Dog Obedience Training Blog
Doggie Prayers
courtesy of www.fugly.com
Little boy: “Now I lay me down to sleep…”
Dog: “Please help me catch that stupid cat when everyone goes to sleep…”
Misconceptions about Shelter Dogs
Image courtesy of: Cecelia / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
While many people want to purchase a new puppy from a good breeder, there is an alternative for those who don’t want to fork out the big bucks just to get a great pet. Consider a shelter dog. Many of these dogs are just waiting for someone like you to come along and rescue them, and they are more than ready, willing, and eager to provide you all the love and companionship you could possibly want!
Common Misconceptions about Shelter Dogs
by RenewTrients March 15, 2010 10:25 am
Bringing home a shelter dog can be very rewarding. Not only can they be as loving, loyal and amusing as dogs raised by breeders, you’ll also feel a good about the fact that you’re saving a wonderful animal from an uncertain fate inside the shelter. While there are those people who will love their pets no matter where they come from, there are also those who would think twice about getting a shelter dog. Most of the time, they are apprehensive about bringing home a rescued dog because of established misconceptions. Here are some of them:
Shelter dogs were abandoned because they are bad pets. Absolutely not true! A shelter dog might have been taken to the facility because of a number of possible reasons including death of the original owner or maybe because the owner was neglectful or abusive so the authorities took the pet away from his custody.
Shelter dogs have behavioral problems. Instead of making generalizations, you can try to see the dogs for yourself and ask the shelter staff about their history and disposition. Most shelter dogs are only too happy to be adopted by a new owner that they end up rewarding them with love and loyalty and often make full emotional recovery.
Dogs in shelters are old and sickly. While it is possible that some shelter dogs have medical conditions, most are, young, vibrant and healthy. And so what if some of the dogs are old? Many shelter dogs that become very good companion animals are senior dogs. They usually make great pets for people who are old or less active themselves.
I can’t get purebred dogs in shelters. As a matter of fact, you can get dogs belonging to even the rarest of breeds in animal shelters. But mixed breeds make great pets too, especially because they often experience less medical problems than purebred dogs.
Indoor Doggy Games
Bored? Play a game with your dog!!
I live in Southern Georgia, most people move to the South to avoid the dramas of the weather known to our cohorts to the North. Being from Wyoming, I know the joys and horrors of winter and most of the time I joke that we don’t even have seasons here in the South it is just one extended summer. However, much to my chagrin we have had a winter this year. My pipes have frozen, and I have had to scrape my windows more than a dozen times (after 3 years I had to buy a window scraper).
The whole country it seems has been experiencing a winter of record, so I thought while we are all cooped up inside we should discuss some of my favorite foul weather games to pass the time until spring comes and we can get outdoors and get the exercise we are all in need of!
Dogs need mental stimulation, without it they begin to choose naughty behavior and get into trouble. Our dogs cannot watch television, they can’t read books or do any of the things we usually enjoy when exercise outside is not an option. However, they still have the same amount of pent up energy building up day by day and they need a way to expel it.
The easiest way to entertain your dog is to give him something exciting to chew. Chewing is a minimal form or exercise and mental stimulation for your dog. Often, if we don’t provide an appropriate chewy, our dogs will begin chewing things that they shouldn’t put their mouths on. Chewing gives them something to do.
I also like to play indoor games with my dogs when the weather is bad, or when their energy level is driving me crazy and I can’t take them outside for some physical exercise. The whole point of playing games with your dog is for both of you to enjoy yourselves! Pick games or invent games that you will both enjoy.
I love to play hide and seek with my dogs!! Hide and seek not only builds a bond, it also teaches your dog to find you utilizing his other senses; his sense of smell and his sense of sound. I want my dog to know how to find me using all his senses just in case there is ever an emergency. Instead of panic at being lost, by playing this game, I have given my dog the tools to find me and he thinks he is playing his favorite game. This is also a great way to teach your dog that the word “COME” is the most exciting and fun word he can hear.
