Dog Obedience Training Blog
Category : Puppy Training
Misconceptions about Shelter Dogs
Image courtesy of: Cecelia / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
While many people want to purchase a new puppy from a good breeder, there is an alternative for those who don’t want to fork out the big bucks just to get a great pet. Consider a shelter dog. Many of these dogs are just waiting for someone like you to come along and rescue them, and they are more than ready, willing, and eager to provide you all the love and companionship you could possibly want!
Common Misconceptions about Shelter Dogs
by RenewTrients March 15, 2010 10:25 am
Bringing home a shelter dog can be very rewarding. Not only can they be as loving, loyal and amusing as dogs raised by breeders, you’ll also feel a good about the fact that you’re saving a wonderful animal from an uncertain fate inside the shelter. While there are those people who will love their pets no matter where they come from, there are also those who would think twice about getting a shelter dog. Most of the time, they are apprehensive about bringing home a rescued dog because of established misconceptions. Here are some of them:
Shelter dogs were abandoned because they are bad pets. Absolutely not true! A shelter dog might have been taken to the facility because of a number of possible reasons including death of the original owner or maybe because the owner was neglectful or abusive so the authorities took the pet away from his custody.
Shelter dogs have behavioral problems. Instead of making generalizations, you can try to see the dogs for yourself and ask the shelter staff about their history and disposition. Most shelter dogs are only too happy to be adopted by a new owner that they end up rewarding them with love and loyalty and often make full emotional recovery.
Dogs in shelters are old and sickly. While it is possible that some shelter dogs have medical conditions, most are, young, vibrant and healthy. And so what if some of the dogs are old? Many shelter dogs that become very good companion animals are senior dogs. They usually make great pets for people who are old or less active themselves.
I can’t get purebred dogs in shelters. As a matter of fact, you can get dogs belonging to even the rarest of breeds in animal shelters. But mixed breeds make great pets too, especially because they often experience less medical problems than purebred dogs.
Indoor Doggy Games
Bored? Play a game with your dog!!
I live in Southern Georgia, most people move to the South to avoid the dramas of the weather known to our cohorts to the North. Being from Wyoming, I know the joys and horrors of winter and most of the time I joke that we don’t even have seasons here in the South it is just one extended summer. However, much to my chagrin we have had a winter this year. My pipes have frozen, and I have had to scrape my windows more than a dozen times (after 3 years I had to buy a window scraper).
The whole country it seems has been experiencing a winter of record, so I thought while we are all cooped up inside we should discuss some of my favorite foul weather games to pass the time until spring comes and we can get outdoors and get the exercise we are all in need of!
Dogs need mental stimulation, without it they begin to choose naughty behavior and get into trouble. Our dogs cannot watch television, they can’t read books or do any of the things we usually enjoy when exercise outside is not an option. However, they still have the same amount of pent up energy building up day by day and they need a way to expel it.
The easiest way to entertain your dog is to give him something exciting to chew. Chewing is a minimal form or exercise and mental stimulation for your dog. Often, if we don’t provide an appropriate chewy, our dogs will begin chewing things that they shouldn’t put their mouths on. Chewing gives them something to do.
I also like to play indoor games with my dogs when the weather is bad, or when their energy level is driving me crazy and I can’t take them outside for some physical exercise. The whole point of playing games with your dog is for both of you to enjoy yourselves! Pick games or invent games that you will both enjoy.
I love to play hide and seek with my dogs!! Hide and seek not only builds a bond, it also teaches your dog to find you utilizing his other senses; his sense of smell and his sense of sound. I want my dog to know how to find me using all his senses just in case there is ever an emergency. Instead of panic at being lost, by playing this game, I have given my dog the tools to find me and he thinks he is playing his favorite game. This is also a great way to teach your dog that the word “COME” is the most exciting and fun word he can hear.
- I often use a helper (or you have to tell your dog to stay), this is great for kids, and one person holds the dog’s collar while the other person dashes off and hides.
- Both people should stuff their pockets with great treats. As soon as the person finds a fun hiding spot they should call the dog and encourage him with every step “Rover, Come…good boy, come, good boy, good boy, good boy COME!” this excitement and encouragement gives him the motivation to find you.
- When he finds you, praise him and give him a treat while person #2 dashes off to hide.
- Repeat this process. In the beginning, I like to hide in easy spots, like just in the next room, as play continues I enjoy hiding in funny places like in the bathtub, under the table or in his crate. The one rule, have fun and enjoy, your dog has a sense of humor, make him laugh!
I also like to hide my dog’s toys and teach him to find them. Find your dog’s favorite toy, first I like to wave it around in front of him to get him excited. Next I hide it in an easy spot, beside me or behind me and tell him to find it. Praise him and you can even give him a treat when he finds his toy. Next try hiding the toy in a more precarious but semi-easy place. You may have to use a helper or tell your dog to stay as you hide his toy.
- During this stage I hide the toy so it just sticks out and is barely visible. Once he has mastered this process begin to hide the toy better so that he cannot see it. Tell him to find it. You may have to follow behind or walk past the toy to help him at first. Don’t show him where it is, just stand near and encourage him to look or sniff for it. The next step is to hide the toy on all different levels in your home.
- Don’t just hide the toy on the floor or in one room, also utilize higher surfaces like book shelves or chairs, next move it even higher and perhaps even out of his reach. Challenge his brain so that he never knows where his toy might be. Sometimes, I even hide it in my pocket or in other silly places. Have a good time, mix it up and enjoy bonding.
