DogTrainster.Com

Article Source: examiner.com
Article by: Emily Randolph

Matthew McConaughey has the right idea. Dogs are great for our health. If you haven’t already added a furry four-footed friend to your family, add one as part of your New Year’s resolutions to becoming healthier! And please rescue a dog from one of our local shelters, swollen past capacity due to our economic climate. You will save a life and give yourself a big boost, too.

According to the American Pet Products Association, dogs (and cats, too) help with the following:

* Lower Blood Pressure - A recent study at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that people with hypertension who adopted a pet had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did those who did not own one.

* Reduce Stress - Walking with a pet helps to sooth nerves and offers instant relaxation. The impact of a stressful situation is lesser on pet owners, especially males, than on those who do not own a pet.

* Prevent Heart Disease - Because pets provide people with faithful companionship, research shows they may also provide their owners with greater psychological stability, thus a measure of protection from heart disease.

* Lower Health Care Costs - People with pets actually make fewer doctor visits, especially for non-serious medical conditions.

* Fight Depression and Loneliness, promoting an interest in life.

A new study by researchers from Stanford University and the University of California also indicate that pets boost the immune system, even reducing one’s chance of developing non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Exposure to allergens - from pets - could boost the immune system as well, particularly in children born into households with pets.

Article Source: salemnews.net

It happens every year.

Parents want to teach their children responsibility and have fun at the same time, so they get a puppy for Christmas.

Unfortunately after the initial excitement wears off, the parents end up shouldering the burden of the new family member, who often does not want to play by the rules.

According to Dani Edgerton, owner and operator of Columbiana’s A Place for Paws, which offers both doggy day care and dog training, a lot of people bring puppies to be trained shortly after Christmas, seeking to have those unruly Christmas gifts taught to behave.

Properly training a dog is important if the owner and pet are to maintain a happy relationship over the course of the dog’s life, Edgerton said.

“Generally any type of training helps in the next step, so proper training is essential to a happy relationship with a well-behaved dog,” she said. “If

you never develop leadership over the dog, then it is less likely to work for you

in other aspects.”

For those who are considering purchasing a puppy for Christmas, or have already done so, Edgerton offers some advice that she thinks will make life much easier for both the humans and the canine.

Appropriateness: “Make sure the dog is appropriate for the household,” she said. Some dogs are naturally more active than others, so homes with small children or older pets should be aware of the dog’s breed. Do your research before the purchase.

Training: “Start training basic behaviors at the very beginning,” she said. Behaviors such as sitting, lying down, waiting and coming when called can be taught early to avoid any future problems with more difficult issues.

Rewarding: “Understand what is rewarding to your dog and reward the desired behavior,” she said. Dogs react differently to certain actions than humans, so sometimes an action like pushing a jumping puppy away is the reward, not the punishment.

Classes: “A dog’s actions can be misunderstood, so getting them in training classes not only helps the puppy, but the owners, as well, because they can ask questions and learn what things mean,” she said. New owners can also read training books to learn why dogs act a certain way.

Edgerton also offered answers to three popular questions once training has begun.

How to eliminate pulling on the leash: Never reward the dog for pulling on the leash; do not go somewhere because it pulls in that direction, say “no” and wait for the undesirable action to stop. Then reward the dog for walking loosely.

How to stop the dog from jumping: Ignore the undesirable behavior; if the dog jumps, do not acknowledge it. Wait until the dog sits calmly, and then reward it.

How to create reliable recall: Remember that “come” should mean good things, not punishment; if the dog is rewarded for answering its master’s call, it will be more likely to do so. A positive relationship can be established by playing recall games in which the dog must come when called. And always make sure to catch the dog, or the “coming” is useless.

Questions to ask before buying a puppy, according to the American Kennel Club’s Web site, www.akc.org:

- How big will the dog get?

- How old will he be before he acts like an adult dog?

- How protective will the dog be?

- How often will the dog need to be groomed?

- How does he get along with other animals?

- How long can he be left alone at home?

- How much exercise does the dog need?

- What are the best training methods for this dog?

- What possible health problems might this dog develop?

