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An ever-increasing number of pet owners apparently favor training schools, over the do-it-yourself strategy. Canine training schools can be quite expensive. However, if you lack the essential practical knowledge, or time to allocate to this task, these schools can be found to carry out every thing on your behalf.
Training schools for dogs have started to appear throughout almost every city across north america as well as Europe. Adding quite a bit of hype and also pitch to their promises, quite a few also offer a refund in full if they will not succeed. Many of these schools could possibly be the sole choice for a number of dog owners, whose insufficient knowledge leaves them no other choice.
Many pet owners declare that the money charged by those schools is substantial and unjustified. Nevertheless, when you take an instant to consider the actual costs, such as foodstuff, supplies, and training location, you would soon come to fully grasp not all the charges go into their wallets. There are substantial expenses, not to mention the job salaries for experienced dog handlers. Considering that a background check is conducted on the instructor, exactly what better location is there for your dog to find out to behave?
Prepare yourself to confront the effects associated with taking your dog to training school. A number of dogs can come to feel the strain piling up and react accordingly. Equip yourself with a bag along with a scoop, seeing as these are the most common signals associated with anxiety. Keep your dog on a leash, and look out for what exactly interests them and what doesn’t. It’s likely they will not like a number of his or her fellow schoolmates very much and wish to take action.
Ultimately, never pass on a bad attitude toward the animal, attempt to relax and enjoy your self and the dog should probably do precisely the same. Always keep your pet amused by drawing their focus towards you, at least until he or she has had a chance to become familiar with the atmosphere.
With fresh laws coming forth relating to public behavior regarding dogs, training classes are the final and only useful resource for some pet owners. For breeds for example the Boxer, or the Pit Bull, dog keepers will want to place more caution on their instruction so that it will save their dog from being put to sleep by local authorities should anything terrible happen.
Are you considering taking your dog to dog training school? Read more of the facts about dog training schools.
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Mar 01, 2010 | | Dog Obedience
If you’re looking for information on how to train a dog, then I’m glad you’ve found this article. The aim of this article is to give you clear and concise information about how to train your dog. The article is split into three sections to make things easy for you.
House Training Your Dog - The First Step
Before you actually start training your dog, you must observe your dog carefully, in order to spot his/her habits. If you are able to see a pattern to when the accidents happen, it’s well worth making a note in a diary for future reference.
By analysing your dog’s patterns of behaviour in this way, you might be able to get to the bottom of why things happen at certain times. For example, if your dog only makes a mess when you are away for a long time.
Why Do Dogs Have Accidents?
A number of different factors can be the reason why your dog has accidents. For example:
* When upset. For example, if it’s scared by loud thunder.
* If the dog doesn’t want to go outside during bad weather, it may sneakily soil inside the house.
* If your dog only soils in the house whenever you are away, then this could be a sign of separation anxiety. To solve this problem, it could be just a case of taking it out for more walks and generally giving it more attention when you are around.
How To House Train A Dog
The most important factor in training your dog is to establish a clear routine and toilet place. Take your dog outside to the area on a leash at regular times. If it does its business in its proper area, then make a fuss of the dog and give it a treat.
However, if your dog doesn’t do its mess in its outside toilet area, then just take it back in the house and repeat the routine later on. If you see any dog mess anywhere in the house, then one possible option is to keep the dog in just a few rooms of the house. Keep taking the dog outside at the regular times, and eventually it should realize that this is where it should do its doggie business.
It’s actually much easier to house train a dog than you might realize. Any problems you may have whilst trying to train a dog can simply be fixed with a few simple secret methods which nobody else is likely to tell you. Don’t be one of the many people who end up with an out of control dog. Visit TrainYourDogEasily.info to find out how you can house train a dog simply.
