101 Dog Training Tips

by Kirsten Mortensen

Overview

When you have a problem with your dog, you need answers fast. That's why 101 Dog Training Tips is an essential book for any dog owner.

Every aspect of training your companion dog is covered, including:
* Laying a good training foundation * Housetraining * Greeting people * Everyday obedience * Coming when called * Leash walking * Barking * Being alone * Handling vet trips * Chewing * What to do if things go wrong * Attitude and perspective *

Each of 101 Dog Training Tips' clear, easy-to-understand explanations will make you a better trainer, so you'll have a better-trained dog. Whether you're just getting started or are an experienced dog owner looking for fresh ideas, you'll find exactly what you need from the first to the hundred-and-first tip.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461749042
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	06/01/2006
Series:	101 Tips
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

Kirsten Mortensen is a professional writer living in Rochester, New York.
She is the coauthor, with Terry Ryan, of Outwitting Dogs and has published numerous other articles and essays, including "I Learned It from My Dog,"
the lead essay in the Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series book, Weight Loss. Her weblog can be found at www.kirstenmortensen.com.

Read an Excerpt

101 Dog Training Tips

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By Mortensen, Kirsten

The Lyons Press

Copyright © 2006 Mortensen, Kirsten
All right reserved.
ISBN: 9781592289219

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Sample Tips for the chapter on Coming When Called (Recall)

Tip: Make attention the foundation of recall.
If your dog is going to come when called, she has to notice you've called. She has to be paying attention to you. So one foundation for training a recall is to teach your dog to pay attention to you-to "check in" with you regularly and often, and to notice when you ask her for attention.
Fortunately, this is a simple behavior to practice. Just reward your dog for paying attention to you. Suppose you have a puppy, and she's been playing with a toy, but suddenly drops it and comes over to say "hi." Give her a treat or a nice scratch behind the ears.
Reward your dog for "checking in" with you in the back yard, or for looking for you when you've been out of sight for awhile.
Another good idea is to reward your dog for responding to her name. Say her name before you put down her supper dish, or hand her a new toy. Toss her treats if you say her name and she looks at you.

Tip: Start training recall indoors.
One of the things that makes recalls challenging is that we expect it to work outside. And outside is a "high-distraction" environment.
Have you ever been reading, or watching television, and someone has said something to you-but you didn't hear? Or maybe you realized they spoke, but didn't understand what was said?
When we pay attention to one thing, we often "block out"everything else. Dogs do this, too. And when a dog is outside, he's got a lot to pay attention to! For this reason, it's best to begin training recalls in a space that has few distractions - like your kitchen, or living room, or even a bathroom.

Tip: Always Use Dinnertime as Recall Practice
Want a great way to get in some recall practice?
Call your dog at dinner time. Every time. Do this even if he's standing on your toes while you're filling his dish. Say his name and your recall word (such as "come") and then set his dish down. Voila: instant recall practice!

Tip: Make the reward for coming wonderful.
Along with distractions, another reason recalls are so hard to train is that running around outside is tremendously rewarding to your dog. Depending on where you are, your dog may be playing with other dogs. Or smelling interesting smells. Or just stretching her legs after a dull day indoors. The things a "loose dog" finds to do can be really, really fun.
You need to make it even more rewarding for your dog to come to you.
How do you do this? It depends on your dog. Since food is almost universally rewarding to dogs, many trainers suggest using food treats. However, make sure you pick the right treat. When you're competing against other rewards, it's best to use a "high value" treat-something really special. Examples include a bit of cheese, a chunk of hotdog, or a liver treat. You want to teach your dog that next time she has a choice to make, it's best to choose you-because you are more rewarding than playing with other dogs or smelling interesting smells.
Play is sometimes a great reward, also. Does your dog like to chase balls? Offer a game of fetch as a reward for coming when called.

Tip: Always use your "happy voice" for recalls!
Okay, be perfectly honest. How do you like being called by someone? Do you like them to sound happy, or stressed?
When we use an angry, frustrated, or stressed-out voice to call our dogs, we aren't making the recall as rewarding as we should!
Use a "happy" tone of voice to communicate that coming to you is fun!


Continues...

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Excerpted from 101 Dog Training Tips by Mortensen, Kirsten Copyright © 2006 by Mortensen, Kirsten. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Laying a Good Foundation
Puppies
Housetraining
Greeting People
Crate Training
Training Sit
Training Down
Recall
Leash Walking
Barking
Being Alone
Tricks