A Dog Training Lesson

Are you looking for some dog training tips?  Perhaps you have some dog problems that you just can’t figure out how to handle.  Maybe you’re in the middle of training a puppy.  Training dogs can be frustrating and a lot of hard work, but it is so worthwhile.

I’m by no means an expert in dog training.  But through my many years on this earth I have always had dogs in my life.  Most of them have been rescue dogs.  I would suggest rescue dogs for anyone interested in getting a new dog.  It’s a wonderful feeling and you will never regret it.

Now, on to the purpose of this article and this short dog training course. Over the years I’ve tried many different dog  training techniques to deal with dog problems that I’ve encountered.  Many times with rescue dogs, especially older rescue dogs, they might have some bad habits that their previous owner just didn’t want to deal with.  Those are the dogs I love to take because they end up being so lovable and sweet once you deal with the dog problem.

One dog training technique that has been very successful for me has been something so simple and yet so effective.

What I do is take a small tin can and put a few pennies in it.  Sometimes I will have a few cans around the house so they are handy when I need them.

When your dog exhibits a behavior that is not welcomed, just give the can a shake and at the same time say “No!”  This catches the dog’s attention and startles them.  They don’t like the sound of the pennies in the can, and after doing this a few times, you’ll see  that the unwanted behavior stops.  So what you are doing is conditioning the dog  to know that when they do the unwanted behavior, they will hear this noise that they don’t like, and therefore after a few times they will stop the behavior.  After a few times, you won’t even have to use the can but only say “No!” and they will stop the unwanted behavior.

This is why I have a few cans around the house because you want them handy so you can shake the can immediately when the dog is doing the unwanted behavior. 

I’ve used this technique on a number of dog problems that I’ve had through the years.  It’s been especially helpful in stopping dogs from barking too much.  One of my dogs was a very yappy dog until I tried this technique.  After a few shakes of the can, he now does not bark all the time and is much more pleasant to be around.

Another dog problem I’ve handled with this technique is a disgusting behavior of eating their own feces.  I know, so disgusting.  Two of my dogs now have done this in the past and I was so happy when this technique worked for them.  I would have to watch them while they were outside for a few days and keep a window open.  Then when they started going toward their own feces with an eye to eating it, I would shake the can from the window and that was enough to stop them.  It only took a few times.

I hope you will try this technique and let me know if it works for you.  I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

Also, I have found another great dog training book that has some great simple ideas to help with dog problems that you might want to try.  The title is Secrets to Dog Training, formerly known as SitStayFetch.  It’s a great resource, PLUS you get six bonus books with it.

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German Shepherd is a kind of breed that caused different oppinion among different peple. While some see it fierce and threatening, some others, especially who had a German Shepherd look at it much more tenderedly.

The German Shepherd is often aloof – they don’t often walk right up to a stranger but size them up, as if silently figuring whether you are worth their time. Some dogs take longer than others to warm up and create a bond, but once that bond is made is a dog that will face any threat imaginable to protect their family.

It is this loyalty and sense of duty that has made the German Shepherd a dog that willingly guided the blind, works as law enforcement, herds livestock, competes not only in shows but in dog sports, is a friend to the military and performs countless duties in homes throughout the world.

In the late 1800s cavaly officer Capt. Max Von Stephanitz sought to perfect a dog for farm work. As with many animals bred for function, what was needed locally was different than the dogs available. The breed today takes the look of a defined breed but not all are the same. A dog developed as a show dog might look very different from one developed for police work, which may have a different body type from one working on the farm.

American soldiers brought the breed to the US after being introduced to the breed in the military. The breed is still today used to assist soldiers throughout the world.

By the standard, the male should be 24-26 inches at the shoulder with females 22-24. They should be longer than they are tall, with an image of power and grace. Disqualifications from show include: cropped or dropped ears, nose not mostly black, undershot jaw, docked tail and all white dogs. There are many many dogs that are larger than the standard, or all white dogs, as well as all black dogs, that are still fully German Shepherd. For those interested in details of show conformation requirements they can be found at http://www.akc.org/breeds/german_shepherd_dog/

In early development it was felt the GSD should be above everything utility and intelligence. The breed is still today a working machine…functional in the ability to cover ground easily whether after a loose cow or an escaped criminal. They are distinctive in appearance and although known by different names are the same breed throughout the world.

