Dog Training

An Introduction To Canine Body Language: What Is Your Pet Thinking?

Once you learn to recognize certain signals from your dog, determining what he is thinking becomes simple. Canines express themselves clearly through their faces, bodies, and mannerisms. You'll be able to tell quickly whether your pet is feeling fearful, playful, anxious, or alert. In the event you confront an unfamiliar dog, his body language will help you to decide whether to approach him or stay away.

Below, we'll highlight several states of mind canines experience. Learning to distinguish between them by noting your dog's body facial expressions and body language will help to ensure your safety as well as that of your pet.

When Your Dog Feels At Ease

A canine that is relaxed will usually leave his mouth open with his tongue hanging out. His body will appear loose, and his posture will be easy. As he walks, he'll hold his head high with his ears perked and his tail relaxed.

These are signs that the animal feels secure and safe. He is likely in familiar territory, such as his home or a park he visits frequently. He can be approached by any person who is not already considered a threat.

Vigilant For Signs Of Trouble

If a dog notices something unfamiliar to him, he'll likely adopt a vigilant stance. His eyes will be open widely (though not from fear), and his mouth will be closed. His ears may be held slightly forward, and he'll have a focused look. He may distribute his weight evenly across all four legs, or lean forward slightly.

The animal is deciding what he should do in light of the unfamiliar activity. He may do nothing, investigate, or retreat.

A Canine With Confidence

When a dog is confident to the point of expressing dominance, his tail will be raised and stiff; it might also waver from side to side. His mouth will normally be closed, though he might show teeth if he feels challenged. The hair on the animal's shoulders and back will be raised, and he'll stand tall, upright, and slightly forward to convey his dominant attitude. The ears on a confident canine will be positioned forward, and he'll look directly at the animal or person who holds his interest.

When Your Pet Is Anxious And Agitated

Dogs that become fearful in the presence of other animals or people will tuck their tails between their legs, and flatten their ears. They will stare at the source of their anxiety to determine whether it intends to approach or retreat. The lips will be curled slightly to show teeth, and the nose may be creased.

If the animal or person who has prompted this reaction approaches, the anxious canine may retreat, assuming an escape route exists. If he feels trapped, he will likely bark aggressively, snarl, and lunge.

Signs Your Dog Feels Submissive

If your canine meets an animal that he considers to be higher in status, and he wants to inform the other that he is not a threat, he will assume a submissive posture. He may crouch close to the ground with his tail tucked. Or, he might roll over onto his back to expose his underside. If your dog remains on his feet, he'll turn his nose upward toward the other animal, and dart his tongue in and out. He will, however, turn his gaze away to avoid direct eye contact.

The Playful Canine

If your dog wants to play, he'll display several easily-recognized signs. Many canines perform a "play bow," where they kneel on their front paws, and stick their rears in the air. Your pet may use his paws to gently bat at another animal's face or body, and then dash off to encourage the other to chase him. He may also bounce on his paws, and perform quick jumps, turning his body while doing so. Throughout this activity, your dog's mouth will be open, and his tongue will be sticking out the front.

Although most canines have predictable temperaments, they can experience a variety of moods. Learn to identify the signs of each in your pet as well as other dogs.

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Savvy Tips For Selecting The Right Dog Trainer

Take a trip to your local animal shelter. You'll find dozens (even hundreds) of pooches who need a home. The tragedy is that many of them were exiled from their past homes because their owners grew frustrated with their behavior. So, they're brought to the shelter and abandoned.

By enrolling your dog into professional obedience classes, you can curb his/her unacceptable behaviors or even prevent them from developing. Below, I'll give you 3 tips for finding a trainer who can work with your pooch and turn him/her into a faithful, loving, and obedient companion.

Tip #1: Choose Positive Reinforcement

Even today, as canine experts continue to gain a better understanding about the most effective strategies for training dogs, some trainers still use negative reinforcement. In effect, they punish poor behavior. A hard tug on the leash or collar, shouting, and physically mishandling your pooch can cause pain and fear.

Take your canine companion to an expert who uses positive reinforcement. Your pooch's acceptable behaviors should be rewarded while objectionable behavior should be ignored. Not only is such training more humane, but it's also more effective.

Tip #2: Ask For Referrals

Similar to finding a dentist or mechanic, asking other people for referrals is a great way to find a suitable trainer. If possible, visit a few training facilities and interview the owners. Ask about their experience, where they were trained, and the strategies they use in the obedience classes.

Keep in mind that the industry isn't regulated by any authoritative association. If a canine expert claims to be part of a professional group, that alone doesn't necessarily mean he (or she) is qualified or competent. Ideally, you should ask other owners who have enrolled their dogs into obedience training classes. If they had a positive experience, you - and your pooch - will likely have one, too.

Tip #3: Enroll In Group Classes

Obedience training is normally conducted in one of two ways: within a group setting or alone. In group classes, your canine companion will not only learn to modify his/her behaviors, but they will do so while interacting with other dogs and their owners. The experience socializes him/her; they will grow accustomed to being approached and handled by other people. Your pooch will also learn to get along with their peers.

If you enroll your pooch into training that doesn't provide this type of interaction, they will miss a valuable learning opportunity.

Don't let your dog's age deter you from enrolling them into obedience classes. The earlier, the better, of course (after a puppy has reached 8 weeks). But, even if they are older, they can still benefit from the training. Ask other owners for referrals, choose a trainer who uses positive reinforcement techniques, and consider group education. You'll discover the experience carries long-lasting advantages for you and your dog.

