One of the basic tenants of dog training is that the dog needs to pay attention to you before you can actually do any formal training. In my day to day work, it’s actually quite rare to find a dog that knows how to pay attention at a high level. This is a skill most trainers have to work on quite a bit before we can really start moving toward the goals most clients have for their dog.
What does “paying attention” actually mean in the dog world? Well, to keep it simple let’s just say that if your dog is looking at you it’s paying attention. Yes, that an over simplification and I admit it, but for the average client if we can teach the dog to look at them we’re well on our path to success.
So, when you think about your dog, does it watch and change directions with you when you alter your path with the pup on leash? Does it turn around and look at you when it gets a certain distance away when off leash, waiting for you to give it a direction? Does it swing by and check in on a regular basis when you are running around out in the woods? Most dogs don’t.
This attention issue is one of the reasons that most trainers start work with a leash in hand and start working on a skill called “loose leash walking”. It’s not complicated but it does take most dogs a while to actually get the hang of watching where the owner is in space when on the leash.
Now getting to this holy land of attention can be done in lots and lots of different ways. This is where real dog training differs significantly from Google dog training in that it’s impossible to figure out what technique will work best with any dog until we meet it and actually have the leash in hand. Those trainers that say you can solve every lack of attention issue with the same technique are nuts. But I will venture that every trainer would agree that to accomplish any meaningful training work with a dog, it will have to pay attention.
Up to this point I’ve talked a lot about attention but not how to improve it with your dog. Well, there is one small, simple technique that works with the vast majority of dogs from puppies to grown dogs. When you get home from work, throw a number of treats into your pocket and then start going about your normal activities. When you notice the dog watching you or moving around the house with you in a purposeful manner give it piece of kibble. Doing this very very simple exercise over and over will help train ‘attentiveness’ and will only improve how the dog performs in more distracting situations.
The little technique above absolutely will not solve all issues but it is a very very good start and is something any trainer worth their leash would ask you to do in the beginning of formal training.
Hope this helps but if you get the chance do whatever you can to help your pup learn attentiveness and all the training you do going forward will move much more smoothly.
People call me a pragmatic dog trainer. I’m flattered actually, but in some circles it’s meant as a slur. That’s ok, because what it really comes down to with me is helping people and their dogs have a better quality of life. Notice there that I said “people AND their dogs” not just the dogs and not just the people, that is a very important distinction about how we at Fidelio approach things.
Sometimes in my profession I run across situations that just amaze and confound me. This recent story is one of those.
I’ve got a client, a new client that called me a few weeks ago desperate because she was unable to walk her dog. She’d been working with another trainer for a number of sessions, and after 5, yep that’s right five, lessons she was still unable to walk her dog across the street without it yanking her injured shoulder to the point that it hurt. That’s a very bad situation with a high energy dog. This dog needed walking and it needed walking a LOT.
Well when I met with the client we talked for a few minutes about her health issues and the history of the dog, then it was time to go to work. Straight away when we clipped the leash onto the dog and it charged out the door and yanked hard on her owner. From what the owner told me, this was how every walk had been since she adopted the dog, and it’s also how the walks were with the previous trainer. Not a pretty site for the dog or the owner.
Now, I’m all for other trainers having a philosophy about dog training. That’s fine, but here is where the ‘pragmatic’ part of what I do comes into play. If that philosophy isn’t helping the dog, the owner, or the situation, it might be the wrong philosophy and it probably is time to change it. Unfortunately some trainers don’t or can’t look at things that way.
Once I touched this dog’s leash it took me exactly 20 seconds to get the dog walking properly without pulling, lunging, forging, or cutting in front of me. Within less than a minute the dog was managing a pretty decent heel position. I was flabbergasted about how another trainer had taken 5 HOURS thus far and hundreds and hundreds of dollars of lessons and not been able to get the dog to walk across the street peacefully with the owner? I didn’t really have to do anything special with this dog and certainly nothing that a first year trainer wouldn’t be able to do in their sleep. Also, I didn’t even have to use any special equipment or training collars with the dog to get it to perform.
By the end of the session the owner was walking the dog around the park in front of her house in a heel position passing other dogs with no issues and managing to move past the pesky squirrels that always elicited a strong lunge on the leash before. Now that, is improving someone’s quality of life and I’ll take my pragmatic approach any day over wasting hours and hours of time and hundreds of dollars on a failed philosophy of training.
Now, I don’t put myself or my company forward as some Super Trainer organization or anything like that. What I do believe is that we at Fidelio have the ability, skill, and training to look at the whole situation and do what is best for the dog AND the owner and get them to a better place in their lives in a pragmatic way.
