Archive for December, 2009
Nitro: Puppy
December 20th, 2009
Traveling with a puppy
Its spring, summer is around the corner, and travel season will soon be among us. If you introduced a new puppy to your family like we did this year, one thing on your mind is, how can we travel with our puppy? Well, it depends on where you are going! There are so many pet friendly places now, but unfortunately there are still many that just aren’t pet friendly.
If you are visiting the beach, you need to find out if the beach is pet friendly. For example Myrtle Beach doesn’t allow pets between 9 AM and 5PM. Thats usually OK because its so hot, dogs shouldn’t be out in the sand anyway, it could burn their paws. If you look at VBRO.com you will find many pet friendly places to stay. Bring your dogs food, some water, medications, and of course toys. Its also a great idea to bring some natures miracle (just in case!).
I also like to look up the local vets ahead of time, that way I can be sure if there is a problem I know who to call. Its also not a bad idea to bring along your pets shot records or medical history just in case. Travling with your puppy can be very fun, but remember, its a new location, so try to bring familiar things. Bring their crates so they are safe while you are away. And do your best to enjoy having them with you!
If you can’t bring your pet, then look for a pet sitter, its a great alternative
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Dog Training Books
December 20th, 2009
Dog Training Books and Reviews
Below is a list of our favorite dog training books.
The other end of the leash
On talking terms with dogs
Culture Clash
Dont shoot the dog
Dog Training Jobs
December 20th, 2009
Finding a dog training job can be quite difficult. Many dog trainers prefer to open their own business which has its challenges as well. To find a job, first find a local dog trainer and see if they are in need of an assistant. Often times you may start out volunteering but its a great way to get your foot in the door.
If you are a dog trainer looking to hire, please send us your listing or post a comment on this page so others can find your dog training job.
Tags: How to potty train a dog
December 15th, 2009
Check out the House Training App
Tips for potty training a puppy!
Puppies need to go to the bathroom after they play, chew, drink, eat or sleep.
Start by putting them on a leash and tethering them to you. That way you can be aware of them when they start sniffing the ground (usually a cue the puppy needs to go potty). Pick them up and carry them outside.
When they go potty, tell them “good potty” and give a cookie as a reward. Do not let your puppy off leash until they have finished going so they get into the habit of going potty, then playing. Many puppies will want to go outside just to play if you let them off leash first.
Learn how to potty train a dog quickly
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What if my puppy has an accident?
He will. Do not punish your puppy though. If you catch your puppy in the act then clap your hands or pick them up – this will make your puppy stop going. Get him outside FAST and let him finish up out there. Reward him for going outside. Clean up the mess with petzorb (or some other odor removing cleaner) which will remove the odor completely.
Do NOT rub their nose in it, swat them with a newspaper, or isolate your puppy. It will only teach them to not go in front of you.
If your puppy is going frequently in the house you are probably not supervising them enough. Watch and learn their cues. If you feel you are watching and your puppy isn’t getting it you can always have them checked for a Urinary tract infection.
If your puppy piddles when you greet them, this could be submissive urination. This would be a problem that is usually cured by ignoring the behavior and letting your puppy calm down before touching them when you first see them.
This article not only applies to puppies, but shows how to potty train a dog of any age. If you can’t supervise your dog, please put them in a crate to help curb accidents. Remember, dogs go where they go most!
This can be a trying time, so have patience and you will get through it.
How to potty train a dog that is older
Training an older dog can actually be more difficult because the behavior has been learned. The best advice I can offer is to treat them like a puppy. Start from square one. Keep the dog on a strict schedule and reward heavily for going potty outside. If they have an accident, clean it up appropriately and make sure you don’t punish the dog. After all they haven’t clearly learned not to go in the house. Always ask yourself if you missed some cues.
You can try hanging a bell on the door and teach the dog to ring the bell. Hold it just in front of their nose, and let them out when the bell rings. Beware of dogs wanting to just go out to be out instead of going to the bathroom.
