DogTrainster.Com

Article Source: examiner.com
By: Jeff Millman

Have you ever gotten bored working on “Sit, Down and Stay?” Sometimes it helps to have some suggestions for ways to make training a bit more interesting. Here are some simple ways to keep it fun for you and your dog.

* Reserve top tier chew toys, bones or treats for a point in the training session when your dog improves his performance. For instance, when he holds a Stay for a longer time than the last session, give him his chew toy as a reward.

* Hide Kongs or other stuffable toys around the house filled with your dog’s dinner. Work on a training session and then allow him to search for his dinner after he does something outstanding.

* Work on improving criteria. For instance, the criteria for Come When Called include speed of the behavior, avoiding distractions, the position of your dog after he comes to you, etc.

* Work on basic training exercises on walks. Many people don’t work on periodic sits, downs and stays on walks. This will improve reliability by providing your dog practice training in a variety of locations.

* Work with a friend on two-dog training goals such as working on attention around distractions, coming when called running next to each other, and come up with creative two-dog tricks.

* Practice a 5-minute training session without using any verbal cues, and just use hand signals.

* Move away from treats and use more verbal encouragement.

* Use toys as rewards. If your dog likes to play tug or fetch, do quick training sessions and reward with a quick game of tug or fetch.

Hopefully these ideas spark some other ideas for training. Often simple changes can keep things interesting.

Article Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com
By: Denise Flaim

Five easy, low-cost tips for training a dog to do his business outdoors instead of indoors.

If ever there is an evergreen topic in pet-dom, it is house-training puppies.

The magic formula: Puppies have about one hour of bladder control for every month of age. So a puppy that goes home at 8 weeks (never younger, no matter what the breeder tells you) can hold it for only two hours. Plan potty breaks accordingly.

Reward good behavior: Puppies learn best through rewards, not punishment. Accompany your puppy outside for potty breaks, and be sure to praise him lavishly after he urinates or defecates. Those who are fans of clicker training can “mark” this behavior by clicking when the dog first begins to squat, then rewarding with a food treat after.

I command thee to pee! As odd as it may sound, you can attach a command to pottying to solicit the response in your dog. Make sure it is a phrase that works in public, as well as in the solitude of your backyard. While some folks can sing, “Go poopies!” in mixed company without batting an eyelash, my personal preference is the more generic “Hurry up” or “Let’s go.”

Timing is everything: The only time you can correct your puppy for a housebreaking lapse is if you catch him in the act. Scoop him up mid-squat, say “no” firmly, and take him outside to resume his relief effort. If he does, praise lavishly.

If you come upon the mess after it has been made, silently clean it up and blame yourself for lousy vigilance.

Gee, whiz: No crystal ball can tell you precisely when your puppy will piddle, but there are some pretty clear signs, including sniffing and whining. Always take a puppy outside after waking, eating or playing, as these activities tend to herald nature’s call.

Clean sweep: With their powerful sense of scent, dogs will return to the scene of the crime and repeat the offense if you do not adequately clean up their messes. Never use ammonia, as that mimics the scent of urine. You can invest in commercial pet-stain cleaners or try white vinegar cut with equal parts water.

As a preventive measure, I buy clear plastic sheeting (the kind used by painters to protect floors and furniture from drips — the thickest I can find), and lay it over carpets during the first few weeks of house-training. It also acts as an early detection system: When I hear the frantic patter of puppy feet on plastic, it means an intervention is required now.

Article Source: insidetoronto.com
By Jacque Newman

Research is key to finding the proper dog-human match

You can’t go far these days without meeting a dog attached to a smitten owner. Evidence of happy human-canine relationships is everywhere and that’s not news.

People and dogs have kept company for thousands of years. The relationship between humans and dogs is unlike any other. A dog doesn’t care if you’ve brushed your teeth, he doesn’t ask to borrow your car and he’s not interested in your stock portfolio. The typical canine is such a relief from the typical human, it’s no wonder so many people are in the market for a dog these days.

While the people and dogs you see on the street may make it look easy, the reality is that no fabulous dog-human relationship is possible without a lot of up-front research.

