I use an Acme 211.5 pitch with my young Whippet (a clicker would be totally useless with the distance she covers!!) which I bought, complete with lanyard, on Ebay. Works really well.
Getting to know your dog starts by getting to know its breed, and that includes getting a better idea about its appearance, personality, and health requirements. Here’s what you need to know about the Newfoundland:
This over-sized breed falls within the working class dog and while massive, it is actually a very sweet and well-behaved breed. The Newfoundland is an extremely devoted dog, which has been used over the years for water rescue due to its natural strength, endurance, and swimming abilities. Originally bred in Newfoundland, thus the name, this breed was taken along by fishermen as they traveled the banks.
Interestingly, there are two distinct varieties of the Newfoundland. Although most are black in color, one is a stockier and larger breed with a long coat while the other variety of the same breed has a smooth coat and is more active. Both varieties have been and can be used by helping fishermen pull in heavy nets and equipment needed to make a living on the banks of Canada.
Without doubt, the Newfoundland has a wonderful character and takes great pride in loving and protecting its family. Typically, you would look at this large breed, expecting to see something more clumsy and aloof but in actuality the Newfoundland is a strong but graceful animal. Its expression is sweet and gentle and its stature regal. Unfortunately, some people misunderstand this particular breed, expecting a dog that is high maintenance when nothing could be closer to the truth.
Physical Appearance
The Newfoundland is large and usually black in color. However, you will see some with a brown coat, along with gray, black with white markings, and a black head, white body, and black markings, which are far rarer. As with a Labrador Retriever, the feet of this breed are webbed and the coat water-resistant, making it an outstanding swimmer. The males of this breed can weigh anywhere from 130 to 150 pounds and the females just slightly smaller, around 100 to 120 pounds.
The one breed with the black head, white body, and black markings is known as a Landseer, which gets its name from the famous Sir Edwin Landseer, an incredibly talented artist. Additionally, the variety with a black coat and white markings is called the Irish Spotted Newfoundland. Depending on the kennel club where you want to show your dog, some will accept the Landseer although it could be deemed a breed other than the Newfoundland. However, the Irish Spotted variety is not allowed for show, being determined a “defective” or “invalid” color combination.
Temperament and Personality
Do not be fooled by the size of the Newfoundland. Though large, this breed is loving and gentle. In fact, some will go as far as saying its personality is placid. No matter what, the sweet disposition of this dog is unmistakable. If you have small children, the only concern would be size, possibly knocking a child down. However, absolutely cherishes small children.
For training, the Newfoundland is easy to work with in that it wants to please. Most of these dogs will go through life with a nice balance, meaning they are neither overly excited or laid back. In fact, while still a puppy, the Newfoundland is actually calm. You do want to make sure that your new dog receives proper training, setting you as the master from day one. With such a great size, having an obedient dog will make life much easier.
Typically, it takes two to three years for the Newfoundland to reach complete maturity, the perfect time for training. In addition to being great with kids, this breed is also very patient and loving to other animals. For instance, you could easily own a six-pound Chihuahua and a 150-pound Newfoundland only to find the two of them best friends. While the breed serves well as a watchdog, warning people with a deep, vicious-sounding bark, they are actually not very good guard dogs.
Because this breed of dog is so loyal to family, if its master should have to give the dog up for any reason, he or she could suffer from separation or grief anxiety. If you were to talk to Newfoundland owners, they would probably all tell you what an exceptional breed this is but remember this may not be the right breed for everyone. The Newfoundland needs a lot of space and exercise. Because puppies are growing so much, they need more rest than other breeds do.
Health
One of the primary problems seen with large breed dogs is a hip disorder called Hip Dysplasia. In this case, the hip socket wears away, causing the joint to become loose. When this happens, the dog experiences pain and inflammation. The result is walking, or climbing stairs becomes difficult. With the Newfoundland being one of the larger known breeds, Hip Dysplasia along with Elbow Dysplasia are real concerns.
