Dog Training Tip of the Month from Animal Behavior College http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 Weekly tips about dog training. en-us Sun, 19 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700 What Kind of Dog Should I Get My Child? http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=100 “What is the best dog for my child?” Here are some tips that may help to decide the best dog for a happy and healthy family unit.

Dog Breed and Life History – Start Here If Possible

When first choosing a dog you always want to look at the breed’s genetic makeup. How was the dog raised? Where was the dog born? You should research the breed’s genetics and behavior traits to make sure there is no risk to your child. If puppies go through a lot of negative experiences early in life (such as a bad shelter experience, mishandling, or mistreatment), these negative experiences could cause a new pet owner to be wary when bringing this puppy home around a small child. This doesn’t mean you should exclude getting a dog from a shelter, but you may want to possibly consider a more adult dog from a shelter. By getting an adult shelter dog you will be able to get a better idea as to what breed the dog is and this will help you better determine his natural behaviors.

Another factor is activity level. You can not determine the dog’s activity level at the shelter. He may be stressed, and / or depressed, which makes him look less active. It is hard to assess the temperament level of a dog until he has been out of the shelter environment for at least several weeks to several months.

Dog Temperament & Age Considerations

A great idea is to get an even tempered adult dog for your young child. Children can stress dogs out by the way they treat them (pulling on fur, ears, tail, paws, etc). Parents need to supervise their children with their dogs, and recognize that the child’s behavior can affect the dog’s temperament and future behaviors. Even if the dog does not react immediately to something a child does, the dog may be masking his feelings / behavior.

Adult Dogs - Sometimes A Better Choice

Many families automatically want to adopt as young of a puppy as they can find. However, you can prevent many problems from happening by adopting an adult dog with a stable temperament that is known for being excellent around children. It also helps if the dog is of a size to where the child could not hurt him by playing rough. If you can, you want to meet the previous family the dog came from and find out their history. If you find that the dog is good with children, the dog may have been given away for other reasons (i.e. a lack of training), in which a dog trainer can come in handy.

If you do decide to get a young puppy, parents need to know that a puppy is very high-maintenance. They require a lot time, care, training and patience. Puppy classes are great to take puppies to for socializing, basic obedience, and temperament testing. This will give the dog the best chance of growing into a child-safe adult dog.

Is Your Child Ready For A Dog?

You need to make sure your child is old enough to be able to handle a dog. An older child has a better understanding of how to treat a dog. Usually the best age is school age, but in the meantime, younger children can be around great dogs with a wonderful temperament, to get them prepared for one of their own.

Choosing to add a new canine member to the family is a huge decision. Getting a dog at the right time can be a great asset to your family. Wonderful memories are acquired from children and dogs, and together they build an everlasting friendship!]]> Thu, 16 May 2012 00:00:00 -0700 Springtime Travel http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=99
1) Visit your vet and make sure your pup is healthy and caught up on vaccinations. Make sure to bring these records with you when you travel, just in case!
2) ID your dog. Whether you microchip or just have his and your name on his collar, make sure that all of the information is current.
3) When packing, include your dog’s food, food and water dishes, treats, blankets, dog bed, leash, grooming supplies and toys. Providing familiarity can assure the physical and mental comfort of your dog. Do not forget a container of drinking water for the vehicle and a first aid kit.
4) Make sure to research “dog friendly” accommodations. Find out in advance which hotels or motels at your destination or on your route allow dogs. Many hotels do not accept dogs, or have size or breed restrictions. If your dog is allowed to stay at a hotel, respect other guests, staff and the property. Remember that one bad experience with a canine guest may prompt the hotel management to refuse to allow any dogs in the future. Be considerate of others and leave your room and the grounds in good condition.
5) Consider the climate of your vacation. Depending on the dog the change in climate might cause your dog to struggle to adapt. He can become uncomfortable and irritable and this could really be a bad experience for everyone on vacation.
6) Plan on frequent breaks. Frequent stops are not only good for bathroom breaks, but dogs need to stretch their legs just as much as we do. This is especially essential if you are traveling in hot weather. You need to make sure that your dog is staying hydrated.
7) To keep your pup safe in the car, make sure to use a dog seatbelt and /or harness or a crate. A crate is an excellent way to keep your dog safe in the car, and is required for airline travel. A crate can also keep your pet from getting into trouble in a hotel or at your host's home. Stock the crate with a comfortable mat, your dog’s favorite toy and a water bottle.
8) Like humans, some dogs experience motion sickness. Take along ice cubes for your dog to lick and mouth, which are easier on your dog than a large amount of water all at once. Keep feeding to a minimum during travel to prevent stomach upset, and only allow small amounts of water periodically in the hours before the trip.
9) Finally, vacationing with your dog can aid in dog training. By spending a vacation together, you will have the time and the opportunity to take advantage of your and your dog’s undivided attention. Enjoy this time and be safe!
]]> Tue, 26 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700 Breed Spotlight: Australian Cattle Dog http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=98
When Australian Cattle Dogs are born they are white for about 3 weeks. Then, their distinctive markings begin to appear. Their short thick double coat can be blue or red; mottled or speckled pattern, with or without black, and with blue or tan markings. Weekly brushing will help to keep his coat in good condition. Though short haired during the spring season the ACD will shed or “blow” their undercoat. Their body is muscular and compact, with pricked ears and a long low straight bushy tail.

