Why Everyone In The Family Should Be Involved In Training
Why Is My Dog Eating Rocks
Why Do Dogs Eat Rocks? Dogs can eat rocks for many reasons - habit, boredom, play, curiosity, anxiety... Sometimes it starts out as curiosity then turns into a habit. The habit often gets worse when the people give the dog a lot of attention when they have the rock in their mouth. What Re the Risks of a Dog Eating Rocks? No matter what their reason is, it can be dangerous. They can break their teeth, choke and/ or create an obstruction in their digestive tract. Dogs can require surgery to remove rocks from their stomach or to remove teeth that break from chewing on the rock. How Do I Stop My Dog From Eating Rocks? There are many ways to STOP dogs from eating rocks: Prevent access to the rocks - remove them or block access in your yard or keep them on leash when they are around rocks. Teach your dog "leave it" and "drop it." Be sure to use high value treats when you reward them for doing “leave it” or “drop it.” Provide other safe toys for them to chew on like stuffed Kongs, no hide chews, bully sticks, food dispensing toys/ kibble nibble ball, Kong [...]
How Your Personality Can Affect Your Dog
How Your Personality Can Affect Your Dog Carefully choose a dog whose personality and energy level are a match for yours and/or your family's. When we adopt a puppy or an adult dog, we rarely consider if their personality is a match with our own. We fall in love with how cute they are, or their picture on the rescue site, or we just like the breed. When we are adopting a dog, we are often trying to adopt our new “best friend.” Just like people, dogs can be energetic, impulsive, silly, shy, fearful…..the list of personality traits are endless. And, just like in people, some personalities do not “mesh” as well as others do. Playing the Match Game - Yours & Your Dog's Personalities When we match with the right dog, the relationship can be magical. If you are a couch potato and you find a dog who loves laying by your feet, you can both be at ease in your relationship. If you are a marathon runner and you find a dog that never seems to tire, your relationship can be blissful. If you adopt a dog who gets distracted easily or is impulsive, you [...]
Building a Relationship With Your Dog
Excerpted from "The Evolution of Dog Training" by Shannon Coyner Use positive training techniques to create an unbreakable bond with your dog. When you are training your dog, it is important to remember that both of you are learning. Even if you have trained dogs before, each time you train a new dog, you are both learning. As a professional, I treat every dog and human as an individual, and just because one technique works for one, it may not work for another. It is important that you show patience to yourself and your dog. If you are in a bad or stressful mood, you may decide not to train your dog at that time. Be sure that if you are aware that you are experiencing anxiety or fears, your dog may notice and become warier. Use Force-Free, Positive Techniques When you begin to work with your dog on a regular basis, they will learn your mood and will become a true partner. Training using force-free, positive techniques can create a beautiful, unbreakable bond. Remember: There are no bad dogs or bad humans – just inappropriate behavior. Get help when needed. Look for the “yes” when training. [...]