Dog comfort is a big issue for your dog and getting it wrong can cause your dog to be grumpy, aggravated more easily, and in a worse state of health than if they sleep in a more adequate place, but what is perfect sleeping conditions for your dog?

Much research has been done on the way dogs sleep and what they find more comfortable and where it is best for it to be, but in this article we will only cut out the uninteresting bits and give you the best requirements for your dog.

Your dog will sleep an average of 11-12 hours a day, and as they get older that number will increase more because older dogs need more time to regain their energy back. If your dog isn’t getting enough sleep it may be because you’re not doing one of the following requirements of a dogs sleeping comfort.

To begin, the chosen area needs to be well away from drafts and doorways which could cause drafts and cold air to circulate around your dog, if your dog is cold any muscle and joint pains they have will worsen and make it hard for your dog to sleep.

For padding, you should ensure a really soft space that will help to support the body fully. Use a cushion or lots of blankets to make the padding, to again help any aching joint problems and give maximum support and sleep comfort to your dog.

The last issue is the placing of your dogs bed, dogs need to be easily accessible for the family to care for them, but they don’t like to have their routines broken all the time so keeping the dog bed in the same place is essential to keep you dog happy, if the dog bed is always moved it will cause them to be uncomfortable in their new surroundings and be overly aware of unfamiliar noises.

For quite a long time now, dogs have been considered an important member of the human family. The time and effort that we spend caring for our dogs have always translated into lifelong loyalties and friendships forged between us and our furry friends. No wonder the dog has been called “man’s best friend”.

Owning a dog can be a rewarding and happy experience for the entire family. Deciding to own a dog should be an important decision, a matter that cannot be taken superficially, simply because a dog is not just a furry being, an amusing present, or a fun diversion.

Basic dog obedience training is certainly a necessity for all dogs. Basic dog obedience training is more than just telling a dog to do what we want him to do. It is a way of teaching a dog to behave properly or in a way we deem proper under certain specific conditions or circumstances.

Proper dog obedience training is definitely not a “do-it-quick” thing. It is a continuous, life-long process – a work in constant progress. It should continue for the lifetime of a dog. Dog obedience training – whether basic or advanced – has never become more important than today when a lot of dog owners bring their pet dogs to so many places where they go.

Proper dog obedience training should begin when a dog is still a puppy. The first four months of a dog’s life are very important in his training. This is the specific period when he learns behaviors that he will practice in his lifetime. This is the right time to teach your dog basic commands such as sit and fetch.

It is to be noted that dog obedience training methods or procedures are not created equal. There are various training types, approaches and methodologies which have come to be developed through the years that deal with dog obedience training.

But positive dog obedience training is quickly becoming the preferred method of dog training. This method of training is possible for just about every young dog.

Obedience training should be fun and rewarding for both you and your dog. A dog who has undertaken good training is confident and friendly and can be given greater social freedom than a dog who has not been trained at all. A trained dog will dutifully do basic commands issued by his owner.

Dog obedience training is more than just training your dog, it involves teaching the dog owner too. Going through dog obedience training is something every dog owner should do. It should be a worthwhile experience for both the dog and the dog owner.

And because training is all about communication, it is important that dog owners need to learn to communicate with their dog. Talk to your dog. Tell your dog you love him every day. Even if you don’t say “I love you” to your furry friend, look him square in the eyes and say something – anything.

We all like to be recognized and accepted as a family member. Dogs understand human language more than we think they do. Get your dog’s attention just as you would a person: call him by his name and look right at him when talking to him.

One of the basic obedience training points relevant in this regard is teaching your dog to sit on command. Training your dog to sit is probably the first thing you will train your dog to do.

To start the training: say “sit” while gently pressing his rump down and holding a treat above your dog’s head. When a dog is forced to look upward, he will automatically sit on his hind legs.

When you want your dog to sit, hold a treat a bit above his head and say “sit”. As the dog sits, say sit again and then immediately give him the treat. Your dog should drop into a sitting position in order to reach the food.

Another favorite basic command that we like to teach our dogs is fetch. Teaching your dog to fetch promotes bonding and is a great way to give your dog some exercise.

To do this, first throw a ball – but not too far, though – and give the command “fetch”. As the dog inevitably starts to run towards it, yell “fetch” again. If there is no ball available for you to use, you can use any object that your dog loves to play with the most, as this would make him want to fetch it.

Be reminded not to play fetch with heavy objects or sticks as this could injure your dog somehow or damage his teeth.

The most basic of dog obedience training is to get your dog to sit and fetch. As I said at the start of this article, proper dog obedience training is not a “do-it-quick” thing: it is a continuous, life-long process – a work in constant progress.

