Portuguese Water Dog Magazine » Instinct

Is The Portuguese Water Dog Right For My Family?

Master — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 06:48:40 +0000

The best family for a PWD is an active, outdoorsy one with older children. Porties make exceptional gun dogs when properly trained, and are eager to go camping, hiking, fishing, or swimming with their families. A well-raised Portie is devoted to his family, gets along with other pets, and is polite to strangers (although he’s willing to take action if he feels it’s necessary).

Although their weatherproof coats protect them from the elements, Porties should live indoors with their families. They may become bored when left alone for long periods of time; if the family is out of the house during the day they may come home to inventive destructiveness. Porties have a strong chewing instinct, and need to be trained to know what they’re allowed chew on and what they aren’t.
A medium-size house and yard are best, but they’ll get along fine in a smaller home or an apartment if they get at least one long, brisk, daily walk to satisfy their instinctual need to roam, and to work of excess energy. When they get adequate exercise Porties are fairly calm and contented indoors.

Time-Tested Tips On Behavior Dog Training

Master — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 18:48:55 +0000

Having a well behaved, well mannered dog is a great joy and pleasure. While some dogs seem to “naturally” behave themselves and have a good disposition. Others need help. They need behavior dog training.

Here are four time-tested tips for behavior dog training. I remember them with the acronym “FARR”.

1. Flexible

As mentioned below, while you must assume the role of the “alpha” dog in all cases, you must understand that each dog has it’s own personality and the each dog breed has it’s own characteristics. A specific method that works with one dog may not work with another dog. Also, whatever is causing one dog to misbehave may not be the same cause for another dog to misbehave. For example, one dog may suffer separation anxiety, become depressed and frustrated and chew things. Another dog may be jealous of a newborn baby or another dog and chew things to gain attention. You must be flexible and willing to try different methods of behavior dog training to gain the behavior that you want.

2. “Alpha” Dog

Dogs are social animals. They have a pack instinct. They look to the “alpha” dog for leadership. Have you ever noticed that when two or more dogs are together, one is the leader. When the other dog(s)begin to do something that the “alpha” dog doesn’t like, the “alpha” dog will growl and show his/her disapproval. The “alpha” dog might even attack the misbehaving dog. For effective dog training in general and behavior dog training in particular, you must be the leader. You must assume the role of the “alpha” dog. You can’t let your dog do whatever he/she wants to do. This isn’t torecommendthat you attack or beat your dog, but you need to show disapproval for misbehaving. For example, state “NO” in a very stern voice.

3. Reward

Rewarding your dog will give yousuperior and more effective results than punishing your dog. Notice that the stern “NO” mentioned above is not punishment. Punishment is hitting or beating a dog and is not acceptable. The stern “NO” is to let your dog know that you disapprove of his/her behavior. Dogs generally want to please their owners. So when your dog does something right, petting your dog, saying “Good Boy” or “Good Girl”, and giving your dog a treat will make your dog feel good and encourage more of the same good behavior.

4. Repetition

Use repetition and be consistent in your behavior dog training. Dogs learn by repetition – doing the same thing over and over. When your dog does something good that you want it to do, reward your dog. Be consistent. If you reward your dog one time, but not the next, your dog may become confused. Your dog may not comprehend what you want him/her to do. After all, you rewarded him/her one time, but ignored the same good behavior another time. Was it good behavior the first time? Your dog may not know.

There you’ve it. For dog training in general and behavior dog training in particular, remember “FARR”: Be Flexible, Assume the role of the “Alpha” dog, Use Rewards, and Use Repetition.

Essential tips for better dog training

Master — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:54:04 +0000

Dog behavior isn’t to be mixedup with human behavior because their is completelydiffer from human behavior. Dog behavior is formed by a mixture of factors, it is not the easy abc or 123 that people supposed and believed.

The usual slip up is that people always thought dog behavior as can only be good or bad where in fact it is always both. Behavior nuisance are as normal with dogs as they’re with us human.

Just like human being, where behavior can be instilled and altered, dog behavior can be alteredby modification programs. Behavior modification involve consideration, and adjustment of dog behavior through reward and punishment programs conducted time and time again which sometimes can last for weeks or months.

The myth that you cannot train an old dog new tricks is definitely wrong. Although there is no promises that training will solve all dog behavioral challenges, they do establish a solid groundwork for deciphering just about all dog problem. Understanding that dog behavior changes swiftly from time to time, continuous training and consistency is therefore important in shaping dogs behavior.

Since dogs are unlike human being who inherit their many behavioral qualities from their ancestors, human have the psychological capacities to self-alter their behavioral instinct with a[ betterbehavior by reasoning which are not likely with dogs. However since dog behavior are mainly shaped from where they stay and who has owned them before, it is absolutelypossible that the change of owner behavior and environment where the dog is living could change their behavior traits.

There you’ve it, once you understood the reason behind each of the dog behavior problems, then you can solve it by modification programs, doesn’t matter if the behavior challenges comes from separation anxiety, territorial aggression, health issues or lousy previous owners.

These grounds are as valid as the grounds sometimes we as human being misbehave, like littering, throwing tantrums, and other behavior problems that we normally felt as a turned off in this civilized world. For example, your dog might be misbehaving because to separation anxiety, and then you know how to condition your dog to your absence by giving a safe toy and by adding the absence of your company Littleby little.

While if your dog show hostility due to territorial defensiveness, then you can condition him to more public places so that your dog can be used to more people and show less aggression due to his territorial defensiveness.

For as long as youbegin your modification programs with the right mindset that there is nothingunusual about your dog behavior problems, then you’ll have a much fruitful relationship with your dog. Starting with this right mindset and attitude is the first thing you need to have in order to be a accountable dog owner.

Then again, to be more effective in training your dog, it is recommendedthat you know what kind or method to be used based on the reason behind the behavior problems and this is where knowledge is essential. You should get a good Dog Training Manual that can help you conclude which the modification programs to be carried out.

At the end of the day dog training should comes with a fruitful and meaningful relationship between your dog and yourself. The sweat spent on training your dog will definitely worth it. Do it right and do it well and you’ll reap the rewards.