Dog Training Collars and Harnesses – Making the Proper Selection is Essential to Training Success
Dog training is an art, and like any artist you must pick your tools carefully in order to properly train your dog. Each dog is different, and thus you must be able to decide which collar is most appropriate for your dog based on its temperament, personality, and strength. Below, you will find a description of all the major varieties of dog training collars that you might come across when deciding to purchase one for you pooch.
The metal choke collar is perhaps the most popular and widely used collar in the dog training world. It should be used in training larger, stronger dogs that tend to take YOU for a walk.
The metal toggle choke collar is basically the same as you regular choke collar with the major difference being that you can correct you dog easily by using the toggle while your dog is off-leash.
The pinch collar should be used RARELY and only in situations where the choke collar is ineffective in controlling your dog (i.e. in situations where your dog is very strong, where its highly aggressive, and when it repeatedly lunges at other dogs and people).
The fur saver choke collar is designed to control the dog without leaving chain marks around the dogs’ neck or getting fur caught in the chain which sometimes occurs when using an ordinary metal choke collar. It is mainly used when showing dogs and NOT in training them because the dogs don’t tend to respond to them in training and they don’t give the quick jerk needed for proper correction.
The nylon choke collar is best used in small dogs and puppies up to 3 months, because they tend to be more gentle and they tend to get young puppies used to wearing a collar.
The gentle head leader is best used on dogs that are more shy and easily corrected (i.e. dogs that respond quickly to your commands and dogs that tend to cringe upon your correction).
The electronic collar is mainly used for two reasons: first its used on field dogs (i.e. in bird hunting) and second it is used as a means of training the “out” command to a protection dog in its bite training phase.
The tracking harness is used for exactly what its name suggests: for tracking game, suspects, lost individuals, or competition articles.
And finally, the seeing eye dog harness is designed so that the dog’s owner can hang on to the lead while the dog guides her to her destination. Unlike other leads, this lead is designed so that the dog can pull its owner forward as it walks instead of gently walking beside her on loose lead.
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Feb 21, 2010 | | Dogs
My best friend is incredible!Shes one of those rare types who hangs on every word you say.Shes content to be quiet when I need stillness, even though shes one of those high-drive types.All I have to do is call and shes there in an instant, no matter what she was doing before.She puts me ahead of all her other friends, never fails to make me feel special, and is a redhead just like me.But shes not a person, even though shes sure she is.She is a butterfly dog; a Papillon.
When I brought this eight-week-old bundle of joy home, I didnt know what to call her.Im not very good at naming anything, so I usually just observe for a couple of weeks and let the animal name itself by its personality.This puppys name became evident in nothing flat:Tazzie.She whirled around the house, jumping up on furniture five times her size, zooming and zipping and totally charming me. She was, indeed, a Tasmanian devil pup.I quickly realized the athleticism of this dog and knew Id have to find her a job when she got a little older.High-drive dogs, that dont have jobs, will certainly find other outlets for their energy and those outlets arent usually things you would enjoy!
You already have a burning love for your puppy, but what is your relationship like?Does it come when you call it?Does it sit or lay or stay?From your first class, at your dog training school, your relationship with your dog begins to change.I will warn you, however, that anything you want to teach your dog wont come just with a once-a-week class, even if you have the best dog training school in the world.You have to practice with them, just a little bit, every day.
Tazzie was a very food-motivated dog, so the fact that she got food every time she did something right made training a blast for her, all by itself.And this happened every day!Bonus!She made fast friends at her new dog training school, so going to class was fun as well.She got to where she would whine, as soon as we pulled in the parking lot, until I finally got her out of that car.
So now youre taking your dog to classes in a place they love, and youre working with them every day.During that time, youre paying complete attention to them, teaching them to pay complete attention to you, and they get their favorite food as icing on the cake.This does incredible things for the bond between you and your dog.They learn to focus on you, no matter what, and good things will come.They get praised and fed, or praised and allowed to tug on a toy, whichever motivates the dog more, so your relationship cant help but blossom.
