How to approach or not approach a person their dog

In my profession I have been hyper vigilant in noticing how people greet other people & their dogs.  Sometimes it is down right scary the way a stranger will approach another stranger & their dog.  Honestly, I am surprised there are not more dog bites occurring during this uninformed greeting process.  Kudos to those dogs for having SO MUCH tolerance.

So, what is the best way to approach another human walking their dog?  This post will address how a person without a dog should approach or greet another person with a dog.  In the meantime, dont forget to read our post on how kids should greet dogs.  Some of this information will be the same, because we all need to have better manners when meeting & greeting dogs.

First I want to bring up The Yellow Dog Project, because I get a lot of people asking me about this.  This is a movement to try to educate people that if a dog is wearing a yellow ribbon, that dog needs more space & promotes appropriate contact with those dogs.  I think this is great!  BUT, I feel this should be the case with ALL dogs, as you will soon learn. I wish this project was promoting proper interactions with ALL dogs, because people should be learning how to interact properly with all dogs, not just ones with a yellow ribbon.  I think they missed the big picture on this one, but my hats off to them for trying to bring awareness in greeting dogs.

1. Not all dogs want to say hello to all people all the time.  This is something that dog loving people have a real hard time comprehending sometimes.  After all, they are dog lovers & all dogs love them.  Well, I hate to burst bubbles, but that is not always the case.  Please dont take it personally either.  Just because a few dogs do not appreciate your intentions does not mean you are not loved by lots of dogs.  :)

·         Even if you have a regular meeting with another dog, does not mean that you should not go through the proper greeting ritual each time you interact.  You should.  Even very social dogs have their off days, or sometimes they are even in pain that you might not be aware of.

2. Evaluate the dog from a distance.  This is very important to do before approaching a person and their dog.  Just stop & watch what is going on.  Does the dog seem comfortable & relaxed?  What about the person?  If either seems stressed, or in a hurry, this would not be an ideal time for approaching.  Try again another day.
3. Approach slowly, relaxed & not making eye contact with the dog.  Please, whatever you do, do not keep extended eye contact with a dog.  This makes a lot of dogs very nervous & unsure of your intentions.  Unlike us primates, canines consider this a threat.  So, as you approach, look at the person & casually gaze at the dog to read his body language.
4. Stop 5-10 away from the person & their dog.  Look at the person & ask if you can say hello to their dog.  Please dont ask if their dog "is friendly" because even a friendly dog doesnt always want to say hello.  Not to mention, some people may take a bit of offense by this question.

·         Wait for an answer.  You are doing a great job so far, asking to greet, just dont forget to actually wait for the person to either say "yes" or "no."  If the dogs person says it is ok, ask what the dogs name is.

5. Ask the dog.  Another step often overlooked is to actually ask the dog if he wants to say hello.  Calmly say the dogs name & quietly tap your outside leg & say "hi Dexter (insert the dogs name)."  You want the dog to come up to you, dont rush up to the dog.

·         If the dog comes up to you, gently pet under the dogs chin, chest, & side area.  If the dog moves away at anytime, do not follow him, ask him to come back for more petting.  If he doesnt come back, he no longer wishes to be pet. 

·         Dont get over exuberant in your petting.  For one, this can intimidate some dogs.  Secondly, a lot of people are trying really hard to teach their dogs not to jump up when petting.  Being overly excited can cause a lot of dogs to jump up.

6. Thank you.  Dont forget to thank the dog and their person for allowing you to greet.  Thank you goes a long way in our society.

Tips:

·         If the dog is barking, or jumping around do not approach. 

·         Dont put your face in a dogs face.

·         Dont approach a dog while he is eating, or chewing a toy.

·         If a dog feels stiff, stop petting & back off.

·         If a dog keeps leaving you during petting he probably does not want to be pet anymore.

Need some extra help?  I offer both in person & online, web, video instruction!
Please feel free to contact me for details.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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How to Condition Your Dog to a Muzzle

Image Credit

After a year of not posting on this blog, I am posting again! Not every day, just when I have something I feel like writing about and when I have the time to do so.

Today I wanted to go over How to Condition Your Dog to a Muzzle. This will come in handy if you have an aggressive dog, or a dog who just needs to wear a muzzle for grooming or nail trims. Or perhaps you use a muzzle for something else like barking or digging.

To Condition Your Dog to a Muzzle simple put a treat in the muzzle. As they put their nose in to get the treat, say Muzzle and mark it with a YES! or a click of a clicker. Repeat. Keep doing this till you can say Muzzle and your dog eagerly puts their nose in.

Once your dog is putting his nose in on cue, you can start buckling it around his head. Give him a treat, then take it off. Repeat this until your dog is looking for his treat after youve buckled the muzzle on him.

Next, let him wear it for a moment while you walk him around. Give him a treat every now and then for wearing the muzzle. If he tries to paw at it to get it off, tell him no and get his attention back on you. If he knows any tricks or anything, see if hell do them for some treats. After a few moments of your dog wearing the muzzle with out trying to get it off, take it off.

Make muzzle time, treat time! No muzzle equals no treats. Gradually build on how much time your dog wears the muzzle. Once he or she is feeling comfortable wearing it, gradually fade out the treats he gets while its on.

