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May 17th, 2010Pets AdviceGetting the best information about how to stop a dog from biting is crucial when training a Weimaraner. If you would like to know the best way to stop a dog from biting and you have a Weimaraner, you may want to research additional tips for training a Weimaraner. To ensure that your puppy grows up into a well-behaved dog, you may need to also consider trying puppy socialization techniques. Weimaraners are amazing dogs and can make a wonderful family pet.
There have been many famous Weimaraners (and their owners) throughout history. The rock band, New Order featured a Weimaraner in their video for the song Blue Monday and Trent Reznor, (from the band Nine Inch Nails), had a Weimaraner named Daisy May. Weimaraners have also been featured in a variety of movies, including Fever Pitch, and Best in Show, as well as the Japanese series Ginga: Nagareboshi Gin. Novelist Fiona Walker has a Weimaraner named Pudding. There are two Weimaraners on the cover of “Hounds of Love,” the 1985 album by Kate Bush.
Although they were initially hunting dogs for royalty, they can be a wonderful addition to any family. Due to their intensely loyal nature, some Weimaraners need dog training socialization courses in order to help calm down some of their anxiety-based behaviors. Getting puppy socialization tips is easy when you know where to look, many people have found these helpful: Puppy Socialization
Weimaraner obedience training is also available for dogs and puppies who need additional lessons. Dog biting is something an issue with Weimaraners. They are more prone to anxiety problems than some breads and can exhibit additional behaviors as well. If you have been wondering how to stop dog biting, you may want to research additional Weimaraner training tips.
The choice of movie stars and royalty alike, Weimaraners can be a wonderful of any family. Hopefully you won’t need to wonder how to stop a dog from biting, but if you do, there are some great resources available: Stop a Dog From Biting
Click here if you’re interested in how to train your Weimaraner: Click Here
Tags: how to stop a dog from biting, how to train a weimaraner, puppy socialization, weimaraner obedience training, weimaraner training -
March 26th, 2010Pets AdviceSocializing your puppy begins the moment you introduce it into your household and continues for the life of your pet. You must remain aware of every situation your pet is entered into and be ready to correct unwanted behavior, while rewarding good habits.
Puppy socialization starts with your immediate family. Teaching these skills from an early age will ensure that your dog will be a joy to have around. Not only will your family feel secure, but he will be trusted throughout your community.
A poorly socialized dog can be dangerous, especially around young children who tend to become overzealous when playing with pets. A dog must be taught patience and learn to recognize non-threatening actions from family members, friends and other dogs.
Socializing your puppy will keep him safe as well as those around him. He will be able to adapt to various activities and know how to react properly in these situations, such as a visit to the vet or groomer.
This training should begin before twelve weeks of age if possible, as this is an important learning period in its life when temperament develops and habits become ingrained. We will first discuss the do’s and then move on to what should always be avoided.
Puppy socializing activities should always be made pleasant and done in a non threatening manner. Making sure the pup is well fed and rested is always a good idea.
If the dog is frightened or threatened, he may develop a phobia and react negatively the next time he is exposed to the situation. A dog remembers unpleasant surroundings.Invite your friends over to meet your pup. Have them bring their kids. Your dog needs to be exposed to all sorts of people, sniff them out and get to know them better. Encourage people to bring their dog along as well, if it is even tempered.
Meeting other dogs and young puppies is healthy and you will be able to see how he reacts to different breeds. Taking him to various places from the beginning will get him to know the outside world. The park, a pet store where they allow pets is perfect.
Your dog will interact with various other types of animals at a pet store and become familiar with their smells and sounds, and maybe even make some new friends! Frequent car rides are a favorite for most pups as well.
Getting your puppy used to various noises such as the vacuum cleaner, hair dryers, etc will ensure he won’t become startled when out on a visit and react negatively.
Here are some puppy socialization don’ts to remember.Never put the pup on the ground when a strange animal is approaching. This could cause an attack or unwanted attention.
Do not reward fearful behavior by trying to sooth the pup. Fear- based behavior can lead to biting as a means of self defense. Do not force your dog to approach anyone or any thing if he appears apprehensive.
By allowing your pup to go at his own pace when socializing you lessen the chance of injury or intimidation. Take things slow and don’t do too much at a time or your pup will be too overwhelmed to take it all in.
copyright Danny Taylor
Tags: How to socialize your puppy, puppy socialization, puppy socializing, socializing your puppy -
December 26th, 2009Pets AdviceThere are many components to puppy training that affect there overall development such as housetraining, grooming, proper feeding and socialization. What exactly is meant by that? You need to know how to get your puppy to experience a positive upbringing by way of socialization.
