Dog Training

Oceanside Dog Training for Your Bichon Frise

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Its one of those beautiful South California days and you are walking to the beach. Your young friend is bouncing happily next to you. His red bandana is secure around his neck, his tongue is hanging out of his mouth and he can barely contain his excitement. Every once in a while you throw a stick and pray he retrieves it to you.

Your forever loving canine, with his bright red bandana, gleefully romps through the reeds and grabs it between his teeth. Whatever he will do next is clearly unknown. He looks at the water and the waves, and then he looks at you curiously. You reach down and attach his lead and thus your oceanside dog training has begun.

Of course, every dog needs training. One of the more fun and pleasant ways to teach your dog to sit and fetch is oceanside dog training. Oceanside dog training on a beautiful California day, overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean, can be very calming and very pleasant for both you and your canine friend. Being by the ocean is a special treat for him and, therefore, he will do whatever he can to please his master. So step one of the psychology of oceanside dog training has been accomplished.

The Beach Training

Oceanside dog training should be started after your dog has mastered a few other commands. First, he must come when he is called and second, it is very important that he can stay at your command. Initiate his first steps into the ocean slowly, carefully and playfully. Run with him on his lead through the shallow surf and play with him. This way he gets used to the water and knows he can quickly run back to safety if necessary.

Sit in the water, throwing his stick around and play with him to get him used to the feel of the water all over his body. When he has mastered this process then venture a little further, where the water becomes deeper. A dog will naturally swim when unable to keep his head above water. Thus, the term, dog paddling was born. After accomplishing this step in oceanside dog training, it is time to venture back into the shallow area and commence throwing his stick and using your fetch command.

This oceanside dog training exercise may take a bit of practice, but it can be accomplished. After your dog has learned to fetch and frolic in the shallow waves, it is time to begin the most difficult task of oceanside dog training, throwing the stick into the deeper waters of the ocean. It does help to have a floating fetch stick for this event. A fetch stick with a rope attached to it is ideal for this oceanside dog training. If your dog has accomplished fetching quite consistently, there should be no problem with him wading and then paddling out to retrieve his stick. He can grab the rope easily between his teeth and paddle back to you.

Your dog will almost naturally swim out to the stick without hesitation if he has no fear of the water. All of these oceanside dog training steps may take several trips to the ocean to accomplish. Concentrate on one step each time you make a trip to the beach. Be very consistent with these steps and in no time your faithful friend will become a fun and playful pal for you at the beach.

What’s the Point in Training Your Bichon Frise?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Have you ever questioned how important it is to train your dog? Perhaps thought you’d just ‘wing’ it, and hope it all turns out OK!

If you have ever complained about the behavior of your neighbor’s dog, remember that you simply must train your dog, whenever you choose to bring one home. For this to happen, you need to teach your dog the difference between acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Even you know that a dog that hasn’t gone through any instructions, training or boundaries will never know what you want out of him. But in teaching him, you teach him a code of conduct, which will lead you to live in a more orderly household, besides being with a healthier and happier pet.

If you have an untrained pet dog:

If you have an untrained pet dog, he is most likely to misbehave since he does not know how to behave himself. If, as an owner, you let him be himself and misbehave, then not only do you suffer but also anyone who comes in contact with him does too. As his owner, you suffer because you live with a dog; the dog suffers because everyone criticizes him for his bad behavior; your neighbors suffer because they live next door to a difficult dog who’s no one’s idea of fun; and finally every dog owner, because each case of a dog’s bad behavior increases the public feeling of anti-dog sentiment, besides giving enough of a handle for legislators to introduce tough legal restrictions on all dogs.

