dog-in-continence-blog

[dog-in-continence-blog]

How to Prepare Your Dog for Your Newborn Baby

If you're like much of the population, your four-legged friend is your first "baby. " Many people worry needlessly about how their puppy will handle a baby in their life. Many owners think of getting rid of the family pets because of fears that they will harm the little one. Please do not do this unless there is no other option. Most dogs, when treated and trained properly, can handle lifetime with a newborn very well. Children and pets make wonderful companions when raised properly together and taught ways to behave with each other. Children that grow up in a home with pets learn respect and love for animals, plus more importantly, respect for life. As the children grow older they can learn responsibility by helping to care for the animals. Animals greatly enhance our and our children's lives beyond belief. Having a baby can cause problems for both humans and dogs, as being the dog tends to be treated differently, and because of this, may act differently. Some owners baby the dog more, causing your canine to become spoiled and hard to handle. Other owners get over-stressed and punish the dog for normal, curious action toward the baby. Often our pets are the center of our world, our "babies" if you would, and can get "jealous" if not equipped to handle losing that status to the new baby. If you are willing to make the time and effort to prepare ones own pets for the new arrival, everyone can live in harmony. Sometimes the dogs become overprotective of the baby. Several owners enjoy and even prefer the dog being a guard for the baby. While it is normal for the dog to become safety of the baby, it is dangerous for the dog to become overprotective and not let anyone near the baby. All of the above examples can lead to the dog being kicked out of the house! As you are making preparations to bring home baby, you need to prepare your dog(s) for the exact same in advance if possible. While most dogs will be very gentle with the baby, many dogs do not see babies as people because of their size, smell, and the strange noises they make. By taking the time to give your dog some extra love in addition to attention he should be fine and not turn to bad behavior to get your attention. You need to prepare and educate your canine friend for what lies ahead. This will ensure that they are ready and willing to accept the new family member with open along with loving paws. Using calming remedies (herbs, aromatherapy, oils) and or prescription medications are also an option to help facilitate a much better behaved dog. You can talk to your veterinarian to inquire about these products and the implications associated with their use. I am a believer with the holistic approach whenever possible, instead of using drugs. Please, please always be aware that your dog is an animal and wildlife can bite or do harm to a baby, intentionally or unintentionally. No matter how well-behaved or loving your dog is actually NEVER LEAVE YOUR DOG ALONE WITH YOUR BABY! I cannot stress this enough. Accidents can happen. You do not want to hurt your baby or have to get rid of your dog because of an unfortunate, and possibly avoidable, incident. If you are unsure that your dog incontinence your new baby, please seek the advice of a professional trainer or behaviorist before making any decisions. May well, your behavior with, and toward your dog matters. It can make or break your dog's acceptance of and even respect for your baby. If you act like a leader, you will be treated like a leader. You want your dog to respect just about every human being in your household, including your baby. You must teach your dog respect for the baby. This will make life easier for any involved. Be firm but fair- Do not let your dog get away with things, but don't be a drill sergeant as well! Try to make any corrections as gentle as possible, but make sure they are effective. Try to have fun with your dog and the training - you both need to enjoy it or neither one will want to continue! Your tone of voice matters- DO NOT YELL at your dog! Share the meaning of the command through the tone of voice - match your voice to what you are telling your dog. Commands should be short-term and succinct, in a low, almost growling voice. Your voice should not get higher as you give the command. Don't sing to your dog or ask the dog a question! You will not get the answer you want! When giving praise, appear to be you mean it! It should be the opposite of a command - higher pitched and enthusiastic. If your dog gets exceedingly excited when you praise him, tone it down a bit and speak softly. Your dog will still understand that he or she is doing a good job, but he will be less likely to jump around and be crazy. Be calm and assertive- Our dogs feed off of our energies and emotions. This affects their behaviors and reactions. If i am relaxed and confident, our dogs will feel the same, and know that we are LEADING them, and they do not have to head us. Use a crate- If your dog does not already use a crate, now is the time to start. A crate is not cruel, it could actually actually be a wonderful and safe place for your dog. Confining your dog at certain times, such as for sleep and also times when you cannot supervise, is no different than putting your baby in its crib for the same. It is actually very easy to teach your canine to accept being in the crate. Most people think that a dog who has not used a crate before will have a hard time, nevertheless that is not usually true. My two older dogs started using the crate when they were 7 and 8 yoa, about the time my son started crawling and exploring on his own. This allowed me to know that both my own child and my dogs were safe and nothing