One important subject to take into consideration is growing into adulthood. Animals in the wild will eventually grow to maturity with no human care all, but it is important for your new puppy to develop a certain sociability, a willingness and desire to live with and around people and to accept its owner’s word as law.
Puppy Socialization Training
It takes hard work, diligence, and intelligent handling to have successful socialization. Exposing a puppy to a variety of stimuli and gently, patiently, guiding it with each new experience, will serve to create a confident, well-educated, socially acceptable canine.
The spooky dog, the fear-biter, the animal who backs away when approached and many other dogs who behave in a socially unacceptable fashion, were created by neglectful owners. The owners neglected to expose them to what the world has in store. Often these poor, neurotic animals are filed under the unfortunate status of ‘outdoor dogs’ since they have become virtually uncontrollable under normal living conditions as family pets.
Puppy socialization training includes exposure to noises, unfamiliar people and places, other animals, children, travel and other stress-like situations. Puppies may be cautious about unusual and unknown things. Their lack of confidence may be demonstrated by barking, backing away, whining, or acting with nastiness.Reassuring your puppy, talking to it quietly, giving praise and coaxing it to explore the offending object or person, will teach your pup that there is nothing to fear. Everytime anxiety is successfully overcome for your pet, they will have a new sense of confidence and will feel less threatened during the next new situation. Incorporate reassurance in your puppy training techniques.
Your puppy’s exposure to people and children should be treated in a similar fashion. While the majority of puppies are comfortable when in the presence of many different people, many will react timidly when surrounded by unfamiliar faces. To encourage socialization and freindship, ask children and even strangers to play with your puppy. Kneeling to its level or sitting beside it on the floor, will eliminate some of the trepidation it might feel by their size or quickness of the children’s movements.
Your Child and Puppy
Very young children should be allowed to play with animals only under direct adult supervision. Remember to teach children that puppies are not toys and if they injure one it can easily affect how the puppy adjust to or reacts to children from that point on. It is important to realize if the child in the house is simply too young to be gentle with the puppy, therefore refrain from bringing a puppy home for awhile or get an adolescent dog that is about 4 to 9 months old.
There are many aspects to training for a well adjusted pup and you don’t need to have a trainer. You can use puppy and dog training online.
Tags: Puppy and Dog Training, puppy socialization, puppy training -
November 14th, 2009Pets AdviceMuch like a human, a dog learns social skills that will help it get through life. That means puppy socializing is vital to a stress free and happy existence for dog and master. A dog that is maladjusted can have a number of issues. Some may become very fearful of anyone they do not know-canine and human alike. They may not react well to new situations. Fear can turn into aggression should the dog feel cornered or threatened.
Needless to say such a situation could become dangerous for all involved. Starting out early, when the dog is small and learning will help avoid such issues. Educating yourself on how to socialize your puppy properly before bringing him or her home is very important. A dog that is well socialized will have no problem fitting in with other dogs and situations involving new humans. That means you can take your dog just about anywhere without worry for how he or she will react.
12 weeks of age is a good time to start puppy socialization training. All dogs should continue their training long after the 12 week mark. This will reinforce what they learn and help them cope with new situations. Socializing a puppy must be done properly especially the first few times. Any mishaps can have a scarring effect on your canine companion.
Keep the situation as non-threatening as you can. Remember to maintain calm. Your dog can reflect your tension, and that can cause problems. When introducing your pup to a new dog, make sure you are familiar with that dog and its owner. If you have any concern for how it will react, do not go through with the meeting. It takes one misstep for a pup to develop a fear. Especially if the dog is significantly larger, even a playful gesture could harm a small pup.
A small pup is still growing, and his or her immune system may not be as strong as a full grown canine’s. Keep this in mind when exposing your dog to new dogs. Make sure each dog has had all necessary vaccinations and is in good health.
Invite your friends or family over to help with socializing your puppy. The more people he or she comes in contact with, the more comfortable they will become around new visitors when they are older. A dog will learn that he or she has nothing to fear from humans based on positive experiences while growing up.
When deciding how to socialize puppy, remember to change environments. Your dog may grow accustomed to greeting newcomers in his own home, but how will he fair in strange territory? Take your furry friend for walks and park excursions. Many pet stores allow your dog to shop with you, and these can be ideal places for puppy socialization.
There are a number of opportunities you can utilize to properly socialize a puppy. Be sure to include both human and canine interactions as well as socializing sessions in new places. The process can really be a fun one. It is a reason to get friends together and to romp with neighbor dogs. Enjoy each step of the puppy socialization training process. In the end, you and your dog will develop a bond as you reveal the world and all its exciting experiences.
