pet training

Golden Retrievers are among the more active breeds and require a lot of exercise to stay fit and happy. Originally bred for game fetching, these energetic dogs can run much of the day, even late into … Read More

One of the most common reasons people have for buying a pet bird is the desire for a talking pet. Most people think of the talented African grey when they picture a talking bird, but quite … Read More

Many people treat their dog as a tool. They put it outside to watch the property, or generally ignore it until they want it for something. That’s tragic. But luckily that sort of thing happens rarely … Read More

The German Shepherd breed was developed over 100 years ago, as the name suggests, for herding sheep. That activity is less common in the world today, but the basic skills are still much in demand. GSDs, … Read More

Here’s an interesting trio of videos from http://Petside.com .. 1) Grooming Your Champion At Home 2) It’s Not Easy Being Pretty 3) The Mugs Of Westminster Be sure to watch them all! Just select the second … Read More

You’ve managed to make it up on top of your horse and boy, is it a long way down! Now, how do you get him to move? After all, you don’t want to make an animal … Read More

Nothing is more essential to good training than good health. And the foundation of good health is a good diet. Depending on your budget you may or may not be able to feed your dog a … Read More

Not every dog gets spayed (removal of female reproductive organs) or neutered (removal of male organs). Whether through an intention to breed or other motive, many individuals leave their companions intact. Left with a full complement … Read More

Contrary to popular belief, there are not as many training styles as there are trainers. Despite individual differences, people handling dogs fall into clearly recognizable categories. And no matter your individual style or that of your … Read More

Since rabbit urine can have an overpowering smell, litter training is something most pet owners will want to do. Even feces, as unpleasant as they can be, aren’t as big a problem. They often can be … Read More

Teaching your pet tricks is easiest when you work with their nature, not against it. Most dogs are eager to please and respond enthusiastically to rewards. Teaching tricks is often as much a matter of simply … Read More

Proper training begins even before the pup is born. While it’s not always possible to buy a pup from champions, selecting the proper breed and temperament is essential. Choosing a pup starts with choosing the dam … Read More

The word ‘vital’ has its roots in the Latin word for life. That gives us a clue to why dog training is so important, both for owner and dog – it enhances the quality of life … Read More

It’s no accident that some breeds are more commonly found as working dogs. Retrievers, and a few others tend to have the Shepherdsphysical characteristics, intelligence and temperament needed to perform the complex behaviors even they need … Read More

The creativity of trainers and those who supply them with additional tools is never-ending. To the new or casual trainer there appears a dizzying array of devices. Though many are useful, they shouldn’t be viewed as … Read More

The term ‘purebred’ is relative. No breed has been so isolated that it’s never mated with another. But taken over the last hundred years or so, there are populations of Golden Retriever, German Shepherds and many … Read More

Like humans, dogs are individuals. Some, through a combination of genetics, circumstances and self-development display assertive characteristics and others are more passive. Assertive dogs seek alpha (leader) status, forcibly remove rawhide bones or toys from others, … Read More

The old saying .. ‘You can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ … is a myth. Like humans, or many other species, dogs learn new things every day throughout life. But, also like humans, learning new … Read More

As descendants from wolf packs, dogs have and seek a natural hierarchy in which some are dominant (alphas) and others follow. Struggles among young pups to sort of who is which start early, in some cases … Read More

Dogs have a significant capacity for training their trainers. Apart from making us wave our hands and bark odd words, we regularly fetch treats and run after tennis balls. Not useful to us, but the dog … Read More

Dogs can learn an amazing variety of behaviors, but few so fundamentally important as the ‘sit’. Beyond the basic need to establish that the human of the pair is the alpha (leader), it has a number … Read More

If you buy a foal or a horse that is green broke, you will need to be prepared to train your horse. After all, a badly trained horse is not just unenjoyable. A horse is a … Read More

‘Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed‘ said Francis Bacon. Nowhere more true than dog training. Dogs have a natural tendency to seek and adhere to a hierarchy with an alpha (leader) at the top on … Read More

Dogs aren’t really stubborn. But they often don’t clearly know what’s wanted. Make it clear by quickly establishing alpha (dominant leader) status. Be willing to exercise the patience and modest, firm force to get the desired … Read More

While most people think of pet birds as animals that just sit in the cage or perch on someone’s shoulder and say the occasional funny phrase, some birds can actually learn quite a few interesting and … Read More

Training puppies requires patience, proper technique and tons of time. Ferrets are harder. They’re not unintelligent, but they’re less eager to please and not as socialized as dogs. Though domestic, they’re simply a different kind of … Read More

By Derek Wood You went out and purchased a dog, got them home and after a few months you realized it is time to start training your pet. Training has even progressed to a good degree, … Read More

Sometimes the distinction between training and control is too easily lost. Using commands and hand gestures, with leashes or treats, to solicit desired behavior is training. Using choke or ‘no-bark’ collars, electronic fences and similar devices … Read More

No training is more basic for pet owners than that first important lesson: Do it outside! Teaching your pet to eliminate outside the home, not in it, usually starts between six and eight weeks of age. … Read More

By Catherine Smith Is your rat aggressive? Does your rats often start fights with the other rats? Does he bite, or scratch you, or the other rats? If he does, I may just be able to … Read More

Normal dog training requires patience that is greater nowhere else but childrearing. Training rescued dogs takes even more. Though sterilizing dogs – spaying (removing female organs) and neutering (removing male organs) – has been common practice … Read More

Not every dog gets spayed (removal of female reproductive organs) or neutered (removal of male organs). Whether through an intention to breed or other motive, many individuals leave their companions intact. Left with a full complement … Read More

No project, apart from raising a child, requires more patience than dog training. All breeds have different attributes that present challenges. Some are intelligent, but boisterous and easily distracted. Some are eager to please, but dim-witted. … Read More