Does the Name Pavlov Ring a Bell?

Ivan Pavlov discovered that by repeatedly ringing a bell while giving a dog food, the dog would then respond to the bell by getting excited and drooling. He made Pavlov’s dog famous for drooling at just the sound of the bell, this was a conditioned response. The foundations of all our communications with dogs are conditioned responses. It is easy to see if you make your dog sit before diner how this would condition a sit response. But if you look deeper you see it is going on everywhere from teaching his name, praise and approval, any and all commands, are all conditioned responses. A dog’s strongest drive is to follow, or please their pack leader. This is how dogs were domesticated in the first place.

A dog needs to see his owner as his pack leader. Naturally dogs want to establish a hierarchy or pecking order within the pack. If you do not show your dog, very clearly, that you are a good consistent pack leader it can be very confusing for him. Even worst he may get the idea he would be a better leader than you.    Consistency is most important in letting the dog know what pleases and displeases you. We want the dog to know exactly what is expected without any confusion.

Positive reinforced dog obedience training is the best way to get, and maintain, the needed respect for owner as pack leader. This does not mean giving your dog a treat to get him to do things or making him sit before you feed him. You want your dog to know his actions please or displease you. You need him to work to earn your praise and avoid your “No”, focussing at least twice as much on the praise and approval. Essentially for every time you tell him “No” you need to give him the chance to earn two or three “Good Boy”s.Most, if not all, of a dogs’ behavioural problems can be controlled using the respect gained through obedience training. This does not mean all of your dog’s problems magically go away when you start training. But the higher you take your respect the easier it is to show your dog which of his actions please or displease you. When the worst thing in his life is your “No” and he knows how to avoid it, he is happy, you are happy. It is a win, win for everyone. Using your praise, and approval, and your negative disapproval consistently, you can condition your dog to do, or not do, almost anything. 

For More Details:- http://www.inhomedogtraining.com.au

What is Dog Psychology?

Dog psychology tries to understand dog behaviour from the dogs’ perspective rather than from a human perspective. Dogs are pack animals and need a pack hierarchy with rules and boundaries in order to survive. The strongest drive in any dog is the please the pack leader. Being able to show your dog what pleases and displeases you, his pack leader, is what dog psychology, and dog training, is all about.

If you want to train your dog to get rid of undesirable behavioural problems, or to perform obedience commands, having an understanding of how dogs think, learn, and their intrinsic traits is a good idea.

Learning the basics of dog psychology will help you to understand things from the dogs’ point of view. All too often we humanise our dogs and expect them understand and follow our language. The term ‘Anthropomorphism’ or personification is used whereby we humans apply our human characteristics to our dogs.

Wikipedia defines Anthropomorphism as:

Anthropomorphism, or personification, is attribution of human form or other characteristics to anything other than a human being.

In other words, we apply our human characteristics to our dogs as if they were humans. We must understand that dogs are animals and have different needs and ways of communicating to us. Undeniably, dogs are not human. They do not learn in the same way that we learn, do they think in exactly the same way as we think. Dogs think more visually than humans. Dogs most commonly learn about each other and about us through visual and scent cues. In particular, they watch body language and smell butts for information. Sometimes, they also use verbal communication, but much less so than we do. For example, dogs generally pick up hand signals a lot faster than they do verbal commands.

Just as dogs are not human, we are not dogs. We should not pretend to be one by growling at them to show dominance or disapproval. Sure there is a bit of surface logic to growling, that is the way their mothers and other dogs would put them in their place. Growling in a sign of aggression, if you growl at your dog to put him in his place and show disapproval you are using dominance aggression. This does not teach the dog aggression is wrong and can even make a dog more aggressive. If dominance aggression is the norm, if the dog feels he needs to show dominance or disapproval he may do so in an aggressive way.

Dogs are not stupid they can clearly see that we are not dogs. They are also very good at observing human behaviour and human gestures. They can hear the difference in words we say like “Sit” and “Stay”, so we can condition responses to those different sounds. Dogs understand tones of voice faster and more readily than words themselves. We can say the exact same words in different tones and have completely different meanings. If we say, “That’s a good dog”, in a high pitched friendly tone the dog will like it. If we yell, “That’s a good dog”, in a loud mean tone the dog will not like it. Using tones of voice and hand signals plays a big part in dog psychology and dog training.

For More Details:- http://www.inhomedogtraining.com.au/background.html

When to Begin Puppy Training

Puppies do seem to mature at different rates making it difficult for many people to know when the best time to start training with their new puppy is. Puppy training, when is the right time to start training a puppy? House training, or toilet training, should begin as soon as you bring a new puppy home. Always start by being positive and anticipating when your puppy needs to relieve himself. Verbally praising highly as he goes where you want him to. Dogs were den dwellers in the wild. Their denning instinct tells them not to relieve themselves where they sleep. If you keep your puppy in a small room, or crate, at sleeping time he will learn to hold it until you let him out. First thing in the morning, or when he demands to go out, take him to where you want him to go toilet and verbally praise him as he does. 

