Making Playtime Into Lesson Time - Teaching Your Dog To Come

Teaching your dog to come is one of the most important lessons they need to know and should be one of the most fun and easiest for you to teach. Your goal is to reward your dog when it comes to you NO MATTER WHAT. Always be happy and work towards making sure there isn't a shred of doubt in your dog's mind as to whether it should come.

Years ago one of my clients told me that her dog ALWAYS came to her...EVERY time. Even at the dog park and even from 95 yards away. I knew that this couldn't have been the case because if it were true her dog certainly wouldn't have needed training. As it turned out the dog did always come but never came close enough to hold and put the leash on. In the dog's mind, it was much more fun to play 'chase' and very unpleasant to be caught and taken home. This is why it's crucial to make it fun for the dog to get to you. In a dangerous situation you may need to get a leash on your dog and get it to safety quickly so you don't want any hesitation between your command and your dog's reaction.

The first and most important part of the training is that your dog comes the last 3 feet and let you put your hands on it. Start by having fun with your dog, petting it for 30 seconds to get it excited and happy and then run back about 4 or 5 feet and just stand there. If you've done it right your dog will naturally want more and come running to you. When it does come to you reward it like crazy then repeat the exercise two or three times. You don't need to give your dog a command yet, just make a big game out of 'Pet, Play and Run' until it catapults to you every time you move away. Do this for at least 20 three to five minute sessions for about a week.

When you see that your dog's response is good and solid it's time to add the "Come" command. Only say the command once but if you've laid a strong foundation your dog will come to you fast and happy every time because you have made it really fun. Remember to keep up the praise and rewards.

What to do if your dog absolutely won't come? Put it on leash so it can't get distracted and use food or a toy not only as motivation but also as a reward when it gets to you. If you do this, make sure to pet and play with your dog really intently before giving it the food or the toy. With some dogs, it's also helpful to have them sit and stay right near you. This will help keep their focus and prevent the over exuberant dog from jumping on you.

Another good practice can take place at mealtime. Hold the dog's food, call the dog to you and run backwards. Praise and pet your dog when it gets to you and then give a little food. As soon as they finish the food, tell them "Come", run back and repeat the sequence. After several repetitions just let them finish the meal. We call that a 'jackpot reward' and you can 'jackpot' the dog at random times during training to make the dog think the extra special treat is coming the next time.

There is an important element in teaching your dog to come that shouldn't be overlooked. If the dog doesn't come the first time you call it DO NOT repeat the command. By repeating "Come" until it executes the task, you're actually weakening the opportunity to reach your goal which is for the dog to respond immediately to the command.

So keep these tips in mind during your training:

· The "Come" command should always be seen as practice and not  a test

· Only practice in a way you know will be successful

· Don't ever repeat the command

· Don't give any cause for the dog not to come all the way to you

· Reward your dog every time it follows the command

Because the "Come" command will be used in many different situations you'll want to start adding some variations to the training sessions that are still fun for your dog to learn. A good exercise when you're on a walk is to give the "Come" command at unexpected times and then run away. Your dog will learn to react immediately to the command and come to you at lightning speed. Keep surprising your dog with the command and gradually increase the distance you run away. When your dog becomes proficient at this there's nothing like a playful game of "Hide and Seek" which makes your dog work harder to find you.

Another way to increase your dog's reaction and speed is to do a 'restrained recall'. Have a friend hold your dog by its collar or leash then run and call it like you have been doing. The dog might struggle to get to you and that's ok. The goal is to get your dog to really want to get to you so don't have your friend do anything to prevent it from pulling during this exercise. When you call the dog make sure your helper knows to drop the leash right away and let the dog come to you. While your dog is coming you'll want to encourage it by clapping, urging, praising and smiling.

The key to teaching your dog to come reliably is to build on a foundation of repeated success and never let your dog learn the wrong response to the command. It should never be unpleasant or perceived by your dog to be punishment when you call it and, just as importantly, it shouldn't be more fun for your dog to learn to defeat you and stay away.

Some things to remember include:

· Don't call your dog to punish or reprimand it

· Make sure that "come" isn't followed by something unpleasant such as ending playtime at the park or calling your dog into the house and immediately crating it and leaving

· Don't make a game out of the dog staying away from you

· Never make it fun for the dog to get you to chase them

It takes time and consistency to properly teach your dog the "Come" command and it's important to practice it over and over in lots of different settings. Make sure you never give your dog a reason not to come and, most of all, make it a fun and rewarding experience when it gets to you. Your dog is a subjective, living, thinking being and no matter how well trained or how obedient, there is ALWAYS a chance that your dog might not come. Remember that there might be a distraction more enticing and more appealing than you. It's important to never assume your dog will come and instead take the necessary precautions to keep your dog safe.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Making-Playtime-Into-Lesson-Time---Teaching-Your-Dog-To-Come&id=6551524

Training Your Deaf Dog With A Vibrating Collar

Just because your dog is deaf, it doesn't mean you can't teach him anything. There are methods to train deaf dogs to respond to your commands, so you don't have to lose hope and ignore your dog's training needs. One of the most popular methods of training deaf dogs to obey various commands is by using a vibrating collar. This collar is connected with a remote control device you can use to send signals to your dog. These signals are converted into vibrations, hence the dog can feel them. Such vibrations aren't too strong and they aren't harmful for the dog either. You can safely use the collar to get the attention of the dog.

