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.

How A Simple Set Of Keys Can Be The Best Tool In Dog Training

March 13, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

A simple set of keys can help you deepen your relationship with your dog and alleviate many forms of problem behavior. Dogs with recall problems, a tendency for chewing, digging, or other destructive antics, or appetite problems can be successfully “keyed in” by a simple form of sound conditioning. You will need four or five keys on a key chain. Every second key should be brass, while the others should be made of another metal, preferably not aluminum. Brass and steel make higher-pitched sounds, and four or five keys sound better to dogs than ten or twenty.

The basic idea behind this sound conditioning is to precede desired behavior with a distinctive sound. Keys are used here since they provide a strong, high-pitched sound that is irresistible to the dog once it is properly conditioned. Hand clapping, whistling, and cooing are in another realm, obviously proceeding from a person. To these specifically human sounds, a dog may or may not respond, depending on the current state of the relationship between the dog and the person making the sound. Keys or whistles are neutral, and therefore more effective. However, most trainers find the most effective sound device to be the keys on a chain.

How does it work?

Let’s take an example. Your dog doesn’t come when called. If you have a puppy or a dog under two years old, your chances for effective sound conditioning to correct the “come problem” are better than with an older dog who is used to going the other way when called. Yet, it is never too late to try this training technique. For the utmost success, you must have regular feeding times for your dog twice daily, and he must finish eating in about fifteen to twenty minutes. If you have your dog on the “nibbler plan” you will have to switch to regular feeding times and remove the food if it is not finished promptly.

Before placing the dish within his reach and allowing him to eat, get your dog’s attention and jingle the keys for two or three seconds. Then go about your business as he eats. Do not make a show out of this, and preferably do not allow your dog to see you jingle the keys. You may attach the keys to your belt loop with a snap belt. Repeat this procedure at the second meal, continuing it for two or three weeks. Do not use the keys around your dog for any other purpose until you have spent some time in this conditioning procedure whenever your dog eats. Another positive booster and “reinforcing effect” can be gained by using the keys whenever you return from work, from an errand, or in your car – stop the motor, open the door (both distinctive sounds in themselves), jingle the keys, and call out the dog’s name in a happy voice that carries.

After two or three weeks, begin a daily session in which you call your dog, jingle the keys, and praise him lavishly when the recall is good. Make sure you are crouching down, have a smile on your face, have your arms open to “funnel” the dog in to you, and are not over-jingling your keys. The whole point, obviously, is to let the dog hear the sound of the keys – the conditioning sound – so that he reacts positively, on his own. Let the dog win. Then reverse the procedure by jingling first and then calling your dog’s name. Finally, try it with the keys alone and you will be amazed at how quickly he will eagerly come to you.

Filed Under: Dog Training Tagged With: Aluminum Brass, Antics, Appetite, Current State, Dish, Dog Training, Dog Years, Five Keys, Key Chain, Pitched Sound, Problem Behavior, Problem Dogs, Puppy Dog, Relationship, Tendency, Tool Set, Twenty Minutes, Utmost Success, Whistles

Dog Health and Your Responsibility

March 3, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

There are many advantages to owning a dog. It gives you loyalty and love. Yet so many people neglect its health as a way to return that love and affection.

Preventative dog health care goes a long way to ensuring that your friend stays healthy for years to come. If you decide to get one, then do him a favor and become educated on how to protect his health.

Dog health begins the very minute you take ownership of your canine companion. Before you even think about beginning puppy training you must make sure that you know what type of medication it takes to ensure its health.

Shots such as Distemper, Rabies, and Parvo are absolutely essential to a long and healthy life for your pet. There are other medications such as heart worm medicine and flea medicines that are important as well.

If you are unsure as to what is involved in dog health, check out dog forums for answers on some common questions. The best advice before buying or getting a pet is to do a thorough research to determine if having one is right for you.

There are some questions to ask yourself before you commit to owning a dog or any animal. The first is how much time do you have to devote to the pet? Do you have enough space to accommodate one? Is its health absolutely important to you? Do you have the money to devote to puppy training and to making sure that he or she receives regular veterinarian visits to ensure its proper health?

