All dogs are suitable for training, although some breeds make naturally superior pupils because generations of ancestors were selected for trainability. (You may want to consult owners, breeders and AKC Standards for information about tractable breeds or even check out an Obedience competition).
If you purchase a breed not known for prowess in the Obedience ring, don’t give up. If training isn’t going so well, maybe it’s your problem instead of the dog’s. Perhaps you’ll find that your methods are inconsistent or confusing. If you’re at your wit’s end, contact a professional trainer for advice or join a local obedience class. Also, you may need to research training and behavior problems more thoroughly. There should be a shelf full of appropriate books at your local library or bookstore.
If you’re wondering whether age is an obstacle, rest assured that there is no age limit for effective dog training. You may have to be a little more persistent in training an adult dog, but there is no truth to the adage that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” However, it is certainly easier if a foundation for learning is initiated right from the start of the relationship.
DogandMaster.com
DogandMaster.com on September 19th 2007 in Dog Training
There are two common methods that are being used to feed nursing puppies: Bottle feeding and tube feeding.
Bottle feeding: Bottles and nipples have been used for feeding newborn puppies for many years. The form most often used today is the toy doll’s bottle. Most of these are made from plastic and some have real rubber nipples that are made in the same shape and form as the larger baby nipples. Bottle feeding a newborn puppy is not much different from bottle feeding an infant. Keep in mind that all equipment should be very clean. The bottles and nipples should be sterilized, the formula boiled, and the hands and utensils washed in hot soapy water.
Tube feeding: Another way of feeding a newborn puppy is through feeding tubes. With the proper equipment and experience, a pup’s entire feeding can be placed into its stomach without getting the milk anywhere close to the trachea or the lungs. Once the dog owner is used to the technique of feeding the newborn puppy with a stomach tube it is unlikely that he will ever again feed a puppy with a bottle and nipple. The feeding tube eliminates bottles and nipples that have to be cleaned after each feeding and sterilized before the next. Also, the danger of inhaled milk, which sometimes happens during bottle feeding, is greatly reduced and the feeding time is reduced by 75 %.
DogandMaster.com
dogandmaster on April 3rd 2007 in Dog Nutrition, Dog Training
Chain, Leather, Canvas, And Nylon Leashes
Leashes come in a variety of styles, materials, widths, and lengths. The following are the most common materials: Chain; leather; canvas; nylon. Chain leashes are often used with large dogs, but they are heavy and awkward. If you wanted to fold the leash neatly into one hand or the other, as required by some training techniques, you will not be able to do so without considerable discomfort. It is definitely not an ideal leash you can use for training.
For a training leash, materials of choice are canvas or nylon. Both can be readily manipulated and economical. Canvas, especially with larger dogs, is easier on your hands than nylon.
Leather leashes are also quite popular, although they are more expensive than canvas leashes. The best training leash is a 6-foot canvas leash. It is easy on the hands, easily manipulated, and just the right length. It is also the most economical. Canvas leashes are available in most pet stores or online and come in a variety of colors, although red and blue seems to be the most common.
DogandMaster.com
dogandmaster on March 19th 2007 in Dog Training
“Who is walking whom?” This question pops into my mind whenever I see owners being dragged down the street by their dogs. Leash pulling usually becomes a complaint only after a large dog has finally succeeding in pulling its owners off their feet, with resultant injury or embarrassment.
Most cases of leash pulling involve dogs that have accommodated to the discomfort of a choke chain, pinch collar or even a leather collar. Some of them cease pulling only long enough to cough, some even regurgitate or take a few deep breaths, then continue struggling forward.
Most dog owners have no idea that their frustrated leash-pulling dog might actually suffer physical injury during their daily tug-of-war. However, in a Swedish study by the noted behaviorist Anders Hallgren, of 400 dog owners who agreed to have their dog’s spines X-rayed, 63% were found to have spinal injuries. Of the inured dogs with neck (cervical) injuries, 91% had experience harsh jerks on the leash or were serious leash strainers! Among aggressive or overactive dogs, 78% had spinal injuries.
DogandMaster.com
dogandmaster on March 6th 2007 in Dog First Aid, Dog Health, Dog Training