Dog obedience training is also a very physical activity, so getting tired and exhausted is all part of it. And doing it is never without any risk of injury, especially concerning more aggressive dog breeds.

Having said that, dog obedience training is certainly a must for all dogs. One major mistake many pet owners make is to assume that training a dog will be over in a short span of time. That, of course, is a gross misconception. Training your dog continues throughout your dog’s life.

Dog obedience training is definitely a breeze with the proper attitude of the dog owner and under proper conditions. Start training your dog today and make his life and yours a lot more better in the future.

Whether you plan to train your dog on your own or not, it is important to spend a few weeks at a dog training school, simply for the socialization aspect that the school offers. For this reason, when you first bring your puppy home, you will need to look into dog training schools in your area and decide on the one that is the best match for you. That being said, it can actually be difficult to find a dog training school that really suits your needs.

Some schools only offer specific dog training services, while others only use certain training methods. Some dog training schools have experienced trainers and others are only just starting up. It can be overwhelming and many times, owners will simply pick a name out of the phone book and go from there; however, it is important that you take a bit of time selecting a dog training school and to follow a few tips when you do so. Know your dog breed: Before you select your dog training school, it is important that you really know your dog breed. Every breed responds to training differently and it will affect the method that you train your dog with.

For instance, some breeds are not food driven and you may need to find a trainer that works with other methods of positive reinforcement training. Other breeds do not do well with firm training that use things like correction collars and it is important to avoid trainers that use them. Knowing your breed will help you in finding the perfect training method and that will quickly narrow down your selection of dog training schools. Get to know the trainer: After you have narrowed down the dog training schools, take the time to go in and watch a class or two at different levels before you commit to one. When you are there, watch the trainer to see how he or she handles the class and how she interacts with the dogs.

If you find at any time that you don`t like the approach the training is taking, move to the next dog training school on your list. If you do like what you are seeing, stay after class and ask the trainer what areas he teaches in, the number of dogs in a regular class, and how he breaks the class up into groups. Also find out what his experience is and if he has worked with your breed before. If the trainer hasn`t, you may want to find a different trainer since you will see the best results if the trainer knows and understands your specific breed. Ask for references: When you are at the stage where you have a dog training school, stop and ask for references.

Make sure that you get references for both the training that will be working with your dog and also the dog training school in general. Although references are important, you should never rely solely on the references provided by the dog training schools. Instead, take the time to do a little internet research for past clients of the dog training school and to also ask your vet or other pet owners if they have heard anything, good or bad, about the dog training schools you are looking into. You will be surprised by the number of people who can offer you a bit of information. Know where you are going:

The last tip that I am going to mention when you are selecting a dog training school is to really know what you want from training. If you want basic training, you will actually have a larger selection of dog training schools then if you want a specific type of training such as agility training. Decide on whether you simply want a family pet or you want a dog that competes in agility, obedience or sporting events before you commit to a dog training school. Once you know where you want to go with your dog`s training, you can quickly find out which dog training schools offer which training and narrow down your search so you have the best match for both you and your dog.

Most canines aren’t just people’s “pets” … They are part of the family. And just like children, dogs require lots of time, care and love to become the happy dog they should become. YOU have to teach them right from wrong in order to be a proud parent. The bottom line to any kind of dog training is patience and consistency. Whether you’re dog is housebreaking or potty training, crate training, obedience training, learning their name, walking on a leash, needs to stop barking, learning tricks or whatever … Dog training basics is a task and a responsibility not to be taken lightly. Dogs like routines, establish a good behavioral routine and you will both be happier. The dog should respond to your command and when you call. Training will aid in keeping your dog and everyone who comes in contact with your dog safe.

You can become overwhelmed if you don’t take control of the situation fast. You are the alpha … the leader of the pack. Try to stay calm. Never reward behavior you don’t want to keep happening. Keep a positive attitude. Be firm and friendly at all times. You and your four legged friend need to have fun when training. By investing the time and energy in properly training will bond you and your dog closer. Expect mistakes and be realistic with your goals and what to expect, you’ll less likely feel like a failure by doing so … you just need to find the right method and then voila … success. You will be happy with positive results and your dog will be happier knowing what is expected of him!

Remember different dogs need different training techniques. What breed of dog you own, their age, personality and characteristics depend on what they learn and how fast they learn them. The technique that works best for most all dogs is the positive reinforcement method. Dog training collars have good intentions, but are dangerous for your dog. The praise technique is much better then creating fear in your dog, plus will make training easy for you and fun for both of you. If you consistently reward and praise your dog, that will motivate the proper behavior. You need to find the technique that works best for you and your pooch, training your dog isn’t just at specific training times but through your day to day activities. Undoing some things that have been done wrong even though you may not have known they were wrong may be where you have to start so your dog can be retrained.

