Dog Training

what 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.

I have a large rottweiler I would like to agility train in my backyard. What’s a good set and where can I get it? Do the tubes and hoops come in a standard size or do they make bigger ones for dogs like mine? (he’s about 130 pounds)

you don’t need fancy equipment for that, just a recording of the Grease song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UGQCzTHLkw

I want to take them to dog competitions sponsored by the UKC and/or IWPA.

Also, I want to train them to go through a variety of obstacles, especially spring poles, jumps and agility trials.

Their parents are real APBT, not short and fat American Bullies.
The dad is muscular, healthy and has a very nice thick body.
The mom is pretty much the same too.

They are 7 weeks old, already big, huge paws, great metabolism, I just want to know what harnesses I should get, where I can get training equipment and when they could start.

No, they will not be used for fighting, I just want them to have fun and meet other dogs and owners. I wont force them to do any of this, but I would like to give it a shot.

No weight pulling or carrying weight or jumping until their joints are fully developed and growth is complete (roughly 18 months old). You don’t want to put stress on their joints until the growth plates are closed and they are fully matured, it can cause orthopedics problems down the road. You can start with the ground-level agility stuff like weave poles, tunnels, directionals, and working on contact boards any time, I recommend after you’ve got some solid basic obedience skills with them. Any good agility trainer requires dogs to be at least a year old before starting any of the jumping at all, and then only very low jumps until they are fully mature. As far as weight-pull harnesses, once they’re old enough to start, google "Weight pull harnesses for dogs" and I’m sure you’ll find some sources. Good luck!

Me and someone I know are going to try and train his lurcher/greyhound cross and although I do know some basic things from my own dogs, I was wondering if anyone could give some advice on how to make the process easier? We’re not sure how old the dog is because it’s a rescue, although it certainly isn’t a pup. I was looking for roughly how long it would take for basic commands like sit and come here, where an ideal place would be, and if we would need any other equipment other than the lead, dog and packet of biscuits for rewards. Unless the biscuits are a bad idea?
Thanks a lot

Reward training always worked well with our dogs. I do not use dry biscuits..I always use soft treats and be sure to tear them into tiny pieces. You can train them throughout the day, and/or in training sessions. Training sessions should be short and then have the time increased. Make sure the dog is hungry when training..the treats then get their attention, and you will get their attention because of that. Only reward good behaviour. Do not yell at them…dogs associate everything…ex: if you call the dog and he does not want to come to you (ignore you or thinks it is a game) do not call louder/yell and then when he does come do not punish…dog associates coming to you with punishment. You won’t get him to come later on. Turn and walk away. Do not look at them, do not call them. He will come thinking he is missing out on something. Don’t look back. When he comes to you, tell him he is a good boy, pet, tell him to sit, and reward. Everything must be fun, happy, and exciting. Reward for coming to you inside and out. Make them sit before giving them food, or water, or when coming into the house after bathroom break..whatever. This distinguishes you as pack leader, and enforces good behaviour. So much to say..not enough room!

If you want that perfect show dog look in your Shih Tzu you might as well relax to the fact that it involved brushing, brushing, brushing, and daily brushing. A thorough head-to-tail groom is often needed at least every other day if not “daily.” However, Shih Tzu coat textures are very different. You might get by with once weekly brushing if the Shih Tzu’s coat is the type of texture that does not mat and tangle easily.

If you have only one Shih Tzu, grooming should not be a problem. It can be quite pleasurable for you and your Shih Tzu. It can be an excellent time to bond with each other, and have nice close little chats with each other.

Where do you start?

A good place to start grooming your Shih Tzu is on the tummy, the chest and inside the legs…….perhaps……there are other opinions of course, but in this article I will direct you to start with the tummy, the chest and inside the legs.

You will need to have your Shih Tzu lie on his side on the table (be sure you have a nice, sturdy table to groom your Shih Tzu). There is nothing worse than a grooming table that wobbles around, except of course a grooming area that is not organized. You also need to have all your equipment organized and ready to use.

So now that you have your Shih Tzu lying on its side on the table, with his legs towards you (this can be an accomplishment in itself that may take several short training sessions to get done). If the Shih Tzu just will not cooperate with you, you can start trying to train him by having him lay tummy upwards in your lap with his head facing your chest. Do this exercise first for a few days if he absolutely refuses to lie this way on the grooming table.

If the above fails, you might try to groom the chest and tummy while the Shih Tzu sits on the table facing you, holding him up into a begging position by the front paws; this is not easy, since both hands are needed for some parts of the grooming, but you might have to try this as a last resort. If your Shih Tzu mats the tummy will be a prime target for matting.

The tummy side of a Shih Tzu is sensitive also, so be gentle in this area. Check where the legs meet the body, this is a prime target area for severe matting as well. Something you don’t want to deal with is severe mats in these areas. These are extra sensitive areas on your Shih Tzu. The best rule to follow is pay close attention to these areas on a daily basis and never allows the mats to occur. The hair around the male penis can also be a very sensitive trouble spot. It is best to keep this area clean and shaved off. Your male Shih Tzu will give you a sigh of relief when you remove the hair in this area.

How do you remove knots and mats?

If you come across a mat or knot first try to tease it apart with your fingers. Then take a comb and use the end with coarse teeth to tease out the tangle slowly, working from the outside inwards and holding the hair between the knot and the body between your fingers so that you don’t pull too hard and hurt the Shih Tzu. If all else fails, a knot may have to be cut out. Cut into the knotted hair away from the dog several times before gently using the comb to clear away the knot. Never cut across the coat. This will leave an obvious hole. If you will cut down through the length of the coat you will cause much less damage. Note: The hair on the legs is more likely to tangle than anywhere else. So…..pay particular attention to these areas as well to avoid those awful and painful mats.

