You are viewing all 'Behavior & Training entries.
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Wolves are known to flatten down grass to make a comfortable bed, which may explain why some dogs will scratch and circle and scratch again at a bed to make it comfortable.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
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Avoid crowds when walking a dog that is fearful or can be aggressive. If your dog gets stressed when walking in crowded areas, then avoid putting him or her in those situations. Choose quieter environments to enjoy the outside world for dogs whose “buttons” get pushed by too much sensory input.
Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
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Dogs all over the world are known for burying things, from bones to chew toys, from food to (yikes!) your shoes.
Why they do this is another mystery of dog behavior called “caching,” which wolves also do, although no one is certain of the reason for this instinctual drive. It is quite curious that some dogs do it with whatever treat they get while others never bury anything. Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
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Training can get frustrating or intense and you need to keep in mind that your physical strength should never come into play.
The leash and collar are not a grab bar or weapon for you to jerk, grab or to pull on. They are there for guidance, as gentle reminders to the dog of what you are asking him to do. Do NOT be influenced by trainers you see on television who use the leash in a punishing manner: this is frowned upon by the best trainers and can damage a dog neck. Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter. |
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Dogs are by their very nature social butterflies and love a good meet, sniff & playtime. By exposing your dog to variety of people, other animals, sights, and sounds at a young age they are less likely to be fearful of new experiences as they grow older. Every dog owner dreams of having a well-rounded fur companion and socializing does just that. Take your dog on car rides to fun places at an early age, so he doesn’t learn to associate a car ride with a trip to the vet!
PawLux.com is a leading provider of all natural and eco-friendly products for dogs. Feel free to read our blog at http://www.pawluxury.blogspot.com or follow our popular Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/pawluxury. |
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When young dogs chase their tails, it’s often a sign of play. Suddenly they notice that protrusion from their back end and they try to catch it. Older dogs who chase their tail may be signaling something else, such as an anal gland infection, fleas or a neurological condition.
For some dogs, tail chasing becomes an obsession. This is often true in the Bull Terrier. Since Obsessive Compulsive Disorder comes out in other ways in this breed, such as playing with balls, it’s thought to be a genetic trait. These dogs will sometimes be so obsessed with their tail or ball, they won’t even stop for food. The human drug Prozac has proved to be helpful with this. Also, increasing exercise and eliminating anxiety-provoking events, such as confinement, may help. But non-compulsive chasing can just be a cry for attention – my pit bull Hudson knows he gets applause for the goofball that he is if he chases his tail and stops after getting a treat for his performance. Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
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Your dog’s a model of canine behavior. He has excellent manners and can sit, lie down, and remain calm for a friendly pet from a stranger. You’ve raised a canine good citizen. Now’s your chance to make it official.
Thanks to the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Program, good dogs everywhere (mixed breeds included) can try their paws at certification. After they pass, not only can they include the prestigious “CGC” after their name, but they may be able gain special access too. For example, a landlord may consider renting to a family with a certified Canine Good Citizen versus one without the certification. The test is also a prerequisite for working and therapy dogs, and it’s simply a great foundation upon which to build upon. Learn all about it here. Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan. |
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The Woof Reporters can’t be the first people to wonder aloud: “Does my dog know I’ll be back in just an hour when I tell him so?” The question of just how much dogs understand stands the test of time, especially when it comes to the fur ball at the end of your bed. Alexandra Horowitz, author of the just-released book Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know is no different.
As a dog owner, she’s curious to learn why dogs do the things they do and what they know, and as a cognitive scientist, she’s curious about understanding them on another level. Horowitz explores our understanding of the dog’s world view with practical application for the people who love them. Read a few excerpts from the book at the author’s site here. Woof Report is a free weekday email newsletter with pup-perfect dog care tips, news, products & more! Sign up at www.woofreport.com or become a Facebook Fan. |
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For more detailed instructions on developing your clicker skills, you can check out my blog entry, It’s not Click/Treat, it’s Click THEN Treat! Mechanical skills for clicker trainers.
Since good timing is at the heart of any training, check out this fun reflex tester to check your timing. Experiment with different colors and see if your speed improves. Of course, the best way to practice your training skills is by clicking your dog for good behaviors! Happy clicking, Dogsters! Casey Lomonaco is an accomplished dog trainer and the proprietor of Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training. She contributes to PetExpertise.com and Dog Star Daily and you can follow her on Twitter here. |
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At this point, you should feel fairly comfortable with the mechanical skills of clicker training – treat hand at home base, reinforcement delivery, and clicking. Now it’s time to start working with your dog!
Fill your treat bag with uniformly sized treats. With treat hand at home base, click the dog, treat hand moving from home base into bag then deliver a treat to the dog’s mouth. Repeat until you are comfortable with both hands, and until your dog is eagerly looking to you for reinforcement following each click. Casey Lomonaco is an accomplished dog trainer and the proprietor of Rewarding Behaviors Dog Training. She contributes to PetExpertise.com and Dog Star Daily and you can follow her on Twitter here. |
