2/28/2015

How to Train Your Dog Like a Pro

The toughest question that faces every newbie dog owner is how to train a dog to be obedient and well behaved. Most people love dogs, but hesitate on owning one as a pet because they fear that they might not be able to train their pup properly or may have to hire an experienced pet trainer for this purpose which could prove to be very expensive.



The truth is, although it takes time and patience to train a new pup it is not actually a very difficult task. If you want to learn how to train a dog, all you need to do is first introduce consistency and patience in your own behavior. Dogs are very intelligent animals and learn very quickly from the behaviors they perceive.

The first and foremost step in learning how to train a dog is to teach your dog to respond to basic commands like “sit”, “stay” and  appraisals like “good dog” and “bad dog”. You must reward the dog by saying good dog or something similar whenever your pet does a good job. For the first few weeks you must try and keep the selection of words the same throughout. You may change your words once your dog has learnt to understand the tone of your voice, but it is very important to be absolutely consistent to begin with.

The second step in learning how to train your dog is to get it familiarized with its resting place. It could be a crate or a kennel. Both these training steps should in fact be practiced side by side. If you cannot afford to buy a kennel, you can always use an empty crate. However, you need to examine the crate thoroughly to check if there are any areas which could hurt the dog. Secondly, you might want to place in some blankets to make it look dark and cozy just like a den.


The third step in learning how to train your dog is to teach your dog where to urinate. There is nothing worse than a pup urinating all over your house. This could be both dirty and dangerous. This training must also be started from the very first day of your dog’s arrival.

2/23/2015

What Should I Do If My Dog Whines All the Time?

Do you get irritated when your dog starts to whine?


Do you get irritated when your dog starts to whine? This is a common issue for many dog owners. Worst of all, it often seems like your dog waits until you are comfortable in bed at night, trying to go to sleep, before it decides to start waking up the neighbourhood!

There could be numerous reasons why your dog whines. So, in order to stop your dog from whining frequently you will first have to learn the cause behind it.

It is very important to remember that a dog whines because it is trying to express its emotions to you. It is like a baby in a lot of ways. It wants to communicate with you to tell you what is wrong, but it can't Talk! So instead, it whines.



Your dog could be feeling pain, excitement, anxiety or some kind of fear. Even if you feel that your whining dog is only trying to get your attention, you must not avoid this situation. This is an indication that your dog probably is afraid that you might abandon it, and you need to take action.

The longer you leave this situation unresolved, the worse it will become!


One must never punish a whining dog thinking this might treat the pet. There is nothing more depressing and cruel than punishing your dog instead of helping it. It will leave both you and your dog hurt. Instead you must train your dog by teaching it different methods to respond to various situations. A whining dog is not an incurable dog. All kind of dogs can stop whining if they are taught what kind of behavior is expected of them.
The first thing to do is start to think of your dog more like a human baby. For example, your dog might whine as it knows when it has done this in the past you have given it a treat, played with it or taken it for a walk.
First and foremost you must learn to stop reacting immediately to your whining dog. Instead you could train your dog to sit obediently till you are free and then entertain the pet's request. This would give the dog an impression that you are actually giving it a reward for its obedient behavior. This type of training is essential to teach your dog that you are the master and must be obeyed.
Another reason for the anxiety of your whining dog might be that it is left alone at home for long hours. If you are a person who has to stay out of home or travel long distances then it is compulsory that you efficiently treat your dog to face such situations and enjoy them. There is nothing more heart breaking than a whining dog looking at you with longing eyes while you leave your door step.
In a lot of cases, a whining dog is a sign of a condition known as Dog Separation Anxiety.

To find put more about dog separation anxiety, and if your dog may be suffering from it, visit this website