I always tell people not to use the word “No” with their new puppies for the first week or two in a new home. Spoil and pamper your new puppy focusing on bonding before anything else. Many people think they should just let a puppy cry and wine when they are left alone, they believe if they go to him that it will make him a cry baby dog. This is not true that first week. Again bonding with you is the most important first step. You can reassure him and make him feel good about his new home without giving in to the crying. After all he is probably missing his mother and litter mates.

Get him used to a lead, just let him drag it around at first or lead him to his food. Do not make him feel restricted by it. Many dogs don’t like the lead at first, they want to fight it. If you take it off because he fights it, he will fight it to get you to take it off. Put it on and off a lot, at play times, meal times, or just for fun. Never leave a lead on if you are not going to be right with him.  

Once your puppy has settled into his new home, you can start working on socialization. The more friendly experiences we can set up for him the better for socializing. When a puppy has only friendly good associations he is going to be a good friendly dog.

Last and most important NEVER ever hit a dog or puppy, not with anything ever, for any reason. Hitting is confusing sending mixed messages about hands and makes a dog feel you are mad at him, not what he did or is doing.

Chewing is Normal for Dogs

Dogs chew for many reasons it is not just a puppy thing that they automatically grow out of. Most dogs enjoy chewing all of their lives. 

Chewing is normal dog behaviour, chewing is driven by many different instincts. It’s important to understand why your dog chews. You may or may not know; you can have an enormous influence on what your dog chews on. You can keep destructive chewing to a minimum with redirection and proper training habits. We should start by understanding some of the reasons they are chewing in the first place.

Teething: At about 2 months old when their puppy teeth are coming in. Between 4-6 months, as the puppy teeth fall out and are replaced by the adult teeth. Puppies must instinctively chew to help their teeth go through this process. It also helps relieve tenderness of the teeth and gums. Give lots of puppy chew toys like rawhide pup chips, tennis balls, and rope toys, which are made for puppies.

Teeth Setting:  As your puppies’ teeth mature they set in their jaws, approximately 7 months to a year old, they must chew because instinct tells them they may need hard things to chew on to help this process. It is at this age dogs can become the most destructive and dogs that have too much fun chewing at this stage can be destructive for the rest of their lives. It is important you give them things to chew on. Replace anything you do not want chewed with dog toys and things you do want them to chew on. If you try to take away chewing all together you may be fighting a losing battle. Be selective with what chew toys you give. Do not give any that may be confused with other things that you do not want chewed. For example wooden toys, shoes, and socks are not good chew toys.

Exercising Muscles: Dogs do chew to exercise their jaw muscles as well. Around 7-8 months old at the height of the destructive stage for chewing.  Chewing can last for months, even years, if modification or redirection techniques aren’t used. As with all chewing having good chew toys to redirect your dog to can be the key to getting through this time.

Trying or Exploring: What are things in and around your house for? They may be table legs to you, but to your dog, it’s wood. Throughout a dog’s life they may try exploring items by chewing them to see if it is good to chew on.

Cleaning:  Chewing helps keep gums & teeth, clean & strong: Humans brush our teeth, dogs need to chew. There are many dog teeth cleaning products available, rawhide knot bones or dog chew toys that are good for teeth are easy to find.

Stress, Tension, or Anxiety: Chewing helps a dog relieve stress, tension, and anxiety. Many dogs like things in their mouth to help comfort them. If you get them in to their toys using praise and play it will help them increase the chewing on the things you want them to chew.

Boredom: A bored or lonely dog may be more destructive and chew for relieve. This is a stress release as with anxiety and tension. It is common since, if the dog has fun being destructive he wins over his boredom. 

Obsessed: Dogs can develop obsessive chewing disorders. Finding comfort in chewing some dog may get over focused on chewing to the point of obsession. It may be chewing on anything they can get a hold of or obsessed with one object or particular material. Prevention is the best cure but if your dog has an obsessive chewing disorder it can be addressed with behavioural modification by a qualified canine Behavioural Specialist.

FOR MORE DETAILS:- http://www.inhomedogtraining.com.au

The Greatest Gift You Can Give Your Dog

The greatest gift you can give your dog is training. A dog’s strongest drive is to follow, or please their pack leader. Dogs are pack animals in the wild they lived in packs. This is how dogs were domesticated in the first place. A dog needs to see his owner as his pack leader. Naturally dogs want to establish a hierarchy or pecking order within the pack. If you do not show your dog, very clearly, that you are a good consistent pack leader it can be very confusing for him. Even worst he may get the idea he would be a better leader than you.    Consistency is most important in letting the dog know what pleases and displeases you. We want the dog to know exactly what is expected without any confusion.

