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Protect Your Pooch: Essential Commands Every Dog Should Learn

March 1, 2016 by Mandy

Frustrating, isn’t it? You want your dog to sit, and you’ve tried having a little talk with dog to make him or her understand, but it doesn’t seem to be helping.

Here are some of the magical commands you could be giving, and how to make them work.

Dog Training

Sit

This is, by far, the easiest command to give your dog. The “sit” command can be used to get dog to sit down or lay down. Hold a treat close to your dog’s nose. Now, move your hand up, and let dog’s head follow the treat. This will get your dog to lower. Once he’s in the sitting position, reinforce this command by saying “sit.” Then, give the treat and share affection to reinforce again.  You can repeat this process multiple times with the treat. Eventually, you will want to replace the treat with affection. Repeat this sequence a few times every day until your dog masters it. Ask your dog to sit before mealtime, and when leaving for walks to prevent rushing the door, and in other situations where you want him to be calm, not rush people, or not be too excited and lose control.

Stay

The stay command is one that requires a prerequisite: sit. If your dog struggles with the sit command, you can’t use “stay.” Ask your dog to sit first. Then, use the back of your open palm to give the command “stay.” Take a few steps back and reward with a treat if dog stays. Increase the number of steps gradually while reinforcing the stay command. Reward your dog for staying even if it’s for a few seconds. You’re trying to teach dog self-control, which is difficult for a dog. Don’t be too discouraged if your pup has a hard time with this one. Call in a trainer and hire dog training in NJ if you need help. Since this is an exercise in self-control for your dog, you need patience. Self-control is something that young dogs, especially, have a very hard time with. Even older dogs can have problems controlling themselves.

Come

The “come” command keeps your dog out of trouble and brings him back to you if you do happen to drop the lease accidentally. First, put the leash on dog. Then, get on his level and say “come.” Gently pull the leash as you say this. When he finally obeys the command, you can give him a treat as a reward. Follow up with affection. Once he’s got it down pat, you can remove the leash and repeat the command in a safe area where there’s no real danger. After you’ve spent time with this command, introduce distractions. Distractions are important with a command like this because dogs are often “in the moment” kind of creatures. Meaning, if they get away from you, there are many things that will attract their attention. You want them to ignore all of those other things and obey only you – and you above other people or things, including other dog.

Down

Down can be one of the more difficult things for you to train your dog to do. If your dog is a “jumper,” then you’re in for a long battle. Why? Because the down command is one that puts your dog into a submissive state, and dogs are animals that want to be alpha. This is particularly true of aggressive dogs or dogs that are naturally inclined to be alpha dogs. Get yourself your dog’s favorite treat. Hold it in your closed fist. Hold your hand to the dog’s snout. He will smell it. When he does, move your hand to the floor so that he will follow. Slide your hand along the ground in front of him to encourage a lying down posture. Use the command “down” once dog is down on the floor (and share affection as a follow up). If dog tries to sit up or lunges at your hand, use the “no” command and take your hand away. Do not push your dog to a down position. While this can sometimes get the message into your dog’s head, it doesn’t actually teach dog anything. Laura Howard has been working with other peoples dogs as a trainer for several years, though has worked with her own dogs from a very young age.

Filed Under: Pets

How To Talk To Kids About The Death of a Pet

October 17, 2015 by Mandy

death of pet

Talking with a friend the other day, he mentioned that he wished he had been allowed to have a pet when he was younger. “Why’s that?” I asked. Of course, he replied with all the obvious things – he loves animals, as an only child he’d craved the companionship that a family pet can bring – but then he said something unexpected.

 “I think that having a pet, and experiencing their death when you’re a child can be a really important way of learning how to think about death – this most taboo of subjects. How to grieve, how to move on, and so on.”

He’s right of course. While losing a family pet can be an extremely painful experience – no less for parents as well as their children – the way in which you talk to your children about it can have a huge (and emotionally very educational) impact on the way they will continue to think about other losses they will inevitably experience in their lives.

Here are few tips on how to broach this difficult topic with your children:

 Talk

It cannot be stressed enough how important talking – and really talking – about the death of your beloved pet is for your children. If your pet is old or ill, start early to prepare your child for the fact. Of course, they will be distressed, and this is heartbreaking for any parent, but the more you are able to discuss the death before it happens, the better equipped your child will be for the grieving process and moving on.

