| How to Teach Your Dog to Drop It Posted: 13 Oct 2020 05:00 PM PDT It can be really frustrating when your dog gets possessive of an object, especially if it's gotten into something dangerous and won't let go. Training your dog to release an item on command is essential to keep your dog safe and prevent it from developing more aggressive protective behaviors like guarding or biting. You can teach any dog a new command, whether you have a new puppy or adopted an older dog. While some breeds will learn a little faster, with a bit of patience and consistent training, your dog will drop any item as soon as you tell it to! [Edit]Setting up Your Training Space - Pick a quiet room that's free from distractions. You'll want your dog to fully focus on its training, but loud noises and people walking around can be really distracting. Choose a room in your home where your dog can't see other people and doesn't have any other distractions. Make sure that no one else comes into the room while you're training so your dog doesn't get overexcited.[1]
- For example, a bedroom, hallway, or basement works great for training.
- Find a low-value toy that your dog will let go of. Avoid choosing your dog's favorite toy right away since it will act more protective. Instead choose another toy that your dog likes to chew on but doesn't play with as frequently. Try using something like a plastic chewie or a rope toy when you first start training.[2]
- The toy you choose will vary depending on what your dog likes to play with.
- Get a variety of high-value treats for your dog.[3] Dogs respond best to positive reinforcement, so rewarding them with a treat while you're training will help them learn the command. You can use packaged dog treats or pieces of chicken and cheese as a reward.[4] Try to have about 20–30 pieces for each training session to keep your dog interested.[5]
- Your dog may respond better to a higher-value toy as a reward. Try using a rawhide bone or its favorite toy instead of a treat.
- You may also try using your dog's kibble as a reward well if you're worried about giving your dog too many treats.[6]
- Attach your dog to a leash so you have better control of it. Get a leash and secure the end to your dog's collar. Hold onto the leash throughout your entire training session so your dog doesn't walk away or get distracted while you're trying to teach it.[7]
[Edit]Teaching the Basic Command - Offer your dog its toy to chew on. Have your dog sit in front of you so it's calm and ready to train. Hold the toy out in front of your dog's mouth. Wait until your dog gently takes the toy from your hand. Let the dog chew on the toy for a little while so it feels comfortable.[8]
- If your dog doesn't take or chew on the toy you chose, you may need to switch to something your dog likes more, like a tennis ball or bone.
- Don't let your dog snap at the toy. Only give the toy when your dog takes it from you gently.
- Hold a treat in front of your dog's nose. Keep the treat in your pocket or behind your back at first so your dog isn't drawn to it. Once your dog starts chewing on the toy, take out one of the treats and hold it in your fist. Put your fist right in front of your dog's snout so it can smell the treat.[9]
- Try to keep the rest of the treats hidden from your dog so it doesn't get distracted while you're training.
- Say a "drop it" command as your dog lets go of the toy. Choose a command that you'll consistently use through training, such as "drop it," "release," or "give." Once your dog smells the treat, it should drop its toy so it can eat. Right as the toy falls out of your dog's mouth, say the command in a firm voice so your dog learns it.[10]
- If you want to use a clicker for training, click it as soon as your dog drops the toy.
- If your dog doesn't let go of the toy, then try switching to a higher-value treat that's more enticing and flavorful.
- Make sure everyone in your household uses the same command while you're training, or else your dog will get confused and won't listen as well.
- Give your dog the treat and pick up the toy at the same time. Open your hand and let your dog eat the treat so it learns that it gets a reward when it lets go of something. As your dog takes the treat, use your other hand to pick up the toy to make sure your dog doesn't get protective of it again.[11]
- Try throwing the treat on the floor nearby so you have time to pick up the toy without your dog going after it at the same time.
- Praise your dog to help reinforce good behavior. While you're giving your dog the treat, say something like "yes" or "good dog" in an excited voice so it knows it's done something good. Look your dog in the eyes and pet it a lot to help make training a more positive experience.[12]
- Never yell at or punish your dog if it doesn't listen since it will become more fearful and won't learn proper behavior.
- Work with your dog in 5–10 minutes sessions up to 3 times daily. Give the toy back to your dog so you can continue your training session. Make your dog drop the toy 10–12 times before taking a break.[13] Space your training sessions throughout the day so your dog develops a better understanding of the command.[14]
- If your dog doesn't seem interested in training, wait until it's more calm or hungry.
