dog training

Some useful tips on Dog training

2010-02-19T07:48:00.000-08:00

Here Are Some Tips on Dog Training

Dog training doesn't mean you have to take your dog to some expensive dog training school. Dog training can be done by you in your own house and backyard. Dog training isn't difficult if you follow some basic guidelines.

Your dog wants to make you happy. That is how most dogs are, especially puppies. This means that the most important part of dog training is that you have to praise them when they do something right. Dog training is all about rewards and praise. It is not about getting angry at the dog or yelling. Dogs do not learn from negative reinforcement.

Don't go to fast and try to introduce to many things into your dog training to fast. Only do one new command a week, but work on it daily. With dog training the dog isn't going to master it immediately. It takes repetition and patience. Even after they get the command, keep working on it even after you start a new one. Don't let them forget what they have alread learned. Again, don't start a new one until the old one is mastered.

Here are some of the basics of dog training so you can get an idea of where to start your dog training. The first thing most people want to teach in dog training is sit. Start by saying sit in a slightly louder and more authoritative manner than normal while pushing the dog into the sit position. As soon as the dog sits give it a treat and praise. Don't forget, dog training is about praise and rewards. That is how the dog will know it is doing what you want it to do.

That is the basics of what they will teach you at dog training school, but charge you lots of money. Dog training is easiest with a very young puppy who doesn't have any bad habits. When you are doing it with an older dog then the dog training becomes much more difficult, so start early.

Should you do own an overly aggressive k9 that is instead shy, it is essential you begin working with them as quickly as feasible. The final point you want to happen is have your dog harm another dog, a child, or even somebody within your own household.

Right here Are Four Dog education Tips To give A try , Prior to Making The Choice To putting Your Pet down.

1. Education sessions

The first thing you require to do is construct the confidence and security of your k9 by setting up training sessions. Each k9 is likely to have some kind of concern whether it's other individuals on walks, kids working around, or other dogs approaching them. For this cause, you require to create a managed surroundings to ease this tension. You can have a good friend meet up with you whenever you go over a walk and also have the good friend give your dog a treat. Points like this can help them become comfortable.

Two. Socialization

Many periods an aggressive k9 is not utilized to being around other dogs and being a outcome, they'll show aggression. Luckily, you can alter this personality and train them to enjoy the organization of other dogs. Begin out by maintaining your k9 over a leash in an region with several other dogs which are calm and comfy. If your k9 exhibits indicators up anger, maintain the leash tight and give it a yank right here and there. Show them they need to understand to play good.

Three. Prevent aggressive adult dogs

The last point you require to do is place your dog with an aggressive older dog. That is one from the most essential dog training tips to get into consideration. Believe of it as being related to people; you don't wish to surround your self with negative individuals. Instead, you want to surround yourself with confident, positive and successful people. The same holds accurate for dogs as you want to surround them with calm and playful dogs.

4. Muzzle

The last of the dog education tips is to purchase a muzzle to use during socializing and obedience lessons. It is essential you familiarize your dog with it by placing it on just prior to feeding it or before playing in the yard. Then, it won't be a issue placing it on prior to these sessions. While education your dog, you don't want them to assault an additional k9 or individual. The muzzle is a precaution and could be removed as your k9 starts to make progress.

Choosing a Hunting Dog that is Right for You

2009-03-29T04:30:00.000-07:00

Choosing a Hunting Dog that is Right for You

Choosing a puppy and picking a hunting partner is a big decision. Breed and Breeder

Most important... is what breed of dog best suits your hunting needs. Visit local breeders of the types of dogs you are considering.

Breeders don't just want to sell dogs; their reputations rely on putting the right dog with the right person and situation.

Choosing a puppy and picking a hunting partner is a big decision. While a family dog still needs to be carefully selected to fit into your home life, deciding on the right hunting dog requires a bit more forethought.
Breed and Breeder

Most important... is what breed of dog best suits your hunting needs. While some breeds crossover well, others tend to excel in one area.

Books and the Internet are invaluable research tools. This can help you understand how different breeds deal with home life or how much non-hunting exercise they will require.

Choosing a puppy Don’t skimp on this step, in-depth research should help you narrow down your choices.

Visit local breeders of the types of dogs you are considering.

Talk to them about the type of hunting you do, your home situation, and how much time you are willing to devote to training.

Breeders don't just want to sell dogs; their reputations rely on putting the right dog with the right person and situation.

