Hunting Dog Training, What Are The Choices

How to do a good job of hunting dog training is a question that has been asked literally for hundreds if not thousands of years. Man most likely had a dog for his hunting companion even when he hunted the mastodon. Let’s face it if it were not for hunters and their dogs the human race would not exist. In modern times the term hunting dog may mean everything from a bird dog to a coon hound. Obviously you do not train a retriever the same way you would a bear dog. However when you train hunting dogs no matter what the type of game you are focusing on you must begin with basic obedience training. Basic obedience training is necessary as it allows you to handle your dog in a manner that allows you to tune its natural instincts and abilities. When hunting dog training you must love dogs to begin with and you must have patience and understanding.

Hunting dog training is not for everyone it requires time and special skills. At this time there are no degree programs at any college or university that teaches you how to train a hunting dog. If you do not have the time for hunting dog training then you probably should consider having your dog trained by a professional trainer. A professional hunting dog trainer will be focused on one type of hunting dog. The most common hunting dog training is focused on bird hunting with pointing, flushing and retrieving dog breeds. Since there are no formal hunting dog training programs to teach you to train hunting dogs, there are only a few options available. It is well understood that the best dog trainers are unique and self taught. It takes many years of dedication and patience to become good hunting dog trainer. So the question is how does the average hunter learn hunting dog training?

Hiring a professional for hunting dog training is in many cases the fastest way to train your dog. In this fast paced time constrained world many hunters just do not have the time to properly do hunting dog training. When a professional trainer is used to train your hunting dog you will be asked to work with your dog at least two or three times during the training process. If you live relatively close to the trainer it would be wise to spend time visiting the training site as often as possible. Each time you visit you will have the opportunity to watch how the hunting dog training process works. You also learn how to employ the lessons that your hunting dog has learned in a field setting. It is also the perfect time to ask questions about the training process. All this information will be valuable to you when it comes time to tune up your favorite dog prior to hunting season. In addition when it comes time to acquire another dog you may have the tools to try hunting dog training yourself. If you already posses a well trained hunting dog you will quickly find that one well trained dog does help train another. Once you have learned hunting dog training and trained your own dogs the quality of the hunting experience will be greatly increased.

You can also learn hunting dog training with the help of books, videos and DVDs. Many professional trainers sell these training aids that provide just about everything you need to know on hunting dog training. In addition you will have a source to contact when your training program hits a snag or you end up with a dog that has developed a bad habit. Video hunting dog training material has an additional value for when you need to tune up your dog for the coming season. You simply pop the video or DVD in the machine and watch how training should be done. In addition you will have to purchase a number of training tools including electronic collars. Many of these hunting dog training products come with video instructions to help you train your dog using the device. All these tools will assist you in doing a good job of hunting dog training on your own. The pride of doing your own hunting dog training comes from watching your dog perform well in the field.

Behavioural Problems in Pet Cats and the Need for Environmental Enrichment

Environmental enrichment is a phrase many people are familiar with, but usually think of it as something only relevant to captive animals, such as those in zoos, not our pets. The actual meaning of the phrase is to provide an environment that the animal can interact with to indulge and satisfy its natural behaviours.

So, do our pet cats need environmental enrichment? Are our moggies basic instincts left unchallenged? Do we need to change the way we see our cat’s role in our homes? The answer would seem to be yes. More and more owners, particularly of indoor cats (1), complain of problems, such as excessive spraying, aggression and destructive behaviour, so it would appear that although our cats seem to adapt to our lifestyles, modern living doesn’t provide them with enough opportunity to indulge their natural instincts. Most cat’s in the UK have access to the outdoors which does allow them greater choice and the ability to indulge natural behaviours and wants, such as hunting, playing, climbing, and scratching. However, it depends on the quality of the outdoors environment as to whether a cat will be able to fulfil all his natural needs. Many modern gardens provides little stimulation and sometimes other dominant cats in the area can mean your cat chooses not to go out, so improving your cat’s life in your home to compensate can minimise many of the owner’s commonly concerns.

