Canines are motivated by the promise of food more than any other reward. They will drop whatever they are doing if they think there is a chance they can receive a tasty morsel. This is the reason professional trainers recommend using food treats whenever you train your dog. But the rewards must be used properly to avoid training - and even behavioral - problems.

This article will first explain why food is such a powerful tool for training your pet. We'll then describe different ways to use them as well as how to prevent your canine from perceiving treats as bribes. Lastly, we'll offer a few tips you can use immediately during training sessions to produce the results you're seeking.

Food Compared To Other Rewards

Canines enjoy many other rewards besides food. More importantly, they are motivated to do what is necessary to receive them, which makes the non-food rewards useful for training purposes. These include their favorite toys, praise and petting, and the chance to take a walk. Many dogs are compelled by the opportunity to join their owners on the couch. Each of these incentives can be effective.

But food treats are special. Canines are instinctively drawn to them. As a result, there are few incentives that can reinforce commands and shape behaviors as effectively as food.

Dog Treats As A Lure And Reward

There are a few ways to use treats when training your dog. The most common strategies include using them as lures and rewards. Lure-training is done by showing the reward to your pet, and "luring" him into doing what you wish. For example, suppose you are teaching him to sit. With lure-training, you would show the treat to him, and hold it above his head, and slowly move it backward. As he turns his nose upward in an attempt to follow your hand, his hind quarters will fall to the ground.

Using food as a reward is done by giving your canine the treat once he has complied with your command. There is no need to show it to him. Nor is there a need to place it near him. Through repetition, he will learn that he can expect a reward if he does what you ask of him.

How To Prevent A Treat From Becoming A Bribe

One common mistake that a lot of owners make is to unintentionally train their pets to view the food as a bribe for their compliance. This happens gradually by accident. The owner will issue a command, which the canine ignores. Seeking to motivate the dog, the owner then takes a treat from his pocket and shows it to him. The pet, realizing he can earn food by complying with his owner's command, performs successfully.

This seems to be a victory for the owner. But it is a short-term one. He has trained his canine to only comply with commands if there is a clear promise of a treat.

One way to avoid this problem is to use a clicker during training sessions. In the beginning, you'll need to establish a connection between the click and the reward. This can be done by providing the reward immediately after you use the clicker. As time progresses, however, you can provide it every other click, and eventually, every third or fourth click. This creates the expectation in your dog that he might receive a treat, but it is not guaranteed. As a result, he will be less likely to view them as a bribe for compliance.

A Few Last Tips About Using Food Rewards

Dog treats are most effective when they are small and soft. This allows your pet to eat them quickly without making a mess on the floor. Hard treats will break apart into crumbs, which will distract your canine from the training session.

Also, slowly incorporate praise and petting in the place of food. As noted earlier, both are powerful motivators for dogs, and will motivate them to comply. Incorporating them will also alleviate the need to always carry treats with you.

Lastly, experiment with different types of food. Your canine might enjoy chicken more than cheese. Or, he may prefer his kibble to pieces of pasta. Try different tastes to find those he enjoys the most. Save the "special" treats for times when you train him in public, where he might otherwise become distracted.

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Written by William Renfroe using tags: dog behavior, dog health, Dogs, Pets

Few dogs are perfectly behaved throughout their entire lives. As puppies, they learn what is acceptable and unacceptable from their mothers and littermates. When they are adopted into their new homes, they gradually learn to conform to their owners' wishes based on the feedback they receive through training. This is the manner in which they become good companions.

When owners observe behaviors in their canines that are annoying or destructive, it is important to take a proactive approach to curbing them. Nearly all behavioral problems can be shaped with the right method. With this in mind, we'll present an overview of the most common dog behavioral issues, and offer a few tips for addressing them.

Separation Anxiety

Some dogs are so dependent upon their owners that they cope with a high degree of stress when they are left alone. They might pace the floor, and begin to drool. They might also eliminate in the home, destroy furniture, and bark until their owners return. This is separation anxiety.

This is one of the most problematic behavioral challenges to address. It usually requires a lengthy period of desensitization training during which the owner teaches his pet to be less anxious in his absence. This includes the owner making his arrivals and departures less momentous. It also involves a process during which the canine is trained to tolerate being alone for periods that become gradually longer. Plenty of patience is needed on the part of the owner.

