Coming soon to supermarket shelves all over the country: dog food laced with a birth control drug.
That is the plan at the Carnation Company, which has submitted an application for the product with the Food and Drug Administration and hopes to have it on the market sometime this year.
There are some circumstances in which the drugged food is not suggested. The label will say, for example, that it should not be fed to Bedlington terriers.
By the way, it is advisable that you get a copy of "Dog Food Secrets" ebook fast ....educate yourself before it is too late...with all these weird suggestion by commercial dog food....
They do not give a damn about your dog basically....Why? Because pet food is billions dollar business and they can't afford anyone to screw it up.
-This is an article from new york times, What do you think about this type of dog food? is this ok or not?
6/30/09
Bad Influence
Woke up this morning and the weathermansaid that it's going to be about 94 degrees
today.
That's when I realized I wasn't in
Massachusetts anymore. You see, Rach
and I are in Clayton, North Carolina
attending her cousins wedding.
Her cousin has three dogs, and all week
I've seen the Uncle Freddy Factor in
full force.
The Uncle Freddy Factor happens a lot
and it can turn a well-trained dog into
a misbehaving dog faster than greased
lightning.
And as they say down here, once your dog
develops some bad behaviors you'll be as
"busy as a stump-tailed cow in fly time."
Anyway, the Uncle Freddy Factor is
responsible for two big behavior problems:
1. Jumping
2. Begging
For example, Uncle Freddy comes over the
house to visit and stays for dinner. While
eating, he slips your dog a piece of his
food under the table.
Any training that you've done to prevent
begging has just gone out the window.
Step one when you are training is to make
sure everyone is on the same page when it
comes to training your dog.
Over the years, I've seen this as the main
cause for a lot of behavior problems. The
next time you're trying to figure out why
your dog is not responding to your training,
think about the Uncle Freddy Factor.
Ask yourself:
"Is anyone sabotaging my training? Is the
Uncle Freddy Factor happening?"
Don't be surprised if there is an Uncle Freddy
in your dog's life that is contributing to her
bad behavior.
All the best,
Eric
today.
That's when I realized I wasn't in
Massachusetts anymore. You see, Rach
and I are in Clayton, North Carolina
attending her cousins wedding.
Her cousin has three dogs, and all week
I've seen the Uncle Freddy Factor in
full force.
The Uncle Freddy Factor happens a lot
and it can turn a well-trained dog into
a misbehaving dog faster than greased
lightning.
And as they say down here, once your dog
develops some bad behaviors you'll be as
"busy as a stump-tailed cow in fly time."
Anyway, the Uncle Freddy Factor is
responsible for two big behavior problems:
1. Jumping
2. Begging
For example, Uncle Freddy comes over the
house to visit and stays for dinner. While
eating, he slips your dog a piece of his
food under the table.
Any training that you've done to prevent
begging has just gone out the window.
Step one when you are training is to make
sure everyone is on the same page when it
comes to training your dog.
Over the years, I've seen this as the main
cause for a lot of behavior problems. The
next time you're trying to figure out why
your dog is not responding to your training,
think about the Uncle Freddy Factor.
Ask yourself:
"Is anyone sabotaging my training? Is the
Uncle Freddy Factor happening?"
Don't be surprised if there is an Uncle Freddy
in your dog's life that is contributing to her
bad behavior.
All the best,
Eric
Dog Massage Treats Arthritis and Stress
Guess what! My wedding anniversary is coming up next month!
Ben and I were married July 3, 2005 (he would be proud of me for remembering the date!) so we'll be celebrating 4 years!
According to Google, that is the "silk" anniversary... I'll have to tell Ben to get me something silk, I guess.
Actually, we usually don't get each other gifts, we try to do something experiential instead. We've done things like go raspberry picking at a local farm, or go to the beach, walk out on the pier, and eat a nice seafood dinner.
Last year we went out for sushi. We'll see what we feel like doing this time around...
Maybe I will ask for a massage!
One of the things I ALWAYS feel like doing is getting a massage! I've only had 4 professional massages in my life, but they were wonderful, very powerful and relaxing.
If you've ever had a really good massage, you know what I'm talking about!
Now - here's the kicker - did you know that dogs like massage, too?
You've probably noticed that your dog likes it when you rub him in a certain place.
Kera's little trick was to come up to my husband, Ben, while he was playing computer games and put her head under his mouse-hand. Before he knew it, he was scratching her behind the ears instead of surfing on the PC.
Did you know that you can use dog massage to:
Treat your dog's arthritis
Help your dog de-stress
Help your dog recover from injury and
Bond with your dog?
If your dog is older, suffers from chronic pain or poor circulation, is tired or sore after athletic activities, or suffers from arthritis, he may be a candidate for dog massage.
This is something that you can easily learn to do yourself, or you can hire out to a therapist. Personally, I feel that massage is a great bonding activity. Once you're comfortable with it, you can easily massage your dog while you watch TV, listen to music, or talk with friends and family.
What's more, it's easy to learn. These dog massage videos by a licensed massage practitioner, show you exactly what to do and what not to do - you'll be up to speed in just an hour.
Visit the site to get access to the first few lessons (scroll down for Zoe's special offer) and see if dog massage is right for you and your pet!
Even without formal training, your dog will still benefit from your attention and your fingers in her fur! Go give your dog a hug from me, and tell her you love her!
Relaxed and happy,
Emily
Ben and I were married July 3, 2005 (he would be proud of me for remembering the date!) so we'll be celebrating 4 years!
According to Google, that is the "silk" anniversary... I'll have to tell Ben to get me something silk, I guess.
Actually, we usually don't get each other gifts, we try to do something experiential instead. We've done things like go raspberry picking at a local farm, or go to the beach, walk out on the pier, and eat a nice seafood dinner.
Last year we went out for sushi. We'll see what we feel like doing this time around...
Maybe I will ask for a massage!
One of the things I ALWAYS feel like doing is getting a massage! I've only had 4 professional massages in my life, but they were wonderful, very powerful and relaxing.
If you've ever had a really good massage, you know what I'm talking about!
Now - here's the kicker - did you know that dogs like massage, too?
You've probably noticed that your dog likes it when you rub him in a certain place.
Kera's little trick was to come up to my husband, Ben, while he was playing computer games and put her head under his mouse-hand. Before he knew it, he was scratching her behind the ears instead of surfing on the PC.
Did you know that you can use dog massage to:
Treat your dog's arthritis
Help your dog de-stress
Help your dog recover from injury and
Bond with your dog?
If your dog is older, suffers from chronic pain or poor circulation, is tired or sore after athletic activities, or suffers from arthritis, he may be a candidate for dog massage.
This is something that you can easily learn to do yourself, or you can hire out to a therapist. Personally, I feel that massage is a great bonding activity. Once you're comfortable with it, you can easily massage your dog while you watch TV, listen to music, or talk with friends and family.
What's more, it's easy to learn. These dog massage videos by a licensed massage practitioner, show you exactly what to do and what not to do - you'll be up to speed in just an hour.
Visit the site to get access to the first few lessons (scroll down for Zoe's special offer) and see if dog massage is right for you and your pet!
Even without formal training, your dog will still benefit from your attention and your fingers in her fur! Go give your dog a hug from me, and tell her you love her!
Relaxed and happy,
Emily
Japan using whale meat for dog food
Japan using whale meat for dog food: report
Japan's stock of whale meat from hunting for scientific research is so large that the country has begun selling it as dog food, a leading marine conservation organisation says.
British-based charity the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) says Japan's whale meat stocks had doubled over the past 10 years as it increased the number of animals it killed every year, despite a global ban on commercial hunting.
"Whaling is a cruel activity and the fact that Japan is killing these amazing animals to produce dog food is shocking," WDCS science director Mark Simmonds said.
"We have heard many arguments from Japan over the years about why whaling is necessary to them but they have never stated that they needed to kill whales to feed their dogs."
Japan abandoned commercial whaling in 1986, in line with an international moratorium, but began catching whales again the following year for what it calls scientific research.
The WDCS says Japan's stockpile of whale meat stood at 4,800 tonnes last year compared with 673 tonnes in March 1998, and that this year it had doubled its hunt of minke whales as well as adding humpback and fin whales to the tally.
It estimated this could add a further 1,700 tonnes of whale meat to the already bursting warehouses.
In an attempt to shift the rising whale meat mountains, Japan had already resorted to subsidising sales of whale burgers and whale meat in school menus, but prices were falling steadily due to the surplus.
WDCS says it has now found a website advertising whale meat for pet food, extolling its virtues as "organic" and "safe and healthy" coming from factories already processing whale meat for human consumption.
"WDCS hopes that the overt use of whales for dog food in Japan will expose its scientific whaling program as a politically motivated sham," the organisation said on its website.
- Reuters
Japan's stock of whale meat from hunting for scientific research is so large that the country has begun selling it as dog food, a leading marine conservation organisation says.
British-based charity the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) says Japan's whale meat stocks had doubled over the past 10 years as it increased the number of animals it killed every year, despite a global ban on commercial hunting.
"Whaling is a cruel activity and the fact that Japan is killing these amazing animals to produce dog food is shocking," WDCS science director Mark Simmonds said.
"We have heard many arguments from Japan over the years about why whaling is necessary to them but they have never stated that they needed to kill whales to feed their dogs."
Japan abandoned commercial whaling in 1986, in line with an international moratorium, but began catching whales again the following year for what it calls scientific research.
The WDCS says Japan's stockpile of whale meat stood at 4,800 tonnes last year compared with 673 tonnes in March 1998, and that this year it had doubled its hunt of minke whales as well as adding humpback and fin whales to the tally.
It estimated this could add a further 1,700 tonnes of whale meat to the already bursting warehouses.
In an attempt to shift the rising whale meat mountains, Japan had already resorted to subsidising sales of whale burgers and whale meat in school menus, but prices were falling steadily due to the surplus.
WDCS says it has now found a website advertising whale meat for pet food, extolling its virtues as "organic" and "safe and healthy" coming from factories already processing whale meat for human consumption.
"WDCS hopes that the overt use of whales for dog food in Japan will expose its scientific whaling program as a politically motivated sham," the organisation said on its website.
- Reuters
Dog Command Websites
I just want to share with you how a dog can follow commands without doubt and it is eager to do it without pressure.....
Click here to see how a trained cute dog performing simple stunts:
==> http://www.DogExpertReveal.com/video-debbie1.html
You can do the same tricks with your dog Instantly with right techniques...only 15mins a day is all you need.
Enjoy the cute video and do take a look of my friend Debbie's Instant Dog Training Videos here:
==> http://www.DogExpertReveal.com/dogtrainingvideos.html
Click here to see how a trained cute dog performing simple stunts:
==> http://www.DogExpertReveal.com/video-debbie1.html
You can do the same tricks with your dog Instantly with right techniques...only 15mins a day is all you need.
Enjoy the cute video and do take a look of my friend Debbie's Instant Dog Training Videos here:
==> http://www.DogExpertReveal.com/dogtrainingvideos.html
Stop Your Dog From Jumping
I got back from North Carolina earlierthis week and am still playing catch up.
I had a great time down south, ate some
great bar-b-que and did my best to
stay cool.
Anyway, just yesterday I was visiting
a friend when his dog jumped all over
me. I didn't mind too much, but my friend
was very upset.
He told me that he has tried everything
to stop the jumping but nothing seems
to work.
I told him not to worry, because I didn't
get the name The Amazing Dog Training
Man by accident, and that I would give
him three easy tips that he could follow
and I'm going to share them with you.
Tip #1: Exercise - Dogs that jump are
usually active and need to burn off
the pent up energy that they build up.
"The only good dog is a tired dog."
I've never had a sleeping dog jump on
me.
Tip #2: Re-direct the behavior. Dogs
are extremely social animals and give
it all they've got when they greet. We
need to teach our dogs how to greet
and this can be done by re-directing
the behavior.
Tip #3: See Tip #1 and #2. Just kidding.
Tip #3 is to reward your dog when all
four paws are on the ground. When your
dog jumps, simply ignore your dog until
he stops. Once he stops jumping, give
your dog a treat or praise.
This requires patience but it is very
effective.
Each dog is different and not every
technique will work on every dog. That's
the reason I have different methods for
different dogs in the Good K9 Manners
course.
There are videos showing you exactly what
to do and depending on your dog, you have
different techniques to choose from like:
The Cha Cha Technique
The Paw Shake Method
and The TTL Technique
Get all the details at:
http://goodk9manners.com/
All the best,
Eric
I had a great time down south, ate some
great bar-b-que and did my best to
stay cool.
Anyway, just yesterday I was visiting
a friend when his dog jumped all over
me. I didn't mind too much, but my friend
was very upset.
He told me that he has tried everything
to stop the jumping but nothing seems
to work.
I told him not to worry, because I didn't
get the name The Amazing Dog Training
Man by accident, and that I would give
him three easy tips that he could follow
and I'm going to share them with you.
Tip #1: Exercise - Dogs that jump are
usually active and need to burn off
the pent up energy that they build up.
"The only good dog is a tired dog."
I've never had a sleeping dog jump on
me.
Tip #2: Re-direct the behavior. Dogs
are extremely social animals and give
it all they've got when they greet. We
need to teach our dogs how to greet
and this can be done by re-directing
the behavior.
Tip #3: See Tip #1 and #2. Just kidding.
Tip #3 is to reward your dog when all
four paws are on the ground. When your
dog jumps, simply ignore your dog until
he stops. Once he stops jumping, give
your dog a treat or praise.
This requires patience but it is very
effective.
Each dog is different and not every
technique will work on every dog. That's
the reason I have different methods for
different dogs in the Good K9 Manners
course.
There are videos showing you exactly what
to do and depending on your dog, you have
different techniques to choose from like:
The Cha Cha Technique
The Paw Shake Method
and The TTL Technique
Get all the details at:
http://goodk9manners.com/
All the best,
Eric
Dogs And Their Environment
Just as it is with people, there is ongoing debate as to whether dogs receive most of their programming from their genes or their environment. Most end up agreeing that there are elements of both that affect the dog’s way of behaving. In the wild it is survival of the fittest; the smartest, strongest, and healthiest are the ones who make it the longest. When you bring a dog into your home, you have to add to the mix the canine-human interaction.
Most of us know about the fight or flight instinct that we all have. When human beings observe them in their dogs they don’t always recognize that that is what’s going on. For example a person might be afraid of something and they project their own feelings onto their dog. If they see a dog fight they think the dog is very brave for trying to protect them, when in fact the dog is instinctively fighting for his own life, or so he perceives. If a dog they don’t know adapts the fight response, that is also fear-based in them, but they view the dog as vicious. The same confusion hits people when they see a dog freeze or run away in a conflict. Some people feel sorry for them and want to coddle them, while others will think they have a coward on their hands.
The point here is to get you to think about how to read your dog’s body language. Learning more about it will enhance your relationship. However your dog acts, don’t worry about whether its genetics or environment talking, use what you do know to train her into becoming the dog of your dreams.
