keeping your dog motivated

By B. Keith Johnson
The following article lists some simple, informative tips that will help you have a better experience with dog training.

Keeping the attention of a dog while training is not always easy. Dogs can be easily distracted, and it is important to not allow the training sessions to be sabotaged by boredom. Making training fun for the dog and the human alike is vital to creating a happy, well adjusted and well trained dog.

Providing random positive stimuli during the day is a great way to keep the interest of the dog. Doing things the dog enjoys, like walking in the park, riding in the car, and playing with other dogs, is a great way to keep the dog’s attention and reward him for small successes.

For instance, in order to reward the dog for coming to you, for instance, ask the dog to come to you, without giving any clues about a walk, a car ride, or other treats. After the dog has come to you and obediently sat down, attach the leash and start the reward. This can be either the aforementioned walk in the park, ride in the car, or anything else the dog likes to do.

Providing some kind of reward, whether a treat, a special outing, or just a scratch behind the ears, every time the dog does something you want, is a great way to keep your dog motivated. If the dog knows something great is going to happen every time he obeys your command, he will be motivated to please you every time.

Distraction training
When training any dog, it is important to not let distractions disrupt the training. The dog must be taught to ignore distractions, such as other people, other dogs, other animals and loud noises, and focus on what is being taught These types of distractions can even be used as rewards when training the dog to come when called.

For instance, if your dog enjoys playing with other dogs, whether in a local dog park or with the neighbor’s dogs, let him play freely with those other dogs. Then go into the park or yard and call your dog. When he comes to you, provide lots of praise, treats and other rewards, then immediately allow the dog to go back to playing with his friends. Repeat this several times and praise the dog each time he comes to you. The dog will quickly learn that coming to you means good things (treats and praise) and not bad ones (being taken away from the park).

If the dog does not master this particular type of training right away, try not to get discouraged. So called distraction training is one of the most difficult things to teach. Dogs are naturally social animals, and breaking away from the pack is one of the most difficult things you can ask your dog to do. Most dogs will be understandably reluctant to leave their canine companions, but it is important to persist.

Training the dog to come to you may require some creativity on your part at first. For instance, waving a favorite toy, or a lure, is a great way to get your dog’s attention and put the focus back on you. If your dog has been clicker trained, a quick click can be a good motivator as well.

Once the dog begins to get the hang of coming when called, you can begin to reduce and eliminate the visual cues and focus on getting the dog to respond to your voice alone. It is important that the dog respond to voice commands alone, since you will not always have the availability of a toy or other lure.

Tip: The goal of training your dog is to build a bond between you. A well trained dog is a much happier dog. Attend the dog training so you can watch how your instructor teaches your dog. You will want to follow their program as closely as possible so you don't confuse the dog. Make sure you stick to the training; you paid for it so you might as well get your money's worth. Make sure your dog is having fun. They will enjoy the training much more.


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Find out more on how to stop your dog from chewing and
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Adopting a Dog – Pointers on Choosing Your Shelter Dog

By Rena Murray
Encouragement is all over the place for adopting a dog, especially a rescued dog who needs a second chance. I am the proud owner of a rescued dog, and it warms my heart to see how wonderfully he has filled out, his shiny coat, and most of all, his obedient, loving, loyal personality.

Still, that took much time, skill, and effort. I have had the opposite experience myself two other shelter dogs, and seen too many mistakes to play Holly-go-lightly. This is a very serious undertaking, and not to be engaged by the unknowing.

The problem is that many shelter dogs offered for adoption have serious psychological or other bad dog behavior problems, and even medical problems, which the frequently scanty screening methods did not detect or report. The reality is that a lot of those dogs were abandoned because the owners could not handle them. Most people who bring these dogs into their homes have little to no knowledge of dog body language and the silent symptoms of trouble that should be discerned in the first encounter.

Many of these shelter dogs have been abandoned for one reason or another. Some were neglected, some unwanted, some were pups of accident litters … Others were abused in horrific ways and are still emotionally scarred even though their physical bodies are healed. You need to ascertain the emotional scars to know what you are getting into.

Well-intentioned people often say: "Oh, I will pick the black one over there," then sign the papers and take him straight home. It was all because of the way he looked, be it sad, needy, pleading, sweet, eager, playful, whatever. They did not see the symptoms behind that look.