Ever since Tazzie and I started training together, she has claimed me as her own.When my other two dogs want to sit on my lap, shell push them out of the way to get the best spot because, I am her property, as far as shes concerned. I do give the other dogs personal time as well, but I have to put her in a sit/stay or a down/stay so shell let them come get love.
She is, by far, the one I can trust the most, not only because of her training, but from the bond we gained through the training.She never takes her eyes off of me, since we began at our dog training school, and it serves us well in the agility ring!
If you want to forever alter and solidify the bond you share with your dog, find yourself a good dog training school, for whatever discipline you prefer, and go for it.With a little time, money, and patience, your relationship will become a forever relationship.If you do, your dog will turn out to be your best friend too!
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Feb 19, 2010 | | Dogs
Whatever dog you have, he or she will sure appreciate having their own private space, just like us humans, dogs are territorial and always love to have a place to call their own. A dog kennel is the perfect opportunity to provide your dog with its own house and you with your own space…
Every dog owner is faced with the same dilemma, to keep the dogs in the house with the family or to think about a dog kennel that will serve the dogs as an outdoor home of their own. The advantages of a dog kennel are numerous and not surprisingly many find that a dog that has his own space is sometimes much more relaxed and happy. The dog kennel option also decreases some conflicts in the home since sometimes some family members are not too excited about having a dog indoors.
A dog kennel fence is an essential instrument for anyone who owns a pet dog. Not only does a kennel fence allow you to put your dog somewhere where he has more space to roam and play, but it also keeps him from tearing up your furnitureor wandering into someone else’s yard. Whether there are unwanted dogs roaming around in your neighborhoodor whether you simply want to keep your dog safe–fences are required to prevent then in entering and damaging any kind of land or property you have.
A dog kennel fence is a great idea for some dog owners and the dogs as well, but you should seriously think about the fence and the way it is going to positively affect your life, you will need to think about your dog too, does he need a lot of space? Should the be a covered area and a place for the dog to isolate itself from the exterior environment?. Once you decide to setup a dog kennel fence, you should take into consideration your dog’s size and personality. Obviously, the larger your dog chain link dog kennel is, the larger you will want the fence to beand the more space you will want him to have to roam. The next thing to think about is the main purpose of the dog kennel, is it for you to have better control over your dog? Is it to keep your dog from running away (as many dogs do), or to keep it from causing damage and harm to people or things in the vicinity?.
Dog kennel fences are available in many forms so you can many different options for the dog kennel setup, dog kennel materials can be made of metal, wire, and even electronic (but I dont personally recommend it at all). Each owner can select suitable fencing according to his and his dog’s needs. When making this decision, it is important to consider whether you are fencing your dog in or keeping other things from entering the cage. For instance, if your primary concern is preventing your dog from getting away, you may want to use a high dog kennel fence with a top and with a lock on the door. In contrast, if your primary concern is keeping other animals out, such as raccoons or other dogs, you may want to put up a double fence or an electric fence outside of the kennel.
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Jan 31, 2010 | | Dogs
By the time you have your dog its behavior will have already been greatly influenced by his mother and his siblings.
Heres an example: If his mother barked to attract some attention, her puppies will probably behave in the exact same way. The experiences that occur between three and twelve weeks of age are crucial in the development of a dogs personality.
The best time to get a puppy is when it is about eight weeks old. By making sure that it has as much varied experience as possible during the month that follows, you will lay the groundwork for easier, more productive, and rewarding training.
Meeting New People
You need to make sure that your new puppy meets as many different people as possible while it is still young. If you can, take him to work, take him out in the car, and take him to your friends homes whenever possible. Let the puppy play with dogs that you know are healthy, and introduce it to children and other adults.
Personal Investigation
Playing with toys will provide the puppy with mental and physical stimulation. Find out which toys the puppy likes (they often have favorites), but you need to make sure that the toys are unlike other domestic items, such as shoes. You can use his favorite toy as a reward during training.
