Dog Training

Dog crates are widely available and can be used to provide a safe haven area where your dog can feel safe and secure. They can also be used as a training aid to help puppies to learn to be left alone or with toilet training. Crates can also be a useful tool for ensuring your dog is secure and comfortable during transport. Safe haven not ‘sin bin’ Your dog’s crate should be a place where he/she feels secure, safe and comfortable. Crates must never be used as a punishment or to prevent unwanted behaviours such as destruction of furniture. If you are concerned about your dog or puppy’s behaviour you should contact your vet who will be able to refer you to a clinical animal behaviourist if necessary. Get ready to start training Choosing the right crate The right dimensions of the crate will depend on the size of your dog. As a minimum your dog must be able to sit and stand at full height, turn around, stretch out and lie down in a natural position. Remember if you are buying a crat...

As much as we would like to be able to spend all of our time with our puppy, it is not possible for most of us. Ideally dogs should not be left alone for longer than 4 hours. It is important that all dogs can be left alone for periods of time. What happens when we leave to house? Without thinking about we provide clues that we are about to leave the house and out dog may become distressed when he sees these clues Putting on our coat, picking up the car keys, giving the dog a lot if fuss Most dogs have nothing to do when the owners is away Ideally take the dog for a walk or an active play session before you leave so that the dog will be tired. Rather than leaving their food in a bowl, provide slow feeders and toys for your dog while you are away.

Training is easier if we attempt to think like a dog. "Bad" behaviour does not come from a bad place our dog is not trying to annoy us. It is important to start the basic training asap. Don't allow any bad habits to get established. It is easier to teach good behaviour rather that "unteach bad behaviour/habits" We want our dogs to be well behaved so that they can live happily in our homes with us and our families, so that they can be taken for a walk with other dogs and people. Your new puppy has a lot to learn when he comes to your home. He has to get used to new sights, smells and sounds Try to some familiar things for your new puppy, keeping the food and even some bedding from his original home can help him settle in. Keep initial interaction short and fun. If you have young children or other animals it is especially important to allow your puppy a safe place to hide away. A crate is ideal for this purpose. The crate is his safe space, it is...

 WHY DO DOGS MOUTH? It is a normal behaviour They explore new things wit their mouth. But they need to learn that it hurts when they bite us. If he were at home playing with his brothers and sisters and he bit them then they would not play with him. He would learn that biting causes him to be ignored. He just wants your attention. KEY POINTS Ignore bad behaviour Do not give him attention for mouthing

Training a puppy or adult dog to walk on a lead without pulling KEY POINTS Start training when no distractions Short regular training sessions Be consistent If he pulls, don't move Do not punish, pull his lead Make training fun and varied WHY DOES A DOG PULL ON THE LEAD? They are excited to be on a walk They don't know that you don't want them to pull They want to run and explore They don't want to be on the lead They want to greet other dogs/people

KEY POINTS Start your training early Initially this is quite labour intense but once the routine is set there is less involved Ideally when you get a new dog, being able to spend a week a home full-time is great to get the toiling routine set up. During good weather it is much easier to take dogs out very frequently. Toilet training a puppy is easier that toilet training an adult dog. However it should be possible to toilet train a dog of any age. Be consistent Get into a good, daily routine of feeding, exercise and toileting Tips: Take him out regularly. Keep him on a lead so he cannot run away. Have a word that your dog will associate with going to the toilet. When and how often to take a dog out -first thing in the morning -after play/excitement, you could also a have break halfway through a play session and take them out then too -and at least every 1-2 hours during the rest of day -just after each meal -when he shows you cues The more freq...

KEY POINTS Dogs can not be adequately exercised on a lead It is stressful if you think your dog will not come back when called Start training where there arena distractions Dogs should want to return to you, so using treats and rewards is very important WHY DO DOGS NOT COME WHEN CALLED? They may not know their name They may think that they will be punished if they come back They won't want to return at then end of a walk to be taken from the fun they are having in the park

House soiling destructive Chewing excessive barking home alone problems-separation anxiety training problems, jumping up, pulling on leash predictable problems with easy solutions ideally prevent the problem or at least stop it early on dogs socialise easily, but they still need to be socialised

socialisation window

Why is it important that your puppy is used to and comfortable being handled? Dogs may have problems with their eyes/ears/feet, if they are not used to being handled then they may resent exam. You are more likely to pick up early problems if your dog is used to being well handled as a puppy. If dogs are used to handling and exam (and tooth brushing) form young then they will be comfortable with it. Handling should be made to seem like fun Treats can help If your dog does not like his feet bing touched then you should slowly progress to lifting his feet.

great training tools