The Importance Of Teaching Kids About Dogs

Why it’s Important to Educate Children About Canines

For the majority of people, ownership of a pet is something that takes awhile to happen. However, it does come at some point. This is particularly true when the person is part of a young family.

Most people remember growing up with a pet dog or cat to keep them company, but owning a dog requires more than merely letting the animal into your home. For a dog to be fully integrated, it is important that all people are taught how to interact with the canine. This article will provide information on the importance of teaching kids about dogs.

  1. Approaching The Dog

Regardless of whether your child is approaching a dog in the park or a new pet in your home, they need to know how to approach them correctly. When a child approaches a dog, irrespective of their age, they need to have the permission of the dog’s owner and a supervising adult.

We teach children about ‘stranger danger’, so why does this not extend to unknown animals? When teaching your child about approaching dogs, be sure that they know the rules and do not go out on their own.

  1. Learning About The Dog

As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for choosing which dogs the child can interact with. To find the ideal dog, it is important that you choose a canine with the correct temperament. As is known, all breeds present with different characteristics; for example, a French Bulldog can be needy while a Jack Russell is hyperactive. Consider the child’s temperament and what they would be most comfortable with, and then choose the dog suitable to their needs. This will make it easier for them to learn about each other and bond.

  1. Handling Stray Dogs

A stray dog may be a homeless animal or a dog that has broken free of his or her leash. Regardless of the case, most children will be curious about the dog and will often run after them. To avoid this problem, it is important that you teach your child about the danger of strays and how best to handle any animal without adult supervision. Teach them that seeking an adult’s help is the best way to help a dog who is lost. We all wish to do our part to help stray dogs, but the safety of a child is vital.

  1. Considering The Dog’s Body Language

Unfortunately, dogs cannot speak to us, and this is why they use body language to communicate their needs. Teaching a child about a dog’s body language is the best way to improve their relationship with the animal. By teaching the child to remain still, the dog will learn how to “speak” and communicate his or her needs. Do not allow the child to back the dog into a corner or chase it as this will only frighten the animal.

  1. Learning How To Behave Around Dogs

It is essential that children be reminded of a dog’s heightened sense of hearing and that they need to speak softly. Squeals of joy may be happy for us, but it could indicate threats or anxiety for a dog. Using an ‘inside voice’ with soothing tones is the best way to help a dog feel at ease and keep the child calm. If the dog bares his teeth or flattens his ears, this could be a sign of unhappiness, and at this point, you should end any child-dog interaction immediately.

Final Words

As can be seen, there is a great deal of information to share with a child before getting a dog. Using the information, will be able to prepare your child for a good lifelong bond with a pet canine.

his blog has been brought to us by our friends at Train Your Canine . If you would like to learn more, please visit them at https://www.trainyourcanine.net/

The Key Elements Of Training A Bird Dog

dog retrieving a birdIf you go bird hunting, you need to train your dog to retrieve the bird correctly. However, many bird dog owners do not teach their dogs accurately, and this can lead to significant problems. There are crucial elements to the training of a bird dog that you need to know about to ensure your dog is safe and that it retrieves your birds correctly.

Focus On Obedience

Many bird dog owners do not place enough emphasis on obedience and steadiness when they train their dogs. It is essential that you take the time to educate your dog in obedience and non-retrievals. Non-retrievals are when a bird or dummy falls, and the dog does not run to get it. The trainer or another dog should get the bird or dummy at these times.

Most owners will train their dog to retrieve before doing anything else. This is incorrect as you will spend hours training your dog to recover only to end up trying to break this habit when teaching obedience. Teaching obedience first will ensure that your dog can listen to you and will not run off for retrievals when you do not want them to.

Coming On Command

When you are obedience training your dog, you need to ensure that they can come on command. If your dog is unable to do this, you should not take them out hunting with you. If you have a dog that is trained to come on command, it will listen to any direction that you give him.

To determine if your dog is well trained in coming on command, you need to give this command while they are distracted. If a distracted dog can follow commands, they will be able to do the same out in the field when you are hunting. To test this, you will need to wait for the opportune moment such as when the neighbor’s cat is walking past before issuing the command to come.

Reconsider The Use Of An Electric Collar

Electric collars are used by many hunters to train their dogs, but they can create more problems than they solve. When it comes to the use of shock collars, you should only use one if you can train your dog without one as well. If you rely solely on the collar for training, you will have problems because the collar does not impart knowledge or skill to the dog or the trainer.

Most people use electric collars to try and solve fundamental obedience problems. When this happens, they end up not solving the problem and making their dog scared of them or more aggressive. This is why you need to seriously consider the use of an electric collar when you are training your dog.

