All Things Dog Blog

Showing posts with label puppy training. Show all posts

Sunday, July 31, 2016

Training Your Super Puppy To Be Fearless

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

Are you planning to add a furry member to your family this holiday season? You're not alone. Although the downsides are often touted, a well thought out addition is fine. The reality is that many families choose this time of year in order to use the extra time off to begin house training and bonding with their new family member. Today I'd like to offer a few tips from the Whole Dog Journal, along with my own enhancements to their ideas, sure to aid in helping you raise a fear-free pup.

Although ideally you'd want your new little buddy to have these experiences prior to entering your home, adding these enhancements to your holiday playtime will most certainly be good for his growth and potential to be a wonderful family member:

Give your pup a chance to experience walking on 7 types of surfaces: carpet, concrete, wood, vinyl, grass, dirt, gravel, and wood chips. Each different texture will have its own lessons, most importantly that different footing is needed and nothing should be feared by a variety of textures under the pads of the feet.
Offer 7 different types of play objects for a variety of stimulation: big balls, small balls, soft fabric toys, fuzzy toys, squeaky toys, paper or cardboard (toilet paper/paper towel centers are perfect), metal items (without sharp edges and sticks or pieces of hose. Remember that all playtime with toys should be supervised to assure your puppy's safety.
Include 7 different locations in your puppy's experiences: front yard, back yard, basement, kitchen, car, garage, laundry room and bathroom. You'll want your little one to know all of these places are safe and fun, so make sure to offer pleasant experiences in each.
Introduce your pup to at least 7 different types of new people: babies, children, seniors, people with canes, walkers, or wheelchairs, people in uniforms, people wearing hats, and men with beards.
Provide 7 different challenges for your pup to work his problem-solving skills: climb around inside a box, climb off the top of a box, go through a tunnel, climb up steps, climb down steps, climb over obstacles, play hide an seek, go in and out of a doorway with a step up or down, run around a fence. Surely you'll be able to find even more challenges like these. Each will teach your new friend lots of ways to solve new problems.
Offer meals in a variety of different containers: metal, plastic, china, cardboard, paper, pie plate and a frying pan. Don't forget to also use food-dispensing balls for a slower way to serve a meal, while your dog learns to push the ball around the house to retrieve his dinner.
In addition to these ways to eat, your pup should learn that eating in a variety of locations is also a good thing: crate, yard, kitchen, basement, laundry room, living room, bathroom and even an RV. The lesson is clear; wherever you offer food to your pup, it's still yummy!
Exposure to many different types of noises will help your pup learn that sound is not a scary thing. Include as much variety as possible, focusing on things like banging pots, thunder, loud music, traffic, sirens, vacuums, landscaping equipment, fireworks, dog parks, and crowds

Want to get your puppy started as a doga partner early? Try our short yoga videos that include tips on yoga poses as well as how to include your pup in your practice. Join us for more doga fun as we continue to expand this series.

What are your ideas for helping your littlest new family member get a good start? I'd love to share your tips. The comment link is always open!

Monday, August 18, 2014

Ask the Dog Trainer About
Quelling Puppy Biting Behavior

Michael Baugh CDBC CPDT-KSA

Buffer

courtesy Michaels Dogs
Puppy Biting Hurts!

Sure they're cute. But puppies bite. In fact, they can be little piranhas. And, puppy biting hurts.

There is good news, though. Seriously. Most puppies do grow out of their nasty biting habit. Better still, there are things we can do to help speed up the process.

So, grab a paper towel to stop the bleeding. Then check out this video for a quick course on how to keep your puppy’s sharp teeth off your delicate skin.

If your puppy is a bit older and still bites to get your attention, take a look at this article on play biting. It may not be aggression but it hurts too. Young puppy or older puppy – either way, a qualified training professional can help bring some sanity back to your life.

Michael Baugh CDBC CPDT-KSA is a dog trainer in Houston, TX. He produces TV segments on dog training and behavior for KHOU-TV in Houston and WFAA-TV in Dallas.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Puppy Training Part II:
Start with Motivation

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

It should come as no big surprise that most dogs are food motivated. Hold out a particularly yummy smelling treat and you've got Fido's attention until you give it to him. That makes training treats an incredibly powerful training tool--quite possibly the most important one you'll find for most dogs.