Play Constructively
You can play active games with your puppy, but you need to make sure that it is you who is in control and dominant in the puppies eyes. While you play, watch the puppys behavior, and if it is about to sit, issue the Sit command. This gives the puppy some early association with basic commands and what they mean.
Give Immediate Rewards
When the puppy obeys a command, you should offer an immediate reward, such as stroking or praise with words. Remember: Youre the dominant member of the pack, which means you should always be in control.
Early Habits Can Last A Life-Time
If you carry a puppy constantly when it is very young, it will expect similar treatment when it feels insecure as an adult. Bear this in mind.
Give Mental Stimulation
Puppies that are actively stimulated between the age of three and twelve weeks grow into adults that are good at both learning and problem solving. A puppy learns best by observing its mothers behavior.
Understanding Fear
You must try to keep an eye on all of your puppys activities, to ensure that any frightening situations he may encounter are kept to a minimum. Fears learned at an early age can become lifelong phobias unless they are overcome with training.
Gatherings
All dogs must learn to behave properly, both with their own species and with others, especially people. This isnt always an easy task, so the best time for them to learn is when they are still very young less than four months old is best.
When its possible, make sure that the puppy meets other species such as cats horses when it is very young.
Heres why: Early socialization to other species reduces the likelihood of future problems. With the advice of your vet or local dog training club, its a good idea to participate in supervised weekly puppy evenings. At these gatherings, puppies learn how to respond to other dogs and to strangers in a controlled way.
Social Deprivation
Dogs that lack early social experiences can sometimes become more difficult to train. Restricted contact with people when the puppy is young can cause limitations in the dogs ability to obey commands.
Before getting a dog, find out as much as possible about its early experience. The more a puppy has been handled while young, the more likely it is to respond well to obedience training.
Puppies raised with hardly any contact with people can be very difficult to train for the average person without the help of a professional dog trainer. So remember to ask questions about the puppies experience with being handled.
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Jan 17, 2010 | | Dogs
Discover How To Train Your Dog and Help Her Become a Better Pet
Training your dog will help him to be a more obedient animal. It will also help him to be a better pet. The time that you spend investing in this training will reward you for many years. Your pet will be closer to you and will respect you even more. And, it doesnt take away for his or her personality. But, what is does is sets the rules, the boundaries which help an animal to feel secure.
Your pet is communicating with you. They want attention and will do whatever it takes to get it. Believe it or not, you may actually be unconsciously telling your dog to behave badly if you do not provide them with the attention that they are in need of. If you yell at your pet for doing something wrong, for example, having an accident on the rug, you are providing attention to it and therefore, they may keep doing it to get that attention. You are excited which makes them excited. Instead, try ignoring your pet when they do something wrong like this.
On the flip side, then, positive reinforcement works well on many pets. Reward your dog for good behavior. What can you do? Things like giving them a treat or just verbally praising them works well. Or, take some time to pay extra attention to them. This does several things for your pet. The pet will realize that good behavior, whatever it is, will get them this type of reward. And, it will help to promote you as the leader. You need to remain the leader of the pack, even if your dog tries to challenge this. For those who need to learn this, and even those animals that are less assertive, obedience training can be quite beneficial. When the dog uses his or her instincts to follow a leader, the pet will feel more secure and behave properly as well.
Positive reinforcement type training can work in a number of different ways. For example, the capture reward process where the pet is rewarded when the good behavior is displayed is commonly used to gently coax the animal into giving you the desired reaction. The professionals will likely tell you that it is best to use several senses for training. The use of verbal communication and the use of hand signals are necessary. Things like sit, come, go, stay are all verbal signals. You need a release signal as well which will inform the animal that she has done a good job. You would give the release signal and then her reward right afterwards. This links the signal with the fact that the animal has done something good.
