Dec
21
BigTree asked:
My german sherperd dog is already 10 months old. She is still very shy with other dogs. Even a very small size dog can chase her. If other dogs approach her aggresively, she submited immediately. I would like her to play with other dogs happily with confidence. Most dogs she met in off-leash park were very nice(not as aggressive as she thought). Please give me some tips on how to train her to be confident like a gsd should be.
ROBERT
My german sherperd dog is already 10 months old. She is still very shy with other dogs. Even a very small size dog can chase her. If other dogs approach her aggresively, she submited immediately. I would like her to play with other dogs happily with confidence. Most dogs she met in off-leash park were very nice(not as aggressive as she thought). Please give me some tips on how to train her to be confident like a gsd should be.
ROBERT
Dec
17
Dog Training – Dog Crate Training
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
John Williams Dog Training asked:
A dog crate is a metal and plastic cage for your dog to sleep in or be in while you are away, the crate helps give your dog a secure place to live while in your home and a place to retreat to when things get a bit to hectic as they do in many family homes today.
Crate training is a very popular and effective technique for teaching your dog right from wrong; this method includes teaching rules of eliminating, sleeping arrangements, and keeping your dog from being destructive when you are out amongst many other benefits.
To crate train you must choose a correctly sized crate that your dog or puppy will be able to grow into with time and they will not be too cramped or have too much space. If your dog has a crate that is too small they won’t want to live there or go there and if the crate is too large it leads to eliminating problems.
You should make your dog feel as comfortable as you can in their crate; this should include putting a bowl of water with your dog in their crate, a nice easily cleanable blanket and put them in an area that is widely used by the family so they always feel part of what is going on.
When you are out, your dog can be closed in their crate to ensure common bad behavioural problems don’t happen while you are out such as chewing, biting and eliminating in the house. Be sure not to keep your dog in their crate for longer than about 4 hours and to let them go to the toilet on a regular basis.
Dogs will naturally not want to eliminate in their place of sleep so as you dog gets used to its new sleeping area it will want to go to the toilet only when they are let out so be sure to take them to their appropriate place for eliminating when they are let out, then reward them for behaving in the correct manner.
Always reward your dog for using the crate in the correct way and be sure all members of the family know that the dog should not be pestered in their crate. As long as this rule is followed then you won’t go far wrong and you will begin to notice great improvements in your dog’s behaviour immediately.
ANDY
A dog crate is a metal and plastic cage for your dog to sleep in or be in while you are away, the crate helps give your dog a secure place to live while in your home and a place to retreat to when things get a bit to hectic as they do in many family homes today.
Crate training is a very popular and effective technique for teaching your dog right from wrong; this method includes teaching rules of eliminating, sleeping arrangements, and keeping your dog from being destructive when you are out amongst many other benefits.
To crate train you must choose a correctly sized crate that your dog or puppy will be able to grow into with time and they will not be too cramped or have too much space. If your dog has a crate that is too small they won’t want to live there or go there and if the crate is too large it leads to eliminating problems.
You should make your dog feel as comfortable as you can in their crate; this should include putting a bowl of water with your dog in their crate, a nice easily cleanable blanket and put them in an area that is widely used by the family so they always feel part of what is going on.
When you are out, your dog can be closed in their crate to ensure common bad behavioural problems don’t happen while you are out such as chewing, biting and eliminating in the house. Be sure not to keep your dog in their crate for longer than about 4 hours and to let them go to the toilet on a regular basis.
Dogs will naturally not want to eliminate in their place of sleep so as you dog gets used to its new sleeping area it will want to go to the toilet only when they are let out so be sure to take them to their appropriate place for eliminating when they are let out, then reward them for behaving in the correct manner.
Always reward your dog for using the crate in the correct way and be sure all members of the family know that the dog should not be pestered in their crate. As long as this rule is followed then you won’t go far wrong and you will begin to notice great improvements in your dog’s behaviour immediately.
ANDY
Dec
13
Dog Shampoo – Dog Training
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
John Williams Dog Training asked:
There are literally hundreds of companies competing for the market share of dog shampoo and coming up with new ways of cleaning your dog all the time, so it is no surprise that the choice of dog shampoo is endless and anyone looking to buy the best shampoo for their dog for the first time or for their new puppy will be puzzled at all the different options that are available to them.