Dogs as Rescuers
Some dogs are trained in search and rescue. Because of their keen sense of smell and their desire to please, they can be excellent in this line of work. For instance in the UK one group that trains and uses dogs in this way is the National Search and Rescue Dog Association (NSRDA). They train the dogs to work with scent in the air rather than having to let them get a sniff of a missing person’s clothing or other item. Their dogs can work in teams and often do when there is a vast expanse to be searched. They employ more than 90 dogs specifically trained to find missing people.
Dogs have other assets beside their noses and trainability. They can also work in dark areas and have excellent hearing. Some believe that one dog is equal to about 20 people when performing a search.
Search and rescue dogs are called in for a number of things, including looking for crime victims, lost hikers and climbers, missing children, and natural disasters. The dogs work with a human handler that they have trained with.
Dogs are used worldwide for search and rescue work. Some of the other areas they are employed are law enforcement, finding dead bodies, pulling people from water they may have fallen into, and avalanche rescue.
In 2001 when the World Trade Center Towers in New York City were destroyed, dogs contributed invaluable services. Although it quickly became more a search than a rescue, these dogs contributed above and beyond the call of any duty. Not only has credit been given to their incredible noses, their hearts were mentioned just as often if not more.
Lost Dogs
We’ve all heard or read amazing stories about a dog somehow being lost and finding his way home weeks and months later and across many miles. These stories are heart-warming and uplifting and even bring tears of joy to our eyes. The sad fact is that of the millions of pets who are lost each year, only a lucky few are reunited with their people.
If the unthinkable should happen and your dog goes missing, you now have more options than at any other time in history for finding him. Besides the obvious forms of ID (more later) the Internet has a number of sites to help you. You can post pictures for a much wider exposure than just flyers around your neighbourhood. You should definitely use these as well, but the web gives you another great tool.
Speaking Dog
Other anecdotes we hear a lot are from people who swear that their dog understands every word they say. We don’t want to burst any bubbles, but it is more likely that you and your dog are so bonded that he knows your habits, tone of voice, body language, and also some words. There are definitely people in the world who can communicate with animals, but you may or may not be one of them.
One thing that is important when you talk to your dog is how you say what you say. You should try to stick to about three voices. One is your happy, loving “good dog” voice; another is your sterner “naughty” voice, and the one you use when you give him a command. The more negative or serious messages don’t need to be delivered in an angry or mean tone, just one that says that you mean business.
There are researchers who conduct tests on dogs to find out how many words they can recognize. Some of the studies have had surprising results. There are dogs who can actually remember 200 or more words. They learn by attaching a name to an object. That fact was already well-known, but the fact that some of them can learn so many and keep them in their memories is what is so amazing.
Most of us know about the fight or flight instinct that we all have. When human beings observe them in their dogs they don’t always recognize that that is what’s going on. For example a person might be afraid of something and they project their own feelings onto their dog. If they see a dog fight they think the dog is very brave for trying to protect them, when in fact the dog is instinctively fighting for his own life, or so he perceives. If a dog they don’t know adapts the fight response, that is also fear-based in them, but they view the dog as vicious. The same confusion hits people when they see a dog freeze or run away in a conflict. Some people feel sorry for them and want to coddle them, while others will think they have a coward on their hands.
The point here is to get you to think about how to read your dog’s body language. Learning more about it will enhance your relationship. However your dog acts, don’t worry about whether its genetics or environment talking, use what you do know to train her into becoming the dog of your dreams.
Dogs as Rescuers
Some dogs are trained in search and rescue. Because of their keen sense of smell and their desire to please, they can be excellent in this line of work. For instance in the UK one group that trains and uses dogs in this way is the National Search and Rescue Dog Association (NSRDA). They train the dogs to work with scent in the air rather than having to let them get a sniff of a missing person’s clothing or other item. Their dogs can work in teams and often do when there is a vast expanse to be searched. They employ more than 90 dogs specifically trained to find missing people.
Dogs have other assets beside their noses and trainability. They can also work in dark areas and have excellent hearing. Some believe that one dog is equal to about 20 people when performing a search.
Search and rescue dogs are called in for a number of things, including looking for crime victims, lost hikers and climbers, missing children, and natural disasters. The dogs work with a human handler that they have trained with.
Dogs are used worldwide for search and rescue work. Some of the other areas they are employed are law enforcement, finding dead bodies, pulling people from water they may have fallen into, and avalanche rescue.
In 2001 when the World Trade Center Towers in New York City were destroyed, dogs contributed invaluable services. Although it quickly became more a search than a rescue, these dogs contributed above and beyond the call of any duty. Not only has credit been given to their incredible noses, their hearts were mentioned just as often if not more.
Lost Dogs
We’ve all heard or read amazing stories about a dog somehow being lost and finding his way home weeks and months later and across many miles. These stories are heart-warming and uplifting and even bring tears of joy to our eyes. The sad fact is that of the millions of pets who are lost each year, only a lucky few are reunited with their people.
If the unthinkable should happen and your dog goes missing, you now have more options than at any other time in history for finding him. Besides the obvious forms of ID (more later) the Internet has a number of sites to help you. You can post pictures for a much wider exposure than just flyers around your neighbourhood. You should definitely use these as well, but the web gives you another great tool.
Speaking Dog
Other anecdotes we hear a lot are from people who swear that their dog understands every word they say. We don’t want to burst any bubbles, but it is more likely that you and your dog are so bonded that he knows your habits, tone of voice, body language, and also some words. There are definitely people in the world who can communicate with animals, but you may or may not be one of them.
One thing that is important when you talk to your dog is how you say what you say. You should try to stick to about three voices. One is your happy, loving “good dog” voice; another is your sterner “naughty” voice, and the one you use when you give him a command. The more negative or serious messages don’t need to be delivered in an angry or mean tone, just one that says that you mean business.
There are researchers who conduct tests on dogs to find out how many words they can recognize. Some of the studies have had surprising results. There are dogs who can actually remember 200 or more words. They learn by attaching a name to an object. That fact was already well-known, but the fact that some of them can learn so many and keep them in their memories is what is so amazing.
6/19/09
Canine Insticts
Canine Instincts
An instinct is an internal programming that causes certain behaviours when stimulated. It may come from hormones, stomach, pain, or the urge to mate. In order to successfully train your dog, you should understand some of his basic instincts. Instincts have nothing to do with prior knowledge. Some examples are a puppy finding his mother’s nipple and being able to suckle, or the bitch making a nest where she will have her litter, or a hunting dog pointing.
Dogs learn many of their actions through training, but their instincts are there at birth. He knows instinctively to use his powerful nose to identify odours. He knows that leaving his urine at various places will be his own mark. The females don’t have to be taught what to do once their puppies are born. They instinctively know how to feed them, stimulate their elimination by licking at the genital and anal areas, and they know to dry them with her tongue right after birth, and to protect them from danger.
Even dogs who have been trained in certain areas or had new traits bred into them still maintain their original purpose. For example hunting dogs know to seek and chase prey, fighting dogs know how to go for the jugular, herding dogs know how to round up their charges, and hound dogs just naturally know they are supposed to follow a trail and make the baying sound. In other words some things are already there when the dog is born, while certain specific actions are learned through training sessions. Another term that can be used instead of the word “instinct” is “inherited behaviour”.
Humans throughout the years have been able to change instincts somewhat by selectively breeding dogs. For example, hunting species have the hunting instinct, but man has helped to refine and develop it for his own use. Because the canine world has evolved so much, we don’t always know whether an action is instinctual or learned. It’s probably safe to say that instincts are the foundation and we add to it by teaching our dogs learned routines.
Both purebred dogs and mixed breeds retain a general pattern of canine actions. They were designed to be predators who hunt for food by chasing their prey, killing it, and ultimately having it for dinner. It doesn’t matter if you have a Toy Poodle or a German Shepherd; all dogs at their core are predators.
As we already know, various breeds have certain activities that are instinctive to them. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and other worldwide canine associations divide dog breeds into a variety of categories. For example sporting dogs hunt and retrieve game birds; hounds track scents with their unstoppable noses; terriers use their paws to dig into animal dens; and finally the herders help to move flocks of sheep and cows. Then there are working dogs that have guard jobs, pull sleds or carts, and generally help their two-legged friends in any number of employment opportunities. Even the little guys use to work. Toy dogs were and still are companions and sometimes bed warmers. They also used to hunt mice, and attract the pesky flea from royal persons to themselves. There is also the non-sporting group which is made up of dogs that don’t share a specific characteristic. For instance, did you know that the Lhasa Apso was once used for warning Tibetan monks when someone was coming?
Even as a pup, your dog with the hunting instinct will chase anything that moves. If you have one that came from herding ancestry, he will try wrangling kids or other pets, trying to work them into a pattern or herd. If you catch these routines when he’s young enough, you can train him out of acting on them. If they have already taken hold, then your chances of changing him are slim to none.
If your puppy or dog has a strong predatory instinct they may pose a problem to small children and other household pets. While their still young, they are a nuisance, and if they aren’t trained out of the behaviour they could actually seriously harm or even kill neighbourhood pets and wildlife.
Since all dogs do have that predatory nature, you are sure to see some signs of it. Some dog breeds and individual dogs seem to have more than the normal share. For instance Border Collies are hard workers, always on the lookout for something to stalk and chase; terriers may look for rodents to kill; hounds may instinctively track its humans. Unless you have time for training or money for obedience school, you may want to choose a more docile breed.
An instinct is an internal programming that causes certain behaviours when stimulated. It may come from hormones, stomach, pain, or the urge to mate. In order to successfully train your dog, you should understand some of his basic instincts. Instincts have nothing to do with prior knowledge. Some examples are a puppy finding his mother’s nipple and being able to suckle, or the bitch making a nest where she will have her litter, or a hunting dog pointing.
Dogs learn many of their actions through training, but their instincts are there at birth. He knows instinctively to use his powerful nose to identify odours. He knows that leaving his urine at various places will be his own mark. The females don’t have to be taught what to do once their puppies are born. They instinctively know how to feed them, stimulate their elimination by licking at the genital and anal areas, and they know to dry them with her tongue right after birth, and to protect them from danger.
Even dogs who have been trained in certain areas or had new traits bred into them still maintain their original purpose. For example hunting dogs know to seek and chase prey, fighting dogs know how to go for the jugular, herding dogs know how to round up their charges, and hound dogs just naturally know they are supposed to follow a trail and make the baying sound. In other words some things are already there when the dog is born, while certain specific actions are learned through training sessions. Another term that can be used instead of the word “instinct” is “inherited behaviour”.
Humans throughout the years have been able to change instincts somewhat by selectively breeding dogs. For example, hunting species have the hunting instinct, but man has helped to refine and develop it for his own use. Because the canine world has evolved so much, we don’t always know whether an action is instinctual or learned. It’s probably safe to say that instincts are the foundation and we add to it by teaching our dogs learned routines.
Both purebred dogs and mixed breeds retain a general pattern of canine actions. They were designed to be predators who hunt for food by chasing their prey, killing it, and ultimately having it for dinner. It doesn’t matter if you have a Toy Poodle or a German Shepherd; all dogs at their core are predators.
As we already know, various breeds have certain activities that are instinctive to them. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and other worldwide canine associations divide dog breeds into a variety of categories. For example sporting dogs hunt and retrieve game birds; hounds track scents with their unstoppable noses; terriers use their paws to dig into animal dens; and finally the herders help to move flocks of sheep and cows. Then there are working dogs that have guard jobs, pull sleds or carts, and generally help their two-legged friends in any number of employment opportunities. Even the little guys use to work. Toy dogs were and still are companions and sometimes bed warmers. They also used to hunt mice, and attract the pesky flea from royal persons to themselves. There is also the non-sporting group which is made up of dogs that don’t share a specific characteristic. For instance, did you know that the Lhasa Apso was once used for warning Tibetan monks when someone was coming?
Even as a pup, your dog with the hunting instinct will chase anything that moves. If you have one that came from herding ancestry, he will try wrangling kids or other pets, trying to work them into a pattern or herd. If you catch these routines when he’s young enough, you can train him out of acting on them. If they have already taken hold, then your chances of changing him are slim to none.
If your puppy or dog has a strong predatory instinct they may pose a problem to small children and other household pets. While their still young, they are a nuisance, and if they aren’t trained out of the behaviour they could actually seriously harm or even kill neighbourhood pets and wildlife.
Since all dogs do have that predatory nature, you are sure to see some signs of it. Some dog breeds and individual dogs seem to have more than the normal share. For instance Border Collies are hard workers, always on the lookout for something to stalk and chase; terriers may look for rodents to kill; hounds may instinctively track its humans. Unless you have time for training or money for obedience school, you may want to choose a more docile breed.
Canine Manners
Not too long ago, my friend Lois askedme to help her with her chihuahua.
She informed me that her chihuahua was
a good dog but he had some behaviors
that she wanted help with.
Her dog's biggest problem was barking
at people when they came in the house.
This is a very typical behavior problem
I see with many dogs.
I showed Lois a quick and easy technique
that she could use. When I saw her a
few days later she told me that the
technique worked great.
You see, Lois and her dog (and the behavior
problems she was experiencing) are typical
of what I see and work with on a daily basis.
She does not want an obedience champ,
she just wants her dog to have good
manners.
With my 20+ years of experience, I know
what problems you probably face on a daily
basis with your dog.
If you're like most dog owners, I bet that
jumping, stealing, begging and barking are
at the top of your list.
A lot of training programs are great at
teaching obedience, but do not show you
how to stop those annoying behaviors I
mentioned above.
And those behaviors are usually where your
dog embarrasses you in front of your friends
and family...
You want your dog to STOP jumping on everyone
that comes over your house.
You DON'T want your dog begging at the
dinner table.
You WANT your dog to settle on command
when you have company over.
...especially with July 4th right around
the corner.
That is why I developed the Good K9 Manners
Program.
I wanted to put together an easy to follow
program to show you the "secret" techniques
that I have been using for years to end
embarrassing and annoying behavior problems.
In fact, I'll go so far as to say that...
"The Good K9 Manners Program Contains
the Most Unique, Unusual and Effective
Training System Ever Assembled."
This program is broken up into specific
lessons covering in detail how to stop
the biggest behavior problems you face
with your dog.
In the Begging section you'll discover:
* The Uncle Freddy Factor - Not understanding
and following the Uncle Freddy Factor will
backfire all of your training efforts.
* Recipe for Success - This is the "Exact
Recipe" I use to stop dogs from begging
at the table. Everyone in your family can
help with this one. Your dog can literally
stop begging within minutes by following
this recipe.
In the section on Jumping you'll discover...
* Cha Cha Technique - This technique is
what I use on very problematic dogs. It
works well because it reverses your dog's
natural desire to jump.