When you plop your full-bladdered pup onto your Persian carpet for the first time, you may suddenly realize you’re about to expend fairly hefty amounts of money, time and energy.

Dog lovers will tell you that every penny, minute and drop of sweat is worth it but until you actually commit to a canine, you can’t truly fathom how monumental the expenditures may be. But let’s say you’re aware of those costs, you’ve completed your soul-searching and you’re prepared for all that monumental stuff.

Now you want to find the dog of your dreams.

If your idea of the perfect canine is one that will sit in the crook of your arm, you’ll be looking for a toy-sized dog that actually enjoys spending time in the crook of your arm. If your dream dog will spend hours watching television with you, consider a laid-back and low-energy breed. If you want a dog that will hike for hours on end, think about outdoorsy, athletic and sporting breeds. Consider your hobbies and interests and how you want your dog to blend with your lifestyle.

Now choose a few breeds that fit your criteria.

Next, research those breeds’ histories and the reasons why somebody thought it was a good idea to develop these types of dog.

Most of today’s dogs retain behavioural characteristics of their forefathers.

For example, retrievers are hard-wired to retrieve downed waterfowl but since the average urban retriever doesn’t get many opportunities to fetch fallen fowl, he’s compelled to find alternatives.

Those alternatives include tennis balls, your underwear and just about anything else he can wrap his mouth around.

Herding-type dogs were developed to round up livestock. Unless your sheep need to shape up, your dog may turn his attention to cyclists, cats, children and just about anything else that moves.

Many terrier-type dogs are genetically compelled to dig for vermin. When he finishes excavating your backyard, he might consider mining your couch, linoleum and door frames. Of course there are exceptions to everything but, generally, if you know the reason for your breed’s existence, you’ll have a good idea of what turns your dog’s crank and why you could end up asking for professional help to discover how to deal with any behaviours that are too difficult for you to handle.

Knowing these genetic traits in advance can only be a good thing.

There are additional breed-specific qualities you’ll need to consider such as health and dietary concerns, grooming and training needs. Or you might go for a mixed-breed, which is your basic surprise package containing a few or all characteristics represented in the mix. Confusing? You bet.

But if you research before buying, you’ll stand a much better chance of not messing up.

Many people think they can bypass this research thing because they already know everything about dogs. In fact, the investigative process will not only give you confidence to make the right choice, but you might discover a breed or mix of breeds you hadn’t considered.

Make a list of those that interest you then book an appointment with a veterinarian, a dog trainer and a groomer and take your list with you.

It may seem a little obsessive but you’re not buying a car. You’re about to commit the next decade or two to caring for a living, breathing creature. Think of it this way: the veterinarian, trainer and groomer you visit may become your regular professionals.

They have a vested interest in helping you make the best choice.

Dr. Judy Au, a veterinarian practising at Danforth Veterinary Clinic, agreed that a veterinarian is a great source for reference.

“Choosing a new family member is not as easy as one may think given the large variety of popular breeds and today’s new breed mixes,” Au said. “Your local veterinarian would be more than happy to help with the selection process. Choosing the right breed for your lifestyle is imperative as each has different needs for diet, exercise, training and preventive health care.”

Au said that all puppy owners should be financially prepared but some breeds can be expected to have additional health issues down the road.

“There is nothing sadder than having an owner surrender their lifelong companion because they couldn’t afford the necessary special food, medications or surgery,” she said.

Although your new pup may have been checked by a veterinarian before joining your household, Au advised new owners to schedule a vet check within the first few days to ensure the pup’s health.

“During this initial visit, valuable information regarding feeding, house training, basic training and preventive health care will be given. Discussion of obedience schools, grooming, daycare and pet insurance can also be included. This would be a good start for you and your young companion.”

Gillian Ridgeway, director of Who’s Walking Who Dog Training Centre in Toronto, often consults with potential puppy owners.

Her initial questions to new clients seem too simple: Why do you want a dog and how do you envision this dog in your life?

The response gives her a clear picture of the type of dog that would be the most appropriate match.

“The answer helps me estimate the number of hours the dog will be left alone as well as a little information about the human personalities involved, whether they are detail oriented or laid back and if they see themselves sitting on their couch with the dog or interacting through dog sports,” she said.

