Picking up Little Wolfie

Sometimes when I pick up Wolfie, he gives a little whimp or tries to give me a little nip.  What can I do to make sure that Wolfie is fine when I pick him up?

The most important aspect of picking up Wolfie is to make sure that you are not hurting or startling him.  He must feel comfortable during the entire process and be assured that you are always keeping him safe and secure.  Here are some qeneral tips:

• Never let small children pick up Wolfie.  Wolfie might squirm and they might drop him.  They might also squeeze him and he might nip to tell them that he is being hurt.
• Dont pick up big dogs.  They can easily squirm and you will drop them.  If you need to get your big dog into a car or on a bed, build a ramp or get some "doggie stairs".  This will assure that Wolfie will kept safe and you wont hurt your back.

Now, lets discuss how to pick him up, assuming that Wolfie is a medium to small dog and you have the ability to pick him up:

• Lightly stroke Wolfie to make sure that he has no sores or aches.  Trying to pick up a doggie with painful spots is not a good thing.
• Slowly approach Wolfie and calmly grab him around his belly.  Picking up a dog by grabbing them under their front legs can, at times, be painful.
• Wait for a moment and then slowly lift him up to your chest.  Once he is there, praise him with a high pitched "Good Puppy".
• Turn him and hold him against your chest while holding him with both arms.  He should be "right side up" so that his belly is resting in your forearms while you have one arm holding him in place.
• Slowly pet him by taking your hand and stroking him down his body.
• Keep the environment calm and quiet.  Loud noises or fast movement might startle him and you might drop him.  This is not good.
• If Wolfie displays any anxiety or begins to squirm, put him down immediately.
• When you are ready to put him down, return to holding him with both hands under his belly.
• Slowly lower him, letting him see where his feet will touch the ground.
• Once both feet are on the ground, praise him with a high pitched "Good Puppy" and let him loose.

Picking up Wolfie is a process of bonding and trust that is critical in the relationship you are trying to create with your dog.  Doing it correctly helps create a great experience.  As dog trainers, we have seen that improper grabbing and picking up of dogs can create lasting behavior issues.

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Dog Training Two Approaches

Are you interested in a Career in Dog Training, or would like to become a Dog Trainer?

Do you desire to train your canine friend? Then, as you become a dog trainer, you have to choose between 2 equally effective methods to dog teaching: classical and operant conditioning.

Classical conditioning is a subject of association. Basically, you will be required to introduce motivators to your dog, to train him to response in a certain way when he comes across specific motivators. For instance, ringing a bell right before feeding him a meal will make him anticipate a meal every time he perceives the sound of a bell ring. Treating him a dog treat each time he turns over on the floor will in due course make him turn over on the floor when shown a dog treat.

Classical conditioning is said to be the more effective of the 2 methods in dog teaching.

Though, operant conditioning is a very close substitute.

Operant conditioning involves the introduction of negative or positive fortifications throughout the program of dog teaching. Positive fortifications are rewards you will give for your pet whenever he does anything approving. The thought is to educate your pet to keep on doing these achievements so that he can get his rewards. Negative fortifications are castigations inflicted upon the pet whenever he does anything unfavorable.

Some dog trainers would say that positive fortifications should be preferred over negative fortifications. Who would wish to see his pet be in pain, after all?

Though, some dog types take action better to negative fortifications rather than positive fortifications. English bulldogs, pugs and spitzes, for instance, are more sensitive to education when punished for their errors.

Negative fortifications, on the other hand, can be devastating for specific dog breeds. A German Shepherd, once punished, may resent his master forever. A Shih Tzu can cut his liking for a master who commences negative fortifications all through his training. The same goes for a Pomeranian.

Inexperienced at dog teaching or the Career in Dog Training?

It is sensible to take the classical conditioning course first because it is undemanding to pull off.

A career in Dog Training, or just the desire to become a dog trainer entails serious consideration.

If you would like to learn more about a career in dog training or how to become a dog trainer, click on Dog Training Career .OR Become a Dog Trainer

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Dog Behaviour Training

At some point in time all of us dog owners need to administer some dog behavior training. This is sometimes called "behavior modificaton" and it basically means solving your dogs behavior problems.

There are loads of dog behavior problems, they can affect all dog breeds, at any time throughout your dogs life. Ive listed some of the more common dog behavior problems below, and importantly some proven dog behavior training methods to correct them. I will continue to add to this resource over the next few months. Hopefully this information proves to be a valuable resource for you - and your dog. 

I expand further on these rules within the specific dog behavior problems listed below.

