Dog Training Tips: How To Train A Dog

Jasmine is a 68-lb shep/hound cross, who is currently eating 2 cups..

Williams — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:08:16 +0000

of Nutro Natural Choice Lamb/Rice plus 1 or 2 chicken wings plus training treats each day. Her training treats are either low-fat Pupperoni or no-fat chicken/turkey hot dogs. She is by no means overweight, but I’ve been told that she could lose a pound or two for top performance (she is an amateur agility dog).

Obviously the first thing I need to do is get some better quality training treats – I’m probably doing enough damage with the Pupperoni and the hot dogs to completely overcome what good I’m doing with the good food. Any suggestions?
They need to be available, simple, not messy, and most importantly, effectivefor the dog. She loves Great Bait, but because of the distribution methods, that isn’t readily available. I’d be willing to make treats, but it’s hard to come up with the right consistency – crunchy is no good because it takes to long for the dog to deal with, and soft ones usually crumble in your pocket or bait bag.

The second question is this: I think she’s getting plenty of grain and protein in her current diet, but what about vegetables? If I wanted to add some vegetables to her diet, what would you suggest, and how much? I found some canned tomatoes with no salt added and she likes those, but they are ready-cut and peeled and that doesn’t make much sense. Will I have to go to the HFS to find whole canned tomatoes? What about other vegetables, like broccoli, carrots, etc.? I saw from a previous post that onions and spinach are bad, and she’s off corn for skin problems.

Dog Training Volunteers

Washington — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:03:41 +0000

To those in the Mid-Michigan area. The Capital Area Humane Society really needs more Dog Training Volunteers one would work a 2 hour shift one time per week or as little as once per month. This Saturday I will be conducting a “training session” for all dog training volunteers (new recruits as well as current members) the seminar/training session will last apx. 2 hours. We’ll start at 10 am and go until apx Noon.

Please, please if you would like to volunteer in this most rewarding program let me know and/or show up on Saturday! It is a wonderful way to do something wonderful for the dogs (very rewarding), learn more about training and on and on.

Please contact me off list (privately) if you have any questions! I am the new behavior program manager for CAHS and would LOVE to see you and have a larger pool of volunteers to work with the dogs it makes a HUGE difference to them.

Nutrition or obedience problem?

Tristan — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:55:38 +0000

I have 2 six year-old Jack Russels. One of them, for the past month, has been going ‘#2′ on the rug. I have taken him to the vet, I have limited his dry food & treat intake, I have punished him as well as rewarded him when he goes outside. A week ago I rented a carpet cleaning machine to wash out the smell that he may be getting used to. My other dog doesn’t seem to have a problem.
Today when I got home from work I found another fresh load. I am wearing the carpet down in that spot where he keeps going. Could this be a nutrition or health problem or could this just be an obedience problem? HELP??

Flash is a 2 1/2 year old Treeing Walker Coonhound

Sofia — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 17:27:42 +0000

He was with me for about a year and a half. He’s bonded to me. He went to a great home, without other dogs, but one of the guardians is taking him to work with him every day.

They called yesterday because he is depressed. (Well he also jumped out of a window and went to a party at the neighbor’s but that’s not the problem!) I know it’s only 24 hours, but he wasn’t eating and kept going to the door, they think looking for me. They want me to come and see him this week. They also want to bring him back here to play with his doggie friends.

I want him to bond to them – I thought I’d stop by and visit him for 5 or 10 minutes this week to let him know I’m not dead. Usually I don’t see the dog for a few months after placement, but another dog that I placed sees me 3 days a week and it made the transition easier. He lives with my secretary and comes to the office!

Will I screw up Flash’s brains if I visit? What about coming out here and playing with his doggie friends?

