Training your Dog To Be Left Alone

You get a new puppy. Unfortunately you are not going to be able to be with him all day long every day. You are going to have to train him to be left alone. You may want to use a crate or keep him confined to one room in the house. Or you may want him to stay outside in the yard. Whatever you decide – you want him to learn early that being alone is not a bad thing and that you are going to come back.

You also want to be sure that while you are gone, your dog is behaving in an appropriate manner. You do not want him, barking, digging, chewing or destroying things while you are gone. Many dogs exhibit these behaviours because they are bored, and not out of spite as many owners believe. They also might be nervous about being alone so it is up to you to teach or train your pet to understand that that alone time can be fun time. [Read More ...]

A Guide To Popular Types Of Terriers

There are many types of terrier: American Pit Bull, Scottish, Jack Russel, Cesky, West Highland White (Westie), Airedale, Staffordshire, Yorkshire (Yorkie), as well as Boston terrier to name a few!

The American Pit Bull Terrier is one of the most popular types of terrier. Unfortunately, this breed has gained a somewhat notorious reputation as being vicious when they became a popular choice for dog fights. This poor breed would be intentionally bred for quantity, rather than quality, and some owners would even abuse them as pups to raise them to be ferocious in dog fights in which they would bet on the dog. This is a very unfair and limited portion of the pit bull’s history. What about Sergeant Stubby—the pit bull who took part in World War II? He began as a morale boost for the 102nd infantry, yet soon became a valued soldier when he began warning his unit of poisonous gas, found wounded men in “no man’s land,” and could warn of the incoming artillery shells.

Next, we are going to tell you about the Yorkshire Terrier. This is a pretty little creature that has a silky coat that is very long and parts down the spine. They have a head that is rather flat with V shaped ears. These pets, just like any of the other terriers are eager to go on an adventure.

If you are looking on more information on terriers, then there are many sites you can turn to. These breeds are high energy, loyal, brave and are all ready for an adventure. They make perfect family dogs as well. They come in both big and small groups. If you are looking for a pit bull or any other, then we highly recommend you first taking a look in the animal shelter. You should also make sure you are ready for a dog.

Stopping Your Dog From Barking

For those of you who are working on the best way to housebreak a puppy, barking can be tough. A constantly barking dog can be a huge nuisance.  It is challenging to learn how to stop your dog from barking, because there are any number of things that sets off constant barking.  Then, each breed is also unique. Figuring out what causes your dog to bark can help you figure out exactly how to teach your dog to control this behavior.

Some dog are just barkers.  It may seem like they live to bark.  Some people don’t mind a lot of dog barking, but it is annoying to many other people.  Try to remember that when dogs bark they are using vocal cues and signals to try to communicate with humans or other dogs.  Don’t try to stop your dog from barking completely, just try to narrow the barking down to when it is essential for their communication.  

One way to avoid excessive barking issues is by not choosing a dog that is known as a big barker.  A dog’s breed and purpose is often a huge factor in its barking habits.  Dogs bred to protect their owners will bark more than those bred as family pets.  Dogs bred for hunting may also tend to bark and even howl more than other breeds.  You cannot always predict a dog’s barking behavior by its breed, but knowing the tendency of a breed to bark is important before you choose a dog.  

Once you get a dog, don’t let it teach you to respond to incessant barking.  If you get up and do what your dog wants just because it doesn’t stop barking, you are only rewarding the problem.  Respond to your dog once she quiets down.  This will train your dog to understand which behaviors will get her rewarded. Consider this before you buy a citronella dog collar.  

When your dog starts to bark, give him a few seconds to get it out of his system.  If the barking persists clasp your hand firmly, but gently around your dog’s muzzle.  If the dog tries to escape your grasp and continue barking reach out with your other hand and hold her by the collar.  

You may be able to figure out why your dog is barking on your own, but sometimes it requires outside help to figure out why your dog will not stop barking.  Don’t feel awkward about asking for help.  I did and it worked.  My dog no longer barks all the time at every noise she hears.