A dog is a big responsibility. If you are unsure of any of the above questions then now is the time to carefully ponder whether or not you are ready for a pet. Dogs cost money and this responsibility lies with the pet owner.

The puppy or dog is dependent on you for everything they need. This includes their emotional well-being as well. Humans and dogs are alike in that they need love and support. You, as the owner, must be that network of love and support for them.

Dog health is important to having a fully functioning family. Dog’s can bring many things to their owner. They bring love and unfailing loyalty. They deserve to have that returned to them by an owner that truly wants what is best for them.

Before you go collect your new pet, take the time to become educated. You should talk to other pet owners and then make that life altering decision.

Mike Selvon has some great puppy training for the pet lover, where you can find out more about looking after the dog health. We appreciate your feedback at our pet training blog.

Article Source: Dog Health and Your Responsibility

Filed Under: Dog Health Tagged With: Canine Companion, Dog Health, Family Dog, Health Care, Health Check, Health Shots, Heart Medicine, Heart Worm, Love And Affection, Loyalty, Many Things, Medication, Medicines, Pet Dogs, Pet Owner, Proper Health, Puppy Dog, Puppy Training, Rabies, Veterinarian Visits

The Right Crate For Your Dalmatian Puppy

December 29, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

The moment you decide to own a Dalmatian puppy, you need to start planning for his arrival in your home.  Both you and your new family member will find the transition period much easier if your home is properly equip in advance of the arrival.

One of the first thing you need to prepare for the arrival of your new Dalmatian puppy is a crate.  Every Dalmatian should have a crate of his own from the very beginning, one  that he will come to know and love as his special place where he is comfortable and safe.

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The crate will provide an ideal setting; when you want him to be free, you can just leave the crate open.  Otherwise, you can securely latch it and know that the Dalmatian pup is safely out of trouble.  Also, if you travel with him, his crate can fit nicely in the car.  A crate therefore is a very sensible and sound investment in your puppy’s future safety and happiness and for your own peace of mind.

The crates that are most preferred are the wooden ones with removable side panels, which are ideal for cold weather where the panels in place to keep out drafts and in hot weather where the panels are removed to allow better air circulation.  Wire crates are all suitable in the summer, but they give no protection from cold or drafts.  Aluminum crates, due to the manner in which the metal reflects surrounding temperatures, are not recommended.  If it is cold, so is the metal of the crate; if it is hot, the crate becomes very hot.

When you choose the puppy’s crate, make sure that it is roomy enough not to be outgrown. The crate should have sufficient height so the dog can stand up in it as he gets older and sufficient area so that he can stretch out full length when relaxed.  When the puppy is young, you can give him shredded newspaper to use as a bed; the papers can be replaced with a mat or towels when the dog is older.

Carpet remnants are great for the bottom of the crate because they are inexpensive and can be easily replaced in case of accidents. As the dog matures and is past the chewing age, a pillow or blanket in the crate can provide warm and comfort.

If you live in an apartment , a baby’s playpen for your Dalmatian puppy works great.  For an older Dalmatian puppy use a portable exercise pen which you can use later when traveling with your dog or for dog shows.  If you have a yard or an area where he can be outside in safety, it should be fenced in prior to the dog’s arrival. This area does not need to be huge, but it does need to be made safe and secure.

If you live in a suburban area where there are close neighbors, stockade fencing works out best.  If you are out in the country where no problems with neighbors are likely to occur, then regular chain-link fencing is fine.  For added precaution in both cases, use concrete blocks or railroad ties inside against the entire bottom of the fence; this reduces the chance of your Dalmatian digging his way out.

Filed Under: Puppy Training Tagged With: Air Circulation, Aluminum, Cold Weather, Dalmatian Pup, Dalmatian Puppy, Dog Crate, Family Member, Fit, Free Dog Training, Full Length, Happiness, Hot Weather, Ideal, New Puppy, Peace Of Mind, Pup, Puppy Dog, Sound Investment, Temperatures, Training Video, Transition Period, Wire Crates

How To Change The “Shy Puppy” Timid Behavior

September 3, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Are You The Proud Owner Of An Extremely Shy Puppy?

