Dog Obedience Training – Why Is It Important?

Dogs play an interesting role in our society these days. Dog obedience training is now expected of our furry friends. They live in our houses, walk our sidewalks beside us, play with our children in the front yard and visit their doggie buddies at the dog park. They are expected to be on their best behavior at all times. This is a lot to ask of an animal!

Many years ago, dogs held a different role. Most likely, our parents grew up with dogs who didn’t know what a leash was! There was always the scary dog who lived in the neighborhood and children knew to petal quickly by that house on their bicycle! Dogs may have lived outside – all the time. Tell that to today’s dog who attends doggie daycare 3 times a week and wears designer collars!

Today, the role dogs play in our lives and societies has changed (that scary dog in the neighborhood is no longer accepted as “just being a dog”, now the owner would have to deal with neighbor complaints, city fines and legal issues if the dog ever bit someone). It is the dog owner’s responsibility to make sure their pup has the skills to be a good fit in our homes and communities.

There are some activities that you and your dog participate in where having a certain level of dog obedience training is not only convenient, but expected. Such situations are:

Daily life; walking a dog, having him or her in your house, interacting with family members and people who come over to your house.

Competition sports such as: agility, dog shows and flyball.

Volunteer programs such as visiting nursing homes, hospitals or schools.

Emergency situations, such as when outside and the dog’s collar comes off or their leash breaks or gets dropped.

The primary reason dogs and people misunderstand each other or have trouble communicating is because we are two very different species and we do not speak the same language. The one thing we do have in our favor, however, is that we both seem to have an affinity for each other. Basing our relationship on the fact that we enjoy each other’s company means that we need to find an effective way to “talk” to each other. Because we are the people in the relationship (unless of course your dog can read and is the one reading this!) it is OUR responsibility to ensure we are being clear when we communicate with our dogs.

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Before starting out dog obedience training, it is important that we recognize the difficulty involved in this for our dogs.

They are trying to read us and figure us out. As a human, we can make their job a little easier by being as consistent and clear in our instruction as possible. Reward good behavior, ignore or redirect incorrect behavior.

Dogs are under exercised and under stimulated. Asking a puppy, who has been in their kennel for a few hours while you were at work, to be calm once they are let out is an impossible task for them. It is not physically possible for the dog, therefore we can not expect it. If we want a calm dog, we need to give them exercise and energy outlets.

They may never have been taught training. Dogs become more savvy to training the more practice they get. Be patient with a dog who is a novice. If your training is clear, your dog will make progress.

Dogs do have minds of their own and we have to respect and understand that. If a dog is showing signs that training is difficult for them, analyze what may be the cause. Sometimes the dog is in physical discomfort; therefore the “sit” behavior may hurt them. Other times there are distractions such as kids, good smells, or other dogs. Imagine if you were trying to concentrate on your teacher, but someone kept waving a piece of chocolate cake or plane tickets to Hawaii in your face… it would be hard to remain focused on the teacher!

Every dog can learn. It is up to us, as the human who has specific expectations of our dog’s behavior, to help them understand what we want. We need to be patient, clear and understanding.

If you are having trouble with dog obedience training, you will likely find that seeking the help of a professional dog trainer not only provides some great tips and suggestions, but provides a lot of fun for you and your dog! Dog training is actually a highly developed skill that involves deep understanding and the study of psychology. Just like bankers are good with numbers and plumbers are good with pipes, dog trainers are good with dogs. It is commendable that if you don’t have the knowledge to train your dog that you seek the help of someone who does. You certainly wouldn’t try to work on your water pipes if you knew nothing about plumbing! The same goes for our dogs and the way they learn.

A dog trainer who uses positive training techniques will encourage their clients to utilize treats and praise when teaching the dog good behavior. Because the behaviors being learned are brand new behaviors, it is important to give the dog rewards for doing them until the behaviors are very consistent. Once the desired behaviors are known very well by the dog, the use of treats can be used intermittently. Using positive training techniques is good for our dogs, good for us as people (the traditional ways of training where we used physical force to intimidate our dogs into acting a certain way doesn’t reflect very kindly on us!) and good for the bond we share.

