What does the crate mean to your dog?

If your considering dog crate training than rest assured, most dogs absolutely love being in their crate.  It is just like having a den in the wild…dogs like to have their own small space just for them where they can feel happy and secure. This is what a crate does…give them their very own space.

How to do dog crate training

In an ideal world you would start dog crate training when your dog is a puppy…it can be a big change for a fully grown dog to suddenly go from a large space into a much smaller one and quite distressing. It may well also distress a puppy but what he doesn’t know what hurt him, so if he knows no different then he will soon come around

It’s probably for the best to keep the crate close by …even moving it into the bedroom of a night. There will come a time when you can leave it in one space but in the early days your puppy will be a lot calmer if there are close by to your reassuring presence.

You should make sure that in his crate your puppy has a clean and cozy place to sleep, a toy, access to water etc.  The crate should match the size of your pet.  Too big and the puppy could walk about perhaps even foul in it.  The general rule of thumb is that your puppy just needs enough space to turnaround…you are not being cruel; dogs really do love their crates!

One common mistake can be to let your puppy out of the crate should be get upset.  You are only telling him that if he can get your attention any old time he likes by making an almighty fuss. Only ever let him out after he has been quiet for say 5 mins…then by all means lavish him with affection and a treat…this shows him the correct way to behave.

Start out with short sessions in the crate – sixty minutes or so at a time. As time goes by this can be lengthened to a whole night’s sleep of when you are out at the office

Learning dog crate training the right way leaves you with confidence to leave your dog knowing that they are happy and that they won’t do any damage or annoy your neighbors with incessant barking etc. Puppies soon catch on too which make the whole process far less stressful for the whole household.

There can be many reasons why do dogs eat poop. They might just be hungry or even be trying to maintain a clean living area. If they are not being fed or if they are being kept in dirty conditions then trying to rectify this they are left with no other choice than to eat poop.

There might be a medical reason why do dogs eat poop too. For instance dogs can host parasites such as worms etc that limit the nutritional value of their food…so then they do not get enough of what they need from their food…so their body tells them to seek it elsewhere – yes even in poop.

Another cause could be a dog mirroring another dog’s behavior. If they have seen another dog eat poo…or even if they have witnessed you cleaning up their feces they could be copying this behavior. It could even be caused by anxiety.

The key fact to keep hold of is that whatever the reason behind the poop eating– it can be addressed and often without too much trouble.

How To Stop Dogs Eating Poop

If your dog likes eating poo, then the first step is to eliminate any health issues. This is particularly relevant if the poop eating is a new behavior that has suddenly presented itself. Work together with your vet to get to the bottom of this behavior and treat it ASAP.

Once you (and your vet) have ruled out any health issues – if there is no other obvious reason why your dog is still eating poop then you need to determine what else might be the reason they are eating it.

First job is to keep your garden poop free! Clear away the poop from your garden everyday. Check all the nearby pavements and always pick up any poop that your dog leaves (you and all responsible dog owners should already be doing this). Buy removing the poop you than remove the problem.

Modifying the Behaviour

The other answer is to take further steps to prevent dogs eating poop. You can make the poop less appealing (I know…it shouldn’t be appealing in the first place but dogs can be gross sometimes) Adding peeper or something bitter will deter dogs from eating poop. You could also try deterring you dog by scolding him when he eats poop or squirting him with water.

The only surefire way to stop dogs from eating poop altogether is to remove the cause i.e. Remove the poop but should you let your dog off lead a lot you may want to look at taking alternative measures. Above all remain consistent, keep a close eye on them and oh, and I wouldn’t have mine anywhere near my face!

Therefore if they are presenting any undesirable behaviour, the way to best tackle this is not to reprimand or scold the dog, but to concentrate on modifying the way in which they display these dog impulses.

Basic dog training tips

Here are a couple of core dog training tips that everyone need take into account when training their dog. These can be so helpful in every aspect of your dog’s education.

Crate training

Crate training gives your dog his own space, something all dogs need. It should never be used for a reprimand, and you should be sure to get the dog used to the crate while you are there with him, to help him become familiar with it. Using a crate can help with so much, from toilet training, stopping barking anxiety.

Lead Training

If you are finding walking on the lead is proving a bit of a challenge, than the first thing to do is to get your dog into a calm frame of mind, with you in control. This control enables your dog to listen to you and respond as they should without being in a state of agitation about the walk. Most dogs that have problems walking on the lead start the walk by running about and pulling! If there’s any pulling, just stop! Making your dog sit and stay next to you whenever they pull will soon give them the message that pulling is not acceptable and will result in them going nowhere!

