Potty Training Guide by Sharda

Big Dog | July 6th, 2010

The Complete Potty Training Guide

One of the first problems that usually occurs after having a new pet is housetraining it. It seems like Sandra Bakers knows something that we don’t – she promises to potty train our dog in just 7 days! She’s so confident that she’s ready to give back the whole price of the book, if the training wasn’t succesful!

The content of her e-book and audio package is based on real life experience, she had struggled as much with potty training as anyone else, and she summarized her experiences.

She promises that any kind of dogs can be housetrained in as short as 7 days. Go ahead and find out more about her secrects!

You can check out “The Complete Potty Training Guide” Sandra Baker’s other products by clicking on the picture on the left.

How to train your Border Terrier? Common Mistakes.

Big Dog | June 18th, 2010

The narrow line between training and abuse

Many dog owners think that their Border Terrier is the smartest in the world. There’s no problem with this, up to certain a point. This point is when the owner expects as much from the dog as if it really was the most intelligent creature the world has ever seen. They expect them to learn everything right away, whereas dogs need time to learn things, the same way as we, humans do. Just in a different way :) Well, the point is, that training requires time and patience. It can be different for all dogs, but we do have to keep this in mind and take the time and energy to train our Border Terrier.

Another common mistake (also because of the lack of patience) is to give up. Many people think that they have already tried everything but the dog doesn’t want to learn. In this case, maybe the methods are not the best, or they need more time. There are no dogs who wouldn’t be able to learn at least a few commands. Giving up is never a solution.

So, if we have the time and the patience we can avoid the next, and maybe the biggest mistake: to turn training into abuse. Probably you expect me to tell you where this line is. I can’t. This is something the owner should know. Training is all about communication. If you know your Border Terrier, if you pay attention to him, you see how he feels. Unfortunately many dog owners don’t have this ability, because they only keep pets for entertainment, while a dog is much more than that.

Going back to training, a very important rule is that your goal should be that your Border Terrier obeys to commands because he is keen to do so. NOT BECAUSE HE IS AFRAID. Many-many owners forget about this, and feel the training successful, but actually they are making their dog unhappy. How can someone live happily in fear? No way. These owners are only keeping a dog to make themselves happy, and don’t feel the responsibility they should.

So the point is, that ‘positive training’ is possible. Actually, that’s the only way.

The first difficulties most Border Terrier owners face is potty training their puppy. As with general training, the main principles remain the same: a positive, rewarding approach and a lot of patience is required. There are, however a few tips and tricks that will make the whole process faster and easier for both puppy and owner. Find out what Sharda Baker has to say on the topic, who has developed her best practices by years of trial and error.

Please comment if you have something to add.

How to avoid my Border Terrier being jealous of my new born baby?

Big Dog | June 17th, 2010

Is it normal, anyway?!

Yes, it is. Just imagine the situation from the point of view of your Border Terrier. He is part of the family, often treated as “the kid”, and then, suddenly, a new creature arrives and takes all the attention of his beloved family. It is quite similar to what older children feel, when a little brother/sister arrives. One of the differences is just that the dog can’t speak English :)

Actually, if we are aware of this ‘problem’ in advance, the situation can be handled, but it needs consciousness and to be started in time, long before the baby’s arrival. Let’s see how we can prepare our Border Terrier for the new family member.

If your dog’s daily routine has to be changed with the baby’s arrival (it probably will), you should start changing the rules much earlier, giving him plenty of time to get used to the new set up. This way it isn’t going to be so sudden and shocking. If your Border Terrier hasn’t really been trained before, it’s high time to start. He should learn at least a few commands, like sit, stay, etc. This way, he’ll be easier to handle.

Many families worry about their dog endangering the health of the child, so the best thing to do is to take your pet to the vet, get him checked and get some advice. Get your Border Terrier used to the new smells, sounds in advance (blankets, lotions, toys). It’s also a good idea, that just after your baby was born, send home a blanket that the baby had been in, so your dog can experience the child’s smell in advance. It is very important to know that your  Border Terrier will get a lot less attention from the mother, so when taking the baby home for the first time, the mother should greet the dog, so it is better if someone else is carrying the baby.

