I choose to use only one word
simple commands, but you will find I
use the word "NO" very little.
It is intirely being used to repetitively.
I prefer using a stern voice
with a reference word to the problem.
*Walks*........to
begin with, keep a short jerk release motion on the collar
while walking. You will not
need much tension on the jerk at all. Jerk release
over and over while you are
talking praise to the dog. Don't expect the show
perfection, as long as the dog
is keeping within your allowance of tension
then let him. Objective here
is to keep your dog from walking you. Before you know it you will not have
to do the tension release at all. Your dog will
be watching where you are walking.
*Sit*........With
the dog in front of you, either kneal down beside the dog or
with the smaller one's I do
this with the dog of a table or something higher.
Without pulling on the lead,
but keeping the tension, Slide your free hand
under your dogs back legs, saying
sit at the same time. In the slide you will
continue to pull your hand toward
the dogs belly taking them off their hind
legs. This is much easier then
trying to force a sit position. As quickly as your
dog is in the sit position.
Highly praise your dog. Keep doing this over and
over until the word sit becomes
associated.
*Down*......Not
much of a need for this command for the family pet, but
I do have a wonderfully easy
method for this. If you desire my method for
this command just drop me an
e-mail.
*Recall*
(come on command)....Taking the long rope, attached to your lead,
let your dog have free reign.
Let him get his attention on something totally
different then you or the lead
that he is attached to. When at this point,
call the dogs name, give him
a command (come, front, etc.) and at the time
of your word command, pop the
end of the rope just a bit to wake him up
again to you. Reel him to you
just like a fish. As time goes on, then increase
the intensity of the distractions
to include those cars and bikes he loves to
chase. Just as he gets to the
end of the rope, give him the command.
*Grooming
Tidbits and Tips* Most of these you will find
I will be refering
to your dog in relation to how
you groom yourself. (with a few exceptions)
1)Brushing
Hair: (for those of you who have some to brush).
How often
do you shampoo your hair without
brushing out the tangles before hand.
Why do it to your dog. This
will make it difficult to get those same tangles out later. Will tighten
the knots and will be difficult to get all the shampoo out of the hair.
2) Brushing
Teeth: (using the old method of 7yrs for a
dog to 1 human).
A dog not considered to be old
until the age of 7, for him would be 49.
How would you feel if you went
49 years and NEVER brushing your
teeth......AAAKKKKKKK!!! Alot,
will use a soda/salt mix, but check with your Vet about what is recommended.
3) Summer
Heat: I see alot of people shaving down a
dogs coat as it is too hot for them. This is wrong! Your dog does
not perspire like people do, they feel
temperature thru the pads on
their feet. That coat is there to protect them from all weather conditions.
Keep their feet cool and damp and they will be
much more comfortable. You will
also find this will help with summer digging problems. Most times they
are digging for a cool place for their feet. Keep their area damp and cool
and this particular problem will drastically drop.
4)Ears:
Cleaning just like you do your kids ears, not going any further then
you can see. But, remembering
that dogs do not have a way of shaking water or air pockets from inside
the ear, so is recommended that you put cotton or something in the
ears before bathing to keep the water out.
5)Doggie
Smells: All kinds including de-skunking a
skunked dog. I keep a
spray bottle with (undeluted)
douche on hand for this. Just a mist on the
coat occasionally, inbetween
baths will do wonders. (Skunking does take a
full dose, but really does work).
6)Eating
Grass: (and other *things*)....Grass is a
natural medicine for a dog.
When something is upsetting
their stomach they will sometimes chew grass
and this will cause them to
vomit. Allow them this is natural to them. Eatting other (seeming discusting
things) dog feces. Ask your vet, but I have found
that this most commonly refers
to something lacking in the diet and this is
happening to gain what they
are lacking.
7)Eating
Habits: (diet).....Most believe that a dog
that eats heartily really likes what they are eating. This could be, but
most times have found that
this means they are gobbling
thier food to get all that they need for their diets. Again something lacking
in the kind of food they are eating.
8)Scooting:
Dogs have ducts in the backsides, and when they are scooting they (most
times) are releasing those glands. Is normal, please don't attempt
to stop this totally, is a need
even though it does seem rude.