Just remember, the saying that “an old dog can’t learn new tricks” simply isn’t true! Every dog can learn dog obedience training that will help them become better members of our homes and societies.

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Dog Obedience Training

Dogs are a big part of our daily life and for lots of of us, our pets have become a component of who we are. It is really no shock that we need to train our dogs, especially since lots of of us have our dogs running around the house, getting some sleep at the bottom of the bed, playing with our kids in the front yard. This is where something similar to that of ‘Weimaraner Training‘ comes in handy. It helps you train your family pet Weimaraner. Plus, the lessons advocated in the instructional guide can also be used for other dog breeds, not just the regal looking weimaraner.

Long Island, NY 10/108/10 – Josie Gambaro, who was present at the launching of the new webpage – http://www.weimaranerproblems.com/training-a-weimaraner/, is a big dog lover. She also runs and owns her very own pet dog grooming and pet supply store. She also works as a dog trainer on the weekends. “pet dogs requirement training,” mentioned Gambaro. “Training will make living with the weimaraner in the house that much easier and it will make the owner’s relationship with the family pet much better.” The Long Island native is also an advocate of seeking help from pros or at least from certain self help books when it comes to training canines.

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Do you have an well-trained family pet? Does he/she follow your guidelines whenever you give then out? Or are you ignored completely when your family pet is looking for something that piques their interests much more. When you take the weimaraner out for walks, does he tug on the lead as opposed to walking the same pace that you are walking.

Does the weimaraner whine and look hurried when you are readying his/her meal? Does he bark even after you’ve told him otherwise. Does he go and disobey you at every turn possible? If so, then you are in great requirement of some training help.

There are a lot of products and services in existence that can assist you in training your canines. One of the greatest ways is with the use of a dog trainer. When possible, you must go to doggie obedience classes. There is an excellent opportunity that there is a local group in your area that handles such classes. You might also go and seek the help of a professional pet weimaraner trainer, but when you do, be sure that you be the alpha dog when they tell you to be.

If you are considering training a weimaraner, you also can use ebooks. There are a lot of such books in existence. There are even some books at hand that look into specific topics like ‘Weimaraner Training Pups’. There are also some books that delve into specific techniques akin to when you choose to train your weimaraner with a clicker. Often, it is really a matter of finding what suits you the best.

Another crucial thing to remember when you are in the process of training is that you must, at all times, be assertive. Don’t falter in your guidelines or in your decisions. A good example is when you reprimand your pet weimaraner when they do something that is obviously wrong or against your guidelines. Always bear in mind that canines are pack animals and that they will always look up to a pack leader. If you falter in your commands, the family pet will most certainly assume the leader position. Once they do that, it can be difficult to go back and the training will be a fail.

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4 Tips to Choose Good Dog Training Schools

Whether you plan to train your dog on your own or not, it is important to spend a few weeks at a dog training school, simply for the socialization aspect that the school offers. For this reason, when you first bring your puppy home, you will need to look into dog training schools in your area and decide on the one that is the best match for you. That being said, it can actually be difficult to find a dog training school that really suits your needs.

Some schools only offer specific dog training services, while others only use certain training methods. Some dog training schools have experienced trainers and others are only just starting up. It can be overwhelming and many times, owners will simply pick a name out of the phone book and go from there; however, it is important that you take a bit of time selecting a dog training school and to follow a few tips when you do so. Know your dog breed: Before you select your dog training school, it is important that you really know your dog breed. Every breed responds to training differently and it will affect the method that you train your dog with.

For instance, some breeds are not food driven and you may need to find a trainer that works with other methods of positive reinforcement training. Other breeds do not do well with firm training that use things like correction collars and it is important to avoid trainers that use them. Knowing your breed will help you in finding the perfect training method and that will quickly narrow down your selection of dog training schools. Get to know the trainer: After you have narrowed down the dog training schools, take the time to go in and watch a class or two at different levels before you commit to one. When you are there, watch the trainer to see how he or she handles the class and how she interacts with the dogs.

