By Nick Krueger
If you place your dog’s food down and he growls or snaps at you, this is called food aggression or food guarding. This can have severe effects on your relationship with the dog as well as his relationship towards you and your family.
Oftentimes, this can behavior must be trained out of the animal, or it will continue indefinitely. Dogs have an instinctive need to guard there food. Most times, this doesn’t present itself because the dog trusts his master above all else. Sometimes, though, this instinct surfaces in dogs and can be a hazard to you and your family if left alone. What the dog must learn is that he should not be threatened by you when it is feeding time.
If you are angry or violent in your training habits when teaching your dog about food aggression, then he may have a tendency to become aggressive back, hindering the training process. Hitting or using a leash to pull the dog away from his food during these periods of aggression can make him even more agitated and can become dangerous for both of you.
Food aggression will not go away overnight, but with continued patience and working with the animal, the problem can be resolved. A routine is the best solution to this problem. Using certain stimuli that tell the dog it is time to eat and there is no need to be anxious or nervous is the key. During this routine, ensure that there are not distractions such as kids or other animals in the room. Another animal walking by or a child passing can become an immediate step back while training for food aggression.
As you prepare to feed the dog, tell him to sit. Make him wait for you to place the food down. He must learn that you are the master and he must wait on you. If you can get him to start eating only after a voice command, then that is a great step, although for some it may be asking too much at first. If you are training a puppy, it will be a little easier because as he eats, walk around, pet, and praise him. If he growls, pet him and let him know you are not going to take his food. For a week or two, only work on these steps. For older dogs, try dropping a treat or tidbit for him as a reward – treats that are tastier than his dog food. By doing this, he will learn that people passing him is a good thing.
This is a good starting place. Other steps can be implemented down the road, but this foundation is what you want to build on. By progressing slowly, it will not be long before food aggression is no longer an issue.
Nick Krueger is a review specialist at Reviewica.com. For more information on dog obedience training and related product reviews, please visit: http://dog-obedience-training-reviews.reviewica.com/index.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Krueger
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
10 Things You Need To Know About Dog Care
By Greg Finkley
1. If you can listen, they can talk! A dog is substantially cheaper than your car, but they tend to last longer. Spend the time to get to know your dog, understand and accept its moods and habits. You should have your pet for a long time and the time that you spend understanding him or her will be well rewarded. If you know your dog well, the first "off sign" can warn you when your dog is sickening for something.
2. Find an obedience program suited for your dog. There is no single method to train all breeds of dog. all too often the dog is expected to bend to the technique, when the technique should benefit the dog. The purpose of training a dog is to enrich its life, it's pointless bending a dog to your will by threats. The real point is to forge a real bond between you and your pet so that you both want to learn together. Find a class best to your dog, a trainer that takes on just about any dog is no use to man or beast.
3. Teach a dog to use its mouth appropriately. All dogs chew for fun, make sure that they have something appropriate to chew on. It is very cute for a puppy to chew a finger, but essentially you are training the dog that it is acceptable behavior to eat skin. Have two or three toys for a dog to chew on making sure they are robust enough but not to big for their mouths. A dog that has not been taught to chew properly may well eat an electric cable, it is for their safety as much as for your slippers!
4. Do not let your dog dominate your life. All dogs are pack animals and they need to know who is boss. If you do not dominate your dog, then he will feel the need to dominate you. You are top dog and what you say goes, be firm and consistent and do not let your dog rule your life.
5. Amazingly dogs like a fairly stable routine. All dogs need a place to sleep that is their own and it should be in the same place. It is better to feed your dog at the same time each day.
6. Dogs should never eat between meals. Your dog will eat what you give him. As a loving dog owner your dog is part of the family, but you are not doing your dog any favors by feeding him from the table. A healthy diet for your dog means healthy dog treats, rich in health promoting minerals and vitamins, definitely not chocolate or potato chips! A healthy dog will live longer.
