Dog Training Tips and Tricks

18/03/2022

Tips on Dog Exercise

“How much exercise does a dog need every day?” is often the first question owners ask. The second (and one frequently asked by owners of high-energy breeds) is “How do you exercise a dog?”

Taking your dog for a walk around the block is a great start, and it might be enough for breeds with lower exercise requirements. Even couch potatoes appreciate variety every once in a while, however, and there are countless opportunities to exercise your dog in your daily life.

Hiking. Dogs love the great outdoors just as much as you do. Take your dog along on your next adventure or explore some new parks and trails in your area.

Going With You When You Cycle. While not appropriate for all dogs, many dogs go with their owners when they ride. Cycling on the road is often dangerous, but many towns have bike paths where your dog can safely accompany you.

Joining Skaters. Whether you inline skate, Rollerblade, or skateboard, your dog can accompany you. Just be sure to skate in an enclosed area at first while training your dog to this new activity, and always wear appropriate safety gear.

Swimming. Most dogs love the water, and swimming is great for dogs with joint problems, as it provides low-impact exercise. A life jacket can help your dog stay in the water longer for an optimum cardio workout.

Fetch. Fetch doesn’t have to be boring. Shake up your dog’s fetch routine by making her run uphill to retrieve a ball, or by tossing a ball into the water. Alternate between balls, Frisbees, or other prized toys to keep your dog on her toes.

Draft Work. Dogsledding isn’t just for sled dog breeds. Larger breeds often enjoy draft work, whether it involves a sled, a cart, or skijoring, and these activities are also fun for people.

Obedience. Obedience work might not seem like exercise at first glance, but practicing recall, retrieving, and reinforcing basic commands offers mental stimulation, as well as exercise. You can also teach your dog fun new tricks like weaving and twirling.

Dog Sports. With so many dog sports to choose from, you and your dog can try a variety of activities or stick with your favorites. Lure coursing, scent work, agility, obedience, flyball, dock diving, Schutzhund, and Rally are just a few of the options available.

18/03/2022

How Much Exercise Does a Senior Dog Need?

Your senior dog might not be able to run as far as she once did, and you might have to eventually restrict her run to a walk, but proper exercise is just as important for your senior dog as it is for your puppy. Talk with your vet about exercising your senior dog, and also observe her behavior. As the owner, you know your dog best and are the best judge of how much exercise your dog can comfortably handle.

Exercise provides all dogs with mental stimulation and keeps them active, which can help prolong their lives and reduce the risk of obesity.

17/03/2022

How Much Exercise Does an Adult Dog Need?

Your dog’s breed heavily influences the level of physical activity he needs. High-energy breeds, such as Border Collies and Belgian Malinois, require a lot more exercise than low-energy breeds like the Bulldog or Basset Hound.

A breed’s exercise requirements are important to keep in mind when choosing a puppy. It is not a good idea to buy an active dog breed, unless you already lead an active lifestyle, and it is unrealistic to expect your toy Poodle to join you for marathon training – unless you are pushing him in a stroller.

Your dog’s health is also important. If your adult dog has a medical condition, such as hip dysplasia or heart or respiratory issues, talk with your vet about an appropriate exercise routine that will help him stay healthy without causing him discomfort.

16/03/2022

How much exercise does a puppy need?

You might have noticed that your puppy gets a case of the “zoomies” several times a day. The zoomies are easily identified, and symptoms include madly racing around the house, followed by collapsing into a puppy pile, preferably in your lap.

Puppies generally have more energy than adult dogs and so require more exercise in short bursts — like the zoomies. Since puppies are constantly growing, including several short walks or play sessions throughout the day is a safer choice than going for one really long walk, as this can be too hard on your puppy’s developing body. Ultimately, every puppy is different, and the more time you spend with your pup the more you will learn about how much exercise she needs to keep her happy — and you sane!

Talk to your vet or breeder about how much daily activity is appropriate for your puppy, and don’t forget that exercise is a great way to train and socialize your new dog.

16/03/2022

Always be happy when your dog comes to you, whether you called him or not. A common owner complaint is that the dog does not come when called. Never punish your dog when he comes to you, no matter what he did before. Call him in a happy, playful tone and reward big when he gets to you, with treats, a toy, or praise.

