Impressive jump! But chihuahuas do not make my list of the top 10 dog agility breeds.

Dog agility is a zealous sport in which the training and handling of dogs is put to the test.

Racing against the clock, participants instruct their canines to perform challenging exercises, with the goal of being the fastest on the course. Among the strenuous feats are pole weaving, tunnel running and hurdle jumping. Agility competitions are fast becoming a popular spectator event.

Which Dogs, in General, Excel at Agility?

If your dog comes from a working breed and has a medium build, his odds of winning are better than those of other dogs.

While certain breeds may seem more naturally suited to the sport, more than 150 breeds have shown their sometimes surprising ability to perform well. (Also, mixed breeds are accepted by all agility clubs, except for the AKC.)

In general, dogs that are physically active, full of energy and have a desire to please seem to be among the most successful dogs in agility competitions. Another good candidate: that head-strong pup that seems to get into trouble every time your back is turned, or that gets bored easily.

Which Breeds Aren’t So Successful?

Great Danes and mastiffs, to name two, tend to be energy-less at agility training. Boxers and bulldogs may not do so well in activities that require lots of heavy breathing, while the short-legged dachshunds may have difficulty with the jumping exercises.

Other factors in determining a dog’s potential for agility competitions include age and temperament. Usually, puppies younger than 9 months and dogs 8 years old and up are not allowed to compete.

As for shy dogs, although they may never overcome their fearfulness enough to succeed in the competitions, they can still benefit from taking part in them. It will help boost their self-confidence while letting them have fun.

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Learn some tips for successful puppy housetraining.

I am getting a new puppy this week!

It is an exciting time — but to be honest, I dread the housetraining routine. Just thinking about it reminds me of an old joke…

Ever Heard This One?

“M-R puppies.”

“M-R not puppies!”

“O-S-A-R puppies! C-M-P-N?!”

“L-I-B! M-R puppies!”

Long before text messaging, this joke would bring peals of laughter from my childhood friends. It was funny because of the reference to puppies peeing!

Of course, if you are in the midst of housetraining a puppy, the humor may be lost on the constant task of the cleanup! What are the most effective methods of housetraining a dog? Keep reading, and you’ll find out.

Watch and Learn

The first key to effective training is to observe your puppy’s behavior. Your pup may need to go potty eight to 10 times a day! Puppies usually need to eliminate soon after waking, eating, drinking or playing. You will begin to understand your dog’s body language when she has to go. When you notice your puppy whimpering, whining circling and sniffing — it is time! (What are you waiting for, a handwritten note?) Take your pup to the potty area immediately.

If the potty area is outside, your puppy will eventually go to the door as an indication. If you are using papers or wee wee pads, place them in the same designated area and train to that spot. Use a keyword — as your dog is peeing or pooping say, “Go pee pee,” or “Go potty.” She will begin to understand the correlation of the word. Above all, be consistent with your program.

Crates Are Great

A young puppy should never be allowed the run of the house. Housetraining requires confinement of some sort, for his protection and yours.

The natural instinct of a puppy to seek safety and comfort from the den-like enclosure of a crate makes for a perfect housetraining tool. Dogs typically will not soil their sleep area. Crates also protect your belongings from sharp puppy teeth and protect your pup from electric cords, plants, stairs and areas that require supervision.

But… if you want this to work, you’ve got to know how to properly crate train.

Follow these guidelines:

• Never use the crate as a punishment! Your dog will come to fear it and refuse to enter it.
• Puppies younger than 6 months shouldn’t stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a clip. They can’t control their bladders and bowels for that long. The same goes for adult dogs that are being housetrained. Physically they can hold it, but they don’t know they’re supposed to. Don’t be cruel.
• Crate your dog only until you can trust her not to destroy the house. After that, it should be a place she goes voluntarily.
• If your puppy continually soils the crate, discontinue using it for housetraining.

Always take your puppy to the “potty area” as soon as you take her from the crate or area of confinement. Reward her as soon as she relieves herself.

Watch This Video

In the video below, Bernadine Cruz, DVM, gives an overview of some methods:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfNeXtTy0NY

Crime and Punishment

Animal experts agree: Rewards are the most successful training reinforcement. Never punish your puppy for accidents.

As soon as your dog successfully eliminates — in the designated training spot — praise her and/or offer a treat. She will learn very quickly the way to get the reward. If she makes a mistake, do not scold or reprimand. Just clean up and start back with the training. Punishments, either by scolding or physical corrections, compromise the trust factor with your puppy. You will end up with a dog that is fearful and anxious.

If your dog soils in the wrong place, she does not understand the mistake. Correcting her after the one-second rule will not work. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s when dog owners rub their dog’s nose in urine. Do not rub your puppy’s nose in urine! It doesn’t work, and will never work. Ever. Don’t be cruel.

Clean the floor thoroughly with an enzymatic solution. Do not use ammonia; dogs instinctively return to areas marked with the scent of their waste, and the aroma of ammonia may be confused with urine. If your dog continues to return to the same spot, you may move potty papers in that area. Help him understand the right place to potty and want to go there.

Saved by the Bell

Puppies are babies, and they will forget training if they are involved in a more interesting activity. Sometimes the urgency hits and they will just start to pee before they give a signal.

When you see your puppy begin to urinate or defecate in the wrong place, distract her. A loud clap, whistle or bell will break her attention just long enough to scoop her up and get her to the right potty place. Encourage her to continue elimination with your special command and then reward the success.

Practice — and Patience — Make Perfect

Housetraining a puppy takes compassion, consistency and patience. It is your responsibility to help your puppy understand where and when to potty. Let me try to simplify this. Regardless of the method, housetraining employs two general guidelines:

1. PREVENT indoor accidents by confinement, observation and close supervision.
2. Take your puppy outside on a regular schedule and REWARD her for eliminating in the designated area.