Dog shampoos are essential to maintaining your dog’s health and well being when it comes to hygiene; some dogs seem to have a great liking for mud and anything else dirty for that matter, so how do you know which shampoo you will need?
Well there are many different types of shampoo to be had, from many different suppliers that are used for different situation and dog types. Dog shampoos available are flea shampoo, Aromatherapy and relaxing shampoos, dry shampoos, Anti tangle shampoos, conditioning shampoos and natural shampoos.
If your dog suffers from a easily tangled coat or you suspect from the length of the dog hair, that tangling may occur then anti tangle shampoos will save you a lot of time and keep your dog so he/she is happier to be washed and cleaned in the future.
Flea shampoo is self explanatory and should only be used if fleas are found or suspected; using flea shampoo for safety shake would not get rid of the fleas for long in any case because of fleas around the house, so flea shampoo should be used only if essential.
Besides ordinary dog shampoo the only other handy and helpful shampoo for shy or easily scared dogs would be the dry spray shampoo, this does not give as good of a clean as normal dog shampoo but there are instances when dog cleaning spray is needed. If it can be avoided then avoid, but if your dog it terrified with water then it may be the only alternative besides a smelly house.
MARQUIS
There are literally hundreds of companies competing for the market share of dog shampoo and coming up with new ways of cleaning your dog all the time, so it is no surprise that the choice of dog shampoo is endless and anyone looking to buy the best shampoo for their dog for the first time or for their new puppy will be puzzled at all the different options that are available to them.
Dog shampoos are essential to maintaining your dog’s health and well being when it comes to hygiene; some dogs seem to have a great liking for mud and anything else dirty for that matter, so how do you know which shampoo you will need?
Well there are many different types of shampoo to be had, from many different suppliers that are used for different situation and dog types. Dog shampoos available are flea shampoo, Aromatherapy and relaxing shampoos, dry shampoos, Anti tangle shampoos, conditioning shampoos and natural shampoos.
If your dog suffers from a easily tangled coat or you suspect from the length of the dog hair, that tangling may occur then anti tangle shampoos will save you a lot of time and keep your dog so he/she is happier to be washed and cleaned in the future.
Flea shampoo is self explanatory and should only be used if fleas are found or suspected; using flea shampoo for safety shake would not get rid of the fleas for long in any case because of fleas around the house, so flea shampoo should be used only if essential.
Besides ordinary dog shampoo the only other handy and helpful shampoo for shy or easily scared dogs would be the dry spray shampoo, this does not give as good of a clean as normal dog shampoo but there are instances when dog cleaning spray is needed. If it can be avoided then avoid, but if your dog it terrified with water then it may be the only alternative besides a smelly house.
MARQUIS
Dec
13
How do I keep my dog from fighting with other dogs when she first meets them?
Filed Under Dogs | 6 Comments
JennyJo asked:
When she first meets a dog she automatically tries to establish dominance. If the other dog is submissive, things are fine, but at times she just doesn’t get along with others–especially if it’s an adult dog. Is there a way that I can be the dominant one and keep her from doing this with other dogs or do I just need to let the dogs work it out.
MATT
When she first meets a dog she automatically tries to establish dominance. If the other dog is submissive, things are fine, but at times she just doesn’t get along with others–especially if it’s an adult dog. Is there a way that I can be the dominant one and keep her from doing this with other dogs or do I just need to let the dogs work it out.
MATT
Dec
10
Dog Training - Dog Ticks
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
John Williams Dog Training asked:
Dog ticks are another one of those terrible little pests that can really irritate your dog during the summer or warmer months of the year, theses creatures hid in grass and other surfaces and insert themselves within your dog’s skin in order to live off your dog’s warm blood.
Ticks are especially bad for carrying diseases and enjoy and can survive in the nice warm heat of your home, ticks get carried into the home on pets and preferably dogs and once they have had their feed, fall off and seek cover in a safe area out of site which makes theses pests hard to find and get rid of.