* TTL Technique - This is a very overlooked
and misunderstood step when it comes to
jumping. Properly done, the TTL method is
a fool-proof way to stop jumping. TTL
works best when you use it in combination
with all the techniques taught in this lesson.
And that's just the beginning. There are lessons
in this course on all of the biggest behavior
problems that are driving you crazy.
Right now is the time to take advantage of
the Summer Special. Get Good K9 Manners
at a reduced price.
You can also get immediate access to the
Mini-Manners Online Video Course. So don't
delay and hop on over to:
http://goodk9manners.com/
All the best,
Eric
She informed me that her chihuahua was
a good dog but he had some behaviors
that she wanted help with.
Her dog's biggest problem was barking
at people when they came in the house.
This is a very typical behavior problem
I see with many dogs.
I showed Lois a quick and easy technique
that she could use. When I saw her a
few days later she told me that the
technique worked great.
You see, Lois and her dog (and the behavior
problems she was experiencing) are typical
of what I see and work with on a daily basis.
She does not want an obedience champ,
she just wants her dog to have good
manners.
With my 20+ years of experience, I know
what problems you probably face on a daily
basis with your dog.
If you're like most dog owners, I bet that
jumping, stealing, begging and barking are
at the top of your list.
A lot of training programs are great at
teaching obedience, but do not show you
how to stop those annoying behaviors I
mentioned above.
And those behaviors are usually where your
dog embarrasses you in front of your friends
and family...
You want your dog to STOP jumping on everyone
that comes over your house.
You DON'T want your dog begging at the
dinner table.
You WANT your dog to settle on command
when you have company over.
...especially with July 4th right around
the corner.
That is why I developed the Good K9 Manners
Program.
I wanted to put together an easy to follow
program to show you the "secret" techniques
that I have been using for years to end
embarrassing and annoying behavior problems.
In fact, I'll go so far as to say that...
"The Good K9 Manners Program Contains
the Most Unique, Unusual and Effective
Training System Ever Assembled."
This program is broken up into specific
lessons covering in detail how to stop
the biggest behavior problems you face
with your dog.
In the Begging section you'll discover:
* The Uncle Freddy Factor - Not understanding
and following the Uncle Freddy Factor will
backfire all of your training efforts.
* Recipe for Success - This is the "Exact
Recipe" I use to stop dogs from begging
at the table. Everyone in your family can
help with this one. Your dog can literally
stop begging within minutes by following
this recipe.
In the section on Jumping you'll discover...
* Cha Cha Technique - This technique is
what I use on very problematic dogs. It
works well because it reverses your dog's
natural desire to jump.
* TTL Technique - This is a very overlooked
and misunderstood step when it comes to
jumping. Properly done, the TTL method is
a fool-proof way to stop jumping. TTL
works best when you use it in combination
with all the techniques taught in this lesson.
And that's just the beginning. There are lessons
in this course on all of the biggest behavior
problems that are driving you crazy.
Right now is the time to take advantage of
the Summer Special. Get Good K9 Manners
at a reduced price.
You can also get immediate access to the
Mini-Manners Online Video Course. So don't
delay and hop on over to:
http://goodk9manners.com/
All the best,
Eric
True Training Secrets
Many times our dogs don't behave the way we want them to. Training your dog requires you to spend some time teaching
your dog new behaviors. While we are training it can become
very easy to get distracted and lose focus.
Just last week I was working with a very nice lady that had
a jumping problem with her dog. She badly wanted her dog to
stop jumping and pretty much didn't care about anything else.
I explained why jumping happens, what she needed to do to stop
it, and to make sure everyone in the house is complying. I demonstrated a simple and easy technique that stops jumping
within a few minutes (it's not jamming your knee into the
dog's chest).
The following week I received a call from her and she said
that her dog was still jumping. I thought that was funny
because when I left her house, her dog was not jumping on
her or me anymore.
The problem with a lot of people experiencing a dog training
or dog behavior problem is that they completely focus on the
problem, NOT the solution.
If you truly want your dog to learn a behavior or to stop a
behavior you need to focus on the solution to what you want
your dog to do or to stop doing in order to be successful.
I know this sounds simple, but ask yourself this question the
next time your dog is not behaving the way you want him to.
Ask yourself, "Am I focusing on the problem or the solution?"
If you are focused on the problem, it will continue to happen.
Learn to focus on what you want your dog to do. I know that when
your dog is pulling, peeing on the carpet, jumping, barking, and
doing any host of behavior problems that you don't like it can be difficult to focus on what you want... BUT you need to stay
focused on the desired outcome.
If you don't, you'll end up either living with the behavior, continuing to get angry, or getting rid of your dog.
Learn to focus on the solution and you'll get much better results.
Good luck training!
All the best,
Eric Letendre
your dog new behaviors. While we are training it can become
very easy to get distracted and lose focus.
Just last week I was working with a very nice lady that had
a jumping problem with her dog. She badly wanted her dog to
stop jumping and pretty much didn't care about anything else.
I explained why jumping happens, what she needed to do to stop
it, and to make sure everyone in the house is complying. I demonstrated a simple and easy technique that stops jumping
within a few minutes (it's not jamming your knee into the
dog's chest).
The following week I received a call from her and she said
that her dog was still jumping. I thought that was funny
because when I left her house, her dog was not jumping on
her or me anymore.
The problem with a lot of people experiencing a dog training
or dog behavior problem is that they completely focus on the
problem, NOT the solution.
If you truly want your dog to learn a behavior or to stop a
behavior you need to focus on the solution to what you want
your dog to do or to stop doing in order to be successful.
I know this sounds simple, but ask yourself this question the
next time your dog is not behaving the way you want him to.
Ask yourself, "Am I focusing on the problem or the solution?"
If you are focused on the problem, it will continue to happen.
Learn to focus on what you want your dog to do. I know that when
your dog is pulling, peeing on the carpet, jumping, barking, and
doing any host of behavior problems that you don't like it can be difficult to focus on what you want... BUT you need to stay
focused on the desired outcome.
If you don't, you'll end up either living with the behavior, continuing to get angry, or getting rid of your dog.
Learn to focus on the solution and you'll get much better results.
Good luck training!
All the best,
Eric Letendre
Train Your Dog In Just A Minute
Can you really train your dog in justa minute?
Let me share a quick story with you...
More than a couple of years ago, when I
was a hot shot animal control officer, I
responded to a complaint in the south
end of the city.
The problem was a barking dog that was
disturbing a couple of residents in the
neighborhood.
When I approached the owner of the dog,
I informed her that she was going to
have to stop her dog's barking.
She said that she tried everything but
could not stop her dog's barking.
I quickly assessed the situation and told
her that I could help. With a very
skeptical look on her face she said
"I don't think so, but if you can I'll
be very grateful."
My advice was simple. I told her that her
dog was going to do...
PUSH UPS!
You see, when I assessed the situation I
noticed that the dog was barking for
attention.
He was barking to get some type of response
from the owner. He barked and she would yell
out the window, "Quiet."
Or...
...her dog would bark and she would come
outside and scold her dog. Every time he
barked she would respond in some way.
I told her that we needed to re-direct his
behavior. Every time he barks you are going
to walk up to your dog and give the sit
command.
Once your dog is sitting I want you to
give the down command. Up, down, Up down,
over and over every time he barks.
I checked in with her later that day and
she was amazed. "OMG, the first time I did
it he stopped barking in less than a minute."
I knew he would because there are simple
methods that you can use to get fast results
with your dog.
In the Good K9 Manners website I have put
together a course that covers the most
common behavior problems and how to get
fast results.
You can still take advantage of the special
reduced pri*ce and train your dog.
Jump on over to:
http://goodk9manners.com/
All the best,
Eric
Let me share a quick story with you...
More than a couple of years ago, when I
was a hot shot animal control officer, I
responded to a complaint in the south
end of the city.
The problem was a barking dog that was
disturbing a couple of residents in the
neighborhood.
When I approached the owner of the dog,
I informed her that she was going to
have to stop her dog's barking.
She said that she tried everything but
could not stop her dog's barking.
I quickly assessed the situation and told
her that I could help. With a very
skeptical look on her face she said
"I don't think so, but if you can I'll
be very grateful."
My advice was simple. I told her that her
dog was going to do...
PUSH UPS!
You see, when I assessed the situation I
noticed that the dog was barking for
attention.
He was barking to get some type of response
from the owner. He barked and she would yell
out the window, "Quiet."
Or...
...her dog would bark and she would come
outside and scold her dog. Every time he
barked she would respond in some way.
I told her that we needed to re-direct his
behavior. Every time he barks you are going
to walk up to your dog and give the sit
command.
Once your dog is sitting I want you to
give the down command. Up, down, Up down,
over and over every time he barks.
I checked in with her later that day and
she was amazed. "OMG, the first time I did
it he stopped barking in less than a minute."
I knew he would because there are simple
methods that you can use to get fast results
with your dog.
In the Good K9 Manners website I have put
together a course that covers the most
common behavior problems and how to get
fast results.
You can still take advantage of the special
reduced pri*ce and train your dog.
Jump on over to:
http://goodk9manners.com/
All the best,
Eric
Canine Rivalry
If you have more than one dog and they don’t get along well, they are most likely experiencing canine rivalry. They may start by growling and snapping at each other, but if you don’t take care of it early on, the activity will escalate into actual fighting which could seriously harm one or both of them. It’s a good idea to pay attention as your animals get acquainted with one another. There is usually a posturing demeanour that leads up to a full-blown fight. Males fight other males more often than other gender combinations.
Rivalry stems from the basic pack instinct that we looked at earlier. Pack members vie for their positions or pecking order within it. The dominant/ subservient system is in place for a reason. It serves to establish order, cut down on conflicts, and create an atmosphere of cooperation and camaraderie. In the wild, the dominant or alpha dog controls the food, mating, and the location of their dens. In the home the dog will seek control over food, toys, beds, and attention from you. If you have conflicts between dogs in your home, it means that the dominant position has still yet to be determined. You are, or should be, pack leader. The dogs within the pack however, may be struggling with which dog will dominate and which one will be subservient.
If you can’t control the fighting then you need to consult with a professional. If you leave the situation as is, it’s only a matter of time before you, a family member, or the dogs are seriously injured. Some precautions that will help are to have all of your dogs spayed or neutered. Trying to punish them won’t help the problem, and may actually cause the fighting to escalate since you’d be inflicting your own anger on them. Don’t despair; with the help of your vet or an animal behaviour expert, you should be able to live in peace and harmony with your dogs.
Some possible causes of canine rivalry are:
The humans treat both dogs the same, not taking into account the roles the dogs have established for themselves
The humans interfere with the dominant dog’s control of certain things such as toys or where each one sleeps
Humans deny the dogs their non-aggressive dominant and subordinate signals and behaviours
Bringing a new animal home
An animal who has been part of the household dies or goes to another home
A pet who has been gone for a while comes back to the family or home
A puppy becomes sexually mature
The dominant dog becomes to old to maintain his position in the pack
If you aren’t a dog behaviourist, be sure to find outside help. If you try to fix the problem using inappropriate methods, you will only make the situation worse.
Rivalry stems from the basic pack instinct that we looked at earlier. Pack members vie for their positions or pecking order within it. The dominant/ subservient system is in place for a reason. It serves to establish order, cut down on conflicts, and create an atmosphere of cooperation and camaraderie. In the wild, the dominant or alpha dog controls the food, mating, and the location of their dens. In the home the dog will seek control over food, toys, beds, and attention from you. If you have conflicts between dogs in your home, it means that the dominant position has still yet to be determined. You are, or should be, pack leader. The dogs within the pack however, may be struggling with which dog will dominate and which one will be subservient.
If you can’t control the fighting then you need to consult with a professional. If you leave the situation as is, it’s only a matter of time before you, a family member, or the dogs are seriously injured. Some precautions that will help are to have all of your dogs spayed or neutered. Trying to punish them won’t help the problem, and may actually cause the fighting to escalate since you’d be inflicting your own anger on them. Don’t despair; with the help of your vet or an animal behaviour expert, you should be able to live in peace and harmony with your dogs.
Some possible causes of canine rivalry are:
The humans treat both dogs the same, not taking into account the roles the dogs have established for themselves
The humans interfere with the dominant dog’s control of certain things such as toys or where each one sleeps
Humans deny the dogs their non-aggressive dominant and subordinate signals and behaviours
Bringing a new animal home
An animal who has been part of the household dies or goes to another home
A pet who has been gone for a while comes back to the family or home
A puppy becomes sexually mature
The dominant dog becomes to old to maintain his position in the pack
If you aren’t a dog behaviourist, be sure to find outside help. If you try to fix the problem using inappropriate methods, you will only make the situation worse.
6/18/09
Dog Flea Solution
Flea season is just about here & now the ASPCA is
saying the spot on flea & tick treatments we all use
are dangerous..
..talk about bad news and bad timing!
Good news is Andrew Lewis, author of a number of
dog books is letting anyone who wants a copy to snap
up his brand new product called..
""A Holistic Vet Guide: How to Quickly & Effectively
Cure Your Dog's Flea Problems WITHOUT Using
Dangerous Chemicals"
..for just $7 when it retails for $67
Sweet! You can check it out here:
Click ==> http://www.recipes4pet.com/dogflearemedy.html
It's not surprising to see Andrew come out with this
product so soon because his company came out with
a book warning against commercial dog food about
6 months before the dog food crisis in 2007..
..he seems to always be ahead of the curve.
So I recommend you take a look, at $7 and with the
news recently about these flea treatments, its a no-brainer
Natural remedy to dog flea treatment:
Click Here ==> http://www.recipes4pet.com/dogflearemedy.html
Hope this is will help you and your loyal dog.
saying the spot on flea & tick treatments we all use
are dangerous..
..talk about bad news and bad timing!
Good news is Andrew Lewis, author of a number of
dog books is letting anyone who wants a copy to snap
up his brand new product called..
""A Holistic Vet Guide: How to Quickly & Effectively
Cure Your Dog's Flea Problems WITHOUT Using
Dangerous Chemicals"
..for just $7 when it retails for $67
Sweet! You can check it out here:
Click ==> http://www.recipes4pet.com/dogflearemedy.html
It's not surprising to see Andrew come out with this
product so soon because his company came out with
a book warning against commercial dog food about
6 months before the dog food crisis in 2007..
..he seems to always be ahead of the curve.
So I recommend you take a look, at $7 and with the
news recently about these flea treatments, its a no-brainer
Natural remedy to dog flea treatment:
Click Here ==> http://www.recipes4pet.com/dogflearemedy.html
Hope this is will help you and your loyal dog.
Raising a Happy Dog 3
We come to the conclusion of "Raising A Happy Dog" series. I will keep you in the loop for more dog care and information.
Your final tip.
Tip 3 Your dog can't understand your words but he can some command and understand your tone.
One of the most common mistakes amongst dog owners is to yell at their pets when they're barking incessantly. Why doesn't this work? When you start yelling at them, it thinks that you're "barking" too, therefore reinforcing the behavior that barking is okay.
