Sunday, October 28, 2007

How To Train Your Dog

By: William McRand
Start training your dog as soon as posible. It is never too soon to start training a puppy, however give your puppy as much freedom as possible until he is about 4 to 6 months of age. Always keep a lead and collar on your puppy in public places where there is danger. In many countries it is against the law to allow a dog to run free, so be careful if that applies to your country. Training your dog helps to teach them boundaries, thus making them more comfortable around people. Whether you train your dog yourself or find a professional, teaching your dog commands and socializing it is important. Areas to cover in training include: Some dog training tips:This first one is easy. You just start by saying "sit" every time the puppy sits itself. He learns to associate the word sit with the action. This is a tip you can use in all training. Sit down on the floor so you get to the same level as the dog. You are less threatening when you sit. More important is that you are close to the dog so you can reward him faster.Teaching a Puppy to Heel You will need to Walk at a steady pace with your puppy with a good fitting collar and lead. keep him on your left side, keep saying the command HEEL. every time you say HEEL, slap your thigh or the side of your leg. If your pup trys to pull away or gets distracted, just keep walking, he'll soon get the message and follow along. If you don't stop, he'll have to follow. As he follows you after a distraction, pat him a little saying good dog or good boy or girl. Teaching a Puppy to Sit It's time to teach your dog to sit. while walking your pup stop and transfer the lead to your right side. Pull up on the collar and press down on his back end with your left hand. He will have no choice but to sit. While lifting with the collar takes weight off his front legs the motion causes the pup to want to sit, especially with your hand pressing him down. While telling him to sit as you press down. Repeat this several times, praising him each time he sits. Now walk further along and repeat this exercise several more times in a 10 minute walk. Leash walkingLeash walking at a steady pace, you can start this training as soon as you get your new dog. This is important, especially to build up a tolerance to stay in a kennel environment for several hours. There are many benefits to having a well trained dog. But it doesn't necessarily mean the dog will not develop behavioral problems down the road, like separation anxiety. Simply put a well trained dog is a joy to be around and strengthens the human-animal bond.
Article Source: http://www.articlemanual.com
Author: William McRand: Full time internet marketer Main interst in dogs and other pets www.kingdomofpets.com/doghousetraining/?aff=douglas4

Dog Training Electronic Fences - Benefits And Disadvantages

By: Moses Wright
Consider carefully the advantages and disadvantages of electric fences before purchasing one. You should note that electric fences, or E-fences as they are commonly called, are wired with transmitters that are earthed and running through the ground. These wires will emit a noise, shock or an unpleasant smell. The odors are triggered via a special collar on your dog, to discourage the dog from going too near to the fences. Signals are transmitted to the collar should the dog venture too close and the deterrents are activated.Due to certain rules and specifications by the Home Association rules in certain precincts, standard fences may not be allowed and the e-fence could be an alternative. An e-fence provides a solution for owners who have no front yards or backyards and cannot erect a standard fence, yet desire to own a dog.There are disadvantages that require one to think through.For the e-fence to be effective, dogs need to be trained well and the e-fence should not be a stand-in for behavioral training. Dogs need to be taught to associate the deterrent with boundary limits. If this is not done, the e-fence will be rendered useless.Bear in mind that as with all electrical equipment, it is not guaranteed to work all the time. They can be short circuited by electrical spike or lightning strikes, however these are not frequent occurrences, however disturbances like digging around the periphery can result in issues as well. When an e-fence is first installed, flags are used to mark the boundary, but are usually removed once the dog is trained. If they are left as they are, they can be shifted or moved by children or by machinery such as lawnmowers as well as a multitude of other factors. There is a chance that they could cut or wound when they are extracted.Should your dog persist despite the discouragement received from the collar, it will learn that there is no actual boundary and will be less willing to stay within the specified periphery.Electric jolts are seen by detractors to be a form of abuse and an adverse method of gaining the desired response from your pet.Your decision regarding an e-fence needs to be evaluated according to your situation. If kept entirely indoors except for when leashed, a dogs' need to run is denied, resulting in an unhappy and maladjusted pet. This situation can be resolved with access to a dog park, however, not may are lucky enough to have a dog pak in their vicinity, so it could remain an issue.A standard height fence might seem to be the solution, but large dogs are often able to leap over these, and this can cause punctures and scrapes from chain link and wooden fence tops. Though the wound may be minor, a dogs' tendency to bite or scratch at them can make the injury worse, meaning a trip to the vet is required. An e-fence could be a more prudent choice, depending on the situation.Every circumstance and situation is different, based on living conditions, type and character of dog and training techniques, so there is no overall effective method that can be implemented by every dog owner. Rather, do consider carefully the needs of different circumstances after acquiring adequate knowledge in order to make the best decision possible.If you decide an e-fence is the best solution for your situation, you need to be ready to disable the fence if it turns out that instead of benefiting your dog, it is doing more damage.
Article Source: http://www.articlemanual.com
Moses Wright loves to help dog owners with their pet dog problems whenever he is free. You can find free pet dog training problems, solutions and resources on his site.

Train Your Dog To Stop Chewing on the Wrong Things

Most dogs go through a phase where they will chew on anything that will fit in their mouth. There are also dogs that don't even grow out of the chewing phase. There are even some breeds that have a tendency to chew more than other breeds.
It may be cute at first when your puppy begins to chew on your shoes or socks but can be very dangerous. If your dog gets into something poisonous or swallows an object it could lead to death.
Puppies typically will chew more than an older dog and will chew on pretty much anything. It is much easier to teach dogs not to chew at younger ages than it is an older dog. Use this to your advantage.
The first thing to do when training your dog not to chew is to put the items he likes to chew out of reach. It is important to keep these away from your dog at all times. The less exposure the dog has with the items, the less likely he is to chew on them at later times.
When you get everything out of your dog's reach give him something that you don't mind him chewing on. This can be a chew toy, rawhide bones, or rubber bones. Buy one of each and see which one your dog prefers. It may take a while before you dog will stop wanting to chew on other things such as your shoes but be patient.
After your dog has something good to chew on is when you want to start training him. If you catch your dog chewing on something it isn't supposed to you need to let them know that what they are doing is wrong. You can tell your dog this by speaking in a sharp tone and giving him a gentle tap on his head.
Remember to be persistent, dogs are not stupid, if they know they can get away with something they will keep doing it. You should also refrain from yelling at your dog or hitting him at all times, no matter how frustrated you get. When you yell at or hit a dog it only prolongs the dog's learning.
You can even practice with your dog by putting him on a leash and putting an object in front of him. When the dog gets the urge and moves too close to the object give the leash a small jerk. This will teach the dog that you do not want him to chew on the object.
When you are training the dog with a leash make sure to stand off to the side. You do not want to be standing directly behind the dog when you jerk the leash, it could cause damage to their throat. Remember, leash training is not to hurt or punish the dog; it is to simply tell the dog that his actions were wrong.
Training your dog will take a lot of time and persistence. Do not give up, if you do your dog will never learn. Remember to be patient, your dog will not stop chewing over night, it may take weeks or even months.
To read more articles about how to train your dog and lots of other pet and animal information visit http://www.animalpetsandfriends.com. If you are having obedience problems with your dog visit Dog Obedience Training for more great resources to help you train your dog.
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