A tick’s life can be up to around 2 years long, and within that time the tick can live on 2-3 hosts to maintain its feeding habit, this feeding habit only happens at certain times of the year around august to November.
Ticks are a fast growing arachnid that lives and are born on long grassy areas, and climb to the top of leaves and grass to wait for a host to feed off and survive off, theses arachnids can live off many different animals and not just dogs, theses commonly include humans, birds, and mice. Ticks get and carry diseases from theses other animals and can spread them to their next host which may be your dog.
During the summer months it is important to check your dog regularly by running your hands through the dog’s fur and coat to check for small lumps, some pressure is needed to detect these pests and it is wise to check thoroughly every day during the hotter months.
If you detect a lump or suspicious area then you should part the hair or fur to investigate further, you should be able to see a brown tick digging beneath the skin if there is one there. Popular areas to find ticks is in places that do not have much fur for the tick to climb through, these include the face, paws and behind and around the ears.
If you detect a tick, you should notify and take advice from your vet or a professional; if you remove the tick yourself you may leave part of the tick still within your dog’s skin which will be irritating for the dog.
MACK
Dog ticks are another one of those terrible little pests that can really irritate your dog during the summer or warmer months of the year, theses creatures hid in grass and other surfaces and insert themselves within your dog’s skin in order to live off your dog’s warm blood.
Ticks are especially bad for carrying diseases and enjoy and can survive in the nice warm heat of your home, ticks get carried into the home on pets and preferably dogs and once they have had their feed, fall off and seek cover in a safe area out of site which makes theses pests hard to find and get rid of.
A tick’s life can be up to around 2 years long, and within that time the tick can live on 2-3 hosts to maintain its feeding habit, this feeding habit only happens at certain times of the year around august to November.
Ticks are a fast growing arachnid that lives and are born on long grassy areas, and climb to the top of leaves and grass to wait for a host to feed off and survive off, theses arachnids can live off many different animals and not just dogs, theses commonly include humans, birds, and mice. Ticks get and carry diseases from theses other animals and can spread them to their next host which may be your dog.
During the summer months it is important to check your dog regularly by running your hands through the dog’s fur and coat to check for small lumps, some pressure is needed to detect these pests and it is wise to check thoroughly every day during the hotter months.
If you detect a lump or suspicious area then you should part the hair or fur to investigate further, you should be able to see a brown tick digging beneath the skin if there is one there. Popular areas to find ticks is in places that do not have much fur for the tick to climb through, these include the face, paws and behind and around the ears.
If you detect a tick, you should notify and take advice from your vet or a professional; if you remove the tick yourself you may leave part of the tick still within your dog’s skin which will be irritating for the dog.
MACK
Dec
8
Dog Coat and Dog Fur Maintenance
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
John Williams Dog Training asked:
Your dog’s fur is a very important aspect of your dogs life, keeping it clean and in good shape is a good way to keep your dog happy, healthy, and clean. If you don’t keep your dogs fur in good shape it will only be a mater of time before tangles and knots appear in your dog’s coat picking up insects, pests, and causing discomfort for your dog.
Different dogs have different types of fur and with so many cross breeds and different looking dogs, naming all the different types of fur would be impossible. There are many different types of dog fur, some will look after themselves more than others but the general rule is that a longer dog coat will normally tangle and know easier than others.
To maintain your dog’s fur and keep it looking as it should, lots of grooming may be needed so this should be taken into account when buying a new dog. But grooming does not need to be a chore you have to do for your dog because grooming is proven to be a great bonding between owner and dog and creates trust and comfort for your dog making them a lot easier to train.
Step one is to get a good comb for your dog ensuring that there are no sharp edges and that your dog is comfortable with you using it without hurting him/her. Your vet or local pet shop many be able to help you and give you advice with choosing the correct comb but this will be a deciding point in whether your dog will enjoy you doing it or not.
After you have chosen your comb, grooming should happen often and you should do it thoroughly each time, ensuring all knots and angles are removed, if you haven’t yet combed your dog’s fur then it may be difficult to start so do a bit at a time to ensure you don’t discourage your dog and make them not like the grooming process.
