Dog Training For Kids

Tuesday, May 31, 2022

 
If you’ve decided that you’re ready for a family dog, it’s important to teach children how to appropriately and safely interact with dogs. Children can learn how to use positive, reward-based training methods, which will build a better bond between the child and the child, and make sure your kids don’t accidentally interfere with your training. Learning to train a dog teaches kids how to be compassionate educators and how to interact with dogs in an appropriate and positive way. This will help to build confidence for both your kids and dogs.

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Key Takeways

Children are at high risk of dog bites, but teaching your children to read dof body language can help to keep them safe.

You will need a few key tools, such as a clicker and some treats, to get your kids started with a training program, but you don’t need to spend much money.

With practice and patience, you can teach your kids how to train your dog to perform some simple tricks and behavious, like sit and stay, as well as some complex tricks.

Why Is Dog Training For Kids Important?

Children and dogs can build wonderful bonds. The moment that a new puppy enters the family can be one of the happiest memories for kids. However, there are some disturbing statistics on dog bites in the USA, especially when it comes to dogs biting children.

In the year 1996 to 1997, 4.7 million Americans suffered a dog bite

During that year, 25 people died as a result of a dog bite or attack

805 of the dog bite fatality victims that year were children

Dog bites are one of the most frequent causes of visits to emergency rooms for children, which shows how important it is to keep children safe around dogs.

Luckily, teaching children about dog training can go a long way to counter these frightening statistics, along with active supervision from you, proper puppy socialization, and teaching children about dog body language. It’s also important to keep in mind that training your dog will always be most successful if the whole family gets involved.

Children are naturally good dog trainers and can do an excellent job with a bit of guidance. Teaching positive training techniques will encourage them to learn how to interact properly with your dog, and other animals, without using any kind of fear, force, pain, or intimidation.

What Do You Need To Start?

You don’t need much to get started with teaching your children how to train dogs in a positive, reward-based manner.

You might need:

A leash with a harness or collar. You need to make sure your dog stays safe and under your control, if you are training outdoors, so buy a good leash and a harness or collar. Harnesses can offer more control over stronger breeds.

Clicker. Clickers are cheap and they are very easy tools for the whole family to use in training. Kids love using clickers and will catch on to how to use them quickly.

Treats. When your dog is learning something new, make sure that you use high-value training treats to make the payoff match the effort your dog is putting in.

Treat pouch. A good dog treat pouch makes it easier to keep treats ready during training sessions.

Training whistle. This can be helpful for teaching some behaviors, such as recall.

You might also want some extra props for teaching some specific behaviors and tricks, such as:

Training mat

Target stick

Obstacles like hoops, platforms, or jumps

The Basics

There are a few steps to follow to get your kids ready to teach your dog some new skills and tricks. If you’re not sure how to train a dog yourself, you can all go together to a dog training class to start learning some training skills. If you’re teaching your kids at home, here’s how to get started:

Introduce the clicker to your dog and children. The clicker needs to mean something to your dog and your child needs to learn how to use it. After every click, have them give the dog a treat. Tossing the treat, rather than directly handing it over is a safer way to keep their fingers out of the way.

Teach your kids about positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement just means rewarding the behavior you want by clicking the clicker at the moment your dog performs the behavior and tossing the treat.

Teach your kids how to get the dog to perform a behavior. The two main ways to do this are either by capturing, where you wait for the behavior to be offered, or luring, where you use a treat in the hand to guide your dog into a position. These are both effective techniques that don’t need many steps.

Add in a cue word. Now you want to pair the new behavior your dog has learned to do with the cue word, which is the word used to request the behavior.

Cue the behavior. This is the end product, where anyone can say the cue word and have the dog perform the desired action.

This approach is hands-off and makes learning fun for both the dog and your child. It also teaches your child that there are no negative consequences for wrong answers, but plenty of rewards for the right ones.

