Make Training Sessions Entertaining For Your Puppy And You Also

You just got a whole new dog and want to get yourself started on coaching him, as youthful as possible. This is very important to perform at the start of your dogs life, in order to shape his persona and responsiveness. In this post, we will provide you with the finest guidelines for education your dog quickly and properly.

Much like nearly anything, fortify the best actions from the puppy. Ensure that you have treats convenient, or perhaps use lots of praise for steps that happen to be excellent. This can instruct your pet to try to have a deal with, or your praise and strengthen directly to them that the things they just do was some thing you would like them to hold undertaking.

While you begin the canine education method, make sure you compensate your furry friend once they execute desired behaviours. Despite the fact that willpower is needed at times, the more it is possible to praise your pet, the better your romantic relationship will probably be. A good relationship means that your dog would want to stick to your directions and also the instruction process will be easier.

Always be form and individual along with your puppy. Know that coaching canines may be aggravating given that some dogs have got a tougher time learning obedience than the others. Usually do not get rid of your temper and avoid the impulse to scream or shout at the canine. Also, never ever success your puppy as this will simply help to mistake it and will can make training harder.

Puppies are critters of habit. In the event you customarily bring them out for his or her go walking simultaneously every night, they are going to expand should be expected that move, even to depend on it. Missing out on the timetabled day by even just a couple a few minutes can result in any sort of accident for that youthful dog as well as for the older one particular.

When coaching, be certain about what you wish your pet to do. Using obscure directions like "no" are generally inadequate. No only tells him that you just didnt like what he performed, however, not why. When you say "no" as he leaps around the sofa, he may consider you desired him to jump greater. Use specific instructions like keep and sit for far better outcomes.

Persistence is essential when working on crate education having a young canine. Shortly after you let your puppy to get out of the kennel, he needs to be given a chance to relieve him self inside the chosen area. At some point, the pet will be taught to hold back to pee till considering the chance.

Strengthen attractive actions from your dog. Dont just depend upon goodies however. You are able to fortify these behaviors by way of positive focus too. Petting your pet dog and speaking to him in cheerful colors could be a good bonus too. So can a whole new squeaky stuffed toy or a visit to the playground.

Make an effort to plan each training session at approximately the same time frame daily. You would like your pet to gain access to a style exactly where he knows its coming and it is fired up for doing it. Should your pet is excited for it hes much more likely to succeed, just as if human beings are thrilled for some thing theyre very likely to become successful.

Actual penalties does not function, and can prevent instruction. By no means ever success your puppy, particularly when education. Even though it may look to function since the pet halts the behaviour, in fact they already have only figured out to concern you and not accomplish that habits inside your appearance. So toss out that rolled up paper and bust out some yummy pleasures rather.

When education a difficult puppy there are many different techniques that one can use. Even so a vital element is establishing that you is dominant across the pet they are attempting to train. By making sure that the canine understands that is in charge it will guarantee that the canine is hearing anyone seeking to workout it.

The kind of leash, collar, and harness are very important to consider when coaching your dog. The bigger the dog the more protect these things should be. Also if a person has a dog that draws in the leash a utilize ought to be employed to manage your pet against a choke chain or collar. The proper gear is essential to proper dog training.

As being a assertive pet owner is the first step in instruction your pooch. An owner who anticipates difficult conditions with regard to their dog, and works to always keep him far from these situations anytime you can, will have a better behaved animal. Considerable instruction is definitely not as essential if you get to understand your dog so you can expect his measures.

Only give directions you happen to be willing to follow-through with, or perhaps the puppy will be taught that it is all right to disregard you. Should you give the order to sit down, your dog need to rest right away or you will impose the demand having a finger pressing down on the lower back. In no way give a command and enable your pet to pick whether to obey you or perhaps not except if you wish to allow the puppy function as the one in fee.

When youre training your pet dog it is critical that you simply never ever misuse your puppy. Abusing your pet in form of penalties will just bring about your puppy fearing you. A basic "no" is far more powerful. You really have to be consistent, and affected person.

To conclude, education your pup requires that you take a completely distinct approach than education an older pet. Luckily, you might be beginning after it is least complicated to do this. Provided that you adhere to the recommendations offered, you will be able to workout your pet dog efficiently and type a great connection involving the both of you.

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Group Dog Training Classes –Are they good for me and my dog

Group classes seem to be a little difficult to find in the El Dorado Hills/Folsom area. Many trainers and or veterinarians do not recommend group classes as an effective solution for training. Why is that? Well, it’s most likely because it’s hard to find good group classes and it’s hard to teach good group classes! ?

Effective dog obedience classes are a wonderful, affordable way to train your dog. Group classes range from 4-6 weeks long and are designed to teach you how to train your dog. Unleashed offers beginning, intermediate and advanced classes. If done well, group classes provide a positive, well-managed environment for your family and your dog. If done poorly, group classes can be over-crowded and can contribute to anxiety and over-arousal in dogs. Unleashed Dog Training & Behavior Center creates a positive learning environment that focuses on a small, well-managed group of dogs and owners. Dogs and owners feel safe and comfortable throughout the class.

The cost of group dog training classes can range from $100-175 for the whole session. This cost is in great contrast to private lessons which can range anywhere from $150-$300 per hour. In addition to being more affordable, group classes can provide an opportunity for much needed socialization and a “support group” for owners with new dogs. Mandy Kennedy, owner of Unleashed Dog Training, has taught successful group classes for over 15 years and teaches now in El Dorado Hills/ Folsom area.

So, dont wait until after the Holidays to improve those manners! Check out our upcoming classes....only a couple left in 2011!

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A Successful Day

Saturday was a great day of progress for Brody. Weve been working up to it the whole time he has been training, building foundation, building trust and creating meaning for the clicker.  Saturday was the culmination of everything we had worked on, and the true beginning of his counter-conditioning training.  I was worried about how Brody would react - while hes done very well so far, there are lots of things that can go wrong once all the cards are on the table and he comes face to face with his nemesis. 

I was worried that he would get stressed out and refuse to take treats, that he would start to ignore the sound of the click, or that I wouldnt be able to keep him under threshold.  Those are all common road blocks when working with a leash-reactive dog, so I had reason to be concerned.  But all our prep work (and my thoughtful planning of bringing several different kinds of treats) paid off.

The park we picked to work in on Saturday was perfect for what Brody needed.  It was busy - with a sunny, mid-70s spring day that wasnt a surprise.  Lots of kids and parents, noise and activity, but that wasnt what we were there for.  I got Brody all set up, leash clipped to his harness, my treat bag and clicker ready, and we headed to the edge of the park, by the sidewalk that ran around the perimeter.  Thats where we found what we were looking for - a woman walking her dog.  The first dog we spotted was small, which was fine for a starting point. 

I got Brody to a distance that I thought was just close enough (or just far enough, depending on how you want to look at things!), then proceeded to click and treat at all the right times.  It was a fantastic exercise - textbook.  My timing was good, and I managed to keep Brody just under threshold all but one time (which I caught so quickly it didnt become an issue).  We made it by that dog without a single bark, so I gave him a little break and grabbed a few pictures.  Once Id spotted the next dog I again set Brody up at a distance that felt right, and we again had a very successful session.

