Category Archives for "Breeds"

German Shepherd Puppy Training

By Sally Gutteridge | Breeds , Posts , Puppies

The German shepherd is a charming puppy. Loyal and humorous the shepherd is cute as a youngster and dignified as an adult. All puppies need socialization and basic positive learning experiences in order to grow into well rounded dogs. The German shepherd is no exception.

If you have a new German shepherd puppy or are thinking of getting one then you will not be disappointed. A loyal and brave dog with intelligence and attentiveness the Shepherd is a great canine companion. There are guidelines that you can follow to ensure that your new dog grows into a happy and well trained friend.

Socialize your puppy

German shepherd puppy training should be complemented with suitable socialization. The shepherd by nature can be reactive and protective when scared therefore he must be introduced to as many new things as possible, from a very young age.

With socialization of a puppy you are teaching him that there is very little to fear in the world around him. A puppy is generally friends with everyone and everything when he is born. If he learns to fear particular things as he grows into an adult dog then those fears will stay with him forever. This fear can be just as intense for the dog if he has few social experiences as a puppy. A natural reaction from an under socialized dog is fear. This reaction can be very difficult to modify in an older dog.

A puppy that has many different experiences that are all pleasant and stress free will grow into a confident and happy dog. The German shepherd puppy that is allowed to play at the park, with other young dogs (and under supervision) will benefit greatly. Also, playing with adult dogs will teach your puppy manners and etiquette.

Socialization should begin as soon as possible. The first few weeks of a dog’s life are crucial for learning. There are mixed opinions around taking an unvaccinated dog out of the home, but a puppy tucked under your jacket is still getting social experience. If you are happy to carry your dog into social situations before vaccination then it is well worth the effort.

Good puppy socialization will include regular contact with

• Other dogs
• Children
• Other animals
• Travel in moving vehicles – this is especially important because a German shepherd can be prone to barking during travel.
• Walking alongside moving vehicles
• Crowds
• Noisy areas
• Household appliances
• Visitors to the home

You can obtain a socialization CD to play in the background at home. Fireworks, storms and other noises that may cause stress will then be introduced to your dog slowly until they are simply not noticed at all.

Your German shepherd puppy training requirements

Training your dog must always be a positive experience for him. German shepherd puppy training must be based on reinforcement and reward of good behavior and non-acknowledgement of unhelpful behavior.

Good, kind and affective German shepherd puppy training is based on:

• Motivation- Prepare a suitable reward and always have it to hand
• Reinforce – Pinpoint the behavior that you would like your puppy to repeat then instantly reward.
• Ignore – Any unhelpful behavior must not be acknowledged at all. By ignoring any behavior you are showing the puppy that there is no point displaying that particular behavior. The dog will soon look for something more rewarding to do.

The above technique can be employed within dog training in most circumstances. For instance toilet training, by taking your puppy outside and ignoring him until he toilets, then instantly rewarding him, you are encouraging the behavior that you want. You can then add a cue word as he begins to toilet which you can use each time he goes out.

A highly intelligent dog, the German shepherd puppy will learn quickly and thoroughly if taught properly. Remember that your puppy is a responsive and loyal blank canvas. He will be biddable and eager to learn, so it is up to you to shape him into a happy well trained dog.

There will be times when you must intervene in an unwanted behavior from your puppy. If this occurs then it will be most useful to offer him something different to do. Take his mind off the unhelpful behavior by capturing his interest with a toy or something similarly distracting. Be careful though, that you don’t allow him to confuse the distraction with reward, and therefore reinforce the unhelpful behavior.

German shepherd puppy training is essential if you are offering a home to this breed of dog. A well trained shepherd is easy to live with, but untrained or under socialized the shepherd can develop fear based and reactive behaviors.

How to Train a Shih Tzu & Choose Your New Dog With Care

By Sally Gutteridge | Breeds , Posts , Training

So you are having a new family pet and like the look of the Shih Tzu. A toy breed dog of sturdy build and cheerful nature that will meet and exceed your expectations.

