Dog Training Videos - Do You Need Them?
By Sarah Barker
Article Word Count: 422 The short answer about dog training videos, is no. While dog training videos are fun to watch and exciting, the chances are they're going to be more expensive than their book counterparts, and are often harder to digest because of their non-interactive nature. Videos play all the way through, and if you want to remember parts of them you have to take notes, so you end up writing a book of what the videos contain. Why not just get a book in the first place?
Of course, it depends entirely on your favourite method of learning - whether you prefer to read and have something on hand that you can quickly skim through to find relevant sections, or whether you want to sit down in front of your computer or TV so fast forward through a 60 minute video to find a 10 second clip.
With that said, dog training videos are beneficial if you can find the right kind. The trouble is, that's very hard to do. Instead, drop the idea of videos and find yourself a good dog training book - then you can make your own videos when your dog is successfully trained!
Most online dog training courses will come with videos, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should get them. One excellent course written by professional dog trainer Daniel Stevens has no videos, yet is one of the most successful courses available online. He firmly believes that you should spend more time with your dog than watching other dogs on TV, so he didn't include videos when he was created his course.
Instead, he's used photos interleaved with the book text to demonstrate particular techniques or further explain something he's talking about in the text. This means you can skim read the book very quickly and get an instant feel for what's being taught, without having to sit through hours of tedious footage of dogs misbehaving, or unnaturally perfect dogs who have clearly been trained since birth.
Dog training videos should be left for after your dog has been trained, when it can do tricks and you want to show it off. Until that happens, stick with books and material you can hold in your hands. Or better yet, (and this is probably the only time I'd recommend using videos to train your dog) get out and play with your dog, then video the two of you and watch it back. You'll be able to see what your interactions are like, and it will help you plan your training routines.
Dog obedience training can seem like an uphill struggle, but if you've got professional advice from the start and a properly designed behavior strategy, it's actually a breeze to get through. I've successfully trained my dogs out of their bad habits (barking, chewing and scratching) thanks to the advice of Daniel Steven's "Sit, Stay, Fetch!" course.
Learn more about dog behaviour training today, and get a free 6 part sample from the "Sit, Stay, Fetch!" course at EasyDogObedience.com. I'll see you there, and wish you the best of luck with your pets.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_Barker
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Essential Steps to Start Training Your DogBy [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Scott_Reilly]Scott Reilly
Try to put yourself in a puppies paws. Everything is new to you. Sights, sounds, other animals and most of all, people. So it is very important that you pay very close attention as you train and introduce your puppy to these new experiences and let them get accustomed to them. Curiosity will run natural in them especially at their eye level. They will also learn a lot from your own behavior as well. The key is to be patient while they adapt to their new world.
Getting your puppy trained as soon as possible is detrimental. Although you "teach an old dog new tricks", it will be very difficult to change life long habits that began as a puppy. An example would be letting your puppy jump on you while playing around. As your dog grows and matures you want that to stop, but he has developed that sense that it is ok to do so. It will be very difficult and frustrating to end that behavior. But it can be done. Just don't develope habits now that you don't want him to do later. He won't understand your change in mind.
Many of the puppies behavioral characteristics will be developed during their first year in this new world. Having said that, it is very important to shape their behavior and socialization patterns in your puppy training. It may be a wise idea for your puppy to have it's own space in your bedroom at night. Petting them is a great comfort to them, especially at night.
A tip on socialization skills is to distinguish the difference between your puppies playful growl and their defensive growl. You will notice a cute growl and playfully chew on your hand and fingers. Notice a difference in growling when family or friends come by. When this happens it is your job to teach them that it is bad. The puppy needs to know that you are the one in control. Take charge by swatting the nose and saying NO! Bad! Then calmly and gently introduce them to the strangers and let them become familiar and comfortable with them.
Biting and Chewing
Allowing the puppy to remain with their mom in the litter for the first three months is by far the best way to lay down the foundation for preventing biting. There is no better teacher for bite inhibition than the mother during this time.
Having said that, for puppies to bite and chew is completely normal. Whereas people have arms to grab onto things, dogs just have their mouths. That's why you need to know the difference between biting and 'mouthing'. If after some time in training your puppy ongoing aggressive behaviour continues, which is generally rare, you might find you don't want to keep such an aggressive puppy. This is especially important if you have kids around. Overly aggressive dogs derive from overly aggressive puppies. Just showing your puppy love and affection will not correct this problem. A common misconception is that they will just grow out of it when in actuality they may need professional help and soon. You need to be the responsible one here.It is perfectly normal for your puppy to want to bite and chew due to teething. As a responsible pet owner, it is up to you to have the right toys such as knotted ropes, nylon bones, hard puppy treats and a hard rubber ball to gnaw and chew on.
House Training
There are many types of house training your puppy or even your dog, though it will tougher the older they get. It is very important that you have a hygienic home if you want your dog to live indoors with you and your family. You can definitely run into medically expensive health issues that will develop in time for both you and your pet if this is not done. Plus the smell alone is not pleasant for visitors. By being the master of the house or the alpha, so to speak, you need to establish routines and rules which encourage the dog to follow the leader.
