The first rule in dog obedience training is to remember that dogs are not human. It's easy for us to fall into the habit of expecting our dogs to know what we're saying and what we expect from them. We tend to treat our pets as if they think like us.
They don't. Just like we don't think like dogs, or even pretend to know how they think and why they act the way they do. We can't always know that triggers a dog's responses and how they might react to certain stimuli.
While we build memories every second and think ahead to what we expect from our actions, dogs don't. They live in the moment. There is no past and no future. They live in the "now". We might see this as a drawback but that approach enables dogs to put all their energy into taking care of immediate needs, like staying alive. It's how they survive in the wild.
Understanding this will make dog obedience training go a little more smoothly.
As members of a pack, dogs soon establish pack leaders. Any dog not obeying the rules of the pack will soon learn this vital lesson. It doesn't take long for a dog to realize which one is the leader and that it's not acceptable to take food before the leader and senior pack leaders have eaten.
There is a learning curve. It doesn't happen immediately. After several admonishments, the dog comes to understand and obey. It's the same when we train our dogs. It takes several repeated lessons before they learn what they can and cannot do as pack members.
Only after your dog recognizes and respects you as the pack leader can your dog be trained. Therefore, dog obedience training begins by training you how to establish yourself as the leader. You have to gain your dog's trust, which means being clear and consistent in your demands.
Once you achieve this level, you will be better able to teach your dog how to behave in your pack. To do this, the dog must learn your language and get to know what your actions mean. Communicating between species can be difficult, but the more closely you can emulate how his species communicates, the more readily he will learn. And the sooner you will get the results you want from your training sessions.
Your job is to let your dog know you are the boss. Send a clear message to let your dog know when he has misbehaved, and make it the same each and every time.
Consistency in command used and how persistently you use it will bring you success as you proceed in your dog training efforts. Be patient and remember that your dog has a lot to learn about living in your human world. Allow time for the commands and lessons to sink in.
Most of all, make sure your dog obedience training teaches your dog his rightful place in the pack. Make sure he knows that he does not dominate. You do.
For more great tips and resources to help you train your dog, or puppy, visit Dogs Training Tips at http://DogsTrainingMadeEasy.com .
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Dogs Training Series Clipping a dog safely
Few dog owners see clipping a dog as an art. They tackle the scraggly foot hair to minimize dirty feet tracks but ignore other areas. In their effort to get rid of unwanted hair growth, owners can forget that it's possible to cause injury during clipping of the dog's paws.
Keep your dog's breed in mind when you decide to clip his fur. In longer haired breeds, if the clipping is not done correctly, dust can accumulate in the coat and lead to skin diseases. Ticks, fleas and other skin parasites can breed more freely in a coat that is not properly clipped and cared for.
Toe nails must be trimmed to avoid accidental breaks and painful walking. Long toe nails cause the nail to turn sideways. In severe cases, the nail can dig into the foot and break the skin. If a dog's claws are too long, it's easy for him to catch them on surfaces and split or break them.
Injuries can occur easily during toe nail clipping as the "wick" inside the nail can bleed if it is cut. The wick is the blood and nerve source to the nail. It's what keeps the nail alive. The wick sits back well within the nail. If the nail is cut too short or if the nail splinters, however, the wick can become sensitive and exposed, causing pain to your dog.
Always use sharp clippers for cutting your dog's hair and nails. For nails, purchase proper utensils from your local pet supply store. Human nail clippers are not suitable for dogs. There are some excellent new nail clippers available that are designed to minimize damage and pain.
If you live in a cold climate, do not clip your dog in winter unless absolutely necessary. Winter seasons can expose your dog to considerable stress, especially if the coat is insufficiently long enough to protect him from the cold climate and snowy weather. Dogs can get frostbite, too.
By the same token, don't cut your dog's hair too short in summer as you will expose his flesh to harmful suns rays. While we might not understand it, a dog's fur helps to keep him cool in summer. Shortening slightly is fine but be sure to leave enough to maintain this protection.
Avoid clipping your dog when he is unhealthy as it can put more distress on the animal. Only clip as necessary to remove soiled fur or broken nails.
You can help to keep your dog's nails healthy by walking him on concrete every day. This will wear down the nail gradually and evenly. It provides a more natural method of control that avoids your having to struggle with nail clippers.
For best results, find a dog grooming professional who knows how to clip specific breeds correctly.
For more great tips and resources to help you train your dog, or puppy, visit Dogs Training Tips at http://DogsTrainingMadeEasy.com .
Keep your dog's breed in mind when you decide to clip his fur. In longer haired breeds, if the clipping is not done correctly, dust can accumulate in the coat and lead to skin diseases. Ticks, fleas and other skin parasites can breed more freely in a coat that is not properly clipped and cared for.
Toe nails must be trimmed to avoid accidental breaks and painful walking. Long toe nails cause the nail to turn sideways. In severe cases, the nail can dig into the foot and break the skin. If a dog's claws are too long, it's easy for him to catch them on surfaces and split or break them.
Injuries can occur easily during toe nail clipping as the "wick" inside the nail can bleed if it is cut. The wick is the blood and nerve source to the nail. It's what keeps the nail alive. The wick sits back well within the nail. If the nail is cut too short or if the nail splinters, however, the wick can become sensitive and exposed, causing pain to your dog.
Always use sharp clippers for cutting your dog's hair and nails. For nails, purchase proper utensils from your local pet supply store. Human nail clippers are not suitable for dogs. There are some excellent new nail clippers available that are designed to minimize damage and pain.
If you live in a cold climate, do not clip your dog in winter unless absolutely necessary. Winter seasons can expose your dog to considerable stress, especially if the coat is insufficiently long enough to protect him from the cold climate and snowy weather. Dogs can get frostbite, too.
By the same token, don't cut your dog's hair too short in summer as you will expose his flesh to harmful suns rays. While we might not understand it, a dog's fur helps to keep him cool in summer. Shortening slightly is fine but be sure to leave enough to maintain this protection.
Avoid clipping your dog when he is unhealthy as it can put more distress on the animal. Only clip as necessary to remove soiled fur or broken nails.
You can help to keep your dog's nails healthy by walking him on concrete every day. This will wear down the nail gradually and evenly. It provides a more natural method of control that avoids your having to struggle with nail clippers.
For best results, find a dog grooming professional who knows how to clip specific breeds correctly.
For more great tips and resources to help you train your dog, or puppy, visit Dogs Training Tips at http://DogsTrainingMadeEasy.com .
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