Consider The Breed Of Dog

Not all dog breeds should be used as bird dogs, and many people do not realize this. dogs hunting birdsLabradors are one of the best kinds for bird hunting because they are genetically predisposed to have a soft mouth and offer good delivery to hand. This is why you need to think about the breed of your dog before you start training them.

If you have a dog breed which is known to have behaviors such as dropping birds, running off with the birds or mouthing birds, you should reconsider training them. While it is possible to teach these dogs to be excellent retrievers, their puppies will exhibit these behaviors. This will make it hard to keep a good line of hunting dogs.

Tips For Training A Dog to do Barn Hunts

Barn hunts are a fun competition for dogs that are looking to maximize their hunting skills.

Now, it is not an easy competition to win, and most dog owners don’t know where to begin. If you are in this position, it is time to start to look at training a barn hunt dog the right way. How are you going to go about this? You will need to focus on the four tips mentioned in this post.

A barn hunt dog will develop nicely as long as you follow this advice to a tee.

1) Recreate The Setting

You want to look at recreating the setting because that is a must in the long-term.

The dog has to get used to the setting before he/she can start to participate in the proceedings. If the dog is not aware of his/her surroundings, this is going to make it hard for him/her to build the appropriate connection. They will not know what to do when the setting pops up in front of them.

You want to work on this and make sure it is drilled into their head immediately for long-term results.

2) Emphasize Connection With You

This is one of those things dog owners don’t think about when it comes a barn hunt dog. You have to put in the time to build a connection with the dog. IF they are not able to associate the setting with your directions, it is going to be a long day out in the barn.

You have to make sure things are done based on what you are telling the dog to do.

This will come with time, but you have to emphasize this connection and don’t just assume things are working out because they can quickly turn on a dime.

3) Solidify Act Before Timing Dog

You want to make sure the action is focused on rather than the timing. It is easy to look at the clock and wonder if your barn hunt dog is going to get better. Yes, it is a competition, but that doesn’t mean you have to only look at the timer all the time.

You can take the next step and make sure you are focusing on building that act and making sure it is a part of what they stand for as a dog.

If you do this, they will start to do it quickly because it will become a part of who they are.

4) Socialize Dog

Remember, the goal is not to harm the rat, and that isn’t how the barn hunt is going to work.

This is why you have to train with a fake rat to make sure your dog understands this. It is going to take time for them to lose some of their natural aggression, but one of the best ways to do this is with socialization. By socializing them, they will focus on the action rather than harming the rat.

These are tips anyone can incorporate as long as they are willing to put in the time. You are not going to see results immediately because this is a new sport and it is going to take time to learn. You are going to need to learn it as well before you pinpoint what to do with the dog.

Go in with an open mind and make sure you are learning on the go as well.

This is how you are going to dominate with the dog and win the barn hunt as a partnership. Those who don’t focus on this will see inferior results.

A Well Trained Sporting Dog Can Make Your Hunting Trips More Rewarding

sporting dogMany hunters prefer to be accompanied by dogs, especially when they are hunting game that is far away and difficult to retrieve.  Gun dogs also make for very good company and can make excellent companions for trips when you are cut off from the rest of the world.

Hunting with dogs does not mean that you just take along any pet that you have. Dogs have to be trained for hunting, and when this is done with patience and persistence, the results can be very pleasing during your trips to the wilderness. Gun dogs require proper training before they are taken on a hunt, and all dogs may not even have the potential to turn into good hunting dogs. There are some breeds like retrievers, spaniels, and pointers which are naturally gifted to be good hunters, but even their behavior needs to be kept under control.

Any training has to start with making your dog learn specific basic commands like ‘sit,’gun dog ‘heel,’ ‘stay’ and other things like knowing the behavior that is acceptable and that which is not. Reward good behavior and admonish the bad. Your dog also needs to be utterly loyal to you and must be able to follow your commands happily and without feeling cowed down or fearing punishment. You also need to familiarize your dog with nature and the surroundings that will be encountered during your hunting trips. Take him for long walks in the outdoors and the terrain that you will generally be in when hunting. Let the dog also be familiar with firearms and the sounds of a gun, as this can at times scare them. This familiarizing requires a lot of patience and a routine of outings that will make the dog used to the outdoors and natural surroundings, besides the hunting.

