Dog Nation

Is my dog training my puppy for me?

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:57:15 +0000

I have a 2-year-old Cocker Spaniel and we just adopted a 10 week old puppy (border collie/lab who is already bigger than the cocker).

Anyway, we are crate training the puppy. We don’t yet have a crate for the puppy, so we are using the cocker’s crate and letting him be out at night and during the day (he is very well housetrained).

Last night, in the crate for the first time, the puppy (a border collie/lab mix who is already bigger than my cocker) was whining and yelping. We tried to ignore it, and then we tried to tell him no be quiet, but he just kept on for 5 minutes.

My cocker was sleeping next to me and ran over there a few times. Finally, he got down, laid under the bed near the crate, and issued a few low growls at the puppy. That puppy didn’t make one sound after that all night!

My dog just trained him to be quiet in the crate! Have you seen this before? Is that what he was doing? Has this got to do with being dominant or because we were upset?

Understanding what your dog is saying by reading his body language

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:57:10 +0000

Although dogs are quite vocal animals, their main form of communication either with humans or their own species is through non-verbal signals or what we more popularly call body language.

Non-verbal messages can be both overt and very subtle; think of the enumerable non-verbal messages you send and receive during the course of an interaction with another human being. In fact human behaviour experts suggest that over 80% of our communication with each other is ‘understood’, by us interpreting the non-verbal behaviours during a conversation.

Our dogs are no different, in fact they are far more capable of interpreting non-verbal communications, in both relation to humans and their own kind. Dogs are body language experts; to give an example, take the dogs who are especially trained to warn their owners of imminent epileptic seizures, these dogs can respond to the most subtle of bodily cues, so subtle, even the person who is about to have the seizure is unaware of.

How can understanding your dogs body language benefit you as a dog owner then? Understanding the non-verbal signals your dog displays both with humans and his own kind will will benefit you in a great number of ways. For example, understanding the unique way in which dogs communicate will help give you a deeper appreciation of the species and their unique abilities. The communication exchanges between you and your dog will ‘flow’ better , as you begin to better understand your dogs needs. With practice you will begin to assess your dogs emotional states much easier. Training your dog will be much easier also,as you will be able to assess the level of your dogs motivation and responses to various training situations.

Let us look now at the different ways dogs use their bodies to communicate both with humans and their own kind.

The happy dog

The behaviour of a happy dog is obvious to most dog owners. In this situation the dog seems light on it’s paws, his tail will wag erratically and he will move foreword to greet you if encouraged to do so.

The confident dog

Here the dogs stands tall, his ears held high with a wagging tail. If meeting a person or dog, he will stand head on and make eye contact.

The playful dog

A dog who displays playfulness is another set of behaviours that are commonly recognises by dog owners. In this situation, the dog will lower the front part of its body towards the floor, and at the same time keeping his back end erect. He will give eye contact and possibly bark in a bid to get your attention, or he may run around in circles and adopt the ‘playbow’ again, in an effort to get you to play with him.

The submissive dog

Submissiveness can be displayed in a number of ways through bodily signs, such as a lowered tail, ears pinned back, with lowered head. The dog will avert direct eye contact and if called may come but zigzag his way towards you. Some dogs may may display a facial expression almost like a grin, that is often accompanied by a nodding head.This action is a way of the dog attempting appease you, as he may be unsure as to your reaction towards him. In extreme cases, the dog will role over on its back,tuck his tail between his legs and may even urinate.

The anxious dog

A dog who shows anxiety, just appears totally ill at ease. His head may be carried low with ears back. His tail will be partially or full tucked between his legs and he may whimper, especially if further exposed to the stimulus he fears. His anxiety may make him over react to certain sights and sounds, for example a dog who is extremely anxious around loud traffic may hit the ground when a car passes by, or try to flee.

The fearful dog

A fearful dog displays both fearful and anxious behaviours, but to an exaggerated degree. His body posture will be almost crouched, his head held low, ears back and tail tucked between his legs. If he continues to feel fear, he may growl or show his teeth, which is a sure sign he may well attack if stressed further.

The dominant dog

A dominant dog acts in a similar manner to a dog who is very confident, so the two sets of behaviours can be confused. Essentially a dog who so displaying dominant behaviours will have his tail held high, with ears erect. He will face either the other dog head on and make direct eye contact. The dominant dog of the two may try to put his head above the other dogs neck area and this may be accompanied with low growling. If the other dog submits there will be no problem, however, if the other other dog resists, the interaction could well develop into a fight.

If the situation involves a human, the dominant dog will display the same type of behaviour. If you ever find yourself in the presence of such a dog, the best advice is not to try to dominate him, for example making eye contact, as this could be taken as a direct threat by the dog, and dominance could turn to aggression. The best way to deal with such a confrontation is to avoid eye contact with the dog and back slowly away from him. Dogs rarely bite without warning, and in reality most dogs don’t bite.

The aggressive dog

A dog who displays aggressive behaviour can also be obvious. Here the dogs body posture has an air of ‘I mean business’ about it. Dominant aggressive behaviour is different from nervous aggressive behaviour in that with nervous aggressive behaviour, the dogs seems to want to back away, as opposed to dominant aggressive behaviour were the dog in question will stand his ground. The fur on his back may be displayed, with ears pinned back. He will make direct eye contact, although his eyes may be narrowed. His tail will be straight and may even wag slowly. He may also show his teeth, along with a lot of ferocious barking.