Dogo

The Dogo Argentine is the only recognised breed that originated in Argentina. It was developed in the 1920’s by Antonio and Agustin Martinez. The two brothers began breeding their dogs from the Fighting Dog of Cordoba, which is now extinct. They crossed this breed with Bulldogs, Boxers, Great Pyrenees, Pointers, Irish Wolfhounds and Spanish Mastiffs.

The Martinez brothers wanted to create a breed that was an excellent pack hunter but did not display the aggression problems found in the Fighting Dog of Cordoba. They also wanted their breed to be a family pet and loyal companion.

The final result was a large powerful animal. The ideal height of this dog is between 24 and 27 inches and should weigh 80 to 100 pounds. The animal’s coat is always white and is very short and thick. They are very strong and muscular in appearance with a very large neck and wide shoulders.
These dog’s have been used in the past to hunt large wild animals like jaguars and boars . Today they are used in police work and as guard dogs but some have been successfully trained as guide dogs.
This breed like all other large dogs has certain health concerns. One of the most common is hip dysphasia. Another major concern, like in all breeds of dogs that are primarily white, many Dogos are either deaf or partially deaf. It is extremely important that potential owners have the dog properly tested.

These dogs require an experienced owner who will ensure that the dog receives proper socialisation at an early age. Dogos are big powerful dogs that need to respect their owner and have their aggressive, dominant tendencies curbed early. These dogs can show signs of aggression towards other animals and people if not handled carefully.

Unfortunately many of these animals are still bred to dog fight. Some breeders have even crossed the Dogo with the American Pit Bull to create an even more aggressive fighter. Because of it’s temperament the Dogo is banned in some countries or may require that the owner have special training and or insurance. If considering getting one of these animals any potential owners should look into local laws regarding these animals.

This animal can be a wonderful pet and friend if properly trained and handled.

Why Put Your Dog On a Leash?

As a responsible pet owner you should never allow your dog to run free, or even be off leash while you walk together. If you have not considered the many reasons why your dog should be on a leash than consider these reasons..

1) Dogs who are off the leash may cause injury to a person.

This does not necessarily mean that your dog has bitten someone. Injuries to people can come in other forms. What if your dog scares an elderly person and they fall down? What if your dog knocks a small child Read more

Dog Leash Training: Dog Pulling on Leash

Your daily walk in the park has turned into a battle. You and your dog are constantly engaging in tug of war. Other dogs can walk nicely on a leash, why not yours? Perhaps it’s time to start looking at some dog leash training methods and put an end to the nonsense once and for all.

Many owners find that their dog behaves really well at obedience class but the minute he goes out for a walk he turns into a demon. Maybe it is not the dog who changes but you. Is it possible that during training sessions you treat the animal one way and another when he is out for his daily walk? Or maybe you treat the animal one way and your partner or children treat him another. If so, your poor dog is receiving mixed signals.

Training is not going to involve just you and the dog but everyone who has to walk the dog. Consistency and patience are the keys to training any animal. And this means that all the people who walk the dog must follow the same procedures with the animal, all the time. And you must all use the same commands.

Once everybody has agreed to work together, you can start to look at the dog’s behaviour. If he likes to pull it is probably because he has learned that if he pulls he gets to go where he wants. Simply put, he is getting rewarded for pulling on his leash. You have to teach him immediately that dog leash pulling does not get rewarded.

The moment that your pet decides to pull on the leash STOP. Do not move. Do not pull on the leash. When your dog eases up on the leash take a step. If the pulling starts again stop. Once you have puppy focused on you, begin to move. Puppy will soon realise that if the leash is tight nobody goes anywhere.

As your puppy learns this concept, be sure to offer lots of praise and rewards. When the puppy turns to you to find out why there is no movement you might try backing up a step. Reward the puppy as he returns to you. A great way to get your dog to stay focused on you is to alter direction. Try not to walk in a straight line. Walk backwards; make sharp turns, both left and right. Be sure that at no time do you pull on the leash. Instead Stop. Remain frozen in place until the tension on the leash eases up.

You may not get far on your first few tries but if you are consistent you will see results. Remember that everyone who walks the dog must practice this technique, all the time. This is not always easy to do. There are times when you are in a hurry and taking the time to stop is annoying but remain unremitting.

