Training A Dog Not To Bark, As Part Of Your Dog Behaviour Training
By Simon Wilby | July 2, 2008
Article Recommended By: Simon Wilby
Author: Mick Legg
ALL DOGS BARK, it’s a natural thing for a dog to bark and should not be discouraged when it is appropriate, i.e. when a stranger comes to the house, or if the dog hears out of place noises during the night. At these times your dogs bark is a welcome and reassuring warning. So you should only be training a dog not to bark at the wrong times.
However a dog that continually barks for no apparent reason can become a bit of a nuisance, both to you and to your neighbours. So training your a dog not to bark, should be a part of your overall dog behaviour training. Any random or nuisance barking should be stopped as soon as possible, preferably when the dog is still young, as it will become harder the older the dog gets.
If you are with your dog when it starts barking for no apparent reason, simply tell it to stop. The actual words or commands you use will not matter as long as you always use the same commands, and say them with authority. If this fails to have any effect, then try saying the commands while at the same time giving a quick jerk on its collar or leash. And remember to quietly praise him or her when they obey.
Solitary barking is when your dog barks when no one else is at home. (Or when it thinks no one else is at home.) It will often bark incessantly, if you have close neighbours and your dog is one of these, then you will soon know about it, as you will no doubt receive complaints pretty quickly. This type of barking can be a real nuisance and you should try to stop it right away.
One way of stopping a solitary barker is to pretend to leave the house, wait for it to start barking, and then quietly return and catch it in the act. Reprimand it with the same commands or phrases that you used before, and again quietly praise them when they stop. Doing this a few times should soon stop your dog from being a nuisance every time you leave the house.
You should try to stop your dog from becoming a solitary barker before it develops too far. You can easily do this with a few simple tips, such as getting it used to being alone gradually. Try going out just for short lengths of time to start with, and building up to longer and longer periods. You could also try leaving a radio on in the house for company, and make sure your dog has its favourite toy.
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Dog Training Accessories, Making Dog Training A Lot Easier
By Simon Wilby | July 2, 2008
Article Submitted By: Simon Wilby
Author: Jim Kesel
Having the proper dog training accessories can make training your dog a whole lot easier. Of course your dog needs a house, a crate or a bed. Your pet needs his/her very own plate. Your dog needs attention, guidance, tender-loving care and utmost concern. And, aside from the usual needs of any canine, your lovable pup needs dog-training accessories.
For a dog training to be truly successful, the primary essential components are a good dog trainer equipped with an almost ever lasting patience and a dog that is determined, patience, and willing to learn. To be able to have a training that is reliable and productive and to be able to yield immediate and positive results, you ought to provide your dog with the right set of training accessories.
If you are on for a serious dog training, then you should first acquaint yourself with the right set of training accessories and equipment. If you enroll your dog in a training school, then the training accessories usually come with the training fees. However, if you plan to train your dog at home, then you can purchase training accessories at various pet shops or dog schools. There are also many training accessories that are sold on the net. Training materials are usually sold separately but there are some who offer items as a complete set. If you are blessed with carpentry skills and overflowing creative juices, then you can also opt to create your own set of training accessories.
In purchasing dog-training accessories, here are some points to remember that will help you make the right choices:
a. Know right tools for the right training. The right type of training accessories depends on the type of training you would like your dog to engage with. There is a specific set of equipment that is designed to hone skills needed for each specific field. Also, make up your mind about the dept of the training you would like to impose.
b. Function over fashion. Choose the training equipment that function well, not something that looks good on your dog but is difficult to use.
c. Comfort is essential. Be sure that the dog-training accessories are fit for your dog. The right choice of materials depends on the size of your dog. The correct material is one that does not compromise the comfort, safety, and the health of your dog.
d. Take the age and the characteristic as bases. The correct training materials to choose should correlate with your pet’s age and behavior. Sometimes, breed is an important consideration as well.
e. Choose the items that also suites you well. Dog Training accessories should also be easy to use and manage for you. Avoid materials that may give you allergies or can cause back pains or arthritis. Go for a material that will allow you to train at ease.
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Resolving Your Dog Barking Problem
By Simon Wilby | May 6, 2008
Author: Leo Enoch
Although Barking is a natural behaviour, as it is a means of communication for the dog just like whining, howling and growling, too much barking do create stress and unnecessary pressure on you as the owner and the people living around you.
In fact, there are some health investigation report conducted by various industry indicated that the sound of continuous barking dog was one of the most disruptive and stressful noice to human being.
On the other side, dog’s barking is encouraged and not considered a behaviour problem as it can signify territorial protection and its guarding behaviour which is a natural trait as long as it is not done overboard.