Crate Training
One form of house training is crate training. A natural instinct in dogs is displeasure in relieving themselves where they sleep. It is very important that the crate you are using is big enough for the size dog you have. It is also important to note that the crate should not be used as a form of punishment or jail. They need to have room to move and play comfortably and comfortable to sleep in. It is not good practice to confine your puppy to the crate if you are around, unless it's sleep time. If you need to use the crate for other than sleeping, it should not be done for more than a couple of hours. This is because young puppies of a few months or so can't hold themselves much longer than that. That would be the best time to teach your dog to do it's business in a predetermined area.
When you take your puppy outside to relieve themselves, it is best to always go through the same door and possibly the same time. An example would be, first thing in the morning and just before bed. This establishes a routine as they get older and don't need the crate anymore.
You need to start the training in your puppy between 9 to 12 weeks old.
Scott Reilly studies and writes about dog training. You can learn more by visiting http://reisco.bezoogle.com/pp/dog-training
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Reilly http://EzineArticles.com/?Essential-Steps-to-Start-Training-Your-Dog&id=1108172
Try to put yourself in a puppies paws. Everything is new to you. Sights, sounds, other animals and most of all, people. So it is very important that you pay very close attention as you train and introduce your puppy to these new experiences and let them get accustomed to them. Curiosity will run natural in them especially at their eye level. They will also learn a lot from your own behavior as well. The key is to be patient while they adapt to their new world.
Getting your puppy trained as soon as possible is detrimental. Although you "teach an old dog new tricks", it will be very difficult to change life long habits that began as a puppy. An example would be letting your puppy jump on you while playing around. As your dog grows and matures you want that to stop, but he has developed that sense that it is ok to do so. It will be very difficult and frustrating to end that behavior. But it can be done. Just don't develope habits now that you don't want him to do later. He won't understand your change in mind.
Many of the puppies behavioral characteristics will be developed during their first year in this new world. Having said that, it is very important to shape their behavior and socialization patterns in your puppy training. It may be a wise idea for your puppy to have it's own space in your bedroom at night. Petting them is a great comfort to them, especially at night.
A tip on socialization skills is to distinguish the difference between your puppies playful growl and their defensive growl. You will notice a cute growl and playfully chew on your hand and fingers. Notice a difference in growling when family or friends come by. When this happens it is your job to teach them that it is bad. The puppy needs to know that you are the one in control. Take charge by swatting the nose and saying NO! Bad! Then calmly and gently introduce them to the strangers and let them become familiar and comfortable with them.
Biting and Chewing
Allowing the puppy to remain with their mom in the litter for the first three months is by far the best way to lay down the foundation for preventing biting. There is no better teacher for bite inhibition than the mother during this time.
Having said that, for puppies to bite and chew is completely normal. Whereas people have arms to grab onto things, dogs just have their mouths. That's why you need to know the difference between biting and 'mouthing'. If after some time in training your puppy ongoing aggressive behaviour continues, which is generally rare, you might find you don't want to keep such an aggressive puppy. This is especially important if you have kids around. Overly aggressive dogs derive from overly aggressive puppies. Just showing your puppy love and affection will not correct this problem. A common misconception is that they will just grow out of it when in actuality they may need professional help and soon. You need to be the responsible one here.It is perfectly normal for your puppy to want to bite and chew due to teething. As a responsible pet owner, it is up to you to have the right toys such as knotted ropes, nylon bones, hard puppy treats and a hard rubber ball to gnaw and chew on.
House Training
There are many types of house training your puppy or even your dog, though it will tougher the older they get. It is very important that you have a hygienic home if you want your dog to live indoors with you and your family. You can definitely run into medically expensive health issues that will develop in time for both you and your pet if this is not done. Plus the smell alone is not pleasant for visitors. By being the master of the house or the alpha, so to speak, you need to establish routines and rules which encourage the dog to follow the leader.
Crate Training
One form of house training is crate training. A natural instinct in dogs is displeasure in relieving themselves where they sleep. It is very important that the crate you are using is big enough for the size dog you have. It is also important to note that the crate should not be used as a form of punishment or jail. They need to have room to move and play comfortably and comfortable to sleep in. It is not good practice to confine your puppy to the crate if you are around, unless it's sleep time. If you need to use the crate for other than sleeping, it should not be done for more than a couple of hours. This is because young puppies of a few months or so can't hold themselves much longer than that. That would be the best time to teach your dog to do it's business in a predetermined area.
When you take your puppy outside to relieve themselves, it is best to always go through the same door and possibly the same time. An example would be, first thing in the morning and just before bed. This establishes a routine as they get older and don't need the crate anymore.
You need to start the training in your puppy between 9 to 12 weeks old.
Scott Reilly studies and writes about dog training. You can learn more by visiting http://reisco.bezoogle.com/pp/dog-training
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Reilly http://EzineArticles.com/?Essential-Steps-to-Start-Training-Your-Dog&id=1108172
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