How to Make Your Dog to High Five

Dogs are generally very smart. In fact better than human at such a case. They can think and adopt easily when they are happy and willing to learn. As long as your dog is OK with what your trying to teach him , it will be easy for the dog owner to unleash the potential of your super dog.

Dog owners always insist on how to teach a dog to high five since the common attitude has been set around that , high five is the beginning stage of dog training. As I referred in my previous article about Puppy Training Advice , puppies start learning your commands when they are 3 weeks old. It’s best to start your training when they  love to learn.

TEACH YOUR DOG TO HIGH FIVE

Are you done with setting up the basic needs for your dog! then it’s good to proceed further. Sit,stay,heel are the very basic puppy training part. Once your dog have mastered it, make him ready for the cool doggy trick that How to Make Your Dog to High Five is easier than you think.

Dog experts found lots of methods , but here am explaining about simple steps I found. Dog owner need to have distraction free zone and simple dog treat to encourage your dog performance .

1. Notice your dog position. Have your dog sit on the floor, then you also need to sit on the floor facing your dog.Be close to him so that he will be able to touch you with his paw.
2. Take your dog treat and place it in your palm and make a fist. Hold your hand , palm down, under your dog’s nose few inches away from his face. Your dog may small the treats and paw at your hand.
3. If he make a contact , each when he paw at your hand reward him with your treats .Repeat this process until your dog consistently touches your hand for the treat.
4. Slowly start move hour hand slightly to the side, Make sure he will still reach up and touch your hand for the treat. If he does this consistently , you’re ready to move to the next step.
5. Open your hand in high five position , facing your dog  and raise it in front of him. Treat him each time when he touches  your palm.
6. Repeat this and continue rewarding him for touching your open palm and now add the verbal cue “High Five!” each time he touches your hand.
7. Keep practicing and reward your dog along with the verbal cue until he does the behavior consistently.
8. Now try giving him the verbal cue while raising your palm and see if he will give you a high five..

Keep practicing will make your dog to be very familiar with the verbal cue and  make your dog to high five with no time.

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Training a German Shepherd Dog

Training a German shepherd requires a lot of time and attention to the dog.

There are several key things that need to happen when a German shepherd is a puppy to help it become the calm, balanced and adult it should be.

Firstly you have to aim at making it socialized with other dogs. You can achieve this by taking it to a puppy dog park or arranging play dates.by so doing the dog will become a much friendlier animal to live around.

The other thing is to avoid being too harsh on the dog especially when it is a puppy. You should avoid yelling or hitting the puppy. German shepherds that are abused as young dogs tend to imprint with more aggressive behavior as adults.

Finally, it is important that your puppy learns to recognize you as its master. Being firm, quiet, and praising good behavior, all go a long way in helping a puppy learn how it is to respond as an adult.

You should establish your leadership role at an early age by for example teaching your puppy to walk and make sure that it follows after you through doors, as that is a sign of the respecting your role as pack leader to let you go first.

Provide puppies with chew toys and make sure they get plenty of exercise to help them work off their orneriness.

NOTE: dogs are best trained when they are young so at their tender age it is when you can instill all that you require in them.

 German Shepherds training tips

The dog should be fed before training. Dogs respond to food as a reward after the training as well as before the training. If you tell a dog to sit and reward him with a treat, he will learn it, however, you will need to reinforce this many times. Dogs seem to remember and respond better to training after he has been given food. The training seems to sink in and stick more readily after food rather than before a treat.

Begin your training attempts with a German shepherd puppy. If you start out with a puppy, you have the opportunity to shape and mold its personality and develop that trusting relationship. You never really know what an older dog has been through in life and how that might affect his temperament.

Then play with your puppy. You will want a puppy that is playful and not fearful.

While doing all this one should try very much to ensure that the dog recognizes that you are the boss and it should take up commands from you.

The training sessions should not spend more than 20 minutes. Spend even less time for younger puppies. This is because their attention span is short; they get tired; your patience will be worn thin trying to train an over tired puppy. Training has to be upbeat and happy in order to get the maximum response from the dog.

You can also enroll your German shepherd puppy in a basic or puppy obedience class. Your puppy should be 8-10 weeks old for this first class. One person only should give the commands, regardless of how many people are in your family or will be living with the dog. German Shepherds will acknowledge one master and will respond to that one person. Later, as the dog grows older and learns the hierarchy, he will take orders from all members of the family.

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Stop German Shepherd Barking Problems Once and for All

German Shepherd barking can become a problem for a variety of reasons. But as dog owners we’d be unreasonable to expect our dogs never to bark. Dogs are made to bark, it’s an essential method of communication that dogs can’t do without.

The trick is rather to get excessive barking under control.

Before we can work on how to get our German Shepherd’s barking under control we must first wrap our heads around the reasons why dogs bark.

6 Reasons for Excessive German Shepherd Barking

Breed-Specific Function

All dogs have a breed specific function. In your German Shepherd’s case it’s guarding and herding. In a working environment barking is the way your German Shepherd fulfills this role. German Shepherds also find barking self-rewarding. It burns excess energy and satisfies your dog’s natural guarding instinct.

Because of this, excessive German Shepherd barking is a problem many owners struggle with.

Protecting their Territory

Dogs are territorial and will without fail bark at a threat to his territory. Often as the threat moves closer the barking will become more intense.

Your German Shepherd’s body language will be aggressive like a raised tail and raised hackles along the spine.

Alarmed or Startled

Sometimes your dog will bark at a sound or an object, usually when he is startled.

For example: my male GSD was once startled by a date that fell from a tree onto an object he was investigating.  Although the sound wasn’t loud it startled him into barking.

Saying Hello and Playing

This is always a happy bark accompanied by tail wagging and running around.

Asking for Attention

Some dogs will use barking to communicate if they want something.

For example: the need to go outside, asking for food or playing. In this case there are certain times an owner should not reinforce barking.

Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is a subject all on its own. In most cases it is excessive barking accompanied with compulsive behavior. This could be; running in circles, pacing and destructive behavior.

3 Things that will Never Get German Shepherd Barking Under Control

Punishing your dog by hitting, kicking or a raised hand in the ‘ready to smack’ position. This will scare your dog and cause mistrust. And in the case of attention seeking barking it will only reinforce the behavior.

Shouting at your dog will make him think you’re joining in with the barking. Shouting will not make your dog stop barking. In most cases your dog will turn a deaf ear and continue barking.

Using a bark collar. This will cause your dog considerable pain and discomfort. It is not a proven method to stop barking. It will also cause negative feelings in your dog. These feelings can be associated with a person or animal present when shock is applied. This equals aggression.

By now you’re asking:

What should I do to get rid of German Shepherd Barking problems?

Using a paired or opposite cue is the most effective method to get rid of German Shepherd barking.  There are two different ways you can use this technique.

So how does this work?

#1 Teach Your German Shepherd to Bark on Command

Teaching Your German Shepherd the ‘speak’ ‘quiet’ cues. Speaking or barking on command is method that is also associated with trick training. But it’s just as effective in altering excessive barking behavior.

To begin with, the trick is to only reward your dog when you want him to bark. This will ensure that you don’t reinforce the excessive barking.