[Edit]Following through with Training - Give the treat after your dog releases the toy once it responds consistently. Say the command, but keep the treat in your pocket or behind your back. If your dog still drops the toy, then hold the treat in front of its mouth and praise it for listening and behaving.[15]
- This way, your dog will associate getting the treat as a reward rather than being lured by it.
- Try changing the toy you train with when your dog drops things on command. Your dog will get used to giving up the first toy you use, so switch to something your dog likes more, such as a bone, rawhide, or a tennis ball. Continue training the same way you have been and reward your dog. Keep cycling through your dog's toys until you can get it to drop the one it likes the most.[16]
- You may need to use a higher-value treat to entice your dog to give up toys that it likes more.
- Practice in a more distracting area if your dog listens well in a quiet space. Try practicing the command in a room that's a little louder or outside so your dog gets used to training with other noises. Keep your dog on its leash and continue training in more populated areas so your dog will listen no matter where you take it.[17]
- If your dog doesn't listen, take it back to a quieter place and keep training it there.
- Wean your dog off treats when it listens 90–95% of the time.[18] When you're training and giving the command, only present a treat every third or fourth time they listen. Keep reducing the frequency of how often you give your dog treats until it responds without one.[19]
- Give the toy back to your dog right away instead of the treat so it still gets positive reinforcement.
- You can also stop using a clicker at this point if you've been training with one.
- Try using a clicker every time you say the command while training. That way, your dog will also associate the sound with dropping the item.[20]
- Your dog may learn at a different pace than another dog. Just stay consistent and be patient while you're training.
[Edit]Warnings - Don't forcibly take something out of your dog's mouth since it reinforces bad behavior.[21]
- If your dog snaps at you during training, throw the treat on the ground. If the behavior continues, you may need to see a vet.[22]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Paleo Ice Cream Posted: 13 Oct 2020 09:00 AM PDT Just because you're on the paleo diet doesn't mean you can't enjoy ice cream! Sure, it can't include dairy, which means no cream, but full-fat coconut milk gives paleo ice cream a great creamy texture. Try a classic vanilla ice cream; it's a great base for customizing. You can also treat yourself to chocolate coconut paleo ice cream or even mix up a quick banana ice cream. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Basic Vanilla Paleo Ice Cream - 4 egg yolks
- 1 vanilla bean or of vanilla extract
- ½ cup (170 g) of honey
- 1 can of full-fat coconut milk
- of almond milk
Makes 6 servings [Edit]Chocolate Coconut Paleo Ice Cream - 2 cans of full-fat coconut milk
- 3/4 cup (75 g) of cocoa powder
- 2/3 cup (226 g) of honey, agave, or maple syrup
- of vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt
Makes 8 servings [Edit]Banana Paleo Ice Cream Makes 2 to 3 servings [Edit]Basic Vanilla Paleo Ice Cream - Whisk 4 egg yolks with ½ cup (170 g) of honey in a heat-safe bowl. Put 4 egg yolks into a medium-sized bowl and add ½ cup (170 g) of honey. If you prefer, use the same amount of agave or maple syrup instead of honey. Whisk for about 30 seconds so the honey mixes into the yolks and set the bowl aside.[1]
- You don't need the egg whites for the ice cream so discard them or save them for another recipe.
- Put full-fat coconut milk into a pot with almond milk and the vanilla bean. Set a pot on the stove and pour in a can of full-fat coconut milk along with of almond milk. Then, cut a slit down the length of 1 vanilla bean and use the blunt edge of the knife to scrape out the seeds and add them to the pot along with the bean.[2]
- If you're using of vanilla extract, wait until the ice cream custard is done cooking before you add it.
- Bring the coconut milk mixture to a boil over medium heat. Turn the burner to medium and stir the liquid occasionally so it doesn't scorch. Heat the coconut milk mixture until it comes to a gentle boil.[3]
- Keep the lid off of the pot so you can stir the coconut milk and see when it begins to boil.
- Whisk the hot mixture into the bowl with the egg yolks. Turn off the burner and slowly pour a very thin stream of hot coconut milk into bowl with the egg yolks. Whisk constantly as you combine the mixtures so the egg yolks don't curdle.[4]
- If you're worried that there's some curdled egg in the custard just set a fine-mesh strainer over a clean bowl and pour the custard through it.
- Cook the custard in a double boiler for 15 minutes or until it reaches . To set up a double boiler, fill a pot with of water and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Then, set the bowl with the custard onto the pot and whisk the custard as it heats. Cook the custard until it's thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.[5]
- The bottom of the bowl shouldn't touch the simmering water or the custard could scorch.