You can harness that motivation and use it to train a dog to run an agility course, perform freestyle dance, and yes, even love his crate and potty outside. You simply need to get a treat with a strong aroma and make certain your timing is spot on. When you associate receiving that delicious morsel with the exact moment that your dog runs into his crate or tinkles on the grass, you've got a winning combination that will soon have your pup building the good habits you seek.

In the agility world, many of the trainers refer to a strong-scented treat as a 'high value' treat. These are the ones your dog will overcome fears to earn. So if a crate is new to your rescue dog, try burying a few treats inside his crate, under the bedding and give him a chance to bond with that crate over the yummy goodies it delivers. Build on short visits inside the crate, assuring a very comfortable bed and a location that allows him to see you and your family wherever you spend most of your time at home.

With each visit that gets a little longer and increasingly easier, offer a reward to build that comfort level even more. Make sure you use small bits, so as not to upset your dog's tummy, going especially tiny for your puppy while training her.

One popular choice for your toughest training jobs is Zukes Mini Naturals. These moist miniature dog treats are easily broken up for the tiniest of puppies, but suitable for frequent rewards during daily training with your older dog as well. Available in 4 flavors (peanut butter, chicken, salmon and rabbit), test them all to learn which appeals to your pup's senses the most. You'll want to determine his greatest motivator. This will be the treat of choice for the more challenging training to come.

courtesy Zukes

With no wheat, corn or soy, you'll be giving your pet a low calorie reward (less than 3 1/2 calories per treat) that isn't likely to aggravate any allergies and is filled with whole food antioxidants for good health. To learn more about their extensive line of products, join Event Barkers for our upcoming Twitter Party. Healthy nutrition is at the root. Stay tuned for more details coming soon...

Event Barkers is helping Zukes get some promotional exposure on Twitter with a Twitter Party to be officially announced soon.Watch for details to come here and on our other team blogs.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Training Tips for New Pups: Part I

by Carrie Boyko, CEB

While I'm a staunch believer that you really can teach an old dog new tricks (Xena proved it!), this series is intended for puppies and focused on house training. Whether you have a new puppy or a rescue that needs to bolster his indoor potty manners, this series of articles is meant for you.

Let's start with a few basic assumptions. Most puppies and dogs prefer not to soil their own bedding, and to that end will go as far away from their sleeping spot as possible to leave their deposits, when the time comes. If you're doing your part staying on top of teaching, this will happen. Your part is what we'll be covering in the remaining parts of this series. For now, try to be sure to take your pup out to the same spot frequently, allowing him to spend unsupervised time in his crate.

Crate training has been proven to provide the best results toward this goal and we now know that most dogs can and do learn to enjoy this private space where they can have quiet time and no worries of being stepped on while snoozing in an active household. We'll cover some tips for helping your dog learn to love his crate as much as Oliver does. All I have to do is say "Oliver Go Nite-Nite" and off he runs:

When training a young puppy, realize that you are helping this little one learn to hold it until the appropriate opportunity presents itself. The key word here is appropriate. It's up to you to reinforce what is appropriate, so that your pup gains an understanding of what you deem acceptable.

Keep in mind that if you're house training a rescued dog that has had a prior home or no house training, he'll need the same patience and more to understand the new rules, having run by a different set of rules previously. Don't hold this against him; patience will get you there faster than agitation.

courtesy Amazon

Until Part II, please get prepared. You'll need a collar and leash, treat pouch for your waist, very small training treats with a strong scent, and a crate. Armed with these tools, you'll also need to make a decision where you would like your pup to go each and every time he needs to potty. See ya soon for Part II when I'll begin covering each of the above topics in greater detail.

Happy tails,

Watch Event Barkers, DogTipper and 5 Minutes for Fido for news of an upcoming Twitter Party featuring a key product from this series.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Ask the Dog Trainer with Michael Baugh
Puppy Fears: Building Confidence

by Michael Baugh, CPDT-KSA, CDBC

courtesy Philippe Boivin via Flickr.com

Hi Michael,

I have a 12 week old Golden Retriever puppy. She has been great so far and is adapting quite nicely to living at my home, sleeping in a crate, etc. The one thing that we are having a small issue with is taking her on walks. She loves to go out in the side yard to play but mainly lay down (she is very laid back) but once we start to head out on a walk she sits/lays down. I have tried to encourage her with food, toys, and gentle pulling (I try not to too much so as to not hurt/discourage her).

