House training your dog

CLICKER DOG TRAINING

2006-12-18T10:05:00.000-08:00

Whatever your pup's pedigree and whatever your goals for him, any puppy is still an emotionally immature animal. At the same time, no two pups are exactly alike and what works for one puppy is not necessarily best for another.

You must constantly be aware of your pup's personality and of how you can get him to pay attention to you. However, there are some general characteristics of puppy training that are important to working with all puppies. These are basic principles which should be adapted by you as the basis of working with your puppy.

After an extensive study on animal behavior and dog training, the world’s renowned animal behaviorists and scientists have developed a typical training procedure.

Clicker dog training is basically a new version of the training procedure that makes training a more enjoyable. Since the first step in training a dog is to communicate with him or her, it is very clear that, the stronger the mode of communication is, more effective the training will be.

Clicker dog training is a highly precise technique and a tremendously effective mode of communicating with the dogs irrespective of the age, gender and breed.
To read the complete article on clicker dog training along with many other interesting articles on all aspects of dog training go to:
Basics Dog Training

Dog Injuries Due To Leash Straining

2006-12-10T22:17:00.000-08:00

Basics Dog Training - Tips about Leash Straining

"Who is walking whom?" This question pops into my mind whenever I see owners being dragged down the street by their dogs. There is no need to put up with this. Leash pulling usually becomes a complaint only after a large dog has finally succeeding in pulling its owners off their feet, with resultant injury or embarrassment.

Most cases of leash pulling involve dogs that have accommodated to the discomfort of a choke chain, pinch collar or even a leather collar. Some of them cease pulling only long enough to cough, some even regurgitate or take a few deep breaths, then continue struggling forward.
Most dog owners have no idea that their frustrated leash-pulling dog might actually suffer physical injury during their daily tug-of-war.

However, in a Swedish study by the noted behaviorist Anders Hallgren, of 400 dog owners who agreed to have their dog's spines X-rayed, 63% were found to have spinal injuries. Of the injured dogs with neck (cervical) injuries, 91% had experience harsh jerks on the leash or were serious leash strainers! Among aggressive or overactive dogs, 78% had spinal injuries.
More about Basics Dog Training

Collar Training New Puppy

2006-12-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

Collar Training New Puppy

On your puppy's first day home take him around the rooms to familiarise him. Try not to use the "no" command at this stage as he will probably think it is his name. Use a growling noise from your throat to warn him if he goes somewhere or does something which is not acceptable. call his name out regularily and when he looks at you praise him enthusiastically, "good dog" in a happy voice.

All you are doing is letting him know by means of prevention (a growl sound he understands) what things he will have to avoid in the future. Let him sniff first because he'll remember the objects more by scent than by sight. He looks up at you and he is praised.

Every new puppy must learn is how to accept the collar. Learning to wear a collar is important to every dog, but many puppies are baffled, frightened and bewildered by this new piece of equipment. Many puppies constantly try to remove their new collar by pawing and pulling at it.

It is important when choosing a collar for your new puppy. A properly fitted collar, chosen for your puppy’s size, is more likely to be comfortable and accepted. While choke collars, slip collars and training collars can be good training aids, they should never be used as a substitute for a sturdy buckle type collar. And of course that collar should have an identification tag and license attached. This identification will be vital in having your puppy returned if she becomes separated from you.

The best way to introduce the puppy to the collar is to simply put the collar on and allow her to squirm, jump, roll and paw at the collar to her heart’s content. It is important to not encourage this behavior by trying to soothe the puppy, but it is just as important not to punish or reprimand the puppy.

The best strategy is to simply ignore the puppy and them her work through her issues with the collar on her own. Introducing distractions, such as food, toys or playing, is a good way to get the puppy used to the color. Getting the puppy to play, eat and drink while wearing the collar is a great way to get her used to it. After a few days, most puppies will not even know they are wearing a collar.

A message from John Mailer
I hope you found the information you were looking for. I know how frustrating it is to have a problem with your dog. Remember your dog naturally seeks your attention and may be confused by YOUR reactions.
Check out my other articles on basic dog training I am sure you will find the answer you are loooking for. If not please feel free to contact me.
basicsdogtraining

Learning About Dog House Training

2006-07-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Learning About Dog House Training

A dog house, to a dog, is his own personal private space and helps satisfy that inherited instinct for den-dwelling.The Advantage of a Dog House Dog house training has some advantages in a practical sense. The dog house is always a place to put the dog when he is misbehaving. It is also a great place to put the dog when you have company or when you are out working. Inside his dog house, your dog can avoid fear and confusion from the outside world.