- Put the bowl of custard in the fridge and chill it for at least 4 hours. Turn off the burner and wear oven mitts to remove the bowl of custard. Scoop out the vanilla bean and throw it away. If you're using vanilla extract, stir it in now. Cover the bowl with a piece of plastic wrap and refrigerate the custard for at least 4 hours or until it's completely cold.[6]
- You can make the ice cream custard and chill it the night before you want to mix it up.
- Add mix-ins or extracts if you want to customize the flavor. It's easy to turn your paleo vanilla ice cream into another flavor by mixing in optional ingredients. Try any of these in your next batch:[7]
- 1/2 cup (50 g) of berries
- 1/2 cup (37 g) of coconut flakes
- 1/4 cup (6 g) of finely chopped mint
- 1/4 cup (31 g) of chopped nuts
- Zest from 1 lemon, lime, or orange
- Chill the custard in an ice cream maker or freeze it in a loaf pan. If you have an automatic ice cream maker, pour it into the chilled base and churn it for 20 minutes or until it's firm. To make no-churn ice cream, lay a piece of plastic wrap across a loaf pan and pour the ice cream custard into it. Cover the custard with plastic wrap and freeze it for 6 hours or until it's firm.[8]
- Store the paleo ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 week.
- The no-churn method makes ice cream that's harder than ice cream churned in a machine. This is because a machine incorporates air into the ice cream so it's easier to scoop.
[Edit]Chocolate Coconut Paleo Ice Cream - Refrigerate 2 cans of coconut milk for 2 hours before you make the ice cream. Stick 2 cans of full-fat coconut milk into the fridge at least 2 hours before you make the chocolate ice cream. Chilling the coconut milk makes the fat harden so you can whip it into a thick, creamy mixture.[9]
- Avoid using light coconut milk which has water added to it.
- Put coconut milk, cocoa, honey, vanilla, and salt into a blender. Open the chilled cans of coconut milk and pour them into a blender. Add 3/4 cup (75 g) of cocoa powder, 2/3 cup (226 g) of honey, agave, or maple syrup, of vanilla extract, and 1/4 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt.[10]
- Blend the mixture for 30 seconds so it becomes smooth. Put the lid on the blender and blend the ingredients so the cocoa dissolves completely. If you see clumps of cocoa on the sides of the blender, unplug your machine and scrape the sides down with a spatula. Then, plug it back in and blend the mixture until it's completely smooth and creamy.[11]
- Always be careful when you scrape inside the blender since the blade is very sharp.
- Chill the mixture in an ice cream maker or freeze it in a pan. If you have an ice cream maker, pour it into the base of the machine and churn the ice cream for about 20 minutes. For no-churn ice cream, pour the mixture into a shallow container and freeze it for at least 4 hours or until it's firm.[12]
- Put the ice cream into an airtight container and store it in the freezer for up to 1 week.
[Edit]Banana Paleo Ice Cream - Peel 3 bananas and cut them into slices. Choose completely ripe bananas that are slightly soft and have lots of brown spots on the peels. Peel them and slice them into even pieces so they'll blend easily.[13]
- It really doesn't matter what size you chop the bananas into, but smaller pieces will be easier for your food processor to break down.
- Freeze the bananas for at least 2 hours. Put the banana slices into an airtight container or freezer bag and seal it shut. Freeze the bananas until they're completely hard. This is great to prep the night before you want to make the banana ice cream.[14]
- Put the frozen bananas into a food processor and pulse them for 1 minute. Once the bananas are solid, take them out of the freezer and put the slices into a food processor. Put the lid on and pulse the bananas for at least 1 minute. Don't worry if they look crumbly at first since they'll combine into a soft-serve texture.[15]
- Stop and scrape down the sides of the food processor if it looks like bananas are getting stuck.
- Freeze the banana ice cream for 1 hour if you'd like it to be firmer. If you like soft-serve consistency, go ahead and enjoy the ice cream as soon as you've finished blending it. For solid ice cream that you can scoop, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and freeze it for 1 hour before you serve it.
- Keep the banana ice cream in an airtight container in the freezer for up to1 week. If it's too hard to scoop, let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes to soften a little.
- Garnish the banana ice cream with paleo toppings like fresh mint, shredded coconut, berries, or chopped nuts.