6 Steps I used to alter Charley’s excessive barking…

• Get your dog excited. Throw his toy, jump up and down or make barking noises. The point here is to get him over-the-top excited!
• Once your dog is barking open and close your hand as shown in the pictures – this is your hand signal. Do this while saying the word ‘speak’.
• Mark and reward each time your your dog barks.

Teach ‘speak’ with hand signals and curb German Shepherd barking

German Shepherd Barking: Use Hand Signals to teach your dog to speak

Once your dog ‘gets it’, the next step is not to reward for more than one bark at a time. Mark and reward is important to show him you only want one bark.

Once your dog fully understands the ‘speak command’ it’s time to teach the opposite cue, ‘quiet’.

• Follow the same steps by getting your dog excited and revved up. This will make him bark.
• Once your dog is barking put your open hand just in front of his nose. Now say the word ‘quiet’ in a firm but kind voice.
• The second your dog stops barking mark and reward his behavior.

Your German Shepherd will soon have the ‘a-ha moment’. He’ll quickly make the connection that ‘quiet’ and your hand signal means ‘stop barking’.

#2 Counter-Conditioning and Desensitization

Counter-conditioning and desensitization also work on the principal of pairing.  In this case you’ll pair something your dog regards as good – like cheese – in the presence of the thing that’s causing your dog to bark.

• So your first step is to pin-point the exact thing that makes your dog bark.  Like the postman, motorcycles, joggers, cyclists etc.

Let’s use a mail van in this example…

• The next step is to start counter-conditioning your dog in the presence of the mail van.  It’s important to start at a distance your dog still feels comfortable at.

If you get too close, too soon it might feel like waterboarding to your dog.  She could become more agitated and even fearful, so go slowly.

• Keep a close eye on your dog’s body language.  If your dog starts barking, immediately call her attention to you and treat her.

Your treats MUST be high value – more valuable than the satisfaction of reacting to the mail van.

If you want to find out which treats your dog finds the highest value, check out my post on dog learning and do the little experiment.  Your dog will let you know which treats she likes best!

Follow these steps and be consistent, as your dog becomes more desensitized, you can move closer and closer to the mail van.

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German Shepherd Puppy Biting? Take Charge Like This

German Shepherd puppy biting is one of the key behaviors you should take charge of as soon as possible.

Ignoring or encouraging biting behavior can lead to it spinning out of control.  And once your puppy is older biting could mean big problems…  Like puncture wounds, legal battles, confiscation or worse – euthanasia.
Keep in mind that your German Shepherd puppy will one day be a strong and muscular dog.  Adult males can weigh anywhere between 30 – 40 kg (66 – 88 lbs) and  females between 22 – 32 kg (49 – 71 lbs).

And they have a powerful scissor-like bite exerting more than 1060 Newtons or 238 lbf of force.  Trying to control the strong bite of an adult dog could end in disaster for you and your dog.

Before we look at how to take charge of your German Shepherd puppy biting we should first understand a few key things about biting…

Behavior or Temperament

It’s important for you to realize the difference between behavior and temperament…

• Puppy biting is a behavior and it’s something all puppies do.
• The reason for puppy biting is temperament.  Certain dog breeds are more prone to biting than others.

Biting is normal

Yes, biting is a normal behavior for puppies and dogs.  I mean think about it…  If a dog is upset, he’s not going to hire an attorney and sue you!  No, he’s going to bite.

It’s our responsibility to teach our dogs not to bite through training.

Exploring

Puppies explore their environment through their mouths, very much like human babies do.  Your puppy will put anything in his mouth, including your fingers and limbs!

Puppies SHOULD bite

Shock, horror!  You read that right, puppies should bite.

Right now you’re thinking:

Hang on Rosemary!  I thought you just said it’s my responsibility to teach my German Shepherd puppy NOT to bite…

But stay with me here…

Puppies should bite so that they CAN learn that biting hurts.  It’s the exact same way they’d learn that biting hurts if they were biting other puppies in a play session.

You should use your German Shepherd’s natural biting behavior as a training opportunity.

Before we get to the good stuff, I’d like to highlight the BIGGEST mistake I see a lot of owners make…

Don’t expect your puppy to know what you want him to do unless you teach him first!

For example: it’s unfair to yell at your puppy when he bites you during a play session if you’ve never taught him not to bite.

If you do, the result will be that your pup won’t bite YOU anymore.  But he’ll still bite other members of the family, visitors or even the postman.

Playing is very important for you and your puppy and you should be able to play.  But there have to be boundaries. What you don’t want is a puppy that has a habit of mouthing that becomes harder and harder as your puppy grows stronger.

So how do you inhibit German Shepherd puppy biting?

During Play Sessions

The best time to do this is during a play session between you and your puppy.


I suggest initiating play sessions with your puppy as often as possible until you have taught your puppy to have a soft mouth.  Here are the steps you should follow to teach your puppy what the appropriate behavior is…

1. Allow your puppy to mouth your finger or hand during play.
2. The moment he bites down too hard or applies any pressure yelp out the word ‘ouch!’.
3. Immediately get up and walk away.

To begin with your puppy might not use his mouth, but as he becomes more and more aroused he’ll be more likely to bite down.  The moment he does so, play should stop.

This is one of those training session where using a lot of tactile praise is good.  This reminds your pup that you still love him.  It’s only the hard biting that you’re not happy about.

Redirect to something appropriate

Redirecting your puppy’s mouthing onto something more appropriate by using toys.  Some puppies will prefer soft toys while others will prefer something rubbery like a kong toy.  Other puppies might not like soft or rubbery toys but rather a rope toy.  Only buy purchasing some of these toys will you learn which you puppy likes best.

Kong toys are great because you can fill one end with something delicious your puppy loves.  I use organic peanut butter.  But you can use treats or even a portion of your puppy’s meal.

It’s important to note here that your puppy should never be left unsupervised with toys.

Eureka!  The Soft Mouth

After a few tries he’ll have his ‘eureka’ moment and start being a lot more gentle.  This is called mouthing or a ‘soft mouth’.

Mouthing means gentle play with the mouth and no hard biting or pressure.

With mouthing it’s important to remember that only you control mouthing.  You initiate mouthing and you decide when it stops.

Here are 4 rules to simplify the steps to German Shepherd puppy biting control…

4. Rules to German Shepherd puppy biting inhibition

#1 Only YOU initiate play

#2 No Hard Biting

#3 No Pressure Allowed


#4 Controlled Mouthing

The key take aways here are:

• Your German Shepherd puppy’s natural instinct to bite sets the stage for the perfect training opportunity.
• Your puppy won’t know what you want (or don’t) want him to do unless you teach him first.
• Use play sessions to take charge of your German Shepherd puppy biting.
• Always apply the 4 rules to puppy biting inhibition.

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Things that Every Dog Needs to Thrive

Dogs are truly man’s best friend, and they quickly become members of the family. Unfortunately, dogs do not learn how to properly behave by themselves and require guidance from their owners to train them to be well behaved. Training your dog takes time and above all else, a lot of patience. Dogs depend on humans for love and companionship as well as for their basic needs such as food, water, and shelter. Adding a dog to your family is a big step and long-term commitment. Use this article to help you determine if you are prepared to commit to man’s best friend.

