Training Your Older Dog

Mention dog training and most people think of a young puppy being taught the basic commands. In fact, you may have heard that it is not possible to train an older dog. Thankfully, for many people who have adopted an older dog, this is not true and, in fact, you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!
Dogs learn new things every day, so teaching an older dog doesn’t have to be ay more difficult than teaching a young pup. It really depends on the dog, the bad habits he has picked up and his attitude toward learning.
One thing to remember is that an older dog might have some problems with sight and hearing that need to be taken into consideration when training. Make sure you speak your commands loudly and that the dog can see your hand signals. If you are far away from your dog and call him and he does not come, it could be because he can’t hear you and not necessarily because he is not obeying the command.
In addition, older dogs might not have the same amount of energy as a young puppy so you might want to make training sessions less strenuous and for shorter time periods. It depends on the age of the dog, of course. A senior dog will have less stamina than one that is 3 or 4 years old.
Adopting an older dog can be rewarding, but he might come along with some bad habits which can be a challenge to break him of. Don’t give up on your older dog, though as it can be done. You need to remember that some of these bad behaviors have been ingrained in your pet for many years and it might take some special persistence to correct them.
One thing that can really help your dog be as alert and open to training as possible is to make sure he gets the proper nutrition. Be sure to feed him a good commercial food or prepare home made foods for him. Either way, you want to make sure the majority of his diet comes from meat. Make sure you buy a quality food that lists meat as the first ingredient and has no “by products” on the label.
Training an older dog can be a bit more of a challenge but it can also be very rewarding. Remember, your dog is a pack animal and by proper training you can establish yourself as the alpha dog in your little pack. Training your dog properly helps him to be well behaved and a pleasure to be around

Training Your Dog To Stay

If you want your dog to be safe then one of the most important things you can do is train him to “Stay”. When your dog masters this command you can be assured that you can keep him in a safe spot if there is danger around.
Important as it may be, the “Stay” command can be quite difficult for your dog to learn. Why? Simply because this command requires that your dog stay put while you move around – this can be difficult as it is in your pet’s nature to follow you. However, with persistence and perseverance, you can both master this command.
Before you start training your dog to stay, you must make sure he has mastered the “Sit” command as it is the first part of the “Stay” command. Don’t confuse your dog by trying to teach him too many commands at once, start with one, then move on to the next and then the next and so on.
Having said that, if your dog has mastered the “Sit” command, here are some steps to follow in order to train your dog to “Stay”:
1. Start with your dog in the sitting position. Put your hand up with the palm facing your dog and say “Stay”. Use a firm and clear voice for the command. Then take a step backwards.
2. Your dog’s natural tendency will be to follow you so he will probably get up and come to you. At this point you want to repeat the “Sit” and “Stay” commands.
3. This is where it can get tricky. Some dogs will “get it” and stay in just a few tries, but others insist on getting up and following you. If yours insists on following, there is a little trick you can try to reinforce the behavior you want. You will need to be near some sort of post or even a tree. Put the dog’s collar and a long leash on and wrap the leash around the tree while keeping hold of the end. As the dog starts to move towards you, you can pull on the leash which will keep him in place.
4. Once you get your dog to stay after you have taken one step, try taking two steps, then three, then four. You will find that the further away you get, the less your dog “stays”. Here is where persistence and repetition come into play – just keep trying the command while moving further and further away.
Training your dog to stay can be challenging especially since it goes against your dogs nature of following the Alpha dog – you. Remember, you don’t need to hit a home run during the first training session. Do a little bit each day and you will soon find that your dog is staying in position for longer and longer amounts of time.

