I’ve gathered the best pictures of the last 3 years and made this slide-show video. Rex – from being a puppy to full size dog …
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golden retriever plays with a wine grape
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Can you just imagine how much easier life would be if your dog’s well trained? Many don’t even attempt to try it because it looks impossible. Actually, with some patience and determination, advanced obedience dog training is not only possible- it will be one of the most fulfilling experiences you will ever have with your dog. A trained dog is a happier dog. They are well-adjusted, confident and mentally disciplined even outside your home. You can leave your pet with other people and know that no harm will be done.
The most important thing to remember in attempting to train your dog is to establish your role as the superior in your relationship. When he understands that you are his master, it is easier to teach him the commands he is expected to obey. Confusing the animal in this regard can be dangerous; he will be aggressive and strive to dominate you. Dont overcompensate and be excessively harsh to show you’re the boss; be firm, stand your ground and correct this unfavorable trait as soon as you see it rearing its ugly head.
A firm and confident voice will help deliver our commands effectively. While you speak, gently guide him to what exactly you want him to do. In the beginning it will take several attempts before he will understand what you mean; but advanced obedience training will be easier as soon as the dog gets the repetitive commands and their corresponding actions you’ve been using in your training classes.
Operant Conditioning is rewarding your dog with treats or praise for correctly accomplishing the command. It is the single most effective way to train your dog; its what he understands. Praise your dog every time he does something right. Sometimes, this is easy to overlook but make the extra effort not to. Dogs get confused easily and recognizing good behavior every time will ensure that he remembers what is right.
Inversely, reprimand the animal whenever he makes a mistake. Do it during the mistake and not after so the dog will understand the error of his ways. Scolding him will also highlight the difference between what is good from what is bad. For instance, if he starts finding the unidentified dirt on the street interesting enough to eat, reprimand him then and there. Then put dog food before him to eat. When he starts eating his own food, be lavish in your praise.
Dog obedience training should only be done in 15 minute sessions for maximum effectivity. Be repetitive and consistant in the commands you teach him. Also, make sure you dont keep a strict schedule in your training. If training is done only at a certain period in the day, the animal will put on the obedient mode during that time alone. Teach him in sessions interspered throughout the day.
The stunts movie dogs do are complex and impressive. They also all started with Sit. Begin with the simpler commands and progress from there. Patience and consistency are your best tools for dog training. Use the same principles as you did in the earlier stages, and it will bring you success in the more challenging tasks in the future.
Now you are in possession of the secrets experts use in their advanced obedience training dog school. All you have to do is to find Fido and get on your way to doggie obedience success!
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Nothing is more essential to good training than good health. And the foundation of good health is a good diet.
It depends on the money you can spend whether you can give your dog fresh meat. However I believe it is essential you invest in a good dry food brand. When you look for a good brand this is what you should keep in mind…
All dog foods are labeled with the ingredients in order by proportion. That is, the ingredient with largest percentage is listed first, followed by the second and subsequently the rest of the ingredients.
One of the ingredients that makes cheap dog food less preferable is the high percentage of ‘waste’ animal parts. When you see ‘by products’ on the label, it’s better to avoid these brands. If it does appear on higher quality dog food, which is rare, it will be listed near the bottom indicating a small proportion.
By by products we mean those parts of the animal that are not intended for human consumption. By products are perfectly legal in dog food, but are low quality proteins and in the long run have a negative effect on the general health, skin and coat conditions of your dog.
Check your dogs coat. If you have a long haired dog, like a Labrador Retriever, with a shiny coat and normal shedding you are probably giving him a high quality food. Your dog will not get a shiny coat by food alone, you should also brush him regularly.
Dog food experts will advice a big proportion of proteins (meat) for a healthy diet. Typically they will recommend meat (40%), vegetables (30%) and starch (30%).
Common meats used are chicken, lamb and beef. These provide readily digestible sources of protein – essential to healthy coats, muscles, etc.
The vegetables contain vitamins and minerals that produce hormones and enzymes, which is important for strong bones among others. For example carrots and squash are extremely good vegetables for dogs.
The starch content is often provided by brown or white rice. Either one is an excellent source of carbohydrates. These compounds are broken down in the body and form the basis for energy and cell repair.
Some dogs have specific needs that make special diets necessary. Many Golden Retrievers, for example, are sensitive to wheat products and corn meal is hard to digest for many dogs.
Avoid bad ingredients and when in doubt talk to your vet about the best diet for your dog. Especially when your dog has diarrhea, scratches a lot, or has flatulancy.
If your dog doesn’t like dry food try to make it moist with some water and then warm it up a little. You can add some left overs or moist dog food so he’ll like it better. Most dry food manufacturers claim that dry food cleans the dogs teeth, but that is not the case for low quality feed.
Be careful not to give to many treats. Treats usually have a high fat content. This is why dogs like treats in the first place, but if you give more than 2 treats a day, chose a good brand and give your dog less dry food.
I believe that the price difference of a quality food outweighs the extra veterinary costs that you’ll have with low quality foods in the long run. Do invest in a high quality food and you’ll reap the rewards for the rest of your dogs life.
The shininess of his coat, the clear and moist eyes and other less clear indicators will show you have chosen the right food. And, to finish off with a final remark. Isn’t the health of your dog priceless?
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