http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 Weekly tips about dog training. en-us Wed, 07 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=96
One of the best ways to curb these symptoms will be to help desensitize the dog to the car and ride. This must be done at the dog’s own pace while making a positive association for the pooch. To help build the positive association you must have something the dog will find rewarding and motivating. It will be up to the dog what will be the best reward. Some dogs would prefer their owner’s attention or their favorite toy as a reward more than food. Other dogs are motivated by small, chewy training treats so it is important to find a type that the dog is willing to work for and finds rewarding.

In the beginning stages make sure to introduce this dog training exercise with no distractions, making the environment as pleasant as you can. This will set the dog up to succeed by making the environment less overwhelming. Start without the car running. Open all of the doors and lure your dog to the doorway that will be used most frequently. Make sure to praise and reward any movement towards the vehicle. Continue these steps until the dog can easily be lured towards the door at least 9 out of 10 times. Once the dog is able to comply 90 of the time than you can start introducing new steps to the exercise.

Once your dog is at the door, attempt to lure the dog into the vehicle using their favorite reward. If the dog chooses not to follow through, you can gently lift them into position. Once in position, reward the dog heavily, making a positive association with the car for your dog. After the verbal praise and reward you can lure the dog back out of the car and attempt the loading / unloading process again until the dog finds getting into the car rewarding enough to perform the behavior at least nine out of ten times on their own.

Once the dog is successful at least 9 out of ten times during this exercise and has started to get comfortable with the car itself, you can start adding new variables such as closing one of the doors. Introduce the new variables one at a time making sure the dog is performing the required behaviors at least 90 of the time before moving on and adding another variable. For example, at first only close one door, than move on to two, and so on until each new variable becomes comfortable to your dog. As long as the dog is compliant a minimum of 9 out of 10 times and does not overreact, you can keep adding more. Once you are able to close all of the doors without the dog over reacting, you should attempt to start the car. Continue to add praise and rewards as long as the dog is able to stay calm for at least a minute at first. As time goes on you can start adding more time to the exercise.

Once the dog is able to remain in the running car without negative reactions, try taking a short drive. Drive the car just around the block at first, praising the dog as you go. When working on training any new behavior to your dog, it’s important to remember that part of training is teaching the dog a new behavior that he needs become comfortable with. Be patient. Once your dog becomes comfortable with this new action through praise and positive reinforcement, there would be no reason for your dog to become scared or anxious with it again. It may take some time, but it will be worth it when you have a new drive time buddy!]]> Wed, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0700 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=95
1) Proper Housing - During the winter, it can get very cold which can pose a severe problem for your pet. For most dogs that are left outside, even if protected by a doghouse, a severe wind chill can pose a threat to their health. Make sure your doghouse is well insulated. The door of the doghouse should be facing away from the wind to avoid any more exposure than necessary.

2) Proper Grooming - Dogs can develop dry skin due to the extremely dry winter weather. Dryness of the fur and skin can cause your dog to scratch and bite at their coat creating hot spots. (A “hot spot” is a skin lesion or scab caused by excessive biting or licking from your canine.) To avoid this, be sure to brush your dog regularly and possibly think about supplements or a shampoo to help with the dry skin.

3) Proper Feeding - If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, consider giving him more food than normal to avoid malnourishment. More food will provide more protein to keep your dog’s fur in good shape. If you live in an area that freezes, be sure to monitor your dog’s water bowl, or consider getting a heated bowl to keep the water from freezing. This will help prevent your dog from becoming dehydrated.

4) Common Cold Weather Toxins - As with any season, you must be careful of antifreeze that can leak or spill from your car. If your dog consumes any antifreeze from a small leak in your drive way, this can kill your dog if not treated immediately. Dogs are very attracted to the taste of antifreeze, so be sure to keep it sealed up and out of harm’s way. You might consider using animal safe antifreeze which is free of ethylene glycol. Ethylene Glycol is the chemical that makes the antifreeze sweet (and appealing to your dog) as well as toxic.

