You are viewing entries tagged 'training'.
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Do not let a puppy bite you anywhere, ever. Puppy teeth can really hurt and the only way to teach a puppy to keep them off of you is being consistent in saying “Nooo” in a commanding voice and substituting a favorite toy. This will help the little pooch understand that biting is not a habit that is worth taking up.
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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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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If only our dogs could talk. They’d probably tell us to please stop shouting commands, bending over them and making fast movements. Instead they yawn, lick, maybe sniff around on the floor, just a few things that internationally-renowned dog trainer and behavior expert Turid Rugaas calls “calming signals.”
By taking the time to recognize these subtle cues, we can improve communication in our own little pack. In her critically acclaimed book, On Talking Terms with Dogs: Calming Signals, Turid Rugaas describes over 30 different universal calming signals. Watch your dog canine conversation starters like yawning, freezing, licking and sniffing the ground, then read about more them at her 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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Your dog may play dumb when you tell him not to eat the cat’s food, but don’t let him fool you. He understands perfectly well. Because not only is he smart, but your dog understands up to 165 words including signals and gestures, giving him roughly the same mental abilities as a 2-year-old person. We’re not making this stuff up, we promise.
Leading canine researcher Stanley Coren, PhD, broke the news during his speech “How Dogs Think” at the recent American Psychological Association’s Convention. As it turns out, some super brainy dog breeds can even master 250 words including signals and gestures. Read more about Coren’s research and see his top and bottom five smartest dog breeds 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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You loved your Scout days and now your kids aren’t interested. Or, maybe your kid happens to have four paws and no scout training. Well, that’s all about to change. The non-profit organization Dog Scouts of America welcomes good canine citizens and their people to Dog Scouts.
Imagine it – your dog becoming a certified Dog Scout, participating in your community, and earning up to over 70 merit badges to wear on his adorable little cape. He can to earn badges for backpacking, tracking, even painting by paw. It’s every pup’s dream. Visit the Dog Scouts site to find a troop to join in your area, learn how to start a local chapter and more. We know you’ll love it as much as we did, Dog Scout’s Honor. 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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If you find yourself in the middle of a canine custody dispute you’ll need to prove you’re the legal owner, not the better caregiver, in order to win. That’s because under the law, pets are considered personal property.
Proving legal ownership requires showing that your name is on the following paperwork: Adoption application or breeder sales contract, veterinary records, city licensing forms, and microchip documents. If you’re not able to do this, legal experts say it’s best to negotiate early on with the other party – before tempers begin to flare – to come to a mutually agreeable solution. To help with those talks,consider hiring a professional mediator. Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here. |
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The first step in cleaning a urine accident from your carpet is to immediately blot up as much of the liquid as possible. (Standing on a big wad of paper towels is one way to quickly absorb urine.)
Next spray the soiled area using a mixture of one cup white vinegar and four cups of water. After a few minutes, rub the spot with a damp cloth. Then sprinkle the area (even if it’s still wet) with a mixture of one cup baking soda and two drops of bergamot oil, a pleasant smelling essential oil sold in health food stores. If it starts to bubble, don’t worry, that just means it’s working. Allow the mixture to completely dry before vacuuming. Before trying this tip, test the mixture in an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn’t discolor your rug. Maryann Mott is a pet journalist and author. Her books and articles can be found at Petwriter.com and you can follow her on Twitter here. |
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Kids – Ask your parents for a book on clicker training or to take you and your dog to doggy school! You can teach your dog a bunch of cool tricks!
Parents – I generally tell my clients to find one hour long or two half hour long television shows they like and use commercials for training breaks. Average time spent training each day? Fifteen minutes. If for any reason you are concerned about your children’s safety around your dogs, consult a well-qualified training professional or behaviorist immediately. Need help finding a good trainer or behaviorist? Try the Association for Pet Dog Trainers and the International Association for Animal Behavior Consultants. |