Heritage

The Shih Tzu has ancient heritage. Originating from China and Tibet he is genetically one of the older dogs that we know of. It is thought that this breed originates from a cross between the Lhasa apso and Pekinese. They are rumored to have resided with Buddhist monks.

The Shih Tzu is a loyal smaller dog with less likelihood to yap than other toy breeds. With relatively low energy levels he will be happy to accept shorter walks than many other smaller dogs. The Shih Tzu is interested in his surroundings and carries in his nature the expectation of grand treatment. Researching how to train a Shih Tzu and training him early in the dog’s life will usually mold a great family dog. This little dog, if socialized and trained properly will prove an excellent pet.

Health of the Shih Tzu

Health problems to look out for are often based around the face of the Shih Tzu. Eyelids can turn inwards causing the eyelashes to grow into the eye. This will often need an operation to rectify the problem. With extreme breeding the eyes of the Shih Tzu can be so large that the lids cannot close to moisturize the eyeballs. Another problem to be aware of is breathing difficulties if the dog has an over exaggerated snub muzzle. Breathing can be terribly labored due to the resulting blocked nostrils.

A well-bred Shih Tzu

A good breeder will be able to introduce you to the puppies and their Mother and Father. The young dogs will be growing up in a family home. They will be acclimatised to electrical appliance noises and visitors to the home. Socialization of this dog type is crucial to prevent fear based behaviors later on. Both parents of the puppies will be healthy and happy dogs. Any good breeder will want to know about you and the type of home you offer. They will give health information and education on how to train a Shih Tzu.

House training a Shih Tzu is paramount. Reward and positive reinforcement is how to train a Shih Tzu to toilet outside. It is also a good idea to introduce your dog to a cue word when toileting. This will give the dog the idea of what you want from him early on.

How to train a Shih Tzu to toilet on command

• Give your dog regular opportunity to toilet outside.
• The option to toilet can be as frequent as every hour to begin with.
• Always stay with him and watch him closely.
• Decide upon a cue word for toileting, something like “busy” will suffice.
• Each time your dog toilets outside use the cue word to associate the act with the command.
• Follow up the successful toileting experience with lots of praise and a tiny food reward or a quick play with a special toy.
• When your dog is used to the word association you can go outside and give the cue word before he toilets.
• After he has been follow the act with “good” (cue word) and reward.

The Intellectual Shih Tzu

Your Shih Tzu will need sufficient attention and training to exercise his intelligence. If he is not provided with this opportunity regularly he will most certainly get into trouble.  The under stimulated Shih Tzu will become grumpy and self-absorbed. He may destroy things and guard the furniture.

Luckily despite his genetic stubborn streak the Shih Tzu loves to learn tricks and be entertained by children, remember though that young children should always be supervised with dogs. Alongside every other breed of dog reward, positive experiences and holding interest is how to train a Shih Tzu with success. This breed responds wonderfully to clicker training.

The Fundamentals of How To Train a Labrador Retriever

By Sally Gutteridge | Breeds , Posts , Training

The Labrador retriever is a simple dog. He asks very few questions and has much love to share around. He doesn’t have the high and often complicated intelligence of other working dog breeds. If, however, any dog breed had the capability for emotional intelligence the Labrador would be it.

The Labrador is a gun dog who was originally bred to retrieve injured or dead birds after they have been shot. His specific employment is to carry the quarry in his soft mouth and often walk through wet and rugged conditions. The Labrador is still used regularly in this circumstance as well as being a popular and common family pet.

Trainability of your Labrador

This breed of dog is extremely trainable and with his loyalty and consistency is perfectly suited to a working life providing assistance to disabled people. The Labrador is trained as a guide, hearing and disability assistance dog in many countries. This breed of dog is also employed to work with police and in military circumstances to search for weapons, explosives, drugs and many other things. In fact any professional dog trainer in any field will be able to help you with how to train a Labrador.

Food and Weight

The dog’s behavior around food will need to be monitored. Most Labradors are often continuously hungry. Weight gain is probable if food intake is not monitored and this can put strain on joints and organs. This breed can have a tendency to believe that he must eat until bursting point. Luckily he will usually accept any type of food therefore carrot pieces or cherry tomatoes can be useful training treats. If this is not working it is worth taking training reward directly from your Labradors daily food allowance.

