Information on Loughborough

Abused Dog Training - How to Train an Abused Dog

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Abused Dog Training - How to Train an Abused DogBy Adam Katz

Many people who've adopted older dogs- especially and particulary stray dogs or dogs from the animal shelter- assume that their dog has been abused in the past.

So, how do you train an abused dog?

Let's get right to the heart of the matter and state that- in order to learn how to train an abused dog, we need to first define what an abused dog is:

Of course, there are all types of different abuse. Everything from a dog or canine being hit with a hammer to a dog or canine simply being left and ignored in the back yard for months or years can constitute abuse.

But for the purposes of this article, we're going to define an abused dog as any dog that shows specific signs of extreme timidity in response to regular behavior by you. I.E., Petting, grooming, feeding, walking, etc...

These are what you might call "high-functioning" abused dogs. In contrast to dogs that have been used (for example) in laboratory experiments. Or dogs that have been physically scarred and wounded. Working with such dogs is (or should be) clearly outside of the scope of this article.

So- How do you work with a "high functioning" abused dog? And how do you teach your dog to relax and enjoy life?

The answer can be found in starting obedience the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person training along the lines of the principles I've outlined.

I can hear it already, "But Adam-you advocate using a leash and training collar when you train a dog, and my little, shy "Muffy" already wets himself when I bend over to pet him...

[ALERT: I'm about to make a broad GENERALIZATION:]

In general, most "high functioning" abused dogs continue to display timid behavior because they are unclear as to when they're doing the RIGHT thing and when they are doing the WRONG thing.

If you follow my approach to dog training, your dog quickly learns-- or more specifically, you learn-- how to communicate with your dog in a way that will make him relax and know when he's doing something wrong and when he's doing something right.

And what I've found with these dogs is that they quickly learn to become much more confidentand self-assured through the process. Why? Because when you use intelligent dog training techniques, your dog is now clear about what's going to happen and when, in a world he formerly had no guidance or clear leadership. He learns what is good behavior and what is bad behavior-instead of having to guess!

You read that right: The #1 Reason That Dogs Who've Been Abused In The Past Continue To Show Extreme Timid Behaviour Is Because They Are Confused.

Once your learn how to communicate with your dog, and take away the confusion, you will see all the extreme timid behavior disappear! And the way to do this is to start intelligent obedience the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person training.

"But should I use the leash and collar to correct my dog, if he's got such a soft temperament?"

The answer is: Yes.

Which begs the question of how firmly you should correct your dog-which is something that differs from dog to dog.

Here's a hint: You'll figure it out by practicing with your dog. However, the issue is not "Should I correct a dog or canine that has been abused in the past" however rather "When I'm communicating to my dog when he's done something incorrectly-how firmly should I correct him?"

And the answer to this question is: Only firmly enough to extinguish the unwanted behavior and communicate to the dog that he shouldn't do it again. Like I mentioned: You'll learn this by practicing with your dog. If you employ the concepts of timing, consistency and motivation-you'll have nothing to worry about and your dog will gain confidence and self-assuredness from your efforts.

Adam G. Katz is the author of the book, "Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer: An Insider's Guide To The Most Jealously Guarded Dog Training Secrets In History." Get a free copy of his report "Games To Play With Your Dog" when you sign up for his free weekly dog training tips e-zine at: Dog Training

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How to Care For an Abused Dog & Promote Recovery

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How to Care For an Abused Dog & Promote RecoveryBy Amber D

If you have the privilege of adopting a dog that has been the subject of abuse, it is vital for you to understand how to care for an abused dog so that you don't unwittingly add to your new friend's stress. You have a challenge in front of you, however if addressed right, it can turn out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

Recognizing Abused Dog Behavior

Signs of shyness can be helpful in recognizing abused dog behavior. If you suspect a dog may have been subjected to abuse, avoid petting him on the head. Slowly reach under the nose area and scratch his neck instead while talking to him gently and remember not to stare at him. Eventually you can graduate to stroking his back while chatting away in a reassuring manner.

Curing Dog Abuse Behavior

Curing dog abuse behavior is a tall order and will require a lot of patience. The key is to try and build up your dog's self confidence in as many ways as you can come up with. A good start would be letting him have his meal at the same time as the rest of the family in order to make him feel like a member of the pack, or even before everyone else in place of feeding him after the family.

