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Disobedience

Mar 1

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Some times a dog’s disobedience can be due to incomprehension. For example, if your dog disobeys a command because they do not understand what it is you want them to do, then behavior is not the problem. It suggests, rather, that you should spend more time with your dog. True disobedience occurs when your dog understands what you are asking, yet deliberately does not obey the command.

A dog’s disobedience can not only be an inconvenience, but it is a serious issue. Aside from being dangerous for your dog (like when you command your dog to stop when heading towards a moving car), disobedience says volumes about how your dog feels about you. When your dog disobeys you, the act demonstrates that the dog does not respect your authority.

Allowing disobedience can create a passive-aggressive dog. This is not something that the dog will just grow out of and can actually get worse. It is vital for your dog to accept you as a higher ranking member of the social hierarchy of the household. In order to maintain a healthy, functional relationship with your dog, you need to accept alpha status.

Your dog will actually be happier when the realization sets in that somebody else is accountable for making all the choices – even those day-to-day behavior and obedience ones. Your relationship as a sensible owner and obedient dog will not be sustainable if you are not understood as the clear-cut authority figure. Your dog must understand that he’s beneath you within the chain of command.

It should be obvious that your first step in dealing with disobedience is to reestablish your dominance. Here are some recommendations on doing that:

When leaving the house and the car, you need to always leave before your dog. This is unmistakable alpha behavior. To a dog, only the alpha leaves first. By allowing your dog to leave first, you are saying, “You are stronger than me and the decision maker, so you should go first”. Before going through a door or leaving the car, make your dog sit and stay. Once you have gone through, release the stay with an unharness word. Give verbal praise and/or reward with food.

Make your dinner time come before your dog’s. If this means your dog will eat a half hour after you and your family, then so be it. Keep the feeding schedule varied so that your dog is aware that you are in command of the food. Don’t allow your dog to dictate when the food should be given. When you do place the food down, make your dog sit and wait until you unleash them to eat.

Don’t allow your dog free, uninhibited access to the house. Remember that the house is your den. You’re just permitting the dog to reside inside. Remind your dog of this fact. Being in your den is a privilege, not a right. Continue to keep bound areas of the house strictly for your own (like your bed, certain items of furniture, or some rooms).

Never allow your dog to initiate play. If they nudging you for attention or to start out a game, you will assume that it’s cute and affectionate; however, what the dog is really saying is, “I’m the boss and I’m telling you to play with me right now.” If your dog starts bothering you for attention, ignore for several moments then get up and do something else. Wait till the dog has given up before you initiate play. Playtime may be a fantastic way to bond with your dog, but it should be done on your terms.

Ignore your dog when you get home; at least for 3-5 minutes. Upon arriving home, avoid rushing straight over to your dog to shower them with affection. That’s not alpha behavior! An alpha dog, upon arriving home, doesn’t reassess to the other dogs and throw himself at them, saying, “Here I am! I missed you guys! Let’s have a cuddle!”. The alpha dog ignores everybody else, relaxes for a bit, perhaps has something to eat, and solely interacts with the others when good and ready. Although you’re probably good and prepared to interact with your dog when you get home, it can underscore your authority.

Another approach to counteract disobedience is to start and maintain a basic obedience training plan. You don’t have to try and do something fancy or super-demanding. Just 10 minutes a day can be a sufficient amount of time to dedicate to the learning and implementing of commands.

Here are some tips on how to implement a sensible coaching program:

When your dog chooses to disobey you, never give a command that you can not reinforce immediately. Every time your dog takes the opportunity to ignore your command, the dog is learning that it’s easier (and more fun) to ignore you.

Your dog should remain on an extended line or retractable lead until completely reliable with your commands. This will allow you to enforce them if necessary.

Use your voice to have a powerful effect. Your dog will make a distinction between your tones of voice. Praise ought to be in a very lightweight, cheery, happy tone of voice.

When giving corrections, your voice should be an exceedingly stern tone. This does not mean you want to shout, but your voice ought to be low and authoritative. Verbally interrupting your dog with “OI!” or “Ah-ah-ah!” rather than with “No” is a more effective way to catch their attention. This is because the sounds are more clear.

Do not repeat a command. Repeating yourself teaches the dog to attend for the command to be repeated at least once before he obeys you. If your dog decides to ignore you, give a short, sharp tug. Remember, you must be training on a leash or a long line.