5) Chilly Weather Chemicals - The chemicals and salts that melt the winter ice on the road and sidewalks can also be poisonous. When taking your dog on a walk, they can pick these substances up in their pads. If they do accumulate traces of these chemicals on their feet and then clean their paws when they return home, they will end up ingesting the chemicals which can cause their stomach to become upset (at the very least). To prevent this, be sure to rinse your pet’s paws with warm water when you return from a walk or event outside where they may have come in contact with these substances. Remember to let their paws dry before letting them back outside again!

6) Frosty Temperatures - Exposure to temperatures below zero, even short term, can cause frostbite of the feet, nose or ears. Indicators of frostbite may be red, gray or white colorization of the skin and possibly peeling skin. Be sure to remove ice and snow from paws and fur right away. Ice can form in the toe pads as well so make sure to thoroughly check your pooch’s paws. Also, think about clipping the fur between the pads to reduce the amount of snow that can collect there.

7) Proper Feeding Utensils - Metal bowls and buckets can cause a problem in freezing temperatures. If the bowls freeze your pet may get their tongue stuck to the metal, which will in turn cause them to get scared, try to pull away, and ultimately cause themselves injury. If it is below 32 degrees, be sure to use plastic or ceramic pet bowls.

8) Sensitive Dogs - Some dogs that do not have enough fur, or have low body fat, are not easily adaptable to cold weather. Older or sickly dogs can be extremely sensitive this time of year as well. If possible, keep them indoors in a warm environment, or in a warm shelter outside. Sweaters or jackets can give them an extra layer of protection as well.

9) Safety in Warmth - Every year numerous house fires start with space heaters being knocked over by pets (and sometimes humans!). Make sure that if you use a space heater to warm your home that you purchase one that will shut off automatically when tipped over. These are safer for you and your pet!

By educating yourself on these common dangers and knowing how to avoid them through preparation and proper dog training, you will be able to have a safe and comfortable winter season with your pets!
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This exceptionally large dog breed is known for being powerful yet elegant, with an energetic and gracious disposition. The coat is short and thick, with colors including brindle, fawn, blue, black, harlequin and mantle. Although this very large canine typically ranges from 28-34 inches in height, and can weigh roughly between 100-200 pounds, these “gentle giants,” as they are commonly referenced, maintain a rather affectionate and friendly reputation. The Great Dane would prefer to be around people, as they are a very loyal and loving breed. They are also very reliable and courageous which makes them the perfect candidate for a watchdog.

Understandably so, the Great Dane does not stay small for long and requires regular dog training from a young age. It is important to teach your pup that jumping up, or leaning on people is unacceptable. These behaviors can be avoided and corrected with positively reinforced training. You may need to contact your local dog trainer for more assistance.

Teaching your Great Dane dog obedience is vital to the success and happiness of your dog and the relationship he has with his human companions. Most owners who know how to properly handle their Great Dane will agree these canines are indeed “gentle giants” who have loving and patient personalities, making them a great family pet. These dogs are not prone to barking, and can adapt well in an indoor environment. Although these canines can adapt to indoor living, they need plenty of exercise consisting of at least a long daily walk.

The Great Dane is an average shedder. Their smooth, short-haired coat requires minimal grooming and is easy to maintain if attended to with a daily brushing and dry shampoo when necessary. If you are looking for a loyal, loving, and gentle companion, then the Great Dane would make a great addition to your family!
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Many dog trainers have common, reoccurring experiences with new dog owners after the holidays who are unsure what to do with their precious new pup and how they will take care of all its needs once the reality of responsibility sets in. So, if you are serious about buying a puppy for the holidays, here are some tips to help you make the right choice for your family.

The first thing you should consider is, identifying what “type” of family you are. Do you enjoy the outdoors? Are you athletic, or are you a homebody who prefers to stay at home and watch football? Are you a working family where everyone is gone all day, or are you a stay-at-home mom or retired and would like some company? If you are athletic and enjoy the outdoors, it would be wise to get a dog that has a lot of energy, like a retriever, a herding dog or a working dog; such breeds include Labrador Retrievers, Austrian Sheep Dogs, Alaskan Malamutes, and Huskies.

