Archive for the ‘Dog training’ Category
After we lost our 11 ½ year old Belgian Sheepdog we decided we wanted a Rough Collie. Three weeks ago, we picked up our new female Rough Collie named Sophie. One of the first dog training challenges for us to take on was housebreaking after all who wants that mess in their house.
As she is the only dog in our house with no peers to help train her, we wanted all the help we could get. One of the training items we picked up were dog doorbells. These are great! You just hang them on the doorknob and every time we take Sophie outside to do her business, we jingled the doorbells. It only took one week for Sophie to catch on and three weeks later we are accident free!!
Dog owners whether new or experienced plan for the goal of having the most well behaved dog in the neighborhood. To achieve this goal, obedience training is the answer and that begins with the right tools. The first tool you need to embark on successful obedience training is the appropriate dog leashes.
Dog leashes come in all shapes and sizes from leather dog leashes to retractable dog leashes. Sizes vary from four feet to over 100 feet and depending the training session will determine the correct length and style. Leather dog leashes of either four feet or six feet are the right choice if training your dog to walk. While for most breeds a six-foot dog leash, works the best but for taller breeds the four-foot length is the better choice. The shorter length gives you more control as you walk with your dog.
When teaching the “come” command long dog leashes of 20 to 100 feet is the tool you need. Most of these dog leashes are made of nylon and can be attached to your dogs training collar. This is one the most important commands to teach your dog as it could save his/her life one day. When it comes to training your dog the basic commands choosing nylon or leather dog leashes is left to personal preference as either will achieve your goal.
One the first training exercises you will embark on as the proud owner of a new puppy is housebreaking. A dog crate can cut that time in half when sized correctly. The crate should be large enough for your dog to stretch out, get up, and turn around, but not so large that they can curl up in one corner while leaving three-quarters of the crate empty.
Dogs will not defecate where they sleep or eat and having the right size dog crate is essential for housebreaking. However, do not expect your new puppy to hold his business for eight hours when they first come home. Successful housebreaking still takes time as new puppies will need to relieve themselves every half hour for the first week or two so be prepared.
What a dog crate can do for housebreaking is ensure that they will ask to go outside when the time comes instead using their dog crate or your carpet. Again, this depends on buying the right size crate. The best investment is a life style Midwest dog crate. These dog crates have a movable panel that allows you to add more space as your new puppy grows.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Today marks the beginning of the Holiday season with family and friends stopping by to enjoy one of everyone’s favorite meals. As dog owners, we spend quality time training our dogs not to beg, but with the smells of the Thanksgiving feast, it can be difficult for dogs to do otherwise.
Dogs can always spot the person willing to slide a morsel off their plate and give it to your dog. The question is how to address the problem without offending anyone and still allow your dog to socialize with your guests. Leaving this question unaddressed can un-do all of your training in fail swoop, while offending those guests who do not appreciate your dog making the rounds at the dinner table.
If you have a small dog, perhaps putting them in their dog crate is not a bad idea. Small dogs can be fearful with so many people in the house and the danger of being stepped on is foremost on their mind. For larger dogs, locking them in their dog crate during dinner is a wise idea. When the meal is over let them out to once again be allowed to socialize with the rest of the family.
One of our friends is getting new dog in a few weeks from a local breeder. Of the many things there is to purchase when getting a new dog, most people do not think of dog obedience books. Dog training is one of the most important aspects in raising a new dog.
A properly trained dog will have a safer and happier life. Dog books go beyond simple housebreaking and can teach a new dog owner or even the veteran dog owner how to train the most stubborn pooch. Well-trained dogs can socialize safely, accompany you to off leash dog parks, and join you on a daily walk leaving you confident your dog will listen to you should anything unfortunate happen.
We are looking forward to giving our friends their new dog book and seeing the outcome of a well-trained dog.
With only four days left until Halloween, have you purchased your dog Halloween costume. With so many choices available for every size dog why not let your pooch be the life of the party! On a related note, if you are walking through the neighborhood with your kids this year joined by the family dog in his/her Halloween costume; make sure to take along some dog waste bags.
Walking down your neighborhood streets with the kids and dog in tow is a great way for your dog to show off his/her dog Halloween costume but the need to relieve is bound to happen. Taking along biodegradable dog waste bags is the perfect way to handle this issue while walking your dog.
Dog waste is about, as biodegradable as it gets so don’t use a plastic dog waste bag. There are several biodegradable versions on the market that include dispensers you can clip outside the back door. Be prepared this Halloween and take along a few biodegradable dog waste bags for the trip through the streets.