Training for Aggressive Dogs Case Study

November 30th, 2008 by Jason Roddick

Mike and his family enjoy having Otto, their yellow Labrador, around their home. But they sometimes encounter problems when the kids would play in the backyard with the dog. Otto would repeatedly knock them down and when Mike would join in to play with them the dog would try to mount on him. At times if Mike scolds at his children to reprimand them, Otto would get distressed and start growling. Mike tried spanking Otto or tapping him on his nose, but nothing seemed to be curbing Otto’s aggression.

Unfortunately, Mike chose to give up on Otto’s behavior. But at a dinner party, Mike found himself talking his frustration over Otto’s aggressive behavior with a neighbor. His neighbor recommended a dog trainer. He was also told that the trainer would visit them in their house to work with Mike and his family to be part of the crucial training for aggressive dogs like Otto.

Gab automatically phoned the trainer and they both agreed on having him come over when everyone is at home to make observations on Teru’s behavior. Upon witnessing how they move, act around their home, and relate to each other, the trainer quickly knew what is happening and further explained to the family that Teru have a pack mentality. Pack mentality is the type of attitude wherein one dog has dominance over everyone. Teru’s behavior was a way of him presenting he was in charge. That’s why the trainer suggested that the family stop allowing Teru to claim that he was the Alpha Dog. Knowing about this, Gab would need to establish himself as the leader of Teru’s pack.

Bruce followed the trainer’s advice and started taking control over everything. The trainer explained to Bruce that Matt should wait first for permission to use any toy or even to eat. Matt needs to acknowledge that Bruce and his family were in control. Bruce put up Matt’s toys and refrain form letting him to jump up on the couch or bed unless he sat first.

When Matt would want to play or go out, Bruce began training him to sit in front of the toy box or doorway. For when he sat on command, Bruce would let him play with a toy or open the door for him. If Matt would not follow, Bruce would not give Matt what he wanted. Bruce also instructed his kids how to do the same thing. At first Matt would not respond, but realized that he was not getting what he wanted, so he would follow to commands.

The trainer suggested games of fetch and using other active toys to excite Teru other than playing tug-of-wars. Even though this was one of Gab’s favorite games to play with his pet, he observed that Teru’s behavior worsened after they played this particular game. The trainer cited that these kinds of games are instinctual ways for dogs to assert dominance in the pack and should be avoided until Teru completely understands or acknowledge he’s not the alpha dog in the house.

A few months later, Teru’s aggression dissipated. Time and time again, Teru would try to reassert himself as the alpha dog, but the family now knows not to give in to any of his demands. Teru had truly improved and had matured for he no longer knocks down the kids when they would play, and he certainly stopped mounting on Gab. Gab even teaches Teru other tricks that he never thought he was capable of learning.

The key to Bruce’s success with Matt was that the family had to institute dominance over Matt. As soon as Matt realized his spot in the hierarchy, he was better behaved and the aggression subsided.

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Method for Housetraining Your Dog

November 30th, 2008 by Paul Bennet

Housetraining your dog is the first things you should engage in upon adoption. Either having a new puppy or an older dog, there is no reason for you not to appropriately housetrain your beloved dog. Actually, every year, a lot of dogs are forced to look for new homes every time their current owners does not succeed in their housetraining duty and become weary of the dog having accidents in their home. But before you start, remember that it will take some time and tons of dedication for both of you, so you should promise to give your dog with the proper attention during this process.

*Time your training: Like people, a dog’s bladder must fully develop before it can fully function. With this, puppies may be quick to have accidents at home for the reason that they cannot control it. On this instance, refrain from threatening, verbally abusing, or physically harming your dog. Normally, a puppy can control his bladder when he reach the age or four or five months, even though this age has been known to vary in smaller breeds of dogs.

*Skip Indoor Training: Earlier, dog owners are accustomed to first train their dogs to do their business indoors at a particular spot in the house, and then eventually move to outdoor training afterwards. However, this practice is no longer efficient and we can now skip indoor training and go straight to begin with outdoor training instead. It can sometimes be bewildering for a dog to be permitted to relieve himself indoors one instance, then scolded for not going outside the next time.

*Practice Confinement: Rather than letting your dog to have free rein at your home, confine him to a spacious part of your home when left alone. This will give cleaning accidents easier and guarantees you effortlessly discover the accidents fast. Nobody would want to come across an “accident” days or even weeks after it has been done. And when you are at home and can always check on your dog, always make it a habit to do so. If he begins to demonstrate typical bathroom behavior (such as frantic walking, whining, squatting, or sniffing), directly make an effort to bring him outside.

*Develop a Command: Think of a command that your dog can correlate with going outside to do his business. This technique can make your life easier without compromising any scheduled task.

*Separate Tasks: Most of the time, when going outside, it usually involves playing, so dog then are more focused on playing than doing the business at hand. Rather than letting your dog play on bathroom trips, think of changing his outside surroundings. Let your dog roam outside particularly for the reason of relieving himself, then go back home and lavish him with praise and treats. Next, make another trip to permit your dog to play. This separation will ensure your dog does not become preoccupied and hinders him form doing his business outdoors. Sooner or later, once your dog is fully attuned with the setup, you can then change these double trips into a single one.

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Dog Training: Dogs Like To Be Rewarded, Too!

November 29th, 2008 by Joel Silverman

Everyone, even your dog, needs to be rewarded for a job well done. You receive pay raiseshe receives a reward he really likes. The type of reward will vary depending on your dog’s personality. But whether it is playing with a ball or toy, treating him with food or petting and loving on him, he needs to know he is appreciated.

