The Dog Site

Whether you have a brand new puppy or an old dog, it makes good sense to dedicate a little bit of time training them. And while there is an abundance of information available about how to train your dog, you can’t go wrong with dog training tips from the professionals.

1.  Positive reinforcement is essential. While there are several theories on the way to train your dog, most dog training experts recognize that positive reinforcement works best. Positive reinforcement involves rewarding your dog with verbal praise “good dog”, physical praise like a pat on the head and food rewards. It does not involve screaming at your dog, hitting or punishing them.

Positive reinforcement works due to the fact it creates a relationship of trust with your dog. Dogs are motivated by rewards especially food rewards.

2. Consistency is important. If you’re working with your dog on a specific skill or trick then attempt to train them at the same time each day. This helps your dog learn what to expect. Most dogs thrive on structure and will perform and learn faster when they understand what’s expected. If you are training using food rewards, attempt to train your dog before mealtime so they are a little hungry and motivated.

3. Have patience. Dogs usually learn in waves. Sometimes they pick things up easily and then the following day it seems like you have to start over from the beginning. Be patient. Start every new trick with really small steps and be very clear about what you expect. Even with the smallest tricks such as “sit” you will want to break it down into smaller steps.

4. Use hand cues along with verbal cues. Some dogs have an easier time comprehending and remembering hand signals than they do with verbal cues. Assign a hand signal to each trick or behavior you are training.

5. Train in small increments. Dogs have short attention spans. Attempting to train them for twenty or thirty minutes is not likely to work. They are going to become frustrated and lose focus. Instead, keep training sessions to no more than five minutes.

To start with, you may want to train for only a minute or two until your dog learns to look forward to training. Dogs can learn to dislike training. Keeping the training sessions short will help them learn to enjoy the process.

6. Always end on a positive note. Learning a new trick is hard work. End every training session, no matter how frustrating, on a positive note. Always give your dog a trick or behavior to perform that they have learned to perform and end with a food reward and loads of praise.

7. Keep your dog healthy. Last but not least, one of the most important dog training tips from the experts recommends feeding your dog good quality dog food, giving them sufficient fresh water and making certain they get enough rest. A healthy dog is a more content dog and will understand desired behaviors far more quickly.

For more dog training tips, visit Obedience Training for Dogs.

The Importance of Dog Obedience Training and Dog Behavior Exercises

For anyone planning on adding a new canine addition to their family, having a well behaved pet is essential for a happy household. If you have you ever seen the flick Marley and Me, then you will know just how important dog obedience training and dog behavior training is. If you have seen the flick, then you have seen how annoying a dog with no obedience training can be. Marley’s the kind of K-9 that any dog trainer will not be too happy to meet. Marley pees all over the house, chews on the dining room set, and jumps on anyone and everyone. In truth, his owner, portrayed by Owen Wilson, even dragged him to a dog training class to turn him into a capable dog. Unfortunately, the dog trainer easily gave up on him because he was the most awful dog she had ever worked with. The dog turned the class into complete and utter chaos, so he was not allowed to conclude the course. That was kind of frustrating on the part of his owners. Now, if you currently have a dog like Marley, what do you think you will do? Why not try these dog obedience training workouts to create a capable dog?

Dog Obedience Training – Heeling Your Dog on a Leash

While strolling your dog, his right shoulder should wind up being about even with your left knee. Once the leash turns loose, simply call out your dog’s name and give the heel command. Walk forward as quick as you can and then give a hard jerk on the leash. Do not drag your dog when you do this. Once you jerked him into position, praise him with words like Good boy!

Dog Obedience Training – Teaching Your Dog to Sit

You should note that your dog should always sit at your left side with its shoulder at your left knee. To make your pet obey the sit command, you need to first fold the leash in your right hand. Then simply just, call your dog’s name and command sit. Push down on its hindquarters employing your left hand while jerking up on the dog’s lead with your other hand. When he does achieve the sitting position right, praise him and give him a treat.

Dog Obedience Training – Teaching Your Dog to Stay

If you’d like to make your dog stay where he is, command him to be in a sitting position. Afterward, hold out your hand with the flat of your palm facing him, then tell him to stay. If he does, again provide him praise but if not, put him back in position and commence again.

Dog Obedience Training – Teaching Your Dog to About Turn

When you turn away from your dog, do not forget to do it to your right to reverse your direction. And as you do it, make certain that you keep your eyes on your dog and then give him a number of short and quick jerks on the lead.

Dog Obedience Training – Teaching Your Dog The Down Command

Just as with the stay command, you can get your pooch to obey the down command by putting it in a sitting position first. With your canine sitting, then go ahead and give the down command, then slowly push on his shoulders and seek to wobble your canine off balance at the same time. But there is one other way to do this. You can also position the leash between your sole and shoe heel. Then, go ahead and give the down command while you are pulling up on the leash.

So these are simply some of the dog obedience training workouts that you can achieve to create a well behaved dog. Firstly, they might seem challenging. But once you have tried some or all of these dog training methods and begin to see highly effective results, you will begin to realize how rewarding these dog obedience training techniques could be not only for your dog but also for you and your family.

The Irish Water Spaniel is an uncommon breed, native to the Emerald Isle that is strongly built and taller and squarer than most spaniels. In fact the tallest of spaniels. Their fur consists of dense locks with a distinguishing puce / liver colour with a dominant purple tint. Irish water spaniels are about 60 cms (two feet) tall and weigh twenty five – thirty kgs (around 60 lbs). The Irish Water Spaniel’s throat and face are smooth with the head topped with a “top knot” raising as a peak between the eyes. Irish Water Spaniel’s have an unusual  medium sized smooth, rat like tail. Which contrasts strongly with their curly fur.

Irish Water Spaniel’s were and are a working dog, so are active and very intelligent. It important to socialise them if they are to blend into family life. Irish Water Spaniel’s need plenty of routine exercise and time spent on dog training to really profit from them. They are defensive of their family and have a deep, fierce sounding bark if aggravated. They usually live for 8-12 years
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The Irish Water Spaniel coat is non-shedding which could be great for those who have someone in their family who suffers from allergic responses might not be affected by this breed. They do not require regular daily grooming unless showing. Every so often a trim to remove straggle ends with a comb and scissors to eliminate the mats. No surprise with their name that they love swimming, so an occasional swim will curl up the coat again and keep them contented.

The Irish Water Spaniel developed in the 1830s in Ireland. Many experts believe the Irish Water Spaniel came from the Poodles, Portuguese Water Dog and Barbet. The Irish Water Spaniel hunted as a gundog in the marshes, rivers and bogs in Ireland.

Although happy to curl up and sleep at home, routine walks and exercise are crucial for a healthy, trouble free Irish Water Spaniel. An unexercised Irish Water Spaniel is likely to lead to a mischievous, naughty dog. A great home for them is an active one, with plenty of activities going on and space, where their minds as well as bodies are exercised. Dog walkers love them, as they appreciate good walks. Numerous Irish Water Spaniel owners work their dogs in the shooting field, in obedience tests, in agility competitions, or in the conformation show ring.

Their intelligence leads them to enjoying agility and obedience activities and combined with their great nose often leads to them being trained for drug and explosive detection.

The major health issue with Irish Water Spaniel’s is caused by their size and may suffer from hip dysplasia, prior to breeding, the potential parents should be scored for this.

They can be greedy, so you need to regulate their food intake.

The Irish Water Spaniel is a wonderful dog for an active family or couple who have the energy and either experience of other dogs, or are willing to train them, maybe with the help of a professional dog trainer.