Earth Dog Trials or Den Trialing

Do you have a terrier? Does your little dog love to hunt down and chase small vermin? Dumb question. We are talking terriers. There is an event that will suit your terrier to a T. It allows them to do chase down a rat, satisfying their age-old instinct. It allows them to meet other terriers – which may or may not be a good idea. It also allows you and your pet to have some quality time bonding together in a sport he or she loves best. This is Earth Dog Trials or Den Trialing.

The sport of Earth Dog Trials is open to terriers. This includes most breeds and Dachshunds. However, certain organizations have exceptions. These are not uniform. It is a good idea to check first before registering your pet for a competition.
Earth Dog Trials are simulated hunting events. It is a “go to ground” competition. The idea is for your terrier to find his or her way into a tunnel, making it through to the end. At the completion, the dog will find a caged rat. Your dog must then “work” the rat.

The tunnels are all made. They vary in length with the organization. The American Working Terrier’s Association’s (AWTA) tunnels range from 9-by-9 to 30’ while the AKC’s tunnels are 10 feet and up. Both associations implement bends in the tunnel to test the dog’s skills in finding the rat. Both do not allow actual kills. It is all about finding and working the prey.
In the AWTA trials, your dog may qualify to enter the Novice Class or the Certificate of Gameness (CG) competition. The Novice Class is a 1-minute test dashing through the tunnels to the lure. Your dog either passes or fails. The CG tunnels are 30’ and your terrier must travel the length in 30 seconds to reach the rat. He or she must then work it for another minute.
The AKC has a more complicated system of 4 levels. This includes an introduction to Read the rest of this entry »

I chatted yesterday with a friend of mine from high school asking for advice about her 9 month old cock-a-poo pup.

Apparently, he gets aggressive when he has a treat, a toy, a bone or his food. He growls and threatens to bite when you get near him.

* Honestly: We must be doing something correctly – our dogs never give us aggressive behavior when it comes to their toys, treats or food. We could put our face in theirs when playing and take the item away without a 2nd thought or any negative reaction from them whatsoever. I never fear grabbing something from them, no matter how fabulous it is to them, even a bone. The same goes for any child or baby that is around them. We’ve never had a problem…

There could be 2 Reasons for this behavior in a puppy, in my opinion.

1. He’s afraid you’ll take it away – Why would he feel like that? Well, if you put food out in intervals for your dog and then take away the bowl in between, or if they don’t feel like they get enough food, they may have this behavior when you approach him at this time.

Maybe you or your child will tease them with the toy and never let them get it back when playing, this could create this sense of protective behavior over their toys. Puppies need time to play with their toys and to attain the toy when you’re playing tug of war or throwing it to them - i.e. don’t always pretend to throw the toy for them – actually throw it!

Photo left: Our Kurious Kissyface as a 3 month old puppy playing with her boney.

2. He doesn’t respect you & thinks he’s in charge – If your puppy or dog is aggressive towards you at all, they feel they’re in charge, and have no problem showing you.

What To Do:
1. Reassess the amount of food you’re giving your dog. Also, consider leaving the bowl out for them during the day with food in it. They may not feel so anxious and aggressive in protecting the food that’s always out there.

Some dogs overeat and will eat and eat themselves until they are sick. I’ve never heard of a terrier that’s very prone to this. Typically, dogs know when to stop. They’ll snack throughout the day and usually wait until after your meals (mostly to see if they’ll get some of what you’re eating) to eat more substantially.

We always leave a bowl of food out for the dogs and we’ve never had a problem with an overeater.

2. Make sure they know Read the rest of this entry »

This is very true, especially if you don’t give an older dog the needed training to change their behavior.

Photo right: Kaptain and Kurious as a puppy

It may be really cute to see your puppy have fun, ripping up a useless, harmless newspaper…Right?

It is for that moment in time, but when that behavior rears it’s ugly head when your terrier is older, it’s not nearly as cute or funny!

They need dog obedience training in some way, shape or form. You must be firm and realize that the things that you wish them not to do as an adult dog, they CANNOT do, even if it’s cute, as a puppy.

Terriers can be especially naughty with digging and ripping apart pillows, blankets and cushions…Most of them were bred to be ratters and hunters…you can’t blame their instincts…You just need to curb them a bit.

