January 28th, 2008

We’re Off to See the Sights

Seven Car Travel Tips to Ensure Your Dog is Well Prepared for the Journey
 
1. If you don’t have air conditioning in your vehicle, travel at night or during cooler times of the day. Please…do not allow your dog to hang its head out the window. Keeping the windows raised eliminates the potential for debris to enter ears, eyes, or nose and keeps the dangers of bug stings out of the car.
 
2. Don’t feed your dog for about three hours before beginning your trip. If you like, offer him a snack while riding, but don’t provide dinner until you arrive at your destination. It’s ok…some dogs won’t eat anything in the car, and will save it for when you are at a rest stop.
 
3. Keep your dog in a carrier or crate at all times and secure the carrier with a seat belt or other device; if you roll down the window, your dog could escape. More states are insisting BY LAW, that your dog be restrained in a HARNESS/SEAT BELT in the REAR SEAT of the vehicle.
 
4. Make frequent rest stops so your dog can relieve himself or have a drink of water. Try carrying a portable water bottle that has a dish along with it. Offering your dog water from home, rather than from a strange place often heads off any gastric distress from drinking something unfamiliar.
 
5. If your trip requires overnight accommodations, know ahead of time which hotels accept pets. Make reservations and let them know you will be bringing an animal. If you are camping, make certain the campsite or RV park allows pets. On occasion, there are specified areas that are for dogs and their humans and that’s a great place to meet others with the same situations.
 
6. Make certain your dog is wearing a collar with identification tags. If he escapes without ID tags, you may never find him again. Take along a photo of your dog in case you do get separated. Why worry when you are able to attach a secure collar to your dog, making certain that it fits securely. If in doubt, carry duplicate identification and information that can be retrieved.

7. If your dog suffers from carsickness, discuss medication options with your veterinarian. There are homeopathic and herbal-chewable tablets that are excellent alternatives to prescription medication. The homeopathic remedies are tasteless and easily added to your dog’s water or atop a treat.

For more information read a great article on Crate Training and the best way to make it successful.

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January 23rd, 2008

Find the Best Dog Training Situation

Four Things to Look for in a DogTraining School
 
Enrolling in a dog obedience class can be a rewarding experience for both you and your dog, but choosing the wrong class can make the experience unpleasant for both of you. If you are lucky enough to live in an area where you have a selection, shop around. Observe the class prior to taking your dog and signing up.
 
Below are four things to think about in a dog obedience class:
 
Individual Attention: Is the size of the class such that the instructor is able to give individual attention when needed?
 
Pleasant Atmosphere: Is there a relaxed friendly atmosphere in the class? Tension and disorder will affect both your ability to learn as well as your dog’s ease with the situation, especially if he is young.
 
Training Concept: Is the approach to training used in the class consistent with your own feelings about dog training? Does the instructor want you to do something to your dog that you are unwilling or reluctant to do?
 
Instructor Expertise and Ability to Teach: Does the instructor seem knowledgeable about dog training? And beyond that, is the instructor able to communicate his or her knowledge effectively?
 
There are so many options available for training. If you are uncertain as to which is the most appropriate, it may benefit you to call some of the local breeders in your area. Or, visit your local bookstore and check out all of the books on dog training in the pet section. There is definitely going to be something that matches your dog’s personality and the specific goals that you have.
 
Do be sure that you are choosing a style of training that is compatible with your beliefs and one that will be easily reinforced at home. There are some trainers who will happily come to your home for training sessions and even bring their own personal dog along to reinforce the proper behaviors. Often, breeders will offer classes at their venues and even provide the opportunity for you to board your dog during the learning process.
 
You will definitely want to find the most suitable situations, environments, and training style for you and your dog. Take your time. Happy training…it’s an adventure!
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January 14th, 2008

Do You Need Professional Help?

Training with a Professional or On Your Own
 
Training your dog is an important part of responsible pet ownership. While common puppy behavior problems and housebreaking are discussed in many books and publications,here we’ll discuss your options for basic obedience training and whether you want train your dog yourself or hire a trainer.
 
Obedience training can begin as early as three to four months if yon train the dog yourself. Most trainers believe puppies aren’t mentally or socially developed enough to benefit from group obedience class until they are six months old. Any sincerely interested dog owner can train his or her own dog, provided your dog hasn’t already acquired a lot of bad habits.You and your dog may want to attend a couple of lessons at a good training club. You may also want to arm yourself with a good training book. There are many options for the type of basic obedience training from which you are able to choose and a good bookstore has them all.
 
