June 30th, 2008

It’s All Fun and Games

Two Enjoyable Games to Play with your Dog

Dog Game 1: The "Find It" Game
 
A good game to play with your puppy is "Find It." Hide her toy or a treat a few feet away from her and have her search for it. She will learn to develop her sense of smell in searching for the toy. As your puppy gets the hang of this game, make it more challenging by hiding her toy further away. Someone may have to hold her back while you hide the toy so she doesn’t follow you to see where you hid it.
 
A wonderful twist to this game is to take an old glove and put a treat in the glove. Before you hide the glove, let her sniff it and mouth it - really tease her with it so that she wants it in the worst way. Hide it, but again, not too far away at first. This game gives pups the chance to use their sense of smell and sharpen their problem-solving abilities.
 
The Find It game is an early stage of teaching your puppy how to track. Tracking is a wonderful outdoor sport for dogs. You can call the local or national tracking clubs for more information.
 
Dog Game 2: “Fetch”
 
One game that we all know even if we never had a dog is the game of Fetch. In this simple game, you can begin to familiarize your puppy with at least three commands.
 
All you need is a ball and a wall. Bounce the ball against the wall (a soft ball for inside the house) and say "Fetch" as your puppy chases after it. The purpose of saying "Fetch" is to get her to identify the word with her action. After a certain number of repetitions, she will associate the word Fetch with the act of chasing after the ball. This is an easy way to start creating a pattern in your puppy’s mind.
 
Other commands you can use during this game are "Take it," "Drop it," and "Leave it." At the moment she puts the ball inside her mouth, say "Take it." When she brings and drops the ball for you, say "Drop it." If she doesn’t drop the ball, then make her drop the ball by substituting another motivator, such as a treat, so that she will drop the ball to get at the treat - I call this a fair exchange. Say "Drop it"
 
Of course, in the beginning, she won’t connect her actions with the words; she is too busy just having fun. But by playing this game for five minutes a day for a week or two, she will start associating the words with the action.
 
What I like about the Fetch game, or any game for that matter, is that pups will never run away from you when they are playing. She will always bring the toy back to you because she knows the game will continue. And through this you are building trust.
 
If your pup gets distracted by another toy and picks that up, don’t stop her. Just say "Take it" when she puts another toy in her mouth, and use that toy to play Fetch. You are allowing her fun to continue. Never force a pup to play a game when she has lost interest. Losing interest does not show a lack of intelligence in your dog. She is just naturally being a puppy.

Read more on the topic in the article Hello in There.

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June 24th, 2008

Dogs just Wanna Have Fun

Games Dogs Love

Don’t we all love to take a break and get a bit of activity that helps us all to relax and relieve the daily stresses of life?  Guess what?  Dogs feel the same way about it.  Without being able to play dogs actually show signs of behavioral problems, destructive tendencies, and at the other end of the spectrum, signs of depression and lethargy.

Dog trainers know and understand that play and exercise are an essential part of a dog’s reason for being the best companion that they can be.  Regardless of the dog’s age or physical condition, there are activities that you are able to engage in with them that help them to release pent up energy and revitalize themselves.

With the warm weather approaching, if not already upon us, there are lots of games that you can play outdoors if the weather permits.  Do be aware that dogs do sweat and need to keep cool.  Offer lots of cool water, take a portable bowl, even consider a bandana that can be soaked with water to keep the animal cool.

Fetch is an easy game that requires little equipment and a willing dog.  Hopefully you won’t end up doing too much of the work.  Training the dog and it having the inclination to retrieve are of course, key ingredients!

Swimming is a great activity, especially if your pooch pal is inclined to enjoy the water.  There are inflatible vests for safety that even have a handle on the back just in case there’s a problem.  If you’re at the beach, be sure to keep an eye on the dog so he doesn’t drink the salty water!  Take an umbrella and lots of icy water for him.  They get sunburned too.