However, if you are a family that isn’t as active, you may want a calmer, less energetic breed, such as Basset hounds, French bulldogs, or English bulldogs,; all of which would make good apartment dogs. Some people think smaller dogs are less active and would make good apartment pets; however, some dog trainers would agree that this is a common misconception.

Next, one should consider each individual in the family. For instance, do you have young children, an elderly person or someone with allergies? These types of questions will also help to narrow down the vast range of dog breeds out there. If you have young children or an elderly person living with you, most dog trainers would tell you a small, fast, hyper dog would not be the best choice; nor would you want a very large dog like a Great Dane, St. Bernard or Bullmastiff. Instead, a better alternative would be a medium size dog that is less active, such as a Cockapoo, Standard Poodle, or a Golden retriever. For the person in your family with allergies, there are hypoallergenic dogs that don’t shed as much as others; these breeds include Poodles, Labradoodles, Portuguese water dogs, and Maltipoos.

Once you decide on the best breed and fit for you and your family, you will want to ask your local veterinarian, dog trainer or someone in the pet business to help you find a reputable breeder, or shelter. The shelters are always filled with an abundance of dogs of various breeds, all hoping for a good home and a loving family to adopt them. By saving a shelter dog, you would not only be giving the gift of joy and excitement to your family, but would also be providing a great pet with a loving home. Have a local dog trainer go with you to assist you in finding the right dog for you and your family.]]> Tue, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0700 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=92 dog training school which will give you the specific tools needed to help with this situation.

Like most animals who live in groups, dogs tend to establish their own social structures, which is viewed as a dominance hierarchy that serves to maintain order, reduce conflict and promote cooperation among pack members. They also do tend to establish territories which they will defend against intruders. This will greatly affect their behavior when you want to introduce a new dog into your household.

You should choose a neutral location when dealing with the first introduction. Each dog should be handled by a separate person with both dogs on leashes in order to have the best control over them. Make sure that the area is not familiar to either dog, and that they both have been well exercised before the meeting. A tired dog is a good dog according to Dog Obedience Training. Make sure to be calm yourself, as dogs can pick up on nervous energy coming from an owner. Avoid tensing up the leash and make sure to positively reinforce all the calm and non-threatening behavior demonstrated by both dogs. Let the two dogs sniff each other, but not for to long as it could lead to an aggressive response.

In dog training, you go through a list of different body postures, how each one plays into the other and what they each mean. Make sure to keep an eye out for stress indicators, such as defensive or aggressive body language. We do not want to force the dog into a situation they are not comfortable with as well as reinforce the unwanted behavior by coaxing them. If you observe an undesirable reaction by one or both of the dogs during the initial introduction, simply walk away with the dog and then slowly reintroduce them again, positively reinforcing all the correct behavior. If you have more than one dog at home and plan on introducing a new dog into your resident pack, be sure to introduce them one by one to the new canine. If a group of dogs is already living together and have already established their “pack” hierarchy, they could have a tendency of ganging up on a new comer.

The important thing to keep in mind when having more than one dog in the household is that there is a hierarchy. Whether you want to accept that fact or not, you must make sure that in any and all situations you place yourself as Alpha leader by sticking to all your leadership exercises. This behavior will transcend to your dogs as well, as each one will have a defined role in the family. If you coax the less dominant one of the group, and punish the Alpha, it will lead to dog vs. dog aggression. Always make sure the Alpha dog is allowed to get their way first.

One of the main things to consider about introducing a puppy to an adult dog is that puppies before the age of four months may not recognize subtle body postures from an adult. This will lead a puppy to pester an adult dog unmercifully until the adult literally has had enough. Well socialized adult dogs who have great temperaments may warn by growling or snarling. These behaviors should be allowed and shouldn’t ever be punished. However, adults who might not be well socialized or have a background of aggression might actually bite a puppy to set limits which can severely hurt the puppy. Make sure you allow the adult dog some time for R&R away from the puppy and some well deserved attention from you as well.

Always contact a professional animal behaviorist if the introductions don’t go smoothly. The longer the problem continues the harder it is to resolve. If you wish to know more about introductions of multiple pets into the same household, stay tuned for next entry in this series: Dog vs. Cat.]]> Tue, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700