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Dec 16, 2009 | | Dog Obedience
Could there really exist the perfect dog? One that is an all-around fantastic hunting dog? A canine that is not only an affectionate and playful family pet, but who is also handsome enough to enter the show ring… and win? Impossible, you say? Well, no, but he is unique. Let me introduce this dog to you:
The German Shorthaired Pointer is a sporting dog par excellence, having achieved the distinction of earning more than 100+ Dual Championships since the 1950’s. Only one other breed, the Brittany Spaniel, can claim this honor.
Development of the German Shorthaired Pointer began in Germany – logically enough – in about 1860, or perhaps a little earlier. Until about the middle of the 19th century, hunting privileges had been reserved for the titled and wealthy, who kept large kennels of various kinds of hunting dogs, each with his special purpose.
But with the advent of social change, the sport became available to men of more humble circumstances, and they needed an all-around hunting dog of moderate speed, excellent nose, pointing, flushing and retrieving ability; one who could work closely as well, for this new type of hunter traveled on foot and had no need for far-ranging hounds whose quarry might be miles away.
Well that is quite a tall order to say the least! But patient and imaginative German breeders – to whom we owe so many of our finest sporting and working dogs – embarked on the undertaking with their customary optimism and zeal.
The Pointer Who Started It All
Modern authorities disagree on all but one point: the basic stock was founded upon an Old Spanish Pointer, then very popular in Germany. This fellow was a large-boned, rough-coated, liver-and-white canine with a broad head, and – most important of all – the instinct to pause momentarily before flushing game.
His faults seem to have been a poor nose, a sluggish gait and a surly disposition. It is generally conceded that the Hounds of St. Hubert, which were described by George Turberville in 1607:
“The black hounds originally came from St. Hubert’s Abbey in Ardene. These are the hounds which the Abbots of St. Hubert’s have always kept in honor and remembrance of the Saint, whereupon we may conceive that all good huntsmen shall follow them into Paradise.”
According to historian Edward C. Ash, “these dogs were found mighty of body with short legs, and slow; the bloodhounds of this color prove good, especially those which are very dark and coal black.”
It has also been suggested that the developing breed was crossed with the bloodhound, the foxhound, the setter and almost certainly with the English Pointer to improve the nose; but since no accurate records were kept prior to 1900, and hot dispute over the exact origin abounds, it is impossible to state with certainty all crosses that were tried.
Breeding Gone Wrong
At first the experimental breeding produced some haphazard – even grotesque – results. The breeders themselves were secretive and at odds with each other. There were those who stubbornly pursued perfection of head and ear, others who strove for leaner bodies and longer legs, and still others who were concerned with coat color.
Historians of the breed credit a Hanoverian prince named Albrecht zu Salms-Brauenfels with a major role in the animal’s development. It was he, who, in the midst of the confusion, counseled the breeders to stress performance rather than beauty; to breed only the dogs with the desired hunting abilities, predicting that, in time, the lineaments would take care of themselves. The principle of “form follows function” is true in any anatomical physiological development: the body will adapt to the uses to which it is put.
Note: It is interesting to note that this theory closely parallels the thinking of Charles Darwin, whose writings first appeared in 1858.
This excellent advice was ignored by many; but those who were wise enough to follow Prince Albrecht’s suggestions began to produce the very promising forerunner of the German Shorthaired Pointer. Subsequent inbreeding and linebreeding resulted in the dog we know today – a first-rate sporting animal.
Welcome To The American Kennel Club
In 1883 a Shorthair – Nero von Hopenrade – distinguished himself in the German Derby. Then, several decades later the German Shorthaired Pointer Club of America was formed in 1930, and the breed was accepted by the American Kennel Club that same year.
The modern Shorthair weights 60 to 80 pounds and stands 23 to 25 inches at the shoulder. He is a compact animal, with a straight, short back, a deep chest, substantial neck and broad skull. His head is almost rectangular in profile with very little stop, although his brow line creates the impression of a stop.
He has broad, high-set, close-handing ears, nicely rounded at the tip. His coat is short, smooth, and hard, and may be solid liver-and-white, or speckled liver-and-white with solid liver head and ears. He has large nostrils, a square muzzle, and his nose is slightly darker than his coat. His tail is docked to two-fifths its natural length.