If your child is under the age of six, you can use the clicker team approach. They click and you toss the treat, or the other way round. This way, your child will always be supervised and you know they are being kind and fair in their training.

Tips and Tricks

The most important thing is to make sure that young children are always supervised when they are with your dog, no matter how sweet, docile, or predictable you think your dog is. Don’t take the risk.

To make learning fun for both your kids and the dog, and make sure they are successful, here are a few tips to make training go smoothly.

Demonstrate how to use the clicker, how to toss a treat, and what the behavior might look like before you start training sessions.

Have your children practice with the clicker before your dog is present. This will help them to understand the timing and how it’s done. For example, have them click and toss a treat every time you say the word ‘abracadabra’.

Find a place where there is plenty of space with no distractions, and where you can supervise the training sessions.

Make sure everyone in the family uses the same cue word. It will be confusing for the dog if you say ‘down’ and your child says ‘lay down’ for the same behavior. Decide on the cue word as a family and all use the same one.

Teach your kids about the importance of enrichment and have them help you when preparing some fun dog puzzle games and toys stuffed with treats. They might even come up with some good ideas themselves!

Take walks together. Young children should never hold the leash unless you are also holding it. This is for their safety, as much as the dog’s.

When practicing your dog’s recall command, have your child in one part of the house while you’re in another, and you can both practice calling the dog back and forth between rooms or in the yard.

As your child gets better at training, ask them to find one new behavior or trick to work on every two weeks.



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How To Organize Photos

Monday, May 30, 2022

 


 Photos have so many memories connected to them but the problem is, over the course of our lifetime, we will accumulate so many and then going to find the one you want can take forever so today I'm giving you some advice on how to organize photos whether it's digital or printed ones. 



The Practical Elements That Make Your Garden Look Great

Friday, May 27, 2022

 

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The garden is an important part of a home. It provides a space for families and friends to gather and relax in the outdoors. The garden can also be used as a way to connect with nature and take in all the beauty that is around us. You’ve been there. You have a beautiful garden that you have spent hours on and you just want to see it in the best light. So, you spend hours in your front yard trying to get it perfect. But, what really makes your garden look great?
 
The Importance of Planting the Right Trees in Your Landscape

A garden is not just a space for plants, but it is also a space for people to enjoy, relax and socialize. So, the first step in designing a garden is to select the right trees for the space. Trees should be selected based on their size and shape, as well as their location in relation to your home or garden. They should be chosen based on what they will offer you - shade, privacy, cooling or protection from wind.

If you want to create a small backyard garden that offers privacy and shade, you can plant deciduous trees like maple or birch. If you want to create a large-scale landscape with an abundance of greenery and flowers that are suitable for any season, you can plant evergreen trees like pine or cedar.
 
The Hard Landscaping You Need to Work in

Hard landscaping is a popular trend in the world of home design and gardening. It is also a trend that many people are hesitant to try, especially when it comes to fencing, with someone such as DFW Fence Contractor, paving, and decking. The main reason why people are hesitant to try hard landscaping is that it can be expensive and time-consuming. However, with the right tools and tips, you can have an aesthetically pleasing hard landscaped area without breaking the bank or taking up too much of your time.
 
Tips on Choosing Your Plants and Setting Up Your Garden

Planting your garden is not as easy as it sounds. There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing which plants to put in your garden. Below are some tips on how to choose plants for your garden and how to put them in your garden.

- Choose plants that will grow well in the space you have. You don't want them to die because they can't get enough sunlight or water.

- Consider the type of soil you have available for the plants you want to plant, and choose accordingly. If you have clay soil, try planting a variety of plants with different textures; if you have sandy soil, try planting a variety of succulents; if your soil is rich, try planting herbs or flowers with deep roots so they can take up more nutrients from the ground.



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The Causes of Hair Loss and How to Cope

 
Hair loss is one of the most common hair problems you can go through and can be a traumatic experience. It mainly affects older men, but anyone can lose their hair for a variety of reasons. Even women and young men can find that their hair is thinning and patchy.