Throughout the couple hours we stayed at the park Brody got to encounter many dogs, and he continued to do very well.  If you think two hours sounds like a long time to train a dog, youre right.  Its too long.  But sometimes you have to take advantage of situations that are ripe for training, so I kept Brody from getting frazzled by mixing things up and taking lots of breaks.  A little work passing another dog, then some time to sit in the shade and relax.  A walk around the grass for sniffing and exploring, a trip over to the car to get a drink of cold water and some fresh treats, then scoping out another dog and taking up our position.

Its wonderful as a dog trainer to have things go well, especially when you have eager parents putting their trust in you, hoping that you will make great progress with their dog.  We still have a long way to go, but right now Im very happy with how Brody is doing.

Have you ever had a dog that was reactive (towards dogs, people, cars or anything) when on leash?  What did you do to change their behavior, or what did you do to deal with it?

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Tackling Leash Aggression

Many dog owners battle with leash aggression. Fido is fine and friendly off leash, but when he restrained, has problems with frustration and fear aggression. A common misunderstanding is the one of aggression vs. frustration. Many owners dont understand that restraining a dog on a flat or choke collar or even a harness, only frustrates the animal, especially when they are struggling for access to another dog. Pulling the dog back only aids in escalating the display of frustration, which often appears to be aggression. In fact, when shaping the behaviour of guard dogs, restraint is used to amp the dog up to bring out the dogs natural defence drive. Pulling your dog back when it sees another dog actually makes the dog want to pull forward even more. Ultimately, the best way to train a dog to not aggress, is to teach it to do something else, like SIT or HEEL off in another direction.

This is an excellent article which was posted on the SPCA website:

"This is your dog. This is your dog on leash."

by Dogtime expert Colleen Safford


Leash aggression is an extremely common behavior issue faced by many dog-loving owners.

You start on the blissful journey of puppy parenthood, envisioning a future of leisurely strolling with your dog: cup of coffee and newspaper in hand, ready to settle in on a park bench, street café, or just around the neighborhood. Then reality sets in. Lovable Fido often resembles Cujo while on leash.

I feel for owners battling leash aggression. I know they scratch their heads in bewilderment, sometimes even resorting to defending sweet Fido by blurting aloud to passersby, "Really, hes very sweet. He only does this on leash!"

Heres what is going on. Your dog is probably frustrated and anxious. Very likely, he wanted to run after or gain access to whatever he saw while on the street; it couldve been a squirrel, other dogs, skateboards etc.

That pesky prohibitive collar and leash however prevented your dog from gaining access to these things and over time, exuberant curiosity was replaced with frustration. Your dog needs to release that frustration and voila, the barking and lunging begins.

"I WANT IT! I NEED TO GO INVESTIGATE! I JUST NEED TO SAY HELLO! WHY CANT I HAVE IT?"

It is very likely that your dogs initial outbursts were met with some form of disapproval from you.

"FIDO, NO! HEY! STOP IT!"

The cycle then begins and now Fido begins to also feel anxious. He begins to think that not only do these things frustrate him, but they make Mom and Dad angry!

"HEY DOG! GET AWAY! MY DAD GETS MAD WHEN YOU ARE NEAR! GO AWAY!"

Now that we likely know the why, lets focus on how to manage the behavior.

In any case of aggression, I strongly advise working with a gentle and humane professional to guide you through this process and teach you about the importance of your timing and consistency. Seek a trainer whose methods are firming planted in reward-based training.

You need to develop a more refined replacement behavior for the lunging and barking. A dog that is quietly trotting along your side, staring into your sparkling eyes is ideal. In order to get this going, you need to be a vigilant owner. It is now your job to scout out other dogs before your dog has the opportunity.

You must also be a well prepared owner. You must always be stocked with tasty treats or your dogs favorite tug style toy.

Game plan

The very second you see a dog (before your dog has the chance to react) you quickly get Fidos attention with a happy voiced, "Fido!" Give him treats or access to his toy as you get close to and continue to pass the other dog. During this time, its important that you remain calm, happy and refrain from tightening up on the leash. We are teaching Fido that both you and he need to relax in presence of other furry friends. Once the other dog has passed and is at a distance, the treating stops or the toy is put away.
Learning that you are the giver of all good things, your dog will become conditioned to look at you automatically when spotting another dog. This conditioning will also help improve Fidos association with other dogs.

It is very important, in kicking off this project, to be lavish in your reward giving, distributing treats every second while in sight of another dog. People often immediately retort, "My dog is going to get fat!" Not if you are a good owner and recognize that treats are incorporated into your dogs daily ration of food. Cut back on what is going into the bowl, knowing that tackling this behavior hurdle is top priority for the health and happiness of both you and your dog. It might take a bit of retraining yourself!

Over time, as your dog becomes increasingly comfortable looking at you, while ignoring other dogs, you will slowly decrease the number of treats given. If you are a good consistent trainer, by the end of this process you will be flipping one treat to your dog after youve passed the other dog and even sometimes simply offering a "good boy!"

Setting yourself up for success

1. When you are lazy, avoid routes with dogs! If you arent going to be a good trainer, dont allow your dog to react--and thus unravel all the work you are doing. (Its like a smoker who picks up a cigarette again!)
2. Practice "Fido, look!" every chance you get, NOT just when faced with other dogs. Your dog must make eye contact with you for everything he wants in life: before you put his food dish on the floor, snap on his leash, open the door for him to go outdoors, between each toss during a game of fetch. This is your batting practice. The more you and your dog get in the batting cage, the more successful youll be at the big game!

3. Exercise your dog. If you have a backyard, play fetch for fifteen minutes before going on a walk. Your dog will be a bit more tired, a bit more convinced that you are cool (after tossing the ball to him), and likely to free less anxious about those other dogs.

Work hard and your training will pay off. Sitting at at outdoor café without worry that your table flies out from under your plate as Fido lunges for another dog IS possible.

[NOTE: If your dog is unable to pass another dog--while being treated and without reacting--you will need to consider proximity. Establish a comfort/space threshold: approaching other dogs only to the point where your dog is comfortable, and then crossing the street or creating a visual block as you get by. Over time, youll increase proximity. This will definitely require working with a professional.]

Colleen Safford, of New York Walk & Train and Far Fetched Acres, is one of NYCs most recognized dog trainers.

Read more about Colleen Safford in the DogTime expert center...

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Ideas That The Canine Will Answer

If youre considering you need to commence instruction your pet dog effectively, but arent positive how, then youre in the right place. The one thing about suitable proper dog training is the a lot more you know, the better you can use towards education your pet. Take note using this article to see what information and facts applies to you and the puppy.

Timing is critical while in proper dog training you need to spend some time instruction, but dont overdo it. Quicker workout sessions are far better at the start of your software. This will give you a good idea of when you ought to set a lot more effort into the workout.

Puppies frequently grow to be destructive because they are bored stiff and alone. Look at a home pet that eliminates the furniture when you are from the residence. Look at the larger sized outdoors dog that chews up the shrubs. The solution to relieving their destructive conduct may be as elementary as investing much more time using them or getting them a new stuffed toy.

Housebreaking your dog needs time to work. The bottom line is being regular when teaching him where by its not acceptable for him to relieve himself and steady from the message that you just deliver as to in which you assume him to travel. This could be with a mat inside the house, with a steer if you take him exterior or operating free of charge inside a fenced lawn.

Dont force your puppy to enter his crate. As an alternative, a lot compliments him when he goes in his kennel on his very own. Younger young puppies, specifically, could possibly be fairly fearful of the crate when it is first launched. In the event you push them to get into it their anxiety may possibly transform into terror. Their normal fascination may ultimately override their concern.

