Dog Training - Treats

There are many choices when it comes to rewarding your dog with a treat for obeying your commands, and these treats make a big difference in your dog’s attitude towards you in learning new tricks, and why wouldn’t they? To get anything in life you have to give something back and dogs are no different, you help them and they’ll help you. Simple.

But what are the best rewards and treats to give your dog in times of good behavior? Well for starters you won’t be short of treats to try, the markets as it is now is full to the brim of all the fancy rewards and treats you could ever think of.

One of the favourite for dog owners is to treat their dog to homemade treats from recipes that can be found across the internet in many places, some of my favourites and personal recommendations are listed in the products page of www.dog-behavior-training.co.uk along with other tips on dog training there.

Consumer products are also a good choice when rewarding your dog; these include chewing toys which can be very rewarding for puppies and dogs alike. Saving one of their favourite toys for when they behave well makes everything more exciting for your dog and causes them to want to perform more for this reward.

If a chew toy is not to your dogs liking then they may instead enjoy a tug toy, tug toys are good for your dog’s teeth the same as chew toys are and it enhances the relationship between you and your dog as you play with them. Be careful while using these toys as some dogs may think of this game as good behaviour and will start tugging on trousers or other annoying or destructive things.

The last toys I am going to talk about are the throwing toys; these are good to calm your dog down when they are over active or if you just want to reward your dog with quality playing time for their good behavior. These toys range from a simple tennis ball to special durable dog Frisbees and help you to react with your dog wile also training playing the ‘fetch’ game.

There are lots more dog toys available, probably at your local pet shop. It is a good idea to keep in mind what textures and current toys your dog likes to play with or chew before making your choice but as long as your dog enjoys it, it can be used as a good reward and training method.

which dog can i have? i have asthma

Which dog can I have? I have asthma!

I have been wanting a dog for over two years but unfortunately my husband suffers with asthma badly, and can tell if an animal has lived in a house as soon as he enters even if they are no longer there!!

So, after a lot of research into dogs I have found one that will not affect his asthma. Meet sherbet our 15 week old puppy, he is a Bishon Frise and they have very tight curls so that their hair does not shed. The hair only comes out when you brush it. This in effect is what reduces the asthma or allergies.

Allergies actually comes from the pet dander which is actually the skin, and where we get the name dandruff from, all pets have it obviously and when hair comes out it will have a bit of dander or skin on it, which is what causes the allergies.

By having to take the hair out yourself you are obviously eliminating the ability for the dander to get everywhere carpets cushions furniture clothes etc.... and we are all well aware of how difficult hair can be to remove from furnishings so it stays there causing a reaction for the asthma or allergy suffer, every time they go near it. The only way to take away the reaction is to get rid of the dander or neutralise it somehow.

And the big question has it worked? Well yes is the answer it has, at first he was still getting some problem and could feel him asthma flaring up but sometimes I feel that this can be brought on by the thought of an animal rather than the animal its self. I also as a precaution bath Sherbet every couple of weeks and have bought a product called pet cleanse which goes on each week very easy to use and this neutralises the dander. I have had no problems at all since and having got him at 8 weeks we are 7 weeks on and have the beginnings of a happy family.

The last note that I would like to add is the importance of training your puppy, as although asthma and allergies are predominantly brought on by dander they can also be brought on by saliva and urine, by training your dog properly to wee outside and to not jump up etc.... you can eliminate any further problems, this for us is on going at the moment but we did get this online book which has helped us immensely, as I had no idea of how to train a dog. It teaches you very quickly how they do not know what you are saying but will read your body language and it is amazing how we can be saying one thing and our body language is telling something altogether different!!

How To Use A Check Cord

A check cord is a valuable tool that can be used to train your dog for simple commands as well as hunting abilities. A check cord slips around the D ring in the leather collar on your dog. It is made of strong nylon that is easy to handle and will not bend like a rope. When you tug on the check cord, you are letting your dog know that he is doing something wrong.

When you are training a hunting dog, you want him to close to you. There is a point when you are working with your dog when he will have to be away from you. This is where the check cord comes in handy. You should use several drills to use the check cord to train your dog on basic commands.

The check cord should be used in quartering drills. The dog should not tug on the cord to try to take off running. He should quarter in front of you. You can use the check cord to get him to turn when you want as well as to sit and come to you. The check cord should ideally be about 20 to 25 feet in length. The purpose of the cord is to tug at the collar, giving your dog a reminder that he is doing the wrong thing. When the cord does not pull, he knows that he is behaving accordingly.

There is a bowline knot at the end of the check cord that will keep the cord from getting tangled. The D ring should be at the back of the collar of the dog. When you are using the check cord, you should be careful not to tug on it too hard. You should give a brief tug when the dog steps out of line. Using a check cord is similar to using an electronic dog collar in that you want to give gentle reminders to the dog when you are going through drills. If the dog takes off running, you can then pull firmly on the check cord.

Your dog should walk in front of you at about ten and two, as if comparing to a clock. When you first put a dog on a lead, his instinct will be to pull at the lead and try to move further away from you. One of the first things that you need to teach a dog is how to quarter. This is imperative for a hunting dog and also for any dog.

Sitting is another drill that you can practice with your dog using the check cord. You can also teach him to retrieve in this way. Instead of using voice commands, however, you are better off to start using voice commands to sit and come after he has gotten used to the check cord. This will make it easier for him to make the connection to the verbal command and will also make training easier.

Training a dog with a check cord is not difficult and should be a practice for all dog owners. A check cord is easy to use and will help you train your dog in basic command drills.

Dog Training Techniques - Does Offering Food Treats Work?

Many years ago the idea of using food treats in conjunction with training was looked down upon. It was considered spoiling the dog. Nowadays offering food treats is one of the most popular dog training techniques.

I use dog treats because they get the dog's attention faster than any other single training tool available. With some good dog treats you can teach a dog to focus on you and ignore distractions in just a few moments. After he's learned to focus on you, you can expand his learning and teach him other things. Without the food treats the training takes much longer.

You can use food treats in several ways:
1. Rewards - When your dog does something correctly, he will be given a piece of the treat as a reward.
2. Lure - A treat used to lead the dog through a movement or motion is called lure. After the dog follows the lure, he is given it as a reward.
3. Target - A treat is placed on an object or in a place to show the dog he needs to move to that spot or touch that object. When he gets there, he gets the treat.
4. Jackpot - When the dog does something extraordinary, or has a training breakthrough, he should be given a handful of treats or some special treats. This super-size reward is called jackpot.

In order for this dog training technique to work, the food treats must be something your dog likes. Some dogs will be happy with their dry food, while some others need something a little more special, like freeze-dried liver or homemade cookies.

You need to remember to always use your voice when using food treats. For example if your dog does something correctly, praise him as he does so, and then give him the treat. Your voice marks the good behavior, the treat rewards it.