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Posts Tagged ‘dog training’


TEACHING YOUR DOG TO USE A DOGGIE DOOR

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

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A doggie door can be a very convenient addition to your household. It’s convenient for your dog because it allows him or her to be more self-reliant, while it’s convenient for you because you will no longer have to get up in the middle of the night to let your dog out every time he or she needs to heed the call of nature. A word or two of caution though. If you think your dog is the type to just wander off from your backyard into the streets, then a doggie door might not be such a good idea. Also, if you are not confident enough about the security of the neighborhood in which you live in, a doggie door might not also be for you as it can be a means for burglars or other unwanted persons to get into your house- especially if you have a bigger dog, which will entail that you also get a large enough doggie door where people may be able to fit through. Once you have considered these disadvantages and feel that a doggie door can be beneficial for you, then read on and learn a few tips on how to train your dog to use his doggie door:

-    Firstly, tape the flap of the doggie door to the wall so it just looks like an opening through the wall. Stay outside and leave your dog inside. Close the door and try calling him outside. If he doesn’t respond hold up a treat or a toy just a few meters from the opening. This will teach him to get to you through the opening.

-    Once you have done step one a few times and are sure that your dog has learned to use the hole as a door, take out the tape so the flap is covering the hole again. Like in step one, stay outside while your dog is inside the house and call him or her. If he doesn’t respond or hasn’t figured out that the flap can be moved and he can still use the hole like before, move the flap with your foot or peek your head in so he knows that it is actually movable. Again, you can use a treat or toy to encourage him. Most dogs learn how to use the doggie door pretty quickly.

-    Finally, repeat the same process with you inside the house and your dog outside. Train your dog so that he or she will know to head inside right away when you call him or her. It should be clear to your pet that outside is for relieving him or herself and for occasional playing, but that inside is really where he or she needs to be most of the time. Now that he or she has learned to go outside through the doggie door, you want to make sure he or she will know how to get inside as well- where he or she is safest and most secure!

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PROS AND CONS OF ELECTRIC DOG COLLARS

Monday, July 6th, 2009

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Electric dog collars are primarily used in dog obedience training. How does it work? It comes with a remote transmitter that you, the dog owner, can control. Whenever your dog is disobeying your command or doing something “bad”, you can then activate the transmitter and the collar sends a small shock to your dog, thereby letting him or her know of your displeasure. Not surprisingly, there has been a lot of debate surrounding the use of electric dog collars. Some pet owners advocate their use, while others are against it. Here we give you the pros and cons and our two cents’ worth on the subject.

PROS
-    Electric dog collars are a quick, convenient way of training your dog. Once he or she does something wrong, you can immediately let him or her know about the mistake, so they can learn to easily distinguish between right and wrong.
-    Some dogs have behavioral problems that no amount of training can solve. Some jump over the fence when they see anything that sparks their interest or tug at the leash so hard that you end up letting go and frantically running after them. There are dogs who won’t outgrow chewing the furniture or frantically digging through your lawn. If, after you feel you have tried your best training them and they still haven’t learned to listen, then maybe the electric collar is the way to go.
-    The electric collar is also a cheaper training alternative than hiring a professional trainer, which not everyone will be able to afford.
-    Contrary to some misconception, there have been no proven physical or neurological damage associated with electronic dog collars.

CONS
-    Some pet owners see it as a quick fix. They don’t bother teaching their dogs the more conventional way (such as reward training) because they have an option that entails less effort and less time on their part.
-    Many opponents of electric dog collars also say that some dog owners may abuse it, so they press on the transmitter and shock their dogs at the smallest hint of misbehavior. Dogs, like the rest of us, are not perfect and are bound to commit mistakes. The problem with using electric dog collars is that we become less patient and less forgiving with even the smallest transgressions and punish our pets unnecessarily.
-    Others also question whether intentionally hurting your pet (no matter how minor the pains is) is humane or not.
-    Another argument against the use of the electric collar is that it could potentially worsen behavior problems since some dogs may only end up being more aggressive when subjected to a little pain and discomfort.