Associate fingers expressions with individual directions to help you your puppy remember where to start. As the order words on their own could be an adequate amount of an idea to tell the dog what to do - using a visible cue - supplies a technique for your dog to remember quicker how to perform.

For those who have a pet dog with splitting up stress and anxiety, you can coach him out of this anxiety by varying your program. If you work like youre departing the house, however dont or retail store your jacket in a vehicle rather than the dresser, it is possible to break the routine of steps, which get the canine hyped on top of nervousness to begin with.

Make coaching a part of your dogs daily regimen. Ten minutes of education daily offers significantly better outcomes than 1 hour of education once a week. Your dog has a shorter period to ignore the classes learned and it is quicker to keep a dogs interest for a couple of moments at the same time. Also, your pet will not likely find yourself having countless snacks in a single session that cravings for food is no longer an effective motivator to learn new commands.

1 idea to bear in mind when education your dog is the fact that you will find a difference between self-discipline and rage. This is very important since your puppy only knows wrong or right instructions. Your fury will only scare and confound your pet if it isnt straight linked to a behavior you want to adjust.

If you are traveling with puppies, ensure that you package precisely what your pet dog should try to eat, sleeping and utilize the lavatory. Things such as water and food dishes, document toweling and squander bags are critical for a smooth journey. Things like food might be kept in your own home. Simply buy some once you achieve your destination.

With a little luck, reading this short article, youre sensing like you can start forming good quality strategies in the direction of training your pet dog. Do not forget that the info in this article isnt all there is to know about proper dog training, so make sure you always keep an eye out for new info to make use of toward your training program.

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New Classes!!!

What are Drop-in Classes? Are they right for me and my dog?

Unleashed Dog Training & Behavior Center understands the changing needs of their clients. Fall/Winter can be tough to commit to a full Group Class session. However, many owners are anticipating the approaching Holiday Season and having a well-behaved dog with visiting family would be wonderful! Therefore, Unleashed is offering Drop-In Training Clinics. The format will allow you and your dog the opportunity to work in a group with other dogs and owners as well as an opportunity for a question /answer period. Come to as many as you can and pay as you go.
· Do you want a well-behaved dog but just don’t have time to commit to a whole class?
· Do you need help fine tuning your stays?
· Do you need a little refresher on loose leash walking?
· Is this whole training thing new to you and your pup and you need help getting started?

Then this is the option for you!!!! Each week, we will focus on basic obedience exercises that will help you to Unleash Your Dog’s Potential.

Special Notes: These classes are geared towards dog-friendly dogs. If your dog is aggressive with other dogs or people, please call us to schedule a private lesson before attending our drop- in classes.

When: Saturday mornings 9:30-10:30am
Where: Lake Hills Church, El Dorado Hills (upper lawn, outside)
Dates: Oct 31 - Dec 12
Cost: $15 per dog/owner team

Space is limited and each class will be on a first come/first serve basis. Please call or email with your intention to attend or if you have any questions. Check our blog frequently at http://www.unleasheddogtraining.blogspot.com/ as our classes will be cancelled in inclimate weather

Unleashed Dog Training & Behavior Center
unleashmk@comcast.net
(916)605-9778

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Determining The Right Dog Training Strategy For You

Dog training can be very intimidating to someone that has never done it before. There is a lot of information out there and sorting through it all can seem difficult. These are just some tips to help you start out with dog training the right way.

Always give your dog the tools for success. If you are training it to stop chewing things it shouldnt be chewing on, give it things that it can chew on. It is also important that a dog who chews is protected from danger. Common household items like nylons and hairbrushes pose a grave threat to your dog and can cause him to choke.

 When you know that you need to be gone for a few hours, take your dog for a long walk before you depart. If you tire them out, they will be better able to handle feelings of anxiety when they are alone and separated from you.

 Use your dogs name whenever you are offering it a treat. This will direct his attention to you immediately every time, and especially right before you issue a command. Use your dogs name several times a day. If you need to punish your dog, go to your dog. Dont call him or her to you and then punish.

 Communication is one of the essential aspects of training your dog. Clear commands and consistency are necessary when you work with your dog. Your verbal commands and body language, along with the rewards you give out, should all be consistent. Pay attention to any cues that your dog gives you, as well. By watching and understanding the way your dog communicates, you can discover if your dog is getting fatigued, restless, or is happy.

 A crate can come in handy when housebreaking a dog. To make crate training work, make sure you take your dog out often and on a stable schedule. If youre patient you will find a dog who has been crate trained will make less messes inside.

 Use treats your dog really loves to achieve maximum training efficiency. This might be an extra-special treat that your dog does not ordinarily have the opportunity to enjoy.

 Training a new puppy can be much easier if everyone in the the family participates in the training. While they may have a single person working with them regularly, getting everyone involved can enforce that they must always follow the rules and it will make it more consistent.

 Your dog should be happy with everyone in your home so he does not suffer from separation anxiety. The dogs relationships to other people serve to dilute its unhealthy level of dependence and fixation on you that causes it so much grief.

 Consistency is key during your training sessions. Pick a single word or gesture for each command, action or behavior and use it exclusively. Dogs are able to associate repeated words or actions with the requested response. Consistency is essential to training. Establish a short list of vocabulary associated with communicating with your dog.

 Teach your dog the difference between right and wrong. You will need help from everyone in the family to teach this. It can quickly undermine your efforts.

 If you have a knock-down, drag-out fight with your kids or reprimand another pet, your voice could impact your dogs training. Remember: if your dog has not done something wrong immediately beforehand, your interactions should always be positive.

 Every dog is unique and is motivated to learn by different things. What your dog likes, doesnt like, and what types of training work for him are all things that you are learning during this process. Regardless of the reason that you have decided to train your dog, provide him with various training exercises and copious amounts of positive reinforcement. You will find it much easier to train your dog if he is happy.

 Obedience classes can help you with any training issues you face. These classes can help deal with various issues such as stopping disruptive barking, not sitting when told, and not listening to you.

 Mentally stimulating your dog is important to its health and happiness. Frequent outside walks, chew toys and even healthy snacks offer great options for entertaining your dog. Any dog who is bored will find a number of ways to amuse himself and spend his time, such as chomping your favorite pair of shoes or digging up your prized botanical collection!

 Make sure training has an element of fun incorporated into it. Taking time to play creates a strong bond between the two of you, and your dog will be more likely to respond well to training. Training is fun for the dog, but you should set aside some real "play time" as well.

 If you want to get rid of inappropriate chewing behaviors, you need to set up the dogs environment so that he will have fewer temptations. Additionally, make sure there is nothing that can pose as a threat to your chewing canine. Any objects which your dog could choke on or become entangled in should be kept out of reach.

 You do not want to use wee-wee pads when potty training your dog. The problem with the wee-wee pads is that they leak and leave enzymes from urine and feces behind. Potty pads can also mislead your dog into thinking that similarly shaped items throughout your home, like rugs, are appropriate places to go. Teaching your dog the appropriate place to go from the start is always the more practical idea.

 Dogs that have trouble with separation anxiety need to develop stronger relationships with others in your household. Allowing the dog to establish relationships with new people will lessen its dependence on the owner.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 Now that you have received the helpful advice in this article, you should now be aware how easy it is to train your dog. With patience and a little research, you can train your dog. The right training can help every dog thrive and be well behaved..

