Taking your puppy home

The change in environment will be stressful for the new family member. A few points to remember:

• Keep the pup on the same diet for the first ten days.



• Obtain the worming history from the breeder and establish when it should next be de-wormed.



• Make a point of obtaining a vaccination card and make a note when the next vaccinations are due.



• Keep the puppy in one room taking care to the door closed. Ignore the noise (1st training)



• Ensure a warm, comfortable bed with a hot water bottle and an alarm clock in the clothing. The dog will find the ticking clock comforting.



• Newspaper on the floor to soak up accidents.



• Supervise the introduction of other animals to the pup.



• Puppies need to relieve themselves frequently and very often after exercise, eating, or sleeping. Encourage the pup to relieve itself on paper. Never punish it for soiling on the floor and dont put its not in the mess - some owners mistakenly believe this to be the right thing to do.



• The first few nights will be nosey, as it will be missing mum and litter mates - ignore.



• Always bring the puppy home on fridays when you have an off day on Saturday and Sunday to spend with the pup in order for it to adjust.

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Dog Training Collars An alternative choice to Shock Collars

Spray dog training collars provide a safe, humane option to shock collars along with other ways of aversion training for your pet. Breaking your dog of improper habits, for example barking incessantly or stealing food, could be a difficult and challenging chore. Many pet owners turn to aversion training using devices like electric collars to show their pets to not hop on people or participate in other objectionable behaviors. Spray dog training collars attain the same benefits with no painful consequences.

What are Spray Training Collars?

Spray training collars make use of a remote radio control release a a harmless, non-toxic spray or gas if you catch your pet participating in the behaviour you need to eliminate. The spray doesnt burn or sting - it really surprises your dog by having an unexpected stimuli. The momentary startle interrupts the misbehavior, which provides the opportunity to immediately reward him to be a great dog. Inside a surprisingly short period of time, your pet will become familiar with that being "good" elicits praise and reward instead of learning that being bad elicits pain.

Available Dog Training Collars

Several companies have spray training collars on the market, all of them counting on a rather different method or kind of spray. The main one you select is determined by your choice. As the collars could be a bit pricey, many retailers rent the machine and also you only buy the gas or spray cartridges to be used using the collar.

Petsafe Remote Spray Dog collar is really a remote training device that includes a collar that emits a lemon-scented spray or perhaps a tone when activated through the radio handheld remote control. The control works from the distance as high as 300 meters. It provides four amounts of spray to be able to pick the one which gets your dogs attention. You should use spray and tone, alone or together, to strengthen your teaching.

The Masterplus Pro training system includes a receiver collar along with a small remote transmitter. When activated, the collar emits a harmless, odorless spray that interrupts your pet and enables you to regain his attention and divert him to some more desired activity.

The Jetcare Education Pro dog collar is comparable to the Masterplus Pro but provides a tone too as the spray to be able to tailor working out. Radio stations transmitter works well as much as 300 meters, and may emit whether cold spray or perhaps a tone thats audible for your dog.

Spray Commander provides the same features as the more costly options, including a waterproof collar that continues to be effective even when your dog decides to consider a dip within the lake with it. Such as the others, radio stations handheld remote control works well at as much as 300 meters, and also the batteries for that remote are rechargeable.

All from the dog collars are adjustable to suit necks as much as 28 inches, so there is a collar which will match your pup. The spray collar technology provides quick, good success without relying on shouting, electric shock or any other aversion techniques. Why train your pet with fear or pain when theres an alternative choice available?

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Training your dog not to chase cars

One of the most serious, and unfortunately most common, problem behaviors among dogs is that of chasing cars. Dogs must be trained as early as possible that chasing cars is not acceptable. That is because dogs that chase cars eventually become dogs that catch cars, and car plus dog always equals big trouble.

There are many reasons that dogs chase cars. For one thing, chasing moving objects is an ingrained, instinctual behavior that can never be completely removed. Chasing behaviors, however can and should be controlled through a combination of good training and supervision. Some dogs are more apt to chase cars, bikes, joggers, cats and other dogs than are others. Dogs that have a high prey drive, including breeds that have been bred for hunting, are particularly susceptible to the thrill of the chase. Herding breeds are also apt to chase cars, attempt to herd the neighbors children, or express other undesired traits of their breeding.

One reason that many dogs chase cars in particular is that they have learned to associate cars with good time and fun things. Most dogs love to ride in the car, and when they see a car they may try to chase it down for a ride. No matter what your dogs motivation for chasing cars, however, it is important to curb this dangerous behavior as quickly as possible.

Training the dog not to chase cars starts with teaching the dog the meaning of the "Off" command. The "Off" command is one of the basic tenets of obedience, and it must be mastered by every dog.

