Tips To Consider When Training An Older Dog
The hardest part of the new training may be the part where you have to break the old bad habits the K-9 may have acquired through the years. As an example, when the dog is very sociable, it may have a habit of jumping on people when it first greets them. This can be extremely embarrassing for you and may even be frightening for some of your guest.
The quickest and easiest way to solve this problem is of course to simply secure the dog in an area away from your guest. However, an older dog in this case may be easier to train than a younger dog, as they tend not to get as excited as the younger pooches. In this case the use of a short leash and collar will restrict the dog from jumping on the guest. As they desist from the jumping be sure to praise and reward him/her with kind words. Over a period of time the older dog will replace the “bad jumping habit” with the new one of calmly waiting for the “OK” to greet the guest.
Depending on the age of the pooch you may find the animal has some physical limitations, which will have a bearing on the kind of training you can give to your dog. Be alert for signs of arthritis, displaced joints, muscle damage and other possible injuries when training. The animal will normally reveal such problems with a whine, limp, stiffness or even refusal to respond because of pain.
In this same vain an older animal will tire more easily than a younger one. You may find your more mature pet will learn quicker and easier if you keep your training sessions to a shorter period of time. Several short sessions will accomplish the same objective, as the longer ones, and will give your beloved pet more time rest.
The actual learning pace of the older pooch may be somewhat slower than a younger one. Some dogs may show a decline in their learning skills as they grow older. Therefore, you will need to allow your pet to learn at their own speed. If you rush the dog, during the training cycle, you may cause more harm than good.
As we all know when training any dog, regardless of age, the use of praise (including petting) and treats is an important part of the training. However, with older dogs especially, it is best to use the treats sparingly. If you over treat the dog you may add unhealthy weight to your animal, which in turn can lead to other health problems. Remember, that often times, the dog will respond just as well to hugs and sincere praise as they will to a treat.
It is important for you to remember that, just like humans, older dogs will make mistakes when learning something new. If this is the case don’t resort to yelling and hollering or to physical abuse of any sort to your pet. The only thing you will do is confuse the poor animal and you may cancel out what you have already accomplished. However, you still need to correct the dog and let it know it has done something wrong.
This can be accomplished with the proper voice tone and body language demonstrated by you. Remember to use very short phrases or single words to express your displeasure with the performance. Repetition and consistency will help the dog understand when it has done something wrong and will also convey to the dog when it has performed well.
Training an older dog can be more difficult than a younger dog. You, as the trainer and master, are ultimately responsible for the effectiveness of the training. By being patient, consistent and repetitive in your methods you will be able to teach and old dog new tricks.
Learn How To Teach A Dog Tricks
This guide will list some of the most common behavioral problems that your dog may be dealing with. You will also deal with some of the proven ways that you can get your dog to change their ways. Using this resource can be very beneficial and valuable for you as your dog continues to grow.
Following these methods in this guide, “Training Your Dog“, you will be able to turn your dog into one of the most obedient canines you have ever seen!
So don’t delay, get your guide now and get ready for the changes in your dog’s behavior! You won’t regret it!
Tips On Dog First Aid
If your dog becomes injured or harmed in some way are you prepared to save your dogs life with first aid? Unfortunately a great many canine owners have absolutely no idea how to administer dog first aid if necessary. It is the intent of this article to provide useful tips which may well mean the difference between, life or death, for your beloved animal.
Perhaps one of the most common injuries which can be harmful to your pet is something as simple as an insect bite. Some of the insects which can cause pain and suffering to your pooch are the ants, hornets, spiders, wasp and other stinging insects. If your animal is going to have a possible reaction it will normally surface within the 1st half hour or so. It is fairly easy to recognize the signs of the dog`s reaction.
Your pet may suddenly start scratching excessively, nibbling or biting at the injured area and whining with pain. In some cases if it is sever enough anaphylactic shock and other forms of shock may occur. It is best if you give the dog first aid as soon as possible.
Find the location of the sting and try to locate the stinger. Many of these insects stingers will break off in your dog and can cause further damage if not removed properly. It is strongly recommended, by Veterinarians, not to use tweezers when removing the stinger. It is best to use the edge of a credit card or a similar object and scrape the stinger out, in lieu of trying to pull it out.
To ease the pain and itching of the bite you can apply things like calamine lotion or other similar salves and lotions. A really fast acting treatment is the blending of water and baking soda, which will form a paste and apply directly to the wound. Another alternative is to apply ice wrapped in a rag or an ice pack to the wound to keep the swelling and pain down. However, as soon as practical after administering the first aid, be sure to call your Vet.
As stated above it is possible for your dog to go into shock if it has received multiple bites and stings. The symptoms for this could be wheezing, high temperature, staggering, losing conciseness, difficulty breathing, very fast and shallow breathing and other symptoms. If your pet appears to be in shock, make every effort to keep it warm and hold its head up, as this may well ease the breathing situation. After administering the first aid it`s critical for you to get the animal to your Veterinarian or an Emergency Veterinarian Service. Without the proper treatment for shock your best friend may die.
These are just a few tips on how you can help your dog if it should get in trouble. Knowing the right thing to do and when to do it may save the life of “man`s best friend?. A very quick search on the internet, using the keyword “dog first aid? with the quotes, will give you tons of other information. In addition your local Vet will have a brochure on pet first aid.
This guide will list some of the most common behavioral problems that your dog may be dealing with. You will also deal with some of the proven ways that you can get your dog to change their ways. Using this resource can be very beneficial and valuable for you as your dog continues to grow.
Following these methods in this guide, “Training Your Dog“, you will be able to turn your dog into one of the most obedient canines you have ever seen!
So don’t delay, get your guide now and get ready for the changes in your dog’s behavior! You won’t regret it!