This fear-based behavioral characteristic is very common if you have a toy dog breed.

However, it’s a known fact that every litter will have a least one shy puppy that will need to be treated a little differently than the rest of the pups.

When these shy puppies grow up they can become extremely needy and look towards their owners for reinforcement in almost every situation they come across.  And unfortunately, while this need to “run to mommy or daddy” every time she gets scared, your shy puppy may start to initiate aggression if she is not getting the soothing attention needed. This could be labeled as aggression induced by fear.

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Click Here Now – -and watch Chet’s Free Dog Training Video.

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Ironically enough, if you constantly caress and soothe your shy puppy when she demonstrates extreme shyness and becomes frightened, you are only reinforcing the behavior. I realize that it’s hard to imagine ignoring your shy puppy when she needs you, but if you would like to change her behavior and help the dog become a bold and social animal, you are going to have to quit letting her know that it is “okay” to be afraid.

Helping Your Shy Puppy Change

If your dog is showing signs of fear and timidness early on, then you will have to be patient when desiring to help her adjust. You must coax the dog along to realizing that you will not be her protector anymore. Behaviors that she is used to doing when getting scared will need to be stopped, such as barking while hiding behind your legs when startled, darting away whenever seeing a normal part of the outside, like a person walking or a bush swaying by the wind, etc.

Here are some tips that you can use to help your shy puppy become less so:

1. Explain to your family and friends to ignore your puppy’s fear-induced barking or crying whenever they approach.  Up to this point your dog has acted out of fear whenever someone approaches and when these people naturally stop the approach, your dog has learned that this behavior works in her favor. However, from now on your dog will start to understand that fear-induced barking will not work anymore so long as your friends and family respect your training wishes.

2. Whenever you are expecting guests to arrive at the house, be sure to keep your puppy secured by a lead. Take her with you as you approach the guests if you can allow the dog to be with you all times. The difference from now on is that when she starts crying, barking, or hiding behind your legs, you will now act in a confident matter and without petting or soothing her. T

his will help your shy puppy become more brave while teaching her that her old behavior will not work anymore.

Filed Under: Puppy Training Tagged With: Aggression, Bush, Dog Aggression, Extreme Shyness, extremely shy puppy, Family And Friends, Free Dog Training, Imagine, Known Fact, Legs, Mommy, Proud Owner, Puppies, Puppy Behavior, Puppy Dog, Reinforcement, shy puppies, shy puppy, Signs Of Fear, Social Animal, timid behavior, Toy Dog Breed

Leash Training 101 – Do You Have The Right Mindset

August 30, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Leash training your dog is much more than actually following a few steps and guidelines.

It’s the actual mindset of the owner that is the single most important element.

Success or failure, joy or frustration – all depend on how you approach your dog’s leash training sessions.

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Training Tips To Get Your Dog To Obey!

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Train puppies to NEVER chew on furniture or expensive rugs – even when you aren’t there to supervise. . .

Learn simple techniques for getting any dog to stop barking at strangers or from begging you to let him back inside –

Plus a TON more step-by-step dog obedience strategies THOUSANDS of regular people are already using, check out –

The Hands Off Dog Training Method

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Start your leash training off on the right paw, so to speak. If you have a puppy that is unaccustomed to a leash and collar, let it first adjust to the feel of a buckle collar only.

Once it is comfortable wearing the collar, snap on a short, light line and watch while it drags that around. Leave the line on for 10-minute leash training sessions a couple of times a day until your puppy no longer pays attention to it.

For an older puppy or adult dog that you have had fitted for a head collar or prong collar, again, let it have time to adapt to the feel of this new device before snapping on a leash.

Do not leave specialty collars on an unsupervised dog. Because both prong and head collars tighten with pressure, a dog can suffer serious injury if the collar catches on an object. Pay close attention to your dog during these get-comfortable sessions.

