Friday, January 7, 2011

From Simple Dogs to Guard Dogs - How Guard Dog Training is Done?


Guard dogs, as the name implies are canines that guard and protect a person, objects or properties. Their being a guard dog can be by instinct or through training; they can be protective to companions but they are not intended to be companions. These dogs are also trained not to obey commands from strangers but only to his master.

Guard dog training is not as easy as teaching or training your dog simple obedience commands. It is a very complicated matter and you may want to enroll your dog in a dog training school where the professionals handle the training.

Before your dog can be accepted in the program they will be properly evaluated whether they have the potential to be guard dogs or not based on the temperament of the dog. It will dictate whether the dog is suitable to be a guard dog or not.

Once accepted, the dog training school may require that your dog reside at the training facility for the duration of the guard dog training program. Taking the dog home everyday after the training can hinder the intensive training process.

The dogs will be trained first in basic obedience. Though you have considered your dog to be obedient when he executes a given command on the second or third time, still it is not considered successful because guard dogs should obey immediately each and every command that you give. So, even if your dog has undergone basic obedience training or you already trained your dog for basic obedience it will still be reviewed by the trainer to ensure that the dog can respond appropriately to all the commands given to him.

The duties of a guard dog will be taught to the dogs under training. They are trained not to accept treats from anyone or obey commands from anyone except for their owner or handler. This training will be ineffective if the dog obeys even a simple command given by a stranger such as sit and stay or if the dog accepts treats from a stranger.

The dog will be trained under the guard dog training depending on your specific needs. If you want to be alerted for a trespassing in your property your dog will be trained to bark and then return to you to alert you for the presence of strangers in your property. Until the owner acknowledges and understands the dog the process may be repeated several times. The dog will not stop unless he thinks he has completed his job successfully.

Guard dogs that are trained to protect the owner are trained to attack the intruder when a legitimate threat is present or on the owner's command. Guard dogs that have undergone this training, for this reason, should not be left unattended with visitors as they may attack when they sense a threatening motion or action coming from the visitors.

Dogs are also desensitized to loud noises to ensure that the dog will not be dissuaded by gestures or noises used by the intruder to prevent the dog from attacking him.

Finally, trainers also teach guard dogs respect to interact harmoniously with the other members of the family as well as other family pets.








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Thursday, January 6, 2011

Training Your Dog To Sit

Training your dog to sit on command is a good place for you and your dog to start your obedience training. It's a nice easy command which your puppy or dog will master very quickly. This will increase your dogs confidence and provide a foundation on which to build more advanced skills and commands.


Another benefit of training your dog to sit is that it gives you a good alternate behavior to request of your dog. If your lovely dog likes to greet visitors to your home by jumping up all over them, or charges out the front door every time it opens, you can gain control of him by applying your "sit" command.


YOu can start with this obedience command as soon as you bring your new puppy home, or any time after that. Before you start training your dog to sit (or any other obedience command) ensure that your dog is confident and comfortable around you - lets you touch him, gives you his attention etc.


General Rules To Remember When Training Your Puppy To Sit


Keep your training sessions short, ten minutes is plenty to begin with. Any time is a good time to practice really, you don't have to structure all your lessons. Incorporate the training into your daily routine. Get your dog to sit before you feed him or make him sit before you throw his ball at the park. When applied in this manner obedience training will be fun in your dogs mind, and rewarding. Make it perfectly clear to your dog what you are asking of him - what you want him to do. Make training your dog to sit fun, don't make it feel like a chore, for you or your dog. Training sessions should be full of consistent repetition, praise and positive reinforcement. Don't expect your dog to immediately learn this, or any other obedience command and then never forget it. It's up to you to reinforce the meaning of your command through repetition and consistency throughout your dogs life. Gradually faze out the food rewards you may use in the learning period of a new command. Giving a food treat or reward every now and then doesn't hurt your dog though, even if he respects your commands without one. When training your dog to sit for the first time, make it easy for him/her to succeed. Start your training sessions in a familiar environment to your dog, free from other distractions. Master the command in this setting, then slowly make it harder for your dog. Add other variables, throw a challenge out to your dog such as taking the training session to the park or increase the duration of the sit.
Training Your Dog To Sit - My Favorite Techniques


I have three techniques I like to use when teaching my puppies or dogs to sit. I've had a 100% success rate with these techniques and I'm sure you will too. Pick out the one that best suits you and your dog, and you'll be well on your way to having a well trained dog.