It is also a good idea not to leave them alone together at the first times, until your Border Terrier feels comfortable with the baby, because, for example, it is very possible that the dog won’t tolerate the child’s crying very well in the beginning. You have to teach him that this is a normal sound, and you should motivate him not to bark (with treats, for example).

And the most important rule for last, maybe it seems too obvious, but it’s still worth mentioning: try to give as much attention to your Border Terrier as you can. The point is that he has to feel that you do care about him. If you keep this in mind, most probably there will be no problem. You could also try Preparing Fido, which is an amazing collection of Baby sounds designed especially to get your dog ready for the arrival of the new Baby!

Avoid unnecessary vet bills! Do your dog’s basic health check!

How To Give your Dog a Checkup

Border Terrier tricks

Big Dog | April 23rd, 2010

If you have a Border Terrier, you know what an adorable breed it is. If you don’t, you can find out from this video! You will see a well trained Border Terrier performing some tricks. They are very intelligent and trainable but they get bored with repetition. Border Terriers can be independent so they require patience and firmness in their training. Food treats work well with this breed. Border Terriers do well in task orianted activeities and have an outstanding ability to run fast and jump high.

Tired of loosing your leash?

Big Dog | April 9th, 2010

Your Border Terrier, as you must admit, can really be stubborn at times especially if they are not yet trained. Since they have the ability to run fast and jump high, you should not go out with him for a walk without a leash. This may help you keep your Border Terrier from abruptly crossing the street, or going after another dog. Although your Border Terrier generally gets along well with other animals, instances like this cannot be avoided sometimes that is why it is essential to put a leash on him when going out. Since your Border Terrier’s leash is important, you should not lose or misplace it. Yes, it is easy to buy a new one, but would you rather choose buying a new one every time you lost it, than keeping it in a safe place where you can easily find the leash when you need it?

Of course you’ll go for the second option. Another thing that you can do is to get a Border Terrier Leash Holder. This can help you place your border terrier’s leash in a safe place and in a spot where you can easily find it. You can place it nicely near your door so that you just have to hang your leash there when you got home with your Border Terrier from a long walk, and get it from the same accessible place when you need to walk him out again.

How to train a Border Terrier?

Big Dog | March 5th, 2010

Written by highly experienced dog trainer, Daniel Stevens, Secrets to Dog Training is a comprehensive resource covering all the most important aspects of dog ownership. The 261 page manual is superbly detailed, still the step-by-step format of the book makes it very easy for Border Terrier owners to understand and apply the instructions. The book also comes with a 30 minute downloadable video. By completing the course, you will learn how to:

  • stop and prevent dog fights
  • curb your dog’s aggressiveness
  • make your dog understand what is right and wrong
  • apply techniques professional trainers use
  • house train your dog
  • stop your dog racing in the house
  • deal with a dominant dog
  • overcome separation anxiety
  • stop your dog jumping on people
  • teach your dog when it is appropriate to bark
  • understand how your dog thinks and sees the world
  • apply the cutting edge Dog Whispering technique
  • deal with more than one dog in the house
  • stop the family cat being harassed.

Secrets to Dog Training is very comprehensive, easy to understand and effective. If you want to tackle any of your dog’s behavior problems, this book is for you. You can benefit from the book, even if your dog is perfectly trained as the author shares a lot of his insights on the possible best relationship between dog and owner.

Visit official website.

What are the other names of the Border Terrier?

Big Dog | January 22nd, 2010

Have you ever heard the names such as Bijou, Goldie, Lavender, Pumpkin, Willow, Atticus, Bandit, Sarge, Ripley or Skip? Well, these are common names given to a good natured dog, the Border Terrier. This breed is considered to be one of the oldest dogs in England with its origin traced way back to the 1700s. They were also known by other names such as the Coquetdale Terrier and the Reedwater Terrier.

Being approximately 13 to 15 pounds, this 10 inch high canine was strong enough to keep up with their masters on horseback during hunting expeditions. Having the hunter’s urge to track down vermin, they would be let loose in areas too small for other dogs and would ferociously dig to reveal their lairs.  Nowadays, some of these dogs are not used for hunting but kept as household pets or companions. However, whatever name is given to them, their temperament doesn’t change.