Dog Treats as an Effective Training Tool

As we all know,training dogs has never been easy. If not for the tools
that we use in dog training we may have gone nowhere and probably rats
became man’s best friend. As a dog lover, I actually shudder at the
thought. And if that were the case, then there would never have been a
domesticated dog and they would all be in the wilderness living like
wolves. Thank God for the training tools.

One of these tools
happens to be the Dog Training Treats, also known as doggie treats but
for this purpose, are to be used as a training tool. Using dog training
treats is also known as the reward method in dog training. Training
treats are very effective in the learning phase of the training.

A
pat on the head may be sufficient for some dogs who has shown good
behavior, other dogs may need a little incentive to consistently
respond to our commands. Treats thus become an excellent way to
reinforce desired behavior if they are used properly.

Using
dog training treats is one of the most positive and encouraging ways to
train your dog to behave in an acceptable manner. This is a better
alternative to other training methods that use violence and physical
punishment. The dog training treats method is used together with a lot
of praising for something the dog has learned and done well.

Using
training treats also gives your dog something to look forward to during
these training sessions. They are always happy to receive these treats
from you and they don’t even know it’s a learning process.

It is
important to note that in using training treats the reward must be
given to the dog immediately. Otherwise the dog might believe that it
is being rewarded for another thing that he has done rather than the
behavior that we want rewarded.

Consistency should also be
practiced by the owner and all members of the family that interact with
the dog. The same commands should be used by all so as not to cause the
dog some confusion. It also means that we should reward the desired
behavior and not the unwanted ones.

For the dog training
treats to be fully effective, always use treats that your dog really
likes. Something enticing and irresistible to him. It should be small
and soft, something that he could gulp down immediately. Something from
your refrigerator can be used as treats like small pieces of hotdog,
cheese, cooked chicken and beef have proven effective. While others
prefer to purchase small soft commercial dog treats that are readily
available.

Most dogs prefer the food treats but some of them
respond to toy treats rather than the former. In the same way, give
your dog their favorite toy every time he has done good in the training
process.

There are two ways in using training treats. First as a
reward for a desired behavior, and second as a motivator, in the class
of the carrot and stick method, to induce a certain behavior.

Using
training treats is an enjoyable learning experience for the dog and his
owner/trainer. But full knowledge of using training treats is
essential. If used in an improper way, the dog might develop some
unwanted traits like always expecting treats before doing something
desirable or even begging.

Dog Training Treats is an important
tool in training. It also strengthens the bond between the owner and
pet more than any other training method because it is not based on
fear. Trust and respect grows between them and the experience is
something that cannot be forgotten easily. Training treats make the
training process fun for both dog and owner simply because the dog gets
a reward and the owner gets so much satisfaction in getting the desired
behavior from the pet.

As pet lovers, we all know that, that feeling is priceless.

By Scott Williams
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Scott Williams is a freelance copywriter with a special interest in pets and an expert in dog training . For effective and easy dog training please visit http://dogpottytraining.blogspot.com. He has also been a frequent traveler and expert in finding cheap vacation packages and plane tickets
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How To Ease Separation Anxiety Between You and Your Pup: Three Easy Steps

Let’s face it; as much as our dogs depend on us, we depend on them just
as much. Love, companionship, and playtime are all things that people
depend on their dogs for just as much as their dogs may depend on them.
For this reason, leaving your dog home alone for extended periods of
time while at work or on vacation can cause a variety of problems for
both pet and pet owner.

Separation anxiety is real, and it affects our four-legged friends
too. The difference between you and your pet in this instance is that
while you know that the two of you will soon be reunited, your pet
probably doesn’t have this type of forethought and so it is important
for humans to be as accommodating to their canine companion as possible
in this aspect.

Pets experience separation anxiety on a variety of levels. Some
pets are perfectly fine with being away from their owners for extended
lengths of time whereas other pets may fall into a deep depression.
Even worse, there are those mischievous little guys out there who seek
to tear up everything in your home that is important to you, perhaps in
the hope that you will rethink leaving them alone ever again.

If any of the above sound like the situation between you and your
pet, it is time for you to take action. Even though it may not seem
like it at times, there is a way for you and your pet to handle
separation in a much easier, more constructive way. Here are a few tips
on how to help your pet handle his down-time.