As a member of the SuperDogs team, Ridgeway and her own dog meet with audience members after the show where the most prevalent question is: “Does he shed?” “People seem more concerned about the hair coat than any other factor,” she said. “I say, ‘Yes, he sheds, but that’s fine with me. He’s a great dog, good with kids and quick to learn so I’m happy to vacuum up after him.’ They usually nod their heads as if they hadn’t thought of it that way. Unless allergies are a concern, I think they’d be further ahead to ask if the dog is good with kids or ‘Does he bite’?”

Speaking of dog hair, Christine Kenyon, owner of Metro Hound Dogwash and Dog Gear in Toronto is an expert on the subject. She finds that many would-be dog owners are looking for a breed advertised as “hypo-allergenic,” meaning that the dog’s coat is less likely to cause allergic reactions.

“Poodle-mixes, particularly those mixed with golden or Labrador retrievers, top the popularity list,” she said.

“But it’s important to recognize that within this group, individuals may react differently to different dogs. And many of these dogs require extensive brushing and regular trims.”

And here’s another tip: Kenyon noted some people choose short-haired dogs in the belief that they don’t shed profusely.

“Not true,” she said. “Many of these dogs have dense undercoats that shed constantly.”

Finally, your research should include a visit to a local park where dogs hang out. This is a great place to find happy, socialized humans with happy, socialized dogs. Locate a dog in the group that appeals to you and ask the owner for information on everything from health and diet to trainability and grooming. No need to be shy. You’ll find that people love to talk about their dogs.

Looking to find your dream? In the real estate business, it’s “Location, location, location.” With dogs, it’s “Research, research, research.”

Article Source: Examiner.com
By Jeff Millman

If you are a savvy trainer, you can teach your dog to do behaviors on cue that are initiated by a change in the environment that happens naturally or that is part of your normal daily pattern. Unless you are working on a sophisticated trick, the reason to implement this strategy is to alleviate the need to ask your dog to a cue. You will instead “ask” your dog to do the cue with your body or something else that happens naturally. This strategy can be extremely helpful to you and your family and can also make your dog’s life better by creating consistent expectations and house rules.

Often this strategy comes into play to help a dog stay safe or to teach your dog to do something automatically that you routinely ask her to do.

Examples of Environmental Cues

Sit at curbs. Why ask your dog to sit at curbs every time. Wouldn’t it be better if she sat every time you stopped walking?

Lie down when you sit down to eat. If you have a dog that bugs you when you are eating at the dinner table, wouldn’t it be great to teach her to lie down as soon as you sit down at the table?

Sit when a guest approaches. What a slick way to avoid this annoying dog behavior.

Do not run out of the gate when it is open. I have a client that has an amazing garden around the perimeter of his house. His gates open up to the street and he is often in and out of the gate working on his garden. I taught his dog to lie down before she crossed a certain point whether the gate was open or not. The only way she could cross a specific line was after she was given a cue by my client. This way, if he inadvertently left the gate open, she would not run out after him.

Lie down when you put your baby on the changing table. It is understandable that you want some space when you are changing diapers and that your dog might also be a bit interested in what is going on. What a great way to avoid problems.

See the pattern? I call these Environmental Cues because changes in the environment cue a dog to something. Your are part of the environment. So, if taught correctly, your behavior can cause yoru dog to do something that you want her to do — without even asking her! Cool!

Here is an example of how to teach a dog to lie down when she sees a baby get placed on a changing table. You can adapt this to anything that is helpful for your training needs.

Teach the Environmental Cue - Lie Down When Baby Gets Placed on Changing Table
This is a fairly complex task, but it can be fun if you break it down into small chunks. With any behavior, don’t worry about teaching the entire behavior in one session. It could take weeks or months before you can expect a reliable behavior. Speed of success depends on how much time you train, how good of a trainer you are, and how quickly your dog learns new behaviors. I recommend that you focus on being a good teacher each session. What this means is that you are completely focused on your dog. Turn off the phone, give your kids some coloring books and be a good teacher. It is not fair to your dog to expect great results if you are not putting in quality teaching time.