If you find yourself in a situation with such a dog, don’t run or turn your back on him. Stay calm and back away slowly. Don’t make eye contact with such a dog, but at the same time don’t turn your back on him either, as this could give him an opportunity to strike. If you think that the dog may attack, do not run from him, as to do so would almost certainly cause him to chase and bite. Find something to put between you and the dog, say for example a piece of furniture, and back confidently and slowly away.

Almost everyone own a video camera these days, therefore, if you would like to learn more about how your dog uses his body language to communicate, take your camera with you when you take him to the local park and film his interactions. Later, play them back and you will be amazed at what you will learn.

Some Helpful Tips to Help you With your Dog Training Abilities

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:57:09 +0000

There are some basic dog training skills that just about anyone can perfect, so in this article I want to go over some of these with you, so that hopefully you can train your dog properly. Dogs are amazing animals and are so capable of just absolutely being brilliant, but it takes some dog training abilities on your part and plenty of patience. They will not pick up on things the first time that you try it, probably not even the second or third time either, but it will happen, do not give up. If you do give up then chances are you will probably have a very ill mannered dog on your hands, that does not listen to anything that you say and then you will have to worry about many other problems that could occur. Without the appropriate dog training a dog could actually get so bad that they can not be trusted, nobody wants to have to experience this type of thing, so take the time out right now to begin learning more ways to teach your dog and to improve your dog training abilities.

Some people pay high prices to take their dogs to obedience schools for professional dog trainers to train them in every way but if this is something that you truly can not afford, do not break your pockets trying to send your dog to one of these places. Believe it or not, if you work hard enough and study over some information about appropriate dog training techniques then you are just as capable of training your dog properly as any professional would be. It can happen but it will not ever happen instantly, so you will absolutely have to be patient, there is no doubt about that people. If you find yourself becoming frustrated or angry with your dog, do not yell at them or ever strike them because this is not teaching them anything at all. The best way to teach a dog new tricks is by rewarding them every time that they do something wonderful, instead of just constantly screaming at them and hitting them for every little thing that they do wrong.

These helpful tips can help you with your dog training abilities, if you put them to good use and really give it a good, solid try. Your dog can be very responsive to your teachings, if you do it the right way, they can also turn on you in a heartbeat if you do it incorrectly, so remember that the next time that you think about hitting them or screaming at them for doing something that all dogs do. Your dog can be your best friend and you can both have a fun time together, good and appropriate dog training can really make a big difference. If you are unsure about doing it or just do not have the time, perhaps hiring a dog trainer could be an option for you.

Latest Dog Doggy Items

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:57:07 +0000

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KONG Air KONG Air SqueakAIR Balls Dog Toy, Extra Small, Yellow, 3/pack

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:39:39 +0000

Combines two canine favorites; the squeaker toy and the tennis ball
Made in the USA from durable, high-quality tennis-ball material
Hidden squeaker; felt covering won’t abrade dogs’ teeth
Recommended for extra small breeds only
Measures 1-1/2 inches in diameter

Product Description
Fun and bouncy tennis ball dog toy constructed from non-abrasive tennis ball fabric that will not wear down dog’s teeth. All squeaker units are recessed in rubber and covered with tennis ball fabric for safety. This hi… More >>

KONG Air KONG Air SqueakAIR Balls Dog Toy, Extra Small, Yellow, 3/pack

Dog fighting is horrible, but is it worse than how animals are treated in food processing plants?

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 22:56:21 +0000

With the recent trouble with Michael Vick and his involvement in dog fighting rings, the subject of animal cruelty is on everyone’s minds as of late. But the great unspoken is how animals such as pigs, cows, ducks, and chickens are treated in your basic food processing plants; from cows’ throats being slashed, to ducks being forcefed with a tube down their throat. If dog fighting is a felony offense, then why do major food processing corporations continue to administer their own brand of animal cruelty? Who decided that dogs have more rights than other animals?
If your response is to point out the fact that animals in food processing plants are for food, and therefore the treatment is acceptable, I then ask you this: If dogs were considered food, would it then be acceptable?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/07/20/national/main630674.shtml

Funny Animals Squirrel plays soccer, Monkey Dance

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:56:13 +0000

DUCK BREAST 2LB DOG TREATS

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:56:07 +0000

Made From Premium Duck Breast Fillets
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Product Description
Over roasted gourmet natural dog treat. Made from premium duck breast filets. No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. from aBlackHorse.com… More >>

DUCK BREAST 2LB DOG TREATS

What is the Best dog Breed I should get for my family?

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:57:46 +0000

I am looking to buy a dog but cant seem to chose one. I am wanting everyones opinion on what kind of dog do they think will be the best for my family. I have two children. Ages 5 and 2. I own my own home and have a big back yard although its not fenced. I am also a stay at home mother so the dog will get plenty attention. What will be the best dog for my family? Small dog or Big. I dont care, as long as it will be a great dog.

what are some of the easiest things we could build at home for a dog training course?

admin — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:57:42 +0000

What are examples of a dog training course?

Dog Nation

Is my dog training my puppy for me?

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