Inform them what your future plans are with the dog. After meeting with breeders, you should have a good idea which dog is right for you.
Observe the Litter

While bloodline doesn't matter in a family pet, it is of the utmost importance when choosing a puppy that will become your hunting dog.

Be sure to see both parents and take a good look at their pedigrees. People who breed show dogs often select those that lack the traits useful in a hunting dog, so avoid litters by dogs bred for show. Though this is not always the case.

After finding parents that look good on paper, ask to tag along to watch the parents train, or better yet, join them on an actual hunt. An experienced breeder won't hesitate to prove their dogs' bloodline, but remember you will be paying for that heritage as well as for the individual puppy.

Choosing a Puppy

Choosing a puppy If your earlier research was thorough, you should know what traits to look for in the breed you have selected.

However, choosing a puppy goes beyond physical characteristics; proper disposition is imperative in a hunting dog.

Do not choose a pup prior to six weeks of age as their temperament can still change in that time.

As most breeders won't allow pups to leave their mother until seven or eight weeks old, this still leaves a fair window for you to select the one that meets your needs before they are sold. Some breeders prefer to wait 10 weeks.

Ask the breeder his opinion which pup might be a good match for your situation. The breeder would have spent quite a bit of time with his puppies, and has figured out the most dominate, friendly, independent, skittish, etc. Every dog has their own unique personality.

You want to look for a pup that is not shy or skittish; the one that wanders over to lick your hand is a good contender.

However, if a pup tries to lay claim to you, they are likely dominant which could be a problem later on, so be sure dominance is something you want in a dog before selecting a puppy that displays the trait.

A big issue for a prospective hunting dog is how the pup will react to noise. Get down low to the ground and make a loud sound. If a puppy runs off and doesn't come back to you, they may not be the best choice for hunting.

You also want your pup to have been physically handled by the breeder, so they are not afraid of human interaction.

If you follow these steps and make sure you pick the right breeder, litter and puppy, you will be well on your way. Remember that choosing a puppy is itself a first step; proper training once you get your new addition home is crucial.

Getting a condo while having a dog

2009-02-28T03:17:00.000-08:00

Getting a condo while having a dog

Many condo owners also own dogs, which can be an issue when it comes to condo rules. Some condos have size and breed restrictions that can interfere with someone's ownership of their dog. It behooves the owner to find out the rules pertaining to their dog and any other pets. For instance, a condo may only allow dogs under 25 or 35 pounds and limit the number to 1 per person. If the condo has rules against dogs, don't buy it and try to sneak your dog in. If the condo board has no policies concerning pets that impact your dog, make sure that you do your part to keep it this way.

Many condo owners also own dogs, which can be an issue when it comes to condo rules. Some condos have size and breed restrictions that can interfere with someone's ownership of their dog. It behooves the owner to find out the rules pertaining to their dog and any other pets. However, it also is a good idea to see what the amenities of the condo are in regards to your dog. You may be surprised at some of the options out there.

Most condos have some kind of pet rules, limiting the size, number and species of your pets. For instance, a condo may only allow dogs under 25 or 35 pounds and limit the number to 1 per person. Others may ban certain breeds of dogs, such as American pit bull terriers and Rottweiler’s.

Carefully read the CC&Rs and ask members of the board about pet policies to determine whether you are allowed to have a dog in the building at all. It seems stupid, but many people don't fully read the CC&Rs before buying. If the condo has rules against dogs, don't buy it and try to sneak your dog in. Chances are that eventually someone will see you take the dog out and report you. This results in fines, lawsuits, etc.

Request the minutes of the last 3 meetings from the board. If there are a lot of complaints about people's pets, you may want to look at a different building. These mean one of two things: either people in the building don't take care of their dogs properly or there are a lot of dog haters in the building. Sometimes it's a little of both; an irresponsible owner can create a dog hating neighbor in record time. You may be an exemplary owner, but if you move in to this kind of neighborhood, you might be "inheriting" the canine issues.

If the condo board has no policies concerning pets that impact your dog, make sure that you do your part to keep it this way. This means obedience training, controlling your dog and picking up after it. Yes, you own your condo, but you have a responsibility to both your dog and the people you share the building with to make your dog's presence as positive a thing as possible. This will not only minimize conflict with your neighbors and the condo board; it will also minimize the likelihood that your condo will vote to ban or restrict dogs in the future.

Why doesn’t my dog like to be handled?

2009-02-10T19:33:00.000-08:00

Why doesn’t my dog like to be handled?

