Part Three on Dog Whispering

More on Dog Whispering

Some experts believe that the healthiest environment for a dog is within a working dog pack and that most of the psychological disorders can be solved within this situation.

Dog whispering is based on using us as leaders of the dog pack modifying the behaviors of the individual dogs which may exhibit numerous disorders such as aggression, stress, anxiety, fear, weight loss, hyperactivity among others.

Part Two

“The Dog Whisperer” - Talking to Your Dog

Dog training and dog potty training can be enjoyable. According to experts there are four important messages that we can train our dog with:

“Reward marker” for correct behavior. Your dog has earned a reward. For example, the words "Free" or "Okay" followed by a reward.

“Keep going” signal for correct behaviour. You want the dog to continue and it will earn a reward. For example, "Good" or "Come on".

“No reward” marker for Incorrect behavior. You are telling your dog to Try something else. For example, "Uh-uh" or "Try again".

“Punishment marker” for severe incorrect behavior. Your dog has earned punishment. For example, a stern "No" or more specific commands like "off," "out," or "leave it."

It is important to use consistent signals or words for these messages, this enables the dog to understand them more quickly. If you sometimes says "good" as a reward marker and sometimes as a keep going signal, it is difficult for the dog to know when he has earned a reward.

It is important to note that there is a difference between a reward marker and a dog's reward. The reward marker is a sign that tells the dog that he has earned the reward. So you may say the reward marker then the reward will follow - "Free" or "Okay" is the reward marker then give him praise or a treat or food.

Many new dog owners make the mistake of using lots and lots of verbal praise as both the reward and the marker which can confuse dog and owner. Remember dogs can only retain and therefore respond to 20 to 30 words at a maximum so choose your words carefully.

More tips to follow…..

Part One

“The Dog Whisperer” - Talking to Your Dog

The other night I cam across a programme about communicating with your dog called “the dog whisperer” and I was intrigued. This programme made me think about how we communicate to our dogs.

Dog training is about communication. Unconsciously one of the owners of a dog was communicating something totally different to what they thought they were communicating and this caused the dogs behaviour to be unhelpful to say the least!

We as humans cannot help but communicate, even when we don’t mean to!! Some research has shown that nearly 93% of what we communicate, is not from what we say, but from non – verbal communication, “body language” Dogs instincts pick this up and will react accordingly.

From the dogs view we must learn what motivates the dog, if we want him to do as we say!
From our perspective we must communicate to (”tell”) the dog what behaviors are correct, desired, or preferred, in what circumstances and what behaviours are undesirable.

We also must also understand the communication that the dog sends to the handler. These signals can be that he is unsure, confused, nervous, happy, excited, and so on. We must pay attention to this because a stressed or distracted dog will not learn as well.

Tomorrow we will look at some of the important commands that we can teach our dogs.

Another type of dog training!

Clicker Training

Clicker training has its origins in training dolphins and pigeons, which are animals that, unlike dogs and don’t respond well to obedience training. The process involves using a “clicker” (technically called a conditioned reinforcer) and this clicker marks the precise behaviour that is correct.

Clicker training is the more popular term used with dogs for what is called “operant conditioning” which deals with the modification of a dog’s voluntary behaviour through the use of consequences. The dog learns that through trial and error that only certain behaviours bring rewards. Unsuccessful or unrewarded behaviours get “stamped out” or extinguished.
This way the dog becomes conditioned to associate the clicker sound with a learned behaviour.

Simple tricks to train your dog.

Training Tricks

Teaching your dog tricks can help to develop a stronger relationship with him or her, it can also be good because it provides entertainment and involves the dogs mind, and can alleviate boredom in the dog.

One trick – the popular, “shake hands trick”, involves the dog raising its paw on command. Another clever trick is teaching the dog to ring a bell to go outside and this can be useful to help the dog owner to realise when the dog wants to go out. This can be very useful when house training your dog.

There are other less useful learned habits such as begging for dinner at the dinner table, the best advice is to ignore the dog and he or she will soon get the message to stop, this should not be encouraged as it could lead the dog to be territorial about food or even aggressive.

After all that Dog Training

Do Dogs Laugh?

Do dogs Laugh? Some psychologists argue that the pre requisites for laughter are the ability to be aware of one's own situation, or the ability to identify with somebody else's predicament, and because animals are thought not to posses this, animals are not really laughing in the same way that we do.

The normal panting of a dog sound a little like a laugh however when the pant is analysed by scientists using a device called a spectrograph the frequencies that are analysed are similar to that of laughter and this sound is played to other dogs signs such as dogs playing, friendliness and a decrease in the recorded stress levels of the dogs.

A few years ago some scientists observed 120 puppies and dogs – they compare dogs with and without the sounds of the panting. The dogs were observed for a whole range of behaviours that indicated stress or relaxation. What was interesting was that the group that were played the sounds of the panting wagged their tails more and showed more signs of what the scientists called “pro-social behaviour” – lip licking – approaching other dogs. The scientist concluded that exposure to these sounds can calm dogs.

List of Plants that are Poisonous to Dogs

Find out what plant are poisonous to your dog.

With all this dog walking I thought it important to mention that there are many plants that are poisonous to our Dogs and we should be aware of them. I have put together a list of the most common one to watch out for. Click here to check out for them.

How to defend yourself if attacked by a dog.