Hiking can be a great activity for the two of you.  Consider the proper equipment, dog paw protection, first aid kit, and initially hiking in an area that is familiar to both of you.  Take snacks, a map, lead and collar.

Hoops is just another word for basket ball and you can train your pooch pal to engage in this activity if you are patient.  Think about the skills that he will need and the equipment that you already have around the house that is readily available to use.  Take it easy and you will see your dog really scoring the points.

Tug of War  is a game that has inherent obedience skills embedded.  Remember that will all games there are specific rules and this one isn’t any exception!  The dog must learn the commands of when to drop, how to tug, which toys are acceptible, and when the game is over.

Experiment just a bit to figure out which games you and your dog might be best suited for and how you might train them to enjoy different games.  Remember that patience, kindness, and fun are the watchwords for this activity.

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June 15th, 2008

I’m All Grown Up- The Training Continues

Adult Dog Training – What To Expect From Your Dog As He Reaches His Adult Years

Your dog has finally reached his adulthood and this means that the period of training, adjusting, socializing, and more training have come to a stopping point (for the most part, that is).
 
This is the period where you can really appreciate his companionship, his friendship, and even his help around the house (depending on his level of training). The point is, is you don’t have to babysit him anymore. It is the stage in your dog’s life where he can walk alongside you off leash, sit and watch you wash your car, maybe even hold the hose for you, or just sit quietly with you in in the backyard while you read a book.
 
However, training should not stop just because your dog has reached adulthood. A good formula for keeping your dog’s body healthy and his mind sharp throughout his adult years is to have 3 training sessions a week. The training does not have to be laborious, nor does it have to take long. All it takes is about 10 to 15 minutes per session, and training can be about practicing and/or improving skills that he has already learned.
 
There are several benefits to continue training your adult dog on a regular basis.
 
1. Regular training keeps his mind alert and active.
2. It keeps his body strong and in shape.
3. It serves as refresher courses to different commands and tricks that he had already acquired.
4. It keeps him aware of the rules that you have enforced for him.
5. It prevents boredom.
6. It develops great team work between you and him.
7. And best of all, it will deepen the bond that the two of you have together. If he remains active throughout the whole aspect of his life (physical, mental, social), then he will continue to play an active role in your life, be a team player, and be able to share wonderful times together.
 
Physical Needs Of An Adult Dog
 
The physical needs of your dog peaks during his developmental adolescent stage. But once he passes the adolescent stage and reaches adulthood, his physical needs will arrive at a period where there will be no significant change to the amount of exercise that his body needs to stay healthy.
 
As an adult dog, the amount of exercise that his body requires will depend on his size, breed, and personality type. Continue with the regular walks and occasional runs. A game of ball should also be on your list, as well as swimming if your dog likes being in the water. If you have a large and/or energetic dog, you may have to do more than those listed above. If you have a small and/or less active dog, you will still need to give him exercise. You just have to tame it down, depending on his level of endurance.
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June 6th, 2008

Every Dog Should Know to COME

The Most Important Command Every Dog Should Know

"Come" is a command every puppy needs respect. Here again, control is essential. When you say "Come," the puppy must have no alternative. Consistency in your conditioning is imperative, for once the puppy realizes he does not have to come, your troubles begin! The come is taught using a puppy collar and a twenty-five-foot line.
 
1. When you first put your puppy out in the yard on his line, the very first time, allow him to explore until he seems to be getting tired.
 