bad could happen. Your child can be hurt by your dog when easy as your child could hurt your dog. The problem lies in the fact that if the dog makes even the slightest pressure to your baby or even inadvertently hurts your baby, it is your dog's fault. It is not fair to the dog for similar to that to happen because you were not supervising the two together at all times! Eliminate bad manners- Bad manners cannot be accepted as they simply can be dangerous to a new baby and a new mom. Jumping and nipping are behaviors that need to be stopped at once. Stealing and rough-play also need to be nipped in the bud immediately. Teach your dog how to be calm and delicate, by praising and treating this behavior. Working commands into everyday life and play makes listening easy not to mention normal for your dog. It becomes natural to the dog and it is less-likely that your dog will be out-of-control. It is also healthful too, as it makes sure that you are training your dog everyday, making you the leader - not the follower. Exercise is vital for good behavior- As I stated earlier in the guide, exercise is imperative for your dog. This ensures that your dog will be far better behaved because it doesn't have the energy to misbehave! Regular walks are important. If you do not have the time to walk for miles, which has a doggie backpack can make a short walk seem like a long walk for your dog. A dog backpack immediately puts your dog inside work mode, which will help to tire her brain. If you evenly balance some weight on each side, such as mineral water bottles, it will further the amount of physical energy that is expended by your dog. Teaching your dog to walk nicely adjacent to the stroller is also important. It is very difficult and dangerous to have a dog pulling and out of control while trying to operate a stroller. If you plan to use a baby carrier, sling, backpack or car seat your dog needs to behave on the leash and walk with you, not pull you. It is a good idea to practice with the equipment before baby comes (use some sort of doll in place of the baby) so that you can work out any kinks or problems. Have regular obedience sessions with your pet dog so that she does not forget her commands and remembers that she has to listen at all times. This also helps to tire the woman's brain! Try to work the commands into everyday life so that it becomes second nature to her. Is your dog left on your furniture? - If your dog is currently allowed on the furniture you may want to reconsider this as your baby will likely be relating to the furniture a lot. Dog hair and dirt can irritate your baby. You also don't want to have to constantly clean up following your dog. Your dog could also inadvertently injure the baby jumping up on the furniture or repositioning himself. It's best to restrict entry to the furniture so that problems do not occur. Time-out for your dog- Be sure you give your dog time away from the baby to stay. Time outs are an effective tool to allow your dog to keep its sanity and also for when they are doing an issue wrong. Your new schedule and your dog- It is time to readjust the dog's schedule to acquaint her with the forthcoming changes. Think realistically about the time you will have for the dog for things such as walks, feeding, potty breaks, enjoy and attention. Try to keep the schedule consistent for your dog so that she does not feel unnecessary stress from the modifications that are happening before your baby arrives. Having as little disruptions as possible will help to accomplish this goal. Once your dog feels protected and is used to the new routine, try to start having slight variations in your daily happenings. When your baby arrives elements do not always go as planned. You can have every intention of staying on schedule and inevitably something will vary that schedule! Babies do not follow schedules! Do try to stay on schedule, when possible, so that your dog is helped some semblance of a routine. Dogs feel safety when the rules and routines stay the same. Pay less focus on your dog- It is now time to teach the dog to expect less attention from you in one sitting. Once the little one arrives you will not have the same amount of quality time to spend with your dog, but it is still essential to make time to your dog. Schedule regular 5 to 10 minute sessions each day where you pay full attention to your dog. Can be done things such as play, grooming, petting or just talk to your dog. This allows your dog to understand that he is still an important part of your daily routine. You need to teach the dog that this time may be with or without the baby. This is also a good time for you to relax and also unwind as pets are very therapeutic. Be aware that if you have more than one pet, each will need individual attention if possible. You can also afford the pack the attention at the same time, providing they get along, or allow them to play together to burn energy. Your dog has to be calm and balanced- You need to make sure that your dog is calm and balanced before baby comes into the house. It is very important for ones dog to learn how to be calm so that he does not hurt you or the baby. Your dog needs to be balanced ın order that he does not stress needlessly and act out inappropriately. If your dog is not calm and balanced there are ways of help you accomplish this. Training and exercise are good places to start to achieve a calm and balanced dog. When these do not work your dog may have something wrong with him, such as a mental or physical problem. Consult with a vet and local canine behaviorist or trainer. They should be able to steer you in the right direction. They can allow advise you of the route you should take, whether behavior modification, medication, or holistic remedies. Is your dog