Human Defence against Dogs

What to do in case of a dog attack:

• Stay Still ! it very tempting to do otherwise but its a dogs instinct to chase anything that runs
• Stand very still and look in its general direction but not into it eyes, this is an aggressive challenge
• Let the dog smell you
• Say NO and Go Home and stay where you are until the dog moves away
• Then very slowly back away
• If you are being attacked, use something for it to grab hold of rather that you, use anything you have on you, clothing, coats, bags whilst you back away
• If it knock you down curl into a ball and protect you head with your hands, stay still and quiet

More in the series about dog walking.

Tips for Walking Your Dog

1. Train your dog the most important thing before taking out your dog is to train it. The dog has to be trusted. Training is best started when the dog is a puppy. Certificates from recognised bodies can be obtained and there are a number of books also available. The dog will be more pleasurable to walk with when he is trained.


2. Walk on leash.
   It is important that the dog can’t get away from you and cause problems. There are a number of different leashes to consider a head collar or harness. Some find that retractable leashes to be useful but I personally find that you have little control over the dog and them to be more annoying than useful!


3. Check your route - dogs allowed where you plan to walk?
   The best thing to do is to check before with the organisers of, say, a walking events, other places are trails, shuttle buses and visitors centers


4. Carry a plastic bag or pooper scooper.
   Many walkers carry plastic bags with them - dyper bags are a good thought. Turn the bag inside out – use it as a glove to pick up the droppings and then turn it back over and tie the bag up. Many parks and walking trails have designated bins for dogs and in some states it is an offence to allow your dog to “foul the footway”


5. Water
   Both your dog and you need water carry a bottle and use your hand if necessary but collapsible cups, water dishes and bags are also useful. Your Pet store might have some alternatives


6. Rest
   Stops as well as exercise you both need rest – take ten minutes out to let your dog cool down in hot weather occasionally enjoy chatting to other walkers and if permissible let the dog swim in rivers and lakes. Watch public beaches though some times they are not allowed.


7. Identification
   It also important that your dog has a couple of form of ID some have name tags and collars – a better alternative is to have tattoos or identification microchips embedded within their skin. In some states you will have to have a rabies certificate with you!
   What is great is that dogs are great nags, their insits that you take them out even if it is silently! They are good walking companions and great personal trainers Waging tails is the norm for dogs on walks!

Get Back into Shape

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS

Trying to get back into shape, shed some weight and spend more time with your dog?

The best solution is walking your dog. Not only is it good for you but also your dog, so you will both benefit in helping control your weight, and maintaining a healthy heart, lungs and muscles. It also strengthens the bond between you and your dog.

Even if your dog is active in the garden, he will be more active going out for a walk, and being with you is one of your dog’s greatest motivations to exercise and pleasure. Dogs not only need exercise, but also social interaction, mental stimulation and positive attention from their owner.

Fresh air and exercise are also very good stress relievers especially in today’s busy climate. You will both come back positively refreshed by nature. Aging dogs must be kept as agile and fit as possible but may not be as inclined to exercise without encouragement, shorter more varied walks maybe better, and remember that it is also harder for the older dog to carry extra weight.
Start off with shorter walks and as you both get fitter increase the time and distance. It is a good idea to keep a journal to record your progress. Set out a program for 6 weeks and notice the progress week by week.

Invest in an good detailed map of the area were you live and plan your route. It can be quite surprising how varied and beautiful ones surrounds are.

Walking has become a very popular form of exercise as it is low impact, but gives a good overall workout and power walkers can walk up to 5 miles an hour – now there’s a goal!
Ozzy loves going out for walks being quite a heavy dog the longest he has managed is 10 miles, although poppet his friend has done 20 miles with me and then still wanted to go out with the horses. The secret is to build it up gently and enjoy. If either of you get tired then just have a rest.

Interval training is a very successful way to train; basically it varies the length and intensity of exercise. So you walk slowly for a while then increase the speed for say 15 minutes then slow down to recover then speed up again. This way you gradually speed up for long periods as you get fitter.

Walking tips

Firstly it is important to choose the proper clothing for you. Wear light weight layered clothing that is loose fitting and durable – weather resistant clothes are preferable. Then the proper walking shoes are very importantly, we would suggest that you go to a shoe store that specializes in walking and get proper walking shoes or boots. The best shoe for you is the one that fits you best, the one that gives you the proper support, flexibility, cushioning, and compensates for any stride problems you may have, such as overpronation (which is when the feet roll inward too much). Each person's feet are different. Take all advice with a pinch of salt and find a shoe fitting expert to help you find the shoe that is best for your walking distance, speed, style, and surface as well as your weight and stride.

Make sure your dog has a well fitting collar and lead. He must also have an identification tag (licence tag). A reflective collar is always useful if it is not a bright day. If it is hot make sure you carry water for both you and your dog to drink. Also make sure you take bags to clear up after him.

The second thing is to stretch, a usually forgotten step, but as with any exercise it is important to stretch before and after your walk. Hold each one for a count of 15 and gently ease in and out of each one.

Set yourself a goal (how often have you heard that?) these have to be realistic though, half an hour every day is good, then increase a little at a time.

Safety tips

• Be seen, wear reflective clothing especially at dawn, dusk and night – during the day also wear light clothing.
• Bring a “fanny pack” with ID and pocket change and alarm and a cellphone!
• Let people - friends and family know your route and when you are leaving and intend to come back.
• If possible walk with a friend. Keep if possible to well known routes.
• When near cars take care, especially parked cars, make sure that traffic can see you – especially at traffic light, traffic often turns red on a right.