All dogs have different handling and training thresholds. As far as washing and brushing goes for dogs, the dog-grooming business is a flourishing industry: for just a small amount and fee, you can get your dog washed, groomed, clipped, brushed, and whatever else you may require by experienced professionals (again, make sure you tell them about your dog’s reaction to the experience first!)

All dogs have different handling thresholds. Some dogs like lots of cuddles, and are perfectly content to be hugged, kissed, and have arms slung over their shoulders (this is the ultimate “I’m the boss” gesture to a dog, which is why a lot of them won’t tolerate it.)

Others – usually the ones not accustomed to a great deal of physical contact from a very young age – aren’t comfortable with too much full-body contact and will get nervy and agitated if someone persist in trying to hug them.

Another common cause of handling-induced aggression is a bad grooming experience: nail-clipping and bathing are the two common culprits. When you clip a dog’s nails, it’s very easy to “quick” him – that is, cut the blood vessel that runs inside the nail. This is extremely painful to a dog, and is a sure-fire way to cause a long-lasting aversion to those clippers.

Being washed is something that a great many dogs have difficulty dealing with – a lot of owners, when confronted with a wild-eyed, half-washed, upset dog, feel that in order to complete the wash they have to forcibly restrain him.

This only adds to the dog’s sense of panic, and reinforces his impression of a wash as something to be avoided at all costs – if necessary, to defend himself from it with a display of teeth and hackles.

Can I “retrain” him to enjoy being handled and groomed?

In a word: yes. It’s a lot easier if you start from a young age – handle your puppy a lot, get him used to being touched and rubbed all over. Young dogs generally enjoy being handled – it’s only older ones who haven’t had a lot of physical contact throughout their lives that sometimes find physical affection difficult to accept.

Practice picking up his paws and touching them with the clipper; practice taking him into the bath (or outside, under the faucet – whatever works for you, but warm water is much more pleasant for a dog than a freezing spray of ice-water!), and augment the process throughout with lots of praise and the occasional small treat.

For an older dog that may already have had several unpleasant handling/grooming experiences, things are a little more difficult. You need to undo the damage already caused by those bad experiences, which you can do by taking things very slowly – with an emphasis on keeping your dog calm.

The instant he starts to show signs of stress stop immediately and let him relax. Try to make the whole thing into a game: give him lots of praise, pats, and treats. Take things slowly. Don’t push it too far: if you get nervous, stop. Dogs show aggression for a reason: they’re warning you to back off, or else! If your dog just can’t seem to accept being groomed, no matter how much practice you put in, it’s best to hand the job over to the professionals.

Your vet will clip his nails for you (make sure you tell him first that he gets aggressive when the clippers come out, so your vet can take the necessary precautions!). As far as washing and brushing goes, the dog-grooming business is a flourishing industry: for a small fee, you can get your dog washed, clipped, brushed, and whatever else you require by experienced professionals (again, make sure you tell them about your dog’s reaction to the experience first!)

Assessing Your Puppy for Dog Agility Training Potential

2009-01-31T03:36:00.000-08:00

Assessing Your Puppy for Dog Agility Training Potential

Not all owners of dogs found that some dog breeds that are appropriate and suitable for enhanced training for dog agility sports. Sometimes it comes to breed of the dog, but sometimes the puppy is free to be assessed the need for agility potential. Each puppy will have a different behavior inside the arena.

If you are considering buying a puppy on the basis of their ability to be trained in agility, and then you want to do more than focus on a puppy aside from testing, it often takes several tests to determine whether a puppy is to succeed in agility training.

Other factors to consider is how well the puppy jumps, skips, because it is an important factor in the agility training.

Not all dog owners will find that the particular breed they’re raising is suitable for dog agility training. Sometimes it’s the breed, but other times it’s the puppy itself that must be assessed for agility potential. Each puppy will have a different temperament within the litter. If you’re considering purchasing a puppy based on its ability to train for agility, then you’ll want to do more than focus on one puppy test. It often takes multiple tests to determine if a puppy has it in him to succeed with agility training.

Not only can a one-time test mislead you into believing a puppy does not have what it takes to train successfully, but sometimes a puppy will display a characteristic one day that makes you feel he would adapt well to training, and yet it never surfaces again. Testing for a puppy’s agility training potential has to be carried out by a trained professional who is experienced in this field.