The two essential things that all living things need in order to survive are food and water. Be sure that you establish a feeding routine so your dog can predict meal times. It is also a good idea to monitor how much food your dog eats so you can control your dog’s weight. Also if your dog loses their appetite it could indicate that something is wrong. It is vital to your dog’s health to make sure your dog has free access to water throughout the day. If your dog is outside on a hot day be sure to keep it well-hydrated, and use a plastic water dish instead of a metal one to prevent the bowl from becoming too hot. Keeping your dog well fed and properly hydrated will help to keep your pooch happy and healthy.

It is important that your dog has adequate shelter. Although most people allow their dogs to live in the house like members of the family, some people prefer to have their dogs live outside. Many dog breeds do fine living outdoors but need to be protected from the elements. Providing a doghouse will protect your dog from rain, heat, wind, and snow. Make sure the dog house is not too big so it can retain some heat when the temperature drops and keep your dog warm. A doghouse will provide your dog with shelter and will also double as a safe haven that pets will happily retreat to for safety and security.

Dogs need daily exercise to remain healthy and help burn off pent-up energy. Play in the yard, play at the park, or long walks are good fresh air activities for dogs and their human chaperones. A tired dog is a better behaved dog. Dogs that get regular exercise are less likely to display destructive behaviors.

Dogs require a lot of attention, some breeds more than others, so be sure that you have the time to give to them. Dogs are social pack animals and do not like being left alone for long periods of time. If you live a busy life and are never home, getting a dog is probably not a good fit for you. In contrast, if you are ready to bring a dog into your life, make sure to give it the love and attention it will crave. Dogs want to play, interact and bond with their owners so try to include your dog in your activities and lifestyle as much as possible. A happy, stimulated, active dog is less likely to engage in unwanted behaviors.

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Get Your Dog’s Barking Under Control

A new dog brings the excitement of a new friend to play with, a new companion, and a new family member. A new dog can also bring a lot of headaches. One of the most common problems with a dog in new surroundings is barking. Dogs bark for a variety of reasons: trying to communicate boredom, fear, hunger, thirst, anxiety, etc. Completely eliminating a dog’s barking is not always feasible, but the barking can be greatly reduced. Below are some tips to help you get your dog’s barking under control.

The first thing you need to identify is why your dog barks so much. Is it a constant behavior, or is it only brought on by certain events? Your dog could be barking because of another dog, a cat, strangers at the door, or even because it’s being left at home alone. Knowing why your dog barks will allow you to specifically target the problem.

The number one cause of a barking dog is boredom. You must provide your dog with items to play with and chew on to prevent boredom. Your dog must learn to play on their own. Well intended owners who constantly entertain their dogs have dogs that quickly become bored anytime they are left alone. When you do leave your dog alone be sure the essentials are taken care of. Plenty of food and water are obviously essential, but so are play toys, chew toys, rawhides, bones, etc.

You need to check yourself and to see if you are unknowingly rewarding your dog’s unmerited barking. If your dog is outside barking because you are inside, letting your dog in to quiet them down has just sent your dog the message that barking leads to what they want. When your dog barks for no desired reasons, you must ignore the barking and lavishly reward and praise your dog when the barking has ceased.

Incorporate a, “No Barking” or, “Quiet” command into your dog’s vocabulary. Calmly and quietly tell your dog “No Barking.” When your dog stops barking use the phrase, “Good No Barking” and immediately reward them with food/toys or lavish praise and attention.

My last bit of advice is very simple and basic; a well exercised dog is a well behaved dog. In other words, a tired dog does not have the energy to bark excessively at nothing.

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29 Essential German Shepherd Training Commands

Teaching your German Shepherd training commands is second only to potty training and a ‘soft mouth’.  It should also be fun!

As a dog owner you decide what commands to teach your dog.  But in general training commands are standard for all thorough dog training.

An important point to remember is that we can’t expect our dogs to know what we want if we haven’t taught them.  This is the essence of any kind of dog training.

Dogs don’t just perceive a command as a physical sound.  But are able to recognize a relationship between certain sounds.

So how does this relate to how you teach your German Shepherd training commands?

The 2 Key Strategy to effective German Shepherd training commands

1. “Trust is built with consistency”.  This is a quote by Lincoln Chafee.  This is essential in dog training.  Be consistent when teaching your German Shepherd training commands.  This will ensure that your dog trusts your commands and establishes you as a good leader.  Deviation will reduce your dog’s response.

2. KISS.  Keep it short and simple.  Dogs don’t care for ‘correct grammar’ and respond better to short commands that are simple and to the point.  Avoid ‘filler’ words like; ‘and’, ‘the’ and ‘on’.

Training commands fall into 2 main categories:

Basic obedience commands.  These commands are useful for on-leash and off-leash training sessions.  your German Shepherd will likely master each of these with 20 to 30 repetitions over 3 or 4 training sessions.

Advanced obedience commands.  These commands are used  in trick training, agility and working situations.  The are also useful on-leash or off-leash.  Your dog will need more time to master these commands and regular refresher sessions.

Teach the basic obedience commands first.  Once your German Shepherd has mastered these, you can move on to the more advanced commands.

20 basic obedience training commands…

• Attention! – your dog should focus on you, waiting for the next command.
• Here – your dog should position himself in front of you or at your side.  Usually accompanied with a hand gesture.
• Heel – your dog should walk at your side.
• Sit – your dog should sit either on- or off-leash.
• Stay – your dog should stay on the spot where he is on- or off-leash.
• Down – your dog should go into the down position.  Could be a ‘working down or a ‘relaxed down’.
• Come – used to call or recall your dog on- or off-leash.
• Stand – your dog should stand from either the down or sit position.
• Go out – your dog should leave the room.
• Go inside – your dog should enter the room.
• Let go – your dog should drop any item in his mouth.
• Kennel/Crate – your dog should climb into his crate or kennel.
• Good! – usually paired with a treat or play when executing a command correctly.
• Good dog! – used as praise when when performing executing the command correctly.  Usually accompanied with physical attention like patting or a nice scratch.
• No – immediately interrupt your dog from doing something.
• Don’t do that – similar to ‘no’ but can be too long winded.
• OK – indicating to your dog that the situation is safe or in order.
• Eat food – your dog has permission to begin eating.
• Stand still – usually used for off-leash training.  Your dog should stop dead in his tracks in the stand position.
• Leave it – stop your dog from picking up an object.

9 advanced obedience training commands…

• Fetch – your dog should fetch the desired item.  Could be the newspaper, your slippers or a
  
  ball.
• Jump – your dog should jump over or through an object. For example a low wall, a hoop or into water.
• Track – your dog should track the desired item or person.
• Guard – your dog should be watchful and alert around something like an item, door, person or gate.
• Bite – your dog should hold onto or bite into an object.
• Speak/Bark – your dog should bark on command.
• Quiet – your dog should stop barking on command.
• Go ahead – your dog should go ahead of you.  Used during agility competitions.
• Article search – similar to ‘track’.  your dog should search for a lost item.

