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A Brief History Of Seeing Eye Dogs
No one knows when the concept of using assistance animals for the blind first came into being. It is suggested that dogs have been used in such a capacity in various cultures for a very long time. It is known, however, that there was no formal guide...
Adopting A Dog From An Animal Shelter
Visiting an animal shelter can be an emotional experience for an animal lover. It’s difficult to see all the animals in their pens and not want to take them all home. Such feelings are understandable and commendable; however, just be sure that prior...
Canine Diabetes - Diets Are Important
When a dog has canine diabetes, it is important to regulate their food intake. Not only do you need to watch how much sugar they are consuming, you also need to monitor the amount of food they get, plus how often they are fed. It is usually...
Obedience training and your dog
Obedience training is one of the most important and most
effective things any owner can do for his or her dog. A properly
obedience trained dog is a happy, productive and safe member of
the family, while a untrained dog can be destructive and...
Quickstart Guide to Making Your Own Pet Food at Home
As a pet owner, no doubt you want to give your dog or cat the best care possible. And caring for your pet means feeding him the best diet you can. By making your own pet foods, you'll be saving money, up to 80%. And to top it off, it's easy; making...
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Taking your dog training off leash
Many dog owners are anxious to give their four legged companions
the freedom of going off leash, but it is important not to rush
that important step. Dogs should only be allowed off their leash
after they have become masters of all the basic obedience
commands, such as walking at your heel, sitting and staying on
command
Another skill that must be completely mastered before the dog
can be taken off the leash is the come when called command. Even
if the dog can heel, sit and stay perfectly, if he cannot be
relied upon to come when called, he is not ready to be taken off
the leash.
Taking any dog off the leash, especially in a busy, crowded
area, or one with a lot of traffic, is a big step and not one to
be taken lightly. It is vital to adequately test your dog in a
safe environment before taking him off his leash. After all, the
leash is the main instrument of control. You must be absolutely
certain you can rely on your voice commands for control before
removing the leash.
After the dog has been trained to understand the sit, stay and
come when called commands, it is important to challenge the dog
with various distractions. It is a good idea to start by
introducing other people, other animals, or both, while the dog
is in a safe environment like a fenced in yard. Have a friend or
neighbor stand just outside the fence while you hold you dog on
the leash. As the friend or family member walks around the
outside of the fence, watch your dog's reactions closely. If he
starts to pull at the leash, quickly tug him back.
Repeat this exercise until the dog will reliably remain at your
side. After this, you can try dropping the leash, and eventually
removing the leash and repeating the distraction. It is
important to vary the distractions, such as introducing other
animals, other people, traffic, rolling balls, etc.
After your dog is able to remain still in the face of
distraction, start
introducing the come when called lessons with
distractions in place. Try inviting some of the neighbors, and
their dogs, over to play. As the dogs are playing in the fenced
in yard, try calling your dog. When the dog comes to you,
immediately give him lots of praise, and perhaps a food reward.
After the dog has been rewarded, immediately allow him to go
back to playing. Repeat this several times throughout the day,
making sure each time to reward the dog and immediately allow
him to go back to his fun.
After the dog has seemingly mastered coming when called in his
own yard, try finding a local dog park or similar area where you
can practice with your dog. It is important to make the area
small, or to choose a fenced in area, in case you lose control
of the dog. If you cannot find a fenced in area, choose an area
well away from people and cars. Practice with your dog by
allowing him to play with other dogs, or just to sniff around,
then calling your dog. When he comes to you, immediately reward
and praise him, then let him resume his previous activities.
Doing this will teach the dog that coming to you is the best
option and the one most likely to bring both rewards and
continued good times.
Only after the dog has consistently demonstrated the ability to
come when called, even when there are many distractions around,
is it safe to allow him time off leash. Off leash time should
never be unsupervised time. It is important, both for your well
being and your dog's, that you know where he is and what he is
doing at all times. It is easy for a dog to get into trouble
quickly, so you should always keep an eye on him, whether he is
chasing squirrels in the park, playing with other dogs, or just
chasing a ball with the neighbor's kids.
About the author:
Tony Robinson is an international author and dog lover. His
website http://www.dogtraining4u.com contains valuable insights
into the life of our canine friends.
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