There you go! Now you have Your dog Conditioned to wearing a Muzzle!

Amy @ Talented K9 Dog Training
Talented K9 Website
Facebook Page
YouTube Channel

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How Well Is Your Havanese Groomed

How Well Is Your Havanese Groomed?

The reason one should groom his/her Havanese is simple - your dogs physical state influences the way he feels and the way you look at your dog. Extreme cases, where lack of proper care, cleaning and grooming can directly affect the behavior of your Havanese, are not rare.

Proper grooming not only infuses a healthy glow to your dogs appearance, but also helps develop his self-esteem; while it makes you a very proud parent, when you show off your Havanese to others.
The first step involved in dog grooming is: Brushing!

Brushing has been universally acknowledged by expert dog groomers as the single most important step in grooming.

The benefits of brushing are many. To name a few:

• Better blood circulation
• Shinier and healthier coat
• Better bonding

Subscribe to this FREE dog grooming mini course and learn more about brushing and combing and other grooming tools and their applications.

Even if you know how crucial brushing is for your Dogs health and well-being, we all know that there is a right way and a wrong way of doing anything. And without doubt, you would like to do everything the RIGHT way when it comes to your Havanese.

Yes, theres a method to follow while brushing your Havanese.

Here are FIVE steps to successfully brushing your Havanese that will prove to be extremely useful:

• Brush against the growth of the hair first with a slicker brush and then with a medium or wide-toothed comb.
  
  
• The slicker brush removes all the loose hair and the comb takes care of the tangles.
  
  
• Brush your Havanese along the hair growth and make sure you reach the skin as you brush his way.
  
  
• Then use a flea comb over the coat to get the fleas and remove any remaining tangles. Part the coat and start from the root and then comb through.
  
  
• If your Dogs paw pads are hairy, then clip them using electric clippers. Do not clip the hair in between the pads. Clip only the excess hair.

Brush your Dogs hairs to prevent it from matting. Matting can be a very painful experience.

Regular brushing untangles the matted hairs on your Dogs coat. Since this is a risky job to do, the best way out is to prevent them from forming in the first place. And doing this is simple: just brush and comb your Havanese regularly. If and when you see any mats or tangles, use a detangle solution and a medium-toothed comb.

Dont wait until your Havanese is dirty or matted to introduce him to grooming. That would make him associate the experience with unpleasantness. Moreover, many dogs learn to see their routine brushing as an alternate form of petting, i.e. another source of affection and attention.

Subscribe to this FREE dog grooming mini course and start Grooming your Dog all by yourself right from the comfort of your home Today.

Copyright (c) 2009 TrainPetDog.com

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How To Give A Dog A Bath

Dog baths are a pretty essential part of any well cared for dog.  But you may have some questions on the best way to bathe your dog.  In this dog article, I will give you some helpful tips in giving your dog a good dog bath.  Of course I reached out to some professional dog groomers as well for their ideas.

First thing first.  If your dog has handling issues, and does not like to be touched or handled, please speak with your dogs veterinarian to rule out any medical conditions.  Then follow up with a qualified dog behavior counselor to work on desensitizing your dog to being touched, groomed, and bathed.

How often should you give your dog a bath?  When I asked this question to professional dog groomer Donna Berggren, her reply was " As long as the pH matches the dogs skin, you can bathe as often as you like.  Dogs with allergies from dust, grass, etc., can really benefit from this. Try for a hypo-allergenic shampoo if you can....no dyes, fragrances."  So that response led to a follow up conversation on pH & dogs.  The take  home message from our conversation is that a dogs pH is not the same as a human so use a dog shampoo.

Prepping the dog bath area.  There are a few tools to make giving your dog a bath much easier on him & you.  First is a hair catcher for your tub.  The last thing you want is a bunch of dog hair clogging up your drain.  Next is a non-skid bath mat.  If your dog has a secure place to stand, your bathing will go much smoother. Finally you will want a hand held shower hose with an extra long hose.  Believe me when I tell you without one, it can be quite challenging to give your dog a bath.

Tools for dog bathing.  You will want to have your dogs shampoo & dog conditioner or any other dog bathing products handy & ready to go.  A nice dog drying jacket can come in handy if you are going to air dry, or a pet dryer if you are going to hand dry.  A few absorbent dog towels & one for yourself would be a good idea.  And dont forget the high value dog treats for rewards!   You can read our reviews of dog grooming tools (towels, shampoos etc) here.

Personally I review EWGs Skin Deep Cosmetic Database to check out the ingredients in the products I use for Dexter The Dog.  This gives me an idea about their toxicology & any side effect concerns.

Prepping yourself for your dogs bath.  You arent going to wear good cloths are you?  Make sure you are dressed for movement & you do not care what happens to your cloths, hair, or face.  Sometimes dogs can get pretty silly in the bathtub.  They do make grooming aprons too.

Prepping your dog for his bath.  Before giving  your dog a bath, run a brush through his fur to loosen the hair & remove any tangles.  If you are going to trim your dogs nails now is a good time.  The same for cleaning the inside of your dogs ears.  Place a cotton ball inside each ear (organic cotton balls are available).    Having a good artificial tears gel like Genteal gel is a great idea to protect your dogs eyes.  Remove his collar and/or harness.

