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Dog Training

Top 5 tips for training your dog!

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We all wish we had the perfect dog, the one we can take with us everywhere, the one who makes us proud, the one who knows how to react in every situation, the one who never disobeys any of our commands. However, training a dog, like any other animal, requires dedication, time, and… money!

Here are some tips to optimize your training sessions, better understand your dog and develop a great relationship with him through training!

1. Generalize the behaviors you’ve taught your dog

Did you practice a new trick at home? Did you practice your weekly obedience exercises in your living room? And now you plan to wow the gallery at a family dinner, showing your brother-in-law how Fido can play dead?

Whoops! As soon as you ask your dog to produce a behavior learned in another context, he does not obey you. Is this normal? Does he have an attention deficit problem? Should you medicate him? Exchange it for a model that works better.

The answer: Your dog is normal!

Read our article on training and generalization in dog training!

Training your dog in different situations for the best results

Dogs have a hard time generalizing things we teach them, and they need to be taught the proper commands in different environments. For us humans, it is difficult to understand that our dogs do not understand that sitting means sitting, regardless of the environment or the situation.

We have an extremely powerful brain, capable of demonstrating an understanding of complex things such as the notion of concepts. If I teach you a trick in your living room, let’s say jumping, it will be very easy for me to make you jump afterward in different contexts, without it requiring prior learning.

However, for your dog, it will take practice in different situations before he understands that the word “jump” means that he has to jump, even at the dog park, at the vet, or in training. obedience in a room full of dogs, etc.

As long as the command you want your dog to generalize does not have excellent results (ie more than 90% success after a single request), continue to reward each attempt! Above all, do not make the mistake of reducing the number of rewards when your dog does not master the command you want to teach him!

2. Have a clear training system

You want your dog to listen to you, but are you communicating clearly with him? Do you tend to always repeat commands to him? To speak to him in a monotonous tone? Not to use markers in training? Not knowing yourself what you expect from him?

Why not repeat commands to your dog?

It’s very simple, the more you repeat a command to your dog, and it has no consequences, the more he will get used to the fact that this word is just background noise! Think of the sound of an air conditioning system: when it starts, the noise it makes is distinct and we hear it very well. However, after a few minutes, our brain no longer pays attention to it and we no longer hear it!

To prevent our dog’s brain from learning to ignore us, it is better to be violent and avoid repeating (a very difficult exercise for humans!). If your dog tends not to listen to you, lowering your demands and starting from an easier level (more on that below) will help you be more understood. You can then return to your initial requirements.

Training your dog to a different tone of voice

Along the same lines as the previous paragraph, your dog is used to hearing you say words all day. You talk on the phone, to your friends, and even to yourself… All day! How does your dog, this animal who finds it difficult to generalize a simple sitting, know that you are now talking to HIM?

To help my clients communicate better with their animals, I usually recommend that they use a more high-pitched, playful tone of voice when they want to communicate with them! However, avoid using a deep or throaty tone of voice. You risk scaring your dog!

Use the clicker or another marker to train your dog

A marker is used to make your dog (or any other animal) understand that he is being rewarded for the behavior he has just produced. Markers tend to facilitate learning because they increase the understanding link between the behavior X that was produced and the reward Y that follows. The stronger this bond, the more your dog will understand what he was rewarded for and will tend to reproduce these behaviors easily.

For more information read our article on clicker and canine training.

What do you expect from your dog?

Do you know? Do you plan your workouts? Have you written down all the circumstances under which your dog will need to perform the behavior you wish to teach him to have him practice in those situations? Do you know when you will raise your standards? When will you decrease them if your dog is in check?

It’s important to think about the above points so that your training sessions don’t be a fiasco!

For more details, I recommend our article on duration, distance, and distractions in dog training.

3. Dare to compromise

You do it with your friends, in your couple to reduce the tensions… Why not dare to do it about the education of your dog? This is not evidence of giving up or slacking off!

It’s above all a question of understanding your dog’s needs, of finding solutions so that he can adapt more easily to what you expect of him! Your workout will benefit!

For example, my dog ​​tended to mark everywhere during walks. He even lifted his paw on a person waiting for the bus and… On a baby in a stroller! Instead of punishing him or outright forbidding him to urinate on walks, I taught him to urinate on command. Even better, I allow him to go urinate on his favorite trees (not on babies in strollers!) when he offers me behaviors that I deem acceptable. For example, walking well on a leash, looking at me, and sitting on command. This method of dog training is called Premack’s Law!