gentle? : Teaching your dog how to be gentle is extremely important so that he will not inadvertently hurt the baby. Many dogs use ones own teeth too much and need to be taught the proper way to use their mouths - without the teeth! Does your dog jump? -- If your dog is a jumper, teaching proper greetings will help to curb this problem. It is vital that your dog can see people without the need of jumping or getting overly excited. When the baby comes home there will probably be lots of people visiting and he will need to be concerning his best behavior. It also facilitates the proper, gentle behavior your dog should have around the baby. How will my animal handle the baby being rough with her? - Teaching your dog what to physically expect from your baby is extremely important with the intention that she is able to cope with and know what to do when baby pulls, hits or pushes her. Infants and little ones are not necessarily gentle by nature, and have to be taught how to be so. Your dog also needs to learn how to deal with these manners from his small leaders. Start to gently handle your dog in a rougher fashion while praising good behavior plus gently, if possible, correcting inappropriate behavior such as nipping or mouthing. Children tend to pet roughly, pull ears as well as tails, put their hands in the dog's face and touch sensitive areas on the dog. You need to mimic a lot of these behaviors in order to teach your dog what to expect and how to deal with it appropriately. Make it a daily habit to have time on to the floor with your dog touching every part of his body in a loving fashion. This is good because it allows the dog in order to touch in areas that it may not want touched. It also teaches the dog to be gentle while on the floor and to end up submissive to you and your baby. Do this slowly and your dog will understand Obedience training your dog- Your dog is required to be obedience trained and have basic manners. I suggest that you enroll in a training class if you can. Check your local training clubs, or even facilities, for classes and make sure to observe a class so that you can see how they train. Make sure that you are comfortable with your techniques and the instructors. If you are not allowed to observe a class, please look elsewhere. Trainers who are legitimate should have no issue with this and encourage you to do so. The following are some basic commands and actions that your dog should be able to do so that he will listen and be under control: Walk nicely on a leash Sit Down Stay Leave-it NO Understand boundaries Restful Attention/Look Drop-it Go to Your Spot/Place Teaching the dog to respond to hand signals will also be beneficial. A sleeping babe is less likely to get woken up if you are not talking. It is also a good idea to teach your dog to accept wearing a leash - in and out of the house. This ensures that you have control over your dog and tends to help make the dog better socialized. Most towns and cities have leash laws so it is imperative that your dog get used to the leash. You should also go around your dog everyday. This gives your dog mental stimulation, as well as physical exercise, which helps to tire them out, thus making these less likely to get into trouble and an overall better behaved dog. Spot, Go To Your Spot! - The "Go for a Spot" command is a great command to have in your arsenal for a well-behaved dog. You can use this exercise to allow your dog to remain with you and not underfoot, or keep your dog at a distance and still know where he is and what he's doing. The idea teaches your dog to go lie down on a rug or blanket and stay until released. Long down stays are usually essential in general, whether or not he is "in a spot", because they help you to maintain control over your dog. By your dog having to meet your needs exactly, it facilitates a relationship in which you are dominant (in charge or the alpha figure) in your and your dog's mind. Teach your dog what he can chew on- All dogs chew. Each has a specific reason for it, and has now a physical need to chew. They need to chew to exercise their jaws as well as to let out pent up frustrations. Disproportionate chewing can also be a breed trait. To help avoid problems, do not set yourself up for failure. Soiling within the house- If your dog has an accident in the house, or is not housetrained, you need to clean it properly to avoid further "accidents" or remarking of the same areas and to maintain a sanitary environment. Dog feces can contain parasites and also other unwanted disease. Giardia, E-Coli, other worms and parasites are sometimes present in the feces and many are transferrable to help you humans. Use high-value treats- Use treats of high value - treats your dog loves and doesn't normally get hold of - when dealing with new baby sights, sounds and scents. This tells your dog that these are good things, and that your dog should like them and associate them with rewards, instead of feeling malice or fear towards them. Ensure you keep the treats special, and only use them for the purposes of getting your pup familiar with what the new baby will be such as. The health and cleanliness of your dog is vital- It is essential that your dog has a clean bill of health and is normally clean before you bring your baby home. Take your dog to the vet for a check-up to make sure that he has no health problems for the reason that these can cause unwanted behaviors in your dog that will interfere with his life with your baby. Make sure that he is up-to-date upon all shots, or that his titer levels are good, and that he is worm-free. The next thing you need to make sure with is that you bathe your dog or have him groomed BEFORE the baby comes home. If your dog sheds, it is a good option to start a de-shedding