Besides using this for diaper changing situations, this is a great exercise to counteract begging at the table, pestering you or your guests during social gatherings and when you are trying to get some work done. To expect this to work during “real life” moments such as cooking, you must practice a lot before you add those distractions.

For baby situations, it is smart to identify a location in each room that you would like your dog to go to on occasion and work on each location separately. This a great way of pre-planning for times when you need a bit more space and need your dog to move away from the activity.

Please note: C/T means to either say, “Yes” and give a treat or ‘click’ and give a treat. Want to learn more about clicker training? Read my posts about What is Clicker Training? or How to Use the Clicker.

This is called a “chained behavior” and is a way to teach really complex tasks. This behavior has 4 links in the chain. When you say, “Go to bed” the links that your dog needs to understand are:

1. Find the bed
2. Walk over to the bed
3. Lie down
4. Stay

I use Backwards Chaining to teach this, so I actually teach steps 3 and 4 first. The rationale is that if you teach the final two links (Lie down and Stay) then when you add distance, point to the bed and say, “Go to bed” the dog has had a lot of repetition with lie down and stay, so once she starts walking towards the bed the links start falling into place. Once she is near the bed, she naturally lies down and stays because she has done those behaviors numerous times and the muscle memory kicks in to complete the behavior.

Even though there are 4 links in the chain, each link can have multiple steps. For instance, one of the links is Lie Down, but I first teach paw on the bed, sit on the bed, and then lie down on the bed. The main aspect to keep in mind is that you are teaching your dog to interact with the bed and helping her with each of the steps if she needs your help. Don’t worry if you have to help her do the behaviors such as “Sit” or “Down” by luring with a treat or saying the cue. Just make sure if you say a cue, you only say it once.

Step One
This is taught first using the leash. Stand right next to the dog bed, walk your dog over to the bed and every time she touches a paw on it, C/T. Say “off” every time you leave the mat and lead her off the mat.

Step Two
Then, increase the criteria and treat her for sitting on the bed. Walking on the bed becomes, “Good girl” and the C/T happens when she sits. Do five repetitions.

Step Three
Walk over to the bed and ask your dog to “Down” and C/T. So, putting her paw on the bed and sitting results in “Good Girl” and she gets a C/T for lying down.

Quick note: This is a tremendous mental exercise activity because your dog will have to figure out what you want her to do. Provide help in the form of asking her to “Sit” or “Down” only if she needs it. Many beginning trainers don’t realize that you can actually wait a dog out and see if she will figure out what is expected of her before you ask her. My rule of thumb is I will help a dog out if she doesn’t do the behavior in 3-5 seconds, or faster if she seems frustrated.

Step Four
After she is reliably lying down on the mat, stand next to it, point to it and say, “Go to your bed” (or whatever you would prefer) and point to the bed. Make sure that once you say the cue ONE TIME you get the behavior. If she doesn’t move there on her own, gently help her by luring her with a treat, guiding her with the leash, etc. Do multiple pairings of this and then increase the distance between you and the mat. Reward every time that your dog successfully goes to the mat and lies down. Eventually, you can move farther away, point to it and your dog will happily go to it and lie down.

Step Five
Stay is a separate component of this exercise and you can start working on it anytime after your dog lies down on her bed. After she lies down, , ask for “Stay” give verbal encouragement “Good girl, you are doing great, and periodically give her a treat. If she gets up, tell her that she shouldn’t get up yet, “Eh! Eh!” and ask her to lie down again and continue reinforcing her behavior with verbal praise and treats. At some point when she is firmly lying down, say, “OK” and lead her off the mat.

Note: For a solid “Stay” it is important that you release her when she is in the middle of the stay as opposed to just about to jump up. Get in the habit of releasing her before she wants to get up.

Step Six - Add the Environmental Cue
This is when it gets really interesting. I recommend expectant parents practice with a doll months before the baby arrives to have a really solid behavior when they really need it. To create a cue, you just need to teach your dog a pattern. In this case, you want your dog to go to her bed when she sees the baby placed on the changing table. So, put the doll on the changing table, wait a moment, turn to your dog and say, “Go to bed” and point to the bed. Wait a moment, and if she needs help, gently grab the leash and lead her over to the bed and C/T when she lies down. Repeat the act of placing the doll on the table until she does the behavior on her own.