Spend five to fifteen minutes per day training your dog. Fifteen minutes of intense training, where your dog is concentrating on what you would like, is sufficient to send even the most energetic dogs to their beds for a nap after wards.

Once your dog has mastered the basics, you can move on to additional advanced training and ‘tricks’. Formal obedience training classes is another option. They offer a nice manner of socializing your dog (he gets to interact with different dogs, and those dogs’ house owners), and conjointly teaches focus on what you would like despite the manifold distractions taking place in the environment. It’s also very useful to have face-to-face contact with a skilled trainer. They can make you aware of any mistakes you might be making, and provide you recommendation for tightening up your coaching techniques.

Visit the Secrets to Dog Training site to learn more.

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Destructive Chewing

Feb 22

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Among dogs, the act of chewing seems to be a matter of individual preference. Some dogs love to chew and do so as a pleasurable activity. For other dogs, chewing is an activity that only sheer boredom can initiate.

The phrase “destructive chewing” simply refers to inappropriate chewing. It is important to note that all chewing is destructive, but not all chewing is inappropriate. Because dogs have strong jaws and sharp, pointy teeth, anything they start to chew on is probably going to show the effects of it within minutes. Inappropriate chewing, on the other hand, is the kind of chewing that is focused on your possessions and household items, instead of on your dog’s own designated toys and chews.

Three Reasons Why Dogs Chew:

  • Natural desire.  Most dogs like to chew because it’s fun, it feels good, it passes the time, and it’s an overall self-rewarding/ self-reinforcing activity.
  • An outlet. For some dogs who are nervous, bored or lonely, chewing can provide an emotional outlet. To an anxious dog, the repetitive act of chewing is actually soothing. You can think of it as the doggie equivalent of comfort food.
  • Energy burner. Dogs that are under-exercised will often use chewing as a way of burning built up energy.

Ways to Prevent Destructive Chewing

With a little time, effort, and patience (mainly on your part), your dog can learn to chew the things you want them to. Here are some suggestions to help you train your dog to be an obedient chewer:

Manage Your Own Possessions. Your first step should be to take control and dog-proof your home. Dogs explore the world with their mouths. Even the best-behaved dog will have its self-control tested with a multitude of items laying around. So dog-proof your home.

Dog-proofing your home requires taking whatever you don’t want to end up in your dog’s mouth and making it unavailable. This may mean taking it completely out of sight. Consider the size and agility of your dog when deciding whether something’s out of reach. For example, can your dog jump, climb, or leap onto something else to reach the desired object?

Common household items that dogs will target include books, eye wear, clothing, shoes, garbage, and small crunchy appliances like cameras, cell phones, and remote controls.

It is also imperative that all food is put securely away. Don’t leave snacks on low tables or even on counter tops (yes, dogs can be very acrobatic when it comes to getting what they want). For some dogs, the occasional dirty dish may even need to rinsed of scraps before left in the kitchen sink.

Don’t Blur the Boundaries. It is impossible to expect your dog to understand the difference between your cast-away clothes and the ones you actually want to wear. To avoid this confusion, simply don’t offer your possessions (old or new)-towels, socks, or shoes to your dog to play with.

Provide Tasty Alternatives. Remember that most dogs need to chew. If our dog is young (a puppy-three years old), the need is more pronounced. Provide a variety of attractive and interesting chew toys. If the environment is relatively barren of approved chewing objects, you can hardly blame your dog for chewing on your possessions. Buying a variety of toys and rotating 2-3 every few days will keep things novel and interesting.

Provide Active Supervision. Provide opportunities for your dog to explore the boundaries of your expectations. It is through this exploration that your dog will learn what is appropriate behavior and what is not. Although it may be convenient to keep your dog penned up in a yard, dog run, or crate, it is not fun, fair, or productive for the dog.

Interrupt With Loud Noises. When you catch your dog chewing something that is on the “not allowed” list, interrupt the behavior by making a loud noise. This doesn’t mean give the dog a heart attack by screaming into a bullhorn, but rather a startling noise in the form of a hand clap or voicing an “Ah-ah-aaaah!”. Once you have the dog’s attention, give a tasty and dog-appropriate alternative (a rawhide bone or other chew toy). Then, as soon as the jaws close around it, load on the praise. This is a sure-fire way to teach your dog what is appropriate to chew and that chewing those things will win praise from you.

Maintain a Productive Attitude. The most important thing to remember is to stay positive and realistic. It should be obvious that dogs are not humans. There is likely to be an incident or two that leaves a cherished item damaged by your dog’s curiosity. Your dog is not perfect. Make sure you give your furry friend plenty of time to learn the chewing rules-take precautions to keep things out of reach and provide plenty of you-time to make learning faster.

