Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

The Praise and Reward System is without any doubt the most animal friendly approach to train your dog. This method, often referred to as positive reinforcement training, is considered by experts to be the correct method of dog training.

In the same fashion as parent reward and praise a child for good behavior so it is with training your dog. The difference in dog training is, you praise your dog when the dog does something you approve and ignore your dog’s behavior when you disapprove.

In the past, dog training methods did not consider the harm that it caused to the animal. Unacceptable and cruel methods such as beatings, electric shocks were once common practice in dog training. As more people discover the humane approach to dog training, the old animal abusing methods are no longer being used.

The Praise and Reward System takes your dog temperament into consideration. This method is such that the dog has a chance to absorb the commands you are asking him to do. The praises and rewards make the dog understand that certain behaviors please you and dogs thrive on pleasing their master.

When a training is more meaningful for the dog, the behavior change tend to be more rapid. With time, the behaviors become more natural for the dog as the dog has a chance, in fact the opportunity, to use his own brain in deciding how to act.

To leverage your success in dog training follow these tips and tricks.

The use of food treats and showing affection to the animal work much better then simple verbal praise followed by a pat on the head.

The giving of the reward must immediately follow a behavior you want repeated. It must be clear to the dog as to why he is being rewarded. When the dog exhibits a proper behavior, immediately mark this behavior with a significant distinctive noise (such as a clicker) or by simply saying yes in an excited tone of voice, either will work. The treat needs to follow immediately so that the dog can understand that if he behaves in such a way, a treat is going to be given. Always use the same marker when the dog repeats the behavior and soon no treat will be needed for the dog to repeat the behavior. You need to be consistent for proper training to take place.

The commands used for training must be the same all the time. The dog needs to able to link the commands to the expected behaviors. Do not vary your commands as this will only confuse the dog. It is simply a matter of repetition until the dog associates behaviors with commands. A good idea is to pre-determine what commands to use, write them down and use them all the time.

You need to reward your dog in a fashion that is meaningful to the animal. Most dogs have a preference as far at what treat they like and as to what demonstration of affection they prefer. Some dogs will do back flips for a certain treats; other dogs just aren’t big eaters and prefer to be rewarded through a game with a favorite toy, or through some physical affection from you.

You probably already have a good idea of how much the dog enjoys being touched and played with. Each dog has a distinct level of energy and demonstrativeness, just like humans do.

The following are good ways to stroke your dog: most dogs really like having the base of the tail (the lowest part of their back, just before the tail starts) scratched gently; having their chests rubbed or scratched (right between the forelegs) is usually a winner, too. You can also target the ears: gently rub the earflap between your thumb and finger, or scratch gently at the base.

As far as food is concerned, just experiment with different food treats until you find one that the dog really likes. Some dogs actually respond most reliably to training commands when they receive treats sporadically instead of predictably. Giving the dog treats in an irregular schedule might prevent the dog from growing tired of the food reward. Some dogs could make a conscious decision to forego a treat.

No punitive measures have to be used with the praise and reward method which is a definite improvement in dog training.

With this type of training, all you have to do is ignore the behavior that you don’t wish to see repeated. Not giving any attention is enough to make just about any dog miserable and is therefore an adequate deterrent. After a while the dog will decide to no longer use that behavior.

The more you give attention to the dog when it behaves properly, the clearer the connection will be between a bad behavior with no response and the good behavior where you give positive attention and rewards.

As I believe in improving health naturally, it is crucial to boost our pet’s immune system to prevent illnesses and allow their body to heal itself.

Here are some things we can do to boost our pet’s immune system.

• Regular optimal amount of Vitamin C. Though dogs produce their own vitamin C, it may not be sufficient to maintain optimal health. Vitamin C is safe and there is no harm in overdosing Vitamin C as excessive amounts will be flushed out of the body. Personally, I prefer powdered form Vitamin C as I can add it into their meals easily without stuffing tablets in them. Solid gold has powdered Vitamin C or you can purchase the human version of vitamin C from pharmacy. Just go slow when introducing Vitamin C and keep to the optimal level amount daily. Too much at one go can cause diarrhea onset as the body purge the excess Vitamin C. If you cook or warm your dog food, add the vitamins & supplement last after the food is cooled and ready for feed. (Avoid microwaving your dog food to warm it as it will destroy the goodness of the foods. I prefer to give my dogs chilled food rather then microwaving it. All I need to do is boil some water quickly and pour some hot water into the food to make it at room temperature, than add the supplements accordingly.

• Healthy meals. Cook for or feed BARF diet, buy fresh meats and vegetables. Daily healthy fresh foods selection is essential for good health. Instead of giving dog treats which can be laden with chemicals and sugar, give your dog fruits and dried meats as treats instead.

• Fatty acids (e.g. Flaxseed oil/powder). Purchase flaxseed that is organic and bottled in dark container. Alternatively, quality supplements such as Missing link for Canine has all the essential vitamins, minerals and omega oils a dog needs. Missing link for Canine supplement is a balanced supplement encompassing omega oils, minerals and vitamins. If you purchase this, you no longer need any additional supplement. When buying any supplements, ensure your pet is not allergic to any of their ingredients.

o Purchase your pet supplies including Missinglink from this site Pet Rescue Petstore. 10% of all purchase goes to animal rescue purposes. Purchase Missinglink with joint support if your pet is elderly or if she has joint problems. Otherwise, the regular Missinglink is good enough for most dogs.

• Colostrums are cows “pre-milk” that is secreted prior to producing milk. Colostrums are given as supplement to provide antibodies, nutrition and to strengthen the immune system. Purchase children’s version of colostrums that is chewable. Dogs love the taste and give them once a day on empty stomach for better absorption.

• Filtered water is preferred. Ensure water bowls are changed, washed and refilled daily.

• Fresh air daily. . Bring your pets to the park regularly to ensure the fresh air and greenery. Going to natural environment has higher levels of anions in the air which inevitably help boost your pet’s immune system and improve blood circulation thus higher level of oxygen in their body. It is necessary to avoid high traffic areas as fumes from the vehicles are bad for their respiratory and can accumulate toxic buildup in their respiratory track. At home, ensure the home is well ventilated. If you are unable to walk your pet daily at natural environment, consider purchasing air purification system or use Lampe Berger (a century old product from France) to ensure good air surrounds the whole family. With daily good air therapy, it aids in boosting your family and pet’s immune system.

For more precious health care tips for pets, visit my site and subscribe to the newsletter today! www.dogcarezone.com

Veronica Eng @ www.dogcarezone.com

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