- I often use a helper (or you have to tell your dog to stay), this is great for kids, and one person holds the dog’s collar while the other person dashes off and hides.
- Both people should stuff their pockets with great treats. As soon as the person finds a fun hiding spot they should call the dog and encourage him with every step “Rover, Come…good boy, come, good boy, good boy, good boy COME!” this excitement and encouragement gives him the motivation to find you.
- When he finds you, praise him and give him a treat while person #2 dashes off to hide.
- Repeat this process. In the beginning, I like to hide in easy spots, like just in the next room, as play continues I enjoy hiding in funny places like in the bathtub, under the table or in his crate. The one rule, have fun and enjoy, your dog has a sense of humor, make him laugh!
I also like to hide my dog’s toys and teach him to find them. Find your dog’s favorite toy, first I like to wave it around in front of him to get him excited. Next I hide it in an easy spot, beside me or behind me and tell him to find it. Praise him and you can even give him a treat when he finds his toy. Next try hiding the toy in a more precarious but semi-easy place. You may have to use a helper or tell your dog to stay as you hide his toy.
- During this stage I hide the toy so it just sticks out and is barely visible. Once he has mastered this process begin to hide the toy better so that he cannot see it. Tell him to find it. You may have to follow behind or walk past the toy to help him at first. Don’t show him where it is, just stand near and encourage him to look or sniff for it. The next step is to hide the toy on all different levels in your home.
- Don’t just hide the toy on the floor or in one room, also utilize higher surfaces like book shelves or chairs, next move it even higher and perhaps even out of his reach. Challenge his brain so that he never knows where his toy might be. Sometimes, I even hide it in my pocket or in other silly places. Have a good time, mix it up and enjoy bonding.
- The next and final stage is to use a specific name for specific toys. This gives you the option to hide 2 toys at once and ask for him to bring you one. I like this game because I can hide a few toys and sit and watch TV while he has to go and find them!
There are many things to do inside to entertain yourself and your four legged friend when the weather is bad! Teach your dog a trick! Let me know what trick you would like to teach your dog!!
Don’t let the weather get you down, grab your best friend and play some games, if you do this you will build a bond that lasts a lifetime!
Featured Dog Breed – Yorkshire Terrier
courtesy of www./justdogbreeds.com
Read all about this pint-sized, furry friend.
Yorkshire Terrier Temperament
Such is the popularity of the little Yorkshire Terrier that he has the honor of being at the number two position on the AKC breed popularity list. One of the world’s smallest dogs, the Yorkshire Terrier is a cheerful, sociable, and adaptable little creature. Affection and loyal, yet courageous and confident, this is a dog that is suited to both experienced and inexperienced owners. These dogs make great companions and loving pets, with their love for being pampered or cuddling up with their owner. Yet, in true terrier style they have plenty of spirit, are agile, and have a very inquisitive nature. Training the Yorkshire Terrier shouldn’t prove too much of a problem, as he is very intelligent and quick to learn. Housebreaking, on the other hand, can be quite a different matter. The Yorkshire Terrier can be very possessive of his food and belongings, and some have a tendency to bark too much. These little dogs will certainly bark to raise an alarm, making them effective watchdogs.
Biting Off More Than You Can Chew…
courtesy of dogblog.dogster.com, One of the two chewed police cars/chew toys, "Chattanooga Times Free Press"
I’ve heard of dogs that love ‘chasing‘ cars, but ‘chewing‘ cars! Check out the bumper on this police car. Give the poor dog a good chew toy for goodness sake!
Talk About a Dog With a Chewing Problem…
by Maria Goodavage,dogblog.dogster.com
You think your dog’s chewing is destructive?
Don’t talk to Nancy Emerling, of Chattanooga, Tenn. Her bulldog made four cars — as in real-deal automobiles — into chew toys this weekend. And two of the cars happened to be police cars.