Your dog can't understand your words. He can learn a few commands and understand your tone.
To solve an incessant barking problem, try using a spray bottle of water. When your dog begins barking uncontrollably, say the command "quiet" softly and give him a small spray of water. Eventually, they will learn that "quiet" means he should stop barking or he'll get sprayed with water.
Another method involves ignoring your dog completely when he's barking. Sometimes dogs bark because they're bored or want attention, so it's best to ignore this behavior. Once the dog stops, reward him with a treat. Because they may be barking out of boredom, sometimes a simple distraction, like turning on the radio or throwing a toy, will work.
Normally though, dog training is most effective when you use play, rewards and positive engagements to make him feel happy and secure, not scolding or yelling. Remember, they are in many ways like human, and they have feelings too!
Your final tip.
Tip 3 Your dog can't understand your words but he can some command and understand your tone.
One of the most common mistakes amongst dog owners is to yell at their pets when they're barking incessantly. Why doesn't this work? When you start yelling at them, it thinks that you're "barking" too, therefore reinforcing the behavior that barking is okay.
Your dog can't understand your words. He can learn a few commands and understand your tone.
To solve an incessant barking problem, try using a spray bottle of water. When your dog begins barking uncontrollably, say the command "quiet" softly and give him a small spray of water. Eventually, they will learn that "quiet" means he should stop barking or he'll get sprayed with water.
Another method involves ignoring your dog completely when he's barking. Sometimes dogs bark because they're bored or want attention, so it's best to ignore this behavior. Once the dog stops, reward him with a treat. Because they may be barking out of boredom, sometimes a simple distraction, like turning on the radio or throwing a toy, will work.
Normally though, dog training is most effective when you use play, rewards and positive engagements to make him feel happy and secure, not scolding or yelling. Remember, they are in many ways like human, and they have feelings too!
Problem Training Your Dog? Try These Tips
Dog training really boils down to influencing your dog's behavior. Reward your dog for doing the behaviors you want
to increase such as sit, down, stay, walk and come, and punish
and or manage behaviors you want to decrease such as jumping,
barking, stealing, digging and biting.
Some dogs seem to be easier to train than others. If your dog
does not seem to be responding to your training program, try
applying some or all of the nine tips outlined in this email.
Tip #1: Make a commitment -
Make a commitment to spend at least ten minutes every day
training your dog. Some dogs don't get trained because the
training program is composed of fits and starts. A few minutes
of training on Monday, nothing until Thursday, and then maybe
a few minutes on Saturday. That type of training schedule will
make it difficult for the dog to learn.
Tip #2: Follow basic management principles -
A big part of dog training is managing your dog's behavior. We
need to understand and apply basic management skills. Dogs do a
lot of their bad behavior when we are not around.
Chewing, housetraining, and destructive behaviors tend to happen
when we are not home. It is a good idea to use a crate. Crates are excellent management tools. They allow you to leave your dog alone without the opportunity to get into trouble.
Tip #3: Don't free feed -
Food can be used as a very strong motivator. If your dog is
allowed to eat whenever it feels like it, it will be difficult
to use the food to reinforce behavior. Food can also be used to establish leadership which will be discussed later on in this
article.
Tip #4: High powered rewards -
Dogs have different tastes just like we do. I have worked
with dogs that didn't like hot dogs. It's rare but it has
happened.
If you are trying to train your dog using rewards that he
doesn't like, it will be difficult to get your dog motivated. Experiment with some different types of treats to find which
ones really get your dog excited.
Tip #5: Get your dog's attention -
Spend some time teaching your dog to look at you when you
give a command. Most dogs fail to perform a command because
they were not paying attention to the owner. Always make sure
that you have your dog's attention before you give the command.
Tip #6: Establish leadership -
Dogs are pack animals that respond to a social structure. If
we really want our dogs to respond to our training we need to establish leadership. The better you are at being the leader
the better your dog will respond to you. If your dog does not
view you as the pack leader why would your dog respond to your commands? Establish leadership and your dog will listen to you
much better.
Tip #7: Exercise -
Dogs are active animals. Many of them were bred work long hours
in the field. Most dogs do not perform the tasks that they were
bred for in every day life. I have a German Shepherd and a
Shetland Sheepdog, both herding dogs. They have never had to herd sheep or any other type of livestock.
I have had to make sure that they get exercise in other ways
such as retrieving games, tug games, hiking, and swimming. I
learned long ago that the only good dog is a tired dog, and
that when your dog is properly exercised it is easier for
you to live with your dog and it is easier for your dog to
live with you.
Tip #8: Timing -
Timing is crucial when you are training your dog. You have to communicate to your dog what you want her to do and what you
don't want her to do. This requires excellent timing.
By punishing your dog long after the behavior has occurred,
you are only going to confuse your dog. Likewise, rewarding
your dog five to ten seconds after the behavior has occurred
is not effective either.
Tip #9: Understand consequences -
Whatever it is that you are trying to teach your dog has to
have a consequence. If you are teaching your dog a behavior
that you want to happen over and over again, start to reward
the behavior. If you want to decrease a behavior then you need
to apply a negative consequence. You need to apply the type of consequence for the behavior.
Conclusion - By following these steps you will start to get
the training results that you are looking for. It is also
important to remember that you can train your dog. I hand
out the following quote from W. Clement Stone at the beginning
of all my classes:
"If you think you can or if you think you can't your right."
Good luck training!
to increase such as sit, down, stay, walk and come, and punish
and or manage behaviors you want to decrease such as jumping,
barking, stealing, digging and biting.
Some dogs seem to be easier to train than others. If your dog
does not seem to be responding to your training program, try
applying some or all of the nine tips outlined in this email.
Tip #1: Make a commitment -
Make a commitment to spend at least ten minutes every day
training your dog. Some dogs don't get trained because the
training program is composed of fits and starts. A few minutes
of training on Monday, nothing until Thursday, and then maybe
a few minutes on Saturday. That type of training schedule will
make it difficult for the dog to learn.
Tip #2: Follow basic management principles -
A big part of dog training is managing your dog's behavior. We
need to understand and apply basic management skills. Dogs do a
lot of their bad behavior when we are not around.
Chewing, housetraining, and destructive behaviors tend to happen
when we are not home. It is a good idea to use a crate. Crates are excellent management tools. They allow you to leave your dog alone without the opportunity to get into trouble.
Tip #3: Don't free feed -
Food can be used as a very strong motivator. If your dog is
allowed to eat whenever it feels like it, it will be difficult
to use the food to reinforce behavior. Food can also be used to establish leadership which will be discussed later on in this
article.
Tip #4: High powered rewards -
Dogs have different tastes just like we do. I have worked
with dogs that didn't like hot dogs. It's rare but it has
happened.
If you are trying to train your dog using rewards that he
doesn't like, it will be difficult to get your dog motivated. Experiment with some different types of treats to find which
ones really get your dog excited.
Tip #5: Get your dog's attention -
Spend some time teaching your dog to look at you when you
give a command. Most dogs fail to perform a command because
they were not paying attention to the owner. Always make sure
that you have your dog's attention before you give the command.
Tip #6: Establish leadership -
Dogs are pack animals that respond to a social structure. If
we really want our dogs to respond to our training we need to establish leadership. The better you are at being the leader
the better your dog will respond to you. If your dog does not
view you as the pack leader why would your dog respond to your commands? Establish leadership and your dog will listen to you
much better.
Tip #7: Exercise -
Dogs are active animals. Many of them were bred work long hours
in the field. Most dogs do not perform the tasks that they were
bred for in every day life. I have a German Shepherd and a
Shetland Sheepdog, both herding dogs. They have never had to herd sheep or any other type of livestock.
I have had to make sure that they get exercise in other ways
such as retrieving games, tug games, hiking, and swimming. I
learned long ago that the only good dog is a tired dog, and
that when your dog is properly exercised it is easier for
you to live with your dog and it is easier for your dog to
live with you.
Tip #8: Timing -
Timing is crucial when you are training your dog. You have to communicate to your dog what you want her to do and what you
don't want her to do. This requires excellent timing.
By punishing your dog long after the behavior has occurred,
you are only going to confuse your dog. Likewise, rewarding
your dog five to ten seconds after the behavior has occurred
is not effective either.
Tip #9: Understand consequences -
Whatever it is that you are trying to teach your dog has to
have a consequence. If you are teaching your dog a behavior
that you want to happen over and over again, start to reward
the behavior. If you want to decrease a behavior then you need
to apply a negative consequence. You need to apply the type of consequence for the behavior.
Conclusion - By following these steps you will start to get
the training results that you are looking for. It is also
important to remember that you can train your dog. I hand
out the following quote from W. Clement Stone at the beginning
of all my classes:
"If you think you can or if you think you can't your right."
Good luck training!
Best Advice for Puppy Owners
Getting a puppy is the most excitingtime for a family. Everyone is happy
to bring the puppy into the house.
Every week I get a lot of email from
new puppy owners. I get questions on
housetraining, obedience training and
nutrition.
The best advice I can give any puppy owner
is simple: Socialize the puppy as much
as possible.
Bring the puppy around people, places,
sights, smells and other dog friendly
dogs.
You see, a puppy that is properly
socialized is going to be a much more
stable dog as an adult.
to bring the puppy into the house.
Every week I get a lot of email from
new puppy owners. I get questions on
housetraining, obedience training and
nutrition.
The best advice I can give any puppy owner
is simple: Socialize the puppy as much
as possible.
Bring the puppy around people, places,
sights, smells and other dog friendly
dogs.
You see, a puppy that is properly
socialized is going to be a much more
stable dog as an adult.
6/8/09
Rasing a Happy Dog 2
“Catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”- Use Positive Engagement.
Starting a dog training program doesn’t mean you have to adopt a commander stand and start yelling at your dog every time he does something wrong. Start a positive engagement. Reward him when he does something right. I give my dogs tasty treats and complement with lots of praises and petting every time he behaves well.
Your dog will soon learn that good behavior is rewarded. Just like humans, dogs respond best to praise and encouragement!
Starting a dog training program doesn’t mean you have to adopt a commander stand and start yelling at your dog every time he does something wrong. Start a positive engagement. Reward him when he does something right. I give my dogs tasty treats and complement with lots of praises and petting every time he behaves well.
Your dog will soon learn that good behavior is rewarded. Just like humans, dogs respond best to praise and encouragement!
About Frightened Dogs
About Frightened Dogs
Dogs get scared for many reasons and most of the time we can prevent it from happening. Dogs who have suffered abuse at some time in their lives often take years to get past the fear; if ever. Some never escape their abusers, but some are lucky enough to find other people who will love them and work with them to learn to trust. Drug therapies are sometimes used to help with the process. Other things that frighten dogs are holiday fireworks, thunderstorms, and loud noises of any sort. Not only are they scary, they also hurt the dog’s ears. Each year thousands of pets break free when they hear such things and are lost forever. To keep from you and your dog from going through this heartbreaking event, learn to take precautions when you know there is going to be loud noise. Put your dog in the quietest room you have with the windows and curtains closed. If there is a closet or somewhere he can hide in the room all the better. Speak softly and reassure him that everything’s going to be okay. If you are going to be away from the house, leave some food and water for him for when the noise stops. If he is crate trained, put him in there with some soft toys to divert his attention. You can turn on a radio, TV, or play a music CD as well.
Be aware too, that sometimes fear will make your dog act out aggressively.
Following are some suggestions to help keep your dog safe during loud noise events:
*
Never take your dog someplace that is going to have a firework’s display
*
If you usually leave your dog outdoors in a dog run or fenced yard, be sure to bring him in when the noise starts
*
If you can stay with your dog while the noise is happening, instead of trying to hold him, try distraction such as playing with his toys together
*
This is a good opportunity to be the best alpha dog you can be. Don’t become angry with your frightened dog and don’t make a fuss over him. Show him that you aren’t afraid by acting nonchalant. It would be fine to massage his spine or give him some friendly head pats
*
Anytime you are going to take your dog someplace new, be a bit cautious until you know he feels safe there
*
Keep your dog in a collar that fits and has his ID tags secured to it. You might also consider microchips or tattooing for identification
*
If your dog becomes seriously frightened your vet can prescribe some tranquilizers
*
Anytime you’re leaving your dog while you go on holiday, make sure a responsible person feeds and exercises him daily or take him to a familiar pet boarding facility
*
Keep some pictures of your dog on hand in case the unthinkable happens and he is lost. You can post them at shelters, veterinarian offices, and even on the Internet
Dogs get scared for many reasons and most of the time we can prevent it from happening. Dogs who have suffered abuse at some time in their lives often take years to get past the fear; if ever. Some never escape their abusers, but some are lucky enough to find other people who will love them and work with them to learn to trust. Drug therapies are sometimes used to help with the process. Other things that frighten dogs are holiday fireworks, thunderstorms, and loud noises of any sort. Not only are they scary, they also hurt the dog’s ears. Each year thousands of pets break free when they hear such things and are lost forever. To keep from you and your dog from going through this heartbreaking event, learn to take precautions when you know there is going to be loud noise. Put your dog in the quietest room you have with the windows and curtains closed. If there is a closet or somewhere he can hide in the room all the better. Speak softly and reassure him that everything’s going to be okay. If you are going to be away from the house, leave some food and water for him for when the noise stops. If he is crate trained, put him in there with some soft toys to divert his attention. You can turn on a radio, TV, or play a music CD as well.
Be aware too, that sometimes fear will make your dog act out aggressively.
Following are some suggestions to help keep your dog safe during loud noise events:
*
Never take your dog someplace that is going to have a firework’s display
*
If you usually leave your dog outdoors in a dog run or fenced yard, be sure to bring him in when the noise starts
*
If you can stay with your dog while the noise is happening, instead of trying to hold him, try distraction such as playing with his toys together
*
This is a good opportunity to be the best alpha dog you can be. Don’t become angry with your frightened dog and don’t make a fuss over him. Show him that you aren’t afraid by acting nonchalant. It would be fine to massage his spine or give him some friendly head pats
*
Anytime you are going to take your dog someplace new, be a bit cautious until you know he feels safe there
*
Keep your dog in a collar that fits and has his ID tags secured to it. You might also consider microchips or tattooing for identification
*
If your dog becomes seriously frightened your vet can prescribe some tranquilizers
*
Anytime you’re leaving your dog while you go on holiday, make sure a responsible person feeds and exercises him daily or take him to a familiar pet boarding facility
*
Keep some pictures of your dog on hand in case the unthinkable happens and he is lost. You can post them at shelters, veterinarian offices, and even on the Internet
Joy of owning a puppy
Getting a puppy is the most exciting
time for a family. Everyone is happy
to bring the puppy into the house.
Every week I get a lot of email from
new puppy owners. I get questions on
housetraining, obedience training and
nutrition.
The best advice I can give any puppy owner
is simple: Socialize the puppy as much
as possible.
Bring the puppy around people, places,
sights, smells and other dog friendly
dogs.