How do you stop your dog barking problems, here are few tips that you can do to help your dog from barking excessively:
1. Dogs normally barked when they are triggered by something or someone or any other stimulus that can make them excited or become overly protective with their territorial.
Some of these stimulus are: the sound of other dogs barking, the sound of thunder or machineries, ringing phones, people shouting, and many other noises that may triger your dog to barks.
If this is the case, one of the fastest and easiest way to stop your dog from barking is to simply remove the stimulus or put barrier between the stimulus and your dog.
2. Your dog may keep on barking when he is confine to a certain location. if this is the case, your dog may be experiencing separation anxiety.
If this is the case, you can provide him with a few toys to keep him busy while confine to that particular place or what you can do is to take him for an exercise or walk by the park. This will help him overcome the separation anxiety.
3. If your dog is an over aggressive pet, then it might just be possible that he or she may bark at smallest hint of provocation such as any stranger walking pass your property.
If this is the case a re-conditioning of the environment may be needed. You can reprimand him. It is good to bring him out more to familiarise with the environment.
4. Other ways which may help your dogs from excessive barking include intervention such as spraying your dog with water or using high frequency sounds that interrupt barking. These devices can be quite helpful and can be controlled by you or automatically when the dog barks.
5. I personaly do not really agree with de-barking your dog and the use of shock collar. I believe that with good training drills, you will be able to solve the barking problems.
Dog training requires patience, money and time, however doing it correctly will create a more lasting and meaningful relationship with the owner.
You can train your dog yourselves by getting a correct training manual. The misconception that pet owner has, is that it is difficult to train yourself.
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Reward Your Dog When Obedience Training
By Simon Wilby | March 24, 2008
Author: eArticlesOnline.com
Rewarding your dog is the best motivator when training. It is well known that using rewards and other positive reinforcement when obedience training a dog is the most effective method and achieves the best results.
You can make obedience training fun for the dog - and yourself too - by making a game of it. This makes both your dog and you, as the trainer, more willing and motivated to give it your all. Incorporate a period of play at the start and the end of each training session to ensure that the session ends positively. Teaching your dog to heel is the most basic of all the obedience commands. This refers to having the dog walk along with you on a loose lead. Heeling is generally the first obedience behavior taught to a dog, and it is easy to teach this using reward training.
Begin the training by getting your dog a good training collar and lead. Make sure the collar is strong and fits the dog properly. If you don’t know how to fit the collar, ask a dog trainer or the pet store manager when you buy your training equipment. As you start to walk with the dog, be aware of the dog’s position in relation to your own. If the dog begins to get ahead of you, pull gently on the leash. This will engage the collar and provide the dog with a gentle indication that he should slow down. You may have to apply more pressure in the beginning until your dog learns to accept the discipline. If the dog falls behind, slow down and encourage the dog to come forward. Use a lure or the dog’s favorite toy to teach him to walk by your side. If you keep the lure at the position you’d like the dog to be, he will learn quickly to walk in the correct position.
Always give your dog lots of praise, treats, toys, and other rewards when he or she does what is expected. Dogs learn best when desired behavior is rewarded in a positive manner. Positive reinforcement means that when a dog does what the trainer wants, the dog receives a reward. This can be a pat on the head or a treat or toy of some kind. If the dog shows even the slightest attempt to please you, especially at the beginning of training, you should lavish positive reinforcement on him or her.
It is much less effective to attempt to train a dog through reprimands and punishment. Dogs become discouraged and confused by too much punishment. You may have to reprimand the dog sometimes to correct a potentially dangerous behavior. For example, chasing cars or biting must be punished, but the reprimands must be direct, short and directly linked to the bad behavior. After the immediate danger is over, training should go on, based on the reward method as before.
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You Dog Training Attitude is Everything
By Simon Wilby | March 23, 2008
Author: Anthony Stai
There is nothing more critical to the victory of dog training than the owner’s attitude. The mindset of the trainer is more significant than the equipment purchased, the correct scheme used, or the breed of dog involved. Nothing can obliterate the chances of effective training more rapidly than an owner with the wrong attitude on the training process.
Dogs naturally long for and enjoy human camaraderie. When their human companions come up to them in the right way, they are particularly receptive to learning and develop a strong need to act in a manner that will please their master. This is why a proper attitude is very important with respect to training dogs. When the owner is pleasant, the dog will be pleasant. When the owner is thrilled about lessons, the dog will most likely be thrilled about learning. Dogs can frequently reflect the attitudes and dispositions of their owners, a truth that must be kept in mind while undertaking dog training.