For more information on dog training techniques and how to deal with problem dog behavior (like chewing), check out Secrets to Dog Training. It’s the complete manual for dog ownership and is designed to fast-track your dog s learning.

Visit the Secrets to Dog Training site to learn more.

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Dog Training Benefits Both Pets and Owners

Feb 13

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Whether you are a new pet owner or you have had a pet in your home for some time, you know how delightful, and frustrating, owning a pet can be.

Bringing home a brand new puppy or full grown dog is a great joy for most people. The relationship between an owner and a dog is like no other. After all, you brought your dog home to enjoy as a pet – Right?

Dogs often provide unconditional love and affection, hours or exercise and entertainment, and real friendship. On the other hand, your dog may create random messes, afternoons of destruction and cleaning, and become a real nuisance!

How do make sure your dog behaves in a manner that is rewarding and enjoyable?  If you think your dog’s behavior is based on breed,  you are partially correct. Breed does play a role in a dog’s behavior. However the most significant factor is primarily the training your dog receives. Good dog training resources can go a long way toward helping.

The Benefits of Training

Many pet owners don’t account for the time required to train a dog. Most people are very busy  and there is never enough time in a day to take care of yourself, let alone a dog! The time invested in training your dog will benefit you and your relationship for years.

There are five main benefits of training:

  1. It builds a relationship: Your dog is your friend – Right?
  2. It corrects behavioral problems: Do you want your dog to behave?
  3. It stimulates intellect: You want a smart dog – Right?
  4. It encourages inclusion: Do you want your dog to feel included?
  5. It saves time: Do you like to spend time cleaning or time with your dog?

Let’s dog into each benefit a little bit:

  1. Training Builds a Relationship.There is no better way to create a bond with your dog than through the process of training. You may think that training begins at the time you decide to try new tricks, but it actually begins at the very moment you acquire your dog. Your dog is constantly watching you and learning from your actions. He learns from the way you react to his actions. He looks to you for guidance, for food, for warmth, for comfort, and for playtime.
  2. Training Corrects Behavioral Problems. Barking at anyone who passes by the front window, chewing up your favorite pillows, digging through your freshly planted garden, bolting out of an open door…do any of these actions look familiar to you? When you have developed a trusting bond with your dog, you can teach him how to correct these behavioral problems. He will learn by your reactions whether or not his actions are acceptable to you. No doubt, he will test his limits!
  3. Training Stimulates Intellect.Yes, it is true that dogs are very curious creatures. With exposure to so many unusual smells, sights, and sounds, dogs can’t help but want to explore. It’s in their nature! Most dogs have the capacity to be very intelligent. But, they need to be stimulated first, and then they will be motivated to learn. Training is a huge benefit for stimulating your dog’s intellect.
  4. Training Encourages Inclusion.The sense of “inclusion” is very important to a dog’s security. From the earliest days of being a part of a litter, your dog feels comfortable being a part of the pack. That includes the pack of your household. You may be the primary dog trainer, but everyone in your family or household should take the time to train your dog. When he receives this undivided attention from everyone, he feels like part of the pack.
  5. Training Saves Time. Another huge benefit of training your dog is that it saves you time. Taking the time to train your dog now, will actually save you time in the long run. For example, if you take the time to train your dog to behave properly inside the house, you will actually be saving time cleaning up mischievous messes that he could create in the future-if he didn’t have the training.

For more dog training help and advice visit the DIY Dog Training Website.

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Successful training for your dog: The Positive Reinforcement Method

Feb 6

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The majority of dog training experts agree — positive reinforcement training is the most effective and humane way to train a dog. The phrase positive reinforcement training simply means: rewarding the behavior you want, and ignoring the behavior you don’t want. This dog training technique sharply contrasts with some popular techniques. Some older, extreme dog training methods promoted physical pain and intimidation. This included hanging an aggressive dog by the collar or inhumane methods of aversion therapy, such as using powerful shock collars for barking. Positive reinforcement works with your dog — just like it works for killer whales! Do you seriously think Shamu’s trainers act aggressively with a giant killer whale?

Your pet dog’s natural instinct is to please you – the theory of positive reinforcement recognizes that lessons are more meaningful for dogs, and tend to “stick” more, when a dog is able to figure out what you’re asking under her own steam. Rather than learning “down” by being forced repeatedly into a prone position, while the word “down” is repeated at intervals. When you use positive reinforcement training, you’re allowing her the time and the opportunity to use her own brain.

