Archive for April, 2010

Let me just tell you that if you have a dog that is pulling the leash when you are walking him, you are in good company.  Just a few corrections and your dog walk will be a new experience.  It takes two to pull or create tension in a leash so remember that both you and your dog need to adjust your behavior.

Lets start by taking a step back to try to understand why your dog is pulling the leash and how to train your dog not to do so .  Most living beings act based on how to gain pleasure or void pain, and in this case the dog associates this behavior with pleasure or reward.  When I go out to play with my dog we go to park near by to play and meet other dogs.   As a puppy my dog was pulling like crazy ever time she understood where we where going.  And guess what. Every time she got to park five minutes later so to her pulling was to arrive in her favorite place, the park.  Just give it some thoughts and you will see that every time your dog is pulling there are some sort of reward at the end of it.

To undo this, to some very frustrating dog behavior there are a few simple but powerful steps to take.  Every time your pull or create some sort of tension juts stop for a few seconds.  Give the dog a reward in form of praise or food/favorite toy when he turns his attention to you.  If it doesen’t help then take some steps back or in an other direction.  But the key here is to reward your dog every time the tension is gone, with it’s favorite toy or food of your choice.  Repeat this behavior until the dog don’t pull as much any longer, then start to reward him when he stops pulling and are back at your side looking at you giving you it’s attention.  This should not take to long time before your dog is walking in leash with you in a way that you will enjoy

Lets summarize this effective way on how to train your dog stop pulling the leash:

-  Both you and your dog need to change behavior to make this work.

-  Do this every time your dog is pulling.  Be consistent.

-  Reward your dog every time your behave the way you like it to do.

PS!  Some dogs likes to walk in front of their pack because they try to take the lead.  If this is the case for you, just follow the same steps.  I have done so with success on some of my dogs.

Have a good dog-walk

Cheers
Tom

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About the Author:
Tom Hammerborg is a passionate dog owner and specialize in dog behavior. He is also the founder of Thetrainingmydogblog.
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Belgian Sheepdog

The Belgian Sheepdog is a beautiful, alert, looking dog with a moderately long coat. Its head is in proportion to the body. It is square in body shape, that has good musculature. The head is flattened on the top with a slightly pointed muzzle that has tight lips. Their bite can be either scissor or even. It has erect ears that are triangular in shape and sit in good proportion to the head. It has oval eyes that are brown. The legs are straight, ending with cat like feet. The tail is feathered and parallel, reaching the hock and good and robust. They have a moderately long coat that is weather- resistant, with a good ruffle around the neck. We can see feathering on the legs and underbelly. The colour is black but you are allowed small amounts of white on the chin, toes and chest.

History: This breed worldwide is known as the Belgian Groenendael but is called the Belgian Sheepdog by the AKC. This dog comes, as the name suggests from Belgium, in a small village called Groenendeal. It is part of a set of four dogs named, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Laekenois and Belgian Tervuren. In America, there is still debate as to whether this is one breed or four. This has been a working sheepdog, but is very adaptable and, are now used as police dogs, offering a range of skills.

Temperament: This is the most popular of the four Belgian dogs. Here is a bright intelligent dog that is eager to be obedient. It is a very strong territorial dog with a great sense of protection. It will need intensive socialization to bring out the best in this breed. This is not a first time owner’s dog as you need good to brilliant skills in leadership, being firm, and consistent with rules. You have to be able to challenge this dog mentally and offer lots of walks and exercise. This breed needs to be part of the family pack. Good training needs to be used daily, to help the dog keep to the role it should be in, that is with you being the pack leader. Without this you can have a very destructive dog on your hands. With their high energy, they are quick learners, and need a job to do. Extreme care should be used for this breed when non- canine pets are in the same home. The herding instinct needs to be stopped as herding humans can result in people having nipped ankles. Really look into this breed and the care they need to make them happy before you think of getting one.

Health issues: This breed can have skin problems, epilepsy, eye problems, excessive aggressiveness or shyness, and sometimes but rarely hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia. This breed can, if given the chance, over eat, and then you have an obese dog with all the health issues that can bring. Feed by weighing out the right amount and sticking to this.

Grooming: This breed needs daily brushing and combing. When this dog is shedding extra time is required. This dog needs any mats in their coat sorted quickly. This is a heavy shedder, twice a year.

Living conditions: This dog will do well in an apartment providing you met the needs of physical and mental exercise. This breed is used to being out doors and so would benefit from a good sized garden, but not instead of walks, as well as.