Wait until your dog is six months old before taking him to a group obedience class, which is a popular option for many dog owners. Obedience groups not only provide an excellent source of training, but also helps socialize your dog with others in a group setting. When you first visit a class, make sure the instructors treat their pupils kindly - no punishment or yelling should be taking place or be permitted by those in charge. Your local parks department or school district may sponsor an obedience group. If you’re having trouble finding one, ask your veterinarian.
 
Professional training is a good option for some larger breeds or for dogs that have acquired bad habits. If you are looking for a professional trainer, find one who favors working with your dog in your own home. No matter how appealing it may seem to send a problem dog away to be trained, the reality is that this often is a waste of time and money. The dog may behave perfectly with the trainer and then ignore you once it arrives home. A professional trainer will equip you with the knowledge and confidence you need to train your dog.
 
The best way to find a good professional trainer is through a veterinarian or breeder’s recommendation. Also, if you have any family or friends that can refer you to a reputable trainer then this would be the most ideal option. Arrange for an exploratory meeting with the potential trainer, you, and your dog. Then, make your decision.
 
Training takes time and patience and a capable trainer will stress this fact. Length of training depends not only on your dog’s intelligence, temperament, and age, but also on how many bad habits he has acquired. Training requires you to take the lead, both as teacher and enforcer. After your dog has been trained you must not let him drift back into bad behavior patterns.
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January 7th, 2008

I Wanna Be a Dog Trainer

Tips for the Aspiring Dog Handler
 
Handling dogs for competition, as well as a living, is an art that can be acquired only through experience. It is not anything you will pick up in several months. It is the culmination of all the knowledge that you have attained through different sources such as reading, studying the different breeds of dogs, digesting the Obedience Regulations, conducting frequent practice sessions, observing top handlers in competition, and developing your own style for Obedience competition. Of course the first requisite is a genuine love for dogs, and if you have that it should follow that you will have the patience and understanding to cope with them. The second requisite is perseverance, for without it you will not get very far. And last but not least you must have a sense of humor, for in obedience trial competition anything can happen.
 
If you want to learn something you should go to the person who is most qualified to teach it. By qualified I mean he is at the top of his profession because of what he has accomplished personally. The teacher who has made a fine record himself in Obedience is the one who can help you. There are hundreds of obedience trainers in the country, but most are passing on bits of training advice they have picked up here and there. With coaching like this you can expect very little consistency and much confusion.
 
The first thing you will notice when you watch a top handler is the relaxed, easy manner in which he controls his dog and the rapport that is evident between the two. The dog will be attentive and responsive to the handler’s firm but soft-spoken commands, the signals will be given with just one hand and arm, and the exercises will be performed very smoothly and skillfully. The first time you witness this type of handling you will be more impressed with how easy it looks than by anything else. If you haven’t started training you will be quite certain that you could do it yourself - it looked so easy.
 
The first step to becoming a good handler is to train your dog correctly. Good handling is synonymous with expert training. Your voice is important - give the commands in a firm, well-modulated tone and praise your dog in a very pleased tone that rings with sincerity. When the dog is close to you teach him to respond to commands that are given to him softly. When working away from you, teach him to execute the commands that are given crisply but just loud enough for him to hear. Don’t keep repeating commands; rather correct him for not paying attention.
 
 
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January 2nd, 2008

Like Money in the Bank-Trust

How to Earn Your Dog’s Trust
 
Let’s say your dog chases another dog across the road. When he finally returns, you are angry and soundly scold him for chasing the other dog and giving you such a scare. But here is how your dog looks at this situation. First, he chased the dog, which was a lot of fun. Then he came back to you and was reprimanded, which was no fun at all.
 
What you wanted to teach your dog was not to chase. What you actually taught was that coming to you can be unpleasant.
 
The lesson here is that whether you are pleased or angry, your dog associates these feelings only with what he did last.
 
One of the commands you will need to teach your dog is to come when called. To be successful, remember this principle: Whenever your dog comes to you, be nice. Reward the dog for coming to you. No matter what, be pleasant and greet him with a kind word, a pat on the head and a smile. Teach him to trust you by making him feel safe with you.
 
The object of training in any situation is ultimately to develop a strong bond between yourself or the trainer/handler and the canine being worked with. Just as in all relationships, it is best to begin with a positive environment, instilling a feeling of trust so that your animal will not be fearful.  If this pattern of fear and threat is encouraged, the dog will likely mistrust all of the humans around and may become a creature that is not trustable in social situations albeit work or pleasure.
 
Remember, dogs do not have the capacity to act in any way other than that which has been instilled in them. Tone of voice, body posture, and overall attitude are critical in the establishment of a good relationship with your dog friend.
 
If you’d like more information, visit Come Here and Sit…Stay…Roll.
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