Keys to Positive Dog Training:

Use meaningful rewards:

Dogs get bored pretty quickly with a routine pat on the head and a “good girl.” Most dogs don’t even like being patted on the head – watch their expressions and notice how most will balk or shy away when a hand descends towards their head. Food treats and physical affection are what dog trainers refer to as “primary incentives.” Dog treats and owner affection are rewards that most dogs will reliably and significantly respond.

Use the right timing:

When your dog obeys a command, you must mark the behavior that you’re going to reward so that, when she gets that treat in her mouth, she understands exactly what behavior it was that earned her the reward. Some people use a clicker for this: a small metal sound-making device, which emits a distinct “click” when pressed. The clicker is clicked at the exact moment that a dog performs the desired behavior (so, if asking a dog to sit, you’d click the clicker just as the dog’s bottom hits the ground). You can also use your voice to mark desired behavior: just saying “Yes!” in a happy, excited tone of voice will work perfectly. Make sure that you give her the treat after the marker – and remember to use the marker consistently. If you only say “Yes!” or use the clicker sometimes, it won’t have any significance to your dog when you do do it; she needs the opportunity to learn what that marker means (i.e., that she’s done something right whenever she hears the marker, and a treat will be forthcoming very shortly). So be consistent with your marker.

Be consistent with your training commands:

When you’re teaching a dog a command, you must decide ahead of time on the verbal cue you’re going to be giving her, and then stick to it. So, when training your dog to not jump up on you, you wouldn’t ask her to “get off”, “get down”, and “stop jumping”, because that would just confuse her; you’d pick one phrase, such as “No jump”, and stick with it. Even the smartest dogs don’t understand English – they need to learn, through consistent repetition, the actions associated with a particular phrase. Her rate of obedience will be much better if you choose one particular phrase and use it every time you wish her to enact a certain behavior for you.

How to reward your dog meaningfully:

All dogs have their favorite treats and preferred demonstrations of physical affection. Some dogs will do backflips for a dried liver snippet; other dogs could care less about treats. Many dogs prefer a game with a cherished toy, or physical affection from you. You probably already know if your dog enjoys being touched, played with, or fed treats – each dog has a unique balance of needs, much like humans do. I know one of my dogs loves treats, while the other loves to play fetch.

Dogs really like to be touched:

  • The base of the tail gently scratched – the lowest part of their back, just before the tail starts
  • Their chest rubbed or scratched –  right between the forelegs
  • The ears rubbed gently – rub the ear flap between your thumb and finger, or scratch gently at the base

Dogs love tasty treats:

It is easy to determine if you dog likes treats. If you can’t tell immediately, experiment with different pet treats until you find one that she really goes nuts for. Many trainers have discovered that dogs actually respond most reliably to training commands when rewarded with treats periodically, instead of predictably. Intermittent treat rewards keep your dog on its toes. Your dog stays interested in what might be, rather than growing tired of the food rewards, and from making a conscious decision to skip a treat.

How to correct your dog meaningfully:

The great thing about positive reinforcement training is that it doesn’t require you to do anything that might go against the grain. You won’t be called upon to put any complex, weighty correctional theories into practice, or be required to undertake any harsh punitive measures. When it comes to positive reinforcement training, all you have to do is ignore the behavior that you don’t wish to see repeated. Not getting any attention (because you’re deliberately ignoring her) is enough to make just about any dog pretty miserable, and thus is a powerful correctional tool. Contemporary belief in dog training states that we should simply ignore incorrect responses to a training command – that, with no reinforcement from us (yes, even negative attention – like verbal corrections – counts as reinforcement: to some dogs, negative attention is better than no attention at all), the dog will stop the behavior of her own accord. The bigger the fuss you make over her when she does get it right, the clearer the connection will be between a particular behavior(s) eliciting no response at all, but other behaviors (the right response) eliciting massive amounts of positive attention from you.

Recommended Reading:

Hopefully this article has given you a good basic insight into the more helpful attitudes and techniques to use when training your dog. However, the subject remains pretty complex, and it’s a good idea to learn as much about effective training techniques as possible. One excellent resource for dog training is Secrets to Dog Training: the ultimate training and knowledge database for dog owners. With a focus on preventing and dealing with problem behaviors, as well as obedience work and ‘tricks’, Secrets to Dog Training covers a vast variety of topics in minute detail – all round, an invaluable manual for dog owners everywhere.

