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Preparing for Emergency Vet Care
As dog owners we make several trips to the vet every year. Some trips are standard like vaccinations and grooming but the trips when our dogs are sick or injured are really awful. We can make these emergency trips a little better by taking our dogs in for regular checkups and shots when due. Once you find a vet you can work with, half of the battle is over. Once that vet is familiar with your animals you have just about won the battle. When your dog is injured the vet will usually get you right in and since they know your dog from the regular visits. They know what state your dog should be in physically and mentally. Think just how much easier it would be to work on an animal you know versus a stranger. This gives our vet a tremendous advantage when we bring in one of our sick dogs and she can look at her files and even remember a lot of things about the dog without asking much from us when we are upset already. So next time you get a reminder card from your vet that your dog is due for shots or just a checkup, try to get your dog in promptly and you will be a lot more prepared when the inevitable accident or sickness grips your little friend.
Best Friends?
House Dogs
You are probably a dog owner if you are reading this and perhaps you will at least feel some sympathy for me once you do read on. After you take your dogs for a walk in the rain and mud how do you get them ready to go back into the house? My wife and I keep several old towels at the back door and every time the dogs get back from a walk, we grab them and try to wipe their paws and other messy places off. It can be crazy when you have 3 dogs, wet and cold, at the same time and all they want is to get to the fireplace to warm up. If you have another method, please write me and give me some fresh ideas. I have seen people that crate their dogs until they have dried off and cleaned up somewhat just by being in their crates with clean bedding. But I can not stand to hear the dogs calling out for immediate companionship. I am always in trouble with my wife for being too soft.
Another bad time is bedtime. When we decide to go to bed and the dogs see us heading for the bedroom, Lookout! It is a mad dash for the best spots. The 3 cockers get the prime middle spots and my wife and I are usually thankful to get barely on the sides of the king sized bed with a little bit of the covers each! And during the night, if the dogs want to go out the doggy door and use the bathroom or just bark at the raccoons in the yard, they will just walk right over us. When they come back, they walk on us again. Now there has got to be other people who live this type of life. If you are one and have any good ideas, please write me and let me know what your secrets are. I would really appreciate any suggestions. Just not getting rid of our dogs. We have talked about that and we would rather go on like this than give up our best friends!
I look forward to hearing from some of you. There has got to be some great ideas out there concerning the above described doggy deals. People who don't love dogs can not understand how we could get like this. But if you have a dog you love, you know exactly what I am talking about. We found out that kids will grow up and go off and leave you. But dogs will be forever faithful. I doubt that anyone can debate that point. But the trade offs can get you down sometimes. Like the bed! Well, thanks for listening to me and I am anxiously awaiting some sage advice.
Agility Builds Confidence in Your Dog
Is your dog timid around people or other dogs? Is your dog sensitive to sounds? Agility training can provide the environment and structure to build confidence in your dog. Agility classes are a great place for people to learn about the sport and learn how to train, but the timid dog may take a long time before he is ready to venture from under your chair or off your lap.
A timid or shy dog can only learn inside their comfort zone. So, training must begin where they feel safe and behaviors must be taught in very small increments. Home will probably be the best place to train and have learning take place for your dog.
So, how do you train at home? You will need guidelines and equipment. There is a multitude of websites that can give you information on agility training. There are also books and videos that will give details and visual aids and lesson plans for beginners thru expert levels.
There is a variety of equipment that is useful and helpful to have at home. Equipment recommendations are based on your available space and location of training. Do you have a large yard that will hold 10 obstacles? Do you have a small yard where you will need setup equipment and then tear down before you can setup again? Will you be training in your garage or basement, or as some agility addicts, in your living room.
For the timid dogs make sure your equipment is safe and sturdy. The pause table is a good place to begin your agility training. A 12” high pause table, with adjustable legs for later use, is a good starting place for all size dogs. Remember with your shy dog, setup your table in an area that is very familiar to your dog. If your dog barks at anything new, just leave your pause table in your house or yard for several days, let your dog inspect and smell it on his own or with a little coaxing, but don’t push to fast, remember baby steps with the insecure dog. With treats in a dish or his favorite toy placed on the table encourage your dog to get up on the table. This may take more than one lesson, be patient. If your timid dog looses interest in food or toys when you attempt something new, trying holding him and you sit on the table. If your dog is too big to hold, have him on leash and you sit on the table. If he backs away coax him, only treat or reward him when he comes to you, never when he’s pulling back away from you or the table.