program, such as regular grooming and adding a product such as Linatone (which you can obtain for your local pet store, online or at some groomers) which has a special combination of oils to help the skin and cover. Be careful not to over-bathe your dog as this can cause skin problems in many dogs. Make sure that he has no fleas or clicks as this is unsanitary and can expose your baby to health problems. It also creates problems as you will not have much time to wash him once the baby is around. Using special flea and tick medication will help to ensure that he remains flea-less and tick-less. Start teaching your dog to accept his paws and body wiped when he comes in from outside might aid in reducing the amount of dirt he tracks in the house. It also reduces the chance that your dog will carry in whatever will cause an allergic reaction in you or your baby Also, make sure to vacuum or sweep regularly as dog head of hair accumulates fast. This is especially important once your baby starts to crawl or be on the ground a lot, unless of course you would like the baby to be a human Swiffer! Carry a doll- The idea of carrying around a doll (preferably one that cries) may be silly, but it is a very good way to get your dog used to an addition to the family. Everything is different with a newborn. Holding a baby changes your posture, and your mannerisms, so your dog needs to be comfortable and accepting of this. The dog should also follow commands and be obedient when you have the baby or the baby is out and about. Using a doll while practicing on a daily basis commands will help your dog respond better when the baby arrives. Take the dog for walks, play with the dog, together with all the normal things you do with your dog with and without the baby equipment and doll. Baby sounds- Having your dog used the sounds of a baby is also a good idea. This allows your dog to familiarize herself with the alien sounds that it may not have heard before so that it is not a surprise when baby comes home. Things like crying, gurgling, yelling/screaming, and baby babble are not necessarily normal for a dog to hear. There are many cds and tapes that you can purchase for this reason. Start the volume low and expose your dog for short periods of time at first. Gradually increase the volume and amount of time people play the sounds. Try to play the recording everyday until the baby arrives. Real babies and children- An additional good idea is to expose your dog to the real thing - real babies and children. If you have friends or kin who have babies you can ask if they will allow your dog to listen in or even record them for you. You can visit places just like parks, if your dog is well-behaved, so your dog can hear all of the noises children make. Make sure to start the following away from your house so that your dog does not feel threatened in her own territory. The next step is to expose your dog in your garden, and then in your house. Make this a gradual process so your dog can slowly accept it. Baby smells- The scents of a baby are often unfamiliar to a dog. Slowly start to get your dog used to these new smells by using the solutions you will use on your baby, such as baby oil, powder, baby wash and diaper cream. Putting these products about baby blankets and baby clothes will also help. If you have friends or relatives that have babies, ask to get cash used and unwashed blankets and burp cloths so that the dog can get accustomed to the real smells of a baby. That Nursery- Setting up the nursery allows your dog to become acquainted with changes in the house. It allows your dog to become comfortable with this sights and sounds associated with baby equipment, thus avoiding shock when baby arrives. If you don't want your pet in the nursery you need to start restricting access now. Keeping the door shut or a baby gate in the doorway allows you to achieve this. Your dog will not feel left out or anxious about no longer being allowed in that room. Another good idea may be to put a dog bed outside of the nursery so that your dog is still close to you, but not in the room. He will not feel banned, but will feel more included. Spend time in the room without your pooch so he understands that this will be usual, and that it is no longer his territory. As he starts to understand that the room is no longer his, he will take it and be less likely to try to get in there when the baby comes home. This also helps to keep the room clean and free of dog mane and dirt. You will have more than enough to clean in the nursery as it is! If you plan to allow your dog in the nursery set out to teach the proper behaviors as soon as possible. Train her to be calm in there and not to jump up on the furniture and additionally baby equipment. It is also a good idea to teach her to do down-stays when in the nursery so that she is allowed to be together with you and the baby, but is out of the way and behaving. You may also want to have a bed or rug in there that the dog is allowed to lay on (remove it when you and the dog are not in the room). When the baby will start to crawl and move about you may want to limit the amount of time the dog spends in there and never leave the baby by themselves with the dog. Baby's things are off-limits- Make sure to constantly reinforce that the baby's things are not the dog's important things. Even though you may have practiced this before the baby came home, dogs do need reminders. It is important to dispose of dirty diapers properly to ensure that your dog does not get them. Dogs love things that have human waste on them, such as dirty diapers in addition to feminine products. Keep these products out of reach as they will make an awful mess and are very unhealthy for your dog so that you can ingest. They have chemicals that