Teaching your dog basic obedience skills can be a huge challenge, but well worth the effort in the long run. Start by doing your homework, as a student can only be as good as the teacher.
The first thing to do regarding obedience is to get your dog to pay attention to the commands you are giving him/her. You should start by calling his/her name and then use a keyword, such as, ‘watch’ or ‘look’ afterwards, so that he/she will associate the words to a command. After you have his/her attention, you can then start the lesson.
Dogs can only pay attention for a short length of time, as they have short attention spans and get distracted very easily. Try to keep his/her attention by doing attention exercises. One tip would be to hold a toy or dog treat near your mouth and then give him/her the keyword command. Every time he takes the time to watch, praise him. The more you repeat this, the more he should be able to pay attention to you. Try to get him to watch for at least a minute and then let him/her know that he/she is doing a good job by rewarding him/her.
Because dogs have such short attention spans and get distracted easily, choose a place that is quiet and distraction and make sure there are no other pets or little children around that might create too much noise. You should make sure that the obedience training lessons are no more than 30 minutes at the most. If you try to keep him/her training for a longer length of time you will find that he/she will get distracted and restless.
Another thing to remember is to never cause your dog pain, as this will make him want to shy away from you or perhaps become aggressive. If he/she gets distracted, change your tone of voice, but this doesn’t mean you should raise it.
There is nothing more important than consistency, as animals are like children. If you are not consistent, they will become confused as to what they can and cannot do.
The first command should be teaching your dog to sit. You should use the word ‘sit’ while you are teaching him this skill, so that he can relate the word with the action. You can start by gently pushing his backside down while saying the word ‘sit’. He/she should eventually understand the concept.
The second command should be ‘down’. This is a very important command, as if you have a hyper dog that gets excited easily, you don’t want him/her jumping up on people when they come to visit you. When they jump up, tell them ‘down’. Don’t ever pet them or act like you’re excited to see them while they have their front paws up on you. You must continue to tell them ‘down’ and even place their legs down on the floor if you have to.
The command ‘stay’ is very important and is a good one to know especially if you have a very active dog. You can teach him/her to ‘stay’, for example, by putting a treat or something desirable, on the ground and as he/she starts to come towards it, tell him/her ‘stay’. You could also put your hand up (like saying stop) while saying the word ‘stay’. When he/she begins to become obedient with this command, you can then move further away from him/her. He/she will probably then become more daring and will take a step toward you to see how much he/she can get away with. When he/she does this, continue to put your hand out and keep saying ‘stay’. He/she has to learn that even though you are moving away, you can still see what he/she is doing and expect he/she to continue to obey.
These are just a few basic obedience lessons to help you make your dog much easier to live with and to obey the commands of their masters. UpScalePetAccessories offers additional tips about dog training information along with products like dog hats and more hints that might be of some assistance. Just remember that ‘consistency’ is the most important tip.
SOME OF THE BEST DOG BREEDS FOR GROWING FAMILIES.
GOLDEN RETRIEVERS:
Golden Retrievers have beomce increasingly popular because of their easy-going nature and loving personalities. Their gentleness, easy-going attitude and intelligence when responding to commands makes them an ideal family pet. They have the reputation of being one of the most sought after breeds and the popularity of the Golden Retriever will continue to escalate in peoples' hearts.
POODLES:
These dogs are lively, intelligent and affectionate and they are a versatile breed that makes great family pets. The poodle is a favorite of all ages of children and adults as well. There are three sizes of poodles, but Toy Poodles are not recommended for families with younger children. These pooches are also so very cute.
OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG:
With his shaggy fur and distinctive grey and white coloring, the Old English Sheepdog looks much more like a stuffed toy than the alert and intelligent dog that he is. This breed of dog is so adaptable and easily transitions from being your early morning jogging companion to a sofa buddy later at night. This breed does take quite a lot of grooming time, in order to keep his beautiful coat healthy and shiny, but the bonding time this dog gives you in return is well worth the time spent brushing him.
ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL:
This breed of dog is easygoing, alert and attentive and makes an ideal family pet. An intelligent dog and easy to please, a Springer very soon fits into a family setting. Its long-legged build put it in front of the Spaniels for speed.