They say that knowing your enemy is half the battle, and the same is true for hair loss. Knowing what’s causing your hair loss can help you to cope and, in some situations, even reverse the process. Here are some common causes of hair loss and how you can deal with them.

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The Natural Aging Process

Unfortunately, age comes to us all. Men and women can both lose their hair as they get older, and some men even undergo male pattern balding at a relatively young age. Some people will only find that their hair gets a bit thinner, while others will experience more extreme hair loss.

Men tend to lose hair on the crowns of their heads and at their hairline first, so you will see the classic receding hairline before anything else becomes obvious. Women will likely notice their parting becoming wider as they lose hair there and around the crowns of their heads. Both will also experience general hair thinning.

This process isn’t reversible. The best thing that you can do is to look after your hair in the meantime to slow its progression. You can also undergo robotic hair transplantation, which can graft healthy head hair onto balding areas.
 
Autoimmune or Skin Conditions

When people think of hair loss being caused by an illness, they may immediately think of cancer. Cancer doesn’t directly cause hair loss, but the harsh treatments can cause many patients to lose their hair. However, some other illnesses and conditions do result in hair loss.

Alopecia is an autoimmune condition that can result in hair loss all over the body. It can cause bald patches, discoloration, or even result in complete hair loss on the head and body. Alopecia is usually permanent, and many people shave their hair entirely or take to wearing wigs.

Some skin conditions or other autoimmune disorders can cause hair loss, as can certain parasites like ringworm. In these cases, treating the underlying condition can stop the hair loss and even cause your hair to grow back. This is especially common in skin conditions. Scarring can also cause hair loss, as your hair can’t grow through scar tissue. This is permanent.
 
Physical or Emotional Stress

If you’ve been seriously ill or undergone extreme hormonal changes, your hair may suddenly start going thin. This is common in women who have recently given birth. After a few months, your hair will recover from the stress and grow back.

Hair loss can also occur in times of extreme emotional stress. The loss of a loved one or prolonged stress in your life may cause your hair to go thin, sometimes compounding the issue. The good news is that this is also temporary. Once the stress is gone, your hair will recover.


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It's Time to Reboot Your Kitchen

Saturday, May 21, 2022

 

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They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home for good reason. Each of us spends a fair amount of time in this space each day preparing meals, be that breakfast, lunch or dinner. It’s where we cook. It’s where we prepare packed lunches. It’s where we spend time chatting and bonding with family while we make food, or it’s where people often gather when you’re entertaining at home. Of course, you’re going to want to make sure that your kitchen is the best that it can possibly be on all levels - practical, aesthetically pleasing and comfortable. The best way to achieve this? Carrying out kitchen renovations. Here are some options to focus on!

Worktops or Countertops

Whether you call it a worktop or a countertop, this is a space where you’ll do most of your food preparation. There are countless reasons to change your current countertop. Perhaps it’s a little damaged. Maybe it’s worn down. Maybe you just want something that looks different or is an upgrade in terms of quality. Take measurements and browse a range of countertops. If one ticks your boxes, see if it can be cut to size for you.

Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are essential for a practical and tidy kitchen space. They provide you with room to store all of your belongings and ingredients, ready for making delicious meals. Browse kitchen cabinets near me and see which suit the style of your kitchen space. You could have something plain or a statement colour or pattern that really makes them stand out. Of course, it’s always best to have your cabinets fitted by a professional, especially if you’re going to be filling them with lots or heavier items.

Pantry

Have you ever considered dedicating part of your kitchen to a pantry. A few walls could create one for you and this could serve as a great, dedicated space to store more food away. Baking ingredients, pastas, rices and other dry goods and tinned goods tend to do really well in these spaces. You may even want to store non food based items in here, such as kitchen tools, small appliances and more.