Placement of a Dog House
When you are dog house training it is very important to keep the dog house in one place. Dogs are social animals so picking a spot for his home should be around where the family spends a lot of time.Make sure that you also place the dog house where the wind is to the back of the opening and place it where there is available shade.

The best way to think about the placement of the dog house is to think of it as your place and make it as comfortable as possible.As a Puppy Dog house training should start as a puppy and his first experience in his “safe place” should be an enjoyable experience; let him know that it is safe for him to enter.

Different puppies learn at different rates. Some pick up what is required almost instantly, others may take much longer. Some take as long as six months or more. A puppy that came from a dirty or cramped kennel is likely to take longer than one that had a better start.

To get him inside, throw his favorite toy inside and encourage him to retrieve it as this will let him know that it’s safe.After he enters, let him come right back out and don’t try to trap him in there by standing in front of the opening.

Once he comes out, praise him and continue to play with him but don’t throw his toy back inside for a little while. Remember, this is a place for him to relax and you don’t want him to associate it with play time.

The biggest influence on how quickly a puppy becomes dog house trained is how much time and effort you put in. More input from you will speed up the time taken to become completely comfortable and feeling secure; while less input will prolong the process.

Older Dogs
You can teach an older dog to adapt to a dog house, but unlike a puppy he may be already set in his ways and might not take to a new environment. No matter the age of your dog, once you have completed your dog house training you need to teach your children that the dog house is his security blanket and when he goes into his home he should not be bothered and that he wants to get away from the outside world.

When training your dog, you need to be consistent. If you never want your dog to scratch the door, do not ever let him do it no matter what the situation is. Dog behavior training is very sensitive to regularities.

Be habitual with your actions. If you do not want your dog to go on the sofa, then he never be allowed on that sofa—or your bed. In dog house training you learn that dogs do not understand the concept of occasionally or “if.” They only understand consistent permission or no permission-- ever.

A dog, no matter how friendly, has the instinct to attack when it feels trapped and if your children are bothering the dog while in a dog house the dog will feel trapped and attack. That’s why dog house training is just as important to your dog as it is to the rest of the family.
Learning About Dog House Training

Healthy Relationship with Your Puppy

2006-07-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

Establishing A Healthy Relationship With Your New Puppy

When you bring your new puppy home, you'll want to make him feel good while he's lying down or on his back. Give him a little stroke or an encouraging word. But don't overdo it. If you make the pup stay in that posture and he stays there, it teaches him a lesson both in submission and in dominance. That may seem okay. But the problem is that the dog also learns confrontation, not just with other dogs but also with people.

Dogs can be taught to be compliant without using force and confrontation. Do not shake him by the scruff of the neck and pin him to the ground, even though that's what wolves occasionally do to establish dominance. No matter how many times you've been told that you are the alpha animal, the fact is that people-dog relationships are not like wolf-wolf relationships. Dogs' teeth can inflict more damage than people's hands, so the wise thing to do here is not to start the confrontation.

Instead, start out with a companion-animal relationship where there's mutual respect for each other's roles (yours is to communicate direction, his' is to respond appropriately). Your dog will try to please you and be compliant, and you will praise him for doing so.

This is the kind of relationship you want to start as soon as you bring the puppy home, even before you take him to puppy kindergarten or hire a trainer to get him under control. Don't physically force your new pet to do things that he's not ready to do. Let him get used to one room at a time. Make sure that you keep track of when he is getting overly excited. This is your cue to say to him, "Settle!" or "Outside!" The word or phrase you use is up to you.

Try to go out the same door each time for the same activity. You will need to take him outside and stand there while he sniffs around and pees or poops, and you say, "Good Boy" then go indoors and play with him in a different location, so that he gets the idea that when we go to this one spot it's time to pee or poop, and when we go out a different door to another spot, that's where we play.

As you start to teach your dog good house-training techniques, you will also want to put him on a regular pattern of eating, usually three times a day at first. Occasionally, a pup will not seem too interested in eating. Besides finding out what he was eating when you acquired him, and offering him tidbits of chicken and beef from your fingers to whet his appetite, puppies like some company when they go to the food bowl. So if there is a litter-mate or a neighborhood puppy about the same age as yours who would like a dinner date, let them eat side by side a few times in the location you've chosen for daily feeding.