In conclusion, as long as you properly educate yourself on how and when to use the electric dog collar, then it might not be such a bad idea. Our one advice though is to make sure that, when training your pet, you use other avenues first. Once those other methods don’t work, then consider the electric dog collar option. If reward training works though, then it might be best to continue doing that instead. After all, there’s no use in trying to fix something that’s not broken!

Where to get an electric dog collar? Click here!

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5 COMMON DOG TRAINING MISTAKES

Friday, June 19th, 2009

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When it comes to training their precious pooches, most dog owners are well-meaning and want nothing but the best for their pets. Sometimes though, however hard they may try, pet owners end up committing a few blunders in the training process, thus not producing their desired training results. Here are five of the most common dog training mistakes. Always keep them in mind when training your dog:

1.    Unreasonable expectations- Training is a learning process, not a one-time deal. You cannot expect your dog to learn how to sit within one training session. Some dogs learn quicker than others and you should not hold it against your pet if it takes him longer to learn. Always avoid comparisons. It is unfair to expect your pet to jump as high as your neighbor’s dog or to be able to do impressive tricks like the dogs you see on youtube and on TV. This is not to say that they’re not capable of these things, but bear in mind that these so-called wonder dogs you may be comparing your dog to have probably undergone a whole lot of training and are rarely born that way!

2.    Impatience- When training, you have to arm yourself with a lot of time and more importantly, a lot of patience. Initially, your dog will be unable to understand words and is only capable of understanding emotions. It will be able to tell if you are getting irritated. You have to remember that, when communicating with your pet, what you say is not as important as how you say it. For example, if you are trying to teach your dog to sit, say the command in a stern but gentle and happy voice. If you say it with an angry, annoyed tone, your pet will think of “Sit” as an unpleasant word and will not be as willing to follow your command. And it goes without saying that you should NEVER lay a hand on your pet no matter how much they may be displeasing you in the training process. If you find that you have very little patience to do the training, it might be best to seek the help of a professional dog trainer.

3.    Failure to reward- When your dog has successfully achieved a command, make sure you reward them immediately after. If you wait until later to reward them they will not know what it is that they did right. Positive reinforcement in the form of verbal affirmation or a treat can go a long way. Conversely, make sure you do not punish your dog unknowingly. What do we mean by this? After training your dog, avoid having him do unpleasant things. For example, if you decide to clean his ears after a training session, he is going to equate training with that unpleasant activity and will not look forward to training in the future.

4.    Being inconsistent- Dogs are not like humans in that they do not have as good a grasp of language as we do. Thus, it’s important to be consistent with the commands you choose to give. Call your dog by only one name when training him. You can’t say, “Fido, Sit” one minute and then “Doggy, Sit” the next.

5.    Not following through- Your dog learns by repetition. They may have already learned a command after a 3-day training session but if you stop the training for a week after that, you cannot expect your dog to retain the information he learned several days ago. It is better to spend fewer hours a day on training but to do it as regularly as possible.

Avoid these common mistakes and your dog should be sitting, rolling over, and fetching in no time!

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SHARING TERRITORY: HOW TO MAKE YOUR DOGS GET ALONG WITH EACH OTHER

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

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So you think you and your family are ready for another dog, but you’re not quite sure if the one you already have feels the same way? Not to worry, these tips ought to help you ensure that all the dogs in your home get along with each other!

