Dog Training Tip of the Month from Animal Behavior College http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 Weekly tips about dog training. en-us Thu, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 -0700 Train Your Dog to Run on a Treadmill http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=113

Treadmill Train Your Dog

One of the major causes of canine behavior problems is lack of exercise. Dogs are born to run, jump, chase and bite. If dogs don’t have the opportunity to get the necessary exercise, they will probably develop underlying behavioral problems that owners aren’t going to like. Learning to train your dog to use a treadmill can help her get the exercise she needs.. The treadmill lets your dog run regardless of weather; plus, it eliminates distractions and gives her a great physical and mental workout.

Dog & Treadmill Introduction

Start off by introducing your dog to the treadmill when it is turned off. Lure your dog on and off the treadmill, while making sure to praise and treat her when all four paws are on the treadmill and she is facing the right direction. If, by chance, your dog is hesitant to get on the treadmill, start counter conditioning. To do this, you should fulfill her daily needs on the treadmill—e.g., meals, treats, attention, etc. Once your dog has a success rate more than over 90 percent following the lure, introduce a cue. The cue can be a word or phrase tied in with the dog’s action of having all four legs on the treadmill. Also keep in mind if you ever catch your dog on the treadmill, make sure to lavishly praise and treat her, making the treadmill a fun place.

Treadmill Desensitizing Your Dog

Now begin desensitizing your dog to the noise of the treadmill. Whenever your dog comes to you while you’re on the treadmill, treat and praise her. You can also treat and praise her for being near the treadmill while it is on. Once she grows accustomed to the sound, turn the treadmill off and have her climb up back onto it. Start the treadmill on the slowest speed, and have your dog stay close to your baited hand as the tread starts to move. Praise her for stepping forward on the track and reaching for the treat. Once your dog grows accustomed to this, you can place the treats at the front of the treadmill (the non-moving part) and encourage her to eat the treats.

Start Your Dog Slow

Next, start feeding your dog from the front of the treadmill; also it’s also time to begin increasing the time gap between treats. As your dog adjusts to the treadmill, you can gradually increase the speed and duration of the sessions. (Do not treat your dog at higher speeds, as it could present a choking hazard). After a few weeks, your dog will be able to run on the treadmill from 5 to 10 minutes. At that point you can start increasing the time of each workout by 1 to 2 minutes. Build up gradually till you reach 30 minutes.

You should never leave your dog unattended or tie her leash to the treadmill. Running on a treadmill can give your dog a great workout. Providing your dog with regular exercise can lead to better behavior. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog.

As with all exercise programs, check with your veterinarian to make sure the pet is healthy enough..]]> Tue, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 -0700 Cabin Fever (aka Extended Indoor Boredom) http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=112 Stuck Inside With Your Dog?Getting sufficient outdoor time with your dog can be difficult if you don’t have ready access to safe walking areas or dog parks. If you live in an area that has harsh winters and wet springs outdoor activities involving you and your dog can also be curtailed.

Dogs need exercise and mental stimulation

Being housebound for extended periods can result in restlessness for your dog and you. Dogs of all types require daily exercise and mental stimulation to take away stress and prevent destructive problem behaviors. When dogs have too much energy, and no positive way to release it, they will display what most owners consider to be bad or problem behaviors. To help alleviate this, you can create a variety of reward-based indoor games and activities for your dog.

Breed Specific Games

The best way to determine which activities will engage your dog, you should design games that stimulate drives that are specific to her breed. All dogs were bred for different purposes or have certain characteristics that call for different types of interaction. For example, Labradors were bred to retrieve small game and objects. Different variations of fetch or hide and seek are the most beneficial for this breed.

Games For Dogs In The Herding Group

Herding group dogs, such as the Australian Shepherd, were specifically bred to herd livestock. A fun exercise for a natural herder is following or herding a laser-pen beam. By moving the beam in various directions, you can give your dog the illusion that she is herding the beam to a specific location. Please note: If you elect to use a laser device never shine it in anyone’s eyes, including your pet’s.

Games For Dogs In The Hound Group

In the hound group, dogs often show marked interest in different scents and motions. A great game to stimulate hound dogs involves hiding various training treats throughout the home and allowing your dog to track the scent and earn the reward when she finds it.