Eventually, you want your dog to be able to jump on the table with your cue word, “Table”, “Box”, “Kennel”, whatever word you use, Stay on the table as you back away and then Come when you call. Build your distance slowly so that your dog is not pushed to soon.
From Pause Table to Contact Trainer is a nice transition for shy dog. A Contact Trainer comes in different designs. We recommend a 3-Piece Contact Trainer that has one mini A-frame side, a Pause Table, and then a mini Dog-walk side. Your dog can Sit on the table and then be coaxed down the A-frame side or the Dog-walk side. Just remember with the shy dog, training is done in increments, slowly and comfortably, with a little push to stretch him, but not enough to overwhelm him to cause a shutdown.
You can follow the above techniques introducing new obstacles as your dog is able to succeed. As your dog succeeds on each new piece of equipment you will see his confidence grow.
Agility Training For Dogs
Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't win a fight against a fifth-grader. But did you know that for a dog agility is possibly even more important? With so many of a dog's happiest moments spent running, jumping, catching, and stretching, dog agility training can really help dogs age gracefully and happily.
What is dog agility training?
You’ve probably seen dog agility training on television. The dogs run a course of tire hoops, tunnels, seesaw, dog walk plank, jumps, hurdles, weaving poles, and a 3-meter A-frame. Heeling, sitting, down stays, send-aways as well as walking off leash are also included.
Who can participate?
Anyone with a dog can do agility training. There is not age limit for people or dogs. In fact, children and puppies are encouraged to take part. All breeds and sizes of dogs without a physical disability can benefit from agility training. Be sure to check with your vet before you begin agility training if you have any doubts about your canine’s fitness.
What equipment is needed?
You as the handler will need comfortable shoes and clothes that you can run in, because this is not exercise for the dog alone. Your dog needs a leather or webbed buckle collar and a leather, nylon or rope lead of fairly long length. Do not use a chain lead; it could get caught in the jumps.
Agility Training Courses for Dogs
There are two sides of agility training for dogs. They are the obstacles and the control training. There are also tips for training your dog. Obstacles. Although it seems high to many handlers, the A-frame is the best obstacle to begin training. The dog walk plank, low jump and the tunnel (dogs love this obstacle) are also excellent for training the novice dog.
Control training is important to keep your dog disciplined both on the agility course and off. Everybody knows that a dog must heel and sit. You must also teach your dog to know and obey different commands: to go left and right, lay down, and wait. After those are mastered, the dog must learn normal recall (returning anytime you call) and recall over obstacles. Also important is the “send away” command, making the dog go ahead you.
Tips for Dog Agility Training
Begin training by getting your dog’s attention. Talk to him and offer a small treat. Coupled with the love he has for you, he’ll be all ears. Be sure you have the correct lead (generally 6 feet) and a comfortable collar (measure the dog’s neck and add 2 inches) for your dog. Give praise often. “Tune in” to your dog to be sure she and you are ready to train.
Here’s a final tip: make sure that you and your dog enjoy yourselves. After all, jumping through hoops is supposed to be fun--at least if you're a dog.
Winter Dog Agility Training
Yes, it's cold outside, but don't stop your dog's agility training. Depending on where you live, there might be snow on the ground from November through March, but that's no reason to give up your agility training. Bring your training indoors, right at your own home.
Get creative with your training locations. Do you have a hallway, basement, or garage? Then you have a place to train! Before it snows and your equipment is frozen to the ground, store some in your garage, shed, basement, or put a tarp over it. Bring in one piece of equipment at a time, and begin your indoor training.
We do a lot of indoor training with a Pause Table. In fact, we keep one in our living room for both obedience training and agility training all the time. The Pause Table is a great obstacle for developing your obedience behaviors and teaching agility directional commands
Don't forget to work on your contacts. It's easy by having a Contact Trainer indoors. A 3-Piece Contact Trainer offers you versatility; you have an A-frame side, the Pause Table, and a Dog-walk plank. Practicing your two feet on and two feet off is convenient and quick when you have indoor contacts, only a few minutes a day to steady your dog's behavior.
Indoor jumping must be approached carefully. If you don't have indoor matting, don't jump. You don't want your dog jumping on concrete or wood floors. But you can use the uprights or posts to practice your handling. Use your Sit-stay or Down-stay and practice your lines or dogs path with no jump bars.
Weaves can be practice indoors. Are you training with a weave-chute or straight line weaves? Five minutes a day of weave training through out the winter will have your dog weaving smoothly by springtime. You can practice weave entries and weave sends or weave recalls.
