I found this video on YouTube.
I thought this was just genius! Also what a clever dog.
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Training Methods to Calm Aggressive Dog Behavior
Many dog owners know the joy of a daily walk with the family canine. The joy can suddenly turn to anguish and embarrassment when the dog becomes aggressive in response to another dog or person approaching. One of the common mistakes is an attempt to calm the pup with gentle words and petting. This only reinforces the aggressive behavior. Dog owners need to understand canine body language and use proper training to stop aggressive behavior.
Dogs view their family as members of the pack. A dog shows aggression as a warning to an intruder or an effort to protect the pack. This is a responsibility of the pack leader. The owner needs to clearly establish who the pack leader is. Dogs typically have no desire to lead the pack and are happier as a subordinate member. They will assume the role, however, if they feel the pack has no leader.
A dog owner can use the walking routine as a training tool to establish leadership. A dog approaching with an excited wagging tail is showing a friendly sign. However, a dog with a tail stiffly held up is a sign of aggression. The owner should respond with “No!” using a stern voice and turn in a different direction. Eventually a dog will understand the owner is in charge.
A friend or family member who also has a dog can help with this training exercise. Each time the dog shows aggressive behavior approaching the other dog, the owner should respond with a no command and turn away. The dog will eventually learn to remain calm when approaching another and can be rewarded with a treat and positive feedback.
A large dog can be more difficult to turn from the object of their aggression. Trainers may recommend using a head collar. The collar fits around the neck just behind the ears and over the upper part of the nose. The leash attaches under the head. When fitted properly, the head collar does not inhibit the dog’s mouth in any way. It allows the owner to control the head and simplifies the task of turning the dog. The head collar can also be used with obedience training. A momentary pull on the leash applies pressure to the nose similar to how the canine mother disciplines a puppy. It helps the dog understand that the leash holder is the pack leader.
Dogs are one of the most beloved pets and a wonderful addition to any family. Training and patience are important tools to keeping a dog calm in presence of another dog. Positive feedback should reward only good behavior. Dogs respond best to leadership and remain calm in the presence of a calm leader.
Posted in Pet Care For Dogs
Tagged Agressive dogs, calm down agressive dogs, dog behaviour
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How to Teach Your Dog to Stay
The stay command is an important component in the process of dog training. Understanding this basic command can prevent the beloved family pet from venturing into dangerous territory particularly outside in areas of traffic or other people. It should always be accompanied by a release command. Teaching a dog to stay is relatively simple but requires time and patience. It cannot be taught in a couple of days.
To begin, a dog should already be trained how to sit. This will be the starting point for the stay command. Once the dog has assumed a sit position, the command “stay” should be firmly stated using an open palm in front of the dogs nose as a hand signal. Dogs typically understand signals more easily than vocal commands. Hand signals are also useful when a vocal command cannot be given or heard in a noisy environment. Once the dog maintains the position for a short period, maybe 5 seconds, the dog can be rewarded with a treat saying “good dog” for positive reinforcement. Then the dog should be allowed to move using a release word such as “free”.
The second stage in training a dog to stay is to increase the length of time for maintaining the position. The training should be a progressive increase in the length the owner is asking the dog to stay. Each time the dog stays he or she should be rewarded. The dog will quickly learn what is expected when hearing the word stay accompanied by the hand signal.
Once the dog has successfully been taught to stay for 30 seconds or more, it is time to move to stage three, increasing distance. Once the dog has been given the stay command, the owner should step about five feet away leading with the right foot. Leading with the left foot is a training tool to start a walk routine. The dog should be given time to adjust to staying in this position when the owner is a short distance away. The owner can then return to the dog and provide a reward for good behavior before giving the release command.
What happens when the dog move before the release command? The owner should return the dog to the place where the stay command was first given and try again until the dog understands what is expected.
Progressive learning is an important training tool for teaching dogs commands for sitting, lying down, staying and release. An appropriate hand signal should accompany every command. Dogs are intelligent loving animals with a desire to learn and please. In return they should be given patience and positive reinforcement each time they are asked to learn something new.
Bringing Home a New Cat
Bringing home a new cat is hard on you and your animal. A new environment takes awhile for anybody to get used to. To ensure trust and comfort, you want to make sure everything is done right, in a comforting way. Following simple rules can make bringing a new cat home a breeze.
It’s very important that you talk to your cat in a soothing, comforting voice before you put him/her in the car carrying cage. Also, cuddling and petting your new cat while being relaxed puts you and your cat at ease. Doing so gives you and your cat a bonding, comforting moment. Keep in mind animals sense when somebody is nervous or anxious; so stay calm and be prepared to spend a decent amount of time getting to know your cat. Once your cat is in the cage inside the car, it will most likely meow and howl so talk quietly and and in a relaxing voice.Once you get home, while the cat is still in his cage, set him next to the litterbox.
Next, shut the bedroom door and open the gate to his cage. Eventually he will slowly come out and start exploring. Once he is fairly happy, set him in his litterbox and if he doesn’t go that’s normal. Once he understands where he’s supposed to go potty, you can watch him explore other rooms. Before letting him lose, double check windows and doors reassuring screens are closed and everything is kitty-friendly.Before feeding your cat, let him explore for about an hour. After you put food and water down, he should find it rather quickly. Waiting an hour first, lets him settle his nervouse stomach. Once he finds his food and decides he doesn’t want it, it’s normal. He will probably to much on edge to be hungry.If your cat starts doing something he’s not supposed to be, tell him no and squirt him with a waterbottle a couple timesq. New cat owners are uncomfortable disciplining their pets at first, but the cat likes to know his boundaries. This eliminates future problems, and keeps him from getting into trouble.Cats need a scratch post, along with cat toys. By playing with your cat and the toys, it creates a bond.