Training Your Dog To Sit

The sit command is one of the basic commands that any dog owner should teach his dog. When you can get your dog to sit on command he will be more attentive to you and more obedient. Plus, the sit command is the basis for many other commands so starting your training with this command makes good sense.
Training your dog to sit is probably one of the easiest commands and will help you establish a good training regimen with your pet. Here are some simple tricks to make this training little bit easier:
1. Stand facing your dog and say the word “Sit” in a firm tone. Of course, at first your dog will probably have no idea what you want him to do and you may need to give him a clue by performing the action listed in step two.
2. Take one of your dog's favorite treats and stand facing your dog. Hold the treat above his head slightly and move it back towards his rear. This should cause the dog to look and follow the treat with his head which will actually make him sit. As he is sitting say the word “Sit”. Then praised him and give him the treat.
3. Sometimes, instead of sitting, the dog will back up and, if your dog tends to do this, you want to try step 2 with your dog in the corner of the room so that he can't back up because the wall is in the way – that way he will have no choice but to sit.
4. If your dog is just not getting it, you may need to push on the dogs rear end, near the tail, as you issue the command. Your goal is to get the dog to sit on his own while you are issuing the “Sit” command.
It might take you a few tries to get a series of steps that work for you, but once you have figured out how to get your dog to sit, you simply need to repeat this series of steps over and over. The idea is to get the dog to associate the word “Sit” with the action of sitting and to know that he will be rewarded for it. Eventually, you can try the “Sit” command without moving the treat back or pushing on his rear.
As with any training, patience and persistence is key. Try training your dog at the same time every day but don’t make the sessions last too long or your dog will get bored. Another thing to remember is to always say the command in the same way so that it is clear to your pet what you want him to do.
Training your dog to sit can be a fun task and a bonding experience – attack it with a positive attitude and you will notice that both you and your dog look forward to your training sessions every day!

Training Your Dog To Lay Down

Perhaps one of the easiest commands to teach your dog is the “down” command. This should also be one of the first commands you teach your dog as it helps to reinforce your role as the “Alpha dog”. It also really comes in hand when you are visiting friends and you don’t want your dog knocking over their collection of priceless antique china!
You can try training your dog to lay down as his first “trick” if you want, but sometimes it is easier to get him to master the “site” command first so that you have a base to start from.
If you are jumping right into the ‘Down” command, the first step is to get your dog to lay down. If you observe your dog for a while, you will soon be able to tell when he is about to lay down and at that point, you want to issue the ‘Down” command. When is lays down, praise him and give him one of his favorite treats. At first he will probably just think he lucked out and is getting a nice treat for nothing, but you must keep repeating this task of issuing the command ‘Down” as he is laying down and giving the treat afterwards. Soon he will begin to associate the command with the action.
It might be easier for you to start from the sit command and “force” your dog to lay down. One way to do this is to get your dog to sit, then say “Down” and pull his front paws outward (gently, of course) so that he lays down. When he is laying down, pat him and give him a treat. Then get him back into the sitting position and repeat.
Another method you might try is to use a collar and short leash. Get the dog in a sitting position and pat the ground or take a treat or toy and move it from his chin to the ground while issuing the “Down” command. If he doesn’t get the hint, then pull gently on the leash to get him in the down position.
Remember when training your dog that you must be kind and gentle. When trying to get him in the down position, you don’t want to hurt him or force him – just use gentle encouragement. Always reward your dog when he does lay down, but don’t punish him if he does not lay down as punishment will not help you towards your end goal.
When training your dog, you have to work hard not to confuse him. Your dog might be stuck on the “Sit” command and be confused about the “Down” command thinking he is supposed to remain sitting! It’s your job to get the point across using encouragement and clear, concise commands. Your dog can only process information at the level of a 2 year old human and you need to keep this in mind in order to have successful, fun and fulfilling training sessions.

Training Your Dog To Come

Training your dog to come on command can be tricky, but it is a very important command as it will allow you to call your dog back to you should he be heading into a dangerous situation. In fact, the “Come” command is probably the most important command that you can master when it comes to the safety of your pet.
The problem is that, in order to successfully train your dog to obey any command, you have to first get him to perform the desired action. This can be problematic with the “come” command since it is in your dogs nature to explore his surroundings. You’ve probably noticed that when you bring your dog anywhere he is always running off to inspect something new, right? So how do you get him to “come” to you on his own before you train him to obey the command?
The answer is to simply work with nature. While your dog will love to explore places (even your own home and yard) he will eventually return to you - the alpha dog. So what you need to do is let him get some exploring out of his system and then when he is coming back to you, issue the “come” command. When he gets to you lavish him with praise and a few treats.
You might also try getting him into the sit position by issuing the “Sit” command, then give the “Stay” command. Obviously, your dog must have mastered these two commands prior to this training. Then walk away a bit and encourage him to come to you while saying ‘Come” in a firm tone. Your body language and encouragement will probably do the trick and once he gets their heap on the praise.
Now, there are two problems that might crop up – one is that your dog will not come to you at all and the other is that he will come too soon – even before you have issued the command. Here’s some tricks you might try to remedy these behaviors:
1. If your dog does not come, it could be that he is a little bit confused from his prior training with the “Stay” command and he is just trying to be a good dog. Or, it could be that he is just stubborn! Either way, you might tray putting a leash and collar on and pulling him (gently) towards you when you issue the “Come” command.
2. If your dog has the opposite problem and runs after you as soon as you walk away, then you might want to revisit the “Stay” command. You can use a leash and collar for this as well and wrap the leash around a tree then pull back on it when he tries to “come” too soon and release it after you issue the command.
As with any training, teaching your dog to come takes patience and persistence. Think of it as a fun exercise that you can do with your pet and always remember to use positive reinforcement, rewarding the good behavior and ignoring the bad.

