Terrier Puppy Training - Have Your Puppy Trained Today

By Diana Swanson Diana Swanson
Level: Basic

Author and article writer for training dogs and puppies with a special interest in terriers.


Choosing a new terrier puppy can be an exciting point in an owner's life. While terrier puppies can start out small, some breeds can reach over 80 pounds. Traditionally, terriers were bred and raised to hunt and control small animals such as foxes, rabbits and rats. Larger breeds of terriers were used to hunt badgers. You'll find that your terrier will have a very energetic spirit, a loyal heart and an attitude usually bigger than their size suggests.

Picking Out Your Terrier Puppy

When you're going to pick out a terrier pup, make sure that it's at least 8 weeks old, doesn't display aggressive behaviour and is generally friendly. If you can, have a vet take a quick look to ensure your potential new best friend is in good general health.

Terrier puppy training should begin when you bring your terrier pup to your house, assuming your pup is old enough and has been socialized properly first. If your terrier pup isn't quite ten weeks old or hasn't been acclimated properly with small groups of people or other dogs, you should take some time first to ensure your puppy is used to being around other dogs and people. This will prevent any issues with small dog aggression.

Puppies Training For Terriers

When your terrier puppy is at the right age, I would recommend some basic household training. Certain breeds of terriers such as bull terriers can be especially stubborn when they're young. I recommend that crate training be used and it's really recommended that you're home as much as possible during the house training so you can start establishing pack leader status and correct deviations quickly. While it may seem to take a long time at first to get your terrier puppy properly housebroken, once proper behaviors are established, you will find your terrier puppy will stick to the rules of the house with uncanny loyalty. The time investment up front will be worth it in the end, trust me.

Once the basics are covered, the next step is to build your terrier puppy's surrounding to help establish that you're the clear alpha pack leader. Instruct your terrier puppy not to bite using toys. If your terrier puppy bites you, you can help correct that behavior by letting out a clear whining sound to let him know it hurts. Also, a word about furniture. Don't let your puppy to leap onto the couch and don't let it sleep in the same bed with your. The crate should be used as much as possible in the early stages of your puppy's life. Over time, you'll extend the length of time in which they can stay in there.

When your terrier puppy reaches 3 months of age, it's time to get into obedience training. Try and nail the basics such as getting your terrier to stay, sit, lie down, focus on you, come when called, wait inside doors and not yank on the leash. The emphasis on obedience training should continue until 6 months of age.

Terriers have an especially good knack for picking up motion cues from their owners, though with some breeds of terriers, you'll find that that might not want to follow your lead right away. Be patient, over time, they'll tune will change.

Utilizing Terrier Puppy Training To Protect Them

Since terriers are naturally curious creatures, you'll find that they will want to go out and learn about the new environments they encounter as much as possible. In the terrier's early life, teach them not to chase cars as that behavior is sometimes the first reaction a terrier has when they encounter this new moving object. Also instruct it stop at curbs and to not dash away from you in public settings. Otherwise, they risk hurting themselves by cars crossing the road or by getting lost in a crowd of people. Keep the leash on the terrier while you're out walking it until you can be confident that it'll return to you when called and that it won't venture off too far away from you. Trying to chase a fast terrier can be a very exhausting exercise indeed!

While training a terrier can seem challenging at first, especially to dog owners who've never owned one before, you'll discover that terriers are really a loyal breed. With proper terrier puppy training, they'll start to follow your commands on queue, stay with you when you're out in public without a leash and keep your house free of "surprises". But you have to ensure you set the rules down early and be keen on enforcing them in the critical early years.