Remember, a puppy less than 12 weeks old will not have developed bladder or bowel control. A dog may not be fully housetrained until 8 to 12 months old.

Magic Formula? Not So Much

Sorry, there are no magic formulas for housetraining a puppy successfully. It requires the pet parent’s investment of time and effort. The payoff is a happy, trusting relationship with your new fur-child.

If you find you need additional help, professional guidance is available. Contact a certified professional dog trainer (CPDT), a certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB), or a board-certified veterinarian behaviorist (Dip ACVB).

Additional Resources

• WebVet: Housetraining your new puppy
  
• ASPCA: More advice on housetraining your puppy

Learn how to stop your dog from jumping up.

A new dog is always an exciting time, especially if it’s a puppy. Their personalities, wet noses, playfulness and kisses are too adorable for words, and their behavior is downright cute. Fast forward a year later and that same puppy is now an 80-pound dog and still exhibiting the same behavior. A dog that jumps up on people as a way of greeting them can make coming home a challenge or keep guests away. Want to curb the behavior? It is possible, and we’ll explain how to stop your dog from jumping up.

Keep in mind that your dog isn’t jumping up to annoy you. The dog thinks the behavior is perfectly acceptable as a greeting, and why not? He was never taught any different. The sooner you start training a dog the better, but even adult dogs can be trained to curb this behavior. This will help stop the jumping, scratched legs, torn pantyhose and kids being knocked down by an overly excited pet.

Methods to Try

If you are starting out training by yourself, leave the house and return a few minutes later. If the dog jumps when you walk in the door, give a command such as sit or stay and walk out again. Keep doing this until the dog does not jump when you walk in the door, and make sure to give the dog praise or a treat to reward the compliance.

If you are already indoors and your dog jumps, turn your back to the dog and cross your arms. This way your hands are not available for licking and you are ignoring the dog. Dogs strive for attention, and will probably walk around to face you. Give the dog a sit command and reward if it works. If not, turn around again and ignore the dog. Repeat this until the dog either stops jumping or obeys your command, and reward with praise or a treat.

Ask people in your house to do the same if the dog jumps. It won’t help with training if you are teaching the dog to stop while your son or spouse encourages the behavior. Let them know how you are doing it and ask them to help. If you live alone, you can enlist the help of friends, neighbors or family to stop by and assist with the training. This is especially helpful if you dog gets excited whenever the doorbell rings or there is a knock at the door.

In this next video, an owner teaches her dog to stop jumping at the door and when company arrives. Notice how the dog jumps or heads to the door; this causes the visitor to leave and the door is closed. Whenever the dog obeys the command or does not react to the door, the dog is rewarded with a treat and praise. It sure looks like a lot of treats, but the dog is more willing to change their behavior once they understand they get something they want. Once the behavior is learned, the dog will be able to listen to your commands and get praise in return instead of treats.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15cTiVSyH0A

Try practicing this in different areas so your dog learns acceptable behavior but not just at the front door. Have someone walk up to your back door, garage or approach while you and the dog are outside. As long as you continue practicing and teaching the same way, the dog will learn and be able to choose the behavior it wants to exhibit. Your praise will guide the dog to understand jumping is not rewarded.

What Not to Do

There are other methods people use to stop a dog from jumping that involves physical (and in my opinion negative) reinforcement. One suggestion is to grab the dog’s paws when jumping up and squeeze them hard. This doesn’t work for two reasons: the dog still gets contact from jumping up and you could hurt your dog by squeezing too hard. Some owners have tried it (one being my neighbor) and her dog started biting at her hands. The problem still wasn’t solved and she created a new one.

We’ve all heard the knee-in-the-chest method, and I don’t recommend it. Many vets can tell stories of misplaced knees hitting the dog in the wrong area or with too much force, and you should not chance injuring your dog. If your dog is running towards you and jumps up as a greeting, that momentum meeting your knee can cause serious damage and pain. The dog will either work harder to appease you after being hurt or become fearful or aggressive.

Do not forget to regularly exercise your dog. If you leave the dog in a crate all day or don’t allow time for play, you are limiting your dog’s ability to expel energy. That energy turns into a free-for-all when you walk in the door or someone comes to visit. If you are expecting company, make sure to allow plenty of time for exercise and play before the guests arrive to keep the dog relaxed. You may even want to crate the dog until everyone has arrived and the dog gets accustomed to the activity, then you can walk the dog around on a leash to meet and greet everyone.

Do not forget to praise your dog every time a command is obeyed. Positive reinforcement does two things: your dog understands the behavior is acceptable and your dog knows you are pleased. Treats given with praise offer an additional incentive for your dog to follow your directions, and once acclimated to stop jumping you should be able to reinforce the praise without treats. Dogs can regress from training if it is not kept consistent, but you can always start over with the same method that worked the first time.

When to Call a Professional

If you have tried the methods above and nothing is working, it is possible your dog may have an underlying cause for not learning the acceptable behavior. There are trainers and behaviorists that will work with your dog, as well as obedience schools that offer classes to teach acceptable behavior in a different setting. If you have recently adopted a dog, keep in mind that some behaviors are easily picked up in shelters from other dogs and people.

Every dog and every owner is different, and finding out what works best for you may take some trial and error. Remember to give praise, be patient and be consistent, or seek the help of a professional if needed. Your guests will thank you and your dog will be a well-mannered welcoming committee for anyone that enters your home.

Photo: @PeachySangria/Flickr

Litter box training a dog is possible. If that's your thing.

I hear “litter box” and instantly think of cats, as I’m sure most of you do — but what about dogs? Can dogs be trained to use a litter box? The surprising answer is yes. It’s not for everyone, but some pet owners have asked us about it.