For Example: Our Kaptain, when he was a baby of about 3 months old or so, he got a hold of a newspaper and started to shred it…

He was frolicking around, pouncing on it…barking at it! We were all watching and laughing…It was way too cute!

However, as Kappy grew, so did his appetite for paper! Anything paper…

Newspapers, computer paper, cardboard boxes, Kleenex boxes, tissues! Whatever!

Photo left: Starring Kaptain as “The Paper Shredder”

He usually only did this when we would leave the house and he was by himself…

We’d try to “paper proof” the whole house, but he’d always seem to find something!

One day, he got into my dad’s blueprints of their home that they needed for a court case…NOT COOL! He was in big trouble that day!

He does much better now, as he gets a serious time out and a scolding when we return to a big mess. He hates not being a part of the pack…Everyone else is having fun, greeting us, and he’s in time out! It’s utter torture to him.

Some dogs wouldn’t care about that so much…It depends upon the dog.

I’ve found a great training course for dog owners to help them curb their dog’s disobedience problems in 30 days or less – You must check it out: Puppy-N-Dog-Secrets.com. It’s from a man that formerly trained dogs for Disney! That’s right! I’d say he definitely knows what he’s talking about!

Most dogs have a vice that they’d love to get into trouble with, but for the most part, they love their humans much more and respect them to the point that it deters them from misbehaving.

Please, have your puppy trained, or train your old dogs some new tricks…It will make your lives together so much more fulfilling!

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I hope you enjoyed this Dog Training post on Terrier Lover! Until next time…

Love Your Terrier,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Please be sure to Subscribe to this Blog.

Technorati Tags: dog training, puppy training, dog behavior, training, terrier training

One of the 1st things owners teach their puppies is not to “do their business” in the house.

One very effective method, the one used by most breeders and trainers, is crate training.

Not only can you house-train a puppy using a crate, when it is used correctly, the dog naturally learns to look upon it as its den.

The puppy will seek out the crate when it wishes to rest and not be disturbed.

The crate’s success as a house-training tool is simple:
Puppies will not soil their sleeping area if they can possibly avoid it, but remember, a puppy needs time to play.

Use the crate when you can’t watch your puppy, but don’t overuse it!

Crates come in different sizes and styles. Choose one that will be large enough for an adult dog of your puppy’s terrier breed to lie down, stand up and turn around in with ease.

Many breeders use fiberglass airline crates. Avoid those with zinc nuts and bolts; they can poison a dog if swallowed. Wire crates work well and are fairly portable.

Put the crate in a location close to other family members to lessen the puppy’s anxieties. Move the crate from the kitchen or family room to the bedroom at night, so your puppy will feel like a part of its new family.

Remove the puppy’s collar before it goes into its crate. Then, Read the rest of this entry »

My very first dog, when I was 3 or 4 years old, was named “Fluff”, and he was a male Yorkshire Terrier.

He was cute as a button!

However, we had to give him away to another loving family because he was not fond of my father. Fluff did not like my father near him or anyone else in the family. He would growl, snarl and snap at him.

Everything we tried did not help. It was obviously not the right dog for us, as he did not bond with my father.

We were beginners in dog ownership, and obviously did not take the right steps toward behavior modification and Yorkshire terrier training. I missed my little Fluff!

Don’t let this happen to you! Train Your Yorkshire Terrier – regardless of age…with the Amazing Secrets in the:

Train Your Yorkshire Terrier Manual

Train your Yorkie, so that you can have an enjoyable and pleasant relationship with them!

Our little “Fluff” not only was protective from my father, but he would bark incessantly, make messes everywhere, and chew everything in sight! Basically, he was doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, and ruling our home…

Now, You can train your pooch, and you can do it quickly and easily using the Yorkshire terrier training manual!

Let me know how it works by Commenting in the Comment Box below!

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I hope you enjoyed this Terrier Training post on Terrier Lover! Until next time…

Love Your Terrier,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Be sure to get your 2009 Yorkshire Terrier calendar before all the cute ones are gone:

Yorkshire Terrier 2009 Wall Calendar Yorkshire Terrier Wall Calendar: The humorous photos in this wall calendar feature Artlist International’s famous Fish-eye style, which captures and enhances the dogs’ lively expressions to the fullest. Every calendar is printed on thick, high-quality paper. $14.99

Technorati Tags: Yorkshire terrier, Yorkie terrier, Yorkie, terrier, terrier training, dog training, terrier breed

I’ve been asked a lot of questions about training for Boston Terriers.