There are a variety of treats on the market and one of them is sure to be the preference of your dog. High-strung guys usually do better with a dry biscuit. But the finicky eater or one that is naturally retiring may prefer a bit of real meat or cheese. Rewarding your dog with Bil-Jac Soft & Chewy Liver Treats seems to work equally well on all dogs.

Be sure to vary the choice of treats you offer your dog. If he is unable to predict which reward he will receive, he becomes much more interested in the entire process. Balls are great to use as rewards. Playing “fetch,” for example, not only brings him joy but will strengthen your bond and relationship. One of the best and most common balls to utilize for this game is a used tennis ball. Some dogs like to pull and tear things and there are an unlimited number of simple rag toys available for this type of little guy.

Very excitable or high-strung dogs will only become more excited at the thought of receiving a treat. And this is the last thing you want when training your dog. Try using the tactile method of rewarding him This simply means petting him in areas that he enjoys until he is calm and relaxed.

When your dog has accepted the fact that his new behavior is appreciated, you will be able to “fade out the treat.” This is a simple process that begins with combining a tactile reward with a food reward. Eventually, begin to reduce the number of food rewards he is given until you reach the point where he is rewarded by love and pats alone.

Above all, when you are rewarding your dog, remember to appreciate and enjoy his special personality. Each little guy is different and the reward system will have to be adjusted to his character. Have fun with him and remember, pleasing you really is the uppermost thought in his mind.

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Train to look after your Maine Coon cat

November 29th, 2008 by john savage

When you are a pet owner it is usual to talk with other pet owners about training. You might want to train your pet to do various things and act in certain ways, but when you have a Maine Coon cat things are different. It’s all about training yourself, and not necessarily your cat.

Do you keep to a regular sleeping pattern, a set time to go to bed and a set time to wake up? Because you can be sure that your Maine Coon will be aware of this and will make sure you do not change your habits. In the evening he will make sure you go to bed when you should, and in the morning there is no chance of having a lay in, you’re Maine will get you up at the normal time.

The easiest thing for you to do as regards your pets dining habits is to stick to a set schedule each day. Try not to vary the eating times and you will find life a lot easier. They are indeed creatures of habit and they expect you to be also.

You will very soon discover that your Maine Coon cat is very particular in his habit of checking out on everything that you are supposed to be doing. This means in effect he keeps his eye on you just to make sure that you are attending to every detail both inside and outside the house. Visitors will be checked out to make sure that they are suitable friends for you, and all the other little details of everyday life will be carefully monitored.

Your Maine Coon must teach you how to walk with him, using a leash and harness. It is important that you learn the proper use of the leash and harness, so that he enjoys his walks. He expects to be invited on these walks on a regular basis.

We have spoken a bit about training and a lot of the training will have to be made up as you go along. For instance, you will soon discover that you must not allow easy access to things like toilet paper otherwise you may discover you have toilet paper all around the house! There are a number of rules to follow and you will have to learn them.

Space is something that is vital for your Maine Coon cat. Whether you’re sitting down relaxing in front of the television or whether you’re attending to some household chore your Maine Coon will want to be with you and so you must ensure that there is sufficient space for him or her to join you. You just need to remember that although you may think you own a Maine Coon, they actually own you!

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No Puppy! Dog Training to Stop Biting

November 29th, 2008 by Paul Bennet

Training your dog to stop biting does not need to happen after a biting incident, it needs to start from when your dog is a puppy. The sooner training begins, the less likely it is that a bite will happen later. However, even dogs that are loving and sweet all the time may one day have a biting incident. Training your dog early that biting is not okay will help in prevention, but it never provides a 100 percent guarantee that there will never be a biting incident.

Start Early

When puppies are small, many people wait until the biting behavior stops, because the puppies are so cute. Little nips and growling around food or children seem cute. Yet, it is significant for puppy owners to visualize their grown dog doing the same thing. Then it is not so cute after all. In fact, the thought of the behaviors continuing should prompt training to start immediately.

Tip #1: Inhibit Biting

Part of the lesson in dog training to stop biting is to coach your puppy to restrain biting. Normally, dogs would learn to inhibit their biting behavior from their mother before they even reach the age of four months old, we as dog owner sees it once and decide to put a stop to it before it even starts. It is vital to practice this training, since the mother dog and siblings are not present to do it.

Tip #2: Make Your Dog a Social Butterfly

Letting your puppy socialize is the natural way to control biting behavior. When letting your puppy socialize with other puppies and dogs, puppy tends to play rough but learns to control their biting so they do not hurt each another. If dogs bite too hard, it gives negative reaction to other dogs, but still is acceptable as it is a natural process. Socialization with others is a natural structure of training, as you can do nothing, or say as a person to educate them as socializing does.

Tip #3: Build Trust and Respect

Building trust and respect with your puppy is the best and most effective way to put a stop to biting behavior. To show that they are the alpha dog of the household is one good reason for biting and aggression in dogs and just look at their owners and family members as part of their pack. Another basis for dog biting is fear, and dogs naturally aggravates when they feel pressured. But nevertheless, building trust and respect becomes a vital element of dog training to impede biting, and allowing it would make the dog feel comfortable and unafraid but without crossing the boundaries of respect with authority. Reprimands are important part of training, but reprimands without respect actually hinder progress. Interact with your puppy so that you form a bond, but let them know you have control over everything, including toys, food, bed, walks, and praise.

Keep in mind that essentially starting early in training minimizes the chances of dog bites that might occur later. Letting your dog socialized is the most natural way to inhibit biting behavior. On the other hand, when you allow your puppy to feel that they are loved and cared for and you institute a sense of respect for your authority, training the dog to stop biting would be a breeze.

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