Fear barking, how to train a Labrador to focus

The Labrador, particularly the female of the breed can develop spooking behavior. This will consist of growling or barking at a stimulus. Based in fear the spooking behavior is simply an instant reaction to a sudden and unexpected visual stimulus. It takes the form of instant surprise followed by a noisy defense. If spook barking is not handled correctly, the behavior can become complicated by the dog moving forward to the stimulus. Still based in fear this can be a dangerous habit to develop.

Prevention of the behavior is paramount. By distracting your dog from anything that may cause a reaction, you will take away the element of surprise. When on walks with your dog, encourage him to look at you regularly. When he does, then reward and reinforce with a treat. Practice keeping his attention on you for as long as possible by using multiple treats and gradually withholding the reward. You can then utilize this by identifying possible trigger experiences before the dog does and keeping her attention on you until the trigger has passed.

How to train a Labrador to greet in a social manner

One of the main things to look out for when you are researching how to train a Labrador retriever is general manners. Your Labrador will jump up at everyone possible, if not trained otherwise. If you are seeking how to train a Labrador from puppyhood the most important thing to remember is that one day this cute puppy will grow up. The Labrador loves human contact and can easily grow into a bouncy and hazardous adult dog.

Because it is tempting and easy to lean down and praise a puppy that is small and cute, the dog as a youngster often learns that jumping up brings reward. By the time he begins to grow, this behavior is established and the owner does not know how to deal with his behavior. Eventually the dog becomes a 65lbs (30kg) lump that is persistent in his jumping up because it always worked for him before.

Luckily, how to train a Labrador to keep all four paws on the ground is easy with minimal research. You need to teach him an alternative behavior. With food reward and positive reinforcement this should be easy. Sit on greeting is a great alternative to jumping up.  There are many options to use when working out how to train a Labrador to sit. Clicker training is a great reinforcement technique, particularly for the Labrador and his insatiable hunger.

When it is confirmed in his mind that sit brings food reward your Labrador will offer it whenever he senses food in the general vicinity. You will then need to add a command word. “Sit” is the obvious one. When your Labrador greets you then utilize the word sit and your treats before he jumps up. Timed properly this will work. If your dog jumps up or tries to grab for the treats simply turn away and hold the food above your head. He will soon learn that it is more rewarding to greet you nicely than with the extra gusto of previous occasions.

How to train a Siberian husky – Canine of Intelligence

By Sally Gutteridge | Breeds , Posts , Training

Beauty and brains unite in the Siberian husky. Bred to pull sleds for many miles in arctic conditions, this breed of dog is becoming increasingly popular as a family pet. With an appearance similar to that of the white wolf and great strength of body and mind the husky is a canine to be admired.

A home for a husky

If you are new to the breed and are thinking of offering a home to a husky, intensive research on how to train a Siberian husky is advisable. You will need to provide this type of dog with a particularly understanding and active home. An unstoppable intellect and intense need to be physically and mentally occupied is a prominent trait of the husky.

Bred to live and work in freezing conditions, midsummer heat can be particularly uncomfortable and dangerous for your dog. Training sessions should be catered around the dogs need to be as physically cool as possible.

Training your Husky

Learning the theory on how to train a Siberian husky will probably not prepare you for the practicality of the exercise. Intelligence, stubbornness and the questioning nature of your dog may prove frustrating. Your husky will learn a trick quickly and soon become disinterested if asked to repeat it too often. Training sessions could easily become a case of you saying “jump” and your dog asking “why”.

The answer to the question, how to train a Siberian husky, is as simple as this; Treat him as an intellectual equal. Be aware that he only needs a small amount of positive reinforcement and reward based training to learn something new. The husky will only respond to positive handling and training.  He will work out what you want from him quickly and with minimal effort. Your job is to work out how to motivate him to repeat his prior learning when required.

Avoid a Stalemate Situation.