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If you find at any time that you don`t like the approach the training is taking, move to the next dog training school on your list. If you do like what you are seeing, stay after class and ask the trainer what areas he teaches in, the number of dogs in a regular class, and how he breaks the class up into groups. Also find out what his experience is and if he has worked with your breed before. If the trainer hasn`t, you may want to find a different trainer since you will see the best results if the trainer knows and understands your specific breed. Ask for references: When you are at the stage where you have a dog training school, stop and ask for references.

Make sure that you get references for both the training that will be working with your dog and also the dog training school in general. Although references are important, you should never rely solely on the references provided by the dog training schools. Instead, take the time to do a little internet research for past clients of the dog training school and to also ask your vet or other pet owners if they have heard anything, good or bad, about the dog training schools you are looking into. You will be surprised by the number of people who can offer you a bit of information. Know where you are going:

The last tip that I am going to mention when you are selecting a dog training school is to really know what you want from training. If you want basic training, you will actually have a larger selection of dog training schools then if you want a specific type of training such as agility training. Decide on whether you simply want a family pet or you want a dog that competes in agility, obedience or sporting events before you commit to a dog training school. Once you know where you want to go with your dog`s training, you can quickly find out which dog training schools offer which training and narrow down your search so you have the best match for both you and your dog.

Patience is the Most Important Dog Training Tip of All

Copyright (c) 2009 James Mahoney

The most important thing dog training tip is patience. It is very easy to become frustrated and want to give up on your dog, as you yell at them for the umpteenth time for using your house as a bathroom. However there are many things that can help make it easier on you, many useful tips that will make your life less stressful during the next few months. There are books to read, and classes to take, and people to talk to.

When you start training your dog you will soon enough realize that you need a lot of patience in addition to giving your pet a lot of love. In fact first and foremost the most important thing that can be considered as a tip is patience. This is especially true with dog training. Most people are familiar with the phrase ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’, while not always true with older dogs, it is however certainly easier to teach a younger dog when it comes to dog housebreaking obedience training.

However, many dog owners lack patience and as a result, the owner will be unable to keep from becoming when things do not go according to plan, and this can create the negative impact that can result by such a deviation from the positive-reinforcement route.

It may seem strange to consider retraining an owner before he or she trains a dog, but modern training techniques require a level of patience and calmness not always possessed by dog owners. Much research and experience has helped lead to an incontrovertible fact that successful training is dependent upon the use of positive reinforcement.

While being patient is the most important tip there are other tips that can help too.

Dog Training Tip – Start Your Puppy Training Early

When you bring home a new puppy, remember it is still important to be patient with your puppy training. The earlier you start training the puppy, the quicker he will understand and respond to your training commands, but make sure not to rush the puppy training process. You can begin the training of your puppy if he is as young as 8 weeks old. Puppies are full of energy and they are just trying to adapt and explore the new world that is around them. Of course this will mean you will have to invest some time for training and a exercise a little extra patience, but it should be worth it in the end.

Dog Training Tip – Where to Find Information

When it comes to finding information there are books like Secrets to Dog Training that come highly recommended that one can read, and certainly over and over again, the necessity of patience is emphasized in Secrets to Dog Training . There are classes to take, and people with dog training experience to talk to. Check out The American Kennel Club web site where they provide some tips.

Dog Training Tip – Looking at Dog Training Methods

It is not difficult to find dog training information, what may be difficult is deciding what school of thought you may agree with, since there are many schools of thought when it comes to dog training. How do you want to train your dog? Will you be using a crate? Will you only use rewards for good behavior? Since it is important to be able to develop a truly great relationship based on respect with you must decide how you want to go about it.

In conclusion patience is important in dog training whether a puppy or mature dog. There are many places to find information. You need to decide what method of dog training you are comfortable with. Careful research is the only answer.