- Although you can use a blender to make the banana paleo ice cream, your blender's motor has to be strong enough to handle the hard chunks of fruit.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Basic Vanilla Paleo Ice Cream - Measuring cups and spoons
- Heat-proof bowl
- Pots
- Whisk
- Ice cream maker or loaf pan
- Plastic wrap
[Edit]Chocolate Coconut Paleo Ice Cream - Measuring cups and spoons
- Blender
- Ice cream maker or loaf pan
- Airtight storage container
- Can opener
[Edit]Banana Paleo Ice Cream - Food processor
- Knife and cutting board
- Airtight container or freezer bag
- Spatula
[Edit]References |
| How to Find Your Passion Posted: 13 Oct 2020 01:00 AM PDT If you're reading this article, you might feel like something is missing, that you don't have something you love and want to strive for in your life. You've probably been told to "follow your passion," but that can definitely be tricky if you aren't even sure what you're really passionate about. We've all struggled with this at some point in our lives. Don't worry! While you may have trouble knowing your passion right now, it's totally possible to find it. Instead of wishing and waiting for something to come your way, follow these examples to find out what you truly love and pursue your passions! [Edit]Brainstorm the activities you find fulfilling and meaningful.[1] - Take a few minutes to think about all of the regular activities that you already participate in and write them down. This could include things like your hobbies, your work duties, or anything else that makes you happy. Pay special attention to activities that make you lose track of time since that usually means you're enjoying them.[2]
- Chances are that you may already do something you're passionate about and just haven't recognized it yet.[3]
- Ask your friends and family members about what things you're always talking about. If you're frequently bringing up specific activities, you have a spark of passion on that topic.[4]
- Keep in mind aspects of your career that you find rewarding as well. For example, if you like training new employees, your passion may be in educating or working with other people.
- If you're looking for your career passion, think about your daily duties that bring you the most joy, such as giving as presentation or training a new employee.[5]
- Think about the jobs you've loved and hated the most so you recognize what careers to go after and which paths to avoid.[6]
[Edit]Write down values that are important to you.[7] - Values are your core beliefs that make you feel satisfied in life and become a part of your personality. When you want to discover your passion, finding something that aligns with your values will make you feel happier and more fulfilled. Brainstorm all of the things that are important in your life so you can find activities, hobbies, or careers that align with them.
- Some examples of things you may value include loyalty, creativity, compassion, family, or dependability.[8]
- If you have trouble thinking of things you value, list a few people that you admire and think about what values they follow. For example, you may admire your partner for being a good listener or your friend for their honesty.[9]
- Consider what problems you want to solve and the people you'd like to help the most if you're searching for a career you're passionate about.[10]
- It also helps to think about what outcomes from a job you're looking forward to. For example, if you're passionate about becoming an author, you may be looking forward to the recognition and sharing your specific views.[11]
[Edit]Consider your talents.[12] - If you're naturally good at something or worked to develop a skill set, it may be a clue that you're actually passionate about it. Brainstorm the things that you're talented in, such as photography, public speaking, or playing an instrument. Even if you don't think you have a talent, pay attention to when others compliment you on something even when you don't think it's good. You may not have noticed that you're even more talented than you think.
- Remember you don't have to be good at something to be passionate about it. For example, you can still have a passion for playing basketball even if you don't make every shot. As long as you enjoy doing the activity, you can still be passionate about it.
[Edit]Look for common themes in your interests.[13] - While not all of your interests will align perfectly, they may be connected by a deeper passion you may not have noticed at first. Consider the books you enjoy reading, hobbies that excite you, and items you spend time and money on to see if they have any similarities. Are they all about a specific subject or do they share any recurring concepts? If they do, they could help point you toward what you're truly passionate about.[14]
- For example, if you gravitate toward books about planets and enjoy stargazing, you may be passionate about astronomy and space.
[Edit]Narrow down your interests.[15] - Now that you've listed the things you're interested in, choose the ones that feel the most important to you right now. While you can always come back to other interests later, the ones that you're most excited about are usually going to be the things that you're the most passionate for.
- While it can be tempting to try all of your interests, pursuing too many can get stressful and tiring. You may also not see yourself improve in certain areas if you're splitting up your time between too many things.
- You can also narrow down job searches by looking at the duties of each career path you're considering. Read about what tasks they involve and what your day-to-day life would look like.[16]
[Edit]Rekindle a childhood passion.[17] - As you grow up, you may feel like your childhood dreams weren't rational and stopped pursuing those interests. Think about the activities you enjoyed doing as a child but didn't continue when you got older. Maybe you loved writing stories, doodling in a sketchbook, or playing sports. Try incorporating those activities back into your life to see if you still get the same kind of enjoyment from them.