Troubleshooting and Strategies

* Make sure you only say the cue ONCE, pause for a moment and then provide help, whether you ask your dog to Sit, Down, or Go to Bed. If you repeat cues, your dog will learn to ignore you.

* If there is a long delay after you say, “Go to Bed” before your dog starts moving towards the bed, do a few repetitions where you gently guide her over to the bed right after you say the cue. You will help initiate movement and muscle memory this way, so she reacts more quickly to the cue. Always use gentle guidance.

* Stop training before your dog wants to stop. One of the important strategies is to teach your dog to WANT to do behaviors. The best way to do this is to not overtrain. Stop training when she still wants to “play”. “What do you mean we are stopping? I was having fun getting attention and treats! Ask me to do something else!”

* Often dogs will lie down right next to the trainer instead of walking over to the bed. This occurs because the dog is used to getting a reward by lying at the person’s feet and has not made the connection with the need to go to a specific location. If your dog lies down next to you after you have said the cue, gently get her up, walk her over and reward her when she lies down. Next time if you see her start to lie down too soon, say, “Eh! Eh!” before she lies down and walk her over to the correct location.

* Give a lot of verbal encouragement for the beginning steps such as paw on the bed, and sitting, but stop treating once they do it reliably. You want your dog to “go to the next level” and be motivated to do more behaviors such as lying down or walking to the bed. “Good girl” is used to tell a dog that she is on the right track, but needs to do more for the treat.

* Combine this activity with finding Kongs or playing fetch. She will learn that good things happen when she lies down. You will increase the motivation of this behavior.

* Ask for this cue periodically throughout the day such as before walks, mealtimes or games. “Go to bed”. “Good girl, let’s go for a walk!” In this case, the walk is the reward and you have increased the motivation for her to perform this behavior.

* Work on adding multiple locations and naming each one. Examples include rug, bed, back door, fireplace, bedroom, etc.

Article Source: Examiner.com
By Jeff Millman

Did you know that there are training tasks you can work on when you are with your dog without even much thought? I always stress to my clients to “put the trainer hat on” a little more frequently throughout the day to achieve their goals. If you just think about training a little bit more every day, you can work on a list of goals whenever you are with your dog and he will be better trained before you know it!

Dogs (and people) learn through consistent patterns. Here are some examples of patterns that you can teach your dog every day. The key is to SAY THE CUE ONCE and then gently help your dog understand the meaning.

Turn right, turn left. When you are walking your dog, say, “left” or “right” a half-second before you turn that direction and then gently guide your dog that way. If you work on this whenever you walk your dog, eventually he will turn the correct direction on his own.

Stop. Say this every time before you stop your dog at a curb or before he hits the end of the leash if he is forging ahead on a walk. A more advanced exercise is to do the same while you are running. Make sure you don’t jerk your dog when stopping.

Excuse Me. My dog, Ranger, used to lie down in front of the refrigerator all the time when he was a puppy. He would seemingly read my mind and do it right before I needed something out of there. All I did was say, “Excuse me”, pause for a moment and gently opened the door. The small movement touched him and he got up and walked away. Now, all I need to do is say, “Excuse me” wherever he is and he understands I need him to move out of my way.

These are just three examples of training strategies you can use every day. What do you do with your dog to work on training on walks, during mealtimes, or other times?

Article Source: AmericanChronicle.com
By Mailey McLaughlin

Whether your dog is just a puppy or well into adulthood, there are many things you, as a pet owner, need to be aware of. Training your dog is an important step in starting off on the right foot and teaching him obedience. All dogs - no matter how old - need some form of training so that they can be easily handled in all situations. A wise investment in your new best friend would be basic training or obedience classes that will help you to build a bond and learn to control your dog. TV shows, books, and articles abound on dog training, but tips that are truly effective are harder to come by if you don’t do the necessary research.