Jumping On People

Canines jump on people for different reasons. In most cases, they do it to greet the person or gain their attention. Other times, it is a way to subtly show dominance over someone. This habit is instinctive. Dogs jump on their littermates when they are puppies. Following their adoption, they will continue the behavior unless they are taught otherwise.

There are a few strategies commonly used to discourage jumping, including raising the knee to block the dog's efforts. However, doing this is likely to encourage the habit since it teaches the pet to expect a reaction from you when he jumps. Instead, simply turn away from him when he attempts to jump on you. Instruct your family and visitors to do the same. This deprives your canine of the attention he seeks.

Begging At The Table

Begging for food can be a particularly frustrating behavioral problem for owners since it often reaches the point where it occurs during every meal. The irony is that dogs do it because past attempts at begging have proven to be successful. That is, their owners or families encouraged the behavior by giving in to it.

The first step is to resolve yourself to never giving your canine food from the table. Second, provide his meals at the same time each day so he learns when to expect food. Third, limit his access to you and your family while you are eating. Place him in a separate room, or in his crate.

Improper Elimination

As with other canine behavioral problems, improper elimination (i.e. urinating or defecating inside your home) can be caused by several factors. For example, as described earlier, a dog that suffers from separation anxiety might exhibit this behavior. So, too, might a pet that is seeking attention from his owner, or marking his territory.

There are also medical issues that make it difficult for canines to control their bladders and bowels. For this reason, it is important to have a veterinarian examine your dog prior to taking corrective action.

Excessive Barking

Some canines will bark continuously without taking a break. It is essential to identify the reason behind the behavior before trying to discourage it. Bear in mind that your dog only has a few methods with which to communicate, one of which is barking. He may be doing it for a good reason.

For example, he might bark when he senses an intruder nearby; he may start barking because he is excited about something; or he might do it out of boredom, or because he want you to pay attention to him. The problem can only be addressed successfully if the underlying trigger is identified.

There are, of course, many other behavioral issues that dogs can display. From digging and chewing to aggression, fear, and biting, realize that nearly all of them can be curbed with the right approach.

Written by William Renfroe using tags: dog behavior, dog health, dog training, Dogs, Pets

Puppies really like to jump when somebody provides them a little bit of attention. Though this may well not bother you at present, keep in mind that in a few months you'll have a difficulty. Your puppy can produce inconvenience to other people or possibly injuries. This is precisely why it can be crucial to know a number of simple suggestions to stop puppy jumping.

Push gently on the puppy's paws when he's jumping on you. You can actually try this with your hands or feet but be cautious not to hurt him. The only purpose is always to help to make him fully grasp that he is just not permitted to jump. Yet another very good solution would be to push the dog's chest using your knee. Do this really gently when he's jumping. In the event you do this a number of times he is going to give up doing it. Whichever solution you choose, you need to always be quite cautious. The very last thing you would like is to harm your puppy.

One more approach to stop puppy jumping would be to grab his front paws. The next thing you should do is to push him back. The dog will lose balance and will comprehend that he was doing something wrong. While you try this you should really use your voice too. Utilize a firm and commanding tone of voice.

The moment your dog quits jumping you must pay no attention to him for a couple of minutes. If you offer him attention you will only encourage him to repeat the behavior. Try to remember that most dogs are rather intelligent. You simply have to learn the best way to train them.

You must encourage and praise your dog when he manages to stop jumping for a few minutes. Make sure you generally have a very good treat for him. It really is critical to recognize that dogs want to feel safe. They always wish to feel balanced. Just about all you might have to undertake to stop puppy jumping is to walk forward. This easy technique will force him to place his feet down.

Make sure you give him some gentle encouragement. Ask your friends and family to assist you with this. If they really encourage him in undesirable conduct it will likely be a lot more difficult to teach him. Your pup should not be cuddled if he jumps. You'll need a whole lot of patience to train your dog to quit jumping. If you permitted him to do it for the past couple of months you'll need some time to help make him quit.

