Training

Our canines never fail to amaze us; when we think we know them enough, they suddenly come up with a skill unheard before. Meet AKA, the fire ant tracker. AKA, the sniffer dog is just one of the weapons unleashed by the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in its mission to eradicate fire ants. A first for Australia, this Labrador sniffer dog has been trained to…

Any observant pet lover and pet parents would have seen their pets and strays alike, petrified and trembling, on hearing unfamiliar sounds like that of thunderstorms or fireworks during festivals, etc. It is a matter of concern and needs to be handled. Fear in dogs should be handled at early stages in a pup’s life… training can be given after the pup is about four months of age. Handling startling…

We tend to forget that dogs do not communicate in the same way as humans. Training is the key to preventing dog bites. By that we mean that dogs, children and adults need to be trained in how to approach and communicate effectively. Humans make eye contact when communicating and make contact through an open handshake. Both of these behaviours may be seen as a threat to dogs. Sleeping dogs: Teach…

Sports channels, sports bars, sports quota… Sports are an integral part of our lives, so why should our furry friends be devoid of the fun and entertainment that come as a complimentary gift with any sport? In the last issue, we discussed a few dog sports like Flyball, Disc Dogs, Dock Jumping, Herding Trial and Lure Coursing... here are a few more. Dog sports are a great way to bond with your…

More often, pooches are abandoned for behavioural issues, but it can be avoided…right at the puppy stage. Early socialisation is a key to social behaviour of an adult dog. Here’s how you can help your pooch to acquire a persona you can be proud of. Your new pup is home…you want him to grow up as a mature well-mannered pooch. Early socialisation is what reflects on the social behaviour of an…

Raising a puppy to be a well-behaved pet is every pet parent’s dream. The key is to start the training as early as possible. Here are a few basic training tips for the same. Mostly people get the puppy home at the age of two months. The age between two and three months is the best period for the puppy to learn new things. At this stage in a pup’s life, most of the vets would suggest not to take…

Sports channels, sports bars, sports quota... Sports are an integral part of our lives, so why should our furry friends be devoid of the fun and entertainment that come as a complimentary gift with any sport. Dog sports are a great way to bond with your pet, teach them discipline and more than that it helps in their mental and emotional well-being. There are also some organisations that host dog…

While some scientists have dismissed the idea of distinct pet personalities, recent studies prove what pet parents have always known—dogs really do have their own individual personalities. The study… Research by University of Texas at Austin, psychology professor Sam Gosling showed that pure and mixed breed dogs can be accurately classified using four basic personality dimensions: intelligence,…

Jyoti Krishan Dutt, Indian Police Service (Retd.) was Director General of National Security Guard (NSG) from August 2006 to February 2009. India saw him and his brave Black Cat Commandos in action during the 26/11 terrorist attack at Mumbai. Now retired and living in Delhi, not many people are aware that he is an avid dog lover. In conversation with Ekta and Anuj, he talks of 'Dogs' in the service…

The sport of dog agility provides both fun and exercise, while at the same time strengthens the bond between the pooch and pet parent/handler. Let's see how. The sport… The main objective of dog agility sport is for the handlers to direct their dogs through an obstacle course while striving for both 'fast time' and 'accuracy'. Handlers use voice, body position cues and movement to direct the dog;…

If you have a dog at home, we guarantee you good health… only if you are a responsible pet parent and take care of the exercise needs of your pooch! But dogs should be given exercise in accordance to their breed and age. Regular exercise is necessary for your dog to achieve proper health and fitness. The amount of walk depends on type of breed, and of course, his age. Play is the best exercise…

How you feel affects your breath. Fortunately, the reverse is also true: your breath affects how you feel and your ability to perform. Changing your breath pattern changes the way you feel and what you do. In addition, breathing affects the way dogs feel and what they may or may not do. We were holding our dog class in a school parking lot and it was the second week of the session. A woman—not…

Man’s Best Friend is indeed a friend in need. My dog Lola travels around the globe to rescue people who are trapped in mishaps, disasters and natural calamities. Lola came to me when she was just nine months old. Born in Tarragona province of Reus City in Spain, she was a gift from a friend named Jose Luis Garcia Vicente. Training of Lola started when she came to my country Argentina… training…

Your pooch is a killer… handsome, agile and you have a wonderful dog-handler rapport. You want to be part of the dog show but do not know if your pooch qualifies for it. Here are FAQs on the dog shows. What happens at a dog show? Dog shows had an unassuming beginning as folks of pet parents got together and someone they all respected would determine who had the best dog. So, basically a dog show…

Have you heard about clicker training or still wondering what it is all about? Well, let’s start here with the basics of what ‘clicker’ is. Clicker training is achieving the desired behaviour by rewarding it using a ‘clicker’ - named so given for its distinct ‘click’ sound it makes combined with positive reinforcement. So, if the clicker has to be combined with positive encouragement, why use it…

A typical show dog in India is generally a champion dog, imported from a good breeder overseas. But most breeders overseas are not too keen on sending dogs to India as they feel that dogs in India are kept and bred just for money. Why? A typical show dog who is generally imported from a good breeder has already been a champion in his country of origin. A right reason… People seem to have got so…

Dogs are man’s best friends and love them till the end of their lives. Hachiko, an Akita in Japan, is remembered for his remarkable loyalty to his pet parent. Even after his pet parent’s death, Hachiko waited for him at Shibuya Railway Station for nine years, hoping that he will be back again one day to greet him like other days. Hachiko definitely grieved for his pet parent. Here’s how we can…

Training a dog should be a part of one’s daily routine, it helps keeping the pet parent challenged to achieve the goal by experimenting with different ways, besides keeping their dog psychologically challenged. To achieve your goal, you need to have a knowledgeable trainer. Here’s how to select the right trainer for your pooch. By having you during the sessions there will be a major gap filled,…

The concept of using food to train is often considered a form of bribery. The fact is that dogs adapt to whatever works best! If you know how to use food, your dog will offer the right behaviour to get it. Else you might end up with a dog who demands a treat or an assurance of one for everything you ask him to do. Here’s the right way to use food/treats to train your dog. Is using treats good or…

Bird watching–don’t we all love? Bird chasers are not less attractive either. Here we talk about friendly bird chaser Border Collies at King Shaka International Airport, Durban. Mac chasing birds... The very first Border Collie dog to start working at the Durban International Airport–South Africa, the first in Africa and in the Southern Hemisphere, was Mac and I was his proud handler. It was way…