Often, pet dog owners feel that once they bring home a pet and it begins to live with them, it will soon teach himself how to live in a family of human beings. Sadly, however, nothing could be further from the truth than that. In fact, we often tend to forget that our pets are canines, not humans who need to be taught to suit our lifestyle and expectations, much like a newborn baby, or he will continue to display predominantly animal traits such as:

Soil the house or his immediate environment:

He needs to be toilet or crate trained or else he will use any part of your house or yard as his “bathroom or toilet” area. To prevent this from happening, you will need to teach him where to eliminate by marking an area or spot in your yard meant specifically for this purpose. Now, accustom him to using this spot as his elimination ground by training him to “pee or potty” there alone. If he is in the habit of marking out his territory, you will have to break this habit by intensifying his crate training. In order that he understands just what you expect of him—and that includes cleanliness—you will have to clean up after him with cleaners comprising organic digesters.

Also, remember never to use bleach or ammonia because its smell resembles urine to a dog. If you crate train him for a month and accompany that with leash training, he will soon begin to urinate and pass stools in the designated area. Dig things out of their places, drag shoes or clothes from room to room, scratch walls or furniture. Until he learns good behavior you must take responsibility for your things and keep clothing, shoes, trash, eyeglasses, magazines, books, and other nick knacks out of the dogs reach. Until such time that he obeys house rules you will need to be with him when he is loose or crate him when you are busy.

Place his favorite toys with him so that he is not bored also please remember he must not be crated for very long periods. Dogs get bored and need plenty of activity so you must arrange a schedule that includes frequent walks, yard time, training time, and people-time (when he interacts with unfamiliar people and so on). A busy dog does not create mayhem. Also he must feel that creating mayhem will not get him any attention. Some dogs do so to get attention. Don’t punish but give him your love and understanding.

How to Handle Two Dogs

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

It’s quite common for Bichon Frise owners to consider adding a second dog to their family. The main reason for adding the second puppy is to provide additional companionship to the original dog. Before considering adding a second dog in your family there are some things that you will need to consider or stop owning two dogs is obviously doubling your responsibility towards your dogs.

Immediately you are increasing your costs in terms of veterinarian bills, boarding, grooming, as well as food costs. Of course this is not to mention the additional time that you will need to commit to ward the care of your dogs. So you will really need to ask yourself if you are ready that this additional responsibility. Before jumping in and buying the second dog be sure to discuss this with all your family members.

Gaining a consensus within your family about adding a new dog will go a long way to ensuring a combined family effort to ward caring for your dogs. Another thing to consider is that your older dog may need a little time to adjust to the new puppy in the family, especially since your attention focused toward your older dog will be half. Try not to make the mistake of concentrating all your attention on the new dog. This is not fair to the older dog and may cause him or her to act out in order to gain more of your attention.

As part of your decision-making process about adding a second dog, please ask yourself what your main reason is for a wanting to do this. If your intention is simply to provide additional companionship to your older dog because you haven’t been able to spend enough time with him or her, then you really need to question whether you will have the time to devote to not only the new puppy by also a family with two dogs. If you don’t have enough time to the first dog, then you need to ask yourself how you will find more time to devote to two dogs.

In saying this though, life can be twice the fun with two dogs. If you are already a committed dog owner with your first dog, and spend loads of time exercising your %dogbreed%, and grooming your dog and more importantly training your dog, then providing you have the time, you will love having a second dog.

Hunting Dog Training! Who Really Benefits?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Hunting dog training should be taken very seriously because it requires your dog being desensitized to gunfire that normally accompanies a hunt and still be able to keep its focus on the trainer’s commands. Before you begin hunting dog training there are a few steps that need to be taken such as the trainer needing to provide to the dog a solid foundation that ensures the safety of the dog during a hunt. You may choose to start the training when the puppy is no more than four to six months old by introducing it to whistles, check cords, birds as well as the hunting dog training commands.