Provide Them With a Comfort Zone

Providing your pet with a comfort zone is one of the most
successful ways of making sure that they are as comfortable as possible
when you can’t be together. For every pet, this comfort zone is
different; for some, it may require the confinement of a kennel or dog
crate in order to be successful. Either way, having a place for them to
call their own might help in the long run.

Make their area as comfortable as possible, even if it is a form of
caging them to protect your home. Old pillows, a dog bed, their
favorite toy, maybe even a tee shirt or something that smells of your
scent—these are all things that could help them to feel a bit more at
ease in their area, and perhaps make the hours until you come home that
much more bearable.

Keep Them Entertained

A bored pet is a bad pet, plain and simple. If they don’t have
something of their own to keep them busy, chances are that they will
find something of yours to accommodate their interest. Stop a disaster
in its tracks by making sure that your pet has plenty of their own toys
and items to entertain them while you are gone. This doesn’t mean using
old shoes and things of yours as it just confuses the difference
between what items are okay for them to have and what are not okay for
them to have.

Keeping your pet entertains not only gives them something to keep
them away from your things, but something to help them pass the time
while they don’t have you around to keep them company.

Consider Getting Them a Pal

While this may be a big one for some households, sometimes the only
surefire way to cure separation anxiety between you and your pet is to
give them a playmate. If your household cannot handle two pets, by all
means do not get into something that your family may potentially be
unable to handle. However, if you do have the means this is a great way
to get rid of otherwise seemingly incurable separation anxiety on the
part of your pet.

These are just a few ways to help keep the time your pet spends
alone as pain-free as possible, and you are encouraged to think of some
of your own. Now that you know your pet will survive without you, now
it is just a matter of handling yourself when the two of you are apart.

By Lisa Albanese
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If you enjoyed this article, please visit author’s dog blog http://blog.pampermepuppy.com for more tips and while there you can shop for http://www.pampermepuppy.com/dog-beds.html dog beds, http://www.pampermepuppy.com/dog-carriers.html dog carriers also.
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Dog Training Leash – Picking the Right One

So you thought you had everything for your pet. You bought food, water
dishes, toys, treats, some more toys, a crate, and who knows what else.
But did you in fact by a training leash? If you’re like most people you
only bought a small leash, perhaps six feet in length, or maybe even a
retractable one.

So why not buy a training leash? You are
planning on training your pet right? If so then you will want to get a
much longer leash that can be used during your training sessions. These
leashes are quite simply longer one piece leashes, usually made of
nylon or leather (much more expensive), and come sizes that range from
20 feet to 50 or 100 feet. So which one should you get? Take these
factors into consideration.

The size of your dog.

This
should go without saying but I see people using 30 foot leashes on a
Yorkshire terrier and the yorkie never goes more then 10 feet away. In
the same manner, if you have a greyhound, shepherds, or other large dog
that loves to run, you cannot work with only a 6 foot leash. You have
to use some common sense here folks. Small dogs can get away with
smaller leashes, and the retractable ones are quite common with small
dogs. I do not recommend retractable ones for large dogs as they can
easily snap them or chew through it when you’re not watching.

The energy level of your dogs.

I
have two dogs in training right now. Both are German Shepherds. The
male is much more laid back then the female, and does not need nearly
as much running time. The female has much more energy then even I do,
and a longer leash on her allows me to let her run without having to
chase her. When she tires out I can switch to a shorter leash if
needed.

Your own energy levels.

If you’re a
jogger and do not mind running around the yard with your dog running
along side of you, a short one will likely do. But if you are not in
the best of shape then you’re not likely to keep up with your pet for
long. Dogs, especially larger and younger dogs, will have more energy,
and can outrun all but the fastest humans. If your dog gets away from
you, you might not be able to catch them. This could be disastrous if
you’re out in public.

Leashes are inexpensive when you consider
the overall cost of pet ownership. Do yourself a favor and get one
short one for normal walks, and a longer one for training. Gauge your
individual needs as to how long of one you should get. Keep in mind the
factors above and the decision becomes easier.