Top Ten List for Preventing Behavioural Problems In Cats

Make Food A Challenge – The job is far easier achieved with dry kibble but with a bit of ingenuity any food can be used. Treat balls that dispense dry food in small quantities when batted and rolled can be used indoors, or for outdoor use the bottoms of cardboard egg cartons can be overturned and used to hide tasty morsels of chicken around the garden. Small boxes – the size that earrings, etc. come in – can be bought cheaply from craft shops and can be used to hide part of your cat’s daily food ration around the house and help to engage his grey matter by working out how to remove the box lid. Toilet roll inners with one end pressed flat and taped closed with a couple of pieces of food dropped in make an interesting challenge for cat’s who love to retrieve a reward and helps to improve dexterity.

Keep particular foods as treats, such as fresh fish and only give them once a week to maintain their rarity value and increase your cat’s enjoyment of them. (2)

Don’t provide water next to food – it’s more natural for a cat to find food and water in separate locations, so place the water bowl in a different room. Use filtered water for those sensitive to the taste of chlorine or a pet fountain or a small indoor water feature in another room are great favourites with many cats.

Have more than one and spend time with them – If you have a single cat consider another to keep him company. Adult cats can sometimes be hard to integrate but even the grouchiest of single cats will generally tolerate kittens and younger cats under the age of six months very well. cats can sometimes be difficult to integrate consider a kitten as even the grouchiest of cats will generally tolerate a kitten or young cat under six months of age.

Grass – Grass can be bought and grown indoors and helps prevent cats chewing houseplants which can be toxic. Chewing long soft grass acts as a natural cleanser to help rid themselves of hair balls and internal parasites.

High Vantage Place – provide a cat climber with high platforms. Cats spend much of their time just sitting and watching, looking for opportunities to hunt and to keep a watch on their territory. Cats feel secure the higher up they are as it gives them a better view of a much larger area. They can also provide indoor cats with something interesting to watch.

Hidden Sleeping Areas – Some cats like to curl up together and sometimes they just like to be on their own, so an out-of-the-way place gives your cat time to relax and get some ‘me time’. Cardboard boxes, or igloo beds or just a soft blanket in a corner behind a chair are all possibilities and each cat is individual in their preferences.

Litter Trays – provide one litter tray per cat and clean it regularly, ideally after each use – if this isn’t possible provide a few extra so your cats always have a clean tray to use. It may mean more work but it’s definitely easier than cleaning it off the carpet! Hooded litter trays are usually a preference for most cats just ensure it is more than big enough for your cat to move around in and walk in and out of.

Scratching – Sisal scratch posts and mats are perfect as cats prefer a surface that ‘moves’ or shreds under the claws and doesn’t snag, such as soft wood – explains why door jambs are so attractive! To encourage your cat to use a post use a liberal amount of catnip on the rope part of the scratcher or climber. Catnip is a natural substance that most adult cat’s enjoy, rubbing where it has been sprayed, sniffing and scratching. Climbers also provide an opportunity for indoor cat’s to climb, maintain and improve muscle strength that they do not have access to if the outdoors isn’t an option.

Play – Cats can be great fun to play with and extremely amusing, but any interaction is generally on their terms. Most games preferred are of the hunting, stalking and attacking variety as play and hunting are basically the same thing to a cat. The more hungry a cat becomes, the more playful he becomes (3) This doesn’t mean to say if you’re cat is not very playful, you should starve him! But pick a time before a regular feed time or incorporate finding food as part of the play. It is also a great way to motivate fat cats into expending some energy, rather than trying to encourage them to play when they would rather be sleeping.

Fresh Air – Cats love the great outdoors even when it’s raining – although an indoor vantage point is usually preferred on rainy days! Indoor cats can benefit greatly from an outdoor run attached to the house, or even a window grill so a window can be left open safely but still allow fresh air in along with all the tantalising scents that cats are so sensitive to.

There are few of us that can honestly say our cat has all of these things whenever their need for them arises, so if our cats do develop the odd unsavoury habit or annoying quirk, it is always worth assessing your home and garden from a cats point of view. It needn’t be hard work enriching your home for indoor cats as constant small changes to their environment can provide new challenges and afford sufficient opportunities for exercise and mental stimulation that provide a healthy and fulfilling life. While it can take a bit of brain power from us, the benefits for both can be immense, great fun and build a greater bond and enjoyment from having a cat share your home.