Training Your Dog NOT To Jump Up

One of the most annoying behaviors that dogs have is jumping up. Not only is it annoying, but it can be dangerous too, especially if your dog jumps on an elderly person or a child and knocks them down. To avoid any injury, hard feelings or even a law suit it’s a good idea to train your dog not to jump up.
When a dog jumps up on people it is usually meant as a friendly greeting. He wants to get closer to your face and say “Hi”. Unfortunately we often encourage this behavior. After all, who isn’t happy to see their pet after a long day at work and when he jumps up on you in an overjoyed greeting, you usually respond by petting and rewarding him!
The first thing you need to do is stop encouraging him! You have to be a little tough on this one as your first inclination is to greet your pet in kind, but you will have to do what is best for both you and your dog and hold off the greeting until after your dog’s 4 feet are firmly planted on the ground.
As with all training, you need to get the dog to perform the desired behavior first before he can associate the command with what you want him to do. In this case the behavior is to NOT jump up, but in order to get him to associate not jumping; he has to jump up first.
One way to get your dog to “not jump” is to bring your knee up to his chest when he starts to jump up on you. I don’t mean to kick him – do this gently so that he is a little off balance causing him to go back down to all fours. So the key is to cause the jumping behavior and then while the dog is jumping up, you need to stop the behavior while issuing the “Off” command. When the dog responds by going to all fours, you praise and reward him.
Now, your first thought might be to use the word “Down” for this but if you have already used it as the command for “lay down” then you will need to pick another word. In this article, I suggest using the word “Off” but you can choose any word you want as long as it is short and does not sound like any of the other commands your dog already knows.
The knee technique might not work on all dogs, especially smaller ones so in this case you might want to use a leash and collar. When the dog starts to jump, tug sideways on the collar and issue the “Off” command. This distracts the dog from jumping and he will likely remain standing at which point you can reward him.
Like with any command, repetition is key. The idea is to observe your dog closely and see when he is about to jump up on someone then issue the command. It can be really helpful to have another person help you with this. Eventually you want to get to a place where your dog doesn’t even have a chance to jump – you’ll be able to tell when he is thinking about it and issue the command that will keep him, and the person he was going to jump on, standing firmly on the ground.

HOUSE TRAINING BASICS

Your new puppy is so cute and cuddly. He’s a lot of fun with his boundless energy and enthusiasm. In fact, he’s nearly perfect except for one small thing ….. those puddles and piles he leaves in the middle of the floor!
One of the first tasks you’ll set out to do with your new puppy is house training and it can actually be an easy task if you know how to do it properly. Here are some things to remember in order to make house training less of a challenge:
1. The first thing you must realize is that your puppy has a small bladder. He cannot “hold it” for 10 hours while you are at work and expecting him to is just setting you both up for failure. If you cannot be home to take him outside every 2 to 3 hours, then you must provide him with access to a designated place to go inside.2. House training your dog can take several weeks or even months and requires patience, persistence and consistence. Be prepared to provide all 3 for your pet.3. You can start training your puppy as early as 3 weeks old, but remember the younger your dog is the smaller the bladder, therefore the less time between potty breaks.4. Never punish your dog when he has an accident in the house. Always reward your dog when he goes in the designated area. The reward must immediately follow the action or your dog will have no idea why he is being rewarded.
Like any other type of behavior training, house training involves following a certain series of steps to get your dog to realize what is expected of him. Also like other types of training, you have to get the dog to perform the action so that you can reward him. Luckily this is easy with house training since your puppy will need to do his “business” many times a day, therefore you have a lot of opportunity to encourage the wanted behavior of going outside!
Here are some steps to take when house training your dog:
1. Observe your dog and take note of his routine. He’ll probably need to go after eating and at certain times of the day. You’ll want to watch him very carefully at all times so you can “catch” him right before he goes. When you see him sniffing his favorite area, squatting or circling, it’s time to take action.2. When you see your dog is about to do his business say “Out” or some other word that you want the dog to associate with doing his business outside in a firm and somewhat loud voice (you can use any word you want but it is important that you choose one word and use that all the time and that it is not a word you want to use for any other training commands).3. This should interrupt your dog and you want to swoop in, pick him up and carry him outside. 4. Once you have him in the area that you want him to use as his bathroom say “business” or some other command you want to use to get him to do his business. 5. When he finishes his business, praise him and give him a treat to let him know that he did “good”.
It’s important to note that your dog will probably have accidents in the house and you should never punish him for these. If you do not catch him right before he goes then you’ll need to just clean up and wait until next time. If you stumble across an accident and punish the dog for it after the fact, he will have no idea why and you will not be helping your cause of house breaking.
Like everything else, housebreaking your dog takes repetition. Try to be around enough so that you can get him outside to do his business for most of the time. Eventually he will get the idea and you will have a mess and odor free home from then on!

