well I have 1 kitten that is potty trained by the first time he came to our house we took him to the place where he had to pee.and then he started peeing there but what about puppies? do you do the sme thing?
thanks for all your help!
This site has some very good info on your question: http://dogs4u.info
Archive for October, 2009
question about potty training cats and dogs?
Friday, October 16th, 2009What dog training books, videos, etc do you recommend?
Friday, October 16th, 2009I have a 3 month old pit bull terrier mix puppy. We are working on training him and have noticed that several of the "experts" from our training manual and videos sometimes contradict each other. I was wondering if anyone could tell me of some resources that you have used that have worked for you, so that I can look into them? So far, I have come across Caesar Milan ,Barbara Wodehouse(sorry about the spelling) , Kevin-somebody , and a couple of others. Thanks in advance 
Oh yes, I know of LOTS of great books.
For one, "Pit Bulls for Dummies" is a great book.
There is a book at Pet Smart JUST for Pit Bull training, and it comes with a Training DVD.
I also have "Idiots guide to Positive Dog Training"
There are many online resources as well.
Email me if you need anything else!
"anybody know of videos on dog training which i could watch online?
Friday, October 16th, 2009besides www.sitmeanssit.com, i cant find any others…
dog agility and obedience is fun to watch.
Read some great books on training. (Try not to pick books randomly – there are a lot of bad books out there also!) These are some of my favorites and you can get them on Amazon.com
What All Good Dogs Should Know – Volhard http://www.volhard.com/
Good Owners, Great Dogs – Brian Kilcommins
Dog Tricks : Eighty-Eight Challenging Activities for Your Dog from World-Class Trainers by Haggerty and Benjamin
Don’t Shoot the Dog – Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method – Volhard
Dog Problems – Benjamin
Cesar’s Way – Cesar Millan
Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I’ve ever seen on TV. He’s got some great DVD’s for sale – best money you’ll ever spend!
http://www.dogpsychologycenter.com/
Dog Tricks && Training?
Friday, October 16th, 2009what are some tricks and ways to train my doggies????
I have 2 dogs, a male and female! VERY BIG!
I need some tricks to teach them that would win a pet show and some cheap and easy ways to train them and have the equipment!!
Thanks,
?Mickey
There are many cheap ways to train a dog, but it’s not always quick and easy. Now I’m apparently an ‘old school’ trainer in that I use a leash and a training collar. A correction isn’t cruel if you use it at the right time with the right amount of quick pressure. In fact, animals will learn faster if they receive consistent positive and negative reinforcement compared to having just positive or negative alone. I also avoid food rewards in my training. It will only serve to distract them. Use praise and lots of petting as a reward. They should do a trick because it is fun and they want to please you, not for food.
Now my experience is more the obedience training and not the ‘trick’ training. I did take my other pets to pet shows at the county fairs, and was awarded grand prize because of my knowledge of my birds, not because of any tricks they could do. If you want to do tricks, do something that will entertain the crowd, not the run of the mill sit, stay, down stuff. For larger breeds, you might teach them how to ‘jump rope’. Jump is an easy command to teach. Put a stick in front of your dog, gently press it towards his foreleg and give the command ‘jump’. He’ll have to jump it in order to keep his balance. Gradually move the stick a little further away and start leading the dog towards it while giving the command. Start with it low to the ground and gradually raise it higher. Then switch to using clothesline or nylon rope. If they master that, get someone to help you swing the long rope like a jumprope. Be sure to start really slow and gentle and give the command to ‘jump’ every time the rope swings around. Eventually it’ll speed up so it looks like actually jumping rope. If you can get your dogs to do this in tandem, it’d be even more impressive.
If the simple obedience tricks are more your style, then do something to wow the judge like teach your dog a few different commands in several different languages. If I were a pet show judge, I’d be unimpressed with a dog that knew how to sit, but I’d be impressed if the dog knew how to sit in english, spanish, and french!!
It’s hard to tell you what you should do for sure, because each pet show is different. I’d call whoever is putting it on and ask them for a list of categories they’re going to judge the pets on.
Dog training?
Friday, October 16th, 2009OK just got a dog on the weekend nad she is great so far but can use some basic training?
Treats or no treats to train? What is eveyone opinion?
You’ve got to use whatever method works on the individual dog. Some dogs will turn themselves inside out for you just for praise, a lot need treats or even a favorite toy.
For almost every dog I’ve had, I’ve used treats and praise both. When starting to teach something new, I use treats and praise, but the treats are cut back so they only get them occasionally. And the dog never knows when – it keeps them sharper.
But you’ve got to figure out what works for your dog. Sometimes you use different "levels" of treats – for example, their absolute favorite for something new or more difficult for the dog, a less special treat for a lesser accomplishment.
dog training/crate training help please and thanks?