Apparently, many owners are finding that their pooches are barking with ear-piercing frequency, turning in circles, jumping up on people visiting, etc.

It can be difficult when guests come over, and it can also be downright embarrassing when your dog misbehaves.

However, we all know how much you truly love your Boston…You just need a simple set of guidelines to train them to behave…

It can be done and supposedly, can be done overnight! I’ve found this extremely helpful, if not life-changing, training specifically for Boston terriers.

Of course, it’s always better to start training your Boston terrier when they are puppies, but that doesn’t mean you can’t teach an old dog new tricks…You can train your pooch at any age!

That’s good to know, as the average age of a Boston terrier is 13 years old.

If you REALLY need to change your dog’s ways, or are looking to start off on the right foot with a Boston puppy, check out the AMAZING Secrets of the:

Boston Terrier Training Manual

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I hope you find this Boston Terrier post helpful on Terrier Lover! Until next time…

Love Your Terrier,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Check out this ridiculously adorable Boston Terrier keepsake box…We all know God Created them and was pleased:

Creation of a Boston Keepsake Box Adapted from Creation of Man by Michelangelo to include a Boston Terrier $29.99

Technorati Tags: Boston terrier, terrier training, dog training, Boston terrier training, terrier behavior

Terrier Newsflash:
That’s what I said…

My mother was watching television tonight and happened upon some news station from Toronto, CP24.com, and they had a dog expert on.

She said that a Tennis Ball is the worst toy you could give your dog because the fibers on the ball act as a nail file/emery board on their teeth.

It will wear down their teeth, and could make them sensitive and likely more apt to becoming infected. Mouth Hygiene and health are major determiners of a dog’s lifespan.

Well, I wanted to share this with you before you toss that tennis ball one more time.

Just find a different ball without those pesky fibers on them. Your dog will thank you!

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I hope you enjoyed this Terrier Health post on Terrier Lover! Until next time…

Love Your Terrier,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Need a new dog ball? Is your dog as rough with their toys as my dogs? Why not try a dog ball like this one? It is solid rubber and is made for those tough pooches:

Ruff Toys 2 1/2″ Solid Rubber Play Ball Dog Toy (2.5″ Diameter; Ball) Usually Leaves Warehouse the Next Business Day 2 1/2″ ball will bowl over your bowser! Solid rubber dog toy stands up to hours of aggressive play. Durable toy is made of nontoxic materials and colors.

Technorati Tags: tennis ball, dog toys, toys, dog ball, dog health, dog products, animal products, pet toys, pet products

Terrier Newsflash:

I would like to share a video with you that was “stumbled” to me from a friend, kelliannie…

It is a wonderful and fun video showing 2 of the American pitbull terriers that were rescued from the whole “Michael Vick Dog Fighting Ring”, and how they are doing today. Very encouraging!

I can’t embed it on my blog, so I can only give you a link for it…

It is well worth the watch! Click on the Photo Above or Go to the Link Below:

Pitties of the Roundtable Chapter 1 -
Meeting Some Vicktory Dogs

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Many shelters still automatically put these dogs down. That’s too bad…Are we showing prejudice and lack of understanding?

I hope you enjoyed this video brought to you by Terrier Lover! Until next time…

Love Your Terrier,

Kimberly Edwards

P.S. Add me as a friend on Stumble Upon!

Technorati Tags: American pitbull terrier, pitbull terrier, pitbull, pitbull rescue, Michael Vick dog fighting, dog fighting, dog rescue

The Answer:
Yes, absolutely…with a properly socialized terrier you can!

Photo left: Kurious & Kokonut

Terriers, by breeding, are hunters. Most terrier breeds were used to root out vermin and pests, and assist in hunting fox, weasel, otter, badger, etc…Our 5 terriers are great little hunters and still have great instinct. They love chasing squirrels, birds, bugs…anything that moves in our backyard.

Knowing this, you would think that having a small exotic animal as a pet would be out of the question around your terriers…Well, let me tell you from experience that it is possible.