A Great Personality
In personality, he is cheerful and eager; he wriggles all over with pleasure at greeting those he loves – and he is quick to accept visitors. He is not a guard dog, but will bark at the approach of strangers until he is satisfied they are welcomed by the family – then he will make friends readily. He is intensely curious. He has been known to recover lost objects, such as a slipper, a glove, or even a camera.
In character, the Shorthair is an enthusiastic and obedient aide to the foot-hunter of small game. He is happiest and most useful when in his natural element – the field – energetically and efficiently using both sight and scent in finding the best-camouflaged bird or animal in the most dense brush.
Hunting Is Where This Breed Is Most Happy
He especially excels in hunting quail, pheasant or duck. The well-trained Shorthair will stand at point a few feet from the quarry until the hunter reaches shooting range; he will then advance slowly – but inexorably – until the bird has been driven into the air, and he will then retrieve – from land or water – the hunter’s prize.
He works closely and quietly, getting his scent from the air – although he can, when necessary, track from spoor, and is used successfully for upland game shooting as well.
He is keen and willing and seemingly tireless. He goes about his job with a workmanlike concentration, and is so determined to accomplish his task that he has been known to retrieve game from trees! With these attributes, then, it is not surprising that he can readily learn the exercises necessary to win Field Championships.
Shining In The Show Ring
What is remarkable, however, is his fine record in the show ring, where an entirely different set of talents is required. It is a tribute to the integrity of his breeders and to the skill and patience of his handlers that so often the very same dog who has won a Field Championship has walked off with Best in Show as well, earning the rare and coveted title of Dual Champion.
Reputable breeders deplore the practice noted in recent years of sacrificing field ability by inbreeding particularly beautiful specimens to get show dogs or, conversely, neglecting acceptable conformation to get field ability alone.
Such irresponsible breeding can cost the Shorthair its Dual Championship potential, and negate the painstaking work of those who developed the breed. With the Shorthair’s growing popularity, this is a real danger, presenting, as it does, the temptation to make quick profits by prolific but indiscriminate breeding.
German Shorthaired Pointers Are Not For Everyone
Despite his proficiency in the field and in competition, the Shorthair is not for everyone. The ebullience which makes him the bane of the man who wants a quiet chair-side companion.
According to the opinion from expert breeders, the person who should not consider the breed is the man or woman who wants a beautiful backyard animal but is unwilling to build a suitable dog run; or the owner who has neither the time nor the inclination to give this highly energetic fellow some useful work to do.
Normal home training of the young Shorthair should begin early, just as with any newly acquired pup; he will be toilet trained, restrained from undesirable behavior, and introduced to collar and lead as readily as any other breed, for he has in desire to please; but training for work in the field is a very different matter, and must not be rushed. Here the aim is to capitalize on the Shorthair’s natural instincts, not repress them.
The very young puppy will joyously and spontaneously flush and pursue any furred or feathered creature, but he soon learns that he cannot catch a bird on the wing, and quite sensibly concludes that he must approach more cautiously. Pointing is a natural instinct with the Shorthair.
A dog is considered to have stood at point when he halts in his tracks, all alertness and keen concentration, and gazes intently at the quarry, leaning forward slightly, and remaining motionless from extended tail to lowered nose. If he raises a foreleg, so much the better – and most Shorthairs do; but this gesture is not the criterion.
Such a dog must be carefully bred and carefully trained, if he is to retain his natural love of sport throughout his life. He must introduced to swimming, seeking, and finding and retrieving games. He is ready for this introduction at about three months; but he must never be pushed into serious work or chastised for errors until he is mature and fully prepared for work in the field.
It may take the dog a year to reach this stage of development, or it may take as long as two years. The perceptive trainer will know when his particular animal can accept commands and corrections. For instance, if, on point, a dog is given the command “Hold!” and if he thereupon tucks his tail and acts afraid, the experienced trainer will realize he is pushing the dog too hard too soon.
