Edie MacKenzie

Edie MacKenzie is a published author, traveler, dog lover, and tortoise enthusiast. Passionate about what she does, her books provide peopel a firm grounding in the dog breed and their unique characteristics with a nice touch of humor.

The Simple, Step-by-step Technique for Leash Training A Dog

by Leave a Comment

Dogs have probably been pulling on the leash since the first time someone thought it might be a good idea to loop a rope around one. They don’t like being restrained. So when you pull them back they instinctively pull the other way.

In most cases, the dog isn’t being dominant, or trying to make you mad. It’s just that there are so many interesting sights, sounds and smells to explore. He can’t wait to see what’s up ahead, so he pulls to get there faster.

And therein lies the secret to stopping your dog pulling. Start to teach your dog that, until he calms down and stops his pulling, he’s going nowhere. Here’s how;

Laying the Ground Rules

Dogs are creatures of habit so they are very observant when it comes to routines. You’ve probably noticed that, even before you pick up his lead, your dog is already getting himself worked up. I’m sure you’ve wondered how he knows what’s coming.

Most likely you have some pre-walk routine that you’re not even aware of, but that your dog has picked up on.

If you want to improve your dog’s behavior on the walk you should start right here. Don’t put up with any misbehavior. Specifically, don’t allow any boisterous behavior – barking, running, jumping up. Get him to calm down before attaching the lead. If he get’s out of hand, stop, get him to sit, then start over.

At first this can be very frustrating, but you need to be firm and consistent. It gets easier.

When the dog is calm, and you’ve attached the leash, leave the house right away. If the dog gets over-excited again, make him sit, and wait for him to calm, before proceeding.

The dog will likely want to relieve himself as soon as he’s outdoors. Allow him to do so. Once he’s done, control and limit the amount you allow him to sniff around and mark territory. Ideally you do not want to allow this at all for large sections of the walk. Allow him to explore only when you say so.

The Best Way to Stop Your Dog Pulling

If you want to stop your dog pulling, you need to stop pulling back. The way to control this behavior is to teach the dog that pulling has a negative rather than positive result. When he pulls, stop the walk and get him to sit. Only carry on with walking when he has calmed down.

At first, this will be incredibly trying. But dogs are quick learners and he’ll soon make the connection. In a short while he will understand that his walk gets interrupted every time he pulls.

Once he breaks the pulling habit start getting him to walk beside, instead of in front of you. This will also help to curb the inclination to pull, especially if a cat suddenly darts across his path!

It is also a good idea to take some of his favorite treats along while he is in training. Give a treat whenever he is walking calmly beside you and you’ll further re-enforce his good behavior.

To read more about dog training, dog care, dog health and other useful dog info drop in at dogsanddogtraining.com

Amazing Dog Behavior Snippets

by Leave a Comment

Any study of dog behavior has to start with an analysis of the behavior of the wolf, ancestor of all domestic dogs.

Wolves are exceptional predators with a complex set of behaviors, signals and communication methods guiding their behavior. Their bodies and brains are the result of millions of years of evolution that has resulted in perhaps the ultimate co-operative hunter.

Dogs are directly descended from wolves and have been domesticated for only 15 000 years or so, a mere blip on the evolutionary scale. So it makes sense that many of the wolf’s instincts and drives are still present in dogs.

Understand this, and many of your dog’s strange behaviors will suddenly make sense.

Here are some of the behaviors common to dogs and wolves.

Pack Mentality: As pack animals wolves naturally submit to a leader. Wolf packs usually consist of a mating pair and their offspring, with the alpha male as the leader.

Dogs also look for leadership in their human “pack”. Where none is present, they will feel compelled to take up the role themselves, leading to dominance issues.

Body Language: In the world of the wolf (and the dog), body language trumps vocal cues every time. This is a complex “language” with body posture, movement, facial expression and eye contact all playing a part.

These signals are often misunderstood by humans. For example, many asume that a dog who wags his tail is happy when he may in fact be highly aggitated and ready to bite.