Technique 1


This first training technique is great for young puppies. When you are with your pup and you see him about to sit or in the act of sitting, say "sit" in a clear and firm tone. As soon as your dog's rear end hits the floor, give him praise and maybe a bit of a scratch behind the ear. In your dogs mind you are building an association between your verbal "sit" command and the act of him sitting. Most puppies make this connection very quickly. Before long you will be able to say "sit" at any time, and your puppy will understand what you are asking of him. Remember to always reward and praise your pup as soon as his behind hits the floor. Your pup will love it, he'll be thinking "all I have to do is sit down and I get attention, treats and praise."


Technique 2 - Off Leash


For older puppies and dogs this training technique works every time. With your dog standing right in front of you, grab a small tasty treat in your hand. Guide the treat from his nose level up over his head, the treat should be a few centimeters away from your dog at all times. Your inquisitive dog will follow the treat up with his nose and at the same time his rear end will hit the ground. As soon as his behind hits the ground give him the treat and lavish him with praise. If your dog backs away or jumps up at the treat you are taking your hand too far back over his head, or holding it too far away from his nose. Repeat this step until your dog gets it, then you can introduce the verbal part of the command. Just before you begin to move your hand (the one with the treat in it) say "sit". Your dog will soon respond to your verbal "sit" command without you even moving your hand. Remember to practice/reinforce this command at any time throughout the day, in any situation.


Technique 3 - On Leash


If your dog doesn't respond to the methods outlined above, or if you prefer to use a collar and leash in your training, this technique will do the trick. Stand next to your dog, both of you facing the same way. Hold the leash straight up, directly above the collar. At the same time gently press down on your dogs back (down near his hips) and say "sit". As soon as your dog is in the sitting position, reward and praise him. Within no time you won't need to press down on your dogs back or even hold the leash up. He will understand that your "sit" command means that you require him to plant his backside on the ground. And he'll be happy to do it for you because he knows that he receives praise and attention when he does.


I hope these techniques prove successful for you and your dog, I'm confident they will. It's a good idea if you live with other people to teach these commands to them as well. They can then apply the exact same commands to your dog - your dog will appreciate this consistency.


Chris Smith is a dedicated dog owner and creator of http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com
Discover how to train your dog at home - the right way.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Airline Approved Dog Carriers – Taking Care Of Your Pet’s Travels

Airlines have strict policies on how they will carry dogs and other pets to both ensure the welfare of the animal as well as making sure airline staff and ground crew are safe. They therefore have rules in place specifying what types of dog carriers pets can travel in varying in size and type depending on your pet’s breed. It is therefore essential for your pet to travel in one of the various airline approved dog carriers on the market.

Before travelling you should check with the airline in question to find out what their current rules allow. They may limit the type, construction or size of your dog carrier so it is better to find out in advance than be refused travel on the day – both you and your dog will be stressed enough by the experience of putting him on a plane and the more planning that goes into the operation the better you’ll both be.

Although airline travel is quite distressing for animals, to ensure your dog travels as comfortably and as safely as possible, regulations stipulate that he or she travels in a carrier that is large enough to lie down in, as well as allowing your pet to turn around and stand comfortably.

Your dog carrier will need to be marked with your name, address and phone number; you’ll also need to include the same details for the destination and indicate clearly on the box that it contains an animal and handled with care..