The pup’s not yet ready, and the trainer will wait a little longer, meanwhile continuing with the games – for he will not want to destroy the dog’s eagerness for the sport, his willingness, his initiative, or his joy in doing his job.
Thought the Shorthair is hardy and reliable when properly handled, he is sensitive and can be permanently ruined if you attempt to force a high-spirited, adventurous pup to perform beyond his level of maturity. But the time will come, soon enough.
A Word About The Prevention Of Gun-Shyness
The same principle applies here as with the other aspects of the Shorthair’s training. The key is gradual, gentle introduction to the sound of a shot, almost without the puppy’s being aware of it. While he is engrossed in sniffing out game – or better yet – when he has caught the scent – fire a cap pistol at some distance. He will barely notice.
The next day, fire the cap pistol a little closer, two or three times; and be sure that the first time a real shot is fired the dog is intent upon his find and you are seventy-five or a hundred yards away. Soon he will grow accustomed to the sound of a gun and will associated it with his favorite game.
An Ideal Family Dog
The temperament of the Shorthair makes him an ideal family dog. He accepts and loves all members of the household equally. He will sleep indoors or in the kennel. He desires to please and responds to praise and joyfully participates in games or work. He is extremely easy to maintain, and does well on a diet of good commercial dog food, with vitamin supplements added as necessary.
He can be obedience-trained, but may require a bit more patience on the part of the trainer and a little more time for this work than do dogs which are bred primarily for obedience work.
Needless to say, children love him as a companion, for he will gaily chase a ball until their arms tire of throwing it; and he loves nothing better than a romp and a swim at the beach or river, or a walk in the woods where he can explore to his heart’s content.
The German Shorthaired Pointer is an elite-type among sporting dogs, a source of infinite pride and pleasure to his trainer, and a beautiful and affectionate member of the family.
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May 17, 2009 | | Dog Obedience
Many people pick a small dog as a pet for their family because of the ease of obedience training small dogs to be good house pets. Small dog breed obedience training is considered simpler than obedience training other types of dogs because small dogs are intelligent, attentive, easier to control, and are eager to please their masters. There are two different methods of small dog breed obedience training that are commonly used and each type of obedience training has its pros and cons so masters will need to pick the best small dog breed obedience training method for them and their pet.
Professional Obedience Training
There are many professional dog instructors that have experience in small dog breed obedience training and can teach the dog the things that the master wants them to learn. Professional instructors often have years of experience and can obtain results quickly, depending on the dog. They can also devote more of their time to small dog breed obedience training because it is their job and they are getting paid to teach the dog properly.
The biggest disadvantage of choosing a professional for small dog breed obedience training is the cost, which can cost hundreds of dollars depending on how long the obedience training takes. Small dog breed obedience training will take place when the instructor is available, which may be difficult to schedule if the master works long or abnormal hours. There are some obedience training centers that will keep the small dog at their facility for several weeks to complete the obedience training quickly, but the master will not be present for the sessions and may forget how to reinforce the obedience training that the dog received.
Personal Obedience Training
Many people train their small dogs themselves by using obedience training materials and techniques created by professional dog instructors. Obedience training the dog personally is preferred because it allows the obedience training to be done at a rate that is comfortable for both the dog and the master. It also allows the small dog breed obedience training to take place at a time that is convenient for the master, as daily life may make it hard to devote the same amount of time to obedience training the dog every day.
Small dog breed obedience training takes a great deal of dedication on the part of the master to teach the dog everything that they need to know to make good house pets. Teaching a small dog how to perform certain actions takes repetition and positive reinforcement. The dog will need to learn what is expected of them and how to signal certain desires in ways that the master understands. Small dog breed obedience training also takes patience as some things are learned faster than others and the techniques used for teaching the dog a task may need to be revised and tailored to each individual dog.