The dog bath.  Now is the time.  Youve prepped yourself, your tub & your dog for the dog bath.  When I spoke with professional dog groomer Sheri May Myers on the best way to start bathing your dog, she gave me these tips.  "The wet down and the rinse are most important.  Use warm water, not cold or hose water because this will not rinse well.  Start by wetting the dogs head and work your way down.  When you think your dog is wet, continue wetting more.  Make sure you get the feet, face & privates.  This starts to loosen the dirt.  After the dog is thoroughly wet, shampoo the dog, but leave the head for last.  When rinsing, start with the dogs head to minimize potential shampoo contact with the eyes."

After the dog bath.  You will want to either hand dry your dog with a dog dryer and absorbent dog towel, or let him air dry.  Please keep in mind that dogs do get cold.  If he does air dry, I like using a dog drying jacket to speed up the process.  Once your dog is fully dry always brush thoroughly and of course give your dog a nice high value dog treat for his troubles.

Thats it.  Those are a few tips to make your dogs next bath more enjoyable.  If you have any problems, or are unsure, visit your local dog groomer or pet salon for help.

Check out our dog shampoo, dog towel & dog grooming reviews here.

A big thank you to Sheri at Sheri May Meyers Pet Styling Salon in Holland, Ohio for the use of your grooming tub. -601 S. McCord Rd Holland, OH  43528 419-868-6887 Or 5529 Harroun Rd Sylvania, OH

And thank you to Donna Berggren at Dog Designs By Donna in Charlestown Indiana for your dog grooming tips.

 

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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How To Train A Dog At Home

If youre looking to properly train your puppy or older dog yourself at home - this website is for you.

Youll find a huge collection of proven dog training information and tips used by professional dog trainers worldwide.

Choose your dog training issue from the list below and learn how to train your dog step-by-step using the very latest dog training techniques - your dog will love you for it.

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Noosa Enduro 100k How good was that!

2:00am Alarm
2:15am leaped out of bed
3:15am car packed, driving north
4:30am got the best carpark in Pomona
5:30-6:28am saw jaman, got a hug from Meg, saw the Rockstar boys...

So far all of this has been done with a shit eating grin...

6:30am GO, GO, GO... doof doof tunes rocking, legs cranking lets tear this race to pieces!

I pedaled, smiled, whooped & yeeehhaaarrd down almost every decent with a shit eating grin. Knowing I had a fan at the finish

Every climb was awesome. Even the grass ones (Yes Pete, even the grass ones!) Yeah sure the occasional one hurt but that makes it all the more fun.

Good deeds for the day: I quickly turned back to give another rider my little tool box for the chain tool & quick link, gave another rider 1/4 of a biddon of liquid cement "suck it up girly man!"

I was asked by lots of people "what time did you do?" reply "Errr... dunno. I was having too much fun to give a fuck about the time!!!"

Every decent was exciting, fun, fast! The views were awesome. I had a perfect race!!! My biggest fan was at the finish with a smile & a hug.

A few good friends & I sat on the grass watching everyone roll into the finish while drinking coffee, coke, coffee, eating burgers & more. We shared some stories then headed home.

After a few days I had a quick look at the final results. They still dont matter.

Love from Dog

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How to teach my dog to lie down

1. Put the dog in the sitting position.
2. approach a treat to the nose of your dog.
3. with your hands move the treat down and pull slightly your dog legs to lie down and give the order "down"!

take this exercise some times until your dog understand the order.

after a few times do this exercise without "pull slightly our dog legs"!

sorry for my english!

I will do a movie for dog training (level1, level2, expert training)

wait for MOVIE

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How to teach my dog to sit

1. Put a treate front of your dog nose.
2. Put treate with your hand back and say "sit" do some practice

sorry for my english!

I will do a movie for dog training (level1, level2, expert training)

this article is demo dont do this command

wait for MOVIE

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How To Play With Your Dog Class

Play is important & underused as a training too. Playing the right games with your dog helps improve your relationship & understanding of your dog. However, the wrong games can be detrimental to your relationship.

In this 4 week class, we will teach you how to properly play with your dog. We will introduce you to ways to start play with a dog who hasnt learned how to play with their humans. And even teach you new games to play!

Prerequisite: Current Vaccines (DHPP, Rabies & Bordetalla), Pass A Toledo Dog Training Class

Topics Covered: Motivation, Good Games, Bad Games, Starting Games & Ending Games

4 Weeks 1hr Classes $75-Includes Play Together, Stay Together Book. (continuing education discount already applied)

Class Day/Time/Dates 2009
Mon 6pm (1-5; 1-12; No Class 1-19; 1-26; 2-2)
Thur 7pm (6-25; 7-2; 7-9; 7-16)
Thur 6pm (11-12; 11-19; No Class 11-26; 12-3; 12-10)

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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How Well Is Your Rottweiler Groomed

How Well Is Your Rottweiler Groomed?

The reason one should groom his/her Rottweiler is simple - your dogs physical state influences the way he feels and the way you look at your dog. Extreme cases, where lack of proper care, cleaning and grooming can directly affect the behavior of your Rottweiler, are not rare.