Territorial Aggression: In the wild, wolves will stake out a territory, then patrol and defend it against intruders. The same behavior can be seen in dogs. They will naturally protect what they perceive as their territory, whether it’s their home, a favorite toy, or even a person they regard as “theirs”.

Socialization: Social interaction is very important in a wolf pack as it helps to develop the strong bonds that are vital to the survival of the pack.

You can simulate this with your dog through play, walks and obedience training. But you need to go further, socializing your dog with a broad spectrum of people and other animals, so that he doesn’t start to see everyone outside his immediate circle as a threat.

Pursuit: A wolf pack hunts by pursuing a prey animal until it is exhausted and easily subdued. Their instinct is to chase anything that moves away from them.

Dogs have this same instinct which is why they love to chase cats, cars, and cyclists.

Fleeing: Even powerful, apex predators like lions, would rather back off than get involved in a fight where they could be seriously injured. A wolf or a dog will rather flee than fight if the odds are stacked against him.

Vocalization: Contrary to popular belief, wolves can bark, they are just less inclined to use vocalization as a form of communication. This is perfectly logical, as a hunter that makes a lot of noise is unlikely to be very successful.

Dogs, on the other hand have spent thousands of years in the company of humans and have learned that we communicate mainly by voice. They therefore have no problem expressing themselves with a bark, a while or even a howl if the mood takes them.

If you want to discover more about dog obedience training, dog care, puppy care and other useful dog information visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Essential Dog Walking Information and Advice

by Leave a Comment

Dogs need exercise, and the activity they love more than any other is walking. However, many dog owners shirk the responsibility. Perhaps they simply don’t have time, or maybe they don’t realize how important it is to walk their dogs.

Others give it a go, but give up after being hauled around the neighborhood one time too often by an unruly dog. If any of the aforementioned scenarios describes you, pay attention, because I’d like to share a piece of information that every dog owner should know.

“Dogs must be walked!”

Any dog trainer will tell you that daily exercise is a must for all dogs. For some, 30 minutes to an hour may be enough, for others 2 hours will just be getting started. But the point is they all need exercise, and walking should be the core component of that.

But dog walking involves more than a just leashing your dog and setting off. Some simple guidelines will make it a lot easier for you, and more enjoyable for the dog.

Here are some best practices you can follow;

* Don’t walk your dog during the hottest time of the day as they overheat quite easily. If you need to walk when it’s hot be sure to have some water along for the dog to drink.

* Don’t allow your dog to walk in front of you or he may get the idea that he is the pack leader and this will encourage him to pull. Always walk with the dog by your side.

* Don’t pull back on the lead because this will just encourage your dog to pull back. Try to always keep a relaxed grip, and if your dog does pull, stop and wait for him to calm down before continuing.

* Maintain control of the walk. Don’t allow you dog to dictate direction and particularly when to stop. Sniffing around and marking should only happen when you allow it.

* Where possible, avoid other dogs. You have no idea of another dog’s temperament and matters can quickly get out of hand. If your dog is small, pick him up if a big dog approaches aggressively, if you have a big dog just walk in a different direction and avoid a confrontation.

You also don’t know the health status of dogs you come across. An infected dog can pass on a serious disease to your dog.

* The right leash or collar. Pick a leash / collar combination that is strong enough to keep the dog in check, but still comfortable for him to wear. Also ensure that your dog wears his id tags. You never know when he might slip his leash.

If your dog does escape, the id tag will hopefully result in him being returned safely. For an extra level of security you may also want to have your dog micro-chipped.

* Finally, have fun! Walking your dog can be a really fun activity if you approach it in the right way. It’s one of the best ways of bonding with your dog, it’s an excellent work out for both of you, and your dog will be calmer and more obedient. All of that for just an hour of your time a day.

To find out more about dog training tips, dog breeds a-z, dog health and other useful dog info visit www.dogsanddogtraining.com

How to Cope With An Over-Excitable Dog

by Leave a Comment

Dogs are just naturally boisterous, excitable characters. However, if your dog is an out of control dynamo, it probably comes down to one of 3 things – not enough exercise, anxiety or leadership issues.

I hope you’ve noticed the common thread here. All of these are things you control.