The idea is to make him comfortable and get him into a routine of regular eating, sleeping, elimination, and walking. Make sure that you don't do unpleasant things with your hands. Don't let your puppy start to chew or nibble on your fingers or hands. Even if the nibbling doesn't hurt now, it will hurt when he gets older and can lead to a bad habit that's difficult to break. Very soon, you'll be getting to know your new pet very well.

A message from John Mailer
I hope you found the information you were looking for. I know how frustrating it is to have a problem with your dog. Remember your dog naturally seeks your attention and may be confused by YOUR reactions.For further information feel free to browse through my other dog articles at my basics dog training site.
http://basicsdogtraining.com

Basics Training Commands

2006-06-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

Simple Command Words That Your Dog Should Learn

Many dog owners are at a loss for words when they wish to communicate with their dogs. Of course, your choice of words is not the issue. What is important is that you pace your vocabulary lessons in such a way that your dog absorbs the first few definitions before you go on to the text.

Since dogs are learning English as his second language, you must be very consistent in your teaching. In fact, in time, your dog, once started on the road to a better, richer vocabulary, will understand long sentences and life-saving orders.
Listed below is a sample of words to use on your dog. With these words, any dog can live in harmony with his human family, more or less.

No (Permission denied). This is probably the first word a puppy hears, or at least that registers as a word. It is important for every dog to know a word that stops him from urinating on the carpet, hogging the bed, running out into traffic, nabbing that piece of chicken, and chewing on the sofa or your shoe. “No” is that magic word.

Ok (Permission granted). In order to have a balanced, happy, obedient pet, approval is just as important as disapproval. You can give your pet permission to do something he'd do anyway, just to show him it's ok with you. This reinforces your position as the leader. It also increases the amount of positive reenforcement in your dog's life. You can use this release word to let him out of work, out of the house, into the car, at his dinner, and onto your bed. Dogs learn “Ok” instantly.

Good Dog (Approval from the top). By saying “Good Dog” in the proper tone, you dog will give you everything. Saying “Good Dog” is the most important tool any owner has in training his pet.

Bad Dog (Disapproval from the top). “Bad Dog,” from the right lips, can be more powerful and more effective than any leash correction, any shaking, any cold shoulder, any confining, any anything you would think of doing to your disobedient dog. He must have your approval.When you deny him that, you have already made a serious correction. No puppy grows to adulthood without hearing his share of “Bad Dogs.”

Sit (Plant your rump). Even an untrained dog should know “Sit” and “Stay.” How else can you have any order or control? Your dog must sit while you wait at the vet, while getting his collar put on, while waiting for his bowl to be filled or the traffic light to change, and while being groomed.

Come (Join me). The “Come” command is a crucial word in every dog's vocabulary. You need to be able to teach your dog to come quickly, cheerfully and willingly when he is off leash, out of doors, and playing with his friends.

Off (Get off). The command “Off” is the proper word to say when you find your pet eating a greasy bone on your brand new white couch or shedding in your bed. It's also good for correcting jumping or any other situation in which the dog's big, hairy paws are on something they should be “Off.”
This article is from a selection of basics dog training articles on commands which also include a free online training lesson.
Basics Dog Training

Teaching Your Dog to Lie Down

2006-06-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

“Lie Down, Lie Down - Good Dog!”

One of the first things to teach your puppy is to lie down upon command or signal. If you can teach him to do this at an early age, life will be much easier for both of you. There will be many times during the course of the day when this simple exercise will prove its worth.

Have a nylon choke or buckle collar on your puppy and attach a short leash to it. Have your puppy Sit as you stand directly in front of him. Hold the leash short in your left hand as you give him the verbal command "Down" in a quiet but firm tone of voice. Also give him the Down signal by raising your right hand where he can see it as you pull him down with the leash. Quickly place a treat between his paws as you stroke him on the withers saying, "Down, good. Down, good." Try this three more times, giving him a treat each time and praising him in a happy tone of voice.

The fourth time you try it he will probably go down by himself. Get excited and tell him what a good boy he is, using a very exuberant tone of voice accompanied by a treat. Just be sure that your puppy looks at the palm of your hand when you give him the Down signal.

This exercise will make your puppy feel very special. Just be sure that he doesn't crawl forward but Drops straight down. Try this several times the first few days so that he will learn to Drop on either your voice or the hand signal. A week or so later try giving him the Down command a few feet from you. Then gradually increase the distance until you are about ten feet from him. You must continue to run up each time he Drops and praise him very enthusiastically and give him his treat reward.