Proper grooming not only infuses a healthy glow to your dogs appearance, but also helps develop his self-esteem; while it makes you a very proud parent, when you show off your Rottweiler to others.
The first step involved in dog grooming is: Brushing!

Brushing has been universally acknowledged by expert dog groomers as the single most important step in grooming.
The benefits of brushing are many. To name a few:

• Better blood circulation
• Shinier and healthier coat
• Better bonding

Subscribe to this FREE dog grooming mini course and learn more about brushing and combing and other grooming tools and their applications.

Even if you know how crucial brushing is for your Dogs health and well-being, we all know that there is a right way and a wrong way of doing anything. And without doubt, you would like to do everything the RIGHT way when it comes to your Rottweiler.

Yes, theres a method to follow while brushing your Rottweiler.

Here are FIVE steps to successfully brushing your Rottweiler that will prove to be extremely useful:

• Brush against the growth of the hair first with a slicker brush and then with a medium or wide-toothed comb.
  
  
• The slicker brush removes all the loose hair and the comb takes care of the tangles.
  
  
• Brush your Rottweiler along the hair growth and make sure you reach the skin as you brush his way.
  
  
• Then use a flea comb over the coat to get the fleas and remove any remaining tangles. Part the coat and start from the root and then comb through.
  
  
• If your Dogs paw pads are hairy, then clip them using electric clippers. Do not clip the hair in between the pads. Clip only the excess hair.

Brush your Dogs hairs to prevent it from matting. Matting can be a very painful experience.

Regular brushing untangles the matted hairs on your Dogs coat. Since this is a risky job to do, the best way out is to prevent them from forming in the first place. And doing this is simple: just brush and comb your Rottweiler regularly. If and when you see any mats or tangles, use a detangle solution and a medium-toothed comb.

Dont wait until your Rottweiler is dirty or matted to introduce him to grooming. That would make him associate the experience with unpleasantness. Moreover, many dogs learn to see their routine brushing as an alternate form of petting, i.e. another source of affection and attention.

Subscribe to this FREE dog grooming mini course and start Grooming your Dog all by yourself right from the comfort of your home Today.

Copyright (c) 2009 TrainPetDog.com

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How to Weave through legs!

My first of many to come how tos. Complete with pictures! ;)

 

How to Train Dog to Weave Through Legs

 

There are probably many other ways of training this however this is just my version!

 Make sure you have lots of treats and a good *food lure down.

If you have a small dog you can use a wooden spoon with peanut butter on it, switching it between your hands as you go allowing a lick from it for every "treat" I mention in the following. Using this instead of treats makes it easier for you to do a food lure! (and less back aches)

1. Start with your dog in the "side" position. I start with my dog on my right side.

 

 

2. Lure your dog through your left leg and mark with a "good" and give him a treat!

 

 

3. Lure your dog around that leg and under your right leg. Mark with a "good" and treat!

 

4. I did this lure through four steps then walked back to my starting point and began again from the beginning. It is good to smart small so your dog  has a better understanding of what you are asking of him. This takes a lot of practice so do the food lure a few time so your dog understand what he is getting a treat for!

* dont forget to take breaks in your training so after you do the lure a couple times let your dog rest his mind for a little bit *

 

5. Once you have that down, start with a treat in your hand, this time exaggerating your hand signals. Swing your arms in the direction you want your dog to go through your leg and mark with a "good" (without giving the treat) every time he walks under your leg. Make sure you do this through four consecutive steps.

 

 

6. When you get through those four successful walkthroughs mark with a "good" and *jackpot of treats!
* If your dog has problems going through four consecutive steps, start with just two successful walkthroughs then move on to four when you feel more confident, always go a step back in your training if your dog isnt understanding what you are asking of him (and take plenty of breaks) *

 

 

7. After this has been completed a few times, start again without a treat in your hand and give treats at the end of the successfully completed cue!

 

8. After you practice that a few times, practice standing more upright swinging your arms a little less but still directing your dog which leg to walk through. The cue for your dog to start the weave becomes a lifted leg and the little arm swings become your dogs cue to continue doing the weave through your legs. Your dog will learn to read your body language in these trick trainings so you can have fun with it by putting a little hop in your step or whatever else you decide to come up with!

 

 

9. Practice daily gradually increasing steps and decreasing hand signals as you go!

 

Important to remember & Trouble shooting:

• If your dog Doesnt understand what you are asking of him go back a step in your teachings and refresh!
• Dont expect your dog to understand what you are asking of him in one session of training!
  
• Make sure you take breaks and keep your training sessions short when learning any new cue!

 

*Food lure - using treats to guide your dog to a certain place or into a certain position

*Jackpot - giving a lot of treats as a reward for a successfully completed cue, which also means a job well done.

 

 

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How kids should greet dogs

Two of my personal favorite things in life are dogs & kids.  I know that some of you may think Im nuts, but I truly adore a good relationship between these two playful creatures.  A relationship with our family dog can be one of our fondest memories as a child, I know it was mine.  But, it can also be a memory of stress, anxiety, injury, or even fatality.  I will write a post or two in the future on how to actively supervise your children with dogs, and yes, they need you to actively engage in this relationship.  But for now, lets talk about teaching your children how to greet & possibly pet a dog.  Click this post if  you want to lean tips on how adults should greet dogs.  