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About the Author:
For more information on the Belgian Sheepdog Dog Breed, Dog Training methods and Teacup Puppies for sale including Yorkies, Chihuahuas and Morkies Please visit my websites below. PUPPIES OR DOGS PUPPIES for SALE
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This wonderful breed was bred originally to hunt lions and their size and appearance will often give the impression that they might be an aggressive dog, in actual fact they are a very placid, gentle breed. Although gentle, they are still very loyal and protective of their human family. Because they are such a large breed and are quite powerful it is important to have proper training with your Ridgeback so that they become well socialized and also so you can take them for a walk without them ripping your arm out of the socket. They will need daily exercise and it is best to be able to take them out for a walk without worrying about being able to control them. Although this breed are generally not aggressive, they are very big and because of their size they can sometimes, unintentionally, cause injury by accidentally knocking someone over. This is particularly so with small children so it is important to supervise children while around large dogs. Ridgebacks just don’t realize how big they actually are and when they get excited they can easily jump up and knock someone over. All dogs are naturally pack animals and every pack has a leader. A Ridgeback will at some point try to assume the leadership role and it is very important to let your puppy know from a young age that his place is NOT at the top of the pack. Your dog needs to learn that you are the leader of the pack and all human family members are above him in the pack heirachy. Once he learns this then he will happily accept his position. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very intelligent and as a result are reasonably easy to train. Here are a few tips on how to teach your dog his position in the pack: * When eating dinner, always eat before you feed the dog. Let your dog wait until the family have finished eating before he gets fed. * When you feed your dog let him sit or stand and wait for his food. Put his bowl of food down in front of him but don’t let him go to it yet. Tell him to stay and then wait for a few seconds before giving him a command to eat. It will only take a few times of doing this for him to know what is expected of him. * Always make the dog enter or exit the house last. When you are going through a door, don’t let him rush past you, make him wait until all humans have gone through the door and then let him through. * Always use an authorative voice when disciplining your dog and stand over him to give him the impression that you are bigger and stronger and this will let him know that you are his superior. It is important for a large dog breed to know his place in the pack, after all you don’t want a large, strong dog being the boss of the house. He needs to know that you are his superior and he must obey your commands. Dog Training Classes Attending dog training classes is important with any dog as it helps socialize them and also helps them learn basic commands like sit, stand, stay, heel. After attending dog training classes you should be able to walk your dog without him pulling you along or without him trying to chase every other dog he sees. Dogs love to please their masters and love to receive praise, so use lots of praise when training and your dog will love to continue doing well to please you. If you train your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy well and teach him they basic commands from an early age and let him know that you are his master, then you will have a very manageable and pleasant dog. Then your dog will give you the respect and trust that you demand of him. Remember that cute little puppy will grow up to be a very large dog, so look past those puppy dog eyes and give him the discipline that will turn him into a lovely, obedient dog. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are a loyal, intelligent and loving dog and if you train them well thwy will be a pleasure to have in your home.

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About the Author:
This is an amazing breed of dog and they truly are a pleasure to have in the home. Visit our website Rhodesian Ridgeback Training for more information on this fantastic breed. We also have a section on Rhodesian Ridgeback Merchandise.
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How To Properly Crate Train Your New Puppy

Training a new puppy regardless of what type of training it is can be a time consuming and sometimes frustrating activity, especially if you’ve never attempted to train a puppy before.  One of the first things you may have to train your puppy to do is stay in a wire dog crate for an extended period of time.  Here are some simple tips for crate training your new puppy.

The first and most important tip for crate training a puppy is that you must be consistent in your training efforts.  Develop a plan and then stick to that plan as closely as possible.  This will help your puppy to develop a sort of routine for becoming accustomed to the dog crate.  Remember, small dogs have small body parts, and those parts need to be trained.  This is especially true when it comes to a dog’s bladder.  Puppies have small bladders which they will have to be let out more frequently to go to the bathroom if you want to avoid having to clean the crate all the time because they weren’t let out enough.  As they grow they’ll learn to control themselves more and more and you can eventually reduce the frequency of letting them out.

Start out small with regard to the time that you require your puppy to spend in the crate.  An hour is a good time frame that you can use at first, but then increase the amount of time as the puppy gets more and more used to it.  Eventually you’re puppy will get used to spending more and more time in the crate, which will make your efforts worth while since you know that they’ll be just fine when you have to leave for an extended period of time.

Another important tip for crate training your puppy is that it’s important that you not give into the temptation of coming to their rescue when they begin to wine and whimper when you put them in the crate.  This will only lead to them to perform the action more and more that leads them to the reward that they are seeking, which is your attention.  They will learn that wining and whimpering will get you to come and release them from the crate and will continue to use this behavior to get their way.  To be successful at crate training you must learn to have a bit of a cold heart and not give into the temptation of taking them out all of the time.

