Category Archives for "Dog Training"

Online Dog Classes Benefits

By Training A Puppy | Dog Training

These courses can be taken at your own pace, and they’re convenient for busy people who want to learn more about training dogs.

It’s important to remember that online training courses aren’t meant to replace hands-on instruction from an experienced trainer. They’re a great way to supplement your existing knowledge, but they shouldn’t be your only source of information.

Online dog training courses can teach you how to train your dog using humane methods that are based on positive reinforcement rather than punishment or other negative techniques. These methods are based on scientific research into how dogs learn, and they help you build a strong relationship with your pet so that he will want to please you when you ask him to perform certain behaviors.

The courses also give you the opportunity to ask questions and get answers from an experienced trainer as well as other dog owners who are taking the course. You can also network with other people who have similar interests in training their pets. There are many different types of online dog training courses available, so look for an online dog training course that focuses on the specific problem areas that you’re having with your pet.

 

Online dog training courses can also help you learn how to meet your dog’s physical and mental needs. Dogs aren’t just pets; they’re members of your family who need exercise, socialization and affection just like you do. A good online course will teach you how to find time for these things while still fitting in all the other responsibilities of your life.

There are a number of online dog training courses available, and most offer free introductory lessons. These courses usually require you to enroll in order to access the rest of the material, but they’re well worth it if you want your dog to be well behaved and don’t have time for traditional training classes.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a way to bond with your dog and improve his behavior, an online dog training course is the perfect solution. These courses are designed by experts and are easy to follow at any pace, so whether you’re busy or just want some extra help training your pooch, these courses will prove invaluable.

How long does a grooming appointment take?

By Training A Puppy | Dog Health , Dog Training

Depending on the condition of the coat, size of the pet, and type of groom performed, an appointment can last from 30 minutes for an extra small short-haired dog or kitten, to 3 hours for an extra large long-haired dog. The average time, however, is one to two hours. This is one of the greatest advantages to mobile grooming in Boca Raton. In a normal salon situation, your pet may need to be away from home anywhere from three hours to all day. All this extra time away from home, and away from their pet parents, adds unnecessary stress to the grooming experience.

How do I prepare my pet for the grooming appointment?

On grooming day, be sure to take your dog for a walk prior to their appointment. Do not feed your dog or cat right before handing him over to the groomer. It is not abnormal for your dog to shake when he gets close to the groomer. Much of this is caused by the stress of knowing that their beloved pet parent will be leaving them for awhile, as well as fear of the unknown with a new groomer. It could also be anticipation over frightening sounds, or being in a kennel. Pets are smart and can anticipate what is coming. They love to put on a show for their pet parents making them feel guilty about leaving them behind.

Once inside, however, most pets know the drill, and are quite content once their owners leave. It is best not to make a fuss over them if they show anxiety over leaving you. Our pets are extremely intuitive and will pick up on your feelings of worry or guilt, making it harder on both you and your pet.

Mobile dog grooming Boca Raton service is slightly different. First, as above, please be sure you don’t feed your pet and give them time to relieve themselves just prior to an appointment. Make sure to have your pet ready to go, whether in a carrier in the case of cats, or ready to be leashed in the case of dogs.

Because mobile grooming occurs right at your doorstep your pets shouldn’t show any anxiety prior to their appointment. In their minds they are going on an adventure and they don’t need to feel left behind by their pet parent. Please remember, groomers time is valuable, and it will delay the process and could add unnecessary charges if they have to wait for you to capture your pet.

Do I need to be there while you are grooming my pet?

No. It will be easier on your pet if they cannot observe you while they are being groomed. Their natural instinct is to want to be with you. You should be available during the first meeting with your pet since the groomers need to talk about your expectations and they will be offering suggestions to make Fluffy’s grooming more pleasant. After that, if you have pre-arranged payment, it is not necessary for you to stay at home during the grooming process.