Helping A Bored Dog

A common factor for many over-excitable dogs is that they are simply bored. The dog gets no regular physical or mental stimulation. He lays around all day waiting for your return, and when you arrive he explodes into action.

Fortunately, the solution is simple – your dog needs to be exercised. All dogs, regardless of size need it, but very few get enough.

How much exercise do they need? That depends on breed, age and physical condition. If you have a Bulldog, you’ll probably get away with a leisurely half-hour walk around the block daily, if you own a Husky, be prepared for 2-3 hours of high intensity work (at least!).

Dealing with Separation Anxiety

A common cause for over-excited behavior is separation anxiety. This is particularly true of dogs that are left home while the owner goes to work. Here are some things you can do to address the behavior;

*Stop Rewarding Your Dog – By this I mean stop giving attention, whether positive or negative, while the dog is running around, jumping up and barking. Once the dog has calmed down, give attention and maybe a treat to re-enforce the desired behavior.

*Mix-up Your Routine – Dogs pay a lot of attention to your habits. Your dog will know in great detail, the drill you go through each time you leave the house. You may not even be aware of it, but your dog is, and every time he notices it, his separation anxiety is triggered.

*Limit Access – Don’t give your dog the run of the house when you’re away, restrict him to a smaller area. You may even want to consider training your dog to stay in a dog crate when you’re not around.*Provide a Distraction – Keeping your dog occupied while your away will significantly reduce his anxiety. Something to chew on or a puzzle to solve, like a Kong toy, should work well.

Be the Leader

A dog that is uncertain of his place in the pack hierarchy will always be anxious, because he’s not sure how to behave. What can you do about it? Give him some basic obedience training like “sit”, “stay” and “down”.

Training provides discipline and mental stimulation. It also establishes your leadership. Once your dog accepts this, he’ll naturally calm down.

Applying these 3 principles will have a noticeable effect on your dog’s hyper-active behavior. Keep in mind that not all dogs were created equal. Some dogs (and some breeds) are just by nature more boisterous than others.

There’s lots more about dog training, dog care, types of dogs and other interesting dog info at www.dogsanddogtraining.com

Tips for Home and Potty Training of Dogs – Free Dog Training Types to Make Your Dog a well-mannered

by Leave a Comment

For good and healthy relationship of man and dog, dog training is a must, as it is in the process of training a dog can be taught manners requires that, to move in society. But what is a dog training and how it is useful for the dog? Here are some free dog training tips that give the answer. Dog Training includes training, clicker training, a marker, the rewards of training, collar and leash, positive reinforcement, dog whispering, dog obedience training, etc. Dogs are not perfect, and nobody is, and they do some things that can not be accepted, especially when people move from their masters. These behaviors include chewing, digging, jumping, begging, biting and barking unnecessarily. So, do not train dogs to bite and not bark dog training is equally important. Here are some tips, training a dog for free, they will certainly help change the behavior of your dog dog.

Free Training
Tips for the sole purpose of dog training is that your dog is well mannered. Below are some guidelines that must be met without interruption during the training for dogs:

  • In the initial phase, not by the weight of a dog with multiple commands, because they can become frustrating and confusing for their small brains. Remember to always respect the behavior of your dog and plan your training accordingly. Never give a command for the activity that the dog can be avoided.
  • Always praise your dog for good behavior and performance and reward him immediately, so that he could associate the reward and behavior. Use treats to the dog. It works as an amplifier for the dog follow your instructions religiously. This practice should be used, as it helps to develop an amicable relationship between a dog trainer and dog trainee.
  • During training, never, never punish the dog. Always focus on praising the changes in animal behavior.
  • punish your dog for bad behavior. Keep in mind that punishment and punishment are two different things. Kara means forcing the dog to the things that he does not like the leash jerk or ignore it to him to realize his mistake. These free dog training tips will help you train your dog in the way you want.

