Tips for Training an Older Dog

By: Andrew Bicknell

There is a saying that "you can't teach an old dog new tricks". For many people with an older dog that was never properly trained they probably think this is true. Just like people do, when dogs get older they get pretty set in their ways. Think old and stubborn. This of course is not entirely true; it is possible to train an older dog but it will take more time and patience.

The thing with older dogs is they have been behaving in a certain way their entire life and to them that is the way things are. They do not distinguish between right and wrong like people do. For a dog repetition is their primary way of learning and if all they've done is the wrong thing their whole life their behavior will reflect that.

One thing you can try with an older dog is to make the training you are doing seem like it is actually the dogs idea. If he thinks it's his idea he will more than likely keep doing it. He probably will resist your attempts to force him to do something like sit. But if he sits on his own give the command "sit" at the same time and reward or praise him. If you keep doing this, repetition, before long your old dog will be sitting when you tell him to. You can use this technique with a variety of commands such as come, heel, and stay.

It is certainly not true that all older dogs are more difficult to train but for the vast majority of dog owners this is the case. Dealing with the stubbornness of a dog set in their ways can be difficult and frustrating but if your dog is exhibiting bad habits and behavior it is important to break them of that. In the long run have a well trained and obedient dog will make both you and your dog much happier and will lead to a stronger bond.

If your old dog is being particularly stubborn and your not making any head way on your own then consider joining a dog training class or working with a professional dog trainer. This will give you the benefit of working with people who have experience with all sorts of dogs and their different behaviors. You might be amazed how quickly your dog responds to someone who knows how to deal with their behavior problems. These are also lessons you can take home and continue to use as you train your old dog to do new tricks.

Author Resource: For more dog training tips and tricks visit the website Worfdog.com by clicking here.

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Benefits of Owning a Yorkshire Terrier

There are so may wonderful emotional benefits of owning a dog. Our pets can influence how we feel about ourselves in a positive way. The emotional bond that forms between a new puppy and their owner may develop quickly. Your new Yorkshire Terrier puppy may look and act so cute. As the time goes by, all the experiences that you share with your dog, both happy and sad help to strengthen the emotional bond.

When your puppy is about one year old or more, each family member usually develops a special emotional attachment with their Yorkshire Terrier. Sometimes, children even turn to their pet for comfort if a family member leaves the family or becomes ill. Adults that may have lost a loved one may feel comfort if they have a pet.

People that happen to live all alone may feel a little isolated. If they choose to have a dog or cat and they are physically able to take care of their pet, it may help to make them feel they are needed. They may feel happy to have a special pet to share their life with. A Yorkshire Terrier can be a very nice companion.

Dogs can help us focus our attention away from our worries. Sometimes when we feel sad or stressed spending a little time with our friendly dog or cat can hopefully brighten our day.

Our daily lives may be full of so many responsibilities, whether at work or at home. Often times, our Yorkshire Terrier may do some cute funny things, which may help us to relax and laugh. When we come home from a frustrating work day it can be so nice to be greeted by our family dog, with their big beautiful eyes and their tail wagging because they are so happy to see us. It is a wonderful thing that our pets can accept us just as we are and we can be ourselves when we are around them. Our pets don't care if we are disabled, old or young, rich or poor. Dogs can provide great companionship.

Dogs can add some consistency and routine to our lives and give us something nice to look forward to every single day. Many people may come and go in our lives, but our dogs are usually with us everyday.

Your Yorkshire Terrier can help to keep you active by getting more exercise, like when you are taking your dog for a nice walk and getting some fresh air and sunshine or playing Frisbee outside with him. The general basics of caring for a dog, such as daily feedings, grooming and playtime will help to keep you both active.

Your Yorkshire Terrier may view all the family members with great affection. Each family member may play an important role for your dog. The man in the house may be the one that usually takes the dog out for his walks and plays fetch outside with him in the backyard. The woman in the house may be the one that routinely gives the dog his meals and lots of attention. If there are any children in the family they may offer the Yorkshire Terrier a lot of hugs and fun playtime together.

The dog appreciates the family interaction and affection and he has probably established great trust in his family. As a proud pet owner you will be able to recognize the maturity in your dog and as time goes by you will learn the favorite things that your dog likes, his strengths, weaknesses and any fears he may have at times.