There is also a variety of mini agility equipment that can be purchased, and don't require the same space as standard equipment. There are mini-teeters, mini-dog walks, and mini-A-frames. These are great obstacles for puppy training or indoor winter training.
So, during the cold winter months, don't give up on your agility training. Whether you are starting a young pup, working a novice dog, or an experienced titled dog there is always something that you can do indoors with your agility training.
Puppy Agility Training
You may be asking, "When can I start agility training with my new puppy?" Puppies are always learning, so every time you are with your pup you can be playing and socializing with agility in mind. Always remember, if you can control your puppies environment, you can teach and train the behaviors you want, left on their own, even in a fenced yard, puppies will learn and develop behaviors that later we may want or need to extinguish.
One of the first behaviors we teach our pups is "Table" or "Box". This behavior transfers to the agility pause table. But more than that, the table is the center and control point of our puppy training. We introduce pups and older dogs to the table set at a 12 inch height. If you have a very small pup you could use an 8 inch table, but even with bigger dogs we use the 12 inch table and not higher. To begin, lure pup up on a low pause table, treat him for getting on the table. Once the pup is comfortable getting up on the table, then lure the pup up to a sit. You can also lure to a down.
Next you want to work on distance to the table. If you have a person to help you you can use a white target plate on the table, take the pup and step back from the table about 3 feet. Have your helper make a noise to get the pup's attention, and place a treat on the table. Release your pup to, "Go table." The pup gets his reward only when getting up on the table. If you don't have a helper, than place your treat in a covered container that will be recognized as a treat box for your pup. Leave the treat container on the table, step away from the table about 3 feet, face the table and say, "Go Table".
If your pup is very young, you can hold him as you lift him off the table and move away from the table. If your pup is too big for you to hold then use a flatbuckle collar and light dragline for your pup.
Now introduce your jumps to your pup. But you are not going to use the jump bars yet. First you want your pup to go through or between the jump uprights. Set a jump about 4 feet away from your table. Take your pup to the other side of the jump. So you are lined up pup, jump, then table. You want to get your pups attention to the treat on the table, either with a helper or a treat container, release your pup to the table, "Go Table". Let the pup run ahead of you, but go meet him at the table so that he can get his treat, praise him then offer him another treat for sitting on the table.
Progress with adding one extra jump at a time. Spacing the jumps about 3 feet apart. You are developing a jump chute that will lead the pup to the table. Remember your goal is to build the command, "Go" and "Table". You are also teaching the pup to move out ahead of you, working away from you and getting comfortable working around tables and jumps. Your pup is getting familiar running through the jump uprights, but you are not focusing on having your pup jump.
With all your puppy training, have fun with your pup. Use all your puppies motivators, praise, toys, and food. It is up to you to be more interesting to your pup than all the other distractions out in the yard
Dog Agility Training for Your Puppy
You may be asking, "When can I start agility training with my new puppy?" You can start immediately, with certain recommendations. Puppies are always learning, so every time you are with your pup you can be playing and socializing with agility in mind. Always remember, if you can control your puppies environment, you can teach and train the behaviors you want, left on their own, even in a fenced yard, puppies will learn and develop behaviors that later we may want or need to extinguish.
Expose your puppy to different surfaces. One of the first behaviors we teach our pups is "Box" or "Table". This behavior transfers to the agility pause table. Lure pup up on a low pause table, treat them on the table. You can call the pause table anything you want. (If I was starting over I would name the pause table "Box" instead of "Table" for my dogs because on the agility course there is the potential to have too many "T" words, i.e. tunnel, tire, table, and teeter. The problem is I am also a creature of habit, and under pressure revert back to my default words, "table" would be one of them.)
Teach your pup to "Box", meaning to get up on a variety of obstacles. In our training field we use "Box" for upside down kennel tops, the bottom of barrels turned upside down, bird crates, and more. Be creative with your pup, get them to get up on all kinds of surfaces, exposing them to different shapes, sizes, and textures. Once your pup is comfortable getting up on a "Box", then you can begin to ask them to sit on the box also.
You can also begin to use Buja boards for motion training. Buja boards are generally made from plywood, 36" x 36" with a painted surface or covered surface. On the underside, there is a 2x4 box where a partially deflated ball is placed. This enables the Buja board to rock gently. At first you can reward your pup for getting one paw on the board, then reward for two feet and eventually all four. Depending on your pups temperament will determine how fast they get comfortable on the Buja Board.