Dog training is constant.  Keep in mind, a lot of training will happen during your daily interactions with your dog and consistency is still important here.  But short refresher sessions are essential.  These short sessions will keep your dog from becoming ‘rusty’

4 Key takeaways for teaching your German Shepherd training commands:

• Always be consistent.  Use the same words each time.
• We can’t expect our dogs to know what we want without teaching them first.
• Keep your commands short and simple.
• Do regular short refresher training sessions to avoid a decline in your dog’s response.

And now for the special download…

Here you can download an audio recording of how to pronounce all of these commands in German.  My friend Anna is a native German speaker, so you’ll be getting it from the horse’s mouth so to speak!  You can also download a text file so you can follow along with the audio.

Just right click the links below and save to your computer.  It’s Free!

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How to Train Your Dog : Unusual Tricks

Dogs are lovable,cute,intelligent,true companion and a loyal friend. Some of us still afraid of dogs and not ready to play with them. I have had this question in my mind and tried to find out an answer for it. Finally came up with a clear idea. People afraid of dogs which is not trained properly. This article will help you find out some basic but important tips on How to Train Your Dog!

All dogs love to please their owners. Dog training can be the best practice to make your dog gain your affection and love. It will create a deep bond between you both. Many of the dog owners have no idea when they bring a cute little puppy to their home. It’s important to have a basic plan on how to make an arrangements for your new family member, how to train your dog, dog training tips and tricks.

DOG TRAINING TRICKS

Dog owners can start their course with basic training tricks like sit and stand. But it’s better to have a list  of training tricks which should be prioritized based on your dog’s age.

House Training – Eliminating Problem

Puppies are clueless until you show them a proper path. Your concern may not be over by providing a place to sleep. They are like new born babies. Dog owner should teach them how to behave and what to do and don’ts. Eliminating problem is the most known and intolerable issue faced by dog owners and their family members. Puppies cannot control their elimination due to lack of physical control. First Trick to avoid elimination problem.

1. Make your puppy slowly walk around your backyard and let him sniff around the entire place. This activity can lead them to find a spot for elimination. It may not be successful immediately . Keep your patience and try the same for some days. Do not stop giving this training until you find him eliminating at the same place every day.

High Five

Next important trick is how to make your dog  high five! Puppies/Dogs are smart enough to learn this trick easily. There is lot of variation on this trick which is completely based on their owners. But the method below is identified extremely effective and easy to train.

• Notice your dog position. Have your dog sit on the floor, then you also need to sit on the floor facing your dog.Be close to him so that he will be able to touch you with his paw.
• Take your dog treat and place it in your palm and make a fist. Hold your hand , palm down, under your dog’s nose few inches away from his face. Your dog may small the treats and paw at your hand.
• If he make a contact , each time when he paw at your hand reward him with your treats .Repeat this process until your dog consistently touches your hand for the treat.

I have clearly mentioned about this process on my previous article about how to make your dog high five. Process of giving treat can be apply to all other basic tricks like sit and stand, high five, roll over, bark, catch and hold.

10 Unusual Tricks to teach your dog :

1. High Five
2. Army Crawl
3. Collect Garbage
4. Salute
5. Kiss
6. Hand stand
7. Water Fetch
8. Peek-a-boo
9. Walk Backwards
10. Open and Close door

It’s not the whole job. Just the beginning. It is 10 out of 1000 who has really understand their dogs problem and train them based on that.

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German shepherd obedience training

But before you get a dog, you should familiarize yourself with the most important things. 

Nutrition of the german shepherd obedience training. So the dog was happy and healthy always, more is needed. And above all the right balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. It is the balance, not the form in which the dog these nutrients absorb. It can be fresh, home-cooked food or prepared food, canned or dry. Of course, fresh natural food is healthier ready-to-feed, but only if the diet is correct.

Just porridge with meat is not enough for a german shepherd obedience training. Also there is common misconception that a dog, like a carnivore should be fed raw meat and only meat. Are you sure you can feed your dog in accordance to its needs? To make a proper menu and even just day-to-day to follow the recommendations on feeding dogs a natural diet is difficult. Therefore, we recommend using ready-made feed for dogs. Quality finished feed is not harmful to dogs. It is important to make the right choice of food in accordance with the needs of your pet.

Utensils for the german shepherd obedience training. One bowl for your pet is not enough. You will need two: one for feed and one for water. The water in the dog bowl should always be present, in sufficient quantity and fresh. But you should not remain the food in the bowl that are not eaten immediately, remove until the next meal or even throw away. To choose a bowl, perhaps, the easiest way is taken into account only the size of your german shepherd obedience training.

Walking of the german shepherd obedience training. Whatever it was from home or kennel the dog will have at least twice a day go out for walks, for training. So think about the leash. You should have at least two variants: shorter, a meter and a half or two (it can be leather, nylon or canvas) and longer for training, learning the command come!. There are a lot of fans of leash-roulette. These long leashes are pulled and reeled in a small plastic case, which you hold in your hands. Do not forget about the natural clothing of your german shepherd obedience training – fur. The main thing is proper care.

Health of the german shepherd obedience training. We recommend purchasing the first aid kit for your pet. If the dog cut paw or get hurt. The vaccine is for the vaccination is better not to buy. It will be necessary for your dog every year, but from improper storage of the vaccine may lose protective properties. That way, you do not need it. Entertainment of the german shepherd obedience training. And here we all are clean, healthy, well-fed and cheerful can finally and play! The more that games develop the thinking dog, and toys in pet stores presented in all the diversity, it and balls, and rings, and cords for pulling, Frisbee, toys tweeters and toys that can be filled with a treat, bones and more. Choose what prefer your own german shepherd obedience training, and enjoy your life together!

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Your Dog’s Body Language

As a dog owner, it’s important that you understand your pet’s body language. Even though dogs can learn to understand some words and phrases, they are never able to learn how to speak. Instead, your dog talks to you through its body language.

1. Ears
Pay particular attention to your dog’s ears. Ears that are held upright and forward indicate excitement or interest. Ears that are held close to the head and aimed towards the tail indicate fear or anxiety. If you notice that your dog is holding its ears flat against its head while you are out in public, it is a good idea to not let people approach it.

2. Tail
It’s important to know that a wagging tail does not always signify a happy animal. A slow, exaggerated wag tells you that your dog is concerned, afraid or even angry. A tail held stiff and erect should alert you to a possible bite. A tail that is pinned between the legs and held close to the body indicated extreme fear and anxiety. When your dog is happy, its tail will be held close to even with its back and wag from side to side or in circles.

3. Eyes
Pay close attention to your dog’s eyes. If your dog’s pupils are enlarged in normal light, it is silently telling you that it is afraid or anxious. You should rarely see the whites of your dog’s eyes; if you do, a bite may be imminent. When you meet a strange dog, do not make eye contact. Instead, look at the top of the dog’s head or at the side of its body. Eye contact is threatening to a dog and could encourage an attack from a fearful or aggressive animal.

4. Posture
Your dog’s body says it all. A happy dog is a relaxed dog. A dog that is at ease has a relaxed body. A stiff posture is something to pay attention to. If you notice that your dog is holding its entire body like a tightly-wound watch, something is wrong. Do not let any person or animal approach your dog if it becomes stiff and still.