Include him in quiet group activities by making sure he is in the same room with you and allow him to participate when he is ready to do so. Allow him to go through the doorway first, or up and down a staircase. Always be conscious of what your body language says to your dog, and remember to be generous with your praise. Increase his involvement in your activities when you feel he is ready for it.

Avoid staring him in the eyes or standing squarely in front of him. These stances are greatest used with dogs that need to be brought under control however will only serve to terrify a timid canine. Do not put pressure on the dog to behave as though nothing curious ever happened in his past. Giving your new dog some space to allow him to progressat his own pace will do a world of wonders.

Did you know that dogs rescued from puppy mills typically require a few of weeks before they start coming out of their torpor and realizing that the horror has really been left behind? That is when you see tentative signs of tail wagging, the first hope of better days to come, maybe. They may well try your patience, however the breakthroughs make it all worthwhile. Just remember to take things slowly.

Adopting an abused dog requires a lot of patience, empathy and understanding. How to care for an abused dog will no longer be an issue when you learn to put your dog first and foremost and remember to always observe your own behavior through his eyes. Constantly ask yourself how you would react to the present situation if you had been subjected to the same kind of abuse your dog lived through, not understanding why it was happening and being powerless to do anything about it. Just how would you want to be approached to elicit the desired behavior?

Amber D feels your pain. So many dog breeds, so small time! How's a future dog owner to decide which is the greatest dog to bring home? Amber to the rescue: http://www.DogTrainingStar.com/Dog-Breeds.html will give you a brief overview of the most fashionable dog breeds based on AKC categories to help you choose the perfect dog for your lifestyle. If you favour a crossbreed or a mixed breed like me, my dog breed info should help you figure out your favorite ingredients. Go get started at http://www.DogTrainingStar.com

(c) Copyright -- Amber D. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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Searching For a Good Yorkie Rescue Centre

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Searching For a Good Yorkie Rescue CentreBy Susan Bailey

Animal abuse of any kind is inhumane enough however when you consider the abused and abandoned Yorkshire Terriers out there it can just break your heart. Luckily you can take an abandoned or abused Yorkie to a Yorkie rescue centre and get it the help it needs. But before you go ahead and drop the dog off at the Yorkie rescue centre you may want to just make sure that the Yorkie rescue centre you are choosing is able to help the small dog and that it has the facilities and resources it needs to do the job right.

It is almost impossible for any Yorkie rescue centre to really help an abused or abandoned Yorkie with the services of a vet available to them. If you are talking to a Yorkie rescue centre and they do not have a vet available to them in some way that they use on a frequent and regular basis then that may be an indication that the centre you are talking to many not be the right one for the job.

Qualified people that know how to get an abused or abandoned Yorkie the help it needs should staff any good Yorkie rescue centre and can recognize the myriad of issues that can arise when an abused animal comes to the Yorkie rescue. Make sure you are comfortable that the staff of the Yorkie rescue centre you are considering is competent for the sake of the small dog that you will be turning them over to for help. You do not want a situation of going from bad to worse.

Many of the better Yorkie breeders will reach out to the local Yorkie rescue centre and offer their assistance in helping and assisting find homes for these poor dogs and giving them a second odds at life. It is not a prerequisite howeverit is a nice thing to know if the Yorkie rescue centre you are dealing with has that extra outlet to find the dog a new home.

Many of the animal rescue groups in your area all work together towards the common goal of helping abandoned or abused animals, so you may find that the Yorkie rescue centre you are talking to is part of that network. This is a good thing because sometimes a centre may not have all of the resources it needs to help their rescued dogs and if they are teamed up with the other animal rescue groups then they can use those resources to get the assistance they may need.

It is always the responsibility of any humane person to get help for an abandoned or abused pet that they see needs it. Always contact a Yorkie rescue centre if you see a Yorkie in need of help and just be wary of what to expect when you contact one so that you can tell if you may be sending the small dog to a good place or a place that may not be able to help.

Susan Bailey loves everything having to do with dogs, including Yorkshire Terrier history. The Yorkshire Terrier was a much larger breed in the beginning. This author is currently writing a series of articles containing Yorkshire Terrier information for interested readers.