Sharing A Home With A Pet

Article Title: Sharing A Home With A Pet
Author: Ricardo D Argence

Inviting a pet to share your home is a huge decision. Sure,
pets are cute and cuddly and fun to play with but they are also
a large responsibility.

There is a whole creature that is dependent upon you for its
care.

In many cases, having a pet is not unlike having a child, the
main difference is that eventually a child learns to talk and
can tell you when something is wrong. With pets, you have to
guess as most of them don't speak the same language we do.

Studies done in the last few decades have shown that there are
actually health benefits to having a pet, especially if you live
alone.

Having a pet can improve your mood. You have to be very
determined to stay mired in your bad mood when you have a pet.

There is just something spirit lifting about your cat curling
up on your lap and purring or your dog putting his paws on your
knees and looking at you from under those doggie eyebrows.

Some research has shown that people with serious illnesses are
two thirds less likely to experience severe depression if they
own or have regular access to a pet. Pets have also been known
to reduce a person's blood pressure.

Having a pet will encourage you to get your exercise your pets
need exercise and it is up to you to make sure they get it,
whether it means going for a walk with your dog or getting down
on the floor and playing with your cat.

Perhaps the most notable benefit to having a pet is the way
they keep us from feeling lonely or unloved. Pets are the best
source of unconditional love there is.

Pets are a good idea for children as well. Taking care of
small pets is a great way to teach your kids about
responsibility and caring for others.

They also are a fabulous way to keep your kids from miring
themselves in front of the television set or a video game.

Having a pet to play with keeps them active the same way that
it keeps you active! They are also good for teaching your kids
how to be patient with others and pay attention to the small
details of behavior they see in others.

Before you get a pet, you should consider a few things. The
first, of course, is you: do you have the time and energy to
get a pet? Pets take up a lot of both!

If you do, then look at the amount of space you have in your
home. Bigger animals require room to run and play, so a small
apartment might not be the greatest place for, say, a St.
Bernard.

It could, however, be a perfect place for an aquarium (fish
need love too). You should also consider how much money you
have pets cost money. They have food and vet bills and toys.

Pets are a wonderful addition to any household that can have
them.

The decision to get one, though, is often life altering so make
sure you really think about it before you take on the
responsibility of one!

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The Key To Successful Dog Obedience Training

Article Title: The Key To Successful Dog Obedience Training
Author: Sarah Jackson

Dogs are very sociable creatures. Some of them can get to the
point of being too sociable and may get aggressive. Thus, it is
very important to train and control the behavior of your dog.

The last thing you want is to have your dog biting other
people. Some statistics show that as high as 77% of dog biting
incidents occur within the family. Yet experts say that most of
these cases could have been easily avoided with good dog
obedience training techniques.

With proper dog obedience training, bad behavioral habits can
be removed and dogs can have better control of their actions and
feelings when faced with different social and environmental
factors.

However, effective training of your dog is easier said than
done. One of the most important key element lacking in dog
obedience training to produce positive results is what experts
call "positive reinforcement". This actually refers to the
proper use of treats, incentives and praises when rewarding your
dog for showing positive behavior.

Through positive reinforcement, dogs are able to understand
that praises and treats will follow whenever it shows good
behavior. An example of positive reinforcement is when you give
your dog a treat for obeying your commands. This will cause the
dog to think that obeying commands will result in treats.

On the opposite side, if a dog does not obey your command, you
should not use punishment as a form of counter-reinforcement.
This does not help in training your dog and will only make it
worse. It will only confuse your dog and it will begin to doubt
its feelings. Thus, only "positive reinforcement" should be
employed.

Another important aspect of dog training is to avoid training
your dog to take up bad habits. Most people are unaware that
they are doing this and instances may occur that the trainer may
think he is training the dog to achieve a certain behavior but
actually giving the dog a bad habit along the way as well. They
may not realize it until the dog displays the bad habit when it
thinks the owner is asking for it.

As an example, it is very common for dogs to bark when they see
something strange or unfamiliar and this is a good thing. But
when they continue to bark when seeing a familiar person then it
becomes a problem and dogs should not be rewarded with treats
when they are doing that.

Some owners at this point may yell and shout at their dogs to
shut up. This kind of reaction from the owners will confuse them
and make them think that the reason why their owners are yelling
is because they are also enjoying the barking scene and that
they are actually "barking" together with their dogs.