At the same time, encourage your child to spend precious time with the pet while he is still alive. Such encouragement will teach your child the value of life, and how important it is to cherish our loved ones while they are still here.

Language

Don’t underestimate the impact of the language you choose to talk about a pet’s death with your child. Try to avoid saying “put to sleep”. This can confuse children, especially if they are younger, and they might start being afraid of sleep themselves, worrying that the same thing will happen to them! Explain that the pet will soon be ‘at peace’, that it is the kindest thing you can do for your pet is to say goodbye to them in this way.

Never lie! Especially if the death is sudden, it might be tempting to say some soothing untruth, that the pet has run away or disappeared. This will only create false hope of them returning, and, if the children do eventually discover the truth, they may resent you for not being open and honest with them initially.

Celebrate

Marking your pet’s death with some kind of funeral or ceremony can be a really important way of allowing your child to put their emotions in order. Ask them if they want to create something – a poem or a painting – which can then be read out at the funeral, or displayed at the grave.

Studies have shown that allowing your children to process through creativity can be incredibly helpful in their grieving. Create a unique memorial to your pet, and remember to celebrate their life, rather than just mourn their death. Show your children to be thankful for the life shared, rather than simply sad for their death. Throw a party or ‘wake’ in their honor where you can all share funny or treasured stories or memories of your pet.

LOVE

Last but of course not least, show your children all the love and affection they need during this time. Let them know that they are allowed to express their sadness however openly they want to, and that they can come to you to talk about it whenever they want.

Filed Under: Pets

The Best 5 Family Dogs

May 30, 2015 by Mandy

Adding a dog to your family will be the one of the best decisions you ever make, these loving creatures are a never ending source of joy and are the perfect family pet, providing of course that you choose the right breed for all of your needs.

With this in mind here is a list of dogs that will be perfect for your family.

Bulldog

Bulldog_standing

Despite their angry appearance, the friendly Bulldog is a perfect family dog, these thick set dogs can withstand the boisterous nature of kids and are known to strike up close bonds with them as they offer incredible loyalty and love human attention. The Bulldog is a great source of amusement too with their snoring and slobbering. The dogs are very protective over their home and are considered average shedders, simply put, the Bulldog ticks all the boxes as a great family pet.

Labrador Retriever

Labrador

The Labrador would be a great fit for all the family, they thrive on exercise and play and shower you in love. Lab’s are independent so don’t require round-the-clock attention, great for those with busier lives. Labrador’s share a child’s zest for life and will give unconditional loyalty. These dogs are gentle and adapt well to humans, they can be easily trained and are not difficult to look after. The Lab has been regularly voted America’s best loved dog and will be the ideal addition to your family.

Cockapoo

Cockapoo_Dog

The hilariously named Cockapoo is a medium sized dog that have a long life expectancy at around 16 years. These dogs have a soft coat and rarely shed, they are intelligent and easily trained. The dogs love being around people and will match the energy of children. The Cockapoo is largely an indoor dog but still loves to go out and play, great for those who can’t commit to a daily walk. With such a peaceful and friendly nature this breed will make the perfect family pet.

Beagle

beagle

The Beagle is a medium sized, playful, athletic, loving and loyal breed and would be a great choice for a family dog. Beagles require a lot of activity and love to bound about, they are mild mannered around humans and love playing with kids. This breed comes from a line of Hounds so they don’t enjoy being alone and will require plenty of care and attention, but in return this floppy eared bundle of joy will give you unconditional love, a great pet for the family.

Boxer

Boxer_female_brown

This loveable dog is not only super friendly but is very intelligent, easy to train and will adapt seamlessly to your family home. The Boxer is easy to care for, sheds moderately and has boundless energy when it comes to playtime. Boxers are incredibly robust dogs so can easily put up with kids and their mischievous nature will keep you entertained for hours. These dogs are affectionate and protective and love being a part of a human ‘pack,’ making them an ideal choice for you and your family.

Any one of these dogs will bring joy and love to your family home and within a short space of time become a fully fledged family member.

Filed Under: Pets

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