Unlike cats, dogs normally need to go outside to relieve themselves. This may not always be feasible if you live in a tall building, work long hours or can’t make it to the door in time. Dogs can also get bladder infections if forced to “hold it” for long periods of time — but there is an indoor solution.

Litter boxes provide an additional place for your dog to go when needed. Note that it is not considered a replacement for going outside completely, but an inside aid to limit the need to go outside as often. Litter box training is easier for younger or smaller dogs, but it is possible with older and larger dogs. This can also be a suitable alternative when grassy areas are not nearby and your dog avoids concrete surfaces for this purpose.

Dog Litter Boxes

In the video below, a dog trainer talks about dog litter boxes. So watch this, and then I’ll tell you what you will need to get started:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1oFZIWbw_0

What You’ll Need

You will need a litter box, obviously. Depending on the size of your dog, a regular litter box will do as long as it is a few inches deep. There should be enough room for your dog to walk around and choose a spot. For male dogs that lift their leg to pee, some pet owners have used a covered litter box with the top and opening cut out. This way the back and sides will (with luck) catch any spray missing the box while still keeping an open feel.

Larger dogs will need larger boxes, and some pet owners have used large travel crates and cut out the top and front for this purpose. If you start with a puppy that will grow larger, expect to replace the box size as the puppy grows. Keeping the same small box for a growing dog will almost guarantee that accidents will happen.

Filler is important. Don’t use regular cat litter in your dog’s box. Some cat litter can cause health problems in dogs that ingest poop. If your dog is already used to going on puppy pads or newspaper, start moving these into and around the litter box. The scent and material should let your dog know that this is an acceptable place for relieving himself.

Once your dog gets used to the area, you can switch to dog litter (yes, this is a product!) made just for litter boxes for dogs. Most of them you find will be similar to rabbit filler; they will look like small pellets that turn to sawdust when wet and are biodegradable.

Use the same product; don’t change litter types or materials once your dog is used to it. This can cause confusion or accidents to start happening around the house.

Fencing-in the area or making a barrier offers some privacy and keeps the contents contained. Plastic lattice sheets or gates near openings can be used for this purpose. You don’t need to do this, but it will help keep the area clean.

Everything Is in Place – Now What?

If going indoors or on newspaper is new for your dog, you will need to train the dog to become familiar with the area. You can also soak some newspaper in his urine or bring some feces from outside and place it in the box to show that this is acceptable. If you dog motions for you to let him out, try leading him to the box area to familiarize him with the process. If your dog does use the area, offer lots of praise.

Accidents can happen, so have cleaner on hand and show the dog the litter box area. Rubbing the dog’s nose in the urine is most certainly not recommended. There can be several reasons for the accident, such as not making it to the box in time or missing the box while going. A firm “No!” and placing the dog in the box will help reinforce the proper area for peeing. If the dog goes once in this area, offer praise.

Once the dog gets used to the newspaper or if using pads, you can slowly start incorporating the dog litter with the existing items. Each week start using less newspaper and more litter until all that is left is litter. Use reinforcement by using words such as “Go potty,” and praise the dog every time the litter box is used.

Try also doing this when the dog goes outside so the association between the act and both areas is consistent. You may consider placing the box closer to the door the dog uses to go outside to reinforce the association. Tiled areas are best for cleaning up accidents, but if carpet is the only flooring, you can put down newspaper or plastic underneath the box. Try not to move the box’s location too much so you don’t confuse your dog.

Can I Quit Letting the Dog Out?

While indoor training can be the only means for your dog to potty, don’t have unrealistic expectations.

It is great as a backup so your dog doesn’t have to hold it forever, but you should still set aside time to go outside for potty and play. This method can be great for small dogs with small bladders or older dogs that may need to go more frequently — and you are helping your pet’s health by not making him hold waste in his system for longer than necessary.

With the right materials and some patience, you too can have your dog using the litter box as part of a regular routine.

Additional Resources

• Keith Turbyfill: How to litter box train your dog
  
• ASPCA: Advice for multiple-animal households and litter
• Carol Osborne, DVM: Dog urine problems

Photo: stella sia/Flickr

Obedience training class

Dogs are amazing animals that can be trained to do all kinds of things. From hunting to sniffing out controlled substances, tracking people and animals, and serving as a blind person’s eyes, these intelligent and loyal creatures can learn a lot. Of course, when it comes to your puppy, you’d really just be happy if he was housebroken, didn’t chew things and did what you told him to, right?

Handing your pet over to someone else to train is a good way to ensure it’s done the right way and he doesn’t pick up any bad habits. The results can be quick and impressive, and you will also learn how to carry on this training at home.

However, you need to be sure that you are comfortable with the training school’s methods and approaches before you enroll your pet. The best thing to do is to visit and watch a class without your dog, and see how you feel about what takes place in the session. Here are four things to look out for when choosing a dog obedience training school:

1. Is Everyone Happy?

This doesn’t just mean the canines. Of course, training should be enjoyable for the students, so if the dogs seem to be having a bit of fun, that is a very good sign — but also look at your fellow pet owners. Are they participating much? Have people been encouraged to bring their children along to get involved with the training process?

2. How Are They Training the Animals?

Look at the tools and methods the trainers are using and teaching. Red flags that this is not a good place for your dog include the use of things like electronic collars or choke chains. The best way to train a dog is with praise and small rewards. If the trainers are in any way physical when berating a dog — for example, pulling on the leash or hitting him — look for another school.

If the teachers at your child’s school were choking or smacking him or her, you would have the teacher out of there in a flash, and it should be no different for your puppy while he’s learning dog obedience.

3. Are There Enough Professional Trainers?

To get good value for money out of your sessions, you are going to want to look at how much attention and time your pet is going to get. One trainer dealing with 20 dogs and families is not going to give you optimal attention. There should be at least one professional there for every six dogs in the class.