When you have guests you ought to wait a few minutes just before you let the pup enter the room. When you want to cuddle your puppy once you get back home you need to first get on the same level with him. One more excellent suggestion is to command him to sit each time he starts jumping. Teach your pet to obey basic commands and then employ them when he jumps on you or one of your visitors.

Are you having problems with puppy jumping and biting? Be sure to visit my site to learn how to stop puppy barking and other behavior problems.

Written by Suzanna Hardaway using tags: dog behavior, dog jumping, dog training, Dogs, puppy behavior, puppy jumping, puppy training, stop puppy jumping

Dogs are always keen to go for walks. Most dogs will start to pull his leash when you're about to go for a stroll with them. I know a lot of dog lovers who dread taking their pet for a stroll. Don't do as what others do, stop dog leash pulling by making your dog follow your pace.

Early on, you should set the pace for your walk. If you begin with a fast pace, then you'll most likely continue that way for the rest of your walk. This is really unnecessary on your part. You can easily stop dog leash pulling by calming your dog before you attach his leash.

Before you attempt to walk with your dog, start with a short leash and sturdy collar. A long leash gives you minimal control on your dog's movement. Keep in mind that constantly pulling your dog's leash can cause serious injuries to your dog. Pressure also lessens your pet's ability to feel the way you control the leash.

Here are my tried and tested tips to stop dog leash pulling:

1. Train your dog by the help of a clicker. It's easy enough, all you need to do is train your pet to expect a reward every time he hears a clicking sound. Once he gets used to this, you can stop giving him treats. If your dog's eyes start to wander, just use the clicker to get his attention back to you.

2. Make your dog accustomed to walking beside you. Dogs are easily excited with unusual smells, water fountains and just about anything that's new to his eyes. It's important to start walking with a calm animal. Don't put on his collar and leash unless he's calmly sitting. Stop dog leash pulling by making your dog acknowledge that you're the alpha dog and that you will lead him during your walks.

3. Rewards for obeying commands: Keep your dog beside you at all times during your walk. Ask your dog to walk, making sure that he doesn't run. Pull the leash everytime your pet gets distracted and command him to stop. You can reward your dog everytime he obeys and walks back beside you. Keep walking at the same pace. Tell your dog to stop everytime he gets distracted. This is one of the easiest ways to stop dog leash pulling. After all, every dog loves a treat.

4. Taking a stroll with a dog will only be difficult if you don't know how to do it properly. Randomly turning 90 and 180 degrees during your walk. Changing your directions in random will keep your pet's attention from wandering. You need to make sure that you're keeping the same pace while you're switching directions.

Whatever tip you decide to use on your pet, keep in mind that you should never give in to your dog when he starts pulling the leash. Give your dog a sharp command. Be the Alpha Dog and make sure that your dog acknowledges that.

Stan Beck is an expert at dog behavior training. He has written many articles on how to correct certain dog behaviors. Visit his website to find tips on how to stop dog leash pulling and other bad behaviors.

Written by Stan Beck using tags: bad dog behavior, dog behavior, dog leash pulling, dog training, leash pulling, Pets

Poodles may be a challenge to train since they usually possess a stubborn side and, like all dogs, can be difficult to fully understand. They may possibly perform perfectly one day, improperly the next, without having any apparent cause for it - at least not understandable to the owner! Consequently listed here are several poodle training tips to get you started.

The most valuable poodle training tips are more about the trainer than the dog. It can be crucial to continue to be patient and realize that your dog does not always understand matters the same way you do. Occasionally they don't fully understand them even the way it seems like they do! Minor modifications in day-to-day activity might create chaos in how dogs see the world, and poodles enjoy modifications even less than various other breeds. Not only might this confuse them, it might sour their mood and cause them to misbehave.

The very best thing you could do is to continue to keep all teaching activity as reliable as entirely possible. The very same individual really should do the training, and will need to do it close to the very same time period each day. The more regular and dependable everything is in a pet's life, the less complicated it really is for them to discover exactly what you would like them to understand, and to behave exactly how you would like them to behave.

Once again, persistence is needed in training. Do not hurry or be expecting your poodle to understand more than one point at a time. Work and expect only one action, as many times as it takes. Make certain to start simple. Make certain that every single trick or behavior is something your poodle has entirely mastered in advance of trying something different, and then be sure to maintain the previously learned tricks and actions with reinforcing activities so they don't "lose" it. Even the brightest poodles can forget.