Who’s is in charge?

One of the best tips for dog training is all about the pecking order in your house. Contrary to popular belief, dog training is not all down to your dog. He doesn’t have a clue what’s going on in your head or what comes out of your mouth. You need to show your dog that you are the boss. The pack leader he would have in the wild and then he is free to chill out and submit to you and do what you say without the anxiety of wondering whose in charge.

Obedience Dog Training

The best place to get dog training tips for dog training would of course have to be an actual obedience class. They can empower first time dog owners with the skills needed to achieve all of the things above control, pack leadership and how to deliver the right commands in the right way. Anybody with a new puppy, or experiencing challenges with their dog should seriously think of enrolling in one of these obedience dog training classes.

Consistency is the key!

Of all dog training tips the most common place consistency. As clever as you dog seems to be or actually may be, the biggest way they learn is through repetition in controlled surroundings. Rules are rules and should be enforced systematically. If you make your dog sit at a kerb make him sit at EVERY kerb. That way toy are not giving mixed messages and he knows what is expected of him and when! You will reap the rewards

How to stop dog barking – you must know what is causing the barking, and whether that kind of barking can in fact be controlled.

The Causes of Dog Barking

There is all kind of reasons why dogs bark.  Lots of different emotions will lead your dogs to bark – anger, excitement even fear.  Here are some of the different situations when you might anticipate your dog barking.

Territorial Barking
Attention Seeking Barking
Greeting Barking
Frustration Barking
Injury Related Barking
Illness Related Barking
Compulsive Barking
Alarm Barking

So barking is a huge part of your dog’s character and how he expresses himself! It is not possible to totally stop dogs barking.  It is an innate part of their make up and they will bark at some point to let you know what’s going on – in spite of your efforts to stop them.

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How to Stop Dog Barking

When your dog just won’t stop barking, first step is to figure out if he’s barking for a reason. 90% of the time it’s over the top and can be managed. If you determine that the barking can and should be managed then consider the following:-

When is the dog barking?

What does the dog bark at?

Does anything in particular set it off?

If it becomes apparent that this barking is caused by the need to protect the digs territory or is due to the dog being distressed or startled by something, then you mustn’t just shout at your dog to stop.  This kind of unconstructive reaction for this type of barking may lead to aggressive behavior such as biting. The dog will stop the barking, but the issues regarding territorial behavior remain unresolved.

Alternatively, you should remove the urge that the dog feels to protect himself by eliminating the triggers where you can.  Take charge of your home.  If you are serious about how to stop dog barking you must show the dog who is the boss and who is defending the household…be the pack leader….than he won’t need to bark. Remove the perceived threats – limit the dog’s exposure to potential triggers – keep the curtains closed so the postman can’t be seen – keep them from the window.

How To Stop Anxiety Dog Barking

Should your dog suffer from anxiety then the barking is indicative of something more.  It’s you they want and the can bark incessantly until you come back. The cause of this is because they have previously been rewarded for this behavior.  That’s right – you come home the dog is all keyed up and so straight away you make a fuss of them with lots of attention and in doing so reinforce the bad behavior.  What you should do is ignore the dog for a while, say 10-15 mins then make a fuss of them once they have settled down, thus breaking the link between coming home and giving attention.

Lastly, to stop unwanted barking, it will help to teach your dog to be quiet and to speak. This command allows you to be in charge of the barking and then your dog will in turn learn to control when to bark and when not to. One plus to this is that should a burglar come along your dog will still raise the alarm when you would want him to.

Barking dogs need not be the curse of the whole street anymore! When they are under control from the beginning no one will come knocking at your door, complaining about your dog barking!

The Benefits of Obedience Dog Training

Right from the get go, dogs rapidly pick up simple basic commands. The flipside of this is that the dog owner needs also to learn how to deliver these simple basic instructions! This point is often overlooked, obedience dog training is a team effort, the onus does not lie with the dog, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link…if the owner gives misleading commands, and they will not see the desired result! For example:-

Being a leader – An important part of obedience dog training is letting the dog know who is boss.  Every pack needs a pack leader.  It is vital that the dog know its position within the pack, it must obey and respect the leader – always. Maintaining this status quo in your own home will only help your dog understand his position in the pack, and maintain a happy equilibrium.  Good training always has strong leadership as its foundation.

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Basic Commands – Obedience dog training will show your dog how to respond to the basic commands such as sit, stay, heel etc.  These basic commands will give your dog the foundation for all future training.

Undesirable Behavior – Anti social behavior such as biting and or barking is a common complaint.  There are different types of training for dogs exhibiting these behavioral patterns, and these problems are best tackled early on, before the undesirable behavior becomes a serious problem.