5. Hackles
You should understand that raised hackles do not always indicate an aggressive animal. Think of hackles like human goose bumps. Raised hackles can signal aggression, but they can also signal excitement, nervousness or anxiety. Your dog has no more control over raising its hackles than you have control over breaking out in goose bumps.

When you bring a dog into your home, it’s important to research canine body language. While each part of your dog’s body can tell you something, its overall positioning speaks volumes. Pay close attention to the position of your dog’s ears, the movement of its tail, and the stance of its body. Like humans, dogs display several signals at one time. When you learn more about canine body language, you understand what your dog is trying to tell you.

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Is Your Home Ideal for a German Shepherd?

A German shepherd can certainly make for a wonderful, loving companion, but the reality is that this is not a breed that will suit everyone. Before you consider owning a dog of any kind, you need to take time to choose a breed that is a good fit for you. You may love the look and qualities of a German shepherd, but that doesn’t mean he is a good fit for your home.

German Shepherds are smart animals who were initially bred to be working dogs. When properly trained, this is a breed that will be determined and willing to work, which is not always something that goes over well in every home. You need to be able to provide four key elements if you wish to own a German shepherd.

Socialization
Training
Exercise
Stimulation of the mind
Socialization should begin as a puppy, as this will lead to a well-adjusted adult. Be prepared to put in some time and effort on this element.

Training is just as essential as socialization for German shepherds. Obedience training is the very minimum that should be taught, but the more training you can deliver, the better a German shepherd will be as a family pet. Keep in mind that this is a breed that grows to be very large and powerful, not to mention full of life. This exuberance will be clearly evident as a puppy, when they are inclined to tear up the house at every opportunity if left unsupervised. This behavior may be cute as a puppy, but when your German shepherd reaches seventy pounds, eighty pounds, or more, it’s not quite so fun. Obedience training is not something that you can do in the beginning and then just stop. You need to be consistent and work on behavior even into adulthood.

Once your German shepherd has basic obedience and socialization skills, you need to start thinking about giving this breed something to do. This is not a breed that is happy to hang out on the couch, they need exercise, play time and a sense of purpose. This is something that you need to take an active role in. If you have a sedentary lifestyle or don’t have the time to commit to keeping this breed active, a German shepherd is not for you. This breed of dog is happiest when it is tired and is a contributing member within their family (pack) structure.

Keeping this breed busy physically is a most, but a German shepherd also needs to be kept active mentally, too. This is a breed that thrives on mental stimulation and on being given a job to do. Tasks that require agility and no small amount of thought are what will keep them happy and stimulated. German shepherds are intelligent dogs who learn quickly and are very observant. They enjoy learning new things, being active and spending time with their pack members. This breed is athletic and excels at extra curricula activities such as agility, dock jumping, herding, personal protection, ring sport, schutzhund, search and rescue, and tracking. Extra activities are just one more way to socialize and stimulate their minds.

If you don’t properly assess your situation and take the time to be honest with yourself, you are going to end up with a very unhappy home, which includes the happiness of your dog. If you know that time is not an issue, and that you have what it takes to look after a big, energetic dog, a German Shepherd may be the perfect breed for you.

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German Shepherd Obedience Training

Obedience Training for dogs

Obedience Training for dogs appears to be the only dog training that today's generations of dog trainers know. So no surprise that it also is the only dog training that dog owners know and apply.

What is Obedience Training?

By its very name, all forms of Obedience Training comprise an element of lure or reward, or force or fear to get the dog "obedient", as well as some form of punishment for "disobedience" - whether the punishment is to withhold the lure or reward, or to jerk on the leash, or to raise the arm in a threatening way, or whatever else. When you expect the dog to be "obedient" then you must have some form of punishment when the dog is not.

The dog trainers who believe they are the good ones use only lure and/or reward, and the other dog trainers who also believe they are the good ones, and that only they can effectively train dogs, they use force and/or fear in addition to lure and/or reward.

What are the problems with Obedience Training?

There are many problems with Obedience Training, but the most striking problem is: When you use any form of Obedience Training, the dog behaves "well" only while you are there (if at all). This is because only when you are there with the dog, you can use lure or reward, or force or fear to get the dog to do what you want - or to stop doing something you don't want. And because the dog is aware that only when you are in an arm's reach of the dog, you can use some form of punishment when the dog does not meet your expectations.

Again the punishment may just be that you withhold the lure or reward, but you can't do that either when you aren't with the dog. And so whenever you aren't around (you are at work or grocery shopping, or taking the kids to school or the grandma to the doctor, or whatever), the dog is very much aware that neither (s)he can hope to get a treat, nor (s)he has to fear your use of force.

What are the consequences of Obedience Training?

The consequences of this biggest flaw of Obedience Training are manifold: from plain "potty accidents" to destroyed furniture at home, from running off and not coming when called to attacking children or the postman or anyone else when outdoors.

While dog owners routinely notice the ramifications of Obedience Training in their own home (although they don't relate them to the form of training they chose to undertake), the ramifications that Obedience Training has for the society as a whole are on an entirely different level: The mauling of children and adults by dogs wouldn't happen if a) the dog owners are always with their dog (which obviously they can't), or b) the dog owners use Behavior Training far more than Obedience Training.

What is the alternative to Obedience Training?

Noticing the inherent flaws of Obedience Training, Tim Carter as the founder of basicdogtrainingmethods001.blogspot.com realized at the beginning of the third millennium that we currently share, that Obedience Training needs to be replaced by something better. Something that better meets the dog's inherited traits and psychology. Something that doesn't mislead dog owners into believing that they have trained their dog (or that a professional dog trainer has trained their dog) when all that has been done is to entice or to frighten the dog while you were there, or while the trainer was there.

This is why Tim Carter developed Behavior Training to better meet the needs of the modern dog owner. And although you can find a few professional dog trainers who now use the term Behavior Training, when you look at their actual offering you see that it is nothing but Obedience Training.

What means Behavior Training?

Behavior Training as we understand it means that we behave in a way that motivates the dog to behave the way we want. Building up this intrinsic motivation is the reason why this kind of dog training takes longer, but also why then the dog routinely behaves the same, regardless whether we are there or not.

Our Behavior Training is void of the idea of "obedience" and "disobedience". There is no reward and no punishment for behavior. When you think about it, reward and punishment for dog behavior don't even make sense because dogs naturally behave different than people. So why reward or punish nature? Dog owners really have been misled for decades.

Instead, with our form of Behavior Training we merely change our own behavior when we are unhappy with the dog's behavior. And we change our own behavior in a way that motivates the dog to behave the way we want. This means we must be able to be conscious and self-critical of our own behavior, and we must be able to read the dog's body language f. Note that dogs learn everything from what we do, and next to nothing from what we say. When you think "the dog learned my command", then the dog really learned from your body language.

In short, our proprietary form of Behavior Training raises dogs that ultimately want to behave the way we want (well) - and thus they do so out of routine - while all forms of Obedience Training raise dogs that very quickly understand that they have to behave the way we want (to get a treat or to not get punished) - and thus they do so only when they know they are being closely monitored.

The implications of using this different dog training approach

The fundamental differences in these approaches to dog training also have significant implications, the most striking of which is: A behavior-trained dog that is fully house-trained f can safely be left alone at home while the dog has free run of the house and property. While with a purely obedience-trained dog you cannot, you rely on luck, and sometimes you come back and you will find that the dog deranged or destroyed something in your home, or attacked small children or whatever.

