Will using rewards make my dog constantly look for food?’ Owners are often worried that if they use reward-based training for puppies, they are encouraging them only to behave well within sight of food. This is not true. Reward-based training begins with rewarding the desired behaviour every time it occurs and connecting the command to [...]
This is an excessive training method that has been shown to be nothing more than a pointless act of cruelty. It involves grabbing the puppy and holding it on its back while staring directly into its eyes, until it stops wriggling and crying and gives up. Trainers will tell you that this is how bitches [...]
Early Training – Getting It Right The best way to discipline your dog is to enroll it in puppy preschool. Many veterinary practices are now running puppy preschools and these, if well managed, are invaluable because they allow puppies to socialize with other puppies and people, and they enable you to start training your dog [...]
EQUIPMENT There is a range of training aids and equipment available. Some of it is excellent while the rest is totally inappropriate. The Head Collar This is a wonderful training aid. It is similar to a horse halter, allowing your dog freedom to pant, drink and bark if it wants to while giving you full [...]
Problem barking should always be assessed by a behaviorist. Never use any sort of anti-bark collar without expert advice. There are reasons why your dog barks and a suitable modification programme should be implemented. There are occasions where an anti-bark collar may be used temporarily as part of a behaviour- modification programme. There are several [...]
Punishment is the use of an aversive stimulus in response to undesirable behaviour in order to decrease the likelihood of that particular action being repeated. If punishment is to be used, it must be appropriate in type and intensity, and must occur within seconds of the performance of the undesirable behaviour. It must also be [...]
Police dogs are important members of the force. Their acute sense of smell is used to detect human scent and to follow a trail for long distances. The police force benefits from their natural predatory aggression and instinct to guard and protect by training them to apprehend suspects once they have been tracked down. They [...]
Billy loves riding in the car and motivates Vera to drive co the beach or to one of the parks. In this way, the little dog has helped Vera regain her physical and mental health. It is nonsense to say that a person is too old to own a dog because they might die leaving [...]
Increasingly, young couples delay having a family or elect not to have children at all. For them a dog is often a child substitute, something that they can care for and nurture together. It can be taken on walks, outings to the beach or the park, or even to the cafe. It needs to be [...]
Because the social structure of the dog pack is so similar to the human social structure, it is relatively easy for dogs and humans to live closely, communicate effectively and to form strong bonds. Many dogs fulfill vital roles in our lives, providing protection, companionship and to those who are elderly and alone, a reason [...]
It has recently been documented that some dogs seem to sense when their epileptic owners are going to have a seizure. It is as yet unclear just how they know this. It may be that the person’s scent changes or they may be picking up changes in electrical activity in their owner’s brain. It may [...]
Jackie’s father bought her a puppy as a companion. The Golden Retriever cross wham she named Zac was cute and fluffy and very bright. He became the centre of her world. When Zoc was about six months old, he began to behave in a difficult manner. He frequently jumped and pawed at Jackie, refusing to [...]