Copyright Danny Taylor (Professional Dog Trainer)
Tags: how to socialize a puppy, how to socialize puppy, puppy socialization, puppy socialization training, puppy socializing, socialize your puppy, Socializing a puppy, socializing your puppy -
November 13th, 2009Pets AdvicePuppy socialization is a very important part of teaching your new pet how to get along in this world. Many dog owners are surprised to learn that quite a few cases of canine aggression could have been prevented if the dog’s owner had only known about this important aspect of dog training.
Why Is Puppy Socialization So Important?
When you expose your dog to lots of different people, different animals, and different places, he learns for himself that new sights, sounds, and people are fun, not scary.
You’ll find that dog socializing is much easier while your pet is still young.You’ll find that the best age for puppy socialization is between the ages of three and twelve weeks. A young dog who has good experiences with new people, other dogs, and even cats will be much friendlier and less fearful of people. This helps to prevent canine aggression towards strangers when he gets older.
Remember that it’s never to late to work on dog socializing. It may take a little longer with an older dog, but you can still use canine socialization in order to help your pooch overcome a fear of strangers and be a happier, more trustworthy friend.
How Is Puppy Socialization Done?
Dog socializing is not that difficult, if you’re willing to make a little effort.
Many dog trainers suggest a puppy preschool. This is a series of group-training classes for puppies and their owners.Usually you’ll find about 10 puppies and their people, plus a couple of dog trainers. During these classes, the puppies start to learn basic dog obedience commands like sit, stay, and others.
Your pup will learn more than just basic obedience lessons at puppy preschool. The play sessions are where your puppy learns essential social skills.The puppies are let off their leashes and allowed to interact during the play sessions. Why is this important?
First, your puppy is learning how to interact with other dogs.
Second, there will be lots of unfamiliar people around, including dog trainers and other dog owners. This is a great way for your puppy to learn not to be afraid of new people.
Third, it’s a controlled environment. The dog trainers make sure things don’t get too wild.
Don’t Stop Puppy Socialization Too Soon
Many dog owners make the mistake of thinking that since their dog has been to puppy preschool, their puppy is now socialized. This mistaken idea can lead to problems with aggression in puppies later on.
It’s important to continue to expose your young dog to new faces, new animals, and new places. Sometimes puppies who seemed to be well socialized at a younger age “forget” those early lessons. By the time your dog is between eight months and two years old, he may become fearful of people and start showing puppy aggression towards strangers.
You can learn more about using puppy socialization to prevent future problems with canine aggression by clicking on any link in this article.
Tags: aggression in puppies, canine aggression, dog socializing, puppy aggression, puppy socialization -
June 13th, 2009Pets AdviceSocialization means to be comfortable and accepting of the culture and behaviors of a certain community. For our dogs, this means the human community. Our dogs no longer live in the wild with their well-understood rules of pack life and how to survive. So they must be taught or socialized in the ways of the humans. This includes human behaviors, sounds, sights, textures; everything in our modern world. It is our responsibility to socialize our dogs so that they may feel comfortable, safe, and confident in our world.
Many of us have heard of someone who was bitten by a dog while reaching his or her hand out to pet it. Or the rescue dog that cowers at the sight of a broom or maybe a bearded man. It is probable that these dogs are not innately aggressive or even the victims of prior abuse. Most likely, these behaviors are a result of poor socialization. The outstretched hand, the broom, the bearded man; all are simply unfamiliar to the dog. It is a dog’s survival instinct to view the unfamiliar as a potential threat until they have had a number of positive experiences to prove otherwise. When your dog is faced with the unfamiliar and feels threatened rather than curious it is natural for the dog to employ aggression to make the scary thing go away.
The puppy socialization period is generally thought of as between three weeks of age and twelve weeks of age. At this time of a puppy’s life they have a natural curiosity and will approach and investigate a great deal. They are also learning to form social relationships both with their littermates and with humans. In terms of the development of desired behaviors and a good temperament, this is the most influential period in a dog’s life. The experiences your dog has during this time will affect him for the rest of his life. It’s up to you to make sure that these experiences are positive. While the earlier weeks are very, very important to proper socialization, don’t think that you should stop there! Your puppy will need your guidance well through his first year. And, while I’m talking a lot about puppies here, the reality is that many of us have older dogs that were not well socialized. You can still socialize your adult dog as you would a puppy but bear in mind that there may be situations in which an older dog has developed a negative association. These situations must be handled more delicately and will take more time. You may find it prudent to use an experienced dog trainer.