Article Source: examiner.com
Article by: Emily Randolph

Emily is in the kitchen making Happy and me some holiday cookies (recipes to follow) so I’m taking over the keyboard. I’m no spring pup, and I’ve learned some hard lessons in my life, including eating things that I shouldn’t have. I want to warn you young things out there that not everything you want to chew on is good for you. Tell your owners to be hyper vigilant. Expect a very large stomachache or something far worse should you get into the below holiday items. Trust me; it’s not worth it. You will cause your owner a great deal of worry, and on top of that, there will be a very large vet bill!

The following holiday plants are poisonous to us dogs if ingested. If you become ill with seizures, vomiting, losing consciousness, or breathing difficulty, have your owner telephone ahead and bring you immediately to your local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic.:

•    Poinsettia

•    Mistletoe

•    Holly

•    Amaryllis, Narcissus, Daffodil

•    The Christmas tree!

Other holiday no-nos - chocolate: Because it is the holidays, there’s likely to be lots of lovely chocolate lying around. Cocoa / chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic, and can cause death in us dogs. If gluttony gets the best of you, and you do consume chocolate (or cocoa mulch in the garden), your owner will need to take you immediately to the emergency room or your vet. You might not have an immediate reaction but by the time you do, it could be too late. My cousin, Mackie, in fact, has suffered extensively from his lust for chocolate. His owners didn’t realize the extent of his Olympic jumping prowess, and he hopped up on a bar-high counter and pigged out on a bowl of chocolate. He had to have his stomach pumped. The nurse said it was an experience that even put her off chocolate!

Article Source: examiner.com
Article by: Emily Randolph

If you have decided to get a puppy or adult dog for Christmas, do consider the animal’s welfare above all else. The holidays are a chaotic time, and your new companion will be nervous in his new home.

Boundaries - we all need them!: To help your dog settle in, make sure he does not have the run of the house (for example, keep bedroom doors closed; partition off the dining room; gate off the second floor at the bottom of the stairs, etc.) If he’s a puppy, consider a play pen so you don’t have to watch him while you are doing things that need your full attention, like cooking. It isn’t uncommon for a new dog to be destructive in the house. Help him and you by minimizing his opportunities.

Toys, exercise, & games:  Give him lots of exercise and plenty of safe toys to play with both on his own and with you. There are so many fun games to play inside the house and out. My personal favorite with a new puppy or young dog is hide and seek. You hide and call for him, “Buddy, COME!’ letting him find you. Reward him with a treat and a big happy YEAH! Wait to you see the wag of his tail when he finds you! This little game is also helpful in teaching him the ‘come’ command.

Kennel / crate training. Furthermore, to help with his transition, make sure he gets plenty of quiet time. To achieve this, crate training your new dog is ideal. A proper sized kennel with comfortable padding will be a great solace to an animal feeling anxious or unsure. And it will serve him well his whole life. Consider it his hideaway. Everyone needs one.

When introducing a crate to a dog, you want to make it as attractive to him as possible. Make it a HAPPY place! You may need to do it in stages:

Stage 1: Throw a couple of treats into the kennel while he’s watching, saying happily ‘Cookies!’ or something similarly upbeat and wonderful, then walk away. Let him go in and get them and come out again. Do this several times through the course of the day (or several days) until he gets the hang of going in and out on his own.

Stage 2: Next, throw in some treats, say ‘Cookies!’, let him go in and then gently close the door – not locking it, just closing it so he can get out on his own. Again, do this several times over the course of the day or a few days. However long you feel your dog needs. Then, when you think he’s ready, on to Stage 3.

Stage 3: When your dog is happy to go in and out of his crate, the next step is to close and lock the door behind him when he enters to go after his treats. Tell him Good Boy! and walk away. DO NOT open the door if he starts whining. Only open the crate door when he is quiet. Otherwise, he will know that whining gets him released, and then my friend, he is training you!

Bringing a new dog home for the holidays can be a smooth transition with a little preparedness and foresight. Think ahead of all the things your new dog will need BEFORE he comes home, and it will be a happy holiday for all involved.