Positive focused obedience dog training is the best way to get, and maintain, the needed respect for owner as pack leader. This does not mean giving your dog a treat to get him to do things or making him sit before you feed him. You want your dog to know his actions please or displease you. You need him to work to earn your praise and avoid your “No”, focussing at least twice as much on the praise and approval. Really for every time you tell him “No” you need to give him the chance to earn two or three “Good Boy”s.

Most, if not all, of a dogs’ behavioural problems can be controlled using the respect gained through obedience training. This does not mean all of your dog’s problems magically go away when you start training. But the higher you take your respect the easier it is to show your dog which of his actions please or displease you. When the worst thing in his life is your “No” and he knows how to avoid it, he is happy, you are happy. It is a win win all around.


For More Details:- http://www.inhomedogtraining.com.au

The Thing to Learn About Puppy Training

Puppy training is awesome; dealing with youthful puppies has to be one of most rewarding, and fun, components of pet ownership. From your puppy's first weeks at home throughout his/her life training never stops. Starting early, being positive, consistent, and patient are the best tips for puppy training.

Expert training for you, and your puppy, can teach you doggy fundamentals as well as general obedience. It includes investing time with him/her so you both are communicating on the same wavelength. Canines and people think differently, and a great dog training coach works with you and your dog by demonstrating to both of you how your relationship should work.  

The Function of Professional Puppy Training.

Puppies are not just blank slates ready for want ever personality you want to imprint on it. Dogs are born with numerous instincts, the better you understand these instincts the better the puppy trainer and pack leader you will be. Many people endeavor puppy training on their own and most dogs, being followers, fit in very well to most households. The strongest drive in any dog is to please his pack leader. Smart dogs that have the potential to go a leader need to be shown good consistent leadership right from the start. If master is inconsistent, or confusing, a smart dog will think he is a better leader and do as he wishes, take advantage, or even challenge the owner. When shown good consistent leadership these same smart dogs develop into great dogs. Even if you have owned dogs all your life, or you are getting a dog for the first time, you can learn how to be a better pack leader.

First Thing I Teach Any Dog

The first thing I teach any dog is a boundary, usually the front door. I teach them to not cross the threshold until they are told to. I teach this without a command to stop the dog, it is alright if they sit, stand, or lay down, as long as they do not cross the line. It can be any door or gate, in a back door, out the front door or gate, any boundary where you want the dog to not go. This is a handy thing, knowing the dog is not going to go until you say, but I always start with this because it uses their territorial instinct, which is strongly at all ages, to introduce them to my negative and positive in a way they understand immediately. Then, focusing twice as much on positive, incorporate the same consistent negative and positive into a working routine. The working routine is then practiced daily for no longer than five minutes at a time. 

This is a respect building time and should be practiced by everyone that the dog lives with. Some of the time the people should work one on one with the dog, other times working the dog together, so the dog learns that all the people in his pack are above him in the pecking order. The dog has to respect everyone in the house either alone or all together. The practice time will become fun and the dog should get very good at responding to the commands, but even when the dog knows everything you want you should keep practicing. Keep the respect high and let him earn your praise and approval, demanding more and more from his actions and performance. The better the dog works the better the respect and the more you demand the better the dog understands that it is his actions that please and/or displease you. You can then use that respect for behavioral modifications and/or teach the dog to do or not do just about anything. 

For More Detail:- http://www.inhomedogtraining.com.au/

Man’s Best Friend (by Wesley Laird)

Dogs truly are Man’s Best Friend; they are loyal and love you no matter what. Dogs and humans have been living side by side for about 15,000 years, so you might think we know each other pretty well. Dogs are very diverse from breed to breed, countless different sizes, shapes, and colours. All dogs descended from the wolf family that inhabited Europe, Asia, and North America. We know that dogs have had a relationship with people for many years through a study of cave drawings, pottery, and early carvings. But there’s more to dogs than sitting, rolling over, and playing dead. Dogs can be a pleasure to be around and a joy in your life, but untrained poor mannered dogs can be a pain for owner and people around. 

The bottom line is training. As I always say “if you are not training your dog, your dog is training you”. They want and need leadership, you must be there as “pack leader” for them. You need to train them so they know what is expected of them and where they fit into the pack and the world around. Dog training is teaching a dog to respond to commands, or the modifying of actions not natural to the dog, to help the dog be a happy part of our human environment, modifying the dogs’ natural toileting, digging, barking, and chewing behaviours, to fit our life styles. There are many styles of dog training, almost as many as there are trainers. Those that focus on positive, and do not rely on food bribery, are comparatively the best. Teaching your dog to do, or not do, everything out of love and respect for you, the pack leader. Deserve to be your dogs’ best friend. For more information Visit me, Dog psychologist Wesley Laird on my site at http://www.inhomedogtraining.com.au.