Dog Whisperer #1--Walking Your Dog

There is more to walking your dog then simply taking him out and walking. You must maintain control and dominance at all times.
Before you start your walk, you need to have your dog sit and be calm before you even put the leash on. Clip the leash on, then follow these instructions.
If the dog gets up right when the leash is put on, tell them "no" and make them sit while you take the leash off. Put it back on if your dog remains calm. A calm, focused dog will have the ears tilted back, the tail may wag, and the dog may pant. The dog's eyes will be focused on you. If the dog does not get up when you put the leash on, allow them to get up while you open the door, telling them it's okay to do so. VERY IMPORTANT: When you open the door, be sure that the dog does not lead you out the door--this is VERY incorrect. The dog then thinks he is pack leader, which is exactly the opposite of what you want. Instead, YOU walk out the door FIRST, and then let the dog FOLLOW YOU out.
Now, you must get control. Always have the leash tight enough so that your dog is either at your side or behind you--whichever it prefers. Too many owners allow their dogs to lead them, and then their dogs become quite dominant, and in some cases, aggressive. Keep your head up, think calm assertive thoughts--then start walking! Once your dog gets used to the idea of you being leader, and if you walk him every day, you should be able to take the leash off and have him be by your side at all times, no matter what happens around you. This takes time, however--and practice makes perfect!
Do not allow your dog to stop and sniff things. In a wolf pack, the alphas (leaders) cannot allow the other wolves to stop and sniff everything, or they would never get anywhere! If the alpha (you) wishes to stop and look at, smell, etc. something, then that is perfectly fine. But the follower cannot decide this!
When your dog tries to go after something, such as a squirrel, cat, another dog, etc., or when they stop to sniff something, or when they start to get ahead of you, reprimand them with a quick jerk of the leash and "shhhh!" If the collar is placed high on the neck, it gives maximum control.
Read your dog's body language. When a dog suddenly stops, look at him. If his ears are pricked, he probably sees something. This normally means that they plan to chase something. Reprimand them immediately and continue on.
Energy is a worldwide language. You can speak to anything through energy. For example, when a human being frowns, you know by their energy that they are unhappy. You can understand your dog through energy, too. When a dog suddenly stops, as noted before, they are usually saying, "Oh boy, there's something over there that I think I want to chase." You can then reprimand the action before it happens, thus creating a safer walk. Learn to read your dog's body language and his energy.
You should walk your dog for at least every day for 30 minutes. One hour every day would be much better, and still longer would be absolutely great. Dogs need leaders, and walking them helps to create in their mind the fact that you are a leader. Be sure to have fun. Never reprimand your dog out of anger, but rather out of leadership. Don't baby your dog. Soon your dog will accpet you as leader, that is, if you accept you as leader.
More will be featured next week if possible.

Introducing...The Dog Whisperer!

Cesar Millan, a native to Mexico, has starred in Dog Whisperer with Cesar Millan on National Geographic many a time. And his ways work--he can fix from the most aggressive dogs to the most fearful--and anything in between!! Starting today, there will be a post on how to use his ways on this website every week, so start reading!!

Flyball: A Modern Sport

What is flyball?
Flyball is a growing-popular sport for dogs that includes fun and teamwork. The object of the game is to get every dog (about four dogs) on two teams to jump over a series of hurdles, jump onto a spring-release board that releases a tennis ball, grab the ball, and jump back over the hurdles. Whichever team's dogs go through this ordeal first, win the game.
Putting together the course:
The hurdle size depends on the smallest dog's height. For this reason, most teams like to have at least one small dog, such as a Jack Russell Terrier, to compete. This will make the hurdles low for all the other dogs, but unfortunately, terriers often have trouble springing the tennis ball from the board, and often have to jump hard onto the spring board with all four feet before the ball is released.
The course contains four hurdles that are set 10 feet apart. The starting line is six feet from the first hurdle, and the last hurdle is fifteen feet from the spring box, making a total of a 51 foot course. The rule is that all four hurdles must be four inches below the withers of the smallest dog, with a limit of no less than seven inches and no more than fourteen inches. Therefore, a Chihuahua cannot compete.
Penalties are given to teams if the ball is dropped or if the next dog is released into the relay too early. In flyball, you must play it smart and play it fast in order to win.
History:
Flyball was started by some trainers in the 1960's and 1970's who set some hurdles up as a scent-exercise, with a tennis ball at the other end, with the object being that the dog bring back the tennis ball when he got it. A spring board was then added, and soon, the sport of flyball became a recognized sport.
Other Facts:
Flyball is so popular because it is allowed to any breed of dog, whether he be purebred or mutt. Any size is allowed. A Great Dane could compete alongside a Jack Russell Terrier if wished.
Flyball can either be played as a simple, fun game, or as a competition in which every second counts. Currently, the time record is 15.210 seconds, and was set by Touch N Go Flyball Team.
This has been Featured Sports. Please join us again for more fun sports stories.

News

DOG SAVES TWO-YEAR-OLD

RC, a German Shepherd/Husky mix, is now in headlines.

He found a two-year-old youngster walking around in 32 degree weather with only a t-shirt on early one morning. The dog took the baby into his outdoor straw bed and sat on him to keep him warm.

A few hours later, at around 9 am, RC's keeper found the two curled up together. He took the baby to the Canonsberg police, who found the mother, Angela Harps. One door of the house was open, and Angela was sleeping. The two-year-old could have very easily suffered hypothermia, had it not been for RC, but doctors found him in perfect health. The baby has been placed in the care of his maternal grandparents, and RC is now a hero.

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