Train Your Dog - The Groundwork

Train Your Dog - The Groundwork
You should start training dogs as young as you possibly can. Puppies learn quicker and far from being cruel it helps them to adapt and be happier animals. It is absolutely essential that you get dogs into a routine before you can start any formal training and this should include set meal times and walk times. If you let your dogs out in the yard then you should try to do so at a time when they need to go out.

Some people express concern that training a young puppy is cruel. However, as its parent you are responsible for ensuring your dog learns right from wrong and performs the right actions at the right time. Without a structured life and input from you, your puppy is likely to become down and depressed. Start young and start relatively lightly, there is certainly no need to start agility training immediately but you should learn a few basic commands. Training your dog can also ensure it?s future safety. For example an obedient dog is less likely to run away from home or run out into the street. Obedient dogs are usually exceptionally responsive to their masters call and therefore it is possible to keep them out of harms way.

You should always be prepared to praise your dogs when they do something you like. Initially you may want to include an edible treat as well, but in time you can and should revert to solely using verbal praise. By instilling these positive feelings your dog will be only too pleased to listen to your commands and aim to please you. This makes training very easy.

Puppy training classes are excellent for giving you the groundwork to continue at home, and they also provide you with the perfect opportunity to socialize your dog in an understanding environment. Your puppy will get to meet other dogs and other people and you will be able to learn how he or she copes with the situation. Don?t believe that going to puppy classes once a week should be considered a fill training program for your dog though. You must continue with the training when you get home. Try to set aside some time every single day to carry on the training.

Petra Smider is the editor of <a href="http://www.mysuperdog.info">My Super Dog</a>. Get information on dog obedience training, potty training, and a lot more.

Bad Dog, Bad Dog, Whatcha Gonna Do? Part 1
Bad Dog, Bad Dog, Whatcha Gonna Do? Part 1 By Danny Presswood On a recent episode of America s Funniest Home Videos, (AFV) one of the top three submissions for the $10,000 prize was a video of the aftermath of destruction done to a home by the family s pet dog. This destructive dog had torn the door off an end table, ripped the frame completely off a doorway, destroyed a patio door screen and frame, shredded carpeting, broken glassware, and had literally eaten a three foot by four foot hole in the wall ” destroying sheetrock, insulation, and framing in the process. I was horrified and appalled as I watched the video and listened to the mixture of giggles and gasps from the viewing audience. It was as if the poor, unsuspecting family shrugged their shoulders and said Bad Dog, Bad Dog, Whatcha Gonna Do? The more appropriate question, however, is My dog, my dog, WHY do you do what you do? The answer to that question is not a simple one. Entire books have been written concerning bad dog behavior. And the truth is that every dog is different, and therefore, there is no pat answer for every situation. However, a basic understanding of Who dogs are, and How they behave will lead us to some appropriate suggestions on how to handle difficult and domineering dogs. You can find this article, along with Bad Dog, Bad Dog Part 2, in the Dog Articles Feature at K-9 Outfitters, A Division of Damascus Road Enterprises. But before we proceed, if you suffer from bad dog syndrome with your family pet, make sure there isn t an underlying medical condition. Take your dog to the vet, explain your problem, and ensure he/she is healthy, and doesn t suffer from dental, intestinal, digestion, parasitic, or other problems. Once you find that your dog is healthy, the following information should prove helpful. Dogs are, by nature, pack animals. Pack animal behavior is instinctive from before dogs were domesticated and lived in the wild. Every pack has a hierarchy, and every animal in the pack has duties, responsibilities, and expectations. Since your dog doesn t live in the wild, he/she assumes you, your family, and other household pets make up the pack. Many times, bad dog behavior is a result of confusion over Alpha Dog Status or “Alpha Dog Mentality.” You must establish that you are the Alpha dog in the pack. You must also establish that other family members, to include the children, all rank higher in the pack than your dog does. There are many ways to effectively put your dog in his proper pack ranking. Here are a few suggestions, or rules, for handling domineering dogs, and establishing pack rankings: 1. When you enter the house, make sure your dog enters last, even if you must put her on a leash. You ll find great leashes, harnesses, collars and leads at K-9 Oufitters, A Division of Damascus Road Enterprises. http://www.Damascus-Road-Enterprises.com 2. Alpha dogs want the run of the entire house. Make sure certain areas of the home are out of bounds for the dog. That may include certain bedrooms, the laundry room, bathrooms, or the den. This helps the dog know you are master of the house, not him. 3. Alpha dogs occupy high traffic areas, like hallways and entryways. Don t step over or go around the dog, nudge the dog and tell her to move out of your way, and make sure she does so. This lets her know who owns the space and who is in charge. 4. Don t allow your dog to DEMAND your attention. Dogs usually do this by climbing on your lap, or by nudging your hand or arm. Make the dog sit, lie down, etc., and then give lavish praise and attention. Remember, you control when you give your dog attention, affection, and praise. 5. Exercise control over your dog s possessions. Take away all her toys, then give her a command, and when she obeys, give her the toy as a treat. After she plays with it for awhile, take it away again. 6. When you come home, make your dog greet you first. Ignore him until he does. He must be submissive to you, not the other way around. 7. Establish dog eating times. In the pack, the Alpha dog always eats first, and then the other dogs eat. Make sure the family eats first, followed by the dog. If you must feed the dog first, pretend to eat something first, then feed your dog. Leave the dog s food out for 10-15 minutes, then take it up, whether the dog is finished or not. She will learn quickly to eat when fed. 8. Always stroke (pet) your dog around the head, neck, and shoulders. These are vulnerable areas for the dog, and shows that you are superior. Be careful not to stroke your dog around the chest, because this puts him in the dominating position and undermines your authority as alpha dog. 9. Don t allow your dog to sleep in your bed! I know that s a tough one for some folks, but believe me, it s best for all concerned. The best thing to do is provide the dog with her own cage, crate, or bed. Put it in your bedroom if that helps you, but do it. Dogs Kennel by nature. They like a safe, snug place they can call their own. You can find a wide variety of kennels, cages, crates, and beds at K-9 Outfitters, A Division of Damascus Road Enterprises. http://www.Damascus-Road-Enterprises.com Your dog is your pet. Ultimately, all he/she really wants is your love and affection (i.e. time together). Hopefully, these ideas and suggestions, along with a better understanding of who your dog is and the role he plays in the family relationship, will soon move you from saying Bad Dog, Bad Dog, Whatcha Gonna Do? to saying, Good Dog, Good Dog, Oh How I Love You! By the way, the Destructive Dog video did not win a prize on AFV, although I m sure the family could have used the money for repairs. Following our guidelines would prove a lot less expensive and would make for a much more harmonious family and pet relationship. You can find all the AWESOME products you need for training and spoiling your special dog at K-9 Outfitters, a Division of Damascus Road Enterprises. www.Damascus-Road-Enterprises.com.