The human-animal emotional bond between an owner and their dog is one of trust, affection and love. Yorkshire Terriers enjoy being part of the family and a loyal dog can be a best friend. If we love them, they usually show us unconditional love in return!

Another Cute Yorkie!

A Cute Video of A Yorkie Smiling

Make Your Home Welcoming and Safe for Your Puppy

By: Sandra Dinkins-Wilson

Unlike bringing home a newborn child where you have some time to make your home safe, bringing home your new puppy means you need to puppy proof your home right away. Puppies are just like toddlers with lots of energy and ready to get into everything. They have an insatiable curiosity that makes them check out everything including those things that might not be so safe for them. As the puppy's new owner, you must puppy proof your home.

One good step to take towards puppy proofing your home is to look at it from the dog's perspective. Get down on your hands and knees and look around. You might be surprised at what you see down there that could look so tempting to a puppy in his new home. Remember your puppy will want to check out all this new stuff as he has never seen it before and it just might be dangerous to him.

Be very aware of electrical cords that your puppy can access and chew on. Just think of what a puppy chewing on an electrical cord, in use, could lead to. Place the cords where the puppy can't access them. Place them behind furniture or up high where he can't reach. Try laying them under something like a rubber mat.

Stairs can provide as much danger to a puppy as to a toddler. They can have trouble getting up and down them. In their boisterousness, they can even fall down a flight of stairs. Best to just block off the stairway until the puppy has grown and is more capable of navigating them. Stairs might also lead to a place you do not want your puppy to be such as the basement. If you have a door, then you must be sure the door is always closed.

Another step in making your home puppy proof is to be sure there are no hazardous household chemicals where he can get into them. Such are usually stored under the kitchen sink or even the bathroom sink. Can your puppy get ready access to these places? You may even have to go so far as to use those plastic cabinet locks that are used for toddlers.

These are a few steps to take in making your home puppy proof. Keep in mind the level of your home your puppy lives at and what he sees and can get into at that level. Having a puppy proof home can go a long ways to having a happy and healthy relationship with you puppy.

copyright 2005. Sandra Dinkins-Wilson

Author Resource: Visit our Puppy Training website at http://ezpuppytraining.com/ for a free course on "Welcoming Your New Puppy Home and Puppy Training". Find more puppy training and care tips at our website.

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The Importance Of A Well Behaved Dog

By: Amy Nutt

If you have a dog, you have probably been concerned with his or her behavior at some point. This is important if you frequently have company, or if your dog is your constant companion out in public. Even if this isn't the case, it is still important to be sure your dog is well-behaved and will obey you. This also helps you develop a good relationship with your dog.

The first step to having a well behaved dog is to fully understand the dog's behavior. Only then will you be able to learn to communicate effectively with your pet, thereby, building a successful partnership. This is important, especially if you are the sole owner of the dog.

If you are the sole dog owner, you will probably spend a lot of time with your dog. Another step toward having a great relationship with your animal is to make sure he or she receives proper care. This means that you should regularly walk your dog, take a vested interest in his or her health needs, and always make sure you provide love and affection.

If you are having difficulty with your dog's behavior, there are steps you can take to work out a solution that will work for both dog and owner. This can mean consulting your vet for ideas, or enrolling your pet in obedience school. Obedience will teach your dog how to behave in certain situations as well as how to respond to given commands. A trainer can also help break bad habits your dog may have that is affecting his or hers behavior.

You will also be provided with step-by-step obedience exercises that you can practice with your dog at home. This will help to enforce the behaviors learned in class. Not doing so will most likely result in your dog resorting back to past behavior because the new behaviors are not being re-enforced.

It is also important to talk to and listen to your dog. Pay attention to how your dog acts and responds to those behaviors. If they are negative, try to find out what you can do to stop and prevent them. If your dog is doing well, be sure to give him or her, the proper praise that is well-deserved. Praise is just as important for dogs as it is for people and will help to promote continuing good behavior.

Author Resource: Bark Busters is Canada's most successful dog obedience training organization and will come right to your home to help you! http://www.barkbusters.ca/

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Cute Video of a Yorkie Doing Tricks