Ref:

(1) Housing conditions and behavioural problems of indoor cats as assessed by their owners. Eva Heidenberger. Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 52 (3-4), 345-364

(2) Differences in food preferences between individuals and populations of domestic cats. J.W.S.Bradshaw et al. Applied Animal behaviour Science Vol 68 (3), 257-268

(3)The influence of hunger on object play by adult domestic cats. Sarah L.Hall and John W.S.Bradshall Applied Animal Behaviour Science Vol 58 (1-2), 143-150

Cat Training for Your Intractable Cat

Cats are almost always depicted as loners, the lords of their realm, snobbish and downright stubborn. This is a type of animal that is quite proud, going their own way and rarely following orders. Think Garfield.

While this could be quite unfair to the cat, they are almost always compared to the loyalty and obedience of a dog, qualities which make them a popular pet all over the world.

That is why it is recommended to all cat owners or those who do plan to get a cat to train them immediately. This establishes the role of each person in the household. Cat training allows for the cat owner to train his or her cat and eventually leading up to a long lasting loving relationship between owner and pet.

Just like having a child, a pet cat that knows how to follow orders and is a source of pride and joy will be given great attention and love as well as more rewards.

But, before you start training your cat, you must know first its natural instincts and behaviours. As cat owners, we must respect what is but natural to every cat so we don’t encroach into those natural instincts.

It is not uncommon for some cats to feel depression and stress, so do not mistake this for stubbornness or hard-headedness. This may cause a rift between you and your cat. The more you scream at it and the more you hurt it, the more the wedge and rift grows, making it harder to do cat training.

Have your cat checked out by a vet first before any cat training. There are many factors to consider first. If the vet gives the thumbs-up sign then your good to go. Cat training will provide for a happier and healthier cat-owner relationship.

Hunting Dog Training What Are The Choices

How to do a good job of hunting dog training is a question that has been asked literally for hundreds if not thousands of years. Man most likely had a dog for his hunting companion even when he hunted the mastodon. Lets face it if it were not for hunters and their dogs the human race would not exist. In modern times the term hunting dog may mean everything from a bird dog to a coon hound. Obviously you do not train a retriever the same way you would a bear dog. However when you train hunting dogs no matter what the type of game you are focusing on you must begin with basic obedience training. Basic obedience training is necessary as it allows you to handle your dog in a manner that allows you to tune its natural instincts and abilities. When hunting dog training you must love dogs to begin with and you must have patience and understanding.Hiring a professional for hunting dog training is in many cases the fastest way to train your dog. In this fast paced time constrained world many hunters just do not have the time to properly do hunting dog training. When a professional trainer is used to train your hunting dog you will be asked to work with your dog at least two or three times during the training process. If you live relatively close to the trainer it would be wise to spend time visiting the training site as often as possible. Each time you visit you will have the opportunity to watch how the hunting dog training process works. You also learn how to employ the lessons that your hunting dog has learned in a field setting. It is also the perfect time to ask questions about the training process. All this information will be valuable to you when it comes time to tune up your favorite dog prior to hunting season. In addition when it comes time to acquire another dog you may have the tools to try hunting dog training yourself. If you already posses a well trained hunting dog you will quickly find that one well trained dog does help train another. Once you have learned hunting dog training and trained your own dogs the quality of the hunting experience will be greatly increased.

You can also learn hunting dog training with the help of books, videos and DVDs. Many professional trainers sell these training aids that provide just about everything you need to know on hunting dog training. In addition you will have a source to contact when your training program hits a snag or you end up with a dog that has developed a bad habit. Video hunting dog training material has an additional value for when you need to tune up your dog for the coming season. You simply pop the video or DVD in the machine and watch how training should be done. In addition you will have to purchase a number of training tools including electronic collars. Many of these hunting dog training products come with video instructions to help you train your dog using the device. All these tools will assist you in doing a good job of hunting dog training on your own. The pride of doing your own hunting dog training comes from watching your dog perform well in the field.