many people find the Gentle Leader easier to fit that the Halti, and in addition the Gentle Leader is designed to fasten around the dog’s neck.  The advantage of this design is that even if the dog is somehow able to wriggle out of the muzzle, it is still wearing a collar.  This safety feature is very important, especially during training outside or in different situations.  On the other hand, the Halti offers better control of the dog and for this reason it is often favored when working with very aggressive dogs.

Training a dog with a head collar has a number of advantages over training with a traditional or training collar.  For one thing, head collars are often easier to use for beginning dog trainers than are training collars.  Head collars are also quite effective at preventing dogs from pulling, or controlling and retraining dogs that tend to pull. 

Head collars can also be quite effective at controlling dogs in difficult situations, such as controlling a dog that wants to be with other dogs.  Most owners know of some situations in which their dogs are difficult to control and head collars can be quite effective at controlling these volatile situations.

Head collars can be excellent for controlling dogs that are very strong, or for working with a dog in an area that contains a great many distractions.  For instance, head collars are great for when your dog is on an outing, or in an area where there will be other dogs and other distractions.

Even though a head collar can be a great tool, it should not be used as a replacement for effective dog training.  A head collar is most effective when it is used in combination with strong and sensible dog training methods, such as reward training and other forms of positive reinforcement.

Disadvantages of head collars

Even though head collars have many advantages, they have some distinct disadvantages as well.  For one thing, head collars tend to make many dogs dependent on the equipment and they quickly learn the difference between their regular collar and the head collar and adjust their behavior accordingly.

In addition, some dogs, particularly those not accustomed to wearing a head collar, dislike wearing it and paw at it, try to rub it off or pull excessively.  If your dog exhibits this behavior, the best strategy is to keep it moving until it learns to accept the collar.  A good alternative is to have the dog sit by pulling up on the dog’s head.

Another disadvantage of the head collar is the reaction that many people have to it.  Many people think that a head collar is a muzzle, and react to the dog as if it may bite.  While this is not necessarily a defect of the head collar, many people do find it troublesome.

In conclusion, training with a head collar is much like training with a training collar or any other equipment.   While the head collar can be an important and useful tool, it is important to use it appropriately, follow all package instructions, and to combine its use with solid training methods.  The eventual goal of dog training with a head collar should be to have the dog behave as well with a regular collar as it does with the specialized head collar.

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Training your dog the reward training way

Reward training is often seen as the most modern method of training a dog, but reward training is probably much older than other methods of dog training.  It is possible that reward training for dogs has been around as long as there have been dogs to train.  Early humans probably used some informal kind of reward training when taming the wolf pups that eventually evolved into modern dogs.

Many principles of modern reward training date back many decades.  However, what is called reward training today has only enjoyed is remarkable popularity for the past 10 or 15 years. 

Many reward training enthusiasts are less enthusiastic about other methods of dog training, such as the traditional leash and collar method.  However, the best approach to training any individual dog is often a combination of leash/collar training and reward training.

In addition, a training method that works perfectly for one dog may be totally inappropriate for another, and vice versa.  Some dogs respond wonderfully to reward training and not at all to leash and collar training, while others respond to leash/collar training and are not at all motivated by reward training.  Most dogs fall somewhere in the middle of these two extremes.

Clicker training is one of the most popular forms of reward training these days.  While clicker training is not the answer for every dog, it can be a remarkably effective method of training many dogs.  In clicker training, the dog is taught to associate a clicking sound with a reward, like a treat.  The trainer clicks the clicker when the dog does something good, followed immediately by a treat.  Eventually, the dog learns to respond to the clicker alone.

Most reward training uses some sort of food reward, or a reward that is associated with getting food.  In most cases, complex behaviors can only be taught using this kind of positive reinforcement, and you will find that the people who train dogs for movies and television use reward training almost exclusively.

Reward training is used in all forms of dog training, including police work and military applications.  Most scent detection, tracking and police dogs are trained using some form of reward training.  Reward training is also a very effective way to teach many basic obedience commands. 

Reward training often incorporates the use of a lure in order to get the dog into the position desired by the trainer.  The lure is used to get the dog to perform the desired behavior on his or her own and of his or her own free will.

It makes a great deal of sense to get the dog to perform the desired behavior without any physical intervention on the part of the handler.  Getting the dog to perform a behaviour without being touched is important.

After the dog has performed the desired behaviour, it is given a reward, also called a positive reinforcement.  Treats are often used as reinforcers, but praise, such as “good dog” or a pat on the head, can also be effective rewards.

Making a dog that has been reward trained a reliable dog is important, especially when the dog has an important job, like police work or drug detection, to do.  For that reason it is important to get the dog accustomed to working around distractions, and to properly socialize the animal to both people and other animals.

Many dog trainers make the mistake of only training the dog inside the house or back yard, and only when the handler is there.  In order to become a reliably trained companion, the dog must be taken outside the confines of its safety zone and introduced to novel situations.

It is also important to teach the dog to pay attention to the handler at all times.  Having the attention of the dog means having control of the dog.  Reward training is very effective at getting the respect and the attention of the dog when used properly.

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Dog training – Leash/collar training

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.

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.

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Puppy Training

Training your new puppy the right way

Puppy training is very important, whether you are training your first puppy or your tenth.  Properly training and socializing a puppy is vital to making it a valued member of your family and your community.

In some ways training a puppy is easier than training an adult or adolescent dog.  One reason is that the puppy is essentially a “blank canvas”, untroubled by past training techniques and other issues.  However, the puppy can be far more difficult to train than an older dog.