In addition to this, dog carriers manufactured after October 2000 should feature a welded or cast metal door sufficient to withstand the animal distorting it in any way through biting or any other means. Also, the door hinges and locking pins should extend by 15mm beyond the hinge extrusions to ensure the door remains in place during transit.

Most airlines will deliver your dog to an animal holding facility in the airline terminal where you will be reunited with your pet. From there you’ll be able to collect your dog and complete the remainder of the journey to the final destination.


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Tuesday, January 4, 2011

First Steps in Training Your Dog or Puppy


Owning a dog can be great fun but with it comes also great responsibility both for the well being of the dog and yourself and your home. As well as the tips here we also suggest a great tool to speed up the process of effective training in the shape of the dog training videos which you can find details of at the end of the article. There are many training articles that you can find on the Internet but nothing beats visual examples which is why we feel these dog training videos will prove to be of great help.

Making sure your dog is properly trained ensures that you have a good relationship with your dog and the purpose of the dog training videos recommended will ensure that you can easily train your dog whether it is a puppy or an adult. Using the aid of the dog training videos will give you an head start in doing just that. Bear in mind that letting bad habits develop early is certainly something that you should curb at the beginning so it is better that you do this as soon as possible. This is not as difficult as you imagine and the dog training videos will make this task not only easy but also great fun.

As soon as you get your puppy or dog, you should make sure that it knows his or her place. Letting them roam wherever they want in the house is one bad habit you need to nip at the bud. To begin with choose a confined area where you are comfortable to have your dog roam as it pleases and put there the bedding, toys and bowls where it can drink and eat from. Make sure that the eating and drinking bowls are not always filled up as dogs will eat and drink all the time if you let them. That would mean them needing to go to the toilet quite often than you would like them to. At the same time ensure that they get plenty of exercise as well as making sure that your dog becomes properly potty trained. The dog training videos suggested give clear advice on how to do this.

As soon as you have clearly defined where your dog's living area should be, you must try and spend as much time there with your dog. Spending time with your dog can really be fun and the dog training videos we suggest will ensure that you will have fun doing this. As you also are keeping their toys in this designated area, you should also play any games there with your dog. You should always feed the dog in this area which is also their sleeping area. If you struggle to find ways to play with your dog the dog training videos we suggest also has some neat tricks you can easily teach your dog that you can incorporate in your game. These are tricks that also teaches them obedience and which are easy to learn.

These steps will ensure that your dog gets used to where their sleeping area is located within the house. If you want to introduce the dog to other parts of the house you can move the bedding to these parts. The idea is that the dog is always confined to his bed or crate. If your dog sleeps in a crate, the dog training videos cover crate training in an easy way to follow which will effectively train your dog for life. Crate training seems to be the subject of many training sites on the internet so if this is something that you are looking for then make sure you check out the dog training videos.

There are obviously far more steps that will ensure that your dog is well trained. For example leash training is something of a problem for some people. Again the the dog training videos cover this aspect. If your dog need taught proper manners the dog training videos will also help you a lot. If other aspect of obedience are a problem again the dog training videos are have also this covered. The best reason why we recommend these dog training videos is that they are simple to emulate and you can access them immediately on your computer.








James Ross is the owner of http://buypages.info/Dog-Training.html, which specializes in providing useful dog training information and resources for dog owners the world over! Go here for more details: http://buypages.info/Dog-Training.html


Monday, January 3, 2011

Training Your Dog the Correct Way

Whether your dog is just a puppy or well into adulthood, there are many things you, as a pet owner, need to be aware of. Training your dog is an important step in starting off on the right foot and teaching him obedience. All dogs - no matter how old - need some form of training so that they can be easily handled in all situations. A wise investment in your new best friend would be basic training or obedience classes that will help you to build a bond and learn to control your dog. TV shows, books, and articles abound on dog training, but tips that are truly effective are harder to come by if you don't do the necessary research.