Obedience Training for dogs gets massively overemphasized, regardless which breed of dog or mix you have. But now you know what you can expect to get when you choose Obedience Training for your dog. So better choose wisely.

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DOG BREEDS - The White Alsatian Dog

German shepherds, known as Alsatians in Europe, are among the most identifiable dogs in the world. Even people who don't know much about canines recognize these black and brown dogs. However, there's also a white version of the breed, a color not recognized for showing by the American Kennel Club.

White Alsatians

Besides color, there is no difference between the white and standard German shepherd, or Alsatian. White German shepherds whose parents were both registered with either the American or Canadian Kennel Clubs can also be registered, but their color is considered a "disqualifying fault" by the AKC and "less desirable" by the CKC. That means they can't show in AKC conformation classes and aren't encouraged in CKC breed classes. However, they are eligible to compete in any AKC or CKC performance events.

Origins

According to the White German Shepherd Dog Club of America, white was one of the breed's original colors. It states that the breed's founder, Captain Max Von Stephanitz, had several white shepherds and considered the color an important element in the breed. During the late 19th century, Von Stephanitz observed the working shepherd dogs of Germany, who had shepherding in common but varied in size, type and color. His goal was to create a smart, sound dog who could serve as shepherd and companion.

The Horand Line

Von Stephanitz began breeding the best shepherd dogs he could find to achieve his dream. Among the first was the white-coated Grief. According to the WGSDCA, Grief was related to Horand, the first entry in the Verein fur Deutsche Shaferhund stud book in 1899, when the official breed was formed. "Horand carried the white gene and sired many white pups and many colored pups with the white recessive gene," according to the WGSDCA.

1900-1930s

The Alsatian rapidly became a popular working dog. The first Germans shepherds arrived in the United States in 1912, and in 1917 the AKC registered white German shepherds. Rin Tin Tin became an international movie star. However, by the 1930s Nazism arrived in Germany. The Nazis' bizarre racial theories extended to dogs, with white Alsatians seen as inferior. They were banned from the German show ring.

The Post-War Years

Even after the defeat of Nazism in World War II, some misconceptions about the white German shepherd dog continued. The White German Shepherd Dog Club International states that, in the 1960s, the recessive white coat gene was mistakenly blamed for genetic issues in some bloodlines, leading to Germany's attempt to "outlaw" the white Alsatian. In 1968, the AKC changed its rules regarding the breed, labeling the white color as a disqualifying fault. The following year, the WGSDCA was formed.

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Basic Dog Obedience Tips

One of the best ways to teach your dog basic obedience is to take him or her to a training class. Most dog clubs offer them, and they’re a great way to train your dog while socializing him or her as well. You’ll probably even make some new friends.

Now, we have to point out that not everyone has the ability to commit to regular dog classes, and if that’s the case, you can always train your dog at home on your own time.  You can teach your dog basic obedience tips and commands at home in order to be sure that he or she behaves properly when out in public.

The Importance of a Mannerly Dog

You know the importance of good manners. They’re every bit as important for dogs as they are for people. You know how it is with people who don’t have good manners – they are not wanted in social situations, and they may find themselves left out of gatherings due to bad manners.

It’s the same with dogs. An unmannerly dog, one who pulls, barks, jumps, grabs hands or otherwise misbehaves is not going to be welcome among civilized company. Additionally, if your dog is poorly trained, he or she could, simply stated, get you evicted.

Easy Training

It’s not hard to teach your dog basic obedience. Sit, stay, down and come are very basic commands that are easily taught and reinforced, and once they are taught, you will have a well-behave dog who will be welcome in virtually any social situation.

Catch Him Doing Something Right

With dog training, timing is everything. As soon as your dog does what you want, reward him or her, either with words of praise or a treat. For “sit,” simply push your dog’s backside down to the floor, and once that butt is solidly on the floor, deliver praise and perhaps a treat. Your dog will immediately know that he or she has done the right thing, and will want to do it over and over.

Down

Down works the same way. Push down on the hindquarters, and then on the shoulders. When the dog gets it right, the dog gets a reward.

Stay

Tell your dog to sit. He or she already knows that. Now, hold out a treat, but don’t give it. If the dog moves toward the treat, offer a firm “No.” Then reiterate, “Stay.” The dog is going to want the treat desperately, but don’t give it until the “Stay” command has been firmly reinforced.

Basic Training Tips

Always be firm in training, but be kind. Don’t expect too much of your dog. He or she wants to please you, but has the attention span of about a two-year-old child. Don’t forget that.

Also, remember to take your training sessions out to various locations in your house. If you do it in just one place, your dog may think, “I have to do this in the kitchen… but nowhere else.”

If you work daily with your training sessions, eventually your dog will do what you want, everywhere, all the time. Therefore, start with basic obedience training and then move on to more complex training. Your dog will get the idea quickly, and you will end up with a good canine citizen who can move on to more complex training.

The Final Word

The key to good dog training is consistency and caring. Remember that you dog wants to please you, and structure your training program accordingly. With kindness and consistency, you can create a good canine citizen who will fit seamlessly into your neighborhood.

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HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOG FROM BEING BORED

Today, as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) reports, the most common job description for domestic dogs is being a couch potato. This article offers a number of ways in which you can encourage your dog to lead an active lifestyle and prevent the unpleasant, and sometimes destructive, behavior that results from boredom in dogs.

1. Doing Things Together

Spend time with your dog. When you are not at work or are otherwise busy, organize activities to do with your dog to keep her from getting bored. These activities can range from playing games to outdoor exercises.Spending time with your dog is a great way to keep yourself physically fit while at the same time allowing your dog to enjoy the active lifestyle that she is naturally inclined towards.

Go for a jog or walk together. Try to take your dog for a jog or walk at least once a day. This will keep both of you fit and will allow your dog the physical activity that she craves while at the same time exploring the outdoors. The ASPCA encourages taking a variety of routes and visiting new places ‘so that your dog can experience novel smells and sights.

Travel with your dog. Traveling with your dog is another great way to keep your dog from being bored while spending time together. Depending on how much time you have, this could be as short as a car ride (which dogs love) to the supermarket or even an extended vacation.

• Before going on an extended holiday with your dog, bring her to the vet and ensure that all her vaccinations are up to date. Keep her shot records with you and remember that you require a health certificate for airline travel.
• Buy a crate for your dog. Crates keep dogs safe during travel by automobile and are required for travel by plane.
• Make sure your dog has proper identification in case she gets lost from you during a vacation.
• If traveling by car, be sure to keep your dog safe and healthy. This means you should avoid car sickness by letting her travel on an empty stomach. In addition, keep your dog safe by not let your dog ride with her head out of the car window. Make frequent rest stops, and do not leave your dog unattended in a closed vehicle, especially in the summer, as temperatures in a closed vehicle can get extremely high. 
• Check with your airline, cruise carrier, train line, or bus service as to their rules on canine travel because not all of them allow it and each may have particular rules that apply to such travel.

Play games with your dog. Playing games together will keep both you and your dog active and, therefore, healthy. Doing so will also have a positive impact on your relationship with your dog.