DOG TRAINING BASICS

Training your dog can be a worthwhile endeavor but before you start, there are some things you need to know in order to make training easier and more pleasant for both you and your dog.
The very most important thing you must always remember is that you are the boss! By nature dogs are pack animals and adhere to a strict hierarchy with every pack having a “leader”. In order to train your dog properly (and easily), you need to establish yourself as the leader early on in your relationship.
Some dogs may be more aggressive than others, some more dominant, some more easy going but no matter what your dogs personality, you must be firm in your commands. Don’t let your dog get the upper hand or he will start to think that he is the leader. Now, I don’t mean that you need to be physically abusive to your dog – far from it. You need to show your leader ship with your actions.
Another thing to consider is that while your dog understands you at about the same level as a two year old, he is not a human. In fact, your dog has many differences from humans that cause him to interpret your commands and act much differently than a 2 year old child would. So, do not expect him to behave like your 2 year old during training.
When training your dog, you need to be consistent. Set aside about 45 minutes or a half hour every day to work on training. You can start training your dog as young as you want but don’t be discouraged if you have an older pet as training can be done at any age.
You want to start training your dog with the basics. The sit command is a good place to start as getting your dog to sit is the basis for many other commands. Work on this one command every day until your dog has it down cold, then move on to the next command.
During training, you want to be firm. Always use the same word for each command and say the word clearly. Never punish your dog when he does not do what you want but, instead, use positive reinforcement when he DOES do what you want. Punishing or scolding will only confuse your dog so have patience when he is not behaving the way you want – the best thing to do is ignore him and he will soon learn that he only gets the reward when he performs the desired action.
Try to work on training every day at first. As your dog learns more and more commands, you can slack off a bit, but training should always be a part of your relationship with your dog. It can be fun and rewarding for both of you to keep learning new behaviors and taking the training to the next level.
Dog training is a task that takes, consistence, persistence and patience but your efforts will be well rewarded with a well behaved dog as well as a stronger bond with your 4 legged friend. Training your dog properly insured not only his safety, but the safety of those around him and it can also be a lot of fun for both you and your dog!

CRATE TRAINING BASICS

To a dog, a crate can be like his own special home inside your home. A safe place, a den of sorts, that your dog can go to when he wants to feel secure. Some people think that putting your dog in a crate is cruel, but it is only cruel if you do it in an abusive manner such as leaving your dog in there for more than a few hours. In fact, crate training your dog properly has many advantages for both you and your pet and should be something that you incorporate into your dog training plans.
While some dogs might take to a crate right away, others might be a little leery of this strange object that you want them to step inside of. The most important aspect of crate training is that you must never force your dog into the crate. Instead, you must make your dog want to enter it of his own volition. If done properly, you will find that your dog actually loves the crate and goes there on his own to sleep and “get away”.
Introducing Your Dog To The Crate
The first thing you need to do is “introduce” your dog to the crate. Take one of his favorite toys or a treat and “hand out” by the crate so that he simply gets used to the crate being in the room. Play with him hear the crate, repeating this for several days. You should start off with the crate in the spot you want to keep it in and this should be somewhere that is away from the traffic areas of the home but in a room that the family spends time in. You don’t want your pet to feel isolated and lonely in a crate that is way off somewhere where no one ever goes!
Getting Your Dog Into The Crate
Next, you want to get the dog to go into the crate on his own. One way to do that is to “bribe” him by putting his favorite toy or a treat inside. Don’t put it too far in to begin with, just enough so he has to stick his head in to get it. Y
You’ll probably find that he pokes his head in and then backs our right away. That’s OK, just be sure to pet and praise him so he feels good about the whole thing.
You want to keep at this exercise every day, gradually putting the toy or treat in further and further. You also might want to be sure that you have a comfortable dog bed in there just in case Fido wants to try it out for a short nap.
Eventually, your dog will get used to going in the crate. When you see him in there, sit beside the crate and pet your dog while he is inside. This will let him know that being in the crate is “good”. Always keep the door open wide at this point.
Getting Your Dog To Stay In The Crate
Keep repeating the above steps while trying to get your dog to spend more and more time in the crate. When he seems quite comfortable with it, close the door but do not latch it. Leave it unlocked so that he can nose his way out if he feels uncomfortable.
Eventually, your dog will come to love his crate and will probably retreat there if he is feeling insecure as well as to sleep. If you are going to close the door, be sure you provide him with fresh water at all times and never leave your dog locked in the crate for extended amounts of time.