A few days later, the black dog is back at the shelter because the adopter could not handle his problems. Sometimes, people keep the rescued dogs with these severe issues because they feel the animal has been through enough trauma already. "Maybe love will change him over time…"

To avoid the heartache of having to return a dog and/or the stress of several years spent dealing with a rescued dog's bad dog behavior, do your homework. Study the key signs in dog body language that reveal dog dominance, dog aggression, obsessive dog behavior, dog chewing, and other unwanted dog behaviors.

If you want a quiet dog, do not choose the one who is about to leap through the cage to say "hi" to you. Pick the one who sniffs you slightly and stands or sits with her ears slightly back. Wiggling is fine, too. A sweet little wiggle is just too cute!

Before you adopt a dog, insist on taking the one you are considering on a walk. Make sure you can see firsthand how this dog is going to handle everyday situations. Be sure the walk is proper. The dog needs to see you as a leader right away. Walk her behind you for at least 20 to 30 minutes. Be sure she is well exercised before you bring her home.

If the shelter staff protests, stand your ground and invite one of the employees to come with you. You have a right to see how the shelter dog responds to all types of situations and how the dog will surrender to your individual touch prior to commitment. If you cannot see the dog's behavior in the outside world, don't take it!

So adopt a rescued dog if you like. But if you are set on a certain breed or color, wait until you are absolutely sure this dog is the right one. Don't cave in to appearances. You want to avoid the heartache of bad dog behavior or dog psychological problems you are not equipped to handle. If you do not know how to read the subtle signals of dog body language, take a professional with you to evaluate the dog. A shelter dog can be a wonderful pet, just as my obedient Gatsby, but it all starts with choosing wisely.

About the author:
Dog Obedience Trainer - Dog Behaviorist, Rena Murray, dares to tell it like it is! Growing up with the Horse Whisper, avid wolf pack studies, Pit Bull and other dog training, Rena solves "impossible" situations, e.g., teaching an old dog new tricks, solving dog dominance and dog destructive behavior, even stopping a Doberman attack in mid-launch! Available for Consultations, Rena blends the best of the Dog Whisper and other techniques to each specific situation and will bring fresh insight to yours. See Rena's Expert Articles and subscribe to her FREE Ezine at http://www.PawPersuasion.com and comment on Rena's BLOG - http://www.pawpersuasion.com/blog/

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How To House Train Your Dog Effectively

By Jonathan Cheong
House training is one of the most important parts of training any dog to be a valued part of the family. As with many other aspects of dog training, the best way to house train a dog is to use the dog’s own nature to your benefit.



The great thing about dogs, and the thing that can make house training much easier, is that dogs are instinctively very clean animals. Dogs would rather not soil the areas where they sleep and eat. In addition, dogs are very good at developing habits regarding where they like to urinate and defecate.



For example, dogs that are used to eliminating on concrete or gravel will prefer to eliminate there rather than on grass or dirt. It is possible to use these natural canine habits when house training your dog.



Setting up the training area

The first step in house training your dog is to set up your training area. A small, confined space such as a bathroom, or part of a kitchen or garage, works best as a training area. This method of training differs from crate training. Crate training is great for puppies and small dogs, but many larger dogs find a crate too confining.



It is important for the owner to spend as much time in the training area with his or her dog as possible. It is important for the owner to play with the dog in the training area, and to let the dog eat and sleep in that area. The dog should be provided with a special bed in the training area, anything from a store bought bed to a large towel to a large box. At first, the dog may eliminate in this area, but once the dog has recognized it as his or her own space, he or she will be reluctant to soil it.



After the dog has gotten used to sleeping in the bed, the owner can move it around the house, relocating it from room to room. When you are not with your dog, the dog should be confined to the training area.



Setting up the toilet area

The second part of house training is to set up the toilet area for the dog. It is important for the dog to have access to this place every time he or she needs to eliminate. It is also important for the owner to accompany the dog each time until he or she gets into the habit of eliminating in the toilet area. This will ensure that the dog uses only the established toilet area.



A set feeding schedule makes the house training process a lot easier for both the owner and the dog. Feeding the dog on a regular basis will also create a regular schedule for the dog’s toilet habits. Once you know when your dog is likely to need to eliminate, it will be simple to guide the dog to the established toilet area.



Once the dog has established a toilet area and is using it on a regular basis, it is very important to not confine the dog without access to the toilet area for long periods of time. That is because if the dog is unable to hold it, he or she may be forced to eliminate in the training area. This habit can make house training much more difficult.



Continuing the house training process

After the dog is consistently eliminating in the toilet area and not soiling the training area, it is time to extend that training area to the rest of the home. This process should be done slowly, starting with one room and slowly expanding to the rest of the house. The area should only be extended once you are sure of the dog’s ability to control its bladder and bowels.



