Teaching Your Dog To Fetch

By: Garnett Johnston

One of the first fun activities many owners will try with their dogs is playing fetch. Usually, the owner will take their dog to an open area and throw a ball or soft toy expecting the dog to go collect it and bring it back . What usually happens is the dog will stand and look and you or it will go off after the object you just threw and either start chewing on it or the dog will carry on running. Other times the dog will come back without the object expecting you to throw another one.

The fetch command is a fairly easy one and can be quickly taught to puppies and young dogs but can take a little more time with older dogs. Different breeds of dogs will learn quicker and some breeds like labradors and retrievers may take little to no training at all.

For those dogs that have nt quite mastered the idea of fetch, there are a couple of different methods of teaching the fetch command.

The first method is know as the forced retrieve and involves throwing a toy or similar object and manually walking the dog to that point. When the dog picks the object up the owner should generously reward them. This procedure should be repeated a number of times. Say 5-10 times a day for a week. If you do it too often to begin with, the dog may become bored. Make sure the area where you carry out this training is free from other distractions so the dog can concentrate on what it is you are trying to teach them.

The second method involves using another handler and getting them to walk the dog out to collect the thrown object and then back to you before the dog is rewarded. In fact, you can start with the first method and then move on to the second method. Remember to reward the dog generously for a good retrieve when using this method also. Again, ensure there are no distractions for the dog.

Some tips on making this process as painless as possible are firstly not to throw the toy or object too far. This way the dog can see where the object has gone and knows they can get to it. Also, you should keep a particular toy just for the fetch training. If the dog is used to regularly playing with the toy, they may not realise you are trying to teach them something new. They may end up taking the toy off to play and forget about you.

In early training, avoid the use of sticks or hard objects until the dog is well trained. Sticks also look pretty similar and if the dog finds a choice of many to pick up they just might not bother.

Hopefully, after a few weeks your dog will be happy to go to the park with you and fetch frisbees, tennis balls or whatever object you have brought with you. It's also great exercise for both of you.

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Garnett Johnston runs and maintains a free information site for anyone seeking advice or tips on dog training. The site can be found by visiting www.dogtraininghut.com

How To Stop Your Dog Digging

By: Paul P. Duxbury

Dogs have a natural inclination to dig holes. It is instinctive behavior, but can be extremely destructive and inappropriate for dogs that spend a great deal of time in yards. A digging dog can ruin a great landscaping job, creating both great annoyance and expense for his owner. If your dog is a problem digger, there are three effective means by which to combat this frustrating behavior. These three guidelines, used in concert, will often eliminate digging behavior in dogs.

Address Your Dogs Comfort

First, it is important to realize one of the most common motivations for digging. Dogs often dig holes as a means of personal climate control. On hot days a dog may dig himself a cooling well. His newly dug hole will be a place for him to rest on a surface that is cooler than the rest of the ground.

If your dog's digging habits seem to be related to heat, it is easy to solve the problem simply by addressing his needs. By providing a cool, shaded location in the yard, your dog may no longer feel a need to dig. Many have found that the use of a kiddy pool or other larger tub containing some water may also be of use in this endeavor. By making the dog's surroundings cooler, you can easily eliminate his need to remove chunks of the yard to relax.

Likewise, dogs will sometimes dig to create a warm space during cold weather. By digging a small pit in which they can rest, the dog creates a space removed from brisk winds. Again, it is relatively easy to address the situation. Providing a warm space, such as a well-insulated doghouse can reduce the dog's need to dig holes throughout your lawn.

By tending to their comfort, one can reduce a prime motivator of digging behavior. Keeping a pet adequately cooled during the summer and sufficiently warm in the winter is one of the most simple, yet effective, means of eliminating digging.

Exercise Your Dog Adequately

Dogs will also dig when they are inadequately exercised or are overly confined. A dog with excess energy to burn may turn to digging as a means of release. A dog who feels confined in his yard and yearns to run free will be likewise attracted to the prospect of digging those annoying holes.

