Darf Blog

3 Commands That Can Save Your Dog’s Life

3 Dog Training Commands That You Should Teach Your Dog First

This post was written by Nancy Richards (see website below). We are posting it because we cannot improve on it.

Whether you are getting a new dog or beginning to work with an old dog, obedience training is a must! There are a number of dog training commands that are important to teach your dog. What dog training commands are the most important to begin with? The three most important dog training commands are: come, wait/stay, and let’s go. These dog training commands are important for both a well mannered dog and also for safety. The three most important dog training commands:

1. Come: This command is vital and could really be a case of life or death in the event of an emergency. For this reason, come is one of the most important dog training commands to teach your dog. Your dog should be trained to understand to come to you on the first command, and although no dog is ever 100% reliable, you should work to be as reliable as possible with your dog. Come should always be trained in a positive and fun manner. Never be a kill-joy! Don’t use come only to end the dog’s fun. Instead, practice it LOTS with toys and treats and reward the dog as much as possible so that coming to you is always fun. Also, never get in the habit of chasing your dog when you need it to come. This only sets up a bad habit and makes your come very unreliable.

2. Wait/Stay: Another one of the most important dog training commands is wait or stay. Wait is about asking your dog not to cross an invisible or real boundary line until you have given it permission. Generally, it is best used when you want the dog to stay back from entry ways, such as the front door, or you want the dog to remain inside a car with an open door. Stay asks the dog to hold a particular position, like sit or down, and stay in a particular location. Teaching a good, strong stay means you know you can place your dog in a position and hopefully count on it to stay there.

3. Let’s Go: Let’s Go represents the last of the most important dog training commands because it is the phrase you give your dog on the walk. It represents for the dog a style of walking and lets him know when you are moving from one place to another. Let’s Go should be a nice, looser leash walk that is controlled. A good Let’s Go means your dog can walk reasonably well on the leash. Your dog understands this command means you are moving on, so it can be used to move the dog away from something it is currently doing. For example, if your dog is visiting another dog or person, and you are ready to move on, Let’s Go tells the dog you are leaving and to follow you. These three dog training commands represent an excellent starting point in your training. These are the most important dog training commands to begin training with and to build from.

About the Author

Nancy Richards has been involved with http://www.trainpetdog.com dog training  for several years. Her website gives step-by-step instructions on housebreaking, http://www.trainpetdog.com dog obedience training http://www.trainpetdog.com/dog-training.html dog training commands, grooming, diet and care for all dog breeds.

Article source: http://keyknowhow.com

Can My Pet Contract the Swine Flu?

People visit WebMD to see if  their symptoms are serious.  You can do the same for your pet.  PetMD, the pet health authority, helps you determine the seriousness of your pet’s symptoms.

Take Your Dog to Work Day

Pet Owners are Bringing their Dogs to the Office

Read up on how businesses are allowing employees to bring their dog-kids to work on June 26.

Read more: “Take Your Dog to Work Day: Pet Owners are Bringing their Dogs to the Office | Suite101.com” – http://dog-care.suite101.com/article.cfm/take_your_dog_to_work_day#ixzz0EwimpJjb&A

Sneaking Dogs Into Places?

Do you ever sneak your dog into restaurants?  Grocery stores?  Hotels?

Well behaved small dogs who enjoy being in a “dog purse” are  easy to “sneak”  into places where dogs are not  ordinarily allowed.

Before getting a dog purse,  KT and I were asked to leave restaurants and grocery stores.  Now, with our dog purse we go every where together.

I’ve chosen a “purse” that looks like a purse.  Mesh areas provide fresh air and zipper pockets  hold my cell phone, wallet and keys.

I also carry a small slide tin containing treats for on-the-go rewards.

More on dog purses in a later post.

Happy Birthday! Chanel!

Happy 21st  Birthday to dachshund Chanel  from [nearly] 16 year old Yorkie, Fergie.

“I want to grow up to be just like Chanel,” says Fergie.

“Veterinarians say that the first year of a dog’s life is equivalent to 15 years of a human’s. The second year is equal to 10 human years. After that, every year is five human years.”

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/30596398/?gt1=43001

Get your cat to “sit!”

After you have figured out what your cat likes as a reward, lure him into a sit by raising a treat above his head backwards while saying “Sit!”.  Reward him when he does it.

Some cats will automatically sit.  If your cat doesn’t sit, gently maneuver his bottom down while saying “Sit!”  Reward him after he does.

It is very important to train a cat in between naps and, if treats are used as rewards, when he his hungry.

Teach your dog to play dead!

After your dog has mastered “Down!”

Have your dog lie “Down! Stay!”  While holding a treat in front of your dog’s face, say “Play, dead!” and move the treat around to the back of her encouraging her to lie down on her side.

As your dog gets better at this trick, lengthen the time she has to stay in the play dead.

Don’t get discouraged, it took the dog in this video 3 months to master this trick.  She now can hold it for 20 seconds.  In fact, it helped her learn that she didn’t have to be afraid to be in this vulnerable position.

Get your dog to “High Five”

Try this trick after you have mastered “shake!”.

The beginning of "High Five!"This girl should raise her hand higher so the dog will raise his paw to hers.

Have your dog sit.

Reach you hand like you would for “shake!”.  When he reaches for your hand swing it around so your fingers are pointed up and say “High Five!”   If he reaches up for your hand, give him a treat.

If he does it, do it once more to imprint the trick.  If he doesn’t, try it 5 more times. Let him rest for at least 30 minutes.

Soon, he will lift her paw to high five when you ask her. When he high fives on command,  reward with treats only one out of four times he does it.  (Always use “good boy!” voice reward.