Friday, October 16th, 2009Hello,
i’m just wondering if anyone can give me a site or advice about crate/ potty training my puppy 5/12 old
she’s 5/12 months old and half of the time goes outside and other times in the house right by the front door, i can take her out for 30 mins at times and nothing but then 5 mins in the house she’s pooping down by the door, isn’t she suppose to get it by now lol
One of the best house training articles I’ve read is this one:
http://leerburg.com/housebrk.htm
Good luck! If you don’t like crate training, you can try the clicker method:
http://clickertraining.com/housetraining
http://clickertraining.com/node/1171
You can also try the tethering method which is when you tie your dog’s leash to your waist (of course with the dog clipped to the leash). Whenever you see her showing signs of looking for a place to pee (eg. circling, sniffing) , say "outside" and rush her outside to go pee. Eventually she’ll get the concept and you can start saying "outside" and she might be hesitant to go outside since she doesn’t need to go.
If you ever catch her in the act, correct her with a firm, low-toned "NO" (you can also "bite" her in the neck softly with your fingers) and rush her outside to finish. That is ONLY when you know she is about to pee or poo or when she is in the middle.
IMO, I think the crate method is the most efficient and the dogs seem to get the concept better.
How do you train an animal aggressive dog to live with two more dogs?
Friday, October 16th, 2009i have a complete discription of the animal and his behavior. if you have knowledge of dog behavior training, send me your email address and i will give you details. there is not enough room to put it all in here!
Management. Be sure you control all situations so that there are no face-to-face meetings between your dogs. Crate the agressive dog so there will be no "accidental" meetings, and cover that crate if you have to, to prevent agressive behavior around his crate. Remember to use lots of wonderful treats with your aggressive dog to associate seeing other dogs and being around other dogs with good stuff. What you are doing by raining high-value treats down upon him when he’s seeing / hearing your other dogs is creating a classically conditioned response to them: "Other dogs = I get treats". Also remember that you are not rewarding him for reacting badly to your other dogs at this stage. Spend a LOT of time doing this exercise: you will then be able to build from this. I highly recommend looking into the short books written by Jean Donaldson about this very subject. Have patience! Good luck!
Incontinence What it Means to Your Pet!
Friday, October 16th, 2009
What happens when your dog loses the ability to control his bowel movements? What do you do when you realize that your well-trained life companion who has been potty trained for years all of a sudden starts urinating and defecating all over the house?
Well instead of punishing your dog and making matters worse, you may want to look into the fact that he may have a condition known as incontinence.
Incontinence is the inability to control urination and/or defecation. The same term is also used to describe the reduced control that is sometimes apparent in geriatric animals.
The condition can be very upsetting to owners, as it warrants constant vigil to avoid cleanups. Many owners believe that the affected animal is either uncomfortable or in poor health. Some owners are repulsed and unable to cope with this type of problem.
Incontinent dogs should be carefully examined by a veterinarian to determine whether the problem is due to old age (lack of sphincter control) or a condition that can be treated. Urinary incontinence could be caused by conditions of the bladder and urethra.
A relatively common cause in older spayed female dogs is reduced estrogen levels. This type of condition may respond well to hormone treatments.
Fecal incontinence has been associated with damaged anal sphincter muscles, which perhaps can be surgically repaired, or injuries to the lumbar or pelvic area, with results from a nerve damage.
Nerve disorders usually are difficult to treat. Where loose stools associated with improper feeding are a part of the problem, dietary adjustments may be helpful.
The saddest situation is one in which the dog owner, unaware of possible corrective measures, believes that incontinence cannot be cured and automatically warrants euthanasia.
Even if the problem cannot be handled medically, some minor adjustments may make the incontinent dog easier to live with, and thus prevent the injustice of sending a faithful companion to his death.
Take this example: An 11 year old, spayed, female dog is healthy in all other respects, but had had urinary and fecal incontinence for about 1 1/2 months.
There are several things that a veterinarian might do for the dog. With a diet change and medical treatment, the incontinence could be reduced to the point where the diapers and bloomers were working acceptably. Other affected dogs have responded well to paper training or installation of a pet door.
If you follow your vets orders the problem can be manageable.
Daniel Millions
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/incontinence-what-it-means-to-your-pet-132829.html
House Train a Dog – Quick Help
Friday, October 16th, 2009
The good news is that you can house train a dog (an adult dog that is) fairly quickly…faster than puppies anyway…the bad news is, you’ve got to be consistent and actually do the work because your dog won’t have a clue what to do.
So how do you get started?…I thought you’d never ask.
1. Set Up “His Space”
Create an area where you can confine your pooch…you’ll use it for those times when you’re away or when you don’t want to be keeping a close eye on him…make sure a large part of that space is covered with newspapers too (about 3 sheets thick).
