Can an OLD DOG be taught new tricks?

A chihuahua "chipmunks" for a treat, a trick he's been taught and since learned was very successful way to influence humans. 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Have you ever seen a well trained dog and thought, “I wish my dog could do tricks like that”?

It is probably the dream of most dog owners to be able to teach their pet to do some of the tricks they see other dogs doing, but there is one thing they must remember above all others before starting down the path of teaching tricks. The dog must have at least some basic obedience. There is not much chance of teaching it to do tricks if it is a badly behaved dog in the first place.

The basic commands such as sit, down, heel etc, should be known by your dog before trick training starts, as this will make life so much easier later on. Once these have been mastered you can begin to build on them and your dog will soon be amazing your friends with the following three simple tricks.

Begging

To start teaching this trick it is best to have your dog sit in a corner of the room with his back to the wall and you standing in front of him. The walls will support your dog and give him the confidence that he won’t fall over if he raises his front legs off the floor.

Take some small pieces of food and hold it above your dog whilst enticing him to reach up for it. Each time he takes the food, praise him and repeat the procedure slowly encouraging him to reach higher each time.

Whilst encouraging the dog to reach up for the food, you must make sure that he is keeping his haunches on the ground. This is achieved by moving the food back over his head slightly making the dog shift his weight back over his haunches and teaching him to keep his balance.

Once the begging trick has bee mastered in the corner of the room you can gradually begin to move away from the wall and practise the trick where the dog has no back support. You must expect at this stage that the dog will seem to go backwards in his learning, but this is to be expected until he can perfect it just using his own body weight.

Shaking hands

There are two parts of this trick for your dog to learn. A verbal part and a non-verbal part which both work together to give the dog a cue that you want him to perform the trick.

Firstly the dog should start off in a sitting position. Give him a single word verbal command such as ‘shake’, whilst at the same time reaching out with your right hand until it is just a few inches from your dogs’ right leg. Your outstretched hand is the non-verbal cue.

Initially your dog will probably just sit motionless unsure of what to do, so with your left hand, gently push or prod his right leg forwards until it rests in your right hand. When he has done this, praise him so that he knows he has done what you wanted him to do.

Practice this trick several times; praising after each successful result and gradually reducing the amount of left hand prompting until only the verbal and non-verbal cues are all that are needed.

Shaking the head: ‘No’

Before you can begin to teach this trick to your dog, you will need to find something which will make him shake his head naturally. Some things which may help are blowing gently on the ear, tickling the ear with a feather or even lightly attaching a paperclip to the ear – remembering that you should not cause the dog any pain.

Once you have found the method which makes him shake his head you will then have to decide on which verbal and non-verbal cue you want to use. A single word such as ‘head’ along with shrugging of your shoulders is just one idea.

Again your dog should start in a sitting position when first teaching him this trick. As in the shaking hands trick, use both cues together, along with the prod (tickling his ear, etc) in an effort to stimulate your dog to shake his head. Once he does, reward him, even if it is just a small movement.

This trick is best learned in short sessions with momentary breaks in between, so don’t try to repeat the exercise more that five times in one session or the dog will become confused and not learn.

Gradually reduce the amount of prodding so that all that are needed are the verbal and non-verbal cues. Once your dog has mastered the trick, he can be progressed to learn it in standing position and laying positions as well.

The main thing with training dogs to perform tricks is for the owner to learn that patience is a virtue and that the dog will learn in his own time. Do not scold the dog if he does not seem to be learning, it is always better to be patient and encourage him more.

---

---

---

DOG LEASHES 101

Chain Martingale Dog Collar
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What purpose does the leash serve?

Leashes have been used throughout history to control our dogs and to keep them safe. In purchasing a dog leash, you must determine how you intend to use it and then purchase a size and material that suits the size of your dog and your purpose.

Types of Leashes: Nylon, leather, adjustable dog leash, multiple dog leashes, etc.

Nylon Dog Leash: Nylon Dog Leashes are light weight and durable. They come in many widths, colors and patterns. Often they are sold in sets that are coordinated with matching dog collars. Typically, a leash being used for a walk will be 6 feet or so in length. Nylon can burn your hands if you end up in a struggle with your dog. If you think that is a possibility, you might want to consider a leather dog leash. Round rope leashes made of nylon are lightweight and useful for training in your home.