By Derek Wood
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Derek Wood breeds and trains large breed dogs through the use of
healthy and humane techniques. He is a life-long pet advocate and
animal friend. Get free pet training tips by visiting: Http://German-Shepherd-Obedience.com
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Train Their Pets: Why More People Should

Chances are that you either own a dog, or know someone that does. If
you do, then like millions of people, you have likely experienced some
aspect of dog behavior that was inappropriate. Behavioral problems in
dogs can range from the simple issue of not getting off the couch, to
jumping on visitors, barking, digging, or more aggressive behavior like
growling and biting.

We all like to think that the dog we own
is a loving, caring, timid pet that would never hurt a single creature,
and for the most part they are. Unfortunately is just not true for all
pets, or under all situations, at least not without some helpful
guidance of the owner. Any breed of dog, from a small terrier to larger
dogs like mastiffs, will generally have some common problem behavior,
and will benefit greatly from a consistent training routine.

This is not to say that the dogs are bad, just not well trained. We
have all seen the owner that has a pet that can do every trick in the
book. They can sit, stay, roll over, play dead, and maybe even do back
flips. But these tricks are no good if the dog will not stay when told
or chews the furniture to pieces. Doing these things is the true
measure of how well trained your pet is.

The majority of
people will attempt to train their pets to some degree. Regrettably
this is frequently done inconsistently and without proper guidance. We
all love our pets and like to spend time playing with them, chasing a
ball, or just running around. This is great exercise for both pet and
owner, but this is not training by itself. Training consists of a
concentrated effort on the part of both the dog and the owner. Yes, I
said the owner.

In order to train your pet, you must first
train yourself. No, you will not need to learn tricks and wait for a
treat, but you will have to set aside time to properly train your pet
for a consistent amount of time each week. A basic training regime will
often be between 15 to 30 minutes per day and at least three days each
week. Most basic training does not require hours of intensive work. In
fact this can be detrimental to your pet. The utmost importance is on
the consistency of your training.

For the training to be its
most effective there should only be one or at most two people working
with the pet. This works well for a husband and wife team. Having too
many trainers is much like having too many bosses at work. The dog will
become confused at any changes from one person to another. Pets do know
how to test you. They will try to get away with bad behavior. Also, you
will need to make sure that both people are always using the exact same
commands. Do not let one person use the term "down" instead of the
"sit" command. Also, do not make changes. If you use "sit" do not change it to "sit down", as this will again cause confusion to the dog.

Make sure to reward your dog when commands are followed. This does not mean giving your dog a steak or even a snack at all. Try
simply saying "good boy" and petting him on the head. Try to keep food reward to specific reasons. You do not want the dog to become accustomed to looking for the treat, as this too will distract from the long term training objectives. If you’re going to use treats as a reward, try to use treats that do not have an overly intense smell. Remember your dog’s sense of smell is much better then yours, if he smells a treat before doing good, he may lose the incentive to do good.

The most important aspect with regarding failure to obey command is to never hit your pet. Animal cruelty should never even be considered as a training motivator, and in fact will likely backfire in
the long run. Pets do not have the same ability to reason and rationalize as humans. If a pet is hit, it will become aggressive. It may not show up to the owner, who has taken on a role of being an "alpha" leader. It will however tend to show up when the owner is not around. Such as if the dog is being watched on vacation.

There are plenty of humane ways to train your pets. You will not need to use shock collars, hitting, or any inhumane methods. Your pet will thank you for taking the time to train them properly. They will do this by obeying your commands when asked, and they will not be getting into trouble. They will be much happier pets because they will be rewarded for doing things properly. They will appreciate the love you show for
them for many years to come.

By Derek Wood
——————————-
Derek Wood breeds and trains large breed dogs through the use of
healthy and humane techniques. He is a life-long pet advocate and
animal friend. Get free pet training tips by visiting: Http://German-Shepherd-Obedience.com
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How to be a Dog Handler

When looking into training your dog you will notice that there are quite a few different ways in which you can do it. Each different dog training school teaches differently, so how do you know which ways are right and which ways are wrong? Also what skills are actually needed to make you a god dog handler?

The Skills You Need to Be a Dog Handler

Whilst professional dog handlers may make it look easy, it can actually be a lot of hard work. This means that first of all you will need a dedication to your dog and you will also need a lot of patience. It is so easy to become agitated and frustrated throughout training but if you are to train your dog properly, you are going to have to learn to be more patient than usual and encourage them as much as possible instead of snapping and dragging your dog around.