After the initial combing, the more often you groom your dog the easier it will be, leaving it for long periods of time is not advised because this means it is more likely to hurt your dog when it eventually does get done. If your dog is finding it tough going then maybe a dog bath is needed to make it easier to detangle and add to your dog furs health.
IVORY
Your dog’s fur is a very important aspect of your dogs life, keeping it clean and in good shape is a good way to keep your dog happy, healthy, and clean. If you don’t keep your dogs fur in good shape it will only be a mater of time before tangles and knots appear in your dog’s coat picking up insects, pests, and causing discomfort for your dog.
Different dogs have different types of fur and with so many cross breeds and different looking dogs, naming all the different types of fur would be impossible. There are many different types of dog fur, some will look after themselves more than others but the general rule is that a longer dog coat will normally tangle and know easier than others.
To maintain your dog’s fur and keep it looking as it should, lots of grooming may be needed so this should be taken into account when buying a new dog. But grooming does not need to be a chore you have to do for your dog because grooming is proven to be a great bonding between owner and dog and creates trust and comfort for your dog making them a lot easier to train.
Step one is to get a good comb for your dog ensuring that there are no sharp edges and that your dog is comfortable with you using it without hurting him/her. Your vet or local pet shop many be able to help you and give you advice with choosing the correct comb but this will be a deciding point in whether your dog will enjoy you doing it or not.
After you have chosen your comb, grooming should happen often and you should do it thoroughly each time, ensuring all knots and angles are removed, if you haven’t yet combed your dog’s fur then it may be difficult to start so do a bit at a time to ensure you don’t discourage your dog and make them not like the grooming process.
After the initial combing, the more often you groom your dog the easier it will be, leaving it for long periods of time is not advised because this means it is more likely to hurt your dog when it eventually does get done. If your dog is finding it tough going then maybe a dog bath is needed to make it easier to detangle and add to your dog furs health.
IVORY
Nov
29
Dog Training - Dog No Command
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
John Williams Dog Training asked:
The ‘no’ command is a widely used command throughout dog training and is used to tell your dog not to do something or to stop them in their tracks to avoid dangerous situations or general bad behavior.
I think of the no command as more of a training technique rather than a command and to perfect the technique you will need to be consistent for most of your time with your pet dog. The no command isn’t like other commands and is taught over several years rather than a ‘learn it and forget it’ dog training technique.
You can start to teach your dog the no command as soon as you see your cute little puppy doing something wrong for the first time, to most people the command will come naturally when they see their dog causing terror in the house and it will not be too hard for them to remember how to execute the technique.
The no command should come part and parcel with punishing your dog, the idea behind the no command is to teach your dog that ‘no’ means bad behavior and punishment, after teaching this command the end result will be that your dog should stop whatever they are doing when you say ‘no’.
So to make this command work you will need to enforce and recite ‘no’ in a very assertive way whenever you are punishing your dog or see your dog behaving badly that will result in punishment. By doing this your dog will associate ‘no!’ with being punished and making you the owner, unhappy.
If you do this consistently through your dogs earlier years, especially when your dog is a puppy and very impressionable you will gain respect from your dog and just saying ‘no’ alone will be enough to stop your dog in its tracks and save you punishing your dog.
WILLIAM
The ‘no’ command is a widely used command throughout dog training and is used to tell your dog not to do something or to stop them in their tracks to avoid dangerous situations or general bad behavior.
I think of the no command as more of a training technique rather than a command and to perfect the technique you will need to be consistent for most of your time with your pet dog. The no command isn’t like other commands and is taught over several years rather than a ‘learn it and forget it’ dog training technique.
You can start to teach your dog the no command as soon as you see your cute little puppy doing something wrong for the first time, to most people the command will come naturally when they see their dog causing terror in the house and it will not be too hard for them to remember how to execute the technique.
The no command should come part and parcel with punishing your dog, the idea behind the no command is to teach your dog that ‘no’ means bad behavior and punishment, after teaching this command the end result will be that your dog should stop whatever they are doing when you say ‘no’.