Other useful compromise ideas:

Sit instead of jump

Lying down patiently when preparing your meals (to receive a piece of carrot)

Digging in a sandbox instead of letting your dog dig in garden soil

Go get a toy when guests arrive instead of yelping

Cut the pear in half!

Does your dog come back to you if he is less than three meters away, but ignores you if he is too far away? Instead of trying to call him when he’s a mile away, lower your demands. Practice recall exercises from 4 meters away, and increase the distance gradually!

4. Mourning what your dog is not

We all tend to have unrealistic visions about what our dog could and should be! Don’t tell anyone this secret: no dog is perfect! Even that of your canine trainer! They all have their pros and cons! And often, they even have qualities related to their faults… And vice versa!

A very alert, very nervous dog, for example, a sheepdog, will tend to be quick to respond to commands and to listen. On the other hand, it will also be a dog that will be easily startled by a suspicious noise!

The reflection of ourselves

Very often, if we are demanding with our dogs, it is to relieve the pressure that we put on ourselves to perform. Think about what you wanted an animal for in the first place.

To replace the departure of your children… And finally, you have a dog who does not appreciate the affection of humans and their caresses so much?

To have a dog that performs well in competition, when he is not particularly serious in training and is a bit of a clown?

Without taking me for an author of “psycho-pop” books, maybe this dog appeared in your life to force you to work on yourself a little! For example by learning to be a little more self-sufficient or to base your notion of pleasure less on that of performance!

Imperfection is normal

It is normal for your dog to make mistakes in training. If your dog fails, it does not reflect your lack of rigor, listening, or knowledge! There is no 100% when it comes to behavior! Take that pressure off!

If your dog fails too often, think about what you can do to help him succeed at easier exercises. Once this is achieved, increase your demands!

5. Work on the foundations

Too often we are in a rush to show our dogs commands or tricks. We aim for the stars when we don’t have the vehicle that will propel us there!

Training a dog is a long process, one stone at a time. The simplest behaviors, and boring to show are often the basis of more complex notions!

The basics of a well-trained dog:

Good socialization for a confident dog

A good relationship with your animal

eye contact work

The work of commitment and motivation

The work of self-checks

Learning good manners

 

 

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Dog Training

Treeing Walker Coonhound Basic Information 2021

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Treeing Walker Coonhound History and Roots

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a breed that originated from the English Foxhound brought to Virginia by Mr. Thomas Walker in 1742. Originally known as the English Coonhound, they split off in 1945 and adopted their current name. The reason why the dog breed name has “Walker” is because the ancestor dog developed into a dog called “Walker Foxhound” later.
Known as an agile and tireless hunting dog, they are good at hunting small animals such as raccoons and opossums and driving them into trees. When it finds prey, it makes a distinctive trumpet-like call, which can be detected from a distance, and signals the location of prey to the hunter. In 2012, it was certified by the AKC’s Hound Group.

Treeing Walker Coonhound Personality and Characteristics

The Treeing Walker Coonhound has a calm personality and likes to interact with people. They rarely show aggression and get along well with other dogs and children. However, due to their strong hunting instincts, living with small animals is not recommended. He is very intelligent and seems to prefer somewhat complex educational toys to simple toys.
Treeing Walker Coonhounds are short-haired, shiny, and display a bi- or tri-color pattern consisting of white, black, and tan. Characterized by well-moving shoulders, large ears, and a drooping upper lip that hangs over the lower jaw. It is said to take two years to reach maturity.

Treeing Walker Coonhound Care and Precautions

The Treeing Walker Coonhound is a lively breed and needs at least an hour of daily walks or jogging. They have droopy ears, so check their ears regularly.

 

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Dog Training

How to train a Maltese puppy 2023

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Do you have a Maltese or are you thinking of fostering one soon? So, to offer the best to your pet, you will be interested in knowing everything it needs in detail. Some of the most relevant aspects that must be known well are care and basic needs, but also how to teach everything you need to know so that you can live together enjoying your company to the fullest.

So, if you are interested in knowing how to educate Maltese so that you both are happy living together, do not miss this OneHOWTO article in which we tell you all the necessary details so that you can give your furry the best.