Another thing many people do not think about is that their body language is also actually quite important in dog training. So not only do you have to be aware of what your dog is doing, but you also need to know what your body is doing too as this is what judges look at during obedience competitions. Three important tips to remember include:

· Hand Signals should be used · Always be consistent · Know Your Dog

Both of these tips are important and you will find that in proper dog training you will mainly be using hand signals to tell your dog what is expected of them. However in order to teach hand signals you need to first teach voice signals. Once your dog is comfortable with voice commands, start introducing hand signals into the training. At first you may need to make your signals overly enthusiastic. This will help to grab the dog’s attention and they will start associating certain commands with certain hand signals. However as the dog becomes more experienced you will need to gradually stop giving such enthusiastic signals and make them a little more subtle. In competitions dog handlers give slight signals only and it is all about subtle control of over your dog.

Consistency is also an extremely important thing to remember when training any dog. You have to be consistent in order for the dog to learn anything. All dogs are different but mainly they do take a while to learn things and training sessions should be kept short. By making lessons short and fun your dog will soon start to look forward to the sessions and they will be eager to please you also. So if in the beginning your dog does not always do everything that they are told, do not show your frustration and simply gently correct the dog and be consistent. Your consistency will pay off in the end and you will end up with a trained and happy dog.

Finally the third tip is to know your dog. You need to know how your dog will react in certain situations and you need to know if they are capable of doing what you are asking them to do. There are different training methods available and not all of them are suitable for your dog. For example, if you have a gentle dog then it is certainly not a good idea to treat them rough and firm as they will soon become scared of training and they will not want to know about what you want from them, they will simply not want to do it because they are frightened of the consequences.

Overall remember these tips and you should find that you have a well behaved dog who is capable of competing at a professional level.

By Kelly Marshall
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Kelly Marshall is a popular contributor at http://www.ohmydogsupplies.com – where you can find dog beds, dog steps, pet ramps, and more unique dog gear that you’ll never find at your local pet store.
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Dog Training for Obedience – How to Pick the Best Program

A search of the internet will reveal a plethora of courses, concepts, videos, and programs aimed at obedience training for dogs. Many are cutting edge and some are dated and no longer accepted by experts in the field. How does one go about finding one that is reasonable in its approach and yet effective in teaching your dog?

For most dog owners there are some very basic reasons for wanting to mold the behavior of their pet. A dog without some basic dog obedience training can be like that annoying uncle in the family who has none of the social graces, always loud and obnoxious, makes a mess of the house, always sticking his nose into other peoples business – you know what I mean. You still love him but you just wish he wasn’t around so much.

Well, you should want to be around your dog. Isn’t that why you brought him into your home, to be your friend and companion? This will happen when you find a reciprocal level of respect and understanding. This in turn grows out of finding the best way to communicate with your dog making sure he clearly understands what the boundaries are and what you expect from him.

Common to all reputable dog obedience methods should be the understanding and acceptance of the following basic concepts, though they may be stated differently:

* It’s important to understand that dogs are pack animals and thrive when there is clearly defined leadership and they know what is expected of them. This is important to understanding how the canine mind works.

* It is your job to be the leader – consistently, repetitiously, persistently, and patiently.

* Tied in with patience is the tone of voice you use. Commands should be given firmly with no ambiguity, but also patiently with no yelling. Your dog must not be confused once he understands what you want. There can be no refusal or ignoring of your command.

* Reward and corrective action are also basic concepts in any dog training for obedience course. Reward could be in the form of praise a treat, or a ‘click’ (clicker training) while corrective action could be in the form of withholding praise, a treat, a scratch, or a firm ‘No.’

Dog Training – Basic Obedience

It’s always good to start with the basics. Look for a program that starts with these fundamental concepts and commands:

The Come or Come Here (Recall) command is very important for control of your pet. Nobody wants a dog that ignores them nor do you want to have to mount a search party every time he is outside and off his lead.

Stand and Stay, Sit and Stay, and Down and Stay commands are very helpful especially in situations where there are groups of people and activities where your dog needs to be kept away or out from underfoot.