Choosing Dog Names

By Training A Puppy | Dog Health , Dog Training

Whether you’ve brought home a new puppy or you’ve adopted a older dog from the shelter, you are going to have to think of a name for him that suits him and you! While you may have a list of male dog names planned out, you may realize that they are pretty inappropriate to the dog that you actually have and more often than not, you’ll find yourself going back to the drawing board with regards to your new canine companion. There are lots of things to keep in mind when you are naming your dog, some of which are not obvious until you think about it.

The first thing to do is to make sure that your dog’s name isn’t going to embarrass you if you need to call for him in a crowded park. Try it before you get his collar engraved. Go to your back doorstep and try yelling his name. If you blush or have problems doing that, than you might want to reconsider.

Remember, there are a lot of sources to get ideas from. There are spanish dog names with meanings that can help you find a catchy name with a story behind it.

Think about what your dog will respond to. “Ozymandius” is a bit of a mouthful, and your dog will have trouble understanding that the multiple syllables refer to him. On the other hand “Ozy” is a good compromise because it has a hard distinct consonant sound that is easy to hear and that your dog will be able to easily distinguish from normal conversation.

Remember that there are other words that you want your dog to recognize besides his name, so give him a hand and don’t give him a name that is easily confused with a command word. “Kit” seems like a fine name for puppy until you start trying to teach him to sit, especially if you’ve been training him to come when you call his name!

Much like naming a child, you are going to want a name to that will grow with your dog. Naming him Tiny may be perfect when he’s a cute little ball of fluff, but it might get you some strange looks when you’re walking your St Bernard/German shepherd mix.

There are lots of places to get male or female dog names with meanings from. Get advice from family and friends and just get to know your new canine companion. Sometimes, the perfect name will present itself when you are playing with him, and sometimes, you just need to read or see the right thing. Your dog’s going to be with you for years to come, so make sure you’re happy with his name whether you’re telling him to drop the ball or signing him in for a vet visit!

How to name your new puppy?

By Training A Puppy | Dog Health , Dog Training

TV and TV Shows and movies such as the 101 Dalmatians are certainly a great starting point when searching for dog names. But, it is not the only place to find clever dog names. Do you listen to Sirius radio? You know their mascot is a dog. Sirius is a great dog name. On the radio you might hear some great dog names from bands and musicians. How about singers like Hendrix, Ozzy, Bach, Zappa or Carlos Santana. Famous bands offer up some very clever dog names, like Incubus, Seether, Jefferson (Airplane) or Fleetwood (Mac).

Some clever dog names for pairs of dogs could be Friar and Tuck or Friar Tuck and Robin Hood, Mai and Tai, General and Sherman, Anthony and Cleopatra, Cheech and Chong, Bonnie and Clyde, Adam and Eve, Abbott and Costelo, or Willie and Wonka.

Finding clever dog names are easy, no matter where you choose to look. Have fun with them and be sure to pick a name that you and your puppy will enjoy for years to come. Get creative and you are sure to find great dog names.

Very simple methods on how to teach a dog not to growling

By Training A Puppy | Dog Training

So why do adult dogs growl? Be aware that hostile behavior is in fact the norm to dogs in their own individual habitation. Growling, featuring their tooth, snarling, and biting are kinds of communication. Lack of control towards human beings is a way for the dog to establish itself as alpha dog. It can express when the owner does not consider appropriate methods to properly educate and socialize the dog.

Below are a few helpful tips to obtain in the right direction pertaining to house training an older dog.

Provide your dog plenty of appropriate chew toys to chew most. Since mouthing is definitely natural and dogs need to have something to chew on after that some great options include meaty your bones, chew playthings,(nevertheless safe goods) your dog loves to play with.

When you are playing with your dog and he actually starts to mouth or nip anyone, you must choose the level as well as amount of getting mad that is suitable to you. For example, you may tend to allow him to effect you softly with his tooth but some sort of medium nip might be too much. On the other hand, you could possibly prefer which he only riff or oral cavity your hand rather then applying pressure. In either case, it is a personal decision.

