Why Does My Dog Jump on People?

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 Jumping is one of the most common dog behavior problems we address at Alpha Dog Training. A dog who jumps up on people is rarely welcome at human social functions. Not only is it considered impolite, but jumping can be scary for people who are not comfortable with dogs. There are many reasons why dogs jump up, and it’s helpful to know that this is a normal canine behavior. Dogs who are not actively taught not to jump will put their paws on people, not because they’re bad dogs, but simply because they don’t understand that there are other ways to greet people they’re meeting. For most dogs, jumping begins early in life. Tiny puppies jump up to lick and sniff at adult dogs’ faces. Jumping up on other dogs is a normal greeting ritual for puppies, and as the puppies mature they no longer need to jump to sniff noses and breath, and thus naturally stop doing this. Puppies who are well-socialized to adult dogs tend to grow out of this behavior quickly, and no longer jump on other dogs except in play by the time they’re 4-6 months old. Of course, puppies don’t just jump on other dogs. They also jump on people. Unfortunately, most people then proceed to pet, talk to, or play with the puppy, thus reinforcing the jumping. It’s always a good rule not to encourage your puppy to do anything you don’t wish him to do as an adult. Sometimes we also unintentionally reward jumping. For many dogs, negative attention is still preferable to no attention at all, and these dogs will frequently learn that jumping up is a great way to get attention. In this case, the more you yell at your dog and push him down, the more attention you’re giving him and the more likely he is to jump up. Once your dog is no longer getting rewarded for jumping or getting the chance to practice jumping, you can teach him what you’d like him to do instead. This is an important step, because dogs do best if we can tell them what to do rather than just what not to do. Many people teach their dogs to sit before greeting others, and this can be one great option. Active dogs may also do well if they’re taught to go fetch a toy or to perform some other behavior that allows them to release some of their excited energy.

Benefits of Kids Growing Up with Dogs

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Benefits of Kids Growing Up with Dogs Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-traiing-slc.com (801) 910-1700 Most children love dogs. They're cute, cuddly, and oh-so-friendly. But did you know that growing up with a dog can actually benefit a child's physical and psychological development? Here are some of the many benefits of dogs being in children's lives. 1. Constant Companionship Although childhood isn't always easy, having a pet provides constant companionship through the ups and downs. Dogs can be a great source of comfort for kids — even when they're coming to grips with difficult life lessons. Whenever kids feel sad, angry, or afraid, they can always turn to their pet. Petting and cuddling dogs has also been shown to relieve stress and help people relax. 2. A More Active Lifestyle Caring for a dog also encourages a more active lifestyle. Kids with dogs exercise eleven minutes a day more than their non-dog owning peers. That might not sound like a lot, but over a week or month, it really adds up. Many dogs require daily walks or runs and plenty of play time. Those adorable puppy eyes they give you are sure to motivate you — even when you're not feeling up to it. 3. Learning Responsibility Having a pet is a great way to teach responsibility to kids. Making sure that the family dog has food and water gives children a first glimpse of accountability and obligation. Children also learn empathy and compassion by caring for their pet, while developing a higher level of self-esteem by taking care of their pet-owning responsibilities. 4. Health Is Wealth Studies have found that babies raised in close contact with a pet get sick less often in their first year of life, meaning fewer visits to the doctor's office. Exposure to pet dander and the microbes that pets carry into the home from the outdoors is suggested to improve babies' developing immune systems. Research has also found that children who grow up with dogs experience a reduced risk of allergies. 5. Don't Worry, Be Happy! Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of dogs in early childhood is simply that they make children happy! Interaction with animals has been proven to raise levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are the chemical building blocks of positive feelings. All science aside, playing and interacting with dogs is just plain fun — and it's bound to brighten any kid's day. Growing up with a dog can enrich the lives of children in so many ways. Having a dog join your family may be one of the greatest gifts we can give our kids.

Tips for Training Your Apartment Puppy

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Tips for Training Your Apartment Puppy Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700

