Step by Step Dog Training

Most dog training has to be done in stages. You have to teach the dog a little bit at a time until he grasps the overall concept you want him to learn. An example of this would be teaching him/her to stay. Once your dog has learned to stay in a training class or at home, it is a good idea to take it to the next training level by taking your dog to park or shopping area where there are lots of dogs or people.

You do want to obey leash laws, of course, and keep your dog safe, so keep your dog on a long (25-30 foot) line in case you lose his attention and he decides to take off.

With your dog in a “down-stay” or “sit- stay” position you would walk about five feet away from him and then back. Then slowly increase the distance and duration of the stay. If your dog does well you can keep increasing the distance an duration and even move to a location with more distractions. If your dog is having trouble you can go back and make it easier until he learns what you want. If the distractions prove to much you would move to a more quite place for a while. Be flexible when training your dog.

After each success you can go back and reward him or call him to you. Vary it so he has to keep paying attention and always reward your dog for a good stay with treats and/or praise during training.

From here you can go on to more advanced work such as a “down-stay” and walk away and hide or “down-stay” and there are people walking between you and your dog. These are more advanced so you will have to work within what your dog is capable of successfully performing

But the key is to take things in stages with what they are able to do well and work up from there.

Find more valuable dog training information at: http://www.artofdogtraining.com

Protecting Your Dogs Health In Winter

For those of us in the northern hemisphere the days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping. The change of seasons brings new concerns for the dog owner to prepare for and protect your dog’s health.

Dogs feel heat loss the same way we do including the wind-chill which brings temperatures well below what the thermometer reads, especially short haired breeds.

Owners with these breeds should consider having a coat or sweater with a wool lining for your dog handy for spending time outside or in case the power goes out. If the area you life in gets extremely cold you should restrict your pets’ time outside to avoid health problems or frostbite in your dog’s vulnerable areas such as ears, feet and tail. Be aware of the signs of hypothermia, including: shivering, pale or blue gums, enlarged pupils, decreased heart rate, body temperature below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you have an outside dog make sure they have a comfortable warm dog house that is rasied off the ground and has straw to keep warm. The dog house should be big enough to turn around in but small enough to keep the dog’s body heat in. It can help to put a burlap covering over the door and face the door away from prevailing winds.

If you have an older dog, whether an inside dog or an outside dog, they may have arthritis and my benefit from a heat pad.

During winter cold, dogs need more calories to keep their body temperature up and maintain their health. Increase the amount of protein in your dog’s diet during these months. Provide plenty of fresh water during winter, don’t depend on the snow to provide for your dogs hydration. If the water freezes make sure to change it more often. For outdoor dogs use a non-metal feeding dish, a dog’s tongue can end up getting frozen to a metal bowl.

Ice can encrust itself on your dogs paws, legs, and underbelly after walking in the snow. This leads to painful splits and areas of bleeding so it is a good idea to dry your dog off after a walk. Another problem is chemical salts that are used to melt snow. These can cause severe irritation to your dogs’ pads and if your dog licks those areas they can make your dog very sick.

Leaving a dog in the car in the winter can be just as deadly as leaving them in a car during the hot summer. Cars can become an ice box in a very short time causing your dog to freeze to death.

Your dog’s health is more vulnerable in winter time. Watch out for respiratory infections and colds which can manifest during cold weather and consult a vet if necessary.

Involve your dog in activities to relieve the boredom that can arise from winter confinement. Most dogs want to spend time with people whether the weather is cold or not.

Stock up on essentials for your dog in case winter storms make it difficult to get out for a few days. These essentials include food, treats, medications and first aid items. And if you travel any distance from home make a plan with a trusted neighbor in case you end up getting stranded away from home.

Clear away any snow or ice on the path to their preferred potty place. If necessary, you can scatter cat litter on your steps to provide some traction.

For more information on how to protect your dog’s health visit: Dog Health Guide

Chew Toys For Your Dog

Chew toys are perfect for the dog that likes to chew a lot, especially if you are trying to get them to stop chewing on your furniture. They also create a great distraction if you are going to be leaving the dog alone for a while or if he/she is going to be confined in a crate for house training or travel, etc.

Most dog chew toys are made of nylon, latex rubber or, in some cases, animal parts such as hides or hooves. King Kong Toys are one of the most popular brands of chew toys. They are made of tough rubber with an opening on one end.  You can experiment by stuffing these toys with different foods such as peanut butter or cheese spread, freeze them and give them to your dog for hours of licking and chewing pleasure.

Doggie “potato chips” are also a favorite and can last anywhere from an hour to a couple of days depending on the size of the dog’s jaw and his/her propesity towards gnawing on things. They are available in different sizes and shapes and like pig ears, snouts, cow knuckles, femurs, hooves and bully sticks. Others are bone-shaped made from a variety of vegetables such as carrots.