There is absolutely no point in persevering on a training stalemate situation with your husky. His stubbornness will prevail and training will become a frustrating exercise. If your request is falling on deaf ears, then change tactics to achieve your desired result. If you are asking something of him and the request is being met with lack of interest, then briefly ask for something else and reward him on delivery. You will take him by surprise which can then be used to coerce him into the previous request. How to train a Siberian husky, along with any other super intelligent yet independent breed can take thought and a little trickery.

Recall – How to train a Siberian husky to come when called.

Recall can be one of the main problems with this breed. Unsurprisingly as their nature says run in a straight line. Just as a Labradors nature says pick something up and a terriers instinct is to shake an object around. Knowing how to train a Siberian husky to come when called and actually being able to get an off leash husky back on request can be very different.

Traditional recall training is a must with this breed. It is certainly not advisable to let your husky off the leash and hope for the best. Begin by recalling on the leash and always reward your dogs return. Vary your reward to keep the dog interested. He will soon become bored of the same treat. A squeaky or other noisy toy may be good motivation.

The Long Line

Introduce a long line to allow your dog to run. Your husky must be allowed to run otherwise he will be unhappy. A life of leash walks is not how to train a Siberian husky. A long line can be made of any type of rope or cord, keep in mind though that it could be slipping quickly through your hands at some point so choose a fabric that is less likely to burn your skin. Most pet stores carry what is called a cotton web long line, it’s a great inexpensive option.

When you are certain that your dog will return to you on leash leave the long line attached to his collar and remove the traditional leash. Increase the distance of recall gradually but still maintain in control by holding onto the long line. Eventually and only when confident, you can drop the long line on the ground and practice recalling your dog in the traditional manner. At this point the long line is your insurance policy. Progression from long line work will be short recall off leash. You can also shorten the long line until you no longer need it. Training often and several times a day is the best to train your husky to return on command.

By living with and learning how to train a Siberian husky you will certainly learn a lot about canine behavior. You will also benefit from the necessary research of many positive reinforcement dog training techniques.

How to train a Golden Retriever with kindness.

By Sally Gutteridge | Breeds , Posts , Training

The Golden Retriever.

The Golden retriever. A wonderful big bear of a dog with the heart of a lion. A sturdy breed of dog that is a favorite as a family pet. Generally trustworthy, the golden is a happy and unquestioning dog.  Many fans of this breed have multiple golden retrievers in their households.

A visitor to any home containing a golden retriever will receive a warm welcome from the dog. Usually, alongside the offer of a carried toy or borrowed item of footwear.

Healthy and happy.

A well and responsibly bred retriever will be a healthy and happy dog. Health risks are predominantly arthritis, hip dysplasia and the joint pressure of weight gain. Alongside others in the retriever group the golden enjoys his food. Working out how to train a golden retriever should not take you far passed the dog biscuit cupboard.

Originally bred for retrieval of game during shooting activity.  The versatile and friendly nature of the golden has led to it being trained in many roles. Dogs of this breed are employed as guide dogs for blind people and assistance dogs for people with other disabilities. Police and military also often employ golden retrievers as search and detection dogs.

In comparison to some other working breeds the golden retriever will need less mental stimulation. Not because he is any less intelligent, as he certainly isn’t but because he is a steady and content dog that is equally happy to learn or relax.  Good with other dogs, the golden retriever enjoys canine interaction.

Because he is bred to travel long distances on foot to fetch and carry injured game birds, the golden retriever will need a lot of exercise.

Researching how to train a golden retriever will show that this dog will respond well to reward based dog training techniques. Your golden is not overly complicated and is intelligent enough to figure out that it is to his benefit to repeat any behavior that is reinforced by a food reward.

How to train your golden retriever with clicker training

Tune your dog into the sound of the clicker. Your aim is to ensure that your golden looks to you for a food reward every time he hears a click. You can do this easily by introducing the sound and promptly following it with a treat multiple times over two to three ten minute dog training sessions.

Test the effectiveness of the click sound by waiting until the dog is looking away from you, and then pressing the clicker. If he looks at you immediately for a treat, then your dog is tuned into the sound. If little attention is paid to the click then you will need to continue the tuning in process.