Did you know by simply neutering your pet you can stop lots of aggression problems? Did you know crate training is not a punishment? It is a pleasure; their own special place.

The more you know the more comfortable you will be training your dog. Researching and studying how to train your dog is important in order to succeed at your goals. You must educate yourself so you don’t lose patience and are mentally prepared for what lies ahead. Training aides include … dog articles, dog training books and dog training videos that show dog training problems and the successes others have had so you know what to expect and when. There are tons of dog training and puppy training tips available. Ask yourself what you want to accomplish. Find the answers … Be the dog trainer. If you own a dog, it is important to know how to train a dog.

Bonding with your furry friend while having fun educating the both of you is the key to keeping you and your dog happy! A happy dog owner owns a happy dog!

A lot of people believe that to run a marathon you need to some kind of super athlete. But with the right marathon training programs you can successful train for and complete your first marathon. Yes the 26.2 miles can seem very daunting at first but if you put in the adequate training you can easily accomplish your first marathon. Using the right marathon training programs will ensure that you are fully prepared to tackle your first marathon.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when selecting the right marathon training programs for your marathon training. There are also a few things you need to do yourself to make sure the marathon training programs you have selected work for you.

You should set goals before you begin your marathon training. If you want to complete your first marathon then the most common goal is to simply finish the event. But you can make smaller goals within your marathon training programs such as pushing really hard in each session instead of just going through the motions or trying to complete your runs in as fast a time possible.

Setting goals is a very important part of succeeding with your marathon training programs and should not be overlooked. Having goals gives you focus and direction and keeps you motivated. It is also important to have long term goals and short term goals. You want to have a big picture goal like completing your first marathon and then have smaller goals leading up to it such as getting the most out of your training.

You must commit to your marathon training programs or else you will not be able to successfully complete your first marathon. This is a very important step, you must be serious about your marathon training programs and be willing to set aside time each week to complete the training. This requires organisation on your part, so you should sit down and plan out your daily activities and work out a time when you can complete your marathon training programs.

You can’t afford to skip any of your marathon training programs because you need to get as much mileage into your legs as possible so if you skip sessions you will fall behind and ultimately will not be fully prepared for your marathon. When it comes to marathon training programs you need to be 100 percent committed to your training and completing your first marathon. You can’t go into it half hearted because you will get bored and unmotivated and either quit half way or attempt a marathon under prepared and be force to pull out half way. So once you find your marathon training programs stick to them.

There are a variety of different marathon training programs available out there so it is important you chose the right one for you. Some vary in length and others vary in stye. You will find some marathon training programs that are relatively short such as a 12 – 16 week program. These are probably a little bit too short if you are training to complete your first marathon. You should be looking for marathon training programs that are at least 24 weeks if you are a beginner to ensure that you are adequately prepared for your marathon. The key elements to marathon training programs are endurance and speed. When you are a beginner you want to focus on your endurance first then slowly build up your speed. It is important to get the amount of distance under your belt before your complete your marathon.

Copyright (c) 2008 Rob Pilger

CB: How do boxers burn fat so fast, what lessons can the regular person take from their training that works quickly?

RP: I know this point is redundantly made but it’s true.

People spend to much time training with cardio equipment. I have seen people train on cardio equipment, and their body’s still look the same months later!

When the average person has had enough of walking around in their body they are in they usually think of hitting the pavement running. Or people will train with the typical circuit of elliptical and treadmills etc…Training for long and very casual intensities. Raising cortisol levels, preserving fat, etc…

People who perform a boxing workout get lean from the intense anaerobic way they train. Boxers fight and train in rounds lasting from 2 minutes to 3 minutes in duration. The training done for that duration is generally at a higher intensity. The training equipment also demands you get lean by the way the bags have to be worked.

Put it this way to maximally work and move the heavy bag in the right manner burns more calories and takes more effort to do. Your body then takes the lean shape from the aftermath of this demand of it to put forth the work. Same thing for the punch mitts when used correctly your whole body is moving and working and in a more anaerobic and intense manner than aerobic training.

Many times people who cross train or want to learn boxing for self defense are amazed at how sore they are in different areas of their body from the workout. They are waking and working muscles that have been dormant for some time in a intense manner.

As I’ve stated several times above since boxing workouts are predominantly anaerobic and we train with lots of intervals, our metabolic rates are increased.

Unlike the aerobic way people train where they only burn calories for the duration of the aerobic activity or training. With anaerobic interval work your metabolic rate is increased for hours even after training is complete as you obviously know.

CB: What’s the role of slow cardio in stripping fat from a boxer’s body?

RP: Not much at all….

