So its been a while

Things have been happening, but after the loss of Aria I hadnt wanted to blog for a bit. I have some catching up to do.

I pulled Kaiden out of his 2,3? year agility hiatus and tossed him in a trial. I hadnt done ANY agility with him in at least a year but he was a good boy. We handily got a masters gamblers Q with a pile of points. Dekka didnt Q her advanced gambler class but had a ridiculous number of points in the opening (53 as apposed the next highest being 29, if I remember correctly, over all the heights.)

I got to watch Off Season and Sport was in a movie, Darien got his first gig as a professional handler at the LHW specialty. I will blog more on these later. Just wanted to say, nope havent dropped off the planet.

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Dog Behavior Training Dog Aggression Toward Its Owners

Dog Behavior Training

A dog that growls at and/or bites its owner does so for some reason, even if the behavior appears to be "unreasonable" to the owner.

Call your vet right away and schedule an appointment for a complete medical examination. Talk with your vet about testing your dogs hormonal balance, neurophysiologic functions and allergies. The test results may reveal the underlying cause. This has been especially helpful in dogs that have mood swings.

When growling or biting has erupted as a consequence of scolding or punishment for behavior such as chewing, jumping, general unruliness, or overprotection of food, these problems must be dealt with swiftly and firmly to correct the aggression it is initiating.

The dogs owner must understand that their dog growls or bites at them as a result of defensive feelings. Even the dog that growls when ordered off the couch is reacting defensively, as it feels its dominance status has been threatened.

If scolding and punishment provoke aggression, the dog is reacting to a perceived threat to its physical safety. In either of these situations, the owners threatening behavior is producing negative results.

If the results of a medical examination show no signs of a medical condition that would be causing this behavior, the owner will have to examine his or her own behavior closely to determine what he or she is doing to make the dog feel threatened.

If you cant hire the services of a professional, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer! by Adam Katz for indepth instructions on dog behavior training.

Copyright 2006 by Dick Colman - All Rights Reserved
Dog Behavior Training

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Flyball Training Its All About The Treat

By Blake Mead

What motivates your dog? You must know this to successfully train your dog to be a flyball dog.

Is what motivates your dog a treat? If so, what kind? Is it a toy? If so, which one? Maybe its a game of tug o war or a wrestling match. Whatever it is, you must use what motivates your dog as the treat that awaits your dog after each new learned behavior.

Its also very important that your dog knows what the reward is. The treat, or the toy, or the game must be there each and every time for your dog. The treat is the target. If you train without a target, your dog will not be focused. Training will not be effective and your dog will be unmotivated.

Your dog needs the treat as a target to focus on during each stage of training.

In the beginning, when your dog is learning the basics, a treat must be waiting after each behavior in the chain. Your dog needs to have a reason to perform each behavior. That reason is the treat.

Once your dog has learned all the behaviors in the chain and can successfully run the course and bring the ball to you, then one treat after running the course is enough. That one treat will be the focus for your dog to run the entire sequence and bring you the ball.

When both you and your dog know what the treat is and its always there waiting, then your dog knows why hes there. Thats his motivation.

Listen to your dog! Go to http://www.fly-ball.com for more info on flyball training and equipment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Blake_Mead

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