Specialist Appliances

There are all sorts of specialist appliances that you can have added to your kitchen when you redesign it. It’s good to consider your individual needs and what would be beneficial to you on a day to day basis. For example, if you like wine with dinner, a wine fridge could be a great addition to the space that would genuinely get a lot of use.

Light

This isn’t something that people generally consider when talking about kitchens, but good lighting benefit every part of any home. Often, kitchens can be dim. Instead, consider whether a sky light or extra windows could be fitted. This is a big project but it will generally pay off.

Hopefully, some of the ideas provided above will spark your imagination and help you to experience the best renovation projects possible when it comes to vamping up your kitchen. Look further into a few and fit them into your plans!

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3 Ways To Make A House Feel Like Home

Friday, May 20, 2022


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When you’ve finally bought your first home, you’ll be relieved, delighted, and more relaxed, especially once you’ve moved in. You could find that it feels more like a house than properly being yours, however. That’s not an uncommon feeling, and you could find yourself wondering how to make a house feel like a home.

You might need to do more than simply move your belongings in. It doesn’t need to be complicated, as taking a few particular steps can make more of a difference than you’d expect.
How To Make A House Feel Like Home: 3 Things To Do
 
1. Get Any Repairs Done

When you first move into a home, it’s not uncommon to find a few things that need to be updated or fixed. Addressing these quickly can help you feel more like the house is yours. That makes it worth looking for any issues that need to be addressed.

While the likes of ceiling repair, addressing plumbing issues, and more can seem expensive, they’ll prevent a host of issues in the long-term. It’ll also make you more invested in the property, both financially and emotionally, which helps make it feel more like home.
 
2. Adopt A Pet

Home is where you can love and be loved, and what better way to increase the love in your home than by adopting a pet? Going to your local shelter and adopting from them can be highly recommended compared to buying a puppy from a farm.

Not only will you get a pet that loves you as much as the other, but you could find that an adopted pet will show its affection much more. You’ll also avoid any of the ethical complaints associated with puppy farms and similar concerns.

When you get back home from work, your pet will often be the first greeting you get and show you it’s love. You’ll make your house feel like home faster than you’d think with this.
 
3. Have Things That Remind You Of Your Childhood Home

For many people, their childhood home is the epitome of comfort. It’s associated with feelings that they’ll often want to replicate in their forever home. There are more than a few ways that you can do this, with the most notable being to have belongings that remind you of your childhood home.

These can be as small or as large as you’d like. As long as they remind you of your childhood home, they can be more than suitable. Anything that provides a sense of childhood warmth comes well-recommended.

It could be worth having one or two of these belongings in each room. By doing so, you’ll not only make your home feel like home, but you can make the room more visually-appealing. As small as this seems, it works wonders.
 
How To Make A House Feel Like Home: Wrapping Up

Once you know how to make a house feel like a home, you’ll start feeling more comfortable while you’re there. While this could take a bit of time, there shouldn’t be anything stopping you from making your home feel like home.



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Common Traits Of Self-Confident People

Thursday, May 19, 2022


Have you ever wondered why some people’s presence seems to capture the room? They walk in and carry an aurora of attractiveness - without doing much! That's the power of self-confidence. Many people falsely associate self-confidence with arrogance - being selfish and pompous. While this may be the case with some overconfident people, being self-confident is certainly a more desirable trait - making such people an ideal choice for romantic partners, business partners, and friends. So what are some common traits of self-confidence? Here are some things to consider.

Positive self-image

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Insecurities are a normal part of life. They only become problematic when they consume you. The major insecurity many people deal with is their outward appearance. This insecurity has led many to take drastic measures to be socially accepted or conform to society's definition of the right self-image. Furthermore, this has caused many to find self-worth in other things, such as relationships and social media followers, not themselves. It has also led to people feeling more depressed and unhappy, carrying negative self-images. The truth is if you are not proud of what you look like, who would?