ACD’s, also known as Queensland Blue Heelers, are a favorite with American ranchers because they are able to work all day until the job is done. They do not waiver if cattle are stubborn and make a great family pet. As an owner of an Australian Cattle Dog you should be more determined than they are and have a specific job for them to do. A bored ACD will find something to do on his own and that self chosen duty may not be something that you wanted him to do. Though highly trainable, you need to be very positive in your training methods and not use forceful techniques. Using techniques of choke chains and leash corrections can result in “stubborn and difficult” dogs according to some. Where if you use positive methods you are more likely to get a focused pet who is eager to please.

If you have children or small pets you will need to train your ACD to not “herd” them as they love to make sure anything that moves is under control and in order. This needs to be done at an early age. Nicknamed the “Outback Outlaw”, ACD’s are very independent and intensely loyal. Your puppy will bond with family members and may be wary of strangers. They do not need a lot of space to be happy. Daily exercise and spending time with their owner makes for a content puppy.

If you or your dog trainer can successfully handle a Cattle Dog they will respect you and be in your heart forever. ]]> Tue, 12 Mar 2012 00:00:00 -0700 Puppy Socialization http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=97
There are 3 well defined critical periods in the development of a dog from puppy to adult that need special attention in the work of socialization. The first of these periods is from the age of 7 to 12 weeks. This time frame is generally viewed as the most critical for puppy socialization. A dog’s inappropriate or unacceptable behaviors and attitudes resulting from experiences during this period are often the most difficult to correct. The other two periods range from around 8 to 10 months and finally the last is around 18 months of age. In recognizing that these periods are when experiences will have a significant impact on the dog, owners and trainers must plan and set up activities and exposures to ensure positive results.

As with any training, the factors of distance, duration, degree of difficulty and distraction level must be integrated into the learning experience. We would not want to expose a puppy to heavy traffic with loud noises the first time we took the puppy outside. Initially, we would take the puppy out, in a quiet area for a limited amount of time and then work up to integrating more “distracters”.

The owner needs to expose a new puppy to as many sounds, sights, smells, people, animals and locations as possible, beginning as soon as the puppy arrives in his new home. This includes taking the dog to the vet, to the pet store, to the school yard (when children are playing), in the car, in an elevator, on a busy street, outside when the garbage truck and buses go by, near bicycles and skateboards, and around people of all ages, sex and ethnic backgrounds. The more new and positive things a puppy sees and experiences in these critical weeks, the better. Make sure that each of the following events is pleasant and non-threatening. If your puppy's first experience with something is painful and frightening, you will be defeating your purpose. In fact, you will be creating a phobia that may often last a lifetime. It's better to go too slow and assure your puppy is not frightened or injured than to rush and force your pup to meet new things and people too soon.

Puppy kindergarten is a great tool to include in your socialization process. This class will help your puppy with its puppy to puppy social skills. It also introduces the puppy to a great variety of people and sounds. You want to make sure that these classes are well supervised by a qualified dog trainer in a safe environment.
]]> Tue, 13 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0700 Curing Carsickness http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips.asp?id=4 http://animalbehaviorcollege.com/tips_details.asp?id=4&tipid=96
One of the best ways to curb these symptoms will be to help desensitize the dog to the car and ride. This must be done at the dog’s own pace while making a positive association for the pooch. To help build the positive association you must have something the dog will find rewarding and motivating. It will be up to the dog what will be the best reward. Some dogs would prefer their owner’s attention or their favorite toy as a reward more than food. Other dogs are motivated by small, chewy training treats so it is important to find a type that the dog is willing to work for and finds rewarding.

In the beginning stages make sure to introduce this dog training exercise with no distractions, making the environment as pleasant as you can. This will set the dog up to succeed by making the environment less overwhelming. Start without the car running. Open all of the doors and lure your dog to the doorway that will be used most frequently. Make sure to praise and reward any movement towards the vehicle. Continue these steps until the dog can easily be lured towards the door at least 9 out of 10 times. Once the dog is able to comply 90 of the time than you can start introducing new steps to the exercise.

Once your dog is at the door, attempt to lure the dog into the vehicle using their favorite reward. If the dog chooses not to follow through, you can gently lift them into position. Once in position, reward the dog heavily, making a positive association with the car for your dog. After the verbal praise and reward you can lure the dog back out of the car and attempt the loading / unloading process again until the dog finds getting into the car rewarding enough to perform the behavior at least nine out of ten times on their own.

Once the dog is successful at least 9 out of ten times during this exercise and has started to get comfortable with the car itself, you can start adding new variables such as closing one of the doors. Introduce the new variables one at a time making sure the dog is performing the required behaviors at least 90 of the time before moving on and adding another variable. For example, at first only close one door, than move on to two, and so on until each new variable becomes comfortable to your dog. As long as the dog is compliant a minimum of 9 out of 10 times and does not overreact, you can keep adding more. Once you are able to close all of the doors without the dog over reacting, you should attempt to start the car. Continue to add praise and rewards as long as the dog is able to stay calm for at least a minute at first. As time goes on you can start adding more time to the exercise.

Once the dog is able to remain in the running car without negative reactions, try taking a short drive. Drive the car just around the block at first, praising the dog as you go. When working on training any new behavior to your dog, it’s important to remember that part of training is teaching the dog a new behavior that he needs become comfortable with. Be patient. Once your dog becomes comfortable with this new action through praise and positive reinforcement, there would be no reason for your dog to become scared or anxious with it again. It may take some time, but it will be worth it when you have a new drive time buddy!
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