Teach The Dog Not To Be Frightened Of Gunfire

In the beginning, you may expose to gunfire your puppy so that it can avoid becoming frightened which will come in handy when it becomes an adult hunting dog. You will then need to provide a foundation for the dog/puppy which best suits the animal when it is aged between ten to twelve months and is taught to work in as well as out of the field, and generally become accustomed to whistles as well as commands given by the trainer. It should also help make the dog develop its pointing instincts and learn to be patient when pointing at the time of the hunting dog training.

You must then, after teaching the dog foundation basics, train the dog to remain steady to shot and wing. Commands such as “whoa” will be taught to the dog and it will also learn the basics of real world hunting situations. Once completed, the dog will have learnt to work off leash in the field as well as outside and will then be able to retrieve to hand, which is teaching the dog to bring back the hunt without damaging the hunt. In addition, this stage of the hunting dog training can also involve teaching the dog to respect another dog’s point as well as to refrain from flushing birds.

Any dog that is descended from parents that were hunting dogs will naturally be inclined to the pursuit of hunting and will have abilities that will help it in its hunting dog training. It is also obvious that the hunting dog training will teach the dog basic skills as far as its normal obedience is concerned and the dog should easily respond to simple commands such as “come, sit, and stay and heel”.

It is also not unusual for the hunting dog training routine to require taking the dog into the field for getting it used to the full effect of hunting in a real situation. It is also normal for the hunting dog training to be performed under different weather conditions and different seasons will see the dog getting used to different game.

The Secret to House Training a Bichon Frise

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

It is hard to teach old dogs new tricks and so one need to begin house training a dog at an early age when he is most receptive to learning the correct behavior and be taught how to co-exist with his master. You will need to be patient as well as give your pet a lot of love before it leans how not to soil the interiors of the home. No doubt, owning a pet can be exciting and fun; but, you do have to train it so that it does not do its potty within the home thus not only soiling your expensive rugs, and furniture, but also leaving a foul smell that will be hard to get rid off.

Some Dogs May Not Learn Immediately

The first thing that anyone who wishes to house train a dog needs is a lot of patience as well as a cool head. This is required because your dog may not learn immediately the rules to follow. It can be quite a task house training a dog and you will need to teach it where to eliminate which requires you to praise your dog when it does the correct thing.

It is also often the case that your dog may have a willful personality and is stubborn as well as independent which makes house training your dog difficult. In such cases, you need to let the dog know just who the leader of the pack is and also requires positive as well as continual scheduling. On the other hand, the dog may be of a breed that is quite small and will easily hide under furniture or get into corners where it won’t be noticed and soil while out of sight.

You must remember to try out different house training a dog methods including crate training as well as paper or puppy pad train the dog. Whichever is the method you choose, remember to be consistent because if the dog develops bad habits it will only become that much more difficult to break in the dog once again.

When you begin the process of house training a dog you can also keep a log of the dog’s daily activities so that you know of its routine, which will include a time to feed it, and a time for it to relieve itself, which will help in setting a pattern for it to follow. Consistency in such cases will result in fast turn around times and the dog will soon become accustomed to and aware of these routines and thus free you of the worry of it soiling your home.

How Important Is Guide Dog Training? Is It Worth It?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Guide dog training is completed by talented professionals who are patient, knowledgeable and consistent. These are important qualities for anyone who trains animals. People have fallen in love with some of the animals in the movies or on television who perform tricks and take care of their masters. Everybody has also seen blind people led by a dog who has gone through guide dog training with talented animal trainers. There are many examples of police leading a dog to search a building or a car for possible dangers. All of the trainers prepare their animals for some kind of service, but guide dog training prepares these animals for a very special kind of service.

Guide dog training prepares the animals to help people with a disability. These dogs can lead someone who is totally blind around a large city. The guide dog training prepares the animals to lead their master across streets, through parks and onto busses. The training prepares the animal to take care of the owner in daily life. These blind people would not get to live life so fully without the guide dog training provided to their animals.