People with self-confidence maintain a positive self-image. They do so by investing in themselves in ways they are proud of! Rather than conforming to what society says, this group of people does things that make them feel good about themselves. For example, after exercising to lose unhealthy weight, they may take the next step of getting surgery for better fat transfer BBL results. Doing this would make them feel more comfortable and confident in their skin!

Non-judgemental

It is never pleasant being around someone who has to bring someone else down to feel good about themselves. Such people are deemed as insecure and quite mean. The opposite is found in the presence of people who have high levels of self-confidence. A unique trait in confident people is their reluctance to judge a book by its cover. They prefer looking at people in a way that highlights how their differences make them special and understand that each person may have something different to offer. Therefore, instead of unhealthily competing with others, they are open to embracing differences and getting along harmoniously. This makes them a delight to be around and a bright light of positivity that makes everyone attracted to them, so keep this in mind.

They are not "yes men"

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Being easily swayed into doing this, you do not enjoy or against what you believe may give you the impression you are likable. But that's far from the truth. The more reluctant you are to say "no," the more miserable you would be, as you're likely to express negative effects such as stress, depression, and burnout. Additionally, being a "yes man" turns people away as you create a picture of being a people-pleaser or not self-aware. However, saying "no" all the time can make you difficult to work with or form a relationship with. Self-confident people can draw a healthy balance.

When you are self-confident, you know what you want and say what you mean. This means you are unlikely to take on responsibilities you are not ready for or agree to things that go against your belief. You are also comfortable giving your opinion and ready to accept you're wrong— or defend yourself. These qualities attract people to you as they know you are real in your interactions and wouldn't do just anything to be liked, so keep this in mind.

Knowledgeable and outspoken

Imagine talking about something you know little to nothing about. It would be difficult holding a conversation on that topic, wouldn't it? People can usually tell when you don't know what you are about, so it can be challenging to get them to listen to your go on about something with false or no information. So, what makes confident people so different? Self-confident people know what they know and are not afraid to admit to things they don't know. In a conversation, a confident person is not embarrassed to be corrected but instead would accept it with appreciation.

You can be outspoken once you are knowledgeable, so keep this in mind. You can confidently give out information, state facts, or participate in a discussion of a given topic. It also enables you to speak with conviction and win over people.

They are not attention-seekers

It is a common misconception that self-confident people always try to get attention from people. Attention-seekers tend to do anything to be the star of the room— from being unnecessarily loud or trying too hard to stand out. In contrast, confident people quickly diffuse the attention they are given. They understand that they stand out by simply being themselves. Therefore, they wouldn't see the need to attract attention themselves.

Great communicators

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Communication is key in every relationship, be it romantic or business. Speaking and listening are the essential components of effective communication. Being able to say what you must in a way that can be understood and processed ensures that you receive the right feedback. Likewise, listening to what others have to say makes them feel valued and enables you to give the right and corresponding response, so keep this in mind.

When you are confident, you can properly balance these two communication elements regardless of the preferred medium. As confident people are knowledgeable, they can communicate information concisely. They also pay attention to other forms of non-verbal communication cues, such as body language and eye contact. They also speak with certainty and conviction, leaving little room for doubt or confusion. Additionally, they are great listeners and are usually more interested in interactions than what interactions bring to them. For example, at a career networking event, the average person may have the aim of getting a few contact information details from participants. A confident person is interested in knowing more about the person and their time interacting. Therefore, they actively listen and are engaged in conversation— which is a quality everyone enjoys.




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8 Steps To Feeling Better About Yourself & Your Looks

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

 

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Your appearance can make you feel a certain way about yourself, either good or bad. Regardless of the details and how you look exactly, it’s important that you feel good in your own skin and are confident. It’s going to help you along in life and you’ll find you achieve more and get more done when you’re in a good place about how you feel about yourself and your looks.