Another good toy for your dog’s chewing enjoyment is the rawhide. These are a non-consumable, mummified skin-like toy that you need to throw away when they get soggy, and give your dog a new one. Some are basted with a variety of flavorings to add more interest for the dog. The “USA rawhide” with a little flag sticker are best because these do not contain preservative flavorings that are harmful for your dogs.

One doggie chew toy to avoid is the Four Paws Pimple Ball which has been recalled by the manufacturer.  Four Paws executives said a defect in the product’s mold sealed one of the ball’s two holes, creating a vacuum effect that could trap a tongue and has caused injury to some dogs.

Eight Steps to Stop Your Dog From Behaving Badly

Dog Behavior Steps

1: Distinguish what your dog is doing wrong – Not what you think he is feeling or thinking, just the actual behavior that is bothering you.

2: Keep a written record of the bad behavior for a week – Note the number of occurences, the time of day and the circumstances surrounding the occurance.  This will give you clues to the actual cause of the behavior, help you see any patterns and be your baseline to measure improvement from week to week.

3: Find out if there is something physically wrong with your dog – Get a thorough examination at the vet and make sure there are no underlying physical causes.

4: Create a list of words, phrases and objects that make your dog feel good – write down the things that excite your dog the most (i.e. “Go for a walk?”, seeing a doggie treat, the sound of a leash, etc.)

5: Develop a hypothesis – a theory of why you dog is doing what he is doing, whether the behavior is filling a psychological, biological or social need and determine an alternative behavior that might fulfill this need.

6: Head off the bad behavior – Using your theory as to why the problem is occuring try to prevent the bad behavior.  You can use one of the “feel good” items from your list, give him something more interesting to do, or block his access the the area where the behavior is happening and make them forget about doing the bad behavior.

7: Create a new habit – Find an appropriate behavior to fulfill your dogs needs and using positive reinforcement train him to do this new behavior as a distraction from the bad behavior until it becomes a habit.  Give tons of praise to encourage the new behavior.

8: Measure results – Continue to track the incidence of bad behaviors and compare it to the original record.  If you see improvement, continue to add consistent reinforcement.  If you don’t, go back to your hypothesis and consider the assumptions you have made about your dog’s motivation and possible causes and start again.

Click here for more detailed step-by-step dog training information

Train Your Dog To Save Your Life

According to Sky News Joe Stalnaker’s dog (a German Shepherd named Buddy) called 911 to summon help when Mr. Stalnaker suffered from a seizure.

Mr Stalnaker, of Scottsdale, Arizona, has suffered seizures for ten years after suffering a head injury during a military training exercise.  Her adopted Buddy as an eight week old puppy and trained him to use the speed dial on the phone in case he began to have an attack.  “So when he got into difficulties, Buddy knew exactly what to do – hit the speed-dial button on the phone for 911.”

On the tape of the 911 call, he can be heard whimpering and barking after the operator answers and repeatedly asks if the caller needs help.  Later Buddy can be heard barking loudly when the officers arrived at Mr Stalnaker’s house.

Mr Stalnaker spent two days in a hospital and recovered from the seizure.  “Even the veteran dispatchers – they haven’t heard of anything like this.”

Mr Stalnaker’s address is flagged in the force’s computer system with a notification that a trained dog might call 911 when the owner was incapacitated.  Buddy has made two other 911 calls when Mr Stalnaker was having seizures.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Dog-Saves-Life-Of-Owner-Joe-Stalnaker-
By-Dialling-911-When-He-Had-A-Seizure-In-Scottsdale-Arizona/Article/200809315099414

There are many ways that dogs can be trained to assist people who suffer from seizure.  Although the most publicized seems to be seizure detection this is not usually the most common way dogs provide assistance.

According to Michael Sapp, Sr.of PAWS With A Cause, Assistance dogs “function in different ways for each person. Only five of the 28 dogs have, after several years of working with their owners, began to alert them prior to a seizure. This is less than 1 in 4 dogs, but also remember that only about 2% of the dogs entering our program have the necessary qualities for this type of dog. Another factor about PREDICTIONS also needs to be considered. When the client changes medications, it can change their personality and other behaviors that the dog may use as cues. This has happened several times in our program, and it has taken many months for the dog to adjust to their new behaviors.

“In all of the clients we have trained dogs for, there have yet to be two who have the need for their dog to accomplish the same tasks for them. Yes they all have seizures, but they are different in the manner in which their seizures occur or in the severity of the seizure or what triggers them, from stress, certain foods cooking to patterns on floors, carpeting or TV.

“I do feel that training the right dog to assist a person when they are having a seizure could escalate the dog’s capabilities in detecting seizures. To claim this, however, is a disservice to the client and the program. We never tell anyone this. In fact, we state that, if for some reason this happens with you it will be a bonus, but not to expect it or think that it will happen.

http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/LA/sapp1.htm

Nutrients Your Dog Needs

When you go to buy dog food you should make sure that the foods being compared include all of the necessary components dogs need for good health and nutrition.