We condition using sprints, sled work, sledge strikes, sprint and run drills, but really speaking from a fighters perspective, nothing beats intense sparring to get in shape. We also perform intervals of fast punching on the bags and punch mitts.

As far as the average client, I’ll never forget when I was working in Syracuse NY I was training an older guy named Tom. Tom couldn’t lose any more weight in a satisfying way. He was on a plateau.

He was training aerobically only for the last 2 years playing musical chairs with the cardio equipment. He was very frustrated and bored that he couldn’t drop any more fat.

So upon working with him. I had him jumping rope, working the punch mitts, working the heavy bag and VERY easily he lost 14 pounds in 6 weeks! Not bad for previously being on a plateau! The pounds literally melted off. Because of the intense anaerobic way he trained and the muscles and movements he was using in training this way.

Fortunately for me communicating with the best strength and conditioning coaches and constantly reading and studying the best books keeps me abreast of what methods work best.

CB: How do you and other boxers get lean for fights in terms of nutrition?

RP: We start cleaning house!

Or should I say cleaning the fridge, freezer and cupboards. I have them get rid of the processed boxed, package, frozen packaged, canned foods. I have them stop eating sugary cereals, soda, sugary juices, white breads, refined carbs, margarine, just garbage food period! This goes along way with improving performance, vitality, and weight loss obviously.

I then have them start to eat real whole foods. Foods that actually have a life source and will deliver nutrients and vitality to them.

So for weight loss having them eliminate the garbage foods and drinks and having them eating smaller meals frequently throughout the day works big time for weight loss on top of the kick butt training their doing.

It still amazes me on how many people skip breakfast. Or if they do have it, the typical sugar water called orange juice with a pop tart doesn’t do it. I have them eat a better breakfast and make sure their dinner isn’t the biggest meal of the day as their stomachs would suggest if it is.

My point is, typically people skip breakfast, eat a rather large lunch, and when they get home have a feast for dinner. That’s insane if you want to drop weight and get lean!

Don’t eat less meals. Eat more meals frequently with less food for weight loss. Their blood sugar levels are more balanced and their moods and energy levels are far more enhanced by eating more frequently, like 5-6 times per day if possible.

I also have them drink half their body weight in ounces of water per day. I have them consume fish oils at their meals.

I also keep critiquing their eating habits and food choices for weight loss as needed…

CB: Do you use boxer’s training techniques in your client’s workouts? If so, what could I do to speed my fat loss?

RP: Boxing workouts are BIG in my clients workouts.

It’s no wonder that the most popular classes in commercial gyms are martial arts classes.

Unfortunately many of those are watered down. By getting your eating habits under control and cleaned up and by jumping rope, shadow boxing, working the punch mitts, heavy bag, double end bag and speed bag you literally melt that fat off your body in a quick manner.

That’s why I like to use boxing training techniques. Boxing training gets results.

People can get bored with the cardio equipment. You can be totally uncoordinated and not improve upon before or after getting on the bike or stair master.

Not when you jump rope and perform the rest of a boxing workout. That’s why it delivers so much in one workout. All those bio-motor abilities you improve on top of shredding the fat from your body.

CB: What methods of strength training do you prefer? Do you use free weights or a lot of body weight exercises?

RP: Strength training methods will depend on the persons training age, background, weaknesses, needs, goals, and were we are from a fight.

So I have a lot of tools in the tool box I can use depending on the above scenarios. Usually I begin with body weight movements. I totally agree with what Alwyn Cosgrove says, “If we cannot stabilize and move our own body weight, we have no reason to use external resistance”

Once a person can handle there own body weight we use different strength exercises. I like using squats, I really like front squats cause we can train the legs with the thoracic extensors that are usually weak. A boxer that has been at it for a while will will have an increased kyphotic posture along with pronated shoulders. So we need to correct this if we want to improve performance.

We also use dead-lifts, single leg work, posterior chain work, core strengthen with more transverse plain exercises, but we also perform reverse crunches they are a great abdominal strengthening exercise that also help in improving posture.

A lot of unilateral work, pulls, rows, chins, pull ups, you name.

We use equipment ranging from db’s, barbells, med balls, sand bags, kegs, sled, sledge hammer, I’m going to start using kettle bells more. Once again, these are all great tools we use depending on the situation.

Corrective exercises are used to keep the fighters muscle imbalances and posture in check.

I will say that generally fighters are bloody weak! So I like to improve and focus on maximal strength training. Hypertrophy training can be used if I have a fighter that wants to move up a weight class or needs a little more muscle.

For our dynamic training, I like to used med balls and other plyometric exercise for explosive power.

That pretty much sums it up as our training is ALWAYS evolving and improving as I continue to study and learn and as we progress in our own training.