Once the click is properly conditioned, you can use it to encourage your golden to repeat any behavior that you would like it to regularly offer. You can research how to train your golden retriever with a clicker and positive reinforcement .You will find many tricks that you can teach your dog.

The main thing to remember when deciding how to train your golden retriever is that a click should always result in a treat. Regardless of which behavior you may have reinforced with the sound.

Resource guarding

Resource guarding and possession of food items or other objects should never be directly challenged. Teach your dog to swap any resource from an early age and never place a lot of value on any one item. Confrontation or punishment is not how to train a golden retriever with success. Positive reinforcement and reward is essential when training your dog.

Bite inhibition

Bite inhibition should be taught to every puppy. The mother dog will allow her puppies to mouth her in play and interaction but will correct with a yelp or nip if the bite from her young is too hard. A dog with low bite inhibition does not realize the difference in the severity of a bite. Low bite inhibition means that a biting dog will bite hard. Researching how to train a golden retriever bite inhibition is a must with any new puppy.

Motivation and reward

A pocket of treats and a teddy bear with a squeak will probably ensure the most effective results when working out how to train a golden retriever. This delightful breed of dog will do anything for a biscuit and an extra ear rub.

How to train a German Shepherd by reward and reinforcement

By Sally Gutteridge | Breeds , Posts , Training

German Shepherd Dog

The German shepherd dog is beautiful. An intelligent canine from working descent, he will bond with and protect his handler with courage and conviction.

This breed of dog is employed by police and military within roles ranging from crowd control to tracking and physical capture of an escaping subject.

The German shepherd can make a wonderful family pet and when choosing a particular dog, it is important to keep in mind that many suffer from hip dysplasia and related problems. This is normally due to irresponsible breeding. Both parents of a litter should be hip scored before mating. When taking on an adult dog certainly check the gait. If the dogs back slopes downwards towards the tail it may have a problem with hips due to excess pressure. It is not always possible to see potential hip problems but sometimes they are obvious.

How to Train a German Shepherd Dog

A biddable and handler focused dog, this breed is a pleasure to train. Extensive research on how to train a German shepherd dog is not always necessary. Positive reinforcement and reward based training is however essential.

Train your German shepherd with a suitable reward. His intelligence will ensure timely response and keen learning. Clicker training is a perfect tool when deciding how to train a German shepherd dog.

Train a German shepherd Dog with Positive Reinforcement.

Clicker training works on reinforcing positive behavior with a reward. The dog must first learn that a click always provides a treat. Then the behavior that you would like him to repeat is pinpointed with the sound. Any unhelpful behavior is ignored completely as this will encourage the dog to offer the behavior that provides him with the click and reward. The high intelligence of this breed ensures that he will pick up this type of training quickly.

When learning how to train a German shepherd dog with a clicker, you must first ensure that your dog is completely in tune with the sound and always expects a treat after hearing it. If the dog is not rewarded every single time, then the sound will lose its effectiveness. Also, if you click at the wrong time, you must still provide the treat despite the unhelpful behavior that you may have unwittingly reinforced.

Walking and other Dogs

The German shepherd is handler focused and obedient by nature. As they mature and if trained well they rarely go far from the person they are out with. Before bringing your dog home for the first time, take some time to research how to train a German shepherd dog on walks and recall. Practice calling him back for rewards on the leash initially. Extend the leash to a long line and continue to practice recall. Only if you are certain that the dog will return on command, should you begin to let him off the leash.

Socialized well they can accept other dogs and play with little concern, but the primary focus is often their human family.

The Family Protector

Be aware that a German shepherd is protective by nature. It is for this and their fearlessness that they are employed in guard dog roles. Your dog may guard the person holding its leash and everyone within the family including children. This should always be discouraged by regular and careful socialization in varied situations. The German shepherd can be a reactive breed that could bark or snap relatively quickly if he feels threatened or cornered. Keep this in mind when deciding whether or not you should welcome a German Shepherd into your home.

Overall, the German shepherd as all other dogs can be a wonderful family pet if properly trained and socialized. Noble, loyal and stunning to look at ensures that as a breed type, they automatically command a certain respect.