Take time to pet and cuddle with your new pet. Before having more than a few guests over, make sure your cat is familiar with your home and you know his hiding spots. When you go places, pet your cat and tell him goodbye. When you get back, pick him up as soon as you have a free moment. By slowly taking these steps, you and your cat will be very happy.
Posted in Pet Care For Cats
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How to Get Your Cat to Use a Scratching Post
Scratching posts are perfect alternatives which you can use to stop your cat scratching and tearing furniture in your home. One slight problem however, is teaching your cat to use the scratching post.
A common mistake cat owners make is placing scratching posts in an unattractive, unfriendly environment. If the area your cat prefers to scratch looks more inviting, why would it decide instead to use the scratching post?
To teach your cat to use a scratching post, you should make it look more appealing. To do this the following steps must be undertaken.
- Make sure your a cat scratching post is heavy enough – Some cat scratching posts tend to be too weak and fragile. It is important to make sure your cat scratching post is heavy and sturdy to allow your cat to fully stretch out and really scratch the post comfortably without causing the post to fall over.
- Make sure your cat scratching post is long enough – Ideally your scratching post should be 2 feet tall. This will allow your cat to fully stretch out its muscles.
- Make sure you feed your cat around the scratching post – By feeding your cat around the scratching post, your cat will become comfortable with the surrounding area and spend more time in the vicinity of the scratching post and therefore encourage your cat to use it.
- Keep cat toys around the scratchin post – This will again help to encourage your cat to spend time near the scratching post.
How to Stop Your Dog Barking
If your dog consistently barks, it can very difficult to train your dog to stop this behaviour. Dogs bark for many different reasons. Understanding these reasons will help you to solve your dogs barking problem.
A dog will usually start to bark for the following reasons,
- To show dominance to other nearby dogs.
- Alert other dogs that they are in its territory.
- Attract the owner’s attention in order to receive treats or affection.
- When nervous due to being unaware of its surroundings or particular events, such as a phone or door bell ringing.
One common mistake dog owners tend to make when trying to tackle their dogs barking problem, is to offer it treats or shout and yell at it, in order to stop it barking. This approach will only reinforce the dogs need to bark, as it will learn that by consistently barking, it will gain the attention of its owner.
To prevent your dog from barking, you should try as best as possible to ignore your dog when its starts barking. If the telephone or door bell rings, you should act calmly and wait a few seconds before answering the phone or door. By doing this your dog will learn that there is no need to be afraid or nervous when these noises are made. This will hopefully reduce the temptation for your dog to bark.
Dog owners should also regularly take their dog out for walks and lots of exercise. This will help release built up energy and help relax the dog. Supplying the dog with enough dog toys will also help reduce barking because the toys will prevent your dog from becoming bored. If you leave dog toys for your dog to play with whilst you are away from your house, your dog will have things to occupy itself with and distract it from barking. When you return from home, if your dog begins to bark, you should refrain yourself from greeting it and instead ignore its attempts to gain your attention. Once the dog settles down and begins to stop barking, it is then acceptable for you to give your dog praise and affection. Eventually your dog will understand that barking will not allow it to get what it wants and therefore limit the amount of times its barks.
Posted in Pet Care For Dogs
Tagged Dog Barking, How to Stop Your Dog Barking, Stop Dog Barking
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How to Get Rid of Dog Fleas
One of the biggest nuisances you can face when caring for your dog is eliminating fleas. Getting rid of fleas from your dog can be an incredibly difficult task. Fleas can be found deep down in carpets, pet bedding and house furniture. It is in these places they grow undetected and develop into Pupae (One of the life stages of a fleas development)
Once a flea reaches its cocoon stage they are very difficult to kill. Fleas in their cocoons are invulnerable to insecticide and freezing temperatures. To emerge from there cocoon all they need is a warm environment from a host, which is why dogs and other pets are perfect candidates for fleas to grow and breed.
Various pet stores and suppliers provide numerous products to help remove fleas from your dog. However, can these products be deemed effective or safe when trying to kill fleas on your dog? Flea collars, sprays shampoos and powders can sometimes have little or no lasting effect when trying to kill dog fleas. Flea collars can be harmful to your dog, as they contain dangerous chemicals and toxins.
Dog owners are now increasingly trying to find natural alternatives to remove fleas from dogs.
One of these natural remedies is to use olive oil. Covering your dog in olive oil will considerably reduce the number of fleas found on your dog. Once the dog has been coated in olive oil it would then need to be bathed and rinsed off with flea shampoo, to get rid of the olive oil and any remaining fleas. Multiple baths may be needed to remove all of the olive oil.
Another natural remedy for removing fleas from your dog is to use house table salt. Placing salt around areas where your dog lays will eventually be picked up by the dogs fur and destroy any fleas which come into contact with the salt.
It is also very advisable for you to contact your vet as soon you notice fleas on your dog. Oral medication can be provided by your vet which can be extremely effective at preventing flea larvae feeding off the host and therefore stop them from being able to reproduce.
Whether you decide to use natural remedies or conventional flea sprays and collars, once treatment has been applied you should regularly vacuum floors, carpets, pet bedding and furniture to help prevent fleas from returning.