You see, a puppy that is properly
socialized is going to be a much more
stable dog as an adult.
This month in the Dog Training Inner
Circle, I cover puppy training and
behavior in detail.
time for a family. Everyone is happy
to bring the puppy into the house.
Every week I get a lot of email from
new puppy owners. I get questions on
housetraining, obedience training and
nutrition.
The best advice I can give any puppy owner
is simple: Socialize the puppy as much
as possible.
Bring the puppy around people, places,
sights, smells and other dog friendly
dogs.
You see, a puppy that is properly
socialized is going to be a much more
stable dog as an adult.
This month in the Dog Training Inner
Circle, I cover puppy training and
behavior in detail.
Zoonosis" is an infectious or parasitic disease...it can pass to you
"Zoonosis" is an infectious or parasitic disease, which is naturally passed from vertebrate animals to humans, and vice versa, e.g. tuberculosis, rabies or brucellosis.
Dogs and especially cats can shed Salmonella organisms (from raw meat diet) in both their feces and saliva, meaning that transmission can occur via licking. A pet dog or cat licking your hand is a very common occurrence. Sometimes a pet may lick the face of a child, helping germs spread more easily. Animal saliva contains many pathogenic agents.
Dogs and especially cats can shed Salmonella organisms (from raw meat diet) in both their feces and saliva, meaning that transmission can occur via licking. A pet dog or cat licking your hand is a very common occurrence. Sometimes a pet may lick the face of a child, helping germs spread more easily. Animal saliva contains many pathogenic agents.
10 Pet Commandments
10 Pet Commandments
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be painful to me. Remember that before you buy or keep me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want from me.
3. Place your trust in me. It's crucial to my well-being.
4. Dont be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your entertainment and your friends. I only have you.
5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.
7. Remember before you hit me: I have teeth that could easily crush the bones of your hand, but I choose not to bite you. Or I have claws that can cut your flesh deep, but I choose not to hurt you.
8. Before you scold me for being un-cooperative, obstinate or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, or I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak. Perhaps I need exercise, a good catnip toy can give me pleasure.
9. Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old.
10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say: "I can't bear to watch it", or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there.
-a repost from http://animaladvocates.multiply.com
1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be painful to me. Remember that before you buy or keep me.
2. Give me time to understand what you want from me.
3. Place your trust in me. It's crucial to my well-being.
4. Dont be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your entertainment and your friends. I only have you.
5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand your voice when it's speaking to me.
6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.
7. Remember before you hit me: I have teeth that could easily crush the bones of your hand, but I choose not to bite you. Or I have claws that can cut your flesh deep, but I choose not to hurt you.
8. Before you scold me for being un-cooperative, obstinate or lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, or I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart is getting old and weak. Perhaps I need exercise, a good catnip toy can give me pleasure.
9. Take care of me when I get old. You too will grow old.
10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say: "I can't bear to watch it", or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there.
-a repost from http://animaladvocates.multiply.com
6/3/09
All dog lovers if you want to win something...
Hi,
I want you to take a look at : Win COOL Prizes! 100% FREE
Shaping Dog Behaviour
Text Box: Most of us know that the stunning Dalmatian is famous for living with fire fighters You’re apt to see the word “shaping” when you read about dog training in books or on the web. It’s actually the latest buzzword for training your dog or shaping his behaviour by taking it one step at a time. It started out being used when talking about show training, but you’ll see the word creeping into all kinds of discussions about teaching your dog how to perform, whether it’s for you or in the show ring.
Clicker training is often used in shaping. It starts by you teaching the dog to obey a command by using a treat as a reward. Gradually he will respond to the sound of the clicker. Studies have shown that dogs do even better with a family member using this technique than they do with professional trainer. Dogs seem to enjoy learning this way, probably because the sound soon means praise to them. Not only that, but when they don’t do it right the first time; they don’t have to endure a physical correction. It also calls on their usual strong desire to learn new things. The sound becomes more important than lavish praise and treats or toys because it happens at the exact moment the dog performed the task. This increases the odds that the dog will do the correct thing next time he hears it.
You can try it without even buying a clicker. You can use tongue clucking or shaking some coins in your hand; anything that will get your dog’s attention. Reserve the vocals for bestowing praise. Start with something very easy such as “roll over”. Give your dog a treat so that he knows something good is going to happen. Have him lie down and give him another one. Gently roll him over and give him another treat. Keep them small so he won’t become overweight from shaping sessions. Start again and try to get him to roll over by following the treat in your hand rather than pushing him over with your hands. This of course, may take a few tries. As soon as he starts to get the hang of it, make the sound that you have chosen, use the command “roll over” followed by a treat. You’re likely to be surprised at how quickly he’ll roll over in response to the sound alone.
This method actually was first used in the water. Trained dolphins were taught to respond to the sound of a whistle since it would be impossible to put them on the leash. Getting some fish as a reward actually came to mean that when the dolphin heard the whistle he had done what was required of him. The fish was the icing on the cake, although he didn’t get it each time he did a trick.
I hope you are getting a lot of value out of my newsletters! But this is only the "tip of the ice berg" when compared with what I have for you in my Dog Training Masters Home Study Course. Spoil your dog, and get a copy of the course for your pooch right now.
Clicker training is often used in shaping. It starts by you teaching the dog to obey a command by using a treat as a reward. Gradually he will respond to the sound of the clicker. Studies have shown that dogs do even better with a family member using this technique than they do with professional trainer. Dogs seem to enjoy learning this way, probably because the sound soon means praise to them. Not only that, but when they don’t do it right the first time; they don’t have to endure a physical correction. It also calls on their usual strong desire to learn new things. The sound becomes more important than lavish praise and treats or toys because it happens at the exact moment the dog performed the task. This increases the odds that the dog will do the correct thing next time he hears it.
You can try it without even buying a clicker. You can use tongue clucking or shaking some coins in your hand; anything that will get your dog’s attention. Reserve the vocals for bestowing praise. Start with something very easy such as “roll over”. Give your dog a treat so that he knows something good is going to happen. Have him lie down and give him another one. Gently roll him over and give him another treat. Keep them small so he won’t become overweight from shaping sessions. Start again and try to get him to roll over by following the treat in your hand rather than pushing him over with your hands. This of course, may take a few tries. As soon as he starts to get the hang of it, make the sound that you have chosen, use the command “roll over” followed by a treat. You’re likely to be surprised at how quickly he’ll roll over in response to the sound alone.
This method actually was first used in the water. Trained dolphins were taught to respond to the sound of a whistle since it would be impossible to put them on the leash. Getting some fish as a reward actually came to mean that when the dolphin heard the whistle he had done what was required of him. The fish was the icing on the cake, although he didn’t get it each time he did a trick.
I hope you are getting a lot of value out of my newsletters! But this is only the "tip of the ice berg" when compared with what I have for you in my Dog Training Masters Home Study Course. Spoil your dog, and get a copy of the course for your pooch right now.
Beware On Stupid Dog Trainer Who Tortures dogs
This is a cross-post:
Warning To Dog Lovers. INTERPHILk9
www.interphilk9.com
RONALD MENDOZA, trainer. CONMAN.
This guy is a fraud. He has hurt and mistreated dogs (atleast one dead) before and brought pain and emotional trauma to a LOT of dogs. He takes money and FOOD (hotdogs daw for the dogs that he eats himself... accepts tender juicy (A very delicious hotdog brand) only) and have done nothing in return. He is not really incompetent... he is just a very BAD, BAD person.
If you love your dogs, don't have them trained to him AT ALL... train them yourselves or join a clicker training club.
Some trainers know each other and does the same thing and sadly, they are friends with this SCAM artist. They take care of him so it would seem that they condone his
scams.
Check his address in Laguna and then check with the barangay hall and you will find his name blottered there.
We got our dog back... maybe it's the reason he is still in one piece.
For more info check:
Warning To Dog Lovers. INTERPHILk9
www.interphilk9.com
RONALD MENDOZA, trainer. CONMAN.
This guy is a fraud. He has hurt and mistreated dogs (atleast one dead) before and brought pain and emotional trauma to a LOT of dogs. He takes money and FOOD (hotdogs daw for the dogs that he eats himself... accepts tender juicy (A very delicious hotdog brand) only) and have done nothing in return. He is not really incompetent... he is just a very BAD, BAD person.
If you love your dogs, don't have them trained to him AT ALL... train them yourselves or join a clicker training club.
Some trainers know each other and does the same thing and sadly, they are friends with this SCAM artist. They take care of him so it would seem that they condone his
scams.
Check his address in Laguna and then check with the barangay hall and you will find his name blottered there.
We got our dog back... maybe it's the reason he is still in one piece.
For more info check:
MISSING DOG!
GUYS LET US HELP FIND KETCHUP
DETAILS:
Hello Everyone,
Please help me find my pet pomeranian KETCHUP.
She is orange in color and is 7 months(DOB: July '08).
She is a sweet dog and is very friendly.
She got lost this morning (Feb 23, 2009) in my residence
MAKATI (San Antonio Village).
REWARD OFFERED
Please if you find her kindly Call the numbers indicated below.
Landline: 729-4396 & 757-8504
Cellphone: 0917-5290010
E-mail: beauty_blossoms_888@yahoo.com
Look for Liza Lapuz
Please also help us spread the word, please send this link
http://helpusfindketchup.blogspot.com to your friends, family and VETS.
Please help us re-post to your blogs/multiply sites/ yahoo groups, Every re-post counts in helping us find our Ketchup. Thank you everyone who will support and help us in our search.
STILL MISSING!
DETAILS:
Hello Everyone,
Please help me find my pet pomeranian KETCHUP.
She is orange in color and is 7 months(DOB: July '08).
She is a sweet dog and is very friendly.
She got lost this morning (Feb 23, 2009) in my residence
MAKATI (San Antonio Village).
REWARD OFFERED
Please if you find her kindly Call the numbers indicated below.
Landline: 729-4396 & 757-8504
Cellphone: 0917-5290010
E-mail: beauty_blossoms_888@yahoo.com
Look for Liza Lapuz
Please also help us spread the word, please send this link
http://helpusfindketchup.blogspot.com to your friends, family and VETS.
Please help us re-post to your blogs/multiply sites/ yahoo groups, Every re-post counts in helping us find our Ketchup. Thank you everyone who will support and help us in our search.
STILL MISSING!
Raising A Happy Dog
Jerry Yap Says:
I have four loving dogs that are the greatest addition to the family. They are so much part of my family. That’s why I do a lot of research on dog training besides dog food, because I want the best information that benefits my family and me.
I am now sharing these few tips to help dog lovers gain a better understanding in raising a happier dog based on the years of training mine! I truly do believe in, "The more you know, the more you grow!" In this case, your dogs benefit from your growth.
Dogs are sociable, lovable, excitable and loyal and that's why we love them! But when they start to pick up undesirable traits such as chewing furniture, biting, not coming when called, barking or running away, it can be a real headache for dog owners.
So, it's important to start training your dog from a very early age so that they will become subdued and more comfortable in a variety of social situations.
In this series of Raising A Happy Dog, I will be sending my own personal 3 tips how to avoid wrong actions in raising a dog and how to take right actions.
Here is my first tip for you.
Tip 1 Play with your dog daily
Dogs are never meant to spend their entire lives alone in the backyard or anywhere else. Like people, they need companionship to thrive. They need to feel they are welcome and useful members of their pack. And they need to play.
When you return home, tired and needing a rest but your dog is jumping all over you, playing may be the last thing you want to do. But try and see the same situation from your dog's point of view. He's been alone all day and his best friend, his hero, his companion through thick and think just came home. His enthusiastic greeting may be the happiest, most thoughtful and genuinely felt expression of acceptance of you in your entire day. My black Labrador always greets me this way every single day. It’s a great welcome and never fails to wipe the stress of work off my face!
Take your dog for a walk, play tug, fetch, rollover, shake a paw, throw a Frisbee. Spend time every day just playing and you will notice it's not just fun for your dog, it's fun for you too!
If you meet your dog’s emotional need for companionship and play, your dog will feel happy and secure. Discipline problems will be fewer and training easier.
I have four loving dogs that are the greatest addition to the family. They are so much part of my family. That’s why I do a lot of research on dog training besides dog food, because I want the best information that benefits my family and me.
I am now sharing these few tips to help dog lovers gain a better understanding in raising a happier dog based on the years of training mine! I truly do believe in, "The more you know, the more you grow!" In this case, your dogs benefit from your growth.
Dogs are sociable, lovable, excitable and loyal and that's why we love them! But when they start to pick up undesirable traits such as chewing furniture, biting, not coming when called, barking or running away, it can be a real headache for dog owners.
So, it's important to start training your dog from a very early age so that they will become subdued and more comfortable in a variety of social situations.
In this series of Raising A Happy Dog, I will be sending my own personal 3 tips how to avoid wrong actions in raising a dog and how to take right actions.
Here is my first tip for you.
Tip 1 Play with your dog daily
Dogs are never meant to spend their entire lives alone in the backyard or anywhere else. Like people, they need companionship to thrive. They need to feel they are welcome and useful members of their pack. And they need to play.
When you return home, tired and needing a rest but your dog is jumping all over you, playing may be the last thing you want to do. But try and see the same situation from your dog's point of view. He's been alone all day and his best friend, his hero, his companion through thick and think just came home. His enthusiastic greeting may be the happiest, most thoughtful and genuinely felt expression of acceptance of you in your entire day. My black Labrador always greets me this way every single day. It’s a great welcome and never fails to wipe the stress of work off my face!
Take your dog for a walk, play tug, fetch, rollover, shake a paw, throw a Frisbee. Spend time every day just playing and you will notice it's not just fun for your dog, it's fun for you too!
If you meet your dog’s emotional need for companionship and play, your dog will feel happy and secure. Discipline problems will be fewer and training easier.
Four Leash Walking Tips
Eric Says:
A few years back a very distraught lady walked into my
office. When I looked at her, I thought she was recently
assaulted. She sat down and started to cry. I offered her
a glass of water and waited. When she calmed down a little
she started to explain that the two black eyes and the
broken nose were from her 95lb. black lab.
She told me that her dog was uncontrollable, that just a
couple of days before she had attempted to take him for a
walk. As she was leaving her house her dog saw a cat across
the street and took off. She held onto to the leash until
she tripped and went face first into the door jam - breaking
her nose and giving her the two black eyes.
She added that she really loved her dog but did not know how
she could keep him if she could not walk him. She tried choke
and prong collars but nothing was working.
I assured her that we could get her dog walking on leash and
showed her a Gentle Leader head collar. I explained that choke
collars are not very effective for most dogs. Prong or pinch
collars can be very effective but some dogs have a high
tolerance and do not get the results that you need.
Gentle Leaders are effective because they work by controlling
your dog's head. Where the head goes the body must follow.
Most training collars work by trying to control the dog's body.
