Talk with your hands! While tiny treats are key motivators to any positive training session, there's something else you should be doing — In addition to using the chosen words for sit, stay, and more, also select a distinctive gesture for each command. It's really up to you to choose the hand movement that feels natural, as long as you stick to it once you settle, but get inspired by standard signals and start this slideshow.
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When it comes to dog-obedience training, many experts encourage a healthful dose of positive reinforcement, and there's no better way of getting your pup to sit and stay (and rewarding him for a job well done) than with treats! Because these yummies are intended to grab and hold your pooch's attention, they should be something delicious and out of the ordinary so he doesn't lose interest. And since he could probably do without the extra calories, it's best to keep training treats on the tiny side, since you'll probably go through a lot of them! While homemade liver treats are noteworthy nibbles, here are store-bought varieties that are tasty enough to get the job done.
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This month, we're going back to school with our pets to learn training basics and more. But clearly some dogs are further ahead of the curve. Take Jack Russell terrier Jesse, for example, who sets the bar (and the table) for amazing doggie tricks . . . and keeps the house in order in the process!
Q: My dog has the very annoying habit of begging for food. It's especially bad when we have people over for dinner – he literally walks from person to person waiting, sometimes jumping with paws up on their laps to see what's on the table or go for the food right off their fork (or plate) – help!
A: Consistency is key to solving this problem. After all, dogs can't magically tell the difference between "OK begging" and "not OK begging" so you must make begging never OK. While banishing a dog to another room is one option, space may not make this possible . . . and, with enough effort, you can retrain your pup.
I'd recommend never giving your pet any treats while you are making or eating food. (Right before dinnertime is not the time to work on a sit-stay.) Teach your furry friend that he's not going to get food just because you're preparing food. In fact, I make North do a full sit before I put his dish on the ground – he's not allowed to go to it until I give him the release command.
Now that you know what not to do, check out five simple steps to improve communication with your canines. From offering commands to issuing corrections, there's a lil cue for every step of the way!
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While there may be no proof that your pet can understand English exactly, it's clear that dogs react to tone and intonation as well as your gestures and motion around the house. Check out six things you've likely done at least once in the past, and get some tips to remedy the canine confusion.
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Tricks and treats aren't just for the pups! Kitties who aspire to Olympic feats of greatness can learn an old doggie standby: playing fetch. With a little patience, a little catnip, and a few mouthwatering morsels, you can engage in rewarding playtime with your frisky friend just like the big dogs do. Let's have a ball!
Curious why the toy of choice shouldn't contain catnip? Find out when you keep reading.
While my house is feline-free, I've got plenty of friends with kitty housemates. Most of the time, they're pretty receptive to my friendly gestures, but here are a couple easy tips I've learned the hard — or should I say sharp? — way.
First off, accept that your meeting will take place on kitty's terms. Don't bound over to the cat like an eager puppy, instead wait or slowly approach the feline and let her choose to come meet'n'greet. Sometimes these love connections just don't happen, no matter how much we hope for them. Lemme hold your hand and tell you how to hold your hand when reaching and read more
The following post was written by Olympic athlete and mom Kerri Walsh, two-time gold medalist in pairs beach volleyball.
The weather is terrible and you're in no short supply of reasons to stay home and stay away from the gym. Here are some tips to help get you motivated . . .
State your fitness goal. When I'm feeling a little lazy I say out loud, "I want to be the best in the world." Sounds silly but it's true! Whenever I utter this sentence I drop my lazy attitude and fire up for whatever workout awaits!
When you find yourself looking for excuses to get out of your workout, hurry up and get dressed. Tie back your hair, put on your favorite leggings, tank and athletic shoes and start looking the part. Soon enough your mind will follow!
Trade a long, endurance work out for interval and/ or circuit training. My interval and circuit workouts are typically shorter than my mopeds traditional workouts. For example: I had a nasty little workout that absolutely kicked my butt and my lungs and my heart rate and it lasted only 5 minutes and 9 seconds. What was that crazy workout, you ask? I had to do 50 burpee/pull-ups as fast as I could! Yep, I dropped down into push up position, did a push-up, popped up into a squat position then jumped up as high as I could and did a pull-up on the pull-up bar. It was nuts, but so quick and so rewarding!
Be sure to catch up and read all of Kerri's great posts on FitSugar!
The following post was written by Olympic athlete and mom Kerri Walsh, two-time gold medalist in pairs beach volleyball.
2011 has started off wonderfully! Full of love, laughter, some delirious moments due to lack of sleep (our 2 boys are in quite a rough sleeping stage right now), and a lot of running around trying to make ends meet. It's been a very busy start to the new year; busy in the best way possible.
Preseason has begun for my husband and I, so we are out of our Winter hibernation and full swing into our preparation for the 2011 season and the start of the Olympic qualification process. We are training on the sand three days a week (we will ramp that up in February!), lifting at the O.C. Fast Twitch (our favorite training spot in the world!), practicing Pilates twice a week, and getting ready to start our annual cleanse in a few days — it's on!
I typically have a lengthy list of "resolutions" that I do my best to abide by, but this year I'm going to pass on that. Instead of being inspired by my resolutions I started feeling bogged down by them, so I'm gonna hold off this year. Instead, I have two simple demands I am placing on myself for 2011: 1) slow down 2) drink more water. I feel that if I add these things to my life and daily routine, I'll be a much healthier, happier, and more grounded woman. I guess my "demands" could be seen as resolutions . . . Perhaps now that I'm determined to slow down, I can drink some water and think about it.
My very best wishes for a happy, healthy and fulfilling 2011. Make it great!
Be sure to catch up and read all of Kerri's great posts on FitSugar!