There are many reasons for training your dog. Training allows the dog to understand your expectations, helps him become calmer and more relaxed in all situations, in new places, and with new people, provides him with much-needed structure, makes him easier to manage, and perhaps most importantly, helps keep him out of the shelter. Unfortunately, the biggest reason that dogs are in or are returned to shelters is due to their lack of training and out-of-control behavior.

Dog Training Tips: The Necessary Commands

Because dogs thrive in packs and are naturally social, once they come to your home, they expect you to be the leader. Training your dog appropriately with a few highly effective dog training tips teaches him to follow you, understand your necessary commands, and learn to accept his place in your “pack.” To avoid problems later in life, it’s recommended that you enroll your pet in obedience and/or training classes early on, or at the very least, begin training your dog yourself, rewarding him each time he learns a new command. The following dog training tips are some of the more vital guidelines in ensuring your pet will be a well-behaved, functioning member of your family. If you have the patience and the time, here are some ways to begin training your dog at home:

* Always enforce your commands - don’t let your dog ignore a command, but most certainly reward him when he does follow it. If your dog does not follow it immediately, help him perform the command, then reward. Above all, however, do not call your dog to you and do anything negative to him when he comes. If he disobeys and you react with anger, your dog will learn to fear you and may not listen to you in the future. Attempting to integrate any other dog training tips after that may be futile.

* Reward your dog immediately when he listens. Positive encouragement in the form of treats or praise is always welcome and helps the dog learn that he is doing well at responding to what you say. During training, have treats in hand and deliver them quickly when the dog performs correctly. Don’t punish your dog or ‘rub his nose in it’ should he have an accident. When training your dog, these tips will help you avoid discouraging or even confusing your pet.

* Master one command at a time - go slowly and over time, your dog will learn the command. Don’t overload multiple commands into one training session as this approach will likely result in failure. Most experts recommend 5-10 minutes at the most for one session. You’ll need to be patient during the process of training your dog; chances are that your dog won’t respond to every command or even learn them in just a few weeks - it will take time.

* “Sit,” “Come,” “Stay,” and “Lie Down” - these are perhaps the four most important commands your dog needs to know, and all helpful dog training tips from books or your vet should cover these comprehensively. Once your dog masters them successfully, you will be able to manage him in all situations and control his behavior around other people and animals. For dogs that may like to run free, “come” is a necessary command should he manage to wriggle out of his collar and/or leash.

* Maintain solidarity with training - in family situations, make sure that everyone follows the rules with training your dog. If you’re the only one using commands and the rest of the family is ignoring certain behaviors that the dog exhibits and not re-enforcing the dog training tips you’ve been using thus far, then your one-on-one training sessions will largely be forgotten. Re-enforce commands each day as repetition is key.

* Keep it fun - this is a time to grow and bond with your pet; make training your dog fun for both of you. Once he masters the basics of these dog training tips, move on to the fun tricks, like “roll over,” “shake,” and “play dead.” Your dog will begin to look to you because you’ll have made your role clear.

Assume the Role: You are the Pack Leader

It is your responsibility to be aware and responsible for your pet - your dog relies on you to take care of him at all times. Providing him with a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and one-on-one training will ensure that he has a long, healthy, and happy life with you. Don’t leave his behavior up to chance - you can ensure that your new best friend is obedient and happy just by integrating some of these simple dog training tips into his routine. Assume control as leader of your pack and your dog will look to you in all situations that may arise.

You are the best person when it comes to training your dog - he trusts you, after all. More importantly, training your dog will keep him safe and protected, which is something all dog owners should want.

Article Source: Gundogmag.com
By Bob West

Long slow distance training will prepare your dog for a full day afield.

A dog with a solid genetic background, proper training and optimum nutrition possesses the proverbial “three-legged stool” that leads to achieving potential. Along with proper nutrition, proper conditioning enables sporting dogs to perform amazing feats. Proper nutrition and conditioning also can help minimize injuries. Our goal is not to push our dogs beyond their limit, but to condition them to perform at their peak potential.

You should set up a progressive training and conditioning plan to help build a dog’s cardiovascular base. You also should prepare your dog for a variety of environmental situations, including weather and humidity.

Your plan should include a warm-up followed by resistance training and building up to long slow distance (LSD) training. Resis-tance training is an activity that helps to build muscle mass, but it is important not to build too heavy muscles that could change a dog’s gait or affect its reach and drive.