A traditional collar that goes around your dog's neck allows your
dog to put all of his weight into the collar making it difficult
if not impossible to control the dog.
A Gentle Leader goes around your dog's nose. The leash is
attached under your dog's chin. When your dog tries to pull
his head will turn, making it very difficult to put his body
weight into it.
But there are some drawbacks to Gentle Leader head collars.
For instance:
The first time you put one on your dog there is a good chance
your dog is going to hate it. You really need to take some time
to get your dog used to it.
The other drawback is that the Gentle Leader looks like a
muzzle and people will think your dog is aggressive.
Once your dog is used to the Gentle Leader walking your dog
will be much more enjoyable. It really is like power steering
for your dog.
The distraught lady that I described at the beginning of this
email ended up keeping her lab. We did just two training sessions together and she has had no problems walking since then.
There are many different kinds of training collars and harnesses
for dogs. Gentle Leaders, choke collars, prong collars, no pull harnesses just to name a few. Different dogs have different needs. Sometimes you need to experiment to find out what works best on
your dog.
Pulling on leash is a very common obedience problem for a lot
of dog owners. There are many different types of collars on the
market today. With all the choices dog owners have today it is
easy to get confused. In this email you'll discover a collar
that will stop your dog from pulling.
Choke collar, prong collar, pinch collar, dog collar, pulling,
heel, leash walking, gentle leader, halti, head collars, walking
on leash, obedience, dog behavior, behavior problems
Did you know that one of the biggest problems for dog owners
is leash walking? Every week I get a call from someone
complaining about the way their dog pulls.
It can actually be dangerous for you to walk your dog if he
is a really bad puller. I've seen people dragged down and hurt
by how hard their dog pulls.
I'm going to share with you here some valuable tips on leash
walking. Here they are:
Tip #1: Never try to walk a dog that has been cooped up all day.
If your dog has been lying around waiting for you, let him
burn off some of his energy before you take him for a walk.
Throw a ball, play tug-o-war, or do something to calm him down
before the walk.
Tip #2: Use a gentle leader.
One of the best collars on the market is the gentle leader
head collar. It works by controlling your dog's head. When
you control the head you can control the body, much the same
as a horse bridle is used. They really are great collars.
Tip #3: Teach him where you want him to be.
Your dog does not know that he is supposed to be walking on
your side. Spend some time using a lure. Put a little piece
of food in your left hand and hold it close to your dog's
nose. Have him follow the lure; reward him every five or
six feet. As he gets better, go for longer and longer periods.
Tip #4: Don't let your dog's opposition reflex kick in.
When you apply pressure, your dog will resist with counter-
pressure. If you pull back on the leash, he will resist and
pull harder...opposition reflex.
The secret to leash walking is always keeping the leash loose.
Don't allow the leash to become tight.
Good Luck!
A few years back a very distraught lady walked into my
office. When I looked at her, I thought she was recently
assaulted. She sat down and started to cry. I offered her
a glass of water and waited. When she calmed down a little
she started to explain that the two black eyes and the
broken nose were from her 95lb. black lab.
She told me that her dog was uncontrollable, that just a
couple of days before she had attempted to take him for a
walk. As she was leaving her house her dog saw a cat across
the street and took off. She held onto to the leash until
she tripped and went face first into the door jam - breaking
her nose and giving her the two black eyes.
She added that she really loved her dog but did not know how
she could keep him if she could not walk him. She tried choke
and prong collars but nothing was working.
I assured her that we could get her dog walking on leash and
showed her a Gentle Leader head collar. I explained that choke
collars are not very effective for most dogs. Prong or pinch
collars can be very effective but some dogs have a high
tolerance and do not get the results that you need.
Gentle Leaders are effective because they work by controlling
your dog's head. Where the head goes the body must follow.
Most training collars work by trying to control the dog's body.
A traditional collar that goes around your dog's neck allows your
dog to put all of his weight into the collar making it difficult
if not impossible to control the dog.
A Gentle Leader goes around your dog's nose. The leash is
attached under your dog's chin. When your dog tries to pull
his head will turn, making it very difficult to put his body
weight into it.
But there are some drawbacks to Gentle Leader head collars.
For instance:
The first time you put one on your dog there is a good chance
your dog is going to hate it. You really need to take some time
to get your dog used to it.
The other drawback is that the Gentle Leader looks like a
muzzle and people will think your dog is aggressive.
Once your dog is used to the Gentle Leader walking your dog
will be much more enjoyable. It really is like power steering
for your dog.
The distraught lady that I described at the beginning of this
email ended up keeping her lab. We did just two training sessions together and she has had no problems walking since then.
There are many different kinds of training collars and harnesses
for dogs. Gentle Leaders, choke collars, prong collars, no pull harnesses just to name a few. Different dogs have different needs. Sometimes you need to experiment to find out what works best on
your dog.
Pulling on leash is a very common obedience problem for a lot
of dog owners. There are many different types of collars on the
market today. With all the choices dog owners have today it is
easy to get confused. In this email you'll discover a collar
that will stop your dog from pulling.
Choke collar, prong collar, pinch collar, dog collar, pulling,
heel, leash walking, gentle leader, halti, head collars, walking
on leash, obedience, dog behavior, behavior problems
Did you know that one of the biggest problems for dog owners
is leash walking? Every week I get a call from someone
complaining about the way their dog pulls.
It can actually be dangerous for you to walk your dog if he
is a really bad puller. I've seen people dragged down and hurt
by how hard their dog pulls.
I'm going to share with you here some valuable tips on leash
walking. Here they are:
Tip #1: Never try to walk a dog that has been cooped up all day.
If your dog has been lying around waiting for you, let him
burn off some of his energy before you take him for a walk.
Throw a ball, play tug-o-war, or do something to calm him down
before the walk.
Tip #2: Use a gentle leader.
One of the best collars on the market is the gentle leader
head collar. It works by controlling your dog's head. When
you control the head you can control the body, much the same
as a horse bridle is used. They really are great collars.
Tip #3: Teach him where you want him to be.
Your dog does not know that he is supposed to be walking on
your side. Spend some time using a lure. Put a little piece
of food in your left hand and hold it close to your dog's
nose. Have him follow the lure; reward him every five or
six feet. As he gets better, go for longer and longer periods.
Tip #4: Don't let your dog's opposition reflex kick in.
When you apply pressure, your dog will resist with counter-
pressure. If you pull back on the leash, he will resist and
pull harder...opposition reflex.
The secret to leash walking is always keeping the leash loose.
Don't allow the leash to become tight.
Good Luck!
Aggressive versus Passive Dogs
Aggressive versus Passive Dogs
Just as humans have personalities and ways of acting, so do animals. When you decide to adopt a dog, one of the things you’ll take into consideration is whether you want to go for a passive quiet dog, an outgoing aggressive dog, or one somewhere in between. If you need or want a guard dog, obviously an aggressive type would be what you’d look for. If you have young children or are elderly, a more passive breed would be much better for your situation. When you start studying the breeds, you’ll know about general characteristics and once you start actually meeting some dogs; you’ll be able to evaluate individuals.
In the working world there are good reasons to pick one over the other. If you are in law-enforcement or security and employ a bomb sniffing dog, you definitely want one who is willing to sit quietly by the suspected weapon, rather than digging and pawing at it. If you need a dog for a K-9 police unit, he or she should be willing and able to chase and bring down a criminal. Drug dogs are also on the aggressive side as they learn to try and dig out the drugs they find. Those adorable little Beagles that work for US customs are a combination of both behaviours. They are assertive enough to seek out fruits and vegetables, but their training has taught them to just sit once they find them being smuggled or brought in by mistake.
Most areas, at least in cities, have strongly enforced leash laws, but there is always someone who doesn’t obey it or dogs that escape from their homes or leashes. Ideally an aggressive dog should never set eyes on an innocent person unless it’s through a high chain-link fence. Too many of us have found out the hard way that we should always expect the unexpected. Far too many people are attacked each year and severely injured or even killed. A lot of them are children. If for some reason you think you must have an aggressive dog, be sure that it can’t attack an innocent person. Also be aware that some of the “scarier” breeds do sometimes make wonderful pets, but they do have aggression in their heritage, and you never know when it will surface. If for instance you have a Rottweiler, Doberman Pincer, or Pit Bull, don’t let children unfamiliar with how to act around dogs anywhere near him unless they are properly supervised.
What should you do if you are out for a stroll or a run and suddenly find yourself confronted by an angry looking aggressive dog? Your first instinct is to run (if you’re not running already) but don’t do it. If you are running or jogging, slow way down and stop if the dog doesn’t back off. Don’t engage in eye contact with the dog and don’t make any sudden movements that may be seen by him as aggression on your part. Try being friendly using your best happy doggie voice. Turn your hands palm side up and start telling him or her that it’s such a lovely and sweet dog. Do your very best not to show how scared you actually are. With luck, the dog will believe you and want to be friends. Spend another minute interacting and then turn slowly and walk away. It may sound cruel but if you know you are likely to have an experience such as this you may want to start carrying pepper spray with you. Use it only as a last resort, but you do have a right to protect yourself. Once you are safe, report the problem to your local animal control so they can investigate why the dog is running loose.
Just as humans have personalities and ways of acting, so do animals. When you decide to adopt a dog, one of the things you’ll take into consideration is whether you want to go for a passive quiet dog, an outgoing aggressive dog, or one somewhere in between. If you need or want a guard dog, obviously an aggressive type would be what you’d look for. If you have young children or are elderly, a more passive breed would be much better for your situation. When you start studying the breeds, you’ll know about general characteristics and once you start actually meeting some dogs; you’ll be able to evaluate individuals.
In the working world there are good reasons to pick one over the other. If you are in law-enforcement or security and employ a bomb sniffing dog, you definitely want one who is willing to sit quietly by the suspected weapon, rather than digging and pawing at it. If you need a dog for a K-9 police unit, he or she should be willing and able to chase and bring down a criminal. Drug dogs are also on the aggressive side as they learn to try and dig out the drugs they find. Those adorable little Beagles that work for US customs are a combination of both behaviours. They are assertive enough to seek out fruits and vegetables, but their training has taught them to just sit once they find them being smuggled or brought in by mistake.
Most areas, at least in cities, have strongly enforced leash laws, but there is always someone who doesn’t obey it or dogs that escape from their homes or leashes. Ideally an aggressive dog should never set eyes on an innocent person unless it’s through a high chain-link fence. Too many of us have found out the hard way that we should always expect the unexpected. Far too many people are attacked each year and severely injured or even killed. A lot of them are children. If for some reason you think you must have an aggressive dog, be sure that it can’t attack an innocent person. Also be aware that some of the “scarier” breeds do sometimes make wonderful pets, but they do have aggression in their heritage, and you never know when it will surface. If for instance you have a Rottweiler, Doberman Pincer, or Pit Bull, don’t let children unfamiliar with how to act around dogs anywhere near him unless they are properly supervised.
What should you do if you are out for a stroll or a run and suddenly find yourself confronted by an angry looking aggressive dog? Your first instinct is to run (if you’re not running already) but don’t do it. If you are running or jogging, slow way down and stop if the dog doesn’t back off. Don’t engage in eye contact with the dog and don’t make any sudden movements that may be seen by him as aggression on your part. Try being friendly using your best happy doggie voice. Turn your hands palm side up and start telling him or her that it’s such a lovely and sweet dog. Do your very best not to show how scared you actually are. With luck, the dog will believe you and want to be friends. Spend another minute interacting and then turn slowly and walk away. It may sound cruel but if you know you are likely to have an experience such as this you may want to start carrying pepper spray with you. Use it only as a last resort, but you do have a right to protect yourself. Once you are safe, report the problem to your local animal control so they can investigate why the dog is running loose.
5/29/09
Dog stolen, beaten to death with shovel
Incident Date: Friday, Dec 29, 2006
County: Saint Francois
Charges: Felony CTA
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Danny Contello
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
Two men are facing animal abuse charges for allegedly torturing and beating a dog.
St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Wendy Wexler Horn has charged Nicholas Sansoucie, 26, of Bonne Terre, and Danny Contello, 19, of Doe Run, with felony animal abuse. The charge carries a sentence of up to four years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000.
According to the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department, a female boxer was stolen from a residence in East Bonne Terre and was later found dead at a residence on Old Bonne Terre Road.
"The owner of the dog contacted us on Dec. 29 and said she had located where her dog was," said Sheriff Dan Bullock. "She wanted a deputy to go with her to get the dog back."
Bullock said when the deputy and the owner arrived at the residence, the dog was dead.
"The deputy dug the dog up and it appeared that the dog had been beaten," Bullock said. "The dog was taken to a local veterinarian where it was determined that the dog had been beaten in the head with a shovel. An informant then told us that a 19-year-old Doe Run man (Contello) had beaten the dog to death with a shovel."
Bullock said Contello was arrested and found in possession of a controlled substance. In addition, police arrested Sansoucie and a 36-year-old Bonne Terre woman.
Bullock said the animal abuse charge is being sought against Sansoucie because according to the probable cause statement, he was with the Doe Run man when the dog was beaten. The probable cause statement states Sansoucie told police that he did not give the owner her dog back when she first showed up at the residence. He said he did not kill the dog but the other man did.
The third individual has not been charged. However, the case is still being reviewed by the prosecutor's office. Horn said she is not sure why the dog was beaten.
Case Updates
A Doe Run man arrested for killing a dog two years ago has been placed on five years of supervised probation.On Friday, Circuit Court Judge Kenneth W. Pratte placed Danny Contello, 21, on supervised probation for animal abuse and an unrelated charge of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident.
As part of the probation, he was ordered not to have any new pets. If he violates his probation, he could be sentenced up to six years in prison.
According to court records, on Dec. 30, 2006, Contello killed another person's female boxer by beating it in the head with a shovel. The dog had been stolen from a residence in East Bonne Terre and was later found dead at a residence on Old Bonne Terre Road.
In another incident, Contello left the scene of a vehicle accident on Route W on Oct. 5, 2006. Bystanders took him back to the scene of the accident where he gave police his brother's name and identification. He was found in possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
Dead Human Contamination Traced To Dry Dog Food
Source: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WEDNESDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News)
An outbreak of human Salmonella infection, which occurred as far back as 2006, has been traced to contaminated dry dog food, the first time such a link has been uncovered, according to U.S. officials.
And, Salmonella infections in humans from dry dog food may be an under-recognized source of illness in people, especially young children, officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
"This is the first time human illness has been linked to dry dog food," said CDC epidemiologist Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, who co-authored a report on the finding.
The CDC isn't sure how the Salmonella bacteria got into the dog food, Barton Behravesh said. "There are a number of possible ways that that could happen, and that's something we are still trying to figure out," she said, adding that there have been previous cases of people contracting Salmonella infection from contaminated pet treats.