4. Is It a Nice Environment?

Have a look around. Is there enough space? Is it hygienic, or does it smell like a million wet dogs? Is there a lot of clutter that might distract your dog? Also, is the space well secured, with any gates latched and all doors closed? The last thing you want is for your dog to make a break for it if he’s not enjoying his lesson.

By taking care and checking out a few different obedience schools or training providers, you should be able to find one that will give you the results you want, as well as providing a fun activity for your family and a great bonding experience for you and your new pet, in a safe and healthy environment.

* * *

This guest post was written by Ajeet Khurana, who writes about dog training on his blog http://dog-obedience.net. Photo: ActiveSteve/Flickr

The critics have piled on. (Illustration by adri021/Flickr)

UPDATED JAN. 19, with word of additional protests planned. – The Editors

Few dog trainers have received as much attention as Cesar Millan, known to most as “The Dog Whisperer.” What started in 2004 as a back-channel cable TV show begat millions of books sold all over the world; videos and DVDs; a monthly magazine; a website; the Millan Foundation; a Dog Psychology Center; and celebrity endorsements from the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith and Nicolas Cage. But oh how the mighty have fallen.

These days, Cesar Millan’s methods are hotly debated, with readers on online forums boiling over with anger. And the furor isn’t just online; a protest took place on January 15, for example, at a theater in Rochester, New York, where Millan gave a talk. And that’s apparently not all. “There has been so much attention to this that other cities where he is performing are doing the same,” says Ada Simms, Rochester protest organizer.

“Protests are being organized in Columbus and Akron, Ohio, where Cesar is performing,” Simms says. “There have been inquiries from as far away as Europe, where Cesar will be on tour after his US tour ends.”

What happened? Where did things go wrong for TV’s onetime top dog guru?

How the Juggernaut Began

Millan received no formal training; he is a noncertified, self-taught expert. This real-world learning began when he was a kid in Mexico and was known as “the dog boy” because he had a natural touch. Later, in the United States, he worked with aggressive dogs as part of a grooming business. He then created a canine academy, which attracted some high-profile clients.

The TV series Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan premiered in the fall of 2004 on the National Geographic Channel and was a runaway success. The bestselling book Cesar’s Way quickly followed.

Millan’s training philosophy in a nutshell? Your dog needs strong “pack leadership” from you (the true “alpha dog”) in order to be healthy and balanced. Call it dominance theory.

The longer version: He says to handle your dog with “calm-assertive energy,” giving it plenty of exercise, clear boundaries and rules, and lots of affection when the time is right. Your dog is a dog, not a human, and is to be treated like one, Millan says. You need to put your dog in its place when it is aggressive, using force — finger jabs to the abdomen, “alpha rolls,” even choke collars — if required. (Please note: Pets Adviser does not advocate this.)

Critics Start to Speak Up

In 2006, the American Humane Society lobbed one of the first grenades, asking producers to cancel Millan’s TV show, calling some of his training methods “inhumane” and “cruel and dangerous.” The animal group said it was particularly disturbed by the way Millan subdued dogs with shock collars, by pinning them to the ground or by tightening their collars. The group requested a different TV show that “sets a positive example by featuring proper, humane animal training.”

Millan, for his part, defends his methods, saying he uses “minimum force” to correct behaviors in aggressive pets, and adding, “My way is not the only way.” The American Humane Society later made nice with Millan, saying that despite “sharp differences,” the group shares many “areas of mutual interest” with the celeb trainer.

However, the criticisms didn’t stop, because plenty of others picked up where the American Humane Society left off. A fall 2006 New York Times piece headlined “Pack of Lies” lambasted Millan’s methods as “laughable” and “outdated.” The writer concluded, “Mr. Millan’s quick fix might make for good television…. But it flies in the face of what professional animal behaviorists…have learned.” Two years later, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior issued a policy statement on dominance theory, which didn’t mention Millan by name, but decried his methods, saying they lead to “an antagonistic relationship between owners and their pets.” The policy paper included a list of eight major myths about dominant behavior in dogs.

In article after article, positive dog trainers urged a gentler approach (such as clicker training) than Millan’s. And newer studies seemed to bear the critics out. For example, a spring 2009 report in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior showed that asserting dominance over dogs actually increases aggression in those dogs. The National Geographic Channel must have been somewhat aware of this phenomenon, because it has cautioned viewers against following Millan’s methods, in a warning on screen during every episode that reads: “Do not attempt these techniques yourself without consulting a professional.”

By 2010 the Anti Cesar Millan Facebook group was thousands strong. In April 2010, PBS aired “The Dominance Myth,” an episode of the documentary series Through a Dog’s Eyes, which asserted that “scientifically, dominance makes no sense.” More and more attention was now being given to mainstream criticism of the Dog Whisperer juggernaut. Take this local newscast, for example, which aired in January 2009:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpcNOwbRyOE

That brings us to the recent protest in Rochester. Dozens of trainers passed out fliers advocating force-free training. Says Simms, the organizer of that protest: “[Cesar Millan is] charming and it looks good on TV that he’s this ‘master’ over dogs. But then you see the credits: ‘Don’t try this at home.’ Why? Because it’s dangerous.”

“Truly I am humbled by the response of the nation to this small protest,” Simms continues. “One step, one dog, one human, one city… keep it going!”

So, Is Cesar Millan a Bad Guy?

No. In fact, he’s done a lot of good for animal welfare, including advocating against breed-specific legislation and puppy mills, and in support of spay/neuter programs. And he’s actually right about quite a few things, namely that you are responsible for your own dog’s behavior, that your pet needs lots of love and exercise, and that chaining dogs is awful.