As mentioned earlier, dog socialization is getting your dog comfortable with the environment in which he or she lives. We must expose them in a safe, encouraging, and fun way to the many experiences they will have in their lifetime. Some of these experiences we will take for granted but let’s remember that a puppy doesn’t know anything yet and doesn’t know that we are there to protect them. Some of the things a dog may find scary are different walking surfaces, unfamiliar sounds, people, clothing, behaviors, objects, other dogs, and other animals.
Here are a few examples to get you thinking about how your dog may be seeing the world:
Walking surfaces: hardwood floors, gravel, grass, snow, ice, tall grass, wooded areas, beaches, sewer grates, decking, metal, water, rocks
Sounds: cheering crowds, fireworks, music, babies crying, children playing, clapping, doorbells, traffic, other dogs barking, thunder
People: women, men, adults, children, facial hair, big hair, glasses, skin color, laughing, shouting, dancing, wrestling, running
Clothing: hats, hoods, scarves, mittens, big bulky jackets, backpacks
Behaviors toward dogs: petting, hugging, patting, playing with ears or tail, nail clipping, brushing
Objects: noisy appliances, brooms, umbrellas, trash bags, dog crate, leashes
So with all of these things in mind that could pose a problem for your dog you’re probably wondering just what it is that you can do to properly socialize your dog. If you follow these basic rules and ensure that the majority of experiences your dog has are positive then you will likely have a happy dog with a healthy mental outlook:
Never force or even cajole your dog to approach something of which he is unsure. Let your puppy determine when and how he will approach the situation.
Make sure that the experience will be safe and pleasant for your dog. For example, if you are exposing your puppy to children who are playing loudly, keep your dog at a distance. You could give him a couple of treats so he will make a positive association with the experience. Let him wander over to explore only when he is ready.
There will be times when a new experience goes badly. Your job in this instance is to stay calm and neutral. You should not run to his side in order to tell him everything will be all right! This will erode his confidence. Instead, make sure you get many more positive experiences in order to make up for this bad one. Always use a happy, playful voice to let your dog know that it is ok.
Another great way to enhance your dog’s socialization is to join a puppy or dog playtime class. A good trainer will help you with any problems you may be encountering and give you many tips on socialization opportunities.
Tags: dog socialization, dog training, puppy socialization -
February 10th, 2009Pets AdviceLet’s face it, as a new dog owner, you probably haven’t thought too much about puppy socialization. However, this is a very important part of dog training. Many cases of canine aggression could have been prevented if the dog’s owner had only known how to socialize a puppy.
Why Is It So Important To Socialize Your Dog?
When you expose your dog to lots of different people, different animals, and different places, he learns for himself that new sights, sounds, and people are fun, not scary.
It’s better to start socializing your dog while he’s still a puppy.You’ll find that the best age to socialize a puppy is between the ages of three and twelve weeks. A young dog who has good experiences with new people, other dogs, and even cats will be much friendlier and less fearful of people. This helps to prevent aggressive dog behavior towards strangers when he gets older.
Remember that it’s never to late to socialize your dog. It may take a little longer with an older dog, but you can still use canine socialization in order to help your pooch overcome a fear of strangers and be a happier, more trustworthy friend.
What’s The Best Way To Socialize A Puppy?
Actually it’s not that difficult to socialize your dog, if you’re willing to make a little effort.
Many dog trainers suggest a puppy preschool. This is a series of group-training classes for puppies and their owners.There are usually around 10 puppies and their owners, along with two or three dog trainers. During these classes, the puppies start to learn basic dog obedience commands like sit, stay, and others.
You may be surprised to learn that the obedience lessons aren’t the most important thing your dog will learn in puppy preschool. The play sessions are where your puppy learns essential social skills.When the play sessions are happening, the puppies are let off their leashes and allowed to interact with each other. Why is this important?
First, your puppy is learning how to get along with unfamiliar dogs.
Second, you pup will be meeting lots of new people, since there will be a couple of dog trainers and eight or ten other dog owners there. This is a great way for your puppy to learn not to be afraid of new people.
Third, it’s a controlled environment. The dog trainers make sure things don’t get too wild.
Don’t Stop Puppy Socialization Too Soon
Many dog owners make the mistake of thinking that since their dog has been to puppy preschool, their puppy is now socialized. This mistaken idea can lead to problems later on.
It’s important to continue to expose your young dog to new faces, new animals, and new places. Sometimes puppies who seemed to be well socialized at a younger age “forget” those early lessons. By the time your dog is between eight months and two years old, he may become fearful of people and start showing canine aggression towards strangers.
Here’s some food for thought: even though your puppy has learned basic skills during his first few months, it’s important to keep reinforcing puppy socialization lessons throughout your dog’s life.
Tags: aggressive dog behavior, canine aggression, puppy socialization, socialize a puppy, socialize your dog