A little background info. I live on a busy street so I think that the traffic noise may have something to do with it. We take her out and will just sit in the yard to try and get her used to the noise. Dublin (the puppy) wears a collar but we always use the harness when she is on the leash.

If there's anything you recommend doing I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks a lot!

Devin

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Dear Devin, This is a great question for all of us who are raising puppies. As Dublin matures she will be constantly balancing curiosity and caution. When our puppy is unsure about something, including the sight and sound of passing traffic, our job is to teach her limits and boundaries – but also that human world is generally a safe place for dogs.

I take a three-fold approach 1) Use reward-based teaching to show the dog what to do in any given circumstance (example: stay out of the street – walk beside me). This adds structure to their life and helps build confidence. 2) Show the puppy that everything is cool. Offer free bits of food, toys, or play in the face of new and uncertain situations. Model calm and cheerful behavior. 3) Give the puppy choices. Never force a puppy into a scary environment in the name of helping her “get used to it.” This can actually make a puppy even more fearful. Let the puppy acclimate (with your gentle guidance and support) at her own pace. She will come around.

While Dublin continues to work on her own bravery and comfort level, I suggest you take her in the car to a quieter area for walks and exploration. Keep in mind also that puppies have short bursts of energy followed by rest. Walks should be brief; you don’t have to cover a lot of ground. With your help she will learn to take on new and more challenging sights and sounds. Her healthy fear will keep her out of the street, while her newfound confidence will let her walk nicely with you alongside it.

Work steadily, but be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither was Dublin.

Michael

used with permission
Robyn Arouty Photography

Houston Dog Trainer Michael Baugh CPDT-KSA CDBC specializes in dog aggression and fearful behavior. He lives with two mixed breed dogs who both always potty outside (any reports to the contrary are greatly exaggerated). Click here to subscribe to his monthly e-newsletter.

Read more of Michael's articles at his Archive Page, or check out his last few here:

Aggression
Two Steps for House Training
Dogs and Invisible Fences
Moving and Movements

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Ask the Dog Trainer, with Terry Lynn Cuyler: Help for Teething Puppies

by Terry Lynn Cuyler, APDT, CPDT-KA

Dear Terry,

Oreo, my toy poodle, is teething. When I come home for the day he's very excited and just chews on your toes or fingers. I was told that when he does this, you're supposed to put your finger down his throat. This doesn't seem right to me, but again we tried that with no luck. Any other suggestions? We yell "no" but then our other dog gets scared and thinks she's doing something wrong.

Elizabeth

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Dear Elizabeth,

Teething puppies are little sharks with those razor teeth, aren’t they? Your puppy needs plenty of teething toys like hard rubber Kongs that have been stuffed and frozen, Nylabone durable products, and even sterilized hollow bones from the pet stores. There are some teething keys made for puppies that look like the teething rings we give human babies. Dogs explore so much with their mouth that the behavior you see is very normal – but painful.

The stuffed toys we humans find so adorable won’t do much to help him through this teething. Limit the stuffed toys and use toys that even dispense his daily ration of dog food to keep him motivated to chew on those-not you. When he does put his mouth on you, cry OUCH? (natural enough) and leave him abruptly for a nano-second. Replace your fingers or toes with a teething toy.

When that doesn’t work, leave the room for 5 seconds and then return. If he still doesn’t get the message, calmly put him in his crate or confinement area with a chew toy until he settles down. Note the times of day he is the craziest and don’t play then. Wait till he is more settled.

PawsProf

Our ASK THE DOG TRAINER Column can be reached at LetsAdoptaDogPark@gmail.com. For more information on Terry Lynn Cuyler and her training, you may find her at Paws Prof. A personal appointment with a trainer will likely provide more specific information on your dog's issues and your questions.

Related Reading:

Managing Your Puppy's Endless Energy