08/03/2022

Train with high-value treats. You will be amazed at how much harder your dog will work for a tiny piece of chicken breast, cheese, or liver, compared to even premium store-bought treats. Those may work in distraction-free settings, but when the job gets more difficult, you need to bring out the good stuff. Training treats should be soft, so you don’t have to wait for Rover to chew before continuing the lesson.

07/03/2022

Puppy-proof your house with baby gates, a crate, and/or a pen. Any time the puppy is not directly supervised, he should be in a safe place where he can’t get into trouble. Provide appropriate safe toys for him to chew. Nobody would think of giving a human toddler total freedom in a home, and puppies need the same careful supervision. Eliminating opportunities for accidents and destructive behavior will get you through the puppy phase with most of your stuff intact! This helps make sure that bad habits never get a chance to take hold.

04/03/2022

To treat or not to treat?

One of the reasons treats work so well in training, is because a dog’s sense of smell is so unbelievable. Dogs can smell a treat from over 20 yards away and can get a pretty good idea of the main ingredients.
Not all treats are created equal though. Here are some tips for which healthy dog treats to give, how to give dog treats, and when to give dog treat.
Use treats to reinforce a calm, submissive state. Never use dog treats to reward an excited, over-stimulated state of mind. Always let the dog smell the treat first, but hold it up away from her/him and wait. Remember dogs can smell from over 25 feet away so you don’t have to put the treat under her nose. Once the dog has the scent, she/he may jump around at first, and will probably jump on you.
If so, indicate your disapproval with your attitude and body language and slowly move yourself back or to one side…and then wait.
Remember, your moment of patience as an owner will pay off in a well-behaved dog for a lifetime.
When to give dog treats.
In between meals is the ideal time to give treats. Choose a treat that your dog will enjoy. As a rule of thumb I save the best, most delectable treats for last, to reengage a dog if she/he begins to lose interest in the training session.
If you are using treats as a training tool, your treat won’t work as well right after your dog has had a full meal. Make sure your treat giving occurs in between meals and not immediately before or after a meal.

03/03/2022

Dog Training #3: "Stay"
Once your puppy can follow the "sit" command like a pro, you can move on to "stay." Teaching your pup to stay can be useful in all kinds of situations. For example, what if you need to carry a heavy piece of furniture down the stairs? You likely don't want little Rover twirling at your feet while balancing the end of a hundred-pound dresser. Such an instance would be a good time for puppy to sit, stay and remain calm.
Learning to stay requires self-control, so it might be a difficult command to teach a very energetic pup. However, with effort and practice, you can have even the most playful puppy waiting to get moving again. Here's how to teach the "stay" command:
Ask your puppy to sit.
Next, show them your open palm and say "stay."
Take a few steps back.
If your puppy waits and stays, give them a treat and affection.
If your puppy does not stay, say "no" and move a few more steps away before trying again.
Gradually increase the number of steps you take before rewarding your pup.
Make sure to reward your puppy every time they stay even if they only remain still for a few seconds. Soon, they will realize that staying results in a treat and behind-the-ear scratching.

03/03/2022

Dog Training #2: "Come!"
Sometimes the leash slips out of your hand or you leave the front door open a tad too long. In this situation, you want your puppy to return to you when you call their name. Thus, the importance of teaching the "come" command as soon as possible. To teach your puppy to come, take the following steps:
Put a collar and leash on your puppy.
Squat down to your pup's level and say "come" while gently tugging the leash.
When they reach you, give them a treat and praise.
Once your puppy has the "come" command down while on a leash, you can remove the leash and practice the skill in a safe area.

02/03/2022

Puppy Training #1: Sit
You want to start training your puppy immediately, or when your puppy is at least eight weeks old. Puppies can learn to wear a collar and begin to recognize praise at about 8 weeks and you can start teaching basic commands at 12 weeks.
Since most puppies leave their mother when they are between 7 and 9 weeks old, you'll be able to start training the moment you bring your puppy home.
First, understand that your puppy learns through the consequences of their behavior. If a behavior leads to a tasty treat or a walk in the park, your puppy will continue the behavior to keep getting rewards. On the other hand, if a behavior results in a lack of a reward, there is less reason to continue the behavior.
The "sit" command is one of the easiest commands to teach your puppy and a great starting point. This obedience command comes in handy when you want your pup to calmly take a seat before meals, walks or other exciting occasions. Once they know how to sit, you can move onto other commands that require them to sit first. Here's how to teach your puppy to take a seat:
Hold a treat in front of your puppy's nose.
Move your hand up so that they follow the treat until they sit.
Once they sit, say "sit" and give them the treat and praise.
Repeat these steps a few times every day until your pup has mastered this skill.

