Bringing home a new puppy is always an exciting time for the entire family. Getting that new puppy off the right start with proper training is very important to making that puppy a valued member of his human family. There are a number of talents that every new puppy must master, including going up and down the stairs, and how to accept a new collar as if she’s worn it her entire life.
It is best to introduce a new puppy to the household when everyone in the family is present, and when the household is as calm as possible. That is why animal care experts discourage parents from giving puppies and kittens as holiday presents.
The holiday season is typically much too busy, with far too many distractions, for a young puppy or kitten to get the attention it needs. It is best to wait until the holidays have passed before introducing the new family member.
Once the puppy is part of the household, there are some things he or she will need to learn. One of the first challenges of a multi-story home will be learning to climb up and down the stair. Many puppies are afraid of stairs, and that usually means that they do not know how to climb them properly.
It is important for the puppy’s owner to slowly build the confidence of the dog, starting off at the bottom of the stairs. In general, a wide stairway will probably be less frightening to the puppy.
To build confidence, the owner should go up the first step, then encourage the puppy to join them, using their voice, treats or a toy. After the puppy has joined you on the first stair, go back down and repeat the process until the puppy will go up that step on his own. It is important to build confidence slowly and not rush the process. Taking a one step at a time approach is the best way to teach the puppy to not be afraid of stairs.
Another thing every new puppy must learn is how to accept the collar. Learning to wear a collar is important to every dog, but many puppies are baffled, frightened and bewildered by this new piece of equipment. Many puppies constantly try to remove their new collar by pawing and pulling at it.
Fit is important when choosing a collar for your new puppy. A properly fitted collar, chosen for your puppy’s size, is more likely to be comfortable and accepted. While choke collars, slip collars and training collars can be good training aids, they should never be used as a substitute for a sturdy buckle type collar. And of course that collar should have an identification tag and license attached. This identification will be vital in having your puppy returned if she becomes separated from you.
The best way to introduce the puppy to the collar is to simply put the collar on and allow her to squirm, jump, roll and paw at the color to her heart’s content. It is important to not encourage this behavior by trying to soothe the puppy, but it is just as important not to punish or reprimand the puppy.
The best strategy is to simply ignore the puppy and them her work through her issues with the collar on her own. Introducing distractions, such as food, toys or playing, is a good way to get the puppy used to the color. Getting the puppy to play, eat and drink while wearing the collar is a great way to get her used to it. After a few days, most puppies will not even know they are wearing a collar.
by : Jonathan Cheong at http://www.absolute-dog-training.com
Showing posts with label Dog collar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dog collar. Show all posts
5 Oct 2009
24 Aug 2009
Choke Collar Training.
Choke collar training collars are among the most popular and most commonly used tools by both professional dog trainers and people like you and me. These collars are commonly known as a choke collar, choke chain, training collar, correction collar and slip collar.
As with any dog training tool it must be used responsibly to ensure effectiveness, and safety for your dog.
It’s important to pay attention to how the collar fits the dog. It is essential that the training collar be properly fitted to the dog. A properly fitted training collar is easier to use and safer for the dog.
There is a right way and a wrong way to fit a training collar, and putting it on wrong will make it both ineffective and potentially dangerous.
A training collar should be used as a sharp reminder to the dog, not as punishment. It is important that constant pressure be avoided when using a training collar.
Pay attention to the weight of the chain and the size of the links on the training collar. It is important that the weight and size of the chain be appropriate to the size and weight of the dog.
Determining if the training collar is the right size is relatively easy. The ideal size training collar should fit snugly, yet comfortably over the dog’s head. It is important that the training collar not fit too tightly, but it should not be too loose either. A training collar that is too tight will be too hard to put on and off. On the other hand, a training collar that is too loose can accidentally fall off of the dog’s head when it lowers its head.
It is also important to know that a training collar that is too long for the dog requires a great deal of finesse to use properly. A collar that is too long can still be used, but it will require more skill on the part of the handler.
It is best to measure the dog’s neck with a tape measure, then add 2 to 3 inches to that measurement. So if your dog has a neck 12” in diameter, you would want to buy a training collar that is 14” in length. Chain slip collars are generally sized in two inch increments.