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May 14, 2009 | | Dog Breeds, Dog Obedience
For all the dog lovers out there it goes without saying that a new dog for the family should come from a shelter or breed rescue group. While the shelter works with all breeds that are dropped off, rescue groups work with one specific breed. Both strive to prepare their animals as best possible to be adoptable (training, care, health).
At the same time that a shelter or rescue group prepares a puppy or dog for adoption, they also try to find eligible adopters. Both types of organizations place advertisements on the Internet and in local newspapers that describe available animals. Potential adopters might respond by phone or e-mail, or visit in person.
However, not all potential adopters make the grade. Many facilities have very strict guidelines and restrictions on who gets one of their puppies. For example, the following criteria is standard for people looking to adopt a pup from a high-quality shelter or rescue group:
1) A stay-at-home parent (or one that works from home) should be present. This is because puppies can’t stay alone in a crate for more than a couple of hours.
2) There should also be another dog in the family that the new puppy can learn from. This helps immensely in the pup’s socialization.
3) A fence is mandatory if there are children in the house younger than the age of six.
4) And finally, a commitment from the adopter to continue socialization and a willingness to take the pup to professional training.
Just as rescue groups and animal shelters are fussy about who can adopt their puppies, potential adopters should be equally fussy as to whom they adopt a puppy from. For example, at a shelter, there should be co-housing: puppies housed with other puppies for critical socialization to dogs.
Also, the premises should be clean, and there should be appropriate toys and bedding with the puppies. There should be some sort of program or schedule for getting the puppies out of the kennel to interact with people and see different sights and sounds.
Visitors to a shelter should be greeted by a pleasant and knowledgeable staff member or volunteer. Both shelters and rescue groups should be able to provide information on why the puppy was brought to a shelter or into rescue, confirmation that the puppy has received all immunizations, and information on other resources such as owner counseling or dog training.
Once the shelter or rescue group passes your approval, a prospective adopter should look closely at the puppy he or she is interested in before making a final decision to adopt. A puppy that shows signs of illness or poor care – such as excessive amount of fleas as an example – should be avoided. The dog should have no diarrhea on his rear and hind legs, no discharge, and you want a puppy who shows an interest in you and is at least somewhat active.
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May 11, 2009 | | Dog Obedience
It’s not unusual to want a calm and obedient dog. It’s not common to want the relaxed and faithful type either. If you have a happy and obedience trained dog you are way more likely to experience less hassles and more comfort when around other dogs. Many communities wants your dog to be well trained as well. This rings true for the aggressive type dogs like pitbulls and rottweilers, especially.
If your home has young children having a trained dog will of course increase the families happiness and make your dog a much better family companion. Lots of research has been done to prove that a well trained dog helps avoid serious dog biting and other dog behavioural problems that ususally appear in dog owners homes.
If you don’t want a professional dog trainer to do the job for you then training it using basic commands is something you must do. This is needed for your dog to be considered a fully trained dog.
Here are some basic commands:
* Heel – a dog should be able to walk besides their owner in a calm manner without lagging behind.
* Respond to the word No – using the simple yet effective word “no” is something your dog absolutely MUST learn. If you teach it to respond well to this word you’ll save tons of valuable time.
* Sit – Obvously one of the most basic commands “sit” is an abosulte must to teach your dog from an early stage and is vital for any well outlined dog training program.
* Stay – Another important one is the simple command “stay” which should be used to make sure your dog stays when you want it to stay.
* Down – Making your dog lie down with a command is a powerful tool and not only a “cute trick” like many people think. It’s a vital component for most dog training programs as well.
Training your dog successfully is not only a way to create an obedient dog, but it’s helping a companion and friend. It will increase the bond you have to your dog and it will also help increase the strenght of your relationship, really, really well. To successfully train your dog to follow your lead it’s vital to establish yourself as the pack-leader, because dogs are pack animals and are forced to follow a strong lead, much like humans.
be the pack leader and maintain the power and control is a dog trainers most vital concepts to understand. If you are the dominant animal in the pack you are the leader since dog packs only have one leader and you have established yourself as the leader you’ll experience a much more fulfilling dog ownership. Missing this can result in TONS of behavioural problems!