Characteristics of the Maltese

The Maltese is a small breed or even a toy dog since a weight of 1.8 kg is the minimum that usually occurs in toys and the maximum that is seen in small breeds is 4 kg, being the most usual weight between 3 and 4 kg. In addition, its height is between 20 and 25 cm at the withers. As usual, females are usually somewhat smaller than males, both in weight and height.

Its coat is white and smooth, it grows very easily and has a silky touch, although when they are puppies or if they are cut a lot, the hair can look somewhat wavy and not straight. Some specimens have white fur with some soft golden spots. Its eyes are always dark, like its nose, which is always black, its legs are short, its tail is dense, and its ears are long and fall to the sides.

These furry ones are characterized by being fun, affectionate, playful, happy, intelligent and enjoying the company of both people and other pets, in fact, they hate being alone. In addition, these characters are very marked when they are puppies but as adults they also retain these very positive characteristics, being the joy at home throughout their lives.

Likewise, they are nervous, very vigilant, and have a lot of energy, for this reason, they do not like to be alone and locked up at home for hours, in addition, they can notify us of the presence of someone unknown.

For all this, it is a very popular dog among families around the world. But we must bear in mind that it is suitable for living with adults, but it tends to get stressed in the company of children who demand too much play from it, touch or hold it continuously, pull its long fur, etc. For this reason, a Maltese can get tired of being in the company of a child in a short time, but if the little ones are also educated and explained how to relate to a dog, then there doesn’t have to be any kind of problem.

Why socialization is important

It is vital to socialize a dog so that it can interact with its environment, other animals, and people without any problem. If we do not get used to living both at home and on the street with other living beings and with common noises and situations, our pet will suffer stress, anxiety, and fear and may even become aggressive on certain occasions.

As we have pointed out, children must be used especially to be with whom they may have more difficulties when living together. Therefore, we must educate both so that they treat each other with respect and enjoy themselves. It is very important that, for this social education to give good and solid results, the dog gets used to it and is taught everything necessary during the first months of life, since at that moment its character and its way of understanding things will be forming.

Likewise, they must be accustomed from a young age to interacting with other dogs of all sizes, since due to their small size they can see other larger furry ones as a potential threat and become defensive or even attack if they have not gotten used to it. they.

Necessary standards and limits

To train and educate a Maltese dog correctly, it is very necessary to teach him rules and limits that serve to respect each other. In addition, you have to start teaching these guidelines from the first moment he enters the family, help him understand them, and teach them with positive reinforcement. All family members must agree on what rules to set regarding what the dog can do and what not, being consistent is what will help you understand it well.

Also, a common mistake is that being so small, we tend to hold them a lot or allow them to climb where they want, but if this becomes a habit, it can trigger a dominant attitude on the part of our furry. This will mean that when someone does something that does not seem right to him for whatever reason, he will impose himself by barking and even marking. For this reason, it is important to avoid over-pampering him and to teach him the boundaries between the things he can and cannot do and when he can do them.

Within the rules there must be established routines and schedules, that is, hours and areas for walking, sleeping, eating, etc. In this way, educating our Maltese will be easier and it will be more balanced and happy.

In this other OneHOWTO article, you will be able to find out all the details about how to teach your dog to relieve himself outside the home.

correct bad habits

It is very common for our pet to have a behavior or habit that we do not like, and this happens to a greater extent if it has not been socialized and educated well since it was a puppy. Thus, we must correct this unwanted behavior as soon as we detect it, but it is vital that we do it with positive conditioning or reinforcement and never with negativity or aggressiveness.

The screams, the pulls, the blows, and the punishments do not contribute anything good to your relationship and the learning of the dog. On the other hand, rewarding good and desired behaviors, whether with caresses, words, or food, is something that always produces a good reaction and helps to learn better.

For this reason, if your furry does not comply with something that it is supposed to already know, do not punish him and ignore this behavior or stop the activity you are doing, such as stop playing or walking, if he bites hard or pulls on the leash until he calms down or stops doing what you were doing wrong. Thus, he will understand more easily that what he does is not desirable and by rewarding him when he does things well, for example when he walks by your side without pulling hard, he will see that those are desirable and he will do them instead of the others that do not contribute to him. positive results.