Additionally, the proper view on dog training can make the experience infinitely more pleasing for the owner. A pleasing training experience will naturally create improved instruction on the part of the trainer. Again, proper attitude will pay training dividends.
So, what is the right attitude to bring to dog training? Owners should strive to keep an encouraging viewpoint at all times and should strive for a disposition that makes the procedure fun for both the dog and the trainer. Failure to approach training with such an attitude risks tragedy. The correct attitude and perspective really is the prerequisite to training success.
The owner should be positive. A positive viewpoint, of course, works in combination with any quality training method. Effective training requires constructive reinforcement, and that kind of praise and love is best administered by someone who in general presents a positive attitude. Training will be packed with compliments, encouragement and praise. Those rewards, which are the key module to training, are more possible to be correctly and successfully administered by a trainer with a optimistic disposition.
Trainers should recognize that they can manage to be both firm and welcoming at the same time. It is not required to affect an angry or severe tone during the training procedure. These caricatures of displeasure do not present any more training value than use of a straightforward solemn tenor. A inferior tenor with a stern ‘bite’ is more than sufficient. When praising and instructing, the owner must bear in mind to use a very welcoming and pleased voice. The dog will thrive knowing his owner enjoys their interaction so much and will be very motivated to be taught as a result.
Most significantly the trainer must for all time keep in mind that dog training is supposed to be fun. It should be fun for the trainer and just as fun for the pet. The idea is to make the training procedure exhilarating and pleasing for the pet as is possible. By making the process a pleasure, the dog is specially motivated to perform.
Too frequently training becomes nothing more than a obligatory chore. The owner does not enjoy the opportunity to spend time with his or her dog. The dog understands this and does not get energized at the prospect, either. In worse cases, training becomes an unwelcome chore. The negative disposition and attitude of the owner is sensed undoubtedly by the dog and mirrored. Training advancement stalls, irritation sets in, and the entire procedure becomes more crippled.
The cliche that ‘attitude is everything’ actually does depict dog training. A unconstructive or harsh attitude will squash hopes of accomplishment. A constructive viewpoint coupled with sociability and a sense of fun will make training a treat.
A fun disposition also makes training more pleasant for the dog owner. The trainer’s optimistic attitude creates a more constructive disposition for the pet, which in turn improves the trainer’s attitude even more. By starting the training procedure with a rock-hard optimistic attitude, the owner gets the ball rolling, so to speak. The end result can be a training experience that is enjoyed by both pet and owner, which is in no doubt to produce astounding results. By approaching training with a optimistic disposition, a dog owner can create astonishing and positive outcomes.
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Why You Shouldn’t Use A Shock Collar On Your Dog
By Simon Wilby | March 11, 2008
Many dog owners and professional trainers are deciding against the use of the dog training shock collar in training dogs, or trying to resolve behavior problems of the dog. The main reason for the decline in use of the dog training shock collar is that their potential for misuse is extremely high, and the dog training shock collar can easily cause considerable distress and pain to the dog.
Since dogs have little sense of logical reasoning, a dog experiencing a electrical shock from a dog training shock collar will likely associate the punishment with whatever he is focusing on at the moment. When dog training shock collars are used incorrectly, the dog could be focusing on another dog, or the owner. Unwanted side effects of using a dog training shock collar include:
? dog becoming frightened easily
? potential aggressiveness of the dog
When used by inexperienced dog trainers, the dog training shock collar could take many shock treatments before the dog actually associates it with the unwanted behavior. It could take several more administrations of the shock when using the dog training shock collar, before the dog realizes how to avoid being shocked, buy performing the correct behavior. When the dog training shock collar is used improperly, it could cause additional behavior problems in the dog, rather than correct the behavior problems he may have.
With the risks so high with the dog training shock collar, more and more dog owners are seeking out alternative methods of training their dog at home. An inexperienced dog trainer may not even realize he is harming his dog with excessive shock from the dog training shock collar. It is extremely important that before you decide to use the dog training shock collar to aid in training your dog, that you learn everything there is to know about it. If you lack one piece of crucial knowledge, you could unknowingly harming your dog.
In addition the potential of misuse of the dog training shock collar, it has been proven possible that the dog training shock collar can be triggered by outside influences, and can easily malfunction. When this happens, it could result in the dog being given repeated shocks.
Author: Marclindsay
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The Right Dog Collar for Training
By Simon Wilby | March 7, 2008
Using the right dog collar for training can make all the difference in an easy success or daunting task. A dog collar can be a great investment if you have a problem dog. This is a tremendous help with stubborn animals, or dogs that just have bad habits. If you have grown tired of relying on the rolled up newspaper option to help break your dog of his bad habits, the dog collar for training may be for you.
