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How I Stopped My Barking Dog – Dog Obedience Training

March 25, 2011 By mmallabo Leave a Comment

Article by Marshall Crum

Dogs are wonderful companions. They are always cute when they are puppies and usually they grow up to be great companions that always make you feel special. But, sometimes while growing up, they develop habits that are annoying that make them less than desirable as family members.

Consistent or excessive barking and jumping on people lead the list, especially in areas where people live close together or when traveling. A barking dog can be most annoying in a crowded RV park. Usually, it is not the dog’s fault, but a lack of training. These are habits that can be easily corrected.

The best way to control excessive barking and jumping is with dog obedience training. The problem is that dog training takes time and a lot of patience. Two things that most of us don’t have a lot of. Training a dog is a behavioral change project and requires commitment, time and patience and will not get immediate results. One good source of information for problem dogs is your veterinarian.

There are many products on the market that can provide immediate solutions to control excessive barking. These usually involve ultrasonic devices that attempt to distract the dog or electronic collars that deliver an electric shock or unpleasant spray when the dog barks.

Unfortunately, collars and sprays can also prevent the dog from barking when it should. Product reviews indicate that ultrasonic and spray systems do not work well for most dogs. Probably because they pay no attention to the distraction when their attention is focused on something else. Electronic collars that deliver a shock are more successful and can provide immediate results, but some people object to giving their beloved dog an electric shock.

We teach our dogs learn to jump on people at an early age. As a tiny little puppy, he would come running and jump against your leg, you would pet him or pick him up. At the same time, you were teaching him that it was okay to jump on people. He loved to be picked up and adored the attention and petting and he learned this lesson very quickly and continued it as he grew bigger and stronger. Dogs get excited to when they see new people or someone they haven’t seen for a while and one of the ways they show it is to jump. What is okay for a puppy might not be okay for an adult dog.

How you react to jumping will determine whether or not your dog continues this unwanted behavior. Training takes a strong commitment, consistency and patience in dealing with the problem. You have to make it clear to the dog that jumping on someone is not acceptable. If you don’t take time to correct the behavior, he will feel free to jump whenever he wants to.

Most trainers I have talked to or watched seem to feel that the most effective way to stop unwanted jumping is to ignore him when he jumps. Try not to yell or make any actual correction, just an effort to ignore the behavior. It seems that dogs can understand body language better than the spoken word. So if you turn your back on the dog or ignore him it will have a greater impact than all the yelling in the world. Reward the dog when he does something good, like getting his feet back on the ground when he jumps. You may have to repeat this cycle of ignoring the jump and rewarding him when his feet get on the ground several times and for several days before he finally gets the message and the behavior changes for good.

I know from experience that training a dog can be a frustrating experience. We have had to correct excessive barking, jumping, chewing and digging as well as leash training and just teaching our dogs how to be socially acceptable.

We had problem dogs and I was lost until I found aDog Trainer that had techniques that I could see and hear. I didn’t care about being a certified trainer, I just wanted to stop some unwanted dog behaviors. Click Here to find out what I used to correct unwanted behaviors and training your dog today.

About the Author

The author has two dogs that are wonderful traveling companions with pleasant personalities and dispositions. It was not always the case. He has learned that keeping well-behaved dogs takes commitment and consistent correction.

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Fearful Dog – Dog at the Vet

March 25, 2011 By mmallabo Leave a Comment

Article by Rena Murray

Many a proud and assertive dog suddenly melts into jelly as a fearful dog when you take him to that dreaded appointment — dog at the vet! Just as children (and adults) dislike or fear going to the doctor’s office, there is much dog fear of vet. Yours does not have to be a generally fearful dog, simply one who feels threatened by the cool efficiency of all these strangers who hustle around in this cold, sterile place with so many scents of fear!… and especially if a dog muzzle is unceremoniously shoved over the dog’s face!

My rescued Border Collie is obediently, but he certainly does not love it at the vet, and is quite eager to return to the car. Most people just rush in there, get the thing done, then get out… and that is scary for a dog! I always prepare my dog in advance.

So before you go, first check your own attitude. Come in feeling good, exuding confidence and a carefree attitude of “business as usual, no big deal.” That will calm and reassure your dog.

But he, too, must come in feeling good. Give him fun outings, so going to the car to this place is just another of your outings to him. Make sure he is relaxed even before getting in the car by giving him proper exercise — such as running him on a bike or roller blading. Make sure he has had a bowel movement if at all possible, because you want him comfortable.

Then you need to address the situation at the vet’s office itself. One of the reasons dogs do not often like to go to the vet is because the veterinarian is always in a rush… and so are the staff. That can feel threatening.

Every dog (especially a fearful dog) should be allowed time to become familiar with the scent of the veterinarian, staff, and vet environment. He needs some positive time with them in advance of exam time if at all possible. Try to introduce him in a fun way and give him time to adjust to the vet and staff before you actually take him there for an official visit and exam. Just knowing them in advance will provide reassurance to ease your dog’s fears… even if they are then moving quickly and efficiently in “work mode” (just as you might do during your own work day, so even that might be familiar to the dog).

