Archives for how to train your dog category
Click and Treat is one of the first major improvements in dog training since the spiked collars and the choke chains. In a very short span of time Click and Treat has revolutionized the training circuit. Several trainers have adopted it and currently there might be over 10000 who are regularly using this method.
Click and Treat was initially used to train marine animals. Click and Treat involves breaking the training process into two simple parts- information and motivation. Though conventional trainers encourage these two steps too, they usually try teaching them in one go, which confuses the animals and delays the results.
The most common form of training is verbally praising the dog for good behavior while simultaneously motivating a repetition of the action. Though this is a good method, the dog takes a long time to understand what behavior caused the trainer to praise it. The process is made simpler by the Click and Treat technique. While in conventional training, a verbal praise, like “good boy”, is used to welcome and action followed by the treat, in the Click and Treat technique, the clicker substitutes verbal praise and helps the dog identify the “good boy” behavior faste. This way the dog knows exactly what he is rewarded for.
First and foremost, the trainer needs to buy a clicker in order to Click and Treat. Clickers are available in almost all pet supply stores. Once bought, the training is easy for both dog and trainer.
Click and Treat training can be a secondary reinforcement, the primary reinforcements being water, food, play and physical affection. While walking the dog, the leach acts as the secondary reinforcement as the dog understands that it is not the leach that is taking it for a walk but the owner. The leach, however, tells the dog that it will guide him on where to go and where not. And so the dog reacts with good behavior to the leach to get a leisurely and pleasant walk. Similarly, in Click and Treat, on hearing the clicker, the dog knows he has performed a good action and there is a reward coming to him for every click that he hears. In this way, the clicker acts like a secondary reinforcement, for teaching him appropriate behavior.
Some of the advantages of Click and Treat are as follows-
1) A faster response than that for verbal praise. The dog can identify exactly which behavior the click is meant for,
2) It replaces threats. While the dog is being motivated to hear, he can work without the fear of having a threat given to him whenever he does something bad.
3) The trainer can be at any distance from the dog for the clicker to work. So proximity to the dog is not always required.
One way you can get started with the Click and Treat technique is to first stand before the dog. For about 20 minutes to half and hour, keep clicking the clicker and follow it by giving the dog a treat. After a while, the dog will familiarize itself with the clicking sound and every time he hears the click it will tell him that he has performed a good action. After the dog gets used to it, add commands like “stay” and “sit”.
Click and Treat is a simple and consistent method of training that has achieved quick results. So all the trainers who love to train dogs and are looking for exciting new ways of training buy yourself a clicker and start clicking!
Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/click-and-treat-method-the-best-possible-option-to-train-dogs-753371.html
Jan 15, 2010 | | how to train your dog
Thank you for featuring this YouTube.
A video on training your dog how to roll over and play dead.
An introduction to clicker training:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnRSeuHD_fg
Duration : 0:6:34
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: border, clicker, collie, dead, dog, Frisbee, how, over, play, roll, to, train, training, tricks"
Jan 15, 2010 | | how to train your dog
In other words- walking on a loose leash.
This video quickly outines exercises to get your dog walking on a loose leash by your side. Put very basically FIRST you will teach the dog what you want them to do! And secondly, stop reinforcing them when they pull!
I demonstrate the exercise using a clicker, but if you do not have one, you can always use a verbal marker like yes etc. However you will get much faster and reliable results by using the clicker. If you hold the clicker in the same hand as the leash, and keep the treats in the other hand, you will find it easier to manage. Practice holding the leash, clicker, and treats when you do not have the dog attached to the leash yet, so you dont become overwhelmed.
A great book on loose leash walking, or how to stop your dog from pulling is-
My Dog Pulls. What Do I Do? by Turid Rugaas
You can get this book on www.dogwise.com and other places too. Its very short and has lots of pictures.
I would advise against using any forms of positive punishment when teaching any behavior, but especially leash walking, as startling or hurting a dog actually increases their stress hormones in their body causing the dog to be more hyperactive and more likely to become aroused and reactive towards other dogs and people (weather they want to greet them or not).
