Some Common Mistakes in Training Your Dog

Probably any dog owner can tell you that training your dog isn't always as easy as it seems it should be. Most owners assume that after a few days or sessions of rehearsing commands and actions then the dog should just pick up on basic skills and that should be it. Many owners are surprised to find out that training your dog can take literally months depending on the dog, the owner, and what exactly is being taught. However sometimes there are common mistakes that dog owners make that are causing the process to take much longer and be much more difficult than it needs to be.

For one thing, it's good to remember that training your dog should be a positive experience for you and your dog. It's too easy for owners to get caught up in every little "mistake" that a dog makes and concentrates on punishing these mistakes rather than concentrating on rewarding a dog when she obeys or does something right. It's a very common mistake when training your dog to forget how much dogs crave that attention and approval from the owner and will do just about anything to get it. Concentrating on that, rather than on punishment, is going to be much more effective.

Another common mistake that you may be making when training your dog is thinking that you dog understands a word you're saying! Too many owners fail to realize that dogs have no memory and no grasp of language except to associate a few words with certain actions. If a dog has made a mess and you start yelling at her, she won't be able to connect your yelling with her mess. You need to actually catch a dog in the act of doing something wrong in order to properly correct her as she just cannot connect your words now with something she's done five hours ago or even five minutes ago. Don't make the mistake when training your dog of getting upset if she doesn't understand you or continues to make the same mistake if you're not catching her right then and there. Punishing her after the fact is pointless and ineffective.

And the last mistake you may be making when training your dog is getting excessively angry at her when she doesn't make the progress you think she should be making. Dogs are not spiteful and don't do things purposely to make you mad, so if she's not progressing as you think she should, either your expectations are unreasonable, you are making some other mistakes in training, or it's time to see a professional trainer. There's nothing wrong with asking a professional to help with training your dog and a pro may be able to show you some other mistakes you're making or help to readjust your expectations. Either way, by asking for this help in training your dog you're sure to not only be more successful but to also have a happier and calmer dog as well.

Authors : John Savage

http://www.isnare.com/?aid=346533&ca=Pets

Bird House Building

Building a bird house is a fun and easy project, something you can do by yourself or with your kids. And a bird house that is well-designed and well-placed can bring many years of enjoyment, for you and the birds!

Before going through the effort of building a bird house, you should consider a few things. What type of bird are you going to attract? Each species has its own needs for the size of the house, and the location where it is placed. You also need to make sure you're building for the types of birds that are in your area. Also, do you have a place on your property to place a bird house that will be enticing to birds? If its not located correctly, you won't get any tenants. Also, as a landlord, can you maintain the house? While not difficult, it is important if you want feathered tenants each year. Lastly, do you have the tools and skills to build one? Instead of building from scratch, you might decide to build from a kit, which will save you a lot of cutting and drilling.

Once you decide you want to build a bird house, you'll need to get a set of bird house plans. A general set of plans will be useful if you want to the same style house for different types of birds, as each species has its own unique requirements for the bird house size. You can find several websites that have these types of plans, along with detailed building instructions. The plans will show you what pieces you will need to cut and the dimensions of those pieces for the particular type of bird you are building for.

Next, you'll need to select your building materials. There are different material options for building a bird house, but for a do-it-yourself (DIY) option, wood is typically the way to go. You'll want wood that is decay resistant, like cedar or exterior plywood. You'll also need to assemble the parts using a good quality exterior wood glue, nails or screws, and possibly caulking. Keep in mind, too, that if you are building from scratch you will need a saw, drill, and a Forstner drill bit that will create the correct hole size for the particular bird house you are building. And no, you won't need a dowel for the perch. Predators will find a perch more useful than the birds will!

If you do decide to finish your bird house with paint or stain, be sure to only finish the outside, never the inside, of the house. The chemicals in finishing products can be harmful to baby birds.

Finally, you will need to decide how to mount and where to place your bird house. Depending on the species of bird, there are different mounting options. Some can be hung from a wire, some should be attached to a tree, and others should be placed on top of a pole. Where you locate the house is important, too. Birds have certain criteria, such as being near water, or in a shaded area or open field, and they won't inhabit a house that does not meet their criteria. A little research will pay off in this area.

The first rule is to know the bird you are building the house for. No bird house is guaranteed to attract feathered tenants, but a well-designed and well-placed house will certainly increase the likelihood of succ

Authors : Jason Hampton
http://www.isnare.com/?aid=346601&ca=Pets