The GSD is one of the breeds some pet food companies have developed special formulas for. They are also many people who feed a raw meat and bones diet. An important factor in feeding German Shepherds is food selection. Do not feed for fast growth – it does not necessarily mean a bigger adult but can mean a weaker adult. High energy food that boosts fast growth should be avoided especially in the rapid growth time of 3-8 months of age. This reduces the chances of displasia later. While selection of breeding dogs and testing hips and elbows before breeding is certainly a factor, equally is diet.

Many things vary within this breed. One GSD charges fearlessly into a conflict that includes gunfire while another trembles in a thunderstorm. Some have been guilty of biting while others would never except under extreme threat threaten a human. Some are bold in any circumstance, some are borderline fearful. Handling and breeding can make an immense difference in this breed. Additionally the breeding and genetic markers for disease can affect an otherwise suitable working dog. Genetic issues affecting the eyes, skin, heart, neurological system, digestive and skeletal systems are all possible within the breed – and most are found by testing before breeding.

It is this testing and the maintaining of healthy, tested clean lines that makes a good GSD an investment. A few health issues to watch for besides the hip and elbow displasia include thyroid disorders, skin allergies, Addisons, vonWillebrand’s disease, heart murmurs, cardiomyopathy, epilepsy, wobbler syndrome and spinal bifida can all affect the breed. Many problems show up at under 2 years old. A condition called EPI, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, is another issue that can be overlooked.

A more complete list of the health issues that can affect the breed is at http://www.awsaclub.com/healthgenetics/caninegen.htm – and remember that although it can look like they are prone to every disease known to canines, many of these can be eliminated by genetics.

Although not genetic, owners of GSD should be familiar with the danger of bloat. Like many deep chested dogs, GSD is susceptible to this critical emergency that needs immediate medical attention. This condition is fast-striking and fatal.

Do not be deterred by the list of health issues in the breed – instead, use that to choose your dog wisely. Understand that without testing you have the risk of losing a dog you’ve become attached to – and it may well be worth $ 700-800 for a dog that has a healthy genetic family rather than getting one of unknown background for $ 150 then spending thousands treating problems that are lurking unseen. For a tested, working and show type dog bred for temperament, trainability and soundness do not be shocked by prices $ 1,500 or $ 2,000 and up. Many of these come with health and soundness guarantees.

Dogs of 12-15 years are not uncommon. With a reported average litter size of eight, it’s important to choose mates wisely.

The trainability of the German Shepherd is well documented. The movie “K-9” and it’s sequels revolved around a German Shepherd, as did the infamous Rin Tin Tin. The first seeing-eye dog in 1928 was a German Shepherd. The GSD is one of the most intelligent dogs in the canine world, in one test just behind the border collie and poodle. John Kennedy, Roy Rogers and Franklin D. Roosevelt kept GSD.

Schutzhund, a competition not for the faint of heart, is but one thing the GSD excells at. This competition tests the dog’s intelligence, soundness, tracking abilities, willingness to work, courage and trainability. While photos from these competitions show dogs scaling obstacles and making spectacular leaps to latch bites onto the arm of a “suspect” it’s important to remember these dogs are highly trained. They are not vicious…they are trained to get to a suspect, restrain them and ideally get them on the ground for the safety of their handlers.

No dog, German Shepherd or otherwise, should be teased or mistreated to induce aggression. The difference between an aggressive dog and a trained K-9 is extreme. A K-9’s training is based on play – an aggressive dog is based on survival, and this difference is critical to understand. It drives an aggressive dog to unspeakable acts and reflects poorly on the many great dogs of the breed that are highly trainable.

A good dog with obedience training doesn’t need special training for protection. These operate from a position of defense of the home – and the bark of a GSD is often enough to change the minds of someone who thinks they want to do harm. The natural protection instincts of a good GSD is normally sufficient to deal with a threat.

It is no surprise that there are many heroes in this breed. Ceasar, a K-9 handled by Corporal Mark Sarna of the Shaker Heights Ohio Police Department, had a resume that included drug detection, tracking suspects as well as being a certified therapy dog and friendly with children. Griff, a K-9 with the Summit County Sheriff’s Department, and his handler Deputy Kathy Wilmot is another awarded dog and a great illustration as to the unknown these dogs and their handlers can face. Called to a domestic disturbance where the suspect was threatening to burn down the house of a girlfriend with her and her kids in it, Griff tracked the suspect through freezing rain. While he wanted to continue, the humans insisted on returning to the command unit and before long a second call came in. The suspect returned to the home and was becoming violent. A very dangerous situation evolved with the suspect assaulting the dog and handlers, attempting to kill the dog hands on despite being tazered. Griff not only never gave up but never shifted position – he put himself between the suspect and his handler, willing to lay down his life if need be. After the incident was over it was learned the suspect had commited an armed robbery just hours before, was out on bond and had a previous stint of 13 years in prison.