A professional will understand how to truly assess an entire litter equally. That means giving each one the same chance to perform based on alertness, exact testing areas, hunger, and more. You can’t take one puppy who has just woken up from a nap and been fed test against a sleepy puppy who’s hungry because the attention of each dogs will be vastly different. Its best if the person giving you an assessment of your puppy’s potential for agility training is the same one raising the dogs on a daily basis.

This gives the breeder an edge in seeing how the puppies’ personalities develop. If you are the one raising a litter and want to pick out a puppy for agility training, watch their routines for signs of their potential. If there always one puppy who’s first in line for everything – the food or water bowl, the door to go outside, or the chance to get some attention from its handler. You’ll want to choose a puppy that submits to your commands easily and doesn’t fight back or make it difficult during grooming sessions. These are the best puppy tests to determine if your little dog has it in him to continue agility training.

Other factors you’ll want to consider are how well the puppy jumps, since jumping is a key factor in agility training. You can look to the puppy’s parents for signs of whether this dog will handle jumping easily. Overall observation during a period of time longer than one session is required to determine is a puppy is suitable for agility training.

Pet Reptiles Now More Popular Than Dogs

2009-01-29T01:29:00.000-08:00

Pet Reptiles Now More Popular Than Dogs

Reptiles like bearded dragons, snakes, and geckos are now such popular pets that they outnumber dogs, new research has discovered. This compares to an estimated dog population of 6.5 million.

Chairman of the Federation, Chris Newman said: "There are now, without question, more pet reptiles than pet dogs in the UK.

The popularity of Reptiles as mainstream pets has grown amazingly. Reptiles fit into a busy life as they are less time-consuming, and can also be easier to keep, than other traditional pet species.

The five most popular species are {leopard geckos, bearded dragons, corn snakes, royal pythons (ball pythons), and Hermann's tortoises| bearded dragons, corn snakes| leopard geckos| royal pythons (ball pythons), and Hermann's tortoises.

Reptiles like bearded dragons, snakes, and geckos are now such popular pets that they outnumber dogs, new research has discovered.

Who would have thought that could ever be the case in a country, where we have always been known as a nation of dog lovers. Seems like the dog has gone the way of fish and chips, which itself has been replaced by curry as our most popular dish.

A report by the British Federation of Herpetologists (BFH) indicates that there are now as many as 8 million reptiles and amphibians being kept as pets in the UK. This compares to an estimated dog population of 6.5 million.

Chairman of the Federation, Chris Newman said: "There are now, without question, more pet reptiles than pet dogs in the UK. You only have to look at the way the market has grown. I have no doubt that there are now between seven and eight million reptiles living as pets in the UK”.

The popularity of Reptiles as mainstream pets has grown amazingly. There has been an explosion in numbers. They have moved from being niche to being mainstream.

Reptiles fit into a busy life as they are less time-consuming, and can also be easier to keep, than other traditional pet species.

Numbers is so rapid that within years they will surpass the country's nine million cats to become Britain's pet of choice.

Reptiles are fairly inexpensive to set up and look after. Most are kept in heated tanks for at least part of the day. They require less attention than other caged animals, as their waste is dry and solid.

The calculation of reptile numbers has been made from the volume of food suppliers to the market, based on things like insects and mice. Since 2004 when the reptile populations was recorded as 5m, cricket sales has doubled from 10 to 20m a week, Locusts had more than quadrupled to around a million a week.

The five most popular species are {leopard geckos, bearded dragons, corn snakes, royal pythons (ball pythons), and Hermann's tortoises| bearded dragons, corn snakes| leopard geckos| royal pythons (ball pythons), and Hermann's tortoises.

Other popular species are the colored snake, veiled chameleon and crested gecko. This is now the fifth most commonly bred lizard in captivity.
The biggest snakes being kept as pets are thought to be Burmese pythons, which can grow up to 20ft in length, with the biggest lizards being water monitors, which can reach sizes of up to 7ft.

One of the most common reptiles is the bearded dragon, they are very sociable and are happy to sit on your lap watching TV, then run off around the room for a play, many report that they fit in well with their existing more tradition pets also. Although it is an odd sight to see a dog, a cat a tortoise and a lizard all curled up together in front of the fire!

Dog aggression cures

2009-01-21T19:22:00.000-08:00

Dog aggression cures

What’s resource guarding? Why do dogs have them?

Resource guarding is pretty common among dogs and almost all k9 breeds out there.

Let me take a moment to explain this concept to you: dogs are packed animals from the wild and its implanted ion their instinct. To your dog, the family environment is no different to the dog-pack environment just like the wolves in some forest. Resource guarding is a classic example of dominant behavior: only a higher-ranked dog (a “dominant” dog) would act aggressively in defense of resources.