Visit the Secrets to Dog Training site to learn more.

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The Ultimate Doggie House Training Guide

Dec 23

Posted by Reviewer in eBook Reviews | No Comments

The Ultimate Doggie House Training Guide

This handy manual is a comprehensive guide to what’s arguably the most widespread, challenging and frustrating issue faced by any and all dog-owners: house training. Has any aspect of dog ownership ever been so widely misunderstood and unanimously dreaded?

Theories both unhelpful and just plain wrong positively abound on the topic. You can find a veritable vortex of conflicting arguments almost anywhere you choose to seek information on the subject, whether it’s online (o, the staggering variation on the “The Only Way To House train Your Dog!? theme to be found here!), at your local library, through contact with dog trainers, or through the (less reputable but nevertheless prolific) ranks of “quack? dog trainers : aka, those frustrating people sans qualifications, but with enough smugness and pseudo-savoir faire to fool the less suspicious of us into handing over our hard-earned dosh.

What Sets This Book Apart?

After several confounding and increasingly-frustrated hours spent trawling through the virtual minefield of conflicting information on this subject, it was with a heady mixture of joy and near-tearful relief that I stumbled across an online book entitled “The Ultimate House Training Guide?, by Martin Olliver. As the title suggests, literally all aspects of the subject are covered, and in a manner both chatty and educational – it’s kind of like having a friendly conversation with a knowledgeable canine behaviorist (with the added benefit of being able to refresh your understanding of the matter at any given time, simply by scrolling back to the relevant section!)

The tone of the book presents a welcome contrast to the illogicalities so freely available elsewhere on the Net (and, indeed, in most repositories of canine “expertise?): it’s friendly, informative, and above all, commonsensical. No gimmicky recommendations, poorly-disguised marketing ploys, or too-brief Q&A sessions here: you don’t have to be experienced in canine behavior and training to see that this guy knows what he’s talking about (and did I mention he’s a vet?)

What’s Actually Included?

There’s a quick section on the tools of the trade (“patience, persistence, consistence, and common sense?) along with some morale-boosting advice on how to keep your cool through the training process, and then it’s straight into the meat of the matter: the nitty-gritty on how to house train, with a detailed section (one for pups, one for older dogs) on each of the three methods recommended (paper-training, crate-training, and the direct method.)

Common house training problems are dealt with next – this is particularly handy! A huge variety of issues are covered, from territorial marking to poop-eating; and on top of that, each problem comes with a case study, which helps you to put the information into context.

Next, health-related problems are covered in some depth. There’s a section on congenital problems (problems your dog was born with); a section on the disease-related problems that develop later in life; and a section on other problems related to house training, like inappropriate outdoor elimination, or lawn-burn from urination.

Finally, there’s the Top Ten Tips for hassle-free house training, which is essentially a recap of the most helpful and necessary attitude adjustments, practical tips, and useful nuggets of general knowledge which will come in most handy in your dog’s training.

Just Because It’s Detailed Doesn’t Mean It’s Confusing

Sound like a handful? It’s actually very user-friendly. Not only is this book packed with sound practical advice, but the whole thing is laid out in a very logical and easy-to-understand format: the tone is light and non-threatening (no confusing terminology or strange gaps in logic here!) and it proceeds in a logical manner from step to step, with the assistance of helpful how-to illustrations from the book’s charming mascot (a pooch called, of all things, Spot-Less).

Troubleshooting

In my opinion, one of the best parts: a free, personalized email consultation with the team at Kingdom of Pets. If you’d like additional help with your own dog’s toilet-related vagaries, just flick them off an email and you’ll get an individualized professional opinion on how best to handle the problem – plus any additional tips and strategies necessary to get your house training under control.

The Verdict

House training a dog is an intimidating task for most people, but the author’s depth of knowledge is pretty reassuring; and he certainly knows how to break it down for even the greenest of owners. In addition to the main sections detailed above, there are plenty of tempting extras included to make the process as easy and effective as possible: checklists, do’s and don’ts, how to appropriately deal with “accidents?, even a list of the more helpful training products available!

All in all, two thumbs up from me: when the information on hand is as detailed, easy to absorb, and – above all – reliable as The Ultimate House Training Guide, you really can’t go wrong. May your dog’s initiation to house training proceed Spot-Lessly!