What Motivates Your Dog?

All dogs are motivated and driven by certain things. As a dog owner, it’s important to determine your dog’s motivations and sensitivities. This will help determine the games or activities that best suite your dog. If you have trouble researching what best motivates your dog’s breed, you can contact your local certified dog trainer or veterinarian for more information on her breed’s characteristics.

All games and interactions should be rewarding to your dog. If it is not a rewarding activity, your dog will not form a positive association with the activity and she will most likely not repeat in the future.

By Josh Sunga, ABCDT]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 -0700 How to Teach Your Dog to Put Away Their Toys http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=110

Teach Your Dog To Put Toys Away

This is a fun training exercise that mentally stimulates the dog, strengthens your bond with him, and helps you keep the house clean.

Before you can begin this exercise, your dog must know the “Take it” and “Drop it” training cues. Luckily, your dog can easily and quickly master these cues.

Teaching Your Dog The "Take It" Command

For “Take It,” hold your dog’s favorite toy in your hand and move it around to excite him. Just before your dog grabs the toy out of your hand say, “Take it.” When he does, mark that behavior with a “GOOD!” or “YES!” or a click. Make sure to lavishly praise and pet your dog.

Teaching Your Dog The "Drop It" Command

To teach your dog “Drop It," he must be holding on to a toy. Have a treat your dog really likes in your hand and present it to the dog. Say “Drop it” and when he does, mark it and give him the treat. Your dog may be hesitant to drop his favorite toy, but if your treat is more enticing, such as a piece of chicken, he will gladly let go of the toy in exchange for the tasty treat.

Once your dog successfully takes the toy and drops it 9 out of 10 times during practice, you can begin the next exercise.

Put It In The Basket Lesson

Get a basket that you’ll want your dog to put his toys into and select a few of your dog’s favorite toys. For consistency, keep the basket in the same spot of the house—this will make it easier for your dog. Place the toys right next to the basket and sit beside the basket. Touch a toy and say, “Take it”. Then hold a treat in your hand and lure the dog over to the basket. When the toy is over the basket give the Drop It command. Remember to generously reward your dog when he drops the toy in the basket. Practice this consistently and then proceed to the next step by moving the toys away from the basket by a foot or two.

After your dog succeeds with this at least 9 out of 10 times, you can begin to only reward him with a treat after he has put two or three toys in the basket. Start by saying, “Clean Up” or “Toys Away” to sequence the behaviors; eventually you will no longer have to give the Take It or Drop It commands.

Consistency Is Key

This is an exercise that requires a lot of practice and patience, but is a lot of fun and an impressive trick to show off to your friends. If you are having trouble with this exercise, please contact your local dog trainer for help.

By Cara Lederman, ABCDT]]> Tue, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700 Skateboarding With Your Dog http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=111 Teach Your Dog To Skateboard Teach your puppy to ride a skateboard!

A lot of people love exercising with their dogs. And thanks to seeing skateboarding dogs on TV, many owners might wonder if their dogs could learn to do the same. Here are some easy steps to teach your dog to skateboard.

Some dogs will either love or hate the board. Natural-born skaters, such as bulldogs and Jack Russells, catch on quite easily, while the ones that hate it will try chewing it up. However with enough practice, any dog can learn how to skateboard.

Teaching your dog tricks and obedience cues actually helps make him smarter while providing sheer entertainment. It also relieves stress and helps physically and mentally.

Step 1: LURE: Make sure the treats you use are Grade A treats and something your dog absolutely loves. First, get your dog used to the board by leaving it out for him. Let him smell it and get excited about it. Once he’s used to it, it will be easier to get him to climb up on it. Make sure the board doesn’t move when your dog steps on it; either put it on carpet or lock the wheels. Once his paws touch the board, mark the behavior and reinforce with praise and treats. Make sure it’s always a positive experience; otherwise it can create stress and fear in your dog.

Step 2: REINFORCEMENT: Walk over to the board; if your dog climbs up on the board, mark the behavior as “good” and reward lavishly with treats. The quicker the reward comes, the quicker he’ll repeat the behavior.