So to make this command work you will need to enforce and recite ‘no’ in a very assertive way whenever you are punishing your dog or see your dog behaving badly that will result in punishment. By doing this your dog will associate ‘no!’ with being punished and making you the owner, unhappy.
If you do this consistently through your dogs earlier years, especially when your dog is a puppy and very impressionable you will gain respect from your dog and just saying ‘no’ alone will be enough to stop your dog in its tracks and save you punishing your dog.
WILLIAM
Nov
22
Dog Training – the Heel Command
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
John Williams Dog Training asked:
The heel command is another very important and popular command for your dog along with many others listed on www.dog-behavior-training.co.uk, taking the time to teach your dog this command will save you hours of getting annoyed when your dog doesn’t behave on long or short walks around your local area.
The reason dogs are so ‘badly behaved’ when it comes to going for walks can be for many different reasons but the most common in many homes is the excitement of wondering the streets with all the new smells, tastes, and other local dogs to discover.
The best times to train your dog and get them to do exactly what you want without too much fuss is before feeding times, if your dog wants something they will give you a lot more attention than normal. Also puppy’s and younger dogs are better to train, even with them getting over excited over everything, puppies and young dogs will be much better behaved and easier to train when they get older.
The heel command, when performed well and properly is used to stop your dog or puppy in their tracks, drop everything and return to your left hand side. Any distractions should be left alone and your dog should carry on walking closely by your side.
To begin with you will need to go in a fairly open space with enough room to move around and walk around properly, and you will need to use a lead to gently correct your dog in this exercise.
Begin by tapping your thigh saying ‘heel’ to get your dogs attention and them to come towards you, when they are by your side wait a couple of seconds then start to stride forwards, at this point your unknowing dog or puppy will try to run off ahead. If this happens you should turn in the opposite direction letting the lead go slack for 5-10 feet, start to walk in the opposite direction and as soon as the slack goes in the lead your dog will realise you have gone in the opposite direction and run towards you again.
At this point repeat the first step of commanding heel to get your dog by your side. Continue doing this exercise for 10 – 15 minutes and about 2-3 times a day. Before long your dog will become used to coming to your side and obeying you whenever you command heel.
When your dog gets used to doing this command try going in circles, in figure of eight, and changing directions suddenly, if the command is still working then try your dog on short walks and then build your way up to longer walks as you progress.
Never use the lead to discipline and roughly tug on, if you feel yourself getting annoyed then you should stop and continue at a later date when you are calmer. Keep repeating the process and your dog will eventually come to respect you. Some dogs take longer than others to train so be prepared for this behavior.
WILBUR
The heel command is another very important and popular command for your dog along with many others listed on www.dog-behavior-training.co.uk, taking the time to teach your dog this command will save you hours of getting annoyed when your dog doesn’t behave on long or short walks around your local area.
The reason dogs are so ‘badly behaved’ when it comes to going for walks can be for many different reasons but the most common in many homes is the excitement of wondering the streets with all the new smells, tastes, and other local dogs to discover.
The best times to train your dog and get them to do exactly what you want without too much fuss is before feeding times, if your dog wants something they will give you a lot more attention than normal. Also puppy’s and younger dogs are better to train, even with them getting over excited over everything, puppies and young dogs will be much better behaved and easier to train when they get older.
The heel command, when performed well and properly is used to stop your dog or puppy in their tracks, drop everything and return to your left hand side. Any distractions should be left alone and your dog should carry on walking closely by your side.
To begin with you will need to go in a fairly open space with enough room to move around and walk around properly, and you will need to use a lead to gently correct your dog in this exercise.
Begin by tapping your thigh saying ‘heel’ to get your dogs attention and them to come towards you, when they are by your side wait a couple of seconds then start to stride forwards, at this point your unknowing dog or puppy will try to run off ahead. If this happens you should turn in the opposite direction letting the lead go slack for 5-10 feet, start to walk in the opposite direction and as soon as the slack goes in the lead your dog will realise you have gone in the opposite direction and run towards you again.
At this point repeat the first step of commanding heel to get your dog by your side. Continue doing this exercise for 10 – 15 minutes and about 2-3 times a day. Before long your dog will become used to coming to your side and obeying you whenever you command heel.