Guide Dog Training Takes Knowledge And Understanding

Guide dog training is provided by bright professionals who understand dogs and people with disabilities. They must know both. These experts have to know something about people with disabilities because they have to know about the obstacles these people face in their daily lives. They also need to know animals because they must know how these animals will react in different situations. They have to know about the behavior of each of the animals that they train. Guide dog training includes both the animal and the person in need of a guide dog. It is very important for the dog to have a perfect relationship with the person who needs guidance.

The people and dogs work together on training for at least a month at the centers for guide dog training. The training has to prepare the dogs for many different events and circumstances. While the dog may instantly recognize a hazard on the sidewalk in front of him, the dog also has to recognize dangers overhead as well. The guide dog training must prepare them to avoid high and low problems. The dog must be able to work in a large group of people who might provide some distractions. People may want to play with a dog or give him a treat. The trainers must make sure that the dogs can lead their owner at all times.

Is Guard Dog Training a Good Thing?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Guard dog training is used to train dogs basically to stop unwanted guests. After your dog is trained to be a guard dog he will establish a long pattern and passion of protecting you and your family. Guard dog training is used to make your dog courageous, powerful and confident, as well as learning how to protect his family. Guard dog training should be done by a very competent trainer.

These courses are usually an in-house training where the dog will be boarded for the duration of the course. These trainers can train dogs for the home, business, family, personal, car yard protection and property. A protection dog is both a verbal and very visual threat to an unwanted intruder. These courses most generally have a lifetime guarantee.

It is most important to get your guard dog training done the right way the first time. It is an expensive training, as far as dog trainings go, and there is no need to have to repeat the course because the instructor was unable to train your dog. A good guard dog training course, and trainer, will train your dog properly the first time.

Stages

There are three different stages to guard dog training and you should decide which best fits your dog’s intended use of training skills. The first stage is the basic guard dog training work. There will be a test for temperament and an alert of strangers and intrusions. Outside yard work training is done with this training.

The second stage is the advanced guard dog training work. This training involves the bite and attack training. The third level is the advanced guard dog training with muzzle police training. Family protection, body guard training and stopping individuals is included in the third stage of this training. Though some of these training components may sound viscous and a little scary, the dog will be trained to only use excessive force only if absolutely necessary. This is why some research needs to be done before venturing into guard dog training.

The internet is a good place to research for a good trainer, as well as your veterinarian. Major chain pet stores are another source of finding good trainers. Most of these chains offer training themselves, but guard dog training is a little too intense for them to do in-house. However, they do have a list of established, competent trainers. Pets are their business, and it is only to their advantage to recommend the best trainers possible.

Will Your Bichon Frise Need a GPS Dog Training Collar

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

As any dog owner already knows, a dog collar is an absolute necessity for keeping your dog under control. When you go to the pet store to pick up a collar for your 4 legged friend, you will notice that there are numerous different types of dog collars on the market today. You can purchase a basic collar for about $5 or you can purchase a personalized designer collar for around $50 or more. However, did you know that the latest type of collar is the GPS dog training collar.

What Exactly a GPS Dog Training Collar Is

A GPS dog training collar is 1 of the many options available for those dogs who have a tendency to wander. This is actually the latest advancement in dog collars. This GPS dog training collar is actually embedded with GPS technology that will help you to trace your dog anywhere in the world because it is based upon a sophisticated satellite communication system. Embedded in the GPS dog training collar is a GPS modem and a receiver with software that has been incorporated into the system. So, all that you need to have in order to track your dog is a mobile phone.

Whenever you dial the telephone number of the GPS service provider, the location of your dog is sent directly to you mobile phone via a text message that comes over the Global System for Mobile Communication network. This will track the SIM card that is inserted into your dog’s collar. You can use any type of SIM card in your GPS dog training collar as long as it is configured to work with the Internet. This will then allow you to track your dog from specific websites. You can even figure out what your dog is doing whenever you choose to track him. Your dog’s GPS dog training collar will work on frequencies that range between 900 MHz and 1900 MHz.