COLLIE:
Collies are very loyal and dependable herding dogs and they adapt easily to working life and family life. With two coats to choose from, rough and smooth, the Collie is usually appealing to most dog lovers. He is a sweet-tempered dog with a strong grasp of territory and protective instincts.
BOXER:
Boxers are very playful, young at heart, fun loving and exuberant. This is a breed that is so versatile for a family pet and they make great companions to adults as well as children. They love to be a running companion as well as loving to cuddle. They get along well with other pets, providing they are properly introduced, and, best of all, they love children more than anything.
Both male and female boxers are very alike in temperament.
MIXED BREED DOGS:
These dogs are available in all shapes, sizes and personalities, and if you are careful in selecting the exact right one for you and your family, you will all have a buddy for life. Talk to your vet as well as the animal shelter employees about personalities, needs and habits before choosing the one you will take home.
GENERAL:
Before going out there to choose a family pet, which will require a lot of time, love, devotion and training, it would be wise to do a little research. Talk to your local vet and also talk to other owners of the breed you are considering. Dogs from the animal shelter can be wonderful lifetime companions. I know, because I and my family had one once and he was the perfect dog and family companion from the very first day we took him home. We loved him and pampered him with all kinds of upscale pet accessories, pet jewelry, designer pet carriers and more until the day he passed away. His name was Snuggles and we loved him very much.
Golden Retrievers have beomce increasingly popular because of their easy-going nature and loving personalities. Their gentleness, easy-going attitude and intelligence when responding to commands makes them an ideal family pet. They have the reputation of being one of the most sought after breeds and the popularity of the Golden Retriever will continue to escalate in peoples' hearts.
POODLES:
These dogs are lively, intelligent and affectionate and they are a versatile breed that makes great family pets. The poodle is a favorite of all ages of children and adults as well. There are three sizes of poodles, but Toy Poodles are not recommended for families with younger children. These pooches are also so very cute.
OLD ENGLISH SHEEPDOG:
With his shaggy fur and distinctive grey and white coloring, the Old English Sheepdog looks much more like a stuffed toy than the alert and intelligent dog that he is. This breed of dog is so adaptable and easily transitions from being your early morning jogging companion to a sofa buddy later at night. This breed does take quite a lot of grooming time, in order to keep his beautiful coat healthy and shiny, but the bonding time this dog gives you in return is well worth the time spent brushing him.
ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIEL:
This breed of dog is easygoing, alert and attentive and makes an ideal family pet. An intelligent dog and easy to please, a Springer very soon fits into a family setting. Its long-legged build put it in front of the Spaniels for speed.
COLLIE:
Collies are very loyal and dependable herding dogs and they adapt easily to working life and family life. With two coats to choose from, rough and smooth, the Collie is usually appealing to most dog lovers. He is a sweet-tempered dog with a strong grasp of territory and protective instincts.
BOXER:
Boxers are very playful, young at heart, fun loving and exuberant. This is a breed that is so versatile for a family pet and they make great companions to adults as well as children. They love to be a running companion as well as loving to cuddle. They get along well with other pets, providing they are properly introduced, and, best of all, they love children more than anything.
Both male and female boxers are very alike in temperament.
MIXED BREED DOGS:
These dogs are available in all shapes, sizes and personalities, and if you are careful in selecting the exact right one for you and your family, you will all have a buddy for life. Talk to your vet as well as the animal shelter employees about personalities, needs and habits before choosing the one you will take home.
GENERAL:
Before going out there to choose a family pet, which will require a lot of time, love, devotion and training, it would be wise to do a little research. Talk to your local vet and also talk to other owners of the breed you are considering. Dogs from the animal shelter can be wonderful lifetime companions. I know, because I and my family had one once and he was the perfect dog and family companion from the very first day we took him home. We loved him and pampered him with all kinds of upscale pet accessories, pet jewelry, designer pet carriers and more until the day he passed away. His name was Snuggles and we loved him very much.
HOW TO CHOOSE A PET
Choosing a pet is such a huge decision as that pooch is going to be part of your family for many years to come. Do you want to bring home a mutt from the local animal shelter or do you want to invest in a purebred from a breeder?