When you have accomplished this, try training him to lie down off leash. You must continue to praise him extravagantly and give him the treat. At first it is best to train him to Down indoors. Then, when he is reliable, train him outdoors. Several months later you can teach him the Drop on Recall, but be careful not to overdo it. Puppies should be very eager and willing to do straight
recalls before they are taught the Drop on Recall.

In the beginning it will be necessary to bend over a little as you give the signal. Later when he knows the exercise, you can stand up straight and give the signal. When you pull the puppy down, you should pull the leash either straight down or slightly back away from you. If you pull the leash down toward you, the puppy will move forward. You do not want him to do this or he will crawl between your feet. He should go down exactly where he is sitting without moving forward.
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Tips To remember when teaching The Come Command

2006-06-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

5 Tips To Remember When Teaching The “Come” Command

1. Use it sparingly. When you overuse “Come”, puppies stop paying attention. When your puppy understands the command, avoid using it all the time. Say it infrequently and make it extremely rewarding.

2. Do not chase your puppy if he does not respond. Practice on-lead for now.

3. Never call for negatives. If you have to groom, bathe, or isolate your puppy, do not use “Come.” Also avoid using it when you are angry. You will only scare your puppy out.

4. If your puppy runs away from you, do not repeatedly call or correct him.

5. Use a different command to bring your puppy inside. Coming in from outdoors is a big drag, no more fun than being left alone or ignored. Using the “Come” command when you want to bring him in makes it a negative command. Instead, pick a command like “Inside.” Start using it on-lead when bringing your puppy into the house. Quickly offer a treat or ball toss.

Avoiding stress in training your puppy is also very important

The main purpose in puppy training is to build a communication system between the two of you. You are teaching your dog how to learn. In contrast to the positive approach of puppy training, many obedience classes use a lot of leash jerking and a certain amount of punishment if the dog is not performing well. There is a fine line between the two attitudes and it is a vitally important difference.

With a young puppy, if you are forcing him to perform perfectly and punishing him even mildly if he does not, you may be asking for trouble later on. After a puppy is six to eight months old, he can usually begin to handle corrections and accept much more firmness in his training but not at three, four and five months of age.

Stress should not be a specific part of puppy training. That comes later when the pup is six to eight months old and ready for a more formal training. Of course, it is not possible or necessary to completely avoid stress because there is often a small amount in any of a puppy's activities. However, stress should be eliminated as a planned part of the actual training.
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Advanced Trick Training

2006-06-07T00:42:00.000-07:00

Advanced Tricks: Training Your Dog To “Retrieve Over High Jump”

Should your dog be only so-so in any elements of basic obstacle or retrieving training, shore up weak areas prior to initiating the “Retrieve Over High Jump.” Otherwise, the animal may extend previous problem behaviors into the new activity.

When starting the Retrieve Over High Jump, begin that day's session with a Retrieve followed by a recall over the jump. If your dog doesn't perform each exercise well, work on problem areas until you're satisfied. Initiate formal High Jump retrieving by having your dog Sit in front of and facing the jump from a distance of ten feet. Set the height even with the animal's elbows. Have him take and hold a dumbbell.

Command, "Stay," verbally and via the hand signal. Walk to the jump's opposite side, preferably by stepping over it (to suggest the correct route). Position yourself within touching distance of the obstacle. As one flowing action, slap the top board's edge, command, "Bring - Hup!," and back away to create landing room. Repeat the sequence three times, and end today's training.

The next day, with pooch at heel, throw a light dumbbell over the jump, sending him as it lands by sequentially commanding "Hup," "Bring" and "Hup." The first "Hup" sends the animal, and "Bring" should be timed while he's airborne, going for the object. Command the second "Hup" immediately after the dog picks up the dumbbell.

Now the task becomes phasing out the commands used only for teaching, waiting several seconds before sending the dog after the dumbbell, and gradually raising the jump to the desired height.
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When to Start House Training

2006-04-25T02:23:00.000-07:00

House Training for Dogs - Dalmations

When To Start Training And Socializing Your Dalmatian Puppy

Socialization and training your Dalmatian puppy need to
start the very day of his arrival in your home. You should
not address him without calling him by his name. A short,
simple name is the easiest to teach because it catches the
puppy's attention quickly, so avoid giving him elaborate
names.

Always address the pup by the same name, not a whole series
of pet names because the latter will only confuse your
puppy. Say his name clearly, and call him over to you when
you see him awake and wandering about.