In the end, if you keep your strategy consistent, you will be successful at training and your puppy will be content with remaining in the crate for an extended period of time which will benefit both of you.

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About the Author:
Buy wire dog crates and other dog supplies at www.farmmedley.com
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All New Designs of Dog Houses

Dogs are territorial animals that gives them comfort, confident and security. Giving your dogs a comfortable and spacious enough is great treat for dogs to live happier and more confident, and dog house is the best option. When choosing the best and innovative dog house around, consider your geographic location, the size of the house and the materials and design of the house. Your location and climate is important factor when choosing a dog house, right ventilation and protection from outside heat or cold weather so your dog won’t be affected and besides there are specialized dog beds that can give soothing warm or comforting coolness for dogs. Measuring your dog’s size is a matter, big enough is too much while small space is unnecessary so consider one that spacious enough for dogs to breathe, move freely, curl up or stretch out. Portable and strong with right ventilation of dog houses mainly affected by the materials and design of the house, so wooden, plastic, cedar, galvanized steel or PVC made, take close inspections. This PetStreetMall article will guide you to the latest and most innovative designs of dog beds today so you can get the perfect one for your dog. Cozy Cottage Dog Houses. The cozy cottage is the pinnacle of dog house comfort. A traditional dog house design combines with great looking colors to provide your dog with the happiest home available. Four different color schemes allows you to choose the dog house that is right for your pup. It has top or roof open feature which allows easy access to the interior making cleaning and breeze. Lectro-Kennel Heated Pad, Heat Temperature Control pad and even heated dog bowl is perfect match up with this house, which means this dog house is perfect for cold and snowy weather, even on outside dog under the cool nights. Room with a View Dog Houses. This beautiful dog house is perfect for both an indoor and outdoor pet, as it can easily be moved from the backyard to the den when the weather turns cooler. Rich finishing on the wood leaves it with a deep coloring, which works well with the green roof. A front door displays small detail work that adds to the already exquisite appearance of this pet house. The shuttered windows allow for ventilation while also keeping out the sun and rain. The front door opens outwards and comes equipped with a lock, which transforms this house into the perfect modern crate. The rooftop and raised floor bottom panels are removable for easy cleaning and keep the dog dry inside. The stable cellular structure of wood allows the pet house to withstand humidity and extreme temperatures. The natural insulating feature of wood keeps your pet warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. The natural aroma of cedar creates a calming and pleasant atmosphere for your dog. Cedar is Kiln Dried and treated with natural color stains to enhance the appearance and durability of the pet house. The Retreat Dog Houses. This simple traditional “snoopy-style” dog house constructed of strong Asian Fir with excellent craftsmanship. The classic design is something that everyone remembers from their childhood. The Retreat relies on a tried and true design combined with excellent craftsmanship and high quality Asian Fir to give your dog the very best dog house. This rectangular shaped dog house is water resistant, nonskid and filled with Cedar to neutralize odors. The Mansion Dog Houses. This elegant looking dog house is built with ultimate durability and style. The wonderful aroma of cedar creates a calming atmosphere for your pet. From the sturdy craftsmanship to the stylish touch of a chimney, this large model doghouse is perfect for medium to large sized dogs. The amply sized The Mansion dog house comes complete with a spacious open-aired front porch surrounded by beautiful lattice work, to allow your dog both warmth and comfort. It offers a window covered by downward sloping horizontal shades to allow for ventilation, while keeping out the sun and rain. Both rooftop and bottom panels are removable for easy cleaning while the floor was raised too to keep pets dry. The stable and cellular structure of wood allows the doghouse to withstand humidity and extreme temperatures. Ice Cream Dog Houses. This fun and trendy looking house with burgundy wood trim offers your cat or smaller dog a sense of security while its large, open windows allow for maximum visibility to your pet’s surroundings, satisfying its natural curiosity. This house bounds to make your pet sleep better as every moment of their dream comes true. The same removable top and bottom panel for easy access and cleaning and the floor is raised off the ground to keep pets dry and clean inside. Ice cream dog house has stable cellular structure of woods too that is perfect tow withstand extreme heat or humility. The cedar is kiln dried and treated with natural color stains to enhance the appearance and durability and the scent also creates a calming and pleasant atmosphere both for pets and human.
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About the Author:
More information about innovative pet supplies like dog houses & containment systems at PetStreetMall.
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