Article Source: examiner.com
Article by: Penny Eims

Puppies are cuddly, adorable and oh so much fun! But, they are also A LOT of work. Are you really ready to be committed to the needs of a new puppy? Ready for the training (potty, crate and obedience)?? Committed to raising a puppy that will be a wonderful dog?

Being prepared means more than having a collar, leash, crate and bowls. New owners need to consider all aspects before diving into the puppy process. These sweet babies need an owner who is dedicated to starting things off on the right foot. Teaching good manners (no biting, chewing, jumping), working on potty training and crate training from day one, and looking ahead to the needs of an adolescent and adult dog.

Puppy ownership is DOG ownership and the faint of heart should not jump in on a whim (especially if motivated by the pleading of their children) especially if they aren’t willing to see ownership through the lifetime of the dog. Nothing is worse than bringing a puppy home and then turning your back on your responsibilities after several weeks or months because it’s just “too hard”.  Worse yet, making it through the cute puppy months and rehoming (or taking to a shelter) when the sweet puppy breath smell has faded and the gangly pup or rambunctioius adolescent dog’s sweet looks have faded and it’s harder to find them a quality home.

So, what should you expect with a new baby? Expect to get up during the night to attend to potty needs (probably every 2-3 hrs for a 8-12 wk old pup), expect to keep the puppy on a lead during this time or resign yourself to cleaning up random messes if you don’t make it outside in time (it takes up to 6 months to fully potty train a puppy due to their bladder size), expect to listen to crying when the puppy is away from you. Dogs are pack animals and want to be WITH their people, so if you are away from them, most likely they will cry. There will be an acclimation period as your puppy learns to use his/her crate.

Be committed to finding a puppy training class to start your dog off on the right foot for learning good obedience and manners. Studies show that puppies’ brains are 80% developed by the young age of 16 wks. So, you need to start early! Be committed to socializing your puppy to avoid fear issues in the months to come.

If this is your first puppy (dog) ever, expect to adjust your schedule. If you are used to taking off for extended weekends or even long nights out on the town, you should realize that a puppy (soon to be a dog) has needs that must be considered first.  If you take the step to adopt, or buy, a puppy, don’t resent that puppy when you are inconvenienced down the road.

On the upside, puppies are beyond adorable. Puppies are snuggly, fun and unconditionally loving. Puppies are a great tool to teach responsibility to children and a wonderful way to share your love. Just remember that it’s not a commitment to take on lightly.

Article Source: edmondsun.com
Article by: Kathy Toppins

EDMOND —  In the past few weeks, cute puppy faces have nuzzled visitors through kennel doors at the Edmond Animal Shelter. All the puppies that have been available will grow into big dogs. Two of the puppies, possibly Anatolian Shepherd and Great Pyrenees mixes, are now in foster care and may be seen by appointment. They may eventually weigh 100 to 125 pounds.

Shelter employees take time to educate visitors interested in adopting the puppies about their breed traits and need for training. Anyone who adopts a puppy, especially one that will grow into a large, herding dog, will need to begin obedience training right away.

“A cute face will get a puppy a home. Training will allow the puppy to keep its home,” said Lynn Cherry, a German Shepherd owner and co-founder of Paws for Life Inc.

Early training is especially important for puppies that are growing quickly.

“You need to start training when the puppy is 6 weeks old,” Cherry said. “Puppies at 6 weeks can learn ‘sit’ and ‘down.’ If you haven’t started training by 3 or 4 months, you’re behind. You can pick up and maneuver a large-breed dog for only about four months. By the time a dog is a year old, he’ll be at his full weight,” Cherry said.

Training is easy. “It’s really just repetition with a dog. If you spend 15 minutes a day training your dog, you can have a great dog,” Cherry said. “There’s nothing harsh or mean about asking a dog to listen and mind. We all have to do that. It’s not fun to have a dog that jumps on you, your friends and your furniture. It is fun to have a best friend dog you can take anywhere because he’s obedient and trained.”

Cherry recommends connecting with other owners of large-breed dogs.

