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Similar to children, dogs need to be taught right from wrong. To have a well-mannered dog, it's essential to teach it obedience and to correct its bad behavior. Ideally, training starts when your dog is a puppy, because it won't have developed bad behavior yet, and is open to new ideas.Related Searches: Teaching ObedienceEven though you can enroll your dog in obedience classes, many people do the training themselves. Patience and consistency are essential during training. Instead of punishing the dog if it neglects to respond to a command, give it a reward when it does obey; positive reinforcement is more effective. Use dog treats to persuade and tempt your dog to sit, stop, stay or roll over. Show the dog the treat, give the command and praise and reward it when it obeys you. Over time, the dog learns to obey the command without the need of the treats.
Correcting Bad BehaviorIf your dog develops undesirable traits, such as lying on the couch, jumping on the bed or barking at strangers, it's up to the dog parent to correct the behavior. Catch your dog in the moment. If it jumps on the couch, firmly discipline it. Remove the dog from the couch and put it on the floor. Tell your dog, "get off," make eye contact and wait for your dog to look away and show submissiveness. If it refuses to obey, place it in a timeout; put your dog in a crate for 15 minutes.
Rewarding and Praising Your DogRewarding your dog when it obeys you and displays good behavior needs to happen immediately after the fact; if you wait too long, your dog won't understand what it is being rewarded and praised for. The same goes for disciplining your dog. Don't wait until your dog has finished barking at a stranger; correct the behavior as soon as it starts. If you see the problem coming, warn your dog with a quick "ah-ah" beforehand and it may refrain from barking completely.
Get the Whole Family InvolvedHaving a well-mannered dog requires all family members to get involved. Everyone living in the home must use the same verbiage when commanding the dog. The dog must learn to listen to everyone living in the home. All family members must be aware of what the dog is allowed to do, and not allowed to do; if you teach your dog not to eat from the table, but another family member feeds your dog table scraps, it can trigger confusion.
ReferencesK9 Web: Behavior: Understanding and ModifyingVet Infor: Teaching Dog ObedienceABC: Doggy MannersPhoto Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty ImagesRead Next: Print this articleCommentsFollow eHowFollowView the Original article
Pillow Pets Unicorn - As Seen on TVPillow Pet Unicorn is a cute, huggable pet that pops open into full size pillow. They are soft, cuddly and they make perfect pillows. Simply undo the Velcro strap and the pet pops open to a full size pillow. Fold it up and reattach the Velcro strap and now it is back to a cuddly Unicorn Pillow Pet. When in pillow mode we've even attached a fabric patch that covers the Velcro so it won't scratch or irritate your child's skin. Is Fido not allowed in bed? The Pillow Pet is the perfect solution to give your child companionship during naptime and bedtime.It is fun and easy and so versatile. Kids love to play with the pet during playtime and snuggle up with it during sleep time. Everyone needs a pillow. Why not have a fun, cuddly pillow with the Pillow Pet. Pillow Pets are great for traveling, long car trips, airplanes and sleepovers. Pillow Pet Unicorn is constructed of high quality chenille fabric with durable stitching that stands up to wear and tear. Pillow Pets are machine washable so your child's Pillow Pet can always be clean and fresh. Pillow Pets make the perfect gift so if you have a birthday party, holiday or special occasion around the corner pick up a Pillow Pet. We guarantee it will be a hit. Pillow Pets are great for boys and girls of all ages and will truly be a hit at the next birthday party..
When Baby Einstein started its "video board books" in 1997, the company was virtually alone in the field of baby development. By its sixth video, the field has become crowded with similar-sounding titles. Now scientists might be able to analyze what a baby will get out of a video like Baby Dolittle compared to Baby Van Gogh, but is it worth getting more baby videos? Absolutely--babies love variety as much as their adult counterparts. On that level, Baby Dolittle scores. The theme of animals is a natural, and this show should cause squeals of delight from little ones 1 to 4 years old. Using a stimulating mix of brightly colored toys, whimsical puppets (including your host, Pavlov the Dog), and lots of pictures, Baby Dolittle takes the viewer on a 30-minute tour of commonly found animals. Help your little pal spot a pig on the farm or a dog in the house. Baby Dolittle uses animals' sounds, kids' drawings, and photography for each animal in four habitats. The natural settings and original, bright recordings of Beethoven, Rimsky-Korsakov, Vivaldi, and others should make this a favorite every time you want to visit Old MacDonald's Farm. Followed by a companion production, Baby Dolittle World Animals. --Doug Thomas