When you first expand the training area to a single room, let the dog eat, play and sleep in that room, but only when supervised. When it is not possible to supervise the dog, place it back in the original training area. Then, after the dog has accepted the room as an extension of the original training area, the area can be extended.



Speeding up the process

If this process is too lengthy for your needs, it can be speeded up, but it is important to proceed cautiously. It is easier to take your time up front than to retrain a problem dog later. One way to successfully speed up house training is to praise and reward the dog each and every time it uses the established toilet area. It is also important not to punish the dog for mistakes. Punishment will only confuse the dog and slow down the house training process.


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Dog training videos

By Linda A
Dog training videos

Dog Training
is the oldest and probably the most common solution to bridge the understanding gap between people and dogs as their best friends. There are plenty of solutions to help dog owners train their animals, and one of the most popular is the dog training video. Sold online or in special pet stores, dog training videos provide comprehensive techniques and tricks that can turn the most disobedient of animals into an obedience example. People often prefer dog training videos to individual trainers for a variety of reasons.

First of all, there is the money issue; dog training videos are a lot cheaper than special training classes. Furthermore, many dog owners want to be actively involved in the training process; thus, with the help of a dog training video they can exploit the two sides of the experience: the fun part and the practical one. When you?e got a puppy, it is all the more rewarding for you to be the one to train it how to target focus or fetch and retrieve. Dog training videos come with very professional solutions that can be put to practice by people who don? have a clue on the subject.

The lessons presented by dog training videos are gradual and take you step by step to achieve the behavior patterns you want for your pet. It is a good idea that you watch every training stage on the dog training video, several times. Then you have to put into practice with your dog. Of course results appear in time, but make sure you are persistent in exercises; skills must be used, otherwise they?e wasted. Some other member of the family may get involved too, watch the dog training video together and exchange opinions. However, only one trainer should work with the dog at a time, in order not to create confusion.

Keep in mind that all the tips presented on a dog training video need to be integrated in the special context of your house. Avoid giving your pet conflicting orders and don? use too complex linguistic structure. As you?l learn from any dog training video, short words like ?it?or ?own?are most effective, not to mention that the dog is receptive first and foremost to the voice pitch. Therefore, you don? need a dog training video to tell you that animals are susceptible to raised voice for instance and they become defensive. Good luck!

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Linda A owns and operates Dog Training


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Dog Health Insurance Plans – Getting the Best Health Insurance for ...

By Michael Lee
A few decades ago, dogs could fend for themselves when it came to their health, helped along by the occasional trips to the veterinarian. These days, however, it’s unthinkable for an owner to not get involved in every aspect of his dog’s well-being. That’s why dog health insurance plans are increasingly becoming available. Pet dogs are treated just like members of the family, so it’s understandable that any dog owner wants to protect them and be sure that their needs will be taken cared of. Dog health insurance not only helps make sure that your pet can get the best available care, but it also keeps your finances intact and provides you with a ready means to fund your dog’s medical expenses.

Veterinarian fees and medical costs are on the rise, and having a reliable dog health insurance plan is one way for you to be able to cope. Not only will you be able to have money set aside for your dog’s medical emergencies, but this also means your dog can promptly receive medical attention when needed.

Getting a dog health insurance plan is much like getting your own health plans. It also comes with premiums, exemptions, and various coverage plans. Some plans are based on the dog’s breed and size, and others may cover pre-existing conditions as well as annual checkups, so you have to check each plan’s details thoroughly. Most dog health insurance policies usually start when the dog is already six to eight weeks old.

If you don’t know where to look for dog health insurance, you can ask your vet. He or she might turn out to be a provider for a dog health insurance plan and may be able to help you make your decision. You can even turn to the Internet. Simply do a search for “dog health insurance plan” and you’ll immediately see numerous results from insurance providers focusing specifically on pets. Once you’ve narrowed down your selection, you can contact the companies one by one and request a free quote. Be sure to ask the important questions, such as what each plan covers, if they require physical exams, any exclusions, and their maximum payout.

Finding the right dog health insurance plan is definitely something that you shouldn’t take lightly. You’re going to want the best possible plan for your pet, so make sure that every possible illness or incident is covered. After all, your dog deserves nothing but the best care from you.

About the author:
Prolong your dog's life and know the life-saving secrets that most dog-lovers will never know about detecting bad dog food and solving dog health problems at http://www.20daypersuasion.com/dogs-exposed.htm

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