As Brent Toellner of KC Dog Blog, an animal welfare blog, expertly explains, the Cesar Millan controversy — which seems to polarize so many people on all sides — isn’t so black and white. Toellner says that blind accusations that Millan never uses positive reinforcement are just plain wrong, and he concludes:

“Sometimes I think, in efforts to discourage his training practices, people become too anti-Cesar Millan. They have become so frustrated with the people that are ‘doing it wrong’ that they feel forced to break down the man they feel represents that training style.”

Now It’s Your Turn

This is a highly controversial issue, so let’s open the floor to you. It’s YOUR turn to talk, so what do you think about Cesar Millan’s methods? Is he living in the stone age, or is there a time and a place for exerting dominance over your dog? Please tell us in a comment below.

Illustration: adri021/Flickr; Photo: Joe Seer/Shutterstock.com

Additional Resources

• Lisa Mullinax, CPDT: The Dog Whisperer Controversy
• Andrew Luescher, DVM, Ph.D, DACVB: Review of TV show, sent to National Geographic
• Beyond Cesar Millan: A compilation of criticism
• Eric Goebelbecker, CPDT-KA: Dog Whisperer episode commentaries

Do you know the difference between dog trainers and behaviorists?

Most people think that when they are having problems with the canines  they should immediately call a professional dog trainer. Not all problems require retraining your pet. Often, pet owners will spend gobs of money trying to get their pups to behave in the fashion that they desire only to find out that they really should have sought the assistance of a professional canine behaviorist.

Before contracting with any animal professional you should understand exactly what each one does to help dogs. Here’s the difference between dog trainers and behaviorists:

Trainers = Teachers

Professional dog trainers perform an important service. Everybody wants to have a beautifully behaved pup by their side as opposed to a monster mutt that cannot behave properly. A dog trainer can help teach your pooch to be the perfect companion.

Not all trainers provide the same type of service. Some train in basic manners such as sit, down, stay, come, go to your space and walk nicely on a leash. There are other canine educators who work to teach dogs not to jump, dig in the trash bin or lounge on the couch or beds. Still others perform more advanced training such as scent discrimination, protection training, complete off-leash commands or even search and rescue training.

Before you contact a dog trainer, know what you expect him or her to do for you. If you are simply looking for someone to teach your doggie to sit and come called, almost any professional dog trainer can help. It’s best to thoroughly discuss your needs before entering into a training contract. This will ensure that there is a complete meeting of the minds and each person knows exactly what is expected of him or her.

Behaviorists Make for Better Behaved Buddies

More and more people are beginning to seek out the help of animal behaviorists. Problematic pups can be difficult to live with, and in all honesty they aren’t very happy pooches. A skilled behaviorist can help transform your mutt from a monster into the perfect pooch.

Dogs that have been experiencing emotional problems can lash out in a variety of ways. A behaviorist will first do a complete evaluation before creating a plan for helping your pet overcome his issues. You will definitely be an integral part of the transformation.

Because of indiscriminant backyard breeders, puppy mills and people who breed canines for fighting purposes, behavior problems within the dog world have increased tremendously. Puppies that lacked proper socialization and human interaction when they were little tend to grow up to be unstable adults. Living with a pet that cannot be approached by anyone besides its owner must get help quickly. These puppies tend to eventually become fear biters or very aggressive.

Destructive dogs can benefit from a professional behaviorist. There isn’t a pet in the world that truly wants to do things to annoy the heck out of their owners. An experienced behaviorist can help you find out why your pooch is destroying your home. Most of the time, dogs become destructive because they are bored when they are left alone; however, some dogs suffer from separation anxiety and the only thing that soothes them is to chew on your things.

The behaviorist will be able to make your dog realize that you will always come back home or show you how to keep your pup busy when you are away from home.

Photo: ryantron/Flickr

Almost all pet owners want to impress their friends and family with cool tricks that their dogs can perform. The perfect pooch will perform them and appear to be happy doing so while her inner puppy is probably rolling her eyes and pondering why you have to make her act so silly.

Regardless of what is going through your pup’s head, you can train her to perform the “shoot the dog dead” trick. In this article, I’ll show you how.

Train Your Dog to Play Dead (“Bang!”)

Before you can begin to teach your best friend to do the “shoot the dog dead” trick, your dog must have some level of obedience training. At the very least, she will need to obey the down command (in other words, she lies down on command), but the trick will work better if she will also obey the stay command. Ensure that she is reliable on the down command before even attempting to teach her the shooting trick. It would be wise to practice down/stay often so she will follow through every time you give her the command.

Here’s How to Do It

1. Let’s start with the side roll. This one is simple. Put her on a down stay. Once she is in the proper position, lying on the floor, roll your pooch gently onto her side and give her the stay command. You might need to hold her down for a few seconds so that she gets the idea. Once you release her, give a tasty treat and plenty of praise. Practice this initial step in short, two- or three-minute sessions a few times a day. Dogs do well when their training is consistent.
2. When your pet gets good at that part, it’s time to add a verbal cue. Choose which word suits you best for the trick. I would suggest “Bang!” “Pow!” or “Boom!” There are more creative pet owners who practice making the sound of a machine gun for the trick. The sound is completely up to you; just be consistent with the wording as your dog will respond only to that sound.
3. When your dog gets that hang of the verbal cue, add a visual cue to the mix: Make a shooting signal with your right index finger and thumb and quickly say your command word.

Your pup will probably become reliable on the “shoot your dog dead” trick within two weeks of proper training. Practice regularly if you expect your pet to be ready to perform on a moment’s notice.

Standing “Shoot Your Dog Dead” Trick

This one is a bit harder to master. First, teach the dog to reliably perform a stand stay. Practice until she stays still while standing until you release her from the command. Once she can handle this, you can move on.