Socialization doesn’t just stop with puppy preschool, though. It’s an ongoing effort throughout the life of your puppy and dog: he needs to be taken to a whole bunch of new places and environments. Remember not to overwhelm him: start off slow, and build up his tolerance gradually.

- Aggression towards family members
- There are two common reasons why a dog is aggressive towards members of his own human family:
- He’s trying to defend something he thinks of as his from a perceived threat (you).

This is known as resource guarding, and though it may sound innocuous, there’s actually a lot more going on here than your dog simply trying to keep his kibble to himself.

- He’s not comfortable with the treatment/handling he’s getting from you or other members of the family.

What’s resource guarding?

Resource guarding is pretty common among dogs.

The term refers to overly-possessive behavior on behalf of your dog: for instance, snarling at you if you approach him when he’s eating, or giving you “the eye” (a flinty-eyed, direct stare) if you reach your hand out to take a toy away from him.
All dogs can be possessive from time to time – it’s in their natures. Sometimes they’re possessive over things with no conceivable value: inedible trash, balled up pieces of paper or tissue, old socks. More frequently, however, resource-guarding becomes an issue over items with a very real and understandable value: food and toys.

Why does it happen?

It all boils down to the issue of dominance. Let me take a moment to explain this concept: dogs are pack animals. This means that they’re used to a very structured environment: in a dog-pack, each individual animal is ranked in a hierarchy of position and power (or “dominance”) in relation to every other animal.

Each animal is aware of the rank of every other animal, which means he knows specifically how to act in any given situation (whether to back down, whether to push the issue, whether to muscle in or not on somebody else’s turf, etc).

To your dog, the family environment is no different to the dog-pack environment. Your dog has ranked each member of the family, and has his own perception of where he ranks in that environment as well.

This is where it gets interesting: if your dog perceives himself as higher up on the social totem-pole than other family members, he’s going to get cheeky. If he’s really got an over inflated sense of his own importance, he’ll start to act aggressively.

Why? Because dominance and aggression are the exclusive rights of a superior-ranked animal.

No underdog would ever show aggression or act dominantly to a higher-ranked animal (the consequences would be dire, and he knows it!) Resource guarding is a classic example of dominant behavior: only a higher-ranked dog (a “dominant” dog) would act aggressively in defense of resources.

To put it plainly: if it was clear to your dog that he is not, in fact, the leader of the family, he’d never even dream of trying to prevent you from taking his food or toys – because a lower-ranking dog (him) will always go along with what the higher-ranking dogs (you and your family) say.

So what can I do about it?

The best treatment for dominant, aggressive behavior is consistent, frequent obedience work, which will underline your authority over your dog. Just two fifteen-minute sessions a day will make it perfectly clear to your dog that you’re the boss, and that it pays to do what you say.

You can make this fact clear to him by rewarding him (with treats and lavish praise) for obeying a command, and isolating him (putting him in “time-out”, either outside the house or in a room by himself) for misbehavior.

- If you’re not entirely confident doing this yourself, you may wish to consider enlisting the assistance of a qualified dog-trainer.

- Brush up on your understanding of canine psychology and communication, so that you understand what he’s trying to say

– This will help you to nip any dominant behaviors in the bud and to communicate your own authority more effectively - Train regularly: keep obedience sessions short and productive (no more than fifteen minutes – maybe two or three of these per day).

Dog aggression – what can I do about it?Dog aggression – what can I do about it?

2009-01-10T18:59:00.000-08:00

Dog aggression – what can I do about it?

It’s just pretty easy to tell when your dog’s nervy and uneasy when around strange people. The more types and different classes of people and animals he meets (babies, toddlers, teenagers, old people, men, women, people wearing uniforms, people wearing motorcycle helmets, people carrying umbrellas, etc) in a fun and relaxed context, the more at ease and happy – and safe around strangers - he’ll be in general. This is the secret to socializing your dog.

- Aggression towards strangers
- What is it?

It’s pretty easy to tell when a dog’s nervy around strange people. He’s jumpy and on the alert: either he can’t sit still and is constantly fidgeting, leaping at the smallest sound, and pacing around barking and whining; or he’s very still indeed, sitting rock-steady in one place, staring hard at the object of his suspicions (a visitor, the mailman, someone approaching him on the street while he’s tied up outside a store.)