The way I do dog training is a driving intensive endeavor. For the past few years I’ve driven around in a large Volvo wagon that I needed for hauling client dogs here and there but that part of the business has not been that important of late so it was time for a change.
On the average day I’ll drive about 100 miles between client meetings. Yep, I’m busy, and that’s a lot of drive time. To try to mitigate how much pollution I create doing my thing it was time to change vehicles. The new official vehicle of Fidelio Dog Works is not a not very sexy but super efficient Prius. We are saving many gallons of gas a day with this thing and it just makes us feel better about out not adding as many degrees of heat to the summer here in Austin. Just think of it as our way of keeping the dog’s feet just a bit cooler on the pavement during August.
Wow! I ran across this on youtube today and sat there for the whole time just completely enthralled. Anyone that works with “field” dogs will find this great fun to watch. Particularly if you like the “English” breeds of cockers, setters, and springers. Worth the 9 minutes or so to take a look.
After understanding the basics of dog agility training, it’s time to begin building your personal obstacle course. Yes, you heard that right! It is necessary for dog agility training to have an obstacle course where you’ll be able to test your abilities and come up with commands which will enable you to win in every dog agility competition. You will discover equipments accessible at Amazon.com, but we’ll enable you to out using the basics very first.
Dog agility training equipments are readily available for dog agility enthusiasts who would like to try this sport with their dog. It takes lots of time and patience to carry on using the routine, nevertheless, both the dog and the handler’s efforts will pay off. We suggest some good equipments and materials proper here:
Books. Every single newbie inside the field of dog agility training wants to be equipped with appropriate details and information on training their dogs in agility. We recommend books like The Beginner’s Guide to Dog Agility by Laurie Leach and Questions and Answers on Dog Agility Training: Solutions to Typical Challenges for Improved Agility Performance by Mary Ann Nester. Laurie assists beginners to gear up their frisky buddies and find out agility although Mary Ann answers sensible questions that a beginner should know. Have issues on dealing with your dog’s behavior? Is he afraid of going by way of holes? Read on and find out from these books on dog agility training.
Obstacles. Just about every hobby begins with a starter kit; dog agility training has 1, too. Kyjen Dog-Agility Starter Kit would offer the first time fun for your dog if you’re just starting out on dog agility training. The kit comes total using the supplies necessary to perform the following agility tests: weave poles, high jump, open tunnel, and pause box. It’s recommended to begin training your dog within a comfy environment to help him get utilized to the feel of dog agility competitions. If you are deciding to grab one, be warned that this just isn’t for professional use.
When you think you’re dog is performing effectively with your training, perhaps it’s time to introduce new obstacles. Mini Travel Teeter or Dog Agility See-saw is a durable and portable see-saw for your obstacle wants. It’s sturdy, plastic-made; excellent for small-medium sized dogs. AKC’s Dog Agility Training Tunnel with Collapsed Chute will assist your dog’s agility training put to a test. It is made of sturdy material, and could be simply cleaned and stored for later use. When you believe your dog is tough, attempt the 18 Ft. Dog Agility Training Tunnel! It’s strong to withstand weight and it keeps itself in shape with perfectly round steel rings; challenge your dog by way of this tunnel, remember to praise it soon after wards!
Taking things to the next level, you might desire to test your dog’s concentration and agility by PetSafe Agility Bar Jump. It’s simple to assemble, plus, it comes with a dog agility training manual! This will be the ideal technique to train your pet for dog agility competition and dog jumping. Watch your dog soar mid-air right after he completes every single jump; be ready for that well-deserved treat!
In each dog agility training or competitions, it is tough to miss out the coordination of the dog and his handler when weaving through poles; Clip-On Weave Wire Guides are straightforward to install, along with the weave set has Lighter ‘fade-out’ color suggested by trainers for dog agility. If you are prepared to take your dog to some action, this set fits all common weave pole sets. Be sure to check your stopwatch and time your dog’s every attempt. Ensure that you trained him nicely!
Dog agility training is enjoyable, while a bit pricey if you’re going to buy all the equipments needed. You can do away with improvised obstacle courses, but it won’t hurt to let your dog have the feel on what’s in store for dog competitions. Strengthen bonds along with your finest pal throughout dog agility training; it’ll assist you to and your dog to face just about every challenge ahead of you.
Are you thinking of enrolling your dog to a dog agility training class? Excellent!
Dog agility training is actually a best way to bond together with your dog, not merely that, it has cool rewards! It is a fantastic opportunity for your dog to be a lot more physically fit, show off his dog agility capability, control built-up energy, and boost up his confidence. This exceptional training regimen will likely be the commence of an excellent team; on the other hand, what do you know about dog agility training?