In the dangerous work of police and military work many German Shepherds have paid the ultimate price for their instincts and training. They serve faithfully and have confronted the worst of humanity, not only on a daily basis but also in events such as the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City bombing.

Because these are bold, intelligent and trainable dogs they must have a home that will TRAIN them. Select a good, healthy dog and put the time into training them. This doesn’t take 6-8 hours per day…it’s teaching things in small ways on a day to day basis. Left to their own devices they will be unhappy and find their own means to entertain themselves, and you probably won’t like it. A bored, untrained dog can destroy vehicles, homes and lives. Once trained then you can sit back and enjoy your beautiful, functional, intelligent and well mannered dog.

For the right home the German Shepherd is a wonderful companion and security that doesn’t fail with power outages. If yours is the right home, do your homework and find the best dog for you. They’re a wonderful breed with a big heart.

Though there is a general impression that reward training is the modern type of training, in reality this training method is very old. As old as ever since the dogs were there to train. Even before that people were using informal reward training methods to train wolf pups, which turned out to be modern dogs. Modern reward training gains popularity only for the past 10 to 15 years. But people were using principle of reward training for many decades. Dog trainers prefer this method to other training methods like leash and collar method. But in some cases the combination of these training methods is found to be more effective.

Training methods will vary from dog to dog. Some dogs can be easily trained by using a leash/collar method where as other dogs need a reward training method. These dogs are happy with the reward they get and listen to a trainer’s command thinking of reward. Some dogs fall between these two categories. They need the combination of both reward training as well as leash/collar training method.

Clicker training is another form of reward training. This method has become very popular among the trainers. When the dog does something good, the trainer will use a clicker to make click sound. As soon as the dog hear the click sound it knows that it will get a reward, a treat. Gradually the dog starts responding to the click sound.

Reward training is associated with food. The Dog will get reward as a food. After obeying any order from the master the dog expects food immediately. For more complex exercises this system work wonderfully. People who train the dogs for movies and television uses this reward training exclusively, which gives great results. Police and military dogs are trained by using a reward-training method. They are trained to smell and track. This is helpful in training the dog about basic behavior like obedience. Some reward training include lure in reward training method. The trainer uses the lure to get the dog in certain position according to trainers wish. Later on the dog will get in to that position whenever the dog feels like. It is a sensible thing to train the dog with out physically interfering.

Training the dog without touching is very important. Positive reinforcement is the reward dog gets after every good performance. Reward they get is a positive reinforcement. Not only food but also word like ‘good boy’ and a pat on their head will do wonders.

When training the dog for some important job like in police, detection of drugs etc. the dog need to be reliable. So these dogs need to be trained in such environments. Surrounding people and sounds should not distract the dogs. The dogs need to be social with people and other animals around. The biggest mistake the dog trainers do is to train the dogs inside the house or in the yards. There only the trainer and the dog are present. When the dog is taken out, the trainer will accompany the dog as its protector. These dogs will not be able to perform well at a situation where so many people are there in the surroundings.

Another important thing to remember is that while taking out the dog the dog should always pay attention to its trainer. The dog should be alert all the time what the trainer is doing.

This is just a little bit of information of all the information available on dog training. I hope you have learned a bit from this article though. Good luck!

Today, Beth Shaw’s YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide, the largest yoga school in North America, is proud to announce the release of the FURociously Fit DVD and CD line. Understanding the important relationship between pets and their owners, Shaw carefully designed FURociously Fit to teach both humans and animals the 20/30/40 walking and yoga program.

Shaw believes the strong bond an owner develops with their pet is a special type of friendship. With dogs specifically, a person receives unconditional love and friendship that rewards not only their soul, but the people around us as well. Bringing a dog along to exercise is something good for everyone. Getting in shape together with a pet decreases health risks and increase the chance of living happy, longer lives. Whether one is out walking a dog or volunteer to walk another dog, the social connections alone are great reasons to get out and walk.