Why does it happen? There’s one major reason why a dog doesn’t like strange people: he’s never had the chance to get used to them. Remember, your dog relies 100% on you to broaden his horizons for him: without being taken on lots of outings to see the world and realize for himself, through consistent and positive experiences, that the unknown doesn’t necessarily equal bad news for him, how can he realistically be expected to relax in an unfamiliar situation?

What can I do about it?

The process of accustoming your dog to the world and all the strange people (and animals) that it contains is called socialization. This is an incredibly important aspect of your dog’s upbringing: in fact, it’s pretty hard to overemphasize just how important it is. Socializing your dog means exposing him from a young age (generally speaking, as soon as he’s had his vaccinations) to a wide variety of new experiences, new people, and new animals.

How does socialization prevent stranger aggression?

When you socialize your dog, you’re getting him to learn through experience that new sights and sounds are fun, not scary. It’s not enough to expose an adult dog to a crowd of unfamiliar people and tell him to “Settle down, Roxy, its OK” – he has to learn that it’s OK for himself. And he needs to do it from puppy hood for the lesson to sink in.

The more types of people and animals he meets (babies, toddlers, teenagers, old people, men, women, people wearing uniforms, people wearing motorcycle helmets, people carrying umbrellas, etc) in a fun and relaxed context, the more at ease and happy – and safe around strangers - he’ll be in general.

How can I socialize my dog so that he doesn’t develop a fear of strangers?

Socializing your dog is pretty easy to do – it’s more of a general effort than a specific training regimen. First of all, you should take him to puppy preschool. This is a generic term for a series of easy group-training classes for puppies (often performed at the vet clinic, which has the additional benefit of teaching your dog positive associations with the vet!). In a puppy preschool class, about ten or so puppy owners get together with a qualified trainer (often there’ll be at least two trainers present – the more there are, the better, since it means you get more one-on-one time with a professional) and start teaching their puppies the basic obedience commands: sit, stay, and so on.

Even though the obedience work is very helpful and is a great way to start your puppy on the road to being a trustworthy adult dog, really the best part of puppy preschool is the play sessions: several times throughout the class, the puppies are encouraged to run around off-leash and play amongst themselves.

This is an ideal environment for them to learn good social skills: there’s a whole bunch of unfamiliar dogs present (which teaches them how to interact with strange dogs), there’s a whole bunch of unfamiliar people present (which teaches them that new faces are nothing to be afraid of), and the environment is safe and controlled (there’s at least one certified trainer present to make sure that things don’t get out of hand).

How to handle Dog aggression

2008-12-31T18:40:00.000-08:00

How to handle Dog aggression

Ways of Recognizing, preventing, and handling dog aggression is to be discussed in this post.

A dog as an animal is an instinctively aggressive creature direct from its origins. In the wild, their aggression came in very handy: dogs needed aggression to hunt for food, to defend themselves from other creatures and preys, and to defend resources such as food, a place to sleep, and to mate and reporduce.

– Different aggression types

- There are several different types of canine aggression.

- Aggression towards strangers
- Aggression towards family members

Recognizing, preventing, and handling dog aggression

A dog is an instinctively aggressive creature. In the wild, aggression came in very handy: dogs needed aggression to hunt, to defend themselves from other creatures, and to defend resources such as food, a place to sleep, and a mate. Selective breeding over the centuries has minimized and refined this trait significantly, but there’s just no getting around it: dogs are physically capable of inflicting serious harm (just look at those teeth!) because that’s how they’ve survived and evolved. And Mother Nature is pretty wily – it’s hard to counteract the power of instinct! But that doesn’t mean that we, as dog lovers and owners, are entirely helpless when it comes to handling our dogs.

There’s a lot that we can do to prevent aggression from rearing its ugly head in the first place – and even if prevention hasn’t been possible (for whatever reason), there are still steps that we can take to recognize and deal with it efficiently.

– Different aggression types - There are several different types of canine aggression.

The two most common ones are:
- Aggression towards strangers
- Aggression towards family members

You may be wondering why we’re bothering categorizing this stuff: after all, aggression is aggression, and we want to turf it out NOW, not waste time with the details – right? Well … not quite. These two different types of aggression stem from very different causes, and require different types of treatment.