It’s normal to struggle in this area or to doubt yourself once in a while. However, it’s not healthy to get too caught up in it or it might start to drag you down. Instead, take a different approach and remain positive about what you can change and what you do like. Here are eight steps to feeling better about yourself and your looks so you can be happy and thrive.
 
1. Groom Yourself Daily & Update Your Wardrobe

Feel better about yourself and your looks by updating your wardrobe and getting rid of unflattering clothing. Enhance your style and fashion so that you feel confident and are putting your best foot forward each day. Clear out your closet so that it only includes items that you enjoy wearing and you know look good on you. Also, get in the habit of grooming yourself daily and looking presentable so that you feel more energized. Even if you work from home, it’ll help if you get up and get dressed and ready for the day.
 
2. Change What You Can

Another way to approach this situation is to focus on what you can change and what is in your control to modify or alter. Feel better about yourself and your looks by updating your hair, learning how to apply makeup properly, and eating healthily to stay strong and healthy. If diet and exercise alone can’t get you the appearance you are striving for then consider looking into a mommy makeover the it mom so you can feel more confident and love your looks and body. Although it’s an investment, it’ll be worth it if it helps you love yourself and your life more.
 
3. Follow A Skincare Routine

Take the step of following a skincare routine to feel better about yourself and your looks. You want your skin to be glowing and blemish-free so you must take proper care of it. Get in the habit of washing your face, wearing sunscreen, and investing in quality skincare products that help you achieve more beautiful skin. It’s especially important to love and take good care of your skin during the summer months when you’re exposing it more and showing it off. Your skin will look its best and you’ll have fewer wrinkles and less acne to deal with when you have a skincare routine in place.
 
4. Focus on What You Love About Yourself

Sometimes feeling better about yourself can be as simple as shifting your mindset and thoughts. Focus on what you love about yourself and your looks. Write this information down so that you can review it often and keep it at the forefront of your mind. This way you’ll concentrate less on the problem areas and spend more time experiencing self-love. You’ll be able to boost your confidence, feel more attractive, and not let a few insecurities stop you from being your best self. Set your own realistic and achievable beauty standards and avoid comparing yourself to those that the media and models establish.
 
5. Review Your Inner Qualities

It’s in your best interest to stop making your self-esteem dependent on your looks and outward appearance. You can feel better about yourself and how you look by reviewing your inner qualities and all you have to offer. For example, maybe you have a caring heart, are good about giving back to your community, or have special talents to offer. Change the narrative so that not everything you think about has to do with your looks. The more importance you put on your looks and being perfect, the greater chance you have of feeling unhappy and unsettled.
 
6. Practice Self-Care

Self-care is essential to you feeling your best and being happy and secure in your mind and body. You’ll be a better partner, friend, and parent when you take care of your needs first and foremost. Feel better about yourself and your looks by routinely practicing self-care and making time for activities that are good for your health and boost your happiness. For instance, commit to getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, practicing good hygiene, and being social once in a while. You may also want to start and end your day with a quick pep talk and to smile in the mirror so you feel good and can maintain a positive headspace even when you feel a little insecure.
 
7. Exercise

Physical exertion is good for your mental health and self-confidence. You’ll get into better shape this way and can use it as an opportunity to reduce and manage your stress. Feel better about yourself and your looks by toning your muscles and shedding unwanted pounds. You’ll also notice that you feel great mentally after a hard workout. There are so many benefits that come with proper diet and exercise that these to-dos should be on your list even when you begin to love the way you look. Also, concentrate on the gift of being able to move your body instead of being so critical or hard on yourself about how it looks.
 
8. Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

It’s easy to get caught up comparing yourself to others with technology and social media. However, this is only going to make you feel worse and may start to damage your self-esteem. Fill your time in other ways and your mind with other things such as all your unique qualities and features. Take time to disconnect from technology and instead go for a walk in nature and meditate on your insecurities so you can free your mind from them. Review your accomplishments, achievements, and positive attributes, and be proud of yourself for who you are and what you look like.


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