Directory Dogs for September 2012 is concerned with Dog Services. Directory Dogs provides a directory of dogs, dog breeder, dog products, dog supplies, dog service, dog food, dog toys, grooming, apparel, dog training, dog information & resources.
The Top Five Dog Training Tips
1. Show your dog that you are the pack leader.
Dogs are pack animals and naturally look to their pack leader for guidance. Therefore, you will have to establish your role as pack leader in order to gain control over your dog’s behaviour. Pack leaders normally control the food supply, so a good way to establish leadership would be to always feed your dog only AFTER you have eaten. You should also set a feeding schedule and stick to it.
2. Use positive reinforcement.
Dogs respond best to positive reinforcement. One of the best ways to ensure success in dog training is to reward good behaviour and ignore unwanted behaviour. This will encourage your dog to repeat those behaviours that earn him praises and treats, and refrain from exhibiting behaviours that get him nothing in return. Be careful not to use punishment in training your dog, as this will only alienate him and make him regard you as an adversary.
3. Set realistic goals.
You can’t ensure the success of your training unless you have a concrete goal to start with. Of course, you will have to keep your goals realistic; otherwise, you will just be setting yourself up for failure. For example, it is okay to expect your dog to master the “sit” command in two to three days, but you can’t expect him to jump through hoops within the same timeframe.
4. Learn proper timing.
Proper timing can spell the difference between success and failure, where dog training is concerned. When you see your dog sniffing and circling around, immediately give a firm NO and then lead him to the designated elimination area.
5. Be patient and consistent.
Stay calm even when your dog makes mistakes. Yelling and showing impatience will get you nowhere. Give your dog enough time to learn each command, and always use the same words and hand signals when you give these commands. Consistency and patience are the keys to successful dog training.
A Bit About Breeding
The term ‘designer dog’ has been used so loosely it is time we clarified exactly what it means. A designer dog is one that has been crossbred with two popular purebreeds.
Designer dogs are said to come from sound purebred dogs of different breeds, which have been specially chosen for certain traits and characteristics.
Unlike purebred dogs, designer dogs are not considered a ‘breed’ in Australia as they are not registered or recognised with the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) or your local Canine Council. This means breeders are not regulated and scrutinised for their breeding practices and the breed has no real standard.
This is not to say that particular breeders of designer dogs aren’t breeding using safe practices; it just means there is room for more ‘cowboys’ who are cashing in on this new generation of dogs and putting the general public at risk with sick or unbalanced dogs.
There is also the risk that the bad traits of the purebred are what is being transferred into these ‘designer dogs’, rather than the other way around.
Dr Paul McGreevy from the University of Sydney has researched dog breeding extensively and its genetic implications. McGreevy also discovered that some breed standards of purebred dogs, which seem to be based more on aesthetic qualities than working properties, have actually led to some health and behavioural problems in the domesticated dog.