    Free Tips
    Home Dog Training home training is a must for the dog to be used outside and inside the building. Crate training is the primary method of training a dog. The puppy must be kept in a crate for short periods during the day. If you want to clean the puppy, take him outside. Learn how to clean it up either in the garden or in the sandbox, if there is no yard. You can even use these tips puppy potty training for that. Some dogs jump on their loved ones, over-excitement. That everything is okay with small dogs, but large dogs may be hurt or people jump on. So, to get rid of this behavior of the dog to ignore the dog instead of yelling and screaming at him. These tips on house training a puppy can be useful. At mealtime, you must create a separate meal for your dog. Explain to him in due course meals and make sure you stick to that time. Always remember, never overfeed your dog. Most enjoyable training, leash training for both the trainer and the dog provides a safe and pleasant walks with your pet. If you fully understand how to train your dog, then this free dog training advice religiously, you will observe a gradual change in the behavior of the dog, change the better.

    Free Tips
    Dog Potty Training Now we come to potty training tips. Potty training dogs need to be patient and give the dog a little time to learn. This training should be given at the puppy stage. For potty training an older dog, you need to understand his character and behavior. The main thing to keep in mind during this training is “in” and “out” times. Typically, they should be taken after fifteen to twenty minutes of their meal. Use the potty if you’re going to let him inside a pile of dog. Again, do not punish your dog too hard for pooping in the wrong place, and do not forget to reward good deeds enough behavior.

    Yes, these are some basic tips, free dog training to help you give your dog the basic training. So go ahead and make your dog “gentleman”. You can even get lots of free dog training tips online. Using a dog training tools dog training today can be simple. But the most important thing about training a dog is to give it their time and treat him with love and care. This is my dog ??training advice to you.

    Click ->

    Get full access to

    Join hundreds of happy dog owners all over the world who have used Doggy Dan’s Online Dog Trainer video systems to solve their dog’s problems – often in just minutes,without force, fear,sprays,electric collars or shouting…

    Visit: http://onlinedogtrainers.blogspot.com/

    • Houston Dog Training – An ideal place for Dog Training

    by Leave a Comment

    Dogs are said to be the “best friend” of humans because of the unconditional love they give us. A dog is a protective shield or security for our life. Dog’s hearing capabilities are very high which helps it to detect any tiny noise. Most of the people like the dogs, but a few people don’t like dogs because they think that it is very difficult to train the dogs. Moreover, people don’t have enough time to train dogs in their busy schedule. But now you need not worry because Houston dog training centers would take care of your dog like their personal dogs and would train in using tried and tested techniques. After training, you will be amazed to see the obedience of your dog within a short span of time.

    There are many kinds of dog training available which would turn your dog into an obedient dog. Most of the people who had bad experience from your dog would be impressed to see your dog’s behavior after the training. Dog training would be a difficult task but experts in the field of dog training would be able to convert most fearful or aggressive dogs into polite companions. Obedience training ranges from very basic training, such as teaching the dog to reliably respond to basic commands such as sit, stay, down, come to high level competition within clubs where additional commands, accuracy and performance are scored and judged. Obedience training would help your dog to win competitions and to make you a proud owner. Dog obedience training Houston would help your dog to win competitions by performing exceptionally.

    Puppies are very difficult to care for if they will not obey your commands. Moreover, they can completely turn your beautiful backyard into a dirty place. But, expert dog trainers are capable of training your puppies too, which would turn your puppy into an obedient one. If you take the untrained dog outside, you would not be able to control it. You would not have such a problem with a trained dog. You would be able to play with the trained dog without any precautions because they would obey your commands instantly. Dog training Houston would turn your dog into an obedient one very quickly.

    While choosing the dog training centers make sure that the trainer has several years of experience in training and whether he has trained several dogs in the past successfully or it would be a real waste of time for you and your dog. Nowadays, you would be able to find train centers for your dogs at affordable rates. Moreover, you need not worry about your dog because they would care your dog as you do. would turn your dog into an expert capable of performing all the exercise and works as you say. So, get ready to turn your ordinary dog into an extraordinary dog through perfect dog training.

    Dog training Houston would change your dog’s behavior completely within a short span of time. The author has written several articles regarding Houston dog training and Houston Dog obedience training in the past.

    Recent Blog Posts