Next, give the “Bang!” “Pow!” “Boom!” or machine gun sound. Then tell the dog “down.” (If she already knows the side roll, she will probably think that you forgot to tell her to go down and will simply roll onto her side.) Take the time to practice with your pet, and both of you will amaze your family and friends.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkN4eQE-Tn8

Additional Resources

• Animal Planet: Top 10 super cool dog tricks
• Gerilyn and Paul Bielakiewicz: The Only Dog Tricks Book You’ll Ever Need

Use our techniques to train your dog to stay off the couch.

Most people who own canines as companions treat them just like other members of their families. Although the dog is well taken care of and treated like gold, many people just don’t want their pets on the furniture. The main culprits? Having to clean up pet hair on the couch or being embarrassed when company comes and the doggy won’t get up so your guests can take a seat. Some owners simply believe that pets belong on the floor and not napping on the couch.

Whatever your reasoning is for keeping your puppy off the furniture, you will be able to do so if you are patient and consistent. Follow these 4 sure-fire ways to train your pet to stay off your comfy sofa.

1. Start From the Beginning

The best way to train your dog to stay off of the couch is to never allow him up on it in the first place. Canines are creatures of habit. If you ever give your four-legged friend a license to lounge, he will automatically believe that the sofa is an acceptable place for him to take his afternoon nap. Being consistent from the beginning by never allowing your pup on the furniture is the best way to ensure that he will understand that the couch is for humans and not for him. (Poor fella!)

2. Narrow Down the Suspects

There are many households that have more than one canine living in the home. Heck, I’ve got eight Newfoundlands in my home. Most multiple-pet owners immediately think that the youngest or newest addition to the family is undoubtedly the one that decided to relax on the couch. When you have several doggies, you cannot afford to jump to conclusions. However, if you have only one pet, you already know exactly who is getting hair all over the sofa.

To find out which pup is the couch snoozer, crate all but one of the dogs when you are not there to watch them. Leave a different dog out each day and check the furniture for evidence when you return. You should soon learn which of your canine companions is taking over your living room furniture.

3. Learn to Love Laundry

Nobody likes laundry, but your trusty laundry baskets can be helpful in training your pooch to stay off the couch. Simply place the baskets on top of the cushions. This will help to block the pet’s access to the furniture.

Sometimes an owner will arrive home only to find the baskets on the floor and pet hair on the couch. This is an easy fix. Get some empty plastic water bottles or cardboard boxes and fill them with small stones. Load the baskets with the bottles and boxes and place them on the couch. When your dog tries to get up onto the furniture again, the baskets will fall and the sound of the rocks banging together will send him running away from the furniture. It’s decidedly low-tech, but this trick works.

4. Catch ‘Em in the Act

Dog owners who can catch their pup on the couch can teach him to stay off the couch much more easily. If this happens, immediately approach your dog and take hold of his collar. Gently pull him off the furniture while sternly giving the command “Off!” Repeat this anytime you catch him on the sofa. After a week or so, your pup will get the idea.

Should your dog decide that he doesn’t want to listen to your “Off!” command, remove him from the sofa and put him on a down stay on the floor. Every time he tries to get up on the couch you will have to deter him. Eventually you should see progress.

Of course, you can just shake a can filled with rocks. Check out this one-woman “Couch Patrol”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3_LVsUOt3o

Positive Training

Perhaps shaking cans or stern commands aren’t your cup of tea. You may be interested in positive training techniques using a clicker and treats. In the video below, Pam’s Dog Academy demonstrates how this might be accomplished in your home:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BHtUJBMv90

Additional Resources

• Pamela Reid (animal behaviorist): Keep your dog off the couch
• Jolanta Benal (certified dog trainer): How to keep dogs off furniture
• Dog Training for Dummies: Teach the “off” command

Photo: Dustin and Jenae/Flickr

Last summer, my nephew Evan was visiting me for a few days. Loving the outdoors, he spent a great deal of time running and playing with my pit bull, Bunker.

I would watch them from inside, hearing Evan saying, “Sit,” “Roll over” and “Fetch.” Each time Evan spoke one of these words, Bunker would do whatever the kid told him to do. Eventually, Evan would tire out (usually before Bunker did) and come back inside. One day Evan asked me, “Aunt Gayle, how many words can a dog understand?” What a good question for a child to ask!

Not that I’m bragging, but Bunker is a very intelligent dog. Most dog owners boast about their dog’s smartness, and research supports that theory.

How Many Words Can a Dog Understand?

Since the 1970s, when it was confirmed that chimpanzees can be trained to use and read words in sign language, we have known that language is not unique to humans. After all, parrots can be trained to talk and my chihuahua certainly understands when I say the words “Want to go…” Most of the time she beats me to the door.

Stanley Coren, a psychologist and an expert on dog intelligence, says the average trained dog knows about 165 words. (And most dogs can count to four or five — which, Dr. Coren admits, wouldn’t exactly make a very good accountant.) The smartest dogs (top 20%) have a vocabulary of around 250 words, on a par with a 2½-year-old child, he says.

Not every breed was created equally in the brains department:

• The smartest dogs, he says: the border collie, poodles and German shepherds.
• The not-so-smart: borzois, chow chows and bulldogs.
• And what is the dumbest dog breed, according to the doc? Sorry, owners of Afghan hounds, but your dog won’t be winning the spelling bee.

For more on this, see Coren’s entry in “Additional Resources” below.

How to Teach Your Dog New Words

Most pups know the basic “doggie” words (sit, stay, fetch), but your pet is capable of increasing his vocabulary and knowledge of words with your motivation and patience in teaching him new words.