Play tug-of-war. Play tug-of-war with your dog. This game is useful because it allows your dog ‘an outlet for her natural canine urges to grab and pull on things with her mouth.  A helpful guide from the ASPCA on how to teach your dog to play this game is available here.

Play fetch. Play fetch with your dog. This game is good if you do not wish to exert yourself a great deal while at the same time wish to give your dog a good workout. A useful guide on how to teach your dog to play fetch is available here.

Play hide-and-seek. Play hide-and-seek with your dog. This game will exercise your dog’s mind because it will encourage her to look for you. This game also offers your dog the chance to exercise her sense of smell. A helpful guide on how to teach your dog to play hide-and-seek is available here.

Play find-it. Play find-it with your dog. This game is similar to hide-and-seek except your dog in this game will be looking for items that you hide from her for the purposes of this game. Hide treats for your dog in your choice of hiding spots (e.g. behind furniture legs) and instruct your dog to find these hidden treats. This game also encourages your dog to use her powerful sense of smell. The ASPCA notes that offering your dog the opportunity to use her sense of smell ‘can really wear her out!

Play chase. Play chase with your dog by tying one of her favorite toys to a rope and allowing her to chase the toy as you twirl it in the air or drag it along the ground. You can also purchase toys from your nearest pet store designed specifically for playing chase with your dog

2. Encouraging Active Alone Time

Assign your dog healthy activities to do by herself. One of the best ways of ensuring that your dog will not engage in destructive or otherwise poor behavior when she is by herself is to assign her appropriate tasks to do while you are away. Doing so will ensure that your dog is fulfilling her natural desire to remain active while at the same time engaging in healthy, non-destructive activities.

Buy food puzzle toys. A great way to simulate an environment in which your dog can hunt for food is by making use of food puzzle toys. These are containers that hold food and treats but do not provide your dog easy access to their food. Working for her food in this manner will fulfill her innate desire to hunt for food, simulating an environment similar to what wild dogs experience when scavenging for food.

• Food puzzle toys make your dog work for food in ways that are healthy for your dog because of the skills (e.g. pawing, nibbling, rolling) required to access the food. In addition, these toys also have a calming effect on your dog by encouraging her to engage in chewing and licking.
• Allow your dog time to learn to play with food puzzle toys. Gradually increase the amount of effort required to access the food from her food puzzle toys. If your dog is used to being served food in a bowl, she will take some time to learn to enjoy playing with food puzzle toys. Be patient with her as she learns this skill and do not force her to do too much too soon.
• For detailed instructions on how to stuff a particular brand of food puzzle toy known as a KONG food puzzle, visit this website.

Hide your dog’s food to simulate a hunting environment. Make your dog hunt for her meals around the house by hiding treats and food puzzle toys around the house. The ASPCA suggests that you can hide 'one of your dog's meals right before you leave her home alone, and she'll have great fun hunting her chow while you're away.'You can vary this activity by doing the same in your yard so that your dog can hunt for food both inside the house and outside in the yard. Most dogs love playing the game of looking for pieces of kibble in the grass.

Provide chew time. All dogs have an innate need to chew. The ASPCA observes that chewing helps dogs keep their jaws strong and teeth clean and that both wild and domestic dogs spend hours chewing.Providing your dog chew time with acceptable items to chew on will not only help her in maintaining a strong jaw and keeping her teeth clean but will also prevent her from chewing on items around the house that you do not want your dog to chew

3. Encouraging Activity With Other Dogs

Create opportunities for your dog to engage with other dogs. Dogs, like humans, are social animals who enjoy spending time with others within their species. Allow your dog to play with other dogs by creating opportunities for such social interaction

Get a companion animal for your dog. A companion animal (e.g. a trained dog) for your dog can provide an array of benefits, which include encouraging exercise and physical activity, relieving loneliness, and providing affection and companionship to your dog.

Arrange activities with friends and family who have dogs. A good way to create opportunities for your dog to enjoy time with other dogs is to arrange play dates with friends or family with dogs.Doing so will allow your dog an opportunity to socialize with other dogs and will also allow you to catch up with friends and family at the same time

Take your dog to a park or daycare. You can also take your dog to a dog park or dog daycare to allow her time to socialize with other dogs. You may not have the time or the financial means to take her to daycare everyday but try doing so at least a few times a week if possible. For more information on dog parks and daycares, visit this website. Be sure that her vaccinations are up to date before going to social gatherings of this nature.


If you are struggling to incorporate the above activities in your busy schedule, consider taking your dog to daycare at least a few times a week.
Visit your dog from work during lunch time if you live close to your place of work.
Hire a dog walker to take your dog for a walk or consider asking friends or family if your dog can spend time with them during the day when you are away at work.

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Dog Development - Embryology

YOUR DOG’S PREGNANCY WEEK BY WEEK

Female dogs (bitches) generally give birth around 63 days after conception, with a few variations between 56 and 70 days depending on the exact time of fertilisation in relation to mating. This step by step guide tells you what to expect during your dog’s pregnancy and gives you practical advice and important information to help things run smoothly.

Before considering pregnancy for your bitch there are a few important factors to consider.  It is recommended that all vaccinations should be up to date for the duration of the pregnancy and feeding (lactating) period, so check with your vet about this before you mate your bitch.  You should also not allow your bitch to have puppies until she is fully grown and mature herself.  For most breeds of dog, having a litter of puppies is not recommend until the bitch is at least 2 years of age.  Equally, it is inadvisable to breed from a bitch that is too mature and many vets recommend the ideal age for delivering a litter as being between 2 and 5 years old but the upper limit will depend on your dog, their breed and reproductive history and your vet’s specific advice.  You should also consult your vet, an experienced breeder of your breed of dog or the Kennel Club for advice on any screening schemes or precautionary measures that are advised for your particular breed of dog before you commit to breeding from your pet.

Week 1:   
 Mating

Mating between dogs is often preceded by a courting phase during which they play. Penetration can occur rapidly though, sometimes in under a minute. There may be a number of attempts, particularly if the partners are lacking in experience.

The male mounts the bitch and penetrates her, prompting a vaginal reflex that traps the male until the act of mating is complete. This lock phenomenon can keep the two dogs together for 15 to 30 minutes and may look odd to us, especially if the male does a 180 degree turn! It is important not to try separating them at this point by any means, as this could cause damage.

The mating process does not necessarily mean that fertilisation was successful; it may have taken place at a time when the bitch’s fertility had not yet reached its peak. Equally, the sperm can survive in the uterus for up to seven days, so fertilisation may take place several days after mating. To increase the chances of a pregnancy occurring, mating is often carried out twice, with a two day interval between the attempts.  Some breeders also use a series of progesterone blood tests for their bitch, (which are available at most veterinary surgeries), to identify the optimum window of fertility for their bitch before taking her for mating.

Fertilisationovulation_medium
Gestation begins when the female’s ova (eggs) are fertilised by the male spermatozoa (sperm). The fertilised egg is the first component of a new living being!

The embryos start off very high up in the uterus, but towards the end of the first week they migrate down towards the uterine horns. Here they float around within the uterine liquid.