Qualities and Characteristics of the Best Dog Training Book

Are you having a hard time with your pet dog that seems to just chew everything around it apart from misbehaving with your guests and other dogs? If the answer is a yes then you (or rather your dog) are in a dire need of some quality dog training. Now, training courses are an expensive proposition and not everyone can afford the high costs involved with it. The next best alternative in such a scenario is getting the best dog training book. Identifying the best dog training book can be a bit difficult and below are some pointers to help do the same.

Your Dog’s Age Matters

This is one of the simplest ways to filter irrelevant titles by looking for books that cater to pets of your dog’s age. There is a huge range of books on puppy training but that figure is still well short of those written for adult dogs. It is vital that you differentiate between the two since your dog’s age plays an important role in determining the method of training.

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The Kind of Goals you’ve Set

Training of dogs is a very expansive subject that contains any number of various things. Leash training, obedience training and house training are all sub categories of the main subject. You should take some time and contemplate on what you want from the dog training and buy a book that serves those expectations well.

Your Experience Level

Training techniques have different levels that are spread over beginner methods and advanced ones. Thus, you should evaluate your experience level before starting the hunt for a good dog training book. In case this is your first pet dog, it’s safe to assume that you have a long learning curve ahead. So accordingly look for a book that caters exclusively to beginners. A good beginner book introduces you to the training basics while steadily building on the bygone lessons. It should also be quite comprehensive as you are likely to have many questions on the topic.

The Learning Method you Prefer

Some people might find it very easy to read some text description and then execute it similarly. Some others might need the help of video or pictures to complement the textual information. Think about the way you like to assimilate information. Ideally, you should find something that provides a mix of both formats. This way you can turn to a different source if you have problems visualising some of the instructions.

Finding the best dog training book is really a matter of personal preference. What works for others might not work for you at all. Take into consideration your relationship with your dog and the things you want to accomplish by training. As and when you do find the best dog training book, you will find that it satisfies all the above conditions in addition to being an excellent source of dog training tips and tricks. The best dog training book will definitely help you prevent any unpleasant experiences with your dog, thus paving the way for a happy and fruitful pet ownership.

How to Travel With A Pet on an Airplane

For a pet owner, you faced with the dilemma of determining what to do with your pet in this situation. You may either leave it in the house or bring it with you. Traveling with your pet is very possible and manageable. Here are tips:

You could take your pet with you with the help of air travel services. There are two categories of these services: cargo and in-cabin. Pets that are small enough to fit into a carrier that can slip under the seat in front of you can pass for in-cabin service. Pets too big to fit comfortably in a carrier should travel in cargo. Cargo holds are also heated, air conditioned and pressurized, similar to the passenger compartment.

It would be better for you to check first prior to making a reservation to be certain that the airline can accommodate your pet. There are airlines that do not allow pets in-cabin; other discount airlines do not take in pets at all. So if you buy your airline tickets online, be sure that your pet will be allowed to travel with you.

Pet passengers also require a booking, whether traveling by cargo or in-cabin. Airlines have limitations on the number of pets they can carry to provide safe trip for all. So it is a good idea to make your pet’s reservation together with the purchase your ticket. Extra fees for both in-cabin and cargo pets will be evaluated.

Get a health certificate from your veterinarian. Most health certificates are only in effect for ten days, so if your trip will be longer than that you will need to purchase additional health certificate for the trip back.

Your in-cabin pet needs a carrier. There are soft-sided carriers that come in various sizes, so purchase or borrow one that gives your pet enough room to be comfortable in. A few of these are designed with wheels to make transporting through the airport easier; these also reduce “pet space” below the airplane seat. Generally, window and middle seating areas have more spacious room underneath than the aisle seats. Pets that travel in cargo will require an airline-approved dog house. Typically, these are hard-sided, non-collapsible crates. If your pet already has a good crate it may double as a cargo dog house, but make sure it is approved by airline standards.