One challenge to training a new puppy is that puppies are more easily distractible than adolescent and adult dogs.  Everything is new to a puppy and every new experience provides a new chance for distraction.  For this reason, it is best to keep training sessions short when working with a puppy and to end each training sessions on a positive note.

It is also important to allow the puppy plenty of time to play and to interact with other puppies and dogs.  Socialization training is vital to making your new puppy a good dog citizen, as canine aggression is a growing problem in many areas.  A properly socialized dog learns how to play properly with other dogs and overly aggressive play is punished by the other dogs in the play group.

This type of play learning is something that happens among siblings in litters of puppies.  As the puppies play with each other, they learn what is appropriate and what is not.  Inappropriate behavior, such as hard biting or scratching, is punished by the other puppies, by the mother dog, or both.

Unfortunately, many puppies are removed from their mothers and sold or adopted before this socialization has fully occurred.  Therefore, puppy play sessions are a very important part of any puppy training session.  Most good puppy preschool training programs provide time in each session for this type of dog interaction.

Introducing your puppy to new experiences and new locations is also an important part of puppy training.  Teaching your dog to be obedient and responsive, even in the face of many distractions, is very important when training dogs and puppies. 

One great way to socialize your puppy both to new people and new dogs is to take it on a trip to your local pet shop.   Many major pet store chains and some independent ones as well, allow pet parents to bring their furry children and these stores can be great places for puppies to get used to new sights, sounds and smells.  Of course you will want to make sure the store allows pets before heading over.

It is important for puppy owners to structure their pet’s environment so that the puppy is rewarded for good behaviors and not rewarded for others.  One good example of this is jumping on people.  Many people inadvertently reward this behavior because it can be cute.  While it is true that jumping can be cute for a 10 pound puppy, it will not be so cute when that puppy has grown into a 100 pound dog.

Instead of rewarding the puppy for jumping, try rewarding it for sitting instead.  This type of positive reinforcement will result in a well behaved adult dog that is a valued member of both the family and the community at large.

This type of reinforcement can also be used in potty training the new puppy.  For instance, teaching a puppy to use a unique surface such as gravel or asphalt is a good technique.  The theory is that the puppy will associate this surface with going potty and therefore be reluctant to use other surfaces (like your kitchen floor of sitting room carpet for instance) as a potty.

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Dog training

Training Your Dog to Behave Properly

There are many reasons for teaching proper dog behaviour and teaching such behaviour has many benefits for both the human and canine partners.  Dog behavior training is vital to such life and death issues as preventing aggression, controlling dog on dog aggression problems and teaching dogs to interact properly with both their handlers and with other members of the family.

Understanding how dogs evolved and how dogs interact with each other, is very important to understanding how to properly train your dog to be a devoted, loyal companion.

The original dogs were probably orphaned wolf pups adopted by early humans.  These wild dogs probably learned to perform behaviours that their human protectors valued, such as guarding the cave or scaring off predators.  In exchange for these valued behaviours, the humans probably provided their new companions with food, protection and shelter. 

That kind of relationship still exists today, of course, and dogs still can, and do, perform valuable jobs for their human benefactors.  Those jobs include herding and guarding livestock, guarding property, guarding people, and finding game for food.

When planning a dog training program, it is important to know that dogs are pack animals.  In wild dog societies, packs are formed, and each member of the pack quickly learns his or her place in the pecking order.  Except in the event of death or injury to the alpha dog, the hierarchy never changes once it has been established.  The lower dogs know not to challenge the alpha dog and the alpha dog understands his place as leader of the pack.

All the other dogs in the pack look to the alpha dog for leadership, in important survival issues like finding food and avoiding larger predators.  In order to properly train your dog and gain its respect, it is important for you to become the alpha dog.

That is because a dog that sees its owner as a superior leader will follow the commands the owner gives without question.  Getting the respect of the dog is the most important step to proper dog training, and it will form the basis of all subsequent training.

The reasons for training a dog properly are many, especially in today’s world.  A well mannered, obedient dog is a joy to be around, both for the owner and his or her family and for people in the community at large.  In addition, seeing a well mannered dog sets people’s mind at ease, especially with breeds of dog thought to be dangerous, such as Dobermans, Rottweilers and Pit Bulls.

When training dogs and dealing with unwanted dog behaviours, it is important to understand the motivating factors behind those behaviorus.  For example, many dogs exhibit unwanted behaviours such as chewing and destroying furniture due to separation anxiety.  Dealing with the sources of problem behaviours is an important first step toward eliminating those problem behaviours.

Many dogs exhibit unwanted behaviours as a result of stress in the animal’s life and its inability to cope with that stress.  The goal of a good dog training program is to allow the dog to tolerate greater levels of stress without becoming a problem animal.

When dealing with dog behaviour, it is important not to confuse human behavior with dog behavior.  While there is a great temptation on the part of dog owners to see their dogs as almost human, in reality dogs and humans have very different motivations and very different reactions to similar situations.

One trait that humans and dogs do share, however, is the need to form close social groups and strong bonds within those social groups.  This bonding is important to both humans and dogs, but it has served vastly different ends as both species have evolved and changed over time.

If you are interested in dogs and love dogs, please visit my website at www.love-dogs.co.uk where you can find a range of products all with either pictures of dogs, or slogans about dogs.

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Hello Fellow Dog Lover

Thank you for visiting my website.

This site is all about clothes, products and presents for people who simply love dogs.

It is a very new site and is under construction, but there will be lots of fabulous things for you to buy your furry friend or as a present for your friends.

If you are looking for something specific and it is not available here, please drop me an email on store@love-dogs.co.uk and let me know what you are looking for.

Warmest wishes and lots of waggy tails.

Ali

Ali Matthews

www.love-dogs.co.uk