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Puppy may need obedience classes

When you decide its time to train your dog, its very common to be a bit lost. Good dog-training skills come naturally to very few people. In order to train your pet properly, preparing yourself with some good advice is an excellent idea. This article contains good guidelines for several different aspects of dog training.

Teach your puppy his or her name before you start to train him or her, as this creates a bond. Use his name frequently, and make clear that you want him to respond by coming to you when you call his name. There is no other word your puppy should be taught first. Make sure to spend time with your dog in order for him to learn and trust you. When you set this trust early on, the puppy will be more open to the next steps in training.

 Your puppy may need obedience classes so that it can listen to you. The instructor can give you ideas about how to handle problems like not listening, and excessive barking.

 If you want to teach your pet to use a crate, first try these simple tricks. If your dog does not want to go into the crate but one of his favorite toys inside and close the door. They will want to get to the bone, which means going into the crate. When they go inside to get the bone, give them lots of positive reinforcement.

 Training should be an enjoyable activity for your dog. Try not to make training sessions any longer than 15 minutes. That will keep his attention. Keep your rewards coming and vary what you give them. Make sure you shower praise on your dog when they do well. When the dog enjoys their training, they will listen better.

 A crate can come in handy when housebreaking a dog. To make crate training work, make sure you take your dog out often and on a stable schedule. If youre patient you will find a dog who has been crate trained will make less messes inside.

 When training your dog, you should always make sure you use the same word or action for each individual behavior. You dog will learn to respond to the specific word or words that you choose to represent a desired behavior. Consistency is key. It ensures that the dog will respond properly to commands.

 Dogs can learn a multi-step behavior by stepwise refinement just like humans can. One example might be to teach him to fetch your daily newspaper. You will need to teach him or her how to hold something first. Next, your dog will need to learn the objects name. After that, he needs to learn how to lift up the object. Finally, he should learn to bring the object to you. If you break it down, your dog will understand the linear relationship of the behavior.

 If your dog suddenly starts misbehaving out of the blue, it is best to bring him to the vet so any health problems can be ruled out. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. Since they cannot tell us what is wrong, this is their way of letting us know that they need extra attention.

 A trick you could teach your dog is to hold something in his mouth, such as a toy. Get your dogs attention with a clicker and reward him with a snack when he tastes or mouths the toy. When this has happened several times, hold off until the dog grabs the toy with his or her mouth. As this happens, press the clicker and then offer the reward. Also, rewards should only be given if the toy remains in the dogs mouth.

 You can try a little bit of ingenuity if you are going with crate training for your indoor dog or puppy. If your puppy seems reluctant about entering the crate, place a chew toy inside and close the door to the kennel. The puppy will want to enter the kennel to retrieve the treat. Once in the crate, let them know they did a good job by praising them.

 Give them chew toys for pain relief while teething, and keep everything else out of reach. Immediately replace the object with one of the intended chew toys. If your puppy needs to chew because he is teething, try a frozen washcloth.

 Get your dog ready early for his trips to the veterinarian. Move your hands across his head, back, stomach and legs, and give him reinforcement when he responds appropriately. Work with him so he is tolerant of having his paws touched and teeth examined. You could ask the assistance of your friends, too.

 Training should be fun for your dog. Only train your dog in ten to fifteen minute sessions. A dog has a limited attention span so any longer will cause him or her to become bored. Be sure to provide rewards often, and give different treats from time to time. You should lavish praises on your dog for following your instructions. The more enjoyable training is for your dog, the more he will look forward to it!

 Stay consistent when training your dog. Write down the commands that you use and then make sure each person who needs to know them does. Behavior should be rewarded or not depending on the affect that is being sought. When the people around the dog use different commands and responses, he may become confused and training could suffer.

 Do not tie up several dogs in close proximity to each other. One dogs chain might become entangled with the other, which could lead to serious injuries. If one dog is larger than the other, it could accidentally tangle the cord around the smaller dogs neck, causing it to become unable to breath, and possibly die.

 Limit the duration of training sessions. It is possible that your dog will lose interest if it is made to do the same thing over and over. Do not spend more than 10 minutes on each session.

 To help you train your dog you should know what kinds of foods your dog likes to eat. Since these will be the rewards for good behavior when you are training the dog, it should be something that really motivates him. Make note of your dogs reaction when the reward is offered.

 Communication is one of the essential aspects of training your dog. Make sure you are clear and consistent when you are working with your dog. This means to be consistent not only with words, but with corrections and rewards. Be well aware that your dog is telling you something too. They will inform you of whether or not they are overworked, anxious, or having a great day.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Now that you have received the helpful advice in this article, you should now be aware how easy it is to train your dog. With patience and a little research, you can train your dog. The right training can help every dog thrive and be well behaved..

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Looking To Train Your Pet Dog Comply with These Helpful Recommendations!

Training your puppy is an important part of dog possession. Unless you get yourself a fully developed puppy, you need to potty workout your pup if you dont want crashes in the house. Possibly even more crucial is always to educate your dog you are his master, and that he need to comply with you.

The stroll can be extremely hard to grasp, although with the proper practice and persistence, your puppy will likely be wandering right by your side quickly. First of all, do not let these to leave the door first. Whenever you place his leash on, make him sit down initially or offer you his paw. In short, some sort of obedience to obtain him from the mindset. Then, if you are basically outside, if he starts to go walking in front of you, give the leash a simple tug to assert on your own as the one in cost.

When wandering your puppy on a leash, in no way retain the leash also small. A tight leash generates a kitchen counter stress response and will result in the dog to be uptight or agitated. Your pet dog may possibly then draw, instead of go walking correctly on the leash. Getting much less prohibitive with your leash maintain will permit for any easier walking encounter.

Pet dogs want a well installing collar and lead should they be to become effectively trained. Dont pick these products since they are sweet or mainly because they have rhinestones upon them. Opt for your dogs collar and guide in accordance with the services you would like from their website. Ask yourself if a halter is much more suitable for your distinct canine. Can they require a long steer or would a reduced one be better? Make the appropriate alternatives, plus your puppy will manage to benefit.

Paying attention to your dog is one of the most significant methods of education your pet dog. If your pet is uneasy or scared, then you definitely arent going to get the end result that you are searching for. Regard their needs along with the approach will go a whole lot smoother.

When instructing a pup simple directions, start out with sit. This is the quickest one for any pet to master. Carry his preferred snack just above his nasal area, and securely say sit. Most canines will naturally take a seat at this stage. Supply him the handle and dont neglect to compliments him profusely. If he doesnt sit, gently drive his back end conclusion towards the ground. Following he has been seated for several seconds, provide him with the deal with, and like well before, make sure to compliment him.

Workout sessions for the puppy should be entertaining and stress-cost-free. Your dog will be taught better, and you will be able to show greater in a beneficial surroundings. Make use of your training session as being a bonding time with your canine and have fun. This will help and your puppy have got a life-long romantic relationship.

When you start house training, decide on a term to use continuously with your animal. Each time you endeavor out for a restroom vacation, make use of this phrase to keep your pet focused on the job he arrived outdoors to accomplish.

Firmness is vital for successful proper dog training. Do not yell although, as adverse encouragement fails to job. This will help establish a solid link with the pet.

Be sure your garden is free from burrowing outdoors pets to help keep your puppy from digging. Some dogs, specifically hunting breeds, will drill down when searching for victim. Locating humane ways to clear your backyard of other creatures will help you to stop this problematic conduct. Wilderness creatures can be deterred or relocated for the sake of both your garden plus your animal.