Experts advice against tranquilizing your pet. The movement of the airplane seems to have a hypnotic effect, which causes pets (and people) to sleep. Once in the air you’ll discover that your pet will likely sleep. A good pet training is advantageous here. Crate training your pet will prepare him/her to be a better traveler. There are a lot of resources available that will help you achieve this. The time that you will spend training will surely pay off.

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The Rottweiler a breed not for everyone

So you think you want to be owned by a Rottweiler.  There are a lot of things to consider, you should do some serious and and careful research before deciding if the Rottweiler is the right breed for you.  A few things to consider are temperament, activity level and basic needs.

Well let’s talk a little about the Rottweiler breed.  This breed can be dated back to roman times.  This breeds ancestry was originally a drovers dog  and protector. Their intelligence, endurance and willingness to work makes them good for police work and also a service dog.  They were also know as the butchers dogs, and they also would pull carts with milk to market for their owners.

This is a large, robust breed of dog who will mature to stand for a male between 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder and should weigh on average between 90 to 120 pounds.  A female should mature to stand about  22 to 25 inches at the shoulder and weigh about 70 to 90 pounds.  This breed is a loyal family member, a clown who will protect their territory, and their people.  One that is aloof of strangers and is a strong working dog.  These dogs love to have a job to do.  A Rottweiler needs structure and discipline and so obedience and socialization are a must starting at an early age. This breed is in the working dog group within the American Kennel Club.

They have a short coat that is relatively easy to groom. An average shedding breed, brushing with a firm bristle brush regularly should remove any excess hair.The temperament is basically a calm, confident, courageous dog.  He has a self-assured aloofness that does not lend itself to immediate friendships.  He has an inherent desire to protect home and family, and is an intelligent dog of extreme hardness and adaptability with a strong willingness to work. Extremely energetic,they love playing catch, going for a morning run or tagging along on a hike in the woods.  Boredom can lead to behavioral problems.

The Rottweiler generally does best with a good fenced yard for their safety and should be included in the every day activities of the family.  Like children, each dog has a different personality, energy and patience levels. So, each dog and child relationship should be considered individually. This breed is known for some health issues such as hip dysplasia, Cancer, subvalvular aortic stenosis, rupture of cranial cruciate ligament, entropian and ectropian are a few.  Their average life span is about 10 year’s, although they have been known to live longer. One of the main keys to successful ownership is ongoing positive obedience training and socialization. For the right dedicated owner a Rottweiler can be the best of dog companions.

Obedience training is a must as this breed can become destructive without enough stimulation.  A firm and dominant owner is a must when training this powerful breed. Patience is an important factor in training a Rottweiler.

Begin your research by reading  breed information about the Rottweiler. Be sure to ask lots of questions before choosing a breeder.  If you decide a Rottweiler is for you then choose a reputable Rottweiler breeder or to adopt a Rottweiler from a Rottweiler rescue.  This breed’s future lies in the hands of current and future owners.

Train Your Dog To Walk On A Leash Without Pulling

There are a few different methods to train your dog to walk without pulling on his leash. There are also a few basic guidelines to remember when doing the training sessions.

* During the training process consider any walks you take your dog on as teaching sessions.

* Be sure to train frequently. Keep each session short and fun.

* Exercise your dog prior to having a training session. Dogs usually pull on their leash due to having excess energy.

* You will need plenty of rewards during the sessions. Use treats you know your dog loves. Soft treats work well. Make sure they are small bite size pieces.

* During the training sessions walk at a quick pace. Your dog is less likely to stop and sniff.

The first focus must be placed on how well your dog does when preparing for the walk. If he should get overly excited and start running around and making it difficult to put his leash on, there is a way to change this behavior into a more positive habit of your dog remaining still as you put his leash on.

To start, walk to the door and get his leash. Make sure he notices you picking up the leash and standing by the door he knows you leave from to take him for a walk. If he starts to race around, jump, spin, etc. be sure you stand still and do not say or do anything. Once he has calmed down a bit, then slowly place the leash on his collar.

