As I look at the snow and ice outside, i can't help but think about warm weather. Warm weather means good times with my dogs and getting them in shape. I love to take my dogs swimming and if you haven't taken your dog, give it some thought. It's a great way to beat the summer heat and it's good cardio and is so much easier on the joints. I throw the ball and the dogs can't get enough of this summertime activity.
Have fun and make your dog a bigger part of your life and visit us at shannondogtraining.com
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Vet Visit
Several weeks ago i was called in regards to a 4 month old German Shepherd who wanted to eat his vet. The dog was refused future visits due to its aggression. Today i took him to my vet for training and the dog was put through a mock exam of his ears, teeth, stomach, paws and even had his temp taken. The dog did not growl, whine or show any signs of aggression and very little tension. So what happened? When i first started with the dog he tried several times to bite me. This dogs only problem was he did not know how to deal with stress. He was by nature a demanding little guy and he only responded the way any dog may under stress. Read my blog on how dogs deal with stress. During my training he learned how to deal with stress and that the correct behavior gets rewarded. When you get a new puppy, see if your vet will allow you to come in and just visit a little. Let him learn that its not a bad place. Give your dog rules to live by and make him a bigger part of your life! Be sure to visit http://www.shannondogtraining.com/
Friday, January 14, 2011
Support your local shelter
The next time you feel the need to get a new dog, don't forget to check your local shelters. There are so many nice dogs waiting for a good home. When shopping for your new buddy, make sure you pick one that fits your lifestyle. Don't choose a dog that loves to run and play if you cannot provide these activities. If you live in a small apartment make sure you are able to spend time playing in a park or walking trails. So many dogs find homes in shelters only because the owner chose the wrong dog or could not provide the proper excercise or playtime. A dog who is stuck indoors all the time needs to burn up energy that builds while living in a small house or apartment. Putting a dog on a chain is not excercise, in fact it's no way to live. The dog can become tangled, be injured or in some cases strangle itself. Also as the dog spends time on the chain or tieout it can even become more wild and crazy when its taken off the chain. The dog is watching the world go by and wanting to be a part of it but can only run back and forth on the end of a chain. So, make sure you provide for your dog and understand that owning a dog is a commitment. Make your dog a bigger part of your life and they will love you for it!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
How Dogs Deal with Stress
Having problems with your best friend? Many times understanding how they see the world and how they deal with stress can make a world of difference.
Dogs deal with stress four ways. 1. Avoid, 2. Flight, 3. Fight, and 4. Submit. These are the only options for the dog. For instance, if you're walking down the street and a dog is coming toward you he may go between houses. That is avoidance. He see you, but is not sure who or what you're about. You may be danger so he's thinking, "I'll just go this way and avoid the situation."
So the dog goes between houses and you do too. You meet at the back of the house and suddenly, there you are. He can't avoid you for you're standing right in front of him, so the dog runs away. He chose flight.
Now let's say that before you got to the back of the house, the dog went into your garage through an open door. You step into the doorway, and there is the dog looking at you. He can't avoid, he can't take flight, for you are blocking the only way out, so he only has two other options. Fight, by growling, hackeling up, he may try to bite or he may choose to submit by lowering his head, lowering his tail or showing other behaviors of submission. All dogs are different and depending on their genetic makeup will choose the stress response they need to survive.
So how does this apply to training? Be careful when correcting not to put the dog in flight, don't put so much stress on the dog that it goes into fight mode. Use praise, motivation, and correction properly, and you will see results. Look forward to hearing from you and please visit http://www.shannondogtraining.com/ .
Dogs deal with stress four ways. 1. Avoid, 2. Flight, 3. Fight, and 4. Submit. These are the only options for the dog. For instance, if you're walking down the street and a dog is coming toward you he may go between houses. That is avoidance. He see you, but is not sure who or what you're about. You may be danger so he's thinking, "I'll just go this way and avoid the situation."
So the dog goes between houses and you do too. You meet at the back of the house and suddenly, there you are. He can't avoid you for you're standing right in front of him, so the dog runs away. He chose flight.
Now let's say that before you got to the back of the house, the dog went into your garage through an open door. You step into the doorway, and there is the dog looking at you. He can't avoid, he can't take flight, for you are blocking the only way out, so he only has two other options. Fight, by growling, hackeling up, he may try to bite or he may choose to submit by lowering his head, lowering his tail or showing other behaviors of submission. All dogs are different and depending on their genetic makeup will choose the stress response they need to survive.
So how does this apply to training? Be careful when correcting not to put the dog in flight, don't put so much stress on the dog that it goes into fight mode. Use praise, motivation, and correction properly, and you will see results. Look forward to hearing from you and please visit http://www.shannondogtraining.com/ .
Training Small Dogs
Sometimes small dogs can wear you out! Bending over and over and over! So here is a good way to cheat. Put the little guy on a table about waist high. This will save your back, plus you will be able to correct much quicker!
Praise, Motivation and Correction
Three things are needed to be successful when working with your dog. Regardless of what you are trying to achieve, your training needs to include 1. Motivation, 2. Praise, and 3. Correction; and the dog needs to understand the command. Let's say we are teaching the dog to sit. Your dog already knows how to sit, but he doesn't know what it's called and we need him to do it when we give him the command . We will start out with a calm soft voice saying "Sit" , We will say we are training the traditional way with a training collar and leash. When the dog does not sit, you give a gentle leash correction in an upward direction and may need to gently push down on the dog's rear end. As you give the leash correction you will tell the dog "No". The leash correction and the word "No" should be used simultaneously. Remember we are TEACHING the dog, and there is no reason to use a gruff voice. Use a gentle voice. When the dog is in the sit position you will then praise, also using a calm voice. Do not over praise, for some dogs can get too excited and come up out of the sit. As you praise, let the dog know that what he has done is a good thing, tell him "Good Sit" emphasizing the work sit, saying it soft and drawn out. When the dog comes up out of the sit without permission stay calm. You simply give another leash correction and as you do so tell him "No" then "Sit" as you put him back in the sit position. Here is how the Praise, Motivation, and Correction apply: You may use a treat for a motivator, then your praise to let him know he followed the command properly. Then, if he breaks the command, you then need correction to give him guidance back to the proper behavior.
Hope this helps, as it's easier to show you than tell you how to do it. Remember all dogs are different and may have different levels of energy, shyness or other behaviors. If you have problems seek out professional trainers who can help you make your dog a bigger part of your life! Obedience should be a way of life and a commitment by the owner is needed for success. You must train in order to see results! Look forward to hearing from you and stop by my websit at http://www.shannondogtraining.com/ . It will be up and running again in a few days! I have found I am a better dog trainer than a computer programmer!
Hope this helps, as it's easier to show you than tell you how to do it. Remember all dogs are different and may have different levels of energy, shyness or other behaviors. If you have problems seek out professional trainers who can help you make your dog a bigger part of your life! Obedience should be a way of life and a commitment by the owner is needed for success. You must train in order to see results! Look forward to hearing from you and stop by my websit at http://www.shannondogtraining.com/ . It will be up and running again in a few days! I have found I am a better dog trainer than a computer programmer!
Welcome to Shannon Dog Training
Welcome to my page! We will have several post for you to enjoy soon, so please check in often. We look forward to hearing from you!
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