There are many reasons for training your dog. Training allows the dog to understand your expectations, helps him become calmer and more relaxed in all situations, in new places, and with new people, provides him with much-needed structure, makes him easier to manage, and perhaps most importantly, helps keep him out of the shelter. Unfortunately, the biggest reason that dogs are in or are returned to shelters is due to their lack of training and out-of-control behavior.


Dog Training Tips: The Necessary Commands


Because dogs thrive in packs and are naturally social, once they come to your home, they expect you to be the leader. Training your dog appropriately with a few highly effective dog training tips teaches him to follow you, understand your necessary commands, and learn to accept his place in your "pack." To avoid problems later in life, it's recommended that you enroll your pet in obedience and/or training classes early on, or at the very least, begin training your dog yourself, rewarding him each time he learns a new command. The following dog training tips are some of the more vital guidelines in ensuring your pet will be a well-behaved, functioning member of your family. If you have the patience and the time, here are some ways to begin training your dog at home:


Always enforce your commands - don't let your dog ignore a command, but most certainly reward him when he does follow it. If your dog does not follow it immediately, help him perform the command, then reward. Above all, however, do not call your dog to you and do anything negative to him when he comes. If he disobeys and you react with anger, your dog will learn to fear you and may not listen to you in the future. Attempting to integrate any other dog training tips after that may be futile. Reward your dog immediately when he listens. Positive encouragement in the form of treats or praise is always welcome and helps the dog learn that he is doing well at responding to what you say. During training, have treats in hand and deliver them quickly when the dog performs correctly. Don't punish your dog or 'rub his nose in it' should he have an accident. When training your dog, these tips will help you avoid discouraging or even confusing your pet. Master one command at a time - go slowly and over time, your dog will learn the command. Don't overload multiple commands into one training session as this approach will likely result in failure. Most experts recommend 5-10 minutes at the most for one session. You'll need to be patient during the process of training your dog; chances are that your dog won't respond to every command or even learn them in just a few weeks - it will take time. "Sit," "Come," "Stay," and "Lie Down" - these are perhaps the four most important commands your dog needs to know, and all helpful dog training tips from books or your vet should cover these comprehensively. Once your dog masters them successfully, you will be able to manage him in all situations and control his behavior around other people and animals. For dogs that may like to run free, "come" is a necessary command should he manage to wriggle out of his collar and/or leash. Maintain solidarity with training - in family situations, make sure that everyone follows the rules with training your dog. If you're the only one using commands and the rest of the family is ignoring certain behaviors that the dog exhibits and not re-enforcing the dog training tips you've been using thus far, then your one-on-one training sessions will largely be forgotten. Re-enforce commands each day as repetition is key. Keep it fun - this is a time to grow and bond with your pet; make training your dog fun for both of you. Once he masters the basics of these dog training tips, move on to the fun tricks, like "roll over," "shake," and "play dead." Your dog will begin to look to you because you'll have made your role clear.



Assume the Role: You are the Pack Leader


It is your responsibility to be aware and responsible for your pet - your dog relies on you to take care of him at all times. Providing him with a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and one-on-one training will ensure that he has a long, healthy, and happy life with you. Don't leave his behavior up to chance - you can ensure that your new best friend is obedient and happy just by integrating some of these simple dog training tips into his routine. Assume control as leader of your pack and your dog will look to you in all situations that may arise.


You are the best person when it comes to training your dog - he trusts you, after all. More importantly, training your dog will keep him safe and protected, which is something all dog owners should want.


Mailey E. McLaughlin, M.Ed, is the Training and Behavior Coordinator at the Atlanta Humane Society. A Certified Dog Trainer, Mailey has been training professionally for over eight years. She teaches all the AHS dog obedience classes, which include Basic and Intermediate levels, and runs the free pet behavior hotline. She also does one-on-one training for owners and dogs and works with the shelter volunteers to instill manners in the dogs awaiting adoption. She is a member of numerous canine professional organizations, including the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) and the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT). Mailey also teaches Pet First Aid and CPR courses. To learn more about the AHS or to donate to animals, please visit http://www.atlantahumane.org

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Border Collie: Potty Training Fundamentals

A new border collie brings joy and excitement to all the family.  This breed is literally capable of performing tasks that may make life less troublesome.  And besides, knowing that there is somebody at home waiting for your return will paint a grin on your face even in your darkest days.