Unless you have the knowlege to exercise your pet on your own it is advisable for taking him to obedience school. The teacher will teach you how to train your pet dog to comply with your commands, and for that reason, he may well be more pleasant to yourself and your family, and then he will likely be more happy.

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Teach Your Pet Quickly Using This Remarkable Suggestions

It can make no distinction if you buy a brand new pet or perhaps an older canine, you will still must make the time and effort to teach your dog. This short article will provide you with some pointers to get going in your endeavor and you will notice that a more powerful relationship types between you and your dog.

Swatting or hitting your pet is just not an effective education approach. In the event you make an attempt to coach your pet dog this way, all that you are training them is to be scared of you. Eventually, the dog will stop listening to speech directions, and may only respond to you elevating your hands. Obtaining a dogs commitment through concern is really a error on the owners part.

Your workout sessions needs to be long enough to your canine to learn the required actions but no so long that he or she gets to be fed up. You must not above practice it, train in modest time amounts. Discover once your dog begins getting derailed throughout a training session.

Be sure to get everyone involved in training. In case you are the sole family member utilizing Fidos habits, then this other members of the family are supplying him merged signs. Regularity is important in training your dog. Also be sure that everybody is utilizing the same key phrases and incentives in order that the behavior will be bolstered correctly. Off of and lower are two various things to a pet, so make sure you arent confusing him.

Unfavorable strategies for education your dog dont operate. Equally as with humans, positive support of actions is more efficient. Use compliments, snacks and play a chance to demonstrate your dog that you will be pleased with their functionality. If he cannot do what you will be requesting him, usually do not discipline him or yell at him. He will relate seeking to perform the task with negativity and may steer clear of the project even tougher the very next time.

Usually do not fasten up several dogs in near nearness to each other. This is certainly because of the fact that they could come to be tangled in each and every others cords and turn out hurting themselves when looking to get free of charge. If one dog is larger than one other, it might accidentally tangle the cord round the smaller dogs the neck and throat, resulting in it to be unable to breathing, as well as die.

While you are initially starting out in training your puppy, make an effort to timetable the education classes to take place at approximately the same time every single day. Should you be making the courses classes a confident expertise and carrying out them on the timetable, your pet dog will begin to enjoy the trainings and savor them a lot more.

Most canines answer easier to positive encouragement as an alternative to unfavorable consequence. If youre looking to workout your pet, incentive him forever conduct and simply scold him if completely required. Your dog will recall the prize permanently habits a lot more distinctly than the penalties for bad behavior, generating satisfying more effective.

You need to begin your pet dog education as early as possible, although not too soon. You need to wait until the canine reaches least 49 days and nights outdated before you begin looking to teach them. But next, youll wish to get started quickly so that your pet can find out although hes still adjusting to his atmosphere, and you also dont need to undo actions that hes presently learned.

As you now have realized some beneficial proper dog training suggestions, it can be time and energy to stick them into action. Before beginning any education, ensure your canine does not have any health issues that may make coaching more difficult. Educate yourself in the distinct breed of dog that you may have enjoy yourself with him.

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Crate Training Puppies How Cruel Can Some People Be

When it comes to crate training puppies, some people just dont have a clue. I just finished reading a report about one sad individual who decided it was a good idea to keep his puppy in a crate that was only just big enough for the puppy to fit into. The obvious consequence was that the puppy became very unhappy and cried. On top of that, he wasnt allowed out to urinate of have a bowel movement. The end result was an enraged owner, dirty, unhappy, and abused puppy ending with a visit from the SPCA.

Can you imagine the stupidity of someone who is so clueless that they cant follow some easy rules on how to crate train their puppies. When you train a puppy, you want him to have fun and learn quickly. Compare them to small children. My children learn far faster when they are playing a game than when I make them sit down and sternly tell them what to do.

First off: Have a pair of shoes or slippers handy when potty training a puppy overnight, youll be glad you dont have to look for them when you need to get the puppy outside quickly. Yes he will have accidents, but within a week or so you should have a fully house trained puppy and be getting a peaceful nights sleep. When a puppy needs to go, he really needs to go, so make sure that you act quickly when he wakes up or starts to whine. A good sign that he needs the toilet is when he runs around in a circle with his nose to the ground.

Never leave your puppy in his crate for too long. Make sure that he has sufficient space to move around in and that he has some water nearby. Its cruel to leave a puppy in a confined space all day long when you are at work. Apart from him getting the idea that its OK to wee in his crate (which is defeating the purpose) but he will try to hold his wee in and this can have serious consequences for his health. Come home from work at midday to let him out or have someone do it for you

The crate should be left open when you dont absolutely need him to be in confinement. This allows the puppy to go into his crate whenever he feels like it and is a safe space for him. Never use the crate as a punishment for being naughty. Dogs will generally try their best to please you, so being "naughty" is usually a lapse of concentration or an act of desperation or boredom. Give him the benefit of the doubt. A firmly spoken "No!" is usually all that a young puppy will need to understand he has done something wrong.

By the same token, be sure to lavish praise on him when he gets something right. You will achieve far more with this approach than being negative. There are lots of things you can do to make training your puppy fun and easy. A short article like this cant cover them all.

The author has been breeding and training puppies for years. Visit his blog for more easy-to-use tips on how to train puppies. For the latest news on puppy training methods as well as the best courses on puppy training check out http://www.all-about-dogs.blogspot.com now.

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Meet the breed Border Collie

 The Border Collie is a herding breed. They are really energetic, fun little guys and girls!

Adult male height tends to be about 20 inches. The females tend to be slightly shorter. Adult male healthy weight tends to be about 40 pounds and the females tend to be slightly lighter.

There are varieties with short coats and varieties with longer coats.

The colors are quite varied. I believe this is a complete color list:

•  black and white
• tricolor
• red and white
• black and gray
•  yellow
•  yellow and white
•  sable
• all black

In my experience, this breed generally seems to be very eager to learn. They are extremely high energy dogs. They really excel in agility. They usually really love playing fetch with a ball, Frisbee, stick, etc.

Ironically, for such a high energy breed, I have found that many of these guys are sort of shy and timid. This is mostly true of puppies. Proper socialization is very important at an early age.

 As with most of the herding dogs, it is important to begin training as early as you can

Because of their instinctual herding nature, you have to sometimes stop unwanted herding behavior early. Many of these guys tend to nip at your heels when you are playing and they sometimes try to herd people as they would livestock. This behavior can be successfully addressed, but it is much easier to deal with it in puppy-hood than later in life.

I can not over stress that these guys/girls need a lot of mental and physical exercise. I mean several hours per day if possible. If you do not have that sort of time to put into a dog, the Border Collie is probably not a good fit for your pack.

Like most dogs, if the Border Collie does not get enough stimulation through exercise, he can become pretty destructive around the house. Many people get frustrated with Border Collies for this issue. Quite a few of these guys end up at shelters because their people simply did not take the time to work with them. These dogs, like all high energy breeds, need to work!

It is not nearly sufficient to simply walk these dogs a few minutes a day. They need more physical exercise and a lot of it should be interactive with the people. You can not just let these dogs loose in the back yard for a while and expect that to be sufficient mental and physical stimulation.

Please understand, I am not suggesting that the Border Collie does not need to walked on a leash. Quite the opposite is true! You should go for a brisk walk at least two or maybe three times a day with these guys in addition to the other exercise. The on-leash walking , in my opinion, reinforces the human/dog bond with these guys and for that reason I think it is essential!