If he starts to get excited again before you have the chance to clip the leash on, quickly take the leash and put your arms to the side of your body. Remember not to say or do anything and remain completely still. Repeat this process until your dog has calmed down,is sitting in front of you, and the leash can be put on. This will definitely pay off if you are consistent.

This method can be used with dogs who are able to remain in a sitting position and will come to you on command even if in a place with distractions.

Begin by walking in your intended direction. As soon as your dog reaches the end of his leash and pulls, stop dead in your tracks and wait. As soon as your dog stops pulling on the leash and allow slack in the leash, call him to you. When he obeys and comes to you, say the command word “sit”. Be sure to say “yes”and give him a treat as soon as he sits. Immediately begin walking again. If he pulls again, repeat the process of you stopping dead in your tracks.

You should reward your dog frequently as you are walking to show him how pleased you are with him staying next to or slightly ahead of you. With consistency, your dog will quickly learn if he stays near you or beside you,he gets treats and gets to keep walking.

He also learns if he pulls on his leash, its not a whole lot of fun since he does not get to keep walking and instead must come back to you and sit. If your dog should pull toward something he see’s, repeat the process of stopping and waiting for him to stop pulling on the leash and to come to you when given the command word.

Instead of rewarding him with a treat when he comes back to you,reward him with allowing him to see the object he was pulling towards. Be sure to say “yes” and give him enough slack to go see the object. You will notice after doing this for a week or two, that you will not be making as frequent of stops.

Another training method which might work for you and your dog is done by starting with your dog at your left side. Have a number of treats in your left hand.

Put your left hand in front of your dog’s nose. Say the command words “let’s walk”and begin walking in your intended direction. Every few seconds, give your dog a treat and do not forget to praise him for doing well by walking at your pace. If he should start to pull ahead or pull to the side,immediately stop again.

Say the command word “sit” and praise him when he sits down. Show your dog your left hand filled with treats and allow him to get a smell. Begin walking again.

Practice this method every day. Increase the distance you walk by a small amount each day. After you have done a weeks worth of this daily “lured” walking, stop luring him with your hand full of treats. Now show your dog your closed left hand as you did when it was filled with treats and say the command words “let’s walk”. Every few steps reward your dog with a treat you take out of your left pocket.

As soon as he is able to walk without pulling his leash for several minutes at a time, start gradually increasing the number of steps you take in between treats. This way your dog will be walking longer distances. The idea is to reward him every other step, then every 5 steps, every 10 steps, etc. You have reached your goal when you can walk with your left hand down at your side.

This method works only if your dog is not wearing a choke, pinch collar, or head halter. With a few dogs using the stopping and luring method with treats is not very successful. Instead of stopping that is used in the other methods which teach him when he pulls, this is a signal for you to turn and walk back to where you started at.

You will add a verbal warning with this method. Before your dog gets to the end of his leash, say the command word “easy.” When he slows down, say “yes” and call your dog to you. Give him a treat but continue walking. The idea is for your dog to come to the understanding that pulling on the leash results in unpleasant reprimanding of being checked against the end of his leash as he gets farther away.Use the same reward method as described in the previously described training methods.

This method is used with a dog that is not wearing a choke, pinch or prong collar. There are some dogs who respond better to a jerk on their collar when they pull.

You will need to hold the end of the leash at your left side, with a elbow bent. Make sure you never allow your dog to pull your arm straight.A warning to your dog needs to used with this method. Before your dog reaches the end of the leash, say the command word “easy.” If your dog slows down, respond with the word “yes” in an excited and praise tone. Call your dog to you and give him a treat.

Remember to keep walking. If he does not slow down and continues to pull, jerk firmly on the leash in a backward and upward direction.Make sure you firmly jerk his leash instead of pulling it. Always give your dog a treat and praise him for not pulling and for walking with you in the proper manner.

See this next article on how to train your dog by using a “clicker.”

