Archive for January, 2010
What is healing? Heeling is not the same as going for a walk. Heeling is an obedience exercise in which the dog stays close beside you, paying attention only to you and where you are going. As your puppy grows up, heeling will become the safe way for you to walk your dog through crowds and across streets, ignoring all normal or unusual distractions. It is the easiest lesson to begin with because you’ll be taking your new puppy outside on leash to eliminate and you can practice three times on each trip – on your way out, after he relieves himself, and coming back inside.
This will not be the heeling exercise as done in obedience class, but more of a lesson in “pre-heeling” because you can begin off-lead anywhere that’s safe, indoors or out. And instead of “Heel,” use the friendlier “Let’s go!”
Begin by getting the pup’s attention as…
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Begging food from the dinner table is one of the easiest things to teach a dog, and also one of the hardest habits to break. Your pet’s training to beg begins when he is a young, adorable puppy. It does not take too many repetitions before he learns that he gets fed from the table by begging. Then he sits by your chair while you are eating and stares at you. Occasionally he’ll get up on his hind legs and paw you, or he’ll nudge your arm and remind you that he is waiting. And he drools, that’s the worst part. He looks as though you never feed him.
If you don’t have this problem, prevention is quite simple. Don’t start giving your dog food from the table. If you must give your dog table scraps, give them in moderation and in his own dish after you have finished eating or,…
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Most animals that are born in a nest have an instinctive desire to move away from the nest to relieve themselves. They will do so without being taught as soon as they are able. Dogs are no exception, and at the age of about three weeks, they will begin to leave the sleeping area to urinate. We just have to teach them that houses are our nests, and that they have to move outside when they want to relieve themselves. Take your puppy outside to the same spot in your yard or garden at the following times:
1. Shortly after each feeding, playing, exercise, and any excitement.
2. Immediately upon waking
3. First thing in the morning
4. Last thing at night
5. Once every hour
It is important to stay outside with him. Be patient and wait. As soon as he begins, say a chosen phrase to him such as “Be clean!”.When he has finished,praise…
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A nervous dog gets hyper-friendly or hyper-frightened when he’s touched in training. The friendliness is masking an inner panic that is only revealed when the dog has the chance to get away or is forced to do something he views as unnatural.
This kind of dog should be worked when he is hungry. Feed him lightly in the morning of the day before and then train him on the following afternoon. He can eat his ration in the training routine from your hand. Walk him on the lawn, then pause and kneel next to him and offer him some food.
Get him to make contact on your level and then touch him as he eats. If he seems to be relaxing, start to move from resting place where the handling and touching occurs. The running will burn up some of the dog’s nervousness and lessen his negative feelings about the…
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If you are thinking of buying or adopting an American Akita, one of the main things that you have to take note of is if you will be able to train this breed of dog.
Training this dog is an utmost concern because the innate discipline that you see in housebroken American Akitas is a behavior derived from months of strict training. Most people who are interested in buying American Akitas are attracted to the breed because this particular type of dog seems to have an air of elegance and royalty. While it is true that American Akitas are deeply loyal to their masters and the family where they consider to belong to, they are also at the same time, independent and leaders in their own mind set so someone with a weak training methodology may end up not training the dog at all.
The first and foremost tip in training…
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Housebreaking a puppy in an apartment with no yard is more difficult, but it is not impossible. An area that your puppy can use as a toilet area will need to be found close to the apartment. Since this may be a considerable distance for your puppy to walk, it becomes even more important that you take him out every hour. You will also need to be extra watchful to your puppy’s signs of wanting to relieve himself well in advance.
Different puppies learn at different rates. Some pick up what is required almost instantly, others may take much longer. Some take as long as six months or more. A puppy that came from a dirty or cramped kennel is likely to take longer than one that had a better start.
The biggest influence on how quickly a puppy becomes housebroken is how much time and effort you put in. More…
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