- Ask yourself what your younger self would think of you now. Are you still doing things that were important to you and that you enjoyed back then?
[Edit]Explore the things you've always wanted to try.[18] - We all have things we dream of doing, but there's nothing stopping you from pursuing those activities. Even if you're afraid or uncomfortable with the activity at first, you'll never know if you're really passionate about it until you try it out. Open yourself up to new opportunities so you can maybe find something you didn't even know you liked.
- Make a list of experiences or activities you have a slight interest in and find ways to expose yourself to them.
- Beware of staying closed-minded and not pursuing things just because they make you uncomfortable. If you don't approach things with an open mind, you may be shutting yourself off from things you're passionate about.
- Be open to explore new career paths. Check online for open positions and read the job descriptions thoroughly to see if they align with your passions.[19]
[Edit]Talk with people in areas you're passionate about.[20] - Even if you have a slight interest in something, finding someone who can help guide and mentor you can help you learn even more. Reach out to other people that have similar interests as you and have spent a little more time than you in the area you want to pursue. Ask them questions and hold discussions about the activity so you develop a good repertoire with them.
- As you get more involved, your mentors may be able to help grow your passion even more.[21]
- Mentors can be anyone, like professional connections, coaches, friends, or even family members.
[Edit]Be enthusiastic about everything you do.[22] - It can be really easy to feel pessimistic when you need to complete an activity you're dreading, but that will only put you in a negative mindset. Even when you're doing something you don't enjoy, approach it as a learning opportunity with an open mind. You'll never know if you'll discover something that you're passionate about if you don't have any enthusiasm for it.
- For example, even though yard work feels like a chore, you may find out you actually enjoy gardening or learning about the native plant life.
[Edit]Follow a C.L.E.A.R. path when you find a new interest.[23] - The C.L.E.A.R. path breaks down ways to recognize when you're developing a deeper passion for a hobby. Passion starts when you're Curious about something because it captures your attention. If you want to keep pursuing it, you'll start Learning so you can get a better understanding of what it entails.
- As you get more Enthusiasm, you'll want to really get involved with the experiences.
- Eventually, you'll become Aware and make a deeper commitment to the activity, such as buying gear or setting aside more time to do it.
- As you continue down the path, people will start Recognizing your passion because it stands out.
[Edit]Invest time into your interests.[24] - While you may say you're passionate about something, you won't feel that burning desire unless you set time aside to develop those interests. Schedule time every week where you can focus on your hobbies and interests to develop them more. As you learn more about the activity and gain a deeper appreciation for it, you'll feel more involved and your passion will continue to grow.
- Finding your passion is a great step, but it will take time for it to develop even further.
- Try to find a class or coach related to your passion so you have someone to hold you accountable for it.
- Look for ways to eliminate time-wasters from your schedule. For example, you can spend less time looking at social media so you can dedicate it to your passion.
[Edit]Persevere through challenges and failures.[25] - There will be a few pitfalls as you get deeper into your passion, but don't let those discourage you. Even if you aren't naturally good at something you're passionate about, keep pursuing them and working through the hardships so you can improve and get better. Passions take time and dedication, so make sure you spend time doing the work and use any failures as learning experiences going forward.
- For example, filmmaker Steven Spielberg was rejected from film school 3 times and still ended up making hit movies like Jaws, Jurassic Park, and Saving Private Ryan.[26]
- Walt Disney was told multiple times that he lacked imagination before he formed his animation company.[27]
- While it's important to persevere, it's also important to recognize when to stop pursuing something. If you aren't getting the same level of enjoyment that you were before, then it may be time to move onto something different.
[Edit]Don't limit yourself if you enjoy something.[28] - It can be really easy to get into a comfortable place, but that could prevent you from developing your passion even further. If there are new experiences you want to try, break out of your comfort zone and continue to learn. Try saying "yes" to things more often or doing something new that you haven't tried before so you can push yourself.[29]
- Try switching up your daily routine each day so you can experience something slightly different each day.
- Move toward things you're afraid of. For example, if you're passionate about art but scared to work with paints, buy yourself a small paint set and try to make a small piece of art every day to practice.
- Even though it will seem difficult at first, it will be more rewarding and fulfilling knowing that you're pursuing what you love.
- Developing your passion takes time, so be sure you stay focused and put in the effort to follow your dreams.
- Cut out stressful or time-wasting activities from your schedule since they can distract you from what you're really passionate about.[30]
[Edit]Warnings - Don't just dive into an instinct full force. Everything takes patience, careful planning, and a lot of dedication.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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