A new puppy in the home excites everyone especially children but make sure you got the puppy for a good reason and not just on a spur of the moment feeling. Like they say dogs are for life not just for Christmas. A puppy can bring lots of happy memories and times but they have a lot of training and work involved to, they are not all fun and no work!
A puppy’s temperament depends on where the puppy has been brought up and what type of breed he is. German shepherds, Rottweilers, bull dogs and boxers are all guard type dogs so tend to be very loving and protective. Border and bearded collies tend to be herding dogs and reared on farms and tend to be quite enthusiastic and never sit still (be aware because they are reared on a farm they may be a little bit nervous around modern day technologies, such as bridges, loud noises etc). Labradors, gun dogs and pointer are all hunting dogs so expect them to be full of energy and laughable moments. Of course these are just general expectations every dog has its day…and its personality!
Puppy dog training is something that can be achieved in a matter of weeks depending how much time and attention you spend on it. You don’t need to train for hours and hours a day, a few minutes several times a day is all it takes. The first thing you need to train your new puppy in is obedience, commands like sit, come, heel, stay and fetch are basic enough for them to learn. As they get older you can incorporate commands like paw, roll over and play dead! Training a young puppy is not as hard as you may think as they are like a blank sheet of paper waiting to be written on. The way and things that that they are taught will stick to them and will influence them later on in life, although training isn’t forever so you need spend a few minutes every day just to keep reminding them what to do.
There are not so nice consequences involved when puppies aren’t trained, for a start your house will constantly be a toiler ground for them and your furniture will have massive holes in it. Puppies are like babies and need to be taught the difference between right and wrong, to do this you need some puppy dog training!
Many handlers experienced or in-experienced are turning towards training products and aids but training can be done without these methods. Just a bit of good old hard work! A puppy may take several months to training but when it is complete the rewards will be well worth it, but don’t forget to top up on your training for several minutes each day or your dog will slowly forget and you’ll have to start all over again, with an even bigger task, training an older dog!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Choosing a Dog Training Video
When training your dog it can be a stressful time, but if you let it, it can be an enjoyable fun time. Many people are turning to aids to help them with their dog training, whether that be a friend, family member, training class book or dog training video.
Dog training videos are possible the next best thing to a personal professional dog training. They offer lots of handy hints, advice and techniques but you can see them put into action so you can tell where you are going wrong. There are thousand dog training videos out there to choose from. Your local supermarket may even sell some, if not your pet store and also the internet is a great choice for purchasing dog training videos. On the internet you can read reviews and personal opinions and success stories about the video that you are going to choose, not to mention there are sites that give you free clips to watch . So sometimes you don’t even have to pay to train.
I have tried several different dog training videos and they are all presented differently. Some videos focus on the training from the dog’s point of view, with the dog doing the talking and no handler is actually present; these videos are ok but sometimes you need to see the body language of the handler so you know what you are supposed to do.
Other videos come with a handler and a dog in a plain white room where they basically start at point one and walk you through the steps of how to make your dog obey certain commands; these videos although very informative are boring and you lose interest pretty quickly, not only that the dog in the training video has been taught obedience so is therefore not going to show you what accidents could happen or what will happen if your dog decides he isn’t interested.
The best type of video you can purchase is one where there are a room full of beginner handlers and young untaught dogs. This video will let you see what to expect completely when trying to teach your dog, so you can be aware of what is going to happen and how to correct things if something goes wrong.
Dog training videos are a great aid in training your dog and they are very inexpensive so why not try some out? Anything that will make your dog listen to you is worth a shot isn’t it?
Dog training videos are possible the next best thing to a personal professional dog training. They offer lots of handy hints, advice and techniques but you can see them put into action so you can tell where you are going wrong. There are thousand dog training videos out there to choose from. Your local supermarket may even sell some, if not your pet store and also the internet is a great choice for purchasing dog training videos. On the internet you can read reviews and personal opinions and success stories about the video that you are going to choose, not to mention there are sites that give you free clips to watch . So sometimes you don’t even have to pay to train.
I have tried several different dog training videos and they are all presented differently. Some videos focus on the training from the dog’s point of view, with the dog doing the talking and no handler is actually present; these videos are ok but sometimes you need to see the body language of the handler so you know what you are supposed to do.
Other videos come with a handler and a dog in a plain white room where they basically start at point one and walk you through the steps of how to make your dog obey certain commands; these videos although very informative are boring and you lose interest pretty quickly, not only that the dog in the training video has been taught obedience so is therefore not going to show you what accidents could happen or what will happen if your dog decides he isn’t interested.
The best type of video you can purchase is one where there are a room full of beginner handlers and young untaught dogs. This video will let you see what to expect completely when trying to teach your dog, so you can be aware of what is going to happen and how to correct things if something goes wrong.
Dog training videos are a great aid in training your dog and they are very inexpensive so why not try some out? Anything that will make your dog listen to you is worth a shot isn’t it?
Choosing a Dog Training School
Dog training schools are available virtually everywhere. For quite a large fee you can take your dog to a professional training school if you have had no experience with dogs before, of course there are schools available locally and a lot less expensive!