However, this joy and excitement often wears off quickly and the grins are turned into screams of frustration when this new baby is turning into a little monster and begins to use the house as his lavatory.  So, it is always advised to toilet train a border collie as soon as possible.

To make potty training simple and easier, you need to appreciate first the character of puppies.  Just like human babies, puppies have miniscule bladders and bowels.  This makes it harder for them to manipulate their need to eliminate.  The neatest thing a Border collie owner should do is to manage his pet closely.

Watch for indications that Fido is about to do his business.  These signs include turning in circles, sniffing the floor, pacing, whimpering or looking at you.  When your puppy exhibits any of these signs, take him to the right spot and let him do his thing.

Also, take him outside after waking up in the morning, after drinking and eating, after exercise and before heading off to bed.  Praise and reward your dog each time he does his thing outside.  By doing so, you are helping your pet develop his potty schedule.

The method can be time-consuming but do not worry.  It will not last for all time.  When your puppy is the right age to control his bladder and bowels (which occurs when he’s around 12 weeks old); things will be different.

It’s not a dog’s intention to commit accident intentionally.  Understand that accidents cannot be evaded and punishment isn’t required when correcting your dog.  When you come home to a pile of poor beside the couch, never hit your dog for it.  He’ll never understand that he’s being punished for the mistake he did hours ago.

When caught in the process of doing his thing inside the house, make a noise loud enough to distract him although not too loud to scare him to death.  Take him out straight away and let him finish at the right spot.  Praise and reward your dog after.

By being consistent and determined, you’ll eventually understand that you have become successful in your search for having a reliably housebroken border collie.

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Saturday, January 1, 2011

Caring For A Puppy Or Young Dog

Disreputable puppy breeders, who are generally in the “puppy-farm” industry simply for the money, can wreak agony and loss of life on innocent animals that could otherwise be life time pets and buddies.There are some basic tips which, if implemented, might put these kind of people out of business, and give the puppy a lengthy comfortable life.

Be watchful about retailers offering more than one or two dog breedsWhile meeting the vendor note the particular environmentSee your dog more often than onceRequest to see the pedigree paperwork and then make certain the breeder’s name is on the documentA breeder should find out about you as wellDemand to witness the new puppy together with its Mother – be very dubious if you cannot

Puppies bred in a commercial sense, indiscriminately and carelessly are likely to have disease

Find adapting to home life challengingBe more difficult to toilet trainEndure physical flaws and possess genetic weaknesses

Consider carefully before buying and do not buy the dog because you have pity for her. Always make sure you can afford to feed the animal a good quality puppy food, progressing to a dog food product as he matures.

If you deal with the unscrupulous seller or breeder, you’re supporting their trade in agony. Every one you purchase, one more takes its place.

Purchasing a puppy or pet dog in good health and wellbeing is vital for their individual well-being plus your bank balance. Comply with this advice, and man and dog can be long lasting pals

Significance of vaccination

Unless correctly immunised, a pet might catch a lethal infectious disease like parvovirus or leptospirosis. This may also has an effect on humans. Dogs also have to be protected against liver disease, distemper and also kennel cough, all of which are lethal.

Worming is vital too

A 6 week old pup can certainly drop around 10 million Toxocara eggs in a week if it is not medicated. Power over Toxocara egg loss is essential for human and animal welfare. (Toxocara is one that leads to blindness in children)It is recommended that a new puppy needs to be wormed from two-weeks-old, and its mom really should have been wormed regularly through her pregnancy.A second dose must be given at 5 weeks, and also at eight-weeks, the mother needs to have the third dosage. Make certain you see the breeder’s signature confirming confirmation of dose.


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