I know, I know…You’re thinking that a hedgehog has quills and can protect itself and deter a terrier from attacking. In part, this is correct. However, at no time whatsoever have any of our 5 terriers wanted to attack our African pygmy hedgehog.

If you properly Read the rest of this entry »

The answer to this question:

Absolutely…YES!!!

Knowing that this breed of terrier has been bred for their sheer size and strength, they have been known to be a prime breed for use in the dog fighting arena…However, the dogs used in the dog fighting arena have been socialized to be aggressive and brutal…

Photos: My friend, Amanda’s Pit Bull Terrier Puppy, “White Boy”

As with any of the dog breeds, the perfect situation would be to adopt the pit bull terrier as a puppy, as soon as it is safe to separate the puppy from the mother health-wise, so they can truly bond to you and your family as a unit. This will also ensure that you can socialize the puppy properly around other people, children and animals. It wouldn’t even be a bad idea to meet and visit the puppy before it is separated from it’s mother to start this bond off right.

Pit Bull terrier puppies are very loving, loyal and intelligent, when the time is put in to training your pit bull. Adopting a pit bull into your life can be a very joyful and rewarding experience. Here are some very important facts and suggestions to train your pit bull the right way.

“A person’s perception is their reality…” ~ Unknown

This quote is so true. For many folks, just knowing that your pit bull terrier has been socialized as a puppy by a loving family will ease their mind around the dog…This may alleviate complaints of your puppy and may allow people to be less fearful around your pit bull terrier, which by the way, dogs can sense and could play up on…

People are more apt to want to help you socialize your puppy by petting, holding, snuggling and playing with the Pit Bull Puppies because people are not particularly afraid of puppies…

…Even one of my miniature schnauzers really plays off of people’s fear…She senses a person’s heightened emotion, and herself gets into a heightened mode of protection of our family. It’s basic “fight or flight” instinct.

Puppies, especially breeds known to be somewhat aggressive, should be handled regularly, and should have a caregiver most of the day. Pit bull puppies should be pet and touched all over their faces, ears, feet and belly, so it is not a surprise when a stranger or a veterinarian makes an effort to handle them.

It is also an important exercise to handle their toys and food often, to ensure they are not possessive and get angry or protective of their food and toys. I suggest with more aggressive breeds, to keep food out on a regular basis, instead of scheduled feedings, as this will allow them to feel as though they have no reason to “protect” the food as it is always supplied.

My Motto: “It’s all in the way you bring up your puppy. If you are calm, cool and collected, your dog will be too. If you and your family act like crazy people, guess what your dog will be like…” ~ Kimberly Edwards ;D

It is very important to make sure your pit bull terrier knows that you are in charge at ALL times! They must obey your commands, so training your pit bull puppy is very important to begin early using rewards for good behavior, and being stern and firm when they do not obey your commands.

It is also important to maintain a hierarchy in the household, as dogs understand this in their packs. You are the master/s, and they must know where they are in the “food chain”, so to speak. Children must be assertive and as the parent of the puppy, you must make it known how important your children and other pets are in the household. Your dog will react accordingly in the chain of command.

I am not even against recommending that you allow your dog to sleep in your room or at the end of the bed with you, so that they know how important they are to you, and they can really bond with you, as they would in their packs.

* Important Note: Many Pit Bull Terrier puppy owners spend the intensive time bonding and training them, as recommended above. This being said, Pit Bull Terriers are especially prone to separation anxiety, as when they grow up, the intensive bonding and training tapers off. They are known to misunderstand this pulling away from them, as people’s lives get busy and feel that their job is mostly done training their pit bull.

If you cannot continue to devote time to this kind of pit bull puppy care, this may not be the right breed of dog for you. Many other terrier breeds are more independent. When adopting a pit bull terrier, know that their average lifespan is 12 years and this is a serious commitment to make, similar to a child.

I hope these tips and tricks on socializing and training a pit bull terrier puppy are helpful and allow you to build a wonderful bond and relationship with your puppy.

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I hope you enjoyed this installment of Terrier Lover! Until next time…

Love Your Terrier,

Kimberly Edwards ;D

P.S. Get updates to this blog by subscribing at the top of this page.

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