Another technique that works well, particularly with puppies who can do this lots, is to let them know that his or her actions injured. A small yelp or even whining noise will trigger in their head as a a dangerous thing – precisely the same response that their litter mates received when they nipped the other person.

Rather than locking your pet up inside a cage, it is best to introduce him to brand-new surroundings in addition to environments. Deliver him for you to parks in which dog owners collect, and allow him or her to play along with other dogs. It’s very important that you reward and pay back your pet regarding his good and tranquil behavior. However, if your dog behaves erratically in his brand new environment, take him absent. Never neglect or punish your pet dog when this happens. It can only intensify matters.

It is very important that you act right away for housebreaking an older doggy and make them learn that growling down hard is incorrect. Equipped with proper information you can find on Petsium.com you can begin educating your dog not to growl.

Teach a Dog to Fetch

By Training A Puppy | Dog Training

How to Teach a Dog to Fetch

How to teach a dog to fetch and teaching your dog any new tricks can seem like a very big challenge.

However, you should remember that teaching your dog to fetch should be an enjoyable experience for both you and your dog.

A time for you to relax and bond.

With a few small tips and step-by-step instructions, this challenge can be easily accomplished.

Learning How to Teach a Dog to Fetch

It is very important to remember that you should always remain relaxed when training your dog, because any stress on your part can be sensed by your dog, and a stressed dog does not learn.

So keep these things in mind, and you will soon know how to teach your dog to fetch. Find a small relaxing room to carry out the dog’s training.

This room should be free from distractions. Grab a handful of healthy dog treats, your dog’s favorite treat, and your dog of course.

Clicker Training Your Puppy

By Training A Puppy | Dog Training

To do clicker puppy training you need a dog clicker. This is a small inexpensive plastic device that makes a quick clicking sound. The sound is what allows you to mold the puppies behavior.

The main advantage of the clicker puppy training method is that with a clicker you can give a very quick response to a desired behavior in the form of a click. Timing of your responses is vital during training and a puppy clicker allows you to be far more accurate. Only correct behaviors are rewarded with a click and the puppy quickly connects the click with the immediately preceding behavior.

Puppy Clicker Training

When it comes to teaching your puppy basic commands, puppy clicker training is a great way to start. It’s a training method that is relatively easy to master and is one of the most effective ways for influencing your puppy’s behavior.

Once you’ve mastered puppy clicker training, you’ll have the ability to teach your puppy almost anything with ease.

How Does Puppy Clicker Training Work?

A clicker is a device that gives off a distinct sound that your puppy can hear from long distances away. The concept behind puppy clicker training is teaching your puppy to associate the sound of the clicker as a trigger for a specific behavior you want them to learn.

Your objective is to reinforce specific desirable behaviors using the sound of the clicker as a reward. You can quickly create this association by using a bag of treats as an incentive, and a cheap clicker purchased from the local pet store. Once the association has been created, you will find your puppy to be much more receptive to your commands as opposed to training them with verbal cues alone.

How to Approach Puppy Clicker Training

Puppy clicker training is best achieved through gradual stages. First, begin with encouraging your puppy to perform a specific behavior you want them to learn e.g. sit, stay, down, roll over etc. Once you have successfully persuaded them to perform they act, mark it with the sound of the clicker and reward accordingly.

It will not take long before your puppy begins to associate the desired behavior with the sound of the clicker and they will naturally repeat it every time the clicker is used.

Puppy clicker training is effective in this regard as it encourages an instant response from your puppy which allows you to immediately reinforce the behavior with a reward. Attempting to achieve the same results using verbal cues alone will often involve more time.

After you have successfully trained your puppy to perform the desired behavior using the clicker, reinforce the association through repetition but remember to replace using treats with alternative forms of reward, such as praise and or petting. Eventually, this will eliminate the need for you to use treats as a stimulus for your puppy to perform the desired act.