7. Keep your dogs confined in a safe place. If a dog is left alone and untethered in a garden or yard, they can react to stimuli, noise or another dog and attack other dogs or run into traffic. Their safety is in your hands. Be aware that there are over fifty plants toxic to dogs (Castor Bean seeds, Cherry Laurel, Dumb Cane, Oleander and many more)
8. Tag your dog clearly. There is nothing at all you can do if pet thieves take your dog, but you can help if your dog is accidentally lost. Many local authorities put down lost dogs.
9. Make sure that you have adequate pet insurance, or can pay to see a vet when the need arises. All dogs will fall sick at some time. Deal with the eventuality sooner rather than later.
10. Never forget that your dog is your sole responsibility, he did not ask for you to choose him. His life, health and safety are literally in your hands.
For more information about Dog Care, vistit Greg Finkley's site http://www.dog-breeds-online.com. If you want a regular dose of precious tips and information about taking care of your dog, be sure to subscribe to "Tail Wagging" at http://www.dog-breeds-online.com/tail-wagging.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Finkley
1. If you can listen, they can talk! A dog is substantially cheaper than your car, but they tend to last longer. Spend the time to get to know your dog, understand and accept its moods and habits. You should have your pet for a long time and the time that you spend understanding him or her will be well rewarded. If you know your dog well, the first "off sign" can warn you when your dog is sickening for something.
2. Find an obedience program suited for your dog. There is no single method to train all breeds of dog. all too often the dog is expected to bend to the technique, when the technique should benefit the dog. The purpose of training a dog is to enrich its life, it's pointless bending a dog to your will by threats. The real point is to forge a real bond between you and your pet so that you both want to learn together. Find a class best to your dog, a trainer that takes on just about any dog is no use to man or beast.
3. Teach a dog to use its mouth appropriately. All dogs chew for fun, make sure that they have something appropriate to chew on. It is very cute for a puppy to chew a finger, but essentially you are training the dog that it is acceptable behavior to eat skin. Have two or three toys for a dog to chew on making sure they are robust enough but not to big for their mouths. A dog that has not been taught to chew properly may well eat an electric cable, it is for their safety as much as for your slippers!
4. Do not let your dog dominate your life. All dogs are pack animals and they need to know who is boss. If you do not dominate your dog, then he will feel the need to dominate you. You are top dog and what you say goes, be firm and consistent and do not let your dog rule your life.
5. Amazingly dogs like a fairly stable routine. All dogs need a place to sleep that is their own and it should be in the same place. It is better to feed your dog at the same time each day.
6. Dogs should never eat between meals. Your dog will eat what you give him. As a loving dog owner your dog is part of the family, but you are not doing your dog any favors by feeding him from the table. A healthy diet for your dog means healthy dog treats, rich in health promoting minerals and vitamins, definitely not chocolate or potato chips! A healthy dog will live longer.
7. Keep your dogs confined in a safe place. If a dog is left alone and untethered in a garden or yard, they can react to stimuli, noise or another dog and attack other dogs or run into traffic. Their safety is in your hands. Be aware that there are over fifty plants toxic to dogs (Castor Bean seeds, Cherry Laurel, Dumb Cane, Oleander and many more)
8. Tag your dog clearly. There is nothing at all you can do if pet thieves take your dog, but you can help if your dog is accidentally lost. Many local authorities put down lost dogs.
9. Make sure that you have adequate pet insurance, or can pay to see a vet when the need arises. All dogs will fall sick at some time. Deal with the eventuality sooner rather than later.
10. Never forget that your dog is your sole responsibility, he did not ask for you to choose him. His life, health and safety are literally in your hands.
For more information about Dog Care, vistit Greg Finkley's site http://www.dog-breeds-online.com. If you want a regular dose of precious tips and information about taking care of your dog, be sure to subscribe to "Tail Wagging" at http://www.dog-breeds-online.com/tail-wagging.html
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Finkley
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