1. No running.  Walk up to the dogs owner & stop about 5 away & ask if you can pet their dog.  Look at the owner when you ask & wait for the answer.  Sometimes the answer is no.  Not all dogs like to be pet & some dogs even have injuries where petting hurts.
2. If the owner says, "yes" ask what the dogs name is before petting.  Calmly say the dogs name & quietly tap your outside leg & say "hi Dexter (insert the dogs name)."  You want the dog to come up to you, dont rush up to the dog.
3. If the dog comes up to you, gently pet under the dogs chin, chest, & side area.  If the dog moves away at anytime, do not follow him, ask him to come back for more petting.  If he doesnt come back, he no longer wishes to be pet. 
4. When you are finished petting thank the dog owner & quietly walk away (dont run).
5. Great Job!  You made one dog very happy today for being such a gentleman or young lady.

 See how its done

Tips: 

·         Dont approach any dog without an adult with them.

·         If the dog is barking, or jumping around do not approach.  Walk calmly away.

·         Dont put your face in a dogs face.

·         Dont approach a dog while he is eating, or chewing a toy.

Feel Free To Share & Print

Need some extra help?  I offer both in person & online, web, video instruction!

Please feel free to contact me for details.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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How to Prevent Anxiety in the Crate

Image Credit: Taken by me of our dog Blackjack

I wrote a Bubblew post today on How to Prevent Anxiety in the Crate Learn how to properly introduce your dog into the kennel and teach them to relax instead of getting all worked up! If your dog already has anxiety in the crate, this will still work for you! It also helps get rid of anxiety in the crate.

Go read my Bubblew post; What Most People Dont Know about Crate Training

Amy @ Talented K9 Dog Training
talentedk9dogtraining@gmail.com
Talented K9 Website
Facebook Page
YouTube Channel

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How To Calm My Hyper Dog

Fired Up, Frantic, and Freaked Out: Training the Crazy Dog from Over the Top to Under Control

Are you wondering How To Calm Your Hyper Dog? I believe I can help! First, ask yourself why do I have a Hyper Dog? The answer to this is usually, too much pent up energy. With our busy lives, dogs are usually left home for most of the day with nothing to do. They get bored. By the time you get home, they are ready to GO!

This is when they are super excited, jumping all over you, bolting out the door, and most people see this as a Hyper Dog. Wouldnt you be excited and ready to go after a boring day at home with nothing to do? No TV, no Computer, No books to read, nobody to talk to, nothing to play. It would be like sitting in a prison cell all day.

Here are some tips for you to calm your hyper dog.

How To Calm My Hyper Dog : Mental Stimulation

What is Mental Stimulation, and how will this help you calm your hyper dog?

Mental Stimulation is getting your dog to think and work. You can do this through games, Interactive Toys, or Puzzle Toys.

Games can be things like; Hide and Seek or Find It. If youre wondering how to play these games with your dog, ask in the comment section and Ill be happy to teach you.

Interactive toys are toys that you put food or treats in to let your dog work at them to get their food out. Read more about Interactive toys in my article Interactive Dog Toys: Where To Get Them, Good Ways To Use Them

Puzzle Toys are puzzles made specifically for dogs. They come in all different shapes, sizes, and difficulty. You put treats or food in them, then let your dog figure out how to get the treat out. Usually, these toys need you to be supervising while your dog works at them. Dogs may need help getting started with these till they get the hang of it.

All of these will be mentally stimulating and will help tire your dog out. Work their brain and its a whole different kind of tired. Its the difference between us reading a book or working at a puzzle, or going out and running for 30 minutes. Consider these as giving your dog TV, Books, and computer time.

How To Calm My Hyper Dog : Physical Exercise

How will Physical Exercise help you to calm your hyper dog?

Providing a place for your dogs energy to go is a must. Just like you or your kids, your dog needs to have an outlet for their pent up energy. If you dont provide it, then you get what youve got, a hyper dog.

Here are some ideas to get you going; Walking, Running, Biking, Rollerblading, Fetch, Frisbee, & Swimming.

Anything that gets your dog moving and getting that energy out is going to help you to calm your hyper dog! If you have a place to let them run off leash, this is going to be the best for them. This does NOT include your yard. Your yard is just an extension of your house. Its like being in prison and them letting you out into their yard. Would you feel free? Would you feel satisfied after exercising out there?

How To Calm My Hyper Dog : Training

Training can provide both Mental Stimulation, and Physical Exercise for your hyper dog. If you add in play time such as a tug on a rope, or a quick toss of the ball as a reward, then this would be physical.

Obedience, and tricks will help with the mental stimulation. If you train for Agility, Flyball, or even Bird Dog Hunting, these will all help with physical exercise as well as mental stimulation.

Youll find training and working with your dog to be a huge help in calming your hyper dog! Not only will it help you calm your dog, but it will also help you bond with them too.

So, what have you learned today? Lets recap. Provide your dog with Mental Stimulation, Physical Exercise, and Training. Your Hyper Dog will soon be your Calm Dog!

Enjoy! If you found this blog post helpful, please comment below and share it with your friends.

If you need further help than this post this Book will be beneficial for you and your dog.