DO NOT DROP THE LEASH! I showed myself dropping the leash on a street with no cars/danger and another person there. This would happen during an emergency, if you trip or fumble. In no way do I support people who walk with their dogs off leash, you never can tell if a car will backfire, or who knows what, an earthquake etc with frighten your dog, and cause it to run into traffic. If you don’t like holding a leash, simply tie it to your waist like I do with my dogs. However walking in a safe place where dogs are allowed off leash is perfectly acceptable 
Duration : 0:3:39
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: clicker, dog, heel, how, leash, loose, obedience, on, teach, tips, to, training, walking
Jan 03, 2010 | | how to train your dog
Housebreaking any new pet can be a difficult chore, but with repetition and practice the challenge will become easier and easier. If you want the puppy to listen only to you, then don’t allow him to play with other persons. Potty training your new puppy is a necessary evil.
You must do the same routine every single day and it is important to give your puppy a lot of extra attention as this will make the house breaking process much easier.
Your pet is living in a human world full of confusing things and behavior he can’t understand. It is better to create good habits in the beginning, if you start early you can stop behavior problems such as biting or jumping on furniture.
Every dog owner knows that when he/she treats the dog with praise the dog will get greater satisfaction and will execute the command more readily than if the dog receives discipline in another fashion. So when training your dog needs positive reinforcement.
You can train a dog on your own, or you can join an obedience training class and get instruction from professionals. You will find many resources online and most of the online sites are free and you will find many tips and secrets to dog training.
If you really want to train your puppy you will need to put some effort into it. And some type of dog is trained just for that.
Having a dog that can perform tricks and is very obedient and well trained is the pride and joy of every dog owner. While they are generally warm, loving and loyal, they can be trained to be more obedient. Even if you only have your dog inside for a short amount of time he or she must be trained not to leave a mess.
The correct position for the heel command is your dog at your left side with his shoulder and front leg aligned with your left leg. When you and your dog have a good relationship and training will come very easily. As your dog progresses in his training, you’ll be able to give him a command in the middle of a crowded area and he’ll obey you.
When training your puppy make sure you use positive experiences because negative experiences might affect your puppy, so make sure you make the training positive and fun. And this training requires frequent, consistent, and appropriately timed positive reinforcement. Unlike man, dogs do not know how to differentiate between positive and negative attention.
Your dog will its best when it receives praise, so using positive words and reinforcement you dog will do it best when training him/her. There are two elements at work here: positive reinforcement and intermittent reinforcement. All positive commands should be spoken sharply and distinctly during training.
When training your pet you can use the treat system, this system is training with a treat by rewarding your dog with his/her favorite snack for following your commands or doing something good. Try to go outside with him at least every thirty minutes or so, and make sure you praise or reward him for relieving himself outside.
Properly crate training your puppy is one of the best things that you could possibly do.
David Marc Fishman
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/start-early-and-train-your-puppy-111751.html
Dec 17, 2009 | | how to train your dog
A lot of people blame the breed of the dog as the cause of their aggression. These causes people to no longer enjoy the breed they love. Where the fact is that people cannot distinguished the difference at all between assertiveness and breeding rights with aggression
There is a public outcry against vicious and aggressive dogs. In some countries, and in some states, the Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Argentine Dogo, American Staffordshire Terrier and others have been banned or have been required to wear muzzles whenever they are in public.
Why? Do you mean all these dogs are bad dogs. Where in actually reality there are no such things as bad dogs, what we have are bad owners and bad breeders which causes the public to go against these dogs.
If you just open up your eyes to observe, you will start seeing American Pit Bull Terrier and other so called “Viscious Dogs” that has gone through dog training in search and rescue resulted in this pit bull working very hard at its job, and is very successful even around children.
But because of their reputation, people tend not to see their gentle side traits.
One of the common misunderstanding of dog aggression is when you as the owner is not able to establish the dog position in the family. As dog is pack animal, it will try to find its standing in the hierachy.
Since children are at eye level with the dog, it makes perfect sense the dog will first challenge them on its first level and proceed up until it find its standing.
It is the responsibility of you the owner and as the leader to establish and make your dog understand that their position is at the lower end of this pecking order. Family first, dog last.
Establishing this fact that is clearly understood by your dog will definitely solve a lot of your dog’s aggression issues.
Another common mistakes that many owners make, that actually train their dog to have the aggression behavior problem is when they encourage aggressive behavior.