Replacing the Clicker with Verbal Commands

Once the desired behavior has been successfully reinforced, your puppy clicker training should then advance to using verbal commands as a medium to replace the clicker. Eventually, this will allow you to control your puppy’s behavior at anytime without the need for a clicker.

Your puppy clicker training should now involve using the verbal command for the behavior, reinforcing it using the sound of the clicker and then rewarding your puppy once they have successfully responded. Doing so will quickly teach your puppy to associate with all the steps and eventually, you will be able to get your puppy to perform the desired behavior on command without the need for treats or the clicker. Your puppy will simply attempt to please you by performing the learned behavior.

Sound puppy clicker training can effectively reduce the amount of time it takes to teach your puppy basic commands. It is relatively easy to master and can be applied in many ways. With effective puppy clicker training, you can ultimately apply it to reinforce virtually any behavior.

Studies show that training using a clicker can reduce the time taken to train by thirty three percent. The training seems to become deeply lodged in the dog’s brain, and can be recalled even years later with no practice in between. Clicker trained dogs have confidence and work with enthusiasm; they are also likely to be good problem solvers.

Another reason clicker training is so successful is because the human voice can vary so much. Not only do you need to praise your dog using the same words, but also using the same tone, loudness and emphasis. Using a mechanical tool to produce a ‘click’ will give the same sound every time and make it more obvious to your pet that he is performing the correctly.

Puppy Separation Anxiety

By Training A Puppy | Dog Training

Puppy separation anxiety is a frequent complaint among new puppy owners. If mild, it may make your puppy whine or bark when left alone. Left unresolved, his fear can gradually intensify. A severely anxious puppy is often destructive and disruptively loud.

A few of the behaviours that are commonly linked to separation anxiety are: urination and defecation in places that are inappropriate, excessive barking, destructive behaviour and whining. Even hyperactivity and depression could be indications of separation anxiety in your puppy. Of course, the behaviours could be warning signs of other problems as well.

What Causes Puppy Separation Anxiety?

The puppy has an instinctive need to be part of a pack. He feels frightened and insecure if there is no alpha, or dominant, leader to the group. Most of the time that he is anxious about being home alone, he is reacting not only to the lack of his pack mates, but actions that he has come to associate with your absence. This is why puppy separation anxiety often seems excessive.

When your puppy is observing you, he comes to realize that there is a normal sequence of events that take place each day. When he sees you going through your daily routine and expresses fear, you may attempt to comfort him, unknowingly giving positive reinforcement to his frightened reaction. In the end, you have a puppy who is consistently anxious when it is time for you to leave.

Reducing Puppy Separation Anxiety

Reducing puppy separation anxiety when it first appears is far easier than ignoring it until it becomes a serious problem. This article discusses a few simple methods to try as soon as you notice this is becoming a problem.

Do Something Different

If your morning schedules is the same from day to day, your puppy will have an easier time connecting your actions with his fear of being alone. Changing your routine makes a huge difference in breaking these connections in his mind. If you notice that one particular step of your preparations is when he begins to behave nervously, alter it somewhat.

Change the time that your alarm rings, get dressed after breakfast if you normally dress immediately upon waking, or pack your lunch before you shower. They may not seem like big changes to you, but to your puppy, they will make a big difference in helping him to feel less anxious.

Never Give Positive Reinforcement

It may seem to you that you are comforting a scared family member, but in your puppy’s mind, you are rewarding him for being scared. As inhumane as it sounds, the most effective way to reduce puppy separation anxiety is to ignore it. The first way to get him to stop being frightened of you leaving is to break any associations between your arrival or leaving with affection.

When you are going to or getting home from work, ignore him for the first or last quarter hour or so. Practice leaving the house and returning without making any fuss over the puppy. This is especially effective when combined with crate training or practicing putting him in a room by himself.