Things like duck hunting and other waterfowl will require making your dog familiar with water and the need to go into it to retrieve any game that you have shot. You can start with a wading pool in your yard before you get him to accept rivers and streams that will be a part of the hunting environment. Teach the dog to fetch sticks or balls that you throw in the water, and learn to do this at your command. Duck hunting often involves the use of decoys and dogs must learn the difference between them and the actual birds. They must be taught how to grasp the birds without damaging them. This differentiation and the retrieving is one of the most challenging parts of training a hunting dog and requires a lot of patience and innovation.hunting dog

You also need to train your dog to be relaxed when you go out hunting and not be keyed up and eager. The environment for sporting can require you to set up blinds or to use boats, and it is essential that your hunting dog, be equally familiar with both and remain relaxed and be able to lie down. The dog must above all learn to be quiet and not excitable while you are waiting for your prey. Always ensure that you have sufficient food and water for both you and your dog, when you are hunting, as if this is not taken care of, the dog can go wandering looking for sustenance and will not be around when needed.

Hunting with dogs can be quite exciting and rewarding. The best part of this is their constant companionship and presence that can add to the thrill of hunting. Do not expect results on the first trip you make as dogs can take time to get familiar with the hunting experience and understand what it is you require from them.

Tips For Training A Hunting Dog


Labrador Retrievers have been known to be fantastic hunting dogs. When it comes to choosing a breed for this purpose, you can’t go wrong with a lab. However, while many labs come by hunting qualities naturally, fine-tuning their hunting instincts, retrieval methods, and the behavior you want from them comes with a lot of training. Here are some tips to help you develop your masterful hunting canine.

Start training your hunting dog.

It is a significant step for a dog and is going to take a bit of time. Yes, dogs are built to retrieve and are good at it, but that doesn’t mean they will know what to do right away. You have to groom them to work in a particular manner, and that is going to take time.

You have to make a concerted effort to see what they are responding to.

Here are the tips that are going to give you a head start with the dog as you look to turn him/her into a proper hunting dog.

1) Socialize Early

The hunting dog needs to socialize with other dogs and humans.

If they are not being socialized, it can lead to a lot of trouble in the long-term. It is hard to get them to behave, and they might not respond to directions as well. This is key when you are out in the open because the wrong move can be dangerous depending on where you are as a hunter.

The goal is to make sure this socialization is in place, so they’re trained and ready to go.

Delays in this are only going to make things harder for you.

2) Prepare For The Water

Are they able to hang out in the water without losing a step?

The water is something that is common out in the open depending on where you are. If they are not willing to cross a small creek because they’re afraid of the water, you might not have much of a hunting dog at all! This is why it is essential to get him/her in the water as soon as possible.

This is a good thing to start as early on in their lives as possible.

If you do this, it becomes easier to get them to adapt to all conditions.

3) Take Dog Out Into Hunting Areas To Roam

Those who are not ready to take out their dog for a trip will be the ones in a boatload of trouble. The dog needs to associate going out into these areas as something that is a part of his/her life. If the association isn’t made, things are not going to work out at all.

It is hard for a dog to get used to open spaces or forests where the hunting may take place.

You want him/her to get used to this immediately, so they can retrieve as desired. If the connection isn’t made with space, he/she will get confused.

A hunting dog needs to learn that gunfire means it’s time to retrieve. If that connection isn’t made early or they become “gun-shy” you are going to find it difficult to make things work. Too many people end up in a situation where their dog never makes that connection.

A hunting dog needs to act immediately with the sound as that is his/her cue to go.

If the dog doesn’t go, the hunting relationship won’t work.

These are tips you have to incorporate as soon as you can. If the hunting dog doesn’t go through these steps as quickly as possible, it is only going to get harder for you. It is hard to train a dog that has inappropriate habits built in overtime because you were lazy in the beginning.

Get on top of this as soon as possible and make sure you are examining what is going on in his/her life. Addressing these issues is how you’re going to stay on top of their hunting development.

Time to Teach to Your Labrador and Other Dogs

Hey, Woodall Training here welcoming you to our site.  We are happy to have you here and one reason for that is because you are ready to begin your puppy’s education.  Helping him or her learn proper dog behavior is going to make the biggest difference in how well he responds to you and the relationship you both have with one another.

Teaching your dog also helps build the bond between the two of you!  Having said that, with training comes the responsibility to educate your furry friend the right way.

At Woodall Training we teach through positive reinforcement.  We begin with treats to help get the dog’s attention and then build on that with petting and belly rubs as well as “good boy” comments that they love to hear.  This is going to create the connection of a lifetime between your and your four-legged friend.  So hang tight as we get the site going and we will be back soon.

In the meantime, enjoy this precious puppy playtime video.