- The next and final stage is to use a specific name for specific toys. This gives you the option to hide 2 toys at once and ask for him to bring you one. I like this game because I can hide a few toys and sit and watch TV while he has to go and find them!
There are many things to do inside to entertain yourself and your four legged friend when the weather is bad! Teach your dog a trick! Let me know what trick you would like to teach your dog!!
Don’t let the weather get you down, grab your best friend and play some games, if you do this you will build a bond that lasts a lifetime!
Newspaper Puppy
courtesy of ihasahotdog.com
This puppy owner thinks they have it all covered, but maybe this little guy has other ideas!
Does Crate Training Work?
Crate training your dog is an important decision. Does it really work? The truth is that for most dogs, the crate provides a secure area where they feel safe and protected. Crate training is also a great method to lead your pet right into house training.
Does Crate Training Dogs Work?
www.obediencetrainingfordogsblog.com
A dog crate is a cage made of wire or molded plastic. The purpose of crate training dogs is to provide confinement for reasons of security, safety, housebreaking, protection of household goods, travel or illness. You may think that putting your pet in a crate is mean or inhumane and might cause your pet to resent you or to be psychologically damaged. However, dogs view the world differently than people.
Helping Your Dog Live a Long and Healthy Life
courtesy of www.factoidz.com
Since our beloved dogs become such a big part of our families, we want them to live as long as they possibly can. Find out more about how you can help.
How to Help Your Dog Live a Healthy and Long Life
by Brenda Nelson, www.factoidz.com
Although we know that our beloved dog will probably die before we do, there are many things an owner can do to help their dog live a longer life.
Dog Selection
Right from the start, the dog you buy, and the place you buy it from, can have a huge impact on how long it will live. Pups sold in pet stores come from mass breeders, places who only breed for profit. As such these pups may typically have genetic health problems or predispositions to some problems. Of course, most owners know that small dogs live longer than big ones, and most pets stores sell only small breed pups.
Is Your Dog Right for You?
courtesy of www.dogstardaily.com
If you are thinking about getting a dog, or perhaps adding another one to your household, you might want to read this article to see if you have done your homework on figuring out just what type of dog is really right for you and the best methods for training your dogs to fit in with your lifestyle.
An Un-Tapped Resource
by Marie Finnegan, January 17, 2010
Dog Star Daily
As dog trainers we regularly see people who have chosen to add a dog to their home that isn’t always the best match for them. Our job is to teach them how to live together in spite of the challenges a mismatch may bring with it. Most of the time we can help, but sometimes sadly the dog ends up in rescue instead, despite our best efforts.
What I don’t understand is why more people don’t ask trainers their opinion in finding the right dog for them. We see and work with more breeds and shelter dogs regularly than they will ever meet in a lifetime. Some of us even live with multiple breeds in our own homes. Not to mention the fact that dog trainers know about dog behavior and breed traits because it is our job to know this information.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS
So, you’ve got a new puppy, and you may have experienced the feeling of being overwhelmed with the new responsibilities and demands on your life. Here’s an article that lets you know you are not alone.
Great Expectations
by Gillian Ridgeway, January 13, 2010, Dog Star Daily
You think you are alone. Everyone else sees your new little bundle of fluff as fun and exciting. As the neighbors ooh and aah in delight over Oscar’s antics, you heart starts to sink. What have you done? How did you ever think that getting this puppy would add delight to your life?
It all starts with an image. The image that we focus in our heads is one of the loyal, faithful companion. The companion that is willing to dole out unconditional love to us after a hard day at the office. We visualize ourselves tossing a stick on a beach just as the sunset is approaching. We visualize ourselves sipping coffee at an outdoor café with our dogs patiently waiting at our sides and we visualize just how cool this dog will be as he lopes around the dog park, with only eyes for you.
Lessons We Can Learn From Our Dogs
Dogs are so forgiving, so eager to please. They can be trained to behave with manners that would make anyone proud. What if we were more like them? Here’s an article from CBS’s Bob Schieffer, with a whimsical look at how much better off we might be if we took a few lessons from our dogs.
Bob Schieffer Says Humans Would Be Better Off If We Let Dogs Be Our Teachers Read the rest of this entry »
Life Without Dogs
Courtesy of myseattlepets.com/delta society
While we love our dogs, most of us, at some point consider how uncomplicated our lives might be if we didn’t have our four-legged companions.
Here’s a humorous look at just what we might be missing!
Posted by Lori Moak-Kean at December 30, 2009
MySeattlePets.com
If I didn’t have cats or dogs……
“I could walk around the yard barefoot in safety.
My house could be carpeted instead of tiled and laminated.
All flat surfaces, clothing, furniture, and cars would be free of fur.
When the doorbell rings, it wouldn’t sound like a kennel.
Read the rest of this entry »
Is Your Puppy Like a Child?
Are puppies like children? I believe we can all agree that children must be taught, at a very early age, how to behave, what foods are healthy for them, things they should not touch, etc. And, the same is true for our puppies. They need to be properly trained so they know what is, or is not, acceptable behavior.
This article addresses some of the similarities, but also the differences.
Dogs are like little children
by Roberta Baxter, Eugene Dogs Examiner, December 19
When we leave the home, unless we have a video camera, a pet owner does not know everything that goes on while they are away. Even if the camera is set and ready to record, don’t bank on it telling you everything. The mind and brain of a dog can be sneaky. Do you wonder if they know what is right and wrong? Just remember the canine is a dog and is not human. Pet owners sometimes think of their dogs as children, but they are dogs, folks.