When he comes, make a big fuss over him for being such a
good dog and give him a treat.
He will then quickly associate the sound of his name
with coming to you and a pleasant experience.

It is not too soon to start familiarizing him to the feel of
a light collar, which can start as early as several hours
after his arrival. Chances are he may hardly notice it or
he may struggle, roll over, and try to rub it off his neck
with his paws.

You can divert his attention when this happens by offering a
tasty treat, a toy, or by petting him. Before long he will
accept the strange feeling around his neck and will no
longer be aware of it.

Next step in house training your dalmation is the lead;
attach it and then immediately take the puppy outside or try
to redirect his attention with things to see and sniff. He
may struggle against the lead at first, biting at it and
trying to free himself.

Do not pull him with it at this point; just hold the end
loosely and try to follow him if he starts off in any
direction. Normally his attention will soon turn to
investigating his surroundings if he is outside or if is
taken into an unfamiliar room in your house; curiosity will
take over and he will become interested in sniffing around
the surroundings.

Just follow him with the lead slackly held until he seems to
have completely forgotten about it; and then try to get him
to follow you. Make a game out it, giving him plenty of
praise. House training you dog will become fun for both of
you.

Do not be rough or jerk at him; just tug gently on the lead
in short quick motions, repeating his name or trying to get
him to follow your hand while holding a bite of food or a
favorite toy.

If you have an older lead-trained dog, then it should be
easier to get your Dalmatian puppy to follow along after
him. In any case, the average puppy learns quite quickly
and will soon be walking along nicely on the lead.
House Training for Dogs

House Training Your Dalmatian

2006-04-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Basics Dog Training - House Training

House Training Your Dalmatian

When house training your Dalmatian puppy, you will need to take him out frequently and at regular intervals: first thing in the morning directly from the crate, right after meals, after the puppy has been napping, or when you notice that the puppy is looking for a spot.

Choose more or less the same place to take the puppy each time in order to establish a pattern. If he does not go immediately, do not return him to the house because he will probably relieve himself the moment he is inside.Stay out with him until he has finished; then be generous with your praise for his good behavior.

During basics dog training if you catch the puppy having an accident indoors, grab him firmly and rush him outside, sharply saying "No!" as you pick him up.If you do not see the accident occur, there is little point in doing anything except cleaning it up, because once it has happened and been forgotten, the puppy will most likely not even realize why you are scolding him.

If you live in a big city or are away many hours at a time, having a dog that is house trained to go on paper has some very good advantages. In order to do this, proceed the same way as taking the puppy outdoors, except this time you place the puppy on the newspaper at the proper time.The paper should always be kept in the same area.

A simple tip during basics dog training to paper train a puppy is if you have a playpen is to line the area with newspapers; then gradually remove a section of it until you are down to just one or two.

The puppy acquires the habit of using the paper; and as the prepared area grows smaller, the dog will usually continue to use whatever paper is still available. It is pleasant, if the dog is alone for a long period of time to be able to feel that if he needs it the paper is there and will be used.

The puppy should form the habit of spending a certain amount of time in his crate, even when you are home. Sometimes the puppy will do this "voluntarily, but if not, he needs to learn to do so, which is done by leading him over by his collar, gently pushing him inside, and saying firmly, "Down" or "Stay."

Whatever expression you use to give a command, stick to the very same one each time for each act. Repetition is very important in dog training as well as association with what the dog is expected to do. When you mean "Sit" always say exactly that. "Stay" should mean only that the dog should remain where he receives the command. "Down" means something else again.

Do not confuse the dog by shuffling the commands, because this will create basics dog training problems for you. As soon as he had his shots, take your puppy with you whenever and wherever you can. Nothing builds a self-confident, stable dog like socialization, and it is very important that you plan and have the time and energy to do this.
Basics Dog Training

AGGRESSIVE DOG BEHAVIOUR

2006-04-01T23:18:00.000-08:00

Basics Dog Training - Aggressive Behaviour

Dog Pheromones

Pheromones are chemical substances secreted by an animal that influence the behavior of other animals of the same species.

Unlike other hormones, pheromones are secreted externally and influence other animals, typically by smell. In this case, pheromones may play a very important role in animal behavior.

In dogs, pheromones probably influence group integration and are a factor in fighting and general aggressiveness. Some theorys suggest that dogs release pheromones in urine and feces, and perhaps through exhaled breath, subcutaneous glands at the base of the tail and the foot pads.