These dogs are really cool because generally, their main desire is to please their people. They really bond closely with people in general and the people in their home in particular.

The Border Collie also has a quite remarkable stamina. This is part of the reason they require so much work and exercise. I tell people that when training a dog, most dogs are only good for about 15 minutes at a time of working on commands and behaviors. Most dogs lose focus quickly after about 15 minutes and further work is frustrating and counterproductive. My experience has been that Border Collies however, in general, can work on training much longer than that without losing focus.

There are a few health problems to which the Border Collie is more susceptible than are other breeds. The following is a list of the one of which I am aware:

• epilepsy
• hip dysplasia
• PRA (Collie Eye Anomaly) 
• deafness
• allergies to fleas occurs more often in the Border Collie than in most other breeds.

The Border Collie can be crate trained. Although he must have interaction with people more often than most other breeds. I would not leave a Border Collie in a crate or any sort of confined space for extended periods of time. Much like our friend the Beagle, the Border Collie can be quite the escape artist!

An interesting bit of trivia about the ancestry of this remarkable breed: The Border Collie is rumored to have descended from dogs that the Vikings used to herd Reindeer. So, if you need a good Reindeer herder in your pack, this breed may be a perfect addition!

However, the Border Collie is probably not the best choice for apartment dwellers due to the amount of exercise that they require.

Because they are so eager to learn, they can make great service dogs!

If you want an energetic, eager and fun little guy in your pack, the Border Collie is very much worth considering. If you have the time to spend working with these guys they make very loyal, intelligent, and eager companions!

As always, please consider adoption when adding a new member to your pack! Also consider an adult or senior dog, these guys need forever homes too and they make great additions to your pack!

If you have questions about rescue groups in your area from which to adopt, please contact me. Also contact me with your general dog and dog training needs at any time!

Till Next Time

-William-

William Moore
William Moore Canine Training
678-702-4791
fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com






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Education Your Pet Can Be Effortless With These Sound Advice!

Your pet dog could possibly be hyperactive, bashful or possibly a tad rebellious. What ever his personality, your furry friend requirements direction to be the better pet he could be. A instruction regimen will determine your jobs to make him more prone to comply with essential orders. These modest actions might help carve the path to a happier, more effectively-behaved puppy in very little time.

When supplying instructions for your canine, in no way come down on their level. Sustaining eye contact plus a totally erect, dominating posture imparts manage for the canine. Your pet will probably be open to directions given using this pose much easier when compared to a crouching operator that is regarded as an equal or playmate.

Center on your system words when coaching. Canines answer quicker to low-oral cues. Take note of how they react to various activities and face expression that you simply make to understand what have an impact on they already have on them. Keep your phrases quick and also the point and fortify it with bodily actions.

Make use of your time jogging your pet as a time period of bonding and beneficial strengthening. Try getting your pleasures coupled and playing video games with them through the walk. Question him to stay in the middle of your move and prize him with a goody. Reinforce the adore you have for the dog and they will reply in sort.

Watch your demeanor while you are coaching your dog. You must keep relax, but assertive constantly. Usually do not present frustration or increase your voice. Should you do this, your dog will need you to shout orders to be able to adhere to them, should this be how he is qualified.

Adjust and update your dogs training as required, so he remains in compliance together with the rules. Often, proprietors get the sensing that they can do not require to keep utilizing the canine when it really is trained. Dont give your pet to get out of the habit of smoking of good actions. For that reason it is crucial to preserve an effective pair of rules for the dog.

Some education techniques propose that you allow your puppy a treat as a compensate permanently performance. It is a fantastic approach, but make certain youre not supplying your dog a pleasure every time they perform the project. If you, they are available to anticipate the take care of each time so when you quit using the snacks, the obedience halts as well. Instead provide the pet a reward randomly so they dont commence to expect when they get yourself a take care of.

When your family pet is able to development by means of workout sessions, youll be capable of loosen the reins somewhat. Balancing obedience and liberty make dogs feel totally content. Be certain to not allow them to have an excessive amount of simply because this can counteract training endeavours.

Create your dog training fun for you and your pet. In case you are not needing exciting then more than likely, your dog is not really sometimes. This might lead to both of you possessing a awful encounter. The greater number of exciting you can make your dog coaching the quicker it is going to select you both. Try out to consider puppy training as being a activity, and never being a job.

To help teach your pup to never chew on home products and furniture, make sure that your puppy is obviously busy by having an satisfactory process. The same as small kids, pups are always seeking to encounter new activities. When you dont present an activity, they will likely locate one, and you also most likely wont much like the one they choose.

Your pet dog will manage to benefit from your instruction schedule he can depend upon. Pet dogs take advantage of obvious direction, and like young children, will not come with the rules programmed into them. These methods are a fun way to begin with establishing a fresh relationship with the puppy. His assurance will expand, and youll feel achieved for achieving your small friends targets with him.

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Canine Kundalini

A reactive dog does not become aggressive overnight. It becomes sensitized to stimulus, gradually and over a period of time.  The aggression often compounds regardless of well intended efforts to extinguish the behaviour. The dog continued to react and this repetitive behaviour becomes learnt behaviour. The more often the dog accessed this neural pathway the quicker and easier the behaviour triggered. Punishing the dog for aggressing may have worked to shut down the behaviour, but it didnt teach the dog to tolerate stimulus and decrease the stress on the animal. To begin treating aggression, we must first stop the dog from rehearsing the act of aggressing. To keep the dog from reacting, you may initially have avoid its triggers and teach it coping skills that will lend themselves to impulse control and handling the stress of the modern world. Ideally we want to expose the dog to measured amounts of what it fears and teach it to handle the stress, so that it can learn to cope. This takes time, cannot be rushed and does not happen overnight! 

Reactivity is not usually a sign of the dog wanting to fight. It is actually a coping mechanism to avoid fighting. The dog becomes fearful or threatened and puts on a display to hopefully gain space or access to resources. Aggression is the symptom of fear and stress. To reduce aggression in our dogs we must teach them to handle stress in limited amounts and also desensitize them to the things they fear. Ironically, an aggressive dog is often the one who gets the least exposure to dogs and people and they need it the most. In order to expose a dog to stress and allow it to work through it we need some management tools in place. The owner needs to have a way to orient the dog toward him or her, as well as away from the target of the reactivity. Also, the dog must not be allowed to focus on or lung at the object of the aggression. The idea is to expose the dog at distances, pair the exposure with pleasant and relaxing things and then reduce the space in controlled increments. This is a combination of desensitization and counter conditioning.

One common problem with many aggressive dogs is lack of impulse control. Impulse control can be worked on separately from the aggression. You can teach impulse control using food and toys and by exciting the dog and then teaching it to calm down. If the dog is able to control its impulses with food and toys, you can build this control and transfer it to all parts of the dogs life. In Yogadog Canine Kundalini classes work on teaching impulse control, as well as teach the owners of reactive dogs how to stay calm in the midst of the aggressive display. The class covers management tools, proper greeting rituals, reading body language, as well as how to counter condition the dog to other dogs while preforming desensitization techniques in a calm and safe environment. Canine Kundalini is ideal for nervous and fearful dogs, as well as most aggressive dogs. Yogadog offers Canine Kundalini at Bosleys in New Westminster, BC, on Friday nights between 8-9pm. To register for this class, please contact shannon@yogadog.ca or call Yogadog trainer Shannon at 604-312-8754. Spaces are limited!