The FURociously Fit 20/30/40 DVD and CD offers stretching before and after a walk, core work and upper body work to stay balanced, as well as a relaxation segment. Whether one walks a dog or not, this unique program help them get in shape, lose weight, and keep it off!

The 20/30/40 system refers to a 20-minute walk in the morning, 30 minutes at noon and 40 minutes in the evening for the best dog health. Also included in the DVD is the segment Dog Health Tips with Dr. Alice Villalobos, a well-known pioneer in the field of cancer care for companion animals and a founding member of the Veterinary Cancer Society.

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ABOUT YOGAFIT TRAINING SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE

YogaFit Training Systems Worldwide was established in 1994 and has since trained more than 250,000 yoga and fitness professionals worldwide. The leader in mind body fitness education, YogaFit is the largest training school for yoga instructors in North America with further expansion ongoing internationally. YogaFit is the American Council on Exercises (ACE) premier and only yoga partner. Founder and President Beth Shaw is internationally recognized as the foremost authority on yoga and fitness and has been profiled in print publications and television programs including Oprahs O Magazine, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, Entrepreneur, SELF and is currently a New Business Group Member of the New York Times. YogaFit is committed to community service as well as supporting animals and humanitarian causes.

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Just as every new human member of a household must be trained to behave properly, so must dogs. Everyone in the household is better off if the dog conforms to the behaviour expected of it. That applies to the dog, too. By nature, your dog wants your approval. It wants to please you (most of the time, anyway!). But it cant do that without being taught what you expect of it. During your dogs life you may decide to teach it to perform all manner of impressive tricks and tasks. Those are optional. But the following types of training should be considered as absolutely essential for every dog owner. TOILET TRAINING If your dog spends any time indoors, toilet training is an absolute necessity for very obvious reasons! Toilet training is often a time of trial and stress for everyone involved. But be patient, use the proper training techniques, and theres sure to be a happy outcome. Start when the dog is young about 3 to 4 months of age. Any earlier, and your puppy probably wont yet have sufficient bowel and bladder control. And if you start later, the training period is likely to take much longer. When you begin the training, start by confining the puppy to a fairly restricted area a single room, the length of a tethered lead, or even a crate. As your puppy begins to learn that business is to be conducted outside, you can gradually expand the area that its allowed to roam. Here are a few tips for effective toilet training: Regular mealtimes. Keep your puppy on a regular feeding schedule during toilet training. That means no snacking between meals! If its not mealtime, food shouldnt be available to the dog. Offer frequent potty opportunities. Give your pup plenty of opportunities to take care of business outside. Go outside first thing in the morning, and then every 30 to 60 minutes throughout the day. And also take your puppy outside after it wakes from a nap or finishes a meal. Familiarity breeds comfort. Take your dog to the same spot outside every time. Your dog will recognize its scent and more readily do its business. Stay out with your dog. When you take your dog outside for a potty break, stay with it until it has taken care of business, or until it becomes obvious that it doesnt need to just yet. Dont just turn the dog out in the yard by itself. Praise success! When your doggie does its duty, praise it! Offer a treat, or something the dog really enjoys, like a walk. OBEDIENCE TRAINING Teaching your dog basic obedience is also a necessity. While an obedient dog is a pleasure to be around, the opposite is also true a disobedient dog can be a real pain! You can take your dogs training to a much higher level if you choose to, of course. But at the very minimum, your dog should learn to respond to the following basic commands: Sit. This basic command helps you to keep control of your dog no matter the situation, and is a good command to teach first. Drop. This teaches your dog to instantly drop whatever is in its mouth. (Could save your dog from harm if it ever picks up something dangerous or toxic.) Stay. Teaches your dog to remain still, calm, and in one place. Heel. Teaches your dog to stay close to you as you walk, with or without a lead. Come. Teaches your dog to immediately come to you upon your command. You should begin to teach this command to your puppy as soon as it recognizes its name. This command could potentially help you protect your puppy from harm. There are a number of dog-training methods available for teaching your dog these commands, but the Australian Veterinary Association recommends positive reinforcement as the best method. Positive reinforcement rewards wanted behaviour rather than punishing unwanted behaviour. This method of training makes learning more enjoyable for your dog, and will help to strengthen the bond between you and your pet. START WITH THE BASICS Teaching your dog the basic commands of obedience will make your household a much more pleasant place. Your dog