Leather Dog Leash:Leather is more expensive and may need some maintenance to keep the leather soft and pliable. However, they are durable. They are available in 4-6 ft lengths like the nylon. Leather dog collars or leashes need to be cleaned and maintained. If you come back covered in mud from your trip to the park, be sure to wipe the dirt away with a damp towel and mild soap. Then the leather will need to be oiled or have a protective saddle soap applied and polished. If you get your leash really wet, let it dry naturally and then clean as above. Dont put it in front of a heat source to dry as you will dry the leather out too quickly and it may crack on you. Trapped dirt in the stitching can be cleaned with a soft bristle brush. If you take care of your leather leash and collar, it should last you a long, long time.

Dog leash (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Retractable Dog Leash: Retractable dog leashes work much like a measuring tape. They are made of either a nylon web or cord which retracts into a case with a handle. With lengths up to 26 feet, they are perfect for walking your leash trained dog. He can stop a moment to smell and you can keep on trucking. They are also useful for playing or training your dog when you need some distance but still want the control a leash gives you. Since these leashes are so long, please be careful not to leave your pet unattended when he on this type of leash. Retractable dog leashes come in a heavy duty retractable version for our bigger pals. These leashes can encourage a dog to pull, so be sure your dog knows proper etiquette for leash walking before snapping on a retractable leash.

Adjustable Dog Leash: Adjustable dog leashes are great for when you need to tie your pooch while hitting a coffee shop or stepping away for a moment. They have loops along the leash with a clasp that allows you to either shorten or lengthen or tie as you have need for. They are available in nylon and other materials.

Martingale Leads: Typically seen the in the show ring, Martingale leads combine the collar and leash into one. The collar slips over the head and is tightened by a plastic tube when the leash is pulled.

Bicycle or Multiple Dog Walking Leashes: Leashes also come with Leash extenders for walking multiple dogs. If one dog is small and the other larger, you can add a leash extender for balancing the two heights. Dog leashes for walking two dogs or multiple dog walking are also sold. There are also leashes available for bringing your dog along on bicycle ride. They are basically a short bar that attaches to the back wheel of your bike and has a short leash attached.

By Leasa Peterson Article Source: EzineArticles

---

---

Things You Should Learn About DOG OBEDIENCE TRAINING

As pets, dogs are not only meant to be confined at home. There are chances when you have to take them out for a walk or bring them to any destination. Even more, the dog needs to learn the proper behavior despite being kept at home. Socializing is one skill that he has to be trained with. Thus, let him undergo dog obedience training. 

You see, all of your family members should feel safe and at ease with your pet. There are dogs that seem to be agitated and such behavior can definitely threaten your family's safety. While training him may be quite a daunting task, you will realize that it will be all worth it. Sooner or later, you will appreciate your efforts.

Psychiatric Service Dog In Training
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Real Scope of Dog Training

Obedience training is composed of several areas. It ranges from the simplest one up to the most advance instructions for your dog. The basics often include the simple commands that should make your dog respond. Included are come, sit, stand, roll over, stay, down, and the likes. The advance training includes giving directions for fetching something and many others. There are techniques used as well like positive reinforcement, clicker training, collar and leash, and the rewards given for any positive and likeable behavior.

Dog obedience is a training that is often recommended for the wild and unruly animals. But in your case, a new pet will be more in his best foot if given the proper training.

The Importance of Obedience Training 

As a dog owner, you should understand the significance of training your pet to obey. A trained dog is very suitable to bring around friends and other people without fear of attacking anyone. It is then like tagging along a well-behaved human being. You don't like your dog to be misbehaving and causing nuisance, right? Therefore, allow him to absorb a kind of mentality that emphasizes the need to act accordingly in different situations.

Dog Obedience Training by Yourself

Although professionals are more into this thing, it will be a rewarding experience for you and your dog if the training is conducted personally. The training sessions will not only serve as educational but also suffice for your bonding moments. Doing so will establish a closer bond between the two of you.

Training your dog calls for more patience on your part. It will be hard on your dog's part to process your commands and will take time to execute them. There will be moments when you feel like giving up and snapping but don't punish your dog without any reason. This may agitate him. Keep in mind that your dog needs to adjust and learning doesn't happen overnight.