You’re Alpha, Not Mean!

As a responsible puppy owner, it is your job to prevent or address puppy separation anxiety by teaching him to be calm about being alone and secure in his rank in the family. Dealing with his anxiety will help prevent damage to your home, angry neighbors and preserve your pup’s mental and physical heath.

Once you’ve tried these methods, if he is still frightened, you need to take further steps to figure out a solution immediately. Dealing with these symptoms of anxiety in your puppy while they are still minor will help prevent him from having serious habits to break and feeling insecure about his position in the pack.

Handling Puppy Separation Anxiety

A number of ways exist to take care of separation anxiety in a dog; however, your two primary goals are:

• Ensure that the puppy find enjoyment during the period in which he is alone; well, perhaps “enjoyment” is a bad choice of word in this instance. Probably “tolerate” would be a better choice.
• Ensure that the puppy is occupied while it is alone at home.

Below are a few tips that can be made use of as a means of eliminating separation anxiety in puppies:

• Your puppy must be taught to be alone. Begin while the pet is still young. At first, you should start out slowly, short training sessions that are just about 5 to 10 minutes in length are considered to be a good start.
• It is important to note that there is absolutely no need for emotional, long goodbyes. If you have to go away from the home, just do it. When you leave and come back immediately because the pet is whining or displaying other symptoms of separation anxiety, your puppy will be reassured that all will be fine; however, the puppy will interpret that as you rewarding his tantrums. In fact, what you are doing is promoting puppy separation anxiety.
• Prior to leaving, tire out your pet by engaging it in a number of tiring activities. There is a big possibility that after you leave, the puppy will fall asleep.

There is tip that is among the easiest to implement when dealing with separation anxiety in your puppy; prior to leaving, turn on a radio. This will possibly not seem like it makes much sense; however, hearing different voices will provide your puppy with reassurance.

Training the Puppy for You to Leave

Some of the training methods to reduce puppy separation anxiety might seem counter intuitive but you must remember it is all about reinforcing good behavior and ignoring or scolding bad behavior. Work with your puppy by pretending to leave.

Start the morning routine where you go for your energy reducing walk. From there, begin getting ready as normal. If the puppy begins to show signs of anxiety, ignore the behavior. Open the door as if you plan on leaving but then close it without going anywhere. Sit down and relax but do not show the puppy any affection if he is exhibiting signs of anxiety.

Keep repeating the “leaving” process until the puppy does not show signs of separation anxiety and then shower the animal with affection. This gives him a sense of the “right” behavior as well as a belief that you will always come back.

Puppy separation anxiety is one of the most frequently occurring problems with puppies and the anxiety can lead to behavior problems, and because dogs are pack animals and very social, being alone causes the animal concern. They do not understand why there is no noise, no people and it feels very unnatural to them. Even having a large home or yard to wander around in may not be enough to eliminate separation anxiety.

Stop Puppy Scratching

By Training A Puppy | Dog Training

Millions of puppy owners would love to know if there are easy ways to stop puppy scratching. A puppy’s delicate skin is prone to a host of problems ranging from parasites and allergies, as well as boredom or anxiety. Excessive scratching can lead to skin infections and hot spots, so make sure to eliminate scratching before it becomes problematic.

Why do Puppies Scratch

Unfortunately puppies scratch for many reasons. In order to stop puppy scratching, you need to identify the cause of the problem.

Infections

Puppy skin can have bacterial, viral or fungal infections. These can be recognized by open sores, bare patches of skin and red swelling.

Neurogenic

Excessive licking and chewing can be caused by a lack of exercise, boredom or separation anxiety.

Allergies

Less commonly, scratching can be triggered by allergies to food, flea bites, plants or dust.

Dietary

Malnourishment can lead to dry skin, eczema, dry hair and sores.

Environment

Dry skin and extreme itching can be caused by exposure to too much water or dirt. This can be caused by swimming, digging or too much time outside.

