How do I train my Dog to find and search?

In aggressive dog training Fredericksburg, is it possible that your dog will learn how to search just like in the movies? Wouldn’t it be nice if your dog can find things whenever it hears the command words “Go find”? Truth be told, this type of command is quite similar to teaching a dog to find a particular scent. It’s also the same as asking your dog to retrieve a toy.

Even though it’s not your mission to turn your dog into a tracker dog, learning this skill is a huge bonus. Plus, it can make your life easier. One example is when you lose your house keys. If you train your dog with this command, you’ll save time and frustration looking for the keys because your dog will do it for you. Keys are easier to find because you hold them a lot and your scent is on the keys. When your dog is used to finding your shirts or socks, then it’s fairly familiar with your scent. When you say the command words “Go find” it will only be a matter of time before your dog brings you your house keys! See how convenient and practical that is?

Training a dog to search follows the same guidelines as scent tracking. You will identify an object and hide it and then command your dog to find that hidden object. You can do this by letting the dog sniff the object before you hide it or simply show the dog what the object looks like and then hide it.

How To Get Started

First, you’ll need an object for your dog to find. It can be your dog’s favorite toy or an object that has a very strong scent of you. You must also prepare treats to reward your dog especially if it shows patience. So basically you’ll need a favorite toy, a T-shirt that you wore the night before or a shirt that has your scent on it, a collar and a leash, and someone to hold your dog. The trick is to turn this into a game so that your dog will think that it’s playtime instead of training.

You must introduce the name of the object to your dog so when you command your dog to find it, all you need to do is to add the name of the object after the command words so your dog will know what to look for. This isn’t necessary if you let the dog search by scent.

One of the most popular methods used in this type of training is the Favorite Toy Method.

In this method, you need your dog’s favorite toy and ask your dog to find it. Again, your dog must know the exact name of that toy like “ball” or “bone”. The next step is to arouse your dog’s interest by letting your dog play with the toy. You can then ask your friend to hold the collar or tie the leash to a stable stand so that your dog can’t follow you. The next is to hide the toy. Once the toy is hidden, you can then say the command words “Go Find”. Instruct your friend to release the dog and it will go sniff around to find the toy. Say the command in a jubilant voice. If the dog seems confused, you may add the name of the toy. If your dog doesn’t get it the first time, you may show your dog where you hid the toy and then once he retrieves it, give your dog the treat. Repeat the process over and over until your dog masters it.

This training is easy and will make your dog think it’s a game, which makes it all the more fun. However, we suggest that you teach your dog basic commands first like Stay and Sit so it would be easier and it won’t get distracted.

Nick White is the owner of Off Leash K9 Training. He has over 80 dog training franchise locations throughout the United States. He currently hosts the A&E show, America's Top Dog.

What Should I Do Before Visiting My Dentist?

Why is dentistry a big deal? Have you ever wondered why the American Dental Association recommends we visit our dentist at least once every six months? With our without oral health problems, regular dental visits are a must. A simple explanation for this is your oral health contributed profoundly to your social, physical, mental, and emotional health. When something is wrong with your mouth, it will affect the rest of your body.

Maintaining proper oral health is a lifelong commitment. You don’t just do it while you’re young, you do it for the rest of your life. Brushing and flossing are the mainstays of oral care but so does routine dental visits. If you are scheduled for a dental appointment any time soon, it’s best if you come prepared. Here are a few things you need to know before your dental appointment.

#1 Find a Reliable and Experienced Dentist

The first step towards achieving optimum dental health is to find a good dentist. Good dentists must possess exceptional communication skills so they can help ease your anxiety. Most if not all first-time patients are anxious to visit the dentist.

If your dentist knows how to communicate well, you’ll be able to understand the basics of preventive dental care and learn about the various dental treatments needed for your case. Good communication skills also help establish a long-term partnership with your dentist.

#2 Confirm Your Booking Appointment

Once you’ve found a dentist, call the office to book an appointment. Confirm the time and date for your visit. We recommend you show up at least fifteen to thirty minutes early.

#3 Inform Your Dentist About Your Dental History

If you had a different dentist in the past, it would be best if you’d ask for copies of your dental records so you can present them to your new dentist. These records are crucial as they help give insight into your dental health. This will allow your dentist to gain a deeper understanding of your condition.

#4 Let Your Dentist Know Your Medications

Also, keep a list of all the medications you took and are currently taking including their names and dosage as well as the frequency. Your dentist needs to know these things as well.

#5 Ask Your Dentist Questions

Don’t be ashamed to ask questions. For example, if you booked an appointment because you were experiencing tooth pain and you want to know why it happened, how can you prevent it from happening again in the future and what treatment options you have, go ahead and ask. Your dentist will gladly answer all these questions for you.