For your puppy, living in an apartment isn’t just having a different amount of space. It’s a different way of life. Make it easy on them… and you… with these tips. Make room for playtime. Outdoor space will be limited in an apartment complex, so scope out the territory for parks and available grass for walks and play. Be sure to take waste-scooping materials when you and your puppy head outside. If your pup will stay mostly indoors, make a designated play space he can get used to. Keep toys in the house in one place, like in a basket in the corner, to help maintain and define the space. Commit to training. Training is very important to make your puppy a good neighbor and to help keep him safe. Immediate obedience to commands like "Down" and "Come" may keep your pup safe if he slips out of his collar or his leash is dropped in a busy area, especially one with lots of car traffic. Keep clean. No one wants to live with someone who smells. Bathe your pup as necessary (remembering that puppies require fewer baths than humans). Brush your puppy regularly, getting rid of hair or fur, to prevent excessive shedding. Establish boundaries. Don’t allow your new puppy, as cute as he may be, to sleep on your bed. Your pup should know to go to his crate or other bed area at night. This will help communicate what is your space and it will keep your bed clean. Be prepared for loud noises. Puppies are often startled by the unpredictable nature of urban areas. Help reassure your puppy that urban sights and sounds are not threatening. Remain calm and "happy" when unexpected and startling things happen, such as sirens and other noise. Praise and help reinforce your puppy's positive, controlled behavior in these situations. With proper care, training, and management, even seemingly unlikely breeds and breed mixes can cope with urban living. Although puppies need room to run, what’s more important is the quality of your interaction and attention.

Ring the Bell to Go Potty!

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Ring That Bell to go Potty! Published by Alpha Dog Training https://alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 A great and fun way to house train your dog is to train her to communicate to you when she needs to go out to potty is by teaching her to ring a potty train bell. This is best taught after your dog seems to prefer to go outside to potty and you would like to give her a good way to communicate that to you. The dog bell works especially well for dogs who only have only a few accidents or have accidents by the door. Teaching your dog to ring a bell prevents her from needing to resort to such "uncivilized" behavior as scratching on the door or barking to tell you to let her out. Here's how to train your dog to ring a bell to go outside to potty: Intro to the bell: Show your dog the bell. If she touches it with her nose, give her a treat. Once she is touching her nose to the bell every time you show it to her, go on to the next step. Put the bell away when you are not practicing with it. Ringing the bell: Show her the bell and only feed her a treat when she rings the bell by touching it. Once she is ringing it every time you show it to her, go on to the next step. Put the bell away when you are not practicing with it. Ringing the bell by the door: Hang the bell by the door that you want your dog to use to go out and show her the bell. Give her a treat when she rings it. Once she is ringing the bell by the door each time you point to it, go on to the next step. Put the bell away when you are not practicing with it. Ringing the bell by the door to go out for a treat: Put your bell by the door. Let her watch you as you place a treat outside the door. Close the door and then point to the bell. When she rings the bell, open the door and let her get the treat. Once she rings the bell right away when you place a treat outside go on to the next step. Leave the bell in place by the door. Real life!: Next time you think she has to potty, go with her to the door and point to the bell. When she rings it, open the door and let her potty. Reward her with a treat when she finishes. Each time you let her out to potty, ask her to ring the bell first and feed her a treat when she finishes. Maintenance phase: Leave the bell on the door and when she rings it let her out to potty. If she starts to play or dawdle outside, bring her in. This will prevent her from ringing the bell when she sees a squirrel (or at least prevent her from learning that she can get you to let her out to play instead of just to potty) I hope these instructions help you to train your dog to ring a bell to let you know when he or she needs to go out and speeds your house training efforts. If you liked this article, we would really appreciate it if you would consider becoming one of our customers or sharing this article with a friend! Thanks!

Teach Your Dog to "Look" on Command

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Teach Your Dog to “Look” on Command Published by Alpha Dog Training https:/www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 "Look" is a useful command for helping your dog acclimate to a new situation or environment. Is your dog easily distracted? Does he spend your entire walk lunging at squirrels and barking at people? Is he unable to to pass a brightly colored umbrella or a playing child without wanting to investigate? If your dog’s curiosity is slowing down your walks, there’s a solution. Training your dog to “look” on command can help keep him focused on where he’s going without missing any of the excitement that’s happening around him. Training your dog to look in the direction of something novel, interesting or possibly even slightly unnerving may sound nonsensical. Why draw your dog’s attention to something that may excite or even upset him? When you teach your dog to “look,” you also train him to return his attention to you. This can help to make novel situations more predictable and give your dog a way to focus and avoid overreacting to something that might be scary or stressful — or just super exciting — for him. Look Over There! Hold an object your dog will be interested in — like a chew toy or a ball — behind your back, where your dog cannot see it. A toy with a squeaker or rattle can be helpful for catching your dog’s attention. You can also wiggle or wave the toy gently to catch his eye. Ask your dog to look at you; once he is making eye contact, pull the hidden item out and hold it out to your side, away from where your dog is looking. Immediately mark and reward any glance or movement your dog makes in the direction of the object. When you reward him, give the treat in such a way that your dog has to turn back toward you (and away from the exciting toy) to get his reward. To do this, hold the treat directly in front of your legs, at the level of the dog’s nose. This helps to reinforce the idea of looking at something and then shifting attention back to you, which is exactly what you’re trying to teach him. Next, add a verbal cue —“look” — to the behavior. Say the word just as your dog starts to turn his head in the direction of the item. You can also watch your dog’s body language and note when he’s getting ready to turn toward the object. Eventually, you want to be able to use the “look” cue to point out interesting things before your dog sees them for himself.