Parasites

While fleas are extremely common, puppies often react to ticks, biting flies, mites and other flying insects. Parasite reactions are generally easy to control with medication.

A Visit to the Vet

If you need to stop puppy scratching, the first step is to visit your vet to make sure that it is not being caused by an infection or something else easily controlled by medication. Your vet will be able to provide you with antibiotics, anti fungal or antihistamines and discuss any necessary dietary changes. He can also assist with medicated baths to kill any parasites.

How to Stop Neurogenic Scratching

Unfortunately, neurogenic scratching is the hardest type to stop. Because your puppy is unable to tell you why he is scratching, you need to observe him carefully. Is he scratching because he is bored. Many puppies find repeated licking to be soothing. Putting foul flavored bitter apple or cayenne pepper on his preferred licking spots may help stop puppy scratching if the habit is not too deeply ingrained.

Your vet can also provide you with a cone shaped collar that will not permit your puppy to reach the itchy spots. Once he is out of the habit of licking, you can gradually wean him off of the cone and sprays.

If after trying all of these, he is still scratching, another trip to the vet is in order. Sometimes the itching can trigger an infection secondary to the initial cause.

In the end, it is your responsibility as a puppy owner to watch your pup’s behavior carefully. With close attention, you should be able to prevent or stop puppy scratching.

Stop Puppy Barking

By Training A Puppy | Dog Training

There is only one breed of puppy, the Basenji, that doesn’t bark and where you won’t need to stop puppy barking. Every other breed, regardless of their individual temperament, will have some urge to bark.

However, as responsible pet owners, it is our job to make sure that our puppies are not a nuisance to people around us. In order to learn how to stop puppy barking , it’s important to understand why they bark.

What Makes Puppies Bark?

Puppies bark when they’re tired and when they’re full of energy. They bark if they’re happy and they bark if they’re upset.

Most of the barking can be summarized into the following categories:

• Barking to greet you
• Barking to request attention
• Barking to indicate unhappiness or frustration
• Barking to protect territory
• Barking to alert you to danger
• Barking to express pain or sickness

In addition to all of that, you get puppies who just bark compulsively. Barking is so ingrained into your puppy’s nature that to completely stop puppy barking is simply not possible. Puppies will always have the need to bark occasionally, but it is our job to teach them when and where it is acceptable.

How Can You Stop Puppy Barking?

If your puppy is barking, the first step is to figure out why. Once you have determined that barking is unnecessary, you can take steps to control his behavior. What is your puppy barking at? When is he barking and is it usually in response to the same triggers?

If your puppy is trying to protect his territory or afraid, punishing him will often cause an aggressive reaction. While it may stop puppy barking, the underlying problems are still triggering a negative feeling in him without a way to act on it appropriately.

The proper way to stop puppy barking, as always goes back to you making sure that you are a strong alpha, or pack leader. If he understands that you are in charge, then he will feel less of a need to protect the space. Also, reducing his triggers can be as simple as closing your curtains, closing the windows or getting a privacy fence so he doesn’t see strangers near his home.

Stop Anxious Barking

Anxiety often seems to be the cause of excessive barking, but in reality is often the symptom of an underlying problem. Separation anxiety is often caused by well meaning owners who accidentally reward their puppies for barking to express excitement over your presence.

While it seems counter-intuitive to us, the easiest way to break this cycle is to ignore your puppy for the last ten or fifteen minutes before you leave the house and again for the first ten or fifteen minutes after returning home. If you wait until they are calm before paying attention to them, you will be rewarding them for their calm behavior.

Lastly, a very effective method to stop puppy barking is to teach them to bark and to be silent on command. Having cue words for these behaviors permits you to use them when you need to. Your dog still has the ability to bark if there is an intruder, but you have the means to control his behavior if necessary.

If you know how to stop puppy barking, you will be able to enjoy the company of your puppy without worrying about your neighbors complaining about excessive noise.