Information on Loughborough

Dog Training - Understanding Your Dogs Development From 4 Months to Adulthood

Pet Shops

Dog Training - Understanding Your Dog's Development From 4 Months to AdulthoodBy Jenny Stinson

Dog training is easy when you practice consistency. You are not the only one who should be enforcing the household rules; everyone in the family should be doing things the same way. If the puppy senses a weak link, he will definitely take advantage of it.

Thirteen to sixteen weeks old. As a puppy establishes his position in the family, he looks to you for leadership, so he expects you to guide him. It is at this age that puppies begin to develop their personalities. Watch for signs of dominance as it is now that puppies may begin "mounting" behavior with children and toys. This should be discouraged.

Sixteen to twenty-six weeks old. Sometime between 16 and 20 weeks old, puppies may go through a period of fear. It is important that you not reinforce his fear by babying him and telling him, "It's ok." Doing this will send a signal to him that it's ok to be scared. You don't want him to think that his fear is a correct behavior. Instead, go up to whatever it is that is scaring him, touch it, and tell him, "Look at this," and show him that there is nothing to fear. Don't make a big deal of it - act as if it is nothing to be afraid of.

The adolescent - 8 to 14 months old. Just as with human teenagers, dogs go through a phase in which they will try to test you and the rules. Your otherwise well-socialized, well-behaved dog may ignore your commands, start barkingor growling at other dogs, and may exhibit other behavior he may not have exhibited before now. You should go out the door before he does. You should eat before he does. You should go up the stairs before he does. He must know that you are the boss. This behavior is natural, however you must be able to recognize it and be sure that you are the one in control.

The adult - 2 ½ years and older. Big dogs, such as golden retrievers, are generally considered "fully mature" at about age 3. Smaller dogs sometimes mature sooner. Whatever kind of dog you have, once they reach adulthood, they may begin showing signs of aggression, protectiveness, and even become more territorial. Turn him away or distract him, however do not overreact. He may see this as a sign of aggression from you and have a worse reaction.

These ages may vary among breeds, but, generally, all dogs go through similar stages. The key to training any dog is patience and consistency.

And now I invite you to learn more about training your dog. Visit http://www.GoldenRetrieverpro.com for more information in all areas of caring for your dog.

,

Dog Training - Understanding the First 3 Months of Your Dogs Development As You Begin Dog Training

Pet Shops

Dog Training - Understanding the First 3 Months of Your Dog's Development As You Begin Dog TrainingBy Jenny Stinson

Dog training begins when you dog is just a puppy, however most of the training in the early stages is training yourself rather than the dog. As dogs and humans develop that "special bond," it is important to understand that he looks to you for education and guidance. It is in a dog's basic nature to function within a social group, and it is our job to understand the stages of development of our dog so that we can give him the suitable guidance at the suitable time.

Birth to 4 weeks old. The puppy is only concerned with his mother as the key his survival: food, warmth, and security. His mom is the first disciplinarian, and it is at this time that he instinctively begins to accept discipline and training.

Five to seven weeks old. He is still learning from his mother to accept discipline, correction, training, and affection. This is a good time for puppies to meet people. Puppies shouldn't be taken from their mother yet as sometimes this may cause problems later in accepting human rules and discipline.

Eight weeks old. Traditionally, this is the time when puppies leave their mothers. You should take special care to make his transition as smooth as possible as this can be a traumatic period for him. As a new family member, he must be treated with love and kindness.

Nine to twelve weeks old. At this point, he is ready to develop permanent relationships. You should take time to play, cuddle, and encourage him to explore his new world. He is old enough to learn his name and to follow you without a leash. You can simply back away from him while you pat your leg or clap your hands to encourage him to follow. Discipline is very important at this age as he is ready to learn the household rules. At this young age, he can learn to refrain from jumping on people, begging for food, or getting on the furniture - all behaviors that you are not going to want him to do when he is older.

All puppies go through the same stages of development, so this training works well with any kind of dog. The training has just begun, and it takes lots of patient understanding to raise a happy, healthy, well-trained dog.

And now I invite you to learn more about training your dog. Visit http://www.GoldenRetrieverpro.com for more information in all areas of caring for your dog.

,

Why Do Dogs Show Aggression?

Pet Shops

Why Do Dogs Show Aggression?By Joseph M Sabol

Dogs are not naturally aggressive, however, a certain level of aggression is possible in all dogs because in the past, it was needed for survival. By keeping this in mind, it will be easier for you to understand your dogs behavior. There are certain things that may cause a dog or canine to show aggression. Knowing these reasons will assist and help you know how to handle the problem.

Territory Dogs are naturally territorial, it comes with the package. It is something that has been inbred in dogs for thousands of years. Dogs are more territorial than you might expect. Areas where your dog will show dominance are, their yards, homes, and family.

If the dog is socialized properly, this form of aggression can be easily dealt with. Dogs also tend to consider their bones, toys and food "theirs". It is important that the dog knows and understands that aggression will not be tolerated. You should be able to remove the dogs food or take away a toy if necessary, without a problem.

Fear Another area where aggression is commonly seen is when a dog or canine is scared. When a dog or canine fears for its safety, the dog will not hesitate to become aggressive to protect himself. This is why dogs need to develop social skills early on. Make sure to expose your pet to people and other animals at an early age so he will become confident in all situations. This will eliminate fear aggression. Socialization is the key word to preventing aggression indogs.

Dominance All dogs are born with a pack mentality which means every dog has his place in the "family". When pups in a litter are 3-4 weeks old, the more dominant puppy or puppies will begin to show their leadership. As they grow older, this mentality stays with the dog throughout his life. When the dog joins your family it has to figure out his position in the group. You as an owner must immediately let the dog know that you are the leader or "alpha" member of the group, not the dog, because if you don't this allows opportunities for the dog to show aggression. In fact, the dog may feel that he is the boss of you. You must fulfill the role of leadership. After all, you are the dominant species!

All dogs will test you when it comes to establishing authority, no matter what breed it is. Just make sure you stand your ground. If you notice any problems with aggression, do not hesitate to ask your vet or an experienced dog trainer for assistance.

Joseph M. Sabol is a world class Doberman breeder. Please go to http://petvitamins4u.com or to http://theroadhousedobes.com for further information