Edie MacKenzie On Dogs

Posts Tagged ‘Puppy’

Dog is not only a simple animal .He can be your good friend, your defender  and your partner .Similarly you are his teacher .As we all know that Dog is the most faithful animal among all animal kingdom .Proper training should be given to each and every dog by his owner .Once he recognize you as his leader ,than he will follow each and every command given by you to him .By following few Dog Training Commands ,we can convert over dog from simple animal to a well behaved dog .Every owner should make his dog comfortable with these basic Dog training Commands .

Being a dog lover, I observe dogs very closely .I have noticed one thing that mostly dog will get bored if you are teaching them in long sessions .If you try to teach them continuously for around 20-25 minutes, they will get bored and start neglecting your command .So always go for 5-7 minute short sessions to teach him few basic Dog Training Commands .Try to repeat these sessions again and again on same day.

Here we will discuss few basic .”Sit” is the most basic command every dog should know .Mostly dogs learn this command very easily and it will make your dog sit at very point when you use this command, “Leash Training “is another important command for all dogs and puppies .Don’t ever try to be harsh with your dog by pulling and dragging him .Let him leash properly and walk with you .Give them proper time to learn this command .Don’t try to scare them or scold them during this training.”Heel “ is another basic Dog Training Command .Dog always feel comfortable while walking beside you .If he start walking in front of you ,you can bring him beside you by using word “Heel “.Don’t pull your puppy if he’s walking forward .Teach this command properly to get good communication with your dog .”Stay” is another important command for safety of your dog .This command will make your dog sit at that position where he is .This command is very important and take few time to get learned by your dog .Another command “come” will make your dog start walking with you if he is in stay position .This is also very good and important command

All the above mention Dog Training Commands are very helpful and must for each and every dog .Don’t take too long sessions and try to make him learn in short sessions. Don’t forget to praise your dog regularly as it will make him feel comfortable with you .Don’t ever give up .Keep one thing in mind that dogs are not human beings .They take some time to learn everything .Be cool, calm and consistent with them .Take proper care of his food when he is in initial stage .Try to make him fearless and well mannered. Try to play few games with him while training session .Love you dog and in return he will give lots of love and respect to you.

“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 your puppy is truly free to choose, if you have been consistent, he will choose you.

What type of leashes are best for your dog? Well personally, I prefer leather leashes. Nylon leashes have a tendency to cut and burn your hand. They also slip through your hands more easily if your dog suddenly pulls at you. A leather leash gives you more comfortable control. A good dog trainer can look at a leather leash and tell how much the dog owners are working with their puppies. The more they practice, the softer the leash becomes.

Some owners don’t like leather leads because they are more expensive and puppies have a tendency to chew on them during a walk. There is nothing more cute than a puppy carrying his leash while you walk him. If your puppy puts the leash in his mouth during a walk, then let him carry it for a while, but maintain control of it. If he bites too hard on it or really starts to chew, then this is a good time to practice the “Drop it” command. With a firm voice say, “Drop it,” and substitute a stronger motivator to satisfy his needs.

I do not favor chain link leashes. They are hard on your hands when you move up and down the leash to control your dog. The only good purpose to link leashes is if you’re tying your dog outside for a while – dogs can’t chew through them.

I am also not a fan of retractable leads. I feel the owner has little control over a dog or puppy with such a lead. Some owners feel they are giving their dog more exercise and freedom with a retractable lead, since the dog can move ten to fifteen feet ahead of the owner. But accidents easily happen – a biker or runner can quickly go by and if your dog moves toward them, a person can trip on this long lead. Also, it is very difficult to control a dog and gain back the leash quickly if someone is coming toward your dog or if your dog is moving toward them.

A retractable lead is made of wire and you cannot grab on to it. I think the best use for a retractable lead is when you are in a field and want to give some extra lead to your pup so he can run about with a little more freedom. Otherwise, on city streets, I only see it as a nuisance for other people.

Retractable leads also create a problem if your dog gets loose from you. The plastic housing at the end of the lead will bounce along as it trails behind the dog. This can frighten some dogs, particularly noise-sensitive dogs, and they will run that much further away trying to flee from the very sound that they can’t escape.

The first licking experienced by a puppy comes from its dam even before the pup’s eyes are open. Licking is used to groom the pup and, after feeding, to cause urination and defecation. It is doubtful that a young pup consciously considers licking a dominant behavior. However, the act of licking can acquire various other meanings to puppies as they mature and gain feedback from other animals (including people) they lick. Licking by neonatal pups is usually aimed at the dam’s mouth and, at least in wild canines, elicits a gratifying regurgitation of food by the dam for its offspring.

Licking another animal can broadly be classified as care-seeking behavior. However, in some females and apparently “feminized” males, licking may occur as a genuine mutual grooming gesture, which could be considered dominant behavior in such situations. When one dog tries to lick the genitals of another, the behavior is considered submissive. This is usually practiced by submissive pack members toward their dominant counterparts.

Licking seems to acquire different meanings when the puppy is brought into the human group. The significance of licking then depends on the type of feedback provided by the pup or its owners. The old idea that dogs lick our hands to benefit from the salt on our skin rarely applies to licking problems. Rather, the problem generally involves a submissive dog and a permissive owner. In these cases, early episodes of licking are permitted (some people feel genuinely flattered when their dog licks them) and the dog appears to enjoy the owner’s response.

In many cases, licking is a factor in another type of problem behavior. These usually involve the dog’s use of licking to dominate the owner’s attentions or to demonstrate its dominant feelings relative to the owner.

How Can Licking Be Prevented?

Licking is a problem only when the owner is present. Therefore licking is usually easily stopped merely by telling the dog not to do it or by moving away and avoiding it. After a few days or weeks of this rejection, the problem disappears. However, this procedure does not correct the basis of the problem, that is, attempts to dominate the owner.

In addition to discouraging licking, the dog must be taught to respond to commands, and owner adjustments made if the dog is “coddled” or otherwise doted on. When it seeks petting or tries to dominate the owner, it should be given a simple command, such as Sit, and then petted briefly as a reward for obedience.

It is recommended that you use some intervening stimulus when the dog begins to pester you. Whether this involves introduction of a chewable toy that the pet is urged to fetch, or a sharp sound, the goal is to divert the animal’s mind off licking and onto something else. During the initial stages of correction, there may be seen many types of substitute behavior, such as whining, pacing or self-licking. If ignored, this behavior usually disappears in a few days.

Be aware of the weather when taking your puppy to the potty area. If you get a puppy in winter, remember that it will be a little harder on you and your puppy. Dress warmly so you don’t lose your patience if the puppy takes longer to relieve herself.

If you bring your puppy in too soon because you are getting cold and uncomfortable, she may urinate once you bring her into the warmth of your house.

In winter, it is also advisable for owners to put a wind-proof, doggie jacket on their puppies. This way they can stay warm and not have an aversion to being outdoors.

In the fall and spring, the earth is moist and the ground rich with odors. Your puppy will be distracted by the rich scents and she may take longer to relieve herself.

Rainy weather is also a challenge for pups. The rain may alarm them at first and distract them from the familiar scent in their potty area. Snow has the same affect. Be patient under these conditions.