01/03/2022

There are few things more exciting as a dog parent than that first year with your puppy, when everything is new and your puppy is growing and learning at an almost unstoppable pace.
From the day you bring your puppy home to the day it officially crosses over into adult dog territory, each milestone you hit is a reminder of the joys of life with dogs and the exciting transitions that make all those late night potty breaks (and early morning potty mishaps) worth it.
The exact age your puppy hits each of his major milestones in the first year depends on a couple of key factors, but by the time he turns about two to three, he should have all of them under his belt. So what are these milestones? Here are nine puppy milestones you’ll have to look forward to.
1. “Gotcha” Day
Gotcha day—also known as adoption day—is one of the most important milestones for both your puppy and for you. Give his time to explore his new home, and provide plenty of toys and chews so he doesn’t look to things like your furniture, shoes, and electrical cords for entertainment.
Be patient during these earliest days of your puppy checking out his new home. He won’t know what’s expected of him yet, and may be a bit stressed by being in an unfamiliar environment. However, with plenty of love and attention, it will start to feel like home in no time.
2. Meeting the Vet
Your new pup will need to meet his vet soon, since puppies need a lot of vaccinations in their first year. It’s also a good idea to have your puppy established with a vet as soon as possible in case you ever have any questions or mishaps.
Bring along any medical paperwork that was provided to you when you adopted your puppy. Dogs get their first vaccinations at roughly eight weeks of age but will need boosters within the next several weeks. The next booster typically is administered at around 12 weeks of age, and the third and final set at 16 weeks (this puppy vaccination schedule can give you a good idea of what’s needed when).
3. The End of House Training
With consistent house training your pup shouldn’t be having accidents in the house once they’re two to three months old.
To ensure you don’t have any setbacks, take your puppy out on a regular schedule, staying outside with him until he goes potty and giving lots of praise and treats. If he has an accident in the house, clean it up without talking or looking in their direction—that way, he won’t associate going to the bathroom in the house with getting your attention. And when he finally does ask to go outside, celebrate!

01/03/2022

What to feed a puppy?
This is the age when many pups will enter their new home. It’s important to not make huge diet changes at this time as you might inadvertently cause a stomach upset.
Many breeders will tell you what they have been feeding your dog. Ideally, you will continue with this, and introduce the diet you wish to feed them in small incremental stages over a few weeks until you are feeding your pup your preferred diet completely.
The best food to feed is a high quality commercial kibble designed for puppies. This ensures all the nutrients your puppy needs for growth and development are present.
You can add cooked meats and vegetables or rice as you wish; however, the main diet needs to be the commercially balanced kibble.
Raw diets are not recommended for very young pups as they don’t have the immune system development to cope with a high bacterial load. It is also very difficult to balance a raw diet for growing puppies.
Puppies have a high nutritional demand and can’t go for long without food. It’s very important to feed small meals regularly.

01/03/2022

How to Stop Dog Bites
As a dog owner, you must take responsibility for training your dog and keeping it under control at all times. You're responsible for your dog's behavior and are the first line of defense in preventing dog bites. It's important that you do whatever you can to keep others safe and keep your dog from biting:
Put your dog through basic training at the very least and continue to keep up your dog's training program throughout its life to reinforce the lessons you've taught it.
Socialize your dog. Allow your dog to meet and interact with different types of people, including children, disabled people, and older people under calm, positive circumstances.
Expose your dog regularly to a variety of situations such as other dogs, loud noises, large machines, bicycles, or anything else that might spark fear. Start this training with your dog at the youngest age possible and keep the experiences positive.
Pay attention to your dog and know when things may be leading to aggression. If you can't control the situation or your dog's behavior, you may have to remove your dog before things get out of hand.

01/03/2022

01/03/2022

01/03/2022