Can I Train My Dog

Puppy Training - The Value of Play

Puppy Training should be started as early as possible.  Obviously the first element of puppy training that will concern you the most is house training.  The sooner you can encourage the dog to “go to the bathroom” outside the better.  This is the dog’s first experience of training, where you indicate to the dog what you want and he (hopefully) tries to oblige and is rewarded for success.

What you should never forget is the value of play in the development of your puppy, supplementing your gentle but firm puppy training and guidance.  Puppy hood is a challenging but magical time for an owner, and all too soon it will be over.  Enjoy the joie de vivre of play with your lovely little puppy while you can.

Play and exercise are intrinsically mixed:  most dogs’ idea of play involves running around and physical activity.  It may help to get the owner fit at the same time!  You may have noticed the phenomenon, particularly in young dogs, of the “mad half hour”, or “mad twenty minutes” or in the elderly dog, sometimes “the mad minute”!   You will notice this when the dog has been cooped up inside for some time or in a car.  Suddenly he is taken out and let off the lead.  Dogs tend to shoot off like a cork from a bottle at times like this.  As long as the environment is safe for them to do so, it’s a joy to see. 

You should be able to judge when enough is enough with exercise.  Once that crazy time is over, you can see that the dog is calming down, perhaps panting, tongue hanging out, and coming back to your side.  Time to cool it down.  Don’t allow a puppy to overdo it, especially the giant breeds, when bones and muscles are still developing.  Over-exercise at this age can cause joint problems in later life - it’s just not worth it.  Err on the side of caution.

The puppy should be given its own toys to play with.  Making him aware what is his to play with - and what is not - can ensure that your sofa or shoes don’t get chewed.  Plenty of chew toys mean that he gets relief during his difficult teething period without causing mayhem and destruction.  When making a judgement as to how safe a toy is for your dog, look at its bite size. Make sure nothing you give the pup is small enough to be swallowed.  Keep an eye on the chewed toys and make sure they are not disintegrating so much that they become a danger.  If so, well, it’s apparent that the dog loves that toy, so replace it with a new one just the same.

Beware of small balls or children’s toys which will probably be unsuitable.  Many dogs love tuggy toys but be very careful as tugging does encourage the dog to become possessive about his toy.  It might encourage bad habits such as food guarding in later life, depending on his temperament or breed.

It’s a good idea to try “fetch” games with a young dog.  You will see if the dog prefers a ball or frisbee or rubber ring.  Some chase things in the air, others only like something rolled along the ground.  This can be a good idea:  the dog might get to love playing this game with you.  When you’re out in the park together in years to come you it ensures he is usually engrossed with you and the game, and not getting into mischief elsewhere!  Conversely, this game does to some degree encourage chasing behavior.  Do keep an eye on that and don’t let it get out of hand.  It’s cute to see a big dog chase a squirrel up a tree, but not so cute when it decides a Yorkshire Terrier is more interesting prey.

As with all things, incorporate training into play and make training fun.  Enjoy your little pup and guide him right, and he will become a rewarding and lovely adult dog.

Can I Train a Dog News

Can I Train a Dog

Owning a Dog - the Pros and Cons of Dog Ownership

However odd it may seem, dogs affect the lifestyle of everyone in society, and therefore dog ownership should be a very responsible state.  Surprisingly to those owning a dog, some peoples’ reaction to dogs is a negative one.  They may fear going out for a walk in the park in case they encounter an aggressive dog, or they may be disgusted by dog’s mess.  If you are in the proud position of owning a dog, you want that dog to be an ambassador for the benefits of dog ownership: it’s care may well consume a lot of your spare time, and you reap the benefits of that in the affection and company of your pet dog. Hopefully your dog will be so good in public that he/she might even convert those dog-haters.
 
So, yes it’s true, there are a minority of people who are disgusted or afraid of dogs, whether for religious reasons, phobias or simple inexperience around animals.  Owning a dog is an enormous responsibility but can also bring such huge rewards, sometimes surprising ones.  It’s true that if you had or knew a lovely pooch as a child, you will likely be keen on owning a dog in adulthood.  Sometimes even if your own family doesn’t own a dog when you’re small, you can still have a positive introduction to dogs through a friend or neighbour’s dog.

Owning a dog can bring immeasurable benefits to the human lifestyle.  You may have heard of hearing dogs for the deaf, who help deaf people to live a normal life.  They alert their owners to the sounds around them, like the doorbell or the telephone, or to any alarm or emergency that might be happening.  With a dog like that a deaf owner can feel much more secure in the home and outside it.

Guide Dogs for the Blind, or seeing-eye dogs are another case in point.  They are highly life-enhancing for the unsighted person.  One ambassadress for such dogs was David Blunkett’s labrador Lucy.  David, and Lucy the Labrador were a familiar sight in the House of Commons.  David was a Cabinet Member in the UK’s parliament.  It was sweet to see the lovely Lucy lying peacefully at her Master’s feet.  It was amusing when she would look up scornfully, or even yawn during the most heated and passionate parliamentary debates.  I believe Lucy has now retired and Mr Blunkett has a new companion shepherding him around.

If you encounter a Guide Dog with a blind person, you should be careful not to distract the dog too much.  Remember it is a working dog and its job is to lead the blind person around obstacles, not to be distracted by biscuits and whatever you’re offering!  This is particularly the case if you see a Guide Dog which is still in training.  Experienced blind people who have long-established relationships with their dogs might however enjoy the social interaction with other people which owning a dog brings to them.  Do ask before you start petting the dog, it’s only polite.

Some dogs can tell if their owners are about to have an epileptic fit.  It is unknown exactly how they do it.  They obviously have heightened and different senses, and pick up on chemical, olfactory or electrical warnings long before their human goes into “grand mal”.  Other dogs manage somehow to “sniff out” cancers.  This is a very specialized skill which is not taught but seems to be instinctive in these particular animals.

For those of us who are fortunate enough not to suffer such disabilities, owning a dog still conveys huge benefits:  stroking a dog has been proven to reduce stress and lower high blood pressure.  If the dog requires half an hours exercise every day and we have to take it for a walk, then the human gets much-needed exercise too.  Yes, dog ownership is a massive responsibility but also a huge pleasure.  Our canine friends surprise us in many delightful and marvelous ways.

Can I Train a Dog News

Can I Train a Dog