- Firstly, remember that dogs are very territorial creatures. Your old dog sees your home as his or her domain and, understandably so, may feel that the new one is in unwelcome territory. Similarly, your old dog probably sees you as his and his (or hers) alone. Feelings of possessiveness and jealousy towards the new dog are completely natural, so it is important not to punish your old dog for these feelings. In fact, you should assure him or her that taking in a new dog does not diminish your love for him or her. While it is important that you shower your new dog with attention, make sure the old one does not feel left out. Once he realizes that the new dog is more of a companion than competition, he or she will be more willing to accept the new dog as part of the family!
- Precisely because your old dog may see your home as his or her territory, his or her first meeting with the new dog should be in neutral territory. Have them meet in a park, for example. The old dog will be less likely to be on the defensive this way. You also have to pay extra attention to their body language as that says a lot. Each dog should be on a leash and should be handled by a different person. Be extra careful and make sure you have a tight grip on the leash if any of the dogs exhibits signs of aggressiveness such as hair on the back standing straight, baring of teeth, and deep growls. Give them time to sniff and check each other out. Take them on a walk together to give them ample time to get to know each other before bringing both home.
- It may also help to get dogs that are similar in character as this will help them get along with each other quicker. For example, if your current dog is hyperactive and playful, he or she might appreciate these same qualities in the new dog. Likewise, if your current dog is the calm and quiet type, he or she might be better off with someone like him or her.
- Another important thing to remember is to make sure that both the old dog and the new one have separate feeding and water bowls. Having them share a bowl could be recipe for trouble as you know how dogs can get when food is involved!
- As with all training processes, the reward system is a sure-fire way to achieve results. If your dogs are doing a good job of getting along, make sure they know it by praising them and by giving them rewards, such as a treat or a toy. Conversely, if they’re getting into fights and being hostile towards each other, let them know of your displeasure. Berate them by saying, “Bad Dog!” or something to that effect. We’ve repeated it many times but should say it again here- when disciplining, be firm but gentle! And never lay a hand on your pet!
- Finally, it’s important not to expect miracles. Not all humans get along, so it wouldn’t be reasonable to expect the same from dogs. If they falter every now and then and get into small fights, be patient and let it go. If they are generally getting along well and as long as they are not hurting each other, you have no cause to worry!

We hope this has been helpful! Your dogs will soon be best friends not just with you but also with each other before you know it!

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HOW TO POTTY TRAIN YOUR PUPPY

Sunday, May 17th, 2009

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Potty training your puppy can be a hassle, but it’s not something you will want to put off. Dogs are creatures of habit and these habits are learned early, so it’s best to teach them early too! Potty training your pup can be inconvenient and a real test of patience, but if you hang in there, you will soon have a potty-trained puppy and you will see the fruits of your labor in as little as two weeks! If you’re a first-time dog owner and are a little lost on how to potty train your little one, don’t you worry. DNV is here to help. Just keep the following pointers in mind:

-       The first thing to remember is that your puppy is like a child. It does not yet know the difference between right and wrong, which is where you come in. The key to puppy training is a lot of patience and understanding. Your little puppy isn’t peeing or pooping on your grandmother’s rug to annoy you- the poor thing just doesn’t know any better, so don’t take it personally. Remember: Patience is a virtue!

-       When you start potty training, you have to decide on a designated spot outdoors where you should teach your puppy to go. Be specific so not as not to confuse your puppy. Pick a specific tree, for example, not a whole backyard.

-       When your puppy has had an accident indoors, firmly say, “No!” and then quickly take your puppy outside. Do not physically abuse your puppy no matter how frustrated you may be!

-       Your puppy naturally aims to please you, so while you let your puppy know of your displeasure when they’ve peed or pooped indoors, you should also let him or her know of your approval if they’ve managed to go at your designated spot. After they’ve done it right, praise them! Make sure you use the same phrase each time so they will eventually know what that one phrase means. You can say “Good potty!” The key is to be consistent! Another thing you can do to show how pleased you are with them is to give them a toy or a treat after they’ve accomplished their task!

-       Another important tip is to set a specific schedule for meal times and potty times. It may not be a good idea to free feed your pup before he or she has been potty trained. Feed your puppy at the same time everyday so he or she will also go potty at around the same time. If you have to leave the house, make sure that you give your puppy food two hours before you have to leave, so as to give him or her enough time to eat and go potty. Also, there should be at least four hours between the puppy’s last meal and bedtime, and two hours between the puppy’s last drink of water and bedtime. This ensures that he or she won’t have to go in the middle of the night.

-       Like his eating schedule, his sleeping schedule has to be regular also. Take him outside when he wakes up every morning. They always have to go after waking up. They usually have to go after intense physical activity too, so take them to their designated potty area after play or exercise.

-       Study your puppy’s behavior. If you see him restlessly walking around or sniffing around the house, this may mean that he has to go!

-       If your puppy ends up having an accident indoors, make sure you clean the spot thoroughly, removing all traces of smell. Your puppy’s sense of smell is a lot more sensitive than yours. If he smells the slightest hint of his pee or poop, he might think of that spot as a toilet.

Just follow these pointers and you will find yourself constantly saying, “Good potty” to your new puppy very soon enough!

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