These lessons are extremely important. You do not want to rely on choke collars or halties to get your dog to behave. You want the dog to stay close to you because it is the best place to be. Training collars are just that, for training. You want your dog to behave even when you are not doing a training session. You want to have control of your dog at all times.

If you remain persistent with your dog leash training exercises you will be surprised at how soon your walks become a joy instead of a chore.

How to Stop a Dog From Biting His Leash

Having a dog that bites his leash can be frustrating. If your dog does mange to chew its way to freedom it can become a dangerous situation. Not only is your dog at risk from cars, and other dogs but your best friend may ingest something that is life threatening. Save yourself a lot of time, money and grief by correcting this behavior as soon as possible.

There are a few different tactics that will correct this behavior:

• The first and easiest thing to try is using a bitter apple liquid. Liberally apply the bitter apple to the entire length of the leash. It may be a bit messy and will smell awful but it is worth it. Some dogs do actually like the taste of this product so as an alternative try using the hottest sauce that you can find. Neither of these methods will harm your dog, but most dogs only need try this a few times before they realize that it does not taste good.
• Another simple technique is the moment that your dog begins biting the leash, Stop. Give him a sharp “no” and remove the leash from the dog’s mouth with a quick pull. You may have to repeat this a few times before it works.
• If you have begun training your dog with the leave it command this is a great time to practice. If your dog drops the leash, give him a reward. However, be wary, you do not want the dog learning that he will be rewarded for taking the leash.
• You might also try the stop walking method during your dog leash training exercises. The moment the dog starts to bite his leash STOP and freeze. Do not move, this is the same technique that you can use to get your dog to stop pulling. Once your dog settles down, begin moving again. Your dog will get the idea that nobody goes anywhere when the leash is being bitten. You might even try putting the leash under your foot and ignoring your animal until he calms down. Once the dog is quiet and calm continue walking.
• If your dog is very playful, he may be biting the leash for more attention. You could try allowing the dog to carry a toy, ball or stick on your walk.
• Another idea is to try getting your dog to focus on other things while you are walking. Make the walk more challenging. Change your direction frequently; this will help to keep the dog’s attention off the leash. You might also try issuing other commands as well such as working on sit and stay. It may take a bit longer to get where you are going but it works.
• Take the dog somewhere new. Try walking your dog in different places. If a dog is entertained by new sights and sounds he is too busy to bite the leash.
• If need be, shorten the leash as much as possible. Keep the dog in almost, the heel position and begin walking. Walk at a very brisk pace. Do not talk to your dog, or pet him, keep moving.

With patience and practice you can get your dog to stop biting the leash. But you have to remain consistent. Whichever method you decide to use, be sure to give it time to work. None of these will work the first time out; they might not even work the second, but keep at it. You and your dog will reap the rewards.

How Can You Tell If Your Dog Is Sick?

In order to determine if your dog is sick it is vitally important that you recognise any symptoms that he might have. How can you do this? By knowing how your dog behaves when he is healthy. If you spend a lot of time playing and being with your dog you will be able to recognise any abnormal behaviours. You can save money, time and get your dog any necessary help sooner the faster you are able to detect any signs of sicknesses.

One hundred and two degrees F is a healthy temperature for a dog. A dog gum’s will be a nice pink color and Read more

Dog Leash Training: Training a Dog To Heel

Any dog owner who has a pet that can correctly ‘heel’ will no doubt be able to tell you all the unseen benefits of this behavior. A dog that can perform this skill is a very well mannered and disciplined pet. This is an animal that will not jump on people or approach them without his owner’s consent. He will not go near other animals, or urinate in unwanted places nor will he eat any of that nasty trash laying around.

Training a dog to heel is not a difficult task. But it is going to require that you be consistent and patient. Training dogs to heel correctly involves a number of things. Having the dog sit at your side until you are Read more

Stop Dog Digging: How to Stop a Dog From Digging

Digging can be a very destructive and dangerous behaviour. You don’t want your dog escaping into the street or destroying your newly planted garden. But, many are at a loss when it comes to how to stop a dog from digging.

Whenever you are trying to change a dog’s behaviour it is important to understand why he is behaving the way he is. Looking at things from the dog’s point of view will often save you a lot of time, money and headaches. Read more

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