Please make sure to check out our ever growing selection of all natural dog treats and chews like bully sticks !

Some Simple Dog Training Advice

Having a dog as a pet brings a great deal of satisfaction and happiness for millions of owners and their families, but training a dog is essential if you are to fully enjoy having a dog and if the dog is to enjoy life with you.

Training methods vary greatly but there is one underlying principal they all share – positive reinforcement.  With positive reinforcement you are seeking to reward the animal every time they do what is being asked of them; the command is “Sit!”, the dog obeys and receives a reward or praise – this is positive reinforcement.

Techniques which involve physical punishment or intimidation are ineffective when it comes to training a dog and you should never hit your dog as though this may produce a short term association of pain or humiliation with an unwanted behavior it is terribly damaging to the relationship you have with the animal.  Your relationship with your dog is vital when it comes to training; your dog looks to you for leadership and views you in doggy terms as the leader of the pack; they look to you for companionship, food and shelter but they are also looking to you as their leader and provider of the standards to which they must conform.  When you hit your dog, you are damaging this perception and the animal is less likely to respond positively to you in future and a scared dog is not an animal you want around you or your family.

Positive reinforcement requires patience on the part of the owner; training your dog is a process and not something that will produce immediate and instant results.  Over time your dog will learn the concepts you are trying to teach but where there is a failure or the animal appears to be learning at a slow pace, it is frequently the owner who is actually the root cause of the issues.

When dog training is carried out, we are not actually training just the animal – we are training a team comprising the owner and the dog, and more often than not, the owner is the one failing in the training program.  Professional dog trainers do not take on a dog directly and train them as a rule, instead, they train the owner in how to train the dog as after all, it is the dog will be looking to the owner for leadership and commands in future and not the trainer.

A dog can also be trained at any age however, the sooner training commences the better; the old saying “You cannot teach a dog new tricks!”, does not hold true but it is more difficult to train an animal that has grown and become accustomed to a different set of rules to work and live by.  Dog training should commence while the animal is still in the puppy stage and can commence as soon as the puppy has been weaned and left the mother.  Start the training process with simple behaviours for the dog to learn – sit and heel, are two good ones to start off with.  Make the activity fun and not just fun for the dog but fun for you too and remember this is not a chore and don’t treat it as such as the dog will very quickly pick up on your cues; every dog will closely look at their owner and take everything in and they will very quickly learn your moods and your personality traits.

Lastly we always recommend dog treats and chews like bully sticks as training rewards as they are a great reward an will naturally keep teeth and gums healthy!

Plato Dog Treats

Plato makes some of the finest dog treats on the market today. All of their treats are made in the US and the chicken dog treats are certified organic. Finding dog treats that are made in the US is becoming an increasing rarity and it is always nice to offer something that is made under the scrutiny of the US government.

Plato dog treats currently come in four varieties, however, they are planning on bringing out some new products out soon! The dog treats that are currently available are Kangaroo, Duck, Chicken, and Salmon; all of which have over 90% of the meat ingredient in them. The chicken, duck, and salmon varieties come in 2 sizes with the Kangaroo only coming in one.

The duck and salmon treats are particularly good for dogs with allergies as they are both considered hypo-allergenic meats. Kangaroo is widely considered the most hypo-allergenic meat for dogs, so if you have a dog with a sensitive stomach please consider these. Also, don't worry about the source of the kangaroo as it is from free range kangaroos that are naturally culled from the population; without culling the population kangaroo's would become too populous!

Plato is also introducing an excellent salmon oil for dogs and cats which we will be carrying on the site within the next few weeks. This oil is a 100% natural product and is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals particularly the Omega 3's and 6's. We are sure that this will make a great addition to an already high quality assortment of products from Plato.

As always, make sure to check out our other selection of all natural dog chews and treats, and of course bully sticks....

With wedding season getting into full swing, many dog owners are agonizing over whether or not to include their beloved pets in their special day. While it can certainly be fun, entertaining, and adorable to have your four-legged friend included and all dressed up, there are a couple of things to take into consideration before sending them down the aisle.

Make Sure Everybody is OK with it

Check with everybody involved with the wedding before committing to having your dog a part of it. Some of your attendants may have allergies, the officiant may not approve, and the location may have rules against pets (many churches only allow dogs that are with a blind person to enter). Make sure to get the go ahead before you plan your entire ceremony around your dog being there to save yourself the headache later.

Ensure Your Dog is up to the Task

If your dog has problems accepting simple commands like "sit" and "stay", then including them in the wedding may be a mistake. If your dog is easily distracted, they could wander away during the ceremony, something especially problematic if your wedding is being held outdoors. Having your dog in the roll of flower dog or ring bearer is a great idea right up until they go chasing birds with your rings in tow. Make sure they'll actually make it down the aisle before you commit to having them come down the aisle.

Can Your Reception Accommodate Your Dog?

Just because your location is willing to have your dog there doesn't mean that they're capable of taking care of your dog. Make sure that they can provide food for your dog or that you provide them with the appropriate food if they can't.

Make Sure Your Pet Will Be Entertained

You will have many responsibilities during the ceremony and reception, make sure that your dog can either entertain itself, or will be entertained by friends and family that are willing to play with them. Having a supply of dog treats and other chews like bully sticks and anterlz is a good way to keep them occupied and happy without having to worry about somebody devoting time to them.

Have a Great Time

The key to your wedding is that you have a great time, and if you can incorporate your dog while doing so, even better. Be sure to keep these things in mind and you're sure to have a great wedding day with or without your dog.