One of the advantages of vibrating training collars is that they allow you to communicate with your deaf dog even when he's not looking at you. Methods that involve eye contact aren't always effective, as you don't have any tool to make your dog look at you when you need it. You have to use something physical but also harmless for the animal. Vibrations are safe if you use the collar according to the instructions. These collars are different than shock collars, so you don't need to worry you are going to scare or hurt your dog in any way.

If you use this method, you can teach your dog to do everything a normal dog can. Your dog is perfectly healthy except that he can't hear. There's no reason why he shouldn't understand just as much as a normal dog, provided that you find an alternative way of communication. If you use vibrations, this doesn't mean you don't have to touch your dog. Touching is also a good way of communicating your intentions. The only problem with the touch is that sometimes it is physically impossible, the dog being beyond your reach. That's what the collar is for. Use it wisely and your dog will be very receptive in learning new commands each time. You are welcome to use visual cues and markers during your training sessions and employ the vibrating collar only when you want your dog to look at those cues.

Apart from the remote control communication, the training method in itself is the same as for normal dogs. You need to give your dog clear commands that can't be mistaken for something else. You also need to always reward a successful execution with praise or a treat, so that the dog learns that was a good thing which should be done the same way again.

Training a deaf dog isn't the easiest thing to do, but with perseverance and commitment, you can succeed. It is possible that your dog doesn't agree with the vibrations, so you might need to be careful when you select the collar. There are many models available, the difference between them being the size, the active distance and the vibration strength. If you are lucky, your dog will accept this type of training and you are going to work very well together.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Training-Your-Deaf-Dog-With-A-Vibrating-Collar&id=8875931

Teach A Dog To Take Treats Gently

You love your dog. You love spending time with your dog, and so you know the value in training your dog to both do certain things while also avoiding other behaviors.

Treats are a great way to reinforce positive behaviors with your best furry friend, but you also love your hands and fingers. Sometimes, giving a treat just hurts because dogs take treats so hard. While you likely have a laundry list of specific things to teach your dog, the command "Gentle" should be at the top of the list. Doing this makes treats safe for you and effective for your dog.

If you're lucky, your dog is already gentle with his mouth, since some are by nature. Still, you need to be prepared to teach or at least reinforce it.

First of all, make sure that your training of the cue "Gentle" takes place on its own and not during or at the training sessions for any other behavior. Dogs can be pretty intelligent at times, and even seem human to you in some ways, but it's still best to teach one thing at a time to avoid confusion or mixed-up crosstraining you might never fix.

Make it clear from the start to your dog that if it doesn't take the treat gently from your hand, there will be no treat whatsoever. Never let a quick snapping motion meet success; your dog should never get used to receiving a treat regardless of his behavior or energy.

When the first moment comes that you want to give your dog a treat, hold that treat inside your hand, but close a fist around it when you make the offer to your dog. Your dog might bite your hand when you do this. Either wear gloves or just tough it out, depending on your personal tolerances and just how exactly your dog acts.

Only when biting is ceased and your dog switches to licking your hand, or just painless and/or gentle nibbling, say the cue "Gentle" as you open your palm and let your dog have the treat.

Say the cue every time you offer a treat, regardless of whether the treat is for training or for love and affection. Go back to the closed hand every time there is a relapse in your dog's behavior. In time, your dog will respect your authority on this matter, as well as leave your hands and fingers intact for more treats.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Teach-A-Dog-To-Take-Treats-Gently&id=9156982

8 Things To Consider Before Getting A Dog

Before you run out and get that new puppy or adopt that new dog be sure and take a few minutes to think about what you are getting into. There are several things to consider and hopefully these 8 items will help in that process.

1. Dogs are social creatures and because of that they need companionship. If you are a workaholic then this may not be a good time to get a dog. Of course if you work from home you will be able to spend a bunch of time with your dog.

2. Socialize your dog early. The period for socialization is birth to 20 weeks of age. If you do not socialize your dog you will probably see fear or aggression develop between 12 - 24 months of age.

3. Dogs need to be trained. They should be at least 16 weeks old for formal obedience training. Train early it will be easier for you and it keeps from the dog developing a bunch of bad habits that will create problems later.

4. Make sure that the breed of dog that you select works with your lifestyle. Don't get a Lab if you are the couch potato type that is not active. If you want a dog to go jogging with you don't pick a Pug. Make your selection based on your lifestyle.

5. If you don't want to go through the puppy raising thing adopt an adult dog. Some people love going through all the problems associated with raising a puppy and other people want nothing to do with it. It's your chose!

6. Find a vet. Not a good vet but a GREAT vet. Somebody that you trust and will give you the type of service that you expect for your canine friend. Be sure to keep your dog current on all vaccines and heartworm medication.

7. Get a leash and a collar for your dog. No retractable leashes, they are horrible for many different reasons. Instead get a nice leather 6 foot leash that will last forever. Get a collar that fits your dog and it cannot back out of.

8. If money is an issue at times you may want to consider getting a health insurance plan for your new friend. They can really come in handy when there is a serious illness or emergency.

I hope these tips will give you some things to think about when planning for your new family member. Whatever dog you decide on remember, have fun and enjoy it.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?8-Things-To-Consider-Before-Getting-A-Dog&id=8667212