are not good for your dog and can cause blockages. Besides, the consuming of human waste products can also make your dog sick (and have disgusting breath! ). Teach your dog to leave baby blankets on their own and not to lay or step on them. Lay them on the furniture and the floor to teach your dog that they are off of limits. If your dog tries to walk or lay on them use a firm "NO" and redirect your dog for a proper spot and have him lay down. When your dog avoids these on his own, praise him for his good habits with a treat or petting and he will understand that these items are not something to go near. You want to prevent possible wounds to your baby from your dog while baby is lying on or hiding under the blankets (as often little ones do! ). Teach your dog which toys belong to him- It is recommended to teach your dog what toys are his along with what toys are the baby's before baby arrives so that you will not have problems after. This is also a good idea because you can buy toys similar to what your baby will have and not worry about using baby's actual toys for these exercises. An easy way to accomplish this is to use peanut butter (or something like it such as cream cheese or cheese spread) and bitter apple (you can purchase this online or at pet stores). Put bitter apple on the baby's toys and peanut butter on the dog's toys. Before you give your dog the choice about which toys he wants, take a little bitter apple company company on your finger and wipe it around in your dog's mouth. This will help your dog to immediately identify your nasty taste on the baby toys. If you do not do this the bitter apple often dilutes and the dog will be able to get the tiny toys because the taste is bearable. Make sure to have some treats ready to reward your dog when he chooses his figures over baby's. Put the dog's leash on and you are ready to begin. Put the "marked" toys on the floor and even let your dog decide which toys he prefers. If he still tries to take the baby toys, tell him "no, leave-it", and if necessary pull him away with the leash with a quick jerking motion. Do not try to hurt your dog, just give a quick correction as you repeat "no, leave-it". When your dog does "leave" the baby toys alone, approval and treat. You can also teach the dog the concepts of "Mine", "Baby's" and "Yours" by adding these phrases to your training sessions. When the dog goes for his toys you can say, "Good! Yours! " When the dog goes for the infant's toys say, "No, Leave-it, Baby's". You can use the same principle as used for the baby's toys when the dog benefits something that is yours by substituting "Mine" in place of "Baby's. " Please remember that if you leave your baby's playthings lying around your dog will most likely try to steal them. The temptation is too much for her to handle and she may well fail. Do not set her up for failure! Try to get toys for the dog that are not like the child's - no stuffed animals and things that rattle. There are plenty of good dog toys that are very different from baby toys. And finally, only keep a few of the dog's toys out at a time. This will avoid her falling prey to the syndrome of "everything within my reach is mine! " If she understands that the three toys on the ground are hers, she'll be less apt to take things she shouldn't. If you follow the guidelines set forth in this article you should be able to accustom your pup to your newborn without much difficulty. Remember, when in doubt, always consult a professional trainer!

[dog-in-continence-blog]

How to Keep Your Dog From Running Away Plus How to Build a Very Cosy (Free) Pet Bed

That the big four commands save lives According to the National Health Service and media reports, over 4, 500 episodes a year in the U. K. involve dogs and people, with children being the biggest victim group.. You are more likely to end up bitten by a dog than win the lottery! One incident is an unwelcome statistic but until you accept that the pet dog runs away because you let it these incidents are going to continue to occur. There are 5 basic steps, several big commands and 3 essential pieces of equipment which you need to learn how to use effectively to gain control and to build concentration into your dog. This guide explains how to do this and how to stop your dog running away. A collar along with lead are working instruments of control, just the same as holding your child's hand. Mobile phones are another safety device people use with our children to maintain contact and for a much safer and secure environment. Our dogs are believe it or not important and are at a higher statistical risk than our children. Your voice alone is not going to be enough. Whistling is labor and it assumes your dog finds the whistle more compelling than what is at the end of its nose. You must commence to appreciate that stopping your pet running away is a skill to be learned and developed on an on going basis, and even like people, the input of patience and unconditional love, will very likely be paid back. The probability is actually that if your children are model children then your dog probably will be too, but that doesn't mean it is going to be easy to teach, it just means you probably have the mindset and determination to keep your dog safe and disciplined. I admit this informative article may be a bit controversial but the techniques work and will not harm or hurt your dog. Neglect and ignorance can be a much bigger killer. If you want to stop your dog running away there are 3 things your must achieve: Instant effect Your dog's whole and undivided attention Complete obedience You need to understand that there are 3 reasons why your dog will run away: -- Sex Cruelty Owner mismanagement All three of the reasons as stated above can get your dog killed