It’s important that you approach training with the right attitude, because teaching leash manners requires absolute consistency on your part. Every walk becomes a training session, whether you plan on it or not. There is no such thing as “We train when we walk after work, but all the other walks are just walks”.

This is a difficult concept for people, as we are impatient, hurried, and often doing something other than paying attention to our dog as it walks.

While your dog is learning, there should be no rushed walks, no stops to chat with neighbors, no using the time to make a call on your cell phone, etc.

You can’t expect your dog to become mindful of you during a leash training session if you consistently ignore it.

Likewise, recognize that your dog doesn’t pull on the leash to aggravate, annoy, punish or get back at you – it’s simply a matter of cause and effect. The dog is thinking: I pull, you follow, and therefore, I get to where I want to go.

You must reshape this thought process. Put emotions aside when leash training, view your lessons as an opportunity to forge a new relationship and decide that from this day forward you and your dog will learn how to enjoy your walking time together!

Filed Under: Dog Training Tagged With: Absolute Consistency, Adult, Attitude, Buckle, Carpet, Cell Phone, Dog Obedience, Dog Training, Eff, Element, Failure, Frustration, Head Collar, Head Collars, Leash Training, leash training 101, Manners, Mindset, Minute Sessions, Neighbors, Paw, Paying Attention, Puppies, Puppy, Puppy Dog, Rugs, Sessions, Snap On, Teaching Manners, Training Session, Urinating, Walks

Dog Health – 3 Ways To Feed Your Puppy

August 17, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

To meet the continual nutritional demand of your puppy’s growing body, he must have food available to him all day long sustaining proper dog health.

There are 3 common techniques to feed your new puppy that affect dog health.

These are: Meal feeding, portion-control feeding, and free feeding.

Meal Feeding For Optimal Dog Health

This method of feeding is usually done with mixing solid food and canned food and is ideal for puppies that are being trained to housebreak.

With this technique, your puppy gets his meals at different times during the day.

Many owners prefer for optimal dog health the three meal a day program while others are more comfortable with giving their puppies four meals a day.

Whether you’re feeding your puppy three or four meals per day, the important thing to remember is to divide the meals equally within a 24-hour period and without having to get up at night.

With three meals a day, you have to feed your puppy every eight hours.  Four meals a day, food is given to your puppy every six hours. Keep in mind, however, that you shouldn’t give your puppy two meals a day until he is at least five or six months old.

Portion Control Feeding Affects Dog Health

This method of feeding is probably the most common way puppies are fed today, especially for owners who work during the day and have to leave their puppies alone.

It is done by measuring the exact amount of food he requires (depending on his age and type of breed). This amount of food should be modified as a puppy gets older to ensure proper dog health.

The portion is then placed in his food bowl once a day, preferably the same time everyday.  This way your puppy will be able to nibble on his food throughout the day.

Most puppies ration out their meals throughout the day and eat only a small portion at a time, while some puppies will empty their bowl in one sitting.

Studies have shown that puppies that are brought up with this feeding method will not over eat when they turn into adult dogs.

However, if you are having a difficult time housebreaking your puppy, then this method of feeding will probably not work for you.

Dog Health And Free Feeding

With this feeding technique, you have to make sure that there is food in his bowl and let him nibble on it throughout the day. Although this is the simplest way to feed your puppy, this method is also the least recommended by most vets and breeders because of it’s possible affect on dog health..

Feeding your puppy will make it more difficult to house train him because you do not know exactly when he eats.

In addition, it is also difficult to know how much he eats on a daily basis, so becoming consciously aware of this will promote good dog health.

Filed Under: Dog Health Tagged With: 3 Ways, Adult, Adult Dogs, Canned Food, Control, Different Times, Dog Health, Eight Hours, Food Bowl, Four Meals, Health, Housebreaking Puppy, Housebreaking Your Puppy, New Puppy, Nibble, Nutrition, Optimal Health, Portion Control, Puppies, Puppy Dog, Puppy Health, Six Hours, Six Months, Small Portion, Solid Food

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