• A great number of puppy and dog behavioral problems are the result of separation anxiety.
• Many behavior problems (such as barking, biting and digging) stem from a lack of communication, or miscommunication between you the owner and your dog. Simply put, your dog is not aware of what is expected of him/her (Ill just say him from now on to make it easier).
• Applying some proper obedience training at an early stage (the earlier the better!) is a most effective technique to correct any behavior problems, and also to prevent any future problems. The fact that you are reading this page possibly means it is too late for this tip!
• Set boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behavior for your dogs, and stick to them. Be consistent, make it simple for your dog:
  • Be clear that you are always the alpha dog or leader in your owner-dog relationship.
  • Make it clear to him what is unacceptable behavior - every time.
  • Make it clear to him what is acceptable behavior - every time.
• Even though it may seem as though your dog is behaving poorly to spite you or annoy you this is not the case. In the vast majority of dog behavior problems there will be a cause or trigger which sparks the behavior. Identifying these triggers is the crucial first step towards solving the problem.
• Be careful you are not inadvertently rewarding the very behavior you are trying to eliminate. An example of this would be if your dog is barking excessively outside, you then go to the door and call him inside. Youre encouraging and rewarding the behavior, and therefore he is sure to do it again!.

Dog Behavior Training Can Make An
Enormous Difference To Your Dogs Life

Its a sad fact of life that the vast majority of dogs that end up in animal shelters (or worse) are there because of a bad behavioral problem. It doesnt have to be this way, most problems (like aggression and destructive behavior) are at the very least manageable, through proper dog behavior training.

If you consistently apply the proper training techniques and add some commitment and patience, you are sure to achieve pleasing results with your dog. 

reference;

http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/dog-behavior-training.html

see also;

http://web2mall.blogspot.com

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Adult Dog Training 3 Ways to stop Jumping Up

Adult Dog Training - 3 Ways to stop Jumping Up

So youve been given or have aquired somehow, an adult dog.
Often a big problem can be jumping up.

Dogs are extremely sociable creatures and want to see your face or be where you are.
Jumping can simply be a way to get closer to the face.

There are 3 good ways to stop jumping up that I am going to address;

1. The Preventing Knee


As your dog is just about to jump up, put your knee up to stop them. This makes it uncomfortable for them and teaches them that this is not a good idea.
This is NOT my favourite. I have a large Bullmastiff puppy and when I tried this...well, I have some scars on my legs you wouldnt believe.
Not a practical method for big dogs !

2. The Spray

This method entails having a spray cannister filled with either water or a water / vinegar mix.
It is best to use this with a word such as "
OFF !".
A 5 minute session with this each day may be all your dog needs to associate the unpleasant spray with the word OFF and the fact that these come when he jumps up.
Thos method does work well except on those dogs who literally go balistic when you spray them. My Bullmastiff runs around the house like a crazy dog when she gets sprayed...not good for an almost 100lb dog !

3. The Lead technique

By far my favourite so far.
This one just needs you to put the dogs lead on. Where the lead runs from the neck and touches the ground, step on it (the lead not the dog..). This makes it impossible for the dog to jump.
Remember to praise extensively when your dog doesnt try to jump.

One last word;
Dogs are gamblers. Often if you can carry treats around with you and treat when they have done very well, the dog will remember that this happens and gamble on you having treats !

Good Luck !

Lincoln

Adult Dog Training

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Walking a Very Strong Big Dog

I have a very big, head strong German Sheppard who pulls and lunges like crazy when I walk him.  I have tried all the tricks of walking on a short leash, using a Holt and Gentle Leader, walking at different times; he still pulls and lunges.  What can I try next?

I had this exact situation with a client and his Sheppard on a training visit earlier this week.  He said that walking was next to impossible with the dog.  With that said, I asked him to take the dog out on a short leash and walk down the street.  (By the way, the street was nice and quiet… no cars, people, kids, squirrels, etc.)  The walking was a disaster.  It was a constant tug of war between the client and the dog.  It was a stalemate where nobody was winning and nothing was being taught.

This is where I introduced a slightly different method that is not for everybody.  I asked for the leash and simply held the leash by the handle.  There was six feet of loose leash between me and this 90 lb., 2 year old, rambunctious Sheppard. 

He looked at me and then began to run out to the end of the leash.  As soon as he got there and began to pull, I gave a good tug on the leash and directed him back to me.  During this entire time, I continued to walk and did not make a big deal of the redirection back to me.  The Sheppard gave me a quick look and slowly began to walk out to the end again.  I corrected him again, but this time I didn’t have to give such a tug to get him to look back and slow down.

After several repetitions of this process, that Sheppard was walking right around me and never encroached on the 6 foot limit of the leash.  Kids and animals would pass by and he still would stay right around me.  Dogs will be dogs, so I still needed to give him slight corrections as we continued and completed the walk.  Also, I want to make it quite clear that I never chocked the dog or hurt him in any way.  I was simply giving him very clear signals that “you can’t go that way”.  

Sometimes dogs need a little more room to “move around” when walking.  I noticed this immediately when I asked the owner to walk the dog.  All I did was to give the dog a little more “walking room” with the clear rule that he still needed to stay around me and to be mindful of my presence.  I simply put the Sheppard in a situation where he could clearly understand my rule and that I had the ability to let him understand what was right and wrong.

Please remember that this technique isn’t for everybody.  The client was able to handle the dog if he lunged, had a clear grasp of the technique I was displaying, and was able to successfully apply it, if needed.  If you have further questions, please contact us at Best Dog Trainers in South Florida.

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