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  • How to Stop Dog Whining

    Dog behaviour whining can be very frustrating and confusing. You may not know why he is whining or how to stop it. Puppies often quickly learn that whining gets them food or attention. Do not reinforce this belief! Never give a dog attention when he is whining. Instead, work to find out why he is whining, and how to stop dog whining.

    Puppy training may cause whining in the beginning. A new stimulus such as a crate may scare your puppy. It is very important to present new things to a puppy in small doses, and to stop training when he becomes agitated or uncomfortable.

    Dog whining is often a cry for attention. Your dog may be uncomfortable or lonely in his environment, and is asking you to give him some love. He may want to play, go to the potty, or to come inside. Try putting him on a schedule so that he knows what to expect at what time. Be sure you schedule plenty of exercise and potty breaks, and give your dog as much love and attention as you can. Again, do not give in to his whine demands, but prevent them in the future. Pay attention to dogs only when they are quiet.

    Separation anxiety can be a cause of dog whining. Crate training can help greatly with this. Start by confining your dog for short periods of time, gradually increasing the times. Make sure you give your dog lots of praise and attention when you return to let him out. This will help him understand that you are not leaving him permanently, and that you will return home to him.

    Sometimes dogs whine because they are excited and want to participate in something they see. Try distracting your puppy from whatever is drawing his attention by working on obedience training commands. Teach him a “be quiet” command. Reward him when he does as told, but do not reinforce undesired behaviour. Ignore his whining or squirt him with a little water.

    For advice on how to stop your dog / puppy from whining read out our reviews on these Top Dog Training Guides.

    If you start hearing your dog whining frequently when he never has before, this could be a sign that there is something wrong physically. Take him to the veterinarian to be checked out. Even if nothing is wrong, at least you have the peace of mind of knowing, and maybe your vet can give you some advice to stop dog from whining.

  • Dog Tricks Training

    Teaching your dog tricks is every dog owner’s dream, but you must start with basic obedience and curbing any dog behaviour problems before you begin any dog tricks training.

    Your dog should know the basic commands such as sit, down, heel, stand, and come before you attempt any type of trick training. Dog training tricks can help reinforce basic obedience training, as well as improve agility.

    When you are working with your pet, some useful dog training tips include working on the training program in many different locations. For example, if you only train your dog to respond to the command “Sit” while inside your home, it may not understand that it has to respond to this command outside as well. Leash training for example, is something that most people only do outdoors. You have to work on this method inside the house as well and then it will be really effective.

    Training your dog also means that you have to teach it to pay attention. If you have the dog’s attention, then you will also be in control of your dog. Use your dog’s name to get his attention. Never use his name when punishing him or he may associate his name with bad behavior. Instead, use his name to call him for food, treats, or play time. This will teach him to pay attention when you use his name, and will make training much easier.

    Dog tricks training will be most effective with puppies as they have more enthusiasm and energy. You should never punish them during tricks puppy training, as this will take the fun out of the trick and make it a forced behaviour. Instead, treats and praise should be used to reward your puppy when he successfully completes a trick. He will then see the trick as a positive way to get attention, and will want to repeat the trick. He will also be more eager to learn other new tricks.

    All dogs are capable of doing tricks, but some breeds are more naturally suited to dog tricks training. It is very important to realise that not all breeds will be able to perform all tricks, so you must work within your pet’s natural capabilities. Do some research or seek the advice of a trainer to find out what tricks are ideal for your breed. This will mean less frustration for you and more success for your dog.

    For some tricks training special equipment may be required. This will depend on what you plan to teach your pet, as well as what you expect them to do with the training. If dog trick training is simply for fun and amusement, then you may not need to spend much money on supplies. If you wish to enter your dog in competitions or put him on the big screen, then you may need an elaborate setup.

  • How to House Train Your Puppy

    Check out the above video for some great tips on house training your puppy. It’s easier at puppy stage to house train any dog.

    Some key points and things to remember are…

    • Your house is its den
    • Don’t allow your dog to roam freely
    • Take note of your dogs cues
    • Ensure its last meal 3 hours before retiring
    • When accidents happen, put your puppy outside

  • A Couple of Pugs with Problems

    My best friend and I both own pugs and although they are the greatest dogs in the world, they do have their problems. Mathilde is getting on a bit now and she tends to get tired quicker and her immune system is lower. But fortunately mostly she still is her usual perky mischievous self.

    One of the problems that I had with her recently though is that she was constantly scratching and biting her fur. Now I thought this was down to her having fleas so I kept giving her flea treatments that I bought online but she still kept scratching and itching. After consulting a few online experts I came to the conclusion that she was allergic to the carpet that we had recently laid down.

    Now we just forked out quite a lot of money on this new carpet and really didn’t want to have to get rid of it. This is where I came across Atopica; it is an anti-allergy for dogs and is specially designed for allergies with dust and mites. It doesn’t have any steroids in it so it doesn’t harm them.

    What I have also been doing is giving her Royal Canin dog food, which is rich in omega 3 and 6 oils. This has brought her coat back up to a good standard and she is now no longer scratching like she was before. I was completely amazed at the transformation and at the same time very relieved. So just because your dog is scratching doesn’t always necessarily mean that it has fleas or parasites, as it could be allergic to your carpet as well!

    Then, my friend has just started using Forthyron on her pug and she wanted to know if any other owners have had any problems with it? So far everything’s been okay but she might be using the medicine over a prolonged period of time, and she’s just a little bit nervous about the effect this may have on her little pooch. Your advice would be very much appreciated.