Important Dog Advice
December 14th, 2009
THINGS TO REMEMBER DURING THE LIFE OF YOUR DOG
By: Renee Premaza, Dip.C.B.,C.C.B.T., CYNOLOGY COLLEGE
Obedience Trainer and Behavioral Consultant
(609) 280-9338
Your dog is a dog – not a human child in a furry suit!
Your dog has the same emotions that humans have – he just reacts to them very differently.
Unless you teach your dog what behaviors YOU want him to use, he will not know that ANY of his behaviors are wrong.
Dogs do ONLY those behaviors that work for them! If peeing on your carpet provides an absorbent surface, he will pee on your carpet UNTIL you motivate him to pee outside. If you put newspaper or wee-wee pads on the floor, you will teach your dog to pee on the floor!
If you show aggressive behavior toward your dog, he will probably show aggression toward you (or he may act out with others). He will want to defend himself!
Dogs do not feel guilty about ANYTHING they do. If your dog seems like he looks guilty, he is only trying to calm you down. He will cower and put his tail between his legs in an effort to look smaller – so you won’t notice him.
You will NEVER be able to train your dog not to do the behaviors he is genetically programmed to do for his breed. You can, however, train him to do alternative behaviors.
Barking is a self-reinforcing behavior. If your dog is allowed to bark for long periods of time, it will be difficult to stop him.
If you notice that an inappropriate behavior is increasing, try to establish what is “feeding” (reinforcing) that behavior.
When a behavior is rewarded (either by you or by the environment), that behavior will increase. When the reward is removed from an attention-seeking behavior, the behavior will extinguish. But it might get worse before it gets better (known as an EXTINCTION BURST). It is near impossible to extinguish fears, phobias and aggression. However, you can desensitize and countercondition the dog to help him change his emotional state. When extinguishing an attention seeking behavior (i.e., jumping, barking, stealing), ignore the dog.
If someone comes along and shows your dog attention, the behavior will come back (called SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY).
If you want to make a behavior stronger, put the dog on a random reinforcement schedule instead of a continuous reinforcement schedule.
If you see a particular behavior increasing, it is probably because the dog is getting reinforced for it “sometimes” and sometimes he is not!
Most aggression is fear-based.
Most fears are due to lack of socialization before puppy is 12 weeks old. Aggression is NOT curable.
An aggressive dog can be rehabilitated and managed to raise the dog’s stress and bite threshold. More dogs die of behavior problems vs. diseases and disorders.
Lack of exercise is responsible for the occurrence of most behavior problems. A tired dog is a good dog!
During adolescence (6 months – 18 months in most breeds), a dog will try out all sorts of behaviors to see which ones work.
Train your dog so that he learns appropriate behaviors work for him vs. doggy behaviors.
Spoiled dogs are not happy dogs.
Dogs look for leadership. If they don’t see YOU as being a good leader, it behooves the dog to take on that responsibility himself. This makes the dog stressed and anxious, causing behavioral problems to occur.
Teach your dog that you are in charge of all of his valuable resources in his life. Teach him he must do SOMETHING (i.e., sit, lie down, do a trick, etc.) before he gets anything that he wants. If a dog doesn’t recognize YOU as having good leadership skills, it is instinctive for your dog to become the leader in your home. Many little dogs, for example, are permitted to “rule the roost” because we tend to spoil them so much.
Dogs who are “given” this responsibility become stressed and anxious. Sometimes, having all this responsibility creates aggressive dogs.
There are 4 ingredients in the making of an aggressive dog. They are: stress, anxiety, anger and frustration. Any one of these ingredients can cause a dog to show aggression.
If you treat your dog like a human, he will treat you like a dog!
Renee Premaza
Dog Obedience Trainer
Berlin, New Jersey
Dip., C.B., C.C.B.T.
Professional Member APDT #63137
Clinical Member IADBC