2. At that point, kneel and say "Come" and give the line a small, sharp tug. The tug will turn the puppy toward you. He may then:
 
a) Come - If he does this, really love, cuddle and praise him. Pick him up and carry him into the house and give him a tiny tidbit.
B) Turn and sit - If he does this, continue to give gentle little tugs, along with lots of verbal encouragement, until he gets to you. Then praise as if he had come on his own.
b) Buck and holler at the end of the line - If he does this, sit quietly until he quits (sometimes it takes a while). Then give another "Come" and tug the line again. Repeat - even if it takes fifty waits, fifty "comes," and fifty tugs. When he reaches you, love him and praise him as if he had come on the first call, on his own.
c) Sulk, roll over on his back, wrap his feet around the line and say, "No way, Jose!" - If he does this, stay calm, wait until he freezes in some position, then repeat "come," and give a tug on the line. If he repeats his previous actions, repeat yours. When he finally comes to you, reward him and praise him as if he had come the first time. As you pick your puppy up and carry him into the house, you may tell him anything as long as your voice is happy - you have won - no matter how long it has taken you!
 
Always remember, the only way you can lose a come battle is to lose your temper. Once you do that the puppy has won because you have given him something to react to. He will know he has upset you and that little piece of information will get stored in his memory bank. So, stay cool!
 
3. Take the puppy on a twenty-minute walk. Let him go to the end of the line and sniff and snuffle to his heart’s content.
 
4. Four times during that walk - when he is on the end of the line - say "Come" and snap the line toward you and run away from the puppy. When he "catches" up with you, get down to his level and love him, praise him and reward him!
 
6. Try to take another walk, later on in the day, in a different area and repeat the four calls.
 
If you use these exercises on the come daily, both at home and on walks, the puppy will grow up knowing that "come" means a problem for him when he remains where he is and does not come, and that safety and praise are his when he does come. Later on, when he is truly free to choose, if you have been consistent, he will choose you.

For more great training information, check out Shouldn’t Your Dog Know Enough?

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June 2nd, 2008

It’s a Kiss

Dog Licking: Can Dogs Give You Germs When They Lick Your Face?

Dogs use their long tongues for mopping up lunch crumbs, removing mud from their feet, and cleaning their privates. And yet, when they give our faces sloppy licks, there’s something endearing about it. Apart from occasional attempts to retrieve bits of glazed doughnut from our chins, dogs lick us because they like us. It isn’t a kiss, but it’s close.
 
Almost as soon as they’re born, dogs experience the soft warmth of their mothers’ tongue,
which bathes them with maternal affection. The licking never really stops after that. Mothers take advantage of their puppies’ relative immobility during nursing to lick them clean. They also lick their bottoms to jump-start their impulses to relieve themselves.
 
Puppies do their share of licking too. They lick older dogs’ chins and faces to greet them and show respect. And when they’re hungry - and puppies are perpetually in search of something to eat - licking their mother will sometimes stimulate her to regurgitate a meal, which the puppies regard as an appetizing lunch.
 
As dogs get older, they lick each other less often, but they never quit entirely. At the very least, in the absence of hands and hairbrushes, they do each other’s hair with their tongues.
 
A Show Of Respect
 
Dogs don’t lick people because they’re hoping for a hot meal. They lick because we’re their parents, or at least the head folks in the house. Even when dogs are old, gray, and grizzled, they see themselves in some ways as being our children, and a lick shows how much they respect us.
 
You can tell a little bit about your dog’s personality by how much licking she does. Dogs who are very bold or independent are restrained with their licking because they don’t feel as though there is anyone they have to win over. Outgoing, sociable dogs, on the other hand, lick everyone all the time.
 
We play a role in all this licking too. It doesn’t take dogs very long to learn that laying a wet one on the cheek is a great way to get cooed over and rubbed the right way. So in a way, the instinct to lick is both ancient and immediate; dogs do it naturally, and we en- courage them to do it more.
 
People are never sure how to react to licks. The first emotion is generally "Aw, that’s cute," closely followed by "Yuck." Imagine where that tongue has been! But it’s not as unhygienic as it seems. At worst, dog licks are like wiping your face with a slightly dirty washcloth. Not exactly cleansing, but hardly worth worrying about. In fact, there’s some evidence that it may be good for you.
 
Learn more about the different training methods for your dog in Evolving the Training Methods.
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