CB: Do the boxing workouts require any special equipment?

RP: Yes the workout uses special equipment that is very affordable and can be purchased at sporting stores, or boxing equipment magazines.

You will need hand wraps, a jump rope, gloves, punch mitts, a heavy bag, double end bag, speed bag and a small timer that you can by at any store. You don’t have to get all the bags at once you can still burn allot of fat with the jump rope and heavy bag alone. The other equipment just really speeds the results.

Everyone that owns a dog needs to know about the different ways that you can properly train your dog and teach them to be very well behaved, which they are totally capable of doing. In this article I want to discuss with you some of the important information regarding dog training techniques that can and will eventually help you to teach your dog. There are many different dog training schools where you could take your dog, so do not worry about things, you will have several different options to choose from. Some of these dog training schools are very expensive, so you should be well prepared to take care of these expenses in order to have your dog professionally trained. Each of these dog training schools all have pretty much the same thing in mind, high hopes of properly and efficiently training your pooch, however, they do all have their own little speciality training, depending on what your specific needs are for your dog and ofcourse it also depends on the age of your dog as well.

Most of the dog training courses usually last up to about ten weeks atleast, except for the training of puppies, they normally only would go to puppy training school, which is kind of like a preschool for dogs, for about up to six weeks. Generally at the end of any of the dog training courses there will also be some type of dog training test that your dog will actually be required to pass before they can “graduate” dog training school. These types of tests are definitely pretty complicated and in order for your dog to actually pass this type of test they will really need to be adequately, professionally trained in several other dog training courses. Once your dog has gone through several weeks of really tough training, and have also passed the last and final dog training tests, your dog will then be able to come back home and show off all of his new found structure and training skills, among many other things as well. You will be more than pleased by the results of the dog training school that you had sent them through and they will be so confident and proud of themselves and willing to show off in front of company constantly.

Dog training schools can definitely change your dogs entire persona, as well as giving the owner a tremendous feeling of happiness and thankfulness that they dog training school had it in them to really pull this off. It will totally be worth any amount of money spent and the results will seriously blow your mind, each and every time that you get to witness their wonderful, well trained behavior. The internet, along with talking to dog training professionals, is a great way to get information that is quite helpful, as well as getting so much helpful information regarding dog training, that can and will really help you out.

Dog training is very important if you would like to ensure that you and your new pet will be able to live in harmony. Dog training can correct or modify a number of the dog’s natural behaviors, making the dog much more suited to life being taken care of in your home. There are a number of different ways available to train your dog and by following these 7 basic dog training tips, you will find that the training goes smoothly and is fun for both you and your dog.

1. If you are unsure of how to train your dog, seek help.

Individuals that would like to train their dog often have no idea how dog training is conducted or how the personality of their dog will factor into the training process. There are a number of different books and reference materials available to help a person train their dog, and if the owner is still unsure or uncomfortable with the training methods, they can ask a professional dog trainer for assistance and additional dog training tips.

2. Negative reinforcement is the least effective training method.

One of the dog training tips that most dog training professionals wish more people knew is that using negative reinforcement or punishment to train the dog is the least effective way to get the dog to obey you, but is the most effective way of making the dog fearful or aggressive towards you and others.

3. Making dog training fun also makes the training more effective.

Another one of the most important dog training tips to remember is that dogs love to please and are eager to learn in all stages of life, so making the dog training fun for the dog not only makes the training more enjoyable but also makes the lesson easier to learn for your dog.

4. Don’t be afraid to use small treats as rewards.

Giving the dog a small treat for a job well done will not hurt the training process and will make the training more enjoyable for the dog. The treat chosen as the reward should only be given during the training process and on the successful completion of the task the dog was asked to do.

5. Research training products extensively before deciding which to purchase.

There are a large number of different training products on the market today and some of these products are intended for a specific use, not for general obedience training. Some of the products will have features that are not necessary to the training that you are trying to conduct, while some others may have features that will make your training sessions easier.

6. Dog training takes time.

Just as you didn’t learn how to read in a day, your dog will not master a command or a trick within the space of a day. It takes time for a dog to remember and execute a desired behavior after it has been introduced to them, so this important dog training tip is to give the training time to work and the dog time to understand what you are asking him to do.

7. If at first you don’t succeed, try again.

This last tip of the important dog training tips is that if your dog fails to understand a training method or a command, try a different teaching method. Just like different people learn in different ways, different dogs learn in different ways as well.

First Principles

Teach respect, a dog has to be taught to respect its owner. You have to be his leader and not let him be yours. As you communicate with your dog he learns to understand you, he will forever be willing to please. Once the dog knows you are his leader, he will be a happy follower by teaching your dog the basic training commands and discipline.