Positive reinforcements are likewise very essential. They will boost your dog to do better. It will speed up his learning process too.

Dog obedience training is therefore a very important thing to attend to. So, enjoy the moments with your pet the way he will enjoy his time with you.

Getting a new puppy or adult dog is always an exciting time for the entire family. There is a good reason why dogs are known as man’s best friend, and a loyal dog is more than just a pet as they becoming a beloved member of the family.

In order to achieve that level of love and companionship, however, it is important to start you need puppy or adult dog off on the right foot. A solid grounding in obedience and problem behavior avoidance is essential to making your dog, and you, happier and healthier.

“How does your dog sit when you tell him to and mine doesn’t?", “How can your dog heel to you like that?", “Wow! He comes when you tell him to” - Sounds familiar? If it does, you need to invest some time into a little bit of basic dog training. Starting to train your dog from a young age is crucial as the first few months of his life is when you will have the greatest influence on him; this is where he is shaped into the dog he is going to be when he is all grown up.

The most basic of dog training is to get your dog to sit and come. Teaching him those commands are essential for him to learn. These commands are used for various different reasons, if you are in competition, if your dog jumps making him sit will immediately get him off and "come" is the all-important one. If you take your dog for a walk, you let him of the leash and you expect him to come back to you, not run around the park with you chasing after him shouting at him to “get here right this instance”. That would be just downright embarrassing!

To teach your dog how to come requires only the most basic of techniques but a lot of repetition. The simplest way to get him to come is have a toy in one hand and a treat in the other, when you are in the house simply walk away from him, hold out the toy and excitingly ...

Read more on the E-Book: Dog Training Basics $ 9.99

---

Can Speaking And Singing Stop A Nuisance BARKER?

How do you stop a nuisance barker? Easy: Teach them how to "speak" and "sing". This might be more interesting for bothersome humans, but just way cuter for canines. All types of dogs, may it be size or breed, can be easily taught to speak. The way for it to go is to call your dog, show him a treat (which never disappoints), and say "Speak".

Barking Dog (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The dog might probably not understand what you are trying to make him do, and probably would dart on the treat, jumps, and will eye it intently at first. Finally, he will sit down, gets impatient, and then utters a sharp bark which is what you have been waiting for, and for that instant when he does so, reward him with a treat.  

Not all dogs love to bark. Just like humans, some are aggressive, and some are just plainly shy. For these types of dogs, they can be encouraged to do so by imitating a bark. Chances are, he will reply to it. Reward him, a never-disappointing deed of all time, then he will learn to bark as soon as he hears the word "speak". Now, after the dogs have been taught to bark once, you can teach him a series of barks. This way, you can make him expect to be rewarded, which encourages him to bark more until you give him a stop signal, which can lead to a full phrase, or whichever you want him to do.  

Other than being social beings, dogs are very observant. By the time you signal your pet to stop at the slightest point, your friends won't detect the magic trick, such as subtle movements of hands and feet; a wink or a shift of your gaze, and if you keep up with these tricks, you might be firing up an interesting series of barks that can sound as if your pet is having a conversation. You can address him as if he was a human being to keep his performance appealing, impressive, and very perplexing.

Demonstrating the latter, if you are exhibiting your dog to an audience, and might want him to "speak", you would like to be a bit more creative like asking him a question. That way, you can probably be in a very good business as to have a "talking dog". Either way, that is much better than pestering barks in the neighborhood. 

Now that your dog can now "speak", you can now teach him how to "sing". Try making him imitate a series of whines and howls to a certain degree, reaching the pitch, and the style of noise you desire. As your pet learns how to follow you, say "sing" automatically to associate the desired action.  With constant practice, a dog can and will learn to follow your turn quite accurately. Do not forget to praise and treat him plentifully for encouragement. Exercise the activity on a regular basis. 

By this type of training, not only have you got rid of a nuisance dog, you have disciplined your pet vigorously, making him understand that barking and whining is only allowed in command. And now, for the humans.

---

---

Clicks Instead Of 'Good Boy' For DOG TRAINING

The first major improvement in dog training since choke chains and spiked collars, click and treat has quickly establishing itself in becoming a big hit in the world of dog training. Currently, there are over 10,000 trainers who are using this training method everyday. 