All the best in your quest to training your terrier.
Diana Swanson
Founder of http://www.TopTerrier.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diana_Swanson

A Longer Lasting Dog Treat

by Kimberly Case


Dog Treats that Can Save your Sanity Dog treats can be so much more than a quick snack for your pet. They can be used to encourage good behavior and entice your pet's mind and curiosity. If you know the best kinds and the right way to present them, you can help your pet work out frustration and energy as well as help them develop good social practices. A Hidden Surprise Dogs are thinking creatures, even if most people do not recognize them as such. They can learn a great deal and enjoy engaging their minds. Even as they age, it is important to keep them busy and learning. One great way to do so is by using dog treats with "thinking" toys such as a Kong. These are designed with chambers intended to hide treats. When given to your dog, he doesn't immediately have access to the treat. Instead, he must work them out by gnawing and chewing. This has an added bonus of helping to keep your dog's teeth clean. As he chews on the rubbery surface, he can work out any food or debris stuck between teeth. Plus this is a great way to keep him occupied when company visits or when you need some peace and quiet. A Longer Lasting Dog Treat Pet treat manufacturers have began producing lines of longer lasting treats. These are intended to be completely devoured; however it takes your pet a lot longer to work through them. Many well known brands make these unique dog treats, such as the famous Busy Bone. They are usually larger than a regular biscuit and cylindrical in shape. Some feature a harder outer layer with a different flavor at the center. The only downside to this type of dog treat is the cost. For the same price as a bag of treats, you can get one or two longer lasting alternatives. It is recommended to reserve these treats for times when you need your pet distracted rather than for every day rewards. A Food-Influenced Attention Span Dogs are very receptive to food, although you should never only offer edible rewards. This can lead to overfeeding and your pet's expectations that a treat will always be given. Instead, use the treat reward efficiently by only offering it when your dog does exactly as he was supposed to or makes a large step in training. The rest of the time, stick with praise. During the obedience training phase, you might have trouble keeping your pet's attention in certain situations. One temporary fix is to keep a couple treats in your pocket. Let your dog see and smell the treats, but do not allow him or her to become overbearing or muscle their nose in to grab one. Instead, practice a basic sit and stay. Try this when company visits or when there is activity in the house. Your pet will learn to stay near you and remain still and quiet despite outside stimulation. Be patient because this takes time and repetition. Always offer the reward at some point to keep your dog interested. Dog treats are a great way to teach your pet good behavior and keep him or her busy when you need to focus attention elsewhere. With so many brands available, it is easy to find the right size and flavor for your pet. Add a Kong toy or try freezing treats in ice as a new way to present the same treats your four legged friend loves.

Kimberly Case is a popular contributor at http://www.dogtreatstogo.com Click Here to visit our store.
Source:www.isnare.com

How Old is My Dog Really?

by James McMillian

How Old is My Dog Really? Have you ever wondered how old your dog really is? Many people believe that their dogs is seven times his "human age". However, dogs age and mature differently than humans do.The calculations used to compare canine years with human years evolve with research that is more scientific. At one time, it was believed that one year of a canine's life was equivalent to seven years in a human. Later, one year was equal to five years. Neither theory is correct based on many variables and considerations. The common belief that our dog is seven times his age in years does become true, eventually. As dogs become older than three years, they age at seven times their age in years. More about the dog life phases and characteristics: The childhood of a puppy is shorter compared to people. Pups are born with a full set of teeth but permanent teeth begin to appear at around 5 months of age. The pup displays excessive chewing behavior as the new teeth erupt. The young dog requires more food at this time as their bodies grow, develop and to compensate for high energy levels. Males and females are sexually mature at the age of one and are physically mature at the age of 2. The longest living dog is recorded to be 27 years of age while the average dog's life tends to last 12 years. Life expectancy is not the same for all dogs and many factors are considered. Smaller breeds live longer than their larger counterparts. Certain breeds are more prone to health problems like arthritis, tumors, organ and structural defects. Doberman Pinschers are comparable in size to Boxers but outlive them by about 5 years. Lifestyle effects longevity. Working dogs require more physical activity or become depressed and anxiety ridden which contributes to health problems. Dogs that become overweight due to lack of exercise develop health issues. An animal aged 8 or 9 who is expected to have the physical stamina of a dog aged 2 or 3 will experience tissue, bone injuries, and develop arthritis. Over breeding within a family line or breeding an unhealthy animal will result in genetic defects that effect longevity. Animals that are neutered are less likely to develop cancer later in life and rhe risk of cancer decreases the sooner the dog is neutered. This is true regardless of whether the animal is male or female. Proper medical care including vaccinations and treatment for illness or injury affects life expectancy. Whether the animal is properly fed, housed and exercised will all determine longevity. Mature dogs have less food and exercise requirements than an adult dog, as they generally are less rambunctious and calmer. A vet will consider the condition of a dog's teeth and physical structure when determining health age. An animal that appears to be 5 or 6 years old may be older or younger due to their living conditions. The aged dog will have gray or white hair on their faces. They experience vision and hearing loss and the heart and kidneys will start to decline. Physical capability diminishes and temperament may change.