We have been out of Good dog training since late august

Ryan — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:19:52 +0000

but we plan to return in November for a tricks class which Im excited about.
Ruby’s an Australian Shepard with teeth like scissors. Since i got her eight months ago she’s probaly chewed through 4 leashes. We were on the couch together I had her tethered next to me, I wasn’t paying attention and she chewed straight through a double nylon leash with several seconds of uninterupted gnawing The leash is about 10 years old and on the metal clasp is imprinted NYLORITE. Im afraid its irreplaceable. I’ve searched the web and my local dog shops to no avail every leash I come upon I’m certain my dog will chew through in no time. I need a leash I can depend on, one my dog can’t possibly chew through… any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Im planning a trip from ok to ga, And the problem is that my shyann 1 yr

Rose — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:15:40 +0000

Gets car sick. the meds that the vet has put her on makes her real dopey&she wont eat or drink for hours later.And for hours later she just not with it. Has anyone had this problem? and if so is there any other types of homopathic meds that I could try before the trip. the trip is about 18 hrs. one way. Her vet told me that she might grow out of it. but no such luck thus far. She is created in the car. And I have tried not creating her, that dosent help either.Any ideas,the meds that she is taking right now are25mg promacp,And she has to take that 2 hr before we leave. So any hope that this group can give me would be wonderful.just please help!!!!!

Jumping question – a bit long

Robinson — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:11:18 +0000

I have recently aquired 4 pointers of various ages (3yr – 6 yrs) that I need some help with. These dogs have varying basic obedience, but none of it is “strong”. They are all good dogs, that just need some training assistance, as do I

Sit stays or down stays are being worked on to strengthen them & become longer – they are short lived right now, but after reading some of the great posts recently on the subject, I think we have a handle on working with them.

The jumping is the problem that we need help with. It occures when we get up in the morning (yippee it’s a NEW day ), or when we come home (oh my I’ve missed you so), or when anyone comes over (yeah, someone came to see “me”) the last almost seems to be the easiest to work with – we have (after reading on this list) started to put a leash on each of them & have people “wait” till the dogs are sitting/settled (working with lots of rewards/treats). The hardest of course is when I get up or come home, as I am alone at those times, and have no one to “leash & hold” them. I started (yesterday) to turn my back on them until they are quiet, turn around slowly & if they remain quiet, then I reward with going outside or something. My questions are;

Does this sound like a step in the right direction? If so, when should I add a command word like “sit” or “settle”? When I add the word, will I still be turning my back on them? And finally how long is a reasonable amount of time to wait for them to settle?

It takes about 4 or 5 minutes right now for any “quietness” to happen, and I have to turn around several times.

I don’t mind working with it, I just wonder what to expect. It is hard with 4, and I don’t have kennels for them, (they are really good in the house)so they are all together.

Once we get this down, I’ll be back for help with some other things that we want to tackle.

Training a VERY excited dog

Robbi — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:47:27 +0000

I have a german shorthair mix dog who is in need of a lot of work. I don’t have all the time I need to work with her and make her a wonderful dog. I just need the basics. I can’t get through to her though because she is always so excited and active. She is almost 8 months old now, and all I got her to do (when she is alone with me) is to sit down when I pet her. Over the past summer, I let her spend a lot of time outside and put off the training, and I know that was a bad thing. I just need tips on getting her to settle down enough to teach her how to at least lay down, and come on command. I can’t get her to stop jumping either, she won’t jump on anyone in the household, but anyone who is a stranger she is all over. Thanks for any information and help you can give me.

Teaching Sit / jumping up

Rick — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:27:03 +0000

I use all the methods in teaching in teaching that you discuss, plus many more. I think some exercises are more conducive to one method than the other. It depends on the owner, the dog, the exercise, and the time constraints. In a private lesson, I have more leeway to tailor the exercise to the individuals. But in a class situation, I generally teach one method for one exercise. If that method is not working, we fine tune or give them another method or do a private lesson.

I agree with you that preventing the jumping behavior in the first place is the best approach. But the question had to do with a release word to a command.

I use a lure in teaching the sit, and when the dog understands that my hand movement with the lure means sit, I add a command to it. I explain that your dog can end the command by your giving him another command OR the release word and that if you don’t give the release word, then your dog decides when command is finished. That decision should NEVER be your dog’s in pet dog training.

Pet Portrait Wanted

Pam — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 16:24:56 +0000

Sometime in the past six months (exactly how long I can’t remember) I saw a pet portrait done in the ‘Andy Warhol’ style. I’m sure I saw it featured on tv and then looked it up on the internet. OF COURSE I didn’t save the internet address.

Has anyone seen anything similar to this? And can you help me find it again?

In advance, thanks for your reply.