Brief history initial; dog agility competitions were very first introduced in United Kingdom at Crufts 1978, the rest was history inside the making for agility dogs. It’s a somewhat new type of dog competition, where the animal’s fitness and the handler’s capability to coach and direct the dog via distinct obstacles are tested.
Want to sign up for dog agility competitions? Your dog doesn’t have to be a pure-bred dog to participate, however it should be registered with the Kennel Club on either the Breed Register or the Activity Register. It is also advised that your finest friend undergoes dog agility training to harness his innate abilities in agility.
Dog agility is actually a competitive sport; it tests a person’s abilities in training and handling of dogs over an obstacle course under time pressure. Participants in this competition race against the clock as they direct their dogs to come via tunnels, scale ramps, jump hurdles, pass through a see-saw and weave by way of a line of poles in an obstacle course. Believe that’s uncomplicated? The course is designed to challenge a handler’s competitive and training abilities. The scoring program is based on faults comparable to equestrian show jumping; dog agility has become a thrilling spectator event.
Attend dog agility training and competitions to learn the ropes. This can enable you to learn the basics, meet other dog agility enthusiasts, and gain understanding on how the competition works. You’ll notice some of the following once you attend a dog agility competition:
The regular scoring of a dog agility competition, any faults or blemishes are determined a penalty. The winner is the dog using the shortest time using the least quantity of penalties. If a tie has been determined, the competitor using the fastest time will be the winner.
Obedience, accurate timing and speed are of the essence; the points-based and time scoring in dog agility competitions determines the winner according to other classes. Specific obstacles are assigned values by the panel of judges with every single performance under time constraints. If your dog finishes the obstacle course without having faults, he might be given extra performance points in the dog agility competition.
Dog agility training is vital, nobody wins without some practice. Find out ways to manage your dog, fix up their obedience and pump up their stamina and speed. Now that you are comfortable using the basics, you can train your dog on dog agility training classes or it is possible to even build an obstacle course in your own residence. Either way, you and your dog will have a blast preparing for and winning dog agility training competitions.
Changing your dog’s meal to a hypoallergenic dog food must be planned incredibly properly. It’s no excellent to shift to a hypoallergenic dog food without having the slightest concept on your dog’s condition. Knowing the best dog food diet plan for your friend can support a lot. Here are some guidelines on the way to change your dog’s diet plan to hypoallergenic dog food:
Let’s take it slow, so slow. Like humans, it is challenging to wean off from something that we’re employed to. Our dogs, although they develop allergies from the food you give them, will still continue to eat that food because it is used to consuming it. Slowly alter your dog’s food servings per day, introduce the hypoallergenic dog food gradually. If your friend sniffs at it but refuses to eat it, attempt wetting the kibbles or mix it with canned dog food. Some dogs will react to this change in diet by manifestations of tummy upsets, but don’t worry; it is completely normal for dogs. They also require adjusting their digestive system to a brand new kind of food.
Canine a la carte. Consult your vet for the proper form of hypoallergenic dog food to feed your very best friend. Some veterinarians prefer to switch your dog’s diet plan to a superb, dry, total dog food. Other people would prefer that you simply serve canned dog foods. There are actually specific ingredients in most commercial dog foods which are lessened or completely removed in hypoallergenic dog foods. Some of these significant allergens are processed protein foods, food coloring, and fillers, along with other ingredients that are harmful for your dog. It is very best to establish what diet plan would be suitable for your furry friend.
Cost-efficiency. Other dog owners can’t afford to purchase hypoallergenic dog foods for the reason that of its price. Luckily, you’ll be able to still feed your dog with allergen-free dog food with homemade recipes. Collaborate along with your vet to come up having a menu that would suit your dog’s health. Your vet may possibly introduce new sources of nutrients for your dog, so anticipate undergoing the weaning method later on. Soon after setting up the menu, be sure to ask your vet what can cause your dog to be allergic; bear in mind that once you began to switch to a hypoallergenic dog food diet, ensure to strictly follow the regime to prevent complications later on. Strict adherence is really a ought to.
No pain, no gain. As mentioned earlier, once you shift your dog’s appetite to a hypoallergenic diet plan, it truly is important to follow the diet strategy down to the letter; you don’t want your most effective friend to suffer from that painful itching, do you? It may possibly take about 7-10 days just before your dog gets employed to it. Always take note of the allergens that may exacerbate the symptoms your dog is having. You’ll know you’re inside the proper track when your dog’s coat is acquiring shinier and healthier. Its behavior and attitude towards you’d significantly strengthen, too!
Certainly, it’s not enough to put your dog into a hypoallergenic dog food diet; you would also have to look at the wants of your fuzzy pet. Correct dog grooming and some tender loving care can assist your dog cope up with these stressful scenarios. Your dog may not know something about the cause of its allergy, or why you changed his food, or even the frequent visits to the vet but, it can comprehend the concern and adore you’re putting in with his dietary routine. Add a cup of patience and sprinkle some like; that cute mutt will feel wonderful in no time.