From Wolves To Dogs - A Brief History

What is a dog?The word Canine is derived from the latin word Canis. There are 35 existing species of Canids (meat-eating animals that primarily pursue their prey across open grassland). The word dog itself comes from the Old English word docga.The Dog Family ranges from the smallest canid, the Fennec Fox, to the Largest, the Gray Wolf.(continued...)
Where and how did dogs originate?
Some scientists believe that the earliest wild dog originated in North America fifteen to thirty-five million years ago, long before any men lived there. During the Eocene Epoch of the Cenozoic Era, some weasel-like critters called miacids developed into the earliest dogs, the canids. Those early dogs had short legs and long bodies and looked more like the modern cat than their dog descendents.Around 7 million years ago, a wolf-like animal called Tomarctus arrived on the scene. The wolf, coyote, fox, jackal, dog, and all the rest of the canines can call Tomarctus great-great-great-grandaddy. At the time of Tomarctus, there were 42 different kinds of Canids, all competing for pretty much the same space.Experts believe the earliest dogs looked like the feral dogs of today and that if modern dogs were allowed to interbreed they would revert to that type. In fact, skeletons of the earliest dogs and their wild wolf cousins can be tough to tell apart. The coyote is considered by some to be one of the last species of primitive dogs.Primitive dogs differed from cats and other carnivores in that they hunted in packs, developed a protective territorial instinct, and a sharply defined social order (alpha male, alpha female, etc). Dogs are without a doubt social animals and crave companionship.

WHY YOU MUST TRAIN YOUR DOG

Having a dog that misbehaves can be embarrassing. You don’t want to take him out in public and, worse yet, you’re afraid he might harm someone or get in harms way himself. For these reasons, training your dog is a vital aspect of dog ownership.

At the very least, you must train your dog to obey the “sit” and “come” commands. This way you will be able to control an unruly dog in most any social situation. More importantly, you’ll be able to call your dog back to you if you see he is heading into a dangerous situation.

Lets face it, having a dog that does not obey you can really harm your relationship with your pet. You probably adopted a dog so that you would have a companion you could bring with you to most places and if your dog runs wild and doesn’t listen to you, you will soon find that no one wants him around. The result is that you spend less and less time with your dog and your bond becomes weaker and weaker.

A well behaved dog, on the other hand, is a treat for everyone - especially the owner. You will find that your friends and family welcome your dog and even request that you bring him over. This is really what having a dog is about – being able to bring your furry best friend with you and feel like he is wanted.

When training your pet, you want to start with the basics and make sure he has those down pat before moving on to more challenging commands. If your dog has problem areas like excessive barking or jumping up on people, then try working on those as they can be particularly annoying.

Perhaps the most important command to teach your dog is “sit”. That’s because it causes your dog to become stationary and can stop him from running around and causing (or heading towards) trouble. It is also a command that your dog must master before he learns other commands. That’s because “sit” is the position he must be in at that start of many other command such as lay down. Sort of like a pre-requisite course in school that you have to take before you can take a more advanced course!

When it comes to training, patience is key, but if you have a dog or are thinking about adopting one, then you must think of training as a necessary part of dog ownership. After all, you want your dog to be safe and secure, don’t you? Training him to mind is critical for your pets safety.

Training your dog doesn’t have to be a “chore”. Instead, think of it as a bonding experience. Set aside time each day for training and you will soon find that you and your dog come to a different understanding and a deeper, more satisfying relationship.