Tips on Teaching Your Kids About Dogs

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Tips on Teaching Your Kids About Dogs Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 The family dog is often not properly prepared for the arrival of a newborn resulting in the dog becoming isolated or rehomed. In recent years, the number of child dog bites has risen. Keep your baby safe by learning the warning signs to watch for when your dog is around your baby. Approximately one million dog bites occur every year in the United States – according to a study 60-70% of those involve children, boys are bitten more often than girls and a third of the dogs that attack children are owned by the family. A study that 87% of biting dogs are intact males and most dog bites occur in or near the victims home. Another study indicated that 70% of the children that were killed by dogs were under the age of 10 and 22% were under the age of one year with 7% being sleeping infants. What Parents Need to Teach Their Children 1. NEVER disturb any dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies. 2. NEVER pet a dog, even your own, without letting him see and sniff you first. 3. Children must always ASK PERMISSION from the owner and their parents BEFORE petting any dog. I never allowed my children near strange dogs much less pet them. 4. If the owner cannot control the dog and have it SIT nicely for the child to pet, WALK AWAY. 5. NEVER approach a dog who is confined behind a fence, within a car, or on a chain. 6. NEVER TEASE any dog by poking at them through fences or car windows or reaching your arm through to pet them. 7. NEVER approach a strange dog you don't know or a dog who is not with his owner. 8. NEVER RUN away from a dog that is chasing you. STOP, STAND STILL, REMAIN CALM, ARMS AT YOUR SIDES, be quiet and DO NOT SCREAM. Walk away SLOWLY FACING THE DOG BUT NOT STARING AT its eyes. 9. If a dog attacks, "feed" him your jacket, a school book, a bicycle, or anything else that you can get between you and the dog. 10. If you are attacked, STOP, CURL UP IN A BALL LIKE A TURTLE, COVER YOUR HEAD WITH YOUR ARMS AND HANDS. 11. Do not chase after dogs. 12. Do not scream and be loud around dog. 13. Children should not stare into the eyes of a dog. 14. If a dog starts to circle you - turn with it, don't let it get behind you. 15. If the dog shows aggressive behavior (barking or growling) put something between you and the dog - like a a chair. 16. Just because a dog wags its tail does not mean its friendly. 17. Always ask the owner of a dog if it is OK to pet their dog. 18. If you are in the area of a stray dog - leave that area. 19. If a dog approaches you remain calm and motionless. Keep your hands at your side. Speak with a soothing voice. 20. If a dog is injured do not touch or try and help it. Go get an adult. If you own any dog, but especially a dog that has had the smallest amount of aggression or protection training it is your moral and legal obligation to make sure that you do everything possible to ensure that your dog is never in a situation where it could bite a child.

Teach Your Dog to Take Foods Gently

#AlphaDogTraining #dogtrainingsaltlakecity Train Your Dog to Take Foods Gently Published by Alpha Dog Training https://www.alpha-dog-training-slc.com (801) 910-1700 The danger in working on this is if your dog doesn't get the treat right away, your dog may get more frustrated and grab harder for it the next time. If you use the following tips to avoid getting your dog frustrated you will want to start with feeding your pup the treat for all but the most rough grabs (say one in 5) and then gradually start getting pickier as your dog improves. This will go faster if you feed kibble by hand (no tricks required) using the following technique: • Get your dog’s food bowl with kibble in it. • Hold out a piece of kibble in a way that you can keep it if she bites down hard. • If your dog mouths hard say "ouch" very loud and put the kibble back in the bowl and put the bowl up for a minute or two. • Repeat Repeat Repeat. • Make sure you are not doing the ouch routine for more than 1 in 5 times of offering the kibble. • Begin to get more and more sensitive (making sure that your dog gets the treat 4 out of 5 times still). • Once your dog is doing great for this, try working on it in other contexts. • While you are working on this with her food bowl, I suggest that for training and other times you feed treats, deliver the treat in a way that will just avoid the possibility of her mouthing you hard (toss it perhaps) until you are getting progress with her meal.