Archive for the ‘Dogs Shelter’ Category

Train Your Dog With These Two Commands

Dog training hand signals are a great way to get to know your dog and form a permanent bond with him. It is fun for both you and your dog. While he is being trained to follow a verbal command you can teach him to follow hand signals as well. Training your pet using dog training hand signals can be very beneficial. If you need him to follow a command in a noisy or crowded area it may be impossible for him to hear you. Also as a dog ages they often lose their hearing.

When you begin training your dog one of the most important things to remember is to never spank or hit your dog. You want him to associate your hands with good things; rewards and affection, not pain. It’s easy to get started. Begin with a few pieces of your dog’s favorite treat and make sure he’s hungry. You will start with a basic command and associate it with a hand gesture. With repetition your dog will begin to respond to the dog training hand signal. When he responds reward him with the treat.

Once your dog begins responding to the command you are giving him verbally, gradually stop using the verbal command. Use the dog training hand signal you have chosen for the command. Only when he responds using the hand signal is he rewarded with the treat.You will want to start with two basic commands. Once they have mastered these commands you will be able to move on to more advanced training. The basic commands to begin with in your dog training hand signal teachings are “sit” and “down”.

To teach your dog to ‘sit “have your dog stand directly in front of you. Hold his favorite treat in your hand. Teach him the verbal command and then add the hand signal you have chosen to represent “sit”. Start by giving the chosen dog training hand signal. Keep your hands at your side, bringing it up and folding your hands as if to throw something. As you do this hold the treat near his nose, while guiding it upward. At he same time you are guiding his nose you will say the command, “sit”. Give him the treat when he sits.

To teach him the “down” command, start with your dog sitting in front of you. Again, teach him the verbal command and then incorporate the hand signal for “down”. The common command for “down” is to have your hand palm facing downward. You will slowly lower you hand to the ground. As you are using your hand to signal, continue repeating the verbal command. Slowly lift your hand over your head. Hold the treat in your fingers. Keeping your arm straight, slowly bring it down until it is hanging at your side. As the treat is passing over his nose, say “down” as you use the dog training hand signal. If he is successfully “down” he will be laying down with his paws and his head forward. When he goes “down” give him a reward.

A well trained dog is a pleasure to own. Your dog deserves to be well trained. He will know what is expected of him and know how to deliver. Taking the time to properly train your dog using dog training hand signals will bring years of pleasure to both of you. It is possible to train your dog at home. It requires patience and dedication. It will be time well spent though. Imagine the satisfaction you will gain when you have successfully trained your dog and can take him anywhere with pride. Get started today teaching your pet with dog training hand signals.

There are many benefits and variations to using dog training hand signals. Click the link to find out more about Dog Training Hand Signals and a review of the most popular training programs. Author: Lynn Ross, avid dog lover.

Dog Training Hand Signals and Dog Training Hand Signals

Puppy Socialization Made Simple

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Puppy Socialization Made Simple

So you have your puppy and the breeds and its heritage are now actually irrelevant. I say that because right now the nature versus nurture question is too late. You have the puppy and the genes have played their part so it is now your turn to affect positively your puppy’s future behavior through appropriate nurturing.

Socialization is now the key word followed closely by training, and, contrary to popular belief, socialization is not a small task. By the time you have read this you are going to feel a little overwhelmed with the job you have on hand. However, socialization and training can be fun for both the owner and the dog if done properly with a commitment to raising this puppy correctly. There are also many great resources at hand to assist you with this job. The DogSmith offers a free puppy socialization work book that you can download, this has over a hundred items that you can diligently expose your puppy too in a happy and stress free manner.

A key development period for puppies takes place between 3 and 12 weeks of age. There is a primary socialization period from three to five weeks where behavior patterns and emotional tendencies take place and then a secondary socialization period from six to 12 weeks when the mother’s job is almost complete; the puppy is weaned and has developed good interaction skills with its littermates. Most people acquire a puppy around 7 weeks of age so we will focus on this period.

Canine socialization is more difficult than with most other animals. We expect our dogs to be social with a variety of other dogs, with other domestic animals and to be social, comfortable and relaxed around many different people. An unconfident and/or unsocial dog may develop behaviors of fear, aggression, or a host of other problems in later months. A good puppy program can head off these potential issues.

Exposure, exposure, exposure. Puppies need to be exposed to as many different people, places, noises, smells and environments as possible in a safe and controlled manner. Each exposure to each scenario needs to be a positive experience for the puppy so it can stride through life feeling confident in any situation we place it. Make a list of all the places you visit and one by one expose your puppy to these areas for short periods.

Enroll your puppy into a puppy class. Puppy School is designed to assist with socialization. A good puppy class run by a professional trainer will be a safe and controlled environment for your puppy to meet many other dogs of a similar age. Puppy class should be mostly off leash so the dogs have an opportunity to interact and play. The puppies should be encouraged to approach strangers and to investigate novel things in the class environment. The class should be structured so your puppy is encouraged to play with the other dogs so they develop good play skills, tolerance, trust and affection towards other dogs and people. This type of puppy interaction coupled with short and concise puppy skill training will help ensure a solid foundation for future obedience classes.

Play “pass the puppy.” This is a great way to expose your puppy to lots of different people. During the “pass the puppy” game have everyone touch your puppy all over its body. Your veterinarian will thank you for this when your puppy behaves nicely when being examined. Puppy play also helps social learning between different dogs and between dogs and people. Through play dogs learn self control and restraint and they learn bite inhibition. Through play, puppies acquire many of the social and environmental skills they need to be well adjusted. In my opinion a puppy that can play is a puppy that can learn and if we want our dogs to reach their full potential they need to know that learning through exploration is fun and reinforcing.

A good puppy class offers great socialization and is a great foundation for future training. To find a professional trainer in your area visit one of the highly reputable professional organizations with extensive member directories or locate your local DogSmith. Each of these organizations have ridged codes of conduct and lots of access to educational materials. They list member’s qualifications and areas of expertise making your search easier. I suggest visiting the DogSmith, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers or the National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers.

Niki Tudge, the author of this article, is the owner and founder of The DogSmith, America’s Dog Training, Dog Walking and Pet Care Franchise. To learn more about joining the DogSmith visit http://www.888dogsmith.com/franchise.html Niki achieved her Canine Behaviorist Diploma in England and Dog Obedience Training Diploma in the US. Niki is an Endorsed member of the National Association of Dog Obedience Trainers and a professional member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and The Association of Animal Behavior Professionals. Niki is also certified by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers. You can reach Niki via email at NTudge@888dogsmith.com or www.888DogSmith.com

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