Dog training for Dog Agility Scoring Methods

2008-12-31T03:31:00.000-08:00

Dog Agility Scoring Methods

When it comes to a professional qualification test for a dog for dog agility competition, there are three main methods of operations that can be annotated - qualifying standard, time-plus-scoring offenses, and items from scoring. With basic standard score, the dog and the handler is judged against the STC, of the course, standard or when pre-determined by a judge overseeing the dog agility competition. The last option is to score points based scoring. With scoring points based on the agility of the dog participating in the competition, the winner is determined by the players, judges, and other classes.

When you participate in the sport of dog agility, chances are you’ll begin by joining a local group and handling your dog on a local course. But eventually, you may want to enter the world of master tournaments, such as the United States Dog Agility Association.

When it comes to scoring a professional trial for a dog agility competition, there are three basic ways the performance can be scored – standard scoring, time-plus-faults scoring, and points-based scoring. With standard scoring, the dog and handler are judged against the STC, or Standard Course Time that is pre-determined by a judge overseeing the agility competition. The exact time will be set according to the level of the competition, depending on if it’s a starter, advanced, or masters trial. In standard scoring with dog agility competitions, faults are still assessed a penalty.

The winner is whoever has the shortest period of time with the fewest penalties. If there’s a tie, then the fastest time wins. Time-plus-faults scoring is determined by speed. The score of the handler and dog in the agility competition is calculated by the actual time on the course plus penalties. So if the time score was 38.27 seconds on the course, but the dog incurred 9 penalties, then the score would be 47.27 seconds. In this case, the winner of the dog agility competition is whichever dog has the lowest score overall. If a tie erupts, then a jump-off is used to determine the winner.

The last scoring choice is points-based scoring. With points-based scoring in dog agility competitions, the winner is determined according to gamblers, snooker, and other classes. Judges assign values to a certain obstacle, and each performance has a time requirement. The points are accumulated throughout the obstacle course. If the dog achieves something, such as no faults, then he is given extra points for his performance in the dog agility competition.

With points-based scoring, the highest points-earner is the winner. Ties are broken using the fastest time as the key to winning the competition. As you go from beginner or starter status to masters-level champion, you’ll pick up the rules for each organization along the way.

Dog training - Overcoming the Obstacles of Dog Agility Training

2008-12-01T03:27:00.001-08:00

Overcoming the Obstacles of Dog Agility Training

It is not important what age your dog is for you to start agility training, but what matters most is the respect for the obstacles that a dog may have to perform. A puppy can have physical and mental barriers to agility training, as it has not yet matured enough to understand the principles of training. An older dog can be limited to agility training because it cannot cope with the stress on his body after aging.

With puppy agility training, you need to start small and increase the number of hours of training as the training continues. Sometimes all it requires is just some conditioning for dogs on a par with training for agility.

It doesn’t matter what age your dog is for you to begin agility training, but you have to respect the obstacles a dog may have in performing. For instance, very old or very young dog can have limitations set forth by its age.

A puppy can have physical and mental obstacles for agility training because he hasn’t yet matured enough to grasp the training principles. An older dog may be limited in agility training because he is unable to perform due to stress on its body after aging.

With puppy agility training, you need to start off small and increase the training as time goes on. Start by allowing your puppy to cross bars and boards that are on the ground. Since it may not be ready for pipe tunnels, you can try using boxes on the floor instead. If the puppy is hesitant during the agility training, you can start out making it a fun time playful experience to get him used to the new experience.

As his attention span grows and he’s physically able, you can take the agility training one step further. If you are raising an older dog and are unsure what obstacles it will face during agility training, know that a dog is considered a “senior citizen” at around eight years old. Breed factors into the aging process. If you have a small dog, then it will age later than a large breed will.

With any dog of any age, you’ll want to evaluate it specifically for obstacles it may face that prevent excessive agility training. If the dog is overweight, it can impede its physical performance, just as a health condition can attribute to poor performance ability.

Sometimes all it requires is some conditioning to get the dog up to par for agility training. Or, if it has previous experience but hasn’t trained in awhile, it might just need a refresher course to get back on track.

With agility training, the dog is doing more than just lying around on the couch or flitting around in the backyard. It’s doing major physical work, so your dog may have to build up its endurance just as a human does during sports training.

Because it’s a very active sport, you need to e aware of the stress it places on your dog during agility training. Your dog may not be able to handle a triple jump, dive into a tunnel, or 180-degree turn. Make sure you monitor your dog for injuries and have it seen by a veterinarian if you notice anything suspicious.

Should You Join A Dog Agility Training Class?

2008-12-01T03:19:00.000-08:00

Should You Join A Dog Agility Training Class?

