Dog Care Basics Chapter 1 Flashcards

General Conduct in the Playroom

• Enter playroom confidently with head held high.
• Open-toed shoes and dangling jewelry are safety hazards when working with dogs.
• Essential items to carry into group settings: slip lead, treat pouch, and walkie-talkie.

Dog Behavior and Training

• Daycare is not the best place for an aggressive dog to learn to play nicely.
• Desensitizing involves exposing a dog to stimuli at low intensity to minimize future emotional responses.
• Dogs learn effectively through repetition and consistency in training.

Body Language and Commands

• Body blocking, used to keep dogs out of no-entry zones, should be done with legs and lower body—not hands.
• To stop a dog from barking during play, use the command "that's enough.”
• When calling a dog, always follow the name with a command for clarity.

Commands and Signals

• Hand signal for "sit" is an open palm facing up.
• Command for a dog jumping on you is "off."
• Place slip lead high on the neck, just behind the ears.

Providing Treats

• If you drop a treat, step on it to prevent resource guarding.
• Dogs can resource guard items like crates, handlers, treats, toys, or water.
• To avoid resource guarding when giving treats, say the dog’s name before offering the treat clearly.

Use of Commands and Responses

• The word "yes" indicates correct behavior in dogs.
• Keep treat pouch closed until needed for safety.
• Intervene when a dog barks in another dog's face by giving a timeout or redirecting to another activity.

Dog Management

• Aroused dogs should be leashed and separated for safety.
• Everyone should report if they witness a dog fight.
• Even if dogs understand corrections, monitoring their interactions is essential.

Injuries and Emergencies

• A wound can begin bleeding within 30 minutes.
• Situations that may lead to fights include leash entering, zoomies, and misunderstandings around corrections.
• Dog-to-dog corrections may involve snapping, growling, barking, and showing teeth.

Entering and Managing Dog Groups

• Safest way to enter a room with a dog is to have them on a leash while investigating.
• A scuffle typically involves dogs separating on their own; a fight does not.
• If traditional methods don't work to separate fighting dogs, grab the rear legs to separate them effectively.

Puppy Development and Training

• Focus on quality rather than quantity when puppies enter group settings.
• Allowing rough play may create unsafe energy in the room.
• Puppy stages last from birth to six months; unlimited socialization is crucial during this time.

Behavioral Management

• Patience and consistency are key to helping adolescent dogs through their training challenges.
• Reward puppies consistently for good behavior to reinforce positive actions.
• First rotation on the puppy schedule is group sit without recall on the slip lead.

Managing Rough Play

• Redirect dogs to different activities to interrupt rough play, swapping them as needed.
• Rough play can appear balanced; however, dogs struggling with corrections may become confused.
• Most behavioral issues in puppies manifest between six to twelve weeks of age.

Adolescent Phase

• The adolescent period starts around six months of age, contributing to behavioral changes.
• Balanced play features equal enjoyment for both dogs; imbalanced play favors one dog over the other.

Techniques to Enhance Control

• Standing on a dog may help them relax and gain impulse control.
• The wait command at the gate allows dogs to pass the line but restricts them from going further.
• For advanced wait at the gate, jiggling the gate throughout the day reinforces boundaries.

Using a Head Halter

• Reward dogs quickly when first putting on a head halter to create positive associations.
• End head halter sessions on a positive note to foster a favorable experience.
• The command "place" helps teach self-control and reinforces a calm state of mind.

Test your knowledge on essential dog care principles with these flashcards from Chapter 1. Learn the crucial practices for safely interacting with dogs and the appropriate equipment to carry. Perfect for anyone in dog training or animal care courses.