LSD training helps to build a dog’s cardiovascular pace by increasing endurance. Dogs train at a slower than normal pace, but they travel a longer distance than they are accustomed. Cross training, such as swimming, should be part of a training program as it helps to balance a dog’s strength by conditioning muscles not used as much during their regular sport.

A trainer should ease into advanced training. During advanced training, resistance training should increase, and LSD training should decrease. Other methods used in advanced training include pace runs (exercise at or near performance intensity) and variable-speed intervals that alternate between slower and faster speeds. High-speed intervals, which can be used when a dog is fit and prepared, are fast runs that help to finish a dog’s training before competition.

Recovery also is important. You want to let your dog recover by letting it relax, both mentally and physically. Throw a ball and do enjoyable things right away. Proper rest between workouts is the single most important part of recovery and is paramount to success.

For proper nutrition, adequate protein is crucial in a high-quality performance diet. Dietary protein should comprise about 24 to 40 percent of the total kilocalories (energy) and should be highly digestible. If a diet does not contain enough protein, muscle mass may be depleted, increasing the risk of soft tissue injuries, and immune function may be impaired.

Fat is the most important energy nutrient for work. Dogs fed a high fat diet can run further faster than those fed a low-fat diet. Carbohydrates are important for maximum energy output, especially when a dog is performing events over several days.

Ultimately, taking time to properly feed and condition your sporting dog is critical. Your dog is more likely to perform to its potential, and you are more likely to have an enjoyable event and very positive results…like a safe productive day while hunting or enduring to win an event.

The problem with finding ways to exercise your dog is that his needs quickly go beyond any program you can do together, such as going for walks. Allowing your dog to run free and exercise is a good idea but unless you’re spending hours and hours at it, your dog really isn’t benefiting to the extent you need to prepare him for hunting or competition. So we have to be creative in finding ways our dogs can safely work, exercise and gain endurance.

One simple idea is attaching a lead to the dog’s harness, allowing you to hold back, adding resistance as your dog pulls forward. Another might be using the same harness and attaching weights, like cable or chain to the harness, so that as the dog moves forward the weight drags safely alongside, causing extra resistance–i.e., more work in a given amount of time.

Some folks use chains connected to bungee cords snapped to each side of the “roading” harness, then they allow the dog to run freely through varied cover, terrain, and soil composition. The goal with this type of low level resistance is not only the advantage of working several muscle groups in one workout as the dog travels up, down and around hills and cover; there’s also the advantage of varied resistance on the dragging weight. In addition, we have the added benefit of toughening pads as they are conditioned by the soil, rock, and harsh ground cover.

Many of us have seen people attach their dog’s harness to a bicycle, letting the dog pull them along. This might be safe for the dog, but I wouldn’t give odds on the trainer if the dog spots a distraction–say, a cat in a neighbor’s yard–and makes a sudden lunge at it.

For those of you who own a four-wheeler, this is probably a safer alternative for all involved. You can set up outriggers to attach a line to the dog’s harness, being sure to keep the line short enough not to allow the dog near the wheels. Using a four-wheeler allows you to apply resistance or move to LSD workouts by controlling the dog’s speed in combination with the four-wheeler’s speed.

Swimming is another great form of exercise, especially helpful as a low impact form of LSD work that really benefits cardiovascular systems. Most dogs will follow when you paddle ahead in a canoe, and you can easily build to whatever length of time you feel meets you dog’s level of endurance. It’s especially good for hot summer days, but you still have to pay close attention to overheating, especially in shallow water where surface temps are surprisingly high.

If you don’t have a boat or canoe you might do repeated retrieving drills, but remember this might be a good deal more strenuous than simply swimming. Here again, be cautious of heat stress.

These ideas will be enough to get you started, but remember to keep it fun for you and the dog. Be creative and mix in training exercises to keep things in a positive productive mode. Also, as we recommended last time, before starting any exercise program get your dog in to your veterinarian for a checkup and be sure to let the vet know your plans.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com
By Rikard Ingvarsson

To acquire a puppy is a joyous as well as memorable event as the puppies are the cutest friends and companions of humans, but puppy and dog training requires knowledge and expertise.