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Give challenges to your dog

Dog training can be very intimidating to someone that has never done it before. There is a lot of information out there and sorting through it all can seem difficult. These are just some tips to help you start out with dog training the right way.

Give challenges to your dog on a regular basis. Test what he knows by giving commands, even if you are sure that he has the skill mastered.

 When you are working on crate training with your dog or puppy small steps is what works best for them to get used to it. When they seem comfortable in it with the door open, try shutting the gate and feed them treats through the wires. At first, leave the dog enclosed in the crate for only short periods of time, such as 10 seconds, and then gradually increase the duration. If the puppy gets too upset then you increased the time too much, too fast.

 As with most things, and this goes with dog training as well, dont ever give up. Your dog will not remember his training if you are not there to constantly remind him of what you expect. In the same way that nourishing your dog with food and a safe place to live is a daily commitment, so is teaching and encouraging good behavior.

 You always want to make certain your dog has good leash manners. This helps keep both you and your dog safe when going on walks.

 Dont use doggy treats as your sole positive reinforcement mechanism. Giving treats to dogs in order to teach them new behavior is quite effective. Having said that, carrying treats on you 24/7 is not very likely. Try patting your dog on the back and giving him an "enthusiastic, that a boy."

 If you want to be successful in house training an animal, make sure that you stick to a strict schedule for feeding times and elimination times. This gives both you and the dog a heads up as to when they need to go outside, and you can make sure that happens before they make a mess indoors. Having a regular schedule will help your dog know that a potty break will be coming, and he will hold learn to hold his bathroom urges until that time.

 Giving your dog the favorite treat can assist you in training your dog. By giving your dog this food, they will want to follow whatever you teach them. Make sure you pay attention to how he responds when you offer him this reward.

 Before you train your puppy, teach him his name and bond with him. Repeat the name as much as possible, and reward your puppy when he responds. You should make sure your puppy learns their name and knows to respond to it. Its important that the time spent with your puppy is quality time. Spend your time playing with your puppy. This way he will get to know you quicker and will begin to trust you faster. A puppy that trusts you will respond better your training.

 When possible, puppy training is the most effective form of dog training. This is not a hard and fast rule, but young dogs do respond better to training. When you train your dog as a puppy, he will be a well-behaved dog throughout his life.

 Any behavioral issues that suddenly occur should be checked by a vet to make sure there are no health conditions causing it. Certain health conditions, or even pain, can completely change an animals demeanor. It could even be to the point that the dog may become more aggressive and lash out at people. This behavior is an indicator to humans that there is something wrong.

 Not everyone has what it takes to train their dog, sometimes a professional is needed. You may hit a snag in your training and a professional can help get you back on track. Professional trainers can instruct you on how to improve your training methods, and get both you and your pet back on track.

 A consistent schedule of feeding and potty-time is very important when house training your dog. By establishing a regular potty-time every day, you will get your dog in the habit of doing his business at the same time daily. Sticking to a schedule will teach your dog how to control himself until his next scheduled potty break.

 Using a crate is an effective way to house train your dog. For crate training to be effective, you must make sure to let the dog out frequently. Dogs who are crate trained are often the best trained, having less accidents.

 If you prepare your dog for veterinary exams, it will help both you and your dog. Gently place your hands over its body, acknowledging your dog when he responds positively. Prepare your dog to accept someone handling his paws or looking at his teeth. Ask your friends to help out, as well.

 Over-training your puppy will expose it to too much at once, rendering the training less effective. Brief, simple, positive training sessions are well-suited to the limited supply of energy and attention a pup has to work with. If you try to do too much, the puppy will probably not remember much except that it was an unpleasant experience, and that will make it more difficult when the time comes for the next training session.

 Use your dogs name when you can, as it will help to get your dog to pay attention. By using it as much as possible during the first weeks you own him, your puppy will learn that this sound is in reference to him. Choose a short name that is easily recognizable from other words.

 If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, you should encourage him to have connections with others. The dog must develop relationships with others in order to diffuse its unhealthy fixation with you.

 Behavior problems that suddenly occur with no reason may indicate a medical problem that needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. This behavior may be his way of telling you that there is something wrong with him.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 Dog training is mostly about being consistent with your pooch and setting the rules of your relationship. Once those are set, youll find you both enjoy your time together even more! Keep in mind that you must continually reinforce your dogs training lessons. Provide refresher courses when needed and continue to correct bad behavior. Once your dog gets the training basics under his collar, you will not be limited in what you can achieve together..

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Purina One Dog Food Recall

I just wanted to let all of you know about another salmonella contamination recall. This time it is Purina One Beyond. Actually only one bag of actual contaminated food has been verified.

It only affects the 3lb bags of One Beyond Wheat Chicken and Whole Barley Recipe. So this is a very limited voluntary recall. All the information about the potentially contaminated product can be found at http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/purina-one-beyond-dog-food-recall/

The issue here is very similar to the IAMS recall that I posted about earlier. Except this recall effect a much smaller amount of product.

If you would like to switch your dog to a different food and have questions about which may be appropriate for your dog. Please contact me.

Till Next Time

-William-

William Moore

William Moore Canine Training

678-702-4791

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

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How Much Training Should I do Each Day With My Dog

This is one of the first questions we get when owners embark on a new training program, whether it be a group class or private lessons. The answer is simple...do as many short (3-5minutes) training sessions as you can. But, the most important thing to remember is to incorporate your training into your every day activities. For example, practice your wait command as you head out the door for your walk on the El Dorado Hills trails. Or, practice a quick down stay while you make a sandwich or are getting some dishes done.

If you set up one big "training session" per day, your dog will do great during that "training time" and then it all goes out the window when you need it in real life situations...

Remember, every time you interact with your dog, your dog is learning something!!! Make it count!

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Why do hounds have floppy ears

 All the pictures that you see on this post are of hounds with floppy ears. If you are like me, you have often wondered why hounds have floppy ears.

Truthfully, on the surface, it seems like a detriment to the little guys. The floppy ears tend to trap bacteria and nasty stuff (that is not a medical term, I am not a veterinarian, nor do I play one on T.V. :) ) and this leads to infection. The floppy ears also tend to get caught on things. Our little Beagle, Cody, had to make an emergency trip to the veterinarian on Friday afternoon last week because he got a splinter caught in his ear. The splinter actually pierced through the ear and was very painful to him. We are still not sure how it happened. But the fact that Cody’s ears are floppy did not help here.

From an auditory perspective, you would not think that the floppy skin and cartilage hanging down would impair the hearing. So, I dont suppose the floppy ears have much to do with enhanced hearing.

They are really cute. I suppose that may be enough reason for most of us but, I dont think that is exactly it either.

It turns out that there is another possibility. Look at our friend the Bloodhound in the picture (he is the guy with the loose skin above to the left (with the tree behind him). 

The Bloodhound has really loose skin around the jowls and the head. His ears are really long and floppy.

The Bloodhound is also known for his acute sense of smell and his tracking ability.

It turns out that the floppy ears and loose skin around the mouth and near the nose contributes to his great sense of smell (not to mention his overall cuteness). 

The large "lips" and long ears help to stir up and perhaps even catch these little scent molecules. (For those of you who attended public schools within the last decade, you can not see molecules, they are microscopic. It is beyond the scope of this post to explain in greater details, just trust me here). This does aid in the Bloodhounds acute sense of smell.

