Monday, June 8, 2009

How to train a Miniature Pinscher Dog to Stop Barking

People constantly ask how to train a miniature pinscher dog, or any dog for that matter, to stop barking. Well I have heard several ways but from what I have seen there is one way that makes sense more than the others.

In most cases a dog barks for a reason. There could be many reasons such as: it needs to go potty, it heard a noise it wasn't familiar with, or there is someone knocking. But when a dog it young it may bark just to hear itself. The trick is first to determine why the dog is barking before you try to stop it. If there is a valid reason you definitely do not want to teach them not to in that case.

The key is to teach the dog when it is ok to bark. Once you determine if the barking is justified, then you can train a dog to stop barking. To accomplish this you will need treats to distract and reward your dog. Once your dog starts barking, immediately grab a treat and hold it in front and tell them to hush, stop barking, or whatever phrase you would like to use. Start off with a very short time, say 5 seconds. After the dog has stopped barking for 5 seconds give them the treat. The next time repeat the same process just slowly increasing the time. Always remember to reward them for doing what you want, this is how the training is accomplished. Also, be sure not to raise your voice, they will not understand what you are saying and you will not get the results you are looking for.

I know there are other methods to stop a dog from barking and in some cases they may work, but this is the one I have chosen and it seems to work well as long as you practice patience.

Some people out there swear by a stop dog barking collar. I am sure this works but I feel this is inhumane. It teaches the dog not to do something out of fear, and a scared dog is not a happy dog. Other people may swat the dog to get them to stop barking, but this goes with the same principles as the collars.

So if you are trying to figure out how to train a dog to stop barking, be sure to try this first as it is safe and effective.
If you need info onhouse training a puppy look here for some great tips.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

What am I paying for with Miniature Pinscher Adoption

What am I paying for with miniature pinscher adoption? Where is my money actually going? Do they really have this much money in each dog they are adopting out?

These are all very reasonable questions. We will start of with what am I paying for with miniature pinscher adoption? First of all, you are paying them for their services. You are paying the salaries of the people working there, operating expenses, and any other costs they endure. The agency is a business like anything else out there and has to make money to stay open.

Where is my money actually going? Well that could be anywhere. They have bills just like everyone else does. They have lights, water, employees, and other expenses to keep working. Your money may not be going just to cover the dog you are adoptiong and the costs they have incurred with it.

Do they really have this much money in each dog they are adopting out? Chances are, no they don't. But that doesn't mean they are ripping you off. By keeping a flat adoption fee it assures them that everything will be paid and the dogs will get adopted fairly. Just think if you saw one dog for $75 and another for $250, both of the same breed. Which one would you want? Well that is pretty obvious, the cheaper one would get taken before the expensive one. Vet care is very expensive and costs can build up quickly. The fee you pay for one of their dogs covers a fraction of the full operating cost. They will definitely tell you if the dog you are getting has had any health issues. The ones with the health problems will have cost them more to take in, and have cost more money in vet bills.

So the next time you ask what am I paying for with miniature pinscher adoption, just remember they are a business too and are providing a great service to the community.