Easy Dog Training Tips that will Completely Change your Life

If you have a dog then you will know how difficult it can be at times to get them to listen to you. After all, you may find that no matter what you do, you just can’t get anywhere and this is the last thing that you need. If you want to avoid all of that then just take a look below to see if you can get some help with that.


Decide on House Rules
Before you bring your new dog home, decide on what they are and aren’t allowed to do. If they are allowed on the bed or the furniture then let them, but don’t try and change the rules a year or two down the line. If you do this then they will only become confused and you may even find that they don’t obey you as much as well. it also helps to try and plan if there are any areas of the house that they aren’t allowed in. This way you can save a ton of hassle for both you and the dog.

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Give them Their Space

It’s so important that your puppy has somewhere they can call their own. From the earliest moment you can, try and give your dog their own private sleeping place. You will want to choose a place that is not used by anyone else in the family or even by another pet as well. This way they can have their own level of comfort and you can also reward them if they stay quiet for long periods of time as well.

Teach Them To Come When Called

You really do need to teach your dog how to come when they are called. This should be the very first thing that you are able to master. When your dog is coming to you, your status as the alpha will be reinforced and you will also teach them how to respond to their name as well. The benefits of doing this are endless and you may even find that it is easy for you to get them back on the lead if you go out of the house as well.

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Avoiding Barking

Dogs bark and there isn’t much that you can do about it. It is their way of communicating and most of the time it won’t be a problem. If your dog is constantly barking at things that they shouldn’t be however then this can cause you major problems. You may find that you get complaints from the neighbor and you may also find that you just don’t get anywhere with training either. For that reason, it’s helpful to look into sites such as Dogable as this will really help you to teach them not to bark every single time they see another dog or every time someone walks past the window.

Of course, there are so many things that you can do to try and teach your dog everything they need to know and by following the above tips, you can be sure to get the whole thing done without any hassle.

Water your dog for the Best Scenting Abilities

How does watering your dog affects the scenting abilities? 

JR is Daisy's son and he sure knows how to cool off!
Great Search Dog too! Thank you JR for saving lives.

A dog's nose is wet by nature and dogs can dehydrate just like us humans on very ht days. Dogs do overheat and have heatstroke so when the weather is hot the best thing to do for a dog that is working a scent is to wait until the cooler part of the day.

As the dog gets warm while working in the hot part of the day the nose gets drier inside which will naturally make taking in and absorbing the scent particles more difficult for a dog. 

Pay close attention to the dogs nose when working in hot or extremely cold weather and when the nose looks dry water the dog. 

Many dogs will put the whole muzzle down under the water, Bloodhounds always do this trick to wet the inside of the nose too. They do this as they lap up water. Wetting inside and outside of the mouth and nose so that they do not dehydrate.

Read more about how a dogs nose works at Family Disaster Dogs Home

Willie knows how to cool off! 

Have a great summer everyone!

Remember do not leave pets or children in cars this summer!

Scent Dogs in Heatwaves and Hot Days

Heatwaves and High Temperatures affect the Scents !

Daisy and Willie photo by A.Higgins

Here's some advice from many years of working search dogs and Bloodhounds in very hot weather.

As heat increases in the environment where a dog is working; the scent particles change with the rising temperature. The easiest way to explain the process is to think of the scent particle your dog is looking for as shirking up the hotter the day gets and possibly before the nose gets to it.

The dog is always right but the scent may be harder to locate for the dog so giving the dog more time to look and work the scent makes sense!

Due to evaporation just like other organic or living things in the environment, the scent particle pool or trail the dog is following can dehydrate until moisture reawakens the particles, often at night or before dawn. Non-organic items or objects collect moisture during darkness as condensation that will make the scent easier to locate.

When night comes and darkness, the environment becomes wetter naturally, think of dew in the mornings. The earth absorbs the heat and the evaporating moisture during the day with the air we all breath, some of the scent too which is released at night with the exhaling of the Earth in its daily cycle.

This makes night and dawn the best time of day to search for people, pets or evidence with a dog.

If your dog is having a hard time working scent either in training or a real incident then try the same plan of action later in the day when dusk falls. Rest in the heat of the day from 10 am to 4 pm.

I always train and work at night or the coolest part of the day to get the best scents for the dog to follow.

Go out in the early morning dawn and smell, then think of how fresh the air smells and all the wonderful scents we humans can smell then multiple that to what a dog would smell and you can really tell the difference.

Try the same smell test in the afternoon and you will know the difference.

Think of the dry dust kicking up under your feet as you walk, and how that would affect a nose so close to the ground.

Give plenty of water to any dog working in the heat because the nose will dry out also making working scents more difficult..

I'll write more on how watering your dog affects the scenting abilities in another post. Until then be careful in the heat! and Good Luck!

Bloodhound Daisy photo by A.Higgins

Here's a big thumbs up and pat on the back for all the working dogs and handlers enduring the heatwaves in many parts of the world to aid in the recovery of harmful items, drugs and missing persons or pets. 

photos by A.Higgins- all rights reserved

Family Disaster Dogs invites you to learn how your own dog can rescue you ! Visit the home page for more dog training lessons and advice on tracking and trailing with dogs!

The Hidden Rewards Of Getting A Dog

Everyone can appreciate the main incentives for getting a pooch. Dogs truly are our best friends, and their unconditional love is sure to make your home a happier environment for all the family. Likewise, your furry friend will encourage the household to become more active, which can bring a host of rewards too.

The benefits don’t stop there, though. There are many additional benefits to be gained from bringing a dog into your life. Here are just five that you may have overlooked. 

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A dog makes you healthier

 

Not only does having a pup encourage you to be more active, but it can boost your immune system too. In fact, studies have shown that this can begin as early as the gestation period. So, expectant parents may even find that the positive influences are passed onto the kids. As long as you avoid the breeds that are likely to leave lots of hair around the home, you should find that the property becomes cleaner too. After all, you’ll pay closer attention to these issues.

 

A dog can make the home safer

 

Make no mistake; adding Swann home security features is never a bad idea. Nonetheless, a dog can provide an extra sense of security for the home. The pooch will detect movement and alert you to intruders. In truth, the barking alone is likely to deter most prospective burglars. Aside from the direct benefits, this can be an excellent feature for your peace of mind. In truth, being able to fully relax in your home is one of the greatest rewards of all.

 

A dog can brighten up the home

 

The unconditional love is sure to brighten up the atmosphere for all the family, but the benefits don’t end there. Learn to take stunning photos of your pooch. The results can be used as wall art and canvases, screensavers, and other items to improve the mood on a daily basis. 

Meanwhile, as strange as it sounds, some of the dog toys and bedding items can actively make the living spaces feel more homely. 

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A dog can help your child learn

 

Most children are fascinated by dogs, and their desire to aid the pup will lead to a deeper understanding of exercise, nutrition, and hygiene. However, your child will also develop communication skills by merely talking to the pup. Writing stories about the dog can lead to increased creativity and written language skills. Writing Samurai can provide your child with the education needed to express themselves openly. That’s a win in any parent’s books.

 

A dog can aid mental health

 

Stroking a dog is scientifically shown to fight stress and put your body at ease. Meanwhile, the love and companionship can go a long way to battling depression. The dog will always be there to listen to your problems, even when you aren’t ready to speak to another human. This is supported by the simple fact that a dog’s natural personality will encourage you to smile. So, there’s no doubt that having a pet pup in your life could be one of the best moves you’ll ever make.