Image Credits:
Top Pic - Cobalt123 @ Flickr
Bottom Pic - StuartDootson @ Flickr

Amy @ Talented K9
talentedk9@yahoo.com
www.talentedk9.com

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How To Train A Dog To Poop Outside

If your dog constantly has accidents in the house, youre probably wondering how to train a dog to poop outside. If you own an adult dog, youre probably frustrated and tired of having accidents happen in your home. Your house wreaks of pee.

Youd rather die than have company over. If youve been racking your brains as to how to train a dog to poop outside, this article is for you too. Ill teach you how to train a dog to poop outside so that you never have to step in stinky steamy piles again or have your house smell like urine. The training process is much simpler than you think!

Put Together A Schedule

Whether youve become the proud owners of a puppy or the proud owners of an adult dog, you must put your dog on a schedule. That means, you feed him and walk him on a regular schedule. Why? Two reasons: Dogs are creatures of habit.

Second, if theyre on a schedule, theyll get accustomed to holding their bladders based on the schedule you make for them. Once youve got a schedule going,how to make your dog poop outside is a breeze.

Trying to Train Your Puppy?

Remember, puppies dont have the ability to control their bladders as do adult dogs. Still, the same concept apply to puppies as they do for adult dogs. However, puppies need to go more frequently. Puppies need to go pee and poop:

1. After theyve played
2. About 5-10 minutes after each meal
3. Before bed time
4. After theyve taken a nap

The best way to train your puppy to poop outside is to crate train him. If youre going to crate train your puppy, then youll have to plan to be home all day. I highly recommend doing the crate training when you have at least 2 weeks vacation time.

Heres how to crate train your puppy:

Keeping in mind the times Ive mentioned above when your puppy is most likely to have to poop, put him in his crate only for up to 3 hours at a time. For instance, when you first come home with your puppy, put him in his crate.

Make His Crate His Home

Make his crate a place where he would want to retire to. Watch your dog carefully. Let him get used to the crate. He has to see it as his home. When a puppy or adult dog paces back and forth, it means theyre looking for the right spot to poop.

Train Him On Wee Wee Pads First

Immediately open the crate and scoop him up and put him on the wee wee pad. If you have chosen to train him to poop outside, then scoop him up and quickly take him outside. This method works best if you have a backyard. However, if you live in an apartment building, train him on the wee wee pads first.

Dont Feed Him Off Schedule

When I say put him on a schedule, I mean not just a walking schedule, but a feeding schedule. When learning how to train a dog to poop outside, its crucial that you not feed him scraps from the table.

Stay Strictly On Schedule and Praise Him

Giving your dog extra scraps from the table is not a bad thing at all. The problem, however is that he is being fed off schedule. Which means, you wont know when he has to go to the bathroom. So stay strict with your feeding time as well as his walking time. Your dogs bladder will get used to it.

Always remember to praise your puppy or dog after he has completed his business. Praising your dog provide the positive reinforcement he needs to continue his habit of pooping outside.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7100221

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How To Train a Dog That Doesnt Like Food or Toys

Training a Dog That Doesnt Like Food or Toys can be very frustrating at times, especially if you want to use positive reinforcement training. If you are set on using reward based training, check out my post Motivating a Non-Treat or Toy Motivated Dog

There are some dogs that just dont respond to food or toy based training. Such as the dogs mentioned in the comments of the post linked above.

Youre here because your dog doesnt like either food or toys. In fact, you have a hard time seeing anything your dog does like! You see reward based training everywhere, and every time you ask What do I do if my dog doesnt like food or toys you either get no answer, or you get answers just to get you to go away and ask somebody else.

My answer is, try a different Method! Its Okay if you dont train using food or toys.

Now, lets go over the other methods available to you.

How To Train a Dog That Doesnt Like Food or Toys : Praise and Correction

In this method, you dont use food or toys. You simply use petting and praise as a reward for doing the right thing. You always have these with you and its really easy to do! Dog doesnt like food? No problem!

To teach your dog what you want, you first show them what you want by getting them to do the behavior a few times. (Im not going to go into detail on how to do this, the link to the system below will show you exactly how to implement this training method. It works very well and is very fast.) Once you know the dog knows what you want, then you add in corrections when they dont do it on the first time you say.

If you would like more information on this system, check out the website to watch videos, read testimonials, and read more about it. See the website Here

I have this system myself and have used it on many dogs. Ive gotten very good results every time, and it does happen as fast as they say it does.

Get the Large Dog System here.

How To Train a Dog That Doesnt Like Food or Toys : Remote Collar Training

Our next method available to us if you have a dog that doesnt like food or toys, is Remote Collar Training. When used correctly, these do not hurt the dog and should not be used to hurt your dog. If youre hurting your dog or you see someone else using one of these and they are hurting their dog, you are Using It Wrong!

Remote collars can be an extremely useful tool in training, if you choose this method, please go to someone who knows how to properly use one and can teach you how. The best people Ive found that use Remote collar training is Sit Means Sit dog training. This company does amazing things, and no Im not affiliated with them in any way. I do not get paid to recommend them. Ive seen their You Tube Channel and have really liked what Ive seen. I highly recommend watching as many of their videos as you can so you can get an idea of whats possible with them. They have trainers all over the place, so be sure to see if there is one close by to you.

Here is a video of one of their off leash classes, it might give you an idea of what you can expect.



