My Dog Just Won’t Stop Barking - I am At Wits End!

Puppies are like little children in that they think the world revolves around them! Since Fido can’t pull on your sleeve and whine (although he may do his very best canine impersonation of this) he may resort to barking instead. Puppies can quickly become spoiled when every bark made in a ploy for attention gets exactly that and the barking will only continue. Ignore attention barking from the beginning so that the puppy never receives the response they wish.

Teach your dog a “quiet” command. When he begins to bark at a passer-by, allow two or three barks, then say “quiet” and interrupt his barking by shaking a can filled with pennies or squirting water at his mouth with a spray bottle or squirt gun. Teach him that the people he views as intruders are actually friends and that good things happen to him when these people are around. Ask someone to walk by your yard, starting far enough away so that your dog isn’t barking, then reward quiet behavior and correct responses to a “sit” or “down” command with special treats such as little pieces of cheese. Teach him that the people he views as intruders are actually friends and that good things happen to him when these people are around. Ask someone to walk by your yard, starting far enough away so that your dog is not barking, then reward him for quiet behavior as he obeys a “sit” or “down” command.

Reward your dog for calmly accepting new experiences with treats, toys, praise, petting, attention, and food. Be aware that if you try to “comfort” your scared dog, you may unintentionally be rewarding scared behavior. Reward or praise your dog for a good performance. This is an important factor and you must follow this religiously & ardently when you train your dog.

About the Author

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Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons - Read This Before Taking Lessons

Read on for things that’s essential to know before you take Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons.

So you want to learn how to ride a horse? Well, there is something special about the human - horse relationship. No doubt about that. Here are some things you should know before you take Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons.

It’s a big plus if you can get to know horses - their breeds, colors, height and recommended uses. You’ll need to understand the differences between English & Western styles of riding. Also, before you start riding a horse, it’s best if you get to know the horse - they have personalities too! Likewise, the horse should get to know and trust you.

Learning to ride a horse can be a fun & rewarding experience for people of all ages. However, if the proper skills and safety techniques aren’t learned beforehand, you can end up taking many hard falls. That’s a big reason many beginner horseback riders end up quitting. Falls and injuries can be avoided if the beginning horseback rider takes the time to study the proper horseback riding techniques prior to riding a horse. Just like with learning to ride a bicycle; you first had to fully understand your restrictions, and what the bicycle is capable of. Same goes with learning to ride a horse. Did you know that 90% of falls and horse related injuries result from an inexperienced rider?

If possible, it is beneficial if you can read some horse-related books before taking beginner horseback riding lessons. That way, you know basic horse - related information. You wouldn’t want to begin taking lessons knowing nothing about these beautiful animals. Some of the basic things you need to know are before taking beginner horseback riding lessons are: What you should wear when riding and what not to wear, how to mount & dismount, the various gaits of the horse, understanding the mind of the horse, how to stay in control, etc.

Also, it’s good to know that it’s natural to be scared the first time you ride. But don’t let the horse know that. Horses are like children; they sense when their rider is insecure. So even if you’re afraid, act relaxed. Fake it till you make it!

Riding a horse can be one of the most thrilling experiences of your life. Stick with it. Learning to ride a horse can be slow & hard work. Don’t give up. Knowing that lots of experienced horse riders did not grow up around horses and also took beginner horseback riding lessons can be reassuring.

About the Author

Sara Diamond likes to write about her interests. Horses are one of her loves. Read Horseback Riding - The Complete Beginners Guide to learn all the basics before taking Beginner Horseback Riding Lessons.

Posted in Horses, Riding | No Comments »