You may also do your research beforehand so you can ask questions and verify the answers. Remember, getting answers directly from your dentist is what matters. Don’t be misled with what you read online unless they come from credible websites.

#6 Avoid Drinking Coffee Before Your Appointment

If you are a coffee lover it’s best if you stay away from caffeine before your dental visit. As mentioned, a lot of people are anxious and tensed to see their dentist and if you drink coffee, the anxiety will only intensify.

#7 Never Lie To Your Dentist

Lying is bad, everyone knows that, but lying to your dentist is worse because you’re concealing the problem and making it harder for your dentist to come up with a solution. Let your dentist know the real situation so he or she can evaluate your case properly. Sometimes it can be embarrassing but don’t worry dentists won’t judge. Besides, even if you lie, they’ll still find out sooner or later.

Takeaway

There’s not much to prepare you just have to gather your previous dental records, be honest, have a list of your medications, and just be yourself. You’ll learn a lot from a dental visit aside from receiving treatment.

Who To Call For Your Dental Health Needs

Who do you call when your blood pressure shoots up? Who do you see when your eyes get blurry? What type of doctor do you book an appointment with when you are constantly experiencing abdominal pain? You see, in the medical field you don’t just go to any doctor if you want to get better. Patients who wish to have specific areas in their bodies checked book appointments with medical specialists like a cardiologist, ophthalmologist or a gastroenterologist. Similarly, when you are having problems with your teeth and gums you can actually choose from a wide range of dental health specialists. General dentists from www.philly-dentist.com/ are dental health professionals who are trained to provide basic dental care but if your mouth needs extensive work that requires special consultation then you’ll need a dental health specialist for that.

Dental health specialists like medical specialists underwent additional training and pursued further education apart from their four years in dental school. How will you know what type of dentist to look for? Let’s learn more.

General Dentist – regardless of what your problem is the first person you should see is a general dentist. Your general dentist will evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums, diagnose, treat and provide you with a customized treatment care plan. General dentists also perform dental care services like gum care, teeth cleaning, crowns, filings etc. All general dentists have obtained a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) or DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree.

Endodontist – the area of focus of an endodontist is the dental pulp. Endodontists are known for diagnosing, preventing, and treating dental pulp injuries and diseases. For root canal treatments and other surgical operations concerning your tooth roots, the best person to do contact is an endodontist.

Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologist – your oral and maxillofacial radiologist is a health care provider whose task is to obtain and interpret X-ray images that are necessary in diagnosing, managing and treating maxillofacial and oral disorders and diseases.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon – any type of surgical procedure done in your oral cavity and in the maxillofacial region (mouth, face, jaw) must be performed by a certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. This type of dental health specialist is the person to call when patients suffer from facial injuries. Oral surgeons perform dental implant surgery as well as reconstructive surgery. Examples of the procedures they are known to perform include extraction of impacted teeth, removal of tooth roots, soft tissue biopsies, simple tooth extractions, removal of tumors and jaw realignment surgeries.

Orthodontist – an orthodontist is a dental health care specialist whose primary responsibilities include diagnosing and treating bad bites crowded teeth and misaligned teeth. Your orthodontist is able to correct your bite and straighten your teeth by using orthodontic devices like braces, Invisalign and retainers. These devices once worn will gently move your teeth into their desired position. Orthodontists provide dental health services to both children and adults.

Pediatric Dentists – if the medical field has pediatricians, the dental industry also have pediatric dentists. These are dentists that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of dental health issues in children between ages one year old until early adulthood. Apart from the years they spent in dental school, pediatric dentists are required to undergo two more years in dental school for additional training. These trainings involve treating and managing children’s teeth, behavior and their special needs.

When it comes to dental health issues it is important that you are aware of the existence of dental health specialists. Nonetheless, when you see a general dentist and upon evaluation they believe that your procedure require expert care they will refer you to dental health specialist or if not, they will advise you to see one and you can choose who to contact based on your research or through the recommendations of friends and family.

How To Find A Great Dentist

Your dental health is an important aspect of your overall health. Because of this, it is important that you take proper measures to keep your teeth, tongue, and gums as healthy as possible. There are several ways that you can do this and one important thing you can do is visit a dentist on a regular basis. This means that you will want to have a dentist that you are comfortable with. If you are looking for a great dentist you can visit regularly. There are some different ways that you can go about finding one.

One thing that you can do is talk to friends and family members about the dentist that they use. You can ask them questions about their experiences and find out if their dentist may be a good fit for you.

Another option is to look online for area dentists. A quick search will bring up the dental offices in your area and you can learn about the dentists this way, too. Also, while you are online, you can read any reviews you find about local dentists.

Once you find a dentist that you want to make an appointment with, you can contact them and set up an exam to learn about the health of your mouth.