When fitting a training collar, the loop of the chain which is connected to the leash should be on the top of the dog’s neck. This ensures that the collar releases the instant the leash is loosened. Training collars work most effectively when they’re able to tighten and loosen quickly. Tightening the collar is the first part of the correction, and loosening it is the second part of the process, by way of reinforcement for your dog. It is the transient nature of the tightening that really gives the dog the message that the tightening will occur immediately there is an undesired behavior.
If the loop of the training collar that is attached to the leash is not on the top of the dog’s neck, the collar can still be tightened relatively easily, but it will not release back to a loose state as quickly. The more constant pressure on the dog’s neck which results, initiates a counter response on the part of the animal, and your dog will then react by pulling and straining against the leash.
Finally, it is important to use a training collar that is well made and strong. Buying a high quality training collar, slip collar or choke collar can be vital to the safety of yourself and your dog.
If the worst happens, and your dog’s training collar does break, it is important not to panic. Most dogs will be unaware that they have broken the collar, at least for a few seconds. In most cases, if you act as if the leash is still connected, you can usually regain control of your dog perhaps even before the dog realizes he is free.
Author : Brigitte Smith runs two websites dedicated to dog training, dog care and dog health: Grab your free special report "How to Improve Your Dog's Health Within 30 Days - Maybe Even Lengthen Your Dog's Life!" here: http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com or here: http://www.Dog-Health-Care-Information.com
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=38807885-a643-4d96-9a0e-d3390447e332)
As with any dog training tool it must be used responsibly to ensure effectiveness, and safety for your dog.
It’s important to pay attention to how the collar fits the dog. It is essential that the training collar be properly fitted to the dog. A properly fitted training collar is easier to use and safer for the dog.
There is a right way and a wrong way to fit a training collar, and putting it on wrong will make it both ineffective and potentially dangerous.
A training collar should be used as a sharp reminder to the dog, not as punishment. It is important that constant pressure be avoided when using a training collar.
Pay attention to the weight of the chain and the size of the links on the training collar. It is important that the weight and size of the chain be appropriate to the size and weight of the dog.
Determining if the training collar is the right size is relatively easy. The ideal size training collar should fit snugly, yet comfortably over the dog’s head. It is important that the training collar not fit too tightly, but it should not be too loose either. A training collar that is too tight will be too hard to put on and off. On the other hand, a training collar that is too loose can accidentally fall off of the dog’s head when it lowers its head.
It is also important to know that a training collar that is too long for the dog requires a great deal of finesse to use properly. A collar that is too long can still be used, but it will require more skill on the part of the handler.
It is best to measure the dog’s neck with a tape measure, then add 2 to 3 inches to that measurement. So if your dog has a neck 12” in diameter, you would want to buy a training collar that is 14” in length. Chain slip collars are generally sized in two inch increments.
When fitting a training collar, the loop of the chain which is connected to the leash should be on the top of the dog’s neck. This ensures that the collar releases the instant the leash is loosened. Training collars work most effectively when they’re able to tighten and loosen quickly. Tightening the collar is the first part of the correction, and loosening it is the second part of the process, by way of reinforcement for your dog. It is the transient nature of the tightening that really gives the dog the message that the tightening will occur immediately there is an undesired behavior.
If the loop of the training collar that is attached to the leash is not on the top of the dog’s neck, the collar can still be tightened relatively easily, but it will not release back to a loose state as quickly. The more constant pressure on the dog’s neck which results, initiates a counter response on the part of the animal, and your dog will then react by pulling and straining against the leash.
Finally, it is important to use a training collar that is well made and strong. Buying a high quality training collar, slip collar or choke collar can be vital to the safety of yourself and your dog.
If the worst happens, and your dog’s training collar does break, it is important not to panic. Most dogs will be unaware that they have broken the collar, at least for a few seconds. In most cases, if you act as if the leash is still connected, you can usually regain control of your dog perhaps even before the dog realizes he is free.
Author : Brigitte Smith runs two websites dedicated to dog training, dog care and dog health: Grab your free special report "How to Improve Your Dog's Health Within 30 Days - Maybe Even Lengthen Your Dog's Life!" here: http://www.HealthyHappyDogs.com or here: http://www.Dog-Health-Care-Information.com
Tags
dog,
Dog collar,
Dog training,
pets,
Training
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)