Playing tug-of-war or wrestling games encourages the dog to attempt to “best”, or “win out” over the owner, which can result in the beginning of a dominance aggression problem.
This again goes back to being establishing the position of the dog in the family, by encouraging such activity, you would destroy the establishment of his rank in the family.
When dogs are encouraged to “go get ‘em” or to bark and dash about in response to outside noises or the approach of a person, territorial and protective aggressive behavior may be the result.
So aggression behavior can be changed with proper dog training and right establishment of the dog’s ranking in the pack.
So it is my encouragment for all of us to start seeing things from the other side of the coin, some of these called “Viscious Breed” are really not and they are some of the most wonderous companion to be around with.
Even, if you get them with aggression problem, you can still re-train them and they can be transform to obedience and most wonderful dogs you can ever have.
Leo Enoch
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/understanding-your-dog-aggression-problem-and-how-to-stop-them-111170.html
Dec 09, 2009 | | how to train your dog
Whether or not you plan to invite your dog into your home or prefer to let him/her roam around the yard, housebreaking your dog is well worth the effort. If your dog will be an indoor pet, the benefits are obvious. But, even an outside pet can benefit from knowing when and where to “go”. What if you and your family are going on vacation and plan to take your dog along for the trip? Not only will the hotel appreciate the fact that your dog is housebroken, but the drive will also be much more pleasant. If you don’t take your pet on vacations, what will happen if you need to leave him/her with a friend or relative? If they bring the dog into their home, both you and they will be thankful for a housebroken pet.
Housebreaking your dog is a very important detail and, although tedious, is very necessary. The truth is that your dog desperately wants your love and approval and they will do anything to make you happy. Housebreaking your dog isn’t easy and it may involve a few glitches, but it’s well worth the effort for both you and your pet.
When it comes to housebreaking, you can either train your dog conventionally by taking him/her outside after every meal, first thing in the morning and last thing at night or use the crate training method. The conventional approach to housebreaking will set your dog on a schedule and he/she will begin to recognize when and where to take care of business. With crate training, your pet will be confined to a small space that will quickly begin to feel like home. Because your dog will not want to relieve itself in a home-like environment, he/she will learn to wait for the appropriate time to seek relief. They key to effective crate training is to only place your pet in the crate for short intervals, which may be up to 2 hours at a time, and while you are unable to monitor them closely. You can also leave them in the crate overnight, but they must be taken outside first thing in the morning and last thing before placing them in the crate at night.
Regardless of which housebreaking method you choose, there will most definitely be “accidents” along the way. Crate training can be difficult, especially for puppies who are just learning how to control their bodies. As he/she gets older, the task will be easier and more controllable. During the earliest days and weeks of housebreaking, your pet will likely slip up and relieve itself somewhere that you would consider to be off-limits. If you allow your dog to roam freely throughout the house without supervision, the likelihood increases. Once they learn the routine and the training has set in, your dog will learn how to let you know when he/she needs to go outside.
How can you tell when your dog needs to step out? Sniffing the carpet, walking in small circles and whining or pawing at the door are very common symptoms that your dog is trying to tell you something. When this happens, let your pet out immediately. If your housebreaking method is to be effective, your dog needs to know that he/she will be able to communicate with you and that you will respond in a timely manner. Just as you want your pet to understand your commands, your pet very much needs to know that you understand his/hers.
There are many great resources for dog training available on the internet. One of the best ways to find these resources is by reading independent reviews and comparison rankings. In this way you can be confident your pet is getting best training possible.
Brian Dolezal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/housebreaking-your-dog-100573.html
Dec 02, 2009 | | how to train your dog
Achieve your goals by breaking them down into bite-sized pieces, and use digital shortcuts to track your steps towards success.
For more on text etiquette, check out AT&T Textiquette: http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=2805
Also, visit http://www.howcast.com for more how-to videos like this one.
Duration : 2 min 41 sec
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: at&t
Dec 01, 2009 | | how to train your dog
One of the best things about having a pet is the companionship they offer. Many of the idealized dreams of pet owners have been destroyed by the inability to properly house train a new puppy or dog. This is unfortunate because with very few exceptions, teaching a dog to relieve themselves outside is one of the easier things to do.