To help your pet learn more words, acknowledge his achievements when he does what he is told to do. The same way in which we teach our children words will work well with our dogs too. Showing him a ball while saying the word “ball” allows him to associate the two together. Also, for good results, always say your dog’s name first, then the word you are trying to teach him. For example, when Bunker is out for playtime, all I have to do is say, “Bunker, pen!” and he heads straight to his dog pen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkYiQkssxpk

Tone of Voice, Body Language

Knowing a word and actually understanding the language — well, that’s a different matter. While dogs appear to comprehend our language, could it be that they are simply reacting to our signals or tone of voice?

Studies show that dogs pick up on human gestures and cues better than most animals (even great apes). A dog trainer will swear to you that it’s much easier to teach dogs a desired behavior by using hand signals than by speaking words. Why? Because dogs are so good at reading our (nonverbal) body language.

So, to answer Evan’s question, “How many words can a dog understand?” suffice it to say that they know roughly 165 words. Do they actually understand the words? It’s not clear. But we do know — without a doubt — that all of our canine friends have an amazing way of understanding us.

Additional Resources

• Animal Planet: How many words do dogs know?
• Stanley Coren: Top 12 (and bottom 5) dogs by intelligence
• ASCPA: Canine dog language

Photos: Xanboozled/Flickr; Noelas/Flickr

Question: We have a 2-year-old shih-poo — a wonderful, non-aggressive dog. She socializes well with other humans, especially children, but is nervous/afraid around other dogs. Unfortunately, we do not live near a dog park or have friends with other dogs. We just adopted a 10-week-old cockapoo rescue. He is very playful and tries to play with our shih-poo, but she backs away. (She shows no aggression toward the puppy.)

What can we do to help our nervous shih-poo become socialized so that she can enjoy having a friend? -Patricia S.

The easiest way to get your two dogs to be friends is to find a couple of bonding exercises that they can do together. The goal is to create multiple situations each day where both dogs are enjoying each other’s company. You can be as creative as you like in finding things your shih-poo and cockapoo might enjoy, and I will outline two of my favorites in this article.

The first exercise that I would work on is to take them for nice long walks together. As you are teaching them to walk calmly, it may be a two-person job, but pretty soon you should be walking both dogs side by side. This lets them feel like a team or “pack.” As you encounter new dogs, cars and people, the dogs will learn about the world together and start to truly bond.

The walks can be long or short, but shoot for at least 30 minutes per day. The longer you walk, the more trust that your 2-year-old will have for the puppy.

The second exercise that you can work on is teaching them a game they can play together. You can train both dogs to sit and stay and then call them from a distance and give them a treat when they get to you. This will allow your older dog to run with the puppy and realize that it can be an enjoyable experience. Instead of getting scared when the puppy runs, she will start to happily run alongside him. Before too long they will enjoy running together in more situations that just getting treats.

Working on these two exercises and any variations that you please should make the two dogs buddies very quickly. Once they are friends, it will be easier to continue to socialize your dogs — the puppy will probably help your shih-poo come out of his shell quicker when she meets new dogs.

Keep in mind that socializing dogs is a lifelong process and should be kept up indefinitely. -Matt Covey, Suburban K-9

Photo: Erica…M/Flickr.com

How to teach a dog not to dig

The green lawns of spring, the bounty of your garden and your beautifully planted and maintained planting beds are all enticing spots for your dog to dig. If you’re tired of your pup leaving gaping pits in your backyard, it’s time to end the problem for good.

Here’s how to teach a dog not to dig:

1. The first thing to do is make sure your pooch doesn’t have the chance to make the hole any bigger. As soon as you find a disrupted area, either fill the hole back up or lay a board across it to prevent any further digging. Oftentimes, if a dog is foiled at every turn, he’ll give up and find something else to do.
2. You might also try sprinkling chili powder — a safe, natural canine deterrent — in your dog’s preferred digging areas. If he finds digging unpleasant, he’ll likely stop.
3. You can also bury plastic forks tine-side up in areas where he likes to burrow. The plastic tines won’t harm him, but they’ll annoy him enough to make him stop digging.

Designate an area in which he’s allowed to scratch around, such as a sandbox, a digging pit or a section of the yard you don’t care about much. When you find him digging in these areas, respond by throwing him a party — praise him, rub his belly and/or give him a treat. He’ll soon learn that when he digs in certain places, he’ll receive the attention he’s seeking.

If you don’t catch your pet in the act of digging, there’s no point in punishing him. He won’t have a clue why he’s in trouble, and rubbing his face in the hole will only make him feel frightened and confused. Don’t reward this unwanted behavior in a dog with any attention, even negative attention.

With rental space at a minimum and rates soaring daily, finding a decent, affordable apartment can be difficult, even more so if you have a dog.

Although many landlords will allow cats, rabbits, birds and reptiles, dogs are often excluded, even from “pet friendly” buildings. And God help you if you have a pit bull or other “dangerous” breed, like a German shepherd, doberman pinscher or rottweiler.

So how do you start finding a dog-friendly apartment, even in a “no pets” building? Follow these 5 tips, and you might be able to impress your landlord enough that he welcomes you and your pet with open arms.

1. Help Your Dog Earn a Degree

When you apply for a job, you highlight your degrees, so do the same for your pet. Take him to basic obedience classes, and then work on earning him a Canine Good Citizenship certificate. Not every landlord will understand what these “degrees” represent, so include a brief note clipped to your dog’s “diploma.”

2. Create a Doggie Resume

Although you wouldn’t include your personal resume when applying for housing, giving your potential landlord a resume for your dog is a personal, somewhat humorous way of showing that your dog will contribute positively to community. In addition to any training certificates your dog has earned, include information about his history, personality, behavior and habits. Keep the tone light, and be sure to add a picture of him smiling. If possible, include letters of references from previous landlords.