Perch training can also be started with young pups. The Perch is generally a 1'x1' wood surface that is raised by 2"x4"'s underneath. So the Perch is about four inches in height. The Perch helps teach pups rearend awareness. Again, you can reward your pup for getting one front paw on the perch and then the other. Perch training is mostly used with just the front paws on the Perch.
These are just a few behaviors you can teach your young pup. Exposure to a variety of surfaces and heights will help your pup build confidence in his future agility training.
Dog Agility Equipment: Where Do I Begin?
There is such a wide selection of dog agility equipment, where do I begin? There are several factors to consider when making your agility equipment purchases. Two major factors are your goals and your dog.
Are your goals to develop a deeper bonding with your dog by taking agility classes together, having fun, and seeing how far you and your dog can progress with agility skills? Do you have a timid dog and want to develop confidence in him? Or do you have a high drive dog and want to help him burn energy in a controlled manner? Do you want to do agility as a just for fun activity or are you setting your sights on making it to the nationals and becoming an agility instructor? All the previous factors are important to consider when purchasing your equipment.
An agility course has contact equipment, jumps, weaves, tunnels, closed tunnel, and possibly a pause table (depending on your agility venue). It would be wonderful have a full course of agility equipment in your backyard, but its not necessary to learn the sport. Contact equipment consists of dog-walks, A-frames, and teeters. It is a good idea to have at least one contact obstacle. Many people select to purchase a teeter because the motion often causes a dog hesitation. If you can't fit a regulation piece of equipment in your yard, consider an 8' dog-walk instead of a 12' or even select from mini-contact equipment that is available to train your dog on.
Jumps. You can never have enough single jumps, but you also might think about a double jump or triple jump. If you cannot purchase a double or triple jump, you can place two or three single jumps together to practice. Eight single jumps give you lots of drills and exercises to practice and interchange.
Tunnels, chutes, and tables are variations to add to your course. Tire jumps are very popular to have in backyard training. Pause tables are essential in our agility training program. They are our center and focal point for developing our directional commands and building distance.
Weaves, critical for having at home. The type of weave to purchase depends on your method of teaching. Is your agility class using weave chutes, angled weaves, or straight lined weaves. If your instructor is teaching a specific method, than its easiest to purchase the same type of weaves. We have trained five different agility dogs, each with a different method and in the end they all have nice weaves.
There are a variety of training aids that can help you develop the behavior you want from your dog on the equipment. Buja boards are excellent for timid dogs that need to build confidence slowly. Contact trainers are great for back chaining your contact behavior, and they are smaller so you can bring them indoors for winter training also.
Agility Dog Training and Pit Bull Terriers
Spending time training your Pit Bull can be very rewarding and fun for you both. It helps build a stronger bond between dog and owner that is important for the happiness of both parties. There are many different types of training that you can choose to do with your Pit Bull, one such is agility training.
Agility training is the process of teaching your dog to successfully navigate an obstacle course. If the training is successful, your pet should be able to do it by only listening to and obeying your commands. During an event, the dogs are timed and to win must not make any mistakes and must have the fastest time. It takes a lot of practice for a dog to be successful at this, but can be quite fun for both dog and trainer. This activity is especially good for Pit Bulls because it gives them a good outlet for all the extra energy they seem to have.
Most experts recommend not starting agility training until your dog is at least one year old, at least not to enter in a competition before that age. Many owners who train their dogs to participate in these events will purchase their own equipment to have at home, so that they can begin training the dog at an earlier age. Agility training equipment can be quite expensive, so some trainers prefer to build their own equipment. Instructions can be found online and in books that should be available either in your local library or bookstore. Owners should be careful to watch the dog for any signs of injury, because occasionally working on agility training while the puppy is still growing will put a lot of strain on joints and bones that are not fully conditioned yet. It is recommended to have your dog cleared by a veterinarian before beginning any type of agility training.
The dog should also understand and obey basic commands before beginning any other type of training. Any type of training helps dog and owner to build a better relationship with each other, allowing them to work better and better together as time goes on. You should also work through any behavior or aggression issues your Pit Bull may have before considering agility training. The results will be less satisfactory and take longer to achieve if the dog is also working through other issues.
Most Pit Bull owners that are serious about their dog competing in agility competitions will enroll him in a training class, at least to help teach him the basics, then work with the dog on their own to enhance what he has learned. Being in a class will also help your dog work on his socialization, which will make him behave better around other dogs. Pit Bulls tend to want to fight when around other dogs, especially those of the same gender.