This cause for digging can be addressed simply by making sure your dog is adequately exercised. Regular walks, play opportunities and other exercise outlets will leave your dog better rested and less inclined to dig. The value of exercising a dog is immeasurable. It produces a happier, calmer dog who is more receptive to training and who is likely to be considerably more healthy than his under-exercised brethren. Thus, exercise should be pursued in all cases with all dogs. However, it brings with it the additional advantage of decreasing the level of interest the dog will show in digging.

Keep Your Dog Entertained

Digging can also be symptomatic of boredom. A dog with little to do may find the instinctive behavior of digging holes to be a great way to occupy his time. The bored dog is more likely to seek solace in the instinctive act of digging holes than is the appropriately engaged pet.

As such, one can combat digging simply by making sure the dog has sufficient alternative sources of entertainment. As previously mentioned, regular exercise and activity offers hope in reducing digging behavior. Additionally, the presence of attractive and entertaining toys can provide a dog with other ways to spend his time and can reduce the likelihood that he will dig holes.

Dogs who are simply left alone in a yard with little else to do are, not surprisingly, apt to invent their own diversions. As digging is an instinctive activity, it is often latched upon as something to do for an otherwise bored dog. By providing more attractive play activities, one can remove this frequent cause of destructive digging behavior.

There are certainly other reasons why dogs dig and there are certainly problem dogs whose digging behavior will not immediately cease simply by following the three rules covered here. However, most dogs will curtail their destructive digging if their climate is appropriately managed, they are adequately exercised and they are provided with alternative diversions.

Though instinctive, digging is not necessarily inevitable. By tending to needs of the dog, one can reduce instances of inappropriate digging.

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Paul Duxbury writes extensively on Pet Care. You can read more of his articles at Dog Care and Training and Pet Care Centre Download Your Free Dog Training Report

Dog Collar Training

By: Kallore Gandhi

The term collar training does not mean training the dog to wear a collar. What it does mean is the use of a collar to aid in the training of a dog. New dog owners usually have the experience of purchasing a leather or fabric buckle collar, snapping on a short leash, and then proceed to let the dog pull them around where ever dog wants to go. Corrections, if they are even attempted, consist of sharp pulls on the leash to physically yank the dog back into control.

The experienced trainer uses one of several different types of collars to both control and train a dog. One of the most popular is a trademark brand collar called the Gentle Leader. This collar buckles around the dog's neck with nylon cords that fit across his nose. The basic idea of the collar is that it uses the nose as a control and correction focus. Where the dog's nose goes, the rest of him is sure to follow. A similar training collar is called the Halti collar. It works much like the Gentle Leader, except it pulls the dogs head to one side. Animals, as a general rule do not like to go forward with their heads to one side or the other, so the tug of the head controls the dog.

The Prong collar looks like it belongs in the torture chamber of a medieval castle. When it is fitted around the dog's neck properly, the prongs will press against the dog's skin when he pulls against the chain. This is a very effective control collar for large dogs. Extremely hard jerks on the leash will cause the prongs to puncture the skin, and will be very painful for the animal. One of the better known types of training collars is the choke collar. The name describes the function fairly accurately. If the dog pulls against the leash, the collar tightens choking the animal until he stops pulling.

Another type of collar that can be used for training is the shock collar. This collar gives a controlled electrical shock to the animal; the level of the shock and when to administer it is determined by the trainer. A variation of this collar can be activated by the barking of the dog. When barking starts, it gives a warning beep, and if it continues, an electric shock follows.

All of these collars can potentially harm the animal if not used correctly. Collar training is best done by owners with some experience in the training of dogs and works best when a basic relationship is already established. It is better to use a reward system in conjunction with the training collars rather than focus solely on punishment. A good rule of thumb is to use the gentlest type of collar that accomplishes the training objective.

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