Dogs need several nutrients to survive, namely: amino acids from proteins, fatty acids and carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water.  So check the foods you are comparing to make sure they contain all of the essentials.

Here is a brief review of the nutrients that your dog needs.

Amino Acids from Protein – There are 10 essential amino acids that dogs cannot survive without eating. Dogs can often tell when a food lacks amino acids and will avoid eating it. To get these amino acids your dog food should contain quality protein from animals rather than “animal byproducts”.

Fatty Acids – Dogs cannot create the fatty acids and must also ingest enough dietary fats to provide for internal body functions such as, cell structure and function, resistance to infections, vision and brain function.  Puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs need more than twice the amount a normal adult dog needs.

Carbohydrates – Dogs get some of their energy (calories) from carbohydrates.  According to studies an adult dog’s diet can include up to 50% carbohydrates with preferably no more that 2.5-4.5% coming from fibers that contribute little by way of energy or nutrition.

Puppies require more than twice as many calories than an active adult dog.  Pregnant Dogs require one to two-thirds more.  Nursing dogs may require 2-4 times as many calories as an adult dog depending on the number of puppies and how long they have been nursing.

Vitamins & Minerals – Vitamins and minerals known to be essential to your dogs health include: Folic Acid and Choline, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Sodium, Potassium, Chlorine, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Manganese, Selinium and Iodine Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin B1, Riboflavin, Vitamin b5, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Vitamin B12.

These are neccessary for strong bones and teeth, nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, cell signaling and enzymatic reactions.

Once you know that the dog foods you are comparing include these essentials, you can then focus your dog food comparison efforts on the quality and quantities provided by each prospective dog food source.

Which Dog is Boldest?

An Interesting Piece of Trivia

A 3 year study at Stockholm University found these Top 10 Dog Breeds to show the most Fearlessness, Curiosity, Sociability and Interest in Chasing Prey.

1. Labrador Retriever
2. Flat-Coated Retriever
3. Belgian Malinois
4. Boxer
5. Rottweiler
6. German Shepherd
7. Giant Schnauzer
8. Border Collie
9. American Staffordshire Terrier
10. Jack Russell Terrier

The Terrible Problem of Puppy Mills

I just heard from a reader who responded to my email about adopting from shelters whenever possible. This shows why I believe this is so important.

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Hello Tom,

I have been the foster and now owner of a Papillion for the past year. I
belong to a group called, pap911RescueandAdoption My dog was an owner
surrender because the mother, human became very allergic to him, Our group
spends immense amounts of money to try to take every pap, being culled from
the puppy mills. Some are 5 to 7 years old and have never been outside or
even seen grass. They spend their lives in cages having babies, sometimes 2
or 3 litters a year. They are never vetted, never have vaccinations, never
have good food, and very seldom have human contact. They come to us full of
flees and they stink so badly that we can hardly put them in the cars to
transport home. The usually need 2 or three baths to rid them of the
horrible smell. Some of them socialize to people after a few months and
some of them never trust people again. Can you blame them.

There was an auction today.
They had quite a lineup of dogs, all breeds, for sale, unfortunately, our
group is stretched to the limit with dogs coming in this year and with vet
bills for them and foster homes to keep them till we find suitable homes.
We would have loved to be there to bid on every pap we could just to free it
from a life of torment. We have been trying for years to inform the public
about puppy mills and pet stores but it is hard to get the word out.
Ultimately we need the government to change their laws about puppy mills and
pet store practices.

We all do whatever we can but funds to go to these
auctions is such a hurdle. I commend your friend at the Second Chance
Animal Shelter for all he does. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for listening to me rant.

Emily

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Thanks Emily for the work you are doing.

Tom Kelly
artofdogtraining.com

Keeping Your New Dog Safe in the Yard

Simple steps to protect your dog from hazards in the backyard:

1. Check your fence for any ways of escape.

2. Fence off any dangerous plants or property

3. Remove any yard chemical or poisons including rodent and insect poisons

4. Store tools out of reach

5. Keep the door to the garage or shed closed

6. Make a final walk of the yard to check for anything to which a dog my be attracted

New Dog Creates Problem with Old Dog

Caroline recently wrote:

Tom, Buster is almost 7 years old.  I did recently got a puppy which has increased Busters bad behavior ( peeing,barking etc.)  the puppy is a double edge sword.  One side he is a great ruff houser for Buster.  Second, Buster is a little jealous which is probably why Busters problems have accelerated.

My response:

I think you are right.  A dog’s behavior is easily disrupted by small changes, and this is a big change.  They also need a very clear pecking order to be happy and need to know where they stand.  Here is some additional information: Getting a second Dog