When (not if) he uses the papers, clean up the mess and replace the papers as soon as you can…but place one of the soiled papers right in the middle of the new batch…this will help build the “here is where I go” idea in his brain. Over time (maybe days, maybe weeks) his “aim” will improve and you’ll be able to reduce the papered area to maybe just a single sheet.
2. Create a Feeding & Watering Routine
Your best partner in house training your buddy will be setting up and sticking to a feeding and watering schedule…feed and water him at the same times every day no exceptions…no snacks in between; no special treats (until he’s trained)…in this way his body will automatically respond to the schedule and be predictable…this will help you immensely with your house training.
3. Observe, Observe, Observe
Keep an eye on him at all times (when he’s not in “his space”)…now that he’s on a schedule, you’ll find out that Fido will need to “go” shortly after each feeding session, and perhaps shortly after each watering session and maybe a few more unpredictable times…watch him closely and learn what his body language is when he needs to relieve himself…is he suddenly restless; is he sniffing around; is he (and wouldn’t this be great?) scratching at the door?
4. Do Your Leg Work
When he “shows the signs,” put him on a leash and get your legs workings…take him outside to the place you want him to use. Make sure this is the same place every time…don’t confuse him by switching it around on him.
Be patient and while he’s sniffing around, repeat a command he can associate with this behavior in the future…use something like “go, go, go” or “time to go boy,” etc…then when he finally “goes,” make sure to give him a lot of praise and strokes…you want him to associate that praise with his actions so his little doggie brain will remember “Go Outside = Good Stuff”
5. Correcting Mistakes
If he goes “where no dog has gone before,” immediately, make eye contact with him and correct him with a firm “No” then lead him to the place you want him to use (either outside or to his “papers”)
But you must remember (and never forget) you can only correct him if you catch him in the act…if it’s any later, even just seconds later, your correction won’t work; he won’t make the connection you want…in fact, it will have a negative impact…so, if you miss your chance, you’ll just have to be more vigilant and catch him the next time.
But once the deed is done, clean up the mess completely and remove the odor completely too, because it will be the smell that brings him back to that spot for a return visit.
6. Keep Your Attitude Positive
Keep in mind that house training any dog takes time…it could take weeks…some dogs will be able to control themselves sooner than others and some will learn what you want from them sooner than others. If you want to be successful in the shortest amount of time, it’s up to you to maintain the right attitude and be persistent and consistent so your buddy has the best chance to learn.
I hope this helps…thanks for reading.
Did you know that to house train a dog is just the first training step you’ll take with your pooch? Need help taking the next steps? Then check out The-Dog-Zone.net.
Michael Royce
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/house-train-a-dog-quick-help-68743.html
How to Train your Puppy to Accept “being Alone”
Friday, October 16th, 2009
A common problem that occurs between dogs and owners comes from how the pet reacts to being left alone. In this type of situation, we have to keep in mind that our puppy is a pack animal. He was not built to be on his own. The whole point of living in pack is to be able to live as a group and work together, play together, hunt together, and raise puppies together. Every puppy was made from this same mold. Being alone does not come naturally to him.
With proper care and training, we can help him adjust and accept staying alone. You need to be sympathetic and determined when training your dog to accept your necessary absences. You must show him over and over again that you will come back and give him love, take care of him, and fulfill his needs.
You will need to set up a crate or den area for your puppy and establish a permanent location for his water bowl and food dish. He will also need a blanket or towel to sleep on and papers or potty pads to relieve himself. Give him safe toys to chew. Chewing will help him relieve his anxiety. Keep this in mind if he chews on your shoe one day in an attempt to make himself feel better. It is anxiety, not spite that makes him do bad things when you are out. However, you must still correct him. But you also have to understand that while your pet can adjust to being left alone, it is not a natural state for him and he is never going to like it.
Your comings and goings during the first few days of acquiring your puppy will help to communicate to him that you will come and go. Some puppies adjust easily while some will find this area very difficult. Naturally, if you have a breed that was originally developed to herd and protect a flock, he will tend to get upset when his flock disappears. Understanding the qualities bred into your dog for generations will help you predict his behavior and how he will react to certain situations such as training, how he responds to children, and being left alone.
Giving your puppy something to do to keep him busy will help when he is left alone. He should have safe things to chew. Another pet, such as another dog or a cat, will also help ward off lonely feeling. In addition, you can help him feel better by giving him a good exercise right before you leave. This will tire him and relax him. Furthermore, you can train him before you leave for the day. This reminds him that you are the leader of the pack and also reminds him of his security as well as his limitations. He will therefore feel less anxious knowing that he has a loving, firm, and fair master. You can even leave the radio on while you are gone. Music and voices are a great comfort to a puppy who has to spend the day alone.
Linda Kajda
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/how-to-train-your-puppy-to-accept-being-alone-121269.html