Now, who is going to teach your pet and how will they do it? First of all, you can do most of the training yourself. You can tap into the resources that you find at the library and bookstores on training the dog in how to type books. You can get quite a bit of the information you need to do it right on the web as well. If you do want to find additional help, seek that of a professional in your area. You can find them through pet supply chains or your local humane societies. Classes can be a great way to help your dog to socialize and to educate yourself. You can find local personal trainers for your dog as well. These individuals will come to you and work with your animal in a custom way to give them the support that they need.
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Jan 08, 2010 | | Dogs
When the moment arrives for selecting a dog of your own, you should have a good idea of what you are looking for. If you are primarily concerned with finding an average dog, we highly recommend your local animal shelter. Not only will you be helping to relieve the local over population of animals as well as possibly rescuing a loving little dog, you just might meet the best friend you will ever have.
No matter where you find the right dog for you, the same basic rules will apply. You will find that a very young puppy only vaguely resembles the adult dog you admired on the street or in the show ring. Older puppies, between the ages of six and twelve months or so, go through an awkward adolescent stage during which they seem hopelessly out of proportion. You will often get a better idea of what the puppy will eventually look like if you observe the adult members of his family, (when this is possible).
If you are looking for a puppy, rather than an adult dog, there are various methods of picking the best puppy from a litter. Some advise avoiding the weakest and shyest, even though the runt of the litter may turn out to be the best. Some breeders claim the mother picks out the best, so they remove the puppies from her and note which ones she brings back first. But everyone agrees that the signs of a good temperament in a very young puppy are friendliness, confidence, playfulness, and curiosity.
When you must choose a puppy from a litter you should proceed by elimination. First of all is sex, male or female, this will eliminate 1/3 to the group. Then you might consider colors or markings, next a playful and happy attitude. But always bear in mind the role he will play in your life. Do you want an active playful dog, or one that is quiet and more reserved? Go with the one that most closely fits your lifestyle.
Choosing an adult dog is different. He has already achieved his full physical development and personality. He may also have acquired physical or mental quirks. When choosing an adult dog of unknown past, you must use all of your powers of observation. Like the puppy, a good temperament is the most important quality of all. Keep in mind that adult dogs are more difficult to train, as they have already been trained by someone else.
If you are looking for a show dog, temperament may be secondary to physical conformation. There tends to be considerable difference of temperament between the show lines or breeds, and the working lines of certain breeds. If you want a pet whom you can also show with some success, the best solution is to choose either one of the breeds in the sporting and working groups that have not been affected by artificial show standards.
Lastly, when making your final choice, choose from the heart and not so much by the book, and you both will be happier for it.
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Dec 19, 2009 | | Dogs
Have you been shopping and shopping for just the right dog tag, without finding what youre looking for to suit your dogs personality? Choose your exact specifications, give them to the manufacturer, and theyll produce a dog tag to your liking. Some retailers even specialize in custom dog tags.
Do you like the look and solid feel of stainless steel, brass, or aluminum? Or perhaps you are not picky, and just need a plastic tag. Plastic wont last quite as long, but they are inexpensive and easily replaceable. A metal or plastic dog tag shouldnt cost more than $40 in most cases, and in many cases they cost under $10. You can have all of your dogs ID information imprinted in the surface of any metal or plastic dog tag.
Some dog tags are jeweled. You can sometimes choose an exact pattern that you wish the design to be in. If you want the shape of a cursive R for Rex, and you want it done in rhinestone, you can find someone to do that. Some retailers will offer a more limited array of options, but you can still usually choose from two or three types of embedded stones.
When it comes to really high-end dog tags, such as sapphire, real silver, gold, or diamond, there tend to be more choices. This is because you will be paying many hundreds, or even thousands of dollars for the material itself, so its worth it for the retailer to give you as many options as you like.
You also must choose the material and style of the dog tags collar or necklace. There are leather, nylon, rubber, and so on, on the lower financial end; and silk or silver chains on the higher end. Choose a collar or necklace that compliments whatever dog tag you go with. Just make sure your dog is comfortable with it.
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Nov 17, 2009 | | Dogs