When it comes to training your dog, you don’t have to make too many expenses just to achieve that desire. Dog training can happen without a trainer’s aid. If you are certain in what you want for your dog to learn, you can certainly do it all on your own. Not only will it be very cost effective on your part, but it will also be something worthwhile as you get to know your dog more and your dog will also recognize your authority more. Also, keep in mind, that when you take your pet to dog obedience classes, the trainer will demonstrate how to train your dog, but you will have to practice the dog training tips at home, so it still requires your time. Read More
Biodegradable Dog Bags
Dog bags are an unfortunate part of taking your dog out for a walk. Every pet owner has a responsibility to not inflict their pet’s mess on other people, and while leaving dog waste is, from one perspective at least, not quite as bad as littering, stepping on their waste is a pretty grotesque experience.
One of the worst things that can happen when you are picking up your dog’s waste is to have your bag break, so one of the most important things to look for when buying your dog bags is durability.
That being said, we have an unfortunate situation where dog bags are often sent directly towards landfills, and when they aren’t biodegradable that can be a problem. We have the option to purchase biodegradable bags, which is yet another way for dog owners to be responsible owners.
Why Punishment should be Avoided
Punishment has been a big part of dog training for a long time, but more recently dog trainers from around the world are shifting away from encouraging “active” punishment, such as shouting, or using physical force to get your way. Nowadays, most dog trainers recommend their clients remain calm in the face of undesirable behaviour from their dogs, and then reinforcing good behaviour.
There are plenty of reasons why dog trainers have moved away from active punishment as a means of training, and these reasons are often well-supported by research into the subject. Because, while punishing dogs for bad behaviour is often very effective in the short-term, its ability to redefine their behaviour, and the state of mind that causes them to behave in that way, seems very limited. Playing the role of “alpha” can be very effective, but there is often very little opportunity for you to relax as a result, because all you’ve achieved is making your dog afraid and anxious about upsetting you, you’ve not taught them good behaviour.
Here are a few of the consequences of punishing dogs, instead of reinforcing them, that have been borne out by research:
- The bond of trust between your and your pet will be damaged.
- Can cause physical harm. Most cases of abuse to dogs aren’t intentional, they happen because the owner doesn’t understand how to treat their animals and they go overboard as a consequence.
- It can elicit a response of fear and anxiety.
- It reduces your dog’s ability to learn.
None of this is to suggest that punishment as whole shouldn’t ever be applicable, or that rules should not be enforced on your pet, but likewise with the restrictions you place on your dog, you should try to restrict the ways in which you punish them to ways that aren’t in trouble of being abusive. It is important that you understand that positive reinforcement of good behaviour can work a lot better to reform behaviour in the long term, and flipping out, or losing your composure, is unlikely to ever be very effective.
Collar vs Harnesses, the Pros and Cons of Each
The two main types of dog handling equipment for a dog owner are the leash and collar, and the leash and harness. Each of these tools have their pros and cons from the standpoint of a pet owner, of which we’ve laid out a few for each:
Collars;
Leashes can be attached to both leashes and harnesses with relative ease, so that doesn’t really come into the equation. Where it does come into is what happens once the leash has been removed; a harness will continue to restrict movement, whereas a collar can sit more comfortably on a dog’s neck.
When the leash is still attached to the collar, dogs can often pull against the leash and hurt themselves through choking, as most dog owners will have experienced.
Harnesses;
Harnesses have a lot of advantages over a collar, as they can provide far greater control over your pet and do so more safely for their health as well. This is particularly important for larger dogs that can potentially overpower their owners.
Is Training your Dog to Sleep Outside Right?
This is a question which a lot of dog lovers will answer in the negative, but there is a right and a wrong way of doing this. If you begin to teach your dog to sleep outside in a doghouse at an early age, they can adjust to the situation quite easily and be perfectly happy with their space. If you try and force an elderly dog to change their sleeping habits, then it can be a very stressful experience.
There are a lot of important things to take account of if you decide to put your dog in a doghouse. It is important that it is well sheltered, i.e. it doesn’t have any any leaks, and isn’t exposed to the wind and rain. It also needs to have plenty of bedding, particularly in the colder periods of the year, so that they can stay warm and dry.
For the bedding that you use, it is important that it doesn’t soak up water like a sponge, as that would end up working against keeping your dog warm. There are plenty of online pet product stores which will sell you dog bedding which is suitable for doghouses.