There are two main types of dog training collars available; the most common dog-training collar is the one that will give a small shock to your dog when he barks. This is extremely helpful for those dogs that have developed a barking problem. The second type of training collar is one that will again; provide a small shock to your dog if he goes outside the boundaries of your yard.
These types of dog collars are one of the most effective and humane ways to train your dog. Many people do not like to use a rolled up newspaper on their dog for breaking habits or reinforcing good habits, the dog collar relieves you of having to do this.
The flat dog collar is recommended for leash training a puppy. This type of collar is lightweight and easy for your pup to get used to wearing. It is always better to start your puppy on the gentle track to training. Don’t go full speed ahead with the more harsh training methods.
The metal training dog collar is commonly referred to as a choke chain. A better description would be a metal slip collar. If this dog collar is used properly it should never choke your dog. It should release quickly when used properly. When you learn how to use this dog collar with good timing and skill - it can be an efficient training device.
Author: James Hunt
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Training Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience and Breaking Bad Habits
By Simon Wilby | February 28, 2008
Author: Byron Pappageorge
Training Collars
Training collars are a tool many pet owners utilize to teach their pets boundaries. There are several different types and several different options available to the consumer. If you are in the market to purchase a training collar, you may want to take a few minutes to explore your options and make an informed decision on which type of training collar is for you.
Training collars help to teach the correct behavior to an animal. While they may have to wear it indefinitely, the hope is that the animal will remember and realize that certain behaviors will trigger a discomfort in the form of static shock and therefore shouldn’t be done. For instance, if a pet owner decides to purchase a training collar for their dog to keep them within a yard, the training collar will trigger the animal when it steps over this boundary. But, the animal may never actually remember where that boundary is unless it feels that trigger. In other words, it will be a permanent fixture on the dog while the dog is outside.
Some training that is taught using training collars includes the following. Many hunter, police department, military, and fire workers use training collars to train their animals to serve them. The collars can be used for many reasons within a home as well. Some examples include pets that jump on people or furniture, chasing, destructive chewing, destructive digging, and more. They can also be used to teach a pet how to do good things as well including such commands like sit, stand, come, and others.
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Dog Training Collars, Proper Selection Leads To Training Success
By Simon Wilby | February 25, 2008
Author: David Danlap
The proper selection of a training collar can have a significant impact on the success of any dog training program. Most new dog trainers make the mistake of choosing a dog collar that does not allow for adequate control during the training sessions.
During my nearly four years of working with dogs, I have seen dog collars in numerous sizes and shapes. From head leaders to pronged choke collars, the choices available to dog owners are endless. However, in my training experience, I have not seen a dog training collar as effective as the classic choke collar.
The basic choke collar is an effective training tool that can be used on almost any size dog (for very small dogs, a nylon dog collar might be preferred). When used properly, the correction and response of the dog is almost immediate.
The key to using a choke collar effectively is to keep the dog collar loose when the dog is exhibiting proper behavior. For example, if the dog is heeling without pulling ahead, the choke collar should remain loose. If the dog begins to pull ahead, a quick “pop” or tightening of the collar will teach the dog that unwanted behavior has occurred. As soon as the dog’s behavior has corrected, the collar is once again loosened.
By using the tightening & loosening technique, the dog quickly learns to associate good behavior with a loose collar. If the collar were to remain constantly tightened, the dog would only learn to fight against the choking feeling.
Regardless of which collar type you choose, it is imperative that the dog collar fit properly and give you, the trainer, maximum control over the dog.
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Dog Obediance Tips
By Simon Wilby | February 21, 2008
Author: Daniel lesser
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at times, but it’s well worth it. Here are several tips that should help things go much smoother and faster… plus reduce the frustration both you and your dog feel!
Conduct “play training” where by the training tasks are made into fun games and your dog’s play drive is used as motivation. There are a lot of really good books available on this type of training.
Intelligent dogs can also be stubborn, so you may have to outwit them!
While training your dog, you have to make him want to do what you want him to. You can’t make him do stuff unless it is fun. Otherwise you are wasting both your time and his.
Try to make your dog’s training so fun that it becomes his or her favorite activity. This will make learning much easier and more enjoyable.
Most dogs love to play! You can make your dog the happiest just by spending some time with them, giving your undivided attention each day. Without this, your dog will feel ignored, bored, or think they’re in trouble. When this happens they’re more likely to chew, tear things up, and not listen to you.
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