One advantage to using this form of training at home is it’s easy to learn for both the dog and his trainer!

Originally used to train marine mammals, click and treat breaks down the process into two separate steps, information and motivation. The click is the information, the treat is the motivation. While other trainers still work on these two steps, they try to teach them all at once, which can confuse the animal and slow down results.

Dog getting clicker training. Tika, the 3-year-old Australian Shepherd rescue agility dog,
loves it when the clicker comes out.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most trainers will verbally praise a dog for good behavior, while at the same time motivating the dog to repeat his actions. This can be a good method, however it takes longer for the dog to understand which behaviors and actions caused the praise from the trainer.

With the click and treat method, the processes are easily taught. In normal training, a person would say “good boy” when a welcomed action occurs and proceed with giving a treat. The clicker becomes a substitute for verbal praise and can actually catch the “good boy” behavior quicker than saying it, letting the dog know exactly which behavior he is being rewarded for.

Another way to look at click and treat training is viewing it as a secondary reinforcement, while food, water, physical affection and play (things the dog wants) become primary reinforcement. When you take a dog for a walk, the leash works as a secondary reinforcement. It is obvious to the dog that the leash is not taking him for a walk; the owner is, however, it triggers a reaction in the dog, telling him that the leash will let him know where he will go and where he will not. And if he reacts to the leash with good behavior, his reward will be a nice leisurely walk.

Click and treat works the same way. When a dog hears the clicker, he will know that he performed a good behavior and as long as he keeps hearing a click, there is a treat coming his way. So, the clicker works as a secondary reinforcement, teaching him boundaries and appropriate behavior.

A couple advantages of the click and treat method include;

1) Faster response than verbal praise. The clicker can identify the exact behavior at the time it happens.

2) It takes the place of treats. While motivating the dog to hear clicks, it will also teach him to work without the expectations of having treats given to him each time he does something good.

3) If the trainer is working at a distance from the dog, the clicker will still work, without having to be right next him.

Are you ready to try clicker training? 

The first thing you’ll need to do is go to your favorite pet supply store and invest in a clicker. The clicker is nothing fancy and should just cost you under five dollars. While you’re there grab some pocket treats, little bits of dried liver work well.

A good method to use when getting started with click and treat is to stand in front of the animal. Click the clicker and give a treat. Continue doing this for 20-30 minutes, or until the dog becomes startled by the sound of the click. This will familiarize him to the clicking sound, while teaching him that every time he hears it, he has done something good. After he gets the hang of it, begin by adding commands, such as “sit” and “stay.”

Click and treat has proven to be a simple, yet consistent training method with quick results. So for the trainers out there who are looking for a new and innovative way to motivate and praise their animals, get out there, buy a clicker and... click!

---

---

---

CRATE TRAINING a Puppy

Quite a few owners are employing crates to help teach their puppies. Several dog owners consider crates to be mean, terrible and restrictive but for those who have never used one you probably should look at the rewards.

A greyhound lying in his wire dog crate (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Many pets look at the crate as being their personal spot. This is particularly true if it has been utilised since they were a puppy. Young dogs usually do not perceive  the crate as a punishment, but as their den. If the crate is in a location where the puppy is able to go in and out many pets will use their crate on their own as a place to nap.

If your puppy is accepting and comfy with his crate he will be more than happy to be in it if you have to leave your house. This means that you don't worry about your dog chewing or destroying things when you're not at home.

Crates will also be wonderful when you have infants in the home. The dog will often take advantage of this space to escape while he wants to be left alone. It's important that you teach children to respect the dog's crate and not use it to play in. Kids should understand that this spot belongs to the dog and just the puppy and to leave the pet alone when he is in his crate.

Crate training may also help with house training. Puppies hate to dirty their bedroom. You will see that a puppy who sleeps inside a crate is less likely to have accidents. Keep in mind that the dog must be allowed out at regular times particularly when he is small. You do not want the animal to be forced to do his business inside the crate, if he's left in it too long. This might grow to be a pattern if the puppy spends a lot of time in his crate.