There is even a GPS dog training collar that will compel your dog to come back home whenever he wanders away. In this collar is a device that is set with the maximum distance the dog can go from his home. Whenever the dog goes further the GPS dog training collar will emit a disturbing ultrasonic sound that only continues to get louder with the further that your dog wanders from home. As such, your dog is compelled to head back home.

A GPS dog training collar is compact, lightweight, waterproof and easy to use. It only weighs about 250 grams and are made by numerous manufacturers. The price tag on a a GPS dog training collar starts at about $1,000.

How to Find a Good Dog Trainer for Your Bichon Frise?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

This is often quite a difficult decision to make. If you have a dog that is currently proving difficult to train or your finding it hard to stop some annoying problem behavior, then sometimes the best bet is to call in a professional dog trainer or canine behaviorist. With the help of a professional it can certainly make all the difference between being stressed and frustrated with your dog behavior, as opposed to enjoying a wonderfully trained and behaved dog.

But finding a good trainer or behaviorist is not as easy as looking in the Yellow Pages. Be prepared to contact a number of professional trainers and interview them. You will need to determine what their training methods are that they use. You’ll be surprised how much they vary. Be wary to avoid trainers who use negative reinforcement training methods such as yelling, kicking, isolating, or jerking on the lead. This can be quite traumatic to your dog and do more harm than good.

The best training methods, and the style you should look out for are the positive reinforcement methods. That said, your next hurdle is to ensure that the dog trainer or behaviorist you have selected has the appropriate experience and qualifications to do the job right. Don’t just believe what is said on an advertisement or glossy brochure.

Instead, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions to determine the actual qualifications the trainer has and which professional training affiliations he is registered with. Another way to determine whether the trainer you’re considering employing is the right one of the job, is to ask for references or testimonials from previous customers. Keep in mind that the testimonials or references you will be given, will be of a positive nature.

Do your best to try and get a phone number in which to contact a previous customer. This way you can get a much better idea as to whether or not you would like to employ this trainer.

Is an Electronic Dog Training Collar a Good Idea for Your Bichon Frise?

Wednesday, December 29th, 2010

Training your pet and man’s best friend may best be accomplished with an electronic dog training collar, which is certainly a very popular method being used by more and more dog owners today. The electronic dog training collar helps in training the pet, or it can also be used for professional training as it allows the pet to attain a higher level of obedience. You may have your work cut out for you when trying to decide on one particular electronic dog training collar as there are many different types available which can be a bit confusing in the beginning.

Many Changes Have Taken Place

There is no doubt that the evolution of the electronic dog training collar has seen many advances and a good one must have a good range. You will get better results if you have your dog wear one of these electronic dog training collars for at least a few weeks and also make sure that you remove it four to five times every day. Removing the collar will aid in teaching the dog to remember the shocks that he or she feels when wearing the electronic dog training collar.

Once the collar is off and the dog does not experience any more shocks he will learn the difference between getting a shock and not having any and thus learn to obey the commands given to him. You should also ensure that the nature of the shock should be enough to turn his head and using it should be like wearing a leash. Remember, that the electronic dog training collar has two functions – keeping the dog within boundaries and helping it to understand house rules as well as behaviors that it should conform to.

If you wish to teach your dog to stay within the boundaries while using an electronic dog training collar, make sure that you install an electronic fence in the yard. On the other hand, for teaching it correct behavior you can operate it by sending shocks to the dog thereby teaching him that some types of behavior are not condonable. You can also use a remote to send the shock. In any case, these collars will be of great help in teaching the dog proper behavior. Nevertheless, there are voices that are raised concerning the inhumane treatment meted out to the dog.

The electronic dog training collar can also be used to stop the dog from becoming a nuisance when it barks excessively. The important thing to remember is to use the electronic dog training collar in the proper way if you want the best results. It is thus necessary to first know how to operate it correctly before using it on the dog.