The most important thing to remember is no matter what type of training you do with your Pit Bull, you both should enjoy it. Spending time together will help build a better bond, leading to a lasting relationship. Whether you want your dog to compete or not, the benefits for both you and the dog are many.
Dog Agility Training Is Fun For Fido
Hurling over jumps, running through tunnels, dodging weave poles, negotiating see-saws - do these sound like things your dog might enjoy? Then your pet might love dog agility training.
Inspired by equestrian events, agility training for dogs started in the late 1970's in Great Britain. It’s a great sport for both dogs and their owners as the team up to negotiate a course of obstacles and is a true test of your dogs training as he will have to listen to commands in order to run the course.
If you want to start your dog in agility training he must be at least 9 months old to be assured that his growth plates have closed and in order to prevent injury. Your pet with start with dog agility training and must be able to clear the jump heights of his assigned division before he can compete.
He’ll first be put in the ‘starter’ division; which is the division for dogs that do not hold agility titles. When he makes it through a round here he earns his ‘starter’ title and is now qualified to compete at the advanced agility level. The next title your dog can earn is the “Advanced Title” which he can take when he clears three rounds as judged by 2 different judges.
Once he gets his Advanced Title, he can compete in the masters classes. Earning a “Masters Title” is a bit more difficult and consists of a 6 part qualification process along with three successfully completed games courses.
Although a fun sport for both you and your dog, dog agility training is also a serious competition that is well organized and has many guidelines and regulations. Dogs are placed in divisions based on their size. The mini division consists of dogs between sixteen and twenty-one inches from the shoulder. These dogs have jump heights that are 12, 18 and 24 inches. The larger dogs that measure over twenty one inches at the shoulders are sorted into the open division where they will jump heights of 26, 28 and 30 inches.
Dog agility training competition is a serious and well organized sport with many guidelines and regulations. The two divisions in the competition are based on the dog’s size. A dog between sixteen and twenty-one inches from the shoulder is put in the mini division.
Not every dog can win the coveted “Master” title, but I don’t think they really care because to them the fun is in the sport. Dog agility training is a great way for both man and beast to enjoy a little fun competition as well as each others company.
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potty training dog guide |
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Dog Training Collars Can Ease The Process Of Properly Training Your Dog
There are numerous types of collars used in different methods of training and to stop multitudes of problems. While many of them are effective, prior knowledge and experience is necessary for safe and proper use.
The Martingale collars are perhaps the best collars because of their simplicity. It is a limited choke collar that slips over the dogs head. If it is adjusted correctly it will not constrict smaller than the size of the dogs neck, preventing the dog to slip out of the collar while working but minimizing the danger of causing damage to the windpipe.
Other effective limited choke collars include the limited choke, a nylon strap with rings sewn on either side designed to slide only so far, or the snap around choke, a limited choke collar that fits high on the neck for better head and neck control. These types of collars are better for novices to use because they are not as harsh and they are relatively easy to use.
Another effective collar promoting head control is a head collar. The head collar fits on the dogs head like a halter fits on horses. The leash attaches under the muzzle. These collars only work if you know what you're doing. Dogs really do not like these collars and they are not recommended for use without a trainer's guidance.
Are there collars available for larger dogs?
Strong dogs with thick necks sometimes drag their owners around. A good collar for this type of dog is the pronged collar. The pronged collar has two protruding fingers that apply pressure to the neck when pulled. They are far less likely to cause damage to the windpipe than the traditional choke chain. While many trainers think these collars
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are not necessary for effective training they do come in handy for small people who tend to be dragged along by their dog.
Electronic collars are collars that transfer a small shock on cue. Since the trainer cues the collar it is paramount that they know what they are doing. Inconsistent and poor training with painful methods is both cruel and ineffective. Shock collars have their place and that is with professional dog trainers. The rest of us need to stick to the basics.
Another collar that employs the use of electricity is the no bark collar. Again this collar is effective, but before you use it you should determine the cause of the dogs barking. Make sure you haven't taught him to bark and ask yourself if you really want him to punish him for it.
There seems to be a collar for just about every training area and some have proven to be quite effective. However, it is crucial in you only use equipment that you are experienced with. If you have a specific training issue, it may be beneficial to seek help. Learn how to use collars under the guidance of a professional. This will make your more positive and productive.
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