The incidents of people becoming infected with Salmonella from dry dog food occurred in 2006 and 2007. An estimated 70 people, mostly in the Northeast, were infected by dog food produced by Mars Petcare at its Pennsylvania plant. About 40 percent of those infections involved infants, according to the report, published in the May 16 issue of the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Most of the cases occurred in Pennsylvania (29), New York (nine) and Ohio (seven). There were also reported cases in Alabama, California, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, North Carolina and Virginia.
Among the 61 people whose ages were available, the median age was 3 years, and 24 were less than 1 year old. Of the 38 people for whom clinical information was available, 15 (39 percent) had bloody diarrhea. For the 45 persons whose hospitalization status was known, 11 (24 percent) had to be hospitalized. No deaths were reported, according to the report.
No pets became ill. However, Salmonella was identified in feces samples from dogs that ate the dry food. In addition, Salmonella was found in open bags of the pet food fed to the dogs and in unopened bags of dog food made in the Pennsylvania plant, the CDC said.
Mars Petcare voluntarily recalled some bags of the two brands of food involved, but neither of the recalled brands was related to human illness, the CDC said.
Infection with the Salmonella bacteria produces an illness called salmonellosis. According to the CDC, most infected people develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours. The illness typically lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. But, for some, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. In these patients, the infection can spread from the intestines to the blood stream, and then to other parts of the body, leading to death unless antibiotics are administered promptly. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.
Salmonella infection typically comes from undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat, but can also result from direct contact with farm animals, reptiles and pets. To prevent infection, the CDC recommends washing your hands immediately after handling the food, including dry dog food.
"The most important thing is to wash your hands right after you handle any dry dog food, any other pet food, pet treats, even supplements or vitamins," Barton Behravesh said. "In addition, keep infants and other young children away from pet food, because kids tend to want to see what their dogs are eating and grab at the pet food and play with it or even put it in their mouth."
One expert thinks contamination of pet food is likely to become more commonplace.
"There have been problems with pet foods before," said Dr. Pascal James Imperato, chairman of the department of preventive medicine and community health at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in New York City.
"If the food had any animal product in it, there could have been contamination, or if it was being processed in a plant where they were also processing animal product, then contamination can easily occur," he said.
Imperato said the way food is produced makes it more likely that contamination will occur.
"There is greater industrialization of the production of food products, both for humans and animals, and these are complex processing systems. Therefore, there is greater opportunity for contamination," Imperato said. "We are likely to see many more of these problems."
Stop Dog Cruelty
Dog cruelty is a very common problem here in the Philippines. There are a lot of types of dog violence today from electric collars to just simply beating them up. Some UNWORTHY dog owners loves to torture, slap, whip, punch, and batter innocent and misunderstood dogs. Some UNWORTHY dog owners even do their best to send their dogs to "Sabong" where dogs tend to fight till death is received. Lots of things that people do can harm dogs sometimes consciously or unconsciously meaning they can harm animals with intention and without intention. An example of consciously harming animals is by beating them up just because a dog did something you did not want. People harm dogs due to recklesnes.
I repeat Very Important Pets Online is AGAINST DOG VIOLENCE!!!
For now we cannot do anything yet but to change ourselves first. There are certain ways to prevent this
= Learn to understand dogs, Of course you cannot Understand them easily and it'll take some time to do some research. Dogs can't understand people to. So I sudgest you do the first move.
= Be Patient. Incase your dog did something that you did not like, learn to just understand that a dog gotta do this, a dog gotta do that.
= Train them to be a good dog. It'll take sometime but it's surely worth it.
= If your purpose of getting a dog is to gamble some money at a "SABONG". If this is what your dog will end up doing, here's an advice to you. Just don't get a dog at all! why get a dog if you won't take care of it.
= Be aware of your actions. Dogs are like humans, both a living thing.
So please do take care of your dogs. Love them, Care for them, and be a responsible owner.
5/28/09
Dogs That Can Smell Cnacer
ScienceDaily — In a society where lung and breast cancers are leading causes of cancer death worldwide, early detection of the disease is highly desirable. In a new scientific study, researchers present astonishing new evidence that man's best friend, the dog, may have the capacity to contribute to the process of early cancer detection.
In this study which will be published in the March 2006 issue of the journal Integrative Cancer Therapies published by SAGE Publications, researchers reveal scientific evidence that a dog's extraordinary scenting ability can distinguish people with both early and late stage lung and breast cancers from healthy controls. The research, which was performed in California, was recently documented by the BBC in the United Kingdom, and is soon to be aired in the United States.
Other scientific studies have documented the abilities of dogs to identify chemicals that are diluted as low as parts per trillion. The clinical implications of canine olfaction first came to light in the case report of a dog alerting its owner to the presence of a melanoma by constantly sniffing the skin lesion. Subsequent studies published in major medical journals confirmed the ability of trained dogs to detect both melanomas and bladder cancers. The new study, led by Michael McCulloch of the Pine Street Foundation in San Anselmo, California, and Tadeusz Jezierski of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, is the first to test whether dogs can detect cancers only by sniffing the exhaled breath of cancer patients.
In this study, five household dogs were trained within a short 3-week period to detect lung or breast cancer by sniffing the breath of cancer participants. The trial itself consisted of 86 cancer patients (55 with lung cancer and 31 with breast cancer) and a control sample of 83 healthy patients. All cancer patients had recently been diagnosed with cancer through biopsy-confirmed conventional methods such as a mammogram, or CAT scan and had not yet undergone any chemotherapy treatment. During the study, the dogs were presented with breath samples from the cancer patients and the controls, captured in a special tube. Dogs were trained to give a positive identification of a cancer patient by sitting or lying down directly in front of a test station containing a cancer patient sample, while ignoring control samples. Standard, humane methods of dog training employing food rewards and a clicker, as well as assessment of the dog's behavior by observers blinded to the identity of the cancer patient and control samples, were used in the experiment.
The results of the study showed that dogs can detect breast and lung cancer with sensitivity and specificity between 88% and 97%. The high accuracy persisted even after results were adjusted to take into account whether the lung cancer patients were currently smokers. Moreover, the study also confirmed that the trained dogs could even detect the early stages of lung cancer, as well as early breast cancer. The researchers concluded that breath analysis has the potential to provide a substantial reduction in the uncertainty currently seen in cancer diagnosis, once further work has been carried out to standardize and expand this methodology.
This study was supported by the MACH Foundation (Fairfax, CA), Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Rafael, CA) and Frank and Carol Rosemary (Kentfield, CA).
The article "Diagnostic Accuracy of Canine Scent Detection in Early and Late Stage Lung and Breast Cancers" can be accessed at no-charge for a limited time on the Integrative Cancer Therapies web site at http://ict.sagepub.com.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060106002944.htm
In this study which will be published in the March 2006 issue of the journal Integrative Cancer Therapies published by SAGE Publications, researchers reveal scientific evidence that a dog's extraordinary scenting ability can distinguish people with both early and late stage lung and breast cancers from healthy controls. The research, which was performed in California, was recently documented by the BBC in the United Kingdom, and is soon to be aired in the United States.
Other scientific studies have documented the abilities of dogs to identify chemicals that are diluted as low as parts per trillion. The clinical implications of canine olfaction first came to light in the case report of a dog alerting its owner to the presence of a melanoma by constantly sniffing the skin lesion. Subsequent studies published in major medical journals confirmed the ability of trained dogs to detect both melanomas and bladder cancers. The new study, led by Michael McCulloch of the Pine Street Foundation in San Anselmo, California, and Tadeusz Jezierski of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, is the first to test whether dogs can detect cancers only by sniffing the exhaled breath of cancer patients.
In this study, five household dogs were trained within a short 3-week period to detect lung or breast cancer by sniffing the breath of cancer participants. The trial itself consisted of 86 cancer patients (55 with lung cancer and 31 with breast cancer) and a control sample of 83 healthy patients. All cancer patients had recently been diagnosed with cancer through biopsy-confirmed conventional methods such as a mammogram, or CAT scan and had not yet undergone any chemotherapy treatment. During the study, the dogs were presented with breath samples from the cancer patients and the controls, captured in a special tube. Dogs were trained to give a positive identification of a cancer patient by sitting or lying down directly in front of a test station containing a cancer patient sample, while ignoring control samples. Standard, humane methods of dog training employing food rewards and a clicker, as well as assessment of the dog's behavior by observers blinded to the identity of the cancer patient and control samples, were used in the experiment.
The results of the study showed that dogs can detect breast and lung cancer with sensitivity and specificity between 88% and 97%. The high accuracy persisted even after results were adjusted to take into account whether the lung cancer patients were currently smokers. Moreover, the study also confirmed that the trained dogs could even detect the early stages of lung cancer, as well as early breast cancer. The researchers concluded that breath analysis has the potential to provide a substantial reduction in the uncertainty currently seen in cancer diagnosis, once further work has been carried out to standardize and expand this methodology.
This study was supported by the MACH Foundation (Fairfax, CA), Guide Dogs for the Blind (San Rafael, CA) and Frank and Carol Rosemary (Kentfield, CA).
The article "Diagnostic Accuracy of Canine Scent Detection in Early and Late Stage Lung and Breast Cancers" can be accessed at no-charge for a limited time on the Integrative Cancer Therapies web site at http://ict.sagepub.com.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/01/060106002944.htm
Are you making one of these dog training mistakes?
Went for a hike with my dog Jimmy yesterday, Three
miles later, I came home and my wife Rachael was in
the backyard planting flowers.
She had 170 flowers to plant.
I could have went in the house with Jim but I grabbed
a shovel and started helping her.
Nobody told me that married life was going to be
so hard.
Jim found a nice shady spot and went to sleep.
Anyway, today I am starting a three-part series
entitled, "The 3 Most Common Dog Training Mistakes
And How To Avoid Them."
As we go through this week, check to see how many
of these mistakes you are making with your dog training
and what you can do to correct them.
Doing this will get you much better results with your
dog training.
Most Common Dog Training Mistake #1: Waiting to train
Waiting to train is the biggest mistake I see year after
year. Some of the worst advice ever given is the "Wait
until your dog is 6 months old."
By waiting, your dog develops behaviors that have to be
unlearned. It's much easier to prevent a behavior than
it is to try and teach a dog to stop doing a behavior.
For instance, it is much easier to teach a puppy to greet
without jumping than it is to train a 6 month old dog to
stop jumping once the behavior has been learned.
It's also important to start training as soon as you see
any behaviors you don't like. A perfect example is
aggression.
Most of the aggressive dogs that I have dealt had owners
that waited until the dog actually bit someone before they
called me, even though all the warning signs were there.
At the first signs of aggression, the owner should contact
a trainer and start working with the dog. Aggression is like
a snowball going downhill. It starts as a small ball of snow
and then gets bigger and bigger until it is uncontrollable.
Always take action when it comes to training.
"Movement always beats meditation." Gary Halbert
All the best,
Eric
miles later, I came home and my wife Rachael was in
the backyard planting flowers.
She had 170 flowers to plant.
I could have went in the house with Jim but I grabbed
a shovel and started helping her.
Nobody told me that married life was going to be
so hard.
Jim found a nice shady spot and went to sleep.
Anyway, today I am starting a three-part series
entitled, "The 3 Most Common Dog Training Mistakes
And How To Avoid Them."
As we go through this week, check to see how many
of these mistakes you are making with your dog training
and what you can do to correct them.
Doing this will get you much better results with your
dog training.
Most Common Dog Training Mistake #1: Waiting to train
Waiting to train is the biggest mistake I see year after
year. Some of the worst advice ever given is the "Wait
until your dog is 6 months old."
By waiting, your dog develops behaviors that have to be
unlearned. It's much easier to prevent a behavior than
it is to try and teach a dog to stop doing a behavior.
For instance, it is much easier to teach a puppy to greet
without jumping than it is to train a 6 month old dog to
stop jumping once the behavior has been learned.
It's also important to start training as soon as you see
any behaviors you don't like. A perfect example is
aggression.
Most of the aggressive dogs that I have dealt had owners
that waited until the dog actually bit someone before they
called me, even though all the warning signs were there.
At the first signs of aggression, the owner should contact
a trainer and start working with the dog. Aggression is like
a snowball going downhill. It starts as a small ball of snow
and then gets bigger and bigger until it is uncontrollable.
Always take action when it comes to training.
"Movement always beats meditation." Gary Halbert
All the best,
Eric
5/27/09
"Dead" Dog found alive
Dogs are rising from the dead in Timaru.
A project by district council staff to identify unregistered dogs in the district found about 1000, several of which the owners had claimed were dead.
Failing to register a very alive Fido cost one owner in excess of $1500 the cost of the two $750 fines for providing false information to council staff. And there was still the licence fee to be paid.
That was not the only "dead" dog staff came across during the project.
In another case a nine-year-old dog had been registered only once, building and environmental services manager David Armstrong said.
Staff had located the unregistered dogs by several methods including information from neighbours and dog complaints.
The project aimed to improve the accuracy of council records and added just over 1000 dogs to the 7062 registered in the district in 2007-08. In spite of the number of dogs found, Mr Armstrong believed there were still more that were unregistered.
In the last nine months 280 owners received infringement notices for having unregistered dogs, whereas 123 were fined for the whole of the last financial year and 30 in 2006-07.
Those who fail to register their animals on time will also be facing penalties. Letters will be sent out on June 30, reminder notices on August 1 and those unregistered at September 1 will have to pay an additional 50 per cent. Dogs still unregistered on October 1 will pay the additional fee as well as receiving an infringement notice.
The number of dangerous and menacing dogs have both increased this financial year. Dangerous dogs are those that have been involved in an attack, while a menacing dog is defined by either "breed or deed". There were eight dangerous dogs, while menacing dogs increased four-fold to more than 120.
Mr Armstrong suggested the public's greater awareness of dog owners' obligations was responsible for the increase in the number of dogs classified as menacing.
In the nine months to the end of March, staff had received 1769 dog-related requests, whereas there were only 300 more in the whole 2007-08 year.
He attributed that same public awareness for the increase in the number of dogs impounded 473 in 2007-08 and 410 in the nine months to the end of March.
Fewer dogs were being collected from the pound. Mr Armstrong said the impounding fee was the likely reason, although the owner still had to pay those fees regardless of whether the dog was collected. The number of dogs having to be destroyed was also well up with 166 destroyed between July and the end of March, a similar number to the whole of 2007-08 ye
Only a handful of dogs have been adopted from the pound.
Mr Armstrong said what was pleasing was there were fewer incidents of dogs biting other animals, although complaints of dogs attacking people or vehicles were possibly on the increase with the 23 incidents reported in the last nine months being one more than in the previous 12 months.
Dog searches a school for drugs
Police drug dogs were used to search a New Plymouth school after three students were caught smoking cannabis.
The year 9 Sacred Heart Girls' College students were in uniform when they were caught with the drugs last month, but it was out of school hours and off the school grounds.
The girls were suspended from the school for seven days but have since returned with special conditions.
Police used sniffer dogs to search the school on March 31, at the school's request. No drugs were found.
The random search shocked many students at the Catholic school.