It is next to impossible to have a normal, well-behaved, even-tempered dog without discipline and some training. Once a dog is trained he is a better pet and greater companion, and he himself will be happier for knowing that his owner is pleased with him. There are many books devoted to discipline and training and free online resources for dog training than ever imaginable! There are also many great obedience-training classes for low cost to no cost, one for example is PetSmart and I highly recommend this form of training, it helps your dog or puppy learn to socialize as well as get his basic obedience training from a professional source, helping you and your dog learn together. You must be willing to accept the fact that if your dog fails the course and becomes a dropout, it is entirely your fault not the dogs. He is a willing subject, it is your complete responsibility to ensure you and he complete all training classes and continue to adhere to the lessons learned.

Any sincerely interested dog owner can train their dog, and it can be a most rewarding educational experience for both. Patience and consistency is the key to successful training, at times you will have to be firm, but gentle and always, always give praise for each and every one of his positive efforts.Basically dog training is built on reward, repetition, reprimand and again praise. Although it can be too early to begin training, it is never too late. Most puppies form a strong attachment to an individual which may persist or wane, and there is often a phase of disobedience and defiance. Discipline is needed during this crucial period, but it must be with patience and never overbearing or intimidating. Don’t listen to the old cliché “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. There is nothing further from the truth, I don’t for one moment believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, he can be taught new tricks and all the basic commands whatever his age.

 

It is bound to be a more difficult to break old habits like barking, chasing cars, sleeping on furniture etc., and can be resolved with proper training aids, such as no-bark collars, sonic bark control devices, citronella spray collars, indoor radio fences, and scat mats, if all other resources have been exhausted to resolve these and various other undesirable habits develop or exist. You and your dog must be relaxed before you begin any training session. He can and will know when you are tense or uncomfortable, he can’t learn while he is tense or timid and if your dog or puppy is showing signs of stubbornness or defiance they may be more resistant to teaching, but don’t give in, stay firm, consistent and have a routine, all animals are creatures of habit, so stay with the training. In essence complete relaxation is essential for both dog and trainer, also, make lessons fun for both you and your dog. He will learn much faster, and give you a greater reward for your training efforts, vise-versa.

 

Getting To Know Your Dog or Puppy

 

To train your dog or pup to the best advantage for both, you must get to know their personality, for example there are sensitive or shy dogs who squeal at the slightest noise with disciplinary action and the merest jerk of a training lead, grooming comb or word of discipline, causing you to hurt his feelings and mistrust. Take caution and try to understand this dog or puppy’s personality, this is vital to their mental health and needs to be taken in a very slow, easy manner. If a stronger, more aggressive training method is used with this type of personality it cannot be reversed, and will ultimately result in a very scared, confused pet. Then there is the more assertive type dogs, they may need a stronger form of training and attention spans may need to be focused on, “Fearless” Fun loving, and go for it types of dogs always pushing himself at you for your attention, he jumps on your guests, slobbers on them, forces his “Here I am” on you, your guests, children or the elderly. This personality may or may not need a more aggressive training method, depending on the breed and the owner’s training abilities.

Make the Lessons Fun

Dogs get bored with long training sessions. If you work them for over 20 minutes at a time, they will lose interest and stop listening to you. For a younger dog or puppy, 5 to 10 minutes is long enough for one training session. But do it frequently, and again with, praise or training reward treats.

Basic Dog Training Commands

(1) Leash Training: This is the first and foremost of all dog and puppy training. Say you need to take your pet to the Veterinarian for a check up…this cannot be done without a well leash trained dog or puppy. Work with your dog or puppy daily  DO NOT: pull, drag or force your dog to follow the leash, take it easy…..let them walk to you, stop…say “Good Dog” Reward them with a treat, and let them sit, then, pet, praise them. Give them time, always be patient, they will respond soon to your leash training, it is so very important not to scare them while leash training!!!! They will never feel safe with you!!

 

(2) Heel: You teach your dog to walk on you left side without pulling in front of you; he always walks beside you, comfortably, easily and will never pull at the leash. When he tries to walk in front of you, you jerk back on the lead and say the word “Heel”. Use this command with easy, gentle commands, do not “Yank” on the lead, be very, very gentle or this will cause your dog to become scared and try to bolt and make the “Heel” command frighten your dog, therefore, reversing your training and all trust established with your dog or puppy. Please always use good sense and respond to your dogs action or “Reaction” to “Leash and Heel” Training.

(3) Sit: Pull the leash straight up and while pushing down on his hindquarters, saying the word “Sit”. Most dogs learn this very quickly.