James McMillian is a long time dog lover and pet enthusiast. He currently writes for Pet-Super-Store.com, where you can find dog car seats and pet fences .
Source:www.isnare.com

Brushing up on Dog Obedience

by Kimberley Case

Brushing up on Obedience: Treat Reinforcement for your Dog Everyone knows the saying, "you can't teach an old dog new tricks." This is actually not accurate. Dog's of all ages are anxious learners, provided you know how to communicate with them. On the other hand, an old dog can actually start to forget his old tricks if they are not put into practice. If you have noticed your canine companion slacking off lately, consider using treat reinforcement to get him back on his toes again! Treats and Positive Reinforcement Dogs are good at learning to associate what they do with your reaction. Have you ever noticed if your pet does something wrong, he puts his tail down and lowers his head. This is because he has been punished before and, even though you did not see him doing the "bad" activity, he assumes since he did it you will react. This can be used in reverse to encourage him into good behavior with positive reinforcement. Let him see that when he does something correct, he gets a good reaction from you. Surprise, a Treat! If your dog has been ignoring you a lot lately, it is time to get his attention again. Even a simple recall (coming when his name is called) can be ignored if he knows he can get away with it. First, practice the command in a calm, quiet setting. As soon as he responds correctly, give him a surprise treat. In many cases, your dog is not "stupid" or "forgetting" what he is supposed to do. It is a test of wills. He knows you won't follow through, so he doesn't bother. On the other hand, he may not be receiving a positive reward for following through, so he has no motivation to do so. Never get into the habit of treating every time your pet listens, especially with basic commands. Instead, offer an occasional treat to keep him interested and the rest of the time praise and pet him. Many dog owners do not realize the value their canines' put in petting and an enthusiastic "Good boy!" You might be surprised at the results from just that type of award alone. Click � Treat � Click Even if you did not use clicker training when your dog was a puppy, you can still turn to this efficient method of communication. The idea is you get your dog to associate the click of the clicker with a positive reinforcement (praise and treats). Once he learns, give him a click and reward each time he does what he is supposed to. Now that he is conditioned for clicker training, and you know how it works, it is time to begin going back over his old list of commands. Start with the easiest, a basic recall, sit, lie down, stay, and then work up from there. He may become so responsive, you might want to teach him new, advanced commands he did not know before. Treats can be a valuable tool when reminding your dog about his obedience training. Age has nothing to do with how much a canine can learn. If you are patient and willing to put in the time, you can get your pet back on track and even teach him a few additional commands along the way!

Kimberly Case is a popular contributor at http://www.dogtreatstogo.com Where you can find hundreds of Treats that your Dog will love
Source:www.isnare.com

Should dogs be left alone outside for long periods of time?

by Queenie1

You just got a dog and your husband wants the dog to go outside alone. Your husband feels that the dog will get used to being outside but months later when you put the dog outside he continually whines and barks.

Dogs are pack animals so they are meant to be with their owners. If the dog continues to bark when you leave it outside it is feeling bored or neglected and he wants to be inside the house with you so just bring your dog inside.

If your neighbour calls the authorities because of your barking dog you could get into trouble especially if they see no food, water or shelter outside for your pet. It's not good to leave your dog outside more than 1-2 hrs as they could get hurt outside or run off or dig outside of the fence.

I prefer to keep my dog inside with our family. When we adopted our rescue dog we were told not to leave our dog alone more than 8 hrs without someone around him. The dog pound workers felt strongly that dogs need much human contact and shouldn't be alone longer than that as that is neglect but this is a decision that you and your family will need to make.