Understand that dogs are pack animals and in the wild, they choose to be very social and interact with a group. When you take on dog ownership, you are seen as part of the pack. Canines also prefer to sleep in a very clean, dry and warm place. This means that a dog or puppy will not purposely soil what they see as their home and sleeping area.
The key then is to take this natural preference and use it to develop a positive behavior of asking to go outside to relieve themselves. The absolute best way of getting the behavior you want is to use lots of praise and positive reinforcement.
Yelling, raising your voice, threatening and getting aggravated or physical with your puppy or dog will not nearly be as effective as positive reinforcement and consistency on your part. A dog simply has a difficult time associating an action with a consequence. It’s their desire however to make you happy so anything like going outside to the bathroom should be seen as something that makes you happy. This means lots of praise will get your puppy housebroken a lot faster than getting upset.
It also means that if your dog has an accident inside your home and you do not see it while it’s happening, you should not scold or say anything negative to your pup. And even better approach when you have to clean up a pile of poo is to ignore the dog completely. You don’t want to show your displeasure because your puppy will not have the ability to associate your unhappiness with the bathroom accident. The reason for this is that you don’t want to interact with the animal after finding something that you don’t like.
You should also face the fact that your puppy or dog will have an occasional accident during the training. It’s just a fact that there will be times when your puppy will not be able to control their bowels or bladder. If you catch them in the act of relieving themselves in your home however, simply pick them up and say firmly “NO” and take them directly outside to let them finish going to the bathroom.
Stay there with them and pay careful attention to make certain that they go. While outside, if they do indeed go potty, it’s very important that you focus on that positive and offer them lots of praise and physical contact heading for doing a good job. This helps connect bathroom business with outside and pleasing you.
It’s only through patience and understanding that you can successfully potty train your dog. Although it doesn’t take a lot of time, it’s important that you stay consistent with your training and realize that accidents will unfortunately happen.
Abigail Franks
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/house-training-your-puppy-or-dog-120229.html
Nov 29, 2009 | | how to train your dog
If you find that you are not being successful in training your own dog, or maybe you don’t have the time or the inclination, then you may wish to consider the use of a professional dog trainer. Professional dog trainers are also a great benefit if you have a particularly difficult or unruly dog with bad behavior problems. But, how do you go about choosing a good dog trainer?
There are no licensing requirements for someone to set themselves up as a dog trainer so you can’t simply pick the first one out of the phone-book and assume that they will be value for money. You will need to spend some time searching for a good dog trainer so that you dog’s behavior improves rather than worsens.
Possibly one of the best ways to find a good dog trainer would be to ask for recommendations from other dog owners you already know who perhaps have used a dog training service in the past. Other good sources are veterinarians, dog breeders, and pet storeowners who will have been asked similar questions before. By asking around, you can find out which trainers are most highly regarded in your area.
Once you have selected a particular dog trainer, your work is not yet done. You may first wish to ask them to provide written testimonials from previous clients or possibly telephone numbers so you can check with some of those previous clients personally. Any trainer unwilling to do this should be treated with some caution. Most good dog trainers will have no problem with your request and will be happy to provide you with proof of their past successes.
Ideally, you should try to find a dog trainer who has been in business for a long time and at least a couple of years. Experienced dog trainers will have more success in dealing with the particular personality of your dog. They will have encountered a variety of dogs and behavior problems and will have learned what can be expected and the quickest way to train a dog or solve behavior problems.
Similarly, the longer the dog trainer has been in service is a good indication of their successes. After all, it’s unlikely their business would have survived without clients who were happy to pay for the service they received.
If you are unable to find a dog trainer who has been in business for a long time then be prepared to ask a lot of questions to any other potential trainers. Find out what successes they have had and what training they have taken to call themselves a dog trainer.
Finally, find out what the price range is for dog training services in your area. Get several quotations from different trainers and ensure you get value for money. You may need to pay a little extra for the services of an experienced dog trainer but balance this against the time it will take to get your dog trained to your satisfaction.
Garnett Johnston
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-choose-a-good-dog-trainer-94843.html
Nov 25, 2009 | | how to train your dog
This dude nearly reaches the top of a mountain on his new quad but the mountain becomes a bit to steep near the top.
Duration : 24 sec
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: how
Nov 23, 2009 | | how to train your dog
