How to Train Your Dog

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dog training

Training your dog takes more than just holding a cookie in one hand and a clicker in the other. It requires good timing, consistency and some basic knowledge of how dogs learn. The best approach is to attend obedience classes. While that may not work for everyone, training is important to enrich your relationship with your dog and teach him important skills.

Provide Benevolent Guidance
Contrary to popular belief, dogs aren't trying to rule the roost and be in charge. Rather, they're simply studying human behavior to determine what they can and cannot get away with and draw conclusions based on their interactions. If your dog is misbehaving, there's no need to assert yourself as the alpha by forcibly dominating your dog into submission. Instead, focus on gently influencing your dog by reinforcing wanted behaviors and ensuring you don’t inadvertently reward unwanted behavior.

Embrace Positive Reinforcement
Training should be a fun and enjoyable experience for both you and your dog. Positive reinforcement offers the opportunity to motivate your dog allowing him to learn through the use of rewards. If you give your dog a treat every time he performs a wanted behavior such as sitting or lying down, he will understand that sitting or lying down yields a reward and these behaviors should strengthen and increase over time.

Training Basic Commands
To train your dog to sit: use a treat to guide your dog's nose upwards and back. When your dog's nose moves upwards, his rump should lower towards the floor. The moment his rump touches the floor, praise your dog and give the treat.

To train lie down: use a treat to guide him straight down and then to move it away from him as if designing an imaginary "L". Praise and give the treat once his elbows touch the floor.

To train your dog to come to you: use a long line, a lightweight leash measuring several feet, and practice calling him. Provide loads of positive reinforcement when your dog comes to you through praise and treats.

To teach the stay command: stand in front of your dog and ask your dog to sit or lie down. Praise him and give a treat for holding the position. Gradually, increase the time your dog holds the position.

On- and Off-Leash Training
To train your dog to walk on-leash without pulling: play the green light, red light game. Stop the moment your dog pulls and call him back to your side asking him to sit. Once he's in heel position and sitting, praise and reward him with a treat and resume walking. Repeat as often as needed. Dogs with a good recall, a solid stay and good leash manners, may move on to advanced off-leash training. Start practicing with a long line in a safe enclosed area and reward your dog when he comes to you and sticks to your side.

Crate Training Dogs
Whether you're using a crate for potty training or to confine your dog as needed, it's important to train your dog the "kennel" command. Make the crate appealing by placing treats and toys in it and leaving the door open. Your dog will start entering the crate on his own to check for goodies. Then start saying "kennel" and toss a treat inside to lure him in. Repeat several times. At some point, don't use the treat to lure him in. Instead, wait for him to enter upon hearing the command and give him the treat only once he's inside. Start closing him in the crate with his meals or favorite toys for a few minutes and gradually increase the length of time.

Moving to Advanced Training
After your dog reliably responds to commands at home, you must start introducing distractions. Once your dog reaches a good level of performance around distractions and reliably responds to your command, you can consider having a trainer assess him and see if he's ready to be enrolled in advanced training classes and canine sports such as agility or rally obedience. And if your dog has the correct temperament, you may consider service dog training or therapy dog training.

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How to Tip a Dog Walker

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dog training

Tip your dog walker over the holidays, rather than after each walk he gives your pet, to show your appreciation for the care he provides. A holiday tip up to a week's pay shows that you value his service. If he walks your dog on short notice or otherwise provides top-notch care, it's also appropriate to tip the dog walker on a case-by-case basis.

Tip Over the Holidays
The standard approach is to tip a dog walker you use frequently throughout the year over the holidays, according to The Emily Post Institute. The etiquette organization advocates giving a holiday tip as a way to recognize the dog walker's care and attention for your canine. Tip up to the amount of one week's pay. For example, if you pay the dog walker $30 per week to walk your pet, tip up to $30.

Tip After Walks on an As-Needed Basis
It's not typically necessary to tip your dog walker after each walk. DogWalker.com, a site that provides a directory of dog walkers, stresses that "if it's business as usual, tipping isn't required." Consider tipping your dog walker if she provides extra care for your dog, such as administers medication or takes the dog to a grooming appointment. You can also tip the dog walker if you make the appointment on short notice. In these cases, tip between 10 and 20 percent of the rate.

Consider the Care of Your Pet
Always take the dog walker's professionalism and care of your pet into account when you're determining the amount of your holiday tip or a tip for providing above-and-beyond care. Tip generously if it's apparent that the dog walker has a true passion for taking care of your pet and keeps your dog safe on each walk. Look for other traits such as punctuality and reliability, and tip on the upper end of the suggested range if these traits are apparent.