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Secrets to Dog Training

Dec 23

Posted by Reviewer in eBook Reviews | No Comments

Secrets to Dog Training – Stop your Dog’s Behavior Problems!

What Is It?

Secrets to Dog Training presents an unusually detailed and thorough look at how to both prevent and deal with the more common problem behaviors exhibited by dogs. As the owner of a moderately troublesome mutt myself, I’ve spent a fair amount of time searching the Net for reliable resources on this topic, and I have to say that the level of knowledge and detail contained within the pages of this compendium is unusually exacting for an online book.


Not only that, but – again, unusually for this medium – the information at hand is actually (gasp!) reliable. Yes, that’s right – this one’s a whole new kettle of fish. Written by a seasoned dog trainer, you can relax in the knowledge that all the tips and advice included are tried and true, and come from Stevens’ real-life experiences as a professional dog trainer. There is also a straight-talking, easy to follow 30-minute downloadable video which provides real-life examples of doggy bad behavior along with solutions and remedies to change them.

What’s Covered?

There’s a pretty impressive range of information packed into this guide. It’s not just the problem behaviors that are covered: the book starts off with new-owner advice (how to choose a puppy/dog, the best places to get one from, breed information, puppy/dog-proofing your home, the first vet visit, housetraining, etc) and then moves on to the more advanced stuff: behavioral problems (such as aggression, dominance, chewing, digging, excessive barking, separation anxiety, to name a few), intermediate-level obedience commands, health-related dog problems (allergies, cat/dog coexistence, fleas, heatstroke, and so on), and advanced commands and tricks.

The 30-minute downloadable video gives a great insight into a dog’s quest to be the alpha dog and how you can prevent this. Its quick steps to stop bad behaviors such as housebreaking right through to leash pulling are so simple you can start trying them out on your dog straight away.
Particularly Good Parts

In addition to the contents listed above, there’s also a pretty impressive section on dog whispering, which – in case you haven’t heard of it already – is a method of dog training based on a philosophy of clear communication and mutual respect. It’s been popularized in recent years by Cesar Millan (“The Dog Whisperer”), and is becoming increasingly well-known as an alternative and humane method for disciplining and training your dog. Secrets to Dog Training has dedicated an entire section to dog whispering: Daniel Stevens explains the background of the technique, how to utilize voice and body language to your best advantage, and how to use the technique to calmly, assertively, and effectively correct and train your dog. Step-by-set instructions are included for the common commands (sit, down, come, stay, quiet, etc).

It makes for some pretty interesting reading – and, after trying out the basics on my own recalcitrant pooch, I was amazed at how effective the techniques suggested are. Highly recommended!

I Love Freebies (Who Doesn’t?)

There’s just something about getting something for nothing. And, although my magpie-like acquisitiveness may have led me into less-than-productive purchases in the past, in this particular case I’m happy to report that Secrets to Dog Training hasn’t let me down: the freebies included with this book are not only numerous, they’re actually useful(wow!)

The book itself costs $39.95. For this price, you get a complete and detailed manual on training your dog, preventing and handling behavioral problems, and a whole bunch of general-knowledge tips and advice.

You also get a handful of practical freebies: four bonus books, dealing respectively with advanced housetraining how-to’s and troubleshooting (including both the crate- and paper-training methods); a detailed study on resolving canine aggression; how to effectively groom your dog (including information on coat care for specific breeds, dental care, and nail-clipping how-to’s); and finally, how to begin training your dog for security work.

As mentioned earlier, there is a bonus 30-minute downloadable video which takes a no-fuss approach to practical solutions for dog obedience issues.

Another particularly useful freebie: a personalized consultation with a member of the Kingdom of Pets team. If you’ve got an issue with your dog that you’d like some individual attention on, you can flick them a quick email and receive a personalized, thorough reply packed with expert advice and practical tips.

Secrets to Dog Training: A Thumbnail Sketch

Altogether, I’m pretty impressed with this package. I’ve owned dogs on and off my whole life, starting from when I was ten – I would have thought that I was better-prepared than most to handle the quirks and caprices of my canine friends.

But since reading this book, I think my pre-Secrets to Dog Training self was (embarrassingly) perhaps a trifle more complacent than knowledgeable – I’ve learned more since reading this manual than I’ve picked up in a near-lifetime’s worth of contact with dogs (do you know how to stop your dog from tugging on the leash, without using a check-chain? Well, I do – but until I got my hands on a copy of this book, I certainly didn’t!)