“Dog people are wonderful people,” Cherry said. “They will help new dog owners get off to a good start and advance in their training.”

She also stressed the importance of exercising dogs.

“A 30-minute brisk walk every day is good for the person and good for the dog,” Cherry said. “Knowing my dogs need a walk encourages me to get up every morning and get some exercise with them.”

Cherry assures puppy owners that if they spend time with their puppies, take their puppies to obedience classes and do the homework, they’ll have a good dog by age 2.

“Good behavior kind of clicks when a dog is 2. The dog settles down, and some of the puppy problems stop. If you can make it until the dog is 2, you’ll have a good dog for the rest of his life.”

Article Source: denver.yourhub.com
Article by: Robert Forto, PhD

One of the most common questions asked to us by our clients at Denver Dog Works is, “will my dog remember we when I pick him up?” Of course we all love our pets and most of us will go to the ends of the earth for them and the thought of leaving them in a strange place brings up connotations of horror. But let me assure you that is not the case. Denver Dog Works, and all reputable boarding kennels/training schools, treat your beloved pet as if they were their own.

“I just can’t be away from my dog…”

I like to tell clients its separation anxiety. No, not from the dog but you!Many clients are concerned that their dogs will not remember them or will become overwhelmed by home sickness, this is never the case. Children often spend more waking hours with their teachers than with their parents yet they never forget where home is. During training your dog is well cared for, very active, and enjoy the training experience. After all, every breed of dog exists today has been selectively bred because they serve a purpose in the service of man. They all have jobs. Today dogs that are not trained develop behavior problems. The reason is most often because they need some discipline, education and purpose in life. Obedience replaces that feeling with a feeling of value and purpose. As for you, rather than dwell on how much you will miss your beloved companion for a few weeks, consider the years of pleasure you and your dog will gain through professional obedience training. There are few things in this world as impressive as a well trained dog working in harmony with their owner.

“I am afraid my dog will only listen to you when he comes home.”

Well, that is a very valid concern. For most trainers there is only one person working with your dog. And when your dog returns he only listens to that person, or at least a person with that skill level (something we see all the time, a dog that has been trained somewhere else doesn’t work for the owner, but works like a well trained dog for us). What happens is the dog gets used to being trained with a certain tone, cadence, and quality, so when you say the same things the dog doesn’t recognize it.
We at Denver Dog Works get around that by having at least 2-3 different experienced trainers a day work with your dog. And to help even more we also use our newer staff members help in training so that they don’t sound “perfect” when giving commands. This makes it easy for you because the dog is used to hearing the same words, said MANY different ways. So all you have to do is build some respect, and you’re good to go!

Then there is the question about Respect that we often hear: “What is ‘Respect’ in dog training, and why is it important?”

Respect is the bond between you and your dog that says to your dog that when something else better is going on, and you say something, he should listen. Think about if your dog has his head in the trashcan, and you tell him to stop. If he stops, every time you say it, then that is respect. If he does not, then we can help with that with a few basic techniques.

Follow-up Classes are So Important: “Why do I have to follow up with class?”

During the week(s) of training at Denver Dog Works, your dog is introduced to many new behaviors and skills. And when you get him home he will happily show you these commands when asked. But, it’s like any new habit or resolution it’s still fragile. So, if you do not follow up with more training the behaviors will begin to break down.
So, just at the point when fragile behaviors start to waver, you start class. And during that class experience your dog gets the needed repetition and work to cement those behaviors.

So can you be away from your dog for training?

Well, that is definitely one of the hardest parts of boot-camp (ok, its like the hardest part). But, think about it this way, if you are considering boot-camp, or the more intensive board and train, that means you have a special circumstance already that you need help with.
If you do not get help now, will it weaken your relationship in the future? Also, if you consider the time you’ll spend with your dog during his life, then a week or more to make your relationship better is not that bad.
But, if you just can’t stand to be away, Denver Dog Works does have our Intensive Day training program. It works as well, but takes longer to produce the results you want since he does not stay with us.

When you do finally get your furry friend home follow these simple steps to make his return most enjoyable:

Your pet will undoubtedly be happy to see you when you pick him up. Following a few simple steps will help ease the transition back to home life.