Mixed breeds (or mutts) are combinations of different breeds and come in many shapes and sizes. In most case, you won't know what it wil look like or how big it will get as an adult. However, purebreds have been bred to look and act a certain way and their ancestors are members of the same breed. Pups that come from reputable breeders will also have been screened for health problems. Of interest though, is that although genes determine personality and grooming needs, good manners are determined by the owners' personal training.
Cost is another thing to consider. Getting a dog or puppy from a local shelter can be very inexpensive indeed, somewhere around $30-$40 and this should include vaccinations, deworming and spaying/neutering. On the other hand, if you should decide to get a purebred dog or puppy, depending on the breed, these can be quite expensive.
Mutts from our local shelters are readily available and in plentiful supply because, unfortunately, there just aren't enough homes for the millions and millions of them. So, a nice thought is that by adopting one of them, you would be saving a life.
Before making your choice, a mutt from the local shelter or a purebred, it would be a good idea to talk to your veterinarian or perhaps a dog obedience trainer to help you choose the perfect dog or puppy for your particular family, and, of course, lifestyle. You should also consider the size and type of coat (short, silky or non-shedding) and the dog's temperament, i.e. high or low-energy.
Years ago, when our family went to our local shelter to choose a dog, the four of us split up and went in different directions inside the shelter to try to find the cutest and perfect dog for us. None of us had any idea what we wanted. One of our sons came across the cutest little mutt we had ever seen, half Cocker Spaniel and the other half unknown. He was two years old and adorable. I was the one designated to pick him up the following week, and, because I had never been around dogs much before, I asked a friend to come with me to pick him up. I didn't know if I would be safe driving home alone with him, as I didn't know what his personality would be like.
From the very first day that we brought him home from the pound, this little dog (we called him Snuggles) was the absolute BEST dog ever in every way. We loved him until he passed away at the age of 13. There will never be another Snuggles.
Always remember though that all dogs, regardless if mutt or breed, need to be loved. And, you also might want to spoil them like you would your child, with upscale pet accessories.
Mixed breeds (or mutts) are combinations of different breeds and come in many shapes and sizes. In most case, you won't know what it wil look like or how big it will get as an adult. However, purebreds have been bred to look and act a certain way and their ancestors are members of the same breed. Pups that come from reputable breeders will also have been screened for health problems. Of interest though, is that although genes determine personality and grooming needs, good manners are determined by the owners' personal training.
Cost is another thing to consider. Getting a dog or puppy from a local shelter can be very inexpensive indeed, somewhere around $30-$40 and this should include vaccinations, deworming and spaying/neutering. On the other hand, if you should decide to get a purebred dog or puppy, depending on the breed, these can be quite expensive.
Mutts from our local shelters are readily available and in plentiful supply because, unfortunately, there just aren't enough homes for the millions and millions of them. So, a nice thought is that by adopting one of them, you would be saving a life.
Before making your choice, a mutt from the local shelter or a purebred, it would be a good idea to talk to your veterinarian or perhaps a dog obedience trainer to help you choose the perfect dog or puppy for your particular family, and, of course, lifestyle. You should also consider the size and type of coat (short, silky or non-shedding) and the dog's temperament, i.e. high or low-energy.
Years ago, when our family went to our local shelter to choose a dog, the four of us split up and went in different directions inside the shelter to try to find the cutest and perfect dog for us. None of us had any idea what we wanted. One of our sons came across the cutest little mutt we had ever seen, half Cocker Spaniel and the other half unknown. He was two years old and adorable. I was the one designated to pick him up the following week, and, because I had never been around dogs much before, I asked a friend to come with me to pick him up. I didn't know if I would be safe driving home alone with him, as I didn't know what his personality would be like.
From the very first day that we brought him home from the pound, this little dog (we called him Snuggles) was the absolute BEST dog ever in every way. We loved him until he passed away at the age of 13. There will never be another Snuggles.
Always remember though that all dogs, regardless if mutt or breed, need to be loved. And, you also might want to spoil them like you would your child, with upscale pet accessories.
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