Teaching the dog to stay where he is, even if interesting, exciting things are happening elsewhere, is very important to all aspects of dog training. In the world of professional dog training, this is sometimes referred to as distraction training. Distraction training is very important, and it is applicable to teaching the dog not to chase cars. Teaching this important lesson is not something you will be able to do on your own. You will need at least one other person - a volunteer who will slowly drive by and tempt your car with his bright, shiny object.

You will stand with your dog on his leash as the volunteer drives by. Having the volunteer drive your own car can provide an even greater temptation, since dogs are able to distinguish one car from another. If your car is the one that provides his rides, it is likely to be the most tempting object in the world. When your friend drives by, either in your car or his, watch your dogs reaction carefully. If he begins to jump up or move away, repeat the "Off" command and quickly return your dog to the sitting position. If he remains where he is, be sure to give him lavish amounts of praise and perhaps a treat or two. Repeat this process many times over the course of a few days. Once your dog is reliably remaining seated when your friend drives by, start lengthening the distance between yourself and your dog.

A long, retractable leash works great for this process. Slowly lengthen the distance between you and your dog, while still making sure you have control. Even after your dog is trained to not chase cars, however, it is important to not leave him out off the leash unsupervised. Leaving a dog unattended, except for within a properly and securely fenced in yard, is simply asking for trouble. Dogs are unpredictable, and it is always possible that the chase instinct could kick in at exactly the wrong moment.
The best strategy is to confine the dog when you cannot supervise him.

Training your dog with a training collar and leash.
The leash and training collar is the most basic piece of equipment used in training a dog. Using the lead and training collar properly is vital to successful dog training. The training collar is designed to apply a specific amount of pressure each time the leash is tightened. The amount of pressure put on the leash controls the amount of pressure placed on the training collar, and the pressure can be adjusted according to how the dog responds.

How each dog responds to training with the leash and training collar is quite variable. Some dogs barely react the first time they encounter a collar and leash, while others fight this strange contraption with all their might. It is important to recognize how your own dog reacts, and to adapt your training program as needed.

The first part of training with collar and leash, of course, is to purchase a quality, well made training collar that will fit your dog properly. There are many types of training collars and leashes on the market. The most important thing is to choose one that is sturdy and well made. The last thing you want to do is chase your dog down after he has broken his collar.The length of the collar should be approximately two inches longer than the circumference of the dogs neck. It is important to accurately measure the dogs neck using a measuring tape. In order to get an accurate measurement, you must make sure that the tape is not tight around the dogs neck.

Most training collars come in even sizes, so you should round up to the next size if your dogs neck is an odd number. It is important that the chain that attaches to the collar be placed at the top of the dogs neck. That is where the training collar is designed to apply the best pressure. The ability to apply varying degrees of pressure, and to relieve that pressure instantly, is what makes a training collar such an effective tool. It usually takes new users a little while to get used to using the training collar, and some styles of training collar require more finesse than others. If you are unsure which collar to choose, be sure to ask a professional dog trainer, or the management staff at your local pet store, for help.

After you have become familiar with the way the training collar works, it is time to begin using it to train your dog to walk properly on a lead. The well trained dog is one who will walk at his owners side on a loose lead, neither dropping behind nor charging ahead.The well trained dog will also vary his pace to meet that of his handler. Under no circumstances should the handler be forced to change his or her pace to match that of the dog. If the dog does begin to charge ahead, it is important to correct the dog promptly by giving a quick tug on the leash. This will give the dog a good reminder that he needs to change his pace.

It is important to quickly relieve the pressure as soon as the dog responds. The training collar is designed to relieve pressure as soon as the leash is loosened. Most dogs will immediately respond to corrections by a good, properly used training collar. If the dog does not respond as directed, it may be necessary to apply greater pressure. This can be especially true of large dogs or those who have pre-existing behavior or control problems. If you are still unable to get a response from your dog, it is possible that you are using a training collar that is not large enough for your dog. If you think this may be the case, be sure to ask for expert advice before proceeding.

Using rewards and positive reinforcement to train your dog will be discussed next.

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Buying and taking advantage of a digital Dog Training Collar

If you currently own your dog that seems a little tough to train then you definitely may be thinking of buying a digital dog training collar. As the concept of utilizing an electronic collar might be appealing you should realize that it is only permanently of coaching your pet. Its not the be all and end all dog training, but used properly it may deliver excellent results when other training techniques just dont appear to operate.

When put forth buy a digital dog training collar remember that you will discover a number of different types which have variations in the way they work. The kind many people are acquainted with may be the electronic shock collar, which emits a minimal voltage charge that has got the dog attention. There are two other kinds of electric dog collars, one which functions by emitting a higher pitched sound the dog finds extremely annoying and also the other options are a citronella collar that actually works by squirting citronella while watching dogs nose. Dogs dont particularly such as the give an impression of citronella. Whichever version you select all of them work through getting your dogs attention and annoying it within an unpleasant way. Dogs, similar to humans, is going to do whatever is essential to prevent these annoyances and sometimes it means obeying their owner.