Crate training is also beneficial to help with additional instruction. In case your young puppy does start to play rough you can utilize it for a time out spot. You can even use the crate to keep your pet quietly restricted should you have visitors over who are not people who love dogs.

Dog crates can be a very valuable training tool, and will make living with a dog a great deal easier in lots of various ways. If you are thinking about buying a puppy you need to really look at the merits to getting a crate. 

---

---

Why the Use of a Training DOG COLLARS Sometimes Counterproductive

Dog halter-style collar Photo by Elf
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dog trainers, especially those who are not professionals in the field, usually confuse dog training with control. In any dog-man pair, the human always have the need to gain control. This is not really bad except that sometimes, the man abuses the privileged of control. 

Dog training collars provide that control. While the intention is normally good- to remove unwanted (but instinctual) behaviors of the dogs for example- the process of training is sometimes incorrect and abusive of the dog's weaknesses and the tools used for training are not well-adapted to the needs of the dog.

We, humans, often forget that dogs are individuals too. Some dogs are very aggressive and hard to control, some are funny and gives us much comfort and joy, others are just laid back and refuse to undergo training and some are naturally fast learners while others are slow learners.

Training collars were invented to gain enough control over the canines, however some people fail to adhere to the basic principles of these tools. Choke or chain collars, for example, are one of the very first tools invented to help lessen the tension between man and dog.

But there are people who overuse and misuse the choke collars. Some handlers are so harsh that many dogs experience neck damages and some even choke to death. In short the use of this type of collars is very dangerous, if not counter-productive.

Some handlers, on the other hand, lack sufficient knowledge on the specific collars that would work well with their dogs. For example, the popular choice of collar these days are the electronic dog collar due to its remote access to dogs which provide continuous "training" for even when the owner is not around. While this may be a popular alternative to old fashioned dog training collars, many people just don’t completely understand its disadvantages.

There are some very mundane reasons as to why collars could be, at times, counterproductive. For one, there are people who just don’t take the extra time to check if the collar is fit or not. With improper fitting, the collar could pinch the skin (especially the Martingale collar) and scratch it causing burning spots.

These are very uncomfortable to dogs as much as having skin lesions would make someone feel irritated. The rule of thumb for getting the right fit of collar for your dog is to allow two to three inches gap between the attached collar and the neck.

Another reason why dog collars could be potentially counterproductive is that they work on the principle of pain and fear and not really on discipline. Electronic training collars work by sending electronic shocks to the dog wearing it or unpleasant sound that will discourage the dog from barking.

Even when it proves to be efficient in delivering its purpose- to distract the dog from barking- the results are not as good. Why? Because the dog starts to lose its confidence.

Quick fixes for behavior control are more often than not tempting to use and leads to overdependence to control devices. While doing it the long way usually proves to be more valuable.

Therefore, before one chooses a dog training collar, it is recommended to do your research first so your dog's comfort would not be compromised. 

BOREDOM and variety

Boredom and variety are always inter connected in case of dog misbehaving. Yes. This is true. Many a times, boredom can be managed with variety of materials that will distract the animals to a greater extent.  Hence, the dog may not do the abnormal or unwanted activity arising out of the boredom experienced by it. 

Boredom experienced dogs may have different types of behavioral patterns.  For example, some dogs will be seen barking continuously and some may be engaged always in some digging activities. 

There are many ways to get your dog out of its boredom activities. Many toys are available which simulated duck, dog, rodent etc. 

These may be kept inside the crate and in particular, puppies love these items.  A buster cube with multiple treats may be placed in the dog’s shelter and the animal soon understands on how to roll the buster cube to get the treats it prefers. A Buster Cube is an ingenious toy use for simulating and activating your dog during play and feed time.  Instead of placing the food monotonously in one place, change the place of feeding suddenly. 

Such actions will be helpful for removing the boredom like activity in your dog. Activities pertaining to boredom need to be redefined well by the dog owners.  This will help them to a greater extent to drive away the unwanted behavior patterns in their pet dogs. 

For example, some dogs may often have destructive biting characters and will be seen biting chair, cloth, mats, and everything that can see. After ruling out the teething problem if it is a puppy, provide it with some large sized balls, mineral mixture based bone materials, etc. Such variety of materials help to reduce the boredom related activities.   

---

---

---