(4) Down: You don’t want your dog or puppy to jump on people, especially, elderly guests, children or anyone else that is coming to visit your home. Your dog needs to learn this after he is confident with his leash training. Grasp the leash or collar just under the dog’s neck and while gently pulling in the downward motion as you say, “Down”

(5) Stay: This is a very important command, as it can save your dog from a situation were harm or injury may occur, and this can be beneficial to the both of you. This command can save you or your dog from being hit by cars, or any other dangerous situation, this can your dogs life. To teach the “Stay” command put your dog in a sitting position and talk a few steps away, and if he attempts to come to you, firmly say “Stay” and stop walking, ask your dog to sit, and start again, keep repeating this procedure until he stays, this may take some time, remember keep the lessons short, and be consistent.

(6) Come: Be sure to do this with a leash or long lead. First put him on the “Stay” command, use the word “Come” and give the leash a light tug toward you, when he responds a comes to you give him praise and or a reward treat and repeat this lesson until your dog is responsive to the command, then you can remove the leash or lead and repeat the lesson. This is one of the easiest lessons dogs learn very quickly.  With all said and these simple, easy to follow training guidelines, you should have a long and happy relationship with your dog or puppy. Note: Never give up, be patient, consistent and always praise!!!! Love your dog like he loves you.

YOUR DOG

“He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog…..You are his life, his love, and his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy ofsuch devotion. “

Author unknown:

 

 

 

 

Maximum power is trained when the athlete works in a range of between 95-100% of their maximum intensity. All too often athletes perform these power training drills at a low intensity thus defeating the purpose of overloading the muscles and maximizing you time spent training. Plyometrics has become the standard for power development with many trainers.

Power is simply the combination of speed and strength. In recent years many athletes and coaches have thought of power training as plyometric training due to the popularity of the term. However, plyometric training is just one form of power training. Plyometric training refers to an athlete developing explosive movements through a concentric contraction (shortening of muscle) following an eccentric contraction (lengthening of muscle).

It is during this eccentric contraction that the maximum force generated by the muscle is attained. The amount of force generated by the muscles following an eccentric contraction is greater. How does this apply to making you faster? Well it is not only specific to the various movements involved in your sport but it allows you to develop a more explosive start which will help you to get to your destination more quickly.

It is the stored energy from an eccentric contraction when a muscle is stretched that is available during the following explosive concentric contraction. It is this stretching of the muscles prior to the explosive muscle contraction that is often referred to as the “loading phase.” The key point here to know is that the greater the load and the faster the load will result in a more powerful contraction.

One key aspect for athletes to know is that the concentric contraction must be immediate after the eccentric contraction otherwise a lot of this energy will be lost. For example if you want to increase your vertical jump you will bend down and then immediately explode upwards. However, you are unlikely to achieve such a height if you bend down, wait a few seconds and then jump upwards. Therefore an athlete must try to jump as soon as they can following the eccentric contraction. This process is often referred to the stretch-shortening cycle and is what plyometrics is built around.

Now transfer this over to how it can make you faster. It could make you faster in getting to a ball if you can time your jump rather than just waiting in a crouched position. It could allow you to be faster if you learn to take off following this phase rather that trying to take off from a crouched position. In tennis you could become faster if you hit the ball, land and recover and then learn to time your explosive start immediately from this position rather than a full upright or fully crouched position.

I found this to be true for the tennis players that I have trained. When waiting in the already crouched position on a return; I found out that they were slower to get off the mark compared to when they were able to time their forward movement. This is where learning the split-step the correct way will make you faster in getting to the ball.

Power training must be specific to the skill or movement that is being performed by the athlete. It is also important that when conducting power training that the load placed upon the body does not affect the actual specific sporting skill or movement. For example; you could where a weighted vest and try to perform a series of vertical jumps but if your specific movement patterns are effected then you are inhibiting the transferring benefit.

This is why when conducting plyometric exercises it is important to choose sport specific exercises with appropriate loading as there will be greater transference across in terms of physiological and learned adaptations.

Key plyometric exercises that help to improve speed include single leg hops, single leg bounding, pistol squats, double leg tuck jumps, double leg hops, alternate leg bounding, incline two leg bounding, zigzag hops or one legged lateral bounding, lateral jumps, squat jumps and split jumps, depth jumps, alternating step ups, double leg jumps and single leg box squats. Additional plyo-metric training method include ladder exercises, stair training, medicine ball exercises, kettle ball exercises, bounding over cones, bounding over mini-hurdles, jump/skipping rope and stadium hops.

One of my favourite exercises is running sand dunes! This is a killer workout and a great way to add extra resistance and variety to your training programs. I guarantee that if you are looking for a fun new way to train your athletes then take them down to the beach where there are some sand dunes. You can also include some sprint sessions along the beach followed by some swimming. Your athletes will be ready to sleep for hours after this work out. It is also fun for them to be outside on the beach. Just be sure to include a proper warm-up and warm-down into your session.

