Sometimes teaching your dog a new skill can be a frustrating experience, for both you and your canine friend. The tips below will help to set your dog up for success and make the experience more pleasurable for all:
1. Always praise appropriate behavior. This motivates your dog to repeat the desired behavior in order to please you.
2. Work on obedience skills for about 10 - 15 minutes each day (even less for a puppy). During each session, I advise clients to train their dogs in the shape of a “Bell Curve”. Start with a skill that your dog has thoroughly mastered - raise the bar- end with a skill or activity that your dog can perform with success.
3. With all new skills, start in an area that your dog is comfortable and relatively free of distractions. As your dog gets more familiar with a skill and is responding consistently, slowly begin to “raise the bar” by increasing environmental distractions.
4. Once your dogs understands a skill in one environment, offer opportunities to generalize this skill in other locations.
5. If you find yourself getting frustrated with your dog’s performance, TAKE A BREAK and try again at a later time.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Grooming…A Dog’s Perspective
This week Socrates, my 6 month old Newfoundland insisted on writing this article. Enjoy!
Hi, I’m Socrates. I am a dog with a lot of fur that needs constant attention. Sometimes my human owner forgets that she is a trainer and not a groomer when making me look good. You see a few weeks ago I was being groomed by my owner for a public outing. All was going well. She brushed and bathed me, cleaned my ears and checked my teeth and nails. I thought I looked pretty good!! However, Miss Donna thought I needed a tiny trim - nothing big…just a little snip to cut the stray hairs away. Oh my, I wish I could have found a way to communicate the words, “Put the scissors down and step away from the Newfie.”, but alas I could not. From that experience, I wish to share some home grooming tips (borrowed from my friends from the ASPCA) that most human owners can do at home. However, if an owner is uncomfortable with any of the suggestions below, seek the help of a professional. They have the tools and knowledge to make each canine grooming experience enjoyable.
Brushing
Regular grooming with a brush or comb will help keep your pet’s hair in good condition by removing dirt, spreading natural oils throughout her coat, preventing tangles and keeping her skin clean and irritant-free. And grooming time’s a great time to check for fleas and flea dirt--those little black specks that indicate your pet is playing host to a flea family. Note: The length and texture of your dogs coat will indicate how often home brushing may be needed. Please consult with a professional to determine your dog’s daily brushing requirements.
Bathing
The ASPCA recommends bathing your dog every 3 months or so; your pet may require more frequent baths in the summertime if she spends lots of time with your outdoors. Always use a mild shampoo that’s safe to use on dogs.
Please Note: Some animals seem to think that bath time is a perfect time to act goofy. Young puppies especially will wiggle and bounce all over the place while you try to brush them, and tend to nip at bath time. If this sounds like your pet, put a toy that floats in the tub with her so she can focus on the toy rather than on mouthing you.
Nail Clipping
Most people really don’t handle their dog’s feet until they are about to clip the nails and then…watch out! Some animals can get very upset at this totally foreign feeling. That’s why it’s a good idea to get your dog used to having her feet touched before you attempt a nail trim. Rub your hand up and down her leg and then gently press each individual toe—and be sure to give her lots of praise and some food treats as you do this. Every animal is different, but chances are that within a week or two of daily foot massage, your dog will be better able to tolerate a trim.
Special Breeds, Special Needs
Dogs with loose facial skin or wrinkles—such as shar peis and pugs—will need special attention. To prevent dirt and bacteria from causing irritation and infection, clean the folds with damp cotton. Always thoroughly dry the areas between the folds.
If your dog has long or droopy ears, you should check them weekly. Remove wax and dirt from your pet’s ears with a cotton ball moistened with water or a little mineral oil. You may need to remove any excess hair leading into the ear canal; ask your pet’s vet or groomer to show you how before trying it at home. There are special hair removers that allow you to carefully pull one strand at a time.
Make Grooming as Enjoyable as Possible—For the Both of You! Grooming sessions should always be fun, so be sure to schedule them when your dog’s relaxed, especially if they are an excitable type. Until your pet is used to being groomed, keep the sessions short—just 5 to 10 minutes. Gradually lengthen the time until it becomes routine for your dog. You can help her get comfortable with being touched and handled by making a habit of petting every single part of your dog, including such potentially sensitive areas as the ears, tail, belly, back and feet.
Bottom-line: The most important tip of all—pile on the praise and offer your pooch a treat when your grooming session is finished!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)