Well, It’s time for my annual post on heat stroke and your dog. This year, instead of all of my anecdotes and whatnot I’m going to post an email I received this morning from a favorite client of mine. Read this and then do what’s right and don’t run your dog in the heat of the day!
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I only send this to you because I thought you might want a sobering story to remind all of your clients about the dangers of heatstroke.
Tuesday night I was with my trail running group in the greenbelt, and near the end of the run came across some guys carrying their great dane out, on a towel.
Heatstroke. I stopped running and helped them (and two cops) carry this dog out. Maybe a miracle happened and the dog survived, but during the 15 minutes I carried one end of the towel the dog went from very quiet to eyes wide open / tongue lodged out of the side of its mouth. As a dog lover, it is mighty hard to watch a young healthy dog die in front of your eyes.
I’m not an expert, but I know the heat is a killer. Dogs can’t sweat – when in doubt keep your dog’s time in the heat as short as possible.
db
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If that won’t make you think twice about dogs and heat I don’t know what will.
Any form of Dog Agility Training is an excellent way for your dog to take part in different sporting events. The dogs are put through some vigorous exercises for being able to find their way around obstacle courses which are generally timed events to see how they do.
The way in which this is completed is most generally by a dog trainer who uses commands and signals to instruct your dog of what to do when he tells them. This takes a great deal of concentration so it’s paramount which you don’t distract your dog by means of his dog training exercise.
You can find numerous amounts of dog breeds which are essentially suited to Dog Agility Training classes, and some of these contain: Collies, Corgies, Poodles, Retrievers, Shepherds, Spaniels and also Terriers but obviously there are actually plenty of other dogs that may also participate in this sort of physical exercise.
Together with the choice of becoming able to put your dog into several competitions, quite a few owners encourage their dogs to take part in these dog training physical exercises for being able to teach their dog’s agility strategies for becoming able to develop their confidence and also for fun.
If your dog finds it quite hard to mix with people today or other dogs then he could indeed obtain a Dog Agility Training class advantageous and this is also a fantastic expertise for studying about the sport and also on the way to train.
It’s required to be able to teach your dog the basics where he will learn the simple commands and taught tips on how to use the relevant equipment also. If your dog is the show off within the park, then he has got it, and you could make essentially the most of his ability with getting him involved with some dog training exercise by taking him to a Dog Agility Training class.
Though some breeds aren’t acceptable for this sort of training due to the fact they don’t have the energy or inclination to participate and these would include Good Danes and Mastiffs. This also applies to breeds like Dachshunds as they don’t have the capability to do the jumps as they uncover these particularly challenging. The overall age of the dog is also critical and must be considered as puppies will need to not participate until they are over 9 months of age.
Your dog’s capability needs to be determined by his overall personality and his actual energy level when deciding regardless of whether to put him in for some kind of training. Bear in mind by putting your dog on one of these courses it’ll help to enhance his coordination, boost his endurance, and improve his overall wellness having a dog training exercise.
This is really a timed event and if your dog comes from a working breed and is also of medium construct then his chances of doing well in one of these classes are greatly increased. While there are numerous types of dogs that will participate in Dog Agility Training classes and these contain: Collies, Sheepdogs, Retrievers, Corgis, and all sorts of mixed dog breeds are also accepted by the majority of clubs except for the AKC.
Had a strange meeting with a client today. Their dog who is now over a year old and who I trained initially has developed a habit that his family thinks is unsettling.
It seems that the pup spends most of the day with the mom of the house, and while she is a great lady and a very dedicated dog trainer she is a bit of a perfectionist. Well, when the dad of the house comes home the pup goes nuts and wants to spend all the time with him. This, as you can imagine with a bit of a perfect mother, was unsettling.
Their question to me was “how do we make the dog like me [the husband] less and like her [the mom] more??” Simple actually. As with many things in life, familiarity breeds contempt. I told them to switch roles for a few days and let the dad do the walking, training, grooming, feeding… and let the mom do the come home and play thing. It should be an interesting experiment.
Now, while nothing in dog training is absolutely certain, I’ll bet a heavy wager that by the end of the week the pup will be following the mom around going “play with me, play with me, play with me” at every opportunity.
This is Dave. Welcome to DogTrainingForYourDog.com! Learn How To Obedience Train Your Dog To Behavior Well. Stop All Its Dog Behavior Problems - No More Barking, Biting, Jumping Or Aggressive Behavior! Pick Up Dog Training Books, Guides and Dog Training Videos Here.