or really injured. If you then overlay lack of success with the 3 disciplinary aspects you have serious issues to deal with and you ought to correct this quickly or risk your dog causing death or serious injury. The end result will be the loss of your pet just by lethal injection, gunshot or fatal injuries. If minors are involved and they are your own family it will destroy not only your daily routine but that of your entire family. This is how I see it anyway and it is this that motivates me to get the application right. Your pet running off is not to be taken lightly. I propose to examine a few simple helpful hints that might get your life more bearable and improve your relationship with the animal at a level you can both appreciate and use to good effect. I am going to ignore the first two reasons that cause running away. If you need guidance to deal with these please give your dog to a loving home, this article is not for you. Your dog is born with senses which once active are so compelling that you pale into insignificance the minute they are engaged. You don't need to be a dog whisperer to understand the following, but you can see it for yourself the minute you call your dog back. It is not a great moment when your dog embarrasses people for your inability to handle it. I think one year in a dog's life is about 6. 5 of our years, so by way of the end of year one your dog should be starting to make out sounds, short sentence structures and words. The several most important commands in order are: sit heal down stay Dogs are quick learners. Not only do they fully understand your mood, they take everything right to the edge all the time and they are also very persistent. The sooner you start out teaching them the better, try to make it fun without finishing up with a fat dog. Remember your children should not be force federal a big McDonalds every time they get their table manners right and The National Hedgehog Road Skills award has never ended up won by a hedgehog. A lead is the equivalent of your child's hand. You communicate through it just the same process. You would not let your child pull you off your feet, especially on a main road, so use the same control with your dog. Step 1. It is always your fault I really don't think that Springer Spaniels with their long floppy ears may well hear you properly over 30 metres away unless you really shout which makes you look in control doesn't this. When I was younger I had a liver and white springer 'Bramble'. He never knew to this day what attack him when he was busy rounding up sheep. I would have been able to play for the British Lions which includes a rugby tackle like that, the dog went flying, not in the least bit hurt, just caught in the act. He yelped just with fright, but never chased sheep again and after this incident if he could hear me your dog responded instantly to all the big 4 commands. Step 2. How to stop your dog pulling you off your feet. Some sort of sharp and very hard tug on the lead pulling your dog back behind you will do the trick. After the second or lastly time they will desist. This is obviously easier to do when your St. Bernard is a puppy, which is why i say beginning straight away. Bad habits are developed by the owners not the dogs. Never allow your dog to pull. Begin by holding your dog's hand (the lead) and work firmly in a disciplined and in a fair way, not to mention reward good performance and discipline and work on behaviour that falls short. Little and often is good and then a routine is helpful. The thing that really gets results is patience. You would not take your child out into a distracting natural environment to teach them so don't do it to your dog either. Get the dog's attention and eye contact and advancement will improve. If you are having trouble getting the dog's attention increase the treat value e. g. fillet steak. This is approximately hearts and minds and developing absolute trust. The time to use treats is at the outset of teaching this command. Once the dog understands what is required of it, a pat on the head and some encouraging words is sufficient. Step. How to slow your dog down to your speed How many of you would not hold on to your 6 year old children's hand in the city centre? Would you expect your six year old to speak fluent Russian? No, so tend not to expect your dog to understand what sounds the same to them. Use the lead to build confidence and lots of patience. By the time your canine is six months old they will be getting more biddable, more curious and more determined but up to the first year you may never be certain. However you are desperate to give your dog the freedom of that run about. A game keeper taught people a very good tactic called hobbling. Your dog's collar should always allow you to get three fingers under it, if you can't it's too tight. Simply stick your dog's front paw through the collar, it looks cruel, its not and catch a dog on three legs, it puts the odds in your favour, so you now have the opportunity to train your dog to remain close to you, or get it back safely. Don't use a retractable lead it encourages your dog to pull. Dogs with retractable leads are not properly trained (such a statement could be highly controversial but I would presume that people owners won't be reading this type of article so there won't be anyone to offend! ) Step 4. Timing - how long should it take to train my dog? I think 300 hours gets a basic job done before your dog will specialise right into say rescue, field sports, or social human tasks like police or military work. It takes a good season to settle and train a dog. If you get the big 4 commands in quickly and early the dog will start to succeed but it will take at least a year so be patient and persist. Practice all the time - practice makes perfect. ( this also helps you lose weight! ). I now have a black and white Springer Spaniel and she was terrible for running off of. This was my fault. On dark evenings I only needed to get distracted for a second and the dog has been gone. There I am in the dark and pouring rain, shouting my head off and the dog is in the next state. Twenty anxious minutes later I get a ball of mud back! Never be cross with a returning puppy, it is after the fact and they may misinterpret you, causing trauma and confusion. Simply make a note to do it yourself to set up a training session in a controlled environment to fix the problem whilst kicking your own bottom and not the dogs! Measure 5. How to stop your dog running away You spend hours and hours working with them, you teach the big 4 requires and when they are over six months old and really understand the commands then you have to bring discipline to tolerate or face the possibility of an unthinkable incident. I have tried whistles, chasing after her and just leaving her, non-e which are satisfactory and just exposes the dog to danger. If I can't control the dog at both short and longer range she is useless in the field other than as a pet. So how do I stop my pet from running gone. A game keeper suggested an electric collar. I dismissed it out of hand as being cruel, but it is not as cruel since watching your dog in agony pinned down under a car wheel. I decided to try an electric collar but resolved to remain kind and fair. It has transformed the dog without any cruelty at all and this is how it works: First in support of after 6 months minimally, and only when the big 4 commands are in place can you use one. My collar has an hearable alarm which the dog can hear even when she can't hear or see me. She quickly learned to help you respond to this bleep, it means only one thing 'Heal'. Since wild life has hearing and great vision way too, we get to see lots of it when we are out now because we are quiet, the dog is under control constantly and above all is safe. Your dog and especially Springer Spaniels will want to do as you ask. You must be truth be told there at the time of any incident which demands attention or arresting and a bleeper really is on the spot and instant. If the pet dog doesn't respond there are 8 settings to 'tweak your dog's ear', building up to a shock. All of these are considerably gentler than rough handling or hitting the dog. All of them hurt a lot less than impact with an HGV. I must stress that when you don't have the big four commands in place and a confident dog you should not deploy such a device, just keep your animal on a lead. The collar is only for the dog's protection and control and the charge, which is about the same as a static shock from a door handle, does not cause the dog much discomfort, but it lets her know I want her particular attention when all else fails which is pretty rare these days. I don't know how the shepherds do it but they have my respect. I don't need my little dog to achieve those levels. We have lots of fun together and she really loves my two girls, mind you she adores everyone including the postman! I think that patience is the secret and then it's a really matter of time.. She also has a special settee in our garden room (but never assumes this right in the house), and a dog house made out of straw bales which she loves as it is very warm. She also knows the location where the edge is, and pushes it like crazy, but she is safe and well behaved and under control at all times since she can hear me and every day that goes by her knowledge of language and disciplined procedure improves. I do believe I will always use an electric collar now, it is a safety device which makes me much less apprehensive about the dog's routines because I can focus on expanding the dog's comprehension of commands, so her behaviour continues to improve and your lady plays an even bigger and much more enjoyable part in day to day activities. If you don't want your pet to run off get to grips along with the collar, lead, teaching, rewarding and discipline and be heard - the best way to do that quietly is with a bleeping receiver collar - really it works. I think these new devices are the dog equivalent of a 2 way radio. Virtually no soldier goes into combat without one. I think they are here to stay and used responsibly will transform your life and also make teaching your dog a real joy and with much less stress. Remember it is your finger on the button and you figure out whether you are a dog trainer or a dog breaker - I know which I am. How long does it take to teach your pup the big 4 Commands? It takes about 20 minutes armed with some really 'must have' treats, and repeat the training a day or so later for a few minutes until you see it work immediately. I use mackerel fillets but everything other than chocolate will do the trick. For every minute of training you need an hour of practice to get the command working constantly and then three or four times longer to get them all working together. You will pay for gaps in your routine and you will be able to see when others have handled your dog. Dogs will always push to the limit to see what they can get away using so you have to be that limit and you can't always do that by being nice and feeding the dog treats. Never destroy your dog by cruelty and bullying to get the obedience you want, a broken dog does not work properly and anyone who has skilled a dog will spot a broken dog a mile off, you can't hide it and you can't repair your damage. A command should be instant, it is useless if it is not and may get you, your children, the dog or some negative unsuspecting motorist into an unthinkable situation, it is worth the effort. Should you let the dog on the sofa - Exercise Versus Behaviour? Oh boy is this a hot potato! Firstly your dog knows the difference between the scruffy couch in the playroom and the one in the living room but you may have to work more on the training. You can let the dog do anything you like provided you put the effort in with the ground rules, but here is a simple guide. Your pet dog has two basic barks, one to warn and the other is more playful. Learn what they are and precisely what they mean. If you don't want a yappy dog you will get the opportunity at about 10 months to sort the item out. Don't allow your dog to behave in a way that would be offensive to others, I am sure you don't need a list from me. Feel free to use a smack, a firm push or voice commands so long as it is immediate. If your dog is beyond reach you have got to either be very quick (voice and run) or use an electric collar. A sharp shock beats a struggle or injury. If this is administered at the start of the action the dog is unlikely to repeat the offence. You do not break the dog doing this. Prolonged aggression or fierce punishment fills your dog with terror. I have heard them beginning yelp before a blow is struck because they know what is coming. Could you do your job knowing someone is related to to give you a good kicking? Neither can the dog. I have never seen a broken dog that didn't bring some sort of lump to my throat and have me biting my lip to hold back the tears. Like the dog I undergo quietly in silence unable to speak. Being a good dog owner and handler Bad behaviour develops as a result of lack of effort or even selfishness by the owner. Like your children the more patience and time you spend with them and effort you put into your family dog, the more reward you can expect with a strong measure of devotion paid back. Like children they will pick up trauma between adults and don't like it. Neglect will result in the dog making up its own rules and then you will need a dog psychologist to intervene. Unless pet is ill and requiring 24 hour supervision, I would advocate they should have their own special place. A run is usually the best so they can have peace and quite to relax and dry/chill out and be themselves. You probably would not normally have your children in bed with you, so I think it is a bit odd to have your pets there too. Lack of common sense is normally what develops poor animal behaviour. Plenty of exercise, good diet, discipline, routine, care and attention will work for your dog. Summing up, the three essential pieces of equipment required are a lead, a collar and an audible device that can be heard just about anywhere instantly by your dog which upon being heard recalls your dog to your side.. If a measure of force is required in that case this device should have the ability to administer it or be backed up by it. How to Make a cosy dog bed for free - well almost I think a great bed makes a very happy dog, especially if they have a full tummy As an engineer, specialising in materials handling and storage, when it comes to a bed for the dog I wanted to create a cosy place for her so that you can sleep. For several months I persevered with pet cushions etc but they just get filthy and are not very straightforward to clean or warm to sleep on outdoors. In winter this year we had two feet of snow, the fact that dog loved but it was cold for her and I wanted something better. Pallets are often equipment you can pick up 100 % free. Two or three of them are very simple to convert into a bed. 1000mm x 1200mm is a perfect size. If you have an outhouse, garage or shed they will fit easily inside. It doesn't matter if the dog chews them, the wood can be recycled or simply used for fire wood and if you use straw, the straw can be composted or burned. Now this solution is not really for everyone but the dog will love it and you may grow to love it and here is why: The straw helps thoroughly clean the dog The dog can scrape and arrange the straw as it wants it The pallet and a few straw bales make a very cosy den Filled with straw your dog can live comfortably outside in all weathers Living outside is most effective for the dog Dogs will grow their natural seasonal coats in line with the climate. Inside they go into a state with permanent moulting, outside unheated they can live more naturally. The straw is cosy and warm the year circular especially with the added protection of 380mm to 450mm of insulation on 6 sides The pallet will keep your dog off the cold floor - essential. Straw bales range from £1. 75 to £3. 50 Before you go straight into blind panic about scabies or mange, I have never had any trouble. However if you are worried ask ones vet, I think you will find that the modern treatments keep them at bay anyway. Do watch out for nails and cardboard (stapled on). Plywood makes good tops if the wood is spaced or a bit rough and then the deep hay does the rest. My dog really loves her straw bed and is quite happy to get into it and As i rarely see her little black nose come round the edge of the bale until I call for her. There does exist an awful lot of non-sense talked about training and not much help with the real control commands when they don't work. Much of the time it happens to be just not possible to intercept mistakes and behavioural dysfunction in time to correct it in a way the dog can quickly grasp the necessity. This just makes it tougher on both you and the dog I am a materials handling engineer by occupation, and a keen motorcyclist which I use for work most of the year round. The BMW GS 1200 Adventure is a tricky and awesome machine, so if you are in commerce or industry and want to build or equip a new warehouse or maybe production unit, please go and visit my website.

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