Other possible health considerations include Calculi Stones within the bladder resulting from a hereditary defect known as Cystinuria, as well as a heart condition called Sub-aortic Stenosis. If you were planning to show your Newfoundland or use it for rescue, we recommend you receive a heart and Cystinuria certificate first.
Dan Stevens
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/getting-to-know-the-newfoundland-86112.html
He’s 12 weeks old and now is a great time to start but where to start? How do I keep his attention? How do I learn my dogs language? How can I effectively housebreak my dog? And so on.
Your local Council or Municipality often runs Dog Obedience Training classes in your local parks for very low costs…. check it out.
“ Obedience Training for Your Dog”
We’ve all encountered them at some point. Ill-mannered dogs. We’ve even seen their owners yelling at them, tugging at their leashes trying to make them behave. What is sad is that you can’t blame the dog for the owner’s irresponsibility.
This type of behavior could have been avoided with obedience training. Obedience trainng is a platform for the dog and the owner to learn how to effectively communicate with one another.
Can you conduct obedience training on your own? This is a question that has long been debated by the experts. One school of thought is that it would be better if a professional does the training, while others feel the owner can do it if they feel competent. The truth is that a combination of trainer and owner is probably the most effective.
Find an obedience school in your area. You will probably be told that they recommend a series of lessons that include both the dog AND the owner. Sometimes the classes can be arranged where trainer comes to your home. Some trainers feel that training where the surroundings are familiar is helpful where some prefer their own location.
However, whether the obedience training is done at home, by a professional trainer, or in an obedience school, there are things that must be considered when incorporating this kind of training. Here is a list of the things that should be taken into account.
1. Fun
Obedience training does not necessarily mean that strict rules should be imposed. This is because the dog is not aware of the reasons why he should be trained. Therefore, for him to respond to the commands, the training must be done in such a way that the dog sees the activity as something that is fun.
The dog should be praised when he exhibits proper behavior. Some trainers also recommend treats and some do not. That should be discussed with your trainer.
2. Consistency
During the course of obedience training, it is very important to have consistency in the training. For example, if a dog was allowed to sit on the rug the other day and when the dog tried to sit on the rug today, he was scolded. Things like this should not be taken for granted. It is extremely important to teach the dog what he should and should not do and stick to it. Confusion will only make the matters worst.
3. Obedience training instructor/trainer
When people choose to enroll their dogs in an obedience class, it is important to analyze the trainer before the owner leaves his dog. The character and personality of the trainer is extremely important. They should be professional enough to know how to handle the dog’s behavior and how to train them properly. Again, you might want to find a trainer that works with both you AND your dog.
4. Referrals
It is best not to try new and unfamiliar obedience training schools. This could be really risky both for you and for your dog. It would be better if dog owners will ask for some referrals from their veterinarians, dog breeders, or other people who can give their honest opinions.
5. Charges
Not all obedience training schools are created equal. They vary depending on the kind of services they offer. It is best to consider their fees and what services they offer at that rate. This is one area where you don’t want to scrimp so cheapest isn’t always the best. Also, make certain you are dealing with a trainer that will work with both you AND your dog.
6. Methods used in the training
It is highly recommended that dog owners ask about the methods being used in the training. Make sure the terms are spelled out clearly. Shop for the best training you can find for the money. Don’t make a decision quickly. If you don’t feel comfortable with one individual, by all means keep looking.
There are some dogs that just seem to follow directions with little or no effort with never a session of profession training. Unfortunately, these examples are few and far between.
Invest in obedience training and you can look at a long and healthy relationship with a loving companion. With obedience training, dogs will surely be on their way to happier and more enjoyable stay with their masters and the people around them.
“ What People Need to Know About Dog Behavior”
As the old adage goes, “Dogs are man’s best friend.” However, there are times when people just can’t understand why their beloved dogs behave in a different manner. Hence, it is extremely important to know the underlying reasons why dogs sometimes behave differently.
You can teach your dog appropriate behavior. Experts say that dog behaviors can be controlled through proper training.