As the owner of a pet, you should consider joining with your dog agility training performance. A dog agility training class is a tough sport to dog but is also a fun activity, rather than a task that just enforce but also a good activity altogether with your pet. Dog agility training is practiced more than a decade around the world. To be part of a dog agility training class, most of the groups that claim to have previously attended and completed an obedience class for your dog. After training starts when the handlers get the attention of their canine, Classes can cover things such as jumps, for beginners with less advanced dog agility training participants.

As a pet owner, you may be considering training your dog for agility performance. But if you’re not familiar with the advanced concepts, it might be a good idea to join a dog agility training class so that you don’t risk injury to the dog or teach him the wrong methods.

A dog agility training class brings the sport to the dog as a fun activity, rather than a forced chore. It doesn’t matter if you want to teach your dog agility as an extra-curricular activity or you’re planning to go to masters’ level at the United States Dog Agility Association.

Dog agility training has been practiced more than a decade in the United States. In England, it’s been practiced even longer thanks to a spark of imagination stemming from equestrian jumpers. A dog agility training class can give you insight into the world of obstacles, scoring, and performance. You’ll get a lot of satisfaction if you know your dog is enthusiastic about its agility training.

When you join an agility training class, your dog learns how to race against the clock and the camaraderie and competitiveness contributes to the animal’s performance. Some classes will be more competitive than others, so you may want to scout out the best atmosphere for you and your pet. Dogs often love attending a dog agility training class. They’re given the opportunity to work in a new environment with ramps, jumps, poles, and tires that are often colorful and inviting.

To be a part of a dog agility training class, most groups will require that you’ve previously attended and completed an obedience class for your dog. And many will ban your pet from participation if it’s an aggressive animal.

Usually, a dog agility class will run about one hour once a week fie a course of six weeks. Classes begin with warm-ups and playtime to get the dog acclimated to its surroundings. Then the training kicks in when the handlers get the attention of their dog the class may cover things such as jumps, with beginners using smaller ones than advanced agility dog training participants.

Classes are fun for the owners, but he or she must realize that it often involves the handler showing the dog what to do before the dog will comply. And you may need to bring treats as a form of reward until the dog is able to follow commands on queue.

Dog training Sports -The Competitive Sport of Dog Agility

2008-12-01T03:13:00.000-08:00

The Competitive Sport of Dog Agility

Dog agility is gaining speed as one of Europe’s and America’s best animal sports. In the agility dog sports, a dog handler will guide his/her dog to get through a course in as little time as possible.

The dog cannot be confined to a leash during agility competitions. There are many organizations that cater to dog agility participant.

In India, you can find an organization that attempts by local clubs for training dog. During a dog agility competition, participants are judged, not only on speed but also in physical performance during the obstacle course.

Dog agility is gaining speed as one of Europe and America’s best animal sports. In dog agility, a handler guides the dog in going through a course in the least amount of time possible.

The dog cannot be confined to a leash during agility competitions. As the clock ticks on, the dog has to complete various obstacles, ranging from jumps to pipes as spectators watch from the stands.

Dog agility is a knock off of equestrian stadium jumping, but it now has its own obstacles, rules and scoring agenda separate from the original root source. There are numerous organizations that cater to dog agility participants.In the United States, you can find organizations that conduct trials through local dog training clubs. These groups adhere to the rigid international rules for agility performance.

During a dog agility competition, the participants are judged, not only on speed, but also on physical performance within the obstacle course. Each country also has its own set of domestic rules they sometimes go by, such as scoring that is handler-based rather than performance-based.
Ideally, the organization handling the trial will ensure that the agility obstacle course is designed with the safety of the dog in mind.

For instance, if a dog calculates distance wrong, he won’t get injured on the jump bar because they’re displaceable. And surfaces are roughened up before competitions to ensure the dog doesn’t slip or slide and get injured during an agility competition.

During an agility competition, the animals and handlers will participate in various obstacle courses that offer different levels of challenge based on the pet’s level of ability. When the trial begins, the handler has to maneuver the dog through the course without use of a leash or reward, beating the complicated course in the least amount of time.

As the dog and its handler participate in more agility trials, they will usually move up to a higher level of competition, where the courses get more complex and higher levels of skill are required.

When a dog does something wrong during a competition, it’s known as a “fault,” and they are penalized if they go over the standard time calculations. Dogs of equal size are pitted against one another in divisions. Then the animal that participates in the agility training and garners the shortest time and least number of faults wins, along with its handler who helped guide him through the course.