I think that is probably the real reason that we have bred the hounds to have those floppy ears. 

From a historical perspective , until relatively recently, within the last century or so, we bred dogs more for functionality than for appearance.

The hounds were bred to hunt and track. When you think about this, it is very desirable to have the long floppy ears. Since it aids in the scent detection ability, it is quite an advantageous and desirable trait.

So, now you know :). I really do think this is why we have so many hound breeds with floppy ears. Even the sight hounds tend to have floppy ears even though they are generally smaller than those of the scent hounds. 

The sense of smell is very important to any hound, I suppose.

But remember, as I have written before, cleaning the ears of these floppy eared guys is really important. Check them regularly and clean them regularly!

As always, if you have any dog or dog training questions, please contact me at anytime!

Till Next Time

-William-

William Moore 

William Moore Canine Training

678-702-4791

fayettedogtrainer@gmail.com

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Regarding confidentiality of customer information

I thought it prudent to write about an issue that has been in my thoughts a lot lately.

As many of you are aware, I also own a Lawn Maintenance and Handyman business. Copper and I quite frequently purchase materials for business related projects at the Lowes store in Fayetteville, GA. 

Lowes has recently partnered with Porch.com. Porch.com is a marketing service. The electronic service that they provide is intended to match homeowners that are looking for home improvement contractors with contractors in the area that can do the work. It is similar to Yelp.com. 

I found some of their marketing material at the Lowes contractor desk and decided to create a profile on Porch.com for the Handyman business.

I like some things about Porch.com. The contractor can put up pictures of projects and provide a lot of information on the type of services that they provide.

However, there is one thing for which my gut feel, so to speak, was not good at all:

Porch provides a mechanism for new homeowners to discover who has worked at the address of their home. Part of this information is obtained by Porch through public record searches (i.e. building permits, etc.) I do not really have a problem with this because this is public information and can be obtained by anyone. However, Porch, very strongly encourages contractors to give them lots of information about jobs they have done, Much of the information they request is customer information that I consider confidential. They want to know how much I charged a customer for a particular job (like the projects that I post). They want to know the exact street address of the job (supposedly for the address search feature I mentioned). They do not want the customer name ( if they have the other information, I maintain that the name is easy to obtain).

In his gospel, Luke records the words of Jesus, " Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Sometimes we call this the golden rule. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Well, friends, I have to tell you, if I do business with you, I really do not want you telling strangers where I live and how much I paid you for the job. As the old folks that I grew up around used to say, "It just aint none of their business".

It might be kind of cool to find out who, in the past, did work at a house I just bought. It might be cool to find out how much the previous owners paid for a repair. However, if they wanted me to know they would have told me. I could have asked before I bought the house. And, just because a particular contractor worked at an address in the past, does not really mean that this contractor will be a good choice for a future job. It does not even mean that the contractor did the work properly the first time.

A Porch representative contacted me by phone and very strongly suggested that I disclose this sort of information about my customers. I never intended to disclose any of this information. I have a very strong information security background from my previous career as a computer network security consultant, I was curious, so I asked for documentation detailing the internal controls, if any, that Porch implements to secure the potential vulnerability of this sensitive data. This should be in their internal data security policies and procedures. I was promised this information. What I got was names of contractors who have disclosed customer information to Porch. Porch wants me to contact these contractors for testimonials regarding how great it is to disclose sensitive customer information to a marketing company like Porch. Well.... No Thanks.

So, I strongly suggest that you, as a consumer, insist that personally identifiable information about your deal with your contractor remain confidential. I often use pictures and/or descriptions of the work that I do for customers as a marketing tool. Sometimes, I will give a broad description of the geographical area of the work, i.e. North Fayette County, GA.  However, I never disclose the customers name, address, nor any details of the deal (i.e. cost, time to complete, etc.) I am proud of my work but, your confidentiality is important to me as well!

I realize that this does not really apply directly to Dog Training. However, it does give you some idea of my position regarding business ethics and I thought it important to include here.

-Till Next Time

William

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Anxiety

Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure:

Please remember: It is a GOOD THING that a dog shows you that he is anxious or uncomfortable, rather than going straight to a bite. Never punish a dog for showing that he wants to be left alone by growling, leaving the situation or demonstrating more subtle signs. If you punish a dog for growling or breaking a stay to get way from a situation you might suppress the warning or avoidance behavior and he might just bite without warning first the next time. The dog still feels exactly the same way about the thing that is bothering him, but now he has no way to show it and no way out of the situation.

Be glad if your dog gives a warning to person that make it anxious and take steps to modify the behavior of the individuals, condition the dog to enjoy the interaction and create safe spaces for both dog and human.

Signs of Anxiety:
These signs indicate that your dog is uncomfortable with the current situation and there is a need for intervention to prevent pushing the dog to the point of biting, and to make sure your canine friend is happy and not feeling anxious.


One Paw Raised:
This is very cute but the dog is not happy and does not want to be petted or bothered.


Half Moon Eye:
The dog just wants to be left alone. Watch for this one when kids are mauling the dog. This is a common expression in dogs that being hugged. If you see the half moon eye when the people approach the dog or are interacting with the dog, its time to intervene and give them all something else to do.


Displacement Behaviors:
Displacement behaviors are normal behaviors displayed out of context. They indicate conflict and anxiety. The dog wants to do something, but he is suppressing the urge to do it. He displaces the suppressed behavior with something else such as a lick or a yawn. For example, you are getting ready to go out and the dog hopes to go too. He is not sure what will happen next. He wants to jump on you or run out the door, but instead he yawns. The uncertainty of the situation causes conflict for the dog and the displacement behaviors are a manifestation of that conflict.

Some examples of displacement behaviors include:
yawning when not tired
licking chops without the presence of food
sudden scratching when not itchy
sudden biting at paws or other body part
sudden sniffing the ground or other object
wet dog shake when not wet or dirty

These are all things that dogs do anyway. It is important to look at the context to determine whether the dog is feeling anxious. For example: if it is bedtime and the dog gets up, stretches, yawns and goes to her bed, then that yawn was not a displacement behavior. If the kids are hugging the dog or lying on him and he yawns or starts licking at them over and over then this is displacement. He wants to get up and leave or even to bite, but he displaces that with yawning or licking them or himself. In this context the licking or yawning behavior tells you that the dog is uncomfortable with whatever the kids are doing and it is time for you to intervene. You must then either prevent the kids from doing this in the future or use positive training techniques to teach the dog to enjoy (not just tolerate) these actions from the kids.

Avoidance Behaviors:
Sometimes dogs are more overt when they feel anxious and want to remove themselves from a situation. Please dont force a dog to stay in situation in which he feels anxious, especially if children are the source of his anxiety. Here are some examples:

the dog gets up and leaves an uncomfortable situation (he may bite rather than leaving one of these days)
turning head away
hiding behind person or object
barking and retreating
the dog rolls over on back in submissive way (please dont hurt me!)

Other Body Language Signs of Anxiety:
tail between legs
tail low and only the end is wagging
tail between legs and wagging
tail down or straight for curly-tailed dog (husky, malamute, pug, chow chow, spitz-type dogs etc.)
ears sideways for erect eared dog
ears back and very rapid panting
dog goes into another room away from you and urinates or defecates

Note: All dogs should have a safe place, such as a crate or mat that they can go to when they want to be left alone.

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