Week 2:   
Maintenance 
When your dog’s heat has come to an end you may groom her as usual. The embryos are well protected in the uterus and gentle grooming (avoiding any stress) should not cause any concerns.

During this initial phase of gestation (from mating until around day 35) the goal is to maintain your dog’s ideal weight. Early weight gain is not recommended for optimal health. Weight gain during the first 42 days should not exceed 10% of the ideal weight. Your dog’s energy requirements remain stable at this point, the embryos do not develop greatly (in terms of their size) and no nutritional change is required, unless recommended by your vet.

If the bitch is being fed an appropriate, balanced and complete diet no vitamin or mineral supplements are required during gestation (unless your vet has specifically prescribed otherwise).

Week 3:  
Nidation

The embryos become embedded in the uterine lining where they will subsequently develop. They will be progressively enveloped in a protective membrane that provides them with the necessary supply of nutrients.

Week 4: 
 Confirm gestation (pregnancy)

Visit your vet around day 25, as they can perform an ultrasound to establish a reliable diagnosis of pregnancy. This will give you some idea of the size of the litter (although detecting exact numbers is often not possible), as well as potentially detecting any abnormalities. Alternatively, your vet can also diagnose gestation by doing a blood test to determine the level of relaxin, a hormone only created by the placenta. Whichever method your vet chooses, it is very useful to confirm your dog’s pregnancy as early as possible in order to properly monitor her condition.

Week 5: 
Foetal stage
Day 35 marks the end of embryogenesis (the first phase of gestation). The organs are now all beginning to form, and we now refer to the embryo as a foetus. During this foetal phase (and in particular from the 40th day onwards) the foetus’ weight will increase by around 75%.

Week 6 
 The turning point

From day 42 the pace changes, as your bitch enters the third and final phase of gestation. The foetus is developing fast now. Claws will be developing, the skeleton begins to solidify, and the foetus will gain weight rapidly.

As a result, your dog’s nutritional requirements will change, as she now requires a diet with higher energy, protein and mineral content. It may seem contradictory, but you may well observe a drop in her appetite as her distended abdomen may make eating normal meals harder for her. Getting her to eat the right food is essential and offering her several smaller meals throughout the day, instead of 2 larger meals, may also help if you find she is not eating enough to maintain a good body condition.

ROYAL CANIN® has a range of diets specifically developed for optimal nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. Depending on the size of your dog’s breed you may choose Mini Starter, Medium Starter, Maxi Starter or Giant Starter. Starter Mousse is also available. Palatable, high in energy content and very digestible, Starter and Starter Mousse have been designed as a solution to all of her increasing needs during gestation. Remember to transition gradually (over at least 5 days) from one food to the next to minimise the likelihood of any digestive upsets.

Week 7:  
Hair

By day 45 the foetus’ first hairs will start to appear, and the skeleton begins to ossify (solidify). The coat and bones are some of the last areas to develop.

Worming
Parasites are a concern, as they have the potential to infect the puppies at birth. It is therefore essential to make an appointment with your vet to have your bitch wormed. The vet will advise you on which product to use.

Prepare for whelping
To avoid being caught by surprise, start preparing the place for your bitch to whelp as early as you can. The chosen place must be quiet and removed from the hustle and bustle of the household. Don’t forget that the room must be kept warm, as newborns need heat. The floor must be easy to clean. The mother and pups will need to use this place for a few weeks, well away from any excitement so as not to disturb suckling.


Week 8:  
X-ray
Around day 50 the foetus’ skeleton will have ossified, so you may choose to ask your vet whether they feel it is necessary to perform an x-ray. In many cases, an x-ray will confirm the number of foetuses; so when it comes to whelping this will reassure you that all puppies have been delivered.   Some vets may not feel an x-ray is necessary, however.

Check the bedding
Check that you have enough linen to change the bedding in the whelping area regularly. Linen must be completely dry when you use it. Make sure you have an extra heater available to provide a safe source of warmth, without risking burning the puppies or creating draughts but ensuring an ideal temperature when they are born.  The room should ideally be around 24-26°C during the first week, because puppies can’t regulate their body temperature at birth.  Adequate humidity levels should also be maintained.

Milk
Milk begins to flow from the bitch’s teats about one week prior to whelping. This is not, however, reliable in determining the date of whelping.

Even though it is comforting to see that your dog will be able to feed her puppies, make sure you have a tub of ROYAL CANIN Babydog Milk available too. This is specially developed to help you cope with any feeding problems or failure in milk production by the mother. Read the instructions and the advice on hygiene. Having milk in stock before the puppies arrive will make things a lot easier for you if you do have to feed the puppies yourself.




Week 9

 Final countdown
By instinct, the bitch will seek out a quiet place to make her nest and may seem on edge; don’t be worried by this. If you haven’t done so already, set up the whelping nest in the selected place, well away from any excitement and somewhere that is easy for her to reach and get used to sleeping in. It’s a good idea to line a box with thick layers of newspaper so that she’s properly insulated from the floor. You can cover the papers with clean towels or sheets or any other material to make it comfortable; the linen and lining paper will have to be frequently changed once the pups are born.

Unless you think it will cause too much stress, it is advisable to ensure that the rear end and the teats of the bitch are clean and easily accessible so that she can give birth and feed her pups in the most hygienic conditions possible. If she has long hair, you can carefully clear the area around the vulva and teats using round tipped scissors.

To avoid being taken by surprise, take her temperature three times a day. A drop of around 1°C compared to the average of the previous day is often a sign that labour is about to start; as the drop typically occurs within 48 hours of whelping. 

Pre-birth checklist

• Whelping nest is set up in a quiet place in the house.
• Whelping room kept at around 24-26°C.
• Tin of puppy milk in stock, just in case.
• Clean linen and/or towels, to change the bed after whelping.
• Disposable gloves.
• Kitchen paper.
• Scales to weigh the puppies.

Note down the phone number of your vet.

Whelping (giving birth)
Generally, most bitches manage very well by themselves. Your role mainly consists of providing her with quiet surroundings and your comforting presence. But if you do have any concerns in advance, do ask your vet for advice.
Labour can last from just a few minutes to several hours. Check on your bitch every 15 minutes or so to make sure everything is going smoothly, taking care not to show her if you are worried.
Once the first puppy is delivered, if your bitch doesn’t tear open the foetal sack herself you can do it yourself wearing disposable gloves over clean hands. Subsequent puppies will be born within anything from a few minutes to four hours later. Typically, most puppies will be born within 1-2 hours of the last puppy, although greater variation can occur.  Remember it is normal for some of the puppies to be born with their back feet first, in what is often (incorrectly in dogs) described as the “breech” position (this is actually when the bottom is delivered first, with back feet tucked forwards).
Don’t worry if your bitch eats the placenta as soon as it is expelled, this is normal. 
 What to do

• Check progress regularly.
• Call your vet if the contractions are unproductive or if you are worried.
• If you need to invigorate a newborn puppy, rub it gently with a towel.

What NOT to do

• Never pull the puppies, especially by the paws, to help their expulsion, this could cause serious damage.
• Never put the puppies in cold water, it is unlikely you will need to use water for the puppies at all in the first few weeks, unless it has been recommended by your vet.
• Never use a hairdryer, as there is a real risk of burns and dehydration. 

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