Danny Presswood is a retired US Army Combat (Airborne) Chaplain. He and his wife Cheri live in the wooded Ozarks hills of SW MO, where he can be reached at BlessedByCalvary@aol.com or (417) 461-0800. Presently working on his Doctorate, Danny writes the Dog Articles Feature K-9 Outfitters, A Division of Damascus Road Enterprises http://www.Damascus-Road-Enterprises.com K-9 Outfitters offers a plethora of AWESOME discount, luxury, unique, and Handmade in the USA Online Dog Supplies.

Understanding - The Key in Dog Training Basics
The reason dog are so popular today than any other pets is that it has a higher intelligence compared to most other animals or pets. Throughout the history, dog has played many important role, be it in war, or work dog, companions, and now even work for the police. So, what makes dog more special than the other? It is their ability to communicate with human, they do have feelings and they show it. Yes, we all know, dog can’t talks like human, but then, we can’t talk like dogs either, could we?

As I said before, communication is the key when it comes to 2 individual or more when they want to work together. In this case, we human and your dog. To establish a good communication though, we have to understand what each other say and feel. “Understanding”, that my friend, be the key of dog training basics.

When it comes to barking or growling, dog does express their feeling through it. For example, when they come close to you and move around your front in a short distance, with eyes staring at you, they are trying to get your attention or simply “request”. The next steps is to identify what kind of attention they want, are they asking to play? or are they hungry? or did they found something suspicious? What you can do next is to look at the direction their eyes are pointing and follow them.

What might make them trying to get your attention is that they are bored. Imagine, if you are a dog, and you have a master who work outside everyday for around 8 hours a day, while leaving you at home with nothing to do, will you be bored? Of course you will. That is simply one thing that discontent your dog. Some of them even put dogs in a “jail” or as many human define it: “training crate”. Come on, do you put your friends in a jail? I’m not surprised that so many dog breeders complain that their dog bark continuously and trying to destroy their house without “reason”. Well, now you know the reason.

Another thing they might express is sad feeling. How to identify that, you might ask. Well, same as human then, dog express it with high toned voice, as if he is crying. Now when it comes to this, what you can do is to spend more time and give some hugs to your dog as if you’re accompanying your friend. You want somebody to share your feeling to, don’t you?

The other one which is not uncommon, is when a dog angry, hopefully it’s not your own dog. Usually dog will do a short and loud bark to warn. But when they growl slowly and they seems to “freeze”, they are preparing to bite you. Dog are intelligence type of animal, but… they are animal too, they have instinct. When you do something that displease them, they get angry at you. What one can do is, just stay if a dog warns you, and possibly stare back and then walk away slowly. Remember that when you run, you show fear, and that simply means you are asking him to play chase with you. And some type of dog are trained just for that!

So starting from now, spend more time with your dog, more quality time and avoid using crate like plague ’cause it can only make your dog look like an inmate and might be possibly harder to control or make your dog depressed. You will realize very soon that understanding is the key to dog training basics. Remember, understanding is the key when it comes to group. After all, dog is your friend, not just a pet.

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Keeping Budgerigars - One Of Each Sex
Keeping 2 budgies is always beneficial to the birds themselves, although it may make it harder for you to tame them. If you want to tame them and you have 2, then it’s best to have 2 males. If you really want to keep 2 birds then 2 males are the best option, as they will rarely bicker and fight, whereas 2 females will spend most of their time doing just that.

Pet Parrots
I have never been much of a bird person. I think either myself or one of my brothers or sisters probably owned a parakeet when I was younger. We definitely did not own a pet parrot. I know that one of my college buddies did own a pet parrot and and as I recall he was quite a character. I remember how intelligent that parrot was and I must say I was impressed how well my friend had trained his pet parrot. There was quite a commitment on the part of my friend, because the pet parrot required some care and my friend took his responsibility quite seriously.

Spring Cleaning Is For The Birds
Is your backyard ready to greet the spring birds? Our tips will help you attract bluebirds, hummingbirds, orioles, purple martins and other songbirds that may call your backyard home. We will help you bring nature to your yard!

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