Consistency should really also be a part of the pet's diet and exercise schedule too, not just training. They must eat at the same time each day, and get their walks at the same time every single day. The more things in their lives that are regulated, the less complicated it is for them to comprehend exactly what is expected of them. Dogs do desire to please their owners, but it's not always simple for them to figure out what it is their owners expect when, in their minds, factors are shifting all the time. The famous stubborn streak of the poodle breed is generally a result of some tiny change that does not sit well with them.

This modest collection of poodle training tips is the tip of the iceberg, but they're also the two most necessary points for obtaining results. If you are consistent and also patient, you'll get your poodle trained exactly how you wish.

If you have a poodle, you are probably looking for some good poodle obedience training tips. Be sure to visit my site for some great tips on crate training a poodle.

Written by Tony Hodgison using tags: dog behavior, dog training, Dogs, poodle training, poodle training tips, poodles

In many cases dogs have behavioral difficulties which unfortunately can easily become truly trying to the friendship between you and your pet. It truly is crucial to manage behavior difficulties as early in your pet's life as attainable. Without change, it might end up turning out to be a real difficulty which is that much more troublesome to overcome.

One of quite possibly the most prevalent behavioral concerns in dogs is often a difficulty with aggression. Puppies always like to play around and roughhouse and consequently might learn to presume that aggression is okay no matter what the circumstance. You don't want them to jump up on visitors as they enter your home or be rowdy with kids. For this reason, you will need to help them learn the distinction between right and wrong.

To manage aggression in dogs, the very first step is being sure they know you're in charge. It is difficult to be tough on your pet given that you take pleasure in them and feel they're so cute, but this is essential to conquer any kind of behavioral issues. Be stern with them and discipline them vocally whenever they get too aggressive. Never strike your pet, as this is only going to worsen the problem and cause them to believe that violence is okay.

Yet another word of advice for reducing aggression in dogs is to take the pet to a veterinarian. The aggression you notice may perhaps be the sign of something far more significant and it's always better to be safe instead of sorry. The vet can carry out a couple of checks and be sure the pet's health is up to par. If they identify there's a problem triggering their aggression, they will be able to find the appropriate treatment and get the canine healthy again.

Coping with aggression in dogs could be a challenge, but any owner can overcome it if they are only ready to invest the time and work. If you discover the problem is too much for you to cope with and you're concerned the canine is going to get into trouble with their aggressive behavior by biting or assaulting another dog or individual, you may possibly need to retain the services of a qualified dog trainer.

By far the most critical factor is that you overcome aggression in dogs the minute you start to see a problem and never leave it and be expecting the issue to simply disappear altogether. Just as with young children, canines need to have appropriate behavioral teaching to end up a healthy adult dog. These are all effective techniques of handling aggression in your canine and can deliver the results if you will be ready to invest the time and hard work.

Are you struggling to stop dog aggression and handle other dog behavior problems? Be sure to visit my site to learn tips on how to train dogs.

Written by Suzanna Hardaway using tags: aggression in dogs, aggressive dogs, dog aggression, dog behavior, dog behavior problems, dog training, Dogs, training dogs

Whining is a form of communication for dogs. As a dog owner and best friend, you should come to accept this. Dogs will whine when they're hurt or lonely.

Dogs start to whine even when they're still pups.It's advisable to curb this behavior as early as possible. Ignoring it will only lead your dog to form a new habit: whining. A fully grown dog who frequently whines has been whining since it was a pup, and it didn't have any training to rectify such behavior. Consistent training is the key to stop dog whining.

You will need to extend your patience when dealing with older dogs. Consistency and fairness is a must when training any breed of dog. A whistle or a simple command will help your dog learn that whining is bad. Saying "NO" or "stop" will let your dog know that whining won't be tolerated. A consistent respond to your dog's whining will really help curb this behavior.

Your dog whines for several reasons. Before doing any corrective action, find out why your dog is whining first. I have compiled some tips on how to stop dog whining and how to identify its cause.