If your dog is extremely fearful and requires a dog muzzle, take your time in introducing one. Introduce it on a day prior to the vet appointment, at some place else where the dog is not so stressed and is having fun. Take your time introducing the dog muzzle. It may take thirty minutes, but it is worth it to make the fearful one surrender to the muzzle. This way, she will not fear it any more and will see that it means no harm. Then when vet appointment time comes, go early and, by advance arrangement with the staff, start on this process at a calm, leisurely pace — not the frenetic pace of a normal in-and-out, get-it-done, office visit.

Cannot get a dog muzzle on? Here are two important dog behavior tips.

1. Get an obedience dog trainer with muzzle experience to help in advance of the vet visit or to go with you. Have the professional restrain the dog while she releases her frustration — by holding the scruff of the dog’s neck, or the loose skin on the sides of her neck under her jaw. A skittish dog often screams the first time this procedure is done, so do not panic if such occurs. (That is all the more reason to acclimate her to the dog muzzle in advance.)

2. Remember to make your dog face his or her fear. The more you give in to her fear displays, the worse it will be. Never let the dog go when she is nervous, as that is when most dog bites occur. Fear bites. They can be nasty. So just stay in your control position until your dog calms down and you accomplish your goal.

It is the same thing always in dog training and dog relationships. Fearful dog or not, YOU must be a firm, consistent, persistent Leader. Never let go when the dog throws a tantrum (or you will be bitten), and always maintain your position until the dog is calm. The dog must see that you will not be the “first to look away” (hence, lose), but that you remain immovable until you accomplish your goal. Such leadership will comfort, reassure, and restore your fearful dog more than anything else — even at the vet!

About the Author

Fearful Dog Problem? Ask Rena Murray at http://www.pawpersuasion.com/contact.php for Coaching! This Dog Behaviorist-Obedience Dog Trainer blends best of the Dog Whisper Behavior and other methods in no-nonsense Articles and FREE Newsletter at www.PawPersuasion.com . Suspect a medical problem? Get expert Veterinarian insight – http://www.pawpersuasion.com/health.php

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Nutrition For Dogs – Dog Food Ingredients

March 25, 2011 By mmallabo Leave a Comment

Article by Garry Neale

First we need to recognize that nutrients are not the same thing as ingredients. It’s not the combination of ingredients that determines the quality of your dog’s diet and whether or not the dog’s nutritional needs are being met, it’s the blend of nutrients. The ingredients in dog food only have to do with digestibility and palatability. A given dog food can contain certain ingredients that have no nutritional value or that can’t be digested by your dog. You can find two different dog foods that may both seem to nutritious, but one may have ingredients that are better for your specific breed of dog. You should discuss your dog’s nutritional requirements with your vet in order to select a diet that provides everything needed.

Healthy feeding habits should start as soon as you bring your dog home! Your dog’s diet influences such things as health status, appearance, development and attitude. The way you feed your dog will affect certain behavioral aspects like, potty training and begging. When your dog is a puppy, it is very important to prevent it from gaining a lot of weight, which may contribute to the likelihood of obesity and its related health problems as they age.

Since dogs come in all sizes and shapes, there are specific foods available that you should consider depending upon if it’s a small breed, large breed, puppy or adult. The nutritional needs of dogs will change as they age depending on how active they are. For instance, small dogs tend to require more calories per pound than larger dogs and thus need a dog food that provides a lot of energy.

As of late, many dog owners have become seriously concerned about the safety of commercial pet food. With all the recent pet food recalls, many more dog owners are starting to prepare their own nutritious dog foods. There is more than a little concern about how poorly regulated the pet food industry is concerning preservatives. Commercial dog food makers add all kinds of chemicals to keep their foods from deteriorating while setting on the grocery store shelves. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publications lists 35 known preservatives being used by commercial dog food companies. Some of these have no restriction on amount that can be added to your dog’s food. Chemicals such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole and Ethoxyquin have controversial safety reputations at best.

Many of the commercial dog food formulations contain meat and bone meal, which has been shown to contain the remains of euthanized cats and dogs. These dead animal bodies are sent to rendering plants, along with road kill and dead live stock. At the plants they are boiled down to get the fat, which is sold to dog food manufacturers as “animal fat.” The leftover animal parts are dried, crushed and sold to the same manufacturers as “meat and bone meal.” Knowing this, many dog owners have put their pets a on raw diet or started making their own homemade dog food.

Those who advocate raw diets say it is the most natural because canines in the wild are carnivores and have survived and thrived for millions of years. They indicate that ever since commercial dog food appeared on the scene about 60 years ago, the increase in dysplasia, allergies and other health conditions in dogs has increased dramatically. However, proponents of homemade dog food say that dogs are actually omnivores and they need the nutritional benefits of grain. They intimate that dog owners who use only raw food are depriving their dogs of valuable nutrients. In addition, with homemade foods you can be creative while making your own healthy dog food. Proponents of homemade food report the activity as a fun way to feel even closer to their dogs. Especially if they really like what you make. And the debate goes on.

About the Author

Garry Neale is and avid dog enthusiast and creator of the popular e-book, “The Dog Lovers Guide”, a FREE dog owners handbook you can download at no cost from his Dog Lover Website.

Chloe the Tested.com Corgi plays with the iPad. She also just tested out the iPad 2 on Tested: www.tested.com

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