Walking on and off lead, sometimes called ‘heeling’ is very important training as there is nothing more unpleasant then having an uncontrollable dog pulling and tugging on the leash and lunging at other dogs, animals, and people.

Dog Training for Obedience – How to Pick the Best Program

In addition to these basic commands many methods will include turns, fetch and carry, back up, crawl, shake hands, catch, climb ladders etc., and all of these with hand commands as well as verbal commands.

Other behaviors and/or problems that will be dealt with in a well rounded dog training for obedience program are house training, excessive barking, biting and nipping, chewing, digging up the yard, aggression, and jumping up on people and furniture. There may also be some discussion of the best dog obedience training equipment to have available.

This is a snapshot of the things to look for in a reputable dog obedience training program. Of course a good method and system for training are key to the welfare and safety of your pet, but also to your peace of mind and enjoyment of your canine companion.

By Ira Nelson
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For additional tips on researching this subject go to Dog Obedience Training Ira Nelson has years of experience in the dog care and training field. More information, tips, and techniques like the ones in this article are available at Dog Training Basics Online

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Applied Dog Behavior Training

Before starting dog training, it is best that you understand your options well. These days you can find many types of dog training, in many different places. These trainings vary in price and each one them has amazing different to present.

The first kind of dog training is known as puppy preschool. This is a dog training course destined for puppies that are approximately 6 weeks to 5 months old. These puppy preschool classes usually last for no more than 6 to 8 weeks. In these training sessions, your puppy is fundamentally trained how to socialize with people also as well as other puppies. Here your puppy also begins to study how to sit down, stay at a place, and how to come.

The next type of dog training course is destined for the dogs that are at least 5 months aged. This type of dog training is recognized as the basic dog training. The period of these classes is usually about 8 to 10 weeks. This is the basic course, where your dog is taught the art of walking correctly on a leash, sitting, staying, coming and heeling.

The third kind of dog training course is known as the intermediate dog training. This dog training aims at teaching the dog more often than not the same things that are taught in the simple training course, in a more detailed form. Here the dog is trained to stay for a longer span of time, and is also taught to follow the instructions given by other people.

The intermediate dog training usually lasts for about 8 to 10 weeks, and is meant for those that are no less than 5 months old. It is essential for the dog to have finished its basic dog training course, or to be familiar with the essential commands that could have been taught by the owner.

The next type of training course is recognized as the advanced dog training course. Here, once again, the course is fairly similar to its previous one, i.e., the intermediate dog training course, apart from for the fact that this time it is more detailed. Here, the dog is trained how to sit even without you in the view.

This training course is about 8 to 10 weeks long, and is meant for those that have finished their intermediate training. Here, they are also trained to walk next to their owners with no leash. furthermore, it slowly prepares the dog to take the Canine Good Citizen training course. The Canine Good Citizen training for dogs is the final course. To pass this course, your dog will be taught the 10 essential aspects.

This course is strictly meant for those dogs that have completed all the previous courses. The test is quite tough and can only be passed if the dog is actually well behaved. Depending on whether your dog can pass, the lessons can continue for several weeks.

Keeping this information in mind, you should be able to decide the dog training course best suited for your dog. Though, you may look for the opinion of your local dog trainers to understand more. A lot of trainers consult gratis. So you should immediately be at least a step closer to introducing your dog into a training course!

By David Lambert
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David Lambert is a dog lover and creator of http://dogtrainingbb.com

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Tracking Dogs – The Nose Work

Tracking dogs follow a lost person’s path from a starting point to where the person is. These dogs are able to seek lost people because they are trained to discriminate human scents. In other words, they don’t seek for any human scent, but for one particular scent.

There are two main types of tracking tasks: wilderness search and urban search.

Urban tracking is usually more difficult for the dogs because the tracks have every kind of odors, including other people scent, pets scent and other scents. In addition, odors don’t last long on artificial surfaces like pavement. And, as if it wasn’t difficult enough, there could be lots of distractions while the dog is tracking: several people walking around, other pets nearby, etc.

On the other hand, wilderness search seems to be more amicable to dogs because tracks tend to have less people’s scent and natural surfaces retains odors for longer time. In addition, natural surfaces could provide dogs with a potential second source of information: the contact or disturbance odor.