Dog behaviors are actually responses that are mostly triggered by environmental and social factors. Hence, to control these responses, the owner should teach his dogs the proper way to respond to such elements. Let’s explore a few of the methods:
Dog Bite
Statistics show that almost 5 million people in the U.S. are victims of dog bites annually. This is almost 2% of the total population in the U.S. What’s more, dog bites cases rank as second most common cause of emergencies in the hospitals.
So, the question is: Why dogs bite?
According to the experts, the main reasons why dogs may bite are the following:
1. Excitement
When somebody plays with his or her dog, the tendency of the dog is to get excited, and because dogs don’t have hands to use when playing, they use their mouth to grasp things. When this happens, there is the tendency that the dog might accidentally hurt people without intending to do anything harmful.
2. Protection
Dogs can be very possessive, so, whenever he wants to protect something that he owns, he will bite whoever threatens to take it away from him. Hence, when people get near the dog’s property, the dog’s tendency is to bite to make the person leave his property alone.
3. Pain
When the dog is not feeling well, he does not understand why he is feeling that way. Therefore, when a person, even if it’s his master, touches him, he may think that it’s the person who causes the pain and so his tendency is to fight back by biting.
4. Fear
Dogs are sometimes afraid just like humans. That is why when somebody startles him, the dog’s only known protection for itself is to bite back.
The best thing is to avoid these situations and leave the dog alone. The problem with so many people is that they want to always play around with their dog without learning how and when the dogs should be left alone.
Like humans, dogs have feelings too. When these feelings are all mixed up, their only known protection for themselves is to bite because they cannot understand the situation logically. Therefore, people should know that in order to avoid such circumstances.
They sometimes also conduct sport / challenge events that your dog can participat in…
“ Dog Sports for Every Breed”
Engaging in sports is not only for humans. It is also well-loved by our best friend, the dog. Dog sports do not only make a dog’s life fun, but healthy, as well. Here is a list of dog sports that you may want your dog to get involved into depending on his breed, of course.
Agility
This is when a dog moves through an obstacle course, i.e., contact obstacles, tunnels, jump, etc., as guided by his or her handler. What controls the dog is only its handler’s voice and body language. Without a leash, obedience training is the major requirement for a dog to enjoy this sport. Speed and accuracy are the names of this game.
Carting
Large breeds usually participate in this dog sport. It mainly involves the dog pulling a cart filled with supplies like firewood or other farm goods, sometimes even pulling people. It is also known as dry land mushing and sulky driving and is well-known and practiced all over the world.
Frisbee Dog
Commonly known as disc dog, frisbee dog competition is about a dog and a human disc thrower competing in events such as a choreographed freestyle catching and distance catching. The division of events on this kind of dog sport depends on the handler’s skill and experience. What makes this one of the most popular dog sports is that any kind of dog can participate.
Flyball
This dog sport is a relay wherein teams of dogs race against each other leaving their handlers. These teams need to surmount four hurdles that are placed 3 meters apart from each other. Then, they have to reach a box that will release a tennis ball that needs to be caught when the dog presses the pad which is spring-loaded. Then, they have to go back to their respective handlers while carrying the ball.
Scootering
It is a sport where one or more dogs pull an unmotorized scooter in which a human is riding. It is similar to another dog sport done in the winter known as mushing, only dog scooter involves fewer dogs and instead of a dogsled used in mushing, a scooter is used. Like sled dogs, dogs that are doing scootering wear harnesses and are hooked to the scooter using a gangline.
Sheepdog Trial
Also known as "dog trial", this is one of the competitive dog sports in which breeds that are into herding move sheep around a field, gates, fences or enclosures as directed by their handlers. Think of "babe" the movie about a pig. This is more popular in UK, Canada, Ireland, the USA, New Zealand, Australia and other farming nations.
For one stop site training Videos go to www.Focusdog.com
This is my new puppy Maya, she is 3 months old born May 5 this year. I have been clicker training her for about 9 days and we’ve had her for about 14 days total. We use the harness for walking her and the bell to notice when she stops so we don’t yank her head off, the harness has worked a lot better then a regular collar when we go on walks.
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Short Training Video of our dog in Germany