This would tend to explain why aggressive, fighting dogs are often compulsive urine sniffers and urine markers, and why they become less aggressive when sniffing and urine marking are not allowed by their owners.

Pheromones may act as a trigger or primer for certain types of behavior. This case is typical of many wherein a dog appears to sense, by smell, another dog that may be perceived as a threat.

Also typical among some vicious biting dogs is the need to brand a strange territory with their own pheromones before launching an attack. Some take place even when the biting dogs were on their home territory.

Remedial programs include restricting urination of the problem dog to a single area of his own yard. This tends to lower the aggressiveness, as well as reduce the incidence of household urination.
Aggressive Dog Behaviour
Basics Dog Training

Dog Behaviour

2006-04-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOGS BEHAVIOUR

Types Of Stress

Dogs of any breed, size or type can suffer from stress. In fact, a certain amount of stress is necessary for a healthy life. Hunger produces a form of stress that motivates us to find food, which is a healthful activity.

However, a pet dog that receives a doting owner's petting and praise on demand all weekend tends to build an insatiable appetite for constant social gratification.

Once he is left alone, particularly for a long period of time, the dog is frustrated by a depressing problem where he cannot find his “emotional food.”

Whether this condition results in problem behavior depends on the stability of the dog's nervous system and how the animal behaves to relieve tensions that will always arise from frustration.

A chewing problem develops in the orally oriented animal. The tension relief is manifested by chewing up objects that smell and taste of the owner, of things that, to the dog, are symbolic of the owners.

In some cases, litter mates of the same sex where one is a chewer and the other well behaved, even when both have been equally overindulged. On the other hand, in some situations, litter mates living in non-indulgent homes where the problematic stress was created simply by the owner returning home late.

So trying to understand why your dog behaves in a certain way is key to building his love and respect for you during dog training sessions.
DOG BEHAVIOUR

Micro Chipping for House Trained Dogs?

2006-03-06T08:32:00.000-08:00

Why Micro Chip My Dog?

This is a question frequently asked by dog lovers because they house train their dog it under control and is safe. This article makes very interesting reading.

Microchipping: What is it and how can it ensure that your pet is always yours?

Each year, more than 10 million pets are lost. It can easily happen, no matter how much we all try to prevent it. When your pet is lost and if they do not have a collar or their collar gets lost, it can be very difficult for them to find their way home.

According to the American Humane Association, only about 17% of lost dogs and 2% of lost cats ever find their owners. Nearly 20 million pets are euthanized each year because their owners cannot be located. If your pet is microchipped, there is a much greater chance that they will return to you safely. Microchips will last for your pet’s lifetime as there are no moving parts and nothing to replace.

A microchip is a small computer chip that has an identification number programmed into it. It is small enough to fit into a hypodermic needle. Once implanted, the I.D. number cannot be altered or removed. Once the chip is implanted, a layer of connective tissue forms around the chip preventing it from moving about.

Some people are hesitant to microchip their pet because they are afraid it will hurt. The procedure is simple, routine, and painless, and it doesn't require any anesthesia. Your pet simply gets an injection just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades; it's a lot like getting vaccinated. Most animals don't react at all. Long term studies have shown that the microchip is very safe for your pets.

The chip contains an identification code that is unique to your pet. Most veterinarians and animal shelters have scanners that can read that identification code. Most use universal scanners that will read all brands of microchips.

There are two major manufacturers of microchips. One of the most popular is the AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices) microchip. When you get an AVID microchip implanted in your dog, you will register with PETrac. Your veterinarian will have the application information to send in to PETrac. If you do not receive this information, or if your information such as address, phone number, or veterinarian changes, you may call PETrac directly at (800) 336-2843 to make the appropriate changes.

Your dog will also receive a tag for his collar with his AVID microchip number prominently displayed. When your lost pet is found, they will be scanned and the information will be called in to PETrac. Their database will bring up your information and you will be notified immediately.

Another popular brand of microchip is the Schering-Plough HomeAgain microchip. Once your pet is microchipped with the Schering-Plough HomeAgain microchip, you will register with the American Kennel Club (AKC) Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) program. This program maintains a national database and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Just as with AVID’s PETrac system, when your lost pet is found, they will be scanned, the number will be called into the AKC-CAR (1-800-252-7894) and you will be notified immediately.

A microchip provides permanent identification unlike tags alone.