Not only are dog training schools available locally but also on the internet. Dog training UK is very popular and has some great achievements. They also have a great guarantee for those stubborn dogs: if your dog isn’t obedient at the end of the training session you get every penny back! They claim to be able to teach your dog in only three weeks. I say if they have a guarantee go for it! You can’t loose.
There is quite a lot of controversy about dog training schools, a lot of people think that they are there to rip money of the inexperienced dog handlers, but it is quite the opposite, they need to make money to hire the hall etc. so why not charge? They are there to help inexperienced dog handlers who have got no support from anywhere else. They offer practical solutions and great company. There are other members so you are socialising while you are training what could be better?!
When attending a dog training school always be prepared for the worst! Dogs seem to know when there is pressure on them to behave and always seem to mess up on purpose. There will be a lot of other people and dogs there so a short leash is recommended. Always keep an eye on him, he may appear to like the dog next to you one minute but two minutes later he may take a dislike to him and you need to prevent any fights! The most important thing to know when you are at a dog training school is to relax and try to enjoy yourself, if you are tense your dog will sense it and he will be too, so make it fun for the both of you. And don’t forget to take a popper scoop, there is always one dog that likes to leave a little accident, let’s hope it’s not yours.
If you are not confident enough or patient enough with your dog then you need help to get him trained, there are strict rules now concerning dogs and there behaviour. Dog training schools are there to help and you will be doing you and your dog a great favour.
Not only are dog training schools available locally but also on the internet. Dog training UK is very popular and has some great achievements. They also have a great guarantee for those stubborn dogs: if your dog isn’t obedient at the end of the training session you get every penny back! They claim to be able to teach your dog in only three weeks. I say if they have a guarantee go for it! You can’t loose.
There is quite a lot of controversy about dog training schools, a lot of people think that they are there to rip money of the inexperienced dog handlers, but it is quite the opposite, they need to make money to hire the hall etc. so why not charge? They are there to help inexperienced dog handlers who have got no support from anywhere else. They offer practical solutions and great company. There are other members so you are socialising while you are training what could be better?!
When attending a dog training school always be prepared for the worst! Dogs seem to know when there is pressure on them to behave and always seem to mess up on purpose. There will be a lot of other people and dogs there so a short leash is recommended. Always keep an eye on him, he may appear to like the dog next to you one minute but two minutes later he may take a dislike to him and you need to prevent any fights! The most important thing to know when you are at a dog training school is to relax and try to enjoy yourself, if you are tense your dog will sense it and he will be too, so make it fun for the both of you. And don’t forget to take a popper scoop, there is always one dog that likes to leave a little accident, let’s hope it’s not yours.
If you are not confident enough or patient enough with your dog then you need help to get him trained, there are strict rules now concerning dogs and there behaviour. Dog training schools are there to help and you will be doing you and your dog a great favour.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Choosing a Dog Training Book
Does your dog need a good seeing to? Does he act inappropriately? Those are just a couple of questions many people are answering in dog training books. Hundred of people are writing books on dog training as it is such a big market. Many people struggle to train their dogs on their own and people love the fact that they can make a profit out of it. I’m not saying that it is wrong to write a dog training book and charge for it, it's good that there are book resources available.
There are people writing dog training books that have never actually owned a dog and the nonsense they blether is quite funny but then you get the serious writers. People that have had about 30 years of dog training experience are putting their knowledge onto paper and making it available to the whole world which is fantastic. Many people need guidance when it comes to teaching their dog basic training and books are a great way to learn. You just have to be careful you are purchasing a book from a genuine dog trainer and not someone who can paint a pretty simple picture of dog training, because a pretty simple picture is not what dog training is about.
One of my favourite books was "Help! My dog has an attitude" written by Gwen Bohnenkamp. This book is an excellent read and full of great tips and advice. She tells you about the problems that dogs are facing in an ever growing scary world and the pressures it puts on dogs, whether it are trains that are rushing past, cars that are coming to close or even the drain in the middle of the street making that funny loud gurgling noise! There is one thing about her book, it makes you realise that a lot of a dog problems are made by us, we drive our dogs to do these things but we are oblivious to it, thank goodness she doesn’t make you feel guilty about it though!
Whereas "The Dog Whisperer" written by Paul Owens is one of the books I was telling you about earlier, where people that have had no experience with dogs put pen to paper. He writes about the simplest of training techniques and then fills his book full of psycho-babble about how to treat your dog and how to love him, that’s not what a dog training book should be about. It has had a good few write ups but I think it is not worth the money or time to read it. He starts of going on about how Jesus and Buddha might train their dogs and then goes on about how he felt spiritual enlightenment and a feeling of pure love for his dog. Basically he is a nut case!
Dog training books are easy enough to get and if you enjoy a good read then sit down to one, have a cup of coffee and get prepared for the next days step; actually training your dog!
There are people writing dog training books that have never actually owned a dog and the nonsense they blether is quite funny but then you get the serious writers. People that have had about 30 years of dog training experience are putting their knowledge onto paper and making it available to the whole world which is fantastic. Many people need guidance when it comes to teaching their dog basic training and books are a great way to learn. You just have to be careful you are purchasing a book from a genuine dog trainer and not someone who can paint a pretty simple picture of dog training, because a pretty simple picture is not what dog training is about.