Sniffing Out Bedbugs
courtesy of dogblog.dogster.com Highly trained dogs, like Cruiser, are extremely effective weapons against the dreaded bedbugs that are becoming all too common in places like Manhattan (Photo: Chad Batka, The New York Times)
Sweet dreams, good-night, don’t let the bedbugs bite!
Sniffing Out Bedbugs
by Maria Goodavage, dogblog.dogster.com
The noses have it. Yesterday, I blogged about bomb-sniffing dogs. Today, it’s bedbug-sniffing dogs. Both are heroic to humans. While bomb sniffers save lives, bedbug sniffers save sanity.
Bear Hugging Dog
courtesy of commontragedies.files.wordpress.com
“Dad, look what I found! Can we keep him, pleeze, pleeze, pleeze?”
Featured Dog Breed – Poodle
courtesy of www.justdogbreeds.com
A favorite in many households, learn more about this cute breed.
Poodle Temperament
The Poodle is a popular family pet with an impressive top ten ranking in the AKC popularity lists. The Poodle is one of the most intelligent and trainable of all breeds. This is a proud looking and intelligent dog, that is very quick to learn and is easy to train. The Poodle is a dog that will suit both inexperienced and experienced dog owners. He is a good natured, sociable dog, and although lively and energetic is also calm when indoors. The Poodle enjoys interaction and companionship from his owners, and is not suited to those with little time to dedicate to their pets. They are eager to please their owners, and make excellent family pets. The Poodle does have a fair amount of energy and does need regular exercise, so this is not the right choice for a couch potato – mental and physical stimulation are important to this intelligent breed.
The Poodle is loyal and protective of his loved ones, and makes a relatively effective watchdog. He gets along well with children, but his size means that he is best suited to older children. These dogs are normally welcoming and polite with strangers, and tend to get along well with other pets. The steady temperament coupled with his sociability makes him ideal for active families who will welcome him as a member of the family. You should socialize your Poodle early on to promote a steady temperament, as some can be timid or nervous. If you tend to be away a lot it is best not to consider this breed, as they do need plenty of attention.
Are You Being Positive or Just Permissive?
Image: federico stevanin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Using positive training methods to train your dog is the only way to ensure that the behaviors you train are predictable and repeatable. However, there is a big difference between being positive and letting your dog get away with just anything. Read Gillian’s article to learn more.
Why is a Positive a Negative?
March 10th, 2010 by Gillian Ridgeway, Dog Star Daily
Why is it that the word “positive” can strike such a chord in a dog owner’s mind? Having been involved in the dog world since 1972 and spending the great majority of my adult life working with dogs, it has been an uphill battle to increase awareness in the theory of learning for dogs. There has been a vast increase in awareness of this theory for children, but the dog owners are still lagging behind. Although, giving credit where it is due, it is leaps and bounds better than in the middle 1980’s, when dog training took a surge from being a novelty to a necessity.
Positive doesn’t mean permissive. That sentence, while not originated by me, is a powerful message and one that all dog owners can relate to. Positive means helpful and constructive, and a positive response from a dog owner to his canine companion means that the dog will receive something pleasurable after he does the desired behavior, which in turn will increase the likelihood of the behavior re-occurring. Sounds simple? The more you give your dog positive feedback for what you want, the more likely it is that he will repeat that exact behavior.
Your Dog’s Ears
Grooming is a very important part of caring for your dog’s health, and keeping your dog’s ears clean and free from infection is probably the most important part of a good grooming routine.
Basic Ear Care for Dogs
February 18, 2010, basicearcarefordogs.blogspot.com
Your dog’s ears can be prone to infections and ear mites because of the natural way their ears are constructed. The curves and twists can hide mites, ear wax and irritation. Careful cleaning and maintenance can help to ensure that your best friend has healthy ears. The ASPCA gives easy tips that any pet owner can use safely.