Walkies! – Pulling can be a major problem and is very common.  Obedience dog training classes will give you the tools to tackle these problems, and soon the puppy will be walking to heel on the lead.

Teaching your dog even the most basic training is vitally important as your giving your dog the tools it need to be a sociable well adjusted dog, no matter what life may throw at it! It is better to do this at an early age but your dog can still be helped if it has behavior problems after 1 yr, as there are classes for older dogs too.

Continuing the good work

Obedience dog training can only be the beginning – Consistency is the key! Be sure your dog knows who the boss is. And don’t move the goal posts…follow what was learnt in the class and have all the family use the same commands!

And finally don’t deviate… be the leader, give simple direct commands or your dog will go back to his old ways and all your hard work will be in vain.  Dog training should be a positive reassuring ongoing experience for your dog.

Possible Dog Health Problems

Like most animals, dogs can suffer from a large number of illnesses. Unfortunately a dog cannot simply inform you when he / she is feeling under the weather, not can a dog say “I got a pain in my stomach”. Unless the dog has a obvious dog health problem like a cut paw it will usually suffer in silence, but there are some symptoms to look out for, that will hopefully catch any possible illnesses at an early stage. Below is a list of common dog health problems.

Dog Infections – Dog infections are  fairly easy to prevent.Infections can occur in their eyes, ears, mouth and on their skin. The most common type of infection is an ear infection that is typically cause by the presents of a foreign body, or a build up of bacteria, so check for redness, swelling, dirt and excess moisture. To reduce the chances of your dog getting an infections you should clean around there eyes gently with a clean piece of tissue paper where excess eye “gunk” builds up. Teeth can be cleaned using dog friendly tooth paste and their coat can be brushed regularly. It is a good time to examine your dog when brushing. Ear infections are the most common and are often due to a foreign body or bacteria getting in there. Check your dog’s ears frequently for red spots, swelling, excess moisture, or dirt. Of all dog health problems, infections are the easiest to prevent. Clean your dog’s eyes, brush their teeth and brush their hair regularly to avoid any potential bacteria build up.

Dog Allergies – There a many types of allergies that your dog can suffer from. Most of the time it is a flea allergy that will create sore areas that left untreated will cause a skin infection. You should keep up to date with flea prevention treatment that has either been supplied or recommended by your vet. Try to avoid buying inferior treatments that are typically sold by super markers. A vet is far better to prescribe the right treatment especially in puppies as ofter weight is a consideration. If there are no signs of fleas and the medication is up to date then your dog may be suffering from a food allergy. This dog health problem should be handled by a vet.

Dog Diabetes – This chances of your dog suffering from diabetes is increased if they eat allot of fatty, sugary food and if they become obese, also as your dog gets older there is more chance of them suffering from diabetes, There diet should be controlled and keep table food and other treats to a minimum. A dog who has diabetes will need regular visits to the vet. Excess rich, fatty and sugary foods can result in pancreatic issues that cause diabetes. To avoid diabetes, keep your dog on a strict diet of dog foods with minimal table scraps or excess meals. If your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll need to see a vet regularly and may need to administer regular shots.

Arthritis and Dysplasia – Certain breed of dogs suffer from these dog health problems such as Labradors. If you notice your dog has pain moving or getting a vet visit is required. There are treatments available that can relieve the discomfort for your dog. Good quality dog food will have the right amount of minerals and vitamins added will can help these dog health problems.

Dog Obesity – As levels of obesity in humans has risen, so have the number of dogs suffering from this condition. It is causes simply by over eating combined with not enough exercise. Obesity on its own is not actually life threatening but the side effects of heart and liver problems are. Certain of dog breeds  like Cavalier King Charles spaniels are prone to this problem. It is easy treated, simply by a strict diet  combined with an adequate exercise regime, it gets harder when a dog gets old as they may not be able to step up the exercise levels enough.  Obesity itself doesn’t lead to mortality, but the higher rates of heart failure, tumors, liver disease, and skin problems are all very dangerous if not dealt with immediately. Obesity can be treated with a careful diet and keen eye to a dog’s activity levels.

A dog owner should therefore exercise and feed good quality food to their dog. Keep your dog well groomed and clean should help prevent many of the dog health problems mentioned. If you dog becomes unwell or simple if you suspect a problem then visit your local vet. The strategy combined with a yearly vet checkup should help to keep your dog healthy. Even then, you should make sure you visit your vet annually to check for any potential issues. The earlier you catch a disease, the better it can be treated.