Basic commands for a Maltese puppy

To educate a Maltese dog well, it is essential to teach him some tricks and commands, some more complicated and others simpler, so that he feels fulfilled, and useful in the family group or herd and thus creates a more intense bond with us.

As this canine breed is very intelligent, it is easy for him to learn new things as long as we spend some time teaching him well. If we teach them these commands or tricks they will feel more balanced and develop well, they will also get less bored. Here are some basic tricks and commands that this breed will pick up quickly:

Come here

Be quiet

lie down or lie down

walk next door

bring the ball

Advanced commands for a Maltese puppy

When your little pet has learned the most basic things, it’s time to teach him some more complicated things so that he continues to develop his abilities and feel better. As we have said, thanks to their intelligence, these little ones do not have a hard time learning the following advanced commands :

Spin around

Stand up on your hind legs

Skip

give a paw or both

roll over itself

Playing the dead

Bring the toy or object that we indicate

jump obstacles.

 

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Dog Training

How to make your dog listen to you: all the keys

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It is possible that at some point you have seen yourself in a situation where your dog ignores you and disobeys your orders. This situation can become very frustrating and desperate. Disobedience can have different levels and appear in different contexts. To help you solve this problem, we show you how to get your dog to listen to you.

Why doesn’t your dog listen to you?

The education and training of dogs in their early stages of life are very important since they will largely prevent behavior problems in the future. On many occasions, dogs disobey orders and behave badly, becoming a frustrating situation for the owners. At this point, it is normal for you to ask yourself: “why does my dog ​​not listen to me?” Here are some of the possible reasons:

Lack of training or education: sometimes, inexperience or ignorance means that proper behavior patterns are not established in dogs. Difficult situations may arise during learning: reinforcement of unwanted behaviors, trying to go faster than the animal can assimilate, lack of patience, etc. Therefore, you must train and prepare for these moments.

Age: it is important to take this factor into account because you do not learn in the same way at all stages of development, nor can you demand the same level from all dogs.

Problems interpreting commands: dogs often ignore commands because they don’t interpret them as such. It is important that your verbal and non-verbal language reflects the same message and that it is consistent with the order you want to convey.

Problems in the affective bond: having a dog at home as a companion is much more than covering its basic needs. You have to establish a solid and trusting affective bond if you want your dog to listen to you.

Use of punishment: dogs, as they grow, learn to relate to the environment around them. It is common for them to do things they don’t like and make mistakes because they are learning. In these situations, it is normal for you to raise your voice and scold him. However, punishment cannot be the basis of learning.  It is much more effective and rewarding to use positive reinforcement.

Very demanding standards: one must not forget that dogs are very different from people, they learn and process differently. It is important to understand this and accept that they also have their needs and need a certain level of freedom. Just like when a person sees something that they like or catches their attention, they stop to look at it, a dog needs to stop to sniff, play, run around, etc.

You don’t like the reinforcements used: the reinforcements are very stimulating to increase the appropriate behaviors. However, it is important to use a booster that the animal likes. Find what he likes the most: sausages, trinkets, etc.

An environment with many distractions: if there are many distracting elements in the environment, the animal’s ability to obey decreases.

How to make your dog listen to you? keys

become a leader

Dogs are pack animals and need a leader. You must become their leader with respect and trust. You must show him that he can trust you and that you can protect him and resolve complicated situations.

In this way, he will trust that the decisions you make and the things you ask of him are the best for him, and your dog is much more likely to listen to you.

grab their attention

For your dog to obey you, it is important that you first have his attention. To do this, you can teach him a command that shows him that it is time to direct his attention to you. Try picking up a treat, putting it in your hand, and holding it close to your eyes while giving the command. It can be: “look!”, “pay attention!”, or the one you like the most.

Improve communication

Dogs do not innately understand the words you use but are guided by the tone of voice and nonverbal behavior. Therefore, you must take care of these factors when showing an order.

On the other hand, it is convenient that you do not use his name to scold him or indicate that the game or the walk is over, because it will associate it with something negative and you will not get your dog to pay attention to you.

Set clear rules

Choose the rules and regulations you want your friend to learn and then show them the commands clearly and consistently. You must maintain coherent guidelines about his behavior so that learning is consolidated.

You can apply different exercises and turn the training into games to make it more stimulating. This step takes time and should be practiced daily. Sometimes you have to spend weeks or months on it.

 

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