Several of the training techniques present a refreshingly common-sense, down-to-earth approach to dog training; others require a little more effort (take dog whispering as an example) but yield some pretty dramatic results. I liked the way that more than one training technique is detailed, to allow the reader to pick and choose the techniques that best suit themselves and their individual dogs.

I have no qualms in recommending this package to anyone who owns, or is thinking about owning, a dog. You don’t need to have a “problem pet” for the manual to be of assistance: there’s information included that’ll be useful to any and all dog owners.

In a nutshell: highly recommended.

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Puppy Potty Training

Dec 23

Posted by Our Daily Pet in Pet News | No Comments

Housebreaking a puppy using paper is a consideration, but can cause some other problems in the future. When you decide to paper train a puppy, you have to use a specific method in order to eventually get the puppy to use the outdoors to relieve him or herself.

This can be a little frustrating if not done correctly. You need to start paper training the puppy as soon as you bring him or her home. Place the paper somewhere close to a door that the puppy will eventually go out when they learn to relieve themselves outside.

You will need to place the puppy on the paper when you think it is time to potty. This should be done quite often so that the puppy realizes that this where they should go to the bathroom.

It is best to use about three pieces of paper to start. As the puppy becomes accustom to going on the paper, you will eventually start taking away a piece of paper while moving it closer to the outside door.

Keep in mind that taking the dog outside is also recommended when paper training. The paper is for times when you cannot get to the puppy and take him or her outside. As you move the paper closer to the door and take a piece away until you are down to just one piece, you should move the paper outdoors.

The puppy should have learned where to go and will ask to go out the door to reach the paper. When the puppy has accomplished asking to go outside for the paper, you can then take the paper away and allow the puppy to use the yard to relieve him or herself.

There are some downsides to paper training that you must be aware of before starting. If you lay a piece of paper down anywhere in the house, chances are that the puppy is going to use this to relieve him or herself.

Potty training puppies to use a newspaper has its upsides, but you do have to be careful not to leave paper on the floor anywhere else in the house. If the puppy is a fast learner, this process should only take a month or so. Some dogs however will need longer.

You have to have patients when potty training a puppy with paper.

Potty training puppies with paper can be easier on people who have bust schedules, but you will have to change the soiled paper many times a day. This is important when potty training a puppy.

If you have a puppy that pees a lot, you may want to use plastic under the newspaper so it does not soak through to the floor. You can also place the newspaper on a vinyl floor so that it is easier to clean after every paper change.

You should take the shortest amount of time to paper train a puppy, but do not rush the puppy when you are moving the paper closer to the door.

For more helpful dog training help, please visit the Complete 7 DAY Dog Training Guide.

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Potty Training a Older Dogs

Dec 22

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Potty training is not just for puppies. Some older dogs that may have been outside dogs or were never housetrained will need some special considerations. Older dogs that have been outside or were allowed to use the indoors for relieving themselves will need a little more time.

You can use a crate for potty training or use command training. Keep in mind that older dogs have already developed a personality and they can be strong willed when it comes to change. Take your time and spend time with the dog so they know you are in control.

Since older dogs can go for longer periods without relieving themselves, you can use the command method for housebreaking. After the dog eats, you can expect that within a hour the dog will have to go potty. This is not always true for drinking water. Most dogs will be able to drink water and not have to use the potty for a while. You will have to get to know that dog’s routine.

This means that you will spend some time outdoors until you figure out when the dog needs to go.

You can figure that the dog should go outside every hour for the first few days. If you tell the dog to go potty, they should catch on relatively fast. Give this command as they are going and then praise them and give them a treat. They will learn quickly that praise and a treat come when they go potty. If the dog goes potty in the house, you do not want to yell or punish the dog.

You will need to tell the dog no and take them outside and tell them to go potty.

What you must do until the older dog or even a puppy learns that they should go potty outside is to not play with them outdoors. The dog must learn that the reason that they are outside is to relieve themselves. After they learn, then you can offer play when they are done going to the potty. The older dog can be the same way. In some instances, you might want to put the dog on a leash in the yard and leave them for about fifteen to thirty minutes.

This can help for dogs that were treated badly for going to the bathroom in front of people.

Even though the older dog is not housetrained, you can change this around with a little work. The best way to do this is on a weekend when you can be home all the time to work with the dog. You will need to reinforce good behavior, which should be done in the first few days of bringing the dog into the house.

You will find that whether you crate train or command train the older dog, they will be quick to learn and eager to please you if you treat them with love and give praise and treats for doing well.