Step 3: CUE WORD: Once your dog gets used to climbing up onto the board, you can add a cue word “skate” or “step” or any word you choose, just be consistent. Make sure he understands stepping on the board is what you are marking.

Step 4: MOVEMENT: Start slowly rolling the skateboard and praise your dog lavishly for staying on the board and remaining calm. Give him a treat when he rides a small distance and gets off. You could even attach an O-ring hook to the front of the board, loop a string or rope to it, and pull your dog a small distance. Remember to praise and treat the behavior. If at any point he has trouble or gets scared, go back to the previous step he excelled at.

Step 5: THE TRICKY PART: The hardest part will be getting him to push the board on his own. Your dog needs to understand he gets rewarded for being on the skateboard as well as the movement of the board. Once he is on the board with all four paws, take one of his paws and put it on the ground. He should push off as he tries to get his paw back on the board. Lots of praise will help reinforce the behaviors you are trying to accomplish.

With enough practice, and by making this a fun activity for your dog, he should be skating in no time. Make sure all of the training is extremely positive, and you and your dog will have a blast regardless of whether he becomes a pro skater or just gives you both a ton of laughs in the meantime.

By Azure Long, ABCDT]]> Tue, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 -0700 Double Trouble or Double the Pleasure? http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=109
The above frequently asked questions lead to the ultimate question: Are two puppies double the pleasure or double trouble?

While you might have the best intentions, you’ll soon discover that two puppies actually create about eight times the mess as one. It’s as if they feed off each other’s energy. The problem is not the constant chaos involved with trying to keep up with two pups, but the realization that since the dogs have each other, they really do not need you. They are much more interested in roughhousing and running together than the ball games and walks you planned on enjoying with them.

Expert breeders are careful about placing two puppies together in one home because they know how much work it is to raise both of them properly. An improperly raised puppy can wind up homeless when the little and cute stage wears off and the defense urge begins to mature. Even dogs that don’t become aggressive can become too rowdy for a family if they weren’t given the right training early on.

Puppy Bonding

The underlying problem is bonding. Since the pups are always together, even when you are not home, their primary bond is with each other—not with you. Puppies are individuals and each needs a good upbringing. This includes plenty of good experiences with people, places and things. It also includes plenty of training and conditioning to being touched and handled by humans. Much of this work must be done with a puppy one-on-one—away from any other dogs in the household.

Tips for Successfully Raising Two Puppies

The pups should sleep separately. Within two weeks of coming home, they should be trained to sleep in separate crates. However, don’t combine the stress of a new home with that of being separated immediately. Start out by placing the crates side by side. Gradually move the crates apart so that eventually the puppies are comfortable sleeping in different rooms or on either side of the bed. (This also prevents the development of separation anxiety problems should they suddenly have to be apart due to an accident or illness.)

Each pup needs plenty of outings with humans and without the other pup around. This is an essential part of a puppy developing an individual identity and the ability to function without the other. It also gives a pup the desperately needed opportunity to bond with humans. From the very start, take them outside separately as well as together for short excursions around the neighborhood, car rides and socialization visits. This process is best continued at least until a year of age; longer for some dogs.

Your best hope of controlling your dogs when they are together is to have an excellent training foundation for each individually. Each puppy needs to go to training class weekly without the other—or at least kept separate within the class. (Note: Some dog trainers will not let family members train two dogs from the same family in the same class.) Make sure to practice the class homework daily away from the other dog. As they become well-trained, you’ll also want to practice working them together so they learn to obey with the pack

The puppies will learn their names faster if you use their names each time you interact with them. In the beginning, names should always be said in a happy tone of voice in a rewarding context, such as when praising, giving meals or teaching commands that are rewarded with praise, petting or a treat.

Make sure to be a good leader to your pups. Don’t let one become excessively dominant over the other. Allow them to establish their relationship, but intervene if one puppy becomes overly domineering. Give each puppy equal time and attention and do not favor one over the other. Also, make sure to include all of the family members in this training and caring for the pups so they respond equally to all.

Raising two pups is considerably more work than just one. However, if done correctly, you can certainly double your puppy pleasure.

By Beth Harrison, ABCDT]]> Wed, 22 Jan 2013 00:00:00 -0700