The right thing to do is to actually avoid paying any attention
to them at all. After a while, they will stop and this is when
they should be rewarded.

To sum it all up, effective use of positive reinforcement is
the key to successful dog obedience training. Armed with this
knowledge, any owner can have the most obedient dog as his best
friend.

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Fearful Behavior In Dogs

Article Title: Fearful Behavior In Dogs
Author: David Beart

Just like humans, some dogs are naturally shyer than others.
Shyness can be a devastating trait for dog and owner, making
both nervous about daily walks, trips to the dog park, and even
inviting others into the home. If your dog is scared of
strangers, do not be disheartened. With proper socialization,
obedience training, and leadership (from you, considered to be
the alpha dog), your pooch can overcome his fear of strangers,
and become your calm, self-assured and happy companion. Although
many dog owners assume that a fearful, cautious dog has endured
some type of abuse during his life, this is not always the case,
but it doesn't hurt to look into. Fearful behavior can be caused
by many things such as genetics, physical ailments, or lack of
socialization as a puppy. It can be learned from the mother's
behavior, and dog breeders see that boldness runs in certain
bloodlines, while timidity and nervousness run in others.
Deafness, ear infections, epilepsy, and thyroid problems can
cause a more nervous dog, so be sure to have your dog checked by
a veterinarian if he suddenly exhibits fearful behavior, when he
didn't before.

The problem with fear in dogs is that the fear may lead to
aggression when your dog's fight or flight response kicks in. A
scared dog will often run away from strangers, cower to look
small, or even hide behind its owner for safety. If the dog ever
feels trapped, which may only be imagined, but is quite real for
the dog, he may lash out by growling, charging, or biting at
whomever he feels is trapping him. If this person backs away,
the dog will learn that this behavior is effective at getting
what he wants (for the stranger to go away), and a new habit of
fear aggression will be formed. To avoid this potentially
dangerous habit, you must prevent your dog from becoming scared,
and also prevent positive rewards for aggressive behavior. Early
socialization is vital to prevent fear in dogs. Socialization
allows your dog to develop interactive skills with other dogs,
other kinds of animals, and people of all sizes and ages.
Puppies, like children or other baby animals, will form memories
and associations to what they learn at a young age. If they
learn to trust and interact with different people, they will be
comfortable with humans later on in life. On the other hand,
isolated puppies that have little interaction with people tend
to become attached to one person only, the owner. Unfortunately
for the dog, he will inevitable have to interact with other
people all the way through his life, like the vet or groomer.
However, one great characteristic of dogs is their ability to
learn new behavior at any age. If your dog is scared of
strangers, it is time to socialize.

A major part of overcoming your dog's fear is overcoming your
own anxiety and fear about your dog's actions toward others. Pay
attention to your own actions while walking your dog; do you
shorten the leash and tense up when a stranger approaches in
anticipation of your dog's behavior? Do you get nervous before
company comes to your home because you are fearful of how your
dog will interact with them? Just as your dog will grow more
fearful by sensing your anxiety and stress, he will find
confidence in your strong, assertive leadership. You must show
that your dog can relax knowing that he is safe under your care.
Ascertain your dominance through walks and obedience training,
and be aware of your own mental state during interactions with
strangers. During personal interactions, instruct others on how
to behave with your dog. On the first meeting, there should be
no eye contact or touching; the stranger should act impartial in
your dog. This allows your dog to have his own personal space,
and not to be threatened by what he perceives to be a dominant
stranger. Remember, you know your dog better than anyone else,
so be aware of his mental state at all times. If your dog is
afraid of children, hats, or loud noises, begin to expose him to
just those things, in very small doses at first. Increase
exposure only as your dog becomes more comfortable. Take your
dog for a walk past a school while children are outside. To keep
his mind from focusing on the children, ask him to sit, or lay
down; as long as he is focusing on you and the rewards for his
good behavior, his mind cannot be consumed with fear. It is
enormously important to remain upbeat and positive during these
training sessions, as your dog will feed off of your mood. You
can correct your dog for not obeying a command, but do not
punish for fearful behavior, as this will only increase anxiety.
Socialization is a life long process; the learning never ends
for your dog, and as long as you can help alleviate his fear, he
can continue living his life to the fullest.

About The Author: David Beart is owner of the
http://www.professorshouse.com Professors House, a site
dedicated to family, relationships,
http://www.professorshouse.com/pets/dogs/dog-training.aspx dog
training, and household issues.

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