3. Give the Landlord Educational Material

If the landlord is reluctant to consider your “dangerous” breed dog as a tenant, pass along some educational information about the breed. Download an article or two from a reputable, well-known website, explaining the adage “judge the breed, not the deed,” and you may succeed in persuading him that your vicious pit bull is actually a wiggly kissing machine.

4. Arrange a Meet & Greet

Meeting your dog in person is the most effective way to sway a potential landlord. If you’re able to arrange such a meeting, prepare carefully. Make sure your dog smells and looks good, and put a fetching collar on him. Before the meeting, take him for a long walk or romp to tire him out. Bring training treats with you to keep him obedient and attentive. Finally, make sure he doesn’t jump up on anyone or make any messes. In other words, bring poop bags!

5. Offer a Pet Deposit

Even if your lease doesn’t include a pet deposit, offering one shows how serious you are about renting a particular apartment. An offer of $500, refundable when you move, might be the incentive your landlord needs to award the apartment to you.

A Note about Service Dogs

If you have a service animal, which the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) defines as a dog or small horse (yes, I’m serious) trained to perform a specific service to a person with a disability, no landlord can refuse to rent to you for pet-related issues, even if the building has a “no pets” policy.

The landlord reserves the right to rent to whomever he wants, of course, but he cannot deny you tenancy simply because you have a service animal. Although you are not required to show proof, a doctor’s note goes a long way toward convincing people your service animal is legitimate.

Have you had any problems finding a dog-friendly apartment? If you have a “dangerous” breed, what has been your experience? Let’s talk about it in the comments section.

Learning how to teach your chihuahua to sit is not very difficult. It takes time, patience and consistency. You must be gentle during training and not over-stress your pet.

Sessions should be no longer than 15 minutes at a time but do it twice each day. Always train in a quiet area. Don’t allow anyone to enter the area when you are working with the puppy. This will eliminate distractions and allow your pet to concentrate on the job at hand. Use a tiny but tasty treat during the lessons.

Kneel down directly in front of your chihuahua. Do not allow him to jump on you or climb onto your lap. Use a treat to get his attention, but do not allow him to have it yet. Hold the treat a bit above your puppy’s nose and firmly say “Sit.”

Often, the dog will immediately sit because of the way the reward is held. If he sits, let him have the treat and praise him! Do this 10 times, giving a treat each time he sits on command.

If your pup doesn’t immediately understand what you are asking of him, you will need to show him. Let your tiny dog see that you have a treat for him. Give the command “Sit.” Very gently apply pressure to the hindquarters of the chihuahua. Give the command again and put him into the sit position.

Once he’s in the proper position, give him the treat and lots of praise. Repeat this procedure until your chihuahua learns to sit on command without your having to coax him into position.

Alternative Training Method

Another way to get your chihuahua to sit on command is by using a collar and leash. Treats are necessary for this process, too.

Put the puppy on the ground on your left side. Gently pull up on the leash while pushing down on his rump. Give the command “Sit.” As soon as his little butt hits the floor, give him the food reward and praise him. Practice this 10 times, twice each day. Eventually, he will completely understand what you expect him to do when you give the sit command.

The sit command is the basis for most dog training, and it’s helpful for all sorts of situations, such as smooth checkups at the veterinarian. Seeing how important this basic command is, it’s a good thing you now know how to teach your chihuahua to sit!

Need More Chihuahua Training Tips?

We recommend the very handy book Chihuahuas for Dummies. It’s a fantastic guide for raising and caring for one of these cute little pups. This “chihuahua bible” not only covers commands like “sit” and “stay,” but it also explores how to teach fun tricks to chihuahuas too. We found this book on Amazon.com for less than $5 recently. (More info.)

Min pin crate training doesn't have to be difficult. We break it down into 5 easy steps.

Crate training is the easiest way to house train your miniature doberman pinscher, and keeps your li’l puppy safe at the same time.

In this article, we’ll discuss a method of min pin crate training in just 5 steps. This is a quick and easy way to make your min pin puppy feel secure, happy and comfortable in his own little bedroom. No dog likes to use the bathroom where it sleeps, so crate training is a great housebreaking program.

1. Be sure to purchase a crate that is not too big. (It shouldn’t be too small either.) It should be comfortable for your min pin to sleep in as well as roomy enough for him to stand up and turn around. Line the crate with a soft and comfortable blanket. Attach food and water bowls to the door so your miniature pinscher is never left hungry or thirsty.

2. Introduce your little one to the crate. The introduction is actually very important. Never just pick the dog up and shove him in it. He needs to explore the crate and realize that it is a good place. Hide treats and long lasting chew toys inside of the crate. A favorite stuffed toy will also help to make your miniature pinscher more comfortable in his new room. Let him go in and out at will. Providing the puppy is familiar with the crate and not afraid of it, you can move onto the third step.

3. Gently place your min pin inside the crate. Praise him and give him a special treat. Close and latch the door. Stay in the room and go about other activities for a few minutes. Open the crate door and continue as if the gate were never closed. The dog will come out on his own. Do not coax him to exit the crate because he should be able to stay in there if he wants to do so.

4. Now put the little one in the crate and latch the door. Be sure he has treats, toys, food and especially water. Stay in the room for five minutes but do not talk to the puppy. After that time, walk out of the room quietly. Leave the min pin in the crate for an hour. If he cries, reassure him that all is well and leave him.

5. Finally, exercise your min pin just before bedtime. Be sure he is tuckered out. Place him in the crate and tell him good night. If he cries, reassure him that everything is OK. If he continues to whine, a sharp “hush” should do the trick. Be sure to have the lights off at bedtime.

You should understand that the method of min pin crate training in just 5 steps will take at least a week. Be consistent, and your miniature pinscher puppy will be sleeping soundly in no time.

Photo: johnthesaintjohn/Flickr