Category: Information

  • Dog Obedience Training Exercises: Developing A Well-Trained Dog

    Dog Obedience Training Exercises: Developing A Well-Trained Dog

    Have you seen the movie “Marley and Me“? If you have, then you’ve seen how annoying Marley can be. He’s the type of dog that any dog trainer will not be too happy to meet. He pees everywhere, chews on the living room set, and jumps on people. Actually, his owner, portrayed by Owen Wilson, even brought him to a dog training class to turn him into a well-trained dog.

    Unfortunately, the dog trainer easily gave up on him because he was the worst dog she had ever seen. He made a total chaos in the class, so he was not allowed to finish the course. That was kind of frustrating on the part of his owners. Now, if you have a dog like Marley, what will you do? Why not try these dog obedience training exercises to develop a well-trained dog?

    Sit

    You have to note that your dog must always sit at your left side with his shoulder at your left knee. To make him obey the sit command, you have to first fold the leash in your right hand. Then, call your dog’s name and command sit. Push down on his hindquarters using your left hand and jerk up on the leash with your hand. When he does the sitting position right, praise him and give him a treat.

    Heeling on Leash

    When walking your dog, his right shoulder should be about even with your left knee. Once the leash turns loose, simply call out your dog’s name and give the heel command. Walk forward as soon as you can and then give a hard jerk on the leash. Do not drag your dog when you do this. Once you jerked him into position, praise him with words like “Good boy!”

    About Turn

    When you turn away from your dog, do it to your right to reverse your direction. And as you do it, make sure that you keep your eyes on your dog and then give several short and quick jerks.

    Stay

    To make your dog stay where he is, command him to be in a sitting position. Afterwards, hold up your hand with the flat of your palm facing him, then tell him to stay. If he does, again give him praise but if not, put him back in position and start again.

    Down

    Just like in the stay command, you can make your dog obey the down command by putting him in a sitting position first. With him sitting, give the down command, then slowly push on his shoulders and wobble him off balance at the same time. But there’s another way to do this. You can also place the leash between your sole and shoe heel. Then, give the down command and pull up on the leash.

    So these are just some of the dog obedience training exercises that you can do to develop a well-trained dog. At first, they may seem difficult. But once you tried them and see effective results, you will realize how rewarding these dog obedience exercises could be not only for your dog but also for you.

  • Signing Up For Dog Training Classes: Some Things To Remember

    Signing Up For Dog Training Classes: Some Things To Remember

    Thinking about getting a new puppy or dog? If you are, then you might want to consider signing up for dog training classes, especially if you are a first-time dog owner at that. It’s fun to have a dog or puppy around, but that is if the one you got has good manners. Because if not, you might regret getting one in the first place.

    So, when you bring home your new pet, make sure that you put enrolling in dog training classes on top of your priority to-do list. However, since there are lots of dog training schools offering this kind of classes, you must be keen in choosing the one that meets your requirements. So, when signing up for dog training classes, here are some things to remember.

    First, look into the reputation of the dog training school offering dog training classes. Of course, the more popular the school is, the more reliable it could be. Try to ask from your neighbors for suggestions. Also, you can talk to friends, colleagues, and relatives who have already tried dog training classes for their pets. But the most reliable recommendation that you can get is from your local veterinarian. He/she knows where dogs can be trained well in your area, so check out the name he/she recommends.

    Now, if you don’t anyone who can recommend you a reputable dog school, you can always rely on the Internet for information. Some dog training schools have already conquered the web to reach more potential clients. So, start doing your research online and check on the school’s feedbacks to know whether their services are good or not.

    Next, see whether the trainers comprising the school have sincere love and attachment to dogs. This is a little difficult to determine because anybody can claim that he loves dogs and enjoys training them. So, how to know this? Try to observe the classes first. For example, if you have a friend who has a dog enrolled in one, you can always join them during sessions and note your observations. If the qualities of the trainer meet your requirements, then consider that school on top of your list.

    And lastly, of course, you have to consider the cost of signing up in a dog training class. If your dog is a high-breed, the cost of getting one may already be high enough, much more if you start buying dog foods and bringing it to a veterinarian for some check-ups. So, ask yourself, can you still afford the cost that goes with training your dog or puppy? Before signing up, make sure that you inquire about this first because you might end up quitting the course just because you run out of budget.

    So there you go. Now that you know all these, you’re off to getting the right dog training classes for you and your pet. Take note that a dog training class can very much help you teach your new dog some basic commands like sit, stay, come, and down. Once your pet learns all these, you will have more control over it during social events.

    So, never underestimate the significance of these classes for you and your dog.