• Overexcitement may make a dog pant a lot and act thirsty. He is probably not really thirsty and had plenty of water available at the training facility. Give him a few ice cubes to tide him over until he settles down.

• Food: ditto. Be aware that excessive drinking and eating may lead to digestive upsets and bloating. Do not feed your pet for at least three hours after coming home from the pet care facility and then limit the food and water you provide until he has settled back into home life.

• Walk your pet upon arrival or allow access to a yard area. Excitement may also cause a change in urination or bowel movements outside his normal schedule.

• Give your pet some personalized attention - some play time or sitting and petting or brushing him will help him get through the excitement stage and calm down.

• A stay at a pet care facility can be very exciting and some dogs charge around barking at other dogs and having a wonderful time. These dogs often leave the facility exhausted but happy, and sleep a lot for the first couple of days they are home.

• Re-establish home patterns by following a normal schedule. Pets love following a schedule - it makes them feel safe and secure and remember to follow the rules your trainer has given you. Training starts the minute you get your dog home or bad habits will re-surface, Quickly!

Article Source: dailyamerican.com
Article by: Tiffany Wright

Whether dogs disobey their owners’ commands, chew on shoes or have issues with potty training in the house, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers tries to encourage positive reinforcement training with pets.

Officials at the association said because of the influx of clients using training services after the new year, it is important to start training pets early.

“It’s pretty common for dog trainers to get a lot of dogs at the beginning of the new year because many people got puppies as gifts for Christmas,” said Mychelle Blake, the association’s communications director.

That is also the case for Debbie Gary-Taskey, a dog trainer who owns BeeHaven Canine Coaching. She said more pet owners of puppies and younger dogs use her services.

“With training the sooner you start the better, because when a dog is older it’s harder to train them,” she said.

Gary-Taskey is also a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a strong supporter of positive reinforcement dog training.

“The goal is to promote positive reinforcement training, which is pretty much new,” she said. “But more people are starting to use a nonaversive and positive method as a way of training dogs. Even if you want a dog to sit and push down its behind, you are using force, which is something we don’t want to do.”

Training pets is just as important as training children, she said.

“Training your dog is one of the best things you can do. Like with children, training is to teach them right from wrong in order that they can act appropriate in various situations,” Gary-Taskey said.

Blake said with many dogs coming from shelters it is imperative they are under control, and dog training can help make pets more obedient.

“There are millions of dogs that come from shelters every year and sometimes dogs get out of control because they never went through training,” she said. “Most people don’t realize how easy training is and how simple it can make their lives. It really makes your dog happier and you happier.”

Sally Urban, Somerset County Humane Society board president, said training pets from a shelter can help reduce the return rate of animals.

“We find so many people with a new puppy or dog or cat that don’t know what to do and they think it’s not working out,” she said. “If they get training the return rate drops dramatically. Owners just need to take the time in the beginning to get training. That’s always been our fight with adoptions - the return rate of the animals.”

Dog training can also help increase the safety of pets.

“Training can help keep your dog, as well as others, safe,” Gary-Taskey said. “A well-behaved dog is not likely to run away from you during a walk and can be taught on cue to ‘leave it’ when it approaches something that may be harmful to it. Keeping large dogs from chasing a child or animal could prevent an unintentional accident from happening.”

Gary-Taskey provides private, in-home training sessions for basic manners including learning to sit, stay, leave it and come.

She uses a clicker method to train animals, which she said has been proven to make training quicker.

“It’s a tool used to communicate with the dog. As much as people like to think their dogs can understand them, they can’t. Dogs don’t know our language,” she said.

With the method good behavior is marked with a click proceeded by a reward for the dog. Dogs are more likely to repeat good behavior with the clicking method, she said.

Regardless of the size or breed of the dog training is recommended, but there is more than one way to work with dogs to succeed, Gary-Taskey said.

“The goal for all training is the same - to be sure that you have a safe, happy and well-behaved family pet,” she said.