Since these dogs discriminate odors, they need two things to begin tracking:

- A starting point, also known as the Point Last Seen (PLS)

- An uncontaminated odor sample

The Point Last Seen (PLS) could be the last place where the lost person was actually seen or a place where that person was known to be. For instance, tracking can start in the place where the car of a person is, whether the person was seen there or not.

The uncontaminated odor sample is an article with the person’s scent. Pillow covers and pajamas are great odor samples, but clothes and other articles could be useful. The most important thing is to keep the sample uncontaminated, so it must be handled with pincers and carried in Ziploc or brown paper bags (common waste bags are treated with chemicals to alter odors, so they are not useful for this task).

Usually, tracking dogs work on-leash (a 30-feet leash attached to a harness). However, on-leash work is not mandatory and some tracking dogs work off-leash.

Bloodhound is the preferred breed for tracking, though any dog can be trained to do this activity.

– Tracking vs. trailing

Tracking and trailing dogs are not the same thing. The formers search with their nose to the ground while the latter combines that strategy with air scenting.

Nevertheless, both tracking and trailing dogs follow the path of a particular person (they discriminate scents). Thus, tracking and trailing dogs are used for the same purpose.

– Scenting squashed insects

Contact odor is the odor (and perhaps some visual information) generated by environmental disturbance occurred while a person walks. For instance, scent of broken branches or squashed insects.

Although tracking dogs can’t follow a path just by the contact odor, some experts suggest it could be a secondary source of information (maybe also visual information) under certain circumstances.

By Rodrigo Trigosso
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Rodrigo is a biologist and professional dog trainer. His website http://www.dog-training-tutorial.com provides great info on canine training and behavior.

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Secrets of Professional Dog Trainers: Top 10 Tips to Successfully Training Your Dog Yourself

Dog obedience training is one of the best things you can do for your dog and yourself. Obedience training doesn’t solve all behavior problems, but it is the foundation for solving just about any problem including soiling your house, destroying your belongings, barking excessively, digging holes in your yard, fighting other dogs and even biting you.

For most dog owners, dog obedience training is a daunting task. However, training your dog is about to get much easier, if you follow my advice below. Here Are My Top 10 Tips for Training Your Dog

1. Dog training should be an enjoyable experience for you and your dog. If you are not in the right mood for training, don’t even start.

2. Keep dog obedience training sessions short (5-10 minutes) to maintain your dog’s motivation. Dogs will learn much more from regular short sessions than from longer, less frequent ones. Once the dog has learned several useful commands on the continuous reward schedule, the schedule should be changed to one of intermittent rewards.

3. Always end training on a positive note. Ask your dog to respond to a command you know he or she will obey. Then reward your dog for a job well done and issue a finish command such as "free" or "release." Avoid common words such as "okay." Following a training session, both owner and dog should be left with feelings of accomplishment.

4. Keep in mind that your dog’s motivation to respond to a command decreases as the complexity of the task increases. If your dog doesn’t respond appropriately to a command after several attempts, don’t reward him or her. Resume training a few seconds later using a simpler command. Return to the more complex task later.

5. Remember, the odds of success hinge not only on the degree of sophistication of the task, but also your dog’s motivation to respond. From a dog’s perspective the question is, which is more rewarding: chasing the squirrel or returning to the owner? Understanding this aspect will increase your patience and chances for dog training success.

6. Training should not involve any negative or punishment-based components. There should be no yelling, no hitting, no chain jerking, no hanging, and absolutely no electric shock. Remember that the opposite of reward is not punishment; it is no reward. If you ignore unacceptable responses, your dog will not be rewarded for his or her failed response. Most dogs want to please their owners or, at the very least, to obtain highly valued resources (food, attention and toys).

7. Ensure that your dog’s motivation for reward is highest during a training session. If food is the reward, train before a meal, not after. If praise, petting and other aspects of your attention are to be used as a reward, schedule the training session at a time when your dog hungers for your attention (for example, after you have returned home from work).

For complex tasks, such as the off leash down-stay, your dog will be more motivated to comply if he or she has received moderate exercise before the training session. Asking a dog that is bursting with energy to remain in a prolonged reclining position is asking for failure during the early stages of training.