Give a Holiday Gift
Although many people tip their dog walkers over the holidays, you may give a gift to convey your appreciation. During your conversations with the dog walker throughout the year, get a sense of his areas of interest to help you pick the perfect gift. In general, gift cards are a safe bet. Consider a gift card to a restaurant, movie theater, gas station or supermarket.

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How to Dye a Dog's Fur Safely

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dog training

People dye their hair all sorts of colors -- many never found in natural human hair -- and this trend is going to the dogs. Dying a dog's hair safely might mean going to a groomer experienced in canine color changes. You can ask your veterinarian if she has any recommendations for safe canine hair dyes

No Human Hair Dye
Never use human hair dye on your pet. These dyes can be toxic if ingested -- not something people are prone to do, but licking their fur is natural behavior for canines. Human hair dyes contain various chemicals that can make your dog sick. Don't risk it, even if you only intend to dye a small portion of your dog's fur.

Canine Hair Dye
If you want color that lasts for several weeks, use a hair dye specifically designed for canine use. You can purchase such dyes online or at pet stores, or ask your groomer for recommendations. Some canine hair dyes are available in gel form, making them easier to use and create patterns than liquid versions. Always read the instructions carefully before applying dye to your dog. Canine hair dyes are not appropriate for young puppies.

Food Coloring
If you want to change your dog's hair color briefly -- such as dying him green for St. Patrick's Day -- food coloring is the safest way to go. While you can use the unsweetened version of Kool-Aid, it can make your dog's hair sticky. Bathe your dog prior to dying, so his fur is clean. Mix water and food coloring, then either place the mixture in a bath -- if your dog is small -- or put it into a squirt or spray bottle if your dog is larger or you only want to color certain areas. Soak the fur thoroughly, then brush or comb the dye to work it into his hair. When you're finished, place your dog on newspapers or old towels until she dries naturally. Otherwise, you'll have food coloring all over the place.

Canine Dye Precautions
Don't allow your dog to lick areas of dyed hair while the dye is still wet. You might have to put an Elizabethan collar on your pet until the dye dries. Don't let the dye come into contact with your dog's nose, eyes or mouth. If your dog does get dye in his eyes or other orifices, flush the area thoroughly with clean water. If his eyes or mouth appear irritated after substantial flushing, take him to the veterinarian. Even mild dyes can cause reactions in susceptible animals. If your dog experiences an allergic reaction or starts itching, stop the dye job and take him to the vet. If your dog has experienced skin reactions or his skin is sensitive, don't dye his hair.

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How to Make a Dog House Warm in the Winter

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dog training

It can be challenging to figure out ways to keep your dog warm during the long nights of winter. While you can try a few simple solutions to keep the doghouse warmer, drastic measures may be necessary in particularly cold regions. Often, the only way to warm doghouses in extreme climates is to add a commercial heating unit to the house or to construct a heating device of your own.

Improve the Placement
The simplest way to raise the temperature of your dog’s house may be to move the house to a warmer location, such as a heated garage. Even if you cannot move the doghouse inside, it will stay much warmer if you place it in an area sheltered from the wind. You could place it against your house or other heated buildings, which will not only shelter it from much of the wind, but it will help raise the temperature of the doghouse slightly. If wind is not a factor, you may want to consider placing the doghouse in a place that receives ample sunlight -- particularly in the afternoon. Solar doghouses are an option, but they do not operate during the night, when your dog needs warmth the most.

Insulate the House
Your dog’s body heat is what keeps his house warm. The better insulated the doghouse is, the warmer it will stay. Accordingly, ensure that all cracks and gaps in the house are covered or blocked. The doghouse must have a door that will keep the warm air inside the doghouse from leaking out. You should raise the doghouse up off the ground and place a soft bedding material, pillow or blanket on the floor for your dog to sleep on. Not only does this provide comfort to your dog, but it also helps to insulate both the dog and the house from the cold ground.

Purchase a Heater
A number of commercial “plug and play” products are available that will help keep your dog’s house warmer. For example, several manufacturers produce heated mats that can go on the bottom of the doghouse. It is important to monitor dogs when electrical devices such as these are used; do not use these types of devices with dogs who are likely to chew on them. Additionally, be sure to monitor the temperature of heating devices regularly to prevent burns and accidents. If you prefer, you can simply start over and purchase a heated doghouse, which will help keep your pup warm in cold climates.