Using a digital dog training collar is quite straightforward, but dont forget, it is simply something that will help you attain the results you would like together with your dog. The collar wont train your pet for you personally; its a tool that you employ to reprimand your pet when it doesnt obey your commands. For instance when dog training to sit down provide the command "sit", push gently but firmly on the back making your pet assume the sitting position. You have to do this many times therefore the dog understands what youre asking it to complete. Only after demonstrating towards the dog many times what hes related to a particular command would you try to provide the command with no human intervention, ie pushing his but down. Your dog that catches on fast and obeys ought to be praised and rewarded having a treat. When the dog will not obey it is now time to make use of the electronic collar. After having your dogs attention using the collar begin again giving the command and pushing his hind end into the sitting position and repeat the entire process over.

One from the popular ways to use a digital dog training collar may be the invisible fence. By managing a thin wire round the beyond your yard your dog that sparks a beeping alarm once your dog approaches the home boundaries your dog learns to remain in your property and never wander off. When the dog ignores the beeping and is constantly on the approach the boundary the collar can give a minimal grade shock that gets his attention. Soon your dog learns to identify the beeping and what ignoring the warning means. It ought to be mentioned that although this process works together with nearly all dogs in case your dog is overly aggressive no quantity of beeping, citronella, or electrical shock could keep him from running with an invisible fence boundary.

Using a digital dog training collar is a great option to training a tough to coach dog so long as its employed for its intended purpose. This kind of dog collar ought to be used like a training tool that can help modify a dogs behavior. It will do not be used in an effort to punish or perhaps in in whatever way inflict needless pain on the dog. Used correctly then you is only going to want to use it sparingly and in a short time your pet will become familiar with to obey your commands without them.

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First few days with your puppy

There are a couple of principles that we use when teaching a puppy anything. Here they are:-

1. We teach everything by conditioning a puppy to act in a certain way. We show him to do something and then reward him when he does it.


2. We use a puppys name before every command except "stay!" and "toilet". It makes him excited and alert and ready to jump into action to do whatever it is that we want him to do!


3. We repeat a game several times to form a pattern for the puppy to learn from.


4. We reward the puppy the second he does the right thing.


5. We use the same command for the same exercise every time. We also try to use the same tone of voice and body gestures that go with that command.


6. We NEVER punish a puppy when teaching him something. The puppy only gets a reward when it does the right thing and we make sure that it does the right thing!


7. We use a high-pitched voice when talking to a puppy (rather like humans use cootshy-coo language on their babies!). This tone excites them so that theyre keener to work. This goes for adult dogs too!! Barking out commands to them army-fashion has the opposite effect.

Next time we will be looking at toilet training for the new member of the family. Come with me as we watch our puppy grow and develop to protect and give us unconditional love.

Bye for now: Maqhawe the Mamba

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Taking your dog training off leash

Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush that important step. Dogs should only be allowed off their leash after they have become masters of all the basic obedience commands, such as walking at your heel, sitting and staying on command.

Another skill that must be completely mastered before the dog can be taken off the leash is the come when called command. Even if the dog can heel, sit and stay perfectly, if he cannot be relied upon to come when called, he is not ready to be taken off the leash.

Taking any dog off the leash, especially in a busy, crowded area, or one with a lot of traffic, is a big step and not one to be taken lightly. It is vital to adequately test your dog in a safe environment before taking him off his leash. After all, the leash is the main instrument of control. You must be absolutely certain you can rely on your voice commands for control before removing the leash.

After the dog has been trained to understand the sit, stay and come when called commands, it is important to challenge the dog with various distractions. It is a good idea to start by introducing other people, other animals, or both, while the dog is in a safe environment like a fenced in yard. Have a friend or neighbor stand just outside the fence while you hold your dog on the leash. As the friend or family member walks around the outside of the fence, watch your dogs reactions closely. If he starts to pull at the leash, quickly tug him back. Repeat this exercise until the dog will reliably remain at your side. After this, you can try dropping the leash, and eventually removing the leash and repeating the distraction.

It is important to vary the distractions, such as introducing other animals, other people, traffic, rolling balls, etc.
After your dog is able to remain still in the face of distraction, start introducing the come when called lessons with distractions in place. Try inviting some of the neighbors, and their dogs, over to play. As the dogs are playing in the fenced in yard, try calling your dog. When the dog comes to you, immediately give him lots of praise, and perhaps a food reward. After the dog has been rewarded, immediately allow him to go back to playing. Repeat this several times throughout the day, making sure each time to reward the dog and immediately allow him to go back to his fun.