8. Make sure the reward you offer in training is the most powerful one for your dog. Food-motivated dogs work well for food, but the treats used should be you dog’s favorite food. If praise is used as a reward, deliver it in high singsong tones, which are most pleasing for the dog. Also, enthusiasm in your voice will be much appreciated. If petting is to be used as a reward, it should be in a way that the dog enjoys, such as stroking the dog’s hair on the side of his or her face in the same direction that it grows, or scratching him or her on the chest.

9. After a correct response, reward your dog within ½ second of the command. This will ensure your dog makes the connection between the behavior and the reward.

10. Use short commands such as sit, down, leave it, quiet, out, and off. Say the word once. Do not repeat the command. Dogs will remember a command for about two minutes before the notion is lost. Shorter words are better than longer words and words that end in a hard consonant (C, K, T, X) are better than those that end in a vowel because you can "spit" them out.

A Bonus Dog Training Tip:

The "Holy Grail" of training is to have the dog reliably obeying commands off lead, even when other things are going on around him or her. This level of training can be achieved, but only after a lot of hard work and investment of time. It’s something to strive toward.

By Dr. Nicholas Dodman
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Dr. Nicholas Dodman has provided thousands of pet owners just like you with valuable insights in keeping their dogs obedient, healthy, and happy. Get your free daily dose of pet crazy stories and access to over 8000 veterinarian approved advice articles guaranteed to help you train your dogs and keep them living longer, stronger lives at: http://www.petplace.com/dogs.aspx
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Council Letters and Barking Dogs

Private home visits and cries for help are high on the list when it comes to frustrated owners and upset neighbours who experience continual barking noise issues. Often it’s the last straw that dreaded council visit that prompts an owner to reach out for help.

So why do dogs bark? Yes it’s a form of communication and dogs like other animals and people do communicate verbally. After all we have bred certain breeds to bark more to alert us to dangers such as intruders or hunting dogs who alert owners to prey. The bark is usually a response to a stimulus, something that has excited or caused the animal to become anxious. This can be the mower man next door, the children down the street or the koala in the tree. Dogs bark to protect territory or out of boredom, are anxious, perhaps are unwell, in play, or are looking for attention.

We as humans expect our dogs to hang around in the backyard all day with very little mental stimulation or environmental enrichment to keep them happy. That’s when dogs learn that barking can be self rewarding. (Running up and down the fence line barking at the postman is a self rewarding act).

Let’s ask ourselves a question, could you sit in your backyard all day with nothing to do? Very few people can, so why on earth do we expect our animals to do the same. Like us they need mental and physical stimulation inside and outside their backyards. They need environmental enrichment toys to keep them occupied throughout the day. They need to socialise on a regular basis with their own kind, meet and greet different people in other environments such as the beach and be able to stay at home and not feel anxious or stressed while mum and dad are at work.

Often neighbours are reluctant to go and talk to owners about their barking dog. It’s a fact that people often feel threatened when confronted by a neighbour and look to pin the blame elsewhere. (Surely it must be the dog next door, can’t possibly be mine). Some neighbours may be more easy going and cope with the noise issue better than others. A friendly neighbourly chat can save a lot of heartache, so don’t overreact if approached. If you receive a council letter, better late than never to understand that perhaps your pet may be barking and has some issues. Councils are not our worst enemy, they are there as a mediator to resolve an issue, sometimes one you may not have been aware of. Spending money on a noise recorder will allow you to hear what time and how often your dog may bark throughout the day.

What ever you do, DON’T PUNISH THE DOG. It is not their fault. As a responsible owner it is up to you to manage your dog. Management tools include regular outings to a dog park, morning and evening walks, environmental enrichment programs, YOU educating yourself about canine behaviour and working on forming a strong bond with your pet, having a safe den they can get into, leaving on a radio softly and learning when to reward your dog and when to ignore behaviour. Positive reward based training helps build a strong bond between you and your pet.

Anti barking collars are NOT an answer to a problem, they are a poor cruel substitute for an owner who wants a quick fix and is not interested in understanding or resolving their pet’s issues in a humane way.

By Dee Scott
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Dee Scott established Positive Response Dog Training in order to reach out to the general public and coach people on understanding the dog and his world.My aim is to empower people with the knowledge to understand their pets, reduce the incidence of bites and help whole families form strong, lasting life bonds. Visit us at www.positiveresponse.net.au

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