Sit Means Sit Dog training will let you use food or toys if you want to or if your dog responds to them, but they are not required.

How To Train a Dog That Doesnt Like Food or Toys : Natural Training

Natural training is using communication your dog understands and use on themselves. No corrective collars, no food or toys. I have honestly not experimented a lot with this type of training but would like to learn more on it. I found this nice website that is all about it, you can see it at Pam Shaw Canine Consultant. He has a DVD available and I think Im going to order it myself and see what its all about.

I am sure there is more available on the internet about him and on Natural Dog Training. Do a search for it and see what you can find.

To sum this all up, if you have a Dog That Doesnt Like Food or Toys then throw out the reward based training and try something else! It is Okay! Dont let others make you feel bad because you dont use food or toys with your dog. The important thing is finding something that Works!

I would also like to point out, all of these methods are great even if your dog does like food or toys, but maybe you would like to try a different method.

Food or Toys are great to use during training if your dog finds them rewarding! However, dont get frustrated if your dog has no interest in either. There are plenty of other methods out there that dont use food or toys. I hope I helped you find some that will work for you.

Happy Training!

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Image Credits:
Dobie Pic: Pato_Garza @ Flickr


Amy @ Talented K9
talentedk9@yahoo.com
www.talentedk9.com

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How To Get A Better Nights Sleep

I used to hate sleep as a child, I would sit under my blanket reading books when I was supposed to be fast asleep. But now I’m an adult I want to be best friends with sleep, oh boy do I. But sleep wants nothing to do with me.  I suffer from moderate to severe insomnia which is something I didn’t know for sure until recently. I mean I knew it was an issue, I just didn’t want to put a label on it myself.  I started to see someone professionally about my sleep issues because I was struggling so badly and it had started to affect my daily life. She’s helped me a lot and now I want to share this information with you!

Everything is better with a good nights sleep, I’m more productive, I feel better, I concentrate easier. LIFE is better when you’re well rested. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, so here’s my tips on how to get a better nights sleep!

Give yourself time to relax

Our minds and bodies do not just switch off when we decide to(unfortunately). So an hour before you decide to sleep, give yourself time to relax. Whether it’s taking a nice warm bath or reading a book. Or just snuggle up in a blanket on the sofa watching some TV. I am a very ‘go go go’ person and often joke that I wish I had an ‘off’ button. So this is especially relevant if you’re similar to me.

Don’t lay in bed for hours

Some of us (me included up until now) will go to bed when its ‘bed time’ even though we aren’t all that sleepy. But we think ‘Oh if i go now I’m more likely to fall asleep earlier’. Unfortunately this theory is wrong, it will only lead to you rolling around getting irritated. So if you are struggling with your sleep lately try to only go when you think you have a chance of drifting off. No matter how late that may be.

Limit technology

The problem with technology is, we are often looking at stuff that engages our brain and gets our thought processes going. This is the opposite of what we want if we’re trying to get our brain to relax and rest. It’s a habit many people have, If i couldn’t sleep I would scroll through Facebook or Instagram. Read other peoples blog posts or play games on my ipad. Sound familiar? But the other problem with this other than it engaging your though processes are the screens. They’re bright and on the blue shade of the colour spectrum. Subconsciously these lights are telling your brain ‘HEY! It’s time to be awake and do all the things!!’. So try to limit your technology an hour before bed and resist scrolling when you can’t sleep.

Get up

You’ve tried everything and yet you’re still there, watching the clock thinking ‘I have to be up in X hours!’. Get up, when my therapist said this I said “what….but if I get up how will I even have a chance to sleep”. But trust me, have a cup of tea or read some more of your book etc. Just get out of bed and don’t go back until you think you’re ready to sleep. This is hard in the winter when it’s much colder, and when you’re snug it’s the last thing you want but it really does help. You don’t want to use your bed as a place to mull over your thoughts.

Leave anxiety Out Of The Bedroom

This ties in with my last point but I wanted to put it separate because not everyone reading this will relate. If you have anxiety like me you’ll know there is nothing worse than laying in bed all anxious. The thing is if you stay in bed when you’re anxious, your lovely brain will start to associate your bed with anxiety. So get up, get a warm comforting drink. Create a ‘safe place’ for yourself on the sofa or wherever you feel relaxed. Snuggle up in a blanket or do whatever puts you at ease and helps it pass. And wait until you’ve calmed down to try and sleep again. I made the mistake of laying in bed night after night plagued by my anxiety and it’s taken me a while to stop getting anxious in my bed. But after a while those times have definitely become less frequent.

Try to get up the same time every day

But what if I’ve had 3 hours sleep I hear you cry! Oh I’ve been there. But if you ever want to help fix your sleep pattern or at the least improve it. You’re going to have to try your best to get up at the same time every day. The idea is you will be much more tired by the time it’s bed time from your lack of sleep so you’re more likely to actually sleep earlier than you are if you choose to just get those few extra hours and sleep in. So avoid napping in the day too.

These steps may seem a little absurd, some are probably obvious but only once someone has pointed it out. But they’re all designed to help over the long term. Eventually your brain will start to associate your bed/bedroom with just sleep and it will become much easier to drift off. And by getting up at the same time every day we can form a routine which will lead to becoming a habit you don’t even realise you’re doing.

