Archive for April, 2008
Crate Training Your American Pit Bull Terrier:
Will It Help Your Dog?by Tim Amherst
Crate training is one of the most often misunderstood dog training techniques. Many questions often come up when discussing the topic of crate training such as: “How can I use crate training to teach my dog to behave?”, “What are the pros and cons of crate training?”, and “Is crate training safe to use as part of my overall dog training program?”
This article will definitely help you understand crate training and what it will do to you Pit Bull terrier. After you’re done reading, I’m confident that you’ll have a much better understanding of crate training.
I get many questions from new dog owners on the subject of crate training. Most people really have no idea what crate training is or what purpose it serves. Quite simply, a “dog crate” is an enclosed cage area that prevents your dog from getting into trouble.
You can crate train your Pit Bull both inside the house or outside. You’ll want your dog to have plenty of room to stand up and lay down.
So what are the benefits of you crate training your Pit Bull? There are many few reasons why crate training your Pit is a good idea. One reason is that a crate will prevent your Pit from destroying the inside of your house when you are away. Eventually, you’ll be able to leave your dog loose when leaving the house and he won’t be destructive while you’re gone.
Another example of when crate training can be helpful is when you’re traveling in your vehicle for a long period of time. Allowing your dog to rest in his crate during the trip will ease his fear if he has any issues with traveling.
Lastly, crate training is a vital component to properly house training a new puppy. Using a crate to assist in potty training is a very good idea and will help cut your pup’s learning curve down drastically.
To learn all about raising an American Pit Bull Terrier and training Pit Bulls, visit http://www.pitbullsrevealed.com/ today.
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Reward training your dog
Reward training is quite possibly one of the oldest methods of training dogs, dating back to the days when people started trying to domesticate wild animals.
It is probably the method of dog training that most of us are familiar with, and it is a natural instinct to reward the dog when they perform the task that we have asked of them.
Some people prefer to use a combination of the reward training methods and the leash and collar training to get the best out of their dog in the least time.
Some dogs respond better to reward training than leash and collar training so your decision might depend on what method you see working the best with your dog.
Reward training for dogs, has seen a remarkable increase in popularity over recent years with many people finding this as their preferred method of training their new puppies.
There is no definitive answer as to what the best type of dog training is, as some dogs respond better to one technique than others.
There are certainly some advanced techniques that are taught in the top dog training manuals that will ensure you train your dog, faster and easier than trying to do so on your own.
Most dogs will respond to some extent, to either method of training, and any training is certainly better than none, even if you only teach your dog the most basic commands.
Reward training is even used for dogs that work in the military and police.
Those dogs that are used for scent detection and tracking are also often trained using some form of reward training.
Generally, reward training is in the form of some type of food reward.
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* Question: How do I choose the pet that is right for my family?
First and foremost, never purchase your new pet on impulse. Bringing a sweet little fur ball home just because it was adorable is rarely the best way to find a new pet.
Rather, you should discuss the matter of pets with your entire family. Don’t forget to consider these points: daily feeding, personal attention, playtime, grooming, veterinary care and house training (if applicable). You may also want to ask each family member why they want a pet. Make sure your children understand that a pet is another family member, not just a toy, and the needs of the pet should be considered alongside other members of the family.
Next, review your lifestyle. Let’s say, for example, you have a downtown apartment and have a rigorous work schedule. In this case it may be best to consider a pet such as a bird, a cat or maybe even a fish. If your daily routine includes jogging or running, then a dog might be a good choice for you.
To get a better idea of the needs of a potential pet, consider talking to breeders and other pet owners. Another good resource is to attend local pet shows and talk to the judges. Go online to search for specific breeds to learn more about the pet you are considering. Of course, it’s always a good idea to consider the ages of your children when planning to purchase a new pet. Not only this, but consider the life expectancy of the pet for bonding purposes.
* Question: Is it best to get a pet at a pet store or an animal shelter?
It’s really a matter of individual choice. However, personally, I would say it is advisable to get pets from a shelter. The animals are well-cared for by the staff and are aware of an environment involving people. The shelter’s staff can help you find the pet that you want. The staff can tell you which dog enjoys long walks, which animal loves children and which cat likes to curl up on your lap. In addition, animals from a shelter have already undergone medical treatments such as immunizations, spaying and neutering.
If you plan on getting a pet from a pet store, be sure to get a briefing from the store owner regarding that animal’s behavior, especially with dogs, cats and other animals having a good amount of interactions with people.
* Question: How do I determine what type of dog is best for me?
Use the following as a guide for finding the perfect dog for you:
- Read pet guides to learn about a certain dog breed’s background, personality, tendencies and temperament. Browse the internet for more details of those family-friendly breeds of dogs.
- Find a vet to discuss details about the characteristics of the breed you are looking for. Ask questions to understand more about the dog’s breed.
- If you decide to purchase your puppy from the pet store, be sure to ask for the dog’s status — for example, the dog’s history, physical or behavioral problems as well as anomalies of the breed. If you do not want to use a pet store, you can also find dogs and other animals at your county’s animal shelter or through a private breeder.
- Lastly, ask for your friends’ assessments and experiences with various types of dogs they have owned.
As editor of Pet-HQ.com, Paige Harbold gives helpful tips on everything from How to Adopt a Pet to lless-known topics such as Pet Strollers.
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* Dogs bark for a variety of reasons — out of boredom, warning, lonely, fear, communication, to get attention, it is fun, etc.
* Some breeds, like many herding breeds, may be more vocal than others.
* When your dog starts to bark, say your dogs name, to get their attention so they know you are referring to them, and use your signal phrase.
* If your dog stops barking, praise them and give a food reward.
* Yet all these behaviors can be addressed with proper teaching.
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