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/276347_how-to-use-the-clicker-to-train-your-dog

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Behavioral Training For Cats

Dog owners are so proud of the tricks they’ve taught their beloved pets.  Cat owners can rarely compete in the pet-training arena.  However, cats often need training; not to perform, but to behave in a way that is acceptable to the family with which it resides.

For example if a cat starts scratching on furniture, it needs to be trained to move its scratching instinct from the living room couch to the cat scratching post.

Why Do Cats Misbehave?

Many cat owners comment that their cats know that certain behaviors are frowned upon, but they still do them.  This is because cats often misbehave when bored.   They may be seeking attention or just need to expend some energy.  This can be alleviated by regular play sessions with their owners, being sure this isn’t done immediately after the bad behavior, or the cat could get confused and think of the play as reward for the behavior.

Cats are natural nocturnal animals, so they may become more active at night and start some unwanted behaviors.  To combat this, keep the cat well-exercised during the day with some regular and rigorous play.  This will keep the cat too exhausted to bother his family during their sleeping hours.

Cats are prone to misbehavior during their times in heat if they haven’t been spayed or neutered, especially if confined to the home. 

Changing Cats’ Behavior

The best way to change the behavior of any pet, including cats, is to offer a reward for good behavior.  The reward must be something that the cat prefers to the bad behavior he is currently exhibiting.  The good behavior that the owner is trying to elicit must also be something the cat enjoys.  It’s very difficult to convince a cat to do something it doesn’t want to do.

In the example above, scratching on the scratching post is the good behavior the owner wishes the cat to do instead of scratching the furniture.  This is something the cat will like, as it satisfies his scratching instinct perfectly.  Any time that the cat scratches the post, the owner should give the cat a reward, such as a favored treat or a taste of tuna.  Use something the cat loves.

On the other hand, when the cat scratches the furniture, a strong reprimanded can be used, but no treats should be given until it scratches the post.  A light swat with a newspaper or a squirt of water as punishment for the bad behavior might decrease the cat’s urge to engage in the activity.  This must be done during the bad behavior.  If not, it does no good at all.  Not using punishments at all, but only ignoring the animal for bad behavior and giving rewards for the good behavior also works, perhaps even better than using punishments.  Cats sometimes actually perceive the punishments as attention and increase the frequency of the bad behavior.  Being ignored is a better “punishment” than anything else for cats.

Through this reward only or coordinated reward and ignoring/punishment process, the cat will change his actions based on his memories of what happens after each activity.  Consistency is the key.  Eventually the bad behavior will be eliminated.

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Dog Training: Teaching Your Dog to Wait

Similar to an informal ‘stay’ command, ‘wait’ is very useful as a safety command. The wait command lets your dog know that he can have what he wants (going for a walk, eating a meal, playing with a toy, etc.) when you give your approval. Dogs are very easily distracted and since they live in the ‘now’, the concept of waiting can be a difficult one for them to grasp. It’s a great command to use before feeding or when opening doors (remember you should never let your dog go through a door in front of you).

The easiest way to begin teaching the ‘wait’ command is to put your dog on a leash and head to your front or backdoor. Place your dog in the ‘sit’ position and give the command “wait”. Open the door a crack. Your dog will probably get up and look to advance through the door. Say in a firm but calm voice “No, wait”. If necessary you can give a gentle correction with the training leash. The correction should be a short, gentle tug upward, it should not be harsh or rough as this will only confuse the dog.

 Wait for a few seconds and give the release command, which you can choose based on what works for you. Words like “okay” or “release” work well. Once the dog begins to understand the concept, increase the amount of time you ask him to ‘wait’. Always praise the dog when he does what you ask. When he does not do what you ask, do not become frustrated and yell at the dog or otherwise punish him. This will do more harm than good and will only confuse your dog and make him distrustful of you in the long run.

A good place to practice the command is when you are feeding. Ask the dog to sit and wait till you give the release command to begin eating his food. This is a good way to reinforce the command and it also establishes your dominance in the pack order simultaneously.

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