Article Source: oregonlive.com
Article by: Deborah Wood

We recently agreed to foster a dog through a rescue group. He’s 18 months old and has never been socialized. Thus, when he meets people and dogs on the street all he wants to do is to jump on them and start playing. However, if people approach him he seems to feel threatened and will bark and nip. In our home he is pretty comfortable when people come in, and we have been able to train him not to jump up or bark at them.

There is a small army of heroes like you who are fostering cats and dogs through local rescue groups and shelters. You give them the social skills to fit into the world with their “forever” families.

It sounds like you’re doing everything right — it’s just a matter of time and patience. Your foster dog is just learning these new skills, and he has to be able to concentrate to remember them. The dog will do better in an environment that is familiar or has few distractions, and have more trouble in an environment with more distractions.

Practice his basic skills like “sit” and “watch me” at home, reinforcing with lots of treats. Help him learn these skills backward and forward. Then, practice these skills in progressively more challenging places in the coming days and weeks.

When people want to pet your dog, explain he’s part of a rescue program and isn’t ready for petting. As he develops his confidence, you can have him do a sit-stay and have the stranger give him a cookie.

Article Source: examiner.com
Article by: Jeff Millman

I received two calls recently that that reminded me about the importance of making sure a dog is physically healthy before I recommend training strategies. One call was in regards to a 3-year old dog that recently started whining uncontrollably whenever his person was out of the room or out of the home. He also had a few housetraining regressions and his guardian found a few accidents when he got home.

Since it has been more than a year since he was taken to the vet, I recommended that he gets a full vet checkup to rule out physical issues including a urinary tract infection. My instinct tells me that this potential client will call me back telling me that the anxiety is still present. I think that the dog in question might have separation anxiety and also boredom due to the brutal Chicago winter we have had. It is quite difficult to provide enough exercise for a dog when the weather is below zero and there is a lot of ice and snow on the ground.

Another call was from a client that hired me after discussing her dog’s health history and initially ruling out obvious health issues. Her dog recently started showing signs of aggression towards guests in the home as well as on walks on leash. He is a 3-year-old Pitbull mix and he used to be comfortable with everyone. The first nipping incident was in December and there have been a couple more nips and growling at guests since then. I think that these incidents are due to anxiety and reactivity that has increased over time until it showed up as aggression. The dog did not seriously injure anyone and showed signs of anxiety before each incident. He is also reactive to the doorbell and one incident happened during a dinner party after ten people arrived, each ringing the bell and getting the dog worked up each time.

A dog’s vet history is always discussed whenever there is a sudden change in behavior, including aggression. One reason that a dog might become aggressive is if he has had an injury, skin infection, hip discomfort, arthritis, or other physical pain including dental issues. For instance, if a dog has hip dysplasia and has pain when someone pets him, he might growl or bite someone if they come over to pet him because he doesn’t want to be hurt again. Another common issue if if a dog has a serious trauma such as getting hit by a car. When that dog is moved after the incident to get treatment, there are bound to be episodes of pain due to the handling and the injury. Later, that dog will remember the pattern of handling and pain and might tell someone to back off by growling or biting instead of risk getting hurt again.

When Do I Recommend to Call the Vet?

Possible Urinary Tract Infection
If an older dog that was previously housetrained starts to have accidents in the house it might mean the dog has a urinary tract infection. It might also mean separation anxiety or stress due to a move or change in someone’s work schedule.

Signs of a urinary tract infection include:

* Frequent urination when you are home and out of the house (if the accidents only happen when you are out of the house, it might be separation anxiety)
* Your dog tries to urinate and no urine comes out
* Blood in the urine
* Foul smelling urine
* Tender lower abdomen
* Fever
* Lethargy

Possible Injury, Arthritis or Other Physical Issue
Dogs can show aggression or changes in behavior from many different physical issues. I have seen barking issues, aggression, depression or dogs that “just don’t seem right” and are unfairly labeled as stubborn or willful during training. Recent events that might lead to a change in behavior include:

* Allergy or other skin condition
* Injury related to car accident or dog fight
* Older dog showing signs of arthritis or hip dysplasia
* Dental issues including an impacted tooth or infection