One of my favourite books was "Help! My dog has an attitude" written by Gwen Bohnenkamp. This book is an excellent read and full of great tips and advice. She tells you about the problems that dogs are facing in an ever growing scary world and the pressures it puts on dogs, whether it are trains that are rushing past, cars that are coming to close or even the drain in the middle of the street making that funny loud gurgling noise! There is one thing about her book, it makes you realise that a lot of a dog problems are made by us, we drive our dogs to do these things but we are oblivious to it, thank goodness she doesn’t make you feel guilty about it though!
Whereas "The Dog Whisperer" written by Paul Owens is one of the books I was telling you about earlier, where people that have had no experience with dogs put pen to paper. He writes about the simplest of training techniques and then fills his book full of psycho-babble about how to treat your dog and how to love him, that’s not what a dog training book should be about. It has had a good few write ups but I think it is not worth the money or time to read it. He starts of going on about how Jesus and Buddha might train their dogs and then goes on about how he felt spiritual enlightenment and a feeling of pure love for his dog. Basically he is a nut case!
Dog training books are easy enough to get and if you enjoy a good read then sit down to one, have a cup of coffee and get prepared for the next days step; actually training your dog!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Choosing a Dog Training Course
In agility your dog has to be trained to run courses. You can train him on obstacles separately or you can train him on a dog training course, either option is ok but a course is much better in the long run. Most dog agility handlers have had experience running and training their own dog but when new handlers arrive at a club they have had no experience in agility and need all the help that they can get! So advising them about dog training courses is the best way to start.
Some handlers may have had previous experience in competitions like dog obedience, show dog work or flyball but not in agility. When starting out learning courses is the first thing any handler must do, they must know what a course involves and how to run one, if they do not know then how is their dog supposed to? A dog training course is a simple method to teach your dog agility and is great practice for when it comes to competitions. Any dog can run a course, mini’s, midi’s or full seized dogs are welcome in shows but of course the obstacles are lowered for the smaller dogs!
A dog training course is usually used on training nights by all the members of the club and there is usually one handler there who helps the rest, by letting the handlers know what they are doing “wrong” with their dog, the handler must project good body language and good commands for the dog to follow orders if the handler doesn’t then the dog will just run around and not do anything correctly!
Separate obstacles are usually set up for handlers and dogs who need to concentrate on just one aspect of the course, for example their jumping, weaves or contact points. Again there is usually a guide there to help the beginners to show their dog what it needs to do. A lot of dog training courses are ran with inexperienced dogs on the leash so that they don’t interfere with other dogs running on different training courses.
Any dog can learn agility with the right method of training, dog training isn’t only available in agility or obedience either. I mentioned something earlier called flyball. Flyball is the new competition sweeping the UK by storm. Crufts (the biggest UK dog show) now even have a course for it. It is where the dog runs over five small low to the ground hurdles and then reaches a box where it places it two front paws on a pad, when the pad is pressed a tennis ball is released from behind the machine and the dogs aim is to catch it and run as fast as they can back! This is great to watch and even better to train for.
If trained correctly on a training course dogs can be taught amazing things and reach new heights that you didn’t think possible, try and train as often as you can and your dog will soon be a master in its game and you’ll carry home many trophies and rewards for your efforts!
Some handlers may have had previous experience in competitions like dog obedience, show dog work or flyball but not in agility. When starting out learning courses is the first thing any handler must do, they must know what a course involves and how to run one, if they do not know then how is their dog supposed to? A dog training course is a simple method to teach your dog agility and is great practice for when it comes to competitions. Any dog can run a course, mini’s, midi’s or full seized dogs are welcome in shows but of course the obstacles are lowered for the smaller dogs!
A dog training course is usually used on training nights by all the members of the club and there is usually one handler there who helps the rest, by letting the handlers know what they are doing “wrong” with their dog, the handler must project good body language and good commands for the dog to follow orders if the handler doesn’t then the dog will just run around and not do anything correctly!
Separate obstacles are usually set up for handlers and dogs who need to concentrate on just one aspect of the course, for example their jumping, weaves or contact points. Again there is usually a guide there to help the beginners to show their dog what it needs to do. A lot of dog training courses are ran with inexperienced dogs on the leash so that they don’t interfere with other dogs running on different training courses.
Any dog can learn agility with the right method of training, dog training isn’t only available in agility or obedience either. I mentioned something earlier called flyball. Flyball is the new competition sweeping the UK by storm. Crufts (the biggest UK dog show) now even have a course for it. It is where the dog runs over five small low to the ground hurdles and then reaches a box where it places it two front paws on a pad, when the pad is pressed a tennis ball is released from behind the machine and the dogs aim is to catch it and run as fast as they can back! This is great to watch and even better to train for.
If trained correctly on a training course dogs can be taught amazing things and reach new heights that you didn’t think possible, try and train as often as you can and your dog will soon be a master in its game and you’ll carry home many trophies and rewards for your efforts!
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