I hope these tips help some of you get a better rest. Often we don’t need more sleep, just a better quality of sleep. Do you have insomnia? If so I’d love to hear your thoughts on this post!

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How To Become A QUALIFIED Dog Trainer

"I want to be a dog trainer."  I hear this statement all the time by dog lovers around the world.  The next statement usually goes something like this, "how do I get started?" 

First, let me just say Im so thrilled that people out there have a love for dogs & want to better their lives. 

Theo 2001

Second, I appreciate that they feel confident that I might be able to guide them towards their goal.

Lets look at some of the things to consider and to determine what qualifies someone to be a dog trainer.  Big can of worms opening about now....... 

Question-Is your long term goal to train dogs, or to train their human parents?  The difference in this answers is huge when thinking of the best way to get your education.  Sort of.  With either answer your first step is to really learn dog training, dog behavior & everything that goes along with that.  If you want to teach people how to train their dogs, you will also need education on teaching people, communication skills, writing a good syllabus, how to evaluate a risky environment....and so much more.

Where to start-Get a job working with dogs daily.  Yes, this means you might need to step down from your high paying accounting position and take a big salary cut.  It is unlikely that you will obtain a position as a dog trainer from an organization (if so, I personally would be very unlikely to recommend this organization for hiring someone with a lack of experience). 

I am talking about a dog shelter, dog grooming salon, veterinarian office, doggie day care.....but somewhere you will be working WITH other humans.  Having mentors & learning first hand on a daily basis from others on dealing & working with various dogs in various situations is a invaluable learning experience.  This will allow you to learn & grow under hopefully knowledgeable and seasoned professionals who have been in the dog field for some time.

While you are employed in some dog field, continue your education with dog training books, videos, seminars & workshops.  Focus on the science on how dogs learn, how to work with clients, dog body language and how to teach dogs behaviors & tricks.  You can not over due this, and you should be continuing with your education all through your career. 

1970s

Volunteer at your local shelter walking dogs, interacting with dogs & just observing their behavior.  Start to train those dogs, using only positive training methods of course, manners, tricks & how to play.  You will need to get a ton of experience working & training various dogs in order to even slightly be qualified to become a dog training instructor.

Take your dog(s) through various dog training classes.  When  you have found a dog training school that you feel comfortable with and you have taken several classes, see if they offer any kind of volunteer opportunities.  Be upfront with them about your long term goals, you never know when they might have an opportunity for you.  This could be your next learning experience if you can mentor with a qualified dog trainer.  They may even offer apprenticeship opportunities.  You should be willing to take on any kind of opportunities they offer, even if its taking photos, or videos of their sessions with clients.  Become invaluable to a good dog trainer, they can open doors for you.

Personally I feel that an ideal situation is for a new dog trainer in the field is to work with another dog trainer & co-teach classes together.  This allows the new trainer to continue to observe the seasoned trainer & for the seasoned trainer to give regular feedback on good techniques & make suggestions for improvement.

What about dog training schools or dog training certificates?  These are all fine & dandy, but do not alone qualify someone to train dogs and/or their dog parents.  I consider these feathers in your cap on education.  They can be very beneficial, along the lines of seminars.  So by all means, attend dog training schools to further your education.

New dog trainers will have various ways they reach their goals and various experiences.  Personally I started in a shelter environment, then volunteered at a service dog school before being hired by them full time.  During my 3 years training service dogs I had 3-4 mentors I worked with everyday, trained dogs full time, assisted with foster training classes before co-teaching, then leading the classes.  After my stint training service dogs, I co-taught, then lead classes at an established dog training school while being mentored by their applied animal behaviorist on dog behavior issues.  While of course reading books, going to workshops & seminars.  I did not take on my first behavior case until I was 4 years in and that was with the guidance of the applied animal behaviorist.

Working with dog parents and their dogs is not something to take lightly & not something that someone should just jump into.  We are talking about lives at stake, dogs & humans.  Public safety and determining if a dog is a risk to himself or to others is unfortunately something professional dog trainers deal with on a regular basis.  In the beginning of your dog training career, these cases should be referred to a more qualified professional.  I am often scared for public safety when I see a new dog trainer taking these cases without the mentorship and experience I feel they should have.

I truly hope this did not discourage you, because this is a wonderful, although sometimes stressful career.  Hope on the internet, start looking for local dog business that are hiring any position & interview.  Order a few dog training books, dog behavior videos & get going.  Dont forget to call your local animal shelter for volunteer opportunities.  Good luck~

Need some extra help?  I offer both in person & online, web, video instruction!

Please feel free to contact me for details.

Tonya Wilhelm-Global Dog Training http://www.globaldogtraining.com

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Viewer questions How to teach my dog to come

1. put the dog in front of you in the sitting position (1 - 2 meters)
2. Call the dog and tell the order "come".
TIPS: When you call your dog, pull the leash toward you and praise the dog. After a few times enlarge the distance 3,4,5,6,7 meters gradually. When you finish the practise with leash put
the dog in the sitting position in front of you without leash (again 1-2 meters) and call the dog with order "come".
enlarge the distance 3,4,5,6,7 meters gradually.
good luck!!!

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