This article continues in Part II of “Life with the Shih Tzu.”

Connie Limon
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/life-with-the-shih-tzu-part-i-76021.html

I want to start to agility train my puppy. I have checked out some online sites and so far agility equipment has been SUPER expensive… Anyone know of a place (or person) who I can get good but not overly expensive agility equipment from?
Thanks

Caelynn is right. PVC equipment is easy to make.

You can get a "tunnel" intended for kids much, much cheaper than the official agility tunnels.

I want to start to agility train my puppy. I have checked out some online sites and so far agility equipment has been SUPER expensive… Anyone know of a place (or person) who I can get good but not overly expensive agility equipment from?
Thanks

Caelynn is right. PVC equipment is easy to make.

You can get a "tunnel" intended for kids much, much cheaper than the official agility tunnels.

Walking at a brisk pace is simply the single best exercise you can perform. If you are fifty years of age or older, it should be your activity of choice. To reach your goal of optimal health, resolve today to begin a regular program of walking, at a pace which will provide an excellent cardiovascular workout.

Before beginning any exercise routine, especially after age fifty, you would be wise to consult your physician. If there is anything on your chart that would call for caution, your doctor will so advise you. I am sixty five years of age and I enjoy brisk walking for one hour each day. I am careful not to exceed my maximum heart rate which is 155 beats per minute.

The target heart rate for me, for the greatest benefit, is seventy to eighty five percent of the maximum heart rate. That would be anywhere between 109 and 132 beats per minute. I maintain a rate of 120 beats per minute throughout my walk. You might not be able to exercise every day and you do not need to. If you are walking for 30 minutes three times a week or every other day that will be sufficient as long as you are training at a pace which will raise your pulse to the target rate for aerobic conditioning. If your heart rate is higher than the target for your age, slow down.

Taking your pulse as you walk is easy. Wear a watch and midway through your walk, stop for a few seconds to check your heart rate. This can be done by gently touching your neck or left wrist. When you feel the pulse, count the number of beats for a period of 10 seconds. Now multiply that by six. If for example you are 55 years of age and counted 22 heart beats in the 10 second time frame, your training heart rate is 132 beats per minute. That fits perfectly within the desirable range of seventy percent to eighty five percent of the maximum heart rate of 165 beats per minute.

Now you might be inclined to say you do not need to walk, you get enough exercise doing the household chores or walking to the car. Perhaps you play golf or go bowling. All of these activities are signs of life because while performing them, you are moving, but walking is different. Other exercises are good. Walking is great.

Here are just a few of the reasons for you to consider walking for health and well being. The degree of difficulty is low. You warm up and cool down by performing the exact same motion used during the walk, only you walk a little slower. It is a low intensity exercise with more time spent at a less strenuous level. You can do it alone or with friends. You can take your dog with you. During times of severe or inclement weather, you can move to an indoor track or mall.

Walking is basically an injury free activity, especially when compared to jogging. It is an excellent stress manager. No special skills are needed. No special equipment is required other than comfortable clothing and good walking shoes. Walking briskly provides an excellent cardiovascular workout. It develops muscle tone, endurance, strength and agility.

Walking out of doors amid pleasant surroundings gives you time and space to reflect. A good walk can lift you out of depressions, clear the mind, lift the spirit and even set the stage for problem solving later that day. You will lose fat, improve circulation, and expel waste matter through the lungs and skin. Increased intestinal motility results from the gentle swaying of the internal organs. Finally, walking fine tunes the metabolism, regulates the appetite, and increases your energy.

If you are between 50 and 100, a regular program of exercise can change your life and go a long way towards the prevention of diseases associated with aging. Why not get started this week? Speak to your doctor. Line up some comfortable clothing and break out those walking shoes. Aerobic walking is the best exercise, the best means, to eliminate or prevent sickness and suffering from your life, while extending your life expectancy.

Adrian Barrett
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/exercises-for-seniors-63274.html

several hours daily and assorted techniques and methods required in the obedience program for any results to show. One workable method is undoubtedly the reward-punishment one, but other schools prefer only positive reinforcement techniques – so go with a school that is on your wave-length and you are sure to have a doggy that wows everyone with his smart training and cutesy behavior learned at dog obedience camp.

4. You can choose from a day-boarding facility for dog obedience training for your pet or leave him for a few weeks to stay over the nights as well at the camp, depending on your situation and the cost of training you are willing to incur: however, do check out the facilities for yourself so you know they are genuine and not simply out there to rook you!

5. Observe the training staff at work and if excessive force is being used, do not be in a hurry to place your dog there; also, check for cleanliness of sleeping quarters for your dog, nutritional meals, grooming and play equipment safety besides the credentials of the staff so you know Fido is in good hands!

For more info, contact your local vet or the SPCA chapter in your neighborhood.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/dog-training-5-useful-tips-if-you-have-trouble-training-your-pooch-753346.html

What equipment or strategies do you find to work the best? Im up to hear any ideas, so just leave them down.

p.s. this is for training an older dog i think about 3 years old

I like to use positive reinforcement meaning lots of yummy treats and patience.

You may also want to think about doing clicker training. You can research that.

You can search for a training center in your area. If you like positive reinforcement make sure to include that in your search.

For a collar we use the gentle leader or head collar and this works really well and would recommend that to someone who needs to work on leash walking. If you don’t need work on that a harness or collar would do fine.