When you register, you provide information to the AKC-CAR - your contact information, your veterinarian‘s information and an alternate contact. The program personnel will call the other numbers if you cannot be reached. Remember to contact the AKC-CAR if you any of the above information changes.

The system works! More than 1 ½ million pets are enrolled in the AKC Companion Animal Recovery program and 97% have HomeAgain microchips. 126,034 lost pets have been reunited with their owners thanks to this program which has a 100% success rate. Every found pet in its system has been identified.

The American Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (ASPCA) also supports the use of microchip IDs for animal identification. They feel that it is the most reliable system for the recovery of lost pets.

Ideally, leashes, fences, and doors would be enough to keep your pet safe at home, but in the real world, accidents happen, and your pet depends on you to protect him or her against the things that could go wrong. With a little effort now, you can take a big step toward ensuring that your pet will be with you in the future.

About The Author: Alex Matthews - the newest leader in online information publishing. For more information about this topic or/and other topics, please visit
http://moredotcom.com
Dog Training

When Should I Start House Training a Puppy

2006-03-04T11:22:00.000-08:00

When Should I Start HouseTraining My Puppy?

If you have a puppy, you must start training early, but do it gently.
Your puppy has to have confidence in you before he can begin learning. Remember that puppies are like children - they have growing bodies, short attention spans, and will only learn things when the conditions are right and when they understand what it is you're trying to teach them.

That said, the earlier you start training dogs, the better. More specifically, it's best if you start “socialization” from 8 weeks, simple commands like “come” and “sit” from 12 weeks, and more intensive training at 5 to 6 months.

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While some early training can be started as soon as you bring your puppy home, the optimum time to begin obedience training is somewhere around 9 to 12 weeks of age.

Keep in mind that training can cover a broad range of topics – I’m not suggesting that you begin training your puppy at 8 weeks of age for agility competitions! Your training should start off with the basics – teaching him “No!” and beginning house-training.

Socialization skills are next – experts tell us the best window for your puppy to learn socialization skills is between 3 and 16 weeks – that’s the best time to insure that your puppy grows into a well-adjusted adult.

And remember, socialization isn’t about teaching him the right fork to use at the dinner table – it’s about giving your dog the self-assurance to deal correctly with any social environment he finds himself in is one of the most valuable and lasting lessons you can teach him.

A well-socialized dog will interact well with all types of people and situations, even those he has never been in before. With appropriate social skills, your dog will show little or no fear of most objects, people or other animals, and even if startled, will recover quickly and won’t panic.

Bottom line, a well-adjusted dog is one that is comfortable in a variety of situations and surroundings. He may be excited in a new setting, but not fearful. The key here is to create positive experiences as you expose your dog to more and more new situations.

Even training your puppy for 5 – 10 minutes per day as soon as you bring him home will make a big difference in the social skills and adaptability of your puppy.

Keep in mind that puppies have very short attention spans, so keep your lessons short and fun. How short an attention span? That depends on the age of the puppy, his breed and how mature your individual puppy is – but a good rule of thumb is to keep the training sessions within that 5 -10 minute range.

Depending on your puppy’s age and maturity level, sometime between 3 and 6 months of age you should be moving the training into the area of the basic commands such as Sit, Heel, Down, etc.

It’s important you have realistic expectations about your dog’s capabilities at this point – I don’t expect a puppy to be responding to the basic commands with any degree of regularity until they’ve reached 6 months of age.

And if you want to start today . . . just click here to check out my book “Dog Training Secrets!”
(c) 2004 by Charlie Lafave, author, "Dog Training Secrets!"

To transform your stubborn, misbehaving dog into a loyal, well-behaving "best friend" who obeys your every command and is the envy of the neighbourhood, visit:
http://www.DogTrainingZone.com

Dog Training

Stop Your Dog’s Behavior Problems!

2006-03-03T04:04:00.000-08:00

Dog Training To Stop Your Dog’s Behavior Problems by Sit Stay Fetch

If you’ve been searching the internet for information to help train your unruly canine, you will have searched through mountains of information regarding the most effective way to train your dog. The frustrating thing in this search is that there is such a volume of information, that it is hard to tell the good stuff from the bad.

I am always skeptical of the wild claims that come with advertising, but I believe I may have found a treasure here. Daniel Stevens has released this e-book and it truly does represent good value for money. He talks about the reader discovering the closely guarded secrets of professional trainers, and it seems that he may have let some of them slip in his book.

