Dog Training Zone

It’s a sunny, beautiful day and you’re ready to ramble into the countryside. There’s no reason not to go and no reason not to take Fido with you.

Do be aware that while you know the sidewalks around your home, there are
increased risks in rugged, unfamiliar areas.

Louise Louis of www.ToyBreeds.com offers a few tips to help keep
Fido safe.

Don’t let him play with sticks

Some dogs love them but they can splinter and damage his mouth.
Bring a hard rubber Kong toy or ball for him to retrieve.

Have a first aid kit in the car or your fanny pack

It needed be elaborate - a wrap-type bandage, tape, ointment,
Swiss Army knife, tweezers and a ruler in case you need a splint.

Carry a cell phone or at least change for a pay phone

Carry some drinking water for Fido

Don’t rely on a pond, stream or lake. Most are polluted and algae
can poison dogs.

Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to
be back

Avoid walking along paths with gravel or small rocks
These can cut paws and cause falls.

Have something you can use to muzzle him if necessary
A scarf or leash can do in a pinch. Even Lassie may
bite if hurt and frightened.

Avoid taking him out in the hottest part of the day
Dogs can’t sweat and heatstroke is a real possibility in
hot weather.

Never leave an injured dog to seek help

He may panic and take off. Use a jacket to make a sling and
carry him with you.

Watch out for livestock

Most won’t bother a dog and owner but a cow with calves may
think she’s protecting her offspring by attacking the dog.
Especially avoid bulls or pastures where there’s just one bovine there.
Horses can be tricky - best to avoid them altogether.

To safely cross a field with livestock,put Fido on a leash and walk
quietly and gently around the perimeter of the field.

Respect other people’s property

Farmers may not like finding dog doo so clean up after Fido just
as you do in the city.

Protect your dog from fleas and ticks

Treat him with Frontline Plus before you take him into the wilds.

If you ignored the above and he gets a tick, try to remove it as soon
as possible. Easiest way is to cover the tick with petroleum jelly
(Vaseline) and leave it for a minute or so. Then, twist the tick off.
Do not pull which could leave part of tick in Fido and cause an infection.

Consider your dog’s age and general health in deciding where
and how long to go for a walk

You wouldn’t expect your elderly grandmother to walk six miles, and
you shouldn’t expect your older dog to do it either.

Fido will only cope with what he’s used to. Use some common sense,
and you’ll both have a great time.

Louise Louis is a certified canine specialist and
creator of the popular website on small dogs,
http://www.ToyBreeds.com

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Okay, so it’s not the cleanest or most appealing of dog behaviors, but it is a serious problem with most dog owners - how do I start dog potty training so that my dog stops eating poop?!

Well, there are no guarantees here, unfortunately. However, this article will detail some ideas you can try, so that your dog stops this disgusting habit.

Avoid ‘It’

One of the best dog potty training methods is avoidance. Don’t let your dog see anything he shouldn’t be eating, and he won’t. However, this is almost impossible when talking him for a walk, or really anywhere outside for that matter. For starters, at least make sure you are cleaning up after your own dog before he can get into it, and avoid places that you know are more ‘infested’ than others.

Keep Careful Guard

Make sure to go outside with your dog each time he needs to take a potty break. Then, you can watch him to make sure if he’s decided to get into the nasty stuff. If he does, use one of the obedience commands you’ve taught him, and reward him for listening. For instance, if he’s going for the doody, tell him to “Sit!”, and reward him immediately. Then you can guide him back into the house and avoid the situation altogether. A word to the wise here, though - try and frame what you want to say to your dog in positive terms, so he knows what’s expected of him. Just saying, “No!” doesn’t tell him what to do, it just tells him that he shouldn’t be doing it.

Use a Leash

In addition to the tip above, use a leash to reinforce this dog potty training method when taking your dog for a walk.

Make It Inedible

There are a wide variety of ways to do this, although they can be very frustrating, since every piece of something that your dog shouldn’t eat needs to be covered with it. However, if no other dog potty training methods work, try placing some bitter orange, super hot sauce or Tabasco on every ‘piece’ to deter consumption.

Supplement

Your veterinarian may have something they can provide you with that you add to your dog’s every meal to stop him from eating what he shouldn’t. One product is called “For-Bid”, although some people use meat tenderizer instead (just mix a little bit in before every feeding).

(c) 2005 dog-training-info.com. This article may be republished as long as these bylines are included. Kevin Simmons is the webmaster of http://www.dog-training-info.com . Please visit the site for more free dog training articles. Online URL for this article: http://www.dog-training-info.com/dog-potty-training.htm

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Almost every dog owner will have to use some sort of behavior modification techniques at one time or another when training their prized pet. If you are able to ‘get’ why your dog does what he does, when he does it, you are one step closer to solving the problem. This article will detail ten ways of doing just that, in a general fashion that can be used for a wide variety of issues.

Dog Training Tip #1: It’s All about Control

Let your dog know who is in charge, and you’ve alleviated a lot of problems. It’s not about fighting for control, it’s about knowing who has it. So when it’s time to train your dog, put on his training collar so he’s fully aware of what time it is. Alternatively, use a leash when walking your dog, so that he knows who is boss all of the time.

Dog Training Tip #2: Reframe the Negative

Instead of telling your dog, “NO!” for something bad he’s done, try and reframe the negative into something positive instead. For instance, if your dog decided to run after a chipmunk running across your lawn, try, “Sit” instead of whatever you’d normally use. Now you can praise him as well for his good behavior, instead of yelling at him because he didn’t stop.

Dog Training Tip #3: Allow for Differences in Perception

Your dog may not think that digging is a bad behavior, but you and your garden probably do. Instead of getting upset, why not provide your dog with adequate digging space elsewhere, complete with buried treasures? Then, you can do the same as dog training tip number two, and provide positive feedback when he digs in the allotted space, and not in your flower garden.

Dog Training Tip #4:

Make Sure the Whole Household Acts Consistently
When you are training your dog, make sure that everyone in the house knows what you are doing, and how to provide supportive measures when needed. That means that if you are teaching the word sit, then everyone in the house should know what to do, when to do it, and why if a behavior presents itself where the command should be used.

Dog Training Tip #5: Keep Moving!

Many behavioral issues with dogs lie behind the fact that they don’t get out enough for a long walk or run. Make sure to take them out on a regular basis (daily, if at all possible) to somewhere new that he can explore on his own time.

Dog Training Tip #6: Keep it Simple

The more clear you are with your dog while training him, the better off everyone will be. Show your dog what you are asking him to do, instead of just telling him. Give the command at the same time while you show him (gently, of course) and ensure that your body language matches your words.

(c) 2005 www.dog-training-info.com.

This article may be republished as long as these bylines are included. Kevin Simmons is the webmaster of http://www.dog-training-info.com.

Please visit the site for more free dog training articles. Online URL for this article: http://www.dog-training-info.com/dog-training-tip.htm

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