Sacred Heart Girls' College board of trustees chairman Robin Brockie said he was disappointed the girls had been smoking cannabis.
"They have let themselves down and, yes, they have let the school down," Mr Brockie said. "I think that we have concerns about lots of things and that [drug use] is one of them."
He said police drug dogs were used to search the school at least once a year.
"Police dogs periodically come to Taranaki and are used in schools.
"We're trying to reinforce with the students the rules about not having it and that is one way of doing it."
Students had to leave their belongings in classrooms while the dogs searched. They were then returned to their classrooms where they had to stay for three hours while the rest of the school was searched.
"I'm sure some of them [students] were quite surprised.
"It is not a normal day at school."
Mr Brockie would not say if the boarding hostels were searched or what conditions had been placed on the three suspended students.
Principal Rose Sawaya told the students of the reason for the search at an assembly a week later.
Senior Sergeant Selwyn Wansbrough would not comment on police involvement in any specific incidents at schools.
"Schools and other organisations are entitled to contact police for advice or assistance and expect police to respect confidences," he said.
Mr Wansbrough said it would depend on the circumstances and seriousness of the case whether a school reported finding students with illegal drugs.
"Schools often liaise with police over such matters. Schools will often deal with such things, without going to court."
Mr Wansbrough said other measures, including police Youth Aid and community police, were used to deal with problems in schools.
Dogs Learn Morals From Owners
New research has gone to the dogs and discovered that canines pick up on the morals of their owners.
Research by University of Vienna scientists reveals that dogs "show a strong aversion to inequity", and can develop a sense of right and wrong.
The Austrian experts base their theories on the fact dogs will play with each other but this will rarely end in a full-on scrap, showing they abide by social rules.
LandSAR search dog handler Dave Krehic believed dogs like his five-year-old German shorthaired pointer Stig learned their sense of right and wrong from their owners.
"It's totally how someone brings it up. It's just like a child," said Krehic.
However, nature played a part as well as nurture. "They are a living thing and like humans there are some good ones and there are some bad ones. Some people say their dog would never be aggressive, but I think that could be brought out in most of them."
University of Otago associate professor of animal behaviour Ian Jamieson said it could be argued that dogs had developed a perceived "morality" as a way to order their society.
"Humans, like dogs, are very social and you need to have certain rules of engagement, otherwise there is complete chaos," said Jamieson. "People are interpreting morality in that sense when they look at dogs, but they could well be very basic fundamental behaviours that animals exhibit."
The president of the Selwyn District Kennel Society, Gary Doyle, said dogs could do more than just behave in a morally correct way they could expose some people by their actions. "We used a dog I had as a barometer of who we should sell pups to. If he went over to them and stayed by them, it was a sign he didn't trust them."
The Most Dangerous Dog Breed Ever
Forget rottweilers and pit bull terriers - the floppy eared, doe-eyed cocker spaniel is being singled out as one of the world's most aggressive dogs.
Kiwi owners and breeders have leapt to the defence of the "devoted and lovable" breed after a Spanish study looked at 1000 cases of dog aggression between 1998 and 2006.
Most were attributed to cocker spaniels, rottweilers, boxers, yorkshire terriers and german shepherds. But the study found english cocker spaniels were more likely than other dogs to act aggressively toward their owners and strangers.
However, Gloria Odiam, a New Zealand cocker spaniel breeder for 30 years, found the study hard to fathom.
"I don't know what they're breeding over there, but [there's] nothing like that here."
English cocker spaniels were "very much a family dog", Mrs Odiam said. "I've never heard of any problems with them."
Responsible breeders would not breed from "snappy" dogs. "That's why you should never go to a back-street breeder."
Wellington english cocker spaniel owner Bruce Klein said his dog, nine-year-old Archie, was "a joy to have in the house".
"He is a full-on dog, quite excitable, but very well-behaved and great with kids."
Archie was never aggressive, Mr Klein said. "We were especially sure when we got him as a puppy to make sure he was well-behaved."
Archie was fearless when it came to fireworks, however a result of his gun-dog pedigree. "He's not one to cower under the couch."
According to the Pedigree dog website, cocker spaniels are "devoted and lovable". "This merry little dog makes a wonderful family friend and a devoted companion."
Dog Saliva: the Next Wonder Drug? Article #1234 by Ned Rozell
In the name of science, Kyle Manger and Joel Cladouhos sat down in front of Kyle's Labrador retriever, Yogi, and started to eat dinner. Almost instantly, gelatinous icicles of drool began dripping from the dog's jowls.
Instead of being grossed out, the two sophomores at Juneau-Douglas High School held a sterile glass tube under the stream and collected Yogi's saliva for use in their science fair experiment, titled "Dog Saliva: The Next Wonder Drug?"
Seven-hundred miles north, in Fairbanks, West Valley High School senior Patryce McKinney was busy reaching inside the mouths of 102 dogs to complete her award-winning science project, titled "Antibiotics and Dog Saliva."
Each of the students, who hadn't heard of one another's projects, became interested in the rumored ability of dog saliva to kill bacteria. Joel said his father works at a health clinic where a nurse said that wounds inflicted by human bites get infected more often than dog bite wounds. Patryce had heard that a wound will heal faster if you let a dog lick it.
They went about their experiments a bit differently. Kyle and Joel, both 15 and students of John Norton's introductory biology course, used sterile cotton swabs to collect samples containing bacteria found at their school. They swabbed a hand, nose, ear, mouth, and a table, and placed their samples in a petri dish on a bed of agar, a seaweed-derived substance that acts as bacteria food.
After the bacteria had flourished a few days, they made a broth of each type. They then simultaneously placed the bacteria broth and dog saliva in new agar dishes, and let them react for two days.
Patryce, 18, a student of Don Peterson's biotechnology class, obtained millions of Escherichia coli, a disease-causing bacteria commonly found in human and dog feces, from a biological supply company. She made an E.-coli broth, from which she grew a "lawn" of the one-celled organisms on a petri dish.
On her saliva quest, Patryce advertised in the West Valley teacher's lounge for volunteer dogs, and she also went to the animal shelter. Including her border collie, Oreo, she sampled 102 dogs. She chose dogs of different breeds and ages so no particular breed trait would skew her results.
Patryce went straight to the source; wearing latex gloves, she touched a tiny circle of sterile filter paper directly to the rear upper gum of the dogs, back by the molars.
Two of a dog's four saliva ducts, the zygomatic and parotid, empty saliva from glands of the same name at the points from where Patryce sampled. She said she wanted "fresh stuff" as opposed to saliva off the tongue.
After gathering three samples from each dog, Patryce placed the saliva-drenched paper on the E. coli lawns, and, as Kyle and Joel did, looked for "rings of inhibition," where the saliva slowed or stopped the growth of bacteria.
Their findings: Kyle and Joel found that dog saliva did inhibit growth, especially on nose mucous bacteria, but they also found many types of bacteria in the dog saliva itself. They concluded perhaps dog saliva is not the next wonder drug.
Patryce found that in 16 percent of her samples, E. coli growth was inhibited by the dog saliva, which to her was significant enough to show that the antibiotic properties of dog saliva merit further study.
"But it wasn't enough for me to start mass production of dog spit and marketing it," she said.
In a 1990 study done at the University of California, Davis, researchers found dog saliva killed E. coli and Streptococcus canis, another harmful bacteria. The scientists concluded that when mother dogs licked their nipples it helped keep puppies free from disease, and that dogs licking their own wounds accomplished the same goal.
I'll never turn my head from my dog's kiss again.
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF12/1234.html
Instead of being grossed out, the two sophomores at Juneau-Douglas High School held a sterile glass tube under the stream and collected Yogi's saliva for use in their science fair experiment, titled "Dog Saliva: The Next Wonder Drug?"
Seven-hundred miles north, in Fairbanks, West Valley High School senior Patryce McKinney was busy reaching inside the mouths of 102 dogs to complete her award-winning science project, titled "Antibiotics and Dog Saliva."
Each of the students, who hadn't heard of one another's projects, became interested in the rumored ability of dog saliva to kill bacteria. Joel said his father works at a health clinic where a nurse said that wounds inflicted by human bites get infected more often than dog bite wounds. Patryce had heard that a wound will heal faster if you let a dog lick it.
They went about their experiments a bit differently. Kyle and Joel, both 15 and students of John Norton's introductory biology course, used sterile cotton swabs to collect samples containing bacteria found at their school. They swabbed a hand, nose, ear, mouth, and a table, and placed their samples in a petri dish on a bed of agar, a seaweed-derived substance that acts as bacteria food.
After the bacteria had flourished a few days, they made a broth of each type. They then simultaneously placed the bacteria broth and dog saliva in new agar dishes, and let them react for two days.
Patryce, 18, a student of Don Peterson's biotechnology class, obtained millions of Escherichia coli, a disease-causing bacteria commonly found in human and dog feces, from a biological supply company. She made an E.-coli broth, from which she grew a "lawn" of the one-celled organisms on a petri dish.
On her saliva quest, Patryce advertised in the West Valley teacher's lounge for volunteer dogs, and she also went to the animal shelter. Including her border collie, Oreo, she sampled 102 dogs. She chose dogs of different breeds and ages so no particular breed trait would skew her results.
Patryce went straight to the source; wearing latex gloves, she touched a tiny circle of sterile filter paper directly to the rear upper gum of the dogs, back by the molars.
Two of a dog's four saliva ducts, the zygomatic and parotid, empty saliva from glands of the same name at the points from where Patryce sampled. She said she wanted "fresh stuff" as opposed to saliva off the tongue.
After gathering three samples from each dog, Patryce placed the saliva-drenched paper on the E. coli lawns, and, as Kyle and Joel did, looked for "rings of inhibition," where the saliva slowed or stopped the growth of bacteria.
Their findings: Kyle and Joel found that dog saliva did inhibit growth, especially on nose mucous bacteria, but they also found many types of bacteria in the dog saliva itself. They concluded perhaps dog saliva is not the next wonder drug.
Patryce found that in 16 percent of her samples, E. coli growth was inhibited by the dog saliva, which to her was significant enough to show that the antibiotic properties of dog saliva merit further study.
"But it wasn't enough for me to start mass production of dog spit and marketing it," she said.
In a 1990 study done at the University of California, Davis, researchers found dog saliva killed E. coli and Streptococcus canis, another harmful bacteria. The scientists concluded that when mother dogs licked their nipples it helped keep puppies free from disease, and that dogs licking their own wounds accomplished the same goal.
I'll never turn my head from my dog's kiss again.
http://www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF12/1234.html
How smart is your dog
Assessing Dog Intelligence
There are a lot of people who naturally assume that a dog that learns quickly and easily is more intelligent than one who takes longer to train. Some people believe that the dog that learns faster is just more willing to obey and that it has nothing to do with how smart they are. They often think that dogs who are escape artists or wily hunters are actually the ones with the brains. Opinions vary as to the intelligence of guide dogs as well. One school of thought says that since they learn certain cues and signals they are just trying to please their masters each time they perform. The other school would remind us that in fact they must learn a lot of complex commands and must constantly be on the alert. They are responsible for the safety of their human companion and new situations arise all the time.
Various ways of measuring a dog’s intelligence have been devised. Some of them evaluate how they respond to specific events, while others see how many human words they can recognize, a vocabulary test of sorts. Ask yourself this question; if you place a dog in a room he isn’t normally allowed in, is he more intelligent if he waits quietly to be let out, or if he tries to figure out how to open the door and escape (or barks to be let out)? The point is that there are different ways to interpret tests and scientists who study canines may look at test scores and methods from various subjective viewpoints. So evaluating dog intelligence is open to as much interpretation as is doing it for humans.
Stanley Coren wrote a book entitled “The Intelligence of Dogs” in 1994. He talks about different ways of measuring how intelligent dogs are and goes further by breaking them down into categories. He looks at adaptive intelligence or how he learns as he is established in his environment, instinctive intelligence which is inbred, and working/ obedience intelligence, and how well he does with commands.
Coren has designed a series of tests that anyone can administer to his or her dog to evaluate how they measure up. The problem is that if you wish to test a dog before you adopt him, the results might not be what you want. Some of his recommendations are that the dog is one year old at the minimum, should have been living with the tester for a period of some months, and been in the same environment for more than two months.
You can devise your own tests to measure how intelligent your dog is and you can read about it in books and on the Internet in great detail. It really seems that a dog’s IQ score shouldn’t matter that much. If you are adopting or already have a pet dog in your family, then what you should be interested in is his temperament and his willingness to follow your commands, at least enough so that he has some manners. If you want a dog for a specific job, then you would talk to breeders about various characteristics in different breeds. Chances are anyway that your interpretation of any tests will be as subjective as the test itself.
Today’s dog is in a new era as far as his learning programs are concerned. During the last 20 or so years dog training has taken on an entirely new look. Humans have become more enlightened in many cases and want to do more with their dogs than just teach them the basic commands. Many people are taking more care with how they choose a dog that will fit in with their families and their lifestyles. They also want to understand more about their four-legged friend’s motivation so that they can learn to use behaviour modification when it’s called for. More people than ever before are opting to take their dogs to a trainer, but they aren’t just picking a name out of the phone book. They want to know that the obedience trainer they choose is well-qualified and actually has insight into dogs and why they act the way they do. As a result you’re much more likely to find someone to help you with your dog who has received special training on a much deeper level than in the past.
Your goals should be to find someone who understands what motivates dogs, how to reinforce or eliminate certain actions without punishing them, can teach your dog to perform any task you wish him to, and knows the difference behind bribing him to do something and rewarding him for doing it right.
To gain this knowledge there are some basics they need to study that are at a much deeper level than they formerly did. For instance they should understand the specific ways that dogs learn, how the various learning theories have evolved, how to use psychology in training, and the differences that breeds will make in dog behaviour.
Since we’ve been talking about dog psychology, some terms to be aware of are classical and operant conditioning techniques. These are terms commonly heard in the psych world. An example of operant conditioning would be to employ positive reinforcement. Say you want to teach your puppy to sit on command. If you use a treat to shape them into position, add a word such as “good” or use a clicker, and then give them a treat when they complete the task, you are positively reinforcing his behaviour. You would add the command word (“sit”) after a few practices so that the dog would end up being lured into the correct position.
In the traditional method, you physically push down on the dog’s rear end while telling him to sit and he eventually learns to associate the word “sit” with the action. Generally speaking, traditional methods use more physical force such as pulling on the leash or even jerking them into position.
Canine learning theory holds that positive reinforcement is a much more sensible as well as kinder way to teach your dog to behave appropriately. Not only that but it works very well as a dog is more likely to respond positively to someone who cares enough to have his best interests as heart as well as just the human viewpoint. You are much less likely to see neurotic behaviour in a dog that is trained without being bullied. These are just a few points about learning theory, but it should be enough to help you want to join the millions of dog lovers who are moving away from the traditional “I’m the human and you’re just the dog”, school of thinking.
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