At well over 100 A4 pages, this book is full of significant and highly detailed information, yet it seems to be laid out in a fashion that makes it easy for the reader. The book is divided into nine chapters or tutorials if you like. Included are programs to correct specific dog problems, the secrets to really understanding your dog, the best training methods and, for the experienced owners – dog whispering.

Daniel covers the subject areas with such detail that it is hard to find a scenario that is not covered in this book. Fixing general disobedience such as digging, chewing and barking is dealt with, as well as explaining and curing aggression problems, and even introducing a dominance treatment program for those dogs that require it. The list of possible problems seems endless, yet Daniel seems to have an explanation for all of them.

The information is well laid out and concise, much more so than many other books on the market. There is always the danger with such a volume of information that finding a specific area can be hard. No such problem here. The division of exercises and techniques into the nine tutorials is well thought out, and a quick glance through the table of contents will identify where in the book you need to be. This is particularly useful for a dog training guide that you will come back to several times.

The bonus e-books that come with this package add to the wealth of information already in here. They include:

“Dog Grooming Made Easy”
“Tips On How To Security Train Your Dog”
“All The House Training Methods And Tricks”
“Secrets To Becoming The Alpha Dog”

You don’t have to be a dog training expert to understand and apply this information. It explains every thing really well, and the photo sequences aid the execution of the lesson greatly. Perhaps the best thing is that you can download Dog Obedience Training and all the bonus books to your computer and be training your dog or fixing your dog's behavior in minutes.

What surprised me most about the book was the completeness of the information here. So many topics are covered. And if that’s not enough, he offers a free online consultation to customers as well. This is particularly useful if you are having difficulty with a command or have a particular dog problem that you are struggling with, or even a unique problem that is not covered in this comprehensive book package.

Daniel can help you with any dog problem.

I highly recommend this product if you have a dog of any age or breed.
Click here to find out more

Dog Training

Problems Grooming Your Dog

2006-03-02T00:43:00.000-08:00

Does Your Dog Put Up A Fight When Being Groomed?

To continue with your dog training, it is important for you to be firm but gentle at the same time when grooming him. Being firm with your dog does not mean being harsh, but to let the dog know who the leader of the pack is. Most dogs respond to simple commands such as sit and stay.

In addition, dogs respond to firm commands that are given in a gentle voice. In this way the dog knows that you are in control and that he will be treated kindly, which is the important part in grooming. Once the dog has been frightened by shouting and harsh treatment, it is very difficult to reassure him that he is not going to be frightened again and the dog training becomes very difficult.

If a dog becomes a real problem and does not respond to the handling of a groomer or his owner, he should be taken to an obedience trainer for further instruction. There will always be some dogs that you will be difficult to groom for disciplinary reasons. If a dog is a ''biter,'' he should be groomed by a vet who can administer a sedative. Dogs should be started on a regular grooming routine from puppy hood so that he can become accustomed to the process.

Dog Training

Dog Training Tips to Help with Grooming

2006-03-01T06:29:00.000-08:00

3 Tips To Help Groom Your Dog

Routine grooming serves three major purposes:

First, it keeps your dog's skin, coat, teeth, gums, and nails in a healthy state.

Second, it helps you detect any signs or symptoms of problems or abnormalities.

Third, grooming allows you to spend quality time with your pet which helps create a special bond between you and your dog.

It is therefore important to establish a daily or weekly grooming ritual that both you and your dog can enjoy, this is a key point to dog training.

If your dog refuses to be groomed, command him to sit and stay. In addition, grooming should always involve a reward for your dog.

Below are 3 simple steps to properly clean your dog's face:

1. Gently wash the skin around the eyes using a fresh piece of moistened cotton for each one. If you notice any discharge or inflammation, contact a vet for advice.

2. Hold open the ear with one hand and gently clean inside the flap with a small piece of moistened cotton. Use a fresh piece for each ear. Do not probe too deeply into the ear canal.

3. Loose facial skin must be cleaned regularly with damp cotton. This prevents dirt, dead skin, and bacteria from collecting in the folds and causing irritation and infection.

Good dog training around the house will come to mean reward to your dog and a pleasurable experience for him (and you) and increase his trust and love for you.
Dog Training

Dog Training Basics

2006-02-28T03:48:00.000-08:00

Dog Training Basics
Welcome to my house training for dogs blog. Here you will learn that dog training can be made a pleasurable event for both you and your dog.
Over the coming weeks I will share with you many training ideas which will build a great bond of trust between you and your dog.

Dog Training Basics