Separation from the Pack Dogs are very sociable creatures. They're used to being with a group or family. Your dog will usually whine because of separation anxieties when you're not paying attention to him or when you're out of the house.

Help your pet establish a connection or feeling of happiness near his crate. Stop dog whining by placing toys and food near his kennel. It will also help if you add an item that has your smell on it. Your dog will smell this and think that you're always beside him.

Try this short exercise to help your dog be comfortable in being alone: 1. Give him toys and play with him at the area where you will leave him most of the time. 2. Leave him alone after a few minutes. Your dog will probably start to whine a few minutes after you've left him. 3. Resist the urge to come and "rescue" him. Go back to him a few minutes after he has stopped whining. This is very important, do not go back to him while he is whining. Doing this will make him think that he can control you. 4. Repeat the exercise but extend the "waiting" time before you go back to him. 5. Praise your dog gently when he's able to stop himself from whining in longer time spans. You can also encourage this good behavior by giving him a treat a few minutes after he has stopped whining.

Thunders and other Loud Sounds Loud sounds such as fireworks and thunder scare dogs. To stop dog whining, simply assure your dog that he won't be hurt by the sounds. It is advisable to comfort your dog after he has stopped whining.

Do not overreact or overdo things though, comfort him then move on. Speak to him and gently assure him that he won't be harmed by the noise.

Pain and other ailments This is rarely the case, but if it is, then you should immediately help your dog. A dog who doesn't usually whine but suddenly starts to is definitely hurt. As a general rule, if your dog whines at odd places and times, he is most likely in pain.

Pat him gently in different areas. Give his legs a gentle squeeze and observe if he whines louder when you touch them. Also check if he's having a difficulty in moving or when a part of him is bleeding. If he's still whining and you just can't figure out what's wrong, have him checked by a vet.

Stan Beck is a passionate dog lover. His website shares valuable tips on how to train your dog. You can also get more tips on how to stop dog whining by visiting his website.

Written by Stan Beck using tags: dog behavior, dog whining, dog-whines-then-attacks-other-pets, negative dog behavior, Pets, stop dog whining, whining

Nature may not have gifted dogs with the ability to speak but the human-dog association that spanned thousands of years have allowed humans to understand the dog's form of communication. How do dogs communicate? Dogs are intelligent animals and using body language and some forms of vocalizations, dogs can very well communicate with other dogs, with other animals and with humans. Anyone who have had the opportunity to live with dogs would attest to these animal's ability to make humans and animals understand what they want to convey.

A dog's method of communicating will be very apparent in a household with 2 or more dogs as one dog will grab the rank of being the leader of the pack. Dogs communicate with each other in a unique way. The leader of the pack can easily stop unruly play between pack members. The alpha male will assume a dominant position, bare the teeth and let out a menacing growl that would instantly make dogs lower in rank manifest a submissive attitude by lowering the eyes and by holding the tail between the legs.

The bared teeth and the threatening growl of the pack leader will be enough to warn other dogs in the pack. When meeting people, humans shake each others hand, dogs sniff each others butt as a form of communication. When a dog meets another dog, the butt sniffing ritual is used as a form of communication that allows a dog to accept or to reject the other.

Dogs cannot speak in the same manner that we humans cannot bark or whine and yet through long years of association, we humans have finally understood what the wagging tail, the whining and the barking, the erect ear and the furtive glances of the eyes mean. Its true, dogs and humans have different ways of communicating but a patient and discerning pet owner will understand what the pet needs and what the pet want to convey simply by understanding the body movements as well as the facial expression of the dog. The barking as well as the posture of a dog that is excited at the arrival of the master is different from the barking of a dog wanting to alert the owners to the presence of intruders.

Dogs are not only man's best friends they are also man's faithful companions. It would certainly be nice if dogs can talk so that the pet can give its two cents worth of opinion on the troubles of the master but since man and dog have a different ways of communicating, both would have to be content with understanding each others body language and facial expression.

You can find out more about how dogs communicate at Sarah's Dogs.

categories: how do dogs communicate,dog communication,dog behavior,dogs,pets,animals,home

Written by Jerry Welsh using tags: animals, dog behavior, dog communication, Dogs, Home, how do dogs communicate, Pets