Even the worst dog can be transformed with love and training.

For more helpful dog training help, please visit the Complete 7 DAY Dog Training Guide.

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Train Your Dog to Potty on Command

Dec 21

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You may not believe it, but you can train puppies and older dogs to go to the bathroom on command. Many puppies can hear words that are repeated and associate them with what you want them to do. For instance, when your puppy is outside relieving him or herself, say go potty.

If you do this enough, the puppy will soon associate the phrase ‘go potty’ with relieving him or herself. This will train the puppy to go potty on command. Word association is the best way to train your puppy.

If your puppy goes to the bathroom in the house, you can say, “No, go outside,” then take the puppy outdoors. After a while, the puppy will use this word association with something they should not do indoors but outdoors.

There is never a need to spank a dog when you are using command training. The puppy will associate the word ‘no’ with bad behavior and will learn to go outside rather than indoors.

The first thing that you must do is take the puppy outside and tell it to go potty. The puppy must stay outside until he or she goes. You will continue to instruct the puppy to ‘go potty’ until they finally do. Then you should praise the puppy for a good job. After a while, the puppy is going to learn that going potty outside makes you happy.

You should choose one specific spot for command training to relieve themselves. They will associate this spot with going potty.

The way you praise your puppy and treat them will have a positive affect on command potty training. If you use the phrase ‘go potty’, be precise and clear. Some puppies may hear the word as ‘no’ if you are not clear.

You could also choose a different phrase such as ‘potty’ or ‘do your job’ and make it sound less like ‘no potty’. You can command train your puppy for any word command and they will eventually learn it.

The one thing you must do is be consistent. Do not use different phrases or words that should mean the same thing, the puppy does not understand this and will become confused.

When using any type of command training, you should use praise as well as little puppy treats. This just helps reinforce a good job and the puppy will associate the command with what you want them to do so they can have a treat.

A puppy as well as an older dog wants to please their owners. You just need a little patients and understanding to accomplish this.

Command housebreaking a puppy can be done indoors or outdoors. If you prefer the puppy to urinate outdoors, this will work well. If you prefer the dog to urinate on paper or puppy pads indoors, you will place the puppy on the pad and instruct him or her to potty. This has to be done all the time.

Many times, after a puppy is completely potty trained, you can stop the commands.

For more helpful dog training help, please visit the Complete 7 DAY Dog Training Guide.

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Common Potty Training Problems

Dec 21

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Potty training a puppy does have some common problems, but if you have patients, things will work out well.

Marking the territory is a problem with males dogs more so than with a female dog. This is unfortunate for the owner, but this can be stopped by spaying and neutering the dog as soon as possible.

If your dog does have an accident in the house, you will have to remove the urine and eliminate the smell or the dog will continue to go back to that spot. Try a product that has active enzymes rather than something that will only mask the smell for a short time.

Keep the dog on a regular feeding and drinking schedule to prevent any accidents in the home. If your dog is not house trained, you would not want to leave food out all day long. The dog should be on a timed feeding routine until he or she is properly potty trained. This can be a breakfast, lunch and dinner feeding. Then you will have control over when the dog will need to relieve him or herself.

The same will go for water. Do not give large amounts of water if you are going to be gone to work.

Time in the crate can pose some problems for young dogs that do not have a large enough bladder. You can figure that a dog that is two months old can hold their urine for two hours and a three-month-old dog can hold it for three hours and so forth.

If you are leaving the puppy in the crate for eight hours, use a puppy potty pad because they are going to have an accident. This of course is different with every dog and dog breed.

Even the best-trained dog can have an accident if you leave him or her along for long periods of time. If the dog is on a regular schedule and you miss that potty time, they may have an accident. If you are going to be long for a long time, you may want to provide a puppy potty pad for the dog.

Dogs can also get bored when left alone all the time and may strike out at you by urinating in the house. This unfortunately is a behavior problem you have to deal with by training the dog to do something else while you are gone.

Provide dog toys and keep the TV on while you are gone and the dog will always feel as if someone is home. Many people laugh when you tell them the dog needs to have a TV on, but the truth is that a dog will feel more comfortable. You may also want to leave a light on if you will be gone at night.

The more you may the dog feel at ease, the more they will want to please you and not urinate in the house while you are home or gone. It is their nature to please their owners, but they can also show you they are upset by breaking the rules.

For more helpful dog training help, please visit the Complete 7 DAY Dog Training Guide.

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