Dog Tips

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Behavior & Training
Don’t Go Tone Loco: Use Proper Voice Tone When Giving Commands to Your Dog
September 18th, 2009
by Tracie Hotchner, Author & Radio Show Host

   Try to keep the same tone of voice when you give a command to your dog – the tone of your voice is as important as the command word itself.

Keep in mind that your tone needs to be consistent in order to get a reliable response from the dog. Change the tone of your voice and you may be changing the whole meaning of the command.

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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Behavior & Training
Trading places: New place = New game
June 9th, 2009
by Dayna Dreger, author of Life is Better with Sheltie Hair

   A key component to training your dog is proofing them in different locations. Your dog may be fabulous in your living room or back yard, or at the building where you take your classes, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he or she will know all their commands and manners in a new place. So take your show on the road and start training and practicing in all sorts of new locations. Don’t be frustrated if Rover doesn’t seem to know simply commands in a new spot, back up a step and retrain the task. This teaches your dog to generalize and learn to understand that “sit” means the same thing in the park as it does in the living room.
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Behavior & Training
Command basics: Teach your dog to come when called
June 5th, 2009
by Spike, Top Dog Ask Spike Online

   If there is one command EVERY dog and pet parent should master, it is to teach your dog how to COME when called, as it can save their life should they be in impending danger. It is also something that can greatly reduce your stress as a parent.

It is important to note that you should NEVER use the COME command to call a dog to you for any discipline, because if you call a dog over to yell, scream, or scold him, do you really think that he will be anxious to COME to you again?
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Behavior & Training
Low and slow: A low-pitched voice means authority
April 14th, 2009
by Tracie Hotchner, Author & Radio Show Host

   Low pitched commands mean business, perhaps because they are reminiscent of a mother dog’s low growling admonishments. By using a low-pitched voice in a command you’ll get a better result because it comes across that you are confident and serious about what you’re asking.
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Behavior & Training
No variation: Keep your commands simple and regular
April 10th, 2009
by Tracie Hotchner, Author & Radio Show Host

   Force yourself to be VERY strict about the way you use your command words when training a dog. Use consistent commands for a behavior you want, like using the word “Come” but not a variation of it like “Come, boy” or “Come on” or “Come over here,” which can confuse the dog. Use the same word every time and say it only once.
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Behavior & Training
Sit first: Practice asking your dog to sit before everything else that follows
March 5th, 2009
by Tracie Hotchner, Author & Radio Show Host

   If you ask your dog to sit before everything you give or allow him – his food bowl, a biscuit, opening a door – you are keeping yourself in charge without making a big deal about it. Even if you don’t have a desire to be in charge, every dog is born expecting he will be a member of a pack with a leader. A leaderless pack feels like a rudderless ship to a dog, even if he has no idea what’s missing. So without any big drama just make the effort to have your dog do things on your terms, at least some of the time, and the dog will feel generally more secure and relaxed.
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Behavior & Training
Not off leash: Keep your dog on a lead until “come” is truly recognized
February 18th, 2009
by Tracie Hotchner, Author & Radio Show Host

   Never take your dog off the leash if you aren’t sure of his response to “come.” You’ll be setting yourself and your dog up for failure if you allow him off the leash when you do not have a rock-solid recall to “come.” You need to practice it dozens of times in a variety of situations every single day with a good treat reward before you can begin to experiment off the leash in a distraction-free area.
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Behavior & Training
The checkered flag: What is the “finish” your dog gives you when she comes to you?
February 17th, 2009
by Tracie Hotchner, Author & Radio Show Host

Most trainers suggest that the “come” command needs to finish with the dog sitting in front of you. There is a reason for this: unless there is a clear finish to a command (which you recognize with a clicker and/or reward) the dog may not understand that “come” means come all the way to you. Otherwise a dog may think “come” means “come to the vicinity of me” or even “come part of the way and then head off again.”

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Behavior & Training
Wagging the dog: Never wag your finger at your dog in an aggressive way
January 30th, 2009
by Tracie Hotchner, Author & Radio Show Host

   Avoid pointing a threatening finger at a dog when scolding her – it is not good body language. Some dogs may view this gesture as an attack and may react defensively. It certainly does not enhance the learning process. A person’s hands should be used only for expressions of affection and giving command signals.
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Behavior & Training
‘Atta boy! Use praise-filled encouragement to keep a dog coming to you
January 8th, 2009
by Tracie Hotchner, Author & Radio Show Host

   The very moment that a dog starts to respond to “come,” you want to verbally celebrate his response – and to use verbal encouragement all the way back to you from wherever he was and whatever he was doing. Then when he reaches you, make a big fuss over him. If you don’t make the payoff pleasurable for the dog, then why would he give up independence and another activity to return to you?
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