Supple fleece, puppy kisses and the cutest faces in the world, all these good things mix together to create a sensitively charged experience. The moment a puppy enters your custody; motherly instincts begin to develop in you, and before long you will accept the puppy a member of your family. It is really a very tender feeling to have a pup at home. It also mixes up with everybody nicely.

Love and softness are the most vital ingredients as you raise your puppy, but only love is not enough to train your puppy. If you feel and wish to train your puppy in a better manner you must take proper initiatives to do so. Initially you may practice a few days of bliss with the new member of your family but soon after the first date has ended you will understand that your ideal puppy is far from faultless. Almost all the puppies come with in-born faults. They defecate indoors, chew almost everything, use their teeth as playful weapons and cry loudly when they are left alone. The puppies are almost like little children and they also have the tendencies to disobey you and your instructions.

Therefore it is very much essential for you to make proper and immediate arrangements to start training your pup. As said earlier, the pups are like little children and they have the tendencies of testing boundaries, avoiding rules and do whatever they like to do. Therefore they need guidance for adopting correct habits.

Training is training, and it should be done in the true meaning of the term. Your idea of training the dog must be to develop good eating habits as well as behavioral habits in him. It means that you should adopt an appropriate training style that will treat your puppy as you want him to be.

Before you start thinking of training your puppy, decide what exactly you are looking for in your puppy. It is important that you seriously think and decide what you want the end results to be. As far as the present status of training methodology is concerned, many suitable methods are available for your dog to get train in. You should look for the correct trainer or training school only after you do your thinking part.

It is always advisable to train your dog by yourself. You must take care of the following things before you start the training process:

Do not get aggressive in your behavior even if your pup is not able to perform according to your commands.

Do speak in a consistent manner and don’t use harsh voice while giving commands.

Speak continuously with your dog and repeat words you like him to understand and follow. So you should utter words like ‘Stand up’, ‘Sit’, ‘Come’, ‘Go’ etc and also show him the possible response which he could show to these words.

Don’t forget to reward him if he follows you correctly. If he is not able to follow one command properly, do not repeat it right then.

Take your dog for a walk and let him develop the habit defecating outside. In a few days, your pup shows the correct response to your commands and makes you a proud owner.

Save yourself a lot of time as a dog owner and train your dog to be obedient. It gets so much easier for both you and your dog when you have trained your dog´s obedience.

Article Source: ezinearticles.com
By Smith Trinity

Does your dog always show timid behavior around people? Well you might be surprised; there is still a chance to build confidence in your dog! All you got to do is provide him with the proper agility training he needs. Agility classes are the best place for learning the sport. You will be taught how to train your dog but using dog agility equipment. you have to be patient when teaching your pet already.

A shy-type dog always does best when in his comfort zone. Therefore he must feel safe during training and the lessons have to be taught in slower pace. So probably, home is the most conducive place for your dog’s training and learning. So how do you start? You will need the appropriate equipment and guidelines to facilitate everything. There are many websites, books or videos that can offer you ample information about agility training. There are actually numerous kinds of useful equipment to have at home. But consider your space and location in picking the right one and make sure the equipment you purchase is safe and sturdy.

For a good start, a 12″ high pause table with adjustable legs is fine. Set it up in an area most familiar to him. It is quite natural if he barks. You do not need to push him because little steps at a time are needed for insecure dogs. Let him inspect and smell it on his own first. When already at ease, encourage your dog to mount the table while his favorite toy or treats in a plate is placed on the table. Again be patient. Your dog may lose interest in food or toys. So the best thing for you to do is hold him while sitting on the table. If he is too large to hold, have him on leash as you sit. He may try to back away so coax him then give a reward only when he comes to you.

Later, a nice transition could be from Pause Table to Contact Trainer. There is a recommended 3-Piece Contact Trainer which has a mini A-frame side, Pause Table, and dog-walk side. Training is done in slow and comfortable increments, with little pushing, but not too overwhelming to cause a shutdown-this is a reminder to keep and later be amazed to see your dog gaining confidence little by little.