After the dog has seemingly mastered coming when called in his own yard, try finding a local dog park or similar area where you can practice with your dog. It is important to make the area small, or to choose a fenced in area, in case you lose control of the dog. If you cannot find a fenced in area, choose an area well away from people and cars. Practice with your dog by allowing him to play with other dogs, or just to sniff around, then calling your dog. When he comes to you, immediately reward and praise him, then let him resume his previous activities.

Doing this will teach the dog that coming to you is the best option and the one most likely to bring both rewards and continued good times. Only after the dog has consistently demonstrated the ability to come when called, even when there are many distractions around, is it safe to allow him time off leash.

Off leash time should never be unsupervised time. It is important, both for your well being and your dogs, that you know where he is and what he is doing at all times. It is easy for a dog to get into trouble quickly, so you should always keep an eye on him, whether he is chasing squirrels in the park, playing with other dogs, or just chasing a ball with the neighbors kids.

Training the shy or fearful puppy or dog.
With dogs as with people, some dogs and puppies are naturally more bold and daring than others. When you watch a group of puppies play, it will quickly become apparent which ones are bold and which ones are shy. Some of the puppies will hang back at the edge of the pack, perhaps fearful of angering the stronger dogs, while others will jump right into the fray and start jostling for control.

Working with a shy puppy or dog, or one that is fearful, presents its own special challenges. Of course bold, forceful dogs present challenges of their own, especially with control and leadership issues. Every type of puppy or dog has its own unique personality, and its own unique training challenges as a result.One important reason to build confidence in a fearful dog is to prevent biting. High fear dogs often become biters to deal with their fear of new situations, and this type of fear response can be dangerous for you and your dog.

It is important to teach the puppy or dog that new situations and new people are nothing to fear, and that they are not out to hurt him. Signs of fear in both puppies and dogs include being afraid of strangers, being leery of new situations, and avoiding certain people or objects. A fearful puppy or dog may also snap or bite, especially when cornered. If you recognize signs of fear in your dog or puppy, it is important to act quickly.

Fear responses can quickly become ingrained in a dog, and once those fear memories are planted they can be difficult to erase. Properly socializing a young puppy is essential to making sure your dog is not fearful, and will not become a fear biter. Many puppies are raised as only dogs, but even these puppies should be given the opportunity to play with other puppies, and with well socialized older dogs and friendly cats as well.

The more novel situations the puppy encounters when he is young, the better he will be able to adapt to new situations as an adult dog.

Adapting to new and changing situations is a vital life skill that every puppy must learn. As you know, the world is constantly changing and adapting, and it is vital that both you and your four legged companion learn to take these changes in stride.
It is important for owners to not inadvertently reinforce or reward shy or fearful behaviors. For instance, when a puppy or dog shows fear, by whining, crying or hiding, it is only natural for the owner to go over and reassure the dog. This type of reassurance, however, can be misinterpreted by the animal as a sign of approval from the pack leader.

When the dog or puppy displays fearful or shy behavior, the best strategy is simply to ignore him. The dog must be able to learn on his own that there is nothing to fear. If left alone, a dog will often start to explore the fearful object on his own, thereby learning that the initial fear reaction was mistaken. The owner must allow the dog to explore things on his own, and not try to coddle or over protect him.

Another reason for fear reactions, particularly in older dogs, is past abuse or lack of proper socialization as puppies. The window for good puppy socialization is relatively short, and once this window has closed it can be difficult to teach a dog how to socialize with dogs and other animals. Likewise, a dog that has been abused probably has all sorts of negative associations, and it is up to a patient owner to work with the dog to replace those fear reactions with more appropriate responses.

When working with an older fearful dog, it is important not to try to rush the socialization and fear abatement process. It is best to simply allow the dog to explore things on his own, even if it means he spends a lot of time hiding from the perceived monster. Trying to force the dog to confront the things he fears will do more harm than good. It is also important to address already ingrained fear based behaviors, such as biting, snapping and growling, whether they result from past abuse, a lack of socialization or a combination of factors. If the dog is frightened and reacts defensively to strangers, it is important to introduce him slowly. It is important to correct these potentially dangerous behaviors, however, and teach the dog that fear is no excuse for growling, snapping or biting.

The best way to do this is to immediately reprimand and correct the dog when he bites, snaps or growls at anyone. The dog should be generously rewarded the minute it stops displaying aggressive behavior. If you do find yourself having to reprimand your dog for displaying aggressive behaviors, it probably means you have tried to move him along too quickly. It is important to avoid threatening situations as much as possible until the dog has built up the confidence it takes to deal with those situations. If you think you have moved too fast, take a few steps back and let the dog regain his confidence.

Next: Training your dog not to fear loud noises.

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