Training Your Puppy Yourself

There is virtually nothing as embarrassing as when your holiday guests arrive and your dog Fido is jumping all over them. You start tugging and ordering him to get down and stop, but as usual he doesn’t acknowledge a single word coming out of your mouth. You have tried everything and he refuses to listen to you. Is there any hope for a good puppy?

There is no need for an expensive trainer to teach your puppy. You can do this on your own, without an expensive trainer. With training your dog will no longer cause you any unnecessary embarrassment. For you to successfully train your dog to obey your every command, you will need to do a few things.

It is vital that you do not give up on your puppy or yourself. You need to be clear, consistent and persistent at all times. Believe that you can succeed in training your dog to do exactly what you want him to do. Keep in mind, even after you have ended a training session, you can continue to teach your dog. Just like you would your child. You wouldn’t only teach your child right from wrong during a specific time, you do this all the time.

When you are teaching your dog to obey, you will need to make it interesting for him. A dog will easily lose his drive to please you if you do not keep things fun and hold his attention. Similar to teaching a child to clean up their toys after play time, you need to make it seem like fun, not work.

Positive reinforcement is very important in training your dog. Reward your dog for the behavior that you are asking for. You can reward him or her in a way you feel is appropriate. Some people find it best to reward the dog with a treat. Others find it best to not use food rewards, instead a quick rib or pat on the head.

Once you begin to work on a specific task with your puppy, you should continue with it until he has mastered it. Avoid throwing in too many new things because you can confuse your dog. Try to have a consistent tone of voice s well. This will let your dog know you mean business. Keep the commands you are trying to teach as simple as possible. One to two word commands are best when teaching now things.

Continue training once you have gone in the house. For example, if you are working on sitting during your lessons, implement it in the house. Try to have your puppy sit and wait for you to give him his food or a treat. Or you can have him sit while you put his leash on to bring him for a walk.

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Can Dogs Get…?

Many dog owners do not realize that the dog can have many of the same health issues as humans do. Almost everyone has heard a dog sneeze, but very few people will associate it with a health condition. Dogs can get colds, just like their masters.

Dogs just like humans can also become overweight and even obese. This happens because the dog is not fed the proper food, the correct portions and or does not receive adequate amounts of exercise. Very similar to the reasons a human can become overweight and obese.

Dogs and humans can also have the same diseases. Mostly stemming from eating unhealthy foods and the wrong amount of the right foods. Some of these diseases are heart disease and diabetes. These can be treatable and maintained through a change in the dogs diet, lifestyle and possibly medication as well. However, you can minimize your dogs chance of being diagnosed with a disease because you failed to take proper care of him.

Allergies can also effect dogs, so don’t be misled into thinking that humans are the only ones that suffer from allergies. Our loving companions can also have severe allergies. Dogs will usually begin to scratch if they are suffering from an allergic reaction. However, they can also have problems with their respiratory system due to allergies.

If your dog begins to sneeze, cough and or wheeze, this could be a sign of respiratory related issues. You should contact your vet and bring your dog in for a check up. Your dog can also begin to show signs of runny nose, eyes and other similar cold like symptoms in humans.

It is estimated that about 20% of dogs in the U.S. have an allergy of some type. Many owners do not even realize that their dog is showing symptoms of allergies. Here are some of the most common allergies dogs suffer from.

Flea allergies are among the most popular and common allergies for an animal to suffer from. The flea itself does not give the reaction to the dog. It is actually the bite the flea gives. The saliva can cause an allergic reaction in many dogs.

Food allergies is another common allergy among dogs. This is usually because the dog has consumed a food that its system can not handle. Among the food allergies in dogs, it is most common to notice a reaction after the dog has eaten pork, soy products, wheat, milk, eggs, corn, beef, fish, artificial sweeteners and whey. If you know your dog has an allergy to a specific food, be sure to read the labels on the food you purchase.

After you have given your dog a new brand of food or a new food you should watch for some changes in behavior. They can be showing signs of an allergic reaction. Of you are aware of the change in behavior after consuming new food, you might want to contact your vet. At a bare minimum discontinue feeding the food that might have been the cause for the allergic reaction.

Some behavior changes can be scratching the ears more frequently than usual. Vigorous shaking of the dogs head can be the dog trying to rid himself of the feeling he does not understand. Other symptoms can include, diarrhea, vomiting, sneezing, biting at rear feet or licking them continuously.

About the Author

For more information on Puppy and Dog Care, visit My Puppy Care Site

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