After spending many years with coaches from a variety of sports in developing and designing their fitness and conditioning programs; it was quite apparent that many coaches did not know how to properly implement a plyometric program. The key areas of concern were that many coaches were not completely educated on how to teach and instruct each plyometric exercises. Other factors included the equipment used was of the wrong shape, size and weight for the athlete, the surface that they were performing the exercises on were poor and dangerous, the athletes didn’t understand what they were working on or how it applied to their sport, athletes did not perform a proper warm-up prior to commencing a plyometric program, injuries were not reviewed prior to starting a plyometric training program, plyometrics were used at the wrong time of the season such as introducing new plyometric exercises during the competitive season, a strength base was not established first, some of the athletes were too young for plyometric training and many coaches did not know how many sets and repetitions to use.

Progression of exercises to develop speed include developing vertical drive – conducting plyometric exercises using cones and mini-hurdles will help to develop the vertical drive in athletes. Developing explosive hip power – one of my favorite modes of exercises for developing power, in particular hip power, is stair hops. The key with these exercises is to take away the use of the arms. One way to do this is to place your hands behind your head as you hop with two feet together up the steps. Developing explosive starts – this is where the various bounding exercises assist the athlete in developing speed by improving their explosive starts. Two of my favourite exercises are the single-leg and double-leg bounding followed by an immediate sprint. These exercises assist the athlete in pushing off the ground followed by a subsequent burst of speed over 10 metres.

Three main points in order to gain positive results from plyometric training are to develop a sound base of flexibility, develop a sound base of strength and to reduce the risk of injury by performing the proper technique for each exercise.

The following need to be identified and considered prior to an athlete commencing a plyometric training program: Age of the athlete, current or potential injuries, medical history, muscle imbalances, current strength of athlete, current speed of athlete, the athlete’s weight, the athlete’s experience and knowledge with power training and the surface that the exercises will be performed on.

The key variables that need to be considered with plyometric training include frequency of sessions, rest and recovery between sessions, overload, progression with intensity levels, progression with volume, what season the athlete is in (pre or post season), duration of the program or session, the specific demands of the sport, implementation of a thorough warm-up and your tournament schedule.

The following is how developing power can improve an athlete’s speed in a chosen sport such as tennis. The development of power in the game of tennis is most important to players at the higher levels. It is important to understand both components of power, which are the strength and speed aspects and how each relates to power development.

Power is also involved in all strokes and areas of the game of tennis. Power is particularly important in the explosive movement during the service motion, thus adding more “speed” to the serve. A faster serve will obviously be more effective and can help the player to develop the serve into a weapon.

Power is also extremely important to developing speed as it contributes to improved explosive starts and speed over short distances. Power development is one of the most neglected areas when training tennis players due to the lack of knowledge and understanding by coaches in how to train for “power.”

Include power drills that involve the use of some equipment such as a medicine ball, as well as some drills using ones’ own body weight for those programs that do not have access to the required equipment.

Injury Concerns with power training – It is extremely important to demonstrate proper technique in all power drills in order to prevent injuries. The development of power involves many “explosive” or “ballistic” movements and if performed incorrectly can often lead to injury. It is therefore important for the coach to fully understand how to demonstrate the skill, what they are trying to achieve, each player’s physical ability, and how to include power training into their fitness and conditioning programs. It is important, as with all fitness drills, that the coach follows any specific directions given by a player’s physician.

Power development is primarily directed towards the more advanced competitive athletes. When coaching younger athletes still in the developmental stages (both technically and physically) it is more important to use the time available to develop stroke technique, court positioning, scoring, and overall understanding of the game of tennis.

Power training needs to be specific to the movement involved. All of the major power movements have been identified and the following drills have been developed specifically for power development in tennis players.

Be sure to complete a needs analysis for each athlete identifying any possible injuries of concern. To minimize the risk of injury, it is important to conduct an aerobic warm-up and extensive stretching routine prior to performing these power training drills. Weights are used not only to develop absolute strength, but also strength-speed.

The simple jump exercises (such as single leg hops, two feet bounding, jumps for height or distance) are useful in developing the eccentric component of the forced stretch – contract phase. Perform these simple jump exercises prior to starting the more advanced exercises.

The training sessions should be progressive with each phase developing the player’s body sufficiently so that they can move onto the next phase of training. The ultimate goal is to be peaking for their competitive phase, so be sure to prevent stagnation by understanding what phase of training they are in. Include a variety of drills.

If you wish to increase you speed then you will need to incorporate some form of power training into your sessions. Speed is often defined over short distances and this is where you need that powerful and explosive acceleration to help make you faster.