When your dog gets used to doing this command try going in circles, in figure of eight, and changing directions suddenly, if the command is still working then try your dog on short walks and then build your way up to longer walks as you progress.
Never use the lead to discipline and roughly tug on, if you feel yourself getting annoyed then you should stop and continue at a later date when you are calmer. Keep repeating the process and your dog will eventually come to respect you. Some dogs take longer than others to train so be prepared for this behavior.
WILBUR
Nov
13
cherrysjubilee805@sbcglobal.net asked:
I take my german shepherd every once in a while to play with an american bulldog. The american bulldog’s owner told me that her dog stayed itching himself all night long after it played with my dog. My dog is free from fleas & ticks. The other dog is also free from fleas & ticks. Someone mentioned dogs can be allergic to other dogs coats. Is this possible?
BRANDON
I take my german shepherd every once in a while to play with an american bulldog. The american bulldog’s owner told me that her dog stayed itching himself all night long after it played with my dog. My dog is free from fleas & ticks. The other dog is also free from fleas & ticks. Someone mentioned dogs can be allergic to other dogs coats. Is this possible?
BRANDON
Nov
12
Dog Training - Dog Exercise
Filed Under Pets | Comments Off
John Williams Dog Training asked:
Exercise is one of the main way in which dogs keep their muscle tone, bones, joints, and mind healthy, there are plenty of ways in which to exercise your dog. Some exercises are good for keeping you healthy as well, and others are more relaxed and effort free for those times when you get back from work and your dog is staring at you all excited and ready to play.
Some breeds of dogs are more active and need more exercise than others, and sometimes more than a lot of owners think they can give them due to other commitments like work and there not being enough hours in the day. But this doesn’t have to be the case as many professional dog trainers will tell you, and keeping your dog in shape can be fun and rewarding for both parties.
Here are some of the exercises that are popular in the dog community and reasons why –
Fetch
Starting off with the most well known of exercises, the fetch game involves you throwing a ball and your dog running after it and returning it to you. This can be little exercise for you and a lot for your dog if you use any throwing enhancing products that are on the market today.
Tug
The tug game involves both you and your dog pulling on either end of a tugging toy, requires little effort on your behalf and can be played while you sit and watch telly or between breaks of other activities.
Jogging
Jogging is a highly active sport and helps keep your health up as well as your dogs, your dog will love to pay this game with you and it will ensure a healthy and happy dog.
Cycling
Although cycling may seem like a difficult exercise for your dog to follow and keep an interest in, there are special leashes for you to use on your dog to maintain hands free control over your dog giving you a more subtle form of exercise. Care may be needed and basic dog training should be given to make sure your dog will be in no harm during the task.
ELISEO
Exercise is one of the main way in which dogs keep their muscle tone, bones, joints, and mind healthy, there are plenty of ways in which to exercise your dog. Some exercises are good for keeping you healthy as well, and others are more relaxed and effort free for those times when you get back from work and your dog is staring at you all excited and ready to play.
Some breeds of dogs are more active and need more exercise than others, and sometimes more than a lot of owners think they can give them due to other commitments like work and there not being enough hours in the day. But this doesn’t have to be the case as many professional dog trainers will tell you, and keeping your dog in shape can be fun and rewarding for both parties.
Here are some of the exercises that are popular in the dog community and reasons why –
Fetch
Starting off with the most well known of exercises, the fetch game involves you throwing a ball and your dog running after it and returning it to you. This can be little exercise for you and a lot for your dog if you use any throwing enhancing products that are on the market today.
Tug
The tug game involves both you and your dog pulling on either end of a tugging toy, requires little effort on your behalf and can be played while you sit and watch telly or between breaks of other activities.
Jogging
Jogging is a highly active sport and helps keep your health up as well as your dogs, your dog will love to pay this game with you and it will ensure a healthy and happy dog.
Cycling
Although cycling may seem like a difficult exercise for your dog to follow and keep an interest in, there are special leashes for you to use on your dog to maintain hands free control over your dog giving you a more subtle form of exercise. Care may be needed and basic dog training should be given to make sure your dog will be in no harm during the task.
ELISEO