A comfortable and well trained dog will properly take the action mentioned in the command. He will not be anxious or confused. A good dog training program allows the dog to learn and expect any command at any time and will be willing to act upon commands. He’ll be positive and reward desired behaviours as you have taught him to do so.
It’s not only about being a good member of the local community, but obedience training is also a great fulfilling way to make your dog have great exercise and security. This is of course easily managed when the dogs knows what to expect and has a feeling of accomplishment when he performs an important job. He’ll also feel as though he has a tangible goal to reach.
Making your dog perform little jobs is very important. If you didn’t know; Dogs were used as a means of labour and originally bred by humans. They used to herd sheep and protect property, as well as helping protect people. If the dog doesn’t have some fun task to do they can get bored and this is also what leads to “behavioural” problems and boredom.
You may want to look into basic obedience training and have a lot of ongoing training sessions to make sure the dog always stays alert and has an important job. If you have a german shepherd or border collie this is even more important. Having multiple training sessions each week helps your dog gain more energy and has a time to enjoy themselves.
It’s also a great idea to incorporate playtime and fun into your activities. This helps prevent boredom on both yours and the dogs end. This also helps bond with the dog and establish YOU as the pack-leader!
- Jenny
PS: For the best dog training guide I’ve personally found so far I want to recommend it to you so you can benefit from it as much as I have.
Here it is, just click and read more about it -> www.DogCareSecret.com/Sit-Stay-Fetch
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Jul 09, 2008 | | Dog Obedience
The purpose of obedience training is to teach the dog to behave nicely with people around them. Successful dog obedience training leads to a happy dog. The most important requirement of obedience dog training is trust.
The dog should have complete trust on its owner. Otherwise, obedience dog training becomes difficult. Through this training, an individual can teach dog positive behaviors and diminish the unwanted behaviors. For example, to teach the dog not to bark, first teach the dog to bark on command. Once the dog knows this command, teach the dog to be silent on other command.
Another behavior that people desire to modify in their pet dogs is to prevent a dog from chewing things. The solution to this problem is to let the dogs play with toys. The toys can be in the same shape of some household item. For example, if the dog likes to chew shoes, give toys resembling shoes. Never give a dog too many toys in one go. This leaves the dog confused.
Biting, pulling clothes, chewing, jumping are the playful habits of dogs to gather attention. Dogs are difficult to train than puppies. Hence, training should start once the pup is born so that these tendencies do not become behavioral problems. Patience is required to train an adult dog.
Reward the dog for good behavior. This is the most ardent step in obedience dog training. This procedure boosts and cultures good habits in the dog. The dog follows the instructions appropriately. This leads to an amiable relationship between the owner and the dog.
Most dog trainers feel that positive reinforcement training is the best way to train a dog. Positive reinforcement training is a better process to train the dog. However, it is a slow process. During the training, take care to scold the dog less.
This leads to negative feelings in the dog. However, penalize the dog. It does not mean to punish. In case of misbehaving, a leash jerk or ignoring the dog is enough to make the dog guilty.
It is a good idea to do some research on the breed, unique characteristics of the dog. Different breeds of dogs have different characteristics. Hence, they behave differently to the same situation.
Always be regular and maintain a routine of the training. This makes the dog more efficient. Dogs are attentive for a short span of time. Hence, keep the training short and simple. The basic commands of obedience dog training are to sit, stand and come.
For example, always use “sit” for the dog to sit. Never use “sit” one time, and “sit down” the other time. This is confusing for the dog.
One of the methods of dog obedience training is the clinker method. This is also known as operating conditioning. It includes a device that produces a sound when pressed. Carry out this training in a place where there is minimal distraction.
Call out the dog’s name. When the dog responds, click and give it a treat. Repeat this several times. Thus, the dog associates the click or the sound with a corresponding treat.
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Mar 11, 2008 | | Dog Obedience