Build a Heating Solution
If you are handy with tools, you can install a light fixture in the top of the doghouse; when fitted with an incandescent bulb, it will keep the house much warmer. This is only an appropriate solution if the doghouse provides enough headroom that you can install the light high enough to prevent your dog from coming into contact with it. Use a ceramic light fixture, as they are safer than plastic units, and place a fire-resistant baffle or guard around the bulb to reduce the risks of something contacting the bulb or fixture. Only use pet-safe, red lightbulbs instead of a white bulbs so that your pup can still get some shuteye.

Capture Waste Heat
If you really want to spoil spot rotten, you can use the heat from your house to warm your dog's house via a dryer hose. Cut a circular hole near the top of the doghouse that will accept an aluminum dryer hose connected to the interior of your house. Connect the dryer hose to the dog's house on one side and the house on the other. Use a small fan to blow the heat into the doghouse.

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How to Train a Therapy Dog

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dog training

Training a therapy dog involves teaching basic obedience and socialization skills, and achieving certification from a qualified therapy dog organization. Therapy dogs aren't service dogs, trained to provide aid to the disabled. Rather, these are pet dogs who visit various facilities, including libraries, nursing homes and schools, to bring affection and joy to residents and children. Although you can train a therapy dog on your own, many pet therapy organizations require proof that your dog has passed a standard skills test. If your dog has the right temperament, the two of you can brighten the day for many people

Therapy Dog Candidates
Therapy dog candidates must like people and have good manners. That means no jumping up on people, no unnecessary barking, no food stealing and no hyperactivity. Most programs do not permit dogs under the age of 1 year to participate -- it's just too much stimulation for these adolescent canines. When visiting a facility, whether it's a hospital, school or nursing home, a therapy dog must be clean and well-groomed.

Basic Requirements
Different therapy dog programs have varying requirements, but some basic rules apply across the board. Your dog must be up-to-date on all vaccinations -- he's going into hospitals and other facilities containing folks with compromised immune systems. If he's receiving certain veterinary care, including treatments for fungal infections or any medications suppressing his immune system, he can't participate until he's well. A dog with a history of biting or other aggressive behavior cannot qualify as therapy dogs. Dogs who have received Schutzhund protection training cannot participate in the therapy certification program operated by Pet Partners, one of the country's largest pet therapy organizations.

Canine Good Citizen
Many therapy dog organizations require potential candidates to pass the American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen test. Any dog, purebred or mutt, can take the test. Besides basic training -- such as heel, sit, stay, down and come -- your dog must accept strangers, permit petting, react well to other canines, and calmly walk through a crowd. He can't panic if separated from you for a short time. All of these qualities are necessary for therapy dogs. Dogs who pass the CGC test receive a certificate stating they made the grade.

Therapy Training Classes
Pet therapy programs, community organizations, humane societies and dog trainers offer certified pet therapy classes. In these classes, your dog is introduced to scenarios he might encounter while visiting a hospital or nursing home. This might include introducing him to people in wheelchairs, hospital beds and other institutional situations. Depending on the course, you might visit a facility so your dog's reaction is gauged. At the end of the course, your dog is evaluated. If he passes, he receives certification as a therapy dog.

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How to Become a Service Dog Trainer

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dog training

Service dogs help a variety of people, including those with disabilities or illnesses. Yet before these animals can help their human counterparts, they need training to learn this important, often life-saving work. That's where service dog trainers come in---the individuals who train these special pooches to go from man's best friend to full-time lifeguards. Though it will take more than a love of dogs and helping people to make it in this field, with determination and hard work, you can take part in this important industry.

Apply to service dog training schools in your area. If possible, expand your search throughout the country, since there are few spots available. (Check out the Resources section for a list of U.S. training programs.)

Submit job applications at these schools for other positions working with dogs as a way to get a leg up on the competition and raise your chances of being accepted into the service dog training program.

Complete all course requirements upon acceptance into a dog training program, including an apprenticeship period, during which you will work with dogs and the people they guide. The entire training program generally takes about 3 to 4 years.

Pass your school's written field test to earn the position of a service dog trainer.

Attend conferences, seminars, and workshops on dog behavior and training to supplement the information you learn at service dog training school. It is recommended that aspiring trainers attend a minimum of 24 workshops and seminars on a wide range of canine-related topics.

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